Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

682 Intelligence.-Wright's Journal of an Unitarian Mission in South Wales.

out of pocket, by the erection; which small debt it is highly desirable he should be repaid. The building of this meeting-house first introduced Unitarian preaching as a regular thing into Pembrokeshire, and it is said this circumstance so alarmned some of the reputed orthodox, that they offered up public prayer to Almighty God, to prevent such dangerous doctrine proceeding any further in that county. Mr. B. Phillips preaches one Sunday in the month at this place, and Mr. David Johns preaches at other times. I preached at Templeton nine times, and Mr. Meek twice; we had always good, sometimes crowded congregations, though the weather was mostly rainy, and many of the people had to come a considerable distance. Several new hearers attended regularly during our stay, and seemed to have their minds stirred up to serious inquiry after truth. I administered the Lord's Supper twice to the little society, Mr. Meek baptized one person, and I delivered an address on the occasion. It is of the more importance to encourage and promote the Unitarian cause at Templeton, as it is in the midst of a district where the English language only is spoken, and where Unitarianism was till lately unknown. I think, if proper encouragement be given, and steady exertions be continued, much good will be done at Templeton and the country around it: there are many openings for preaching, where occasional lectures might be delivered, and much attention and inquiry is already excited.

woman: the last congregation was
much the largest; both were very
attentive. A week evening lecture
might be delivered regularly at this
place, and there is reason to think it
would be productive of good.

4. Jeffreston, a small village among
the collieries. I preached here to a
small attentive audience. I should
have visited this place again, but the
state of the weather and roads rendered
it impracticable to get there at the
time.

5. Carew, a village. I preached here in a cottage, which was crowded with attentive hearers. There are two Unitarian families in this place. Here meetings might be occasionally held to good purpose.

6. Pembroke, a corporate town. The minister of the parish is also the mayor. He forbade the bellman to publish a meeting in the open air, and said he would not suffer such a meeting to be held. The minister of the Tabernacle lent us the use of it, and we had a large and attentive audience.

7. Haverfordwest. A friend of mine applied to a Dissenting minister in this town, to know whether I could have the use of his chapel: his letter in reply shewed that if I went in disguise, and said nothing about my peculiar sentiments, I might be admitted: he said, if I went merely in the character of a Dissenting minister I should be cordially welcomed; but considering the character in which I should appear, my visit would be turned to their disadvantage. I however went and preached in a house which had been 2. Narbeth, a market town, a short an inn. We had a large congregation. distance from Templeton. Here II found afterwards several persons were preached to a multitude of people: I friendly to the cause. I was informed stood in a window at the inn, which four clergymen heard me: one of them, answered the purpose of a pulpit; a the next morning, sent me the Bishop' number of people were in the room, of St. David's paper, called "The and several hundreds abroad; indeed Unitarian Catechised," and 1 ordered the market place, which was before to be sent to him "The Unitarian the house, was pretty well filled. The Catechised, and Answering for Himaudience was generally very attentive. self." I learned afterwards that the clergyman of the parish threatened the owner of the house for suffering us to meet there, but I believe some inquiry was excited. Some of the inhabitants came afterwards to Templeton to

hear me.

3. Saundersfoot, a village on the sea side. I visited and preached twice at this place, in the house of a widow

I visited Milford, but could procure no place; and from the number of rough sailors, and what appeared to be the general state of society there, did not think it prudent to preach in the open air: besides, there were two meetings in the town that evening: however I had some interesting conver sation.

I also went to Tenly, hoping to

1

Intelligence-Wright's Journal of an Unitarian Mission in South Wales. 683

preach there, but no place could be procured, and I learned that the clergyman, who is also the mayor, would suffer no meetings to be held in the open air. He had, a short time before, prevented the bellinan's publishing a preaching in the Methodist meetinghouse.

In the parts of Pembrokeshire bordering on Cardiganshire, I understand there are a number of Unitarians; but learning that the Welsh language is chiefly spoken there, and those parts being more remote, I thought it best to employ my time in that part of the county where the English is chiefly spoken. 1 was told of two congrega. tions near Cardigan. These are visited Occasionally by Mr. B. Phillips, and supplied at other times by others.

