Anniversary of the Baltimore Unitarian Society for the Distribution of Books. THE first anniversary of this society, took place on the twenty-fifth of December last. A discourse was delivered on the occasion, and a very liberal collection was made, for advancing the objects of the society. After the services of the day, the secretary read the following REPORT. In conformity with the articles of association, the managers beg leave to lay before the society a brief statement of their proceedings during the past year. After having obtained subscriptions to a considerable amount, one of their first acts was a resolution to print a monthly publication, to be called the Unitarian Miscellany, and which was accordingly commenced on the first day of January last. Their monthly meetings through the year have been devoted to the general concerns of this work, to deciding on what books and tracts it should be deemed expedient to reprint or purchase, and devising the best methods of distribution. It has been their aim, to employ the means of the society in such a way as to produce the most general and beneficial effects. The amount of funds derived from subscription, including the subscriptions to the Unitarian Miscellany, has been two thousand two hundred eighty dollars, and fifty cents, a portion of which is still outstanding. These funds have been so ample, as to enable the managers to purchase and distribute a great number of Bibles and other works, which are considered valuable as vehicles of religious instruction, as incitements to devotion and a christian spirit, and as guides to a pure and scriptural faith. The extraordinary and unexpected encouragement, afforded to the Unitarian Miscellany, has obliged the managers to resolve on printing a second edition of the first volume. Several of the first numbers are already reprinted. The character of the supporters of this work, must be highly gratifying to its immediate friends and patrons. It circulates throughout every part of the Union, and comprehends among its subscribers an unusual number of the most learned, intelligent, and distinguished citizens of the country, both in public and private capacities. It thus becomes an instrument of communicating what we conceive to be just religious sentiments, to that portion of society, which will be likely to produce the widest and strongest influence on the community at large. It cannot fail, also, to be a source of great joy to the society, that opinions and views, for the advancement of which we have united our humble efforts, and which we deem of vital importance, as they relate both to our comfort and improvement in this world, and to our everlasting welfare, are becoming daily better understood and more widely and rapidly embraced. In the extensive correspondence, which has been occasioned in the management of the concerns of the society, a strong and decided impression has been made on the minds of the managers, that the chief cause of infidelity in this country, has been the teaching, as doctrines of christianity, those corruptions, which have been incorporated with it in the articles of churches, and the decrees of councils. In this advanced stage of intellectual improvement, it is not surprising, that the minds of most men should revolt at propositions, professing to be a revelation from heaven, which are contradictory in themselves, and in compatible with the just government and paternal character of God. Men are not averse to the belief, that God has made known to his rational creatures, his will in relation to their moral conduct, and their prospects in a future state of immortality; nor do they revolt at the gospel evidences of the divine mission of Jesus of Nazareth, his holy messenger; but only at the perverse interpretations and inconsistent doctrines, which these evidences have been supposed to maintain, and which have diminished their force and weakened their efficacy. Is it not, then, the duty of this society, as christians, to extend, as diffusely as their means will admit, such works as will carry on that reformation, which commenced with Luther and Calvin, with Zuinglius and Erasmus, and which, we trust in God, will result in the complete restoration of the religion of Jesus Christ? By order of the managers, HENRY PAYSON, Prest. After the reading of the report, the society proceeded to elect the following managers for the ensuing year, HENRY PAYSON, President. CHARLES H. APPLETON, Secretary. NATHANIEL WILLIAMS, Librarian. HON. THEODORICK BLAND, ISAAC PHILLIPS, Jun. REV. JARED SPARKS, HUGH YOUNG, ABRAHAM PYKE, JOHN HASTINGS, SAMUEL G. HYDE, DANIEL KRABER, JUN. The Rev. Robert Little has been chosen pastor of the Unitarian Society in Washington City. A handsome and commodious house for public worship, is now building by the society, and will be completed in the spring. AMONG protestants are three general forms of church government and discipline, namely, the Independent, Presbyterian, and Episcopalian. By the first, all ecclesiastical authority is vested in each separate congregation; the second maintains a parity in the ministerial office, but reposes the sole power of ordination, and of instituting rules of discipline, in the hands of a presbytery, or an associated body of clergymen; the third is distinguished by having three orders in the ministry, called bishops, priests, and deacons, and by maintaining, that the order of bishops alone has the power of ordination. All these forms have been defended by learned men, and warm partizans. The advocates of each have claimed pre-eminence for their scheme, and asserted that it was founded on divine right, established by the authority of the apostles, and the usages of the primitive christians. This diversity of sentiment is enough, if we had nothing more, to show, on what a feeble foundation any argument for a divine right must rest. Had the Saviour instituted a particular form of government, which should be essential to give validity to the minis terial office, and to establish a proper organization of his church, the subject would hardly have been left so much in the dark, that men of equal seriousness, learning, and research, should come to conclusions totally opposite. Whatever is essential to the faith, practice, and salvation of his followers, must, in the nature of things, be plain, and easily understood. It will be a difficult task for any one, who is not influenced by a predilection for a system, to discover a single passage in the four Gospels, which indicates the will of the Saviour respecting the external government of his church. The discipline of the heart and the affections, is abundantly and repeatedly taught; the rules of a good life are positive and clear; the spirit of order, amity, and union, pervades all his instructions; but not a rule is given, not a word is said, respecting outward forms, the mode of ordination, or qualifications for office. And although we learn in holy writ some of the practices of the apostles, yet they have left no injunctions, nor any where declared, that they conceived a particular mode the only correct one. All these things appear to have been left to the future discretion and judgment of christians. It is their duty to adopt such a system of government and discipline, as they think most likely, under given circumstances, to secure the great ends of religion, which are holiness of life, piety unfeigned, charity and love for men, and an entire conformity to the will of God. We believe the Independent form was the one in use by the apostles, and as nearly like that since adopted, as could be expected under the different circumstances of the times. Episcopacy was early in use. The unnatural combination between church and state, which commenced in the first ages of christianity, required |
