MONTHLY RECORD.

SEPTEMBER 1. 1842.

TWELFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SCOTTISH CHRISTIAN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.-The Anniversary of this Association was held in Edinburgh, on Sunday and Monday, August 7, and 8. Friends were present from Aberdeen, Dundee, Dollar, Tillicoultry, Devonside, Stirling, Dunblane, Carluke, Glasgow, Kirkintilloch, Haddington, Fenton, Queensferry, Markinch, Portobello, Leith, &c. There were three religious services on the Sunday. In the morning, the whole was conducted by the Rev. Henry Acton of Exeter, who preached a highly interesting, argumentative, and powerfully convincing discourse, on "the common faith," the Catholic faith, shewing its identity with the great principles which constitute the belief of Unitarian Christians. The discourse was founded on Titus, i. 4, and was listened to with deep attention by a large audience. In the afternoon, the Rev. John Taylor of Glasgow, conducted the worship, and preached from Matthew, v. 8. The sermon was throughout a beautiful and impresssive illustration of the truth, that purity of heart, prepares the mind for the reception and cultivation of pure, benevolent, and enlightened conceptions of Deity; and could not fail to awaken holy and truth-loving thoughts in his hearers. Mr Harris introduced the service in the evening, and Mr Acton preached from John, iv. 23, 24, vindicating the spirituality and undivided nature of Christian worship. The subjects selected by the preachers were most appropriate to the occasion, and imparted instruction and gratification to all who were privileged to hear them.

On Monday afternoon, the members and friends of the Association, assembled at a social repast in the Waterloo Rooms. The spacious hall was tastefully and beautifully decorated with evergreens and choice flowers. The President's table was placed across the head of the hall, and five others extended from it the whole length, whilst four were placed before the raised seats at the other extremity of the building. When the whole seats were occupied, as they speedily were on the opening of the doors. the effect was highly pleasing. Fully three hundred and fifty ladies and gentlemen were present. Twenty of the young men of the Edinburgh congregation officiated as stewards, and by their very efficient services contributed greatly to the comfort and pleasure of the

meeting. On the motion of Mr E. V. Blyth, Mr Harris was called to the Chair, and Mr Philip of Edinburgh was appointed Vice-president. Mr Harris implored the Divine Blessing on the proceedings and objects of the meeting, and after tea, a hymn of thanksgiving was sung by the company. Mr Harris then addressed the assembly on the purposes of the Association, and afterwards, as the Secretary, read the following Report of the Committee.

"The Committee of the Scottish Christian Unitarian Association, in soliciting the attention of its members and friends to the efforts, which, with very limited means, they have been enabled to put forth for the furtherance of its objects, during the past year, have great pleasure in congratulating their Christian brethren, on the recurrence of this Anniversary, in the City in which the Institution was originally formed. It is by contrast, chiefly, that progress can be indicated. Many years have passed away, since this Association, in its original form, was institated; and few as were the individuals who founded it, fewer still remain, to witness, and rejoice, in the religious change that is passing over society. The truths which, in evil times, this Association was framed to diffuse, bave, however, not only not departed with those who, at that period, amidst obloquy and peril, honestly and fearlessly professed them, but are now happily cherished by increasing numbers, and impart peace and joy to many hearts, once weighed down to the dust by the gloom of bigotry and error. The association of individuals, possessing faith in human brotherhood, and God's paternity, must, in any circumstances be a duty to themselves, their brethren and their Maker; for, by what other means, save human agency, can these benignant and life giving principles be disseminated, and established in the earth? The companionship of the worthy and the wise, is ever valuable; cheering to individual effort, prompting to combined and energetic labour for human improvement, and freedom, and happiness. More especially is the duty obligatory, when religious error is rampant, ecclesiastical domination increasing in its demands, and far stretching in its power; and austerity, fanaticism, and intolerance, substituted for the truth, liberty, and charity of the gospel. In a land, where the Infinite Spirit of love is depicted as cruelty, and man, the image of his Maker, is defamed as altogether worthless; where professed Protestants are deprived of their privileges as the freedmen of Christ Jesus, and hunted from church court to church court as aliens and outcasts, for the slightest difference of opinion, or the sincere and practical advocacy of Christian morality, liberty, and peace; where churchman and dissenter alike denounce heresy

as a crime, and brand the exercise of individual judgment as rebellion to a prescribed creed,—it is imperative on all who would vindicate Christianity as the religion of benevolence, and freedom, to associate together and cheer each other onward in the conflict with the dogmatism that anathematizes individual judgment, the sacerdotal tyranny that would lord it over individual conscience, the gloomy and repulsive bigotry that would fill the land with darkness and lamentation. Individual effort may effect something in mitigation of these evils, and should ever be exerted with devotedness and zeal; but the union of many who are like minded in Christ, would manifestly do more than isolated attempts can possibly accomplish. Believing this union to be a duty called for by gratitude to God, and Christian sympathy for man; demanded by the signs of the times, and the circumstances of the professing Christian world; a paramount claim on all who would remove the ignorance which degrades, the superstition and intolerance which enthral and debase, and thereby prevent the infidelity in God and man which these causes necessarily generate, the Committee rejoice in this assembly of their Christian brethren, as well as in the Christian fellowship which this gathering evinces.

