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been endorsed amongst men of the highest standing, whose memory is justly held in great esteem. Luther, Melancthon, and their coadjutors, certainly did so (Bossuet's "Variations," i. 231 et seq).

"EVENING AND MORNING."-The Tatler of September 29th has a notice of this work, from which we make the following extract:-"Most readers cherish an antipathy towards a novel with a moral purpose, and perhaps the feeling is not altogether unnatural. But this book is not written for the sake of the story. Although we are not in accord with all the religious theories broached by the author, we must do him the justice to say that we have rarely read any treatise, however learned, that was more effective in dealing with the shallow scepticism of the day. The narrative is put into the mouth of one who has passed through the various phases of religious doubt, and who, from being a sceptic, has at length discovered the solid basis of eternal truths as regards Nature and God and the revelation of the Divine in man. The hero of the story is one George Gordon, who despises all creeds and rejects the Creator. He is a manly, straightforward sceptic, whose career and mind resemble those of Arthur Hallam, as depicted for us by Mr. Tennyson. Like young Hallam, he passes through the throes of scepticism, but like him also, he faces the sceptics of the mind, and comes at length 'to find a stronger faith his own.' It is impossible for us to extract a tithe of the noteworthy things which are to be met with in the course of this volume; but a brief reference may be made to certain points. Many persons are puzzled by the description which is often given of the Creator as an angry and wrathful Being. The author reminds such that God appears to every people, not as He is in Himself that is impossible-but as that people is. The more elevated our conceptions, the more glorious is the aspect under which we see the Divine Being. The more low and degraded our conceptions, the more gross is our notion of the Deity. In fact, among the most brutal races God is only a powerful brute, pleased with human sacrifices, and pacified by the cries of tortured children.'

"Again: "That which is inferior can

never originate that which is superior; in other words, an effect is never greater than its cause. Matter can therefore never produce anything superior to itself. Life, affection, and intelligence, are superior. Life is superior to matter, because it moulds, shapes, and qualifies it.' The whole of this work is marked by a deep and subtle suggestiveness. We can conceive that it would become a powerful agent for the dissipation of doubt in the mind of any person who should thoroughly grasp its impregnable positions.'

Bradlaugh's organ, The National Reformer, of October 7th has the following notice of this book: "Controversial romances are seldom pleasant reading, but 'The Evening and the Morning,' while directed against the views maintained in these columns, is an exception to the rule. The victory is given with considerable ability to a sort of goodhearted Swedenborgian Christian, and the book, which is very neatly printed, is above the usual level of novels written for propagandist purposes."

FRANCE. In the midst of the political troubles which the noble French nation is undergoing from the efforts of "the Clericals" and other disturbers of the Republic, it is satisfactory to know that the Lord is graciously preserving the rudiments of His New Church.

The meetings for worship and instruction at the house of Dr. Poirson, are still kept up on the Sabbath afternoons. The "two or three gathered together" are now increased by the addition of some of our friends from America. The Rev. W. H. Benade, Mr. Pitcairn, and the ladies by whom they were accompanied in England are now in Paris. The gentlemen intend to leave soon for Egypt, but the ladies will (D.V.) remain with Mademoiselle Chenimat, "an admirable teacher," who "is deeply interested in the New Church, and of an amiable disposition." Here our fair friends have found in a foreign land a good home, where they can be left with satisfaction. Left in the society of fellow-citizens of the New Jerusalem, surrounded by Parisian culture, and having the most beautiful objects of ancient and modern art easily accessible. Mr Benade writes most satisfactorily of Dr. Poirson, the present minister of the little Society. He says, "the Doctor is a very earnest

New Churchman and a delightful person. We enjoy his lectures and his conversation greatly. He has requested me to baptize himself and family before I leave for Egypt, and to administer the Holy Supper. This may become the beginning of a more orderly form of the New Church in this country."

I trust it will be so; and I feel assured that it is the duty of all earnest New Churchmen of every nationality who may visit the French metropolis to rally round the little flock and its selfdenying pastor. Let every Sunday at 3 p.m. find them at Dr. Poirson's, 18, Rue des Grands, Augustins.

H. BATEMAN.

NEW CHURCH BIBLE SOCIETY.-I have recently received a communication from the Rev. W. H. Benade in reference to the work of translating the holy Scriptures, which it will be my duty to lay before the few remaining members of the New Church Bible Society at their next meeting. It is not for me to prejudge the decision which will be arrived at, or the reply I may be directed to give to our esteemed friend in this matter; but I think it well that the suggestions made and the questions put by him should be submitted to a larger New Church audience, if I may so express myself, through the medium of the Conference Magazine, than we can otherwise obtain.

