and all tenderness. Could they conceive anything but happiness to arise out of such a state of things?

Why, then, the lecturer asked, is there not more of this happiness on earth? Because there cannot be heavenly joy apart from heavenly character, and this character has to be acquired. This is the greatest business of life here. The little child exhibits innocence and simplicity, is gentle and loving. These states spring out of the germs of heaven implanted by the Lord; but in that same child lie buried the germs of evil from hell. These latter, as the child grows up, by little and little develop themselves, until, in the full-grown man, tendencies to evil and wrong are strong within him. Man, he continued, then having the germs of goodness in him from the Lord, and tendencies to evil from hell, is placed, as it were, between opposing influences, and must make his choice. To this end, by the will and mercy of the Lord, man is preserved in a state of equilibrium, and hence in freedom of will, freedom to choose either good or evil. This freedom is a necessity, nay, the great charter of humanity; without it, man could not form a character for himself. God came into the world to restore human freedom. Hell cannot take away that freedom, and heaven will not. The lecturer then showed that man is not in a state of joy, because the heavenly state of love to God, love to the neighbour, and the love of obedience, is reversed in man's lower nature; that hence man cannot be happy in this desponding condition, and hence the necessity for a new birth; that the heavenly character must be formed by the subjugation of internal evil, first by repentance.

And here the lecturer cautioned his hearers against the idea of momentary repentance. Repentance, said he, is the beginning, not the end, of salvation. True salvation consists in being saved from the particular sin which rules in every man's own heart. The great test of a true and enduring faith is persistence in the task of doing the Father's will; the great trial of faith is the keeping the commandments.

He then proceeded to show, that the essence of beauty is goodness, and he said that the Lord is infinitely beautiful; therefore, that as the soul becomes inwardly good, it becomes outwardly

beautiful: that we cannot conceive the idea of an ugly angel; hence, that the angels are clothed with beautiful and radiant garments. This he illustrated from the Scriptures. He then proceeded to say, that the law of all being is, to be covered; that it is so in all things of this life, that it is so with our ideas; that there is nothing uncovered; and that spiritual things follow this law

that all things are covered-clothed over. Hence that principles of righteousness and truth within are seen, as beautiful clothing externally. He concluded by showing that the angels are not only clothed, but that they dwell in beautiful mansions; for, as internal principles clothe the soul externally, so houses clothe the outward life. All heavenly surroundings are an outbirth and counterpart of internal goodness and truth the fulness of heavenly joy consisting in the harmony of angelic surroundings with the heavenly nature of the soul. Thus were closed the proceedings of a week rich in promise for the future of the Brighton Society.

BRISTOL.

The National Missionary Institution having agreed to defray the expense of a visit to this city of the Rev. Thomas Chalklen, he arrived here on the 18th ult., and delivered two discourses in the society's place of worship on the 19th and 26th October. He also delivered two week-day lectures at the Music Hall, Park-street. The subjects were, "On the being and nature of God;"

The Word of God written according to the correspondence of spiritual to natural things." The sermons and lectures were all of a highly interesting character, and much gratified those who were enabled to be present; but the weather, during the whole period of Mr. Chalklen's visit, was very stormy, and doubtless was the cause of preventing the attendance of a larger audience.

At the request of the society, the Rev. Woodville Woodman consented to be present and take part in the proceedings at its seventeenth anniversary. Mr. Woodman also offered to deliver two or three week-day lectures, if thought desirable; and the National Missionary Institution having agreed to contribute towards the expense of the latter, Mr. Woodman's proposition was gladly accepted.

The lectures were delivered on the 5th, 6th, and 7th November, the subjects being, "Free-will and foreknowledge, and their compatibility, shewing that but for the latter the former could not exist;""The existence of God, and the nature and immortality of the soul;" "Matter and spirit: their existence, distinction, and relationship."

The attendance on the first night was about 90, and on the two following evenings from 110 to 120, and would doubtless have been much larger but for the inclement state of the weather and the variety of amusements going on during the week. The lectures were listened to with great attention, and many, totally unconnected with the New Church, expressed their delight at some of the ideas which were propounded. One gentleman, believed to belong to the Wesleyan society, told the writer there ought to have been 10,000 people present to hear the lecture.

On Sunday, the 9th November, Mr. Woodman delivered two interesting and instructive discourses to good audiences, amongst which were a few secularists, at the society's place of worship. The subjects were, "The trees of the garden of God the planting of Jehovah ;" and The slaughter of 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass."

