When the business of the Society was declared to have been concluded by a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the question proposed for discussion at the last quarterly meeting was taken into consideration; J. James, Gelli-Onnen, in the chair. The question was, What are the best regula tions for the government of the Christian Church? The principal speakers were, Mr. B. Philips, St. Clears, Mr. D. Davies, Neath, and Mr. W. Williams, Llangendeyrn. To give even an outline of the discussion would, perhaps, be at present premature; as the question is to be taken into consideration at every quarterly meeting, till it will have gone through the whole circle in which it is to move. The next quarterly meeting was appointed to be held at Pant-teg (near Newcastle), Carmarthenshire, in the next Michaelmas week; and J. James, of Gelli-Onnen, was nominated to preach on the occasion. July 16, 1819. J. JAMES. Fellowship Funds. Bristol Unitarian Fellowship Fund. -We have received from Bristol a copy of the objects and rules of this Fund, which was established near the close of February last, after a discourse on "the Christian Union of a Christian Church." We extract the following particulars. At the congregational meeting, held for the purpose, the Rev. John Rowe in the Chair, it was unanimously agreed as follows: 1. It is required by Christian duty, that we promote, as far as lies in our power, what we believe to be "the truth as it is in Jesus." and believing that God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the only true God, the only proper object of religious worship, and the sole original source of gospel blessings, Resolved unanimously, 1. That a Society be formed, having for its primary object, to aid in promoting the knowledge and dissemination of these great truths, and especially in the establishment or encouragement of Christian worship agreeably to them,-by such means, more particularly, as are not embraced by the present Congregational Fund, which, though of great utility and importance, is applicable ouly to the relief of indigent ministers or their widows, or to the assistance of young men designed for the ministry, in pursuing their studies. 2. That in reference to the objects in view, and as a mark of respect to the memory of that eminently excellent individual, (the late Dr. Thomson,) who first publicly proposed the formation of such societies, and suggested the appellation, this Society be denominated the Bristol Unitarian Fellowship Fund. Most of the subsequent Resolutions are of a local nature, but we copy the sixth as what may suggest a useful addition to the usual purposes of such societies. 6. That a meeting of the members of the Fellowship Fuud, shall be held in the Lecture-room, on the second Wednesday in every month, at seven o'clock, (of which meeting, notice shall be given during divine service on the preceding Sunday,) to determine on cases which may be submitted to the Society, and to receive 2. The advantages of union, to pro- communications respecting the promote the great purposes of Christian gress of Unitarian sentiments; and it benevolence, are extensive and im- shall be regarded as among the objects portant: it affords means of accom- of these monthly meetings, (under plishing them, to which individual such regulations as may be found exexertions must be inadequate; it tends pedient,) to consider difficulties which to excite zeal, and to give it a pru may have occurred to any of the dent and efficacious direction; and, members, respecting the principles of while it contributes to strengthen the Unitarianism, to promote the practihands, and to encourage the hearts, cal influence of those principles, and of those whose immediate duty it is to cherish among us a spirit of Christo labour in holy things, it connects tian union.-At the omthly meettogether, by the bonds of mutual co-ings, in the absence of the President, operation in a great and good cause, all who feel a cordial interest in its Buccess. Agreeably to these general views, This Fund is principally raised by annual contributions, at a collection made after a sermon connected with the object. one of the ministers shall be requested to take the Chair alternately. The lowest subscription is five shillings per annum, to be collected quarterly or annually at the option of the subscribers. And it may be regarded as one among many indications of the zeal and liberality of the Lewin's Mead Congregation, that the annual subscriptions do not fall far short of one hundred pounds. The cases to be submitted to the monthly meetings, are first considered by a committee, consisting of the ministers and seven members annually chosen from the congregation. The Rev. John Rowe was elected President, G. H. Ames, Esq., Treasurer, and J. B. Estlin, Esq., Secretary. At the close of the proceedings it was unanimously resolved, "That the cordial thanks of this meeting be given to the Rev. John Rowe, for his able and judicious conduct in the Chair, and for his important services in the cause of "Christian truth." Loughborough and Mountsorrel Fel lowship Fund. Ar a meeting of the Committee of the Fellowship Fund belonging to the united Unitarian congregations of Loughborough and Mountsorrel, (established