sanctuary, may become another Hephzibah, a delight and a praise in the whole earth. With those desires of the sainted Howe we would blend ours, and trust that the union now formed between the minister and the church, will be rendered instrumental in promoting so desirable an end. Already there are tokens of good. On Wednesday, the 23d of March, the Rev. John J. Jesson (for several years a student in a Roman Catholic College, and subsequently a theological student under the auspices of Highbury College) was ordained to the pastoral office over the church and congregation assembling in the village of Theddingworth, Leicester shire. The Rev. John Harrison, of Stretton, opened the service by reading the scriptures and prayer; the Rev. John G. Hewlett, of Lutterworth, delivered the introductory discourse, and proposed the questions; the Rev. Edward Chater, of Kilworth, offered the ordination prayer; The Rev. James Roberts, of Melton Mowbray, delivered an affectionate and appropriate charge from Col. iv. 17.; the Rev. Edward Miall, of Bond Street Chapel, Leicester, preached an impressive sermon to the people; the Rev. Alfred Pope, of Leamington, and Rev. Benjamin Hobson, of Welford, conducted other parts of the services. The solemnities of the day were characterized by a deep feeling of piety, and earnest prayer for the newly ordained pastor, and for the peace, prosperity, and increase of this rising and interesting church and congregation. The example set in this village by two of its influential inhabitants is worthy the imitation of many lovers of the gospel who reside in rural districts, where its glorious truths have been hitherto comparatively unknown. About two years ago one of the persons alluded to, gave the ground, and the other built a neat chapel, capable of containing a congregation of from 200 to 300 persons. Mr. Jesson has laboured in this village for twelve months, during which period the congregation has so augmented as to render an enlargement necessary, and this the individual who built it bas kindly promised to effect. On Wednesday, March 23, the Rev. Richard Connebee, of Highbury College, was ordained to the pastoral charge of the congregational church of Christ at Dorking, Surrey. The services were conducted in the following order. The Rev. William Henry, of Tooting, began by reading the Scriptures, and prayer; the Rev. G. Clayton, of Walworth, delivered an introductory discourse on the nature of a Christian church; the Rev. John Harris, of Epsom, asked the usual questions, and received Mr.Connebee's confession of faith; the Rev. Dr. Henderson, Theological Tutor of Highbury College, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. J. Leifchild, of London, (Mr. C.'s pastor,) delivered a most affectionate and impressive charge; and the Rev. John Bunter, of Croydon, closed the service by prayer. In the evening the Rev. Thomas Binney preached to the church and congregation. The whole of the services were peculiarly appropriate, and excited a very great interest in the town and neighbourhood. A most friendly feeling was produced amongst many of the inhabitants, whose views on the subject of church government widely differ from each other. This church is very ancient, having commenced in the memorable year 1662, and through the divine goodness has continued to this day. Amongst its pastors appear the names of the Rev. John Mason, the author of the Treatise on Self-Knowledge, and Dr. Andrew Kippis, the Its late Biographer of Doddridge. pastors were the Rev. John Whitehouse and the Rev. Alfred Dawson, whose memories are dear to many. Under the ministry of these the church prospered, and previous to the death of Mr. Dawson it was found necessary to rebuild the place of worship. The prospects of the cause are most encouraging; the new chapel, which is double the size of the former, is generally well filled, and sometimes overflowing. On Tuesday, April 5th, the Rev. W. Christie, late of the University and Theological Academy of Glasgow, was publicly set apart to the pastoral office over the Church and congregation assembling in Wallis Street Chapel, South Shields. The Rev. A. Reid, of Newcastle, delivered the introductory discourse; the Rev. R. Caldwell, of Howdon, asked the usual questions, and offered up the ordination prayer; and the Rev. A. Jack, of North Shields, gave the charge, which was both affectionate and very impressive. The Rev. J. Watkinson, of Monkwearmouth, addressed the Church and congregation on the duties which they owe to their Pastor. The Rev. Messrs. Richardson, of Sunderland; Orange, of Newcastle; and other Ministers from the surrounding country, were present and took part in the services of the day. The congregations were numerous and very attentive, and a deep impression appeared to pervade the whole of the services which we trust will be lasting and beneficial. REMOVALS, &c. The Rev. Joseph Massey, of Hyde, Cheshire, has received and accepted a cordial and unanimous invitation to take the pastoral oversight of the Church and congregation assembling in the Independent Chapel, Booth, near Halifax, with very encouraging pro3pects of success. The Rev. William J. Unwin, A. M., late of the University of Glasgow, has accepted the pastoral office over the Independent Church and congregation assembling at the Chapel, Woodbridge, Suffolk. The Senatus Academicus