ment, and the future life. The latter subject, particularly the teaching of the New Church respecting heaven and hell, seemed to excite the greatest interest and was received with the most marked attention. At the meeting on the Wednesday evening a goodly number were present, including several of the strangers who had attended the lectures. The Rev. E. Whitehead occupied the chair, and in a few appropriate remarks explained the purpose of the meeting, and encouraged those desirous of information to make inquiries. He concluded by calling upon the lecturer, who very briefly recapitulated the subjects he had discussed in his lectures; and this was followed by an interesting and instructive conversation. The questions proposed led to the further exposition of several portions of the Word, to the explanation of the teaching of Jude respecting the angels who kept not their first estate, and to other subjects which arose from the general conversation. One of the strangers seemed to act as the mouthpiece of those around him. The questions were proposed with marked good feeling and an evident wish not to annoy or embarrass but to receive instruction. We believe that the general feeling of the meeting was one of pleasure and of profit; and the interest which had been felt and the benefit received was manifested in the kindly expressions and warmth of feeling with which was proposed and adopted a vote of thanks to the lecturer and to the missionary committee who had rendered them this service. DEWSBURY.-The New Church Society holding its meetings in the Temperance Room, in the above town, invited the Rev. John Hyde of Manchester to deliver two lectures on the 28th and 29th of February last, on the following subjects,-"Will the world be destroyed or moral evil out of the world," and "Swedenborg-his life and writings." The first lecture was moderately at tended, but the attendance at the last lecture, owing to the very tempestuous weather, was not so large as expected. The friends of the above church have just concluded a course of six lectures in order to remove those erroneous ideas generally pervading the minds of the orthodox fraternity; it is a remarkable fact, and worthy of notice, that the greatest enemies of the New Church are to be found amongst those who are entirely ignorant of the writings of Swedenborg. We are glad to state that amongst those attending the lectures were individuals connected with various places of worship in the town, some of whom hesitated not to give expression to their feelings, as being well pleased and satisfied with the views put forth, and at the same time also admitted their previous misconception of New Church teaching, in which they could now see nothing objectionable. This augurs well for the future, and we believe will greatly tend to remove those dark clouds of ignorance and prejudice from the minds of some of our townsmen, especially those who have been pleased to designate us as sceptics and unbelievers. LEEDS. The Anniversary of the Sunday School in this town was held on Shrove Tuesday, February 13th. About fifty children sat down to tea. Tea was also provided for members and friends at six o'clock. After which the scholars and friends retired into the chapel to prepare for the evening's proceedings, which consisted of special hymns, dialogues, and recitations. The chair was taken by Mr. Schofield, the Vice-President of the Society. A dialogue on the Employments of Angels by ten scholars and teachers was greatly applauded. One on Kindness caused much enjoyment, ending in the singing the beauti ful song, "Be kind to the loved ones at home." A novel dialogue, entitled "The Musical Collection," was admira bly given by two female teachers, who wanted to hear the audience take their part by dropping their pieces into the collecting boxes which was accordingly done. The scholars gave their recitations in an excellent manner, and were much applauded. The chairman made a few suitable remarks, followed by other friends, and after the usual vote of thanks, proceedings were brought to a close by repeating the Lord's Prayer. MIDDLESBOROUGH.-The Society, instituted in this town in the year 1870, continues to make slow but steady progress. The leader, Mr. Smith, possesses the esteem and confidence of the members, who also warmly appreciate the valuable services of Mrs. Smith at the harmonium. Mr. Smith continues to improve in his knowledge of the doc trines, and in his ability to preach them natural body, and there is a spiritual efficiently to others. To increase the body." The natural body was adapted usefulness of his services, the Society to the natural world, and the spiritual have adopted the plan of issuing a card body was adapted to the spiritual world. containing the announcement of the By many arguments and scriptural proofs Sabbath evening subjects for six succes- he endeavoured to show that after death sive Sundays. Those for the last Sunday man never again tenanted his earthly in February and for March are devoted tabernacle. "Flesh and blood cannot to the "New Church," and to her inherit the kingdom of heaven." The teachings respecting "the Word," "Sal- meeting was large, and closed by singvation," and the Future Life." The ing a hymn and the benediction. Mr. discourses have been very able and warmly Ramnage announced that on his next appreciated. The new room to which visit his subject would be "Heaven and the Society has removed is conveniently Hell: What and Where they are,” and situated, and the weekly contributions that the same liberty of discussion would received in the collecting-box-the only be accorded. regular means adopted to obtain funds for the support of the Society-is quite equal to the expectations of the members. The town has also received from the Swedenborg Society a gift of all the theological writings of Swedenborg to their Free Library. Other New