against Arianism, succeeded him. About the year 1731, the present meeting-house at Bowden Hill, was erected. It was constructed for the accommodation of one thousand persons, and is believed to have been filled at that period. On the death of Mr. Eveleigh, in 1736, Mr. MICAIAH TOWGOOD, the celebrated champion of dissent, succeeded to the pastoral charge. Mr. TowGOOD was ordained in 1723, and Mr. Withers's sermon on that occasion was printed. Whilst he remained at Crediton, the congregation prospered. On Mr. Towgood's removal to Exeter, Mr. JOHN BERRY succeeded to the pastoral office. Mr. Berry was educated under Dr. Doddridge, but embraced the Arian system, on which account a division of the congregation took place in 1756. Mr. JOHN HOGG, of Exeter, preached here for some time after Mr. Berry's decease. To Mr. Hogg succeeded Mr. WILLIAM JILLEARD HORT. On Mr. Hort's removal, Mr. THOMAS REYNELL, from Daventry Academy, became minister of the congregation, but under him the congregation decreased considerably. On leaving Crediton, he resigned the ministry. To him succeeded Mr. C. HOLTON, from Dartmouth. This gentleman soon left, and the pulpit was supplied for a considerable space of time by Messrs. BRANSBY and HENRY SHUTE, from the Exeter Academy. Mr. JOHN EDWARDS was the next minister. He died at Crediton, and was followed by Mr. LEWIS, from Wales, who died shortly after his settlement here. Mr. HENRY DAVIES, also from Wales, now became the minister of this congregation; he subsequently removed to Taunton. Mr. LEWIS LEWIS, from York College, succeeded. On his removal to Dorchester, Mr. G. P. HINTON, from Dr. Ryland's academy, at Bristol, took the charge of this congregation. Mr. HINTON left Crediton in 1823, and Mr. JOHNS succeeded: the attendance is very limited. Many endow ments, however, in land and money, belong to this interest. A Sabbath school, containing about eighty children, are taught here.

CREDITON. Independent.--This cause originated in the dissatisfaction manifested by many of the church and congregation assembling at Bowden Hill, with Mr. BERRY'S sentiments. On their first secession, they assembled for worship in a private room, where Messrs. DARRACOTT, PEARSALL, and others, preached to them. In 1757, the present meeting-house was erected and supplied for some time by the students from Mr. Laington's academy at

Ottery St. Mary's.

Mr. SAMUEL BAN

COMBE, from that academy, was the first minister ordained over this church. On the death of Mr. Lavington, Mr. B. removed to Ottery. From this period, the pulpit was supplied by various ministers, till the year 1777, when Mr. THOMAS JONES, from Dr. Davis's academy, at Abergavenny, was ordained pastor. Mr. Jones left Crediton in 1781, and the place of worship was shut up, excepting on one evening in a month, when Mr. THOMAS HATCH, from Exeter, came and preached to the few remaining hearers. In the year 1802, Messrs. COBBIN and ALLEN came alternately once a fortnight, on week days, to supply the pulpit, and occasionally on the Sabbath, and in the following year, Messrs. BISHOP and VARDER, of Ottery, undertook to preach alternately every Sabbath for one year. By the labours of these gentlemen, a congregation was again raised, and in 1804, Mr. JOHN INNEs, from the Western Academy, was ordained over them. Under him the congregation considerably increased; a gallery erected, and the interior of the meeting-house newmodelled. In 1808, Mr. Innes removed, and the Wesleyans established an interest. In 1809, Mr. INGRAM COBBIN accepted a call from the church, and remained here till 1814, when the church was again left destitute. About this time a Baptist cause was commenced. Mr. S. KING now supplied the pulpit for one year, and Mr. S. SPINK, for two years. The students from the Western Academy preached here on the Sabbath, till in 1821, Mr. W. P. DAVIES, from Wellingborough, undertook the pastoral charge. This interest enjoys some endowments. A Sabbath school was established in 1807, which amounted lately to 100 children.

CREDITON. Baptist.--A baptist cause was commenced here in 1814, principally from the congregation of the Independent Meeting. In 1816, Mr. JOHN AXNERD MITCHELL, was ordained pastor. He left in 1821, and was succeeded by Mr. JOHN Cocks. During the ministry of this latter gentleman, a meeting-house has been erected. This interest supports a Sabbath school. A baptist cause existed here at a very early period in the last century, but it has long since become extinct, and the meeting-house is converted into a private dwelling. In the year 1736, Mr. JOHN STARCH was the minister of this congregation; in that year he published a sermon against popery, in 8vo.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

The twenty-sixth Anniversary of the Religious Tract Society was held at the

(To be continued.)

