ANNUAL TEA PARTY AT HEYWOOD.

On Christmas Day, the members and friends of the New Church Society, at Heywood, held their annual tea party. At half-past four o'clock, the time appointed, about 250 persons sat down to an excellent tea, all the requisites for which were gratuitously provided by the liberality of several of the friends. After the tables were removed, the number present was increased to upwards of 300. Upon the platform were Messrs. Wild, S. Howarth, Holt, and Whitehead, of Heywood, Mr. S. Beswick, of Haslingden, Mr. S. Mackereth, of Manchester, Mr. E. Howarth, of Middleton, Mr. J. Briggs, of Boardman-lane, and Mr. G. Parry, leader of the Society. Mr. Wild having been voted to the chair, the meeting was opened with a hymn and prayer, and the reading of the description contained in Rev. xxi. of the descent of the New Jerusalem.

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The chairman then addressed the meeting. He expressed the pleasure he always felt on ocsasions such as that, when they were met to aid in the dissemination of those heavenly doctrines which were based upon Divine truth. He alluded to the slow but steady progress and gradual development of those great principles which were one day to be universally received. He said, that although we differed greatly from the majority of professing Christians in the articles of our faith, we yet regarded them without any prejudice or asperity, but with charitable and indulgent feelings, because doctrines taught us that the feelings of the heart were greatly more important than the convictions of the intellect. Having shown that the Sacred Scriptures, seen as to their spiritual sense, were indeed the Word of God, he spoke of our object of worship, and concluded by expressing his conviction that however great the difficulties and obstacles opposing the progress of our views might be, they would ultimately triumph. Mr. Mackereth, having been called upon, proceeded to notice the various significations of the term "church," and showed at some length, that wherever charity, honesty, sincerity, and uprightness held possession of the heart, in conjunction with an understanding enlightened by truth, there the church truly existed. Mr. E. Howarth, of Middleton, then

addressed the meeting, and, speaking of the Lord's Nativity, he gave an exposition of the meaning of the offering of gold, frankincense, and myrrh by the wise men of the east. He was followed by Messrs. S. Howarth and Whitehead, who each addressed the meeting in a brief but interesting manner.

Mr. S. Beswick, of Haslingden, was the next speaker, and began by remarking upon the importance of the day to the interests of universal humanity, of which that was an anniversary, and expatiated upon the inestimable blessings received by mankind from that great work, which could only have been accomplished by means of the Lord's Incarnation. Having shown that the knowledge and love of truth, with the active performance of use, constituted the church, he noticed the great and sudden changes for which the past year had been so remarkable, and showed them to be indications of changes in the minds of men-in their feelings and opinions,-which latter were in their turn the natural result of the light shed abroad by the New Dispensation. Having explained the meaning of the “ new heaven" and "new earth," mentioned in the chapter read, he concluded a very interesting address by depicting the happy results that would follow the establishment of goodness and truth in the hearts and minds of mankind.

Mr. G. Parry then addressed the meeting, and the choir having just concluded a beautifully executed anthem, he said that the world ought to exhibit the same concord and unity as the pieces of music they had just heard, in which the various voices blended to produce one harmonious whole. But there was discord and strife in the world, the passions and opinions of men were alike at war, and it was the object of the Second Advent to evolve order out of these chaotic and jarring elements, and to replace discord and contention by the blessings of harmony and peace. He then noticed the rapid progress of art, science, and civilization, and asked if we were to make such mighty advances in the things that related to the external life, and yet to remain stationary in those things that had reference to our spiritual well-being-in our knowledge of the Divine Being, his Word and works, and of the soul, its nature and destiny? No. The spread of intelligence and

DEAR SIR, I shall feel obliged if you will permit me, through the pages of your Magazine, to acknowledge with many thanks, presents of two parcels of New Church tracts, one received from the London, and the other from the Manchester and Salford Missionary and Tract Society; also six volumes of Swedenborg's works, presented to us by the London Printing Society, for the use of the Malton New Church Library.

By judiciously distributing about 200 tracts, by conversation on the New Church verities, and by holding private meetings at my house, snfficient interest was soon awakened to warrant us commencing a small society. We accordingly made the necessary arrangements, and held our first meeting on Wednesday evening, the 10th of May, 1848, at a private room in the house of Mrs. Sunman,--the attendance was nine. We continued these meetings for divine worship (and most delightful and profitable meetings they were) until our numbers increased to twenty-five! I then thought it was desirable to meet twice on each Sabbath for worship; this was accordingly effected, and we held our first meeting on the 18th of June. We continued these meetings until the attendance reached nearly sixty, the room in which we met being literally crammed, especially on a Sabbath evening; and on several occasions many were obliged to return, not being able to gain an entrance. About this time (November) we were favoured with a visit by the Rev. R. Storry, of Dalton, near Huddersfield, accompanied by Joseph Senior, Esq., of Dalton Lodge, whose liberality is well known in the Church, who gave us four lectures.

