CHAP. XIII.

THE Tenth General Conference assembled at Derby, on Tuesday, the 12th, and continued to Thursday, the l4th of August, 1817=61; when the Rev. RICHARD JONES, of Manchester, was unanimously appointed President, and Mr. JOHN ISAAC HAWKINS, of London, Secretary. Four Ministers, five Leaders, and eighteen Delegates or Representatives from different Societies, with a number of the friends of Derby and its vicinity, were present. Mr. James Bradley, a Missionary, then on a visit to the Societies of Sheffield, Barnsley, and Leeds, having been invited by letter, attended on the morning of the second day.
Twenty-four letters from different societies and individuals were read; and, in addition to the mass of pleasing intelligence communicated by them, reports were made of the Anniversary Meeting held at Brightlingsea, and of the state of the Church in various parts of the country. A Committee was also appointed to take these letters and reports into consideration, and to select such parts as they should deem useful to be printed with the Minutes of Conference. {282}
On reading the Minutes of the last Conference, the various Resolutions then entered into were confirmed; but the appointment of a Minister Superintendant was postponed till the next General Conference.
It was at the same time Resolved unanimously, as a measure eminently tending to consolidate and unite the various Societies of the New Church into one body, that a General Conference of the Ministers and other members of the New Church be held regularly once in every year.
A proposition was read from Liverpool, respecting the establishment of a Seminary for the instruction of youth in the new doctrines, connected with a liberal education, and preparing them for the Ministry of the New Church. The Conference, highly approving of the proposition, and judging that important benefits might be derived from such a measure, expressed a hope that some plan might be speedily devised for carrying the same into execution.
The proceedings of a joint meeting of the two Societies of Manchester and Salford, held for the purpose of nominating a Committee of the Missionary Institution for the ensuing year, having been read, the thanks of this Conference were voted to the last appointed Committee, for the zealous and successful manner in which they have conducted the business, and promoted the objects of that institution. Thanks were also voted to the Treasurer, Receiver, Secretary, and Collectors of the subscriptions, who have so punctually performed the duties of their respective offices; as well as to the Ministers who have gone forth as Missionaries, and to Mr. Robert Hindmarsh, for his services in drawing up the First Missionary Report.
A passage in the Twelfth Hawkstone Report, respecting the Missionary Institution, being brought before the Conference, it was Resolved unanimously, That, while this Conference cordially join with their brethren at Hawkstone, in giving their high approbation of the three modes of aiding the progress of the New Church, by the encouragement of Printing, Circulating Libraries, and Missionary Labours, they cannot but lament, that any comparison of their relative merits should have been made; and they anxiously hope every member of the New Church will promote all the three plans to the utmost of their ability.
On another passage in the same Report being offered for consideration, respecting Re-baptism, it was Resolved unanimously, That this Conference do not wish to enter into any controversy with their brethren of the Hawkstone Meeting on this subject; but they beg leave earnestly to recommend all the members of the New Church to have their children baptized according to the forms established in the New Church. {283}

A plan for encouraging and assisting persons, who may wish ultimately to become Ministers, having been suggested to the Conference, some directions were given for facilitating that object; and it was recommended to the Ministers and Leaders of the New Church, to take under their care one or more young men, or other candidates for the Ministry, whom they may deem capable of becoming efficient Ministers, and to render them such assistance as may be thought suitable for that purpose.
It was further Resolved unanimously, That this Conference are highly gratified, that the Missionary Institution has already received such liberal encouragement; and they earnestly hope, not only that this encouragement will be continued, but that all those Societies, which have not as yet contributed their mite to the common fund of the Institution, will join their efforts in supporting a cause so beneficial to the Church at large, either by weekly or monthly subscriptions, or by annual collections.
A general wish having been expressed, that all the Societies of the New Church should adopt uniformity in the externals of worship, it was Resolved unanimously, That this Conference is strongly impressed with a conviction, that if a form of worship could be produced, that would meet the approbation of all those Societies in the New Church, which are or may be disposed to use a printed form of worship, it would be of the highest benefit to the Church in general. It was therefore requested, that all such Societies as are willing to adopt a uniform mode of external worship, will signify the same to the next General Conference, either by letter, or by their Delegates.
It appearing to this Conference, that the institution of Sunday Schools cannot be too much, or too often, brought into notice, it was Resolved unanimously, That the 17th Resolution of the Eighth General Conference, held at Manchester, from the 14th to the l8th of August, 1815=59, be reprinted in the Minutes of this Conference; which was accordingly done.
It was also Resolved unanimously, That a copy of the Minutes of each of the former Conferences be procured, and bound together in one or more volumes, and that the Secretary for the time being be directed to produce the same at each succeeding Conference.
After some other Resolutions and Regulations, the thanks of the Conference were voted to the President and Secretary for their useful services on the present occasion; and to Messrs. Madeley and Robinson, for the very hospitable manner in which they received and entertained the numerous friends assembled from distant parts of the country.
The next Conference was then appointed to be held at Derby, on the second Tuesday in August, 1818=62.
In the Appendix to the Minutes of this Conference was inserted the substance of a variety of letters on the present state and prospects of the New Church; the following extracts from which will be read with pleasure. {284}
Mr. Charles Ley, of Rotterdam, in his letter to the assembled Conference, of July 29, 1817, expresses his sorrow that he cannot attend the meeting. He purposes to commence in August a Missionary journey of a week to Amsterdam, Leyden, and Utrecht. He has heard, that a son of John Christian Van Seep, the bookseller referred to in letter 6 in the Eulogium, &c., resides at this time in Amsterdam. He will make inquiries of him respecting the Honourable Author and his works, and endeavour to discover some recipients of the doctrines. Mr. Ley further states, that he has published a work entitled, Thoughts on the Holy League, in the form of an Address to the Clergy, chiefly from Mr. Hindmarsh’s work on that subject. It is in some parts abridged, and in others enlarged, which he hopes Mr. Hindmarsh will excuse, as his object was to adapt the work to the use of the Dutch Church Ministers. He also informs the friends of the New Church, that some beams of hope are breaking through the eastern horizon; that the little society meeting at this house are increased two or three in number since the last Conference; and that a Mr. Van Alphen, a schoolmaster, is so thoroughly convinced of the truths of the heavenly doctrines, that he translates them, and reads them in the Dutch language among his acquaintances, and has proposed to give his son an education suitable for the Ministry of the New Church, if the youth should take a turn for so desirable an end and use.
A letter from the Edinburgh Society, dated August 9, 1817, states that Mr. Hindmarsh had arrived there from Glasgow, bringing with him a rich supply of heavenly instruction. That he preached to a crowded audience, who seemed amazed, yet delighted, with the simple but sublime instruction thus proclaimed in their cars. That all the members of their little Society had felt an uncommon elevation of their affections since his arrival. They have had, as it were, some fore-tastes of the joys of heaven, and they feel their bosoms heave with gratitude to our heavenly Father, who hath thus visited and refreshed his infant Church with the divine truths of his Holy Word.- The number of true receivers they reckon about twenty- two, and there are about a dozen more, who attend pretty constantly, and seem inclined to favour the cause; and of these, there is reason to think, that the greater part will now become cordial recipients. They think it very probable, that the Old Church will die hard in Scotland; her members being wedded to her dead formalities, and unwilling to part with their “offended justice,” their “atonement,” their “reconciled God,” and their external sanctity on “sacramental occasions.” {285} Yet, after all, we may warrantably conclude, that since the heavenly doctrines of the New Church appear to have gotten a fair footing in two very populous districts of the country, the time is fast drawing on when those heavenly doctrines will be hailed with joy and gladness, and regarded as the foretastes of the increasing mercies of the Lord.
Mr. William Schlatter, of Philadelphia, in his letter of June 22, 1817, states that there are about fifty-five male and female members and readers in the New Jerusalem Society, in Philadelphia, and nearly as many children. They have lately created a neat little Temple in the centre of the city, which is the admiration of men of taste, in the external and internal arrangements; that they have worship twice on the Lord’s Day, which is regularly attended by some of the most distinguished citizens and strangers; many, no doubt, come from curiosity, and some for information; but there is ground for hoping, that some good seed may be sown in the proper soil, and take root, and, in the Lord’s good time, come up and bring forth fruit abundantly. They have every reason to rejoice in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; he appears to be among them; they go on smoothly, and prosper well; this is the best evidence, that the time is come for them to exert themselves, to promote his New Church in the rising empire of America, which, Mr. Schlatter thinks, is destined by Divine Providence for the grand centre or seat of the New Church. All religious denominations being, in that country, perfectly equal, every person judges for himself, and makes choice of that which is most congenial. One half, or perhaps two-thirds, of the inhabitants of the New World are in a free or gentile state; well-disposed, moral men, determined not to have doctrines or religious sentiments forced upon them that they cannot comprehend; many of them have declared their wish to find some rational doctrines to take hold of; but the common jargon that is preached to them, they cannot comprehend, and they are men of too much principle and independance, ever to avow anything they do not comprehend or believe, in the way of religion. Such are the materials that Mr. Schlatter expects great part of the New Church will be made up from in America, for the next ten years; he says, “We can do nothing with the confirmed members of the Old Church.” Mr. Schlatter is distributing upwards of three thousand volumes, gratis, to his mercantile connexions, by packing copies up with all his bales of goods, and thus spreading them far and wide in that extensive country. The Doctrine of Life, the Doctrine of the Lord, the Doctrine of the Sacred Scriptures, Heaven and Hell, and Universal Theology, with Sermons by Mr. Clowes and Mr. Proud, are among the books dispersed in this manner. Mr. S. exclaims, “What may we not expect from it in time? for many of those books may now lie quietly in the book-cases of some of those persons to whom I gave them, and in a day when they most want them, they may be truly welcome guests, and produce an hundred-fold.” {286}

