THE CHURCH PASTORAL SOCIETY, EXETER, 1880

1879 was a tough year for the citizens of Exeter.  At the annual meeting of the Exeter Branch of the Church Pastoral Society, in February 1880,  the Chairman,  Mr. William Porter of Hembury Fort, a wealthy landowner, son of the Bishop of Belleisle and father-in-law to four Anglican parsons, felt he needed to find words to address the fact that the funds at the Society's disposal had decreased.    His audience, in the main, was of clergymen.  

He made reference to the unprecedented depression in trade, commerce and agriculture and particularly to the "falling off" that there had been in the last harvest "both in regard to the quality and quantity of the crops" and "the disease that had prevailed among the flocks."  

"Of course," he told them, "they did not know why all this was permitted, but for himself, he could not help thinking that, when God was pleased to bless them with prosperity, there was only an increase of drunkenness, luxury, self pleasure and those things only which pleased themselves, and that they did not give that glory to God that they ought to have done..... Under the circumstances, it might be necessary for them to look into themselves and see if this might not be the case.  But whilst they had this visitation from God, they must also look on the bright side of the picture and see how He had been pleased to bless our armies at the Cape and in India.  It shewed that He had not forgotten them. and the adversities that they had suffered at home might be a means of drawing them back to give glory and honour to His name. 

With regard to the diminution of the funds, he hoped and trusted, and, he might say he felt, that they ought to use every means in their power, by the exercise of discretion and self-denial, to make it up."

The logic of Mr. Porter's speech is that, in 1879, God was displeased with the nation, hence the poor harvest &c.,  but despite being displeased He was still rooting for our armies at the Cape and in India. - Well, maybe! 

Source: The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 13th February 1880.