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Untitled Article
districts , for the purpose of most effectually promoting the temporal and political improvement of the lower classes , with equal advantage , whatever might be its ecclesiastical constitution . But the same cannot be said of the much more important objects of the Christian philanthropist . Here it i& scarcely practicable to bring the principle of locality to bear when the inhabitants of the district belong to a variety of religious professions , and
are scattered about as members of a great number of remote and detached congregations * The tendency of a national establishment , on the other hand , supposing it to be fully carried into effect , is ta encourage the operation of this principle in all its extent , both in the civil and the religious concerns of the people . If there were no Dissenters ^ every man would be , what the law presumes him to be , an attendant at his own parish church . The congregation which a parochial clergyman has to attend to , is
comprised ( to use a popular phrase ) within a ring-fence . In the midst of the most dense and crowded population of a great city , the objects to which his cares are particularly directed are thus confined within a small compass ; and it is not inconceivable that if the denominations of neighbour and fellowworshiper could be made equivalent , and if at the same time the more enlightened and opulent inhabitants of the vicinage were actuated by truly Christian principles , the moral and spiritual , as well as the temporal ,
welfere of their poorer brethren , would be more effectually promoted . They would be more intimately acquainted with their indigent neighbours , —they would take a deeper interest in their welfare , and would have more frequent opportunities and greater facilities for examining into their real condition , feat the necessary tendency of the congregational principle , when
operating on the population of a large town ,. m to destroy this feeling of locality . Accordingly , I am persuaded that no Dissecting minister can have read the very interesting detail of the plans introduced by Dr .. Chalmers for the improvement and benefit of his parish v without being tempted to regret that the scattered position of his own flock rendered , it scarcely practicable for him , in his character of a minister of the Gospel , to exercise so extensive and effectual an influence .
The members of a Dissenting congregation are brought together not by vicinity of residence , but by agreement : in religious profession or mode of worship . Th £ consequence is * that they have often little or no personal connexion with each other ; their places of abode are remote and insulated ; they know little of their neighbours , because they are not fellow-worshipers ;; often still less of their fellow-worshipers , because they are not neig hbours ; so that the principles o £ union and mutual co-operation ; instead of combining their influence , mutually check and counteract each
ether . The ssfme cause is also apt to oppose a serious difficulty in the way of some of the most important duties of the minister of religion in a great and crowded metropolis . In some instances it would seem as if he knew almost as little of his flock as they know of each other . His office is thus degraded into that of a ? mere preacher or lecturer ; and thus not a few of the most essential functions of the Christian pastor are apt to be neglected as impracticable , and fall into disuse . The bond of union , too , which keeps the society together , is often a mere rope of sand , which the slightest accident , may : scatter to the
winds-I am far from saying that these considerations should induce us to sacrifice a particle of our Christian liberty ; but still it seems undeniable , that there are evilston the one hand , and opposing advantages on the other ; and it would be most desirable to endeavour to exercise our liberty in such a
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1828, page 162, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2558/page/18/
