systems and catechisms in abundance. Every conceited deacon, every parishioner who has, or thinks he has, a smattering in theology, becomes the inquisitor of his pastor. In such circumstances learning and good sense have no chance. They caunot be heard. "The violent party here have chosen to meet their opponents upon very unfavorable ground. Instead of making it a cause of orthodoxy against heresy, they have very unwisely preferred to insist upon a subscription to articles of faith. This has given great offence to many who are disposed to be in favor of their creed, and thrown them into the opposite scale. Dr. Osgood is really orthodox in sentiment, but a noble and determined supporter of the right of private judgment, and on the best possible terms with our Boston friends. This is also the case with the venerable Dr. Lathrop of West-Springfield, Mr. Palmer's friend, and many others. In short we are now contending for the liberty of being Protestants. If we can persuade the people (and we stand upon advantageous ground) that we have the right to think upon religious subjects as our consciences and the Scriptures dircct, things will go on well. Learning, good sense, and virtue, will then produce their natural effects, and just modes of thinking upon subjects of this nature, as upon all others, will necessarily prevail. "Will you, my dear Sir, excuse unintentional prolixity? I do not know that you will approve my sentiments, nor am I very confident of their justness; but I have seen the contest between truth and falsehood, before the multitude; between every thing which is respectable and every thing which is detestable, so unequal in politics, that I dread the event in matters of religion. Still I would be no advocate for timidity, much less for any thing like equivocation, or evasion; and it must be confessed, that prudence often degenerates into these vices. I dear Sir, with the greatest esteem, yours affectionately, am, W. WELLS, Jur." pp. 43-46. Such is the testimony in the case under consideration; and we presume that no man, in his senses, will hesitate for a moment to give implicit credit to such witnesses. We shall feel ourselves warranted hereafter, to speak of the fact as certain, that Unitarianism is the predomInant religion among the ministers and churches of Boston. In the District of Maine, Mr. Belsham states, from his corres pondent Dr. Freeman, that high hopes were entertained of the spread of Unitarian principles, Churches were established in Portland by the labors of the Rev. Mr. Oxnard, and in Saco by the zeal of Mr. (now Judge) Thatcher. These hopes, howit ever, were premature, as appears by the letter of Mr. Wells. New York and Philadelphia were also considered by Dr. Priestley, when he first came to this country, as affording great promises of an abundant harvest. Thus he writes to Mr. Lindsey. "New York, June 15, 1794. With respect to myself the difference is great indeed. In England I was an object of the greatest aversion to every person connected with government; whereas here they are those who show me the most respect. With you the Episcopal Church is above every thing. In this city it makes a decent figure, but the Presbyterians are much above them, and the Governor (Clinton,) who is particularly attentive to me, goes to the meeting-house. "But the preachers, though all civil to me, look upon me with dread, and none. of them has asked me to preach in their pulpits. This however does them no good. Several persons express a wish to hear me, and are ashamed of the illiberality of the preachers, and some are avowed Unitarians; so that I am fully persuaded an Unitarian minister, of prudence and good sense, might do very well here. If I were here a Sunday or two more I would make a beginning, and I intend to return for this purpose. The greatest difficulty arises from the indifference of liberal-minded men as to religion in general; they are so much occupied with commerce and politics. One man of proper spirit would be sufficient to establish a solid Unitarian interest; and I am persuaded it will soon be done. As I am much attended to, and my writings, which are in a manner unknown here, begin to be inquired after, I will get my small pamphlets immediately printed here; and wherever I can get an invitation to preach I will go. With this view I shall carefully avoid all the party politics of the country, and have no other object besides religion and philosophy. and Farewell Sermons. "I have written to Mr. Belsham, whom "I was never more mortified than I How well these ardent ex- "Dr. Priestley's personal ministry in the United States was attended with very little apparent success. In Northumberland, where he resided, he collected but few proselytes; and in Philadelphia, where the chapel in which he preached was at first crowded with the principal characters in the United States, he was afterwards for some reason or other almost deserted. ored to make disciples there to obliged to separate from their the sect in question, were both charges. Mr. Belsham has introduced a long account of the persecution, (as he is pleased to confessors." We shall not enter consider it) of these two "worthy upon the examination of these cases at present. We refer our readers for the examination of for August, 1812, p. 118, where Mr. A.'s case to the Panoplist they will find an ample review of it. Mr. Sherman's case is quite Mr. S. was dismissed, not by a as unfortunate for Mr. B.'s cause. Consociation, or council; but by a Mutual Counan ex-parie cil; by men whom