DOMESTIC.

rago of facts and their opposites, enti

Lydgate, Yorkshire.

The chapel of Lydgate is situated in the West-Riding of Yorkshire, about six miles from Huddersfield, in the midst of a wild and beautiful country. It is one of the most ancient Nonconformist establishments in the county, being one of the places raised by the courageous labours and zealous preaching of Oliver Heywood. During the darkest days of persecution, subsequent to the passing of the Act of Uniformity, he was in the habit of visiting at the house of Godfrey Armitage, of Lydgate, and on these occasions such of the inhabitants of that district as favoured the principles of the Nonconformist clergy, were gathered together, often for safety during the hours of night, for public worship. The house, which was standing till within a few years, was situated on the apex of a small hill, and commanded a view of every entrance into the valley below. At the eastern and western extremities of the building were entrance- doors, and at each of these a guard was placed to give warning if constables or the military made their appearance during the continuance of the service. When, subsequently to the Revolution, toleration was secured to Nonconformist worshipers, a chapel was built very near the spot where they had previously assembled, and in the year 1695 it was opened and dedicated to public worship by the good Nonconformist bishop, whose courage, zeal and piety, had gathered and kept together the little flock during the long and stormy night of persecution. In 1768, during the ministry of the Rev. Joseph Marshall, the chapel was rebuilt, the congregation being aided in their important undertaking by the congregations of Leeds and Wakefield. In 1842, during the ministry of Rev. Frederick Hornblower, a very commodious parsonage-house and a noble schoolroom were built on land immediately adjoining the chapel-yard. For several years past it has been known that the chapel needed extensive repairs. Previously to 1844, it was not deemed advisable to undertake them, in consequence of the insecure legal tenure of their religious property by the English Presbyterians. In that singular far

troversy," Lydgate is one of the chapels specified as unduly possessed by Unitarians, and there can be little doubt that it would, but for the timely legal protection afforded by the Legislature, have been the object of the mingled zeal and cupidity of some "orthodox' relators. That difficulty was removed by Sir Robert Peel's Dissenters' Chapels Act. In the spring of this year, it became apparent that it was no longer safe to continue public worship in the building. The roof was sinking from the decay of the principal timbers. Although the circumstances of the congregation were such as did not enable them to raise more than half the sum required to put the building into substantial repair, they were enabled by the assistance of Thomas Hardy, Esq., of Birksgate (whose appointment as a magistrate for the county of York we not long since recorded), to undertake the work without further delay, trusting to the kindness of friends at a distance to enable them to discharge at an early period the debt they have contracted to their generous friend. During the past five months the congregation has met for worship in the school-room. The building has been re-roofed with slate, and at the eastern extremity it has been lengthened for the purpose of constructing a suitable entrance-porch. The new portion of the building is surmounted by a very elegant dome or cupola, supported by six neat columns, and the whole surmounted by a curious ball of iron stone, which has never felt the mason's chisel, having been found in its present state in the midst of a block hewn out of the quarry whence the stone for the original chapel walls was obtained. The cupola, which is fitted for a bell, was entirely the gift of Mr. Hardy. The ball was contributed by Mr. Henry Morehouse, of Stony Bank. The western extremity of the roof is surmounted by a neat stone cross. As originally constructed, all the windows of the chapel were placed in the south wall; the occasion of the repairs, which have almost amounted to a rebuilding of the edifice, was taken to alter this, and three windows, corresponding to those on the south, have been placed in the north wall. The glare of light is softened by the inter

mixture of coloured glass with the plain, The seats near the pulpit have been rearranged, so as to allow of the communion-table being fenced off by a light and elegant railing. Great taste has been shewn in all these alterations. A relic of the original building is carefully preserved in the oak panelling, on which the names of some of the founders are distinctly marked. In one of the seats is to be seen "John Armitage, 1696." He was the son of the Godfrey already mentioned, and not less warmly than his father attached to Nonconformist principles. It is pleasant to know that the descendants of this family are still living and are ornaments to Nonconformity. One of them is at the present time the chief magistrate of the city of Manchester.

The day fixed for the re-opening was Wednesday, Sept. 20. The weather was most favourable. Friends attended from Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield, &c., and the following ministers took part in the proceedings of the day, the Rev. John Owen, minister of the place; Rev. W. Turner, Halifax; Rev. Edward Higginson, Wakefield; Rev. J. H. Ryland, Bradford; Rev. G. Heap Stanley, Huddersfield; and Rev. R. B. Aspland, Dukinfield. The prayers were read from the Reformed Liturgy by Mr. Owen, and a sermon was preached by Mr. Aspland from Heb. viii. 12. A liberal collection was then made towards the fund for repairs. From the chapel the friends adjourned to the schoolroom, a lofty and well-ventilated room, where a handsome collation, prepared by the ladies of the congregation, assisted by the ladies of the Huddersfield congregation, was prepared. Two long tables were filled with guests. As soon as the cloth was withdrawn, the chair was taken by Mr. Hardy, who introduced to the company a series of sentiments in speeches replete with good sense and kindly and Christian feeling. In proposing the usual expression of loyal feeling to the Queen, with which Englishmen are wont to begin their public social meetings, Mr. Hardy contrasted the changes that had taken place in the spirit of the Government during the last forty years, and expressed his delight at seeing the throne occupied by a lady who was enthroned in the affections of her people, and who was as sincere a friend to liberal principles as the wisest and best of her subjects. In proposing the toast of "Civil and Religious Liberty," the Chairman took a rapid survey of the

