1300. ] 
guinea to each lecturer, as a compentation 
for his trouble.” 
‘c A committee of managers was ap- 
pointed; and cards were diftributed hav- 
ing an emblematic device, exhibiting 
Truth with a fpeculum in her hand con- 
centrating her rays upon the figure of 
error.” 
«* Nichol’s fale-room in Whitecro{s- 
fireet was hired at a rent of twenty pounds 
per annum: by the contributions and la- 
bour of {ome of the members, it was foon 
furnifhed with feats and atribune. Bocks 
being the next object; to accommedate 
fuch perfons as chofe to read before the 
Sunday leétures commenced, the members 
were called upon to contribute their ftock 
for the public good, and particularly fuch 
works as militated moft ttrongly againtt 
Chriftianity.”” 
“¢ This room was opened, and !ooked 
upon dona fide as a Temple of Reafon ; 
the opening being announced by the pott- 
ing of bills. The millennium of inficelity 
appeared to have been referved for the 
year 1796.” 
«© [t was the endeavour of the moft ra- 
tional members to confine the leftures to 
the delivery of their fentiments upon mo- 
rality abftra€tedly, without reference to 
Chriftianity, or any other fyftem; but this 
the majority oppofed. 
_ © The le&tures were generally compiled 
fiom the works of Voltaire, David Wil- 
liams, and other authors diltinguifhed for 
their rancour or prejudices againft Chrifti- 
anity.”* 
«¢ That this fatal experiment was not 
tried upon a much larger {cale is not to be 
imputed to the want of will in the per- 
icns engaged, but tothe falutary prevention 
which originated in another quarter; for 
ro fooner was the opening of the place 
Jaft deicribed known in the country, than 
a notice was given in that aflembly 
‘ That if any perfon qualified as a teacher 
could make it co venient to leave town, a 
fociety in one of the weitern ports ce uid 
infure him from 350 to 2001, pera num.” 
The foregoing taés are re-{tated in Mr. 
Reid’s own words. The Jaft efpecially 
amounted clearly to a fyltematic and by 
no means contemptibly fecble attempt at 
ipunding a new religicus focicty, indepen- 
dent both of the Old and New Teftament 
tor its commandments, its fan&tions, and 
jts evidences. Mr. Reid has further af- 
fured us, that it failed of fuccefs, pot for 
want of will in the perfons engaged, but 
in confequence of the prevention which 
originated in another quarter. This laft 
is a ferious confideration. Ought the ma. 
MonTuiy Mae, No. 63. 
Toleration of Theifts propofed. 129 
ciftrates to he tolerated in fupprefling any 
worfhip which does not interfere with 
civil order! Granting this particular 
worfhip to have wanted the decencies of 
piety, and the graces of ceremony, would 
not thefe imperfections have been graduai. 
ly removed by the hoftile comments of 
rival or antagonift fels? Why 1s the 
Deifi to be deprived of a privilege vouch- 
fafed to Papifts, Jews, and Socinians— 
that of worfhipping his God in his own 
way ? 
This interference of the magiftrate with 
the worfhip of Theifts 1s however not 
wholly new in England. In 1733, a Mr. 
John Ilive died, who bequeathed a ftipend 
for preaching yearly a fermon in behalt of 
infidelity. One Jacob Ilive ftepped for- 
wards to claim the annuity, and had the 
ufe of Carpenters’ Hall for his diatribes, 
which confifted chiefly of (craps from Tin- 
dal. In 1756, he publithed, MJodeft Re- 
marks on the Difcourfes of the Bifhop of 
London, which occafioned his being fent to 
Bridewell, after which he attempted no 
more lectures. 
In 1773 again, or earlier, Mr. David 
Williams propofed, and very actively re- 
commended the formation of a religious 
fociety, in which the offices of devotion 
fhould be conduéted on the broadeft prin- 
ciples of piety, without introducing the 
peculiar doétrines of Chriftianity. Mr. 
Bentley, an artift, to whom tlie pottery of 
Wedgewood was much indebted for its 
fine forms, patronized the underaking, 
which obtained the complimentary notice 
of the king of Pruffia, of Voltaire, and of 
other diftinguifhed Infidels. A chapel 
was openedaccordingly in Margaret-ftreet; 
and the inauguration -fermon preached by 
Mr. Williams, was publifhed in 1776, to- 
gether with the liturgy, of which a fur- 
ther fpecimen occurs appended to the 
Apology for profeffing the Religion of 
Nature, 1789, ‘The fpeedy extinétion of 
this worfhipful fociety was more a!cribed 
to the negligences of the prieft and of the 
people, than to any direct difcountenance 
of the civi] authority. 
The Thejfm of the Platonifts flourifhed 
long as a reputable feé&t in the ancient 
world. Lorenzo de Medici is one of the 
pupils who thed moft luftre on its revival 
in the modern. The works of Mr, Tho- 
mas Taylor have lately drawn attention | 
to the Alexandrian preachers of this per- 
fuafion, and are not unlikely to produce 
{ome attempt formally to embody its con. 
verts. Seyeral works of the Englifh Pla- 
tonilts have efcaped the notice of our ec- 
clefiaftical hiftorians. 
Objees 
