The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-07-22 00:00:00

night.''

FAREWELL SOIREE AND PRESENTATION
TO THE REV. FRANCIS BISHOP.

A soiree took place last evening in the Tuckerman
Institute Rooms, Bedford-street, Toxteth Park, for the
purpose of commemorating the departure from Liverpool
of the Rev.. Francis Bishop, in order to afford an oppor-
tunity of presenting to him a testimonial expressing the
regard felt for him by those he is about to leave. An
exceedingly crowded attendance testified the feeling enter-
tained towards the rev. gentleman, the large room being
filled to its utmost. capacity of containing. Tea was
served in a lower room, after which the sompany again
assembled above. Oil the motion of Mr. William Rath-
bone the chair was then taken by Mr. William Lamport,
president for the current year of the Liverpool Domestic
Mission Society.
Among those on the platform were the Rev. F. Bishop,
William Rathbone, Esq., Alfred Higginson, Esq , M.D.,
the Rev. Henry Sally, of London ; the Rev. Franklin
Howarth, of Bury ; the Rev. John Robberds, &c., &c.
The Chairman, after expressing regret at the absence
of the Rev. Mr. Thom, who was originally to have taken
the chair, declared the entire sympathy of the Domestic
Mission Society with the object of that meeting. He
stated that in a few days it was the intention of the
wealthier subscribers to that mission to present Mr.
Bishop with their testimonial, that of the present assem-
bly being the offering principally of working men. What-
ever might be the relative value of the two testimonials,
he felt suae that now about to be presented would not be
less valuable to Mr. Bishop. He paid a high tribute to
the character and labours of their loved and honoured
friend, and declared that the true monument to his worth
they would find by looking around them—on the good he
to
room,
o ani, committeeproceeded composed pporseesde
present
the men r
had achieved, the consciences he had touched, and the
hearts he had softened. (Cheers.)
M.
Jones
who
frequentedthen on
behalftha
the testimonial to the Rev. W. Bishop. He called upon
his hearers not to imagine that the money value of that
testimonial represented in any degree the feelings enter-
tained towards Mr. Bishop by those who knew
him best.

The testimonial consisted of a valuable edition of the
Greek Testament, in four volumes, with a critically
revised text, digest, various readings and marginal refer-
ences. Within the covers was the inscription :—" Pre-
sented to the Rev. Francis Bishop upon his leaving
Liverpool, by a number of the working people connected
with the Domestic Mission Society, with whom, and for
whom, he has laboured during the last eight years, as a
small token of respect and affection for him as their
minister and friend.—July 21, 1856."
Mr. Wilson addressed the meeting in further expression
of the feelings of admiration, and regard entertained for
the Rev. Mr. Bishop.

The Rev. Mr. Bishop, who was most enthusiastically
received, then accepted the testimonial, and proceeded to
express his thanks. He said, to say he thanked them was
indeed a miserable, meagre, and inadequate expression of
his feedugs at that moment, and yet he feared that he could
scarcely say more than that he thanked them from his
heart—most cordially. But he consoled himself under his
inability and weakness, which now pressed him down, in
the thought that they did not need him to tell them he
appreciated, moat gratefully and warmly, their gift, any
more than he needed that tangible expression on their
part to-assure him that he would .carry away with him to
his new home their friendship, their good wishes, their
love, and their benedictions. (Applause.) That gift was
dear to him for its own sake. It r•ould be a valuable
addition to his library, and one to which he should often
gladly recur, and find of great service. It was dear to
him because he looked upon it as an indication that they
regard that mission as he had ever regarded it, and as its
founders and supporters had ever regarded it, as founded
on the broad basis of religion, and aiming in air its instru-
mentalities, primarily and especially, to promote religious
' objects and ends. (Hear, hear.) He valued that gift
especially because it would ever be associated with them.
It would ever remind him when he looked upon it, and it
would remind his children, too—for ho should have
sometimes to direct their attention to it—of scenes of
homes, and of persons who would ever be enshrined
in the inmost sanctuary of his heart, amid the fondest
and its most sacred memories. (Applause.) It was
indeed, a saddening thing to part from them. To have
passed eight years among them, to have been with them
as he had been, and to have derived such deep and
solemn experiences, and to be able to part from them
without emotion, would indeed make him feel sorry for
himself. He had been with them in the sick chamber, he
had knelt by some of their sick beds, he had been with
them in seasons of bereavement, had stood with them
around their household graves, and still cherished the
memory of many of their dear departed ones. He had
mourned with them, and had rejoiced with them.
Strange, then, it would be, if he could now leave them
without emotion—it after such an experience, he could
sunder the connection, without the most serious and
solemn reflections. (Applause.) The speaker then
glanced at the reasons which led him to consent to
transfer his sphere of labour to a Missionary Training
College in Manchestef; and, after an eloquent, and most
expression of his regret for those he left, his
with them, and hopes for them, bade them
sfeyemlipnagthy
farewell, resumed his seat amid the most warm and
general applause. The rev. gentleman was several times
deeply affected, and more than once compelled to pause
during his address.
Mr. E. Baines spoke to a sentiment—" The homes of
the working men,' with much eloquence, and was loudly
applauded.
Mr. John Williams addressed the meeting upon the
subject of the temperance movement, which he urged upon
the attention of all as the most vitally important question
of the century.

Mr. James Davis spoke to the sentiment of the recrea-
tion of the working classes.

The Rev. Henry Solly introduced the subject of
domestic missions, and in doing so, took occasion to con-
dole with those around him on the sad serious loss they
were about to suffer in losing the Rev. Mr. Bishop. That
loss, he observed, was made the more serious by the fact,
that with such cordial zeal, energy, and ability, Mr.
Bishop had worked, that it would be a very bold man
indeed who could venture to take the vacant place with
any hope of carrying on the work with equal power. He
called upon the meeting to exert themselves, individually,
the more to endeavour to supply that loss, for never could
they hope again to find a man who could achieve the same
success it had been permitted by God to Mr. Bishop to
achieve. (Hear, hear.) The speaker then addressed the
meeting upon the general subject of domestic missionary
institutions, their origin, spirit, and aim, which he
illustrated sad explained in impressive and eloquent
language.
Several pieces of music (among them a cemposition of
Mrs. Ames, of Liverpool), were sung by scholars of the
institution during the evening.
The Rev. Mr. Robberds delivered a brief address, after
which a hymn was given out by the Rev. Mr. Bishop, and
the proceedings closed about half past ten o'clock.

The Lancaster and Carlisle Railway Company have
recently issued the following notice to their servants :
" Lancaster and Carlishßailway.—Notice.—The directors
desire it to be distinctly understood that every man in the
company's employ is expected to be a member of some
benefit club or society (other than a burial club), and that
in case of accident or otherwise, if a man in the company's
employ should be disabled or killed, the company will not
make him or his family any allowance whatever."—
TVestmoreland Gazette.

EXTENSIVE FIRE AT Bow.—On Sunday morning, at an
early hour, a fire broke out on the premises of Messrs.
Hemmings and Co., portable church and house builders,
Tredegar-road. Bow. The premises occupy a lar.re
space of ground, and contain a great number of portable
houses, intended for exportation. There was a
good supply of water, but owing to the inflammable
character of the buildings and stock, the fire was not
got under until a considerable amount of property had
been destroyed. The loss will fall partly upon the
Norwich Union Insurance office.