Page images
PDF
EPUB

Swedenborgians, as they are called Lutherans and Calvinists. But it is not so. Swedenborg was only the humble medium of communicating Divine and heavenly truths to the world; and it is no more proper to call those truths in a summary "Swedenborgianism," than it would be to term the rays of light, which pass through a window, "glass-rays," instead of "the sun's rays."

The use of the term, moreover, conveys a false idea to those unacquainted with the character of our faith. They gather from it the notion, that our religious system is merely one of the thousand sects of the Christian Church. It seems to us, then, that by the use of the improper term to which we have referred, we do both ourselves and the church injustice.

If it be asked, then, what term should be substituted for "Swedenborgianism," and "Swedenborgians," we answer" New Church" and "New Churchmen." We have heard it sometimes objected, that to call ourselves New Churchmen is presumptuous, because none are worthy of the name but those who are such in heart and life. But this we consider as over-refinement in the use of terms. Do we not call ourselves "Christians" all the world over? Yet how many are Christians in spirit and in truth? The term New Churchman, in a common sense, signifies merely one who is a believer in the doctrines and principles of the New Church. It may, indeed, be used emphatically, as when we say of one, he is a true New Churchman;" and just so, the term "Christian" is often used. But, in both these cases, the terms have an unusual and emphatic meaning. We would end, then, by observing, that we regard it as the duty of every receiver of the doctrines of the New Church, to avoid, and, on all proper occasions, to correct in others, the use of the terms "Swedenborgian" and "Swedenborgianism."

MISSION AT ISLINGTON.

To the Editor.

66

A.

Dear Sir,-In the account of the New Church Mission at Islington, inserted in the last number of the Repository, by some strange mistake the title of Esquire was introduced after my son's name. This, I need scarcely say, would not have been done had the party been aware that Henry William Bate

man was only a boy of eleven years old, and I should feel obliged by your correcting this error in your September number.

I have now the pleasure of stating that our building continues to advance, and that it will probably be completed exteriorly by the time of publication of the Magazine.

The first portion that will be finished interiorly will be the school-room, which we have arranged to open (D. V.) on Thursday the 9th September. Our first meeting in it will be partly of a religious and partly of a social character, for we intend to commence with a treat to our Sunday scholars; and shall hope to make it not only a feast for their bodies, but also a means of leading them to recognize the Lord Jesus Christ as the Author and Giver of all good things, and the only true Object of worship.

We have also arranged to open the same room for worship on the morning of Sunday, 12th September, and the Rev. Thomas Chalklen has been invited to preach the first sermon in our new building. The Rev. William Bruce has kindly consented to conduct our services on the evening of the Same day; and on the following Sunday evening the Rev. Thomas C. Shaw has been so good as to promise to officiate for us.

The Mission-room will probably not be ready for service until some weeks later, after which we shall hope to have a regular series of lectures calling the attention of our neighbours to the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem.

Requesting you will kindly insert these particulars in your forthcoming number, I remain, yours, &c.,

HENRY BATEMAN.

NEW CHURCH MISSION AT ISLINGTON.

To the Editor.

My Dear Sir,-Observing my name among several others under this head, and fearing that the concluding words of the paragraph in which it occurs may lead to a misapprehension in some minds, and to a charge of great inconsistency against myself, I beg to state that I neither am nor have been, nor ever intend to be, a candidate for introduction into the "ministry" of the New Church. Some two years ago, I gave one or two discourses in Islington as a

"stop-gap," but explicitly stated at the time that I could be no party to the extension of a system of which my conscience did not approve.

pect.

Permit me also to correct the statement of a circumstance connected with the origin of the Islington "Mission." In reference to missionary exertions, the writer of the notice observes,"Mr. Gardiner's conversion was the commencement of a new era in this resAs he received the doctrines himself, he was enabled to communicate them in some degree to those around him, and amongst the first fruits of his labours in the New Church was the reception of her doctrines by the family in whose house his mission-room was situated. This led to their kindly allowing us the gratuitous use of the same room for New Church services which Mr. Gardiner had formerly occupied as a London City Missionary." The fact is, however, this family had allowed the gratuitous use of the room to Mr. Gardiner from the first, and altogether for a period of about five years. They were also the first to receive the doctrines of the New Church, and instead of being his "converts," were the means of making him acquainted with the truth. So conclusive were their own views before Mr. Gardiner accepted them, that they were resolved, as they had made a sacrifice of the room for religious teaching, it should no longer be the means of indoctrinating their neighbours into a false system. About this time Mr. Gardiner was happy enough to perceive the superior excellence of the views which had been from time to time communicated to him, and thus, the room remained in his occupation, to the satisfaction of all parties; its application to this use from the first being due to the religious impressions and liberality of the Hardmans.

