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guarantee for its fidelity to the great work of Sunday School instruction. It should not alone be found with the Sunday scholar and his parents, but in all families who are anxious for human instruction, and who would bear their part in the Christian duty of its diffusion,

An Address on Temperance. By the Rev. R. E. B. Maclellan. Canterbury, Colegate.

The Thirteenth Annual Report of the Bury [Lancashire] Abstinence Society, November, 1848. London, Britain; Manchester, Ellerby. The Temperance Reformation is one of the most important moral movements ever made in the world. In every aspect in which it can be viewed it is fraught with blessings. It is the precursor of physical healthfulness, mental improvement, self respect, domestic peace, the Christian life. It promotes economy, prudence, forethought. It makes the dwelling place a Home indeed. It brightens the fireside, and cherishes family affection. It brings comfort, independence in its train. It nurtures virtue, knits the child to the Father, makes happy the heart of the Mother. It comes to the hovel which strong drink has desolated and made bare, and it is replenished. Its voice of Christian persuasion is heard by wretchedness, ragged in its disgrace, and it is clothed again and in a right mind. It has sounded the very depths of human misery, and response has followed and salvation issued.

There is no individual acquainted with human frailty, error, and sin, but must wish well to the Temperance Reformation. There is no one really cognizant of the fearful ills which drunkenness entails on individuals, families, communities, but must acknowledge its necessity. The multitudinous deaths occasioned by Intemperance, the numerous diseases of which it is the proximate or remote source, the crimes which it engenders and stimulates, the strifes and animosities, the quarrelling and wrangling it excites, the waste and recklessness it involves, the neglect and abandonment of domestic duties, yea of Home itself with all its sainted charities, to which it drives; the loosening and profanation of every tie human and divine to which it maddens, who can think of these wrongs and woes, and not say God speed the Temperance Reformation!

Much is it to be regretted that this Reformation has been advocated in an irrational manner, and with an unchristian spirit. Intemperance has commonly been attributed to

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Satanic influence, and the means of exorcising the demon have partaken of the folly of the suggestion. In return, Temperance has been denounced by others, as a device of the Evil One to draw off attention from the necessity of Vicarious Atonement. This bandying about of the devil has disgusted many a well-wisher to the Temperance Reformation, and is in itself puerile and preposterous. It is no temptation of Satan, but the individual's own act which puts an enemy into his mouth to steal away his brains." On other grounds than these must Abstinence from all intoxicating drinks be advocated, or ever the way can be found to the heart and mind of their votary, or the understanding and conscience of the temperate members of the community. The denunciatory spirit with which the temperate partakers of alcoholic beverages have been assailed, has been most scandalous and unchristian. It has been as false in theory as impolitic in act. There are numbers, who never having themselves exceeded the bounds of moderation, do not feel called upon to abandon their practice, and join this movement. To denounce them, is to risk their transference from friends to enemies. To represent them as worse than drunkards is sheer folly, the fanaticism of Abstinence. This is not the spirit of Christ, and therefore is wrong. It has prevented many from joining their public efforts in this cause. They have contented themselves with giving the weight of their example, by the utterance of a word in season, by suggestive thought, by occasional appeal, and it may be their influence has not been less powerful in inducing others to be like minded, than if they had mingled this subject with every other, giving it precedence of God's truth, and rendered it obnoxious by incessant iteration.

The pamphlets whose titles are placed at the beginning of these remarks breathe the right spirit. They are filled with facts, accompanied with calm reasoning, earnest, solemn, Christian appeal. The one emanates from an agricultural county, the other from a manufacturing, and both testify against strong drink. The grumblers against taxation should look well to the money part of this question. "In the United Kingdom there is expended for intoxicating drinks alone, the enormous sum of Sixty-five millions of pounds sterling in each year. Strive for an instant to realise this amount; and then to conceive, what if otherwise expended it might accomplish. Why! in less than thirteen years it would pay the entire National Debt, and so free us and our children

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from a burden of taxation which cramps our industrial energies, and renders even the attempt to live, to tens of thousands, a constant struggle." That were a Financial Reform Association indeed, worthy of Christian men to join and support.

REGISTER,

RELIGIOUS AND PHILANTHROPIC.
FEBRUARY 1, 1849.

