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to a new or renewed state of Church doctrine and life in all who profess and call themselves Christians; a state to be brought about gradually, and in a peaceful and orderly course and manner, through the medium of the Ministri docentes, that is, the Clergy duly appointed, under public and lawful authority, by episcopal consecration, to their sacred office." The Ministr docentes are, as far as we can see, the clergy of the Anglican Church. This Church which, the writer admits, had in the eighteenth century sunk into the lowest state of degradation, has now, under the new light and influence, become so changed, that in it all things are made new. Yet new as it is in enlightenment and liberality, no pulpit can be found in it wide enough for that one of its priests who is so stout a champion of the rightfulness of its claim to be a true and living church, and so sound a representative of the principles which have brought her from darkness into light, and raised her from death into life. Mr. Gorman's defence of the Athanasian Creed has not seemingly produced much effect. We must wait to see what this more ambitious effort will do.

HEALTH AND DISEASE. BY ED. SMITH, M.D., &c. H. S. King & Co.

1875. 409 pp.

THIS is a work containing the results of an immense number of observations taken by the author upon himself and other persons, and his lamented death a short time ago will be deeply regretted by the medical world. It contains an account of the changes which take place daily, weekly, seasonably, and during the lifetime, especially with regard to pulsation and respiration.

In paragraphs 250 et seq. there occurs the following statements, which, coming from so eminent a scientific man, should have great weight:

"The entire exclusion of labour on the rest day is as clearly indicated by our experi" ments as is the mere diminution of it, and we feel assured that the more rigidly the exclusion is enforced the more will the working-man of all classes benefit by the day. We have the conviction that our capability to labour through the week is essentially connected with the amount of rest obtained on the Sunday. Clergymen and others whose duty calls them to labour on the Sunday, should set apart another day as a day of rest."

He attributes much of the clergyman's sore throat to the neglect of a day of rest.

And to those who believe that evil energy from the spiritual world is perhaps the chief cause of disease, the 11th chapter, on epidemics, will be very interesting, as showing how the changes in the spiritual world have resulted in the departure of certain diseases and the reappearance of fresh

ones.

His description of the Black death or great mortality in A.D. 1333 is very graphic. The views of Swedenborg upon atmospheres may receive some illustration from the statement made in the 589th paragraph :

"Wines are chiefly valued for their aromas, which consist of unknown volatile oils and ethers, and as they become older they gain aroma and lose alcohol. This aroma is a most valuable agent in the wines, since its inhalation was alone sufficient to lessen vital changes.'

Upon the whole this is a useful book.

THE LINGUIST AND EDUCATIONAL REVIEW is a new candidate for public favour. To the ordinary character of a journal, in which however the selected are more numerous than the original articles, it adds that of a teacher of languages. On the plan of Cassell's Popular Educator, we have in the May number lessons in French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Miscellaneous.

GENERAL CONFERENCE.

THE 68th Conference of the New Church assembled at Peter Street, Manchester, on Monday, August 9, 1875. At the Monday's sitting, the only business transacted was the verification of the Certificates and the signing of the Conference Roll. At this and subsequent meetings, 15 ministers and 66 representatives signed the roll.

Before the rising of Conference, Mr. E. J. Broadfield moved a resolution of sympathy with Revs. J. Hyde and E. Ď. Rendell in their affliction, which was forwarded, with an appropriate letter by the President, the same evening. The Conference assembled on Tuesday morning at nine, the Rev. R. Storry, Vice-President, occupied the chair, and conducted the opening devotional exercises. Rev. Dr. Bayley was unanimously elected President, Rev. R. Storry was appointed Vice-President, and Rev. E. Whitehead, Secretary.

The President, in an earnest address, referred to the loss of the Conference by the absence this year of some of its most prominent and useful members, naming with affectionate sympathy the Rev. J. Hyde, the pastor of the church in which the Conference was assembled, Revs. E. D. Rendell, J. J. Thornton, and Mr. Willson of Birmingham. He pointed out the duties to which the Church was called, and expressed the hope of the continued unity and increased usefulness of the Conference, and the Church which was represented by it.

The certificates of the ordination of Rev. P. Ramage, and of the introduction of Rev. J. J. Thornton into the ministry of the New Church were then presented and accepted.

assist in the deliberations of the Conference, and to address the chair whenever he shall feel disposed."

