timates his satisfaction, that no inconvenient burden was imposed by it upon those whose "own cup was any thing but silver-full of sorrow and need."

We are especially pleased with the good sense and modest dignity with which the writer speaks of the difficulties to a minister in accepting "extra donations" from his people, and particularly in accepting their praises. His scruples of delicacy in receiving the gift are very gracefully united with his gratitude for it. What was so affectionately offered he could not, in truth, without giving pain have refused. Therefore he thankfully receives it, not only as a personal compliment and as a symbol of mutual sympathies," but as "a sign of duty; an admonition to diligence;" and 66 as the earnest of that social and spiritual unity which ought to bind every flock."

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We have seldom met with any address of the sort that has pleased us more. Without quaintness or straining of words, Mr. Sargent has converted a temporal gift to a spiritual use; and with equal felicity of thought and expression has conveyed instruction, which we hope may prove of lasting benefit to his people.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL SINGING Book: Being a Collection of Hymns with appropriate Music, designed as a Guide and Assistant to the Devotional Exercises of Sabbath Schools and Families : Comprising also the Elements of Music, with directions for a good development of the Voice, and Vocal Exercises. By Edward L. White, Author of "The Sabbath School Choir," &c. Boston: W. Crosby & Co. 1843. pp. 112, 18mo.

THIS is a welcome aid to one department of Sunday School exercises. It is prepared with taste and judgment. Many of the excellent and time-cherished tunes used in our churches have been introduced, and new tunes, having much in their sweetness and simplicity to recommend them, have been added. The "directions for a good development of the voice" are judicious, and the experienced author is entitled to credit for the manner in which he has executed his task.

INTELLIGENCE.

ORDINATION AT FALL RIVER, MASS.-Rev. John F. W. Ware, of Cambridge, and of the class most recently graduated from the Cambridge Divinity School, was ordained as Pastor of the Unitarian Church and Society in Fall River, Wednesday, May 3, 1843. The Introductory Prayer was by Rev. Mr. Angier of Milton; Reading of Scriptures, by Rev. Mr. Huntington of Boston; Sermon, by Rev. Mr. Putnam of Roxbury; Prayer of Ordination, by Rev. Mr. Hall of Providence, R. I.; Charge, by Rev. Mr. Allen of Northboro'; Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Smith of Boston; Address to the People, by Rev. Mr. Briggs of Plymouth; Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Peabody of New Bedford.

The Sermon was on the Doctrines of the Gospel; the text from Romans i. 16: “The Gospel of Christ." What are, and what are not, the doctrines of the Gospel? There is reason for the discussion. Among Liberal Christians the movement is now a spiritual one. God speed it. But it is not therefore the less necessary to go back occasionally, to survey and to re-establish our doctrine,—the foundations of our Evangelical faith; to throw upon them such increased light as we may have gained. Other denominations were never more active in pushing forward and defending the dogmas of their creeds than at this moment. What are not doctrines of the Gospel? Several articles of belief which, though preached and defended popularly as such, are yet mere theories, things metaphysical and speculative; not in the Gospel, nor of it. The following were considered at some length and in order. 1. The nature of Christ; his rank, his position in the scale of being. Each Christian has probably his metaphysical theory of that nature. The several prevailing views were stated. The preacher has his grounds for his own view. But they are philosophical, not Christian. There is no Gospel doctrine on the subject. 2. Vicarious atonement. Here is a Christian who maintains, and here is another who cannot maintain, that the grand purpose of Christ's death was to make such an atonement. Let both, if they will, toil for their convictions. But let neither of themhe who asserts nor he who denies suppose that he is dealing then with Gospel doctrine. It may be justifiable sometimes for a religious teacher to depart from his peculiar work to contend with errors like this, because they are loudly proclaimed and sooner or later harm the character. But, for the time being he is not giving himself to Gospel

instruction, to the work of evangelizing. 3. Eternal punishment. One man believes it,―strangely enough, to him who holds the preacher's opinions of the character of God and the law of retribution. Another denies it; denies that the sinner sinks at death into utter, remediless, unquenchable, everlasting burning and torture. But neither has a right to hold that his doctrine is a Gospel doctrine; for the Gospel does not declare it. The Gospel teaches us of retribution. But its place and duration are not parts of revelation. These human dogmas, these theories, are mighty engines of sectarian triumph. We might use them with overwhelming effect; but we must not lie; no, not for God, no, not for righteousness' sake. What are doctrines of the Gospel? They are found in the books of the four Evangelists, and only there. They cannot be compressed, and it is the labor of a preacher's life to unfold them. Study them in the beatitudes, in the parable of the prodigal, in the Saviour's conversation with Nicodemus, in the scene at the cross. "Blessed are the pure in heart." Who ever went to the bottom of that text, and that "doctrine?" Self-renunciation, repentance, regeneration, -these are they. And there is a Gospel doctrine of the death of Jesus. He who muses over it and meditates and prays will understand it and be kindled by it. Let the young brother dwell among themes like these with his whole soul in them, and he may hope to be a preacher of the Gospel of Christ.

