little has been accomplished. Some of the courses of service projected have not been carried out in consequence of the indisposition of the minister to whose superintendence they were entrusted. Others are still under consideration, and under these circumstances it was resolved to renew the application to Conference for a continuance of the grant of last year.

Another feature of this meeting is the preparation of a paper on some question of doctrine or practice which is read and made the subject of conversation. At this meeting a paper on the doctrine of "Remains was read by the Rev. J. Boys at the meeting of ministers, and subsequently at a meeting of members of the Church in the girls' schoolroom. At this meeting addresses on the subject were made by Revs. W. Woodman, Rendell, and Storry, and by Mr. Edleston, of Heywood, and Mr. Deans, of Bolton. All the proceedings were distinguished by harmony and the feelings of Christian brotherhood, and the meeting was felt to be one means of uniting the ministers together and strengthening them in their work.

MISSIONS.

JERSEY.-Since our last report, Mr. Gunton has visited, as the agent of the National Missionary Society, Ipswich, Yarmouth, St. Ives, Chatteris, Wivenhoe, Rhodes, and St. Heliers; and, as we are going to press, we learn that he is engaged at Leeds, Bradford, and Dalton, in connexion with the anniversary services of the Yorkshire Colportage Association. At St. Heliers the services extended from the 6th to the 27th of June. This included eleven public discourses, and the annual missionary tea meeting. Very favourable notices of these services appeared in the local papers.

From these we learn that "the Temple, although not crowded, was well filled with a highly respectable congregation, many of whom appeared quite surprised at views of Divine Truth so different from what they had been accustomed to hear. The object of the preacher was to show that the Word of God contains in every part, underlying the letter, an internal meaning having reference to the states of spiritual progress or spiritual declension through which the Church, and consequently every individual member

of the Church, passes. This view, if correct and we see no reason for supposing that it is not-would most certainly bring home the Word of God, in its entirety, to the bosom of every Christian man, provided a rule were supplied by the application of which to any given passage the spiritual lesson to be conveyed by such passage could be educed therefrom. This rule, Mr. Gunton asserted, the New Church undertakes to supply."

6

In a subsequent issue the reporter says:- "The ease with which he (Mr. Gunton) established the correspondence' between the natural imagery employed in the sacred text and its spiritual correlatives, proving every point, as he went on, by other passages in the Scriptures, made it apparent to reflecting minds that there must be something truthful and substantial in the rule of Biblical interpretation which the New Church professes to supply ;— that, at least, it is worthy of serious and thoughtful investigation ere it be rejected as fanciful. We would induce our readers to go and judge for themselves of the beauty and consistency of the spiritual lessons evolved, by means of this rule, from passages which would at first sight appear not to contain anything spiritual.'

Of Mr. Gunton as an expositor of the heavenly doctrines, the reporter says:"His method of treatment is just such as befits one who presents himself before the religious public to announce a new doctrine; it is lucid, consecutive, and argumentative without dulness.

On the 23rd the ninth annual tea meeting of the Jersey New Church Missionary Association was held in the Prince of Wales Assembly Rooms. From the report we learn that the present is Mr. Gunton's third visit to the island, and that since the commencement of the Association there have been nine missionary visits, and eighty discourses and lectures delivered, and £93, 19s. 11 d. collected and expended. And although there may not be that outward appearance of good we might desire, we yet have reason to be thankful that lasting good has been effected: the public are better acquainted with the New Church and her doctrine; they understand our ideas of heavenly employments and its opposites, and are willing to listen to our lectures.

LONDON.-Under the auspices of the London Missionary and Tract Society the friends in the Metropolis have had the pleasure of hearing three lectures from Mr. John Presland of Derby. The first was delivered at Argyle Square Church, the subject being-" Will this beautiful world ever be destroyed?" The second at Cross Street Church, the subject-"Is the case of the Penitent Thief a proof of the efficacy of deathbed repentance?" And the third at Devonshire Street Chapel, on "the Bible, God's Revelation to man, the Plan of its composition, and the manner of its interpretation." All three subjects were excellently discussed, and the lectures gave great satisfaction to those who heard them. They were pretty well attended, although in this respect there was room for improvement. On Sunday Mr. Presland delivered two discourses at Argyle Square Church, when collections were made on behalf of the Sunday schools. The audience in the morning was numerous, and were rewarded by hearing a beautiful and eloquent discourse on the Lord's words: "Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not. In the evening the subject was taken from Jer. ix. 3, "Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth." Mr. Presland elucidated his text by showing how the advocates of Truth in all ages have had to contend, in every branch of knowledge, with ignorance and prejudice. The pioneers of discovery, science, reform in our laws, and of political, social, and religious progress, were invariably assailed as the enemies of mankind, but valiant for the truth these brave men nobly fought and conquered in its cause. The days of persecution and martyrdom here are now happily passing away, but there still remained the opportunity for men to be equally valiant for the truth, and that was in the appliIcation of the Divine words to their own hearts and lives, where inward evils were subdued and false thoughts expelled from the mind, and their corresponding good principles developed into outward life; or in the language of Scripture, the Divine Truth brought down upon the earth: that was a valour, which in true Christian worth, cannot be surpassed. Altogether, the visit and lectures of Mr. Presland have

afforded much pleasure and satisfaction to the friends in London.