III. CARMARTHENSHIRE. Though in this county, some who raised expectation, and seemed disposed to inquire freely after truth, a few years since, have disappointed that expectation, and fallen back into the regions of mystery, the Unitarian cause is still advancing. Its most violent opposers have aided its progress, by even their bitter invectives against it; they have helped to draw the attention of the public to the subject. The seeds of Unitarianism are too widely scattered, and have taken too much hold to be rooted out. In this county I preached at the following places:

1. Panteg. In this village there is a Congregation of Unitarian Baptists. Mr. B. Evans is their minister. I preached among and had interesting conversation with some of them. Mr. Phillips gave the substance of the discourse in Welsh.

2. Rhyd-y-Park. Mr. David Phillips and Mr. J. Evans are the ministers in this place. The former is in years and infirm; but his conversation is very interesting. I preached to a good congregation.

3. Felin-Court. Here I preached at the house of the sister of my worthy friend Mr. Johns, of Manchester; the room was well filled with attentive

hearers.

4. St. Clears. I visited and preached twice in this place, at the house of Mr. B. Phillips, to very attentive congregations. There is a small Unitarian Baptist society in the neighbourhood of this town, which is supplied by Mr.

Phillips, and Mr. D. Johns, of St, Clears. This Mr. Johns is said to be an excellent Welsh preacher; he is poor, and supports himself and family by the labour of his hands.

5. Carmarthen. The Unitarian cause in this town is highly important, and is in a promising state. The congregation at Carmarthen is respectable, and a number of its members zealous in the cause. I preached there five times, and Mr. Meek once. The congregations were always good, several of them crowded ones, and the hearers very attentive. A number of strangers, of different religious denominations, attended. I was glad to find Mr. Evans, late of Ilminster, who is now the mi nister at Carmarthen, much better in health. There is reason to hope his labours will be very useful in his present situation. On the whole, Carinarthen exhibits a good prospect of success to the Unitarian cause.

6. Kidwelly. The minister in this place, Mr. Abel, ranks as an Arian! He very readily granted me the use of his meeting-house. By some means the notice of my preaching did not arrive in time, yet a good company was called together in a few minutes, who were very attentive to the discourse I delivered.

7. Llanelly. I visited and preached at this place twice, in a room in an uninhabited house. Mr. Meek also preached here. We had many attentive hearers. The last audience would have been much larger, had it not been for a heavy rain which continued through the evening. I am told there are about twelve Unitarians in Llanelly and its vicinity. It is very desirable a regular congregation should be formed, and Unitarian worship conducted in this place.

8. Llangyndeirn. This is an Unitarian Baptist congregation, of which my late friend, Mr. William Thomas, was the minister. Since his death the place has been supplied by various ministers. The congregation is not at present in a good state. I preached here once, and Mr. Phillips gave the substance of the discourse in Welsh.

9. Brechfa. The meetings are held here in a private house; the people are Unitarian Baptists. Mr. B. Davies, poor man, is their preacher. The room where the meeting was held was crowded with attentive hearers, who

684 Intelligence-Unitarian Baptist Chapel, York.-Manchester College, York.

had been waiting nearly two hours before we arrived, there being a mistake respecting the time when the service should be held. I preached, and Mr. Phillips repeated the discourse in Welsh.

10. Llandilo. Here I preached in a room at one of the inns, had a large and attentive company, and much conversation before and after the service. Mr. Phillips translated.

11. Llandyfaen. Here I had a bet ter audience than might have been expected, the service being in the middle of the day. Mr. Phillips gave the substance of the sermon in Welsh. Mr. J. Griffiths, of Llandylie, an Unitarian Baptist, preaches to this and several other small congregations.

12, Llandybie. Here I preached at the house of Mr. Griffiths, just before mentioned, to a crowded congregation, and Mr. Phillips interpreted. I visited this place again; but the notice having miscarried, we could not have a public moeting.

On the whole, Carmarthenshire presents an extensive, and in many places an encouraging field for the propagation of Unitarianism.

Mr. Jones, one of the Academical Tutors at Carmarthen, who ranks as an Arian, has a congregation at CapelZion.

[To be concluded in our next No.]

Unitarian Baptist Chapel, York.

discourse by an attempt to impress the minds of his auditory with the neces sity of attending to Scripture as the only proper guide in matters of religious faith and practice. The congregation consisted of nearly 300 per

sons.

