show that the marvellous progress of this modern development of Christianity was from the secret spirit of the Gospel and its active working through the ministry of the Word. In the course of this discussion some valuable remarks were made on the authority and value of the Word as the means of spiritual life and of mental culture and progress :

He

"The words of Christ reveal to us His spirit of wisdom and of love. reveals to us the Father, who brings us into contact with the invisible and the eternal. He brings life and immortality to light in His Gospel. 'These are written,' says St. John, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, ye might have life through His name."

"Valuable as unquestionably are the works of literature, science, and art, Christ's words pertain to none of these. They are of a prior and higher realm. They do not teach science, but they give light and life to man that he may pursue the most profound investigations. They give impulse and power to the mind which God has given to man, and to which He has made all material knowledge possible. Hence, under the shadow of the Cross, and under that shadow alone, flourish literary and scientific institutions of the highest character. Only in lands where the words of Christ give spirit and life do we find the grandest discoveries and the most useful inventions. Only where God is revealed do men successfully pursue the investigations of those great laws which he has given to the works of His hands."

The following remarks on the uses which are providentially promoted by even the divisions of men are worthy of serious consideration :

"I am not sure that these divisions are an unmixed evil. They seem to me to have compensations also. With the different tastes and habits of men, I fancy that, through Churches somewhat differently organized, and with different usages, more minds may be won for Christ. Certainly we may be provoked even to love and good works. It seems also to me that as God has showed us physical life in almost every possible form, He means that we shall understand that Christian life may exist and flourish in different organizations and usages. He would show us that there

is no sacredness in mere ecclesiasticism. Organization has its value, and every member of each Church should be true to his association; yet the organization is only the temple in which the life dwells. The organization is of man. The life is of Christ. Were there but one organization with certain usages that prospered, we should think its forms and usages were in themselves sacred, we should grow narrow and bigoted. Our Church would be the Church, and all others would be schismatics. But when we see life in other Churches, we learn that the God of the Jew is the God of the Gentile also. We recognise a brother beloved in every member of the family, and praise God for the infinitude of His grace."

NEW CHURCH TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

On Monday, August 8, the annual business meeting of the above Society was held at the new schoolroom of the Peter Street Church, Manchester. There were delegates present from different Bands of Hope in connection with the Society, as well as several ministers and friends who had come for the Conference. The secretary's report, which was of a very cheering nature, showed that during the year every effort possible had been made to bring the Society before the attention of the Church. A manual compiled by Mr. T. C. Lowe and Rev. J. Deans had been published, and 2000 copies circulated throughout the different congregations. On Sunday, February 13, at the request of the Society, Temperance sermons had been preached in by far the majority of New Church pulpits. As a result of the efforts of the Society no less than three new Bands of Hope and six branch Societies had been started during the year. The state of the finances was then reported, showing a balance in the treasurer's hands.

Various decisions were arrived at about the future working of the Society, and votes of thanks to the chairman for presiding, the hon. secretary for his work during the year, and the United Kingdom

Alliance for their assistance terminated the meeting.

The anniversary meeting was held

at 7.30 the same evening in the large schoolroom, and the chair was taken by the Rev. J. H. Smith of Accrington. There were about 400 present, and, from the frequent bursts of applause and evident interest taken in the meeting by the audience, may be considered a very great success.

The Chairman said that in taking the place of the President of the Conference, who had been expected to preside, but was detained on business elsewhere, he felt that he had one qualification for the chair, and that was deep sympathy with the object of this Temperance Society. So far as that was concerned, he was second to none of those now present. Personally, he was a total abstainer, and was so satisfied with the result that he had no intention of making a change, though often requested to do so by kind friends. He meant to stand by the principle and practice of total abstinence.