In the 15th Report of the Manchester Printing Society, published in 1817, are introduced some appropriate observations on the distresses of the times; from which subject, painful as it is admitted to be in itself, a favourable augury is drawn in regard to the establishment of the Lord’s kingdom: and it concludes with some considerations of such pleasing encouragement and profitable advice, that they well deserve to be here transcribed.

“From the above account of what is passing, both abroad and at home, in regard to the dissemination of the new doctrines, the Society feel their minds elevated with all increased sense of gratitude to the GIVER OF ALL GOOD, and at the same time with renewed zeal and courage to proceed in the labours, which have now for so many years past been their delight and glory. In turning their eyes, in particular, towards America and Sweden, they fancy, that they already see the Holy City, New Jerusalem, with its walls, its gates, its streets, its foundations, descending upon the inhabitants of those favoured countries, and that they already behold the pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, to bless and fructify the happy lands. When again they confine their view to their own neighbourhood, they have the happiness to discover, in the labours of the Missionaries of l the New Church, the fulfilment of the ancient prophecy, ‘Behold, I will send for many fishers, and they shall fish them; and after I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and from the holes of the rocks.’ Jer. xvi. 16. It only remains then that every member of the Church, with humble and devout thankfulness, should acknowledge those happy effects to be the result of the Divine Mercy and Providence, and should enjoy, and endeavour to extend them accordingly. The Society therefore cannot conclude their Report more to their own satisfaction, than by intimating to their readers the necessity of this double employment of gratitude to the Most High, and of renewed exertion, according to every one’s ability, to propagate the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem. With this view, they wish to hint, that every member of the Church is to be regarded as a Missionary within the circle of his family and acquaintance, and that the Lord is continually saying to him what he said to his Apostles of old, ‘Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.’ Luke v. 4, 10. Let then every spiritual fisherman obey these divine words, and he cannot fail to succeed in his labour. Let him launch out into the deep of natural and sensual affection and thought, and let down his net for a draught, by endeavouring to accommodate his Spiritual truths to the apprehension of natural minds immersed in such a deep. But let him be careful to cast his net on the right side of the ship, in other words, to teach truth under the influence of heavenly love and charity; and he may then indulge the blessed hope, that, although when labouring in his own strength he may toil all the night and catch nothing, yet, when trusting to divine aid, the divine promise will be again verified, which said of old, ‘Ye shall find.’ John xxi. 6. Amen.”

A circumstance occurred in London, in the beginning of the year 1818, which at first produced in the public mind a very unfavourable opinion of the practical tendency of the doctrines of the New Church. A young married man, named William Hetch, had the audacity to pay his addresses to a very young woman, named Mary Minting, who was in the habit of attending the New Jerusalem Chapel in Lisle Street, Leicester Fields. Hetch, finding some difficulty in seeing her at the house where she lived, and knowing the place of worship to which she resorted, frequently went there to meet her, and of course picked up some little knowledge of the doctrines taught by the New Church. {287} They were married, but immediately afterwards it was discovered that Hetch had a wife living, upon which he was charged with bigamy, but from a defect in the evidence was acquitted. Mary, whose marriage was then declared to be illegal, it was reported was encouraging another suitor, and being determined that no other man should have the happiness of having her for a wife, he came to the diabolical resolution of first assassinating the young woman, and afterwards destroying himself; “in order (as he said) that he might exclusively enjoy her company in the other world.” With these intentions he called upon the unfortunate female one evening in February of the above-named year, and as soon as she opened the door, Hetch, with a razor, which he carried with him for the purpose, instantly cut her throat from ear to ear; whereupon she fell down in the passage, and almost immediately after expired. The assassin then made his escape; and the murder being noised abroad in the neighourhood, he actually came and mixed with the crowd at the door, to hear what people had to say on the occasion. In a day or two after he was apprehended, and committed to prison. Whilst there, and just before he destroyed himself in the prison, he wrote a letter to the mother of the young woman whom he had murdered, and for whom he still professed to have a strong affection. That letter he concludes as follows:

“I am anxious to die, and be with that dear object of my soul; for I am still persuaded, that I shall have that unbounded pleasure of enjoying her company in a far superior way than ever it could be done in this transitory world: and as for what man does with this body, a mere lump of vile clay, it is of no consequence to me; therefore men may do with it as they please. So God Almighty bless you, and the remainder of your unfortunate family, is the last prayer of a satisfied man.”

As the infatuated murderer thus shewed his contempt of this “transitory world,” and of the body, “a mere lump of vile clay;” and as it was now generally believed, that he had gathered his notions of the state of man after death, from what he had occasionally heard delivered from the pulpit at Lisle Street Chapel, it was immediately reported, that the doctrines of the New Church had led to the perpetration of the foul acts of adultery and murder, and that they were such as ought not to be tolerated in a Christian country. For a short time the enemies of the Church, and among these the Editors of a newspaper, called “The Examiner,” succeeded in spreading the basest calumnies against a system of religion, of which they were entirely ignorant; a system, which of all those that bear the name of Christian, is in reality the purest, the most benevolent, and the most conducive to the happiness and peace of society. But not long did these calumnies remain unrefuted. The Rev. Dr. Churchill, the Minister of Lisle Street Chapel, to whom they were both unknown, even by name, with some other friends of the New Church, promptly stepped forward to disprove the charges, which were so unceremoniously and so ignorantly brought against the doctrines professed by them, and vindicated both the character and tendency of those doctrines so ably and so successfully, that the very whispers of malignity were effectually silenced; and the New Church, even in the estimation of strangers, came out of the ordeal entirely free from the stigma that was endeavoured to be fastened upon her. {288} So true is it, that the Divine Providence, which is ever watchful to protect the innocent from the fangs of malice and persecution, will sooner or later interpose for the relief of those who, walking steadily in the paths of virtue, through good report and evil report, have learned to put their whole trust in the arm of Omnipotence.

