for some years been unable to follow the details of the proceedings of the Association, and had very frequently been absent from his native land, yet he returned with new interest to the scenes and labours with which it had formerly been his happiness to be connected, and that interest had been mightily strengthened by his recent visit to the Scriptural lands-the country of the Patriarchs and the Prophets-the Egypt of the Old Testament-the Syria of the Old and New. There, surrounded by the scenery which brings the Gospel narration before you, not as of past history, but of present existences-there, where every mountain and valley, every plain and forest and lake and stream, bears a name which has something in it as sweet as sacred-there, holding converse with the great-the unchanged character of external nature-seeing what the apostles saw-treading where our Master trod-must not the Christian lesson be more emphatically taught, the Christian story be more instructively read!

I have heard the cedars shaken
By the storm on Lebanon's hill,
Wandered by the ancient rivers
Flowing through Damascus still:

On the verdant skirts of Tabor,
Listened to the morning hymn;
Joined the worship of the evening
On Samaria's Gerizim.

I have culled the glorious lilies*

On Gennesareth's flowing shore,-
And where Jesus lingered, laboured,

Learnt to love him more and more.

Not but that in returning to England in these days, when bigotry and intolerance occupy the high seats of legislation, he found much cause to blush for his country. He believed that in no part of the world, certainly not at Constantinople, certainly not at Cairo, would language be uttered, and still less applauded, such as found ready listeners and approvers here. He had met with Oriental sovereigns sending forth their subjects-Mussulmans, Christians, Jews-indiscriminately for education, fettering them down by no uncharitable, no dogmatic, no conscience-wounding restrictions; but in England, a Church, one of the smallest of Established Churches for numbers, one of the least ancient in date, is setting up its miserable monopoly, proclaiming its infallibility, and usurping a prescriptive right to be charged with the education of the whole people. Rome, in all her pomp and pride, never presented a more dishonourable spectacle of bigotry and presumption than has lately been displayed in Parliament. Strange that men will not learn, in the strife and struggle of various opinions, that un

charitableness must be heresy. Be the creed false that may, the creed of benevolence cannot but be true; and this creed-the creed of Christian love-is that which self-called Christian statesmen seem determined, at all events, to repudiate and disavow. (Cheers.) -Dr. Bowring, in proposing the resolution, bore his testimony as Auditor to the accuracy with which the accounts were kept, and the security to the subscribers from the regular and business-like habits of the Sub-Secretary.-The attendances at the chapel were very good, and particularly creditable to the zeal and consistency of our female friends.—At the dinner of the Association, at the Crown and Anchor, Strand, George Long, Esq., Barrister-atLaw, was called to the chair, and greatly contributed, by his ardour, intelligence and interest in our cause, to the utility and gratification of the meeting. Sentiments expressive of the loyalty of the assembly, and of their concurrence in all liberal plans for education and social improvement, were not forgotten. Sincere condolence with our absent Secretary was expressed, and feelingly spoken to by the Rev. Dr. Rees. The Rev. G. Armstrong returned thanks for the commendation bestowed upon his morning services; and he very suitably embraced the opportunity afforded him of impressing the minds of Unitarians with a sense of their duties, in providing suitable maintenance for their ministers, without countenancing the idea of Mr. Burke, that Christian ministers should be seen "raising their mitred fronts amidst courts and parliaments;" in observing with seriousness the important offices of family worship, bearing with Christian patience the taunts and sneers of their opponents, and acquiring a superiority to the pride and vanity which not unfrequently characterize even religious professors, and which often draw away their wives and daughters from Dissenting chapels to the temples of the national worship. "Let not Unitarians," said the speaker, "be ashamed of driving their carriages, when they have them, to the Unitarian chapel; though it will be found that we must look for our chief encouragement and support, not to persons of that station, but to the thinking part of the middle classes of the community.' The Rev. E. Tagart and the Rev. B. Mardon, in which they were seconded by several lay gentlemen, -the Treasurer, Thomas Hornby, Esq., W. Wansey, Esq., Thomas Cooke, Esq., and others, urged the importance of the objects contemplated by the Society, and the call for increased assistance, to enable the Committee more fully to comply with their own wishes, and to answer the ends for which they are appointed. Richard Taylor, Esq., commented in suitable terms on the inconsistency of the Church's opposition to the ministerial plan of education, on the ground of its proposing to employ different versions of the Scriptures, when the Church itself employs two (he might have said three) different and disagreeing versions of the Psalms; and when eminent prelates and dignitaries of the Establishment, the Lowths, the Blayneys, the Horsleys, and the Newcomes, have proved the possibility of essential improvement being made on that which is in common use.— - The Rev.

