A large gathering of members of St. Paul's congregation took place on Monday evening at the school-house in Swanston Street, for the purpose of presenting an address and testimonial to the Rev. Canon Chase, on the occasion of his leaving his old parish for that of St. John's.

The chair was taken by Mr. J. D. Gowan, trustee of the church, and Mr. W. E. Morris made the presentation on behalf of the congregation. The testimonial consisted of a very handsome tea and coffee service and salver, obtained from Walsh Brothers. The principal articles bore the following inscription: -

The address was as follows: -

"To the Rev. Septimus Lloyd Chase, M.A., Canon of the Diocese, Chaplain of the Bishop, and recently Incumbent of St. Paul's, Melbourne."

"Our reverend, honoured, and much loved father and friend in Christ -

We, the members of St. Paul's congregation and others of your friends, desire on the occasion of your leaving the parish in which you have laboured faithfully for so many years, to say some affectionate parting words, and to present you with the accompanying token of our gratitude and of our love. During almost a quarter of a century you have dwelt among us. To those who have known you for all these years, as well as those who have known you for shorter periods, you have ever been the same - the wise teacher, the faithful pastor, the kind friend. In many and various circumstances, both by sound precept and by consistent example, you have, after the pattern of our Divine Master, 'gone about doing us good.' Some of us have been led by you to the Saviour, and we all have learnt from you to love that Saviour more, and to make it our constant endeavour to become more like Him.

More than this you would not have us say. At last you have gone from us, and the time-honoured connexion between you and St. Paul's is severed. We know that there must be good reason for it, or the Master would not have sent you to another place. This must satisfy us. But while we are satisfied that 'it is well,' we sorrow deeply on account of your going away. For our own advantage we would have kept you always with us, but for your own and that of others we are made willing to say 'good-bye.' We conclude our farewell with the heartfelt prayer that God's richest blessings may rest on you and on your children, that He may abundantly prosper your work during all your days on earth, and that when you depart hence you may obtain a glorious inheritance amongst His redeemed and sanctified people in that blest 'meeting-place' where -

The following is Mr. Chase's reply: -

"Dear Christian friends, members of the congregation of St. Paul's, and all other dear friends here present, - I wish to reply to your address in a suitable manner, but no words of mine will adequately express the deep feelings of my heart.

You have ever been exceeding kind to me, dear friends, and your great kindness is shown on the present occasion in a way which I shall never forget. I appreciate your farewell words, and the honour you put upon me. I appreciate your kindness with my whole heart. You have been good enough to address me in words of gratitude and love - they are words which I accept with humility; and for the magnificent present you bestow upon me, I offer you my most heartfelt thanks. These most beautiful tokens of your affection shall be ever precious mementos to me and mine - these costly gifts shall be kept as signs of your love, and of the sacred ties which once bound us happily together as minister and people.

How gratifying to my feelings is this large meeting! The only drawback, dear friends, to present gratification is the inner consciousness of unworthiness. I can never be grateful enough for your kind testimony to your happiness in the Lord, and for your witness to the good which the Lord has been pleased to effect by my ministry. Praying souls have obtained a blessing on my labours, and all past years have been cheered and rendered useful by the kindly sympathies and co-operation of Christian workers, some still amongst us, other some dispersed abroad, and some departed this life to be at rest with the Lord Jesus.

My old place in St. Paul's Church and parsonage and schools was very pleasant to me. My old friends were all that I could wish. Believe me, I have accepted a new post out of no dissatisfaction with my former lot, but with a hope in my heart (a hope given me, I trust, of the Lord Himself) that I may work for a little while with advantage in a new sphere. Changes, I know, are not always desirable, but I think some changes prove healthful and invigorating. I give sincere thanks to you all for your good wishes and prayers for my welfare, and the welfare of my family. God bless you all with health and peace.

All earthly ties must some day break, but Christ our Saviour has forged for us bands of heavenly union more enduring than adamant itself. It is but a little while and I hope to meet you in a fairer world. We have already found through our Redeemer a cup which runneth over to us, but we are going where we shall drink more deep of the eternal fountain of Divine love, and we shall salute each other in the freshness of eternal light; and there I hope to cast my crown at the Saviour's feet, and there I hope to redouble my own joys by beholding your joys - your joys unspeakable in the presence of your King. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you evermore. Amen."

Mr. Murray, master of St. Paul's High School, on behalf of the teachers and boys, then presented Mr. Chase with a very pretty ink-stand, and accompanied the gift with most gratifying testimony to the great advantage the school had derived from Mr. Chase's religious instruction. Mr. Murray observed that the testimonial proceeded almost entirely from the boys, who had volunteered their contributions with hearty good will.

In reply, Mr. Chase assured his young friends of the great pleasure it had given him to be their teacher, and that the instruction of them had been a very delightful part of his work. He greatly regretted having to relinquish it, but looked forward to finding kindred occupation in his new parish.

After the presentation to Mr. Chase had been made, Mr. Cole and Master Whitford, on behalf of the teachers and children of the Sunday school, presented Mr. Pelham Chase, son of the late incumbent, with a handsome travelling bag and a prettily-illuminated address, in token of their esteem and of their appreciation of his services in the Sunday school. A hope was expressed that the bag would be found useful in Mr. Pelham Chase's projected journey to England, whither he is about to proceed in order to enter the University of Cambridge.

Mr. P. Chase replied in suitable terms.

The benediction was pronounced by the late incumbent, and the proceedings terminated.