INTELLIGENCE.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

Ecclesiastical Record. - The pulpit at Leominster, which was vacated by Mr. Stebbins's removal to Meadville, is again permanently supplied by the acceptance of "a call" given by the people to Mr. Withington, who recently graduated from the Divinity School at Cambridge. Rev. Mr. Alger, late of Chelsea, has accepted an invitation to become their minister from the Society at Marlboro', of which Rev. Mr. Morse has for some time had the pastoral care. Rev. Mr. Upham has been compelled to dissolve his connexion with the First Church in Salem, of which he had been either associate or sole pastor twenty years, in consequence of a chronic affection of the throat incapacitating him for public speaking. Rev. Mr. Wood has resigned his ministry at Tyngsboro', and entered upon the duties of minister-at-large in Lowell.-Rev. Mr. Sargent has resigned his office as a minister-at-large in Boston. - Rev. Mr. Smith has resigned his ministry at Warwick.-Rev. Mr. Barry of Framingham being obliged, by the illness of one of his travelling companions, to return home from Europe sooner than he had intended, Rev. Mr. Bulfinch has engaged to supply the pulpit of the First Congregational Society in Waltham through the winter. - Mr. Rufus P. Cutler, a member of the class last graduated at the Cambridge Divinity School, has made a similar engagement with the Unitarian Society at Nashua, N. H.Rev. Mr. Morse, a like engagement at Tyngsboro'.- And Rev. Mr. Thurston, at Billerica. — Mr. Herman Snow, of the class of 1843, has taken charge of the pulpit of the Unitarian congregation in Brooklyn, Conn., intending also to preach a part of the time to the new society in Norwich, Conn. -The congregation in Salem under Rev. Dr. Flint have commenced the erection of a new house of worship, the corner-stone of which was laid with religious services November 7, 1844.- The Unitarian Society in Hartford, Conn., have engaged the services of a regular preacher, and have also made arrangements for the erection of a meeting-house. - Measures have been taken for the formation of new societies in Worcester and Roxbury.As the season approaches for making the annual subscription to the Missionary Fund, we hope our churches will give the subject attention. We understand that Mr. Channing, the Agent of the Board, is actively engaged in the discharge of the duties of his office.

Protestant Episcopal Church. The increase of this Church in the United States, notwithstanding its internal troubles, we are inclined to think, exceeds that of most other sects. At least they who have the care of its interests are making provision for its future growth, as what they confidently anticipate. At the late Triennial Convention held in Philadelphia, three new Bishops were consecrated; Rev. Carlton Chase, D. D., for the diocese of New Hampshire; Rev. N. H. Cobbs, D D., for the diocese of Alabama; and Rev. C. S. Hawks, D. D., for the diocese of Missouri. The election of Rev.

F. L. Hawks, D. D., as Bishop of the diocese of Mississippi, occasioned a long and sharp discussion, which resulted in the "reference of the election back to the diocese." Besides these appointments at home, Rev. Alexander Glennie, Rev. William J. Boone, D. D., and Rev. Horatio Southgate, were appointed Missionary Bishops respectively for Africa, China, and Constantinople, or the Turkish Empire, dioceses, whose extent of surface may perhaps compensate for the infrequency of churches. Bishop Onderdonk of Pennsylvania was deposed from office in consequence of delinquencies painfully affecting his character; and since the adjournment of the Convention, we observe that the Bench of Bishops have been summoned, and are now in session, to consider charges against Bishop Onderdonk of New York, from which we both hope and believe he will be able to clear himself. There are now twenty-three Bishops of the Episcopal Church, in the United States, besides the three sent to foreign parts. The number of the clergy in the several States and Territories is thus given by an accredited authority:-In Maine, 8; New Hampshire, 11; Massachusetts, 55; Rhode Island, 26; Vermont, 23; Connecticut, 101; New York, 192; Western New York, 106; New Jersey, 52; Pennsylvania, 121; Delaware, 10; Maryland, 100; Virginia, 102; North Carolina, 29; South Carolina, 50; Georgia, 19; Ohio, 56; Mississippi, 16; Kentucky, 24; Tennessee, 12; Alabama, 12; Michigan, 23; Florida, 7; Louisiana, 11; Indiana, 15; Missouri, 13; Illinois, 19; Wisconsin, 10; Iowa, 4; Arkansas, 4. Total, in the United States, 1,231.

