1845.] Notices of Recent Publications. 423 The Faith of the Unitarian Christian explained, justified, and distinguished. A Discourse delivered at the Dedication of the Unitarian Church, Montreal, on Sunday, May 11, 1845. By EZRA S. GANNETT, Minister of the Federal Street Church, Boston. Boston: Crosby & Nichols. 1845. 8vo. pp. 40. Address delivered at the Laying of the Corner-stone of the Second Church, on Thursday Morning, May 30, 1844. By CHANDLER ROBBINS, Minister of the Second Church and Society. Boston: I. R. Butts. 1844. 8vo. pp. 10. A Sermon delivered before the Proprietors of the Second Church, Wednesday, September 17, 1845, at the Dedication of their new House of Worship. By their Minister, CHANDLER ROBBINS. Boston. 1845. 8vo. pp. 40. A Discourse delivered at the Dedication of the First Church and Society in Somerville, Mass., on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 1845. By GEORGE E. ELLIS, Pastor of the Harvard Church, Charlestown. Boston: J. Munroe & Co. 8vo. pp. 24. Anti-Supernaturalism. A Sermon preached before the Senior Class of the Divinity School in Harvard University, July 13, 1845. By ANDREW P. PEABODY, Pastor of the South Church, Portsmouth, N. H. Cambridge: John Owen. 1845. 8vo. pp. 26. Discourse occasioned by the Death of the Hon. Joseph Story, LL. D., delivered in the Church of the First Parish in Cambridge, on Sunday, September 14, 1845. BY WILLIAM NEWELL, Pastor of the First Church in Cambridge. Cambridge: Metcalf & Co. 1845. 8vo. pp. 23. A Discourse commemorative of the Life and Character of the Hon. Joseph Story, LL. D., an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and Dane Professor of Law in Harvard University; pronounced on the eighteenth day of September, A. D. 1845, at the request of the Corporation of the University, and the Members of the Law School. By SIMON GREENLEAF, LL. D., Royal Professor of Law in Harvard University. Boston: Little & Brown. 8vo. pp. 48. Eulogy on the Hon. Benjamin Russell, delivered before the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Massachusetts, March 10, 1845. By Brother FRANCIS BAYLIES. Boston. 1845. 8vo. pp. 66. The Connection between Science and Religion. An Oration delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Harvard University, August 28, 1845. By ANDREW P. PEABODY. Boston Little & Brown. : 1845. 8vo. pp. 29. A Poem pronounced before the Phi Beta Kappa Society, at Cambridge, August 28, 1845. By CHARLES T. BROOKS. Boston Little & Brown. 1845. 8vo. pp. 36. An Address delivered before the American Peace Society, at its Annual Meeting, May 26, 1845. By WILLIAM JAY. Boston. 1845. 8vo. pp. 31. Emancipation in the British West Indies, August 1, 1834. An Address, delivered in the First Presbyterian Church in Syracuse, on the First of August, 1845. By SAMUEL J. MAY, Pastor of the Church of Messiah, in Syracuse. Syracuse. 1845. 8vo. pp. 24. 1845. Svo. Pp. 156. The Unconstitutionality of Slavery. By LYSANDER SPOONER. Memoir of James Grahame, LL. D., Author of the History of the United States of North America. Originally prepared for the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. By JOSIAH QUINCY. Boston: Little & Brown. 1845. Svo. Pp. 51. An Inquiry into the Views, Principles, Services, and Influences of the Leading Men in the Origination of our Union, and in the Formation and early Administration of our Present Government. By THADDEUS ALLEN. Boston. 1845. 8vo. pp. 86. On the Introduction of Natural History as a regular classic in our Seminaries. An Address delivered before the American Institute of Instruction, at Portland, Me., August, 1844. By CHARLES BROOKS, Boston. Boston: W. D. Ticknor & An Answer to "Questions addressed to the Rev. T. Parker and his Friends." By a "FRIEND INDEED." Boston. 1845. 8vo. pp. 24. Answers to Questions contained in Mr. Parker's Letter to the Boston Association of Congregational Ministers. By ONE NOT OF THE ASSOCIATION. Boston Crosby & Nichols. 1845. 8vo. pp. 39. We are compelled to dismiss the above enumerated sermons and pamphlets, most of which have accumulated upon our hands within the last two months, with a few brief words of notice, though some of them deserve much more. In the Dedication Discourse at Montreal the preacher treats of the topics which naturally suggested themselves on the occasion, the "import" of the name Unitarian, "the reasons for adopting it," and the 1845.] Notices of Recent Publications. 