BUILDING SOCIETIES.

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ONE of the means employed to provide for the increased and increasing religious wants of our growing population has been the institution of church and chapel building societies. These have been established both in connection with the Established Church and of several dissenting bodies. In the Church of England large sums have been raised and a very large number of new churches erected both in the metropolis and the provincial towns. The Congregational Chapel-Building Society," in commencing the seventeenth year of its existence, makes a special appeal to the Congregational body for help. In this appeal the committee say, that the entire aid in grants, loans, and other ways, paid and pledged, is fully £100,000. Large as is this pecuniary aid, its practical and indirect benefit has been much greater. It has enabled the society to exercise a practical guidance in the erection of chapels, to secure the satisfactory investment of the property in trust, and it has very effectually elicited the full monetary strength of the congregations aided. The society commenced with the proposal to aid the annual erection of ten new chapels. The work it has aided has grown from ten chapels a year to at least forty. Had the committee kept to the former number the total would now have a little exceeded 170. The actual number is 380, and by the end of 1871, it will reach 400, i.e. an increase of 220 beyond the number contemplated within that period, when the society was formed.

Such is the work performed by one of these societies. Others show a similar, and in some cases a much larger work. All are aiding as they are best able this important work of erecting houses of worship for our growing population, and of providing for the wants of those who are quitting the crowded city to reside in the suburbs of our cities and towns. The New Church has scarcely entered upon this work, and she has other questions forced on her consideration in connection with it. Churches or chapels without ministers to dispense from their pulpits the Word of life are of

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little use to the communities by which they are surrounded. The orthodox bodies, not having to contend with any rooted prejudice in the community, can readily settle ministers in the churches they erect. It is otherwise in the New Church. Its growth, though certain, is usually slow, and it is some time, therefore, before societies are in a position to sustain efficient and suitable ministers. By the side, therefore, of our "Building Fund" must be fostered our 'Ministers' Aid Fund." The experience of the Church points out to us this lesson-that the erection of churches must be attended by the appointment of ministers, and these appointments for some time will need aid quite as much as the building itself. The neglect of combining these two requirements has led to the loss of chapels erected for the use of the Church, and at the present time several drag on a languid existence and perform very limited uses in the localities where they are erected. Of these two funds the "Ministers' Aid Fund" receives at present the most assistance from the Church, although the contributions thus far made to it are totally inadequate to what we may reasonably hope will be the demands upon it in the years which are immediately before us. And we must not overlook that this fund has to provide for the wants of our students as well as the assistance of small and struggling societies in their efforts to support their ministers. The "Building Fund" has scarcely attracted the attention of the members of the Church. Its total amount is little over £100, and its annual income scarcely exceeds £12. This state of the fund is not creditable to the Church, and can be of little service in the erection of places of worship. Ten times the amount hitherto received would not be larger than might be at once usefully employed. The effort made some years since by the Sunday School Union for the establishment of a Sunday School Building Fund issued in a sum of upwards of £1000 to be applied to this purpose. And its employment has been eminently useful to the Church. By its assistance several school-rooms, used in most cases also as places of worship,

have been erected, and are being usefully employed. And what has been thus done for our Sunday schools needs to be accomplished for our churches. Churches need to be erected in connection with some of the school-rooms, and in other localities where societies are springing up and opportunities of Christian usefulness opening before us. Is it too much to hope that the example of others will stimulate us to increased exertion in this work? Why should Iwe not at once increase tenfold both the funds we have named, and by their judicious employment give increased energy, and offer opportunities of increased usefulness, to the Church at large?

CHRISTIAN UNITY.

