is not the place to discuss it, but we ask that it may be con sidered. The advantages of having an officer of this kind, a man of power, judgment, learning and piety, of intelligent and christian zeal, whose whole business should be to labor far and near in promoting the interest of pure religion-its advantages cannot need to be pointed out. The want of it, the pressing demand, the loud call coming from every part of our country for the living preacher and devoted advocate of simple, rational, true Christianity, must be known to all who know or care any thing about it. And if they will consider, they will see that this cannot be done without pecuniary aid. Let this be given steadily, liberally, with a zeal worthy the opinions we hold, and bearing some proportion to the means possessed and the work to be done-and that work will be done, but not otherwise.

We do hope, therefore, that every individual Unitarianlaymen especially, for they can do more than ministers in this way-will feel bound to do what they can, and what they think is right to do, to carry into full effect the resolutions of the Association. In whatever way the application may be made, we hope the members of every Unitarian society, will meet it readily and fervently, that at the annual meeting it may be found there are few societies who have not done something.

Unitarian Installation. March 7. Rev. James W.Thompson as pastor of the Independent Congregational Church in Salem. Introductory Prayer by Mr Brazer, of Salem; Selections from Scripture by Mr Fox, of Newburyport; Sermon by Mr Greenwood, of Boston, from Col. i. 18, And he is the head of the body, the Church.' Prayer of Installation by Dr Lowell, of Boston; Charge by Mr Bartlett, of Marblehead; Fellowship of the Churches by Mr Sewall, of Danvers; Address to the Society by Mr Colman, late Pastor; Concluding Prayer by Mr Upham, of Salem; Benediction, by Mr Thomp

son.

Dedication. The new Church lately erected in Brattleborough, Vt., was dedicated to the worship of the One God, on Wednesday, 22d February. Introductory Prayer by Mr Sullivan, of Keene; Reading of the Scriptures by Mr Stearns, of Northampton; Dedicatory Prayer, by Dr Thayer, of Lancaster; Sermon by Mr Hosmer, of Northfield, from I Cor. 26th chap. part of the 13th and 14th verses, 'Watch ye, stand fast in the faith. Let all your things be done in charity.' Concluding Prayer, by Mr Crosby, of Charlestown, N. H.

We have attempted to set forth the importance, and urge the right use of religious forms and means, generally. We are disposed to say something of particular forms and means, and at present of Family Worship; not as observing any order or plan, but because circumstances have led us of late to think much of this, and because it seems to receive less consideration than most other means. That it should be less publicly discussed, is, perhaps well; but we think it should be made the subject of private conversation, of ministerial and friendly suggestion, more than it has been. We cannot see the propriety of leaving it among duties too sacred to be spoken of, too delicate to be touched. If it be a duty, it ought to be urged as a duty. If it be only a privilege and help, its reasonableness, advantages, and blessings ought to be clearly presented, faithfully and warmly pressed upon all. Our own con

viction of its importance is strong. Our fear of its being neglected, nay, our grief that it is sadly neglected, is such as will not permit us to be easy without doing or saying something in its behalf. Yet it does not seem to us to be a subject for argument and formal reasoning. Those who do not see its propriety and obvious importance, after a fair consideration, will not easily be convinced by argument. Plain suggestions and earnest exhortations are all we shall now attempt.

This, and all similar duties have been obstructed by injudicious zeal, extravagant assertions, uncharitable and unchristian judgment. Men have said, that without family worship there can be no religion, which is not true. They have insisted upon this duty, as if it were imperative on all, of every condition and capacity, and should never yield to any circumstances. They have held it up as the first and most indispensable of all religious duties, as the test of the christian character, for whose absence nothing can atone or purchase forgiveness. They have spoken of 'praying families,' and 'praying men,' in a way calculated to bring the whole subject into suspicion, if not ridicule, and without doing any good. And worse than all, they have pretended to a knowledge of men's families and hearts, which no man can possess, and which any humble Christian would be ashamed to seek or desire. From all such pretension, arrogance, boldness and uncharitableness, we pray to be delivered. It need not be dwelt upon, and we will only say in regard to the last point, that, much as the duty is neglected and however the fact may be in other denominations, it has been our satisfaction to find in our own, that many

fam

ilies had long been in the observance of this duty, without the knowledge of their nearest neighbours and friends; an indication of sincerity which we value as above all price.

But family prayer is lamentably neglected, as every one seems ready to own. It is feared that no service, none surely of equal value, is so generally neglected, even by the thinking and serious part of the community. An opinion appears to prevail, that it is altogether a form, and one that may be observed or not, according to inclination and convenience, and that if binding at all, it is so only on the professedly religious. An opinion so strange and weak as this, requires only to be stated, and it will refute itself. Whatever may be thought of the obligation of family worship, of the innocence or guilt of neglecting it, no one can question or seriously doubt the benefits resulting from its faithful, proper observance.

On this ground we urge it. Here, there is no danger of too great emphasis or earnestness in regard to it. As a duty merely, abstractly considered and conditionally enforced, there may be objections and difficulties raised. We cannot point to any express direction in Scripture, enjoining the observance of family worship in particular. We regard it as sufficient, that social and private prayer are repeatedly inculcated by direct precept and the highest examples. If any will not be satisfied with this, but demand a more express injunction, they must be those who have little regard for Scripture itself, and would hardly be brought to the performance of this duty, were its obligation ever so plainly made out. As we have said, we are not

anxious to press this point; for though we do regard this as a duty, in every proper sense, a most sacred, solemn duty, of high authority and religious obligation, we love most to recommend it as a privilege and a blessing; an exercise, in whose performance alone there is no positive merit, but from which the greatest benefits result. This, then, is our answer to the opinion stated above, so far as that opinion would go towards weakening the obligation of family worship, and the authority which enforces it. Should you take away all authority and all obligation, we would still entreat you to consider, if this duty be not worth observing for oth

er reasons.

First, is there not an evident propriety in it? That those who are united by so many tender and strong ties as are the members of the same family, those whose feelings, blessings, trials, joys, sorrows are all in common-who sleep under the same roof, sit down at the same table, and with whom nothing can befall one that is not felt by all-is it not proper, is it not well, to say the very least, that these should gather around the same domestic altar, to offer together their thanksgivings for daily bounty, their penitent confessions, their common supplications? Shall religion be the only thing that does not bring them together? Who can forget what has been often mentioned, or who can refuse to take such a lesson from such teachers, that the ancient heathen, in all their moral degradation, had their household Gods, to whom they were accustomed to look with reverence, gratitude and trust, and whose images they preserved at every peril. It is indeed a natural dictate, to associate religion peculiarly with that name