The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-04-20 00:00:00

TESTIMONIAL OF RESPECT,

We last week made a passing allusion to the handsome
testimonial presented to the Rev. Mr. Crump, by the
parishioners of Prescot, on the reverend gentleman's re-

rev. gentleman's reply, the substance of which we now

give as nearly as we could report it :
" My dear Sir,—Let me offer you and the many kind
friends around me, my sincere, grateful, and_ warmest

he very

have JUS,

offered to my acceptance, and for the (too partial, I am
afraid) opinion you have expressed of my ministry among

you. It is no easy matter to clot. i language the
very simplest emotions of the heart, when those emotions
are the offspring of gratitude and affection. At some
period or other, no doubt, you have all experienced this
difficulty ; and therefore, if I should fail to convey to you'
in words the impressions which your kindness has made
upon me, I am relieved by the cheering conviction, that
you can well conceive what I would express if the heart
left the tongue at liberty. As it is, I can only thank you
for your liberality and kindness. Believe me, the value
of your gifts is not a little enhanced by the recollection
that I haves nn nnssihin claim noon you for such a demon-

stration of your esteem and generous feeling towards me.
I did, indeed, humbly endeavour to fulfil the sacred obli-
gations incumbent upon me, as one of those-to whom the
oversight of you in the Lord was committed ; but I am
conscious that I might have risen to a higher standard—l

might with greater diligence and faithfulness have sought
the present and eternal welfare of yourselves and your
fellow-parishioners. Many things, I am sure, I have left

add, there were doubtless some things done which. had
been better left undone ; and at the utmost, taking tltt
most favourable review of my ministry among you, I can
only say of it, I have simp

y done

duty to'do. Still, though there is much in the review of
my residence among you which demands personal humi-
liation on my part, there is. on the other hand, much
that is cheering and delightful to me in the retrospect.
Our connection has been one of uninterrupted harmony.
An unkind word from any individual in the parish I do
not recollect ever having received. I have had a cordial
welcome in your houses. I have proved your readiness

to co-operate in whatever designs were considered benefi-
cial for the inhabitants of the town, and this is not the
first nor the second occasion on which I have had to
acknowledge your kindness and liberality towards me.
It is not, indeed, the good opinion of his people that is
the primary object of the Christian minister's solicitude ;
—no, that is ever the smile of his own conscience, the
approbation of the Master whom he serves,—his reward
is in his work ;—but still it is no unlawful, no unworthy

regard it has been my happy lot to possess in no scanty
measure, and I assure you it has often cheered me and
dispelled many a rising cloud of anxiety and sorrow.
Much of the comfort of a minister's residence among
you, I attribute to the firm and abiding attachment I
have witnessed in Prescot, to our beloved church and her

services. Often have I been struck, and I hope bene-
fitted, by the order, decorum, and solemnity that I have

observed in your noble sanctuary-. Long may you be
distinguished for this becoming attention to the service

sions ; but there is one fact which proclaims indisputably
your love for our national Zion, and that is, that amid all
the convulsions w:iich have recently shaken our church,
amid all the defections of false brethren

you haves.

her : indeed, the theological strifes and controversies
which have agitated the minds of our countrymen with
so baneful an effect, have never reached you : there was
no element of attraction to draw them hither : we have
dwelt in unity, peace, and concord. I should, however,
be wanting in candour, and forgetful of that command
which bids us render honour to whom honour is due, if I
did not avow what is my conscientious conviction, that
your stability and enlightened preference for the church
of your fathers has been strengthened and confirmed by
the faithful preaching of those doctrines, so lucidly and
plainly set forth in her articles, liturgy, and homilies, for
so long a period by your esteemed Vicar. To illy suc-

cessors in the pastoral oversight of you, I especially com-
mend the recollection of your zeal for, and attachment
to, the church of which they are ministers. They will
find in it an clement of much encouragement in the pro-
secution of their work of faith and labour of love ; and
may God speed them, and give them to see of the fruit of
their work, as I have seen. And what shall I say more ?
From my heart I thank you for all your sympathy, kind-
ness, and generosity. It is impossible that the remem-
brance of them should ever be effaced. May God bless
you all, your families, your ministers, and your fellow-
townsmen ! And now, brethren, let me commend you to
God, and to the word of his grace; which is able to build
you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them
which are sanctified. Fare ye well ! "

We are glad to hear that arrangements are being made
to enlarge Bootle Church, so as to afford increased ac-
commodation for 500 persons (350 of which. will be free
and unappropriated). The building at present is so un-
sightly, that the trustees will doubtless improve the exte-
rior appearance, and we cordially congratulate the residents
of this rising place on the prospect of a change which we
trust may end in a spire or steeple, as well as to give a
much increased accommodation, now happily so much
needed.