"The poor shall eat, and shall be satisfied; they that seek after the LORD shall praise Him.” The Latin legend on the stone round the fire-place is to this effect : "This Hall, built to the honour of GOD, and for the use of the poor by Robert, Earl of Dorset, in 1608, was rebuilt in 1848 by George John, Earl De La Warr, and William Pitt, Earl Amherst, in right of their wives representatives of the Founder. The titles were given by Mary Catherine Marchioness of Salisbury,-on all of whom GOD bestow eternal, for these temporal gifts. Amen." The hall is also adorned with various coats of arms, of which the principal are, on the north side of the canopy, Amherst, (Lord Amherst's), bearing Sackville on an escutcheon of pretence. Those on the south side are Lord De La Warr's, twelve quarterings, bearing Sackville on an escutcheon of pretence. The arms on the eastern seat of the fire-place are those of the Hon and Rev. R. W. Sackville West, M. A., Assistant Warden of the College. Those on the western seat are the founder's, Those on the tiles, Sackville, being also the arms of the College; viz. quarterly, or and gules; a bend vaire. The Mortimer cognizance is in many places introduced as an appropriate ornament: it is a rose, party per pale argent and gules: in allusion to the part that family took in the union of the Roses. Also the Crampet, a badge for augmentation of honour, given by King Edward III. to Sir John West, Lord De La Warr's ancestor, for capturing the French king at Poictiers. On Sundays, and the principal festivals, the brethren and sisters dine in this hall, together with four or six poor persons from the town, with the warden and his family: for these dinners the College makes no provision; they are entirely supported by voluntary contributions. To return to the proceedings of the day. The first toast proposed by the warden was, as usual, "The pious memory of our founder." He shortly after rose, and made a speech of considerable length, commencing with the description of what had been done for the College and Hall by the present patrons. He went on to say, that much as the College was indebted to Lord De La Warr, for what they could see that he had done for it during the past year, they were much more indebted to him for what they could not see, as most persons then present well knew. He observed, that he was proud to think that the whole of the work should have been executed by East Grinsted men, that the iron work, heraldic painting, &c., had been suc cessfully executed by those who had never attempted anything of the kind before: and that, constant as had been his attendance in the Hall during the period of restoration, he had never heard an oath, or any bad language, though great were the difficulties the workmen had encountered. He then mentioned a curious passage in Pepys' Diary, with respect to a Chancery suit, in which the College was engaged in the time of Charles the Second, and in which the pleadings on both sides were so excellent as to make the Court a fashionable resort; the ladies of the then Earl of Dorset's family being remarkable for the constancy of their attendance during the proceedings; that the same interest continued in the female branches of the family was not only evidenced by the attendance on that day of two of their guests, but by the last token of her good will, which had been given by one who had been present on the last occasion of the meeting of the patrons and collegians, but who was now unavoidably absent. The question had, he believed, been asked by one or two persons who had seen the decorations of the Hall, "To what purpose is this waste?" He thought the design of the patrons was very clear. This Hall was intended for the use of the poor. They wished to show their abhorrence of the pernicious maxim, that for the poor anything was good enough to evince their respect for an estate which, if the Bible is to be believed, is more blessed than that of riches, to mark their reverence for the work of charity by making the buildings which minister to that work as excellent as circumstances would allow. Finally, he observed, most persons then present had lately heard a great deal of nonsense talked about Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality. He thought the gentlemen who were so fond of those words could not see a better exemplification of them than in the scene before him. The statutes of the College showed that perfect freedom might consist with perfect discipline their very name-brethren and sisters-and their ar rangement in that Hall, showed what fraternity meant: and for equality, there they had met, the Earl and the almsmen: the poor man giving honour where honour was due, and not attempting to arrogate to himself the station of those whom GOD had set above him; the nobleman showing his respect for the estate of poverty by the zeal with which he ministered to its relief. In conclusion, he proposed the health of the patrons the Earl and Countess De La Warr, and the Earl and Countess Amherst. He Lord De La Warr rose to return thanks, addressing "Mr. Warden, ladies and gentlemen, brethren and sisters." expressed Lord Amherst's regrets for his absence, his own sense of the warden's piety and energy devoted to the welfare of the College, in which his family took so great an interest, his gratification at hearing the warden's report of the conduct and skill of the workmen, and enlarged for some time on these points. The Rev. Mr. Harvey spoke of the noble example set by Lord and Lady De La Warr in every relation of life. Lord De La Warr briefly thanked him for his too partial opinion, and proposed the health of the warden. The warden returned thanks, and proposed the health of the assistant wardens, the Hon. and Rev. Reginald W. Sackville West, and George Londell, Esq. Mr. West, in returning thanks, spoke of the interest he of course felt in all relating to the College, both as a descendant of the founder, and