The association will comprehend about 370 congregations: some of them, it is true, very small and poor; but others numerous; and and a few respectable and influential. We can readily imagine that with such a lever, a restless, active, and enterprising individual who may obtain the ascendancy in the United Church, may be able to effect much, whether of good or evil: and this we suppose to have been one of the objects proposed in forming the union.

With regard, however, to the effect of the new regulations upon the character of the orthodox Presbyterian body, we have little doubt that it will be found very soon to be injurious. The respectable members of congregations will not accept the offices of elder, &c. upon the conditions now required. They will find themselves outvoted in every question by the communicants, not payers of stipend. They will, we apprehend, by degrees, be driven from the communion table itself, and ultimately from the congregation, to the ranks of the Established Church or the Liberal Dissenters, by the mortifications to which they will be subjected. The recent junction will unite in one compact mass, the lower ranks of the whole orthodox Presbyterian bodies, but it will disgust and alienate the gentry of the denomination.

UNITARIAN CHAPEL, PLYMOUTH.

The attention of the Unitarian Congregations in England has lately been directed by some experienced friends of their cause, to the subject of their own discipline and organization: which must be acknowledged to be one of considerable interest, and importance. The following plan has been recently adopted in a respectable congregation: and may perhaps suggest some useful ideas to other societies, which have this subject under consideration. Rules of the Society assembling in the Unitarian Chapel, Broad* Street, Plymouth, for the purpose of religious worship; read and agreed to on the 19th January, and 2nd February, 1840.

1. Every person subscribing a sum not less than five shillings per annum, for the support of Christian Worship in this place, and being eighteen years of age, who has been a Subscriber for at least six months preceding any Congregational Meeting, and has paid up all his arrears of Subscription, shall be entitled to vote on all Congregational business brought before that Meeting, and shall be eligible to take any other share in the execution of the same.

2. No Meeting shall be held for the transaction of Congregational business, without due notice having been given of the same during the time of public worship immediately preceding the meeting; and if such meeting be held after the Evening Service, notice shall be given thereof both in the Morning and Evening Services.

3. No Meeting shall be held for the choice of a Minister, or respecting his resignation, or any other business materially affecting the interests and regulation of the Society, without due notice of the same having been given during each time of Public Worship on the Sunday preceding that on which the Meeting is to be held So called in the Congregational Records;-now Treville Street.

and during the time or times of Public Worship on that also on which the Meeting is held.

4. There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Subscribers on the second Sunday in January, immediately after the Morning Service (of which public notice shall be given on that and the preceding Sunday), at which the Treasurer's, and Secretary's Reports shall be received, and two Subscribers appointed to audit the Treasurer's Accounts for the past year; and at which Subscriptions shall be paid, a Treasurer and a Secretary appointed for the current year, and such other business transacted as may be necessary.

5. The Treasurer shall receive the Income arising from all Endowments, Subscriptions, and any other Funds, and shall dispose of the same according to the decision of the congregation; and pay all bills that shall have been inspected and approved by the Annual Committee of Management; and all the disbursements of the Society shall be made by him, and he shall keep the accounts of them. The Secretary shall keep the records of the Congregation: he shall also see to the execution of these Resolutions, and of the Resolutions of all Meetings of the Subscribers.

6. The Congregational Records, and also the account of money received and expended on behalf of the Congregation and Minister, shall always be open to the inspection of the Minister, or of any one who has a right to vote at a Meeting of the Subscribers upea application respectively to the Treasurer or Secretary.

7. A Trustee, the Treasurer, the Secretary, or any five Subscribers, shall be at liberty to call a General Meeting of the Society, whenever they conceive such a Meeting necessary: a Written Notice expressive of the object of the Meeting shall be sent to the Secretary, who shall cause the Subscribers to be summoned on the next Sunday, provided such Meeting be not contrary to the provisions of the 2nd and 3rd Regulations.

8. An Annual Committee of Management shall be chosen on the second Sunday in January, to consist of seven Members, of whom the Treasurer and Secretary shall always form two by virtue of their office. They shall be entrusted with the distribution of the pews; the superintendence of repairs and alterations; and, generally speaking, see to the execution of the votes and plans of the Congregation in the best and most economical manner.

