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the Tuesday evening. The part allotted to me in the proceedings afforded me the opportunity of manifesting the interest which I felt in the educational movements of the age, and the earnest sympathy with which I regard the labours of all who are working in this field. In doing so, I but expressed the feelings of the religious community with which it is my privilege to be associated. It is a feeling, too, which will continue, I hope, to grow among us. Of all people the members of the New Church should be readiest to admire whatever is good and useful whenever it is manifested. And, although our systems of popular educahave many imperfections, they have yet a sublime aim, and are effective of an incalculable amount of good.

These remarks have led me away, however, from the immediate purpose of my letter. I have already said that the attendance at the services of the Sabbath was large; it included many respectable residents in the town. There was nothing, however, unusual in this; it is always the case when a minister is present. In the absence of a minister the attendance is confined chiefly to our own friends. A few strangers occasionally attend; but it is felt that the society does not possess the means of presenting the Church to the public in so attractive a form as is desirable. The attendance, therefore, at the ordinary services of the society is small,from twenty to forty or fifty; yet while this is the case, there are very evidently many minds capable of being profitably affected by the truths of the Church, and who, under more favourable circumstances, would probably become full receivers of our heavenly doctrines, and aid in the great work of building the walls of Jerusalem, and of making her a praise in the earth.

The real want of this large town is, an active and earnest minister. I feel assured that the field is white for the harvest, if such a person could be settled among them. Such a thing at present, however, can scarcely be contemplated. Although our friends would do their utmost in the matter, more would be required of our missionary institutions than, in their present impoverished state, could possibly be attempted. The time may come, I hope it is not distant, when we shall see that this is the best and most effective form

of missionary labour, and when the church will put forth all her efforts to accomplish it. In the meantime, however, let us earnestly employ the best means we are able. By a proper economy of resources, most of our ministers might give an occasional Sabbath to labour of this kind. And if this service could be rendered with some degree of regularity and system, as monthly or quarterly, much good would be found

to result from it. Nor would this good be seen merely in extending the knowledge of our heavenly doctrines to those without. Our own members would be instructed and edified. The spiritual life, without which the church is a mere pretence and delusion, would be nourished and sustained; and a spirit of deeper piety and more fervent charity be promoted among those who are already partakers of like precious faith. Provision would be at the same time made for the more orderly administration of the sacraments, and many other uses would be found to spring up in connection with such labour. În the case of Sheffield, the society would cheerfully sustain the chief, if not the entire, expense of a monthly or quarterly visit, and few places offer a more promising harvest. I am, my dear Sir, very sincerely yours, RD. STORRY. Heywood.

NORTHAMPTON.

We have again been favoured with a visit from the Rev. W. Woodman, a notice of which we are sorry was not sent for last month's number. Our friends had been looking forward with pleasure to the time when we should be favoured with his services for a Sunday. The reverend gentleman preached two sermons on Lord's day, Nov. 24th: that in the morning. "On the Amenities and Consolations of True Religion;" at which time the sacrament of baptism was administered to a youth. In the evening, the subject was on "The destruction of the little children who provoked the prophet Elisha." Our room was well filled on this occasion, and the audience, many of whom were strangers, listened with the greatest attention throughout the discourse,seeming highly pleased with the manner in which the subject was treated. On the following day we held a social tea meeting, and in

the evening we listened with much pleasure to the lecture on " Bible Triumphs." The following Tuesday and Wednesday evenings two other lectures were delivered: that on Tuesday being "Freewill and Foreknowledge," and on Wednesday, "The Character of Swedenborg's Philosophy." There was each night a very attentive audience, who appeared thoroughly to appreciate the sentiments expressed. I forgot to mention, that the sacrament of baptism was also administered to an infant. I need scarcely say, we are very thankful for these repeated efforts of our muchesteemed friend to help us thus. It is encouraging to know his labours have not been in vain, but that many who are now amongst us have, with the Lord's blessing, through his instrumentality, been brought to a knowledge of New Church truths, who before were entire strangers to them. S. T. N.

