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    general ; and while they cost but little either in expense or in labour of reading , will afford great assistance to the proper understanding of the Holy Scriptures .

    The Unitarian Fund , which has now been established more than twelve years , and holds its meetings annually in London , also deserves the support of our friends in all parts of

    the country ; because we may consider it as the great spring which guides many of the motions of the body at large . Its object is the general interests of our societies . It assists

    congregations which lie under difficulties in conducting their worship ; it provides for the more general spread of Unitarian principles in the United Kingdoms , by sending out Missionary preachers , to assist places which have

    a regular service , and to open worship in places where it has not before been opened . Many societies are now seen , some large and flourishing , which first heard the gospel preached by the Missionaries of the Uuitarian Fund , and numerous also are those which

    are rising into notice through their planting and fostering care . We are also called upon from time to time , to afford assistance to rising societies of our professing brethren in carrying on their worship , or in building places in which their worship

    may be conducted . It is reasonable that brothers should help each other . In the Church of Christ , it is natural for those who hold the same creed , to consider themselves in the relation of brothers to each other ; and if but a slender assistance be obtained from

    many , it will make their demands burdensome to none . It becomes me also to mention the imperious duty of Protestant Dissenters in general , and therefore of Unitarians , as forming a branch of Protestant Dissenters , to give a liberal support to the institutions to which we look for

    a supply of ministers , to fill hereafter Jhe places of those who are now labouring in our churches . It is not Possible that institutions of this kind ° an be supported without a regular and

    a considerable exertion on the Part of our congregations : nor can they , on any pretence , hold themselves reed from the duty of supporting l "e « e institutions , while they profess

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    to expect that their ministers shall be men of education , and shall be qualified to support a respectable appearance and character in the posts they are to fill . We see that gentlemen of fortune will not educate their children

    to the Christian ministry amongst us . They do not find a sufficient inducement to it , either in the dignity of the character or in the emoluments which the station 1 affords ; and they who are not men . of fortune , cannot support the expenses of a liberal education .

    The case , therefore , is reduced to this simple alternative : either the Dissenters at large must defray the expenses of educating their young ministers , or they must be satisfied with allowing their pulpits to be filled by men of indifferent education .

    To provide for these exigencies , and for others that may arise , it is necessary that our congregations be applied to from time to time . But it often occurs that an appeal is made to us

    for cases in which a little help should be afforded , and yet for which it would not be right to apply to the congregation at large 3 nor should the burden of contribution lie on a few to the

    exclusion of all the rest . Allow me , then , to state to you a plan , which will be offered to your acceptance in order to obviate the necessity of direct application 011 all occasions that may occur , and stiU to secure a means of giving pecuniary aid in all cases that

    may be deemed proper . It is to establish what shall be called , The Unitarian Fund , to which , subscriptions , both' monthly and quarterly , shall be received , even down to the smallest sum . If this be approved , and the subscriptions be regularly paid , it will

    enable us , through the medium of a committee , who shall be invested with power to distribute the money , to meet all cases that may occur , and they may enlarge or limit their liberality , according as the stock shall allow . I do feel disposed strongly to urge the adopting of this plan ; because it will

    remove altogether the painful necessity of applying to you by collections at the door , and will enable even the poorest to afford some regular assistance in the support of the cause to which he is attached . It will , furthermore , enable this society to do a great deal of good 9 without the supply of

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    On Congregational Unitarian Funds . 719

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1817, page 719, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2471/page/23/