REVIEW

The Child's Book of Hymns. A collection of Sacred Poetry for the use of Sunday-schools and Families. Belfust: Simms and M'Intyre, 1838. pp. 24.

WE congratulate our Sunday-school teachers on the appearance of this little collection of Hymns. It will form a useful companion to the Child's Guide to Christ, with which it may be stitched, as it is printed uniform with it. It is most desirable to impress devotional sentiments on the mind in childhood; and, at a period of life when the memory is so retentive, perhaps the most effectual-and certainly the simplest method is, to tostore it with well-selected Hymns.

We are glad to see in the collection before us, the most beautiful of Watts' Hymns, freed from those objectionable passages which the pious author, if he had had the opportunity, would undoubtedly have himself expunged, when he renounced the peculiar tenets of Calvinism.

We believe that no Hymns have appeared in the English language so well adapted to the mind of children, and at the same time so truly poetical, as those of Dr. Watts; hut we are glad to find that the Editor of the Child's Book of Hymns has not restricted himself to the "divine songs," but has introduced Hymns by other authors, which greatly enhance the value of the collection. Of these, the following by Miss Taylor, on "the Lily of the valley" is one of the most beautiful;—

Come, my love, and do not spurn
From a little flower to learn.

See the lily on the bed,

Hanging down its modest head,

While it scarcely can be seen,

Folded in its leaf of green.

Yet we love the lily well

For its sweet and pleasant smell,
And would rather call it ours,

Than the many gayer flowers.

Pretty lilies seem to be,
Emblems of humility..

DR. CARPENTER'S HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS. THE Rev. Dr. Carpenter, one of the Unitarian ministers of the city of Bristol, has published a second edition of his "Apostolical Harmony of the Gospels," which he has dedicated, by permission, to her Majesty, the Queen. It is painful to state, that neither the high character of the distinguished author, nor the high rank of her gracious Majesty, nor the high nature of the solemn subject, has been able to moderate the temper of reputed orthodoxy. Anonymous inquiries have been made through the newspapers, with the view of ascertaining by what influences, and through what kind of persons Dr. Carpenter has obtained permission to dedicate his "Harmony" to her Majesty? as if the discovery of these things would lessen the value of the publication, er weaken the cause of Unitarianism, which, by the bye, is not advocated in the pages in question. But the anonymous inquirers are, no doubt, afraid lest the sanc tion of her Majesty's name to any book written by a Unitarian, should be considered as giving countenance to Unitarianism itself. A similar spirit has been manifested within these few weeks, towards the Bishop of Durham, and the Bishop of Norwich, for having entered their names as subscribers to a volume of sermons, which is about to be published by the venerable and venerated William Turner, one of the Unitarian ministers of Newcastle-upon-tyne. We have the pleasure of somne personal acquaintance of the Rev. Dr. Carpenter,

and of the Rev. W. Turner-the former in the 34thand the latter in the 57th year of his ministry,-and we venture to assert, that few ministers, if any, are held in higher estimation in all England. What a blessing that the anonymous bigots, to whom we have already alluded, nave not power to prohibit free inquiry! They ought to know, that prohibiting free inquiry would have prevented the establishment of Christianity, and the rise of the Reformation. They ought to recollect, that the best works in vindication of the truth of Christianity have been written by Unitarians; and that many a Trinitarian, when called upon to advocate the authenticity of the Gospel, is glad, though cautious not to acknowledge it to the multitude, to quote from their writings. Is it not well known, that Dr. Lardner was a decided and. avowed Unitarian, and that his "Credibility of the Gos pel History," is by far the ablest vindication of Christianity that has ever appeared. Notwithstanding his Unitarianism, nine bishops, several deans, and a number of fellows of Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin colleges, subscribed, in 1788, for his works. But if these bigots of 1838 had been living 50 years ago, and had had power, we should never have had a page from the great, and learned, and distinguished Lardner.

INTELLIGENCE.

SCOTTISH UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.

THE Eighth Anniversary of the Scottish Christian Unitarian Association, was held at Glasgow, on Sunday, September 30, and Monday, October 1. Individual friends were present from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Carluke, Hamilton, Bothwell, Paisley, Greenock, Dalry, Girvan, &c. The religious services in the forenoon of Sunday, were conducted by the Rev. John Cropper, M. A. of Aberdeen, who preached an admirable sermon from 1 Cor. iii. 13. In the afternoon, the Rev. George Harris introduced the worship, and a very instructive discourse was preached by the Rev. James Forrest, M. A. of Greenock, from Romans xv. 4. In the evening, Mr. Forrest read the Scriptures and prayed, and Mr. Cropper delivered a clear and Scriptural exposition of the doctrine of election, from Matt. xxii. 4. The audiences throughout the day were large, and deeply attentive.