of Glasgow has unanimously conferred the degree of Doctor in Divinity on the Rev. ROBERT VAUGHAN, Pastor of the Congregational Church, Kensington, and Professor of ancient and modern History in the London University. "A more deserved honour, (says the Morning Chronicle,) has rarely been awarded." NOTICE. The twenty fourth aniversary of the Newport Pagnel Evangelical Institution, will be held at Newport Pagnel on Wednesday, May 18th, when the Rev. Thos. Morell, of Coward's College, will preach in the morning; and in the afternoon a public meeting will be held in the chapel. The attendance of friends interested in this Institution is respectfully solicited. MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GENERAL BODY OF DISSENTING MINISTERS. On Tuesday Morning, April 12th, the annual meeting of the Ministers of the three Denominations was held at the Library, Red Cross Street; the Rev. F. A. Cox, D.D. LL.D. in the chair. The Rev. George Clayton, of Walworth, was re-lected Secretary for the ensuing year; and after the other routine business was transacted, the Committee appointed for that purpose presented the draught of a statement to the public in reply to "The reasons for withdrawment from the General Body," published by certain members of the Presbyterian Body. The further consideration of it was, however, adjourned to Monday, April 18th, when, with some verbal alterations, it was unanimously adopted. Statement of the Ministers of the Three Denominations. (1.) That from the passing of the Act of Uniformity in 1662, till the demise of King William III. in 1702, the Protestant Nonconformist Ministers of the several denominations of Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Anti-Pædobaptists, residing in and about the cities of London and Westminster, held occasional meetings of their respective denominations, for the purpose of presenting petitions and addresses to the throne on such matters as affected their rights as Protestant Ministers, or respected the general interests of civil and religious liberty. (2.) That on the accession of Queen tions" for the first time united in an adAnne, in 1702, the "three Denominadress to her Majesty, and since that period have been accustomed to hold united meetings. That in their_collective capacity as "the Protestant Dissenting Ministers of the Three Denominations, residing in and about the Cities of London and Westminster," they have enjoyed the privilege of access to the Throne in each successive reign to the present time, and of presenting ad dresses by deputation, as circumstances rendered expedient. (3.) That some time after they had been recognised by the Government as a Body enjoying these privileges, the Ministers formed themselves into separate and distinct bodies, known respectively by the names of "The Presbyterian Body," "The Congregational Board," and "The Anti-Pædobaptist Board." That the first general meeting of the three Denominations, after the separate Bodies were organized, was held on the 11th day of July, 1727.That in these separate Bodies the Ministers of each denomination have formed their own internal arrangements, and reported from time to time such Ministers as were added to their number, and had been accepted and approved" in their several Denominations Thus introduced to the general Body, they have severally continued members during life, unless they violated the standing laws of the Union; were officially notified as no longer members of the Body to which they respectively belonged; voluntarily withdrew from the Union; or were ex. cluded by a vote of the General Body. (4.) That the General Body in its collective capacity has never interfered with the proceedings of the respective and distinct bodies; its main object being the support and extension of civil and religious liberty-more especially in relation to the interests of Protestant Dissenters. That it, therefore, never took cognizance of the theological opinions of its members; such matters being left to the inquiry and decision of the separate bodies. (5.) That, nevertheless, it has been for many years the conviction of a great majority of the members of the General Body, that important changes had taken place in the doctrinal principles of "the Presbyterian body;" many of its Ministers having become, by their own profession, "Unitarians," and entertaining opinions essentially different from those of the Presbyterian Body, at the commencement of the General Union. That some also of the "General Baptist Body." reported as belonging to the Anti-Pædobaptist Denomination, were of the same religious opinions with the Unitarian members of the Presbyterian Body. (6.) That whatever might be the sentiments of the great majority of the General Body respecting this departure from the principles of the early Presbyterians on the part of such as are called Unitarians, no proceedings of the General Body have ever interfered with the "independence, rights, and privileges" of any of the separate bodies. That the General Body is not therefore responsible for such proceedings as have recently been adopted by any parties who may have called in question the moral right of Unitarians to be termed Presbyterans; or have employed legal measures in relation to any charitable trusts which may have been affected by the denial of that right; and that whatever may be the