One of the subjects to which marked attention has of late years been directed is the promotion of greater unity among the several sections of the Christian Church. The " Evangelical Union was instituted many years ago for the furtherance of this object, but seems to have made little progress towards its accomplishment. Disunion is as rampant now as at any period in the modern history of the Church; and the question is naturally raised, whether there is not something radically hostile to true unity in both the doctrines and practices of the Churches. A doctrinal union is confessedly impossible. Men cannot be brought to see and think alike. And the Church has lost sight of the only doctrine whereby true unity can be promoted-the doctrine of charity. The doctrine of the arbitrary forgiveness of sins, in the simple exercise of faith, does not tend to spiritual culture, and without this the efforts to secure unity springs from the unpurified motives of the natural mind. The evidences of this fact are not far to seek. The language of parties professedly seeking this union is often charged with the most bitter and uncharitable feelings and expressions towards those who differ from them, and union itself is desired by some for the attainment of merely worldly ends. During the last few years vigorous efforts have been made to promote the union of the "United Presbyterian" and the "Free Church." And while "there are unquestionably men of the sincerest piety, actuated by no other than truly excellent motives, who are desirous of

bringing about this consummation, there are also many who would rejoice at it chiefly as a means of power, and there is some ground for fearing that the power thus attained might be found anything but advantageous to the moral, political, and religious welfare of North Britain. The fusion, if accomplished, would throw into the hands of the united body a control over most of the Parliamentary and all but the whole of the municipal elections."

Of the bitter spirit with which this union has been promoted a sad account is given by a writer in the Edinburgh Evening Courant, which has been copied into the London Guardian. In the course of this letter the writer says that no less a sum than " £10,000 has been raised for carrying on the war" in this gentle controversy; that the literature created "would form, at the lowest calculation, some fifty octavo volumes;" that the "time thrown away in Church courts, committees, and conferencessetting aside the hours spent in private debate or backbiting is almost incredible;" and that the fruit of all this is " exasperation and estrangement." "Ministers long knit together now agree to separate, and prefer to renounce intercourse rather than risk a quarrel."

MR. VOYSEY.

This gentleman, whose removal from the ministry of the Church of England has fluttered the clergy of the Broad Church, has since removal been engaged in the delivery of public lectures in various parts of the kingdom. His lecture on the Bible is distinguished by the most outspoken denial of Divine inspiration, and the utter rejection of all idea that Jesus was more than man and free from every human blemish." In support of his attack upon the divinity of the Word and the Deity of the Saviour, he adduces the appearances in the letter of the Word which are usually advanced in this connection. Jesus himself is spoken of as 'deliberately disregarding family ties, as completely destitute of natural affection, cruel and disrespectful to His mother, and carried away by egotistical vanity. Than His "language on the cross, Woman, behold thy Son,' and to the disciple, Behold thy mother,' nothing, in Mr. Voysey's opinion, could be more heartless."

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Lectures so hostile to the religious sentiment of the country could scarcely be expected to pass uncontradicted; and we find that in some parts they have given rise to extended newspaper correspondence. In the course of a correspondence of this kind in Manchester, a correspondent, who contends for comprehension in the Established Church, has the following graceful allusion to the venerable Clowes:"The Rev. John Clowes was sixty years incumbent of St. John's, Manchester, an avowed receiver of the doctrines of the truly great Swedish luminary, Emanuel Swedenborg. He used no tricks of concealment. He openly preached them with all the force and inspiration of a new affection. The neighbouring clergy complained to their bishop, who sent for the heretic; but good Bishop Porteous dismissed him without blame. Mr. Clowes translated the twelve volumes of the Arcana,' and it was another clergyman who translated 'Heaven and Hell,' the most popular of Swedenborg's books."

THE TEMPORAL POWER OF THE POPE.

An example of the unchanged and unchangeable character of the Papacy has been afforded by the recent action of some of the French Episcopacy. Notwithstanding the fearful afflictions of their country, these men are presenting inflammatory addresses to the Assembly at Versailles, and appeals to the

country, urging a crusade on behalf of the temporal power; or, in other words, the expulsion of the Italian Government from Rome-a work which could only be accomplished by a renewed war. The first of these addresses proceeded from the Cardinal Archbishop of Rouen and his suffragans. Another address has appeared from the Archbishop of Auch and his three suffragans of Bayonne, Aix, and Tarbes. This address begins by stating, that in consequence of the sacrilegious

assaults of the Italian Government against the possessions and "even the person" of the Supreme Pontiff, the "whole Catholic world" has been stirred up into just indignation, and "the souls of men everywhere made a prey to inexpressible anguish." The spoliation and captivity" of the Sovereign Pontiff, we are next informed, constitute a grave offence to the "liberty of

