Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

taken for granted, and therefore are not points to be canvassed at this time.

Now once more, Gentlemen, I must entreat your pardon for having so long detained you by my prolixity; and, in hopes of a valuable addition to my little stock of ideas, I wait for your remarks to elucidate a subject compared with which every other sinks almost to insignificance.

SIR,

DEFENCE OF MR. STONE.

To the Editor of the Monthly Repository.

SEEING in your Repository for November last (Vol. I. p. 591) a letter, under the signature of "Whistonius," containing "Remarks on Unitarian Ministers in a Trinitarian Church, occasioned by Mr. Stone's Visitation Sermon," I was induced to commit a few observations on that subject to paper, which I now send you, hoping they will serve to shew that the remarks of that writer are not so just as they may appear at first sight. Whistonius regrets Mr. Stone's continuing in his present living but is not his boldness in the cause of truth evident nough? and does it not add more to his merit that he exposes himself to the censure of his clerical brethren, and subjects himself to the disgrace (if it can be called so) of being deprived of his gown, than if he tacitly laid it aside, together with his opinions? How ample a room has he left to his fellow-churchmen, to confute, if they can, his opinions.

It may be presumed that neither Mr. S. nor any man of integrity would hesitate a moment in throwing up his church preferments when his conscience could not be reconciled to keeping them. He has, it is worthy of notice, many more opportunities, by preaching in a Trinitarian church, of making converts to Unitarianism, than if he preached to Unitarians themselves. Is a man always to be of the same religious opinions, because, ten or twenty years ago, he subscribed to the Thirty-nine Articles, when he was in the heat and ardour of youth, and hardly knew what they were? Mr. S. may probably have a family depending on him for support; and while he acts conscientiously in the discharge of his moral duty as a churchman, who will consider him unworthy of his gown? He may be of opinion that he is not called upon to believe what he does not understand; and undoubtedly he is not. Mysteries, as such, constitute no part of a man's faith: and why is that man to be called a "slave," who will not sacrifice his only

means of subsistence, and lay aside his preferments to make way for some worthless orthodox churchman, only because his sentiments differ from his former professions. Who can read the Thirty-nine Articles, and say with candour, "I believe them all?" Whistonius wishes, sneeringly, that Mr. S. had styled himself the "late Rector of Cold Norton," and I will venture to say that he inwardly wishes himself his successor. I almost suspect, from the tenour and spirit of his remarks, that this writer is not a Unitarian, though he affects to be so: from his name, we may infer that he is as much a disciple of Hoyle as of Whiston.

C. G.*

SIR,

INSTITUTION OF TRANQUILLITY.

To the Editor of the Monthly Repository.

THE very liberal and handsome manner in which you were pleased in your Repository (Vol. I. p. 434), to approve of the Institution which I have proposed to the Public, under the name of "Tranquillity," has given you a claim upon me, for every degree of information with which I might be able to furnish you relative to that Institution; and if I have hitherto appeared insensible of the obligation, it has been because until now I have not been able to report any intelligence to you, relative to its progress, that could have been in any way satisfactory. The Institution will doubtless be more likely to ameliorate the condition of the people by proceeding surely, than advancing rapidly; and it is so essential to an establishment in which great confidence must be placed, that every species of jealousy and suspicion should be set at defiance, that it would have been a wanton waste of reputation, and a prodigal hazard of failure, to have taken any step towards raising a fund, previous to the formation of a respectable and independent trust, who should guarantee its due appropriation. Five gentlemen have kindly condescended to sustain that character, of whose respectability it will be unnecessary to say one word after giving a list of their names. They are, Sir Walter Stirling, Bart.; Maxwell Garthshore, Esq. M.D. F. R.S. F. A. S.; Charles Pears, Esq. F. L. S.; John Towill Rutt, Esq.; and William Watson, Esq. But, I may venture to pay them the compliment of saying, that they

*Having inserted the "Remarks" on Mr. Stone, we could not refuse to admit this "Defence" of him; though we cannot help wishing him well rid of his defender as well as of his antagonist.-EDITOR,

are among the persons who are guided by the pure and simple motives of patriotism; for they can neither acquire emolument nor patronage, by aiding this establishment. Your readers, at least, will receive great pleasure, in witnessing an association of persons, who, disregarding all religious and political differences, have united to promote the interests of unadulterated and unadorned benevolence; and we may all hope to see that system of liberality reduced to practice, which is the end of all religion and all philosophy, and which a person might leave unaccomplished, although he gave all his goods

to feed the poor."

66

As soon as the trust was formed, and not till then, a small number of persons paid their first subscription into the "Economical Bank;" amongst whom a widower paid two shillings as the commencement of an intended payment of one shilling per week, to provide annuities for each of his two daughters at the age of fifty-six. One of the children is now fourteen, and the other six years of age; and the father justifies his arrangement by observing, that he " frequently spends a shilling in fruit or pastry for them when they do not want it, and often goes to the pit or the gallery when he should be better away from it." He will therefore be able to make a real and valuable provision for his children, by a contribution that he will scaredly feel.

