On this page

• Text (1)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    which arise out of an association of various sects for a common purpose , as alone a sufficient reason for preserving and extending such a society . No one can have witnessed the proceedings of this year , without rejoicing at the liberal and generous feelings which arose out of the banishment of petty sectarian feelings , and without being conscious that the Dissenting body rose in the estimation of the best friends of liberty and virtue in proportion as it acted upon enlarged and catholic principles .

    Allow me to enumerate a few points which I think should now be taken into consideration by the Deputies , and by the Dissenting public , in contributing to place their representatives in a position suited to their increased and increasing importance in the community , at a time when they have assumed a legal position , unknown before ; entitling them to share in all the honours and offices of the state , and therefore , surely now , if ever , entitling them to look for the speedy removal of any remaining badges of inferiority .

    I must premise that I am looking , and that what I should suggest is designed to tend , towards a permanent and duly organized representation of a class of men of immense importance to the cause of freedom ; who have interests to preserve and principles , in many respects , distinct from those of other branches of the community ; and whose influence , while exerted ( as I trust it always will be ) for good , it is exceedingly important to preserve and direct , as contributing very much to give a correct tone to religious , moral , and political feeling throughout the country .

    1 . " The Deputies" should come to resolutions declaring their object and general constitution ; I say declaring , because I would on no account break up the continuity of an ancient society which is on many accounts valuable and dear in all our recollections , by pretending now to form anew society , or by doing any thing which should not purport to be an acting upon the continuing basis of former proceedings . To the general frame of this constitution ,

    as collected from practice and so declared , should be now added minor bylaws or regulations , into which may be introduced such variations as the present state of things point out . My object in short is , that this Society ( like all others which pretend to regularity and consistency ) should be able to point , for its guidance and that of the public , to written law , not to an uncertain common law , which is disputable at every inch .

    2 . Steps should be immediately taken to restore the permanent fund , which ought not to be less than £ 10 , 000—indeed more , if a suitable house or office is to be appropriated to the Society . It would deserve consideration whether the congregations sending Deputies should not be required to send with them a small annual subscription ; but to this there would be the objection ,

    that the burthen would thus be thrown on the London congregations , which , from their contiguity , would naturally send the greater number of the Deputies for ordinary purposes , whatever rules might be made ( as ought to be the case ) to admit country Deputies if they chose to come . It seems better , more honourable , and less troublesome , to establish at once a permanent

    fund by replacing ( and something more ) the amount spent on the late Strugs gle , leaving the Society to appeal to the public ( as on this occasion ) when unusual demands arise . Nevertheless , it is extremely desirable that congregations should make a point of bearing the exigencies of such a body in mind ; and that they should not be content , aa they have been for a series of years , to let all the civil affairs of the united body be conducted in silence , without any interest being excited , or one shilling being subscribed by those who were every day deriving the benefit . Experience has shewn that this was the sure way to send the Society to sleep ; that inquiry and

    Untitled Article

    The Deputies . 533

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1828, page 533, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2563/page/21/