tian hearts-the birth-place of Wycliffe, the church which witnessed the sacrifice of Theophilus Lindsey, and the scenes consecrated by the labours of a Gilpin. Such men would be held in everlasting remembrance. The world needed examples of honesty, of men whose first care was to possess a conscience void of offence before God and man. The Rev. gentleman then, in an able and interesting manner, noticed the leading events in the life of Dr. Priestley, and commended the holy vigilance with which, while satisfying his thirst for knowledge, he cultivated the deep religious sentiment by which his great soul was imbued. Mr. Turner (said Mr. Ryland) had told them, in his pleasing reminiscences of a former generation, how Dr. Priestley came over to his father's house at Wakefield, to comfort and animate Mr. Lindsey in the hour of trial; and it would ever be a pleasing remembrance in his (Mr. Ryland's) mind, that on Sunday last he had the pleasure of meeting, in Newcastle, one of the inmates of that house in Wakefield, and of meeting him, too, in Hanover-Square chapel, a place from which his name could never be dissociated. Mr. Ryland concluded a very earnest and able address by exhorting Unitarians to copy the example of men like Priestley and Lindsey, and to do the work of their generation. The CHAIRMAN next gave, "The Memory of the Rev. Edward Prowitt," who was formerly connected with the Particular Baptists, but subsequently was joint pastor of the General Baptist congregation in Newcastle, and who died at Catterick-Bridge, on a journey from Leicester, whither he had been to fetch his mother to his own home, which was then at Newcastle, and lies buried in Catterick churchyard. The Rev. J. C. MEEKE, of Stockton, after offering some remarks on the services of the day, and particularly on the eloquent and admirable address delivered by Mr. Harris, and with which they had all been so much delighted, moved that the Rev. gentleman be requested to print it. Mr. BROWN, of Barnard-castle, seconded the motion, which was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN, having expressed his consent to this request, gave, "Christian Union, founded on the recognition of individual Christian liberty, and the perfect Christian independence of the associated Churches." Mr. GEORGE CLOSE, of West Witton (a lay preacher among the Christian Brethren), responded to this sentiment in a speech which called forth much applause. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman (which, indeed, were eminently due for the excellent arrangements that he had made for the comfort and enjoyment of all), on the motion of the Rev. Mr. WRIGHT, of Sunderland, and seconded by the Rev. JAMES M'DOWELL, of Stockton; and the meeting was closed with singing and prayer. The company then reluctantly dispersed from the spot consecrated by the pious labours of the venerated Confessor, and bent their steps towards their respective homes. Thus ended a day with which will long be associated the most pleasing reminiscences. And it seems natural to imagine, that, could the excellent Lindsey have looked down, from his exaltation amidst the throngs of saints and angels, upon this humble attempt to assert and magnify those great truths and principles which he, in less auspicious times, so ably and consistently advocated in his learned works and pious labours, it would receive his hearty approval. There are many other events which give a peculiar interest to this district, and render it memorable. Near the site of the present village stood the Cataractonium of Ptolemy, once a large and fair city, but which appears to have speedily fallen into ruins, after the final departure of the "Legions" from the shores of Britain. In the 7th century, Edwin, the Anglo-Saxon King, had his palace at Gilling, a village at a short distance from Catterick, where he listened to the disputation between his own Pagan priest and Paulinus, a Roman missionary, on the comparative merits of Saxon Paganism and Christianity, and by which conference he was converted; and the King and his whole court immediately after received Christian baptism. Á short time after, as many as three thousand-according to Camden, ten thousand-of his subjects were baptized in the waters of the Swale, near Catterick. And thus it was near this village that the gospel was first planted in the North of England. In this neighbourhood, that star of the Reformation, the celebrated Wycliffe, was born, either at Hipswell, on the Swale, or at Wycliffe, on the banks of the Tees, which in its course approximates to Richmond. And thus this district has attractions for all Christians, Catholics and Protestants, Conformists and Nonconformists. It may be mentioned as a testimony of the great salubrity of the district, that on the banks of the Swale the famous Henry Jenkins was born and lies buried, having died at the age of 169. Long after he was 100 years old, he was accustomed to wander by the side of and wade the waters of this stream, in pursuit of trout and salmon. Stockton-on-Tees. J. C. M. Opening of the New Unitarian Chapel at Carmarthen. The friends and promoters of pure and