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pal palace and a national ¦ Church-, was a consummation devoutly to be wished . But , however this may be , the effect was the same to the congregation , and they had to remedy the evil , in the best way they were able . Their first wish was to rent another ' . Chapel , but that being found
jmp racticab . le ™ th , ey--r . esol ^ ed 4 o-n 3 ake an effort to prevent their separation by embarking- in the arduous undertaking of erecting a place of worship , and thereby to establish a society on a permanent foundation ; trusting to the zealous' cooperation of the friends of Unitarianism for
such assistance as the importance of their case seemed to require . For , although one object undoubtedly . -was to afford accommodation to the congregation frequenting York-street , yet the higher object of securing the position already obtained , and thence to extend the principles of Unitarianism through a wide , pQpulous , and intelligent district * was that to which
their attention was principally directed . On this ground I consider it of importance to the Unitarian public ; and from the outline given of the history and objects of the Society , from the zeal displayed in its formation , the advantage that has already resulted from it ; * and the prospect it affords of increasing usefulness , it appears to me entitled to its hearty
concurrence . From a statement prefixed td a list of subscriptions in the last Monthly Repository-, it seems that although the congregation have ,- with great exertion and credit to themselves , raised a considerable Sum , there still remain about SOOL to be
procured to complete the building , which they express ,, their , hope of ob > taining from their Unitarian brethren interested in the advancement of that cause which they seek to promote . I think we Unitarians , considering that we reckon amongst our numbers many individuals possessed of ample means for doing good , are too back-
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ward in promoting objects tending ' to the extension of our principles . If we believe those principles superior to others , because they appear to us to be the truth as taught by Jesus and his apostles , they are surely worth a little exertion , and even the sacrifice of a little
convenien 6 eT-to ™ ma-intain 7- ™ --W hen-I- '' -con * sider the liberality evinced in times past on these occasions , the zeal displayed by other sects in the present day , and reflect how small a portion of the wealth which many of the members of our community have
at their disposal , would suffice for the object in view ., I confess I feel disappointed that any difficulty should be found to raise the comparatively small sum required , and that the g , reat body of wealthy Unitarians have not come forward to assist an
undertaking" which promises to be of high importance to the advancement of genuine Christianity . Whence arises this , apathy ? Is it that we are indifferent to the value of truth ? or , that , having attained a knowledge of it ourselves , we leave others to find their way to it as they are best able ? In either case we discover a negligence which it would be well for us to correct . It should be
remembered that , separate as we are from other Christian comrnunities , and regarded by many of them in no very favourable light , it behoves us to . be more circumspect in our actions , and to suffer bur religious views to exert that beneficial influence on our characters and conduct , which we believe they are calculated to produce .
It has often appeared to me a strange inconsistency , and one which is particularly observable in the present day , that , while men profess to set a high value on principles , and to be guided by their direction in . political matters ; while they freely expend large sums to support them when applied to worldly objects , they should deem them of so little
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CORRESPONDENCE , 151
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 1, 1833, page 151, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2613/page/23/
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