April 4, 1819,) held at Loughborough, July 11, the case of the native Unitariaus of Madras was taken into consideration. It was Removals among Unitarian Ministers, The Rev. John Gaskell, A. M., late of Thorne, has accepted an invi tation from the Unitarian congrega. tion at Dukinfield, and has entered upon his engagements as their minister. Mr. Gaskell is succeeded at Thorne by the Rev. Wm. Worsley, A. B., late of Manchester College, York. MISCELLANEOUS. A CURIOUS Suit has been instituted in the Court of Arches by Dr. Wilson, Rector of St. Mary's, Aldermary, in the city of London, "as to the right of the parson or vicar of the parochial church to take the chair at vestry meetings, virtute officii." Argument has been heard on both sides, and Sir John Nicholl is to pronounce judgment the beginning of next term. The MARQUIS of HASTINGS lately addressed a letter from India to the Directors of the BELFAST ACADEMI CAL INSTITUTION, in which he avows his attachment to that liberal institu tion. The whole letter is in the best Irish feeling. "Restrictions and exclusions," (says the Marquis, referring to the catholic plan of the Academy,) "are as inconsistent with the policy as with the benevolence of such an establishment. You justly leave the faith of the individual between him and his God; seeking only to open the mind to those moral convictions, which, whatsoever be the religious creed, make man safe for his fellow." his importance, if not his place, as THE Royal Martyr is yearly losing Saint in the English Calendar. In a bill for facilitating business in the Court of King's Bench, brought into the House of Commons by Mr. Denthe mover, as a matter ❝ of small inman, with the sanction of the Judges, it is proposed, though, according to proposed that one of the first uses to which we apply our funds, be to give a helping hand to the infant church in that country, and that the same laudable object be recommended to the other Fellowship Funds throughout England. It is also the opinion of the Committee, that if the different Funds of the Unitarian Church would join in this Christian undertaking, found to conduct it, we might not and some spirited persou could be only speedily, but easily fulfil the earnest wishes of the Madras Unita-portance," that the Court shall sit on the 30th of January. The service for rians, by sending a missionary to those this day in the Book of Common parts of the globe. WM. PARKINSON. July 20, 1819. See an interesting memorial of Ro berts, a native Unitariau Christian of Madras, inserted in the Christian Reformer for January, 1818, p. 1. Prayer will, we suppose, remain to the end of time, or until the Church shall have to boast of some new Martyr. is great. Horses are now made by THE ingenuity of the English people the coach and wheelwrights, and a shrewd tradesman advertizes a Patent in Fleet Street, near St. Dunstan's Church, where for one shilling, "the lovers of this pleasing and healthful recreation may enjoy an uninterrupted run of nearly 100 feet in a straight line; and as the room has been fitted up with transparent landscapes, the rider may easily fancy he is taking a rural excursion." These little touches of character in the newspapers relieve the dullness of politics and the monotony of public distress. Pedestrian Hobby-horse Riding-room, sented a celestial figure descending on the globe, the foot touching the point marked Wittemberg, and dispersing with both hands the thick clouds with which it is enveloped. By the side of this figure, the Gospel, illuminated by strong rays of light, and placed on an altar exhibiting on one side the figure of the cross, appears issuing from the darkness. Three stars above the head of the figure indicate the three centu ries which have since elapsed. The legend on this side bears, "Third Jubilee of the Reformation, celebrated at Paris, 1817." The obverse represents the bust of MARTIN LUTHER (after an original portrait by Holbein, his coutemporary), with the device of Luther, "Verbum Dei manet in æternum," for legend. The design of this medal is from the able pencil of M. Lafitte, draftsman of the Cabinet du Roi; and the engraving by M. Depaulis, whose talent has already been so distinguished in the Collection of the remarkable events and of the illustrious men of the History of France. (From the Times Newspaper.) "O let the Lord and his Apostles have leave at length to speak for themselves, and not Athanasius, Arius, Socinus, or even Cranmer himself in their stead.' Just published, The Liturgy of the Church and State accommodated throughout to the precepts and practice of the Son of God, and his Apos. tles. This Liturgy varies as little from that of the Establishment as it is possible for any to do that takes the Scriptures alone for its basis and guidance. It abjures all unscriptural, i. e. all unchristian and unapostolic applications. (Fellow Protestants! forgive it this wrong.) It addresses prayer to the Son of God, not as the Lord of heaven and earth, but as an intercessor and advocate with him. It recognizes the Word made flesh, that eternal life which was with the Father,' not as our exemplar only, but our 'propitiation' also, as having died for our sins as well as risen for our justification. It prays in and not to the Holy Spirit. It affects, in short, no other orthodoxy than that of the Bible in its own language. Sold by J. Bell, Oxford Street, opposite Bond Street, and R. Hunter, St. Paul's Church-yard."