1 AUXILIARY NEW CHURCH MISSIONARY AND TRACT SOCIETY.-The fourth anniversary of this useful Society was celebrated on October 24th in the schoolroom adjoining the church at Camberwell. A large audience testified, by their presence, their appreciation of the efforts of our young friends. Mr. C. Higham, as President of the Society, took the chair, and was supported on the platform by several of the members of the Society. Mr. E. Austin, the minister of the church, opened the proceedings with prayer. In same day was held, also in the church burgh choir and others, broke up at an in Infirmary Street, the annual meeting early hour. for Conference of New Churchmen in Scotland. This tea and social meeting was attended by about one hundred and fifty persons. The Chairman, the Rev. W. C. Barlow, B. A., after welcoming the visitors from the other Societies, and announcing the projected missionary endeavour of the Scottish Association, delivered an address on the indirect and direct evidence of the truth of New Church claims. In this he pointed out the fact that all the great tendencies of physical, mental, moral, and religious science are in the direction of certain specified truths which are well known in the New The Chairman briefly described the Church; and showed that to the truth as aim and aspirations of the Society. They revealed in this Church may be applied fancied (he said) that work could be the description of that once-rejected found which lay outside of the sphere Stone which is destined to become the of the existing organizations of the New Headstone of the corner. Mr. Mac- Church, admirable and comprehensive lachlan of Alloa, after tracing the in design as they undoubtedly were. history of the previous Churches, dwelt That this idea was in the main correct on the condition of the Christian had been amply proved by the success Church of to-day. He showed that which had attended their efforts. while at its commencement it possessed that work every member of the New a perfect adaptedness to all the wants Church could assist, and it was with a which men then experienced, and a view of spreading an active interest in power of growth which might have the Society's operations that the present made it perpetual, it had decayed both meeting was held. Instructive and apin doctrine and in morality. With a propriate speeches followed by J. F. divided Godhead its creeds have be- Howe, H. T. W. Elliott, R. Jobson, come useless except as war-cries, and it J. Speirs, and Mr. Bannister. is fast verging towards naturalism and utter unbelief. The Rev. J. F. Potts, B.A., of Glasgow, in speaking of the Second Advent, briefly stated the scriptural grounds of the doctrine, and, addressing himself to the practical side of the subject, pointed out that while in one sense the Second Advent took place about a hundred and twenty years ago, in another sense it is now taking place to some, and to others it has not taken place at all. The Second Advent was, he said, effected through a man, and is specifically accomplished in the doctrines and writings of the New Church. The Rev. G. L. Allbutt, B.A., Paisley, the Secretary of the Scottish Association, spoke on the practical teaching of the New Church. Other addresses were given by Mr. Paterson of Paisley, and Mr. Hjaltalin and Mr. E. H. Craigie of Edinburgh, and the meeting, which had been made the pleasanter by elegant decorations, and the tasteful music of the Edin During the evening the proceedings were agreeably varied with appropriate songs by Mrs. Rawsthorn, Miss Van Senden, Mr. Sidney Barber, and Mr. Blabey. Half an hour was also devoted to conversation, when refreshments in the shape of tea and coffee were provided. The meeting, which was a very hearty one, concluded in time for distant friends to reach their homes in reasonable time, and the entire arrangements reflected great credit on the friends at Camberwell. SYDNEY.-The Australian Town and Country Journal of 24th August contains a descriptive account of a visit to "the Swedenborgians at the New Temperance Hall." The writer commences his account by saying: "Few sections of the Christian Church suffer more from the ignorance of the public than the believers in the Church of the New Jerusalem, or Swedenborgians, as they are named from the great Swedish After philosopher. They are confounded ministry, and his entrance upon the with Irvingites, or members of the fourth year of his labours as minister Revived Apostolic Church, with Ply- and pastor of the Society at Bradford. mouth Brethren, and with Spiritualists Tea was provided for seven o'clock, of -sects differing as widely as possible which about one hundred partook. The from one another and from the New genial spirit and hearty goodwill which Church. In Sydney there are only a pervaded the entire assembly was an small number belonging to the latter evidence of satisfaction in recent procommunion; but in some cities where gress, and an indication of confidence I have been there are congregations in the future. Having stuggled for numbering upwards of a thousand, and, many years without the aid of a resident with a very large acquaintance among minister, the friends realize with thankthem, I can say what I could of only fulness the advantages to themselves of one other religious body-the Quakers the presence of a constant friend and -that I never met with an unintel- faithful expositor of the Divine Word. ligent Swedenborgian. A