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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.
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dee , is to officiate in the Meeting-house of Greyabbey , on Sunday , the 31 st instant , that is to say , to-morrow j he having qbtained my approbation and permission so to do . " * ( Signed ) "' Wm . Montgomery . " ' Saturday . 3 OfA January , 1830 /
" A servant would be entitled to more courtesy than Mr . Watson experienced in being thus superseded . No man would dismiss the humblest domestic , without treating him in a different manner . Here is the whole matter settled at once , in the most convenient and easy way imaginable . —Mr . Watson , however , proceeded next day , being the Sabbath ,
to his meeting-house , as he had been accustomed to do , accompanied by a considerable number of his people . Instead of two policemen , as on the preceding day , he found no fewer than six guarding the door of his house . They had increased , li"ke the soldiers who had sprung out of the serpent ' s teeth sown by Cadmus . He was appalled at this sight . He retired to consult with the members
of his congregation ; and they , being of opinion that it was unsafe to expose himself to an armed police , who were acting under the command of a magistrate , advised him not to persist . He complied with their advice , and retired to his Session-house- This house is very small , and unable to contain the people who were assembled . He proceeded with the service of the day . Those of his flock who were unable to fiud admittance into the house crowded
round the door ; and , cold and inclement as it was , exposed their bare heads to the driving snow , whilst they were thus engaged in devoutly worshiping their God . Mean time , whilst this aged minister and his people , driven from the place in which they had long bowed before their Creator , were , with what feelings I do not pretend to describe , supplicating the throne of divine mercy ,
a minister passed by-, entered through the armed constabulary , occupied the pulpit of his distressed brother , and preached—the word of God ! [ Here a person , who seemed to be a countryman , uttered some expressions respecting orthodox charity . ] I will not , ( said Mr . Montgomery , ) permit any person in this assembly to say any thing bearing against my orthodox brethren , without rebuking him . These are not orthodox men who are
accessory to such evils . They are men who have assumed the names of evangelical and orthodox ; but who are really devoid
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of religious principles . They are the froth fermenting on the surface , but are not entitled to the name of evangelical . Were I forced to go out to beg , in support of this injured and distressed minister , 1 know many orthodox men to
whom I should confidently apply for assistance . I would appeal to the respectable vicar of this town , to John Barnett , to Dr . Tenneut , to James Munford , to-Lawson Annesley , and a whole host of others , who are au honour to human nature . ( Loud cheers . )
" On the 6 th of February , Mr . WatsOD noticed Mr . Montgomery to restore his right to preach in his meeting-house , which was refused . Next day , being Sunday , he proceeded to his house of worship . On his arrival , he perceived a party of seven police constables planted to guard the house . He then turned tohis Session-house , which he had been \ i \ the habit of entering for thirty years j and there the following notice , fixed up > before him , met his eye -.
"' CAUTION . " * The Police are ordered to call upou all persons assembled in the neighbourhood of the Meeting-house to disperse ; and the people are hereby warned , that should they disobey such order to disperse therefrom , proclamation , under
the Riot Act , shaty immediatel y be made , whereby any person so assemoled whatsoever , or even conducting themselves in the most peaceable and quiet manner , are rendered liable to all the pains and penalties that are enforced against rioter * and disturbers of the peace . * ' Wm . Montgomery .
" ' Sunday , the 7 th Feb . 1830 . ' " [ When Mr . Montgomery concluded reading this document , there were a movement and murmur throughout the meeting , proceeding apparently from great excitement of feeling . Mr . Montgomery was himself so much affected , that he was unable , for several minutes , to proceed . ] " The Police then ordered Mr . Watson
to go home . He declined doing so ; and a Sergeant of Police , getting npon au eminence , read the Riot Act ! Yes , the Riot Act was read to a Presbyterian minister and his people , assembling peaceably to worship their God ! Mr . Watson advanced , with the Holy Bible in his hand , towards the door of the house in which he had ministered for upwards of thirty years ; and , on bis attempting to enter , two soldiers prevented himwith their crossed guus and bayonets :
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Intelligence . —Meeting of Remonstrant Presbytery ofBangor . 211
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1830, page 211, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2582/page/67/
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