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at the Christian Unitarian Church, Manchester-Place; which was tastefully decorated for the occasion with flowers, evergreens, and silk banners, bearing appropriate inscriptions. The names of Milton, Newton, Locke, and numerous martyrs to religious truth and freedom-the fathers of Christian Unitarianism, were displayed in various devices. Among the number of designs was a sarcophagus to the memory of the late lamented Dr. Carpenter. The whole had a pleasing effect, and was calculated to remind the beholder of those noble spirits who struggled for religious liberty amid perils and persecutions, and in the face even of death itself. Numerous friends from the neighbouring congregations were present, in addition to the following ministers; Revds. Dr. Davies of Gloucester, T. Davis of Evesham, L. Lewis of Shepton-Mallet, T. Sadler of University College, London. The religious service of the morning was introduced by the Rev. Francis Bishop. The anniversary sermon, preached by the Rev. L. Lewis, contained an able and earnest refutation of the charges made against our common faith, from the appropriate text, "Come and see.' The Rev. F. Bishop, very ably presided at the tea-meeting in the evening, at which about 140 persons were present. Some highly interesting and animating speeches were made, in responding to the sentiments announced from the chair; and the proceedings were enlivened by the congregational choir singing at intervals various anthems and select pieces of sacred music. The annexed were the topics proposed, with the names of the responders. "Unitarianism, a Consoling Faith;" Mr. Creed. "The Welfare of the Cheltenham and Neighbouring Congregations;" Revds. L. Lewis and T. Davis. Religious Liberty;" Rev. Dr. Davies. "Sunday Schools;" Rev. T. Sadler. The Memory of the late Dr. Carpenter;" Captain Gifford, R. N. "Free Inquiry;" Mr. Furber." Prosperity to the Temperance Cause;" Mr. Goding. A vote of thanks having been presented to the Rev. Chairman, and duly acknowledged, the meeting was brought to a conclusion by singing Dr. Bowring's Hymn, "God is Love;" and all separated highly delighted with the day's proceedings. J. G.

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LEWIN'S MEAD CONGREGATIONAL TEA-MEETING.-The Eighth Anniversary Meeting of the above Society, was held on Monday, April 12, in the Horticultural-Rooms, Bristol, and was attended by about three hundred of the Lewin's Mead Congregation, and friends from Bath, Frenchay, Trowbridge, &c. The increasing interest taken in the Annual Meeting, obliged the committee to hire more spacious

rooms than those connected with the Chapel buildings; and the Horticultural - Rooms were tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens for the occasion. After tea, the Rev. George Armstrong was called to the chair, and opened the business of the evening with an energetic address, in which, among other topics, he adverted to the irreparable loss the Society had sustained in the death of his late highly esteemed coadjutor, Dr. Carpenter, who always took a warm interest in the annual social meetings, to which he contributed, by the cheerfulness of his manners and his appropriate remarks. Several of the speakers alluded to the loss of their esteemed pastor, in terms which showed how deeply his memory was fixed in their minds. The meeting did not break up until a late hour, and several of the addresses were of such a length, that we must content ourselves with merely giving the names of the speakers, and the sentiments to which they responded, "Our Congregational Institutions, may new schemes of usefulness confirm, and not impair the prosperity of the old;" Mr. G. W. Hall. "Success to all Efforts to raise the Moral Condition of the Poor-Domestic Missions;" Rev. J. Bayley of Bristol, and the Rev. J. Short of Warminster, Science, the Hand-maid of Religion;" Dr. W. B. Carpenter. May there be an Increased Interest in Scriptural Knowledge; may our Younger Members be, like their Fathers, Unitarians by Conviction, and from the Study of the Bible;" Mr. H. C. Evans. A Liberal Theological Education, and Prosperity to Manchester College;" Rev. R. L. Carpenter. "Our Visitors from Bath, Frenchay, Trowbridge, &c.; may proximity in residence-still more, union in the bonds of the Gospel, lead to increased intercourse and mutual acquaintance;" Mr. J. Philp. "May Co-operation to promote the Interests of our Fellow-men, eventually bring about a perfect Christian Fellowship, by throwing into the shade all distinctions merely temporal and artificial;" Mr. W. Stockwell. "The Power of a Pure Faith, in times of perplexity and distress, directing and animating in life and at death;" Rev. S. Martin of Trowbridge.

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The different speakers were listened to with deep interest; and, at the commencement and close, the choir of singers gave their valuable services, which added not a little to the cheerfulness of the meeting; which was finally closed by a short impressive prayer by the Rev. S. Martin; and the company separated, more than ever convinced that such social meetings are productive of much good, tending, as they cannot fail to do, when conducted in a proper manner, to promote a kindly and Christian feeling among all classes of the congregation. J. P.

THE Quarterly Meeting of the South Wales Unitarian Ministers was held at Bridgend, on Thursday, the 15th of April. The service, on the previous evening, was introduced by Rev. O. Evans, of Coed-y-Cymmer. Rev. D. Lloyd, M. A. of Carmarthen, preached, in English, from Gal. vi. 10; and Rev. J. Jones of Aberdare, in Welsh, from Rom. iii. 25.

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The weather on Thursday morning was unfavourable, yet several friends from a distance attended the meeting. And notwithstanding the violent prejudice and hostility of the prevailing sects in the place, many of their members came to hear and judge for themselves. One of their ministers, a Calvinistic Baptist, from the neighbourhood, had the courage to be present. In spite of the censure which he was aware he should thereby incur, he attended the services throughout the day, and even took part in the discussion at the conference.

