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    the civil relations of the denomination . This comprises not merely the protection or extension of the civil rights and privileges of a particular sect : it makes it necessary also to consider the tone which it becomes the body to assume in its social station , and particularly as forming one portion , and that , in many respects , a very influential one , of the Dissenting community . In particular , it snould take care that the great appeal for the restoration of Nonconformists to equal rights as citizens , is not suffered to rest as it ha $ done . Unitarians will not participate in i the disgrace of selfish and partial

    measures , and they will , perhaps , see that by a little activity they may lead ort the really liberal and public-spirited part of the Dissenters to occupy , if not a far more honourable , at any rate , a far less disgraceful position , than they have been content to fill for the last thirty years . No body of persons ever existed whose principles better qualify them for taking an honourable and consistent share in these discussions ; and it is their own fault , and will be their

    reproach and disgrace , if they throw away their opportunities . From none is to be expected a better and more liberal tone of feeling on all questions of interest , regarding the cause of liberty , humanity , civilization and knowledge . On all the interesting topics of this sort , the Society which speaks the opinions of Unitarian Dissenters , should , wherever suitable opportunity offers ,, raise its voice , openly and decorously ; and such an expression could not but be productive of beneficial results in various ways .

    Excuse me , if I have trespassed too much on your indulgence . My wish is to see the Association in question as useful and exemplary in its influence on society , as well-directed zeal , right principles , and intellectual worth-may make it ; and I have'been anxious that its directors should be fully alive to the more extended scale of action which its enlarged circle of comprehension

    necessarily imposes upon it . If it professes to be able to do every thing , it is bound to try to do so . If , placed in its present position , it omits what it could fairly perform , if it neglects the means by which its interests can be served or its character elevated , it will do mischief , because its plan supersedes those particular organizations which would otherwise arise to supply exigencies as they occur . Let it always bear in mind , that to be what it purports to be , it should represent , in all things , the body from which it emanates ; should avo d every thing which may bring discredit upon it ; and should encourage all those feelings , opinions and actions which can give the

    united assemblings of good and virtuous men a character , in the eyes or the world , of moral and intellectual worth , of well-directed zeal in the promotion of truth , of charity , liberality and good-will towards those from whom they differ , of industry , talent and impartiality in the cultivation of religious knowledge , of readiness to every good word and work . The application of these principles to many of the Society ' s proceedings ,

    will be obvious . The proceedings of its Annual General Meetings will clearly become of more and more importance , and its members may be expected to join in them with more interest and in greater numbers . It deserves consideration whether , now that the Society has to a certain extent established itself , it should not declare its general views and objects , m some preliminary exposition , which may in future accompany its rules and reports * A MEMBER .

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    Unitarian Association . 407

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1827, page 407, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1797/page/15/