The Missionary and Tract Society is now arranging for a Course of Sunday Evening Services; and Wednesday Evening Lectures to be given at the Town Hall, Shoreditch, by the Rev. Dr. Bayley. The Church at Argyle Square being about to be closed, it has been thought desirable to take the above hall for six Sundays, so that the congregation may assemble there; and another opportunity taken for further missionary efforts in this part of London. The first service commences on Sunday the 18th July.

BELPER.-We learn from a correspondent who has kindly forwarded us an extract from the Derbyshire Advertiser of July 9, that Mr. Applebee of this town, who has been long known as a successful teacher and much esteemed member of the New Church, has retired from the duties of his profession amid the warmest expressions of affection from his pupils. Although not an avowedly New Church School, Mr. Applebee gladly availed himself of every opportunity to convey religious instruction to the pupils, and where the parents were members of the New Church, instruction in the doctrines. Two of the present active members of the Church, Mr. Lowe of Birmingham, and Mr. Presland of Derby, were pupils, and afterwards assistants of Mr. Applebee's, and both acknowledge that they owe to him much of their New Church principles. On the 1st of July, as we learn from the report sent us, 66 about seventy persons-old pupils, with their wives and other friends-drawn together from many parts of the kingdom in company with Mr. and Mrs. Applebee and Miss Royce, drove through Ambergate and Cromford to Matlock, returning in time for tea to Belper, where their number were increased to nearly a hundred persons. After tea the tables having been cleared, Mr. Lowe of Birmingham, an old and valued teacher, was called to the chair. Having read several letters, some of them from Canada and the United States, from old pupils who regretted their inability to be present, he proceeded, in an earnest and eloquent speech to present Mr. and Mrs. Applebee with the testimonials provided. These comprised a first-class micro

scope, an exceedingly elegant epergne and fruitstands, the latter article being designed more especially for Mrs. Applebee; and a most tasteful and beautifully adorned album, containing portraits of the subscribers and an illuminated address. The presents all bore suitable inscriptions, and appeared to give great satisfaction to the subscribers. Mr. Applebee, in a speech which all his old pupils would recognise as characteristic of their wise and genial instructor, thanked his friends with much feeling on behalf of Mrs. Applebee and himself."

NOTTINGHAM.-The following notice of the retirement of Mr. Beilby from this society to undertake the duties of Principal of the College in London, is from the Nottingham Express :—“ On Thursday evening last a number of members and friends in connection with the Bluecoat Street Church, held a farewell meeting in honour of Mr. J. D. Beilby, for the purpose of presenting him with a testimonial of their esteem and regard on the occasion of his leaving Nottingham. After a social repast Mr. W. Pegg introduced the main feature of the evening, by giving a short account of his happy acquaintance with his former coadjutor now about to leave us. Mr. Thomas Moss, B. A., the minister of the congregation, in a few appropriate remarks, expressed his respect for Mr. Beilby, and presented him, on behalf of the society, with a handsome diamond ring. Mr. Beilby received the gift, and briefly but warmly acknowledged the kindness of his friends. He regretted to leave Nottingham, but hoped to have an extended sphere of usefulness as Principal of the Devonshire-street College, London. Pleasing speeches were made by Messrs. Johnson, Thornton, Creswell, and Chester; and the happy gathering sang the doxology and dispersed about ten o'clock."

OSWALDTWISTLE. - The Sunday School Sermons of this Society were preached July 4, by Mr. T. Ogden of Heywood. The services were well attended, and yielded peculiar satisfaction. The collections were larger than usual, amounting to £10.

RHODES (near Manchester). The

incumbent of this place, Rev. Mr. Corbould, took occasion, in the course of his ministrations in the month of June last, to instruct his congregation in the life and writings of Swedenborg, and to warn his flock against what he regarded as his delusions and errors. The members of the New Church, whose place of worship is in the immediate vicinity of the church in which this attack was made, thought it desirable to avail themselves of the interest thus excited to invite public attention to a truthful exposition of the life and teachings of our great author. The Rev. Mr. Hyde was invited and kindly consented to give two lectures on the occasion. The first, on Swedenborg, his Life and Writings," was given on June 7; the second, on "The Teachings of Swedenborg on the Life after Death,' on June 21. Both lectures were attended by very large audiences. The lecturer treated his subjects in a very elaborate and exceedingly eloquent manner, and was listened to throughout with the most marked attention and manifest interest. The audiences included many who heard for the first time an exposition of the sentiments of the New Church from one of her recognised teachers. The expressions of delight and satisfaction were warm and numerous, and there is reason to hope that the society will be strengthened and benefited by the service.