Church works from the Missionary Society have also been presented to his library, and all are now on the shelves and available for use. The Library Committee have received the works courteously and, indeed, gratefully, and there is reason to hope that they will be read and found useful in dispelling prejudice, and extending a knowledge of the heavenly doctrines. In the month of February the members determined to make presents to Mr. and Mrs. Smith as a testimony of their regard and appreciation of their services. A subscription was raised and a tea-meeting appointed for the 27th, at which the presentation was made of a handsome tea-pot to Mrs. Smith, and a copy of the " Apocalypse Explained" to Mr. Smith. The meeting was convened by a notice in the Mission-room, inviting only those interested in the Church. About thirty, including one from Saltburn and two from Darlington, were present. The meeting was pleasant and agreeable, and an excellent feeling of earnestness and unity evidently animated all present. ST. IVES.-On Thursday, February 29th, Mr. P. Ramage of London continued his services by delivering a lecture in the above Church :-Subject, "Will the Natural Body rise from the Grave." The lecturer contended that the Scriptures clearly taught not the resurrection of the natural body, but the rising of man at death in a spiritual body. There is a Marriages. March 3rd, at the New Jerusalem Church, by the Rev. R. Storry, Mr. John Lee to Miss Ellen Mills. On the 14th inst., at New Jerusalem Church, Accrington, by Mr. E. J. Broadfield, B.A., Henry William, third son of the late Mr. Joseph Clegg, Daily Mount, Newchurch, to Matilda, only daughter of Mr. Abraham Hindle, Rose Bank, Haslingden. March 24th, at the New Jerusalem Church, Heywood, by Rev. E. Whitehead of Dalton, Mr. Henry Butterworth to Miss Mary Smith. Obituary. At Heywood, November 18th, 1871, Samuel Richardson, Esq., of South View House, Heywood. Mr. Richardson had suffered for many years from an incurable disorder, which had confined him very much to the immediate neighbourhood of his home. He sustained his illness with remarkable cheerfulness and contentment. His departure was very sudden aud unexpected. He was suddenly seized with an accession of illness which ended in almost total unconsciousness, in which state he continued to the time of his departure. On the 9th December 1871, entered the spiritual world, Mr. Thomas Taylor of Wigan, aged 80 years. He was one of the first members of the Society in that town, and took a lively interest in its concern during the long life with which Divine Providence blessed him. Being well read in the doctrines of the New Church, in his early days he was a teacher in the school, and gentlemen of position in the town, who attended his funeral, testified to his earnestness and sincerity. He also occupied the position of preacher to the Society on certain occasions. He took an especial interest in the Society whilst the present school was being erected, and when it was finished his ambition was realized, and he left the field of active labour for those younger than himself. He was peculiarly happy whenever visiting the day-school, and felt proud and thankful that the New Church, the pride of his life, was being the means of educating the children of his native town. He enjoyed good health until a fortnight before his death. Mr. Johnson delivered a funeral sermon, which was listened to by a large and attentive audience, who expressed themselves pleased with the doctrine propounded, "the Immortality the soul.' At Accrington, on the 8th of January last, James Brown was removed into the spiritual world, in his 68th year. He was brought up in the principles of the New Church, his father having been one of the first receivers of the heavenly doctrines in Embsay. During the last ten years of his life he was heavily afflicted with bronchitis, which was borne with great patience. He was a straightforward and consistent man, ever upright and true to his principles. His departure, though a great loss to his sorrowing family, will doubtless be his gain, and will be overruled for their spiritual benefit. Died at Bath, on the 30th of January, in the 70th year of his age, Henry Strong, Esq., for many years principal of a large academy for young gentlemen at Corsham, in Wilts, in which place he was deservedly loved and respected by rich and poor, and especially by the young gentlemen under his care, who as they passed from youth to manhood, and exchanged their school life for the more extended and trying one of the world, looked back to their boyish days under his affectionate superintendence with great satisfaction and delight, and often travelled miles to see his face once more. When quite a young man, as sistant to Dr. Ratcliffe of Salisbury, he became acquainted, through the instrumentality of Mr. Sopp, a staunch receiver of the doctrines of the New Church, with those precious truths which not only strongly fascinated his intellect, but also became the rule by which his future life was guided; and so simple and pure was this, so full of childlike innocence, that one felt almost justified in applying to him the words of our blessed Saviour to Nathaniel, "Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile.' His conscience was so tender, so fearful of giving offence to God or man, that I have known him pass hours of almost agony and return some distance at personal inconvenience to correct something he was fearful might have conveyed a wrong impression during a previous conversation. Generous in the extreme he was ever ready to assist in any good cause, and proved almost a father to two orphan nephews, educating and bringing them up, but disclaiming all idea of merit, feeling that he was amply rewarded for good deeds by the peace of mind which followed. For a year or two previous to his death he suffered from an