Page images
PDF
EPUB

Miscellaneous.

ministers and seventy-two representatives. This task having been finished, the Rev. R. Storry rose and informed the assembly that their venerable President had on that very day attained the age of eighty years. In a short address he expressed his indebtedness to his venerable friend for many years of cordial friendship and helpful assistance, and his confidence that every one present would esteem it a privilege and a delight to have the opportunity of congratulating the President on the occasion. The Rev. John Presland, in equally feeling and felicitous terms, seconded the motion, which was carried with acclamation. The Rev. W. Bruce cordially responded, after which the retiring Vice-President, the Rev. R. Storry, closed the proceedings with the usual devotional service.

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE NEW The number so signing, including several CHURCH. The Seventy-second Session names added during the following two of this general assembly of the New days, was ninety-four, viz. twenty-two Church was this year held in the Palace Gardens Church, Kensington. It is the first time the Conference has held its session in this large and wellappointed church; and many members resident in the country were glad of the opportunity of assembling in a place which recalls to pleasant remembrance the generous action of one of the benefactors of Conference and of the Church. Mr. Finnie, whose benevolent zeal has aided many other uses promoted by the Conference, not only himself paid the purchase money of the church, but also the entire cost of its restoration and improvement, and in addition provided an ample endowment whereby the celebration of public worship and the preaching of the doctrines are secured. The few members resident in the neighbourhood who formed the beginning of the Society were fortunate in obtaining the services of Dr. Bayley, whose distinguished ability, energy of character, and unflagging industry have secured the assembly of a large and influential congregation. Rarely has wealth attempted in the New Church a nobler work, and rarely has the work been more successfully accomplished.

The Conference assembled on the following morning at ten o'clock. The Rev. R. Storry proposed, and Mr. Gunton seconded, a resolution that the Rev. Dr. Bayley be the President of this session, which was carried unanimously. The President on taking the chair briefly expressed his sense of the kindness and confidence of his friends as manifested in this, which was his sixth appointment to this office. It was a happy circumstance to go through life retaining old friendships and making new ones. In reflecting on the appointment and on the purpose of the Conference, his mind had rested on Swedenborg's description in the " Apocalypse Revealed," No. 161, of the glorious things to which the truth conducted us, and the great privilege and immense value of disseminating truth. That which brought this description home to his tenderest feelings was the author's inquiry, "But who cares for these things?" A great number have left their homes and are present in this Conference who do care for these things. To preside over those who care for truth is a great honour, and he thanked them for this honour.

The Conference assembled, as usual, on the evening of Monday, August 11th. This early meeting of the members is of an informal kind. Friends who have been separated during the year meet for friendly recognition. The members of the Conference are introduced to the friends who, often with no small effort, have arranged to provide for their comfort during the session. Between five and seven o'clock tea is served to the arriving ministers and representatives on this occasion by some of the young ladies of the congregation, who, in a picturesque costume, officiated in that capacity on this and the other evenings of the session, and vied with each other in their kind and unwearied attention to their guests. At seven o'clock the chair was taken by the Rev. W. Bruce, the retiring President, and Rev. W. Bruce was elected Vice-Prethe gathering thus reduced to the semblance sident, and Rev. Eli Whitehead Secretary. of order. But throughout the evening a Rev. R. Storry, with Messrs. Broadfield continual buzz of conversation pervaded and T. Willson, were elected a Committee the building, and all but overpowered the to select the Ordinary Committees to report tones of the Secretary. The retiring to the present session. Certificates of President having read a portion of the the ordination of Revs. J. R. Rendell, J. Word and offered prayer, the Declaration Martin, T. Mackereth, H. Cameron, and of Faith was read, and the ministers and T. Child were read, and each of those representatives present signed the Roll. gentlemen received from the President an

illuminated certificate, accompanied by a hearty shake of the hand and a few words of congratulation and sympathy.

