Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

silver Medal to the Rev. R. ASPLAND, Ou behalf of the Author of "The Returning Prodigal," &c., as a token of the Society's gratitude for the excellent Tracts she had written for it; and availed himself of that opportunity to speak in terms of high commendation of that Lady and of the other Ladies whose literary contributions had been made to the Society.

Mr. Aspland returned thanks-and expressed the pleasure he felt in receiving this token of the Society's approbation and gratitude towards one so nearly allied and so deservedly dear to him. He described the surprise and pleasure he had felt on receiving and reading the first Tract from the pen of Mrs. HUGHES; this had made him acquainted with that Lady, and the friendship to which it gave rise had been to him a source of uninterrupted pleasure and satisfaction.

The health of "Mrs. Mary Hughes, Mrs. Price, and the other literary contributors to the Society," was then proposed, and cordially received.

The next sentiment given was, "The Education of the Poor-the great source of public strength, and the best security for public tranquillity and happiness."

The Chairman on again rising, said, that he had to propose the health of a gentleman, whom he could hardly say that he knew personally, but whose writings he had much admired, and whose steadiness to the cause of religious liberty had always given him great satisfaction. After passing some other handsome eulogiums on the Gentleman, he concluded by proposing "the health of Mr. Fox."

The following we believe to be a pretty correct report of the substance of Mr. Fox's reply: "That in professing his zeal for the objects of this Society he was only declaring that he possessed the feelings of a man and the principles of a Christian. It was entitled to support, for it tended to benefit the poor, those who had drawn blanks in the great lottery of life, who were told, and too truly, that for them there was no cover at nature's table, who came into the world, but without inheriting their share of the world, nay with a mortgage on their very labour for purposes in which they had little or no personal interest, and who, by the very fact of the physical evils and the temptations of their condition, had a moral claim on the beneficence of their more fortunate brethren. The Society deserved support, not only because its publications tended to counteract these evils by inculcating Christian principles and virtuous habits, but also on account of the high intellectual character of those publicatious, so far be.

yond that of most productions circulated under the name of religious Tracts. The growing intellect of the poor, fostered as it was by the spread of education, the formation of such establishments as the Mechanics' Institute, and the prodigious multiplication of cheap publications comprising many of the best authors in the language, required a stronger aliment than that which was commonly offered to it, and such their Tracts afforded. The Society had a further claim arising from the industry with which unbelievers were attacking Christianity, and the mental rank of some of the authors whose productions were most widely diffused. They found amongst their opponents the acute and brilliant Voltaire, and the coarser but not less argumentative Paine, meu whose productions on any subject were not to be disposed of in a summary way, by the mere application of a condemnatory epithet, and which were certain, on other accounts, of engaging attention, and with thousands a favourable attention. There was one also, who could now only be adverted to with unmingled sorrow, the premature close of whose career in that land to which he had hastened to aid in battling for the cause of human kind, was itself a disproof of his own doubts; (for who could contemplate his extraordinary mind without conviction that it was formed for far nobler ends than had been accomplished by it here?) who must yet be placed in the hostile ranks, and some of whose productions were eagerly employed for the purposes of unbelievers. He was our enemy, not for his antipathy to the cant of the age; not for his sympathy with the oppressed of every region; not for his indignant reprobation of the sacrifice of the interests of the many to the caprices of the few; but for qualities in his writings ou which it was needless, as it would be painful to dwell, which from these brighter attributes derived factitious attractions and more dangerous power. This formidable array was not best encountered by the chancery method of abandoning literary property to piracy, which operated as a premium for the multiplication of such works; nor by the Old-Bailey method of fine and imprisonment, enlisting the sympathies of human nature in favour of those who were consigned to punishments as severe as usually awaited some of the worst offences against society; but by the method of this institution which commended Christianity at once to the mind and heart. Thus should we become a Christian nation. That appellation had been recently denied to us, on the ground of an extension of religious liberty having

been granted; a ground which, he thought, formed our best claim, though much was yet wanted to make that claim complete. It required a closer confor. mity with Christian principles in our conduct both at home and abroad. This do and thou shalt live" was applicable to nations, as to individuals; and England, raising the oppressed, emancipating the slave, and asserting civil and religious liberty, would live; she would live in the permanency of her institutions, in the prosperity and happiness of her children, and in the glory which would encircle her name on the page of history."

