The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-04-09 00:00:00

PRESENTATION TO THE REV. A. HOULE.

One of the most interesting tea meetings, we
believe, that has ever been held at Fordington, took
pleas at the School-room of that parish, on Monday,
April let, for the purpose of presenting to the Rev.
Arthur Evans Mode, • suitable present on the
occasion of his leaving the scene of his labours in his
native parish for the office of missionary in China.
The large sohoolroom was crowded to excels by per-
sons of tooth sexes, all of whom seemed anxious to
pay respect to the young missionary, who, by his
kindness, had won for himself the love and affection
of all with whom he had COMO in contact The present
consisted of a purse containing £47, which was sub-
scribed to by Sunday School Teachers and personal
friends, and also a marble timepiece, purchased by
the pence collected from the poor of the parish and
school children, who seemed eager not to be left
behind in showing how much they regretted that he
was about to leave them. The timepiece was pur-
chased at the establishment of our townsman, Mr.
Scott. At the conclusion of the tea,
Mr. HORACI Moots said be bad • word or two to
address to the workingmen end women of Fordington,
particularly the young ones of whom he saw so many
present, and with whom he seemed to have a sort of
acquaintance -, and the women, he was sure, although
there was • little difference between them about soap
and water (laughter), they would give him a patient
bearing. There were many merry makings which had
a sad to-morrow coming after them, and that was so
with many gatherings of this world. They were met
together that night to take leave of • missionary, and
be hoped they might look beck upon that evening
with pleasure and profit. Now what was the lesson
they ought to learn in taking leave of a iniatonary ? It
was contained in two words, "KU sacrifice. Some of
them might say "Does • missionary teach us self.
marinas? Does he not go to • very comfortable home
in a foreign land? le he not as well off as our sons
who go as soldiers and sailors, and who do not think so
much at parting with them 1" Is not a missionary
something like them? True it was, that the
missionary was something like them, but there was a
difference. When be arrives in the country in which
he is to reside, be is supplied with • house, and the
means is given him for getting his daily food, and living
lii a decent way, bat he gets nothing more beyond that.
The ease, however, with soldiers or sailors was some-
what different. If they only. conduct themselves pro-
perly and do their duty, they get more pay, and are
promoted. Hew was it with the missionary? Sup-
posing his brother were to go out to a foreign land and
labour there 20 years he would not get one penny
more at the end of that time as his yearly wages than
he received the first year. There was no promotion
except that which cometh from above. There was no
such thing as • missionary making his fortune. He
went out with the prospect of having a house to live
in and food tax eat, but nothing more beyond that.
After glancing at the hardships which a missionary
bad to endure, he asked how they might apply the
lemon of self-sacrifice to themselves. It was, he
thought, by keeping up their missionary imbeariptions.
He knew there were people in that pariah who said
they thought it was waste of money, as they did not
know where the money went to. He would remind
them that more than 1800 years ago there was a divine
missionary, with 12 poor men as his apostles, walking
this earth. He had no doubt that many a Jew in that
day who put something in the bag which the apostles
carried with them, said it was waste of money —they
did not know where the money went to. Yet out of
the work of that divine missionary and his apostles
we owe everything we have as a nation. From it
they owed that constitution which made it possible for
hundreds to meet together as they did on that occasion
without any interference—unfettered--end without any
restraint laid upon them except the restraint of mound
and sober law. To it they owed the salvation of their
souls, the meane of peace to them all. After glancing
at the pelf-sacrificing spirit which was evinced by those
who were helping to carry on the work which was
going on in that parish, he concluded by stating that
they were all moving uphill, the top of which the
most advanced Christian could not see, yet the least
of those present could attain it by laying their souls
and their bodies at the foot if the cross of Christ.
(Load Haien.)
The Rev. Mr. BIRD having addressed the meeting
at some length, the Chairman called upon the Rev.
Reginald Smith, to whom had been committed the
task of presenting one of the gifts, to address the
meeting. _

