from, intelligent witnesses residing on the spot, and interested in his success. One gentleman of Flushing, in a letter to the Committee, (dated Nov. 8th,) says, "Mr. Martin is better calculated to get the attention of the people in this place, than any one that has been here before, and by his means has been obtained what we have endeavoured to obtain for many years past, I mean, a hearing. The tide of prejudice ran so high, that we could not get a congregation till Mr. Martin came amongst us; and now the houses in this place, and at Penryn, and at Redruth, are crowded on a Sunday, and nearly so on the week evenings, when Mr. Martin preaches; the people here are much attached to him. Some of the most bigoted enemies of Unitarianism in this place, have been brought to examine for themselves, and consequently to give up their old creed. There is a prospect of doing some good in Redruth.-I think a society may be soon raised there, and then something may be done to support a minister in this county. We have in this little place let thirty sittings in the chapel, and with collections, and so forth, we may fully calculate on getting twelve or thirteen pounds a year."

Another gentleman, writing from Penryn, says, In this borough, where last year the chief magistrate forbade the town crier from giving notice of Mr. Martin's preaching, a room has, after much difficulty, been obtained, and though small and incon

veniently situated, is well attended, especially on Sunday evenings. There is a reasonable prospect of being able to form the people into a church. At Redruth, the head quarters of Methodism in this district, Mr. Martin has a numerous audience every time he preaches, and a fair prospect presents itself there also of establishing a church in a little while."

These, surely, are safe grounds for the conclusion, that Mr. Martin is well qualified as a Missionary for the district in which he labours; and it will not be easy to shew why such a district ought to be entirely neglected, merely because it has not yet been found practicable to attempt to make our way in the "good towns." It appears that, from our Missionary's head-quarters, Unitarianism is diffusing itself widely around, as much "like that celebrated banian tree, which we read of in the Indian history," as can be necessary to gratify Mr. Worsley's imagination.

If Mr. Martin has been at all hurt from supposing himself alluded to in Mr. Worsley's remarks, (though we hope this was not intended to be their effect,) he may be consoled by the assurance, which is hereby given, that he has the cordial sympathy, approbation and respect of those who have the best means of judging of his proceedings, and of knowing the estimation in which he is held by his hearers. Signed at the request of the Committee,

B. P. POPE, Secretary.

R.

"On Friday last, in the 56th year of his age, after enduring a lingering illness with Christian resignation, Mr. JAMES TORRANCE, of the firm of Torrance and Darling, of this city, boot and shoe-makers. He had for many years been the gratuitous and faithful minister of the Unitarian Baptist Church. He was pos. sessed of much energy of mind and decision of character, combined with the most catholic sentiments towards those who might conscientiously differ from his religious views. Though he could not be termed a scholar, in the classical sense of the word, his literary attainments were respectable and although his lot for bade an intimate acquaintance with Homer or Xenophon, he was much read in Jesus and Paul. In argumentation he was close and pointed, and when it was requisite to defend the necessity of a divine revelation against the attacks of infidelity, he displayed no common share of penetration in unravelling a sophism, or drawing the line between what nature discovers, and what it is necessary for revelation to teach. The doctrines he had preached were his consolation on his approach to the dark valley, and he expired with humble confidence in a joyful resurrection to that life and immortality which was brought to light by Jesus Christ."-York Courant.

To the above just statement, the writer, who knew him most intimately for above thirty years, can add a biographical sketch not, perhaps, unworthy of being known. James Torrance was a native of Kilmarnock, in Scotland, was carefully and morally educated by his parents, who, though in the humbler ranks of life, had, by their industry, acquired some property. Being of an ardeut temperament he determined to travel, and on his way to London, stopped at York. He was soon distinguished, to use a trade phrase, as a don in his profession, and, like many other superior workmen, was given much to company and drinking; this he carried to such excess that, in the language of good John Bunyan, he might be termed a "town sinner." Having sunk himself in great wretchedness, he went to lodge with Mr. George White, a very sedate man, who, with others of his lodgers, belonged to the Wesleian Methodists. From their conversation and example, poor Torrance, from being in rags and poverty, through dissipation, soon became steady, sober and decent in his appearance. And I well remember how great the surprise that was excited at his becoming a Me