faith which After tea, and the singing of a hymn, is attractive to even a few of our the chair was taken by the Secretary, most thoughtful and intelligent fellow- who stated that the object of the meetcitizens is deserving at any rate of ing was to rejoice together at the respectful investigation." After a brief present position of the Society com. notice of the doctrines of the New Church and the character of Swedenborg the writer comes to the service "Their place of meeting in Sydney is the New Temperance Hall, and on Sunday night they were singing a hymn as I entered the building. There were only thirty-two persons present, and I was disappointed not to see Dr. Brereton at the desk which serves as a pulpit. He usually conducts the service, and his thoughtful philosophic discourses are much appreciated. Sometimes his professional work prevents his attendance, and the congregation have to do the best they can without him. Such was the case on Sunday night, and the service was conducted by Mr. Slater, who read the prayers and a sermon very effectively." The hymn the congregation was singing contained the line "Thine Esse is a vast abyss," which, the writer says, "may be clear to the metaphysician, but there would not be one in a hundred in a popular congregation who would understand what Thine Esse' meant." The service was that of the new liturgy, the prayers of which are described as "brief and beautiful." A brief outline of the sermon, and an account of a young man of abnormal character who attended the service, conclude the notice. pared with that of four years ago, and to encourage and strengthen the hands of a minister who worked with an earnestness and energy that, if supported, could not fail to be successful. alluding to the interesting and solemn ordination service by the Rev. Dr. Bayley on the 21st August last, the Chairman called upon Dr. Goyder, who moved the following resolution: “That this meeting heartily congratulates the Rev. James Robson Rendell on his recent ordination, by which he is now fully recognised by the General Conference of the New Church as one of its ministers, entitled as such to take a seat in its assemblies, and to perform all the offices of the ministry, and implores the Divine blessing on his future Îabours." Dr. Goyder warmly congratulated Mr. Rendell on the position he now occupied, and spoke of the advantages to the Society of being brought into more intimate fellowship with the entire body of the New Church. He expressed his confidence, after three years' experience of Mr. Rendell's labours, in his qualifications for ministerial work, and concluded by fervently joining in the prayer of the resolution. Mr. Stephenson, in seconding the resolution, alluded to the amount of church work done as an evidence of vitality, and spoke of Mr. Rendell's influence for good with the BRADFORD. On Wednesday even- junior members of the congregation ing, October 2nd, a social meeting was and the Sunday-school. He also stated held in the church, Drewton Street, that in his journeys he had indication to congratulate the Rev. James Robson that when the time drew near to open Rendell on his recent ordination to the the intended bazaar, contributions -- would be received from various por tions of his district. Mr. Rendell, in reply, said that words failed him to express his sense of the kindness and support he had received on that and on all occasions since his connection with Bradford. The unanimity of feeling and purpose which had pervaded the Society had struck him as remarkable, and augured well for the future. Not money alone, not talents alone, could build up the Church, but the faithful application of all time and talents to uses to which there were no limits. The more uses we performed the greater the capacity for further efforts. He especially valued the attachment of his young friends. No service had given him so much pleasure as the one recently held for the admission of junior members. He spoke hopefully of the effort to purchase the present place of worship by the praiseworthy efforts put forth for this purpose. Mr. Holme urged the necessity of increased labour in the short time that remained if the bazaar was to be a success. The choir contributed several selections of music during the evening. FAILSWORTH.-On Saturday, October 12th, a tea-party and soirée were held in the New Church schoolroom, Wicken Tree Lane, Failsworth, to inaugurate the reopening of the Mutual Improvement Society connected with the above place. There was a good attendance, consisting chiefly of members and friends of the Association. The meeting after tea was presided over by Mr. Samuel Henshall of Manchester. There was a very efficient glee-party in attendance, also an orchestral band, which played a choice selection of music at intervals during the evening. The meeting was addressed by the Chairman, Mr. Seddon, and Rev. C. H. Wilkins. Mr. Wilkins urged them to remain true to the faith of their Church. Some people charged them with being too imaginative in their doctrines, while others, again, had said that they were too precise and practical. To the first of these charges he would say that if their doctrines were imaginative, they were so much the better adapted to reach the hearts of the people; whereas, on the other hand, if the faith they professed partook of a practical nature, it was just the one that was required by the present age, which was so