"The Swedenborg Public Reading Society. Under the auspices of this society, the Doctrines of Christianity are explained, as deduced from the Divine Word in the writings of Swedenborg, at the following places:-Wednesday evening, at half-past eight, Bedford Gallery, 18, Store-street, Bedford-square, nex door but one to the Music Hall. Friday evening, at half-past eight, Lecture-room, Islington Green, near the Police Station. All persons who are truly seeking heavenly wisdom, are invited to propose questions, or to join in conversation on the various subjects brought under consideration. 'Reader! imitate the conduct of the noble Bereans.' (Acts xvii. 11.) Devotional services on the Lord's Day are held as above, beginning in the morning at 11; and in the evening at half-past six o'clock."

MANCHESTER AND SALFORD MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Ministers, Leaders, Missionaries, and Members of the Societies of the New Church in the North of England, was held on WhitSaturday, in the Temple, Bolton-street, Salford. The attendance was numerous. Amongst those present were the Revds. D. Howarth, J. H. Smithson, and W. Woodman, with a large number of leaders and missionaries.

The Rev. D. Howarth occupied the chair, and opened the meeting by reading the first chapter of Genesis, and giving a succinct description of the subject which the internal sense treats of, viz., regeneration.

The speakers were the Revds. D. Howarth, J. H. Smithson, W. Woodman, and Messrs. Robinson, Mackereth, Beswick, Staton, and others; and the remarks made went chiefly to shew the importance of having correct ideas respecting the Word as a revelation concerning spiritual things.

The number of difficulties which arise from a merely literal interpretation of the Word of God, shews more forcibly, year by year, the increasing necessity that exists for a more truthful method of realising the ideas intended to be conveyed. When the truths relating to the spiritual world are seen divested of their material covering, in which covering they have been and are first presented to the human mind, science and religion are at once reconciled.

Some judicious observations were ad

dressed to the meeting, shewing the importance of a true interpretation of the Word, in reference to the work of education, taking education in its widest sense, as being the drawing out,-the development of the capacities of the soul. If the spiritual part of our nature be not fully developed here, its existence, when separated from the flesh, will partake of an unformed and undeveloped character. Life cannot flow into such spiritual forms and be so fully manifested as would otherwise be the case, any more than life can flow into the material body when its limbs are undeveloped by want of exercise. To ensure this more perfect development, our understanding must not be closed to a reception of truth by the assertion that God's Holy Word is a mystery which surpasses the powers and capabilities of the human mind.

The adaptation of truth, by means of the acknowledged axioms of science pertaining to the age in which each part of such revelation was given, was briefly alluded to, and shewed clearly how an allwise Providence is ever ready to adapt its high teachings to limited finite powers.

The meeting was closed by some very profitable remarks from the Chairman, as to the necessity of not only knowing the truth, but acting in accordance therewith. Thus would truth, as an external, have as its living internal a love of Good.

Afterwards a portion of the meeting dined together.

The next meeting is to be held on Whit-Saturday, 1853, at Heywood; and the subject is the second chapter of Genesis. G. B. S.

MINISTERS' WIDOWS' FUND.

In our last number an appeal was made to the church in behalf of the Ministers' Widows' Fund, and it was stated that the treasurer was at a loss to make up the sum now annually required for one widow. It appears to us that one legitimate resource from which something might be annually derived for this truly benevolent object, are the profits arising from the sale of this Magazine. These profits for many years, notwithstanding the full discount allowed to agents and booksellers, which is not less than 40 per cent., have averaged about £14., and in the present year will be about £20. Now this sum would be sufficient for the present to help our respected treasurer, Mr. Salter, to carry out the benevolent purpose of the

Conference, and even to create, in connection with other resources, a reserved fund for any incapacitated minister, or for any widow who may require assistance. Let it be stated on the cover of the Magazine that the profits will be devoted to the relief of incapacitated ministers, and to the widows of ministers, and we doubt not that many will be induced to purchase the Magazine who now only borrow it from the library of their society, or from their neighbours. The societies themselves will also most probably be more concerned to increase its sale amongst their members and friends. It will therefore be proposed at the next Conference that the profits arising from the sale of the Magazine shall be devoted to this truly useful object.

LONDON PRINTING SOCIETY.

This society has lately held its annual meeting, but we have not yet received any account of that interesting occasion. The report will soon be published, when we hope to give, as usual, an abstract of its proceedings during the past year. In the meantime, we heartily recommend to our readers, and to the public in general, the new edition of the "Apocalypse Revealed." This edition is presented in the usual handsome form which now,

both as to type, paper, and binding, characterises all the society's works. Considering the great quantity of matter they contain, they must be admitted to be very low in cost to the purchaser; should, however, the sales become more extensive, so as to justify the society in printing still larger editions, the price would be still lower. This edition has been revised and superintended through the press by a gentleman of high literary attainments. It comprises, also, a very copious index, so that every subject stated in the book may be instantly found.

