The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-09-08 00:00:00

HARVEST HOME REJOICINGS AT
NIONEWBURY.

Monday of tenesin was the time appointed for the
Harvest Thanksgiving Service in the parish church at
liyinondidoury. About • quarter to three o'chwk we left
the town and proceeded across the tells towanls the stet
A thick rain fell, and the scene was rather cheerless, hut
on nearing the village the ringing of the hells lu the
tower, served to dupe) something of the gloom, and
on catching • glimpse of the tower on the top of which
floated the flag that's braved a thousand years the bottle
mei the breeze, all thought of the weather was forgotten,
wu tmeiged on towards the goal. on nearing the
church we found that at the entrance gates of Mr. J.
Pitfleld's premises, cloe by, • very beautiful arch had been
erected by his workmen. It was compere,' of flowers,
various coloured leaves, ears of wheat, barley, oats, gc,
is Last the sickle wrapped in wheat, and the scythe
enclosed in barley was suspended at either cud, and •
coronet of flowers and fruit gracefully hung from the
centre—the whole arrangement being very signilleent
The entrance to the churchyard WAS spanned with a
course of flowers and evergreens, whilst the arch at the
entrance to the church we, wreathed with flowers, leaves,
ears of the different sorts; of grain, and a sheaf of wheat
was placed in peeition on each side The interior of the
church, thanks to the exertions of ladies who do not wish
their names mentioned, was exceedingly beautiful • the
font bail a cross of magnificent white roses with le:avoi
&tending on it, and its Inure was embellished with ferns,
jasmine, kr. The splays of the different windows were
laid with moss, thickly studded with scarlet geraniums,
verbenas, rotas, dahlias, ite., whilet a beautiful star com-
posed of leaves of the cinenuis maritime, perylla
nankinends, gc., intermixed with Newers hung over the
front of the west gallery, on either side of which WWI a
tasteful arrangeieent of flowers, and a string course of
variegated composition ran along the top of the gallery.
The arch at the chancel was wreathed on either side, the
pulpit and reading desk, adorned with beautiful foliaga
nee flowers ears of wheat, Ac., but the masterpiece of
the adoniments was at the east end. Standing out in
bold relief in front of the east is indow was a splendid
CMS., 1%)111p031.1 of dahlia., verlienaa, phlox, asters,
gene s, ears of wheat, foliage, ge.„ whilst
underneath it ran an illuminated text—" From me
I, thy fruit found." On the communion table stood two
eheaves of wheat and mine bunches of splendid plume.
The centre tablet was encircled with leaven of variegated
imanlumm, those on either side with cakeelarial, and
these ese on the outside bore • beautiful cross composed o
scarlet geraniums in their centre, whilst the communion
mil, were entwined with ferns, flowers, and wheat. Our
description must fail trs convey the least idea of the
imposing effect of the decorations, taken as a whole,
which required hi be seen to be appreciated they
deserve. The four sheaves of wheat, which were pre-
sented by Mr. J. Pitfiehb Mr. W. Bradford. and Mrs.
Leg..., were suheequently given to the four oldest women
In the village, their lumen being Sally Chubb, Ann Sts,ne.
Sally Bartlett. and Betty Biddlecombe. The flowers used
In decorating were (rein the gardens of the Hey. H.
Rawlinson, Mrs. Fooks, and Mr. James Templeman.
When the service commenced, shortly after three o'clock.
there was • large attendance at the church, the following
farms in the neighbourhood being te_presenterl by tja
attendance of the labourers: —Mr. J. Placid (liyinendl
bury), Mr. Bradford (Mowertway), Messrs. Brown
(Wonostell), Mr. Hull (Veers.). and Mr. Pill (Brearlordo,
'I he Rev. It. Itawlinson (rector) took the first part of twit
service, the lessons were read by the Rev. A. A. ',wow.'
(curate of Bridport), after which the Rev. H. Itawliwies
took the succeeding part at far as the 3rd rennet, sheathe
Harvest Thanksgiving hymn, commencing
"We
coed the ftekls and scatter
Thew th seed on e land
But it fed and watered
fly God's Almighty hand,"
was sung, and the remaining part of the prayers wen,
raid by the Rev. J. T. Wilkinson (curate). The ItYnui
before the sermon was 196 Salisbury Hymn Book:
"From leo:eland's icy mountains
From India's coral Arend,
Where Afric's sunny fountains
Kell down their golden mod."
The sermon wee preached bY the Rev. Preb. F,ro.aley !
from the •bl.l verse of the Illth Mahn "The works of
the Lord are area. t, sought out of all them that have
pleasure therein. The rev, gentleman remarked that at
this season of the year the wig* of' 'God so manifest on
every hand called for universal praise and thanksgiving.
'Happy they who gave themselves to the contemplation of
the works of the Lord, which were indeed great
and manifold. Above and below, around and among
them Lint they We the wiedoni and loving-kindness
of Him who keth all things well. The promise given had
been "Whilst the earth reindoeth was' time and harvest
shall not fail." How often were we bonded to murmur
and complain at what Named to us uncongenial weather,
but yet we found that all resulted well at the Met, the
seasons rolled on. following each other in the proper order
and hi the fulfilment of nature's works. This work had
lawn going oh sin, the earth was, created, but there would
come • great harvest, when all should be gathered in to
their eternal abode. If Cod therild see lit to work mono
great miracle, such as feeding the multitude with , a ..few
tithes, we should be aatonidied and reedy to exclaim how
manifold are His works, but because God was every day
lassoing us we did not rosins His great and wonderful
works in the provision that was daily made for the suppll
of all our wants. It was thus that God was often for-
gotten. there were thee who had pleasure in seeking out
the works of the Lord, and there were those who had not:
there were the thealodul, and there were the unthankful
be
hoped
that tit° belonged te the former class.
It was nght and II that • daqii be set ap at
art.
t will
done that day, to return ying God for the
bountiful Moved with which he bleared them, and he
hoped that the end and aim of their gathering that dal
was a right and true one -that they were assembled there
not eimply because it was the fashion mote do, but hersume
they felt it to le a religious duty, and regarded it as a
privilege and a pleasure. There was a time in the history
of our conotry, not very far back, when they ate and
drank, and gathered in the fruita of the oarth,lot were
unmindful of Him from whom all these blowing'
owed, but now, he was glad to say, there was scarcele. •
ish in which they did not hive • service fitti for thl
nermion. He would remind them that'll they had tu
hearts they must show it by contributing • thank.offering.
they must give to the Lord of their substance. Their
offering• that day would go towards the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, which had
been established more than 170 year., and during that
time had been animas,' in missionary work. They must
consider what • privilege it was to live in a Christian land
like England, where they had chum-he., sad ministers.
sad sthools. whereas there were of their fellow-
cristans who ware being brought MP without th• know'