DOMESTIC.

On the evening of Wednesday, September 26, a very gratifying and interesting meeting was held in the New meeting-house, Birmingham. The occasion was that of presenting to the Rev. Samuel Bache, minister of the congregation, a testimonial of their affectionate regard and esteem. Tea was served in the vestry, which was tastefully decorated on the occasion; and afterwards a numerous and influential assembly of the senior and junior members of the congregation met in the chapel, where the presentation took place. JAMES RUSSELL, Esq., was, on the motion of Rev. JOHN KENTISH, called upon to preside. In opening the proceedings,

The CHAIRMAN expressed the extreme disappointment of several members of the congregation that circumstances had prevented them from being present. Then, turning to Mr. Bache, he observed, that in the early part of July a special meeting of the New-meeting congregation was held, to consider the propriety of presenting him, as their minister, with some mark of their respect and esteem. At that meeting it was unanimously agreed that such an expression of their grateful feelings should be conveyed to him in a form that would be useful and acceptable to him, and at the same time be accompanied by some token which would give a character of permanency to their proceedings. The elegant purse now before him, and the cushion upon which it rested, were the work of grateful and attached pupils, and as such he (Mr. Russell) was sure would be an acceptable present to him; but it would be rendered more acceptable to him when he informed him that the contents of the purse had been raised by willing contributions from all classes of his hearers-from the wealthy as from the more humble but equally cheerful contributor-from the aged as well as from the younger members of the congregation -from the faithful domestic servant as well as from the good and grateful Sunday-school child. He should best characterize the contributions by stating that £306 had been placed in his hands by one hundred and fifty-nine

contributors; that of that amount he five of £10, and the remainder was had received one generous gift of £20, composed of contributions varying in amount from £5 to 6d. The carrying out of the other part of the resolution was entrusted to a sub-committee, who had selected the elegant Time-piece, executed by Dent, and bearing the following inscription from the pen of Mr. Kentish:

"1849, Sept. 26th. New Meetinghouse, Birmingham: This Time-piece (together with a Purse of Two Hundred and Seventy-four Sovereigns) is presented to the Rev. Samuel Bache, by his Congregation, as a Memorial of their affectionate and grateful esteem for his private and public character, and of their fervent wishes for his longcontinued usefulness and comfort."

"It is, then, Sir," said Mr. Russell, addressing the Rev. gentleman, “my pleasing duty, as chairman of that ge neral meeting, to present you with this purse, containing 274 sovereigns, and this time-piece, as a memorial of our gratitude and affectionate esteem." The presentation having been made, the Chairman proceeded to remark, that at the meeting to which he had before alluded, it was also determined that this testimonial should be accompanied by an address. It would, he was sure, afford him (Mr. Bache) the highest gratification to know that the adoption of the address submitted to the general meeting was moved by his honoured and venerable friend Mr. Kentish, who might have been regarded as his respected colleague, but who especially desired upon that occasion to be considered a member of the congregation and one of his stated hearers. Addressing the meeting, Mr. Russell said, those who had had the privilege of hearing Mr. Kentish on that occasion would not soon forget his forcible and impressive address. He referred to his early acquaintance with Mr. Bache-to the favourable impression which Mr. Bache, when a youth, made upon his mind to the anticipations which he had formed as to his future character; and he expressed his thankfulness that he had been spared to witness his most sanguine expectations of his character for usefulness fully realized. Mr. Kentish spoke also of Mr. Bache's peculiar fitness for the minis

try-of the great value which he set upon the important duties of a Christian minister-of the high estimation in which Mr. Bache was held in the Unitarian body; he spoke of his pulpit services, which he characterized as manly, affectionate, fervent, and opposed to every thing like pulpit declamation, or mere preaching for effect; and he congratulated the New-meeting congregation on the possession of such a minister, whom he spoke of as well worthy to succeed to the pulpit of Dr. Priestley, and upon whose services he himself attended with increased and increasing delight. Mr. Russell concluded by reading the following Address, which he presented to Mr. Bache:

"Reverend and Dear Sir,-It is with no ordinary feelings of affectionate regard that we join to present you with a testimonial of gratitude and attachment. When we review the period of seventeen years during which you have resided amongst us, whether we consider the discharge of your duties as a Christian minister, your constancy and kindness as a friend, or the inflexible integrity of your life, we derive the utmost comfort and satisfaction from the review; and we trust that the retrospect will afford you equal cause of pleasure. In that period many of the elders of your congregation have been gathered to their fathers, who, had they been living, would most cheerfully have joined us in this pleasing undertaking. But their places are not vacant, being filled by those who have been foremost in this work of respect and gratitude. Among those, also, who have taken a deep interest in this work, are some in mature life, who not only feel indebted to you for your edifying pulpit services, but who have had their religious impressions invigorated, and their knowledge of Scripture enlarged, by attendance upon your valuable weekly lectures. Others there are, too, who gladly avail themselves of this opportunity of gratefully acknowledging their obligations to you for those religious influences which have greatly contributed to the establishment of their characters; whilst the younger members of our congregation anxiously look forward to their continued attendance upon those religious instructions which you regularly and devotedly offer them. All, then, unite in this tribute of respect and gratitude to a minister so deservedly honoured, respected and beloved. We earnestly pray that Almighty

case.

The Rev. Mr. BACHE, in acknowledging the presentation, addressed the congregation as his very kind and very dear friends. When they felt the most, he observed, and had, perhaps, the most they could wish to say, they very often found themselves least able to utter what they felt. Such, then, was his He would endeavour, in as few words as he could, to dismiss those matters which had the most immediate and powerful bearing upon his personal feelings, for the plain reason that otherwise he could hardly be expected to control those feelings on an occasion which was one of the most interesting in his life, as assuredly it was also one of the most unlooked for. But he could not do so much violence to his feelings as not to express, however briefly and imperfectly, the strong deep sense he entertained of the most generous and Christian kindness which he had always received from every member of that congregation-a kindness which, he asked them to believe, he needed not that splendid testimonial to assure him of-a kindness which had supported, cheered and animated him in his daily walks of life-a kindness always extended to him, but more strongly than ever felt of late. He held in his hand two papers, both of which were to him of great value. The one was a copy of one which he treasured

he meant the invitation of that congregation to him to become their minister, and of the correspondence connected with it: the other was the Address which had just been presented to him. That invitation he had sometimes occasion to peruse, for this reason-that when a man proposed to himself a work of a comprehensive and difficult character, he first set himself down to define the nature of that work; and it was necessary that while engaged in its prosecution, he should revert to the views he took of it in his calmer moments, to see how far he was carrying out the purpose originally contemplated. And with that view he had

reverted to the invitation of that congregation, and to the view he then had of the obligations which, if he accepted it, he should thereby incur. He had looked over this invitation and correspondence that afternoon. More happy was he than he could venture to express to find that, in reference to these documents, he had their kind and cordial testimony to the fact, that the obligations which he then contemplated as being about to undertake, he had at least endeavoured to fulfil. That he had done; and he knew that, although he used but customary language, he could truly say that no one felt more strongly than himself, how far short these endeavours fell of the standard he had raised for himself, and which he had always striven to keep high aloft. He was not satisfied with himself. He did not desire that he should easily be so. But he was more than satisfied, more than recompensed, by the kindness which that most precious Address manifested towards him. It was impossible that a society of any kind could effectively carry on its united exertions for the accomplishment of the object they might have in view, without the active co-operation of its several members. This held good with regard to all societies, but it was eminently true of religious associations, connected as they were with their ministers and pastors; for one of the most powerful elements of success was that mutual kind understanding, and affectionate sympathy and cordial co-operation, which was at once the highest reward of the faithful minister and his most welcome encouragement. For that encouragement he indeed felt deeply indebted to them. Four years before, it had been his privilege and happiness to be present on an occasion of very deep interest, somewhat similar to the present, when a large and respectable congregation presented to his revered friend and tutor, Mr. Wellbeloved, a testimonial of their regard for services rendered to them and their predecessors for the very long period of fifty-four years. He well remembered the words which Mr. Wellbeloved uttered on that occasion. Among the very pleasing circumstances which, he said, had delighted him that day, one was, that he saw around him several of those who had been his pupils; and he trusted that among the other advantages of their meeting, the testimonial which he had received would be an encouragement to his young friends and

