for the administration of the Sacraments of the Church by their minister. It was known that their organization was only a 'Verein,' or Society, in the eye of the law. The Society had no building to show the government, and though it could present a Confession of Faith, that alone was not sufficient, and it could not obtain recognition at the hands of the government. But heretofore this informality has been winked at. Now a rigid interpretation is executed. The Society has taken legal steps to bring their case to trial, when it is hoped that the attachment will be dissolved. But the return of the writ is limited to sixty days, and the government can, at its pleasure, postpone the trial another sixty days and so on, during all which time the people are precluded from public worship. The members of the Church have not lost heart, but still there is anxiety lest the case should go against them, and their funds and library should be confiscated.

The question naturally arises in the minds of the people here, 'Why should this proceeding be brought upon us now?' Of course it is difficult to show all the influences at work. But it is said that the order came from the Archbishop, and that he is animated by the new Pope Leo. Another theory is that the twice attempted assassination of Kaiser William of Germany shows a dangerous activity among the Social Democrats; and all Societies are overhauled to see if there has been any disorderly elements in their proceedings, and when anything disorderly is found, the firm grip of the law is applied. It may be both these influences have been at work in this case. Be the cause as it may, it brings great hardship to the Society.

"There is yet one other hardship to which New Church people here must submit, arising from the anomalous position which they occupy before the government, which has already been hinted at. As the Society is not recognised as a Church, and as their children are neither Jews nor Protestants, the theory of the government is that they must be Catholics, and so after they are seven years of age they must be instructed in the Catholic religion in the public schools. To this they must submit as there is no escape. The New Church people here look forward to the time when they shall have the means to build a house of worship, and can claim and receive the recognition of the government. But the day seems somewhat distant. The growth of the Society is naturally among the people of the same class who now compose it. These people come in contact mostly with people of their own class, and it is to people of this class that they can mention the doctrines of the New Church,

or lend books and tracts containing its heavenly truths. What the Lord in His providence may have in store for them is not known, but it appears now more a season of trial and turning back into the wilderness than of prosperity. "S. M. CATE.

"Vienna, Austria,

July 10th, 1878."

SWEDENBORG SOCIETY.-An edition of 5000 copies of Dadoba Pandurung's interesting and important manuscript has been printed, and 100 copies have been forwarded to the learned gentleman at his residence in Bombay, accompanied by a suitable letter from Mr. Presland. A hundred copies have also been forwarded to Calcutta for Baboo Chunder Sen, and the same number to Baboo Mozoomdar. By the time this is in print it is expected that some 1200 to 1500 copies will have been sent to the native and European missionaries in the Indian provinces and Ceylon. The Committee sincerely hope that this effort will be productive of much good, and, to use the words of the writer of the essay, "that the now tender plant of the doctrines of the New Church may find a peculiarly congenial soil such as to afford it full nourishment, to enable it to develop itself into a vigorous tree, like the Ficus Indica, each of whose branches is to strike root in the soil, and thus give birth to a number of similar trees, the whole constituting the vast body of the parent tree, sure to invite fatigued and weary travellers to seek rest and protection under its vast shade."

As the cost of transmitting each pamphlet is about 4d., the Committee invite subscriptions, however small, towards defraying it, and they doubt not that the satisfaction which will be felt even by becoming the means of sending three copies to the religious teachers of our Indian fellow-subjects will amply repay the outlay.

The desirability of completing the distribution of the Annotated Catalogue among the ministers of the United Kingdom was pointed out in the report of the Committee. The same kind friend (Mr. George Fryer of Lymington), who has already paid half the cost of sending 1000 copies, now offers to do the same again, providing nine other friends will join him, so that 10,000 additional copies can be sent. The Committee is willing on the part of the Society to pay the cost of printing the number required, and also half the cost of directing and postage, unless nineteen instead of nine friends prefer to take this part of the expense (£2, 14s. per 1000) out of their hands. The Treasurer, Secretary, and Agent will be glad to receive subscriptions either for this or for the Indian Pamphlet Fund. Small sums can be sent in stamps.

