Mr. Peabody of Portsmouth, N. H.; Prayer of Installation, by Rev. Mr. Whitman of Portland, Maine; Charge, by Rev. Dr. Nichols of Portland, Maine; Fellowship of the Churches, by Rev. Mr. Cole of Hallowell, Maine; Address to the People, by Rev. Mr. Wells of Groton, Mass. (late pastor of the society;) Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Farley of Saco. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life," John xIv. 6, were the words from which Mr. Peabody spoke. It was the object of his discourse, to enforce the idea that the life of Jesus constituted the best commentary upon his instructions, and to urge the duty of studying our religion in the more careful examination of that life. It was the object of the Charge, to enforce the idea that Christian ministers are to preach not themselves, but Christ, in their motives, in their modes of argument, and in their plans of operation; while at the same time they were to preach themselves, or to act naturally rather than to imitate any frail and fallible fellow-mortal in these respects. It was the object of the Address to the people, to urge the importance of allowing the pastor to act himself independently and without restraint in his selection of subjects and modes of preaching and operation, and the opening not only their houses, but their hearts, to him in his parochial visitations.

MAINE CONVENTION OF UNITARIAN CHURCHES.-The annual meeting of the Maine Convention of Unitarian Congregational Churches was held in Kennebunk, on Thursday, October 24, 1839, Rev. Dr. Nichols, the President, in the chair. The Secretary, Rev. Mr. Cole, made a statement of the doings of the Committee of Directors during the past year. Then followed a free conversation in regard to the state of religion in the several societies represented, and the prospects of the cause in the State. Less had been done during the past year in the way of missionary contributions than had been anticipated, in consequence of the pecuniary distress of the times, in which Maine has suffered severely. A committee was chosen to prepare a circular to be addressed to the churches of our faith in the State. The officers for the ensuing year were elected, viz: Rev. Dr. Nichols, President; Rev. Mr. Cole, Secretary; Rev. Mr. Cole, Dr. Lucas Nourse, and Rev. Mr. Wheeler, Committee of Directors. The Convention adjourned to the church. Rev. Dr. Nichols introduced the services, by a statement of the objects of the Convention and an earnest exposition of the propriety and importance of these objects. Rev. Mr. Cole preached the annual sermon, in which he met and removed the objections still prevalent in many minds against efforts on the part of Unitarians to spread their views.

DEDICATION AT SHIRLEY, MASS.-The meetinghouse of the First Parish in Shirley, having been in a measure rebuilt, was dedicated October 27, 1839. The services were as follows:-Introductory Prayer and Reading of the

Scriptures, by Rev. Mr. Wilson formerly of Petersham; Prayer of Dedication, by Rev. Mr. Babbidge of Pepperell; Sermon and Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Chandler, pastor of the society. The preacher took for his text the words of the Psalmist, "The Lord send thee help from the sanctuary;" Psalm xx. 1, 2. It was his endeavour to illustrate the importance of religion, and of religious observances particularly, as means of promoting man's improvement and happiness, and of preparing him for a peaceful death and a happy eternity. The house, as remodelled, is really beautiful. Originally it was remarkable as combining in an unusual degree all the inconveniences of the old meetinghouses. No one would have supposed it capable of being transformed to its present condition. By carrying out the body of the house even with the front of the tower, a very convenient length has been obtained. This affords a spacious entry below, and likewise, (a rare convenience,) a very commodious room above for Teachers' meetings or meetings of any kind. This room is comfortably provided with a stove. The interior of the church is remarkably neat. The two tiers of windows have been preserved, and a light gallery runs around three sides of the house. The pulpit is of mahogany, and was the generous gift of a member of the society. The communion table, curtain, and pulpit trimmings are rich without being extravagant. The house altogether is well worthy of a visit from those who contemplate remodelling an old church. One thing in particular may be mentioned. As religious societies among us are now constituted, snug houses are by far the best; but at times additional room is wanted, for instance, on particular public occasions. The church in Shirley, while it is adapted to the wants of its occupants, may be made very roomy. By throwing open the folding doors in the rear of the choir, a large room is added to the body of the house.