A pleasant commencement of the business of the Conference has lately been the introduction of representatives of the American Convention. This year four members of this large and influential assembly of the Church, the Revs. Chauncey Giles, W. H. Benade, John Goddard, and F. H. Hemperley, were present at the Conference. The usual resolution of cordial and kindly welcome was moved by Dr. Tafel, and seconded in an appropriate address by the Vice-President. In reply to this invitation, Mr. Giles addressed the Conference in a speech distinguished by the cultured intelligence and ripened Christian feeling which distinguishes all his utterances. He expressed the pleasure he had at their Convention of welcoming, for the first time, a minister of the New Church from England. It was felt to be a more intimate recognition of the fact that we are brethrenthat we have one duty and one hope, and that we are all making for the same end. It is difficult for us to see or to conceive the work in which we are engaged. We fail to see the effect of seminal truths. Our work seems of little importance; but if we have the seeds and hold the mighty power of new spiritual truths we are doing the greatest work on earth. We are surrounded by social movements and new social institutions; but in disseminating and carrying into effect the truths we possess, we are doing the greatest thing that is done either in London or elsewhere. It is hence of the greatest importance that we should help one another. Americans are strengthened by knowing that there are in England those who are engaged in the same work. We are taught by Swedenborg that we cannot stand alone. The more, therefore, we can unite our hearts, the more effectually can we work for the Lord.

The Conference sermon was preached by the Rev. R. R. Rodgers of Birmingham. At the close the Holy Supper was administered to 189 communicants, the service being conducted by the President and Rev. R. Storry. The offertory, amounting to £12, was appropriated to the Pension Fund.

On Wednesday morning the first business after the reading of the Minutes was the selection of a place of meeting for next year, and it was decided to accept the invitation of the Liverpool friends. It was stated that £66 had been added to the Conference Building Fund during the year, although only fourteen Societies had adopted the suggested collection in its behalf. The Committee appointed last year to sell the church at St. Ösyth having failed to find a purchaser, much conversation ensued, in the course of which Mr. Dicks in an able speech called attention to the state of the New Church in the eastern counties, and urged the importance of increased attention to this part of the kingdom. The Society at Norwich, which had been fostered by the labours of some of our ablest ministers, had been permitted to die out, and others were in a languishing condition. Instead of an effort to sell the property, he moved a resolution, which was adopted, recommending the subject to the London Missionary and Tract Society. In support of this action the President gave an animated address. The little chapel was situated in a district overshadowed by the authority of the parson and the squire. He recommended never to surrender, but to keep our flag flying in the most discouraging circumstances. Some of the young persons of the neighbouring Society of Brightlingsea might probably be induced to distribute tracts in the neighbourhood, and they should leave one at the house of the squire.

The report of the Committee on Colonial and Foreign Missions stated that in Sweden the Church seems to be in a Revs. John Goddard and F. H. Hemperley flourishing condition. Mr. Boyesen writes also briefly responded. Rev. W. H. Benade that the Society in Stockholm now numwas not present, though he, together with bers 173 members; they having added Mr. Hemperley, was a frequent visitor at eighteen new members during the last year. the subsequent sittings of the Conference. In his address to Conference he says that Rev. J. F. Potts at this point spoke warmly the many ties with which the State of the great satisfaction and pleasure which he had experienced from his recent visit to America as, jointly with Mr. Willson, the representative of the Conference at the General Convention. The Rev. Chauncey Giles having handed to the President the address from the Convention to the Conference, written by Rev. W. B. Hayden, it was read, and the President was appointed to reply. On the completion of the formal business proper to the first day's proceedings, the Committees commenced to meet in various parts of the building.

Church in Sweden binds people act as a great hindrance to wealthier people joining their Society. The result of this being that the members of their Society consist almost altogether of the working and trading classes, who while they are more independent in their religious persuasions yet are unable to contribute much towards sustaining the great work of the Scandinavian Mission. Still, although far from being well off, they sustain a monthly Church periodical; and during the last year have published a Liturgy and a Hymn

the cause of religious tolerance, more especially as by it the disabilities of other religious Societies which had suffered similar confiscation have been removed.

