have opened its doors to them in the Presbytery of Irvine, or within the bounds of the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr. And we question much if even Mr. Wilson, and others of his coadjutors, were sharply looked after, especially on sacramental occasions, they would not be found uttering language respecting the Eternal God coming down to bleed, to nourish dying worms, more fatally at war with common sense, the teachings of Revelation, and the nature and character of the Almighty, than any expressions which they can allege or prove to have fallen from the lips of their persecuted brother, Mr. McLean. "Happy is he who condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth." ARGUS.

THE CHRISTIAN PIONEER.

GLASGOW, May 1, 1830.

ON Monday and Tuesday, the 12th and 13th April, the half-yearly meeting of the Association of Unitarian Christians residing at Hull, Lincoln, Gainsborough, Thorne, Doncaster, and adjacent places, was held in the Chapel at Thorne, Yorkshire. There were two religious services. The Rev. E. Higginson of Hull conducted the worship on Monday evening, and the Rev. W. Hincks, one of the tutors of York College, delivered a manly defence of Unitarians against several popular calumnies, from John v. 39. The Chapel was nearly full, and the discourse appeared to make a suitable impression on the strangers who attended. The Rev. H. Hawkes, one of the students at York, who has nearly completed his preparatory studies for the ministry, and is invited to the second congregation at Norwich, introduced the service on the Tuesday morning; and the Rev. J. Philp of Lincoln, from Luke xii. 57, and Matt. vii. 20, preached an excellent discourse, asserting the right of individual judgment in matters of religion, stating the Unitarian Christian's faith, and showing the eminently moral and benevolent tendency of their sentiments.

At six o'clock in the evening, the members and friends of the Association again assembled in the Chapel. The meeting was open to all strangers as well as friends. It was crowded, and many flocked about the door that could not get in. Mr. Philp was appointed Chairman, and

opened the meeting with giving out the hymn, "Let party names no more," and engaging in prayer. He then made a short introductory speech, stating the objects of the meeting. Mr. Higginson, the Secretary to the Association, then moved, "That this meeting views with satisfaction the continued efforts of the friends of Unitarianism in this district, and is grateful for the success which has attended their exertions." After stating officially the nature and objects of the Association, and vindicating Unitarians from some of the common charges brought against them, the Rev. W. Duffield of Thorne, seconded the motion, and warmly and clearly defended and illustrated the Unitarian's views of the person, character, and office of Christ. The Rev. J. Platts of Doncaster, submitted the following resolution, "That this meeting contemplates with pleasure the important progress which has recently been made in the cause of Religious Liberty, and looks forward with the most sanguine hope to the removal of every restriction which has been imposed thereon;" and accompanied the resolution by various remarks on the nature and progress of mental freedom. The motion was seconded by Mr. Watson of Hull, the Treasurer to the Association, who spoke of the interest he had always felt in the concerns of the Society ever since its commencement. Dr. Longstaff of Hull, moved, "That this meeting hails with delight the rapid progress which is making in sound knowledge and liberal principles in every department, anticipating that these blessings will ultimately lead to the universal reception of pure and rational Christianity." After Dr. Longstaff had spoken on the encouraging progress and diffusion of knowledge in general, Mr. Henry Hawkes seconded the motion, dwelling more particularly on religious knowledge-of all, the most valuable to man. Francis Moat, the patriarch of Thorne, one of the earliest members of the congregation, a picture at once of Christian integrity and of the simplicity of the doctrines he professes, as well as the intrepid and indefatigable reformer of deeds of darkness once perpetrated in the Asylum at York-this venerable man rose in the midst of the audience, to pour forth his full heart, and compared what he could recollect, when there were only three or four Unitarians in Thorne, and they surrounded by bigoted opponents, to the cheering scene he then witnessed. Afterwards, the Rev. W. Worsley of Gainsborough, proposed,

"That the members of this religious body cannot contemplate, without feelings of regret, the dissensions that prevail in the Christian Church, and more especially those indications of a want of charitable indulgence and brotherly feeling, which are frequently manifested towards themselves." Mr. Worsley spoke of the unchristian spirit that too often appears in the opposition of the orthodox, to other opinions than their own, both in their printed manifestoes and their oral communications. The motion was seconded by Mr. Darley of Thorne. The Chairman concluded the meeting about half-past nine, by giving a summary of the observations that had been made. The hymn, "From all that dwell below the skies," was then sung by the whole Assembly, and after a benediction pronounced by Mr. Philp, the meeting separated:our friends highly delighted, and trusting, that from the marked-attention paid to the various speakers, much had been effected in softening down, if not removing the prejudices and misconceptions so commonly entertained against the pure and holy faith of the Christian Unitarian. For ourselves, we rejoice at the manner in which this Association was conducted. As our public meetings have been usually carried on, the public have, in fact, been excluded. The business of the Associations gone through at the Chapel, has generally been dry, tedious, and uninteresting, whilst the interesting, eloquent, spirit-stirring addresses of various speakers, have been uttered within doors, closed by the high-priced dinner ticket to strangers and poorer members, and from which females were debarred an account of what are styled the decorums of society. The Moor-Lane Bolton anniversaries, the Portsmouth and Nottingham tea meetings, the Kent and Sussex, and North Eastern Associations, broke through the aristocratical and unsocial custom, and introduced a better order of things. But better still, we think it is, to hold meetings at which all denominations can attend, at which our principles can be defended and illustrated, not to ourselves merely, but to those who deem us in error; and again we express our pleasure, that the example of the Methodist Unitarians of Rossendale, and the Sheffield Fellowship Fund, has been followed out so successfully by the Members of the Association for Hull, Gainsborough, Lincoln, Doncaster, and adjacent places, at their late meeting at Thorne.

