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elucidation. But no objections were stated, and no questions were asked. Many tracts on the subjects of the lectures were distributed; and, judging from the eagerness with which they were received, it may be hoped that they will be read, and that some inquiry will be awakened as to the doctrines of the New Church amongst the good people of Stafford.

After the first lecture was delivered, a gentleman came on the platform, and asked the lecturer to come to his house and baptise his child,-which he did. This gentleman had been acquainted with the doctrines for some years, and he thought that himself was the only person in Stafford that knew anything of them. But most agreeaby surprised was he to see the announcement of this lecture, and to find that there were others beside himself in Stafford who had a knowledge of the truths of the New Church. One person came both evenings, through drenching rain, five miles from the country to hear the lectures.

K.

GERMANY.-LETTER FROM DR. TAFEL. My dear Sir, I was much delighted by your kind letter of 22nd November, and accept your offer in its full extent; the more so, as I am enabled by my correspondence sometimes to communicate intelligence which may interest the readers of the Intellectual Repository and the Church at large.

There are especially three particulars which seem to have this character. The first is contained in a letter of a zealous and very intelligent receiver at Görlitz, with whom I have been in correspondence for nearly twenty years, and who yesterday expressed to me his strong desire to become useful to the New Church by theological activity, for which he has already very good attainments, which, however, he desires to perfect by orderly study in a university, although he is already in his fortieth year; but he is in want of the necessary means, and is therefore under the necessity of continuing as a private teacher in his own town, and of employing the hours of his leisure in reading books on theological science, on which he wishes to hear public lectures in a university. But we know that a self-taught person cannot attain the knowledge and ability which can be communicated viva voce

and by scientific intercourse with others. Besides, at home he is painfully dependent; and it would be doubtless in the interest of the Church to deliver him from this state and its injurious influence on his studies, and to afford him the means of beginning regular study at a university, for which he is preparing himself by private study of the different branches of theological science, such as the history of the Church and of its dogmas, hermeneutics, rules of criticism, introduction to theology and theological cyclopedia, as well as logic and mental philosophy, for in natural philosophy and the languages he is already well versed. And although in want of means, he has nevertheless purchased the Latin originals of Swedenborg, so that he could in future be employed in an institution for the education of New Church ministers. I think that the purity and earnestness of his character have been, in the hand of Divine Providence, instrumental in exciting in a younger friend the same sentiments and the same strong desire to be useful as a theologian of the New Church; but having the means to do so, this young man will, next Easter, attend the college of the town, and afterwards come to the university here.

My second news is a repeated call for young New Church ministers for Australia. You will perhaps remember, that in a reply of our General Convention of the receivers of the New Church in Germany and Switzerland to your General Conference of the New Church, I inserted an extract of a letter from Mr. T. G. Walther, at that time at Melbourne, in which he requested that such a desire should be communicated to the General Conference. Now, as nothing has been done in this quarter, his eyes seem to be directed, next the Lord, to America. He says that he has left Melbourne for the new colony of Queensland, established a year ago, where colonization increases more and more, especially by Germans, as the soil is extremely fertile. "There are," he says, "in Queensland, souls who do homage to the revealed truths of the Lord with great delight. The resistance of the clergy is at present great and violent, having power to suppress these writings. I lately asked a German preacher what value he set on the writings of Swedenborg, and if he had read any of them. 'O yes,' he said,

'these writings are a school of Satan. The Bible says, that faith is the only means of salvation; but Swedenborg perverts this, saying that love must occupy the first place, whilst faith is greater than love, for love must proceed from faith. The second reason is justification, which can only come from faith; love having nothing to do with it. What Swedenborg says on the lot of the deceased, are products of a heated phantasy.' By longer disputation, he became angry, and said, that he closed his heart and his ears against these blasphemous writings, and would warn every soul not to read them. May the Lord have mercy even on such men, who close their hearts and ears against good and truth, which He certainly has not revealed in vain to all mankind. As I often experienced, laymen are not guilty, but nearly the whole clergy bear the blame and responsibility. We know that at the time of the Lord's appearance in the flesh on earth, it was quite as now, on His second glorious appearance in the Word. Eight persons I have already found, in this short time, who read with great relish the writings of Swedenborg. I have now been at Toowomba for about six months, and if a talented and intelligent young man of the ministry, who is not married, and can speak German as well as English, would come here, the blessing would be great." He requests many New Church books in German. A New Church lady was told by a missionary, that he was going to Batavia, to succeed another who had read till his death Swedenborg's books, which, however, he should burn on his arrival.