thodist, and at seeing him regularly attend their meetings. But he was of too sanguine a mind to be a mere passive convert; he became zealous for the dif fusion of their sentiments, and for the welfare of others, as well as of himself. The writer met him by accident one day, and got into religious conversation, and was about bidding him good morning, when he warmly expressed himself at my haste to be gone, but accounted for it by my being conscious of my inability, with the very erroneous views which I held, to meet or reply to the truths he was urging upon my attention. Feeling both my zeal and confidence equal to his, I assured him that he had mistaken my motive, and to convince him that nothing was more desirable on my part, than to converse with him and his friends, I appointed an evening when I would call upon him for the express purpose. At the time appointed I repaired to his lodgings. All work was laid aside, and all sat round, and we had a regular set-to for four hours, without any refreshment or interruption of any kind. One of the party, a young man very confident and fluent of speech, and who had been longer in the way, and was withal preparing himself for conimencing preacher, and, of course, was looked up to, was my chief opponent. We discussed many subjects, but those chiefly that related to conversion, saving faith, the work of the spirit, atonement, &c. Torrance was exceedingly attentive to all that passed-frequently asked the meaning of this and that passage of scripture. To be brief, when we separated he took his hat and insisted upon setting me home; during which we had much conversation till a late hour, when he assured me, again and again, that he never felt so interested in his life: his whole views seemed changed, and those just given of the character of God and of Christ, and which I had insisted upon, he was pleased to say, though new to him, appeared so scriptural and rational, as to far better accord with his judgment than what he had been accustomed to hear, and, as a consequence, he changed his lodgings, and regularly ever after, to the day of his death, attended and worshiped with the Unitarian Baptists, and was a preacher amongst them for 28 years, and latterly their chief leading man. (I ought to have added that his landlord, Mr. White, also joined the society, and was remarkable for his steady attendance till his death.) His habits were plain, simple and easy, and so unassuming and unosten

tatious, that he would mingle occasion. ally, dirty as he came from the workshop, with the most respectable society, and without the least concern, if there were any religious matters to be considered. The fashions and maxims of this world he utterly disregarded. But piety, worth and goodness engrossed his admiration. He possessed a strong uncultivated mind, which he greatly improved by the most laudable application, and, for his narrow means, his books and reading were considerable. His zeal was steady and per. severing, and which enabled the society, aided by the Unitarian Fund and public, but especially by Mrs, B1, one of their worthy members, to purchase a comfortable meeting-house, where service was regularly conducted three times on Sundays, and once on a week night, and all gratuitously. For the sake of truth and mutual edification, the chief care of the society will now, we presume, devalve on Mr. John Mason, who has long laboured amongst them, and by whose laudable exertions the cause at Welburn was raised, and for whose benefit your last number afforded such a respectable list of subscribers for building a meeting-house there. The labours of this small society, in that part of the vineyard, unaided by either learning or fortune, can never be overlooked; they are truly meritorious.

D. E.

[The York Courant of the 21st inst., gives the following account of Mr. Wellbeloved's Funeral Sermon for the deceased.

"A most affectionate and impressive discourse was delivered on Sunday evening last, in Jubbergate Chapel, in this city, by the Rev. Charles Wellbeloved,

Theological Tutor of the Manchester Col lege, York, and Minister of St. Saviourgate Chapel, on occasion of the death of Mr. Torrance, the late minister of the former chapel. The sermon was founded on Philipp. i. 21: To live is Christ, and to die is gain.' The preacher having, with his usual perspicuity, explained the meaning in which the term Christ should be understood in the text-namely, as synonymous with the gospel which Christ was sent into the world to promulge,

he, in powerful language, described how every faithful minister, who was especially set for the defence of the gospel, and indeed every sincere Christian, who was zealous for the success of his Master's cause, might have it with truth affirmed of them, That to live was Christ.' In the second part of the discourse, it was most feelingly urged how much the death of such would prove their eternal gain. The preacher's description, as far as finite tongue may describe those enjoyments which' eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived,' and which God hath reserved for them that love him,' was well adapted to lift the mind above the troubles, the follies, and the vanities of this terrestrial life, and to fix our affections upon those sublimer scenes and that brighter world, which shall be the eternal habitation of the righteous in the presence of God and his Christ. Mr. W.'s allusions to the deceased, who had been the cause of the service, though indicative of high respect towards his memory, were at the same time entirely divested of any overstrained compliments or flattering eulogium. But on this subject we shall not enlarge, having in our last week's obituary paid our tribute to the memory of a respected member of society. The chapel was

crowded in every part long before the commencement of the service, and, owing to its restricted accommodations, as many more as it contained were obliged to depart without being able to gain admittance."]