opinions of individual members on these subjects, the proceedings of the General Body have never, by its acts and resolutions, violated a single principle of its original constitution. (7.) That in the annual election to the secretaryship of the General Body in 1835, the late Secretary received the grateful and unanimous thanks of the meeting for the ability with which he had discharged his official duties. That, nevertheless, it was deemed expedient to confer that appointment on a minister of one of the other denominations; becanse the appointment of members of the Presbyterian Body for a long series of years to that office was not consistent with the principle of rotation by which other appointments were regulated; because the relative position of the Presbyterian Body to the General Union had been materially changed, since, for many years after the formation of the Union, the members of the Presbyterian Body had been the most numerous of the respective bodies, and on that account the Secretary had been generally elected from that Denomination; while at the present time, and for a long period. they had not constituted one seventh of the General Body; and because it was deemed expedient that the office of the Secretaryship, being the only standing appointment, should at the present period be filled by one whose sentiments might be regarded as in more entire accordance with those of the General Body of the Dissenting Ministers.* It is but just to acknowledge, that while these several reasons were urged by various members of the General Body, in support of the amendment which substituted the name of Mr. Clayton for that of Dr. Rees, as the Secretary for the ensuing year, Messrs. Price and Blackburn, who moved and seconded that amendment, assigned as the reason for the change they proposed, the Unitarian opinions of Dr. Rees; and though it is impossible to prove that this was the prevalent reason, yet many circumstances might be alleged to justify that assertion.-Editor. (8.) That as the General Body had never interfered with the proceedings of the separate Boards, it acted in perfect accordance with the principle and object of its constitution, in not interfering with the recent decision of the Anti-Pædobaptist Board, in declining to report in future as "accepted and approved Ministers," such as were of Unitarian principles belonging to the Baptist Denomination. (9.) That the recent withdrawment of certain Unitarian members of the Presbyterian Body from the General Union, had not affected, and does not affect, the existence, constitution, and objects of the Union. That those members who are in every respect Presby terians, and have been for many years members of the General Body, still continue to sustain that relation; that their protest against the secession of the Pres byterian Body, and the reasons alleged in support of their continued connexion with the Union, have been cordially approved by the General Body; that the Union of the Ministers of the Three Denominations" is thus inviolably preserved; and that the representations given to His Majesty's Government and the public, of the Union being dissolved, because certain ministers of Unitarian principles have withdrawn from a Body still consisting of more than one hundred and forty ministers, are contrary to fact, and adapted to produce unwarranted and unjust impressions. (10.) That the imputations contained in the alleged 66 reasons for withdraw ment by the seceding Ministers," reflecting on the General Body, as if any of its members were desirous of depriving them of their civil rights or of "reviving the operation of penal statutes," are not accordant with fact, and unworthy the cha racter of any party professing to regard the dictates of truth, justice, and charity. F. A. Cox, D. D. LL. D. Chairman. G. CLAYTON, Secretary. AWARD OF THE PRIZE FOR AN ESSAY ON COVETOUSNESS. dicators express an earnest wish that they also may be published. Dr. C. received 143 Essays, 41 of which were written by clergymen of the Church of England; 31 by Dissenting ministers; 14 by females; and 57 by Laymen. The declined essays will be returned the first week in May. We are gratified to add, that the successful competitor is an estimable young minister of the Congregational Denomination, and one of the Alumni of High. bury College. COMPARATIVE NUMBERS OF THE ORTHODOX AND UNITARIAN DISSENTING MINISTERS IN THE METROPOLIS. the two parties, which appeared in our In compiling the comparative view of last number, not having ready access to the only list of the Three Denominations which exists, and which is in the hand of the Secretary, we consulted the printed lists of the Baptist and Congregational Boards, and made our returns from them, forgetting, at the moment, that there were several members of each body who would not unite at Redcross-street with Unitarian ministers, and who ought not, therefore, to have been included in the General Body. The Editor of the Patriot having very properly observed on the discrepancy between our numbers and those supplied to him from elsewhere, a note was published in that journal, to explain the cause of our error, and we now wish to correct it in our own pages. We believe, therefore, that the following Table will supply a correct return of the numbers anterior to the late secession: General Body. Presb.. 22 Orthodox 3 Unitar. 