mained without any instruction, but for Sunday-schools. Tracts have been distributed, which are seldom returned without solicitations for others; some cases of extreme distress and privation have been relieved; and the results of even a short trial of this scheme in a very inefficient manner, are such as to hold out every inducement to persevere. Were every Sunday-school in the kingdom to nurture within its bosom an efficient mission, upon a similar principle, the results would be a greater good than even city missions can of themselves accomplish-for this scheme would carry missions into every village and hamlet where a Sundayschool is known.

The next business of interest before the meeting, was the presentation of an elegantly bound copy of Mozart's and Haydn's Masses and Novellos, Motetts and Evening Services, in seven volumes, to Mr. G. M. Ainsworth, who for five years, has in the most efficient manner presided at the organ, over the choir in the Greengate Meeting-house. The Chairman, in presenting to Mr. Ainsworth, this memorial of the Congregation's gratitude for his services and esteem for his character, expressed his own personal feelings of friendship, and extended to him the right hand of fellowship. Mr. Ainsworth, deeply affected by this token of regard, and by the plaudits with which he was greeted, expressed his heartfelt thanks for the handsome testimonial, and his sincere attachment and good wishes towards his friends and fellow-worshippers. Mr. T. Oates next addressed the meeting on the blessings of education, the effects of the want of which had been so painfully illustrated in the conduct of the machine-breakers and stack-burners, and more recently in the riots at Bristol, &c. In conclusion, he noticed a recent increase of one-fifth in the number of books circulated from the Greengate Chapel Library, two-thirds of those in circulation being taken out by Sunday scholars. Mr. Francis Duffield dwelt on the advantages which would result to Dissenters, and to the cause of religious liberty, by the divorce of Church from State; and Mr. Hardy, after dwelling on the duties of private, family, and public worship, closed the proceedings with a brief narration of the circumstances under which, from a Methodist local preacher, he became a Unitarian. Throughout the meeting, the strongest reciprocation of kindly feeling was evinced; and it is hoped that many left it, not only gratified but edified, after an evening well-spent in Christian sociality. J. H.

MR. STANNUS's Lectures have already involved him in controversy. A card, containing a list of the subjects he intended to discuss, having been sent, by some person, to the Rev. Dr. John Ritchie, one of the Ministers of Edinburgh, and Moderator of the United Associate Synod of the Secession Church, that individual forwarded it to Mr. Stannus, with the following lines inscribed upon it: "Honesty requires that the postage of such letters as this be paid by the sender of the letter, whether the lectures be Scriptural, or as in this case Blasphemous.' effusion of bigotry and spleen, Mr. Stannus replied, by assuring Dr. Ritchie, that he was not the sender of the card, nor "directly or indirectly cognizant of its transmission." Dr. Ritchie rejoined: and amongst other things, remarks, “As an answer to yours just received,

To this

I may state, my time and pence have been so often assessed by transmissions by Post of Cards, &c. announcing Itinerant Lectures, that I have in self-defence adopted the plan of returning them by post, as the simplest means of convicting the offender, and preventing repetition of the nuisance." "A hypothesis may be blasphemous, though the Q. E.D. is not forthcoming; on this principle I warrantably conclude, that the card referred to bears blasphemous hypotheses-this, however, is my consolation-they are in awful opposition to the oracles of God-the Word true from the beginning the Word which, though heaven and earth pass away, shall not pass away."

The bad temper and arrogance of these extracts, present another instance of the melancholy and intolerant spirit of reputed orthodoxy. Dr. Ritchie, not satisfied with that exhibition, pretty plainly insinuates, that, notwithstanding Mr. Stannus's explanation and denial, he was, after all, the transmitter of the obnoxious card. This insinuation could not be passed unnoticed, and accordingly Mr. Stannus addressed another letter to the calumniator, calling on him to retract his insinuation, and reprobating the intolerance which had been displayed. To this claim of justice, the sufferer in "time and pence" has observed an ominous silence; and the correspondence has therefore been published, with some introductory remarks. We wish these remarks had been extended, by a plain and scriptural statement of the principles of Christian Unitarianism-by an exposure of the "blasphemous" assumption, that the blood of God, the animating SPIRIT of universal nature, could be spilled on Calvary and the ignorance manifested by Dr. Ritchie, in founding that assumption on an interpolated passage, Acts xx. 28. This would have enhanced the value of the pamphlet, bigotry would have been chastised, and truth illustrated and promoted...

