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Neivcastle-under-Lyme 9 SrR ) March 18 , 1822 . fipHE inclosed document relative to J _ the transactions of the Philadelphia Unitarian Society , having lately come into my possession , I send it to vou for insertion , if you think proper ,
in the Re pository . As the subject of fay- Preaching has lately been brought before the public in your pages , it may be interesting to some of your readers to be presented with a practical proof of its efficacy when conducted with sincerity and seriousness . I also inclose you an extract of a letter received a few days ago from
Philadelphia . P . B . Transactions of the Philadelphia Unitarian Society . Extract from the minutes of a meeting
of the members , pewholders and contributors of the first Society of Unitarian Christians in the city of Philadelphia , held in the church , agreeably to previous notice , after morning-service , on the 9 th April , 1820 .
Mr , John Vaughan was called to the chair , and Mr . William Turner was appointed Secretary . The Chairman read the following letter from Mr . Ralph Eddowcs , dated 25 th March , 1820 .
To the Committee of Order of the Unitarian Society . Respected Friends & Associates , I now find myself under the necessity of deciding upon a measure which I have
for some time past had in contemplation , —that of retiring from the situation I hold as officiating minister to our Society . When 1 agreed to conduct the service alternatel y with Mr . Taylor , 1 had many doubts whether my powers of body and mind would admit of such continued
exertion ; and I now find the duty beeom-JI 1 £ too great a burden upon both , increased hy a consciousness how very derioient I have been , at best , in the qualifications necessary for an office of such a venous and important nature . However , that no immediate inconvenience mav
an * e fro m an alteration or interruption 01 "le present course , I propose ( if God i ** rmit ) to continue it for six months jonger ; by that time F shall have entered 'Pou my seventieth year , when ( he natubei tacultics , whatever they may have < - « , cannot be otherwise than on the M ( - » e ; u , k 1 it woul ( i be dohl r injustice
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to the Society and myself to persist in attempting what must be unacceptable to them in proportion as it discovered increasing incapacity in me . Still , if remaining strength should allow , and
it should be in any respect desirable , J would not decline the delivery , now and then , of an occasional discourse , but I feel it indispensably necessary , both to my health and the ease of my mind , to be at perfect liberty from any positive or permanent engagement .
As I presume this communication will be entered on your minutes , I wish to avail myself of the opportunity to leave on record , among the archives of that church which 1 have been an humble instrument in founding , my thankfulness to
the Divine Providence , that 1 have been thus led to a more diligent inquiry into the grounds of the Christian revelation—my firm and deliberate conviction of its geueral truth—and more particularly of those views of it to which the great and fundamental doctrine of the Divine Unity .
either directly or collaterally , leads ; associating reason with faith , and laying a broad foundation for hope , and love , and joy : on them I confidently rely for consolation through the short remainder of my days , and for support in the hour of death . Nor do I doubt that , in God ' s
good time , they will dispel every mist of error , and restore the religion of the gospel to its primitive purity . With earnest wishes and fervent prayers for the peace and prosperity of the society , I remain , Their and your affectionate friend and servant in Christ , ( Signed ) RA . EDDOWES .
Whereupon , on the motion of Mr . William Hulings , seconded by Mr . James Taylor , // was unanimously Resolved , That we learn , with unfeigned regret , that notice has been given by Mr . Kddowes of his intention to retire from the public services of the church at the expiration of six months from the 25 th day of March last .
That , much as we lament the loss we shall sustain , the reasons assigned by him for discontinuing his labours a * rnong us , particularly as regards the state of his health , render it our duty to acquiesce in an event , to which we cannot help looking forward with solicitude and concern .
That we entertain a high sense of the very able and acceptable manner in which Mr . Kddowes has conducted the public services , and of the truly Christian example by which he has practically illustrated the great duties of our holy religion : ai | U
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Philadelphia Unitarian Society . 267
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1822, page 267, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2512/page/11/
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