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ment . He even liopes , tharzearfnay lead some one of our popular preachers ^ o ^ er to America . " Believing , ~ therefore , ** says he , " as we mo > t sincerely do , that thi interests of vital religion ' , and consequently the happiness of the human race , are nearly connected with the universal reception of the doctrine of the
unity of God , and others connected with and flowing front it , we cannot but feel great satisfaction in the accounts lately received of their spread in the British islands . The same expedients which at ' first contributed so materially to the prevalence of Methodism , are now employed by the Unitarian preachers there * They travel about the country ,
AND HOLD MEETINGS XN BARNS , IN FIELDS , IN THE STREETS OF MARKETTOWNS AND VILLAGES , WHICH ARE NUMEROUSLY AND DEVOUTLY ATTENDED . It is added this Unitarian SENTIMENTS FIND THEIR WAY AMONG THE METHODISTS
THEMSELVES . " It is further announced , that a translation of the New Testament , in which the errors of that at present in common use will be noted and avoided * is preparing fcr speedy publication . As some of the members of this Society are in habits of correspondence with individuals of the Unitarian Associations in
England , opportunities will be embraced of giving them information respecting our state on this side the Atlantic- ; a no WE INDULGE THE PLEASING HOPE THAT THE LIKE ZEAL WHICH ANIMATES THEIR MINISTERS TO SUCH NEW EXERTIONS IN THE CAUSE OF RELIGIOUS TRUTH , MAY LEAD ONE OR MORE OF them over hither , who may acceptably supply our present vacancy , and be the means of collecting a numerous and flourishing congregation . " We learn further , by a private letter , that one pf the German churches in Philadelphia lately divided Upon the
question of having the service performed at certain times in the English language j and that the party who favoured this arrangement , having opened a church of their own , have been fortunate in procuring a young man , a native of Germany , perfect master of both languages , who preaches in German only once a month , whose manner is popular , and his sentiments inclining tc 9 the Unitarian
doctrine , though he does noj : openly avow ic , thinking it safest to Wing people over gradually .
* Mr . Christie , likewise , following the example of the First Society of Unitarians ^ has instituted an Evening Lecture in hU own tolaec ol" worshi p *
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Inttlli < rence . —TT ? iiiariaiii&m in America . 28 $
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nothing to their discredit with any genuine friend of rational liberty , if they bear any resemblance to the civil code of our country in the circumstance of appointing repfese / rfative officers , « for a term , and judicial ^ during good
behaviour , while the ultimate auchority is left with the people at large" Again : * ' In this highly-favoured country , the heaven-born guest , religion , presents herself to every maa precisely in that form under which he sh ^ ws the most
readiness to entertain her : its excellent constitution ( the happie t effort of the kind which the human understanding ever made ) , dropping the degrading idea of toleration , of which some other governments boast so much , discharges its
whole duty by assuring to every individual the free and uninterrupted exercise of the dearest right with which his Maker has invested him , and which it is not within the province of any civil institution to confer or to re . train . ' *
With the " constitution" of which we have made considerable use , we have received also another pamphlet ( of 37 pages , ) called " No . i , of Unitarian Pieces and Tracts , " under the following title : " The Right , puty , and Importance of Free Inquiry in the Matters
of Religion . A Discourse delivered at the Evening Lecture , instituted fyy the First Society of Unitarian Christians , in the City of Philadelphia * November i , 1807 . By a Member of the Society . '* From 1 Thess v . 31 Prove all , thingsholdfast that iv / j / c / j is good . This member
of the Spciety , whose name is not given , argues in favour of free inquiry , religious zeal , and UnitariahLsm , in a rational and manly way . He states that the Evening Lecture * was set on foot to afford the public an opportunity of learning the principles of the Society ^ and of correcting their misapprehensions of them . For this purpose , the first
Ltctare . ( now under consideration ) is published , and is to be , followed by a series of Unitarian publications , original or borrowed . This is the true way of enlightening mena minds . Preaching will draw attention to books , and books wiil follow up the good effects of preaching . The lecturer expresses in the discourse his satisfaction and joy in hearing of the , efforts that Unitarians in this
country are making to spread the tnuh ; especially by popular preaching , and the improved version of the New-Testa-
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1808, page 289, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2392/page/61/
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