liberally provides for them. May the experience of us all be such, that we can adopt the words of the Psalmist, "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray." (Ps. lv. 17.) In our last year's epistle, we had to remark the failure of some of our members in paying their just debts. We have been again deeply pained on finding that some disgraceful cases of this kind have since occurred. Whilst we lament the condition of such as have thus wounded their own peace, and brought condemnation on themselves, we also feel very tenderly both for the near relatives of these, and for their creditors who have suffered through them. In adverting to these cases, it is our solicitude that the misconduct of those to whom we allude may be a caution to others. At all times, but more particularly in the present depressed state of trade and commerce, it will be very useful for friends frequently to inspect into the state of their own property, to keep their concerns within proper bounds, and so to confine their wants within the limits of Christian contentment, that should any unforeseen reverses be experienced, they may look back with feelings of conscious integrity. And we would especially recommend to friends of discrimination and sound judgment, in kindness and love, to watch over their brethren for good. Great advantages would result from early, repeated, and private advice to young tradesmen, who from temporary success and inexperience may be in danger of exceeding their capital, and of imprudently extending their bu siness. Our sympathy is much excited for those, who after fair prospects, have, from a sudden depreciation of property, been subjected to many difficulties. We wish kindly to encourage such of these as have it still within their power, to a timely contraction of their domestic expenses. And we desire that their trials may be lightened by beholding in their offspring a disposition to industry and economy, and a willingness that their expectations should not exceed those limits which become a Christian character: this we believe would ultimately tend to their greatest good. Before we quit this subject, we would remind our friends of the former advice of this meeting, that where any have injured others in their property, the greatest frugality should be observed by themselves and their families; and although they may have a legal discharge from their creditors, both equity and our Christian profession demand, that none when they have it in their power should rest satisfied, until a just restitution be made to those who have suffered by them. The amount of sufferings reported this year, for tithes and other ecclesiastical claims, and a few demands of a military nature, is upwards of fourteen thousand four hundred pounds. We have received epistles from all, except one, of the Yearly Meetings on the American continent. From these we observe with pleasure, that besides a watchful care to support the testimonies of our own Society, our brethren beyond the Atlantic are engaged in various acts of benevolence for the welfare of their fellow-men. Dear young friends, our hearts are warmed with love to you. We desire that it may be your frequent concern to seek for an establishment on the only sure foundation, and to wait in humble watchfulness for the teachings of the Heavenly Instructor. If conflicts of mind should attend you, and prove painful and humiliating in their nature, this is no cause for dismay. Those who steadily pursue the path of a true disciple, will, through the goodness of the Lord, at times be permitted indubitably to feel that they are the objects of his paternal regard. Thus they will have cause to acknowledge the great benefit of patient religious exercise. They will from their own experience know an increase of true faith in the power and perceptible support of the Holy Spirit. Ascribing this to the free gift of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, they will become firmly persuaded that the tendering power of Redeeming Love, though undervalued by too many, is above all things precious. We are consoled in the belief, that the feet of many of our beloved young friends have been turned into this path. And it is our earnest desire, that neither the fear of man, the offence of the cross, an aversion to the simplicity of the truth, nor the activity of their own wills, may interrupt their progress; but that they may, through the unfoldings of Divine counsel, come to know an establishment in that faith which giveth the victory. (1 John v. 4.) And, dear friends, you who love the truth, and who are in the vigour of life; feeling as you must the many blessings of which you have been partakers, and the privilege it is to be employed in the smallest degree, in the service of the Lord, let it be your concern to offer your hearts to his disposal, and under his sacred guidance, to become devoted to the support of his cause. May our dear elder brethren and sisters, though often depressed on various accounts, be, by continued watch fulness unto prayer, endued with capacity to trust in