And as I thus look up into Thy face Mine ears shall hear The voice so full of grace "This is the way, walk in it without fear." So would I walk, O Lord, through all my life— Alike in calm or strife, Till Thou dost give me peace that shall abide. J. B. Gleanings. Cheerfulness keeps off old age. With it a man always looks fresh, instead of being worn and wrinkled. GANGANELLI, POPE CLEMENT XIV. The art of holding one's tongue is a great virtue. Happy he who says nothing but what he ought to say!-Ibid. The pleasure of obliging ought to be found in all communities. The great art of sanity is to know how to serve people according to their task.-Ibid. We have too many duties to fulfil to find time for meddling with other people's business.-Ibid. Speak with dignity of religion, and never speak of it but on proper occasions. Those are always shunned who are for ever preaching. The sermons of Jesus Christ to His disciples are not long, but they are spirit and life.-Ibid. I consider religion as a chain, of which God Himself is the first link, and whose length is that of Eternity. Without this bond everything falls to pieces, everything is overturned. Men are animals only worthy of contempt; nor hath the universe anything interesting in it. It is neither the sun nor the earth which constitutes its merit, but the glory of being shut up in the immensity of the Supreme Being and of subsisting only through Jesus Christ according to the words of the apostle, "All things were created by Him, and in Him. things subsist in Him."-Ibid. And all Miscellaneous. GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE NEW CHURCH. The seventy-third annual session of the Conference assembled at the church in Bedford Street North, in Liverpool, on Monday evening, August 9, 1880. A numerous assembly of ministers and representatives was present at the informal meeting which is held on the Monday evening for the signing of the roll and the preparation for the actual business of the Conference. Several members also assembled earlier in the day to take part in the deliberations of Committees appointed by the preceding Conference. The most important of these was the Hymn-Book Committee, which consisted of members residing at great distances from each other. This Committee had not succeeded in issuing an edition of the Hymn-Book, as was desired, before the assembling of the Conference. The work, however, was sufficiently near completion to encourage the hope that it might be completed by the end of the year. In their report to the Conference the Committee say that the Experimental Edition determined upon by the Conference had been issued, and from the answers received it was ascertained that thirty-four Societies, with an aggregate of 3070 members, will adopt the new Hymn-Book ; six Societies, with an aggregate of 240 members, will not adopt it; and eleven Societies, with an aggregate of 757 members, reply that they will not adopt it at present. The Committee, as was to be expected, have received, both from Societies and individuals, expressions of desire for the insertion of hymns at present omitted, or the omission of hymns which are now inserted, together with various detailed criticisms. Owing to the unavoidably late date at which these recommendations were received, the Committee had not been able to give them the consideration they require. They therefore recommended the appointment of a small committee to meet in London, who could attend to these criticisms, and to the publication of the Hymn-Book. The resolutions of the Committee led to considerable discussion. Mr. Barlow proposed in a speech of severe criticism a resolution binding the Committee to a very sweeping revision of the Hymn-Book; and several members pointed out changes which they desired. On the whole, however, the work of the Committee was very favourably received, and their suggestions adopted by the Conference. One of the questions which has usually occupied but little time led this year to considerable discussion. Usually before its assembling the Conference has received invitations to hold its next session at one or more places, and has had little difficulty in finding a place of meeting. The last two sessions this has not been the case, and the Conference itself has had to determine its place of meeting. This change, it is well understood, arises from no want of sympathy with the Conference; but from the difficulty, which becomes every year greater, of providing homes with the members of the several Societies for all its members. This difficulty will probably lead to a change of system and a return to the rule of Conference, which is not so extensive in its requirements. The difficulty of appointing the place of meeting was solved by a resolution adopted on the recommendation of the Manchester representatives to hold the Conference next year in the church in Peter Street, Manchester. The Conference was again gratified by the presence of the Rev. Chauncey Giles as the Messenger of the American Convention. Mr. Giles received from the Conference a hearty welcome, and was invited to take his seat with the heartiest demonstrations of satisfaction and pleasure. In reply to this welcome Mr. Giles delivered an instructive and eloquent address, in which he dwelt upon the essential unity of the Church and the benefits of our mutual intercourse. "In the New Church," he said, "we have unity with diversity, and in this we have perfect freedom, and can each develop his own spiritual nature. What may be best for one may not be best for another. Our unity must grow out of our relation to others in the society of which we are a part. The ject has been necessarily referred to Church in America is gaining and the Conference. The Rev. Mr. Deans growing. The thoughts of the people and Mr. Willson, who had been apare directed more and more to learn the laws of the spiritual life and to live according to them." One of the most difficult questions which is annually brought before the Conference is the questions arising in connection with the College and its relation to the General Conference and to the Committee of the Students' and