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    be doctrinal truth , but to inculcate and enforce the necessity of admitting the strict and uncompromising morality of the gospel to operate universally and thoroughly upon the human soul , in all its energy and power . He , therefore , most gladly and heartily responded to the

    sentiments of his Brethren whonad ~ preceded him . Still he believed that with all this , Unitarians must still appear , perhaps for a long time , distinctively as a sect . And he desired and hoped that they of this city and vicinity would be ready to extend their sympathy to their brethren , who had still to encounter a virulence of

    prejudice and opposition , of which themselves might now in a great degree be rid . Away from this immediate neighbourhood , at least , there was no scene or situation where ^ Such was

    not the case . It was not simply that we are abused , misrepresented , slandered in the pulpits or the public journals , of those who differ from us , t—those attacks might be borne . But it was not in human nature not to

    feel , and feel deeply , when we found the unhallowed spirit of sectarianism entering into and disturbing the peace of home—alienating from one another the members of the same family ^— -and even at the bed-sid e of . the Ijlck ^ and the dying , or in the midst of bereaved and mourning friends ,

    watering every movement , and scrutinizing the prayers which were offered for the departing soul or afflicted survivors , to find the evidence of dangerous or ruinous heresy . — -God forbid , however , that we should meet this in a similar temper . It was not our indignation which was called for , but our pitv . And it should be

    esteemed by all of us as bur "bouaden dtity to show in such scenes , yes , to show everywhere , by our conversation , by our lives , that our faith was not a thing of the lips but of the heart , that we valued it for its operation upon human character , its tendency to advance and secure human happiness , by placing it upon the

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    only immoveable t > a " sis—a holy and Christian life . Mr . Farley proceeded to urge upon the audience , especially upon his brethren from abroad , the value and importance to the cause which we

    advocate , of public meetings at which might be discussed the great princi"" pl ^ s ~ T 5 f ~ oiir ~ ic ; t > mmtin ^ aith 7 ~^~ t Fheseawakened a spirit of inquiry , and what was a very great advantage ^ jntro - dueed laymen to a part Trf" * £ ne direfct ^ labour of inculcating and enforcing the truth as it is in Jesus , This was

    a great gain . Men were too apt to take words from the mouths of clergymen , on these subjects , to be words of course . But when laymen were roused by a sense of duty to the work , their words told with , tenfold power . Mr . Farley could bear witness of the good effects of such meetings , by his own observation and experience in the city where he resided :

    and he could not but hope that they . would become more common in various parts of our country , with the design not simply of defending Unitarian views of scripture doctrine , but of inspiring -and enforcing a deeper sense of Christian duty , and a more earnest and unretiring devotedness to the grand , practical results of Christian truth .

    The Rev . Mr . May , of Brooklyn ( Connecticut ) , next addressed the Meeting . He commenced with the remark , that . he had never felt more deeply impressed than now with the importance of our relation , as a body of Christians , to the community around us . He felt cheered and animated by what he had seen and heard . v /

    In regard to the charge of our having taken the ground of a sect or party , said Mr . May , if it is in any sense true , it is because we have been compelled'to take this ground . We haVe ^ united , not for the purpose of swelling the power and influence of a party , but for the defence and promotion of what we deem the princi' - ples of Gospel truth and pure Chris-

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    134 UNITARIAN CHRONICLE .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 1, 1832, page 154, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1819/page/10/