Our prospects at Padiham are truly cheering. The Congregation is well established; and its supporters, many and zealous. Religious services are also conducted occasionally in the adjacent villages. At Rattenstall and Burnley your Missionaries have frequently officiated, and it is hoped that much good has resulted from their labours. The following is an extract from a letter from your old and faithful servant, the Rev. John Ashworth. It exhibits, at once, the nature of the obstacles that oppose, and the encouragements that cheer, the missionary in his labours.

Rattenstall, where I spend one Sunday in a month and preach three times, is a place increasing in population, and in religious agitation. I use the word agitation in what I deem a good sense ;-deep-rooted errors will never be eradicated, and truth be planted in their place, without some agitation. Well, there is agitation at Rattenstall. On the one side, there is Church-of-Englandism and Methodism, with the power that money and influence give to the great, and which is, in fact, a very Proteus: it hangs in terrorem,' it smiles in allurement, and it ramifies itself in visits from home to home. On the other side are a few poor, dependent-yet independent-men, and strong in the power of truth. Newchurch is nearly in the same condition as Rattenstall, both in the power and means which the antagonist agitators possess. At Newchurch, the congregation is double, perhaps treble that at Rattenstall, but equally poor. I think I state the truth, when I say, that there are no places in the kingdom, where Unitarianism is preached to the working classes only, where the truth is so much progressing, as at these two places."

Your Society can produce many testimonies that it has not laboured in vain. Your Missionaries in Derbyshire are successful in your cause. Congregations are gathering among the hills, and temples are rising above the grey cottages, to the worship of the One God and Father. And in the district of Rossendale and Padiham, your labours are highly successful, and though the fields are nowhere as yet white unto harvest, that numbers should be added into its churches daily; yet yearly, many are joined-such too, perhaps, as only your purer faith could

save.

This is not the time for enumerating the causes that have contributed to the opinion of many good and pious men, that liberal views of Christianity were unsuited to the modes of thinking, common amongst the the poor of the present day. This judgment has long been shown to be erroneous, by many proofs that might be adduced from different parts of our country; but within the circle of your Society's operations, it might be shown in more than one instance, not only that Unitarianism is a welcome preaching to the poor, but that, with a very little assistance, they will even originate it for themselves.

Brethren! the late venerable Richard Wright, after recounting his many journeyings in the district of which Manchester may be regarded as the centre, and enumerating the many opportunities he had enjoyed, for acquainting himself with the wants of its people, thus proceeds :

A variety of circumstances have operated to prepare a large propor

tion of the numerous population in that extensive district to attend to rational views of Christianity. Missionary plans already exist in this important field of action: if these be properly supported and extended as much as it is practicable. Unitarianism may, in a few years, be triumphant in this part of the kingdom."

That venerable man is dead, and resting from his labours. It is ours to enter into them. Had we the means of sending out missionaries, many are the stations that might be advantageously occupied. But Oldham should surely no longer be neglected. Circumstances here are most favourable, could we but avail ourselves of them. There is a dense mass of population, who have shown themselves in times past, not unfavourable to what we deem "the truth as it is in Jesus." There is a chapel already erected: and there is the germ of a congregation. For the sake of this one place, if for no other, we would plead with you for your increased personal support, and for your interests with your friends, that you would engage them, though it were only of their mites, to cast into our treasury.

May God Almighty, by whom Christianity was given to the world, and by whose supporting spirit it was first preached, bestow his blessing on this our humble attempt to revive it in its purity.

The Committee beg to refer to the following statement, in further explanation of the objects and operations of the Society :

"The objects of the Society are, to recommend and enforce, in a true Catholic spirit, the great fundamental doctrines of Christianity, and to show their bearing on our common faith as Unitarians-to purify and improve the youthful mind by the aid of Sunday Schools-to spread sound and useful moral and religious information amongst the people, by the assistance of books and tracts—and to contribute in other ways, as far as its limited sphere and the extent of its means will allow, to advance the cause of righteousness and truth.

"One of the most important agents of the Society, is its itinerating Library. The books are lent to the different stations connected with the Society, and to other small congregations which have no libraries of their own; also to private individuals who might not otherwise be able to procure such works. After time has been allowed for their perusal, they change hands from one station to another, thus giving as great a variety to the reading as can be done from so small a collection.

"It will be very gratifying to the Society to receive additions to their stock, either from private individuals, or from Tract Societies.

