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that is athirst say, Come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. AMEN. Even so, Come LORD JESUS." [Rev. xxii. 13. 17. 20.]”

GENERAL Conference.

THE Nineteenth General Conference of the Ministers and other members of the New Jerusalem, was held in that elegant and substantial edifice, the New Jerusalem Church, in Peter Street, Manchester, from Tuesday the 8th, till Saturday the 12th of August. There were present at this annual assembly, seven ministers and twenty-one representatives; besides various friends of the Church who came as spectators from different societies. As the custom is, the Conference was opened and closed each day with the Lord's prayer. During the sittings, after the business of the day, divine service was performed in the evenings of Wednesday, Thursday and friday. On Wednesday the 9th, the Rev. J. Gilbert of Leeds, preached in Peter Street Church; on Thursday evening the Rev. S. Noble delivered an able discourse in the New Jerusalem Temple, Bolton Street, Salford; and on the evening of the following day Mr. J. Parry of Dalton, near Huddersfield, preached in Peter Street Church.

The business of Conference was so abundant, as to demand their assembling in the evening's after divine service was over, to hasten their proceedings. Many important matters were brought under consideration, and disposed of according to the best judg ment of the assembly, in such way, as we hope, will be generally satisfactory to every one who has the character, strength, and stability, of the New Jerusalem Church at heart.

The letters and reports from Societies were numerous, and occupied much time in the perusal of them. In order to shorten this part of the business, it was enacted, that all reports and letters be transmitted to the Secretary at a much earlier period than they have hitherto been; and that none be attended to, which are sent at a later period, except a deputation of members think them to be of indispensable importance. It appears from the state of accounts read in Conference that the fund for carrying its purposes into effect is at a low ebb, and stands in need of considerable assistance.

When the list of recognized ministers of the Church was read, the Rev. S. Noble informed the Conference that the Rev. Joseph Proud had departed this life, and that on his way to Conference on Sunday the 6th ult. he saw the earthly remains of this aged minister. During the revision of the above named list, very considerable discussion took place.

A draft of the so long expected Liturgy was read, and a Com

mittee re-appointed. It is now presumed that we may expect this work will soon make its appearance.

The proceedings respecting the subject of the Newcastle-upontyne trust deed occupied much time, and much legal information transpired as it regards all general as well as local trusts; part of which will appear in the Minutes.

A copy of the second edition of the hymn book was presented to Conference: it appears that this work is now very generally adopted by the different societies of the Church. The report of the Committee for the ordering of the ministry was read, but nothing very definitive has yet been done; hence the Committee was re-appointed.

The New Jerusalem Chapel at Radcliffe in Lancashire was finally vested in the hands of the Conference Trustees, and the Deeds were presented in Conference. This is the first fruits of the General Trust, so far as regards places of worship, and this place will stand at the head of future investments. The interest of the Chester Legacy, was for another year disposed of in favour of that excellent establishment in London, the New Jerusalem Church Free School.

A very pleasing address was read in Conference, which had been received a few days before from the convention of the New Church in the United States of America, signed by the Rev. Messrs. Hargrove, Carll, and Doughty.

The report of the Spelling Book Committee was read, from which it appears, that the work is not yet in a state of much forwardness; the Committee was re-appointed, under the impression that dispatch of business in regard to such a work is essentially necéssary.

In order that documents forwarded by Societies may come before Conference with respectability and some degree of authority, it was appointed, that all communications so made by societies, shall be signed by the Minister or leader as the case may be, as well as by the secretary or corresponding member, &c. Such a measure will impose a check upon improper communications being made.

Another resolution that seems to be of some importance was come to, viz. that copies should be attempted to be got from all societies that have adopted rules, &c. and that our legal adviser should from the whole form one general code of regulations upon such principles, as are thought the most conducive to the good of all our Societies.

A draft of a first catechism was read, and a committee appointed to mature it; an appointment also took place in respect

to a second catechism for elder children and youth; as well as to a series of questions without answers, for the examination and exercise of young people.

