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    give the world , just to tell what is within us—at this time , above all others , so capricious are our feelings , the power is denied . This great compliment is undeserved by n ; e ; but I know that it is paid to the principle , not to the man . I know that is intended to produce its

    impression in another place ; and happy do I feel to think of the good which may result to Ireland from this manifestation of the sentiments of so many distinguished men . " ( Mr . Montgomery was repeatedly cheered in the delivery of an eloquent and splendid speech , of which we have found ourselves totally unable to afford more than a faint outline . He

    concluded by proposing the health of the Chairman , in very complimentary terms , and resumed his seat amidst loud and long-continued applause . ) The Chairman returned thanks at some length , and alluded , with much spirit , to the progress of liberal opinions at the present day , as contrasted with what he remembered to have seen about thirty years since .

    Mr . Young rose to remark , that , notwithstanding the manner in which the Chairman had blended together civil and religious libeity , there was one very important distinction between them . Of civil liberty a portion may be rightly and wisely sacrificed for the security of the rest . No such compromise can take place in respect of religious liberty .

    The right of worshiping God according to the dictates of our consciences is , from its very nature and to its whole extent , personal and inalienable . The Chairman then gave" The Rev . Mr . Aspland , and thanks to him for having first proposed this Meeting "

    Mr . Aspland said , that he mieht trulv Mr . Aspland said , that he might truly express his concern at being siugled out for this mark of honour ; but it was , perhaps , more becoming that he should bow to the authority of the Chairman , so generously exercised , and so flatteringly supported by the respectable

    company before whom he stood . He would not presume to apply to himself in the letter the complimentary expressions that fell from the chair ; he accepted cordially , however , the kindness which prompted them . Similar kiucluess he had been accustomed to receive from

    the same hand for a long series of years . Amougst other pleasant recollections of his first pastoral connexion with a congregation at Newport , in the Isle of Wight , not the least was , that it had introduced him to the acquaintance and friendship of the Chairman , whose re-

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    spected father he had there , after some interval , succeeded . He well remembered the encouragement he felt as a young minister from the respect and gratitude always testified by the members of the congregation to the memory of Mr . Sturch , to whose name the epithet

    " good" was commonly-attached ; and he doubted not that he might appeal to the present minister of the congregation , ( Mr . E . Kell , ) whom he saw in the room * to bear witness that the venerable pastor is yet spoken of by the survivors of his flock as an example of high integrity , sincere piety , and warm benevolence . Such a name the Chairman had

    inherited , and no one that knew him needed to be told , that it had not been sullied in his keeping , but had acquired new and more public honour , ( sfpptause . ) Mr . Aspiand confessed that he had taken a willing part in calling the present meeting , and after what they had heard , who of them did not rejoice that

    it had been called ? Their guest had been well known to them by warae and character . They had admired his talents , sympathized in his zeal , and applauded his eloquence . Looking on from a distance , they perceived with satisfaction aud delight his mingled wisdom , firmness , and temper , and their spirits went with him in the noble contest which he

    was maintaining against bigotry and persecution . One of his antagonists in the , Synod of Ulster had asked by what freemasonry Mr . M . ' s party knew one another ? He ( Mr . A ) would tell the querist : —the love of religious liberty , that beams in benevolence from the

    countenance , and that drops from the tongue in accents of charity , is the true , the moral free-masonry that brings and keeps together all wise and good men of all nations and all churches . Of this free-masonry the sign is never mistaken . Their guest came among them shewing the token ; they kuew and hailed it ; and in their name the master of their

    lod ^ e religious freedom , the worthy Chairman , had hailed him as a friend and given him the right hand of fellowship ; an earnest , the speaker hoped , of the time , not far distant , when the lore of religious liberty would be the bond of union throughout the world , and when , through the influence of this sentiment , every man , into whatever country aud whatever temple he entered , would be welcomed as , in the most important sense , a brother . ( Loud Applause . )

    In this testimony of respect to Mr . Montgomery , the company meant also to testify their regard to the truly estiiqable

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    Intelligence . —rDinner to the Rev . H . Montgomery . 143

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1829, page 143, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2569/page/71/