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    death of twilight in the day ; the death of finite in infinite ; of temporal in eternal . The apparent progress of the great truth that God was one , had been by no means inconsiderable , as the company now assembled in that room conld prore . The apparent progress had not been

    inconsiderable , but the latent progress had been much greater , [ n the bosom of all the sects which he had just now enumerated , Nicodemuses were to be found , who , under the shades of night , would profess those doctrines which he ( Dr . H . ) deemed to be the truth as it was in Jesus . Under

    happier circumstances than Unitarians were at present placed , it might be hoped that these concealed members would make their appearance ; when there was no lion lurking in the streets , they would probably make themselves known . The friends of liberty had cause to rejoice

    that the old lion of persecution , who had frightened so many persons , had waxed feeble ; his sight was dim , his muscular strength was much abated , and though he now and then opened his mouth to terrify them , they were comforted by the conviction that his teeth were no

    longer there . We had often heard of the c < march of intellect , " and it was cause of rejoicing that it had been the march of civil and religious liberty , and those who had thrown the chains off their own mind , could no longer endure the idea of imposing them upon the minds

    of others . Government were beginning to perceive that it was with actions only , and not with opinions and principles , which they had to do . This was the distinctly expressed opinion of the great departed statesman , Fox , and he ( Dr . H . ) would conclude his observations in the

    words of that great man . " Mr . Fox s own principles , " ( said Mr . Butler , ) " were of the most enlarged kind . On that account , he desired me to attend him , for the purpose of conferring with him on the subject of Catholic emancipation . He asked me what I thought were the best grounds on which it could be advocated ? I suggested , that it was unjust to deprive any portion of his

    Majesty * s subjects of their civil rights on account of their religious principles , if these were not inconsistent with a Christian man's duty . No , Sir ! said Fox , that is not the best ground , nor is it the safest ground ; the only ground to be depended upon oh all points is , that action , not principle , is the subject of law and legislature ; with a person's principles no government has any right to interfere . Anfl in . a subsequent conversa-

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    tion , " says Butler , " he repeated the sentiment with great emphasis . " The . Reverend Gentleman then sat down amidst loud cheers . Mr . Christie rose to propose the health of a gentleman whom he wast sure he had but to name to insure him

    a hearty and cordial reception ; he hardly need tell them that he meant their worthy Chairman ( great applause ); of the conduct , both public and private , of his excellent friend , he could not speak in terms commensurate with his worth and exertions , and particularly his exertions in the great cause of Civil and Religious Liberty . Year after year

    was Mr . Smith to be found at his post in Parliament , contending for the interests of the Dissenters , and opposing , often , as in a recent instance , successfully , the powers of bigotry and intolerance arrayed against the rights and liberties of conscience . He hoped that he would not relax in his exertions

    until he had procured the enactment of the Unitarian Marriage Bill . The Meeting would doubtless bear in mind that it was mainly owing to Mr . Smith that they were enabled to meet legally on the present occasion ( alluding to the repeal , about fourteen or fifteen years ago , of the acts , till then in force , Against im * pugners of the Trinity ) .

    After the applause had in some degree subsided , Mr . Smith rose to acknowledge the honour which the company had thus conferred upon him . He said he was glad to meet them all on this occasion , for true it was , that as iron sharpeneth iron , so doth a man the

    countenance of his friend . Meetings like the present were always useful ; they teach us the importance of union on questions involving our civil and religious rights , and from them we are taught to cherish those sentiments of liberality and Christian charity which seem now to have obtained so firm a

    footing in the world . His friend , Mr . Christie , having alluded to his ( Mr . Smith ' s ) character and exertions in terms , he was afraid , far more flattering than the occasion demanded , he could only say , that throughout the whole course of a long parliamentary life he bad

    endeavoured to do his duty . One thing , be might say with truth , that he bad never shrunk from professing himself a £ Ht * senter , and had endeavoured to act con * formably to that profession . He could not help congratulating them on the improved temper and spirit of the age . Some of them whom he was addressing

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    Intelligence , —British and Foreign Unitarian Association . 499

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    2 i * 2

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1828, page 499, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2562/page/67/