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spondent writes , of the date of March 20 , 1823 : ** I wrote you in November iast from Philadelphia , acknowledging the receipt of your moat valuable present of your excellent work on the
Epistles , which the more I consult , the more highly I esteem , and think it beyond question the greatest of those great services you have rendered to the cause of Christian truth .
Its effects will be widely and permanently felt in a future generation of men . I hope it vyill soon be reprinted in this country , and read not only on the shores of the Atlantic , but beyond the Allegheny chain on the banks of the Mississipi and Missouri . I
have introduced it to the knowledge of several members of Congress , who appear to feel much interested in it . The suggestion iu your esteemed favour of October 1 st , respecting ' a public provision for the support of religion in every parish , * &c , is a
thing concerning which I have no religious scruple . In the Eastern States it is adopted and maintained by some of the governments . But in the middle , southern and western States of thi $ < Union , nothing of the kind has been admitted . In this
matter Congress have no power ; the constitution prohibits them making any law respecting religion . la England the Imperium in lmperio which is peculiar to this country is little understood . Each of the twenty-four
States is a perfect , absolute and independent sovereignty , in all things pertaining to its own territory and inhabitants . And the general governuaent is a government of specific and limited powers , sovereign and supreme , with regard to the united force and independence of the whole , and also in all the external relations
of the country with other powers , and in the collection and use of revenue for the Union ; but entirely incapable of interfering with the internal legislation of each particular
State . Owing * to , their not understanding this complicated system , we often smile to see in the English papery things said of the transactions W the American government , which are completely at variance with facts , and with its constitutional princi p les . I have visited New England , and am j-tfill disposed to think that their plan
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of-seeunng emoluments ta the clergy ; rather tends to retard the progress of truth than otherwise ; it also occasions sometimes disagreeable feuds in parishes when anew sect arises . But I am not very confident in my opinion . As for the camp meetings I believe they are dectimng every where , and chiefly prevail in the western country . Fanaticism , however , m various shapes , is a very prevailing evil . Unitarianism will cure
it , and I believe a large number of people , chiefly among the Baptists in Ohio , Kentucky , and West Virginia , have cast off their belief in the Trinity . They have still much to learn . One of their preachers , a
plain man without education , but good plain sense and a strong understanding , was lately on a visit among us and our Baltimore friends , ta get information on some points . This man had travelled above 600 uniles on horseback , and perhaps may return with some new ideas /'
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536 Wl&sleian " Churcft-6 f-Eng 4 andtsmJ ' "
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London , Sir , September 2 , 1823 . OBSERVE that a report which crept into the newspapers relating
to an attempt at the late Conference of the Wesleian ministers to impose the Liturgy of the Church of England upon the societies in that connexion , has been contradicted . Perhaps some of your readers can inform the public to what this contradiction amounts
whether it applies to the fact l . i toto , or merely ta the wording of the resolution proposed . I am informed that the question of a Liturgy was actually moved and supported by the leading ministers in the connexion , and negatived by a majority of seventy and upwards ; and also that the movers
intended that the Liturgy should bring in with it , according- to John Wesley ' s original plan , episcopal ordination , tlie readers being designed to be taken from amongst persons in holy orders . My information leads me to conclude that this attempt to approach towards the Church of England , though defeated , will be renewed . Should this
conclusion be correct , it is easy ta foresee that the Weslei&ns will divide into the two branches of Churchmen and Dissenters . , EPISGOPUS .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1823, page 536, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1788/page/40/
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