desirable that a course of public lectures should be given. The Rev. Dr. Bayley delivered two courses of lectures in January and February last, and was followed by the Rev. E. D. Rendell, of Preston. The lectures were remarkably well attended and favourably received. During Dr. Bayley's first visit arrangements were made for organising a society; and a place for worship was engaged, which was opened on the following Sunday. Services were conducted by Mr. H. Best, as leader, assisted by two of the friends; the average attendance being about forty, and gradually increasing.

"The supporters of the movement being few in number (originally about fifteen), and with limited means, they have since found many difficulties to contend with. "The Rev. Chas. Wilkins, from Bramp. ton, Cumberland, accepted an invitation to preach on two Sundays, August 23rd. and 30th. His discourses and his earnest and affectionate manner so impressed his hearers, that the week following his departure, a church meeting was held to consider the practicability of making an effort to raise funds to support a minis. ter, when a resolution was unanimously agreed to, that the Rev. Charles Wilkins be invited to undertake the pastorate of the church, providing a sufficient sum could be raised to induce him to do so. Mr. Wilkins is a young man of great ability and promise; his style is fluent; his tone is earnest; and his discourses display much original thought; and he has fervently embraced the doctrines of the New Church, after much study and mental conflict. On repeating his visit, he accepted the invitation of the society to become its pastor. Since then, during the last few weeks, the congregation has more than doubled its numbers. Our prospects now look hopeful; but much remains yet to be done. We are greatly in want of a new place of worship,-the present one being very inconvenient and expensive, while there is no other available. At a meeting, held on the 6th October, it was unanimously considered desirable that a new building should be raised to meet our growing wants. Immediate action was resolved on, and efforts are now being made to further that object. But as the resources of this little society have already been somewhat heavily taxed, it has resolved to make known its position and its wants to the church generally, feeling confident of

their sympathy, and trusting that those who may consider this an object worthy of their support may be induced to accord it.

"All donations will be thankfully received by Mr. W. Laverack, treasurer to the society, 60, Queen-street, Hull."

We have pleasure in recommending the above to the attention and liberality of the church. E. D. RENDELL, J. BAYLEY.

THE LATE REV. WILLIAM MASON. To the Editor.

Dear Sir,-The very graceful tribute to the memory of the late William Mason, which appears in the October Repository, from the pen of Mr. J. W. Hancock, will, I am sure, meet with that response from every New Churchman which its eloquence and truthfulness deserve. I happen to be one of the favoured few who on many occasions, in that "upper room at Melbourne, have passed in spirit with Mr. Mason above and beyond these narrow scenes, into the realities of" that great monarchy which girdles the globe, and enchains body and soul in its service."

Within the last twenty years I had the privilege and advantage of frequent communions with that remarkable man, and shall ever treasure the remembrance of his counsel and friendship. In some respects Mr. Hancock's excellent testimony to Mr. Mason's ability is inadequate; in other respects it is defective. We can readily excuse him, in the grief of the moment, laying aside everything else to pay grateful homage to the virtues of that instrument in the Lord's hands through whom he received the delights of a new birth. The long intimacy existing between William Mason and J. W. Hancock is well known; and your readers will admire the promptitude with which the heart of the friend gives vent to its imprisoned feelings. But the church knows that Mr. Mason had his peculiar views. He considered it unadvisable to popularise the doctrines of the New Dispensation; and hence the firm opposition he always manifested, with the best of motives no doubt, to all organised measures favourable thereto. He warmly repudiated popular preaching in the New Church; and I have heard him openly state that scarcely any benefit ever arose from this means, and, as an

instance, once told me he could not, of his own knowledge, point to a single individual brought into the church by his own preaching. Whilst, therefore, Mr. Hancock is perfectly correct when he says, respecting Mr. Mason's elaborate discourses, "There is nothing like his preaching in any printed book," and that his prayers were sublime, and not merely "skilful pleadings, set curiously, in order to convince an unwilling ear," still there was no real need to step out of the way to reflect upon others, by asserting that "such power is very rare in our church," and will be so "until it is more common and more generally appreciated." There was no necessity in the obituary notice of a departed friend to insert such questions as "Did we not in past years yearn for the literary and the eloquent? and are we not getting them now with a vengeance? Is not the fine gold becoming dim with us, and do not the gewgaws of affected eloquence make one sicken for the tender herb which once nourished the perceptions of simplicity?" I say it is difficult to understand the object of these questions. Surely every man may be said to be in his own order, and this for the wisest of reasons.