condition of the country and the state of political feeling. Alluding to the recent insane Chartist outbreaks, he stated that he had recently had an opportunity, as a magistrate of the county, in passing the accounts of the West-Riding, to observe the cost which the illegal and violent proceedings of the people calling themselves Chartists had occasioned the county to be put to. He was shocked to see how large was the amount of additional county taxation caused by the proceedings necessary in watching and preventing the threatened insurrection, -an amount which would in great measure have to be supplied by the great body of the industrious and peaceable inhabitants. The Rev. Wm. Turner replied to the sentiment in an able and animated address. In proposing the thanks of the meeting to the preacher of the day, the Chairman dwelt on the services rendered to the Unitarian body by the late Rev. Robert Aspland, especially in connection with the Monthly Repository and the Christian Reformer, and expressed his satisfaction at the continuance of the latter by his son. Mr. Aspland, at the close of an address in which he took a review of the past and present condition of the Unitarian body in England, alluded to the influence which their historical relations to English Presbyterianism had exercised on it. Congratulating the Lydgate society on having so safely and honourably passed another crisis in their congrega tional history, and recommending their case to the generous help of other societies, he proposed, "Prosperity to the Lydgate Congregation, and the health of their much-valued Minister, Mr. Owen." Mr. Owen acknowledged the good wishes of his friends in a speech of deep feeling. — The Chairman next offered, "The Memory of Oliver Heywood and John Armitage and Henry Morehouse, the founders of the Lydgate Chapel." Mr. H. Morehouse, one of the descendants of the last-named worthy, acknowledged the sentiment in a very interesting speech, full of historical details, some of which are repeated in the introductory part of this report. --The next sentiment referred to the neighbouring congregation at Huddersfield, whose success and prosperity were as dear to them as their own. The sentiment was acknowledged by Rev. G. H. Stanley, who reviewed his past connection with the society at Lydgate, and that with the society at Huddersfield, which was about, in consequence of his

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need of rest to recruit his health, to come to a close; also by Mr. Hornblower, of Huddersfield. The cause of Sunday-schools was advocated in a very earnest address by Rev. J. H. Ryland. Mr. Owen took occasion to mention a benevolent effort recently made in his own Sunday-school by Mr. Pomfret. It had been necessary to expel a pupil guilty of misconduct. Grieved at the thought that one more than ordinarily needing instruction and reformation should be cut off from good influences and discipline, Mr. Pomfret devoted a portion of every alternate Sunday, when he was not engaged at the school, in instructing this unhappy youth, and held himself in readiness to associate with him any others who might from the same cause be cut off from instruction in the Sunday-school.-Mr. Higginson briefly but pointedly alluded to the duties which become our religious societies, now that they are freed from the pressure of persecution. At the instance of Mr. Owen, who dwelt in terms of warm gratitude on his services to the Lydgate congregation, a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Mr. Hardy, who in reply said he should be well rewarded if he could see assembled in their ancient chapel a congregation of earnest and united worshipers. After some music from the choir, the party broke up, deeply gratified with the simple services and pleasures of the day. The friends from a distance returned to their several homes, grateful to the people at Lydgate for the kind hospitalities of the day,

Southern Unitarian Society.

The annual meeting of the Southern Unitarian Society was held at Poole, on Wednesday, Sept. 13th. In the morning, the Rev. T. Cooper, of Dorchester, conducted the devotional service, and Rev. W. Smith, of Wareham, preached an eloquent sermon from Heb. xiii. 8, on the suitableness of Christianity for all times and circumstances. In the evening, the Rev. Porter Orr, of Ringwood, introduced the service, and the Rev. J. L. Short, of Bridport, preached a highly impressive and appropriate discourse from John xvii. 17, on the influence of a correct theology on the opinions and character. At the business meeting of the Society, the Rev. M. Rowntree was called to the chair, and the Rev. E. Kell read the report of the Society, which was in a satisfactory state. In it allusion was

made to the difficulty which exists of obtaining a full supply of Unitarian tracts from London, to which the attention of the British and Foreign Unitarian Association had been drawn at their last annual meeting. Amongst other resolutions passed at the meeting was one of thanks to the Rev. William Smith, accompanied by a request that he would print his discourse, for which 300 copies were afterwards subscribed. The Rev. H. Hawkes proposed, "That this Society, recognizing the principles of religious liberty to their fullest extent, instruct its Committee to prepare a petition to the Legislature for the removal of all civil disabilities from our brethren of the House of Israel," which was seconded by Mr. Naish. A proposition from the Committee of the Southern Unitarian Fund Society for a junction with the Southern Unitarian Society, was referred by this meeting to its Committee. Between the services, the members and friends of the Society dined together at the London Tavern, Mr. Bishop, of Dorchester, in the chair. Their numbers were afterwards largely augmented by the attendance of persons of both sexes to hear addresses on topics connected with the support and extension of Unitarian Christianity. An earnest and delightful tone of feeling characterized the proceedings of the day. The religious services were well attended, the congregation in the evening amounting to nearly 400 persons.