The Charge commenced with an allusion to the absence of one from whom the words of counsel were to have been spoken, whose absence, from illness, no one present could forget,—the candidate's father. Exhortation, and encouragement were then given to fidelity,—to watchfulness, prayer and zeal.—Mr. Smith, with the usual token of Fellowship from the churches, offered also cordial greetings to his companion in study, his classmate and friend. He mingled with expressions of welcome, assurances of satisfaction in the undertaken toil, provided only it should be engaged in with a cheerful heart, and pursued with faithfulness and devotion to the end.-Addressing the Society, Mr. Briggs reminded them in grateful terms of the former near connection between himself and them, and besought for his successor,-what their united invitation showed them ready to bestow,—the kindness he had so plenteously shared. A genuine sympathy, a perfect oneness of feeling and design, he regarded as the best bond between a minister and those to whom he ministers; and where that exists, all particular duties, of attention, concession, and care, will be ever found fully discharged.

The services were attended by interested companies from Boston, Cambridge, Providence, New Bedford, and the towns more nearly adjacent. The beautiful church was well filled.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF KINGSTON, MASS.-In the last number of the Miscellany we gave an account of the services at the Ordination of Rev. Mr. Pope at Kingston, Mass. We should have incorporated into that account the following brief sketch of the history of the church in Kingston, which was furnished us by a friend, had it been put into our hands in season. As it may be interesting to some of our readers, we insert it in the present number.

The town of Kingston was set off from Plymouth as a parish in 1717, and incorporated as a town in 1726. It was the fifth church, in order, of those which sprang from Plymouth, being preceded by those of Duxbury, Marshfield, Eastham and Plymouth.

Joseph Stacey, a liberal and learned man, was ordained as Pastor, November 2, 1720. He "was born in Cambridge in the year 1694, served his time at shoe-making, and subsequently received an education at Harvard College. He was a small man in stature, of great bodily activity, and delighting in gunning and fishing. He was very proficient in his studies, attentive to his duties, happy in the affections of his people, mild and liberal in his views, and extremely abstemious in his diet. He died of a fever, August 25, 1741." His ministry was nearly twentyone years in length. He graduated at Harvard College in 1739.

Thaddeus Maccarty succeeded Mr. Stacey, and was ordained November 3, 1742. Mr. Maccarty was not so happy as his predecessor in the ministry. He was inclined to favor Whitefield, who was then traversing the country, and who preached in Plymouth in the summer of 1745; and in consequence of a current rumor that the usual Thursday lecture was to be preached in Kingston by Mr. Whitefield, the Committee closed the doors of the house, and refused admission even to the Pastor. Insulted by this act, Mr. Maccarty asked his dismissal, but previously to any action upon his letter endeavored to withdraw it. The Church however answered his first petition, taking no notice of the second. He preached his farewell discourse November 3, 1745, from Acts xx. 31, which was certainly a very appropriate text. He was a violent and bigoted man, coarse in his manners, and an ultra Calvinist even of those days. a public preacher, he was solemn, loud, searching, and rousing; "—such is the testimony of a contemporary. After the excitement of his dismissal was over, the people expressed a high regard for him, and he bore testimony to the happiness of his ministry among them. He was called to Worcester, where he spent his days.

"As

William Rand succeeded Mr. Maccarty. He was born in Charlestown; was previously settled in Sunderland, and installed here in 1746. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1721. He died suddenly in 1779, aged 71 years. His ministry, of thirty-three years, was a very happy one. He was a mild and pleasant man, worthy of being esteemed by every

one. In his theological views he was a firm Calvinist, but ever conciliatory and charitable in his manner toward all his neighbors, some of whom had even then learned to think upon difficult questions.

Zephaniah Willis, a native of Bridgewater, who graduated at Harvard College in 1778, was ordained as fourth Pastor over this Society, October 18, 1780. Mr. Willis is still living. During his ministry, from the communication of his own views, the Society gradually left the walks of Calvinism, of which it was never over-fond. Mr. W. labored faithfully for forty-eight years with this Society as their active Pastor. In the year 1828 Jonathan Cole, of Salem, was invited to settle, and was ordained January 21, 1829. To Mr. Willis the Society continue much attached. His connection with the Church has never been dissolved by any vote. And he continues in his interest, as well as in fact, the Pastor of the Church and Society. It is over sixty-two years since he was settled here. And at the advanced age of eighty-five he continues a most constant attendant upon divine service, even when the weather is sufficiently inclement to keep his younger neighbors at home. His seat still faces the congregation, being underneath the pulpit. As a pastor, he was kind and considerate; as a parishioner, if such he may be called, none could be more indulgent and faithful.

The Society divided, when Mr. Willis withdrew from active service. Mr. Cole resigned his charge, and was afterwards invited to settle with the Unitarian Society in Hallowell, Me. John D. Sweet succeeded him, and was installed October 21, 1835. Augustus R. Pope has recently been ordained as his successor-April 19, 1843.

MIDDLESEX SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.-This body held its second semi-annual meeting at Lowell on Wednesday, May 3, 1843. Of the towns included within the Cambridge circuit, to which the Association is originally limited, the delegates were most numerous from Medford, Waltham and Concord. The morning was occupied in a conference of the teachers, in which there was a great deal of interesting and instructive remark, views and enforcement of the principles on which religious instruction of the young must be conducted, and conclusions as to the mode and discipline and means, drawn from actual trial and the observations of intelligence and love. At one o'clock the Association and their guests dined in the vestry; and at two the public meeting in the church was opened. Rev. Mr. Stetson of Medford preached, on the principles of the religious culture of the young. Rev. Mr. Waterston of Boston, and Mr. Hill from Cambridge spoke; and Mr. Thayer of Boston addressed the children of the Lowell Sun