and the exercise of Christian charity, would help on the great work. It was the duty of every man to be convinced in his own mind, and to act upon his convictions. This was enforced upon us by the injunction to "buy the truth and sell it not." Mr. J. Needler also addresed the meeting, and gave to Mr. Boyle a hearty welcome. At intervals during the evening several anthems were rendered by the choir in a very efficient manner. the public good, which had contributed so largely of its own means, had established a fair claim upon public sympathy and public benevolence. That large schoolroom in which they were assembled was not built to serve the purposes of a religious sect, but to promote the culture and cultivate the intelligence of the entire neighbourhood, and he was glad to know that the boon was being largely appreciated. Indeed, if they were to hold their position as a great manufacturing country their workmen must be educated, so KEARSLEY.-On Wednesday morning, that they might be enabled to perform 29th May, a Bazaar was opened in the their duties in an intelligent and skilNew Jerusalem Schools, Kearsley, by ful manner. The artisan of the future, John Fletcher, Esq., the object being it was certain, would require to be to raise funds towards meeting the technically educated to a degree not cost of erecting the new church. The even imagined at the present day. Bazaar was held in what is at present Well, that block of buildings was inused as a school-chapel. The centre tended to aid in this great work. But of the room was decorated with a num- man's heart required educating as well ber of flowering plants lent by Mr. Ro- as his head. Intellectual culture, bert Briercliffe. The stalls were of the without the corrective of goodness, was Norman-arch class, and decorated with apt to degenerate into intellectual the greatest taste. The room had an pride. The house of worship now in exceedingly attractive appearance, and course of erection was therefore the showed that very great taste had been outward and visible expression of exercised, and a vast amount of labour man's religious and affectionate nature. bestowed upon its decoration. The The gospel which would be preached articles upon the various stalls were of in that beautiful building was the a superior class to those usually on gospel of love (love to God and sale at bazaars, and included a large man); for after all, the grand esvariety of useful and ornamental sentials of the Christian faith were articles. After preliminary speeches by so simple that they might be acRev. P. Ramage, who was in the chair, cepted by the good and true men of Rev. J. F. Munro, Congregational every denomination. Their great work minister, Rev. Mr. Westall, and Mr. under the Divine Providence was to Mackereth, Mr. Fletcher, who was strive to train men, above all things, received with applause, said it was to endeavour to enlarge the realm of with some reluctance that he complied goodness. They found ignorance and with the request of the Bazaar Com- misery in their midst. They were mittee to open what really had the desirous of doing what they could to appearance of a grand fancy fair. The dissipate the ignorance, and to mitigate deputation which waited on him would, the misery. They were deeply interested however, take no denial, and so he was in that work, and therefore they asked there in a position he did not covet, them to aid them in erecting a place and for which the Managers of this of worship which he trusted would be Bazaar were alone responsible. The for many years to come a centre of Chairman had given them some figures "sweetness and light" in the neighwhich were very instructive, and which bourhood. Well, now they came to the he thought amply justified the pro- means which their friends had adopted ceedings of that day. The entire cost in order to accomplish their desires. of the building operations which had There were various opinions about been carried on during the last four bazaars, but they could not get over years in connection with the Religious the fact that they were a popular means Society meeting in that place was of raising funds. But perhaps the estimated at £10,000. Now he thought highest use of bazaars was to be found that a Religious Society, labouring for in the fact that they associated the young people together in working for a sacred selections, and the second exhigh and worthy object. They thus clusively of Handel's serenata 'Acis and tended to develop the unselfish side of Galatea.' From the first chorus, Gloria our common human nature. A glance in excelcis Deo' (Mozart's Twelfth at those well-filled stalls would satisfy Mass), to the closing one, 'Galatea, dry them all that there had been earnest thy tears,' everything was done in so and united work on the part of the praiseworthy a manner under the able members of the congregation. As the baton of Mr. Whittingham (organist ladies were no doubt eager to exer- of the church) as to disarm adverse cise their persuasive powers upon criticism.' both willing and unwilling customers, he would, in conclusion, express his hope that their highest wishes in Building Fund of this Society took this Bazaar might be fully realized. To give it a start he would subscribe £100. He had now great pleasure in declaring that Bazaar open. STOCKPORT.-The Bazaar in aid of the place in Easter Week at the CottonWaste Exchange, Manchester. The Rev. W. Westall and Rev. P. Ramage addressed the assembled visitors and A large number were present at the friends in terms of sympathy and enclose on Saturday evening, the 1st inst. couragement of the object of the Bazaar, The Rev. P. Ramage, the minister, as- which was then opened by the Rev. C. cended a temporary platform, and con- H. Wilkins. The result of the effort gratulated the friends on the good feeling made by so small a Society was fairly that had prevailed throughout the entire satisfactory, although not to be meaproceedings. The Bazaar had been a great sured by the standard of Societies of success. He thanked the various greater numbers and influence. A Christian bodies in the neighbourhood quantity of goods of the nominal value for their kind assistance. The total of £100 remained unsold, and may be amount realized was £950. The Rev. G. S. Ordish, Congregational minister, said he was glad to be present to rejoice with his friends on the happy result of their labours. Mr. Briercliffe said the result of the Bazaar had far exceeded his most sanguine expectations. He called for three cheers for the workers and visitors, which were heartily given. Mr. James Gee also spoke in warm terms of the harmonious feeling that had characterized their four days' arduous labours. The doxology was then sung, the benediction pronounced by the minister, and the friends separated. LONDON (Camden Road).