BESSES-O'-TH'-BARN.-On Saturday, Aug. roth, a well-attended social tea-party was held in the New Jerusalem Sunday School, Besses-o'-th'-Barn, for the purpose of welcoming the Rev. I. Tansley, formerly of Clayton-le-Moors, as the first pastor of the church, the Sunday services having hitherto been conducted by missionaries belonging to the Manchester and Salford Missionary Society of the New Jerusalem Church. After tea Mr. C. W. Smith occupied the chair; and the following were also present: The Revs. I. Tansley, the new pastor, J. Boys, W. O'Mant, R. Storry, P. Ramage, W. Westall, and C. H. Wilkins, and Revs, C. A. Dunham, and W. H. Benade from America. After devotional exercises, the Chairman said that while the churches in London, Manchester, Salford, and many other places were progressing, it was known to many of them that there was a little church at Besses springing up and producing a crop of fruit of which he thought all who had visited them that day would be proud. It was about twenty-three years since the doctrines of the New Church were first taught there. That building was originally raised for the temperance people, but they ceased to use it, and it was purchased by Mr. William Pickstone; and since that time the New Church has been planted there. He had known the church about seven or eight years, and thought it was not in a very flourishing condition; it had recently made rapid strides in its development. Since he became acquainted with the school they had made considerable progress. Sometimes, he remembered, they had had considerable difficulty to pay their way, but now he was glad to say they had a little account at their bankers. They had about 265 scholars, and 30 or 40 of that number were joined with them in Church fellowship. The church having now grown larger they must have a minister of their own; and he now wished to give Mr. Tansley a hearty, cordial, and sympathetic greeting. He was very glad they had got such a man, for he (the Chairman) believed he had the good wishes of every one present, and that his work there would be blessed. Some of them had peculiar views about ministers and preaching, but he thought that what they required there was more a pastor than a preacher-a shepherd among the sheep, to guide those who were likely to err, and encourage those who at times might be troubled and distressed. The reason he made those remarks was in order that their new minister might know their minds on that point. In the name of the Society he gave Mr. Tansley a hearty welcome.

Addresses were delivered by the several ministers present. In the course of an able speech Rev. Mr. Benade, referring

to the allusion by a previous speaker to priestcraft, pointed out that the priestcraft which concerned them as ministers was not dominion over their fellowmen, but the salvation of human souls. The priesthood to which they belonged was not theirs, but the Lord's, and they must respect it accordingly as the Lord's office. A minister was simply a minister in doing something. They were all ministers when they attended to their duties, but they were not all priests. They could not be priests, for that was the Lord's office, established by Him for doing His work in the Church, and without its existence there was no Church. Priestcraft was the ability to teach--to administer the holy things of Divine worship. In the New Church it was perfectly absurd to fear the dominion of any man or set of men. They had the liberty to select their minister, and they remained together so as long they suited each other.

Mr. Tansley said that it gave him much satisfaction and delight to be there on that occasion, and he trusted that the enthusiasm displayed would continue under the form of earnestness and zeal in the common cause in which both he and the people would henceforth engage. It was not on such an occasion as this that they could rightly know each other, but when they had settled down into the routine of their duties each would learn somewhat more of the other. That man was an unhappy man who expected to find a perfect people, and that people a deluded community that hoped for a perfect minister; nevertheless, each should make all differences subserve the nobler claims which unity and fellowship and religion had upon them. He would say a word upon the point which had been raised by the Rev. P. Ramage. He did not believe that when he was ordained by his esteemed friend Mr. Storry that any influence passed through his hands to him, but he believed that he was on that occasion invested with grave responsibilities which the people at large are not slow to appreciate if the minister falls into wrongdoing. He believed that the office of minister was distinctive and important, and demanded respect from the people. The minister's duty was to lead people by truth to goodness of life, and he knew not what could be more noble than that. A minister should not assume undue power, but he should exercise all the functions of his office without fear of man. He also said that there were two other points upon which he would make some remarks. He believed that visiting was an important duty, but not indiscriminate and gossiping visiting. A minister should know his people at their homes, but he ought not to be found too frequently in their homes;

