網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

and the sacred liberty of the press, in condemnation of the atrocious outrage lately committed at Lexington, in Kentucky, in violation of those rights,-so nobly, but on that occasion so vainly, sustained by the high-souled, but still indomitable, CASSIUS M. CLAY.-For these true heroes of humanity we devoutly invoke the blessing of ALMIGHTY GOD; while we hereby offer them the homage of our respectful, admiring, and affectionate sympathy." -It will be observed, Sir, that the resolution embraces emphatic notice of a subject of which the knowledge has doubtless become sufficiently general to excuse my dwelling on it beyond a passing reference to the fact, that it has been justly regarded of sufficient importance to call forth the marked and indignant reprobation of a man high and honoured in the State-I allude to the mention of the disgraceful occurrence at Lexington, in the course of a speech by Lord John Russell, on a recent occasion, in the City of Edinburgh. And more I need not say. This dark and daring deed is its own most fitting expositor! Let our friends in that land-which we hope yet to see a land of freedom-know how we think of that foul deed; and let it go forth from this room, and may it be echoed by many such meetings in Britain, that there are hearts here which-in proportion as they hate oppression in every form, but most of all when it dares to profane the holy name of liberty-delight in doing honour to the good, the brave, the generous, and the true. Sir, let these words-the words of the resolution which I have undertaken to submit to the many hundreds here assembled-find an energetic response from them; and so soon as your mighty steamers shall have borne them over the Western deep, glad welcome will be given them, and many a heart beat high in the consciousness of the generous work you have achieved this evening.

BIRMINGHAM.

66

MR. JOSEPH BARKER preached two very impressive sermons at Newhall Hill Chapel, on Sunday the 7th December, to numerous congregations. His text was, Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house." Mr. Barker, at great length, treated upon "The Christian's Duty" which was described in the simple expression of doing good, and in raising the moral and spiritual well-being of our race. The simplicity and earnestness of his manner must have produced a great and good effect on the minds of his hearers. The following evening a tea-party was held in the spacious School-room beneath the Chapel, at which Mr. Barker attended, and gave an interesting account of his labours in the Northern and other districts, in endeavouring to improve the condition of mankind. It appears that in Northumberland and Durham there are not less than from 70 to 100 congregations; in the West Riding of Yorkshire, 70 to 100; in the Staffordshire

Potteries and the neighbourhood, about the same; also several societies in North and South Wales, and Westmoreland; but he entreated his hearers not to be satisfied with only enlightening those around them, but to carry their views beyond their own neighbourhood and country. He denied that a little knowledge was injurious to man; and if any excesses were committed while he possessed it, it was not because he had a little, but because he had not a great deal. He illustrated this position, by observ. ing that if a bird had only one wing, and in trying to fly it began to flutter about so that it could make no progress, the fault was not in its having one wing, but, because it had not two: so it was in knowledge. A little knowledge was very good, but a great deal was better. Mankind was made to enjoy intelligence, liberty, and happiness; and in order to promote this end, he intended, with the aid of his steam-press, to print and distribute, especially among the working classes, publications on subjects of Christian benevolence. He concluded his address by urging his hearers to work as they ought, for it is the Unitarians who hold the pure truths that are to regenerate mankind. The meeting, over which G. S. Kenrick, Esq., of West Bromwich, presided, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Barker, and expressed a wish that he would take the earliest opportunity of again visiting Birmingham.

66
EXTRACT FROM THE CHRISTIAN REFORMER."

MR. BARKER'S friends have put out another appeal in behalf of the subscription now in progress for the purchase of a steam. press to present to him. Appended to the appeal is a letter from Mr. Barker to Dr. Bateman, in which he describes what use he has already made of his press, and what further and more extensive use he designs to make. The letter is a very interesting document. We regret we have not room for it this month. When Unitarians, zealous for the promotion of pure religion and theological knowledge, learn that Mr. Barker has already printed more than 30,000 volumes of Dr. Channing's works, 15,000 copies of Elwall's Trial, 12,000 "One Hundred Arguments," 16,000 Questions to Trinitarians, Dr. John Taylor on Original Sin, and many other unobjectionable and admirable works, we cannot but hope their scruples (if they have entertained any) are removed, and that they will promptly mark their sense of obligation to this intrepid and persevering advocate of religious truth.

