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truth over the land, and in ways the most unexpected to us, we find it bringing forth fruit." After narrating some instances of the use which had attended the distribution of New Church literature, the chairman said: "We should persevere in our labours, and if possible improve our methods of working, steadily doing the work that lies before us, and assured that the Divine Providence will, in ways we know not of, direct our efforts, and make them abundantly fruitful. The guidance of the Lord must be as real now as it was in the first Christian dispensation. In the Acts of the Apostles we read that the angel of the Lord directed Philip to go towards the south to meet a man of authority, Philip, obedient to the voice, arose and went, and found the great man anxiously reading the Scriptures. Philip said, 'Understandest thou what thou readest?' 'How can I,' was the reply, 'except some man guide me?' Philip joined him in the chariot, and preached unto him Jesus. The portion of Scripture from the prophet Esaias the man in authority could not understand. And without an enlightened teacher there is much in the prophetic Scriptures which cannot be understood in a clear, rational light. Swedenborg to us is this teacher. To the members of the New Church he holds the place which Philip did to the eunuch. By means of the spiritual sense which is unfolded in his Writings, the treasures of Scripture truth are unlocked. But if we have these treasures of truth, ought we not to make them known? They are not committed to us for ourselves alone, but that we may disseminate the knowledge of them to others. There are three ways in which we may do this-by manifesting the excellence of the truths we have received in a higher and better life, by spreading abroad the knowledge of the truth by our tracts and other publications, and by assisting the preachers who go forth to explain the Scriptures. The chairman concluded his address by moving the adoption and printing of the reports, which was seconded by the Rev. R. Storry, and unanimously adopted by the meeting. Other resolutions led to a general and interesting discussion of topics connected with the Society, and the general duty of disseminating the doctrines by means of the press. We give very brief notices of some of

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the speeches. The Rev. T. Mackereth said he was very much pleased with the remarks made by the chairman, and by Mr. Storry. He liked to look upon things from their use. He remembered the time when the number of tracts was very small. He used to carry a few tracts in his pocket, and once when in the north he met a clergyman and pulled out a tract on the "Human Soul," which he gave him. Some time after a friend sent him a paper from that part, containing the report of a lecture on the soul, which was copied almost verbatim from that tract. He thought that the Society had performed a great use; it was one of the means by which the admirable tracts of the Rev. C. Giles got circulated, and the unanswerable tract on Eternal Hope," etc., got distributed in a manner it would not otherwise have done. Dr. Pilkington, J.P., said the tracts were made to be circulated, not to be shut up in a room. The pamphlet on "Eternal Hope," etc., being given away, caused a discussion among some Methodists at Clayton-le-Moors. They came to the conclusion that Mr. Sutton was right, that hell was not a place of everlasting punishment in a fire of brimstone. When poor people came begging he gave them tracts to sell, and in this manner provided for their circulation. Rev. C. H. Wilkins said it seemed a shocking state of things that the storekeeper should be overburdened with tracts and the treasurer with cash. He thought we should not send out the tracts by children, but give them to people ourselves. Many of us seemed ashamed to give a person a tract. He had heard of the old tracts, and of the difficulty of getting rid of them, and had been inclined to sympathize with those who thought they were things of the past. But being invited to inspect the storerooms, he got the secretary to let him have a copy of each, and was surprised to find how many of them were old friends, and to remember how very gratefully he received them years ago. We may have outgrown the state in which they were useful to us, but there were thousands in the state in which we were formally to whom they would be useful. Rev. P. Ramage said our tracts were meant for inquiring minds, but among the poor we meet with few inquiring minds. They wanted their minds awakened and

