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ended in ^ the ov « rt hr <> w ^ f-spciaLorder , in aaarchy and blood , t . , liet the Petit ionrbe investigated 4 let the Assembly be- satisfied whether this book was published by its member , and whether ttfrese * tee the doctrines he professes $ if they * are , ; he ouprht do longer to remain among us : or let him renounce them—Btft fib msn , with ; my ; consent , shall nt ^ dotarn vrith me ; who continues to ¦
bold such opinions . ; - , * Uftlv E < - SfTiSW ^ NS tho ught it al together b ^ ond ^ he competency of the Assembly to go at all into the question . But if any person should imtoc& £ Wbring forwaid such a Petition a $ i : » t 3 ie < present , it was at all events proper that he himself should be free from stain , was this the case ? the
petitioner was present and could answet ^ -f-but" had not he been seen to Ibehave > with the grossest indecorum ? lii ^ L he . n © t appeared even in that Assembly , in a state of intoxication ? [ Order , Order , ) Mr . Gijfard must remind the Hon .
^ Member , that this was not the place for recrimination : nor did the question regard the moral character of any one : fie should fee very $ 01 ry if it did—for t ^ e was sure there was not one there wfcpse character would bear probing to tie bottom
r Counsellor Campbell rose for Mr . &e | 4 iens . ^ -He contended that the Assembly had no right to entertain the questions arising on this petition : it did not complain of a deficiency in any of the qualifications usually required In a member , and for investigating which there was-a proper legal authority ; but
it « vent into an inquiry concerning the truth or - falsehood of a certain mem-&er * s opinions on . theology j and . called him to the bar of the corporation to . ' answer , for his creed * If the Assembly
should , allow a discussion $ 0 entirely ecclesiastical , the Bench of Bishops ittjght , on the same g round , proceed to discuss the qualifications of a Common Councillor . ( Hear . ) . Should the Assembly entertain it . there was no
saying to what extent they might go ; for having ? once assumed a . power beyond their proper jurisdiction , the next step might be to institute inquiries into the private characters of members , and to expel them because their morals might happen not to suit the taste of certain of j&efe fastidious coll « aguesf He waft titfe that tUc
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^ em ! emato ^ Mr . TGiffe& ? * && rhAich iittefcest 1 ft * this <^ esfton , wouM as little choose to sk with a bad faefe ^ or a bad husband , ( fi ewr , ) as with one whose religious © ptriiona - he disapprovcd ^ -aiid * itrfcreftftre , " ^ he n ^ rt ^ tep were the ;' present- to succeed , mig ; ht be to expel theses i but , in truth , the Assembly had nothing to do with either . . ' *;
Mr . Gipfard was not surprised at the easefness of certain , gentlemen to get quit- of this matter : they W ? eie afraid to nieet it ; they knew tbc weakness of their cause . It was sand the Assembly could not entertain iti but did not gentlemen recoliect that ; a member had been once expelled b ^ - can ^ e addicted to the u ^ e of wicked
and , profane words , and for no other reason whatever ? — - { Some person ^ ixze believe , whispered ( licit tlie member Scj ' Sappejled was an Atheist ) . —Mr , GifTarct 3 icl not understand the / difference betweeii Atheist and Deist an 8 iJnbelieveK " or any other title which the enemies 0 f Christianity might sssume—they w ^ e practically the same tiling . He ea «
treated gentlemen to recollect in w-hat circumstances this book appeared : n ? t in private- ^ or obscurely—it Was " 'c 8 s culated witfi triumph i and exhibited at feasts andy entertain mentsV t » e | them recollect , that the book went Forth to tell the virbrld that the Savicnir ortna ^* kind was an impostor .
Mr . Hutton requested ihe gentleman not to quote falsely ; the book contained no such tn ' ing as that the Saviour of the world was an " impostor * . But it were much to be wished th ^ it those who brought forward siuch
• As 00 r readers may be curious to kriow something of the Book in question , we subjoin that passage in it which has at the same time given the most offence to certain individuals , attd is the clearest exposition of Ktr . Stephens ^ general opinions . — " I believe it necessary for me to preface tiy
some observations what I may haVe to communicate , in order to put to silence a vain and delusive spirit that has gone forth into the world , saying , that I , and some other ' s , deny Jesus Christ and his coming , and that we rank him as an impoatolv- ~ a thing which is utterly falsfe : for I fcnow Mibt one withiu the circle of my acquaint-
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f 2 » Iniellig # nce ^ Ummmn * Mm ^ mmi ^^ jpilif&a *! *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1814, page 128, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2437/page/56/
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