Wheathampstead
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Herts Advertiser & St Albans Times - 1881 

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Price of Herts Advertiser in 1881 was 
ONE PENNY

WHEATHAMPSTEAD

INTERESTING PRESENTATIONS. - On Thursday, the 23rd ult., the parent and friends of the children attending the Infant School presented Miss M Clark with a testimonial, as a mark of respect and esteem for her kindness to the children during the five years she has been pupil teacher at the above school.  Her term having now expired, the opportunity was taken of showing the satisfaction of the parents with the treatment the children had received at her hands.  The testimonial consisted of a neat writing desk, furnished with note paper, envelopes, pens, pencils, penholders, ink, and postage stamps. - On the following day, a testimonial, the same as above was presented to F. Gatward, the term having expired as pupil teacher in the Boys' and Girls' School

CHURCH TEMPERANCE SOCIETY, - On Monday evening last, the members of the Church Temperance Society gave an entertainment in the National Schoolroom, consisting of a service of song, entitled "Jessica's First Prayer."  The reading was given by the Rev. A. F. Curtis vice-president of the society.  The singing was rendered very creditably by the Temperance Choir, among whom may be mentioned Mr. J. Hulkes, Miss Clark, and Miss Green.  The audience though not a crowded one perhaps through the unfavourable weather, seemed well satisfied with what they saw and heard.  The entertainment was preceded by the quarterly tea of the society, which was done justice to by the members.  A Christmas tree, which has been dressed by a few lady members, made a nice ornament to the room.  The prizes were distributed at the close of the entertainment.  The vice-president took advantage of this meeting to present Mr. F. Gatward with a handsome teacher's Bible, inkstand and blotting book, in recognition of his services as pianist and trainer of the Temperance Choir, he being about to leave the village.  A teacher's Bible was also presented to Miss Clark in recognition of her services in the above society, she being also about to leave the singing, &c.  The National Anthem brought the pleasant evening to a close.

WHEATHAMPSTEAD

CONCERT. - On Thursday, 20th inst., a morning and evening concert, vocal and instrumental, will  be given in the large schoolroom.  The programme has not yet been published, but the names of the ladies and gentlemen whom it is hoped will render their assistance, guarantee a musical treat.  It is intended to devote the proceeds of the concert to defraying the debt upon the church organ enlargement fund.

WHEATHAMPSTEAD

ODDFELLOWSHIP. - The balance sheet for the past year of the Loyal Grove Lodge, Wheathampstead, is about to be issued to the members. The sick and funeral fund is of course the chief department of work.  Here ther is in hand, after paying during 1880 £50 2s to sick members, £1096 9s 6½d for the 71 members in the lodge.  The great bulk of this money is invested in freehold mortgages and Consols.  Mr. W. Batchelor is the secretary of the Loyal Grove Lodge.

VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL CONCERTS. - The terrible weather of this week had a very disastrous effec upon these concerts held on Thursday and which had been long and carefully prepared for, and comprised music of an unusually high-class character for this neighbourhood.  The sun did indeed shine on Thursday, but such was the state of the roads that nothing but letters of regret at unavoidable non-attendance were received during the morning, though some patrons kindly forwarded contributions to the organ fund.  However, nothing daunted, the concert was opened by all those who had promised their assistance at 3 p.m. with Handel's overture to the "Occasional Oratorio," which was admirably performed.  A few changes and substitutes were found necessary, however, in the published programme.  A great attraction of the concert was the magnificent playing of Mr. E, J. Dampier on the violincello, and the performances of this gentleman elicited immense applause.  The singers of glees, duets, and songs, all did their parts so well that it is hard to select pieces for praise where all was so excellent.  At 7.30 p.m. the second concert took place, when the audience was more numerous that in the morning.  All were much amused at Romberg's toy symphony, which went well.  The evening programme was so changed as to contain more of the popular element, Canon Davys remarking that it was too cold for anything but amusing songs.  Altogether, the concerts may be regarded a great musical success, though considering that their object was to pay off a large debt for the enlargement of the organ, they have been a very disappointing financial failure.  The programmes of the concerts are appended:-

Details of the performances were given (see archive material for more details)  - here are the names of people participating:  E. J. Dampier, Rev. A. F. Curtis, Miss L. Sheppard, Miss M. Sheppard, Rev. F. Savage, Miss G. Curtis, Reginald Spofforth, Mr. Walter Batchelor, Mr. F Batchelor, Mr. George Green, Mr. Bayford, Mr. Jolley,  Miss Mina Sheppard, Rev Canon Davys, Colonel Smyth, Mr Jolly, Mr. Braham.

WHEATHAMPSTEAD.