We find a similar spirit in the Archives du Christianisme, in an article against M. de Chazal, in the isle of Mauritius, by which we learn nothing but the bad state of the writer. It is deeply to be deplored that so many leaders of the old church seem to have lost all conscience, and even shame.

We are the more glad, therefore, to see that in an organ of science and art, appearing at Geneva (Journal des Dé. couvertes et des Perfectionnements dans les Sciences, dans les Arts et dans l'Industre, de chaque Nation), there is so favourable a mention of Swedenborg and his writings; and in its first number, (October, 1861) the catalogue of the French translations was inserted, and

in the second, the whole catalogue of my publications, 72 in number; and besides which, a short biography of Swedenborg is commenced, and his portrait promised, as in No. 2 the portrait of Volta was given.

I am going on with volume III. of the Index Biblicus; but as it occupies much time, I found it expedient to continue, besides the little works already sent to the Swedenborg Society, the publication of the other manuscripts of Swedenborg at present in my hands, which were considered by the scholars of the New Church as an urgent necessity, and thus the "Summaria Expositio Sensus Interni," and volume I. of the "Apocalypsis Explicata," have been already printed,-two works, however, of which no copy has yet been sent to England, except one of the "Summaria Expositio," by post. I have also continued the translation of the works, and thus, after the "True Christian Religion," the work on the "New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrines" appeared in its full extent, as also lately, the continuation of the "Arcana Colestia" up to volume IV., or to the 19th chapter of Genesis inclusive. This work is ardently desired in Germany.

A gentleman who is to become connected with my family, and is an advocate here, but was four years in a Protestant seminary, has offered to assist me in the editing of the Latin originals, which he does in a very exact manner.

30th November.-I have again opened this letter to adjoin some general notice and consideration of our present state. Formerly, I regarded the products generally of the modern German literature with indifference, and preferred to them that of Great Britain, because truth and good did not prevail, and the beautiful was separated from them; but with great delight I have seen that better principles have found their way, especially in Julian Schmidt's History of German Literature since the Death of Lessing (4th ed. 1858, 3 vols.), which appeared at Leipsic. As a law of all genuine art, he shews that it cannot be separated from truth and from conscience, but must have a tendency to them, and thereby please our mind; and as it cannot want the contrast, every opposite must be psychologically derived from the source of this deviation; wherefore, the romantic school of the

poets is strongly censured, as well as the naturalists, because they separate the external from the true internal, and have, therefore, an internal consanguinity with Catholicism, and, indeed, some of that romantic school professed at last Catholicism, as V. Schlegel, &c., whilst the principle of Protestantism is conscience. Kant's definition of the beautiful was misunderstood, when he said beauty is what pleases without interest; he did not mean disinterested pleasing in general, but excluded only the low interest, which is selfishness. We can add that good has no existence without truth, which is its form, and both are nothing without their external appearance in life and nature, which is essentially the beautiful; wherefore, our tendency to uses in life is not contrary to the laws of the beautiful, but rather required by them, and the disinterested pleasing is only the negative side of its positive, which is true love. It is de lightful to see that our Schiller was more and more penetrated by this law, and Goethe, too, at last, was in agreement with him. In this sense, Schiller says "that a great example excites emulation, and gives higher laws to our judgment: man increases with his greater ends." Towards his end, Schiller expresses in a letter his great admiration of the Lord's deeds and sayings, as giving everywhere to the internal good and truth its suitable external appearance. This was an acknowledgment of the principle of correspondences, according to which the Lord must have appeared to him as the Poet of poets. The celebrated Wolfgang Menzel, at Stuttgart, told me, that after Goethe's death he received a visit from Eckermann, Goethe's friend, who reported that Goethe, in his last days, was much occupied with Swedenborg's writings.