From the Second Report of the Manchester Committee appointed to manage the affairs of the New Church Missionary Ministry, which was published in August, 1818=62, it appears, that great success has continued to attend the labours of those engaged in spreading the knowledge of divine truth among their fellow-creatures. Since the publication of the First Report in April, 1817=61, considerable exertions in favour of the Missionary cause have been made by the various Ministers and Leaders of Societies in different parts of the kingdom; and though the Church is not, and probably for some time will not be, exempt from a decided opposition on the part of such as are confirmed in solifidian sentiments, yet there is good reason to believe, that many of the prejudices which had formerly proved serious obstacles to the general reception of the new doctrines, have already in a great degree subsided, and are now succeeded by a spirit of liberality and candid inquiry, worthy of the age in which we live. Many of the Clergy of the Established Church, as well as among the Dissenters of different denominations, have repeatedly declared their unqualified assent to the heavenly truths of the New Jerusalem; and well-grounded hopes are entertained, that numbers of their hearers, who as yet live in the regions of spiritual darkness, will in the Lord’s good time be blessed with the beams of celestial light. It is the province of man to labour with all faithfulness and zeal; but it is the prerogative of the Divine Mercy and Goodness to crown his endeavours with the desired success.
In this Report is given an account of three Missionary journeys, performed by Mr. Proud, Mr. Thomas Goyder, and myself; besides occasional visits to different Societies, by Mr. C. W. Leadbeater, Mr. Edward Madeley, Mr. Thomas Pilkington, and Mr. James Bradley. Owing to the very serious indisposition of Mr. Proud, he has not been able to go out as a Missionary so frequently, or to so many places, as could have been wished. {289} His years and bodily infirmities have deprived the Church, to a considerable degree, of the benefit of his labours; and there is reason to fear, from the present state of his health, that he will scarcely be able to undertake another long journey. It is, however, consoling to reflect, that every event of human life is under the disposition of the Divine Providence, and that all things in the end will be directed to the greatest possible good.
Since the publication of the First Report, a most valuable acquisition to the Ministry has taken place, in the person of Mr. John Parry, of Leeds, lately a respectable Preacher among the Methodists of the New Connexion: and the Societies in general throughout the kingdom appear to be on the increase. The Second Report contains a mass of information concerning the prosperous state of the Church, in letters from different individuals; extracts from which here follow:

From Mr. Robert Hindmarsh, dated Carlisle, July 28, 1817=61.

…”I left Manchester on the 23rd instant, and reached Preston at a quarter before ten the same night. Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson received me in the most cordial manner: and the next morning we consulted with Messrs. Becconsalls and some others of the Society, by all of whom it was thought advisable to call the attention of the inhabitants to the new doctrines by the delivery of a Lecture in some large and commodious room, rather than in the Unitarian Chapel, which perhaps we might have obtained, if applied for. But public prejudice in this town being strong against Unitarianism, and we being unwilling to identify ourselves with the people of that profession even in appearance, it was concluded, that we would endeavour to engage one of the most respectable rooms in the town for our purpose. Accordingly a very large room was procured at the Bull Inn, the first I believe in the town, for the use of which twenty shillings were to be given. Hand-bills were printed and circulated on Thursday, announcing that a Lecture would be delivered by me at half-past seven on the Friday evening. Notice was also sent to our friends at Longridge, and some other places. The attention of the town was considerably excited, and parties were formed on the occasion. The candid and the liberal were desirous of hearing what could be said in favour of the writings of E. S.; while some of the Clergy, a lawyer, one of the churchwardens, and some others, were highly exasperated, and publicly declared that they would do every thing in their power to prevent the Lecture taking place; although they knew, that we had previously obtained the Mayor’s consent, having showed him the hand-bill before it was printed, and explained to him the nature of the subjects to be lectured upon. An anonymous letter was also sent to the landlord, expressly stating, that he would be risking a serious loss in his business, and forfeiting the support of his friends, if he permitted the Lecture to take place in his house. The landlord, who was busy in his fields at a distance of two miles, was instantly sent for by his wife, and informed of what was going forward, on the Friday about noon; and at one o’clock he came to Mr. Parkinson’s in a state of agitation and great alarm, begging that our engagement of the room might be considered as cancelled. To this request we readily acceded, as we could not consent to become the means of injuring him in his business, or in any way disturbing the peace of the town. We therefore issued other hand-bills, apprizing the public of the change in consequence of some unforeseen impediments, and at the same time recommending to their serious perusal the writings which contained the forbidden doctrines.
“Though I was thus debarred from giving a public Lecture, I nevertheless met the Society on both Thursday and Friday evenings; and several strangers were, by their own desire, admitted to hear our explanations of the Word, &c. Among these were some Unitarians, who were desirous of gaining information concerning the doctrines of the New Church. The subjects of discussion were, therefore, the Divine Trinity in One Person, the Sole and Supreme Divinity of Jesus Christ, the nature and importance of the Word, with observations on its three-fold sense, as accommodated to the capacity both of men and angels.
“I left Preston on Saturday, and arrived at Lancaster the same day. On Sunday, being disengaged in the morning, and all the places of public worship being then open, it occurred to me, that I might, without injuring either my neighbour or myself, venture to visit some one or more of those places, not with any view to join in the worship of an Unknown God, to whom I find every altar in the town is raised, but solely to observe or to discover what might be the state of religion among the people, and what the spirit of their devotions. {290} Accordingly, seeing a number of Quakers in the street, I followed them to their Meeting-house, where, after sitting nearly an hour in profound and solemn silence, without obtaining the least degree of information on any subject whatever, I inwardly lamented, that so many amiable and peaceable characters, as are to be found among that class of Christian professors, have yet to learn, that all influx into man is adapted to efflux from him; in other words, that religion is a state of mental activity, not of passive indolence, and that so far as man co-operates with the Lord apparently of himself, yet under an acknowledgment that the power so to do is really and truly from the Lord alone, in the same proportion life from the Lord flows into him, together with a sensible increase of love, wisdom, and their innumerable felicities. From the Quakers’ Meeting-house I proceeded to St. Anne’s Church, usually called Moor Lane Chapel, and was in time to witness the repetition of a considerable part of the Church of England service, and to bear a discourse from the Rev. Mr. Houseman. He is what is generally termed an Evangelical Preacher, that is, a teacher of solifidian doctrines; but, according to all report, a pious and sincere man. Though his avowed sentiments are in the highest degree dangerous, yet many of his observations were excellent; his language was good, his gestures suited to the pulpit, and his manner impressive. The Creed and Articles of the Church of England being contradictory both to themselves and to the Word of God, it is not to be wondered at, that her Preachers are at variance with each other, the Calvinist against the Arminian, and the Arminian against the Calvinist; the Evangelizer against the Moralist, and the Moralist against the Evangelizer; each party ignorant of the One True God Jesus Christ in his Divine Humanity, and, as the Scripture saith, ‘teaching for doctrines the commandments of men,’ Matt. xv. 9.”

From the same, dated Glasgow, Aug. 4, 1817=61.

