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in his own and two neighbouring places, consisting in the whole of about seventy-five persons. I have not the letters by me, or else I would enter more into particulars; however, among others, I remember we have two from PrivyCounsellors of Hesse and Denmark, one from Burkhardt, the Geometrician, and they all announce the reception of our glorious doctrines, and an ardent zeal for the more general diffusion of heavenly light and life. But one of our most important, as well as most interesting letters is a very valuable communication from Dr. N——, of Carlscrona in Sweden, a Doctor in Divinity, a Member of the Royal Academy of Stockholm, and of the Society Pro Fide et Charitate. He gives us his views upon the mode which it will be necessary to adopt with different nations and denominations in order gradually to bring them into the fold of the New Jerusalem. The plan seems founded on an application to the best points in every system, and there are some good in every system--and on a purification and elevation of those particular truths, to the final rejection of erroneous and pernicious doctrines. He embraces a wide field, sufficient to employ us all, and our descendants for these two hundred years to come. But you will soon read the whole of this, and other valuable communications; so I shall proceed to another subject of no little interest to us, so far as respects the future growth of the New Church in these realms. We have lately written to the heads of the seven Universities of these kingdoms, announcing to them a resolution which passed at our annual meeting last year, that such of the works of our author as our society had published should be presented to their public library; and in answer, we had the satisfaction to find, that our present was in every case most graciously acknowledged, and in some instances with expressions of gratitude and estimation on the parts of the University, that, coupled with an extraordinary circumstance, which I shall presently relate, promises, by the divine blessing, the most auspicious result in determining young men, who are preparing for the ministry, to consult, and to receive these pure expositions of the holy word. The extraordinary circumstance to which I alluded, is this. About two years ago, our very dear friend Mr. Clowes and myself in a little journey passed through Cambridge, and visiting the library of Trinity College, our Alma Mater, we agreed to leave each a memorial on its shelves ; he placed there, the beautiful treatise, "On the worship and the love of God," and I, "The doctrine of the Lord." Well, Sir, the last news we had of our books was from a sincere recipient, a member of the University, who informed us that the former, had excited the greatest attention among the young men, that it was scarcely ever in the library, and that it formed quite a topic for conversation; all this promises well, and we look forward to still more blessed effects from our present, which by the kind assistance of our Manchester friends, is made complete, and that the declaration of our author, will, by these and other means be accomplished, that the Universities will send forth ministers to proclaim the mercies of the Lord, in thus revealing Himself and wonders of His kingdom by opening the interiors of His holy word. May his blessing, his light and peace rest upon your society to its eternal welfare, is the prayer of, my dear sir, your friend and brother."

As connected with the preceding, we think it useful to insert the following extract from the Intellectual Repository, for July,

1818.

"State and Progress of the New Church in Foreign Countries.

"A member of the London Society for Printing and Publishing the Writ ings of E. S. resident at Rotterdam, caused, some time ago, an advertisement, announcing the existence of the above Society and that of Manchester, to be inserted in several of the continental journals; which has been the occasion of our obtaining far more information respecting the state of reception in the other parts of Europe than has hitherto been known in this country. The let ters conveying this information, or the most interesting parts of them, will no doubt soon be published in the Society's Report; in the mean time our readers may be pleased to be informed, that there are several from different parts of Germany, two from Switzerland, and one from a new and very intelligent correspondent, a doctor of divinity, in Sweden. Those from Germany demonstrate, that there are various individual friends to the cause scattered through the different states of that vast country, who appear to be drooping in solitude without any knowledge of each other, no societies having hitherto been formed. In Switzerland, however, in the canton of Appenzell, in St. Gall, and Graubunden, there appears to exist a society of seventy or eighty members and their families, who have been brought to the knowledge of truth by the exertions of two parochial ministers: but these, as well as the friends in Germany, find their progress greatly impeded by the want of books, there being but few of the works translated into the German language, and very few copies of these to be procured. On the whole, it is impossible to read these letters without emotions of affection mixed with pity, and connected with sentiments of gratitude for the superior privileges which we in this country enjoy. Means have here been found for the publication of the whole of the writings in our native tongue, with many other works in agreement with them; and we here enjoy the inestimable liberty of printing, publishing, and preaching as we please; in consequence of which the seeds of divine truth have here found a comparatively extensive reception. In all these advantages our continental brethren are wofully behind us, insomuch that we cannot compare the difference of our situation without thinking we hear the voice of the vision which said to Paul, "Come over and help us." Measures have been taken by the Society to learn their situation more particularly, after which it will be necessary to consider how the great cause may be best promoted; which will most probably be, by encouraging the formation of Societies and stimulating them to the translation and publication of the writings in the German language. In the latter case, (such is the distressed situation of the continent,) pecuniary aid will be necessary; and we doubt not that the affectionate recipients of the heavenly doctrines in this country, who, together with the truth itself, have received the duty of labouring diligently for its propagation, will do their utmost to enable the Society to fulfil its wishes, by following the example of the British and Foreign Bible So3 Y

VOL. I.

ciety, and rearing a progeny of co-operative Societies throughout the various countries of Europe, till the writings are published in their respective languages, and the truths they contain extensively received, throughout the civilized globe."