In the afternoon, Mr. Torrance preached a sermon to a very numerous and attentive congregation, on the Divine Unity, from 1 Pet. iv. 11. "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." He proved by a variety of arguments, that both nature and revelation declare God to be One. He also took a brief view of the doctrine of satisfaction, and shewed it to be contrary to every idea we have of the goodness of the Father and Friend of man. At six o'clock in the evening the chapel was crowded to excess; it is supposed there were near 500 persons present, to whom Mr. Griswood preached a sermon from Mark xvi. 16, in which he exhorted his hearers each for himself to form his religious creed by the Gospel, that is alone calculated to promote the love of God and the happiness of man. He also made some apposite remarks on the moral effects likely to be produced in the temper and conduct of those whose actions are regulated by it. R. D.

York.

The following is a statement of the
Accounts!

O Saturday, November end, the Unitarian Baptists, York,

Trustees of the Independent Chapel in the city of York, gave possession of the same to the Trustees named by the Unitarian Baptists.

Unitarian Fund,
Mr. Hall, York,
Rev. C. Wellbeloved,
J. Kenrick,

W. Turner,

· H. Turner, Bradford,
Students at York College,
J, Rawdou, Esq. York,
Mr. Robson, Newcastle,
Mrs. Cappe,

63 18

[ocr errors]

20 0 0

[ocr errors]

The following morning, the Chapel was opened for Unitarian worship by Mr. Torrance, who conducted the de. votional part of the service. After which, Mr. Griswood, of Hull, preached an excellent sermon from 1 John v. 29." Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," in which he took a view of the state into which man was brought Paid for the Chapel, Writings, by Adam's transgression, proving that

the doctrine of Original Sin is unsup

Miss Hotlam, York,
Sundry Subscriptions,

&c.

2 2 0

1 1 0

0 10 6

0 10 6

[blocks in formation]

223 17

Manchester College, York.

ported by the Scriptures. He then Debt upon the Chapel,
shewed in what sense Christ took
away the sin of the world; that it was
not by becoming a vicarious sacrifice,
but by his example and obedience to
the will of God; that he brought life
and immortality to light: closing his

THE Rev. William Lamport, of Lancaster, has offered a prize for an essay in answer to a work lately pub

Intelligence.-Manchester College, York.-Hanover Street Lecture.

lished, entitled, "An Enquiry into the Integrity of the Greek Vulgate, or received Text of the New Testament, &c. by the Rev. F. Nolan." The prize to consist of books of the value of five guineas. The candidates to be such Dissenting ministers as have received their theological education in Manchester College, York, and have left the College within the last seven years. The Essays to be sent in anonymously before the 1st of May, 1817, each distinguished by a descriptive motto; and the prize to be awarded by the Visitor at the next annual examination, to the author of the best Essay, on the decision of the Visitor and Tutors.

Manchester, Nov. 15, 1816.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][ocr errors]

Sunday, Dec. 8.-Rev. T. Rees.Objections to the Doctrine of the Trinity. Tuesday, Dec. 10.-Rev. J. Gilchrist. The True Grace of God.

Sunday, Dec. 15.—Rev. R. Aspland.The Sufficiency of Scripture.

Tuesday, Dec. 17.-Rev. T. Rees.Christ's Doctrine concerning Himself.

Sunday, Dec. 22.—Rev. J. Gilchrist.— Hindrances to the Reception of Truth.

Tuesday, Dec. 24.-Rev. R. Aspland.Jesus "the Carpenter's Son."

Sunday, Dec. 29.-Rev. T. Rees.-The Creation of all Things by Jesus Christ. Tuesday, Dec. 31.-Rev. J. Gilchrist. -Scripture Doctrine concerning the End of the World.

The Conductors of the Lecture design, with the Blessing of Providence, to publish the Subjects of the Second Course before the Expiration of the Year,

A Gentleman will attend in the Vestry every Evening to receive Subscriptions for defraying the Expenses of the Lectures.

FOREIGN.

Account of an Unitarian Church in
America.

