tifying attendance, though not so numerous as on the previous evenings. Several young men, recognized as Wesleyan local preachers, were present; and one stated to a friend, an attendant at the church, that "previously he had, as he thought, firmly made up his mind on the subject of salvation by faith alone, as a doctrine on which he could safely and eternally depend; but the lecturer had placed the subject in so new and convincing a light, that all that night he could get no rest, and should, he thought, be compelled ultimately to renounce his favourite sentiment." At the lecture we were pleased to discern the face of a minister of one of the Wesleyan congregations in this town. One gentleman in passing a distributor of the tracts after the close of the lecture, inquired whether the course would be published, as he was very anxious to obtain them.

Unfortunately no satisfactory answer could be given to him at the time. The interest taken by members of the society and congregation in the success of the lectures, was manifested by the gift of a considerable quantity of tracts for distribution; so that we were enabled by this addition to your present, to select proper tracts to be read after each lecture, and thus not only to strike a more weighty blow at the present, but also to make a reserve of strength for the future.

On the 30th, the fourth lecture, being upon the Doctrine of the Resurrection, was well attended. The reason of a decrease in the number of attendants may, in a great measure, be attributed to the influence of ministers, who, we are assured, were active in preventing all they could from hearing "the strange doctrines." One of these gentlemen, at the sacrament of the Lord's supper, solemnly warned his flock not to attend our "soul-destroying lectures," as he termed them, and pronounced it sin to do so.

It was reported that we should be favoured with a course of lectures in opposition, to be delivered by two Independent ministers of the town; but no

such steps have been taken by them at present, to convince the public that the opposite of either of our lectures is true.

This impolitic measure may yet be attempted: if so, it will give us fresh public opportunity of correcting erroneous statements, and of explaining with better effect the views of the New Church. A Methodist preacher, of great warmth in favour of solifidianism, expressed his determination to a member of the church to "publish a pamphlet concerning the New Church, and expose her real character." We think that to fulfil his word he must become a real New-Churchman. At present, however, we neither have heard of his pamphlet nor had the gratification of giving him the right hand of church fellowship.

The last lecture, 7th December, was upon the Second Advent, and the Descent of the New Jerusalem. It was attended by the smallest number; still there was a very good congregation. The topic of this discourse is not so generally inviting as the others, and doubtless by this time the opposing efforts of the orthodox preachers to prevent the attendance of sincere searchers after truth were effectual and extended.

The congregation on the Sabbath was much increased in consequence of the late efforts; and although the tide of interest has flowed away, it has still left some few proofs of its rising in several constant attendants.

We

Sittings have been taken by some who were present at the lectures, and convinced by them, and two stand proposed as candidates for membership. think many remain who are only hovering on the wing of indecision between conviction and circumstances which bind them to old church societies.

In connexion with the church, an open meeting is held every Monday evening, in the girls' school room, for the purpose of reading the works of E. S.; at which meeting, the attendants confirm, illustrate, and explain the section read, or propose questions for answer. Strangers were invited by the lecturer to the meeting, and we were gratified by the presence

of several. The rules of this meeting allow of no discussion, but simply questions to be asked, difficulties stated, and confirmatory remarks made. Some strangers availed themselves of these privileges.

A Wesleyan preacher engaged the attention of the meeting by some remarks unconnected with the subject, touching the fallacious doctrine, as our placard called it, of faith alone, and wished for an opportunity, as it was not allowed there, of proving that the doctrine of faith alone, (admitting good works as testimony to its genuineness,) as held by all orthodox churches, is consistent not only with reason, but also with the Word of God. A member of the church offered to meet him at a convenient time and place for the purpose of entering into the merits of the question; which offer was accepted. An evening was appointed for the purpose; but the number of friends of both parties being too great for accommodation in the usual room, the meeting adjourned to the boys' school room, where about 300 persons were assembled. A chairman was appointed, and each party having a specific time allotted to him, the business was conducted with order on both sides. The fault which we had to find with the Wesleyan, and which must have been apparent even to his friends, was, that he would not first, prove the foundation upon which the doctrine of faith alone is based, to be reasonable and scriptural; and secondly, erect his superstructure. He would, no doubt, have felt particularly obliged to his troublesome competitor, to have let him pass by the doctrine of the trinity; but this favour could by no means be granted. This discussion may prove useful to many who were present, who we feel confident never before saw the common doctrine of the trinity exposed so nakedly in all its natural deformity.

