preach, lecture, and blaze away for a time, but their fire will be extinguished. Of course his lordship the Bishop is keeping a strict guard. No doubt he depends principally upon Mr. Rs. This gentleman has a room in Port, and, I am told, lectures to the young men of the town frequently. He gave out that he would lecture against Swedenborgianism. This became known to the readers of his works, and an indefatigable and worthy person, a Mr. M-1 sent him some New Church books with the request that he would give them a perusal before attempting to lecture. Mr. R. kept them about eight days and returned them; but no lecture has been given; and should he or any other attempt anything of the kind, we intend sending home the lecture itself or notes to be answered by Mr. Clissold, Mr. Smithson, or any of the New Church gentlemen competent to refute all that may be said against the New Church. We want Tracts, tracts, tracts. . . . "Besides these names, [already alluded to,] numbers are reading and are favourably impressed; and we expect in a very short time to double and treble our numbers: in fact, already are the Port of Spain members talking of subscribing one dollar per month each when our numbers come up to the 100, and sending home for Mr. McP. The McK—s, at Union Hall, will not believe that you are in the New Church. I sent them the Intellectual Repository that they might read what was there said of you; but they will have it that it must be another McP. and from Trinidad too!! This is nearly as bad as 'Thomas.' It is said, that if you make your appearance here as our Pastor will have to preach to empty walls. Even Mrs. McK- says she will listen to the doctrines of the New Church if preached by Mr. McPherson. "We expect to have a New Church Service this day week in Port; and as it is the first time that the members meet, I purpose making every effort to be present. The Conference Liturgy is to be used; no extempore prayers or preaching. Noble's, Clowes', and New Church Sermons only to be read. Be cured of all your ailments, and gird yourself with sling and stone for the encounter out here. Departures into the Spiritual World. J. H. L." On the 4th of Oct., at Jersey, in the 67th year of his age, Mr. PENNICK, a native of Brightlingsea. He was a zealous and consistent member of the Society; was among the early receivers of the doctrines, having been a member for upwards of forty-four years; has filled various offices in the Church from time to time, with satisfaction to the friends and credit to himself, and was Deacon up to the time of his demise. About six months previous to his departure into the spiritual world he was, by an attack of paralysis, deprived of his speech, which he never recovered. But when awakened in that spiritual state, for which he had been preparing, this faculty will be restored to him, and he will be enabled to sing and praise his Great Redeeming Lord. T. B. On Monday, 18th October, at Glasgow, Mr. Andrew Bain, a partner in the wellknown firm of Bell and Bain, Printers, of Glasgow, aged 48. He became acquainted with the doctrines of the New Church through his partner, Mr. Bell, and, with one or two others, he was the chief means of causing the place of worship to be erected, which the Society in Glasgow now holds, and also of the settlement of Mr. Prescott Hiller there as the minister. Mr. Bain was for upwards of twenty-five years an affectionate and most intelligent receiver of the doctrines of the New Church, and his continual desire and endeavour was to bring those heavenly doctrines into life. A thorough detester of all kinds of pretence, he was deeply impressed with the truth that faith without charity is nothing. When in health he was always very active and zealous; doing all he could towards making Jerusalem a praise and a name on the earth; indeed in everything connected with the New Church he took a warm interest. He was a kind and devoted husband and father, and was repaid by the deep affection of his family. He was a sincere, true friend, and was loved by all who had the privilege of his acquaintance. He was a benevolent, upright, honest man, and was universally respected. There was always a welcome and hospital reception at his house for the friends of the Church from the richest to the poorest. For nearly ten years previous to his departure, he was deprived of the use of his limbs, was a continual sufferer, day and night, from severe neuralgic pains, and was therefore mostly confined to his house; but all his sufferings could not deprive him of his cheerful happy disposition, and of his firm trust in the Divine Providence of the Lord, knowing and acknowledging, as he always did, that his suffering was permitted by Divine goodness and unerring wisdom for his eternal good. The remarkable patience with which one of such an ardent and energetic temperament bore such severe pain, as also his separation from active life, was a continual sermon to all who knew him. His warm, intelligent, and genial nature drew around him a large circle of attached friends not connected with the Church, by whom he was much beloved and esteemed for the superiority of his principles, which he carried out into all the actions of his life, and who will long remember the happy hours spent in his society. He thus did much towards softening down the prejudices attached to the Church particularly in Scotland. Let those who were intimate with him recall his bright and intelligent countenance, when he was surrounded by his friends, and had, for the time, forgotten