en

ministers to be faithful and zealous in the work, to go on cheerfully, without fear, and without being dispirited: that occurred in 1845. He (Mr. Bache) took that lesson home, little anticipating events which had occurred since that period. None knew what might occur -none knew what shall be on the morrow; but he, least of all, anticipated that after so comparatively short a period of service-of service which he must not venture to place beside that of his revered friend-this congregation should present to him so valuable and noble a testimonial of their regard. Such an event never entered his imagination. He valued it not the less highly, however; on the contrary, he valued it the more. But he looked on it not merely as a personal testimonial. Highly as he valued it as a testimonial to himself, and highly as his family would value it in that relation, he might be permitted, as a Christian minister, to say, that he valued it more highly still in connection with that great work which as minister and people they were gaged in, most heartily and unitedly — the maintenance of what they believed to be great and important Christian truths and principles. And here he would say that it was a peculiar satisfaction to him to receive the counte nance and cordial support of his revered and beloved colleague. Mr. Kentish knew how cordial had been the union between them since he (Mr. Bache) had been called to the high office of his colleague; he knew the independent principle which had been maintained on the part of both. Neither had expected any concession from the other but what strict principle, integrity and a conscientious regard for duty, would justify; and he (Mr. Bache) was proud, therefore, of the testimony which his kindness had given to his humble services. He had reason to be proud of that testimony, for it was indeed a gratifying thing to be praised by one who was himself praised.-He could not sit down without adverting to one or two other particulars in that Address. One was the kind gift to which it alluded. It was a delight to him to know that that gift was not only the result of contributions freely and cordially offered, but that it was from persons of all ranks and stations in society. He could honestly say, as a Christian minister, that he knew no man after the flesh. He did not allow himself, as such, to know of the worldly condition of those among whom he ministered. It was gratify

ing, also, to have the renewed and repeated testimony of the sincere and affectionate regards of his young friends. It was not many years since he received from them the expression of their grate. ful regards; and hardly a day passed, that he availed himself of their present, but their kind and affectionate feeling was as a cordial to his heart. He would not enlarge on a topic, interesting_to them as a congregation as it was. He might, however, be permitted sincerely to say, that while his revered colleague and himself acknowledged themselves as their servants, they always remembered that they were the servants of a higher Master, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Being his servants, they were bound to maintain his truth. That was their first duty towards him who came into the world to bear witness to the truth. Never since he had come there, had he been in any degree restricted in the maintenance and avowal of what he believed to be true. Unquestionably his views were sometimes practically different from the views some had entertained, and occasions had occurred when they had differed; but he looked back on these occasions only to remember that his views were respected, as he respected the views of those who differed from him, and that they had always been united in agreeing to differ. He trusted that every member of the congregation had received from their connection with it such principles. To the maintenance of the principles of religious liberty that society had always been devoted; its prosperity was bound up with them, and never, he hoped, would there be any attempt to violate them. It was only in proportion as their convictions became the convictions of their own minds, that they could have their just influence on the heart. These were the two primary principles he had ever kept in view. In the application of them to the religious services in that house of worship, he remembered that the first thing required was perfect sincerity. Without that, no offering could be acceptable; with it, the most imperfect was received graciously. He could not keep back the fact that their worship was paid to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. On the other hand, he wished not to hold that important fact as a mere matter of controversy. These were the principles on which he endeavoured to act in that religious society. It was not easy, however, to carry out great and comprehensive principles, be

cause it scarcely ever happened that they could be embodied into any popular cry. From their very nature they were incapable of such mean and degrading compression. He never had any misgiving as to their truth and their importance, but he had had misgivings as to the probability of their acceptance with the majority of those to whom he wished to recommend them. For this reason he felt gratitude to Almighty God, the supporter and guardian of the righteous, and, under Him, to them, his kind and valued friends, for the assurance they had given him that he need not at all distrust the effect of faithful and persevering maintenance of what was just and true and right. It would be, as it had often been, his most earnest prayer to be enabled yet further to fulfil the work assigned him as their minister. Their candour to him was such that he sometimes, to speak the truth, felt embarrassed by it. Very often, when he had made the most careful and diligent preparation for addressing them, he felt, when the time came, a distrust of himself; but he had had such great and repeated proofs of their considerate kindness, that he trusted to be able to throw that feeling off. He knew how kind they were, and that he might rely on that kindness. He hoped, then, that he might address himself with renewed vigour to the services to which they had called him. He did, indeed, enjoy special aids and encouragement in that service. His friend and colleague would not suppose him guilty of the language of flattery; but he (Mr. Bache) would, in justice to himself, say, that his venerable colleague's presence in that house sanctified the place; and the knowledge that he (Mr. Bache) carried with him the kind and candid approval of one so well acquainted with Scripture truth— so richly furnished with the best and richest fruits of Christian experience -was a comfort and encouragement such as he could not too highly value. In his most discouraging scenes he had felt with the orator of old, who, discoursing in the market - place to the people, when the rabble left him, said— "I will go on, nevertheless, for I still have Plato for my hearer." The Chairman had referred to many of those who were once members of that religious society, but who had been removed from among them in the course of nature. Anticipating that meeting, he had looked over the list of names appended to their invitation; and he had

