in England, which he viewed only as echoes from Abolitionists here, not as virtually originating abroad. Though he had been abused for this opposition, he professed that he had always sympathized, and still sympathized, heart and soul, with the most ultra Abolitionists in the subject of their efforts, while he resisted their measures as in his view unwise. Mr. Ellis then read from the London Inquirer of May 3, an account of a meeting of the Western Unitarian Christian Union at Bridgewater (England), at which the matter referred to by Mr. Parker was discussed, the majority deciding against any action upon it. We extract the remarks of Rev. Mr. Montgomery of Taunton during that debate, as read by Mr. Ellis: "The Rev. R. M. Montgomery rose and said, that, though a member of the Committee, he felt bound to protest against the course that had been taken on the subject of American Slavery. He was not present when the Report was prepared, and he much regretted his not having gone to Bristol, for he would, if he had stood alone, have opposed the introduction into the Report of what they had just heard on this topic. He was as much an enemy to slavery as any one could be, and believed it to be the most abominable and accursed of systems. But he did object most strongly to their sitting in judgment on the conduct of men whose names they honored, and whose beautiful productions they valued, because they did not think it right to join William Lloyd Garrison and Frederic Douglass, and the Abolition Society, to whose proceedings they had strong and conscientious objections. We were not in a situation to know all the difficulties with which our ministers in America were surrounded, and it did not become us to act in the way suggested towards men as pious, as benevolent, as Christian as ourselves. Would it be endured that such a man as Dr. Dewey, should he again visit Europe, should be looked coldly on, and refused admission to our pulpits, because of a difference of opinion with some of us with regard to the Fugitive Slave Law? He could only assure them, that, pass whatever resolution they might, he should not be bound by it, if it went to the recommendation of such a course, and that the pulpit at Taunton should be open to any brother minister from America, and that he would gladly welcome him to it. They should look at home. There were evils enough here to contend against. We had not long got rid of slavery ourselves, and many of our charitable institutions, many of our chapels, were still sustained by money which had been gained by persons who were connected with West Indian slavery. He suspected that this was the case at Lewin's Mead. Would their friends from Bristol be consistent, and cast away what had been thus acquired? They had still slavery enough amongst them, and he thought the man who was enslaved to gin was as much an object of pity as he who was in bondage to an American slaveholder. But what would be said, if those who were teetotallers among them should seek to introduce a test, and to exclude from their pulpits all ministers who did not sign the abstinence pledge? He lamented the course the Committee had taken, and condemned it as an unjustifiable interference with the right of private judg ment, which they professed so much to value, and must, for himself at least, oppose the course which they had recommended to the meeting." Mr. Ellis heartily commended these words of Mr. Montgomery, as vindicating that true independence of opinion and judgment of which we boasted. He did not believe that the Union of these States was held by so frail a tenure, that our own discussions of an obnoxious law would sunder the bond. Nor did he believe that, as had been said, the Union existed solely to enable Southern slaveholders to scour over the free North to catch their runaway slaves; if this were true, the sooner the Union was sundered the better. But the main point involved in the discussion was, how as Christian ministers we were to regard a law which was in antagonism with conscience and the natural dictates of humanity. Rev. S. Judd of Augusta, Me., disapproved of all personalities on this subject, and maintained the great rights of free judgment, deliberate speech, and Christian action, allowing the widest scope to conscientious differences. Rev. S. J. May of Syracuse, N. Y., thought that the names and course of action of public men in reference to this subject were as properly matters of public criticism as were their views upon other subjects. Rev. Dr. Hall of Providence, R. I., spoke very earnestly of the need of candor, justice, moderation, and mild and prudent, though at the same time faithful, speech on this subject. He thought that statesmen, civilians, and ministers should be mutually respectful in their criticisms of each other's course. While he utterly repudiated all active resistance of law, Dr. Hall expressed his readiness to suffer any amount of personal loss or pain rather than be an individual agent in executing it in this case. Rev. B. Frost of Concord adverted to some difficulties which he had encountered, and claimed for the pulpit the right to deal with politico-moral themes. Rev. W. H. Channing said that emancipation would do but partial justice to the slaves, as they ought also to receive protection and land. He advocated a plan by which the North should bear a full share of all the expenses of such a course. Rev. Mr. Pierpont of Medford offered a very ingenious analysis of law, as based upon the distinction between right and wrong, just and unjust, and illustrated the inconsistency involved in an unjust law by comparing it to a decision which should pronounce a figure with four sides and four angles to be a triangle. The mingled humor and causticity of his remarks excited a degree of mirthfulness in the audience. Rev. Dr. Gannett regretted this exhibition of pleasantry. He thought the subject profoundly serious and threatening, and that it required to be discussed in a most sober spirit, with a sense of the deeply momentous interests of this great republic which it involved. Dr. Gannett protested most earnestly against the criticism of a remark attributed to an absent member of the Conference. This remark, which newspaper report had ascribed to one of our most distinguished brethren, was repudiated by his own authority, through a friend present. Two of the brethren affirmed that they had heard it in substance. The seeming discrepancy of testimony was easily