Mr. Hancock further asks in reference to Mr. Mason-"Upon whom has his mantle fallen ?" and "who shall now take his place, and save us from the inundation of tinkling ornaments about the feet. and all the bravery of corrupted Zion ?" Surely there is no fear of any ill effects from the zeal likely to be manifested in the New Church, whilst earnest ministers and laymen are in league to assist in establishing, by Divine help, "the mountain of the Lord's house on the top of the mountains!"

The memory of William Mason is too much respected to refer here to his failings; but his biographers, in doing full justice to the virtues of the departed, should be careful to abstain from seriously involving the whole question of usefulness in its ten thousand forms.

In the external church there must be "hewers of wood and drawers of water," there must be an Apollos as well as a Paul. The tendency of the deliberations of the late Conference was specifically towards increased exertion in popularizing the New Church doctrines by various means; and in the President's address, the frank confession is made that, "both in our internal and external duties, we

have come sadly short. The term proselytizing ought not to alarm us. The Christian religion is eminently a proselytizing religion; and preaching has been the great means of procuring the triumph of Christianity. The mighty movements now trembling along the age, are only indications of Divine operations through the new heavens on the souls of men; testimonies are they to the ultimate certainty of the final establishment of the church; but whether we, as an external organisation, shall share in the glory of that triumph, must depend on whether we fit ourselves to be the communicators of its blessings, and the ultimators of its work. The work will be done by some one, whether it be by ourselves or others."

Our object, then, should be to stimulate each other to persevere in every good word and work, whether by preaching or otherwise, and above all, to avoid laying down the formal rules and prejudices of any man for the guidance of our spiritual states. We shall thus begin to be recognised as "the crown of churches," and all nations and kindred and tribes shall flow into it, and there shall ultimately be "one fold and one shepherd."-I am, dear sir, yours truly, THOMAS STEVENSON.

49

speeches delivered. The Rev. C. G. Macpherson is their president, and H. J. Barnes, Esq., their Vice-President.

The society recently meeting for worship in Great Nelson-street, has removed to 16, Prince Edwin-street, opposite Iliad-street. The opening services took place on the 22nd November, when two sermons were preached to full congregations by Mr. George Parry. Six Sunday evening lectures by the leader of the society are announced.

THE MINOR PROPHETS. (From the New Jerusalem Messenger, Nov. 28.)

Mr. Stuart,-Allow me to call attention to the proposal of Rev. J. H. Smithson to publish these Prophets,expounded as to the spiritual sense by extracts from the works of Swedenborg.

This he proposes to do in numbers, of 64 pages, octavo, each; price 1s. in England. It is supposed they will make nine numbers.

These Prophets are twelve in number, viz., Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habbakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

It is supposed that these Prophets, with the expositions and notes, would make a volume about the size of his work on Isaiah, which contains 654 pages.

Some of your readers may not be aware of the peculiar fitness of Mr. Smithson for this work. He was for some twenty-five years editor of the Intellectual Repository. He was associated with the Rev. D. Howarth in editing and enlarging a new edition of Clowes' Gospel of Luke, printed in 1852; and in 1853, also of John. To this edition 233 new extracts from Swedenborg were added to the Exposition, and an Index also. In 1858 he edited the new and much enlarged edition of Clowes's Gospel of Mark. To the New Church student these volumes are most convenient and invaluable for reference, and also for use in family worship.

