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ducted the devotional services in Welsh, and the sermon was preached by the Rev. John James of Gellionen.

BOLTON DISTRICT UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.-On Thursday, October 11, the half-yearly meeting was held at Park Lane near Wigan. The Rev. C. B. Hubbard of Rivington, conducted the devotional service, and the sermon, founded on John xvii, 22–26, was preached by the Rev. Henry Clarke of Chorley. The friends afterwards assembled in the lower school room adjoining the Chapel, to tea, the Rev. Francis Knowles the Minister of the congregation in the chair. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. J. Ragland of Hindley, A. McDonald of Chowbent, F. Baker of Bolton, H. Clarke, &c. A numerous party met from different localities, and instruction and usefulness were imparted and promoted.

OPENING OF THE LIVERPOOL HOPE STREET NEW CHURCH.—On Thursday, October 18, this place of worship was dedicated to its solemn purpose. A large congregation assembled, every available spot was occupied, about a thousand persons being present, amongst whom were forty-five Ministers from the various towns and villages of Lancashire and Cheshire, and other portions of the kingdom. The Rev. James Martineau, the respected Minister of the Congregation, began the worship, and the sermon was preached by the Rev. Thomas Madge, of Essex Street Chapel, London, from Acts i. 13, 14. In the evening, nearly nine hundred ladies and gentlemen assembled in the Philharmonic Hall, Thomas Bolton, Esq., in the chair. A highly interesting and instructive evening was enjoyed in listening to addresses from Revds. T. Madge, J. Martineau, J. Kenrick of York, C. Wicksteed of Leeds, and T. Thornley, Esq., M.P., James Heywood, Esq., M.P., H. C. Robinson, Esq., &c., &C. The sermon by Mr. Madge is represented as having been of deeply impressive character, and has been published, as also those by Mr. Martineau and Mr. Wickstead, who preached in the morning and evening of the following Sunday. The building is spoken of in terms of high admiration for its beautiful proportions and perfectness of style.

HANOVER SQUARE CHAPEL SUNDAY SCHOOLS.-On Friday evening, 19th October, the Teachers of the Boys' School met at the Crown Temperance Hotel, Grey Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to receive at a Soirée, and bid farewell to, three of their fellow Teachers, Messrs. John and David Catcheside, and E. Hedley, who are about to emigrate to Adelaide, Australia.

The Senior Teacher, Thomas Hayle, Esq., M.D., being unable to preside, in consequence of unexpected professional engagements, the chair was taken by Mr. W. Kay, Secretary to the schools, the vice chair being filled by Mr. Peverley. Music and Song happily diver

sified a meeting, which was only embittered by the thought, that it was called together to bid farewell to valued friends.

Towards the close of the evening, Phillips's beautiful song of "The Emigrant Ship" was sung, with much taste and feeling, by Mr. James Mills, after which the chairman addressed the meeting upon the object which had called them together, adverting to the unexpected severance of friendship, which was thus taking place, in early life, between those who might otherwise have reasonably expected to pass through its pilgrimage together. The friends who were leaving them, were going to seek a home in another hemisphere, and therefore it was improbable that they might ever return, at least, not for many years. Nothing then was left to them but the memory of the past, which he was sure would be cherished by all present, wherever their after-life might lead them, and he trusted that his friends in the home of their adoption, when they might be depressed by recollections of the past, would remember that they had the hopes of the ever glorious future, to re-animate and encourage them. The best wishes of their fellow Teachers, and of all who knew them, would accompany them to the New World, and he was sure he only echoed the fervent aspiration of all present, when he said, in the words of the song they had just heard:

"Good deed and kind, it were to say,
God be with you far away!"

He concluded by proposing "Speed to the parting guests, may their progress through the journey of life be prosperous, as the warmest wishes we can frame for them; may they be Pioneers in the onward march of Civilization, be also Pioneers in the cause of Religious Truth and Freedom, and may all their exertions tend to the spread of our pure and simple Faith on the shores of the Pacific." The sentiment was seconded by Mr. Peverley, in an address replete with good wishes and kindly feeling.

Mr. J. Catcheside, in his own name, and in that of his brother, and their fellow voyager, returned his sincere thanks to his friends for their kindness. More he might have wished to say, but he found himself unable, for the contemplation of the subject overpowered him. With regard to the probability of there being shortly a Unitarian Church at Adelaide, (which had been referred to by the Chairman) he could only say, that, were such to be the case, it would remove one of the greatest of the privations which such a change must necessarily entail. Were the idea carried out, no exertions of his would be spared to promote its well being. He trusted that he might ere long have to welcome some of those he was now addressing, to Australia. Whether, however, it were so or not, that evening, and the manifestations of kindness which had occurred during it, could never be forgotten by him.