MR. ARCH ON AGRICULTURAL QUESTIONS

On Wednesday evening a meeting in connection with the Wheathampstead branch of the Agricultural Labourers' Union was held in the Congregational Schoolroom.  The building was quite filled with labourers and their wives.  Mr. C. Waller, of Ayott St. Peter, was called to the chair.

Mr. Arch addressed the meeting at considerable length.  He said they were there that night to discuss one of the most important questions of the hour.  However lightly the statement might be passed by, and however much their opponents might object to the movement, he repeated that they were met to discuss one of the most important questions of the hour.  The question was the advancement of agriculture - (hear, hear) - and in the remarks he wished to include the farmers.  As all knew, during the last nine years - it would be nine years at least next Monday night - he had been travelling this country as well as other countries to advocate the claims of the labourers.  Perhaps some might not believe that he belonged to that class, but he did.  He was born and bred an agricultural labourer, and he was at work as hard as any man when the movement began.  He had had an opportunity of seeing  - for he had worked in more than half a dozen counties - the struggles and difficulties of the men.  Many people thought that he said very hard things.  If they had endured the hardships that he had to endure, they would not be astonished that he did say hard things.  However, he was not there to speak against a particular class; he was there to enter a solemn protest against systems - (hear, hear).  When the movement commenced the agricultural labourers were in a very low condition, and when he said that, perhaps someone might say that the Hertfordshire men had always been in a very good position.  He often got told things like this.  In the county where he came from a gentleman told him that the laboureres were remarkable well off; and when dining in London some few months ago someone else informed hem that the men had so much money that they did not know shat to do with it! - (laughter).  Meeting an old argument designed to prove that the agitation was not necessary. Mr. Arch said he should like to know if to keep a wife and four or five grandchildren 9s. a week was sufficient?  He would refer objectors to the report of the Royal Commission which was sent ot in 1864 or 1865 to go around the rural districts of England and enquire into the conditions of the agricultural labourers.  On that Commission was the present Bishop of Manchester, whom all must give credit to as being very truthful and honest, and when his lordship with Mr. Stanhope handed in the report this was what they said, that not ten per cent. of the agricultural labourers could possible be otherwise that paupers, that 90 per cent. received such low wages as to render it impossible for them to make any provision for sickness and old age.  When Providence laid His hand upon them, either by illness or length of years, they must succumb to the degradation of Pauperism - (shame).  This was their doom through no fault of their own.  They did not create the wicked land system; they did not make the majority of the tenant farmers mere political shuttlecocks; they had not made a single law; then under these circumstances they were justified in devising some legitimate plan by which to escape the misery and degradation into which they had been driven.  If the landowners did not like that, then they must "lump" it; if the farmers did not like it, they must grin and abide by it.  Never could it be healthy for any civilized State where 90 out of every 100 of her field toilers were doomed to be paupers.  After referring to the "tremendous opposition" with which the movement at first met, he said notwithstanding the attempts which were made to crush it, the income of the Labourers' Union for the last quarter of 1880 was several hundred pounds better than that for the corresponding quarter of 1879.  It was said that now the agitation ought to cease, but he asked whether it should cease while there were thousands of men who had no social or political freedom?  Some people told them that combinations were wrong, but then there were the lawyers' combination, the Church Defence Association, and the great organization of the artizans; and how could it be wrong for the agricultural labourers to combine also?  Then others asked, "But you are a lot of ignorant labourers, and what do you know about combination?" - (laughter).  Still for nine years they had carried on the organization, and they had never blacked their faces and they had not laid by the roadside to shoot their opponents.  They had done their work constitutionally.  The movement he contended, ought to be measured by the good it had done.  The labourer had been benefitted by it, the condition of the rural artizan had been bettered, and so had the little tradesmen in the villages.  During the first five years of the existence of the Union, there was paid into the pockets of the farm labourers and the artizans over £7,000,000.  The rise of wages which took place during 1873-6 brought into their pockets more than £1,000,000 a year;  and if the audience wanted his authority for these statistics he referred them to Mr. Leone Levi, the great actuary.  Ten years ago there was a great difference in the  appearance of the English villages on the Sabbath compared with today, and he ventured to state that never in the history of the oldest Sunday School teacher in the country did the children of the labourers go to school on the Sunday so neat clean, blithe, and happy, as they now did - (hear, hear).  In the past the agricultural laboureres had been deprived of an education.  Had they had a fair field and no favour, some of the finest statesmen would have been produced from the class.  Some of his friends had a very great horror of his doctrine, because when men were wise they would not be tools.  He wanted to see the labourers wiser, and happier men.  Calling attention, again, to what the Union - supported by the Liberal Press, sometimes, and abused by the Conservative Press - had done, he said the class for whose benefit it was established never knew so much before about the political world.  The Union had established a newspaper of its own, and anybody who did wrong to the labourers could thus be put in the pillory; and it had started a sick benefit club, out of which the Beds, Herts, and Hunts, district was each month receiving £30 for the support of men in illness.  In that fund they had nearly £7000, so that they did not intend to put the shutters up simply because their opponents "looked black" at them.  There was no doubt that the movement had brought to the front the land question.  He complained of the monopolies which existed in the possession of land.  Here was a nobleman who owned a large tract of country under the present cruel and inhuman law.  He could not sell a single yard of it, and all the interest he had init was for his life.  He might have some six or seven children, but the eldest son took the whole.  The rents were therefore scraped together and invested in foreign loans in order that the minors of the family might be endowed.  Then, again, a lot of money was often taken out of an estate for dowries and jointures and by persons who had no interest in the improvement of the land.  It was the resent miserable system which he wanted to upset, so that Lord Salisbury, Earl Spencer, or anybody else could say to the people who shared their estates, "If you want £3000 a year out of this estate, take a portion of t he land and make the £3000 by your own brains, thoughts, and improvements.  You shall not take it out of my tenants and labourers any longer" - (applause).  Landed proprietors and farmers knew that ever since 1856. the land had been starved, because from that time the money which ought to have been spent upon it had been sent over to foreign countries and invested in foreign loans.  There was no State that could inflict any injury upon any portion of its dependencies without the jury recoiloing upon its own head, and in the years of grace 1880-1 the Voice of Heaven had spoken to the agriculturists of England,  and told them that they had been weighed in the balance and found wanting.  The result of starving the land in this country had been that money had had to be sent to other countries for food, wile if more money and labour were put into the ground we might realise £60,000,000 worth more in the shape of crops.  In conclusion, Mr. Arch declared his intention of continuing to labour as long as he had strength to uproot the evils of which he complained.  But he wanted the labourers with him, and he made an appeal for their help.

