than benefit from such connexion. Philosophy in its proper sphere is good, useful, desirable, but it is not needed for revealed religion. "I cling to the record," said he. The minister must preach the Gospel ;-this is the affirmative answer to the question. He must preach the facts and truths supernaturally declared by Jesus Christ. He must study and preach, therefore, historical Christianity. If a Heathen inquirer should ask for the Gospel, we should send him to the fountain-head, the record. Jesus Christ is an historical personage. Historical Christianity-the written account-is distinct and sufficient. The Apostles preached historical Christianity. It must be preached still, and always. The church has its value; the pulpit has its value; they must both sustain the authority of the Gospel.

The Charge was meant to press upon the minister the importance of faithfulness in the sacred office, in each of its three departments of duty-the pulpit, parochial intercourse, and personal character. In the Right Hand of Fellowship Mr. Osgood welcomed the new incumbent to his office, and expressed some of his own views upon the services of the ministry, and in conclusion alluded to his own connexion with the society, in whose bosom he had been nurtured. Dr. Walker, in his Address to the People, confined himself to a consideration of the influence which the growing intelligence of the age must have on the estimation in which the ministry shall be held, an estimation which will increase rather than diminish as intelligence shall advance; on the character of preaching, which must be of a higher order as the hearers shall grow more intelligent; and on parochial labour, which will require more cooperation of the people, as they shall become more cultivated.

REV. DR. PALFREY'S LECTURES.-On Friday evening, March 13, Dr. Palfrey concluded his course of eight lectures on the Evidences of Christianity, before the Lowell Institute, in the Odeon. They were listened to by a large and very attentive audience, who followed the speaker in his clear and close reasoning as if they realised the full seriousness of the cause which was vindicated. We could not but call to mind by contrast the use to which that edifice was put five years since, when for a short period it was used for Infidel Lectures and "Social Assemblies." Without drawing any offensive comparison between the characters of those who crowded it on the former and the latter occasions, we might find in the difference of the thoughts and sentiments awakened and appealed to by the lectures in support or in ridicule of man's best hopes a noble vindication of what we believe to be everlasting truth. In the one case a calm and serious exercise of the highest capacities of the human mind was labouring to divest it of its prejudices, conceits and misgivings, and to clear its way to a tranquil faith in God and Christ; in the other case a cold and superficial irony, a reckless trifling, an impious misuse of reason, were endeavouring to persuade a thoughtless multitude, that religion was not requisite to happiness, nor a Saviour needed by man. Certainly the currents of thought which lead to this heaven-wide distance between the results must be as different as any exercise

of the human faculties can permit them to be. Which of the two is preferable, and which of the two is true, we leave to be decided, among other considerations, by the scattering of the former audience when a momentary notoriety had passed away, and by the attendance night after night of another audience drawn together by no other attraction than that of simple truth.

When it is considered that the Evidences of Christianity are frequently alluded to in the course of each year in every pulpit in the city, and that the treatises upon them, partaking of the peculiarities of each Christian sect, are very numerous, it must have been highly gratifying to the Lecturer to see before him so large and intelligent an audience. Dr. Palfrey discharged his task with distinguished ability. The many weighty arguments which he was obliged to handle, and so simplify for oral delivery, were presented with great clearness. The book learning which was requisite, the historical facts, the exhibition of ancient opinions, the train of dependent particulars reaching up to the earliest Christian history, were briefly but lucidly exhibited. We do not feel at liberty to give even a general statement of his line of reasoning. Our readers are most of them familiar with the usual course of argument upon the subject, involving a discussion of the following points among others :-the possibility of miracles, and the credibility of them when occasion justifies; the necessity for a revelation of religious truth, and for its attestation by miracles at the era when Christianity appeared; the fact of such a revelation so attested; the dependence of this fact for its proof upon testimony; the existence and the integrity of that testimony, &c. To bring any novelty to the statement and illustration of these topics is a difficult matter. Yet Dr. Palfrey was far from confining himself to the usual heads of argument or to time-worn illustrations. He was candid in anticipating objections, and he answered them and supported his own arguments with clear and intelligible language, which must have put the simplest of his audience in possession of the principal bearings of the whole subject. We may be allowed to state in addition to what the lecturer, in concluding the course, said concerning the letters which he had received from individuals acknowledging their obligations to him, that we have privately heard of the good effect upon some whom it is above all things desirable that these lectures should affect,-the skeptical and the unbelieving.

