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any assistance within our power . Between France and Gibraltar there is a great gulf , but affairs are in an interesting state there ; a letter lately received in Spanish , and which has been translated to the Committee by our Foreign Secretary , described the advantages ihat would arise vvere that situation adopted as a centre for the diffusion of Christian
truth . At Gibraltar there is assembled a great variety of religionists . The Mahometan , the Jew , the Presbyterian , the Carbolic , the Methodist , and theChurchof-En gland man , are all to be found there ; and the consequence is , that there is great room for the spirit of religious inquiry to enter , But what is most important is , that there are at that station
individuals to be found who are deeply interested in the cause ; and the Committee have been so persuaded of this , that they have sent thither a supply oi tracts , a great part of which has already been distributed ; and since I came to this Chapel , the Foreign Secretary has told me that only yesterday a letter was received from Gibraltar stating that
various tracts had been printed and widely circulated by the Committee at Gibraltar . Tracts have also been thus seut to Greece , Italy , and the North of Africa ; and , for myself , I entertain a hope that they will form a bond of union between the professors of the faith here , and those dispersed round the shores of the Mediterranean . The pursuit of this object is , I think , well calculated to lessen the
prejudice against those who profess the Mahometan religion ; and I rejoice in it , because , notwithstanding the error and imposture of this system of faith , it has in its day done great good to the world by disseminating the principle of the Unity of God in place of the most degrading superstitions , and thus elevating the human character , as always must be the case wherever this great principle takes root . And with respect to this , I
may mention an interesting circumstance . An officer of the British navy , being sent on duty to the Northern nhores of Afi ica , undertook when there to debate the principles of Christianity with the Mahometans ; and the consequence of this was , that instead of convincing them of the correctness of his views of
Christianity , they so far convinced him that he became a Unitarian . The object of the Society is not to confuse men ' s comprehension , or narrow their minds . Its great principle is the belief in God as the Father of the whole human race , and that all men arc brethren ; nor do I doubt but that every subscriber to this
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Association would withdraw his name if it could once be shewn that it urged a single principle which iu the least tended to narrow the mind , or which did not tend to cherish feelings of charity towards all men . However unfavourable our present prospect may seem to be , still I think that there are reasonable hopes for expecting that our principles may be received even into the bosom of the
Catholic Church . The great political agitations that have taken place in some of the countries where this religion chiefly prevails , have naturally led to an active inquiry on the subject of religion . We know what master spirits have shewn themselves in Spain , and it is hardly possible to conceive that such minds cau be bound down by all that bigotry which abounds in the Catholic Church . I have heard well-informed Catholics make the
remark , that if Luther had not made the schism at the time he did , as important a change , or still more important a one , would soon have taken place in the Catholic Church itself . Now if we by discussion cau bring about a reformation of opinion in any part of the Catholic Church , every one must allow that our efforts will be attended with a most happy
influence ; and I can inform the Meeting that there is good reason to believe that there are some who already have this spirit of inquiry awakened in their minds . I must uot omit an interesting communication from Malta , for in that island where Paul sought refuge , Christian truth appears to be seeking refuge too . 1 fear 1 am trespassing too long on the patience
of the Meeting , but I thought it necessary to mention to what parts of Europe my motion particularly refers ; and there is oue place in particular which must not be forgotten ; 1 mean Geneva—the place where that system of doctrine was first taught in its full force , to which with all
its horrors we are more especially opposed . The impression made on my own mind when I arrived from Italy at Geneva was very great . 1 passed a Sunday in Geneva , and in the whole of the service I heard nothing of which I could not approve ; and I may add , that never did I attend with more thankfulness than
1 did that day in the church of St . Peter , where Calvin himself formerly preached . Rev . Samuel Wood . I feel great pleasure in seconding the motion that has just been proposed , and adding my testimony to what has been mentioned by the Rev . Mr . Yates as to the delightful elTect of arriving at Geneva after a sojourn in Italy . In that place I spent oue of the moat profitable Sundays of my
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Intelligence . — Unitarian Association , 485
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1830, page 485, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2586/page/53/
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