122 Intelligence. Opening of the New Unitarian Chapel at Oldham. " "Our friend Dr. Thomson, who, though he has laid aside the robe of a minister, still retains the spirit of the profession.' "Our persecuted brethren in the South of France." "York College; together with its worthy Treasurer, G. W. Wood, and the students present, who have been educated within its walls." "Mr. Aspled and the other tutor of the Unitarian Academy; may their labours in the education of ministers be crowned with success." In the course of the afternoon the following gentlemen addressed the company: -Messrs. Allard, Browe, Donoughue, Freme, Goodier, E. Grundy, Harrison, Johns, Parker, J. Smethurst, Thomson, Wood and Wright (of Stannington). Several of the speakers insisted upon the establishment of an Unitarian congregation at Oldham, and the liberality which has been shewn in enabling them to build their chapel, as affording a demonstration of the fitness of Unitarianism for the poor, and of the increasing zeal of the Unitarian body. Parker. From the words, Why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? the preacher delivered a spirited defence of the use of reason in matters of religion. Thus closed the services of the day, which will be long remembered by the society at Oldham, and which were peculiarly gratifying to all present. In connexion with the speeches delivered after dinner, these services kindled a zeal, an enthusiasm in some breasts which will not soon be extinguished. Dr. Thomson, in adverting to a plan for uniting the Unitarian congregations of the Northern counties, which is now preparing by the Rev. C. Wellbeloved, the Rev. W. Turner, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and himself, observed, that he could not expect much good to result from the intended measure, unless the members of individual congregations were more close ly connected. Each congregation must move around its own axis, before it can revolve around a common centre. He went on to remark, that the necessity of such an union is every day becoming more and more apparent, and is clearly shewn by the increasing calls that are now made on the liberality of the Unitarian public, from Oldham, Rossendale, Greenock, Thorne and Neath. Without something like a general co-operation, it is impossible that these calls should be properly answered. Individuals may, and do, subscribe liberally, but insulated and unsupported exertions can never furnish an adequate supply to the repeated demands now made. He therefore proposed that in every congregation there should be formed what he would call a fellowship-society, for the purpose of raising a fund, to which the poorer members should be weekly or monthly contributors, and which should be intended to assist infant societies (now happily becoming numerous), in erecting chapels and carrying on public worship. It remains to be seen, whether the company will content themselves with merely receiving this proposal with marks of approbation. At half-past six o'clock, the chapel was again filled with a respectable audience, and an evening service was conducted by the Rev. W. Harrison and the Rev. R. Before we close this account, we are requested by our friends at Oldham, to express their grateful acknowledgments to those ministers, who so kindly undertook, and so ably performed, the religious services of this day. They wish also publicly to thank the ministers who have interested themselves in their welfare since the formation of their society, and who, for upwards of two years, have gratuitously supplied them, almost regularly, with preaching. Their acknowledgments are also due to those congregations who, by subscriptions, have afforded them the most effectual assistance, in a time of need. The Christian affection and Christian zeal with which their wants have been supplied, have made a lasting impression upon their minds. pressing their gratitude to Almighty God, They are desirous, also, of solemnly exthe author of all good, who has granted his blessing to their labours, and has put it into the hearts of their Christian brethren to assist them in the accomplishment of an object, which has long called forth their ardent wishes and fervent prayers. They rejoice in the thought, that in a town, containing, with the neighbourhood, sixhave been enabled to erect a temple, sateen or seventeen thousand souls, they cred to the worship of the One God and Father of all. They exult in the prospect thus opened of dispensing the Word of Life, uncorrupted by human additions; and of exposing the weakness of those doctrines which take away almost all gladness from the tidings of the gospel, and, to the greater part of mankind, render them tidings of misery and death. They trust that by this means many sinners will be converted from the evil of their ways, and directed heavenward; and that hundreds will be delivered from a system, which prevents many of the finest feelings of devotion and love towards God, by robbing him of his most glorions attributes; which destroys many of the kindly charities and libelling the human character; and which benevolent sympathies of the heart, by cramps the faculties of the mind, by setting reason and revelation at variance, as quirer after truth, the most glaring conwell as by presenting to the humble intradictions, clothed in the awful garb of divinity. May these hopes never be disap Intelligence.