tarianism, having formed a society for that purpose, have agreed to the following resolutions: 1. That this Society be called, "The Somersetshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire Unitarian Missionary Association." 2. That its object be the preaching and otherwise promoting Unitarian Christianity in places where it is not at present known, and reviving the cause where it is on the decline. 3. That it be supported by subscriptions of four shillings and upwards per annum, and donations to any amount. 4. That any congregation or fellowship fund subscribing to this Society not less than one guinea annually, shall be entitled to vote by a representative on all questions at general meetings. 5. That a Committee (three of whom to be competent to act) shall be annually elected, with power to add to their num ber, who shall appoint their own times of meeting, and on special occasions be summoned by the Secretary. 6. That a Treasurer and Secretary be annually elected, who, with all the ministers of Unitariau congregations in the district, shall be, ex officio, members of the Committee. 7. That Sub-treasurers be appointed in each congregation to receive the various contributions, either weekly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or annually; and that the assistance of the ladies in each society be respectfully solicited in this laudable work. 8. That Half-Yearly Meetings of the members and friends of this Association be held either at Bath, Bristol, Trowbridge, Warminster, or elsewhere within the above-named counties, the time and place to be fixed by the Committee, and due notice of the same to be given in the Monthly Repository, Christian Reformer, and Christian Reflector. 9. That at one of the General Meetings in each year, the Treasurer do produce an account of receipts and disbursements, and the Secretary a report of the transactions of the past year. 10. That it be particularly recommended to the Committee to request the assistance of Tract Societies in granting donations or cheap supplies of their pubdications calculated to diffuse Unitarian Christianity. 11. That, in consequence of losses of property sustained by different Societies, the Committee do take into consideration whether some plan might not be devised for registering trust-deeds, or other instruments left to congregations in this district, and to confer, as occasion may require, with the Association formed for that purpose in London. 12. That Mr. Nias be the Treasurer, and Mr. H. E. Howse, Jun., the Secretary for the ensuing year. 13. That any sums contributed to this Association for any particular specified object shall be sacredly appropriated to that and no other purpose. N. B. This last resolution was added at the first Half-Yearly Meeting, held at Bradford, on Friday the 1st of April. Bolton Anniversary. THE Third Anniversary of the Congregation assembling in the Unitarian Meeting-house, Moor Lane, Bolton, was held on Sunday and Monday, April 3rd and 4th. The morning service on Sunday was opened by the Rev. W. Shepherd, of Gateacre, and the Rev. R. Cree, of Preston, delivered an admirable sermon on the Evidences of the Resurrection of Jesus, from Luke xxiv. 48. The afternoon worship was conducted by Mr. Cree, and Mr. Shepherd preached on the principles of Dissent and Christian Liberty, Matt. xv. 9. Mr. Harris introduced the service in the evening, and Mr. Cree gave a masterly delineation of the spirit and tendency of orthodoxy, 2 Thess. ii. 4. On the Monday evening the Rev. W. J. Bakewell, of Chester, introduced the service, and Mr. Harris preached from 1 Pet. iv. 14-16, shewing that all suffering was for man's improvement and happiness. The collections, which were towards defraying the expense incurred in erecting the school. rooms and vestries, amounted to £32. On Monday about two hundred persons, of both sexes, sat down to a cold dinner, in Mr. Watson's Cloth-hall, the Rev. George Harris presided, and Mr. Salter was vice-president; on the right and left of the president were the Rev. W. Shepherd, Rev. Robert Cree, the Rev. W. Bakewell, and A. Crompton, Esq., of Lancaster. As soon as the company were seated at the table, Mr. Harris delivered a short prayer; and a hymn was sung after the cloth was removed. Then followed various sentiments and speeches, after which another hymn was sung; and the Lord's prayer, and a benediction being pronounced by the president, the meeting broke up at five o'clock. On Tuesday, the children educated in the Sunday-schools belonging to the meeting-house, and their teachers, were entertained at dinner in the Cloth-hall, rather more than two hundred being present. After dinner, a hymn being sung, they were addressed by Mr. Harris, Mr. Bakewell, and Mr. Knowles, and were dismissed about three o'clock, Intelligence.-General Baptist Assembly.-Ditchling Annual Meeting. 