In ENGLAND, which may be truly called the cradle of the New Church, as well as of the Bible Societies, our friends are going on with increasing vigour. But the old question of separation from the established Church has been revived, and is now debated with considerable animation. In such hands, however, no danger can arise from the discussion. Both parties will continue to perform most eminent uses. Both are under the control of their common master, and will be guided for the eventual good of his church. It is remarkable, that at the commencement of the Christian dispensation, a similar difference of opinion took place among the apostles, as to the necessity of continuing in the externals of the Jewish church. But not being able to come to a uniformity of sentiment, they made rather a truce than an agreement, that each might be allowed to pursue their own views: this was the result of what is called the first council of the Christian church, held at Jerusalem. See Acts, c. 15. and c. 21. Gal. c. 2.

After waiting for a long time, we have at last received the Manchester and Hawkstone Reports and the two numbers of the Intellectual Repository, for April and July. They contain, as usual, much edifying matter, and are rich repasts for the spiritual appetite of the reader.

As it is always pleasant to be had in esteem and affectionate remembrance by our friends, it will be gratifying to the two ladies, who have employed their pens so much to their own honour and the benefit of the church, to publish the following extract from the Manchester Report, for January, of the present year. And we most sincerely assure them that their American friends partake deeply of the gratification.

"The Society cannot close their narrative of transactions in America, without adverting to a circumstance, extraordinary in itself, and which, when viewed in connexion with the interests of the New Church, promises to be equally beneficial. The circumstance to which they allude is this: Two ladies, one residing in Boston, and the other in the neighbourhood of New York, have lately taken up their pens in Defence of the Heavenly Doctrines of the New Jerusalem, and have employed them with so much zeal, intelligence and force, that the happiest results may be expected from their publi

cations. The work written by the lady at Boston is entitled, Religion and Philosophy united, or an Attempt to show, that Philosophical principles form the foundation of the New Jerusalem Church, as developed to the world in the Mission of the Honourable Emanuel Swedenborg; and that written by the lady in the neighbourhood of New York is entitled, An Interesting Correspondence, between the Rev. John Johnson, Pastor of the first Presbyterian Church, in Newburgh, State of New York, and Miss Elizabeth Jones.

"It would be difficult to give an adequate description of the peculiar excellencies which distinguish each performance, but of this the Society are confident, that they cannot too earnestly recommend them to the perusal of their readers, who will not fail to discover from that perusal, that the ALMIGHTY has still in His Church a Jael and a Judith, [See Judges, iv. v; and the History of Judith ;] and that he has again sold Sisera and Holofernes into the hands of a Woman. The Society think it proper also to inform their readers, that at their last quarterly meeting, they ordered a new edition of Miss Jones's Correspondence, to the amount of five hundred copies, to be immediately printed."

The general conference of the New Church, in England, was to have met in Derby, on Tuesday, the 11th of August last. We have as yet received no account of its proceedings. We hope the time is not distant when the English conference will be attended by deputies from America, and the convention of the New Church in the United States be attended by deputies from England. Such a measure would tend to draw the cords of affection closer, and strengthen and unite the operations of the Church in both countries, to the common benefit.

ORDINATION OF NEW CHURCH MINISTERS. Charles J. Doughty, esq. of the city of New York, was, on the 9th day of August last, at the request of the New Jerusalem Society of that place, ordained a priest and teaching minister in the Lord's Church of the New Jerusalem, with power, under the authority, and at the request of the said society, and in the manner, and under such restrictions as they may prescribe, to ordain other priests and ministers, and with power also to conduct public worship, to celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, marriages, baptisms and funerals; and generally to perform all holy rites and divine ordinances of the church. The ceremony of ordination was performed, in the city of New York, by the Rev. M. M. Carll, the approbation of the Rev. John Hargrove, of Baltimore, having been previously obtained, as recommended by the convention, at the second annual meeting.

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Thomas Newport, of the vicinity of Lebanon, in Warren county, state of Ohio, was, in the afternoon of the Lord's day, the 27th of September last, at the request of the New Jerusalem Society of that vicinity, ordained as a priest and teaching minister of the Lord's Church of the New Jerusalem, with power, with the assent and approbation of the said society, and of two of the churches, of Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, to ordain other priests and teaching ministers (who are not to be invested with the power of ordaining other priests and ministers) and with power also to conduct public worship, to celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, marriages, baptisms and funerals; and generally to perform all holy rites and divine ordinances of the church. The ceremony of ordination was performed by the Rev. David Powell, of Steubenville, Ohio, who was to this purpose specially empowered, by order of the first New Jerusalem Church of the city of Philadelphia, concurred in and approved by the Rev. John Hargrove of Baltimore.

We have now completed our first volume. It is for our readers to judge how far the work is worthy of future patronage. Without taking praise to ourselves for the manner of its execution, we are free to say, that a publication of this nature is indispensible to the speedy establishment of the church in the United States. It affords the most effectual means of uniting friends, so widely separated as to place, in one bond of affection and combined operation. The emanations of heat and light from our common Lord, whilst they are distinctively appropriated by each recipient, will be transmitted and again collected into one focus, for the warmth and illumination of the whole church. As the expense of such a publication requires considerable patronage, our friends in every part of the United States are affectionately requested to exert themselves to procure subscribers wherever it is practicable. Few of the church, it is presumed, are so lestitute of worldly means as to be unable to pay a year's subscription for the Repository, and where means are given, we hope they will not be withheld. In those places where advertisements can be inserted in the newspapers free of expense, we would suggest the propriety of our friends advertising the Repository.

END OF VOLUME I.

JUL 1 1917

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