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for me to preach in , whioh I found a very decent and convenient place , only it proved too small . I preached four times . My first congregation consisted of about one hundred persons , the second of about two hundred ; the third was estimated at four hundred ; they crowded the place : the last was one of the completest crowds I
ever saw ; the people pressed together as closely as possible : it was supposed that in the hall , on the landing , and stairs leading to it , there were five hundred persons ; and I was told nearly double the number went away , who could not gain access . Most of those who attended the
first services attended the others . Nothing could exceed the closeness of their attention . They evidently understood and felt what they heard 5 the workings of their minds were evident in the countenances of many . A number of them bad Bibles with them , and found and turned down the passages I quoted with much readiness .
After the second service , a Qalvinist , who had been a hearer , addressed me as soon as I got into the street , he was deepl y agitated , he combated the doctrines I had . advanced with warmth , but without rancour , and came to hear me again # After the last service , as soon as I had done , a student arose to address the assembly , I requested them to hear him patiently , he tired them with his introduction . We bad
some debate . He went on till the company told him he had better give over ; that he was not equal to what he had undertaken . They seemed generally to have but little relish for the dogmas of Trinitarian ism . A large party , most of them strangers to me , accompanied me nearly a mile , on the
way to my lodging at Grand holm . They appeared like old friends and took Jan affectionate leave of me when we parted . Many were anxious for books . As soon as possible I wrote to Glasgow and Edinburgh , requesting that a quantity of tracts , to lend or give away , might be sent to a friend who would undertake the
distribution ; this request was immediately complied with . Our opponents had begun to push Trinitarian pamphlets into circulation before I left . I advised our friends to meet together ouce on the Lord ^ s-day ,
which I hope they will do . I advised them to form a library , which advice they shewed a readiness t » follow . I was highly gratified with th ^ conversation I had with those who are already Unitarians . They had not become such without much
consideration . They had read works on the side of infidelity , yet remained firm believers . An acquaintance with my publications liad prepared them to receive me as they , would have received an old friend . They informed me . there are friends to Unitarianism , still farther north , in Bamffshire . At Aberdeen , Unitarianism has begun , a » in most other places in Scot-
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land , among the poor . On the wbefc 1 have never before broken up new ground that in the very outset , was so highly pro _ mising , nor found a field that encouraged the hope of a more abundant harvest , than Aberdeen . I thank God that I have the honor of being the first Unitarian mission , ary that visited that city .
IV . District . The West cf Scotland . In this populous district Unitarianism continues to make progress : when first visited by an Unitarian missionary , scarcely any avowed Unitarians were to be found , no society existed under that name , now there are not only societies , in the two principal towns , Glasgow and Paisly , but a number who profess the faith of
one God , in the strict sense of the expression , in many other places . Nothing but an increase of labourers , to cultivate the ground already broken up , seems necessary , in order to the formation of several new societies . In this district I preached at the following places :
1 * Glasgow . Having laboured much at Glasgow , during the very infancy of the cause and society there , it may easily be conceived it would give me rery high pleasure , to see the congregation in its present respectable state , meeting in a
most oommodious , and sufficiently elegant chapel , and favoured with so able a Minister , whose conduct and labours ensure their approbation and esteem . Glasgow is to be reckoned among the first fruits of our missionary exertions in North Britain .
I preached in this city seventeen times . The congregations were always £ ood , some of them very large . Many stranger ? attended some of the services . The latter congregations were the largest . After the last service a considerable part of the congregation remained in the chapel , I gave them a farewell address , whicl emotion I
could not do without considerable . I was speaking to many with whom I had been acquainted from the commencement of their Unitarian views , bad assisted from the first in their inquiries , to whom yelt a most affectionate regard , and whom probably I might see no more on this side the grave . - After commending them to God , and to the word of his grace , we
parted . , 2 . Rutherglen . This is a royal BoigPi not far from Glasgow , I preached in the Town-hall , to a small attentive audience . „ •_ , 3 . Partick . A village near Glasgow , I preached in a room to a small but
attentive company . f r 4 . Varkhead . Another village not tar from Glasgow , I preached in a « £% r led the Beam-room belonging to the vers , and had about a hundred new *• 5 . Pallickshaws . A short distance ttm Glasgow , I visited this place ™ *' j disappointed of an opportunity of P" - >
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$ 36 Intelligence .- ~ Mr . Wright ^ Missionary Tour .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1815, page 256, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1759/page/56/
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