On the commencement of "The Christian Pilot" the thoughts of its Editor naturally revert to Scotland, where nearly a quarter of a century byegone he in mingled hope and apprehension began a similarly designed Periodical, the first of its kind and purpose in that country. What changes have been wrought since then! Very many of the friends, who countenanced and cheered him in that undertaking, are no longer in this life. Many whose contributions adorn its pages are no more. A new generation has arisen. Within that period, individuals, families, who sacrificed much to Christian truth and righteousness, and who experienced to their latest breath, joy and consolation, and hope and peace from the principles they had embraced, have been gathered to their fathers. Within that period other individuals and families have sprung up, and many of these also are scattered abroad over the face of the earth, carrying with them the "Faith in Christ." in which they and their fathers. gloried. Mighty and unexpected changes in churchcraft and connection, in disruption and divergence have occurred, deepening for a season the Calvinism of rival Churches, and striking its roots far down into the soil. Throughout the turmoil and the strife, there have been some faithful found among the faithless, faithful only they. They knew "the certainty of those things wherein they had been instructed" and believed, and they have continued, despite of coldness and indifference around them, “ 'fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope.' It was the privilege of the Editor to be called to Scotland, in the Autumn season of 1848, and no connected record of the religious meetings he attended, having been given at the time of their occurrence, he avails himself of the "Register" for this purpose, and as a suitable beginning of its chronicle of events.

EDINBURGH. The Congregation of this City is under the Pastoral care of the Rev. Richard Shaen, M. A. Deprived of their Chapel for nearly three years, in consequence of Railway operations, and settlement having been at length obtained, £375 being the first award by Jury, and £1000 the second by Referee, and the united amount paying off the debt on the building and detraying nearly all interim expences, the Congre gation re-assembled in St. Mark's Chapel, Castle Terrace, Lothian Road, on Sunday, September 24. The introductory worship was conducted by the Minister of the Chapel, and Mr. Harris preached from Isaiah lii. 7 and lxii. 10. The chapel was crowded, and amongst the audience glad welcome awaited the Rev. Dr. Bellows, of New York, who with Mrs. Bellows had travelled from Glasgow, for the purpose of attending the re-opening. In the afternoon the Rev. C. Clarke, of Glasgow, took the whole services. His discourse was on Christian love. The evening audience was larger than that of the morning, and would have been still more numerous could the chapel have contained the numbers who strove for admission. Mr. Harris preached from 1 Kings, xix. 11-18. The collection £27.

On Monday evening, September 25, the re-opening, as also the Anniversary of the Scottish Christian Unitarian Association, was celebrated by a Tea meeting. It was held in the Chapel. Fully Two hundred and fifty persons were present. Mr. Shaen presided, and read the Report of

the Committee. Little had been effected in the two preceding years, but hope was expressed of revival of interest in Missionary labour and Tract distribution. The Meeting was addressed by Messrs. Harris, Clarke, and Shaen, the Rev. James Forrest, M. A., of Greenock, and Mr. Knox. The evening was one of interest and pleasure, and many additional subscriptions to the Association were announced.

Wednesday evening, September 27. Mr. Harris preached in the Temperance Hall, FALKIRK, to a large and deeply-attentive audience. The small society which formerly assembled in this town has been broken up by removals and deaths, A few of the old friends are still there, warm and earnest as ever, and were public meetings continued, others would join their efforts. The town bell pealed out for the preaching, as in days gone by, a singular instance of Town Council liberality.

Thursday, September 28, Mr. Harris proceeded through Stirling to TILLICOULTRY. Accompanied by a friend from the Royal Burgh he again traversed the glorious scenery of the Ochils. In the evening he preached in the old Meeting House, for years dedicated to the Calvinis. tic theology, but which subsequently he had assisted in securing for the worship of the One universal Father. By the Rev. Archibald Browning, formerly the Secession Minister of Tillicoultry, he was cordially welcomed, and for him he preached. The chapel was crowded, and he left it rejoicing that the glad tidings of the Gospel are now constantly proclaimed wit' in its walls. The only regret. he felt, was that friends who had longed and laboured earnestly to uphold the pure faith of Jesus in this locality, had not lived to witness the realization of their best and brightest hopes. Time has been when hooting and reviling awaited the arrival of the Christian Unitarian Minister in this place; now respect, attention, and accordance.

With the remnant of the little flock, which for so many years main. tained "the truth as it is in Jesus," in the large and important town of DUNDEE, Mr. Harris enjoyed converse on Friday, September 29. The locality in which THOMAS FYSCHE PALMER and ROBERT MILLAR so long and faithfully laboured for the right, the true, the benevolent, the holy, was viewed with unabated interest. "The memory of the just is blessed," and with that of theirs is associated many others, who, like them, were faithful to conscience, and who now are gone to their reward. There seemed to be no suitable place or opportunity for preaching, or else a public meeting would have been held. The seed which was sowi here by devoted faithful men, will doubtless spring up hereafter.

