the young in the pursuit of religious knowledge and rational enjoyments. In some of these we have occasionally found members of the New Church taking an active and useful part. At Hull, a prize of ten guineas was last year offered by Mr. Clay, M.P., for the best essay on "National Education," to be competed for by members of the Hull Young People's Christian and Literary Institute. This offer was supplemented by the committee by two other prizes, and in the award which has been recently made, we find that Mr. Henry Best, who officiates as Leader of the society at Hull, has obtained the second prize. The twenty-third annual meeting of the association which heads this notice was held in Exeter Hall, on the 20th of April. The hall was densely crowded. In the report we are told that "there are 736 associations throughout the world, numbering upwards of 58,430 members; and there were 191 associations from which no returns had been received."

THE FORTY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY MEETING OF THE MISSIONARY AND TRACT SOCIETY OF THE NEW CHURCH.This anniversary was held at Argylesquare Church, London, on the 13th of May, 1868. Tea was served as usual, and at seven o'clock the chair was taken in the church by Mr. Austin, who called upon the Rev. Dr. Bayley to open the meeting with prayer.

The CHAIRMAN, on rising, said that during the present month more or less crowded assemblies were collected at Exeter Hall every day to celebrate the anniversaries of various religious and philanthropic institutions, many of which were of a very laudable character, and well deserving the best sympathy and support. It was a noble thing to endeavour to persuade the intemperate to desist from vicious habits, to seek to educate the ignorant, to try to disseminate throughout the whole world, without note or comment, that blessed volume which the King of Kings has given us as a revelation of his will; but it was a nobler work to go forth amongst those earnest thinkers who were baffled and perplexed by the religious sentiments they entertained; and, in the most earnest and the kindliest spirit, offer them principles which, when accepted, would have the effect of chasing away all their doubts, and enable them with

thankfulness to exclaim "One thing I know, that whereas I was blind now I see.” He trusted that the gentlemen who would address them would keep prominently before their minds the paramount necessity of labouring for the dissemination of the doctrines of the New Church, as if the issues depended upon themselves. He hoped that when they left that meeting they would recognise more vividly than ever the beauty and the worth of their principles, see more distinctly the duty and necessity of endeavouring to disseminate them; and that, during the ensuing year, they might feel that, possessing such principles, they could not obtain the divine approbation unless they toiled to bring about that glorious period when "the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever."

The SECRETARY read the abstract of the report of the committee. From this report it appeared that during the year grants of the "four-page series of tracts had been made to the extent of 10,350, and 1,540 of the "general series, together with various grants of the other publications of the society. Missionary visits had been paid to a great many societies, some of which had been sustained mainly by the aid thus rendered them. Noble's" Appeal" had been reprinted during the year, and likewise the lecture entitled the " Glory and Divinity of the Bible," after being thoroughly revised by its author, the Rev. John Hyde. By the kindness of Mr. Fryer, of Lymington, 500 copies of the "Appeal" had been advertised for free gift to such clergymen and ministers as might desire to possess the work. Nearly the whole of these having thus been disposed of, Mr. Finnie had agreed to give another hundred copies in a similar manner. Ninety copies out of the grant had gone to the theological students of Mr. Spurgeon's college, 27 to the divinity students of Regent's Park College, and some to the students in other colleges.

The TREASURER read the cash accounts, which showed an increase in the amount of subscriptions, but exhibited great need of additional means for the society's operations.

The first resolution, for the adoption of the report and accounts, was moved by Mr. BUTTER, who said he considered

Mr. Fryer's gift a happy idea, and hoped that those present who were not as yet subscribers to the society's funds would become so that night. He approved of the new plan adopted by the committee, of allowing subscribers to take out half the amount of their subscriptions either in books published by the society or in tracts, instead of, as formerly, giving tracts only.

The resolution was seconded by Mr. ARTHUR FARADAY. He said there was evidently cause to rejoice in the present welfare of the society, and he thought that if its labours and its general objects and work were brought prominently before the church, the society might become more thriving. The new plan of giving books or tracts he believed would be very advantageous to the society's interests; it would enable many persons to lend or present books, where it might not be desirable to give tracts. The resolution was put and passed.

The second resolution, re-electing Mr. Gunton as treasurer, was moved by Mr. THORN, Seconded by Mr. WATSON, and passed.