Book, and a Larger Catechism, written and compiled by their minister, Mr. Boyesen. Twice during the year Mr. Boyesen undertook larger missionary journeys, where he visited and preached in four new places. The Hynin-Book Committee reported that In Sala, one of the great mining towns of it had completed its first revision of the Sweden, he says the beginning was very Conference Hymn-Book and its several encouraging; the number of his hearers Supplements; that it had selected the desirbeing upwards of four hundred, among able hymns contained in several popular whom were very manyof the most prominent hymn-books, and provisionally accepted citizens of the town, and several teachers an aggregate of 542 hymns. A motion of the public schools. Your Committee have been so much impressed by the good work accomplished by Mr. Boyesen that they assisted him during the year to the amount of £20.

In the conversation which arose on the reception of this report much interesting information was given as to the Church in Vienna, of which the Rev. H. Peisker, who was ordained by the English Conference, is the minister. It was stated that in consequence of the Vienna Society having been forbidden to meet by the municipal authorities, a special Committee had been appointed by the last Conference to take steps in the matter. The secretary of this Committee, the Rev. Dr. Bayley, had waited upon the Austrian ambassador, and had been most courteously and kindly received. The ambassador had expressed his opinion that the action of the Vienna municipality must have been founded upon a mistake, as liberty as to religion and worship existed in Austria the same as in England, and he promised duly to attend to any memorial forwarded to him through the English Foreign Office. Such a memorial was accordingly forwarded to the Marquis of Salisbury; but in the meantime the Vienna friends had obtained redress from the Supreme Court of Vienna, and the matter was thus satisfactorily settled without need for further intervention. From further remarks by the Rev. R. L. Tafel, the secretary of the Foreign and Colonial Missions Committee, it appeared that two New Church Societies existed in Vienna, one of a public character, giving lectures in a public hall, and another of a more private and devotional character. The proceedings complained of were taken against the former, and were authorized by the Chief of Police at the instigation of his brother, who is a Jesuit, and has recently been elected Archbishop of Vienna. The decision of the Supreme Court, which reinstates the Society in the enjoyment of their right of meeting, and into the possession of their property, characterizes the conduct in this matter of the Chief of the Police as a violation of the Austrian Constitution. The case has created great interest in the press of Vienna, and its decision has been hailed as a great gain to

proposed by Mr. John Bragg, which empowered the Committee to print and pubfish before next Conference, was met by an amendment to first submit the work to the judgment of the Church by the issue of a provisional edition. A long and interesting debate ensued, in which many members of Conference and several members of the Hymn-Book Committee took part. In the end an amendment was proposed by the Rev. R. Storry, and accepted by the proposer and seconder of the first amendment, and also by the mover and seconder of the original motion, and unanimously adopted by the Conference. The proposition thus carried authorized the Committee to publish an experimental edition for the use of members of the Committee in their final revision, and to circulate copies amongst the members of New Church Societies, such copies to be returned to the Committee within a month, so as to enable them, if possible, to complete the work before next Conference. The Committee appointed to report upon the proposed Order of Confirmation stated its opinion to be that the Church had not yet shown sufficient desire for such a service, and therefore proposed the continued postponement of the question. This conclusion was received with expressions of regret and disappointment It was evident that while many members objected to the title "Confirmation," as associated in their judgment with mistaken sentiments, no objection was felt to a service for the introduction of young persons into connection with the Church. A lengthened conversation was closed by a motion by the Rev. R. Storry to commit the work of completing the preparation of such a service and laying it before the next session, to the ministers of the New Church resident in Lancashire.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

A resolution expressive of a deep sense of the respect felt by the Conference for the late Mr. Joseph Grimshaw, and its gratitude for his services as Trustee, was passed by a rising vote, and also a motion of condolence with Mrs. Grimshaw in her bereavement, to be forwarded by the President. Mr. James Fletcher of Kearsley was elected a Trustee in the place of Mr. Grimshaw. A letter from Dr. Bateman was read expressing his desire to retire

from the trusteeship, but he was requested to reconsider the matter, and in the meantime a hearty vote of sympathy with him in his present ill-health was passed. On the motion of Mr. Broadfield, and after much discussion, it was resolved that the Council meet this year in London, and the following gentlemen were then elected to compose the Council, viz.: Revs. Dr. Bayley, J. Deans, J. Presland, and R. L. Tafel, and Messrs. G. Benson, Manchester, H. W. Brown, R. Gunton, W. Milner, H. R. Williams, and T. Willson, Birmingham.

