256 Intelligence. Mr. Wright's Missionary Tour. for me to preach in, which I found a very decent and convenient place, only it proved too small. I preached four times. My first congregation consisted of about one hundred persons, the second of about two hundred; the third was estimated at four hundred; they crowded the place: the last was one of the completest crowds I ever saw; the people pressed together as. closely as possible: it was supposed that in the hall, on the landing, and stairs leading to it, there were five hundred persons; and I was told nearly double the number went away, who could not gain access. Most of those who attended the first services attended the others. Nothing could exceed the closeness of their attention. They evidently understood and felt what they heard; the workings of their minds were evident in the countenances of many. A number of them had Bibles with them, and found and turned down the passages I quoted with much readiness. After the second service, a Calvinist, who had been a hearer, addressed me as soon as I got into the street, he was deeply agitated, he combated the doctrines I had advanced with warmth, but without rancour, and came to hear me again. After the last service, as soon as I had done, a student arose to address the assembly, I requested them to hear him patiently, he tired them with his introduction. We had some debate. He went on till the company told him he had better give over; that he was not equal to what he had undertaken. They seemed generally to have but little relish for the dogmas of Trinitarianism. A large party, most of them strangers to me, accompanied me nearly a mile, on the way to my lodging at Grandholm. They appeared like old friends and took an affectionate leave of me when we parted. Many were anxious for books. As soon as possible I wrote to Glasgow and Edinburgh, requesting that a quantity of tracts, to lend or give away, might be sent to a friend who would undertake the distribution; this request was immediately complied with. Our opponents had begun to push Trinitarian pamphlets into circulation before I left. I advised our friends to meet together once on the Lord's-day, which I hope they will do. I advised them to form a library, which advice they shewed a readiness to follow. I was highly gratified with the conversation I had with those who are already Unitarians. They had not become such without much consideration. They had read works on the side of infidelity, yet remained firm believers. An acquaintance with my publications had prepared them to receive me as they would have received an old friend. They informed me there are friends to Unitarianism, still farther north, in Bamffshire. At Aberdeen, Unitarianism has begun, as in most other places in Scot land, among the poor. On the whole I have never before broken up new ground that in the very outset, was so highly promising, nor found a field that encouraged the hope of a more abundant harvest, than Aberdeen. I thank God that I have the honor of being the first Unitarian missionary that visited that city. IV. District. The West of Scotland. In this populous district Unitarianism continues to make progress: when first visited by an Unitarian missionary, scarcely any avowed Unitarians were to be found, no society existed under that name, now there are not only societies, in the two principal towns, Glasgow and Paisly, but a number who profess the faith of one God, in the strict sense of the expression, in many other places. Nothing but an increase of labourers, to cultivate the ground already broken up, seems necessary, in order to the formation of several new societies. In this district I preached at the following places: 1. Glasgow. Having laboured much at Glasgow, during the very infancy of the cause and society there, it may easily be conceived it would give me very high pleasure, to see the congregation in its present respectable state, meeting in a most commodious, and sufficiently elegant chapel, and favoured with so able a Minister, whose conduct and labours ensure their approbation and esteem. Glasgow is to be reckoned among the first fruits of our missionary exertions in North Britain. I preached in this city seventeen times. The congregations were always good, some of them very large. Many strangers attended some of the services. The latter congregations were the largest. After the last service a considerable part of the congregation remained in the chapel, I gave them a farewell address, which I could not do without considerable emotion. I was speaking to many with whom I had been acquainted from the commencement of their Unitarian views, had assisted from the first in their inquiries, to whom I felt a most affectionate regard, and whom probably I might see no more on this side the grave. After commending them to God, and to the word of his grace, we parted. 2. Rutherglen. This is a royal Burgh, not far from Glasgow, I preached in the Town-hall, to a small attentive audience. 3. Partick. A village near Glasgow, I preached in a room to a small but attentive company. 4. Parkhead. Another village not far from Glasgow, I preached in a room, cal, led the Beam-room belonging to the Wea vers, and had about a hundred bearers, 5. Pallickshaws. A short distance from Glasgow, I visited this place twice, was disappointed of an opportunity of preach ing the first time, the second time I preached to a small attentive congregation. At the above places we had conversation with some of those who attended, and at one of them an animated debate with some Calvinists. 6. Hamilton. In this town, there are several Unitarians, and other persons favourable to the doctrine. I preached in a hall, but it being on a Saturday, we had but a small audience, who however were very attentive. 