Midland Churches: A History of the Congregations on - General ...

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INTRODUCTION.
The MIDLAND CHRISTIAN UNION was formed at a meeting <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Warwickshire Tjllitarian Tract Society, held on Tuesday, 2 I November,
1865, in <strong>the</strong> rooms -<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Messiah, Birmingham, under <strong>the</strong>
presidency <strong>of</strong> hlr. A. Martill; when, after <strong>the</strong> reading <strong>of</strong> a letter addressed
to <strong>the</strong> committee <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Tract Society by <strong>the</strong> Revs. Charles Clarke, William
Cochrane, John Gordon, Edward Parry, and Mr. Herbert New, it was
moved by <strong>the</strong> Rev. David Maginnis, and seconded by <strong>the</strong> Rev. William
Cochrane :-
That ab association be formed to take <strong>the</strong> &ace <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Warwickshire Tract
Society, under <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Midland</strong> Christian Union ; and that <strong>the</strong>
object <strong>of</strong> this association be <strong>the</strong> promotion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> interests <strong>of</strong> ~hristianit~
in connection with <strong>the</strong> freedom which rejects subscription to any articles
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ological belief.
After an amendment-.moved by <strong>the</strong> Rev. Mat<strong>the</strong>w Gibson, supported
by <strong>the</strong> Rev. Edward Parry, and opposed by <strong>the</strong> Revs. CharIes Clarke,
John Gordon, and Mr. W. Akroyd, to <strong>the</strong> effect that <strong>the</strong> word 'Unitarian '
should be plxced in <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> association-<strong>the</strong> original resolution
was carried by fourteen to six.
The scope <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Union's labours was definecl by a resolution, moved
by <strong>the</strong> Rev. Henry Enfield Dowson, B.A., viz. :
Arrangements for religious services, encouragement <strong>of</strong> nlissionary opera-
tions, <strong>the</strong> employment <strong>of</strong> lay preachers, and especially <strong>of</strong> a paid agent, and
by <strong>the</strong> publication and distribution <strong>of</strong> books and tracts.
On <strong>the</strong> motion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rev. Henry McKean, seconded by Mr. Isaac
Robert 'PvIott, <strong>the</strong> couilcil and members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Birmingham District Unitarian
Association ~vei-e severally and as a body invited to join <strong>the</strong> Union, and
assist in preparing <strong>the</strong> rcles for its government ; an invitation which was
promptly accepted.