My dear Parishioners,
I eagerly embrace the opportunity afforded me for congratulating you most cordially on the unanimity and good feeling displayed at the general meeting of the supporters of the Mechanics’ Institute, last evening.
I point to the labours of the Committee and to the encouraging support they have received with honest pride and the most sincere delight—and, in consequence of these successful labours, and this public approbation thereof, I feel called on to suggest and recommend the most prompt, energetic, and unanimous support and co-operation of all classes and individuals in behalf of this Philanthropic Institution—that this unostentatious but admirable and holy principle, so dear to every Christian heart,—“Glory to God in the Highest, peace on earth, and goodwill towards men,”—may be brought into active and perpetual operation in this Parish, is my motive for offering my humble support and anticipating your co-operation.
Why—let me ask—should any individual withhold the hand of fellowship from his neighbours and fellow parishioners in a work from which the elements of discord are carefully and fundamentally removed?
I do not envy that man’s feelings who can allow groundless and purblind prejudice, the offspring of unreasoning ignorance, to blind his eyes, and steel his heart against endeavouring to benefit his fellow creatures.—Let such an one—if indeed he can be found—remember that man is not a mere animal, but a reasoning, reasonable, and consequently a responsible being; and according to the food his mind receives, so will it be vigorous for good or evil.
Let us therefore feed men’s minds with wholesome information, and thus—“Lead them thro’ nature up to nature’s God.”—And rest assured this grand remembrance is the mainspring of my every action, the burden of my every waking thought, and the leading object of my life.
“Magna est veritas, et prevalebit.”
Great is the truth and it will prevail.
Believe me to remain,
My dear Parishioners,