66 tion of the Committee has been directed, is the delivery of lectures at Lancaster. Public attention at this place having been attracted to the Second Advent of the Lord, by lectures expounding the literal fulfilment of the prophecies respecting it, two lectures were arranged in one of the public halls on this subject. The first was given by Mr. Ramage, on Popular Mistakes respecting the Advent of Christ;" the second, by Mr. Westall, on the true meaning of the prophecies respecting this Advent. The attendance was not large, but those present were manifestly interested in the lectures. The Lancaster Observer, the most widely-circulated paper in the district, gave a report of nearly a column of each of the lectures, which were by this means brought under the attention of a larger audience than attended their delivery. THE FOREIGN AND COLONIAL MISSIONS COMMITTEE.-At the last Session of Conference the following resolutions were passed: "Resolved, That this Conference extends its warmest sympathy to the brethren in Scandinavia, and that it is pleased to hear of the success of the New Church both in Sweden and Denmark. The Conference recommends the Scandinavian Mission to the care of the brethren in England, and instructs the Committee on Foreign and Colonial Missions to assist it until it is able to act independently of help from abroad." (Minute 52.) Resolved, That the Conference is concerned to hear of the condition of the Church in Vienna, and directs the Committee on Colonial and Foreign Missions to promise the sum of £30 for the present year, to be paid in quarterly instalments, on condition that the friends in Vienna raise what may be further required to enable them to retain the services of the Rev. Hermann Peisker as their minister." (Minute 53.) These resolutions of Conference impose a definite duty on the Committee of Foreign and Colonial Missions, and this duty consists in their calling upon the English brethren for assistance, in order to enable them to carry out the instructions of Conference. The Scandinavian Mission is represented by the Rev. A. Boyesen, who was ordained by Conference in 1871 to act as a missionary in the three kingdoms of Scandinavia-Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. His ministrations in this respect have been highly useful, especially in Sweden; and he has lately removed to Stockholm at the request of the friends there, in order to take charge of the New Church Society in that place. The Society pays him a stipend of £120, which is, however, not sufficient to enable him to live, with a wife and five children, in an expensive town like Stockholm. Mr. Boyesen is, besides, performing missionary work all over Sweden, and wherever he goes he is gladly received, and draws large audiences. He is therefore not only a willing, but also an able, labourer in the Lord's vineyard; and to assist such is a duty which we owe to the Lord and to His Church on earth. Mr. Boyesen, in addition, is occupied with the translation of the writings of the New Church into the Norwegian, which language is also the written language of Denmark. He has finished the translation of the "True Christian Religion," and is now engaged upon the "Apocalypse Revealed;" and his claims for assistance from the Church derive thereby an additional force. In respect to the Rev. Hermann Peisker, we may likewise state that he was ordained by Conference in 1871 to act as a New Church minister in Austria, and that ever since he has been doing good work in Vienna, as appears from the address of the Vienna brethren printed in the appendix to the Conference Minutes for 1877 (pp. 52-54). On receiving a favourable reply from Conference to their address, the Vienna friends have taken fresh courage, and Mr. Peisker has consented to remain with them for another year, hoping that the Divine Providence may help them to find the means of sustaining him in his usefulness. The Committee of Foreign and Colonial Missions therefore earnestly hope that the New Church friends in Great Britain will respond liberally to the present appeal for help to Messrs Boyesen and Peisker. Contributions may be sent to Mr. Richard Gunton, Treasurer of Conference, 19 Oseney Crescent, Camden Road, London, N.; or to the Rev. Dr. Tafel, Secretary of the Foreign and Colonial Missions Committee, 149 Tufnell Park Road, London, N. Acknowledgments having their souls sustained by the pure will be made on the wrapper of the milk of the Word that they may grow Intellectual Repository. thereby. My old friend Robert Hindmarsh commenced worship with two FRANCE. In a letter written by the friends in a little parlour in Clerkenwell, Rev. W. H. Benade from Paris, and and small as were their number they had dated December 3rd, he says, "You will a real cult, and not merely a scientific be pleased to learn that on last Sunday religious conversation. The Lord Jesus seven persons were baptized at the meet- fulfilled His promise to those two or ing of the little knot of receivers in this three. He was present with them, and city among them are good Dr. Poirson His