which, collections were made in aid of the Chapel funds. The afternoon discourse was a convincing argument of the truth of the Gospel, founded on its powerful effects in the primitive ages of Christianity and its adaptation to present circumstances. The subject in the evening, was, on the worth of the soul, and the importance of religion.

It is confidently hoped, that Mr. Bateman's visit to Battle, will be attended with beneficial results; and if the appeal now making to the Unitarian public, for liquidating the debt on the Chapel, should prove successful, this once flourishing portion of the Lord's vineyard may again rear its head, and take its stand among the living churches of Christ. G. H.

DIED, at Birmingham, on the 20th January (where he had gone to reside with one of his daughters), in the seventysecond year of his age, Mr. Nathaniel Estlin, formerly an eminent manufacturer of hosiery at Hinckley in Leicestershire. Mr. E. was a man possessed of strong intellectual powers, which he cherished by continued reading. Few men possessed a more extensive private library than he did. He was a great admirer of the late Charles James Fox; and wrote an eulogium on that great statesman, which was acknowledged by the Honourable Miss Fox with gratitude. He wrote much in vindication of Liberal principles, and in favour of many Reforms which he lived to see accomplished. His remains were conveyed to the place of his nativity, and were interred amongst his forefathers, in the Old Presbyterian Chapel-yard, Hinckley.

Prefatory Remarks to a Sermon on the Re-union of the Virtuous in a Future State, founded on John xi. 11, preached on Sunday, February 14, at Maidstone, by the Rev. W. Stevens; occasioned by the decease of Mrs. Cooper, aged ninety.

"THERE are but few, if any now present, who require to be informed, that since we last assembled in this place, the most aged, and a much respected and much loved member of this Christian Society, has been deposited in the silent tomb. The last remaining link is now broken* that seemed to connect us of this day, with those pious confessors through whose exertions this fabric was first reared to the worship of the One living and only true God, the Father, and as a sacred asylum for those whose consciences were too unbending to subscribe to any articles of faith, creeds, or catechisms,

* There is surely an error in this statement; one honoured "link" in that chain yet remains,-long, we fervently hope, through God's goodness, to be preserved.-Editor.

and would acknowledge no other authority than the Bible, and the Bible only. Our lamented friend was the daughter of the Rev. Israel Lewis, who was settled as pastor over the congregation assembling in this place in the year 1745, and consequently only nine years after the erection of the building in which we now are, and was herself born in the year 1751. She has therefore far exceeded the limit assigned by the Psalmist as that beyond which few must expect to pass, as indeed but few of those who enter into life do pass. Nor in her individual case was the subjoined remark of David much more closely verified, that if any by reason of strength should reach to four-score, their days would be only labour and sorrow; for, though suffering for many years from a very painful disorder, yet, supported by her bright and heart-inspiring views on religious subjects, always delighting in the riches of God's mercy and the boundlessness of his love, her reverential homage knew nothing of slavish fear; she felt as she believed, that God was indeed a Father. Sustained, likewise, by a warmly affectionate and benevolent disposition, which delighted in seeing and rendering others happy; by a great fondness for books, from which her naturally good understanding and strength of memory enabled her to derive pleasure and profit in a greater degree than is the happy fortune of many; animated by that constant flow of cheerfulness which, to all who possess it, is what Solomon describes it, a continual feast,' and by a natural gaiety of heart which was peculiarly her own, and which, up to the very recent period when her great years and increasing bodily infirmities withdrew her from all society except those who were nearest and dearest to her, constituted her the life and spirit of the friendly circle, she afforded an instance not common to be met with, in which all the warmth, the generousness, the vivacity of youth, all the greenness of the springtime of life, continues up to the verge of a prolonged existence. Even with that great deduction from the value of life, arising from the cause above alluded to, she felt that life, to the very last, was a blessing for which she could never be sufficiently thankful to an indulgent Father.

"Her closing days were as cheerful, as tranquil, and as happy as her life had been. For never to any imagination could death appear in a less terrible form than to hers; and certainly never did this common enemy approach more softly, and execute his mission with a more reluctant or with a gentler hand. She retained a peaceful consciousness, and with it, all that pious gratitude which she was accustomed so often and so heartily to express; and smiled her thankfulness for every attention of filial love, till the last slender cords of

life separated, and she fell asleep in Jesus.

May our life be as tranquil, and our death as happy as hers! We can scarcely entertain a holier or purer wish, or utter a more becoming prayer."

DIED, in Edinburgh, on Tuesday 2d March, aged thirtythree years, Bessie, wife of the Rev. R. E. B. Maclellan.

THE Annual Meeting of the Southern Unitarian Societies, will be held at Portsmouth, on Good Friday, April 9th; when the Rev. Samuel Bache, of Birmingham, is expected to preach.

