occurrences. It was related with unaffected pathos and simplicity; few would peruse it without emotion and interest; and we feel persuaded, that that one little article would do more to convert many a wavering mind to our opinions, than whole volumes of controversy. Were such incidents, occasionally, among us made the subjects of little publications for the young, we are persuaded they would be attended with beneficial effects. The tracts we already possess are immeasurably superior in moral tendency and in literary excellence, to those generally sent forth; may they speedily be more numerous and more widely circulated, particularly of the cheap and simple kind, adapted for the poor and the very young. May they find their way into the families of those who differ from us in opinion, and carry a blessing with them!

Let us no longer be reproached with being lukewarm and indifferent. We have talent, we have wealth. Let them unite their energies to the furtherance of this important object, and, with God's blessing, we shall see the result in the more extensive diffusion, and the more zealous advocacy of our pure, our simple, our holy faith.

But we have been insensibly led away from Mr. Wood's valuable little works. We have already exceeded the limits we proposed, and our remaining remarks must be very brief. We have perused the Addresses to Sundayschools with very great pleasure. They are written in that happy style, plain, affectionate, and familiar, which is sure to fix the attention and interest of the young, and are eminently calculated to do good, both from their own intrinsic excellence, and as furnishing valuable models to those engaged in the interesting duties of the institutions for which they are intended. We are aware, that it is a very difficult task to write well for children. Few, indeed, have the happy talent of adapting their style completely to their comprehension, and entering with sympathy into their feelings. Miss Edgeworth, perhaps, possesses it in the highest perfection, of any of our writers. We would not willingly blame, where there is so much that is excellent; and yet the "Bible Stories" we do not think quite so happily executed, as from Mr. Wood's admirable "Address" and his introductory remarks, we had been led to expect. They partake, perhaps, somewhat too much of the nature of an abstract. From the beautiful simplicity of the style, it is astonishing how soon

even very young children may be interested and delighted by the narrative portions of the Bible. Perhaps it did not consist with Mr. Wood's plan to extend the stories; but we cannot help thinking the interest would have been much increased, if they had not been quite so brief-if the half-dialogue style of the Scriptures had been rather more adhered to. It would have given much more spirit to the narrative, if the personages had been more frequently introduced as speaking (as they are in the Bible), instead of spoken of. To give an instance of what we mean;-in the story of Ruth, instead of saying that "Ruth would not leave her mother-in-law, declaring that she would go with her whithersoever she went," would it not have given more life and simplicity to the story, to have given, in Ruth's own beautiful words, her reply to Naomi?—and so, in many other instances. The reflections, too, although very excellent, we think often too abstract and too difficult in style to be understood by young children; although, however, not quite all we could wish, we have no doubt, as they were much wanted, the Bible Stories will be found very useful; and we conclude, by again thanking Mr. Wood for his labours.

THE CHRISTIAN PIONEER.

GLASGOW, DECEMBER 1, 1831.

THE Remonstrant Synod of Ulster held its Second Annual Meeting, at Larne, on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of Sept. The Rev. William Porter of Newtownlimavady, the Moderator of the preceding year, preached from 1 Thess. v. 21. The discourse, which lasted nearly three hours, was on the doctrine of the divine and human natures of Christ.

The Rev. F. Blakely of Moneyrea, was chosen Moderator for the ensuing year, and Mr. Porter, Clerk. Mr. Montgomery and others, reported as to the progress of the Fund for upholding the rights of conscience in Ireland. A deputation had visited England, and had been successful in raising subscriptions for this object. With their own donations, nearly three thousand pounds have been realized.

Mr. Blakely preached on Wednesday morning, upwards of two hours, from Jude 3, on the doctrines of the Trinity and the Atonement. A proposal was adopted, to request the Synod of Munster and the Presbytery of Antrim, to

hold a triennial meeting in conjunction with the Remonstrant Synod, for friendly counsel, and the advancement of Christian truth and liberty. An address to the Rajah Rammohun Roy, was also adopted. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of America, having sent a communication to the General Synod of Ulster, in which they congratulate the Synod in having freed themselves "from those who deny the only Lord God and Redeemer Jesus Christ," a solemn remonstrance against this calumny was ordered to be transmitted. The next meeting of the Remonstrants is to be held at Banbridge.

ON Monday evening, Oct. 24, a social Meeting of the Unitarians of Paisley, was held in the room used by the Society for public religious worship. The Meeting commenced at 8 o'clock. It was opened by Mr. Kilpatrick, who gave out a hymn, and after that had been sung, offered up a prayer. The Rev. H. Clarke was then called to the chair, and briefly addressed the Meeting. Mr. Finlay gave an interesting account of the rise and progress of the Society, interspersed with many very judicious remarks, on the difficulties with which he and his fellowlabourers had had to contend. Several members highly gratified the Meeting, by histories of their change of religious sentiment, from Trinitarianism to Unitarianism, in which the struggles of reason and the plain teachings of Scripture, with early impressions, youthful associations, and religious prejudices, were most strikingly illustrated.

