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bracing Christ, receiving him, surrendering ourselves to him, without proper explanation. They had an appropriate meaning in the time of Christ, and of the conversion of the Jews and heathen to Christianity. But they do not now convey to the minds of the unlearned the same sense as they did then. With regard to the present sermon, however, we confess we are more surprised that there are so few, than we should have been if there had been more instances of this loose and mystical phraseology. We are encouraged to hope that the more correct modes of interpreting scripture, which prevail at the present day, will soon banish it altogether from sermons, as it has long been banished from almost every other kind of composition.

16. Unitarianism the Way of the Lord. A Sermon, preached before the First Congregational Society, in Burlington, Vt. April 12, 1826. By George G. Ingersoll. 8vo. pp. 53. Burlington, E. & T. Mills, 1826. THE sermon now before us, appears at considerable disadvantage in consequence of the carelessness with which it has been carried through the press. Still it is evidently a production of no ordinary merit. There are passages in it that are even eloquent. As an exhibition of the character and doctrines of Unitarianism, it is in general very faithful. The author's arguments against doctrines, which as a Unitarian he rejects, are powerful though popular, and managed occasionally with great skill. We recommend it to the perusal of inquirers after truth.

17. The Scripture Doctrine concerning the Messiah. By an Aged Layman. pp. 15. Boston, Dutton and Wentworth, 1826.

We do not know who this aged layman is; but he has evidently carried to the reading of his Bible, great intelligence and no inconsiderable learning. We doubt, however, whether younger theologians will grant him, as prophecies of our Saviour, all the texts he quotes from the Old Testament; and are quite sure his Trinitarian brethren will deny that he has given the full strength of their arguments from scripture. But, what perhaps is as much as they have a right to demand from fifteen pages, he has given them, in the plain language of scripture respecting the person and offices of Christ, more than all the strength of all the Trinitarian arguments we have ever seen, can cope with, although he has not given the tenth of that which might have been given, nor what he has, with the tenth of the force.

Entelligence.

American Bible Society. The Tenth Anniversary of this Society was celebrated in New York on the 11th of May. The receipts into the treasury, and the circulation of the scriptures, have again exceeded those of preceding years; the former by $6578 83, the latter by 3881 Bibles and Testaments. For the last year, there have been printed at the Depository, or are now in the press, 81,000 Bibles and Testaments, in English, Spanish and French. This number, added to the 451,902 mentioned in the 9th Report, makes 532,902 Bibles and Testaments, or parts of the latter, printed from the Society's stereotype plates, or otherwise obtained, for the ten years of its existence. The plates for a pocket Bible are at length completed, and an edition of 2000 has been put to press.

During the year ending the 1st of May 1826, 67,134 Bibles, &c. have been issued from the Depository. These with the 372,913 issued in former years, make the whole from the first to be 440,047, exclusive of those issued by the Kentucky Bible Society printed from the Society's plates, and of those procured by Auxiliary Societies from other quarters. The number issued in foreign languages, and especially in the Spanish, has this year been considerably increased.

Fiftyfour Auxiliary Societies have been recognized during the past year, making in all, at present existing, 506. Agents have been successfully employed in Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, and Massachusetts, for increasing this number still farther, and for collecting subscriptions, &c. The sums received from the Society's different sources of income, amount for the year to $52,035 36.

Massachusetts Bible Society. We learn from the annual report of the Executive Committee of this Society, that in the past year, there have been distributed from the Depository 1784 large and small Bibles and Testaments, and 1645 received; that in comparison with the last and preceding years, there is a gradual decrease in the demand and distribution; and that the distribution has been made with evident beneficial consequences, in as strict an adherence as possible to the rules of the trustees.

But let it be recollected that this is but one of more than five thousand Bible societies now in operation-of which the British alone at the annual meeting in 1825, had distributed more than four million copies, (in part or in whole in 140 different lan33

VOL. UI.NO. III.

guages,) which is at the rate of more than 500 a day; and we shall feel that the predicted time is approaching when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters do the sea, and shall be stimulated to do our part towards the glorious consummation.'

