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dismantled , shattered , and scattered ; and from the ruins ( heaven realize the religions hope id ore speedily acid perfectly than the political emblem !) a glorious temple arising , the temple of freedom aud of peace . Gladly would we see it combined with the pure and lofty enthusiasm of Spain—Spain as it shall be , when it is once again the abode of the
men of Spain , and those rights of humanity which are still in abeyance shall be restored—gladly would we see the combination of genuine Christianity with the peculiar characteristics of every nation and tribe on the face of the earth , harmonizing , purifying , aud elevating all ,
and its holy principles anuounced in more languages than have ever been enumerated by an Adelung or translated by a Bowring . But still it is with America that we must feel the closest approach to an intellectual and moral identity . In the family of nations , they are our nearest kindred . There are we sure of
mental consanguinity . The laurels which garland their triumphs in science or literature are . grown upon our own intellectual soil ; and in their failures and regrets they do not " wear their rue with a difference . " There too it was that our own Priestley found an asylum when persecution and outrage made him an exile from the land that should hare
gloried , and that yet will glory , in his name . Ever should we be ready to give our welcome to such visitants , as have now come to us from the region that gave him safety . And well will that greeting come from him whose office it will be to announce it , as the Chairman of this Meetings from him who is probably at this time engaged in recording L— rf-fc . ~ m . A . m m « H _ ^ km JM . *» J-m ~ ^ 7 1 lu * , «— f * A . 1 * % *¦» * ** + 1 s ^» yV VBklh J- * . the vicissitudes of Priestley ' lifewho
^ * s ; was himself one of that illustrious band , the Lindseys , Jebbs , and Wakefields , of which Priestley was , the , centre and the soul ; who was their friend while they were living ; their chronicler when dead ; and who happily survives as the representative of their principles and feelings to a succeeding generation . Right is it that he should bid those visiters
welcome to our shores for the sake of Priestley ' s memory . Excuse , Sir , this allusion ; for I must quit it now to observe how much there is to promote this fellowship oJ ^ feeling with the Unitarians of America , !*! the similarity of our circumstances . We have the same conflict to maintain ; the same opposition , bigotry , aud calumny to encounter . Even where our situation is unlike , the diversity is such as to recommend to us the diligent cultivation of a friendly intercourse . The
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chief difference between vs is , that they have to struggle with principles , feelings , and habits , while we have to' contend against interest , ambition , and fashion . —• They \ ( than k heaven ) have no established church pressing heavily ou the soil , and casting a glooiti over the surrounding country . They have opportunities afforded them for free discussion , and the advance ment of religious truth , which we do not
possess . Episcopacy , indeed , they have ; but what a different thing is it there and here ! There they receive and cherish it to . the extent that they ought ; but instead of carrying it further , and giving it supremacy and monopoly , they Seem to bear in mind a legend taught them in
one of the traditions of their aboriginal predecessors . There is an Itidian story of a benighted warrior , who took refuge in a cave full of rattlesnakes—a wild tale , of which the moral is , that " no man should marry a rattlesnake till he has cut its tail off ; " so the Episcopacy which America cherishes in its bosom is
reduced to a state of comparative quiet and harmless n ess ; they have got rid of the rattle which made the worst noise , and the tail which had the real sting in it ; with them , the rattle and the sting have disappeared ; for the creed of Athanasius is not in the book of their prayers , and the tithe of the land is not in the pockets of their priests . I have said that the
resolution which I have to propose is not important , but in one point of view it is of the fir $ t importance . It becomes us , in speaking of our brothers of America , to shew that we ourselves are worthy to give them the welcome we propose ; and this is no small assumption ; for when we advert to those effusions of genius which are continually borne across to us
—when we consider how learned , varied , vigorous , and eloquent are those productions—well may it make us feel that we have an arduous task to discharge in making common cause with them , and in taking upon ourselves to act side by side with them in the promotion of genuine Christianity . Let us , however ,
tryto duv this ; and let us remember with particular delight that our Associations may be looked upon as twin born—for they both sprung into existence in the same yearr—in the same week—nay , I almost believe , on the same day —* -and doubtless the same history awaits them ; the same course of exertions and of
triumph will be theirs , till they both expire iu the fulfilment of the prophecy , that there shall be one Lord , and his name one iu all the earth * Sir , the resolution I have to propose is ,
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intelligence . — Unitarian Association . 4 $ 9
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VOL . IV . 2 N
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1830, page 489, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2586/page/57/
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