7. Wishaw. I preached here in a room, it was a very rainy night, yet was pretty well attended. After the public service, had several hours' very interesting conversation with a respectable company, on theological subjects. 8. Carnworth. Knew no person in this village, had no introduction. Preached in a large room to about two hundred persons, found some very favourable to Uni tarianism. 9. Cairstairs. A small village, like the last on the road from Lanerk to Edinburgh. Had no introduction, knew no person, preached on the side of the green, part of the congregation on the green, and part of them under the cover of an outbuilding. Notice of the preaching was given by ringing the church bell, and most of the village came together to hear. Understand there are a number of persons favourable to Unitarianism in this village. 10. Lanerk. Should have preached in the open air, but the weather would not permit; could this have been done there would have been a very large congregation. No room could be had large enough for the purpose, we took the best we could get, in which I preached. We had a good company, and I was told many declined coming because they thought the place would be too crowded. 11. Carluke. There are many wellinformed Unitarians in this place, and a number of others who are favourable to the doctrine. The friends have come to a determination to form themselves into a congregation and procure a minister. This is a most desirable thing, and if effected there is every reason to think a very respectable congregation, as to numbers and information, would be established at Carfake; the same minister would be able to form a congregation at Lanerk, and could supply both places. He would also find openings for preaching in several villages in the neighbourhood. He might extend his labours twice in the summer cross the country as far as Jedburgh, Melrose, and Galashiels. Carluke is situated in a part of the country highly favourable to Unitarianism. The friends have their eye on a gentleman, who it is hoped will meet their wishes. The chief difficulty in the outset will be of a pecuniary kind; but it is VOL. X. 2 L hoped no possible efforts will be omitted in so important a business. It is desirable, if a minister be placed at Carluke, that he should act sometimes as a missionary. I preached twice in this place, the second congregation was large. Spent several hours afterwards in interesting conversation with a large party. 12. Kilwining. I preached to a small company. There are a number of Unitarians at Dalry. I visited them, and should have preached but no place could be procured, and the weather would not admit of preaching in the open air, so I rehearsed to them, in a small room, the discourse I should have preached, could a place have been obtained. 13. Grenock. Here I preached to a small audience. 14. Port-Glasgow. There are a few Unitarians in this town. I preached twice to small but attentive congregations; the second congregation was the largest. Had much interesting conversation. 15. Kilmalcolm. I preached in this village to a small company. 16. Kilburchan. There are several Unitarians in this village. I preached to a respectable company. 17. Paisley, though mentioned last, not least in estimation or importance. I know of no place in Scotland more favourable to the diffusion of consistent and liberal views of Christianity. The intelligence and information of the people; their habits of reading, of thinking freely on all subjects, and of sociality and conversation, prepare them to hear with patient attention, to discover and promote truth. Besides, no people have better views of religious liberty, or seem to possess more independent feelings. I preached here fifteen times. We had always good, generally large, frequently very crowded congregations. Many times great numbers went away, I was told, who could not get into the place. Night after night, through a considerable part of the week, I have had large congregations. They seem never tired of hearing, and will attend with candour and patience to the freest investigation of any subject. I spent much time with them out of the pulpit, and they are many of them equal to the most metaphysical disquisitions; though they consider religion to be an affair of common sense, and to come home to the bosoms of men, and to relate to the whole business of life. If the friends at Paisley had a minister suited to the situation, and a large and commodious place of worship, I believe, there would be the largest Unitarian congregation in that town of any place in Scotland. Without this, much more cannot be done than is done already. When I finally left Paisley a large party 258 Intelligence.-Mr. Wright's Missionary Tour. attended me half way to Glasgow, and I parted with them as a parent would with his affectionate children. This journey in Scotland, though attended with much fatigue, which was the more felt on account of occasional indisposition, was attended with high satisfaction and pleasure; to witness the progress of truth, and be instrumental in promoting it, is a source of pure and refined joy. I had the happiness of discovering fruits of my former labours and exertions; and to find that, when before in Scotland, I had not laboured in vain nor spent my strength for nought. A missionary might be employed constantly in North Britain, with great advantage to the cause, and one is much wished for by many of our brethren; but desirable as this is, I think, if ministers could be placed at Dundee, Paisley and Carluke, and among them travel as much as one missionary would, if constantly