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nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but all men be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion; and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.

"And though we well know that this assembly, elected by the people for the ordinary purposes of legislation only, have no power to restrain the acts of succeeding assemblies, constituted with powers equal to our own; and that, therefore, to declare this act irrevocable, would be of no effect in law; yet we are free to declare, and do declare, that the rights hereby asserted, are natural rights of mankind; and that if any act shall be hereafter passed to repeal the present, or to narrow its operation, such act will be an infringement of natural rights." ZACCHEUS.

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THE CHRISTIAN PIONEER.

GLASGOW, July 31, 1830.

IN our last Number we inserted a brief Report of the proceedings at a Public Dinner given at Derryboy, by persons of various religious opinions, to the members of "The Remonstrant Synod of Ulster." There are two or three other addresses which we are desirous of recording.

1

"The Rev. Dr. Nelson, and the Presbytery of Antrim.”

Dr. Nelson said, At this advanced hour, I shall barely return you thanks for the honour you have done to the free and independent Presbytery of Antrim. That body most deeply sympathises with you in your endeavours to support the liberties of conscience. Our own situation was once similar to what yours is now. Our forefathers were driven out from the Synod, because they dared to maintain the right of private judgment; and we have remained 104 years together in peace and harmony, during which time, not one division or protest has taken place. We have been repudiated for not having a creed; but as we will not ourselves accept of a creed from fallible man, so we do not presume to draw up creeds for the guidance and direction of others. The Bible is our only creed. We prefer drinking the waters pure from the fountain-head, instead of receiving them from one of the muddy streams that flow from its banks. It is a cheering and consolatory sight to see the fruits exhibited here to-day, of one of those schools of knowledge-reading societies-which an excellent and worthy man established in this neighbourhood. Let the people be only instructed, and I have no fear that they will long remain slaves to intolerance and bigotry. The people who have to boast of having had for their teachers a Bruce, a Dunn, and a

M'Ewen, will not long suffer that cloud of intolerance to hang over them, which has for some time rendered dark and gloomy this portion soft Presbyterian Ulster People talk of Old Lights and New Lights, with a view of drawing invidious comparisons. For my part, I am Old Light. But my light is older than that

of

ог

1999cometh into the 18 of "that light that lighteth every

man that

vla Archibald Hamilton Rowan, Esq. the steady friend of Présbyterianism9oove to etos et mintear of jowoy on evad JsThe Rev. FoBlakely said, that he had received letters, from Mra Rowan, expressive of his approval of the conduct and proceedings of the Remonstrants; and that be held one in his hand,

addressed

Mr. John Carr of Kill to ach

(Mr. Rowan's)

regret at

expressed his the Derryboy that he was in the eighty-first year

Dinner. This inability

of his age, and that deafness and blindness had, in a great measure, unfitted him for public society. Mr. Blakely observed, that Mr. Rowan had been, through a long life, the steady friend of Presbyterianism, and that he would be succeeded by his son, Captain Hamilton of the

was no

byterianism, which av another expressedly to Pres

religious liberty.

was

Mr.

for civil and added, that had the nobility and gentry of Ireland foreseen the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, it was more than probable they would have remained, like the philanthropic and patriotic Mri A. H. Rowan, in connection with the Presbyterian Church.979 198niⱭ sildr I 8 35 8:5995

The health of those Episcopalian friends of diberality and toleration, who have associated with us today.".198lU to bony? Aynsworth Pilson, Esq. of Downpatrick, said, On my own behalf, and that of our other Episcopal friends, I thank you for the manner in which you have received this toast. To support and advance the cause of religious otoleration, is no more than a duty; liberality is neither more nor less than common honesty. It is merely acting upon that high moral precept delivered by the Son of God to mankind-→→ff to extend to all men those rights and privileges which we assume to ourselves." In the good cause of religious liberty, I may lay claim at least to sincerity and zeal. Encompassed by early prejudices, both of a religious and political nature, I have cast them off by the force of reading and reflection; but to the Public Press am I chiefly indebted for the power of disenthralment. Under the auspices of that Press, are we assembled at this festive board, to express our mutual gratulations on the triumph which Christian liberty has latterly attained in this province. To that Press do you owe the blessing of being able to worship God according to your respective consciences, without going by stealth, in half dozens, in caverns and desert places; as many of your forefathers have done before Toite do you owe that your respected ministers are protected in their pulpits, in place of being dragged from them by an infuriated rabble, maddened and shallooed on by those who should teach them better things. By it do you enjoy the privilege of searching the Scriptures, and the exercise of private judgment thereon; for without

the latter, the forme former would be a mockery. By the influence of the Press, perhaps, you are savedodical state, and surrounded by saved from a pilgrimage to the high priest of Ulster, enthroned a halo of f theological infallibility, there to cast yourselves prostrate at his feet, and receive from 331 3301 37116 visempi dyeds receive from his holiness a revelation of the Divine mysteries.

debianos vos yd berstong tunet s es,meinsistia to 9onsteiz -oА пs dona awoław vinte em of 282002199 to 190.0 asidy British and Foreign Unitarian Association.

