OBITUARY. 1819. July 8, at his house in Exeter, aged 77, the Rev. JOSEPH BRETLAND. He was a native of that ancient city, in which he spent the whole of a long-protracted life in the uniform habits of literary retirement. Purity of heart, rectitude of conduct, and simplicity of manners, were prominent features in the character of this virtuous man. Endowed with strong intellectual powers, his application was constant and unremitting, and his mental attainments proportionably great. The love of truth might justly be considered as his ruling passion; while his calm and philosophic mind was ever assi duous and indefatigable in the pursuit of it. As His religious opinions, which were strictly Unitarian, were the result of candid, free and deliberate inquiry, adopted upon the fullest conviction, and, though formed at an early period, they were established and confirmed by the subsequent reflection, and persevering research of his maturer years. In morals, in theology, in metaphysics, aud in biblical criticism, his learning was profound, his judgment solid and acute, and his integrity inflexible and unimpeached. These qualifications and endowments are sufficiently evinced by the few productions of his pen, which his genuine modesty and humility permitted him to commit to the press. a preacher, the discourses of this distinguished scholar and divine were marked by a chaste and correct style of composition, and a rational, undissembled and elevated piety; while they were addressed to the hearts of his hearers, in a simple Mr. and impressive tone of delivery. Bretland, at different periods of life, engaged in conducting the religious services of two most respectable congregations of Protestant Dissenters in the city of Exeter. Both these connexions, however, were only temporary. Upon principle, and for reasons satisfactory to his own conscientious mind, he afterwards declined the regular and stated exercise of his ministry, and retired from the public duties of his profession, and passed the remainder of his days in serenity and peace; till, at length, he closed a life of study and seclusion from the ordinary pursuits and vanities of the world-a life devoted to truth, to sincerity, to piety and resignation to the will of God, without a struggle or a sigh and calmly fell asleep in the happy assurance of a glorious immortality. T. J. 14, at Norwich, aged 39, Mr. WILLIAM SAINT; whose profound acquire ments in mathematical knowledge, and INTELLIGENCE. DOMESTIC. RELIGIOUS. Unitarian Association. Proceedings in Parliament on the sub ject of the Marriage Laws. In the House of Commons, on the 1st July 1819, Mr. W. Smith moved the commitment of the Bill for ex tending relief from the operation of the Marriage Law, it having a few days previoas been brought in and read a first and second time. Lord Castlereagh urged the propriety of not pressing the Bill farther in the present Session. He wished not to express any decided opinion as to the measure; but it was to be remarked, that it only gave relief to one class of persons, who objected to the present Marriage Ceremony-the Protestant Dissenters, and not to the Catholics, who also objected to it. He was sure there could be but one feeling as to the propriety of giving every attention to the scruples of conscientious persons. Mr. W. Smith repeated the statement which he had made when he first proposed the measure, to shew that an object, which was allowed to be desirable, was obtained in an unobjectionable manner; the relief granted to one class of Dissenters being afforded without prejudice to any other class, or even to the most rigid friend of the Church of England. A part of the ceremony was to be left out when certain persons requested it. In the part that remained of the ceremony, not one word was altered; neither the parson officiating, nor the place, nor the mode of publication by banns, nor the civil sanction, nor the civil effects of marriage, were in any respect changed. The Romish Dissenters, it was said, objected to the ceremony in toto, but they were not placed in a worse situation by the Bill; on the contrary, a door was opened for that relief which they were entitled to. As, however, it would be vain for him to hope to pass it at present, after the declaration of the Noble Lord, he should withdraw it, with the inten tion of submitting it in the next Ses sion. Dr. Phillimore, without objecting that the Bill was open to two obto the end to be attained, suggested jections-first, that by stripping