a minster standards combined, laid speedy arrest on its advance. The error was at once discovered, dragged from its lurking place, and strangled in its birth. Having signed the "Confession of Faith," which was also in the hands of the people, the Scottish Unitarians could not venture publicly to proclaim their opinions, and hence their course was rather to keep back, than to impugn the distinguishing doctrines of the Gospel. To deny the Divinity of Christ, or the doctrine of the atonement, was to incur the risk of being haled from Kirk Session to Presbytery, from Presbytery to Synod, and from Synod to Assembly, and of being pilloried before the Church as heretical, and ejected from the Establishment as traitors. But the Congregationalism of New England offered no such barrier, and exposed to no such consequences. The isolation of the ministers rendered it difficult to discover their unsoundness, and their independence of ecclesiastical authority made it harder still to bring home to them their guilt, and to visit them with condign punishment. Hence Unitarianism grew mightily and prevailed, enthroned itself in the very centre of orthodox Congregationalism, and pursued its conquests, till it gained possession of all the Congregational Churches in Boston, except two, the Old South and Park-street, and ultimately secured entire control over the oldest, best endowed, and most influential of the colleges, Harvard University. If any should ask how the above statement, which traces so much of the evil to Congregationalism, accords with the fact that the Presbyterian Churches of Old England became in the last century so extensively Unitarian, that, with most Englishmen, a Presbyterian is another name for a Unitarian; the answer is, that the English ministers and congregations were, indeed, Presbyterians in name, but never Presbyterians in fact. They were almost as isolated as the Independents, and quite as free from ecclesiastical control. Error accordingly, had leave to work its way unchecked by the oversight either of Bishop or Presbytery; and Unitarian opinions extended, while the honoured name of Presbyterian was carefully preserved, that the property connected with it might not be forfeited. It would not at all surprise me, were the English “Unitarians" henceforth to abandon the name of " Presbyterian," as the infamous "Chapels Bill" of 1844 secures them in undisturbed possession of the buildings and revenues, for whose sake alone they have so long retained it. The progress and permanence of Unitarianism in New England have also been greatly owing to the circumstance, that its adherents, with all other sects and systems, were for long endowed out of the public funds. The law was but recently abolished, which taxed every one for his religion, and bound him to support some form of worship. He was left, however, at liberty to choose to what Church or minister his money should be paid, while the State selected for him where no choice was made. Hence many, being obliged at any rate to support some Church, connected themselves with the Unitarians, as being likely to interfere the least with their repose, to be most indulgent to their worldly practices, and to admit of their possessing the "form of godliness," without requiring of them "the power thereof." Now that such a law is abolished, and religion stands no more on the "compulsory" system, but on the "voluntary" principle alone, Unitarianism is likely to give way to some other forms of error more earnest and operative on men's feelings and affections, such as Universalism seems to be, while the truth will undoubtedly, in the long run, be the gainer. I suppose every intelligent defender of Church Establishments would condemn the system of State support here formerly pursued, and would rather see no legal endowment at all, than have all forms of error equally patronised and maintained with the truth. There are two features by which Boston is distinguished beyond perhaps most cities of the same size, namely, the number and excellence of its Educational and of its Benevolent Institutions. It abounds with "primary" and " "grammar" schools. There are about a hundred of the former, and twenty of the latter, maintained at the public expense, and so situated and classified as to be accessible to the children in every quarter of the town. In these schools, about 15,000 boys and girls receive an excellent English education. There is also an English High School for completing the education of those who do not intend to go to College; and a Latin Grammar School to fit youths for the University, which is in the immediate neighbourhood, in the little town of Cambridge, at the distance of an omnibus drive from Boston. numerous benevolent institutions SO freely and amply sustained in Boston. Its hospitals, infirmaries, asylums, houses of refuge, humane and charitable societies, are almost without number, and in general admirably managed. The institution for the blind it is a perfect treat to visit. I know not where the world presents such a phenomenon as Laura Bridgman, born deaf, dumb, and blind and yet, through the single sense of touch, the only remaining avenue to her mind, acquiring and exhibiting wonderful proficiency in all useful and saving knowledge. It was, indeed, a sight to see her stand before