Ordinations. Rev. THOMAS DAWES, of Cambridge, was ordained as Pastor of the Washington Street Church and Society in FAIRHAVEN, Mass., October 30, 1844. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Gannett, of Boston, from Colossians i. 21, 22; the Ordaining Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Muzzey of Cambridge; the Charge was given by Rev. Mr. Peabody of New Bedford; the Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Pope of Kingston; the Address to the People, by Rev. Mr. Briggs of Plymouth; and the other services, by Rev. Messrs. Brigham of Taunton, Morgridge of New Bedford, and Ware of Fall River.

Rev. AMORY GALE, of Scituate, was ordained as an Evangelist, at Kingston, Mass., November 19, 1844. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Moseley of Scituate, from 1 Corinthians i. 23; the Ordaining Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Kendall of Plymouth; the Charge was given by Rev. Mr. Richardson of Hingham; and the Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Briggs of Plymouth; the other services being conducted by Rev. Messrs. Osgood of Cohasset, Leonard of Marshfield, and Pope of Kingston.

Dedication. The Meeting-house of the First Congregational Society in BILLERICA, Mass., having been remodelled, was dedicated anew, October 30, 1844. The Sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Knapp of Nantucket, from Matthew xxv. 40; the Prayer of Dedication was offered by Rev. Mr. Miles of Lowell; and the other services were conducted by Rev. Messrs. Woodward of Bedford, Whitman of East Bridgewater, and Loring of Andover.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

New Works.-James Munroe & Co., of this city, have published a new volume of private devotions, by Rev. Charles Brooks, under the title of "The Christian in his Closet, or Prayers for Individuals, adapted to the various ages, conditions, and circumstances of Life." - They have also issued "Lays of the Gospels," by Rev. S. G. Bulfinch, in one volume, 16mo. And, "Proverbs arranged in alphabetical order, in two Parts," by William H. Porter. —John Owen, of Cambridge, has just published "The Waif, a collection of Poems. With a Proem by H. W. Longfellow;" forming a small volume in 16mo., and containing, as the title indicates, contributions from various writers. Also, "Conversations on some of the Old Poets. By James Russell Lowell."-The tenth edition of Prof. Longfellow's "Voices of the Night," the eighth edition of his "Ballads and other Poems," and the sixth edition of "The Spanish Student," are now in press. Mr. Lowell's "Poems," published a few months since, have already reached a third edition. The next volume of Mr. Sparks's Biography will contain a Life of Roger Williams, by Professor Gammel of Brown University. The anticipation of the New Year has called forth the usual variety of Annuals for readers in the drawing-room, and of story books for children. Of the latter, we have seen none which deserve special mention. Of the former we can notice only one, the pages of which have been filled almost wholly by writers known to those who read our journal; we refer to "The Diadem," published by Carey & Lea of Philadelphia. It is in the quarto form, and in its general appearance has been surpassed by no American publication of this class. A large part of the contents consists of translations from the German, particularly from Zschokke and Richter. The tales which have been selected for this purpose breathe a pure moral sentiment, and the translation is free and graceful. - Lea & Blanchard of Philadelphia have issued specimen pages of the "Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition," which visited the Pacific ocean and the Antarctic regions in the years 1838-42. It will be published in five volumes, of imperial octavo size, and will contain "about twentyfive hundred pages of letter press," besides numerous steel engravings, some hundred wood-cuts, and thirteen maps and charts, all executed in the best style. Should the work be completed in correspondence with the "specimen," it will constitute a beautiful as well as important addition to the libraries of our wealthy citizens.

The rapid sale of Miss Martineau's "Life in the Sick Room," has already caused a second American edition to be put to press. An article which we had hoped to give upon this work, we have been obliged to defer till our next number. - Mr. Crosby has just issued a third edition of "Domestic Worship. By W. H. Furness,” first published in Philadelphia, and which we are glad to learn has found so many readers.

--

Two new Collections of Hymns for the use of Unitarian congregations, we learn, will soon be published. One has been prepared by a Committee of the Cheshire Pastoral Association, and will contain about eight hundred hymns, but will be printed in a style that shall allow it to be sold at a low price. The other will be prepared by the Pastor of the Harvard Church in Charlestown, for the use especially

of his own congregation, at whose request it has been undertaken, though it will probably be adopted by some neighboring churches.

We have received from the Publishers two little books, issued from the press of the General Protestant Sunday School Union, at New York, which immediately attracted our attention by the great neatness and beauty of their outward appearance, and the contents of which,unexpectedly, we confess, are found to be such as without qualification we are glad to bring within the knowledge of our readers. They are entitled "The Shadow of the Cross: An Allegory," and "The Distant Hills: An Allegory." By Rev. W. Adams, M. A. Both are reprinted from English editions.