CONTROVERSY has been excited in Dundee by Mr. Smith's lectures. An advertisement having been inserted in the newspapers, that a Course would be delivered on a variety of subjects connected with Unitarianism and Trinitarianism, and that the collection on the first evening would be devoted to the Dundee fund for supplying the poor with fuel and clothing, another advertisement appeared from Mr. Adam, a respectable bookseller and Baptist preacher of that town. It is a curiosity in its way, and therefore we give it.

"On the doctrine of the Trinity.-Observing by hand-bills circulated in Dundee, that the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and other important doctrines, are to be assailed by a Mr. Smith, the Subscriber begs to intimate, that he has still on hand a few copies of MOSES STUART'S LETTERS ON THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST, which he considers a complete antidote on that subject (price 2s). It is an invaluable little book, and it has hitherto baffled ALL the anti-Christian sophistry of the Socinian and other corrupters of the Apostles' doctrine, either in this country, or in America, to meet its arguments: Therefore, before Mr. Smith should have DARED to have written that that doctrine is unscriptural,'' selfcontradictory,' or an invention of men-without support from the Word of God,' he should have buckled on his armour-taken up his pen, and should have met that author's arguments fairly. Should it be the intention of the Lecturer to meet those arguments in a manner suited to the great and momentous subject on which he is about to enter the consideration of the PERSON and CHARACTER of HIM who in a short time will be THE ARBITER of our ETERNAL DOOM-and, should Mr. S. put his Lectures into a tangible shape-he may meet with an answer in a style becoming the importance of the question at issue. Truth will not suffer from calm investigation. JAMES ADAM, Bookseller.' The following week, Mr. Smith replied through the same channel. He shows that it was not "the Apostle's doctrine," but the traditions

of men that he had denominated "unscriptural"-points out the absurdity of calling on him to suspend his Ministerial labours, to publish a reply to "Moses Stuart's letters," or any other Trinitarian work-and, giving a statement of Christian Unitarianism in the words of Scripture, leaves it to the public of Dundee to judge, whether such doctrines can in fairness or truth be denounced as antichristian.

Mr. Adam, forgetful of the sentiment with which he closed his adverisement, "Truth will not suffer from calm investigation," then addressed atter to Mr. Smith, in the Dundee Advertiser, characterized by sectarian pride and polemic scurrility. He charges Mr. Smith with vending "wares which have been long ago condemned as poisonous," and that therefore he had directed public "attention to an infallible antidote"asserts that Mr. Smith, "like all who have preceded" him "in the ranks of Socinianism," has "shrunk from the true battle-field," in not writing a reply to "Moses Stuart's letters," and "proceeded to insult the Christian public of Dundee," by preferring the pulpit to the press to publish "those professedly Unitarian, but really Socinian and anti-Christian doctrines, which have a thousand times been refuted, and thus, if possible, to induce some to make shipwreck of their faith, and of a good conscience." "You have given us your summary of the leading doctrines of Unitarianism; and to every one of its articles-not indeed in the sense in which you hold them, but in the true Scriptural sense-I and every believer in Christ's true and proper Deity will at once and cordially assent. Your sophistry, Sir, will not serve you. You have told us what you believe; but I ask you, and I ask you in the name of common honesty, will you tell us what you disbelieve on the subject? Answer me the following questions, Sir, or I will hold you defeated." Mr. Adam then quotes several passages of Scripture, and putting his own construction on their meaning, demands of Mr. Smith, in a style which manifests his qualifications for a Familiar of the Holy Office, if he believes them. He then attempts to escape from the misrepresentations of his advertisement by the plea, to grammatical accuracy I make no pretensions"-but immediately afterwards reiterates the nickname "Socinians," and again wishes Mr. Smith to suspend his Ministerial labours, "though it were but for one Sabbath," and to employ it in asking himself, "Am I safe, Am I consulting my own eternal welfare, and the welfare of the immortals who are listening to me, in teaching them to regard, as a mere man like themselves, one who will judge both them and me, and before whose throne angels and redeemed sinners will cast their crowns of glory, saying, Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty?'

