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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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your well-timed interference to-day , for the preservation of good order . By the blessiivg of God , I trust that the present cause of annoyance to you as a magistrate , and a friend to the promotion of the pure and holy religion of our hlessed Lord , will , in a short time , be completely and satisfactorily removed .
" For your attention to the interests of the people , be so good as to accept my thanks in my own name and that of the Presbytery of Bangor . " I have the honour to be , Sir , ** Your very obedient servant , " Alexander Henderson . " To W . Montgomery ¦ , Esq . '
On Sunday , February 14 , Mr . Morgan , of Belfast , preached in Greyabbey , Mr . Watson having been arrested by the police at a short distance from his own dwelling when on the way to the Meeting-house . After service , Mr . Morgan conversed with Mr . Montgomery , learned from him , without any expression of disapprobation , that Mr . W . had been seized that morning and was still in
custody ; spoke of the great trouble which Mr . M . had tal ? en ; proceeded to make arrangements for preaching the ensuing Sunday ; and put into his hands a long letter from Mr . Cooke , urging him to take away the chapel from the majority of the congregation , and bestow it on the ninety-seven dfssentients . The explosion of public indignation against the author of the treatment which Mr .
Watson had received , and all his abettors , could now no longer be restrained . In every society , place , and connexion , except their own , it was tkr subject of unmixed reprobation ; ** t fr there seems . ¦ tome ground for suspexting that Mr . Montgomery began to fear lest his zeal had carried him faither than was either
right or safe . However that may be , an interview took place between him and two of the leading Remonstrant ministers , the Rev . Henry Montgomery and the Rev . Fletcher Blakely , of the particulars of whicli we are not informed
hot such explanations appear to have been made as satisfied Mr . Montgomery , of Roseinomit , that he had been extremely rash and ill-advised in his proceedings . The following notice , which , according to his customary etiquette , he soon after caused to be affixed to the
Meeting-houwe door , indicates something like a return to common sense . It has been publicly declared , however , on authority , that Mr . Watson never , directly
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or indirectly , by himself or others , gave to Mr . M . the declaration of his faith which the notice alleges .
" NOTICE . if It is with the moat heartfelt satisfaction that I have to announce to the peaceable and well-disposed among the inhabitants of the parish of Greyabbey , that the dissensions which have too long existed in the Presbyterian congregation are in a course of amicable arrangement , to the discomfiture of the turbulent and
ill-disposed , of which , I atn sorry to say , there are some few who , however , being well known and watched , should they not discontinue their factious cabals , will , they may rest assured , feel the power of the law . I have now to inform those members of the congregation who applied to the Presbytery of Bangor for preaching , on the ground of
their minister , Mr . Watson , being an Aiian , that he , the Rev . Jolin Watson , has declared himself to be a subscriber to the Westminster Confession , and distinctly disavows Arianism . The necessity , therefore , which induced me to accede to the request of the Bangor Presbytery , to permit their ministers the use of the Meeting-house , now no longer
exists , and that permission is hereby withdrawn . Agreeable to the desire expressed by me in a former notice , I hope , shortly , to receive , on the part of the Remonstrants , proof of their conformity in discipline with the original Presbyterian Church ; this is all that can be now required , Mr . Watson having ,
by his declaration , I trust , satisfied the people as to the point of faith . Should , therefore , the Presbytery of Bangor wish to offer any statements , in addition to those , already forwaided to me , 1 have to request that it may be done with all convenient despatch , as tlie question being now much simplified , I feel that it cannot be of difficult solution .
• ' William Montgomery . " Greyabbey , Feb . 16 , 1830 . " Some farther communications , in which a certain Mr . Alexander Montgomery , who , we believe , is of the profession of the law , appears to have had a share , soon afterwards took place ; and had the
effect of opening the eyes of Mr . Montgomery , of Itoseiiiouut , to the delusions which had been practised upon him . The following letter from that gentleman to the Rev . Henry Montgomery , contains the . expression of his somewhat tardy repentance :
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284 Intelligence . — The Rev . John fratson and Congregation of Grey abbey
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1830, page 284, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2583/page/68/
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