aroused to a sense of religion. They Revs. Professor Tafel and W. C. Barlow, needed to have moral and religious M. A., of Edinburgh, Mr. J. Bailey, Mr. feeling stirred up within them. They Teed, Dr. Stocker, Dr. Collingwood, and must have some degree of purity of other friends of the College. The chairheart before they could see God; then man opened the meeting by remarking would arise a desire to see more of the on the use which a New Church College truths of religion, and then might fol was able to perform. As a proof of this low these ponderous tracts. Mr. Larkin he said that there were several most said that besides tracts the Society efficient ministers at the present time had many useful and interesting books. labouring in the Church who had been He had noticed that books given as trained in the College. From the prizes to children at New Church secretary's report it appeared that since schools contained the ideas of material the last annual meeting three governors punishment in a material fire, of the had departed this life, and a fourth trinity of three persons in the Godhead, having removed to Bath, had withdrawn etc. There were books enough now from the list. One new governor had belonging to the New Church without been appointed in Dr. Collingwood, getting these. He urged the sub- who not only served the College as a scribers to take the amount of their governor, but had also gratuitously subscriptions and let him know what delivered a course of lectures on Physithey wanted. Mr. Hughes said the old ology during the past session. At the tracts might be regarded as battering commencement of the year Mr. Tilson rams, bringing down the citadel of and Mr. C. H. Dauncey were the two falsehood. When they were written students in residence. Of these Mr. the New Church had enemies in Dauncey has left the work, and Mr. C. abundance. But the citadel has now Griffith, who was adopted by the last been stormed, the enemies have been General Conference, is now the second conquered. One of the most important student. In addition to their usual workers in missionary work was the work, both students have made them. late Rev. J. Clowes. A successor of selves useful in preaching and assisting his had recently distributed an old in the services of the churches both letter of his to his parishioners, calling in London and the provinces. The it "A Voice from the Dead," urging the courses of literary and scientific lectures poor to attend church. The present delivered during the year had been rector was working hard among the scantily attended. The treasurer's poor, not attending so much to dogma report announced the pleasing fact of as to alleviating their wants and a balance in hand of £14. From the cheering them in distress. The Rev. I. Tansley said he wished Sundayschools would get some of the teachers, especially the young women, to be tract distributors, and moved that it be a recommendation from this meeting to the committee that the secretary write to the secretaries of the Sunday-schools, asking if they would be willing to join in the work. This was seconded and carried. The meeting was enlivened by choice anthems kindly and excellently sung by the choir of the Temple.

Principal's report it appeared that the average attendance of pupils had been forty-three, one of whom, Bernard M. Bateman, had passed the Cambridge Local Examination. The Theological Professor, after describing the course of theological study, said that the application and zeal displayed by both students in their work had been gratifying, and that their whole conduct was most

exemplary. The librarian reported an addition of one hundred and fifty volumes to the library, which now contains three thousand volumes; and the curator of the museum reported many NEW CHURCH COLLEGE.-The annual valuable additions to the museum, meeting of this institution was held at principally from Dr. Collingwood and the College on the 29th of April. After Mr. Tupman. Speeches were made durtea the proceedings of the evening com- ing the evening, in moving or seconding menced with a short service in the the several resolutions, by Revs. W. C. chapel. At the business meeting that Barlow, M. A., and Dr. Tafel, Dr. followed, the Rev. W. Bruce presided, Stocker, and other gentlemen. A vote and was supported by Mr. Bateman, of thanks warmly accorded to the

chairman brought the proceedings to a T. C. R. The pence received at the close shortly before ten o'clock. door more than paid the rent of the hall.

SCOTLAND. The following report of Mr. Gunton's labours has been presented to the Committee of the Missionary Society:

:

Sunday, April 6.—I preached twice at Alloa to small congregations, several of our own friends being too ill to attend, and the weather being unpropitious. Tuesday, April 8.-I gave the first of a series of lectures and discourses at Greenock; about 130 attended, which was by far the largest attendance we have had.

Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th.-I delivered two lectures at Alloa, the attendance being again small. A minister who was present on both evenings afterwards put a series of questions through the Alloa Circular as an "Inquirer," to which I wrote a reply. I also caused one of each of the four "Silent Missionaries" to be conveyed to the writer.

Sunday, April 13.-Held our first Sunday service at Greenock, the weather being bitterly cold, the snow and sleet falling. Attendance in the morning, 28; evening, 46. Eleven copies of the

"Silent Missionaries" sold.

Tuesday, April 15.-Second lecture at Greenock. On this evening H. Long was delivering a lecture at the Temperance Institute on the "Errors of Swedenborgianism." No doubt this announcement drew away many from our hall. There were present about 60. Ten additional books were sold, and one gentleman asked why the Lord prayed to the Father, if He was also the Father. A brief account of Mr. Long's lecture appeared in the Greenock Advertiser, to which I sent a reply, which was not admitted by the editor.

