Miscellaneous. PRESIDENT GARFIELD-AMERICA AND ENGLAND. At the annual session of the Ohio Association, held at Cleveland, September 23, the following resolutions, presented by the Rev. Mr. Goddard, who had been appointed to prepare them, were passed by a rising vote: 66 Whereas, Our honoured and beloved Chief Magistrate has been removed from this world in such a manner as to bring distress to the hearts not only of his immediate family and friends, but to the hearts of millions throughout our land and all civilized countries; and Whereas, We believe that it is our duty, in all affliction and trouble, to 'lift up our eyes to the hills from whence cometh our help;' and that we are not left without a witness of the things which God has prepared for those that love Him;' and 66 Whereas, We believe it wrong to withhold our sympathy or our convictions of truth where they might be of any consolation; therefore Resolved, 1. That our heartfelt sympathies are with the faithful, stricken wife and bereaved children of the beloved husband and father; and "Resolved, 2. That we believe our Lord and Saviour, in the permission of this dreadful deed, has not been unmindful, either of the welfare of the nation, or of any individual in it; that the eternal good, which is the only real good, of all who are now suffering from the shock, shall at last be promoted by it; that the mourning ones shall be comforted, the tears wiped away, and the wrath of man be made to praise the Lord. And Resolved, 3. That we are happy in the faith that this world is but the seminary of heaven; that 'there is the country which the Lord our God careth for the eyes of the Lord our God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year' of life, even unto the end of the year' (Deut. xi. 12); that death is but the entrance-gate to a life of higher capacities, broader and deeper sympathies, and nobler uses; where individuality is never lost; where Divine helps are always near and where there may be, and among all who in their heart of hearts love each other tenderly and truly, will be reunions after death. And "Resolved, 4. That we rejoice in the character of our departed President; in the loftiness of his aims; faithful devotion to his public duties; in his fidelity to trust; in the purity of his domestic life; in his forgetfulness of self; in his patience in suffering, and his practical faith in the goodness of God. We believe it is largely the unconscious recognition that his religion was the religion of life,' which has called forth such deep and universal expressions of sorrow at his removal from us. And "Resolved, 5. That we are thankful to our heavenly Father that He has enabled us, by the aid of reason as well as faith, to think of the reality of the life which lies beyond the grave; that we pray for the coming good time when this truth shall so come home to the hearts and minds of men that the prophecy shall be fulfilled, 'There shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.' And 66 'Resolved, 6. That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted by the secretary of the Association to Mrs. Garfield." These resolutions, most appropriately passed in the city where was laid the earthly remains of the deceased President, are suggestive of some of the laws of Divine Providence which may be dimly seen in these mysterious events of human life. In England this painful providence has called forth a strength and universality of feeling and sympathy with the President and his family, and with the people of the United States, which the most ardent admirer of our American cousins could scarcely have thought possible. From the Queen upon the throne through all ranks of social life, and from the most influential public journal to the humblest organ of the national voice, there has been one consentaneous utterance of deep sympathy with those who were called to suffer from this national calamity. At the close of the President's life on earth, funeral sermons were almost as general in England as in the nation he was called to govern. This expression of feeling has drawn the two peoples of England and the United States more closely together than any other event of the past century. It has made manifest the deep-seated feeling which national jealousies and political contingencies have so long obscured. And from the union of these two great English-speaking peoples what may we not hope for the progress of Christian civilization and the advancement of the best interests of mankind! When England and America shall overcome their mutual jealousies, and learn to rejoice in each other's prosperity and to sympathize in each other's affliction, they will exercise a power for good the beneficent influence of which may not improbably surpass our largest hopes. RAISING FUNDS FOR THE CHURCH. A correspondent of the Messenger of October 26 relates the following "pleasant incident" which occurred in the Society at Brooklyn, which we commend to the attention of the young members of our