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Untitled Article
the magistrate dismissed the complaint , on the ground that he had only incidentally disturbed the congregation , and that he had an unquestionable right to prevent his wife from attending the meeting . At Anglesea this doctrine had been carried to a greater extent : a man was indignant that his wife should attend a place of worship of which he did not approve . He declared , therefore , that if she went
any more , he would break all the windows of the meeting-house , and would besides do some act that should astonish and surprise them . He did not mind going to prison so as he had his revenge on , the Methodists . At the next meeting * the wife attended , and her feelings being excited by the enthusiasm of the preacher , she was led to exclaim . " Praised be the
Lord 1 " The husband seized upon her , and began to drag her out ; the woman fainted , and the whole assembly was thrown into a state of alarm and agitation . The man meanwhile persevered in his brutal attempt to drag his wife away . Her neckerchief was loosened in the
struggle , and she was almost strangled In the face of the congFegation . This man was brought before the quarter sessions , and there also the question occurred , what was the pToof of registration ? On this occasion the certificate had been left with the Bishop of Bangor , and it happened that no book was kept
an the diocese . Though the original certificate was produced , it was held by the Chairman that a book must be produced , and in the absence of a book , the place , in his judgment , was illegal , and the indictment could not be sustained . The Chairman added , that it was " an unlawful act against the law of God atad of his
country , to allow a man ' s wife to become a member of a society against the Will of her husbarid , and that he had a light to prevent his wife from attending it . " The jury , however , felt as men , and as Welshmen too- They acted on their Own judgjnents of right and wrOng , and returned a verdict of gtrilty . The Chairman
refused to pass sentence upon the offender . He was persuaded the verdict wafc contrary to law , and he discharged the defendant , on finding bail to appear hereafter . In consequence of fhis decision , a panic pervaded all the cottages in that neighbourhood . They had entreated to know what was the Ibw . They had
begged for some message to cheer their drooping spirits , and fortify their ainfrtog resolution . The Comtfftktee had prepared a case , and taken the 6 pinioa of eminent counsel , wfr < y stated- distinctly that the verdict was corr £ ct > atod tha on a rrian&amus the Ch&frmatt vr&Uki be > compelled to do his dnfity of p&stittig * s ^ riurnce en the ( tefentfautv * - —He now eaftfe #
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to the subject of refusals to bury attd marry . At Swansea , Mr . Philip Richard , a Baptist minister , complained of the Rev . Henry Williarasy curate of Llangevelach , for refusing to bury his child Such was the law . i > ay baptism was not sufficient to entitle its receivers to burial
in the parochial ground . It was a foul blot on the law , ai * d he trusted it would soon be removed , and Baptists and Dissenters put ia possession of the right of being buried in the general place of sepulture . At Bearainster the clergyman had refused to admit the corpses of his parishioners into the churchyard . At
Merthyr Tydvil , in Wales , the children of Baptists were refused marriage unless they submitted again to go through the ceremony of baptism . While Dissenters were bound to be married at Church , which he trusted would not be long , how improper was it that additional obstacles
should thus be raised ! From Neath , in Glamorganshire , th £ Rev . John Thomas , a Baptist ; raiuistetf , had written * to the Committee to express his" apprehensions as to the refusal of marriage there to Baptists , unless they submitted to baptism at the hands of the Established
Clergy . One man , who had been twice baptized , wals refused to be married unless he would' submit to a third baptism . This man had been sprinkled in his infancy . Whcjian atelult , he was baptized afresh by inatisersion . It was in vain that he told the Welsh clergyman of his doubilft baptism . The clergyman was
inexorable . He replied , " 1 cannot look upon you as a Christian , unless I baptize you again . " Aiid so , for the third timer rather * than delay the blessings of matrimony , he again submitted , and was sprinkled afresh . —He now approached a subject attended with some difficultythat of out-door preaching . At Burnhaiu ,
in Norfolk , the magistrates had beeo troubled by a great number of itinerant preachers . These persons contended th ^ y had a right to preach wherever they pleased . Archdeacon Bathurst , the worthy son of a worthy father , had been i »
particular aifcrioyed by some of these itinerant preachers . They preached opposite to his parsonage-hoase , and at the door of his Church while service was going on , a « if * they could exercise their duties nowhtfrfe else . As a magistrate , the Archdeacon committed them to
prison , but at the quarter sessions he interfered oft their fc 6 half , and obtained their discharge . H <* ( Mr . W . ) wouid not say rfc was * ptop ^ r always to afostain fro na 0 i * C-d&o ¥ preachfeig , but preaching i » a street a * higfrWa ^ Wfe s tffcrtaikily improper . If & right eouM « Kiftt' which could he <* x-4 tfQ& Without m * * egferd < to pltoprtefy , iff flrt&t fallow fllaJ tfotole i was * n && * - **
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30 S Intelligence . —• Prottstan * Society : Mfi . PPitk&s Speeehi
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1823, page 308, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1784/page/52/
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