Presentation to Mr. John Sargent
At the annual meeting of the Rushden Temperance Society, held on Feb. 8th, it was unanimously decided to present an address and purse of gold to Mr. John Sargent, senr., who, for a period of nearly 40 years, has been intimately connected with the Society, and who, until his illness, took a very active part in the welfare of the cause. For upwards of three years, through severe indisposition, he has been quite unable to follow his vocation, and besides his own affliction he has an invalid wife and daughter. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. J. Cave, E. Knight, G. Knight, sen., W. Claridge, C. Bayes, J. Colson, J. Jacques, and C. Claridge, has since waited upon Mr. Sargent, and presented him with an address and a purse containing £28 10s. The presentation was made by Mr. Bayes, who expressed the pleasure it gave the deputation and subscribers to be able to express their sympathy with Mr. Sargent in this manner. They had all felt it a pleasure to help one with whom they had worked, and who had the cause of Temperance so much at heart.

After a few remarks from Mr. Cave and Mr. Wilmott, Mr. Sargent, in reply, thanked his friends for their great kindness, and said he felt quite unworthy of such an expression.

The following is a copy of the address: "To Mr. John Sargent,—Dear friend,—We, the undersigned, on behalf of the subscribers, beg your acceptance of the address and the accompanying gift as a trifling recognition of your unwearied exertion in the cause of Temperance in Rushden. For a period of nearly 40 years you have laboured earnestly in the Temperance cause, and other kindred movements, and by the way in which you have made known these principles many to-day are ready to give testimony to the saving and elevating effects of your counsel and example. Wide is the circle of friends who regret your forced retirement from more active service, who deeply sympathise with you in your prolonged personal and family affliction, and who admire the patience with which you endure all your trials. Entertaining these views, the Temperance Society, at their annual meeting, unanimously agreed to this imperfect expression of the honour and affection in which you are held. It is accompanied with the ardent wishes and fervent prayers of the subscribers that in your suffering and declining years you may enjoy that satisfaction which is the reward of piety, and after that the rest which is eternal.—Signed, on behalf of the subscribers, W. A. Davis (president), E. Knight, J. Jacques (vice-presidents), J. Claridge (secretary).