chanics' Fair; and in view of these noble institutions we cannot but say, "truly the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places." Our city is as full of moral and intellectual life as it is of business energy. Its mind and character advance as rapidly as its population and property in crease. The Common Schools. In our next number we shall give the statistics of these schools. We will only now say, that the past year has, like the years which preceded it, brought improvement. Our citizens are every day becoming more alive to the importance of these "People's Colleges," as they have well been called. What a reproach is it upon the sectarian spirit of these free States, that we cannot follow the example of German and French Schools, and make religious and moral truth the root, upon which to graft all knowledge! We feel as yet but imperfectly our social duties; though all intelligent men are well convinced that interest commands society to educate every citizen. Common sense echoes the pithy words of Dr. Beecher, an education is the best bill of naturalization." It is well that society has awaked to a sense of its true interest. But a higher era of improvement will be introduced, when it shall be established as an axiom, that every child has a right to the highest education society can give it; and that it is the duty of society to aid every human being to become in character and mind all that it is fitted by natural endowment to be. Society is not yet awake to its duties. There are many children, and they chiefly among the young, who are still shut out from the benefits of our schools. But we will not, in hoping for a time when all children will be taught, and all teachers suitably honored and recompensed, be ungrateful to the best benefactors of our community,-the Fathers and Patrons of our Common Schools. Among our schools we must not overlook those for colored children, which are supported partly by payments from the parents, partly by contributions, well attended, and under excellent management. Our colored population would have been even more improved than they are, had they not so long been wrongfully deprived of the benefit of the school-fund, to which they contribute their fair proportion. Every Christian should feel it to be his duty to encourage by his presence, cooperation and money, our Common Schools. The Cincinnati College, and the Woodward College and High School, are both in a flourishing condition. The number of scholars is increasing in each. This we rejoice to hear. This multiplicatton trust our friends will be enof Colleges throughout our abled by their receipts at this land will bring one benefit at exhibition to do much to pay least, that many more young off the debt they with such a men will receive good educa- generous spirit have contracttions. In the course of years, ed. The lectures of the past our larger and older Collegiate year have been good and well Institutions will become Uni- attended. By such means as versities, where less time will classes, lectures, libraries, be given to elementary in- and reading rooms, our me struction, and where young chanics will raise themselves men already trained in Col- to a just level in the social lege, will, under the guidance scale, and make intelligence of able lecturers, and with and character the true test of the aid of well selected libra- men. We understand that it ries, press on to a thorough is the intention of the Instiacquaintance with the highest sute during the coming season branches of knowledge. We to establish a course of circuhave regretted that the exam- lating lectures, if we may use inations of these colleges, such an expression, to be dewhich have afforded the most livered in different parts of the honorable proofs at once of city. The plan is an excelthe ability of the professors lent one. and of the zeal of the pupils, have been so thinly attended. Our clergy at least should in future find or make time to be present; and thus encourage the meritorious toils of our truly excellent Professors. The evening meetings, however, have been thronged. And our young friends will, we trust, allow us to urge them to carry out into life the high ideal of principle, which they in their addresses so earnestly presented. Do this, brothers! and you will bless the communities of which you become members, and repay with interest to posterity the benefits bequeathed by the past. The Mechanics' Fair.-We It must attract and draw in many, especially apprentices, who might otherwise be mere idlers, and perhaps something worse. Success to Mechanics' Institutes everywhere. PROSPECTS OF UNITARIANISM. Thirty-two Auxiliary Associations have been formed within the past year by our energetic Agent, Rev. Charles Briggs. The cause of spiritual freedom prospers in Maine. The Association has aided twenty Societies, and employed twelve Missionaries during the year in different parts of the country. lt seems to be determined that the churches at the East will do their part to the support of an Agent at the West. Since 1825, the number of Unitarian Associations has increased from 120 to 230. A sum of fifty thousand dollars has been given by one gentleman in Boston, for the purpose of advancing liberal Christianity. We are surprised and ashamed to hear that our theological institution at Cambridge is languishing for want of funds. Surely our Eastern clergy might by a slight effort raise out of their several congregations a sum large enough to endow that Institution permanently. Be quick, friends! for we intend to draw upon your charities, no! we will not say charities, but the funds you hold in trust for the church, in a short time. There are young men not a few in the valley, strong in faith and warm in love, and ready in every thing but means, to become ministers. In some way they must, must be educated for this work. The harvest is plenteous and white; but where are the reapers? Western young men we must have, whose hearts and homes are here, for the work of Western Missions. Hundreds and thousands there are all