WE rejoice to find, that the various "sayings and doings" of the Synod of Ulster and its subdivisions, have produced a re-action in the public mind, which, if it be carefully and assiduously cultivated, cannot but lead to most important consequences. "The Bible Christian" already possesses a truly encouraging list of subscribers. Of the second number, five hundred copies were printed more than of the first "The Irish Unitarian Christian Society," of whose plan we gave a short account in No. XLII. page 222-224, was fully organized on the 17th March, at a very interesting meeting held in Dublin. On the 21st March, the first of a course of lectures on the principles of Unitarian Christianity, to be delivered in Strand-Street Chapel, Dublin, on Sunday afternoons, by the four Unitarian Ministers of that City, was preached by the Rev. Dr. Drummond. The subject was, the Unitarian Christian's faith explained; and the discourse has since been printed. We hope to give extracts in our next Number. These lectures have already excited a good deal of public attention, and have been attended by crowded congregations. The Ministers in Belfast and its neighbourhood, have also, we understand, arranged a course of lectures, and the first of the series, we believe, was preached on the 18th April, in Dr. Bruce's Meetinghouse, by the Rev. W. Bruce. We hail these various efforts, with sincerest satisfaction. Let the public attention be but excited, let plain and faithful expositions of our principles be made, let measures be taken to undeceive the public mind, let them be engaged in with perseverance and conducted with unction, and Unitarian foolery," as the Rev. Henry Cooke is accustomed in his sermons to designate our faith, will be vindicated from the aspersions of this theological caricaturist, and manifested to be, as was the mission and the work of the Saviour, “the power of God, and the wisdom of God." In the labours of the Rev. H. Cooke, to “probe the breast" of candidates for the ministry, and the attempts of himself and others, to expel from that precious Paradise, the Synod of Ulster, "the serpent of Arianism," will be witnessed, we doubt not, another instance of the wrath of man being made to praise that God, who overrules and controls all things to the production of human purification and improvement. Presbyterianism, Calvinism, will find, we trust, their Scylla and Charybdis, in Synodical Overtures, and in

clerical, magisterial, and police proceedings at Greyabbey. Truly, they were all sorry exhibitions of Presbyterian purity and freedom-of Calvinistic soundness, honesty, and charity. Perfectly do we agree in the sentiment so well expressed in a letter which appeared in the Northern Whig, and dated Leeds;

"On retracing the events which have taken place in the Synod of Ulster, I feel persuaded, that they have all sprung, as the natural fruit, from the ecclesiastical organization of that body. Presbyterianism appears to me, unless in a modified form, the very essence of spiritual tyranny. With an appearance of liberality, it strikes at the very root of liberty. It countenances an interference with the dictates of conscience-it recognizes the right of directing the religious faith of congregations, and of excommunicating those who do not embrace some human standard of doctrine. It is even worse than Episcopacy; and for this reason, Bishops are generally men of liberal education and of superior rank, and, consequently, are, in some measure, removed above petty prejudices. Presbyterian Bishops, on the other hand, are chiefly from an inferior grade in society, who, having gone through a few years of school and college preparation, and having had but little opportunity of general intercourse with society, are fixed down in a congregation, with all the prejudices and prepossessions of early life strong upon them; yet, these men, confined as are their views, compose the manyheaded monster, to which those, even of the most enlarged views, when such chance to be connected with their body, must submit. My humble opinion, therefore, is, that the Remonstrants should guard against the evils which are connected with the Presbyterian form of Church government. They should make it distinctly understood, that they disclaim all authority over the consciences of their brethren. That each congregation shall have the uncontrolled privilege of electing its own minister, and regulating its own creed-that the authority of the Remonstrants shall terminate with instruction and advice. This truly Protestant principle has been recognized by the Presbytery of Antrim and the Southern Synod-religious bodies which may be truly held up as models of Christian forbearance and charity. Let the Remonstrants follow their example."