The Rev. P. Ramage moved : "That this meeting expresses its satisfaction in the establishment of the New Church Temperance Society, and cordially commends its operations to every member of the New Church. He pointed out that the Society was based upon the same principles as the Church of England Temperance Society-one section of their members including those who were not prepared to give up entirely the use of intoxicating liquors. Referring to Bands of Hope, he said that both sections of the Society were united in the desire to bring up the children in abstinence from intoxicating liquors. It was a maxim of the New Church that "all religion has relation to life, and the life of religion consists in doing good," and he was quite certain that the free use of wine and strong drink stood before them as a great barrier to religious progress.

Rev. J. Macfadyan seconded the resolution. He was received with cheers. He had, he said, a very clear reason for being here. In our days people were divided on all sorts of questions. In his theological and ecclesiastical views he was very decidedly divided from a large number of those present; but instead of making that a reason for standing aloof, he thought it a strong reason for

coming amongst them. Many of the divisions separating Christian men took their bitterness from mutual ignorance, and would be dispelled by a better acquaintance. One point there was on which they were all united, and it was this which had induced him to accept with the greatest pleasure the invitation of the committee. Intemperance was such a dreadful evil, it met them all at so many points, that it was not wonder. ful that good men-men having the love of goodness in their heartsshould wish to minimize it as far as possible. Temperance was not the only ameliorative agency in the world, and in the wider sense temperance applied to many things besides drinking; but the word was rightly applied, for convenience of speech, to temperance in drinking, and to all efforts tending to free the nation from the evils of intemperance. He was one of those who made use of total abstinence for that end; and he was one also of a still larger party who were prepared to take legislative action against intemperance so far as they could persuade the country to adopt it. At the same time he was prepared to adopt as a co-worker every one who would go with him even a single inch in the right direction; without binding himself, however, not to try to make his companion every now and then go a little further.

Addresses were also delivered by Rev. Mr. Rodgers, Dr. F. R. Lees, Rev. J. Deans, and others. The proceedings were enlivened and varied by musical selections, which were given by the choir of the Failsworth Society.

BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND.—The lot which has often befallen the newlyestablished Societies of the New Church in this kingdom has overtaken the colonial Church at Brisbane. A Rev. G. Howden has undertaken to instruct the people of Brisbane respecting Swedenborg and his teaching. The "Diary, or extracts from the "Diary," and some particulars in the "Documents," which are capable of conveying to the general reader an injurious impression and creating a prejudice, have been paraded in hostility to the infant Church. In Brisbane, however, as in

other places, the Church has not lacked a defender. Mr. George Slater, a member of the New Church, who is still remembered by some of the older members of the Church in London, has replied to this attack in some well-written letters in the Brisbane Telegraph. His replies contain a refutation of the charges of immorality and an illustration of the allusions in the " Diary" to the cases of David and Paul. In concluding his defence of the moral character of Swedenborg, Mr. Slater says: "It should be remembered that a man's moral character is not to be estimated only negatively by what he has not done from want of inclination, but also by what he has resisted doing under strong temptation and from hereditary tendency to evil. It is in this connection that Swedenborg's dreams and "Diary " serve to show that previous to and at the beginning of his mission he was under deep temptations that his nature might be purified. The dreams being noted, no doubt, as hints for his own private use only (not for publication), to assist him in realizing his spiritual condition by nature, that he might come into a state of repentance. After that early period there is no record of such dreams as Mr. Howden notices. That his temptations were severe before he came into a state of complete submission to the Divine Will, that he might be a suitable instrument of the Lord, is evidenced by his faithful domestics, who said with much tenderness that they had frequently overheard his strong agony of mind vented in ejaculatory prayer during his temptations. He often prayed to God that the temptations might leave him, crying out with tears, Lord God, help me; My God, forsake me not."

HULL, ORDINATION SERVICES.-On Sunday, 11th September, the Rev. R. Storry of Heywood paid a visit to the Society and administered the rite of ordination to its minister, Mr. J. R. Boyle. In the morning Mr. Storry selected for the text of his discourse Matt. x. 40, 41. The ordination service was conducted in the evening in the presence of a large congregation, including many strangers.

