for the Sunday-schools. He also pointed out the congregations at Padiham and Trowbridge, and in conclusion illustrated his topic by a reference to the recently published Life of Channing. In proposing the health of the Preacher and Supporter, the CHAIRMAN said that in the sermon of the morning they had been carried back by the earnestness and strong sense of practical religion in the preacher to the times of their good Puritan ancestors.

The Rev. P. P. CARPENTER could not expect or wish all his brethren to agree with him in all his views, but it was cheering to him to find that there was a disposition to accept and approve his general principles.

Rev. JAMES MARTINEAU expressed his great regret at the occasion of his having been that day called to undertake the duties of supporter, in the absence through illness of Rev. D. Davis. They were that day surrounded with objects of interest. It would have added to the many gratifications of the day if the Chairman had favoured them with the history of his congregation and predecessors in the ministry. In looking over the history of the early Nonconformity of Dukinfield and that neighbourhood, he had been struck by the fact that the ministers there appeared to have lived to a good old age, and to preserve the interest and affection of their flock to the last. This proved the good sense of the people, and their appreciation of the faithful performance of duty in those that ministered to them. The history of the congregation at Gee Cross for the past promised stability for the future. The neighbourhood was rich in the records of the "old Dissent," and exhibited many of the characteristics of sterling and enduring worth. They had also the elements of the new civilization. The swarming factories which covered the less fertile hills of Cheshire afforded the grounds for a new hope and for the exercise of fresh zeal. The two worlds, the old and the new, met together on that spot. It was easier for them, it must be confessed, to build their proud remembrances on the past, than it was faithfully to perform their duty to the present generation. He could not but sometimes ask whether their old institutions and modes of usefulness were suited to the present day. He feared they had to learn many lessons. They must devise a means of acting on the lower classes of the people, or their Christianity would not do its proper work

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in the world. It was a matter of anxiety to him to perceive that religion was becoming too exclusively a matter of interest to the middle classes. It was a matter too much of mere taste and a mark of outward respectability. was impossible to conceal from themselves that there was some defect in their ministrations. He did not speak this in the way of reproach to others. He felt it strongly himself, and wished to impress a deeper sense of duty on himself. When they agreed last year to meet at Gee Cross, it was in the expectation that they should be received in the beautiful and graceful structure which they had that morning seen all but completed. He had heard one or two murmurs that the old roof should cover them that day. For his own part, he rejoiced at that circumstance. was a fit place for their reception. This was the first occasion of their visiting Gee Cross as the Provincial Assembly. Looking to their history, it was right that they should take a parting view of the ancient chapel. They had one foot upon the grave-place of the old institutions, and another upon the birthplace of the new.-Mr. Martineau concluded an interesting speech, of which the above is a very faint outline, by expressing for himself and his brethren earnest wishes for the prosperity of the Gee-Cross congregation and the health and happiness of their minister.

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In acknowledging the toast, Rev. J. BROOKS said, that happy as his lot at Hyde had been, of late his pleasure had been mingled with some pensive and painful feelings. Looking round him, he did not see a single minister whom he was accustomed to meet when he first came into that neighbourhood. He rejoiced, however, to see so many young men springing up to carry on the work of religious reformation. In reference to his chapel, he would only remark that it had been built 140 years. The families who had now with princely liberality united to build the new chapel, were the lineal descendants of the original founders. The names of those who that day mingled with them as guests, were the same as those that might be found in the original Trustdeed. He rejoiced to say that a happy agreement, now as of old, existed between minister and people on theology and politics. For a long time he was the bishop of an extensive district. For a long time all the funerals and all the baptisms were celebrated at the ancient chapel of Gee Cross. At length the

church arose, and then it was prophesied by some that Mr. Brooks would soon lose some of his wealthier hearers. The saying prevailed, that when Dissenters began to keep their carriages, they soon rolled off to the church. He was happy to say it had not proved so at Hyde.

Rev. J. G. ROBBERDS hoped that the munificence of the Gee-Cross congregation would not indispose them to remember and help their poorer brethren. Living in a magnificent mansion, they must be prepared to receive many calls for help. Unless the Unitarian denomination exerted themselves in behalf of their poorer congregations, many of them must cease to exist. He wanted to see such a state of things that a minister should not feel it to be a matter of great importance where he was situated; that he might feel assured that so long as he continued to do his duty, the means of subsistence would never be denied him. He wanted to see them all members of one body.

The Rev. JOHN ROBBERDS spoke to the sentiment of the Emancipation of the Jews.

Rev. R. BROOK ASPLAND said that the "Provincial Assembly" was, he believed, the oldest existing Nonconformist meeting in England. They had entered on the third century of their existence; the first Assembly took place at Preston in the year 1646. After stating some facts illustrative of the spirit of the Presbyterian churches of Lancashire and Cheshire two centuries back, Mr. Aspland drew the attention of the Assembly to a venerable man who was a link between the past and present age of Presbyterianism, who, now approaching his ninetieth year, was amongst them that day, with his faculties unimpaired; who had received Presbyterian ordination, in a neighbouring county, as far back as 1782; had exercised his ministry with distinguished usefulness for nearly sixty years; and had, since his retirement from the active duties of his profession, lived several years amongst them, honoured for his years and his virtues. He proposed the health of their truly venerable guest, Rev. Wm. Turner.

