On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
men were called upon to deliver their sentiments on various subjects of interest and utility . With feelings of peculiar pleasure , was remembered and given as a toast , the wish of our afrlicted sovereign in his better Jays , " that the time might speediiy come , when every child in the British , empfre mig-bt be able to read the bible , and have .
a bible to read . When the name of Mr . Jbhtt Valentine was mentioned , as the venerable presbyter in the Unitarian society at Chowbent , * that gentleman read an interesting paper , briefly detailing- the history of the society and of its ministers , in his memory , and establishing its early claim to the name by which it is
distinguished * This paper was , b-y unanimous requ est , desired to be communicated to the Monthly Repository , and with the leave of the editor , may be here inserted , as closing * the account of the meeting in question .. W . J # June 24 th , 1815 . Speech of 3 Ir . Valentine
Called upon in some measure by my age , and at the request of friends , I vise to thank you . Shy for your kind regard to our congregation , as expressed in the toast just given . Andj as I have t > een a constant attendant for upwards of eighty years , oa public worship , in the new chapek-in Chowbent , I shall take this
opportunity , of introducing a few facts , which ( under God ) have been the ^ happy means of promoting a spirit of free inquiry , and in consequence , of gaining more just notions of the true and genuine doctrines of Christianity . When I first began to attend public worship , the Rev . Janies Woods was the ministerwhose % MMM K | V
, ~^ ~ " -- " ¦ * -- » » % ^ i ** r s * * ^ s . A M M » , V ^ Ji A T f Jm •* - * KJ ^ s ministrations were more calculated to impress the minds of his hearers , with the obli gations of a religious and virtuous conduct , than to acquire , what by some persons is termed , a ture and saving faith ; and who , though , educated in Calvinistical
principles , and continuing in the same , J vasso far removed from bigotry , that he Jcequently and freely gave his people an ° Pportunity of enjoying- the occasional services of a number of the most learned a * Aliberal ministers of the times ; among * hom were the Rev . Dr . John' Leland of ^ Wiu , the ttev . John Seddon of
Man-Tins truly respectable old gentleman ^ J in a few days , have completed the ^ ui year of his age . lie still enjoys a e of health and . activity , rarely expenced at his time of life . He constant-^ . atte nds divine service on the sabbath , lce a day , no kind of weather ever de-«*« amg him at home . He walks with ease
w activity truly astonishing-. He reads mmon-size print without spectacles 5 and cities are little , if any , impaired by ^! j '^ SUDJo > ned address is iw lysowu 4 || d-writing .
Untitled Article
Chester , the Rev , Samuel Bouru » of Birming-hain Messrs . Dawson of Riving'ton , the Rev . Thomas Dixon of Bolton , the Rev . Samuel Bourn ^ Jun . of Rivington , tl ^ e Rer . Dr . John Taylor of Norwich . Of these , Mr . John Seddon , Messrs . Dawsort , Mr . Thomas Dixon and Mr . Samuel Kourn of Rivington , were ^ professed aad
zealous Unitarians , and boldly supported their opinions in Mr , Woods ^ s pnlpit . And as lie had all along' left his hearers in a great measure free to fix their own principles in matters of a speculative nature ^ they were the more open to receive tbe truth . The result was , the minds of many were enlarged and set free from
those prejudices thay had formerly beer * subject to . As . a farther mean * of promoting free inquiry ,, there were two societies set on foot in Mr . Woods ^ time , 2 ^ Book Club and a Conversation Society , both of which were warmly supported by the late Mr . John Mori of Alderfbfd who having early in life , been convinced that
the doctrines of Calvin were utterly inconsistent with fhe divine goodness , wair very active in his endeavours to open tbe minds of his friends , and he thereby better enabled to judge for themselves , whafc were the pure and genuine doctrines of the Christian religion ; the consequence was , a considerable alteration in the sentiments of numbers at tile time of Mr .
Woods ^ s decease . The minister who succeeded Mr . Woods , was the Rev . William Davenport , whose ministrations in general , were calculated to promote pious and virtuous dispositions in the minds of his hearers and who , being himself liberal in his sentiments , encouraged them to inquire for themselves , and fix their own
opinions . To Mr . Davenport , succeeded the Rev . Samuel Mercer , who was remarkably zealous in pleading the cause of Unitarian ism , and his manner of doing it being attended with great good nature and pleasantry , was crowned with considerable success . To Mr . Mercer , succeeded the Rev . Henry Touhnin , whose
zeal and ability in supporting the same caus . e are well known j and whose strenuous exertions in defence of truth , unhappily were the cause of his seeking for liberty and safety in a foreign laud . I should be sorry to hurt the feelings of our present worthy minister , the Rev . Benjamin Davis , but he will allow me to say that through his zeal and the indefatigable pains he has taken , the general opinions of our society are so fixed as will justly entitle it , to be denominated an Unitarian society . And now my Christian brethren and fellow-worshipers , as it cannot be expected at my time of life , ( being- on \ y one month short of B 8 years old ) that I shall ever have it in my power to address * you again on such an occasion , give « h ? l « av * to observe , that as we b # Hc ^ e and
Untitled Article
Intelligen ce , —Meeting of the Dissenting Ministers in Lancashire . 451
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1815, page 451, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1762/page/51/
-