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; . tq invjte him , to a pinner , at which that "Wortlij veie , r $ in hi the ., same good cause , Mr . Stu . reb ,, yyas ' requested to preside ,, hud Av ) iich accgrdjugly ioo . k . place at ttie . Al - Tbipn ' pn j \ joutlay , January 5 th . We ATgr ' et
Jthat we cannot , by a inore perfect report of th / C ; proceedings tl > a , u that wfticty Js $ nbj (> ined , ^ onvey , a better . idea of ., the pleasure with whiph this , inestimably eloquent , an ^ ntfepid friend of his species was gr # ef pd , by an assemblage ,, pf a ^> out o , n * € i hvj ^ dre ^ l , persons , consisting eniefi y ifldee $ , o £ pultarians , but amongst w ^ hojn , we understood , tfrere were also
Djssenters of other denominations , Episcopalians , and Roman Catholics . The entrance into the room of the venerable Charles . Butler , Mr . Blount , ( the Secretary of tjie British Catholic Association , ) and Col . Stonor , was cordially and enthusiastically cheered .
• After the cloth was removed , the Chairman gave , " Thq King—may his reign be long and happy- —happy for himself and happy for bis people . " ( Drunk with three times three , ) " The Duke of Clarence . " ' * The Duke of Sussex , the zealous and consistent friend of the rights of conscience . " ( Loud cheers , )
The Chairman then , said , * ' Gentlemen , you are aware that while we meet here as friends of liberty in general , and more particularly of that branch of it commonly called religious liberty , we , also assemble to pay the tribute of our approbation to the gentleman who has done us the honour to be our guest . He has the claim of having employed his talents , and these
are of a most superior description , in advocating the cause which we are anxious to siipport . He has laboured , gentlemen , to discharge his duty , and to render himself a blessing to mankind . And this is the way in which we ought to make an acknowledgment to Heaven for the gifts and advantages with which we may have been endowed . If we have knowledge , „ we ought to communicate it ; if we have learning , we ought to teach ; if we have
light , we should let it shine ; if we possess what we con eider just religious principles , we are called upon to make them kppwn . Of this description * gentlemen , is ' pur excellent friend . Although I have ( or some time known . Ws character , until yesterday I never saw fiis face . But all who had tfre pleasure aftd the profit of hiring the discourses which he then de-) jtyjer £ 4 » must have been convinced that \ y > fd . sucji as , I have described ^ They will not doubt that he is able and zealous ,
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desirous . of diffusing , tight and liberty , and by tjbat means of benefiting his species , ' Speaking of light and liberty , gentlemen , reminds us of their opposites , ignorance aud bigotry . Vet . we are not waniirig in . considerations which ought to console us under the existence of those afflicfive evils ^ Learning and science have
done much , to free the wqtW from their influence ,. ? ind they have he ^ n compelled to retreat before , the advancing spirit of , the . age . We h ^ ve been gradually improving for the . last 200 years ;/ and there pan ; be no dbub . t that the principles of religious , liberty are now more exteuded and better understood than at any former period of our history . This affords a
cheeriug prospect that light and liberty , and their attendant , happiness , will yet spread themselves , not only in these kingdoms , but over the whole world . — The iab . ours > of our excellent friend . have a direct tendency to this consummation . Every gentleman present will , I am sure , be glad to pay a tribute of respect to a man of this description , kud will join cordially in drinking hi § health . "
" Our esteemed guejst , the Rev . H . Montgomery , the able and intrepid advocate of Religious Liberty ; — our best thanks for his past exertions , and our earnest prayers for the success of his future efforts . " . Montgomery < c MrChairman
Mr . . — . , although tliis is one of the happiest moments of my life , yet can I not deny that I feel much agitated , indeed ) may say oppressed . To meet opponents is an easy task ; but I feel at this moment how difficult it is to bear up under the kindness of friends . I am aware that I can return
no thanks adequate to the compliments this evening paid me ; and however gratifying the present scene may be to me as an individual , yet it is a melancholy reflection that any man should be considered entitled to thanks for defending the great cause of civil and religious liberty , or that such a cause should need defence In the British islands , and in the nineteenth century . For myself , my conduct has been much overrated . 1 have no
inerit in what I did . I only followed the dictates of conscience , and in the happipess which results from that , have found my "best reward . I have obeyed the voice of Nature , which tells me that I am free . The laws of my country proclaim that my body shall be untrammelled , that it shall not be bound in chains , nor flung into a dungeon ; and shall I surrender the freedom of the immortal mind ? I am a Christian minister , and I have but obeyed the command of my Master to stand
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+ ¦ ¦»* . ,- ¦¦¦¦ ¦ ¦ " " "¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ - ¦ 140 Intelligence . — Dinner to the Rev , H . Montgomery .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1829, page 140, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2569/page/68/
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