and ever shall be, world without end. We dare not ascribe that to the creature which belongs to the Creator alone. We find no such language in the Scriptures, and they are the only authority we admit for true doctrine.

"As, however, we cannot, in accordance with the laws of our country, be joined together in marriage, without submitting to the ceremony imposed by your Church, we do so submit, distinctly avowing our disbelief in the doctrine of the Trinity, which it inculcates, and solemnly and earnestly protesting against the viola. tion of conscience, which it inflicts, by compelling us to join in a service which we disapprove, and which we believe to be irreconcileable with the Scriptures.

"Whilst we thus protest, we wish you, as the Minister of that Church by which the ceremony is imposed, to understand that we attach no blame to you. As its servant, you are bound to administer its ordinances in the form it has prescribed. As Unitarians, we conceive ourselves equally blameless, and equally justifiable, in avowing our disbelief in its doctrines.

"We are, Reverend Sir, Yours, very respectfully,

"LEIGH, May 3, 1827.

"FREDERICK BOARDMAN. HANNAH ECKERSLY."

No one can lament more than the sober, serious, and practical disciple of Jesus, the fanaticism which has so often disgraced the Christian name. It might have been hoped, that, in the present day, such grounds for lamentation would not have occurred. Comparatively enlightened, however, as are the times in which we live, still the dregs of religious absurdity are not yet washed away. The party which still seems occasionally to glory in this their shame, is the Methodist. In the month of May last, Yarmouth was disgraced by one of those exhibitions of spiritual buffoonery, denominated a Revival. Prayers for the sinful and unconverted were offered up; as soon as any felt miserable, they walked into the table-pew, where they were exhorted to weep and groan to the utmost of their power; after which, they "found peace," and were ycleped by the leader of infatuation, "perfect Christians,” "the chosen of Heaven!" The minister, during the singing of the most exciting hymns, walked round the chapel, and inquired in a smooth, honeyed accent, at the same time taking their hands in his "Have you found the Lord?" More females than males were thus accosted. When any were touched to the quick, he thumped these weepers and groaners on the back, and with stentorian lungs implored them to "weep louder," or the God who died for them perchance would not hear them! But the scene is too loathsome to be longer dwelt upon, or more minutely detailed. These are the people, who go about proclaiming, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we!" Surely Christ is again crucified, by such proceedings-proceedings which only make the pious believer blush, and the unbeliever triumph. Surely it is an additional call on those, who have put away such

childish things, to exert their every power, that their brethren may be freed also, from such debasing representations and ideas of the religion of reason, peace, and benevolence.

AT Astley, near Chowbent, Lancashire, was held, by appointment, on Monday, June 4th, a meeting of Catholics and Unitarians, to discuss the truth of the doctrine, which teaches the Supreme Deity of Christ. About 250 persons were present; and the disputants were Mr. Unsworth on the side of the Catholics, and Mr. Francis Duffield on the side of the Unitarians. Two Chairmen, one of each party, presided. The debate lasted four hours; and if we can judge by the countenances of the audience, and by the force of the argument, a most valuable impression in favour of Unitarian Christianity was made. Never did the writer witness a more orderly, or a more interesting meeting. At the close of the discussion, it was proposed, that, as the two Chairmen had yet to speak-as the room was intensely hot, and as a great number of persons were on the outside anxious to hear -the meeting should remove into the open air. Here a very large body of people was addressed by the Chairman, on the part of the Trinitarians, and by the Rev. J. R. Beard, the Chairman chosen by the Unitarians. It was not till near nine o'clock that the proceedings terminated, when the speakers on the Unitarian side, met about 50 persons belonging to the Unitarian Society at Astley. We were particularly interested by the remarks made by some of the members of the congregation; especially by those of one who told the meeting, that, not more than two years since, he had regarded the Unitarians with such aversion, that rather even than pass by their place of worship, he had made himself a way through hedges and ditches, and over barn doors. But his children went to no Sunday school; he saw, that they were neglected. When he returned home from his labour, he often found them quarreling on this, he determined to send them to the Unitarian Sunday school, thinking they could not be much injured, and might be made better. He found, in fact, that they did improve; this induced him to think of going himself-his prejudices began to wane-he went-was interested and benefited-he went again and again-began seriously to think-to weigh the evidence which the preachers, whom he heard, adduced; and at last, after sober and anxious inquiry, became a believer in the unrivalled supremacy and essential goodness of the Almighty.