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. The society held its customary social gathering in the church, on Thursday evening, Dec. 26th, when tea was served to about one hundred persons; which number was afterwards considerably increased. Mr. R. Catcheside was called to the chair, and an excellent programme was submitted to the meeting, consisting of addresses, music, recess for fruit and conversation, recitations, &c. In the first, the Rev. G. B. Porteous, Mr. Fletcher, Sunderland; Mr. Charlton, Shields; and Mr. John Brown, were the speakers. During the second, Mr. Piper discoursed sweetly some of Handel's finest songs. In the third part everybody joined, and twenty minutes' conversation formed a pleasant interval. The recitations were by junior members of the society, in the form of speeches on important religious topics, and from the very creditable manner in which they were delivered, gave hope of usefulness in the future.

On Friday evening, Dec. 27th, the Sunday-school tea party and recital was held, when upwards of seventy scholars and teachers assembled, and were joined after tea by nearly as many parents and friends. A most interesting and delightful meeting ensued, again under the superintendence of Mr. Catcheside, who, with a staff of a dozen teachers, have during the past year closely applied themselves to the work, and on this

occasion received the warm congratulations of delighted parents. Five of the teachers engaged in a conversation "On the Qualifications required for a Sunday-school Teacher." The Rev. W. Woodman's paper, "delivered before the Sunday-school Union" at its last meeting, was by them separated into parts, and each delivered "a necessary qualification," extracted from that excellent paper.

WIGAN.

The Rev. E. D. Rendell delivered a course of five lectures, under the auspices of the Manchester Missionary Society, from the 10th to the 19th of December last. The subjects were the following:

1. The Lord, Who is He? and the Divine Trinity, What is it?

2. The Soul, What is it? and Whence its Immortality?

3. The Sacred Scriptures, How are they Inspired?

4. Salvation, From what and How is it to be obtained?

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They were delivered in the Temperance Hall, and the average attendance was a little above fifty; among whom were, on each occasion, several thinking and inquiring persons. It was nounced that questions would be permitted to be asked after each lecture, and many intelligent and pertinent inquiries were made, all, apparently, put in good faith, and with the desire of eliciting information. Most of the answers given seemed satisfactory, as votes of thanks for them and the lecture were, after two of them, moved and seconded by the parties who had heard them. It is hoped that this effort to extend the knowledge of the heavenly doctrines in this locality will be useful. Tracts, liberally granted by the Manchester Tract Society, were distributed after each lecture; they were eagerly sought for, and will, no doubt, aid in deepening any favourable impression which may have been made. One of the main objects of these lectures was to call together and, if possible, resuscitate the society. They have-with a small sum in the bank, about £60., towards a building-been languishing for years, indeed almost dissolved: and it was thought desirable by the lecturer to urge the friends there into some condition of activity. How far success has attended those efforts

remains to be seen. A small tea meeting was held; a determination to take a place for Sunday worship was come to, and a leader agreed upon. There are about twenty persons who are readers there. They will, however, require the nurturing attentions of the Missionary Society for some time before they can gain sufficient confidence for active exertion. It seems to be a field of labour with good promise of usefulness.

HEYWOOD.

The annual Christmas tea meeting of the society was held in their school. room, Hornby-street, on Christmas Day. The tea, as usual, was most excellent, each table being provided, free of cost to the society, by the ladies who presided. The demand for tickets was large, between 500 and 600 sitting down to tea. The meeting was presided over by William Pickstone, Esq., of Radcliffe, whose remarks were of a very useful as well as instructive and interesting character. The following gentlemen also addressed the meeting:-the Rev. R. Storry, minister of the society; Mr. Joseph Whitehead, of Birmingham; Mr. F. Smith, of Manchester; Mr. Eli Whitehead, of Heywood; and Mr. W. A. Storry, who showed the different ways of holding Christmas in England and America, where he has lived for a number of years. The room was beautifully decorated for the occasion by the teachers. In addition to the usual devices, there was one suggested by the death of the late Prince Consort, the work of one of the members, who had taken great pains to shew his feeling in the matter. It consisted of a crown, with the motto, "Victoria and Albert," and was trimmed with black, and hung over the platform occupied by the speakers, and had a most pleasing effect. The choir, assisted by several musical friends, sung a number of choruses from the "Messiah," and the band of the school played several pieces of popular music during the evening. The meeting, which was one of the most successful, interesting, and numerously attended that has been held in the above school, was brought to a close a little after nine o'clock, by votes of thanks to the ladies who had provided trays, the persons who had decorated the school, and the chairman for presiding on the occasion.