City of London Tavern, BishopsgateStreet, on Friday, 13th May, 1825, at half past six in the morning, as usual.

An Abstract of the Report was read,

from which it appeared that the operations of the Society had considerably increased. The grants of paper, tracts, and money, to foreign societies, missionaries, and gratuitous issues at home and abroad, during the past year, with the attendant expenses, exceed the sum of £2,800; being more than the whole amount of subscriptions, donations, legacies, and contributions during the same period. The Report also referred to the attention given by the Committee to increase the number of their publications upon the doctrines and truths of the Reformation, and noticed the considerable grants (exceeding 70,000 tracts) for circulation in Ireland at the present important period.

The resolutions were proposed by Alderman Brown, Rev. E. Bickersteth, Rev. T. Mortimer, Rev. R. Pope, Dr. Morrison, Rev. John Clayton, S. Dwight, W. Reeve, S. Kilpin, W. Urwick, J. Hooper, and others, who referred to the operations of the Society, and pleaded its cause with much earnestness; but the most important and interesting events of the day arose from a circumstance quite unexpected, as well as novel in the anniversaries of these institutions.

A few Roman Catholics repeatedly endeavoured to interrupt the proceedings, but were told, that, not being members of the Society, they could not claim any right to take a part in the business of the Society, and were prevented from proceeding by the general expressions of indignation manifested at their interference. At length, however, on their vociferating against some arguments and facts brought forward by the Rev. R. Pope and Rev. W, Urwick, those gentlemen promised to stay after the regular business of the meeting was gone through; and if the Roman Catholic gentlemen then wished to state their objections, they would reply.

This course was adopted. When the business of the Society was concluded, Joseph Reyner, Esq., the Treasurer, left the Chair, and Alderman Key was requested to act as Chairman. The two Roman Catholic gentlemen who had been most prominent in obtruding themselves upon the meeting, a Mr. Fitzgerald and a Mr. Routh, were admitted to the platform, and allowed to address the meeting as long as they pleased, and to bring forward all the arguments and assertions they thought proper to advance, and encouraged to state them with the utmost freedom, except on political points, which were carefully avoided. They were severally replied to by Mr. Pope and Mr. Urwick, who, in the spirit of Christian meekness, and in the most able manner, refuted the miserable sophistries and misrepresentations of their opponents, and fully exposed to the light of day the sys

tem of Popery as opposed to the fundamental truths of the Gospel. It is impossible to notice the particulars in these pages; and it is less necessary, as a sketch of the proceedings is now published by the Religious Tract Society. The result was highly gratifying to the numerous assembly, (about twelve hundred persons,) who listened with the utmost interest and attention to this discussion, which lasted for more than two hours after the meeting of the Society had closed; so that the whole proceedings were not terminated till after twelve o'clock-when Alderman Key shortly addressed the meeting, thanking them for their attention to both parties, and remarked the conviction which appeared to be brought home to all present of the value and importance of the truths of the Gospel, as set forth by the advocates of the Reformation.

The result of this meeting, we trust, will satisfy Roman Catholics as to the impolicy of continuing to obtrude themselves upon Protestant assemblies, to embarrass and interrupt the proceedings. It will also be a means of making the active proceedings of the Religious Tract Society more extensively known, and of producing increased assistance to its funds; which is the more necessary, as the total amount it received from the public the last year did not exceed £2,300-a sum utterly inadequate to the extensive operations of the Society in disseminating divine truth, both at home and abroad, and especially in the sister kingdom.

The publications of the Religious Tract Society during the past year exceeded one hundred; many of which were upon the important subjects just adverted to, and may be procured at the Depository, 56, Paternoster-Row.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

Unitarian Marriage Bill.-In the House of Lords, the Marquis of Lansdown moved the second reading of this Bill on Friday evening, June 3, which was supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury, as "tending to get rid of that unhallowed equivocation which now, under the sanction of law, was practised at the altar." The Bishop of Bath and Wells opposed the principle of the Bill, and contended that the declaration of the marriage service in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, were introduced into the Unitarian form of prayer for baptism. The Bishop of Litchfield supported the bill, because he believed that the more distinction was drawn between the Church of England and the Unitarian body, either with respect to marriage or any other ceremony, the better for the cause of genuine Christianity. The Lord Chancellor declared that it was first necessary to legalise Unitarian doctrine, which was still contrary to law, for though the

