INTELLIGENCE.

British and Foreign Unitarian Association.

THE Anniversary of this Institution will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Whitsun week, the 16th, 17th and 18th of May.

On Tuesday evening the General Committee will meet the Deputies of District Associations at the rooms in Walbrook Buildings at Six o'clock.

On Wednesday morning the General Meeting for Business will be held at Finsbury Chapel, to which Individual Subscribers, Deputies of District Associations, Representatives of Congre gations and Honorary Members are respectfully invited.

On the evening of the same day a Sermon will be preached in Finsbury Chapel by the Rev. Lant Carpenter, LL.L', of Bristol, in aid of the funds of the Association: divine service to commence at half-past Six o'clock.

On Thursday morning a second Sermon will be preached, also in aid of the funds of the Association, by the Rev. JAMES TAYLER, of Nottingham: divine service to commence at Twelve o'clock.

After this service, the subscribers and their friends will dine together at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand.

[For further particulars, see the Wrapper.]

Anniversary of Moor Lane Chapel, Bolton.
[From the Bolton Chronicle, April 1.]

THE Fourth Anniversary of the Friends of Free Inquiry, was held on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday last, at the Meetinghouse in Moor Lane. The Rev. W. J. Bakewell, of Chester, preached in the morning and afternoon of Sunday, and the Rev. J. G. Robberds, of Manchester, in the evenings of Sunday and Monday; on which occasions, collections were made towards defraying the expense incurred by erecting the School Rooms and Vestries adjoining the Meeting-house. On Monday at one o'clock, the annual dinner took place, of which upwards of 120 persons partook. The Rev. W. SHEPHERD, of Liverpool, officiated as Chairman, and Mr. Joshua Crook, Vice-President. After the cloth was removed, the Rev. President observed, that those who were that day assembled, had been designated, by many able and eloquent characters, as a class of men wrapped in darkness. It was true that they had not the benefit of the imposition of hands by the bishops, which he verily believed to be one of the grossest impositions that ever existed. The Aristocracy of the country had seized upon the riches of the Church, and aggrandized the members of their own families and connexions; and ministers were thus forced upon the country, in con tempt, as Burke would say, of the opinions and dispositions of

the respective congregations. The choice of all ministers of Christianity should be invested in the people; and those who contributed the smallest mite towards the spread of the Gospel, ought to have a vote in all the temporal concerns of the church of which they were members. The first toast he had to propose was, The true source of all power-the People."

The PRESIDENT then made a few observations upon the free discussion allowed in the Christian Church, until the union took place between Church and State; which caused all the evils complained of by so many religious bodies. Thus, in consequence of this union, the Papal power had been carried to such an extent, that no one was allowed to promulgate his opinions, unless they were in conformity with the decision of Popes, Kings, Councils and Priests. At the Reformation, though a mighty accession of religious liberty and illumination of mind had occurred, yet this unnatural union being perpetuated, the successors of Popery in the emoluments of the Church, and the patronage of the State, cast an odium on free discussion. When the members of the Church of England were adducing arguments to oppose the Roman Catholic claims, the principal objection alleged against the latter was, that they deprecated discussion and the rights of conscience. But how did these very Churchmen act at the Universities? They told the students to read the Bible, and to think for themselves; but when they came to be ordained, they were compelled to subscribe to the 39 Articles, and were most emphatically and peremptorily exhorted not to teach any other doctrines than what were contained in those articles. If they neglected this advice, expulsion from the bosom of the Church was the consequence. It reminded him of a certain connoisseur of painting, who invited a friend to look at a fine picture, which he said was one of Raphael's; on his friend expressing some little hesitation, he said, "If you say that it is not Raphael's, I'll knock you down; nevertheless, let me have your candid opinion." (Much laughter and applause.)-Every man ought to judge for himself in religious matters, and it was contrary to reason or justice that he should be persecuted for the avowal of any set of opinions.

"The unalienable birth-right of man-unlimited freedom of discussion, and may no daring mortal, mounting the Throne of God, presume to direct the lightnings of Heaven."

After many liberal sentiments had been proposed, the VICEPRESIDENT gave-"The man who through good and through evil report, has dared to be at his post-the consistent advocate of truth-the philanthropist and scholar, whose exertions have been constant in the cause of the great family of man-our worthy Chairman, the Rev. WILLIAM SHEPHERD." It is impos sible to describe the enthusiasm with which this toast was received.

