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do emotion , more than if it were the shadow of a summer cloud passing over the sky . Our feelings may be wrong ; but we cannot suppress them . It was asserted by one of those who crept into our meeting at Grey abbey , that it was the intention of the landlord to deprive the congregation of their house , because they had left the Synod . It appears that This
he is liable to change his opinion . is right ; aud I would be the last person to condemn any man for changing his opinions , when convinced of their error . 1 recollect in the case of the Bally waiter congregation , when the minister was degraded for immoralities , which I shall not insult this respectable assembly by mentioning ; and when , after bringing the consideration of the matter a second
time before Synod , the sentence of degradation was confirmed on him , he determined to retain the use of the Louse , the Synod of Ulster thought it their duty to interfere by law , in order to recover possession of their right . I recollect that period ; and the inquiry then made by Mr . Montgomery was , whether the Synod were coming down to deprive landlords of their property ? The difference
between that case and the present is , that , in the one , the roiuister had been condemned twice as guilty of immoralities , and it was right that he should be supported ; in the present case , Mr . Watson has never been condemned , has never been accused to his brethren , and it is right that he should be turned out of his congregation ! With respect to the covenant which has been made with those
who are to have liberty to preach , the thing may be very fair and salutary ; but if landlords are to have the right of exercising such prerogative , the people have good reason to tremble for the consequences . Mr . Montgomery says he will do nothing suddenly . He is not a man of sudden emotions or strong passions ; and yet he could somewhat abruptly put
up such a notice as this . He adds , that he will not ' prejudge' the case . Why , what has he done ? Because a number of individuals c allege * that Mr . Watson has seceded from the original faith , it is therefore fit that he should be prevented from preaching in his own Meeting-house . This may be good ecclesiastical law ;
but , as a magistrate , lie would feel it his duty to act very differently . Suppose it were alleged that some man were guilty of a crime which would subject him to the penalties of the civil law , would any magistrate condemn the individual upon mere allegation ? Would he not deem it his duty to ascertain the truth of the
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charge , before pronouncing sentence ? It may be right of a magistrate to degrade a Presbyterian minister from the disT charge of his duties ; but if such a right exists , it is full time for every man i » the empire , in whose bosom there exists a spark of Protestant independence , to petition the legislature against such tyrannical power . Mr . Montgomery says ,
in his notice , that he has * acceded to the request of the Presbytery of Bangor . ' Now , what will be thought of this , when I tell you—and I rest my statement upon the authority of the Moderator of the Bangor Presbytery—that no such request was ever made ? Do I charge Mr . Moutgomery with telling a falsehood ? I do not . I am sure he is incapable of fixing
up a falsehood before the world . But I tell you what I believe ; he has been duped—he has received false information . Who the liar Is , that has written to him , or made the statement to him , I do not know . Time may , perhaps , lead to the discovery . A * proviso' is made by Mr , Montgomery , that the ministers- whom
he has permitted to preach in Mr . Watson ' s house , shall abstain from inculcating particular doctrinal opinions . These Presbyterian ministers are to preach what a member of another church pleases These , let it be observed , are Orthodox ministers , and consider the prohibited doctrines to be the essentials of
Christianity . Did they obey the injunction * and thus keep back what they believe to be the very vitals of pure religion ? They are , moreover , to inculcate nothing l > ut peace and love - A man is first to be deprived of his house—turned adrift upon the world—and then peace and brotherly kindness are to be preached ! Was there ever any thing so extraordinary heard of ? The whole circumstance will re ^
mam as an eternal monument , to excite the astonishment of mankind . We are now iu an advanced age of the world . We live in the nineteenth century , when civilization and civil liberty have been much extended ; but we find that the spirit of religious party is at all times the same . This gentleman does not ask it as a favour , that the ministers whom he permits to preach shall abstain from
giving expression to certain opinions j he takes no pains to shew the groumls of his will ; but his words are imperative i—he has ' enjoined' them to observe a particular course . I shall not venture ta characterize , as I have heard done , the next notice which I shall read to you >—'" NOTICE . " « The Rev . J . M'CAUWsy . of Donagha-
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210 Intelligence . —Meeting of Remomtrnnt Presbytery of Baiuror
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1830, page 210, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2582/page/66/
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