The interest of the Meeting was well kept up through the whole evening, and it was closed, as it began, with singing and prayer; and the friends, amounting to about 60, male and female, who had partook of this "feast of friendship," returned highly gratified, and undoubtedly improved, to their homes.

On the 13th of November, the Rev. B. T. Stannus of Edinburgh, commenced a course of Sunday evening lectures, to a crowded audience. The lectures will be continued till nearly the close of January, and the following subjects will be considered:-General view of the doctrines of Unitarianism; refutation of the charges recently adduced by the Committee of the Edinburgh Bible Society. The use of Reason in matters of Religion. The Oneness of God. The doctrine of One God in three persons, opposed to Scripture and reason. The Su

premacy of God the Father, the Subordination of Jesus Christ, God the Father the only object of worship. The doctrine of Original Sin. Election and Reprobation. The doctrine of the Atonement. The sufficiency of Scripture, as a rule of faith and practice. The inutility and pernicious tendency of creeds.

THE Rev. A. Macdonald of Greenock, and the Rev. W. Smith of Dundee, have likewise began courses of lectures on doctrinal subjects. At Dundee, a larger place of meeting has very judiciously been taken for the evening services. Where there is a disposition in the people to listen to Unitarian preaching, it cannot but be proper to give every facility for that purpose. The same

effort which a smaller building would have required, may thus be the means of conveying knowledge and liberty and joy to many minds and hearts, which otherwise could not have had the opportunity of being emancipated.

IN Glasgow, Mr. Harris is lecturing, on Sunday afternoons, on the Confession of Faith. In these lectures, the state of England and Scotland when the Confession of Faith was compiled, will be sketched-the efforts of the people for Liberty in opposition to Prelacy, will be detailed-with the rise, progress, and establishment of the Confession of Faith-and its various chapters will be contrasted with Reason and the Bible.

relative.

FOR the last two years, as our readers are aware, the Rev. James Martineau has been settled in Dublin, as co-pastor with the Rev. J. Hutton, over the congregation assembling in EustaceStreet; and as successor to the Rev. Philip Taylor, his venerable In consequence of the recent death of Mr. Taylor, the Regium Donum, retained by him since his resignation of the pastoral office, was transferred to Mr. Martineau. From conscientious scruples, Mr. Martineau declined accepting it; at the same time stating, that if his rejection of the Royal gift was not approved by the congregation, he was willing to resign his charge. The congregation accepted Mr. Martineau's offer. Whilst we regret the decision of the congregation, and cannot but think, that, as Dissenters, it would have been more consistent in them to have raised the sum amongst themselves, rather than have been partakers of money drawn from a suffering people; our warmest approbation is given to Mr. Martineau for his Christian integrity, May this practical protest against State interference in any shape, with Christianity, be followed up by similar sacrifices to principle, till pure and undefiled religion, delivered equally from the bribe or the threat, the protection or the opposition of worldly authority, shall have free course and be glorified.

CHRISTIAN PIONEER.

No. 65.

JANUARY, 1832.

Vol. VI.

The Rev. James Martineau's Letter to the Congregation assembling in Eustace-Street Meeting-House, Dublin.

My respected and beloved Fellow Christians,

While the decease of your late truly venerable pastor has occasioned to almost all of us a feeling of personal bereavement, to me it has brought an additional anxiety. This anxiety I would willingly confine to myself, had I a conscientious option; but it is clearly my duty to lay it freely and immediately before you. The office of Assistant of Mr. Taylor, I am now called upon to exchange for that of Successor. This change in no respect alters the relation to you, which, with great happiness to myself, I have sustained for the last three years. But, by calling upon me to receive an annual portion of the Royal Bounty, it places me in a new relation to the State, which seems to me seriously objectionable, and which, after long and earnest deliberation, I find it impossible to hold. I sincerely regret that this decision, on the one hand, must occasion some inconvenience to you, my fellow Christians, and, on the other, places me in a position of singularity with respect to my brethren in the ministry in which I feel no desire to stand. But you would not wish me, for the sake of saving you from a troublesome deliberation, to sacrifice what I must believe to be a great principle of duty; nor are there any of my brethren who would either silence my opinion because it differs from their own, or prevent my acting, like themselves and all honest men, in conformity with my own convictions. Strong, however, as my confidence is that you will put no unkind misconstruction on my conduct, you are entitled to know my reasons for departing from the practice of my brethren. They are briefly as follows:

1. The Royal Bounty is a religious monopoly. It is an exclusive appropriation of a fund which ought to be general. For the contributions which a nation raises for the state, it has a right to expect an equivalent, in the various blessings of good government: they are the price paid for these bless