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Second . 1 make a few short remarks on my proceedings and the success which has attended them . My first object was to gain and , as far as possible , fix the attention of the hearers . In this I am happy to say I have , hitherto , completely succeeded . Ever since the first Sunday 1 have had good congregations ; on the Sunday , in the afternoon , the little chapel has been well filled , and frequently quite crowded : and I have never had more closely attentive hearers in any place .
My aim has been not only to suit my discourses to their understandings , but to reach their hearts and consciences , and to effect a change iri their moral state ; to make them see and feel that the gospel , according to our views of it , is perfectly suited to their moral and spiritual wants . In this , also , I have good reason to conclude that I have had as much success as could reasonably be expected in the time . Persons who went to no place of religious worship , prior to my coming , steadily attend on my ministry .
Habitual drunkards are become sober and steady in their conduct . Profane swearers have laid aside the disgusting and abominable practice ; and I am told some who were in the habit of treating their wives ill , now act very differently : in a number of individuals an important moral change seems to be effected ; and a few persons have their mind 3 so far informed that , on the whole , they may be pronounced Unitarian Christians . To give them much information must be the work of longer time .
I have found it useful to read the Scriptures more than is usually done in many of our congregations , and to make a remark here and there on what is read , as some of the hearers cannot read , and others know not howto do it in a proper and impressive manner ; besides , some who can read have not Bibles . I have also thought that a good effect has * been produced by beginning the service with repeating a few striking and impressive sentences of Scripture .
In the outset , it would not have done any good to have circulated , among such a people , doctrinal and controversial tracts ; but I circulated a number of those published by the Christian Tract Society ; and lately thinking them sufficiently prepared for it , I have distributed among them some copies of the Essay which I published " On Christ Crucified . " Till latel we had public services only on the Sunday morning and afternoon ; but , by the request of some of the hearers , I have commenced a Sunday evening service , which is well attended .
There is neither Methodist chapel nor any other Dissenting place of worship but ours in the immediate neighbourhood . There are a few Methodists , who hold frequent prayer meetings in private houses , and have preaching in a private house once in a fortnight , on a Monday evening , and occasionally on a Sunday evening . For some time , several Methodists came frequently to hear me , conducted the singing for us , and professed to be
highl y satisfied with what they heard . They applied to me for permission to hold a prayer meeting in the chapel on a Thursday evening ; and , as they seemed to be truly serious and pious persons , I gave them permission to do so . At this meeting , I was informed , they frequently thanked God for having sent me to so dark a neighbourhood , said that I had done good , and should , do much more , and most fervently prayed for the success
of my ministry . This went on for a few weeks , till the matter came to the ear of the travelling preacher , when , it seems , they were called to account , and prohibited coming near me or the chapel ; themselves said , " They were put in the black book ; " and , consequently , the ecclesiastical rod held
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Mr . Wrights Ministry at Kirkstead . 236
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1828, page 235, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2559/page/19/
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