The BAY. PAGINALD SMITH said he was sure there
was not a person in that room who did not sympa-
thise with Mr. and Yrs. Noun in their present situa-
tion. There was a mixture of joy and sadness in
their hearts, but he thought the feeling of joy pre-
dominated. There were many who on bearing that
one of their friends was about to part with • son who
was going as • missionary to the ends of the earth,
were apt to say, "Oh, that's dreadful, that's an ex-
traordinary sacnfice." Now he did not think they ought
to speak of it in that way. When they spoke of it in
that way it showed that they had forgotten what the
nature of faith was, and that they did not realize the
objets whisk their dear young friend had la view in
leaving his native laud. It was indeed a great work of
faith to go as • missionary to China, surrounded as he
would be by thousands and tens of thousands of heathen
who daily committed acts which made them shudder.
The missionary, however, went forth, not trusting in
his own eloquence, not trusting in his own power, nor
to the multitude of friends he may have at home, or to
the influence of the British nation, but trusting in a
then Saviour, he is day by day supplied with strength
sufficient for his need. It was not then • futile under-
taking. The strength was adequate, fully adequate, to
the work to be performed, and he doubted not their
dear young friend woulffifind it so. Those were, no doubt,
the views which cheer him which not only him
to the painful struggle of Pining with those who were
dear to him, but which enables him to work in that
path of love to which the remainder of his life
will be devoted. As an encouragement he
adverted at some length to the labours of two mis-
sionaries who had been wonderfully bleated in the
conversion of thousands of heathen. Was this not an
encouragement, he said, to his young friend, who was
going in • similar manner to preach the gospel to the
heathen. His hands need not hang down, his heart
need not faint, for the same Saviour who so wonderfully
blessed the labour, of Judson, would also make him a
blaming to thousands and tens of thousands of Chinese.
Addressing himself to the guest of the evening, he said
"Go forth in the strength of the Lord, making mention
of his righteousness, and in due time you shall return
bringing your sheave, with you." He said • duty had
rather unexpectedly devolved upon him, which he had
now great pure in performing. He held in his hand
a little book containing a description of the pre-
sents. He could not do better, he said, then read the
inscription at the beginning of the book. It ran thus:
—"ln this book is recorded the presentation to the
Bev. Arthur Evans Monte et a puree, containing £47,
by the undermentioned Fordington school teachers,
members of the Fordington congregation, and personal
friends, as • parting token of their love and esteem, on
the occasion of his going forth under the auspices of the
Church Missionary Society, as • missionary of Christ to
the Chinese. To the list of the subscriber, were also
added the names of the poor of Fordington, who con-
tributed to the purchase of the timepiece of which they
humbly request his acceptance, with their good wishes
and earnest prayers that the blessing of God may rest
both upon himself and his dear wife in their work of
faith and their labour of love." Mr. Smith said he could
not say, as Peter did, "Silver and gold have I none,"
because beheld the money in his hand. Peter was not •
man who set • high wake on the silver and gold of this
world, although he *et its proper estimation on it. He
knew what true riches were, and valued them infinitely
more than all the gold and silver which this earth con-
tained, yet be did not think Peter would have refused
such • gift as that which it was now his pleasure to
present to his dear friend Arthur Mottle. It was a
most pleading gift, not on account of its money value,
but because it was • gift of love, an expression of kind,
benevolent, and grateful feeling. He could not imagine
anything that could be more suitable to the feelings
of his friend] tbanl this gift, beanie it came from those
amongst whom he had been labouring in the cause of
Christ. It was then with the greater pleasure that be
now handed over this purse to its rightful owner, and
he had no doubt he would wie it for the glory of God.
(Loud cheers.)
Mr. JOHN LIWIS, • scripture reader, to whom had
been committed the task of presenting the timepiece,
briefly addressed the meeting, and in a suitable speech
requested the acceptance ol the present which had
been entrusted to him for presentation.
Mr. ARTHUR MOOLZ than cams forward, and was re-
ceived with loud cheers. He said it was no easy task
to speak after so much kindness • he therefore hoped
they would bear with him in the few words he should
address them. lie could not wrist any better return to
them for their kindness than that God would visit each
of them with His salvation. He thanked them all first
in his own name, sod then on behalf of his wife, for
the most useful presents that had been presented te
them. The timepiece, as it stood upon the
mantelpiece of their cottage In Chins, and as it
told the passing hours, would call to remem-
brance that happy meeting, and the many kind and
happy fame which he saw Wore him. He would say
▪ word or two about this timepiece. He remembered
when one of his tutors at Islington College was taking
his leave of him, he said to him "Time is a talent.
You should shrink as much from wasting minutes of
time as you do from throwing • handful of money
into the sea. Time Is to be used just as much as
health, and strength, and money." There was another
thought which was suggested to him by the time-
piece, and that was, "Now is the accepted time, now
is the day of salvation." While there was time, let
them do good unto all men, whether in Fordington
or in China. He felt he did not half deserve the
kindness which had been shown him, but if such
I groat kindness was shown to him who had
done so little compared with what he might
might have dons, what would their surprise and joy
be when they
.stood before the throne of God and
heard it said Well done, good and faithful servant,
enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." He concluded by
affectionately exhorting his hearers to attend regularly
the mew of grace, and by thanking than for their
kindness.
The Rev. H. 11100.• afterward.; 'thinned the meet-
ing at some length, and • hymn having been rung, and
the benediction pronounced, the meeting separated.
Wei:doge the report of this interesting meeting by the
fallJwing Tense, as suitable for Ike occaiskm :
)011110111 NISSIONS.
In cholera lands, where darkness reigns,
The mlodosmq his days;
By bath, through gram, God's muse maintains,
And creedslke Clasper" ahastic rays.
'Midst Mathes darkness Imp and prays,
And macaw Josue slyisr love
And to tie derk, benkbeed tun
Petals sot the ghats,' realm above.

ma by the missionaries mid
That Gospel light's diffused abroad,
And Pagan nations made to feel
The presence, of a glorious God!
flow can the prouperous soul refuse
To aid these useful lights to shine?
And spread abroad the Gospel news
That emanates from lore di. Ire!

Oh, let us ald by faith and prayer,
And every means at our command,
To mead the glorious Gospel huew
Thick darkne. veils the distant land.
Behold. the Saviour bleeds and dies,
That all our sans may be forgiven ;
And dull ire oaks no sacrifice .
To light the path that leads to heaven I—T. A.