employed in that work, the end would be better answered, and other desirable ends at the same time attained. The latter part of this missionary journey was in the north-west of England, viz. Cumberland, Westmoreland, Lancashire and Cheshire. Being detained a mouth longer in Scotland than I had in the outset expected, I had so much the less time to spend in the above counties. Of course it was not in my power to visit our friends in many places in Lancashire and Cheshire: I was under the necessity of passing by a number of towns where I had preached before, and which it would have been highly gratifying to me to have visited again. The part of my journey which remains to be described, occupied thirtyfive days, during which I preached at the following places: 1. Great Salkeld. It was at the request of Mr. Nelson, a worthy old minister of a small Presbyterian congregation in this place, and another a few miles off, at Plumpton-street, communicated to me by Mr. Kay, I came to Great Salkeld. I was highly gratified with the conversation of this aged minister, who has long remained in a sequestered spot, cultivating the most excellent views of the moral character and government of God. He lives on a small paternal inheritance, possessed by his family, for a number of generations. On a part of this estate stands the little meetinghouse, which was erected by one of his ancestors and is one of the few places, in this northern district, which have not passed from the Presbyterians into less liberal hands. I preached at Great Salkeld twice. The first time on a Friday evening. On my arrival Mr. Nelson requested me to preach the same evening, and went himself into the village to inform the people. Considering the shortness of the notice, and that many persons were busy among the hay, we had a better con gregation than I expected. The second preaching was on the Sunday evening, when we had a very good congregation. 2. Plumpton-Street. I went with Mr. Nelson to this place on the Sunday morning, and preached to a small, but very attentive audience. 3. Kendal. I preached six times in this town, three times in the Presbyterian, and three times in the Baptist place. The congregations were all good, some of them quite large ones. Had much pleasing conversation with different parties of friends. 4. Blackley. Preached to a respectable congregation, and at the request of the minister, administered the Lord's supper. 5. Dob-lane. Preached to a large congregation. 6. Oldham. I had the honour of being the first Unitarian who preached in this town, when in Lancashire before: since which time a congregation has been formed, and kept up, by the labours of different ministers. It is hoped that before long the Oldham congregation will have a meetinghouse. At present they meet in a large room, in which I preached to a very crowded audience. 7. Bury. Here I had the pleasure of meeting the gentleman, who challenged me, when before in Lancashire, to preach from Isa. ix. 6. He was then a Calvinist, now I found him a zealous Unitarian. I preached in a large room to about two hundred people. 8. Cockey-moor. Here I preached in the large school-room, it being more convenient to light it than the Chapel. The evening was unfavourable, had a pretty good audience, and the pleasure of meeting several of our brethren in the ministry. 9. Cross-street. A village in Cheshire. Preached here to a small respectable audience. 10. Warrington. Preached three times to respectable congregations. 11. Hatton. In this village a gentleman of the Warrington congregation has opened a large room in his manufactory, for religious service on a Sunday evening. I preached to about a hundred attentive hearers. 12. Chowbent. Preached to a large congregation, for a week night. It was estimated at five hundred persons. 13. Bolton. Preached to a respectable congregation. 14. Stand Had a respectable audience. 15. Duckenfield. Here I preached twice, on the Saturday night, and the Sunday morning; had large congregations. Some persons of other denominations attended. 16. Stockport. I preached twice in this town, had respectable congregations some strangers attended. General Remarks. From what I found in Lancashire and Cheshire, I am confirmed in the opinion I had before formed, that those counties form one of the most promising districts in England for the spread of Unitarianism. The congregations are numerous, many of them large, and respectable. Many of the friends are zealous and active. In many of the churches there is much simplicity, Christian affection, and social intercourse among the members. What I saw and heard satisfied me of the propriety of the observations I made on a former occasion. As this journey has been the longest and most laborious I ever engaged in, I trust in its effects it will be the most important. I generally laboured with very great pleasure, and though I met with some disappointments they were fewer than I had anticipated, and my success was more general, and greater than I had expected. I preached in thirteen places in Scotland where Unitarianism had not been preached before, and at fifteen others in England and Scotland where I had not preached before. With lively feelings of gratitude to the Almighty for his protection and blessing, to whom the good we are enabled to do must be ascribed. I remain, dear Sir, very respectfully, Yours, &c. . R. WRIGHT. P.S. To the preceding account I add a list of the subjects on which I preached during this journey, with plans of some of the discourses. 