over this wide land, who will be Christians after the way called Unitarian heresy, or not at all. There are many whom even the Christians and the Campbellites will not gather in; and whom it is our duty to seek out and save. We ought to send out our preachers throughout the land, preaching "Liberty, Holiness, and Love." Where are these preachers? Cambridge will never give us men enough. We rejoice to hear that Mr. Conant, of Chicago, who has so long been a laypreacher, has gone to Cambridge to prepare himself for the Ministry. At Erie, the Society, which of late have had an Episcopal clergyman, have invited Messrs. Hosmer, Emmons, and Cruft, to preach for them. At Warren, Massillon, Zanesville, Springfield, Dayton, and other places in this State, they wish to hear our preachers. There are several openings, too, in Kentucky. tucky. At Madison, Indiana, but for the depressed state of money matters a Society could probably be formed. The Unitarian denomination must have more preachers here, or else prove itself faithless to duty. QUINCY, ILLINOIS, June 9th, 1840. DEAR SIR:-Your Messenger" has again made its appearance among us, and though needless to add, I must say that we rejoice at its return. We have long desired to hail its re-appearance, and now hope that it may not again disappear. The plan of the work meets with the cordial approval of all who have perused it. You ask, who will volunteer to become agents for it? I reply, that the person whose name I now transmit, offers to do all in his power to extend its circulation. Perhaps your readers may be pleased to hear something of the progress of our new Society in this place. For their information, I will state that, through the kindness and exertions of our esteemed friend, Rev. Mr. Eliot of St. Louis, we have been provided with funds from the Society for Propagating the Gospel, for the support of preaching The Circular, published in your May number, has been discussed by our Society, and a vote, approving of the object therein stated, passed. In concert with the operations of the American Unitarian Association, that proposed in the Circular will do much in advancing the cause of truth and a rational Christianity. May it accomplish all that the most sanguine anticipations of its founders have desired. Yours, respectfully, QUINCY, ILLINOIS, May 8th, 1840. ter: DEAR SIR:-At a meeting of the members of the Second Congregational Society, in this place, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: Resolved, That our friends at St. Louis, Mo., at Worcester, Lowell, Duxbury, Fitchburg and Cambridge, Mass., Keene, N. H. and other places in New England, who have contributed money to aid our Society in building a sanctuary, are tendered our heartfelt and lasting thanks, for six months, commencing To the Editors of the Christian Regis in March last. Since that time, Rev. W. P. Huntington has been laboring with us, and at the expiration of his term, he goes to Hillsborough, to spend six months at the charge of the American Unitarian Association. Through the liberality of our friends at St. Louis and the East, we have been enabled to commence the building of a small house of worship, which will probably be completed in the month of August. In the mean time, we shall endeavor to make arrangements for regular services. As yet, our Resolved, That these our numbers are small, and our distant friends be informed, means limited; but we hope, that the erection of a small by perseverance and a little plain Church is now underaid from our friends abroad, taken by this society, which to build up a large congrega- without their timely aid, tion of liberal Christians. Our would not have been comprospects are certainly en- menced. couraging. Resolved, That such individuals in Boston and its vicinity as have generously contributed books, will long be held in grateful remembrance for such proofs of their friendly interest in our religious welfare. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the pastors of the Unitarian Churches in the places above mentioned, to be communicated to their respective societies. A CURIOUS PHENOMENON. In the numbers of the Ame rican Biblical Repository for January and April, 1839, is a review of "Campbellism," the chief object of which, is to show that Mr. Campbell and his followers reject the Trinity and Deity of Christ, and thus to "fasten on him the infamy of Unitarianism." In this there is nothing peculiar or curious any more than in the attempt of political parties to fasten on each other the name of Federalist or Tory. But it is rather remarkable that in the number for January, 1840, of this same periodical there should be found an article, advocating the essential principles of Unitarianism, and giving Unitarian explanations to the principal proof texts on the other side, and that this article should be written by a respected Presbyterian brother, and published by the learned Dr. Peters, without any word or comment, or expression of dissent. It is curious that in the heat of their attack on Campbell for his Unitarianism, they should be quietly advocating Unitarian opinions themselves. This is curious, but this is the fact. The article to which I refer is on the "Sonship of Christ," and is from the pen of the Rev. Lewis Mayer, D. D. York, Pa. His theory is that God dwelt in Christ, in all his fullness, and he denies the common view altogether of the Second Person of the Deity, being united with the man Jesus. He gives the Unitarian explanation to John i. 1., and to Hebrews i., to Romans ix. 5., &c. I hope that this article will be published as a tract by the Unitarian Association. We may give some extracts from it hereafter. DEATH OF THE REV. DR. We regret to hear, just as we are closing this page, of the death of this distinguished and venerable clergyman-one of the oldest, we believe, of the Unitarian denomination in New England. He died at Rochester, N. Y. on the 22d ult. after an illness of only a few hours, of an affection of the heart. He had been settled at Lancaster, Mass. for nearly half a century. |