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object of still greater importance , which ought to be kept steadily in view . The darkest parts of Ireland are calling for the light : thousands of our countrymen are anxious to hear , to read , to judge for themselves . In such a condition of society , judicious and eloquent missionaries would effect incalculable good , by giving an impulse to the spirit of inquiry , and suiting
their instructions to the wants of the people . I confidently appeal , therefore , to your liberality , to enable this Association to send forth to the ignorant , not only the silent teachings of books , but the more efficacious instruction of the living voice of man . Remember , too , that this is your first anniversary , and that the future progress of your Society will materially depend upon the example which you set this day . If you commence your
contributions upon a contracted scale , it will freeze the spirit and cramp the exertions of your enlightened and zealous Committee ; but if you cheer them as you are able , and as you ought , ' they will go on their way rejoicing' to the accomplishment of farther good . I firmly believe that the night of
bigotry , superstition , and intolerance , ' is far spent , ' and that the day of truth , and liberty , and charity , ' is at hand . ' May that God , who is able to overrule all the designs and actions of men for his own glory , speedily banish ignorance , error , and crime , from the earth , and ' bring in an everlasting kingdom of righteousness and peace , through Jesus Christ our Lord . ' Amen . "—Pp . 42—47 .
Such stimulus as this has been abundantly applied of Jate to the friends of Unitarianism in Ireland . The first anniversary of their Association testified to the success of their toils , and must have indicated to the lovers of truth at home and abroad how much gratitude is due to the first organizers of a machinery which may operate to an incalculable extent . New encouragements are suggested in the spirit-stirring address which we find
prefixed to Mr . Fox ' s discourse . It must have found its way to the hearts of many , and we will not doubt that it will work there till they have fully imbibed its spirit of freedom and intrepidity . The time is come for a conflict with difficulties which have not till now been accounted such ; but which , first shewing themselves as new lights of conscience break in upon sects as upon individuals , and will disappear before the resolution which
conscientiousness inspires . Of this kind is the great question of the Regium Donum . We call it a question , because great embarrassments in many cases attend the relinquishment of it , and there are powerful temptations to its retention . But as long as it is clear that its reception is a compromise of the principle of Dissent , and that its influence is baneful in secularizing religion , there can be no hazard in pronouncing , not only that it is politic
to surrender in time that which it must become a disgrace to hold , but that the period has arrived for the decision whether hands shall be unshackled and voices free to do the work and proclaim the messages of Jehovah , or whether a subjection to earthly governments shall be virtually acknowledged . There cannot be much longer a halting between two opinions . All must be
for Mammon , or all for God .
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Sermons at the Anniversary of the Irish Unitarian Society . 677
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1831, page 677, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2602/page/25/
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