On the motion of Mr. Howson, seconded by Mr. R. Kay, the Messrs. Catcheside were requested to communicate to those members of their family who were not present, the best wishes, and sincere sympathy of the meeting.

Thanks having been voted to the Chairman, and to the gentlemen who had so efficiently conducted the musical portion of the Soirée, the meeting separated.

TEA PARTY AT DEVONPORT.-On Thursday, November 8th, a large number of the friends of Rational Christianity, met at the Royal Hotel Devonport, for the purpose of taking tea together, and manifesting their respect for Mr. T. C. Gould, the earnest, zealous, and most efficient Treasurer and Secretary of the Devonport Unitarian Congregation. The Chair was taken on the occasion by the Rev. J. Crawford Woods. Tea being concluded, and a hymn having been sung, the chairman read an address to Mr. Gould, from the Devonport Unitarian Society, and presented to him, in the name of his congregation, a very handsome silver Inkstand, Mr. Gould acknowledged this token of regard in a long and very affecting reply. The meeting was afterwards addressed by Mr. N. Rundell, Revds. G. H. Stanley, and W. J. Odgers, Messrs. R. C. Rogers, R. Edgcombe, H. Sloggett, and S. Sapthorn. At the close of the proceedings a prayer was offered up to Almighty God for his blessing, and all appeared much pleased with the manner in which the evening had been spent. May such re-unions become more frequent, and may they advance the cause of Christian truth, virtue, and piety.

BRITISH SCHOOLS, MAIDSTONE.-These Schools for the daily instruction of Boys and Girls, and founded in 1807, after the visits and lectures of JOSEPH LANCASTER, have imparted the blessings of elementary education, since their establishment, to many thousand children, the Boys upwards of four thousand. They have been zealously supported throughout their course by the members of the Unitarian congregation in the Town. In 1799, this congregation took the lead in educational labour amongst the Dissenters, by founding Schools for the instruction and clothing of twenty-four children, The Society had at that time, and from 1780 to 1820, for its Pastor, the Rev. Abraham Harris. Zealousiy and perseveringly were these Schools supported by Minister and people; their Annual claims to public countenance and assistance being successively pleaded by the Revds. Dr. Abraham Rees, Dr. Evans, Hugh Worthington, John Kentish, Dr. Lindsay, T. Belsham, R. Aspland, J. Barrett, T. Jervis, Dr. T. Rees, W. J. Fox, L. Holden, J. Scott Porter, D. Davison, T. Madge, G. Kenrick, J. Yates, E. Tagart, S. Wood, T. W. Horsfield, W. Stevens, D. Eaton, B. Mardon, W. Vidler, E. Talbot, Dr. Sadler, and G. Harris. The Schools were in course of time amalgamated with the British Schools. The present AnDiversary services were conducted, on the Jubilee of their institution, by Rev. George Harris. Numerous audiences assembled, especially in the evening of Sunday, November 11, when the Chapel, was crowded; the Collections, £18 9s. Od.

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KENT AND SUSSEX UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.-The Tenterden district branch of this Society held its Anniversary on Thursday, November 15. Wednesday had been previously fixed on, but the Thanksgiving having been appointed for Thursday, it was thought advisable to take advantage of the general holiday, and hold this meeting at Tenterden on that day. It was a day long to be remembered, unusually fine and bright for the season of the year, and specially calculated with its associations of place, and objects, and friends, to bring out joyous and delightful feelings. A very large assemblage gathered to the venerable place of worship. It was crowded by friends from Battle, Canterbury, Northiam, Dover, Newenden, Greenwich, Goudhurst, Maidstone, Salehurst, Headcorn, Berkley, Cranbrook, Rolvenden, Benenden, Woodchurch, Woolwich, Stone, Staplehurst, and Tenterden. The religious services were introduced by the Rev. E. Talbot, the Minister of the congregation, and the sermon preached by Rev. George Harris.

