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REPORTS.

Report of the Pittsburgh Society.

PITTSBURGH, September 29, 1870.

To the Pennsylvania Association of the New Jerusalem Church:

This Society, since last reported, by its activity in two directions, is giving evidence of some life and progress; first, a few of the ladies, some time since, established a Sewing Society, for the purpose of replenishing the library, and they have received some valuable donations in books, and, besides purchasing a handsome book-case, have made a number of additions to the library from the funds resulting from their own labors. The other movement is for the purchase of a suitable lot, on which, at some future time, to erect a Church edifice; nothing very definite has yet been done, but a good result is hoped for. This Society, at present, has fifty-nine resident, and twenty-five non-resident, members — total, eighty-four and communicants, fifty-two. Since September 5, 1869, there have been six adults baptized and two confirmed. In the same time there have been two marriages and two funerals. Messrs. James H. McClelland, W. H. Childs, and J. L. Koethen, have been appointed delegates from this Society to the present meeting of the Pennsyl vania Association. J. J. HENDERSON, Secretary.

Report of the Delaware County First Society.

To the Pennsylvania Association:

DEAR BRETHREN, Since our last report we have had a cessation of public worship for several months, whilst our temple has been undergoing repair. On the third Sunday of September it was again in condition for occupation, and public worship again regularly resumed.

The condition of the Society we judge to be about as stated in last report. There has been one death in the Society within the year-that of our oldest member, Mr. Lewis Watkin. Our pastor has baptized two children, and officiated at one marriage.

We send, as our delegates, Dr. R. Burr, Mr. G. E. Burnley, and Dr. S. Jones.

Two dollars are transmitted for the use of the Association.

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No change has taken place in the Lancaster Society since the last meeting of the Association, except the removal of one of its female members to the city of Baltimore, Md., and another one away from the city too far to attend. Regular service has been held in the Temple, with about the usual attendance, with the exception of two months during the exceedingly warm months of July and August; but services were resumed again on the first Sunday in

September. During that period, Rev. N. C. Burnham preached for the Society some six or eight times, and administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper four times to a slightly diminished number of communicants. The Sunday-school holds about its own, except perhaps in teachers. Rev. N. C. Burnham and Mr. S. S. Rathvon have been authorized to attend the Association as delegates from our Society. Five dollars are contributed towards the ordinary expenses of the Association.

S. S. RATHVON, Secretary.

[Extract from the Minutes of the Lancaster Society, September 27, 1870.] Resolved, That One Hundred Dollars be donated to the Missionary Fund of the Pennsylvania Association, for the year commencing October 1, 1870, by this Society. Attest:

S. S. RATHVON, Secretary.

Report of the Philadelphia Society.

PHILADELPHIA, October 3, 1870.

To the Pennsylvania Association of the New Jerusalem:

DEAR BRETHREN, - The Philadelphia Society of the New Jerusalem would respectfully report, that since the last annual meeting of the Association, they have suffered a very great loss, in the removal to the spiritual world of their respected president and beloved pastor, the Rev. Thomas P. Rodman, who departed this life on Thursday, the fourteenth day of April, A. D. 1870. The loss of so prominent an officer could not but affect any society very seriously; but our own beloved pastor had not only labored well and faithfully in the performance of all his official duties, but had so affectionately mingled with the members in all social uses, and had in so many ways endeared himself to us, that the feeling of loss occasioned by his removal to the spiritual world has been very great. We have not mourned for him alone, but all the New Churchmen in our city and vicinity united with us in showing respect to his memory; and our brethren of the First Philadelphia Society officially tendered to us condolence and sympathy in our deep affliction, in a manner very grateful to our feelings. Since the death of our pastor we have not had the regular services of any minister, our pulpit having been only occasionally supplied. One or other of our elders have read for us on most other occasions, and a few joint meetings for purposes of worship have been held with the First Philadelphia Society.

The Sunday-school attached to the society has also suffered considerably from the loss of its Superintendent, and we are compelled to report a falling off in the attendance at public worship and in our Sunday-school. The register of marriages, deaths, and baptisms being kept by the pastor, we are unable to report on these points.

