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    their best expressions at command ; and lie was master of the best words and phrases in his language on that and most other topics . He was

    naturally irascible , but priuciple and habit had enabled him to subdue the quickness of his temper , which served only , in process of time , to give animation to his zeal and exertion in the cause

    of benevolence and truth . He was , on this account , calm and collected , standing like a huge column secure against the tempests that raged around him . With such a man in the midst of them , it may be , at least faintly , conceived what gladness and triumph

    reigned amongst his brethren , when they had succeeded in forming themselves into a religious body , when they saw the first temples expressl y devoted to the service of the true God erected , the first that had any prospect of permanence ; when , for the first time ,

    they went up to the house of God and called upon his name . They forgot the hubbub which , for many months , had resounded through the country . They grasped the hands of one another : they sung praise to the Most High with loud shouts : they looked the devotion and gladness that dwelled

    in their hearts : they partook of the tokens of remembrance of Christ , as if they had known him in the " days of his flesh . The sons of Jacob went not up with more unbounded exultatation to the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem , where dwelled the glory of the Lord . As long a& the blood shall continue to flow in the veins of

    the present writer , and till the heart shall cease to throb , the remembrance of that day will not be effaced . No considerable event in the religious life of D . J . Rees seems to have occurred in the latter part of his life ,

    except at the very close of his career . Ever prompt to succour distress , for which he had a truly compassionate feeling , no sooner did a malignant ferer appear among his poor neighbours , than he flew to their assistance .

    Not content with supplying them from his moderate means , he visited them , he spoke to them the words of consolation , and , alas for them and for the worlds the haunts of misery contained contagion which communicated to the good Samaritan himself a mortal diseaae ?! . Why did distance preclude the Office * of friendship whtoti the

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    danger of life should not have restraiued ? He died j but he was prepared to die . Assuredly no uneasiness assailed him but such as might arise from a necessary consciousness of the irreparable loss that must be sustained

    by his domestic circle , by his neighbourhood , and by his Christian connexion , when he could no longer benefit them by his substance , bv his example , by his instructions % nd influence *

    After thus describing tile life and sphere of action of this ** friend to our nation , " who has done more than " build us a synagogue , " and the manner in which he discharged the part he had to act on a theatre of most extensive usefulness , which it requires

    some knowledge of the manners of his country fully to appreciate , there is no need of enlarging on his character . It was marked by simplicity , modesty , great comprehensiveness of intellect , the most correct moral purity and unwearied benevolence . This

    benevolence was exerted towards all , bat towards none more than towards ministers , and towards young men preparing for the ministry , many of whom , on reading this account , will recollect their own most essential obiigations to him for tender interest ia their welfare and for substantial

    services . They will join with the writer , who takes this opportunity of acknowledging services from him more than fraternal , in bedewing his grave with tears of sincere esteem and affection . " A prince and a great man is this day fallen in-Israel . "

    No apology is deemed necessary for thus dwelling on the excellencies of D . J . Rees . He was not an obscure man . Though unambitious of distinction , he employed a very high order of talents to the best purposes , till by doing good he found it fame . " To the Unitarians in London he was

    known by reputation , though I have observed that he has , at times , been brought into notice "with evident reluctance . Let the Unitarians shew such another man , and he will have equal justice done to his memory . Who would not live as he did , and who would not die his death ? The

    character of hisUnitarianism especially deserves imitation . He adopted his principles because he considered them as a part of the truth * His zeal was

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    744 Obituary . ~—Mr . David Jenhifi Rees .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1817, page 744, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2471/page/48/