Mr. TURNER immediately rose, and with a firm voice, audible to the end of the room, spoke as follows:-Although I trust my life has been by no means undevoted to civil and religious liberty, I must confess that one faculty I have never had the opportunity of cultivating to any great extent, that of unpremedi

tated speech. I trust, however, on this interesting occasion to be able briefly to express my feelings. I thank you for your kind and gratifying notice of me. My family has been most closely united with the English Presbyterians. My grandfather, as is known to many of you, shewed his attachment to the House of Hanover and the cause of civil and religious liberty, by leading his congregation (at Preston) to resist the Rebellion of 1715. For the services he was enabled to render to the Royal cause, he received publicly the thanks of General Willes, the commander of the King's forces at the fight of Preston. I need scarcely tell you that my father was well and honourably known as a minister and an author. He was the intimate friend of Dr. Priestley, whom he assisted in the composition of that valuable series of Theological Essays, known as the "Theological Repository." For sixty years, I was spared to exercise my ministry amongst the people of Newcastleupon-Tyne. I left them some years ago, and rejoice to know that they are in a flourishing state, under the care of my friend, Rev. George Harris. I feel that I have great reason to be thankful to God for good health, and for the power of still testifying my interest in the cause of civil and religious liberty.*

Rev. Dr. BEARD illustrated the necessity of Popular Education to the peace, prosperity and happiness of the English nation. Though the gentlemen present, being, both in theory and practice, friends and promoters of such education, needed no enforcement of the topic, yet the speaker was glad that the sentiment to which he had been invited to speak had been distinctly enunciated on the occasion, if for no other reason, for this, that so many

*At the meeting the following day, an interesting anecdote was told by Rev. W. Fillingham. He was a native of a northern county, and born of orthodox parents. When he went forth from the parental roof and settled at Newcastle, his good parents thought it their duty to warn him against giving ear to the minister who had come from the south, and who taught the people of Newcastle that they could get to heaven simply by good works. Their injunction was vain; he soon became a hearer of the teacher of truth and righteousness, and ultimately saw reason to depart from the Methodist communion and embrace the opinions of their venerable friend.

persons, of some of whom better things might have been expected, were at the present moment drawn away under the fascination that the salvation of the country was to be wrought out by some external operation on the British Constitution. He wished, indeed, to see an extension of political privileges; but unless education was extended in the same degree, the result would be an increase in Parliament of ignorance, narrowness and corruption. There was as much need for the improvement as for the increase of popular education. The mere cultivation of the intellect was not education, useful though it was as a preliminary. The essence of education lay in the development of the religious and moral nature. In this respect the English people stood higher in the scale of education than statistical figures shewed. The English people educated each other in their Sunday. schools, in their religious discussions and efforts, especially under the influence of the Bible. The strong religious convictions, the spiritual elevation and moral control that ensued, had been the chief cause why England had been so little af fected by the revolutionary storm that was now sweeping over Europe. In France and Germany, intellectually the most educated nations in Europe, were to be seen striking and painful illustrations of the insufficiency of education apart from the expanding, controling and mellowing influence of religion. Some friends of education had sometimes seemed to shun the necessity of religious education, from the practical difficulties that beset the subject. But truth should be proclaimed as truth, and the result left with Providence. No doubt religion was in this case made use of as a weapon of sectarianism. The Bishop of Manchester had lately intimated that the education of the people must be in episcopal hands. That doctrine had been advanced by others, and would find very zealous advocacy. What was to be done? The end is not yet. Great and ultimate principles must be put forward, and in the long run truth would prevail. Those principles, the speaker believed, had been well enunciated by the Lancashire Educational Society. What were they? Mainly these local support and local government in every part of the country, originated, enforced and improved by legislative acts and governmental supervision. Another important principle was found in the distinction between general and sectarian education: the former to be carried on in the general working of the school, the latter to be given apart from

its ordinary routine. He was afraid that circumstances would compel them to add another point to their Educational charter, in order in some way "to compel them to come into" their schools, for many parents shewed a lamentable indifference to the education of their children. Any way, something must be done. The present plans satisfied no one, and the amount of ignorance, neglect, disorder and vice around them was as pitiable as it was dangerous.

Mr. TRAVERS MADGE addressed the company in a very interesting speech on Domestic Missions.- We the less regret our inability to report his speech, as we hope soon to present to our readers, in another shape, his opinions on this subject.

The CHAIRMAN proposed as a toast, "Manchester New College," and remarked that its past success in training ministers for our pulpits was the best proof of its value, and gave the conductors of the institution a right to appeal to the Unitarian body for their continued support.

