tions of the New Church by the various collections in the Crystal Palace. He alluded first to the ethnographical collection, with specific reference to the inhabitants of the Papuan Islands, representing the human race in its lowest state of degradation. These men, he said, until a comparatively recent period, since the establishment of the New Church, had been supposed to represent the condition of man as he came from the hands of his Creator, and out of which the polished Greeks, who produced the statues to which reference had been made, and other cultured nations, had been gradually elaborated by a sort of natural spontaneous civilization. This it was impossible to believe, and a New Churchman especially could only conceive that those models represented the human race after a long series of successive stages of degradation, during which their ancestors had gradually rejected the knowledge of all relations between themselves and a Divine Creator; these and all the existing savage races being the descendants of comparatively civilized nations; and the lesson to be derived by mankind at the present day from such an exhibition was, that if they were to follow the example of their predecessors they would in time arrive at the same horrible condition. Allusions had been made to the various courts of the Crystal Palace, in which examples were furnished of the arts and the idolatrous worship of some of the great nations of antiquity-the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and others. These nations were descended from the second great community of worshipers of the Lord, founded in the world, called the Ancient Churchthe church founded amongst those represented by the descendants of Noah. This church possessed a very extensive and perfect knowledge of the science of correspondences, and must have formed an exalted medium (though not so exalted as the previous Most Ancient Church) between the Lord and the world. It occupied Egypt and the neighbouring countries of Asia, and probably of Eastern Europe, and may have continued for many thousand years. The remains at present exhibited, were nothing better than the indications of the degraded condition into which the various sections of the Ancient Church came, in consequence of the gradual declension of mankind, which happened to them as well as to the preceding church. At the same time, it was in those remains, and in the history of the countries from which they wer brought, that was found the most conclusive evidence on a point in the history of the world, as interesting as it was important to every receiver of the doctrines of the New Church. Of the Most Ancient Church we had no information from history whatever, and it was to the New Church writings alone that we must refer for any knowledge of the history of the first community of worshipers upon the globe. They had no external worship; they had no occasion to erect temples, or buildings, or statues; they had no knowledge, in a scientific form, of correspondences; they would not be led to represent everything contained in the world as the Egyptians were; hence no historical records were left by them. By a series of researches in Egypt, and particularly in Memphis, where the colossal statue of Rameses the Second exists, which was known to have been erected about 1361 years before the Christian era-and from the investigation of the soil produced by the annual inundations of the Nile, which raises the land of Lower Egypt about three inches and a half in a century, it had been ascertained that mankind must have existed much earlier than was ordinarily supposed. Fragments of burnt brick and of pottery resembling some of the rudest examples in the Ceramic Court, had been found, strewed over a considerable space, at a depth in and below the Nilotic sediment, from which it was evident that mankind had lived in Egypt, about 11,500 years before the Christian era, and therefore long anterior to the period usually assigned to the creation of man. (Hear, hear.) In addition to this evidence, and also as "a sign of the times," he might refer to an advertisement in the last number of the Edinburgh Review, announcing the publication of the remaining three volumes of Chevalier Bunsen's celebrated work on the

place occupied by Egypt in the world's history, and intimating that it contained proofs, in the Chevalier's opinion, that in the country bordered by the Caucasus and Mount Ararat, the human race were settled 20,000 years before the Christian era. Of course, if this opinion could be upheld, it would be impossible any longer to maintain the literal sense of the earlier portions of the Bible.* (Applause.)

The Rev. E. MADELEY, of Birmingham, next addressed the meeting. Referring to the specific character of the New Church, he said, that every other dispensation of religion had been established in its highest degree of light and purity, and afterwards descended into darkness, degenerated into evil, and came to its end; whereas the present dispensation was established apparently by feeble means, and in the midst of almost inextricable confusion, but was designed to be an ascending dispensation to improve, elevate, and expand the human character to all eternity. Other dispensations, too, had been confined to certain nations and to particular portions of the world, while the New Church was designed to become a universal dispensation of religion (applause), and hence it included, and of right belonged to, every good man and woman that lived in the wide world. One distinguishing character of this ascend. ing church, was that of light; and the human mind at the present day might, in comparison with the past, be compared to the Palace in which they were assembled, as contrasted with the temples of Christiauity in the dark ages. In the Crystal Palace were represented the descending and perverted states of former dispensations, and the same objects presented to the mind confirmations and expositions of the Word of God in its literal sense, thus tending to confirm that only true basis of all religion and of all civilization and improvement that existed on the globe. The speaker then briefly alluded to the specific signification of Egypt, as representing, in the spiritual sense of the Word, the scientific principle of the mind; of Assyria, as denoting the rational principle; and of Israel as signifying the spiritual or internal principle; and that this spiritual signification of these nations is most amply confirmed and illustrated by the objects around; hence in the New Church was to be fulfilled that glo.