Upwards of 800 tracts were disposed of during the lectures, including distribution and purchases. The assistance rendered by the London Tract Society, was indeed valuable, and to the committee and supporters of that institution, the bright prospect of use (for the vast reality

is known only to the Lord) must be an ample recompense.

Your generous and prompt supply has enabled us to send forth silent yet eloquent lecturers to remote parts of the town and neigbourhood, if not of the world; and thus to contribute, powerfully we hope, towards spreading the spiritual waters over the whole world of mind.

A great portion of those tracts which treat upon other subjects than those com.. prehended in our lectures, are reserved for the next course, which we anticipate in the spring; when they will be more suitable for distribution, and when, it is sincerely hoped we shall be favoured with still more decisive evidence that we labour not in vain in the Lord; to whose name be all the honour and glory.

I am happy to forward you a copy of a resolution unanimously passed at a meeting of the Birmingham New Jerusalem Church Tract Society's Committee, held February 7th, which is as follows :

"Resolved, That the thanks of this committee be presented to the London Missionary and Tract Society, for their opportune and handsome grant of tracts to the Rev. E. Madeley, in November last; by which the Tract Society here has been materially benefitted, inasmuch as those pecuniary exertions, which must have been made by this society, to supply a sufficiency of tracts, were rendered unnecessary, and are therefore reserved for future opportunities of use."

G. R. HAYWOOD, Secretary.
Birmingham, Feb. 8, 1842.

OXFORD.-Rev. J. H. Smithson's Lectures.-In November last we published the Rev. D. Howarth's account of his visit to this city to promulgate, for the first time there, the heavenly doctrines of the New Church. We then stated that the committee were impressed with a sense of the paramount importance of making the doctrines extensively known in that place, at a time when so many even of the established clergy were unsettled in their views of the very fundamental points of theology. Having ascertained that it would not be conve

nient to Mr. Howarth to repeat his visit, they applied to Mr. Smithson to undertake the task, and he, with the approbation of his society, kindly consented, and arranged to deliver six lectures in the Music Hall on the following appropriate subjects:-1. Tuesday, Feb. 15, On the Word of God, proving that it contains a Spiritual Sense, and that all Objections against its Divinity can be triumphantly refuted. 2. Wednesday,

Feb. 16, On the same Subject, illustrated and confirmed. 3. Friday, Feb. 18, On the Sole and Supreme Divinity of Jesus Christ, proving that He is the One only God, in whom centres the Divine Trinity. 4. Tuesday, Feb. 22, The Atonement, Intercession, and Mediation of Jesus Christ, placed on the True Scripture Basis. 5. Wednesday, Feb. 23, On the Truly Christian Life;-its Nature ;-the Great Condition of Salvation. 6. Friday, Feb. 25, The Nature of the Life after Death, proving that Man arises immediately after Death in a Spiritual Body; and that his Happiness or Misery is determined according to his previous Life in the World. These were announced by large bills and by advertisements in the Oxford papers; and in order to assist in giving permanency to any good impression that might be made, 1300 Tracts on the subjects of the lectures were forwarded for distribution. Mr. S. has sent up an account of his first three lectures, and of the extraor dinary circumstances attending their delivery, which we lose no time in laying before our readers.

been posted in different parts of the town, but somebody had also been very active in obliterating them as much as possible. I resorted to the lecture-room rather early to see that all arrangements were perfect, when the hearers began to assemble, and the lecture commenced at half-past seven o'clock. It is supposed that there were between two and three hundred present; and, judging from appearance, they seemed to be from all classes of the community,-from the high and the low, the rich and the poor. The lecture continued rather more than an hour, and, judging from the silent attention with which the audience heard the statements and arguments to shew the nature of the Word, and to prove that it has an internal sense, it was evident that some degree of interest was felt in the subject; and as all we could be expected to do was to excite a spirit of inquiry, it was further evident, from the eagerness with which the Tracts on the subjects were received, that a desire to read and consider these things was active in the mind. On the following evening the second lecture was delivered, which was intended to confirm and illustrate the propositions and statements advanced in the first lecture, and to elucidate and demonstrate the system of interpretation, which is alone worthy of the Divine Word, and alone capable, under the holy influences of the divine mercy and spirit of the Lord, to open its "wondrous things" of wisdom and of love to mankind, and triumphantly to secure the sincere Christian against the assaults of infidelity. The attendance, on this occasion, was rather more numerous; but the hall was by no means crowded. One or two clerical gentlemen came into the room before the lecture commenced, and looked around to observe, I presume, if any students were present; but they did not remain. The interest likewise felt in this lecture seemed to increase, and several, I understood, resolved to come and hear all the lectures. As on the following day, Thursday, no lecture would be given, I thought it might be well to advertize again, and accordingly I had 1000 small

