Christian truth and in the cultivation of a pious temper. He was particularly conversant with the Holy Scriptures, and his family and nearest friends can bear witness how he prized this inestimable volume. His religious opinions underwent of late years some considerable change, and he is well-known to have embraced cordially and to have professed unreservedly the Unitarian faith. He thought himself the happier and the better for the change; nor was he singular in this persuasion. But whatever may be the judgment of the world upon his creed, it may be confidently affirmed that no one can ascribe his adoption of it to a want of examination or to a defect of religious feeling, much less to motives of self-interest. He sought for truth in the Holy scriptures, and, persuaded that he had found it, he held it firmly, and recoinmended it to the conscientious consideration of his fellow-christians.

His zeal was at the same time tempered by charity. He condemned no one for retaining opinions which he himself gave up. He esteemed and honoured highly many Christians, whom I see before me, whose faith was very different from his own. On the same paper from which I borrowed the sentence which I have just read, there is the following record of his liberality, which agrees with the tenour of all his conversations on the subject, "I do think many are as sincerely wrong as others are sincercly right." Our deceased Christian brother's piety was manifested by his regularly filling up his place in this House of Prayer, where he was an attentive hearer and a devout worshipper, and by his daily observance of the too much neglected duty of family de

votion.

What he was in the intercourse of life, his neighbours and friends are best able to declare. But I know I shall not lay my self open to contradiction, when I say that though he had failings which he himself was the first to acknowledge and lament, and over which it was the business of his life to get the mastery, he was just in his dealings, temperate in his enjoyments, innocent in his discourse, ready to serve his fellow-creatures, especially such as were in trouble and distress, and of an independent and public spirit.

245

His last illness was so rapid and so enfeebling as to allow of few opportunities for the expression of his opinions and feelings but his dying hours were marked by patience under suffering, serenity in the midst of change, gratitude for conjugal and filial kind oflices, and resignation and devotion to God.

Such is my honest view of his character, which I think it the part no less of religious duty than of friendship to hold up to public imitation. May we, my brethren, be followers of him, as far as we believe that he followed Christ! May you especially that were his friends, take warning from his sudden departure, to prepare to meet your God, that you also may enjoy a peaceful end and sleep in Jesus! And may you, above all, that are mourning a relation, a father, a husband, be comforted by the remembrance of his faith and virtue, and be led by his example to live the life that you may die the death of the righteous! And may God Almighty of his infinite love and mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ grant that when time shall be no more, we may all rise with our sleeping brother in the resurrection of the just, to enjoy the blessedness of them that die in the Lord, and to enter together into that holy and heavenly state, where truth will be no more shaded by error, where piety will be no longer weakened by the influence of time and sense, where friendship will be interrupted by no cloud of imperfection, where there will be no more death nor sin nor separation nor pain; where Jesus Christ, in the glory of his exaltation, will be our eternal companien and wonderful counsellor, and where God, the ever-living, ever-gracious Father, will be all and in all through endless ages. Amen and Amen.

At Bath, on Monday, the 15th instant, in the 70th year of his age, Mr. WILLIAM MATTHEWS, of the Society of Friends, and Secretary to the West of England Agricultural Society. The Newspapers, frem which we extract this notice, state that Mr. Matthews was the author of a Tour in the manner of Sterne, and of some religious and moral Tracts. We hope to receive an authentic account of this gentleman from some one of our correspondents.

DOMESTIC.
RELIGIOUS.

Christian Tract Society.

The seventh anniversary of this Society was held on Tuesday the 13th of February, at the Old London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street. At the meeting for business, W, Frend, Esq. was called to the chair. The

VOL. XI.

report of the Committee, which was read by the Secretary, gave a favourable account of the continued prosperity of the institution, and of the increasing approbation with which its labours are viewed by the religious public. It stated that three new tracts had been published in the course of the preceding year, by which the Committee had

been able to complete a third volume. The entire number of Tracts printed and reprinted during this period, was mentioned to be ten thousand. It appeared that since the first establishment of the Society in the month of May, 1809, there had been printed in all 208,500 Tracts; and that the entire number circulated, was 162,600, of which 22,000 had been issued from the Society's warehouse during the last year. The following statement was presented of the Society's property. Estimated value of the stock on hand,

Due to the Society from the publishers, &c.

Balance in the Treasurer's hand,

Due from the Society for printing, &c.

1. s. d. 241 0

122 7 8

the Society was originally formed. Several names were added to the list of subscribers.

Unitarian Book Society.

