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Animal Rights History Timeline » [1660-1785] Enlightenment: » Rev. Richard Amner

Rev. Richard Amner

Sermon on Cruelty to Animals

[1833] Abraham Smith, "The Rev. Richard Amner on Cruelty to Animals [1783]," in A Scriptural and Moral Catechism, Designed to Inculcate the Love and Practice of Mercy, and to Expose the Exceeding Sinfulness of Cruelty to the Dumb Creation: To Which is Added an Address to the Ministers, Parents and Instructors of Youth and Christians in General (1833; London, 1839; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBook).

The Rev. Richard Amner, (my beloved tutor) fifty years ago, regularly preached a sermon to the youth of his congregation against cruelty to animals on the Sunday preceding Shrove Tuesday (a day particularly set apart for the horrid practice of cock-fighting.) And in those sermons he pointed out the different species of cruelty youth were prone to indulge in; such as twirling cockchafers on a pin, pulling the legs and wings from flies, killing butterflies, pelting and bruising frogs, &c., in addition to what are called the more manly sports, such as bull-baiting, cock-fighting, dog-fighting, and the tying a poor harmless cock to a stake, and then throwing at him with sticks, till his legs were broken, or the creature killed! And there are numbers now living, whom I well know, who bear testimony to the good effects of those practical sermons.

[1883-Jan-27] "Notes and Queries: Rev. Richard Amner," The Christian Life 8 (1883-Jan-27): 4; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks

Mr. Amner was in the habit of preaching at stated times against cruelty to animals, and upon this subject dwelt with such peculiar tenderness and sympathy that the hearts of the hearers were often melted to tears. IN his intercourse with the youth of the congregation, Mr. Amner never lost sight of this subject, and next to the main principles of religion, kindness and mercy to animals was the great theme upon which he dwelt, the exemplification of this quality being to hire a practical exemplification of the presence of the religion of Jesus. The recollection of Mr. Amner's frequent appeals on behalf of the dumb creation, delivered in his tenderly earnest and sympathetic manner, vividly remained an inspiring influence with my friend to the end of long pilgrimage. Surely there are some items respecting this worthy minister in the records of the congregation.