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our belief ? Why seek to constrain the opinions of men ? It but adds one crime to another , aud aggravates moral guilt by creating religious hypocrisy . Such has been tne result in the Syuod of Ulster ; a dreadful havoc has , I fear , been made of sincerity ; yet I cannot refuse to feel for those whose timid hearts , unable to bear
the prospect of ruin that threatened their families , yielded to the storm , and refused to own the cherishing of unpopular opinions . 1 am far from praising them , for their conduct was not right ; but I account them objects of sympathy and compassion—and , oh ! what father , what husband could blame them for feeling for
their children and wives ? But what shall we say of those who have seduced them from the path of duty—who have forced them into conduct so revolting ? Yet , let not the Synod be judged by its public acts . There are in it many , even of the Calvinists , who have been victims to circumstances , and abhor the late
measures of tyranny . There is a better spirit abroad , and better times are coming . Persecution has produced its usual effect ; and as its blood-stained hand in former times sowed the seeds of free inquiry and truth , so , in the present instauce , the attempt which has been made to compress the consciences of men , has produced a resistance which cannot be
overcome . Presbyterians , and Episcopalians , aud Catholics , are receiving more honourable impressions , and justice is making rapid progress . Bigotry is peculiar to no sect ; intolerance grows from human passions , and has disgraced the conduct of every church endowed with power . Well may the Arians be thankful that power has been absent from their body ,
and that it has not , by its presence , corrupted their clergy , whose spirit of benevolence should always be in advance of the age . But halcyon cjays are before us . Even the despised Unitarians may hope for better times . I rejoice to find that there are in this room men of so many various persuasions , Calviuists , Episcopalians , Unitarians , and Catholics . Sir , I
love my own opinions , for they are those of conviction . I love them , too , because they have suffered a little persecuiion , But I love them still more , from the spirit which I have seen manifested throughout England , by my fellow-believers in the simple unity of God . I do indeed rejoice in my visit to this country ; and , anxious as I am that my native island should obtain its full measure
of esteem , I must acknowledge that England , as she is the first of the world in wealth and greatness , so in she first in in-
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telligence and moral worth , if the men with whom I have associated since my arrival may be regarded as a fair specimen of her people . On my return , I shall gladden the hearts of my brethren by relating my reception this evening ; it will shew them the feeling cherished by the liberal , of all parties , towards them ; aud they wi 1 not be insensible to the approbation of the wise and good .
Our peculiar opinions , I believe , are gaining ground in Ireland ; and we intend to press them , not by penal statutas , ( for thank God I we have not the power , but ) by fair investigation . I hope we shall make many converts , for I believe that we are in the right . If we are not , T hope our errors will be corrected by our opponents We will hardly have much indisposition to embrace a belief which will be at once more true
and more profitable . There may be difficulty in converting a man who , by changing his opinion , must forfeit a mitre , or a splendid income , or a high popularity . No such obstacles can oppose the chance of our conversion ; for to many of us it would be exceedingly
convenient . At last Synod I proposed a joint publication , to contain the avowed sentiments ?* and arguments of both parties , which should be divided equally between both , aud make our differences as plain as any one of you , gentlemen , who is in business , is accustomed to see the Dr . and Cr . side of an account . The
offer was declined—aud why ? Because they dreaded the circulation of our potson . We , on the contrary , felt confident of the strength of our antidote , and were willing to take the chance of all the harm which their poison might do to us . I understand that since I left home , my challenge has been accepted by one of the Calvinistic party . For myself , as an individual , I have no time for filling half a pampblet monthly , nor do 1 see what benefit could result from a contest
with an individual of that body ; but I do again proclaim , that if they will come forward as a party , my friends and J will meet them in a fair and friendly contest , and may victory abide with truth . If we are wrong , the sooner we are conquered the better , provided it be by reason and not by penal statutes . Sir ,
again from my heart 1 thank you . 1 regret that 1 was so badly prepared ; but 1 never could prepare a speech . And , in truth , it is almost distressing at the very moment we are the objects of kindness for which we are grateful—when we are the most anxious for becoming utterance and language—when we would
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142 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 142, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2569/page/70/
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