The point already gained, though not clearly discernible by the vulgar eye, will be of immense value to the reflective mind, It is nothing less than having reduced to practice some very greatly admired positions which we have hitherto been satisfied to contemplate as mere visionary theories. "National reform," it has been said, "must be preceded by individual reform;" and it is added, that "the people must be taught to preserve their independence before they can value freedom." We are also told, that "the possession of property tends to check criminal habits ;" and that it is more beneficial to society to reward virtue than to punish vice." But wise men seem to have said good things merely for their amusement; and both the wise and the foolish have been too fastidious to apply them to real life.

Whilst this institution professes to improve the condition of the people, its provisions are accommodated to their circumstances; for the poorest labourer may bank his solitary sixpence, with the same facility as the man of opulence his congregated pounds; and that no discouragement may be thrown in the way of any practicable exertion, the benefit of each subscriber is exactly proportioned by his own payments, without

exposing him either to the pain of exclusion, or of exertion beyond his strength.

The success of this institution will, I think, supersede a great deal of the business, which, owing to a laxity of expression, we generally call "charity ;" and by enabling the people to make provision for themselves, will permit a great many persons to go back to their own affairs, who now complain heavily of the attention that they are called upon to devote to the concerns of the poor.

I am informed that there are several new charitable institutions in a state of preparation. Now, though I never hear of our large consumption of charity without pain, because it obliges me to admit that we stand in need of it, I do not regret the news upon the present occasion; for I entertain a hope, that out of so much charity I may find a little benevolence: nay, I shall think myself unfortunate, if this paper does not fall into the hands of some persons, who will contribute one guinea a year, to promote an establishment which shall enable the whole people to provide for their own independence, rather than ten to preserve the system of pauperism.

Permit me, Sir, to add, that at a vast sum of risk and toil, I have introduced the plan to the notice of the public, and have overcome every difficulty but such as money alone can remove; and I now appeal to the enlightened friends of the country, in behalf of the advancing generation, which may be rendered happy, with a tythe of the generosity so injudiciously applied to keep their fathers miserable. A few respectable persons have called here and subscribed single guineas, as members of the "Society for the gradual abolition of the Poor's Rate," in order to bear the expences of establishment-a measure essential to the final accomplishment of the plan, as the institution could not otherwise secure to the annuitants the full advantages of their contributions; and no inferior promise would be suffi ciently intelligible to induce the generality of people to accept it. I am much mistaken, or the subscribers for this purpose will be so numerous, as to leave a large surplus to increase the fund for the benefit of the widows and orphans of deceased members; but as I have no interest beyond what every friend of improvement must take in the success of this measure, [ will not attempt to persuade them by argument, but leave them to their own good sense. I am, Sir, Your obliged and obedient servant, JOHN BONE.

Office of Tranquillity, Albion-street, Blackfriars Bridge,

Jan. 15, 1807.

THE MONTHLY REPOSITORY.

[Much as we are flattered with this letter, we hesitated, for some time, as të the propriety of publishing it, fearing its insertion in the Monthly Repository would appear indelicate, on the part of the Editor. We lay it, at length, before our readers, for the following reasons. 1. The writer is a highly respectable and well-known correspondent, who is wholly independent of the management of the work, but is extremely interested in its success, and very desirous of awakening, by means of this address, the same interest in the minds of our friends. His initials, which will be found again in the department of Biblical Criticism, need no decyphering.-2. Having undertaken the work on public grounds, we feel no shame in avowing our want of support, and the impossibility of proceeding without it. At the same time, we are happy to repeat, for the satisfaction of our readers, that our sale is increasing, and to state that from the arrangements made in the commencement of a New Volume, and the zealous exertions of our friends, we have just reason to expect in the present year a sale answerable to our wants. -3. Many well-wishers to the Monthly Repository-THE ONLY LIBERAL THEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE WHICH EXISTS IN ENGLAND want only the stimulus of such a letter as this to induce them to take it under their immediate patronage, thereby to establish it on a permanent, immoveable foundation. These are the reasons which have prevailed on the Editor to insert L. C's communication. Whether or not they will justify him in the eye of the reader, remains to be seen. They will, at any rate, serve to demonstrate his zeal in a cause in which he has embarked, not without considerable inconvenience and labour.]

SIR,

To the Editor of the Monthly Repository.

IT is with much pleasure that I learn from your preface, "the gradually increasing sale of the latter numbers" of the First Volume: I willingly hope that the promise which this gives of an adequate support, will be amply fulfilled.

I have, however, heard, that the sale of the Repository is still insufficient to defray its expenees; and that if it be not considerably increased, the object must eventually be abandoned. If this be correct, I have no hesitation in saying, that you have strong claims upon the exertions of your fellow labourers, in the cause of Christian truth; and I beg leave to lay before them the following hints.

They can confidently recommend the Repository, to the patronage of the friends of truth, as a "publication which is open to free and impartial theological inquiry and discussion," and which stands single in this respect; and farther, as the only public source of information respecting the proceedings of those, whose creeds suit not with the Evangelical, Arminian, and Orthodox Churchman's Magazines, &c.

As a receptacle for liberal discussion and criticism, and as a source of religious intelligence, it stands on high grounds; I imagine that the general character of its contents, will not disappoint the reasonable expectations of its purchasers. If

« AnteriorContinuar »