GENERAL CONFERENCE.

On Monday evening, August 8th, the formal opening of the seventy-fourth session of Conference took place in the church in Peter Street, Manchester. The retiring President, the Rev. J. Presland, read Psalm cxxii. and offered up the Lord's Prayer. The Secretary then read the Declaration of Faith, which is at the head of the Conference roll, and is signed by the members. The certificates of appointment were next received, and the ministers and representatives present signed the roll. A goodly number of members of Conference had reached Manchester in time for this meeting, and there were also present many members of the Peter Street Society, who warmly welcomed their numerous visitors. The total number of members of Conference when the roll was completed was-ministers, 27; representatives, 79, making a total number of 106. Conference was closed by the Rev. Dr. Bayley reading the 8th chapter of Zechariah and repeating again the opening prayer.

Prior to the meeting of Conference the ministers assembled in committee to consider various matters connected with the interests of the Church; but the principal subject of discussion was the advisability or contrariwise of adopting more students while the funds for educating them were so low, and while there was apparently so little probability of their obtaining a pulpit where they would receive adequate remuneration when their studies were finished. No definite resolution, however, was adopted by the meeting.

The Conference resumed its sitting at 9.30 on Tuesday morning, and the first business, as customary, was the election of President, Vice-President, and Secretary. The Rev. J. F. Potts was elected President, this being the first time he has occupied the Presidential Chair. Mr. Potts, in a brief address, thanked the Conference for the honour they had conferred upon him, and assured the members that he would do his best to discharge the duties of his position. He felt sure that he should have their kind indulgence and co-operation. At

any rate, he said, the rules should be put in force, and every member of Conference should have fair play. Forty years ago he was baptized in the Peter Street Church, and therefore it was not without emotion that he filled the position which of all others was, in his estimation, most honourable-that of being President of the New Church Conference. The Rev. J. Presland was elected Vice-President, and the Rev. E. Whitehead Secretary. Such portions of the Minutes of last session as required the attention of the present were then read, after which it was resolved to hold the session of 1882 in the church in Cathedral Street, Glasgow. The Rev. R. Storry was nominated as President next year, and the Rev. J. Presland appointed to preach the annual sermon before the Conference. Several reports were then read, and the ordinary Committees appointed. The President's report stated that considerable activity had been shown in Church-work during the past year. The new Hymn-Book had been largely adopted by the Societies of the Church. The Swedenborg Society had published in the Marathi language a translation of a work by a Hindu gentleman, Mr. Dadoba Pandurung. New Church Conference had been recently organized in Australia under the presidency of the Rev. J. J. Thornton.

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A new feature was introduced into Conference on Wednesday morning in the reading of a paper by the Rev. T. Child on The Relation of Ministers to the Organization of the Church." The root idea of the paper was the absence of any principle in the Church by which the minister's position was defined, and the existence of a state of things which practically meant that the minister was no integrant part of the organization of the Church in the Society to which he belonged. This no-principle led to a variety of evils throughout the Societies of the Church, each minister under it occupying a different position from every other, and each Society asserting what it thought to be its own right over, or in regard to, its minister. Mr. Child contended for the establishment of some recognised general principle; showed

that this must be found in the law of the Church on the subject; and endeavoured to make clear that separate interests could be united, and the law of the Church so far satisfied, by giving the minister his rightful place as head of the Society and co-worker with the Committee. Mr. Child put forth these ideas under four points: 1st, The evil complained of; 2nd, How it had arisen; 3rd, The contrast therein presented with the first Christian Church; 4th, The proposed remedy, or the position claimed for the minister; and 5th, The answer to some possible objections. As the paper occupied an hour in delivery, and business had to be resumed by eleven o'clock, the discussion of the subject was limited to twentyfive minutes. The President commended the ability and clearness of the paper, and noted the importance of the subject. Dr. Tafel spoke to the principle involved; said that in every Society there was one head and two functions, and that these two functions should be blended in the practical working of the Church by giving the minister a place on the Committee. Mr. Smith (London) spoke of the deficiency of instruction on the subject, and said that the Camden Road Society had always given their ministers the right of attending the Committee and voting there. A mutual understanding was required, and he hoped the laymen would return home with intention of doing something in this direction. Mr. Ramage hoped for the publication of the paper, and believed there was an immense amount of Gospel truth in it. Mr. Cameron expressed his admiration of the paper. Though in part strongly put, there was much truth in it. He believed the minister ought to have a voice in the government of the Society. Mr. Ward (Derby) had listened with some pain, and failed to see the truth of the paper. Such things should not go forth to the Church. The business of the Church belonged to the laymen, and they were quite qualified to conduct it. Every thing had gone right at Derby. Mr. Benson (Salford) protested against the sentiments of the paper, and challenged the accuracy of the facts. He believed that the laymen should manage their own affairs; and if there was a Society such as the essay described, it ought to

