AMERICA.

International Peace Addresses.

In acknowledgment of and reply to the Address to the Sunday-school

Teachers of the United States of North America, agreed upon by the Sundayschool Teachers collected at Dukinfield on April 13, (C. R. p. 316,) the following letter has been received from Elihu Burritt, of Worcester, Massachusetts. The "Olive Leaves" referred to are slips of printed matter enjoining mutual Peace, with a figure above of a dove flying with an olive leaf.

"Worcester, Mass., U. S. A., May 14, 1846.

"Rev. R. B. ASPLAND. "Dear Sir-The beautiful Address of the Teachers of the Unitarian Sun. day-schools in Manchester district to the Sunday school Teachers in this country, was forwarded to me, and I had it immediately put on my Olive Leaves' and sent to all the religious newspapers in the Union. I hope its appeals of Christian affection will reach the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands of American teachers, and elicit from them a response breathing the same spirit that pervades your fraternal greeting. Blessed would it be for the peace and happiness of both countries, if every steamer that crossed the ocean should bear such affectionate messages. Beautiful are the interchanges of such sentiments, especially between those engaged in teaching and learning the peace-breathing doctrines of the gospel of Christ. By the next steamer I hope to send you some evidence that your words of love have not been like water spilt on the ground. "In the bonds of brotherhood, yours ELIHU BURRITT."

ever,

service was conducted by Rev. John The Harrison, Ph.D., of Chowbent. preacher delivered an ingenious and

eloquent discourse from Rev. xi. 15.

He dwelt in the tone of fervid congratulation on the characteristics of the

age, passing in review, 1, the physical; 2, the political; and, 3, the religious In speaking of signs of the times.

that phase of the religious world which is popularly known under the term "Puseyism," he declared he looked on it with neither fear nor dissatisfaction, for it was a proof, not that the world was going back, but that it was going on too fast for those who would check its progress by their priestly pretensions. He dwelt also on the modified character of the scepticism of the present age, contrasting it with the coarse scepticism of the past age, and shewing how much there was of kindness and philanthropy in the feelings of those who adopted modern sceptical systems. The great work of religious reformation was going on, and could not be stopped. The reformation effected by Luther was a reformation of the intellect, but there was now going on a reformation of the heart. The preacher concluded his able address by calling on his hearers to give a cheerful and zealous sympathy to the nobler tendencies of the age, and to diffuse the love of knowledge and the spirit of toleration and charity.

At the close of the religious service, the chair was taken by Rev. Mortimer Maurice, the much-respected minister of the place. The Rev. James Whitehead, of Ainsworth, the Secretary of the Provincial Assembly and of the Widows' Fund, stated that they met that day in this city in consequence of a resolution passed at the Provincial Meeting in 1841, at Upper Brook-Street chapel, Manchester, when a Committee was appointed to inquire into and report the past history of their Association, and consider whether the circle of their meetings might not be advantageously extended. That Committee reported the year after at Warrington, that there were now several societies to whom, on account of their high rank and importance, the circle of the Association ought to be extended, and Dukinfield, Hyde, Stockport, Chester, Preston and Knutsford, were named. The meeting was held in 1844 at Du

kinfield-1845, at Stockport-and now they were assembled at Chester.

The Secretary proceeded to state that the Provincial Assembly had, in one form or another, existed through two centuries. It was in the year 1646 that, by an ordinance of Parliament, the Presbyterian model of church government, in all its forms of congregational, classical, provincial and national assemblies, was established. In previous years, the Provincial Meeting had met at several of the above-named places. In 1763, it met at Preston; in 1764, at Knutsford; and in 1799, at Chester. He alluded to the great changes that had taken place in the country since the Assembly last met in Chester. Then the journey between Manchester and Chester, by the Duke's (Bridgewater) "swift packets," occupied about 28 hours; now the railroad took them in 2 hours.

Rev. James Martineau moved that the thanks of the Assembly be given to the Rev. Dr. Harrison for his excellent, forcible discourse. A ballot was then taken for the purpose of choosing the supporter at the next Assembly. The Chairman declared that the choice of the Assembly had fallen upon the Rev. Philip P. Carpenter.

In conformity with a recommendation from the Committee, the next meeting was fixed to be held at Preston. From the Rev. Joseph Ashton and his congregation, a very kind invitation had been received. It was at Preston, in the year 1763, that the idea of the Widows' Fund had been publicly broached, preparatory to its establishment in the following year, when Dr. Priestley preached before the Assembly at CrossSt. chapel, Manchester, his celebrated Sermon on "the Duty of not Living to Ourselves."

Rev. J. J. Tayler (in the lamented absence, through illness, of the Rev. Dr. Beard) then stated that, in consequence of a vote of the Committee of the Provincial Meeting, he had to propose for the consideration and (if approved) the adoption of the Assembly, an Address to Ronge and the other noble spirits who were conducting in Germany a great and important religious move

ment.

