of persons, the guidance in faith and practice which his word is intended to afford, those distinctions cease to be remembered; and your Committee would rejoice to see that an intimate and fraternal fellowship between the higher and the humbler classes of society formed more generally a characteristic of the professors of a religion so eminently calculated for the intellectual and moral advancement of mankind.

Early last year, the printed statement of your objects and regulations was for warded to the Parent Society, to most of the Unitarian Christian Societies in En gland and Scotland, and to the Rev. Dr. Channing, of America, and in several instances letters have been received expressive of a friendly sympathy in your efforts. Your Librarian has also to acknowledge the receipt of liberal donatious of Books and Tracts bestowed upon your Library, by the Western Unitarian Society, the Newcastle Unitarian Society, the Rev. Dr. Drummond, on two or three occasions, and by several of your own members.

Your Society at present consists of fifty-two Members and Subscribers, who are generally, if not uniformly, present at your meetings; and your Committee rejoice to see the constant and regular attendance of your intelligent and zealous Female Subscribers, convinced that while just notions of religion are of the highest importance to all, they are, perhaps, most eminently so to those into whose hands are committed by its Creator the first unfolding of the infaut mind, and who possess the opportunity of rendering religion as well the comfort as the guide of those thus entrusted to their charge, by associating its glorious truths, not with gloom and melancholy, but with the earliest and happiest impressions.

During the year which has concluded, your Society has held thirty meetings for religious investigation, at which, in the course of Scripture reading, opportunities were afforded of comparing the declarations of Holy Writ with certain doctrines commonly reputed orthodox; viz. Original Sin, the Deity of Christ, Vicarious Atonement, Election and Reprobation, the endless Duration of Future Suffering, and others of comparatively minor import; and it is hoped that the scriptural illustration which has attended the examination of these several questions, has not failed to produce deeper and fuller conviction of the great truths of Christian Unitarianism.

One of those meetings possessed peculiar interest from the presence of a num

ber of visitors, amongst whom were the Rev. Dr. Drummond and Rev. Mr. Armstroug, ministers of Strand Chapel, Dublin; Rev. Mr. Hutton and Rev. Mr. Martineau, of Eustace-Street Chapel, Dublin, the latter Secretary to the Irish Unitarian Christian Society; Rev. Mr. M'Ali: ter, one of the enlightened and indepen deut Christians who formed the Remonstrant Synod of Ulster, and Treasurer to the Irish Unitarian Christian Society; Rev. Mr. Crozier, of Clonmel; Rev. Mr. Hunter, of Bandou; Rev. Mr. Taylor, of Rivington; Rev. Mr. Palmer, of Waterford, Mr. Riall, of Clonmel; Mr. Rowliusou, of Waterford; and several other gentlemen.

In conclusion, your Committee desire to express their happiness at the unauimity of sentiment which prevails in your society respecting the principal doctrines of Christianity, as well as at the spirit of candour and forbearance which is cherished where differences of opinion on some less important questions exist; aud would urge, that it is at all times, but particularly at the present season of controversial excitement, our bouuden duty to cultivate towards those who differ frem us, whether upon minor or on greater points, that Christian spirit of brotherly kindness and charity, which will teach us, while "ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh" us a reason of the hope that is in us," to do so" with meekness and fear."

Somerset and Dorset Unitarian Association.

THE members of this Association held their twenty-third meeting at Ilminster, on Good Friday, April 1. There were two religious services. The devotional parts of both were performed by the Revds. S. Walker and D. Hughes: the Rev. R. Cree, of Bridport, delivered the morning discourse on a passage in Isaiah xli. 21, Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the king of Jacob; and the Rev. W. S. Brown, of Bridgewater, discoursed in the evening on the Lord's prayer, Matt. vi. 9, &c.

It may be necessary to give some of the resolutions which were passed at the meeting for business, held immediately after the morning service. They

were:

That the next meeting shall be held at Crewkerne, on Wednesday, September 21. Mr. Hughes kindly engaged to preach on the occasion.

Southern Unitarian Fund Society
Anniversary.