an embossed map, or beside a globe, on which the outlines of sea, and land, and river, and mountain are raised, holding her teacher's hand in one of her own, and from the rapid motion of its fingers, ascertaining the question proposed; then passing her other hand over the rough surface of the map or globe, and point Harvard College, for such is its name, after one of its earliest benefactors, was founded in 1638, not more than twenty years after the settlement of the colony, and the same year as that in which the famous Glasgow Assembly uprooted Laudean Episcopacy in Scotland. Though founded by orthodox men, the Unitarians have contrived to get entire control over it, and nearly all the professors belong to that body. The buildings are very pleasantly situated, surrounded with lawns and trees. There are six separate colleges; each the seat of one professorship, or more, founded by some benefactor of other days, and furnished with every accommodation in the shape of lecture-rooms, and of apartments for the students to reside in. The Professors, from eighteen to twenty in number, reside in the little town of Cambridge itself, which, with its neat villas, pretty gardens, fine trees, and white wooden churches, has an extremely pretty appearance. The students all eating out any place that she had been at a common table, and have every advantage for study, whether it be literature, science, law, theology, or medicine, that they pursue. The library, contained in a handsome granite building, erected after the model of one of the colleges at Oxford, is the best in the States. It is rich in valuable editions of the most noted works of all languages. There is a complete philosophical and chemical apparatus attached; a large and valuable cabinet of minerals; an anatomical museum; and a botanical garden covering eight acres of ground, with an extensive collection of native and foreign trees, shrubs, and plants. A medical school in Boston is also connected with it. We have no such institution in Scotland. Its universities are but fragments of a proper educational system. Of course, the whole affair is but a miniature of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. But why should not such Colleges exist in Scotland and in every county in England? And is it not beyond measure disgraceful to this great country that she is so destitute of academical institutions? We have but two universities for a population of twenty millions. From these the great body of the community is necessarily excluded. And even these England owes, not to the enlightened zeal of modern, but to the munificence of Popish times. I would occupy a very large space, indeed, to give a detailed account of the asked to show; answering with her fingers, through her teacher, any question that might be put, and could only be put to her in that way; and manifesting thorough intelligence on all subjects, and a capacity for acquiring any amount of information. The puzzling question was, how to begin to communicate with a being having no eyes to see you, no ears to listen to you, no voice to tell whether you were understood or not, but dwelling in darkness as deep, and in silence as unbroken, as that of the grave. The effort, however, was made. It succeeded. Step by step the abyss was crossed. And now a highway of communication is established between that region of silence, solitude, and night, and the busy sun-lit world around, and the vast universe beyond, and the immeasurable and eternal world to come. The eyes of the blind are opened, the ears of the deaf are unstopped, and the tongue of the dumb is made to sing. The exile dwells no more alone, but passes into the abodes of men, and holds companionship with kindred minds, nay, ascends to heaven and rejoices in communion with angels, and with God! Never was there a more signal triumph of wisdom and patience over obstacles which at first seemed insuperable. Laura is now herself a teacher of the deaf, dumb, and blind! In the neighbourhood of the institution for the blind is the State prison of Massachussets, with the arrangement of which I was very much pleased. The prison is governed on "the silent system," no culprit being permitted to open his lips, except when addressed by the keeper. Still, the prisoners do manage by looks, and signs, and whispers, to communicate with each other in a way that baffles detection. All are kept hard at work, and the profits of their labour go far to defray the expenses of their confinement. So much are the culprits separated, and so difficult is it made for them to combine, that an incredibly small number of officers live in, and superintend the whole establishment, although there are 300 cells. The cooking and cleaning is mainly done by the female prisoners. I found a very large proportion of the prisoners to be natives of Ireland. There was among them one unhappy Scotchman. Close by the State prison is a House of Correction for juvenile offenders, containing an amazing number of bad boys. They were all being taught some trade, and much attention is paid to their reformation. But, indeed, everything that the most considerate wisdom, and the tenderest humanity, and the warmest piety, can achieve, distinguishes the various public institutions of Boston; and certainly, more people seem to me to live in