and becoming; and when (as in the present instance) the individual has been distinguished by uprightness of character, strength of intellect, and perseverance in a course of extensive usefulness, an important moral lesson may be derived from a brief record of his life and character. The subject of the present notice was born of respectable parents, but in no elevated rank of society. At an early age he entered on the active business of a commercial life, and in consequence did not enjoy the advantages of an early scholastic education. He soon, however, displayed the superiority which the high endowments of nature are almost sure to confer when (as in him) they are accompanied with integrity of principle, and directed by a spirit of persevering industry. The consequence was, that he fully succeeded in elevating himself to a station that may justly be regarded high in every sense of the word. By a successful carreer of commercial enterprise, he accumulated extensive wealth, which he carefully employed as the means of public usefulness. To his intimate friends it was well known, that he regarded every increase of worldly property, as entailing upon him an additional responsibility, and that he felt grateful, not only on account of his being thus enabled to increase the comforts and importance of his family, but also that he was rendered instrumental in furnishing the means of profitable employment to numerous dependents, and of essentially promoting the benefit of the general community. What is more, no increase of wealth or consequence had any influence in altering the original simplicity of his manners, or in estranging him from any of his early friends; nor did the commercial contests in which he engaged ever prevent him from displaying a lively and benevolent interest in the success of any honourable competitor. By attentively availing himself of every means of acquiring practical knowledge, he equally succeeded in the acquisition of mental treasures. His extensive commercial connections naturally enabled him to gain a considerable knowledge of the world and of human His taste for intellectual inquiries led him to cultivate the acquaintance of men of information and habits of thought; while the clearness of his perception, and the practical shrewdness of his mind, caused him to acquire so ample a store of information, and to appreciate so correctly its real importance, that few enjoyed the pleasure of his society, without receiving as much instruction, as they were able to communicate. His enlightened spirit of patriotism, and his constant readiness to promote any measure for the public benefit, made him an important member of society; and the influence he possessed in the district where he resided, was steadily exerted in the cause of constitutional liberty, for the extension of useful knowledge, and to promote the benefit of suffering humanity. The religious sentiments in which he had been originally trained, were of the character usually called orthodox. He has, however, often declared, that from the first period of his exerting the power of independent thought, he entertained doubts of the perfect soundness of these sentiments, and while young he was led to adopt the simple and efficacious faith of a Unitarian Christian. These views he im nature. bibed from attending the services and perusing the writings of the Rev. Richard Wright, who was at that time employed by the Unitarian Fund, and who under the auspices of that valuable institution, laid the foundation of the Unitarian congregation at Thorne, the place of Mr. Darley's nativity and usual abode. Of this congregation, he continued to the period of his death a consistent and valuable member. He felt the importance of his religious principles in serving to give stability to his Christian faith, their value in promoting integrity of character, and the power which they possess to support and cheer the soul. He felt it, too, as a duty he owed to his Maker, openly to profess and zealously to support the system of religious faith he had adopted, and was powerfully convinced that the intellectual, political, and moral improvement of society depended materially on the extension of the sentiments of Unitarian Christianity. His death will long be sincerely deplored by an extensive circle of acquaintance, among whom he always proved himself a pleasing and intelligent companion, and a kind and faithful friend. The Unitarian congregations at Thorne and Stainforth, will especially feel the loss of this zealous and valuable member of their body. And the inhabitants of Thorne will long remember him as a public spirited townsman, a sympathising neighbour, and an upright and benevolent man. The writer of this article enjoyed for several years the benefit and pleasure of his society, and though recently called to a distant scene of action, feels sensibly the loss he has sustained in the death of so valuable a friend. He ventures, however, to suggest to the numerous individuals who share in this feeling, the benefit that may be derived from contemplating the character of their departed friend, with a firm resolution of cultivating his virtues and following his example. The summons of death was in his case appallingly sudden, but it was received with dignified and Christian calmness. A previous attack of illness had prepared him for a sudden call, and his strong and well-regulated mind was never heedless of the warnings of Providence. May we all be found equally prepared, seeing none of us knows what even a day may bring forth. STOCTON-ON-TEES. W. D. AUGUST 13, 1833.