THE Anniversary meeting of the Southern Unitarian Fund Society took place on Good Friday, April 1st, at Portsmouth. The Rev. E. Kell conducted the devotional part of the service in the morning, at the General Baptist Chapel; and the Rev. E. Chapman, of Deptford, preached an instructive discourse from John vi. 35, "I am the bread of life." After service, the Secretary, the Rev. Russell Scott, read the report of the ComImittee, which stated that since the last meeting of the Society its operations had been carried on in the western part of the district, and that a week-day course of lectures had been delivered at Poole and Wareham, by the neighbouring ministers. In the evening, at the Unitarian chapel, the Rev. J. Fullagar introduced the service; and the Rev. E. Chapman delivered the annual sermon before the Society, from James i. 17, in which the benevolence of the Divine character as displayed in the works of nature and the gospel dispensation was ably illustrated. The attendance at the chapels, both morning and evening, was nume rous, and the appointment of Good Friday as the day of meeting seemed to give general satisfaction. Between the services, the members and friends of the Society dined together at the Fountain Inn, T. Cooke, Jun., Esq., of Newport, in the Chair, and many interesting addresses were delivered.

EDMUND KELL.

Moor Lane Chapel Anniversary.

ON Sunday, April 3rd, the Unitarian Congregation meeting in Moor Lane, held the Ninth Anniversary of the opening of their chapel. Suitable sermons were delivered on the occasion by the Rev. J. Cropper, minister of the chapel, and the Rev. J. H. Thom, of Liverpool, when the collections towards defraying the debt incurred in the erection of a

Sunday School amounted to upwards of Society, to the number of eighty, sat 177. On Monday the friends of the

down to dinner in the Little Bolton

Town Hall, the Rev. J. Cropper in the Chair. Various sentiments, flowing from the great theme of civil and religious liberty, were proposed, which called forth several very animated and eloquent addresses.-Bolton Chronicle.

Irish Unitarian Christian Society
Anniversary.

ON Easter Monday, the First Anniversary of the Irish Unitarian Christian Society was held in Dublin. By the arrangements of the Committee the in

terest of the commemoration was distri buted over four different occasionstwo services, a public meeting, and a order to avoid all collision with either dinner of the friends of the Society. In secular or religious claims on the public time, the first service, held in Strand Street meeting-house, was allotted to Sunday, and commenced at an hour when most places of worship in the city are closed. The sermon was preached by Rev. W. J. Fox, of London. He took a broad and comprehensive survey of the practical advantages of the Unitarian controversy; he portrayed, and in portraying exemplified, the effect of purified Christianity in imparting nobility to the intellect, expansion to the affections, purity and elevation to the views of human duty and expectations. This sermon we regard as a remarkable instance of the persuasive efficacy of truthful delineation, without minute argumentative detail; its logic is in its moral beauty and power. We say no more of it, because, in conformity with the earnest request of the Society in whose behalf it was preached, it will shortly appear in print. On the morning of Easter Mouday, Rev. H. Moutgomery, of Belfast, house; and, with much of his peculiar preached in Eustace-Street meetingpower of manly and touching appeal, exhibited the moral argument against Calvinism, aud contrasted the horrors of that system, its dark picture of God and

man and futurity, with the impressions of joyous devotion and benevolence and hope which pour in upon the mind from the universe and life and revelation. This powerful vindication of the Divine and human character is also promised to the public at the especial request of the Society. After the service on Monday, the Aunual General Meeting of the Society, open to all, was held in Eustace Street Meeting-house, Jones Stevelly, Esq., President of the Society, in the Chair. The numbers who were present, and the interest awakened by the proceedings, far exceeded all previous expectations. The following resolutions, with others relating exclusively to the business of the Society, were successively recommended and carried:

1. That the cordial thanks of the Society are due to Rev. W. J. Fox, and Rev. H. Moutgomery, for their eminent and resplendent services on the present occasion.

2. That this Society, deeming it of great importance that those who are united in principle should be united in name, and earnestly desirous to see all minor diversities of sentiment absorbed in the great truth, that "to us there is One God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ," observes with satisfaction the increasing disposition on the part of liberal Christians in this country to adopt the comprehensive name of Unitarian: that the thanks of all friends of free inquiry are due to those able and ingenuous men in the north of Ireland by whose example and influence that title is spreading there and that, when it is perceived that it is our leading object to exhibit the Divine character in those beautiful lights with which revelation invests it, but which the popular theology mournfully darkens, there is hope that the prejudices which still obstruct its diffusion will rapidly disappear.

3. That we owe our warm thanks to the British and Foreign Unitarian Association for the fraternal cordiality with which it has hailed and helped our first exertions; and that from the continuance of its sympathy we shall feel encouraged to persevere amid those first and more formidable difficulties through which the exertions of that Association have, with the Divine blessing, steered our sacred cause in England.

4. That we have embraced with satisfaction the opportunities which the past year has afforded of personal intercourse with some distinguished brethren from America, and affectionately receive the assurances of Christian sympathy which have reached us thence: and that the

state and prospects of pure Christianity, and the truly evangelical spirit of its defenders, in that enlightened land, are regarded by us with delight, with gratitude, aud Christian emulation.

