The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-06 00:00:00

NEWSPAPER
ST. GIL_ES, CAMBER •
0 \
;
CURATES' TESTIMONIAL s`--%
Committee—Alfred Birt, Esq., Grove; Hen Chaer, S
Esq., The Terrace ; Joseph Daw, Esq., Peniburv-p ace ;
Thomas Dorey, Esq., Grove ; Charles Thomas Dorey, Esq ,
Grove ; Robert Alexander Gray, Esq., Terrace ; Mitoliell
Greenaway, Esq., Grove; Henry Shepherd Law, Esq
Champion Park ; Matthew Lofty, Esq., Grove Hill Villas.:
Richard Mills, Esq., Chatham-place; William R. Mitchell,
Esq., North-terrace; Captain Nairne, Grove Hill; James
Pew, Esq., Southampton-street; Herbert Puckle, Esq.
Grove Hill Villas; Henry Smith, Esq., Grove Park; ani
Stephen Spurling, Esq., North-terrace.
The committee have now the pleasure to inform the sub-
scribers to the above fund, that in pursuance of a resolution
passed on the 15th instant, the chairman, treasurer, and
secretary waited upon tho curates of the Parish Church, on
Saturday, the 16th instant, and, in the name of the sub-
scribers generally, presented to the Rev. William White-
head a purse of two hundred and fifty guineas, accompanied
by a pair of table bookstands, and an inkstand, on which
was engraved the following inscription :—" Presented to the
Rev. William Whitehead, M.A., late Fellow of Worcester
College, Oxford, together with a purse of money, by the
congregation of the Parish Church of St. Giles, Camber-
well, in testimony of their respect and esteem.—Easter,
1859." And to the Rev. Michael Seymour Edgell, a purse
of one hundred and fifty guineas, accompanied by a pair of
table bookstands, and an inkstand, on which was engraved
the following inscription :—" Presented to the Rev. Michael
Seymour Edgell, 8.A., of Oriel College, Oxford, together
with a purse of money, by the congregation of the Parish
Church of St. Giles, Camberwell, in testimony of their
respect and esteem.—Easter, 1859."
The following address, having been previously agreed to
by the committee, was (as ordered) signed by the chairman,
treasurer, and secretary, and by them, at the same time
presented to the curates :
" To the Rev. William Whitehead and the Rev. Michael
Seymour Edgell, Curates of the Parish of St. Giles,
Camberwell.
hteeosent
Pun
"Reverend and Dear Sirs,—The committee who have
coatnrieisdahitoheit.rvelopceez,etdianoanngds for presenting to you severally a
estteziparishionenifrom the conistevfnagtionnol
brought the same to If close, have much gratification in pre-
senting to the Rev, 'William Whitehead the accompanying
inkstand, and purse containing the sum of two hundred
and fifty guineas ; and to the Rev. Michael Seymour
Edgell, a similar inkstand, and purse containing the sum
of one hundred and fifty guineas, of which, in the name of
the subscribers in general, they request your acceptance.
To you, Mr. Whitehead, the committee beg leave to ex-
press their grateful sense of the zeal and carefulness with
which you have fulfilled the duties of curate of this impor-
tant parish during the period of thirteen years in which you
have resided among us, ministering among your poorer
neighbours with a kind and discriminating charity, and so
exercising the functions of your holy office as to merit the
gratitude of the parish at large, as well as of your congre-
gation. To you, Mr. Edgell, the committee have to ex-
press the like feelings of respect and esteem, for your care-
ful and kindly discharge of the office of curate during the
period of six years in which you have lived among us,
winning the attachment and respect of all—devoting your-
self to your duties, and especially to the visitation of your
poor, relieving alike their spiritual and temporal wants
with exemplary kindness. The committee hope you will
each receive this testimonial as the spontaneous and unani-
mous expression of the respect, esteem, and sympathy of
your congregation; and which they desired the more to
express, being aware of the difficulties and discouragements
to which you have been subject during the long period of
thirteen years, in which the living has been sequestrated,
and the vicar an absentee. The committee earnestly hope
that, in the Providence of Almighty God, you may both be
spared for many years in health and happiness, to minister
your holy functions, with his blessing on your labours.
" Signed, b order of the committee,
"JOSEPH DAW, Chairman.
"ALEXANDER NAIRNE Treasurer.
"HERBERT PUCKLE, Hen. Sec.
" Dated 16th April, 1859."
The committee have subsequently received the following
replies from the reverend gentlemen :
" Camberwell Grove, Easter, 1859.
"My dear Friends,—l cannot acknowledge, without
emotion, the receipt of the testimonial which you have
given to me at this holy season of the Christian year. For
the handsome present, and for the kind address, expressive
both in word and deed of your respect and regard for me,
I thank you heartily. For the money, too, the munificent
sum of two hundred and fifty guineas, I thank you heartily.
It will be, I trust, not vainly spent ; and if, in my present
weakly state, part of it provides the means of rest neces-
sary, God willing, for my recovery, I know that you will
be glad to see me back among you with health and strength
renewed. And lam much pleased to be joined in this ex-
pression of your kindness with the Rev. M. S. Edgell.
He was licensed by the Bishop to be my fellow-curate
in the summer of 1853, at my own request. We have
worked together since in harmony, and he justly deserves
your good will. Now let me give a short history of our
mutual intercouse. I came here in September, 1846, almost
directly from my college home at Oxford, to be married and
to live among you as second curate of the parish church.
