416 
affections of the heart. Resistance to 
oppression is the law of nature; but 
gratitude, where it is merited, may be 
admitted to be almost as powerful a 
principle. Why then, especially while 
we have the power so completely in our 
own hands, should we fear the expe- 
riment of an immediate progressive 
movement towards amelioration and 
emancipation. While the laws, the mi- 
litary, the police, the intelligence, are 
all on our side; what should we have 
then which we have not now to fear ? 
It would be the most arrogant folly in 
an humble individual, far removed from 
all responsibilities and connections with 
public life, to attempt to enter into a 
detail of particulars which must from 
necessity be beyond the reach of his 
intelligence; but every one may under- 
stand and recommend general princi- 
ples: and this is all I meddle with. I 
leave to others, more competent, the 
proportions and the precautions of the 
progressive emancipation ; and I con- 
cede, without reluctance, the admission, 
that the welfare alike of the masters 
and the enslaved demands that it should 
be progressive. 
June 26th, 1823. 
—<>— 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
Sir: 
N your magazine for August last, 
“ Theta” laid his sentiments before 
you “ on the Celebration of Marriage,” 
and put the following questions :— 
“ Now, Sir, if mzrriage has no visible 
sign or ceremony ordained of God, who 
has ordained the religious forms with 
which it is now celebrated ?”’ As the 
consciences, not only of Unitarians, but 
of many other respectable members of 
society, are connected with this en- 
quiry, I beg to submit my humble senti- 
ments thereon. By the clergy and laity 
it is, I believe, generally admitted that 
marriage is a civil contract; but, whe- 
ther it be or not, unquestionably the law 
of the land recognizes it as such. It is 
not pretended that any religious forms 
were used upon the occasion before 
Pope Innocent III. who, in his piety 
and zeal for the church, enjoined a re- 
ligious ceremony on marriage. In pro- 
cess of time, his cowsins in England, in 
furtherance of their Christian views, 
converted the civil into a religious rite. 
But as we are commanded “ not to re- 
ceive for doctrine the commandments 
of men,” we as Christians should return 
the borrowed scraps to the Vatican, 
On the Celebration of Marriage. 
[ Dec. 1, 
—should regard the injunction of Paul 
more than the legends of the Pope, and 
expunge the marriage ritual,—at least 
so much thereof as cannot be reconciled 
to the feelings of weak minds. By so 
doing, we may merrily “ marry and be 
given in marriage,” like our forefathers 
and foremothers, before the introduc- 
tion of popecraft and_priestcraft.— 
“ Theta” asks, “ Why marriage is not 
put on the same footing with every 
other reculaticn for the well-being of 
society ?” Were he to put twenty 
“ why’s,” he would, in return, have as 
many “ wherefore’s.” If the ceremony 
consisted in, “ Wilt thou have me to 
be thy husband,” “ and thou me to be 
thy wife,” with a “ yes,” or “ amen,” the 
marriage, according to the usage in the 
good primitive patriarchial times, aye, 
and by the law of this land, would bind 
the parties, man and wife, as effectual 
as Pope Innocent’s rodomontade. But 
then—ah! whatthen? Why then, 
“ The—man that makes a merchandize 
of heay’n,— 
The—man that sells,—e’en to his pray’rs 
and blessings, — 
would, like Demetrius, plead for the 
workmen who made silver models for 
Diana’s temple. Now, 
“« Money, being the common scale 
Of things by measure, weight, and tale, 
In all the affairs of church and state, 
Is both the balance and the weight.” 
I propose, for the consideration of all 
whom it may concern, that the present 
religious ritual be no longer used, and 
that a short form, treating the marriage 
as a civil ceremony, be substituted; 
that, in lieu of the marriage-fee now 
payable to the clergyman, he should be 
paid double for his attendance to wit- 
ness the contract and registry thereof, 
in 2 proper book of record. By adopt- 
ing this plan, the consciences of the 
clergy would be quieted, the scruples of 
matrimonial candidates removed, and 
cburch and state mutually benefited. 
Tota, 
Hermit’s Hut, South Petherton, 
28th October 1824. 
—<—— 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
Sir: 
HOPE the attention of some of 
your humane and valuable corres- 
pondents will be drawn to the subject of 
the many Common Stock Associations 
which are at this time forming in the 
metropolis, and apparently throughout 
the nation: such in particular as Bread 
and 
