AUXILIARY MISSIONARY SOCIETY. A correspondent sends us the following notes of work performed (privately) by one of the energetic members of the Auxiliary Missionary Society, as an example of what good may be done by our young men in awakening public attention to the institutions of the Church. Our young friend, immediately upon the publication of the Swedenborg Society's Report, containing a list of the various presentations to individuals and public bodies since the Society's formation, contributed to fifteen of the principal London papers articles in which the chief points of public interest in the Report and the uses of the Society were brought out. The Hour, London Daily Chronicle, St. Pancras and Holborn Guardian, The Week's News, The Inquirer (Unitarian), The Freeman, Nonconformist, Illustrated London News, gave these notices in varying lengths.

The Examiner did not give the article sent, but on September 26th appeared an article on "Swedenborgianism and the Brahmo Somaj," from the pen of Miss Cobbe.

To this the Rev. John Hyde sent the following reply, which appeared Oct. 3rd. "Sir, While recognising the courtesy which characterises the article in your last number on 'Swedenborgianism and the Brahmo Somaj,' will you permit me to point out a few errors into which Miss Cobbe has, I am sure inadvertently, fallen.

"Swedenborg was not a Baron,' but a member of the Equestrian' order of the Swedish House of Nobles; more nearly a Chevalier.'

"Swedenborg did not 'found the New Jerusalem Church in 1743,' nor in any

year.

The organization known by that name was not founded' till July 31st, 1787, or fifteen years after Swedenborg's death, or fifty-four years after the date assigned by Miss Cobbe.

"The limitation of Swedenborg's description of the states of the inhabitants of the earths in our solar system is fully explicable by his philosophy; unless there be some previous knowledge concerning the persons or matters inquired of in the spiritual world, merely scientific knowledge is not there communicated.

"Miss Cobbe has certainly never mastered the peculiar heresy styled Sabellianism,' or the 'Christolatry' of Swedenborg, or she could not have confounded the two extremely diverse theories.

"The Rev. Augustus Clissold was never a Minister,' most distinguished' or otherwise, of the 'Swedenborgians.' Mr. Clissold is a clergyman of the Church of England, who, however, has accepted and, in many valuable works, defended the teachings of Swedenborg.

"The Swedenborgians' do not accept 'the visions of their teachers:' they do most reverently accept the teachings and testimony of Swedenborg, between whom and the 'Spiritualists' there are several impassable gulfs.

"The 'corner-stone' of the creed of the Swedenborgians is not the assurance that some man has entered into unique relations with the Almighty;' but that Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh' for the redemption and salvation of mankind.

"Professing much interest in the Brahmo Somaj, seeing in this new movement the promise of great good for India, and feeling for the many labours of Miss Cobbe very sincere respect, -I am, &c.,-JOHN HYDE, President of the New Church ('Swedenborgian') Conference.'

To this letter the following note was appended by the Editor :

Miss Cobbe did not 'confound' Sabellianism with Swedenborgianism. She said that the passion for definite Christolatry which besets many minds of this age to a degree which would have incurred the condemnation of the Fathers as Sabellianism must be grati. fied by Swedenborg's creed.' The

Paisley, treasurer. Jon A. Hjaltalin, Esq., Edinburgh, secretary. The ministers and leaders of the Glasgow, Paisley, Edinburgh, and Alloa Societies, were elected as permanent members of Committee, and Mr. Lauder of Dunfermline as member of Committee for the Dunfermline Society; it was also arranged that each Society should annually elect another member of Committee to represent them in the Association, which was then also done. A meeting of this Committee was afterwards held, when arrangements were made for a regular exchange of pulpits between Glasgow, Paisley, Edinburgh, Alloa, and Dunfermline, to take place at stated times during each year, and for circulars to be drawn up and sent to New Church members and friends at large, craving their sympathy and substantial support in helping forward this much needed, and, if we mistake not, most welcome course amongst our Scotch people. About two o'clock, our friend, Rev. John Presland of London, again delivered a most instructive sermon to New Church people, taking for his subject-"Run ye through the streets of Jerusalem, and see if ye can find a man," Jer. v. 1. Then at five, the usual Annual Social Scotch Gathering was held, our plain little hall being tastefully decorated for the occasion. There were present 122 ladies and gentlemen, consisting mostly of friends from the several societies, isolated receivers and friends from our own neighbourhood. Our secretary (A. C. Johnstone) occupied the chair, and after tea and the chairman's opening remarks, interesting addresses were delivered by Rev. John Presland of London, Dr. Goyder of Bradford, Rev. J. F. Potts, B. A., of Glasgow, Rev. W. C. Barlow, M.A., of Paisley, and Allan Drysdale, Esq., of Alloa. Dr. Goyder's address was on Colportage work, and came in very suitably to us for the use of our Association. There was an interval for conversation. The tea and service of fruit was under the management of the ladies of our Society, and as usual did credit to their goodness. The music, vocal and instrumental, was kindly supplied by Mr. Lang of Glasgow, with a few ladies of the Glasgow choir, coupled with the aid of our few Edinburgh musical friends. The Gathering broke up about 9.30. Altogether, a most useful and enjoyable day was

spent. One could not but feel that each had come with a desire to be useful and to add to the enjoyment of each other, and each returned to their several homes and duties spiritually cheered and strengthened.