Rev. P. Ramage was directed to prepare the Annual Address to the members of the Church in Great Britain next year. Rev. J. Presland was nominated as next year's President, and Rev. Dr. Bayley as the preacher of the Conference Sermon, Accrington being selected as the place for holding the session of 1876.

A Committee was appointed to report on the revision of the Extraordinary Ser vices of the Liturgy, and to prepare a service of Confirmation.

A motion to appoint a Committee to inquire into the Birmingham Circular on the baptism question was after a short discussion withdrawn.

In the evening, the members of Conference and a large assembly of friends from Manchester and the surrounding Societies, assembled at the Conference service. Rev. J. F. Potts, B. A., preached his first Conference sermon within the walls of the building that had been the spiritual home of his childhood and youth. The subject chosen was Psalm cxxxiii. As the sermon will be pub lished in the pages of the Magazine, our readers will be enabled to judge of the interesting character of the discourse, which was delivered in the usual earnest and impressive style of the preacher. At the close of the service, the Sacrament of the Holy Supper was administered by Revs. Dr. Bayley and R. Storry to about 120 communicants. This annual sacramental service, when the ministers and members of the Church from various parts of the world can commune together in the holiest act of religious worship, is experienced by all as a season of spiritual refreshment and delight.

Rev. R. Storry moved the following resolution, "The Rev. Chauncey Giles On Wednesday, the subject of the of New York, U.S., being present as position of the Students' and Ministers' the official messenger of the General Aid Fund, and the National Missionary Convention of the New Church in Institution, came under consideration, America,-Resolved, That this Confer- and resolutions were passed calling upon ence greets with the heartiest welcome the Church to place these useful instituour brother, the Rev. Chauncey Giles, tions upon a more satisfactory pecuniary and desires to express its sincere plea- basis. Committees were also appointed sure and gratification in seeing him of leading members of the Church amongst us, and hereby invites him to in the various New Church centres, for

the purpose of directing special attention to this subject.

Mr. Goldsack drew attention to the reception of Foreign and Colonial Addresses, and with the view of giving increased publicity to this important and instructive correspondence, it was resolved to print them in the Repository as well as in the Minutes.

It appearing from the Report of the Conference Council that they had lent £700 and £500 respectively to the Societies at Southport and Hull, Mr. E. J. Broadfield moved, "That in the opinion of the Conference it is not desirable that any of the funds of Conference should be lent on mortgage to New Church Societies, except from the Building Fund." He disclaimed all intention of wishing to blame the Council of which he was a member, but he urged that, as the Council was a new institution, entrusted with large powers, it was necessary to be careful of making a bad precedent. Though the investments were, doubtless, perfectly safe, the relations between the Conference and the Societies of the Church were such that it would be impossible to foreclose. Mr. G. C. Haseler seconded, expressing himself highly alarmed at the action of the Council.

Mr. R. Gunton believed that not only had the Council acted within their powers, but they had done a very safe business act, as well as a useful thing to the Societies. If the Conference had money to invest, it might as well lend it to New Church Societies as to anybody else, and the Societies would not be so liable to frequent law costs.

Mr. G. Benson (Secretary of the Council) urged that the Council had looked at the matter from a business point of view, and felt quite confident that they had acted judiciously.

The discussion resulted in the rejection of Mr. Broadfield's motion, the numbers being-for, 25; against, 28.

The Report of the Committee appointed to solicit funds for the Building Fund reported that they had issued a Circular and inserted an advertisement monthly in the Intellectual Repository, and though they had collected a larger sum than in former years, it was not probable that the £1000, towards which the sums of £100 were conditionally promised at the last Conference, would be secured. A Committee, consisting

of the President and Messrs. Parkinson, W. H. Pilkington, and A. Braby, was appointed to make a new effort in that direction.

On the reception of the report of the Photolithograph Committee, Rev. Dr. Tafel called attention to the fact that a sum of money raised for the purpose of securing MSS. of Swedenborg was now in the bank, and as there were no more MSS. to find, he thought that the money might be very legitimately expended in assisting in the publication of the documents concerning Swedenborg, now being undertaken by a Committee of the Swedenborg Society, a work which was in danger of being abandoned from lack of funds. He moved that the money be loaned for that purpose.