“I arrived at this place on Tuesday night last, about ten o’clock. I have lectured every evening since my arrival here, in a room at Mr. Attwell’s, and from sixteen to twenty persons have usually attended. The friends for several days had been looking out for a spacious and commodious Hall, wherein I might preach on Sunday, but met with disappointment from various causes; some Halls being under repair, and others not to be obtained till a meeting of the proprietors could be had. At length a large Hall, fitted up like a theatre, for lectures on natural philosophy, was procured for Sunday evening, by the kindness of the Universalists, who under the Ministry of the celebrated Mr. Douglas, occupy it on a Sunday; and the Unitarians liberally offered us the use of their Chapel for the morning and afternoon. Though we differ widely in religious sentiment from that body of people called Unitarians, yet we thought it proper to accept of their kind offer; and accordingly it was announced by public advertisement in the newspapers of Saturday, and by hand-bills posted up in the town, that I would preach three times on Sunday; at eleven in the morning, in the Unitarian Chapel; at two in the afternoon, in the same place; and in the evening at six o’clock, in the great Hall of the Andersonian Institution. The congregation in the morning consisted of five hundred persons; that in the afternoon of seven hundred; and in the evening no less than twelve hundred attended. About one thousand persons were seated directly in my view, on benches rising one above another, in a kind of semicircular form; and in an antichamber, the doors of which were thrown open, on the stairs, and surrounding the doors, were about two hundred more, whom I could not see, but who could all distinctly hear me. Besides these, many went away, who could not by any means gain admittance, on account of the great pressure of the crowd. The place was filled half all hour before the time; and it was with great difficulty that I could reach my proper station, although I arrived fifteen minutes before six – the appointed hour. Having so large an audience to address, I was under the necessity of exerting myself, that I might be heard by them all; and I understand, that not a word was lost. After the service, which lasted about an hour and forty minutes, I found myself quite hoarse: but by care and a night’s rest, I am now considerably relieved in that respect. The doctrines of the New Church were heard by the different congregations with great astonishment, the various subjects treated of being entirely new to them. But what permanent effect may be produced by this visit, cannot be seen at present, the Society here having as yet no suitable place for public worship.
“A great interest has certainly been excited in this populous town; and the in habitants, who are in general every expert in the knowledge of Scripture, are all disposed to judge for themselves, and will not take for granted any assertion from a stranger, unless confirmed by all appeal to the written Word. {291}
“I propose leaving Glasgow to-morrow, and expect to be in Edinburgh about six o’clock the same evening. Notice of this has been sent to Mr. Dichmont; and I hear that a hall has already been engaged for me. The Society here are very desirous that I should pay them another visit, after I have been a week or two in Edinburgh; and in the mean time they will endeavour to procure the use of a Chapel belonging to the Kirk, and capable of holding three thousand persons; or if they cannot obtain that, they will look out for some other equally spacious, that the public may again have the opportunity of gratifying their curiosity, which is now excited, and of hearing the new doctrines further illustrated. This will be determined upon hereafter. I am to lecture this evening at eight o’clock, in Dr. Perry’s lecture-room, belonging to Hutchinson’s Hospital; and many Unitarians, Trinitarians, and Universalists, are expected to be present, notice to that effect having been given to the congregation assembled last night.”

From the same, dated Edinburgh, Aug. 11, 1817==61.

“On the evening of the day I wrote to you from Glasgow, I lectured in Dr. Perry’s lecture-room, in the Hutchinsonian Hospital, to about five hundred persons, the room not admitting of more. I took occasion to explain two of the commandments in their three senses, natural, spiritual, and celestial, viz., ‘Honour thy father and thy mother,’ &c., and ‘Thou shalt not kill.’ The people were astonished beyond measure; and one of them afterwards declared, that such a flood of light rushed in upon them, as to produce a universal assent to every word spoken on these subjects. I referred to those two commandments, in order to give them a specimen or two of the internal sense of the Word, as distinguishable from the literal sense, and yet clearly involved in it.
“On Tuesday the 5th instant, I arrived in this city, and have been well received by our friends, especially Mr. Dichmont, and Mr. Bruce, (at whose house I now am,) by Mr. Tuting, Mr. Parker, &c. &c. I preached on Thursday evening in the Freemasons’ Hall, to about seven hundred persons, and three times on Sunday. But the curiosity excited in the town was such, that the place was excessively crowded. Above a thousand were present each time yesterday; and it has been thought, that as many more were unable to get in. Each time the attention of the audience was remarkable, and the effect produced, I am told, is very great. Among the numerous reports circulated since the meetings, as the opinions of those who attended, are the following. One person said, his faith was well shaken. Another was heard to declare, that now he is in possession of a clue, by which he may understand the Scriptures as he reads them by himself. A third, a venerable old woman, said, ‘At last, in my old age, I have found the true way of salvation, the sure road to heaven.’ A fourth said, that at the conclusion of one of the discourses, it was with difficulty he could restrain himself from calling upon all present to hold up their hands in approbation of what they had heard. And several of our friends have more than once quoted the words of old Simeon, at the birth of our Lord. If a great interest was excited in Glasgow, it appeals, that a still greater, if possible, is excited here. Many who attended the first meeting on Thursday evening, were determined to be present at each of the three services on the succeeding Sunday, and expecting that the place would be crowded, brought their dinners with them in the morning, and actually continued in the Hall the whole of the day, that they might suffer no disappointment in procuring a comfortable seat. It would almost appear, that the primitive times were returning upon us; for what an Evangelist writes in relation to the Jews of old, when they saw and heard the Lord in person, may, not inaptly, be repeated in reference to the people of Edinburgh, on occasion of the Lord’s second appearance in the spiritual sense of his Holy Word, namely, that ‘they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this?’ Mark i. 27. Some have come from Glasgow almost on purpose to hear me again, a distance of forty-two miles; and I understand that Ministers of various professions,-the Kirk, the Methodists, Unitarians, Baptists, Burghers, &c., &c., were present yesterday. I am to preach again on Wednesday evening next, at half-past six, and twice on Sunday: after which I propose bending my course homewards.
“Postscript. I forgot to mention, that among the various observations that were made on the subjects discussed in the Monday evening lecture in the Hutchinsonian Hospital at Glasgow, one was to the following effect by an Unitarian,’That, according to my interpretation of the fifth commandment, Thou shalt not kill, he and his brethren, who denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ, were guilty of celestial murder.’ {292}

“The next day, a little before I left Glasgow, two men called upon me at the King’s Arms, where I put up, to know my religious principles, as they were informed they were similar to their own. They could not obtain admission to the lecture the night before, by reason of the crowd, and were on that account the more anxious to see me. They stated that there was a society of them, consisting of about twelve in number, who called themselves Christians only, believing that God was manifested in Jesus, but not aware that Jesus was himself God manifested in the flesh, according to the plain declaration of the Apostle in 1 Tim. iii. 16, and the only rational sense in which the words can be taken. On hearing this distinction, they mused awhile in silence, and then expressed a desire to receive further information than they yet possessed, concerning the person and character of our Lord. I gave them a few tracts and papers, which I thought might prove serviceable to them in this inquiry. And here I may be permitted to add, that in my opinion a Missionary Minister should always carry with him a number of the small tracts and separate papers, for the sole purpose of giving away, on the many suitable occasions which will offer in the course of his travels. The landlady and servants of the inn where I slept, received a few of them as a prize; and it is impossible to say what may be the benefits resulting even from this promiscuous mode of disseminating the truth.”

