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time to examine it minutely , they were called together for the purpose of discussing it at length . All these proceedings cansed considerable delay . They were aware that they had many warm friends ta England ; and , as in that country * it was not to be expected that our affairs here should be kept always before their minds , it was determined
to send a deputation to England to collect subscriptions before the causes which led to the establishing of the fund . should pass out of the recollections of the people there . He might here state , that the name Presbyterian Fund appeared too limited a designation ; and that it should be made so as to be applicable to persons of all religious sentiments . There was no reason whv a
man , honestly holding any doctrinal opinious , whether he might be Presbyterian , Episcopalian , Catholic , or whatever religious sect he might belong to , should not meet with aid if subjected to inconvenience or persecution Dor the sake of conscience . It was , therefore , determined to assume the name of
Association for tfee Protection of the Rights of Conscience in Ireland , thus generalizing the object of the fund . In proceeding with their design , they did not limit the matter to themselves . They applied to tbe Presbytery of Antrim and the Synod of Mmister , both of which bodies zealously co-operated with
them . Of the , £ 1800 that had been subscribed , he believed that at least , € 1500 had been contributed by the Presbytery of Antrim . A Committee of Trustees was next appointed j and as he rather suspected the clergy of being somewhat grasping , he bad succeeded in having two-thirds of the Committee of laymen . Thus no clerical influence could ever divert the fund from its
original purpose . [ Mr . Montgomery here read the following extract from the trust-deed , to shew the objects of the fund , and the principle upon which it was intended it should be managed : — " The more immediate purposes to which the said fund shall be applied , in prosecution of the aforesaid objects are , 1 st . The assisting and defending of such
ministers and congregations as have been , or may hereafter be , persecuted or injured in consequence of their rejecting human authority in matters of religion , and receiving the Bible as the only rule of faith and worship . 2 nd . The assisting of congregations that have embraced and acknowledged , or may hereafter embrace und acknowledge , the principles aforesaid , In the erection of
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places of worship , and in the support of their ministers . ' 3 rd . The establishing and support of a professorship of divinity , for the use of all religious bodies , that do now , or at any time hereafter shall , adopt and avow the principles aforementioned . 4 th . The promoting of such other objects connected with the maintenance of the rights of conscience r and the extension of religious , liberty , as the trustees of the fund for the . time
being may deem advisable ,, under the limitations of the deed of trust . The capital stock of the Association shall , under no circumstances , and upon no account whatsoever , be diminished ; but all payments shall be made out of the annual produce thereof . Of the twelve trustees , eight shall always be Laymen . " ] A deputation , consisting of Mr . Mitchel , Mr . Blakeley , and himself , had visited England , where they were received with the utmost kindness . The time was not
very favourable for their object . Eugland was engaged in a most important general election , in the issue of which , the great measure of Parliamentary Reform was involved . Many of the individuals who were their warmest friends , had subscribed largely to a Patriotic Fund for promoting that measuie . Another unfavourable circumstance was the
distress which then existed in parts of Ireland . The people of England had been appealed to ; and the appeal was . answered , especially by tbe Unitarians , in a manner that reflected the highest credit on them . There was also a fund raising for aiding the struggling Poles ; and here agaiu the Unitarians were found in . the van . The deputation were
received in the kindest manner ; and though they were able to visit only comparatively few towns , he believed they should add , by their visit , about j £ l 000 to the fund . There were many other places which they had not had time to visit , where they were told they would be cordially assisted if application would be made . He thought he had stated all that was of importance to communicate on this point ; and he con »
ceived that they could not separate before passing a resolution expressive of their gratitude to their English Unitarian brethren . Mr . Montgomery then proceeded to mention the great exertions made by the Unitarian Dissenters of England for promotiug their own interests - and said tbe friends of religions liberty in this country must come forward to aid their own cause . They must contribute to swell the fund . They had to provide education for their young
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Intelligence . —Remonstrant Synod of Ulster . 723 *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1831, page 723, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2602/page/71/
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