UNITARIAN SOCIETY IN SYRACUSE, N. Y.-Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Syracuse to the General Secretary of the American Unitarian Association, dated February 18, 1840.

"From the time Mr. Muzzey preached for us in July, 1838, there has been a steady and constant progress. At that time, only twenty months ago, only two or three in our village were known as Unitarians; now we have a congregation of about three hundred, among whom are many of our best and most intelligent citizens, and if our chapel would hold them I have no doubt our congregation would increase one half. From the time we first moved for the purpose of procuring liberal preaching I had confidence to believe that the

enterprise would be successful, but my expectations have been more than realized. Our pastor gives universal satisfaction; he has done much to remove the prejudice which existed against Unitarianism. We expect to send you for this year at least sixty subscribers. Great good has been done by the circulation of tracts the past year, and we intend to increase our efforts."

The pastor of the church at Syracuse, in a letter to Mr. Briggs, says,— "There is an excellent spirit among our friends. They will do all they can. They are earnest and united in the best of causes. Application has been made to the Company for a suitable lot on which to erect a church. If the request is granted, measures will be immediately taken to hire $4000, and a church built this season. Our chapel is not half large enough. Had we seats for 500, they would, I am confident, be filled. The number of communicants is forty. The Sunday-school has continued from the first with manifest advantage. About forty children have attended during the winter. With the opening spring the school will be enlarged. We have been peculiarly fortunate in obtaining several able and experienced teachers. In my own society I have much, very much to encourage and animate me. The weekly lectures we hope have done some good. Many attend them who will not leave their own place of worship on the sabbath. Prejudice is giving way, a feeling of kindness and confidence is apparent in the community. I would, I could say as much of the clergy. They are banded together by their creeds, their bigotry and their fears; and as far as they can, they bind their followers."

UNITARIAN SOCIETY IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.-Extracts from letters to the General Secretary of the American Unitarian Association, dated Chicago, February 17 and March 2.

"Our society has become, speaking within bounds, one third larger than it was three or four months ago, that is, judging by attendance. We do not have fewer, weather being fair, than seventy in the morning; and in the evening we number from 100 to 150. Many young men who heretofore attended no church, or very irregularly, are now seen every sabbath in their places at our services. Everything convinces me that we need only a church to take our stand at once in strength and respectability."

"Hard as the times are, there is a strong spirit manifested to build a church. 'I do not know what we are coming to,' they say, 'but we must have a house of worship. All we need is aid from the East. I have become deeply interested in the progress of the cause here, and an excellent spirit seems to have awakened. The unity and zeal in the society itself, and the great kindness with which we are regarded by members of other denominations, make it pleasant for us all. I have preached but one or two controversial sermons. I am persuaded that such discourses are not the most fruitful of good and permanent influences. When a system of opposition and abuse is organized by other denominations, it may be necessary and profitable to preach doctrinal and sectarian discourses; but until some such challenge calls us out, the Gospel of

love, untinctured by irritating severity, is the proper theme of the pulpit. My interest and my hope increase. When I get home, I shall feel able to make strong statements, and, I trust, to convince our Eastern friends, that in no way can they more effectually serve the cause of God and Christ on earth than by helping their poor brethren in the faith."

