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Howard Sunday School.

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by appropriate religious services, in January, 1836. Mr. Barnard commenced a service for the children in the morning, and in the afternoon and evening for adults. Of the good accomplished by him, especially among the young, it is useless here to speak, for it is known to all, and his chapel is one of the cherished institutions of the city.

Mr. Barnard was succeeded at the Friend Street Chapel by F. T. Gray, who entered upon his duties in October, 1833. At first, services were held as before, during the day and evening, on the Sabbath, the morning service being mainly adapted to the young. On the commencement, soon after, of a regular adult service during the day and evening, the audience greatly increased, and the Sunday school presented a very pleasing aspect, cheering the hearts of the teachers, who had labored with great fidelity, many of them from the commencement of the ministry. The following extract from a Report of the Ministers at Large about this time will give some idea of the state of things in 1834.

"There are now over two hundred children connected with the Howard Sunday School, who are instructed by thirty-eight teachers, with two superintendents, whose interest and fidelity to those committed to their care, during the past winter, deserve great commendation. They have been untiring in their exertions to interest and engage their pupils in holy things. Their efforts have been crowned with success. The valuable assistance rendered by the superintendent and teachers of this school to the friends of this ministry, the Ministers at Large cannot but acknowledge. It encourages us to persevere with them in efforts to promote the happiness and moral welfare of our less favored brethren."

We are the more ready to make this extract, because those who were then engaged exerted an influence, by their fidelity and perseverance in their holy work, that was deeply felt at the time in the community, and more than one church since has felt the influence which was exerted upon the pupils of this school by them in whom they were so much interested, and over whom they watched with such unceasing care for several years. No good cause could fail, with such warm, devoted, and faithful friends.

Dr. Tuckerman had, from the commencement of his

ministry, been under the patronage of the American Unitarian Association, to which body he addressed his Reports, and by whom they were published, receiving from the Association the sum of four hundred dollars per annum for his services. In May, 1834, as the ministers had increased, and the work was gaining in interest and importance, more definite and efficient aid was necessary; hence the Fraternity of Churches was formed. From that period the ministry has been supported by annual contributions from each of the Unitarian societies in the city, which are paid into the treasury of the Fraternity. The last year, between five and six thousand dollars was contributed by these societies for the support of this excellent ministry.

In 1835, through the persevering exertions of some gentlemen who were engaged as teachers in the Friend Street Chapel, an effort was made to erect a more commodious chapel, commensurate with the wants of the poor in that section of the city. That effort was successful; a sufficient amount was subscribed, with the amount received from the sale of the old chapel and land, to enable them to go on, obtaining the balance by a loan, which was needed for a few years only. A site was selected in Pitts Street, and a neat and commodious brick building erected, at an expense of sixteen thousand dollars, including the land.

And now there was a change to take place at the old and much loved Friend Street Chapel. Change had been going on all around it in ten years, and now it was to be seen within. On the afternoon of November 6th, 1836, the last sermon was preached in this chapel, by the pastor, from the text, "Lord, I have loved the habitation of thine house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth." There were many sad hearts on leaving this place; for it was loved, and around it had gathered many holy recollections, and many sweet remembrances of hours passed with cherished friends, who had united in worship together, at the evening hour, where they had been permitted to listen to holy truths, as they fell from the lips, not only of the beloved Tuckerman, but also of the gifted Follen, Greenwood, and Ware.

But that humble building is not, and never will be, forgotten by many a grateful heart. It is safely enshrined

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The Pitts Street Chapel.

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in the memory of many, who received instruction and solace within its walls. And it will live long, long as the touching and eloquent tribute to that lowly building shall be retained, which was paid to it by the beloved Greenwood. "The little chapel in Friend Street! Small and humble as it is, I never pass the spot on which it stands without a mental thanksgiving. Modest mother of poor men's churches! Lowly and plain, but beautiful and holy cathedral of charity! Blessed is the work which thou hast witnessed and fostered! Thy walls are slight, and must soon be removed, but thy form will remain in the memories of many who have been taught in thee, and be ever associated with the poor man's friend!"

