lishment: but is substantial, neat, and comfortable. The house and premises have been put into a state of thorough repair: and the pews, &c. neatly painted in imitation of oak. On the whole, the house has a very respectable appearance: and we trust soon to see it filled with regular worshippers. May the blessing of God accompany every effort to disseminate his truth!

ORDINATION of the reV. ROBERT HALL IN CAIRNCASTLE.

On Tuesday, the 17th of December, 1839, the Rev. ROBERT HALL, son of the Rev. JOHN HALL, Minister of the Congregation of Clough, in the County of Antrim, was ordained by the Remonstrant Presbytery of Templepatrick, as Assistant and Successor to the Rev. THOMAS ALEXANDER in the pastorship of the Old Congregation of Cairncastle.

In the evening, the members of the Congregation entertained their newly appointed minister, the members of the Presbytery, and several neighbouring ministers, at a tea-party: which was preferred to the usual ordination dinner, as allowing the presence of the ladies. After tea, the Rev. J. NIXON PORTER of Carrickfergus was called to the chair: and several interesting speeches were delivered. Of these our limits only enable us to insert a report of that delivered by the Rev. RORERT HALL, in reply to a sentiment given from the chair, expressing the best wishes of the meeting for his happiness, prosperity, and usefulness in the Congregation of Cairncastle.

After some introductory observations, Mr. HALL continued -"At the time when the Remonstrants were compelled to retire from the Synod of Ulster, I sympathized with the weaker and the oppressed party; and my interest in their struggles, led me to inquire whether they were right or wrong in the course which they had taken. I found on consideration, that all Protestant churches theoretically acknowledge the right of private judgment, but that many practically deny it. They denounce the Roman Catholic church because she entertains too great a reverence for creeds and confessions, and compels the people to put implicit confidence in the doctrines contained therein, whilst they themselves are guilty of the same offence. Roman Catholics think the peculiar form of belief which they profess necessary to salvation, and Protestant churches generally fall into the same error. Then they naturally enough say to themselves, "would it not be well to make our neighbours think correctly, lest they be condemned at the day of judgment?" This mistaken zeal has been in times past and will be, no doubt, in the time that is to come, the cause of suppressing civil and religious liberty. It was, I think, very natural for me to ask myself, "Is there no sect of Christians that encourages freedom of inquiry and acknowledges the right of private judgment?" This I did, and concluded that this Synod and other Nonsubscribing bodies are the only ones in this country that hold the views which were acted upon by the early Reformers with re

gard to liberty of conscience. Whilst they are as manly, and bold in defence of their opinions as any other body of professing Christians, they acknowledge that they are fallible. This causes them

to look with an eye of charity on those who differ from them in opinion, and to extend the right hand of fellowhip to all who are willing to overlook difference of belief, and engage with them in labours of love, for the purpose of bettering the temporal and spiritual concerns of their fellow men. Taking this view of the subject, I found that I could not consistently remain with the Synod of Ulster. I accordingly left them and joined the Remonstrants. Every day's experience tends to convince me that I was right in the course which I have pursued. — If we look to the divisions which took place not long since in the body to which I belonged, with regard to whether or not unqualified subscription should be demanded of those who are candidates for the ministry, it will be found that the uniformity of opinion of which they boast is a mere delusion. When the merits of the Westminister Confession, as a standard of faith and practice, came to be discussed, one minister objected to one part, and another to another, until they had found fault with a great number of the doctrines therein contained. Some of the members seeing that if these courses were any longer pursued, they would injure themselves in the eyes of the public, proposed that all open discussion should be dropped, and that a private conference should be held for the purpose of mutual explanation. This expedient was resorted to, and those who met, holding different views upon a great many doctrines, came out perfectly agreed, and determined in future to demand unqualified subscription from every candidate for the ministry! With respect to the clergymen and laity belonging to the Synod of Ulster, I must say, that, although there are some of them who neither speak nor act with that courtesy which might be expected from men professing to be Protestant Christians, yet there are many who act towards me with their former kindness, and from a few I have received marks of friendship which will not easily be forgotten. This state of things is, upon the whole, cheering to me, and omens well for the advancement of those liberal principles which teach us not to despise those who have formed opinions different from our own, but to look upon all mankind as our brethren. In relation to the connexion which has been this day formed between me and the people of Cairncastle, it is my earnest desire, that my public ministrations, my walk, and conversation, may be edifying to those, amongst whom, in the providence of God, I have been placed. If it should be found, that I have been instrumental in diffusing feelings of charity and good will amongst the people of this neighbourhood, and above all, if it should be found that I have been successful in leading them to reverence their Creator, then will I have reason to rejoice that I have not lived in vain, and to bless God, that he has enabled me to be useful in my day and generation."

SUMMARY OF PUBLIC OCCURRENCES.

