detected juvenile criminal is at once brought "before the magistrate, to whom section 10 of the Summary Jurisdiction Act gives power to adjudge each a whipping of six strokes with a birch rod, either in addition to, or instead of, any other punishment.'

But with regard to the halfstarved child, What can the magistrate do with him? The inquiry," says Mrs. Surr, "What shall he not do with him?' is far less bewildering; and we would earnestly exclaim, do not send him to prison, and above all do not order him to an industrial school, if he be a little boy, until you have industrial schools solely for the reception of little boys."

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Mrs. Surr discusses several features of this important question, and with a woman's clear perception, maintains the supreme importance of the mother's influence to the success of the treatment of little children. "If," she says, "the good mother and the decent home are absolutely necessary for the child's moral and physical welfare, and he becomes an offender from lack of either or both, is it not plainly a pressing and a public duty to attempt the child's reformation by supplying the deficiency as far as possible? And can this be done more effectually than by the provision of artificial advantages closely resembling those he would have enjoyed had his natural (or unnatural) mother and his home been of desirable character?"

NATIONAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The following report was presented to the last meeting of the committee by Mr. Gunton, the National Missionary:

"Since my last report I have preached at the Penge Hall, Anerley, on five successive Sundays, both morning and evening, and have also attended two week-evening reading meetings there. As the committee of the missionary operations, you will be glad to know that a signal success has attended our efforts in that district. The Society has been formed in an orderly manner, by the preparation of a proper members' book, and the members having signed the declaration of faith. The operations for building the church have been active for some

weeks. The trustees have been appointed, and a proper code of rules is under consideration for the guidance of the New Society. The pecuniary aid also towards the building fund speaks well for the zeal of the contributors. The amount now promised or paid is just over £1000. I trust, as one of the promoters, that a corresponding zeal and generosity will be manifested by the donations of many others to whom no special appeal has been made, and by those also to whom a special appeal will be made, and that thus either at the opening services, or soon after, the church may be free from debt. This can most easily be done if the excellent and noble example of the present contributors is followed by others, who under the good providence of the Lord are in circumstances which enable them to lend a helping hand. As all who are acquainted with the facts know, I have laboured earnestly in the missionary field for some years, and I rejoice at this prospect of a crowning success. Surely my brethren will rejoice with me. In addition to the services at Anerley, since my last report I have visited Salisbury, and delivered two week-evening lectures there, both of which were well attended. The friends there have been deprived of their leader, and are in some difficulties in regard to the conducting of the services. It is pro

posed, however, that Mr. Jones of Winchester, an estimable New Churchman, and an acceptable preacher, should visit them once a month, and that a missionary from London should be sent once a month, two of the friends of the Society taking the other services. I have also delivered two lectures at the Albion Hall, Dalston, after which many questions were asked. My lectures being followed by two by Dr. Tafel, and one by Mr. Dicks, the leader of the Dalston Society.

MANCHESTER AND SALFORD MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

During the winter the committee of this Society directed their attention to the delivery of lectures in several of the populous places in the neighbourhood. From the pages of the Society's

Missionary Record we give the following abbreviated account of some of these labours.

Glossop.-Four lectures were delivered at this town by the Revs. P. Ramage, W. Westall, I. Tansley, and C. H. Wilkins. Considerable interest was excited and a spirit of inquiry aroused among the more thoughtful of the audiences. Some of the audience requested that at the close of the lectures a night should be appointed for conversation on the subjects of the lectures. This desire was gladly complied with, and an instructive conversation took place, although the most forward person to urge the holding of the meeting was not present.

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Blackpool.-On the 20th and 27th of October two lectures were delivered at this place. The first was by the Rev. W. Westall, on "Swedenborg and his Teaching;" the second on "The Bible, its Divine Origin asserted and proved, by the Rev. P. Ramage of Kearsley. On the day of the first lecture the Blackpool Times in its leading column called attention to the fact that the refusal of the Town Council to receive Swedenborg's works was still bearing fruit; that the lovers of Swedenborg's teaching had arranged for two lectures, in order to enlighten those who were ignorant of the nature of his "and," said the editor, teaching, shall be curious to see whether those who need enlightenment will avail themselves of this opportunity of listening to what is meant for their good. At the first lecture about sixty were present. Mr. Westall gave a very full account of Swedenborg and his writings, which was listened to with interest. The day of the second lecture was one of the most boisterous days ever witnessed. It rained from morning until midnight, and the attendance was in consequence small; but a very interesting meeting was held, when, we believe, good seed was sown. Three copies of the "True Christian Religion were sold.