S. Wood, with other gentlemen, referred to the departure of the central British and Foreign School from the liberal and comprehensive plan on which the Lancasterian system was at first formed. The Rev. J. Cropper responded to the good wishes of the meeting for the prosperity of Unitarian Societies in Scotland, and especially of the effort now making at Aberdeen. And the health of the Chairman having been proposed by John Taylor, Esq., and suitably acknowledged, the meeting separated with a feeling of strong determination to act up to that sense of responsibility as the professors of important truth, to which in various parts of this day's proceedings they had been warmly animated.

REMONSTRANT SYNOD OF ULSTER.

THE annual meeting of this Reverend body was held on Tuesday, the 16th July, in the Meeting-House of the Rev. Hugh Moore, Newtownards. In consequence of the indisposition of the Rev. Dr. Montgomery, Moderator for the past year, the Rev. J. Mitchel, of Newry, preached an eloquent sermon, from Matt. ix. 36, and following verses. "The harvest, truly, is plenteous, but the labourers are few," &c. The Reverend gentleman, after having given a succinct description of the religious and moral state of Palestine, in the time of our Saviour, took occasion to inculcate the necessity of resting our hopes of success, in every undertaking, upon the assistance of the Almighty, and the propriety of praying for his divine favour to aid us in all our efforts. The preacher then proceeded to point out some circumstances in the present state of society, analogous to those of the Jews, in the time of Christ. Passing, briefly, over the errors of the Churches of Rome and England, he adverted, more particularly, to that body of Presbyterians, usually called Orthodox. He showed, whereas they profess to ground their belief on the Bible alone, that, in reality, they adopt human creeds, and receive, for doctrines, the commandments of He showed that, as a natural consequence of their abandonment of the only infallible standard, many errors had been inculcated by them, of which he particularly specified the doctrine of the Trinity, and the doctrine of Election and Reprobation, as now generally received. He also animadverted, in strong terms, upon the undue authority committed to the civil Magistrates, in Ecclesiastical matters, by the Westminster Confession of Faith; and showed, that, had the principles which it sanctions been carried into effect, in the time of our Saviour, he himself would have been the first sufferer. He next denied that the officers of the Church have the power committed to them in the Westminster Confession of faith, of remitting sins. He afterwards showed, that the Remonstrant body is regarded with sympathy by many who are dissatisfied with the violence of Calvinism, and with the mock-liberality of some who subscribe to its doctrines; and that it is the most formidable opponent to infidelity. In conclusion, he maintained, that

men.

although the harvest is, at present, plenteous, and the reapers are few, yet that they were not to give up in despair; but that their exertions were to be strenuous, and that they were constantly to implore the divine favour to assist their efforts.

After sermon, twenty Ministers, and twelve Elders answered the roll-call; when the Rev. F. BLAKELY moved, and the Rev. W. PORTER Seconded, the following resolution, which passed unanimously:

"That we deeply lament the indisposition which has deprived the present meeting of the counsel and services of our highly esteemed friend and brother, the Rev. Dr. Montgomery; but, we rejoice to learn, that there is good ground to hope, that he will soon be enabled to resume his Ministerial labours, and continue his exertions in the support and dissemination of Gospel truth, and Christian freedom."

