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bring them into disrepute is calculated to impress deeply on the mind the importance of rational views of religion, and the suitableness of Unitarianism to the wants and actual condition of the poor."

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"Your Committee having heard of several Unitarians in the neighbourhood of Ashford (Derbyshire), of whose condition very little was known by the Unitarian public, directed Mr. Clarke to pay them a visit, with a view of obtaining information respecting them, and of affording them any assistance in his power. found four Unitarian chapels, with congregations, at the following places:-Great Hucklow, Bradwell, Stoney Middleton, and Ashford. The most remote of these places are eight miles distant from each other. The services at these four places are conducted by the Rev. R. Naylor, who preaches every Sunday at Great Hucklow, and once a-fortnight at each of the other places. In order to do this, he is obliged to travel twelve miles one Sunday, and four miles the other, alternately; which, together with preaching three times every Sunday, for a very scanty remuneration, is an arduous labour for a person at the age of 64 years."

THE Rev. Dr. Bruce of Belfast, having resigned the charge of the Congregation, over which he had presided for forty-one years, the members of that religious society presented to their venerable friend, on the 17th June, a service of plate, in testimony of their esteem and affection. The testimonial bore this inscription: "This Salver, with a suitable service of Plate, was presented by the members of the First Congregation of Presbyterians, in Belfast, (as a memorial of their affectionate regard,) to WILLIAM BRUCE, D. D. their Senior Minister; who, after faithfully labouring among them in the work of the ministry for the period of fortyone years, and maintaining, by his character as a man, his eminence as a preacher, and his ability as an author, the great principles of Christian liberty, was obliged, by a failure of sight, to retire from the active duties of the pastoral office in the 74th year of his age, on the 1st of May 1831." Dr. Bruce, the congregation being assembled in the Meeting-house, then replied

"Dear and Honoured Friends,-You have released me from your service, laden with honours and rewards, according well with your kind and liberal character, but wholly disproportioned to my deserts. These, I can truly say, have seldom been estimated more lowly by any one than myself. I have often blushed at praises, to which I felt that I had no claim, and been humbled by honours highly redounding to my reputation. My failings have been viewed with unmerited lenity and indulgence by my friends; and if I have had any enemies, I have been more indebted to their ignorance of my faults, than wronged by the severity of their censures. But, under a deep sense of manifold imperfections, I have supported myself with the consciousness, that, during a long life, I have uniformly adhered to my ruling principles, the maintenance of civil and religious liberty, and the vindication of gospel truth, to the best of my ability and knowledge. These principles you have recognised as mine, and most justly claim as your own; and,

in the assertion of them, in the most trying times, I gratefully acknowledge that I have been zealously supported and animated by my people.

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"In my professional capacity, I have consoled myself for my deficiencies, by the declaration of Paul, that there are diversities of gifts,' to be exercised by ministers, each according to the grace given unto him. There were apostles and prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. 'Are all apostles?' says St. Paul, are all prophets? are all teachers? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? To some was given the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge; to one faith, to another the interpretation of tongues. Some had the office of ministering, others of exhortation, and others of ruling; and every man was to cultivate the gift that was in him.' This is still the state of the Christian Church. Some ministers excel in preaching and conducting the public offices of devotion; others are endowed with popular manners, and talents for making a shining figure in the world, and for supporting our cause with a ready eloquence against 'adversaries and gainsayers.' Some are resolute and commanding, capable of exercising authority; others modest and gentle, persuasive and soothing. We should covet earnestly the best gifts; but all members have not the same office. Congregations, too, should make allowances for defects, and look to the general advantage of religion, and the Church to which they belong, as well as to their own peculiar circumstances. In this respect, you, agreeably to the rank you hold among Dissenters, have set an example, in the choice of your Ministers, from the earliest times of the Presbyterian Church. If I have been serviceable in any of these departments, I humbly hope to obtain pardon for my failures and omissions in others."

