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and a consummation devoutly to be wished , that a Unitarian chapel should be established in the metropolis of British India , to which the merchants resident there may be able fco resovt . But though this is the least encouraging and most embarrassing topic connected with our affairs , I think that our prospect at Madras affords the best grounds of hope for
ultimate success . It is not my intention to claim for William Roberts the merit of any splendid services ; but I do see in what he has done , and what he is likely to do , a great deal of good , and the foundation of something great and important . The history of this man is an illustration of good coming out of evil ; for William Roberts being made an
orphan by the desolation of war , was thrown on the protection of an indigent Mahometan , who in a manner sold him into slavery , by which means he fell into the hands of a worthy man who took care of him . While with the Mahometan he was drawn from Polytheism to the one true God , and in the investigation of Christianity his Mahometan principles
revolted against the creeds contained m the Book of Common Prayer . In this state of feeling he came to London , and was a wanderer about our streets . To a poor African he owed his preservation , for he got him baptized , and shared with him his means of subsistence . He then obtained some Unitarian tracts at the shop of Mr . Johnson , which he took for his guide , and subsequently going to
Madras , he was induced to form a small society to which he might communicate the truths in which he himself was so interested . Having formed this society he wrote to Mr . Belsham , and the " illustrious" Unitarian Society , seeking for information and encouragement . It was my duty as Secretary to communicate with this excellent man , and we sent him all that we could send—books for
distribution ; and from this small beginning he has gone on through every discouragement with consistency and zeal ; he has devoted his talents to his congregation and school ; he has translated several valuable Unitarian tracts into the native language ; and himself written original tracts . To us he has
proved a most important missionary , and through his exertions our tracts have penetrated to the utmost extremity of northern India , and I see by the Report of this day , that he has not only done this , but led to the formation of another Unitarian society . I therefore say , that though this has not been done on a grand scale , yet it is entitled to every
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encouragement on our parts , ft has been a source of great anxiety to him to know what is to become of his society in the event of his death , and he has frequently urged us to send oat missionaries for that purpose . This the Committee could not do ; but we trust that a plan has now been hit upon which will answer better . We propose to bring his son to this country for the purpose of
educating him , and no doubt if youug Roberts is any thing like his father , he will prove a most valuable and important engine in India for the advancement of the great cause . I have to apologize for the length to which I have gone , but I cannot touch upon the case of William Roberts without feeling great and peculiar interest . I will now conclude by reading the resolution , which is ,
" That this Association approves of the measures taken by the Committee for the spread of Unitarian Christianity in the Oriental world , and recommend especially to their fostering and protecting care those interests which are , from time to time , developing themselves hi that remote part of the British dominions . "
Mr . Young . I merely rise to explain . I had no intention of ititimating that the Committee had not full power to apply the funds that they have applied to the Indian object . All that I complained of , or rather regretted , was , that the means of the Unitarians should be diverted from their home object , when so much still remains to be done here .
Mr . Hardy . In seconding the resolution , I , like its mover , have to express my satisfaction at what has been done at Madras , and my regret at what has not been done at Calcutta . Formerly the Unitaiiaus had three or four missionaries at home who devoted
themselves to the cause with a great degree of success , and I need not say how gladly the Committee would avail themselves of the labours of such men now , which would again give rise to useful missionary excursions . No one can be more deeply impressed than I am with the importance of propagating the spirit of inquiry in our own country . We have not
only to contend with the blindness of the lower orders , but with the gross ignorance of those who , in other respects , are both accomplished and amiablemen who have taken up the views of their forefathers , and not given themselves the trouble to inquire for themselves . This is particularly the case with respect to members of the Church of England , who very likely are good
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Intelligence . — Unitarian Association . 4 g 7
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1830, page 487, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2586/page/55/
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