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for the support and promotion * of what they befieve to be th 6 truth as it is in Jesus . The methods adopted by other denominations of Christians , to obtain pecuniary means to carry on their popular plans and support
their public institutions , are not ' unworthy of the consideration , and many of them of the adoption of Unitarian Christians ; especially as it is well known that without adopting such methods , neither our brethren
the Methodists , nor those of the different Calvinistic parties , could have possessed the means of carrying on their various and , in many instances , expensive exertions . It cannot be doubted that Unitarians , though much inferior in number to the other
denominations mentioned , are sufficiently numerous and opulent , taken collectively , to furnish the means necessary for the support of such extended plans and exertions , for the promotion of what they believe to be the cause of genuine Christianity , as cannot be carried forward without more
abundant resources than have yet been furnished , and which , if carried forward with prudence and zeal , would be likely to be successful . It is far from my intention to insinuate that there are not a great many liberal individuals in our religious connexions , who have shewn their readiness to
contribute towards the support of our public institutions , and by whose friendly aid what has been already done has been rendered practicable : what I wish to recommend , and am anxious to see adopted , is some plan which may give opportunity for every individual in our congregations
however poor , to contribute his mite , however small , at least once in a year , towards the carrying on plans for the promotion of Unitarian Christianity . It is by uniting the exertions of the mass of the people , by obtaining contributions from almost every individual in their congregations , that Christians of other denominations
find such abundant resources for carrying on their extensive plans . It appears to me extremely easy for Unitarians to do the same 5 and from what I know of the liberality of a considerable part of our congregations , t am led to think that it . is merely for warnt of proper plains having ibeen proposed to them , and submitted to
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their consideration , that they have foot been adopted . The establishment of Fellowship Funds is certainly an important measure , and well calculated to unite the exertions and
increase the zeal of a number of persons in each congregation where it is adopted : for the suggestion of this plau we have reason to bless the memory of a late excellent friend of the cause , and it is hoped it will continue to extend ; it is likely to do
good in other respects , as well as fur * nish resources for Unitarian objects . Still there is another plan which I beg leave to recommend , which would neither clash with the Fellowship Funds , nor any other yet adopted : it is , the preaching of annual sermons
in aid of our public institutions . This would give every individual in our congregations art opportunity of contributing his mite in support of the common cau « e which we espouse , and might furnish more abundant resources than can be procured in any other way .
That the Unitarian Fund has succeeded , under every view , beyond what the most sanguine of its friends expected , in so short a time , at its first establishment , and that it has contributed much to the success of
the Unitarian cause , will , I expect , be generally acknowledged . Sfitt , that its plans and operations might be greatly extended , with good : prospect of success , speaking from careful ob ^ servation and all the information I
have been able to acquire on the subject , I have no hesitation in asserting . There are parts of the island where circuits might be formed on the Methodist plan , and gradually many small Unitarian Churches formed in rhem ; but in the outset , the Fund would have to defray the
greater part , if not the whole , of the expense of supporting the Missionaries , and carrying on the cause in such circuits . In other parts of the country , where such circuits could not be immediately formed , much might be done if the number of missionaries was increased . But such
an extension of the plans of the Fund would unavoidably involve a considerable increase of expenditure . Impressed with these matters , with all due deference to the judgtnent of others , I tajke the liberty of ttubtfri * -
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g 28 Sfr . Wright on the Unittirimi Fund .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1819, page 228, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1771/page/16/
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