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French Sect of Saint Simonites. 83
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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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human mind ( o religious feeling . With free political institutions , the trammels of bigotry and superstition must soon be broken through ; those who have long felt their absurdity and insufficiency are alive to the importance of a purer and a better faith * and many are anxiously looking round to find a sure path for their feet . Religious liberty being established , we shall probably , ere long , see numerous sects arise , as different from any which
have preceded as are the institutions which give them birth . One which seems disposed to take the lead is the subject of this notice , and some of its leading principles are well calculated to gain for it considerable attention . Already crowds of auditors , * nobles , deputies , persons of rank , consideration , and talent , flock to hear the eloquent expositors of this doctrine ; some persons of considerable ability write in its support ; one at least of the public journals strenuously advocates its principles ; and there are some indications
of its extending in the provinces . Founded as their principles are on the two greatest and best rules of human conduct , love to God and love to man , in the largest sense , we cannot but so far as these are well applied wish them God speed ; this we may do without being considered to admit all the conclusions at which they arrive , or to sanction all the enthusiastic feelings in which they may indulge . They have caught a glimpse of the glorious light of eternal truth , but as yet they seem hardly to know whence it came ;
its animating spirit they feel ; they seem to luxuriate in the enjoyment of the benevolent principle ; but confounding the dark veil of Catholicism , by which to them Christianity has been so long obscured , with the pure and heavenly spirit which is its essence , they have discovered one of the brightest gems of the celestial gift , and call it an improvement of their own . An improvement it is , and no trifling one , on the selfish , exclusive principle which has too often assumed the form and usurped the claims of pure Christianity ; but
this needs not , nor admits of , any improvement in itself , however much its professors have fallen short of acting up to its principles . There is one singular feature in the proceedings of this sect , that although their leading object is the amelioration of the lower classes , they admit into their society only persons of some influence , either from their station or their talents . Before we enter on a view of their opinions , it may be well to furnish our readers with a slight sketch of the founder of the sect , abridged from a memoir drawn up by one of his followers .
Five years since a philosopher died in poverty , abandoned and forgotten . Throughout a life of labour and sorrow , crossed by tempests , but devoted to the love of truth and the study of humanity , to the development of its moral laws , its progress and future condition , this man met only with derision and ingratitude ; but he still persevered , establishing his principles , never foiled , never despairing , even to his latest sigh which he breathed
out attended only by one faithful disciple , and two or three friends ; and yet at the present moment , in the midst of parties , factions , thrones falling and fallen , there springs up a numerous and powerful school which acts and speaks only to spread the name , the doctrine , the words of Saint Simon * Surely so striking a fact demands attention . Who is this man who comes to life again after so obscure a death ; whose doctrine developed and spread by an extensive proselytism threatens religion and politics with complete
* The Messager des Chambres states , " On Sunday , 23 rd November , nearly 3000 persons attended the meeting of the Saint Sinaonites , in their Hall in the Rue Faithant . M . Barrot , a young student , pronounced a very eloquent discourse on liberty and religion . "
French Sect Of Saint Simonites. 83
French Sect of Saint Simonites . 83
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1831, page 83, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2594/page/11/
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