Several men of the district also addressed the meeting.

WHEATHAMPSTEAD

THE BERKHAMPSTEAD STAGHOUNDS. - This well-known pack met at Mr. John Ransome's at Wheathampstead , on Wednesday.  In the run which followed, Mr. John Chennells fell and injured his head and kneecap, through the horse getting into a deep furrow.  Mr. Chennells was not seriously hurt, however; he was attended by Dr. Spackman. - The same day, a favourite bitch of the pack was kicked by a rider's horse an died.  She will be a serious loss.

WHEATHAMPSTEAD

THE BERKHAMPSTEAD STAGHOUNDS -  These hounds met on Wednesday, the 23rd, at Wheathampsteadbury, where the good sportsman, Mr. John Ransome. always gives a welcome.  The wind began to blow ominously, and heavy clouds came up as we rode along.  All was fun and jollity at the meet, as usual.  What runs we had from here, and as there was some discussion and doubt as to the date of one or two famous runs, reference to the old diary gives the following:- "April 7, '75. ran to Hatfield Hyde March 8, '76. Lady Golightly ran to the Grove, Watford, where she was shut in a hovel by Lord Clarendon's workmen as hounds were close to her.  March 28, 1877.- The same famous hind ran from Wheathampstead, and was taken for the last time at Hunton Bridge, near Watford, after a run we shall never forget.  March 27, 1878 - A stag ran to Gosmore, near Hitchin, after a house-warming at our kind friend's.  April 2, 1879.-A hind gave a short sharp gallop over the grass, with a lot of jumping, to Colney Heath."  Last season this meet was left till too late, so the ground being hard and dry it was missed; and now to chronicle the run of March 23rd, 1881.  There was a goodly company to enjoy our host's hospitality, and Mrs. Ransome, it need not be said, was equal to the occasion, begging the Master to allow extra law, so that all might be attended.  About one o'clock a stag went away from the hill, with his head towards No-Man's-Land and after a quarter of an hour Mr. Rawle trotted up with the little ladies, and we were away.  Scent was very bad as they went slowly to No-Mans-Land, skirted the Common to Hammond's-farm; the stag had not gone very straight so far, being flanked by people at work in the fields.  At one time he stopped to speak to an old friend whom he was astonished to see on foot instead of riding to hounds.  Those who understand deer's tonue say there were some funny remarks passed on both sides.  Turned down towards Sandridge, going faster to the lane beyond the village, where pools of water standing across the road tempted him to soil.  On good terms they rattled up towards Sandridgebury's Hyde on our left, racing over a good country which held a scent over big ditches to William's Gorse.  A wrong turn round a wood while hounds are racing soon puts one out of the hunt, and unfortunately one has followers who are not as a rule best pleased to find themselves involved in a stern chase.  Jack was forrard, and could be seen shoving along the "country gentlemen" as if they were enjoying themselves; and the Master's back, as the good black galloped through the dirt, was like a beacon in the distance.  Messrs. Green, Part, Wollam, and Michaud, with a few more, were in the van, Tom Cox of Harpenden-bury, Dolphin Smith, Adey,  and Harveyson handy, but no time to look about, till a turn in our favour (blood will tell!) and a check let us up.  We had made a very big ring nearly to Hatfield, and were now pointing for Brocket.  Near the park the stag turned back, running by Coleman's green, through the Devil's Dyke, back to the same field where we started.  Here they came to slow hunting after a run of one hour and a quarter.  Now the time for a huntsman to show how he could help his pack on a cold scent, and there were some out who appreciated those casts.  