The meeting was closed by singing a hymn; and as the friends of truth and religion departed to their homes, they could not fail to contrast the emotions of their own bosoms, and the bosoms of those who had been engaged with them, with the feelings of those poor creatures who, at this holiday season, were abandoned to the lowest and most brutalizing gratifications. G. C. S.

ON Wednesday, June 6, the annual meeting of the Shropshire, Cheshire, and Staffordshire Unitarian Association, was held at

Whitchurch. The Rev. Hugh Hutton of Birmingham preached two excellent sermons on the occasion; one on the doctrine of the two natures in Christ; the other on the necessity of distinct Scriptural views of the nature of Christ's office. After the morning service, the friends assembled to dine together; and the afternoon was spent in the interchange of kindly feelings, and of a variety of sentiments, calculated to provoke each other to love and to good works.

THE British and Foreign Unitarian Association held its Annual Meeting in London, on the 5th, 6th, and 7th June. The Meeting for hearing the Committee's Report, was held at the Chapel in Finsbury-Place, on the 6th. The chair was taken by J. Christie, Esq. the Treasurer. The Report was read by the Rev. R. Aspland, the Rev. Dr. Rees, and J. Bowring, Esq. the Secretaries of the Institution. It commenced by stating, that the result of their exertions for the spread of true and liberal Christianity during the past year, was, on the whole satisfactory, and that they had not laboured altogether in vain. The Report was divided into four parts:-1st, The Home Department; 2d, Civil Rights; 3d, The Book Department; 4th, Foreign Department. Upon the first, it stated that the principles of Unitarianism were making slow but promising progress in various parts of the United Kingdom. A mission had been planted in the potteries of Staffordshire, among a dense mass of population, under the ministry of Mr. Clarke; and from his reports, there was every prospect of the most gratifying success. In Kent and Sussex, another gentleman in the service of the association, was employed, but hitherto with less apparent success. In Suffolk, their cause wore a more promising aspect; their missionary had been most indefatigable, and great good was confidently anticipated from his labours. He, like all his brethren, had been much persecuted by all sects of Christians-Methodists, Calvinists, and Churchmen-all of whom, however, he had challenged to argument, but all of whom declined. At one place, the Dissenting clergyman gave notice of his intention to preach 12 lectures on the Orthodox doctrines; and he immediately announced, that he would preach from the same texts in rotation, and, subsequently, six sermons on the non-eternity of future punishments. The Report then enumerated some other places in Gloucestershire and Yorkshire; and concluded the first part with copious extracts of correspondence with friends in Ireland. The Report then proceeded to detail the exertions of the Committee, for the attainment and preservation of their civil rights. It stated, that owing to the lamentable illness of their firm and steady friend, Lord Liverpool, it became a matter of serious inquiry, whether the present session was a fit and proper period for them to again press their peculiar claims upon the attention of the legislature; but after the calmest deliberation they could give to the subject, they were decidedly of opinion, that it was; and they had, consequently, got their bill (the Unitarian Marriage Bill) introduced into Parliament. They had introduced the pre