Moss Side, Manchester.-Four lectures were given here by the Revs. W. Westall, R. Storry, I. Tansley, and C. H. Wilkins. The attendance at these lectures was not so good as some of our earnest friends who reside in the neighbourhood desired. Those who attended were instructed and edified,

and some warmly expressed their enjoyment of the services.

Prestwich and Rainsough.-The Rev. Mr. Tansley reports respecting the lectures at these places under date January 2: "Last night brought the lectures in this neighbourhood to a conclusion, and I write to report to the committee the result of our work. Considering the severe state of the weather, the lectures have been suc cessful, and have stimulated inquiry. Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Ramage lectured at Prestwich, and on both occasions I occupied the chair. At the close of each lecture an interesting discussion took place. Rainsough is new ground; the village is situated about one mile from Prestwich, and near the borders of Kersal Moor. Here we hired the Liberal Club-room. Forms were very kindly leant by the Wesleyans. I delivered my lecture in due course, the chair being occupied by Mr. Henshall. Mr. Wilkins lectured last night. At the close of each lecture a discussion took place. At the close of both the Rainsough lectures a vote of thanks was moved, and warmly carried. The audiences here, with two or three exceptions, were strangers. I may say that it is thought that the work begun here might be followed up with advantage by further missionary labour."

Stockport.-Four lectures have been delivered here by the Revs. Mr. Westall and Mr. Wilkins. Mr. Westall's subject for his first lecture was, "God's Love in Heaven and Hell Contrasted;" and for his second, "The Stability of the Heavens and the Eternity of the Hells." In his first lecture he showed that Divine love is infinite and unchangeable, and God is not all love in heaven and fury and vengeance in hell, nor does He breathe all love at one time and all fury and torment at another; but His love is like the sun shining on the evil and the good, and sending rain on the just and on the unjust. Nevertheless, the lecturer showed there was the widest possible contrast in the manifestation of His love in the two kingdoms-the contrast, however, being due not to the Lord, but to the opposite states of the inhabitants who dwelt there. Because angels are God-like, the Lord can fill them with His love and wisdom, and lead them to an ever-increasing excel

lence and bliss. But because devils are the very opposite of this, they abuse these gifts of God when bestowed upon thein, and make them minister to their greater hurt.

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ever

At his second lecture Mr. Westall said that he had linked the stability of the heavens with the eternity of the hells, that he might show that both rested on the same principles, and if we destroyed these foundations in the one case we did it in the other. destroyed the meaning of "everlasting" in the phrases, everlasting fire,' “everlasting_damnation,” and “ lasting punishment," we should destroy its meaning also in the phrases, "everlasting life" and "eternal life." If we admit the possibility of devils coming out of hell into heaven, we must admit the same possibility of angels falling from heaven to hell. If devils can be changed into angels of light, must it not follow that angels can bę changed into demons of darkness? No such changes, however, are be found in any of God's works. The crooked and gnarled oak is never converted into the upright and stately palm; the black and voracious vulture is never transformed into the white and gentle dove; "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may he do good who is accustomed to do evil?" The greatest attention was given to the lecturer throughout.

The subjects discussed by Mr. Wilkins were treated with singular eloquence and in a very original manner. In his lecture on the "Nature and Destiny of Man," he commenced by stating that the two test words as to the mental and spiritual condition of individuals were "God" and "Man.' More could be ascertained of a man's state by the application of these tests than by a life's contact otherwise. He drew attention to the manifestations of the Divine activities in the several kingdoms of nature, tracing the prominent features of these kingdoms with remarkable clearness and ability. From the exposition of the distinct degrees of life in these kingdoms he passed on to consider the true nature of man, in whom is the highest manifestation of life. In man was a higher range of being than in any other of the Creator's works, and this higher nature had relation to a plane of existence which does

not receive its full development and complete enjoyment in the things of earth. He thence argued the certainty of man's immortality-the constant formation of his spiritual character while in the world being the needful preparation for his future inheritance in an immortality of bliss.

