The sales of the theological works during the year show a satisfactory increase. 2894 vols. have been sold, which with 803 vols. presented, make a total of 3697 vols. which have been delivered. Last year 2262 vols. were sold and 658 vols. presented, or a total of 2920 vols. The total increase, therefore, of sold and presented is 877 vols. In the sales alone 632 vols. Of the philosophical 37 vols. have been sold and 36 vols. presented, or a total of 73 vols. Last year 58 vols. were sold and 36 presented, or a total of 94 vols. Among the presentations which have been made, your Committee dwell with great satisfaction upon the number of theological students who have received copies of the "True Christian Religion" and the "Apocalypse Revealed" in response to their applications. In acknowledging the receipt of the volumes, many are the expressions of gratitude for the liberality shown by the Society, and the assurance is given that the gifts are thoroughly appreciated. It is unquestionable that the Creeds of the Churches and the traditions of the elders, as popularly understood, are gradually but surely departing from among the professors of not a few of the colleges of the Nonconformists. And this tendency among the professors will naturally react upon the students, and lead them to severely test, both by reason and by Scripture, the formulas and dogmas believed in by their fathers. The recent proceedings in connection with colleges of the Free Church of Scotland is proof of this. The proposal to "appoint a special commission with full powers to inquire into the state of theological teaching within the colleges of the Church, and into the published writings of the professors," is evidence, to use the words of one of the speakers, that "an epidemic of heresy seemed to have attacked all the Churches."

The applications from clergymen have also been somewhat numerous. One correspondent, in acknowledging the receipt of a work, declares: "I have preached nothing but [the] doctrines as far as I understand them since I have been convinced of their orthodoxy in the truest sense of the Word. . . . Though a minister in the Old Church, I feel I am really one of your number."

Another correspondent writes: "I have been deeply interested by. some extracts from Swedenborg's writings, and I am told that I have adopted in my teachings a good many of Swedenborg's truths. I am thus very anxious to learn more on the subject. Please pardon my troubling you, my great interest is my only excuse."

The Society has been highly favoured during the past year with several liberal donations towards its various funds. First in order is one of £5 from Dr. Le Gay Brereton of Sydney, N.S.W. This was followed by one of £19, 19s. from the Trustees of the late Mr. F. Allen. The third is one of £500 from a former generous donor to the Society, Dr. John Jackson of Elk Horn, Polk Co., Oregon, U.S.A., the interest of which is to be devoted to the special purpose of printing, publishing, and translating the works into the living and spoken languages of the world. The fourth is one of £100 from the Rev. A. Clissold, whose liberality to the Society is, to use the expression,

"familiar in our mouths as household words." The fifth is stock of the value of £250 in an Indian Railway from our highly valued and stanch friend Mr. H. R. Williams. It is almost unnecessary to add that the very hearty thanks of the Committee on behalf of the Society were voted to these gentlemen, not only for their generosity, but for these manifestations of their deep and abiding interest in the welfare of the Society, of which their gifts were evidence.

Mr. Bateman having expressed his desire to be released from the responsibilities of his trusteeship, and Mr. Williams having also intimated that it would be prudent on the part of the Committee to release him from his trust, the following gentlemen were appointed Trustees of the Society, viz.: Dr. Stocker, Mr. S. Teed, Mr. J. H. Spalding, and Mr. T. H. Elliott, and the stocks, funds, securities, and other property of the Society-with one exception, viz. the Barlee Legacyhave been legally vested in them. The list of the gifts and legacies now possessed by the Society has been revised since its last publication, for the better information of the members.

The ordinary subscriptions and donations this year amount to £224, 11s. 7d., which is rather less than last year. The donations which have already been specially mentioned are not of course included in the amount just named. The books sold have realized £185, 9s. 4d., which is an increase of £40, 19s. 4d. The value of books returned to subscribers is £47, 14s. Last year it was about £55. Considering the large presentations of books which the Society is enabled to make, it is very satisfactory to find the sales are so numerous. Eleven copies of Roffe's engraving of Swedenborg have been sold, and 81 photographs of Powers' bust of Swedenborg.