Thursday, April 17.-I proceeded to Dundee, and lectured there that and the following evening. They were both good meetings, that is, they consisted manifestly of thoughtful, earnest persons. About 50 were present the first evening, and ten books were sold; there were also four questioners. On the second evening the attendance was not quite so large, but a larger number of books were sold-twenty-two, all we had there; more were required, and I have since sent twelve additional "Silent Missionaries" and two copies of the

Sunday, April 20.-We held our second Sabbath services at Greenock; the weather was still very cold. We had present from 40 to 45 persons. We also had an afternoon meeting, at which 20 were present, the object being to ascertain whether it was desirable and practicable to arrange for a tea meeting, and also for a weekly reading meeting. At this meeting I read part of the Conference Service for the Administration of the Holy Supper, and a new receiver through the lectures, Mr. M'Neil, read the printed sermon by the Rev. Chauncey Giles on the Holy Supper very effectively; and I was glad to find that so efficient, and, so far as I know, so suitable a man in every way was will. ing to become useful as leader in any arrangement that might be made for future meetings. It was decided to have a tea meeting, to commence at seven, on Tuesday the 29th of April; and a Sunday morning service and a weekly reading meeting were both spoken of, but the final decision respecting the weekly meetings was left till after the tea.

Tuesday, April 22.-At the meeting there were present about 70. The subject was a remarkable one, "An Angel standing in the Sun," etc., and very marked attention was given to the explanation of this extraordinary

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Supper of the great God." A considerable number of old Intellectuals and other tracts and books were circulated, and some questions were asked.

Sunday, April 27.-At the services about 30 were present in the morning and between 40 and 50 in the evening. The tea meeting was held April 29th, an account of which is appended from the Paisley Daily Express of April 30th: "Yesterday evening a tea meeting was held in the New Assembly Rooms, West Stewart Street, Greenock, under the auspices of the Scottish_Missionary Society of the New Church. Between 70 and 80 persons sat down at the tables, and after tea a selection of pianoforte music was played by Mr. Gillies, jun., Greenock, this being followed by a series of addresses delivered by different gentlemen. Mr. R. M. Paterson of Speirsfield, Paisley, occupied the chair, being president of the association, and

addressed the meeting first. He was followed by Mr. Gracey (Greenock), Mr. M'Neil (Greenock), Mr. Caldwell (PortGlasgow), and Mr. M'Lachlan (Alloa), Mr. Eadie (Glasgow), and Mr. Allbutt (Paisley). Mr. Gunton (London) afterwards delivered a lecture upon 'The Spiritual World: what it is, where it is, and when man enters it.' About 130 were present at the lecture. It may be interesting to learn that, as a result of the weekly lectures which have been delivered at Greenock since November, a nucleus of receivers of the doctrines of the New Church has been formed in that town, and it has been decided that a Sabbath morning service shall hence forth be held in the New Assembly Rooms every week, Mr. M'Neil of Greenock being willing at present to act as leader."

AMERICAN NEW CHURCH TRACT AND PUBLICATION SOCIETY.-The Thirteenth Annual Report of the Officers and Managers of this Society for the year ending December 31, 1878, furnishes abundant evidence of continued and extended usefulness. This will appear from the following extracts which we give from the report: "During 1877 we sent to clergymen two thousand copies of 'Heaven and Hell,' and three hundred copies of the 'Life of Swedenborg. For the year which has just closed the distribution has been as follows:

Heaven and Hell
Life of Swedenborg
Wesley and Swedenborg
The New Theology

The Divine Attributes

2500 copies.