To this tirade, Mr. Smith made the following rejoinder:

"Unitarian Tracts.-Lectures on Unitarianism.-I have received, and placed in the hands of Mr. Chalmers, bookseller, Castle-street, on sale, the following TRACTS connected with the Unitarian Controversy. Dr. Channing's Sermon on the Ordination of the Rev. J. Sparkes, 6d. (Stuart's Letters on the Divinity of Christ,' are designated a reply to this discourse; with what reason, those who possess both works can judge.)-Comparative View of the Scriptural Evidence for Unitarianism and Trinitarianism, 6d.—Unitarians' Appeal, Id.-Questions to Trinitarians, d.

"I have much pleasure in being able to refer the public of Dundee to the above Tracts, as containing satisfactory replies to the interrogatories of Mr. James Adam, in his second theological advertisement, which appeared in this Journal last Thursday, in the form of a letter to me, but the writer of which, forgetting the gentleman in the polemic, neglected to forward to the individual addressed. The writer of that letter has disclaimed all pretensions to grammatical accuracy.' In his next advertisement, I expect that he will, in a like candid manner, disclaim all pretensions to Christian charity, and then state, why he has

'dared to insult the Christian public of Dundee,' by publishing two illhumoured and ill-written essays on theology.

"Mr. Adam has reiterated his charges, that the doctrines of Unitarianism are anti-Christian,'-that I impugn' the teachings of the Apostles, and that the denomination of Christians to which I belong are properly styled Socinians." In my last, I ascribed these misrepresentations to ignorance, and pointed out the false grounds from which the misconceptions which gave rise to them originated. Mr. Adam has refused to plead ignorance; his misrepresentations, which he has not attempted to substantiate, must now be designated calumnies.

"To one slanderous insinuation in that letter, I feel it due to my own character to advert. Mr. Adam, in addressing me, observes, Your object, I am well aware, Sir, was not to enter the field of fair and honest argument; but to publish, where there was no immediate opportunity of replying to you, those professedly Unitarian, but really Socinian and antichristian doctrines, which have a thousand times been refuted, and thus, if possible, to induce some to make shipwreck of their faith and of a good conscience.'

These words merit not a denial. They require no comment. The man that could entertain the opinion they express of a brother, is an object of my sincere compassion.

"I do not think the pages of a newspaper the proper place to enter into an investigation of the doctrines of the Bible. The subject is too sacred to be classed with the idle gossip and accidents of the day; my remaining observations, therefore, on Mr. Adam's letter, will be brief, and they will be final.

"Can that letter be written by a Protestant who recognizes the sufficiency of Scripture and the right of private judgment? The doctrines of Unitarianism have been long ago condemned as poisonous.' Is that to preclude farther inquiry, or to prohibit us from asking, What says the Bible?-Condemned as poisonous!'-By whom?-By popes and presbyters, councils and synods, creeds and confessions. And is the freeborn Christian to desist from 'searching the Scriptures' for himself, because human authority has determined their meaning? Are the truths which Milton, and Locke, and Newton, believed and supported, to be deemed unworthy of examination, because MR. ADAM pronounces them unscriptural? To speak, too, of any human composition being an infallible antidote' to error, savours more of Roman Catholicism than of the faith he should hold, who professes to receive the Word of God as the ONLY INFALLIBLE exposition of Christian truth. But what are we to think of the infallibility of Mr. Stuart's book, and of the accuracy of Mr. Adam's assertion, that no Unitarian pen has ever dared to answer it,' when I state, that Professor Norton of Cambridge University, Massachussets, has replied to Mr. Stuart's Letters?'-a reply which Mr. Stuart has not yet ventured to assail! Let Mr. Adam, if he be really anxious to procure a sufficient answer to his favourite volume,' provide such a list of subscribers as will meet the expense of republishing Mr. Norton's work, and he shall be gratified.

