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and his purposes fixed, he knows what is best, and will carry on his designs without regard to the entreaties of his creatures. It may therefore be deemed presumptuous in us, to ask him to alter his appointments-as in pestilential diseases, threatening convulsions of nature, &c.

But in reply it may be said in truth, that we know not what the designs of the Divine Being may be, in such cases, any farther than present facts exhibit them to us. For instance: If a contagious epidemic begin its ravages in a city, we know not with certainty that it will continue, or how long. In this state of blindness, therefore, as to the future, are we placed; and hence the propriety and the religious duty of prayer, in deference to the ruling dispensations of a perfect prescience, and the discipline of Fatherly compassion and mercy, in this as in all other cases.

T. M.

THE BEEHIVE.

THE hive the honey-bee has found,
With loaded wings and heavy sides,
Stands in the garden fenced around,
Where she, called Industry, resides.

In and out her menials fly,

On their journeys one by one,
As she sends them far and nigh,
Telling each what must be done.

Are there flowers on crag, in dell,
Overladen with their sweets;
Quick the humming insects teli
Heard within their wild retreats.

Do they bloom on the open field,
Or the sheltered plots of men;
Not the smallest is concealed,
There her messengers have been.

All the day in quiet haste,

Thus they do their mistress' will;
Suffering not a drop to waste,
That may go her hive to fill.

JONES VERY.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

"Northumberland, (Pa.,) August 22d, 1840.

"MY DEAR FRIENDS: Would to God that I could excite sufficient interest in the minds of our friends here to induce them to patronize your efforts in the cause in which you are, and all who value our views of truth as they ought, are engaged. This is the last earthly residence of Dr. PRIESTLEY. Here his last voice from the pulpit went forth; and it would be but fair and natural to expect that here a brighter zeal would burn in a cause, which he, with all his fame as a philosopher and man of science, deemed the only subject worthy the best powers of his mind. But, though it cannot be said that the truths he taught, have died here, we cannot say that there are many amongst us who are disposed to rate them high enough. to sacrifice much worldly convenience for their support. I rejoice to witness the manifestation of a better spirit in the conduct of your periodical. There is a vitality in it which Unitarians here are not yet able to appreciate. You have, I think, broken through the frozen region of a material philosophy; and I hope that the Creator of the soul of man will give you more aid in convincing your fellow man that he is something more than mere earth. Truly, the greatest revelation yet to be made to man, is to reveal him to himself."

"Yours in Christian affection,

C. WOODS."

At the annual meeting of the First Unitarian Society of Chicago, held on the evening of the 9th January, 1841, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, that the earnest and heartfelt thanks of this Society are due to our brethren of the East, who, during a period of great pecuniary embarrassment, and at a time when there were many urgent calls upon their benevolence, so liberally contributed their aid towards the erection of the First Unitarian Church in this city.

Resolved, That this Society gratefully acknowledge the kindness of the several Clergymen in Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, New-York, Brooklyn and l'hiladelphia, who so warmly espoused our cause, and tendered the use of their pulpits to our Pastor.

VOL. VIII.-60.

Resolved, That this Society retain the liveliest gratitude to their worthy and respected Pastor, the Rev. JOSEPH HARRINGTON, Jun., for his zealous, laborious and efficient exertions in procuring the amount necessary for the completion of our house of worship.

Resolved, That the Secretary cause these resolutions to be published in the Christian Register and Western Messenger, and that he furnish the Rev. Mr. HARRINGTON with a copy of the same.

A true copy of the Records. Attest,

EDWARD K. ROGERS, Sec'ry.

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SING songs of joy by the foaming tide,
Beings of beauty who sit on the shore!
Let the sweeping winds and waves that glide,
Bear
your sweet notes the wide world o'er.
Stag and faun through the forest bound;
Children are laughing with merry sound;
Sunlight is flashing all around;
Lovers are sitting holy and still;
The old man wanders at his will;
Gold! Gold! is all I can say,
For all is golden on this happy day.

The rushing river is molten gold,
The wealth of the trees could ne'er be told;
The bank is framed of golden ore,

A hundred golden-rods wave on the shore,
The laugh of the children, the lover's glance,
The motes, that mid the sunbeams dance,
The songs of the birds and their eyes of joy,
All are of gold without alloy.

E'en the old man's thoughts, like butterfly's wings,
Are woven of gold, and he too sings,

"Joy! oh joy for this golden day,

I know it shall never pass away!"

Z.

APPEAL FOR LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE

AND

CHRISTIAN UNION.

WE have been requested from many different quarters, to publish the correspondence, which, as it is well known to our whole community, has passed in relation to the attempts, recently made, to exclude Unitarians from active aid in the Young Men's Bible Society. We have determined at length to do so, although unwilling to exhibit any of our brethren, particularly when those brethren are esteemed for amiability in private life, and honored for their usefulness in public station, in so unworthy a position, as it appears to us, the Fifteen Ministers have assumed. Were the interests of our own denomination alone concerned, we should have passed by this unkindness in entire silence, for we remember the words of the Apostle," who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" But it has seemed to us, that the great principles of Liberty of Conscience and Christian Union are outraged in this treatment of ourselves; and therefore we have felt called npon, as friends of Freedom and Peace, to defend them from assault. Especially have we been anxious to direct the minds of our brethren of all denominations to a consideration of the true grounds on which Liberty of Conscience and Christian Union are founded, because this attack upon these cherished principles, is hidden beneath the plausible pretext of opposing heresy. We know well the honest prejudices which have been diligently inculcated against Unitarians, and see how easily sincere but ill-informed minds, in their readiness to oppose what they think dangerous error, may be led to sanction in this case a spirit of persecution, which, under any other circumstances, they would be the first to condemn. As individuals and as a Society then, we shall gladly forgive and forget this act of injustice, and go on in the simple performance of our Christian duties towards each other and towards this community;

ready in future, as we have been heretofore, to co-operate with these ministers and with all our brethren, in every work, which promises to elevate and bless mankind. Our object in publishing this correspondence is not therefore personal or private. We place it before this community only because we think it right they should know that an attempt has been made, and we doubt not, from conscientious motives, to introduce a system of exclusion, which we sincerely believe to be hostile to the spirit of Christianity, to the temper and habits of our social state, and to the best interests of man. Where Liberty of Conscience is infringed in the case of any individual without remonstrance, there a precedent is established for unchecked spiritual despotism. Where a majority ef believers is by public sentiment tolerated in the defamation of a minority, of different persuasion, there does the spirit of persecution punish opinion by moral penalties, no less cruel and no less hard to bear than the branding iron or the stake, which the laws forbid. Where one body of Christians is allowed to arrogate to itself infallibility, and to condemn other bodies as heretics, there is sectarianism ad mitted with its evils of bigotry and unkindness; and the minds of men are turned from holiness and charity, to angry theological contentions. Where members of one denomination are permitted to exclude their brethren of other denominations from those enterprizes of Christian Reform, which are of common obligation and of common interest, on the assumption of superior soundness in doctrine, or superior sanctity in life, there are dissensions sown among the followers of the Prince of Peace, who in honor should prefer one another.

As friends of Liberty of Conscience and of Christian Union then, which we feel have been violated in the late treatment of ourselves by Fifteen ministers of the Gospel, of this city, do we, in behalf of the Unitarian Society, claim candid attention to the following

Statement of Facts.

In the autumn of the year just closed, (1840,) the Executive Committee of the Young Men's Bible Society, one member of which is, and always has been, since the formation of the Society, a Unitarian, determined to make a direct appeal to such of their

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