Societies in England: "It was reported by the treasurer that we were about 400 dollars short on account of some repairs made during the summer just past, and while the appointment of a committee to raise the money in future to meet the exigency was under consideration, one of our younger members, who is full of energy and able to back up his opinions,' moved that we raise the money to-night;' and after he named the sum he would give, subscriptions were called for, and in less than ten minutes the whole amount was raised, in sums of from two dollars up. It is encouraging to witness such scenes, and I relate this for the encouragement of others. I am sure no one feels the poorer for what he contributed to help on our church work last night." present number its issue under that title will come to an end. I take the opportunity, therefore, of suggesting to them that the present is a most suitable time for the publication of a General Index to the whole of the fiftysix volumes. From the commencement of the Intellectual Repository in 1812 until now its pages have been contributed by the very best writers that the New Church has possessed, and the majority of their articles, being upon subjects of perennial interest, are worthy of a permanent place in our literature. But in the absence of a General Index, whereby the fact of the existence of a certain article is made known, and its position indicated, it will remain for all practical intents and purposes lost to the Church's Armed with such an index as I have in my mind's eye, the student of New Church literature, or of the history of our external organization, would be able at a glance to acquaint himself with the whereabouts of any desired information, and thus be spared hours, perhaps days, of profitless search. Nor would the use of such an index be confined to those who possess or have access to the whole set. It would benefit, though of course in a proportionately smaller degree, the owner of any less number of volumes. use. The idea might easily be extended so as to include the contents of other English New Church periodicals, with the exception of the Juvenile Magazine and Morning Light. Such periodicals are The New Jerusalem Magazine, 1790; The New Magazine of Knowledge, 1790-91; The New Jerusalem Journal, 1792; The Aurora, 17991801; The Dawn of Light, 1825; The New Jerusalem Magazine (Goyder's), 1826-29; The New Church Advocate, 1842-46; The New Church Quarterly Review, 1847-49; The New Churchman, 1855-57; and The Monthly Observer, 1857-65. I shall be glad to hear the opinions of any of your readers upon this idea of mine, both as to the desirability of its being carried out, and also as to any modifications of it that may occur to them. Furnished with these in sufficient number, I am prepared to make arrangements for publishing an index, and to issue a prospectus, with specimens, and a definite statement of the cost, based upon an exact estimate of the cost of production. I have no intention to undertake the scheme with a view to making profit out of it, but I should need the names of sufficient subscribers to guarantee me against the possibility of serious loss. I remain, Rev. and dear Sir, yours faithfully, CHARLES HIGHAM. 10 CHAMPION GROVE, CAMBERWELL, LONDON, E.C. AUGMENTATION FUND. The committee appointed by the Council to act in connection with this fund in the Lancashire district met in the church in Peter Street on Tuesday, October 18. The Rev. R. Storry was appointed to the chair. The holding of the meeting of another committee at the same time thinned the number of members in attendance. The business before the meeting was thoughtfully considered, and the resolutions adopted unanimously passed. It was felt to be matter of regret that the funds at the disposal of the committee were smaller than last year, and that the grants to be made must therefore be necessarily less. All the applications were conceded, and a resolution passed desiring the Council to make in each case as large a grant as the fund will admit. It was further resolved to recommend to the several Societies in Lancashire to have a collection in their churches in support of this fund in the month of March. An annual collection was particularly urged on the part of Societies receiving grants, although it was felt that such collections could not be large. Conjunction is by reciprocation, and those who receive favours should manifest their gratitude by some return, however small, to the fund from which they are benefited. The chairman of the committee, with Messrs. Fletcher and Sheldon, were appointed to carry into effect the resolutions of the committee. DARWINISM. The following letter, addressed to the editor, appears in the Arbroath Guide of November 12:— "SIR,-I see by a notice in the daily papers that the good folks of Arbroath have lately been advised by a popular lecturer to study the works of Dr. Darwin. Those who have acted on this advice have probably by this time discovered that even Darwin himself admits