Advertisements of one or more of the works have appeared in the following newspapers and periodicals: The Congregational Year-Book, The Baptist Hand-Book, The Protestant Dissenters' Almanac, The Baptist Almanac, The Congregational Almanac, Morning Light, The School Board Chronicle, The Vegetarian Almanac, The Intellectual Repository, The A B C Church and Chapel Guide. In The Times the "True Christian Religion" was advertised ten times during the months of November and December last year, and January of this. In all the advertisements something more than the bare title of the work has been given, so that the reader might be attracted to the work by as full a description of its contents as the space at disposal permitted.

Presentations of works have been made as follows:

FREE LIBRARIES.-Handsworth, near Birmingham, 41 vols.; Newcastle-on-Tyne, 41 vols.; Nottingham, 110 vols.; Smethwick, 41 vols.

OTHER INSTITUTIONS.-English Presbyterian College, 28 vols.; Hanover Square Club, 24 vols.; the Birmingham Christian Evidence and Protestant Laymen's Association, 8 vols.; "Monitor" Library, Portsmouth, 6 vols.

To Editors of the following Journals for review: Ben Brierley's Journal, 4 vols.; Fireman, I vol.; Lay Preacher, 1 vol.; London

Good Templar Pioneer, 1 vol.; Palatine Review, 2 vols.; Shrewsbury Free Press, 2 vols.

And to the following gentlemen among others: Mr. R. J. Tilson, New Church College "Index Biblicus." Mr. J. T. Freeth, leader of the Sparkbrook Society-"Arcana Coelestia and Index." Mr. C. Griffiths, New Church College-" Arcana Cœlestia and Index." Rev. D. A. Shonten, Anguilla, West Indies-"True Christian Religion," Apocalypse Revealed," "Four Primary Doctrines," and "New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine."

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THE LINCOLNSHIRE NEW CHURCH ASSOCIATION has been supplied with 86 copies of the pocket edition of the "New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine," and 13 copies of the second volume of the "Arcana Cœlestia," both at reduced prices. The first-named work has been presented by the Association to the clergy and dissenting ministers in the diocese and county of Lincoln, and the second volume of the "Arcana Coelestia to those clergymen and ministers who have received a copy of the first volume. If a similar good work could be carried out in each county the effect which would be produced upon the minds of the ministers in them would no doubt be very great. Fortunately for the world the clergy can no longer afford to remain unacquainted with the doctrines of the New Church, for the laity are acquiring the habit of thinking upon religious subjects and putting questions to their ministers which they will do well not to put lightly aside.

The Divine Providence has seen fit to remove by the hand of death several of the members of the Society during the past year. On the 23rd September last the late Treasurer of the Society, Mr. Thomas Watson, passed into the spiritual world. From the long and intimate connection with the Society which Mr. Watson had held it was resolved that a deputation of the Committee should represent the Society at the funeral, and thus do honour to his many virtues. A resolution was also unanimously passed and recorded on the Society's minutes testifying to the ability, zeal, and urbanity with which Mr. Watson had discharged his duties as a Trustee and Treasurer of the Society during a long tenure of office.

Mr. Watson, who had always been mindful of the Society's interests during his life, had not forgotten them in the prospect of death. The Committee have received an intimation that the sum of £50 has been left by him for the general purposes of the Society, and by his express wish a table valuable for its associations has been presented to the Society for the Committee-room. The table bears the following inscription:

"Swedenborg's table, used by him while living at Shearsmith's, 25 Great Bath Street, Clerkenwell, London. Was purchased by John Barge, Esq., of Broughton, Manchester, at a sale of some portion of Shearsmith's furniture. Purchased of the daughter of John Barge, Esq., through the Rev. J. B. Kennerley, by Thomas Watson."

On the 2nd October Mr. F. Allen also passed into the spiritual

world. Mr. Allen had always taken a deep interest in the objects and aims of the Society, and was one of the speakers at the last annual meeting. The Committee conveyed their kindest sympathies to Mr. C. H. Allen under the painful circumstances which attended his loss.

