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volent sentiments which shall dispose them to abjure all hatred , all bitterness and dissension , and to love one another , to treat each other as brethren , and in fine , to seek and procure peace ; what end more delightful could be pifoposed ? what more noble employment and direction could be g iven to bur means and efforts ? Such are the ends of this infont Society , which is to take the title of the Society of Christian Morality , having for its object the application of the precepts of Christianity to the social relations .
" Some have condemned this title as being too vague , and embracing too many objects not distinctly indicated . It must suffice at present to say , to all who are animated by generous sentiments , and the noble desire to concur in solacing the evils and diminishing the vices which afflict mankind , that the Society already exists ; that it is composed , and will continue to be composed ,
of members from all communions ; one of the fundamental articles of the statutes declaring that , in its proceedings , there shall be no question , except concerning truths on which different communions are agreed , and especially concerning the principles of that sacred morality on which the most bitter detractors of Christianity have been compelled to bestow their admiration ; and that , in fine , the Society will abstain from touching on those points which have divided Christians ; the discussion does not enter into the circle of its
active duties . " It will be perceived b y the regulations , that whatever may give rise to discussions difficult in their nature , and contrary to the intentions of the Society , will be banished from its publications , and from all its proceedings . But , in avoiding what the Apostle calls foolish and unlearned questions , know * ing that they do engender strifes , ( 2 Tim . ii . 23 , ) we , shall insist so much the more on the sublime precepts of Christian morality , and upon the essential truths which serve as the basis for their support , concerning which there can be no dissension .
* ' Persuaded that such a project cannot fail to be approved , and full of confidence in Divine Providence , which is p leased to bless what is conceived with pious and charitable views , the founders of the Society trust that the , ir hopes will be crowned with success ; and they invite all who cherish tho same sincere wishes for the good of mankind to participate with them in their undertaking . " We have never seen it more fully recognized , and it is what mankind ever
have been and still are very slow to realize , that Christianity is a great moral system ; that it proclaims peace on earth and good-will to men ; and that its doctrines are of little value separate from the moral ends which are made the test of their importance . Here are no reproachful allusions to Papists or Protestants—no revival of names which have set a nation on fire—of Janser nist , Jesuit , or Huguenot . Equally free is the language of this prospectus from degraded views of human nature . While it avoids exalting dogmas above duties , it boasts not of the blessings of ignorance , as the mother of devotion . It treats mankind as beings in every respect worthy to be en ,-lightened , and capable of forming opinions and exercising conscience for themselves . There is much in what we have now cited , and throughout
this journal , to exalt our opinion of the present character and condition , and to > encourage our hopes of the growing liberality and elevation of the French people * When was it before in France ( and how rare has it been in ftny country 1 ) that Christians of different communions acted together for any purpose * in which Christianity was the professed basis of their operations ? This enlightened toleration is one of the beet evidences of religious and moral
improvement . Founded on such a broad basis of charity , as we have seen , it may readily be conceived that the Society wouW fl » d some opponents among the Catho-
Untitled Article
de wV «> . —> SWtt ?/ de la Morale Chritienne . 837
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1827, page 837, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1802/page/53/
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