"In these different ways is the Society performing its important objects. It is almost impossible to estimate the amount of good which is effected; it is to be seen, however, in the improved moral tone of the worshippers-in the advantages that must be derived from the different institutions connected with the several stations—in the assembling together of congenial minds, for the pure worship of the One God and Father-from the institution of different social meetings, and from the good will and friendly feelings which such meetings tend to create from the dissemination of knowledge by the means of Sunday Schools, and books, and tracts-all tending to increase the well-being and happiness of society."

MANCHESTER COLLEGE, YORK.

Address.

The Committee of Manchester College this year issued their Report under peculiar circumstances.-The loss-through absence from home, rendered necessary by continual ill-health-of the invaluable services of the Classical Tutor-the Rev. John Kenrick-diminishes the satisfaction with which they have usually laid this annual record of their proceedings before the public. Under these circumstances, they have made such provision as they deemed suitable for the carrying on of the classes which Mr. Kenrick was accustomed to conduct; and they are desirous of bearing testimony to the satisfactory manner in which the two gentlemen who have acted as his substitutes-the Rev. J. H. Ryland and Mr. F. Hornblower-are discharging the duties devolved upon them.

Some reference may be expected in this Report to changes in the future locality and constitution of the College, to which circumstances have directed the attention of the Committee. In the present stage

of their deliberations, they do not feel justified in saying more than that the subject engages their unremitted attention; that an active correspondence is being carried on respecting it; and that, as soon as the Trustees have come to a final decision, it will be communicated to the public. So important a change as that now under consideration ought not to be made, except after the maturest reflection, and under circumstances fitted to secure the general confidence of the public.-Only those who have bestowed time and thought on the subject can properly appreciate the difficulties with which it is surrounded.

The Committee confidently rely on the cordial sympathy of the public in the delicate task which they have now to perform; and feel persuaded that those, who have hitherto been the friends of the College, will still continue to afford it their zealous countenance and support, as the only existing Institution which provides a liberal theological education for the future pastors of our Church, and which, from its hereditary associations, as well as for its intrinsic importance, has so many claims on the lovers of religious truth and liberty.

April 30, 1839.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Remarks on the Slavery Question, in a letter to Jonathan Phillips, Esq. By William E. Channing, D. D. London: John Green, and C. Fox.

The Influence of the Affections upon Character. By Edwin Chapman. 18mo, pp. 85. London: John Green.

Lecture on War. By W. E. Channing.

Conscientious Clerical Non-conformity. By Thomas Binney. Letters of an Egyptian Kafir on a visit to England, in search of a Religion, enforcing some neglected views regarding the duty of Theological Inquiry, and the Morality of human interference with it. 8vo, pp. 160. London: G. H. Davidson.

Cousin's Psychology. Translated by Henry. 12mo. Wiley and Putnam, Paternoster Row.

Tholuck on John. Translated. 12mo. Wiley and Putnam. Temperance Rhymes. London: Simpkin and Marshall. Miracles essential to the proof of a Divine Commission. Two Discourses, by Joseph Hutton, LL. D. London: John Green.

THE

CHRISTIAN TEACHER.

ART. I.-THE NATION'S RELIGION AND THE
NATION'S EDUCATION.

If the tree is known by its fruits, the National Religion of this Country, judged by its fruits, can show no cause why the axe should not be laid to the root of the tree, on the principle stated by Christ, that every tree that beareth not good fruit is to be hewn down. Certainly the framers of Christian Churches have borrowed no hint from that beautiful Emblem of Christ, that the little seed of the Gospel should become the greatest of all herbs, so that the birds of Heaven should lodge in the branches thereof. The Tree of the State Religion has no such depth of bosom; and endures no such promiscuous gathering within its Arms. The varied tribes may not shelter beneath it, each praising its Creator in its own chaunt. Those that are permitted to lodge in the branches of it must all be of one tribe, and sing one song. Unlike that Tree of capacious bosom and over-shadowing arms which was the beautiful emblem of his Church that was in the mind of Christ, it admits not the free harmony of varied nature; and at least in one other important respect it bears no resemblance to the tree of life, for certainly its leaves are not for the healing of the nations. By far the greatest portion of the strife, the divisions, the party spirit of the times, is connected with the ideas of the Christian Religion which exist in this Country." From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts?" says the Apostle. But we might say, come they not hence, even of your dogmatism, of what you deem your Religion, of what you claim to be the very essentials of your Christianity?"

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How does Christianity in this Country affect us as Citizens, as members of a combined Community, the objects of our combination being to secure to all, justice, equal privileges, and the VOL. I. No. 6.-New Series.

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