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THE

WESTERN MESSENGER;

DEVOTED TO

RELIGION AND LITERATURE.

VOL. I.

FROM 1835 TO 1836.

LOUISVILLE:

PUBLISHED BY THE WESTERN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.

BOSTON: JAMES MUNROE & CO.

MORTON & SMITH, PRINTERS.

PUBLIC LIBRARY 017834

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATION3. 1607

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It will be seen by those who have read our 'proposals,' that the name of this magazine has been changed from 'Examiner' to 'Messenger.' Our reason for this change is simply, that the first name is preoccupied by a paper published in St. Louis, which advocates principles so different from those which we shall uphold, that we are unwilling to have our book confounded with it in the mind of the public. It is true that the Western Examiner of St. Louis is probably little known to most of those who will read the Messenger, but we thought it better to avoid all unpleasant mistakes, by putting ourselves on the safe side. The great object to be secured by the name of a periodical, is to designate it among all others; and this object is attained by the present, better than by the former name.

A primary object of this work is to set forth and defend Unitarian views of Christianity. Our religious opinions are to ourselves of the utmost importance, and we feel that we cannot value them too highly. We shall therefore explain and illustrate them, defend them earnestly, show that they rest on revelation, and that they are in all respects practical. This is a part of our work, and it seems to us important, because we believe that these views are not only true, but suited beyond all others, to promote a practical christian life. We deem it important in another respect. We believe that there are many whose minds hesitate between believing and rejecting Christianity, whose doubts would yield to a thoughtful faith, if the truth were presented in its original and divine simplicity. For it seems to us, that the exaggerated reports of infidelity in the West, have been founded not so much on the rejection of Christianity itself, as on the rejection of creeds (i. e. the opinions of men about Christianity.)-which have been presented in its stead, and considered identical with it.

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