The success of the Church, both in the instruction and edification of its members, and in extending the knowledge of the truth, will ever be largely influenced by the intelligence, piety, and zeal of its ministry. The ministry in England is not wanting in these most essential qualities, but it is deficient in numbers, needs a warmer appreciation and sympathy, and a more adequate temporal support. The Examining Boards, North and South, reported that they had received applications from six young men for adoption as students; but from various causes--not the least being the unsatisfactory condition of the Students' Aid Fund--only two of these would be adopted this year. The application of the Society at Embsay, in Yorkshire, for the ordination of Mr. Edward Jones was commended by Mr. Broadfield, Mr. Fairbrother, and Rev. R. Storry, and unanimously granted. The application of the Edinburgh Society, indorsed by the Camberwell Society, for the ordination into the ministry of the New Church of the Rev. W. C. Barlow, M.A., Edinburgh, was also granted. The application of the Lowestoft Society for the introduction into the ministry of the New Church of the Rev. W. O'Mant was also granted. Licences were authorized for Messrs. M'Lachlan of Alloa, Moore of Bristol, Tilson of Liverpool, Berry of Northampton, W. A. Bates of Southport, and Wilson of Oldham. Mr. C. Griffiths was readopted as a student, and Messrs. J. F. Buss and T. F. Robinson were adopted, and the Council of the New Church College requested to undertake their education.

One of the questions which has of late occupied the attention of many earnest and exemplary members of the New Church has been a desire to introduce into the proceedings of the Conference more of an instructional and devotional character. It is felt that too much time is occupied by formal, and what may be regarded as the merely secular business of the Church. Last year a meeting of the kind contemplated was held on the Monday evening following the Conference, and this year it was proposed to continue the practice.

The Council to which the subject was referred requested the appointment of a Committee to report during the session, and the report of this Committee recommended the reserving of a portion of cach week to the reading of papers and conversation on theological and religious subjects. Wednesday morning, and if desired evening also, was suggested for this purpose, and various suggestions were offered to provide time for the purpose. The adoption of the report was moved by the Rev. Mr. Presland in a speech in which he reviewed the whole subject. The Rev. Mr. Potts, in supporting the proposals of the Committee, stated some of his experiences at the American Convention. Nothing had surprised him more than the endeavour to push the business into the smallest possible corner. The Ministers' Congress, held the week before the Convention, was wholly occupied with subjects of the kind contemplated. Independently of this, and of their daily service and sermon, there were constant conferences on religious subjects in Convention week, and they were constantly wanting more. It is encouraging that the business of this Conference is likely to conclude early, and could have been concluded earlier, but we had time, and we talked accordingly. The proposal of the Committee was adopted and the Council instructed to arrange a meeting during the next Conference. Two notices of motion by Mr. Willson as to the administration of the Augmentation Fund were then considered, and after thorough discussion passed. Another, introduced by Dr. Goyder on behalf of Mr. Isherwood, addressed to the subject of grouping small Societies, separately unable to support a minister, was referred to the Committee of Lancashire ministers. The Rev. John Presland then moved, and the Rev. H. Cameron seconded, a vote of respectful sympathy to Mr. William Dean, the only survivor of the seven ministers and twentyone representatives who, on the 16th of August 1821, affixed their signatures to the Conference Deed. The President having added his hearty testimony to the Christian excellence of Mr. Dean's character, the motion was carried. The actual business of the session being now finished, there only remained the usual, yet none the less hearty, votes of thanks to the Society which entertained the Conference, and to the President for his conduct in the chair. These two propositions were gracefully made and cordially accepted. In acknowledging the votes the President said that this Conference of 1879 would be distinguished above its predecessors not only by the number of its members, but by the graceful manner in which the members from the North had consented to the

Council being for a time transferred to London; while the North had, on the other hand, contributed members to the Committee of the National Missionary Institution. He also acknowledged the kind assistance rendered to the Kensington friends by members of other London New Church Societies.

