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rising % p delirer his sentiments—the decision of tile Churchmen and the Dissenter a calling themselves Evangelical was , that the principle of the Bible Society was a Christian principle , aad that with Uuitarians they could join hands for the dissemiu action of the Scriptures . It must not , however , be concealed , that such is the spirit of the time that those
who took up the can so seemed to be half ashamed of it , and no one began his remarks without taking care to disclaim ifor himself the principles of those whose claim he was advocating . These were . concessions to the spirit of bigotry , bat they ought not to deduct from the decision that we , notwithstanding all our errors and frightful heresies , were to be
acknowledged as part and parcel of the great commonwealth of Christendom . I have been desirous not to occupy much ef your time , Lmt I could not help adverting to th ^ s singular position ; and further let me add , that this appears to roe to be one of the most interestisg meetings that have been held by the
Unitarians of the empire . We have among us the representatives of three ^ ut of the four quarters of the globe ; and this uiorujug we had the pleasure © f seeing in this room that distinguished man who has risen as a star in the East for the purpose of diffusing light among those who are sitting iu the darkness of the shadow of death—who has worked
himself out of the darkness of Heathenism into Theism , and from Theism to Unitarianism : and I am happy to find that he considers himself when among us as among the most intelligent and the most stirring sect in the world . I hope and trust that we shall hear by and by from bis own lips his unsophisticated feelings with regard to our cause , whicfc , I understand , he calls the old and the pure faith . As the name of Christian is still
perseveriugly denied to us by manyconscientiously , no doubt—let us shew to uight , as our excellent preacher did this morning , that we are iu harmony with the brotherhood of man—that we are reformers because we are the disciples
of the great Reformer of Galilee—and that the object we seek is no personal object—is no party object—is no worldly object ; but the object for which the Son t > f Alan came upon earth—that is to say , the promotion of truth as the great means of social hap pines * .
Mr . Rutt .- —It is , perhaps , proper , before we begin the business of the meeting , to mention the meeting at Manchester , to which I , conjointly with others , va « deputed . We were received there
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in the most Christian manner , and every thing appeared to be most favourable to fche objects which we had in view . I will not detain you further : the business is already before the Unitarian public ; and will he again alluded to in the Report this evening .
Mr . HoRNUYthen read the Treasurer's account , and spoke as follows : —After tins statement f might be excused if , as * Treasurer , 1 wore a long face : but I do pot , because I attribute the deficiency which you have heard to- an increased demand on the funds of the Society , rather than to any falling off in the receipts . Besides which , I look forward with confidence that it need only be known that there is an honourable and
satisfactory way to dispose of the funds , x& have our wants supplied , I will not anticipate the Report of the Committee , which will teH how the money has actually been spent ; , as well as the fields of usefulness which are opening to us on all sides , and which the want of funds alone prevents our cultivating r but satisfied as I am , that when you ? have . heard the appeal you will answer it , I will only say that I do most
respectfully and earnestly call on you all for that support which the Report so urgently demands . I will also take the liberty of reminding the annual subscribers that if they please to increase their annual subscription , they will not thereby infringe any rule of the Society ,, and I shall be most happy if they will follow the example which has been set by those who are already acquainted with the state of our funds : and with
respect to the life subscribers of above ten years' standing , I trust that they will receive with gratification the intelligence that what they have subscribed is spent , and that we stiU have abundant means of disposing of fresh sums . Mr . Rutt . —Before , Sir , I move the resolution which I hold in my hand , 1 beg to express the satisfaction with
which I address you , as presiding over this meeting . Seeing you in that situation is connected in my mind with sonic peculiarly interesting associations . You have referred , Sir , to the time when the Unitarian Fund was formed . I had then the honour of presiding at that meeting * ,
and you freely and kindly accepted the office of Secretary , which you afterwards filled for so many years with great advantage to the cause we advocate . Whe » I remember how at that meeting there were not above fifty persons present , and now look at this large assembly , I feel that we ought to be thankful to Divine
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if 4 Intelligence . — Unitarian Association .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1831, page 414, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2598/page/54/
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