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sentiment of the lecture centred in this one idea that the principle in the Church which corresponds to terrestrial gravitation had departed from all Christian communities, not only from the Roman Catholic, but also from all the sections of the Protestant Church. The several Churches

address by remarking on the inestimable privilege of belonging to the Church of the Lord, and dwelt on the character of the Church as representatively described in the apostle's vision of the New Jerusalem. It descended from God out of heaven, and was, therefore, filled with divine and heavenly qualities. It was a Church of were at a loss as to how this principle ught and of love, and was compactly was to be restored. In the New builded together by the harmony of Church we know the means of its reits doctrines and the unity of its storation, which is sound doctrine. He members. Union, however, implied (Mr. Pitman) believed in the influence organization, of which there were two of the press and the progress of educakinds the organization secured by the tion. Assisted by a zealous friend, he tyrannic pressure of external authority, was taking steps to forward to the and the organization which arose from clergy a copy of Professor Parsons's work the ceaseless activity of the spiritual on the Religion and Philosophy of life. With the former the New Swedenborg; and for the more efficient Church had not the slightest sympathy; promotion of popular education was the latter it sought in every possible labouring to improve the orthography way to foster and encourage. To of the language. One of the books pubsecure this "unity of the brethren in lished in this improved orthography was the bonds of peace there must be the "Life of Swedenborg," by U. S. E., mutual affection among the members of which was being extensively circuthe Church, and sympathy between the lated. pew and the pulpit. This affection and sympathy would secure patience with each other's infirmities, affectionate solicitude for each other's comfort and wellbeing, and mutual helpfulness in each other's work. The labours of the minister would be best appreciated where there was a proper estimate of their true value. That is the most valuable which is the most enduring. Tested by this standard no earthly labour surpasses in intrinsic value the labours of the ministry. Other labours terminate with our life on earth; the fruits of a faithful ministry endure for ever. Such a ministry was worth the temporal support of the people, who were themselves benefited in contributing to its maintenance. In conclusion, the speaker exhorted the people to get all they could from their minister, to take notes of his preaching, and to intellectually master and diligently practise the truths he taught them.

Mr. Isaac Pitman followed in an able and interesting address. Forty years since, he said, the New Church in Bath was the subject of incessant attack from the pulpit and by the press, now it was everywhere treated with respect. As an evidence of the change in public religious sentiment, Mr. Pitman referred to a lecture, which he attended in Paris, by the Rev. Baldwin Brown.

Mr. Spears reported an increase of over 200 volumes in the school library, and an improvement in the attendance at the Sunday-school, and in an appropriate address dwelt on the advantages of the religious education of the young. The meeting was enlivened by several choice pieces of music, efficiently rendered by the choir, and was brought to a close by hearty votes of thanks to the ordaining minister, the choir, the chairman, and others who had rendered useful service in connection with the anniversary. The warm appreciation of the services of the ordaining minister, especially for his address in the evening, and of the choir, was not only testified by the hearty vote of thanks accorded to both, but by the frequent words of appreciation which afterwards fell from those present.

BESSES (near Manchester).—On Sun. day, September 29th, the quarterly teameeting of the Society was held, when about fifty friends sat down to tea. After tea the meeting was presided over by the minister, the Rev. I. Tansley. About eighty friends assembled together to hear and discuss the condition of the Sunday-school and Society. The Sunday-school appears to be in a very steady position; out of 270 scholars, the aver age attendance for the past quarter has

"In the schoolroom after the tea, and before the ordination service, a presentation of seven volumes of the Arcana Cœlestia' was made to Mr. Robert Aspin by Mr. Cameron, on behalf of the teachers and scholars. Mr. Aspin has held the position of superintendent of the Sunday-school for many years, but has recently been compelled to resign his position in consequence of failing health. The teachers and scholars therefore seized this opportunity of expressing their esteem for him and their appreciation of his past services. In handing the books to Mr. Aspin, Mr. Cameron spoke in eulogistic terms of the work done by him, and expressed the hope and confidence that he would derive much benefit from a study of them. Mr. Aspin briefly acknowledged the gift, stating that he accepted it as a token that they appreciated what he had done, and he would ever think of them with kindly feelings. He also expressed a hope that his successor would be able to do a good work, and that all connected with the Sunday-school would respectively find a sphere of usefulness."

