The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-06-14 00:00:00

MR. OWEN'S REPLY
O THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE GENERAL. AS-
KEWSELLYANAR OF SCO
SCHTOLAND, REGATIVE TO THE
E OS.

Rv.vEREND SIRS,—In the Report of the proceelings of
your last Meeting, as published ih the WasAwn, Chru-
nkk of the fat of June, which I have just read, I find
the following paragraph:—
" A correspondence was read, from which it appeared, that Mr.
Owen, of New Lulea, had refused the Prishytery of Lanark ad-
mittance to examine his pawls last April: The Assembly una-
nimously appointed a Committee to confer with his, Majesty's
Solicitor-General, that the proper steps may lie taken to enforce a
strict compliance with the Acta, which require Presbyteries to ex-
amine all the public and private schools within their bounds."
It is true, Itevmend'Sim, that I did refuse the l'resby-
tery of Lanark admittance ibto our private schools at New
Lanark,—but 1 added, this as gentlemen and neighbours,
I should be at all times happy to see them in their indivi-
dual capacity, and to chew damn the schoolv and every
other part of the establishment.,
1 refused admittance to the Presbytery of Lanitrk, be-•
cause they claimed that as a right to which 1 believe they,
have no title whatever. I refused it, beams !in a former
exercise of this supposed right, they appear to me to have
displayed a total want of whatever appertains to pure mid
genuine religion.
I thank you most cordially, Reverend Sirs, for thus
bringing the subject fairly before the public, because I
with the public to judge between us.
You claim an inquisitorial right over the consciences of
those who live within your bounds. I deny that right
upon principles of the most simple and obvious justice.
Every man must of necessity believe what appears to hint
true, and cannot by possibility believe what appears to
him false. To force any other expression of opinion from
him, is to force him to become a hypocrite. By such pro-
ceedings has insincerity been universally formed, and vice
made to abound : by such proceedings are deception and
hypocrisy at this hour succeasfully.forced upon the minds
of the rising generation.
You have the right, in common with all other men, of
expressing your opinions in the way of fair argument. If
that right prove insufficient for their support, any attempt
to force them upon the minds of those who are unwilling
to receive them, will be considered, in the present ad-
vanced state of the human mind, as a futile desire to ex-
ercise a monstrous power, which, as it can only engender
and perpetuate vice, will never again, I trust, be recog-
nised as belonging to any individual or to any body of
men.
You, Reverend Sirs, are a body possessing, like many
other bodies of who differ materially from you, to have
discovered and to be exclusively in possession of True
Religion.
I am one of many milions who arc conscientiously
obliged to think, that, on this subject, you have lament-
ably erred, and that your practice proves how much you
have been mistaken.
There arc at present many contending competitors for
the discovery of true religion. When true religion is dis-
covered, it will be easily known, because it will make
men charitable and kind to all. Now, as no such general
character,
character, up to the present period, has been formed, is it
not reasonable to conclude, that pure and genuine religion,
freed from corruption anderrors, does nowhere exist ?
This is the age of great discoveries, and of much compe-
tition. I cannot avoid believing that I am in possession
of that which has been so ardently sought for—truth on
the subject of religion ; and I mean almost immediately
to bring my sentiments into competition with yours, and
with those of all the other searchers for truth on this most
important subject. The friendly contest between us, as I
hope it will be, must be decided, not by anger and irrita-
tion ; not by jealousies, and a desire for power to do evil,
bat by the fruits which shall respectively be produced.
These considerations bring the difference between us to a
point. If your system of religion and morals shall be
found in practice to form the more virtuous individual
character, and the better state of society, then will I come
over to your views, and aid and assist you to the utmost of
my powers ; but if, on the contrary, 1 should discover to
you the principles upon which alone can be founded a re-
ligion parr, simple, and consistent its all its parts ; a religion
Which Shull form men to be kind aid charitable to all, what-
ever be their diferenee of opiniassy• minds shall withdraw
ft om men all desire to domineer over their Plows, or
to dictate to their consciences, or is any manner to do
them an ; a religion, which shall reject, as worse
Than useless, all exclusive privileges, all violent rapport for
itself, and all Jiircible means of conversion; a religion
whose only weapon is dispassionate argument, and whose
followers will think it unworthy their support, if with that
' weapon they cannot do/end it; then do I expect that yon
will relinquish the abuses and errors of your present system,'
and adopt those principles, which I shall, ere long, disclose'
to you and to the world.
The mysterious night of darkness and deception is ex-
piring, and the cheering light of truth begins to appear.
I' hat you, Iteverend Sirs, may live to experience, in peace
and quietness, the benefit of this light, is the sincere wish
of your faithful servant,
125, Pall-Mall, 9th June, 11124.

ROBERT OWEN.