visit from Mr. R. R. Rodgers, of Birmingham, who preached to the Society on Sunday, April 28. The morning subject was, "What is the New Church, and by what right do we claim that name? The evening, "How does the New Church interpret Scripture?" This latter question was illustrated by an exposition of the text, "A horse is a vain thing for safety (Psalm xxxiii. 17). The room was well filled by a respectable audience, who listened with marked attention. the arch there is a stone label mould with carved bosses. The main roof will be finished with ornamental cresting. The slating on the porch roof is laid in pattern, and crested with ornamental cresting. The large room is 60 feet long, 39 feet wide, and 27 feet high. The roof is opentimbered half-way up the pitch. The timbers are varnished. The ceiling is divided into five bays, two of which are ornamented with large central flowers, from which are hung two large starlights. The room is ventilated with ornamental The annual tea meeting was held on perforated boards running along the entire Monday, April 29, when addresses length of the ceiling. The principals of the were delivered by Mr. H. Best, who roof are supported with large carved stone was in the chair, Mr. Rodgers, and other corbels. At the north end of the school- friends. Upwards of 90 sat down to an room is a raised platform, 17 feet by 15 excellent tea, provided by the ladies, and feet, and two class-rooms, one on each several pieces of music were sung during side of the platform, on a level with the the evening. On Tuesday evening Mr. same. Underneath the platform and Rodgers gave a lecture on "The Significaclass-rooms is an infant school, with gal- tion of the Rainbow, and the Corresponleried floor, also a scullery and class-room, dence of Colours." There was a very which can be entered either from the good attendance, the room being nearly school yard or a side door, level with the full. The clear elucidation of the rainroad, or from the school-room by a small bow and the opening out of the corresponflight of steps. The platform is spanned dence of colours was a rich treat, with with a large moulded Gothic arch, finished which all present seemed highly delighted. with large plaster mould and oak bosses. A very hearty vote of thanks was given The school is wainscoated 4 feet high, and to Mr. Rodgers for his able lecture, and plastered. All the finishing timber is of a hope expressed that he would be able pitch pine, varnished. The windows are before long to visit the Society again. glazed with ground glass." The anniversary has left the church in a favourable position for the coming year. What we now want is a building, and then there is every prospect for the future. The HULL.-The quarterly missionary visits to this Society arranged by the committee of the National Missionary Institution continue to be steadily carried out. visit in April was by the Rev. Mr. Thornton, whose services were warmly appreciated by the Society, and well received by the strangers who were present. Advantage was taken of this visit to have services on behalf of the Sunday School, and a tea party of scholars and friends of the school. Lectures were also given on the week-evenings; and at the request of the members, Mr. Thornton was induced to remain over a third Sunday. The entire course of services was very acceptable to the little flock, which is struggling to maintain its existence, and to extend its usefulness in this populous town; and the Society are extremely grateful to the ministers who have visited them, and to the committee of the National Missionary Society who have sent such able labourers to expound the doctrines in their midst. Since the visit of Mr. Thornton, the anniversary services have been held, when the Society was favoured with a second LIVERPOOL. The last of a series of winter evening entertainments in connection with the Bedford Street Society was given on the 26th ultimo, and proved a great success. After tea, Mr. Goldsack, the minister, presided, and a first-rate programme of songs and recitations was listened to by the large audience, which quite filled the schoolroom. Mr. J. Y. Swift, the secretary, delivered a short epilogue, in which he tastefully noticed the various points of the course then concluding. Among the lecturers, apart from the members of the Society, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Storry, and Mr. Mackereth had been heard, and though these lectures were not so well attended as the miscellaneous entertainments, they made a profitable change in the programme. It would not be right to pass over the ever-ready and welcome assistance of our friends, Mr. and Mrs. Skeaf and Miss Bayley, who many times delighted us with their valuable music. MIDDLESBOROUGH.-(From the Darlington Mercury.) - NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.