In this matter he became much aided by the personal presence and exertions of others of our brethren who had been longer in the Church than himself, but who had hitherto confined their efforts to disseminate the doctrines chiefly to private channels. Reading-rooms now became opened in various parts of London, and as it will be readily supposed, these were not always of the most inviting character. The more respectable places which we should have gladly obtained, were inaccessible, either from their price or from a belief on the part of their proprietors that to exclude us was "doing God service," and therefore gentlemen whose tastes and habits would have kept them out of low coffee-shops and dirty lecture-rooms, which had been the arena for politicians and demagogues of the lowest class, submitted to take up their cross and follow the leadings of Divine Providence into some of these places, week after week, and month after month, in the humble hope of bringing the glad tidings of the New Dispensation home to the understandings and hearts of those who could only be reached by these means.

Their labour was not in vain in the Lord. Many by these means have been brought to some knowledge of the truth, and several to a full reception of our doctrines. Nor has the effort been without its use to those who have been instrumental in making it. To say nothing of the high moral good resulting to their own hearts in preferring their neighbour's everlasting happiness to their own ease and enjoyment, they have necessarily improved intellectually in their ability to explain and defend the truth, and thus a new kind of preachers has arisen up amongst us in London, which is, we believe, destined to do for the metropolis an equal amount of good to that effected in the neighbourhood of Manchester by the preachers of their missionary institution.

Amongst the localities selected for holding these "Swedenborg reading meetings," was Islington. In this parish, which is inhabited by a hundred thousand souls, there have been receivers of the heavenly doctrines for about eighty years. Here Dr. Messiter, and the Holders, and the Hodsons, and Servantes of bygone times resided; and here now live many of the members of the Argyle-square and Cross-street Societies. The moral condition of the inhabitants of Islington in Swedenborg's time, was spoken favour

ably of by the great seer in his "Diarium," and its religious state has been again and again referred to with satisfaction by the Evangelical party in the Church of England down to the present day.

Not

So important a district was not likely to be overlooked by our Missionary Society, and efforts were made several years ago to procure a room in which lectures might be delivered, but in vain. being able to obtain the places we should have liked, it was suggested that a very shabby upper room, over a carpenter's shop, in the main street of Islington, which was let out to any body who would pay for it, for any purpose whatever, could be obtained by us. The appearance of the place was utterly disreputable, and its character of the lowest kind; but here in this humble spot it has pleased the Lord that an altar should be raised, and a fire kindled, which we trust will continue to burn in Islington until thousands have been warmed by its warmth and enlightened by its light.

It was not contemplated at first that more than six Sunday evening lectures should be delivered, and that then, as far as we were concerned, the place should be closed.* But some interest was excited by the lectures, and regret having been expressed towards their close, that the beginning thus made should so soon come to an end, a meeting was convened at the house of one of our friends, of those gentlemen who were likely to aid us in sustaining the pulpit services, and arrangements were made to take the place and keep it open for a quarter of a year.

Before this period had expired, it was ascertained that we could have the room for the whole of Sunday, and it was therefore determined to commence a Sabbathschool. This was done on the following Sunday afternoon, 2nd June, 1850, when we began with three scholars and as many teachers, Mr. Edward Madeley having kindly undertaken to direct us how we should proceed in our task.

These lectures were delivered by the Rev. T. Chalklen, and were as follows:-First lecture, Sunday, February 17th, 1850-"The Lord God Second lecture, perfect in all his Attributes." Sunday, February 24th-"The Lord Jesus Christ the only God." Third lecture, Sunday, March 3rd-Salvation, the great theme of Revelation." of God the perfect expression of Divine Wisdom." Fourth lecture, Sunday, March 10th-"The Word Fifth lecture, Sunday, March 17th-"Obedience to the Divine Commandments enforced and provided for by the Gospel." Sixth lecture, Sunday, March 24th "The Love of God and the Neighbour producing good works, the only sure indication of true Religion."

From this time it became pretty evident that we were likely to obtain a permanent footing in Islington. Our Sunday school gradually increased in numbers and efficiency; our Sunday evening services were regularly continned and regularly attended by some of our neighbours who had not been previously in the New Church; and a meeting was established by Mr. Gardiner, for reading the writings of Swedenborg, on the Friday evenings. This, at first, only numbered about five persons on the average of many weeks; but the meeting having been removed to the same room in which the Sunday services are held, the interest has so much increased that there have been since that time not unfrequently seventy or eighty persons present at them; and whilst at the beginning they met with much opposition during the reading, now noise and clamour have given way to gentleness and order.

On January 12th, 1851, the Rev. Thos. Chalklen commenced a second course of six lectures on the Doctrines of the Church, which were well attended; and since that period we have enjoyed the advantages of his services on very many occasions. Whilst this course was going on, inquiries were made respecting a piece of ground in Devonshire street, Islington, on which to build at a future period. Certain preliminary agreements were entered upon immediately, but the property was held in such a manner by the party who was its conditional purchaser, that the gentlemen from whom he had obtained it needed to be consulted as to the purchase, as well as himself. The difficulties we have had to contend with, arising from this source, were considerably greater than we had anticipated, and the delays consequent upon them so numerous, that it is only quite recently we have obtained possession of the ground.