66 13

430 0 8

Amount of the Society's pre- 334 15 9 sent property,

The Report announced that Messrs. Cradock and Joy having discontinued to act as the Society's publishers, Messrs. Sherwood, Neely and Jones, of Paternoster Row, had been appointed to be their suc

cessors.

The Resolution of the last meeting respecting the time of holding the annual meetings was re-considered, and it was agreed that in future the anniversaries should be held on the third Tuesday in January, in each year.

The thanks of the meeting were voted to Mrs. Mary Hughes and the other literary contributors to the Society; to Messrs, Cradock and Joy for their attention to the interests of the Society while they acted as its publishers, and to the officers of the Society for their services during the last year.

The following gentlemen were elected into office for the year ensuing:

TREASURER.-James Esdaile, Es SECRETARY.-R. Thomas Rees. COMMITTEE.-Messrs. Roberts, Titford Gibson, Hart, Parker, Thomas Foster, Lean, Croper, Frend, Hall, Barton.

AUDITORS.-Messrs. Parks, Mackmurdo and J. Taylor.

The subscribers and other friends of the Society, to the number of seventy, dined together; Thomas Gibson, Esq. in the Chair. Although the meeting was deprived, through the state of the weather, and other circumstances, of the company of some of the friends of the institution whose presence has usually enlivened its assemblies, the evening past off with considerable spirit; and much interest was imparted to it by the speeches of several gentlemen who addressed the Chair on topics connected with the great objects, for the promotion of which

At the meeting for business, after the service, Mr. Rutt was called to the Chair. Mr. Belsham produced a letter which he had received from Mr. Joyce, (of whose company the society was unfortunately deprived after the close of the religious service,) notifying his resignation of the office of Secretary. This communication was received with deep regret by all present, who considered the Society as eminently indebted to the unremitting activity and laborious pains of Mr. Joyce for its prosperity during the last fourteen years. The following resolutions were then passed unanimously:

Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Belsham, That this resignation be accepted; but that Mr. Joyce be respectfully solicited to favour the Society, by continuing to perform the duties of the office until a successor can be appointed.

Resolved, on the motion of the same, That the cordial thanks of this meeting be returned to Mr. Joyce, for his long, able, and meritorious services as secretary; and that it receives with the liveliest regret his resignation of an office, the arduous duties of which he has during fourteen years, discharged in a manner so honourable to himself, and so highly advantageous to the Society.

Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be returned to Mr. Joyce for his very appropriate, eloquent and energetic discourse delivered this morning.

The members of the Society afterwards dined together, in number about seventy, at the Old London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, Wm. Smith, Esq. M. P. in the Chair.

The Spring Quarterly Meeting of the ministers generally denominated Presbyterian, in the district of Manchester, was held on Good Friday, the 12th instant, at Dukinfield. Mr. Brettell introduced the service, and Mr. Elliot preached from 1 Tim. v. 22. the last clause: "Keep thyself pure." Though the day was very unfavourable, a considerable number of friends from a distance attended the meeting, especially from Stockport and Hyde. After the service, twelve ministers and between thirty and forty laygentlemen dined together, and passed the afternoon in a manner suitable to the occasion.

Though the Reporter does not undertake the task of giving a detailed account of the sentiments and speeches at each meeting, yet it is conceived, that such a brief notice as the present, with the addition of any interesting particulars when they happen to occur, must be pleasing and edifying to the friends of rational religion and primitive Christianity in other parts. By this mode of communication, when they are precluded from others, may the zealous friends of truth provoke one another to virtuous and unremitting activity in the sacred work of

reformation.

Manchester, April 16, 1816.

Southern Unitarian Fund.

J.

The first General Meeting of the subscribers to the Southern Unitarian Fund was held on Wednesday, 17th of April, at the General Baptist Chapel in Portsmouth. In the morning the devotional exercises were conducted by the Rev. J. Fullagar, and the Rev. J. Lyons. The sermon was preached by the Rev. W. J. Fox, from John iv. 22, Ye worship ye know not what ; but we know what we worship. After strongly contrasting the mystery and absurdity of Trinitarian worship with the simplicity and intelligibility of that which is addressed to the One God, the Father; the preacher applied his subject to the principles and objects of the institution, whose members were now for the first time assembled together. The Southern Fund Society is formed on the broad basis of Unitarianism, disregarding all minor differences, and aim ing simply at the promotion and encouragement of a pure and scriptural worship.

