A Scripture Catechism; containing the Principles of the Christian Religion, stated in the Words of the Bible. For the use of Sunday Schools. Boston: Crosby & Nichols. 1845. 12mo. pp. 56.

THIS, we conceive, is just what the times demand. It supplies a want which has been for some time sensibly felt, - that is, of a little manual for the use of Sunday schools, which should serve not only to awaken the religious affections of the young, but help them to obtain definite conceptions of what the Scriptural doctrines, on some of the most important subjects, really are. The title of this manual indicates its character, and the following sentence from the excellent preface, gives further intimation of the leading views of the writer. "Revelation," observes the author, who, we suppose we are authorized to say, is Rev. Mr. Peabody of New Bedford, "proceeds on the idea to whose importance the experience of our own day gives ample and melancholy testimony that it is not enough to appeal to and awaken the religious sensibilities, but that men need instruction in religious truth." Without saying anything in disparagement of other manuals, or instituting any comparison, we may be permitted to express the hope that this will soon be extensively introduced into our Sunday schools. The hints contained in the preface, concerning the mode of using it, however, should be carefully attended to.

L..

Rejoinder to the "Reply" of the Hon. Horace Mann, Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education, to the “Remarks" of the Association of Boston Masters upon his Seventh Annual Report. Boston: Little & Brown. 1845. 8vo. pp. 64.

We hope that this pamphlet of the "Boston Masters" will close the controversy between them and the Secretary of the Board of Education, a controversy begun with considerable ill-nature on their part, and continued by a reply from Mr. Mann, written under a degree of excitement which biased his judgment and exposed him to the charge of misrepresentation, a charge which he doubtless meant to avoid, but which even the most temperate controversialist can hardly escape without great care and forbearance. The "Reply" laid him open to retort, and the Masters have availed themselves of their opportunities. They have been careful to express their respect for his merits, but parts of the "Rejoinder," without being abusive, are severe, and much of it is able and convincing. VOL. XXXIX. 4TH S. VOL. IV. NO. I.

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We particularly refer to the portion which treats of the modes of teaching children to read, and the article on school discipline. We can see no good likely to follow from a continuance of this dispute. There is no probability that more light will be thrown on the original subjects of controversy, and both sides must be losers by prolonging a mere personal altercation. The public are much more likely to believe charges than to investigate their truth; and when two parties undertake to injure each other's reputation, they are likely to be both successful.

W.

Allegories and Christian Lessons: For Children. By T. B. Fox. Boston Crosby & Nichols. 1845. 18mo. pp. 144. Hebrew Tales. Selected and translated from the Writings of the Ancient Hebrew Sages. Boston: Crosby & Nichols. 1845. 12mo. pp. 100.

Ella Herbert; or, Self-Denial. By a LADY. Boston: Crosby & Nichols. 1845. 18mo. pp. 71.

Moral Tales, for Young People. By Mrs. E. SEDGEWICK. Boston Crosby & Nichols. 1845. 3 vols. 18mo. pp. 220, 216, 246.

Five Years of Youth; of Sense and Sentiment. By HARRIET MARTINEAU. With a Preface by Mrs. E. L. Follen. Second American edition. Boston Crosby & Nichols. 1845. 18mo. pp. 255.

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THESE works, though somewhat differing in character, form, we think, very suitable books for juvenile reading and Sunday school libraries. - The Allegories" and Lessons by Mr. Fox, though most of them have been already printed for private distribution, have never, we believe, been published, and they are worthy of publication in this collected form. The "Hebrew Tales," selected from a compilation by Hurwitz, may be safely put into the hands of the young, but will not have less interest for older readers, who may derive both pleasure and profit from the perusal. "Ella Herbert" is written in a tone of pure Christian morality and feeling, and is fitted, we should think, to interest children. The "Moral Tales" by Mrs. Sedgewick, consisting of "Lessons without Books," "Louisa and her Cousins," "the Beatitudes," and "Pleasant Sundays," published separately a few years ago, will, we hope, obtain in this uniform reprint the increased circulation which they deserve. Miss Martineau's "Five Years of Youth" now appears in this country with a prefatory notice from Mrs. Follen, whose commendation, though strongly expressed, is, we think, justly bestowed.

L.

