subject, and most sanguine of its success, was appointed to consider and report thereon. The first general meeting of the association was held on the 16th January, at Argyle Square, and as stated in the March number of the Intellectual Repository, was a complete success. The names of the representatives for the ensuing year were announced, after which the following officers were elected: President, Mr. E. Austin, 45 Wiltshire Road, Brixton; Secretary, Mr E. Madeley, New Road, Shepherd's Bush; Treasurer, Mr. Elliott, 24 Calford Road, Islington; Executive Committee, the President, Dr. Bayley, Dr. Tafel, Mr. Bateman, and the secretary and treasurer. The newspaper question was again discussed at much length, and it was eventually decided to further consider it at the next meeting in June. Meanwhile additional information as to cost, &c., will be procured, and the secretary of the sub-committee, Mr. F. Skelton, 192 Blackfriar's Road, London, will be glad to receive suggestions from any friends interested in the dseign.

PUBLIC MEETINGS IN LONDON.

Missionary and Tract Society.-The annual meeting of this institution is appointed to be held in Argyle Square Church on Wednesday, the 10th of May. The report of the year's labours will be presented; and several friends of New Church missions will take part in the proceedings.

Swedenborg Society. The sixty-first anniversary of this society is fixed to be held at the Society's house, 36 Bloomsbury Street, on Tuesday, June 20th-the Rev. A. Clissold in the chair. The report will, as usual, contain much nteresting information, and will shew that the Committee have been actively engaged in extending the sphere of the Society's operations.

earthly coming in the clouds, or a higher revelation of love and wisdom to the souls of men? and 4. The Resurrection and Judgment. On each occasion the hall was very well filled by a large and attentive audience who listened apparently with the greatest interest to four very clear and eloquent discourses. At the close of each lecture questions on the subject of the evening were permitted, a privilege which was at once taken advantage of by many present, to offer difficulties and receive explanations, which were given in a very satisfactory manner. There were several clergymen present, but only in one instance was exception taken to the views advanced. At the

closing lecture a very hearty and unanimous vote of thanks was passed by acclamation to Dr. Bayley, and the hope expressed that he would ere long favour Shoreditch with another visit. A large number of tracts were distributed, and about four pounds worth of books were sold at the doors. Another good result from these lectures has been the publicity they have given to strangers of the existence of the Buttesland St. Church. The attendence there has largely increased, and we are also glad to state that this increase is owing, to a great extent, to the able and efficient manner in which Mr. Ramage officiates as leader. the whole Dr. Bayley's visit to Shoreditch has been very welcome to the friends of the North-East of London, and the results equally satisfactory.

On

TESTIMONIAL TO MRS. PITMAN FROM THE ARGYLE SQUARE SOCIETY.-The usual social meeting of the Argyle Square Society was held on Good Friday the 7th of April. It was well attended by a large number of the members of the New Church in London. The subject for consideration was the 22d Psalm, which was spoken to by Dr. Bayley, the chairman, and other friends. On this occasion the Society presented to Mrs. Pitman a testimonial of their affectionate esteem and regard for her valuable services. Mr. Watson presented the testimonial, which consisted of a silver salver and a gold bracelet, with a short address, which was supported by the chairman and Mr. Gunton. Mr. Pitman returned thanks for his wife in a kind and appropriate speech. On the salver was the follow

ing inscription:-"Presented, together with a gold bracelet, to Margaret M'Lean Pitman, by members and friends of the New Jerusalem Church, Argyle Square, London, as a token of their affectionate regard and esteem, and in recognition of her valued services to the Church and schools.Good Friday, 7th April, 1871."