ORDINATION TO THE MINISTRY-AT-LARGE.-Rev. Robert C. Waterston was ordained a minister-at-large in Boston, with a special view to his taking charge of the Pitts Street Chapel, on Sunday evening, November 24, 1839. The services were performed in the Federal Street Congregational Meetinghouse, in the following order :-Introductory Prayer and Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. Dr. Parkman of Boston; Sermon, by Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., D. D. of Cambridge; Ordaining Prayer, by Rev. F. T. Gray, whom Mr. Waterston succeeds in the ministry at Pitts Street; Charge, by Rev. Mr. Gannett of Boston; Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Ripley of Boston; Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Robbins of Boston.

Dr. Ware took for his text, Matthew 1x. 36: "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." The subject of his discourse was the ministry-at-large; which he considered first, in its peculiar character, as a union of pulpit and pastoral duties with the service of a missionary; next, in its relation to the established and regular ministry, to which it is not inferior, while it performs the work that this cannot

do, and gives aid to the regular ministry by the supplies which it furnishes, and the benevolence it awakens; and lastly, in respect to its value to the community, as seen in the failure of all means but Christianity to afford social order, security and comfort, in the sufficiency of Christianity for this end, and in the adaptation of this ministry to diffuse Christianity. In conclusion, the preacher spoke of the eternal and spiritual interests of such a ministry; which he considered far more important than any benefits accruing, either to society or to the individual, in this world alone.

INSTALLATION IN BOSTON.-Rev. Frederick T. Gray, late one of the ministersat-large in this city, was installed as Colleague Pastor over the Bulfinch Street Church and Society on Tuesday evening, November 26, 1839. The services were:-Introductory Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Bartol of Boston; Selections from Scripture, by Rev. Mr. Maynard of Hingham; Sermon, by Rev. Mr. Lothrop of Boston; Prayer of Installation, by Rev. Mr. Dean, senior pastor of the church; Charge, by Rev. Mr. Morse of Marlboro'; Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Sargent of Boston; Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Dr. Gray of Roxbury. Mr. Lothrop's text was taken from John XII. 35: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." His object was to show that love is the essential and efficacious principle of Christianity, which he established by an appeal both to Scripture and to fact.

"The Bulfinch Street Society" was organized, and an act of incorporation granted in January 1823, under the title of the "Central Universalist Society." By an act of the Legislature, in April, 1838, the name of the Society was changed to that which it now bears; Rev. Paul Dean then being pastor of the society, and having been from its first formation. At a regular quarterly meeting of the society held in October 1839, a letter was received from Mr. Dean, requesting that a colleague might be appointed with him, and proposing the name of Mr. Gray; which request was granted, and the society at this meeting gave a call to Rev. Frederick T. Gray. The Standing Committee were appointed to communicate the same to Mr. Gray, and make the necessary arrangements for the Installation. Letters missive were sent to thirteen churches, and the Council met on the afternoon of the 26th of November. Twelve churches were represented in the council by their pastors and delegates. The records of the society having been read, a Remonstrance was presented, signed by nineteen individuals, proprietors in the church, against the installation of Mr. Gray, on the ground of certain alleged informalities in regard to the call, and of the effect which the installation would have in converting the house into a place of Unitarian, instead of Universalist, worship. A document, signed by sixtynine individuals, proprietors in said church, approving of the call given to Mr. Gray, was also presented, and read. After an examination and discussion of the matter, it was voted, that the Council are so far satisfied with the proceedings of the society in the case, and with the qualifications of the pastor elect, that they are ready to proceed to his Installation.

DEDICATION AT MEDFORD, MASS.-The church recently built by the First Parish in Medford was dedicated December 4, 1839. The following was the order of the services :-Voluntary on the Organ; Introductory Prayer, by Rev. Nathaniel Hall of Dorchester; Anthem; Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. Edward B. Hall of Providence; Original Hymn, by Rev. Nathaniel Hall; Prayer of Dedication, by Rev. Convers Francis, D. D. of Watertown ; Hymn; Sermon, by Rev. Caleb Stetson, minister of the society; Original Hymn, by Rev. William H. Furness of Philadelphia; Concluding Prayer, by Rev. N. L. Frothingham, D. D. of Boston; Anthem; Benediction.

It added greatly to the interest of this occasion, that all who took part in the services were children of the society, except the pastor, and one other clergyman who is connected with it by marriage. It is a fact worthy of note, that this society in about twenty years has produced nine ministers of the Gospel, who are all now pastors of churches, except one who has recently resigned his charge and accepted a professorship in a literary institution.-The subject of the discourse was Public Worship, which the preacher considered in its relations to the best interests of society, to the maintenance of a healthy and devout inward life, to the sentiment of human brotherhood which it promotes, to the sentiment of reverence which it cherishes, and to the worship of an invisible sanctuary of which it is the sign. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?" were the words of the text, taken from 1 Corinthians, iii. 16.

