and to lend their voice and influence to every just and practical reform, whether in the morals of private life or the morals of legislation, this Congregation rejoice in the presence of their respected Chairman, the Rev. George Harris of Glasgow; whose example as an indefatigable and successful Christian reformer and philanthropist, has cheered and will cheer them on to continued and greater exertions; with whom, as Minister at Glasgow, and Secretary to the Scottish Unitarian Association, this Congregation would desire cordially to co-operate in the promotion of truth, righteousness, liberty, and happiness; and they beg to express their sympathy with his Congregation, and the desire for its continued and increasing prosperity under his able ministrations."

In

Mr. Harris replied in a powerful speech, in which he expressed his deep sense of the importance of the subjects with which the resolution had connected his name. that resolution he had been called a Christian reformer and philanthropist. These were appellations of highest import and honour. He had laboured, and should labour to deserve them. To be a Christian reformer and philanthropist, he counted far, incomparably far more honourable than to be ennobled by birth or princely favour -than to be great either in court or camp. To be a

fellow-labourer in the cause of man and God, with Jesus and his Apostles, with the morally great and good of past ages or the present, was a privilege which could never be compared by him with the empty honours of feudalism, the childish baubles of a star, a ribbon, or a garter. Give him, he said, but the privilege of acting with Christ and good men, for the advancement of truth, liberty, and righteousness-the cause of human progression and of human happiness-and he envied not, he never did and never could envy, the titles, station, or fame of those whom vanity called great, whether they were lords in lawn or lords in steel. He had always hoped well of the righteous cause in which through life he had been engaged; and he saw no reason now for subtracting from his expectation of its growing power and ultimate success. It had many enemies; but it could not, and would not be hindered from advancing. Bigotry would not stop its course. Persecution would not baffle it. Creeds

those traps for tender consciences, and instruments of hypocrisy would not prevent it. Church Establishments would not subdue it. Indifference would not ultimately defeat it, though it was its worst enemy. Give him honest bigotry, before callous indifference-that fathomless grave of all that is good and great, of every noble hope and aspiration. But indifference, as well as bigotry, and persecution, and creeds, and Church Establishments, and all other enemies, must yield to the power of truth and virtue. They would all be overturned: all the battlements of oppression, all the refuges of error, must crumble down at last, and pass into oblivion. In conclusion, he exhorted his friends to energy and perseverance, and they must prosper in the good work of self-improvement and social amelioration, in which they were engaged. Mr. Harris then, after a few prefatory remarks on the spirit of Unitarian Christianity, which enabled its professors to love and value virtue in every sect and party, believing, as they did, that "in every nation," or party, "he that feareth God, and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him," proposed the sentiment, "Our cordial welcome to all friends, of whatever persuasion, who have favoured us with their society this evening." He then proposed,

Prosperity to our female friends, whose presence has graced our meeting;" and he hoped that they might ever realise this prayer, "Many daughters have done virtuously, may they excel them all." Mr. Cropper being called on to reply to this sentiment, made a neat and pleasing address. Mr. Harris then read a hymn, composed by Mr. Maccall, which was sung by the company standing, and concluded with the Lord's Prayer and benediction.

The Meeting then separated, every one being highly delighted with the manner in which they had passed the evening, and convinced of the great utility of such meetings in diffusing knowledge, promoting charity, and adding to each other's friendship and happiness.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW UNITARIAN CHURCH AND BUILDINGS, NEWHALL-HILL, BIRMINGHAM.-— These buildings are in the English or Gothic styles of architecture. The material is chiefly of brick; the ornamental parts and dressings of stone.

The church is placed some distance from the road; and the principal front is ornamented with turrets, buttresses, and pinnacles of red sandstone, which harmonises well with the brick-work.

The church is flanked on each side with buildings which project to the line of street, and which may be appropriated to the use of the master and mistress of the day-schools; and although the style of these buildings is evidently of a later date than that adopted for the church, still there is no want of harmony between the parts, and the general effect is novel and pleasing.