as personally connected with it. Lord De La Warr then proposed the health of the brethren and sisters, several of whom spoke in return: then all repaired to the Court, where the band still continued playing, and joined in singing "GOD save the Queen." When the last cheer was over, as many as the chapel would hold repaired thither, the Clergy and patron's family being in the choir. Prayers were said by Mr. West, and after service the guests retired. In the evening another party assembled from the immediate neighbourhood, and were entertained by the patriotic songs of the workmen in the hall, where supper was afterwards prepared for them. S. MICHAEL'S, OTTERY S. MARY, EXETER. THE dedication feast of the chapel of S. Michael the Archangel in the parish of Ottery S. Mary was celebrated on Michaelmas Day. The unfavourable state of the weather was against the festival, but notwithstanding this untowardness a large congregation was assembled. The Clergy and some of the influential laymen of the parish accompanied the procession of the school children of the district. A large crown of dahlias, with the initial letter of the patron saint ingeniously patterned, was carried at the head of the boys' school. The girls were preceded by a blue silk banner, on which was embroidered a fleur-de-lys in white. At eleven o'clock A.M. the Clergy entered the church from the sacristy, and took their seats in the chancel stall-wise. Matins and Litany were said by the Rev. G. E. Deacon, Assistant Curate of Ottery S. Mary. The Lessons were read by the Rev. E. C. Lowe, Assistant Curate; and the Rev. J. T. Boles, Chaplain, Priest of the Collegiate Church of Ottery S. Mary. During the Introit the Vicar of Ottery, the Rev. Sidney W. Cornish, D.D., as Celebrant, and the Rev. E. C. Lowe and J. T. Boles, as Epistler and Gospeller, entered the sacrarium. The sermon* was preached by the Rev. E. C. Lowe, from Genesis xxviii. 17. "And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of GOD, and this is the gate of heaven." The offerings were collected by the Rev. W. B. Lott, Curate of S. Michael's, and the Church warden, F. G. Coleridge, Esq., and amounted to £62. 4s. After the celebration of the Holy Communion, the Clergy and visitors proceeded to the school; where, by the liberality of Mr. Justice Coleridge, a plentiful dinner of beef and plum-pudding was prepared for the children. Games and sports amused the young ones, and indeed the old, till evensong, which was said at five o'clock, P.M. The effect of the candles, freely distributed through the chapel, shining against the tasteful garlands and festoons which decorated the walls, was most pleasing. After prayers, it being now dark, the children were each presented with a substantial bun, and started homewards, well pleased to have thus celebrated the second anniversary of their church's consecration. Among the Clergy present, besides those already mentioned, were the Right Rev. Bishop Coleridge, Revs. W. Dodsworth, A. Hunt, F. T. Hill, &c. We noted among the laity, the Hon. Mr. Justice Coleridge, the Hon. Mr. Justice Patteson, Erskine, Esq., J. D. Coleridge, Esq., H. J. Coleridge, Esq., &c. THE OPENING OF MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE. In the schools which are being built during the present days, there is, we are happy to say, generally speaking, an evidence of a sound and healthy spirit. Provision is made for the education of the pupils in matters spiritual, as well as in general literature. An instance of this kind, of a most pleasing character, has just occurred in the case of Marlborough College, an institution amongst the most flourishing of the day, and one which, if conducted in the temper and spirit which the present master has thrown into it, cannot fail to be productive of the most beneficial results to the country at large. The chapel, a neat and elegant structure, was consecrated on the 29th September. The morning was, unfortunately, unpropitious. But, notwithstanding, many felt a great interest in the College. The proceedings of the day commenced with the Bishop of Salisbury's meeting the Clergy in the magnificent library which *This we hope to give in an early Number. has been given to the College by one of the members of the council. A procession was here made in the following order : Sergeants of the Council, The Chancellor of the Diocese, The Master of the College, Clergy of the Diocese in Surplices (30) When they reached the eastern door of the chapel, the petition for consecration was presented. His lordship, having consented to the prayer of it, advanced into the ante-chapel, and thence into the chapel itself, followed by the Clergy repeating the 24th Psalm. The scene at this moment, says a local paper, was most impressive, the beauty of the chapel, the imposing character of the procession, the hallowed announcement of His entry within the fanes in the glowing words of the Psalmist: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in," did not fail to produce its full effects of devotional fervour upon the hearts and minds of the crowded assemblage. Prayers were said by the Rev.- Sharpe, the Chaplain of the College: the First Lesson was read by the Rev. Brackenbury, and the Second by the Rev. Cornish. The Communion Service was said by the Bishop, the Epistle by the Bishop's Chaplain, and the Gospel by the master. The sermon, which was exceedingly appropriate, was preached by the Bishop, who took for his text the 7th and 8th verses of the 132nd Psalm. The Holy Communion was afterwards administered to a large number of the congregation, and the offerings amounted to £120, the sum of £128 having been forwarded by friends of the College, who were unable to attend. The beautiful communion plate was the offering of a member of the Council; the cushions for the altar, of a lady; and the eagle, of the pupils of the College. The company afterwards partook of an excellent repast laid out in the College hall. |