be done away, and Christian love and unity be the prevailing sentiment of all true followers of Jesus Christ. The Sabbath School system has done much in accomplishing this object; for it has exerted a beneficial influence upon the hearts of parents by subduing those harsh feelings which education and a mistaken zeal have fostered. The infant mind has gone forth as a missionary, though unconscious of it, and is repaying the teacher for the many acts of kindness and affection it has received.

ers.

Since our last celebration the grave has closed over two of our scholars, and we have been called upon to mourn the departure of one of our female teachWhile the heart is saddened by the reflection that we shall not behold them again, a cheering ray breaks thro' the gloom when we remember that they were prepared to die. Our friend was taken from a labor of love and usefulness and transported to a better world. May this event have such an effect upon our hearts as to inspire us to a greater diligence as teachers; so that while we are

preparing the infant mind for eternity, we may also prepare ourselves for the kingdom of heaven.

INCIDENTS IN KENTUCKY.

There is

a certain town in this state, where the people are of different persuasions, consisting chiefly of Methodists, Baptists, Cumberland Presbyterians and Unitarians. There is no meeting house, but the people assemble together to hear the preachers of any denomination who happen to come by. It so fell out that the Unitarians had never had any one of their own persuasion to preach to them, though the others had had their tenets laid down and explained repeat

edly. They therefore sent to a Unitarian clergyman, requesting him to come some Sabbath day and teach that way more perfectly. He came and preached, and was listened to with interest by the different sects, who saw nothing wrong therein. It seemed to them generally, very good Bible preaching. The only objection publicly made, was, that in one of his discourses he had spoken as if many Christians thought that the Eternal God suffered and died. This, a Presbyterian preacher declared in his sermon to be a mistake; "no one,"

said he, "ever taught this doctrine." But as the Methodist, Baptist, and other Hymn Books abound with expressious of this sort,

"When God the Mighty Maker died,
For man, the creature's sin."

this objection was easily set aside, and it appeared that in contending against this doctrine the Unitarian was fighting no man of straw, but a dogma existing in all the churches.

But after the Unitarian had delivered his sentiments and departed, the news went forth that this seed had fallen into the good ground of honest and candid hearts, and it became absolutely necessary to eradicate it, before it should spring up and bear fruit. Therefore, at a meeting which took place shortly, the attempt was made, and the proceedings at it are thus detailed in a letter from a Unitarian gentleman residing in the place, to the aforesaid Unitarian preach

er.

"JULY 4th, 1838.

"I should long ere this have fulfilled my promise of writing you, had it not been for the approaching meeting (quarterly) of the Methodist church. Your vitle stir in the ranks of this denomisit to this place has caused no litnation, and I felt a strong desire to know, before writing, what course they would take in reference to us and our "dangerous doctrines," and the consequences of the measures they might adopt for the suppression of "heresy." The meeting was such as I had anticipated, being characterised throughout by sectarianism of the severest kind.

"Services continued two days. Every discourse was thoroughly spiced with "Trinity." Rev. Mr. C. their Principal. After a sermon on Sunday morning from Mr. C. he administered the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. I saw from his sermon and the remarks previous to his invitation,

an evident design to exclude Unitarians from the table. The invitation differed widely from any that had ever been given out previously. After the very liberal request for all to come forward "who had truly repented of their sins, and had determined to lead a new life by faith in the Son of God," in comes-" provided they hold all the fundamental doctrines, viz. a belief in a divine redeemer" -(here a pause, and the words, "divine redeemer," again pronounced; he had told us what was meant by a divine redeemer, in his sermon-"the very and Eternal God,") in the great atonement, i. e. that the death of Christ was a sacrifice for sin, in the full and literal sense of the word. They must also trust in the merits of Christ's death alone for the pardon of their sins." This proviso you see, deprived me of the privilege of the Christian Church, unless I would make myself liable to the charge of hypocrisy. Accordingly I did not approach the table of our common Lord. As I had gone up to the house of God with the expectation of enjoying this holy season, in commemorating the dying love of our Saviour, I felt grieved at being thus debarred, by one of his weak and erring servants. When the services were concluded, and the audience dismissed, I rose and stated to the congregation, that on the 1st Sunday in August, at 4 o'clock P. M., the arguments which had been brought forward by Mr. C. in his two last discourses, to prove that Jesus Christ is God, would be replied to; and that I should also notice the unauthorized manner of administering the

Sacrament of the Supper, by which some of the professed followers of Jesus had been deprived of their dearest rights and privileges. And further, that the assertion of Mr. D. in one of his discourses, that "he who has not the faith to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the very and Eternal God, has not a saving faith," would also be considered.

