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    much tfelay which had been occasioned by the then impending danger of disease and the absence of so many from the city during the summer months , the Unitarian Association "were how about to present this measure to the consideration of the public . He then stated the doings

    of a meeting which had previously been held , and the resolves and doings of a large committee which had been raised for the purpose of carrying the undertaking into effect . He said that committees had been appointed in the country and circulars sent to the several churches and associations of Unitarian Christians

    and that as far as there had been any opportunity to hear from them , there were the most encouraging pledges of success . He then proved the necessity of the appointment of an agent , to superintend the publications and to conduct the correspondence of the Association , which had becorne top extensiye for the present

    arrangement * and was every day extending itself more and more ; to be a common centre of communication among all who had a common cause and common interests ; to visit and ascertain the situation , wants , and habits of every part of our land , that he might give aid , information , sympathy , and

    encouragement , and to devote the energies of his whole mind to the great cause of Liberal Christianity , free from the claims of local and professional duty . He anticipated only one objection , that such a movement might appear to have too sectarian a tendency , but this conclusion would be found to be a mistaken one . It was the end and

    object which we had in view and the means by which th ey we re pu rsued , which made a measure sectarian . Organization would make us more successful both as to our means and ends , but would by no means change their nature . The practical result would show a different tendency . —~ When a body of Christians were scattered over a large extent of

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    country , surrounded -by otker denoi urinations ; ' speaking an& ^ a ^ tingwith severity towards them and cherish * ing very opposite views of truth , it was the tendency of human nature in avoiding one extreme to be driven into the other , and the most active principle of conduct was opposition ~ to" 1 Th ^ s " e ~^ 'hir " w 0 re ~ hostile ^ o ^ hern ¥ --

    But when a means of communication had been opened between the scattered members of this body , and they began to communicate their thoughts * feelingy , and opinions , to rely upon each other and become strong and

    confident in their union—a new prm * ciplesof action was introduced ; , and they were influenced more by their respect and attachment for their friends than by the hostility of their opponents : No one couId doubt foi ? a moment which situation was most

    favourable to the development of a narrow and sectarian spirit . But the argument was , that * because others had abused measures of this kind for party purposes , therefore the object itself was bad . If ^ k ^ abuse of anything is reason against its use , the argument is fatal to all the transactions of life , for our daily meat and drink and all the

    necessaries of life have been sometimes abused to the worst purposes : it is an argument against Christianity itself , for sectarianism is one of the abuses of Christianity . Whether this measure had any sectarian tendency woulel depend upon the jperi 6 ii se «

    lected to fill this place , and if we trusted to the opinions of our friends , or of even many of our opponent ^ we should find in the choice » which had been made , a conclusive answer to the objection . After some other remarks ,--he * offered the—following resolutions :-

    —f Resolved , That we are deeply impressed with the utility and neces * sity of the appointment of ' a General Agent of the American Unitarian Association , and heartily concur in the general approbation with which their choice has been received , and

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    -24 . UNITARIAN CHRONICLE .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 1, 1833, page 24, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2605/page/24/