to work in these towns at so early an age, that there was but little probability of keeping them in a Free Day School for a sufficient length of time, to make a lasting impression on their minds, on theological subjects. In attempting to form a Committee to consider the means necessary for carrying the wishes of our friends into effect, an untoward circumstance arose, the particulars of which it is unnecessary to repeat, which set the matter at rest for some months. The Salford friends did not lose sight of the Institution, it was again brought under the notice of the two societies, and among a variety of reasons adduced for commencing so important a work, Mr. W. Lockett said he had been recently in town, and was happy to find the finances of the Free Day School there, did not require much aid from the Chester Legacy; and be added, that many gentlemen whom he knew, were disposed to support an Institution of this kind more freely than they would support any other. This information induced those who had spoken in favour of postponement, to vote at once without delay in favour of the establishment of the Manchester and Salford Free Day School. 1 ought to add too, that the Trustees of the Salford Temple, offered the gratuitous use of their School-room; the School in Peter Street was at that time occupied, at a rental of 251. per annum. A Teacher for the School was privately engaged, no announcement being made of the want of a teacher. The School was in a short time too small for the number which sought admission: the boys made great progress, the supporters of the Institution spoke in the highest terms of its utility, its uses were often the theme of warm panegyric, so that it became matter of regret that the School was not larger. The announcement in your number for Dec. p. 369, of the offer made by the Trustees in Peter Street, of their extensive and commodious Schools has excited warm feelings of gratitude, the extended means thus afforded of instructing a much greater number has been hailed as a most important measure, and when carried duly into effect must be productive of lasting benefit. Peter Street Church is situated amidst a much more dense population than the Temple in Salford. By holding the School in Peter Street, one master only will be requisite, and though he teach no more than are taught by one master in London, he can have both sexes in spacious rooms apart from each other, with separate yards, &c. to each. D. SUNDAY SCHOOLS. SALFORD, MANCHESTER. The Annual recital of tasks, by the children of the Sunday school belonging to this society, took place in the evening of December 30th. To the philanthropic mind few scenes can present a more delightful aspect than the view of the children of the poor, rescued by christian benevolence from ignorance and degradation; cleanly in their persons and neatly attired, reciting pieces calculated 66 -to rear the tender thought, To breathe the enlivening spirit, and to fix The generous purpose in the glowing breast." The appearance of the children was never more engaging on any former occasion, the ornamental devices were fewer, and those who spoke were generally of very tender years;-the subjects recited were of great interest and the manner of delivery was at once easy, natural and artless. He who could behold such a scene without feeling the kindliest emotions rise in his bosom, might justly suspect that he belonged to "the lower orders" of our species, and that he had a heart of stone indeed. Original hymns of considerable merit, suited to the occasion, were sung in the most delightful strain. The attendance was respectable, but not so great as on former occasions, but the generosity of those present was evinced by a most liberal collectiou. Great praise is due to the gentlemen who teach • Further particulars may be found in the Minutes of Conference for 1827. the children and conduct the general affairs of this school: they have under their care as many children as they can conveniently receive for room. The prudent zeal shewn in the management of this school, will, it may be confidently hoped, soon enable the conductors to raise the means to establish other schools in the populous township of Salford: there can be no doubt but this society would find means to instruct 1,000 children, if teachers could be found to instruct them. In justice to their zeal, it ought to be stated, that many members reside at too great a distance from the township to be able to attend to the laborious duties consequent on the well conducting of a Sunday school; and some of them have been missionary leaders for many years past. WEST HOUGHTON, LANCASHIRE. L. M. Our Sunday school and Meeting are held in one room, but as we have not the benefit of Public Worship every Sunday, but on every other Sunday only, the inconvenience is not so great as it otherwise would be. We hope much from our school,- we trust many recipients will enter into the church through its instrumentality. We suffer much for want of proper school books, cannot some means be devised by the liberal and active members of the church, in aid of poor country schools? Plans of the best mode of managing a school would be of great use to us who never were intimately acquainted with so important a work; and books most suited for poor children with forms of prayer in accordance with New, Church views, would do much for us. To the Manchester Missionary Institution, the Manchester Printing Society, and the New Church in Peter Street, Manchester, we are much indebted for the advantages we now enjoy, and as we are all extremely poor, we hope we shall be excused for soliciting the means to make known the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem, as far as our very feeble ability will permit. Your notices of Sunday Schools have induced us to make our case known, through the medium of your excellent Magazine, to which we most cordially wish success. W. RADCLIFFE, LANCASHIRE. The New Jerusalem Sunday School at this place was erected in 1814, and will hold conveniently more than 300 children. Upwards of 250 are now taught to read, and occasionally 50 are taught to write. The teaching is done by those who enjoy the luxury of performing useful services gratuitously; among these harmony prevails; the love of use for its own sake appears to actuate all. In the evenings of Monday and Saturday, adults as well as children are taught to write, and have books &c. provided for them. Your useful Magazine we trust will continue to countenance and support these valuable institutions, and we confidently hope that A SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION Will soon be established for the purpose of providing suitable books at a lower rate than single societies can, and thus facilitating the great object we all have in view. Every one admits the difficulty which exists in making the new doctrines duly known to adults: it is therefore our duty to prepare the infant mind for the seed of heavenly truth, before hereditary prejudices have imprisoned it. To this noble object we hope the members of the New Church throughout the kingdom will unceasingly direct their attention; bearing in mind this heavenly truth, that the kingdom of heaven is a kingdom of uses. J. T. MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY. THEOLOGICAL MEETING FOR ENQUIRY, Held in the New Jerusalem Temple, Waterloo Road, on every Wednesday Evening at 7 o'Clock,' SUBJECTS FOR CONSIDERATION IN FEBRUARY. Feb. 6. What is the Scripture doctrine of the Godhead ? Feb. 13. 