Dr. BAYLEY proposed the third resolution, recommending the society to increased pecuniary support from every member and friend of the church. He said the resolution was one which asked for the full and efficient support of the society, and to such a resolution he was quite sure there would be a response, deep and earnest, in every heart; for he would ask them, what could there be in the world of more importance than the object they had set before themselves, that of disseminating the grand things which the Lord had given them, and which they had found to have so blessed an effect upon themselves? The boon which Divine Providence had caused each one who had received the doctrines of the New Church to possess, was more than worlds to him; was of unspeakable value in every point of view. There was work before them; there were ends to be accomplished; there were great purposes to be carried out, and they should arouse themselves and be up and doing, with a view of imparting to others the same light, the same glow, the same peace which they possessed. He would briefly touch upon three or four of the principal doctrines. The Lord had been pleased to give Divine revelations of heavenly wisdom, with regard to His Word and to Himself, to Life,

and to that central gem of all life, that glorious gift above all other gifts of Divine mercy, the incalculable blessing of Conjugial Love, and lastly with regard to Death. With regard to Himself, the doctrines of the New Church taught, and that with the utmost certainty, that He is infinite and inexhaustible love embodied; show the Divine Trinity to exist in the Lord Jesus Christ; explain every statement in the Word, both with respect to the Son in relation to the Father, and the Father in relation to the Son; show, with regard to the Divine Word, the grand law upon which it is written; expound its difficulties as well as its beauties, light up its dark parts with celestial wisdom, so that there was not an apparently insignificant word but could be shown to contain the wisdom of Him who "spake as never man spake;" in short, shows that the Word was God. Was it not important that they should promulgate such glorious truths and help others to feel that, while darkness reigns in Egypt, Israel has light in her dwellings? And might they not feel that the Lord was saying to them-"Arise, shine, for thy light has come, and the glory of the Lord has arisen upon thee"? Then with respect to life, at present exhibiting such a mixture of falsity with a little truth, of crime with a little good; with so much fraud, and evil, and blindness; with such ignorance and shallowness in religious matters; with what had been called, and rightly called, so much devilpreaching in every street; in relation to life, the religion of the New Church brought into the closest view, the truths which taught the necessity of a good life, and the mode of leading a good life. Happily the society now possessed a large instrumentality for bringing these truths before the world; they had a great variety of tracts; and to those who felt, like himself, that the doctrines had been of inestimable value in preserving and guiding their lives aright, it would be the highest joy to make exertions for the distribution of the tracts and the general dissemination of their doctrines. On the great subject of marriage the Word, as explained in the doctrines of the New Church, threw a flood of light. The New Church was the only Church possessing a series of doctrines on the subject of marriage; marriage, the central principle of all social happiness in the world, the very symbol of the union of

divine love and wisdom, and of the Lord with His Church. And lastly, how beautiful were the lessons which the doctrines of the Church drew from the Word in relation to the eternal world! Men had well-nigh become Sadducean; whether confessedly or not, men were to a large extent absolute Sadducees, their notion of the soul was that it was next to nothing, and of the body was that it was the best part of the man, and that at death it was buried until some future and unknown period; but in the New Church grand, definite, and satisfactory truths were presented, showing that, in proportion as a man lives the life of heaven upon earth, he is prepared for entering into a real heaven hereafter, a world in which all man's noblest powers would have free and eternal scope. Was it not a grand thing to have a series of truths calculated to make man's life on earth pure, happy, and useful, and his eternal existence blessed beyond all thought? On these grounds'he cordially moved the resolution commending the society as worthy of increased assistance.

The resolution was seconded by Mr. JOHN SMITH, who spoke of the importance of fostering a society which, like that, had so noble an object as spreading the doctrines of purity and light, doctrines which alone can reform, regenerate, and renew the world. In the New Church spiritual truth could be investigated from a rational basis; through the medium of the truths of the New Jerusalem, descending from God out of heaven, man was enabled to rise to heaven, by entering into a state of conjunction with his Divine Creator. The tracts and works published by the society were eminently fitted to teach those glorious truths, and he was himself highly pleased that the committee had come to the decision to permit subscribers to take either books or tracts to half the amount of their subscriptions. Every one of the works published by the society was a missionary, and directly tended to spread the streams of truth through the world. The resolution was supported by the Rev. O. P. HILLER, who observed that the objects of the society were two-fold, one involving missionary labours, the other the publication and distribution of tracts. Those who were mentally rich, who were fed every Sunday, and never lacked a spiritual meal, could form no idea of the longings of the members of