-Died at Thorne, Yorkshire, aged 39 years, Susan, the wife of Mr. C. Darley; only son of the above. In her a second severe loss has been sustained in the same family and by the same congregation. She was remarkable for the cheerfulness of her temper, the activity with which she discharged her duties, the kind affability of her manners, the strength of her affection for her family, and the cordiality of her friendships. Few were more ready than she to promote the interests of any institution of a benevolent character, or to show sympathy toward private suffering and distress. The benevolence of her disposition, and the importance of her life, did not, however, save her from the universal doom. May her death serve as an additional warning of the uncertainty of all sublunary possessions. W. D. Rev. Israel Worsley, late of Paris, has accepted the charge of the congregation with which he was formerly connected at Lincoln. Rev. Jerome Murch of Diss, has succeeded the Rev. Joseph Hunter of Bath, who has been appointed one of the Commissioners of Public Records. TO CORRESPONDENTS. THE letter from Mr. Samuel Tucker, though dated 15th June, did not reach us till the close of August. We readily give it insertion. It will of course be noticed in a future Number. Our friends in various parts of England, are respectfully informed, that their communications for this Magazine, if sent to the care of MR. HUNTER, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, LONDON, previously to the last day of every Month, will reach the Editor in a few days afterwards. In looking over the stock of our past Numbers; we find the greatest difference occurs in those at the beginning and close of the year. The Magazine commenced in September, and each Volume has closed in August. As it is usual, however, for most periodicals to begin and end with January and December, we shall carry on the present Volume to December, and commence the eighth Volume with January 1834. The stock of early Numbers being heavy, the first and second" Volumes are offered at Two Shillings and Sixpence each. Single Volumes to complete sets, at Four Shillings; and the set of Six Volumes at one Guinea. Single Numbers to complete past Volumes at Fourpence-halfpenny. Of the Volume now publishing, a sufficient quantity is printed to supply Subscribers only, their number having now been ascertained. CHRISTIAN PIONEER. No. 87. NOVEMBER, 1833. Vol. VII. Scottish Unitarian Christian Association. ON Sunday and Monday, September 29 and 30, the Third Anniversary of this Institution since its re-establishment, was held at Glasgow. In the morning of Sunday, Rev. J. Scott Porter of Belfast, conducted the worship, and Rev. Dr. Drummond of Dublin preached a most interesting and beautiful discourse on the Scriptural representations of the character of God, from Mat. vii. 9-11. The whole service in the afternoon was taken by Mr. Porter, who admirably exposed the baselessness of the argument, of numbers being a test of truth, from Acts v. 38, 39. In the evening Mr. Harris prayed, and Dr. Drummond preached from John viii. 31, 32, powerfully urging the importance and the duty of earnestly inquiring after and manfully professing Christian truth. The Chapel throughout the day was crowded by a deeply interested audience; friends being present from Dundee, Dunfermline, Tillicoultry, Old Lanark, New Lanark, Kirkfield Bank, Carluke, Davies Dykes, Bellshill, Dalry, Crutherland, Paisley, Renfrew, Saltcoats, Largs, Innerkip, Greenock, Port-Glasgow, Dumbarton, Old Kilpatrick, Old Cumnock, Peebles, &c. The collection was £14: 8:5. At the conclusion of the morning worship, the Report of the Committee of the Association was read by the Secretary, Mr. Harris. It is as follows: "The Committee of the Scottish Unitarian Christian Association, in presenting their Third Report to its members and friends, congratulate them on the altered and improving circumstances in which they assemble at this Anniversary. In giving an account of their stewardship, it will be seen, they hope, that every effort has been made which the means at their disposal enabled them to employ, for the promotion of the great and important objects of the Institution committed to their charge. Having in the two preceding Annual Reports entered fully into the reasons which called for the formation of the Association, and detailed at considerable length the obstacles which would impede the accomplishment of its objects, as well as the encouragements which would cheer on its labours, the Committee come at once to a relation of their proceedings during the past year, dividing the portions of their Report according to the five respective purposes of the Association. I. Correspondence for mutual encouragement and aid in the promotion of the sacred and benevolent principles of their common faith, has been continued with Aberdeen, Auchterarder, Tillicoultry, Edinburgh, Greenock, Paisley, Dundee, Blackford, Falkirk, Carluke, Kilmarnock, PortGlasgow, Saltcoats, Dumbarton, Dumblane, Grahamstown, Lanark, Old Cumnock, Monkland, Dalry, Beith, and Irvine, and has been commenced with the following additional places to those enumerated in former Reports,— Hamilton, Bannockburn, Dreghorn, Innerleithen, Alloa, Catrine, and Dunfermline. Letters have been received from several individuals and congregations to which your attention will be directed in the course of this Report. II. There was on hand at the last Anniversary 1142 books and tracts. There have been added to the stock in the course of the year, by purchase and exchange, 605 copies of publications in advocacy and illustration of the principles of Christian Unitarianism; making a total of 1747. Of these there have been claimed by subscribers in their annual allotments, 109-exchanged with the Edinburgh congregation for copies of Mr. Stannus's sermon on the wanderings of Christendom from Gospel simplicity, 189-sold to various individuals, 109-given to Kilmarnock friends as a foundation for a congregational library, and for general circulation, 61-to the Glasgow congregation for lending out during the winter evening lectures, 66-to the friends at Dunfermline, 85-and there have been distributed by your Missionary and the Secretary 121 publications, making together 740, and leaving at present in possession of the Association 1007, value £14: 6:11. III. The Committee have to notice with unfeigned satisfaction, the indefatigable labours of their respected Missionary, Rev. Henry Clarke. His zeal and energy have been unabated. Even during a period in the past year, which must to him have been truly afflictive, and in the circumstances of which they sincerely sympathisedhis devotedness to the great work in which he is en |