incurable painful disease, of a most distressing character, but bore his increasing infirmities with a patience and hopefulness delightful to witness, and to a friend who had known him from her earliest childhood, who asked if he felt happy and free from painful doubts, he calmly bowed assent, being too weak to converse. He died as he had lived at peace with all, and with a sweet smile on his face, which will be ever remembered with delight by his deeply bereaved and fondly loved wife, departing without a struggle or scarcely a sigh. Truly "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." Departed this life, at her residence, Newcastle-on-Tyne, March 10th, Miss Elizabeth Reed, at the age of 78. She had been a consistent member of the New Church Society at Newcastle about fifty years, having been brought to a grateful reception of our heavenly doctrines during the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Bradley. In all the vicissitudes of the Society she held fast to the truths and to the New Church. To attend the worship at the Temple, and especially to be present at the Holy Supper whenever possible, gave her much pleasure. She cultivated a state of cheerful and intelligent piety, relying on the promises of an unchangeable Saviour. Her end was eminently peaceful. On March 12th, 1872, at her residence in Düsseldorf on the Rhine, Mrs. Mina Tafel, relict of the late Dr. Immanuel Tafel. THE CLAIMS OF THE DOCTRINE OF CORRESPONDENCES AS A UNIVERSAL SCIENCE. FOR that part of "Heaven and Hell" which relates to the teachings about correspondences, we read: "And first for what is meant by correspondence. How the whole natural world corresponds to the spiritual world, both in the whole and likewise in its several parts; and what exists and subsists in the natural from the spiritual is called correspondence. Now the whole natural world exists and subsists from the spiritual as an effect from its efficient cause, therefore there is a correspondent relation betwixt them. By the natural world is meant the whole expanse under the sun, and whatever therein receiveth life and heat from it belongs to that world. By the spiritual world is meant heaven and all that is therein." The law here enunciated is clear and unmistakeable :-The whole natural world corresponds to the spiritual world, both in its entirety and in its several parts. In reading these few words with the attention they merit, we must feel overwhelmed with the solemn yet apparently mysterious fact which they are intended to reveal to us. If these words are more than a dream; if they are more than the phantom of an over-excited brain, then we can see that all we can do, all we can feel in this natural plane of our existence, is only the shadowing forth of something greater; the representative type of some brighter sight, some nobler act, some purer feeling, possible to us in our future existence. To realise this idea in its fulness we must try to obtain a clear perception of the next thought to which it must necessarily lead. If everything we see in our material existence, if every feeling we experience in our emotional life be thus typical, if the R world in which we live and act, in which we toil and rest, in which we find sorrow and joy, is but one universal correspondence, the question must come to us: How is it that what the Lord intended to be a universal knowledge is now confined to comparatively few believers? In some minds another question must be the immediate result of considerations of this nature. It is: Does not the fact that in a numerical point of view, so few adhere to the doctrine of correspondences demonstrate that its fundamental principle cannot be true? How is it that a church which devotes itself to the highest and noblest work possible, that aims at transforming men into God's image and likeness, apparently lacks influence and growth. The two questions deserve the full consideration of all believers in New Church doctrines. They often take a very practical shape. The train of thought which led to the writing of this sketch was originated through a conversation which the writer had with a friend. After having taken this friend to a New Church service, which was entirely strange to him, the conversation fell, after returning home, naturally upon the main tenets of the belief of the New Church. The friend of the writer was obliged to confess that there was nothing unreasonable in the doctrines we hold, nothing that must not lead to a purer life, to higher motives for our actions. But the question came: How is it that a merciful Providence has only permitted to so few to see the real light, whilst millions of others are permitted to grope their dreary path in spiritual darkness. Like in most questions of great moment so in this one. We cannot expect to find its solution by isolating our thought and by concentrating it upon one point. Manifold as the causes for this apparent discrepancy between New Church teachings and the practical experience of New Church Societies are; so must the reasons which we can adduce in explanation, so must the steps which we intend to take to bring about a different state of things be manifold. It is only to one side of the question that we shall direct our attention in these lines. In how far, by a fuller knowledge of the beauty and the importance of correspondences, this science may contribute to the development of the Lord's New Church upon earth? This same question may present itself to us in a variety of garbs, and must have come in one or the other form under the notice of our readers. A different manner of asking it would be: Is the doctrine of correspondences, the belief in an inner and spiritual sense of the Word, intended by the Lord to become universally understood, universally cherished and universally recognised? The answer resolves itself into a simple point of logic. Nothing can |