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some small societies in the country, or of isolated receivers of the doctrines, to whom an opportunity rarely presented itself for the visit of a missionary. In Scotland, at the present day, the people entertained the most delightful reminiscences respecting missionary visits paid them by the Rev. Samuel Noble and the Rev. Thomas Goyder, forty or fifty years ago. A tract was not a very pleasant name, and many entertained almost a dread of them. Religious tracts were frequently disseminated containing particularly disagreeable ideas. One he had recently had put into his hand, near to his own church, on a Sunday, was headed, Blood, blood, blood!" Nothing would do but blood; no salvation without blood; without blood there was no remission of sins; it really was quite awful; it made them think of Moloch and of the car of Juggernaut. God was described as unwilling to do anything but for blood. Now, should they stand by and see those monstrous views put forth, and do nothing? He had in his hand a bill announcing the subjects for a series of religious lectures, containing the most contradictory views; and were they to see such things without endeavouring to circulate something more rational? But a tract could contain truth as easily as falsity; and they might regard the tracts issued by the society as so many interesting little books, each presenting some beautiful view of truth. That society had been for 47 years labouring publicly and efficiently; and he urged them faithfully and liberally to support it by subscriptions, and to make themselves useful by receiving their quota of works or tracts, and taking the necessary pains to lend or present them on occasions when they were likely to obtain a perusal. The resolution was then put and passed.

The fourth resolution was proposed by Mr. GUNTON-" That the condition of the Church in many of its small societies, as observed by those who undertake missionary labours, is such as to require constant, affectionate, and earnest assistance, which can be rendered most effectually through our missionary organisations." Mr. Gunton said he had at first felt some fear lest the society might not be able to continue the plan of giving subscribers the option of taking books or tracts; but the uses of this step were evident, and if the change resulted in

attracting double the number of subscribers, or led all the present subscribers to double their contributions-as he felt disposed to think would be the casethen he should heartily approve of the new plan. The speaker, in the course of a lively and interesting address, illustrated most appositely some of the chief uses which the society was performing. As a missionary, he had numerous opportunities of observing, not only the value but the necessity for such aid as it was rendering to many of the societies of the Church, some of which, but for the help given them, would be unable to maintain their ground. Many of the societies of the Church might be regarded as infants; they needed feeding and supporting, and could not be expected to thrive unless they received constant attention and substantial assistance. Mr. Gunton referred at some length to the “Fryer Gift" of the "Appeal," and spoke of an interview he had had with some of Mr. Spurgeon's students, expressing the conviction that it was impossible for any young man possessing a thoughtful mind to read the chapter in the Appeal" on "The Resurrection," and to continue to entertain the notion that his body would ever come out of the grave; and so with regard to other chapters. He believed that the perusal of the book must have considerable influence in leading to a perception of the truth. His own lectures at Malvern he trusted had been of use; and, at the time of their delivery, the "Malvern News" had contained three long notices of Noble's 'Appeal," written in the most frank and liberal spirit; indeed he did not think a New Churchman could have done better; and the reviewer in summing up the whole contents of the book had declared that for himself he had long entertained similar ideas, without knowing that they were the views of any body of Christians, and added, that he should rejoice if the notice of the book induced others to obtain it and read it for themselves.

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The resolution was seconded by Mr. JOHN PRESLAND, from Derby, who stated that he, for one, believed in missionary labour. It was quite true that missionary labour had been abused. The tracts issued, as had been proved to them that evening, were often very puerile, irrational, and paltry productions; but with that abuse there was a use, and with the perversion and wrong there was a glo

rious right. Jesus had taught His disciples to go and preach the Gospel to every creature; Paul had stood on Mar's Hill, proclaiming the Word of Life; and Rome and Athens and Corinth had reverberated to the sound of the Gospel teachings. He knew nothing that showed the want of truth in the world more than the degradation visible all around. The world wanted a rational religion,a religion that should tell it truly the will of God,-a religion that should unfold the Bible,—a religion that should explain the perplexing mysteries and the great duties of life. What did they find taught? That religion was incomprehensible; that the greater the mystery, the greater the faith! What the world wanted was a religion that should sanctify politics, that should banish wars from the earth, that should extend and establish the principles of right and justice, that should sanctify commerce, that should make a man in the business of life pure and holy, useful and charitable, that should clear the streets of drunkenness and of shame, that should unite husband to wife and wife to husband, making of the home a true church, the abode of truth and love; that should teach parents their duties and responsibilities, and fill the hearts of children with reverence and docility; that should drive out evil and misery, and raise up a people God-fearing and God-loving, men-serving, duty-doing, and heavenward-aspiring. The growth of truth must be gradual, but the truth would assuredly prevail; and it was their duty, as it was their privilege, and should be their happiness, to endeavour with all their might to place before the world the truths which they knew by experience to be so precious, yea, so vitally important.

