"Immediately on its being known that he was in Preston, Mr. Rendell called a meeting of the friends of the church, and after explaining to them the character and purpose of the man, stated that it was not his intention to be present at any of his meetings, and strongly recommended that all friends of the church should remain away. Still some seem not to have been capable of resisting the temptation. Among these was Mr. Foster, who on two or three nights was induced to attempt some explanation; but of course nothing was likely to be received as satisfactory statements by an audience which had been goaded by the basest insinuations into the most rude and boisterous conduct. Mr. Foster's attempt may not have been without its use, though most of the more experienced friends would have preferred, under such circumstances, a suffering in silence. As may be supposed, considerable excitement was produced, and it was generally felt that something should be done to stay the unfavourable judgments that were going abroad, and arrest the prejudices that were being evoked. To this end, Mr. Rendell began by delivering two lectures, one on the "Divinity of the Word," and the other on the "Doctrine of Life." The Creed of the New Church was extensively posted on the walls of the town, with an additional article concerning Marriage, and some other explanatory matters. Two thousand copies of an eight-page tract, entitled" Advice of the New Church to Families," were published, and largely circulated in envelopes to all the clergy and a considerable number of the respectable inhabitants. This tract contains forty-four precepts, all having reference to life, and breathing a regenerating spirit. It also contained the Creed of the New Church, Swedenborg's Rules of Life, with an advertisement, stating that the sentiments of the tract were constantly taught in the Preston New Church. This, with at least 3,000 tracts of various sorts, from the Manchester list, were distributed at the doors during our opponent's lectures. Mr. Rendell delivered eight more lectures in the church, all bearing upon the subjects which had been so shamelessly misrepresented. All were well attended; most of them were crowded.

"It was, however, felt necessary to

meet with greater publicity and pointedness the astounding slanders which had been uttered against the personal character of Swedenborg, and the vile misrepresentations which had been propagated concerning the marriage relation as taught in his writings. For this purpose two lectures were delivered at the Theatre. These were kindly undertaken by the Rev. Mr. Smithson, on 'Swedenborg,' and the Rev. Mr. Woodman, on Marriage.' Mr. Smithson was selected for the former subject, because he is the editor of documents relating to Swedenborg's history; and Mr. Woodman for the latter, because he knew something of Mr. Brindley's tactics from previous interviews with him on the matter. Both were treated with great power and tact. A small charge was made for admission, the proceeds of which, amounting to five pounds, were given to the relief fund for the distressed operatives. The attendance on the first night was about 250, and on the second about 400. The main points of both these lectures were listened to with unexpected attention; but the second, which lasted for upwards of two hours, with occasional interruptions, was brought to a close by a rude clamour raised by a few youths in the gallery. The Theatre was felt to be a place wherein such conduct might be indulged with impunity. We learn that these lectures were satisfactory to several, and that their general tendency has been to cause a suspension of judg ment, and in some cases a reversion of the unfavourable impression which had been made.

"Advantage was taken of the Rev. Mr. Hyde's being in Lancashire, to invite him to deliver his admirable lecture on "The Word." He kindly accepted the invitation, and great pleasure was experienced at its delivery by a large congregation. In all the bills which have been published, and the lectures which have been delivered on this matter, Brindley's name has not been mentioned. It was felt that the public would well understand our meaning by the nature of the subjects that were announced, and that any reference to him would have interfered with the dignity and seriousness of the purpose we had in view. Upon the whole, though the matter has been a considerable trial, we are assured that it has not shaken

the attachment of any of our friends; on the contrary, it has served to unite them more closely, and induced them to read more earnestly; and we have little doubt that, under the Divine Providence, this dispensation of slander, will in the process of time prove to be useful to the church.

TRACT FOR THE TIMES.

"R."

To the Editor.

My dear Sir,-As the church in many parts of the country is being assailed unscrupulously, especially in relation to the purity of its doctrines in reference to life, and especially to marriage life, our Missionary Committee desired me to prepare a Tract which would be suitable for giving away or lending to those who may be interested and desire to know the real sentiments of the church on these subjects. This I have done; and the committee have brought it out at the low charge of one penny, in the hope that it may be extensively circulated. If the enemies of the church excite attention, and this Tract in the first place gives brief but satisfactory information, and then the reader is incited to peruse Swedenborg himself, much good will be done.

If the members of the church everywhere will attend to the dissemination of this little friend with zeal, my object in writing to them through you will have been accomplished.

