On  the  19th  and  22d  of  June,  1838,  an  aggregate  meet-
ing of  Unitarians  was  held  at  Essex  Street  Chapel,  London,
on  the  invitation  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Unitarian
Association,  "  to  take  into  consideration  the  present  state
of  the  denomination,  and  to  consult  upon  measures  for  pro-
moting its  future  welfare."  The  principal  object  in  view
was  the  adoption  of  some  means  "  of  bringing  the  whole
body  of  Unitarians  in  the  United  Kingdom  into  closer  and
more  effective  union."  The  congregations  now  known  as
Unitarian  looked  with  aversion  upon  every  form  of  Church
government,  which  they  believed  must  inevitably  encroach
upon  their  independence,  and  destroy  the  religious  freedom
which  was  their  most  precious  inheritance. In  order  to
meet  this  feeling,  the  following  resolution  was  proposed
and  carried,  with  only  two  dissentient  voices :  "  That  this
Meeting  recognises  and  acknowledges  the  complete  and
thorough  Independence  of  our  separate  Religious  Societies,
as  to  all  matters  of  Internal  Arrangement  and  Discipline;
and  whilst  recommending  Union,  contemplates  no  measures
which  can  interfere  with  this  great  and  essential  Principle."
The  next  resolution  was  carried  unanimously :  "  That  it
appears  to  this  Meeting  expedient  to  adopt  some  effective
plan  of  Mutual  Co-operation  and  Union  amongst  the  Uni-
tarians of  this  country."  On  this  resolution  Mr. Martineail
raised  a  warning  voice. He  said  that  in  its  general  form
it  presented  nothing  which  was  undesirable,  and  that  there
was  no  one  who  would  make  greater  exertions  to  bring  it
about  than  himself. But  the  organisation  which  was  pro-
posed was  essentially  ecclesiastical,  and  would  require  some
proposition  as  to  the  mode  in  which  they  were  to  unite ;  and
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1838]     THE    UNITARIAN    ASSOCIATION

if  the  union  were  to  be  a  sectarian  or  theological  union  of
Unitarian  churches,  he  for  one  would  have  to  dissent  from
it. Another  long  resolution  was  brought  forward,  approv-
ing of  the  general  plan  and  constitution  of  the  British  and
Foreign  Unitarian  Association,  and  requesting  its  Com-
mittee to  prepare  and  circulate  an  abstract  of  the  plans
suggested  at  the  Meeting  for  the  promotion  of  a  closer  and
more  effective  union  amongst  the  Unitarians  of  Great
Britain  and  Ireland. This  called  forth  an  important  speech
from  Mr. Martineau. He  approved  of  the  Association,  and
would  esteem  it  an  honourable  task  to  defend  it  from  unjust
attacks. 