WORSLEY.-We extract the following from the Salford Weekly News of June 26. "On Sunday last this place of worship was re-opened, after being closed for restoration, re-beautifying, and re-scating. Two excellent sermons were delivered by Mr. Thomas Mackereth, F.R. A. S., of Eccles. The subject of the afternoon discourse was the nature of divine revelation, the text being taken from Hosea, 12th chapter, 10th verse, and John, 6th chapter, 63d verse. In the course of the sermon, Mr. Mackereth said that he had two reasons for taking the first part of the text from the Old Testament and the second part from the New; the first of which was to show that Jehovah, of the Old Testament, whom the Jews were commanded to worship and obey, is the Jesus Christ of the New Testament, and thus that Jehovah and Jesus Christ is the only true God. The second reason

was that the texts he had taken teach in effect the view he wished to demonstrate concerning revelation. The nature of divine revelation was of paramount importance in these days of scientific inquiry.' Mr. Mackereth then proceeded by a learned and elaborate argument to demonstrate the true nature of the Bible as a revelation from God; and next to explain how all that is written in the Bible was dictated by God to Moses, the prophets, and others, in agreement with the law of spiritual representation, and gave many striking illustrations of this doctrine. In the evening Mr. Mackereth had for his theme "the nature of Christian worship," which was very lucidly explained. The church was crowded to excess at both services, and every one appeared deeply interested. The col

lections amounted to £33, 7s. 7d. In addition to this report we are informed by a correspondent that the expenses of improving and beautifying the church amounting to over £200 have been sustained by subscriptions from private individuals, along with the collections made.

PROGRAMME of the Services and Meetings in connection with the SIXTYSECOND GENERAL CONFERENCE of the NEW CHURCH, which will assemblein Babington Lane Chapel, Derby, on Tuesday the 10th day of August 1869.

Monday Evening.--The chapelkeeper will be in attendance in the vestry from 5 to 9 o'clock to give information to those representatives who have not been previously provided with lodgings.

Tuesday Evening.-Service in the Chapel at 6.30. A sermon will be delivered by the Rev. Richard Storry, after which the Lord's Supper will be administered, the offerings to be appropriated to the Minister's and Widow's Pension Fund. Tea will be provided in the School-room at 5.30.

Wednesday Afternoon.-Visit to Melbourne. Tea will be provided by the Melbourne friends for the Members of Conference. Followed by a public meeting at which ministers and friends will speak.

Thursday Evening.-Tea in the Mechanics' Lecture Hall, Derby, at 6 o'clock, after which a public meeting

will be held, when addresses will be delivered by ministers and friends.

Friday Evening.-Tea will be provided in the School-room at 5.30.

Dinner will be provided at 2 o'clock each day of Conference, at two shillings each, at a first class restaurant.

The Members of Conference will be duly informed of the names and addresses of the friends with whom they are appointed to stay.

The Derby friends solicit from the Secretaries of the New Church Societies as early information as possible respecting the number and names of the representatives appointed to attend the ensuing Conference. Communications should be addressed to Mr. Ward, South Hill Villa, Derby.

Marriages.

At the New Jerusalem Church, Spring Road, Brightlingsea, June 13, 1869, by Mr. S. Jepson, Mr. Benjamin Sharp to Miss Caroline Rose, both of Brightlingsea.

June 15.-At the New Church, Bedford Street, North Liverpool, by Mr. R. Goldsack, Alfred, eldest son of Richard Norbury, Esq., to Feroline, third daughter of George Pixton, Esq.

July 15.-At St. Silas' Church, Liverpool, William Hubert, youngest son of George Pixton, Esq., to Harriette Ann, eldest daughter of William Streather, Esq., both of Liverpool.

At the New Jerusalem Church, Spring Road, Brightlingsea, June 26, 1869, by Mr. S. Jepson, Mr. John Howling to Miss Ellen Ann Minter, younger daughter of Mr. William Minter, sen. of Brightlingsea.

At the New Jerusalem Church, Heywood, June 30, by the Rev. R. Storry, Mr. Edward Greenwood to Miss Mary Emma Dawson.

Obituary.

On the 28th of June, in her 76th year, Mary, the wife of Francis Goadsby, Esq., of the Cliff, Broughton. For more than eight years she has been afflicted with paralysis, which latterly left her speechless and so weak that she had to be fed as a child. In disposition she was retiring and unobtrusive, and mixed but little in society. She was a most affectionate wife, and a

kind mother; and through all her trials and affliction, preserved a calm trust in the Lord, and meekly resigned herself to His will. As the prostration

of her body became complete, she, without pain or a struggle, peacefully passed away to her eternal rest.

Left this transitory state for the spiritual world, on Monday, July 5, aged 56 years, Sarah, the beloved wife of Richard Eredux, York Street, St. Heliers, Jersey. The deceased is deeply regretted by her family and a wide circle of friends, whom her loving

character had drawn around her by bonds of deep affection. She has been attached to the Church for about twenty years, and was a zealous advocate for the doctrines and life of the New Jerusalem. She was a constant attendant on all the services of the church, and was present at worship the Sunday week previous to her departure. She was (as Mr. Brown remarked on Sunday evening while improving her removal) one of the few who studied the doctrines by reading the works and applying them to the life.

F. PITMAN, Secretary,

20 Paternoster Row, London, E.C.

Preston, July 9, 1869.