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and the key safely deposited in the man ' s pocket . All these transactions took place in the absence of Mr . Watson and his people . On Saturday , the 30 th of January , two policemeu were stationed at the Meeting-house , guarding two notices which were posted on the walls or door . I shall take the liberty of reading these notices ; in the first instance without comment ) lest I should destroy the beautifully running flow of the language by any remarks of mine : —
"' NOTICE . " * As the dissensions in the Presbyterian congregation of Grey abbey have amounted to an absolute schism , it has now become an imperative duty on me , both as magistrate and landlord , to interfere for the preservation of the peace , and , by exerting myself towards the restoration of harmony , to prevent the
dissolution of the congregation . In furtherance of this , to me most desirable object , I have this day accepted the surrender of the Meeting-house , and now call on the contending parties to prepare and lay before me , with all convenient despatch , such written statements , whereby I may be enabled to decide who are the successors , in discipline and faith , of
the congregation , to whose use the Meeting-house was originally appointed ; as to such congregation I hold myself , in honour , bound to restore the use of the house . And , further , I purpose granting a lease to the minister by them chosen , containing such covenants aa , I trust , will prevent all similar dissensions . As , however , this decision must not be made hastily , or without serious deliberation ,
I cannot determine upon shutting up the house for so long a period ; and have resolved , for the mean time , to permit some unobjectionable minister to perform divine service therein , on the accustomed days . Were I to permit the appointment of the Rev . Mr . Watson to that duty , 1 should prejudge the case , and exclude a large number of individuals , who allege that Mr . Watson has seceded from the
original faith . I have , therefore , acceded , with certain modifications , to the request of the Presbytery of Bang or , and resolve as follows : —* The ministers appointed by the Presbytery of Bangor have my permission to perform divine service
in the Meeting-house of Greyabbey ; under the proviso , that they shall abstain from all controversial points of doctrine , and in the full confidence that they will strenuously instil into the hearts of their hearers Christian ' charity and brotherly love . These are my injunctions - , aud \
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sincerely trust , that I may shortly see that once happy and contented parish again united in the bonds of peace / " « ( Signed ) " ' Wm . Montgomery . " * Greyabbey , 30 t / t January , 1830 . ' " I say nothing respecting the legality of this notice . 1 dare say , Mr . Montgomery was perfectly justifiable in the
course which he took ; and , aa it was intended by him to be made a public document , he can feel in no way offended with me for noticing it publicly , aud expressing my opinion respecting it . It appears , that a schism had taken place in the congregation of Greyabbey . Whocaused that schism ? Was it the people belonging to the congregation ? No : it
was caused by persons external to the congregation—persons who had no interest in its existence and prosperity , going about exciting alarm by stating , false * ly , as I hope , that it was the determination of Mr . Montgomery to deprive the people of their Meeting-house . 1 do not pretend to question his right of interfere uce , as a magistrate , to prevent schism . Such is the doctrine laid down in the
Confession of Faith ; and there can be little doubt that it was strongly brought before him . It is a most fortunate thing , however , that he happens to be a Protestant . Had he been a Roman Catholic , the same right would have entitled him to interpose his magisterial authority for the purpose of reducing the
disturbed schismatics to the uniformity of his own faith . Did such a thing as a Mahometan magistrate exist in the country , he would be equally well entitled to heal all scliism , by compelling to an observance of the Mussulman religion . It is said that the Meeting-house was surrendered to Mr . Montgomery . Who surrendered it ? Did Mr . Watson surrender
it ? Did liis congregation surrender it ? No ! it was never surrendered by them ; they were never asked to surrender it . I have heard that an underling of his own sent the key of the padlock to him on Friday night ; but I know that the person had no authority whatever from the congregation for doing so . Mr . Montgomery calls upon the people to
come before him , that he may judge who are entitled , by their ' discipline and faith , ' to have the house restored to them . Why , such matters are ouly subjects of decision for ecclesiastical courts . But , he may be perfectly right and justifiable in assuming the privilege of deciding matters of faith . We cannot , however , look on with approbation , and feel
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Intelligence . —Meeting of Remonstrant Presbytery of Bangor . 209
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1830, page 209, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2582/page/65/
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