SOCIAL MEETINGS.-A social meeting was given by the Camden Road Society on the Wednesday evening, to which all the members of the Conference were invited. The gathering was a very great success, the Society's rooms being filled with guests, and a very delightful evening was spent, Dr. and Mrs. Tafel acting as host and hostess, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Faraday and other friends.

A choice selection of music was rendered by members of the remarkably fine choir which conducts the musical services at this church, and a short address given by the President of the Conference, in which he expressed the thanks of the Kensington Society for the ready assistance received from the Societies of Camden Town and Argyle Square. Refreshments were served in the library, which was tastefully ornamented with flowers, and the meeting continued to nearly eleven o'clock. On the same evening a social meeting was held in connection with the Brixton Association of the New Church. The chair was occupied by Alfred Braby, Esq., the President of the Association, who gave a hearty welcome to the members of Conference present. Speeches were given by Revs. E. Whitehead, W. O'Mant, J. R. Rendell, and Messrs. Austin, Parkinson, Bates, Jones, and Tilson. Songs were sung by Miss Collins, Miss Gunton, and Mr. J. Barber; and refreshments provided by the ladies of the Association. A pleasant and happy evening was spent, the proceedings closing a little after ten.

On Thursday evening the Conference tea-meeting was held in the Kensington Vestry Hall, kindly granted for the occasion. The hall, a spacious one (and situated at but a short distance from the church), proved quite unequal to the large gathering that besieged it as the appointed hour approached. However, the difficulty was overcome by the patience and goodnature of the friends, and it is computed that about 350 were accommodated. local print thus describes the scene: "On this occasion the usual aspect of the hall was entirely changed, the horse-shoe tables (around which vestrymen are wont to assemble discussing parish affairs) being covered with diaper (?) cloths and decked with rare plants, at which a select company was seated regaling themselves with a variety of confects; while a bevy of

A

[ocr errors]

young ladies, coyly attired in waitresses' caps and aprons, took evident pleasure in attending to the wants of the company. So great was the crush of visitors that from half-past five till seven o'clock the influx and efflux was maintained." The public meeting in the church commenced at 7.30. During the assembling of the friends a voluntary was played on the organ by Mr Cliffe. Rev. Dr. Bayley occupied the chair, and was supported by Revs. C. H. Wilkins, W. Westall, John Presland, F. H. Hemperley, and other ministers. Proceedings commenced with the hymn, "Come ye that know Immanuel's name, and prayer was offered by Dr. Bayley. The subject of the evening was announced as "What determines a Man's State and Condition in the Eternal World?" In his introductory address the chairinan adverted to the happiness there was in meeting together to congratulate each other on the blessings they experienced in common, and to feel that they were one and all striving to spread these blessings the wide world over. The scene they had just experienced at the Vestry Hall, although it led to some discomfort, was in some respects encouraging. It was certainly better to have a crowded meeting than to lament a thin one, and he thought that the happy faces of the guests would amply atone for any shortcomings in other ways. As he looked around him his mind travelled back to other gatherings. He went back seventy years, at which time the Church was not strong enough to have an annual Conference. In 1809 there was no Conference, though in 1808 an attempt had been made to hold one, when five ministers and the representatives of seven congregations were assembled. They had this year very few short of one hundred ministers and representatives. Looking at it in this way only they might congratulate themselves that the cause in which they were engaged was advancing. But he believed that the number of persons who sympathized with them, but had not yet been able to organize themselves, were as many as those who had fully adopted the principles of the New Church. They might rest assured that the future of the world was the future of the New Church, and that whatever disappointments they might experience they could feel certain of ultimate success.

"It's coming yet for a' that,

That man to man the warld o'er Shall brothers be for a' that." Coming to the subject of the evening' Dr. Bayley remarked it was important to let the world know what they, as New Churchmen, considered as essential in matters of religion; and it was, he sup

« PreviousContinue »