the ceremony of all its religious part, it might be regarded with less rever ence by the members of the Church; and second, that the clergy might feel conscientious scruples in per forming a ceremony which they were accustomed to consider as a religious one, thus degraded into a mere civil ordinance. Sir J. Mackintosh, after recapitu lating the objections of Dr. Philli more, observed, that the first of those objections appeared to him rather singular, since nothing could more tend to lessen and degrade a ceremony than the knowledge that per sons conformed to what they did not believe, and uttered under the form of devotion words in which their hearts did not join, and to which in their consciences they felt invincible repugnance. The idea which gave weight and seriousness to the cere mony, was the belief that it was a voluntary and conscientious declara. tion of the feelings, and a compulsory insincerity could only weaken the aid that religion and the law gave to this solemn engagement. (Hear.) He was rather alarmed at the principle contained in the second objection. The Marriage Ceremouy, and the other rites of the Church of England were established by the Act of Unifor mity, and the power which ordained could require (though it would not do it without deliberation) that those ceremonies should not be performed in certain cases. Religion relation of man to his Creator, but an established church was the creature of civil policy. was the Dr. Phillimore explained, and Mr. W. Smith said a few words in explanation, after which, by consent of all parties, the Bill was ordered to be committed that day three weeks, and therefore drops for this Session. Considering the late period of the Session, (which afforded little or no chance of the Bill's passing even if not opposed,) and the importance of not unnecessarily running counter to the wishes of those who must have so much influence over its fate, the promoters of the measure will see no reason to be disappointed in the pre sent issue of their endeavours; on the contrary, they must feel great satisfaction in having been able, in so short a period, to bring the matter with weight and propriety before the public, and to chalk out a plan of relief, at once efficacious and easy, in a matter which seemed involved in considerable difficulty and embarrassment. The interval which will elapse before the discussion is renewed, will, it is to be hoped, be profitably employed in temperate and cool consideration of the measure which has been proposed; weighing, on the oue hand, the actual relief which it would afford from almost every thing that has the appearance of grievance; and on the other, the difficulties civil aud political, the obstacles (arising partly, no doubt, from prejudice, but certainly in some measure from a rational dislike to unnecessary and doubtful change) which would have to be encountered by a plan that sought entirely to overthrow the present system. The last number of the Repository (pp. 877-386), contained the proceedings of the General Meeting of the Association, and a report of what passed on this subject. To those we must refer, particularly to the able observations of Mr. Richmond, for the grounds on which as it appears to us the Bill in question was properly adopted. Dis We know that there are many senters, (particularly among the class of those which are generally denominated orthodox,) who have objected to the measure as not going far enough, and who would have wished, aud perhaps think it practicable, to remove the contract and record altogether from the place, as well as the worship, of the Church. We only wish the subject to be fairly and temperately discussed, and trust that the ensuing Session will find those who have one common cause united in the promotion of a measure which we are persuaded is most likely to effect the object in view, and of which we can not anticipate a refusal on the part of the Legislature. P.S. The following corrections and additions are to be made to the list of Subscribers to the Unitarian Association, affixed to the Repository last montb: Congregations. Carmarthen, per Mr. G. Thomas Mr. York, per Rev. W. Turner Cooke, Mr. Rich. Don. 5 50 Lewthwaite, Mr. William, Liver- Morgan, Rev. Thomas, Li brary, Red-Cross Street Morgan, T. Esq., Bristol Pearson, John, Esq., Rutland Place Wharf-Don. 5 50 Smith, Mr. Aaron, Alnwick 1 Annual. 