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from joining in the devotional part , of the service . This plan , it was contended ,, would do tf <| _Virf _& _icQftip _efjpti _^ _win _^ _itutions and prejudices , it would alter nothing / _'burwouid _^ be _% omplerely effected by the simple and
permission of the Legislature to p _^ _ffcirjn register the Marriages of Dissenters on the simple use ( on the request of the parties ) of that part of the service only which _t _^ ta _^ iBS t _64 l _^ _ut _« al plighting , and is purely civil , thus putting an end at once to the conformity which Dissenters
are now compelled to give to the religious services of the Church , from _wljudi t _^ ie } _qws sa i _^ _cippnttjieir _separation . _, / r * r _. _^ _^ _, _^ Th _^ se _several * plaits _tvefe taken _inta > tibe _cobl atid _klefibep & te _^ bri _^ _ideration of the C _^ mmitt _^ e _, and after weighing ; a , U their _cpjn _$ | y _^ iv . _£ advantages _^ _thfey came to tlie unanimous determination , that tnfelasc _J > lan , as embodied in a bill drawn q _\ it by ftf r . Richm _^ ii cH _ppp of their body , to whom they feel themselves under the highest obligations for his active and able { a _& _sist & ivce , afforded the nearest _approach _ttwardsAh
of the hardships now imposed by the ceremonies of the Marriage , which could be reasonably expected . The Committee duly appreciated the feelings of those who would desire a complete separation of the Marriage _^ Contract froin the _plaefc and officers of the Established Chttrdiy blit they weFfe _convinced that objections might be raised to slicb a proposal which would altogether defeat the hopes they eotertaiiied of a virtual relief from the chiei _^ W not the whol e , of the difficulties _whiclj existed , i _^ ,
_: On _cotniii f to Wll 6 determination , no time _wasfiodbaripttttiiigjitiinto execution . Mr . Smith , at the request of the Committee _^ _undei'took the introduction of iht proposed Bill , which was _riecdrdhigly read a fifst time , with no opposition and little _observations _Btit difficulties arose iti a . quarter from which it was least expected ; _iTheBjody Dissenting Ministers of the Three Denominations _^ whd h _^ d already had
Occasion to consider . thf _^ sam _6 subject , having _requested ati interview _iviththe _Committee , it was _disco'vered tliat they had _contemplated-seelciiig the most extended plan of _rfelief , and thait they ? 1 _vere averse to the _CoDfrmittee _' s proposed application as likely , in their opinion , to prejudice what was _considered by them a more desirable object . ' *
The Committee being requested to postpone , at any rate , the further progress of their Bill , and having heard thie arguments urged in' support of the _proposition , again took the whole subject into full consideration _, and the result was the following unanimous _Resolution : _^ t _,: - ' ; ; : " : _- - - _; ¦ ' ¦ : ' ¦ - _<¦¦ _¦ > ¦ : _; ¦ > . _' ; .. : • . . : yf . _^• _Trtiktttie Committee receive with the highest _respect the application
of t | ie Pi * _otefetant Dissentittg Ministers of the Three _Dewdminations , _wlio _havte so _strong a claim upon their attention and deference _^ on _accouiitof th _^ ir profession , their _^ character , and their uniform and zealous support of the * _« acred cau _^ e of Religious Liberty , _atad that it Aw therefore with great reluctance a : nd _unfeighefd ' _concern that tbe Committee feel : \ themselves _coidjpeHed , by a faithful _regard to the interests of their constituents , to
_declare that they cannot comply 4 with the wish 5 of the _Ministers 5 _r _,. i _^ lii th _^ _ftrst place , _because the _UAitariatis stand in a different _situation lir _^ m bther Dissenters in _regards to _dhel preseiit _Marriage _^ Seirv ice , arid are _ioiudK more seriously aggrieved in I point of conscience _^ / - * : \ v h ;> : _-v-v _.-a r * In the second place , because the Ministers > have not yet _laicj down an _^ plan of proceeding , and the , _Compiittec know not what will be ; the provisions of their proposed Bill 5 • _-. . _¦ _•» ¦ . ' ; : _-- ' - ¦ '' A t / _^ i ' . rj _^ _J-: _*;^ _fiv _. \ _uv'hn : _^ * In _tjU _^ ihird place , because there seems to _> be a fair prospect of _success in the _present _measitre _^ whereas it is tlie r opinion of > the Committee that
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