On" the health of the Rev. JAMES YATES, of Birmingham, being given, the Rev. T. MADGE briefly returned thanks." The Chairman then proposed "the healths of Senhor JOZE JOAQUIM FERREIRA, and Senhor Joze de SILVA CARVALHO," and Mr. BOWRING returned thanks in the name of those gentlemen. He stated that he had seen one of these gentlemen presiding, in the more fortunate days of Portugal, in that Cortes which was then the pride of the nation. It was only two years since, on the very day this Society held its Anniversary, that he received the information of the Portuguese Cortes having passed a resolution that The Christian Tracts should be accepted and consigned to the Committee of Public Instruction to have them translated. Tyranny, unfortunately, had again gained sway in Portugal, and the efforts of these patriotic individuals had been baffled by the enemies of human improvement, and they had themselves been obliged to fly from their native country; but wrecked and ruined as their hopes had been for a time, he confidently believed in and anticipated the resurrection of freedom.

Senhor DE MOIRA himself then returned thanks in English, in nearly the following words :-" Gentlemen, in my own name, and that of my friend, I beg leave to return thanks, and have to regret much that my imperfect knowledge of your language prevents me from thanking you sufficiently for the honourable manner in which you have mentioned us, but I will say that we feel in our hearts most thoroughly the first rule of your Institution, civil and religious liberty, and to establish that first of civil rightstoleration."

The Chairman next proposed the health of Senhor MENEZES, of the Brazilian Cortes, and success to the exertions of the South Americans.

This gentleman returned thanks in his own language, which Mr. BoWRING translated as follows:-That he was

afraid his language might sound uncouth in their ears, but he wished to state that the liberty of Brazil was founded on the law of nature and on social order; that the Book of Fate seemed to have declared them independent, and that the people would be criminal in allowing such an opportunity to escape; they had struggled against many difficulties, and had opposed them with success, so that he trusted that the tree of freedom would there take root, and send forth her best fruits.

On the Chairman proposing, "Success to the exertions which are now making for the spread of knowledge in our Oriental Possessions," Mr. BUCK INGHAM rose, and in an interesting address modestly but appropriately referred to his own efforts towards effecting the desirable object to which the company had just wished success. In these ef forts, as is well known, Mr. B. was opposed, and obliged to return to this country. He paid a tribute of respect to the moral worth and intellectual powers of RAMMOHUN ROY, which could not fail of being grateful to many who heard him. To the address itself, however, the writer feels himself unable to do justice.

Some other toasts were given, including the officers of the Society, but of which the necessary limits of this report forbid a more detailed notice. The last was "The health of the Chairman; our best thanks to him for his services, and our warmest wishes for the success of the various plans of generous benevo lence with which his name is so honourably connected."

In the course of the evening the names of several new subscribers were announced, and among them that of the Chairman, with a Life Subscription of Ten Guineas.

The Thirty-Seventh Annual Report of Manchester College, York.

IN presenting their Thirty-seventh Annual Report to the public, the Committee of Manchester College regret that they are under the necessity of speaking unfa vourably of the state of the funds. Notwithstanding the assistance derived from congregational collections and private benefactions, the expenditure of the year ending June 1823, considerably exceeded the income, and the Treasurer consequently is in advance to the College a still larger sum than he was at the close of the year preceding. Under these circumstances the Trustees have thought it inexpedient to make the addition to the Permanent Fund, to cover the annual

allowances for depreciation of the buildings at York, as directed by their Resolutions printed in the last Report. They have also been under the necessity of directing that the admission of Students on the Foundation be henceforth limited, so as not to exceed one admission for every two removals, until the total number be reduced to twelve, unless a reduc tion to that extent should be rendered unnecessary by a future increase in the College income. The Committee, convinced, from the experience of two Sessions, of the importance of providing for the regular instruction of the Students in the art of public speaking, in the course of the last summer prevailed upon the late Rev. PENDLEBURY HOUGHTON, in case life and health should be spared, to undertake the office of teacher of elocution in the present session. The Committee looked forward with great satisfaction to the benefit which the Students might be expected to derive from the example as well as the instructions of a gentleman so deservedly admired, both for the ele gant correctness and persuasive eloquence of his pulpit compositions, and for sim. ple and unaffected but dignified and highly-impressive elocution. They have great reason to sympathize with his many mourning friends, in the event which has disappointed so desirable an arrangement, and has deprived the world of one who united to qualifications as a preacher of no ordinary kind, a purity of heart, and an amiable guileless simplicity of manner and character, well calculated to give additional effect to his public services.

