AMERICA.

Condition of Unitarianism.--Evidences multiply upon us of the spread of Unitarian opinions, and of the increased ability and stability of our religious societies. Besides the gathering of new churches, we hear of the renunciation of Trinitarianism by ministers who have formerly been its public teachers. Several of our old houses of worship have been remodelled, or replaced by new and more convenient edifices. We especially rejoice to see that our congregations are taking advantage of the prosperous condition of the country, to relieve themselves of the embarrassment or inconvenience of debt.-The church at St. Louis, Mo., under the care of Rev. Mr. Eliot, have within the last year freed themselves from debt by a voluntary subscription of more than 8000 dollars for this single purpose.-The society in Montreal, Canada, of which Rev. Mr. Cordner is minister, have just raised by subscription from their own members 1000 dollars, by which they have cancelled all their liabilities, except for the land on which their house stands, to extinguish which a sinking fund has been established, that will amount to a sum sufficient for this purpose when the prescribed time of payment arrives. The Unitarian congregations in and about Salem, Mass., have united themselves for the purpose of sustaining missionary operations in Essex county, and have, in reference to this object, adopted the name of the " Fraternity of Unitarian Churches in Salem and Vicinity." It includes the four congregations in Salem, and those in Beverly, Danvers, Lynn, Marblehead, and Gloucester. We understand that Rev. Mr. Stone, of North Beverly, will be employed by them as a preacher in that neighbourhood.-An Association of a somewhat similar character has been formed in the cities of New York and Brooklyn, the design and plan of which give promise of much usefulness. It has taken the name of the "Unitarian Association of the State of New York," and is meant to include not only the members of the congregations in those two cities, but the Unitarians of Fishkill, Albany, Troy, Trenton, Syracuse, Vernon, Rochester, and Buffalo, where regular societies exist, and any others of our faith in any part of

the State. Zebedee Cook, Esq., has been chosen President; Moses H. Grinnell, Esq., Vice-President; Messrs. P. M. Irving, George Ireland, S. J. Beals, Richard Warren, Seth Low, and W. H. Carey, Directors; William B. Allen, Treasurer; and James A. Cleveland, Secretary. The object of the Association is, in general, to promote the interests of Unitarian Christianity within the limits of the State; and the suggestions made in an "Address" which they have put forth, respecting the methods to be pursued for this end, shew that the plan originated with wise and energetic men. The first annual Catalogue of the Meadville Theological School justifies the officers of the institution in "congratulating its friends upon its flourishing condition." The three classes contain twenty-three students, of whom fourteen have entered this year. The Library "has been increased the past year by an addition of 900 volumes-making in the whole 1400 volumes;" besides "800 volumes of text-books; the use of which is given to the students during their connection with the School.' The plan of studies is comprehensive, and the Professors are indefatigable in their attention to the classes.-The rapid sale which Unitarian books obtain is a circumstance to which we can also refer with pleasure. The first edition of Mrs. Dana's Letters on the Trinity, published last September and consisting of 1250 copies, has been sold, and the work is now in process of being stereotyped. The whole of the first edition of the Memoir of Henry Ware, Jun., by his Brother, consisting of 1500 copies, has been exhausted in two months, and a stereotype edition on larger type is now in press.

Ministerial Engagements.-The Christian Examiner gives us a list of twelve ordinations and installations, and of three dedications of houses of prayer, and intimates that in May they will have a further list to report. The Editor goes on to observe, "It is plain, that if in these days the pastoral connection is too easily dissolved, our congregations are disposed to re-establish the ministry among them as soon as possible. We cannot but hope that the evil of brief terms of professional life, arising from frequent changes in the

parochial relations of ministers, has reached its height, and that we may soon witness a return towards the old ways. We have been glad to notice that in one or two recent instances the ecclesiastical council, called to introduce a minister to his charge by solemn religious services, have prefixed to the usual vote that they would proceed to such services, an expression of their regret that a condition had been included in the terms of settlement, by which the connection between the minister and the people might be terminated by a simple notice to that effect given by either of the parties. A similar course pursued by other councils convened for the same purpose might check a practice which has been permitted to grow up among us, we are confident, without due consideration of its probable effects. The last two months have brought fewer removals than usual within our knowledge.-The Rev. Mr. Kingsley, of Stow, has resigned his connection with the church in that place. Rev. Mr. Barry, who, as we stated in our last No., was on the point of removing to Lowell to become the minister of the second Unitarian society in that city, has been obliged, by a return of serious physical indisposition, to relinquish all purpose of pursuing the labours of the ministry at present.--Rev. Andrew Bigelow, D.D., and Rev. S. B. Cruft, have become the successors of Rev. Messrs. Waterston and Sargent in the ministry-at-large, in connection with the Pitts-Street and Suffolk-Street chapels in this city. The congregation at East Boston which has been for some time attending on the instructions of Rev. C. A. Farley, has been legally organized, under the title of the "Unitarian Society of East Boston."-A new society has been formed at Mattapoisett, a sea-port village in the town of Rochester, Mass.-A third Unitarian society has been gathered in the city of New York, under the ministry of Rev. Mr. Wellington, of the commencement of whose labours there we spoke in our last No. They hold their meetings, as we understand, in Grand Street, in the Eastern part of the city.