9. No repeal or alteration shall be made in any of these Regulations, except by a majority of two thirds of the Subscribers present at a meeting regularly summoned for the purpose.

J. FULFORD, Chairman. NOTE.-The Pew Rents are paid QUARTERLY, in advance. The Treasurer will attend, after the services, to receive the same.

EPISCOPAL AND CLERICAL INTOLERANCE, EXETER. WE have been favoured with a "Statement of Facts," published by the Rev. H. ACTON, in which Bishop PHILLPOTTS appears in character. A clergyman refused to bury the child of a labouring man belonging to the Unitarian congregation at Exeter, because

it had been baptised by one of the ministers of that congregation, the Rev. Dr. PERRY. The two ministers wrote to the Bishop on the subject. His Lordship referred them to a recent letter of his to another gentleman in a similar case. They consulted the congregation, who employed a solicitor to take the opinions of Dr. Addams and the Attorney-General, Sir J. Campbell. These opinions declared the refusal of burial illegal. On the communication of them to the clergyman whose refusal had caused the stir, he made an ample acknowledgment of error. But the Bishop! He is silent before the Exeter Unitarians; engaged probably in meditating some new exercise in illustration and proof of his succession from the apostles, among whom were "sons of thunder," as well as of consolation."- Christian Reformer.

66

sons

BOARDING-SCHOOL BIGOTRY.

Mr. Dixon has furnished us with a lamentable case of bigotry, The grand-daughter of a Unitarian Minister was sent home from a school, the mistress of which knew her sentiments on taking her, because she defended her religion on its being attacked by another scholar! Well may he exclaim,- -" And yet Unitarians continue to send their children to Trinitarian schools!"— Christian Reformu

JACKSON COLLEGE, LOUISIANA.

Unitarianism has made its appearance in the distant regions which lie around the mouths of the Mississippi, and has already attracted considerable attention. This is owing chiefly to the avowal of its leading doctrines by several members of the College or University of Jackson in the state of Louisiana, including two of the professors, Messrs. GIRD and WOOLDRIDGE. We observe in the Boston Christian Register, a letter from these gentlemen to the Editor of the Palladium; which breathes the very spirit of Christian love: and which we hope to be able to insert in the next number of the Bible Christian.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.

The Anniversary Meeting of the British and Foreign Unitarian Association, will be held in London, on the 17th of June next, when the Rev. SAMUEL BACHE of Birmingham has engaged to preach. The place of meeting and other particulars will be hereafter announced.

This excellent Institution has lately received from the executors of the late JACOB WILCOX RICKETTS, Esq. of Bristol, a legacy of One Hundred Guineas, paid duty-free. The example of Mr. Ricketts is deserving of imitation. A trifling sum from each of the friends of the cause, would enable many of our religious societies to carry on their operations with efficiency and success:-and a legacy affords the ready means of preventing the injury which their funds will otherwise sustain by the death of annual subscribers.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION, LARNE. The Ladies of the First Presbyterian Congregation of Larne, on a late occasion, presented their Pastor, the Rev. CLASSON PORTER, with a Pulpit Gown, and a very handsome piece of plate, in testimony of their esteem, and acknowledgment of his pastoral services.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION, ANTRIM.

The First Presbyterian Congregation of Antrim have presented their respected Pastor, the Rev. JAMES CARLEY, with a Gold Watch, and a Purse of 20 Sovereigns, accompanied by a suitable Address, in testimony of their respect and attachment. Mr. CARLEY is now in the 30th year of his ministry: and as a Pastor, a Scholar, and a Gentleman, he has won that excellent character, which is the proudest earthly reward of a well spent life: and the foregoing affectionate testimony to the fact, is alike honourable to those who have bestowed, and him who has received it.

REMONSTRant congreGATION, MOIRA.