It is evident, that if the funds had been more ample, although more than £4000 have been expended, including the cost of land, that the effect would have been improved by the addition of ornaments in several parts, especially to the entrance-door and to the centre window. We presume we are right in supposing that the style adopted for the church is that which prevailed about the 12th century; and if we mistake not, the details in this style are peculiarly rich. The space between the side buildings is enclosed by iron railings, which are in good keeping with the buildings. The church is capable of seating 1000 persons; and the whole of the three galleries, and gallery over the porch, are free. The body of the church is pewed, and there is a gradual rise in the floor of about 18 inches from the pulpit to the entrancedoor. The gallery staircases are placed on each side of the porch, and are entered from the sides, and the staircases are entirely free from the body of the church, or in other words, do not project into the church. The roof is an open one; and the principals are ornamented with mouldings, and the ribs underneath are finished with spandrils and carved corbals. The compartments of the ceiling, between the principals, are subdivided by moulded ribs; and when completed, the whole will have the appearance of a wood ceiling. In addition to the dwellinghouses before-mentioned, a large school-room and libraryroom are constructed under the church; and at the back of one of the houses is a girls' school; and at the back of the other house are six smaller rooms, for the elder pupils and adults of the male school. The approach to the schools is by a flight of steps on each side of the church,

and the large school-room and vestry are entered from a porch formed underneath the vestry. Mr. D. R. Hill of Birmingham is the architect. M. G.

ROTHERHAM UNITARIAN CHAPEL.-The Unitarian Congregation at Rotherham being about to repair, enlarge, and improve their Chapel, the ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the additions to the building, was performed on Wednesday, 19th August, the Revds. H. H. Piper of Norton, P. Wright of Stannington, and B. T. Stannus of Sheffield, officiating on the occasion. A sealed bottle containing a parchment with the names of these reverend gentlemen, that of the Rev. Jacob Brettell, Minister of the Congregation, (who is absent on a collecting tour,) and those of the Trustees, Committee, and contracting artificers, with the dates of the year, reign, &c. having been deposited in the stone, Mr. Piper proceeded to perform the duty of laying the stone, which he did in a very correct and workmanlike manner. The hymn commencing

"Our Father's watchful care we bless,"

having been sung, Mr. Wright delivered an appropriate and most impressive prayer. After the hymn and prayer, the following address, by the Rev. B. T. Stannus, of the Upper Chapel, Sheffield, was delivered in a masterly style of oratory, and was listened to with the profoundest attention by the spectators who had assembled on this interesting occasion. The ceremony closed with a short but suitable prayer by the Rev. Mr. Piper, and the company dispersed, apparently much pleased and gratified with the proceedings of the day.

ADDRESS.

"Still does the earth move," said a venerable martyr to the eternal truth of science, when the Inquisition had decreed its motion to be philosophically false and theologically heretical. But, in spite of the Inquisition and the heresy, "still does the earth move." That the intellectual and moral world, too, is not quiescent but ever moving onward, is a position which requires no other demonstration than its bare assertion. Intelligence proceeds in a ceaseless course. Victories by mind over matter have been achieved, some of the astonishing results

of which are visible from the spot on which we are now assembled.* Changes are continually taking place in our modes of thinking and acting. Sublime active principles have been developed, illustrated, and diffused. Mind is constantly influenced by mind; and so wondrous has been this mutual action, so widely has it spread, such bright and cheering prospects has it opened, that we cannot even imagine a limit to its ultimate effects. The principles of religion are eternal, but the dogmas of theology are not exempt from this healthy and exciting action of an inquiring mind; and interesting would it be, did time permit, to trace it in its successive transformations, from the darkness of remote ages through the glimmerings of Lutheranism, and the efforts of the early Reformers, to the present period, when Inquiry has taken a freer and a wider range. Theology, like every other science, ought to be studied with a simple regard to truth; but, from the days of Constantine, "when the prerogatives of the King of Heaven were settled, or changed, or modified in the cabinets of an earthly monarch," to the present time, the shackles of creeds, and the bribes of State protection in favour of dull uniformity, have been industriously employed to prevent the free outgoings of the undying mind. For this object, were the Two Thousand ejected from the English Church. But this persecution, while it was a humiliating manifestation of the spirit of the predominant sect, did, nevertheless, create and support the independence of Dissent. To this, operating on the noble minds of your forefathers, you owe this temple of worship; and to their efforts, followed up by the exertions of their successors, are you indebted for the priceless privilege of worshipping the Almighty Father according to the convictions of your own minds. Your opinions may, and necessarily will, in the progress of inquiry, and amid the many additional advantages which you enjoy, differ from theirs; but your spirit is the same; and any result to which enlightened study may conduct you, is only carrying out their principle to its legitimate consequence. Religious freedom is but a name, unless it recognises the

* Several miles of the North Midland, and of the Sheffield and Rotherham Railroads, can be seen from the spot on which the Address was delivered.