London, March 18th, 1801.
RESOLVED. That the Principles of CITIZEN SPENCE’s THEORY OF SOCIETY,
are immutable and unchangeable, as Truth and Nature on which they are built,
and therefore only require universal investigation to be universally
acknowledged.
RESOLVED—therefore, That it be recommended to all the Well-wishers to
that System, to meet frequently, though in ever so small Numbers, in their
respective Neighbourhoods, after a Free and Easy Manner, without incumbering
themselves with Rules, to converse on the Subject, provoke investigation, and
answer such objections as may be started, and to promote the circulation of
Citizen Spence’s Pamphlets.
RESOLVED also, that such Convivial, or Free and Easy Meetings should assume
some appellation, indicative of their Principles, as RESTORERS OF SOCIETY to
its NATURAL STATE,* SPENSONIANS, &c.
* Alluding to a new Publication, which all Men, for their own Sakes ought to read.
2
Now let us hail the glorious Day,
When Justice shall bear sov’reign sway,
When Man to Man shall equal be,
Rejoicing in the Jubilee.
Rejoice and hail the rising dawn,
Of Freedom's Day that Spence has shewn.
Shall Tyrants lord it o'er Mankind,
Shall they the galling Shackles bind;
Which thus enthrall the Bulk of Man,
’Gainst God and Nature’s lib’ral Plan?
Shall they assume in hellish Rage,
To force on us their Wars to wage?
Must they the Laurels proudly wear,
And we but Toil and Slaughter share?
And must we till for them the Ground,
And spread such Plenty all around;
And the the gen’ral Feast devour,
Or hoard it up a musty store?
For what do we Oppression bear,
For what engage in Foreign War?
For what is our incessant Toil?—
That they may reap or share the Spoil.
Such are the Men that claim the Land,
So hostile to the Peace of Man;
That fill the Earth with mad discord,
And ravage Nations with the Sword.
It is their Int’rest and their Pride,
Upon the wreck of Man to ride;
And fatten on his fallen State,
Then proudly style themselves the Great.
Now if ye feel as Brothers should,
O! Spare such dreadful waste of Blood;
And take from them the mighty power,
Primeval Nature to restore.
The let us search the Spencean* plan,
’Tis offer’d to the thinking Man;
Its merits to investigate,
And learn the means to renovate.
We’ll the the grand Millenium see,
So long foretold in Prophecy;
When Nature’s God’s to reign with us,
And we’re to share supernal Bliss.
No base distinctions will be known,
When Truth shall fill fair Freedom’s Throne;
For Justice will her Balance keep,
And we her Blessings fully reap.
Then shall we hymn in grateful Lays,
And songs to peace and virtue raise;
In one grand Chorus swell the strain,
Proclaiming Justice solely reign.
Rejoice and hail the rising dawn,
Fore-runner of a glorious Sun.
* See a New publication by T. Spence,
“The Restorer of Society to its Natural State.”