ON Wednesday, the 8th July, the Yearly Meeting of the Western Unitarian Society, was held at Yeovil, Somersetshire. The sermon in the morning, was preached by the Rev. J. Martineau, his text being Romans viii. 2. After the service, the business of the meeting was transacted, and a request made, that the Committee in Bristol would desire the publication of Mr. Martineau's very impressive and admirable discourse. A resolution, to be

forwarded to the family, of sincere and affectionate sympathy on the part of the meeting, in the lamented death of Dr. Carpenter, being proposed by Mr. Martineau, who spoke feelingly and most appropriately on the subject, was carried. Many new members were voted in; and thanks being given to the Chairman, Mr. Murch, the meeting separated till two o'clock; when a large and most respectable company assembled to dinner at the Three Choughs Inn; John Batten, Jun. Esq. presiding. After the usual loyal toasts were given, others more immediately bearing on the objects of the Society, were proposed and spoken to by Revds. Messrs. Martineau, Murch, Bishop, Whitfield, Robberds, and Montgomery; and Messrs. Evans, Bagshot, Batten, Sidney Smith, &c. At halfpast six o'clock, the evening service began, Mr. Martineau taking the first part, and Mr. Montgomery preaching. The proceedings of the day were interesting, and there appeared a somewhat greater desire than occasionally manifests itself, to active exertion in behalf of the great interests of pure Christianity, and the not less important principles of Free Inquiry and Individual Thought— principles not yet practically recognised and carried out by any party in the Christian Church. R. M. M.

NEW UNITARIAN CHURCH AND SUNDAY-SCHOOLS, Newhall-Hill, BirminghAM.—This handsome and commodious church was opened for the public worship of Almighty God, in the forenoon of Friday, July 10, when the religious services were conducted by the Rev. George Harris of Glasgow. A very numerous and deeply attentive congregation comfortably filled the spacious building.

After the service, the Sunday scholars, about four hundred in number, were, on being dismissed to their homes, each presented with a large plum-cake.

At half-past two o'clock, on Friday afternoon, about two hundred of the members and friends of the Congregation dined together in the large Hall (intended to be used as the school for adults, and for writing and ciphering) beneath the church. The hall was tastefully decorated with evergreens and flowers, and the tables also were most tastefully ornamented with choice flowers interspersed amidst the bountiful provision prepared for the company. The whole entertainment had been provided and arranged by members of the congregation, who also kindly waited on the assembly. Before dinner, prayer was offered by Mr. Harris; and at its conclusion, "Non nobis Domini" was sung by the choir-Mr. W. Elliott, the organist of the New Meeting Congregation, kindly presiding at the seraphine.

The Rev. Hugh Hutton was called by acclamation to the chair, and contributed greatly to the pleasure of the meeting, by the manner in which he introduced the various sentiments. The first was, "The Queen-may God continue to defend and bless her, and make her a means of defence and blessing to the nation." The National Anthem was beautifully sung by the choir, and responded

to by the company. The next sentiment, introduced in very laudatory terms by the Chairman, and received with warmest demonstrations, was, "The health of the Rev. George Harris, with thanks for his excellent discourse this morning, and for his indefatigable labours in general, in the cause of pure religion; and may they meet with the hearty co-operation of the people." Mr. Harris replied at considerable length, and proposed, "Prosperity to the Newhall-Hill Unitarian Church and Sunday-schools, may peace be within the walls, and happiness in the houses of all the members;" coupling the wish with a notice of the munificence of the late Mr. Gibson, and the expression of trust, that the Congregation would religiously redeem, by its future labours, the confidence he had reposed in them. Mr. John Green spoke on behalf of the Congregation, in a most interesting and impressive manner.

"The health of the Ministers and Members of the Old and New Meeting-houses, Birmingham," brought up the Revds. R. Kell and H. Hutton; Messrs. Phillips and Wright, Wardens of the New; and Messrs. Martin and

Earle, Wardens of the Old Meeting. We are sorry we cannot give these addresses. That of Mr. Earle, in exposure of the cant against Sectarianism, often merely the cloak for indifference to truth, and on the necessity of strenuous, persevering labours for the diffusion of pure Christian doctrine, was particularly felicitous. An interesting and affecting address was delivered by the Rev. Thomas Bowring, on his health, as the Unitarian Domestic Missionary for Birmingham, being proposed. "Our Christian brethren of all persuasions," was responded to by the Rev. T. M. M'Donnell, Catholic Priest, in a most liberal and generous spirit. The healths of Mr. John Hughes, the gratuitous leader of the choir of the Congregation from its commencement of Mr. Timmins (leader of the Old Meeting choir), and of the choir generally, with thanks for their efficient services of this day-the Teachers of the Old and New Meeting-houses-the Ladies, with earnest hopes for the advancement of the blessed objects of female education-the Ministers and Friends from a distance-Mr. D. R. Hill the architect, and R. Turner the builder, of these useful and handsome edifices-the Building-Fund Committee-the Chairman, and may he long live to witness the due effects of his labours for the diffusion of Christian truth and righteousness,-were, in the course of the evening, severally proposed and spoken to, by the individuals named; and by Mr. Elliot, who dwelt forcibly on the importance of imparting to the young a knowledge of music; and by the Rev. W. M'Kean of Walsall, on the part of the friends from a distance, amongst whom were the Revds. J. Hunter of Wolverhampton, Jones of Bewdley, Whitelegg of Coseley, and Bowen of Cradley. Other ministers in the neighbourhood, to whom invitations had been addressed, sent answers regretting their inability to attend the meeting.