This was wholly unexpected. They gazed upon one another in mute astonishment. After a short pause Mr. C. replied—I rejoined

again he replied—I again rose and stated that the remarks of brother C. were unsatisfactory— that I wished to have no discussion at that time—that my only object was to make an appointment for a meeting. This affair has produced a good deal of excitement. Many of my friends were displeased at the course they have taken, and now Mr. C. and his friends are endeavoring to clear themselves of the difficulty, by saying that nothing personal was intended, that Mr. C. did not know that I was a professed Unitarian. But this the people will not swallow. The fact, that I have been the superintendent of the Sabbath School, and have had devotional exercises in our day school ever since I have been in the place, affords such strong presumptive evidence in favor of my being a member of some church, that all were not willing to believe the assertion. You shall hear more anon. heartily wish you were nearer, that you might visit us oftener. I believe a society might be built up here if we only had a resident minister. Your visit will be of

I

great service. It is leading the people to examine for themselves. This is what is most needed."

When we hear more we will communicate it. In the mean time we pray for our friend that it may be given him what to say and to speak, in defence of one of the original long clouded doctrines of Christianity, and may the Holy Spirit bestow on him a spirit and power which none of his adversaries may gainsay or resist.

CONVERSIONS.

Conversions from one form of faith to another are evidences of the power of truth, according as the church relinquished is inferior to that joined, in worldly attractions. If a preacher relinquishes his position in a rich, popular, and fashionable church, to join a small and unpopular one, this is prima facie evidence of its being the result of honest conviction. But if he leaves the feeble and unpopular body to join the fashionable one, the prima facie evidence is against his honesty. Such a proselyte adds nothing to the evidence of the opinions he adopts. He may be perfectly sincere and honest, but his change of sentiment carries no moral power with it. If in the days of primitive persecution, a Christian preacher went over to Paganism, it weakened Christianity no jot, it added nothing to the strength of the old superstition. His brethren might mourn over the weakness of his apostacy, but would not be discouraged by it.. Such things were predicted by Christ himself ——“ These have no root in themselves, but when tribulation and affliction ariseth for the word's sake, by and bye they are offend

ed."

So, in modern times, if a popular Presbyterian preacher should become an Unitarian, it would strengthen the cause of the latter greatly, because he would do it at the certain risk of being denounced and persecuted by a most powerful religious body, and losing their sympathy and support. But if he should change from the Unitarian church to the Presbyterian, it would create no surprise, and prove nothing either way. The natural inference would however, be, that he had grown tired of standing alone, a solitary champion of oppressed truth, and that he longed to enjoy the sympathy and support of more of his fellow Christians.

THIRTEENTH REPORT OF THE AMERICAN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION. - From this Report we learn that the receipts last year of this Association were about $3000, and the expenditures $4759.

For missions in the West and elsewhere, $1785 were expended. For printing Tracts $1417. The Secretary, Mr. Briggs, has confined his labors this year chiefly to New-England. He has formed 31 auxiliary Associations. About 70,000 Tracts have been published during the past year. These have been sent to Europe, as well as disseminated through our own country. Fourteen Missionaries have been employed during the past year, which is double the number of the previous year. Six preached in New England, five in the West, and three in the South,

The following instances of liberality toward the association,

among many others, are given as examples of a spirit which is beginning to prevail somewhat extensively.

"A lady was asked if she would visit Saratoga Springs. She inquired what would be the expense of a journey there. And was told that it would be thirty dollars. Thirty dollars?' said she. That sum would make me a life-member of the American Unitarian Association. No. I cannot go this year.'