It was then moved, and unanimously resolved, that those Ministers present, members of the Presbytery of Antrim, should be requested to sit, vote, and form part of the constituent body of this Synod.

The Rev. Mr. PORTER (Clerk) commenced reading the minutes of last year; when it was unanimously agreed, that the Rev. J. Mitchel, Newry, should be their Moderator for the ensuing year; and the Rev. W. Porter continued Clerk. The annual meeting, for next year, was appointed to be held at Comber, on the last Tuesday of July-the Rev. W. Porter to preach on the second day of meeting.

The Ministers of the several Presbyteries were called on to state the extent of their Ministerial labours, during the past year; and they, respectively, at considerable length, explained the various duties performed by them, in preaching, visiting, and catechising, throughout the bounds of their Congregations. It seemed to the meeting, that these duties should be rigidly attended to.

The Rev. W. PORTER stated the nature of a conversation which he had with the Rev. Mr. Horner, of Dublin, respecting claims which the Remonstrant Synod might have on the Incidental Fund of the General Synod of Ulster, the Rev. Mr. Porter being one of the Trustees of the Fund. Mr. Porter threw out these hints for the purpose of inciting inquiry into the subject.

Synod was afterwards occupied in routine business, till five o'clock, when it adjourned till next morning.

Wednesday, July 17.

The reading of

SYNOD met, for public business, at nine o'clock. the minutes of last year was proceeded with. Some discussion took place, respecting the Home Mission; and Ministers were instructed to take up collections in their respective Congregations, on the first Sunday in January next, in aid of its funds; and to exert themselves zealously in increasing its usefulness. A number of the members expressed themselves, at length, strongly urging the propriety of the opinions of the body being widely spread abroad, and

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extensively preached; not only to the people of the Remonstrant Synod, but to all other classes, who are really or affectedly ignorant of its doctrines. This course was eloquently and earnestly urged on the serious attention of both the clergy and laity.

The different Presbyteries then gave in their reports for the past

year.

The newly-erected Congregation of Ravara, was reported to be in a very thriving condition, and the labours and zeal of its pastor, the Rev. Mr. M'Caw, were stated to have given universal satisfaction, and to be attended with the best results. The report said, that the body of worshippers was rapidly increasing.

The Ministers of the body were called on to report their proceedings in regard to the Sunday Schools in their Congregations, and the formation and increase of Congregational Libraries. This most important subject occupied a great deal of the attention of the meeting. The majority of the reports which were tendered, were, in a high degree, satisfactory.

The Rev. F. BLAKELY, with an animated speech, in which he dwelt particularly on the violence of religious animosity, at the present time, and in which he referred to the disgraceful dissensions of some Churches, introduced an overture, which was afterwards modified into the following form,-"That we congratulate all our friends and brethren upon the unanimity and concord which have distinguished this meeting, and which have invariably marked our annual assemblies since we first formed ourselves into a separate Church. We further congratulate them on the rapidly increasing progress which the cause of freedom of religious inquiry is daily making, both at home and abroad, of which a striking instance has lately been displayed, in the secession of a great number of Ministers and congregations from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America." Overtured and passed unanimously, - That this Synod recommends the Northern Sunday School Society to the liberal public, as well worthy of support and assistance." A vote of thanks to the Rev. H. Moore, and the old congregation of Newtownards, for their kindness in granting the use of their house, was unanimously passed; and, at three o'clock, the Moderator closed the Synod by prayer. The entire proceedings were characterized by a spirit of Christian liberality, and brotherly affection.-N. Whig.

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

THE report commences with an appropriate notice of the death of the Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer and John Bolton, Esq. two of the Vice Presidents of the society, and of Samuel Boyd, Esq. one of the managers.

New Auxiliaries. — In the course of the year 25 new auxiliaries have been formed: one of them in Wisconsin territory, one in that of Iowa, and one in Texas.

Receipts. The receipts of the year from all sources amount to