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mediate issue , the final result would be glorious . If the courts of la , w should regard Unitarians as unprotected , the legislature would eagerly come forward to effect its intentions , and vindicate them from the calumny with which our opponents had dared to asperse them .
Mr , T . concluded hy expressing his assurance , th-at although the object of this Society was to protect a particular sect , there would be no exclusive spirit in the feelings which it would engender . Our charity had not begun , and assuredly would not end , at home . In defending- our own
rights , we should only refresh and enliven a spirit which would make our adversaries free men in their own despite , and derive new vigour for the general cause . Tbe protection of Unitarian institutions was , indeed , most important to the cause of religious freedom 3 as in their success was to be found its niost productive germ .
For who so likely to support it with un ~ decaying energies , as those who feel its principles in every sentiment of their creed 5 who look not down , as from a pinnacle , on their fellow-men , on whom they are to dispense their benevolence , but grasp , in strong sympathy , all that is human ; who alone make charity an article of their creed 5 and who look on all men as members of
one family , the children of one Father ? Never would they relax their exertions , till all that kept this great family asunder was thrown down , and every obstacle removed which was designed to obstruct the free devotions of the hearts of its diversified members from ascending to their common Parent .
The motion was put on the preamble and first rule , and carried unanimously . Mr . Rutt rose to second the second resolution , and to express his hearty concurrence in the measure . He was one of a few among those who had known very different times , that had survived to witness the
accomplishment of ~ such undertaking- * as the present ; and he was confident that many with whom it had formerly been his happiness to eo-operate , would have known no higher gratification than the assurance that their writings and endeavours would prepare the way for such happy results .
He was desirous to express his entire approbation of the proposed Institution , and the more especially because no one there , perhaps , had better reason to know the necessity of it . He had long been associated with the Deputies , from whom he
had uniformly received the greatest courtesy , and of "whom it would little become him to speak otherwise than in terms of the highest regard ; and this circumstance furnished him with the means of making some observations on what had been said on that part t > f the Subject before this rieethrg .- Hi » fthnA Mn Asplaud would
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excuse lum he knew , for saying that Ire had not been quite correct in asserting that the Deputies never interfered in differences between parts of a congregation . They had sometimes done so , ^ and with very good effect 5 and he was sureif any of
, the highly respectable men who composed that body were asked , whether the circumstance of a person ' s being" an Unitarian would form any objection to extending to him their protection , they would decidedJy answer in 1 he negative . Still no
one could wonder if prejudices , to a certain degree , obscured die better judgment and damped the zeal of such persons , in support of an individual whose opinions were very much at variance with their own . Mr . Wright was sa circumstanced . His case was referred by a general meeting 1
to the committee , which determined not to interfere : at the next general meeting it was proposed to consider this decision of the committee , but the previous question was carried by a majority of one . H $ could , he believed , state the probable
grounds of the committee ' s determinations There had been reports of imprudences and indiscretions on Mr . Wright ' s part , ( he Lelieved wholly groundless , ) which might induce the decision , hut it was very probable that they would have made much
Jess impression , and been justly treated as calumnies , if it had been the case of an orthodox minister . To provide , therefore , for these occurrences , he certainly thought an Institution , like the one proposed ' , highly expedient . The very great use oi such bodies , arose from the weight and support which their very name gave to small societies of individuals in remote
places , who otherwise might be despised and trampled under foot . He could assure the meeting , that whatever number of cases of effectual ^ assistance might appear on their books , the actual number wo > uld be far greater i
the small congregation of a village would acquire weight by its known connexion . with them , and thus appear too strong for persecution ; and many individuals and societies would be -essentially benefited by the connexion , whose names would never come before them .
With regard to the marriage ceremony , Unitarian Dissenters were most particularly aggrieved by the forms of tlite Churches © f England and Rome . In the Geneva form there was no expression , he believed , to which an Unitarian eoukl ol > - ject - But whatever the form , he thought and all
Unitarians ^ indeed Dissenters , ought to unite-to get rid of it as a religious institution altogether . It appeared to him , that each religious sect ought to lie left to perform any rites it thought % e& * > but that tile fegttl p * rt of th * coittrOCt ow ^ ht to be * qi ¥ ilv tie bfttf tffom tfcoUgfct
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Intelligence **—Unitarian Association . 50
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1819, page 53, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1768/page/53/
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