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124 Intelligenc6. *^ Unitari<Mi Fund.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Domestic. Religious. Ijnitarian Fund. {T...
deep root , and been already too successful , to leave its stability and permanency doubt * fill . The valuable labours of Mr . Yates for five years , and the effects of the controversy he so ably conducted with Mr . Wardlaw , can never be lost in this great city . The numerous friends of Unitarian ism in it
and its vicinity will , under any disastrous circumstances that can arise , rally round the cause and save it from perishing * 5 I know them well , and speak with eoofidence . Not that I anticipate any serious disasters , but I wish to g * iv * e every possible assurance to those who mav assist the Glasgow
friends , that their aid will not be fruitless . The leaven of Unitarianismis so far spread in a class of society ^ which will not fear to speak freely and extend it around them , that I regard its continuing to spread more and more , however imperceptibly , as certain .
3 . Paisley , In this populous manufacturing * town the Unitarians continue steadfast in . their profession 5 and if they do not rapidly increase , they are preparing'the way , by exemplary conduct and judicious measures , for the future success of the cause .
In no place have I laboured with greater pleasure , or met with more serious and ready attention , than at Paisley : nor have I met any where with persons of the same class in society , so generally intelligent and well-informed , and who seem to possess so much mind .
During the journey of which I am givingan account , I spent three Sundays in this town , and also preached on many weekday evenings : in all , I delivered seventeen discourses . The meetings were always well attended , the congregations were generally large , sometimes the plaee was much crowded , and numbers came who could not get irato it . Bein or informed that
a number of unbelievers came to hear me , f delivered a series of discourses suited to them , of which I g-are previous notice . These discourses were on the nature of moral evidence , and the grounds of religious faith on Atheism , theoretical and
practical ; on Theism , or the evidences of the being and government of God ; and on several subjects illustrative of the nature , truth and design of Christianity , or calculated to remove popular ohjections to it . I had their continued attention . What
impression was made , and what effects may follow , I know not : having scattered the seed , I must leaye the rest to the great liOrd of the harvest . With Hia-t independence of feeling and
conduct which the Unitarians at Paisley ever manifest , though most of them are merely working people , they have begun to raise a fund for Hie erection of a chapel , without calling * upon others for assistance . The plan they have adopted h after the
Domestic. Religious. Ijnitarian Fund. {T...
manner of a savings * bank ; and though the times haveheen unfavourable to their design , I understated they have already raised nearly a hundred pounds . As ^ they mean to build in the most economical way , deeming it most consistent with their circumstances , and the simplicity of the gospel , it is likely in no long time they Will carry their plan into e-ffect .
Whenever I preached in an evening at Paisley , a number of persons , sonaetitties twenty or thirty , accompanied me from the place of worship to my lodgings , for conversation and the investigation of subjects . On these occasions we had much free and
friendly discussion . Sometimes a diversity of opinion appeared , and animating debate ensued ; how indeed should it be otherwise where men think freely , and fearlessly speak as freely as they think >
But whatever difference of opinion arose , or debate took place , nothing illiberal , inicandid , or contrary . to kind feeling was discovered : indeed I should be surprised to find at Paisley a man , in any theological discussion , otherwise than candid , liberal
and friendly . When the brethren have completed their plan of erecting a chapel , if they can procure a minister of popular talent , as their public lecturer , who might form a little circuit , of which Paisley should be the chief town , and Renfrew , Kilburchan , and
Dairy be included in it , I have _ no doubt a large congregation would be established in Paisley , and ranch good done in the district around : nor have I , any fear but that such a minister acting on liberal plans , would find' the support necessary for the work .
4 . Dundee . The little society in this town is the oldest Unitarian church in Scotland , and the only one that existed the * e when the missionaries of the Unitarian Fund first visited that country . This church haj * been preserved in thetnidst of its numerous opposers , under a variety of dHifculties and disasters . For a number of years it
stood alone , north of the Tweed , i « the midst of the surrounding * corruptions of the Christian doctrine , constantly maintaining the exclusive worship of the One God the Father , and bearing an unostentatious , but firm and uniform testimony to the truth as it is in Jesus .
After that worthy man , Mr . T . F . Palmer , was sent into exile , left without a pastor , this church continued to assemble ; a * 3 # the cause has been kept alive , chjefl y by the labours and exertions of Mr . R . Mjrllar ,
a merchant , who has ever since Mr . 'P /' s removal taken the lead in conductin g thft public services . A few persons , regardless of the reproach arid contempt of tfi £ votaries of more popular pysjeft ^ , h £ ve liceii faithful to tiieirl-ord , and by their
124 Intelligenc6. *^ Unitari<Mi Fund.
124 Intelligenc 6 . *^ Unitari < Mi Fund .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 22, 1819, page 124, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/mrp_22021819/page/56/
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