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Untitled Article
Bill ; and on the late successful application for the repeal of the Sacramental Test , the Body exerted itself very energetically and honourably . There has been no such commotion , in and about the Body , for a long time , if ever , as that recently occasioned by its petitioning for the repeal of
all penal statutes in matters of religion , with reference to the particular case of the Roman Catholics . It was loudly proclaimed that this petition was got up by the Socinians ; and that a counter petition , which was certainly more numerously signer ] , was the real declaration of the sentiments of the Protestant Dissenting Ministers of the metropolis . The Letter to Lord Holland was written to disprove these allegations . The author thus deals with the first of them :
" On tins petition , my Lord , it is unnecessary to offer many remarks ; it is snort , explicit , and respectful . What is its prayer ? * That all the remaining statutes that attach civil disabilities to religions opinions may be repealed ;'—that ' consideration may be given to suck measures as may unite all the subjects of the realm in the enjoyment of equal religious liberty . ' And is this , my Lord , a prayer of which any man ought to be ashamed , or for which an attempt should he made to excite public indignation ? Is there a Protestant Dissenter in the kingdom , who knows his principles , prepared to disavow it ? Let such a man tell the country on what grounds he contends
for equal rights and privileges for himself which he is prepared to refuse to others . Let him explain on what principles he complains of restriction , and penalty , and degradation , when applied to himself , and refuses , I do not say to remove them , but to pray that they may be removed from others . If he is content with bondage , when he might enjoy liberty ; if he is disposed to kiss the dust , when he might lift up his head and walk at large with other men ; if he is willing to remain an eternal slave rather than that other men also should i >* o free ; I have nothing to say to such a man—but I trust the Protestant Dissenters of England are not of this description . " The above petition , it will be observed , my Lord , was signed by only for equal rights and privileges for himself which he is prepared to refuse to others . Let him explain on what principles he complains of restriction , and penalty , and degradation , when applied to himself , and refuses , I do not say to remove them , but to pray that they may be removed from others . If he is content with bondage , when he might enjoy liberty ; if he is disposed to kiss the dust , when he might lift up his head and walk at large with other men ; if he is willing to remain an eternal slave rather than that other men also should go free ; I have nothing to say to such a man—but I trust the Protestant Dissenters of England are not of this description . " The above petition , it will be observed , my Lord , was signed by only
sixty-nine of the whole body , while it will be seen that at the . meeting there were only fifteen of a minority . The reason of this is to be found in the circumstance , that the petition had to be engrossed after the meeting broke up , and as it lay at the library only a short time afterwards , many of the members , from living out of town , and other accidental causes , had not the opportunity of signing it . Several of those who attended the meeting and voted in support of it , from these circumstances alone , do not appear as subscribers . As an evidence of the good feeling and moderation even of those who were opposed to the measure , I believe , with very few exceptions , none of them have signed any petition of an opposite description The petition , therefore , must be regarded as the fair and decided expression of the opinion of the general body of the Protestant Dissenting ministers of London and Westminster , and the vicinity .
" Among other unjust representations of this affair , it has been asserted that this petition is entirely the work of Unitarians , and that the other Dissenters either want the power or the disposition to resist the measures and influence of that party among them . The representation is false and calumnious , both in reference to this affair and all other matters in which the Dissenting ministers act as a body . A single glance at the list which has been given , will shew the absurdity of such a representation . The whole Presbyterian body together constitutes not more than one-seventh of the number of the ministers . Even under the head of Presbyterian are several * highly respectable orthodox ministers , reducing those who are understood to be Antitrinitarians to a still smaller number . By mere numerical force , therefore , it is apparent * A mistake . Mr . Ivimey claims but one , and there is only one other doubtful . Ed .
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The Body . 439
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1829, page 429, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2573/page/61/
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