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    the change which Had taken f > iace in his religious opinion ^ , and rr 6 m the pulpit and the press avowed his conviction of the truth of the Unitarian doctrine . The corcsequenee . was , a $ might be expected , the secession of a part of his flock , and a violent denunciation of him and his

    opinions from Iflie orthodox ministers in the neighbourhood . , Of the ignorance and in tolerance of these men it , would be difficult to convey an adequate description . Calvinism , in its flffdst revolting

    and hideous form , is tlie prevailing faith in this part of the comity , and , as far a& they can , its professors act up to their creed . Fortunately for Mr . Latham , he had the advice and assistance of Mr *

    Toms , That worthy man opened his pulpit to him , and cheered him by his , countenance and counsel . After some time , the seceders from the church at Laxfteld returned , and violently expelled Mr . Latham froni the'pulpit . The majority of the Trastees , if they did not

    countenance this disgraceful conduct , took measures to prevent the continuance of his labours In the church ; andy thinking it more prudent to retire from a scene so > disgraceful , he quitted the pulpit at Laxnefcf , though he continued to reside hi the village .

    Dining Mr . Latham ' s residence at Laxfield , he hact bpeA accustomed to preach wherever an opportunity offered in the neighbouring villages , and , among other places , a * Bramfield , where , through the kindness of Mr * Page , public worship was carried mi fn a torn . Several of his

    hearers , in consequence of his preaching and conversation , assisted by reading various tracts with which they were furnished by the Committee of the Eastern Unitarian Society , gave np the Calvinistic system , and expressed their wish to form themselves into a Church under the

    pastoral care of Mr . Latham . One of them , a Mr . Mills , a carpenter in the village , agreed to erect a place of worship , on the chance of receiving a very small rental for it . The courage and zeal which it required , for so humble an individual in such a situation to undertake so decided

    and unpopular a step , can hardly be sufficiently estimated , except by those who krio \ v all the opposition and discouragement ( to use nty stronger terms ) which he had : to coirt ^ nd with . However , he persevered , aind the Meeting was built .

    Public worship was celebrated in it for the first time on Friday , November 5 ffo . The seWjfce was 0 t > ehed by au 'Appropriate prkjter from Bpr . Cfett * , of Framlmghara . One of tfre nie&bers of Hie Cbur 6 h tWri statfed' iM i * e 8 tei 6 n& wnlch had ind ^ cedP them to vvftndraw irdm tne Trinitarian worship , and to fornt themselves into an Unitarian Society . The invita-

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    tion to Mr . Latham to become their pastor Was then given , and , after a short address from him , accepted * JV { r . Madge then delivered an admirabJe defence of the , Unitarian doctrine , which wa& heard with attention , and we hope with profit ,

    by all present . An economical dinner was provided at the inn , ' of which about thirty partook . Mr . Edward Taylor , of Norwich , was in the chair . la the course of the afternoon , the Chairman remarked , that the Unitarian doctrine could not be

    considered as new to this neighbourhood , since it had been preached within a few miles of the place where they were then assembled , by Mr . Emlyn , Mr . Whiston and Mr . Manning [ Mon . Repos . Xf : 795 ,

    and XII . 377 , 387 and 478 £ ; and he expressed a hope that the seeds which those learned and pious champions of Christian truth had planted , would spring up and bring forth much fruit . —After dinner , about 12 / . were collected for the furtherance

    6 f the infant cause at Bramneld . Several friends from Diss , Woodbridge and Fram-Hngham , were present . —In the evening , (Mr . Toms gave a suitable exhortation from our Saviour" " s words , * fear not , little flock , for it is your Father ' s good pleasure to give you the kingdom . ''

    It would be improper to conclude this account of a very interesting day without noticing the prudence and discretion with \ vhich the building of this chapel was conducted . Here was no laying out a large sum of money on a doubtful

    experiment ; no debt incurred , though the people are few and poor . It is also right to saf , that Mr . Latham continues to labour in the adjoining villages ., and hopes before long to obtain a footing in the neighbouring market-town of Halesworth .

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    Opening of Salford Unitarian Chapel . On the 25 th December last was opened the Unitarian Meeting-house , Greengate , Salford , and dedicated to the worship of the One God the Father . The service in the morning was introduced by the Rev . William Duffield , and a sermon was

    preached upon the occasion by the Rev . Robert Wallace , of Chesterfield , from John iv . 19—24 . The preacher gave an account of the rise and progress of the difference of opinion between tlie Jews and Samaritans . He then explained the memorable words of Jesus Christ to the

    woman of Samaria , and shewed that the true worship of God , who iS' a Spirit , is coafinecj to no particular place , artd who ^ aiid what the true worgfripers are . In tj > e course of . his address , tWip&cte a

    solemn dedication pf t ; he building to the worship of * the One God > tJneJF ^ ther a £ our Lord Jesus Christ . In the ^ evening of tlie same day , the Rev . Noah Jones , of Todmorden , preached an eKteutpora *

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    TftteiMgence . ^ Opening of Sa lford Unitarian Chapel . 57

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    VOfc . XX . I

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1825, page 57, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2532/page/57/