The entire letter appears to me worthy of being presented to the thoughtful consideration of all our brethren, and any remarks upon it which I may receive before the 12th December shall also be laid before the meeting to be summoned for that day.

HENRY BATEMAN. "Paris, Nov. 5th, 1877. "H. Bateman, Secretary of the

New Church Bible Society. "My dear Sir,-As you are aware, I was instructed by the General Convention of the New Church in America to confer with the New Church Bible Society in England on the subject of a new translation of the sacred Scriptures. In the Committee of the General Convention to which this subject was committed, and of which I have the honour to be the chairman, it was agreed that, for the present, it would not be advisable to proceed to the work

of translating the Scriptures, but that we had better confine ourselves to certain preliminary labours, in respect to the usefulness of which there could be no difference of opinion. I have already informed you that our Committee is not unanimous on the fundamental question of a literal or non-literal rendering of the original text. Some of the members insist upon the necessity of a literal translation, whilst others favour a paraphrastic version. We are, however, agreed on this point, that Swedenborg's Latin translation of the Scriptures is an all-important element in the prosecution of the work committed to us, and that the transcription of this translation, and its publication in a form generally accessible, will be of the greatest value to the Church. It is proposed, therefore, to make such a transcription of Swedenborg's renderings of the original text, with all the variations of the same found in his writings, and to accompany this with a vocabulary containing the various translations of each particular Hebrew word. In view of these propositions, and in the discharge of my instructions, I would respectfully request you to submit to the Bible Society, of which you are the Secretary, the following questions:

"1. Is the New Church Bible Society willing and prepared to unite with the Committee of the General Convention above named in the preliminary work before indicated?

"2. Will the Bible Society undertake to enlist in this work the co-operation of New Church scholars in England?

"3. Will the Bible Society assist in providing the necessary funds for the publication of a transcription of Swedenborg's Latin rendering of the Scriptures, with the accompanying vocabulary?

"Very truly and respectfully yours,

"W. H. BENADE."

BATH.-The Society in this city held its 47th Anniversary on Wednesday evening, October 24th. One hundred and fifty people partook of a well-provided tea in the library of the church, and that number was increased after tea to about 200. The chair at the public meeting was taken by the Rev. Thomas Child, who gave a summary of the proceedings of last Conference, and called attention to the large increase of books in the Society's library made by Mr.

Bush and other friends. The evening makes not the slightest allusion. He was spent in a very interesting way, fails, indeed, utterly to grasp the purpose many pieces of music being excellently of the author's teaching, and has not rendered by the choir, one or two friends -Mr. Pitman, Mr. Chivers, and Mr. Young-offering observations betweenwhiles. Altogether, as the result of this anniversary, we have to report considerable progress. The gathering was the largest we have yet had, and the spirit of it was cheerful and satisfied.

In regard to the general affairs of the Society, it is enough to say that they are still moving on as of late—indeed, in regard to matters of the treasury, showing considerable advance. The congregations are good, the evening the larger but more variable; and the interest manifested steady and continuous. A theological class has again been opened for the winter months, and promises very fairly. The class-book is The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrines.

even discovered that the work from which he quotes is divided into two parts, the latter of which (whence are all his extracts) being the opposite of the former. Into the particulars of this part of his letter we need not to enter. They have been explained by New Church writers again and again. A letter from the Auxiliary Missionary Society, from which we give an extract on another page, deals briefly but sufficiently with the subject.

LONDON (Argyle Square).-The Sunday evening services at this church from October to Christmas are devoted to a course of lectures on the history and characteristics of the principal nations mentioned in the Word as at any time holding intimate relationship with the Jews. "The subject," says the Argyle Square Manual, "should OXFORD.-The lectures in this city prove both interesting and instructive. by Mr. Gunton, reported in our August Since Israel throughout the Scriptures number, seem to have excited the re- typifies the true Church of the Lord, newed opposition of a Mr. Walsh, who alike in its general and in its individual has written a long letter on the "Teach- aspects, the various peoples whose interings of Emanuel Swedenborg," which course affected Israel, whether beneis published in the Oxford Times of ficially or the reverse, must symbolize November 3rd. The object of this the different spiritual agencies, whether gentleman's tirade against the teaching good or evil, which continually operate of Swedenborg seems to be to prove that to help or retard the regenerating soul. he was 66 an unholy teacher." "I do not Consequently, an endeavour to undersay, he continues, "that he was unholy stand the peculiarities of such nations in his actions; his teaching was unholy." and the quality of their influence upon In proof of this assertion he instances the representative Jewish race has a the doctrines of the Trinity, the atone- far deeper scope than any merely antiment, the Canon of Scripture and justi- quarian or historical investigation. fication by faith, in the exposition of Possessing a full measure of the interest which Swedenborg differs from Mr. Walsh, attending such merely natural inquiries, and is therefore pronounced "an unholy it should also result in much valuable teacher." Mr. Walsh says, "the ortho- spiritual information, capable of the dox doctrine," but it would be exceed- highest practical usefulness in the coningly difficult in the present fluent duct and progress of every religious life." state of theological opinion and teaching to state what is orthodox doctrine. Of ITALIAN MISSION.-The last page of this we are certain, that Mr. Walsh's the October number of the La Nuova opinion, which seems to be of the narrowest school, would find acceptance with few of the ablest teachers in the popular Christian communities.

