in an arch; at the west each one stands like a tree, supported by nothing but its own roots." The remark is very true.

3. Thirdly, the opportunity of useful action in our profession and the prospect of future usefulness are ten times as great here as at the east. There all things are fixed; here they are fixing; an influence exerted now will be felt in the future institutions of this country. Here, too, everything is advancing with gigantic strides, and everyone who will persevere with a determined spirit will take his share of the growth of the country.

I must here insist on the duty, as I think it, of our body to establish churches now in the principal western cities. There are Unitarians everywhere, but not enough anywhere to build a church and support a preacher without assistance. Six hundred dollars paid by the Association or other Unitarians to support a preacher one year in St. Louis would certainly establish a church there. Why will they not do this? Let them try this as an experiment, and, if it succeed, proceed to some of the other cities. The objection which is urged against such measures at the east does not apply here. No old church is to be broken up; those who will attend our church would go nowhere else. There are two millions of persons in this valley who belong to no church; can money be employed better than in providing for them? How little this is, compared with what is laid out by other denominations! What I now propose is, in the opinion of all our friends here, a measure demanded by the times. They go so far as to say, "Let the Association expend all the money collected for the salary of their agent, in sending agents now over this country, and it will be returned to them tenfold by the new Auxiliaries which they will establish all through the Union." I am disposed to think with them.

I must finish with a single word respecting the opposition we meet with. It is great, undoubtedly, here as elsewhere, but I think less intolerant than at the east. I think that one who should seek distinction here in Mr. Cheever's fashion, by arrogant attacks on the good and wise, would receive the contempt of all parties. Wishing you success in your enterprise, I remain yours,

JAMES F. CLARKE.

Extracts from a Letter dated Richmond, Jan. 6th, 1834.

As to our society, it is, I am happy to inform you, in a very healthy and flourishing condition. Prejudice is every day giving way, a better feeling begins to be manifested towards us, the ladies venture to attend in respectable numbers, and the church is, in general, well attended both in regard to numbers and respectability. I have now a very extended acquaintance through the state. A highly respectable body of the members of the House of Delegates are my regular hearers and most hearty friends.

You inquire respecting Charlottesville. I hear from our friends there often, and have received many pressing solicitations to visit that place, Lynchburgh, and several other important places in the state. But my time is wholly taken up with my society. I might greatly advance my personal interests by leaving Virginia. But I do not feel satisfied to do so. It presents a broad field for usefulness, though but a poor one for pecuniary recompense. I wish that some preacher could come here from among our northern brethren. Charlottesville would be a grand station. I fear it would be difficult to furnish sufficient inducements to command the talents required; for an ordinary preacher would not meet the wants and intelligence of that polished community.

Your prospectus was received several days since. I am well pleased that you have undertaken a work so much needed, especially in this quarter, and nothing that I can do, to promote its circulation, shall be want

ing. We have had serious thoughts of establishing a press in this city. A gentleman every way competent to the task of superintending it can be procured, and my friends would contribute liberally to the establishment of an office. From my success in the short excursions and slight efforts I have hitherto made to procure support for The Pioneer, I am well satisfied that I might obtain fifteen hundred subscribers by travelling and preaching a few months in the warm season. But my society must not be left without preaching; and, under all considerations, we have pretty much concluded to abandon the scheme. Your paper may have an ample support in this quarter alone, if you can employ some one to make a business of getting subscribers for it. I would, with all my heart, extend it widely, if my hands were not so completely tied by the constant demand made upon my time by my rapidly increasing congregation.

J. B. PITKIN.

Extract from a Letter from Worcester County, Massachusetts, dated H-
January 29, 1834.

Everything goes on prosperously with us, and our prospects are certainly promising. A number of families have lately left the Calvinistic meeting and come to ours; they have already signified their intention of joining our society in the spring. Ten were added to our church on the first Sabbath in this month, and it is expected a number more will offer themselves soon. My people manifest an increasing attention to religion, and we have what I consider a real revival of pure and undefiled religion, although we have no "inquiry," no "anxious," no whispering" meetings, nor yet any "concerts of prayer," to pray down other sects or heretical seminaries.