5. That this Society contemplates with great satisfaction the progress of Unitarian Christianity in Switzerland, and particularly the steadiuess and energy of the pastors and people of the church in Geneva, apidst the obloquy with which they have been assailed, both at home and abroad, by the advocates of an exclusive system of theology.

6. That this Meeting has heard with satisfaction of the earnestness and zeal of the Cork Branch Society: and, persuaded of the value of trequent and free interchange of sentiment in stimulating inquiry and eliciting truth, recommends the Committee to advise the establishmeut of periodical meetings for theological conversation in connexion with the several district societies.

It is much to be regretted that no reporter attended to place on permaneut record the animated proceedings of this meeting. The impression produced by the introduction of the 2nd resolution by Rev. W. J. Fox, an impression which Rev. H. Montgomery's proposal of the 5th resolution well sustained, but which it surpassed even his extraordinary powers to increase, will never be forgotten by the many whose indifference it startled, whose efforts it cheered, and whose hearts it touched. The report of the Committee, which was received and ordered to be printed, will be found below.

At dinner more than eighty sat down; among whom it was gratifying to observe some members of orthodox churches. There was nothing in the arrangements to distinguish this social gathering from other similar occasions: but the presence and the inspiring eloquence of the two distinguished strangers whose advocacy the Society had enjoyed, and the novelty in Dublin of such an excitement in such a cause, gave to the evening an interest memorably vivid and brilliant.

а

The general effect of this anniversary has been conclusive of the fate of the infant and struggling society in Dublin. Operating on a class of minds ready for action, but needing a decisive stimulus to awaken them, it has contributed vast store of energy and hope to that Society; has placed it beyond its first perils; has augmented its resources; has softened its enemies; has cheered its friends; and has attracted the philanthropic and the pious by shewing the affinity of its objects to the best interests of man and the glory of God.

J. M.

Report.

IN presenting the Report of the first proceedings of your Society, your Committee cannot refrain from warning you at the outset against any large expectations from the incipient efforts of an infant institution in promotion of an oppressed cause. They are of opiniou that such unreasonable expectations, proceeding from that preference of the imposing to the useful which constitutes the bad taste of benevolence, have imparted to the reports of religions societies a style of declamatory and boastful exaggeration, which justly weakens the confidence in their truth. It is the object of your Committee to give a faithful account of the mode in which they have administered their trust, of the amount of valuable influence which their resources may have circulated, and of the means of extended usefulness which appear to them to demand increased exertion.

It was to be expected that the necessary expenses of organizing and setting in motion the machinery of the Society would contract its operations during the first year of its existence. It has been the object of your Committee to reduce as much as possible the merely instrumental and unproductive expenditure of your funds, by the employment of voluntary zeal instead of paid services; and in this they have been specially aided by the kindness of a well-known and publicspirited member of the Society, who has liberally afforded to the Committee a room in the Northumberland Buildings, with all accompanying accommodations, in which to hold their monthly or special meetings. With every assistance, however, the cost of printing circulars, of purchasing the first book stock of the Society, and of providing bookcases for its reception, has cousiderably exceeded the average of the annual incidental expenses. The encroachment from such causes on an income which does not at present amount to 1307., must obviously have borne a large proportion to the whole. On the other haud, the extraordinary exigencies of the first year have met with extraordinary aid. The liberal donations of books to the amount of 51. from the West Riding Tract Society, of 51, from the Western Unitarian Society, and of 251. from the British and Foreign Unitarian Association, have not only afforded cheering assurances of the sympathy of our brethren in England, but rendered an efficient and almost necessary addition to the materials of usefulness at the disposal of your Committee. It must also be remembered that, with a view to

carry the Society securely through its first difficulties, many of its friends became life members rather than annual subscribers; and that however convenient or even necessary may be such special aid at the origin of the Society, its cessation or diminution at the end of the first year cannot but be seriously felt. At the same time that the Committee have great satisfaction in being able to report an increase in the amount of subscriptions this year, they must be permitted to urge the continued necessity of exertions to increase the funds of the Society. For the guidance of their successors they would record their opinion that efforts should be particularly directed towards augmenting the provincial contributious. In Dublin, the Society may be said to have the principle of self-diffusion; every member is or may be an advocate and promoter of the Society; and its annual meetings, if conducted with due publicity, keep it sufficiently before the view of those who have any sympathy with its objects. But in the country, where there are no such periodical mementos, the very existence of the Society is in danger of being forgotten, or its design of being misunderstood, unless efficient measures be taken to awaken a permanent interest.