247

This end is pursued by establishing lectures in different places, and defraying the expenses of ministers by whose labours they are supported; assisting necessitous congregations by loans or donations; and inducing individuals who have become converts to Unitarianism to form themselves into religious societies, After the service the report of the Committee was read, by which it appeared that the short period which had elapsed since the commencement of their exertions, in September last, had been distinguished by the most encouraging success. To one congregation in the district very acceptable pecuniary aid has been advanced; and another, in a depressed state, has been cheered by an arrangement for the frequent visits of neighbouring preachers. A fortnightly lecture at Portsea has been numerously and respectably attended. A similar one at Gosport, where at first much opposition was experienced, has been attended with the happiest results, as several families have already united for the regular support of Unitarian worship. The effect of preaching has been aided by the judicious distribution of books furnished by the Southern Unitarian Society. The thanks of the Society were voted to Messrs. Brent, Fox, Fullagar, Lyons, Read, Saint, and Treleaven, for their services in these. lectures.

About thirty gentlemen afterwards dined together at the Fountain Inn, where the Chair was ably filled by James Carter, Esq. Several new subscribers were announced; and the company was highly gratified by the able and animated discussion of topics connected with the institution by several gentlemen present. The Rev. J. Lyons, in particular, on the Chairman's proposing as a toast, "Success to the London Unitarian Fund," gave a pleasing account of various instances of its usefulness which had fallen under his own observation, and adverted to his own change of sentiments in a manner which deeply interested the feelings of all who heard him.

In the evening an impressive discourse was delivered by Mr. Lyons, from John viii. 31, 32, on the importance of religious truth, the difficulties to be encountered in its pursuit, and the characteristics by which it is distinguished. The friends of the Southern Fund, the first provincial society of the kind, separated with feelings of unmingled pleasure at the good already ef fected by their efforts, and its probable extension from the increase of their resources; and with ardent wishes that similar proceedings may speedily be adopted by their Unitarian brethren throughout the kingdom.

Letter from Dr. Thomsm, respecting the
Chapel at Thorne.

SIR.
Halifax, April 20, 182
The appeal of our brethren at Thorhe

to the Unitarian public, (in your Number for February, p. 120.) requesting assistance in the building of their chapel, seconded as it has been by the recommendation of Mr. Wright, of Wisbeach, (p. 156) will, I trust, be kindly considered and promptly and liberally answered.

Your correspondent Zelotes (p. 134,) has made, in my opinion, some very sensible and just remarks, as to certain preliminaries which ought to be satisfactorily answered, before any appeal, similar to the one from Thorne, ought to be entertained by the Unitarian body. These preliminaries are briefly as follows:-1. That the Committee of the Unitarian Fund, or some other prominent and responsible body should certify that the case is a proper one for Unitarian liberality. 2. That in the event of a general subscription, it should be provided in the trust deed of the chapel, that on the discontinuance of public worship on Unitarian principles, the chapel shall come into the hands and be the property of some Unitarian body. 3. That the ground upon which the chapel stands and the burialground should be freehold. 4. That a burial-ground should be provided. Though these remarks of Zelotes are general, as I entirely concur in their justness, I shall briefly apply them to the case of our Unirian brethren at Thorne. 1. It appears to me that the testimony of neighbouring ministers, and of other friends, who from their local knowledge have better and surer means of information than the committee of the Unitarian Fund can, from the distant residence of its members, possibly have, is in all cases to be preferred; and ought, henceforth, to be considered as indispensable. In a case submitted to the public (M. Repos. Vol. x. p. 313,) this mode was adopted. In the Thorne case, the testimony of Mr. Wright, and of several ministers and friends in the county of York, as borne in the subscription list (p. 182,) will be considered as satisfactory. We have a similar certificate from the Committee of the Unitarian Fund, in their grant of 201. to the Thorne Chapel. 2. Our brethren at Thorne are desirous of the advice of friends respecting the provisions of their trust deed, that what may be built by Unitarian liberality, should in the event of discontinuance of worship on Unitarian principles, revert to that body; and they will be obliged to any friend to furnish them with a clause providing for the same. 3. The tenure of the ground at Thorne is freehold. In this our brethren at Thorne have been very fortunate, as all the old enclosed land in the neighbourhood is copyhold; but they have purchased for their chapel and burial-ground an allotment of common land lately sold under an enclosure act, the powers of which convey the land as freehold of inheritance in fee simple.

4. The ground purchased is 10 yards by

20. The area of the chapel is 10 yards by 11. The remainder of the ground will be left for a burial-ground, and I am informed that if necessary, more ground adjoining this can be obtained. That it is desirable, in the first instance, to enlarge the burialground, few, 1 think, will doubt, and I hope the liberality of the subscription will enable our brethren at Thorne to do so.

