affording a hearty welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Tilson. The room presented the same bright appearance as on the previous Friday evening, the decorations having been allowed to remain, and there was even a greater profusion of flowers. Prominent among the devices were the word "Welcome" and the monograms of the bride and the bridegroom. After tea the chair was taken by Dr. Sheldon, who in his opening remarks referred to the object of the meeting, the high esteem in which Mr. Tilson was held, and the cordial relations which existed between minister and people. A hymn having been sung by the Sunday-school choir, the chairman in a few well-chosen words, on behalf of the Society, gave a cordial welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Tilson, congratulating them on their marriage, wishing them every happiness, and asking their acceptance of a purse of gold which had been subscribed as a token of esteem for their beloved minister. Mr. Tilson replied in feeling terms, thanking the Society for its handsome gift, for the many kindnesses he had received at their hands, the sympathy they had shown towards him on this particular occasion, and, above all, for the hearty welcome they had accorded to his wife. Brief speeches of congratulation were afterwards made by Messrs. J. B. Rumney, W. Francis, F. L. Jones, D. Moss, A. B. Craigie, J. Plastow, and Captain Mellin. During the evening Mr. Bolt's quartette party gave "Oh, who will o'er the Downs so free?" and "Where art thou, Beam of Light?" the Misses Sheldon repeated their pianoforte duet "The Sleigh Bells;" Mrs. Skeaf sang "Summer Showers" and another song. Mr. Hargraves Gill, a local artiste who has had the honour of appearing before the Prince of Wales, delighted the audience with his performance on the Fairy Bells; Madame Gaillard and the members of Mr. Bolt's party also contributed songs, while Mrs. Skeaf was an efficient accompanist, the whole being one of the most enjoyable musical entertainments we have had for a long time. During the evening a most tastefully arranged "basket of fruit," a companion to a "basket of flowers," and from the same source, was presented to Mrs. Tilson by the chairman, and Mr.

Tilson in suitable terms acknowledged the gift. Mr. Isaac Gunton was present, and during the evening addressed the meeting, expressing his pleasure in seeing the cordial relations subsisting between Mr. Tilson and the Society, and thanking them for the hearty welcome they had accorded to his daughter. It may be mentioned that in addition to the above Mr. Tilson received a large number of valuable presents from most of the individual members of the Society.

SALISBURY.-Mr. W. Robinson, late of the London City Mission, and more recently evangelist to the Congregational Union, commenced his ministry here on Sunday, September 11, and on Wednesday evening a tea and public meeting were held, when the church was crowded. The Rev. Dr. Bayley presided, and read an address of welcome to Mr. Robinson. Mr. Robinson, who was loudly applauded, thanked the Society for their hearty welcome, and assured them that nothing on his part should be wanting to further the cause in Salisbury. He trusted that they would work harmoniously together, and he was sure the Lord would bless their efforts. Mr. Robinson described the struggles of mind through which he had passed during his acceptance of New Church truths, and stated for the encouragement of obscure workers in the New Church that it was a bootmaker who introduced the doctrines to him. Dr. Bayley then addressed the meeting, and stated that he had known Mr. Robinson for some time, and that he had had the oportunity of rendering assistance to him in the way of explaining difficulties whilst he was passing from the Old to the New, and he could confidently recommend him to the Society as being a very earnest and energetic gentleman. He further spoke on the duties of the pastor and the Church, and showed their relation one to the other. Mr. Gunton gave a practical address in connection with the secular side of Church work, and trusted the Society would assist Mr. Robinson in his arduous duties. Mr. Pocock of Wincanton spoke of the great importance of teaching the doctrines to the young; he believed the future prosperity of the Church depended on so doing.

Marriages.

September 25th, by special licence, Edward, eldest son of the late John Gorrill, Esq., of Lancaster, to Elizabeth Angelina (Lillie), youngest daughter of Edwin M. Sheldon, Esq., M.R.C.S. Eng., of 223 Boundary Street, Liverpool.