Mr. Harris being voted into the chair, cordial thanks were given to Mr. Hutton for his kindness in presiding; and the proceedings closed, by singing, " From all that dwell below the skies," and by the Lord's Prayer and a benediction.

Sunday, July 12, the religious services were conducted, morning and evening, by Mr. Harris, the church being thronged in pews and aisles, and every spot where a per

son could stand. In the evening, the children of the schools had to be sent home in order to accommodate the crowds. The collections at the close of the three services, in aid of the Building Fund, amounted to £123: 8s.112d. Monday afternoon, July 13, the members and friends of the Congregation, drank tea together in the large hall under the church. Upwards of three hundred persons, male and female, were present. Mr. Harris began the proceedings with prayer, and after tea, gave out a hymn of thanksgiving, which was sung by the assembly. T. Eyre Lee, Esq. was called to the chair, and the evening was full of highest interest. There were present the Rev. T. M. M'Donnell, the Catholic Priest; and Mr. and Mrs. Mott, members of the Society of Friends, Philadelphia. The last-named individual is the lady of whom Dr. Channing, in his letter to the Hon. J. Phillips, when noticing the outrage on the Hall of Freedom in Philadelphia, thus writes: :- "In that crowd was Lucretia Mott, that beautiful example of womanhood. Who that has heard the tones of her voice, and looked on the mild radiance of her benignant and intelligent countenance, can endure the thought, that such a woman was driven by a mob, from a spot to which she had gone, as she religiously believed, on a mission of Christian sympathy?" Most accurate is that description. The heart-thrilling manner in which, for upwards of an hour, Mrs. Mott delighted the company, by her admirable remarks on slavery, education, Christian truth, endurance of wrong for righteousness' sake, can never be forgotten by those who, happily for themselves, were present at the tea-party of July 13. Would that Britain, that the world, could have listened to, imbibed, and carried out in practice, the holy and benevolent principles which fell from her lips. The Rev. T. M. M'Donnell also spoke admirably; and the whole tone and spirit of the meeting was in beautiful exemplification of Christian unity, freedom, and peace. At a late hour the meeting was closed by Mr. Harris, with the Lord's prayer and benediction.

This auspicious commencement is, we trust and believe, only the presage of a continued career of usefulness and prosperity to the Newhall-Hill Congregation and Schools. Age and youth alike took part in the proceedings. Im

pressions were deepened on the minds of the young which cannot be effaced; maturity and the hoary head rejoiced that they had lived to see that day, and were glad. The handsome quarto Bible for the pulpit, was purchased by the savings of a youth of fifteen, Thomas Prime, and presented by him to the congregation. United in the bonds of Christian love, untiring in Christian zeal, the labours of this band of Christian brethren must, through God's blessing, be successful in the removal of ignorance, the vindication and diffusion of Christian liberty and truth, and the enforcement and practice of Christian morality.

Tuesday evening, July 14, at the urgent request of several friends in Birmingham, Mr. Harris delivered a lecture on the irrational, debasing, and antichristian nature and tendency of death punishments for crime, as inflicted by British Law. The lecture was delivered in the TowN HALL, and several thousand people of all classes and of every religious party, were assembled in that magnificent building. Mr. Harris was introduced to the audience by Thomas Ryland, Esq., the individual who accompanied Dr. Priestley from the scene of devastation and outrage, which, forty-nine years ago that very day, witnessed as the appropriate manifestation and result of the lawless outcry of Church and King. The lecture, which occupied upwards of two hours and a-half in the delivery, was listened to with deepest attention, only interrupted by the cheerings of the meeting. At its close, the High Bailiff of Birmingham, Rice Harris, Esq. was called to the chair, and briefly addressed the assembly. A resolution of thanks to Mr. Harris for the lecture he had delivered, was moved by the Rev. Hugh Hutton, and seconded by the Rev. Mr. Morgan, Baptist clergyman, and supported by Mrs. Mott of Philadelphia, amidst the loudest acclamations. When put by the High Bailiff to the meeting, the resolution was enthusiastically adopted; and amidst the waving of handkerchiefs and protracted cheerings, Mr. Harris briefly thanked the multitude, urging them to petition the Legislature and the Queen, for the total abolition of all death punishments for crime.