Rise and Progress of the New Jerusalem Church

RISE AND PROGRESS
OF THE
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH,
IN
ENGLAND, AMERICA,

And other parts:

PARTICULARLY IN REFERENCE TO
ITS EXTERNAL MANIFESTATION BY PUBLIC
WORSHIP, PREACHING, AND THE ADMINISTRATION
OF THE SACRAMENTS, WITH OTHER ORDINANCES OF
THE CHURCH.

BY
ROBERT HINDMARSH,

Author of several Works in Defence of the New Jerusalem.

EDITED BY THE

REV. EDWARD MADELEY,

Of Birmingham

“THIS SHALL BE WRITTEN FOR THE GENERATION TO
COME: AND THE PEOPLE WHICH SHALL BE CREATED
SHALL PRAISE THE LORD.” – Psalm cii. 18.

London:
HODSON & SON, 22, PORTUGAL STREET,

LlNCOLN’S INN.

1861.

PREFATORY REMARKS.

THE assumption, by an association of religious men, of the title of “The New Jerusalem Church,” requires no defence or explanation, except to those who are unacquainted with the principles which that title represents, and are ignorant of the motives which prompted its earliest members to adopt that sacred designation. Upon the profession of these principles the organization so named has been founded, and their recognition, its members believe, is essential to its continuance. Although the few earnest Christian men with whom it took its rise in England, firmly believed that the doctrines which formed their bond of external union, were unequivocally those alone which expressed the true sense of the Sacred Scriptures – essentially different as those doctrines were to all other accepted creeds or articles of faith, – yet it was not inconsistent with their convictions to believe also, that no external organization could include all of the Lord’s Church on Earth – that the members of the New Jerusalem could be numbered only by its Divine King – that the laws of spiritual affinity could break over the barriers of space, and cement in one the hearts of those who never looked each other in the face, or grasped each other by the hand. {iv}
For these reasons, doubtless, the New Jerusalem Church has seldom if ever been charged with arrogance for the adoption of its name; and its most prominent doctrines have been necessarily a safeguard against the spirit of sectarianism, or bigotry, or religious pride in its consistent members. Deeply impressed with the truths contained in the Writings of EMANUEL SWEDENBORG, upon whom they found good reason to rely as a specially-prepared and divinely-appointed “servant of the Lord,” they sought the most natural, the only efficient, and therefore the wisest means of aiding the declared mission of their great teacher; confidently persuaded that they were not originating a new sect, or proclaiming a new religion of human invention, but were the humble promulgators of a New Dispensation of Christianity to the world.
The importance of the following History may be partially anticipated, therefore, as it is the record of nearly a century’s struggles by those who undertook to brave, in their endeavours to establish a New Church, the consequent opposition of the sects, and the difficulties more than likely to arise among themselves; and it will probably continue to possess an amount of interest which will not lie confined to the present circle or generation of New-Churchmen alone. It claims the additional value of being chiefly from the pen of one who was amongst the most active promoters of the organization, – one whose great ability and sound judgment were perhaps mainly instrumental, under Divine Providence, in giving form and solidity to the whole movement. {v}
The New Dispensation of Christianity is considered to date from the Last Judgment (spoken of in the Revelations), which was accomplished in the Spiritual World in the year 1757; the results of which, it is maintained by those who are familiar with the philosophy of the New Church, are clearly perceptible in the rapid progress made since then in the arts and sciences; in their increased and marvellous application to human wants; in the greatly improved character of popular literature, and the still growing appreciation of it among the peoples of all Christian countries; and in the facilities opened up for the advancement of both secular and religious education. Now, more than ever, “through the whole order of creation and the whole scheme of Providence, we observe marks of a progressive advancement and a gradual discovery of truth.” The temples of Paganism appear to be tottering; light is breaking in on Mahommedan and Papal darkness; and there is an antagonism at work, – an antagonism of spiritual principles, – obvious in our leading Universities, bidding fair soon to be felt in every country, in every city, in every home.
A number of Swedenborg’s Works had been published prior to the Last Judgment; but they are nearly all in explanation and advocacy of those very principles of truth, charity, and freedom to which the religious and philosophical worlds are evidently drifting, and with which, to an incalculable extent, they are even now imbued.
These works attracted but little notice till the year 1783, when several gentlemen who had read and appreciated their contents, resolved to ascertain if possible how many other readers would be willing to acknowledge a like estimate of Swedenborg and his Writings. This was attempted by means of public advertisement, which was met by a response from only five persons. {vi} Though but few in number, they were deeply impressed with the power contained in the harmonious, rational, Scriptural, faultless system of Theology which had been discovered to them; and were therefore not only strong in their efforts to associate as societies for religious purposes, but capable, eventually of establishing that external Church of the New Jerusalem whose members can now be numbered in every quarter of the globe.
All the former part of this History is a record of the Writer’s own personal knowledge and experience in the earlier progress of the Church, and much of the latter part is derived from sources which are becoming daily of less easy access, being extracted from the Reports of the several Institutions of the Church. With these Institutions the writer was most intimately connected, particularly with those devoted to Missionary purposes – he being himself a most zealous, successful, and favourite Missionary.
About the year 1824, the Author withdrew from the labours of an active public life, and retired into the private sphere of his own family circle. It is supposed that about this period he commenced the task, which, at the instance of some friends of the Church, he had undertaken, of writing this History. He brought it down to the year 1830; but from various circumstances was prevented from proceeding further with it; and his health failing, he entirely relinquished it in 1834, as will appear from the following memorandum annexed to the MS.:- {vii}