Our prospect was very fair, for God in His wise mercy
hides the future from our view But soon it was overcast.
The circumstance connected with the vicar's recent posses-
sion of the benefice, the sad tale of which you know too
well, caused sudden confusion and dismay. The income
was sequestrated ; two hundred pounds per annum only
being reserved, a legal pittance, for the service of the
church. The vicar lft us; and save on one memorable
Sunday, has appeared no more ; and all the responsibility of
all the parochial duties devolved at once on us, the curates,
who, with our previous stipends seriously diminished, were
re-appointed by the bishop. But, dark though the prospect
thus seemed to be, God soon gave light. God did not per-
mit these evil doings to paralyse our efforts in His service.
The senior curate at this crisis, the Rev. George Fyler
Townsend, my friend—to whom I succeeded in the manage-
ment of the church in November, IB4B—justly secured your
confidence; and now, since that time of trial, I can show
many signs, both good and true, to prove that God has
made the work of His church to prosper in our hands.
Large congregations continually assemble in the house of
God. Sermons are preached with honest purpose, as God
gives ability. The sacraments and ordinances of the Chris-
tian faith are well attended, and are duly valued. Daily
common prayer is said. Good works do flourish. At home,
the schools are supported, the poor relieved, the sick visited.
Abroad, the sacred cause of the propagation of the gos-
pel is advanced, and many a deed of liberal almsgiving
is done secretly. Surely we may be glad that God has
not suffered the cloud to darken our Church's spiritual life.
To Him be the glory and the praise. And now, my dear
friends, can we see the reasons for your goodwill towards
us ? I think we can. First, on religious principles, you
have so accounted of us, as of the Ministers of Christ, and
stewards of the mysteries of God.' And next, you have
formed your judgment—too favourable it is, we know, but
we trust it is not wholly wrong—that we have endeavoured
to 'be found faithful.' Think, too, of the many holy
days on which we have met together, during nearly
13 years, in our beautiful and much-loved church, for
prayer and praise. Think of the personal intercourse, the
ministerial and social intercourse, which has so often passed
between us. We have rejoiced and wept together in many
of your homes. We doubt not then, that we can see the
true reasons for our mutual good-will. ' We have taken
sweet counsel together, we have walked in the house of
God,' and in the paths of our daily lives 'as friends.'
Thanks be to God, who in times of parochial difficulties and
of public excitement on all religious questions, has kept us,
as ministers and people, in unity and peace. The prayer
of
true f
my
religionl e ist this, h
through
etugaht
tGodhe ministrywillbe pleased
listo
Cinhcurreeahse in ns
may that prayer be found to have been effectual, according
to God's holy will, when 'we must all appear before the
judgment-seat of Christ.' This letter is intended for the
eyes and hearts of you, who have given emphatic proof of
your affection and respect for me. And now, with our
hearty thanks, and with our earnest prayer that God will
bless you and yours in this world as He may see fit, and
in the world to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
"I am, your faithful Curate and sincere friend,
"WILLIAM WHITEHEAD.
"To the subscribers to the Curates' Testimonial
Fund.' "

" The Grove, Camberwell, 19th April, 1859.
y Dear
Friends,—l feel that I can express only most
inadequately in writing
time. Heartily
contributedard to this very handsome my sense of your kindness at this
do I thank you individually
etestimanial
olfvhyooarharNe-e.
6 ,comprising an inkstand, book-slides, and one hundred
and fifty guineas, together with the not less gratifying
address, which has just been presented to me. The money
I purpose expending in permanent memorials of your
esteem. The sum which you have contributed to tho
Testimonial Fund,' large as it is, I need hardly say, has a
value in my estimation, far beyond its mere pecuniary
worth, because a manifest proof of your kindly feeling. I
will forbear to enter into particulars relative to my
residence amongst you, but I must add, that brief as
it has yet been, I look upon it as the happiest, the most
important, and satisfactory part of my ministerial life.
The remembrance of the great and varied kindness I have
received throughout will ever live in my memory ; of such
kind indeed has it been that this present additional token
cannot surprise, though wholly unexpected by me. One
event, however, during my connection with you may seem
to claim a passing remark from its special prominence.
The circumstance that my sojourn amongst you includes
the period of one of the most fearful visitations of pestilence
with which this parish has ever been afflicted, would alone
invest it with a peculiar interest. That, doubtless, with
the wonted effect of a community of great trial, contributed
in the binding us together in a particular manner. ?la.Y.
this our bond of a mutual regard continue ever unirapatre.ct
I will trust it is of that character which is not severed.l:7
the dissolution of mere earthly relations. And n"(pirilntutl
earnest prayers and sindere wishes for the welfare,believse me to
and temporal, of yourselves and families,
remain, yours gratefully and affectionately,
"MICHAEL SEYMOUR ZOO ELL.
"To each of the subscribers of the
Testimonial Fund."
The committee having thus terminated their proceedings,
beg respectfully to acknowledge the handsome manner in
been
which their appeal to the congregation met, and
will has
doubt not their proceedings meet with the approval of
the subscribers. i: HERBERT PMu; Hon. Sec.
Camberwell, 25th April, 1859.