The

On the following Sabbath, November 13th, a bright and happy band of children and teachers was seen hastening to the new and well furnished chapel in Pitts Street. The morning was somewhat lowering, but the clouds soon passed away, and a large and deeply interested audience was assembled at the dedication. sermon was preached by the minister of the chapel, and Rev. Mr. Barnard, Rev. Louis Dwight, and Rev. William Collier took part in the services. It was thus, in the spirit of Christian charity with all denominations, that the services were commenced, and the same has been continued and manifested to the present hour, bering the truth embodied in the following extract from one of the Reports of the Ministers at Large, in 1835.

ever remem

"We have learned, and we trust that we shall never forget, that our chapels are not to be made arenas for theological controversy. No friend of the poor can wish to distract them with the claims and tenets of conflicting sects. To go among the poor with sectarian purposes would retard rather than advance their social, moral, and religious improvement. To attempt to form them under this or that denomination is a direct, serious injury. It calls forth jealousy, prejudice, and party feeling. It dissevers and divides those who should feel and act as brethren. It draws off their attention from weightier matters. It leaves out of view the only two points around which the poor and the friend of the poor should rally, Love to God, and love to

man."

Rev. J. T. Sargent entered upon his duties as Minister at Large in the summer of 1837, and a room was selected, VOL. XLIX. -4TH S. VOL. XIV. NO. II.

19

in Northampton Street, in which to hold a religious service on the Sabbath, and establish a Sunday school. He selected the extreme south part of the city for his field of labor. After some few months, a more commodious hall was found in a new building in Suffolk Street, and to this he removed his school, and for some time had religious services during the day and evening of the Sabbath. Mr. Sargent soon awakened quite an interest in this ministry, and he was eminently successful in his labors. He was faithful and untiring in his exertions to promote the welfare of those to whom he especially ministered, and it was not long before a sum was subscribed sufficient for the erection of a new chapel, in Suffolk Street. The corner-stone was laid May 23d, 1839, and the occasion was one that will long be remembered by many who were present, from the fact, that it was the last public service in which Dr. Tuckerman took part,― the last time that his voice was heard, and the last time that many looked upon his venerated form. Who that was

present will forget the fervent petition which he offered on that occasion, as the multitude were gathered around him, and his gray locks were fanned by the breeze, on that beautiful spring afternoon?

The chapel was dedicated February 5th, 1840, and Mr. Sargent labored there, greatly encouraged, till December 29th, 1844, when he resigned.

We have now given a brief history of the origin of the Ministry at Large in Boston, and a sketch of the early history of its chapels. As we have been thus reviewing the last twenty-eight years, many weighty questions have arisen and many pregnant thoughts have suggested themselves, which we have not space to notice or even name, though we may present them at some future period. But of one thing we have been most deeply impressed, as we have gone on step by step, studying the records of an exceedingly interesting portion of our ecclesiastical history as a denomination; and that is, the immense influence which this Ministry at Large has exerted among all classes in this community,-an influence which no words can describe or calculations measure. For well and truly has it been said, by one who did a most excellent service by his labors for several months in this ministry, "What language can describe or calculations meas

1850.] Sydney Smith's Sketches of Moral Philosophy. 215

ure this influence? When the joy of salvation can be adequately portrayed, when the depth of despair can be sounded, then, and then only, will the limits of the influence flowing from this blessed ministry fully appear."

F. T. G.

ART. IV. SYDNEY SMITH'S SKETCHES OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY.*

SYDNEY SMITH exhibited a rare combination of character, consummate wit and consummate discretion. When written to by the son and biographer of Sir James Mackintosh for some of his late father's letters, Mr. Smith replied," Upon principle, I keep no letters except those on business. I have not a single letter from him, nor from any human being, in my possession." Such was his solicitude lest the unguarded pleasantries of a familiar correspondence should afterwards lead to misunderstandings, or give unnecessary pain. As a preacher, also, he knew what belonged to the decorum of the pulpit, and the seriousness and gravity of his theme. There are fewer conceits of thought or language in the whole of his three volumes of sermons than in many a single page of South. Better proof of his judgment and of the essential kindness and generosity of his disposition could hardly be had than is furnished by the fact, that, though everywhere accounted one of the greatest wits of his time, he was more loved than feared. The tradition of his wit and raillery in conversation will die away, but we have an enduring monument of both in his critical and controversial writings. Here, however, to do him justice, his keenest shafts were reserved for legitimate occasions; - when some new folly was to be shown up, when some new pretender was to be unmasked, or when conceit and affectation were to be taught to know themselves. No doubt, to the objects of his merciless banter the pain was often as great as if they had been pursued by violent and angry invective; but to the writer and

Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy, delivered at the Royal Institution, in the Years 1804, 1805, and 1806. By the late Rev. SYDNEY SMITH, M. A. London. 1850. 8vo. pp. xii. and 424.