1. The Unity of God, and mediation of Christ, 2. The one God and Father of all. 3. The Divine Unity stated and explained, as comprehending, I. Individuality of being, or person. III. Uniformity of character. IV. Unity and immutability of design. V. Hence arises the harmony and perfection of the divine government. LASTLY. Practical utility of the doctrine. 4. The love of God. 5. The living God, the ground of the Christian's trust. PLAN.-I. The living God, a Being who really exists, in opposition to the imaginary gods of the heathen. The self-existent God, in opposition to deified creatures, and dependent beings. The immortal God, in distinction from mortal dying ones. The life giving God. II. The Christian's trust, is not in a dying, but in the living God. Trust in Christ terminates not in him but in God his Father. This trust comprehends entire resignation, confidence and devotedness. 6. God, the Saviour of all men; especially of those who believe. 7. The humanity, office and dignity of Christ. 8. The superiority of Christ to all other men, and all other prophets. 9. Christ the foundation of Christianity, and of the Christian Church. 10. The love of Christ. 11. Love to Christ. 12. Under what views Christ died for us, and his death the highest expression of his love. 13. Why the death of Christ was necessary, what it effected, and what are its moral uses. 14. Christ set forth to be a propitiation. 15. The reconciliation of the world to God by Jesus Christ. 16. Christ raised up, and sent to bless mankind in turning them from their iniquities. 17. The titles ascribed by Isaiah to the child born, and son given, on account of the government being upon his shoulder. 18. The value of divine truth, and how the knowledge of it is to be attained. 19. Free inquiry and the test of religious truth. 20. All who hear the gospel, called to hearken and understand it. 21. Christians exhorted to examine themselves whether they be in the faith. 22. The being and unity of God. 23. God the only good. Plan 1. Under what views God only is good. 2. That nothing ever did or can proceed from, or be done by him, but what is good. 3. That he is the supreme and only good 260 Intelligence.-Mr. Wright's Missionary Tour. 40. Divine government and providence. 41. The power of man to do the will of God. 42. Sacrifices. Plan. Exordium. The antiquity, universality and great stress laid on sacrifices. I. Three leading errors respecting them. 2. Their being thought a price or an 3. Their being regarded as a substitute for moral virtue and personal righte ousness. II. The probable origin and real design of sacrifices. 1. Gifts presented as an expression of gratitude, dependence and subjection; and the acceptance of them a token of approbation and favour. 2. The seal and confirmation of a cove nant. III. The sacrifices persons are still required to offer. 1. The sinner that of a broken and contrite spirit. for places where the Unitarian doctrine was not previously received. On a number of the subjects I was requested to preach. I have given a few specimens of the plan adopted in preaching on particu lar subjects. I wish, as far as possible, to acquaint the Committee with what I do, and the manner of doing it. With best respects to those gentlemen, rejoicing with them in the success of their plans, remain, your fellow-servant, R. W. The Unitarian Society for promoting Knowledge and Virtue, by the Distribution of Books. The twenty-fourth Anniversary of this this Society was holden on Thursday, the 13th of April, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street. Previously to this, in the forenoon, the Society met at EssexStreet Chapel, where an admirable sermon was delivered by the Rev. Robert Aspland, on the Power and Progress of truth, of which we have no need to give an account, as it will, at the unanimous desire of the 2. The Christian the sacrifice of praise Society, be before the public in a few days. continually. 3. That of benevolent actions. 43. The leading design of John's gospel, to prove that Jesus is the Messiah, and that we have life through his name. 44. Christ and God one. A discourse on three texts, viz. "My Father is greater than I." "I and the Father are one." "That they all may be one, even as we More than sixty persons dined together; the Chairman, Mr. Gibson, after the health of his Majesty had been given (to whose situation and good wishes" that every subject should be able to read his Bible," he made some appropriate allusions), detailed in a very neat speech the objects of the Society, and the advantages which had accrued to the propagation of true and unadulterated religion by its establishment. It appeared that since the formation of this Society, in 1791, that societies of the same kind had been instituted in the West, at Bristol and Plymouth; in the South at Portsmouth; in the North in Derbyshire and at Newcastle; in the East at Norwich; and in the midland counties, of which the centre was Warwickshire, all of which were in the most flourishing circumstances; and the same was equally applicable to some similar institutions in Scotland and Wales. On this day, and in the course of the present year, a number of persons had become members of the Unitarian Society, which, by the liberality of its former members, had been enabled to reprint and circulate, independently of works avowedly intended to promote the strict sentiments of the unity of God; others of a more general nature, which had been long out of print, and which, though of great importance to the religious world, were not likely to be republished. Such are the works of the late Rev. Hugh Farmer, on "Miracles," on "The Demoniacs mentioned in the New Testament," and "On Christ's Temptation in the Wilderness ;" and such is the admirable volume of Mr. Hopton Haynes, on the Attributes of God, reprinted first under the care of the late Mi |