-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/25778/archive/files/cb38c8be378ca43c86772483d03f3af7.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=uFnDiMkMkbSAVVkOZgP2pROrvklp%7EuDsF%7ENQLCbUXVotPUH34JCxVahIG36TRvbmI4e8IF7pJWxt-fRBvriUrdfGhdpoPWVYr-QC0sFb0KcPFUFoYr8NnAxtxVshXfJ8YDReO1vzOHvgErZ2RIWarCBgjxOjZHhiBAb4x-AJZSkoxgTmA28RtdAoYU3jlx3VH-lyKny7Er4%7E8sWMY5cjRBt6wW%7EtOdx6viA0b4fkGNJLB4sKdhOiBtLLRlZga513uXYf2Z-dhgTPxKPUd5-Ha5yzG%7EFe3xZDTkUW04asJX0JukPM--Uk%7ET%7EFhcuqNTRuCoX3Hzuzaxoy4nRinHngXw__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
38dbe1d0ddf6a129c70fe63cdeceec78
PDF Text
Text
A PROPOSAL
FOR THE CONSIDERATION
f'
f
OF THE
FRIENDS OF PROGRESS
BY WM. LOVETT.
London:
Published by JOHN CLEAVE, 1, Shoe Lane,
AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS,
Price One Penny,
�A PROPOSAL, &c.
Fellow-Countrymen,
Millions of our brethren, from their ardent desire to
promote such changes, social, political, moral and reli
gious, as they conscientiously believe will remove, or
greatly abridge, the present lamentable amount of po
verty, misery, vice and crime, may justly be considered
friends of progress.
Knowing that vast numbers of those friends are ac
tively engaged in their respective societies, as well as
individually, in forwarding each their peculiar views,
too often midst difficulties and discouragements ending
in disappointment, destructive of future efforts, 1 have
long been desirous of seeing some combined effort
made by which, as I conceive, all the various objects
of reform they are separately in pursuit of may sooner
be realised than can possibly be effected by individual
or isolated effort; while at the same time they are cul
tivating principles of peace, union and brotherhood,
which doubtlessly form the best foundation for social
happiness and national advancement.
To effect any great improvement in this country, po
litically or socially, we have learnt from experience the
great effort that is needed, as well as the amount of
money that must be spent before public opinion can be
formed and concentrated so as to influence our legisla
ture in favour of even one measure of reform, and yet
very many are needed to effect our social and political
salvation.
�3
Owing to this slow and tardy process of reform,
misery, vice and crime are perpetuated; thousands are
born and die in ignorance and vice; and thousands too
often lose health and hope in the continuous and pro
tracted struggle to make men wiser, better and happier
than they found them.
This slow progress for good is evidently to be attri
buted to the great variety of measures advocated by
different bodies of reformers ; to the contentious feelings
too often engendered in their onward progress, and the
consequent difficulty of uniting our brethren in favour
of any one object; and, above all, in the great difficulty
of abrogating old laws, or instituting new ones necessary
to effect or facilitate the reform desired by any parti
cular body of reformers, or portion of the people.
But as all those various classes of reformers are equally
the friends ofprogress, all zealous and desirous of bene
fiting their fellow-men, and, it may be, all equally active
in promoting the especial object they have espoused, it
will be useless to call upon any of them to give up
their particular object in favour of any one measure
that may by some persons be considered more practical
and important than another; for such appeals have
frequently been made, and as often disregarded.
As measures of progress they are all doubtlessly im
portant, if not equally so, and as they are all equally
desirous to check evil and promote good, and, it is pre
sumed, anxious to live to see the realization of some of the
objects they are contending for, the question arises,
whether, upon the Good Samaritan principle, of each
helping his fellow man, they can be brought to unite
the sooner to realize the objects they are severally in pur
suit of, and thus to carry forward simultaneously all
those measures necessary for accomplishing the greatest
good in the shortest possible period.
�4
In reflecting on the difficulties in the way of progress
it has struck me that something might be done to fa
cilitate such a desired object, in the formation of a
General Association of Progress, in which might
be combined all those measures of social and political
reformationfor which societies are established, or mankind
individually are now in pursuit of, as well, indeed, as
any other measure calculated to aid the great cause of
mental, moral, and political progression.
Anxious that something should be done in favour of
some combined effort for the progress of humanity, I
have presumed to address you, as well as to direct your
attention to the following proposal, as an outline ex
planatory of my views on the subject, which may be
improved or altered by any persons disposed to promote
or aid such an undertaking.
Proposal for forming a General Association of
Progress.
Its first object being to unite in one general union of
progress all those who are now separately, or in small
bodies, seeking the attainment of the following political
and social objects. Secondly, to devise some practical
measures for unitedly promoting and realizing such ob
jects in a shorter time than can possibly be done under
present arrangements, and this without interfering in
any way with the internal regulation of any present
association.
Political Objects of Progress.
1st. The Equal and Just Representation of the
whole people.
2nd. The abolition of all State Religion ; and the
right of conscience and opinion secured.
1
�Z
;
5
3rd. The absolute Freedom oe Trade ; and the
abrogation of all custom and excise laws.
4th. The Abolition oe all Taxes ueon Know
ledge, such as the tax and securities on newspapers,
stamps, and advertising duties, taxes on paper, books,
pamphlets, &c.
5th. The General Reduction oe Taxation, and
a more rigid economy of its expenditure.
6th. Direct Taxation on Property, and the abo
lition of all indirect means of raising a revenue.
7th. The Abolition of all Political Monopolies
and unjust Privileges.
8. The Legislative improvement, impartial execution,
and cheapening of Law and Justice for the whole
people.
Social Objects of Progress.
9th. General Education for the whole population,
provided by all, and carried out and enforced by all,
with the least possible government interference.