In 1860 he brought out his new work on Isaiah, with Expositions from Swedenborg, and Notes of his own. This work has not received that attention from receivers of the doctrines which it richly deserves. Having been through the work two or three times in our morning worship, and having compared notes with others who have done the

same, I can speak strongly of the rich treasures that it opens to view to all who are in states to receive them.

For these reasons we are prepared to expect, in the forthcoming work, a most valuable addition to this class of Expositions. I hope he will be encouraged by a liberal subscription on this side of the water. O. C.

BOLTON.

On Sunday, October 25th, the anniversary sermons in aid of this society were preached by the Rev. John Hyde. The congregations were very numerous. The subject of the morning's discourse was-"Life's Great Mission," fron Gen. i. 26-28 verses. In the evening the preacher had for his subject-"The Witnesses of the Assize," from Deut. xvii. 6. These subjects were entered into with more than the reverend gentleman's usual ability, and there was the most marked attention given to him throughout both discourses. The collections amounted to £26. 14s. 9d., which is more than double what it was for the same purpose last year. On the Monday evening, Mr. Hyde gave a lecture on "The Trinity in Jesus." The church was well filled, chiefly by strangers, and the congregation was held in the most rapt attention for an hour and a half.

HEYWOOD.

The annual soirée of the teachers of the Sunday-school at this place was held on Saturday evening, October 31st. It was, as usual, very numerously attended, probably not less than 700 people being present. The proceedings, after tea, consisted of selections of music by the choir and band, recitations, and dramatic entertainments by the teachers and elder scholars. This meeting is followed by increased services during the winter in the church and schools. A class of young men is formed for the study of the doctrines, which meets weekly, under the care of the minister. Other classes are formed for instruction in some of the elementary branches of knowledge. Public lectures are also given in the temple, and occasionally in the school-room. This society, like all our Lancashire societies, has felt the depression arising from the state of our trade, but has continued to improve the attendance on its worship, and to prosecute its uses in the day and Sunday-schools.

A course of four lectures, by the Rev. G. B. Porteous, minister of the Glasgow society, and editor of the Progressionist. has recently been delivered here with the most satisfactory results. The first lecture was delivered on the evening of Monday, October 5th, to about forty persons. The subject was "The Causes and Cure of Theological Agitation," and the lecture was most interesting and instructive. On Monday, October 12th, Mr. Porteous lectured to about sixty persons. This lecture was on the Central Truth of Christianity-Jesus Christ the Only God, which the lecturer handled in a very able manner. The third lecture was delivered to a largely increased audience on the 19th. Mr. Porteous, on this occasion, chose as his subject, "The Atonement, Sacrifice, and Mediation of Jesus Christ," which he very clearly explained. The last lecture of the course was delivered on the evening of the following Monday, the subject being "Heaven: its locality, reality, inhabitants, enjoyments, and employments." Questions were put at the close of each lecture, and satisfactorily answered. I have only to add that a small society of eight individuals has been formed, and is to meet twice weekly once for devotional purposes, on the sabbath; and once during the week, for reading and investigation.

NORTHAMPTON.

Our society has been visited by the Rev. E. Madeley, of Birmingham, who delivered two sermons on Sunday, November 1st. Morning subject-"The Hidden Manna and White Stone;" and in the evening, on "The Creation of New Heavens and New Earth as not involving the Destruction of the Material Universe." The attendance on each occasion was unusually numerous. In the afternoon two infants were baptized, and Mr. Madeley addressed the school children. On Monday we had a soirée, when addresses were delivered by several of our friends, and the proceedings were concluded by Mr. Madeley, the subject being "New Church Doctrines Scriptural, Rational, and Practical." On Tuesday evening Mr. Madeley delivered a lecture, which was well attended; the subject-"Heaven Opened: its laws, employments, and delights." Should Divine Providence permit, we are led to

hope and expect a second visit from our esteemed friend. W. S.

LONDON.

