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Untitled Article
of their being the points from which the paths of preferment diverge ; those ' studious cloisters / invested with aU awful and exciting associations ^ goeh as even Milton ' s verses could only embody , not increase . But th « immoveable fence of the Thirty-pine Armeies bars the way to them , for htm who is not flexible enough
to creep under or overleap it . Such . saeriftees made for conscience' sake by m « n of feeling , men conscious to themselves of a power to win the prizes and execute the responsible tasks of society , I own 1 cannot hesitate to admire , nor can I wonder that they should be made with some feeling of the oppression which compels them .
" But the laws do not so part with the Unitarian . He cannot satisfy the first demands of the heart , —he cannot have his share of the blessings intended for him by that Being who has set the solitary in families , without first hearing the faith he venerates denied ; nay , without being made a party to its denia ] L He cannot marry , Sir , except by
the agency of a magistrate after whom he must repeat what in the bottom of his heart , and before God , he believes to be a mischievous untruth . He justifies his conscience in protesting against what he must perforce utter ; but this is no relief which the laws afford him , and , in resorting to this expedient , he subjects himself to insult , if the minister be as oppressive as the law which
he must execute . The government , I repeat it , Sir , calls on the English Unitarian to do that which iu him , with his convictions , is to blaspheme , before he shall have a right to enter into the tenderest and most sacred of earthly relations , and that , in the very act of solemnizing it . May he not pardonably take this amiss ? or , at least , may he not wish it altered ? I greatly mistake the character of those who
hear me , if , under such disabilities , they would be found more loyal subjects than the English Unitarians , If I know any thing about our Nonconformist fathers , they would have done something more than subject themselves to the reproach of being called a political party ,
if such a trial of allegiance had been imposed on them . I mistake if they would not have given a somewhat earlier date to certain events in our history . For my own part , I hope I shall never be harsh in my judgment of a man who is not enthusiastic in his attachment to a government that treats him thus . Ood forbid that I should speak otherwise
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than respectfully of England 3 but 1 cannot hut believe that over against the record of its services to mankind , there is something , written on the book of retribution for its treatment of its East-Indian , Irish , and Unitarian subjects .
" Taking this view of the grounds on which a degree of reserve has hitherto been manifested on our part towards the Unitarians of England , there are reasons , on the other hand , why I think it to be greatly desirable that henceforward it should be banished . It must be our fault or misfortune , if we do not know them to be in important respects a class
of persons most worthy of our esteem . We have only to look into the annual reports of their benevolent associations to see with what striking liberality though not aboundipg in wealth , they contribute towards the promotion of public objects , In a late report into , which I was looking to-day , I find that the receipts during one year , for the
single object of maintaining the Theological College at York , were from pri vate subscriptions 970 / ., from collections in churches 210 / ., from what are called fellowship funds 30 / ., and from , benefactions 480 / . ; in the whole nearly 1700 / ., or about 8000 dollars ; a liber rality which would gratify me to see rivalled by the patrons of our own pivinity .
School , Nor are their labours or their bounty restricted to objects appropriate to their sect . It is well known that in their ranks Are to be found some of the most distinguished philanthropists of that philanthropic nation . We are indebted to them , too . for a large portion of the unexceptionable and exalting literature which we receive from that
country ; and considering how dependent we are on England for the sustenance of our minds , there is no estimating the extent of this benefit . Nor can we be indifferent to the favourable feeling which is entertained by them towards thair brethren on this side of the
Atlantic . One is equally surprised and gratified to find what an interest is felt by them in the leading Unitarians of our country , and how eagerly their writings are sought ; and there are numbers without any such pretensions , who can bear grateful witness to the hearty welcome which has been received from
them . " I will rely upon your patience , Sir , for a moment longer , to say that I think we should take some means to acquaint ourselves better with the progress of just
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Critical Notices . \ &
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1828, page 191, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2558/page/47/
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