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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.
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dom Under the Com mtfn weal tn ; and was still retained and exercised with a parade of authority and a spirit of persecution disgraceful to any ecclesiastical body . Mr . Stogdon had intended to propose himself for ordination at the
assembly to be held in September , 1717 . But the odiurn that , in the mean time , fell upon him , created an apprehension , that the matter would produce a division among the ministers . Mr . Nicholas Billingsley , whose liberality of temper afforded an asylum at Ashwick , in Somersetshire ,
to several ingenuous and candid young ministers , enquiring after the truth , was engaged as expedient to prevent dissentions in the case of Mr . Stogdon , to attempt his removal . It was not long before this , that Mr . Billingsley had heard of him ; nor did he then
know him , but by the ill report of some , and the good report of the gentleman who recommended this young divine to his friendshi p- lhe conduct of Mr . Billingsley on this occasion was marked with a liberality that reflects true honour on his name .
It will , probably , be best stated in his own words .
* I was persuaded , * ' says he , " that if Mr . Stogdon came , he would have with me a peaceable retreat , though in an obscure corner of the world ; and that , by a successful attempt to draw him hither , I might be beneficial to myself and neighbours , by getting of such an one amongst us . 1 knew that I should
hereby incur the censures of many , and of some , who had given me real and frequent proofs of their friendship , and very much expose myself . But being fully persuaded , that whatever Mr . Stogdon ' s particular sentiments were , whether right or wrong , the same with mine , or different from them , one of
* Funeral Sermon for Mr . Stogdon , p . 91 , %% . f Ibid , » a > 23 .
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such a character could not fail of divine acceptance ; and that if I were ashamed or afraid to own him , I should not knowhow to answer it another day ; I soon determined what tp da * And therefore barring first proposed him to a ^ nvall
congregation , every other l ^ ord ' s-day assembling at Wokey , near Wells ; and given them a prospect of their having , for the future , the benefit of * constant worship , and being encouraged Jt > y them in my design , I sent him an invitation from them about Midsummer , 1717 * .
Mr . Stogdon acceded to the proposal , and preached to the people with so great acceptance , that on the first Lord ' s day ? they raised their contributions to the uU most and wrote to Mr . Billings * ley a letter of thanks for introducing to them a minister so
agreeable to them , and requesting some attempts for the augmentation of their small income ; which were made with success . He continued in this connexion about seven years : residing for the first four , till he married , with Mr .
-Billingsley ; and preacning the other three alternately with another minister , at Wokay and Coleford . Jn August 1718 , he was ordained at Shipton Mallet ; "by which I only imean / ' says Mr . Billingsley , u that he solemnly
devoted himself to , the sacred office in the presence of many ministers and a great number of people ; some of the former assisting and leading the puhlic devotion ; whilst all joined in recommending the labours of the person thus devoted to the divine direction and
blessing : a sermon being preached at the same time , and an exhortation given to the faithful discharge of the ministry , ' then expressly and solemnly undertaken + / ' Mr . Stogdon ' s air and deportment on this occasion were
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Jttemoir of the Rev . Hubert Stogdon . 5 < S
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1809, page 59, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1733/page/3/
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