We are happy to be enabled to present our readers with a copy of this interesting and admirable document.

"To RONGE, CZERSKI, and THEINER, and the other Members of the German Catholic Church, their coadjutors in the cause of Spiritual Freedom, Ec

clesiastical Reform, and a Pure Christianity, the undersigned, Ministers of the English Presbyterian denomination in the Counties of Lancaster and Chester, assembled in Provincial Meeting at the city of Chester on the 18th day of June, 1846,-offer this expression of fraternal respect and sympathy:

"Brethren and Fellow-christians,Though far removed from the scene of your labours, and unconnected by our position in the field of Christendom and by our historical recollections with the events and the institutions out of which your New Reformation has sprung, we have nevertheless marked with the deepest interest, from its first outbreak, your fearless warfare with superstition and priesteraft, and your noble demand of a recognition of the rights of conscience, and of the general brotherhood of Christians and men. We rejoice that, having broken asunder the bonds of education and habit, and listening to the voice of humanity in the depths of your hearts, you have moved on in advance of the predominant forms of ecclesiastical association, Protestant as well as Catholic, and have afforded a glorious example, on a large scale, of a Christian Church held together, not by a compulsory uniformity of creed or ritual, but by the simple acknowledgment of Christ as its spiritual head, and by the acceptance of all as his disciples who, amidst inevitable diversities of opinion and outward worship, partake of the living unity of his spirit.

"We do not profess indifference to the right and the wrong of religious opinion; for we value truth above all things; and we esteem religious truth precious above every other truth: but we perceive that the determination of religious opinion must be left to the individual, and cannot be regulated and fixed by a society; and we are persuaded that mental liberty, mutual toleration, and free intercourse among individuals and societies, supply the fittest basis of Christian union, and are essential conditions to the discovery and right apprehension of religious truth.

“Brethren, you are engaged in a noble undertaking. May God enable you to carry it on to its completion! May it not be arrested and periled either by oppression and persecution from without, or by folly and extravagance, by faction, ambition and selfishness, among yourselves; but may the

calm wisdom, the thoughtful foresight, the generous forbearance and comprehensive charity of your proceedings, give you a bloodless and peaceful triumph over all your enemies!

"Your country set the first example, after the long thraldom of ages, of a successful resistance to spiritual corruption and tyranny. Go on, under more favourable circumstances and amidst clearer light, to perfect the great work of religious freedom and peace! Germany has long stood pre-eminent among the nations, for the profound learning of her schools and the broad grasp of her speculative intelligence. May you live to prove that these high gifts, of which a people may be justly proud, are not incompatible with the practical philanthropy and the earnest religious life that carry light and strength to the familiar convictions of the popular mind! Go on, in the power and spirit of God, not to humble science or dethrone philosophy, but to blend them more intimately with religionthe pure, simple, affectionate, intelligible and soul-subduing religion of Christ-that its holy peace may be shed in every good and honest heart; that your institutions, spreading over the land, may gather the severed and alienated members of the family of God into one fold, under one Shepherd; and other nations, catching your spirit and imitating your example, may renew, one by one, the broken links of human sympathy, and bind the chain of Christian love round the whole earth!"

The Address was adopted by a unanimous vote of the Assembly, and it was agreed that it should receive the signatures of all the Presbyterian ministers in the two counties who approved of it.

Rev. W. Fillingham, of Congleton, then proposed, and the Rev. Franklin Howorth seconded, the adoption by the Assembly of a Petition to Parliament praying for the entire abolition of Capital Punishments. A long conversation ensued, when it appeared there existed some difference of opinion on the subject, and as there was not then time for the full discussion of the arguments on both sides, Mr. Fillingham withdrew for the present his motion and the petition. It was, however, in the course of the day, signed by most of the ministers present, in their individual capacity. A general feeling was expressed of the great importance of the subject, and of the desirableness

of its being fully discussed by the Assembly. As it appeared to some who took part in the discussion that the question could not be immediately entertained by Parliament, it was recommended, and we believe understood, that the subject should be re-introduced before the Assembly next year at Preston, when the Rev. Joseph Ashton engaged that there should be opportunity given for its full discussion.