PRESTON.

Mr.

The usual Christmas tea party of the friends of this church was held on Wednesday evening last, in the schoolroom of the church in this town, at which there was a good attendance, especially of young people. The room was tastefully hung with evergreens, interspersed with artificial flowers and other means of decoration, the whole of which had been carried out by a few of the elder scholars. A very substantial tea was provided, after which the chair was taken by the minister, the Rev. E. D. Rendall, who opened the meeting with some appropriate remarks on the great event which, as Christians, they were that day celebrating. He next directed attention to the Sunday-school, and the distribution of the prizes which had been awarded to the deserving and successful scholars. Of these there were sixteen, and the prizes consisted of books of various sorts:-Moral tales, history, Joyce's Scientific Dialogues, hymns, liturgies, Bibles, and six copies of Webster's Pronouncing Dictionary. The minister, in presenting these works, accompanied them with a variety of suitable and educational remarks. Parkinson, the superintendent of the school, also addressed the meeting on the subject of Sunday-school tuition, in sentiments of affectionate encouragement. This duty having been disposed of, a dessert was placed upon the table, and half an hour was spent in general conversation; when again the minister addressed the meeting with a lucid exposition of that Redemption for the accomplishment of which the Lord came into the world. Other persons addressed the meeting on the duties of church membership, and graces of charity, which tended to the advancement of educated pleasure. The choir, conducted by the organist, Mr. Eccles, had been exceedingly happy in the selection of several pieces of music for the occasion; and, accompanied by the harmonium, they were sung with much taste, at appointed intervals during the evening. The scholars were invited to another recreation, more peculiarly their own, at the same place, for the following evening; after which the meeting broke up, it being a little before ten, very much gratified with the pleasure and entertainment that had been afforded.-From a Preston Newspaper

20, Paternoster-row, London, E. C. January 8th, 1862.

To the Editor.

Dear Sir, I am sorry to find that a difference of opinion exists as to the number of persons who attended the late course of four lectures in St. James's Hall. In the report which appeared in your January number, it was stated that "the audiences were about 800 the first evening; somewhat less the second and third evenings, both stormy nights; and above a thousand at the last lecture;" which numbers were given as agreeing with the views of the committee generally, confirmed, in at least one instance, by the positive assertion of the proprietor of the hall, whose opinion was considered reliable. I have, however received a communication, stating that "about 400 at the first; rather less at the second and third; and over 500 at the last," would have been tolerably correct, and adding that the number given as being present at the last lecture was the result of two countings by one gentleman, corroborated by the counting of two other individuals.-I am, dear sir, truly yours,

F. P.

MRS. BUSH AND HER CHILDREN. To the Editor.

Dear Sir,-In order to make my statement in this matter quite complete, I must trouble you once more.

After I wrote to you in December, in order to be in time for your issue on 1st January, two additional subscriptions arrived in time to be sent with the final remittance by the United States mail of 21st December.

The final account will therefore stand as follows:

Total receipts as reported..£170 12
Shrewsbury, 1 subscriber.. 3 0
Egremont, Cheshire, 1 ditto

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Obituary.

Departed this life on the 20th September, 1861, in his 28th year, Mr. John Holt, of Adswood-lane, Stockport. Our lamented brother had been distressingly ill for some months; but he bore his sufferings with Christian patience and fortitude. During the latter period of his illness, he often expressed entire resignation to his Heavenly Father's will, and manifested the enjoyment of an inward peace beyond his powers of utterance. His conduct, both in his life and at his death, made such an impression on all who knew him, as led them to admire the power of that religion which guided and sustained him. As he was an exemplary member of the Church, so was he a most useful member of his own particular society, as manifested by his active exertions in the various offices which he filled, of secretary, book steward, organist, and Sunday - school teacher. In this last capacity, his regular attendance, his piety, and his affection for the children, rendered his labours highly successful. His removal, with that of his brother James, which took place about six weeks previously, is a severe loss to the Stockport society, of which they had been for some years past the principal working supporters, and a great trial to their parents and to their bereaved partners in life. May the Divine Providence who has removed them to a happier place, turn this dispensation into a blessing to those who are left behind! D. Fox.