"Dearly beloved brethren, the situation in which you have placed me this day, has beguiled me into the garrulity of age, and I have indulged it by speaking too much of myself, and too little of you. Were I, indeed, to dwell on every topic that presents itself, my strength would fail, and your patience be exhausted. Some of these are of a melancholy hue: when I turn my thoughts to times long since gone by, or traverse the bounds of this Congregation, in town or country, and survey the dwellings of departed friends, I seem to myself to be walking among tombs. When I cast my eyes round this assembly, I can see but two or three still surviving of all those who subscribed my call; but I am cheered by the sight of a numerous company whom I baptized, educated, and married, now adorning their vocation in the various walks of life, many in the full maturity of years, and blessed with a progeny reared under my ministry, and walking in the steps of their parents. When I look abroad, I behold a mighty ferment working in the minds of men, soon, I hope, to subside into a purer and more tranquil state. When I anticipate futurity,' I see Satan, like lightning falling from heaven;' old dilapidated churches undergoing a thorough repair upon a better model; fanatical and superstitious sects impressing the multitude with serious, though erroneous convictions of religion, unwittingly infusing a spirit of

inquiry, and thus preparing them for a more liberal and charitable faith; and I view this Congregation bearing its part in the ' restitution' of genuine religion, at peace with all around them, and united among themselves in 'faith, hope, and charity.' Brethren, the religious world is moulding and fashioning in the hand of God. He is creating a new heaven and a new earth, wherein righteousness will dwell. Old things are passing away, and, behold, all things are becoming new. Men are growing wiser than their teachers, and more powerful than their spiritual rulers. Even the ponderous fabric of the Roman Church, is mouldering at the base, and toppling to its fall.

"Particular churches may flourish or decay; doctrines may be extinguished and revive; but our fundamental principles, the sufficiency of Scripture and the right of private judgment, the rejection of human authority, and universal charity, are unchangeable, and have been espoused by the most enlightened portion of society; and our doctrinal opinions are spreading far and wide among intelligent people in every church.

"There is a great work going on, and we are the only denomination of Christians at liberty to hail and to promote its progress, unshackled by human creeds, unawed by priestly domination and spiritual power. That man must stop his ears, close his eyes, and stultify his mind, who does not perceive the promise and progress of a great moral and religious improvement in the condition of the world. Who, even the youngest among us, could, a few years ago, have hoped to see, in the course of a long life, what has already taken place? And what experienced person has not observed that every step facilitates another?

"The philosophical Christian is imbibing zeal from the enthusiast, and the fanatic is moderated by the rational believer: the sceptic is the involuntary instrument of establishing certainty, and the infidel of confirming faith. All work together for good, unconscious agents in producing a glorious effect. Consider yourselves, my beloved friends, as appointed to act a distinguished part in this wonderful series of events, as a link in the chain that will finally draw earth to heaven. Meanwhile, be not ye conformed to the world, for the world is coming round to you; and those who forsake you, will be forsaken in their turn. Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.''Finally, brethren, farewell: be perfect; be of good comfort; be of one mind; live in peace; and the God of love and peace be with you. Amen."

THE Unitarian Congregation at Greenock, having been obliged to relinquish their place of meeting, in consequence of the building being purchased by the Committee of the Greenock Library, have taken another place on a lease of ten years. This they have fitted up very neatly, and can accommodate nearly three hundred persons. It was opened on the 19th June, by their indefatigable and excellent pastor, the Rev. Archibald Macdonald. The religious services were, and continue to be, well attended; and, through God's blessing on our friend's labours, aided as they are by those

of his increasing Society, we confidently anticipate, that a flourishing Congregation will be gathered in that populous and thriving Town. The expense of fitting up the Chapel amounts to one hundred pounds. Towards this, the Congregation have contributed sixty; and we cannot doubt, that the remaining sum, which if suffered to continue as a debt, would impede the efforts and weigh down the energies of this infant Society, will speedily be liquidated by the kind aid of those, who, though distant in abode, are neighbours in charity.