In England, the High Church agitation against the Plan of National Education adopted by Government, and sanctioned by Parliament, for the youth of Great Britain, and in favour of a system which would vest the entire control and management of Public Instruction in the clergy of the Established Church, has been going on with unabated violence ever since the prorogation of Parliament. In Scotland, the same topic has been taken up by the Commission of the General Assembly: and doubtless will cause a great deal of ferment and disturbance. A meeting has been held in Greenock to petition Parliament to release the Synods and Presbyteries of the National Church from the jurisdiction of the Courts of Law: it is expected that other places will imitate this example. In Ireland, the Conservative party and the Liberals have been carrying on a system of counter-agitation, in which the latter have been by far the more active. A new Registry Association has been formed in Dublin, to which a great number of gentlemen have become subscribers. The Synod of Ulster, headed by the Rev. Dr. Cooke, has at length repented of the error of its ways in opposing the National System of Education in Ireland; and has made its peace with the Board and with the Government, at the eleventh hour! Angelic Doctor has dined with the Lord Lieutenant!!! The new system of Penny Postage came into operation on January 10. It will perhaps, at least for a time, be attended with a decrease of the revenue derived from the Post Office; but there can be no doubt that it will greatly facilitate commercial transactions: and that it will prove a comfort and blessing to many families whose members are scattered far and wide, in the pursuits of business or advantage. Parliament was opened on Thursday the 16th of January, by a speech from the Throne, announcing her Majesty's intended marriage with Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg and Gotha. The Address in reply was agreed to unanimously by the House of Commons: the Lords inserted the word "Protestant" before the name of Prince Albert. The Government have proposed to vote to His Highness an establishment of £50,000 per ann. for life. The House of Commons has been chiefly occupied in asserting its privilege of free publication of papers and documents, in opposition to the English Court of Queen's Bench.

OBITUARY.

The

DIED, on the evening of Wednesday the 27th of November, 1839, at the age of 37 years, BETSEY, wife of THOMAS M'CAMMON, Esq. King Street, Belfast. Her kindness of spirit and unaffected warmth of heart, had endeared her to her family and to a numerous circle of friends. On the morning of her death, this much beloved lady was engaged in her ordinary domestic occupations, in the possession of her usual health and spirits: and with a constitution which, though somewhat weakened by an illness from which she had a short time previously recovered, yet promised to every observer's

eye and there were eyes of no common penetration turned upon her, with all the earnestness of deep affection, - the enjoyment and usefulness of many coming years. At noon, she was smitten down by disease, and at night-fall she lay a corpse; leaving her parent childless, her husband widowed, and her children motherless and giving to thoughtless mortals one sad warning more,to prevail upon them,-to be ready to meet their God.

Died, on Saturday the 28th of December, 1839, aged 18 years, Mr. GEORGE MAGNUS MUNSTER, eldest son of P. L. Munster, Esq. Consul to His Danish Majesty at Belfast. This amiable young gentleman, whose opening talents and pleasing dispositions held forth the promise of great respectability and usefulness, was carried off, after a short illness, by a malignant fever: caught, as is supposed, in his visits to the Belfast Fever Hospital: which he attended assiduously, as a Student for the Medical Profession.

Died, on the 18th January, 1840, at Moss-brook, Moneyrea, in the 57th year of his age, HUGH STEWART, Esq. Surgeon, R.N. Having received a liberal education at the Belfast Academy and Glasgow University, he entered the Navy when very young, and was soon after appointed Surgeon, During his residence for several years past in his native neighbourhood, he distinguished himself by his successful treatment of various cases of Dropsy and Cancer. As a general practitioner, he was deliberate, clear-minded, and eminently successful. In his dispositions he was truly benevolent and amiable. A Unitarian from settled conviction, he gave his countenance and support on all occasions to what he believed to be the truth of God. His death is not only an irrecoverable loss to his family, but to a numerous circle of attached friends.

Died, on the night of Thursday the 23d of January, 1840, at his house at Springvale, in the County of Antrim, JAMES WATT, Esq. aged 81 years. During the course of a long life, Mr. Watt earned the esteem and affection of all who were acquainted with him, by his sterling integrity as a man, his unaffected piety as a Christian, and his genuine benevolence as a member of society. His heart was tenderly susceptible of attachment: and no man could be more sincerely or more universally beloved wherever he was known. In all the relations of life, his conduct was void of offence. He was a steady and consistent supporter of civil and religious liberty and a true friend to the principles of Christian Unitarianism: the influence of which his life displayed, and his character adorned.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. - An Essay on the mutual usefulness of Religious Sects, by C. P. in our next.-Several other valuable communications have been received. Will the writer of a letter signed "A Bible Christian," favour us, confidentially, with his name?

To a person who studied merely the pages of his Bible, and who bad not attended to the numerous arguments which have arisen respecting its contents, it might appear, at first, surprising, that amongst the followers of one common Lord, there should prevail so great a difference of opinion as it is known does now exist amongst the followers of Christ. Never, at any former period, were Christian sects more numerous than at present; and were we able to state exactly how many parties" there are in the camp of Jesus, we should be obliged to name a number, which, to most of our readers, would sound strange and incredible.

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From this state of things, various results have followed. Amongst others, it has happened, that some well-meaning and eminently kind-hearted individuals have been disconcerted by that want of uniformity to which we have referred, and have earnestly desired, that the time might soon come round, when all who acknowledged the same Redeemer should likewise profess the same religious faith. These persons, to whom we now allude, exaggerating perhaps the evils of religious controversy, allow their minds to be disquieted by its existence among Christians; and, delighting to paint to themselves that golden era, when one heart and one spirit" shall pervade the whole of Christendom, lament in bitter terms that their lot should have fallen upon days so widely and so sadly different.

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