The friends then adjourned to the Town Hall which was speedily filled; two hundred and five sat down to tea, Mr Harris presiding. Prayer was offered by the chairman before tea, and afterwards all joined in a hymn of thanksgiving. The chairman after proposing the Queen, introduced the objects which had called them together, with various observations on their great importance and value, and gave "The Kent and Sussex Unitarian Christian Association; may it be a body full of life, and may the districts which are its limbs, be vigorous members." The Rev. E. Talbot, judiciously and plainly pointed out the means by which the greater efficiency of the Association might be secured. "Civil and Religious Liberty all the world over, with our congratulations to Town Councillor Mace," brought up our respected friend Mr. J. E. Mace, who the day before had vindicated in his own person the right of Dissenters to be elected to Town Councils, in opposition to the flagrantly bigoted desire for their exclusion from Municipal honors. The people of Tenterden returned him by a large majority, proving their respect for individual character, and their attachment to equal civil and religious privileges. "May we all feel that the best Fast is to unloose the heavy burdens of Ignorance, Oppression, and Sin; and the best Thanksgiving to make others sharers in the blessings, temporal and spiritual, with which the Heavenly Father has enriched us," was spoken to very excellently by the Rev. E. Talbot. Mr. John Brent, Jun., of Canterbury, in very felicitous phrase, happy historical illustration, and elevated Christian sentiment and spirit, delighted and cheered the meeting by his admirable address on "The present compared with the past, gives hope for a happy future." Mr. John Buckland, of Benenden, was called up by the Chairman to the sentiment of "The Gospel of Christ, the best Magna Charta, the best educational text book, and the best soul-sustaining creed." To each portion he gave apt and Scriptural remark and enforcement, manifesting his capability as one of the lay Preachers of the district, to impart to others of the blessings of Christian truth, freedom, and righteousness. "The Young, and may they carry on every good work which their Fathers left unfinished," gave Mr. Edwards, of Northiam, an opportunity of pointing out the importance of knowledge, and Christian principle to the right conduct of life, the duty of its attainment, the privilege of its manifestation. Rev. C. Saint,

of Headcorn, made an admirable speech on "Union without Compromise," in which the inestimable worth of religious principle was forcibly depicted, whilst the beauty of Christian charity and its perfect consonancy with strict and steadfast adherence to principle were vividly sketched. "Our Preacher, the Rev. George Harris, and thanks to him for his Sermon, and his services as Chairman,' was proposed by Mr. Godden, of Tenterden, seconded by Rev. É. Talbot, and as warmly responded to by the company. Mr. Harris, in his reply, dwelt on the memories which the place and objects of the meeting called up in his mind and heart, and the pleasurable and delightful feelings associated ever with Tenterden and its people; and pointed out the best means of Congregational prosperity and social well-being, and Christian usefulness to his friends and brethren. He proposed, "Blessed be the Memory of all who from faithfulness to God and love to Man, maintained through evil report and good report what seemed to them the cause of truth and right; and especially the memory of the Rev. LAWRENCE HOLDEN." Mr. W. H. Talbot, of Tenterden, gave truthful and Christian expression to earnest practical desire for human good, in response to "Our Lay Preachers, success to their labours and an accession to their ranks." Mr. E. Winser, of Tenterden, on "Success to the Tenterden Mutual Improvement Society," proved his fitness to act as Secretary to this important and very useful institution. A most delightful evening, a most delightful day, was then closed by the Chairman offering up prayer, and imploring the Divine Benediction. The several friends then wended to their respective homes, many of them long distances from the place of meeting, carrying with them pleasing and hallowing recollections of this, the largest meeting of the Association ever held in the county. May it prove the precursor of more practical efforts to develope and knit together the strength which exists for the wider dissemination of Christian truth, liberty, and love.

BRITISH SCHOOLS, CHATHAM:-On Sunday, Nov. 18, the Rev. G. Harris preached in the General Baptist Chapel, Chatham, for these Schools, in the evening, having preached in the morning at Maidstone. The Chatham and Rochester Educational Association is effecting much. The number of Children in the Schools is 360; there being Boys, Girls, and Infants, Day Schools supported by the Association. The Rev. J. C. Means the Minister of the Congregation is most assiduous in his attention to these objects, and the Sunday Schools of the Congregation are also well attended.

OBITUARY.-At Falkirk, October, 24, Mr. Robert Boyd, aged 75. This very estimable and excellent man we have known for years, and valued his friendship and his character highly. He was a cooper by trade, and of industrious habits and strict moral probity. Scriptural Christianity in Falkirk found in him a steadfast, unflinching advocate. Opposition and bigotry never daunted him. He was always at the post of duty. His clearness of judgment led to his being consulted on their worldly affairs by many private friends. He was ever prompt to do good. Affliction he knew and that in severe and trying shape, but his trust was in the Father who afflicts to purify. He spoke of death with composure, and looked on its friendly agency with pleasure and hope. It was to his belief the precursor to Immortality.

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