Feeling assured that the writer of the notice would himself be only too happy to correct this inadvertence, I presume that no apology can be necessary for requesting its insertion in the forthcoming number of the Repository. Remaining yours truly,

E. RICH.

THE SCOTTISH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY.

The eighteenth annual assembly of the members and friends of the New

A

Church, in Scotland, was held on Friday evening, the 16th July, 1852, in the New Jerusalem Temple, Glasgow. About 90 persons sat down to tea, including friends from Paisley, Edinburgh, Alloa, and Greenock. On Thomas Downes, Esq., being called to the chair, the meeting was opened by singing a hymn, and prayer by the Rev. T. O. Prescott. After tea addresses were delivered by Mr. Allan Drysdale, of Alloa, on the "Nature of Freedom and Rationality," and by Mr. David Fleming, of Paisley, on the "Comparative Non-entity of Evil." considerable interval was then allowed for friendly greeting and conversation. The meeting again resumed its proceedings by Mr. James Whyte, of London, giving an exceedingly interesting account of some recent missionary exertions by members of the New Church in several districts of London. The Rev. T. O. Prescott then followed with some lucid remarks on the general character of the New Dispensation. After some notes and comments on the addresses by several friends present, the meeting was closed by the Rev. T. O. Prescott pronouncing a benediction, and all separated much cheered and comforted in the pleasant communion of thought and feeling with which the occasion had been blessed.

It was decided that the next assembly be held in Edinburgh, on Friday, 15th July, 1853.

RAILWAY BOOK STALLS.

Book-stalls are to be met with at every important station on all the railways of our country. At these stalls every useful and cheap publication is exhibited to view. Thousands of travellers, of all kinds of mental character, are constantly looking at the books here exhibited for sale; and very many are no doubt sold. Now the Minor Works of Swedenborg, published at so cheap a rate and in so neat a form by the Manchester Tract Society, are well adapted for attracting the eye of travellers, and the low price of 2d., 3d., and 4d. can be no obstacle where the mind is disposed to inquire, and to read and reflect for itself. We would therefore earnestly recommend to the committees of our Printing and Tract Societies to consider whether the "Doctrine of the Lord,""Ofthe Sacred Scripture,"-"Of Life,”

The conversation which arose from the subject proposed, viz.,-"The reason why the Lord was born upon this earth," was extremely interesting, and in this respect the meeting would do very much to expand the thoughts and views of some present, and possibly, correct in some degree, or rather define the views of others. An animated conversation, in which almost all present took part, carried on the meeting to the time when it has been usual to close, without entering upon another subject, which had been proposed along with the one discussed.

"Of Faith," "The Heavenly Doctrines," the "Heaven and Hell," and other works, could not be exhibited at every great station, where so many travellers are constantly waiting, and where the great object of attraction is the book-stall. Individuals in the habit of travelling might, we think, be permitted to deposit some copies of the above-named works, at these stalls, on sale or return, and the next time they travelled they might inquire as to the sale of the works deposited. In this manner a most effective missionary labour could be accomplished, which in a few years might extend a very considerable knowledge of the doctrines of the New Church throughout the length and breadth of our country. We sincerely hope that our readers will think of this proposition, and zealously take it in hand. The small sum of ten shillings will enable a traveller to procure at least fifty copies of the "Leading Doctrines," a few of which, left at each important station where he is in the habit of travelling, would soon, we think, prove the utility of our proposition. A NEGLECTED APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION.

MANCHESTER AND SALFORD MISSIONARY
INSTITUTION.

Mutual Improvement Meeting.

The fifth of the above meetings was held in the School-room, Peter-street, Manchester, on the evening of July 10th; the attendance was but scanty, owing probably to the heat of the weather and to the exciting events of the week.

The Revds. D. Howarth, W. Woodman, and James Boys, and Messrs. Mackereth, Robinson, E. Howarth, Staton, Beswick, Livsey, &c. were present, being in this respect a great improvement on last meeting.

The Rev. D. Howarth occupied the chair.

It was therefore resolved, that at the next meeting, to be held in the Salford School-room on the second Saturday in September, the subject should be

"Why were the Lord's temptations necessary, and what was it in the Lord that was capable of being tempted?"

It is to be hoped that all who can will attend these useful meetings, if not for their own, at least for their neighbours' benefit. G. B. S.

It seems an evidence of the carelessness of Christian churches as to the advancement of Christians in the chief of the Christian graces, LOVE, that the following Apostolic aspiration or benediction has never been used as such in any church. "The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all mankind." (1 Thess. iii. 12.) Although these words do not contain any internal sense, the occasional use of them as a concluding benediction after a New Church service, or church meeting, would surely be found edifying, either when used by themselves, or following the words, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all."

Obituary.

