to be had in everlasting remembrance. And if it be true, that any portion of the members of the Presbyterian congregations, whose ministers are among the Remonstrants, belong to that most despicable of all factions, "the Orange," and if these be the parties who are now made thorns in the flesh to those on whose ministrations they once attended, we trust it will be a warning to all Christian teachers, and those especially, openly and indefatigably to inculcate the principles of Christian liberty, to "declare the whole counsel of God," and never to truckle, from any considerations of expediency, to national or sectarian prejudices. It has been the boast of Presbyterian government, that it was favourable to freedom. Milton thought differently, and so do we. We cannot theoretically conceive of the co-existence in the same mind, of Orangeism and Christianity, and if, practically, it finds a dwellingplace in old and stated members of these congregations, surely it must be, that sufficient pains have not been taken in the moral and religious instruction of the people belonging to such societies. We trust that the errors of past times, will operate as inducements to the more faithful and energetic performance of duty, in the years that

are to come.

Bitter indeed must be the spirit excited, when, at one place, Cairncastle, a memorial to the Presbytery was handed about, the individual inquiring, if the parties to whom he applied for signatures, "would sign for Christ or Alexander," the name of the minister. Or at Clough, where the Meeting-house was defended by force of arms; and the Presbytery of Antrim, who were assembled to the ordination of the minister, were debarred an entrancewere chased from the grave-stones in the yard, on which they were about to commence the worship, and had finally to hold the service at a distant part of the town.

However, it is not the Remonstrants and their friends alone, who are thus exposed to the peltings of the pitiless storm. Even the self-styled orthodox occasionally cut but a sorry figure. The Templepatrick Presbytery, with the Moderator of Synod at their head, met at Glenarm, on the 25th December. The ministers assembled first in the house of a man who was not a member of the congregation; and, after consulting for some time, sent a deputation to the Rev. A. Montgomery, requesting the use of his Meeting-house. This request was, of course, re

jected; and the Presbytery, after a good deal of delay, were finally compelled to hold their meeting in a coal-yard, the most convenient and suitable place they were able to procure. Even this wretched accommodation was obtained through the interference of the church clergyman of the place, there being, as it appeared, no Presbyterian of their party of sufficient influence to afford them any assistance in their emergency. T. Davidson, Esq. had been applied to for the use of the Court-house, but very promptly declined giving any encouragement to a set of individuals, whose conduct was calculated to do much evil among the community.

To that spirited and talented paper, "The Northern Whig," the cause of Christian liberty is much indebted. Its exposures of the atrocious schemes of bigotry, are fearless and masterly. From it we also learn, that in consequence of the exertions of a neighbouring clergyman, and a few secret emissaries, some symptoms of disaffection appeared in the congregation of Greyabbey, whose minister had connected himself with the Remonstrants. The Remonstrant Presbytery of Bangor, therefore, met at Greyabbey, on Tuesday, 12th January, at the request of the minister, session, and committee of that congregation. On their assembling there, they found the part of the Presbytery in connection with the Synod, already met in the inn, along with the few disaffected members. The Remonstrants immediately proceeded to the Meetinghouse, where a sermon was preached by the Rev. F. Blakely. The Rev. J. Mulligan was afterwards chosen Moderator. In proceeding with the business of the day, an attempt was made by certain of the Synodical members, to interrupt their deliberations; but the Remonstrants, being seconded by the almost unanimous feeling of a crowded house, went on to explain, at great length, the grounds of their separation from the Synod. The following resolutions were subsequently entered into.

"That the General Synod of Ulster having departed from the fundamental principles of Protestantism; broken the solemn compact under which we became members of it; and departed from its own Code of Discipline,' we hereby dissolve our connection with that body, and unite ourselves in the bonds of Christian fellowship, under the designation of THE REMONSTRANT PRESBYTERY OF BANGOR." "That the Synod of Ulster's 'Code' be our

guide in matters of discipline." "That the people under our care shall have their inalienable privileges amply secured to them, in the free choice of their ministers, according to their own views of Christian truth."

The congregation was afterwards addressed, at considerable length, by their minister, the Rev. Mr. Watson; and then proceeded to pass resolutions expressive of their high approbation of the conduct of their minister, in opposing the overtures of the Synod; and their determination "to support him therein, by withdrawing themselves from the Synod," and to resist any attempt that might be made to disturb their peace. The resolutions, of which this is the substance, were passed with very few dissentient voices.