1 0 0 10 6 0 10 6 0 10 6 In the formation of the first list other inaccuracies of this kind have occurred, of which the may Treasurer or Secretary would be obliged by being informed, in order that they may be corrected. Manchester College, York. ANNUAL EXAMINATION. ON Tuesday the 22d of June, commenced the Annual Examination of the Students educated in Manchester College, York, which continued till the evening of Thursday the 24th; before Joseph Strutt, Esq., President, Samuel Shore, Esq., Præses Emeritus, Abraham Crompton, Esq., Archibald Kenrick, Esq., J. Lightbody, Esq., Robert Philips, jun. Esq., William Shore, Esq., Offley Shore, Esq., William Strutt, Esq., G. W. Wood, Esq., Treasurer, and the Rev. Messrs. Ast ley of Halifax, Harrop of Altringham, as it turned chiefly upon certain points Heinekin of Bradford, Higginson of Derby, Johnstone of Wakefield, Kenrick of Hull, Kentish of Birmingham, Robberds of Manchester, Secretary, Wallace of Chesterfield, and Turner of Newcastle, Visitor. On Tuesday afternoon, the junior Greek aud Hebrew Classes, second Mathematics and Ancient History were examined, and Orations were delivered by Mr. Lightbody, jun., On the Influence of the Reign of Charlemagne on Eu. rope; and by Mr. Lister, On the Ascendancy of the Family of Medici at Florence. On Wednesday, the fourth year's Class in Theology, and the Class in the Evidences of Natural and Revealed Religion; and also the junior Latin, the second Greek, and the junior and senior Mathematical, the Modern History, Natural History, and Belles Lettres Classes were examined; and Orations were delivered by Mr. Smith, On the Beneficial Influence of Christianity on the Condition of the Poor; by Mr. Heinekin, jun., On Capital Punishments; by Mr. Edmund Strutt, On the Influence of Toleration upon National Wealth and Industry; by Mr. Marshall, On the Causes which influence the Formation of National Character; by Mr. Owen, On the Arguments for a Future State from the Light of Nature; and by Mr. Cheetham, On the Arguments which have been urged against the Resurrection of Christ: also Sermons, by Mr. Bur. ton, from Acts xxiii. 31, and by Mr.. Taylor, from Job viii. 9. On Thursday, the fifth years' Class in Theology, and the Classes in Metaphysics and Ethics, the second Latin, and the fourth and Gifth years Greek and Hebrew Classes were examined; and Orations were read by Mr. Wilson, On the Influence of Poetry and Works of Imagination on Human Character and Happiness; by Mr. Wawne, On Patriotism; and by Mr. John Wellbeloved, On the Jewish Theocracy. Mr. J. W. also read a Latin Oration, on the question "Ad probam sacrarum literarum cognitionem conducat necne humaniores litera." Sermons also were delivered, by Mr. Worsley, from Psalm i. 1-8, and by Mr. Charles Wallace, from 1 Peter i. S, 4. The Examination concluded with an Address from the Visitor, which, of discipline, connected in some degree with the new arrangements to be mentioned below, was of too local, and we trust temporary, a nature to interest our readers. In regard to the distribution of the Prizes for general eminence and good conduct during the session, the Visitor observed, that the first would certainly have been allotted to Mr. Wawne, by whom it was received last year, had he not (though for reasons ap proved by his Tutors) omitted this session part of the regular business of the third year. The first Prize was, under these circumstances, awarded to Mr. George Cheetham, the second to Mr. Edmund Strutt, and the third to Mr. John Marshall. Several other names were mentioned as deserving of distinction; but as it afterwards appeared that such extra-notices are more apt to stir up jealousy than to produce the effect intended of exciting a spirit of general emulation, it is proposed that the Visitor shall in future confine himself to the simple notification of the names entitled to The Prize for the greatest Prizes. improvement in Elocution, during the session, was adjudged to Mr. Owen. The President's Prize for eminence in extempore speaking was not claimed. The Prize proposed by Mr. Archibald Kenrick, for an English Essay on the Influence of the Reformation in England, was adjudged to Mr. G. Wawne; though among the other Essays, one of very considerable merit was delivered in by Mr. Cheetham. The Prize for an Essay in Greek Prose (on the subject HTON TÜKŞ αποφαινομένοις, ως το τῶν ἁγιων γραφών δογμα, ένα μονον είναι Θεὸν τῶν παντιν Δημιουργον, αλλοθεν ποθεν, και μη παρ auTou To Oεcũ Tapεi^пddai), was adjudged to Mr. John Wellbeloved. The Visitor's Address concluded with a word of advice to the Students in Divinity who