-Times, July 12. FOREIGN. FRANCE. Medal of the Reformation.-THE Consistory of the Lutheran Church at Paris has already published an account of the celebration of the third centenary anniversary of the Reformation; but desiring, in common with a number of members of their communion, to possess a more durable monument of that remarkable event, has executed a medal in commemoration of it, which is just published. This medal is of 18 lines diameter: on one, side is repre SPAIN. OUR illustrious countryman Bentham has been complimented by the Popish authorities with having his work on Legislation put into the list of prohibited books. In the same list are the most celebrated and popular ethical writers of all countries, including Locke, the Spectator, &c. At the same time the Quarterly Review has been adulating Bentham with its abuse. Mr. Southey, now the Holyaltar war is over, professes great horror for the Babylonian (what shall we call her?) Lady under protection — for such she has been for the last twenty years; but we see they are good friends in private, and they ought to be. By the way, this fancy for prohibiting books only serves to stimulate the curiosity of speculative people; and there are abundance of such now-a-days in Catholic countries as well as Protestant. We have met with an accomplished Spanish gentleman who was one of a secret society that continued to read foreign philosophical works, and bound themselves together by an oath not to let it be whispered that they knew such a diabolical fellow as Locke. People may say therefore on such occasions with Dogberry in the play, "If a merry meeting may be wished, God prohibit it."-Examiner, June 13. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Unitarianism in America: Extracts from several Letters. [From a Friend in America to an Unitarian Convert in England.] I must own I was somewhat surprised to hear of your dereliction from our Church, [the Church of England,] but I am too much a citizen of the world not to be tolerant to all systems of religion to condemn any, though I may be individually attached to one. The religious opinions you have adopted are rapidly gain. ing ground in this country, the most popular preachers in Boston are of that persuasion. The heads of the College (that is Harvard or Cambridge College) disseminate it to the students, so that it appears to me in a short time it will be almost universal. [From a letter dated Liverpool, 16 May.] After all, in America we must expect the most rapid progress of Unitarianism. I have seen many people from Boston lately, who agree in calling it the established religion of that place. Certainly it is leaving all other systems in the back ground there. John Wright gives very favourable accounts from the neighbourhood of Washington, where he has raised a good congregation. He has twice preached before Congress at the command of the Speaker, who has requested him to publish his sermons. He says he gave sound Unitarian doctrine. [From a Letter dated Philadelphia, 6th May, 1819.] We do not now stand alone in this city as Unitarians. You may recollect the Universalist Church in Lombard Street, and that the congregation was Calvinistic and Trinitarian, also that they held the late Mr. Murray's wild notions about uni. versal salvation, believing that the wicked will not be punished because all their sins are washed away in the blood of Christ. Last fall, a Mr. Abner Kneeland was introduced as a preacher in that church, as a candidate, a man of about 45, from the Eastward, ingenious, self-taught, but of a clear head and an excellent character. Mr. Kneeland is a Humanitarian, and such a Universalist as Dr. Priestley, Mr. Winchester, &c. He had the manliness to give a full exposition of his sentiments: the consequence was, that although a few were offended and went off, he was elected minister of the congregation, and his church is well attended; he has obtained leave to introduce our hymn book, which is also used at Baltimore; and as he only [The same letter states that Mr. Jared Sparks, from Cambridge University, was ordained pastor of the Unitarian Church at Baltimore, on the day preceding; eight or nine ministers attending from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The elegant place of worship belonging to this congregation was opened in October last, when Dr. Freeman, the father of Unitarianism at Boston, preached an excellent discourse, from Luke xii. 57, in which, having pointed out the proper province of reason, he gave a view first of Calvinism aud Trinitarianism, and then of rational Christianity or Unitarianism, concluding with an exhortation to judge impartially between these opposite systems.] The following is from the Colum bian Centinel, Boston, May 12, 1819: Ordination. The following was the order of performance, at the ordination of Mr. Jared Sparks, to the pastoral care of the first Independent Church of Balti more, which took place on the morning of the 5th instant, according to the ancient and established usages in New England: 1. Prelude on the Organ; 2. Introductory Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Edes, of Providence, R. I.; 3. Lesson from the Scriptures, by Rev. Mr. Parker, of Portsmouth, N. B.; 4 Anthem; 5. Sermon, by Rev. M. Chauning, of Boston; 6. Ordaining Prayer, by Rev. Dr. Ware, Professor of Theology in Harvard University; 7. Anthem; 8. Charge by the Rev. Dr. Porter, of Roxbury, Mass.; 9. Address to the Society, by Rev. Dr. Thayer, of Lancaster, Mass.; 10. Right-hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Palfrey, of Boston; 11. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Nichols, of Portland, Maine; 12. Hymn; 13. Anthem; 14. Benediction; 15. Voluntary on the Organ. On this solemn and interesting occasion the house was filled with a very attentive auditory, among whom were some of the most eminent of the Baltimore clergy. SIR, Unitarianism at New York. Liverpool, July 6, 1819. As nothing tends more to excite zeal, and to encourage the efforts of our Unitarian brethren, than the knowledge of the success of their fellow-labourers at a distance, I think it will afford pleasure to the readers of the Repository to find that the friends of religious truth are not inactive on the other side the Atlantic. What has been done at Baltimore, Charlestown, Georgetown, &c., is sufficient to prove, that we may expect the most important results to the cause of pure Christianity in a country where greater facilities are afforded for the spread of liberal opinions than any other in the world. The following extract of a letter from a friend, dated 29th May last, will shew that a new and extensive field of usefulness is opened in one of the most populous cities in the American Union, where hitherto, I believe, our doctrines have been little known, and certainly not preached. "An Unitarian society is about being formed in New York, where Mr. Channing and Mr. Palfrey, of Boston, conducted services a few days ago to very crowded audiences." Probably some of your readers are enabled to give some farther particulars of the progress of this infant church. Н. Т. SOUTH AMERICA. THE following passages, literally translated from six sermons preached in Caracas in 1816, have just appeared in the daily papers. The sermons are printed and circulated by order of King Ferdinand's Governor, sanctioned by the Archbishop, and commanded to be read after divine service in all places where the Spaniards had the upper hand. We should like to know how many recruits their exceeding stupidity and impudence added to the Patriot armies. When the reader reflects that it is Ferdinand whose divinityship is so spoken of, he will think of the Egyptian vulgar who used to worship onions and cats. "A king partakes of the divinity: he is another man from the moment be is invested with the august divinity. The name itself of Christ, a name consecrated to designate the Son of the Most High, belongs to him. In power he exceeds all the great, as well as the very body of his empire, &c. &c."-P. 20. to "Americans, I now address myself you. The Kings of Spain are they who have always alleviated your distress; who have at all times protected you against a multitude of dangerous enemies; who have preserved you in peace and happiness; who have alimprovement, careful of your producways been anxious for your mental tious and of those manufactures and mercantile pursuits analogous to your circumstances; and if they have deprived you of a free trade with foreigners, it has been to preserve you from freedom, from fanaticism and from the spirit of independence and irreligion, which people of that kind usually introduce with their merchandize."-P. 72. favour the sanction of the Holy See, "Our princes have also in their more particularly that of Pope Alexander 6th, who, after most serious deliberations by his bull, declared them Lords of the West Indies; and imposed the heaviest excommunications against whatsoever person, even emperors or kings, who, without special permission from our monarchs, should interfere in the conquests of these said Indies. And can any one doubt that all the insurgents of the present day, who have invaded the possessions of our monarchs, stand liable to the penalty of this excommunication?"-P. 77. "The sovereign authority of princes does not depend on any contract they may have celebrated with their subjects, but on the will and determination of God. It is the work of Divine Wisdom that there should be princes, monarchies and empires, in like manner as there should be inferiors and vassals. It is God who, by the elec. tion of sovereigns, maintains the order of nations. There is no power in beaven nor in earth that does not emanate from God. Princes receive their power immediately from God, and not from the people. That dazzling chimera of equality, which is the very principle of insubordination itself, was also, Venezuelans, that which was about to deprive this so Catholic a country of its religion and king. The freedom of worship and religion was already about to be sanctioued as a principal article of the impious plans of that system; and before these horrors were sanctioned, the freedom of conscience and of worship were seen practised among you." -P. 34. (This alludes to the time when the Patriots were in possession of Caracas.) |