Yours affectionately and truly,

J. BAYLEY.

P.S.-My correspondence is so considerable on church business that I am constrained to mention that, in all letters of inquiry on church business, it would be pleasant to see a stamped envelope for reply. J. B. MR. SMITHSON'S MISSIONARY VISIT TO

CHATTERIS AND TO JERSEY. The church in Peter-street, Manchester, having for several weeks been closed for repairs, it was thought to be a good opportunity for the minister, the Rev. J. H. Smithson, under the auspices of the National Missionary Society, to undertake a missionary excursion to Chatteris in Cambridgeshire, and also to Jersey. We have received the following report of this visit, which we subjoin.

home, previous notice could not be given of Mr. Smithson's visit.

Two discourses, morning and evening, were preached in their neat and commodious chapel. The attendance was good, and the audience seemed much pleased with the instruction opened from the Divine Word for the edification of their minds. After the evening service the Holy Supper was administered to about twenty communicants; the first time the holy ordinance had been administered since the chapel was opened. All seemed to feel that "this was a feast of love, a union with the Lord;" and we are quite certain that the communion and brotherhood of the members were thereby strengthened and confirmed.

The society enjoys the able services of Mr. Payten, jun., who from his early youth has been extremely delighted with the study of the New Church doctrines, and who is greatly esteemed by the brethren at Chatteris.

On Tuesday evening, Mr. Smithson delivered a lecture on "The Nature of the Life after Death," in which the audience appeared to take much interest. Tracts were also distributed, especially to strangers. On the following morning the lecturer took his departure from the dear friends at Chatteris, and went to London, with the intention, after a few days, of proceeding on his mission to Jersey.

MR. SMITHSON'S VISIT TO JERSEY. To the Secretary of the National Mis

sionary and Tract Society.

Dear Sir,-The brethren here were last week agreeably surprised by the intelligence that the "National" had commissioned the Rev. J. H. Smithson to pay us a missionary visit. They had long been desirous of seeing, hearing, and holding sweet converse with the rev. gentleman, whom they all knew as a zealous and earnest labourer, both by word and pen, in the holy cause of the

Having previously received from him a programme of operations, we set the press to work, and, by Saturday afternoon, the 26th of July, the day of his arrival, a goodly number of bills had been distributed in town and country, announcing the fact, as also the subjects of his lectures. It is needless to say that he was heartily welcomed by our little society.

On Sunday morning, the 27th, he preached in the temple to a goodly number of hearers, an admirable discourse on Isaiah lii. 11, in which he clearly and impressively pointed out the magnitude and danger of the evil of the love of dominion, arising from the love of self. In the evening he addressed a still more numerous congregation from John xii. 3, in which he beautifully illus. trated the character of Mary, as representing the affection of truth. He was on both occasions listened to with profound attention.

The ensuing week being devoted to the prize meeting of our local Rifle Association, may probably account for the audience not being quite so large on Tuesday evening, when our friend delivered an interesting lecture on "The Life after Death." Still it was tolerably numerous, and consisted of most respectable and evidently appreciative hearers, who appeared to drink in every word that fell from the speaker's lips.

On the Wednesday evening, the rev. gentleman delivered, by request, a lecture on "Luther, Wesley, and Swedenborg." The audience, though not numerous, were intensely attentive, and seemed to apprehend what the lecturer endeavoured to inculcate, namely, that Swedenborg's mission was to solve the numerous and interesting problems respecting the Creator, the creature, and their mutual relations, which had been left unsolved by Luther and Wesley.

This missionary effort will, I doubt not, be productive of happy results. It has kept alive the spirit of inquiry excited by means of former missions, and thus, by the Lord's blessing, it will still further enlarge the boundaries of our Zion, until the time arrive when we shall exultingly sing

"Give us room, that we may dwell!'
Zion's children cry aloud;
See their numbers, how they swell,
How they gather as a cloud!
Go, and tell the blissful story;-
'Tis the day of Zion's glory!"

And now, my dear Sir, having thus given you a brief sketch of our dear friend Mr. Smithson's labours among us, permit me, as I am about to emigrate to the colony of Canada West, to bid you, and all the dear friends and brethren to whom I am personally known, a Christian farewell! With those to whom I am not thus known, I nevertheless desire to hold spiritual communion, having for a bond of union the spiritual affection of truth. To the Editor of the Intellectual Repository I beg to tender my best thanks for the kindness with which he has inserted my communications. I trust, when the waves of the broad Atlantic are interposed between us, to hear of the welfare of the church in Europe; and I now put up my humble prayer to the Lord that He may render me more useful in my transatlantic home than I have been able to be in Europe! Farewell!