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On Monday, the 10th November, the seventeenth anniversary of the society was celebrated by a tea meeting, which was attended by about sixty, including several friends from Bath. The company was addressed by several of the members, as well as by the Rev. W. Woodman, the Rev. W. Barnes, of Bath, and Mr. J. B. Keene, of London. The proceedings were occasionally enlivened with music and singing by some of the friends, and a very agreeable evening terminated about ten o'clock.

On Friday, the 14th November, on his return from Plymouth, where he had proceeded to lecture, Mr. Woodman favoured us with a lecture on "Luther, Wesley, Swedenborg-their respective missions." About 250 attended this lecture, and appeared much pleased with the attractive manner in which the subject was handled.

HEYWOOD.

A series of interesting and useful services have recently taken place in this town, of which we give a short account, from the pen of a correspondent.

The society, having existed fifty years, determined to hold a jubilee celebration of the event, which should extend over a number of Sundays, and be attended with suitable week-night services. These services commenced on Sunday, the 21st of September, with sermons by the minister, the Rev. R. Storry, on "The Signification of the Trumpet, and the Religious Meaning of the Jubilee, and its relation to the Christian Church." In the afternoon of this day, addresses were delivered to the children of the Sunday-school, by Mr. Pickstone, of Radcliffe, and Mr. Gunton, of London, who was in the neighbourhood at the time. On the Tuesday evening following, Dr. Bayley, of London, delivered a lecture, on "The Flood;" and on the Thursday evening, September 25th, the Jubilee tea-party was held in the large school-room. Eight hundred persons took tea together on the occasion, and considerably over a thousand attended the meeting after tea. Addresses were delivered at this meeting by the Rev. R. Storry, who was in the chair, by the Revds. Dr. Bayley, J. Boys, J. B. Kennerley, Messrs. Pickstone, of Radcliffe, Gunton, of London, Parry, of Liverpool, F. Smith, of Manchester, and T. Ogden, of Heywood. At this meeting an organ, presented to the Sunday-school by Thos. Wild, Esq., was opened. From the report of the society's progress, we learn that its commencement was in the dwelling-house of the late Mr. James Ashworth Ashworth, the relict of our departed friend, is still connected with the society, and it was determined to present her with an appropriate memento of the occasion. An elegantly bound volume of the True Christian Religion," containing an appropriate inscription, was obtained from Mr. Alvey for this purpose, and was presented by Dr. Bayley during the proceedings of the evening.

Mrs.

It would exceed the limits that could be allowed to this notice to give the many incidents contained in a report which gives the leading features of a fifty years' history. The society during this period has occupied, besides its cottage birth-place, two rooms rented for its use, and has erected two chapels or temples. The last, which is its present place of worship, it has enlarged three times; it is now capable of seating nearly five hundred people. It has erected three school-rooms; the first, under the present temple (which was rendered useless as a school-room by the second enlargement of the temple);

the second, over the top of some cottages erected behind the temple; and the last, the room in Hornby-street, which, since its erection, has been enlarged to double its original dimensions, being now, including the class rooms, 75 feet square. The church has been aided in its progress by several devoted friends, the descendants of most of whom are connected with it, and form its most active members. It consists of one hundred members, and has in its Sunday and day schools rather more than six hundred children, who are taught by upwards of sixty young people, for whose instruction it has collected a library of 600 volumes. It has passed through its states of public debate and controversy, from which it has gained strength and increase of members, and is at present as earnestly employed in works of usefulness as at any period of its history. From the small beginning, therefore, we have intimated, the society has grown to these dimensions, holding valuable church property, free of all encumbrance, and having means of usefulness which we sincerely hope may be wisely employed for the growth of the society and the benefit of the community around them. The meeting, which was of the most interesting and animated kind, did not break up until a late hour.

On the Sunday following, September 28th, Dr. Bayley preached morning and evening, Mr. Storry occupying his pulpit in London; and Mr. Kennerley delivered, in the afternoon, a special sermon to the young people who were educating, or had been educated, in the schools. On the Tuesday following, Dr. Bayley again lectured on "The Lord's Second Coming;" and on the Thursday, the children of the Sunday-school were entertained at a social tea meeting, to which their parents also were invited. On the next Sunday, Oct. 5th, the morning and evening services were conducted by Mr. Parry, formerly leader of the society; and in the afternoon the minister of the society preached a special sermon to the parents of the children of the Sunday-school. These services were followed by a lecture, on the Tuesday evening, by Mr. Kennerley, on "The Church, and the Meaning of the Keys ;" and on the Thursday evening, by a tea meeting to the teachers of the Sundayschool and the younger members of the church and congregation. The services were concluded in the following week by sermons on The Sabbath," and a lecture on the Tuesday evening by the Rev. Mr.