Ministers' Aid Fund. The Conference holds in trust large sums for the benefit of the College, but possesses no control over its management. This might be the occasion of little difficulty were there not unhappily a difference of opinion as to the primary aims of the College. The most active founder of the College has always aimed at a general educational institute. Mr. Crompton, who bequeathed the large sum of £10,000 for the permanent endowment of the College, very evidently regarded the education of young men for the ministry of the New Church as the primary object of the College. This is very evident from the clause in which he makes his munificent bequest. In this clause, after stating that the money is to be applied by the Trustees of Conference, "under the direction of the General Conference, in maturing and extending" the College, he describes the object of the institution he desired to mature and extend in the following words: "Having for its object the education of candidates for the ministry of the said New Church" -not, it will be observed, as one of its objects, but "its object." Another source of difficulty has arisen from divided authority in the government of the theological students. These students have not been obtained, as was hoped by the principal founder of the College, from the students of the College, but from young men connected with New Church Societies, who have manifested an earnest desire for the work of the ministry, and a special aptitude for its important duties. These young men have been adopted by the Conference and recommended to the College Council for their theological and general education. But the appliances of the College are not equal to the wants of the students. Complaints have arisen and the whole sub pointed by the Conference Council to inquire into the educational facilities of the New Church College, reported these facilities as "inadequate to the education and training of candidates for the ministry;" and it was abundantly evident that some change must take place. To undertake in open Conference the investigation of so complicated and difficult a question was impossible. A large committee was therefore appointed to consider the whole subject and to report to the Conference. This Committee, after careful investigation and extended discussion of the whole subject, came to the resolution to recommend to the Conference the removal of the students for the coming year to Manchester, where they will have the opportunity of attending classes at the Owens College, and be placed in the charge of the Rev. R. Storry for their theological and pastoral training. This recommendation was unanimously adopted, and arrangements at same time made for providing a better understanding, and improved means of mutual co-operation between the General Conference and the Council of the New Church College. the In his report, the President " congratulates the Conference on the evidence that has come under his notice, that the year of his presidential duty has been one of very considerable activity, usefulness, and progress in the Church, and one from which much good may be hoped for in the future. The Church with its limited means seems to be making estimable progress both at home and abroad." The report on the number of communicants in the several Societies is still unsatisfactory. In the hope of exciting increased attention to this important subject, we give the following extract from the President's report: "I have gone very carefully over the returns to the circular in relation to the number of communicants at the Holy Supper. I had hoped to find a considerable increase on previous returns, but I regret very much to confess I was greatly disappointed. There is very grave deficiency in the Church in this respect. Obedience to our Lord, with out which there is no progress in good- after a long service. The Conference ness, ought to be our simple rule of service on the Tuesday evening was conduct, and I trust that our friends not of this kind. Why not have a everywhere, but especially in the similar service always? He thought it Lancashire Societies, will look to the a wise thing to hold it oftener than four Lord for strength to amend in this im- times a year. In Scotland, he believed, portant duty of the Christian life. In it was held twice a year. He had been vain do we please ourselves with the once present and was gladdened to see harmony of doctrines, if we do not also people coming from all parts. Is there harmonize our worship and our lives any Christian, and especially New with what our doctrines teach. With Church Christian, who can neglect this desire,' our Lord says, 'have I desired sacrament and not suffer loss? Dr. to eat this passover with you.' Let Tafel said some entertain the idea that us be grateful, and hasten to partake as baptism was only administered once, of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb." so it was not necessary to administer This allusion to the lax attendance the sacrament of the Holy Supper at the sacrament led to a lengthened oftener. But baptism is the rite of discussion. Dr. Goyder, after pointing initiation, and we can only be initiated out the importance and value of the once. The Holy Supper is a supper, sacrament, inquired how we were to secure a better attendance at this important service. Mr. Gunton remarked that people cannot be driven, but must be affectionately addressed and drawn to the Lord's Table. Mr. Giles stated that he had experience on the subject, and had discovered that the true way is to give proper instruction. Since the Lord has instituted the sacrament you may conclude there is use in it. If you take the ground that Infinite Wisdom has directed His children to observe this sacrament, there are infinite reasons for receiving it. and as we partake of natural food The Conference of 1879 passed a resolution requesting the Council to arrange for the holding of an experimental meeting for the discussion of subjects doctrinally or practically important to the New Church, although not directly connected with the formal business of the Conference. In the