*The allusions to the early history of man in this advertisement of Vols. III., IV., and V. (among "works in preparation,") of the Chevalier (now Baron) Bunsen's Egypt's Place in Universal History, are so remarkable, especially when it is considered that they are held out as inducements to the purchase of the work, that it may be well to cite and preserve them, in this place, verbatim. The chronological and philological portions of the coming volumes are first noticed, when the advertisement proceeds and concludes as follows:

"The most novel and interesting portions of the work, however, will be the detailed analysis of all the ancient theogonies, myths, and traditions, as bearing upon the genealogies in the Book of Genesis. The result of these varied inquiries is, that the history, mythology and language of Egypt are so interwoven with those of all the most ancient nations of the world, and we are so brought into contact with them all, that what was primarily a study of Egyptian history, becomes that of the world at large. As the chronology of the one is extended, the duration of the other is necessarily materially lengthened beyond the ordinary estimate of the received Biblical data. The landmarks by which the antehistoric period is distinguished, though requiring deep study and a vast variety of research, are in Baron Bunsen's opinion clearly demonstrable. Though they cannot be so accurately defined as those of more modern times, he believes they can be approximatively determined so as to establish the existence of the human race in the Highlands of Asia many thousand years before the date usually assigned to the Creation-and that the evidence adduced will shew the great probability of Man having existed in the district bordered by the Caucasus and Mount Ararat, 20,000 years before our era."-ED.

rious prophecy recorded in Isaial (xix. 24, 25): "In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance;" and he concluded by an exhortation to the members of the New Church, that while they are blessed with light in all their dwellings they should walk in the light which it is their privilege to enjoy. Mr. MASSEY, of Accrington, delivered an address, in the course of which he threw out a few practical suggestions to the church and to the world, recommending the former to be more liberal to its ministers, and the latter to become New Church

men.

The proceedings then terminated, and the party returned to London by a special train, at half-past eight o'clock.

The friends were much indebted to Mr. Penn, for the orderly arrangements which he had caused to be made for the accommodation of the party, which were the means of rendering the meeting extremely plea

sant and agreeable.

Miscellanea.

NEW SOCIETY, LONDON.-We

in London, residing on the South or Surrey side of the Thames, finding the distance from the present Societies an obstacle to their regular attendance, have it in con

are informed that several members of the Church

templation to form a

for the occupation of of Kennington Park.

Society in their immediate locality. They are now in treaty

chapel, with school-room attached, in the neighbourhood

We have, also, heard that some receivers, moving in a higher sphere of society, have it in consideration to erect a building in the more fashionable surburbs of the metropolis,-towards the West.

the third month of the Third Session, 1858. To commence at 8 p.m. September 3rd, NEW CHURCH MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.-Lectures to be delivered during On The Future State, by Richard Webb,-10th, On Horatio Nelson, by S. Higgins, -17th, On Capt. Jno. Smith and James Town, by H. Barber,-24th, On Art and the New Church, E. Penn. The Society will meet during September at Cross Street, Hatton Garden.-H. BARBER, Hon. Sec.

PORTRAIT

numerous

OF THE

Society, held on the 15th of June last, it was Resolved, "That, as some recognition of the munificence of our esteemed friend, the Rev. Augustus Clissold, and of the important services he has rendered to this Society, a Subscription be raised, of not more than one guinea from each person,-for the purpose of obtaining his Portrait by an Artist of eminence, to be placed in the Society's fall: that he be respectfully solicited to sit for the same; and that, if practicable, the Committee measure into effect by the next Anniversary.”