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conscience," wound in the most tender and delicate point the religious sentiment of Christian populations, and are an especial peril to society. The remedy proposed by the French Bishops against the above evils and oppression is that the French Government should enter into concert with foreign Powers to restore the Sovereign Pontiff to the position necessary for the government of the Church. And those pastors who are said to have left unimproved the opportunity offered by the war of rebuking the evils of the nation and seeking to elevate its moral and religious character, now assure a population who have just exhibited, both in themselves and their government, such a terrible spectacle of political and social demoralization, that they are a special instrument in the hand of Providence for the execution of its very highest and holiest purposes.' "France," that is, the French people, says the address, "has received from God the mission to safeguard these sacred interests. spite of disasters and misfortunes" (concerning which, however, not one word is added as to the lesson to be derived from them), "the honour is still reserved to her to play this providential part. It is to her alone that the Sovereign Pontiff looks for his deliverance and salvation. It will be an imperishable glory for the National Assembly thus to renew the chain of tradition of our ancestors," &c.

SWEDENBORG SOCIETY.

In

The Sixty-first Anniversary of this Society was held in the Society's House, Bloomsbury St., London, on Tuesday, June 20th, 1871. The Rev. Augustus Clissold, M.A., occupied the chair.

Prayer was offered by Dr. Bayley.

The Chairman said he would not then occupy their attention by any lengthened remarks, but it seemed impossible to open the proceedings of that meeting without adverting to the very awful circumstances under which the whole of Christendom had been placed during the last year, circumstances such as must impress the mind, not only of the thoughtful, but even of the thoughtless; and probably there was not one present who would not view those circumstances in relation to the new dispensation which the Lord is now establishing upon the earth.

The report of the Committee for the past year was read by the Secretary, and the Treasurer read the audited balance-sheet, which showed a balance in hand of £284, which, added to a deposit of £200, makes a balance of £484. Mr. Watson also read three separate accounts which are in the care of the Society, viz. that of the Latin Manuscripts' Printing Fund Account, on which there was a balance in hand of £79; that of the Swedish Printing Society's Account, with a balance in hand of £20; and that connected with the effort on behalf of the New Church in Italy, with a balance in hand of £33. Dr. Stocker, in moving the adoption of the report and Treasurer's stateinents of account, said it was evident the Society was going on prosperously, as was manifested by the larger sale of the works, and likewise by the interest taken in them by the public generally. The teaching of the present day tended very much to secularism, and there was great need of a theology which the human mind could contemplate with satisfaction. It was therefore especially a time in which to seek an extension of the usefulness of the Society; and he would ask every member present to do his or her best to advance its welfare.

Mr. Jobson, in seconding the adoption of the report, said every New Churchman must see in the state of society at the present day reason for the Swedenborg Society making still greater efforts in spreading a knowledge of the doctrines, and also in promoting the sale of the writings. For everywhere, in science, in social, in religious, or in political life, might be seen glimpses of the new perceptions of truth which were breaking out; and this, taken in connection with great upheavings of society, proved the necessity for a strong fundamental basis of religion—a foundation that could not be shaken, and a religion which should have its influence in all that concerns the human race. Looking at the terrible affairs which had taken place in Paris, he might say that those events had arisen solely from the great want of a true religion. Roman Catholicism had been tried and found wanting. These terrible events would never have happened if there had been a good substratum of true religion; and therefore it was the bounden duty of New Churchmen to extend as widely as possible the principles of the New

Church, which would meet the great want of the present age.

Mr. Gunton stated that, in accordance with a resolution of the last annual meeting, the Committee had, early in the year, turned their attention to the preparation of a Biography of Swedenborg, and had taken such steps as had been deemed most judicious by the majority of the Committee. Dr. Tafel had been engaged for some time in translating into English the documents which were necessary as a foundation for this biography. He would also inform the meeting that, in accordance with the wish of a generous friend of the Church who had been prepared to present a large sum of money for the purpose of building a new church at the West End of London, he and Mr. Pickstone, with the concurrence of Dr. Bayley, had purchased the Palace Gardens Church, situated in the Mall, Kensington, about 200 yards from the Notting Hill Gate or Station. The building is a handsome structure, and will be presented to the General Conference, and the endeavour of those who have taken the lead in this movement I would be to make it the centre of a great missionary operation. The benevolent friend who would present the church to the Conference had felt that something of the kind was needed in that part of London, there being no church in that district; and had expressed his willingness, if a piece of ground could be found, to give £8000 or £10,000, if necessary, to obtain this desideratum.

