On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
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
Whetbe r the p rfev i sion s made i n fa von rof Unitarians sufficiently accomplished that object ^ and the opinion , he was afraid , of very eminent lawyers was , that the recent law did no more than repeal the penal enactments , and that Unitarians were left to stand exactly as they did at common laic .
This opinion was fully avowed in the Wolverhampton Ca . se , which is still under discussion , and in which doctrines were attempted to be enforced , very alarming * certainly with reference to the rights and properties of Unitarians . It was there contended , that they are not within the
protection of the law , that no foundations , none at any rate , prior in time to the passing of the late Act cairbelong to Unitarians , but to Trinitarians , as the only species of Dissenters legally recognized . If this doctrine should be established , it need not be observed how mischievous and ruinous would
be the consequences 5 and if it should not ultimately , yet if individuals were left to protect themselves , they would be harassed by the innumerable evils arising from the expense and vexation of litigation through a long- period of distraction and
fear-It would be recollected that , in the discussion on the case alluded to , a very unfavourable opinion had been expressed by that great man whose loss had lately occasioned such a shock , he meant Sir S . Homilly . He declared this opinion in court ; but besides the expression of opinion there ,
which might have been attributed to the warmth of ah advocate , he had in private letters since expressed vt strong- feeling of the insecurity of the basis on which the civil rights of Unitarians rest . He ( Mr . A . ) had received a note from him , not many
months before his death , stating his deliberate opinion , that they were not protected at law , and that no other course was o pen to them than an application k > Parliament . He offered willingly to assist and support such an application , but observed that he
was not very sanguine rts to its success . There was , therefore , in the opinion of so great a man , a strong ground for action and exertion ; and it appeared highly important to associate , with a view both to
resist aggression , and to proceed , if necessary , to obtain security by legislative provisions . Nothing could be worse than uncertainty where liberty and property are concerned . It struck him that Unitarians
were in that state , and tliat therefore something should be done , that they might no longer fear the breaking up and destruction of their foundations by any internal division , and that they mig-ht be secure from
persecution , let whatever change of times happen ; and that such a change might take place ,, no one would say was impossible . The % iasie' of Mr . John Wright , of Liverpool , she wed the feeling 4 > f many of goeat weight
Untitled Article
in the country to be hostile . He was indicted for- promulgating opinions closely connected , ! at any rate , with those of Unitarians ; and the opinion of some persons , well able to judge , was , that , though the doctrine taught had been held by men of learning and piety ; though defended t > y
dignitaries in the church , and even by Bishop Law ^ a jury might very possibly convict the person who maintained itof Blasphemy * This ease was withdrawn , but while it was pending great difficulty was experienced 5 there was no body of persons to step forward , within whose province it lay to
defend Mr . Wright : the Unitarian Eund was applied to , and did something 5 but they felt that they were going beyond their province , arid were not justified in -such an application of their funds : they could only pledge themselves as individuals . All would see that in cases of this sort nothing should
be left to accident ; no person harassed by the bigotry or ignorance of a country Baagistrate , for instance , ought % o be left to the chance of individual or friendly assistance . An Association like that now proposed ,
would gi ? e-confidence to the expression of opinion , and diminish the probability of persecution , by shewing those inclined to persecute , that there are men of equal weight and knowledge with themselves , ready to protect the objects of their malice .
If such a society were not necessary , Mr , A . allowed , it would be injuriotts , aji appearing to separate our case from that of other Dissenters ; but surely it was obvious that there was no society which would do
what had been and might again l > e necessary . In the case of Mr . Wright there was none . The Deputies were appealed to , and , unhappily for their reputation , the appeal was at that time made in vain . The
abstract question liad been since brought before them , and been decided in favour of liberality and freedom ; but it was loo much to expect that persons zealously entertaining the opinions 'which most of them did , should be very solicitous in the cause of persons whom their creed must lead them to consider as blas phemers .
There was , too , a class of cases which the Deputies could not take up ; he meant disputes between different portions of congregations ; and this was one which was becoming of considerable importance . In the Wolverharnpton Case , the minister , by setting himself in opposition to the whole
congregation , and putting * in the most absnrd claim , had succeeded , at any rate , for a time , so far as to drive out the whole body from their meeting-house and their endowments , great part of which had been raised by their own contributions , and to put them to what must he to a small congreg ( itte >« a very heavy expense . Whether the EteYmties can or cannot , by their consti-
Untitled Article
Intelligence . ——Unitarian . Association * & 0
Untitled Article
yojtJ xiv . 11 1 . ¦
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1819, page 49, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1768/page/49/
-