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Untitled Article
vre believe that little notice has been taken , on this side the Atlantic , of those publications which are producing gradual but powerful effects in the United States , by weakening the strong holds of orthodoxy , without , at the same time , incurring the risk of
loosening the ties of Christian faith , or lessening- the influence of gospel principles . There is a sobriety and solidity ia their general style of composition , which does not quite suit the excitement of strong feeling , or that satiety which can relish nothing but
the high-seasoned viands that have destroyed its taste for the simple fare of plain truth , or that hastily-glancing ntyle of examination which the multiplicity of books , in the present day ,
tends to produce ; but it seems likely to have peculiar efficacy in regions where the din of controversy is but little heard , and where the pomp and imposing influence of a wealthy and powerful establishment is unknown .
la reference to the effect of the first of the above * mentioned publications , we find the following statement in the Preface to the Christian Examiner for 1824 : * t 4 Many eminent individuals , in church and State , have adopted the sentiments
fits son , the Rev . William Ware , at New York , reprinted in Liverpool . Professor Norton ' s Thoughts on Religion ; Hints to Unitarians ; and Consolations of Unitarianism , particularly in the Hour of Death : all three reprinted at Liverpool
from the Christian Disciple . And a tract by the Rev . Henry Ware , ( the son of Dr . Ware , ) entitled Three important Questions answered , relative to the Christian Name , Character , and popes , just reprinted in Bristol . It is much to be wished that all the American Tracts
republished in England should be printed in 12 mo , for uniformity ' s sake , and with a regard to neatness and legibility ; and that they should have a London Bookseller ' s name in the Imprint .
After the periodical publication called the Christian Disciple , which came out every two months at Boston , U , S ., had been continued five years under that name , it was deemed expedient to begin a new series , which is entitled the
Christian Examiner * The first number of this valuable periodical was published at the commencement of 1824 . We believe Mr . Hunter has made arrangements to get a supply Of i % > and of some other works by the American Unitarians .
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which ttfe have maintained . Ministers professing them * have been settled in Maine , New Hampshire , Vermont , Connecticut , Pennsylvania , and South Ca ,-lolina ; and societies of Unitarian Christians have been organized in the cities of Baltimore , Washington . Pittsburgh , and
New York . A more extensive and powerful effect upon the religious public than has been known in any other instance in this country , ( unless the preaching of Whitfield and his associates make an exception , ) was produced by the sermon of Dr . Channing , at Baltimore , which
contained rather a sketch , than a defence of Unitarian opinions . In many parts of our country , besides those which we have specified , there are considerable numbers , and in almost all parts , religious individuals , attached to this system
from conviction and conscience . A spirit of religious inquiry is still more generally diffused ; and besides those who have embraced our views , there are many wha are subjecting them to a candid examination . "
The writer of the Preface then proceeds , " Nor has this progress of opinion been attended with any extraordinary ex ! - citement of uncharitable feelings . Doubtless , in common with all who have been
in a minority in religion , we have occasionally had cause to regret that we were misjudged and misrepresented . But we think we look in : vain for any other instance , in which so considerable a reformation of belief has been effected with so little mutual irritation . In
comparison with those who in other times and countries have engaged in similar labours , we consider ourselves to have been signally privileged in regard to the amount of obloquy , which we have been called to endure , and the temptations to
unchristian feeling which we have had to resist . And we have ceased , in a great measure , to dread the influence of controversy upon an intelligent and serious community , since we have perceived that in the eoutse of these discussions they have assumed a more moderate and
elevated character ; and a better mutual understanding , and greater mutual respect , have come to prevail between the adherents to opposite opinions . Exceptions to this remark undoubtedly occur ; but it is no small cause of satisfaction , that , to sucli an extent , a gdod example is set by those whose example will naturally be regarded . "
Thi 3 is as the best friends of Unitarian Christianity must desire * hut while our American brethren have so
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T 04 Occasional Notices of American Publications .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1825, page 104, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2533/page/40/
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