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Untitled Article
they still keep up something of the discipline of the Methodists * both as to the plans of their preachers , and the proceedings of their societies . They have a number of preachers , some of whom preach regularly , and others occasionally . Their societies form a kind of circuit , and they have a printed plan agreed on , so that every preacher is acquainted with the places where he is to preach at a given time , and each goes round to all the places in his turn , and every thing is carried on in a regular and systematic way . Some of the preachers , though they may assist in a village ,
& c . seldom or never preach in a town , or in the larger congregations . AH seem to set their shoulders to the work , and willingly to do something to promote the cause , according to the ability which God balh given them . Their societies are divided into classes , which have their meetings , not to relate experiences , but to instruct each other in the Scriptures , and promote mutual edification . They have done , and I trust will continue to do , much good in a district , and among a class of people , where , if they had not done it , nothing in the Unitarian cause would as yet have been done , 1 was much pleased with the intercourse I had with them , and much enjoyed my labours among them /'
Other places not previously visited by Mr . Wright were Rattenskall ^ where many members of a small congregation , formerly Antinomian Baptist , have become Unitarian , though no avowed Unitarian minister had ever before been admitted into their pulpit—Stannington , Huddersjield , where the congregation is large , and it is in contemplation to erect a chapel , and procure a minister—Elland , where the exertions
of Mr , Beattie have revived a congregation which was all but extinct—Dewsbury , in which place a chapel was lent for the occasion by a small society of Unitarians , who differ from the greater part of their brethren with regard to the scriptural authority for social worship , and many of whom were among the hearers—Lydiate , where Mr . Donoughue , who was educated for the Catholic priesthood , is labouring with great success —and Bradford ^ Leeds and Wakefield . The very respectable ministers of these places ( Messrs . Heineken , Button and Johnstone ) shewed your Missionaries great attention , and had their chapels fitted up with lamps
tor the occasion , that the unusual circumstance with them of evening services might give greater publicity to their preaching . Besides the towns and villages enumerated , all the principal places in Yorkshire and Lancashire , with some parts of Cheshire and Westmoreland , were visited and preached in by Mr . Wright , or Mr . Ilorsfield , or both ; at Lancaster especially , Mr . Ilorsfield seems to have excited very considerable interest .
We subjoin Mr . Wright ' s concluding remarks : " I cannot but congratulate the gentlemen of the Committee on three things , of which the preceding narrative furnishes some proof * 1 . The increase of liberality among different parties of Christians . Never in any former journey was I allowed to preach in so many places belonging to Christians of other denominations . 2 . The evident increase of a spirit of free inquiry , and fearless avowal of what is perceived to be the truth . Of this the people at Todmorden furnish a fine instance .
3 . An increase of zeal among th $ old congregations , and their shewing by their conduct , that our plans more and more approve themselves to their view . " It is impossible to dismiss this subject without adverting to the fact
that this journey was suggested by the late lamented Dr . Thomson , of Leeds , who earnestly called the attention of your Committee to its probable utility , who looked forward with great delight to the assistance
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1819, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1711/page/4/
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