cause prospered in their hands. It and his lady. As many more have sig- will, I hope, be so with our Parisian nified their desire to receive this Sacra- brethren. Seven is a holy number, and ment, and as I shall remain here until seven baptized members a good beginthe beginning of the next year, I have ning. H. BATEMAN. been requested to administer the Holy Supper at Christmas, the usual time for the administration of this Sacrament. Our good friends are also considering the propriety of formally organizing a society, and changing their weekly conferences into a weekly time of worship. I hope much from their zeal in the cause of the Church, and from their earnest and devoted reception of the heavenly doctrines. They cannot do better for their poor country in this hour of its great trial than to give to the New Church, in this centre of its life and activity, a visible and 'local habitation, and a name.' All power is in ultimates, and the Church, to have power in the world, must be in its own full and corresponding ultimates. The French people under the most trying conditions have manifested a wonderful calmness, moderation, and firmness, and we cannot but believe that these states will produce good fruits, politically and religiously, in opening the way for the introduction of the truths of the Church to those who are capable of receiving them." The ladies who accompanied Mr. Benade and Mr. Pitcairn "are still delighted with their home with Miss Cheminat, who is a devoted teacher and remarkably gifted. Her house is a little New Church home for them in a strange land." I trust the time is not distant when the New Church will be more rapidly developed amongst "the noble French nation" than heretofore. It seems now to be passing out of the natural into the spiritual, from the first rational into the second, from Ishmael to Isaac, from the son of the bondmaid to the son of the freewoman. Nothing will now, I trust, prevent the children of the Church from SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES.—The Sydney Morning Herald, of September 21st, informs its readers that the friends of the Sydney Society of the New Church held a concert and conversazione on Wednesday evening in the Temperance Hall, at which above sixty persons were present. Dr. J. Le Gay Brereton occupied the chair. Addresses were given by the chairman and others. Between the speeches there was music. Mr. C. B. Foster presiding at the piano, The chairman stated that he had just received the report of the annual meeting, held in London, of the British and Foreign Swedenborg Society, for printing and publishing the works of Swedenborg; and he gave a summary of the many interesting particulars of the report, dwelling particularly on the extended circulation of the writings of Swedenborg to the clergy, both in England and America. Particulars of this circulation are given in the Herald's report, which concludes by informing us that an agreeable evening's entertainment and instruction was concluded shortly after 10 o'clock by according a vote of thanks to those who had provided it, and the singing of the National Anthem. IPSWICH, QUEENSLAND.-A letter has been placed in our hands from Mr. Joseph Rose (care of Cribb & Foote) of this place to a friend in England, from which we make the following extract. The statement will interest members of the New Church in England, and may lead the members in Queensland to enter into communication with him. Mr. Rose says:-"I am sorry to hear that there is not at present a probability of your visiting this colony, as I should value very much the opportunity of renewing our conversation on religious subjects, as since you were here I have gone into the matter thoroughly, and have at length been convinced of the truth of the doctrines of the New Church and of Swedenborg's claims. But I am, as it were, almost alone in this town, and I feel very much the want of an external connection with the Church and people to whom I am now internally united. I may tell you that I am thoroughly satisfied on every point,-yes, and more than satisfied; for I find in Swedenborg's works some of the most sublime interpretations of the sacred Word that could be conceived; and, on the whole, I have not only been settled on points of doctrine that I could not rest on before, but as a consequence have received an impetus to a more spiritual life than I ever before experienced; I feel that I love God more, and my neighbour more than ever I did before. So, if this be the fruit in my own heart, I conclude that the tree is good. NEW CHURCH COLLEGE.