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The Calvinists in this place held a "four days' meeting" last fall, which, I think, was much more beneficial to us than to them. The Sunday before it commenced, I preached an extemporary sermon to my people from the text, "Let them alone," and my people took the hint, and governed themselves accordingly. To that sermon the Calvinists attribute a great share of their failure! Can it be possible that a feeble worm, and "damnable heretic" too, can prevent the ALMIGHTY from reviving his work whenever he pleases!!

At the close of the meeting, as I am informed, Mr. G. (whether provoked with me or with the people, or with the Lord, I cannot say) arose and said, "All who are determined to go to hell are desired to withdraw; those who wish to follow the Saviour, to remain for religious instruction." People, as you may suppose, were so disgusted, that nearly all left immediately.

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

A friend in Philadelphia, in a letter dated Jan. 30, writes: "I have heard repeatedly that a liberal society might be formed at Wilmington, Delaware. There are many Hicksites there."

LECTURES ON THE EVIDENCES AND ON UNITARIANISM.

At the request of the Young Men's Society, a course of Sunday-evening lectures on the evidences of natural and revealed religion is being delivered in Boston by clergymen of different denominations. Three have already been preached, which are said to have been very able and conclusive, and attracted very large audiences. The public interest in

these subjects is daily increasing. We understand that a similar course is about to be delivered in Salem, and we presume that the example will soon be followed in other places. The Rev. Mr. Whitman, of Waltham, is giving a series of extemporary lectures on infidelity, in his own town, which we hope will be repeated elsewhere.

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These lectures, we think, will be eminently useful, not so much on account of the convincing arguments for the truth of our religion which they present, since little more than general impressions can be made by public discourses, but because they tend to excite the public mind to a more careful examination of its evidences. They will teach the skeptical that Christianity is not so utterly destitute of proof but that there may be something in it, and that its foundations cannot be shaken by the crude objections and unfounded assertions which are afloat in the community. We had some further remarks to make in this connection, but our limits will not permit.

Believing the diffusion of better views of theology than have heretofore prevailed to be one of the most powerful antidotes to infidelity, we are glad to learn that public lectures on the great points of Unitarianism are being delivered in several places. The Rev. E. S. Gannett has been preaching doctrinal discourses for some time past in Boston to large audiences, and Dr. Nichols, of Portland, Maine, has been delivering lectures on the same topics for the last two or three months in his own church, which have been well attended by persons of all denominations, and have produced some very gratifying results, especially in enlightening the public mind on the true character of Unitarianism. J. Q. D.

THE AGENCY OF THE AMERICAN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.

We have the satisfaction of announcing that the Rev. Jason Whitman of Saco, Maine - one of the editors of this work has been appointed Agent of the American Unitarian Association, and will accept the appointment. He enters upon the duties of the office immediately.

We look upon the establishment of this agency as being decidedly the most important step which has been taken by the A. U. A., on account of the results which may be expected from it. The periodical visits of the Agent to all our churches, in all parts of the United States, cannot fail, we think, to draw more closely the bonds which unite them, and to awaken in them a more hearty interest both in one another and in their common object. The cause of Christ has suffered incalculably among us for the want of such an agency. We thank God, from our hearts, that this want is now to be supplied; and that measures, which promise to be in some sort efficient, are now to be taken, for sending the gospel in something of its truth and purity and sanctifying power through our land. May God bless his work!

G. N.

A Correspondent in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, proposes the following

QUERIES:

1. To what coming did our Lord refer in Matthew xvi. 27, 28? Do these verses refer to one or two appearances of Christ?

2. Upon what principle do Christian ministers now pray for the holy spirit? The querist has been accustomed to consider this expression, wherever it occurs in the New Testament, as having a reference to some extraordinary or miraculous gift.

INSTALLATION.-January 1st, Rev. A. D. Jones was installed as pastor of the Congregational Church and Society in Wilton, N. H. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Gage of Nashua, N. H. Text, 2 Peter, i. 17. "For he received from God, the Father, honour and glory.”

JAMES MUNROE & Co. have for sale the following Theological Works:

Fleury's Manners and Customs of the Is- Scriptural Interpreter.

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Wood's Discourse, on Gospel-Truths.

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Views of Christian Truth, Piety, and Morality, selected from the writings of Dr. Priestley, with an Introductory Notice of his Life and Character. By Rev. Henry Ware, Jr.

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