313 after singing and joining in prayer to the Source of knowledge, the Giver of all good. Kentish Unitarian Baptist Association. THE Annual Association of the Kent Unitarian General Baptists was held at Cranbrook, Tuesday, 3d of May, on which occasion a very excellent sermon was preached by Mr. R. Ashdowne, of Canterbury, from John xv. 17. After the conclusion of the religious service the business of the Association was proceeded in till two o'clock, when friends to the number of about sixty, including females, retired to an inn, and partook of a comfortable dinner. They then returned to the chapel and transacted business till five, when nearly 150 persons sat down to tea. The business was then once more resumed, and at half-past six the whole was concluded by solemn prayer and thanksgiving. Soon after eight o'clock, the friends, without dis-tinction, reassembled at the inn and took supper together, and after the cloth was removed the following subject was proposed for discussion, viz. What Encouragement to Perseverance has the Advocate of Pure Christianity?-which elicited a number of useful and animating remarks. Thus did our meeting conclude, as it had commenced, in peace, in harmony, and in love. M. H. General Baptist Assembly. THE Anniversary Meeting of the Unitarian Baptists was holden on Tuesday, May 24th, at the chapel in Worship Street, London. The Rev. Dr. Evans, of Islington, and the Rev. W. Chinnock, of Billingshurst, conducted the devotional services; and a sermon, on 1 John v. 12, He that hath the Son, hath life, &c., characterized by good sense and deep but rational piety, was delivered by Mr. T. Moore, of Godalming, Surrey. At the Meeting for business the Chair was filled by Mr. S. Love, of Filston Hall, near Sevenoaks. The letter from the church at Bessel's Green, of which the Chairman has long been one of its most valuable members, gave a gratifying account of the success of Mr. Briggs's labours in establishing religious worship at Chipstead, in Kent; that from the Cranbrook church gratefully acknowledged the liberal assistance it had received, its pecuniary burden having been wholly removed. The church at Dover anticipates the speedy liquidation of its debt also and both these churches have had an increase of baptized members during the past year. The letters from several VOL. XX. 2 s other churches described their state as "Resolved, that this Assembly is deep- The Ministers and their Friends afterwards dined together at the White Hart Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, Mr. Eaton in the Chair, and the evening was spent in great harmony. Ditchling Annual Meeting. THE Annual Meeting of the Church of General Baptists at Ditchling, was holden on Sunday, May 15th, on which occasion the Rev. W. Chinnock, of Billingshurst, preached both morning and afternoon to very full audiences. Previous to the morning service the rite of baptism was performed: and after the afternoon service, the Lord's Supper Tea was afterwas commemorated. wards provided in the Meeting-House, of which about one hundred and sixty persons partook. An address was delivered after tea, and the company separated at six o'clock. The whole day passed off with much cheerfulness, and afforded ample evidence of the happy and useful tendency of meetings of this description. It is impossible to witness, on an occasion like this, the open-hearted greetings of friends who have been long separated by distance of residence, without experiencing a renewal of some of the best feelings of which the heart is susceptible. D. Unitarian Fund and Association. THE Nineteenth Anniversary of the Unitarian Fund was held on Wednesday, the 25th inst., at the Finsbury Chapel. The devotional services were conducted by the Rev. W. Chinnock, of Billingshurst, and the sermon was preached by the Rev. C. Berry, of Leicester. The preacher, from Acts xx. 20, suggested some considerations in recommendation of Christian zeal, which, from the truly Christian simplicity and fervour of the discourse, could not fail of impressing every hearer. After the religious service, J. T. Rutt, Esq., was called to the Chair, and the business of the Society was transacted. The Committee's Report, read by the Rev. W. J. Fox, the Secretary, was unusually interesting, especially that part of it which related to Christianity in India. It appears that very liberal subscriptions have been made towards the support of the Rev. W. Adam as an Unitarian Missionary at Calcutta, as well as towards the erection of an Unitarian Chapel in that city. The Society expressed a strong desire to forward both these objects; and as our American brethren are equally zealous in their promotion, there can be no doubt of their accomplishment. [The lists of subscribers, both to the Missionary and the Chapel, will be hereafter published. We hear with pleasure that sums for the former of these purposes have been transmitted to India from the friends at Liverpool.] The Report is to be printed in the next Fund Register. A discussion took place on the projected Unitarian Association on a comprehensive plan, and the meeting adjourned to the next day at the London Tavern to take it into consideration; when the new Society was formed on the plan which will be found stitched up with the present Number, and the Unitarian Fund and the Unitariau Association for the Protection of Civil Rights were formally united with it. To the plan is attached the list of officers for the new Institution.