precise and practical in its tendencies. HEYWOOD. -The annual tea-party and entertainment given by the teachers of the New Jerusalem Sunday-school was held in the schoolroom, Hornby Street, on Saturday evening, 12th October. The programme being a very attractive one, and the entertainment of a high-class character, the schoolroom was quite crowded, five hundred persons being present. After tea the proceed. ings were opened with a glee by the choir, which was followed by a short address from the Rev. R. Storry, who, in the course of his remarks, said the subject of scenic representation was one which had lately occupied a good deal of attention, and a good deal of diversity of opinion seemed to exist as to its effect on the minds of the people. It was easy for each one to discover the influence exercised on himself or herself by it. If, after such entertainments, they went home less inclined to go to church on Sunday, less inclined for Christian usefulness, less inclined to say their prayers, to obey God, and to serve their fellow-men, they would have done better by staying at home. But if, on the other hand, they went home strengthened and encouraged to pursue with increased diligence a life of active usefulness and good to others, he could see no objection to occasionally attending such amusements. In the programme of the entertainment, which was then gone through, several solos, duets, and trios were exceedingly well rendered, and the characters in the dramas were very creditably sustained by the amateurs. LIVERPOOL.-The St. Helens Examiner of October 26th gives the following as interesting to Swedenborgians in St. Helens: "The following account, written by one of the leading Swedenborgians in St. Helens, of two lectures delivered in Liverpool by R. Gunton, Esq., of London, will be of interest to those who hold that faith in the town. The first lecture was on 'The Bible and the Law of its Interpretation.' The lecturer argued that the books of the Divine Word were given by God; that, as is declared, God spake all these words,' etc., and that, as the prophets declared, the Word of the Lord' came to them. These books, therefore, said the lecturer, are a transcript of the Divine mind of the Lord's love and wisdom, just as really as a man's letter is a transcript of the man's mind-of his affection and thought. He further argued that the Word of the Lord was given to teach man spiritual lessons, to teach him the laws and precepts of heaven, that he might learn them, and so heaven, or a heavenly state, would be established in the man, and thus he would be prepared for heaven. 'The kingdom of heaven,' said the Lord, is within you,' thus regarding the Word as spirit and life, the lecturer said. The Mosaic account of the creation was never intended to be understood literally, but spiritually, and was to be thought of as a divine allegory, setting forth how the Lord makes man spiritual, the six days representing six succeeding states of man's progression in heavenly attain ments, purity, and love. The second lecture was entitled the 'Progressive Nature of Man, as a Sensuous, Rational, and Spiritual Being. Man's sensuous life, the lecturer said, is that consciousness of existence which comes to him through his senses: he is first conscious of exist. ence, next of power, next of a delight in using that power, and next of discriminating as to how that power should be used, with a view to results; and this is reasoning. Man, it was also shown, has a capacity to understand spiritual things; that he has, indeed, two distinct degrees in his mind, a natural degree and a spiritual degree; and by means of one he could understand natural things, and by means of the other spiritual things; thus he could understand and believe in God, heaven and hell, good and evil; and could, if he would, regulate his own mind according to the will of God, as made known in His Word. The third lecture was on the Two Advents of the Lord,' and we learn that the view held is a very practical one, and is this: That the Lord's coming consists in man receiving the Lord not as a person, but as a Divine and Holy influence of heavenly love and heavenly wisdom into those capacities which the Lord has created in man on purpose to receive Him in this way, and so to bring him into a state of order and give him the felicities of eternal life.' was held on Wednesday evening, November 6th, to welcome Dr. Bayley on his return from the Continent, and to present him with an address on behalf of the congregation in recognition of his valuable services in the pastorate. Mr. Geo. Browne, as chairman of the committee, occupied the chair. The proceedings included music and recitations, and were admirably carried out under the direction of the Mutual Improvement Society, intervals being arranged for social chat and refreshments. The event of the evening was, of course, the presentation of the address. In an interesting speech which preceded this the Chairman said that the object the Society had in view was to let Dr. Bayley see that they were not unmindful of the lessons of goodwill and brotherly love which he had presented to them. It was to them a source of great delight that since the formation of the Society everything had gone on so pleasantly; and they esteemed it a great privilege in being allied to a minister who, by his influence and teaching, so moulded their hearts that the result was the pleasant spectacle of a