AUSTRALIA.-The following notice of the Swedenborg Society's Report, and of the spread of the Writings in Australia, appeared in the Australian and New Zealand Gazette of October 17th, under the title of "Swedenborgianism in Australia." After giving the chief features of the report, the notice continues :-“A distinguishing feature of the report is a list of presentations made to public libraries and individuals in various parts of the world since the Society's formation, from which it ap pears that, among other Australian institutions thus favoured, the Goulbourn School of Art has several vols., the Melbourne New Church Society has 40 vols., the Morpeth New Church Society has 20 vols., the New South Wales School of Art has 160 vols., the Schools of Art in Newtown, Parramatta, West Maitland, and Sydney have several vols. So also has the Sydney Australian Library, and the Toronto Mechanics' Institute has 50 vols. of Swedenborg's works. There is scarcely any portion of the civilized world that has not been reached by the operations of this Society, which are truly cosmopolitan, limited indeed only by its resources.'

THE SWEDENBORG READING SOCIETY held the first meeting of its seventh Session at 36 Bloomsbury Street, London, on the 15th October. The paper for the evening was by the Rev. W. Bruce, but owing to his unavoidable absence from town, it was deputed to Mr. J. Speirs to read. The subject treated of was St. Paul, and Swedenborg's references to him and his writings, and was a reply to a paper on the same subject by Ralph Wornum, Esq., read in the former session. Mr. Bruce took a totally different view of the question, and argued his subject ably and satisfactorily, but the character of the paper precludes abbreviation. Owing to the time it took in reading, the discussion that ensued was much reduced in its scope, but the interest excited was evidently great.

The paper for the month of November

LEAMINGTON.—This town has been excited by the effort to obtain a copy of Swedenborg's writings for the Public Free Library. An application to the Swedenborg Society for a grant, subject to the approval of the Library Committee, was made by the Rev. J. Bain. This application was cordially acceded to, and the books at once sent. The Sub-Committee appointed for the selection of books, who were unanimous in their approval of the application, deemed it necessary to lay the matter before the General Committee, and here arose an unexpected opposition. The two clerical members of the Committee urged the acceptance of the works. Some of the lay members as strenuously insisted on their rejection. The discussion is reported at considerable length in the Leamington Chronicle, and has been followed by two ably written leaders, and several letters by correspondents, censuring in severe terms the action of certain members of the Committee. The conclusion arrived at, was the rejection of the grant by a majority of one, three of the members declining to vote. As will be seen by our notice of the "Swedenborg Society," it is not improbable that this decision may be reversed. It is satisfactory to find that the expression of opinion by the public press is unanimous, and most decided in condemnation of this action of the Committee. Nor is it confined to Leamington. Notices alike condemnatory have appeared in the papers published in other localities. The following extracts from the leaders we have alluded to will show the sentiments respecting our author which are beginning to prevail among those who guide public opinion. In a leader published, October 31st, and in type before the decision of the Committee was known, the editor says:"The works of Swedenborg are the literature of a small and very peculiar religious sect-a sect, the members of which, however, are largely drawn from the intelligent and educational classes, but yet whose modes of religious thought are very greatly at variance with the standard religious beliefs. Swedenborg was certainly mystical in his views, but he was a genius of no ordinary calibre. His intellect was colossal, though, to

religion was transcendental-ascended into regions where logic, or history, or experience were powerless to follow, so that it is now impossible to judge him by the ordinary standards with which we test the truth or falsehood of opinion. He speaks largely of spiritual revelations vouchsafed to himself, which other men were not permitted to share, and which, if accepted at all, they must take upon his sole authority. To our view we confess that a very limited knowledge of Swedenborg's religious philosophy suffices us, but that limited knowledge we think most educated men would desire to possess. We cannot fairly study the nature of the human mind, or the powers of human thought, except we study it in its exceptional, as well as in its ordinary phases, and therefore the works of an extraordinary and voluminous writer, which now, a hundred years after their author's death, constitute the principles of belief and conviction of a religious sect, that, if inferior in numbers, is not inferior in piety, or character, or intelligence to any sect in Christendom, have a fair title to be placed in every reference Library in the kingdom, when offered to it as a free gift. If the various religions of the world would send their Bibles and scriptures to the Leamington Free Lib. rary, not only would it be the bounden duty of the Committee to accept them, but they would greatly increase the value of the Library by their presence." The rejection of the Writings by the com mittee is announced at the end of this article, and in the following issue the editor returns again to the subject, and towards the close of a severe rebuke of those members of the Committee whose "ill-breeding and want of culture” had led to the decision of the Committee, says: "Indecency and immorality are not, as some of our Committee seem in their ignorance to imagine, the chief characteristics of Swedenborg. If he was one of the strangest, he was also one of the purest souls, and his followers copy him in his virtues quite as much as in his peculiarities. They are most respectable people; they number in their ranks individuals of high social position and ripened intelligence, and are amongst the most active in the promotion of social reforms. There is no reason whatever why these writings should not be welcomed to our library, unless, indeed,