be expunged. Mr. Orme spoke of the need of more love, and the minister would be sure to be respected, in which the Rev. J. Martin joined.

The report of the National Missionary showed that many places had been visited during the year. The most successful labour seems to be at Anerley, near Sydenham, where a Society has been formed, and a church is in course of erection. Mr. Gunton proposed in his future service, while retaining at a reduced salary the office of National Missionary, to devote his chief attention to the Society at Anerley, of which he has been elected minister. This proposal led to considerable discussion. It was admitted by many of the speakers that the concentration of missionary labour for a time in one place was desirable, but it was objected by others that the proposed arrangement was not in agreement with the rules of the National Missionary Institution, which contemplated the appointment of a missionary minister who should give public lectures and otherwise disseminate a knowledge of the Doctrines throughout the United Kingdom. The appointment of Mr. Gunton was, however, in the end cordially accepted, and the Conference thus enters on a new phase of missionary labour, which has promise of future usefulness and suc

cess.

The Committee appointed at the last session to revise the Creed read their report. It was resolved to print the revised form in the Appendix to the Minutes, and the former Committee with some additional names was appointed to consider its further revision, taking into consideration opinions and suggestions offered by the various Societies of the Church. The question of the grouping of small Societies came up again for consideration, and was confided to the charge of a Committee consisting of all the ministers and leaders in Lancashire. The New Church friends in Australia having formed themselves into a Conference, and having tendered an address to the New Church Conference in England, the President was requested to forward an address to them.

One of the minutes of the session of 1880 appointed a Committee to arrange with Dr. R. L. Tafel for the editing of such of the photo-lithographs of the

manuscripts of Swedenborg as they might think it desirable to prepare for publication. This Committee reported that Dr. Tafel had been engaged on the translation of two works of Swedenborg, one on the "Last Judgment," and the other on the "Spiritual World ;" and it was resolved to recommend the Swedenborg Society to publish these works, so as to bring them before the Church and the general public. The report of the Committee on Colonial and Foreign Missions stated that important work had been done during the year in spreading a knowledge of the doctrines of the Church in Sweden, Prussian Poland, and Austria.

On taking up the report of the retiring President, a resolution was proposed respecting the revised edition of the New Testament. The resolution recognised the learning of the Revisers and the fact of many improvements in their revision, but did not consider it so perfect as to supersede the Authorized Version in the public and family worship of the Church. This report contained a notice of the munificent bequest to the Church by Mr. Jeggins, which it is probable may in the end yield for Church uses the large sum of £25,000; and proposed a suitable resolution, which is to be forwarded to the sisters-in-law, who receive the interest of the bequest during their lives. This bequest is left in the entire management of the Revs. Dr. Bayley and J. Presland, the latter of whom, in proposing the resolution, said that it was at present impossible to explain the trust, which is somewhat complicated. Dr. Bayley, in a short address, gave some interesting particulars respecting the bequeather. Mr. Jeggins, said Dr. Bayley, was the last of three sons, whose father resided at St. Osyth. Two of the sons were married, but had no children. Mr. Jeggins himself never married. The trustees would take care that what is a special trust shall be executed as if under the control of the Church.