that his theory is utterly untenable. Thus in the 'Origin of Species' he says, 'If it could be demonstrated that any complete organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous successive slight modifications my theory would absolutely break down.' Then in 'The Descent of Man' he says, 'An unexplained residuum of change, perhaps a large one, must be left to the assumed uniform action of those unknown agencies which occasionally deviations of structure in our domestic induced strongly-marked and abrupt productions.' Here the learned doctor found himself compelled to admit that he was confronted with 'stronglymarked and abrupt deviations of selection,' but by 'unknown agencies, structure,' occasioned not by 'natural and as these strongly-marked and abrupt deviations of structure' 'could, not possibly have been formed by numerous successive slight modifications,' it follows that, as Darwin himself says, his theory 'absolutely breaks down.' "It is just possible, and indeed probable, that at successive stages some of the females of a lower order of life may have been used as matrices for the germs of a higher order-said germs being implanted by the great Creator without the paternity required in ordinary generation. Sacred history records one instance of Divine Wisdom choosing such means for such an end, but it is utterly repugnant to sound reason to suppose that a lower species could ever beget a higher and completely distinct species by ordinary generation. In regard to this important subject permit me to quote the following lines : "For 'tis the Death-Tree's poisoned fruit Reduced to pulpy mass of chyme, The laws by lifeless matter made- "D. YOUNG, Jun." SWEDENBORG SOCIETY-CABINET Although the number of orders for the above has exceeded those of any former year, even those of the Exhibition year, during which the work was sold at half price, yet the delay of some portions of our friends has prevented our going to press so as to issue a volume before the departure of the chief reviser for six months' absence from home. Very earnestly thanking the friends who have supported this undertaking I must ask them kindly to wait, and in the meantime increase their number, until my return from the East. J. BAYLEY. NEW CHURCH TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. -On Tuesday evening, October 18, this Society held its first annual conversazione in the schoolroom of Argyle Square, London. The meeting was convened by circulars, and a very large assembly, drawn from all the metropolitan Societies, was the result. The avowed object of the meeting was to show the practicability of substituting teetotal drinks in social gatherings for the usual inebriating beverages which customs of society have so long sanctioned and licensed, a long catalogue of drinks being placed at the disposal of friends throughout the evening. "Objects of interest" were displayed for the diversion of friends scientific, artistic, and humorous, and an ample supply of entertaining matter was to be found on all sides. The evening was also enlivened at intervals by music, vocal and instrumental, the programme being executed in a highly efficient manner by the élite of talented friends from the various Societies. In the course of the evening the Rev. Joseph Deans, who is of Good Templar renown, addressed the meeting, and discoursed at some length on the objects and aims of this recently-organized institution of the New Church, setting forth its claims as worthy of the recognition and hearty support of all who are interested in the advancement and reform of society. He stated that this institution, well supported, was destined to accomplish much good. Its members embraced two classes-total abstainers, who unreservedly opposed the consump tion of alcoholic drinks, and the more temperate section, who recognised the importance of the temperance movement, but were unwilling to bind themselves to total abstinence. The speaker said that a feeling seemed to exist among New Churchmen that this was a work beneath their field of activity, and that the pledges total abstinence sought to impose were not in harmony with that "liberty according to reason which the New Church was to establish, and that the higher standard of truth by which New Churchmen are guided placed them out of dangers common to many others. This, however, was a fallacy; we are all liable to fall, and none more liable than those who esteem themselves safe. The multitudinous inducements held out by the usages of modern society for the misuse of drinks appealed alike to New Churchmen as to others, and it was the duty of every man to lay hold of the means nearest to hand to stem the course of intem perance. The New Church Temperance Society offers such opportunities. The Rev. John Presland afterwards addressed the meeting on behalf of the Argyle Square Society. ANERLEY (from the South London Press of November 12).