The sermon at the morning service was based upon Phil i., 27; "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ," etc. In the course of his remarks, Mr. Tomkins said it was the duty of a minister to be anxious with respect to the character of those to whom he ministered, to recognise the dangers to which the people were exposed, and to encourage them. He could honestly say that such had been his desire, and although he must admit that he had not always pleased his hearers—no true preacher ever did, neither was it his duty to do so—yet

unto them was that of the true Gospel. The minister was not responsible for the character of the truth he made known, but he was responsible for its truthful delivery. He exhorted his hearers to be united, and entreated them to consider the spiritual profit of the church before anything in the selection of the new minister. He hoped they would extend their sympathy and also their prayers to his successor, and if they wished to criticise, let them do it openly.

In the evening Mr. Tomkins preached an impressive sermon based on the words, "For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified," I Cor. ii.,2. He said that he had endeavoured to preach in the spirit of the text for the past twelve years. He felt that some might have preached the Gospel better—for he knew he had no claim to the possession of all the talents—but of one thing he was sure, that no one could have preached a better Gospel. His one desire throughout all his preaching had been to save the souls of his hearers, and to build up the Christian character of those who had declared themselves Christians. How far success or failure had attended any of his efforts would be revealed at the judgment seat

he stood upon the platform beneath that pulpit and was recognised as the pastor of that church, and he held in his hand the notes from which he spoke at that meeting. He said then that he had come to preach the everlasting Gospel: they lived in an age when vast changes were and would be taking place, but personally be would stand for the old truth. The water he drew from the well was sweet, and he did not feel inclined to go to any fresh stream. He was then determined that Christ should be his theme. Twelve years had passed since he had said that, and God was his witness to prove that he had kept true to the purpose for which he came. If they did not want him to speak the Gospel to them, why did they ask him to come? The sermon that evening was just his thousandth, and although he had sometimes preached to them with an aching head and an aching and a weary heart, some of them turned a deaf ear to his entreaties, although some of them were the joy of his heart as they had passed into the kingdom of God. He had had the pleasure that afternoon at the communion service of giving the right hand of fellowship to seven new members, and since he had been pastor he had given the hand of fellowship to 163 as pastor of the church. His last words would be, "Christ is the hope of the world; there is no other hope but in Christ,"

A public tea and a public meeting were held on Monday in continuation of the farewell services. There was a large attendance at the tea, and the tables were presided over by the following ladies: Mesdames Farey, Perkins, G. Howes, Goodwin, Tomkins, Colson, Darby, Larch, Groome, Wrench, Collins, Chettle, Linnett, and Wood. After tea the members of the Band of Hope Committee, in connection with which Mr. Tomkins has worked hard, presented the rev. gentleman with a Swan fountain pen, the presentation being made by Mr. Hardwick, whose eulogistic remarks were cordially endorsed by Mr. J. Willmott and Mr. Collins, whilst Mr. Tomkins feelingly replied. There was an overflowing attendance at the evening meeting in the chapel. Mr. P. Newman presided, as representing the church and congregation, and among those present were: The Rev. T. Phillips, B.A. (Kettering), Rev. T. G. Harper (Wellingborough), Rev. M. E. Parkin (Congregational), Mr. John Taylor (Northampton), etc.

The Chairman, in briefly opening the proceedings, said it was with mixed feelings that they met to take leave of their pastor, but he would not occupy their time in following the rev. gentleman's career during his residence in Rushden. They all knew him to be

(Loud applause) The church was losing a pastor they all loved and would never forget, the town was losing a townsman who had done a townsman's work, and many were losing a friend who had been a great helper to them. They wished him a long and happy life and a

(Applause) Mr. Newman then read letters of regret for inability to attend from the Rev. A. L. Fillingham (Wesleyan) and Rev. J. Scarborough (Independent Wesleyan), both of whom expressed their warm appreciation of Mr. Tomkins's work, and their best wishes for his future.

The Rev. T. G. Harper was the next speaker, and, referring to his residence in Rushden, said Mr. Tomkins had given him his first welcome to the town, and had been closely associated with him in the work of the Gospel". He had always been true and sympathetic. (Applause) Mr. Tomkins had not proved dogmatic, nor had he ever forced his opinions upon the Church or in the town. (Applause) Personally, he valued and appreciated highly the help and advice of Mr. Tomkins, who would carry away with him a feeling of their kindly appreciation of him. The attendance at that meeting was a proof that they did appreciate the faithful services he had rendered, and that they recognised he had

(Applause) Mr. Tomkins had had a considerable share in moulding the character of that town, and in bidding farewell to hint they wished that he would "fare well" in a genial sphere of happy work.