Rev. James Martineau then addressed the meeting on the subject of an opening that he had been informed existed for the establishment of an Unitarian congregation at Crewe, an important town on the borders of Cheshire and Staffordshire, created by the junction at that place of the railroads from Liverpool, Manchester and Chester. There were many young men residing there (mostly brought up in the Scotch Church) who could not conscientiously join in the services of the Church of England. Of Calvinism they had had enough before they left Scotland, and they earnestly desired to have the preaching of a free and liberal Christianity. Some of them had tried the system of Socialism, but had retreated from it wearied and disgusted, and panted for something more real and more pure. It appeared to him (Mr. Martineau) that they ought not to let this opportunity pass of creating a new congregation; that there were at Crewe and other places (he specified the Potteries in Staffordshire) many ingenuous and truth-loving minds amongst the working classes who were ready to receive and cherish a positive but a free Christianity. The vacancy in the pulpit of the neighbouring town of death of Rev. James Hawkes, might Nantwich, occasioned by the lamented perhaps facilitate an arrangement for the appointment of a joint minister for Nantwich and Crewe. But in the mean time, he hoped the ministers of the two counties would give the subject their attention, and render such assistance as they could in preaching to the seekers after truth at Crewe. - An interesting conversation ensued, in the course of which it was stated that the Grand Junction Railroad Company were desirous of promoting (irrespective of sect and party) the religious habits of their servants at Crewe, and would probably consent to give free passage in their carriages to preachers who might consent to give their services at that station. Ultimately it was agreed that a sub-committee, consisting of

Rev. J. G. Robberds, Rev. James Martineau and (we believe) Rev. P. P. Carpenter, should be appointed, who were requested to visit at their early convenience Crewe and Nantwich, and to give their advice and aid in promoting Unitarian worship in those two places.

A very hearty vote of thanks was then given by the Assembly to Rev. Mortimer Maurice and his congregation for their kind reception of the ministers.

The ministers and other friends present then constituted themselves into a meeting of the Lancashire and Cheshire Presbyterian Association. The Rev. J. J. Tayler was called to the chair. Rev. R. Brook Aspland (one of the Secretaries) then stated that the Association had happily during the present year had no call for action, and therefore no report had to be presented. It was deemed desirable, however, to continue for the present their oganization. Circumstances might arise any day which would demand prompt and united action; therefore he proposed the re-election of the several officers of the Association. The motion was seconded by Mr. Martineau and unanimously adopted. The members and their friends then went to the Royal Hotel to dinner, where a very handsome entertainment was prepared. The Rev. Mortimer Maurice took the chair, and Edward Johnson, Esq., of Chester, acted as Vice-President.

At six o'clock, the ministers and their friends re-assembled in the commodious school-room and partook of tea, which was prepared and served by the ladies of the congregation. Notwithstanding the excessive heat of the day, which had greatly diminished the attendance, upwards of 200 persons assembled. In the course of the evening, the chapel choir sung, in a very beautiful style, several hymns and other sacred songs.

After tea, the chair was taken by Rev. Mortimer Maurice, who commenced the proceedings of the evening in an appropriate and pleasing speech. He gave as the opening sentiment, "The Memory of Matthew Henry, and of Philip Henry and the Two THOUSAND who suffered for Conscience' sake," and called upon the Rev. James Martineau to address them on the subject.

The speech of Mr. Martineau was characterized by his habitual power and novelty of thought and illustration, and afforded great delight to all his hearers. It was so full of matter, that it is not

in our power, with limited space and time, which we regret, to give even an abstract of it. He was followed by Rev. Dr. Harrison, who spoke to the sentiment of "Christianity unfettered by the Inventions and Creeds of fallible men."

Rev. P. P. Carpenter addressed the meeting next, in a very earnest and outspeaking speech, in which the omissions and defects of the Unitarian body were strongly pointed out: his topic was "Domestic Missions."

Rev. J. J. Tayler spoke in a calm and philosophical spirit on the following sentiment: "Christian Churches-may they every where be nurseries of piety and virtue in their members, and centres of benignant influence in the world around them." He concluded by reading to the meeting the Address to the German Reformers which the ministers had adopted at their morning meeting, prefacing the reading by an interesting statement of the rise of the German Catholic Church.

Rev. Mortimer Maurice next proposed, in an address of deep feeling, for the adoption of the meeting, a tribute of respect to "the Memory of the late Rev. Robert Aspland," and coupled with the sentiment the cause of which Mr. Aspland had been a consistent champion, "Civil and Religious Liberty.'

Rev. R. Brook Aspland, in acknowledging the sentiment, gave a sketch of the early religious life of his father.

The evening being now far advanced, other intended sentiments were laid aside. Rev. F. Howorth expressed for himself and his brother ministers the interest and pleasure which the meeting had imparted. He said it was the best Provincial Assembly in his recollection, and he trusted that the spirit of earnestness and kindness would be continued to future meetings of their body. He concluded with proposing a vote of thanks to the minister of the place and his congregation.-On the motion of Rev. J. Colston a vote of thanks to the ladies who had presided at the tea-tables was passed. An anthem was sung, and the Assembly separated.

On the following day, Friday, June 19th, the members of the "Widows' Fund" assembled at the Royal Hotel. The absence, through illness, of Rev. Dr. Shepherd, of Gateacre, the President of the Fund, and who has been a member of the Society since the year 1791, was greatly lamented.-The death