We know that from Austria, where Catholicism prevails, there went out into many countries a spiritism in its worst and most seductive form, having the New Church in its mouth, but proclaiming in opposition to its principles new immediate revelations and doctrines quite contrary to true Christian religion, whose truths it had falsified, and whose goods it had adulterated, and led to a socialism which separated, and separates, good from truth, and the external from the internal; and is ending, in America, as a minister of the New Church of

America informed me some weeks ago, in scandalous living, whilst the poor seduced people at Vienna, according to the trials reported in the newspapers of July, 1861, seem to adhere still to the seducers. But how delightful it was to me to receive recently, from that same Austria, a letter from a workman, together with a beautiful poem of his, on Easter morning, which clearly shews that genuine truth and good tend to the beautiful, and find their fit external expression, and that there is no severance between art and handicraft or industry, but that art shall penetrate industry. I do not remember to have received at any time a more beautiful or zealous letter. This poor man has not only purchased all the German translations he could obtain, but also all works in their defence that he met with; and these he read with great advantage to his internal man. With kind regards to all friends, I remain, very truly, your affectionate

EMANUEL TAFEL. Tübingen, 25th Nov., 1861.

SUNDAY LESSONS. New publication, by the Manchester Printing Society, of the New Church Sunday Lessons, for the Instruction of the Children of the New Church in the Science of Correspondences, in Schools or at Homes. London: Alvey, 36, Bloomsbury-street, Oxford-street.

These "Sunday Lessons," as the preface informs us, were composed by an intelligent member of the New Church in Boston, United States. The primary object of these lessons is to teach, in a manner adapted to the capacity of young people, the very important science or doctrine of correspondences; and thus gradually to initiate them into the "spiritual discernment" (1 Cor. ii. 14.) of the Divine Word.

The publishers have issued this edition in a revised and improved form, and at a price which they trust will ensure its extensive circulation in the schools and families of the New Church. Every member of the New Church knows the great importance of the science of correspondences, as the only key to the right interpretation of the Word. The sooner the young people in our families and schools are put into the possession of this key, which is truly the "key of knowledge," and are

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taught to use it, the more disposed they will become, as they grow up, to study the Word, and to imbibe its wisdom, because its truths, especially in its "darker sayings" and prophecies, can be understood.

This manual before us seems, as said above from the preface, well adapted for this purpose; and we trust it will not only be in the bands of every parent and teacher, but that it will also form a class book in all our Sunday and dayschools.

Our thanks are due to the Manchester Printing Society, for bringing out this useful little volume in so cheap and so elegant a form.

EXAMINATION OF THE SALFORD NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH DAY SCHOOLS. J.D. Morell, LL.D., one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools, examined these schools on November 5th. His former reports, after examination, have always been highly eulogistic, and this year he writes respecting the boys' school:Boys.-The school-rooms have been well ventilated since last year, and are greatly improved. The number too in the boys' school is limited; the very young scholars having been rejected. The good effect of this is already manifest. The quietude and order are unexceptionable, and the average progress in all the classes is very creditable." "Girls' School.-The girls' school is also remarkably orderly, and the two elder classes show considerable proficiency in all the usual branches of instruction. Fully half the school consists of young scholars, who are only engaged in the elementary work of reading and writing."

BARBADOES.

The following letter, which has been handed to us for publication, will be read with interest :

"Sunbury House, Sunbury, S.W. 21st November, 1861. "My dear Dr. Spurgin,-I have an important and highly interesting piece of news respecting the progress of the New Church in the West Indies.

"The last packet brought me the tidings that the Bishop of Barbadoes (Parry) requires the students of Codrington College-Mr. Thawle its Principal-candidates for the ministry, to study the doctrines of Swedenborg, with the view of enabling them to do battle

with the Swedenborgians. This proves that the New Church is assuming dimensions, and exerting an influence, thought to be worthy of systematic opposition.

"It is feared, however, that instead of the Writings of the New Church, only some works of hostile authors are put into the hands of the young men.

"What think you of the Swedenborg Society offering to present Codrington College with a complete set of the Writings?

"In haste, yet as ever with affection and esteem, I am, my dear Dr., very truly yours, C. G. MACPHERSON."