Mr. J. H. Tonks seconded.

After a short discussion in which it transpired that no application for the money had been made by the Swedenborg Society, the motion was withdrawn.

Rules for the regulation of the Foreign and Colonial Missions were adopted.

Dr. Tafel moved a resolution asserting the desirableness of the members of the New Church in Great Britain and America taking united action for the purpose of securing a reliable income for the Scandinavian and Italian Missions. Dr. Tafel explained that the Mission in Scandinavia originated among some of the New Church friends at Chicago who liberally supported it, until they were deprived of their means of doing so by the great fire. During the last year the English Committee had been able to fulfil their promise of forwarding £50 to Rev. A. Boyesen, but they wanted to be able to make a definite promise, in conjunction with a similar promise in America. Dr. Tafel gave many interesting details of the work in Sweden and Italy.

Rev. Chauncey Giles explained that the mission did not originate in any general New Church effort, but with a few people particularly interested in Scandinavia. At present nothing of a systematic character was being done. The American brethren, however, felt a deep interest in the matter, and would continue to do so. During the past year the American Printing Society had sent money to Signor Scocia and Mr. Boyesen, and he would do his best on his return home to get a regular and systematic

contribution for general missionary purposes. He felt strongly that we ought to do our very best to keep alive the germs of truth on the Continent; this was a duty, and it should also be our joy, more especially for Sweden, the home of the man to whom as a medium we are indebted for the glorious truths of the New Church. Mr. G. Benson, while agreeing in much of what had been said by the previous speaker, contended that we ought to be very careful in entering into foreign engagements. In his opinion the members of the New Church in England were drained more than any other body, and as England was riper than any other place in the world for the reception of New Church truth, we ought to direct all our energies towards missionary effort at home.

The President reminded the Conference that it was not proposed to touch any of the funds of Conference for the objects sought to be accomplished by the Colonial and Foreign Missions, but only to devote money specially given for those purposes. Our only responsibility in the matter was that which devolves upon us always when we see men, who have a strong desire to work in the New Church, needing help. The policy of the Committee was not to do the work of the brethren abroad, but to help them to do it themselves. Ultimately the motion was adopted.

the power to interfere with the right of anybody to administer the Sacraments. Rev. W. Bruce could not see why, if we ordained ministers for foreign countries, we could not also license leaders. Rev. Dr. Tafel, amidst cheers and laughter, somewhat discomfited the anti-ministerial speaker by informing the Conference that he should write to the American Convention, who would send out a minister to ordain the man.

The Conference council this year is comprised of eight members from the various Lancashire Societies, and Messrs. Gunton and Watson.

Thursday. The first business was to receive the report of the Application Committee. The ordinations of Messrs. Joseph Ashby (Derby), Joseph Deans (Brightlingsea),

Redman Goldsack (Liverpool), and Isaiah Tansley (Claytonle-Moors), were approved. The consideration of the application of Mr. R. R. Rodgers (Birmingham), who had not presented a certificate of baptism "into the New Church," was postponed until after the notices of motion had been disposed of. Mr. C. Fairweather was readopted as a student. On the motion to adopt Mr. Hugh Evans, whose qualifications were endorsed by Rev. J. Presland, Dr. Tafel, Dr. Bayley, and Mr. R. Gunton, the Rev. W. O'Mant in an address of some length, raised the general question of the relative claims of students and ministers upon the fund. He Dr. Tafel moved, and Rev. Chauncey urged that it was more important to give Giles and Mr. R. Gunton supported a our first thought to those Societies who resolution expressive of the admiration already had ministers, and whose salaries of the Conference of the generous greatly needed augmenting-believing labours of our German brother Mr. that if the prospect of a livelihood could Mittnacht, who had purchased the whole be held out, there was a probability that stock of German New Church publica- men would come forward sufficiently tions left by the late Dr. Tafel, and was educated to at once assume the charge disposing of them at one-third the of Societies. Mr. R. Gunton, while former prices, besides giving away to fully admitting the necessity of suppleministers 900 copies of the T. C. R. menting minister's salaries, believed that and other works of Swedenborg. In both the objects of the fund could be putting the resolution, the President readily secured if the members of the took occasion to mention that Signor Church would fully realize their duty Scocia had given 150 of the works in the matter of contributing to the in Italian to as many priests who had fund. Messrs. John Smith, Howe, Jubb, applied for them. The resolution was McLagan and others, supported Mr. carried by acclamation. Gunton's view of the question, and A request from Mr. Lacroix of Trinidad ultimately the motion was adopted, for a licence to administer the Sacra- with one dissentient. Mr. W. A. Bates ments evoked an interesting discussion. of Brightlingsea was adopted as a studIt was held by many that the Con- ent, arrangements being made for him ference could not interfere, as Trinidad to remain one year at Brightlingsea was beyond its jurisdiction; others under the tutorship of Mr. Deans. ridiculed the idea of Conference having The council of the New Church College

