JOSEPH PEIESTLEY 

 [1874] 



If the man to perpetuate whose memory we 

 have this day raised a statue had been asked on 

 what part of his busy life's work he set the highest 

 value, he would undoubtedly have pointed to his 

 voluminous contributions to theology. In season 

 and out of season, he was the steadfast champion 

 of that hypothesis respecting the Divine nature 

 which is termed Unitarianism by its friends and 

 Socinianism by its foes. Regardless of odds, he 

 was ready to do battle with all comers in that 

 cause; and if no adversaries entered the lists, he 

 would sally forth to seek them. 



To this, his highest ideal of duty, Joseph 

 Priestley sacrificed the vulgar prizes of life, which, 

 assuredly, were within easy reach of a man of his 

 singular energy and varied abilities. For this 

 object he put aside, as of secondary importance, 



those scientific investigations which he loved so 



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