On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
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
late to make it better for those whom they must leave behind to use what themselves cannot carry away . But it is to females that an appeal may be made with the certainty of success , whenever the object is to do any good . The debt which woman owes to
Christian revelation , though ever in the process of being paid , can never be discharged . Woman knows what she was before men were Christians , and how slowly her condition meliorated till the era of the Reformation ; she acknowledges , with tearful gratitude , what she has become since moral and religious refinement have shed their influence on
society . It is to mothers that society now looks to fix the first and most enduring principles of human character . In the days of prosperity—in the dreariness of adversity—in the bitterness of penitence —¦ the lessons caught at the maternal knee spring up , uncalled for , to admonish or console ; perhaps to receive the last tribute of gratitude and veneration .
But what can women do in the diffusion of moral and religious light ? They can give their influence upon all the classes mentioned , and on all others . They can controul the extravagance of emulation , folly , and fashion . They can make it the fashion to spare something from useless decoration and
entertainment to enrich the Unitarian treasury . Not that they have been careless of the good they can do . Far otherwise . There are many and honourable proofs of their devotedness to the improvement of the age . It should be noticed on this occasion , that in the last year a sum equal to the maintenance of the domestic missionary in this city has been contributed by the ladies . This mission , and the manner in which its duties have been
performed , attract the notice of the considerate and benevolent in an eminent degree . On the whole , concluded Mr . S ., Liberal Christianity has no occasion to despond . Many of the most intelligent and best informed among men , are its
faithful friends . It will certainly increase and diffuse its influence , in proportion to the means which are used to bring it to the test of human reason . To do this , we must promote public teaching from the pulpit , and promote and satisfy the demand for knowledge through the press .
If all could be made to feel the importance of this progressive improvement to themselves , to their associates , to their offspring , and to posterity ; and if they
Untitled Article
could be Induced to labour and contribute to that extent ouly which their dearest interests demand , it cannot be doubted that the pure and simple revelation of the gospel—whether called by our peculiar name or any other—will become , at some time , the only Christian religion acknowledged among men . Mr . Sullivan was followed by Hon . Leverett Saltowstall , of Salem .
After some introductory observations , he remarked , that we were associated for the promotion of an object in which we had a common interest—the cause of what we deemed to be religious truth . We were met together to strengthen each other ' s hands and encourage each
other ' s hearts , and it seemed to him desirable , that gentlemen of the laity should take a part in the discussion of topics which on other occasions , and in a different form , are generalJy left to the clergy . He had therefore listened with peculiar pleasure to the addresses to the meeting from his friends of the laity .
The remarks of the . gentleman who had been heard with so much gratification , on the manner in which controversy had recently been conducted by our opponents—by gross personalities and attacks on private character—had struck him with great force , and were entitled
to great attention . He feared , he said , it was part of a system , well understood , and far extended , to put down Unitarianism , by renderiug its distinguished professors odious to the community . It seemed to him important , therefore , that there should be a distinct expression of the sentiments of this Association on the
subject , that this meeting should express their disapprobation of this course strongly and clearly ; and for this purpose he would offer a resolution , which , he trusted , would meet the views of all present . Resolvedy " That the gross personalities , and libellous insinuations , to be found in religious publications of the day , are to be discountenanced , and severely and openly reprobated , by the friends of candour and decency . "
This resolution , sa ^ d Mr . S ., asserts , that there are gross personalities and libellous insinuations in some of the religious publications of the day , and contains the sentiment , that they ought to be discountenanced and openly reprobated . If religious publications have been so polluted , every one present will respond to the sentiment of regret and reprobation ; and that they have been , is known to all who are in the habit of reading these periodical and other publi-
Untitled Article
738 Intelligence . —American Unitarian Association .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1829, page 738, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2577/page/66/
-