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anomaly in England. Economy must be consulted, especially in the disposition of the necessary ornaments, the windows, and pillars, and in the arrangements for accommodating the largest possible body of worshippers.

We have written thus much on a subject which has some interest in our own country. The Puritans, who have established the precedents for the construction of churches in New England, wished so completely to rid themselves of the influence of externals in religious worship, that they seem to have built their churches as unsightly as possible. The location of the edifice so that the communion table should stand towards the East, and directly opposite to the main entrance, was by no means the only time-honored custom which they disregarded. A better taste, and larger means than they possessed, have produced some churches in this region sufficiently elegant, if not imposing. But there are some principles of art, of convenience and of effect, which we should do well to consult. Building committees and others who are interested in the subject will find it well discussed in a long article in the "British Critic and Theological Review," for October, 1839. In this article many recent publications are referred to, and several engravings and designs are represented. A brief sketch of the article may not be unacceptable to those who are unable to peruse the original.

The number of parish churches in England has diminished, rather than increased during the last three centuries, by the united influence of various circumstances, the destruction of sacred edifices at the Reformation, the decline of taste for ecclesiastical architecture, the bigotry of the Puritans, and the increase of toleration. Many of the humble religious edifices in England, of a masonry so rude that a village architect would now be ashamed of them, have remained secure, while the foundations of a thousand castles and mansions have been laid, and again scattered in dust. The writer before us insists most strenuously upon the observance of all those technicalities in building and ornament, which we, more from habit than from justice, have been wont to stigmatize as superstitious. He is not, however, obliged to come over to this side of the water to find opponents, nor even to leave the society of his own Established clergy. He refers to some Church dignitaries, who with an exquisite eye for improvements in carriage building, the adorning of mansions and the planting of pleasure grounds, yet look only that the house of God be

made comfortable and pretty. He insists that there is a connection between vital religion and the dignified proportions of a church. The thousand petty "customs of society," which regulate introductions, conversations, visits, meals, &c., are important considerations, affecting character. The neglect of them indicates perverseness and an unsocial temper. The observance of them is a wholesome discipline, and a pledge of conformity in more serious matters. It is strange, that those who are so rigorous in enforcing the social canons should think lightly of matters like the following;-that the church should exclude all vulgar associations in plan, materials and ornaments; that the altar and the great entrance, opposite to each other, should lie east and west, with a main aisle uniting them; that near the entrance should be a font, large enough for immersion; that the altar should be decently railed off from the press of the congregation, and by its ornaments and sanctity should be the chief centre of attraction; that the pulpit should not be before, or over, or by the side of the altar; that the church should be so contrived that all the worshippers may kneel and bow to the East in some parts of the service, &c. These usages,

it is maintained, refer to certain divine realities, and have all of them been set at naught in this economising and utilitarian age.

Now we can realise and respect the sentiment which dictates these assertions, but we are tempted to ask why all these punctilios, which once had so firm a footing, have been allowed to die out. We believe it was because their connection with vital piety is so slight, that the great mass of Christian worshippers never would think of them or be benefitted by them. They are trivial, they suggest themselves to imaginative and dreamy minds, and do not help such minds, but indeed receive their meaning from them. The writer of the article holds in great horror all colorings, stainings, and imitations of stone, galleries, brick churches, basement school houses or warehouses, and plain glass, and in general, all economising in ecclesiastical edifices. He then criticises several books of plans and estimates, and offers many useful hints, though strongly characterised by monastical taste and models. We should have mentioned that the article of which we have given this brief sketch, is to be considered as expressing the views of that party in the Church of England who are laboring to restore some ancient principles and usages.

G. E. E.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER; a Theological and Literary Journal. Volume First, New Series. London: John Green, 121 Newgate Street. pp. 618. 8vo. Published quarterly, in numbers of about 100 pages each.

For many years the "Monthly Repository" was the principal Journal devoted to the support of Unitarian opinions in England. The earlier volumes contain a great amount of valuable contribution, from men who brought the force of strong minds and a large acquaintance with Scripture to the elucidation of their faith. Some years since Rev. W. J. Fox took charge of the Repository, but after a time gave it so much of a political character that many of the readers became dissatisfied, Mr. Fox gave up his editorial care, and the work passed into other hands. It is still continued, but as a literary and political journal, without any connection with the Unitarians, who have withdrawn their support.

Upon the change which took place in the character of the Repository, the "Christian Reformer," which had previously been a 12mo. publication, was enlarged and made an 8vo. and became the chief organ of Unitarian communication. It is published in London on the first of every month, and in the arrangement and character of its matter resembles very much our own journal. The editorial duty devolves on Rev. Mr. Aspland, of Hackney.