—The memorialstone of a place of worship for the Society of the New Jerusalem Church, now temporarily worshipping in the Vestry Hall, Anerley, was laid on Monday. The building, which is situated in the Waldegrave Road, is in an advanced state of preparation. It is being built of concrete, and promises to be a very substantial and tasteful edifice. The ground-floor will be occupied by a lofty schoolroom and other offices, all of which will be well lighted. The ceremony commenced at 3.30, at which hour a goodly number of ladies and gentlemen had taken up positions round the stone. A hymn having been sung, the Rev. Dr. Bayley offered prayer, and Mr. Rhodes exhibited the bottle which was about to be placed under the stone, and described its contents. Mr. A. C. Moore then, on behalf of the members and friends of the Society, presented to Mr. Richard Gunton an elegant silver trowel, bearing on the one side an inscription and on the other a sketch of the building; and in a few earnest sentences expressed his wishes for the recipient's health and success in his new undertaking. Mr. Gunton having "well and duly laid" the stone, proceeded to stand upon it, and announce the fact to the assembled company. Addressing himself then to the strangers present, he explained some of the reasons why in the midst of so many churches this new one was being built. He remarked that upon such fundamental doctrines as those concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Scriptures, and the Christian life, the New Jerusalem Church was possessed of truths which the world sorely needed. The Rev. Dr. Bayley said that the New Jerusalem Church had no desire to be antagonistic to other Churches, but rather to supplement their teachings by more elevated views of religious truth. All Christians believed more or less in the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, but worshippers in this church would be taught that "in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." He hoped that by proclaiming to men the means by which true happiness could alone be obtained, this church would promote the coming of that golden age when the Lord's will should be done as in heaven so upon the earth. The Rev. John Presland congratulated his friend Mr. Gunton upon the completion, thus far, of a work dear to his heart. The ceremonial of that day reminded him, he said, of the text, "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." The foundation-stone of all the doctrines which would be preached in this church was the supreme Divinity of Jesus Christ; and to His glory and the maintenance of His kingdom all the future activities of the Society would be devoted. At the close of the proceedings tea was provided in the Vestry Hall, followed by a public meeting, which was presided over by Dr. Bayley, and addressed by ministers of the London churches, the proceedings being varied by excellent music and a collection for the building fund. GLASGOW.-On Sunday, September 25, a pleasing ceremony took place in the hall. It is the custom of the minister, at the commencement of the session of his Bible class every autumn, to offer baptism and explain its uses to all the members of his class who have not been baptized in the New Church. The result this year was that five of them received baptism in the presence of the assembled class at the usual hour of its meeting. On Sunday, October 16, the Sunday appointed for adult baptisms, one adult and one infant were baptized during the morning service. On Sunday, October 23, the Sunday appointed for the celebration of the Holy Supper, one hundred persons partook of it. LIVERPOOL.-On Wednesday evening, October 26, the quarterly meeting was held in the schoolroom. Mr. Tilson was unanimously called to the chair. After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed, attention was drawn to the fact that the rules of the Society had been so frequently amended and suspended that virtually they were useless for the present state of the Society. It was therefore unani. mously resolved, "That the committee be requested to consider the present form of rules, as to the advisability of amending the same, to report to next quarterly meeting.' The chairman made some remarks concerning the great need for a more earnest study of the writings among the members of the Society. Upon his suggestion it was resolved, 66 "That District Reading Meetings be established in connection with the church, and a committee was appointed to carry out the same." ciety, we learn, had just entered into contracts for a neat iron church and suitable site when by the departure into the other life of their oldest member, Mr. Wilkinson, they found that by his will ample provision had been made for a substantial structure and its endowment. This led to the cancelling of arrangements before completion of the iron church. Reconsideration, however, has again brought up the former idea, seeing that it may be two or three years before Mr. Wilkinson's bequest can be carried out, and with the consent of The Trustees North of Trent-with whom the funds will be invested-it |