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most healthful influences among its numerous tribes . With these views , it may not be improper to attempt an analysis of the actual state of the public mind in Calcutta , with reference to Unitarianism , which ,
although it may not perhaps be altogether free from mistake , will in some measure assist us in estimating both our strength and our weakness , and shew what we have to hope and to fear , to encourage and to discourage us in our future labours .
With regard to the Christian population , the principal opponents of Unitarianism are to be found among the Calvinistic Dissenters , the Evangelical , or , more properly speaking , the Calvinistic party in the Church of England , besides other individuals who do not appear to belong to any distinctive class . The Calvinistic Dissenters have conducted
their opposition , through the legitimate organs of the press and the pulpit , with some zeal and perseverance , if not with veiy distinguished ability or success ; and the spirit in which they have used these means , is shewn by the more questionable instruments which they have thought fit to employ , the expulsion of heretical
members from their communion , and the attempt to destroy their usefulness , and to banish them from all respectable society , by slandering their characters , misrepresenting their principles , and persecuting those who associate with them . The clergy of the Church of England have not hitherto availed themselves of
the press to oppose the rising heresy , except by giving circulation to the old threadbare arguments contained in some of the pamphlets and tracts of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge . They have not , however , been silent in the pulpit , but have raised their voices loud and deep in pastoral
warnings to their Hocks against " an imperfect Christianity , derogatory to its divine author , and to his cross and sacrifice . " From the adherents of that party which assumes the appellation Evangelical , we differ toto ccslo ; and whether they belong to the established churches or to the dissenting communions , they are to be
viewed in effect as one sect , —one in sentiment and interest , —and as contributing their united efforts to bring back , or to introduce , the reign of a gloomy and intolerant fanaticism , tending to place religion chiefly in modes of feeling and of faith , to the partial and sometimes total disregard of its great moral purposes . Their number is not great , but their zeal and activity have an imposing effect ,
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and will be uniformly directed against Uflitarianism . The nondescript individuals to whom I have referred , are such as , from a love of notoriety , the force of example , and similar motives , have attempted , with the aid of cabalistic lore , pagan mythology , popular prejudice , and invincible effrontery , to raise a hue and
cry against Unitarians and Unitarianism , in the newspapers and at public meetings . Of the virulent opposition of these persons , I will only add , that it operates its own cure by the rebound of public feeling which it occasions , and that the regular defendants of Orthodoxy would , 1 have reason to believe , gladly dispense
with the aid of such supernumeraries 5 non tali auxilio nee defensoribus istis . There is , as far as I am aware , only one other means which has been employed against Unitarianism , and it deserves to be more known than it is . Bible Societies have professed , and have been commonly considered , to aim at an object which is common to all Christians . But it should be generally understood , that the Calcutta Bible Association is not so catholic in its
principles ; for in its Reports it has , not by assumption and insinuations , but in the most direct terms , declared its hostility to the principles of Unitarians , although they avow their belief in the divine origin and authority of the gospel . 1 content myself with mentioning this anomaly , here , but I may perhaps recur to it at a greater length on some future occasion . Upon the whole I am satisfied that the opposition which Unitarianism has received from the advocates
of Orthodoxy iu Calcutta , has tended to place it on higher ground than it would otherwise have occupied , and to render it a subject of greater inquiry and more serious investigation than it would otherwise have been made . With these views , we certainly do not deprecate the hostility of other denominations , from any apprehension of the effects it may have upon the particular interests of our own sect . But when it
is considered that the combined labours of all Christians will probably long , be insufficient to make a sensible impression in favour of Christianity on the numerous native population of India , we see abundant reason for lamenting that any part of the resources applicable to such a purpose , should be wasted in mutual altercation and recrimination . If ,
as has been apprehended , great evil will arise from the jarring efforts of different Christian sects to propagate their peculiar tenets in this country , that evil will be incalculably increased , if the teachers
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152 Intelligence . — -Foreign .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1827, page 152, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1793/page/72/
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