-South-Wales Unitarian Society. pointed! May peace and love dwell within the walls of the house they have built! May the ministers who shall there officiate be clothed with salvation! "And in the great decisive day, When God the nations shall survey, May it before the world appear, That crowds were born to glory there." B. G. P.S.-The following is a statement of the Treasurer's (Rev. W. Harrison's) accounts; by the insertion of which you will greatly oblige the congregation at Oldham, as, in consequence of several bills not having been brought in, it could not be prepared previously to the day of opening. I. To congregational collections for the new chapel, Oldham, viz. At Altringham and Hale Blackley Bolton £. s. 22 1 d. 8 10 6 18 9 1000046 10 3 0 0 39 10 11 6 5 10 0 37 6 0 6 36 1 0 5 1 0 (B. GOODIER, Į Signed Auditors. The chapel is a neat and commodious building, handsomely fitted up, capable of holding near three hundred people, and so built as to admit a gallery hereafter if necessary. It need not be added, that any donations towards the liquidation of the above debt, will be thankfully received by the Rev. W. Harrison, Treasurer, No. 20, Brazen-Nose Street, Manchester. To the above account we have great pleasure in adding that the Committee of the UNITARIAN FUND have voted £20 towards the liquidation of the debt on the Oldham Chapel. South-Wales Unitarian Society. The Quarterly Meeting of this Society was held at Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, on Wednesday, the 3rd of January. Twelve ministers were present. On the preceding evening the Rev. John Griffiths, of Llandebie, prayed, and the Rev. Thomas Evans, of Aberdar, preached from Rom. xiv. 5, "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Wednesday morning Mr. Wm. Williams, of Llangendeirn, conduct0ed the devotional part of the service, when two sermons were delivered; the first, by the Rev. R. Aubrey, of Swansea, in English, from Job. xiii. 7, Will ye speak wickedly for God and talk deceitfully for him?" The other by the Rev. John James of Cardiganshire, in Welsh, from 2 Cor. v. 19, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." In the evening the Rev. W. Williams, of 00 Blaengwrach prayed, and the Rev. Tho Rev. R. Astley, Halifax 0 Dr. Thomson, do. 1 Mr. Dawson, do. 1 Rev. W. Whitelegg, Platt 1 Mr. P. Lyon, do. 1 Rev. W. Turner, York 1 Rev. W. Johns, Manchester 1 0 4 5 3 66 mas Edwards, of Penyfai, preached from 1 Peter iv. 8, "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." And the Rev. D. Davis, of Neath, from Ephes. iv. 2, 3, 4, chiefly the 3d verse, "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the 0 spirit in the bond of peace." The Rev. Thomas Evans concluded with prayer. The several discourses delivered on the 26 70 occasion were attentively heard by respectable audiences. The holding of this meeting at Llanelly has been the means of exciting a spirit of free inquiry in the place, and of quelling in a great measure the prejudice, which was very great in this part, against Unitarianism. As Dr. Estlin, in his excellent sermon, says,-" The whole current of fashion is against us6 calumniated," &c. "but I solicit only for £530 5 10 124 Intelligence.-Subscriptions to the Neath, Greenock and Rossendale Chapels. them a patient hearing. Let their principles be known and we are satisfied. With Ajax we only pray for light." The services were conducted in Mr. John Thomas's school-room, late of Carmarthen Academy. He had previously preached a few times there and in the neighbourhood: he intends to officiate in in future regularly once a fortnight, and to exchange, as often as circumstances will admit, with neighbouring and other ministers. Mr. Lyons, I think, was the first Unitarian who preached in the town, though others had, now and then, in the vicinity. The next quarterly meeting is to be held at Aberdâr on the Wednesday in Easter week. Walker, Rochdale; and Dr. Thomson, Halifax; to some one of whom all whe have interested themselves in behalf of the Rossendale brethren are requested to report the subscriptions in their hands, without delay; as it is desirable to proceed to liquidate the debt of the chapel as soon as may be, and as far as the liberality of the public may enable the above-mentioned gentlemen to do so. An accurate account of the amount of the subscriptions and of its appropriation will be published in the Monthly Repository. William Jones, Esq. Manches ter Mr. Richard Mason, Bolton Mr. Edmund Ashworth, do. Sheffield Christian Tract Society (with a parcel of Tracts) Dr. Alexander, Leicester By Mr. Aspland. A Friend, Leicester John Mackintosh, Esq. Exeter J. F. Barham, Esq. do. Collection at Tavistock Chapel Do, at the Dinner at Tavistock £. s. d. 222 7. 