OPENING OF THE CHRISTIAN UNITARIAN CHAPEL, TILLICOULTRY. The Members of the Christian Unitarian Congregation at Tillicoultry, having recently purchased the Old Secession Meeting-house in that place,-Sunday, February 21, was fixed on as the day of its dedication to the sole, unrivalled worship of the Infinite Father, through Jesus Christ his beloved Son. Tillicoultry is a thriving manufacturing village, beautifully situated at the foot of the Ochil Hills, and in the vicinity of several other populous villages and towns. The day was very beautiful, and, at an early hour, friends arrived from Falkirk, Stirling, St. Ninians, Bannockburn, Dunblane, Milton, Alloa, Alva, Dollar, Muckhart, Blair-Drummond, &c. The Chapel, which is a plain neat building, is situated in the centre of Tillicoultry, and will comfortably seat about four hundred persons. In the morning, the entire religious services were conducted by the Rev. George Harris, to a deeply attentive audience of more than three hundred persons. Between the forenoon and afternoon worship, the friends from the neighbouring districts and members of the congregation, met together in a large ware-room belonging to Mr. Andrew Walker, and were most kindly and hospitably entertained. At this truly Christian meeting, more than eighty individuals, male and female, were assembled; Mr. Harris in the chair. In the afternoon, the audience was still more numerous than in the morning; Mr. W. A. Jones, of the University of Glasgow, conducted the devotional service, and Mr. Harris preached. In the evening, the Chapel was crowded; Mr. Jones prayed and read the Scriptures, and the sermon was delivered by Mr. Harris. The circumstances attendant on the rise and progress of the Congregation at Tillicoultry, are additional proofs of the value and importance of Missionary labour. Had not the standard of Christian truth and righteousness been reared in this village-the precious

seed sown in trustfulness, that under the fostering care of Divine Providence, it would eventually spring forth-Calvinism would, in all human probability, still have swayed its iron sceptre there. When Mr. Harris first visited this place, in 1828, he was hooted from one end of it to the other, and exposed in various ways to popular violence. The contrast between his reception then and now, is most cheering. We congratulate our truly zealous and energetic friends on the auspicious change. We heartily bid them God speed! We trust they may speedily meet with a Minister, who will unite his efforts to theirs, for the defence and diffusion of Christian truth and freedom. Could a suitable individual be found, who would devote himself to this promising field of labour, preaching occasionally at Stirling, Falkirk, and Dunblane, we are persuaded the most happy results would ensue. The friends in this district are anxious to be favoured with the services of such an individual; and communications will be gladly received by Mr. Harris, in reference to the situation. AItogether, we have seldom passed a happier day than that of the 21st February. The friends from the various places were all rejoicing in hope; and a sacred thankfulness animated every heart. All were highly pleased with the neat and commodious chapel; and surprised as well as delighted, to see the admirable arrangements which had been made under the superintendence of Mr. Heriot, foreman to Mr. Kay of Edinburgh, for lighting it with gas. The collection at the doors bore testimony to the good-will of the audience to the efforts of their friends and neighbours.

INFANT UNITARIAN CONGREGATION AT WELTON, NEAR HULL.-(To the Editor of the Christian Pioneer.)—Respected Sir,-During the past month, I visited the pretty and populous village of Welton, where, as many of your readers are doubtless aware, a few residents of the place have embraced Unitarian Christianity, and that some of the most zealous assemble together every Sunday afternoon. The little flock is generally under the care and guidance of an excellent shepherdess; but occasionally the voice of a good shepherd is heard in the village, and then a larger flock is gathered together from the neighbouring hills, and the words of truth and holiness which fall from his lips find ready access to the minds and hearts of his hearers. Tracts are circulated, and serve as faithful though silent missionaries; their contents being often satisfactorily compared by the more intelligent men, with the proper standard of religi ous opinions, the sacred Scriptures.-I spent a Sabbath with the little band, who worship one God, the Father, through

our Lord Jesus Christ, and never saw more attentive audiences than were present at the two religious services. There is good reason to believe that by a little assistance from the Unitarian body, public worship may be conducted at Welton by a Minister, on alternate Sundays, with great advantage to the inhabitants, and "the faith once delivered to the saints" be likely to spread in a district where it was once unknown.

A friend, in a recent letter, alludes to the Welton case in the following terms:-"There is so much of Christian heroism in the character of M-m, that, now the report has gone forth to the Unitarian body, I shall be surprised (as it will be a discredit) if it do not excite a corresponding amount of Christian sympathy. I know of no similar case, of a female, almost unfriended and alone, under circumstances of so peculiar and counteracting a character, exercising the same energy and zeal, and patient perseverance, until she finally succeeded in establishing in the minds of others an unpopular and despised faith. What but the deepest and strongest conviction of the truth and holiness of that faith, could have sustained her under the difficulties and trials of her course? And shall not this self-devotion, and holy sacrifice, receive the sympathy and support of her brethren of the same household of faith?" I again recommend this interesting case to the kind notice of distant friends, and quote at foot the names of several gentlemen who will be most happy to receive grants from Fellowship Funds, and contributions from individuals, in aid of public worship and the diffusion of knowledge at Welton-Mr. W. Stephenson, Low-gate, Hull; Mr. J. H. Fox, High Ouse-gate, York; Mr. C. Hinde, Church-street, Sheffield; Messrs. Philp & Evans, Clarestreet, Bristol; and Mr. Lloyd, Bromsgove-street, Birmingham.-Yours, &c. CHARLES LLOYD.

Birmingham, March 7, 1841.

We learn, with regret, that the Rev. John Cropper has given notice of his intention to resign his situation as Minister of the Congregation at Aberdeen, at the close of the month of May.

MR. HARRIS, in an address to his Congregation on Sunday morning, March 21, gave notice of his intention to resign the charge of the Society at Glasgow, at the close of September; having accepted the earnest and unanimous invitation of the Congregation of St. Mark's Chapel, Edinburgh, to become their Minister. Mr. Harris will enter on his duties in Edinburgh on the first Sunday of October.