Down Mr. Ransomes's fields towards the railway the Master hit him off, crossed the railway and the river, hunting slowly up hill, by Marshall's Heath, to Gustard Wood.  Casting them on to Gustard Wood Common, he hit him off again, running across the grass into Lamer Park, through this on to the ploughs beyond where scent failed.  Where was the pony-chaise all this time?  A run must be fast and straight if our host and hostess cannot drive about to see it all.  Now they come up, having been detained doing ambulance duty, driving home a fallen neighbour.  Into Ayot St. Lawrence hounds ran through Prior's Wood across the Park to Codicote Bottom, where we viewed him across the stream ascending the opposite hill.  Merrily the little ladies ran across High Heath and over the grass into Codicote Lodge (perhaps they remembered crossing all the same ground on their way to Puckeridge last season).  It looked very like history repeating itself when we viewed the stag making his way towards Park Wood, which we could see in the distance; but he turned before reaching Knebworth, and ran round by  Codicote.  The dry ploughs made hounds' feet sore, cut and bleeding, and there was no grass to help them.  Getting a view, the Master capped them on back over the hill and down the water meadows, where they raced him into Mr. Cox's farm in Codicote Bottom, and took him at half-past four.  There were many falls in the course of this run, and it is feared one or two serious.  Poor Nancy, the yellow and white bitch that could hunt so well in water or take the lead when others were in difficulties, was badly kicked in the head, to had to be left at a farmhouse early in the day.  It is a question whether she can recover, and of course no one knows who did it.  It use to be the custom for anyone who rode over or kicked a hound to send a load of hay, or its equivalent to the kennels.  It may be sent anonymously to save disgrace, and will be acknowledged by the treasurer.  Verbum sap.  Only those who know all about hounds can tell the troubles and difficulties that beset a huntsman; surely they should  be lightened as much as possible.  Lucky were those near home when we finished, for rain began to fall.  After a meal at Mr. Ransome's, whose house fortunately lay in our way home, we started through the storm and arrived soon after nine.  What wonder that we should plead the cause of hunt servants, and try to collect for their fund, knowing what the have to go through these long wet rides with tired hound and horses.  But, after all, there is nothing like hunting. - county Gentleman.

WHEATHAMPSTEAD

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH - By an advertisement it will be seen that on Monday and Tuesday next a bazaar will be held with a view to removing the debt on the Congregational Church.  The Mayor of St. Albans will open the bazaar at two o'clock on Easter Monday

WHEATHAMPSTEAD

CHURCH FESTIVAL - The dedication festival of this church will be observed on Tuesday 3rd prox., when there will  be a special choral service.  The Rev. M. F. Argles, fellow of St. John's College, and Principal of St. Stephen's House, Oxford, will preach in the evening.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. - On Easter Monday, a meeting of the local branch took place under the presidency of Rev. A. Curtis.  Several ladies and gentlemen of the village assisted, with success, in entertaining the members of the society, which is progressing satisfactorily in the parish.

ACCIDENT. - On Saturday night, as an elderly man named Joseph Webster, of Down Green, was passing through Wheathampstead on his way home he slipped on some flints.  The result of the accident was not at first thought to be of a very serious character, but on Monday it was deemed advisable to remove him to the St. Albans Hospital, when it was found that he had broken his kneecap.  He is still an inmate of the institution.