STATE OF RELIGION IN BURLINGTON, I. T.-We have received an interesting letter from a friend, formerly in business in this city, who resides in Burlington, the capital of Iowa Territory; the greater part of which, we think, will be acceptable to our readers :

"You will recollect that when I was last in Boston, 1 had some conversation with you in regard to the wants of the West, and more particularly, of Burlington. I have thought it advisable in this communication to give you a brief outline of the state of affairs in regard to religious worship in this place. We have, as I before told you, a Methodist Church here, which is used for all purposes, for the Legislature, Courts, Town House, Indian talks and dances, besides preaching on the sabbath. We have also an Episcopal minister here, who is supported by his Eastern brethren; he preaches on Sunday in a building built for a store, but which has been fitted up so as to accommodate perhaps one hundred persons at a time. There are very few persons here who are strictly partial to the Episcopal views or forms of worship, yet as their views so nearly agree with those held by the New School Presbyterians in this place, (who form quite a class among us.) a proposition has been made for the two societies to join their forces and build a new church this spring. But it is very uncertain whether they will be able to do this without the aid of what may be termed the more liberal part of our community, who compose a very large class, men who have the greatest influence here; many of them perhaps not professing to belong to any sect. Yet I believe if the more liberal views of Christianity were set forth by the living preacher, it would be seen that they would be among its most worthy advocates. I have often heard men express their wish that a Unitarian preacher would come here. We want a man of ability and a good deal of energy of character. I would also state, that it is expected that a Catholic Church will be built here this spring. There has during the last season been one erected at Dubuque, and another at Davenport, and it is expected that they will build one in Mount Pleasant, thirty miles westward of this place, shortly. The Catholics are endeavouring to get a foothold in every important point in this country. But at present I think that they would find but few followers here, provided our views of Christianity were promulgated, and obtained an influence over the minds of men. It is a fact that the preaching we hear at present is not generally liked; hundreds attend no church, because they either dislike the preacher or the preaching. That there is a great deal of sin and wickedness I do not doubt in this place; but I believe much of it might be prevented, particularly on the sabbath, if we had such preaching here as would suit the hearers, thereby drawing the atten

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tion of the people from unworthy objects. Ought we not therefore to bring the Gospel to them as we feel and believe it, if we can thereby even save but one sinner? I believe something might have been done here this winter in regard to building a Unitarian church, if we had had a minister.

You may ask what we will do in regard to supporting a minister, if you will send one to us. I would say in answer, let him be one that shall please our people and we will support him, or in other words, we will give him 500 or 600 dollars a year. And in regard to a church, I believe one might be built of good size for 600 or 800 dollars, one half of which I believe could be raised here, if the good men of the East would gratuitously furnish the other half; this may seem a hard proposition to make, but you will recollect that the population of our towns in the West is continually changing, therefore the great responsibility after all will rest upon a few, compared to your churches in the East, in regard to raising funds.

Our Sunday-school is now gaining ground again, although when I arrived here last fall I was almost discouraged. The number of scholars had become lessened to about half a dozen, the school had been turned out of doors as it were, to make room for the Legislature; they had nowhere to meet, and the teachers had become so far discouraged as to leave the school entirely. Such a state of things I could not permit to exist. I immediately made application to the Legislature for the liberty of occupying their hall for the use of the Sundayschool, between the hours of 9 and 11, Sunday morning, which was granted. I called the scholars together; perhaps a dozen came the first Sunday, the teachers and parents still persisting that they did not believe it was of any use. I continued the school every Sunday alone, got the scholars present to invite others in, our number gradually increased each sabbath, two of the former teachers saw that I should have a school, they came to my assistance, and by this means, and by dint of perseverance, our school has wonderfully increased. Last Sunday we had fifty scholars and nine teachers, although the travelling was very bad, and I confidently believe when the travelling gets to be good, so that the children can come, we shall have 75 or 100 scholars. The most difficult part of the whole is, to get teachers that will be punctual; this, I am satisfied, will be the only hindrance to our having a very large and flourishing school. In this you will perceive we greatly need the services of a minister of the Gospel; he would be likely to make the teachers interested and draw their attention to the subject. The scholars at present seem deeply interested in the school. The library I brought attracts their attention very much; the parents of the children like to have them fetch home books. I presume there are very many families who have scarcely a book in their houses except such as are carried them by the children. Very many, I am sure, have not even the Testament, and I would here say that it would be of the greatest service to our school if we had a few more library books, Gray's hymn-books, and particularly small Testaments, as the children often ask for Testaments to carry home, as they have none there. The library, therefore, is not only highly beneficial to the scholars, but also to the parents. Another circumstance is worthy of note; there are a great many families in this place who have never even taught