he himself considered as favoring his cause, On some of the reflections which Mr. B. makes, with regard to his dismission, we shall have occasion again to touch. We shall dismiss the case at present, with advising Mr. B., before he bestows the honors of martyrdom again, to wait until the martyr has had time to evince the Stability of his profession. Of Mr. S. we are altogether disposed to speak with tenderness. We have always greatly amiable man, and possessed relamented his fall. He was an spectable talents. But we be lieve that Unitarians themselves are not much gratified with his "present standing. Yet here his labors were not wholly ineffectual. Since Dr. Priestley's decease a small, but highly respectable congregation, has been formed, in which, till a regular minister can be procured, a few of the most intelligent and best informed members conduct the service by turns; and the society, upon the whole, is increasing, though some, who once professed zeal in the cause, have turned their backs upon it. The Unitarians in Philadelphia are now erecting a chapel for religious worship, to which many of different persuasions have contributed liberally," pp. 23, 24. In Connecticut, that land of steady habits, Unitarianism has had poor success. Two ministers, the Rev. J. Sherman, and the Rev. A. Abbot, who endeav-. Nothing but the merest spirit of party could ever have laid hold of the cases of Mr. Abbot and Mr. Sherman, as subjects partial, colored, mangled stateof complaint. Nothing but a ment of their cases, could be of any avail to the Unitarian cause. After all the means, which are before the public, of becoming acquainted with the merits of these cases, we think it to be unnecessary to dwell any longer upon the subject. Mr. Belsham informs us, that a Unitarian congregation has been formed at Oldenbarneveld, in the State of New York. Mr. Sherman was their first minis ter. He was, however, dismiss ed before long; and the congregation was fast dwindling away, when Mr. Belsham's book was written. Mr. B. wrote too early to communicate some other curious information, on the subject of Unitarianism in the western part of the State of New York. We will supply the defect. Within two years, two Unitarian ministers, unable to procure ordination from the clergy in that vicinity, have been ordained by some of the ministers of Boston, and others in its vicinity, over Oldenbarneveld, and Canandai gua. One of these ordinations took place lately in Boston; the other a year or two since in the neigh borhood. This is rather a new practice in our country; but it has some recommendations. It saves much expense and time. A few years since, it was customary for Unitarian candidates, who were desirous of obtaining a settlement without exposing themselves to the scrutiny of orthodox clergymen, to send from distant places to Boston and the vicinity for an ordaining council. All this was attended with trouble, and was, besides, calcu. lated to excite inquiry and distrust. But now, if a Unitarian candidate wishes to be ordained, whether he thinks it proper to avow his sentiments or not, he can take a journey to Boston, where an ordaining council can be found without the least inconvenience. If some members of the congregation, not understanding the reason of so novel a proceeding, should require an explanation, it will be easy to say, that there is no place in the world, where so venerable, and wise, and learned, and liberal a council can be formed as in Bos ton. Our readers may be sur prised at the measure here described: but we have long since ceased to be surprised at any measure, which could propagate the principles in question. We must now come to a subject, on which we should not touch without mature consideraation. We mean the propaga tion of Unitarianism in Harvard College. We are fully sensible of the delicacy of the subject. That this noble institution has laid fast hold of the affections of the community is a subject of congratulation rather than of wonder. It has been, in many points of view, the pride and glory of our western world. Its excellent founders and subsequent benefactors have endowed it in a manner unparalleled in this country; and it has been the nursery of a long and illus. trious train of religious, civil, and literary characters, whose names will not be forgotten, while the history of the United States shall continue to attract the notice of mankind. Its literary character we are far from wishing to disparage, or undervalue. Its instructors are a highly respectable body of men.. Among them are some, as we would hope and believe, who prefer the faith of our fathers to the new philosophy of the day. Whatever we may think of the religious opinions of others, we are not in the slightest degree tempted to detract from any just estimation, in which they ought to be held, as men of talents and literature. If talents are perverted, or erudition misapplied, in the zealous propagation of the new philosophical religion, we must of course lament such a state of things; but this will neither warrant nor prompt us to treat the persons concerned with disrespect. We are aware of the artifice, which has been resorted to by some distinguished names, to save this Seminary from animadversion. The moment we begin to express our fears respecting the tendency of its administration, they vociferate, "Why then you are enemies to learning! You want to pull down the college; to check the spirit of improvement and inquiry; and to bring us back to the dark ages?" This will do very well as