Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 24.djvu/117

 Hallett conducted at Exeter a nonconformist academy, which became famous as a nursery of heresy. Its opening has been dated as early as 1690; it had a well-established reputation when (1693–1763) [q. v.] entered it in May 1708. No taint of heresy attached to it until 1710, when Hallett's son Joseph [see, (1691?–1744)] became an assistant tutor, and brought in the private discussion of Whiston's views. Rumours spread as to the freedom of opinion concerning our Lord's divinity permitted in the academy, until in September 1718 the Exeter assembly (a mixed body of presbyterian and congregationalist divines) called for a declaration of belief in the Holy Trinity to be made by all its members. Hallett was the first to comply; his declaration, though adopted by some and not formally objected to by any, was not satisfactory to the majority. In November the thirteen trustees who held the property of the Exeter meeting-houses applied to their ministers for further assurances of orthodoxy, and failed to obtain them. By the advice of five London ministers, of whom Calamy was one, the case was laid before seven Devonshire presbyterian divines, whose decision led the trustees to exclude (6 March) Hallett and Peirce from James' Meeting, and on 10 March from all the meeting-houses. In Calamy's view the trustees exceeded their powers; a vote of the congregation should have been taken. Hallett and Peirce secured a temporary place of worship, which was opened on 15 March. They were still members of the Exeter assembly. This body in May proposed that all its members should subscribe Bradbury's ‘gallery declaration;’ fifty-six did so, nineteen refused and seceded. On 6 May a paper was drawn up, apparently by Hallett, whose signature stands first, in which the charges of Arianism and of baptising in the name of the Father only are disclaimed.

A new building, called the Mint Meeting, was erected for Hallett and Peirce (opened 27 Dec. 1719); their congregation numbered about three hundred. Hallett's academy did not long survive these changes; it was closed in 1720. For a list of thirty-seven of his students see ‘Monthly Repository,’ 1818, p. 89. The most distinguished were [q. v.] and [q. v.], afterwards lord chancellor. Hallett died in 1722. His son Joseph is separately noticed.

Hallett published:
 * 1) ‘Twenty-seven Queries’ addressed to quakers, and printed by them in ‘Gospel Truths Scripturally asserted … by John Gannacliff and Joseph Nott,’ &c., 1692, 4to.
 * 2) ‘Christ's Ascension into Heaven,’ &c., 1693, 8vo.
 * 3) ‘A Sermon, … at the Funeral of … Geo. Trosse … to which is added a Short Account of his Life,’ &c., 1713, 8vo.
 * 4) ‘The Life of … Geo. Trosse … written by himself,’ &c., 1714, 8vo.



HALLETT or HALLET, JOSEPH, III (1691?–1744), nonconformist minister, eldest son of (1656–1722) [q. v.], was born at Exeter in 1691 or 1692. He was educated at his father's academy. Among his class-mates was (1693–1763) [q. v.], who describes him as ‘a very grave, serious, and thinking young man,’ ‘most patient of study,’ and reading more than any other student. From 1710 he acted as assistant tutor. Early in that year he was attracted by the ‘Advice for the Study of Divinity’ in Whiston's ‘Sermons and Essays,’ 1709, 8vo. He wrote to Whiston, cautioning him not to direct the answer to himself, since if it were known that he ‘corresponded with Whiston he would be ruined.’ Whiston, whose reply is dated 1 May 1710, seems to have thought his correspondent was the father; Fox tells us it was the son, and adds that Hallett was the first who at Exeter ‘fell into the unitarian scheme,’ the term being used in Whiston's sense. On 6 May 1713 Hallett was licensed to preach. An ordination at Chudleigh, Devonshire (18 June 1713), led to a correspondence between Hallett and Fox, in which Hallett expressed ‘high notions’ of ministerial authority and the apostolic succession, confirming Fox in the opinion that Hallett had ‘a great propensity to rule and management.’ On 19 Oct. 1715 Hallett was ordained at Exeter along with John Lavington, afterwards the leader of presbyterian orthodoxy in the West of England. He is probably the Hallett who, according to Evans's list, was minister for a time to a congregation of four hundred people at Martock, near South Petherton, Somersetshire. He signed the disclaimer of Arianism (6 May 1719) drawn up by his father, and took part in the controversy which divided the Exeter assembly, aiming to reconcile the unity of God with a recognition of the Son as subordinate deity.

On his father's death (1722) he succeeded him as colleague to Peirce at the Mint Meeting. When Peirce died (1726) his place was taken by Thomas Jeffery, formerly a student