From the same, dated Newcastle-upon- Tyne, Aug. 23, 1817=6

“I arrived in this town last night; and though I had not the address of any of our friends, I soon found the New Church Society, having been directed to their place of worship. When I came to the spot where the Society hold their meetings, I found two sailors at the door, one of whom immediately asked me if my name was not Mr. Hindmarsh. They are both members of the Society, and were going to practise singing, as I find about a dozen of them do every week. It appears I had been expected here, in consequence of information from Mr. King, of Hull, that I was gone to Edinburgh, and would probably pass through Newcastle. The members have this day procured hand-bills to be printed and posted up in the town, announcing my intention of preaching twice to-morrow. What kind of congregation may be assembled, I cannot tell; but I fear, the notice being short, it will be slender. The newspapers for to-day were printed yesterday afternoon before my arrival; and therefore no advertisement could appear in them. But some of the friends are very active in circulating the notice. The result will be communicated to you hereafter.
“I find Mr. William Linfitt Roberts, from Birmingham, is the Minister here. He also keeps a school in a room adjoining the Society’s place of worship. This latter is really elegant and spacious, but is let to them only for the Sundays, it being used for other purposes on some of the other days of the week.
“In my last letter I informed you how we were attended the first Sunday at Edinburgh. I preached three times that day, again on the Wednesday evening following, and last Sunday twice. Each time the house was crowded; students from the University, Kirk Ministers, Methodist Preachers, and teachers of other communities, from curiosity or better motives, favoured us with their company; and I have reason to believe, that many persons are now put upon a serious inquiry into the nature of the new doctrines. On Wednesday the 13th, I visited, in company with Mr. Parker, the Deaf and Dumb Institution in that city, where I saw about fifty boys and girls, the objects of that excellent charity. They all, except one or two, appeared to have intelligent countenances: they could all, or nearly all, read and write, and each had a slate and pencil. On giving one of them the word capacity to explain, he did so with great readiness on his slate, and stated that it implied a great understanding and ability. On giving him the word providence, he was equally ready and correct in his explanation of the term, shewing that it was applicable to the Supreme Being, who governs the world by his providence and wisdom. He quoted from the Evangelist the passage where it is written, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Fattier,” Matt. x. 29; Luke xii. 6. Several of the children could articulate words very distinctly, as, “How do you do, la-dies and gen-tle-men?” A little girl repeated the Lord’s prayer; and two boys with their fingers spelt every word in a rapid and correct manner, as the master informed us. Their voices, when they attempt to speak, are scarcely human; and though their being able to articulate and pronounce some words gives pleasure to chose who visit them, yet their tone of voice excites a most painful sensation, and marks the distinction so evident between those who are blessed with the sense of hearing, and those who from their birth have been destitute of it. One of the boys asked Mr. Parker, by writing on his slate, where he came from; and afterwards, how old he was. To the latter question Mr. Parker answered in the following manner: he first wrote on the slate the figures 1817, the present year, and underneath them placed 1740. {293} The boy instantly subtracted the one from the other, and found the result to be 77, Mr. Parker’s age. He then wished to know mine, which was shown to him in the same manner. Several of the others, both boys and girls, were looking on, and understood the whole. Mr. Parker then asked one of the boys the name of the chief place in England. He wrote down, “I do not know.” Immediately a girl on the opposite side of the desk wrote down on her own slate the word London; and making signs to the boy with her fingers, as if to inform him, the boy then understood her, and wrote the same word, London, on his slate. They can all communicate their ideas to one another in an expeditious and correct manner, by making signs with their fingers. Their attention also to the master can at any time be excited, by his stamping with his foot upon the floor, the vibrations of which are sensibly felt by them, when in all instant all countenances are directed to him, to receive his orders and instructions. May not this school of deaf and dumb children be considered as a picture of mankind in general, while in an unreformed and unregenerate state? Are we not all by nature deaf and dumb in the sight of Heaven? Nay, are we not also blind, and lame, and sick, and, as the prophet says, “unsound from the sole of the foot even unto the head?” If the instruction and improvement of a few of our less fortunate fellow-creatures, who by an all-wise Providence are debarred from many of the enjoyments arising from the exercise of the bodily senses, is hailed by an intelligent and humane observer as an object worthy of his admiration and support, how much greater reason is there to adore that Divine Mercy which, in addition to the natural senses, has blessed us also with spiritual capacities for the attainment of true wisdom, and at the same time undertakes to be our Teacher and our Guide!
“On Saturday the l6th of August I baptized Mr. Bruce’s infant son at his own house, in the presence of sixteen members of the Society; and the next day I also baptized the daughter of Mr. Brown, of Leith. On Monday Mr. Parker introduced me to the Rev. Robert Adam, a Clergyman of the English Episcopal Church, who had, in a small pamphlet, animadverted on some of Mr. Clowes’s writings, as well as mine, particularly the Seal upon the Lips, &c. He received me with great kindness, rather as a friend than an antagonist, and wished my stay in Edinburgh could have been prolonged, that he might have an opportunity of cultivating a further acquaintance with me. Nothing however passed on the subject of our respective sentiments, the visit being merely one of friendship and respect for a gentleman highly distinguished for his intellectual attainments, who, though at present opposed to the doctrines of the New Church, may yet be conscientiously engaged in the support of the system to which he is attached.
“Before my departure from Edinburgh, I received a note from a bookseller, requesting to know where the New Church publications might he obtained. But, excepting the few books, which Mr. Dichmont has to lend out, it appears that none are to be had in this place. I find also, that an opposition has been raised among some of the Scotch Presbyterian Ministers, belonging to the Kirk, as well as among the Burghers, who are a kind of Dissenters from the Scotch Church. On Wednesday week a Mr. Spry preached against us, and on the Friday evening after that, a Mr. Weston, a high Calvinist, did the same; each cautioning the public against the New Church Doctrines. I am told, the common conversation turned upon our tenets, some approving, and others condemning them. The Society in Edinburgh, however, being full of zeal and intelligence, are perfectly capable of standing their ground against all opposition; and I entertain not a single doubt, but in due time they will not only increase in number, but be justly regarded by their brethren in England as one of the most flourishing and happy Societies of the New Church in Great Britain. Their usual place of meeting is in Cordiner’s Hall.
“On Tuesday the 19th of August I passed the Tweed, and again entered upon English ground: but it was half-past eleven o’clock at night before I arrived at Alnwick, in Northumberland, the place of my nativity, where I spent the earliest part of my life, and which I had not seen for upwards of fifty-one years. The next day I visited the Castle, where I was shown the armoury; the dress of an Esquimaux princess, with her canoe and fishing-tackle; the dungeon, twelve feet deep, and ten feet by nine wide, where prisoners were confined in ancient times; the place where the rack or torture was inflicted; the original mortars first used on the discovery of gun-powder; a great stoneshot, weighing about a hundred pounds, which was fired by the Turks into Admiral Duckworth’s ship, when he passed the Dardanelles in the late war; and many other memorials of the woefully degenerate state of mankind, the contemplation of which yielded no pleasure to me, but, on the contrary, an internal pain. I therefore willingly turned my back upon such gloomy scenes, and looked forward with hope to the period, when, instead of swords, and spears, and daggers, and guns, and cruel racks, – plough-shares, pruning-hooks, and spades shall be exhibited to the traveller, as the emblems of peace, prosperity, and universal happiness. {294}
“A relation of mine, living in the town, was in possession of some of the books of EMANUEL, but had neglected to read them. After much conversation with him, and also with all intelligent schoolmaster of the town, on the important subjects contained in them, I was glad to find, that they were both in a disposition highly favourable to the new doctrines, and that they cheerfully entered into a resolution to read the books together at stated times; which I consider as the commencement of a Society in that town. From the smallest beginnings great results have on some other occasions taken place. Who can tell, but ‘the grain of mustard seed, which has been already sown in the field, though indeed it is the least of all seeds, may grow until it become the greatest among herbs, and even a tree; so that the birds of the air shall come and lodge in the branches thereof?’ Matt. xiii. 31, 32.”

From the same, dated Salford, Sept. 4, 1817=61.