that city for the purpose of doing good, and aim, in their habits and employments, and in the disposal of their property, at the advancement of the kingdom of Christ and the welfare of men, than in any town of the same size which I have ever visited. During my residence there, so unvarying was the kindness that I experienced, and so unremitting the enjoyment, that, though my labours were severe, and comprised thirty-six public appearances in a single month, I can never look back without pleasure on the period spent in Boston. Of course there are many things which strike a stranger as new; and one meets with national peculiarities more or less distasteful; but our travellers, especially Trollope and Dickens, have handled the Americans far too severely. In the older States, there is still a lingering regard for the mother country; but this feeling is diminishing, and the invectives of travellers help it fast away. Doubtless, the Americans are too sensitive to the opinions of others; indeed, their impatience of censure amounts almost to a disease. But there is something pardonable even here. For, granting that this sensitiveness is in part owing to their excessive national vanity, it must, in some measure, be ascribed to their respect for the opinions of Englishmen, and their desire to be acknowledged as worthy of the land from which they sprang. For my own part, deeply conscious of our own national defects, I am little disposed to find fault with theirs. The extent to which they rival our country quite amazes me. I cannot think too highly of the energy and talent with which they have overcome their difficulties, and are advancing to a prominent place among the nations. And I felt a kind of pride while looking around me, and seeing so much that resembled home, and hearing the language of our native shores, in the thought that that country was, after all, an off-shoot of our own, was originally a colony of Englishmen, and now contained a nation with all the distinctive features of the British race, destined yet to spread our literature and our religion over half the globe. New England, however, it must be kept in view, is greatly in advance of the other and more westerly portions of America. It is not a fair specimen of the States. It is among the oldest of the settlements; the inhabitants are very homogeneous; and, lying nearest to, and in the pathway of European civilization, it is among the earliest to receive its lessons, and feel its influence. How precious is the grace of God. Natural evils are converted into spiritual blessings, when sanctified by Divine grace; and, without this grace, natural blessings, such as health, plenty, friends, and influence, become snares and excitements to sin and rebellion. GOD finds in every man a will to work upon, but he finds not (but makes) any man willing to be wrought upon. STONES cannot make themselves the children of Abraham, but God can make stones the children of Abraham. A GOOD Conscience without a good name, is better than a good name without a good conscience. WHEN We take comfort in creatures without God, he taketh away the creature, or the comfort of it. SORROW for sin is to last as long as there is any sin to sorrow for. E Presbyterian Church in England. COLLECTIONS AND DONATIONS IN AID OF Brampton, per Rev. Dr. Brown THE SCHEMES OF THE CHURCH. Association, Brampton, for quarter ending Dec. 31, 1847 2 10 6 Children's Collecting Cards COLLEGE FUND. and Missionary Box ...... 0 13 0 336 Association, National Scotch Bolton Church, Rev. D. M'Gill Brampton Church, Rev. Dr. Brown Douglas, Isle of Man, Rev. Jas. Cleland 21 12 3 1 0 0 1 5 1 Ditto, Alex. Steel....(ann.) 0 10 3 2 0 5 10 0 4 15 10 HOME MISSION. COLLECTION, SABBATH, FEBRUARY 20. THE period has again come round for making the annual collections on behalf 0 15 6 of the Home Mission and Supplemental Fund of our Church. It is hoped that the liberality which on previous occasions has been exhibited on behalf of 6 4 3 this important scheme, may be fully maintained on the ensuing occasion. The past year has been a momentous one. God's providence has been strikingly at work amongst us, and the eyes of all have been especially turned to the events occurring throughout our own land. Let us, by our liberality, provide the means for adding to the support and comfort of our devoted and faithful ministers in poor localities, and for more extended missionary exertion during the present than has been attempted throughout the past year. Our congregations from year to year are improving, our Church is 00 getting more consolidated, and were the minimum stipend of our ministers raised to a still higher standard, it would have a most beneficial influence. The calls upon the fund during the past year have 26 been considerable; and as the principal source of revenue is derived from the annual collections, it is hoped that each congregation will, if possible, make it on 0 179 the day appointed by the Synod. 