"Mr. Adam, not being able to find fault with the doctrines I believe, demands of me what I disbelieve.' I have already, on two occasions, mentioned some of the doctrines which he maintains, but which I deem

"Socinian,-from Socinus an eminent Polish Unitarian, who flourished in the fourteenth century. He maintained that the man Christ Jesus' was a proper object of worship. Unitarians-believers in, and worshippers of, one God, IN ONE PERSON,-do not now hold the distinguishing tenet of Socinus. The name Socinian is now a term of reproach, and is only applied to Unitarians by ignorant or evil-minded persons,-just as such individuals might give the name of Anabaptist to that respectable denomination of Christians which claims, and should receive the title of Baptist.-W. S."

'unscriptural, self-contradictory, and inventions of men.' I shall reply a third time to his queries, whenever he produces his credentials for assuming the office of inquisitor of my faith. The passages which Mr. Adam has quoted, and by which, if I answer them not, I am to be condemned as defeated,' I, and all Unitarians, believe as firmly as he can do,-not, indeed, in the sense in which he understands them,' but in what we conceive their true Scriptural sense.'

"The lecture-room, and not the newspaper, is the place to explain their meaning; and, in the course of lectures at present being delivered by me, on Sabbath evenings, in the Camperdown Hall, they shall be calmly and impartially examined.

"To these lectures I invite my Christian brethren in this town; and this, and my former invitations many have, and, I am persuaded, many will accept, for I know that the inhabitants of Dundee have too correct a sense of justice to sanction invective in place of reasoning, and possess too much of the true spirit of civil and religious liberty, to obey the dictum of any presumptuous man, who, forgetting the age in which he lives, would lead them to condemn unheard an unoffending Christian community, whose only crimes are, worshipping God THE FATHER in obedience to the precepts and example of the Lord Jesus Christ and the dictates of their consciences, and zealously endeavouring to make known to others the truths in which they themselves delight.

"Dundee, Dec. 14, 1831.

WM. SMITH, Unitarian Minister."

WE are glad to learn, that the Rev. William Rowe, late of the University of Glasgow, has received and accepted the unanimous invitation of the Unitarian Congregation at Derby. He succeeds the Rev. Edward Higginson, who resigned from ill health.

The Rev. Franklin Howorth removes in a week or two, from Rochdale to Bury, in Lancashire. There will be a settlement service on the occasion, in which Mr. Robberds and Mr. Beard of Manchester, with others, will take part. Mr. Howorth will be succeeded by the Rev. G. Heaviside, late of Manchester College, York.

The Rev. J. S. Porter of Carter Lane, London, succeeds the Rev. Dr. Bruce, as colleague with the Rev. W. Bruce, in the First Presbyterian Congregation, Belfast.

THE REV. J. G. Robberds and the Rev. W. Gaskell, are delivering Lectures on doctrinal subjects, on Sunday evenings, in Cross-Street Chapel, Manchester. The Rev. J. R. Beard has just concluded a course at the Greengate Meeting-House, Salford, on the state of the question between the Church and the Nation-address to the labouring classesJesus, Emanuel or God with us-the agency of the Holy Spirit in the work of salvation-Jesus Christ a Unitarian.

The Rev. W. J. Bakewell is lecturing on Sunday evenings, in the Octagon Chapel, Norwich, on Unitarianism-Christian Redemptiontime and eternity-the two natures in Christ-Original Sin-the Atonement preaching Christ. Considerable attention has been excited by the Course just finished. The Chapel was crowded, upwards of twelve hundred persons being present. The subjects were well chosen, being on Mystery-Heresy-Blasphemy-Schism-Enthusiasm--Faith.