In the absence of direct instructions, the Committee advert, with no small pleasure, to a new undertaking by which the present session has been distinguished, and which, along with other beneficial consequences of even greater importance, will be found, they trust, to have had a powerful tendency to form, in those who have been engaged in it, that earnest, impressive and popular manner, which is so essential to their success as public teachers, and without which, the best talents and most eminent attainments in other respects, are too often defrauded of that sphere of usefulness in which they ought to have been exerted. The insulated situation of York, removed to a considerable distance from the nearest society of Dissenters interested in the prosperity of the Institution, has sometimes been objected to it, as the seat of academical education for our youth. The consequence, it has been feared, must be, that the Students cannot have sufficient opportunities of exercising their talents in the pulpit, during the conti

nuance of their academical course, and may, therefore, be in danger of entering upon the discharge of the ministerial office, almost new to many of its duties. Whatever may hitherto have been the extent of this evil, there is good reason to hope that it is now in a fair way of being remedied. Small societies of Unitarian Baptists have for some time existed, both in York, and in several places in the vicinity; till a recent period, however, the influence of their scruples on the subject of baptism was so strong, that, though agreeing with us on other points, they could not be induced to hold much intercourse with their Unitarian brethren, or to admit our preachers to address them. A more liberal spirit has now been introduced, and the senior Divinity Students have this year been actively engaged in weekly Missionary excursions to Malton, Selby, Howden, Cawood and several adjacent places. At Wellbourne, a village between York and Malton, a flourishing Sunday-School has been established, and the numbers who have sought to attend the services have been greater than the private house, which is as yet all the accommodation afforded, will admit. At this place it is hoped that a small chapel may be shortly erected. Upon the whole, the success has been encouraging, and highly creditable to the young men, who have voluntarily and zealously devoted themselves to an arduous undertaking without the prospect of any other remuneration than the satisfaction of doing good, and the hope of promoting their own improvement, while labouring for that of others. In this latter respect, the advantage, there is every reason to hope and believe, will prove to have been very considerable;-and on this account alone, independently of the prospect it holds out of promoting the cause of what they deem to be Christian truth, the friends of this undertaking confidently recommend it to the supporters of the Institution, as likely to be highly conducive to the improvemeut of its members in those qualifications which are so necessary to the acceptable and useful exercise of the ministerial office.

The number of Students in the last Session was twenty-six, viz. nine Lay Students, and seventeen Divinity Students, of whom fifteen were on the Foundation. Of these, Mr. William Bowen, M. A., is now settled as minister at Coventry, and Mr. Richard Shawcross, at Lincoln.

The Annual Examination took place on the 23d, 24th, 25th and 26th of June last, when the first prize for diligence, proficiency and regularity of conduct,

was adjudged to Mr. J. H. Worthington ; the second to Mr. J. R. Beard; and the third to Mr. W. S. Brown, all Divinity Students, in the third year of their course. The first Mathematical prize, to Mr. James Martineau, and the second to Mr. Edward Talbot. The first prize, offered by Robert Philips, Esq., for proficiency in classical learning, was awarded to Mr. Beard, and the second to Mr. George Lee. Mr. Beard also obtained the prize offered by Euelpis, for the best translation into Greek. The prize for proficiency in Elocution, during the Session, was given to Mr. Brown; and that for the best delivered Oration, to Mr. Carter.

The number of Divinity Students, during the present Session, is nineteen, of whom Messrs. Payne and Ryland are in the last year of their course; Messrs. Mitchelson, Beard, Brown, Wreford, Taggart and Worthington, in the fourth; Messrs. Howarth, Aspland, Lee and Russell, in the third; Messrs. Talbot and Martineau in the second; and Messrs. Francis Rankin, of Bristol, Henry Squire, of Taunton, Edward Higginson, son of the Rev. Edward Higginson, of Derby, Francis Darbishire, of Bolton, and Nathaniel Philipps, son of the Rev. Dr. Philipps, of Sheffield, in the first. Of these, seventeen are on the foundation of the College; but it should be stated, that the Committee, in consequence of the inadequacy of their Funds, have been under the necessity of limiting the grant to the five last-named Students, to one half of the usual exhibition, with the understanding, that they shall have a preference to succeed to full exhibitions, as vacancies occur. There are also ten Lay Students in the College.

During the last year, the expediency of investing the permanent property of the College in the purchase of land, has been frequently brought under the considera tion of the Committee, and from the attention which they have paid to the question, they are of opinion that such an appropriation of the disposable funds will, at this period, be advantageous to the interests of the Institution. In reference to this subject, the two following Resolutions were passed at the annual meeting of Trustees, held on the 1st of August last, viz :

Resolved unanimously,

1st. That it appears to this meeting to be very desirable to have the PermaBent Funds of the College invested in real estate, and that the present is a favourable period for the purchase of land;

2d. That the Committee be empowered to make such investment in land on behalf of the permanent Fund as they may judge expedient:

In compliance with these Resolutions the Committee have recently contracted for the purchase of an estate near Kirby Moorside, the particulars of which will be detailed in the next Report.

JOSEPH STRUTT, President. Manchester, May 1, 1824.

Manchester College, York.

Proposed Unitarian Chapel, Wellbourne, neur York.