-On Good Friday night the centenary of the death of Emanuel Swedenborg, the Middlesborough Society of the above church held services in celebration of the double occasion, when special expositions were made of the writings of Swedenborg. There were good congregations. On Easter Monday night the second anniversary of the society was celebrated by a social gathering and fruit banquet, Mr. G. H. Smith, leader of the Society, in the chair. Addresses were delivered by the Chairman, Mr. Broughton, Mr. M'Farren, and others; and Mr. Broughton read a poem entitled “The Cry of the Lanterns," which he applied as illustrative of their belief that the new system of theology was daylight in comparison with the darkness of the old. Mrs. Smith presided at the harmonium, and the evening was enlivened with music and singing. There was a fair attendance. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. This Society celebrated its fiftieth anniversary at their church in Percy Street by a tea meeting and soiree on Easter Tuesday. The arrangements were excellent, and there was a good attendance, though the weather was very unfavourable. One gentleman was present who was a member in 1822, when the foundation-stone of the present church was laid, and who is at the present time an active and estimable member of the Society. The Rev. W. Ray, who was called to preside, gave an interesting address, reviewing the progress and uses of the Society since 1822, with notices of prominent persons who had distinguished themselves by their influence and uses, but have removed to the spiritual world. Animated and edifying addresses were given by Messrs. J. Wilkinson, T. Riddell, J. Jewitt, W. Couchman, R. Lynn, T. Carr, and others. Solos, duetts, and sacred pieces, accompanied by the organ, were sung at intervals by Miss Copeland, the Misses Couchman, and Mr. Lacovski with good effect. Sabbath evening lectures have been delivered by the minister during the winter, which have been the means of bringing some strangers, who appear to be much interested. The Society has still to struggle with difficulties, but the members are earnest in the cause, and hopeful of succeeding in the permanent establishment of the Saviour's kingdom in their midst. RAMSBOTTOM. - The annual charity sermons in behalf of the New Church Sunday School in this village were preached in the afternoon and evening of Sunday, May 12, by the Rev. W. Westall. Each service was attended by about 500 persons, who appeared to appreciate thoroughly the remarks of the preacher. On the morning of the same day a scholars' meeting was held in the school-room, when Mr. F. N. Haywood of Accrington gave a pleasing and appropriate address to a full audience of parents, teachers, and scholars. collections made in the course of the day amounted to over £44, which is about £7 more than has been collected on any former occasion. The WIGAN. A pleasant and successful meeting was held in this Society on the evening of April 4th, to commemorate the closing of the winter's session of instructive and interesting week-night meetings that had been held during the winter. A large collection of valuable curiosities, supplied by members and friends of the church, were placed on tables in the room, and the evening was spent in addresses, conversation, music, and games. Mr. Johnson, who was in the chair, congratulated the members on the success of their meetings during the winter, and suggested that occasionally during the summer they should form parties to visit the country, not merely for pleasure and recreation, but also for instruction. The report also referred to the satisfactory and successful manner in which the session they had met to close had been attended. On Sunday, May 5th, the annual sermons in aid of the Sunday School were preached by Mr. Thomas Mackereth, F.R.A.S., of Eccles. The congregations, both morning and evening, were good, and the sermons appropriate to the occa sion. The collections realized over £7, the largest amount ever collected, except at the opening services in 1868. YORK.-A missionary visit was made to this Society in the month of March by the Rev. R. Storry, who spent a Sabbath with the Society, and gave a short course of week-night lectures. All the services were held in the room occupied by the Society. The attendances included several strangers, but were not so numerous as we had hoped. The utmost attention was given by those present to The committee being desirous that the publication should issue at the time appointed, would impress upon all those friends who are willing to assist in raising the required amount the desirability of an early communication either to Mr. T. H. Elliot, the treasurer of the "London New Church Association," 24 Culford Road, London, N., or to Mr. F. Skelton, secretary of committee, 192 Blackfriars Road, London, S.E. The sixty the subjects discussed, and at the close the thanks of the Society to the lecturer and