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it remains to me to have the great pleasure of presenting these books to you, as a token of the feelings of attachment of all the society. You will have seen from all that has been said, that the good feeling we show you is sincere; and I am sure that in future, when you look upon these books-the Word of God and the Services in which we praise the Lord and ask his blessing-it will give you both the fondest recollection of the circumstance that all your friends assembled to wish the blessing of the Lord, and every other good, for you, both in time and in eternity. Allow me, then, to ask that you will accept these gifts as an earnest of our cordial good wishes for your future.

Mr. John Presland (who appeared to be deeply affected, and was received with great cheering) then spoke as follows:Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Believe me, that in all my experience I never felt so much, and was yet so little able to express my feelings, as I do at the present moment. I have not the slightest doubt that all the kind and Christian feelings which have been expressed towards us to-night have been perfectly sincere, and we most sincerely thank you for them. The event, of which this is for us the eve, is perhaps the most important of human life, and one on which, more than at any other time, we should make good resolutions with regard to the future. In accepting the presents you have so kindly made to us-this beautiful copy of the Bible, and this copy of the service of our church, the representative and embodiment of that church in which we all live-I trust we shall both of us find great inducement to regard and reverence those principles whereof these external forms may be considered the representatives. I thank you heartily for the kind feelings you have showed in making Miss Pulsford a partner in this presentation, and I may just mention, that in doing so, you have honoured one of your very first members, and one of the members of your first committee. It will be remembered by some that when this society was first established, the committee was a mixed one of ladies and gentlemen, and Miss Pulsford was one of the first ladies chosen for the important duty of legislating for your society. You have expressed for us personally many good wishes, which I can assure you are cordially recipro

cated both to the society and the members individually. Permit me to say, that there is not one institution with which I am acquainted that is more calculated to do that which it professes to do, than is this Argyle Square Junior Members' Society. I am under a great obligation to it, for, through the opportunities for intercourse afforded by the meetings, I became acquainted with Miss Pulsford; acquaintance ripened into friendship, and friendship into those warmer feelings which are to receive their consummation and consecration, so to speak, at the altar to-morrow! With regard to any little I have been able to do in the society, I assure you the balance of thanks is rather due from me in that I have been permitted to take any part in its advancement. In the discussion of the subjects that have been brought forward here, the pleasure and profit I have derived has been immensely more than any benefit I may have been the means of conferring, but I am thankful to hear that I have been thought of so much use in your society. I am fully convinced, that whatever may be our future, one of our greatest pleasures will be to see this society prosper; and that it may go on doing good, as it has hitherto done, will be the sincere wish of Miss Pulsford and myself.

The Chairman having made a few concluding observations, then dismissed the meeting.

The inscription in the Bible presented to Mr. Presland was as follows:

"Presented to Mr. John Presland by the members of the Argyle-square Junior Members' Society, on the occasion of his marriage, in testimony of their esteem for the excellencies of his character, their appreciation of his valuable services as vice-president of the society, and their cordial wishes for his future happiness.1st September, 1865."

REVISION OF THE HYMN BOOK.-One of the subjects which occupied the attention of the last Conference was the revision of the Hymn-book. Several friends of the church have for some time been desirous of such a revision, and a committee was appointed at the preceding Conference to consider and report on the subject. This committee recommended that the changes made in the new edition of the Hymn-book should "not extend beyond literal corrections, and such

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merely verbal alterations as will not materially affect the serviceableness of the copies of the Hymn-book now in use." "It being the opinion of the Committee, and the expressed conviction of many thoughtful members of the church, that the usefulness of the Hymnbook, as an aid to the public worship of the Lord, would be much increased by the addition to its pages of a supplement, containing 100 or more hymns more especially of a devotional character," the Conference therefore resolved "That such a supplement be compiled," and appointed a committee to carry out this resolution, with an instruction "to solicit, through the pages of the Magazine, the active cooperation of all friends who are interested in the Hymn-book."

It is not, therefore, expected that the committee shall themselves prepare this supplement, but that they shall arrange and submit to the next Conference the hymns compiled for this purpose. There are many members of the church well able to contribute original hymns suited to improve and extend the psalmody of the church, and others who may be able to forward selected hymns adapted to this purpose. The committee will be glad to receive communications from friends willing and able to assist them as early as possible, that they may be able to make an early selection, and have the work in a prepared state before the meeting of the next Conference.