R. Storry of Heywood officiated as the the general thanksgiving by Mr. Ramordaining minister, being assisted by age, which completed the ordination the Revs. P. Ramage of Stoneclough, ceremony. A hymn was next sung, and H. Smith of Accrington. There during which Mr. Storry ascended the were also present during the interesting pulpit, from which he preached the ceremony the Rev. J. Martin of Pres- ordination sermon. This closed the ton, and several friends from various evening's services, which were throughdistricts in the neighbourhood. The out of an interesting, instructive, and preliminary service of praise and prayer edifying character. was conducted by the Rev. G. H. Smith of Accrington, after which the Rev. P. Ramage read an explanation of the ordination service. He said Mr. Cameron had been duly recommended and approved by the Conference as a person properly qualified to be introduced into the ministry of the New Church. (We may here add that it is one of the rules of the Conference that a minister must be settled at least two years in one place before the Conference can recommend him for ordination, and this rule, as stated above, Mr. Cameron has complied with.) Mr. Ramage went on to explain how the ordination service would be effected, and what were the duties of ministers. The nature of the ceremony was then demonstrated before the whole congregation by the formal inauguration of the pastor. The Rev. R. Storry and his officiating brethren, who were surpliced in white, occupied the communion, and in front of the rails of the communion, outside, Mr. Cameron, also similarly surpliced stood with two elders of the church, one being on each side of him. The Rev. R. Storry put the usual questions to the pastor, all of which were satisfactorily answered by the latter, who also made an open declaration of his faith, and gave a pledge of his fidelity in the discharge of the duties of his office. After this the Rev. R. Storry offered prayer, and then took place what is called the laying on of hands.' In performing this part of the ceremony, the ordaining minister laid both his hands on the head of Mr. Cameron, the latter kneeling in front of the altar, and gave utterance to the following: Jesus said, "Go ye forth into all the world and preach the gospel unto every creature. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.' This was followed by the charge to the minister, by the ordaining minister, and

BOLTON-ORDINATION OF MR. THOMAS MACKERETH, F.R. A.S.-" On Sunday evening the ordination of Mr. Thomas Mackereth, F. R. A. S., as minister of the New Jerusalem Church, Higher Bridge Street, took place in the presence of a large congregation. After the usual evening service, the Rev. R. Storry, the ordaining minister, commenced the service of ordination by informing the congregation that the General Conference had approved of the appointment of Mr. Thomas Mackereth as minister of the church. After the usual questions had been asked of Mr. Mackereth and satisfactorily answered, he made a declaration of his faith, and promised that he would, by the Divine mercy and assistance of the Lord, faithfully discharge, according to the best of his knowledge and ability, the duties of a minister

of the New Church. The ceremony of laying on of hands was then performed, the ordination prayer and hymn were given, and the ordination rite was concluded. The Rev. P. Ramage of Kearsley also took part in the proceedings."

The above, which is from the Bolton Journal of September 28th, is a brief statement of a service which seemed to intensely interest one of the largest congregations we have seen in this church. The general esteem in which Mr. Mackereth is held led to the presence of several members of the neighbouring Societies, and the number of these would doubtless have been still larger had not a heavy rainfall made travelling from a distance exceedingly difficult. At the close of the ordination service the usual ordination sermon was preached by the ordaining minister. Mr. Storry selected as his text Jeremiah iii. 15, "And I will give you pastors according to Mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." After pointing out who were the pastors, and expounding their relation to the Chief Pastor, the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the preacher went on to observe that the true pastor is the Lord's gift to the Church. The desire to minister in holy things is implanted by Him. The ability to teach is from Him; and so far as they teach from the love of souls and are faithful in their ministry, they are pastors after His heart. Their love of souls is kindled from His heart of love, their minds are responsive to His feelings of compassion for His people, and they act in all things in obedience to Him. Such pastors feed the flock. To feed is to teach. They are to teach knowledge and lead to understanding. True religion is eminently intellectual. It is adapted to the entire nature of man. It enlightens and expands the intellect as well as improves and purifies the will. There is a distinction to be observed between knowledge and understanding. Knowledge relates to external fact and outward phenomena; understanding to the interpretation of fact and the causes of all phenomena. Knowledge is received from the Lord by the senses from the works of creation, the teaching of the Word, oral instruction, etc.; understanding is from the Lord by the light shining within, and opening to the mind a perception of the beauty of wisdom

and holiness. Knowledge is as seed in prepared ground; understanding is as the flowers and fruits produced by the light and heat of the sun. The knowledge of the mind is of the intellect, the state of the understanding is dependent on the will. "The wicked shall not understand, but the wise shall understand." "A good understanding have all they that do His commandments."

LONDON (Argyle Square). The Annual Harvest Thanksgiving Services of this Society were held on Sunday, October 6th. The church was most artistically decorated, especially in the chancel and around the font, with wheat and other kinds of corn, maize, graceful feathery grasses, fruits, bounteous in their rounded forms, and rich in their glowing colours, and a profusion of autumnal flowers, both cut and in pots, the whole being contributed and arranged by generous and tasteful members and friends of the congregation. The Rev. John Presland directed attention in his sermons in the morning to the laws of spiritual growth, as expounded in the parable of the man who cast seed into the ground (Mark iv. 26-29); and in the evening to the significance of the Jewish offering of first-fruits, as representing the Christian duty of dedicating to the Lord all the gifts, natural and spiritual, with which He enriches us (Lev. xxiii. 14). The congregations were large; the London friends having by this time mostly returned from their autumn vacations; and the Sacrament of the Holy Supper, which is always administered at Argyle Square Church on the occasion of the Harvest Thanksgiving, in order that praise for the meat which perisheth may raise the heart into states of gratitude for the bread of life, was attended by ninety-five communicants.

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On the afternoon of the following Sunday, October 13th, was held a special children's service, commencing at four o'clock. Such portions of the harvest decorations as admitted of preservation had been left undisturbed and were augmented by a splendid collection of cut dahlias, really magnificent in their perfection of form and gorgeousness of colour, ferns, and ornamental grasses, kindly sent by the Countess of Hopetoun from the gardens of Hopetoun House, near Edinburgh.