دو

Epoca is an address asking the editors of this periodical to explain the meaning of the notices of this Mission in their September number, and the reason for But Mr. Walsh's chief reliance for omitting to mention it in the notice of the support of his charge is "sundered the printed report of the Committee on extracts," not, as he says, from the "Con- Colonial and Foreign Missions inserted jugial Love," but the Scertatory in the Appendix to the Minutes of ConLove." From "Swedenborg's Conjugial ference, and copied into the MiscellaneLove" he has not made a single extract, ous department of the October number and to his teaching on this subject he of the Intellectual Repository. Of the

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latter notice we need only say that the portion of the Report to the Conference, printed to the Appendix to the Minutes, contains no special mention of the Italian Mission, and none, therefore, could be inserted from the Minutes in the Magazine. The following paragraph, inserted, with the omission of the first sentence, in the La Nuova Epoca, expresses, we believe, the almost, if not the entirely, unanimous feeling and sentiment of the General Conference :"The operations of the Foreign and Colonial Missions Committee were also debated at length, and it was evident to most of the members that past experience had not removed all the difficulties foreseen when the Conference first extended its undertakings in this direction. To assist our foreign friends in their efforts to make known the doctrines of the Church is unquestionably a duty, and one not likely to be overlooked; but it is not yet quite clear that such assistance can be better carried out by the Conference than by an independent institution. We cannot, however, shirk the responsibility already accepted; and we do not doubt that the course taken by Conference in treating the question of the Italian Mission will commend itself to the Church. Conference did not and would not assume the functions of a judge between contending parties; and, sympathizing to some extent with the position of all concerned, it decided to carry on the work of the Mission for another year under different management, without, however, even by implication, finding fault with the conduct of the previous managers."

The appointment of a Committee of three, to inquire into the prospects of the Italian Mission was not intended to express the slightest want of confidence in the General Committee of Conference on Foreign Missions, but simply to relieve it from the increased labour of inquiries which were found to be necessary to give confidence to the members of the Church in this Kingdom.'

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New Hampton, departed this life in June last, aged 79. Mrs. Evans first attended New Church worship in Friar Street, under the pastoral care of the Rev. M. Sibley, and subsequently Argyle Square, until she and her husband left London. She was a true lover of everything that was good, and delighted in New Church company. Heaven and Hell was her especial book, and her favourite Psalm was the 23rd. She bore occasional severe illnesses with complete confidence in the Lord Jesus and resignation to His will, and was most respected and beloved as a pious Christian by those who knew her best.

Passed into the spiritual world, on October 13th, after three years of suffer ing, Jessie, daughter of Mr. Thomas Alexander, aged 18 years. Her end was peace.

On the 16th October last, Sarah, the dearly beloved wife of Thomas Stevenson, Nottingham, entered into her eternal home. From a child she had entertained views of the Divine Nature, of the Redemption, and of Salvation, quite contrary to those in which she was educated, and when New Church doctrines were introduced to her notice in the year 1848, she at once gladly and lovingly embraced and professed them. During a married life of nearly thirty years, her uniform bearing to all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance was that of Christian meekness, and, whilst holding the soundest New Church doctrines as her dearest possession, was never known to dispute with those who differed from her. She anticipated reunion with her departed children, and calmly passed away.

October 17th, Elizabeth, wife of Capt. Thos. Angier, of Brightlingsea, departed this life, at the age of 62. During a long connection with the New Church Society at Brightlingsea, she had endeared herself to the whole of the members by her cheerful disposition and willingness to perform any uses within her power for the good of the Church. On Sunday, October 28th, Mr. Deans improved the event by delivering a discourse to a crowded congregation from the words, "They rest from their labours, and their works do

follow them."

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