We understand that, on that occasion, Mr. Reid sent to the Presbytery a letter, stating that he could not conscientiously "continue to forward the terms" of his former application-that he had "not in the least changed the faith which he had always held"that he had at one time felt himself "a little cramped" upon the doctrine of reprobation—but that, upon a “careful and prayerful” study, he has it "again relaxed," &c. &c. &c.

[We believe the fact to be that Mr. Reid applied to the Presbytery of Antrim to be received under its care, after being rejected upon an examination before a Committee of the Synod of Ulster; and that he withdrew the application on being given to understand, by a member of the Synod's Committee, that, if he came forward for examination a second time, the members would be disposed to let him pass. We heartily rejoice that Mr. Reid has acted upon this suggestion.]

THE MORMONS, OR LATTER DAY SAINTS; AND THEIR PERSECUTIONS IN MISSOURI.

To the Editor of the Bible Christian.

SIR-The following is an extract of a letter addressed to a respectable lady in this neighbourhood by her brother, who has resided for some years past in America, and who has become attached, from conviction, to a sect of Christians called "Mormons," or "Latter Day Saints." Although the writer does not enter into a lengthened or definite account of the peculiar views entertained by these people, yet he has said enough to excite sympathy with their sufferings. One would infer, from the barbarous treatment they have almost every where received throughout the United States, that they professed some enormously wicked and offensive doctrines, yet I am not aware that such is the case. I believe they are sincere, well-meaning enthusiasts; and one of their leading tenets cannot be too earnestly recommended, namely, a practical compliance with the spirit and requirements of the gospel. Their doctrines are bad, indeed, if not infinitely better than those of the community from which they have received such unrelenting perGEORGE HILL.

secution.

Crumlin, 18th February, 1840.

EXTRACT.

"When I wrote my last letter I was just on the eve of taking my departure from Canada for the western part of the United States,- -a journey of about fifteen hundred miles,-which I accomplished during the summer. Shortly after my arrival at Far West, Missouri, we were much annoyed by mobs of regardless and wicked men, who had formed a determination to drive from out their possessions all who professed the name of "Latter Day Saints," or (as they called us) "Mormons ;" and, finally, by means of misrepresentation, the mob prevailed on the Executive of the State to assist them, and, after having kept some of our brethren in prison and in fetters for a length of time-after massacring about forty of our people, some men, some women, and some children,-whipping some to death, shooting others, and inflicting tortures worse than death on many, they at length forced us to leave the State. I dare say you have seen this affair mentioned in

2

the papers. "The Mormon War" has been published far and wide. We have, however, found a friendly reception in this State.* The general government is about to investigate the matter, and we hope soon to have redress from these grievances. I do hope that, next summer, I shall be permitted to see my relatives face to face, and satisfactorily account to them why I have thought proper to change from the name and faith of a Roman Catholic to the name and faith of a "Saint." Let no man vainly imagine in his heart that I went into this thing for temporal gain, or to obtain thereby the esteem and applause of the world. Every thing the contrary. I embraced merely because I found that these people abide in the doctrines of Christ; and because they do so abide they are persecuted, and their names cast out as evil. And, as Moses did before me, I chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. I have now been a member of the church of Jesus Christ of "Latter Day Saints" since September 10, 1837; and I can now say (what no man can, or ever could say except he were a saint) that I know if I only hold fast that which I have until the Saviour shall come, or until the end, eternal life awaits me in the celestial kingdom of God. Others may believe, but it is the saints' privilege to know each for himself, and that because he has done the will of his heavenly Father, John vii. 17. Read 2 Cor. v. 1; Eph. i. 9, 18; Phil. iii. 8, 10; Heb. x. 30, 34; 2 Pet. i. 2, 3. By these texts we find that the saints, in former days, went on from faith to faith, from belief to actual knowledge. And if we consult Thess. i. 8, we find that a mere belief will not enable us to escape the vengeance which will one day be taken on all who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, in order that this "Gospel of the Kingdom" may be preached as a witness to all nations, before the " consummation" come (Matt. xxiv. 14). The Lord is now sending forth men whom he has called to go and preach it in all the world, as a witness to all nations that the end is at hand, and that all must repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins, which if they do they will lay their hands upon them, and they shall receive the Holy Ghost, who will teach them all things, make them saints, bring them on from belief to actual knowledge of God, and thereby enable them to stand in the presence of the Son of Man, and escape the fearful judgments which await this generation. May the Almighty God grant unto all my relatives, and all others who are honest in heart before Him, that they may have His grace imparted to them, know the truth when they hear it, and be finally saved in his celestial kingdom. — Amen.” [We observe, by the Boston Christian Register, that a numerous and highly respectable meeting of gentlemen was held in that city, at which a committee was appointed to inquire into the treatment received by the "Mormons" in Missouri; and this committee, after full inquiry, reported their unanimous opinion, that the complaints made by the sect were, in all respects, substantiated beyond a doubt. They recommended the members of the sect to the aid and sympathy of all Christian people.-B. C.]

