had marked some passages for extract, but must postpone the insertion to another month; in the meantime, commending this effort to impart intelligence and morality to the people, to the approbation and imitation of all who have similar opportunies of usefulness.

MISCELLANIES.

OBITUARY OF MR WILLIAM STEVENS, BRIGHTON, AND THE ORIGIN OF THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY IN THAT TOWN.-Died, at Brighton, June 15. 1845, in the 76th year of his age, Mr William Stevens, a much respected member of the Unitarian Congregation in that town from its formation, leaving a widow, who had participated in all his joys and sorrows for more than 50 years, and three sons and two daughters. He was interred in the beautiful little burial ground attached to the Unitarian Chapel, Ditchling, by the resident minister, the Rev. Mr Gilbert.

The subject of this notice is an instance of how useful one man of right feeling and sound discretion may make himself to the cause of Christian truth, although placed in such circumstances as would by most persons be regarded as a sufficient apology for attempting nothing.

He was born of parents in humble life, in the village of Piddinghoe, Sussex; and losing the protection of a father at a very early age, after receiving the usual education furnished at village schools, was apprenticed to a mechanical calling, and resided through the whole term in the house of his master, a serious minded member of the Established Church, and the head of a well regulated family. In this favourable position for the formation of his early habits he acquired a taste for serious reading and conversation, and availed himself of such opportunities as offered for administering to its gratification. This led him occasionally within the walls of a dissenting meeting-house, and it was on one of these visits, that, while listening to the late Rev. Elhanan Winchester, he received impressions which exerted an important influence upon his after life. At the age of 21, he revisited his native place, and was led by circumstances needless here to mention, to take up his abode at Brighton. Here he soon connected himself with a society of Calvinistic Baptists, became a member of their church, feeling a lively interest in all its affairs, and taking his part in all their appointed plans for religious improvement. In this society, he soon made acquaintance

with a considerable number of young persons like minded with himself, the friendship and co-operation of some of whom he enjoyed till the close of life. The preaching of Mr Winchester had opened up a train of thought and inquiry in the mind of the deceased, which, in no long time after his connection with that society, resulted in the conviction that a good God will restore life to his rational creation, with no other design than that of making it ultimately a blessing, in the same manner as he at first gave life, with no other conceivable purpose than that of communicating happiness; and that, consequently, although suffering will be an inevitable attendant in a future life on a course of unrepented wickedness and disobedience in the present, yet that it will have a kind and merciful object to effect, viz. the sinner's purification; and that when that object is gained, the suffering will cease, and the sinner be restored to the favour and love of God. This view of the design of future punishment naturally formed a subject of conversation among his more intimate friends, as well as of general discussion in the society; the consequence of which was, that many became convinced that it is the only view which can be taken of that question; that it is both scriptural and rational. The rest became alarmed, and counsel was taken how the body might rid itself of such dangerous members. A meeting of the church was therefore summoned on some comparatively indifferent question, at which the presence of those who were known to be favourable to the measure about to be adopted was secured, while others, not in the secret, were absent; and the actual minority of the church thus surreptitiously were enabled to exclude the majority. The number thus excluded, says the document from which this account is chiefly drawn up, consisted of 18, including a member who had been accustomed occasionally to conduct the religious services.

But, "though troubled," they were "not distressed," perplexed, yet not in despair; persecuted, yet not forsaken; cast down, yet not destroyed." "In this state of excommunication," add the documents just referred to, 66 we at first met together in an upper room of the house of our friend Mr Dadswell, until a proper place could be procured where we might meet in society, and had a tolerably good congregation." These events occurred in the year 1793. In this manner, this small society continued to assemble together for the worship of God and for mutual religious improvement, till they were enabled to take possession of a small building, erected by one of the members,

chiefly for their use, but serving other purposes when not required for worship. But this state of things did not continue long.

They had selected as their minister the member above mentioned as having been accustomed occasionally to officiate in that capacity; but a further change having come over his views, leading him to opinions "bordering on a denial of a state of future punishment," the society was dissolved and dispersed at the end of about two years from its formation. In this state they were as sheep without a shepherd for nearly two years more; during which time some had returned to the church from which they had been expelled, others connected themselves with other societies, others returned into the world. At length, the deceased opened two rooms in his own house " for the purposes of prayer, reading the Scriptures, and conference on Sunday afternoons, and prayer meetings on Wednesday evenings, presiding regularly himself." At the first of these meetings six adult persons only were present, including the deceased and his wife.

