meet under circumstances of peculiar encouragement. Since the last anniversary, thirteen ordinations and installations have taken place, and the days are appointed for four more. Besides which, the number of vacant parishes exceeds the number of candidate preachers in the proportion of three to two; several new societies have been formed, and others have become Unitarian. The present number of Unitarian Congregational societies in Masssachusetts is 147, of which 118 are supplied with ordained ministers; in Maine, 12 societies, 8 ministers; in New Hampshire, 11 societies, 10 ministers; in Vermont, 3 societies, 1 minister; in Rhode Island, 2 societies, 2 ministers; in Connecticut, 2 societies, 1 minister.

Total in New England, 177 societies, 140 ministers. In the other States of the Union the Congregational societies are few, but they have been gathered in most instances by Unitarians; who have five societies in New York with three ministers, five in Pennsylvania with two ministers, one in the District of Columbia, and one in each of the states of Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Ohio.

Total of Congregational Unitarian societies in the United States 193; of settled ministers 147.

While the increase of societies in New England has been greater than could be supplied with constant preaching, the churches at a distance are – with a single exception, where the house has been closed for want of a preacher, in a better condition in regard to temporal affairs than they were a year ago; and so far as an interest in public worship, a devotion to the truth, and a life of practical piety are evidences of spiritual prosperity,

we have reason to rejoice with them; for 'walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of a holy spirit, they have been multiplied.'

The developement of opinion in the Western States deserves special mention. In our last Report it was stated that a society had been formed in Cincinnati, the key to the whole valley of the Mississippi. In the course of the last autumn, Rev. Mr Pierpont of this city spent some time in Cincinnati, and extended his visit to Kentucky and Missouri. During this journey he had frequent opportunities of ascertaining the desire of the people to be instructed in a rational faith, and the necessity of inculcating simple views of religion that they might be saved from scepticism, or indifference, or even contempt and warfare against religious institutions. Mr Pierpont preached in Louisville, and in St Louis, by request, and the gospel which he preached was heard gladly, both by the common people and by men of intelligence and influence. At Louisville a Unitarian society has since been formed, and at Cincinnati a church has just been dedicated. The impressions of other gentlemen, who have visited these States, are such as must have been produced by a discovery of the wants and wishes of the inhabitants; wants which Unitarian Christianity alone can satisfy, and wishes which look to us for the means of gratification.

In the western part of the State of New York, opportunities have been presented for planting our faith in minds eager to receive it, of which the Committee have been unable to avail themselves. The society in Rochester, repeatedly disappointed in their hope of fixing among them a minister, still continue their exertions. The

violent means pursued to give religious sentiment a preponderance over error and worldliness, have produced a reaction, which it is exceedingly important to control, lest it should leap the barriers of christian faith and social order. We cannot indeed express our anxiety for those portions of our Union, where society has not yet fallen into regular habits of thought, from the waves of feeling and passion which belong to recent settlement. We regard these fields as full of promise for the Christian laborer, teeming as they are with new life, but from their very fertility liable to be covered with the tares of the evil one.

Having given what we conceive to be a just view of the state of Unitarianism in our country, we proceed to notice the resources which it has for a wider diffusion of its principles. Independently of its intrinsic excellence and of the impulse which it may receive from the virtues and the prayers of its disciples, it possesses certain exterior and incidental means of dissemination; and its progress may be greatly accelerated by a judicious use of these means. They are its benevolent associations, its periodical and other publications, and its preachers. A few words will exhibit the present condition of each of these means.

The societies which make the diffusion of Unitarian Christianity their sole object, are, besides our own, these five. The Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, Piety and Charity, was established-by Emerson, Buckminster, Kirkland and others, among the dead and the living, whose names are dear to us,for the purpose of printing cheap religious books. They redeemed the pledge they gave in their constitution,

by the successive numbers of the Christian Monitor. For some years this society has been inactive, but it has a coniderable fund, and is intending to resume its operations.

The Evangelical Missionary Society was originally formed in the counties of Worcester and Middlesex for the purpose of affording aid to feeble churches. This society has been very useful, and continues by its annual appropriations to sustain many who might without its aid despond.

The hope is entertained that in future years these two societies will unite with this Association in the celebration of their anniversaries.

The Society for the Promotion of Christianity in India has valuable funds at its disposal, and when a proper opportunity shall occur, its officers will be ready to follow the intimations of Providence.

The Unitarian Book and Pamphlet Society, though it has been in operation only three years, has done extensive good. While it is independent of this Association, it cooperates with it most effectually, and as the distributor of our tracts, and the pioneer of our missionaries, its aid is every year seen to be more important.

The Boston Sunday School Society has been but partially successful in that branch of its operations which consists in publishing juvenile books, in consequence of embarrassments, which will soon be removed. In other respects it has been eminently useful; in drawing attention to the subject of Sunday schools by its circulars, in strengthening the interest felt in this subject by its annual celebrations, and in quickening the zeal and enlightening the judgment of teachers by its quarterly

meetings. The Report read at the last anniversary afforded conclusive evidence of its usefulness. Sunday schools, which a few years since, were rare among us, are now almost universal, and have become subjects of deep regard.

Our periodical publications, are also five. The Christian Register has been conducted the last year with spirit and industry. The Unitarian Advocate has passed from the hands of its former editor, but has retained its character for ability, and practical value. The Christian Teacher's Manual has also appeared in a new series, but is supported by the same talented and judicious wriThe Liberal Preacher offers its monthly selection from the manuscripts of our living divines; and the Christian Examiner, uniting sound literary judgment to a fervent spirit of religious inquiry, is exerting an influence upon opinions and morals to which it is richly entitled.

ters.

The third instrument which we may use for the spread of our faith is the ministry, the institution which Jesus Christ himself founded, when he sent forth his apostles to preach the everlasting gospel. The age demands an intelligent, active, and disinterested ministry. It is more important than our words can show, that such a ministry be educated for our churches. We have one Theological School, and the Committee do not think the slightest exaggeration was used, when it was styled by a recent advocate of its claims, the great religious charity of the day.' It stands in the front of those institutions which Unitarian Christians should be anxious to foster. The ill health of one of the Professors, which has obliged him to resign a part of his duties, and the

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