business, which commenced soon after two, was of a most important character, and occupied the Council until nearly eight o'clock, tea being served in the vestry without much delay to their proceedings. The invitation given on the previous Sunday, to all friends who chose, to spend an hour or two at a conversational meeting with our visitors in the lecture-room, accepted by a goodly number, though the inclement weather prevented many who otherwise would have come. Besides general conversation, Mr. Gunton and Dr. Bayley gave most interesting information in brief speeches.

was

To this notice of the meeting of the Council the following gratifying item of news is appended:

"It is with great pleasure we are able to record that at the Council meeting, above reported, information was given by Mr. Gunton, the treasurer of Conference, that Mrs. Chapman of Bath had given him a cheque for an amount of money, to ensure for the next ten years aid to the Society at Salisbury, towards supporting a minister. They have just engaged a very promising gentleman, who has had a suitable education, and whose services are, so far, most acceptable. His salary will, by this gift, be increased this year £50; next year, £40; the following year, £30; and then, for seven years, £20 per annum, -this arrangement being made to meet present difficulties, and enable the Society to grow under his ministrations, and balance the gradual decrease of this lady's assistance by their own increased support. Nor was this all, for the same lady has intimated her wish to give exactly an equal assistance to the Society at Bristol, as soon as they have a minister whose services bid fair to become permanently acceptable and useful. This is a most desirable way of giving encouragement and help to small Societies, and it is very pleasant to be able to report that a suitable and safe investment of this money has also been so effected as to become of immediate service to another rising

Society, who are the borrowers from the Trustees of Conference, on satisfactory terms."

ORDINATION OF MR. J. J. WOODFORD.

Mr. Woodford, who was for many years the Principal of the New Church College, but is now the minister of the Society at Snodland, was admitted into the ministry of the New Church, on Tuesday evening, October 4, by the rite of ordination. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Bayley, assisted by the Revs. W. C. Barlow, M. A., and J. Presland. The attendance of friends, which was not so large as had been hoped for, was about eighty in number. After the order of service as set forth in the

Liturgy had been gone through, Dr. Bayley preached on the words, "He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils" (Mark iii. 14, 15), and set forth in his happiest and most telling manner the weighty lessons of these pregnant words.

ITALIAN MISSION.

On Monday evening, October 10, Mrs. J. H. Brotherton of Manchester delivered an interesting and instructive lecture in the New Jerusalem schoolroom, Accrington, on "The Origin of Foreign Missions, and the New Church Italian Mission," including a deeply interesting autobiography of Professor Scocia, the Italian missionary. Mr. John P. Hartley presided. The lecture was much enjoyed. In proposing a vote of thanks to Mrs. Brotherton, the chairman expressed a hope that the autobiography of the Professor would be published, as he ventured to believe that there were many New Churchmen who, whilst not altogether adverse to the Italian Mission, were perhaps not quite so earnest in it as they might be; it was necessary, therefore, that we should know all we could about the Professor and his mission. The motion was seconded by Mr. J. E. Kenyon, treasurer. A collection was made in aid of the Italian Mission, after which the meeting terminated.

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES. We have received the report of this Society presented at their sixth annual meeting. The report states that "the past year of the church has been one of decided progress, both as to increase of numbers and as to internal development and consolidation. Twenty-five names have been added to our roll of members, and nine infants have been baptized. One marriage has taken place in our little flock. We have no death or withdrawal to record. The Sunday school, the Bible class, and the monthly Communion service, all inaugurated by our beloved friend the Rev. J. J. Thornton during his visit to Sydney, November 1880, have been carried out to the satisfaction of your committee. The system of weekly offerings, adopted at our last quarterly meeting, has answered so well as to increase our revenue by over £1 per week. The missionary efforts of the Society have been productive of good results, and though the attendance at the Newtown services has so far fallen away as to render their continuance undesirable, this is no more than is usual in such cases, and merely indicates that the mission shall be transferred for a while to some other field, and perhaps in a modified form.'