This humble recommencement was followed by more satisfactory results than the previous. The deceased having modestly declined the request to become the minister of the now increasing society, anothert of the little brotherhood was invited to preach on the Sunday eveningsan office which he filled acceptably and almost gratuitously for a period of eight or nine years. During this time they received several visits from the late Rev. W. Vidler of Parliament Court, London, and others, who attracted much attention, and greatly refreshed and invigorated them in their undertaking. On one of these occasions (1799) they resolved on forming themselves into a church. The principles which constituted their bond of union, while they indicate considerable progress, yet were certainly of a somewhat contradictory nature;—strict communion, free inquiry, and the Bible, the only creed of Christians. Many," observes the deceased, in a letter to the late Rev. Richard Wright, "were added to our society by baptism, and during the whole four years that we assembled in my house we were united and happy. The congregation increased so much that the house became too small for those who met together, and, in consequence, we again removed to the small chapel we had previously occupied for a short time, assembling three times every Lord's day, preaching morning and evening, and conference in the afternoon."

* Mr Thomas Vine.

+ Mr William Gilham.

Hitherto there are no indications of the society having undergone any decided change in opinions since their expulsion from the parent society; but, about the year 1803, they gave ample evidence that the privilege of "free inquiry," granted by the constitution of the church, had been tolerably freely used. They received visits from the late Rev. R. Wright; the resident ministers of the Ditchling and Lewes congregations of General Baptists and Presbyterians delivered monthly lectures at their invitation; and in a short time the renunciation of Trinitarian theology is so entire, that, in 1804, we find them soliciting the General Baptist Assembly to receive them into their association.

This great change in opinion, however, had not extended through the whole of their community. A considérable proportion, having been unable to advance with the rest, had gradually withdrawn, in consequence of the open discussion and preaching of Unitarian views of Christian doctrine; and these secessions had left the society in so low a state that their minister, discouraged by the appearance of things, shortly after resigned. The remainder, however, valued too highly the importance of truth and a good conscience to yield to despair, and a meeting of the church was called to consult on the best measures to be adopted in these trying circumstances; at which it was unanimously resolved that Mr Stevens should undertake to conduct the services in such manner as his judgment should dictate as the most profitable and improving. This request, so honourable to himself, he now felt it to be his duty to comply with, which, he adds, I did by reading published sermons of approved authors, mornings and evenings; by prayers, sometimes extempore, sometimes from printed forms, and by conferences in the afternoon. And through a period of twelve years, and up to the time of the establishment of Unitarianism in Brighton in its present form, was this faithful servant of Christ always at his post; for some years conducting the three services of the Lord's day, and during the whole period, with a short exception at the latter part, bearing the charge of the morning and afternoon services, and holding himself prepared for any exigency in the evening, with no other reward than the pleasure of doing good, the esteem and approval of his friends, and the satisfaction arising from a faithful performance of duty.

But though alone responsible, the deceased was not left without encouragement from distant friends and ministers who occasionally visited Brighton, giving the little society their countenance and assistance. It was through the ge

nerous aid received from such that they were enabled, in the year 1812, to procure a more commodious place of worship, and the regular services in the evening of the Rev. A. Bennett of Ditchling. All this valuable and seasonable help soon gave them a much improved appearance as a religious body; they were cheered by success, and animated to renewed exertion. The congregation increased, and they were happy in perceiving a fair prospect of rational Christianity becoming permanently established in a town where some among them had struggled for so many years to maintain an existence as a church. Affairs remained in this state for about five years, until the removal of Mr Bennett from the neighbourhood, and the settlement of Dr Morell in Brighton, an event which brought with it other changes yet more promising in their appearance of final success. He received a unanimous invitation to accept the charge of the congregation-a request with which he very kindly complied; and it scarcely needs to be added that his services were most highly valued by all, and gratefully received; and it was a subject of deep regret that the connection between them at that time was of so short a continuance. But the locality of their place of worship, and other circumstances relating to the society, were not such as their highly respected minister considered to be most favourable for the advancement of their common cause in a town of such fashionable resort; and, in consequence, after a few months he opened rooms in his own house, where he might be able to carry out his views with more effect; and the affairs of the small society whose origin and progress we have here been tracing, reverted into their former course. Upon his removal, however, in a short time to the neighbouring village of Hove, and the continuance of his plans being thus rendered for that time impracticable, they were again favoured occasionally with his valuable services. At length, it appeared to him, and others who had long felt a deep interest in the cause of Unitarianism in Brighton, that the time had arrived when a vigorous effort should be made to place it upon a stable foundation. Measures were taken for the erection of the present commodious and beautiful chapel, which was opened by the esteemed doctor himself, who had been appointed minister, in the year 1821. Simultaneously with this, the little band of worshippers of the One God closed "the house of God," to which they had so often walked in company, and taken "sweet counsel together," placed themselves once more under the ministry of their valued friend and former pastor, devoted the annual proceeds of the