MANCHESTER FREE LIBRARY. Donation of Books by the Manchester Printing Society of the New Church.

"Manchester, 15th July, 1852. "GENTLEMEN,-The Committee of the Manchester Free Library and Museum have received, by the hands of the Rev. J. H. Smithson, your present of twentyfive volumes of books, chiefly by the late Rev. John Clowes, and request me to return you their best acknowledgments and thanks.

"I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

"JOHN POTTER, Chairman. "To the Swedenborgian Printing Society, Manchester."

Died, at Haslingden, on Tuesday the 30th December, 1851, in the 64th year of her age, Mrs. Pilkington, wife of the late George Pilkington, Esq. She was a woman of untiring energy and activity, and took great delight in being useful to those around her. Some years since she was severely afflicted with erysipelas in one of her legs, of which she partially recovered, but was left in such an enervated state that walking was ever afterwards attended with great difficulty. This caused her to seldom attend public worship. She was, however, a zealous reader of the writings of Mr. Clowes, and several others, and cherished the truths set forth in those writings relative to the life after death, and the joys of heaven. Her forte was more in doing than in talking about the Lord's will. Religion, as a topic to speak upon, seldom engaged her attention, but her life was adorned with its graces and virtues. Goyder's "Spiritual Reflections" were held in high

estimation, and during her last hours she frequently requested portions thereof to be read, which appeared to afford great consolation. She waited patiently and with much resignation her release from an exhausted earthly tabernacle, and as her end approached she spoke with feelings of pleasure and delight of being able soon to enjoy the presence and company of those who had left her own family circle and gone to their everlasting home." In this calm and hopeful spirit, faithfully trusting in Him whose promises cheer and console in the hour of death, she left the cares and turmoils of earth to enjoy the rest prepared for the children of God in heaven.

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Died, at Stratford St. Mary's, January 8th, 1852, in the 77th year of his age, Mr. Stephen Clubb, late of North-street, Colchester, in which place he resided many years Mr. Clubb was accustomed from carly life to attend a dissenting

place of worship, where the doctrines termed Evangelical were usually preached; but which, it appeared, never made a very deep impression upon his mind; for during the greater part of the time that he lived in Colchester he was a decided Unitarian, and was well known as a believer in, and an advocate of, the doctrines of Unitarianism, as taught by the celebrated Dr. Priestley. It was through him that the Unitarians were enabled to introduce those doctrines to the notice of the inhabitants of that town by means of public preachings in the chapel in St. Helen's-lane, which,-after having undergone some repairs—was reopened for that purpose in October, 1817, an event which was then hailed with joy both by the deceased, and the writer of this notice, who at that time was a Unitarian also, and who afterwards was chosen by the Unitarians, who had formed themselves into a church, and were subscribers to that chapel, to become the officiating and legal minister of the same. This office he has continued to hold from July, 1823, unto the present time; but not as a Unitarian-for since that period, a new era has been formed in his mind, his former negative views of the Christian religion having been entirely removed therefrom, and the positive and glorious doctrines of the New Jerusalem taken their place; an exchange for which he feels that he can never be too thankful; and an exchange which did not long remain unobserved by his Unitarian friends, part of whom continued their attendance upon the preachings at the chapel as usual, amongst whom were Mr. Clubb and his family; all of whom, by degrees, became much pleased with the new views, and several of them afterwards became members of the New Church. And although the departed(in consequence of his former views having made so deep an impression on his mind)- -never appeared to attain to so clear a perception of the truth of the doctrine of the Sole and Exclusive Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, as to enable him conscientiously to become a registered member of the church; yet he attended upon its public services, was much pleased with the writings of Swedenborg, took pleasure in introducing a knowledge of them to others, and, I doubt not, found comfort and consolation therefrom in the closing scenes of his mortal life. Being, therefore, we believe, inwardly in the love of Goodness and

Died, at Glasgow, on Monday the 26th of April, aged 85 years, Mr Caleb Isbister, the last surviving member of the first society of the New Church formed in this country. He was a native of Pomona, one of the Orkney Islands, but went when a young man to London, where he became acquainted with the doctrines in the year 1790, two years after the formation of the first society, which met in Great East Cheap. Doubts and distress of mind occasioned by some of the Old Church doctrines prepared him for a ready and joyful reception of those of the New. The doctrine of election and predestination, and the nature of hell and its torments, appeared to him so much at variance with the character of the Divine Being, that when he heard Swedenborg's views on these subjects he at once embraced them, and found consolation. Mr. Isbister soon became active in promoting the cause which he had so earnestly espoused. He was considered one of the influential members of the Church, and was usually a member of the deputation which was appointed by the societies of London to confer on matters of general interest; and in this capacity Mr Noble remembers to have met him in the year 1800.