-We cull the following from the North Metropolitan of May 18th: "An evening concert of a superior character to that usually offered by the church choirs of the neighbourhood was given in the hall of the Athenæum, Camden Road, on Tuesday last by the members of the New Jerusalem Church choir, assisted by their musical friends in the choruses, and Mrs. Mudie Bolingbroke, Mdlle. Riego, with Mr. Kenningham, Mr. Galbraith (tenori), Mr. Wharton (bass), and a lady announced as Mrs. As usual, the programme was divided into two parts, the first consisting of safely estimated to realize £60 or £70 at the sale of work to be held at Stockport, where they will be disposed of without reserve. The net result of the sales at Manchester amounted to £87. The amount previously in the bank, and the estimated value of the goods unsold, render it probable that the Stockport Society will be able to invest about £200 by the end of the year. The Stockport friends desire to acknowledge most gratefully the hearty sympathy and energetic aid of their Lancashire friends, whose cheerful industry, both as contributors, buyers, and sellers, was most encouraging to them. GENERAL CONFERENCE.-The Salford Society would be glad to be furnished at as early a period as possible with the names and addresses of the representatives to the forthcoming Conference, and the accommodation required. The resources of the Society being but limited, it is necessary that they should early ascertain the provision required. All communications to be addressed to Mr. John Clarke, 110 Broad Street, Pendleton. UNITED STATES, AMERICA, MINISTERS' CONFERENCE.-The Messenger of 5th June contains the following notice of the Conference of New Church ministers, which in America is annually held in advance of the meeting of the Convention: "We had very interesting sessions on Friday and Saturday, the principal questions upon which the most time was spent in consideration being a paper by the Rev. Mr. Frost on Extemporaneous Preaching,' and the question asked by the Rev. Mr. Ager, What can the ministers of the Church do to counteract the apparently increasing tendency of the members of the Church to discontinue attendance upon church services?' There were in attendance forty-three members of the Conference. The general feeling among the members seemed to be a good one.' The same number of the Messenger gives also, from the Report of the Board of Managers, the following account of THE WORK OF THE AMERICAN PRINTING AND PUBLISHING SOCIETY.. The chief feature of the work of the Board during the past year has been, as heretofore, the gratuitous distribution of its publications to public libraries. The appended table gives detailed information as to the number of volumes of each work made, sold, and distributed. It appears that 7500 volumes have been printed, 2200 bound, 709 sold, 2661 given away. Of the latter, 2200 have been given to public libraries, 117 to the clergy, 261 to the Church extension fund for sale by the missionaries, and 115 for miscellaneous purposes. Authority was granted by the Board to the Committee on Distribution to purchase from the Board of Publications of the General. Convention an edition of the "Com Society has appointed a Committee to obtain such applications. The books will be strongly bound and the name of the steamer stamped on the cover. The Committee on Distribution were authorized to appropriate, in their discretion, a sum not exceeding 500 dols. to assist in the translation and publication of Swedenborg's works in foreign languages. The Committee have not thought it advisable to make any appropriation during the year. The Committee on the publication of the Latin works have completed the "De Charitate," copies of which are presented for your inspection. The work has been done with great care, and it is hoped that the most exacting critics will be satisfied with the results. The Committee feel under great obligation to the editor, Dr. S. H. Worcester, for his untiring labour and patience, and to the other gentlemen who have rendered valuable assistance in supervising the proofs. It is hoped that the work on the "Apocalypsis Revelata will go on more rapidly as soon as the preliminary questions are all settled. The small stock on hand at the beginning of the year made it necessary to print new editions of fifteen out of our nineteen volumes. This large outlay has pretty nearly exhausted our income for the year. But the large stock now on hand will make our expenditures for this purpose very light for the year to come. This, if our present income is continued, will enable us to do more in other directions. Marriage. June 20th, at the New Jerusalem Church, Spring Bank, Hull, by Mr. J. R. Boyle, Mr. William Townsend, of London, to Lucy, eldest daughter of Mr. Samuel Walker, of Hull. This being the first marriage in the above church, the bride and bridegroom were presented, at the close of the ceremony, a quarto Bible, containing a suitable inscription. with pendium for gratuitous distribution. In June last an edition of 400 in sheets was purchased. Of these, 200 have been bound and 150 distributed. Circulars are being sent to all the chief public libraries which have already accepted our publications, offering the "Compendium" on receipt of twentyfive cents for postage. A large proportion of those to which the circulars have been sent have accepted the offer. The Committee has also voted to supply copies of the "Compendium to ocean and coast passenger steamers when applications for the same are received from the proper officers. Young People's Guild of the Brooklyn member