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affecting the security aud privileges of Unitarian Dissenters , and give consistency and effect to efforts for preventing any encroachments on the immunities confirmed to us by the liberality of the Legislature . They applied to your Committee for advice and co-operation , which were readily afforded ; and , after much discussion and mature deliberation , a general meeting of Unitarians in London and its vicinity was called , which was very respectably attended , and a plan submitted , which was unanimously
adopted . The " Unitarian Association for protecting the Civil Rights of Unitarian Dissenters" was thus formed : it is already in active operation , and its labours seem likely to be attended with very beneficial
consequences . Although the direct object of the Fund is the promotion of Unitarianism by popular preaching , it renders great ^ nd permanent service to the cause of truth by the facility which it affords for the distribution of Tracts under circumstances most favourable for their being read with interest and making a lasting impression . Many thousands of tracts have , since the
commencement of this Institution , been read with avidity in consequence of the attention excited by the preaching of your Missionaries . Scriptural knowledge has thus been widely diffused : and while preaching has led to the perusal of useful publications , the study of those publications has frequently produced the full examination , clear understanding and firm conviction of truths inculcated by the preacher , the effect of whose labours
might otherwise have been evanescent . To the liberal votes of books which have been annually made by the Unitarian and Christian Tract Societies , and occasional donations from several of the Country Societies , the Fund is chiefly indebted for the means they possess for this species of usefulness . Our grateful acknowledgments are due to those Societies : and as their object is essentially promoted by the circulation thus given to their
publications , we hope that tbk harmonious and beneficial co-operation will continue and increase . Your indefatigable Missionary , Mr . Wright , has laboured , during the past year , with all his accustomed zeal and perseverance , and with very considerable success * Immediately after the Fund Anniversary he proceeded on a tour in . some parts of Kent and Sussex , in the course of which he visited Battle , Northiam , Rolvetiden , Tenterden and Cranbrook . At one of these places , Mr . Wright observes , " I had a good deal of conversation with a person who during * my former visits was a professed unbeliever ; hie now attends the meeting , and told me he should not have done so , had it not been for the liberal manner in which I treated him when we debated on the evidences of revelation , which we did several times formerly . If his difficulties be not all removed , his opposition to Christianity has ceased , and he seems to view it , and feel respecting it , differently from what he formerly did . This is one of the many instances I have found of the
advantage of treating all virtuous men with candour and kindness , whatever their opinions may be . I have never had to regret being too liberal , even to unbelievers . " May this lesson of charity be learned and practised by all who call themselves Christians , in their opposition to infidelity ! At Tenterden , Northiam and Rolvenden , Mr . Wright found the Unitarian congregations peaceful , united and prosperous . At the latter place , worship is conducted by " Mr . Payne , a sensible , judicious Minister , who provides for his family by carrying on his trade as a shoemaker '' and who ,
though till lately living at a distance , has carried on public worship there for several years . The congregation consists almost entirely of poor people , and they have a small debt upon their chapel . At Cranbrook , some unhappy dissensions have arrested for a time the progress of the cause . Of
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1819, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1711/page/2/
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