The Rev. Wм, SHEPHERD attributed the compliments which

they had paid him, more to their partiality, than to any merit on his part, and he sincerely thanked them for their warm expressions of kindness and approbation. He trusted he might say without vanity, that whenever civil and religious liberty had been called into question, he was found at his post (cheers). He was probably indebted to incidents which had occurred to him in early life, for the sentiments he now held, and for the conduct he had pursued. When a boy, he was sent to a school, where he was the only Dissenter amongst the scholars, and his uncle was the only man in the place who was opposed to the American war. Consequently he (Mr. Shepherd) was abused and scouted by all his school-fellows as a Presbyterian rebel. He was glad of it; for it made him firm and resolute in the cause of truth; and it led him to inquire early, and caused him to embrace the opinions he now professed. He was not sorry for what he had done; for he had lived to see in this kingdom and the world at large, men whom it was an honour to resemble, do many things which he himself had advocated from a child. He had seen the United States of America assert their liberty, and establish a Republican Government; he had seen liberty transplanted from that country into France, which she now enjoyed, since the Revolution, under a limited monarchy, instead of a despotic Government. He had seen the blacks in St. Domingo obtain their manumission; and whatever might be said in the House of Commons by Messrs Buxton, Wilberforce, or Canning, he looked to St. Domingo as the cloud whence the lightning shall blast and annihilate slavery and oppression! He had seen the South American States break the chains of their oppressors, and assert the rights of free-born In England, a great revolution had taken place in the minds of men since 1792 and 3. At that time it was not safe for a man of liberal sentiments to walk the streets. He had been pelted in the streets of Bolton, as a Presbyterian and a Jacobin; (much laughter) but now he could walk in perfect safety, and the improvement in liberal principles was so great, that if a Public Meeting were called in the Town, upon a subject of civil or religious liberty, he believed the majority would be found in its favour. Manchester was also much improved. They had lately a Petition for Parliamentary Reform, which, some years since, would have been thought to have threatened the overthrow of Church and State. Many persons, in consequence of publicly maintaining their opinions, had on different occasions suffered severely in their lives and property. He was happy, however, to say of himself, that, excepting the pelting in the streets of the good town of Bolton, he had suffered no personal inconvenience. He would recommend all, at their outset in life, to acquire decision of character, and strength of principle; for when their opponents saw them firm and undaunted, they would be less inclined to meddle with them. They would soon learn to their cost, that if they struck hard, they would be struck hard

men.

in return. In his own neighbourhood, he had the pleasure of living upon good terms with his opponents-he had lately foraged in the enemies' camp, and found it better furnished than our own. He was very sanguine in the cause for which they then met; and whilst his strength remained, his exertions should not cease. He, however, found his strength gradually declining; but contrary to the experience of many, with him it revived at the proceedings of such meetings as the present. It was a source of continual pleasure for him to know, that when his exertions should be withdrawn by the resistless hand of time, his place would be supplied by persons better calculated than himself to advance the great cause. Mr. Shepherd concluded by saying, that he was compelled to leave the Chair immediately, as his necessary avocations called him away from the Town.

At the conclusion of the Meeting, a hymn was sung and a prayer delivered, and the assembly retired to meet again at the Moor-Lane Chapel.

On Tuesday, about 100 of the Sunday-school scholars, with their teachers, sat down to dinner. When the cloth was removed, the President, the Rev. ROBERT CREE, of Preston, proposed the following sentiment, which he prefaced with a few observations-" Success to the cause of the general Education of the Poor."-The children were then addressed by Mr. MAKIN, Mr. FINCH, of Liverpool, and Mr. HEYWOOD, the superintendent; in the course of which, the object and tendency of Sunday-schools were dwelt upon, and the children exhorted to pursue that course of life most acceptable to their Creator, by emulating every virtuous action, and by being kind and charitable to each other, and consistent in their conduct as rational creatures. Mr. Cree eulogized in high terms Mechanics' Institutions, and proposed a toast, wishing them success. After which, a hymn was sung, a benediction given by the Chairman, and the Meeting broke up.

The Annual Meeting of the Unitarian Congregations of Rochdale, Newchurch in Rossendale, Todmorden, Padiham, &c., will be held this year in Rochdale, on Friday in Whitsun week. The Rev. Noah Jones, of Todmorden, and the Rev. J. Beard, of Green-gate, Salford, have promised to preach on the occasion. Services will commence at 10 o'clock in the Morning and at 6 in the Evening. There will be a dinner provided at the Wellington Inn for the Friends of the Association, price 18. 9d. JAMES TAYLOR.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Communications have been received from Messrs. Latham, Ketley, and Cundill; and from R. J. P.; J. C.; J. M; and A. H. Mr. Wright's second Letter to the Unitarians in the NorthEast District, in the next Number.

THE

Christian Reformer.

No. CXXXVII.]

MAY, 1826.

[Vol. XII.

→ Letters from the Rev. R. Wright, to the Unitarians in the North-east District.

LETTER II,

Trowbridge, April 11, 1826.

MY CHRISTIAN BRETHREN,

In reminding you of the things which you have been taught, and attempting to excite you to an increase of zeal and to persevering exertions in the great cause of pure and primitive Christianity, it appears to me essentially, and above all things, necessary to call your attention, in the first place, to what relates to yourselves individually, to the state of your minds, your own spirit and conduct, and the progress each of you is making in the good ways of God. The Apostolic exhortation, "Look to yourselves," is highly important, but too much neglected. It is easy for persons to see defects and failings in others; they are ready enough to censure the faults of their brethren, and can complain of the want of zeal and exertion in those around them; but, alas! they are too apt to forget themselves, to overlook their own failings and defects, to palliate their own faults, and increase the general want of zeal and exertion by their own lukewarmness and indifference. It ought ever to be kept in view that Christianity is a personal and spiritual religion, that it relates to men as individuals, has its seat in the understanding and the heart, and extends to the whole character and conduct. There can be no true and genuine Christianity actually existing in life and practice, any further than individuals become real Christians, by understanding the gospel, abiding under its influence, and obeying it from the heart. There can be no zeal in the cause of Christ, any further than individuals become zealous; nor any exertions to promote it any further than individuals exert themselves, either singly or unitedly. Christian churches being aggregates of individual Christians, there can be no more information, or piety, or virtue, or love, or zeal, in any church, than the individuals who compose it possess and bring into it. The want of knowledge, purity and zeal, in any church, must arise

VOL. XII.