Conjugio, which is soon to be issued. There has not yet been another volume received of the Index Biblicus, but the work is progressing.

Reference is also made by this Report to the mode of celebrating the Anniversary of the establishment of the Society, and to the account given of it in the M. O. for June (p. 215).

An appeal is again made to the New Church authors and publishers, for books for the Society's Library. If the committee wish to make the library complete, why not publish a list of the works that it contains, and see whether the friends will not supply such as are wanting?

We have selected from the Report all matters relating to the business transactions of the society; but it contains many remarks and opinions that require close examination.

[In consequence of the absence of the Secretary, through illness, the Report was read by Mr. Butter.]

Correspondence.

HARRIS CONTRADICTS SWEDENBORG.

To the Editor.-Sir, I have been informed, by more than one person, that a Clergyman of the Church of England pointed out to the Rev. T. L. Harris, something he (Mr. H.) had published, which contradicted the doctrine set forth by the undoubted Messenger of the Second Advent, E. Swedenborg; and that Mr. Harris could give no explanation of the matter; but merely said he was not responsible for what he wrote, every thing he penned being dictated to him by the Lord! As the Clergyman referred to is a reader of your excellent Periodical, he will probably give the true version of this affair.

Mr. Harris' claims being so very lofty, it seems desirable that every means should be employed, by the Church generally, to arrive at such a conclusion as will either nullify or justify his claims at once.

SPIRITISM FROM SATANIC INFLUENCE.

FAIR PLAY.

To the Editor.-Sir, On the authority of a Memorable Relation of Swedenborg's, which, like all of them, is most instructive and important towards the real advancement of New Church interests, I may state "that the Holy Spirit does not speak through the mouth of any one; but Satan (Satanas) does, who would be worshiped as God." See Ap. Rev. 752.

Now if spirits do use their mediums of converse with men, they are Satanic spirits, even the best seeming among them; and, speaking from my own experience. I never hear of or speak with a spiritist, but a tone of arrogance and self-sufficiency is disgustingly apparent; even their writings, whether in letters, or Journals, or anonymous productions, give out a strong odour of the love of dominion, as an im patience of contradiction most manifest, and as a proud rejection of all caution.

A scurrilous paper, with the signature of M. W. [Manchester], has lately been printed and circulated, which well exemplifies the character of the whole fraternity of conceited Spiritists: it is a production which can be spoken of only, in the forcible language of correspondence, as emanating from an unlicked, film-eyed, whining cub, that has not risen, by regenerating steps, from the cellar to the day-light of the New Church,

Yours, &c., AN ASSYRIAN.

"THE LABOURERS ARE FEW."

To the Editor.-Sir, Some years ago, we had nearly forty names on the Manchester and Salford Missionary list-now we find only seventeen-and out of that number only twenty-five visits are made in the quarter, viz., Missionaries Nos. 1 and 6 on the printed Arrangement for the Quarter including April, May, and June, each one visit; Nos. 7, 11, and 15, each two visits; Nos. 16 and 17, each three visits; No. 14, five visits; No. 13, six visits-or seven visits if he be possessed of ubiquity, as I find by the arrangement he is appointed for two places, viz. Ramsbottom and Embsay, on the 17th of June. We have therefore twenty-five visits made by nine individuals-scarcely three by each person. This indicates a lukewarm condition. Very different was the activity of this Institution in days of yore.

Many persons who were active Missionaries, and acceptable ones too, have left the field-they are not (literally) dead, but they sleep. Shame on them! Let the words (Jonah i. 6) "What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, and call upon thy God!" be duly regarded, as their divine authority and importance demand, and we shall then, no doubt, find that worthy, acceptable, and duly qualified preachers will be found, to declare to a fallen world the blessed, the soul-reviving, the life-giving truths of the Lord's New and true Church. Yours, INSPECTOR.

REPLY TO A. A. P.

To the Editor.-Dear Sir, Were the enlightenment of A. A. P. my only motive for replying to his letter in your May number, you should not be troubled with another "queer paper," with the hope of convincing him, or of making any suggestions with a view of inducing him either to "revoke or qualify" what he has written. For my own part, I should be very happy either to "revoke or qualify" my "theories based on salient criticisms," when better, or at least some more acceptable to my mental peculiarities, are given. A. A. P. would confer a favour on many sincere seekers after truth on the subject of the Lord's Glorification and the nature of His risen body, if he would give them some consistent views, harmonizing all that is written concerning His appearances after His resurrection, and the events connected therewith, in the Gospels; and also with what E. S. has said respecting them.

