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rests of Unitarian ism . It must have been experienced that the members of the respective Societies , no longer isolated strangers , feel a peculiar interest in their incidental or occasional intercourses . Con scions that they are mutually engaged in a cause of the greatest importance , the
source of much present comfort and usefulness , and of rational and animated hope in futurity , they can meet with feelings of sacred satisfaction , and interchange facts and sentiments reciprocally interesting , with a freedom and openness conducive to the furiherance of piety , g-ood-will and benevolence .
" From several causes , of which the rapid sale of many of the late Unitarian publications is one of the principal , the Committee have been much disappointed in their endeavours tx > supply the orders of the subscribers ; they conclude , however , that the difficulty of procuring Tracts , is an indication that the field of circulation is
extending , and that the light of truth is , on the whole , diffusing with an accelerated progress . They have ^ be . en particularly unfortunate in their applications for the interesting Letters of Mr . Ashworth , disclosing the steps in the path of rational inquiry , by which the two Unitarian Societies of Rochdale and Rossendale have
been formed from the denomination of Methodists } societies which now seem to form but the centre of union to many others in the surrounding towns and villages , their members becoming in their turns instructors , and engaging with success in the diffusion of the truth as it is in
Jesus . May not the example of these industrious lahou rers i n the Christian harvest ^ suggest to us an economical plan of preparing and sending forth missionaries , and thus of giving efficacy to one of the specified objects of your Institution ? The Tracts
put in circulation by the Association in the course of the last year , have amounted to nearly £ 10 . The Committee are gratified to observe , that a very considerable num ber of two admirable Tracts , relating to wary have been claimed and distributed by the subscribers in the course of the last
two years . Should it meet their wishes to continue to act in part as auxiliaries to the societies which have been instituted for the express purpose of opposing a practice , which , by outraging the distinguishing precepts of the gospel , is subversive of the best interests of humanity , several other most admirable Tracts on this subject could be procured . on very reasonable terms .
u Your Committee congratulate you upon the establishment , in the course of the last year , of an Association for the lVotection of the Civil Rights of Unitarians . The Congregations at Maidstone and Tenterflen have al ready connected thenisel ves * ith this Institution , and it is very much
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to be desired that their example may be followed by all the churches in our connexion . The want of such an Institution , and the advantages to be derived from it , were amply explained in the Monthly Repository at its adoption . By combining in its Committee that eivii and religious knowledge which is requisite , it is
peculiarly qualified for the protection of our lights and liberties ; and by concentrating the efforts of the whole Unitarian body in any measures which may be found necessary , it is likely to render them effective . Active operation and energy have already marked its proceedings ; in consequence of its exertions a considerable number of
petitions from our brethren in different parts of the kingdom have been presented to both Houses of Parliament daring the present session , praying to be freed from the highly objectionable Marriage Service of the Ch urch of England . The Committee following up these efforts , through the medium of our able and esteemed friend
William Smith , Esq ., introduced a Bill into the House of Commons , the object of which is , to give us the desired relief . The reception of the Bill was certainly very favourable , and we think may be taken as an earnest , that it will eventually pass the Commons 5 but from the lateness of the
present Session , and the importance of the change to be effected , the Bill , at the suggestion of his Majesty ' s Ministers , has been for the present withdrawn . Should this application be crowned with success , it will be felt a great acquisition in favour of our consistency , and will afford an
encouraging proof in addition to that which was manifested by the repeal of several acts obnoxious to our liberties , that the march of liberality is advancing * . It will shew , that notwithstanding'some late attempts to counteract the evident intentions of Parliament , by recourse to some almost
obsolete regulations of our ancestors , the more enlightened spirit of the times is still prevalent to sink in the dust the little narrow spirit of party bigotry . But should the event of the present application
disappoint in any degree ouj * expectations , the great consolation will remain , that we are treading" the strait path of consistency in vindicating the cause of truth , a cause which , being * founded on everlasting bases , must eventually rise triumphant . "
Mi > Holden next read the following Report from our brethren at Teaterden : tc The Church at Tenterden rei » ai *) s firm and decisive in the great cause we are at tins time met to support , even the worship of the only living and true God : our numbers judged to be gradually increasing . Our Fellowship Fund continues ,
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- Intelligence *—Kent and Sussex Unitarian Association * 451
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1819, page 451, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1774/page/51/
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