Died, on the 30th of March last, at the house of her son in Upper Clapton, near London, Mrs. Mary Maxwell, in the 77th year of her age. She was the relict of the late Alexander Maxwell, an interesting memoir of whom ap

peared in the March number of this Repository for 1850. With her husband, Mrs. Maxwell had been long and closely connected with the religious body known by the name of Independents; with him she also became, more

than twenty years ago, a convert to the views of the New Church, and a member of one of its societies. The principles she had embraced produced in her their legitimate fruits of humility, meekness, and charity. They were her guide in health, her solace in affliction, her comfort in the hour of death. The near prospect of eternity, which tends so strongly to show how far the religion of the understanding is also that of the heart, gave ardency to her religious feelings as well as elevation to her religious views; and the perfect reliance on the Lord's mercy which she expressed and so evidently felt, betokened the creation of a new heart, and the renewal of a right spirit within her, which, in the certainty of approaching bodily dissolution, are the only ground of genuine confidence. During her last illness, she was in a most happy frame of mind. Rejoicing in the Lord as her strength and song, and who had also become her salvation, she looked forward to her departure from the world as her introduction into the "place" which that Lord, by His great work of redeeming mercy, had prepared for her, yet patiently waited for the time when He should come again and receive her unto Himself, that where He is there she might be also.

Died, April 17, 1852, in the 61st year of his age, Mr. Thos. W. Denny, one of the earliest receivers of the doctrines of the New Church at Ipswich. He was heavily afflicted for months previous to his death, but he bore his afflictions with Christian resignation, and his last end was peaceful and happy. G.

Died, June 14th, 1852, after a short but severe illness, Charlotte, the beloved wife of Mr. G. R. Bell, of Oakslade Cottage, Shrewley, near Warwick, but better known to members of the Argyle Square Society, (of which she had been a member ever since its formation,) as Miss C. Harbert. She had been married but twelve months and a few days when she was, almost suddenly, taken from us, and her loss will be deeply felt by all her sorrowing relations and friends,

[blocks in formation]

On the 12th of July, aged 15 years, at Ivy-house, Churchstoke, Montgomery, Richard Gillaird Jones, nephew of Richard Roscoe Gillaird, Esq., was called into the world of spirits. Several members of this family have thus been successively carried off, by consumption, in the bloom of youth. But how cheering is the reflection, that, nurtured under the sweet influences of religion, they have been removed to a state where youthfulness, renewed, knows no decline! The subject of this notice, the youngest of the family, manifested an early intelligence in the Doctrines of the New Church, in which, on the removal of his parents some years ago, he was carefully brought up by his beloved guardians. Their cares for his earthly welfare have been painfully arrested; but the end of their affectionate designs, we must fondly hope, has, in the gracious dispensations of heaven, only been more early consummated, by the removal of their delicate charge to the regions of immortality.

Norwich.

R. A.

Died, at Worstead, Norfolk, August 5th, 1852, Mrs. Henry Boult, aged 41 years, a member of the society of the New Church, Norwich. The removal of her husband (scarcely twelve months before) gave a severe shock to her mind, and undoubtedly tended to develope a consumptive tendency of constitution. She gradually sank under the united suffering of mind and body; but habitually evinced a child-like spirit of resignation; the doctrines of the New Jerusalem, which she had long and ardently embraced, affording a well-spring of peace and hope under her bitter affliction. Having borne so meekly her transient cross, may she gain, through the divine mercy of the Lord, an immortal crown! Norwich.

R. A.

Cave and Sever, Printers, Palatine Buildings, Hunt's Bank, Manchester.

[blocks in formation]

MARRIAGE OF THE INTELLECT AND THE AFFECTIONS. Part Second,

[ocr errors]

SCRIPTURE not infrequently uses man and woman as names for the Intellect and the Affections. Many passages containing these words can only be rightly understood by interpreting them as metaphors of the two great spiritual principles which man and woman respectively embody, and which simultaneously form the male and female of the individual soul. Thus in Isaiah, Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear to my speech.' (xxxii. 9.) This is an appeal to the affections that they will not be content to lie still and contemplate the presence of the divine Truth in the understanding, but earnestly conjoin with it, as loving wife with husband, and supply to its brilliant powers the means of a living and useful realization. For use is the prime object of all creation, whether material or spiritual; and as the highest use of external sex is not accomplished till there be progeny; neither is the highest use of the understanding and the affections till they have coöperated to propagate Truth and Goodness.

In the correspondence of woman with the affections, and the proneness to error of the latter, is grounded perhaps the assertion some have not hesitated to advance, that to women are traceable, directly or indirectly, all evils and misfortunes whatsoever. The ancients laid this down as incontrovertible. There are numberless instances in which N. S. NO. 154.-VOL. XIII.

2Z

« PreviousContinue »