Sept. 30, at Chatham, aged 28, Mrs. MARY WOOD, of a consumption, which rapidly preyed upon her constitution. It is pleasing, amid the regret of relatives, to recollect, that in her suffering she derecord of eternal life, which God has rived support from the Scripture, as the given us in his Son. When the writer last saw her, she expressed her sentiments as to the reality of religion in terms correspondent to the apostolic declaration : that "with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;" and under her malady she indulged no murmur, but exhibited a meekness at once edifying and exemplary.

T. C. A.

Nov. 15, at Brierley, near Bilston, Miss HANNAH WHITEHOUSE, youngest daughter of Mr. Elisha Whitehouse (who, about 30 years ago, resided at the Colonell's Hall, Tipton, the then warm and steady friend of the late Rev. Samuel Bourn, of Cosely, Staffordshire). She was a great friend and advocate for Unitarians and Unitarianism, embracing every fair opportunity

of stating and defending our peculiar te nets, with those who were opposed to them, by conversation and by the loan of books. She bore a very severe and protracted illness, with a truly Christian temper, not a murmur escaping her lips, but with devout resignation submitted herself to the will of her heavenly Father, rejoicing in the hope of a resurrection to eternal life.

I. H.

Nov. 17, of a decline, aged 52 years, JANE, wife of Mr. James BAINBRIDGE, of Clapton Place, Hackney; much respected for her unostentatious discharge of the various duties of her station in life.

Dec. 10, at St. Clears, near Carmarthen, Mr. THOMAS BOWEN, formerly of Templeton, in Pembrokeshire, aged 60. His attention was called above twenty years ago to Unitarianism, and after calm inquiry and examination of the Scriptures he became an earnest and zealous professor of that much-reviled faith. Living in a district peopled by colliers and other persons in humble life, he laboured incessantly to diffuse those sentiments which he had adopted, and with which he declared his satisfaction in the immediate

prospect of death. Under the guidance of a vigorous and acute mind, although unaided by education, he was a diligent

inquirer after truth, and recommended his principles by a life of strict integrity and exemplary worth. Having frequently expressed to his now sorrowing relict a modest hope that it might not be deemed unfitting to improve his death from 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8, the Rev. John Evans, of Carmarthen, at her request, delivered an able and impressive discourse in English, from that passage, to about 200 persons, assembled to offer their last tribute of respect to departed excellence. The preachWelsh language, and his hearers appeared er afterwards addressed them in the to be suitably impressed with the solemnity of the occasion.

T.

Dec. 14, at Bristol, after long decay, Mrs. MARY HUGHES, so well known in the pages of the Monthly Repository. [Further particulars of this estimable and truly Christian lady in our next.]

Within a few days, at Collumpton, Devonshire, after a very short illness, the Rev. JOHN DAVIS, minister of the Unitarian congregation in that town.

his 82nd year, JOHN HOLLIS, Esq. Lately, at High Wycombe, Bucks, in

It is with much regret that I send for insertion in your Journal the announce. ment that on Sunday, the 12th instant, divine service was performed in Monkwell-Street Meeting-House for the last time; for, in publishing this circumstance, Sir, you record the separation and dispersion of a Society which has now existed as a Dissenting Congregation for upwards of a century and a half-a Congregation which was formed at a period when religious animosities raged with great violence-at a period of persecution and unrelenting bigotry, (scarcely surpassed by the atrocious cruelties of the preceding century,) when the Conventicle Act was in full force, and carried into strict execution, as the prisons of that period bore too fearful evidence; and men, distinguished for their abilities and zeal, were cast out of their possessions,

and, with their wives and children, reduced to beggary and want for daring, in opposition to the threatenings and exe crations of priestly power, to proceed in that Reformation begun and sanctified by the blood of Latimer and of Ridley-a Congregation which fearlessly encountered the merciless attacks of intolerance and cruelty too justly characteristic of the period intervening between the Restoration and the Revolution, and remains at the present day a venerable monument of the more enlarged views, of the existence of better feelings, and the greater diffusion of religious liberty amongst our coun trymen at large-and a Congregation not more distinguished for the great respectability and liberality of its successive members, than for the pre-eminent worth and talent of its respective ministers. The names of FORDYCE and LINDSAY need no eulogium to remind your readers of the bright ideas associated with them: the virtues and abilities of the former, are perpetuated in the minds of all by the works which have survived him

those of the latter are too deeply and

recently engraven on the hearts of the numerous friends and large circle of acquaintance favoured with his intercourse, to be effaced otherwise than by death.