18 5 ditto ditto 47. ditto Totals 155 The most uncandid must perceive, the disproportion is still so great, that we were under no temptation to exaggerate the majority, and that the mistake was the result of the inadvertency we have explained. CLOSE OF THE CONGREGATIONAL LECTURE FOR 1836. The Rev. Dr. Henderson delivered his tenth and final Lecture on the important subject of Divine Inspiration, at the Library, on Friday, April 22. The Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, and Dr. P. Smith, after great labour and anxiety, have awarded the prize of one hundred guineas, offered by Dr. Conquest, for the best essay on the "love of money." It will be published early in June, under the title of "Mammon or Covetousness the Sin of the Christian Church." One of the adjudicators says of it, "I have We are happy to inform our readers, seldom if ever read so interesting a that the attendance has been larger than work," and three other of the Essays are at any preceding course, and that the designated as the compositions of minds lectures themselves, replete with the of a superior order." Both the adju- fruits of learned research, and of just and sober opinions, were heard with the deepest interest by a select and intelligent auditory. We have the authority of very competent judges to say, that when these lectures are printed, they will supply a desideratum that has long existed in English Theology. We hope that the learned Professor will supply a body of notes and references in that appendix, which shall make the fourth volume of the Congregational Lecture a text book on the important subject of Inspiration. REMOVAL OF THE REV. MR. WILKES, of The Rev. R. Miles, who has for several years been the pastor of the Congregational Church at Montreal, having been most painfully impressed with the melancholy destitution of the British settlers in the "bushes" of Canada, has nobly resigned the comforts of a city pastorship that he might go after the neglected settlers in the wilderness. The bereaved church forwarded a unanimous call to Mr. Wilkes, pastor of the Congregational Church at Albany Street, Edinburgh. This invitation was strengthened by the personal appeals of an excellent gentleman from Montreal, who deeply impressed Mr. Wilkes and his brethren in London and the North, with the urgent necessities of the case. Mr. Wilkes communicated to his united and affectionate people an address in which, while he declares that his present station is one of very considerable importance, and that there is nothing in his present circumstances or prospects to excite the desire to change, yet that he feels it his duty to go Montreal, as Canada is his natural sphere-the home of his parents and family, and incomparably the most destitute and expansive field of labour he could be called to fill. It is greatly to the honour of the Church at Edinburgh, that they have relinquished their claim to his services, and with their God speed in his important mission. It is necessary to add, that in taking this step Mr. Wilkes has been greatly influenced by the prospect of permanent help which the intended Society for the colonies afford. We have no doubt that Mr. Wilks will advocate that object in the Metropolis, before he leaves England. PROPOSED FORMATION OF A COLONIAL The religious destitution of many of the colonies has been often stated in our our countrymen who have emigrated to pages. We are now, however, happy to announce that a provisional meeting of ministers and gentlemen, interested for their welfare, was held at the Congregational Library on Thursday morning, April 28th, when John Rivington Mills, Esq., presided. The Rev. George Clayton opened the business with prayer, and a lengthened and interesting discussion arose, and Henderson, the Rev. T. Binney, in which Drs. Reed, Morison, Burder, J. Blackburn, A. Tidman, T. Morell, R. Ainsley, W. S. Palmer, and Messrs. Rout, Charles, Piper, and Cooke took part. It was finally agreed that a public meeting for the formation of the Society, and the election of its officers, shall be held, D. V., at the New Weigh House Chapel, on Friday Morning, May 13th, at 11 o'clock. RECENT DEATH. On Monday, the 11th of April, the Rev. David Ford, upwards of 42 years, the minister of the Independent Chapel, Melford, Suffolk. NOTICES. The Annual Meeting of "The Protestant Society for the Protection of Religious Liberty," will be held at the City of London Tavern, on Saturday, May 14th, at 11 o'clock precisely; when some distinguished Peer will preside. The Annual Meeting of the Bedford. shire Union of Christians will be held at Bedford, on Wednesday, the 1st of June, when the Rev. A. Reed, D.D. is expected to preach. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. Favours have been received from the Rev. Messrs. W. Jones-Alfred PopeG. Smith-W. A. Hurndall-John Pyer-W. J. Unwin-J. Woodwark-George Rose-W. Christie-S. Hillyard-Wm. Owen-J. Clunie, LL.D.-G. ClaytonJohn Whitridge. Also from J. B. Williams, LL. D.-J. Wilks, Esq., M.P.-J. T. Conquest, M.D.-Messrs. William Cooke-H. Bateman --Thomas Stent.--W. H. H.-Rd. L.—Anglo Scotus. We are obliged to Mr. Whitridge for his offer; and though we do not think it practicable at present to print Lists of all the voluntary places of worship in the respective counties, yet we shall be happy to receive the one to which he refers. |