10th. The promotion of Scientific Institutions,
Schools for Adult Instruction, and Libraries for
general circulation among the whole population.
11th. The Promotion of Temperance, Sobriety,
Cleanliness, and Health, amongst all classes ; and
the securing of places of rational recreation for the
people, apart from intoxicating drinks.
12th. The devising means by which the working
and middle classes may have comfortable Homes,
and be gradually enabled to become Manufacturers,
Traders, or Farmers, on their own capital.
13th. To labour for the general abolition of War,
Slavery and Oppression, and the promotion of
�General Civilization and Christian Brother
hood throughout the world.
Sketch
of the
General Organization.
That any number of individuals uniting, or already
united, to promote any of the above objects may become
members of the association of progress, by complying
with the following conditions :
1. That they be united for one or more of the objects
specified, and be classified, for purposes hereafter
mentioned, one hundred persons in each class.
2. That they individually subscribe 2c?. each towards
a general fund weekly, the same to be collected
by one of their own body, and paid into the
District Bank of the Association.
3. That they signify by resolution that any sum
their class may secure by lot (or otherwise)
shall not be divided or applied otherwise than
for their declared object.
4. That they appoint one of their members to form a
Committee for the [District ; such Committee to
see that the sums collected by the Classes within
the district are paid into the Bank, as well as for
promoting the objects of the Association within
their respective districts.
General Committee.
That each District Committee appoint two members
annually to form the General Committee of the Associa
tion, such Committee to meet in London (or other large
town alternately) for the division and application of the
money thus raised, according to the rules agreed to;
as well as for the promotion of the general objects of
the Association, by all just and peaceful means.
�7
Application of the General Fund.
That the fund so raised be annually divided by the
Committee, into portions of £2000; such portions to
be appropriated by lot (or any other approved means)
among the different classes of the Association, and im
mediately handed over to those who may be so success
ful ; the same to be applied by them in promoting their
declared objects, without any further intervention.
Such is a mere outline of the plan proposed. It will
be seen that I have sought to include under the heads
of political and social reform all those measures which
are now advocated and contended for by different
bodies, as well as others which I deem desirable and ne
cessary, before right, knowledge and happiness can be
effected for our fellow-men.
I have not thought it necessary to enter into the
details of Rules and Regulations, as those can be best
matured by such persons as may be disposed to form
such an association.
As however a mere outline of the plan is set forth, it
may be necessary to explain, that the chief object of
the classification into hundreds is for the appropriation
of the fund raised, as well as to afford facilities for
persons not included in any existing Association to form
a part of the Association of Progress. As, for instance,
100 men, known to each other, may unite for the pur
pose of building themselves comfortable habitations, for
raising means to take a farm, to commence manufac
turing, or trading, or for any social or political object
embraced by the Association, and in this manner may
obtain £2000 capital to commence or forward their un
dertaking ; or if not successful directly in a pecuniary
�sense, they will, by their union, be indirectly benefited
by the reforms they would unitedly be able to effect.
If in this manner the friends of progress were only
combined to the extent of one million, that number,
paying 2d. each per week, would raise money enough to
give £2000 capital to 216 different classes every year.
The mere pecuniary advantages however would be
trifling, compared with the great and paramount object,
A Union of all Friends of Progress, all aiding
each other, in the spirit of Christian Brotherhood, the
better to accomplish the reforms they are anxious to
effect; acting in concert for the promulgation of their
respective views and objects ; seeking to smooth down
those contracted, prejudiced and contentious feelings
which now so much impede the progress of reform;
and uniting hearts and minds to remove the poverty,
misery and oppression of their land, and to extend the
blessings of peace, prosperity, knowledge and happiness
among all the nations of the earth.
That the friends of progress may speedily perceive
the necessity for some such plan of union, is the.sincere
wish of
WM. LOVETT,
Dec. 31st, 1847.
16, South Row, New Road.
PRINTED BY W. M. GURNEY. HIGH STREET, KiNGSDAND.
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Victorian Blogging
Description
An account of the resource
A collection of digitised nineteenth-century pamphlets from Conway Hall Library & Archives. This includes the Conway Tracts, Moncure Conway's personal pamphlet library; the Morris Tracts, donated to the library by Miss Morris in 1904; the National Secular Society's pamphlet library and others. The Conway Tracts were bound with additional ephemera, such as lecture programmes and handwritten notes.<br /><br />Please note that these digitised pamphlets have been edited to maximise the accuracy of the OCR, ensuring they are text searchable. If you would like to view un-edited, full-colour versions of any of our pamphlets, please email librarian@conwayhall.org.uk.<br /><br /><span><img src="http://www.heritagefund.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/attachments/TNLHLF_Colour_Logo_English_RGB_0_0.jpg" width="238" height="91" alt="TNLHLF_Colour_Logo_English_RGB_0_0.jpg" /></span>
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Conway Hall Library & Archives
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Conway Hall Ethical Society
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
English
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
A proposal for the consideration of the friends of progress
Description
An account of the resource
Place of publication: London
Collation: 8 p. ; 17 cm.
Notes: Printed by W.M. Gurney, High Street, Kingsland. From the library of Dr Moncure Conway.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Lovett, William
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
[1848]
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
John Cleave
Subject
The topic of the resource
Social reform
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<img src="http://i.creativecommons.org/p/mark/1.0/88x31.png" alt="Public Domain Mark" /><br /><span>This work (A proposal for the consideration of the friends of progress), identified by </span><span><a href="https://conwayhallcollections.omeka.net/items/show/www.conwayhall.org.uk">Humanist Library and Archives</a></span><span>, is free of known copyright restrictions.</span>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
G5214
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Language
A language of the resource
English
Church and State
Conway Tracts
Social conditions