gaged, was unwearied. Having heard from the various stations at which he had laboured during the first year of his engagement with the Association, urging the renewal of it (with the exception of one Society, Paisley, which from peculiar circumstances was obliged to discontinue its subscription, being called on to make pecuniary efforts for the liquidation of the burden on its place of worship), the Committee unanimously re-invited the Missionary.

They were happy in Mr. Clarke's acceptance of the invitation; and the account of his labours during the past year, which will now be submitted to you, shows the importance of the office he sustains, and its great utility in spreading abroad the knowledge and practice of enlightened and Scriptural worship.

To the Committee of the Scottish Unitarian Association.

GENTLEMEN,-The report of my missionary labours since the last Anniversary Meeting, I present to you with the mingled feelings of pleasure, regret, and hope. I derive pleasure from a review of what has been accomplished; I feel regret that more has not been effected; and I entertain hope in the onward progress and final triumph of the holy cause the cause of Christian truth and heavenly love which we espouse. Long experience had taught me, not to be too sanguine in my expectations. From my own theological thraldom and subsequent emancipation, and my intimate acquaintance with numerous cases similar to my own, I had too well learned how inveterate are early religious impressions-how gigantic are long-settled habits of thinking-and how potent are the influences of worldly fashion, to permit myself to calculate very largely upon the early visible effects which my humble exertions would produce. I was fully aware that the aspect of the land in which bigotry is piled on bigotry, lofty as its mountains, and prejudice and superstition are poured forth plenteous as its floods, is not to be changed in a day or a year. But the Divine Teacher who was sent from God, has declared, that "If we have faith as a grain of mustard seed, the mountains shall be removed;" and then, too, the floods shall be restrained, and the land made to smile under the influences of our Heavenly Father's love, and yield abundantly the fruits of fraternal affection. Aided by the power, and comforted by the spirit, and animated by the utility of this faith from above, I have been enabled to hold on my way, trusting in God, and endeavouring to spread what we believe to be "the truth as it is in Jesus;" and I now place before you a general view of my labours.

During the period which has elapsed since my last report, I have continued to visit all the places excepting one at the same intervals, and upon the same plan as during the preceding year. But it will be seen that my attention has also been directed towards several new places.

Carluke has been visited as heretofore twice a-month. I have accordingly officiated at this place twenty-four Sabbaths, and delivered fifty-four discourses. In the course of the year I have administered the Lord's Supper twice, and had on the first occasion forty communicants, and on the last forty-seven. The attendance on public worship has been uniformly good. In the neighbourhood of Carluke, I have delivered the following number of occasional lectures: at Davies Dykes, one; at Wishawtown one; at New Lanark two; and at Old Lanark six. Some of these were delivered to large audiences, although others were but thinly attended. The obstacles to the extension of religious sentiments differing materially from those which are commonly promulgated, are here, as elsewhere, both numerous and formidable; but it is encouraging to observe, that an evident advance has been made in this district, of the great principles of Gospel truth and Christian charity. Such principles must continue to acquire strength, and more and more extend.

Paisley was at the time of my last report visited once a-month. These monthly visits I continued till the end of February, when the Paisley friends found it necessary to make such älterations in their plans, as rendered their connection with the Missionary department of the Association no longer practicable. Up to the period when this connection ceased, I visited Paisley six times, and delivered seventeen discourses, and one in the adjoining village of Johnstone. Since February our friends in this district have proceeded without the assistance of missionary preaching, and no doubt they will furnish a statement of their present condition and prospects.

report.

Kilmarnock has been visited by me nine times since my last In the course of these visits, I have preached in this town twenty-five times, and held three public discussions. For a period the attendance on public religious services were, in consequence of some local circumstances, and the death of a zealous, active individual, but thin; yet the discussions on the Trinity seem to have excited considerable attention and inquiry, and the number of persons who attended the services of the last Sabbath, exceeded most of the preceding days. The discussions have been very much crowded, especially the last, which was an examination of the Scripture doctrine respecting the person and powers of our Saviour. Opposition of the most violent kind has been offered to the spread of our views, and methods the most disgraceful have been resorted to, and means the most unfair employed to destroy our cause in its infancy; but Scriptural truth, Christian philanthropy, and Evangelical simplicity, have evinced themselves too potent for misrepresentation and bigotry.

In the neighbourhood of Kilmarnock I have visited and preached at Dreghorn once, and Irvine twice, and held several religious conversations with Unitarians and inquirers after truth in some other places. Books and tracts explanatory of our religious sentiments have been pretty extensively circulated in this district, and they continue to be in request. When it is considered that not many more than twenty months have elapsed since the first pro

fessedly Unitarian sermon was preached in Kilmarnock-that the total number of visits amounts to but fifteen-that we were so soon deprived by death of the friend on whom we mainly relied→ and that the utmost exertions have been made to deter persons from attending our meetings-it is far from being matter of surprise that those who openly avow Unitarian Christianity are not nuBut these remain unscathed, and invite their townsmen to fair examination, and look confidently forward to the increase of their numbers.

merous.

Tillicoultry has received ten visits from me, and I have by these been enabled to deliver twenty-nine discourses, and administer the Lord's Supper twice. On the first of these occasions there were fourteen communicants, and on the last twenty-one, The friends here were for a time without a suitable place in which to hold their meetings, but through the kindness of one of the members, a space in a newly-erected mill has been appropriated to that purpose, and there they now comfortably assemble. In the neighbourhood of Tillicoultry, I have lectured twice at Alva, once at Alloa, and once at Sauchey; besides this, on my return from these places, I have lectured three times at Bannockburn. At all these places there are a few Unitarians, and there is good reason to anticipate that ere long there will be more.