God. May they receive that Divine support which will enable them acceptably to endure the remaining trials of time; and, being preserved in liveliness and meekness of spirit, be prepared to enter into rest everlasting. Farewell. Signed in and on behalf of the Meeting, by Academic Examination, Carmarthen, [From The Cambrian Newspaper, printed at Swansea, July 19.] THE Annual Assembly connected with the Presbyterian College in Carmarthen, was held at Lammas-street chapel, on Thursday the 3d inst. when upwards of forty ministers were present. A meeting was held the preceding evening at six o'clock, when Mr. Williams, of Builth, introduced the service, and Mr. Bulmer, of Haverfordwest, preached, in English, from Psalm lv. 22; and Mr. Powell, of Caebach, preached, in Welsh, from 1 Cor. ix. 24; Mr. Griffiths, of Glandwr, concluded by prayer. On Thursday morning, at ten o'clock, Dr. Lindsay, of London, preached, in English, from Eph. iv. 5; and Mr. Lewis, of Tredustan, preached, in Welsh, from 1 John iii. 18. At four o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Rees, of London, preached, in English, from Acts iv. 18, 19, 20; and Mr. Jeremy, of Llandovery, preached, in Welsh, from Phil. iii. 1: Messrs. Jones, Thomas, Evans, Griffiths and Davies, conducted the devotional parts of the services, and the Hymns were given out by Mr. Peter. On Friday morning, at ten o'clock, Dr. Rees, Dr. Lindsay and James Esdaile, Esq., who had been deputed by the Presbyterian Board to visit the College, attended at the school-room, for the examination of the students. Many other ministers and lay gentlemen were also present. The students were examined in Hebrew, Greek and Latin; Divinity, Ecclesiastical History, Jewish Antiquities, Logic, Natural and Experimental Philosophy, Universal Grammar and the Belles Lettres. Also, in Geometry, Trigonometry, Conic Sections, Mensuration, Land-surveying and Algebra. At the close of the examination, Dr. Rees and Dr. Lindsay, in elegant and appropriate speeches, thanked the tutors for their unwearied diligence in the discharge of their important duties; congratulated the students on their exemplary conduct and improvement in literature; and in the liveliest terms expressed their, full approbation of what they had witnessed, and the satisfaction which the flourishing state of the College afforded them. Dr. R. and Dr. L. having sat down, Mr. Rees, of London, rose, and in a short, but elegant speech, noticed the liberal principles on which the College at Carmarthen was founded, the impartiality of the Board in the admission of students, the friendly and candid behaviour of the tutors to all the students, whatever their religious opinions might be, and the love and friendship which subsist between students of different sentiments, educated at the College. Dr. Lindsay concluded the whole with a solemn and appropriate prayer. Manchester College, York. THE thirty-first Annual Meeting of Trustees of Manchester College, York, was held at Cross-street Chapel Rooms, Manchester, on Friday, August 1st, Samuel Shore, Esq., of Meersbrook, in Derbyshire, in the Chair. The meeting was attended by the Rev. John Yates, of Liverpool, the Rev. Chas. Wellbeloved, of York, the Rev. William Shepherd, of Gateacre, the Rev. Benjamin Mardon, of Glasgow, the Rev. William Turner, Jun., of York, David Ainsworth, Esq., of Preston, John Lightbody, Jun. Esq., of Liverpool, and a numerous assemblage of Trustees residing in Manchester and the neighbourhood. The proceedings of the Committee, since the last annual meeting, were read by one of the Secretaries, were approved of and confirmed, and the accounts of the Treasurer, which had been previously audited, were laid before the meeting and passed. The thanks of the meeting were voted to the President, Vice-Presidents, Visiter, Treasurer and Deputy Treasurers, Secretaries, Auditors and Committee. Joseph Strutt, Esq., of Derby, was elected President, to succeed Benjamin Gaskell, Esq., M. P. of Thornes House, Yorkshire. James Touchet, Esq., of Broom House, near Manchester, Peter Martineau, Esq., of St. Albans, and Daniel Gaskell, Esq., of Lupsett, Yorkshire, were re-elected Vice-Presidents; and Abraham Crompton, Esq., of Lune Villa, near Lancaster, was chosen as the new Vice-President, to succeed Mr. Joseph Strutt. George William Wood, Esq., was re-elected Treasurer; Mr. Thomas Henry Robinson and the Rev. John Gooch Robberds, were re-elected Secretaries; and the Committee of the preceding year were re-chosen, with the exception of Nathaniel Philips, Esq., Jonathan Brooks, Esq., and William Duckworth, Esq., of Manchester, who were ineligible from nonattendance, and who are succeeded by James M'Connel, Esq., of Manchester, the Rev. William Jevons, of Altringham, and Benjamin Heywood Bright, Esq., of Manchester. The only change made in the Deputy Treasurers is occasioned by the resignation of Dr. Thomson, who is about to leave Halifax, and to settle at Leeds. He is succeeded by Raw. don Briggs, Jun., Esq., of Halifax. The report made of the state of the funds was encouraging. The annual subscriptions discontinued during the past year amount to upwards of £40; but notwithstanding the distresses of the times, a still larger sum has been received in new annual subscriptions; and the total amount of the subscription list is now very nearly £700 per annum. The benefactions of the year amount to £156 3s. Od. and the congregational collections to £128 58. 