134 THE RAY DALE AND ALLEN COMMEMORATION FUND.
From Black Notley, the party drove to Braintree, two miles
distant. After having taken luncheon at the Horn Hotel, all
adjourned to the Parish Church (St. Michael), at 2.30 p.m.,
to take part in a service for the unveiling of the Samuel Dale
Memorial Tablet, for which an excellent position on the south
wall of the Jesus Chapel had been chosen. At the service, the
members of the party formed but a small portion of a large
congregation, composed mainly of Braintree residents. The
service was short and simple, but impressive. The vicar, the
Rev. T. Eddleston, officiated ; but, at the selected moment, he
called upon my colleague, the Rev. J. W. Kenworthy, formerly
vicar, to perform the actual unveiling ceremony and to deliver
a brief address.
At the outset, Mr. Kenworthy said how happy he was at
being able to meet again so many friends in that venerable fabric,
and especially on such an occasion as this. The hearts of his
friends and the Essex Field Club must be full of gratitude to those
who had responded to the appeal to put up this monument to. and
record of, a great and worthy man, who spent the greater portion
of his life usefully and religiously in that district. He prayed
that their work there that day would redound to the honour
of Science and to the honour and glory of God. He went on
to say that that particular portion of the church—the South
Chapel, or Jesus Chapel, as it was called formerly—might be
regarded as the "Mecca of Braintree," It was of great historical
interest, and contained many features and memorials which he
"could not touch upon on that occasion, except to say that for
many generations the chapel was partitioned off and used as a
school, evidences of which were still seen on the walls and pillars.
There, too, John Ray received his early education before going
to the University. Among the mural tablets was one to
Daniel Copsey, who was also educated there and became a
famous Egyptologist and Coptic scholar. It was a fitting place
in which to do honour to the memory of Samuel Dale.
Mr. Kenworthy then unveiled the Memorial Tablet, after-
wards reciting a prayer composed by Ray himself7 :—
Assist us, O Lord, in all good undertakings, in the services we are
this day to perform. Help us to mind and intend the business we are
about, to wait upon Thee without distraction, and not to suffer our
7 See Select Remains, pp., 94-93 (1760).