had presented a memorial to Conference asking for the payment to them of certain sums deducted from their revenues by Conference for the payment of Mr. J. R. Rendell's fees at the Owens College, and the Conference appointed a committee to confer with the college council and to report to the Conference Council. The committee to consist of Revs. W. Bruce and J. Presland, together with Messrs. E. J. Broadfield, J. Grimshaw, S. Teed, and T. Watson.

After the close of the debate on baptism, Rev. Wm. Bruce was elected an ordaining minister, and the ordination of Mr. R. R. Rodgers of Birmingham was agreed to.

The address from the General Convention in America to the New Church in Great Britain was read by Rev. Chauncey Giles, and a resolution acknowledging its receipt, and directing a reply to be prepared by the President of Conference, was moved by the vice-president and warmly adopted by the Con

ference.

On the motion of Mr. R. Gunton, a resolution expressive of the high appreciation of the Conference for the late John Finnie, Esq., whose benefactions to the Church had exceeded £23,400 was adopted, and a similar resolution was carried in reference to the late Rev. D. T. Dyke of Salisbury.

66

ference, and to the Peter Street Society for the completeness of their arrangements, and the handsome manner in which they had entertained the ministers and representatives.

On the reassembling of Conference on Thursday afternoon, the notices of motion were called. The first notice of motion, given by several Societies, was introduced by Mr. Mackereth, "That in rule 152, section a, line 4, after the word 'baptized,' the words 'in the New Church' be omitted; and that in rule 169, section e, after the word 'baptized,' the words 'into the New Church' be struck out." The purpose of the resolution was to render baptism into the New Church optional on the part of candidates for the ministry. Baptism is necessary, and if members of the Society of Friends, or other unbaptized persons, come into the Church, they must be baptized. Where baptism has already taken place in other Christian Churches, he regarded rebaptism as a work of supererogation.

The motion was seconded by the Rev. Mr. Ramage, who had read the literature on the subject, and regarded the view adopted in the Conference rules as narrow and injurious to the Church. The statement of Swedenborg that the Church at this day had falsified all truths, had relation to the Church which was judged and condemned, and not to the Church of the present time. Infants were from their nativity under the care of angels, and introduced by the Lord into heaven (A. C. 2303, 5342). Anything different would be a new kind of Calvinism.

Mr. S. Teed moved, in agreement with notice of motion given by the Society at Camden Road, London, That Rule 208, section a (a rule relating to the adoption of students) be altered to read as follows: "certificates of moral character and recommendations of his adoption from either of two boards, to be Mr. Cameron contended that the called examining boards, or the majority relation of the baptized to the angels thereof respectively, consisting of and spirits, with whom they are asordained ministers to be appointed sociated, depended on the faith into annually by the Conference; one of which they were baptized, and to the such boards to be the Examining Board North of Trent, and the other the Examining Board South of Trent, each board to consist of not less than four members." After a somewhat desultory discussion the motion was carried, and the president, Revs. W. Bruce, J. Presland, and Dr. Tafel, were appointed the Southern Board and the vice-president, Revs. J. Boys, W. Westall, and E. Whitehead, the Northern Board.

Votes of thanks were passed to the president for the able manner in which he had regulated the affairs of Con

quality of the Christianity within and without them (T. C. R. 680). He moved, therefore, an amendment retaining the rule, but dispensing with rebaptism where candidates had conscientious objections.

The ammendnient having been seconded, Mr. Deans entered into a history of the rule, and replied to the address of Mr. Ramage.

Mr. Goldsack regarded baptism as only a sign (T. C. R. 677), hence all infants and foreign proselytes should be baptized, but this was not needed

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