Since the delivery of these lectures the attendance at Sabbath-evening services has improved. A pleasant teaparty was held after the close of the lectures, which was attended by Messrs. Westall, Wilkins, and Henshall. Some time since this small Society made an effort to raise funds for the erection of a place of worship. The sum obtained was quite inadequate to this work, and a portion of it-£30-has been, with the consent of subscribers, judiciously expended in making the room they now occupy in Bow Croft Place more convenient and suitable for the purposes of public worship. The room has been reseated and beautified, and is now a neat and attractive place.

Haslingden. Four lectures have been delivered in the chapel at this town to not large, but, we believe, appreciative audiences. The first of these lectures was by the Rev. P. Ramage, on "Jesus Christ: was He Myth, Man, or the Supreme God?" The second by the Rev. R. Storry, on "Christian Faith: its Relation to Salvation and Eternal Life." The third was by the Rev. I. Tansley, on. "The Lord's Second Coming." And the fourth by the Rev. Mr. Wilkins, on "The Nature and Destiny of Man." The Society here is putting forth efforts for the erection of a schoolroom, which is needed for the furtherance of their work.

Waterfoot, Rossendale.-Three lectures have been delivered in this town by the Rev. Wm. Westall. The first lecture was on "The Resurrection: When and Where will Man Rise? The lecturer showed the absurdity of expecting a resurrection of the material body, and of having to wait, perhaps, thousands of years even for that. He then showed that the last day with every man is the day of his death, which is the time for his resurrection. Man then rises in a spiritual body into the spiritual world; and death is but the continuation of life.

Mr. Westall's second lecture was on "What and Where is Heaven, and

what do Angels do?" The great mistake of men, he said, was to look upon heaven as a place only, and to think that if they only just get inside they would be all right. The lecturer showed that the essential of heaven is a state, and if they have not the heavenly state they can never reach the heavenly place. All true happiness must flow from within, and the fountain from which it flows must be a heavenly mind, and where no heavenly mind exists no heavenly happiness can come. But where the heavenly state exists heavenly happiness will be consummated in a heavenly place. This place, he showed, is a vast region in the spiritual world called heaven, where all the good are gathered, and where they live under external conditions of life which are the exact correspondents of angelic states, and in which angelic bliss has its fulness of joy. Heaven also differs from the earth in this, that angels are not compelled to work for their livelihood, as men are; for as the fowls of the air neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet their heavenly Father feedeth them, so it is with angels. And as the lilies of the field toil not nor yet spin, and yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these, so also with angels. And yet, he showed, angels did work, and had greater varieties of occupation and service than even men upon earth. But the motive power with them was not compulsion or necessity, but love-the love of goodness, and the love of usefulness.

And

as the youth loves his games and sports, and has his greatest delight and enjoyment therein, so with angels in the performance of every variety of service and

use.

The third lecture was on "The Second Advent: Christ is coming, but how?" The lecturer showed that the prophecies of both our Lord's first and second Advent had been read literally, and that by this reading the grossest mistakes had been made. The Jews expected the Lord to come as an earthly king, and because they still keep to this idea they fail to recognise His Advent. Christians have been expecting His Second Advent in the clouds of this natural world, followed by the entire destruction of this globe, and because they are looking for Him in that manner they fail to see His Advent in the

human mind. Questions were allowed after each lecture, and a considerable number were asked at the first and third, but few at the second. At the last lecture a vote of thanks, moved and seconded by two of the questioners, was most heartily responded to, and the lectures are known to have stimulated considerable inquiry and reading in the village. The audiences ranged from about seventy to one hundred, the largest audience being at the last lecture.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA.-We have received the Report of this Society for the year 1880. It is full of details respecting the working of the Society, and the efforts to build up the Church and extend the knowledge of the truth. The congregation though not large is continuous, and is therefore a constant witness to the truth. The average attendance is rather under than over fifty. The number of members is forty-four. The Sacrament is administered twelve times in the year, the average number of communicants is twenty-one. The Society is strengthened and assisted in the conducting of its services by Mr. Pitman, who was mainly instrumental in its formation, and who after a long absence has returned and taken up his abode near the church. This assistance, and the assistance of two other lay-readers, is needed in the advancing age of the minister, the Rev. E. G. Day. The finances of the Society have improved during the year, and efforts are being initiated to secure the services of a minister when the gratuitous and self-denying labours of the present pastor is no longer available. The Society holds a property of the estimated value of nearly £2000, on which the remaining debt is £214. Included in the Report is the following notice of a movement at present taking place to secure a closer union of the several Societies of the New Church in the Australian Colonies:

"The Rev. J. J. Thornton, of Melbourne, has sent to this Society a circular containing some seventy questions, with a view to elicit extensive and reliable statistical and social returns, and he informed us at the same time that the Societies of the

New Church in Sydney and Brisbane have elected to send delegates to meet delegates appointed by the Melbourne Society before the Exhibition closes. This meeting of delegates is with a view to inaugurate a federal union of all New Church Societies in the Australian Colonies. The co-operation of the Adelaide Society is desired, and the request made that it would provide for the attendance of its minister with a lay member as a delegate. No doubt some use would arise from such meeting, but it is doubtful whether in the present state of the Society's finances and its fewness of numbers it would be either wise or prudent to incur so large an expenditure as would be required to send two persons to Melbourne. however, must rest on the opinion of the Society generally, and its willingness to meet the necessary cost."

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THE NEW CHURCH IN VIENNA.-We extract the following brief notice of the New Church Society in this capital from the April number of the American New Jerusalem Magazine: secuted Society lately held its annual meeting. Eighty were present. Twenty new members had joined during the year, against seven who had died or emigrated. The financial report showed a small balance in hand. A government official is present at the services, and a Sunday school is not permitted.'

LONDON (Argyle Square).—In accordance with a recommendation from the London Association of the New Church, this church was opened for a week-night lecture on Thursday the 24th March. There was a very good congregation, notably among whom were many strangers. The Rev. Dr. Tafel was the lecturer, and the proceedings took the form of an evening service, the devotional part of which was conducted by the Rev. J. Presland, comprising a hymn, followed by prayer, after which an anthem the solo, "Rejoice greatly, from Handel's Messiah, excellently well rendered by Mrs. Mackenzie-a lesson from the Word, and another hymn. The Rev. Dr. Tafel then delivered his lecture on "The Incarnation of Jehovah God the Crowning Miracle of all time." The lecture was delivered in a very impressive manner, and was listened to throughout with marked attention by the congregation. After the lecture another hymn was sung, and the service

was brought to a close by the Rev. J. Presland pronouncing the benediction. It is hoped that after this successful experiment the lectures will be continued, and that other churches will also follow the example.

LONDON (Camberwell).-The Annual Report of this Society for 1880 contains an unusually full account of the Society and its various institutions. Very complete reports are given of the general operations of the Society and of the working of the following institutions connected with it: the Sunday School, the Library and book sales, Junior Members Theological Class, Ladies' Benevolent Committee, appropriation of sittings, Mutual Improvement Society, and Band of Hope. The general tone of these several reports is cheerful and hopeful. The retirement of the members of the Brixton Association has reduced the number of members in the church; but there have been added eleven new members, and there is every reason to hope that a short time will restore the Society to its former strength. This is the more probable as the number of vacant sittings in the church has been gradually filled up, so that the present number is scarcely larger than in 1879. In the reports of the several institutions, there are, as is usual, some fluctuations, but there is abundant evidence of vitality and solid progress. The Society cannot fail to be encouraged by its past success to renewed and continuous efforts.

MELBOURNE, DERBYSHIRE.-In connection with the Mutual Improvement Society we have recently had two useful and instructive lectures by Revs. W. O'Mant of Nottingham and J. Ashby of Derby. Mr. O'Mant, on "Books and their Use," treated largely on Swedenborg's scientific, philosophical, and theological works, and also spoke in the warmest manner of Dr. Wilkinson's book on the "Human Body " and Leo Grindon's book on "Life and its Nature. He strongly advised young men to carefully read these books, which, he said, would form a new epoch in their life. The Rev. J. Ashby of Derby lectured on "Facts and Anecdotes of the remarkable Life of Swedenborg." The lecturer reviewed the life of Swedenborg, pointing out the advantages of his birth and social position, and the evidences of his