0 1 0 0 4 0 6 4 4 6 249 5 0 N. B. The four last subscriptions communicated by Dr. Carpenter. Additions to and Corrections in the List Rev. E. Cogan, Walthamstow, annual 1 0 0 1 0 0 A Friend, Leicester 100 121 1 1 0 A. M. State of Public Affairs. 0 1 Mr. Staniland, Dalston, annual 1 Mr. C. Stower, Homerton, annual 1 1 0 Further Additions and Corrections will be made from time to time. Committee of Deputies, of the Three Denominations of Protestant Dissenters, for the year 1816. 125 0 William Hale, Homerton; William Burls, Lothbury; James Esdaile, Bunhill-row; William Esdaile, Clapham Common; William Alers Hankey, Fenchurch-street; John Addington, Spital-square; Joseph Bunnell, Southampton-row Samuel Jackson, Hackney; James Gibson, Highbury-place, Islington; Joseph Wilson, Milk-street; William Titford, Union-street, Bishopsgate-street; Joseph Towle, Walworth; William Dudds Clark, Highstreet, Borough; Joseph Luck, Clapton ; Hill; Edward Shrubsole, Bank; James William Freme, Catharine-court, TowerBlack, York-street, Covent Garden; B. P. Witts, Friday-street. Messrs. William Smith, M. P., Chairman, Park-street, Westminster; Joseph Gutteridge, Deputy Chairman, Camberwell; James Collins, Treasurer, Spital square; John Towill Rutt, Bromley, Middlesex; Samuel Favell, Grove Hill, Camberwell; B. Boswell Beddome, Walworth ; MONTHLY RETROSPECT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS; OR, The Christian's Survey of the Political World. AMONG the strange events which the state of Europe has produced, a treaty entered into by three sovereigns, and to which the other states are invited to concur, now calls our attention. It was signed at Paris during the time that the sovereigns were there, and in this instance they may be considered as the representatives of the three great sects, whose religion is established by law. These are the Greek Church, the Romish Church and the Protestant Church. The personages are the Emperors of Russia, Austria, and the king of Prussia. The object of the treaty dif fers materially from that of the voluminous ones which have been laid before parliament. It is not to settle boundaries, to annihilate republics, exchange provinces, set up or dethrone kings; it is a solemn appeal to the whole world, a testimony in favour of the Christian religion, a determination to make it the rule of their actions both in their conduct to each other and to their subjects, and what is, however, a suspicious covenant, to assist each other in the promotion of their laudable designs. The signatures of princes have been so often affixed to treaties, broken almost before the wax of their seals has had time to cool, that their language ceases to carry with it that confidence which ought to attach to persons of their exalted rank. In this case, however, there seems not to have been any call for this voluntary association and voluntary declaration. We may easily conceive, that the great events in which these sovereigns have been enaged, may have made a deep impression on their minds, may have led them to prostrate themselves before the throne of the Al mighty, and contemplating the vanity and folly of human policy, they may have felt, that the only way to govern wisely was, by adhering to the precepts delivered to us by him who is emphatically styled our Saviour, the Prince of Peace. If this is really the case, we cannot but congratulate the world on so great an event. If in the extensive regions of Russia, Austria and Prussia, every thing contrary to the mild spirit of the Christian laws is abolished; if a new system is set up, in which mildness and Christian love should be as much predominant as heretofore cruelty and intolerance; we cannot doubt that the example will spread itself, and that other nations, observing their order, propriety, love of justice, and hatred of war, will gradually assimilate their laws to a purer standard. As yet we can know nothing of the effects of this treaty. We must allow a sufficiency of time for the great potentates to introduce the gradual reformation into their respective dominious. The boors in Poland and the slaves in Russia cannot immediately be placed in the rank of freemen, nor is it adviseable that such a change should be instantaneously enforced. Austria may find some difficulties from Popish superstition, Prussia from its military system. But we shall be glad to hear of a beginning made in the respective countries, and of the manner in which it is received by the subjects. Some things may evidently be done without great difficulty; as, for example, the seizing of a person on suspicion of crime, and treating him with as much severity in a prison as if he had been guilty of it, will be no more. tortures should be abolished. Persecution on account of religion should cease, All and the freedom of worship, provided it does not behave unseemly to the public, should be allowed. The knout and exile to Siberia will not be frequent sentences, the codes of law will be purified from the barbarities of an ignorant age and the technicalities of the profession. The undertaking of the