On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
tlemett , we liave drunk his Majesty , the Queen , the Princess Victoria and the rest of the Royal Family , and the Ministry—toasts usually given , in the first place , on occasions like the present . It is now my duty to call your attention to another toast , and
to request that you will drink the health of the individual on whose more immediate account we are assembled here . It would be easy for me , after an intimacy of so many years , to speak concerning the private conduct and excellent moral character of
my respected friend . Perhaps , however , I had better not enter upon these topics , lest I should wound his feelings : and it is the less necessary , as he is so well known to us all for qualities which have long commanded
our respect , and almost our veneration . I shall proceed , therefore , to say a few words upon his character as a minister of the Gospel , and they , likewise , shall be but few . To myself , certainly , it would be pleasant to enter more at length into this
important part of my ~ friend scharacter ; but I will only say , that I consider him to be an admirable Protestant clergyman . He has defended his own opinions with spirit and firmness , whilst he has treated the sentiments of
others with gentleness and candour , under the persuasion that every one must stand or fall by his own actions . I shall Day no mnoi » o on tkio lioacl , further than that Jam certain , if all who hear him attend to his admonitions , they will prepare themselves to become better men and better
Christians . There is , however , another point of the Rev . Gentleman ' s general character wj / £ h which I may be permitted to use . somewhat more freedom , and enlarge upon at greater length ; and that is , his public
usefulness —the subject which we are at this moment assembled together to commemorate . With respect to that point , I may fairly say , that after residing for nearly half a century in this place— . after having devoted the whole of that time to actiye exertion
Untitled Article
and unceasing labour for the benefit and credit of the town , and for the promotion of everything useful and advantageous to the district , I consider his public usefulness to be matter of history ; and that if a history of the town for the last fifty years should eWr"h ^ pul 5 lfehed 7 "he"must ~ fill -by -far
the most conspicuous part in it .. ( Applause . ) I believe I am correct in stating , that , at an early period of his life , he first introduced Sunday Schools into this neighbourhood , which have been found in practice to be eminently beneficial to a Christian country , and in preparing the minds of those who attend them for further
improvement and future education , To effect this object , his exertionsas indeed they are on all occasions—r were indefatigable ; and it is consequently to him , in a great jneasure , that we owe the establishment of these praiseworthy institutions . The next topic in his career of usefulness which
I shall mention ,, is the fofrnatio ' n of the Literary andPhrlosophical Society of Newcastle ^ I do not know , nor is it very material , whether he was the father of that society ; but he may truly be considered as the founder of its usefulness—the origin of its
success—the director of its purposes —and its brightest ornament from beginning to end . ( Loud applause . ) I need scarcely , however , make these observations to the present company , most of you being members of that institution . You are all aware that it
is founded upon peculiarly liberal principles ( and I mention this now , because it is to Mr . Turner , I believe , we are mainly indebted for this liberality ) , no one having any property in
the society , excepting that best property of all , the means of acquiring information , which is the more valuable and useful , because we . can divide it with others . From 12 , the number of members has reached
to upwards of 600 ; and , after stating that fact , it would be needless , and even absurd , in me , to dwell upon the incalculable benefits which it waist
Untitled Article
UNITARIAN CHKONl'CfcE . $
Untitled Article
83
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 1, 1832, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1805/page/3/
-