The report notices the very successful missionary visit of the Rev. J. J. Thornton of Melbourne, Victoria, and the meeting of the first Conference of the New Church in Australia, which was held at Melbourne in the month of February last. The Church here is at present subject to a violent assault in the pages of the New South Wales Independent. The assailant is the Rev. G. G. Howden, whose letters have received an able reply from the pen of Dr. Le Gay Brereton. Dr. Brereton's reply has been printed in pamphlet form for general circulation. From this we learn that the charges brought against the Church and the writings of Swedenborg are of the oldfashioned slanderous kind which we had hoped had seen their day and disappeared. To any one having the slightest knowledge of the New Church and its teachings it must appear surprising that any man of ordinary in

telligence could seriously put forth the following: "That New Churchmen endeavour to decoy proselytes by putting forth plausible doctrines for which they afterwards substitute nonsensical and immoral teaching. This is a specimen of the warfare to which the rising Church in the Australian Colonies is exposed. The members of the Church are, of Divine Providence, well able to defend themselves. The reply of Dr. Brereton is distinguished by marked ability, thorough knowledge of the subject, and Christian courtesy. There needs be no fear for the result. The Lord's care is over the Church, and He will make the wrath of man to contribute to her establishment and progress.

BIRMINGHAM.-This year's decorations for the Harvest Festival, though in many points necessarily similar to those of previous occasions, may fairly be pronounced to have excelled in careful and finished taste those of any previous year in this church. The Communion-table, floor, and rails-the chancel and its steps -the pulpit, reading-desk, and fontthe window-sills and gas-standardswere all of them dressed with beautiful arrangements of colour and form in fruits, grain, and flowers; while other parts were not forgotten, for the gallery and the vestibule had fuller attention than they had hitherto received. entering the vestibule, the visitor was at once reminded of the occasion by the sheaves of wheat there placed, which seemed to say, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.'

On

The sermon in the morning was from the words, "Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness, and Thy paths drop fatness (Ps. lxv. 11); and that in the evening, from Rev. xiv. 15, "The harvest of the earth is ripe." The collections for the Benevolent Fund amounted to £25, 13s. 6d. Special anthems were sung-that in the morning was "The Lord hath done great things for us (Smart); and that in the evening, by Dr. Stainer, "Ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers." The church was thrown open to the public until noon on Monday, when the whole of the offerings were distributed to invalids, the poor, and the hospitals.

OLDHAM.-The members of the New Church at Oldham held a Harvest Festival service on Sunday evening the 9th October. The service comprised the service of song entitled "Harvest Thanksgiving." The room was beautifully decorated with flowers, plants, ferns, fruits, corn, etc., which had been kindly supplied by the members and friends of the congregation. The selected portions of Scripture were appropriately read by Mr. Artingstall of Manchester. The singing was conducted by Mr. S. Howard, and Mr. J. Pillington officiated at the harmonium. The congregation was very numerous, and the collection realized nearly £5. After the service the flowers were taken by some of the Sunday scholars to the Infirmary, where they were very kindly received, and invited to return the next day. About thirty, including half-a-dozen members of the church, availed themselves of the invitation, and were conducted through the various wards, in which the flowers were displayed. They sang some of the hymns of the previous night, and departed well pleased that they had been enabled to cheer the hearts of the poor sufferers.

KEARSLEY.-The annual Harvest services at this church were held on

Sunday, October 9. The large and elegant church was beautifully decorated with fruits and flowers and grain, and filled by attentive and interested congregations. The service in the morning was conducted by the Rev. P. Ramage, the resident minister; the one in the evening by the Rev. R. Storry. The collections were to be devoted to the preparation of a suitable memorial of their late minister, the Rev. Woodville Woodman. This gave additional interest to the service, and especially to the offertory, which amounted to £52. This sum is exclusive of some private contributions in furtherance of the same object. The musical portion of the service was, as is usually the case at this church, of a high order. If a fault were suggested, it would be excess of service. Much of the careful training of the choir is due to their late pastor, who was distinguished for his musical talents as well as theological attain ments and pulpit efficiency. In the

direction which the services took, therefore, the service of the choir was a labour of love.