Communications may be addressed to myself; to the Revs. E. Madeley and J. Hyde; E. G. Broadfield, Accrington; or to T. Willson, Birmingham.

RICHARD STORRY, Secretary of the Hymn-book Committee.

SOUTH LONDON.-It has been definitely arranged that the bazaar in aid of this society's building fund shall be held at St. George's Hall, King's-cross, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the 11th, 12th, and 13th October next. The doors will be opened at one o'clock each day, and close at ten. Admission, 1s., or 2s. 6d. for the term. The Hall has been newly cleaned and decorated, and every effort will be made to render the scene as attractive as possible. Refreshments will be provided at moderate charges, and the proceedings enlivened by instrumental music during the day, combined with vocal music every evening.

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The New Church ministers resident in London have been invited to be present at the opening of the bazaar, and offer brief addresses. Many generous friends in London and the country have forwarded handsome presents, which are here gratefully acknowledged. Should there, however, be other persons who, from various causes, have not yet remitted intended contributions, the ladies' committee will be much obliged if such gifts are kindly despatched forthwith.

So far the result of the society's appeal has shown that a considerable interest is felt in its present undertaking, which, it is confidently believed, will be crowned with complete success.

KERSLEY.-On Sunday evening last a very interesting meeting took place in the above school, for the purpose of presenting to Mr. Isaac Gee a Bible, in recognition of his long and valued services as a superintendent in the Sunday-school. Mr. Gee has been connected with the school from its commencement, twentynine years since, during twenty-five years of which period he has held the office of superintendent, and has greatly endeared himself to the teachers and scholars. The idea of offering some recognition of his services having suggested itself to those connected with the school, it was at length decided to present him with a copy of the Bible, as, under the circumstances, the most appropriate expression of their sentiments. A subscription, confined to the teachers and Sunday scholars, was accordingly entered into, and a very handsomely bound copy of Bagster's Comprehensive Bible purchased, for the presentation of which the meeting was held. After an excellent tea, of which a numerous party partook, the Rev. W. Woodman having been called to the chair, introduced the business of the evening in a few remarks, pointing out that whilst there was but one fountain of all good, the Father of Lights, from whom proceeded every good and perfect gift, and to whom, consequently, our highest thanks and acknowledgments were due, there is nevertheless implanted in the human mind a principle capable of recognising the instruments through which many of those gifts are conveyed, and a desire to express such recognition by suitable acknowledgments; whilst the impulse out of which this desire arose was among the most delightful senti

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ments which our Heavenly Father had implanted in the human breast. After further remarks bearing on the more immediate object of the meeting, the Rev. Chairman called on Mr. William Howe, of Egerton-street, who read an address which had been prepared for the occasion; after which Mr. Thomas Gee, of Kersley Moor, who was appointed to the duty of presenting the testimonial, addressed Mr. Gee in an appropriate speech, reviewing the services of the latter gentleman, and expressing the sentiments which had actuated those who had joined in conferring this mark of their esteem on him. Mr. Gee, who was much affected, replied by disclaiming the high estimate they had kindly placed on his endeavours, adding that he had never regretted any sacrifices he had made for the interests of the Sundayschool and church; and that were his time to come over again, he should pursue the same course, except that with the experience he had acquired he should be enabled to perform his duties more efficiently. The meeting was afterwards addressed by Messrs. W. Howe and S. Booth, the superintendents, Messrs. Rhodes, Winter, and T. Gee, formerly superintendents, and several of the teachers. Mr. John Monks, of Pendlebury, who, in connection with the late Mr. John Gee, originated the school, in conclusion, gave an interesting account of their early labours. The proceedings were varied by appropriate hymns and anthems; and the numerous assembly separated deeply impressed with the importance of aiding in the good work of Sabbath-school tuition, and encouraged to the more diligent pursuit of their duties in connection therewith.-Farnworth Observer.

LECTURES AT BRISTOL AND HOCKLEY.On my return from the Conference I had the opportunity of paying a missionary visit to the societies at Bristol, and Hockley, Birmingham, and beg to forward you a short account of my labours.

At Bristol, I gave two discourses on the Sabbath in the society's meetingroom, to as many as could be comfortably accommodated-probably 70 people were present. The subject of my discourse in the morning was the eternal obligation of the law of the Ten Commandments, and the advantages flowing from a life of obedience to its require

ments; in the evening, the invitation by the angel in the sun to the fowls of heaven to assemble themselves together to the supper of the Great God. (Rev. xix. 17, 18.) Both subjects seemed acceptable to my audiences, and the services altogether refreshing to the small society which is struggling to maintain its position in this populous town.