neither ought he to give much attention to those who come to church either seldom or never. If people come to church regularly they have claims upon you, but those who after reasonable visiting never respond to the invitation to worship God in His house of prayer, have but slight claims on the visitation of a minister. People ought not to be deluded by the idea that though they entirely neglect their religious duties, yet they can be saved if only they can have a minister to see them at the final hour. His study also had claims upon him, and large claims also, and he should not be doing his duty if he were not found often and much with his books. His family demanded his attention, for the minister who neglected his own family was not fit to lead the greater family under his charge. He was glad, in conclusion, to find that the Society had so many good features, and he hoped that their progress might be great, and that mutual goodwill and fellowship and love might prevail.

The Rev. Mr. O'Mant then addressed the meeting in a most humourous speech. Words of encouragement were also spoken by the Rev. S. Pilkington, Mr. Chadwick, and Mr. John Taylor. After the usual votes of thanks the meeting was closed by singing a hymn and by the giving of the benediction by the new minister.

BIRMINGHAM.-The Birmingham Post of July 1st gives under the title of SWEDENBORGIAN MISSION the following notice of a mission which is opened in this town "The members of this body of Christians in Birmingham, whose handsome and wellappointed church on Soho Hill is so well known, are endeavouring to extend their operations. Yesterday a mission-room was opened, being the building used as a middleclass school in Priestley Road, Sparkbrook. The sermon in the morning was preached by the Rev. R. R. Rodgers, minister of the Birmingham Society; and in the evening by Mr. R. Gunton, of the London New Church Missionary Society. The services were simple and the attendance good. Mr. Rodgers took the subject, 'What is meant by the New Church?' and explained the objects of those who had undertaken the mission. He said they believed they had a rational mode of understanding the nature of the Godhead, of salvation, of the future life, and of the revelation which God had made to man. They did not presume to have exclusive light, nor did they imagine that the mere acceptance or denial of any form of belief would save or condemn a human being. They accepted as a cardinal doctrine the oft-repeated statement of Swedenborg, that 'all religion had relation to life, and that the life of religion was to do good.' While following Swedenborg

as a guide, they regarded the Bible as the Word of God, the sole and final authority. The sermon by Mr. Gunton was upon the subject of 'The Bible: its Author, and its Nature.' He claimed for the Bible a complete and full inspiration, not as a mere record of facts placed together for the amusement of the curious in historical matters, but as Divine history and prophecy respecting the soul and the inner life. Outwardly, perhaps, a strange assemblage of marvellous fable, of magnificent poetry, or mysterious parable, it was held together by the inner life of its spirit which beamed forth from its Divine Author, whose attributes, as 'through a glass darkly,' it shadowed forth. Like Him, it must be 'spiritually discerned.' These discourses were listened to with much interest and attention, and at the close a series of week-evening lectures and Sunday services was announced."

BRISTOL.-Our advertising pages con. tain an advertisement of the balance-sheet of this Society in connection with their new building. Great economy must have been exercised to erect, what we are told is a very neat and convenient little church, for so small a sum as £784. There is a small balance of £13, which is carried to the general account, but there is also a debt of

200 owing to the Conference Building Fund. Subscriptions are solicited towards the payment of this debt. We trust that the Society, now it has obtained a church of its own, will go forward in a course of earnest Christian usefulness.

WIGAN.-On Sunday evening, July 14th, the usual Quarterly Tea-Meeting was held, the subject for consideration being Matt. xii. 36, 37. The Meeting was presided over by the Rev. William Westall, honorary pastor of the Society. After the discussion, in which several members took part, Mr. Westall winding up with a very eloquent and impressive speech, five new members were enrolled, and the sacrament administered to about forty persons. This was one of the most successful gatherings Wigan has had for some time, and we hope it may not be without its good fruits.

NEW ZEALAND.--The following is from a letter recently received by Mr. Henshall, the Colporteur of the Manchester and Salford Missionary Society, from Mr. James Batty:

The New Church friends here are quietly working along. We continue the advertising of the works with very good success. The applications for books are numerous. Both from the city and the country the result so far is better than we anticipated, the people are becoming