There evidently exists a highly exasperated tone of feeling among the various parties. It is, perhaps, scarcely to be wondered at. It is hard to be assailed with obloquy, to be beset by meanness and perfidy, and to be pursued with the unrelenting rancour of fanatic zeal, and not to lay bare the dastard motive, and the nefarious object. Nor would it be right to allow pious fraud to escape detection and exposure. Still, however, wherever it is possible, mere personalities are to be studiously guarded against. If justice can be done to the sacred cause of truth and right, without engaging in them, far better is it not to touch the unclean thing. Some unnecessary manifestations have been made, but we would fain hope, when this season of excitement has a little subsided, that Christian truth will be advocated, without reference either to Mr. Cooke or Mr. Carlile, and perfect Christian freedom be enjoyed, without requiring the permission or sanction either of long-established Synods or Remonstrant Presbyteries. All ecclesiastical corporations we dread, they have the germs of interference with popular rights in their very constitution, and though, perhaps, it was not to be expected that congregations should become, at once, INDEPENDENT both in principle and government, in doctrine and in practice, yet till they are so, we cannot regard them as standing fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.

Presbyterianism in America.-It is not alone in Ireland, that the truth of Milton's saying receives melancholy illustration, that "NEW PRESBYTER is but OLD PRIEST writ large;" even in the free lands across the Atlantic, it

exhibits the same restless, interfering, and intolerant spirit. We learn by a letter from New-York, dated in December, that the orthodox "are going to make another bold effort, to get Congress to pass a law this winter, to stop the mail from being transported on Sunday, and close all the PostOffices. The friends of freedom of opinion, and enemies of ecclesiastical usurpation, will oppose this measure with all their power. We shall very soon have a public meeting, to express our disapprobation of orthodoxy interfering with the civil concerns of the nation. The orthodox clergy wish to unite Church and State, and to have the Presbyterian the established religion. Woe to these United States when that shall be the case." Our friend is right. America has hitherto exhibited the glorious spectacle of a mighty continent, enjoying the blessings of Christianity, without the encumbrance of a Church, "part and parcel of the law of the land." She has continued rising in true national glory—the happiness and freedom, and mental improvement of her people. But let her once begin to imitate, in this matter of Church and State, the institutions of Europe, and her progress will be stayed, her fate will be sealed-Ichabod. The affair of the mail, may, in itself, appear to some to be trifling, but it is in the principle of interference that the danger lies. Once allow the Church to tamper with the civil concerns of the people, and the only rational ground of objection to Church Establishments is abandoned. But we trust there is a spirit in America which will overwhelm with confusion this busy meddling. The Marietta Pioneer has remarked, "The conduct of these would-be-thought pious Christians, and pharisaical politicians, is calculated to prejudice and disgust the minds of the people against every thing bearing the name of religion of Christianity, more than all the efforts of open and undisguised enemies. Would but people see that these political aspirants cannot be followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, whose kingdom was not of this world, all would be well. If they will persist in striving to destroy the religious liberties of our country, to invade the rights of conscience in their fellow-citizens, they must abide the consequence. If they sow the wind, they must also reap the whirlwind."

PROPOSALS have been issued at New-York, for publishing, by subscription, Dr. Southwood Smith's invaluable

the Divine Government. We rejoice at this on many accounts. That work will do much, we hope, to correct some mistaken views, which, as we think, our Universalist brethren in America entertain.. "The Gospel Herald," of New-York, states, that "From almost every quarter, we receive subscribers for this truly valuable work, which will soon be in press." In the testimony borne to its merits by the Rev. T. Whittemore, editor of the "Trumpet and Universalist Magazine," of Boston, we cordially concur. "Smith on Divine Government, is, of all works I ever read on providence, decidedly the best. For boldness and strength, both of arrangement and argument, I never saw it excelled." It has reached its fourth edition in England. Our readers could not render a more useful service to themselves, and to the progress of pure and elevating ideas of the Eternal Father, and of heartcheering views of man and eternity, than by speeding it onward to a fifth edition.

Ar Liverpool, we are glad to find Mr. Grundy is redelivering the Lectures he formerly preached at Manchester. They have excited, we learn, much attention, especially among the Catholics. It has also gratified us much to learn, that the Unitarian Ministers of Liverpool, the Rev. J. Grundy of Paradise-Street; J. Hincks of Renshaw-Street; J. H. Thom of the Park-Chapel; and Mr. F. B. Wright of Hunter-Street, are engaged in delivering a course of Lectures, on Wednesday evenings, in the Unitarian Meeting-House, Hunter-Street. This is as it

should be.

THE year has opened auspiciously, we hope, in the metropolis of Ireland, for the advancement of Christian truth and charity. The address of the "IRISH UnitaRIAN CHRISTIAN SOCIETY" is now before us, dated "Dublin, January 1, 1830." We hail it as a means of good as a presage of the mental and moral improvement of that hitherto debased, benighted, and injured country. Convinced as we are, that on the dissemination and prac tical adoption of the principles of pure and undefiled religion, the regeneration of the people is dependant, we regard with unmingled satisfaction every effort to render those principles more known, more acted upon. The address commences by stating, that many sincere and intelligent