The inferences I draw from T. C. R., 793, were not arrived at in the absurd form in which A. A. P. has so kindly put them-but thus: E. S. says, "The reason why the disciples saw Him (the Lord) was because their spiritual eyes were at that time opened, and when that is the case the objects of the spiritual world appear as distinctly as the objects of the natural world." THEREFORE I concluded, the objects seen by the disciples whilst their spiritual eyes were opened, might have been, and probably were, spiritual objects. The fish and honey-comb were of them, and also the Lord's act of eating before them. In n. 794, we are told "all things which are seen in the spiritual world are created in a moment by the Lord, as houses, paradises, food, and other things." Why not, then, the flesh and honey-comb? Doubtless the "theory" most acceptable to the natural man is, that all this took place in the same way as every natural event does, and that the Lord's body was material as well as the flesh and honey-comb. But the receivers of Swedenborg's teachings know this was not the case, because he positively says, "The Lord's body was no longer material," D. L. 35. Also, "that the disciples saw him when their spiritual eyes were opened." What shall we say then? That they saw the Lord in his glorified body, which was not material, eat material food?-reason forbids. Rather, was it not a representative appearance, given to convince the disciples that their risen Lord was not a mere spirit, according to their ideas of spirit—but a real

Divine Man. For this purpose there is no difficulty in believing that the Lord created the objects necessary to accomplish his design, and that the disciples saw them as clearly as they usually did those of the material world, and believed them to be such. There are but three ways in which this subject can be viewedviz: 1st. As occurring in the material world, and subject to the laws thereof, both as regards the Lord and the food. 2nd. As entirely spiritual, and in accordance with the laws of the spiritual world. 3rd. As combining the two—having its basis in the material world as regards the place where the disciples were and the natural objects surrounding them, and its superstructure in the spiritual world. The disciples being either sensibly present in both degrees (natural and spiritual) at the same time, or alternating between them. The 3rd "theory" is in accordance with my present convictions, yet I shall feel grateful to any one who will replace them with better.

I will now bid a friendly adieu to A. A. P., and submit a few thoughts to your readers, which the re-consideration of this subject has called forth. There are the plainest declarations possible that the Lord's resurrection was to occur on the third day after the crucifixion, yet "Enquirer" has quoted a passage indicating the Lord's presence in the spiritual world, whilst the crucified body still hung on the cross. He might have added another in evidence of the Lord's immediate resurrection, viz: His words to the malefactor-" This day shalt thou be with me in paradise." The apparent contradiction may be removed by considering the Lord to have been immediately present in the spirit world, but not manifested to those in the natural world, as risen until the third day. Will any receiver of the New Church doctrines entertain for a moment the idea, that the DIVINE HUMANITY was laid in the sepulchre and remained there until the third day? Even the writing of such a question is repugnant to my feelings.

Another narrative of the Lord's appearing to His disciples, and eating with them after His resurrection, is recorded by John, ch. xxi. 5. It contains some points of resemblance to that related by Luke, so near, indeed, that at first I took it to be another account of the same event. Luke's occurred when the eleven were assembled together, and had been told of what had occurred to the two on their journey to Emmaus. John's took place at the sea of Tiberias, where Peter and others were fishing. There are strong marks indicating that in this case the scene was in the spiritual world, so far as it relates to the Lord's appearance, and His eating. They did not know Him until He had performed a miracle. As soon as they were come to the land they saw a fire of coals, and bread and fish laid thereon: this was independent of what they had caught, for they were desired to bring of that also. It is said, "this is the third time Jesus shewed Himself to His disciples, after that He was risen from the dead." In answer to the question, "Have ye here any meat?" they said, "No." He put the same question to the eleven, which they did not reply to, but gave him the fish and honey-comb.

The foregoing remarks are made simply as suggestions-aids to thought—by no means to excite controversy, but rather a friendly interchange of ideas.

Smethwick.

I remain, dear Sir, yours sincerely, GEO. TROBRIDGE.

A PHYSICIAN'S MISSION.

To the Editor.-Dear Sir, On the Sunday preceding Lord Ebury's motion, (on May 8,) in the House of Lords, for the Revision of the Liturgy of the Church of England, every member of that House and every member of the House of Commons, also, was furnished with the Letter to Lord Derby, "On Division among the Churches and its Remedy." It was of the noble action of two ladies, that a most important

communication of a divinely important fact, was made to the free Legislature of this free-thinking country, by the means of the above letter. One of the ladies resides at Bath, the other at Clifton.

as "

The fact of there being one God in one Person, instead of one God in three Persons, is the great Scriptural stone, which is demolishing fallacy and overcoming opposition. It is "the Rock" on which the Lord Jesus Christ is building His New Church, and against which even the gates of hell are not prevailing. The knowledge of it, therefore, is calculated to impart the greatest delight to every Christian of every denomination. The very annunciation of it, indeed, ought to be accepted a glad tiding of great joy to all people"-in that it assures them of forgiveness, of loving kindness, and never-failing help, in the place of wrath, of condemnation, and conditional faith, as the abominable hindrances of merely human invention, to the heavenly rest which Heaven's only Lord imparts to them that approach Him. The Derby Letter, Mr. Editor, essays the publication of the most vital fact for the orderly extension of the New Church-of her consistent doctrines and charitable life. It is, in short, a letter to the churches, inviting them to become one in Christ, by an honest admission of His being the only true God in His own Person, and so to "come out" of the perplexities which are enthralling their understandings. This letter can be distributed to communities, greater and less, by the action, more and less extended, of individuals, after the manner of the two noble-hearted ladies I have adverted to. It can also be a perpetual admonition of our Lord's Second Coming to His people, in the "spirit and power" of His Word, to their hearts and understandings at once. The members of the New Church professing to live from the heart of God's love, by the understanding of God's wisdom as revealed to them in His Divine Word, cannot but stand to the Truth, and proclaim it with the affectionate zeal it so well merits at their hands. I am, dear sir, yours very sincerely, May, 1860. MEDICUS CANTABRIGIENSIS.