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was the relict of the late William Noar, and the mother of a large family, who have been brought up in, and associated with, the New Church for many years. Being a member of the Salford society, she enjoyed the spiritual instruction and lucid opening of the Divine Word by the late Rev. David Howarth. doctrines of the New Jerusalem afforded

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her especial delight, particularly on the subject of the trinity. She was wont to say, that previous to becoming acquainted with the New Church, the Athanasian Creed had given her more anxiety than all her other trials and troubles put together. She loved to read the writings of our author; and in this respect afforded a worthy example

to all her brethren. Having been almost deprived of the sense of hearing for several of the later years of her earthly pilgrimage, she devoted every opportunity to the perusal of these heartconsoling and soul-elevating works. Her attendance at the Lord's table was exemplary. She was a kind mother, a patient, duty-doing member of society, and an humble Christian. After a slow but gradual decay of her physical powers, which at times gave her great pain, she passed into the spiritual world, fully leaning on the divine bosom of the Lord Jesus. Seeing some of her children moved to tears at her evidently approaching departure, she said, "You all seem very sorry for me, but I am very happy,"-clearly evincing that calm resignation of spirit which gives fortitude and patience to the true Christian. Her end was peace! STELLA.

Departed this life, December 9th, 1861, at his residence, Mount Vernon, Liverpool, Mr. John Dorning, aged 64 years. Mr. Dorning's departure into the spiritual world was not unexpected by his relatives and friends. For several years each winter had found him less able to withstand the attacks to which he was liable at that season; and frequent resort to the milder climate of the South, and the devoted care and constant solicitude of his family, could only retard his ap. proaching departure. But so often had these attacks been softened by unceasing care, that when the hour at length arrived which terminated his earthly career, it scarcely found his family prepared for so severe an affliction. His innate energy of character had hidden, even from himself, the nearness of his dissolution; but when its inevitable approach was made known to him, he was peaceful and resigned, and glided, at last, almost imperceptibly out of time into eternity. By his family, whose love for him was mingled with reverence, his departure was, at first, received as a severe calamity; but trust in an allmerciful Providence will lead them to bear with Christian patience the loss

they have sustained. They will miss his wise counsel and guidance,-having all the weight which belongs to a large and varied experience of men and affairs, coupled with a strong sense of duty and firmly rooted religious principle. But they have yet a Counsellor wiser than all ! To a large circle of friends Mr. Dorning was endeared by the worth and solidity of his character, the practical wisdom which is the result, at once, of wide experience and deep thought, and by the readiness with which he placed himself at the service of those who sought his counsel and advice. There are many with whom he was intimately associated in his responsible and multifarious duties, always performed with the strictest order, method, and punctuality, who will lose in him a friend of rare prudence and sagacity.

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Mr. Dorning was, in the earlier part of his life, one of the members of the Manchester society, while the Rev. Richard Jones was its minister. often spoke of the peculiarly beautiful character of that good man; and dwelt with pleasure on the time when the energy of youth, and the leisure at his disposal, enabled him to devote himself to the work of Sunday-school instruction in connection with that society. He subsequently removed to Liverpool, and became a member of the society there, though the extent and importance of his many engagements, calling him frequently to distant parts of the country, prevented the continuance of the activity of his earlier years. But wherever he went, it was his delight to converse upon religious topics, and to introduce, directly or indirectly, the doctrines of the New Church. He was greatly averse to treating these in a sectarian spirit, believing that they constituted a new dispensation; and that it was mainly important that men should be led to heaven by reception of and obedience to the truth. He inculcated in his family that which he spoke of abroad; and all his children are now attached members of the Lord's New Church.

P.

CAVE and SEVER, Printers by Steam Power, Hunt's Bank, Manchester.

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