For the Monday and Tuesday evenings a public room had been obtained, and a larger audience assembled. On the first of these evenings I gave a lecture on the Supreme Deity of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and on the second, on the Second Coming of the Lord. The only room our friends were able to obtain was at the Athenæum, and was capable of seating rather over 100 persons. It was comfortably filled at both lectures. I had scarcely closed my first lecture before a gentleman rose professedly to ask questions, but really to debate my lecture. With some difficulty we prevailed on him to propose the questions he had risen to ask. Their purport was to show the personal distinction of the Father and the Son, and the inferiority of the latter. In his remarks he asserted that life was in the Father, and was given by him to the Son, by whom it was communicated to us. I was thence enabled to show from his own premises that the Son was the Mediator between God and man, and that this Mediator was "the man Jesus Christ," or the Humanity of the Lord which mediated between the naked divinity, which was the Father, and his fallen creatures; and that in this humanity dwells all the fulness of the godhead bodily. The exposition of this great truth enabled me to preach the New Church doctrine of the Lord from the text supplied by my opponent. At the close of my next lecture another gentleman presented himself to dispute my exposition of the Lord's Second Coming. The questions he proposed had relation to the personal coming of Christ and the literal fulfilment of prophecy. In proof of the latter, he dwelt on Isaiah ix. 6-" Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given," &c. In my lecture of the preceding evening, I had examined this verse somewhat minutely, and pointed out its bearing on the doctrine of our Lord's supreme divinity. I directed, therefore, the attention of my audience to this fact, as an evidence of the importance the New

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Church attached to this prophecy; and then called the attention of the questioner to the fact that the prophecy of which this verse is a part could not possibly be interpreted literally. In the verse preceding the text cited, the prophet says "For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire." According to this prediction, "the child born, the son given," was to make his appearance as a warrior with garments rolled in blood, and with the carnage of earthly warfare, burning, and fuel, and fire. This prophecy was spiritually fulfilled in the redemption of the Lord, when, "travelling in the greatness of his strength," he overthrew the powers of darkness, and delivered his children from their fearful bondage. The verse succeeding the text is equally incapable of literal interpretation. This verse says " Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth and for ever. The Jews interpreted this and similar predictions literally, and hence expected a temporal Messiah. They misinterpreted the prophecies, and thence deprived themselves of the spiritual advantages flowing from their fulfilment. The Christian church, in contending for the literal fulfilment of the prophecies, was copying their example, and in like manner closing their eyes to the light of truth, which distinguished the Lord's Second Coming. At the close of this discussion several respectable persons came forward to express their interest in the lectures I had given them, so that I may reasonably hope that some service will have been rendered to our heavenly cause by this visit to Bristol.

I must not conclude my narrative without acknowledging the kindness I received from the friends at Bristol, particularly from Mr. and Mrs. Bragge, who very hospitably provided for my comfort during my stay.

From Bristol I proceeded to Birmingham, lecturing on Wednesday evening at Hockley. The subject selected by our friends was "Charity, not Faith, the first essential of the True Christian Religion." The lecture was given in the room occupied by our friends, which was two-thirds filled. The most marked

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attention was given throughout, and I sincerely hope that some use will result from it. RD. STORRY.

TRANSLATION OF THE "DIARY."-To the Editor.- Having been present at the meeting of the Swedenborg Society, I was much pleased with the Rev. Mr. Hiller's remarks respecting the desirableness of a translation of the remaining volumes of the "Diary." Having often heard, from time to time, certain portions translated by the late Rev. J. H. Smithson for the edification of his friends, I for one can attest to the wonderful amount of information contained therein respecting individual states, &c., of which the majority of the members of the church are at present unaware.-Yours respectfully,

London.

C. SMITHSON.

CHATTERIS.The members and friends of the Chatteris Society have lately been visited by the Rev. Dr. Goyder, of London, on which occasion they had the pleasure of listening to two very excellent and practical discourses, which were delivered by the doctor in his usual impressive manner, and to which marked attention was paid by all present. After the morning service, the doctor baptized three children belonging to members of the society. The society desire to take this opportunity of thanking the Missionary Committee for defraying the expenses of this visit, and also Dr. Goyder for his kind services.

