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    proceeded as far as seemed prudent at that time , before I left them I said , " I have told you as much as I think will be useful at present , if I live to see you again I shall have something further to say to you , " and exhorted them to keep their minds open to conviction , and not to be afraid of

    answered in the negative . I then gave them some account of kis eha « racter , and of the manner in which he bore the unjust and cruel treat nient he had received * This led some to think they had received false im . pressions respecting him . Having

    examining any subject . About six months after I visited them again , and found their prejudices had been greatly alarmed by the books which had been sent them . They had even consulted together whether it would not be best to

    return the books and desire rue to visit them no more ; but good sense prevailed so far as to lead them to resolve to read the books first ; a first , inclined them to a second , reading ; and I had now the pleasure to find several of them were become Unitarians .

    I again preached several discourses among them , and found , though the multitude was fled , which was no more than I expected , the number of converts was sufficient to keep the standard erect , and become the foundation of a society . About this time a donation of books was sent them

    from York , including some of Dr . Priestley ' s works ; these were read with much attention , and contributed to their progress in knowledge and establishment in the Unitarian Christian doctrine .

    Till the year 18 JO their number increased but little : they , however , persevered in their inquiries after truth , openly avowed their religious sentiments , held meetings among themselves and did what they could to edify one another , and instruct

    their neighbours . I usually visited them twice in a year , preached several times each visit ; sometimes in some of the neighbouring villages , and assisted in settling any differences which had arisen among them . Several of the first converts were

    removed by death ; a few new oues were added . They bud fram the fin * many difficulties to encounter . They were poor , unlearned-people . **^ reli ^ ous neighbours , who thoug ht W

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    156 ^ Mr . Wright on the Unitarian Society at Thome .

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    Mr . Wright on the Unitarian Society at Thome , Wisbeach r March 7 , 1816 . Sir , JTTIHE Unitarians at Thorne , in JL Yorkshire , having , through the medium of the Monthly Repository [ xi . 12 O . ] , made known their intention of building a meeting-house , and solicited the aid of the friends of the Unitarian

    cause in the undertaking , a short account of the origin , progress , present state and prospects of the Unitarian Society in that town and its vicinity , may not be unacceptable to your readers .

    In the summer of 1805 , I first visited Thorne ; it was in consequence of a letter received by my worthy friend , Mr . Vidler , informing him that some persons in that town and neighbourhood , were favourable to the doctrine of the universal

    restoration ; but had never heard any preacher who taught it , and having heard that a preacher of that doctrine sometimes travelled in Lincolnshire , they were anxious he should visit them . On my arrival I found them all Trinitarians , and learned that most of them

    belonged to the new connexion of Methodists , and that they differed from their brethren only on the subject of future punishment , having adopted the sentiments of the late Mr . Winchester . During my first visit I preached on the love of God , on the doctrine of reconciliation , and on future punishment . The place of meeting was a barn ; a crowd of people attended , and a considerable impression seemed to be made . I spent two evenings in conversation with a pretty large party , and found , though many persons were full of inquiry , they laboured under strong prejudices ; I had occasion to recal to mind a maxim which I have

    always found useful , i . e . to despair of nothing which it is practicable to attempt . As a proof of what their views and feelings then were , I will mention two things . The good w ' oman at the house where I lodged

    asked , " Are you an Arian ? " I replied , " No , I never was an Arian . " She then said , ** If you were an Arian I dare not let you sleep in my house . " Dr . Priestley ' s name being mentioned , I perceived it excited alarm . This led me to ask if any of them had either known the Doctor or read any of his , writings ? They

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1816, page 156, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2450/page/28/