BOLTON.-Our last number contained a notice of a lecture on Swedenborg given in the Unitarian Chapel in this town by a minister of that denomination. To keep alive the interest thus excited, and to enable the public to judge of the character and writings of our great author from the stand-point of the New Church, another lecture was given in the hall of the Mechanics Institution, by the Rev. Mr. Hyde, on the evening of March 30th. The attendance at this lecture, notwithstanding charges of admission varying from a shilling to threepence, was good, amounting to not less than four hundred persons. The gentleman who presided was a member of another religious community, and in his opening remarks said that his object would be "not to see how many things he should disagree with, but to find out how many things he could agree with. It seemed to him the time had arrived for contention amongst the various sections of religionists to be as far as possible done away with. He thought it was not a seemly thing for individuals always to be finding fault with each other, and seeing how they could throw stones at each other's religion.' The lecture was delivered with Mr. Hyde's well-known ability, and received by his audience with strong marks of approbation, breaking out at its close with loud applause. A vote of thanks was proposed by a member of the congregational body and cordially adopted by the meeting. On the evening of Easter Monday the society held a public teameeting in the school-room. The attendance, though not so numerous as expected, was encouraging, and the proceedings pleasant and useful. Mr. Deans, the leader of the society, who was in the chair, explained that the object of the meeting was to afford the members and friends of the society the opportunity of spending an evening together in a social manner, accompanied with religious conversation and

instruction. Social meetings of an attractive and popular kind were from time to time held in the society, chiefly by its younger members. It was felt that a Christian Church ought to have some social meetings of a more distinctively religious character, and it had been determined, therefore, to hold a meeting of this kind once every three months. At the close of the chairman's address, the Rev. R. Storry, who was present by invitation, addressed the meeting on the mission of the New Church as a separate Christian community. Thirty years ago the popular theology, and the current religious teaching, were so far removed from all correct apprehension of the true Christian religion, that there could be no hesitation as to the duty of instituting a worship and teaching in harmony with the truth made known for the restoration of the Church, and needed for the spiritual well-being of the world. Since that time a great change has taken place in the public teaching of all religious communities, and an approach made to the doctrines of the New Church. Where this is the case, however, the teaching of the pulpit is not in harmony with the doctrines embodied in the chapel deeds. So palpably was this case that the fact had been intimated in a leading article in one of our most influential local papers. There was no danger, however, of the preachers being brought into trouble on this account as, happily for them, the more intelligent of their flocks had kept pace with them, if they had not outstripped them in increased freedom of thought. Still the fact remained of this discrepancy between the standards of faith and the teaching of the preachers, causing disquiet and needing adjustment. It was one part of the mission of the New Church to make known the system of doctrine that by an enlightened exposition of the Word of God, should give assurance, strength, and consistency to Christian teaching, and bring it into harmony with the wisest thought and the most certain elements of human progress. From this point the speaker was led to remark on some of the features of what is regarded as the advanced teaching of the day, pointing out its frequent tendency to undermine all true conception of the divinity and divine inspiration of the Word, and of the Deity of the Saviour; and commenting on the de

said "Ye call me master and Lord, and ye say well, for so I am." Thomas, when his doubts were removed, called Him-"My Lord and my God." By this title "Lord," He was frequently designated by the apostles and by early Christian writers. But this title was equivalent to the title "Jehovah" in the Old Testament. Of this the speaker gave proofs and illustrations from eminent theological writers; thus showing that the Lord is Jehovah manifest in the flesh, and, therefore, as He Himself declares, "the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

The meeting was afterwards addressed on the general subject thus introduced by Messrs. W. Graham, W. Wylde, T. Peake, and the chairman, who in conclusion, took occasion to refer to the presence of Romanism and the importance attached to mere questions of ritual, as additional proofs that the New Church has a great mission before her. He also combated the idea that some people put forward as a reason for not striving to promote the growth of the Church, that the world is not yet prepared for her doctrines. Truth cannot be developed prematurely, and where we do not find the ground ready to receive it, we should strive to improve the ground.