of the Bolton Street Society, Obituary. Removed into the spiritual world on Salford, and had been a receiver of the heavenly doctrines of the New Church for nearly twenty years. Mr. Yabsley was a native of Devonshire, and was born on the 14th of November 1806, and for many years resided in Devonport. It was on his removal with his family to Lancashire, in the early part of 1859, that his attention was first directed to the sublime doctrines of the New Church, through the instrumentality of his beloved wife, who had previously become acquainted with the doctrines through her respected father, the late Mr. Aaron Woollacott of Oldham. On their settlement in Manchester Mr. Yabsley attended for a short time the New Jerusalem Temple, Bolton Street, Salford; but finding the distance from home was inconvenient, he commenced attending the Peter Street Society, then under the able ministration of the late Rev. J. H. Smithson (to whom he became very devotedly attached). The preaching of this most esteemed minister of the Church, together with the careful study of the writings of Swedenborg, deepened into conviction the first favourable impressions he received. On the death of Mr. Smithson he removed to Middleton, where he still continued his connection with the Church; and on his return to Manchester a few years later, he joined himself with his family as members to the Bolton Street Society, Salford, where he first heard the glorious doctrines of the New Church publicly preached by the late Rev. J. B. Kennerley. Mr. Yabsley was warmly attached to the New Church, and most regular in his attendance at public worship while health permitted. He had always enjoyed most excellent health till within the last three or four years of his life, when it rapidly declined under a severe affliction. In private life our departed friend was a kind and affectionate husband, a devoted and loving father, a faithful friend, and a Christian gentleman, and was much respected and beloved by a numerous circle of relatives and friends, who will ever cherish the most affectionate regard for his memory. M. HANAN.-In consequence of the roundabout conveyance of a letter sent to me from the Continent, and the consequent delay in its reception, I have been prevented from forwarding earlier a notice of the decease of our esteemed brother Monsieur Hanan, which took place, on the 4th March, at San Remo, in Italy. Monsieur Hanan had been for several years one of the little band of New Churchmen meeting for worship, Sabbath after Sabbath, in Paris. He had formerly resided at New Orleans, but having occasion to go to Italy, he there made the acquaintance of the Rev. Alfred C. Ford, formerly an Episcopal clergyman, and afterwards a minister of the New Church in America. Mr. Ford, with a zeal which deserves imitation, conducted a religious service in Florence, which may be regarded as the rudiment of the New Church in Italy, and Monsieur Hanan became a convert to the faith of the New Jerusalem through the instrumentality of Mr. Ford. Monsieur Hanan subsequently removed to Paris, and he carried his convictions with him. Becoming associated there with the late learned and excellent Monsieur Harlé in the French metropolis, Ludovic Hanan was strengthened greatly in his faith by the admirable discourses and intelligent conversation of that admirable minister. After the decease of that good pastor, there was considerable danger of the little flock in Paris being scattered abroad. Our friend Hanan, however, helped to avert this calamity, and continued to attend the meetings for worship held at the residence of Dr. Poirson in the Rue des Grands Augustins. He also frequently translated sermons from the New Jerusalem Messenger for the use of the church. By this means the Rev. Chauncey Giles has thus often preached, through the mouth of another, to our Parisian brethren in their own tongue, to their great delight and edification. Monsieur Hanan and his family had been known for several years to our friend Dr. Bayley before I became acquainted with them, and he had spoken very kindly of them to me before I saw any of them. My visits to Paris being in the month of August, when Parisians are almost as anxious to get into the country as Londoners, I think it was owing chiefly to this cause that I saw but little of our friend Hanan until my last short sojourn there in August 1876. He was then one of the most earnest and devout of the little New Church flock with which it was my privilege to meet. His health was at that time delicate rather than robust, and his manners gentle, kind, and courteous. A few days afterwards I called upon him in his elegant home in the Rue de l'Avenue Josephine. Finding him deeply interested in the progress of the Church, I suggested that he would do well to take in the Intellectual Repository, and he at once agreed to become a regular subscriber to our Conference Magazine. We had afterwards a business transaction together, in which he demonstrated, by his strict rendering of every sou to which I was entitled, his thorough determination to be faithful to the uttermost even in that which is little. After this time the health of our brother began to fail. He removed to San Remo, never to return in the flesh. He suffered greatly from a lingering, and at times very painful, affection of the chest, but preserved to the end his faith in the good Lord and his love for the heavenly doctrines in the midst of his trials. It was his delight to converse with the Protestant clergy, as well as others, on the spiritual doctrines of the Word. And he has left behind him many sweet memories of good words spoken in due season to his surviving relatives and friends. His love and veneration for his former pastor, Monsieur Harlé, next to whom he used to sit at their réunions in Paris, induces us to believe that these kindred spirits are now consciously associated again. They were not long separated on earth; and now, perhaps, they are both helping to form, with their worthy brethren of the noble French nation who have gone before them, a Society of the New Church in heaven, which may be a means of spiritual attraction and spiritual benefit to their compatriots on earth. HENRY BATEMAN. |