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Untitled Article
viSual to add to the-legal contract suehf relfgtbus rites-as might appear W himself expedient or proper : but unless tKe'general bddy of'Dissenters w « re > likely to unite zealously i n support of such a proposition , it does n & tj 5 eem < at all probable so important a strange in thie civil ptolEey of the country would be proposed with any chance of success ; and if they are
in general not inclined to object to perform the ceremony ( considering it as a matter of civil regulation ) in the Ohorch ; the utmiost perhaps wfticb ' is likely to be obtained , o ? which it might be prudent to ask , would We to be relieved from joining in the devotional part of the service . This might be very readily effected by an act to permit the'celebration and registration of the marriages of those Dissenters * whfo ' should require it , on the use of that part of tb & service only which contains the mutual plighting of the
parties , and is purely civiL This mode would , * in faet ^ secure all the mitnicipal objects of the MarriageA **; , at thfe same time ttot it would put an end to the anomalous conformity which Dissenters are at present tiblig ^ d by law to practise to the religious services o ^ aChurcbj from which ' the same laws protect them in > separating ; and it would leave them , of course , at full liberty to add , if < they pleased , tfr these civil regulations any religious service ^ ffoieh they might think proper to adopt , at their own place of worship .
There * is undoubtedly a middle course which may come under consideration , ( though likely , perhaps , on several accounts to meet witW mere opposition , ) that of allowing * each ' sectthfc celebration of the marriage ceremony according to its own form , providing only for proper registration in the parochial register , on the certificate of' competent persons , and on payment to the minister of the accustomed fees . It is , hbwever , perhaps
premature to discuss at any great length'this braiich of the subject . Jt will be brought generally under the consideration of thie Legislature ; and th ^ mod e in which relief may be afforded ^ if at all , will' probably depend upon considerations on which it is impossible to speculate in anticipation , with any degree of certainty . The Gommittee wtB f perhaps , be expected to notice thie subject which was much under discussion at the time the Association commenced , '
namely , the liability of a congregation to dispossession of property arising ^ ven from" its own immediate contributions , \ on i account of any change ( whether real or existing only in the deductions of legal fiction ) in its opinions or discipline . The Committee need hardly say ^ that they : would , whenever called upon for their assistance on such an occasion , do all * in their power to oppose a position so hostile * to the progress ; of ^ free inquiry ,
and the exercise of complete religious liberty ^—so incousistent with the true and enlarged principles on which Dissenters form themselves into * societies . They have not , however , . been * called upon : ; to interfere on the subject ; an < l they trust that the disgraceful i attempt rwhicb was recently * made , or countenanced by persons calling themselves by the name of Dissenters , while they violated ; wery pri ncipjle that > could entitle them to ^ it ; will , on cooler reflection , be abaadooed . ? h
In the discussion of the case to whieb > t ^ Comi » iltee ave j 6 st referred ^ a point was also raised of considerable importance , as it was levelled not only against the property but the liberty of Unitarians , who , it will be recollected , were there contended to be still subject to prosecution as offenders against the Christianity- said 1 to be alone recognized by law . Hie Committee have not found it necessary to take any steps towards removing- the doubt which has been thus raised , particularly as it seems involved in the consideration of a case which may still be said to be under
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 3, 1819, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1712/page/3/
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