HASLINGDEN.-A public lecture was given in this town, March 13th, by the Rev. W. Woodman, on "The Relation of Christ to the Church.' We extract the following notice from the Bury Times of March 18:-"A lecture on the subject of The Relation of Christ to the Church' was delivered by the Rev. W. Woodman of Kersley, in the New Jerusalem Church, Blackburn-road, on Monday evening. There was a good attendance. The lecturer at the outset enlarged upon the importance of the question, What think ye of Christ,' and remarked that its importance might be inferred from the fact that

the Church had not yet arrived at a settled conclusion. Reference was made to those who regarded Jesus as a mere man, to those who believed Him to be the first-created being, to those who thought of Him as divine, and to the New Church view of the questionthat He was the only God. Mr. Woodman adverted to the objections which might present themselves to some men against the last-named view, and said he had no disposition to overlook them. The Lord's experience on earth would appear to favour the idea that He was either a mere man or a distinct existence from the Father. The Bible explained this by showing that Christ had a double parentage. Every man had a disposition which he received from his father and his mother, and Mr. Woodman argued that Christ had also two natures from two sources-the one divine and the other human-the one received from the Father, and the other from the mother. Christ, whilst on earth, had two planes upon which His consciousness rested-the nature received from the Father and the nature received from the mother. When His consciousness rested upon that received from His mother He was in a state of humiliation, but when upon that received from the Father He was in a state of glorification. This explained the apparent incongruities recorded in the gospels, and showed why He prayed to the Father; for the nature received from the mother was a means by which He could be tempted, and become a pattern for us to follow. The lecturer went on to show that the terms Father' and 'Son' did not involve a personal distinction, and referred to the passage in Isaiah declaring that the child born and Son given was yet the everlasting Father. The Father was the divinity and the Son the humanity. 'In Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.' Other points were touched upon, and the lecturer illustrated his argument by the physiological fact of the brain being the first recipient of physical life in man, and communicating by nerves to every fibre in the human body. If the body were deprived of its head it would become lifeless, and so would the Church become lifeless if deprived of its Head, which was the Lord Jesus. The lecturer argued that the essential Divine reached man through the

medium of the Divine Humanity. Whether they looked at the subject in reference to the relation of Christ to the Church or the Church to Christ it brought them to the same conclusion, that He must be exalted as the One Supreme Object of their love, faith, and worship.

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LIVERPOOL.-Lectures by the Rev. Dr. Bayley. It will doubtless: be interesting to the readers of the Magazine to know that an effort resulting in unexpected success has been made in Liverpool to spread the doctrines of the Church amongst numbers who are really unaware of the true faith of the New Church; and this work could not have been entrusted in abler hands than those of the Rev. Dr. Bayley, who visited Liverpool at the latter end of March, for the purpose of delivering four free lectures on four subjects of vital importance to all who are anxious of receiving a clear knowledge of certain passages in the Word of God which can only be correctly understood according to their spiritual interpretation. The lectures were delivered in the Concert Hall, Lord Nelson Street, Liverpool, on the evenings of the 23d, 24th, and 28th and 29th of March; and the subjects chosen were: Glimpses of Heaven, as shewn in the Word of God," Marriage and Sins against it,' "The Second Coming of Christ: Is it an earthly coming in the clouds or a higher revelation of love and wisdom to the souls of men?" and the last lecture was on the Resurrection, the title being "When does the resurrection of man take place? When is man judged? And how are the Books of Judgment opened?" The lectures were all well attended the popularity of the subjects and talents of the speaker attracting great attention in the town, especially among the clergy, many members of that body attending at the Hall each evening. It is roughly estimated that the number of persons present at the first lecture was about 900; at the second, 1200; at the third, 1500; and at the fourth their popularity had become so widely spread that the spacious room was densely crowded, the audience numbering over 2000. The Doctor, by his sound wisdom and clear interpretations, created an impression which cannot fail to increase the number of readers of the writings

of the Church, and, by his kindly manner and unruffled temper in discussion, made many lasting friends and admirers. Several questions, in relation to passages paradoxical when taken in their literal sense, were put, and apparently answered most satisfactorily, judging from the applause which invariably followed the explanation. The leading paper of the town, the Liverpool Mercury, gave lengthy reports of the lectures. On Sunday, March 26th, the Doctor preached morning and evening in the New Church, Bedford Street North, to numerous congregations, and on the Monday evening following was present at a congregational soiree held in the schoolroom under the church. The Doctor's visit to Liverpool will long be remembered, not only by those of his own faith, but by numbers who had, for the first time, the true light of the New Church shown in all its clearness to their minds.