* Illinois.

UNITARIANISM IN ILLINOIS, AMERICA. ABOUT two years ago, the Rev. WILLIAM P. HUNTINGTON was or dained as an Evangelist, or what we should here call a Missionary, by the Associated [Unitarian] Churches of Plymouth, Kingston, and Duxbury, in New England, and sent forth to Hillsborough and its vicinity, in the State of Illinois. Such were the acceptableness and fruit of his labours, that, on the expiration of his original engagement, he was retained there by the friends of the cause to which his services were devoted; and, with some aid from the American Unitarian Association, he has continued his labours till the last accounts, dated in December last. Besides supplying many scattered towns and hamlets in that vast territory with occasional preaching, Mr. Huntington has collected two very promising, we might even call them flourishing congregations in the towns of Quincy and Hillsborough, Illinois; and a very respectable one in Chicago, in Michigan. These societies are now engaged in erecting churches for their divine worship, and procuring the aid of settled pastors to conduct the services of their houses of prayer, and minister to them.

MANCHESTER COLLEGE.

THE Rev. R. WALLACE, who has, for twenty-five years, been minister of the Unitarian congregation in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, has given notice of his intention to resign his pastoral charge at midsummer next; having accepted a unanimous invitation to fill the theological chair in the College at Manchester. The announcement of Mr. Wallace's intention to remove from among them was received by the members of his flock with universal and deep regret; although they could not but be sensible of his great and peculiar fitness for the higher range of duties to which he has thus been called. Mr. Wallace's character, talents, and learning, amply justify the choice of the electors of the College, and give good omen of the success of the valuable institution over which he is to preside in its new locality.

THE REV. JAMES WATSON, AND THE CONGREGATION OF

GREY-ABBEY.

THE Remonstrant Congregation of Grey-Abbey in the County of Down, on a late occasion entertained their Junior Minister, the Rev. James Watson, at a public dinner; W. K. BAILLIE, Esq. in the chair: on which occasion, the Chairman, in proposing Mr. Watson's health, pronounced a very gratifying eulogium upon the manner in which he had discharged the duties of his ministry: and in the name of the Congregation, requested his acceptance of a saddled and bridled horse, as a token of the esteem and affection with which he is regarded by the members of his flock. Mr. Watson returned thanks in eloquent and appropriate terms: and the evening was spent in the interchange of kindly and liberal sentiments.

THE REV. WILLIAM B. MINISS, AND THE CONGREGATION OF DROMORE.

WE are gratified to be enabled to record another transaction of the same kind with the foregoing in the present number of the Bible Christian. The Remonstrant Congregation of Dromore at

the close of public worship on Sunday, the 16th inst. held a meeting, at which the Rev. Samuel C. Nelson, formerly Minister of Dromore but now of Downpatrick, presided: and requested their present Minister the Rev. W. B. MINISS to accept of a Pulpit Gown, together with a Purse containing 40 Sovereigns, as a mark of their affectionate regard for him as a man and as a minister. The address with which the present was accompanied, bore strong testimony to Mr. Miniss's zeal, fidelity, and worth: and the expressions of kindness which it contained, were affectionately reciprocated by Mr. Miniss in his reply.-Such scenes are delightful to contemplate; and cannot but prove the source of comfort and encouragement, to persons engaged in a profession in which they must occasionally encounter many privations and disappointments. SUMMARY OF PUBLIC OCCURRENCES.

THE COURT.-On Monday the 10th of February, the marriage of Her Most Gracious Majesty, Queen VICTORIA, and His Royal Highness, ALBERT, Prince of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, and second son of His Serene Highness the reigning Duke, was solemnized in the Chapel Royal, St. James': the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London officiating at the ceremony. The day was marked by public demonstrations of joy in all the cities and principal towns of the empire: and many congratulatory addresses have already been forwarded to Her Majesty: which have been voted with perfect unanimity, by persons of every political party and sentiment. May the wishes, so dutifully and cordially expressed, on behalf of the Sovereign and her Royal Consort, be ratified!