The service was a very impressive one, and fraught with interest to the members. The Society has been in existence nine

teen years, but hitherto its services. have been conducted, except on special occasions, either by laymen or by licentiates who were not qualified by length of service to enter upon the full ministerial office. The solemn dedication of its minister to the duties of that position was felt to be a new departure both for him and the Society, and was regarded as carrying with it increased responsibility. The occasion was improved by Mr. Storry in the sermon which followed. Selecting for his text the exhortation of the Lord to His disciples when He sent them forth on their mission to the cities and towns of Judæa, the rev. gentleman very forcibly and eloquently defined the duties which devolve upon both minister and people. Unfolding the spiritual sense of the commission, it was shown to be of the most practical character, and to contain the conditions upon which alone the success of all ministerial and church work depends.

On Monday evening Mr. Storry delivered a lecture on "The Faith of God: What is it, and how may we attain it?" There was a good attendance, and the lecture was listened to with the deepest interest. The subject was treated with Mr. Storry's well-known ability, and conveyed to those present who were not familiar with New Church teaching a lucid and rational exposition of her faith. On the following evening the annual business meeting of the members and congregation was held, tea being served before the commencement of the meeting. The report was read by the secretary, Mr. H. Best, and the balance-sheet by the treasurer, Mr. W. Botham. Resolutions adopting the report and balance-sheet were submitted and unanimously carried. The report recommended the purchase of a small plot of land, the only one available for the purpose in the neighbourhood, on which to erect a schoolroom. The importance of this object was urged upon the meeting by the Revs. R. Storry and J. R. Boyle, and Messrs. H. Best, Spray, and others, a resolution being ultimately passed to take steps to secure the land, a fund for the purpose to be immediately started, and the ladies connected with the Society invited to arrange for a bazaar to be held next spring. Subscriptions were also solicited, and

:

several were promised, towards a deficit in the accounts. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Storry for his visit concluded the meeting.

Birth.

On the 18th September, at 15 Barnsbury Park, London, the wife of Mr. Milton Smith of a son.

Marriages.

At Palace Gardens Church, The Mall, Kensington, London, on Wednesday, September 7, by the Rev. Dr. Bayley, Robert J. Tilson, minister of Bedford Street Church, Liverpool, to Edith, second daughter of Mr. Isaac Gunton of Ealing (late of Brixton), and granddaughter of the late Rev. E. D. Rendell of Preston.

On the 7th of September, at the New Church, Wretham Road, Birmingham, by the Rev. R. R. Rodgers, Frank, eldest son of G. H. Baker of Edgbaston, to Mary, eldest daughter of W. H. Haseler of Handsworth.

at present several living amongst us who can recall with many pleasant remembrances the smiles of welcome with which they were received both at the Sabbath services and the meetings for reading the writings held during the week. Our friend passed away very quietly and peacefully about eight o'clock in the morning of Saturday the 4th June. She retired to rest in her usual health on the previous evening, complaining only that she felt tired, and in the morning Mr. Pitman was awakened by hearing her breathing rather heavily. As she made no reply on being spoken to, the doctor was sent for, but before the arrival of the medical man Mrs. Pitman had breathed her last.

Departed this life, August 29, 1881, in her seventy-third year, Mary Hall, one of the oldest members of the Worsley Society.

At Accrington, on 7th September, Mr. James Hindle, an esteemed member of the Accrington Society, and one of the principal foremen of the Broad Oak Printworks, passed away into the eternal world in the sixty-fourth year of his age. Our friend had been connected with the Church many years, and found in its doctrines those truths which were his guide through life and his support in death. It was pleasing to see the general respect in which Mr. Hindle was held by his fellow-townsmen, large numbers of whom thronged the streets while the long procession which followed his remains wended its way to their last resting-place.

On September 14, at Warren Street, Pentonville, Maria, relict of Mr Kimber Hewett, aged eighty-one.

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