three sovereigns is noble in itself, requires prudence in the execution, and will establish their fame, if they act agreeably to their promises, on a more durable basis than what is achieved by military prowess. In the latter they have for competitors all the heroes of ancient and modern times, the Big Bens and Mendozas of history. They have opened to themselves a new career, they have ventured on an untrodden path. May the world not be deceived; may the sovereigns persist in the line of conduct they have chalked out for themselves; and may prince and people acquire daily more and more of a true Christian spirit. In the extensive dominions of Russia are to be found professors of every species of religion. The Greek is the established church, but no hindrance is given to other forms of worship. The temple of the idolater, the churches of the Christian, the mosques of the Mahometans, are all to be found in the same district. The circumstances of the country have led to a toleration of a very extensive nature, and Jew and Christian, Mahometan and Idolater are to be found exercising offices under the state. The narrow policy of this country is there unknown; and indeed despotism itself would not permit the contemptible folly that prevails among us, of prohibiting the sovereign from availing himself of the services of a subject, unless he belongs to a peculiar sect, and that sect inferior in numbers to those who differ from it. Yet, even in Russia are some bounds set to toleration. Every one is permitted to follow his own form of worship, but he must be careful not to infringe on the domains of the established sect. He may meet his brethren of the same persuasion unmolested, but he must beware of the spirit of proselytism: he must not enter into the Greek fold, nor attempt to seduce any of that flock from their established pastures. An instance has lately been presented to the world, by which the views of the Russian government on this subject are plainly manifested. It had given an asylum to the Jesuits, who devoted themselves agreeably to their former practice in other countries, to the education of children. Their superiority in literature and the art of instruction, induced the higher ranks to put their children under their care, and it seems that in consequence of this preference, several of them have quitted the Greek for the Romish communion. Now this may have arisen either from a comparison of the two sects together, independent of any instruction received on the subject, or it may have been from the teachers' instilling into the minds of their pupils notions unfavourable to the established church, and gradually conducting them to a different persuasion. A jealousy of the latter kind is very natural from the known character of the Jesuits, but of the proofs nothing is known. The Russian government has expelled the Jesuits from the country, and given, as the reason, their abuse of the education of the children entrusted to their care, and perverting them, as it would there be called, by insinuating, contrary to the laws of hospitality, into their minds the doctrines of the Romish church. If the three confederated sovereigns have manifested such good intentions, respecting their future government, the same spirit seems by no means to prevail in the neighbouring country. The exertions here in favour of our persecuted brethren abroad, have excited, it is evident, no small dissatisfaction in France. To the denials of the fact no unprejudiced mind will give any credit, and every day confirms the opinion the more that the truth is suppressed as much as possible. It remained, however, for the spirit of calumny to set the last seal to its atrocities, and this has been fully done in the French papers with the signature of a prefect, who does not scruple to assert, that the persons here who have undertaken the cause of the Protestants are a set of Jacobins, deserving of no confidence abroad and despised at home. The word Jacobin is constantly resorted to by men who, in a different shape, perform the same actions as those which distinguished the celebrated society under that name. In fact, there are royal jacobins and democratical jacobins: the prevailing feature in both is, the disregard of solemn treaties, covenants, obligations, every thing which is sacred between man and man, and making every thing bend to their own will and the caprice of the moment. The royal jacobin calls others by that name, who appeal to laws, religion and charters, and the Frenchman who dared to attach the contemptuous epithet to those respectable bodies which undertook the cause of the Protestants, has little knowledge of our country. To him, to be respectable there must be titles and dignities: virtue, honour and independeuce, united with religion, carry no weight. His insults, however they may be received in France, and however calculated to serve a party there, will meet with contempt among us. The minister of England will, without doubt, if necessary, take care that our ambassador should inform the cabinet of France, that if this |