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vnitarian chronicle : 169
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shall never forget the kind friends I have left b eh ind at Bridge water , and that my prayers shall often arise to the Father of all Mercies for their moral and spiritual welfare- —for their worldly comfort and their eternal salvation .
' Believe me , - — "MVfy-dear-and-valued-friendsj——'Most truly and affectionately yours , ' W . Steill Brown . ' To this letter the congregation returned the following reply : — ' Christ Church Chapel , c Bridgewater , 22 nd July , 1832 .. * To the Rev . W . Steill Brown , ' Minister of the Unitarian Congregation , ' Bridgewater .
• Pear Sir ,. — In acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 15 th inst ., in which you state your intention , of leaving your native land to settle in the United States of America , we cannot refrain from expressing the deep regret we feel at the
prospect of parting from a Minister whose high character and distinguished abilities have obtained the respect and admiration of Christians of all denominations , and have been eminently successful in allaying the prejudice and bigotry with which the Unitarians have been heretofore
regarded . 4 Connected , as we have been , by mutual ties of friendship and affection , we feel deeply interested in your future welfare ; and we earnestly pray that the Divine Author of our Being may conduct you safely to the land of your adoption , and lead you to a situation where your great talents may be employed in improving the moral and intellectual condition of your fellow-creatures , and in providing forthe permanent happiness and prosperity of yourself and your
beloved family . * Separated , as we are about to be , by the waters of the great deep , few , if any of us , can hope to meet you again in this world ; but our fervent prayers shall be offered up to the Fountain of all Good , that , in a new
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and better state of existence , to which our hopes lead us , we may renew that delightful intercourse which has been productive of so much happiness to us here , during the few years we have been united .
- 4 As the last token we can offer you of our regard , we request you to accept-the ~ accompanymg ^ present r == ^ we have only to regret that it is not more proportionate to our high estimate of your deserts , or more
commensurate with the strong feelings of attachment to you by which we are bound . 4 Believe us to remain , with the best wishes for your temporal and eternal welfare , Your attached and affectionate friends . '
This letter was signed by the members of the congregation , and accompanied by a congregational subscription . The following Address was also presented to him , signed by a large proportion of the respectable inhabitants of the town , of different
religious denominations , including Churchmen , Independents , Baptists , Methodists , Members of the Society of Friends , Unitarians , &c , all bearing testimony to the high estimation in which he was held : ¦ - — ' To the Rev . Wm . Steill Brown , < Minister of the Unitarian Congregation , 4 Bridgewater .
4 the undersigned , inhabitants of Bridgewater , having- heard with sentiments of deep regret your determination to leave this country , hasten to assure you that we entertain feelings of the highest respect and esteem for your public and private character . 4 Whi 1 st we sincerely lament that this country does not offer those
prospects of future independence tor your family which you may fairly expect to realize in America , we entreat you to believe that you will carry with you our warmest wishes for your welfare , and our earnest hopes that , in the land of liberty and
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 1, 1832, page 169, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1819/page/25/
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