-The various departments of this institution are in active and successful operation. The last examination is very favourably noticed in the report of the examiners-Revs. Dr. Bayley and J. Presland. The number at present under instruction is fifty-five, three theological, and two other students, and fifty pupils. Several years ago our good friend Dr. Goyder was desirous of having six foundation scholars educated by the College gratuitously. This we have never yet been able to afford; but, at the suggestion of Mr. Bateman, a fund was set on foot for the purpose of assisting New Church parents whose means did not permit of their paying the full College fees to educate their children. The fund thus instituted is called the "Educational Aid Fund." It has already been the means of contributing to the payments for the education of a good many boys, and there are at present six relying more or less upon its educational aid. The Fund needs, however, more sustenance than it receives, and it has been thought well to make the case known to the Church at large, that many may be led by subscriptions or donations to render help to their brethren, who thus need their assistance in the education of their children. Subscriptions will be gladly received and acknowledged by the Treasurer, Mr. John Baily, 30 Old Jewry, E. C.; by the Secretary, 13 Canonbury Lane, N.; or by the Principal at the College. NEW CHURCH BIBLE SOCIETY.-A meeting of the few surviving members of this Society was called by due notice for the 12th December, as stated in the last number of the Intellectual Repository. There were only three present, and Mr. Butter, who acted as chairman, expressed his unwillingness to transact business under those circumstances. He, however, suggested an idea, which is not unworthy of consideration by the members of the New Church in general, as well as of the Bible Society, that a literal translation of the four Gospels and the Apocalypse should be carefully prepared and published at as early a period as possible. We Towards the preparation of this we have already Swedenborg's Latin translation of the Apocalypse, as given entire in his own admirable book, the Apocalypse Revealed, published by himself. have also the four Gospels as carefully re-translated by the late Rev. John Clowes, who was a Master of Arts and Fellow of his College. We have, moreover, the interlinear translation of the Tafels, now in course of publication, And in addition to these helps, we may remark that whilst there are few New Church scholars in England who have a competent knowledge of the Hebrew and Chaldaic, there are many who possess such an acquaintance with the Greek as would help to secure for us a faithful rendering of the Scriptures from that language. In a short time we may fairly hope that the revision which is now going on by the learned company meeting at Westminster will be published. That will also aid us in our work, even although there may possibly be a theological bias giving different renderings to words of doubtful import to those which we feel assured are the true and exact meanings. Be that as it may, I propose to make another effort to get the New Church Bible Society together as soon as I can, that we may see our way either to heartily co-operate with our American brethren the 20th February 1878, at the Mall, on their basis, so far as it accords with Kensington. our own fundamental principles, or to do something ourselves which we hope will commend itself to their best perceptions of use, and secure them as our fellow-workers. Whilst watching and waiting, it is a comfort to us to know that there are at present no expenses, and that our funds are growing at the rate of twenty pounds a year. We must, however, increase our constituency, and that soon; otherwise we shall have to say with Rachel (Gen. xxx. 1): "Give me children, or else I die." HENRY BATEMAN. LONDON NEW CHURCH SUNDAY 'SCHOOL UNION.-The first annual meeting of this association was held at Camden Road Schools on the 24th October. The attendance was small, but the meeting was a hearty and encouraging one. The business comprised the reading of the first annual report and balance-sheet, the election of officers, and the president's annual address. The report stated that four general meetings had been held during the year, at each of which a paper was read on some subject connected with Sunday-school work. A committee had been formed to select and recommend suitable books for Sunday-school libraries and for school prizes, and other useful works had been set on foot. The balance-sheet showed a small balance in hand. The formal business of the evening having been disposed of, the president proceeded to deliver his annual address. He gave prominence to the subject of Sundayschool literature, and made some valuable suggestions as to the working of the Book Committee. The matter of home visiting had not as yet been touched upon, but he hoped it would be brought forward on an early occasion, as he deemed it of great importance. BIRMINGHAM.-The First Anniversary Services in connection with the opening of the church were held on the 25th November. The sermons were preached by Mr. Rodgers, whose text in the morning was Psalm 1. 