all his pains, and believe that, as death changes not the man, he is now in the enjoyment of spiritual society, his countenance still bright and more beaming in that world where pain and sorrow can never come. "He rests from his labours, and his works follow with him." A few days previous to his removal he expressed, with fervour, his deep thankfulness to Divine Providence for having brought to his knowledge the doctrines of the New Church. They, he said, had been his comfort in illness, had enabled him to bear his sufferings with patience, and, above all, had given him strength to fight and overcome in the temptations incident to the spiritual life. When asked if he had peace in the prospect of his removal, he replied abundance of peace." "Forgive, dear friend! the tributary tear That mourns thy transit from a world like this! J. F. Os Wednesday, the 3rd of November, at Jersey, Mrs. WILLKES, supposed to be about 60 years of age, without any previous illness. Although not an enrolled member of the Society, she was a true member of the Lord's New Church, from the time she embraced the doctrines, which is some years past. She supported the Church by her presence at all the means of grace, as well as otherwise, to the best of her ability. She is gone to her reward. T. B. ADDRESS BY THE PROPRIETORS AND EDITORS. The Monthly Observer and New Church Record was undertaken in the conviction, that there was not only room for an addition to the Periodical Literature of the Church, but that a positive want for it existed. This conviction has been fully con firmed on appeal to the Members of the Church, who, during the two years of this Periodical's existence, have had ample opportunity of judging of its character. As the ground we have taken was partly unoccupied, and but indifferently cultivated, we have all the more satisfaction in pointing to our two years' productions, in evidence of the need for our labours in the field we have chosen. A considerable amount of valuable talent, that had been discouraged and neglected in the Church, has been developed and brought into useful activity through these pages; new sources of information have been opened up; and highly instructive and otherwise important matters relating strictly to the spirit of the New Church, that had either been unknown or altogether overlooked, have been diligently collected, and made an attractive feature in the plan of our Magazine. The Essays, it is believed, have not been below the average of New Church literature; and the articles arising out of the Reviews of Books, have generally been of a highly interesting and superior class. The newly-introduced department, entitled "The Press," &c., has given a more general view of what is taking place out of the Church, and having a bearing upon it, than has yet been elsewhere obtained; and neither expense nor labour has been spared in securing the most recent Miscellaneous Information. The promises made in our Prospectus have been fulfilled, the constant effort having been always and particularly made in causing our Magazine to "be directed towards a firm consistency in the maintenance and promotion of the principles of UNIVERSAL CHARITY and TRUTH." Where it has been necessary, from the very nature of a periodical, to fall into the ordinary course of procedure, it has been the endeavour to do so with a vigour that should give new life and freshness to the various objects of our cultivation and care. The Proprietors perfectly well knew the kind of reception their Periodical was likely to meet with; but they felt sure that all hostile feeling would be greatly softened down if the work should prove equal to its professions and creditable to the Church. A belief in its evanescence, it seems, was strongly entertained, as it was thought there was no public to purchase, and, judging from experience, no writers by whom its pages could be filled. But the groundlessness of these anticipations have been sufficiently proved, both by the ample literary support we have received, and by the extensive circulation which it now commands. Believing that the plan, as well as the principles, upon which it is conducted are approved, we shall continue in the same course, introducing such improvements as may be found useful or necessary still retaining the freedom and independence that have characterised it hitherto. And if opinions, contrary to our own and of many of our readers' convictions, have at times had their advocates in these pages, it is because we believe that, in giving a fair hearing to both sides of an "open question," we best subserve the ultimate interests of genuine Truth. In short, the Editors are satisfied with themselves so far as the work has proceeded; the Proprietors are satisfied with the Editors; and both anticipate a still wider field of usefulness. Hoping that this feeling of satisfaction is reciprocated by our readers generally, we shall enter upon our Third Volume with the full intention of rendering our services more extensively useful to all classes of the Church. The Junior Members of the Church shall in future have much more of our attention, in providing matter suitable for their instruction and spiritual benefit. To enable us to succeed in this object, we hope our literary friends will lend us what aid they can afford. To all our Correspondents we tender our most grateful acknowledgments, and in doing so we cannot better prove our sincerity than by assuring them that we shall always be happy to receive their friendly contributions. |