The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-02-19 00:00:00

PLIDDLITOWN.

00110110411011 AL Cluaca.—On Monday evening,
February 11th, • tee meeting was held at the above
place to laid farewell to the Her. W. M. Fen, who has
accepted an invitation from the Congregational
Church at It tenedale. Westmoreland. The tea
was under the presidency of the ladies of the congrega-
tion. After tea, Ernest Homer, Esq., oes of the
deacons, presented Mr. Fell, in the name of the friends
present, with a handsome study table, secretary,
tether with a writing set, consisting of nandl
iduitand, tray, to., am a token of their regretttt
WARM on his leaving the pastorate. Mr. Homer said
he was sure, and he believed that he was ax-
pressing the views of all present, when he said that
It was with the deepest regret and sorrow that they
now met there to say farewell to Kr. and Mrs.
Fell and their daeghter. For nearly three years
they had had the privilege to Helen to Mr. Fall, and
no words of his could express the pleasure and
delight it had been to listen to his preaching. His
mieLtry there bad been • great enoesees. and he
tiusted with much profit to them all, It. did not
think any of them were likely to forget the Remos
they bad listened to on the previous evening. He did
not mean to say that this was an exceptional ease,
for all Mr. Fell's sermons, he was sure, had always
something they could grasp and retain; they wee,
full of gospel truth, profitable for both instruotion
and reproof. There was, Mr. Homo said, always a
bright aide to everything, and, as he had intimated
they deeply felt their lose, yet they wished most
heartily mows to Mr. Fall in his new sphere of
labour; what was their loss would be the gals of the
church at Raveastenedale. Mr. Homer closed his
remarks by saying that as the friends present were
desirous of expressing their appreciation of and
regard for Mr. 101 l in • practical meaner, he asked
his acceptance of that small token of their regard and
esteem, and with It their most sincere wishee for his
future good, his 'nooses in his new sphere, and • safe
journey.—Mr. Fell, who seemed much surprised and
affected by the unexpected gift, said it ma, en..
ceedingly Mad of the friends present In presenting
him with such • testimony of their esteem
and regard. He said that as he wail so
deeply sensible of his weskaies and unfaith-
fulness' se • pastor it was with • oertsin amount
of reluctance that he could bring himself to
accept the handsome present which Mr. Homer fa
such flattering terms had presented in their name. If
any one there present deserved snob • testimonial it
was not he that deserved it, but Mrs. Homer, who.
In the church's need, had, with oonsiderable LOOM.
Tetlioooll to herself, presided at the organ. He had,
he said, received lo the wane of his ministerial
labours several testimonies of the esteem and affection
which existed between him and hie people, but the
one before him wee the larreet be had ever received.
Mr. Fell then referred to the harmony and good feel.
bog wide* had existed between himself and Mr.
Homer sod the other office-bearers of the church, who
had ever shown to him the utmost kindness and for-
bearance. Mr. Homer had kindly spoken of his
1 ministry as a great sum see, but he did no, go sway
with that feeling, for be was sore that if the church
and Sunday school bed Inc-essed in numbers—as, no
doubt, they had under his pastoral care—it had been
by the elimination of evil and the infusion of g,od by
• power higher than his own. He left them with
cool hem in their future prosperity, ae be thought
they had been fortunate In securing as hie simmer
the Rev. F. Vaughan, of Broadwinsor, wh o would, be
believed, be • more faithful pastor than he had been.
He urged the church to make prosrees in all parts
of church life, and that God would bless them in their
efforts to drams his cause. It was • aotrce of great
eneottragetnent to • minister to have the beet wishes
and the prayers of the people he was leaving, and
especially when he received such • tangible token of
their esteem as be had received that evening. Re
thanked Mr. Homer and the friends for such an un-
expected and undeserved gift..-Mr. Fell then arm.
mended them to God in prayer, and the meeting was
closed with the benediction.