At 11, A. M. the Rev. J. Davies of Neath, introduced the service with reading the Scriptures and prayer. Rev. F. Bishop of Cheltenham preached in English, from Matt. xxii. 42; and Rev. J. James of Gellionnen, in Welsh, from 1 Tim. iv. 8.

After the preaching, as is customary in these meetings, the conference for open discussion immediately followed; in which all present were invited to join. Mr. J. E. Jones, the minister of the place, was appointed to preside. And the subject agreed upon at the last Quarterly Meeting, "What is Saving Faith?" having been proposed, Mr. Lloyd of Carmarthen delivered an address in English, giving his views of the genuine principles of the Christian belief, and pointing out their salutary and saving influences. He was followed by Rev. J. Jones of Aberdare; Rev. D. Thomas of Penyvay, a Baptist Minister; Rev. J. Thomas of Pant-ydefaid; and Rev. J. James of Gellionnen, who all spoke in Welsh. In the course of the discussion, the different kinds of faith treated of by theologians were severally stated and examined. The faith by which miracles were wrought was mentioned, just to show that the consideration of it was not within the limits of the present question. The distinction which the Orthodox make between "historical faith," which they say the damned may possess, and what they describe saving faith," was shown to be vague and altogether groundless. That the "historical faith" is the only real faith that we can have. That faith is belief and something more. It is belief in something good and advantageous to us. That "saving faith" is that belief in the facts and genuine doctrines of Christianity, which saves; which saves

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mankind from the evils they are subject to, from ignorance and error, and vice and misery; which, by removing the disorder, restores the patient to that state of mental and moral health which is requisite to the attainment of that perfection and happiness which is suitable to his nature. The natural influences of Unitarian views were pointed out, and shown to be not only favourable, but directly conducive to virtue and happiness. That the supposition, that contrary views may produce the same effects on the mind and character, is subversive both of the truth and of the efficacy of Christianity, and also contrary to fact and experience. The practice too (too common in Orthodox preaching), of representing a course of vice as for the present pleasurable; and that of religion as both toilsome and depressing, was ably exposed, as being both wrong in principle, and dishonourable and hurtful to religion. That true religion, consisting in the love of God and of our fellow-men, and in right views of God's character and his providence, and of a future state, so far from "making our pleasures less," both alleviates the incidental evils of humanity and enhances our pleasures a thousand fold. The exposition of different opinions, and the discussion arising therefrom, made the conference peculiarly interesting. At a quarter before 3 P. M. the meeting was closed with prayer by Mr. Lloyd of Carmarthen.

In the evening, at 6 o'clock, Mr. Bishop preached, in English, from John xii. 42, 43; and Rev. J. Thomas of Panty-defaid, Cardiganshire, in Welsh, from Gal. iii. 13.

The next meeting, which is the Annual Meeting, is to be held at Aberdare, as usual, on the first Thursday after the 21st of June. Mr. J. E. Jones of Bridgend is appointed to preach. The subject for discussion, "Saving Faith."

J. E. J.

BOLTON DISTRICT UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.-The Thirtieth Half-yearly Meeting of this Association was held at Bury, on Thursday, April 29. The religious services were conducted by the Rev. J. Ragland and the Rev. F. Knowles. The latter gentleman preached on the trials to which Unitarians are exposed, their uses, and their reward, from 1 Peter i. 7. A numerous attendance of the congregation, increased by many friends from Bolton and other parts of the district, afterwards took place in the school-room under the chapel, where tea was provided. The number amounted to nearly 250. After tea, various sentiments were introduced to the meeting by the Chairman, the Rev. F. Howorth; which called up the following speakers-the Revds. J. Rag

land, F. Knowles, Hunter, J. Harrison, F. Baker, and Messrs. Bowman, C. J. Darbishire, E. Grundy, and J. Grundy, Jun. These gentlemen addressed the meeting on subjects connected with the objects of the Association and the interests of religion.

The increased attendance of the younger part of our congregations, shows the desirability of bringing them together on occasions like the present, where the duties incumbent upon us, as "a sect everywhere spoken against," are commented upon and enforced, and where the opinions we hold are more familiarly explained than they can be in the pulpit.

The next meeting will take place at Chorley, on the 30th of September, when the Rev. J. Whitehead is expected to preach, and the Rev. J. Ragland to take the introductory part of the service.

F. BAKER, Sec.

ON Tuesday, 11th May, the Annual Tea-Meeting of the Coseley Unitarian Congregation was held in their Chapel, and was attended by about 400 persons. As the surplus of the money collected, after defraying expenses of these meetings, is appropriated to the relief of very extreme cases of poverty in the neighbourhood, without regard to religious connexion, there is always an attendance of persons of different religious persuasions at and around Coseley.

As the congregation has no minister at present, the Rev. William M'Kean of Walsall was called to the chair; who addressed the meeting on the pleasures and advantages of forgetting party differences, and uniting in works of mercy -the_real manifestation of pure religion and undefiled. The Rev. Mr. Wright, Calvinistic Baptist Minister, spoke on the particular sufferings of the locality, and the call of the Gospel on the rich to remember the poor. The Rev. Mr. Savage, late of Stourbridge, who, having seen the errors of Calvinism, has adopted our generous and benevolent faith, addressed the meeting on the spirit and power of the Gospel, in their appliance to the alleviation of suffering. Mr. Charles Twamley, of Dudley, exhorted to preparation for even worse times, except there might be some sudden improvement of the iron trade. The meeting was opened and closed by praise and prayer.

On the whole, this was a very delightful meeting, by which the benevolent and harmonious feelings of man were manifested in power to rise above the unnaturalism that is fixed on him in this country of sectarian inventions. The weakness of those, compared with the divine sympathies of the Father's offspring, when they escape even for a tem

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