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on our having for a second time amongst us the Rajah Rammohun Boy . It is with particular pleasure that I allude to his presence on this occasion , for I have reason to know that he has given up an engagement to dine with the Society for the
support and assistance of foreigners in clistressrin- order-that- he-might-attend this meeting . We are delighted to see the Rajah again on this occasion , and to know that though some may think he does not come so often amongst us as they could wish , he still gives evidence that he is one of those who
do not " to party give up what was meant for mankind . " We know , too , that wherever he goes , he carries with him the light of an enlightened judgment , and the virtues of a warm heart . This also we know to be fact- —that the Rajah , after an examination of almost
all religions , gave up his understanding , and his heart captives to the truth of Unitarian Christianity . It now becomes my duty to advert to the immediate subject of the motion which I hold in my hand . In this respect , it cannot be said of me as of the most
distinguished warrior of the present day—that he is at home abroad , but abroad at home—for though my attention is chiefly directed to ~ the foreign objects of the Association , there is , nevertheless , one of its objects at home , in which my feelings are most constantly and most warmly engaged ; and that object is the Domestic
Mission , to which this Resolution refers . I never heard but two objections urged against our undertaking this new and excellent object : the first was that we could not hope in a metropolis like this , which contains so much vice , ignorance , and wickedness , to effect much with pur narrow means , But ; is this an argument to have weight with us ? Are we , because we cannot
do much , therefore to do nothing ? Is this an argument for men or lor Christians ? It ' so , when we look at the smallness of our numbers as Unitarians ^ wo had better at once shut up pur chapels , and fold our hands in
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despair . No , Sir ! the little we can do , we ought to do ; and I trust that that little will be done with zeal and with energy . Have we forgotten that the saving the soul of a sinner from death hides a multitude of sins ? I
hope not ; and I therefore say that this Association , if it has sins , will hide a , multitude-b-y-sendmg _ into . the ^ haun . ts _ of ignorance one hand to rescue many from the fire . It may be true that there is not so much eloquence required in seeking out the haunts of
wretchedness as in speaking before such an assembly as this ; but I am convinced there is no mode of carryinglidme instruction to the ignorant so good as that of sending an intelligent man to the very places where the minds and hearts of the vicious and the
misled are to be grappled with . ' The second objection is , that this home mission does not comport with the original intention of the Association . I know of no intention which our society has but that of affording religious instruction , and
endeavouring to ameliorate the condition of mankind ; and while we send agents abroad to effect this purpose—while we publish tracts for the purpose of explaining the principles of our religion in a familiar manner—I do not see what there is in domestic missions
which is unbecoming—nay which does not redound to the honour of the Association . I may also mention that the American Association , from which we first adopted the plan , devotes the greatest part of its attention to this object ; and no one can read the ghort statement put out by the
Association , and the extracts from Dr . Tuckerman , without being deeply interested , and without feeling that whatever can be done in the way of raising the depressed , the ignorant , and the wretched to a state of comfort , knowledge , and religion , is a praiseworthy object for any society to adopt , and one in which we cannot enlist our
good wishes and our exertions too warmly , I shall therefore be happy to see the smallest amount of donai
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308 UNITARIAN CHRONICLE .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 1, 1832, page 108, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1815/page/12/
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