[In agreement with this suggestion, the Society's Committee, at their last meeting, agreed to offer the College a complete set of the Writings, on the in the catalogue of its library.-ED.] usual condition of their being inserted

MRS. BUSH AND HER CHILDREN. ment in yours of December, the list of Dear Sir,-According to the announcesubscriptions in aid of the widow and children of the late Professor George Bush was closed at as early a date as practicable after the 12th. I now beg of the list, printed for the information your insertion of the following abstract of subscribers only: :Anonymous, dated London, 10th December, 1861, and hereby acknowledged with grateful thanks...... .£50 0 0 London, 9 subscribers Liverpool, 2 ditto Bristol, 2 ditto. Birmingham, 28 ditto, and

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21 5 0 8 0 0 500

12 19

0000

5 15 0

sundries Manchester, 14 subscribers.. 21 11 Glasgow and Paisley, 6 ditto.. 10 1 Radcliffe, 7 ditto Melbourne, 3 ditto, and sundries Preston, 1 subscriber Accrington, 7 ditto Jersey, 10 ditto Various places, 21 ditto

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500 0 10 0 60 6 260 16 11 0

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The only expenses incurred have been postages, and the printing of the private list of subscribers.

In presenting this general statement of the result of this effort to assist Mrs. Bush in the painful position in which she has been placed by her bereavement two years ago, I do so with a deep sense of thankfulness. The Lord has certainly blessed this labour of love. Undertaken personally with great diffidence, and from a deep conviction of its necessity,-as I should have greatly preferred the formation of a committee, as originally proposed for the consideration of the friends assembled during the meeting of Conference, at Liverpool,-the work has been carried on through ill-health and other afflictions, in the midst of pressing public duties admitting of no delay. It has, however, resulted in a sum far beyond what I could have anticipated.

Many friends have not been asked by letter, from a fear of giving offence, others because the claims of the societies to which they are attached are necessitous and imperative. To those who out of a large-hearted charity and benevolence contributed without special solicitation, my thanks are largely due, as it lightened the work of correspondence. To the anonymous donor of the £50. which, arriving at "the eleventh hour," now heads the list, the thanks of all interested would undoubtedly be expressed, if we knew how to thank him. As it is, the consciousness that "it is more blessed to give than to receive," must be his under any circumstances.

My apologies are due, and are hereby expressed, to those friends whom I may have unnecessarily troubled with letters of solicitation, claiming their sympathy and aid for the bereaved family of a man who it appeared was only known to them by name, and not by his works.

I have been strongly urged by several friends to keep the account open for a longer period. This I could not do. My work of solicitation was completed on the appearance of your last publication, and it is necessary on personal grounds that my stewardship should cease at the date announced.

I shall have no objection, however, to receive and transmit, as circumstances may permit, any further contributions of friends who may desire the privilege of assisting in the payment of a debt

the account of which was rendered in the article on "The late Professor Bush," in your issue of December. A small instalment has been forwarded in the amount as above given. Who will assist in reducing the large balance still, as I fear it will be for ever, due? With my best thanks for the help of the Intellectual Repository,

I am, yours faithfully, GEORGE WALLIS. 16, Victoria-grove, Fulham-road, West Brompton, S.W., London.

IMPORTANT CLAUSE IN A RECENT Law RELATING TO PLACES OF WORSHIP HELD BY TRUSTEES.

Derby, December 4th, 1861. Thinking that the Trustees of our various places of worship may possibly be unaware of the alteration in the law respecting Trustees, permit me to direct their attention to the subject..

A law was enacted on 17th May, 1861, which declares that all trust deeds not enrolled in Chancery before 17th May, 1862, are null and void to all intents of the trusts therein specified.

As, however, there may occur a difficulty in obtaining the acknowledgment by the grantor of the lands or premises now held in trust, which acknowledgment must be made before a Master in Chancery, the law provides, that "if it can be proven to the satisfaction of the Clerk in Chancery that such acknowledgment cannot be obtained before May 17th, 1862, the deeds shall not require acknowledgment prior to enrolment."

But the law is explicit and emphatic, that all deeds are null and void if not enrolled before the above-named date. Any trust deed, not already enrolled, should be enrolled at once.

JOHN HYDE.

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