On the 30th of December I went for the first time to the town of Dunfermline, to which I had been invited by a few persons who had recently discarded Trinitarianism, for the very serious reason, that they could not find it in the Bible. Large audiences attended on the services of the day. Three weeks subsequently, Mr. Harris followed up my efforts, by proceeding to Dunferm line, and preaching to the people, and forming a Society, Since that period, this new church has been visited by myself four times, by Mr. Stannus once, Mr. Harris once, and Mr. Macdonald once. I have delivered sixteen discourses in this town, and one in the neighbouring village of Brucefield. On the 12th of August I held a public discussion on the doctrine of the Trinity, and on the 6th of September Mr. Macdonald held another, on the Deity of Christ, and on both occasions the place of meeting was crowded to excess. The members of the Society have gone on gradually increasing, and there is now every rational ground to consider the cause of Christian Unitarianism as established in Dunfermline on a permanent basis, and to believe, that notwithstanding the violent resistance which has been, and probably will repeatedly be offered, to that sacred cause, it will yet maintain the advantages which it has acquired, and ultimately prevail.

Besides the before-named places, I have also paid one visit to Hamilton, and preached twice to large congregations. If to these labours be added my exchanges with Messrs. Stannus, Harris, and Macdonald, the sum total of my Missionary operations may be thus stated:-84 visits made to 22 places, at which 181 discourses have been delivered, and 4 public discussions conducted; and to accomplish which, I have travelled 2,300 miles, mostly on foot.

On several occasions I have lectured in the open air, on the

subject of Church Establishments; and I have also delivered the same, and similar lectures, within doors. To this course I have been urged by the solemn conviction, that our views of God's dealings, Christ's doctrines, and men's duties and destinies, require us not only to advocate Voluntary Church principles, but to carry on those views to their only legitimate consequence, that of rejecting all human authority in matters of religion, and acting as the freemen of Christ, and the worshippers of the One God and Father of all. To impress my fellow men with the truths, that Jesus alone is our spiritual Master-that his Father and our Father is the only true God-that all men are brethren—that Christianity is a system of liberty, light, and love-and that those who are labouring to attain and diffuse virtue, spiritual-mindedness, and true self-respect, are labouring most efficiently to secure present and eternal happiness-has been the paramount aim, and the soul's desire of, Gentlemen, Your devoted Missionary,

HENRY CLARKE.

The Committee are persuaded they only speak a language which will be responded to by every individual present, when they lament the inadequate support they can give to so unwearied a labourer. Happy will they be should increased aid from the subscribers and friends to the Institution put it in the power of the future officers of the Association to accomplish what all must desire, the more suitable remuneration of their Missionary. That happiness will be still more increased should they be enabled to avail themselves of the aid of another labourer, Mr. McKean, from the effect of whose pleadings in behalf of Christian truth and righteousness in Paisley, they augur much good could they be more extensively diffused.

IV. The Committee have been particularly interested in the circumstances which led to the open prefession of Christian Unitarianism at Dunfermline, by some indi viduals, the history of whose change from Calvinism to Scriptural light, affords another instance that knowledge is of power to break the strongest fetters of prejudicethat pure philosophy is the handmaid to undefiled Christianity and that there is a harmony in nature, Providence, and the Gospel, which must eventually strike the most benighted devotee of the common theology, that conviction itself becoming the means of ushering its recipient into the glorious liberty of a child of God. In the report of the Missionary, it has been stated, that a congregation has been formed at Dunfermline. The difficulties with which this infant Church has had to combat, have been great and trying; every species of misrepre

sentation has been employed to prevent its establishment, but that misrepresentation has only excited further inquiry; several persons have joined the congregation who were previously unknown to the individuals who originated it, and the result from the judgment and integrity of its members cannot but be good.

At the earnest solicitation of the friends at Aberdeen, the Committee intend to avail themselves of the visit of of Mr. Macdonald to his native city, and have requested him to preach on the Sundays during his stay; earnestly hoping with their respected correspondent in that place, that his labours may "ultimately end in a respectable Unitarian Congregation being formed in this, the northern metropolis of Scotland." They are happy to announce that Mr. Macdonald has promptly acceded to their wishes. V. The Committee of the British and Foreign Unitarian Association, in testimony of the interest they take in the proceedings of this Association, and as an expression of their sympathy and good wishes for the accomplishment of its objects, have transmitted twenty pounds in aid of its efforts. From the Fellowship Fund of the Gravel-Pit Meeting, Hackney, five pounds have been received, and the Liverpool Joint Fellowship Fund has, without any renewed application from your Committee, repeated its former grant of five pounds. The cordial and heartfelt thanks of the Unitarians of Scotland are tendered for these generous donations.

The Committee now request your attention to the Reports from the following places and Congregations.

[In IRVINE, KILWINNING, DALRY, SALTCOATS, DREGHORN, CATRINE, OLD CUMNOCK, there are individual believers in Christian Unitarianism-inquiry is made for Unitarian books-and less bigotry is manifested towards these principles.At DUMBARTON and its neighbourhood, in consequence of the circulation of the Christian Pioneer and other works, the number of believers in God's Unity and benevolence is increasing. This district presents a good field for the exertions of a missionary.-In FALKIRK the established clergyman is putting forth his utmost power to undo all that his pedecessor, Rev. Dr. Wilson, did for Christian charity; but the very excess of his bigotry and Calvinism is inducing inquiry.KILMARNOCK friends express an earnest desire for the continuance of Missionary visits, a desire in which they are joined by correspondents in several surrounding villages. An impression has been made, inquiry has been called forth, a member of the Baptist congregation has lately been excommunicated for the denial of Christ's deity, and much eagerness is shown to read Unitarian publications.