*THE Annual Meeting ng of this Institution was I was held in the Chapel at South Place, Finsbury, London, on the 2d June. The religious services were conducted by the Revds. J. S. Porter of CarterLane, London, M. Maurice of Southampton, and J. J. Tayler of

Madgerates,

audience, on

Moseley-Street, , Manchester, who preached from Ephesians ii: 17, 18. At the meeting for business, J. J. T. Rutt, Esq. was Chairman. The Reports of the Treasurer and Committee were read, and various resolutions proposed and seconded by Messrs. Hornby, Cordell, Christie, Young, R. Taylor, Hart, Hardy, Surridge, Dr. Bowring, Richmond and Edgar Taylor, and the Revds. Mardon, Wood, Dr. Rees, Fox, and Tagart. The occasions, was large and attentive. It was truly a most interesting day, and the proceedings altogether well calculated to effect most extensive good. We should gladly insert the whole of them in n our pages pages, but that is not in our power. We cordially agree with Mr. Young and other speakers, that the attention of the Association should primarily and chiefly be directed to home objects, though, on at the same time, we rejoice that openings for its exertions are also Tim Jerusalem firstthere are foreign countries. It is mani

festly our duty, however, to

tood there are

counties yet in Britain in which no Unitarian congregation exists e numerous s places, which, though not so exciting the imagination as some foreign spots, are crying aloud for help, and where help judiciously bestowed would lead to happy and lasting results. These should be sought out by the Committee, their willingness to aid their brethren no one will question, and we are convinced that with their co-operation, their home Report will every year increase in magnitude and interest. 1192910 19167 Some extracts we must make. With respect to Ireland, the Rev. J. S. Porter remarked 1972 man sitenivicƆ & 79:26

foot. In

A Unitarian Christian Association has has fallen

this first step a great deal has been gained.
into good hands; and I am sure
this good work, will devote to the persons

s who have undertaken have und

to it the best efforts of the zeal, learning, and talent, which they so eminently possess. We know the beneficial effect of such associations in confirming the wavering, strengthening the weak, and deterring the opponents of the cause from aggressions, which would otherwise be made without scruple, because without fear. I look forward to the results of that Association with hope; and I am the more encouraged in this good hope by perceiving, that in remote and unpromising situations, kindred societies have arisen to aid in this good cause. Unitarian Associations have already been formed in Cork, which lies in the

most southern county of the Isla Sir, these societies have not

[graphic]

been confined to co to congregations in which the Unitarian doctrine has been preached; but have sprung up in quarters in which, though I am not altogether unacquainted with the country, and though inquisitively alive to the spread of such opinions, the very existence of Unitarianism, as a tenet professed by any considerable number of persons, was to me utterly unknown. Such an Association has been formed in Killileagh, the former minister of which was and is the most distinguished opponent of those se who have latterly been obliged to secede from the Synod of Ulster; the very Coryphæus of the illiberals in the province; who, in Clough, in Ballycarry, in Greyabbey, and in Narrow-water, in every place where disturbance was to be excited on account of religious differences, has been present either in person or by his representative. We may hence judge of his zeal in the cause of nominal orthodoxy; yet in the congregation in which he was minister for upwards of twelve years, a number of persons have voluntarily stepped forth and declared themselves Unitarians. A similar occurrence has taken place in Saintfield, under circumstances of a very similar kind. In these places I had no idea that the belief of one God in Unity had yet struck rootso The meeting will indulge me, while I mention a fact of the same kind, which has lately been communicated to me in a letter from my father. He tells me, that he was leaving the place of interment, after performing a service at the funeral of one of his people, v when a respectable-looking man accosted him. This person infon at the distance of about him, that he was a member of a Presbyterian congregation twenty miles; that he, his immediate connexions, and about thirty families had embraced the doctrines of Unitarianism-using that term, as I conceive it ought always to be employed, in the largest and most comprehensive sense and that they had lately become banxious to form an acquaintance with some ministers of sentiments congenial to their own. 90 The person referred to, informed my father, that they now read such books and tracts on religious controversy as they could obtain; but that they had all embraced their present views, simply solely in deference to the authority of Scripture, frequently and diligently studied; that they had done so under a Calvinistic minister; having all been educated in Calvinistic sentiments, and firmly

cannot sit down without bearing my testimony, humble as it is, to the zeal, determination, and disinterestedness with which the Remonstrants against the late inquisitorial proceedings of the Synod of Ulster have conducted themselves, and expressing my earnest prayers for the usefulness se of their lately-formed Remonstrant Synod. Surely this work also is in good hands. Of one member, as has been well expressed by Mr. Madge, you have yourselves had an opportunity of judgboing, I mean, the Rev. Henry Montgomery, a man whom I reargard as one of those distinguished individuals whom heaven oc(casionally indulges to the human race for effecting high purposes; a man endowed, as you well know, with eloquence, industry, and

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