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( Continued from p . 172 . ) One most important service was rendered by Mr . Belsham to the cause of Unitarian Christianity , of a different description from those which have
been adverted to in the course of our remarks , to which we would now direct the reader ' s attention . He was the founder of the first Unitarian Association in this country . For a statement of the principles on which it was established , and the objects contemplated , we must again have recourse to his Memoirs of Lindsey .
"In the year 1791 was formed the Unitarian Society for promoting Christian Knowledge , and the Practice of Virtue , by the Distribution of Books . The object of this society was two-fold : —the first was , that the few who then professed the unpopular doctrine of the unrivalled supremacy of God , and that the Father alone is to be worshiped , and of the simple humanity of Jesus Christ , might have some common bond of union , that they might know and support one another , and that they might thus publish their profession to the world , and excite that serious inquiry which would lead to the diffusion of
truth . The second object of the society was , to print apd circulate , at a cheap rate , books which were judged to be best calculated to propagate right views of the Christian doctrine , and to apply it to the direction of the practice . It was proposed at first to combine this Society with that for promoting the Knowledge of the Scriptures , of which some account has been already given . But this combination was opposed by Mr . Lindsey and Dr . Priestley , who thought it best that the societies should be kept distinct ; and as the writer of
this Memoir was the person who first suggested the plan , it was allotted to him to draw up the preamble to the Rules . And as the object of the society was by no means to collect a great number of subscribers , but chiefly to form an association of those who thought it right to lay aside all ambiguity of language , and to make a solemn public profession of their belief in the proper Unity of God , and of the simple humanity of Jesus Christ , in opposition both
to the Trinitarian doctrine of Three Persons in the Deity , and to the Arian hypothesis of a created Maker , Preserver , and Governor of the world , it was judged expedient to express this article iu the preamble in the most explicit manner . This was objected to by some , as narrowing too much the ground of the society , which , as they thought , ought to be made as extensive as possible . But the objection was easily over-ruled , it being the main intention and design of the society to make a solemn , public , and explicit avowal of
A Sermon , on occasiou of tbe Death of the Rev . Thomas Belsham , preached at the Chapel iu Essex Street , November 22 , 182 £ . By the Rev . Thomas Madge . Hunter . 8 vo . Courage and Confidence in the Cause of Christian Truth : a Sermon , preached at the New Gravel-Pit Meetiag ^ House , Hackney , ou Sunday , November 29 , in reference to the Death of the Rev . Thomas Belsham , who departed this Life November 11 , 1829 , in the Eightieth Year of his Age . Together with the Address at his Interment in Bunhill Fields , November 20 . By Robert Asplaiid . Hunter , Eaton , and Teulon and Fox . 8 vo .
A Humble Tribute to the Memory of the Rev . Thomas Belsham , who departed this Life on Tuesday , Novembei 11 , 1829 , in the Eightieth Year of his Age . Hunter . 12 mo . The Accomplished Teacher of Religion : a Sermon , preached at the New Meeting-House , Birmingham , November 22 , 1829 , on occasion of the Death of the Rev . Thomas Beifthani . By John Kentish . Birmingham : Belcher and Son . London : Hunter . 8 vo .
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ON THE CHARACTER AND WRITINGS OF THE REV , T . BELSHAM * *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1830, page 244, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2583/page/28/
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