ABERDEEN. This Congregation has also suffered by the removals or deaths of many of its earliest friends. Nevertheless, it possesses vitality and promise. Other friends valuable and devoted have joined the ciety. The Rev. C. F. Smith is Minister. Sunday, October 1, Mr. Harris preached morning and evening. The Chapel was filled, crowded; every available spot was occupied.

October 3, and 4, Mr. Harris visited Dumbarton, Port Glasgow, Greenock. In all, emigration and death have taken away many old fami liar faces, yet are there those remaining ever brightened by the knowledge that Christian truth is spreading, and ever willing to aid and countenance righteous and well devised effort for its diffusion.

Thursday evening, October 5, Mr. Harris preached at GIRVAN, Ayr shire. There are some earnest, persevering friends here. Denied the use of the Town Hall on another occasion, the work shop of a Beamer was profferred and thankfully accepted. Here Messrs. Clarke, Dunlop, and Shaen have conducted meetings. The machinery sufficed for pulpit, and the people sat or stood as best they might. October 5, it could not contain those who came together. On the outside likewise, the doorway and windows had their tenants. Since this visit, the friends meet regularly on the Sunday.

October 8, Sunday Morning and Afternoon Mr. Harris preached for the Rev. C. Clarke at Glasgow. The seats of the Chapel were filled at the first service, pews, aisles and pulpit steps at the second. What changes have occurred since the opening of this Chapel in 1812! In every part of the world are those to be found, who were aforetime members of this congregation; hundreds also gathered to the spots where "the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." "One generation goeth and another cometh."

The friends at PAISLEY had engaged the Renfrewshire Assembly Rooms for Sunday, October 8, and in the evening of that day Mr. Harris preached to a large audience. Steadfast and untiring have the friends proved here, and their little congregation ministered to by Mr. Christopher Dunlop and others, maintains its place.

The conversations engaged in, the facts elicited, the audiences assembled, demonstrated that despite of the revival of Calvinism, a spirit of inquiry is abroad in the land, which only requires judicious, faithful, Christian direction, to issue in the adoption of rational and Scriptural principles of "faith, hope and charity."

AMERICAN UNITARIANISM.-The Autumnal Convention of Unitarian Christians was held on the 17th, 18th, and 19th October, 1848, at New Bedford, Massachussetts. Seventy-nine Ministers were present. On the evening of the 17th a discourse was preached by Rev. W. H. Furness, D.D., of Philadelphia, from Acts xv., 31. The subject, "The facts in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, as proof, embodiment, and illustration of Christianity."

Next day the Convention reassembled in the First Unitarian Church ; when the following resolutions were submitted by the Committee, for the consideration of the meeting, the Honourable Joseph Grinnell, of New Bedford, President :

1. That the practical workings of Protestantism, as shown in the collision of opinions, and in the prevailing indifference to Religious truth, render it the especial duty of Christian ministers, now as ever, to make frequent inculcations of Christian Doctrine, and of all Christians to become familiar with Christian truth.

2. That while we would do all that we can for the diffusion of Christianity abroad, we feel ourselves particularly bound to labour for the promotion of freedom, peace, temperance, purity, and piety at home.

3. That in an age remarkable for its physical developments, and devoted in an unexampled degree to physical good, the peculiar peril of the times is to be averted only by the spirit of profound reverence and fervent devotion.

4. That the worship of the sanctuary, the ordinances of Christianity, the religion of the closet and the household, are to be employed and urged more than ever, as the paramount means by which to promote the spirit of devotion.

These resolutions underwent discussion during Wednesday and Thursday, various speakers addressing themselves to the subjects they embraced, and all were adopted. On Wednesday evening the Rev. C. Robbins, of Boston, preached from Matthew vI., 6, on the religion of the closet in its connection with character, usefulness, and life. There was a conference and prayer meeting on Thursday morning.

During the stay of the Convention at New Bedford, the members were invited to a social festival, at the City Hall, by the ladies connected with the Unitarian Societies of the place. The Hon. Judge Elliott, of New Bedford, presided.

The Convention appears to have been one of interest and usefulness. The Resolutions passed by it have our heartfelt approval. The inculca.

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