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tarians receive in this country , T shall solicit your insertion of the following facts . At the anniversary of the Bible Society at Ryde , the Rev . — Macniel suggested that all such meetings should commence with prayer , and that no Unitarian should be permitted to take any share in the proceedings of a Bible Society . The Chairman , the Rev . H . Thompson , wished to call to the recollection of the
speaker , the rules of the Bible Society . Instead of yielding to the authority of the Chairman , Mr . M . appealed to the decision of the company , who wished him to proceed . At this meeting some persons from Southampton were present . The spirit there shewn was carried to Southampton . A less open method was there adopted . A friend of mine was
requested to inform me , that my presence on the platform would be painful to many , because I was an Unitarian ; and that he had been desired to solicit the Secretary not to give me a motion to propose as he had usually done . This he refused to do verbally , but wrote me a letter from London , whither he had gone , which I did not receive till the day before the anuiversary
of the Bible Society at Southampton . I immediately on receiving the letter wrote to the Secretary , mentioning the name of my informant , and requested him to erase my name from the Committee and the list of subscribers . The Secretary declined bringing forward my letter of resignation , and subsequently explained to me the cause . At the public meeting no mention was made of Unitarian
exclusion , but to the other subject of introducing Bible meetings with prayer , reference was made by the Chairman , who was present at Ryde . I need not mention that if that innovation be made , the Society of Friends will be prevented from uniting in Bible meetings with their former cordiality ; nor will I dwell oti the consequences that in other cases may result from the discordant views which may be introduced of the manner in which the prayers should be conducted iu such public assemblies . In my reply to the gentleman who communicated to me the offence I committed in
nay being an Unitarian , I stated that I had been a subscriber to the Society from its first formation ; that I was the chief mover of a Bible Association at Lowestoft , of which 1 was Secretary as long as I resided there ; that when I removed to Frenchay , I held a not less important station in the Kingswood Bible Society , and from both places had received testimonials of the fidelity with which I had
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discharged the duties of the offices I had held . I added , ttlat -I was an avowed Unitarian when I was chosen a member of the Southampton Bible Society , and I deemed myself responsible to no man , nor to any body of men , for the religious opinions I adopt . They are the result of an unbiassed investigation of the word
of God , and Christ alone I acknowledge as the Head of his church . — The age , Mr Editor , in which we live is termed liberal . The power of inflicting pains and penalties is taken away , but the spirit of intolerance remains among those who fear even for the dust which covers the altar . If you will insert this communication in your next Repository , you will oblige yours , &c , MICHAEL MAURICE .
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The Eclectic Review and Dr . f ) oddridge ' s Diary and Correspondence . To the Editor . Sir , When iu the first instance I resolved to publish the Correspondence of my venerable ancestor impartially , as the greatest honour [ could do his memory , and in justice to the public , 1 was
perfectly aware of the personal hostility such an act could not fail of arousing . I plainly foresaw that the same spirit which inspired the Pharisees of old to revile the ever-blessed Messiah as the " companion of publicans and sinners , " would tempt the presumptuous hypocrites of modern days to reflect upon the innocent gaiety of heart which mingled with the profound piety of Dr . Doddridee .
In proving him by his own Avoids to have been destitute of party feeling , I was conscious that that very party whose rancorous spirit he tnost deplored , and who since his death have so artfully represented him as one of themselves , would combine again to asperse his memory , as " * during his life they strove to injure Ms usefulness .
With these convictions upon my mind , I had , however , others which counterbalanced them , and are in finitely more important . 1 knew that the character of Dr . Doddridge was without concealment ' , and that ,
as during his life the devout and learned of every class sought his friendship with avidity , and while they ardently esteemed him as a man , venerated him no less as a practical divine ; so I concluded that by mingling the records of his domestic virtues with the annals of his biblical labours , I should extend his reputation
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64 Miscellaneous Corwspondencc .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1830, page 64, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2580/page/64/
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