INTELLIGENCE.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

Ecclesiastical Record. Since the publication of our last number, the unhappy difference which had existed for some time between Rev. Mr. Pierpont and the Proprietors of the Hollis Street meetinghouse in this city, has been brought to a close by Mr. Pierpont's resignation of his office as minister of the congregation. Four years ago an Ecclesiastical Council, after some days spent in examining certain "grounds of complaint" preferred against Mr. Pierpont, "resolved" that they did not furnish sufficient occasion for advising a dissolution of the connexion between him and his parish. The Proprietors subsequently voted not to accept the result of the Council. Mr. Pierpont then instituted proceedings at law for the recovery of his salary, which the Proprietors had for some time declined paying. The decision of the Court was given a short time since in his favor. Some farther correspondence having ensued between the parties, Mr. Pierpont made a voluntary and unconditional resignation of the ministry which he had held for twenty-six years. The Proprietors, we learn, have since voted to repair the meetinghouse and remodel the interior. - Rev. Mr. Blodgett of Deerfield has been compelled by the state of his health to leave his pulpit and relinquish the labors of the ministry. — Rev. Mr. Whitman has dissolved his connexion with the Second Unitarian society in Portland, Me., at the close of the period for which the connexion was formed.—Rev. Mr. Angier has obtained the reluctant consent of his people to the resignation of his ministry at Milton. Rev. Mr. Dall has found his health so much affected by his labors in the ministry-at-large, that he will leave Baltimore, Md., as soon as any one shall appear to take his place. We should have said in our last number, that Rev. Mr. Lord, (not Mr. Cushing,) had left Chicago and gone to Milwaukie.

The congregation at Montreal, Canada, have completed their house of worship, which is a very neat building of stone, occupying one of the best situations in the city, and is in respect to the plan, the work, and the furniture, worthy of being taken as a model. The whole expense of erecting and furnishing the house, including the organ, was about $9,000; of which more than $4,000 were subscribed in Montreal, and nearly the same amount was obtained by Mr. Cordner in the United States. The cost of the land, in addition, was $3,000, which will fall due several years hence, and for the payment of which a sinking fund has already been commenced. The corner

stone of the Unitarian church at Hartford, Conn., was laid May 24, 1845, when an Address was delivered by Rev. Mr. Bellows of New York. A second Unitarian society has been organized at South Boston, where Rev. Mr. Thomas has conducted a service for several Sundays in a hall in the more thickly settled part of this suburb of our city. A suitable piece of ground has been purchased for the erection of a second Unitarian meetinghouse at Roxbury. The first steps have been taken in gathering another congregation in the northern part of Dorchester. Likewise in Rochester, Mass.

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The Anniversaries. - The meetings of the various religious and philanthropic associations which hold their anniversaries in this city at the close of May, were more fully attended this year than perhaps ever before. The facilities of travel have so greatly reduced both the expense and time necessary for a visit to Boston, that we may now expect a larger attendance than in former years, but we observed indications also of a greater interest in the purposes for which these meetings are held. The weather was favorable, and a general feeling of satisfaction seemed to prevail—at least in our own body. Our limits compel us to be brief in our notice even of the Unitarian meetings, while we can but allude to the many others which occurred at the same time. The number of the anniversary occasions which fall within this week is becoming a serious inconvenience at least to those who would give any account of what is said and done. When two or three meetings are held at the same hour, selection is all that is permitted to human powers, and where almost every hour of the day has its appointed engagement, body and mind, the powers alike of attention and sensibility, feel the severity of the demand which is made upon them. Much as 66 anniversary week" may be welcomed, every one probably is glad when its exercises are finished.

American Unitarian Association.-The twentieth anniversary of this Association fell on Tuesday, May 27, 1845. The Committee, instead of attempting to crowd the business of the annual meeting into the hour or half-hour before the public services in the evening, from which inconvenience had been experienced in former years, appointed 9 o'clock in the morning as the hour of meeting, in the Berry Street vestry. Hon. Joseph Story, the President, being absent, and all the Vice Presidents, Hon. Stephen Fairbanks was chosen Chairman. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Farley of Brooklyn, N. Y. A resolution offered the last year by Mr. Farley, that the Constitution should be so amended as to increase the number of the Executive Committee, and provide for the appointment of laymen on the Board, was made the subject of discussion. The Association, finding the room in which they had assembled too small, adjourned to the Federal Street meetinghouse, where the discussion was resumed. Amendments to Mr. Farley's proposition were presented and considered, and after a free debate his motion, so far amended as to substitute in the fifth article of the Constitution, for the words "three Directors," the words — six Directors, two of whom at least shall be laymen, was adopted by a unanimous vote.

