ment. If our congregations are not very much more numerous than they were twenty years ago, the influence of the opinions we have advocated is perceptible throughout the land. Upon points of faith our statements have been slightly modified; and the diversity of views among us, while it embarrasses or delays concerted action, is a noble testimony to our respect for conscientious difference of opinion.

In a review of the twenty-five years that have elapsed since the origin of this institution, we notice with special gratitude two grounds of congratulation, in the quality and amount of religious writings which have issued from our body, and in the character of the men who have left behind them names that we honor and cherish. Of these claims to the respectful and cordial regard of others, we may speak without the imputation of vanity. No religious connection of the same extent has, in its periodical literature or its occasional pamphlets, shown more vigor of thought or industry of the pen, while the larger works that have been given to the public proclaim the scholarship and the integrity of our writers. We need not name the volumes of sermons, the biographical sketches, the ethical works, the contributions to Christian belles-lettres, or the more elaborate productions of the study, enforcing the claims of the Scriptures, or throwing light on their character and meaning, which have come from our authors. We point to their number and excellence with a satisfaction which we need not attempt to conceal.

Of the men who have gone from us it is difficult to speak without tears of grateful emotion. Worthy and noble have they been, each in his sphere, and with his peculiar gifts and graces of personal character, illustrating the law of the

spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Of the fearless but modest Bancroft, the first President of this Association, of the apostolic Worcester, the judicious Porter, the learned Harris, the venerable Ripley, the courteous and dignified Thayer, the amiable and diligent Abbot, of Kirkland, in whom benignity and wisdom found the happiest union, of Ware, the candid controversialist and venerated instructor, of Parker, the most faithful of pastors, of Greenwood, the cherished preacher and friend, of the younger Ware, the example to his brethren of devoted fidelity to every walk and opportunity of usefulness, of Channing, who wrote his own imperishable memorial in the service he rendered to freedom and religion, of Follen, whose excellence inspired admiration while it won our love, of Tuckerman, whose monument is the Ministry at Large, of the Whitmans, brothers in energy, and the Peabodys, brothers in holiness, of Wells and Withington, whose brief ministries will not soon be forgotten, and of others, not less honored or dear in remembrance, we cannot now speak as our hearts move us. To Lowell, the firm and able defender of a maligned cause, to Parker and Howe, expounders of the law of the land and servants of the law of God, to Haven, whose name is inwoven with the history of our Sunday schools, to Saltonstall, as true in heart as strong in mind, to Smith and Davis, in whom old age wore its fairest aspects, to Patterson and Stone, whose early excellence was ripe for heaven, to the learned and eloquent Story, who once presided over our institution, to the zealous and indefatigable Higginson, to Vaughan, whose life was spent for others, to Goodhue, of an unimpeachable integrity and unstinted liberality, and to how many more, civilians, merchants, scholars, eminent men, and admirable women,—who have illustrated the char

acter and placed beyond denial the efficacy of our faith, we can only allude in these few words. Mayhew, and Freeman, and Buckminster, and Parsons, and their contemporaries, who stood up for the truth and free inquiry in the early days of our religious history, we may not even notice in this review of a subsequent period. Followers all of the blessed Saviour, bright patterns of the Christian life! "Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the " sins of distrust and sloth which do " so easily beset us, and let us run with patience," even the patience of hope, "the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God," where he will welcome his faithful servants, that they too may share in the joy which the Father hath given him.

ADDRESSES

AT THE

PUBLIC MEETING OF THE AMERICAN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION, MAY 28, 1850.

[The Executive Committee are indebted to most of the speakers for complying with the request that they would prepare their remarks for the press. In a single instance they have been obliged to avail themselves of a report already given in one of the religious journals.]

AFTER the reading of extracts from the Report was concluded, SAMUEL GREELE, Esq., of Boston, was called upon to address the audience on the subject of "the Association as an instrument of good for the last twenty-five years," and spoke as follows:

Mr. President and Christian Friends, Aware that brevity is fitting, if not necessary, on occasions like the present, where many are to speak as well as myself, I assure you, in advance, that though my remarks may be lean, they shall not be long. We have been reminded by the Secretary, that this is the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the American Unitarian Association. A quarter of a century has elapsed since it was formed. We have survived the perils of infancy and of nonage, passed our majority, and fully arrived (speaking after the manner of human life) at manhood's best age. Manly efforts and deeds are justly expected from manly age. The existence of our society, brief as it is, is divided into three VOL. XXIII. NO. 272.

5

distinct eras or epochs: the controversial, the philanthropic, and the spiritual.

Our society commenced its existence in conflict and toil. And here let me ask, What state or denomination, worthy of a place either in sacred or profane history, ever began to exist without conflict and toil? Do you think that our Pilgrim Fathers would have been hardier champions of liberty and the cross, if their venerable brows had been fanned by the gentle zephyrs of June, instead of being breathed upon by wintry tempests and storms? The most efficient sects in Christendom have likewise commenced existence amid contending foes. The oldest of us can recollect the time when Methodism was a term of obloquy and reproach. Wherever its missionaries went, they were met by sturdy opposition, as enemies of order and disturbers of the peace. But all these persecutions and conflicts have given hardihood to the Methodist character, and better fitted its ministers and its members to become efficient pioneers of the cross. We, too, in the early history of our society, had our full share of trials, conflicts, and toils. But, thank Heaven, I trust they have done our denomination much good. In those stormy days our meeting-houses were any thing but chapels of ease, and our pulpit-cushions were far from being downy pillows for a recumbent clergy to lean upon, while they drawled out drowsy sermons to sleepy hearers.

This was the controversial age of our denomination. The fruits of this period are some of the ablest defences of our common Christianity, as well as of our own peculiar views, which can be found in any denomination. They are worthy to be placed in the same alcove of our libraries that contains the writings of the Fratres Poloni, who were the earliest champions and defenders of the Unitarian faith. These polemical writings have, by their logic and arguments, obtained for us footing on the terra firma of our common Christendom, so that we are now no longer considered as interlopers and tenants at will; but our rights are recognized and respected as owners in fee simple of some portions of Christian territory and soil. I do not mean to claim for our society the