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derstanding at least among- Ms brother ministers . In order in some degree % q account for certain apparently illiberal expressions in the work before us , as well as to trace the origin of the congregation in Liverpool , referred to by Mr . Rutt , in his F . S ., it is necessary to go back to the year 1750 ,
about which period a number of the Lancashire Dissenting Ministers formed themselves into a society for the purpose of occasionally meeting together , "in order / ' as they express it , " to a full , impartial and public
inquiry into the state and conduct of public worship , and all affairs of religion amongst the Protestant Dissenters of that part of the kingdom where we reside , and to consult upon and put into execution all methods which shall be judged expedient and conducive to the general advantage and
improvement of religion /' Their first meeting was held at Warrington , on the 3 rd July , 1 / 50 , when several rules were agreed upon for the regulation of meetings , which , it was decided , should take place three times in each year , including the provincial meeting . Certain questions were then
proposed for discussion , and among others was the following : — " As Christian societies have a discretionary power of conducting the public forms of their worship in the manner which they apprehend most agreeable to their own circumstances and the
general design of the Christian religion , whether public forms might not be introduced amongst the Dissenters with general advantage . " The conversation on the fordgoing question took place at Preston , on the 10 th September , 1751 , thirteen ministers being present , when the result
was , that the majority gave it as their opinion , — "That a proper variety of public devotional offices , well drawn ; U in no respect to be imposed , and to be altered at any time ad circumstances shall require , might be introduced amongst the DisSei ^ rs w } th
general advantage . " On this occasion the fqjlovfing naiaute w ^ s . Attge by th # Qetffejfcft . :-p la the course of the conversation , o&eof t& ^ affiiUW psi wfe ^ f t * life -W tHttftetf ' -TO' ap $ &Ve % f
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them , and of the intrbdiictoiy ^ e ^> tions that had been debated . Itwas * resolved to open a cortespoisd ^ nee with him an these subieetsf . ^ ss % r » t The same question was again brought forward rot discussion at the provincial meetings held at Manchester , 12 th May , I 752 , at which thirtyfive ministers were present . The issue was , that a conviction seemed t » exi&t of the expediency of a piiblie form of Prayer for general use ; and a committee of eight ministers ( amdng whom was Mr . John BTekell , of Liverpool ) was appointed < c to consider the subject particularl y * and to represent the arguments on both sides the question ; as fully as possible , as they shall occur in reading or otherwise . "
This committee had instructions to meet at Warrington , the second Tuesday in the following September . It
was then ordered , "That a letter of thanks be returned to Mr . Chandler ' s letter , and that he be acquainted with the business appointed for the
committee ; and that he be desired to give his fullest thoughts on the subject ; and that he be pleased to direct us to such farther correspondents as h ^ might judge proper should be applied
to . I have not been able to trace the exact proceedings of this committee , but there is no doubt that a foil inquiry into the subject appointed for their consideration took place ; and two MSS . which I have perused , written
at this time , bear testimony to the earnestness with which the investigation was pursued . One of these waa from the pen of Mr . Job Qrten > whose assistance was desired . It ? is of some length , and warmly in opposition to the proposed nleasure of a Liturgy *
About the same period , it is probapte ^ that Mr . BrekelLfirst brought for ^ rd the MS . referrea to by Dr . Taylor ^ < p 35 , ) Eilso against a prescribed Form of Prayer , and which never appears to have been published . < / ,
The discussion op > tfee subject of ?** public Liturgy seemli to / have been a prolong'eQ one , iot in ; Jjmft , yewr il / oW , Mr . Br ^ kell pubMBi ^ Mb " ttetlj ' wrfcs on a Letter to ti Wtm&Bthig Mtitisteri concerning- tb *? Expediejicv-of stt «« ascribed WK £ | pfd | Nor did' the riffSr end iH tlMrjite
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Account dfthe t ^ n * tiikiretMtiti ® fo'i M < t on 1 * && . SHP
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1822, page 21, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2508/page/21/
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