on of society by co-operating with every organized body whose
aim is to abolish superstition, ignorance, drunkenness, political
injustice, or any other of the numerous evils which now afflict the
community.

To carry out these ideas the noble painting gallery, built by the late
Sir Benjamin West, in Newman Street, Oxford Street, was procured and
fitted up. This large hall seats 1500 persons. A good organ was
erected, and schools and a library were talked of. At this place, on
Sunday mornings, the public are treated to what is called a free
religious service, based upon the great facts and principles of
intellectual Theism. In the evenings popular lectures are delivered
bearing upon science, history, or religious free thought. In both cases
Dr. Perfitt is the orator. On many occasions the Doctor has appeared in
public. Under not very pleasant circumstances--for he had little
support--he appealed to Finsbury, but in vain, to send him into
Parliament. It is clear, then, what of success the man has accomplished,
or of good the man has done, has been chiefly in connexion with the
Society of Independent Reformers. We were told in 1863 "the church in
Newman Street is but the forerunner of hundreds which will rest upon the
same foundation." Dr. Perfitt has been more than seven years in Newman
Street, and quite twenty at his work. A man can do a great deal in such
a space of time if he has a fluent tongue, as is abundantly illustrated,
not to go beyond our age, in the careers of Father Mathew, Father
Ignatius, John B. Gough, or Mr. Spurgeon. Irving did not last so long,
yet, metaphorically speaking, he managed to set the Thames on fire. It
is clear Dr. Perfitt has peculiarly advantageous conditions under which
to work. In the first place, as his aim is--

"To serve the truth where'er 'tis found,
On Christian or on heathen ground"--

he has a wide field over which his oratory may range. It cannot all be
barren from Dan to Beersheba. In the second place, according to the
Independent Religious Reformers, the great want of our times is such as
they are. "It is well known," they tell us, "that although the orthodox
religious establishments are earnestly supported, they cannot gain the
hearts of the people. The intelligence of England has outgrown the old
creeds and formulas. Theism is secretly approved by thousands." The
time, then, is ripe for such a mission as Dr. Perfitt proposes. The hour
has come,