strictness and enthusiasm, they resort to extra exertions and unusual means to bring back those ways, or check the decline. I hope this is the explanation. That it has some weight no one can doubt. That it is all, I am not sure. But one thing seems to me clear. Our own duty in relation to all such things, is, to mind our own business, do our duty faithfully, use all proper means of making ourselves and others better, be violent in nothing, but stedfast, consistent, serious and persevering in every good way-and leave the rest with Him who can overule all things for the best issue. We have nothing to fear, but our own unfaithfulness or folly.

I intended to have adverted, to some other facts, in illustration and support of the main purpose of this wandering letter. One, in particular, might be found in a comparison of the views of ordination, as held now, and those held by our Puritan fathers in the first settlement of our country. My thoughts have been directed to this just now, by noticing in a sermon lately preached at Scituate, that the two first ministers of that town were ordained by the 'church members—a fact, of which there were not a few instances then, but which would be thought a sad declension in these wiser and better days. To such a fact a bare allusion is enough. It is well known, that the opinions and practice of all, on this subject, were inore liberal two hundred years ago, than they are now. Yours,

H.

UNITARIANISM IN DUCHESS COUNTY, N. Y.-LETTER FROM A CORRESPONDENT.

Messrs Editors; I have recently visited Fishkill Landing on the Hudson, and presume some account of the religious state of things in that neighborhood, may not be uninteresting to your readers. The truth, indeed, is, that we at the north, need to know more than we do of those at a distance, who think with us, that we may sympathise with them in their trials and struggles. Such is the spirit with which some religionists of various names, but united in their opposition to Unitarianism, conduct their opposition, that it amounts in fact to all of persecution which our age and country will permit; and no thanks to them, that it is not more and worse. This is quite as true of the region of which I speak, as of any other in our land; and no denomination of professing christians amongst us wears a more intolerant and exclusive front, than that which is known there as the Dutch Reformed Church. Our brethren who there venture to oppose the system of the Exclusionists, have to encounter enough to try the temper and courage of the most patient and firm. And it is well that they should hear a voice of encouragement and sympathy from their more favored brethren.

The Rev. Henry Channing, late pastor of the First Congregational Church in Canandaigua, New York, and who is probably well known to many of your readers, commenced his gratuitous labors at Fishkill Landing, which is just beneath the northern brow of the Highlands, about sixty miles above New

York, in the month of November, 1830. He has labored with great fidelity, from that time till the present, preaching usually once every Lord's day, which was as much as the state of his health would permit; and has had the satisfaction of having his services. sought for, not only at the Landing, but at three other stations in the neighborhood, each of them distant from three to five miles there from in the interior. small congregations, varying from 60 to 150 persons in each, have attended his ministrations at Fishkill Landing, Glenham, Franklinville, and Hughsonville. During my recent visit, I was invited to preach at still another place, about four miles above the Landing, on the river, called Low Point.

Thus,

At all these places I found very attentive and interesting audiences. They are, doubtless, in many instances, still to be regarded as enquirers; but they are disgusted with the present self-styled orthodoxy, and readily receive the simple views which we preach. They are also shocked with the continued attempts to fetter them with creeds of men's making; and are determined to resist every thing which looks like encroachment upon that liberty wherewith Christ has made them free.' At the same time, they desire to live with perfect charity with all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity.'

6

The better to accomplish the important objects which they have at heart, an association has been formed amongst them, the preamble to, and first article of the Constitution of which, are as follows:

"FULLY assured, that the Scirptures of the Old and New Testa ment contain the revealed will of the One only Living and Trus

God, and the testimony which God hath given, that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, whom he hath sent; and that these Scriptures are full and complete, as the only safe and infallible Rule of Faith and Practise, being sufficient and able to make us wise unto salvation,' 2 Tim. iii. 15; We reject all Creeds and Articles of Faith, devised and imposed by fallible men upon the consciences of their brethren. This we consider an unwarantable attempt to add to, or improve what God hath spoken; and, being avowedly set up as their STANDARDS,' is, in effect, substituting for the Holy Scriptures, 'the words which man's wisdom teacheth' enforced by human authority. Thus they disregard the word of God by Isaiah, and repeated by his beloved Son, Matt. xv. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for Doctrines the commandments of men.'

Under these convictions;-To maintain and promote the diffusion of the pure Truths of Christianity, and, to encourage independent, honest and serious inquiry and research into the Holy Scriptures, this Association is formed.

ARTICLE I. This Association shall be denominated, THE FISHKILL, INDEPENDENT, CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

To show still farther the liberal and catholic spirit by which they are animated, let me quote the tenth article also:

ART. X. A Library shall be formed as soon as it can be effected. The books to be purchased, shall be such as may be ordered by the Board of Managers. Yet books upon religious subjects, which may be presented to his Association, shall be deposited in the Library, however such books may be opposed to the views avowed in this Constitution; free inquiry, and free discussion being among our leading objects. The titles of the books presented, with the names of the donors, shall be entered on the records by the Secretary.

The Association held its first regular meeting on the 25th June last; and the following is a list of the officers then chosen :

Peter C. Dubois, President; James D. Verplanck, 1st Vice President; Jacob Henderer, 2d. V. P.; James McNeil, 3d V. P.; John Peter De Wint, Secretary and Treasurer; Louis Wilman, Samuel Newlin, and Ferris Pell, Directors.

Here certainly is a good beginning, and the least we can do, is to cheer it on with our smiles and our prayers. They, who distant from us, and by their situation exposed to the trials and perplexities which attend all who venture to become pioneers in the search of truth, still persevere, deserve at least to know that other eyes are watching for, other hearts longing for, their success. They ought to know, that we hail them as fellow-workers in the most glorious of earthly labors, that which has for its end the deliverance of the human mind from error upon the most important subject it can touch, that it may carry forward the heart and the life unincumbered, in the career of virtue and bliss.

F.

UNITARIANISM ABROAD.

The August number of the Christian Pioneer, Glasgow, contains an account of the meeting of several Societies for the promotion of the great principles of rational Christianity in Great Britain and Ireland, from which it would seem that the prospects of Unitarianism abroad are encouraging; that at least its friends are earnestly engaged in its diffusion. Our limits will permit us to notice only one or two facts. On the 9th of April, a general meeting of persons friendly to the establishment of a Unitarian Tract Society,' was holden at Belfast, and a society was formed, denominated The Unitarian Society for the Diffusion of Christian Knowledge.' The following remark in relation to the utility of such societies, occurs in the address prefixed to the Rules of the Institution.'