F. E. DU CHEMIN, late Secretary to the Jersey New Church Missionary Association.

SCOTLAND.

The Annual Assembly of the New Church in Scotland was held this year at Edinburgh, in the society's place of worship, Infirmary-street, on Friday, September 5th. Several friends from Glasgow, Paisley, and Alloa, were present, though much fewer in numbers than is usual on these occasions.

After tea, during which the friends engaged in conversation, the meeting was opened by singing and prayer. Mr. Adams, from Glasgow, introduced and spoke on "The Retrospective and Prospective Aspects of the Church," with especial reference to the New Church, and was followed on the same subject by Mr. Allan Drysdale, from Alloa, who spoke in his usual clear and effective manner. Mr. Adam Haworth, from Paisley, introduced the subject of "The best means of disseminating the doctrines," and in the course of his address related several instructive incidents connected with the introduction by him of the doctrines to strangers. Mr. E. Craigie addressed the meeting on the same subject in a few most earnest and appropriate remarks. After a brief interval allowed for the friends to engage in conversation, Mr. H. Cameron addressed the meeting, his subject being "Three aspects in which Swedenborg is viewed by his readers."

ducing the plan to others, and all will at least have the opportunity of subscribing towards the ministerial and other expenses attendant on worship, if even only to the extent of the 'widow's mite.' It was also unanimously resolved that the proceeds of the quarterly collections (first Sundays in July, October, January, and April) shall, in future, be devoted to e maintenance of the Sunday-school in connection with the church.' It is not intended to make any other collections whatever, and at the anniversary services the collections would only apply to entire strangers; the members and friends putting their offertory envelope on the plate, it being perfectly optional whether the contents were increased or not on that occasion.-Applications for envelopes may be made to the deacons at the close of each service, or at any other time to Mr. Stevenson, or through the minister, the Rev. William Ray, 14, Esplanade.

"JOHN BAYLEY,

"THOMAS STEVENSON, Deacons." "D. W. HEATH.

P.S.-It has been thought prudent, in consequence of the universal interest manifested by all classes to visit the International Exhibition, and the state of local trade here, to postpone the proposed bazaar until the coming spring, more especially as it is considered that many of the kind friends at a distance, who had promised to aid us, will have a better opportunity of carrying out their intentions during the winter months. We hope to be able to fix upon the exact time early in the coming year.

ch, HedderlyAt the monthly id on Monday evenwhen upwards of forty re present, it was unaniesolved, that seat rents and nthly subscription plan should be mediately abolished, and weekly offerngs substituted forthwith.'-For the information of members, probationary members, and friends who were unable to attend the meeting, the following explanation is given. Each person will be supplied every quarter with thirteen envelopes (being one for each Sunday in the quarter); each envelope will be numbered according to the membership or other number, as entered in the book. Into this envelope the holder puts a penny, twopence, threepence, fourpence, sixpence, shilling, or any other sum, according to his or her ability. It is then sealed up, and put into the box placed at the door for the purpose, either coming in or going out at morning or evening service, as the case may be. The amount contained in such envelope is afterwards entered in the book opposite to the number attached to the name, the number only appearing on the envelope, so that the greatest privacy is secured. The numbers, with their amounts, will be announced every church meeting, so that any one will have the opportunity of ascertaining whether his or her amount is correctly stated, and if not, the same may be mentioned openly at the meeting, or privately to the Deacons. A few extra envelopes, marked with the letter F, and bearing the same number, will be given to each person, to indicate (for instance) that envelope No. 42 F is the 'free-will offering' of any friend whom No. 42 might occasionally bring to the service. Thus every one will have the means of intro

COLONIAL. CANADA.

The readers of the Repository will be pleased with the fact recorded in the extract below, from a Montreal paper of the 6th of August.

"At four o'clock yesterday afternoon the ceremony took place of laying the corner stone of the New Jerusalem church, corner of Dorchester and Hanover streets, opposite the Primary School, Mc.Gill College. The ceremonies were conducted by Mr. Edwin Gould, licentiate of the New Jerusalem church. In an air-tight glass jar the following documents were enclosed, when the jar was deposited in the cavity:-A sketch of the History of the Society; a copy of the Constitution of the Association of the New Church in Canada, with the Minutes