THE Annual Meeting of the Unitarian Ministers of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and part of Yorkshire, was held at Sheffield on the 23d and 24th of June. On Thursday evening, the religious worship was conducted in the Upper Chapel, by the Rev. P. Wright of Stannington, and an excellent sermon founded on Deut. viii. 2, was preached by the Rev. H. H. Piper of Norton. On Friday morning, about ninety of the friends, male and female, breakfasted together in the school-room belonging to the Upper Chapel-the Rev. Dr. Philipps, Minister of the Chapel, presiding. Some excellent observations on the importance of similar meetings, the necessity of union and co-operation in our Fellowship Funds, Associations, Chapel Libraries, Sunday Schools, &c. were afterwards made by Mr. T. A. Ward, and several of the ministers and friends. At eleven o'clock, public worship was conducted in the chapel, when the Rev. B. Carpenter of Nottingham read the Scriptures and prayed, and the Rev. J. Williams of Mansfield delivered an impressive discourse from 1 Cor. viii. 5, 6. In the afternoon, the ministers and friends dined together. Much interesting conversation occurred, particularly in relation to a plan which has been acted on in Chesterfield, through the exertions of the Rev. R. Wallace and his congregation-the carrying tracts, explanatory of Unitarianism, from house to house, lending them to the families who made no objection, and calling again in fourteen days to exchange those for others. Many valuable members have been added to the Chesterfield congregation by these means. A committee of four was named, to institute such a Society in Sheffield; and offers of assistance in its agency were made by several ladies of the two Unitarian congregations of that town. May every success attend their laudable, their Christian efforts.

THE Annual Meeting of the North Eastern Association of Unitarian Christians, was this year held at Wisbeach, on the 6th and 7th of July, when ministers or friends were present from Boston, Lincoln, Coningsby, Fleet, Lutton, Tydd, Lynn, Norwich, Northampton, and Bramfield in Suffolk.

The public services commenced on the Wednesday evening, when Mr. Jones of Northampton read the Scriptures and engaged in prayer, and Mr. Selby of Lynn discoursed from Isaiah viii. 30, upon the necessity of bringing all professedly Christian doctrines to the test of Scripture, and of rejecting such as are not plainly and expressly taught therein.

On the Thursday morning, the service was introduced with

reading and prayer by Mr. Roberts of Boston, and Mr. Jones of Northampton addressed a respectable though not numerous congregation, from Mark xii. 29, and following verses, on the important doctrine of the oneness of God, and the necessity of belief therein, to that undivided love which our Lord enforced.

In the afternoon, nearly 80 friends, male and female, sat down to an economical dinner, and after its removal, were addressed on various subjects by the chairman (Mr. Roberts of Boston), by Mr. Crisp of Bramfield, Mr. Hawkes of Norwich, Mr. Jones of Northampton, Mr. Selby of Lynn, Mr. Walker of Wisbeach, and, though last in alphabetical order, not least in energy and judgment, Mr. R. Wright of Coningsby.

After this, an interesting scene took place in the garden of Mr. Jecks, where nearly all the friends partook of tea or coffee, amidst surrounding flowers of various hues, sheltered from the radiant heat of the sun by the luxuriant foliage of different shrubs and trees, and buoyant in their minds by the good and holy cause which had assembled them together.

This scene, however, gave place at the appointed hour, and the friends again repaired to public service, when Mr. Shawcross of Whitchurch commenced by reading and prayer, and Mr. Jones again, in an energetic and most pleasing manner, addressed the congregation from 1 John ii. 15, on the incompatibility of an inordinate love of the world, with that pure and holy love to God which Christianity enjoins. This discourse was listened to with the most serious attention, and which it certainly peculiarly deserved.

According to the custom of this district, the friends assembled after evening service, at the place where they had dined, when the harmony and interest of the meeting were kept up by the different speakers till the day was nearly gone.

Nor was the following day without its attractions. The friendly hospitality of Mr. Hursthouse assembled more than thirty of the friends, at his delightful residence in Tydd, St. Mary's, where, after dinner, the doctrine of Original Sin* became a subject of consideration, on his lawn, by the ministers present; and having taken tea, and enjoyed the beauties of his grounds and gardens, the different individuals returned delighted to their respective homes. L.

"THE blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." What Protestant has not heard that sentiment repeatedly expressed in reference to Heathen and Romish persecution? Its spirit is true in relation to every persecution for opinion. Unmindful of this were the members of the General Assembly of the Church of

* Our friend (and we trust, for the future, our regular correspondent) has not stated the conclusion come to by the assembled party, on the dectrine of Original Sin. To those acquainted with the situation where the question was discussed, he probably deemed it would be unnecessary. He was right. But we think the Calvinist would have good cause to object to the discussion of Original Sin in such a spot. It had no chance there, for there the curse of God was not. May the Christian graces of piety, integrity, and benevolence, continue to consecrate the lovely scene.-Edit.

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