Common Schools. - has A controversy if such it may be calledarisen between the Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Educa tion, and certain Masters of the Public Schools in Boston, on which, as we understand that replies to the last pamphlet which has been published are in preparation, we have thought it best to defer any extended remarks. The Masters saw fit to take offence at some expressions in Mr. Mann's last annual Report, as if pointed at them, and published under their names a series of papers prepared by some of their number, discussing the positions which they consider objectionable. Some parts of this pamphlet were written with candor and ability, and other parts in very bad temper. A brief vindication of Mr. Mann from the censures cast upon him, written in a tone of moderation and dignity, soon after appeared under the initials of "G. B. E."; and was followed by an elaborate reply to the Masters from Mr. Mann, who triumphantly relieves himself from any charge or imputation affecting his official character, but is betrayed into an indulgence of sarcastic severity which must impair the effect of his pamphlet. Although we regret that any estrangement should have sprung up between those who are engaged, in different ways but with a common interest, in sustaining the cause of education in the Commonwealth, we can see how good may come from the discussion of points brought forward in this controversy. Attention will be more largely drawn to the subject which all the writers have at heart, and the people will be led to think more of the means of improving the common schools. We hope that in future, on both sides, and on all sides, whatever might seem to flow from personal feeling will be avoided, and the object of those who write will be, to sustain or overthrow principles and methods, rather than the men who advocate them.

Lectures. - The desire for public lectures on literary and scientific subjects, which a year or two since had reached such a height in this city that we remember the question was discussed by some of our writers, whether the lyceum would not supplant the pulpit,-the world having found a wiser way to be saved than by "the foolishness of preaching,"-has, if we may judge from the indications of the present season, greatly abated. Although lecturers of unquestionable talent have given promise of much instruction and entertainment in the Courses to which they have invited the public, the audiences have, with one or two exceptions, been much smaller than were usually

collected last winter. The Boston Lyceum, which then enjoyed the largest share of favor, has this year, after making a commencement and receiving very little support, deemed it prudent to bring the Course which it had announced to an abrupt close. Mr. Gliddon's very interesting lectures on the Hieroglyphics and Pyramids of Egypt brought together an attentive, but not a large company. Mr. Giles has delivered his discourses on Catholicism, Protestantism, Toleration, and Human Nature, rich in thought and marked with his peculiar energy and fervor of style, to a comparatively small audience. The Lowell Lectures, particularly those delivered by Professor Rogers of Philadelphia, on Geology, have, however, attracted large audiences; and a course of lectures on Shakspeare, by Mr. Hudson from Vermont, have awakened considerable interest, though at first he collected but few hearers. On the whole, we presume we are safe in pronouncing the rage for lectures to be past, and this mode of communicating or getting information will in future be estimated at its proper value, -as a pleasant, but by no means the principal method of intellectual culture - beneficial when it takes the place of frivolous amusements, but injurious when it supersedes habits of private study.

Unitarian Works Abroad. We infer from advertisements prefixed to the journals we obtain from England, that almost all the Unitarian publications issued in this country. - our tracts, our magazines, and both our lighter and our more solid volumes — are received in England, and find readers. Some of them are there reprinted. "The Works of the Rev. Orville Dewey, D. D., in one volume, 8vo., of 880 pages, uniform with the People's Edition of Dr. Channing's Works," are announced as in press. -Joseph Barker, formerly a preacher among the Methodists, but now separated from them and devoted with all the energy of a reformer to the cause of unfettered opinion — a man of whom we hope to give some further account hereafter-is publishing an edition of Dr. Channing's Works, in six volumes, 12mo., at the wonderfully low price of six shillings, or one dollar and a half, for the set. This is the second edition of Dr. Channing's writings which has been printed in England at such a price as to bring them within the reach of persons of the most moderate means. - The "Northern Sunday School Association,” of Ireland, have just issued from their press at Belfast an edition of Livermore's "Commentary on the Four Gospels, republished from the Boston edition," in one volume, royal 12mo., which they propose to furnish to congregations or societies taking twelve copies, for three shillings. We observe advertised in the Inquirer a new edition of Mr. Burnap's "Lectures to Young Men," which forms one of the volumes of a series of works, under the title of Standard American Literature, in which are included Mrs. Lee's "Life and Times of Luther," and of "Cranmer," Mrs. Follen's "Sketches of Married Life,” and Mr. Ware's “Julian.". Another, called the Catholic series, includes works of Mrs. Lee, of Dr. Channing, and of Mr. Emerson. Mr. Emerson's writings appear to be read with avidity in England, and are immediately reprinted. — A third series, to which has been given the name of Clarke's Home Library, includes Miss Sedgwick's "Home," and Mrs. Sedgwick's "Alida."