INTELLIGENCE.

DEDICATION AT TRENTON, N. Y.-The dedication of the beautiful and chaste church-edifice at Holland Patent Square, in the west part of Trenton, took place on Thursday, January 19, 1843. The building, erected by the spirited and laudable exertions of that part of the community friendly to free inquiry, is of stone, with a Doric front,-small, but very commodious and perfectly neat; displaying good taste, and evincing the spirit of Liberal Christianity-being free for all, each one having the same right to the church.

The house was crowded, (so that many were deprived of the opportunity of entering,) and all present gave their undivided attention to the services; which commenced with, an Invocation, by Rev. Mr. Storer of Syracuse; then followed an Anthem, by the choir; the Dedicatory Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Peirce, the former pastor of the church; Selections from Scripture were read by the present pastor, Rev. Mr. Buckingham; followed by singing; after which Mr. Buckingham delivered the Sermon; an original Ode was then sung; and the Concluding Prayer was offered by Dr. Smith of Newport.

Mr. Buckingham's text was taken from the prayer of our Saviour, John xvii. 17: "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." After giving a few illustrations in answer to the question, what is piety, he proceeded to discuss the question, how is piety to be obtained? Each sect puts forth a claim to truth, and warns us of the danger, temporal or eternal, of listening to the teachings of other sects. The preacher however maintained, that it is not sectarian truth by which we are to find sanctification: that many of its earnest defenders are unsanctified; that the great reforms in the Christian Church have proceeded from great and good men, who separated from pre-existing sects and churches which claimed them, and stood before the world as Christians only: that whoever enjoys piety is catholic in his feelings, and whoever attains piety attains it by leaving all human instructions and repairing to God alone: that sanctifying truth abides in all hearts; no creed can expel it, no profession of unbelief can destroy it. When faith is spoken of as essential, it is confidence, trust in God which is meant; without this confidence there is no escape from sin, and with it no possibility of sinning. On the ground of this faith, the Christian is ready to unite with all people; and since the heart's sympathy impels him, he cannot be prevented. The Christian, however, does not offer fellowship to any sect, or church, and cannot do so; fellowship, like friendship, depends on confidence in

men's virtue, and can be given to individuals alone. The discourse was ended by a brief account of Unitarianism; in which it was maintained that its fundamental principle is not a theological truth, but an attempt to maintain liberty of conscience; and the audience were exhorted to seek sanctifying truth, wherever it might be found.

INSTALLATION At Standish, Me.--Rev. A. M. Bridge, late of Norton, Mass., was installed over the First Congregational Society in Standish on Wednesday, January 25, 1843. The exercises were as follows:-Introductory Prayer, and Selections from the Scriptures, by Mr. S. B. Cruft of Boston; Sermon, by Rev. Mr. Bigelow of Danvers; Prayer of Installation, by Rev. Dr. Nichols of Portland; Charge, by Rev. Mr. Wheeler of Topsham; Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Edes of Kennebunk; Address to the Society, by Rev. Mr. Whitman of Portland; Concluding Prayer, by Mr. J. T. G. Nichols of Saco. Mr. Bigelow took for his text Paul's charge to Archippus-Colossians iv. 17: "Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.” His object was, to set forth the Aims, Duties, and Purposes of the Christian Ministry. He remarked that there had always been a ministry, from the very beginning going on, of Nature and Providence. God never had been without a witness. The heavens and the earth were his perpetual preachers. But man was so familiar with them that they ceased to impress his mind, and becoming deaf to their voice needed other ministers-one that might more immediately stand between him and his God, speak more sympathizingly to his soul, point out a surer means of satisfying its wants-showing how the broken spirit might be healed, and be made alive again from anxious cares and distressing doubts. Hence arose the Christian Ministry— "standing between the living and the dead." Its leading purposes were, 1. Truth-immutable and inflexible-which the minister was to imbue himself with, and preach and live. 2. Grace-free, universal— which all were to have, without which all human efforts were vain, and "personal merit" forever out of question. The minister was especially to study to possess himself of this divine charity. 3. Reconciliation-the grand leading purpose of the Ministry-to bring back sinners unto God. For all have sinned, and all need to be reconciled. It was to be feared, that amid the prevailing religious excitement the deep sinfulness of the heart was not enough regarded; the religion preached was more apt to be speculative than vital; accomplished theologians were made, rather than practical, experimental Christians. Unitarianism had been accused of this defect. But such was not its real tendency, but the

farthest from it. If preached as a coldly intellectual system, it belied its origin. No religion with such results could come from God. The heart must be reached. The minister must be true to this-true to himself, to his faith, to his Master. The discourse was closed with the customary salutations to the people and their newly elected pastor.

The Charge to the Candidate was, that he should never lose sight of the Gospel in his studies and walks,-that he should labour ever to make practical Christians, and not partisans,-should be independent in conduct and speech, but not slavishly so-never being a "slave to the thought of being called independent,”—should restrict himself to his own duties at home, coveting not the reputation of a "universal bishop" -should promote the blessings of a good neighborhood, and a kindly, social spirit with all of every sect and name.-In the Right Hand of Fellowship Mr. Edes welcomed his friend to the labors and studies of a new sphere, congratulating him that experience had already been his instructer in his holy work, and bidding him receive the rite as a recognition and confirmation on his own part of its varied duties-regardful at the same time of the temper and spirit in which it was first so beautifully given by the Apostles-and as a welcome into the great Christian Brotherhood of Saints.-The Address to the People urged upon them the importance of keeping their minister free from unnecessary cares and anxieties, of being faithful in their attendance upon public worship, —of laboring ever in concert with their pastor in his various labors for their good, and in building up their church,—of giving him their prayers, and receiving him at their homes as a nearest friend and brother.