Under these circumstances, a separa. tion, which must always be painful, in the present instance is peculiarly so, and much to be regretted. It is a severance of ties which alike bind the old and the young, the rich and the poor. The Chris, tian fast declining into the vale of years -accustomed from the years of earliest childhood and of after manhood, here to bend the knee and join in offering up the hymn of praise and thanksgiving with friends and relatives who have long preceded him in the last fearful conflict, and the images of whom the venerable pile must forcibly recall to his remembrance must deeply feel such a separation. The Christian yet in the prime of life and vigorous manhood-here accustomed to lead up, every succeeding sabbath morn, his family, and to occupy the same seat and to behold the same objects which his father and his father's father occupied and beheld before him-must deeply feel such a separation. The young Christian just entering upon life-too soon disgust. ed with its follies, vice and fleeting plea, sures; accustomed, upon entering this holy sanctuary with excited passions and desponding hopes, to have those evil pas, sions calmed, subdued and vanquished by the cheering, heart-reviving assurances that this life is but a state of preparation for another and a better, and that its pleasures are chiefly such but in anticipation and vanish with possession, and those desponding hopes elevated from earth and fixed on heaven-must deeply feel such a separation. And is the minister the only one unmoved? Does not the shepherd of the flock deplore the scattering abroad of the objects of his care and watchfulness, and for whom he had accepted so responsible a trust? The following termination of an admirable discourse from Matt. xxviii. 20, by the Rev. S. W. Browne, sufficiently shews that he was not the only one unmoved, the only indifferent person in the service of that day:

"Such, my Christian friends, are the consolations we may experience at the moment of our dispersion, and amid the ruins of a fallen church. Christ will still be with us to the end of the world. To the last, we have borne testimony to the truth of his religion and the value of his precepts. Nor need expatiate at large, in this my last official discourse, on the motives by which I have been actuated in the performance of the duties your invitation implied, and by the discharge of which I promoted most my own happiness. No hours have ever

borne on them a more refreshening fragrance than those consecrated to your religious and moral interests; nor have I ever felt more exquisite delight than when, surrounded by you, the members of our little flock, I have endeavoured to impart to you the word of life, and to give you those consolations which might charm the toils of your earthly pilgrimage, or those precepts which might make you the glory of our Christian societies, so that our lamp of virtue might not die out, unreplenished with oil. If at any time I have seen your countenances glistening with enthusiasm, or melting into compassion, from my feeble representations of human virtues or human woes, I have flattered myself that I was laying a foundation for virtue in the various sta tions occupied by the different members of our congregations; and happy beyond the usually given lot of human happiness shall I esteem myself, if our mutual instruction and advancement in goodness have resulted from the discharge of the sacred functions to which I have here devoted myself. If any in our connexion have been roused by my exhortations to a virtuous activity; if their minds have been prepared for, and their affections directed towards, the attainment of those valuable habits which, like the gold purified in the crucible, are often evolved from the trials of life; if prosperity has been induced to contribute to the welfare of the society in which we have moved; if adversity has been taught to bow its head with placid resignation to the inevitable ills of an earthly course; if the suffering have been sustained in the conflict of those awful hours in which the human character is put to the severest test; if those who have approached the sacred table have clothed themselves with the nuptial robe; if I have been able to foster that solid virtue the gospel inculcates;-such labours have drawn after them a rich reward. Aware, however, of my difficulties; aware of the snares which are found even in the best path; aware that the suggestions of vanity min gle even with our best resolves; I trust I have been too far removed from presumption not to lament my weakness; and for the errors and imperfections which may have betrayed themselves in my public or private connexions, in the spirit of Christian humility I supplicate your indulgence, and beg of you to remember that human duties must be performed by human beings, and that if perfection were insisted on, no individual could perform the task. But no! I leave you with the overflowing testimonies of kindness you have borne to my imperfect services; and it is an abundant source of consolation that, though our congregational tie is