9th of William III. had been very properly repealed, on account of its severe penal enactments, yet the denouncement of Unitarian doctrines formed a portion of the common law of the land. And he would caution them against holding out a sanction to the principles of a sect, who declared the Church of England to be blasphemous. Lord Liverpool adverted to the Chancellor's statement, and then said, "the strongest argument against the Bill was, that the same privilege must be extended to other classes of dissenters. For his own part he had no objection to such a principle, though he apprehended it would be impossible to bring forward any general law applicable to all cases, but whereever a sect was sufficiently numerous to attract the notice of the legislature, he thought it would be right to grant them that privilege. He did not see what possible objection a church which did not consider itself infallible, but on the contrary, considered the right of dissent as part of its own principle, could have to the adoption of such a measure. The Bishop of Chester was in favour of the principle, but had many objections to several provisions of the present bill, he would therefore oppose it. Lord Redesdale was decidedly against the measure. Calthorpe supported it, and the Marquis of Lansdown replied. The House divided, FOR the second reading--present 32

Lord

Proxies 20-52 AGAINST the 2d reading--present 31 Proxies 25--56 Majority against the Bill, 4. The Outrages at Barbadoes.-On Thursday evening, June 23, in the House of Commons, Mr. F. Buxton introduced the outrages connected with the destruction of the Wesleyan chapel in Bridgetown, Oct. 1823, and which compelled the excellent Missionary, Mr. Shrewsbury, to flee under the most distressing circumstances to St. Vincent. The honourable member detailed the particulars of this disgraceful transaction with great eloquence and feeling, and with an accuracy which Mr. Wilmot Horton himself admitted. After Mr. W. Smith and Mr. Butterworth had spoken in just reprobation of the outrages, Mr. Canning addressed the House, and declared the act to be "most unjustifiable, wholly indefensible, a violation of law, and a defiance of authority," and closed by moving an important resolution to the following effect:"That this House having taken into its most serious considera tion the papers laid on the table relating to the demolition of the Methodist chapel at Barbadoes, deem it their duty to declare, that they view with indignation that most daring and scandalous violation of law; and that they have seen with satisfaction the instructions sent out by his Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor of Barbadoes, to prevent the recurrence of similar acts of

outrage: and they beg to assure his Majesty of their readiness to concur in all measures calculated to secure ample pro tection, and religious toleration for all his Majesty's subjects in the West India Colonies." Mr. Brougham followed, and applied his powerful sarcasm to a curious report of the newly created Bishop of Jamaica on the religious state of the negroes. After short addresses from Mr. Bernal, Mr. Manning, and Dr. Lushington, the resolution was agreed to nem con.

Case of Captain Atchison and Lieutenant Dawson. These Christian officers, after having been a year under arrest, have been dismissed from his Majesty's service, by the sentence of a Court Martial at Malta, over which a Roman Catholic foreigner presided, for hesitating to perform religious ceremonies connected with the Roman Catholic Church. By this sentence it appears, that while the religious scruples of Mahometan and Popish soldiers in the British service are uniformly regarded-a Protestant officer, who respectfully states his conscientious doubts of the propriety of firing a salute upon the elevation of the Host, or the procession of some contemptible saint, is to be visited by the severest penalties. We are alarmed by these concessions to an idolatrous church, and grieve that our country has lost the service of two zealous, intelligent, efficient officers from such a cause. These Protestant confessors were wholly dependent on their commissions for their support, and therefore a subscription, we are happy to say, is opened for their benefit, to which we trust many will contribute. Subscriptions are

re

ceived at Messrs. Hankeys, Fenchurch Street, and by the Trustees, H. Drummond, W. C. Wilson, B. Shaw, J. Butterworth, and A. Haldane, Esqrs.