to the Missionary Committee were warmly expressed for the visit. There are quite a number of societies in the New Church like the one at York which need more frequent visits and more active sympathy on the part of our missionary institutions and more prosperous societies. These small societies obtain a limited number of members, and provide as they are best able for the conducting of public worship, and in some cases the GENERAL CONFERENCE. teaching of the Sunday school, on the fifth session of the General Conference Sabbath. They are seldom cheered by will commence in the New Church, Aventhe presence of a minister, and are com- ham Road, Preston, at seven o'clock, on pelled to struggle on amid continual dis- the evening of Monday, August 12th, couragements. Their progress is small, 1872. Applications from societies to be yet in most cases it is manifest. The received into connection with the Consociety at this place has suffered the loss ference, or for the ordination of leaders, of its leader by the removal into the are required by the rules to be forwarded spiritual world of Mr. Heppel. His place to the secretary not later than Wednesis now supplied by his brother-in-law, day, June 12th, in order that they may Mr. Jubb, who ministers with warm be in time for insertion in his official affection to the little flock of worshippers. circular.-JOHN PRESLAND, Sec. Gen. Con. A number of young persons are growing 25 Rochester Square, Camden Road, up in the Society; attention is given to London, N.W. music, and a harmonium has been introduced into their meeting room. The usual accompaniment of a New Church society, a library of books, is also conspicuously placed. There are, therefore, the elements of progress, and the grounds of a reasonable hope that, by patient perseverance in welldoing, "the little one may become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation." NEW CHURCH WEEKLY PAPER.-The Committee beg to acknowledge, with thanks, the following contributions to the fund for launching the above publication: As per List on the wrapper of Mr. Thos. Church, Illford, s. d. 9 10 0 0 0 0 Xonia, 1 0 1 Rev. T. L. Marsden, 1 0 Mrs Fotheringham, 1 0 Mr. Teed, London,. Dr. Vietinghoff, do. Mr. J. F. Howe, do. Marriages. May 1st, at the Parish Church, Blackburn, by the Rev. R. Mayall, vicar of Over Darwen, brother-in-law of the bride, assisted by the Rev. R. Evanson, vicar of Ainsworth, Pickering Butterworth, eldest son of Richard Edleston, Esq. of Highfield House, Heywood, to Margaret Alice, eldest daughter of James Walkden, Esq. St. John's, Blackburn. On the 24th of April 1872, at the New Church, Keighley, by the Rev. E. D. Rendell, Mr. John Longbottom to Miss Mary Ambler Haggas; and Mr. Samuel Haggas to Miss Mary Hannah Sugden. Obituary. On the 12th of April, Isabella Howard, wife of Lester L. Mosley, of New York. On Friday, the 26th of April, Mr. Thomas Gardiner, of Liverpool, passed, at the age of 65 years, into the eternal world, after an illness of only two days. A most zealous receiver of the doctrines of the New Church, Mr. Gardiner was 0 10 0 distinguished, about twelve years ago, 0 for his activity in the work of open-air 0 preaching and discussion in the neigh0 bourhood of London, where many trace their acceptance of these precious truths 0 to his warm-hearted efforts. During his 0 residence in Liverpool he has also 0 10 Mr. G. Randall, Snodland,. 0 5 laboured assiduously for the propagation a leading article published on the subject of the same principles, chiefly by contributions and advertisements in the public press, and by a free distribution of tracts. In his capacity as manager of the Oriental Baths, he won a large measure of public respect, many signal proofs of which have been received by his family since his decease. Not a few of the poor and afflicted will also mourn his removal as the loss of a most benevolent, although entirely unostentatious, friend. in the columns of the most influential newspaper in Derby:-"Those who knew him most intimately esteemed him most highly. His personal character was unblemished, and he consecrated himself to public uses with a self-sacrificing devotion not often to be seen. In the attritions of public life, it is obviously impossible for any one to succeed in pleasing men of all parties, or to avoid occasionally offending and irritating opponents. So to succeed. surpasses the ability of the wisest, or the urbanity of the best. Such a consummation is only to be purchased at the sacrifice of all principle and conviction; only to be realized by consenting to dilute and wash out all the prominent characteristics of one's nature. Our deceased friend could not if he would, and would not if he could, have done this. Yet none knew better than he how to limit the feelings of antagonism to the matters immediately at issue, and how to refrain from carrying into private life the opposition