網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

66 THE CHRISTIAN CHILD'S FAITHFUL FRIEND.'
"'*

We have pleasure in announcing to our readers the completion of the first volume of this little work, mentioned in our number for August, p. 353. We hope, in the succeeding volumes, to find those papers more numerous which in an easy, familiar manner fix attention on passages of the sacred Scriptures. Children are so accustomed to hear the Bible read before they are taught to think of its meaning, that many imagine they know and understand its contents, who have perhaps never received an idea from any verse or chapter with which their ear is familiarized; therefore, illustrations which awaken youthful curiosity and apply general information to the study of the Scriptures, are particularly useful as an example, we transcribe the following passage from the 9th page:- "In the 12th chapter of Mark's gospel, we are informed that our Saviour in a parable observes, 'A certain man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a place for the wine-vat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.' This refers to a custom which prevailed, and is still continued, in the East. Mr. Buckingham, in his Travels in Palestine, remarks, 'In the route between Jerusalem and the convent of St. Elias, the traveller may perceive several small and detached square towers in the midst of vine lands; they are used as watch towers, from which watchmen look out to guard the produce of the lands.' This custom may serve to explain the use and intention of that mentioned by the Evangelist in the verse referred to."

[ocr errors]

We venture to suggest that the botanical papers would have been more interesting if accompanied with more elementary instruction: a child unacquainted with botany would not be much amused or benefited by reading (p. 29), that a plant may be termed succulent," and that "it belongs to the class Gynandria" and "the order Monandria,” who would listen with profit and with delight to a plain account of the formation and the uses of different parts of vegetables.

* "The Christian Child's Faithful Friend and Sabbath Companion." 18mo. Vol. I. pp. 143. Philp, Falmouth: Hunter, London.

OBITUARY.

SAMUEL SHORE, ESQ.

"On the 16th of November, universally respected by all who knew him, in the 91st year of his age, SAMUEL SHORE, Esq., of Meersbrook, near Norton, in the county of Derby. Being born in the same year with his late Majesty, and having from an early period of his life been a tenacious adherent to the principles of the British constitution, and a man of sterling English character, Mr. Shore's political life has extended through, and in some sort been locally identified with, one of the most important periods of our history. He served the office of Sheriff for the county of Derby. As a politician, the principles entertained by Mr. Shore were those of the purest Whiggism, and consequently he was a friend to civil and religious liberty, as well as of patriotic measures in the administration of the government. He was the last survivor of the three deputies from the county of York to London, in the years 1780 and 1782,-the Rev. Christopher Wyvill, and the late Duke of Roxburgh, (then Sir James Innes Norcliffe,) being the other two. It may be added, that he was a steady supporter of all institutions set on foot for the amelioration of the condition of his fellow-creatures; his character was estimable as the head of his family, as was his conduct in public life. Spared to a period so far beyond the ordinary life of man, he has left descendants to the fourth generation to deplore his loss; and many public charities, as well as private participants of his bounty, will have to experience the loss of a generous, and we may add a general, benefactor, in the removal of the venerable proprietor of Meersbrook."-Sheffield Iris.

In addition to the above justly deserved panegyric, we feel it a pleasure and esteem it a duty to state, that Mr. Shore was equally distinguished by dignity of character, courtesy of manners and benevolence of heart. He was at the head of one of the few families of our hereditary gentry who have from generation to generation professed and consistently maintained Dissenting principles. From the family meeting-house adjoining the mansion at Norton, nothing but illness or absence from home ever kept Mr. Shore. He was one of the early friends of the late venerable Mr. Lindsey, and a Trustee of Essex Street Chapel. Few Dissenting charities are there to which he was not a benefactor. His name appears in the list of subscribers to almost every Unitarian institution. His death was easy, calm and dignified, answering to his virtuous, honourable and Christian life. His removal has made a blank in the wide circle, of which he formed so distinguished a part, which cannot be filled up.

[blocks in formation]

INTELLIGENCE.

UNITED COMMITTEE.

THE United Committee for conducting the application to Parliament for the Repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts have dissolved themselves, their object being accomplished, leaving a Sub-Committee to complete the Test-Act Reporter. In dissolving, they came to a resolution, agreed to be made public, expressing their desire of perfect Religious Liberty for all, and of the abolition of all penalties and disqualifications on account of religious faith and worship.

REV. MR. MONTGOMERY.

THIS distinguished champion of Religious Liberty in Ireland is engaged to preach this year at the Salford anniversary on New-Year's Day. From Manchester he is coming to London, and is, we understand, engaged to preach on the first Sunday in the new year, in the morning at Rev. Mr. Davison's Chapel, Jewin Street, and in the evening at the Rev. Mr. Porter's, Carter Lane. Some friends to Religious Liberty propose to invite him to a public dinner, at the Albion, on Monday, the 5th of January, Wm. Sturch, Esq., in the Chair, in testimony of their respect and gratitude.

LORD RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW.

MR. THOMAS CAMPBELL, the poet, has been chosen a third time by the students of Glasgow to be their Lord Rector. In his speech at his Installation, he announced his intention of giving four prizes; two silver medals for the best exercises in Latin and Greek verse, one gold medal for the best English Essay “on the comparative Importance of Scientific and Classical Instruction on the general Education of Mankind," and another gold medal for the best English Essay on "the Evils of Intolerance towards those who differ from us in Religion." In the announcement of the latter theme, Mr. Campbell said, “I use this circuitous phrase from disliking to couple the epithet religious with that spirit of intolerance which, reversing the sublime aim of all religion, bows down the mind from its celestial aspiration to the anxieties of this world, like the Indian fig-tree, which, after bearing its head loftily in the sky, turns down again its branches from the sunshine of heaven to be blended with and buried in the dirt of earth."

CORRESPONDENCE.

Communications have been received from N., and Messrs. Mills and Cree, which will appear in the first number of the ensuing volume. The Letters from Mr. Latham, and B., as also those from Lewes, have come to hand.

The account of the Dedication of the Congregational Unitarian Church at Philadelphia, came too late for insertion in this Number.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Calvinism, history and ten-

dency of the doctrines of,

Corporation and Test Acts,

[blocks in formation]

Civil disabilities of the Jews

213

517

Cobbett, wretched spirit of, 526

petitions of Roman Ca-
tholics for repeal of, 33,
93. Proceedings respect-
ing, 47, 84. Petition of
the Gravel-pit congrega-
tion for their repeal, 52-
of the Lynn Unitarian
congregation, 113. Par-
liamentary debates on,
127, 179. Repeal of, 227.
Parting thoughts on, 229.
Dinner to celebrate the
repeal of, 274. Dissent-
ing Ministers' resolutions
on their repeal, 275. Lord
Holland's speeches on,
277, 332. First fruits of
their repeal, 323. Pro-
ceedings relative to, in
1790, 345. Resolutions
of the Unitarian Associa-
tion on the repeal of, 346.
Dissolution of United Com-
mittee,
CORRESPONDENCE, 48,
84, 132, 180, 228, 276,
32, 372, 516, 354

554

« 上一頁繼續 »