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Memorials of a Dissenting Chapel, a Sketch of the Rise of Nonconformity in Manchester, and of the Erection of the Chapel in Cross Street
Memorials of a Dissenting Chapel a Sketch of the Rise of Nonconformity in Manchester and of the Erection of the Chapel in Cross Street Author:Thomas Baker General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1884 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: MEMORIALS OF A DISSENTING CHAPEL. CHAPTER I. THERE CAN BE NO UNIFORMITY OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF. The history of Christianity shows the futility of all attempts to produce uniformity of belief. The Church which has a sovereign as its head, and rank and wealth in its gift, may ensure professors of its creeds and numerous attendants at its services. There will be minds, however, which will acknowledge no doctrines or forms but such as their individual judgment approves. The Christian world has been ever changing its views of Christian truth. It was a long time before the Roman Catholic Church could settle its creeds and ceremonies to the satisfaction of its leaders, and when they were settled they were forthwith protested against. In England, the Reformation was no sooner effected than a desire for further reformation arose. There was amongst those who assented to the doctrines set forth in the Book of Common Prayer an ardently religious class which sought a simpler form of worship than that which it afforded. As years passed by their numbers increased. They became the objects of State persecution, and, hopeless of the liberties of their native country, they embarked for America. One clergyman of distinguished piety who had found it necessary, on account of his religious sentiments, to leave the Church, employed himself in educating young men for the Universities. In his retirement, where he preached to a small congregation, he was followed by the threatenings of the High Commission Court, but having among his friends a nobleman of some influence with the Government he applied to him for protection. Th...« less