NEW LITURGY.

To the Editor.-Sir, Since my connection with the Separated New Church, I have met with at least a dozen different Liturgies, all tolerably good. Nearly thirty years ago, the Conference, after paying long and devoted attention to the subject, adopted the one now so generally used. It gives me, therefore, no little concern, to find so restless a disposition amongst the brethren-New Hymn Books, New Prayer Books, are continually talked of. So long as the Prayers and Hymns are strictly in accordance with the true doctrines of the Church, why should we "be given to change?" Would it not indicate a better state of things if we paid more attention to love and life and unity of spirit?

What with Harrisite views, Mesmerism, party-feeling, conflicting sentiments, and unacceptable and inefficient pastors, the Church seems to present anything but a promising aspect.

I hope the Conference will afford no pretext for dividing still more, an already divided Church. Yours respectfully, PAX.

THE NEW CHURCH BIBLE SOCIETY.

To the Editor.-Sir, At the late Annual Meeting of the New Church Birmingham Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, it was suggested that it would be useful to remind your readers, that this is the only New Church Society for helping in the truly Christian work of distributing the Holy Word of God: which work is one that should especially have the sympathy and material aid of those who look upon the Word by the Light of the New Church; and thus know better

than others its value to man, as indeed the Word of God-speaking to him for his eternal good. From such, I venture to ask that their good will may take the form of active co-operation, either by the establishment of new societies, or by assistance given to this: which, since its commencement in 1854, has contributed to the Parent Society, as free subscriptions, the sum of £102. 14s.

The fact of this money coming from a "Swedenborgian" Church, has attracted attention, and has evidently done good, by tending to remove the general idea, that as we believe some portions of the Bible to be more fully inspired than others, we therefore set little or no value upon the rest; and also by shewing that we are anxious to unite with our fellow-Christians in this good work of translating, printing, and distributing the Bible.

I shall be glad to receive, on behalf of our New Church Auxiliary, either Subscriptions or Donations; which may be sent to me at 5, Claremont Terrace, Handsworth Hall Road, Birmingham. I am, dear Sir, yours sincerely,

JOSEPH BRAGG, Secretary.

USES OF "THE OBSERVER."

To the Editor.-Sir, It is very fortunate for the Church that your Observer is instituted as a medium of honest expression of opinion rather than of one-sided notions. Argument will prove anything,-even that white is black, and right

wrong.

Perception is a faculty especially opened for the reception of New Church truth. Other churches so called, resist rather than perceive Truth. Falses obscure the above faculty,-when they are dogmatic it is bad for the soul, because they enslave and intoxicate it. Truth is of right, dogmatic, for it ensures freedom, a wide domain, and sterling courage to its recipients, because its action is within, unseen, unknown, and always convincing and strengthening the conscience. Still, it makes for outward uses in effecting order and rationality and the expulsion of all "clap trap" contrivances.

To these ends I sincerely hope the Observer will long labour prosperously.
Believe me, very truly yours,

Miscellanca.

J. S.

MEETING OF CONFERENCE.-The General Conference of the New Church will be held at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and will commence its sittings on Tuesday, the 14th of August, at 10 o'clock. On this occasion the Conference returns to its original practice of meeting on the second Tuesday in August instead of on the second Thursday, as for the last three years, and by devoting a portion of its time to pleasure, spreading the meeting over about a week instead of four days. Ministers, Representatives, and friends visiting Newcastle on the occasion, will receive every information and attention as to the procuring accommodation during their stay, by applying to Mr. Thos. Catcheside, Secretary to the Society, Pilgrim Street.

NEW CHURCH MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.-Lectures to be delivered during the Second Month of the Third Session, 1860. To commence at 8 p.m. August 3rd, The New Church and its Duties, by Rev. C. G. Macpherson.-10th, On the Origin of our Emotions of the Beautiful, by Mr. Edwin Penn.-17th, Our Weights and Measures, by Mr. J. B. Keene.-24th, The Philosophy of Correspondence, by Rev. W. Bruce.-31st, Discussion, "Are Teetotalers correct in assuming that the Wines mentioned in the Scriptures were unfermented." The Society will meet daring August at Devonshire Street, Islington. EDWIN PENN, Hon. Sec.