Various Reports were read or presented to Conference, containing much interesting matter from the different institutions of our church which show that the New Jerusalem is making its way in the earth.

Conference is next year to be held in Hanover Street Chapel, London, to commence its sittings on the second Tuesday in August, 1827. The business of Conference having been gone through, an Address, drawn up by the Rev. T. Goyder, was read and received as the parting admonition to friends who had come from very distant parts of England, Ireland and Scotland. The Rev. Richard Jones was chosen President, who conducted the duties of this office with his usual sedateness and christian moderation.

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LONDON NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH FREE SCHOOL.

The Fourth Annual Report of the London New Jerusalem Church School has been published. Among the resolutions passed at Free the last Annual Meeting are contained the following, which we consider will be interesting to our readers.

"The importance of educating children in the doctrines of the New Church becoming every day more evident to her members, and some parents, whose circumstances would not allow of their taking advantage of the School as a Free School, having expressed a wish to have their children educated therein, and also their willingness to pay for such education it

was

Resolved Unanimously :

First. That a number of boys, not exceeding twenty, be received into the School for Education, for whom a certain payment shall be made by their parents or guardians.

Second. That the terms of payment for such boys be one guinea per quarter, including the necessary books, slates, &c. &c.

An anxious wish having been expressed by several friends present that efforts should be made for commencing the girls' school as soon as possible, and a probability being suggested that the ordinary expences for carrying on the same might be shortly provided, if the expence which would be incurred by fitting up the school room could be met, it was

Resolved Nem. Con. :

That a subscription for the purpose of fitting up the school for girls be now entered into, and that Mr. William Malins be treasurer thereto."

We have extracted the following from the Committee's Report: "The Committee have one peice of information to communicate, which cannot fail to be most agreeable to our friends: it is, that prejudice has not sent forth her direful sphere to oppose the operations of this Institution: witness the fact, that no sooner were the doors of the School opened to receive children, for the avowed purpose of their being instructed in the doctrines of the New Jerusalem, than a greater number was presented than the room is calculated to accomodate.

To those who have experienced the beneficial results, and the delighful perceptions consequent upon the reception of the doctrines of the New Dispensation, there cannot, surely, be presented a duty of more importance, nor one in the performance of which will be experienced greater pleasure, than that of imparting these doctrines to others. The members of the New Church have, therefore, established and supported societies, having the promotion of this object for their end. But notwithstanding the efforts of these Institutions have, comparatively with the numerical strength of our church, been great, yet the progress our doctrines make in the world, though not imperceptible, is evidently slow. When the public are invited to give our views a candid hearing, how common a case it is, that they refuse to attend to the invitation, and our Ministers and Missionaries have frequently to preach to very inconsiderable numbers, under circumstances where, if the love of truth and the practice to which it certainly leads, that of hearing before we judge, were not almost entirely banished from among mankind, we might fairly calculate upon the attendance of multitudes who would listen to and receive with delight the doctrines of genuine truth. So likewise is it, when the writings of Swedenborg are offered to the reading part of mankind: under the dominion of prejudice and bigotry, they reject the profferd boon without deigning to inspect what they thus ignorantly condemn. What then is the conduct which the professors of the heavenly doctrines should adopt? should they indignantly leave the world to slumber in the darkness which they love, "rather than the light?" This would be to indulge the resentful impulses of the natural man, instead of following the benevolent impulses of the spiritual man, who suffers not himself to be weary with well-doing."

FOSSIL BONES.

VARIETIES.

A cave, containing fossil bones, has lately been discovered on the banks of the Garone, near Bourdeaux. The bones are principally of the tyger and the hyena, and are analogous to those the remains of which were found in the neighbourhood of Paris.

AFRICAN TRAVELS.

On New Year's Day, Major Laing was at Gusala, the Eusala, of Rennel, where he had been stopped some time by native wars. He was to set out, however, for Timbuctoo on the 2d of January, and had gathered much information from other travellers detained, like himself, at Gusala. The position of this place is laid down 270 30 lat., 10 15 E. long. It is stated, that, after staying at Timbuctoo till August, it was the intention of our enterprising countrymen to visit Jeanie and Melli, and proceed down the river for Yaouri, with the annual swell about this period.