The New Church friends residing in the south of London held another general meeting on the 7th December, when the following resolutions were passed. The meeting was numerously attended, and besides other friends we had the pleasure of seeing the Rev. Mr. Rendell. The proceedings were characterised throughout by great warmth and cordiality; and the whole of the following resolutions were passed unanimously:1. Considering the great support that has been given to this movement, and the encouraging signs in all respects, we have every reasonable hope that this will become a permanent institution; and further, considering the advantages to be derived from organization,Resolved, That at the beginning of next year, we form ourselves into a New Church Society.

2. That a special meeting be held as early in the new year as convenient, for the purpose of carrying the foregoing resolution into effect, and for preparing the rules of the society; and that all those friends, members of a New Church society, who are desirous of uniting to form a society in this locality, be requested to send in their names to the Provisional Committee before the 1st of January.

3. That Mr. Austin be invited to become the leader of the society.

4. That, in the success that has attended our efforts we thankfully acknowledge the goodness of the Divine Providence, and pray the Lord to continue his blessings upon the Society.

a way as to make the public pay the expenses, and at the same time feel under an obligation to those who thus cared for their spiritual welfare. The project originated about three months ago, in the formation of a committee of eighteen members, who undertook both the labour involved in getting up a series of public meetings, and the responsibilities of a guarantee fund in case of loss. But while thus providing the means for an honourable retreat, if the scheme should fail, it was not unreasonably hoped that a considerable sum might be gained from the labours of the first lecturer to defray the expenses of engaging subsequent ones. The committee spoken of consisted of New Churchmen, with the addition of one other gentleman of another denomination, who was so much pleased with the lectures and religious discourses delivered here by the Rev. G. B. Porteous a year ago, that he wished to share in the expense of bringing him again. It was determined, therefore, to invite Mr. Porteous first; and the names of Dr. Bayley, Rev. J. B. Kennerley, and the Rev. John Hyde, were placed on the list for subsequent lectures.

It may be well to repeat that about a year ago Mr. Porteous delivered five lectures in the two largest rooms in Bath, and preached three times in the New Church. His great powers as a public speaker were thus widely known, and, as a consequence, on his late visit he secured very large audiences.

Two lectures, the first on "Shakspere and the Drama," and the second on "The Signs of the Times," were arranged to be delivered in the theatre; and on the following Sunday, 29th November, Mr. Porteous preached in the morning and evening in the large room of our assembly rooms to magnificent congregations, in the eye of a New Churchman, accustomed to see only small ones of tens, and seldom one of a hundred. To make it a worshipping congregation, as far as was in our power, a thousand programmes, containing the hymns for the day, were printed and placed on the seats. The discourse in the morning was on "The Nature and Necessity of Regeneration," as enforced in the words of the Lord to Nicodemus, in John iii. 5-7. The evening discourse was on "Evil; What it is, and How it Originated," from Ezekiel vii. 5. The attendance at

51

ISAAC PITMAN.

BATH.-ORDINATION SERVICE.

This society has for many years desired that their beloved leader, Mr. James Keene should conform to the order of Conference, and suffer himself to be ordained their minister, to which he has consented. Dr. Bayley kindly complied with our request to ordain Mr. Keene. The ceremony accordingly took place on Wednesday, the 18th November, at four o'clock in the afternoon; and in spite of the inconvenient time to many, the church was very nearly full, although no public announcement had been issued except a notice from the reading desk on the previous Sunday. After the ordination, which was impressively performed by Dr. Bayley, Mr. Keene delivered an affectionate address from Isa. lx. 22:-"A little one shall become a thousand, and a smaller one a strong nation; I the Lord will hasten it in his time." He took a retrospective glance at the beginning of this society, when they rented a small room in Westgate Buildings, and compared it with our present state of prosperity, and reminded us how all this had been obtained by the united and harmonious action of all; and urged the importance of increased efforts to promote a knowledge of the heavenly doctrines, and by a con