REV. A. CLISSOLD.-At the Meeting of the Swedenborg

do carry

the

ALLOA. The following paragraph-interesting and gratifying to the Church—is taken from the Clackmannanshire Advertiser, of July 17:-"The Rev. A. Browning's Church, Tillicoultry.--The above church, in which the late Mr. Browning so ably officiated for upwards of sixteen years, was closed on Sabbath, the 14th current, on which occasion John Fraser, Esq., Johnstone, well known as an able temperance advocate, and formerly editor of the True Scotsman, preached both

forenoon and afternoon. The reasons for closing the meeting, lay partly in the difficulty of getting a regular supply of preachers, but chiefly in the fear of engaging another minister, in consequence of the periodical depressions in the manufacturing interest, with which this district has been visited for some years past, which would render his income very uncertain. In these circumstances they kept the place open only until the termination of the lease. Mr. Drysdale, of Alloa, being applied to, very willingly agreed to supply them with one service each Sabbath; and this he has done, having supplied them with afternoon services for a considerable time previous to the closing of the church at the above date. The managers of the congregation most kindly pressed Mr. Drysdale to accept of some testimonial as a mark of respect for his kindness in acceding to their wishes. But as Mr. D. is, on principle, opposed to presentations of that kind, and especially for such services as he had been humbly endeavouring to render, he could not accept of their kindness in that way. It was ultimately agreed, that the money intended for the above purpose, should be expended in publishing the Funeral Discourse preached by Mr. D. on the occasion of Mr. Browning's death, and that the proceeds arising from its sale should be used for the purpose of circulating such books and pamphlets in Tillicoultry, as may be thought calculated to promote the progress of good and true principles.-Communicated."

-

On the same matters we have received from our Alloa correspondent the following communication: To the Editor.-Sir, Mr. Drysdale has had frequent opportunities of making known the principles of the New Church in Tillicoultry. For the last two months, he has been up every Sabbath afternoon, has been kindly received, and listened to by nearly 200 people day after day. They have had no other strangers preaching to them, except Mr. Fraser, of Johnstone (near Paisley), on two days, and Mr. Paton, of Dunfermline, on one. Mr. F. preached on Sabbath last, which was the closing day of their public meetings for the present. The lease of the house in which they met having terminated, and being afraid to engage another minister, on account of the long depression of the manufacturing business in the district periodically during winter, for some years back, with no great prospect of improvement in that respect for the future, led them to come to this decision. Another difficulty with them lay in their not having any religious connection with any body of Christians, and having none among themselves willing to engage permanently in conducting the services of the Church, they had nowhere else to look for any. Probably the New Church was the nearest in spirit to their state and wants; but then they were not quite prepared to look in that direction.

Mr. Fraser, Mr. Paton, and Mr. Drysdale all urged them to continue their meetings, as they had a separate arrangement to keep it up; and if they encouraged an earnest spirit they would find no difficulty, in a very short time in doing so. This may yet come to be the case through the contemplated arrangement by which Mr. D. will go up to Tillicoultry on Sabbath evenings, if not every Sabbath probably every alternate Sabbath. The wish that this should be the case arose with themselves.

A deputation of the Church waited on Mr. D., wishing him to accept a small present, as a mark of respect in consideration of the kindness he had shown towards them. But not approving of the presentation-principle, he suggested that something more useful might be accomplished with the money, and one of two suggestions is likely to be adopted; either to publish the funeral discourse on the Rev. A. Browning's removal, or to purchase a few books, to form the commencement of a library; which last would probably be the most useful suggestion, as it might be the begin. ning of a New Church Library in the village.

Alloa, July 9, 1858.

In that large historical sense in which the Apocalypse is to be understood, when viewed in its prophetical character, the present chapter describes the preparation of those who, after the judgment, formed the new Christian heaven, from which descends the Lord's New Church on earth. The chosen are described as of two classes. One consists of the thousands from all the tribes of Israel; the other, of the great multitude which no man could number, out of all nations and languages. Literally, these two classes are from the Jews and the gentiles; and so far, therefore, teach the general and happy truth that salvation is offered, and heaven is open to all, whether they are within or without the Church. Spiritually, the tribes of Israel do not mean Jews, but all within the Church who have been instructed in the truths of Revelation, and the vast multitude all who are without the Church, or who are ignorant of the truths of the Word.

In the individual and practical sense this general distinction is not necessary to be kept in view. If the distinction is attended to at all, it must be sought in one that is in keeping with the particular view which is taken. And in that sense which brings the subject within the scope and experience of a single man, the tribes of Israel are all the

* "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."Rev. vii. 13, 14.

NO. XXII.-VOL. II.

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