scriptural Christianity, although not numerous, had long felt the want of a commodious place to conduct their religious services, and dedicated to the worship of One God the Father, in the above place. A few of them met in a friend's house in March last, when it was resolved to select a proper and eligible site for a chapel, school-rooms, &c., and the foundation-stone was laid early in April, the minister engaging to secure the funds necessary to complete the undertaking. By the assistance of Unitarians in Carmarthen and the neighbourhood, and the liberality of orthodox friends of all denominations in the place, sufficient aid was soon contributed to enable the contractor to proceed with the erection. During the Midsummer vacation, the minister visited London and other places, where he met with much kindness and liberality, and had not illhealth interfered with his mission, a sufficient sum would have been raised to defray the expense, and the chapel would have been opened free from debt. As it is, some additional assistance from friends in England will be requisite, and during his next vacation Mr. Lloyd intends to appeal personally for their sympathy and aid in the good cause. For nearly twenty years he has given his services gratuitously, and whatever funds may be raised from pew-rents, subscriptions, &c., shall be devoted exclusively to the objects contemplated by the erection of the chapel-the moral and religious improvement of all classes connected with it. The chapel was opened on Wednesday, the 29th ult. The English services were conducted, both morning and evening, by the Rev. G. B. Brock, of Swansea, and the Welsh by the Rev. Owen Evans, Cefn, near Merthyr, and the Rev. John E. Jones, Bridgend. Mr. Brock's text in the morning was Psalm cxxii. 1, from which he made an eloquent and impressive appeal upon the "Duty, Profit and Pleasure of Social Worship," especially when offered to "one God the Father." The importance of truth in reference to the Object of worship, was forcibly pointed out, and the necessity of having clear, decided, truthful views of the nature and attributes of the "Everlasting Father" strongly urged. The peculiar reasons of rejoicing on the part of Unitarians when assembled to worship in accordance with their simple faith, and in strict conformity with the example of Christ, constituted the main topic of the discourse. All seemed powerfully impressed when the preacher appealed to the uniform practice of the Saviour himself in reference to the great Object of worship. "Christ never prayed but to the Father;" and in the beautiful and comprehensive form according to which he has strictly enjoined his disciples to pray, the Father, and the Father only, is addressed. Not a syllable in the whole records of the life and practice of Christ about "Father, Son and Holy Ghost, three Persons and one God.” Throughout this beautiful discourse, the moral and spiritual advantages of Unitarian over Trinitarian views of God, and the nature and object of worship, were explained in a truly Christian spirit, but with that uncompromising tone and manner which must ever characterize the earnest and faithful disciple of Christ. The grounds upon which Unitarians separated themselves from orthodox churches, and built places of worship where they might offer prayer and praise to the Father alone, were fairly and forcibly stated. "No Unitarian could conscientiously and sincerely worship within any other walls." The evening discourse was a sequel to that of the morning, not only in regard to time, but also subject-matter -"the Ground of Confidence on the part of the Unitarian in the Nature of his Interpretation of the Divine Word." He brought his reason-"the light within"-to bear upon the words of Christ, and those words bore the test of scrutiny and examination, when properly understood. The Unitarian had nothing to fear, but every thing to hope, from inquiry and investigation. In this discourse the leading doctrines of Unitarianism were explained and defended. The preacher appealed principally to the life of the Saviour, as the practical embodiment of his teaching, for proofs of his views. If Christ was practically a Unitarian-if he invariably prayed to the Father only, and taught on all occasions that repentance and reformation were the only terms of acceptance with God, he must have been so theoretically; for with him, in whose mouth there was no guile, practice and theory must have been identical. The discourse throughout evinced the sincerity of the preacher, and was eminently calcufated to awaken the zeal of the Unitarians for the service of "One God the Father," as well as to impress all present that it was not a subject of small importance whether worship was paid to the "Father only," according to the direction and practice of Christ, or to a Triune Deity, according to the teaching of human creeds. The Welsh discourses were also excellent the one upon the heavenly and supernatural character of the teachings of the "Man of Nazareth," shewing most clearly that Christianity stands or falls with the historical evidence of its truth; the other, explanatory of the