UNITARIANISM IN MAINE.

[Permission has been given us to publish in the Advocate a series of letters from a candidate for the ministry who was called during the past year to preach in several of the United States. We insert in the present number the one containing his remarks on the condition and prospects of Unitarianism in those parts of Maine which he visited. It would gratify us, as well as many of the readers of our work, if others who have opportunities for gaining accurate knowledge of the progress of Liberal Christianity in the more remote sections of our country would furnish for our pages the results of their observations and inquiries.]

Dear Sir: In your last letter, you ask for information concerning the state and prospects of Unitarianism in our country.' My opportunities for acquiring such information have been during the past year,' as you say, 'peculiarly favorable.' I have visited several of the Unitarian societies which are East, and most of those in our country which are West of Massachusetts. I have seen, and heard, and labored in many places both in Maine and on the banks of the Ohio. And as I have gone from place to place, my desire that the peculiar doctrines of Unitarian Christians may be more widely disseminated, and my confidence that they will ere long be extensively received in various parts of our country where they are now but little known, have been very much strengthened. The prospects for a more general reception of them are such as may gladden the hearts of all of us, who believe in their truth and in their heavenly origin. But while we rejoice in hope, let us not forget to labor. Scarcely a day of the last year passed by without deepening my conviction, that it is the duty of Unitarians to be most

industriously sowing the seed of their pure faith. There spreads around them an immense and fertile field. Its soil is ready for the seed. We have but to sow, imploring heaven's blessing upon our labors, and the field will soon be loaded with a bountiful harvest.

It was towards the close of April 1830, as you will recollect, that I parted from you, and went on board the packet for Eastport. The passage down was short and pleasant. May and the three following months were passed by me, in the eastern part of Maine. During this time I labored only in the towns of Eastport, Machias, and Calais. These are the largest and most important places in Washington County. The Unitarian society in Eastport was formed several years ago. It is large, and I found it in a flourishing condition. They informed me that its infancy was a perilous one. Eastport is larger than any place in its vicinity, and therefore it would be presumed that a Unitarian society, if established there, would exert a considerable influence upon the religious opinions of people in the neighboring towns. And it may be that the orthodox thought it peculiarly incumbent on them, to prevent the people of Eastport from worshipping God in a way which they'-the orthodox-' call heresy.' Whether such was the fact or not, many circumstances over which they had control operated against the growth of this society. But the prayers of those whose hearts were warmly interested in its existence and prosperity have been answered, and their patient, persevering efforts have been crowned with success. If I mistake not, there is no

other religious society, of any denomination, east of the Penobscot river, which is now so large as this. They have a good house for public worship which is furnished with an organ. Among the people of this society I found a more than common acquaintance with the doctrines of Unitarian Christianity. They have prepared themselves to give reasons for the faith that is in them;-that faith is firm. Many of them are really and deeply interested in religion.

Machias was next the scene of my labors and observations. This place is about 30 miles distant from Eastport. Formerly all the people of the town belonged to the same religious society. This continued to be the case until several persons there had become convinced, that many of the doctrines which their clergyman was accustomed to advance, were inconsistent with the instruction which was given by Christ and the apostles. Dissatisfied with his teachings, they had withdrawn from him, and had formed a new society. This had been done a considerable time, perhaps a year before I was invited to labor among them. Few of their number had ever listened to instruction from the lips of a Unitarian, and not many of our periodicals had found their way to the place; consequently they were unacquainted with the peculiarities of our faith. A few would not receive the doctrines when explained, but the many did. Several influential men among them expressed a strong desire to make arrangements for the preaching of similar truths to the people during the summer which is immediately before us. They will cheerfully pay the laborer Mis hire. There was some hope that they would be able

to erect a house for public worship, and to provide for the permanent preaching of the word among them. During nine weeks of the last season they were supplied with preaching. It is to be hoped that they will be disposed and able to procure good instruction during a greater portion of the present year.

From Machias I passed to Calais, which is one of the most flourishing places in the state. Some gentlemen of respectability and influence had invited me to visit this town and to preach there. I remained with them five weeks, and preached ordinarily three times on Sunday. There are in Calais abundant materials for the formation of a society; and I believed, when. there, that one would be formed in the course of a few months. Whether anything of the kind has been done I have not learned. There certainly can be no doubt that the preaching of those doctrines which we believe are taught in the scriptures, is desired by many people in Calais, and I have expected that they would procure a Unitarian clergyman the coming summer; and I trust that they will do so.

When returning from the east, opportunities were afforded me for making some inquiries concerning the state of Unitarianism in Bangor, Belfast, Augusta, Hallowell, and other places. The information received was generally favorable; that was particularly so, which related to the society in Bangor.

In Brunswick a society has been formed which was supplied with preaching during several months of the last season. It was not large; but I was led to believe from what I saw and learned during a two weeks' res

idence with them, that it will soon so increase that they will be able to settle a minister.

Unitarianism is much wanted in Maine. In most parts of the state, there are very many of the most intelligent and virtuous men in the community, who do not believe that Christianity is presented in its proper form, either by the orthodox clergy, or by those who maintain that the consequences of the deeds of this life will not affect our condition hereafter. Such men would gladly receive instruction from us, and it is hoped that they may soon be more generally able to obtain it than they now are. For we confidently believe that the presentation of our views would conduce to their improvement, and would be to them a source of much joy and consolation.

Here I must suspend my remarks. You may expect to hear from me again in a few days.

May 1831.

Respectfully,

A. Z.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

The religious press has been uncommonly prolific of late, and several of the publications it has furnished, particularly those issued during election week, possess no little interest. We shall give several of them a passing notice, simply for the purpose of recording our sense of their merits. Some of them we understand have already obtained a wide circulation, and their