The Evangelical Missionary Society of Massachusetts. The Trustees of this Society, in their annual report, read May 31, 1826, say, that since the last annual meeting, the same course has been pursued, in the employment of Missionaries and in aiding destitute and poor parishes, as for several years past; that the Missionaries before employed, have been retained in the service of the Society; that several ordained ministers, whose parishes are small and poor, have received aid from its funds as heretofore; that the Society in Brooklyn, Con. which has been animated and aided by the Society's bounty, during a period of peculiar difficulty, no longer needs its assistance; that $100 were allowed last year to the Society in Amherst, N. H. and $30 more to hire preaching, needed in consequence of the sickness of its pastor; that the situation of Hadley, Bernardston, Montague, Leverett, Heath, Layden, and Pelham in this state, and of Vernon in Vermont, is similar to that of last year; that two gentlemen, the moiety of whose compensation, ($185) is paid by this society, have been employed in those places; that the account of their labors is encouraging, the people inquiring and attentive, a large portion of whom in that section of the country call for christian sympathy; that in Franklin county, the demand for liberal preachers is such as to require another Missionary, or the extension of the services of the gentlemen already employed there; that grants have been made to societies in Amesbury and Chelmsford, to that in N. Bridgewater, and for preaching in Lancaster, N. H. and in Norridgewock in Maine; that the Committee last year employed a gentleman to travel in New York and Pennsylvania, to learn the religious state of the people there; that in Maine, besides Norridgewock, five other societies, in Bangor, Dresden, Hallowell, Biddeford and Scarborough, have received pecuniary aid the last year, to the amount of $500; that this sum is to be increased for the next year; that the information received from these places, from some of them especially, is such as to show the need of assistance to be great, and that it is well bestowed. But, notwithstanding the praiseworthy objects of this society and the unquestionable good it has done and is doing, it has not received that degree of support it so well deserves. It is with regret the Trustees have to state, that the receipts into the Treasury for the year past, are not so great as the two preceding years;

and that they are less by about $120 than the expenditures and appropriations during the same time. They have been able to meet this deficit, however, by the balance remaining in the Treasury a year ago, after paying all former appropriations.

The funds of the Society on interest amount to $5085; the collections and subscriptions of the year past, including interest, to $1197 37; the appropriations and expenses, to $1316 73.'

The Massachusetts Society for the Suppression of Intemperance. Dr Bradford of Cambridge delivered at the anniversary of this society, on the 1st of June, an address, which all who heard it agree in pronouncing an interesting and instructive performance. But, although the community appears at the present moment to be more sensible of the necessity of taking measures in aid of its objects, than at any other period, this society itself and its operations have not inspired so wide an interest as might naturally be expected. We trust however, that this complaint will not be much longer a just one. Did it do no more than send forth its valuable annual addresses, it would have high claims upon our gratitude. When Dr Bradford's address is published, we shall call the attention of our readers to the subject.

At the Ministerial Conference in Berry Street, Dr Bancroft was reelected Moderator, and Rev. Mr Ware, Secretary. The address was delivered by Dr Ware of Cambridge, upon the duty of Unitarians in respect to Christianity in India. It is now in the press and will be published as a tract. On motion of Dr Tuckerman of Chelsea, it was unanimously resolved, that in the opinion of the Conference the peculiar circumstances of India justify and require an effort in aid of the cause of Christianity in that country, and that the members use their individual exertions to promote this object.' Two other resolutions were also passed; viz.

That this Conference do earnestly request every Unitarian minister to communicate to his people all the information he has or may obtain on this interesting subject, at such time and in such a manner, as he shall himself deem to be expedient.

'That any member of the Conference, who shall raise from his people or otherwise, any funds in support of Christianity in India, be requested to forward them to the Treasurer of the "Society for obtaining Information concerning the State of Religion in India," to be applied according to the discretion of that Society.'

The American Unitarian Association. Its first anniversary was celebrated in Boston on the 30th of May. After the meeting had been opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Bancroft,

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the President, an abstract of the Treasurer's report was read, from which it appeared that the whole amount received to May 30, 1826, was $1812 17; the amount disbursed $885 20; leaving in the Treasury $926 97. Of the receipts $786 were from annual subscribers; $127 50 were received as donations, and $870 were the payments of life subscriptions, chiefly for clergymen made life members by ladies of their societies. The expenditures were for printing, $259 54; Rev. Mr Kay, as missionary in Penn. $100; a church in Harrisburg, Penn. $100; an agent on a journey through some parts of New England, $115 44; an agent now on a tour through the Western States, &c, &c. $310 22.'

The Secretary next read the report of the Executive Committee, which gave a full account of the rise, measures, success and prospects of the Association. As it is to be published as a tract, we forbear saying any thing more of it at present, with the design of hereafter bringing it, together with the other tracts of the Association, distinctly before our readers. The tracts printed last year are four in number, of which 17,000 copies have been published. Another, and a very valuable one, has since appeared. The report closed with recommending the three following resolutions ;

1. That the proposal to form a union with other Societies having similar objects, receives the approbation and concurrence of this Association.

2. That it is considered highly desirable that, as far as practicable, Auxiliaries be formed to the Association in every Unitarian congregation.

3. That this Association views with high gratification the prospect which is opened of a more extended mutual acquaintance and cooperation among Unitarian christians throughout the world.'

The first of these resolutions had particular reference, we believe, to the Evangelical Missionary Society, the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, Piety and Charity, and the Publishing Fund. In the accounts of their annual meetings, we are told that the two first named Societies have taken the proposal into consideration and are to act upon it next year.

Upon the reading of the resolutions from the chair, the meeting was addressed by Hon. Judge Story, one of the Vice Presidents. He maintained, with great force, the necessity and utility of religious associations both for disseminating truth and for selfdefence. These points were supported by arguments drawn from the history of Unitarianism in particular, from the early ages of Christianity to the present time. But, in the estimation

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