Harvard College.-The election of Mr. Everett as President has been confirmed by an unanimous vote of the Board of Overseers. That so many votes as 64 should have been given, and that all should be affirmative, was no less honourable to Mr. Everett than it was an omen of the future prosperity

of the institution. The remarks of the Christian Examiner are very cheering:

"We know not whether Mr. Everett or the public has more occasion to rejoice in the favourable circumstances under which he will commence his Presidency. In respect to its financial and literary interests, the College was never in a better position, and the discipline of the institution was never better maintained than it has been

during the Presidency, pro temp., of Dr. Walker. The Law school has found in the redoubled exertions of Professor Greenleaf all the compensation which it was possible to afford for the loss of Judge Story, while the Divinity and Medical schools have continued to enjoy the usual measure of public favour.' - The report of the Committee appointed to consider the expediency of separating the Theolo gical department from the College (the object of so much bitter sectarian clamour amongst the united orthodox hosts of New England), has, for the present at least, settled that question entirely. The decision is, that the College officers " have no power, in law or equity, to transfer the property and confide these trusts to any other person or corporation." The orthodox assailants of the Theological department of the College appear subdued, for "the Report was accepted without debate." The Christian Examiner closes its remarks thus :-"Rather less than a year ago, we spoke of the College as passing through a trial,'-such, however, as it had often encountered before. We congratulate its friends that it has passed through this trial with an increased security against future assaults upon the liberal principles on which it has long been conducted. The attempt to introduce a change has met with a defeat, which we regard with the more satisfaction, because it has been brought about by the clear expression of public sentiment, in rebuke of those who, whether for political or religious ends, would have removed the institution from the control of its present guardians."

DOMESTIC.

Cheshire Presbyterian Association.

The 19th half-yearly meeting_was held, for the first time, at Dean Row, on Good Friday, April 10. The Cheshire ministers were on this occasion joined by Rev. J. G. Robberds, of Manchester; Rev. J. Taylor, of Newton

Heath; Mr. Palmer, of Manchester; and in the evening, by Rev. W. Vidler, of London. There was a fair attendance of lay friends from Manchester, Dukinfield, London, Knutsford, Stockport, Macclesfield, and other places. The day was very propitious to this rural gathering, being bright and warm, although on the distant hills many streaks of unmelted snow, the remains of the recent storm, were to be seen. On entering the neat chapel-ground, a pleasing sight struck the eye,—a garland arch spanning the entrance gateway. This, and a profuse adorning of the same kind in the interior of the chapel, had been the spontaneous tribute of affection by the scholars of the Dean-Row chapel, on the occasion, a few days previous, of the marriage there of a gentleman who has been the principal lay conductor of the Sundayschool. The devotional service was conducted by Rev. D. Davis, of Stockport. The sermon was, by the appointment of the Committee, preached by Rev. William Fillingham, of Congleton. From the words of Jude 20, "Building up yourselves in your most holy faith,' the preacher took occasion to give a cursory view of the great religious movements going on in our own and other countries, accompanied by a series of judicious and very happy reflections. The sermon was listened to throughout with marked interest and satisfaction. It happily combined zeal for the diffusion of pure religious sentiments, exposure of the inconsistencies of some professors of orthodoxy, and the maintenance of a charitable and catholic spirit. - A handsome collection was made in aid of the funds of the Society. After the service, the Rev. John Colston presided at the business meeting. The reading of the minutes * re

*At a meeting of the Committee held at Macclesfield, Dec. 23, 1845, the following resolution was adopted, on the motion of Mr. Aspland, seconded by Mr. Green :-"That we cannot meet on this occasion without sorrowfully calling to mind the loss we have sustained by the death of the late Rev. William Johns, minister of Cross Street, in this county. That we hold in affectionate remembrance his sterling qualities as a man and a friend, and that we desire to record our admiration of his exact scholarship, his ardent love of truth, and his devotion to the sacred Scriptures as the only source of divine truth. That our Secretary communi

minded the members of the loss which, since the last meeting, they had sustained by the death of their valued associate, the late Rev. William Johns, of Cross Street.

The services of the preacher and supporter were acknowledged by a vote of thanks. The resignation by Mr. G. V. Smith of the office of Assistant Secretary to the Tract Society was accepted, and a resolution passed congratulating him on being called to the important and honourable post of Professor of Theology in Manchester New College. Mr. Davis was elected Assistant Secretary.

It having been stated that the absence from the meeting of Rev. Jas. Hawkes, of Nantwich, was occasioned by illness, the following resolution was passed thereupon:-"That the members of the Association desire to express their deep sympathy with their old friend and associate, the Rev. James Hawkes, of Nantwich, in his present withdrawment from his public duties by sickness and the infirmities of age. That they earnestly pray that he may experience in his decline all the consolations and inspiring hopes which, in the spirit of Christian love, he has delighted to carry to the hearts of others.'

The meeting next proceeded to offer a tribute of respect to the memory of the late Rev. Robert Aspland, of Hackney. The resolution in which it was embodied was proposed by Rev. William Fillingham and seconded by Rev. Mortimer Maurice-"That, in common with other friends of civil and religious liberty throughout the United Kingdom, this meeting testify their deep sense of the eminent services rendered by the Rev. Robert Aspland, of Hackney, to the cause of Christian Truth and Freedom during an active and faithful ministry; and to those in whose affections his worth must ever live, offer the expression of regard for his memory, and of sympathy with them in their loss."

Before they separated, the ministers and other friends from a distance tendered to Mr. Colston and his flock their hearty congratulations on the restoration of the ancient and interesting chapel at Dean Row, and on the successful issue, so far, of the exertions of

cate this resolution to the widow and daughter of our departed friend, with the expression of our deep sympathy with their sorrow under their painful bereavement."