character of God, of his dispensations towards all his moral creatures, and of the means by which he has destined to prepare them for glory and immortality. The chapel was crowded both morning and evening, and many of the leading members of the different denominations in the town were present, with their ministers! The New Chapel at Hope Street, It will gratify the Unitarians of England to know that the Rev. James Martineau has returned from his year's foreign residence, and is about to recommence his important ministerial labours at Liverpool and his professorial duties at the New College, Manchester. The splendid chapel erected for him in Hope Street by his attached congregation is to be opened on Thursday, Oct. 4th, when the devotional service will be conducted by Mr. Martineau, and the sermon will be preached by Rev. Thomas Madge, of Essex Street, London. On the following Sunday morning Mr. Martineau will preach, and in the afternoon the sermon will be preached by Rev. Charles Wicksteed. OBITUARY. Rev. SAMUEL WOOD and Rev. HENRY panions of his youth. Let one who COLMAN. Of the excellent and deeply-lamented man first named, we hoped to be able to give in our present No. a suitable obituary memoir, but we have been disappointed. In the mean time we are enabled to offer our readers an interesting extract from a sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Hutton at Carter Lane. The text of the sermon was 1 Kings viii. 18, "And the Lord said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build a house in my name, thou didst well." The reflections suggested by the text the preacher enforced, in conclusion, by a reference to the recent deaths of the Rev. Samuel Wood and Rev. Henry Colman, of Boston, Massachusetts. "Of the importance of registering our good intentions, where we have the power, as speedily as possible in action,-of doing what we can while we can,-we have had not a few impressive admonitions of late. Since I last met you, my friends, some active and efficient labourers in God's vineyard have been summoned suddenly and unexpectedly from their work of love. The good things that they have actually done remain to bear witness of them. What it was in their hearts to do,-what they would have done had life and power remained,-God indeed has seen, and will not forget, but we can derive little or no benefit from. They did well in that it was in their hearts; but their good thoughts and virtuous intentions are lost, if not altogether, yet in great part at least, to us and to the world. The liberal things that they devised, their instrumentality can no longer accomplish; and so, my friends, it will probably be with many of our good plans and holy purposes, if we do not act promptly on the Wise Man's counsel, 'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor wisdom, nor knowledge in the grave whither thou goest.' Little did I think, when I left you a few weeks since, that we should so soon have to lament the loss of so valuable and valued a friend, so active and zealous a coadjutor in the great cause of religion and virtue, as the late excellent Mr. Samuel Wood. An affectionate tribute has already been paid to his memory, in this place, by one of the com knew him only in his later years, but solid excellence of his character, add his learned, nevertheless, to appreciate the brief testimony. I pretend not in this instance,-I never do in any,-to strike the balance of his virtues and defects, or to anticipate the final award of Him who alone decidedly can try us.' I merely state, in humble deference to a higher judgment, my own strong impression, that Mr. Wood was a pure-minded, truthspeaking, honest man,-an Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile,'-an active, zealous, persevering labourer for others' good, and that, too, though his worldly circumstances would have permitted him to be idle and self-indulgent, and to be spent for his brethren's benefit -one who was willing to spend himself and in his Master's cause,-one who, having freely received, wanted not the heart to give freely. I need not tell you, for you yourselves have seen and know, that the deep interest which he felt in the cause of human education and improvement found constant expression in the active energies of his life, and occasionally in the useful productions of his pen. That it was in his heart to do still more and greater things, and, had his life been spared, to build what may well be regarded as, in the highest sense, a 'temple to God'-a house of training and instruction for God's children, is well known to all his friends; but his breath hath gone forth, he hath returned to his earth,' and for us and ours many of his good thoughts 'have perished.' Not so, we trust, for himself. So far as they were genuine and sincere, and would have borne fruit in action had he lived to realize them, so far they are bis for ever, and are gone with his works to bear witness for him before the throne of God. 