some means of disposing of the articles members, also pieces of vocal and instill remaining from the Bazaar. Mr. Dicks was unanimously re-elected Leader, and Mr. R. Castle Secretary, of the Society. As the report stated, the Society has great cause for thankfulness to the Lord for the blessing He has bestowed upon their labours. LONGTON.-We give the following, abridged, from the Potteries Examiner. "A very pleasant social gathering was held in the Anchor Schoolroom, Wharf Street, Longton, by the members and friends of the New Jerusalem Church, on New Year's Eve. About sixty of the friends partook of the repast, after which an excellent miscellaneous programme of songs, recitations, and addresses was gone through, the audience having been considerably augumented at the after proceedings. "The Rev. R. Storry, of Heywood, presided, and during the course of his opening remarks referred to the death of the Rev. Mr. Madeley, a gentleman well known to the congregation. He also dwelt on the signs of the times, and reviewed at some length the religious aspects of the age. Referring to Dr. Osborne's statement that the Wesleyans had no open questions, he said the active and expanding mind of the present age compelled the adoption of open questions in all Christian communities, and it was impossible to prevent them. "The meeting was also addressed in a pleasing speech by Rev. Walter Bates, of Melbourne, and addresses and recitations were given by several of the friends who were present. The proceedings were also enlivened by selections of music, which were well rendered. strumental music were rendered with excellent effect, and addresses tending to encourage and extend the New Church doctrines in this town and neighbourhood were given by several members of the Society. Mr. Hunter bore testimony to the missionary uses of the late Mr. Gladwell at Shields, when himself and others were brought to receive and spread the doctrines of the New Jerusalem. The meeting, which was of a pleasing and useful character, closed with the usual benediction. A New Year's present was afterwards made to the minister. SOUTH PORT.-Rev. Mr. Hayden continues his useful labours in this town. His Sabbath evening lectures continue to attract attention, and are warmly appreciated. The lectures on the Future Life are succeeded by a course on the Second Coming of the Lord, which are well attended. The Society has also commenced a series of Tuesday evening cottage reading and social inquiry meetings, which are well attended, and promise to be very useful. On Tuesday evening, the 18th of December, a very interesting meeting took place in the church to offer a suitable testimonial to Messrs. C. E. and W. J. Ashworth, on the occasion of their leaving the town. The testimonial in each case consisted of a dining-room timepiece, black and gold, relieved with malachite, and handsomely bound Family Bibles, gilt and illustrated. The following inscription, with initials varied, was neatly chased on silver plates and attached to the timepieces, and inscribed in the Bibles on leather with gilt letters: "Presented to Mr. C. E. Ashworth as a slight recognition of his services in the choir, and general usefulness in the Sunday-school, by the friends of the New Church, Duke Street, Southport. December 18th, 1877." After singing an appropriate hymn, Mr. Brierley was called to the chair, and at the NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. - The New close of his opening address, called on Church Society held their annual soiree Mr. J. Smith, who, in a short speech, on New Year's evening in the Temper stated the object of the meeting. The ance Room, Nun Street. The minister, Rev. W. B. Hayden then made the Rev. W. Ray, presided. After singing presentation in a speech suitable to and prayer an address on the past history the occasion. The Messrs. Ashworth "On Wednesday evening following Mr. Storry delivered a lecture, the subject of which was 'The Mission of the New Church.' The lecture was attentively listened to by the audience, which was evidently much interested in the subject. and future work of the Church was thanked the meeting briefly for their given by the Chairman. Various recita- presents, after which remarks were made tions were given, principally by junior by Messrs. James Ashworth, G. H. Tideswell, and R. Iddon, in reference to is 25 Elgin Road, Kensington Park the subject. CHALKLEN'S SERMONS ON THE APOCA LYPSE.-The following circular respecting these sermons has been issued by Dr. Bayley : 66 "For several years, indeed, ever since the publication of Vol. I., in 1867, the inquiry has often been heard, When will Vol. II. of these excellent discourses of the Rev. Thos. Chalklen be issued, and the work thus be completed? "Want of encouragement for a time, and to some extent want of health, prevented the worthy author from carrying out his own earnest desire of finishing his contribution to the literature of the New Church; and now his great age makes it necessary that some additional help should be given to do what is needful for the publication, and enable our venerable friend to have the pleasure of seeing his finished work. The Sermons are admirable; clear in their explanations, and eloquent, beautiful, and forcible in their language. It would be a decided loss to the Church if these excellent discourses were not secured for the benefit of all who desire to meditate on the wonderful Divine Book of which they treat. "If 200 copies of Vol. II. be subscribed for the object can be accomplished. "A sufficient number of Vol. I. remains to make complete copies for those who require both volumes, while Vol. II. will no doubt be welcomed by those who already have Vol. I. The price will be five shillings for each volume. "I have undertaken, with the concurrence of the author, and the kind assistance of Mr. Speirs, to do all that is needful to bring the work promptly out. Subscribers are earnestly requested to send to me, or to Mr. Speirs, orders for as many copies as they may need. "Mr. Chalklen's special friends, formed by a long life of heavenly uses associated with the Church, it is hoped will rally to aid him in this his last effort in her cause, and with those who may welcome the work for its own sake, will secure the publication of the remaining volume at once, so that in four months it may be in their possession. I do most earnestly entreat that this pleasure may be given to our aged and dear friend Mr. Chalklen." Dr. Bayley's address Road, W. Post Office Orders: Kensington Park Road. Since the publication of this circular in December last we are informed that more than half the number required has been subscribed for, accompanied by many kind letters, and that the work has been sent to press. A continued effort, therefore, which will not, we hope, be wanting, will make this desirable work completely successful. Obituaries. REV. EDWARD MADELEY.