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tion to Parliament for the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts , with a strong and well-founded persuasion of the justice of their cause , and were even then supported by so many of the best men and wisest politicians of that day , as might fairly lead them to expect a fan more- _ . speed y ^^ sucaejss .
But though our champions were never deficient in character , in argument , or in eloquence , —though Mr . Fox , in himself a host , on subsequent occasions , exerted his unrivalled talents in our favour , — " the time was not yet ;" it behoved those on whom the task
devolved to pursue the object with undeviating perseverance , through good report and evil report ; which has been done till the force of reason and truth could no longer be withstood ; antiquated prejudices were obliged to yield ; and , after several minor victories , the strong-hold of our antagonists was carried—and , by the abolition of the obnoxious acts , the dissenters of England jvere reinstated in those common
rights , of which , in times of darkness and tyranny , they had been arbitrarily and unjustly deprived , ' But , much as we owe to the exertions of our immediate advocates , we must see that to the increasing light and knowledge of the times , our success is chiefly due . Though our applications were repeatedly rejected ,
our cause silently advanced m general opinion , which , in the hour of trial , burst forth in our favour with unexpected and resistless force . This progress had been observable in the facility with which the repeal of the statutes against impugning the doctrine of the Trinity had been obtained ; and may be again perceived in
respect to another measure of the highest importance to the country , now undergoing the most searching discussion : and from hence the greatest encouragement may be drawn to unabating perseverance in laudable attempts . We see the truth , as well as the beauty of the Scripture precept— Cast thy bread on the waters ,
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TJNITAKIAN CHRONICLE . 37
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and thou shalt find it after many days . " 4 1 have already taken one opportunity of declaring my ( perhaps sanguine ) opinion , that we have not much more of relief to ask : an alteration in the marriage ceremony , already more than _ halfLconceded ;—some measure
for legalizing and giving authenticity to our registers;—and a few regulations by which we might be better secured against some parochial vexations , seem to me to include the larger portion of what we need regard with
any anxiety ; nor can I think but that such comparatively triflir g inconveniencies will disappear , almost of themselves , now that our civil and social equality is established . There remains , indeed , one great change to be looked forward to at some future
day , with patient hope , when the country shall be convinced that the advantage of exacting , from all indis ^ criminately , the expense of supportinga religious establishment , does not compensate for the unfairness of taking it from those whose consciences forbid them to conform .
* But , not to dwell on a point m such distant and doubtful prospect , I beg to be permitted to call your attention to a few objects of more immediate interest . Two measures have lately been adopted by the general body , in both of which I am perfectlyready to avow my active concurrence ; though I fear some doubts were
entertained respecting them , arising , in my opinion , from misconception of the objects and sources of our funds . By far the larger part of these resources arose from subscriptions expressly collected to defray the expenses which might be incurred in the
prosecution of our great design ; and therefore , without in any degree impugning the propriety of frequently applying part of them to very useful , though still subordinate purposes , ( of which instances continually occur in the minutes of our proceedings , ) I can scarcely imagine a more legitimate
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 1, 1832, page 37, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1809/page/5/
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