I have thus, in order, adverted to the judicious remarks of Zelotes as applicable to the case at Thorne, and I hope what I have stated will so satisfy his mind that I shall see his name upon the subscription list. I take the liberty of adding a few particulars, on the authority of one of the brethren at Thorne, which I hope may tend to strengthen their appeal, and interest distant friends to assist them in the building of their chapel. The dimensions of the chapel have been already stated; our friends calculate that it will hold from three hundred to three hundred and fifty hearers. In this they appear to me to much over estimate its capability; but it is so planned as to admit of a gallery if necessary, large enough to hold from one hundred and fifty to two hundred people. At present the Unitarians in Thorne and its neighbourhood are estimated at from forty to fifty. "But," my informant adds," we have generally about ninety or one hundred hearers. It is beyond all doubt that the hearers will greatly increase when the chapel is opened." On their assembling for worship on the Lord's Day, the devotional part is conducted by an aged and venerable man, Francis Moate, who is the only member of the society with whom I am personally acquainted; two other members, by turns, read sermons. The society meets occasionally for religious conversation and prayer; "we generally have two or three such meetings in every month:” and it has been in agitation to hold these meetings regularly; an intention which it is to be hoped will be carried into effect. The chapel is expected to be finished by the first of June, and will be opened as soon afterwards as may suit the convenience of distant friends.

The society at Thorne is in a great measure insulated from other societies, who hold the same religious sentiments. This circumstance will not fail to be duly appreciated by distant friends, and is indeed one of the strongest points of the appeal. Every one must have read with the highest satisfaction the very handsome list of congrega tional subscriptions for the Oldham chapel (Vol. xi. p. 121,) from various Unitarian societies in Lancashire and Cheshire. But Thorne is very differently situated to what Oldham is. It has no near and powerful neighbours; nor are the Unitarian Societies in the counties of York and Lincoln either so numerous, so large, or so affluent as those of Lancashire and Cheshire. I do not mean to insinuate the most distant

doubt but that the societies in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire will do all in their power to assist their brethren at Thorne, but when they have done their utmost there will still be much for distant friends to do. I add the distance of Thorne from several other Unitarian Societies; but some of these are not in a condition to give any help to their neighbour. Thorne is distant from the following places (about) the number of miles specified; from Selby, 15; Doncaster, 10; York, 30; Lincoln, 40; Hull, 40; Rotheram, 22; Sheffield, 28; Wakefield, 25; Leeds, 30; Gainsborough, 20; Halifax, 45; Elland, 45; Bradford, 40.

With best wishes for the success of our brethren at Thorne,

I am, Sir,

Yours respectfully,

JOHN THOMSON.

Errata in the Thorne Subscription List,
page 182.

For Mr. Robert Mathien read Mr. Malkin, Chesterfield.

For John Cartlidge, read James Cartledge.

For Charles Carthage, read Charles Cartledge.

"

New Subscription.

Mrs. M. Hughes, Hanwood, by Mr. Aspland, 21.

Ecclesiastical Controversy.

Strange such a difference should be "Twixt Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee!" SWIFT.

The momentous controversy which at present agitates, and seems likely to convalse, the Church of England as by law established, viz. "Whether the besprinkling an infant with water by the hand of a person episcopally ordained," (a sine quá non it seems of the metamorphosis) determine or not his moral character here, and his eternal destination hereafter," was decided, ad interim, a few days ago, in full

249

conclave at Bartlett's Buildings (present, the most Rev. the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Right Rev. the Bishop of London the Very Rev. the Dean of and the plain Rev., the Anti-biblist Norris, and other illustrious Church and State Divines) by a majority of three only; the number for the affirmative of the question being thirty-seven; for the negative thirty"Who shall decide when Doctors so disagree?" Yet it has been thought by some profane clerks, that this portentous issue arises out of one of the most palpable interpolations that ever maintained its usurped station in a record, against the strongest internal evidence of its non-authenticity. Alas, what great events from little causes spring!

four.

(From a Correspondent.) Examiner, (Sunday Newspaper.) April

21, 1816.

NOTICES.

MRS. CAPPE has in the press a second tional Subjects, which has been long out of edition of Mr. Cappe's Sermons on Devoprint. It will be accompanied by the Memoir, &c. as first published in 1805. The volume is expected to be completed in June.

MR. COGAN, of Walthamstow, having resigned the pastoral charge of the Unitarian congregation in that place, proposes to present his friends, at their request, with Two Volumes of his Sermons. Those that have read Mr. Cogan's single sermons will look forward to this publication with much interest.

MR. MEADLEY, author of the Memoirs of Algernon Sydney and Dr. Paley, is collecting materials for a Life of John Hampden. Any gentleman possessing original letters or other documents, tending to illustrate this important subject, will oblige. him much by either communicating them, or informing him where they may be found,