MRS. FRY ON DEATH PUNISHMENT.

THE late Sir Samuel Romilly, in his Diary, mentions that he had an interview on one occasion with Mrs. Elizabeth Fry, a lady whose name is associated in all our minds with all that is pious and benevolent. The conversation turned upon the subject of capital punishment, and Mrs. Fry said that the impression produced in her mind (from all that her extensive knowledge of criminals put her in possession of) was, that the influence of executions on morals, especially of the young, was of a most pernicious character. Sir S. Romilly makes the remark, that, "he very much valued her opinion."

SUNDERLAND.

The Rev. G. Harris of Newcastle, has been delivering a Course of Three Lectures on "Death Punishment," in the Lecture Theatre of the Athenæum, in that town, to numerous and highly respectable audiences, consisting of persons of every denomination of Christians. The Lectures were delivered with great earnestness and feeling, and some of the passages were exceedingly eloquent. In the first place, the Rev. Gentleman showed that capital punishments are opposed to reason, common sense, experience, and the spirit and precepts of Him who came to seek and save those who were lost; he quoted from the writings of Lord Bacon, and Sir Edward Coke, and noticed in terms of approbation the labours of Voltaire, Montesquieu, John Howard, Sir Samuel Romilly, Roscoe, Basil Montague, William Allen, Sydney Taylor, Ewart, Lord John Russell, and Fitzroy Kelly, in this cause, and gave a long catalogue of crimes which at different periods of British history have been made punishable with death, grouping them in a very striking and effective manner, and concluded his Course by proving that death punishments tend to brutalize not only individuals but society, that they are useless for the prevention of crimes, nay, contribute rather to their increase than diminution, and that they are contrary to the Gospel of the grace of God.

ON Christmas Day, according to annual custom, about 80 children belonging to Little Carter-lane Sunday School, assembled in the Chapel, to have their annual treat. A very pleasing and appropriate address was delivered to them by Dr. Hatton, to which they paid great attention, and separated highly delighted; perhaps not more from the nature of the treat as from the kindly feelings shown to them by those present. And when we consider that a greater part of these children reside in the courts and alleys of that neighbourhood, it must indeed have been gratifying to their Minister and Teachers to find them so clean and well behaved.

JERSEY.

Ir gives us great pleasure to hear that the Trustees of the Unitarian Chapel, Grove Place, St. Helen's, have engaged the services of the Rev. Mr. Smith, formerly of Stockport, who commenced his labours on Christmas Day. We sincerely hope the cause of Unitarianism will prosper under his ministry.

THE remains of Mrs. Walker, of Killingbeck Hall, were interred in Mill Hill Chapel, Leeds, on Friday, December 18th. The hearse containing the remains of the lamented lady was followed by a train of seven private carriages in addition to three mourning coaches.

MACCLESFIELD.

ON Sunday, December 7, a sermon was preached in the Presby terian Chapel, King Edward-street, by the Rev. R. Aspland, of Dukinfield, in behalf of the Sunday School, after which a collec tion was made, amounting to £13.

CHATHAM MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

A LECTURE on Early English History was delivered at the above institution, Chatham, on the evening of Wednesday last, by the Rev. J. C. Means; the lecture was very numerously attended, notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, and gave great satisfaction; being something more than a dry statement of well-known facts. Mr. Means fully showed the absurdity of some of the accounts given in our popular school histories; and, without any parade of learning or pedantry of manner, proved himself to be a deeply read and well-informed scholar, and one, too, possessing a very retentive memory, for, with only a slight glance now and then at his note-book, he gave a most lucid and comprehensive detail of the most remarkable events connected with the history of our island, from the earliest period down to that of the Saxon King Egbert and his immediate descendants, when Christianity finally triumphed and became the prevailing religion. In his next lecture he is to commence with the invasions of the Danes or Northmen, and bring his hearers down to the time of the Norman Conquest.