-We were able, as our last number was passing through the press, to inform our readers of the departure of this esteemed minister of the New Church to his eternal home. He has been in feeble health for some time, and an attack of paralysis exhausted his remaining strength, and removed him after a few days' unconsciousness to the spiritual state. He closed his earthly career on the morning of Friday, December 21st, at the ripe age of seventy-six years. The son Mr. Madeley was born at Yoxall, in Staffordshire, August 16th, 1801. Subsequently his family removed to Derby, where his father, though extensively engaged in manufacturing pursuits, entered the ministry of the New Church, and devoted a large portion of his time and of his wealth in promoting the establishment of the New Church, and extending the knowledge of the heavenly doctrines. early manifested an aptitude for the pulpit. His first sermon was preached before he had completed his eighteenth year. This early tendency of his mind was encouraged by his father, who secured for him the best education the time afforded to prepare him for the ministry. Mr. Madeley has left on record that his father's intention was his settlement as the minister of the then recently formed society of the New Church at Norwich. The openings of Divine Providence pointed otherwise, and the whole of his active life has been spent in the town from which he has now taken his peaceful departure to his final home. The first visit of Mr. Madeley to Birmingham was in January 1822. The purpose of his visit was to preach the Charity Sermons for the Sunday school. The following year he removed to Birmingham as the agent of his father, when, as in the case of Mr. Madeley, his time being thus largely occupied a large portion of his time is neceswith secular pursuits. The minister of sarily devoted to secular pursuits. the society at this time was the Rev. We believe that no one who knew him Mr. Proud, one of the earliest and would question the sincerity and earnestmost eloquent of the ministers of the ness with which he applied himself to New Church. Mr. Proud was advanced his proper work, or fail to recognize the in life, and approaching the end of his immense amount of mental labour ministry. Mr. Madeley preached regu- which he bestowed upon his preparation larly for Mr. Proud from March 1823 for the duties of the pulpit. He had to the end of that year, and in January with great pains and self-denial collected 1824 was elected leader of the a very extensive and valuable library, Society. In the following year, May was an omniverous reader, and laid the 8th, 1825, he was ordained into the literature of all ages under contribution ministry by Mr. Proud. With the for the illustration and enforcement of exception of once afterwards administering the sacrament of the Holy Supper, this was the last public service in which the venerable minister engaged. His closing labour, therefore, was the public inauguration into the ministry of the successor by whom, after his departure, his work was to be continued. the truth. His pastoral labours were confined to Birmingham, but as a preacher and lecturer on the doctrines of the New Church his labours had extended to many other parts of the kingdom. He was frequently called from home for public services in connection with the several societies of the Church, and employed in the delivery of public lectures where the truth was little known and the doctrines were being first introduced. In all these services his discourses were distinguished by great ability and careful preparation, and were usually well received by his audiences. The appointment to be the leader of the Society, and his subsequent ordination to the ministry, was the commencement of a long course of faithful pulpit labour. For many years these labours were rendered gratuitously; and at no period of his ministry did he receive a remuneration that could be regarded as at all adequate to the services he ren- Mr. Madeley has not made large dered the church. On New Year's Day additions to the literature of the Church. 1828 the Society presented him with a He was a preacher rather than an author, silver 66 cup as a testimony of his worth, though his sermons were usually either and as a small return of gratitude for fully written or preached from carefully his valuable gratuitous services to the prepared notes. His first publication Church." In March 1830 the Society was his sermon on the death of Mr. removed from New Hall Street to the Proud. His principal publication, "The church in Summer Lane, where he con- Science of Correspondences Elucidated," tinued to labour for the following thirty- had its origin in his pulpit ministrations. six years. Mr. Madeley's labours in At the opening of Albion Chapel, Leeds, Birmingham had thus extended over the he took the leading part of the services, long period of forty-three years when and gave a lecture on the inspiration he retired from the church in Summer and interpretation of the Word, which Lane. He continued afterwards for occupied two hours in its delivery. So several years to render service to the well was this discourse received that a Church, first in Cannon Street, after- general desire was expressed for its wards at Hockley, and, until his health publication. In complying with a failed, he met at his own house, by request presented to him, the lecture special request, a number of devoted was expanded into a closely printed friends for the administration of the octavo volume of nearly two hundred sacrament of the Holy Supper. Alto- pages. The work is enriched with gether his public services in the Church notes which manifest the extent of the extended to the long period of more author's reading and the variety of his than half a century. researches. These notes "show the It would be remarkable indeed if very remarkable coincidences of thought in so