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    cipally on account of the doctrine and worship of the Trinity . As be withdrew peaceably , and perhaps without publicly , at that time , giving his reasons * this excited suspicion in the religious world , and he was considered

    by many as verging towards D&ism ; than which nothing could be more false . For , though he seceded from the Church , it was with deep regret , and in despair of any sufficient reformation in these important points being effected . His secession was strictly

    conscientious and decided ; for he could no longer allow himself to countenance , even by his presence , what in his conscience he thought wrong , " Yet he always spoke respectfully of Churehrpeoplej and not only lived on terms of intimacy with many of them , but seemed to cherish towards

    them , and especially towards many of their worthy and enlightened ministers , the sincerest esteem ; and often regretted that the bill of the Petitioning Clergy in 1772 had been rejected by the then Parliament ; which , by this time 9 he considered wtmld have produced the best effects .

    " Having commenced Dissenter upon principle , he appears to have become the friend and correspondent of many eminent characters among them : not ' to mention others , the late Dr . Disney , the present Mr . Bekham , of

    Essex Street , and Mr . Turner , of Newcastle , by whom he was recommended to , and became acquainted with our society in its infancy . He immediately introduced himself to us , and , with his usual frankness , avowed his

    sentiments . feuch of you as were then united with me in our present views , will recollect the valuable and useful religious books which he generously gave for the use of the society , besides making us welcome to the use of any books in his own valuable library .

    " From our first religious acquaintance he took a decided part and interest ia this society : he appeared to enjoy the satisfaction of having a few with whom he could freely converse and cordially unite , on that important subject . And although , since our public meeting , we cannot say more than that he was an occasional attendant , yet we have the satisfaction to know that he approved in

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    general of our proceedings , and did not giv ^ his countenance to any other society in these towns . / " It may be . expected that I should candidly state the reasons ( that Jiave come within my knowledge ) why his attendance in this place was not more constant . Whether he was correct

    or not in this point of deviation , I hold it proper that every man ' s religkms liberty shduld be respected , artd that he should * be fully persuaded'in his own mifid , ' for * to his own Master he standeth or falleth ; ' and I trust that we are the last people in the world to advance the claim of

    infallibility . After his secession from the Church , he , with such persons of the family a& were at home , attended to religious worship , and I believe used the Reformed Book of Common Prayer . While this practice shews a ^ mind imbued with a just sense of religion , it forcibly reminds me of the similar course we chose on our own

    first departure from the popular Dissenters : and such of us as have enjoyed the satisfaction arising from such a practice , will know that it is not easily foregone , even for the sake of the more public services of religion . In this practice , I have reason to believe , he continued to persevere to the last .

    " Another reason existed , which , in our circumstances , was insurmountable . I believe his mind was not fully made up as to the propriety of uneducated persons , and persons in business , conducting public worship , and the services of religion ; which , considering his own attainments , and

    allowing a little for the nreiudices of allowing a little for the prejudices of others , was natural : but in this he was not tenacious . As to ourselves , we are friendly to education , and have no objection to the ministry of educated men , when and where it can be afforded : yet we by no nfieans

    consider their services as indispensable ; as it is notorious that such men were not solely , not generally , employed by the highest authority , to call mem at fi , rst to embrace and obey the Christian religion : why , then , should they be considered as indispensable now , when it is firmly founded in the world ? " Having stated the only point of deviation with our frieqd , which , per-

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    Tribute to the Memory of the late Mr . G . W . Meadley . 7

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1819, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1768/page/7/