On the 19th October, at the New Jerusalem Church, Peter Street, Manchester, by the Rev. C. H. Wilkins, Arthur James Kennerley, A.C.A., of Fallowfield, eldest son of the late Rev. J. B. Kennerley, to Sarah Hyde, second daughter of the late Samuel Dyson, Esq., Swiss Villas, Brooks' Bar. No cards.

Obituary.

COMFORT IN DEATH.-(From the Nuova Epoca of September 1881).-Death has again thrust his inexorable sickle among the little band of our friends. On the evening of the 17th July last Fortunata PomaCongemi, the beloved wife of our wellknown correspondent in Partinico, passed to the other life. Her widowed husband thus communicates to us her demise :-

"PARTINICO, 25th August 1881. "MY DEAR PROFESSOR,-On the evening of the 17th July, she who since the day of my marriage, twenty years ago, had been a sweet companion to me, passed away from this life, leaving me with two little orphans aged respectively twelve and nine years. I watched the whole night by the side of the bed whereon lay her cold remains; but when on the morrow the time for their removal arrived, I stooped on the coffin previous to the lid being fastened, and impressed on the forehead the last kiss, accompanied by warm and silent tears; and I followed the remains until I saw them descend those stairs which she will ascend no more.

"At such a blow what happened within me? I understand, I feel it still, but I am quite unable to express it, and my grief only finds comfort in the revelations of Swedenborg, who tells me that man, an organized spirit, leaves his frail covering, and goes to those regions without space and time where life then really begins, and connects itself either with angels or with the lost, contributing to the equilibrium here below between the internal and external man.

"The human heart at such a hope gains courage, whereas the dark philosophy of atheists, of materialists, and of all the sublunary Mantegazzas with stoicism on their lips, point to a fearful nothing from which I recoil terrified, and in gratitude to God repeat with Pellico

'Thou gavest me light which I feel Divine, Thou gavest me a mind which rises to Thee.'

"Convinced of the spiritual doctrines of the Seer of Stockholm that matter is a burden which man casts off, I never dreamt of funeral show, marbles, and epitaphs, which are of no use. Were I able to dispose of any sum of money as a remembrance to the beloved departed one, would rather secure an income for the benefit of the local hospital, which needs support, of the library, or of some other public beneficent institution, firmly persuaded that her spirit, accustomed to internal worship showing itself in the religion of works and not of words, has taken its flight to heaven: Fortunata by name as well as in reality."

This letter is a solemn testimony in favour of the consoling influence of the sublime teachings of the New Church, for we feel convinced that the beloved called dead has simply passed to a happier existence. What philosophy or other religious doctrine is so efficacious in producing similar benefits? Alas! mankind nowadays is so gross as to believe that the natural body is everything, therefore death seems to them so horrible. But death is in reality the height we must ascend, and from which we shall discover new and boundless horizons. There in our eternal honie we shall find again our beloved ones, who are not lost but have only gone before us. EDITOR, Nuova Epoca.

At Accrington, on 13th September, and in the sixty-eighth year of her age, Mrs. Mary Ann Cunliffe, the beloved wife of Mr. Henry Cunliffe, after a brief, sharp agony, exchanged mortality for life. Mrs. Cunliffe's health had been far from satisfactory for some time past, but no one expected her departure was SO near. Our dear friend had consecrated each day to religion and piety, and thus gave practical regard to the precept, "Be ye therefore ready also for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not." Mrs. Cunliffe had been connected with the Accrington Society from her youth up. When able to do so, she had taught in the Sunday school. She ever loved the public services of the sanctuary, and only when compelled by duty or affliction was absent. For many years the writings of the Church, in connection with the Word, were her daily study and delight, and few were more familiar with them than she. It was her constant endeavour to impress upon her children the necessity of making religion the great business of life, and doing something to promote the welfare of the Church. Mrs. Cunliffe had her reward. All her family are in the Church, and in their own way are seeking its good.