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guuch misconceived and misrepresented , and their opponents , though evidently alarmed at the progress they have already made , affect to despise them as being * fewer in number than they reaily are . Were their number much smaller than
it is , this would certainly be no argument against the truth of the doctrine they maintain ; though it might lead those who regard the popularity of a doctrine more than the evidences of its iruth , to think meanly of it . The more unpopular any part of divine truth is , tlie greater is the honour of professing and promoting it .
Judging that some account of the state and progress of Unitarianism among our Northern brethren will be acceptable to many of our friends in England , I shall connect with the account of my last Mission in the North , some remarks on this subject . I feel the less hesitation in doing this , as I ha */ e been pretty well
acquainted with the Scotch Unitarians and their progress for eight years past , having , during- that time , performed four Missionary journeys among them , from the last of which I am just returned , after spending- more than six rnoHths north of the Tweed .
I went to Edinburgh the last week in January , and , after spending twenty-eight weeks in Scotland , re-entered England on the 17 th of August . During this journey , a considerable part of my time was spent in Edinburgh and Glasgow : this ,
particular circumstances rendered necessary ; and , as it afforded me opportunities of preaching * on a greater variety of subjects , and of having- more intercourse with the friends than is usually practicable in my Missionary journeys , I trust it rendered my labours more effective and successful in
those populous cities . The knowledge of Unitarianism has been extended during the three years which bare elapsed since my third Mission to the North . This has been chieily by the
circulation of books , especially by Mr . Yates ' s publications in reply to Mr . Ward ! aw of Glasgow , and Dr . Smith ' s publications at Edinburgh r To the same great object the occasional labours of some of the students
at Glasgow , in several places in the west of Scotland , have contributed . During the above period , the churches at Edinburgh and Glasgow have nad to regret the removal to England of their much-esteemed ministers Mr . J . Yates , and Dr . Smith , whose labours were highly valued . In
some places I had now the pleasure of finding my former labours had not been in vain , but had been protfttctrve of permanent etffects . On the whole , the prospect of the l ?* iitarian cause being successful in Scotland is » goad , not withstanding' some diBcourag ing crrcumstaticos ; and , I conceive , troitnot $ iM *© f being- ' realized , ' if pro-
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per means be applied With persevering exertion- ; what I have to state respecting the different places I visited , will , 1 trust , shew this .
Edinburg h * The Unitarian church in this city being * without a minister , solicited me to go down and spend three months with them . In compliance with this wish , and with the advice of the Committee hi London , I went down and spent the months of February ,
March and April in the northern capital : during * which time I preached thirty-seven discourses , administered the Lord ' s Slipper , &cc . The morning' and afternoon congregations were not large , but I had the happiness of seeing some increase , and of learning- that some persons who had left the
Society for several years , returned and ag-ain became regular attendants . It was proposed to me to deliver a Course of Lec ^ tures , on the Doctrines maintained by Unitarians ^ with this proposal I glad / y complied , and continued the Lectures on
Sunday evenings so long as I stayed . Having fixed on tlie subjects , the Lectures were advevtisetV in one of the public papers , and by printed hills . They were always well attended , frequently by large audiences , who were very attentive . I was pleased to
nnd that among * the strangers who came to hear the Lectures , a number of the same persons continued to attend to the end of the course . On the evenings when they were delivered , small tracts were distributed at the doors of the place of meeting , and were received with eagerness . The
Society at Edinburgh , though not nume * rous , is respectable . Its members " well understand , and are firmly established in the doctrines they profess . They are united and happy with each other . Their conduct in life does credit to their profession . They have some zeal in the cause , and are
airxious for its success . It is highly desirable and of great importance that they should have a minister fixed among * them , who is a man of learning * , popular talents , and ardent zeal , one who will devote him * - self , with his whole heart and soul , to the work .
The friends at Edinburgh are deserving * of commendation for their exertions to g ^ et Unitarian books into circulation , for fceep ^ ing up the library , and for their steady attendance on the public services : and it is hoped they will be equally diligent in pro ^ Hiotiijgf other important measures . They have struggled through many difficulties ,
and openly avowed their sentiments in the midst of reproach and contempt . They have begun to establish a fund for the «*< ftction of a ehapel at some future period ; this fund alight accumulate m <* re rapidly , if a number of persons , who can affoft } to give but little , were to subscribe to it at the rule of one penny per week . It is by
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Intelligence . — -Unitarian Fund . * 6 i
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1819, page 61, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1768/page/61/
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