11d. The sum of £150 188. was voted as an addition to the permanent fund, and £200 was appropriated to the further discharge of the debt on the York Buildings. There were thirteen divinity students in the college last session, twelve of whom were on the foundation, but one of these was obliged, by ill health, to return home soon after Christmas. The number of lay-students was seventeen. Mr. J. W. Morris, who left the College a year ago, has since settled as minister with the Presbyterian congregation at Dean Row, in Cheshire. Mr. Cannon, the only divinity student who has this year finished his course, is shortly to proceed to Edinburgh, to supply the Unitarian chapel in that city. Mr. Richard Shawcross, of Manchester, was admitted on the foundation for the next session, as a divinity student. As an additional stimulus to exertion in the divinity students, it was ordered that an extra exhibition of five guineas per annum should be granted during the fourth and fifth years of their course, to such of the divinity students as should hereafter be successful competitors for the first general prize. The exhibition to be expended in the purchase of theological books. The Rev. William Shepherd, of Gateacre, has offered a second classical prize of the value of five guineas, to be awarded at the close of the next session, for the best critical essay on the second book of Virgil's Æneid. After the business of the day had terminated, and Mr. Shore had left the chair, it was taken by the Rev. John Yates, of Liverpool, and the thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr. Shore for his services. The trustees and supporters of the College afterwards dined together, as usual, at the Bridgewater Arms, when Mr. Shore took the chair. The presence of their much respected and venerable friend, who, in his eightieth year, had travelled on horseback the day preceding nearly fifty miles, to honour them by his attendance, added greatly to the interest of the meeting. The animation and gaiety with which he presided over the festivities of the day, and the playful wit with which he introduced many of the toasts, had the happiest effect on the company. About ninety gentlemen sat down to dinner, and in the course of the evening, Mr. Wellbeloved, of York, Mr. Yates, of Liverpool, Mr. William Turner, Jun., of York, Mr. Shepherd, of Gateacre, Mr. Mardon, of Glasgow, Mr. Bakewell, of Chester, Mr. John Ashworth, of New Church, in Rossendale, Mr. Johns and Mr. Robberds, of Manchester, Mr. Brooks, of Hyde, and Mr. George William Wood, of Manchester, and other gentlemen addressed the meeting. After Mr. Shere had retired, the chair was taken for a short time by Mr. Shepherd, and the meeting then broke up highly gratified by the whole proceedings of the day. T. H. ROBINSON, Secretarics. Prize Students, Session 1816-17. COLLEGE PRIZES. -For diligence, proficiency and regularity of conduct, confined to Students of not more than three years' standing. 1st Prize. Mr. William Heury Fletcher, of Liverpool, first year, Lay Student. 2d Prize. Mr. Francis Fletcher, of Liverpool, second year, Lay Student. 3d Prize.-Mr. John Wellbeloved, of York, second year, Divinity Student. COLLEGE PRIZE. For the best delivered Sermon or Oration at the Annual Examination. Mr. Samuel Wood, of Liverpool, fourth year, Divinity Student. religious services. The room in which they now assemble is so inconvenient, in many respects, as to be one very powerful means of retarding the progress of those doctrines which, though stigmatized as "dangerous, unfeeling and pernicious," they know to be be nevolent-unspeakably benevolent in their tendency, and honourable, unspeakably honourable, to the character and government of our great and merciful Creator. Under these impressions, and with the anxious desire of contributing, by any means in their power, to the dif fusion of the pure and unadulterated doctrines of the Christian religion, and of promoting the practice of piety and virtue, several of the friends and advocates of Unitarianism in Stainforth, at a meeting held July 6th, 1817, Mr. Martin Simpson in the chair, unanimously adopted the following resolutions: Resolved-First, That as the place of worship in which the Unitarians at Stainforth now assemble, is so small as scarcely to contain sixty individuals without considerable inconvenience, and so forbidding in its appearance as to deter several respectable families, who are now friendly to the cause, from joining the society, they are determined to adopt such measures as inay enable them to erect a neat and commodious building in which they can conduct their public religious services. Secondly, That Mr. Simpson and MATHEMATICAL PRIZE. Given