"After an address of the Secretary in one of our neighboring cities on the spiritual wants and moral dangers of the country, the Mayor of the city spoke eloquently upon the necessity, in a civil point of view, of such objects as the Association is engaged in, and remarked that those objects were of vital importance to the moral growth, the freedom and salvation of our country. He likewise expressed his interest in the Association by liberally aiding its funds.

"A Sabbath School teacher, who, in the bloom of youth, was wasting away by consumption, said to her clergyman, as he stood by her bed-side, that she had fifty dollars which she wished to devote to some charitable object; and that having looked around upon various objects, she had come to the conclusion that she could in no way do so much good with it as by giving it to the American Unitarian Association. She left the same sum to furnish fuel for the poor widows of the parish; and died as the saint dieth.

"A most estimable and highly esteemed young clergyman,

whose hopes of usefulness were suddenly blasted by ill health, and who sought in the islands of the South relief from the rigors of a Northern winter, which seemed fast consigning him to the tomb, felt in his last moments, as indeed he had long felt, that nothing was of so much importance as the promulgation of the precepts of Jesus, the consolations and hopes of the everlasting Gospel; and accordingly made provision in his will for a generous bequest to the Association."

We hope that during the preenabled to enlarge yet more the sent year the Association will be sphere of its operations. We hope it will send out double the

number of missionaries of the past year.

published during the last year. The following are the Tracts

"No. 120. "Come over and Help Us." A Letter to the Rev. George Putnam. By E. Peabody.

No. 121. "To the Law and to the Testimony."-A Discourse on the Deference paid to the Scriptures by Unitarians. James Walker.

By

No. 122. Remarks on Creeds, Intolerance, and Exclusion. By William E. Channing, D. D. No. 123. Charges against Unitarianism. By E. Peabody. No. 124. A tribute to the memory of the Rev. Noah Worcester, D. D. By William E. Channing.

No. 125. The Nature, Reality, and Power of Christian Faith. By Henry Ware, Jr. D. D.

No. 126. The Sunday School. A Discourse pronounced before

the Sunday School Society. By William E. Channing, D. D.

No. 127. What is Truth? By Rev. Andrew P. Peabody.

No. 128. A Young Man's Account of his Conversion from Calvinism. A Statement of Facts. No. 129. True Grounds of Christian Unity. By Rev. George Putnam.

No. 130. A Rational Faith competent to the Wants of Man.

No. 131. The Thirteenth Report of the American Unitarian Association, with the proceedings of the Annual Meeting, May 29, 1838."

WE presume the article in the present number of the Messenger on Future Punishment, together with our concluding article on the same subject in the next number will satisfy our correspondent, whose communication we have just received.

NEW RICHMOND, O., July 28.

DEAR Sir: I have been taking your periodical for three years, and I have never seen any that suited my taste half so well. It may be well called the Messenger, for I am convinced there never has been a work of its size so complete in diffusing truth and light on religious subjects, notwithstanding the force it carries with it. It has been frequently and strenuously urged to me that there is no difference between Unitarians and Universalists, and that Universalists were nothing more than Deists under a new name, and as a believer in the Unitarian doctrine, and not being blessed with lan

guage, as many others, to express my ideas, I am many times defeated and pointed at with the finger of scorn, by many of the orthodox in New Richmond. I would be glad if you think my request worthy your attention to state the difference in your next number at large, and by doing this you will confer a favor on me besides satisfying and silencing many of our opposers. This from yours, &c.

BISHOP SMITH.-We see that our article about Bishop Smith and his pseudo-trial,has been bandied backward and forward thro' the Episcopal Journals. The New York Review first notices it, but not with sufficient severity, inasmuch as that work seems to agree with us in opinion in respect to this trial.~ Then other periodicals in "the Church, " abuse the Review for not abusing us. Thus the matter seems

to rest at present.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES. -Mr. Huntoon has left Cincinnati, and gone to Peoria. Mr. Farley, we are sorry to learn, proposes leaving Alton. Ill health is the

cause.

From the Tenth Annual Re

port of the Boston Sunday School Society, we extract the following account of Proceedings at its Annual Meeting.

"ANNIVERSARY MEETING. The tenth annual public meeting of the Sunday School Society,