The report of the Council brought under consideration two of the most important questions which have engaged the attention of the Conference. The first related to the legal and judicious disbursement of the funds held by the Conference for the education of poor children in the doctrines of the New

Church; the second, to the reorganization of the relation of the Conference to the College. The educational ques

tion arose from an application of the Committee of the Sunday-School Union for a grant from the Educational Fund in aid of their annual scriptural examinations. All were agreed in the desirableness of aiding this important movement, but it was feared that legal difficulties were in the way. Rev. Mr. Deans, in introducing the resolutions of the Council, said that the matter was referred to the Council that this legal difficulty might be carefully considered, and, if needful, legal opinion obtained on the subject. No difficulty was found in the wording of the wills under which these moneys were received. Recent legislation had also altered the conditions under which educational funds could be administered. Conference will be acting, therefore, with perfect legality, and doing justice to the donors, by applying this money in other educational channels than those hitherto employed. Mr. Haseler met the motion by a series of resolutions on the rules, the amendment being seconded by the Rev. Mr. Tansley. In the course of a lengthened discussion, Mr. Benson pointed out that the wills do not mention day schools, but simply to teach poor children. Rev. Mr. Mackereth thought that the time had come to eliminate this religious instruction from our day schools. Mr. Speirs remarked that no payments were made in our Sunday schools; we were only too glad to get the children to accept our instructions. Mr. Boyle

thought that we were not complying with the wills of the donors, and would have to apply to the Charity Commissioners, who, from their liberal character, would doubtless grant our requests. The discussion, which was adjourned by a call of the House on the College question, was finally settled by a unanimous vote of £30 to the Sunday-School Union for the promotion of scriptural and doctrinal examination in the Sunday schools, and the adoption of the usual grants to day schools, nine schools receiving £18 each.

The College question has been long before the Conference and the Church. The institution owes its beginning almost entirely to the suggestion and persistent labours of the late Henry Bateman, Esq., of Islington. The

munificent bequest of Roger Crompton, Esq., of £10,000 secured its permanent establishment, but, when partly expended in buildings, was inadequate to provide for all the wants of the College. The Council have had, therefore, notwithstanding other bequests of considerable amount, to struggle with difficulties; and, in the estimation of some of the members of the Church, have not always adopted the best means to meet these difficulties. The Conference of 1880 resolved "That the Council of the Conference be requested to co-operate with the Council of the New Church College in preparing a scheme of reorganization of the [Conference and College authorities] with a view to restore harmony." The scheme adopted by the two Councils was presented in a series of rules, which we have already published in our June number. In moving the adoption of these resolutions, Mr. Broadfield said that they were offered as a means of settling a question which had long exercised the Conference. In an able speech he traced the progress of negotiations on the subject, described the different kinds of trust-property held by the Conference, and the difficulties arising from the internal management of the College. The College, like the Swedenborg Society, was an independent institution. The Conference held funds in trust for both these institutions, but this did not give us power to appoint their officers or to supersede their management. He had been astonished at the concessions made by the College, the Council of which had consented to give us a share in the management of their institution. Rev. P. Ramage, in a long and eloquent address, moved an amendment, of which notice had been given by James Fletcher, Esq., of Kearsley. The amendment accepted the joint committee, but proposed that "the theological tutor shall be appointed in open Conference, and the committee shall appoint the principal of the College, and arrange generally for the secular education of the students," etc. The College, he said, was a burning question with which he had no desire to burn his fingers. He regarded the resolutions as a reversal of our whole conduct. The difficulties have arisen from violation of the trust. The legacy intended for students to the

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ministry has been applied to a day school. The College has done wrong, and should cease to do wrong. reason assigned in "the statement" of the College Council for its action was Dr. Tafel's views. He had attended Dr. Tafel's lectures, but was not defending his peculiar opinions. The resolution was against the spirit of the age, the tendency of which was to give power to numbers. After addresses, chiefly in support of the resolution, had been delivered by Rev. J. Deans and Messrs. Higham and Sheldon, Mr. Tilson spoke, and thought it madness to contend that the New Church College has the right, either alone or jointly, to appoint. Messrs. Gunton, Jon. Robinson, and Rev. J. Presland spoke for, and Mr. Benson against. Dr. Tafel rose to address the meeting. Behind these six men of the College, he said, there is a history. Their aim was to set him aside as theological tutor. "If," said Dr. Tafel, “you withdraw your confidence, state your reasons. I have pointed out what were said to be contradictions in the writings, and shown that they are not so. I hold the Word in higher reverence than the writings; but the writings are true, because they are drawn from the Word." Mr. Fletcher, in an earnest speech, gave a warm eulogy on Dr. Tafel as a thorough New Churchman, and thought that if the College authorities had any love of the New Church, they would hand over the College to the Conference. Mr. Robinson, as an honorary governor of the College, warmly defended the action of the College, which strongly desired to meet the wishes of the Conference and to secure the best possible education for the students. Rev. T. Child said the Conference must go onward. The election of tutor does meet the case. We want to execute our trust. Let us try the proposal of the Council, which is legislation.