long a period any minister which have obtained among pious and could satisfy the demands of all the learned men of all periods and classes, members of his congregation. And and indicate most distinctly that an the difficulty is immensely increased idea, in some shape or other, has been, and is still prevalent, that an inward unanimously passed an address of conspiritual sense or meaning exists within dolence to his widow and family. A the letter of the Word of God." The similar address was also forwarded first edition of this valuable work has from the senior classes in the Sundaybeen long since exhausted, and a second school. From the former of these we edition, understood to be in preparation, extract the following, with which we has not been published. In addition to close our notice of this esteemed and these publications, Mr. Madeley com- useful minister :piled a hymn-book for use in the Sunday schools, which was adopted by the Sunday School Union, and passed through several editions, He was also the author of some smaller publications, and the editor of Hindmarsh's "History of the New Church." "As our pastor, our counsellor, and guide, many of us have learned from our youth to value the presence and the words of our departed friend. To us all his absence will be the missing of a link between the trials of the past and the duties of to-day. As one of the oldest ministers of the New Church in England we know that he has shared culties and reverses, his quiet fortitude, his simplicity of life, his honest independence, and his reliance on the good Provider of all things, have been uniform and conspicuous.' " Mr. Madeley was a constant attendant on the meetings of the General Conference. He commenced his attendance all its vicissitudes. Yet, amid diffiin the year 1822, when he represented his father's society at Derby, and for more than fifty years was not more than once or twice absent. On six occasions he occupied the president's chair. Though not one of the most frequent speakers, he was always listened to with marked attention. His speeches were usually on questions of interest, which he had carefully considered, and on which he showed accurate and extensive knowledge, Mr. Madeley's labours were not exclusively confined to the pulpit and the press. In 1833 he established popular day schools in connection with his church in Summer Lane. They were among the earliest efforts in this direction in Birmingham, and were very successful. In addition to his extensive library, he had also provided him self with apparatus for the illustration of several of the sciences; and he was ever ready to aid the progress of educational institutions by the gratuitous delivery of lectures on scientific subjects. The only religious institution outside his own community he seems to have had the opportunity of actively aiding was the British and Foreign Bible Society, a branch of which was established in connection with his church in Summer Lane. His conversational powers were of a high order, and his large stores of information made him at all times a welcome visitor at the homes of his friends. The esteem in which he was held by the members of the Church over which he had so long presided was shown by the action of the Trustees and Committee of the Church in Wretham Road, who, at a meeting held on the 23rd of December, Passed to his rest, on October 11th, 1877, George Pennington of Wigan, aged twenty-two years. Also, on November 25th, 1877, Joseph Harrison, of Wigan, in the 70th year of his age. Mr. Harrison was one of the oldest members of the Wigan Society, having been connected with it over forty years, during the whole of which period he had espoused the cause warmly and devotedly. He was one of a small band of those who might be fitly termed the pioneers of the New Church in Wigan, who for many, many, years met together, Sabbath after Sabbath, to read and study the doctrines; a little body of men who, whilst they had but little organization of a public character, were yet earnest seekers after the truth for its own sake. Mr. Harrison, however, was not one of those who put his light under a bushel. He never missed the opportunity of openly explaining the teachings of the Church to others; and in argument, of which he was fond, he could maintain his own with no small skill and credit. He was a kind, warmhearted, and genial man-one whom to know was to love; and in his departure the Society has lost one of its warmest and most ardent supporters, a loss which will also be keenly felt by the Sunday-School, in which he had been a teacher up to a short period before his decease. His friends, however, are consoled by the thought that he is now realizing those glorious truths in which he so implicitly believed, and which he loved so well, THE prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the Temple is one of the sublimest addresses to the Deity ever uttered by a human being upon earth. As a part of Divine inspiration it relates to the most exalted subject of which the Word treats. The Temple of Solomon was a type of the Lord's Humanity, and his dedication of the Temple represented the Lord's dedication of the Temple of His glorified Humanity to His eternal Divinity, when “He offered Himself without spot to God." To this Holy Temple the Lord's spiritual people are to look, and towards this they are to pray, when they fall into divers temptations, and even when they commit divers sins, which are spiritually meant by the different evils and calamities which form the subjects of the several petitions of Solomon's prayer. It is not, however, to this exalted view of the subject that we propose, at this time, to draw the attention of our readers: we wish to apply it to events and circumstances which, nearly two thousand years after the establishment of Christianity, carry us back to the time in which the prayer was offered up to God. Kneeling before the altar, in the court of the house which he had built with such magnificence as a place where the Most High might put His Name, surrounded by the priests and elders and the assembled congregation of Israel, he spread forth his hands toward heaven and prayed. First, he addresses the God of Israel as that One whom there is none like in heaven above and on the earth beneath, who keepeth covenant and mercy with His servants who walk before Him with all their heart. He had built this G |