The resolution was seconded by Mr. BATEMAN, in a brief, earnest, and affectionate address, and passed unanimously.

The Chairman made a few concluding remarks, and the meeting, which was one of considerable interest, was concluded by Dr. Bayley pronouncing the benediction.

[We are requested to state that subscriptions or donations will be thankfully received by the treasurer, Mr. Gunton, 83a, Guilford-street, London; or by the Secretary, Mr. F. Pitman, 20, Paternoster Row, E.C.]

JEWISH HETERODOXY.-The following has appeared in several of the public prints::-" Dr. Nathans, an eloquent German Jew Rabbi, is creating considerable attention in America by his discourses. He spiritualises the idea of the Messiah, and does not expect his coming in the flesh. The Jews do not consider him orthodox, and he is not permitted to preach in the synagogues." SWEDENBORG SOCIETY.-The fiftyeighth anniversary is fixed for Tuesday, June 16th, at the society's house, 36, Bloomsbury-street, at seven o'clock precisely, the Rev. Augustus Clissold in the chair. On this occasion it is intended to condense the committee's report, and to compress the routine business of electing the officers, &c., into the smallest possible compass, in order to afford more time for reading and discussing a paper by the chairman, on "The indefectability of the Church." A proposition will be submitted to the effect that "There is good reason for believing that, in the present day, the Divine Providence of the Lord is effecting a transition from one dispensation to another." Other topics, pertinent to the existing state of the Christian Church, will also be introduced, affording occasion for several interesting addresses. As the committee believe the meeting will be more than usually attractive, they earnestly hope the members and friends of the society will endeavour to be present, and make the meeting known in their respective circles. It is very desirable that all subscriptions for the current year should be paid before the meeting, either to the treasurer, Thomas Watson, Esq., 19, Highbury Crescent, N., or to Mr. C. P. Alvey, at the society's house. THE "MESSENGER.". We have received the following communication respecting this popular organ of the church in America from the Rev. Mr. Potts. Mr. Potts' address is 5, Broomfield-place, Hillhead, Glasgow:-"I was glad to see the advertisement on the cover of the Intellectual Repository for May concerning the New Jerusalem Messenger,' as it has long been a matter of surprise to me that this spirited and well-managed New Church paper should be so little circulated amongst us. I feel sure that this arises from the simple fact that the 'Messenger' is comparatively little known. Will you allow me, therefore, in the interest of the church at large, to supply through

your pages a few points of information concerning your very ably-conducted contemporary? The Messenger' is a weekly paper, containing sixteen large quarto pages. In every number there is a short, well-written leading article, on some topic of current interest to the church, which is followed by a few short papers, generally upon questions of practical interest connected with our New Church literature, forms of worship, points of doctrine, or some other lively subject. To these is appended a sermon by one of our ministers in America. Then succeed short notices of the movements of other religious bodies, the progress of legislation all over the world as it affects the church, brief reviews of remarkable books, and other kindred topics. The department of news and correspondence comes next, which always brings with it to us on this side of the Atlantic some cheering proofs of activity and progress of the New Church in that wonderful land of the West, where the advance of all liberal and enlightened principles is so rapid; and contains, besides, communications from our own country respecting the status of the New Church here. Following this, under the heading of Communications,' there are letters, written in a familiar style, from various members of the American New Church, upon some subject of personal interest, which often turns out to be of pretty general interest. Then come reviews of New Church books, followed by the Children's department,' which is far from being the least valuable feature of the paper, and which always contains a well-written story to interest the junior members of New Church firesides. This is the last department of the paper, excepting the space devoted to Selections,' from various sources, as for instance, from other American journals. I may add to this long list of interesting features the obituary notices, advertisements of marriages, and full priced lists of all American New Church books. The cost of the Messenger' is 12s. per annum, or 6s. for six months, including postage. For this moderate sum it is delivered by the postman every Tuesday or Wednesday at one's own door, and under the new act there is no penny to pay for British postage; the sum I have mentioned therefore covers all the cost. It may be useful to state that there has recently been an alteration