The town of Medford was one parish, till about sixteen years ago. Since that time two respectable societies have grown out of it, the Universalist and the Second Congregational Society, which is Calvinistic. The first meetinghouse of the town was built in 1695, the second in 1727, and the third in 1769. May 1839 this edifice was taken down, and the new church erected on the same spot. During the building of the new house the society had no place of worship of their own; and it deserves to be recorded as a pleasing sign of liberality and good feeling, that both the other societies in the village freely offered the use of their respective churches, kindly preferring, at considerable inconvenience to themselves, to hold their own meetings at an earlier hour than usual, for the accommodation of their neighbours and friends. The invitation of the Second Congregational Society was accepted, as their house was the larger and more convenient of the two.

The new church is a beautiful edifice, 72 feet by 82, with a vestry in the rear, one story high. The style of the building is Grecian, without any intermixture of foreign ideas. A portico, with four fluted Ionic columns, occupies 48 feet in the centre of the front-the sides coming forward so as to enclose the portico on the east and west. The steeple is about 130 feet high, from the ground. It consists of four stories; in the first is the clock, in the second is the bell, both belonging to the old church. The second story of the steeple is square, and has twelve Doric columns; the third is octagonal, with eight Ionic columns; and the fourth is round, with six Corinthian columns. The whole is very massive, and strong in appearance, and exceedingly beautiful in its details. The interior is finished in a corresponding style, with broad entablatures and a

splendid ceiling in stucco. The old organ was exchanged for a large and fine new one, built by Mr. Stevens of East Cambridge. The difference of cost, about $1200, was generously given to the society by Mr. Peter C. Brooks. On the floor of the church there are 98 pews, and 26 in the side galleries, all of the largest size and most convenient construction. The floor of the pulpit on which the preacher stands, is on a level with the top of the pews. It is made of the most beautiful varieties of mahogany, and exquisitely finished. Whether we regard its adaptation to its uses, or its classic simplicity and beauty as a work of art, it is probably not surpassed in this country. It was made by Mr. Sherwin of South Boston, an artist of great merit, whose works recommend him to public favour.

This edifice is built throughout in the very best manner, by Mr. Oakman of Scituate and Mr. Joyce of Medford. Its whole cost-including about $1300 paid to pew holders in the old church-was a little less than $15000. And notwithstanding the severe pressure of the times, the sale and rent of pews more than cover the expense, placing the finances of the society in a more flourishing condition than they ever were in before. The church, though large, is remarkably well filled, and the whole society is in perfect harmony.

The plantation of Medford was begun in 1630. But for the greater part of a century it had no settled minister, nor organized church. Many preachers, however, laboured among them from time to time, and many were invited to settle permanently, but were always prevented by difficulties now unknown. As early as 1634, the celebrated Mr. Noyes, afterwards minister of Newbury, came over from England, and preached in Medford more than a year. Among the candidates of a later period, who ministered here from one to eight or ten years, we find the distinguished names of Hancock, Coleman and Bradstreet. The last of these evangelists was Mr. Benjamin Woodbridge, who seems to have performed the duties of a pastor, without being regularly settled as such, from 1698 to 1708.

February 11, 1713 the church was organized, and the same day Rev Aaron Porter was ordained as the first regular minister of Medford. He died 1722. Rev. Ebenezer Turell succeeded him in 1724, and died in 1778, after a peaceful ministry of 54 years. In 1774, Rev. David Osgood was ordained as Colleague to Mr. Turell, and died in 1822, in the 48th year of his able and distinguished ministry. He was succeeded in 1823 by Rev. Andrew Bigelow, now minister of the First Congregational Church in Taunton. Mr. Bigelow resigned his pastoral charge in about three years after his settlement, and was succeeded by Rev. Caleb Stetson, the present minister, who was ordained February 28, 1827.

DEDICATION AND INSTALLATION AT WALPOLE, MASS.-The First Congregational Society in Walpole have lately erected a new and elegant church, which was dedicated to the worship of the one living and true God, on Wednesday, December 11, 1839. Rev. John M. Merrick was installed Pastor