reconciled to the candid mind by referring the alleged remark to an extempore utterance, in the course of a lecture, expressive of the profound sense of the value of this Union entertained by the lecturer, and so engaging his concern for its peace, and his tolerance for a measure which seemed for the time to be requisite to insure it, that he would be willing even to surrender one of those most dear to him in order to preserve it. Rev. T. Parker described in a subdued and graphic manner his own circumstances while, surrounded with the rusty implements which his ancestors had used in the battles of liberty, and while preparing his discourse, he gave shelter to a fugitive. We have endeavored to comply with the wishes of many brethren in offering this slight sketch, in which we have aimed to be correct. Ordination. Mr. Charles E. Hodges, a graduate of the Theological School at Cambridge, was ordained as Pastor of the Congregational Church in Barre, on Wednesday, June 11. The exercises commenced with Prayer by Rev. E. E. Hale of Worcester; Selections from Scripture by Rev. M. W. Willis of Petersham; Sermon by Rev. Dr. Furness of Philadelphia; Prayer of Ordination by Rev. Dr. Thompson, who still retains a connection with his Church at Barre; Charge by Rev. W. H. Channing; Fellowship of the Churches by Rev. F. P. Appleton of Danvers; Address to the Society by Rev. O. Stearns of Hingham; Concluding Prayer by Rev. Dr. Hill of Worcester. OBITUARY. REV. THOMAS BRATTLE GANNETT. We are desirous of recording on our pages some brief notice of a good and exemplary man, whose memory is affectionately cherished in the hearts of those to whom in private or official relations he was long united. Mr. Gannett was for nearly twenty years the pastor of a church in Cambridge Port, and afterwards at South Natick, where, on the 19th of April, 1851, he died. He was the son of Caleb Gannett, Esq., who, having engaged for a short period in the ministry, removed to Cambridge, and was connected until his death, in 1818, in various offices, with the University, as Tutor from 1773 to 1780, Fellow of the Corporation for a part of the same period, and for a long series of years in the responsible, and in those days arduous, office of Steward. He was a member also of the American Academy and of the Massachusetts Historical Society. From a just and affectionate tribute to his son's memory, written soon after his decease, by one whose friendship as a parishioner and just appreciation give weight to his testimony, and from our own, though less intimate, acquaintance, we may not hesitate to number Mr. Gannett with the excellent and esteemed of his day. Having graduated at Harvard University in 1809, and completed his theological studies, he became the pastor, as we have said, of the Cambridge Port Parish, over which he was ordained January 19th, 1814. Here he approved himself a faithful and devoted minister, conciliating the affection and cominanding the respect of the flock by his exemplary life and devotion to their service, more especially amidst some trials of their early history. If not distinguished by the highest intellectual endowments, or claiming a place with those who exert a marked influence upon society, Mr. Gannett was known and trusted for his moral excellence, his kind affections, his sound practical judgment in regard to the duties and exigencies of life, and his efficient usefulness. He had always a ready sympathy for the sorrowful, and consecrated a full proportion of the means with which he was intrusted to the relief of the destitute. As a token of his interest in the young, and of his quiet, unobtrusive benevolence, it may be mentioned here, as stated in the interesting notice to which we have already referred, that "a Sunday school, one of the earliest established in New England, having been opened in his parish, designed more particularly for the benefit of the neglected children of the idle and dissolute, for whom some charitable ladies had provided suitable Sunday clothes, they went regularly once a week to the house of the pastor to be washed and dressed for Sunday school and the church." It belonged to Mr. Gannett's nature to shrink from publicity, but his tenderness of conscience never permitted him to neglect a duty, while his sound discretion guided him always to the right performance of it. Many within the walks of the profession which he loved have been more eminent, but few more esteemed. And when the distinctions which the world and the church confer upon genius and eloquence and learning shall be lost in the more enduring distinctions of virtue, we believe that our friend will be found with them "of whom God is not ashamed to be called their Father, having provided for them a kingdom." 1. Outlines of a System of Mechanical Philosophy, being a Research into the Laws of Force. By Sam- 2. Unity of Purpose, or Rational Analysis, being a Treatise designed to disclose Physical Truths, and to detect and expose Popular Errors. By Augustus 3. On the Motions of the Earth and Heavenly Bodies, as explainable by Electro-magnetic Attraction and Repulsion, and on the Conception, Growth, and De- cay of Man, and Cause and Treatment of his Dis- eases, as referrible to Galvanic Action. By P. Cun- 4. Essay on the Theory of Attraction. By John Kin- 5. A Million of Facts, or Correct Data and Elementary Constants, in the entire Circle of the Sciences and in all Subjects of Speculation and Practice. By Sir 6. The Anomalies of the Present Theory of the Tides, elucidated by Additional Facts and Arguments. To- gether with Remarks on the newly discovered Planet, its Negative Disturbing Power, etc., etc. By Thomas 7. Notes on the Kinematic Effects of Revolution and Rotation with Reference to the Motions of the Moon, and of the Earth, which are assumed in the present System of Astronomy. With experimental Illustra- 9. Treatise on the Nature and Effects of Heat, Light, • 10. Principles of Natural and Metaphysical Philoso- 11. The Universe as it is: wherein the Hypothesis of 14. Protest against the prevailing Principles of Natural 15. New Elements of Geometry. By Seba Smith. Memoirs of William Wordsworth, Poet Laureate, D. 299 301 302 305 306 307 307 308 308 309 309 309 Cleveland's English Literature, and Hymns for Schools, 310 INTELLIGENCE. Literary Intelligence. - New Publications, -Story As- ships, Phi Beta Kappa Society, Changes in College Professor 316 Religious Intelligence. Divinity School at Meadville, |