425 "differences" it indicates between Unitarian Christians and others, believers or unbelievers. - Mr. Robbins's Address at laying the corner-stone of his new church is short and simple, as such addresses should be, and full of the spirit of the occasion. In his Dedication Discourse, from the text, "My Father's House," he takes for his leading topic the "Christian idea of the value and uses of the place of worship." In some beautiful passages, and with much fervor, he speaks of the "sentiments of veneration and love" which intertwine themselves with "places and times," investing them with sacredness, before he proceeds to other topics more usual on such occasions, with which he closes; giving some interesting "reminiscences" in an appendix. The sentiment on which worship depends, the "historical facts" with which "our worship is connected," and the uses of worship, are among the topics impressively treated by Mr. Ellis in his Dedication Discourse, which is full of just and suggestive thought. Mr. Peabody's Sermon compares "the anti-supernatural theory of religion" with "the theory which admits miraculous evidence," "in a philosophical, spiritual, and practical point of view," to the advantage, in each instance, of the latter; and closes with remarks upon the impropriety of an exchange of ministerial offices between persons holding such widely different opinions. The discourse is written. in the author's best manner-clear, calm, and forcible. - In Mr. Newell's discourse the intellectual traits of Judge Story, the high stations he filled with so much ability and success, his writings, his private and social virtues, and his religious character, are all impressively touched upon, and the whole leaves on the mind the calm, beautiful image of a great and good man. Professor Greenleaf's Discourse contains a clear and succinct account of the public life, and especially of the professional services and character, and the various publications of his lamented colleague, written in a style of unusual chasteness, warm with the emotions of sincere admiration and personal friendship. The Eulogy on Hon. Benjamin Russell, long known as the editor of the Centinel, contains some rich gleanings of Revolutionary anecdote, and is altogether a performance worthy of both perusal and preservation. Mr. Peabody, in his Phi Beta Kappa Oration, proposes first, to exhibit the "essential agency," in the work of scientific investigation, "of just and adequate religious ideas and sentiments, and then to justify his position by a cursory survey of the history of science." There seems to us to be a want of sufficient qualification or development in some of the remarks, but the performance bears the stamp of the earnest and religious mind from which it proceeded. Mr. Brooks's Poem may not give in the perusal the satisfaction with which it was heard, but it contains passages which every one 66 will pronounce much above the ordinary accomplishment of anniversary bards. Some persons may object to the machinery of the poem as stale and heavy, yet it is on the whole managed with good effect; and, with some faulty lines, the production is creditable to Mr. Brooks as a versifier and an imaginative writer. Judge Jay strenuously pleads the cause of peace, points out the inconsistencies of Christians in regard to war, and concludes with some valuable statistical notices. - There is a little too much personal panegyric on the living in Mr. May's Address to suit our taste, yet is the performance, on the whole, a stirring one, full of the eloquence of truth. Mr. Spooner's pamphlet is written with ability, though we do not think he proves the point, or points, which he is anxious to establish. It is entitled, however, to the attention of those who are qualified to form an enlightened judgment respecting the bearing of our national Constitution, and our subsequent or previous legislation on the subject of Slavery. -The "Essay on the Philosophical character of Channing" contains the thoughts of a fresh, vigorous mind, many of which are highly suggestive," and whatever difference of opinion there may be as to the justness of the analysis, there can be none as to the author's quick sensibility to "the true, the beautiful and the good," or his ability to estimate them in their relation to the intellect and the life.. - President Quincy's "Memoirs of James Grahame," though brief, is a valuable contribution to our biographical