Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper
Articles
The Western Gazette Friday 18 Jun 1880
Page 6 Column Various
PITNEY.
TRIPLE SWARM. - Some bees belonging to Mr. J. CHARD, jun., have swarmed three times within 14 days, two of the swarmings being within three days. Considering the bad season last year, this may be considered an unusual occurrence.
FIVEHEAD.
JOHN CURWEN. - In connection with the decease of John CURWEN, the founder of the Tonic Sol Fa College, and the originator of the movement, a memorial service was held in the Baptist Chapel, Fivehead, on Sunday evening, when the Rev. J. COMPSTON preached from Revelation xiv., 13. The musical part of the service was gone through with much taste and feeling by the choir and congregation. The anthem was “I heard a voice from heaven” (D. F. HODGES), and the hymns were “Hark, the sound of holy voices” (Dr. WORDSWORTH), “How softly on the western hills” (PEASBODY), “He fell asleep in Christ his Lord” (RAWSON), “Servant of God, well done” (Montgomery). In the course of the sermon on the words “Their works do follow them,“ Mr. COMPSTON stated that Mr. CURWEN was born at Heckmondwike, in Yorkshire, November 14th, 1816. Educated at Coward College and University College, London, he became assistant Congregationalist minister at Basingstoke in 1838, when he invented the “Look and Say” method of teaching to read, and taught Sunday-school children to sing. In 1841, he became co-pastor at Stowmarket, Suffolk, and visited the schools patronised by the late Miss GLOVER, of Norwich, whose method of teaching vocal music he afterwards adopted and perfected. At a conference of Sunday-school teachers at Hull, during that year, he was urged to get the system into use, and from that time he devoted increasing energy to what proved to be the great work of his life. In 1844, he was elected pastor at Plaistow, London, where he developed and promoted the Tonic Sol Fa method of teaching to sing, for homes, schools, and congregations. Having to resign the ministry through enfeebled health in 1867, he established a printing and publishing business in order to facilitate the creation of a Tonic Sol Fa literature, a step which was attended with remarkable success. As early as 1853, his co-workers in England and Wales, as well as in Scotland, had become so numerous that the Tonic Sol Fa Association for the promotion of vocal music was organised; and in 1862, the Tonic Sol Fa College, for the education of teachers and the issue of certificates of proficiency, was founded. Mr. CURWEN was the author of “The Child's Own Hymn Book,” “Songs and Tunes for Education,” “The People's Service of Song,” “The Standard Course of Lessons on the Tonic Sol Fa Method,” “Construction Exercises in Elementary Musical Composition,” “How to Observe Harmony,” “Musical Statics,” and other works. His unexpected death occurred whilst he was on a visit to Manchester, on the 26th ult.
ISLE ABBOTS.
SUDDEN DEATH. - An inquiry was held here on Saturday on the body of a labourer, named Geo. ADAMS, aged 19, who died suddenly on Wednesday. Mr. W. W. MUNCKTON was the coroner. The evidence showed that deceased complained of pains in the chest and side on the morning of his death. It transpired at the inquiry that deceased had been a few days previous standing in water fishing and afterwards complained of feeling unwell. Emily ADAMS, sister to deceased, Eliza PEACH, and Dr. MUNDEN, of Ilminster, having given evidence, the jury returned a verdict “That the deceased died from congestion of the lungs, resulting from natural causes.” Most of the jury handed over their fees to the mother of deceased, who is at present very ill.
SHEPTON BEAUCHAMP.
SALE. - On June 10th, Mr. HEXT, of Ilminster, submitted to public auction, at the Duke of York Inn, the undermentioned lots of property situate in the parish of Shepton Beauchamp:- A dwelling-house, with garden, stable, outbuildings, and orchard adjoining, about 1a. 0r. 36p., bought by Mr. Charles BOND, builder, Barrington, for £331. A cottage, with stone-quarry and garden, found a purchaser in Mr. IRISH, of Shepton Beauchamp, for £106.