denominations, have to be added to these, in estimating the progress of pure and undefiled Christianity in the United States. The "Massachusetts.-The Unitarian Congregationalists have in this State about 150 Societies. Several of them are larger by onethird, than they were a year ago. The Boston Association comprises 27 Unitarian Ministers, of whom 16 belong to the city, and the rest to the adjoining towns. The Theological School at Cambridge has five Professors, together with forty students in Divinity, and candidates for the Ministry. Five periodicals, devoted to Unitarian Christianity, are published in this city. In the same cause, the following Societies are engaged. Evangelical Missionary Society; the American Unitarian Association; the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, Piety, and Charity; the Unitarian Book and Pamphlet Society; and the Boston Sunday School Society. The American Unitarian Association issues one tract of 24 pages every month, besides others at irregular intervals. The demand for them, and other Unitarian works, has greatly increased, during the last year. No doubt, more than one-half of the men in Massachusetts are anti-calvinistic; and their number is increasing. "Maine.-Flourishing Unitarian Churches are to be found in Portland, Kennebunk, Saco, Hallowell, Augusta, Bangor, and Eastport. Others, having the stated services of ordained ministers, a whole or part of the time, exist in Belgrade, Farmington, Norridgewock, Castine, and elsewhere. Societies have recently been, or will soon be formed in many other towns, such as Fryburg, Brunswick, Warren, Atkinson, and Calais. Besides these places, Unitarian preachers have officiated, within a few months, in New Gloucester, Danville, Gray, Denmark, Minot, Lovel, Standish, Cornish, Hyram, Scarborough, Readfield, Waterville, Anson, Bath, Wiscasset, Brownville, Foxcroft, Machias, &c. At the request of Christian inquirers, in various parts of the State, large numbers of Unitarian publications have been distributed. "New Hampshire.-There are few better Societies in our country than the one at Portsmouth. That at Dover is prosperous. The Unitarian Monitor,' published at this place, is well conducted, and has a respectable number of subscribers. No society of our denomination in this State, we believe, has been diminished the last year, while several of them have received large accessions, as for instance those in Concord, Nashua, and Keene. Several towns, heretofore strangers to Unitarian preaching, have been privileged with hearing it occasionally during the past year; and the tracts of the American Unitarian Association have been eagerly sought for and read in many places. "Vermont.-Any one would err who should judge of the prevalence of liberal views and feelings on religious subjects, by the number of Societies professedly Unitarian. In various parts of this State, as of others, many of the most intelligent and influential men are opposed to Calvinism. A majority of the male members in not a few parishes, nominally orthodox, would prefer ministers of our order; and ultimately will have them. A flour ishing society in Brattleborough will soon have erected a church and settled a pastor. The one in Burlington was never in a more prosperous condition; and there has been Unitarian preaching occasionally the last year in Strafford, Cavendish, Hartland, and Sharon. "Connecticut.-No State has been so much in bondage to Calvinism as this. Considerable changes, however, have taken place within a few years, in the views, if not of whole societies, yet of individual minds of great influence in the community. The process is going on. The New Haven theology, though the same in name, is very different in substance from what it was ten years ago. The Unitarian Society in Brooklyn maintains itself against its opponents, and sends forth a redeeming influence into the neighbouring towns. Unitarian preaching has been had within a few months in Windham, Chaplin, and Hartford. There are those in the last named city, who have purchased land on which to erect a Unitarian church. The "Rhode Island.-In Providence there has long existed a very respectable Unitarian Society, and it continues to flourish. new one gathered two or three years ago, is now going on excellently well. The residence of Dr. Channing, we understand, during the summer months near Newport, has been the occasion of an extraordinary attention of many inhabitants of that town and its vicinity to the claims of Unitarian Christianity. The churches in which he preached were crowded, many coming from a great distance to hear him; and the effects of his services are represented as having been exceedingly happy. He has sown seeds that, with the blessing of God, will yield an abundant harvest. "New-York.