found that out of a hundred and forty who had signed it, more than seventy were numbered with the dead. They could not fail to be struck and impressed with that fact-to him not a distressing one, although among those he numbered many most warm and esteemed and beloved friends, whose names and memories would ever be dear to his heart; for he knew that they had only gone before-that they should meet again in a happier clime— and that they should rejoice together in the remembrance of their efforts in the great cause of righteousness and freedom. He had consolation also in what it was a blessing to him to find, that those who were to come after were really sensible of the importance of those views to which attention was called in that house of worship. With such effects it was impossible but that they should be at once hopeful and grateful. God was with those who endeavoured to serve him. He (Mr. Bache) would renew and increase his endeavours to carry on the good work among them. Let him have their countenance and support as he had hitherto had. He had a great deal more to say in connection with the relation in which they stood to one another, but he would forbear. He would only hope that he should prove himself more worthy of their generous co-operation; he would only assure them that the reception of their sympathy was his greatest encouragement and comfort; and would express his sense of the privilege he enjoyed in being one of the ministers of such a congregation, and that in conjunction with one so eminently deserving of affection as his venerable colleague. He prayed that Almighty God would bless them; that He would look down with favour upon them; that He would keep them mindful of Himself and His sacred truths; that He would prosper all their faithful endeavours to avow and maintain them; that He would enable them to shew forth and exercise the fruits of Christian charity; to discharge their duties to Him and to one another, not only in their religious society, but in the ordinary relations of social life; to shew that they had imbibed the spirit of their Divine Master; and that while they were zealous for truth, they were no less zealous for charity. If they thus acted, they would go on rejoicing in His favour, and in the consciousness that they were not labouring in vain, but that there was reserved for them a rich and eternal

reward, as the faithful followers of His Son. "May His favour," concluded the Rev. gentleman, "rest on you all, my beloved friends, now and ever

more!"

Alderman HENRY SMITH then observed, that as the business which had more immediately called them together was concluded, he wished to bring forward a proposition which he was sure would meet with as cheerful an acquiescence as had attended what they had previously done. But before doing so, he desired to express the regret of many, among others some of his own family, who had been prevented from participating in the gratifying proceedings of that evening; and he wished also to express to Mr. Bache that they were not absent from any lukewarmness of feeling in reference to the object in which they had been engaged. They all participated in a desire to mark towards Mr. Bache not only their respect, but their gratitude; not only to honour him for past services, but to express a hope that a knowledge of this might stimulate and support him in the discharge of future duties; that they should shew to him that they knew how to estimate the public and private character of one who in all circumstances, whether favourable or unfavourable, maintained it as became the minister of truth; and that they could appreciate high talent and ability always exercised for good. He felt, in saying so much, that he expressed the feeling of every member of the congregation. He was sure also that it was the hope of every one that they might convince Mr. Bache that there was, after all the changes which a series of years and circumstances must produce, still left among them a vitality of feeling, of principle and association, which would still entitle them to keep that position among the religious denominations of the kingdom which, under the guidance of their fathers, they had previously occupied. But while they had been oc pied in marking their honour of, and attachment to, the young minister of the congregation for his services rendered for a considerable number of years-for those services they were receiving and those they anticipated to receive these very circumstances led him from the present to think of the past. He could not forget to look back to the services of their older minister, under whose guidance they had been for more than forty years; whose talents, ability and Christian mode of life, had done more