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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.
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much satisfaction , th 6 list of subscriptions from congregations and individuals , and , as the objects of the Association embrace the interests of Unitarian congregations in every part
of the kingdom , they earnestly recommend the union of the greatest possible number , both of individual and congregational subscribers , in order to enable it to act upon any emergency with promptitude and effect . "
Mr . Durrant , the Maidstone representative , requested an explanation of the views of the Committee as to the relief to be sought from the operation of the Marriage Law . He understood the Committee meant to propose a bill , the draft of which he had seen , which merel y went to alter the service
in its objectionable parts to Unitarians . This his constituents thought would be a sacrifice of one great principle of their objection to the law , which went to the joining in any religious service in the Church . They wished to know whether the Committee had deter * mined on such a measure .
The Secretary referred to theReport of the Committee , in which they stated what had taken place before them on the question of relief , and that they had not felt themselves called upon to determine upon any specific plan . The draft of a bill * to which the last
speaker had referred , had certainly been shewn to them , and at their last meeting they had thanked the gentleman who had drawn it ( Mr . Richmond ) for his suggestions , expressly stating , however , that they did not think it necessary then to come to any decision on the subject , being aware of a considerable difference of
opinion on that head , and being desirous of giving ample time to have it fully considered and matured . That bill , however , was different fr 6 m the representation made of it . It did not alter the religious service , but struck it oat altogether , leaving only such part as was purely civil , and as would
be necessary to form a contract , which would be registered . Id his opinion ( whatever might ultimately be decided upon it when it should come under discussion ) the bill in question was by far the best plan , and the one most likel y to succeed . It would not merely meet the objections pf Unitarians , but of all Dissenters , and at the same time
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make las little change as possible in the civil regulations of the country . If Dissenters were released entirely from appearance in the Church , there must still be a provision for recording the marriages celebrated in their own places of worship in the parochial
register , and he could see little difference between sending a certificate , or witnesses of the ceremony to procure its registration , and the parties going to state it personally , as long as they were not called upon to join in any religious
se . Mr . Richmond begged to make a few remarks on the subject of the bill , to which so much allusion had been made , and as to the scope and effect of which considerable
tnisconception appeared to prevail . He deprecated any precipitate resolu tions on the part of any of our societies , calculated to throw obstacles in the way of so desirable an object as emancipation from Trinitarian forms in the celebration of matrimony , and
entreated gentlemen in the country , who were often disposed to confine their view to general principles , to give their brethren in the metropolis credit for an equally sincere regard to the
common object , whilst their situation might be supposed to afford them better opportunities of ascertaining in detail what was the practicability of any particular measuse which might be suggested to the Legislature .
Every one who has examined the Marriage Ceremony prescribed by the State , must have observed that it consists of two parts very distinguishable from each other : the first including the reciprocal declarations and engagements of the parties , to none of
which ( except the clause connected with giving the ring ) there can be any reasonable objection , and which are , in fact , couched in terms , the substance of which would be equally required by law , whether the marriage took place before an established or nonconformist minister , or a civil
magistrate : the remainder of the ritual consists of devotional services , to which we have some objection as Protestant Dissenters , but much rtiore as ** worshipers of the Father only . " Now , the proposed bill ( which has already satisfied many who were at first disposed to think it compromised our just claims ) would in its operation as
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Intelligence . —Umtnfian Association . SSI
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1819, page 381, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1773/page/37/
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