1848.] Notices of Recent Publications. 473 under the roof of the Capitol, on the 23d of February, 1848,he was from childhood to a period reaching beyond fourscore years in the eye of the nation and the world. How well he sustained himself, the honors that in successive advancement sought him not were sought by him- bear witness. Of extraordinary powers of application, and unwearied industry, with a memory that never lost its hold on what it had once seized, methodical in his habits, simple in his tastes, sometimes borne beyond the limit of a due moderation by his impetuous feelings, but always taking principle as the guide of life, a diligent and daily student of the Bible, entertaining the highest reverence for sacred things, a passionate lover of liberty, and an humble disciple of Jesus Christ, he has left a name which will stand bright and pure till the American republic itself shall have passed from the notice or knowledge of men. The last word of his public life, pronounced in giving his vote against a measure of which he disapproved, was "No"; the last sentence that escaped his lips, "I am composed";- the one significant of that integrity which governed his whole course as a public man, the other expressive of that faith which shed its influence over his whole character. 66 G. One God, the Father. A Sermon preached at the Dedication of the Church belonging to the Free Christian Congregation of Elgin, Kane County, Ill. By WILLIAM ADAM, Pastor of the Unitarian Church, Chicago. Chicago. 1848. 8vo. pp. 20. Some Thoughts on the most Christian Use of Sunday: a Sermon preached at the Melodeon, January 30. By THEODORE PARKER, Minister of the XXVIIIth Congregational Church in Boston. Boston: B. H. Greene. 1848. Svo. pp. 51. The Modern Pulpit. A Sermon preached at the Ordination of Samuel Longfellow, at Fall River, Mass., February 16, 1848. By JOHN WEISS, Minister of the Unitarian Church, New Bedford. With the Right Hand of Fellowship and Address to the Society. Fall River. 1848. 8vo. An Appeal to the Young. A Sermon preached at Portsmouth, N. H., March 12, 1848. By ANDREW P. PEABODY, Pastor of the South Church in Portsmouth. Portsmouth: J. W. Foster & Son. 1848. 12mo. pp. 18. The Church as it was, as it is, as it ought to be. A Discourse delivered at the Dedication of the Chapel built by the Church of the Disciples, Wednesday, March 15, 1848. By JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE, Pastor of the Church. Boston: B. H. Greene. 1848. 8vo. pp. 36. The Value of Man. A Discourse occasioned by the Death of Hon. Henry Wheaton; delivered March 19, 1848, in the First Congregational Church, Providence, R. I. By EDWARD 66 Mr. Adam's subject, as was proper, was selected in reference to the position of the new church," - among a people to whom the views advocated, though "chronologically old," would necessarily appear "new"; it is treated with clearness, simplicity, and in a truly Christian spirit, that speak well for the preacher and the cause. - To criticize Mr. Parker's Sermon, or point out parts of it which conflict with our own views, or to censure it for an occasional tone, especially in the earlier pages, of what seems to us as superficial dogmatism, would not be difficult; but we cheerfully bear testimony to the many just and noble thoughts it contains, and do not hesitate to affirm, that nothing can be better than most of what he says on the use and abuse of Sunday, especially in reference to New England. We have no fault to find with his estimate of the Puritan character and virtues. Mr. Weiss maintains, that "the pulpit is the great conserver of public and private virtue"; he refers to some causes which lessen its influence, and then proceeds to show what he conceives to be its "central position " in " the great moral truths in which all sects agree, except during the assumptions of theology." He makes the application to the present state of society among us in several particulars, and altogether the sermon bears the clear stamp of earnestness and power. Mr. Peabody's Sermon is what it professes to be, not an "elaborate discourse," but "a simple appeal in behalf of religious principle, as the ornament of youth and the guide of life." It is serious, clear, and forcible, such a discourse as cannot fail of making an impression. - Mr. Clarke, in his Dedication Discourse, expresses his thoughts with his usual freedom and independence; in the "critical" part he gives evidence of his eclecticism; in regard to the Church of the future he is hopeful, believing that it will be emphatically a "working church," but variously organized. We think, however, that he exaggerates both the practicability and importance of a union of Christians irrespective of doctrinal differences. — Mr. Hall's Discourse on the Death of Mr. Wheaton we should place among his best performances. It is marked by vigorous and discriminating thought, and contains biographical matter and general and appropriate reflection in such proportions and so arranged, that the reader is conducted to the conclusion with a growing interest, and lays down the Discourse with his feelings warmed and elevated. 