ACCRINGTON.-On Wednesday evening, September 28, a social meeting of the members and friends of the Society was held in the schoolroom. An effort was made to induce those to be present who are seldom seen at these gatherings, but who consider themselves connected with the Society, and the result was very satisfactory. The meeting was very numerously attended, and many “old familiar faces were visible. This was probably owing in great measure to the presence of Dr. Bayley, who kindly consented to assist, the meeting having been fixed to take place about the time of his visit to Yorkshire. The room was draped and decorated with plants and flowers; at intervals tea and coffee and fruit were served; the church choir sang glees, and other friends gave pianoforte music. The chair was occupied by Mr. George Bury. Dr. Bayley gave an interesting occasional address, occupying a little more than an hour, chiefly on the uses, advantages, and delights of the religious life. He referred to his connection with Accrington fifty years ago, at which time there were many 'good readers of the 'Arcana.'" He pointed out that religion was the process of learning how to live. Just as a joiner or a soldier needs to practise and train before he can be of use, so in life we must train and practise before we can live a true life. Many persons were frightened of religion, but without reason. On the contrary, the doctrines of the New Church were most delightful. They were indeed invaluable. They were offered to every one, and far more worthy of their acceptance than if one should say "Here is £50,000." He drew a simile from the story of Gideon's fleece. Then he spoke of the institution of the Sabbath and of the importance of worship, of going to sleep in church, and of various excuses for non-attendance, of the prevalence of what we may call "Sunday disorders." There

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was also more need of earnestness in worship generally, and of making the service more responsive in Accrington.

The speech contained many anecdotes and accounts of personal experience, and was listened to with great attention. It was felt that it would be of great use. The meeting was also addressed by the Revs. G. H. Smith, John Martin, and H. Cameron, and Mr. James Cunliffe, in speeches chiefly retrospective, and urging to renewed and more earnest efforts in the future.

The want of new school buildings has been felt for some years by this Society. The present rooms are lowroofed, inconvenient, and inadequate for the accommodation of the large gatherings which frequently assemble in them. If, indeed, the Sunday school has to make much progress here, new accommodation is absolutely necessary. The magnitude of the undertaking is, however, somewhat discouraging at the present time. The question of holding a bazaar was not favourably entertained. The town and the New Church generally have been "over-bazaared," to use a current phrase, and the resources of the Society seem to have been considerably exhausted in that respect. With a view however, of inaugurating a fund for the erection of new schools a meeting was held on Monday evening, September 26, of all those in favour of a Christmas tree and sale of work, to be held at Christmas. About forty young people attended, and it was resolved to commence operations. A penny subscription is also to be started. These proceedings, however, can only be subsidiary to the larger subscriptions which must come from 66 somewhere."

DALTON, NEAR HUDDERSFIELD. —A series of public services have been held at this church in connection with the jubilee of their Sunday school. On Sunday, September 25, the Rev. Dr. Bayley preached with his usual effectiveness and power, in the church in Grove Place, to large and appreciative congregations. On the Thursday evening following Dr. Bayley lectured to a good audience in the Victoria Hall, Huddersfield. The subject of the lecture was, "Will this beautiful World in which we live be destroyed by Fire?" After narrating some of the opinions which had from time to time been published on this subject,

and tracing their consequences in disappointment and disaster, the lecturer proceeded to show that the promises of Scripture respecting the age of righteousness and future glory of the Church implied a continuance of the earth. Some inquiries were made at the close of the lecture, to which suitable replies were made by the lecturer.

Mr.

On the evening of Friday, September 30, a conversazione was held in the schoolroom, Grove Place, Dalton. The minister of the Society, the Rev. Eli Whitehead, presided, and introduced the proceedings in a brief and appropriate address. A varied selection of music was provided, and several pieces very effectively and pleasingly rendered. Addresses were given by Rev. R. Storry, Dr. Bayley, and Rev. Mr. Stannard of Huddersfield. Storry, from his long connection with the Society, was able to give many interesting particulars connected with its early progress, and to encourage the workers in the church and school by the example of those who had gone before them. Dr. Bayley, in a speech of great length, entered into the general subject of Sunday schools, of religious growth and development, and of the adaptedness of New Church doctrine to all the wants of man.