(In a Letter to the Rev. T. Belsham.)
Trenton Oneida, Co. New York,
DEAR SIR, June 24, 1816.
Notwithstanding the intervention
of the Atlantic prevents personal ac-
quaiutance and intercourse, yet, since
we believe with you that rational sys-
tem of theology taught by Jesus "of
Nazareth, which though obliterated
for ages by an anti-christian spirit, is
now beaming again upon the human
mind, to the unspeakable joy of the
thousands whom it has redeemed from
a gloomy state of worse than pagan
errors, we are led by the spirit of a
congenial faith to extend the hand of
fellowship and to address you as our
brother in Christ. And while we
unite in fervent gratitude to Almighty
God, who causes the Divine light of
the Gospel again to shine in its origi-
nal simplicity, we at the same time
express to you our thankful acknow-
ledgments for your apostolic exertions
in this heavenly cause.
We would
here speak of the exultations of our
hearts inspired by this unadulterated
system of Divine truth: but are re-
strained by the consideration, that we
address one who has been vindicated
from the same Calvinistic and Trini-
tarian distractions that we have, and
is well apprised of the heavenly trans-
ports which such a redemption never
fails to produce. We join in the rap-

686

Intelligence. Account of an Unitarian Church in America.

turous expression of St. Paul, on this decasion,Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!"

The wonderful progress of primitive Christianity in England within a few years, and the rapidity with which it is now extending itself, seems the opening of a truly glorious reformation not less important to mankind than that of the sixteenth century. When we consider what this system of primitive faith is, compared with the prevalent orthodoxy, and reflect upon the mighty obstacles which it has had to encounter, and which still array against it, we behold this progress with astonishment. The Unitarian doctrine not being tinctured in any the least degree by mystery, fanaticism, superstition or implicit faith, which, in all ages, have beguiled the multitude, but a plain artless scheme of rational sentiment, without any of that pomp, that external display, that lofty pretension, which feeds the pride, amuses the curiosity and excites the veneration of the feeble-minded, this reformation bears upon its contenance a Divine stamp. It is a reform with which the passions and propensities of man have no concern. It is of a nature purely intellectual, in which preconceived notions, deeply imprinted by education and sanctioned by their adoption throughout Christendom, are nevertheless abandoned; and abandoned solely on the ground of their being weighed in the balance of cool investigation, of sober judgment, of rational evidence, and found want ing-a reformation in which benefits of a worldly character instead of being acquired are lost, and most serious evils are incurred: from whom? the self-styled orthodox! Wherefore? for becoming open and honest votaries of the rational decisions of the mind! The case, in its most prominent features, corresponds so exactly to that produced by the publication of Christlanity in the beginning, it would be highly gratifying to us to see the parallel particularly drawn and presented to the public. A pamphlet of this character, ingeniously executed, could hardly fail to produce conviction in the common mind, as the argument would be an appeal to common sense, and the same by which Christianity itself is supported. It would at least convince its readers of the honesty f Unitarian advocates; of the intelli

gence of the champions of this cause, the orthodox are already sufficiently assured.

In this country the light of genuine gospel truth has, we think, been too much concealed from the public eye, by its earliest converts. Its progress has been less, certainly far less, than it must have been, had they been guided by the intrepid spirit of Jesus and his apostles, rather than the mistaken notion of a temporising prudence. We do not mean to accuse: we only regret it as a misfortune that they failed to perceive in the example of their Master and his disciples the more excellent way. As a scheme of Divine Providence, however, we think we can perceive there is reason in it. We shall probably have less Arianism in this country than otherwise might have been. The change from Trinitarianism to the simple humanity of Christ is so great, that few have passed immediately from the one to the other.

Mankind abandon their gross errors by degrees, especially in case they have not before them a complete exhibition of the true doctrine with its various evidences. In this predicament were the early converts of our country, They were not more than half illuminated. The exhibition of the doctrine as they understood it, might have pointed us to a by-path, but could not have directed us into the highway to the temple of truth. The plain road is now trod by numbers: the temple itself is in full view of all, and the half-way resting-house of Arianism is demolished.

As things are, may we not look with some confidence to the period as not very distant, when the seed of Divine truth which is here and there sowing in this land of liberty and free inquiry, shall under the auspices of Heaven yield an abundant harvest? At present the labourers here are, indeed, comparativey few; but the minds of these few are more enlightened, and they possess a more laudable zeal. It is also true that the prejudices of education wherever it exists (and it exists every where) is undoubtedly a powerful obstacle to the prevalence of truth. But you are witness that truth has often triumphed over it even when backed by civil establishments, the mortal foe to freedom of inquiry and ingenuous confession of the faith. The recent events at Boston

« AnteriorContinua »