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Hyde, of Derby, and by a social meeting of members and friends of the church, held on the Thursday evening, Oct. 16th. Mr. Hyde also delivered the first of a series of lectures intended to promote the intellectual improvement of the younger members of the society, on the Monday evening.

All the services we have here intimated were well attended. At some of them the attendance was quite crowded; nor was the interest at all diminished to the end. Short reports of the proceedings appeared in the local papers, from one of which we copy an abstract of the concluding speech of the minister at the last meeting of the series. Since the meetings, public lectures are in progress, which have also been well attended, and will, we hope, be useful to the society.

"The Rev. R. Storry said it was very important that at the close of the jubilee they should review the long series of highly interesting services. They had been highly favoured in having the services of some of the most eloquent men in their community. It had brought into their midst Dr. Bayley, a man who must always be affectionately remembered. But it would be of little use to them to have had the presence of highly-cultivated minds in their jubilee services unless they profited by it-unless they made it an occasion from which to gain greater strength of religious character. They were assembled as a religious community, to have impressed upon their minds religious instructions, hopes, and duties, to all of which they must turn their attention with profound sincerity. They had closed their jubilee under very auspicious circumstances-not when summer was approaching, and minister and people alike required rest; but at the close of summer, when people were ready to meet in rocms, listen to instructions, &c. This jubilee ought to be made a lever to help them onward. It was important to look at the church as the Lord's body. It was also like a building, the parts of which must be united if it stood firmly. The church ought to be united by love. He hoped the principle of love would enable them to look over little faults in each other, and to grow into a higher life; not to complain of this or that service, but to feel glad that they could perform any service in Christ's church. Assuming that they were governed by holy principles, what was sure to follow ? Some persons depended upon the minister.

He (Mr. Storry) was not inclined to despise human eloquence. Eloquence was not so important, however, as honesty, integrity, and strict conscientiousness; to speak the truth even when it came athwart the wishes of some; to do as the apostle says, "Speak the truth in love." The church must work as well as the minister. There were many things a minister could not do-many things he could not be expected to do. Every family ought to set apart a portion of each day for the reading of the holy Scriptures. There was nothing more important to the Christian than quiet thought. They lived in such a whirl of business, that the world seemed to move by steam. Thought was what could be done by the individual. Religion ought to come also into the home circle. They ought to attend to their children, for nothing was more important. The foundation of goodness was laid in childhood. He (Mr. Storry) attributed his position in the church more to the reading of the Bible on a Sunday night with his parents when a child at home, than to anything else. In conclusion, he hoped that jubilee would be an incentive to make the ensuing winter a time for more earnest work and active usefulness."

BIRMINGHAM.-HOCKLEY-STREET SOCIETY. This society having by adverse circumstances been left without the services of a leader, application was made to Dr. Bayley, who very kindly made arrangements with Mr. John Bayley of Nottingham to supply us every alternate Sunday until Christmas, commencing on Sunday, the 16th inst. On the following Monday evening a very interesting meeting of the society was held. Thanks were voted to Dr. Bayley for the ready aid he had afforded for us, and to Mr. John Bayley for his excellent discourses on the Sunday, with a request that he would kindly continue his help until an efficient minister was secured. It was then moved, and unanimously resolved-"That an application be made to the next Conference for admission into connection with the church." It was considered that our connection with Conference would greatly promote the stability of the society, particularly if at any future time, as in the past, efforts should be made to subvert our constitution and rules. The present number of members in the society is a little over twenty, and we have the prospect of receiving back several who left us about twelve months ago. J. R. LEE.

IPSWICH.

A course of lectures on important doctrinal subjects, by Mr. J. Spilling, having been decided on and duly advertised, it was suggested that it might prove useful to preface them in an agreeable manner by holding a social tea meeting. It then occurred to some of our friends that such a meeting would offer a favourable opportunity for presenting a testimonial to our zealous and talented minister, as an expression of our sympathy and appreciation of his valuable and well-nigh gratuitous services. A few active friends at once engaged themselves in the good work, and were enabled by the liberality and unanimous feeling of the society, to purchase a handsome writing desk, having a suitable inscription engraved thereon. The testimonial was presented by Mr. John Hines, one of the oldest members of the society, on Wednesday, November 5th, accompanied by a very feeling and interesting speech. The secretary having read an affectionate address prepared for the occasion, Mr. Spilling, with deep emotion, accepted the presentation as a token of kindness on the part of the society, and as an earnest of their willingness to cooperate with him in the great work of receiving and making known the glorious truths of the New Church. A most interesting and, we trust, instructive meeting was participated in by all present. On Sunday, November 9th, the first of four lectures was delivered by Mr. Spilling, the subject being "Who is the True God?" which was treated in a most lucid manner to a very good congregation, and, we have reason to believe, well received by strangers. The subject of the second lecture is "Which is the True View of the Atonement ?" the third,--"What is the Nature of True Faith?" the fourth,"What and When is the True Resurrection?" T. S. C., Sec.