-The two Societies in the city are doing very well. There are already materials for another. A new one at Fishkill has the services of a candidate for the ministry from Cambridge. The first Unitarian Society in the city of Troy,' was organised the last month, to which a preacher from the Cambridge Theological School now ministers. At Ogdensburg a clergyman of our order is labouring with success. A Society of Unitarians has existed in Trenton twenty-five years. Its pastor preaches in several of the neighbouring towns. One of our brethren has been preaching to a numerous congregation in Buffalo, which has led to the formation of a promising society in that large and growing village. Several other towns have solicited and enjoyed Unitarian preaching the past year. Not a few liberal Christians may be found in almost all the larger ones in the State. In most of them a popular preacher of our denomination might collect an audience at any time. At Ithaca, an able Unitarian periodical, The Philanthropist,' is published under the direction of Rev. O. A. Brownson. The whole of the western part of the State of New-York,' says a correspondent, is a promising field for the labours of Unitarian missionaries; and the present is of all others the most favourable time to enter upon it.' "Our limits allow us only to say with respect to Unitarianism in the other States, that the Society in Philadelphia is remarkably prosperous; the one in Baltimore is doing well; that in Wash ington is growing in numbers and strength; the Church in Charleston, S. C. flourishes; our brethren in Augusta, Geo. sustain themselves, though destitute of a pastor, and support also a periodical, The Unitarian Christian,' which is effecting much good; at Savannah there is a fair prospect of a Society; Northumberland and Pittsburg, Pa. have the labours of faithful ministers; a pastor has been recently settled at Meadville, Pa.; at Cincinnati, Ohio, one has just been invited; a new church is building in Louisville, Ky.; the first Presbyterian Society in New Orleans has become liberal; and in many parts of the valley of the Mississippi, nothing is wanting to the establishment of Unitarian churches, but a supply of candidates for the ministry who are willing to go forth and labour in the spirit of the true Gospel." ON the 21st December, a well-merited tribute of respect, was paid by the leading and influential inhabitants of Newcastle and its neighbourhood, to the Rev. William Turner, on his entrance into the fiftieth year of his residence in that town. A public dinner, in honour of his eminent usefulness, was given in the Assembly-Rooms, at which upwards of one hundred individuals of all religious parties attended. The Mayor of Newcastle and other of the local authorities, were present; and apologies for absence, bearing, at the same time, the highest and warmest attestation to Mr. Turner's beneficent labours, were read from Dr. Fenwick of Durham, the Recorder of Newcastle, the High Sheriff of Northumberland, W. Ord, Esq. M. P., J. Hodgson, Esq. M. P., Sir M. W. Ridley, Sir John Swinburne, and others. We have room only for the following speeches, but these we gladly insert. We cannot frame a better wish for our brethren in the ministry, whether of Unitarian or of any other sentiments, than that they may emulate the unwearied and benevolent efforts of Mr. Turner, to whom those lines seem to our minds so applicable: In genuine worth, not unobserved shall pass A numerous family, with better praise, Shall hallow in their hearts, thy spotless name." The Chairman, James Losh, Esq. in proposing the health of the Rev. William Turner, after some introductory remarks on Mr. Turner's character and labours as a minister, said—" There is, however, another point of the reverend gentleman's general character, with which I may be permitted to use somewhat more free. dom, and enlarge upon at greater length; and that is, his public usefulness-the subject which we are at this moment assembled to commemorate. With respect to that point, I may fairly say, that after residing for nearly half a century in this place—after having devoted the whole of that time to active exertion and unceasing labour for the benefit and credit of the town, and for the promotion of every thing useful and advantageous to the district, I consider his public usefulness to be matter of history; and that if a history of the town for the last fifty years should ever be published, he must fill by far the most conspicuous part in it. I believe I am correct in stating, that, at an early period of his life, he first introduced Sunday-schools into this neighbourhood, which have been found in practice to be eminently beneficial to a Christian country, and in preparing the minds of those who attend them, for farther improvement and future education. To effect this object, his exertions as indeed they are on all occasions-were indefatigable; and it is consequently to him, in a great measure, that we owe the establishment of these praise-worthy institutions. The next topic in his career of usefulness which I shall mention, is the formation of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle. I do not know, nor is it very material, whether he was the father of that society; but he may truly be considered as the founder of its usefulness, the origin of its success, the director of its purposes, and its brightest ornament from beginning to end. I need scarcely, however, make these observations to the present company, most of you being members of that institution. You are all aware that it is founded upon peculiarly liberal principles, (and I mention this now, because it is to Mr. Turner, I