1848.] Intelligence. 475 INTELLIGENCE. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. - Ecclesiastical Record. We regret that the continued ill health of Rev. Mr. Sewall of Scituate has caused him again to resign the ministry which his people had persuaded him to retain, and which he now finally relinquishes. We are sorry to record other terminations of the ministerial relation. Rev. Mr. Stetson has resigned his office as pastor of the church in Medford. - Rev. Mr. Sargent of Somerville has closed his ministry in that place. Rev. Mr. Caldwell has relinquished the charge of the congregations in Hampton Falls and Kensington, N. H. Rev. Mr. Bellows of New York has gone to Europe, where he will spend the summer. Rev. Mr. Briggs of Plymouth will preach at the church of the Divine Unity the next three months, and will have the editorial charge of the "Christian Inquirer.” — Rev. William Ware has also left home for a few months' residence in Italy. Rev. Mr. Motte of Boston has accepted for a year an engagement with the society at Brattleboro', Vt., which they were anxious to extend to an indefinite length. - Rev. George W. Weeks, formerly a preacher in the Methodist Connexion, but now a Unitarian, has become the minister of the society in Pomfret, Vt. While our old societies are suffering from the frequent changes which death or necessity or caprice occasions in the ministry, new churches of our faith spring up, demanding a supply of preachers. At this moment, the Unitarian congregations in the eight neighbouring towns of Somerville, Medford, Woburn, West Cambridge, Bedford, Lexington, Watertown, and Lincoln, all of them within twelve miles of Boston, are destitute of settled ministers. At Hopkinton, Mass., a meeting-house formerly owned by a Methodist society has been bought for Unitarian worship, and is now undergoing repairs. — A Unitarian society has been formed in each of the contiguous towns of East and West Thomaston, Me., with the advantage of finding two meeting-houses erected by another denomination ready for their use. The Purchase Street congregation in this city, being on the point of removal to their new house in Harrison Avenue, have sold the house which they will quit, and which, it is understood, will become a place of Roman Catholic worship. The lawsuit in which the Bulfinch Street society in Boston has been for several years engaged, in regard to the rights of some of the former proprietors of the house, has been decided in favor of the society. The Secretary of the American Unitarian Association is busily engaged in the duties of his office, and finds both encouragement to labor and the recompense of success. Dedications. The First Congregational Society in ATHOL, Mass., having remodelled their meeting-house, it was dedicated anew December 8, 1847. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Clarke of Athol, from Galatians vi. 9; the Dedicatory Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Everett of Northfield; and the other services were conducted by Rev. Messrs. Adams, and Wellington of Templeton. The Unitarian meeting-house in ELGIN, Ill., was dedicated January 19, 1848. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Adam of Chicago, Ill., from 1 Corinthians viii. 6; the Dedicatory Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Conant, of Geneva, Ill.; and the other services were conducted by Rev. Messrs. Adams of Burlington, Wis., Conant, and A dam. The meeting-house erected by the First Congregational Society in LEXINGTON, Mass.,- a previous edifice that was nearly ready for use, in place of their old house, having been burned to the ground, — was dedicated February 23, 1848. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Huntington of Boston, from 2 Chronicles xxiv. 13, and 2 Corinthians v. 18, 20; the Dedicatory Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Dorr of East Lexington; and the other services were conducted by Rev. Messrs. Newell and Muzzey of Cambridge and Stetson of Medford. TheChapel built by the Church of the Disciples " in BOSTON, Mass., was dedicated March 15, 1848. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Clarke, the Minister, from Matthew xvi. 18; the Dedicatory Prayer was read by the Minister and Congregation; and the other services were conducted by Rev. Messrs. Hall of Dorchester, and Peabody and Barrett of Boston. The name of "Freeman Place" has been given to the court in which the chapel stands, in memory of Rev. Dr. Freeman, former minister of King's Chapel in this city. The First Congregational Society in WEST BRIDGEWATER. Mass., having remodelled their meeting-house, it was dedicated anew April 6, 1848. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Brigham of Taunton, from Leviticus xix. 30; the Dedicatory Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Quimby of Taunton; and the other services were performed by Rev. Messrs. Whitman of East Bridgewater and Bradford of South Bridge water. Ordinations and Installations. REV. HENRY FRANCIS HARRINGTON, formerly of Albany, N. Y., was installed as Minister of the First Unitarian Society in LAWRENCE, Mass., February 29, 1848. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Peabody of Boston, from 1 Timothy iii. 9; the Prayer of Installation was offered by Rev. Mr. Miles of Lowell; the Address to the People was given by Rev. Mr. Waterston of Boston; and the other services were conducted by Rev. Messrs. Richardson of Haverhill and Gage of Lancaster. REV. ARTHUR BUCKMINSTER FULLER, of Cambridge, was ordained as Minister of the First Unitarian Society in MANCHESTER, N. H, March 29, 1848. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Huntington of Boston, from Colossians i. 12-14; the Prayer of Ordination was offered by Rev. Mr. Miles of Lowell; the Charge was given by Rev. Mr. Muzzey of Cambridge; the Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Alger of Roxbury; the Address to the Society, by Rev. Mr. Waterston of Boston; and the other services, by Rev. Messrs. Bulfinch of Nashua, N. H., Barry of Lowell, and Peabody of Portsmouth, N. H. REV. CAZNEAU PALFREY, late of Barnstable, Mass., was installed over the First Congregational Church and Society in BELFAST, Me., April 19, 1848. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Thompson of Salem, from Ephesians iv. 5, 6; the Prayer of Installation was offered, and the Charge was given, by Rev. Dr. Parkman of Boston; the Right 1848.] Obituary. 477 Hand of Fellowship was given by Rev. Mr. Cole of Hallowell, Me. ; the Address to the People, by Rev. Mr. Cutler of Portland, Me.; and the other services, by Rev. Messrs. Cole and Cutler. REV. SAMUEL FULTON CLARKE, of Dublin, N. H., a graduate of the Cambridge Divinity School, was ordained as Pastor of the First Congregational Church in ATHOL, Mass., April 19, 1848. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Leonard of Dublin, N. H., from Isaiah xxxiii. 6; the Prayer of Ordination was offered by Rev. Mr. Cutler of Peterboro', N. H.; the Charge was given by Rev. Mr. Lincoln of Fitchburg; the Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Clarke of Charlemont; the Address to the People, by Rev. Mr. Gray of Boston; and the other services, by Rev. Messrs. Adams of Templeton and Gray of Boston. REV. GEORGE W. WEEKS, of Brookfield, was ordained as Pastor of the Unitarian church in POMFRET, Vt., by a council convened in Brookfield, Mass., April 12, 1848. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Hale of Worcester, from 2 Peter iii. 3, 4; the Ordaining Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Hill of Worcester; the Charge was given by Rev. Mr. Greene of Brookfield; the Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Ball of Ware; Rev. Mr. Simmons of Springfield was appointed to address the Society by letter; and the other services were conducted by Rev. Messrs. Nightingale of Cabotville, Simmons of Springfield, and Rev. Dr. Thompson of Barre. OBITUARY. MR. WILLIAM CHECKLEY SHAW died in Baltimore, Md., January 8, 1848, aged 56. Mr. Shaw was born in Marshfield, Mass., October 25, 1792. His father was the Rev. William Shaw, D. D., who for fifty years was pastor of the First Congregational church in that town; his mother was a daughter of the Rev. Samuel Checkley, pastor of the New Brick church in Boston. His parentage being clerical on both sides, he was early trained to religious and devotional habits. His childhood, with the exception of one year, was passed at home, in uninterrupted health and happiness, and was remarkable only for its truthfulness, filial obedience, affection, and freedom from the selfishness which often characterizes those who, like him, have no companion of their own age and sex to share their sports. Having a good capacity and a fondness for books, his father was desirous of giving him the advantages of a collegiate education, and prepared him in part for it, designing him for a professional life; but circumstances determined him to mercantile pursuits, and he was placed, at the age of sixteen, in a counting-house in Boston. The untried scenes and temptations of a city life never caused him to deviate from that strict integrity and purity of character which had marked his earlier years. He became of age during the war with Great Britain, when the obstructions to commerce were such as to give him no prospect of business for a long time in the branch for which he had prepared himself, and, after spending a year in Rhode Island, he formed a copartnership for the purpose of establishing a commission house in Baltimore. His enterprise, industry, judgment, and integrity were crowned with the success they merited, and he retired from business early in life, with an ample fortune. He had the wisdom, so rare among merchants, to know when and where to stop. No business or VOL. XLIV. -4TH S. VOL. IX. NO. III. 42 |