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Rh began to grow in intellectual vigour; and he began to rise as a preacher. He was invited to preach a sermon in London. It made an impression not only for its graces of elocution, but for its intellectual force and logical structure. He was soon after invited to speak at an annual meeting of the London Missionary Society, at that time presenting about the only forum to ministers of different denominations for platform speeches. This was a long stride, and he at first shrank from it. But encouraged by an old friend and adviser to make the effort, he did so with a large measure of success. Referring to it, he says: "It so happened that I was rather happy in my speech, which elicited some very encouraging terms of approbation, at which I was as much surprised as gratified. From that time I commenced my career as a speech-maker—a business of which, though I have not been unsuccessful in it. I was never very fond."

Not long after this, when he was about twenty-six years of age, he made a more elaborate and extended speech at the annual meeting of the Birmingham Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society. He threw all the force and fervour of his imagination, heart, soul, mind, and strength into this oration, which even in later years he regarded as the best he ever delivered. It inaugurated for him a new era and area of influence,