The society sends as delegates to your Association Messrs. R. A. Lewis, F. E. Boericke, W. A. Fleck, S. C. Smith, and Wm. McGeorge, jr., and contributes twenty-five dollars for the use of the Association.

On behalf of the Philadelphia Society,

WM. MCGEORGE, JR., Recording Secretary.

[Communication relative to the German Society.]}

In December last, some German members of the Philadelphia Society made a call for a union of the German receivers of Doctrines in the city of Philadelphia.

A German missionary society was formed, with a simple constitution, containing the declaration of faith of the New Jerusalem, which permits all to become members who will sign such declaration. This constitution received thirty-eight signatures. A hall in Fifth Street, near Buttonwood, was rented, and lectures have been given since January 1, in the German language, by its own members, especially by Dr. Leonhard Tafel. A Sunday-school was also founded, and continues with about twenty-five children, besides a doctrinal class of adults.

July 1, the services of Rev. Louis Tafel were happily secured, who has officiated there since, much to the strength and edification of the members. He baptized, also, two children, married a couple (members of the society), and administered twice the holy sacrament of communion to about twenty-five members, each time.

Missionary Report.

F. E. BOERICKE.

October 3, 1870.

To the Pennsylvania Association of the New Jerusalem: BRETHREN, The year just passed seems, under a wise and merciful Providence, to have been even more fruitful of good results in the great work devolving upon us, of building up and strengthening the holy cause of the New Jerusalem thoughout our borders, by missionary effort, than the year preceding.

The good, the innocent and simple, appear more deeply interested, more thoroughly devoted, and more highly delighted in the blessed sphere; while the young and novitiate are more intently engaged in learning and understanding the sacred truths and principles of our heavenly Church. At the same time a state is preparing, and a way opening, for the accession of still others to our number, to behold and enjoy with us the rising glory of that new day, whose morning sun is, we know, even now gleaming in the eastern sky.

No greater proof of the blessings imparted to others through means of your contributions to the cause of missions, no more gratifying reward to the missionary, can be afforded, than the heartfelt happiness witnessed among the virtuous in the various places visited, on their fuller reception of, and more perfect enlightenment in, the priceless principles of our Church. Nothing can exceed the bliss of this attainment, and the eternal consequences to which it leads, and which it alone can assure.

Acknowledgments and expressions like the following are often made, and sometimes even with tearful eyes: "We cannot adequately tell you," say they, "how much benefit and delight we derive from such ministrations and conversations, nor can we ever be sufficiently grateful to our heavenly Father for these privileges - privileges we so highly prize as affording light, strength, and comfort to help us on in our heavenward pathway."

Could you, brethren, witness as much of this among the scattered ones of our faith, and also from new receivers of it, as has your missionary, you would surely rejoice that the little sums you have contributed to this use have, indeed, gone out on errands of life and light to many souls.

During the year, not only were many of the former places revisited, but also new ones, as Hagerstown, Chambersburg, Plainfield, Fayetteville, Lewistown, Middletown, Marietta, Columbia, Seville, and Columbiana.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

N. C. BURNHAM, Missionary.

Report of the Committee on Book-Room.

Your Committee appointed to take measures for the establishment of a New Church Library and Reading-room, with power to act, beg leave to report, that they held several meetings for the purpose of conferring upon the subject, and after considerable interchange of ideas with each other, and others interested in the use, it was deemed best to establish the Library and Reading-room upon an independent bas is, and not in connection with, or under the auspices of, any particular body of the Church; believing that in so doing it would receive a more general support, and hence be productive of a more widely-extended use. Your committee, therefore, invited the coöperation of other New Church friends, who met and formed themselves into an association, under the name and title of the "New Church Library and Reading room Association of Philadelphia." The Association have rented a part of the store No. 25 South Tenth Street, Philadelphia; furnished in comfortably, and collected a library of about 120 volumes. The books are loaned out gratuitously, and a number of persons have availed themselves of the use of the library; and it is believed that the need so long felt in our community will now be supplied, and that good will result from this enterprise. Your committee would earnestly recommend the coöperation of all in this most useful work. On behalf of the Committee.

BENJAMIN F. GLENN.

TREASURER'S REPORT.

J. T. Midnight, Treasurer, in account with the Pennsylvania Association.

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