The society in Standish is at present in a more promising condition than it has been. Its members have suffered much, in common with other churches, from their means not being adequate to their will for the support of religious institutions. From inability to support a preacher of their own they had become quite discouraged, and been variously scattered abroad since their former Pastor, Mr. Wheeler (now of Topsham) left them, about three years ago. During the last sunimer an effort was made to procure preaching, and with success. A new religious interest was awakened, the fruits of which are now apparent in the settlement of Mr. Bridge with entire unanimity. Under his ministrations the Society has already begun steadily to grow, and the hearts. of both Pastor and People are much strengthened.

ORDINATION AT DORCHESTER, MASS.-Rev. Richard Pike, formerly of Bowdoin College, Maine, was ordained over the Third Religious

Society in Dorchester, on Wednesday, February 8, 1843. The members of the ecclesiastical council from Portsmouth and Portland, who were expected to take a principal part in the services, were detained on the road by delays occasioned by the depth of snow, and after considerable exposure as well as detention those of them who left home arrived at Dorchester as the services of ordination, which in their absence and under the improbability of their appearance had been assigned to others, were just closing. These were as follows:-Introductory Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Hall of Dorchester; Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. Mr. Huntoon of Canton; Sermon, by Rev. Mr. Lothrop of Boston; Ordaining Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Putnam of Roxbury; Charge, by Rev. Mr. Gannett of Boston; Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Angier of Milton; Address to the Society, by Rev. Mr. Cunningham, late minister of the Society; Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Peabody of Portsmouth.

Mr. Lothrop's text was from Luke x. 24: "For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them;" which he expanded into the broader statement, that the want of the whole world called for Christianity, and by Christianity is supplied; and the illustration of this statement he made the subject of his discourse. After remarking generally on the value of Christianity, and the Bible, as the sources of an immense amount of good influences, he selected the following points of illustration. 1. Christ was desired as a teacher of truth; which neither learning nor study had been able satisfactorily to discover. Natural religion was not sufficient for this end, as was manifest in the idolatry into which it degenerated; nor was philosophy adequate to this office without revelation. 2, Christ fulfilled the desire of all nations as a messenger of mercy-bearing lessons of repentance and offers of pardon to man. Ignorance associated with guilt loaded the altars of Heathenism with sacrifices, till Christ came ́and showed a better way of reconciliation. 3. In him the desire of the wise and good was fulfilled, because he not only taught, but exemplified truth, and showed what human nature may become under the influences of his Gospel. Evidences every where abound of man's delight in the excellent; but now we need not resort to works of fiction for the ideal which our minds love to contemplate, for all truth is represented, all excellence embodied in the character of Christ. 4. He has satisfied the universal want by bringing life and immortality to light-establishing and giving certainty to our faith in that great truth which philosophy sought after and man needed; without a knowledge of which every thing seems to be inscribed with the sentence, 'thou shalt die,' while confidence in it brings comfort, hope, peace and gladness to the heart.

The subject was then presented in its more immediate relations to the ministry and the people, as the preacher exposed that want of a due appreciation of Christianity, which is manifest in the imperfect obedience that it receives. Our lives, hearts, tempers are not Christian, as they should be.

The members of the Society over which Mr. Pike was ordained, reside in that part of Dorchester which adjoins Milton. An account of the dedication of the beautiful meeting-house, which they erected between two and three years since, was given in the Month. Misc. III. 351-2.

INSTALLATION AT DANVERS, MASS.-Rev. Andrew Bigelow, who lately resigned his ministry at Taunton, was installed over the First Unitarian Congregational Society in Danvers, on Wednesday, February 15, 1843. The interruption which the snow of the previous day occasioned in the passage of the trains on the railroad prevented several members of the Council from reaching the town before 1 o'clock; the public services, which were appointed for the morning, were therefore necessarily deferred till afternoon, when a large congregation again assembled, filling the house. The Introductory Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Thayer of Beverly; the Scriptures were read by Rev. Mr. Waite of Gloucester; the Sermon was delivered by Rev. Mr. Lothrop of Boston; the Installing Prayer, offered by Rev. Dr. Flint of Salem; the Charge, given by Rev. Mr. Bartlett of Marblehead; the Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Ellis of Charlestown; the Address to the People, by Rev. Mr. Barrett of Boston; and the Concluding Prayer, offered by Rev. Mr. Sewall, the late Pastor of the Society.

Mr. Lothrop chose as his text the charge given by Paul-2 Timothy iii. 14 :—“ But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." After a few introductory remarks, he stated his subject to be—the Independent Congregationalism of New England. This he considered, first, in its origin, in noticing which he paid a tribute of grateful praise to our Puritan forefathers. He then presented the great idea, the fundamental principle, of Congregationalism, in contrast with two opposite tendencies of the present time, which show the importance of adhering to the system under which our churches are organized, viz, the rationalistic tendency, which exalts the soul above the Bible, and the despotic tendency which puts the Church above the Bible. Upon the preposterous character of the latter error Mr. Lothrop enlarged at considerable length. The principle which constitutes the basis of Congregationalism is this—that the Bible, addressed to the individual, and interpreted