The Formation of a Society for Promoting Christian Instruction in London.-The state of religious destitution in which the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants of London is found-induced several ministers and gentlemen to call a public meeting at Albion Chapel, Moorgate, on Tuesday evening, 7th of June, for the establishment of a Society to Promote Christian Instruction by the preaching of the Gospel in destitute neighbourhoods-the establishment of prayer meetings and Sabbath Schools-the circulation of tracts, accompanied with systematic visitation, and by the formation of gratuitous circulating libraries, with the use of every other. legitimate method which may be suggested. A very large and respectable audience assembled-J. Key, Esq. Alderman and Sheriff, took the Chair, and the Rev. C. Hyatt offered prayer, and the meeting was successively addressed with great effect by W. A. Hankey, Esq., Rev. S. Curwen, Thomas Wilson, Esq. Rev. J." Fletcher, M. A., J. Arundel, Dr. Styles,

Thomas Challis, Esq., Rev. J. Blackburn, J. Davis, H. Lacey, R. Philip, of Liverpool, J. Dunn, and J. B. Brown, Esq. LL. D. The Society was formed, its regulations established, and Thomas Challis, Esq. of Artillery Place, appointed Treasurer; and the Rev. J. Blackburn, of Pentonville; and the Rev. J. Davis, of Hare Court, Secretaries. The meeting closed with an address from the worthy Sheriff. Several handsome subscriptions were received. We trust this important Society may receive that zealous support which its great object imperatively demands.

Chapels Opened.-On Sabbath, the 27th of March, a small plain chapel was opened for the use of seamen, at the Broomielaw of Glasgow. The Rev. John Smyth, of St. George's, in whose parish the chapel stands, preached at eleven o'clock. The Rev. Gavin Struthers, of the Relief, at two o'clock, and the Rev. John Mitchell, D. D. of the United Secession, at six o'clock in the evening.

A neat congregational chapel, capable of accommodating nearly 500 persons, was opened at South Shields on Tuesday, 5th April. Mr. Parsons, of York, preached in the morning from Exodus xx. 24. Mr. Stowell, of North Shields, in the afternoon from 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. Owing to the interest excited by Mr. Parson's visit, the Methodist friends very liberally offered the use of their chapel, which holds 1800, for the evening service, when Mr. P. addressed a crowded audience from Jeremiah, vi. 10. The devotional services of the day were conducted by Messrs. Matheson, of Durham, Stratten and Jones, of Sunderland; Brown and Crook, (Baptist Ministers of the town,) Gibbs, of Newcastle; and Gollop, of Darlington. The engagements of the evening were closed with an impressive prayer by Mr. Ratcliffe, the senior Methodist preacher of the district. The collections amounted to £44.

On Monday, May 30, the foundation of an Independent Chapel, (the dimensions of which are to be 36 feet by 45), was laid at Bawtry, Yorkshire. An address, founded on Nehemiah, ii. 20. "The God of heaven he will prosper us; therefore, we his servants will arise and build," was delivered on the spot by Rev. Samuel

Nichols, Minister of the Independent congregations of Bawtry and of Ranskill, Notts.

Ordinations.--Tuesday, April 26, the Rev. William Brewis, from the College at Rotherham, was ordained pastor of the Church of Christ, assembling in the Independent Chapel, Lane End, Staffordshire. The Rev. J. Conder, of Burslem, introduced the service of the morning by prayer, and reading appropriate portions of Scripture; the Rev. T. Sleigh, of Newcastle, delivered the discourse on the Nature and Constitution of a Christian Church, and proposed the questions; the Rev R. Richards, of Market-Drayton, offered the ordination prayer, which was accompanied by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery; the Rev. James Bennett, Theological Tutor of Rotherham Independent College, gave the Charge, and the Rev. T. Tallis, of Alton, concluded with prayer. The Rev. J. Johnson, of Cannock, commenced the evening service, by reading and prayer; when the church and congregation were addressed by the Rev. R. W. Newland, of Hanley.

The Independent cause in this populous town, was commenced about six years ago, by the Rev. J. Conder. A neat chapel, which will seat five hundred hearers, has been since erected; and both the church and congregation are in a prosperous and an increasing state.

On Wednesday, June 8, 1825, John Philip was publicly set apart to the office of pastor, over the united church of the congregation of Independent Dissenters of Weldon and Corby, in the county of Northamptonshire.

The Rev. Mr. Pickering, of Brigstock, introduced the service by reading a suitable portion of Scripture and prayer. The Rev. Mr. Notcutt, of Welbarston, delivered the introductory discourse, and asked the usual questions. The Rev. Mr. Chater, of Kebworth, offered up the ordination prayer; the Rev. Mr. Scott, of Rowell, gave the charge from Jer. xxiii. 22. The Rev. Mr. Green, of Uppingham, preached to the people from Deut. i. 38. The Rev. Mr.Toller, of Kettering, preached in the evening from Acts ii. 42. The services were numerously attended, and peculiarly interesting and impressive.