DEATH OF THE REV. R. E. BRADFIELD— The Rev R E Bradfield was born at North Elmham, in Norfolk, in 1818, and died on Sunday last, aged 61 years. The deceased lived in his native county until his 21st year, when he removed to Cambridge, and, for 17 years, followed the trade of a painter, and acted as a local preacher, in connection with the Baptist denomination. While resident at Cambridge, Mr. Bradfield took up the temperance cause, from which he never swerved. He also joined a political association of advanced views, and was on several occasions sent by this association as a delegate to conferences in London. He made his mark in Cambridge by the thoroughness with which he advocated Liberal politics, both at meetings and in the Press; and many were the flings he had in verse at the Tories of the times. After 17 years residence at Cambridge, Mr. Bradfield was offered the appointment of pastor of the old Baptist Chapel, Rushden, which he accepted. The cause was at rather a low ebb then, but, owing to Mr. Bradfield's earnest zeal and perseverance, the old Baptist congregation at Rushden has been second to no village congregation in the county. The worshippers, under his pastorate, found it necessary to enlarge the chapel on more than one occasion; they had also been obliged to build large schoolrooms to accommodate the ever increasing number of Sunday scholars. They have acquired a large piece of burying ground, and they have built a very commodious pastor's house near the Chapel. There is only a debt of some £80 on the whole. The deceased, as a preacher, although, perhaps, not eloquent, was always earnest and instructive, and his congregations never wearied of his preaching. Besides attending to his own charge, Mr. Bradfield supplied other pulpits on special occasions, when his attendance was sure to secure a good congregation and collection. No man in the county, perhaps, was so often called upon to preach special sermons in the Baptist denomination. He preached regularly at Caldecot, Yelden, Irchester, Podington, and Wymington, and was a frequent speaker on the public platform. In his daily life Mr. Bradfield was particularly anxious to promote the social and moral welfare of the young, and many of his discourses were devoted to them. He had declined more lucrative posts than that which he held at Rushden, his desire being to devote himself to the benefit of the people who had first chosen him to be their pastor. Mr. Bradfield had prepared and given part of a course of special sermons during the past two winters, and one of these, delivered in March last, was the last sermon he preached. He had been gradually failing in health for the past two years, and since March he had been, for the most part, confined to his bed. For years Mr. Bradfield had been a member of the Committee of the Northamptonshire Association of Baptist Churches. As a Temperance advocate he was well known, and was always ready to help in any meeting or society formed for the prevention of drunkenness. It was his custom annually to preach a temperance sermon in his chapel. He had formed a Band of Hope in connection with it, and on all festive occasions he might be seen preaching on the Green. As a politician, he was a very advanced Liberal, and the intelligent Liberalism of the Rushden working men is, in a great degree, due to his influence and teaching. The Permissive Bill of Sir W. Lawson, and the Burial Bill of Mr. C. Morgan found in Mr. Bradfield a warm supporter. He was also an advocate of the disestablishment of the Church of England. In parochial matters, he was always with and at the head of the working men, and the introduction and continuance of the School Board system into the parish was ardently supported by him. The funeral took place on Thursday afternoon. As a mark of respect, several tradesmen closed their places of business, and some of the large warehouses were closed for two hours. Notwithstanding the inclement weather, a very large concourse assembled to witness the ceremony, not a vacant seat being left in the chapel. In consequence of the short space between the residence of the deceased and the chapel, it was deemed best not to have any procession of the different societies to which he belonged, but only deputations, by whom most of the Temperance Societies and Nonconformist religious bodies in the district were represented. The Rev. Mr. Seagar made a very feeling and appropriate address. Miss M. A. Colson acted as organist, and Mr. H. Packwood very efficiently conducted the whole of the arrangements at the chapel and the grave. The funeral sermon will be preached in the chapel, on Sunday evening by the Rev. J. T. Brown.