20. Feb. How is the doctrine of a Divine Trinity to be understood? Whom do the Scriptures declare to be the God of heaven and earth? 27. What are we to understand by the Serpent, which, by his subtil reasonings, effected the Fall of Man? VISITING COMMITTEE, Connected with the New Church Society, Waterloo Road. 12. At the house of Mr. Wardle, No. 30, Queen Street, New Cut. To assemble to tea at half past 5 o'clock. Subject.-EZEKIEL XXXVI. 37. VARIETIES. HISTORICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND LITERARY. A very curious and ingenious lock solely manufactured by a Mr. J. Moseley, of Douglas Street, Vincent Square, Westminster; of which the above engraving is a true representation, is an excellent little safeguard well adapted for cash-boxes, desks, or for the keeping secure and unseen any private papers, manu. scripts, or other documents. This lock cannot be picked, for it has neither key nor key-hole. When the lock is shut it has not the least aperture in any part: it is made of brass with a steel shacle; and when locked none except the person who locked it (or he to whom he tells the secret) can possibly open it, without breaking it to pieces, which would require very considerable force. The construction of this lock is so simple, that it can never get out of repair; and there are from fifty thousand to upwards of three hundred million changes, or ways of locking and unlocking it, which renders it impossible for any to open it but the person who locked it. The above engraving is a represen+ tation of a lock containing four rings, each ring contains all the letters of the alphabet; so that if you wish to make your desk secure under the name JOHN, you must, when the lock is unlocked, serew off the end that admits the steel shakel: the columns, with the rings containing the letters, will then take off. Under each letter is a small nick, and on cach roller a pin-place the letter_you wish upon the small pin. Thus JOHN being the word chosen for the key, must be placed in a straight line with the two notches, thus: ; JOHN (see print;) when it is so locked turn the rings round in a careless manner, so as to alter the position of the rings, and thereby to separate the word JOHN: this done the lock can never be opened, until, by turning the rings the word JOHN come in a line with the two marks, thus: (-) as above described the right side then slides out and admits the steel shakle to rise. This lock can be made to open at any word of four letters; which will show what an immense number of changes may be made in locking it. It may be locked at SAFE, GOOD, MANY, LOST, JACK &c. or with any word you please of four letters. The person locking must be careful to remember the word which forms his key, for if he should forget it, the lock cannot be opened except by breaking it to pieces. We have also one before us, that contains six rings, the key of which we have made to consist of the word-LONDONprecisely the same rule is to be observed with this as with the one already described. The locks are handsomely made of brass and are, we believe, from 2s, to 16s. each. INSANITY. on the travels of Messrs. Ehrenberg Insanity, idiotism from birth ex- and Hemprich, in Egypt, Dongola, cepted, is the most frequent between Syria, Arabia, and the eastern parts 30 and 40 years of age, less between of Abyssinia, during the years from 20 and 30; still less between 40 and 1820 to 1825; the other by M. Kupf50; less again between 50 and 60; fer on crystallisation. in a smaller number between 10 and LITERARY CURIOSITY. 20; and very rare after 60. Very Among the school books of the young and very old people are hard- Chinese, there is one which contains ly known to become insane, proper- exactly one thousand characters. It ly speaking. Thus the manifesta- is a metrical composition, with eight tions of the mind are the most liable characters (or words) to each stanza. to derangements when they are the But the most remarkable circummost energetic, and this is the case stance is, that the same character is when the cerebral organization is not repeated from the beginning to the most active. From this it follows the end of the book; so that the that, as the Soul or Mind of man learner who understands these few cannot suffer, or be impaired, by age, pages well, knows one thousand disInsanity, which depends on age, is tinct words, which is one fourth part the result of corporeal causes. Dr. of what is necessary for ordinary Spurzheim on Insanity. purposes. Query, in what other language shall we find one hundred Two treatises have recently been and twenty-five stanzas without a published; the one by M. Humboldt, single repetition of the same word? GERMAN LITERATURE. POETRY. HYMN. THOU Mighty Prince of Peace! What can we ask for more, Than from thy presence flow? Celestial Clouds most bright, To fill our souls with sweet delight, Bright truths are freely giv'n' To tune our tongues to praise; While love divine-the life of heav'n- From state to state we press, We journey through the wilderness, While fed with angels' food. -X. THE NEW JERUSALEM MAGAZINE, AND Theological Inspector. MARCH, 1828. ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIPTURE. Taken from the American New Jerusalem Magazine. JOHN xi. 21-26. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died; but I know that, even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give thee. Jesus saith unto her, thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: The that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. THE ways of providence are dark and mysterious, because we cannot look into futurity and see what is to come; and therefore we cannot see the necessity and use of present dispensations. And the reason why we are not permitted to see into futurity, is because we are not made to be idle spectators of divine provi'dence, but to be the subjects of it. The end of providence is to reform and regenerate men-to make them true and good. This is the principal, ruling end; all other things are means, subordinate and subservient. Since we are the subjects of divine providence, and the changes are to be made in us, we are naturally incapable of standing aloof and viewing them with indifference, or as topics of curious speculation. And since the end of divine providence requires that we ourselves should be changed, we cannot distinctly perceive the design and use of present dispensations until the change is effected, until our evil loves are loosened and removed, and new affections are implanted; so that we can see them from that state of mind which they were designed to produce in us. |