ISLINGTON.

The members of the Islington Bazaar Committee are desirous of conveying their grateful thanks, through the medium of the Magazine, to the many contributors and visitors to their bazaar, which was held in August last, and also to those kind friends, not members of the external New Church, who have so liberally and devotedly given their aid, and which has materially enhanced the success of this undertaking. The committee are happy to state that the results have been very satisfactory, notwithstanding the bazaar was held in the

society's school-room, and the prevailing bad weather during that week, which was also the Conference week, when numerous other interesting engagements occupied the attention of our New Church brethren. The net proceeds in the hands of the treasurer are £59. 1s. 1d. clear of all expenses. There are some articles still to be disposed of, and also a valuable picture, and when these are all sold, there are hopes of realising £16. more, thus making £75. in all towards the fund for erecting the College Chapel.-On behalf of the Committee,

DAVID GEO. GOYDER, Chairman.

NEW CHURCH COLLEGE LIBRARY. The librarian begs to acknowledge the receipt of the following books:- From the Rev. A. Clissold, A.M.: Exposition of the Apocalypse, 4 vols., Apocalyptic Interpretation, 2 vols.; Letter to the Vicer Chancellor of Oxford, 1 vol.; Practical Nature of Swedenborg's Writings, 1 vol.; Inspiration and Interpretation, 4 parts. From Miss Dowling: a volume of poetry, entitled Wild Flowers. From Miss Henslowe: Literary Gleanings by an Invalid, 1 volume.

It is earnestly hoped that New Churchmen will forward a copy of their works for presentation to the Library, which is open daily (except Saturday and Sunday) from ten till one.

DAVID GEO. GOYDER, Librarian.

SWEDENBORG SOCIETY ADVERTISING FUND.

To the Editor.

Rev. and dear Sir, I am very desirous to engage your solicitude in this new movement, seeing that if it can be carried out to completion, you stand in a position of extensive usefulness in reference to it, and can give it the benefit of a strong impetus.

Such a little time has elapsed since the appearance of the advertisement announcing the objects of the Fund, that no one can expect to hear much in reference to the effect it has had; nevertheless I have to inform the church that the letters I have received are very encouraging, and the sums placed in my care for preliminary expenses amount to something more than £22. One gentleman says he must give 5s.-not 1s.a-year, and I believe many more will not be satisfied with the mite I have asked.

I am carefully endeavouring to encircle myself with men who love this work, and

have little doubt in a short time to be able to say the machinery is complete, and awaits only to be well oiled by the members, seat-holders, and friends of the New Church, to set it in motion for one year's work,-at the lapse of which. time we may be pretty sure the subscribers will take care that the machinery goes on improvingly.

Those ministers and leaders of our several societies who have not yet responded to my request named in the advertisement, might render very great assistance by their kind coöperation and advice. I would again respectfully solicit communications from them, not as to subscriptions likely to be sent, but simply as to whether they are willing and able to encourage their respective flocks to subscribe 1s. or more, annually, towards the objects of the Fund.

Let us all work together for good, that so the will of the Lord may be done in us as it is in heaven. In His kingdom every one is anxious that all others should be blessed with the same truths as he himself enjoys: let us endeavour to imitate them. The New Church Writings were given for all mankind without respect of persons, they are illustrative of the Divine Word. The Bible Society is striving to introduce the Word everywhere: let us follow in their wake;-as fast as they sow, let us water. In a few years the sales of our books will be considerably extended; and that fact will be sufficient evidence to us, that, by establishing the Advertising Fund, we shall have good occasion to rejoice in that we have been the means of communicating lasting joy to others. I am, Rev. Sir, yours most respectfully, JAMES TRIMEN. 11, Portugal-street, Lincolns' Inn, W.C., Nov. 14th, 1862.

TRACT FOR THE TIMES. Swedenborg Defended, and the Truth stated on the New Churchman's Rule of Life, and especially of Marriage Life, and on those departures from it which exist in the World. Dialogue between "Friendly" and "Upright.” By the Rev. Dr. Bayley.

In the last No. there was a letter from Dr. Bayley in reference to this tract, in which he stated the object for which it had been written-to correct misrepresentations such as are now being made on Swedenborg's teaching respecting marriage, or rather its opposite. We