The "Christian Pioneer" is a valuable little publication, in 12mo. form, issued monthly, in Glasgow, Scotland, by Rev. George Harris, minister of the Unitarian congregation in that place. Its design corresponds very nearly with that which was expressed, among ourselves, in the publication of the Unitarian Advocate.

The "Bible Christian," published monthly in Belfast, Ireland, is also a 12mo., similar in character to the Pioneer, and edited by a member of the Remonstrant Synod of Ulster. We have often found in it articles taken from the Christian Register.

In London, the Unitarians also support a small juvenile publication"The Christian Child's Faithful Friend"-which appears every month in 18mo.

Besides these monthly periodicals, the "Christian Teacher," a quarterly publication, sustains the interests of theology and literature among the Unitarians of Great Britain. It was established three or four years since, by Rev. Mr. Baird of Manchester, as a monthly work, but not meeting with sufficient encouragement, was transferred to the management of Rev. J. H. Thom of Liverpool, by whom it was converted into a quarterly journal, with the declaration, that "in adopting the name 'Christian Teacher' there is simply an intention avowed, that its character shall be constructive, not destructive, affirmative, not negative, nutritive, not combative. It would seek distinctly to represent truth, and trust to it peaceably to dislodge whatever is of another spirit, and to bring by degrees all things into harmony with itself." The new series of the Teacher' has justified the confidence of its friends in the ability of its accomplished editor. Of its several 'compartments,' "the leading one is theological and religious, including both the speculative and the practical;" "the second is devoted to the higher aspects of literature, and is made up of reviews or notices of interesting works both English and foreign; the third aims at placing passing events, the existing interests of society, in the light of the morals of politics;" to these is added "a brief department of intelligence." We have seen six numbers of the new series, of which a friend, whose signature (G. E. E.) will, we hope, often appear in the Miscellany, has prepared for us the following abstract.

Up to the present time we have received six numbers of the Teacher. There is a pleasing variety in their contents, and many of the articles apply to practical uses the results of long study and thought. The first article of the first number, by the Rev. J. J. Taylor of Manchester, is a noble introduction to a new periodical work, as it traces the origin and history and defines the influence and responsibilities of Periodical Literature, presenting a vivid sketch of the subject, from the moment when the sound of the voice and the thought of the mind were expressed on a piece of bark, to the present hour when the magazine of science is found in every cottage. The next article, by the editor, deals with the question, "How is Life to be maintained in the Unitarian Churches?" He admits some ground for the charge of coldness

within our denomination, and its slow external increase, though as to the latter censure he remarks, that the spirit which is the vital essence of Unitarianism is working widely and effectually among other sects. Finding much comfort in the general consciousness that we have need of something, he accounts for the want of warmth and vitality, by the combative position of Unitarianism, by the want of a common centre of interest, and by an hereditary weakness in the congregations. The price of life and health is a forgetfulness of religious antipathies, and a cultivation of religious sympathies. The same number likewise contains interesting articles upon German Historians-The Ministry to the Poor-Ancient Prophets and Modern Ministers, with brief Reviews, and Religious Intelligence.

No. II. begins with a review of "Strang's Germany," made up of sensible criticisms and extracts. A short article follows, by Rev. Mr. Beard of Manchester, upon the subject now so much agitated in England-the "Influence of the Established Clergy on Popular Education;" he contrasts their large means and their obligations, with the lamentable negligence of which hitherto they have been guilty, and their bigotry which now impedes the labors of others. Next is a genial assertion and proof of the "Necessity of a Change in surrounding influences to the Minister," insisting that he should not, year in and year out, be looking into his fire, or in the faces of his friends for old thoughts for new sermons, but should at least twice in a year change a familiar scene, wander about, observe and enjoy. "The Mission of Moses," translated from Schiller,-A Letter from Rome,-Reviews,-Sonnets, and Intelligence complete the contents.

No. III. opens with a brief statement of the principles and results of the Ministry at Large in Boston, in which a kind and Christian commendation is bestowed upon Dr. Tuckerman, and the plans which he formed, and the cheerful faith which pervades them, are presented to the notice of English philanthropists. After a review of "Stories of Spanish Life," and a Translation of an Italian Sonnet, we have a translation of an excellent piece from the German of Bretschnieder, on the "Various Changes which occur in Philosophical and Theological Systems." The writer presents the modifications and rejections, and new tenets, which vary from generation to generation the received system of religious belief, as suggesting to some minds a misgiving, lest all faith and religion is necessarily of a dim and uncertain character.

He shows that the same alterations and modifications belong

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