On Monday, at noon, the Annual Meeting of the Association for the transaction of business, was held in the Chapel. The meeting

was opened by Mr. Cropper giving out a hymn and engaging in prayer. Mr. Rae, of Glasgow, was then appointed Chairman. The Report of the Committee of the Association for the past year was read by the secretary, Mr. Harris, from which we make the following extracts :

"Accounts were received by the Secretary, in March and April, that lectures full of misrepresentation and abuse of Christian Unitarianism and Unitarians, were preaching in Girvan, Ayrshire, by the Burgher Minister of that place; that the Teacher of the Voluntary Subscription School, for the education of children of all religious denominations, had been cited before the Directors on a charge of here. sy; that having acknowledged and vindicated his faith in the Oneness and benevolence of the Deity, Churchman and Dissenter, compulsory and voluntary, united to cast him out,-bearing testimony at the same time to his moral worth and faithful discharge of his school duties, but declaring that any one, worshipping the God of his fathers after the way which they call heresy, could not be permitted to undertake the tuition of children in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Letters were written, expressive of deepest sympathy with the intended victim of Protestant persecution, and in admiration of his Christian courage and conscientious adherence to the truth as it is in Jesus. Tracts were also forwarded, which have been extensively read; and strong and general desire continues to be manifested to read Unitarian works, and hear Unitarian preaching.

"In May, the Rev. B. T. Stannus removed from Edinburgh to Sheffield, Yorkshire; and the Rev. D. G. Coghill of Dundee engaged to supply the congregation of Edinburgh for six months, till a minister was settled in that city. The Rev. R. E. B. Maclellan, of Dromore, Ireland, has since accepted the unanimous invitation of the Society; and the Committee look forward with assured hope to his valuable ministerial labours as their fellow-advocate of the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, and fellow-labourer in the dissemination of Scriptural truth.

"The Committee, anxious for greater union and co-operation among the professors of the Unitarian faith in Great Britain and Ireland, deputed the Seretary to attend the Aggregate Meeting in London, as the representative of the Unitarians of Scotland.

The pro

ceedings of that meeting were of a highly interesting and important character; and may be read, with instruction, in the Christian Reformer for July, Angust, and September, and in the Christian Pioneer for August. The highly valuable suggestions made by various individuals, they consider well deserving the serious consideration and practical adoption of the Unitarian community; they cordially unite

in the expression of approval of the constitution and objects of the British and Foreign Unitarian Association; they trust, the various congregations, and district societies, which deem reports of their condition and prospects useful in the advancement of the religion of the Saviour, will transmit them to the brethren in the Metropolis; and that every effort will be made, by individuals, congregations, and associations, for the diffusion of that practical Christianity which adores God as the Universal Father regards man, in every clime, and of every faith, as a brother reverences Christ as the common Saviour recognises the morality of the Gospel as the standard of virtue and which teaches its diciples to value those holy and beneficent principles, only for their power and efficacy in building up in the mind and heart of man, a living temple to the One God and -Father of all the families of the earth.

"Correspondence has been conducted with individuals and societies, in thirty-three different towns and villages in various parts of Scotland; and the Committee are persuaded, the Association will gladly interchange letters and reports with the different Unitarian Associations of Great Britain and Ireland, desirous, as they are, of drawing more closely together the bonds of brotherhood which should ever unite those who have one hope, one Lord, one faith, and who worship One God and Father of all; and of knowing, and considering, and adopting the many plans by which the various sections of the Unitarian denomination should delight to urge onward the great and benevolent work of Christian reformation.

"The attention of the Association is now directed to the contents of the various letters which have been received :— [GIRVAN. Great excitement as Unitarianism in this place. The lectures delivered there by the Revds. Messrs. Duncan, the Burgher minister; Thomson, of Maybole; Blair and Innes, of Ayr; Blair, of Colmonell; and Dr. Hill, of Dailly,-together with the persecution of the Schoolmaster, have, instead of putting Unitarianism down, only excited a more extensive spirit of inquiry. The books belonging to the friends are in constant demand; and an earnest desire to hear Unitarian preaching, and know what Unitarianism really is, is widely manifested.- -DALRY. New friends springing up; books wanted, and occasional preaching.. -BOTHWELL. The books anxiously sought after; and many avowed friends. Were there preaching in Hamilton, much good would result- STIRLING. Books needed; many people inquiring; occasional preaching would be of essential use.-DUNDEE. The congregation continue to assemble every Lord's Day, though deprived, by adverse circum