The Regium Donum.

The passing through Parliament of the annual vote in behalf of poor Dissenting ministers, has this year occasioned more than usual discussion, both in and out of Parliament, respecting the merits of this charity. The manner in which the argument has in this instance been conducted by the opponents of the grant, does not appear to us very creditable to their candour. They have put aside the historical relations of the matter, and indulged in personal attacks on the gentlemen who now distribute the grant. We have no wish at all to enter upon the subject at present. In a former Vol. (C. R., II. 1—16), it was discussed at length, and to that article and to Dr. Rees's "Sketch of the History of the Regium Donum," published in 1834, we refer such of our readers as wish to understand the subject. A defence of the distributors is, to the Unitarian body at least, quite unneces

sary. Those amongst us who may wish to see this grant cease, will join with their brethren in respectful and kindly acknowledgment of the services of the nine gentlemen who, under the influence of the purest and most charitable feelings, undertake the laborious and often distressing duty of distributing this grant amongst the most necessitous ministers of the Three Denominations. We shall feel more respect for the opponents of the Regium Donum when they begin their crusade against it by raising on the voluntary principle a capital fund, out of which the charity may be perpetually supplied. As the matter stands at present, A says his conscience is violated because B receives a charity from C. We can and do honour the man who, notwithstanding great poverty (which is, alas! the frequent result of the working of the voluntary principle in all three denominations), refuses on principle to receive a slice of the Regium Donum. It accords with our own knowledge that such cases have occurred.

But we demur to the right of any one stepping in between the bounty of the Crown and a third party who has no doubt of the propriety of receiving it. But it is said, the grant is "paltry." It may seem so to Members of Parliament, and it may suit a purpose for platform orators and editors so to represent it. But the real question is, is it paltry? is it a matter of utter insignificance to those who receive it? Not only the distributors, but all acquainted with the real condition of Dissenting ministers, know that there are very many cases in which the annual grant of £5 or £3 supplies some necessary of life, the loss of which would endanger the health or comfort of the recipient. Mr. Jacob Evans, a correspondent of the Nonconformist, who dates from Tanyffordduchaf, near Dolgelly, Sept. 15, 1848, states, "not one of the ministers of this county (Merioneth) receives £60; and there are several worthy servants of the Lord Jesus Christ in this county who do not receive full £30 a year for their hard and faithful labour." He adds that every minister in the county preaches three times every Sunday, and some of them have to travel from ten to sixteen miles, and all are active in attending week-day prayer, expository and catechetical meetings. It is well known that a large portion of the Regium Donum goes to Wales. The man who, merely to carry out an abstract principle respecting Church and State, will cut off from these de

serving men the Royal Bounty, has faith enough and to spare in his favourite principle, but we think lacks charity. It was stated in Parliament by one who surely must have felt some doubt about the accuracy of the statement, that the Three Denominations have petitioned against the continuance of the grant. Now whatever resolution the Independents and the Baptists may have come to on the subject, we feel assured no vote has been taken in relation to the Regium Donum by the Presbyterian ministers of London. They are not perhaps entirely agreed on the subject; but we believe we are accurate in the statement that the opponents of the grant form a small minority. The statement in Parliament was probably founded on some resolutions of the Two Denominations, calling themselves Three,* a very pitiful proceeding which deceives

no one.

Monument of the late Lord Holland.

Some years ago, the friends of this distinguished statesman raised £5000 for the purpose of erecting a monument to his memory. The execution of it was entrusted to Mr. Baily, the Academician sculptor. It is now finished, and is thus described by a writer in the Athenæum :-"The first thing that strikes the mind about this Holland monument is its noble simplicity; the second, that it is unlike any thing we have seen before; the third, that, nevertheless, there is nothing new here but the poetry of the sculptor's mind. All is familiar, yet all is fresh. On the steps that lead up to the door of a vault

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which we might expect to open and enter, if a visit to the supposed inmate were desired- are three figures. We know them well. We have seen them again and again, on the presentation of the chisel; but here they are revealed with a touch of their immortality.

To give a show of reality to this fraudulent enumeration of the Two Denominations, the orthodox ministers of London have taken into their alliance certain Scottish Presbyterians, who are for the nonce made to represent the English body. It is probable that this circumstance will before long be brought prominently forward in our courts of law, as it will assist the Scottish relators in the Hewley suit to prove their title to at least a third share of the good things provided for the Protestant Dissenters south of the Tweed!