sistent example of love and forbearance to one another, endeavour to shew the practical excellence of their teaching. At six o'clock there was a tea meeting in the library; after which Dr. Bayley delighted the company by his highly interesting account of his visit to the Continent. He described the late Dr. Tafel's life, labours, and literary property, the latter of which had been purchased by the Swedenborg Society, and gave a very encouraging report of the favourable change which seems to be taking place in the religious world at the present time in France, Germany, and Switzerland.

On Tuesday and Friday evenings Dr. Bayley delivered two lectures, which were very well attended, the church being quite full. The subjects were "What is the true way of loving God above all things, and our neighbour as ourselves?" and the "Opening of the Book sealed with Seven Seals;" both of which were powerfully treated.

The Bath New Church Committee take this opportunity of publicly thanking Dr. Bayley, and all the other ministers who have visited this society within the last few years, for their very valuable services, both in enlightening the public mind by removing many popular prejudices, and by the encouragement they have given us to persevere in our efforts to promote the interests of the New Church in Bath. WM. GIBBS.

Bayley, who was on a visit at Bath, attended; as did also the Rev. Jas. Keene, and several other Bath friends.

The report of the committee, which was of a satisfactory character, and which amongst other interesting matters announced the addition of eight new members during the year, was read. The meeting was addressed by the respected minister of the society, the Rev. Thos. Chalklen, the Rev. Dr. Bayley, the Rev. James Keene, Messrs. Beattie, Wethey, and Phillips, and the sentiments expounded were all of a highly practical character, setting forth in various ways the means to be adopted for extending the usefulness of the church in this city. The meeting was more numerously attended than any previously held in this city, and all appeared highly delighted. The proceedings, which terminated about ten o'clock, were interspersed with music and singing.

SWEDENBORG'S RULES OF LIFE. Many persons have, for some time past, expressed a desire to see these rules in an ornamental form, such as, when framed, would do credit to any drawing room. All previous publications have been of a very common-place character. I beg to suggest to the Swedenborg Society, the propriety of offering a premium of £10. for the best ornamental design, and publishing that which they approve at a moderate price. Liverpool. GEORGE PIXTON.

NORTHAMPTON.

This society has received further missionary aid by a visit from the Rev. D. G. Goyder and the Rev. E. D. Rendell. On Sunday, November 29th, the Rev. D. G. Goyder preached two sermons; that in the morning was "On God's Perfection and Man's Perfection," Matthew v. 48; that in the evening was "On the Growth of our Lord Jesus Christ in Wisdom and in Strength of the Spirit," Luke ii. 40. The attendance on both occasions was good; in the evening every seat was occupied. On Monday and Tuesday evenings, two lectures were delivered,subjects: "Sensual and Spiritual Belief," John xx. 29; and "The Book of Life," Revelations xx. 15. The attendance at the lectures was not so good, on account of there being several other meetings held at the same time. The doctrines of the church on the above subjects were

The Rev. E. D. Rendell delivered the following discourses :-Friday evening, December 11th, the subject was "The Atonement, Man's Reconciliation to God," which was treated in a very clear and able manner. On Sunday, December 13th, morning subject, The blessedness of those who do the Commandments of the Lord;" evening subject "Opening of the Book that was sealed within and on the back side." On Monday evening, December 14th, another lecture was delivered, subject-" Man's Condition in the Other Life determined by what he loves and does during his lifetime in the World." The rev. gentleman also gave an address to the Sunday scholars. Our school has been reorganised about six months; we have now about forty children who attend regularly. After the evening service, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered to eighteen communicants. The attendance on each occasion was good, and the subjects were listened to with great attention.

We cannot close this notice without expressing our thanks for the help which has been rendered to us by the National Missionary Society.

T. E. MARRIOTT, Sec.

IPSWICH. On Sunday, November 29th, Mr. Spilling, of Norwich, visited this society, under the auspices of the New Church National Missionary Institute, and he preached morning and evening. The subject of the morning discourse was from Isaiah xl. 3-5, and Mark i. 2, 3; that in the evening from Judges v. 20"The stars in their courses fought against Sisera." Mr. Spilling, in this discourse, referred to Bishop Colenso's work, and to the authors of the "Essays and Reviews," and showed that it is of little consequence for us to know that certain portions of Holy Scripture are historically true, so long as they contain a life-history of every one of us, and are true to our own experience. The congregations were small, but very attentive.