believe, we are mainly indebted for this liberality,) no one having any property in the society, excepting that best property of all, the means of acquiring information, which is the more valuable and useful, because we can divide it with others. From twelve, the number of members has reached to upwards of six hundred; and, after stating that fact, it would be needless, and even absurd, in me, to dwell upon the incalculable benefits which it must produce. There is another subject, which perhaps I ought to have mentioned first. I know that our esteemed friend, at a time when the matter first began to attract attention, was an active forwarder, in this place, of every suggestion that tended to effect, and which ended in, the destruction of that abominable traffic-the slave trade; and that he has been, and continues to be, the indefatigable supporter of the total abolition of slavery, consistent with the safety of the countries where it prevails, and with the future welfare of the slaves themselves. Another token of his usefulness-for really there is no end to them-was the establishment of Jubilee Schools. I well remember, though I am aware the Corporation nobly assisted in the good work, that the original formation of these schools was mainly owing to his exertions. And now they contain between seven and eight hundred children, whose education is there so directed, and whose minds are there so trained, that they are fitted to become useful members of society. The next subject to which I shall call your attention, is that of the Mechanics' Institute of this town, to which you all know our revered friend has cheerfully given his advice, assistance, and time, and many lectures gratis; and I do say, that there are no societies better calculated to raise industrious persons from a humble sphere to rank and consideration in society, and to the enjoyment of the respect and consciousness of independence annexed to such a station. They have been of essential benefit to the country, and for the one which we have amongst us, we are greatly obliged to our friend, as wè are for every thing else. I have now to notice a subject which is to me peculiarly interesting-that of Infant Schools. I confess that at first I entertained doubts of their being made useful; but my venerable friend was more confident and anxious than myself, and it is likewise chiefly to his exertions that those most valuable preparatory schools have been established. In my opinion, derived from the results of practice and experience, no better plan has been adopted for laying a true foundation for morality and religion in any institutions either of ancient or modern times. They begin at a time when the mind is capable of being easily turned in a right direction; and they prepare the children to go to other schools, and lay a foundation which, if well built upon, must produce the best effects, and be of the greatest importance to the advancement and improvement of society. There is yet another thing which I ought to mention; though not of so public a nature, it is of the utmost moment, and I know, in point of fact, that its establishment is owing chiefly to him. I allude to the institution for the maintenance and taking care of the widows and orphans of schoolmasters, who, though a most useful and valuable class of men, are often unfortunate, and unable to make any thing like a decent provision for their families. To the excellent way in which this society is managed, and for which, I believe, it also is indebted to our friend, is to be attributed the fact, that it has contrived to make itself almost independent of any other assistance. Gentlemen, I know that I could easily extend this detail of usefulness much farther, for there are many ways in which our venerable visitor's active benevolence has been manifested; but it is unnecessary; and I shall only say here, that, though I certainly do not mean to affirm that he alone has been the institutor of all the great and charitable undertakings which I have mentioned, yet I do think it is from his guidance and prudence from the turn he has from time to time given to public feeling, and from the way in which he has directed it to the most valuable purposes, that we are principally indebted for the honourable station in which Newcastle stands with respect to other towns a station second to none in the points of moral conduct and general information, much of which is unquestionably owing to his exertions, good sense, and clear judgment, in giving a bent to those institutions which have succeeded in promoting such desirable objects." The toast was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm. Mr. Turner then stood up, amidst renewed approbation, and addressed the company to the following effect:-"I am sure that this assembly will be sensible that I rise under a state of very mixed feelings-feelings of great thankfulness to my friends, for the kindness which has induced them to assemble on such an occasion, and for the favourable hearing they have given to the speech which our worthy chairman has been so good as to make upon the subject. He has very properly observed, that in various, indeed in all, the circumstances in which I may be thought to |