Mr. Watson was re-elected Treasurer, on the motion of Mr. Pickstone, seconded by Mr. H. R. Williams, who congratulated the Society on the valuable services which Mr. Watson rendered. The Chairman also expressed his concurrence with all that Mr. Williams had said, and assured Mr. Watson of the appreciation which he believed every one connected with the Society had of his services.

The Chairman said the next subject which would engage their attention was the Annual Address, and as he was then labouring under a severe cold and an affection of bronchitis, which would render it impossible for him to be properly heard, his friend Mr. Gorman would have the kindness to read extracts from the Address, which, as on former occasions, had been prepared really for the public. The events which

He

had happened in the past year had been of so extraordinary a nature that they required right principles for their interpretation and he believed it was only that Society that could furnish those principles. The public did not understand what had taken place; they simply saw the controversy going on, and prospects of its continuation; but as to any connection of these awful events with the New Dispensation, or with the second coming of the Lord, they had not the remotest idea. had therefore thought it advisable humbly to endeavour to point out the relation of these events to the principles which are laid down in the Apocalypse as explained by Swedenborg. But in order to do that it was necessary to go into the argument, and to meet the alleged Catholic Church upon its own ground, and to show how, upon this very ground, at the time it thought itself to be opposing, it was really fulfilling the prophecies in the seventeenth and eighteenth chapters of the Apocalypse. It was a remarkable fact that the Ecumenical Council had resulted in the setting up of a power in Christendom which was designed to nullify and altogether exterminate the interpretations of Swedenborg upon that subject. If the late decree of the Vatican Council were to succeed, there would be an end to the writings of this Society, there would be an end to the very principles of interpretation advocated by this Society. It would therefore be necessary, it seemed to him, to go out of the circumscribed boundaries of this Society, and to meet those arguments upon their own ground, and that too from out of the writings of Swedenborg, as well as out of their own writings. That was just what he had attempted to do. Of course, the whole argument could not be judged of without reading it consecutively in the pamphlet itself, the title of which was, "On the Present State of Christendom, and its Relation to the Second Coming of the Lord." All through the pamphlet, he might state, he had had principally in view the writings of Archbishop Manning.

The Rev. T. M. Gorman then read the Address, which was listened to with great interest, on account both of the inherent merit of the matter and of the brilliant manner in which Mr. Gorman performed his task.

The Chairman then moved,-"That

the Church of Rome, which assumes to be the Catholic Church, in establishing and promulgating by means of the Vatican Council the new dogma of the Pope's personal infallibility, has filled her cup of error to overflowing. It has therefore become a duty increasingly incumbent on this Society to use its best energies to make known still more widely, through the medium of its publications, the essential truth that the Word of God is the one divinelyappointed fountain of spiritual light to the Church, and the only absolute criterion by which to judge those 'commandments of men' which are taught for doctrines.'

Mr. Bateman said,-It would be unwise to say much to you on the subject of the resolution, for the whole matter has been proved to demonstration. I may advert, for a moment, to the circumstance that it has pleased Divine Providence that we, my brethren, who are here should be the successors of the few men, who, some sixty years ago, assembled together for the purpose of making known to mankind, through the instrumentality of this association which they then formed, those invaluable writings, which contain the very key to all these mysteries. The same Divine Providence, which has permitted the Church of Rome to fill her cup to overflowing, has at the same time given an impulse to the members of the New Church by which their own views have become more dear to them, more clearly seen, and, I trust, more earnestly loved. By the same Divine Providence there has been an influence through the new heavens, acting upon the minds of good men of various denominations, Christians of various names, who are now no longer looking at the New Church as a thing to be trampled upon and to be thrown aside, but as containing, at least, one of those forms of religious thought which may be of use to mankind; and I will venture to say, that the time is not distant when the New Church will be seen to be in the very van of Christian civilization, and when the members of other communities will come to us to know how we are to meet that torrent of infidelity on the one hand, and that torrent of abomination on the other, which has been poured out upon the nations through the false teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.