OF THE REV. J. HYDE. On the 29th November this society was favoured with a visit from the Rev. J. Hyde, of Derby, who preached the anniversary sermons in connection with the schools, after which a collection was made, amounting to £8. 6s.

The subject of the morning's discourse was "David and Goliath," and was appropriately addressed to the young. The evening sermon was to parents, on their duties to their children, and was founded upon Deut. vi. 6, 7. The school room, which is built to seat about 270 adults, was filled to overflowing, a large number of attentive listeners also occupying the adjoining vestry.

On the following (Monday) evening the fourth annual meeting of the society was held, Mr. Hyde presiding; and at half-past seven the meeting adjourned to listen to a lecture by Mr. Hyde, on the "Divine Trinity in the Lord Jesus Christ." This lecture was listened anxiously to by an audience numbering about 200, and was at once clear and unanswerable. After the lecture a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Hyde; and the meeting separated, highly gratified with what they had heard.

During the past year the society has continued to progress, slowly but steadily; the present number of members is 35, and 9 probationers. The school has increased from 100 scholars and 14 teachers to 160 scholars and 20 teachers, exclusive of a reserve of young people who are willing to become teachers if required. A Tract Society has been established, by means of which about 1,200 four-page tracts, on the leading subjects connected with the New Church, have been gratuitously distributed in the surrounding neighbourhood; and a circulation by loan and interchange from house to house of the larger series of tracts is contemplated. The pulpit bas been mostly filled by lay preachers or readers; and the society is particularly indebted to Mr. John Bayley, of Nottingham, and Mr. R. R. Rodgers, late of Derby, for their kind asssitance.

J. P.

NOTTINGHAM.-HEDDERLY STREET

SOCIETY.

We learn that this society is still progressing very steadily and satisfactorily. Mr. John Bayley is now engaged in the delivery of a series of Sunday evening

discourses on the "Pilgrim's Progress" of John Bunyan, explained in the light of the New Dispensation, and the results are most cheering, the congregation every Sunday averaging about one hundred and fifty persons. The Sunday-school has been re-established under the superintendence of Mr. Thos. Stevenson, and a staff of sixteen teachers. The holy ordinance is administered monthly to nearly forty recipients, and altogether the prospects and usefulness of the church are becoming more settled and decided every day. There is a full choral service morning and evening, which has produced a marked difference in the devotional portion of the services, and is much appreciated.

PROPOSED NEW EDITION OF THE REV. E. MADELEY'S WORK-" THE SCIENCE OF CORRESPONDENCE ELUCIDATED." We have received from Mr. Marsden, of Dalton, Huddersfield, an interesting letter on this subject which is, unfortunately, too long for our space. We append the circular which Mr. Marsden has himself issued on the subject unknown to Mr. Madeley, as he has taken especial interest in the success of the work:

"Grove-place, Dalton Huddersfield, "December, 1863.

"Sir,-You will be glad to learn that the Rev. E. Madeley, of Birmingham, has agreed to bring out a new and greatly improved edition of his valuable work, The Science of Correspondence Elucidated.'

"For a series of years he has been elaborating evidence to corroborate the antiquity, the beauty, and the infinite importance to mankind of this Science, and the manuscript is now complete. A few of his friends are now combining to raise funds to present him at once with such an amount as will enable him to set about this great undertaking in good earnest in January of next year, 1864. A contribution in money or postage stamps will be thankfully received and gratefully acknowledged by yours very truly,

"THOMAS LEWEN MARSDEN, "Minister to the New Church Society, "Dalton, Huddersfield." We give the conclusion of Mr. Marsden's letter:—

"Contributions may be forwarded to the Rev. J. B. Kennerley, Northen

terrace, Higher Broughton, Manchester, or to myself. All post office orders must be made payable, addressed to me, in Huddersfield, nearest post-office to our house.

"I trust that the Lord will lead all who have the ability and the desire, to do their best, that by a liberal assistance to this much-needed work, the Science of Correspondences may in the new year come before the world as an old friend in a new and attractive form, to help forward the good time coming."

LONG SERMONS.

