Star.
London, England, 1813-08-24 00:00:00

A T a SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING of
the SUBSCRIBERS to the UNITARIAN FUND,
hoiden at the. King's Head Tavern, in the Poultry, on Friday,
August 20, 1813.

Mr. Alderman GOODBEHERE hr the Chair,

Resolved unanimously---1. That we conceive it to be the right
of every man, a right derived immediately from the ALMIGHTY
COLATOR, to form his own religious opinions, to profess them
amongst his neighbouts and fellow-creatures, and to act upon
them in the exercises of divine worship; that in religious opinion,
profession, and worship, as held, avowed and observed to Great
Britain, there is no interruption of the peace of civil Society, anti
Igo eaU for the interference of the Magistrate, who cannot affect
to Tolerate, without assuming authority to Persecute; and that
ail Penal Statute, whether they enact fine or impr.sonment, or
positive bodily suffering, or whether they declare civil disabilis
lies, exclusion and privation, on the ground solely of such opi-
nion, profession, and worship, are manifest invasions of natural
right, and equally repugnant to the Christian Religion, and to
the spirit of the British Constitution.
Resolved unanimouslp.--2. That as Unitarian Christians, dis-
tinguished from our fellow Christians.only by the faith and wor-
ship which we have-learned from the Holy Scriptures—that the
GOD and FATZE of the Unit/east is one Being, Mind, and.
Person, the sole Object of Religions Worship, and that Jesus
Cosner is the chomp, honoured, sad divinsly-endowed Mes-
senger of Cop—we had long felt the injustice of being excluded
by positive statute from even that ehare of Religious Liberty
which`w-s alloweit to the mass of Protestant Dissenters;—for
Which exclusion,we humbly conceive no reason was to be found
ift Our character and conduct as Subjects and Citizens, wherein
We have mires yielded, .and can never yield, the superiority to
any denomination or class of our countrymen.
Resolved Unanimously—S. That we congratulate our Unita-
tian Brethren on the Bill lately passed into a Law for the Relief
sof those who impugn the Doctrine of the Trinity : the tritish
Legislature /min thus readily performed an act ot justice (Lived
by the /louse of Communs,twetity years ago, to the earnest and
eloquent applicatiop of that able and enlightened, and ever-nae-
weir:l:lle Statesman, the late Mr. Fcx.
Resolved -4. 'that in common with all the friends of religious
liberty amid just government, we rejeice that pemeuting laws,
keacted at the ara of the Revolutiou, in direct violation of the
rriaeples thin asserted, and which, though too cruel and impoli-
ex to he open enforced, have yet remained fur a century the dis-
grace of the: statute book, are at length expunged, amidst a gene-
ral acquiescence iu the justice and even eecessity of their repeal.
Resolved Onanimottay—S. That our best acknosvledgements
are due to WILLIAM 83.111 H, Esq. M. P. for his compliance with
the request, originating in our Committee, to bring the subjiet
of the legal insecurity of Unitarians before Parliament, and for
his unremitted attention to the Parliamentary progress of the
.hips, which he accordingly brought into the House of Com-
mons, for the repeal or those Penal Statutes which had so long
roidered Unitarians liable take deprived of civil protection merely
en the groensi of their rdigiora profession.
Resolved unanimously--ii. Tuat we must the period is advanc-
ing, and would willingly hasten its art ivab when not only Chris-
ti.tis of every descriptittn, but also our coti.trymen a • large, shall
be alike free to profess and d.fend their opinions, and an equally
partakethe civil rights of Britons.
Resolved unaitinicesly-7. That .as UnitarianChrietians f. ared
net to profess and incsicate what they esteem the Doctrines of
the Gospel, though liable to the infliction ot severe penalties, it IS
their incumbent duty, now that they a:: placed within the pro-
section ot the law, not to relax their edst s; but rather to extend
those exertions which well consist with the peace and order of
viva Society and the pur-st prh.ciplei of Christian Charity.
Resolved uninirrietedy—ts.l hat the thanks of this Meeting be
•,g vett to the Committee of 'be Utitariati Fund, for their zealous
discharge of the trust couituittest w them, and fur their watch-
fulness over the interests of the Unitarian Body.
Resolved unanimously-9. That the above Resolutions be
punted, amid that a copy be sent to every Member of the Society
ithin the reach ot the wopenny Post.
Resolved unanimously— io. '1 hat she Resolutions now passed
he advertised in the Monthly Repository—a publication which,
fcr the sueport it gives rti the cause of Free. Enquiry and R. ii-
gions Liberty, is entitled to the countenance of the Unitarian
body, and particularly of this Society..
Resolved unanimously-1 I. '1 hat the above Resolutions be
advertised also in the principal Periodical Publications and the
Newspapers, as the discretion of the Committee.
SX Mt/ EL GOODBEHERE, Chairman.
lOUs Cnaisne, Esq. having taken the Chair, it was Resolved
tnaeniniotely--1 hat hank, of the Meeting hegiven to Mr.
Altman.e Gontibehere, for I h ct.ndect In the Chair, and for his
Vat tal suppert ul the rights and liberties, of kit fellow citizens
ak4 "low totniwytnen of all iinsianiinallons.