“I reached home last night, after an absence of six weeks in the north. In my last letter, dated Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 23rd August, I informed you of my arrival in that town, and that I intended to preach twice on the following day. Upwards of three hundred attended in the morning, and in the afternoon double that number. At six o’clock in the evening I met the Society and some strangers in the school-room, adjoining that wherein the worship is performed. The place was filled, not less than a hundred being present; and I related to them the particulars of my journey. A young gentleman, a stranger to the Society, attended, and seemed very desirous of knowing more about the doctrines; especially about the science of correspondences, which, he observed, was a key to the internal or genuine sense of the Word. He expressed his full intention of examining the Writings of E. S., and took home with him, the same evening, the Treatise on Heaven and Hell. The whole of the Society were delighted with the meetings, which took place on this day; and some said, they little expected to have seen such a congregation collected in that place to hear the new doctrines. Their Minister gave me the following statement of the number of the Society, viz., seventy-nine adults, twenty- three children and youths; of whom forty adults and twenty-three children have been baptized since the 15th of December last: besides several constant hearers, who express their approbation of the doctrines of the New Church, and read the Writings.
“On Monday the 25th of August I left Newcastle, and the next day arrived at Hull, where I was most hospitably entertained by Mr. King. On Wednesday the Rev. Dr. McRea, a Scotch Clergyman, hearing that I was in the town, called upon me, and stated, that he had lately come from America, where he had resided forty years; that he had been a reader of the Writings of E. S. for nineteen years; that he had seen my Letters to Dr. Priestley, in America, which he highly approved of; and that now, being desirous of settling in England, he wished to open a school in some populous town, and to preach the new doctrines, if he should be found acceptable to any of the societies, after a fair and full trial. He seemed to prefer Sheffield, and requested me to give him a line of introduction to some member of the Society in that place. In compliance with his desire, I therefore promised to give him a letter of introduction, (not recommendation, he being a perfect stranger to me,) addressed to Mr. James Bradley, the Missionary Minister at Sheffield. This letter he said he would call for in a day or two; but I have neither seen nor heard of him since. In the evening of this day about a dozen members of the Hull Society gave me the meeting at Mr. King’s house; when it was concluded to make application for the use of the old chapel in Dagger Lane, on Friday evening, and on Sunday. But the gentleman, to whom the application was made, being out of town, an answer was not received till Friday morning. Immediately however bills were posted up in the town, announcing a sermon on that evening, and three sermons on the Sunday following. About two hundred attended on Friday evening; on Sunday morning upwards of three hundred; and in the afternoon and evening about six hundred each time. Several Ministers of different persuasions were present in the evening, and among them a Jewish Rabbi, who appeared to be taking down in writing the whole discourse. The same, I understand, was done in the morning by some Minister, who was present.
“A Clergyman of the Established Church having expressed a desire to see me, I waited upon him on Monday morning, and was received with the greatest kindness and affability. He had read my Letters to Dr. Priestley, and much approved of the spirit in which they were written. He had also read several of Mr. Clowes’s works, and other writings of the New Church; and although he was not prepared to receive the whole system of doctrine contained therein, yet he was free to acknowledge, that many sublime truths were discoverable in almost every part of them, and that in fact those truths ‘had made their way to his understanding through his heart.’ {295} I congratulated him on their having taken so excellent a road, which I thought might be compared to a highway between the land of Israel and Assyria. He said that, were I of the Church of England, his pulpit would have been entirely at my service; and further added, that, had he not been so much engaged in preparing young people for an approaching confirmation by the bishop, he would gladly have heard me preach in Dagger Lane Chapel the preceding evening. He regretted, that I had met with some opposition from the Clergy when I was at Colchester last year: for having read the account of that visit in the Intellectual Repository, he had conceived a great respect for me, and wished much to see me. In the short interview, which I had with him, he treated me with the greatest attention, and in the conclusion wished me success in all that is good and beneficial to mankind.
“On the day of my departure from Hull, I visited many of our friends, all of whom expressed their thankfulness for the services that I had been enabled to perform among them: and I left them, deeply impressed with a sense of their kindness towards me, which I regard as a testimony of their love of the truth.
“I reached York on Monday night, the 1st of September, and was most kindly received by Mr. Gleadow, keeper of the Old George, whose wife lies dangerously ill of a cancer in the breast. Hearing that I was on a Missionary journey into Scotland, and that I should probably return through York, it was the earnest desire of Mrs. Gleadow to be baptized by me into the faith of the New Church, and after a short interval to receive the Holy Supper in confirmation of the same. I found her in an extremely low state of body, but anxious to perform every part of her duty while in this lower world. It was therefore concluded, that both ceremonies should be performed the next morning. Accordingly on Tuesday the 2nd of September she was baptized agreeably to the form of the New Church, in the presence of her husband and two female friends who attend her: and after a short interval, which was occupied in reading some suitable portion of the Psalms, the holy supper was administered to her, and to the other persons present. It appears, that a Clergyman of the town had offered his services, to administer the sacrament to Mrs. Gleadow according to the rite of the Church of England: but this she declined, conceiving that it would have been a direct violation of her faith in the One True God Jesus Christ, by a solemn acknowledgment of Three Divine Persons, or what is the same thing, Three Gods, one of whom is supposed to have suffered death in order to appease the wrath of another. She asked the Clergyman if he would administer the sacrament to her according to the form contained in the Liturgy of the New Church? To which he replied, after looking it carefully over, that he could not conscientiously do so, because in that Liturgy Jesus Christ is acknowledged to be Jehovah, the only God of heaven and earth. “And that is the very reason,” said Mrs. Gleadow, “why I will take it in no other form.” May the dying words of Mrs. Gleadow be a lesson to every other member of the New Church, when placed in similar circumstances! [Note.- Mrs. Gleadow died a few days afterwards.]
“On Tuesday the 2nd of September I arrived at Leeds between five and six o’clock, and at seven the same evening preached in the Society’s room to about one hundred and fifty persons, who had assembled on a very short notice. I have reason to believe, that the Society in this town would soon become numerous and flourishing, were an able minister like Mr. Bradley, permanently fixed among them.
“On Wednesday the 3rd of September I took the coach for Manchester, and reached home in safety at half-past seven in the evening, after an absence of six weeks.
“After reflecting on the various circumstances attending my journey into the North, and the affectionate manner in which I have been received by every Society I visited, I am led to hope, that some good may have been actually accomplished on the occasion, and that a foundation may have been laid for more, when the many strangers, who came to hear me, shall have had time to reflect on the great truths, which were proclaimed in their ears. The Missionary Institution appears to meet with the universal approbation of the Church, and there is an evident disposition in every one of the members, whom I have conversed with, to give it all the support in their power. The Society of Glasgow have sent by me L5, and the Society of Edinburgh L12, for the Missionary fund: besides which, as a mark of their regard and affection for me personally, they have presented me with a valuable gold ring, set with an amethyst; which, with the occasion and manner of bestowing the gift, will ever impress my mind with a sense of gratitude and esteem for their unexpected, and in a great degree unmerited kindness. ‘But indeed all the other Societies have manifested their good-will, not only to the cause of truth, which has associated them together, but even to the instruments made use of by their Divine Master in the extension of his new kingdom on earth. {296} And it is to me a source of high gratification to reflect, and to have reason to believe that, if I have in any measure contributed to the happiness or improvement of others, I have at the same time borne away from every Society, and almost from every individual with whom I have conversed, during my Missionary excursion, the valued prize of their sincere affection and esteem.
“Having thus given you a brief narrative of the chief circumstances attending my late journey, I have now only further to add, that, after all our endeavours to become useful one to another, it becomes us still to consider ourselves as unprofitable servants; since all the good, that can possibly arise from our most active exertions, flows from, and ought solely to be ascribed to, the fountain of all good, even our adorable Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

From Mr. Thomas Pilkington, dated Haslingden, July 7, 1817=61.

“I am well pleased with the prospect of the more extensive spread of the Lord’s true Church. Your First Report contains several pleasing accounts of Societies, which are established in various places. This is peculiarly gratifying to those who are looking for the further promotion of real goodness among mankind. The New Church doctrines are calculated to make men happy, when imbibed with true affection. When reflecting upon the spread, which is now taking place, we can but wish, that all the Societies may be conducted with that propriety and order, which will, with the blessing of the Lord, contribute to their permanent foundation upon that Rock, which will support them, though the rain, the floods, and the winds, beat upon them. Steadiness of conduct, and perseverance, are the two strong and principal pillars in all undertakings.”

From Mr. James Bradley, dated Sheffield, April 21, 1817=61.

“Mr. Proud has paid a visit to Sheffield, and was very well and respectably attended, and gave universal satisfaction. He appears to have been superlatively happy in preaching here; for every one, who has made any remarks upon it, states it as grand beyond any thing they ever heard before. Some Quakers, who heard him, highly extolled him. One of them said, that that was preaching indeed: another, a lady, said she never heard any thing come so near their preaching: she wished much to follow him to Darnall on the Monday evening, but was prevented. A Methodist said, he had attended preaching fourteen years, but never heard the truth before. Several remarks of a similar kind were made by various of his hearers; and much good appears to have been done by his visit.”

From Mr. B. Clarkson, dated Kirkham, July 23, 1817=61.

“I have seen the first Report of the Missionary Ministry, and am highly delighted to hear of the progress of the Lord’s New Church in so many parts of this kingdom. I sincerely hope that much good may be done in the name of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I am one that has cause to be thankful, that I am living in the natural world to behold such manifestations of heavenly truth again made known to man. I have been a reader of Baron Swedenborg’s writings ever since January, 1803. I was amongst the Methodists at that time, but was turned out for reading those writings. There are a few in this town that breathe the same spirit, eat the same bread, and rejoice in the same acknowledgment, that Jesus Christ is the true God and eternal life.

From Mr. George Dichmont, dated Edinburgh, Aug. 20, 1817=61.