By the death of the Rev. H. Wrightson the Society has lost a liberal supporter and a constant friend. His last generous act was the providing the means for the translation of Swedenborg's great work on the Brain. This was done independently of the Society, but it will, nevertheless, be a work of great value to persons disposed to read Swedenborg's philosophical writings, and we may hope will prove introductory to a study of those of a theological character. By a resolution of the Committee a letter of condolence and sympathy with the relatives and friends of the reverend gentleman was specially prepared, in which his many benefactions to the Society and also to the Church at large were referred to. In acknowledging the letter, Mr. R. H. Wrightson thanked the Committee for their appreciation of the character and labours of his late brother.

Nine years ago it was resolved that the words British and Foreign should be added to its title of Swedenborg Society. The Society was ripe for its wider designation. Since the year 1871 several translations of the works have been made in European languages, and there is now in preparation one in an Indian language. An application has been made by a gentleman in the Transvaal for one in Dutch, and the Committee have accepted the offer of Mr. S. Noble Bruce to translate the "New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine" into modern Greek. It is probable that a Spanish translation of the work last named would also be found useful, and the Committee are prepared to publish such a work as soon as they can find a person competent to undertake the translation. It is necessary, however, that great care be exercised in providing translations into foreign languages, so as to secure a faithful presentation of the doctrines in idiomatic form. This necessity obliges the Committee to move more slowly in this direction than they otherwise would do. The particulars of the Colonial and Foreign work accomplished by the Society will be found detailed under separate heads.

Greece. From information supplied by the Auxiliary Society, an offer of a selection of the works was made to the Parliament Library at Athens. This library is intended to be universal in its character, and contains over 60,000 volumes, a number of which have been contributed by European Governments and individuals of eminence. The following is a translation of the reply which was received:

To Mr. T. H. ELLIOTT,

Hon. Secy. of the Swedenborg Society.

ATHENS, February 1, 1880.

HON. SIR,-It is with a feeling of sincere pleasure that I have received to-day the agreeable letter which you have addressed to me of the date of the 10th February.

I hasten to answer it without loss of time, and to express all my thanks for

the offer you have been good enough to make in favour of the Parliament Library of Greece, of which the direction has been intrusted to me by the votes of my colleagues, the Greek Deputies.

I shall receive with thanks and place in our library the works of the immortal Swedenborg, that truly "monumental" man, to use the expression of your venerated chairman in the Report you sent me.

I leave to your beneficence the choice of the works to send us, but if I may be permitted to express my wishes, I shall take the liberty to ask you to enrich our growing library, if it is possible, with a complete collection of all the volumes published by your Society, without even excepting the Latin, French, Polish, Italian, Icelandic, Swedish, and Russian editions. The English editions in 8vo and the pocket editions will of course form the basis of the collection. But my desire is that our library shall possess the entire collection without an omission.

Greece has had at all times confidence in the generous feelings of the civilized world. We hope that you will not refuse your invaluable aid in the work which, amid many difficulties, we are pursuing for our intellectual and moral development.

Permit me, sir, again to thank you for your kindness, and to remain your very humble and very obedient servant,

"TIMOLEON I. PHILIMON, L'Ephore de la Chambre Hellénique, Député d'Attique.

The Committee promptly responded to this thankful acceptance of their offer, and on the 31st March forwarded to M. Philimon 228 vols. of the works, of which—

Their safe arrival was acknowledged in a letter of which the following is a translation :

To Mr. T. H. ELLIOTT.

ATHENS, 26th April 1880.

HON. SIR,-I have received the case containing the precious volumes of the works of Swedenborg which the Swedenborg Society has kindly offered to the new Library of the Chamber of the Grecian Deputies.

I desire to express to the learned Society, and to you personally, the thanks of the Grecian Chamber for this attention. These works-products of an indefatigable genius and replete with the true faith-will be of a great use to our men of letters, and I hope thus of an inestimable help to the propagation of the Christian truths, and for the just examination of religious questions.

I hope that the learned Society and you, sir, will not forget our library,