are this year to leave the College, respecting the style and manner in which it is becoming the Christian teacher to conduct religious "It has lately been, controversies. not unaptly, observed,* that it seems to have become a fashion with the Clergy, from the highest dignitary to * Belsham's Remarks on Moysey Conclusion. the lowest aspirant, to bring the severest charges against Christians of our denomination: and it may not be in our power, occasionally, to avoid the unpleasant task of self-defence. Young writers are apt, in such cases, to indulge a warmth of personality, which, however cousistent with the spirit and fire of youth, is often inconsistent with the spirit of the religion which they profess, and often greatly injures their cause. For even by. standers who know nothing of the question in dispute, are naturally led to form their judgment in any controversy by the manner in which it is conducted; and are apt to conclude, that he has the worst of the argument who is first put out of temper. You, my young friends, have already before you the examples of several of your predecessors, as elèves of this Institution, who have defended their religious principles in a manner highly creditable to their proficiency in learning, and especially in Biblical criticism; and, at the same time, to what is of much greater importance, the truly Christiau spirit in which they have written. I hope that you will, in like manner, be ready to give an answer to every one that asketh of you a reason of the hope that is in you; but I hope that you will, also in like manner, always do it with meekness and fear.' And that though, after all, men should speak against you as of evil-doers,' they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.'" The deliberations of the Trustees, at their regular meeting on Friday morning, were principally directed to the arrangements necessary in order to prepare for the system of more strict domestic discipline, which it is proposed to introduce into the College; with a view to which the Rev. W. Turner, the Mathematical Tutor, has engaged to remove into the College Buildings, and to undertake the personal superintendence of the Students, and the enforcement of the laws of the Institution, which have therefore undergone a complete revision. Mr. John James Tayler, who, during Mr. Kenrick's residence at Göttingen, where he proposes to Madge, Yates, Hunter, Holland and Hutton. VOL. XIV. So spend the ensuing winter, has undertaken the office of Classical Tutor, will also reside within the College. North Eastern Unitarian Association. On Tuesday and Wednesday, 22nd and 23rd of June, the North Eastern Unitarian Association was held in Lyun, Norfolk. The Rev. J. Smith, of Lutton, preached the Tuesday evening, and the Rev. W. J. Fox, of London, twice the following day. Wednesday morning the Rev. N. Walker, of Wisbeach, conducted the devotional part of the service, and Mr. Smith that of the evening. Ábout seventy friends to our interest dined at the Duke's Head Iun, and were highly gratified with the sentiments afterwards delivered by Messrs. Fox, Selby, Walker and Smith. Owing to unavoidable circumstances, no association has been held in the North Eastern district during the last three years, but in order to prevent as far as practicable the want of proper arrangements in future, it was proposed by Mr. Treleaven, the chairman of the meeting, that a subscription should be entered into for the purpose of establishing a Fund to purchase tracts for distribution, and for meeting occasional expenses connected with associations; that in this way a bond of union might be more effectually formed, and the parties interested might have still more pleasing objects. in view at their social meetings. The proposition being acceded to, W. Stanger, Esq. of Fleet, kindly consented to accept the office of Secretary and Treasurer until the next meeting. A respectable number of the Lynn friends and others, having become annual subscribers, it is hoped and warmly recommended that the ministers and friends to the measure in our circuit will use their influence to ob tain as many more as possible against the time of our next association at Boston. The Rev. T. Madge of Norwich, is invited to preach on that occasion. Lynn, July 4, 1819. Kent and Sussex Unitarian Association. The eighth anniversary of the Kent and Sussex Unitarian Christian As sociation was held at Tenterden on Wednesday the 7th instant, when a discourse was delivered by Mr. W. J. |