It is our pleasing duty to announce, in the present publication of the Bible Christian, a third instance of that affectionate interchange of sympathies between people and pastor, which the two preceding notices record. The Remonstrant Presbyterian Congregation of Moira, in requesting their minister, the Rev. JAMES MULLIGAN, to accept a Pulpit Gown, have presented him with an address, expressing the sentiments of esteem and affection which he has inspired, both by his preaching and by his daily conversation. The congregational address, and Mr. MULLIGAN'S reply, have been forwarded to us; but too late for insertion in the present number.

SUMMARY OF PUBLIC OCCURRENCES.

PARLIAMENTARY.-The bill for giving summary protection to persons publishing papers by order of either House of Parliament, has passed both branches of the legislature, and will probably be a law before this notice will be in the hands of our readers.-The bill introduced into the House of Commons by Lord STANLEY, "for amending the registration of electors" in the different Counties and Boroughs of Ireland, was opposed at its second reading by the members of administration, and their friends, on the ground of its being calculated to subject the Irish electors, especially in counties, to vexatious opposition, delay, and expense; and thereby to limit the elective franchise, and defeat one of the objects of the Reform Act: but the second reading was carried by a majority of ten. A motion was made in the same house, for a committee to inquire into the operation of the corn-laws; which was lost by the adjournment of the house. A motion was also made by Sir JAMES GRAHAM for a vote of censure on Her Majesty's ministers, in reference to the negotiations and final rupture with China. This proposition was supported by the entire strength of the Tory party, avowedly for the purpose of overturning the ministry; and was

opposed, on similar grounds, by the adherents of government. Of course, in the debate, the real merits of the China question were very little regarded: truth has small chance of being heard amidst the din of contending factions. The motion was lost by a majority of 19. Lord JOHN RUSSELL having declared, that one of the objects of the expedition now in preparation against China was to obtain reparation for injuries and aggressions committed by the Chinese authorities upon British commerce, a question was put to him in the House of Commons, to know whether the destruction of the opium found in certain British Vessels in the Chinese waters, was included in the injuries for which compensation was to be demanded? but his lordship declined answering the question.

HOME. In England and Scotland there have been few occur. rences of importance. The principal event which has marked the course of the past month in Ireland is, the extension of the Temperance, or Total Abstinence Society, under the patronage of the Rev. Mr. Matthew. Upwards of 70,000 persons, of both sexes, are said to have taken the Society's pledge during his recent visit to Dublin. Several meetings have been held to petition Parliament against Lord STANLEY'S registration bill: and Mr. O'CONNELL has organized a new Association for the Repeal of the Union, &c.

FOREIGN. A new ministry has been formed in Spain, under the auspices of General ESPARTERO, Commander-in-chief of the army engaged against the Carlists. In France, M. THIERS has succeeded in obtaining a majority of 140 in the Chamber of Deputies, and 90 in that of Peers, in support of his government; and his adminis tration is now considered to be tolerably safe, unless he be removed by the intrigues of the manoeuvering monarch whom he serves. The King of Naples having established a monopoly of the Sulphur trade in his dominions, in violation of the existing treaty with England, the Admiral commanding the English fleet in the Mediterranean has received orders to detain all vessels sailing under the Neapolitan flag, for the purpose of enforcing a satisfactory adjustment; but there has not as yet been any formal declaration of hostilities. Notes of rather a warlike character have been exchanged between the British Ambassador to the United States, and the American Secretary of State, on the subject of the north-eastern boundary of the State of Maine.

OBITUARY.

DIED, On the 10th March, in the 76th year of his age, JAMES HUTTON, Esq. M.D. of Bellshill. He was originally connected with the Congregation of Kilmore, and was educated by Dr. MOSES NELSON; but after completing his collegiate studies and entering the medical profession, he settled in Downpatrick, where his former school-fellow, Dr. JAMES NELSON, was already ordained as pastor. About 15 years since, on the death of his brother, Dr. Hutton re moved to Bellshill, where he spent the evening of his days, free from the cares and annoyance of business, though he was always ready to prescribe gratuitously for the poor of the neighbourhood. He continued a steady and attached member of the First Presby