-On the Wednesday, the friends of the Unitarian Fund dined together at the London Tavern, iu number about 300, Wm. Smith, Esq., M. P., in the Chair. Many interesting speeches were delivered by the Chairman, Mr. Fox, and others, which we regret that we have no means of reporting. The Report of the Unitarian Associa tion for the Protection of Civil Rights, at the Annual Meeting on Thursday, the 26th inst., turned chiefly on the Marriage Bill which has passed through the House of Commons, and is now waiting for its second reading in the House of Lords. Happy indeed shall we be to inform our readers in the next Number that the Bill has passed into a law; but if we are again disappointed, we shall not abandon hope of ultimate success. Subscriptions for the Spread of Unitarianism in India. SIR, I HAVE the gratification of announcing to the readers of the Monthly Repository, that the statement recently circulated (chiefly amongst the ministers of our denomination) of the necessity of contributing to the support of the Rev. W. Adam, if his services as an Unitarian Missionary at Calcutta were to be retained, has called forth the most prompt, general, and encouraging assurances of support. There is no longer any doubt about Mr. Adam's being enabled to remain at his important station; and I confidently hope that such arrangements will, through the zeal and liberality of the Unitarian public, be found practicable, as will place the Unitarian cause in British India on a firm and lasting basis. By letter or personal communication, I have been favoured with intimations of annual assistance towards this great object (besides those from individuals, and liberal donations from the York students and others, which will be hereafter announced) from the ministers, or other authorized persons, connected with the following congregations: Several of those in London and its neighbourhood, Plymouth, Lynn, Norwich, Exeter, Wolverhampton, Bridport, Stockton, Sheffield, Manchester, (Moseley Street and Cross Street,) Kendal, Yarmouth, Kidderminster, Halifax, Bradford, York, Wakefield, Todmorden, Brighton, Leeds, Evesham, Newcastle, Derby, Chichester, Yeovil, Bristol, and indirectly from Chesterfield aud Birmingham (New Meeting). Although some of these letters contain definite statements of the support which may be relied upon from that particular society, yet as others consist of promises of collections, &c., which it is intended speedily to make, or report subscriptions which are yet in progress; and as fresh communications arrive daily, I must postpone till next month any more particular acknowledgment to my corres pondents. It will then be practicable for me to convey a more adequate idea of what I cannot but regard as the most decisive and splendid demonstration of zeal which has yet occurred in the history of Unitarianism. It is also proper for me to mention, that several of the letters contain important observations on the future conduct of the mission, which I shall take care to bring under the consideration of the Committee. W. J. FOX. Dalston, May 27, 1825. P. S. It will be convenient for all the remittances to be made to the Deputy Treasurer of the British and Foreign Unitarian Association, Thomas Hornby Esq., 31 St. Swithin's Lane, Lombard Street. The Annual Subscriptions should be reckoned as for the current year. Testimony of Christian Respect to Rev. B. Mardon, A. M., by the Unitarians of Paisley. THE above gentleman being about to leave Scotland, his friends in Paisley considered it indispensable, that, previous to his departure, some expression of public esteem and regard should be given him by the congregation. He has been upwards of nine years minister of the Unitarian congregation in Glasgow, during which period, he has kept up a regular monthly sermon in Paisley on the second Sunday of every month. They therefore, on Wednesday, May 4th, presented him Schleusner's Lexicon, (recently published in this country in three volumes,) elegantly bound, with the following inscription inside of the cover of each volume: Presented The Rev. BENJAMIN MARDON, A. M., Unitarians of Paisley, Gratitude and Esteem, Zealous and Gratuitous The congregation assembled at eight o'clock P. M., and Mr. Mardon constituted the Meeting by a suitable and impressive prayer. Mr. Robert Boag, our senior elder, then addressed the Meeting. He remarked, that it was now upwards of twenty years since the Society was first established; and though begun in much weakness, yet that Providence had raised up instruments both within and without to set their shoulders to work, and thus public worship and instruction have been regularly maintained, so that we may say, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." He then alluded to those whom the Unitarian Fund enabled to visit us from the south, one of whom he said, though dead, still speaketh; our worthy friend Mr. Wright, was particularly and gratefully remembered; nor was the worthy and learned predecessor of Mr. Mardon forgotten (the Rev. James Yates, now of Birmingham). He then adverted to the regular and interesting