Four District Societies have already been formed; others are in progress; and by observing the causes in which these have had their origin, the Committee are enabled to suggest two methods by which the operations of the Society may be extended. (1.) Local agents may be appointed from the known friends of Unitarian Christianity in differeut places, and may be requested to receive and distribute catalogues and other publications, to collect and transmit subscriptions, and by every available means to awaken an interest in the affairs of the Society. (2.) A minister may occasionally be sent from Dublin on a mission to some of the principal towns of Ireland, for the express purpose of encouraging Unitarianism where it is weak, and bringing its zeal into action where it is strong.

Your Committee cannot avoid expressing a hope that District Societies may not have the effect of intercepting all individual subscriptions from the places where they are organized. If this should be the case, your Society must for ever remain exclusively a book association, and be debarred from ever carrying into effect the missionary objects which were distinctly contemplated at its formation. While the local bodies may usefully represent the tract department of your Society, various other fields of

usefulness will undoubtedly open from time to time, with the power of entering which the central Society should be entrusted by the liberality of distant friends.

The District Societies which have hitherto been formed are at Cork, at Moneyrea, at Carrickfergus, aud at Bandon. The Committee have great satisfaction in stating that an Association, embracing the whole province of Ulster, and denominated the Ulster Unitarian Christian Tract Society, is about to be connected with this Society. The troubles which have so long broken the religious peace of the North of Ireland having in a great measure subsided, it may be hoped that Christian truth may have found a fitting herald in Christian liberty. May heaven shed the blessing of visible success on those noble pioneers of its march, by whom the valleys have been exalted and the mountains been brought low!

As this Society originated mainly in the want felt of religious publications in harmony with the great principles of Unitarian Christianity, your Committee have deemed it requisite to confine themselves to the supply of this want, so long as the pecuniary resources at their disposal were not more than adequate to this purpose. Except in one instance, in which they voted a donation of books to the amount of 30s. to Mr. Alexander Bradley, of Saintfield, they have not eveu felt themselves authorized to circulate books gratuitously. The value of the books and tracts distributed during the year is about £30; subscriptions having been repaid in books to the amount of £14, and £16 having been received from the sale of stock. Desirable as it is that these amounts should annually increase, it is impossible to question the good effected by even this circulation of rational and elevated views of Christianity; impossible indeed to calculate it, unless we had access to the minds to which these views have been presented, and could see what stimulus had been given to intelligent research, what perplexities had been relieved, what light infused, what moral courage awakened, what exalted thoughts imparted of revelation, and duty, and God.

It has been urged on your Committee, by an enlightened member of your Society, that the theological information which they seek to diffuse must meet with serious obstructions so long as the Authorized Version of the Scriptures, notwithstanding all its merits of general accuracy, and its greater merits of taste, continues to be the final appeal of the English reader in matters of controversy; that it should be a primary object with

every society professing a jealousy for Christian truth to present to the world as nearly as possible what the sacred authors themselves wrote; and that the mere circulation of another translation of the Scriptures would tend to shake the undiscriminating veneration for the Common Version (as if the translators were infallible or inspired) which prevails among those to whom the works of learned commentators are inaccessible. On these suggestions a Sub-Committee was appointed to consider whether the proposed object were practicable, and to report on the best method of accomplishing it. Three plans presented themselves; either to attempt a new translation; or to adopt and circulate some existing version of the New Testament; or to reprint, in the cheapest possible form, the most approved translations of the several books of the Old and New Testaments. The last of these plaus appeared to the Sub-Committee the most eligible, but, in the present state of your funds, to be impracticable. Your Committee fully accord with their learned and respected friend by whom this subject has been introduced as to the intrinsic importance of the object, and leave their own proceedings on record for the assistance of their successors: and, in the mean time, it is satisfactory to believe that the publications of the Society are scattering a mass of theological knowledge, and exciting a desire for religious truth, which may prepare the way for a juster appreciation of an improved versiou of the Scriptures than would at present reward the labours of the translator or the editor.

Though your Committee should be liable to the accusation of laying before you rather suggestions for the future than a report of the past, they cannot refrain from recording their conviction that a wide field of usefulness is open to the labours of the first well-qualified missionary that you may be able to employ. Some opportunities of a peculiar kind have presented themselves of sending Unitarian publications among the humbler classes in parts of the South of Ireland; and the eagerness with which they have been received manifests a desire of religious light which it is gratifying to observe. And your Committee have been assured by members of the Cork District Society, whom they believe to be competent judges, that an intelligent, earnest, and affectionate missionary of Unitarian Christianity would find in many districts ready and grateful audiences. Persuaded of the truth of this statemeut, your Committee have only to