The additional interest aroused by these lectures, increased our numbers

so considerably that it was impossible to continue our meetings at Mrs. Sunman's. By the liberality of Joseph Senior, Esq. we have been enabled to have a much larger and more convenient room (capable of accommodating 150 persons) for the use of which, including gas, fires, cleaning, forms, &c., we pay £10. per annum, which sum includes the use of it on Wednesday evenings, for the weekly practice of the New Church choir.

We commenced holding our meetings in this room on the 19th of last month, with a congregation of about 100; every time we have met we have witnessed an increase, and last Sabbath evening we had 150 present! Some of your readers may perhaps say," How is it, that in so short a period of time so large a congregation has been secured ?"

I conceive there are three reasons for such a manifest success. The first being a determination (by the divine mercy of the Lord) to effect the founding of a New Church Society in Malton. By twelve months' incessant labour this was accomplished. When we first came to Malton, about two years and a half since, we felt a strong desire to worship with those who were like-minded with ourselves, but on seeking for such none were to be found. We thought how delightful and profitable it would be if we could induce about twenty individuals to meet with us on each Sabbath, to worship the Lord in accordance with the views of the New Church. 'The second reason for our success I attribute to an efficient choir, owing to which the musical portion of the service has been rendered delightful and very attractive. I have met the members of the choir (now consisting of sixteen, allowing us three or four to each part,) for several months on a Wednesday evening, and frequently on other evenings, for the purpose of training them to the performance of suitable music. (My present situation in the East Riding Bank allows me abundance of time for the many duties devolving on me in connection with the New Church Society, as I generally leave at about four o'clock p.m.) Malton has been for some time rather remarkable for good instrumental music, but not for vocal,-this desideratum we have been in some measure enabled to accomplish. Many of those who now regularly attend our meetings, and are amongst our best friends, have confessed to me that they were at first entirely drawn to attend in consequence of the report respecting the

beauty of the music, produced by the various parts being well balanced. It is well known the effect good music has upon the mind, and when it can be turned to such a glorious use, I think it is very desirable. The third reason for our signal success must be attributed to the power of truth, in the inherent beauty and attractiveness of the heavenly doctrines. Our success to the present time has been truly wonderful, but it is the "Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes!"

Before concluding this rather lengthened report (for which I ought to apologise), I should say that my only motives for mentioning the above particulars, are my duty to the societies who have kindly furnished us with tracts and books, and a desire to encourage others to "go and do likewise." "Labor omnia vincit." I remain, my dear Sir, yours faithfully,

JOSEPH PITMAN.

18th December, 1848.

of justice to the various writers who, at great labour and frequent loss, have advocated the cause of the New Church. We venture to affirm, that greater and more disinterested devotedness to a cause has never been exhibited than by these deserving, but not always duly appreciated individuals, even within the New Church. With an almost certainty of loss, they undauntedly set to work, and, in order to benefit others, they render their publications most costly to themselves, while they are least so to their purchasers. They have been accustomed to compress, generally, the largest compass of readable type, into the smallest quantity of paper. They knew beforehand that New Church people are so satisfied with possessing a 'Swedenborg library,' that they are by no means liberal book-buyers, beyond the writings themselves; and especially, perhaps, the remark applies to the always employed and successful money-getters among them, who have 'no time for reading,' and therefore require very few books, while they

MARRIAGE.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, On the cover of the October number of your Magazine I ventured to introduce some observations on the asserted non-reading character of the New Church public, and the necessary ill consequences resulting from it, on the energy of authors and the enterprise of publishers. It is gratifying to learn that these remarks have been favourably received. An author of good reputation among us writes me as follows:-"I like your hints on the cover of the October number of the Repository. I am persuaded of the truth of the intimation respecting the non-reading character of the New Church, i. e., comparatively. There is with us very little encouragement to publish for the New Church public, although the demand is better than it was a few

years since. But there is extremely little of the feeling of obligation to aid in the spread of the doctrines, or to accumulate spiritual knowledge."

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But I have been still more particularly delighted with the observations bearing partly on the same subject, contained in the review of Mr. Madeley's recent work on the Science of Correspondences; which I here quote at length, notwithstanding their very recent appearance; they are so excellent and so true. The reviewer says, 'And here we cannot but perform an act

of the church to persons who are 'without,' and are, therefore, little interested in getting books to lend. But still the discouraged authors have persevered. All honour to their disinterestedness and truly benevolent zeal !"

Such, then, being the undoubted truth as to this particular question, I have been considering whether something may not be done to give a little encouragement to the author, and to excite the buyer; and I will now offer you the result of my cogitations.

The £100. which was placed in my hands to use as I should think well for the benefit of the Church, produces £3. 10s. 10d. a year for interest; this, in three years, will amount to a trifle over £10. Now I propose to offer the first £10. thus produced as a premium for the best work by a New Church author, to bear this title "Marriage the most holy of all relations; its effect on the Order and Well-being of Society; and its important influence on Man's Eternal State;" if the examiners or judges to be appointed to decide on the MSS. offered shall deem it worthy of publication. And I further propose to give from my own resources to the successful writer, an additional £10. for a ten years' copyright thereof.

The sum of £20. is but a small remuneration for such a work as that proposed; but it is better than publishing with a certainty of loss; and by reversion of the copy