The Rev. WILLIAM GASKELL, having been called upon to reply, alluded to his long connection with the College, first as a Student, then as an Officer and Trustee, and now as a Professor. Any one who looked with candour through their churches, and observed the standing taken by the ministers who have been indebted to it for their training, either wholly or in part, could not deny that it had been successful. Of the former class he might point to Mr. Madge, Mr. Robberds, Mr. Wallace, Dr. Beard, Mr. Tagart, Mr. Martineau; of the latter class, to Dr. Hutton, Mr. J. J. Tayler, Mr. Aspland, and many others. Their expectations must be high indeed who could bring themselves to declare that an institution which had furnished to our churches men distinguished by such a variety of talents as those men were, had failed in its object. Notwithstanding occasional murmurs, he did not believe that the body at large was dissatisfied with the College. If, indeed, he was compelled to suppose that certain correspondents of one of our periodicals spoke the general sentiments of the denomination

writers who seemed to go on the prin ciple that "Whatever is, is wrong"-he should look upon them as the most dissatisfied and discontented body living. But, happily, the complaints of the faultfinders often amusingly enough neutralized one another. For instance, one correspondent complained that the plans of the institution were not of such a kind as

to train useful and popular preachers; too much attention was devoted to nice points of useless criticism. But another correspondent gave it as his opinion that the Faculty of Theology should consist of ten or twelve, instead of three, Professors. Should that idea be carried out, the poor students would, he feared, have little time or thought left for the Professors of the Literary and Scientific department. On the whole, he believed the College gave, and was believed to give, a sound and the requisite training both to the theologian and the general student.

He looked on Manchester as a very suitable locality for the College. The more the question of the removal of the Institution to London was discussed, the more satisfactorily did it appear that it was for the interest both of Manchester College and University Hall that they should be kept distinct.-The sentiments of Mr. Gaskell were very heartily seconded by Mr. RANDAL HIBBERT, an old member of the Gee-Cross congregation.

In reply to the toast of the "Memory of the Two Thousand," the Rev. J. J. TAYLER delivered an eloquent speech, of which our exhausted space prevents our giving even a brief outline.-The health of" Mr. Whitehead and Prosperity to the Widows' Fund," was then given from the chair. Rev. John Owen, of Lydiate, acknowledged, in a very neat speech, the health of the Visitors. The valuable services of Mr. Brooks, as Chairman, were then very cordially acknowledged, and the Assembly dispersed.

On the following day, the ministers met to transact the business of the

Widows' Fund, concerning which we propose giving some particulars in our next number.

Western Unitarian Association. The annual meeting of this Association was holden at Bridport on Wednesday, the 21st June. The service was introduced by the Revds. Messrs. Walker, of Yeovil, and Russell Carpenter, of Bridgewater. An interesting discourse was delivered by the Rev. Thomas Hincks, of Exeter, which was listened to by a numerous audience with marked attention. The object of the preacher appeared to be to shew the desirableness of adapting the mode of advocating our opinions to the wants of the age, and in so doing to lay aside the controversial and aggressive spirit for one of enlarged Christian philanthropy. The business of the Society was transacted after the service, W. Colfox, Esq., in the chair. In the evening, the congregation and visitors partook of tea in the school-rooms; after which the party adjourned to the chapel, the Rev. J. L. Short, of Bridport, in the chair. Suitable and animated addresses were delivered by the Revds. S. Walker, of Frenchay; E. Whitfield, of Ilminster ; T. Cooper, of Dorchester; R. Carpenter, of Bridgewater; T. Hincks, of Exeter;

Walker, of Yeovil; J. Smethurst, of Moreton Hampstead; and Mr. Wilbraham, from the Staffordshire Potteries; after which a hymn was sung, and the Chairman concluded the meeting with prayer.

1848. May 14, at George's meeting, Exeter, by Rev. Thomas Hincks, Mr. ROBERT CRISPIN, of Crediton, to ELIZABETH, fourth daughter of the late Mr. Thomas COOPER, of Exeter.

May 29, at the Ancient chapel, Gee Cross, Hyde, Cheshire, by Rev. James Brooks, Mr. THOMAS HIBBERT, of Godley, to Miss ELIZA MARSH, of Hyde.

May 30, at Hackney, by Rev. Joseph Hutton, LL.D., CHARLES, eldest son of the late John STEER, Esq., barrister-atlaw, to MARTHA, eldest daughter of J. S. NETTLEFOLD, Esq., of Highgate.

May 31, at the Westgate chapel, Wakefield, by Rev. Edward Higginson,

GEORGE, fifth son of James BUCKTON, Esq., of Potter Newton, near Leeds, to ELIZABETH ANNE, elder daughter of the late William MARRIOTT, Esq., of Plumpton House, Alverthorpe, near Wakefield.

June 12, at the Unitarian chapel, Portsmouth, by Rev. Henry Hawkes, Mr. VINE to Miss HARRY, both of Landport.

June 20, at the Great meeting, Leicester, by Rev. R. Brook Aspland, M.A., of Dukinfield, RICHARD KERSHAW LUMB, Esq., of Savile Green, Halifax, to ELLEN, daughter of the late Rev. Robert ASPLAND, of Hackney.