The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-04-26 00:00:00

THE DEATH OF LORD BEACONSFIELD.

MIXON BY TIE UV. T. /TILTS.

The Rev. T. Heave, preaching at the Congregational
Chapel on Sunday morning last, made feeling illusion
to the death of Lord Bemonsfield, in a sermon on
serving our own generatiou, based on the words, and
the Acts of the Apostles. He took for his text, Acts
aid., verse 36—" For David, after he had served his
own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, and
was laid unto his tethers and saw corruption." The
Apostle here inecrllms, the preacher said, • simple
epitaph, which equally befits a monarch or a peasant.
The highest thing to be said of the highest is that he
served his own generation by the will of God, and of
the humblest it may be said, and thus the highest and
the humble may well meet together, for God is the
maker of them all. This reference of Paul to Sing
David, as one of the most illustrious of the names of the
Jewish ram, is not without significance, and in this
side glance (for it is nothing more) the Apostle
defines wherein his true greatness and glory consisted,
and wherein lay his claim to the honour and the
regard of posterity. The Apostle bases this claim on
a very homely virtue, so homely that in the presence
of more pretentious virtues we are all of us prone to
overlook it. The bask of this claim was nothing
more nor lam than than that he fulfilled in his own
age the work which God allotted to him, and thence
had his reward and honour. The inference which we
draw, therefore, from the Apostle's words is that
however illustrious in other respects King David
might have been, however famous all the world counts
fame (and its reckoning is quite otherwise than that
of heaven's), yet be would have found no eulogy from
the lips of Pant A lesson here of first-rate moment
for us all. However great and illustrious we
may be In the judgment of others, if our live, do not
sword with the will and purposes of God, we merit no
commendation at His hands nor at the hands of His
But indeed it is • sorry office to fill, to
people. distribute either blame or praise to our fellow
creatures, however illustrious amongst men, and indeed
it counts for little even when it is justly and wisely
done. When our judgments are as unerring as Paul's,
we may confidently iodulge them, but with our
Imperfect knowledge of our fellows, even when we
thiek we know them best, it behoves its to be very
careful in all our estimates and especially of
the world's great actors. I will not, therefore,
be tempted, continued the preacher, to delineate
the character of the great statesman whose illness
for the past few weeks has evoked such universal
sympathy and concern es to teach us that generosity
and kindlinees are not sentiments extinct in the
linglishmeces breast, and that the strongest antagoo.
tans ef opinion and party do not destroy those kindlier
virtues which ought ever to find • plane in the human
heart. It was • generous tribute to the worth of the
deceased statesman that his illustrious rival should
have been forward not only to show his sympathy
with the distinguished sufferer, but should have been
equally solicitous to anticipate the national feeling by
offering the testimony of a public funeral, but which,
In deference to the simple wish of the demised, which
did equal credit to his simple bides, his representa-
tives have seen meet gratefully to decline. Nothing
that I meld say here this morning, continued the rev,
gentleman, would be likely to to your Information
or to your better know cf the life an d the work
which the great statesman achieved. On his life's
work and career, which will rank as one of the most
extraordinary and unique in our political history, many
and diverse opinions will be formed, and only time and
a calmer view of that work and career than his
own contemporaries can take, will help the historian
at a later date, accurately, and with =Weed mind,
to estimate it. I have no wish to attempt any such
task, even lilt were fitting, and if I sympathised with
his policy, which I never di l; and it is well to
remember the fine 'eying of Broonzrectint that—
"lt opened' the gate of good fame extinguisheth
envy," but when • great rile has cowed, and when its
achievements and record are over, it is not unreason-
able that we should all of us direct our thought to
what life's Mat purpose is, what at least la God's
great purpose in it, how we may fulfil that purpose,
and what great and solemn imam depend on our so
doing. He then proceeded to dis-mcie on Me purpose
of God in the life of each one 0, us, as serving oar
genarstics, as forming the grand idea of all life, and as
farming Its only and true aim and purpose—an aim
whiches to ovary obaa, the humblest as well as
airs

WIIYMOUTH.

HOLY Tourer SuaruzY Botoom —The children of
them Sunday schools were gathered together on
Wednesday af tem .on, for the presentation of prizes
an 1 certificates, Easter we.k being chosen as an
appropriate tune for the gifts to be given. It
appears that there are in round numbers 550 children
on the Suni.y school registers; viz., 210 Rick 200
boys, and 140 infants—arranged in 39 classes. Thus
• large number of books were require I, and 88 nicely
bound and very suitable volumes wi re provided ;
while 270 hand.ome certificates published by the
Church of England Sunda School Institute. were
given for regularity of attends ice. In the Vicar's
abeeuce, owing to ill-health, the rewards were given
to the girls by the Rev. W. S. Shuttleworth, and to
the boys by the Rev. R. H. Dickins. Hearty thanks
and indeed hearty cheers were given to the Superin-
tendents and to the 40 teachers who assist in the good
work. In n i better work can chnrchmea and church-
women be engaged.
BUILtiIIAT ArrnsiMol.—Last Friday, before Dr.
Drew, J. Robertson, Eel., and J. R. lichens, Req.,
Rowland Oliver Tredres was summoned for breach of
contract, in having absconded Iron his apprenticeship.
The young man did not appear, and Mr. Strange, of
St. Mary-string, said the apprentice had absconded
from his employ on May 31, 1880, and been absent
ever since. Mr. Strange claimed 15 guineas damages,
at is a week, for loes of the apprentioe'ssia
enrlly es'
oes
during his absence. The apprentice, he stated. bad
said he quarrelled with his father, who would not
allow him to stay out late at night. During his
Amuse Mr. Strange had had to pay a man 255. a
week.—The magistrates gave j•dgment for the fall
amount, and 2s. costa The apprentice was to return
to his work, if he could be found, and the Bench
promised to help the master all they could.
RAILWAY KIIPLOTIS' DUYVIL —Last Friday week,
being Good Friday, the employes of tus London and
S mth-Weetern Railway, in the Locomotive Depart.
mint, had t' sir annual ou' ing, and having chose.
Weymouth they arrived here about eleven o'clock, to
the number of about forty. Being me iat the ',tali in
by Mr Harvey, with his handzime break and pair,
their choice fell upon the delightful village of
Osmington for their oountry drive, arriving there
about one o'clock, when lobster lunch was served in
admirable style. Aft., haring done justice to tho
caiiital spread, they took about. ait hour's ramble,
viewing the beautiful bay, &c. The horse, were then
attached, and the return horns commenced. On
arriving at the Queen Hotel, about 5 p.m., Host
Fittis had pr added them with a most substantial
dinner, comprising the delicacies of the season. The
usual loyal Masts were drunk, not forgetting the
army, navy, and volunteers, as well as the borough
members for Weymouth and Dorchester and the Mayor
and Corporation of this delightful borough. They
wound up by drinking the heaths of the Heads of
the Locomotive Department, and singing the National
Anthem. They separated about 9.33, all of them
having thoroughly enjoyed themselves.