BIRMINGHAM.-NEW CHURCH MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY, SUMMER-LANE.— The opening lecture of the present season was delivered on Tuesday evening, September 12th, by the Rev. E. Madeley; subject-"Memory and its Mysteries, or the Book of Life." The lecturer defined the memory as being “The mental power of retaining or recalling images and ideas of the past which have been indelibly impressed upon the mind," after which he cited the definitions of many writers and philosophers who had supposed that "the memory is a special original faculty," but added that "our knowledge and experience might teach us that it is a power in connection with and common to all the intellectual faculties. Phrenologists, therefore, have discovered no specific organ of the brain for the memory." Man, moreover, has

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not only an exterior memory, organised and formed of the ideas from the objects of the senses, or subjects of reflection and sensation proper to the body, liable to disturbance from corporal injury, and even to become quiescent; but he has also an internal memory proper to the spirit, organised and formed from interior perceptions of the intellect and reason, and not liable to decay. The external memory has relation to time and space, and the internal memory has relation to eternity. The lecturer then cited a passage from Swedenborg's Arcana Cœlestia, 2473-4, on the memory of man remaining after death, and the remembrance of those things which he had done in the body. He then concluded a very able lecture, replete with numerous very useful and interesting facts, by stating that artificial means of improving memory are of little or no avail, but urging its proper cultivation and healthy exercise, as "a precious gift of God to man," and as the great "Book of Life," in which we are daily inscribing our character, as to every particular of existence, to be a testimony, for or against us, in the judgment to come. A proposition for a vote of thanks was warmly responded to by the meeting, which was numerous, and consisted almost entirely of the members of the society.

NEW CHURCH COLLEGE.-The Michaelmas term of the New Church College will commence on the 2nd of October (this month). A building committee has been formed, consisting of four trustees of Conference and four governors of the college. This committee has already held its first meeting, and entered upon the ministration of its duties and the means at its disposal. It is desirous of avoiding extravagance on the one hand, and meanness on the other; and its efforts will be directed to carrying out the design of the college, so as to secure the utmost economy compatible with the erection of a building on which the members of the church and the relatives of Mr. Crompton can look with satisfaction. The money voted by Conference out of the Crompton legacy towards this object will need to be supplemented by other friends. The building committee will be glad to receive contributions. These may be forwarded to Mr. Gunton, the Treasurer of Conference; Mr. Pitman, its Secretary; Mr. Baily, the Treasurer of

the College, 20, Old Jewry; or its Secretary, Mr. Henry Bateman, 32, Comptonterrace, Canonbury, London, N.

NORWICH.-A Church Congress is to be held in Norwich on the 3rd of this month, under the patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the presidency of the Bishop of the diocese. The list of vice-presidents contains the names of many of the bishops: the name of the Bishop of London nowhere appears. The party in the church which this Congress represents, and whose views and interests it is intended to promote, may be ascertained not only from some of the persons who are to compose it, such as the Bishop of Oxford and Dr. Pusey, but from some of the subjects to be discussed:-"The Spirit in which Learning and Science should be applied to the Study of the Bible," and "The Court of Final Appeal." Dissenters may be present; none but members of the church may speak.

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OLDHAM.-The committee of the Oldham New Church Society desire to acknowledge, with thanks, the following contributions to their building fund :William Pickstone, Esq.. £5 0 0 Mr. Jabez Kay 1 1 0 Mr. Emanl. Winterbottom Mr. John Arran.... Mr. William Tong Messrs. Rylance & Sons. Mr. J. J. & G. Cooper Mr. Thomas Isherwood.. Mr. Edleston

Mr. James Barrow
Mr. Edwin Wild
Mr. Thomas Greaves
Mrs. Hannah Dawson
A Friend

Mr. Joseph Jackson
Mr. Taylor...
Mrs. Dawson.
Miss Lees
A Friend

1 1 0

1 1

1 0

1

0

1

0

1

0

1 0

0 10 0

0 10 0

0 10 0

0 10 0

060

050

050

050

05 0 026

GEORGE NEWTON, Treasurer. DAN. HODGSON, Secretary.

WINCHESTER.-There have been readers of the New Church doctrines, in this old city, for many years. At one time they had a place for public worship, but circumstances contributed to that being given up. Now a few of the friends have combined together, and under many discouragements, have met for several

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