As these delays were occasioned by circumstances which were beyond our own control, they have doubtless had their use. They did not deter us from continuing our Sunday school and worship, notwithstanding the sickness of hope deferred; indeed, whilst these matters have been pending, we have added a morning service to our evening one. Our first morning service took place on the 10th August, 1851, when the Rev. J. H. Smithson, of Manchester, kindly delivered an admirable discourse from Matt. viii., 22, 23. Mr. Smithson was followed by

the Rev. T. O. Prescott, the Rev. Woodville Woodman, and the Rev. Robert Abbott, during the month of August last, when they were in town; and both then and since they left we have had the Rev. Thomas Chalklen officiating for us on numerous occasions; indeed, at some periods, with the regularity of a settled pastor. We have also been much indebted to the laymen of the New Church for conducting the services at our room, Messrs. Bennett, Grainger, Gunton, Mc.Nab, Madeley, Maunder, Rich, and Whyte having, at various times, and some of them frequently, favoured us with excellent discourses illustrative of the heavenly doctrines, and explanatory of the Divine Word. Some of these gentlemen had previously preached in other places, but others have made their maiden attempts with us, and thus our humble efforts at Islington have already been useful in introducing some to the ministry of the New Church.

Our Sunday School has been regularly kept up, and several of our earlier scholars are still with us. On Sunday, June 13th, we had our annual sermons in its behalf, when the sum of £5. 8s. 6d. was collected, the Rev. Thomas Chalklen having preached in the morning, and Mr. Maunder in the evening.

By way of completing this sketch of the New Church at Islington, we may mention that independently of our own efforts in connection with the Missionroom, two lectures were delivered by the Rev. J. Bayley, in a much more commodious and eligible place at Islington, last August, to very excellent congregations. This place is occupied on the Sabbath by the Methodists, and is both too large for our ordinary numbers, and too expensive for our ordinary means, or that even of our Missionary Society itself, although a most suitable room for occasional lectures.

It is now less than two years and a half since we commenced in Islington, and by the help of the Lord, acting through the disinterested zeal and kindness of our friends, we have already secured a small but steady congregation, a good readingmeeting, a small but attached Sunday school, a few excellent teachers, an incipient Sunday school library, and a body of friends, both amongst our clergy and our laity, who have assisted us by their services, and who are prepared to assist us again when they have opportunity. We have also purchased a piece of freehold ground, in an eligible situa

tion, at a cost of between £500. and £600., on which to build immediately a School-room and Mission-room, each capable of holding 100 persons, with living apartments above the latter; and on which, at some future period, we hope to see a chapel, with a house on each side, and school-rooms beneath; in fact, a New Church College; and we are out of debt, and have some money in hand. Need we say, "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes"? But to accomplish what has been done, as means in His hands, has necessarily required considerable exertion, and prudence forbids us to attempt more at present than the School and Missionrooms. In effecting thus much, we have especially to acknowledge the liberality of our friends, Roger Crompton, Esq., of Kersley, and the Rev. Augustus Clissold, who, unasked, have generously presented us, the former with £300., and the latter with £100., towards our present building. We have also to acknowledge, with gratitude, the kindness of other friends, who, unsolicited, have generously proffered their aid towards our undertaking, and we now venture to appeal for further assistance in this work, from those to whom the Lord has confided the means of helping us. Subscriptions will be thankfully received and acknowledged by Henry Bateman, 6, Islington Green, London, and we hope to be able to report considerable progress in the building itself in the next number of the Repository.

MEETING OF THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE NEW CHURCH AT OLDHAM.

The time having elapsed for which the committee of the Missionary Institution had engaged the Town-field school-room, Greenacres Moor, for the purpose of regular worship on the Sabbath, it was thought desirable to take some steps by which the receivers of the doctrines in that town might be organized into a regular society, the services there having been conducted every Sabbath evening by our missionaries and leaders, and the attendance having ranged from 30 to 40, and on some occasions to upwards of 70 persons. For this purpose an afternoon service was extensively advertised for the 21st March, and arrangements made for holding a tea-party afterwards, on which day a discourse was preached by our zealous friend, Mr. George Parry, the leader of

the Ashton Society, the subject of which was, "Religion the bond of union between God and man," taking as the basis of his discourse the 21st verse of the 8th chapter of Genesis:-" And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth: neither will I again smite any more every living thing as I have done." Our friend entered into arguments which could not fail to excite those strangers who were present to think, and to think seriously about religion, what it really is, and for what purpose it exists, and what it ought to effect if it be worthy the name. Those present were also doubtless much gratified by the singing of our friends from Failsworth, under the able direetion of Mr. Edge.

Upwards of 250 persons afterwards took tea, amongst whom were recognized numerous friends from Failsworth, Middleton, Ashton, with a few from Heywood and Salford; about one hundred tickets were stated to have been disposed of in Oldham.

The chair was afterwards taken by our friend Mr. D. Taylor, of the Salford Society, who introduced to the notice of those of the Oldham receivers present, the necessity for some arrangements being made without loss of time for conducting their worship. After some little discussion, the names of several present who signified their desire to form a committee to make suitable arrangements were taken.

This business being thus disposed of, the meeting was addressed by the chairman, who introduced to the especial notice of the meeting the "Doctrine of the Sacred Scripture, or the True Nature of God's Word," as forming a very distinctive mark of New Church theology, and pointed out that not only was its literal sense accepted by the New Church in common with other professing Christians, but that we firmly believed it had within it a higher meaning-a spiritual sense, which our Saviour alluded to in the passage-"It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

Several speakers addressed the meeting, and the whole proceedings were carried on in an admirable spirit, and will doubtless conduce to a favourable reception of the truth by all whose minds may be in a state open to its reception.