When will ministers be convinced that long sermons are not so effective as short ones, or those of moderate length? Reflection might satisfy them, that when the ear and the brain are wearied, their preaching has no longer any effect, and all their efforts to excite interest are vain. After preaching for a certain length of time, they may be assured that all they say does harm rather than good; not only does the hearer receive no additional instruction, but he is rather made to forget what he had heard in the earlier part of the sermon.

This is a crying evil, and ought to be remedied; and when it can be remedied so easily as simply by a preacher's coming to a stop, it is unpardonable and inexcusable. People have been bored, in the old church, by long, tedious discourses; and when they come into the New, they expect to find an improvement in this respect. But, alas! in too many cases, there is no improvement. Still we have sermons of an hour in length, and sometimes even exceeding an hour. Now this must be distasteful to the younger members of a congregation, and must weary even the old. This is not the way to make a society grow.

And why is it so? Why is this evil continued, when it can be so easily remedied? We believe it is because preachers forget themselves-it is want of consideratron on their part. It is quite likely, too, that an honest but mistaken zeal may in many cases lead them on to a greater length than is profitable. They should study human nature, and not consider so much what they would like to accomplish as what is practicable.

this point persons may, to a certain extent, differ; and it is also true that some preachers have the faculty of saying more in ten minutes than others in twenty. But still there is an approximate time, which may be named. It was the rule of a celebrated preacher thirty minutes for a written sermon, forty for an extempore one; and it is a good rule. Forty-five minutes certainly should never be exceeded for any sermon, and that is too long for most: thirty minutes is better. For a week day evening lecture, where there is no preliminary service, even an hour may be allowed. But the speaker who, on any occasion whatever, in any species of discourse, sermon, or lecture, goes beyond an hour, has, I think, broken an implied contract with his audience.

INDEX.

THE NEW CHURCH SUNDAY-SCHOOL HYMN BOOK.-London: Pitman, 20, Paternoster-row.

This is a sweet little hymn book for our sweet little people, a pennyworth of poetry, with not one prosy piece in the collection, which is more than can be said of any other hymn book we know, the very best one not excepted. Although intended for Sunday-schools, it may be safely and usefully put into the hands of children who receive their religious teaching at home.

NORWAY.

A letter received from our esteemed brother S. F. Boyesen contains some information of general interest, and an appeal, which we hope will not be neglected. Should any of the members be disposed to assist him in the way he suggests, we shall be glad to afford them any necessary information:--

"My brother Adolph has, since his return from London, been busily employed in the translation of 'The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrines' and Heaven and Hell.' The first, I think, will appear before the public in the beginning of next year; and he hopes to be ready with the other the year following. As to my proceedings, it were not worth mentioning, but for the kind interest you have taken in them. Daily employed in my school, I communicate a few grains of truth by dictating, reading, and explaining New Church alle

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gories and stories, of which I have a little store, which now is nearly exhausted. Mr. White, knowing my wants, did me the favour to furnish me with what I desired; and I dare, perhaps, hope that Mr. Alvey will show me the same kindness. Next summer a steamer will be running between London and Christiana, and then I hope to get some. In the advertisements of the Repository I have seen a good deal which I think will suit me very well. This summer my little articles in a country paper have been interrupted; but I hope to be able to resume them when I know how to get suitable materials, as I have reason to believe they have been read with some interest. Partly from Mr. White, partly from America, I formerly got New Church papers and periodicals for much below the regular price, and these have chiefly furnished me with materials; but many circumstances, as the dreadful American war, have interrupted our communications.

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Begging to be remembered to your family, with the kindest regard to all friends, I remain, dear sir, most affectionately yours, "S. F. BOYESEN. "Hougsund pr Drammen,

"October 16th, 1863.

"P.S. If it be not presumptuous to mention it, I should be very glad if any of our brethren were encumbered with used New Church papers, periodicals, &c., and would let us have them. What I can write of original articles must be but little; in order therefore to give my readers a taste for more substantial spiritual food than they are accustomed to, I want a variety of materials which I can adapt to their apprehension and turn of mind. Hitherto I have not worked without success, as people who before regarded me and my teachings with suspicion, have afterwards met me with friendliness, and even mentioned my writings with approbation. Having to avoid every direct teaching of doctrinal matters, I must confine myself to allegories, tales, stories, spiritual contemplations on the natural laws, thoughts on the progress of our time, principles of practical business life religiously considered, educational matters, &c. I scarcely need mention that I should be very thankful for any advice where to direct my researches for such materials."