absence of another, who was induced to seek a foreignclimate by the same cause, have been unfortunate circumstances, but the school at Cambridge has been, since our last meeting, more prosperous than at any former period. Nothing could exhibit more clearly the importance of this seminary, or the advance of our faith, than the facts, that though the Directors established last summer a regulation, restraining the members of the School from preaching, they ha e been compelled by the imperious wants of the churches to suspend the operation of the rule in many cases, and that at this time several, who if the prescribed term of preparation had been observed would now be at Cambridge, are ordained clergymen, or are under engagements to settle in the ministry. These facts should be known, that serious young men, whose desire is for usefulness, may enter on a path which is sure to lead them to it, and that they, who can give substantial patronage, may enlarge the means of education possessed by this School.

After this sketch of the state and resources of our denomination, the Committee will only glance at a few reasons for activity and effort, which they think may be urged with pertinency at this time; and in doing this, they will complete their duty in submitting this Report, by adverting to some of the aspects of society about us.

We regard the extension of our faith as the great means of opposing and subverting error in opinion, and should therefore use all upright means of giving it currency and securing for it favor. There are two extremes in error, against each of which Unitarian Christianity directs its force, and is in the hand of him

who wields it a two edged sword, to cut down with equal ease the sophisms of infidelity and the absurdities of fanaticism. Within a year or two past some alarm has been excited by the efforts of a few individuals in some parts of our country to disseminate the rankest form of unbelief, even to convert this people into a nation of atheists. The attempt was too preposterous to be successful, and by its very extravagance and effrontery is defeating itself. We are confident that if evangelical Unitarianism be preached intelligibly and earnestly— and how else can it be preached by one who reverences it as the gift of God - they to whom the advocates of infidelity address themselves, will be prepared to repel their arguments and to rebuke their sneers.

Another kind of scepticism is far more dangerous because it attacks minds of a higher order. It is often, if not in most instances, occasioned by false representations of divine truth, and can be supplanted only by showing that the religion of the New Testament is not a religion of mystery, contradiction or fanatical excess. That infidelity of this character exists in our land, and that it has tainted some souls of a noble mould we know, and we are anxious that the christian revelation should be presented to them in its original beauty, for we believe that they would acknowledge its heavenly origin, and embrace it with a cordial faith.

Towards the other extreme of error, we find the various corruptions of the gospel, by which it has been despoiled of its simplicity, and arrayed in the poor inventions of human wisdom. So far as we have been able to mark the current of events or to note the changes of opinion, it seems to us that error is growing to be

ashamed of its absurdities, though it retains its attachment to old names. In much of this controversy about names, we discern an indication of consciousness of improvement. Let this improvement go on silently where it cannot advance openly, but as we desire that the pure religion of the Saviour of mankind should take the place of every error that assumes to be christian, we shall be diligent in extending the knowledge of our faith.

We discover another incitement to this work in the tendency of our faith to resist and quell the spirit of exclusion, which if not checked would sweep the land as with the breath of pestilence. We abhor from our souls bigotry, and uncharitableness, and every form and shape of spiritual arrogance. We will neither be politicians in religion nor religionists in politics. We will worship God according to our persuasion of duty, whether others call it heresy or not, and let them worship God after the manner of their belief, whether we think it right or wrong, Unitarian Christianity, as we understand it, and as we would diffuse it, is essentially a free faith, giving freedom to those who hold it, and not forging chains for its opposers. For this reason we value it, and according to our respect for the rights of the mind, our sense of the worth of intellectual and religious liberty, and our determination to oppose to the last breath every attempt to fetter and trammel theological investigation, will be the earnestness of our endeavors to disseminate religious truth, knowing that where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Occasionally during the last year, our opinions and our friends have been assailed by language as indecorous as it was unchristian, but denunciation has lost its power,

and we believe that among those who think us in great error, a more just spirit prevails. A party may press its measures without regard to propriety or truth, but it will be found that they sacrifice also their character and gain nothing. Virulence and exclusiveness, if not successful in their objects, cover those who use them with shame.

But above all other reasons, we burn with a desire to propagate our faith, because we believe that it is the great instrument of staying and subduing irreligion. It is because Unitarian Christianity is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes it as it ought to be believed, that we are chiefly anxious to multiply facilities for its progress through the world. We believe that our Master, when he ascended to his Father and his God, left it to carry on the work for which he came, to call sinners to repentance. We believe that he taught and suffered, that he might make men partakers of the divine holiness, and that the religion which lawfully bears his name, must have this for its object and effect. Therefore we wish not only ourselves to be followers of Christ, but to bring others to walk with us. Therefore we would labor to remove every obstacle in the way of this faith, and would win others to its love and obedience. We see vice and crime, private and public sin, personal and social wickedness on every side of us; the moral atmosphere in which we live is not pure. We would send the spirit of our religion through it; we would hold up to general view those solemu truths and affecting revelations and momentous sanctions by which the careless may be moved, and the perverse be humbled; by which they who are disobedient may be reclaimed,

and they who are in the way of righteousness may be animated to perseverance.

With this estimation of our faith we would not only live and die by it, but we would live, and if Providence require the immolation, we would die for it. We can hardly repress our astonishment when we hear Unitarian Christianity reproached as a lax system, as a faith deficient in moral power. We can hardly hold our peace, when any one who professes to understand it, does not perceive its practical and spiritual character. These are in our eyes its peculiar features. We are not ignorant that the best and the only satisfactory proof that we can give to others of its moral efficacy is its influence on ourselves. We do not deem it without our province to remind our brethren, in the language of an apostle, that they who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. It is said by some who differ from us that this belief is not sufficient to work this effect. We ask no other faith than that which makes the God, whom Jesus Christ revealed, the centre of its thoughts and aims; and if we do not show forth the power of this faith in our characters, we have not learned the alphabet of our religion.

The world is crying out for truth, and freedom, and holiness. These are the three great blessings of man. We believe that Unitarian Christianity confers them all, and therefore we labor and pray that it may become universal.

All which is respectfully submitted.