Christian community dwelling together in unity and brotherly love. They rejoiced that while the Doctor was taking his holiday he was laying up a store of health, information, and happy ideas which would enable him to renew his work with vigour and ensure success. A gratifying feature in the Doctor's tours was the amount of good he did in them. They heard of visits to isolated receivers and small Societies, and only those who were in such positions could adequately estimate the value of these visits in the encouragement and help they afforded. Dr. Bayley said it was always a pleasure to be able to go away for a few weeks to gather a stock of health and strength; but the pleasure of returning was far greater even when he had not (and he was quite unaware of anything of the sort this time) such a manifestation of kind feeling as the present awaiting him. It was ever his aim to spread wherever he went the greatest possible amount of blessing. It was no pleasure to him to add merely to the number of those who embraced his own opinions. His aim was that others might enjoy the blessings that he enjoyed in the principles that had so blessed him. Reserving a LONDON (Kensington).-A meeting fuller description of his trip for a future. occasion, he touched upon one or two of its most interesting incidents. The Paris Exhibition, which he had taken en route, was, he thought, the most wonderful thing of its kind he had seen; and he certainly was astonished that any visitor should return to England without having been impressed with its magnificence. From his conversations with the people and with the priests and Protestan pastors of France he gathered that there were great changes impending in the religious world there, and it was, he might say, certain that the change in dicated an approximation to New Church views. The Protestants were, now that the right of public meeting was looked forward to as being sure to be guaranteed, formulating a sort of basis of faith. It consisted of five points, all of which could be accepted by any New Churchman. SNODLAND.-The Kent Messenger of October 19th contains a notice of a handsome clock tower erected at this place as a memorial of the late Charles Townsend Hook, Esq., by his mother and sisters. "It is certainly," says the correspondent, "in good taste that the memorial of so practical and earnest a man should take so practical a form as a clock tower. We believe no expense has been spared to make it not only worthy of him, but of real value to the inhabitants of the place in which he took so deep an interest, and for which he did so much. WIGAN. This Society has during the month of October been favoured with the presence and assistance of Mr. Gunton, the National Missionary, who delivered a course of three week-night lectures on consecutive Tuesday evenings. The lectures were extensively advertised, and it was stated that questions would be permitted at the close. The subjects were-The Bible and the Laws of its Interpretation; Heaven and Hell; The Scriptural Way of Salvation. Birth. October 28th, at 46 Newlands Street, Liverpool, the wife of the Rev. R. Goldsack of a daughter (Lilian Annie). Obituary. Mutford Bridge, near Lowestoft, and formerly of 7 Euston Place, London, was removed into the spiritual world on Saturday the 19th of October, after a few weeks' illness. Deceased was eightythree years of age, and up to within a few months of his death possessed good health, with an active mind and body. He practised as a surgeon for forty years in London, where he was well known among the various congregations of the New Jerusalem, and was for a long time a member of the Argyle Square Church. He removed to his late residence at Mutford Bridge about sixteen years since, and took great interest in the movement which resulted in the formation of a New Church at Lowestoft. The following, which appeared in the Eastern Daily Press, published at Norwich, gives a modest statement of his character and his course of life: "He was greatly respected in the villages round about, his skill and advice, founded on a large experience, being always at the service of his poorer neighbours, at whose cottages in the hour of sickness he was a frequent visitor. His general kindness of heart and sympathetic disposition, together with his anxiety to benefit others, kept him constantly engaged, so that his life may be said to have been a round of activity almost to the last. He will be greatly missed in Oulton and the neighbouring parish of Carlton, and also in Lowestoft, where he was well known and by many greatly beloved." On Sunday the 27th October, by the invitation of the minister, the Rev. W. O'Mant, Mr. Spilling of Norwich preached a funeral sermon at Lowestoft, and dwelt in affectionate terms on the estimable character of the deceased. Mr. Woolltorton illustrated the beauty of the heavenly doctrines in his life, and they were to him a stay and comfort in the hour of his death. The Messenger of September 18th contains the following: "Departed to the spiritual world, August 19th, 1878, at his residence in Chickasaw Co., Iowa, Joshua Smith, aged seventy-two years, Smith was born near Halifax, Yorkshire, after an illness of short duration. Mr. England. He became a receiver of the doctrines of the New Church about thirty years ago. He emigrated to America with his family in 1850. He Mr. J. Woolltorton, M. R. C.S., of first located near St. Charles, Kane Co., |