Like several members of the early Church, his interest in the personal history of Swedenborg led him to visit the Shearsmiths, from whom he learnt several particulars respecting their illustrious lodger, which he took great pleasure in relating. While in London, Mr. Isbister engaged in the straw-plait trade, and was the inventor of a machine for dividing the tube, which had been previously done imperfectly by the hand. He was also the first to introduce the manufacture of straw-plait into his native islands, where it is still a branch of industry. Circumstances having arisen which did much injury to Mr. Isbister in his temporal affairs, he retired to Edinburgh, about the year 1818, where he joined the few members who then met privately for worship. And when, after Mr. Hindmarsh's visit to Scotland, the society ventured on making their appearance as a public body, his knowledge of the doctrines, and his experience in the affairs of

the Church, rendered him a highly valuable member, as he proved equally useful in meetings for business and improvement. After remaining several years in Edinburgh, Mr. Isbister removed to Glasgow, where he had resided for the last thirty years, and where he had seen the society raised, and had aided in raising it, from a small beginning, through many difficulties, to its present prosperous state. Divine Providence had seen good severely to try the departed in the furnace of natural and temporal affliction. From a state of prosperity he had fallen into great adversity; and while the dark cloud rested upon him, the loss of his loved partner was followed by the removal, one by one, of the greater number of his family. Those who knew him during this period of his life, as they were able to form the truest, so, we feel confident in saying, they formed also the most favourable opinion of Mr. Isbister's Christian character. Though he felt the stroke of adversity, and was still more keenly touched by the sufferings and loss of those he tenderly loved, he never gave way to murmurings or despondency, but supported himself, and those who looked to him for support, by the assurance that the Lord's care is extended to the minutest human concerns of life, and that he is equally good in giving and in taking away. He who measures out our needful share of temporal good and ill, gilded his latter years with the sunshine of worldly prosperity; and it is pleasing to be able to say, that his enlarged means increased his liberality, without injuring his humility. In the Glasgow society, as, we believe, in the others with which he had been previously connected, Mr. Isbister was highly esteemed both for his intelligence and virtues. He entered into the doctrines with all his heart, and all his conversation on religious subjects had a practical tendency. The doctrine of uses was that on which he loved more especially to dwell, and he laid great stress on the declaration of Swedenborg, which he often repeated, that "essential religion consists in shunning evils as sins." His life afforded an excellent example of his principles. To warm affections and a sound judgment he added a mild and conciliatory disposition, and he was always disposed to

think well of others in comparison with himself. Mr. Isbister took a very warm interest in every thing connected with the Church, its progress and prospects. The account of the great meeting in London, held last year, interested him exceedingly; and he took great delight in looking back and comparing the flourishing and widely extended state of the Church at the present time, with what it was in the days of its feeble infancy, when he first knew it. On the last Sabbath he attended the services of public worship, (and he was absent only one Sabbath preceding his death,) he spoke with great delight of a piece of information he had recently heard, to the effect that one of the ministers of the Established Church of Scotland had lately declared, in a public sermon, that "God did not make hell, but that man made it." "The light, you see, is spreading, is spreading," he exclaimed. His chief happinesss, during his latter years, seemed to be in poring over the writings of the Church, especially the "Arcana," and the "Apocalypse Explained," a volume of which he had almost constantly in his hand. He was blessed with excellent health, almost to the last, and was confined to his bed but four days. has gone, in a ripe old age, to join the Church of ths New Jerusalem above, whence, we may trust, his influence on the Church below will be even stronger and more beneficent than when he was visibly present amongst us.

He

Died, at Heigham, Norwich, on the 8th June, aged 78, Mr. George Boult. He had assembled many years, with his family, at the New Church place of worship, and was a regular attendant as long as his health permitted. During the last two years, the infirmities of age rapidly increased, and the death of his son, in August last, (who had the principal management of his business,) seemed to accelerate his decline. The last five months he lingered in the prospect of his departure, when the summons, painfully looked for by his beloved family, gently came, and emancipated his spirit from its time-worn tenement. He was highly respected for his integrity as a man of business, his urbanity as a master, and his consideration of the poor in the parish where he lived. R. A.