THE EASTER DECORATIONS AT THE CHURCH. - On Sunday last, the parish church was, as is usual at Eastertide, decorated with the choicest flowers of the season.  The recesses of two of the east windows were filled with evergreens, surmounting which were prettily-formed floral devices; and resting on the re-table was the motto, "Christ is Risen. Alleluia."  Within the communion rails there were groups of potted plants in bloom, and on the rails hung a couple of moss baskets, filled with the choicest flowers which the season could yield.  The choir stalls were tied with daffodils.  a small buttress of the tower was covered with moss, and small bunches of primroses and some daffodils gave a pretty effect.  The pulpit was very nicely trimmed.  a band of moss and the blossoms of  a variety of flowers - roses, camelias, azaleas, primroses, geraniums, daises, &c. - was stretched around the upper panels; a moss basket filled with such blossoms as those just mentioned was hung over each lower panel.  The lectern was entwined with primroses, associated with moss and a few arum blossoms; all the light standards in the church were similarly entwined with the pretty yellow flower which the season has so abundantly yielded.  The lower part of the font had a bed of moss around it and bunches of primroses, from out of the bowl arose a white azalia plant, surrounded by blossoms of the same plant and other white flowers;  The decorations were tastefully carried out, and those portions of the church where the best opportunities are give for decoration looked very pretty.  We understand that the work was undertaken by the family at the Rectory and other ladies of the parish.

BAZAAR OF FANCY AND USEFUL ARTICLES. - On Easter Monday and Tuesday, a bazaar, the purpose of which was to clear off a debt existing on the new Congregational Church at Wheathampstead, was held in the schoolroom close to the church.  the bazaar was opened as two o'clock on Monday afternoon by the Mayor of St. Albans (Mr. E. S. Wiles), in the presence of a company or supporters of the object in view, several of whom came from a distance.  The Rev. J. S. Hoppus, the minister, in introducing Mr. Wiles, said he could not allow the important occasion to pass by without saying just a few words before the y proceeded to the great business of the day.  In the first place, he should be very pleased to acknowledge his gratitude to their esteemed friend in the chair, who had not only been present with them that day, but who on other occasions had rendered his assistance.  He came now on an auspicious occasion, for they could not help remembering that this was the Easter festival, when their thoughts were directed to that grand historical fact on which the splendid fabric of Christianity was reared.  In 1876, Mr. Wiles laid the foundation stone of the adjoining church, and he (Mr. Hoppus) remarked, when he asked the Mayor to be present that day, that havoing laid the first stone, he could not do better than to lay the stone which was to crown the edifice.  About £70 was needed to clear off the debt on the chapel, and if the bazaar resulted in enabling them to pay the sum he would be very glad.  He was happy to state that here were present representatives from Dr. Oswald Dukes's church in Regent-square, the Presbyterians belonging to which had always been their best friends.  They had also representatives from the church at Hemel Hempstead, in the person of the Rev. Mr. McIntosh and several of his friends; a representative of the Scotch Church in Regent-square; and the Rev. M. Torbolton, who had recently gone to Harpenden, and a gentleman connected with the church there.  Other people from London were likewise present.  The speaker added that they were indebted to those kind, patient, and thoughtful workers who then stood in the room, and he thanked them for the many articles which covered the stalls and the manner in which the things had been grouped together. - Mr. Wiles, in opening the bazaar, stated that it gave hem great pleasure to come to Wheathampstead.  He had known many present for a long time, but he had known the building in which they were assembled a very much longer time.  It was the fact that he knew the building, formerly occupied as a chapel, so long as 55 years ago.  when he first came into this neighbourhood it was to Harpenden school, and he often visited at Wheathampstead, where some near relatives who were the means of building the chapel resided.  He had pleasant recollections of those visits, and it gave hem much pleasure to do what little he could to forward and continue a work in which a dear relative of his was so much interested; he referred to Mr. George Sutton, of Wheathampstead Mill, whom some, though he did not expect many, might recollect.  He was happy that the work was still going on and that so many were found to give encouragement to Mr. Hoppus.  With regard to the days on which the bazaar was held for the important purpose of wiping off the debt, he ventured to express the opinion that the selection was not a wise one, for while Easter Monday was a holiday, the holiday took people away rather than brought them there.  However, he had no doubt, the promoters ad acted for the best and he only hoped the result would be satisfactory to them.  If the event should turn out as desired he should look back with pleasure to the part he had taken in the proceedings; and if, after having done the best themselves, Mr. Hoppus would call upon him, he should be happy to give £5 5s. toward the object - (hear, hear).  He was glad to know that they had a most commodious church and that the attendance at the services was very good, the building being on Sunday evenings quite full.  He wished every blessing on the labours of Mr. and Mrs. Hoppus, whom he was told were exceedingly zealous in giving encouragement to the young and to persons of larger growth.  - The Rev. J. S. Hoppus here mentioned that if the promoters of the bazaar could raise £40, Mr. E. Lockhart very kindly consented to raise the other £30 which was needed.  - Mr. Lockhard moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Wiles.  Mr. G. H. Williams, of Finchley, one of the hon secretaries of the Herts Congregational Union, seconded, and said the structure of the Wheathampstead church was a model to the Congregational churches of the county.  He did not know a prettier or more commodious building in the district.  - The bazaar was then opened.  The room had been decorated by Mr. Lockhart.  There was a large display of articles such as are usually to be found at bazaars.  The stall holders were - of No. 1 stall, Mrs. Hoppus, Mrs. Lockhart and Mrs. Jesse Chennells;  of No. 2, the Misses Gray and Odells (2); of the refreshment stall, Mr. Lockhard  and Mr. Jesse Chennells.  The sale proved quite a success, the proceeds being £57 7s.  To all who in any way contributed to this satisfactory result, it is desired to express thanks. 