services of Mr. Mardon, which had called forth the present spontaneous expression of our gratitude and esteem. And in presenting him with the book, hoped, that while it would recall to his recollection the gratitude of the people of Paisley, it would be equally instrumental in enabling him to illustrate and defend those important truths which were at once the means of our connexion, and so essential to the grand designs of the gospel-the extirpation of persecution, bigotry, superstition, and vice, and the promotion of the virtue and happiness of the whole human family. Mr. Mardon then rose, and thanked the Meeting at considerable length. He expressed himself as not having had the slightest expectation of such a mark of friendship and regard. And though he was by no meaus insensible to the approbation of his friends and brethren, he was well aware that a Christian minister should, and he hoped he always would, be actuated by higher motives. He referred to the pleasure which he had ever experienced in his visits to Paisley, and the Christian spirit with which he was always received; and he considered, that had he done any less in the situation which he held, than he had done, he could not have satisfied his own mind, or justified himself. He hoped he would continue to merit our good opinion, by steadily and perseveringly continuing those studies and efforts which the present gift was so well calculated to assist him in. In concluding, he wished us every prosperity, and hoped, that though he could never expect to meet us all again in this world, that he would meet us in another, and a better, where our faculties would be expanded, and our intellectual pleasure and improvement continue throughout the never-ending ages of eternity.-Mr. Boag concluded with prayer, and the meeting adjourned. Removals, &c. of Ministers. THE REV. GEORGE HARRIS has given notice of his intention to resign his situ ation at Bolton at the close of September 316 Intelligence.-Resolutions of Dissenting Bodies with respect to Catholics. Resolutions of Dissenting Bodies with regard to the Catholic Bill. DISSENTING MINISTERS. Library, Red-Cross Street, May 3, 1825. At an adjourned Meeting of the General Body of Protestant Dissenting Ministers of the Three Denominations, resident in and about London and West minster, the Rev. JOIN PYE SMITH, D.D. in the Chair, It was resolved, That as a Body, we wholly disclaim every sentiment of religious intolerance towards our fellowsubjects of the Roman Catholic persua sion; and express our earnest hope that the Legislature will, at length, deem it proper to take measures for the relief of all classes of His Majesty's subjects, who may lie under penalties and disabilities for conscience' sake. claims of the Roman Catholics for relief from the operation of existing laws; and that it will continue at all seasonable opportunities, to urge upon the Legislature (as it has hitherto done), the impolicy and injustice of every sort of penalty or disability, civil or political, for conscience' sake. That the above Resolution be signed by the Chairman, and inserted twice in the Morning Chronicle, Times, Morning Post, Globe, and Courier Newspapers, and the different periodical religious publications. W. SMITH, (Signed,) RESOLVED, Chairman. That the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Chairman for his able conduct in the Chair this day. PROTESTANT SOCIETY. At a Monthly Meeting of the Committee of "The Protestant Society for the Protection of Religious Liberty," held April 25, 1825, Robert Steven, Esq., in the Chair, It was unanimously resolved-1. That THIS COMMITTEE perceive with regret, that the presentation of about twentyfive Petitions from persons calling themselves "Protestant Dissenters," against THE BILL depending in Parliament "for which Roman Catholics now labour," the removal of the disqualifications under has involved the THOUSANDS of Congregations of Protestant Dissenters in Eugland and Wales, in the imputation of indifference or hostility to those great their forefathers contended, and to which principles of Religious Freedom, for which they continue ever attached. II. That THE SOCIETY, by whom this Committee are appointed, and which includes enlightened and liberal Members of the Established Church, and several hundred Congregations of Protestant Dissenters of all denominations in England and Wales, have repeatedly declared their belief," that the right to Religious Liberty is a universal, paramount, unalienable right-that religious opinions should Offices-that all restraints on their exnot alone qualify or disqualify for Public pression by penalties or exclusions, arc connexion of privileges and emoluments acts of oppression and of wroug—that the with particular opinions may create hypocrites or martyrs-but that the unrestricted allowance of all religious opinions aud diversities of worship, is essential to the rights of conscience, favourable to the promotion of piety, and propitious to the harmony and improvement of mankind." III. That THIS COMMITTEE can never be unmindful of the needless, oppressive, degrading, and unjust restrictious imposed |