Mr. Herbert Lack, speaking on behalf of the Sunday Schools, said he was there to acknowledge the great liability the Sunday School owed to the pastor who was leaving them. He had been "a real good Sunday School man," and had worked as hard as any Sunday School teacher behind the scenes. He had always been ready to help them when they were in difficulty, his means were always at their disposal, he never denied them the aid of his talents, his time, or his influence, but everything he had was used in the best interests of the school, and though he might be leaving them, his work would never die, for there were myriads of monuments of his work amongst them which would ever keep him in their memory. (Applause) Few had more dealings with Mr. Tomkins than he, and he could say that he had not seen one shadow of a suspicion of any meanness falseness, or unworthiness of the high vocation to which he was called. His name would be ever synonymous with what was lovely, honest, true, kind, pure, virtuous, and of good report. He would leave Rushden having retained to the end the respect, the esteem, the confidence, and love of the young who were connected with their church and their prayers would follow him into his new work. (Applause)

Mr. F. Darby, who spoke on behalf of the congregation, said that after listening to the previous speaker, some might ask if Mr. T was all they said he was

(Hear, hear) If they were honest to themselves, let them also be honest to Mr. Tomkins. (Applause) He was sorry to say that men who should have been supporting Mr. Tomkins had forsook him and fled. (Applause) He hoped that Mr. Tormkins' successor would be treated with more Christian consideration than Mr. Tomkins had been. Whenever Mr. Tomkins lad been oppressed by petty unkindness, he was never uncharitable, or unkind himself. He was not leaving them for the "loaves and fishes," but was making a great sacrifice, and they prayed that in his new sphere he would meet hearts that would beat in accord with his own. (Applause)

The Chairman then presented Mr. Tomkins, on behalf of the church, with a purse containing 20 guineas, and in doing so said that every section in the church and town wished him well in the future. As a minister he had always done his duty, and that building was not nearly large enough for the congregation he had drawn around him, but they had acquired another site, and had money in the bank towards building a new church. (Applause) As a man he was not one who would stand back in any public matter, but always

and he (the speaker) had been particularly gratified of late to hear people who were nothing to do with their church, when they were talking of Mr. Tomkins's resignation, say how much they regretted his going, for he had always been a man they sincerely respected, and Rushden would miss him. The Chairman particularly referred to Mr. Tomkins's work on the Hospital Week Committee, the Nursing Association, and the Central Aid Society, and, proceeding, said his life had been the life of a Christian, and one that they could not be associated with without feeling the good there was in him. (Loud applause)

The purse of gold bore the following inscription: "Presented to the Rev. W. J. Tomkins, of the Old Baptist chapel, by his many friends on leaving Rushden."

Mr. Tomkins, in reply, thanked the speakers for the kind things they had said about him, and said he could not have laboured in Rushden for twelve years if he had not been persuaded that he had the sympathy and love of the great majority of the people. (Applause) He had always had that conviction, and he had that conviction still. (Loud applause) Although he was leaving Rushden he knew he would leave behind him many true and loyal hearts, and he believed he should live in their memories, and have

Those prayers would be far more valuable than the money they had given him that evening. Might he ask them to accept what Mr. Darby had said upon his (Mr. Darby's) own responsibility entirely, and not upon the speaker's, for he could honestly say that although there had been some friends in the church and congregation who had sometimes said things which had cut him to the quick he had not spoken an unkind word to them in return. (Loud applause)

There was no one among them—of both sexes —whom he would willingly serve at the best of his ability at that moment. It seemed to him that he had been a good laster. He had lasted for twelve years; he had been in the rough stuff room, and he now appeared to them as a finisher. (Laughter and applause) Twelve years was a big slice out of a man's life, and the twelve best years, too. He could not have got into the home life of Rushden as he had done without feeling the pang of parting. He had during his ministry buried nearly three hundred persons, and had sympathised with the mourners in many of their homes. He had rejoiced with others in the marriage of either their children or themselves, and he had also sat by them in their sorrow, or knelt by the bedside of many of them when they had been ill, and he would have been driven to think that all right feeling had passed out of human nature if they had not

for him. (Loud Applause) He had room in his heart for them. (Applause) With regard to the work of the town, he had always done what he could for Rushden. (Applause) The place had not more than 4,000 inhabitants when he first came—now it had grown to 12,000, which was indeed a marvellous increase. In closing, Mr.Tomkins again thanked them for their kindness, and said they would have a place in his prayers when he had passed away from them. He urged the members of the church to be united; to strive to have a Christian-like spirit: to accord to him who might be his successor all kindly thought and feeling. They now parted but he hoped they would meet again around the throne of God above. (Loud applause)

The Rev. T. Phillips and M. E. Parkin having addressed the meeting, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman, and the singing of the Doxology brought the proceedings to a close.