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man and futurity , with the impressions of joyous devotion and benevolence and hope which-pour in upon the mind from the universe and life and revelation . This powerful vindication of the Divine and human character is also promised to the publicattheespecial request of the Society . After the service on Monday , the Annual General Meeting of the Society ,
open to all , was held in Eustace Street Meeting-house , Jones Stevelly , Esq ., President of the Society , in the Chair . The cumbers who were present , and the interest awakened by the proceedings , far exceeded all previous expectations . The following resolutions , with others relating exclusively to the busiuess of the Society , were successively recommended and carried :
1 . That the cordial thanks of the Society are due to Rev . W . J . Fox , and Rev . H . Montgomery , for their eminent and resplendent services on the present
occasion . 2 . That this Society , deeming it of great importance that thoa » e who are united in principle should be united in name , and earnestly desirous to see all minor diversities of sentiment absorbed in the great truth , that ' to us there is One God , the Father , and One bord , Jesus Christ ; " observes with satisfaction the increasing disposition ou the part of liberal Christiana in this country to adopt
the comprehensive name of Umtarian : that the thanks of all friends of free inquiry are due to those able and ingenuous men in the north of Ireland by whose example and influence that title is spreading there : and that , when it is perceived that it is our leading object to exhibit the Divine character in those beautiful lights with which revelation invests it , but which the popular theology mournfully durkens , there is hope that the prejudices which still obstruct its diffusion will
rapidly disappear . 3 . That we owe our warm thanks to the British and Foreign Unitarian Ahuociation for the fraternal cordiality with which it has hailed and helped our first exertions ; and that from the
continuance of its sympathy we shall feel encouraged to persevere amid those first and more formidable difficulties through which the exertions of that Association have , with the Divine blessing , steered our sacred cause in England .
4 . That we have embraced with satisfaction the opportunities which the past year has afforded of personal intercourse with some distinguished brethren from America , and affectionately receive the assurances of Christian sympathy which have reached us thence : and that the
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state and prospects of pure Christianity , and the truly evangelical spirit of its defenders , in that enlightened land , are regarded by us with delight , with gratitude , and Christian emulation . 5 . That this Society contemplates with
great satisfaction the progress of Unitarian Christianity in Switzerland , and particularly the steadiuess and e » ergy of the pastors and people of the church in Geneva , amidst the obloquy with which they have been assailed , both at home and abroad , by the advocates of an exclusive system of theology .
6 . That this Meeting has heard , with satisfaction of the earnestness and zeal of the Cork Brauch Society : and , persuaded of the value of frequent and free interchange of senliineut in stimulating inquiry and eliciting truth , recommends the Committee to advise the establishment of periodical meetings for theological conversation in connexion with the several district socielies .
It is much to be regretted that no reporter attended to place on permanent record the animated proceedings of this meeting . The impressiou produced by the introduction of the 2 nd resolution by Rev . W . J . Fox , an impression which Rev . H . Montgomery ' s proposal of the 5 th resolution well sustained , but which it surpassed even his extraordinary
powers to increase , will never be forgotten by the many whose indifference it startled , whose efforts it cheered , and whose hearts it touched . The report of the Committee , which was received and ordered to be printed , will be found below . At dinner more than eighty sat down ; among whom it was gratifyiug to observe some members of orthodox churches .
There was nothing Su the arrangements to di > tinguish this social gathering from other similar occasions : but the presence and the inspiring eloquence of the two distinguished strangers whose advocacy the Society had enjoyed , and the novelty in Dublin of such an excitement iu such a cause , gave to the evening an interest memorably vivid and brilliant . The general effect of this anniversary has been conclusive of the fate of the
infant and struggling society in Dublin . Operating oil a class of minds ready for action , but needing a decisive stimulus to awaken them , it has contributed a va > t store of energy aud hope to thai Society ; has placed it beyond it * hist perils > has augmented its resources ; has softened its enemies ; has cheered its
friends ; aud has attracted the philanthropic aud the pious by shewing the affinity of its objects to the best interests of man and the glory of God . J . JV 1
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Intelligence , —Irish Unitarian Christian Society Anniversary , 357
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1831, page 357, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2597/page/69/
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