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Untitled Article
was comprehended the essence of civil and religious liberty . In reference to the subject of the Catholics , which had been alluded to by the Chairman , he said it was now more than forty-eight years ago that he wrote a pamphlet in favour of Catholic emancipation : he carried it to his friend Johnson , of St . Paul ' s Churchyard , who advised his
publishing it . This he acceded to , not on account of any prepossession he entertained in favour of the Catholic religion , but because he conceived every sect had a right to its own opinions . Most earnestly did he hope that England and Ireland would be in reality , as they were In name , united ; and that this union would eventually be for the benefit , the safety , and ultimate prosperity of each .
' The health of Mr . Porter , and the advocates of liberty of conscience among the Presbyteriaus of Ireland . " Mr . Porter was particularly obliged for the kind manner in which the company had drunk his health , but he was more obliged for the good wishes they had expressed on behalf of Ireland . He was confident that the manner in which
the toast had been received , would cheer the hearts of his Irish friends , and give them nerve to sustain the conflict just approaching with the friends of intolerance , the enemies of free inquiry , and persons who were anxious to lay every restraint upon civil and religious liberty . An attempt had been made , supported by considerable talent , to curtail the
privileges enjoyed by Protestant Dissenters in Ireland ; an attempt had been made to introduce a test of religious belief , for the purpose of injuring them . ( Hear , hear ) When persons were threatened with these dangers , he knew that the 8 fcrougest courage was imparted to their hearts by the consciousness that the hearts of their friends responded to the
Jove of liberty which dwelt in their own . ( Cheers ) The struggle was not yet over ; the Synod of Ulster , to which he hud referred , was about to meet again , and at that meeting it was well understood , that the measures , which were partially carried into effect at the Jast , would be again brought forward with renewed vigour . It was , however ,
one ot the good signs of the times , that the struggle which the independent men of the % uod of Ulster made against them , had extended their influence to a ( Usance of five hundred miles . He hoped his friends would receive the encouragement which the proceedings of tUe present company were calculated to ffiird ; ( hey required but little excite-
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ment to Induce them to perform their duty ; but he thought the proceedings of this day would animate them to dis » charge it lieavtily . ( Hear , hear . ) He thought that as the account of this Meeting would , in all probability , find its way to the north of Ireland , that the sentiments expressed by the Chairman would have a considerable influence in strengthening the hands of the persons to whom they alluded . At one time he
entertained a feeling that he could not conscientiously join the Unitarian body , but his prejudices had been removed , and that principally by the liberality with which he had been treated by the Unitarian Association . He apprehended , in reference to the struggle in Ireland , that the distribution of a few religious tracts , iu which the broad Unitarian principles were openly and candidly discussed , would be of considerable service in that
country ; he therefore applied to Dr . Rees , who , contrary to his expectations * gratuitously supplied him with tracts to the value of 10 / . This was an instance of liberality of which it was impossible for him not to be deeply sensible . The Chairman next proposed , " The health of Mr . Richmond , and may the success of the Uuiiarian Marriage Bill tend to assuage the throbs of many a kind and conscientious bosom . " ( Cheers
and laughter . ) Mr . Richmond in returning thanks took the opportunity ( in allusion to the disappointment which some had expressed on the qualification of the Repeal Bill ) to warn all against entertaining expectation of a relief from the operation of the Marriage Bill , not qualified by many circumstances which might lessen the value of the concession . Those
who had to prosecute such measures had many things to take into account besides their own personal opinions of what was abstractedly right , &nd were obliged to concede much to the feelings , opinions , and interest of others * The Marriage question was one above all
others , in which , though the principle was conceded , practical plans of relief were difficult , and likely to be clogged with many things not very agreeable or perhaps very reasonable ; and he begged the exercise of a candid spirit in any view pf what might be in the end effected .
The Chairman then , after some very feeling observations , proposed , " The memory of their departed friends , and their especial regret at the decease of Sir James Smith , President of the Lin mean Society . " This toast was drunk iu profound silence ,
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£ 02 Intelligence . —British and Foreign Unitarian Association .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1828, page 502, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2562/page/70/
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