It

sent bill in a different form to that in which it had heretofore been presented. It contained a short form of words to be used on the marriage of Unitarians in the established church, or vestry, before the clergyman, and at his option; and upon the payment of his usual fee, the marriage was to be registered and considered legal. The Report then detailed the strenuous efforts that had been recently made, by the various denominations of Protestant Dissenters, for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, in all which endeavours the Committee had cordially joined. It dilated at much length, on the impolicy and disgracefulness of the apathy manifested by the Dissenters, in suffering their just claims so long to remain dormant; and expressed their unqualified disapproval -a disapproval in which they were joined by the most influential of the Dissenters themselves, as well as Lord John Russell, and Mr. John Smith, M. P. the intended mover and seconder of the measure of the postponement of that important question-a resolution the Report pronounced as alike injurious and disgraceful. It then alluded to the expressions of opposition from Mr. Canning, which, however, they trusted, were only for reasons of temporary expediency; and they confidently anticipated the speedy removal of these unjust and mischievous statutes. then glanced at the opposition of some Dissenters to Catholic emancipation; but, while it regretted that any should be found, who would resist that measure of justice and sound policy, they believed that it was confined to a very small number, and those of the most illiterate of the body. The third part, stated the junction of the Unitarian Book Society with the Association, and that books and tracts had been distributed in Calcutta, Paris, Glasgow, and in various other towns in England and Scotland. It also announced, that the Monthly Repository had been purchased by the Association, and would in future be conducted under the direction of the Committee. The Report then proceeded to a detail of the Foreign Department. It stated, that a Mission was established at Calcutta, from which place, by the next anniversary, they hoped to receive gratifying accounts of the spread of Unitarian principles. At Madras, a Unitarian church had been for some years in existence. The Committee said, that they called on the friends of India to fulfil their generous promises, as to the Calcutta chapel and mission, and, indeed, on all who looked with hope and with interest on the spread of Christian truth, associated as it was, with one of the most illustrious names which ever graced the Anglo-Indian pages, that of Rammohun Roy, over a territory wider in extent, and vaster in population, than ever before submitted to the dominion of strangers. In a country, it was added, where idolatry and superstition in their most barbarous and disgusting forms, had had their triumphant, their immemorial reign; where the few gleams of truth which might be discovered by learned industry, in the obscure records of the past, had been wholly overshadowed and darkened by the grossest and foulest polytheism; none could watch the uprising of the day-star of a holier and a purer faith, without anxiety and joy-without the

desire and the attempt to diffuse its happy influences. The Report further stated, that in the United States of America, measures had been taken to unite the different and scattered Unitarian interests, into one grand and efficient body, from which the happiest results were anticipated. From Transylvania, which might be deemed the mother country of Unitarianism, the Committee had received the most gratifying accounts. The number who profess that faith in that quarter, was estimated at 50,000. superintending authority was vested in the Preses of the general Synod. A college had long been established at Klausenberg, which contained about 300 students; besides, there were two gymnasia, or preparatory schools, at Thomburg and Keresztur. In France, and other countries on the Continent, the Committee flattered themselves they saw an opening for the introduction of their tenets.

The

In the evening, a Sermon was preached before the Association, at the Chapel in Finsbury-Place, by the Rev. E. Tagart of Norwich. The Rev. J. Kenrick, M. A. one of the Tutors in the College at York, preached on the Thursday morning, in the same Chapel; and collections in aid of the Association, were made at the close of both the services. The public dinner of the subscribers and friends to the Institution, was held at the London Tavern, on Thursday; G. W. Wood, Esq. of Manchester, in the Chair. Several animated addresses were delivered, and the following Petition to Parliament, was hailed with acclamation:

"The humble Petition of the undersigned, being persons assembling as individual or representative Members, at the Annual General Meeting of the Unitarian Dissenters of England,

"Sheweth,-That your Petitioners are, in common with other non-conformists, declared by law to be unworthy of occupying any place or office in the government of corporations, and of trust under his Majesty.

"That your Petitioners were, on account of their peculiar religious opinions, subjected, until lately, to laws conceived in the bitterest spirit of persecution, but from which they have been relieved by a more just, humane, and enlightened policy, whose existence and progress they gratefully acknowledge.

"That in all the efforts which, as Dissenters, or as a particular branch of Dissenters, they have made, or may continue to make, for their emancipation from the penal enactments, which more immediately affect themselves, your Petitioners value any success which may follow their exertions, in the exact proportion in which it may conduce to the assertion and establishment of the most ex. tended principles of religious liberty; and as it may tend to defeat and render odious that unjust, absurd, and impolitic exercise of power, by which the community is divided into oppressed and oppressing classes, and religious opinion is made the pretence for civil disabilities, preferences, and exclusions.

"That your Petitioners have zealously concurred individually, and in their immediate circles, in petitions and remonstrances against the enactments by which Protestant Dissenters are, with peculiar injustice and inconsistency, made to feel the weight of