“As it is probable, that I cannot proceed any further with this History, I must close here, [as closed,] and, leave it to others after me to carry it on either from the year it is brought to, or from some preceding year, as may be thought most proper.

“London,
“Nov. 28, 1834=78. “ROBT. HINDMARSH.”

The Author departed this life, at Gravesend, on the 2nd of January, 1835, aged 76; and was interred in the churchyard at Milton-next-Gravesend, where a gravestone briefly records his services to the Church.
At the meeting of the General Conference, the representative body of the Church, in the month of August of the same year, a communication from the Author’s son was read, respecting some MSS. in his possession, relating to church affairs, left by the departed; and which he wished to see published. Amongst these was that of this History of the Church; which it was supposed would cost from L250 to L300 printing, and might, when printed, be sold for 18s. a copy. The Conference, however, not having funds applicable to such a purpose, and perhaps the suitable time and state not having arrived, declined to undertake the work, and the MS. has remained with the family till the year 1857, when it passed by purchase into the hands of the present Publisher. The length of time the Work has been passing through the press, has been rendered necessary by the many references that had to be made of a corroboratory nature, and the time required in examining into and tracing to their results, as at present existing, many of the circumstances related. {viii}
The Editor has given considerable attention to all the details; and acknowledges most thankfully, the aid that he has in this way received. He has adhered most faithfully to the original throughout. The only deviation that he has deemed it necessary to make has been the disuse of the title “Baron” when Swedenborg is spoken of, except in the reprint or quotation of Original Documents. All the original notes are retained, and those added are signed “ED.”

The Portraits herein given are deemed most correct likenesses; and the Autographs are of undoubted authenticity; it is therefore hoped, that, upon the whole, this Work will be worthy of the Church whose external History it records. {1}

RISE AND PROGRESS

OF

THE NEW CHURCH

SIGNIFIED BY THE NEW JERUSALEM IN
THE REVELATION.

CHAP. 1
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
CHAP. X.
CHAP. XI.
CHAP. XII.
CHAP. XIII.
CHAP. XIV.
CHAP. XV.
CHAP. XVI.
CHAP. XVII.
CHAP. XVIII.
CHAP. XIX.
CHAP. XX
CHAP. XXI.
CHAP. XXII
KEY TO THE AUTOGRAPHS.
GUIDE TO THE PLATES.
APPENDIX.