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to do good was by no means fully gratified , the- fruits of his benevolent exertions and the remembrance of his virtues , have rendered his name dear to every individual who had the privilege of enjoying his friendship , or who had an opportunity of witnessing his conduct .
Mr . Benson was well known to many of the readers of the Monthly Repository as one of the most active and useful members of the Unitarian Society at Thome . Though originally educated in the principles of the Established Church , no sooner did he begin to think on
religious subjects than he felt incapable of subscribing to its articles and creeds ; and far a considerable time it may be said , that whatever might be his ideas of the truth of divine revelation , he was convinced that what was usually denominated Christianity could not he the truth of God . While thus undecided
m his religious opinions , his attention was excited to the doctrines of Unita ,-rianisna , by the preaching of the Rev . R , Wright , during one of his Missionary visits to Thorne , and also by the
Unitarian publications that were put into his hands by some of the members of the congregation in that place . Among other tracts which he was induced to peruse , the Trial of Mr . El wall produced a powerful impression upon his mind , and was one great means of leading him to that serious and deliberate examination of the
Scriptures which soon rendered him one of the most zealous , virtuous , and enlightened advocates of Unitarianism . No sooner was the Unitarian Chapel erected at Thorne , than he voluntarily engaged to render the congregation every assistance in his power in conducting the services of public worship , till they should
be able to obtain a minister . Though preparing himself for the profession of the law , in the office of Messrs . Benson and Beckett , and having to contend with the remonstrances of many who beheld with the greatest regret his ardent attachment to ( he cause of Unitarianism , he hesitated not to unite with the secfc
that wad every where spoken against , and publicly to teach and to preach what he believed to be c < the faith once delivered to the saints . " Mr . Wright in his Review of his " Missionary Life and Labours , '" ( p . 19 . % ) when alluding to his exertions . says , that he " preached
occasionally and assisted the people much before they had a minister fixed among them . " The truth is , that for nea « -ly twelve months he discharged all the du-. ties of a minister among the congregation : and he not only employed his talents in conducting the services of religious worship , but in the publication of
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two small pamphlets in defence of Unitarian is m , in reply to the Rev . J . Doney , * ( formerly Calvinist minister at Thome , ) which display great ability and extensive information , as well as the most ardent and sincere desire to promote the
interests of truth . For the last five or six years Mr . Benson has been only an occasional resident in Thorne , but he has always felt the greatest anxiety for the welfare and success of the congregation with which he was first connected as a Unitarian and a Christian . His decliuing health has for a long time prevented him even from
joining in the services of public worship on the Lord ' s day ; but happily for him he has not been deprived of the aids and consolations which the spirit of pure and sincere devotion can everjr where and at all times afford . During his indisposition , nothing could give him greater pleasure whenever an opportunity
occurred , than to hear and to speak of , the ' progress of those doctrines which he usually designated pure religion . But however anxious he might feel for the diffusion of the truth , he would continually recur to the sentimeut that " it matters not what men profess or believe , if they are not Christians in character
and conduct . " He had seen , and with the greatest regret , that it is not the profession of the purest faith that is always accompanied with the spirit and practice of religion ; but it was his consolation to believe that whatever might be the ignorance of some or the indifference and misconduct of others , the goodness and wisdom of God would continue
to raise up faithful and conscientious disciples of Christ who would esteem it their happiness and their honour to be the humble imitators of their Divine Master . His language was , when the writer of this imperfect tribute to his
memory had last an opportunity of conversing with him , " the plans of the Divine Government are progressive in their operation ; but I feel most firmly persuaded that all partial evil will ultimately have to give place to universal good / ' :
In his private character , Mr . Benson was a man of unshaken and fearless integrity : possessing a mind richly stored with general information , he was yet most conversant with the doctrines and duties of religion ; and if ever there was anoind that shrunk with abhorrence from
the meaner vices of hypocrisy and selfishness , and from the immoral sentiments and feelings that too frequently disgrace trie characters of men , it was his . The sacrifices which through his attachment to pure religion he was led to make , were , neither few noi * : inconsiderable .
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240 Gbitpai-y . —Charles . James Fox Benson .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1825, page 240, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2535/page/48/
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