address on the importance of making provision in the Hall for instruction in theology and morals, and to implore for the work the Divine blessing when the foundation-stone was laid. The address and prayer were printed with the addresses delivered at the same time by MARK PHILIPS, Esq., and Professor NEWMAN,-the first Principal of the Hall. Mr. MADGE's remarks applied almost exclusively to the topic assigned him. He insisted, with his accustomed earnestness, that religious instruction should form a part of Academical education, and that theology should be ranked amongst the highest and noblest of human studies.

Without touching upon the value and importance of religious knowledge in connection with man's eternal welfare, the subject is one, nevertheless, which has so many relations with the history of the world, the progress of the human mind, the state of society, the usages and habits of different nations, that no education can well be considered accomplished and complete in which it has been neglected and disregarded. Putting out of view, also, the question of the divine authority of the Scriptures, and looking at them merely as human compositions, we should still be without excuse in treating them with carelessness and indifference. When we consider that in them are to be found some of the oldest writings in the world,-that they present us with compositions as fine as ever dropped from the pen of

man, that they contain many admirable principles and maxims for the guidance and regulation of human conduct, and that to the wise and good of all ages they have been as a fountain from which they have drawn large draughts of light and wisdom and strength, they deserve as well as demand from us thoughtful, diligent, careful consideration and regard. To investigate their meaning, to distinguish their peculiarities, and to unfold their beauties, while it will call into exercise all the faculties of our minds, will reward that exercise with a wiser understanding, and a fuller comprehension of the truths contained in them, together with a keener relish and enjoyment of those rich forms of thought and expression, those immortal strains of eloquence and poetry by which they are distinguished. Then, again, is not the agency of Christianity visible in the literature, the arts, the laws, the institutions of every country calling itself civilized? Is not its empire continually enlarging, and its influence everywhere operating? And shall the books containing the only authentic record of its origin and character be thrown aside as unworthy of our attention? Not so have thought the greatest and best men of whom our conntry can boast; men who were the lights of the age in which they lived, and will be so of ages yet to come. To the subject of theology, to the consideration of the Christian religion, and the volume in which it is enshrined, they devoted years of laborious and patient thought, and have left behind them strong testimony to the value and benefit of the employment. Those illustrious men, HALE, and BOYLE, and MILTON, and NEWTON, and LOCKE, and HARTLEY, together with many others but little inferior to them,-all laymen, observe, and therefore swayed by no professional bias,-looked

upon theology as among the first of human studies, regarding it as their privilege as well as their duty to engage in inquiries and contemplations of so interesting and elevating a nature. And if men of their stamp and genius, to whom was given so much of the vision and faculty divine,' instead of treating the subject of theology with neglect, held it in the highest estimation, bringing to its exposition and illustration the fruits of their genius and the treasures of their learning; shall we presume to banish it from the circle of our studies as undeserving a place in our thoughts and meditations? Listen once more to the testimony of a man richly endowed and amply qualified to pronounce an opinion upon the subject. 'I have,' says Sir WILLIAM JONES, 'regularly and attentively read the Holy Scriptures, and am of opinion that this volume, independently of its divine origin, contains more true sublimity, more exquisite beauty, more pure morality, more important history, and finer poetry and eloquence, than all other books, in whatever age or language they may have been written.'

"I know that theology and religion are not to be confounded, and that there may be much acquaintance with the one without any deep feeling or impression of the other. But though theological knowledge is not necessarily connected with the religious life, there can be no religious life apart from all connection with theology. There must underlie our religious sentiments and feelings some principles or doctrines on which they rest, and by which they are supported and sustained. There must, in the mind of every man, be lodged some notions of God, and of the character of God, and of the relation subsisting between the creature and the Creator, or religion will be but a mere name.

Theology, therefore, can never be otherwise than a subject of great interest and importance, seeing how much it influences the character and complexion of our religion; determining, for the most part, whether it shall move in a right or wrong direction; whether it shall operate for good or for evil."

*

From his reputation and position in the Unitarian body Mr. MADGE was often called upon to preach at the opening of chapels, and many of our modern places of worship were dedicated by him to sacred uses. On no such occasion did he acquit himself to greater advantage than at the opening of Hope Street Church, Liverpool, in the year 1849. The invitation which he had received years before from the religious society by whose members this fine and costly structure was raised, and the affectionate regard which he had so long cherished for the Rev. JAMES MARTINEAU, under whose ministry it was built, gave a peculiar character to the duty in which he was engaged, and enabled him to discharge it with more than ordinary effect. A very large and crowded congregation listened to him with the closest attention, whilst he pointed out the objects which

* I have no means of ascertaining on how many occasions Mr. MADGE was engaged in this particular duty. He kept no record of his services.

should be sought in entering the Christian temple, and the need of external help and support such as its services imparted. In the evening the event was celebrated by a Soirée, at which about nine hundred persons were present. In responding to the vote of thanks which was given him for his "interesting and powerful sermon," Mr. MADGE thanked the meeting for the manner in which his services had been noticed, and congratulated the members of the Hope Street congregation on the beauty of the house of prayer which they had erected. His speech on this occasion was reported at tolerable length, and affords a favourable impression of his manner of addressing a public meeting. He said :

"If, in the discourse delivered by me this morning, it has been my good fortune to have said anything which rightly interpreted your own views, and was in unison with your own feelings, it is to me a source of sincere gratification. In accepting the invitation with which you honoured me to preach the first sermon in your new church, I confess I did it with many doubts and misgivings as to the fitness of your choice. And if, therefore, I have not altogether disappointed your expectations, I shall, indeed, be glad that to those doubts and misgivings I did not give way, but that I came hither to take the part which I have done, and to welcome my friend and brother to the