WHEATHAMPSTEAD

THE CHURCH, - The Dedication festival of this church was observed on Tuesday last, by special choral services, in the afternoon and evening.  The first service at a 3.45 consisted of a shortened form of Evening Service.  In place of the anthem, Mendelssohn's "Hymn of Praise" (the Lobgesang) was given.  The principal parts were taken by Choristers Duddington (soprano), of Peterborough Cathedral: George Green (tenor); G. Clark (alto); and Pike (tenor - formerly organist of Wheathampstead).  Mr. Jolly presided at the organ, and his playing added greatly tot he effect of the beautiful accompaniments to the recitatives, solos, duets, and choruses which were well given by the united choirs.  Though an early work of Mendelssohn, the Hymn of Praise displays the author's great genius for sacred compositions. The descriptive power of music in that portion of the Hymn relating to the Watchman has seldom been equalled.  There was a numerous congregation in the afternoon.  The Special Lessons were read by the Rector of St. Albans.  On leaving church the members of the congregation were invited to partake of refreshments at the Rectory, where they were hospitably entertained by the Rev. Cannon and Mrs. Davys.  Among the guests at the Rectory were the Marchioness of Salisbury and the Ladies Cecil, Lady Byron, the Rev. P. Douglas, Mrs. F. and Mrs. Baxendale, Mr. Drake-Garrard, Mrs F. Marten, Mrs. Holdsworth, the Rev. Canon Wingfield, the Rev. W. J. Lawrance, the Rev. F. Argles, of Oxford, the congregation was not so large.  The Rector intoned the prayers, and the Rev. A. Curtis, curate of the parish, read the Lessons.  The special Psalms were the 84th and the 87th.  The anthem, "O where shall wisdom be found!" from the book of Job (Dr. Boyce), was sung by the choir, reinforced by singers from Peterborough.  The Re. M. F. Argles preached his sermon from John xv. 11: "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."  These words of our Saviour were wonderful words, surely, to be spoken by One on the very brink of death, struggling against mortal agony and fear.  In the text was mentioned, first of all, Christ's joy; and secondly, human joy - the first absolute, as all that belonged to God is, and the second, subject to change, and progressive.  Love could be nothing but the going out of self toward another - not loving another for the mere selfish pleasure of so doing: that ws but a parody of love.  Love should be self-sacrificing, even to the extreme limit of giving up one's life for the sake of another.  For the joy which was before Him, Christ endured the cross;  all great writers and thinkers agreed that happiness was the great thing to be aimed at in this world; they only differed in what happiness consisted;  They agreed too, that thee must be some general description of happiness.  It would not do, for instance, to describe it as a pleasure, because men differed so much as to what indeed was pleasant.  The Lord said happiness consisted in self-sacrifice.  All men agreed that the happiness of man must be found in the attainment of the purpose for which he was created; and if he was created not for himself but for others, he must be miserable if he loved only himself.  We can have no happiness without self-sacrifice.  It would be impossible even to really enjoy the festival of that day, without sacrificing something.  Let the congregation give something which they really felt, if they wished to have true Christian happiness.  The offertory at both the afternoon and evening services was devoted to the fund for defraying the expense of enlarging the organ.

WHEATHAMPSTEAD

CHURCH OF ENGLAND TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. - The second anniversary meeting of the Wheathampstead branch was held on Wednesday evening last in the National School, Mr. G. U. Robins, vice-president, in the chair.  The report for the past year having been read by the Rev. A. F. Curtis, and officers elected for the ensuing year, the meeting was addressed by Mr. George Nelson (deputation from the Parent Society), who in a very able speech set forth the glaring evils of intemperance as the main source of crime and misery, both in town and country, and pressed upon all the duty of meeting the special evil with the special remedies promoted by the Church Temperance Society.  The address was attentively listened to by the best audience hitherto assembled under the auspices of this branch, and at its close badges were distributed to those members of the total abstaining section who had kept the pledge for a full year.

THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS. - The W. T. White of Redbourn, has addressed a letter to the chairman of the Wheathampstead branch of the Agricultural Labourers' Union.  He says that, hearing there was to be a meeting in the village on Tuesday, 21st inst., and as he would not e able to be present, he sent a few remarks which might perhaps be useful.  The subject selected was the condition of the working classes, i.e., the hand-workers of Switzerland.  In the year 1870, Mr. Bonar, her Majesty's Minister at Berne, drew up a report on this subject, and in 1871 and in 1872, Mr. Gould, secretary to her Majesty's Legation at Berne, drew up further reports.  From these the facts and inferences submitted in Mr. White's letter (which was of considerable length) are mostly drawn.  After glancing at the educational opportunities which the Swiss people possess, the civil and military laws, which seriously interfere with their working days, and at the "accidental circumstances" which specially favour them, Mr. Gould is quoted from "The position of the working man in the Swiss Confederation differs in most respects from that of his co-labourers in England.  His political and social status, his education, habits, and wants, the resources at his disposal, and the duties incumbent on him, bear one and all a marked contrast with those of his English fellow-workmen.  Among the various causes which have most effectually contributed to bring about the result, one in general so favourable to him, must be specially noticed - the political institutions of the country."  A sketch of these was therefore give.  "As it has been shown, the position in which the Swiss working man finds himself, through the force of circumstances perhaps almost as much s through the action of the political and social institutions of his country is one probably without parallel; as the member of a distinct class he may be said not to exist, for in Switzerland he is on a par with all around him, both politically and socially."  With his resources and the aid afforded by the innumerable philanthropic institutions with which the  country abounds, he is better enabled than others to tide over those formidable vicissitudes of fortune, principally resulting from want of labour, to which he, in common with the industrial classes of all countries, is exposed.  Nowhere, it is balanced with the fruits of industry: when one fails, the other secures the population from the danger of being in want.  Sooner than remain idle the men will undertake whatever job chance may throw in their way.  Men who in the tourist season frequently earn as guides, porters, &c., enough to keep themselves and their families in comfort during the remainder of the year, may nevertheless be seen in winter willingly exposing themselves to the severest hardships for the small sum of a franc or two a day; employers of labour of every class, even such as are wealthy, toil in general as hard as any of their men, among whom they are constantly to be found.  No people in the world understand the value of money better; at the same time no country offers a more striking example of what, under peculiarly unfavourable circumstances, may be achieved by steady, plodding industry, combined with rigid economy.

RURAL FETE. - The Foresters (No. 6199), in conjunction with the Grove Lodge, M. U. Odd Fellows, held their sixth anniversary on Monday, in a meadow lent by Mr. Seabrook.  The weather was beautifully fine, and there was a good attendance.  Refreshments and a dinner were provided on the ground by Mr. McCulloch.  About 70 sat down to a substantial repast.  There were the rustic sports usual at such gatherings, viz., pony, donkey, and foot racing, cocoa-nut bowling, swings, Aunt Sally, kiss-in-th-ring, dancing, &c.  An efficient brass band, conducted by Mr. Batchelor, from Codicote, attended, and enlivened the proceedings with some selections of music.  The festivities were kept up to a late hour, when thee was a fine display of fire-works.  The best trace of the day was a pony race, in which five stared, and was won by Mr. Fountaine, George Hotel, St. Albans.

HARVEST FESTIVAL. - The harvest services were held at Wheathampstead Church on Sunday last.  The edifice was, as usual, very prettily decorated with corn and flowers and hot-house plants, and all the services were attended by large congregations.  The offertories during the day were devoted to the funds of the National and Sunday Schools of the parish.

HUNTING - A correspondent writes as follows: "Friday last being a nice morning I was induced to go and have a look at the Hertfordshire Hounds, the meet being at No-Man's-Land.  Ward commenced drawing the common, a brace of foxes were soon on foot, which looks well for the occupiers of the land in that locality, but unfortunately at first we could not get on terms with either of them.  Old Bob Ward with his usual instinct, had an idea that one of them had stolen away to Piccotts-mill-wood.  He accordingly trotted in there, and sure enough he was right, as he always is, for no sooner were the hounds in the cover then out came Mr. Reynard.  We raced him at first in the direction of No-Man's-Land, turning sharp back to the left almost to Wheathampstead then back again to the Grove, when he made up his mind to face the difficulty.  He then crossed the river near Lesey Bridge, leaving Mackray End on the left, over Gustard Wood to Ayott St. Lawrence, when we came to a check.  However, after a very short time we were soon put right again as Reynard was viewed away from the shrubbery in Mr. Ames' garden.  We ran him then through Brimstone Wood by Codicote Bottom, on to the Heath beyond, pulling him down after one hour and twenty minutes.  I certainly must congratulate the Hertfordshire people on having such a marvellous man as Ward for their huntsman; a gentleman who was with me said he never before saw hounds hunted like those were on Friday."