literature, and does full justice to the "Author of the History of the United States of North America," words, which, in his last illness, Grahame requested should be engraven on the stone which marked his grave. - Mr. Allen's pamphlet appears to be the first of a series meant to consist almost altogether of extracts from Journals of Congress, Memoirs, Letters etc. of the "Revolutionary times." The work will contain a great mass of useful information in an authentic form. We hope that it will receive the encouragement it deserves. - Professor Brooks urges both the practicability and the benefit of making natural history a branch of instruction in our higher seminaries with earnestness and force. -The Answer to "Questions addressed to Rev. T. Parker and his Friends" contains short and somewhat tart replies to many of those questions, but we doubt whether the cause of truth and goodness is much promoted by this sort of warfare. The "Answers to Questions contained in Mr. Parker's Letter" are not thorough enough, we suspect, to satisfy Mr. Parker, nor will they, in every particular, as we think, meet the approbation of all those to whom that letter is addressed. Parts of the pamphlet, however, certainly exhibit much force and justness of remark. 1845.] Religious Intelligence. 427 INTELLIGENCE. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. Ecclesiastical Record. We rejoice that our present record of ministerial changes may be unusually small. The only instance which has come to our knowledge is that of Rev. Mr. Weiss of Watertown, who we regret should have been compelled so soon after entering on his professional duties to relinquish them, in consequence of ill health. Several installations and ordinations have occurred, notices of which will be found under the proper head, and two or three members of the last class from the Divinity School will be ordained as pastors in the course of a few weeks. Rev. Mr. Thomas has accepted the invitation of the Broadway Unitarian Society in South Boston to remain with them as their minister. Rev. Mr. Farley, who recently left Eastport, has taken the first steps towards gathering a congregation at East Boston, where he now preaches in a suitable hall every Sunday. Rev. Mr. Adam, formerly of Cambridge, has acceded to the request of the Unitarian Society at Toronto, Canada, that he would remain with them through the winter. Their success in securing a permanent establishment has exceeded their most confident hopes. A purchase has been made, at a very moderate price, of a meetinghouse formerly occupied by a Methodist congregation, and Mr. Adam, after preaching to them a few Sundays, obtained on a visit to Montreal and the United States the promise of a sufficient subscription to enable the society to pay for the building and to put it in good repair. In this city the dedication of the house erected by the Second Church in place of the one in which they had so long worshipped has occurred since our last publication. The house has been finished in a style of more than usual elegance, and while the interior exhibits the elaborate ornament of the Gothic architecture, the tower and lofty steeple add much to the goodly appearance of our city. The Hollis Street meetinghouse having been closed through the summer for repairs, has been reopened within a few weeks, and the usual religious services been resumed. The Congregational [Trinitarian] church in Green Street have been obliged by pecuniary embarassments to sell their meetinghouse; which has been bought by the society under the care of Rev. Mr. Towne, who have in consequence relinquished their purpose of erecting a new house on the land they had purchased in Hawkins Street. Rev. Dr. Jenks has resigned his connexion with the "Messiah Church," a portion of whose members have taken the hall in the Tremont Temple lately occupied by Mr. Towne's congregation, and continue to worship under the ministry of Rev. Mr. Chapman. - Rev. George Richards has been ordained as colleague pastor with Rev. Mr. Rogers over the Central [Trinitarian] church. A singular change has taken place in the use made of two former places of worship, each of which had acquired some notoriety in the religious history of Boston. The "Marlboro' Chapel" has been converted into a hall for the exhibition of a Chinese Museum; and the "Tabernacle" in Howard Street has been remodelled and opened for dramatic performances. |