a hasty appeal to the vulgar; but if it be intended as a specimen of the new philosophical reasoning, it is, we should sup. pose, not quite so happy as could be wished by its authors. What! Are we enemies to learning, because we are conconvinced that learning misapplied and perverted may do great harm to the community? And because we are earnestly desirous, that this noble Institution, sacredly consecrated "to Christ and the Church," should regard its original destination, and not teach men to deny the Lord of glory, instead of worshipping him? Are we enemies to Harvard University, because we are VOL. XI. dently wish that the majority of its instructors had such views of Christianity as appear to us evangelical, instead of other views, which they now entertain and inculcate? The allegation is as contemptible as it is erroneous; and can never weigh a feather, but with persons, who are guided neither by reasoning nor by principle. But may we not be mistaken, in our apprehensions respecting the administration of Cambridge College? Would to God we might be convinced of this; but the proof, from the pamphlet before us, is too plain to admit of doubt. Mr. Belsham has told us what was done at Cambridge, more than 20 years ago, to introduce Unitarianism there. "As a further means of diffusing the important doctrines of the proper Unity of God, and the simple humanity of Jesus Christ, Mr. Lindsey made a present of his own and of Dr. Priestley's Theological Works to the Library of Harvard in New England; for which, "as a very College, in the University of Cambridge valuable and acceptable present," he received the thanks of the President and Fellows. These books were read with great avidity by the students. though there is reason to believe that the But seed thus sown took deep root, and that in many instances it produced an abun dant harvest; and though many persons eminent for rank and talent in the New England States openly avowed the Unita rian creed, it does not appear that any hitherto followed the example of the numerous societies of Christians have congregation at the King's Chapel, in making a public profession of the Unitari an doctrine." pp. 15, 16. Again; "In the state of Massachusetts, and particularly in the environs of Boston, the great cause of Christian truth," (i. e. of Unitarianism,) "is making a silent but rapid and irresistible progress. From the inquisitive and liberal spirit which prov 33 vails in the University of Cambridge, which has never been checked at any time, but which there is reason to expect will receive every requisite aid and encouragement from the present learned and accomplished Principal, Dr. Kirkland, the happiest consequences may be expected to ensue." p. 37. We refer also to the first paragraph of the letter of Mr. Wells, a distinguished and favorite alumnus of that college. If further evidence were wanting, we might find it, in the class of books recommended by the Professor of Divinity in that Seminary, as the best books in Theology; in the manner in which his Theological Lectures are managed, and in which the exercises of the Sabbath are conducted; especially, in the General Repository, a work, which declares the doctrine of the Trinity to be the grossest corruption of modern times; and in a letter of consolation and encouragement written by Dr. Kirkland to the New Unitarian Church in Philadelphia; which they, like their Apostle Belsham, have been complaisant enough to publish, by shewing it to several of their orthodox friends. But it is unnecessary to proceed in this detail, which might be enlarged to thousands of particulars. The gentlemen themselves, since Mr. Belsham has so unexpectedly and imprudently betrayed the matter, will not, we presume, for a moment hesitate to avow the principles which they hold. There is one topic of proof, how ever, which is of a very solemn nature, and which deserves a separate notice.. We refer to the prayers, offered by the President, at the public commenceIt will not be contended, ment. that these prayers, as they have been offered for four years in succession, afford an unfavorable specimen of the kind of religion, which is taught in the college. Indeed, the prayers of professed Christians, generally, are much less apt to be erroneous, than their direct, formal, instructions. At one commencement, that of 1813, the prayers were particularly observed, and their deficiences noticed, even by children who had been accustomed to far other devotional exercises. At the close of the day, several gentlemen of education and respectability, from different parts of the American union, came to the unanimous conclusion, that the following negatives could be truly asserted concerning both the prayers: viz. That there was no mention of sin; of course no petition for forgiveness; no admission or implication that mankind are in a ruined state; no acknowledgment of exposedness to sin. There was no mention of salvation; nor the slightest allusion to any church as existing upon earth; nor to the holiness and happiness of heaven. There was no mention of a radical distinction among men; no admission of regeneration; no supplication for spiritual aid. There was no looking forward to a more blissful period of the world, when the truth shall be universally prevalent. In one of the prayers, there was no mention of Christ, nor the most distant allusion to Him; in the other, the only mention or allusion was in the three closing words, "through our Redeemer." We should not have mentioned this subject, if it seemed pos |