The amendment is not legislation. Dr. Bayley recalled the attention of the Conference to the real question; and having briefly reviewed the discussion, remarked that Mr. Bateman in his arduous work had received much dispraise and many discouragements. He had few supporters, and the appointment of the members of his family was a necessity. When progress had been made, a Council was appointed, which, under bitter complaints, has accomplished

great things for so small an institution. The conduct of the Council does not show an obstinate determination to resist the Conference. We have tried to bring over the Council to our side; and now they are inclined to do so, let us adopt the sentiment of an Irish song, and give over dividing and begin to unite. Ultimately the amendment was withdrawn, and the resolution of the Council, with some verbal amendments, adopted unanimously, and with general acclamation.

The report of the Committee on applications was next brought up, and among the applications complied with were the readoption of Mr. Adcock and the adoption of Mr. Beilby as students; and of Mr. Boyle of Hull and Mr. Woodford of Snodland for ordination.

A long letter was read from the Rev. Chauncey Giles of America expressing sympathy with the Conference in its important work. The Church in America was progressing, and a wish was expressed that the bond of union between the Church there and in our own land might be deepened and strengthened.

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The question of the Magazine engaged the careful attention of the Conference. The Rev. W. Bruce, after twenty years' service, is compelled by advancing years and feeble health to retire from the Editorship, and the Conference recognised the value of his services in a suitable resolution. was resolved that with the commencement of the next volume the title shall be changed to "THE NEW CHURCH MAGAZINE," and a larger type adopted than is at present employed. The Miscellaneous department is to be confined to a brief chronicle of the more important New Church events of the month, including obituary and other personal notices. The Rev. R. Storry is appointed sole Editor, and two committees are appointed-one to raise a sum of money, to be placed at the disposal of the Editor, for the payment of contributors, and the other to consider other projected alterations in the work.

The closing portion of the Conference was occupied with most important business. It was resolved that district associations be formed for the regular meeting of ministers to confer concerning the work of the Church. Lengthened resolutions were passed

relating to the examination of candidates for adoption as students, of students in their different years, and of candidates for the ministry. A resolution was also passed expressing the opinion of the Conference that it is desirable that the small Societies should be visited annually by a minister to aid their progress, and to ascertain whether and in what manner aid may be usefully rendered them by any insti tution of the Church.

The length of the discussions and the importance of the business transacted extended the usual time of the session. The business was not concluded before midday on Saturday, and the reading and signing of the Minutes was left over for the Monday morning. A most agreeable close to the week's session was provided by the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Mather, who kindly invited the members of Conference and of the Peter Street Society to a garden party at Bramall Hall. A large party assembled, who found every needful provision for their entertainment and enjoyment; and notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, all seemed to find means of pleasurable enjoyment, to warmly appreciate Mr and Mrs. Mather's generous hospitality, and to join in expressing their thanks in loud and hearty applause.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES DURING THE
CONFERENCE.

In addition to the very short services with which each day of the Conference is commenced and closed, it has become the custom to arrange special services in connection with the session of Conference. During the past session sermons were preached by ministers attending the Conference in several of the churches in the neighbourhood of Manchester. The Rev. Mr. Deans of Brightlingsea preached on the Sunday after the Conference at Bolton, the scene of his first pastorate; Rev. W. O'Mant was at Stand Lane, Radcliffe; Rev. Mr. Child at Heywood; Rev. Mr. Rowse, of Northampton, at Failsworth and Besses; Rev. Mr. Wilkins at Middleton; Mr. Tansley at Bury; and Mr. Westall at Rhodes.

At Manchester and Salford special services were appointed both for the Sundays before and after the Confer