which he felt it his duty to render to public proposals in the discharge of public business. Actively engaged as he was for many years in parliamentary and municipal politics, strongly interested in every subject which he took up, intensely in earnest, and emphatic in style, he has given and taken as many polemical beatings as any man. Yet, if all could not always agree with him in opinion, all could respect the energy, honesty, and simplicity of a thorough worker. He was a man whose place it will be hard to fill. On April 19th, 1872, in his 68th year, after a brief though severe attack of inflammation of the pleura, Thomas Madeley of Derby passed from the natural into the spiritual world. His departure leaves a gap in the local community which will not easily be filled, and his loss is felt by the Derby society to be irreparable. His long connection with the church had rendered him very extensively known to its members, and he was one of the pillars of the society with which he worshipped. Few, if any, ever exceeded him in love for the doctrines, or in zeal for their dissemination. The son of a minister, the brother of a minister, the uncle of a leader, his dearest associations and strongest attach ments united him with the church. He was a many-sided man, and had played a prominent part for many years in the local history of the borough of Derby. He had been a member of the Town Council since 1841; in 1853 he was elected Mayor, and Alderman in 1856. As a mark of the high esteem in which he had been held, his fellow-townsmen presented him, October 18th, 1853, with "In these columns we can only deal a handsome address, accompanied with a with the public character of those over complete table service of plate. The local whose names we have to write In Memonewspapers, in recording his decease, bear riam.' Yet something of the personal unanimous testimony to the worth of his and private character of every man enters private character, his remarkable intel- into his public life. By early training lectual endowments, the influence which he and long settled conviction, Mr. Madeley exerted in municipal affairs as a leader of was a Swedenborgian, of which section the Council, chairman of the Sewerage and of Christians his father had been a minisConstruction Committee, and intimately ter. One of the tenets of this body he connected, as a member of the Board of conscientiously strove to fulfil-that 'all Health, of the Free Library Committee, religion has relation, to life, and the life and as one of the trustees of the Liversage of religion is to do good; and that a man Charity, &c., &c., with every important can only advance in the religious life as public enterprise in the town. He he labours to be useful to all others." specially interested himself in the sanitary and social condition of the people. No movement for promoting the welfare of the inhabitants failed to secure his heartiest sympathy and untiring exertions. The maxim of his life was to be useful, his conduct ever strove to realize it. We may in conclusion fitly quote from His family and intimate associations will mourn their loss; the Town Council and the citizens of Derby will long feel his absence; hundreds whom he has privately assisted will deeply regret their departed friend; and it will be the earnest wish of every one who knew him that he may rest in peace!"-Derbyshire Advertiser. Another woman's life has been crowned with the sacred sufferings of maternity. She has gazed into the face of her "mother's miracle." The solemn mystery of motherhood has been solved by her; and her hopes and fears subside in the possession of the living reality which she clasps to her bosom. Existence feels richer and wider with her because of this new bond to life, clinging so gently to the neck upon which it rests. It comes to excite in her a whole world of new emotions; to teach her unselfish devotion; to warm her heart with a never-failing affection; to stimulate her exertions with an ever-ardent motive. She can no longer feel alone in the world. Her musings and day-dreams will henceforth include another than herself. Her aspirations and ambitions will henceforth circle about her babe. Cares for its preservation, anxieties about its growth and development, its education and prosperity, will crowd her mind with many new thoughts, her life with many new duties. The hope that her child may prove to be the staff of her declining days will fill her heart with many pleasures. The tender offices of maternity will form an ever-recurring delight. Her marriage will seem sanctioned and sanctified, because the great Giver of life has enriched her household with a new treasure; has caused her married love to blossom and bear fruit. She, the handmaiden of the Lord, is the mother of an immortal soul! What shall we say of the child? Among the many things that might be said, four may now suitably Ꮓ |