1839

106

118

23

4586

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aggregate of 10,215; or more than 45,000 since the work began. Not so much in this rapidly-increasing demand by clergymen for the writings of the New Church do we find encouragement, as in the tenor and spirit of the cor respondence with clergymen of all denominations which naturally grows out of the work. On this point, and to make our meaning clear, we quote from last year's report the following passage, which refers to the changes which are taking place in the minds of clergymen in regard to Swedenborg's Writings, and to the way in which they respond to the offer to send them books: 'In the beginning there was a prevailing air of doubt and hesitation in most of the applications, and only a response here and there came from those who had obtained the books. Now, the applicants in a large number of cases express an earnest desire to learn about Swedenborg and the doctrines he teaches. Many state that their attention has been called to the subject by brother clergymen who are themselves reading the works of Swedenborg, and who commend them to their consideration also. From those who have obtained and read the books many letters are received, warm in expressions of thankfulness for having been supplied with the means of becoming acquainted with a system of doctrines so rational and profound, and in such complete harmony with the Word and Works of God. Some declare that they have already made an avowal to their brethren of their faith in the new doctrines; others that they are no longer preaching the old dogmas, but are leading their congregations into the higher and purer truths which they are receiving.' All this, and a great deal more can be said of our work for the past year. In a large number of cases the books have been sent in response to applications made by one clergyman in behalf of another in whose mind he had awakened an interest in the new doctrines; or to clergymen whose attention has been called to Swedenborg's Writings by some lay or clerical friend. We have knowledge of more than a score of these clergymen who are now actively engaged in circulating our books and tracts, and doing all that lies in their power to make known the truths of the new dispensation. It is

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remarkable how many of the letters pages, under the title of 'Human received from ministers express doubt Stewardship; or, Man's Title to his

or dissatisfaction in regard to the old theology, and show an anxious desire for something on which to build a new and more rational faith. In reading the extracts from clergymen's letters which are printed in this and former reports some guarded in their admissions, and others singularly free and outspoken-a clearer idea may be had of the change in sentiment which the wide distribution of New Church books is effecting among the teachers of religious doctrines, than it would be possible to gain from anything we might say in this brief report. They are full of encouragement and significance. It will be seen that there has

Possessions.'

The demand for tracts has not been as large during the past year as in some former years, although we have been ready to supply missionaries with as many as they could use in their various fields of labour. Two new tracts have been issued. The number of tracts sold and distributed in 1878 was 23,174. From the Treasurer's Report it appears that, while the work of the Society has largely increased, its income has fallen below that of last year, and that instead of a balance in the treasurer's hands as at the beginning of the year, there now stands against the Society a deficit of $898.77.

AUSTRIA. The following aditidonal
subscriptions for the Rev. Herman
Piesker have been received since our
last announcement:-
Amount previously advertised £16 1 0
Mr. John Gee, Kearsley
Mr. Arthur Gee, Kearsley
Mr. Walton

A Friend

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0 0

1 0 0

0 10 0

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£21 6 0

been a large call for 'The Life of Swedenborg, nearly two thousand copies having been sent out during the year. No public offer of this book has yet been made, as the Board is not in possession of means sufficient to meet the additional demand upon its resources which such an offer would doubtless create. A few copies were at first sent with the other gift-books in cases where the tenor of the applications made it Mr. Williams, London apparent that the 'Life' would be useful. Gradually a knowledge of the fact that a 'Life of Swedenborg' could also be obtained has extended among In acknowledging the receipt of the clergymen, and the result is a steady first remittance Mr. Piesker writes: and increasing call for the volume. As "I beg of you to accept my warmest far as we are able to judge, and we have thanks, and also to thank the other many letters from those to whom it has friends of the New Church who have been supplied, its circulation is doing been so good as to stand by me in my a very important work. Whenever the distress. The feeling which I expressed means of our Society will warrant us with so much care and sorrow is now in doing so, it is our purpose to make lighter and happier, as I can clearly see a more general offer of this book. that when want is greatest, God is We have in press, and nearly ready for nearest." In continuation of his letter publication, a new book entitled The Mr. Piesker states that the reply to their Mystery of Life, and other Papers.' petition has been - No. A short It is from the pen of Hon. Theophilus time since," he says, "we lodged a Parsons, by whom the copyright has complaint against the dissolution of our been transferred to our Society. This Society, and the decision should have volume, which is, in all probability, the been given on the 22nd of April. At last which the venerable author, who the time the case was to take place a has done such rare service in the cause death in the family of the arbitrator of truth, will contribute to the literature (Baron Von Hye) prevented him from of the Church, cannot fail to receive a appearing; and consequently the dewarm and appreciative welcome. Two cision was postponed to the month of works are also announced from the pen July.' of Rev. Chauncey Giles: one entitled The Second Coming of the Lord: Its Cause, Signs, and Effects;' the other, a small volume of forty-eight

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From other portions of this letter we learn that the Society has been visited by the Rev. Mr. Benade of the United States, who has rendered important

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