by Mr. William Marsdin be requested to Mr. Philips, of Park. Mr Nich. W. Gibson, of Newcastle-on- William Shepherd, of Gateacre. T. II. ROBINSON, York, July 1st, 1817. Secretaries. inquire whether a suitable plot of ground could be procured upon which a chapel might be erected, and to ascertain the probable amount of the expense that would be incurred in building the same. Thirdly, That Messrs. Marsdin and Simpson be also requested to call a public meeting of the Unitarians at Stainforth and neighbourhood, as soon as they have inquired into the practicability of building a chapel, and procured an estimate of the probable amount of the expenses with which it would be attended: when such further resolutions shall be adopted as may be deemed necessary to the accomplishment of their object. MARTIN SIMPSON, Chairman. In consequence of the above resolutions, Messrs. Marsdin and Simpson agreed to call a meeting of the friends and advocates of Unitarianism in Stainforth, on Thursday, July 24th, 1817, when the Rev. John Gaskell being called to the chair, it was statedFirst, That an eligible plot of ground in the field adjoining the building in which the Unitarians at Stainforth at present assemble for public worship, could be procured for any sum that Messrs. Marsdin and Simpson might think proper to offer. Second, That the probable amount of the expenses that would be incurred in erecting a chapel, upon as economical a plan as possible, intended to contain about a hundred and twenty persons, would not exceed one hundred and thirty pounds, which, together with a piece of land large enough for a chapel and burial ground, &c &c. would be extended to about one hundred and eighty or ninety pounds. It was then resolved-First, That a chapel capable of containing about one hundred and twenty persons be erected as soon as possible, in the village of Stainforth, for the purpose of conducting the public worship of God upon the principles of Unitarian Christianity. Second, That a subscription be immediately entered into, for the purpose of defraying the expense that may be incurred in building the same. Third, That in case the subscriptions collected at Stainforth and in the neighbourhood, should be found inadequate to defray the expense that will be necessarily attendant upon building the chapel, application be made to our distant friends for their benevolent assistance, through the medium of the Monthly Repository, or in any other way that may hereafter be deemed expedient. Fourth, That Mr. Martin Simpson and Mr. Richard Lee, be requested to collect subscriptions in Stainforth and the neighbourhood, and that they transmit them to the Treasurer when required. Fifth, That Mr. John Marsdin be requested to act as Treasurer, and Mr. Martin Simpson as Secretary. Sixth, That Messrs. Marsdin, Simpson and Lee, unite their efforts in procuring materials and workmen for building the chapel, and in superiutending and directing the same ac cording to the resolutions passed at this meeting, and that these gentleing of the chapel, in any way they men shall have power to let the buildmay think proper, to such undertaker them best qualified for the work and or undertakers, as may appear to most moderate in charges. advocates of Unitarianism in StainSeventh, That the friends and forth and the neighbourhood, be respectfully solicited, by the Secretary, to Stainforth the materials for building to lend their assistance in conveying the chapel, in order to diminish, as far as possible, the expense with which it will be attended. has been erected at Stainforth, for the Eighth, That as soon as a chapel purpose of conducting the public worship of God upon the principles of Unitarian Christianity, it shall be conveyed to the like uses and trusts as those to which the Unitarian chapel proviso, that in case Unitarian worat Thorne is conveyed, with a like ship shall cease to be conducted in it for the space of two years, it shall be at the disposal of the Committee, for the time being, of the Unitarian Fund in London. JOHN GASKELL, Chairman. chair, a subscription was immediately As soon as Mr. Gaskell had left the entered into, and thirty-one pounds four shillings and six pence were collected dition to this sum, twenty-two pounds before the company dismissed. In adand sixteen shillings have since been collected in Stainforth, Thorne and the neighbourhood. From the statement, however, that has been given of the expense that will be incurred in erecting the chapel, &c., it will be perceived that a debt of about one hundred and thirty-six pounds will still to some societies it might appear very remain & be discharged, which, though small, would for many years remain a very grievous burden to the Unitarians at Stainforth, (who are as yet but few in number, and by far the -majority of whom are of the labour Between the first and second resolu and agreed upon, but which, it was tions the plan of the chapel was introduced thought, could not be intruded upon the notice of your readers, without occupying too great a portion of your valuable Repository. |