“Your’s of the 24th July came safe to hand. On its arrival a beam of joy was visible on every countenance; but I am unable to express the joy that was felt on the arrival of Mr. Hindmarsh himself. His first discourse was on a Thursday evening to nearly eight hundred people; and on the Sabbath following he preached three times to nearly a thousand each time. Particularly in the evening the house was crowded almost to suffocation, and many hundreds went away that could not get in. He preached again on the Wednesday evening following to a full house, and on the Sabbath following he preached twice to overflowing audiences. It will hardly be necessary to say, that these discourses contained the very essence of the new doctrines; and I am happy to state, that they were listened to with profound silence, and the greatest attention. From what I can hear, a great number were highly satisfied with what they heard, and others were as much displeased. But, upon the whole, there is every reason to think, that many will be led to embrace the truth; for a good number of strangers have already called for books, and have expressed their entire satisfaction with what they heard. {297}
“It cannot at present be ascertained what will be the result of Mr. Hindmarsh’s visit to Scotland; but is it not reasonable to hope, that the glorious truths, which he hath so publicly announced, will, like seed sown into good ground, ere long spring up, and bring forth abundantly? Yes, we may justifiably indulge this pleasing hope: but should we be disappointed in that respect, yet his labour has not been lost; for he has in a remarkable manner comforted and instructed us who have already received the doctrines, and has, I sincerely hope, so rooted and grounded the New Church in each of our hearts, that, if we hold steadily on, the gates of hell will never be able to prevail against her. During his stay here all the receivers felt as it were, a heaven upon earth: every night was taken up in conversation about the doctrines, and in putting questions, and receiving answers. The doctrines are now talked of throughout all parts of the town, and every day brings an account of what some one or other said as to his approval of the doctrine preached. Some have said that what they heard was what they have been thinking of for nearly thirty years, but that they were afraid to avow it. There are several women, who have said, that what they heard must be true, for they felt an internal dictate saying so to them.
“Whilst Mr. H. was here, a Mr. Spry, a strong Calvinist, took the alarm, and a handbill was circulated and posted up, announcing that he was to preach, and prove some of the doctrines that ‘the New Jerusalem so awfully denied.’ The night arrived, and a great crowd was gathered to hear the new doctrines cut up: but many were disappointed; for, although he repeatedly called Swedenborg a madman, yet he failed in producing any satisfactory evidence on that head: and the consequence was, that many of his own followers were much displeased, and some of them have called for books.
“But let me ask, what would it amount to, even although Swedenborg was set down as a madman? would that prove, that there is any other God than the Lord Jesus Christ? would his madness or infirmity disprove the internal sense of the Word? would it prove, that the glorious things that he hath told us concerning another life, were delusions? or would it prove, that the mercy of our Lord is confined to a few, as the Calvinists so fondly imagine? No; his alledged madness can neither prove nor disprove any one of these things. Those, therefore, who are in the affection of truth for its own sake, have nothing to fear from all the calumnies that may be raised and circulated by the enemy.
“We return our sincere thanks to the Missionary Committee for their kindness, in so readily complying with our wishes; and we hope, that they will be pleased to accept of the small sum remitted by us with Mr. H. as the first-fruits of a plentiful harvest.”

From Mr. William Brown, dated Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sept. 12, 1817=61.

“In the name of the Lord’s New Church in Newcastle-on-Tyne, I respectfully acknowledge the Missionary visit of Mr. Robert Hindmarsh. On Sunday, August 24, he preached twice in our place of worship; and notwithstanding our having only one day to make his arrival known, he was numerously attended both times; we suppose six hundred were present in the afternoon: and had he been able to have stopped a few days longer, we are firmly persuaded the numbers would have been greatly increased. His discourses were well received by all, nay, with wonder and astonishment by some, in consequence of never having heard such doctrines before. In addition to the many displays of the spiritual sense of the Sacred Scripture, mercifully given us through the medium of our beloved Minister, Mr. Linfitt Roberts, the visit of Mr. Hindmarsh has more fully convinced us of the great power of divine truth over the creeds and traditions of human invention. It has also been the means of bringing our Society more to public notice, as several strangers have attended, and the books of our library become more in demand since that time. We view the Missionary Ministry as one of the most effectual means to extend the knowledge of the New Jerusalem, that has yet been undertaken by her members, and feel much in being under the necessity of deferring our subscriptions to that fund, in consequence of the unavoidable expenses attending our own place; but hope it will be only for a short time.
“Should our friends be able to continue the Missionary services, it will give us great pleasure to be favoured with another visit. An extensive field presents itself around us on every side, there being three populous sea-port towns only a few miles distant; in which, should a Missionary deliver a few discourses, we believe a society might be formed; and we are strengthened in that belief, not only from the seeming disposition manifested by many to receive the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem, but because that happy period has commenced, in which the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. At the request of a few of our friends, an experiment has been twice tried to form a society at a village called Jarrow, nearly adjoining one of the sea-ports mentioned above. {298} The success attending our undertaking the first time was, that numbers could not get in to hear for want of room. Being principally Methodists in this village, their place of worship was applied for, but refused, saving we need not come any more, as nobody would come to hear us. We, however, went again; and if the assembly was not so numerous as at first, it was attended by several who were there before. We distributed several tracts or papers on Christmas-day amongst them. What was delivered has been well received by several: they lend the tracts amongst each other, and we do not despair of forming a society in the place.
“With respect to our own Society, its numbers continue to increase, and therewith order and affection. Our number at present is seventy-nine members, sixty-eight of whom have been publicly baptized into the life and faith of the Lord’s New Church, besides thirty-five young persons who have been baptized, and several others who are warmly attached, but have not joined us by that sacred ordinance.”

From Mrs. Elizabeth Norman, dated Stepney, near Hull, Dec. 2, 1817==61.

“I embrace the present opportunity of enclosing a L5 bank of England note, L3 of which I wish you to appropriate to the use of the Missionary fund, and the other L2 you will have the goodness to pay to Mr. Hutchinson, for the use of the Manchester Printing Society.
“I have for near these thirty years been an humble recipient of the New Jerusalem verities. The Rev. Robert Green, our former Minister, was the means, in the Lord’s blessed hands, of enlightening and confirming my mind in that all-important truth of the sole, supreme, and exclusive divinity of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and the instruction I have since received from the Honourable Author, and the other New Church Writers, has tended still further to confirm me in all the essential truths thereof. And as the Lord has put it in my power in a small degree, I wish to do what I can to promote so blessed a cause, which, in my humble opinion, cannot be more effectually advanced, than by the Missionary Institution. I trust great good has already been done; and I sincerely hope and pray, that it may be encouraged, and become extensively useful.
“I regret that I was in the country when the Rev. J. Proud and Mr. R. Hindmarsh were here; but to all our friends, that I have conversed with on that subject, they were very useful, particularly the last gentleman, as he spake oftener, and staid rather longer, than the former: and it is thought by many of our friends, that if Mr. H. had staid longer, he would have been extensively useful. You will please to give my Christian love to him, and that worthy gentleman, the Rev. Mr. Clowes, who I hope are well, though unknown.”

From, Mr. M. Fletcher, dated Brightlingsea, Essex, Dec. 17, 1817=61.

“The account of the success attending the labours of those Missionaries sent out by you, must be read by every cordial recipient of the heavenly doctrines of the Lord’s New Jerusalem, with the highest degree of satisfaction and delight. It evidently appears, that the greatest good is to be expected from the adoption of such a plan, which merits the approbation and support of every friend of genuine truth. The Society here would think themselves highly favoured by the visit of a person in that capacity, well qualified for that important office, most particularly at this time, there being a ferment in the minds of numbers here, occasioned by the violent opposition made by a Methodist Preacher, whose oratorical talents are attracting the people in vast numbers, and whose powers of persuasion are very successful in prejudicing the minds of the hearers against our heavenly Jerusalem. Could our request be thus far acceded to, we further solicit, that the person might receive your sanction to stay a month with us; otherwise it is feared but little good would be effected. But should this meet your approbation, in order to contribute to your fund, every exertion will be made by every member and friend of the Church in this place.”

From Mr. Christopher Storry, dated Pickering, March 16, 1818=62.

