The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada WestArmstrong, John
Religion
The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada West
Armstrong, John
Mortimer, George, 1784-1844
that Church of which he was so bright an ornament, as well as minister.
I feel, therefore, that it would be the height of injustice to suppose,
that the mass of such of my people as are termed Methodists have any fear
of their children becoming members of the Established Church; nay, they
would rather rejoice in it;—they rejoice in it even now;—and some of them
go so far as even to recommend it. They tell their children, in the
fulness of their Catholic spirit, that their own attachment to the people
with whom they are joined, never arose from dissatisfaction to the
Church, but from a natural love to the private means which their own
people at that time so exclusively possessed. But they add, that as
these same private means are now offered to them in connexion with the
Established Church, they would advise them to join themselves with its
respected members; and hence it is, that not a few among our classes are
the sons and daughters of such honoured individuals. I say honoured, for
who can withhold from such the proper meed of approbation; for such heal
the breaches of our Zion, they build up its waste places; they repair the
desolations of many generations.
I am aware, however, that the same extent of feeling is not cherished by
all. Some prefer their own communion, their own instructors, and
classes. But I have heard such with the greatest candour acknowledge,
that their predilection arose merely from the circumstance that they
happened to receive their first religious good among them; and that
notwithstanding this their preference, they very highly respect the
Church, and that they wish its ministers abundant success in their very
important work. And this I am persuaded is the feeling of ninety-nine
out of a hundred of the Methodists who compose my parish. The welcome
they invariably give me when I enter their houses or cottages; the smile
of approbation which brightens on their countenance when we exchange
salutations as we pass; and the liberality which they discover in all
points of possible difference whenever they are accidentally touched
upon: all these things convince me that they have no hostility either to
the Church or to myself, and of course that they would not willingly
enter upon any plan which might have the least semblance of opposition.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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