PARLIAMENTARY.-On the morning of Saturday February 1st, the House of Commons divided, after a debate which lasted for four nights, on a motion made by Sir J. Yarde Buller," that Her Majesty's present ministers do not possess the confidence of the House of Commons": when there appeared for the motion, 289: against it, 310: the motion was consequently lost, by a majority of 21. In the same House of Parliament, a vote proposed by government to settle the sum of £50,000 per ann. for life upon His Royal Highness Prince ALBERT, was met by an amendment moved by Mr. Hume that the sum be £21,000: which was negatived by a very large majority; there being in favour of the amendment only 28 votes. It was then moved by Colonel Sibthorpe, that the sum to be settled on the Prince be £30,000 per ann. which on a division was carried. A bill to this effect has since received the royal assent. The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were unanimously voted to the Governor General of India, to Sir John Keane, and to the army under his orders, for their military services in the campaign in Affghanistan, westward of the Indus, up to the storm and capture of Ghuznee: but several of the speakers in the debates, reserved the expression of their opinion upon the policy which had led to that expedition.-A motion was brought forward in the House of Commons, by Mr. T. Duncombe, for a bill to relieve Dissenters in England from the payment of Church Rates: but, being opposed by the ministry and others, it was lost.-A bill for reforming the corporations of various towns and boroughs in Ireland, has been introduced by the Government: and seems likely to pass with the general acquiescence of all parties.-The difficulties arising out of the conflicting decisions of the House of Com

mons and the Court of Queen's Bench, on the question of privilege have not yet been arranged.

DOMESTIC.-Mr. John Frost (lately in the commission of the peace for the county of Hereford,) and two others, who had been found guilty with him of high treason, in consequence of an insurrectionary movement in the town and neighbourhood of Newport, have experienced the Royal clemency: the sentence of death having been commuted into one of transportation for life.-Various petitions have been signed for the abolition of capital punishments, some, in all cases whatever; others, in all cases but those of wilful murder.—Many parochial and other meetings have been held in Scotland, by persons connected with the Established [Presbyterian] Church: at which addresses to the legislature have been adopted, praying that Parliament may be pleased to take measures for preventing the intrusion of ministers into livings in the Church of Scotland, by lay patrons, contrary to the wishes of the parishioners: so as to give legal effect to the late Act of General Assembly concerning calls, commonly called the Veto Act: and thereby remove the present unseemly opposition and collison between the Civil and Ecclesiastical Tribunals in Scotland.-In Ireland, the Board of Directors of the Synod of Ulster's Schools have agreed to apply for aid for the Schools under their care, out of the funds placed in the hands of the Commissioners for National Education in Ireland. FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.-During the last month, a despatch has been received from General WILLSHIRE, commanding a Brigade of the army in Affghanistan, which had been detached for the purpose of dethroning the Khan of Khelat, in consequence of his hostility to the British interests, announcing the complete success of the expedition: the town and citadel of Khelat having been carried by storm: and the Khan himself being among the slain.— A hostile collison has taken place between two of Her Majesty's ships of war, and a squadron of Chinese War Junks, in the Bocca Tigris, near Macao: in which, according to the reports which have been received, nine of the Chinese vessels, containing by estimate 900 men have been sunk. This unhappy occurrence arose out of a series of transactions, originating in the persevering attempts of the British merchants resident in Canton, or trading thither, to introduce into China, by force or fraud, opium from India; contrary to the laws of the Chinese empire, and the repeated injunctions of the government. A strong British force has been ordered to the Chinese seas: and it is feared that war will be the result.

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE Editor begs to acknowledge the receipt of communications from Q., H., G— B—e, O., B. C. D, and A Young Layman.

R. D. (R), and W. M. shall appear in our next number.

It is intended that, in future, the Bible Christian shall be printed in time to be forwarded to London, so as to be published there at the same time with other Magazines: namely, on the first day of each month: an arrangement which will ensure its being transmitted regularly to subscribers in all parts of England.

Our respected friend, W. J. O. will observe that his letter has been received: and that its contents have been duly attended to. Farther communications are requested.