The institution of a Missionary Ministry in the Lord’s New Church has, from its commencement, invariably met with my most decided approbation; and as a firm believer in the second advent of the Lord, as revealed in the Writings of the Hon. E. S., I have always considered myself as in duty bound to support it to the utmost of my power. From the various pleasing accounts of the success of those worthy Ministers who have been engaged to visit different places, as a commencement of this most admirable institution, and likewise as an experiment of the probable result of such an undertaking, I am free to confess, that, in my humble opinion, it is likely (under the auspices of Divine Providence,) to be attended with incalculable benefit to the Church at large, by diffusing unanimity of sentiment and of action, by increasing the numbers of the Lord’s visible Church, and by cementing into one body every individual member thereof; that thereby each one may be stimulated by example to perform those uses to which (by Divine Providence) they were destined, in their respective spheres of life. {299} By such a union of heart and hand, diffused throughout the whole Church, you may rest assured of the divine blessing on all your labours in the new vineyard of the Lord. That it will increase and flourish, and your resources be increased thereby, so that you will be enabled to send forth more labourers into the vineyard, there can be no doubt. It certainly is the work of the Lord, being begun from the best of motives – the increase and extension of his kingdom – and must ultimately exceed your most sanguine expectations. I have enclosed a one pound note for the benefit of the institution, and shall, by divine permission, if circumstances permit, continue the same annually.”

From Mr. John Parry, dated Leeds, May 12, 1818=62.

Last Thursday I tendered my resignation to the Superintendent Preacher, and through his medium to the quarterly meeting of the Society, (Methodist New Connexion,) with which I have been connected now for many years. Nothing but a conviction of the truth of the New Church doctrines would have induced me to quit that connexion. I had indeed many inducements to remain with them. They generally treated me with more than common respect. Often have they solicited me to devote myself entirely to the Ministry amongst them; but on account of my change of views, I could not comply. For some time past I have uniformly introduced the new doctrines, in a general point of view, in my sermons; but feeling myself not at full liberty, whilst forming a part of their body, and deeply impressed with the great necessity and importance of mankind entertaining juster views on religious subjects, and particularly relative to the Lord Jesus, the One only God of heaven and earth, and having through the mercy of the Lord experienced the happy influence of these doctrines in my own case, I considered it my duty to free myself from restraint, and, as Divine Providence might open my way, to make known the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem. I have had many struggles, ere I could bring myself fully to the point: at length, however, the work is accomplished, through the help and support of the Lord; and now the first wish of my heart is, to proclaim more fully the superior heaven-born truths of the new dispensation.- I have subjoined a copy of my resignation, as presented to my old friends. Sincerely hoping that you will be directed in all your measures by the Lord Jesus, the only wise God, I am very respectfully yours in the cause of truth.”

Copy of Mr. Parry’s Resignation, addressed to the Rev. George Hindley.
“Leeds, May 7, 1818.

Dear Sir,

“My object in addressing you at the present is, to communicate the resolution I have adopted of resigning the situation I have long occupied in the Methodist New Connexion, viz., that of Preacher and Leader. I have acted with the New Connexion now for many years, under the influence of sincere attachment, as you well know, and from a conviction that it was my duty. I still love and esteem many of its members, and respect its form of government. Yet I conceive my work is done in that Church, and that Providence calls me to labour in another part of his vineyard. Believing this to be my duty, I resolve to obey. Yet observe, nothing but a conviction that it is my duty, would induce me thus to act. I therefore hope, that those from whom I now withdraw, will exercise towards me that charity which is the first principle of true religion, and which I hope ever to exercise towards them; and not hastily condemn me for such a procedure: for the Lord Jesus is my witness, that my design is more effectually to promote his interests on earth, by directing the attention of mankind more immediately to him as the Only God of heaven and earth. May this great and glorious Saviour bless you, and the people with whom you are connected, and cause us finally to meet in his holy and happy kingdom above, is the sincere and devout prayer of yours affectionately as ever,
“JOHN PARRY.”

“P. S. Please to communicate the above to the Quarterly Meeting this evening.”

From Mr. Christopher Storry, dated Pickering, June 15, 1818=62.

“I duly received your favour, and have embraced the earliest opportunity of returning you my sincere thanks for the same. {300} I have carefully perused the contents of the Report, &c., and am much gratified at the exhilarating prospects of the growing prosperity of the Lord’s New Church: and my ardent prayer to our Jehovah-Jesus is, that he will accompany with his blessing every effort to promote the extension of his Church and kingdom upon earth, that our Zion may be continually refreshed by his presence and benediction, and that every professor of the rich mercies we enjoy, may become a real possessor of the inestimable treasures of love and wisdom, so bountifully bestowed upon us in this dark and awful night of error, folly, and crime; that by the purity of their life and conversation, they may be an honour to the blessed cause they have espoused, and be the means of inducing thousands more to enter the gates of the holy city, New Jerusalem, now descending from God out of heaven.
“I feel much obliged by your kind offer of sending me the Second Missionary Report; and although the expense of carriage is very extravagant, I cannot deny myself the gratification arising from such a piece of valuable and interesting information.
“You wish to know if there be any more readers besides myself in this neighbourhood. My wife and I are happy and united in the doctrines; our children are young, four in number, which, if spared, we shall diligently instil into their tender, susceptible minds, the knowledge and practice of the heavenly doctrines we have so cordially espoused. There are other two men here, who profess an attachment to the doctrines, but, am sorry to say, are in a lukewarm state: they want much rousing to action, which I fear cannot be effectually done, unless the doctrines could be preached publicly. There are several more, with whom I have conversed, and to whom I have lent books to read, who are not unfavourable to the doctrines, and I believe would gladly hear them preached. One of them, a steady Methodist, told me in a conversation I had with him, that he would go ten miles to hear the doctrines preached. In Scarborough, I understand, there are ten readers, some of them in opulent circumstances. I intend, if Providence permit, to visit them in a month’s time, when I shall have an opportunity of ascertaining their exact number and situation; after which I shall probably drop you a few lines. In Whitby I hear of two readers; and there perhaps may be more, whom I have not heard of. This is the present state of the readers in this neighbourhood, as far as I have been able to collect information; and I am of opinion, if a Missionary Minister could be spared amongst us a few weeks, that much good might be done in many respects.”

The Second Missionary Report concludes with the following appropriate reflections:

“From the information contained in the preceding extracts, and from various other letters to the same effect not noticed in this Report, it appears, that amidst all the difficulties, which the New Church has to contend with, and which by divine revelation we are taught to expect, she progressively advances in strength, harmony, and order. There is a manifest increase of love and affection among those who profess the new doctrines, and this will ever be regarded as the truest and best criterion of prosperity. It is observed by our illustrious author, Emanuel Swedenborg, that the angelic heaven continually advances in perfection, according to the increasing number of its inhabitants. The same may be said of the Church on earth, while all its members are careful, like angels, to live in obedience to the divine laws. Each new comer into the kingdom of our Lord brings down additional virtue from heaven; and while as an individual, he is receiving from all, he at the same time communicates to all; and thus, by an order worthy of infinite wisdom and goodness, the bonds of spiritual union are more firmly cemented together, the sphere of love is enlarged, the light of truth becomes more and more resplendent, the great family of mankind is blessed, and the prosperity, happiness, and peace of Jerusalem are effectually established.
“Hitherto the New Church, according to divine prediction, has been taking shelter in the desert. She has long ago brought forth her male child, the heavenly doctrine of the New Jerusalem, which, but for the protection of the Divine Providence, would have been devoured immediately after the birth. But having been “caught up unto God, and to his throne,” that is, having been preserved until mankind were in a more favourable state for its reception, while the Church herself was still exposed to the assaults of her spiritual enemy, in consequence of remaining in the desert, where she has been nourished and fed for “a thousand two hundred and three score days;” it now appears high time, that she should make her escape from a land of affliction and spiritual desolation, into the holy city descending from above, “where all tears shall be wiped away, and where there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away;”- a city, whose Builder and Maker is the Great Jehovah-Jesus, whose wall and foundations are precious stones, whose gates are pearls, whose streets are pure gold, whose inhabitants are angels, and whose temple is the Lord Himself in his Divine Humanity. {301} “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.- I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.” Apoc. xxii. 14, 16.