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ground , and at length , supported by some of the more moderate clergy , and encouraged by the chairman , he obtained a heariug . His success was complete . The tumult was changed to applause , the reverend gentlemen vied with one another in demonstrations of respect , and Lieutenant Rhind immediately offered a
public and ample apology . In answer to his plea that he misrepresented through ignorance , there arose a cry of , " You ought to have informed yourself . " A poor Catholic proposed that the money raised should be applied to the relief of the unemployed operatives of that city ; which motion was carried by a large majority . A committee of the Norwich
Branch Reformation Society was however formed ; not because the majority of the meeting were in favour of the motion to that effect , but because the confusion was so great that the purport of the motion was mistaken . It is thought that the society will effect little good or harm . The first levy of the tax on intolerance is already disposed of in the
service of the poor . The loyal are shocked that any measures should be instituted against the favourites of our Popish administration , the moderate wish to maintain peace , and it is clear to all who are not blinded by a spirit of proselytism , that the Catholic population is too insignificant to effect any mischief ; and that , if it were not , the institution of a Heformation Society is the surest method of increasing their influence . They are
conducting themselves with much propriety , and by their moderation have put to shame the professors of a purer faith . The Rev . — Green , pastor of the old Catholic congregation , declined a public conference to which he was challenged , on the ground that more is usually lost to the cause of charity than gained to that of truth , by controversies on the hustings . He has begun , instead , a series of discourses on the doctrines of his
church , which are weekly announced by advertisement , and to which he invites the public . They are published as soon as delivered , in a very cheap form , and he holds himself iu readiness to answer objections which may be made through the press .
It so rarely happens that a fair opportunity offers of explaining and defending our opinions before an audience of thousands , that we rejoice much at the part which Mr . Bakewell took on this
occasion . We give , as the passages which , from their peculiar reference to the occasion 3 will be most interfefcting to our readers ,
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the commencement and the conclusion of Mr . Bakewell"s speech ; omitting the summary which intervenes of Unitarian opinions . " Sm , * ' As the professed object of this meeting is the promotion of religious truth , I cannot be considered as an intruder , and
1 shall be welcomed with open arms by the gentlemen who support this Society , because , a « they profess so tender a regard for the souls of meu , they will , after a candid hearing , be induced to think that 1 and others of the same religious persuasion are not in the dreadful state of reprobation which they fearfully apprehend . I appear here , not as a Roman Catholic ^ but as a Unitarian Christian
( great uproar ) - I will speak . ( Chairman said , Sir , you shall be heard . ) 1 am , I again declare , a Unitarian Christian , a minister of a religious society in this city , the members of which are highly respectable in point of character and station , —several of whom are in offices of high , trust—several of whom have filled the chair of the chief magistrate with honour to themselves and
advantage to their fellow-citizens . No reflection ^ I believe , has hitherto been thrown upon their character . No , Sir , they have lived iu peace , they have endeavoured to promote peace ; they have discharged their duties with exemplary diligence and fidelity ; they have
obtained , and T do say they have merited , the esteem of their fellow-citizens . And , Sir , 1 see before me the picture of a man , a Unitarian Christian , who has for many years represented in Parliament the interests of no inconsiderable portion of the citizens of Norwich . Who has
dared to attack the character of Mr . Smith ? Is he not a mau of inflexible integrity ? Is he not a man whom all respect ? And yet , he is a TJujUariaii Christian . But , Sir , a stranger has presumed to come into this Hall , in which many Unitarians have presided as chief magistrates of this city—a stranger has presumed , I repeat the word , to come here into this Hall , in the character of the organ of the Keformatiou Society ,
and . hold up the Unitarians to the malice , the hatred , and the execration of their fellow-citizens . Yes , he has thrown out the torch of discord . The professed and regular servant of a society for the promotion of Christian truth and Christian charity ¦ , has denominated Unitarians blasphemers . Yesterday I heard the epithet applied tons , arid to the disgrace of the cause which these gentlemen profess to advocate , not one murmur of dis-
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862 Critical Notices .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1829, page 862, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2579/page/46/
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