8 109 1 5 3 5 6 5 0 3 15 0 10 1 0 0 30 0 0 46 11 5 £475 12 11 WM. HAMILTON, Treasurers. ALEX. GILLESPIE, ON THE SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY. OUR remarks in last number have called forth a variety of communications, some of which we present to our readers. It is well that different opinions should be stated, in order that the mind of the Church may thereby be brought out on this matter. To the Editor of the "Messenger." DEAR SIR,-I have perused with interest the remarks made in your last number 'on the support of the ministry." It is most desirable for the advancement and prosperity of our Presbyterian cause in England, that immediate attention be given to this important object, in order that those whose office it is to dispense the ordinances of religiou may be "without carefulness" and may be enabled to prosecute their high vocation undisturbed and undistracted by secular anxieties. Allow me to offer some practical observations with a view to the amelioration of the ecclesiastical economics of our Church, that our ministers may at least be safe from the fear of want, if they are not placed in circumstances of wealth or independence. The highest praise and gratitude are due from all the ministers and members connected with our body, to the liberal benefactor of our Church who proposed the supplementary scheme, by which it was enacted that no minister should receive less than a hundred pounds a-year, his income being made up to that amount from the funds of the Home Mission. But, as is very justly observed in the article to which I have referred in the last number of the "Messenger," it is now matter of experience that "this supplementary plan does not meet even the limited amount of benefit contemplated by it:" in other words, it is not actually true that all our ministers are in the receipt of one hundred pounds a-year, even though they may receive one-fifth of that sum from the funds of the Home Mission. The average income of many in our rural districts still remains stationary at sixty pounds a-year, in so far as the congregation is concerned, notwithstanding the wholesome stimulus which has been applied by the munificence of the Home Mission Fund, which was intended, and apparently well calculated, to excite our people to strenuous and selfdenied exertions. In general they still give what they have been accustomed to give, and neither more nor less, in consequence of the recent benefaction. Such being the state of matters, I would propose, in the first place, that a Central Fund be instituted in our Church with the least possible delay, similar to that which exists in the Free Church in Scotland, and from which all our ministers shall receive one hundred pounds a-year, the rents and the whole revenue of their churches being regularly transmitted to the fund. This might easily be accomplished without trenching much on the present incomes of the more fortunate of our brethren in the larger towns, and it would serve to increase both the respectability and efficiency of their poorer brethren. The details of this scheme, and how it may be carried most speedily and prosperously into execution, I may commit with all confidence to the able and excellent laymen whom Providence has raised up amongst us to be the support and the ornaments of our Presbyterian cause in England. In the second place, a more rigid system of seat-letting and a more punctual exaction of seat-rents, for the support of a Gospel ministry would require to be adopted in all our churches. It is matter of notoriety, at least in the north of England, that we have many hearers and sitters, and even some communicants, who pay no seat-rent, and who contribute little or nothing in any way to the support of the ordinances of religion. There may be much moral, and it may be mistaken delicacy on the part of ministers, which prevents their interference in monetary affairs, but they may at least stir up deacons, and collectors, and elders, to do their duty in this respect, by urging upon all who attend our churches the sacred spiritual obligation under which they lie, to do what they can, and to save and spare what they can, for the maintenance of the ordinances of religion in the community with which they connect themselves. This system, if conscientiously carried out by faithful appeals to the moral sense of individuals, would save the Central Fund from abuse or misapplication; and those who from local circumstances could gather but little for the support of the Fund, would have no lack of what is necessary for life and godli ness. In the third place, let us be willing to accept of an endowment wherever and whenever we can obtain it unshackled and untrammelled by Erastian conditions. I do not now refer to any endowment from the State, of which there is at present no prospect, but to endowments by the munificence of wealthy individuals connected with our body, or with any other body of Evangelical Christians, who may be prompted by Him who has all hearts in his hands to confer a permanent benefit on our Presbyterian cause. Let it never be forgotten that though our ministers have embraced and advocate Free Church principles, we are not Voluntaries, but we are willing to receive pecuniary aid for our several and separate charges, when we can do so with a clear conscience and without any simoniacal paction or surrender of our spiritual liberty and independence. I venture to make this suggestion for the consideration of the affluent members of our body. It were a fine specimen and example of Christian liberality if one here and another there were to endow, even to a certain extent, one and another of our |