TAUNTON MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Ir is with satisfaction we state that the Committee of this Instisution intends adopting the liberal plan of throwing open their public hall to the working men of the town, and at such a charge as will enable the poorest to partake of the advantages to be offered. This is a step in the right direction. Amid all the efforts that have been made for the improvement of the age, the working man has been over-looked. We have little doubt that the advantages which our Institute offers will be readily sought after, and, using the vigorous and eloquent language of the Rev. Mr. Montgomery at the late anniversary meeting, we hope it will be found that the honest and industrious artizans of this town "are anxious to step into a broader circle of humanity-one in which they may feel that they are men, who have minds, and are called of God to use them."-Somerset County Gazette.

SELECTIONS.

[ocr errors]

REGARD not what others think, though they be thy nearest friends: but study only to please God, and thou shalt please Him indeed. Do not deform thy face with looking out asquint to the custom of the world, but look straight forward on Him, and so thou shalt be beautiful in His eyes. The roots of plants are hidden under ground, so that themselees are not seen; but they appear in their branches, and flowers, and fruits, which argue there is a root and life in them; thus the Graces of the Spirit planted in the soul, though themselves invisible, yet discover their being and life in the tract of a Christian's life, his. words and actions, and the frame of his carriage. . . . . . That flower which follows the sun, doth so even in cloudy days: when it doth not shine forth, yet it follows the hidden course and motion of it. So the soul that moves after God, keeps that course when

he hides his face: is content, yea, is glad at His will in all estates, or conditions, or events. The least difficulties and scruples in a tender conscience should not be roughly encountered: they are as a knot in a silken thread, and require a gentle and wary hand to loose them.-Archbishop Leighton.

CONSOLATION.-If we go at noon-day to the bottom of a deep pit, we shall be able to see the stars, which, on the level ground, are invisible. Even so, from the depths of grief-worn, wretched, seared, and dying-the blessed apparitions and tokens of heaven make themselves visible to our eyes.

TIME INTERROGATED.-Who art thou ?-All conquering Time. Why on the tiptoe raised?—I always run. Thy feet are winged? -My speed is like the wind. Why in thy hand a razor?—I inflict wounds sharper than the sword. A grisly lock upon thy forehead grows?-That they who meet may seize me. But behind thy head is bald ?—In vain would he who lets me pass recall or stay me. Stranger, for thy behoof thus fashioned was I placed.

MARRIAGES.

At Birmingham, on the 26th, by the Rev. John Howard Ryland, of Bradford, Yorkshire, Mr. James Lindsay, of London, to Ann Burrel, daughter of Mr. William Jackson, of Smethwick.

On the 25th November, at the Unitarian Chapel, Nottingham, by the Rev. B. Carpenter, Sir Charles Fellows, of Russell Square, London, to Eliza, only daughter of Francis Hart, Esq., Banker, Nottingham.

27th, at the Unitarian Chapel, Benton Street, Gloucester, by the Rev. H. Davies, LL.D. Mr. Thomas Murrel, gardener, of that city, to Sarah, second daughter of Mr. James Cumley, of Kingscote, in this county.

On December 1st, at Paradise Street Chapel, Liverpool, by the Rev. James Martineau, Mr. J. C. English, to Miss Margaret Abraham.

December 3rd, at Hanover Street Chapel, Halifax, by the Rev. P. James Wright, Mr. John Cooper, to Miss Jane Scott, both of Halifax.

At Mill Hill Chapel, Leeds, by the Rev. C. Wickstead, Mr. Matthew Enington, to Miss Hannah Dean, both of this place.

On the 25th ult., at the Unitarian Church, Cheltenham, by the Rev. W. Bankhead, Mr. Thomas Smith, to Miss Jane Everess, both of that town.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"J.E." is thanked for his kind wishes.

"W. W. M.'s" views are our own, and should we meet with that success we anticipate, they shall be carried out.

"M.S." The address of Mr. Joseph Barker is, Wortley, near Leeds.

If "T. P." will favour us with the information he speaks of, we shall be happy to make what use we can of it.

TEMPERANCE.-Our Magazine will be open to the cause of temperance, and, indeed, every topic that tends to promote morality.

Communications for the Editor to be sent to 7, Farringdon Street, London.

« 上一頁繼續 »