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Address and Presentation of a piece of Plate to the Rev . fV . Field , of Warwick , by his Congregation , on the Thirty-fifth Anniversary of his Ministry . We have very great pleasure in recording the honourable and highly-deserved
comp liment and respect paid to the Rev . W . Field , of Warwick , on the above occasion . The private virtues of Mr . Field , his zealous and eminent services in the U nitarian ministry , are too well known to our readers to require any publication in our pages . In 1790 , when he first
assumed the office of the Unitarian ministry in that town , the congregation was comparatively small , and the political and religions prejudices of the town and neighbourhood were greatly excited against the profession of Unitarian opinionSj and the establishment of the Sunday-schools : we only refer to these
circumstauces as a gratifying contrast to the liberal spirit of the present day . No one is now more universally esteemed than Mr . Field : his evening services are frequently attended by many members of the Establishment and other Dissenting churches ; and he is entrusted with the education of many of their sons . Thus truth triumphs over error .
On the evening of the 12 th , the whole congregation , and many ladies and gentlemen of different religious sentiments , assembled to tea in the large room of the Race Stand , which the proprietors had liberally lent for the occasion . Mr . Field was present by invitation . After tea , Mr . Brookhouse , in the name of the
congregation , presented a Silver Salver , with the following Address -. — " I have much pleasure , Sir , in presenting to you this Salver , in the name of your congregation , who beg that you will accept it , as a slight token of their high regard for your character , both public and private .
Our Society has now been favoured with your services , for the long period of thuxy-five years . The occasion is one which presents no ordinary claims on our respect and gratitude ; atid we think that we should be wanting in duty , both to you and to ourselves , if we suffered it 10 pass , without some more than ordinary e xpressio n of our feelings . You will be-» eve , Sirthat it is not the lan e of
, guag fl attery , but that of sincerity and of truth , when we say , that in presenting you with . !? token of our regard , we have been influenced by the deepest sense of the J " ue of those public services on which ~ are in the habit of attending on the u s day . We feel the happiness of
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frequenting a place of worship , where the most enlarged views of Christian truth are unfolded before onr minds ; where the great rules of our duty are illustrated and enforced in the most impres&ire manner ; and where we are tnade
ffsfcimateJy acquainted with those consolations under the troubles of life , which religion alone is able to fnrriish . We feel that we have ourselves alone to blame , if we do not profit by the services which you so ably conduct ; and we are sensible that those services are rendered
doubly impressive by the excellence of your private character , by that pure spirit of Christian charity , by that strict integrity , and that unwearied assiduity , in the performance of all the great duties of
life , by which your conduct has been uniformly marked . These excellencies have endeared you to us , as they have also deservedly obtained for you the high respect of your neighbours and fellowtownsmen .
< Asa token of the sincere and fervent esteem and affection which we entertain for you , we beg that you will accept this piece of Plate—accompanied , as it is , with our most ardent wishes , that you
may long be spared as a blessing to us , and to your family , and that the Great Author of all mercies may bestow upon you every real good , both in the present and the future life . "
This Address was received by the company with the warmest applause . It was truly interesting to observe the feelings of pleasure and interest it ) every counte nance of this general assrHnbly . The presence and intermixture of all classes
of the society was consistent with the principles and practice of the first prorauigators of Christianity , the great Author of which had " no respect of persons . " Mr . Field was the patriarch of the family . He then came forward and addressed the
company to the following effect : — He began with saying , that he could hardly nnd words to express how much he felt obliged and gratified by the favour they had done him , in assembling , so
numerously , as a respectful compliment to him ; and especially by the great favour they had conferred upon him , in the generous and the splendid gift jjjjrhich , by the hands of one of his earliest and one of
his best friends , they had , in so handsome a manner , and with so many kind and encouraging expressions , presented to him . Such a public testimony of respectful aud affectionate regard was , indeed , a flattering distinction : and , he hoped , they would believe that he received it with a high and glowing satisfaction at his heart : and that he should never cease to remember it with gratitude
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Intelligence . —Presentation of a Piece of Plate to the Rev . fF . Field . 429
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1825, page 429, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2538/page/45/
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