The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-10-29 00:00:00

Souttrortsbirc.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

PANIC 111 A CHAPEL AT SHIEFISLD. —Twelve months
having passed away since the opening of Hanover
Chapel, two excellent sermons in connection with the
first anni y were preached on Smday, by the Rev.
James Carighey. The congregation in the morning was
very large, there being many who could not be *mom.
modeled with serifs. In the evening the chapel was
crowded to exeeas soon after five o'clock, though service
was not announced to commence till six. Mr. Caughey,
at six o'clock, entered the pulpit,and shortly afterwards
gave out • hymn; and, while the first verse was being
sung, there was a noise, sent the cracking of the ceiling,
followed by a fall of plaster. This prooeedod from the
ceiling under the gallery, opposite the pulpit, and next
Hanover-street, and at precisely the same spot as at Cie
opening services of the chapel • year ago. A panic fur
a moment seized thou in the locality of the accident.
Many rushed toward* the door, but cries of " Keep
your seats," and friendly assurances that the mishap did
not extend beyond tbe giving way of • portion of the
, planter, at the point where it fell last year, at length
allayed thelfwir, and the riming of the hymn proceeded.
It had not, however, gone beyond another two verses,
when larger: portions of plaster, immediately over one
of the lamps, and in bulk apparently sufficient to cover
• surface of about two feet, fell. This WAS followed by
a renewal of the panic. Females, Ii all parts set up
fearful screams, and were seen :struggling to escape from
the pews—some of them, in their fright, even climbing
over the pew tops. Many relied toweeds the doors,
sod one young woman, placed iniesediately behind the
portion of the ceiling that hrid given Ways wan Seen to
mount upon, the window trams unalalp
n. and raise the
sash with the intention of making y by jumping
thence into the chapel yen'. If She done se she
would have been killed on the spot. Fortunately her
attempt wan seen by friends doers &S hand, and before
she had raised the window more than ice or six inches,
she was seised and removed from it. The great bulk of
the congregation. however, kept their places, and the
cry of "Keep your seats," which wee taken up on every
side, WY nobly acted upon, and in all probability saved
the congregation from • terrible and fatal same. Tb e
collections amounted to £316.
A BISHoP i Till WOHKSHOP.—The Bishop of Or-
ford addressed the smiths and railway employes in the
large workshop of the Midland Railway station, Derby,
on Saturday. There were about 500 present in their
working dress, many of them being without coats,
having just left work. At 12 o'clock the Bishop, Arch-
deacon Hill, and many of the local clergy, entered the
workshop. Among the laity were the Earl and Colin.
teas of Herringtod. The service wan opened by the
singing of the hymn, " Come, let us join our cheerful
songs," and, • few ;mayors from the morning service of
the Prayer Book having been read, his lordship delivered
• long and earnest address on worldly temptations,
which was moat attentively listened to throughout. •
I The Rev. Newman Hall set the example last year to
his ministerial brethren of opening his spacious chapel,
one night in the week, fur (be delivery of lectures to
the working classes. The experinient,as every one knows
succeeded admirably, and was tried with the same satis-
futory restate by other ministers. Let week, the
first of the second serial of meetings was held in
Surrey Chapel, that building being crowded by the
right class of people. Before the lecture a very inte-
resting incident took place. A silver inkstand was
presented to Mr. Hall as a tribute of esteem in which
hie labours are held by the working men of London.
The presentation was made by one of their number,
and .51r. Hell gracefully replied, and then proceeded
with his lettere,
MIDNIGHT MEETING.—A meeting wan held at the
'Freemasons' Tavern on Tuesisy night to report the resells
of the midnight meeting movement. Colonel Worthy
presided. It appeared from the report which was read
that the movement in London and the provinces hail
resulted in the reclamation of 658 unfortunates. These
facts may well encourage those who are engaged in this
good work. General Godwin remarked upon the
difficulty they experienced in reaching the high class of
unfortunate women, and suggested that an industrial
lion3ll should be founded for their especial benefit. The
committee intended to arrange for a series of midnight
meetings during the forthcoming winter.

\
New ACT ON lIIILICIOU6 INJUSIZR TO PROPENTY.— i
On the lid proximo an act will take effect to consolidate i
and amend the statute law of England i nil Ireland i
relatiug to malicious injuries to property. It is now ,
provided that • tenant of • dwelling-house who shall '
unlawfully pull down or demolish or attempt the seine,
or to never from the freehold any fixture being fixed in
or to such place, shall he guilty of a misdemeanour.
, The law is now made very stringent with regard to
, placing or throwing stones, it.., on railways to obstruct
railway carriages. It is declared to be a "felony," and
punishable with penal servitude for life or with
imprisonment. For injuring telegraphs the offence is
misdemeanour, and punishable with iinprisonment for
three months. Further, for destroying or damaging
any work of art in churches, museums, or other public
places, the punishment may extend to six months'
nuprisonmeat, and Bogging maybe added to males under
sixteen years of age.
Wu" CAN TIIIT Be ?—There is a matter which is
privately ere ating • good deal of scandal, which will
ere long be brought in due course before the public.
A high office in connection with the metropolitan
administration of justice is vacant from the absence of
• certain gentleman. That abeam. has been pro-
trlcted considerably over tl.e period allowed for leave
"(absence (to hush up the affair.) There is, moreover,
a lady in the case; it is, in fact, an elopement, and the
'laicism of • young lady (of course) of fascinating
manners is also giving great uneasiness to her friends.
The appointment which the absentee holds is of such a
ii.itoie that his flight mint be taken notice of, hut it is
' very imitable (so much is he otherwise respected) that
' the filling up of the vacancy will be done as quietly as
I poesible.—Coul Anima,