14, "Pay thy vows unto the Most High ;" and in the evening, Matthew v. 10, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The musical portion of the service, also, appeared to be thoroughly appreciated by the large congregations which filled the church at both services. The collections amounted to £65. LONDON Palace Gardens Church.On the 2nd November, the fourth of a series of highly successful concerts by the church choir was given in the schoolroom. The works performed were Gades' "Erl King's Daughter" and "The Jackdaw of Rheims.' Mr. E. H. Bayley, who has conducted the choir since the commencement of the society, and through whose constant care and ability the efficiency of the choir has been obtained, having intimated that the increase of business and public demands made it doubtful if he could continue as leader, the members of the choir took the opportunity, previous to the commencement of the concert, to assemble in the Vestry to give him an expression of their feelings and their esteem. The organist, Mr. Cliffe, read an address signed by himself and each member of the choir, requesting Mr. Bayley to withdraw his resignation and resume his duties. They presented him with a beautiful ivory baton, mounted with silver, and bearing an inscription and a monogram, and it is hoped by all concerned that, notwithstanding the pressure of other duties, Mr. Bayley will continue to keep the position he has sustained so well. A lengthened discussion followed the delivery of the address, turning chiefly on the desirability of providing a uni- The Quarterly General Meeting of the form series of lessons, and the necessity Society was held on Tuesday, Novemof giving every aid to teachers in ber 13th. Tea was provided at six their preparation. A committee was o'clock, and the chair was taken at appointed to prepare a list of lessons for seven by the Rev. Dr. Bayley. The the coming year, and to arrange, if programme for the evening consisted of possible, for explanatory notes to be inserted weekly in Morning Light. The next meeting will take place on two anthems excellently rendered by the church choir, addresses from the Conference representatives and others. The Rev. Dr. Bayley gave some very interesting particulars concerning Abbeville, and the discoveries there of the flint implements and other evidences of the antiquity of man. Mr. Browne and Mr. Duncan (as the Conference representatives) spoke very highly of the arrangements at Birmingham and the unbounded hospitality of the New Church friends in the Midland capital. Their observations introduced the question of confirmation, and a general feeling was expressed that it was desirable to introduce this rite at an early opportunity at Kensington. Mr. Herbert made a very earnest speech on the subject of the Ministers' Augmentation Fund. He warmly advocated an earnest response to the Conference appeal, and dwelt at some length on the trying position in which many New Church ministers were now placed through the absolute inadequacy of their incomes. Referring to Dr. Bayley, after a graceful allusion to his ability and labours, he went on to say that his talents, as also those of other New Church ministers, would command in the Established Church, or in commercial life, incomes far in excess of the very moderate sums they now received. He concluded by hoping that Kensington would do its part thoroughly in helping forward the fund and making it really achieve the end so much to be desired. The second anniversary of the "Working Men's Bible Class" was celebrated on Monday, November 19th, by a tea-meeting and entertainment which were held in the school-room. About one hundred sat down to tea, after which the chair was taken by the Rev. Dr. Bayley, the room by this time being completely filled. The chairman in his opening remarks explained the object and uses of the class, and expressed his gratification at its continued success. The entertainment was a varied one, consisting of vocal and instrumental music, interspersed with readings and recitations. LIVERPOOL. We regret to learn that the Rev. Mr. Goldsack has felt it his duty to resign his office as pastor of this Society. The committee, in accepting his resignation, express their extreme regret, and say, "It is no less a duty than a pleasure to record their high appreciation of Mr. Goldsack's services as a minister, and to state that he takes with him their best wishes for his future success and welfare.' The object of this resignation, we are informed, is not to relinquish the work of the ministry, but, if opportunity offers, to devote himself entirely to the work. In the present want of ministers it is much to be regretted that one so able to discharge the duties of the office should be unemployed. SALFORD.-At the first social soiree, held in the schoolroom, Irwell Street, on Wednesday evening, December 12, 1877, a presentation of an elegant service in electroplate, consisting of teapot, coffee-pot, sugar-bowl and creamjug, with suitable tray, was made, on behalf of the subscribers, by the Rev. W. Westall to Mrs. J. G. B. Barber, "who," he said, "as Miss Fanny Parkinson, had occupied a position in the Temple Choir for ten years, and had attended to her duties in a most exemplary manner. A few of the friends had taken advantage of the occasion of her marriage to make this acknowledgment of her services." Each of the articles was inscribed in a chaste manner on both sides "F. B." |