THE following is a brief account of the state of a small congregation of Unitarians and Unitarian Baptists now existing at Wellbourne, a village not far from York. When, by the alteration in the rules of this Institution, the senior students, at the beginning of this session, undertook missions to various places about York, they were introduced to this village by John Mason, an Unitarian Baptist, whose humble but zealous exertions in this neighbourhood have been attended with the greatest success. In the villages round York, he has not only set on foot small societies of Unitarian Baptists, but succeeded in turning several, as well from speculative error, as from the paths of vice to purity and holiness of life. At Wellbourne he had established a society, highly respectable in point of number, and by his means the students were introduced to the village. Through the whole of this session their services have been received in the place with a degree of gratitude, interest and affection from this humble but worthy society, which can be estimated only by those who, having spent the Sunday among them, have witnessed their zeal in the cause of religion, and their exemplary Christian cha racter. The services have been conducted in a small and inconvenient room belonging to one of the members, which, with the adjoining, has been often crowded to excess. With the cordial exertion and assistance of many of the members a Sunday-school has been established there; and in a very small room, but the only one to be had for the purpose for the last three months, upwards of 70 or 80 children have regularly received instruction.

There cannot, we conceive, be a stronger exemplification of the truth that Unitarianism is the religion for the poor; though its aspect may be exceedingly different in most of the wealthy towns in this country. And they who are interested in the spread of religious truth, and can estimate the value of a simple but solid and practical faith to those who most need its influence, will be delighted to find that Unitarianism has taken deep root, and flourished in a village, where the ordinarily popular sects, Methodists

and Ranters, have failed, though not without effort. Under these auspices, and in such a promising state of things, it must evidently be desirable that every obstacle to the full operation of what we consider truth should be removed, and we, therefore, propose the erection of a chapel in the place. There is no place of worship at present there. It will be surely interpreted as an omen favour able to the cause of religious truth in this age of sectarian zeal, to see an Unitarian chapel raising its head as the sole guardian of religion in an English village. The chapel we intend to build as economically as possible, in the vacation, to be ready for the students on their return next session; and we send this brief notice of the case to the Unitarian public, to enable them to judge whether or not it be worthy of their cordial support. Our regular congregation at Wellbourne cannot be far from a hundred, the room being often inconveniently full. The school we have established seems to have removed every prejudice against Unitarianism, both there and in the neighbourhood. There are many who would attend a chapel who object to a private house. There is every prospect of its being resorted to by many from the surrounding villages, which are thickly scattered, and where services have not unfrequently been conducted by the stu dents; and, perhaps, the best recommendation of the whole will be the excellent, pious and Christian character of the people for whose sakes the chapel will be built, and who illustriously exhibit the power of Unitarian views, to enlighten the minds and purify the hearts of the poorest, but most peculiarly fayoured followers of the religion of Jesus.

The Secretary to the College Missionary Society.

Towards the completion of this plan fifty pounds have been already collected in York and its vicinity, including £10 from Mrs. Mary Hughes. Farther subscriptions will be received by the Rev. Charles Wellbeloved, York, and the Rev. Robert Aspland, Hackney.

The First Anniversary of the Tenterden District of the Kent and Sussex Unitarian Christian Association took place on Wednesday, May 26th. It was introduced with an afternoon service. Mr. Harding read the Scriptures; Mr. H. Green as sisted the congregation in prayer; Mr. Taplin delivered the sermon and concluded. Those of the congregation who were inclined, then adjourned to the Woolpack Inn, where 115 persous of both sexes partook of tea. Mr. Mace, was then called to the Chair. Various senti

[blocks in formation]

SIR,

In the account that was forwarded for insertion in the Mon. Repos., (p. 334,) of the second anniversary of the Moor Lane Society, Bolton, were the following paragraphs. As the statement of the proceedings copied from the Christian Reflector, does not contain these, I shall feel obliged by their insertion in the ensuing number.

The congregation, at its annual meeting, unanimously resolved, "That the support which this congregation has received from the friends of pure and undefiled religion has excited in the breasts of its members the liveliest emotions of gratitude; and they should not do justice to their feelings, were they not, in the warmest terms and manner, to return their respectful thanks to the contributors towards the liquidation of the debt on their meeting-house; at the same time expressing their hope that their past and future conduct, as a religious society, will shew that the obloquy under which they have laboured was totally uninerited."

The congregation having understood it to be the intention of several individuals wards the liquidation of their debt, beg and Fellowship Funds to contribute tointerested in their prosperity, that if pos to state to those parties, and to others sible a vestry and school will be built by the Society. After the exertions which they have already made, especially at their late Anniversary, they feel themselves unable to do much, but as the erection of a vestry and school is essentially requisite to the comfort and usefulness of the congregation, they entertain the hope that the liberality of the public will enable them to carry these intentions into effect. From Mrs, Toogood, of Sherborne, they respectfully ac◄ knowledge 5.; and any further sums which may be contributed, will be advertised on the cover of the Monthly Repository.

GEORGE HARRIS.
Bolton, June, 1824.

« VorigeDoorgaan »