LEIPSIC FAIR.

Three hundred and ninety one

Booksellers met at the last Easter fair at Leipsic; and two thousand three hundred and seventy four new works, written in German or in the ancient languages, sufficiently proved the prodigious activity with which the sciences are cultivated. To these must be added atlasses, romances, dramatic pieces, musical compositions, &c., making the whole number amount to two thousand seven hundred and forty-nine. Among the most remarkable philological publications were the Analecta Literaria of the celebrated professor Huschke; Hermann's Treatises Observations by the same learned writer on the Greek inscriptions published by Bockh; Suvern's Remarks on the Clouds of Aristophanes; Wullner's Treatise on the Fpic Cycle; that of Monk on Pomponious, &c. Of the archæological works, Gerhard's Collection of Antiquities; a Treatise by Kosegarten on the Egyptian Papyrus; and another by Franck, on the Philosophy

and Liturature of the Hindoos, were the most distinguished. The other sciences also received numerous valuable contributions.

ROBINSON CRUSOES.

A French paper states, that the ship Emilie, of Nantes, having cast anchor on the 13th of July, last year in Christmas harbour, in the Island of Desolation, (Southern Indian Ocean), was soon after boarded by six miserable creatures, who came in a boat from the Cloudy Islands, six miles off, on which they had been left six months before, with provisions for only two days, by an English vessel. They were covered with skins of sea-calves; and their faces were so tanned that it was impossible to guess to what country they belonged. During their residence among the inhospitable deserts and rocks where they had been abandoned, they lived on penguins and other birds, and preserved themselves from cold by burning sea-elephants' oil, in the hollow of a cave where they had established their abode. The Emilie carried them away, and landed them at the Isle of Bourbon.

BORDEAUX.

Much popular curiosity has lately been excited at Bordeaux by the discovery of some tombs and human bones among the foundations of an old house which is undergoing repair in that city. On investigation, it turns out that the court-yard of the

house in question formerly constituted part of the cementery of a church belonging to the ancient Knights of Malta.

The new planet Herschel may be seen this year on the meridian at midnight. He appears to the eye as a small star of the fifth magnitude. He will continue visible in the evening for about nineteen weeks.

Cambridge Chronicle.

LITERARY NOVELTIES.

Mr. George Samoulle, author of the "6 Entomologist's Useful Comneral Directions for collecting and pendium," ," will shortly publish GePreserving Exotic Insects and Crustacea, with illustrative plates.

The Learned Mr. de Koppen is employed upon a History of the different Dialects in the Russian Language.

Mr. Koslof, a Russian Poet, who, like Homer, Milton, and Delille, is blind, has published a poem called Tchernetz, the Monk, which is a good deal praised. He seems to have taken "Ioukovski" for his model, and is likely to rank high among the disciples of the romantic school in Russia

A Memoir of the renowned Dr. Mesmer and on his discoveries, promises to bring forth some curious matter.

Obituary.

DIED at Bristol on the 17th of July, 1826, Mr. Hands, a most worthy man, and many years a receiver of the heavenly Doctrines of the New Jerusalem. The New Church Society at Bristol will feel a great privation by the removal of such a kind and zealous promoter of the good cause.

ON Thursday morning the 3rd of August, 1826, at Handsworth, near Birmingham, the Rev. Joseph Proud, in the 80th year of his age. This able and eloquent preacher of the heavenly Doctrines, was in his early life, a Minister in the connexion of the General Baptists, but in the year 1791, on the 3rd day of May, he left entirely the Baptist connexion, and was ordained into the Ministry of the New Church. He has been a most successful labourer in the cause of the New Jerusalem; hundreds have been brought into the church by his labours, and now that his work is finished here below, he has ascended into the realms of light, to receive from the righteous Judge of all the earth, the just reward of his doings. We shall feel obliged to any of our correspondents for a short biographical sketch of this worthy and faithful Minister.

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