report of the Council we are informed that "a committee was appointed in September last to make the necessary arrangements for the holding of such a meeting. It has been found, however, that duties connected with the preparation of the new Hymn-Book have occupied the time of the members to such an extent that it has been impossible to deal satisfactorily with the question." Swedenborg tells us that when we come into states of humiliation, states of sanctity are stored up that in this life do not come to our consciousness. But in the spiritual world all these states come back upon us. They give form to the spiritual body; they give beauty to our habitations and increased glory to our surroundings. By humbly communicating we gain a greater value than from a great amount of money. The sacrament in America is administered four times in the year. A special The Committee of the National preparatory meeting is held; and by Missionary Institution report that frequent reiteration-line upon line, "Mr. Gunton has continued his misand precept upon precept-we may do sionary labours as indefatigably as much to promote an increased reception. heretofore. He has presented reports Mr. Appelbee thought that perhaps of each month's proceedings, abstracts the Conference would not be unwilling of which appear in your Committee's to hear the opinion of a layman on the minute-book. The following brief subject. He had known from experience summary gives an outline-sketch of the loss and the advantage of the the large amount of work which his sacrament. He regarded it as most methodical habits, his untiring energy, important, but thought that sufficient and his fervent zeal for the welfare of attention was not given to the mode of the Lord's New Church have enabled its administration. It usually comes him to perform within the limits of the current Conference year." A list took part, was followed by the adopof places visited by him is given, some tion of the following resolution: of which presented new grounds of "This Committee having reported the missionary labour. The sales of the reception of a letter from Dr. G. "Silent Missionaries' " have reached Danieli, imparting the interesting an aggregate of seven hundred volumes. Details are also given of other missionary labours. information of an Association having been formed in Buda-Pesth, Hungary, for the translation and publication of The Committee of Colonial and the writings of the New Church, and Foreign Missions reported that an of introductory collateral works into anonymous donation of £100 had the Magyar language, and for spreadenabled it to assist the Rev. A. ing a knowledge of the doctrines by Boyesen in Stockholm to the amount missionary efforts,-Resolved, That the of £50, the Rev. A. Schiweck in Conference recommends the cause of Monethen, East Prussia, to the amount the friends to the favourable conof £30, and the Rev. H. Peisker and sideration of the Foreign and Colonial his widow in Vienna to the amount of Missionary Committee, as well as to £60. Of the work of the Rev. A. the Swedenborg Society, and the Schiweck we are further informed: Missionary and Tract Society of "Since the last meeting of Conference London. Resolved, That the Comapplication for assistance was received mittee on Colonial and Foreign from the Rev. A. Schiweck, who has Missions be and are hereby authorized collected the first Polish New Church to grant the sum of £15 for the assistSociety in Monethen, East Prussia, ance of the mission at Buda-Pesth." and who is also ministering to a At the session of 1879 a committee German Society in the same place. was appointed to consider the subject This latter Society numbers thirty- of grouping small Societies, so that a one, and the Polish Society eleven number of such Societies may unite in communicants. The Rev. A, Schiweck has been ordained by the German New Church Conference, and is assisted by them to the amount of £15. The district in which he labours in the eastern end of Prussia, near the Russian borders, over which the members of the New Church are scattered, covers an area forty miles long and ten miles wide. In his last report Mr. Schiweck writes that he has been very ill during the winter, but since his recovery administered the Communion to five groups of receivers in various places, preaching to them on Sundays. He is very much disappointed that the police has stopped his sale of New Church books on account of his not having a proper One of the great works accomplished licence, which it is, however, too some years since by Dr. Tafel was the expensive for him to obtain from his collection of a large number of the personal resources. He is exceedingly manuscripts of Swedenborg, and of grateful for the assistance he has received from the English brethren, and your Committee hopes that they will be able to continue to assist him during the ensuing year." the support of a minister, or to place small Societies under the charge of the ministers of neighbouring Societies. Though enjoying more or less a regular ministration of the Word provided by the missionary societies of London or Manchester, according as they are situated north or south, they yet lack what is scarcely less indispensable, an efficient pastoral oversight. They are left pretty much to themselves to thrive or decline, and not unfrequently the latter. The Committee, therefore, recommended the adoption of regulations to carry out the objects specified in the appointment, and these recommendations were adopted by the Conference. These documents respecting him. MSS. were photolithographed, but have thus far remained untranslated and not available to the general reader. The attention of the Conference was This Committee also reported the this year drawn to the subject, and formation of an association for the it was resolved that the president, spread of the doctrines and writings treasurer, and Mr. Broadfield be a of the New Church at Buda-Pesth, in committee to arrange with Dr. Tafel Hungary. A discussion in which for the editing of such of the photoseveral members of the Conference lithographs as they may think desir. |