Rev.

Mr. Stannard, in a short address, expressed his sympathy with some of the teachings of the New Church as set forth by Dr. Bayley, and his interest in the success of the work done by the Society and Sunday school at Grove Place. Refreshments were served during the evening, and a pleasant meeting closed at a not very early hour.

On Sunday, October 2, the pulpit at Grove Place, Dalton, was occupied by the Rev. R. Storry. Twenty years since Mr. Storry closed a ministry of fifteen years' duration at this church. During this ministry the chapel was new-fronted and enlarged by the addition of the large gallery and vestryrooms, and the present schoolroom erected. The whole of this was the work of the late Joseph Senior, Esq., of Dalton Lodge. From the members and friends who were connected with the church during his ministry Mr. Storry received a very hearty and affectionate welcome. The services

were well attended, and seemed to yield instruction and delight to those who were present. On the following evening, Monday, October 2, Mr. Storry concluded these jubilee services by a lecture in the Victoria Hall, Huddersfield, on "Christian Faith-what is it? How may we attain it?" The attendance was large, and the most marked attention was given to a discourse which occupied an hour in delivery. At the close questions were proposed and briefly answered by the lecturer, who, as the questions had no connection with the subject of the lecture, declined to enter into a discussion which could only draw away the minds of his hearers from the subject he had been expounding.

The

HASLINGDEN.-The small Society at this town has for some time past been energetically employed in preparing for a bazaar, which was opened on the 6th of October by George Pilkington, Esq., of Southport. object of the bazaar was to raise funds for the erection of a Sunday schoolroom, and, if possible, to make some improvements in their humble chapel. A large display of articles of all kinds was collected, and the result exceeded the expectations of the promoters. At the close of the bazaar the sum of

£576 had been realized.

HEYWOOD.-A bazaar on a large scale was opened at this place on Wednesday, September 21, by Vernon K. Armitage, Esq., one of the leading gentry of the neighbourhood. Among the patrons of the bazaar were the county members and other members of Parliament. The collection of goods was very large, and some of the articles were of singular beauty and great value. The large schoolroom was gaily decorated, and the stalls arranged in a neat and attractive manner. The attendance at the stalls was by ladies and friends of the Society, who had taken an active part in preparing the goods with which the stalls were overcrowded. The attendance of the public was large from the commencement. The proceeds amounted to the sum of £1140. With

this sum it is proposed to remove a small debt, and to make sundry improvements in the church and school buildings.

IPSWICH. This Society has been recently visited by Mr. Robinson, who has completed his course of study for the ministry. In allusion to this visit the secretary of the Society writes us :—

"Mr. Robinson's visit afforded us, as you intimated it would do, every opportunity of forming his acquaintance and judging for ourselves. I need scarcely assure you that his services and visit were much appreciated, and the best impressions were formed of him, without an exception, by all with whom he came in contact, and that he left us with our unanimous good wishes, and not without some regrets that he should have to leave us.

"I regret to say that we are compelled to admit our inability at present to carry out our proposals of June last for reasons which will be unnecessary to detail when you consider our small numbers. For the present we must be content to continue to struggle on, and still hoping, encouraged with the visit annually from a representative of probability of receiving at least one the Conference, with counsel and advice, and perhaps a quarterly visit by the nearest of our ministers, through the aid of the Missionary Society."

meetings have been held in connecLIVERPOOL.-Two very animated tion with this Society to welcome the minister, Mr. Tilson, and his bride on their return from their wedding. The first of these pleasant assemblies, which was held on Friday, September 30, was convened by the junior members of the Society, and was a very enjoyable meeting. After an excellent tea W. H. Pixton, Esq., who was appointed to preside, stated that the object of the gathering was twofold-to open the session of the Junior Members' Society and to accord a hearty greeting to their president and his bride. In the course of the evening an illuminated address, accompanied by a handsome drawing-room clock, was presented to Mr. Tilson as a token of esteem and appreciation of the interest he had taken and continued to take in the welfare of the junior members. A second meeting, of members and friends of the church, was held in the schoolroom on Monday evening, October 3, when again there was a large gathering of those desirous of