MIDDLESBRO'-ON-TEES. - We learn from a correspondent that "Mr. Gunton's visit in February last to this place made such a stir in the town, and drew such attention to the Lord's New Church, as, certainly, very many had never before experienced. In consequence, our congregations on the Sunday at once increased, and have kept up pretty well since. Then, as we wanted to get better acquainted with each other, we thought it advisable to have a social tea together. This meeting was held April 10th; and a report of the proceedings appeared in the Middlesbro' Exchange of the 14th." From this report we learn that a large number-we are informed fifty-were present to tea. At its close, prayer was offered and a hymn sung, and the Rev. Wm. Ray, of Newcastle, delivered an address on the nature and uses of baptism, after which seven children were baptized by him. At the close of this service, Mr. G. H. Smith, the leader of the society, was called to the chair; and addresses on the prospects and duties of the society and on the doctrines of the Church were delivered by the Chairman, Mr. Broughton, and Rev. Mr. Ray. The society has passed through its first year. Its numbers have increased, and its members are hopeful of continued prosperity.

YORK. The New Church friends in York have been favoured with a visit

MR. TITUS BROWN. --We gave in our last a brief notice of this esteemed leader of the Society at St. Heliers, from the pen of a member of his flock. As showing the general estimation in which he was held in the town where he laboured, we give the following, from the Jersey Express and Channel Islands Advertiser of March 16:-The name which stands at the head of these lines has for so long a time been endeared to a wide circle of friends of all classes and religious denominations that we are quite sure our readers will require no apology on our part for devoting a short space in our columns to a brief notice of his uneventful but

eminently Christian life. It is not our intention to enter into the particulars of what, in some religious circles, would be termed his "Christian experience;" but if, as was his belief, "all religion has relation to life, and the life of religion is to do good," then he showed, in all his words and deeds, the sincerity of his belief, and may safely be pronounced to have been eminently A RELIGIOUS MAN. And if

""Tis religion must supply Solid comfort when we die," then again it may safely be affirmed that he was abundantly supplied with that "solid comfort " when, in obedience to the command of the Master of the Feast, "Friend, come up higher," he bade adieu to the present life to go and occupy a more exalted sphere of usefulness in the mansions of the blest. But it is to the bright example which he set, not only to those

who sat during so many years under his loving ministrations, but also to the public at large, that we must chiefly address ourselves. He was well known as a tradesman. As such, he was invariably found to be singularly upright in his dealings; and his uniform courtesy, hallowed by Christian principle, won him numberless friends. As a man, he was eminently a man of Duty, and this principle of DUTY he carried into all the relations of life. The deceased was known for many years as minister of the congregation assembling for worship at the New Jerusalem Temple, Victoria Street. In this capacity it was that his Christian character shone-we had almost said with conspicuous lustre, but we will rather say with the beautifully-chaste lustre of a diamond of the first water. Whatever may have been thought of the doctrines he preached-and we are not here passing judgment either for or against his views of religious truth-it was seen and felt by all who had the privilege of his acquaintance that his eminently blameless life was a continuous sermon, intelligible to all and appreciable by all, a continual reproof to evildoers, and a bright example of angelic purity to be followed by those who are desirous of leading a Christian life, no matter by what name they are called. Then his humility! In that particular he was truly "a little child." When any one susceptible of tender emotion came into his presence, he felt that he was in presence of one of those of whom the Saviour said, "Take heed that ye offend not one of these little ones. And his spirit would bow with reverential awe before that childlike nature. In private intercourse he was a little child. Aye, in the pulpit he was a little child. And this childlike disposition, which he had evidently learned of One who condescended to become Himself a little child, inclined him to put the best possible construction on every action and every transaction which came within his cognizance. He was anything but censorious. He was never disposed to impute motives. But we might

go on filling columns with a description of his heavenly qualities. His failings -and who is without them!-his very failings "lean'd on virtue's side." While, therefore, his co-religionists, to whom, for so many years, he dispensed