"It is particularly right and fitting that, in this land of church courts, of catechism and confession, there should exist one association of Christian professors really voluntary, not in name merely, but in deed and in truth,-an association to which no individual is forced to attach himself as a necessary preliminary or adjunct to the enjoyment of church privileges; and to which he is not called on to adhere one moment longer than he esteems it useful and benevolent in its tendency. This is simply an assembly of Christian brethren, come from different parts of the country, to encourage each other in the open and consistent profession of what they believe to be true, and the faithful undeviating practice of what they deem to be good. There is nothing in this institution that resembles a Synod, or that apes a Convocation. We neither endeavour nor wish to exercise the least controul over each others faith. We do not meet together to say brethren you must believe this; brethren, you are in danger of everlasting damnation if you do not acknowledge that.' We do not come to exercise dominion over each others belief, but to be helpers of each others joy. The very constitution of our society is such as perpetually to keep us in mind, that no individual has a right to dictate a creed to another; and that even the opinion of the society as a collective body, is no more binding upon an individual, than the opinion of an individual is authoritative to the body. We do not settle what

is true or false in religion by majority of votes. We earnestly exhort one another to inquire, each for himself, in the important matter of religion; to exercise his faculties in investigating the proofs and the contents of the Scriptures, and to decide what is true or false, according to the best of his own judgment; to disdain the folly, the pusillanimity, and the wickedness of entrusting his mind to the keeping of another. To vindicate the liberty wherewith Christ our only Master in religion has made us free; and in the exercise of that liberty, to cherish still more fervently in our own hearts, as well as to induce in others the hallowed persuasion that we have all one Father, and that one God, as good as he is great, has created us; that we have all one Leader to truth, and goodness, and immortality, Jesus Christ the righteous; and that all mankind are brethren; to build up each other in the hope and faith of human progress, and in the untiring pursuit of the good, the true, and the holy, that peace may dwell on earth, and good will be diffused among the children of men, and glory to God, be ascribed by all the inhabitants of earth; for these purposes we associate, and to promote these beneficent ends is our meeting assembled.

"In furtherance of these purposes, correspondence has been been maintained, by the Secretary, with the various individuals and Societies, in the many places in Scotland, in which the religious opinions of the Association are now upheld. Many extracts, of considerable interest, might be presented from that correspondence, showing the struggles of individual minds, in freeing themselves from the shackles of contradictory and demoralizing creeds; many worthy examples of stedfastness of purpose, and consistent adherence to that which was believed to be true; many sacrifices of personal interest, in the maintenance of a free, uncreed-worn conscience; many beautiful illustrations of the power of religious truth, to console and cheer, amidst poverty and privation; as well as very many proofs of the cant, and prejudice, and cunning, and hypocrisy, and intolerance, and worldy-mindedness, which in vain attempted to stifle the outbreak from stultifying creeds, and sectarian assumption. The opportunities which such correspondence presents, of aiding the inquiring, and assuring the timid, and confirming the wavering, and strengthening to open, consistent profession, are not among the least useful labours effected through the agency of the Association.

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Partly in consequence of the new relations which the Ministers of Glasgow and Edinburgh have been called to sustain since the last anniversary, the missionary labours of the past year have not been equally numerous to those of some preceding periods. The Committee are happy to re

port, that, by the kindness of their respected friend, the Rev. James Forrest, in supplying at Glasgow, the able and excellent pastor of that congregation was enabled to spend one Sunday at Kirkintilloch, conducting the worship, morning and evening, to considerable audiences. Mr Forrest likewise contributed his valuable services on the Sunday of the introduction of the Rev. Thomas Bradshaw at Tillicoultry, preaching morning and evening, and Mr Bradshaw in the afternoon. Mr Bradshaw, in addition to his stated services at Tillicoultry, soon after his settlement arranged to preach at Falkirk every six weeks, and at Stirling and Dunblane once a-month. He has also delivered two discourses at Dollar. The attendance at all these places has been variable as to numbers, the almost universal commercial depression prevailing in these districts, operating very injuriously and powerfully against accessions to our societies; and the occurrence of other unforeseen circumstances militating materially against success. Nevertheless, it is cheering to believe, that though the individual Societies more immediately connected with the Association, may not have prospered so greatly as was desired and looked for, freedom in religious opinion, and increased charity between dissidents, have been promoted by the labours of others, who, though not nominally of our denomination, and once bitterly opposed to us, are now one with us in the belief, that charity, out of a pure heart, with love unfeigned, is the end of the commandment. The Committee rejoice in the persuasion, that their friends in these districts who have put their hands to the plough of religious reformation, will not look back, nor be discouraged, but continue diligently to sow the seed, leaving its fruition to the certain progress of time, and the blessing of the overruling Providence of heaven.

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During the past year, the Secretary has preached once in Stirling, as well as on a week-day evening, and an entire Sunday in Tillicoultry. He has also preached on two Sunday evenings at Leith, to as large audiences as the place of meeting could contain,-these efforts leading to many pleasing results, in the calling forth of a spirit of serious inquiry in not a few individuals, and their subsequent frequent or stated attendance at the Chapel in this City. Mr Harris likewise preached on a week-day evening in the Town-hall of Haddington, to a deeply attentive audience. Hearing from his esteemed friend, the Rev. James Martineau of Liverpool, that an individual at Dumfries had embraced the Unitarian faith, and was suffering patiently ill report for his efforts to bring others to similar conviction, the Secretary brought the matter, after some correspondence with the true-hearted in