UNITARIAN ORDINATIONS.

On Sunday, May 20th, Rev. Ephraim B. Peabody was ordained as Minister of the First Congregational Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. In conformity with the desire of the society that the Ordination services should be conducted in accordance with the usages of the Congregational churches, a council for that purpose was invited from this part of the country. The Introductory Prayer, the Sermon, and the Right Hand of Fellowship were by Rev. Mr. Walker, of Charlestown; the Ordaining Prayer, the Charge and the Address to the people were by Rev. Mr. Parkman, of Boston.

On Thursday, 14th June, Mr. Addison Brown, late of the Theological School at Cambridge, was ordained pastor of the Unitarian Congregational Society in Brattleboro', Vt. Introductory Prayer, by Mr. Rogers, of Barnardston, Mass; Reading of the Scriptures, by Mr. Crosby, of Charlestown, N. H.; Sermon, by Mr. Hill, of Worcester, Ms. ; Consecrating Prayer, by Dr. Kendall, of Plymouth, Ms; Charge, by Mr. Abbot, of Peterboro', N. H.; Fellowship of the Churches, by Mr. Hosmer, of Northfield, Ms.; Address to the Society, by Mr. Goodwin, of Concord, Ms.; Concluding Prayer, by Mr. Harding, of New Salem, Ms.; Benediction, by Mr. Brown.

DEDICATION At Louisville, KENTUCKY. The First Congregational and Unitarian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, was dedicated on Sunday, May 27th. The services were introduced by prayer and the reading of the Scriptures by Rev. Mr. Walker, of Charlestown, who also offered the prayer of dedication, The sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Parkman, of this city, from John iv. 23. The hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship him.' The design of the discourse was to illustrate the 'object, reasonableness, and spirituality' of the Christian worship, as offered to the One God through the one Mediator Jesus Christ. Concluding Prayer by Mr. Parkman,

DEDICATION AT GRAFTON. The new Congregational Meeting-house in Grafton, Worcester county, Ms. was dedicated on Wednesday, May 9th. Rev. Mr. Hill, of Worcester, commenced the services by Prayer, and the reading of the Scriptures. The prayer of dedication was offered by Dr. Bancroft, of W. Sermon by Rev. Edward B. Hall, from 1 Cor, iii. 11. 'For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ.' The services were closed with prayer, by Rev. Mr. Allen, of Northborough.

UNITARIANISM IN THE WEST. But a short time since and it was scarcely known that any believers in the doctrines of Unitarian Christianity were to be found in any of the Western States. The case is now greatly changed. There is scarcely a village of any magnitude in the States beyond the Alleghanies in which may not be found those who are desirous of the opportunity of listening to Unitarian preaching. In three importaut places, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Louisville, flourishing Unitarian Societies already exist. The two former of them enjoy the regular ministrations of religion, and the latter has just completed a commodious place of worship.

In allusion to the state and prospects of religion at Cincinnati and Louisville, and particularly to the recent dedication of a Unitarian Church at the latter place, a correspondent of the Christian Register thus remarks:

'Our brethren in that flourishing city, which from its local situation and advantages is destined to hold an important place among the cities of the West, have much reason for gratitude and hope in the success, which has already attended their religious enterprise. In Louisville, as well as in Cincinnati, there are many earnest and serious inquirers after truth; many who are growing more and more distrustful of doctrines of human wisdom, more and more impatient of the shackles of ecclesiastical domination, and desirous of the truth and liberty, with which Christ makes us free. There is no doubt, that in that fair and beautiful portion of our land, the cause of truth and of liberal Christianity will continue to find enlightened and zealous advocates. May they ever be found among those, whom the Father seeketh to worship him, who shall exhibit in their lives the purity and efficacy of their faith, the beauty and glory of undefiled religion.'

MEETINGS OF UNITARIANS. During a few past months several very interesting public meetings of Unitarians have

been held in various parts of the country, from which we have reason to expect important results. At Providence, R. I. Worcester and Danvers, Mass., and Brattleboro Vt., the meetings were attended by large numbers, and were addressed eloquently and powerfully by gentlemen of the first respectability and talent. The impressions that seem to have been made at each of these meetings on the minds of those present, were of the most favorable character. The friends of religious freedom and pure Christianity have been animated with a new zeal, and strengthened in their good purposes and efforts.

At the meeting in Worcester it was voted that semi-annual meetings should be held somewhere in the county. We hope that this example will be followed by the Unitarians of other counties, as we cannot but anticipate very favorable results from this free interchange of thoughts and mingling of sympathies on great religious questions between the intelligent and influential citizens of different parts of the community.

AUXILIARIES TO THE AMERICAN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION. Much interest has been recently manifested, in various parts of the country, in the American Unitarian Association. Auxiliaries to this Association have been lately formed in the following places.

In the Independent Congregational Society, Salem; in the towns of Billerica, Uxbridge, Amesbury, Augusta, Me., Sterling, Hardwick, Walpole, Westboro', Peterboro', N. H., Harvard, Lynn, Groton, Templeton, Andover, Third Patish in Dorchester, Sandwich, Rev. Mr. Pierpont's Society, Boston, Barre, Concord, Eastport, Me., East Sudbury, Fall River, East-Bridgewater, Cincinnati, Ohio., Keene, N. i., Leicester, Newburyport, Taunton, First Society in Roxbury, Northboro' Providence, R. I., Dover, N. H., Milton, Canton, Leominster, Framingham, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Plymouth, Duxbury, Cohasset, North Scituate, Marlboro', Stow, and Pembroke.

Auxiliary Associations had been previously formed in many other towns, and liberal contributions have been forwarded from most of them to the Treasurer of the Parent Association.

OUR land has at length become the scene of that wasting disease, which first appeared on the banks of the Ganges, and has thence, in its fearful march, visited almost every country of Asia and Europe, and destroyed its tens of thousands of victims in every variety of climate belonging to our globe. While we have been watching its progress amid the older nations of the earth, and hoping, perhaps trusting, that an ocean of a thousand leagues in width would defend us from its ravages, we have been suddenly roused to the necessity of immediate precautions for our own safety, by the report that it had crossed our watery barrier, and was destroying life with even unexpected rapidity close to our northern frontiers. Now it is within our own borders, and no district of our vast country can hope to escape its turn of suffering. A period like this, when the uncertainty of human existence is so

fearfully illustrated, is well suited to excite deep religious impressions, and may, if properly considered; be made the occasion of permanent improvement to the characters of the living. There certainly is need that we should take a proper view of the state of things connected with this particular subject. It is no time, I am persuaded, to take advantage of men's fears, and increase the general alarm and foreboding. But it is a time, when serious reflection on our moral condition and prospects may be urged with peculiar hope of success; and when, nevertheless, the mind should be kept calm and clear, that all its operations may be con

ducted to the best effect.

I have said that there is need of taking proper views of the state of things connected with this particular subject. I have noticed with deep regret the too common view in which it is regarded; not only the tone in which it is dwelt upon in the public press, but even in the pulpit by the ministers, and in almost every place by too many of the disciples of Christ. It is declared that this pestilence is a judgment of God upon the nations, designed to reprove and punish men for their sins, a manifestation of the Divine wrath against the wicked. Now, speaking for myself, nothing can be more unwarranted. Though no Christian should doubt that it is, in fact, ordered by the Ruler of the Universe for some great and benevolent ends; yet I cannot believe it in any sense the result of a Divine judgment, ordaining thus the punishment of national sins-or a manifestation of God's wrath towards men. I know of no warrant for such an opinion in scripture, and it seems to me totally at war with common sense. On