MR. COBDEN AND MR. LATTIMORE. - In the course of a review of "The Life of Richard Cobden," by John Morley, the Times, says: - "The county meetings which took place on the Saturdays in 1813, are described by Mr. Morley as 'perhaps the most striking and original feature in the whole agitation.'  At Hertford, at Aylesbury, at Uxbridge, at Lincoln, farmers' meetings were held at which all the neighbourhood attended, and resolutions in favour of free trade were passed by great majorities.  Is was from a farmer - Mr. Lattimore, of Wheathampstead - that Cobden gained many of his most telling arguments, and was enabled to speak to the House of Commons as he spoke on March 13th, 1845, when he put the case for free trade solely on agricultural grounds.  'Mr. Lattimore told me.' said Cobden, 'that he had paid during the last year £230 in enhanced price on the beans and other provender which he had bought for his cattle, in consequence of the restrictions on food of foreign growth, and that this sum amounted to 14s. a quarter on all the wheat which he had sold off his farm.'  Arguments like this were such as farmers could appreciate, and such as a Parliament of landlords could not afford to despise.  They prepared the way for the great measure which, after much hesitation, much Cabinet wrangling, an Irish famine, a resignation and a resumption of office, Peel finally presented to the House at the beginning of the Session of 1846

CONCERT - A grand concert is announce to take place in the National Schoolroom, on Wednesday evening next, under the direction of Mr. Harry Sullivan.  Some well-known artistes are announced to appear. [see advt.]

CONCERT - A grand evening concert was given in the Schoolroom of this village on Wednesday last, in aid of the fund for the restoration of the school bell-turret.  The artists were - Miss Berrie Stephens (soprano), Miss Jeanie Ross (contralto), Mr. Rudland (tenor), Mr. Prenton (basso), Mr. Levett King (buffo).  Miss Jeanie Rosse arriving late, a slight deviation was necessary in the order of the programme.  Brinley Richard's trio, "Up, quit thy bower," opened the concert, and this was followed by "The Blue Alsatian Mountains," tastefully sung by Mr. Rudland. who was, unfortunately, suffering from a cold.  The rendering of Bishop's aria, "Lo! here the gently lark," by Miss Stephens, with flute obligato by Mr. Richardson. was awarded with deserving applause.  This young lady, who has a most pleasing manner and well-cultivated voice, also won great applause for Roechel's "A Bird in Hand," and in response to an encore, sung the same composer's "Two's Company."  Mr. Prenton's deep and rich bass voice was very effective in Stark's song "Stranded," and again in a new song "The Powder Monkey."  The second part of the programme opened with Bishop's trio, "Maiden Fair," and followed by Balfe's "Come into the garden Maud."  The duet, "No, Sir" sung by Miss Jeanie Ross was most successful in the rendering of her songs.  This lady is possessed of a magnificent voice, with extraordinary power and compass, and her delivery of "The lady of the Lea," gained an enthusiastic encore.  Mr. Lovett King amused the audience with his clever musical sketch "An un-Musical Party," and for an encore substituted "The Wonderful Musician."  In the second part, too, this gentleman provoked roars of laughter by his delivery of "Rustic Courtship."  The concert was fairly well attended, and the performers ere, without exception, most enthusiastically recalled after each song.  The artistes, too, were in excellent voice, and a most favourable impression was formed upon a most attentive audience.  The director of the concert was Mr. Harry Sullivan, and to him this musical village is indebted for a most enjoyable concert.  Among the audience were the Rev. Canon Davys, Mrs. Davys, and the Misses Davys, Mr. and Miss Lydekker, Mrs. and Miss Busk, Col. and Mrs. Smythe, Miss Fenwick, Mrs Robins, and Mr. and Miss Sheppard,&c.

SUDDEN DEATH OF A CHILD. - During the past week Mrs. Arnold of No-Man's-Land, took her little child, aged eleven months to Wheathampstead to consult Dr. Murray, the baby having been unwell.  On unfastening the shawls in which it was wrapped, the child was found to be dead.  The coroner has decided that an inquest in unnecessary.

CHURCH TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. -  On Thursday evening, 22nd inst., a large audience assembled in the Schoolroom to hear a lecture by Mr. Richard Scelling, on the temperance question.  Mr. Snelling has for some years past been suffering from total blindness, but has so far overcome his infirmity that he is able to travel alone about the country, and give a series of lectures, which are certainly above the average in clearness, eloquence, and poser of illustration.  Under the title of "Hard Nuts, and how to crack them," Mr. Snelling effectually answered the objections commonly raised against the practice of total abstinence on physical, scientific, social, moral, and religious grounds; enforcing his arguments with great variety of facts and humerous anecdotes.  The chair was occupied by Mr. G. Upton Robins, J.P., one of the vice-presidents of the Wheathampstead Branch.