'He did well in that it was in his heart.' But what is our ground of hope that it was indeed in his heart? testimony of his life. We find it in the He did much, and we therefore readily believe that he would have done more. Brethren, let our actions be like his, and then may we hope to have credit for our good intentions also. "Since I last addressed you, another * The Rev. P. Cannon, of Wakefield, a fellow-student of Mr. Wood's at Glasgow, who commemorated his high moral and religious worth in a sermon preached at Carter Lane, August 26th. friend, one who has more than once delivered the word of exhortation to you from this pulpit, has been removed from amongst us. Of him I knew, and can therefore say, less; but in the little that I did see of him, I found much to interest me, and believe that there are some amongst my hearers who can testify, from a much more intimate experience, to the good qualities of his mind and heart. The moral of his death he shall read to us himself. Having referred, in a letter to one of his family, bearing date Jan. 26th, 1848, to the death of two valued friends in his native land, Mr. Henry Colman thus proceeds-These and several other deaths have impressed me a good deal, and remind me that I am in the front ranks, where the shafts fly thickest. I must bide my time. I have no fear of dying; not because I have any confidence in myself; not because I am self-satisfied; not that I feel I have done my duty; but because my reason, and all my reflections upon this world and the course of Divine Providence, satisfy me that this life is an unfinished state, a mere introduction; next, because I believe that Jesus Christ was commissioned to assure men of a future life, though we are left wholly in the dark as to what that future life shall be; and lastly and above all, because I feel myself, in life and death, entirely at the disposal of my Creator, from whom I cannot separate myself if I would,-from whom I would not separate myself if I could, and in whose wisdom and unbounded and unchanging love and goodness, forgiveness and mercy, I confide with my whole soul,-and if my affection and confidence were ten thousand times as strong as they are, I feel that they would still be a very imperfect tribute to His adorable perfection. I wish very much to finish the works which I have undertaken. No individual's labours, I am perfectly aware, are of any great consequence to the world, and the works of many infinitely superior in endowments to myself are destined to be swept along into oblivion on the common and ever-flowing tide of mortal affairs; yet I think I never had the power of doing so much good as at the present time.' Alas, he who not long since wrote thus modestly, wisely and beautifully of himself and of human life, is no more! We too are mortal. While we live, then, let us live unto God, that when we die we may die unto God,-that living or dying we may be his! Amen." May 21, aged 76, at the Hollins, near Birmingham, MARTHA COOKE, relict of the late Rev. Joseph Cooke, of Rochdale. Her respected husband was originally a circuit preacher among the Wesleyan Methodists, but being deemed unsound in the faith, he was expelled by the Conference. He was not, however, deserted by the people amongst whom he laboured; at Rochdale, Newchurch and other places in that district, societies were formed, and in two cases chapels were erected for the worship of God and the extension of religion under Mr. C.'s able and popular guidance. These societies felt it their duty to inquire freely for divine truth from the Scriptures alone, and they became, without knowing there were any others in the world of like sentiments with themselves, Unitarians. The venerable subject of this memoir, after much serious and prayerful investigation, arrived at the same conclusions. Her husband died comparatively young, leaving a widow with the charge of five children. In these circumstances she undertook the establishment of a school, and by this means for many years maintained herself and her family. The seeds of the father's complaint seem, however, to have been transmitted to the children, and in the course of time every one died, two of them being married persons at the time of their death. No representatives survive. The mother lived for some years in the household of the minister of Black water-Street chapel, Rochdale, and accompanied him as a part of the family on his removal to the charge of the congregation at Bury, Lancashire. Having resided here about seven years, she removed to West Bromwich, whence she removed with the niece, with whom she had been living, to Shenstone, near Lichfield, to dwell with her sister; and in a few years removed with the other members of the household to the Hollins, near Birmingham, the residence of her cousin, the Rev. Rann Kennedy. Here she passed the remainder of her days in the peaceful and quiet literary pursuits which had always possessed a peculiar charm to her active and cultivated mind. She was through life distinguished for depth of thought, liveliness of fancy, refinement of taste, and devoutness of heart. The effusions of her pen, as seen in her correspondence, indicate much superiority of mind, and both richness and fastidiousness in the expression of its thoughts. She maintained great steadfastness in the belief |