Rev. Mr. Lothrop offered a resolution empowering the Executive Committee to appoint a Travelling Agent, with a suitable salary; which was adopted. Mr. Geo. G. Channing offered a resolution authorizing the Executive Committee to apply for an Act of incorporation, if they should think it expedient; which was adopted. The Association then adjourned-at 1-2 past 12 o'clock-till the evening. At the adjourned meeting, the Officers of the Association for the present year were elected by ballot, viz.: Rev. ORVILLE DEWEY, D. D. of New York, President, Judge Story having declined a reelection; Rev. Charles Briggs, General Secretary; Rev. Samuel K. Lothrop, Assistant Secretary; Mr. Henry P. Fairbanks, Treasurer; Rev. Artemas B. Muzzey, Rev. George E. Ellis, Rev. Nathaniel Hall, Rev.

James F. Clarke, Henry B. Rogers Esq., Mr. Isaiah Bangs, Directors. The Vice Presidents of the last year were reelected by hand-vote, with the exception of James Taylor Esq., deceased, in whose place James H. Wells Esq. of Hartford, Conn., was chosen. The Treasurer read his Annual Report, which was accepted. The receipts of the year, including the balance on hand at the commencement, had been $11,255,54; the expenditures $9,149,90, and farther appropriations had been made to the amount of $4,624,59. An amendment of the Constitution, offered the last year by Mr. N. A. Barrett, was so amended as to provide that two of the Directors shall retire annually, and was then adopted.

The Association then adjourned from the vestry to the meetinghouse, which was crowded. Rev. Dr. Dewey presided. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Livermore of Keene, N. H. The Annual Report of the Executive Committee was read by Mr. Briggs. It presented a favorable view of the efficiency of the Association during the last year, and noticed the principal grounds of encouragement in the present state of our denomination. Mr. Lothrop presented a series of resolutions, from the Executive Committee, for discussion, having reference to the publication and distribution of tracts, the importance of theological education, and the extension of missionary efforts. Remarks were made by Rev. Messrs. Farley of Brooklyn, N. Y., Holland of Rochester, N. Y., Bellows of New York city, Harrington of Boston, Whitman of Portland, Me., Bulfinch of Boston, Fuller from Belvidere, Ill., Jones, late of Manchester, N. H., and the President. After which the Report was accepted, the usual Doxology was sung, and the meeting was dissolved at 10 o'clock. It was a good and pleasant meeting, yet we felt that if greater variety of topics and more spirituality of sentiment had marked the addresses, it would have been better. The speakers generally dwelt upon the visible relations and outward prosperity of Unitarianism.

The Collation. This festive occasion seems now to be established among the anniversaries to which anticipation looks forward, and memory recurs, with most delight. By the excellent arrangements of the Committee even a larger number were seated at the tables than on the last year. After exchanging kind words and greetings in the upper hall, the company proceeded to the floor over the depot of the Worcester railroad, which affords the largest apartment for such a purpose in Boston, with the single exception of Faneuil Hall. At half past 2 o'clock, (on Tuesday, May 27,) 932 persons, of whom at least one half were ladies, were comfortably arranged along six tables extending through the length of the room. Hon. John Quincy Adams presided. The Divine goodness was acknowledged and a blessing asked by Rev. Mr. Lunt of Quincy, and at the close of the repast thanks were returned by Rev. Mr. Barrett of Boston. An original hymn was then sung by the whole company. Mr. Adams then occupied a few minutes in an appropriate address, and invited others to follow him. After another hymn written for the occasion had been sung with great effect, remarks were made by Rev. Dr. Pierce of Brookline, Rev. Dr. Willard of Deerfield, and Samuel Greele Esq. of Boston; after which another original hymn was sung; which was followed by remarks from Rev. Mr. Gannett of