bills printed, which were distributed in different parts of the city. To my great. astonishment, however, a few hours prior to the commencement of the Lecture on the Friday evening, which was on the subject of the "Lord's Divinity and the Divine Trinity as centred in His glorious Person,' ," the proprietor of the lecture room came in great haste and consternation, saying, that he could not, on any account whatever, allow me to lecture again in his hall. On expressing my surprise, and stating the agreement, according to which, I had been at considerable expense in advertizing, that the six lectures should be delivered in the Music Hall, he said, he was aware, but begged I would consider the circumstances in which he was placed; for if I delivered another lecture in the room, he might lose all his support from the University, and be a ruined man. I afterwards learned, that the vice-chancellor and a few of the clergy had met, and resolved to prevent my having the use of the room any longer; and that the clergyman of the parish was deputed to convey the interdict, in the most peremptory manner, to the proprietor of the hall. You may readily conceive the difficulties in which was placed. It was only a few hours prior to the commencement of the lecture, and I was calmly concentrating my mind upon the important subject, reviewing my statements, arguments, and positions, when the unexpected message came, and roused me into quite a different state of thought and of feeling. The proprietor of the hall seemed to sympathize with me, and said that he felt much interest in the lectures, and could not see any just reasons why I should be so suddenly and so arbitrarily deprived of the use of the room; he also mentioned that there were two other rooms in the town, one of which I might probably procure the one was the Masonic Hall, and the other the Theatre. The former I found was engaged as a fencing school, and could not be obtained; the other I heard was at liberty, and might be procured. Thither I went, not much liking the idea of a theatre for N. S. No. 27.-VOL. 3.

theological lectures; but as I soon heard that the theatre was sometimes used for missionary meetings, and that a Sunday school was occasionally taught there, I became reconciled to the idea of making my début upon the stage. I found no difficulty in engaging the theatre, which I immediately did, as the only alternative, for the remainder of the lectures. But another difficulty was now to be overcome; how was the public to be informed of the change of locality, since there was not time for advertizing? And here I am thankful to say that several persons most unexpectedly came to my assistance, and offered to stand at the doors of the hall where the lecture should have been given, and to inform the public as they arrived that the succeeding lectures would be given at the theatre. At the time appointed a considerable number, more, I think, than on any previous occasion, attended; and although from the unpleasant circum. stances in which I had been placed I experienced any thing but a benefit, yet I gratefully acknowledge that I was providentially strengthened to go through the arduous duty with, I humbly hope and trust, a benefit to the cause of truth. I did not forget to explain, in my prologue to the audience, the cause why I had been prevented from lecturing in the Music Hall, and the reason why I was then addressing them in the theatre. I am glad to say, that although it was rather late when the lecture was finished, no symptoms of impatience were observed, and that the Tracts were greatly desired. Several collegians were present at this lecture, and two have visited the depository of E. S.'s works at Mr. Dowling's, and purchased some books.

On the Sunday evening I invited those who felt an interest in the New Doctrines to spend a few hours at my lodgings, when six persons came, and we experienced much delightful unanimity and concord in each other's company. Several more would have come, if illness, or some other cause, had not prevented. The "mustard seed" of the New Church is evidently sown in Oxford; at the present, indeed, Q

"it is the least of all seeds;" but I trust it will, in due time, grow up into a mighty tree, whose leaves shall be for the spiritual healing of innumerable multitudes of human beings, and whose heavenly fruits shall nourish their souls in every thing celestial and happy.

This evening the fourth lecture will be delivered; and I sincerely pray that the Divine aid and blessing may accompany our feeble efforts in propagating a knowledge of those pure and heavenly doctrines, which, when received into the mind, and realized in the life, constitute genuine Christianity upon earth, and which are greatly needed to dispel the sphere of

bigotry and darkness which so powerfully exists within this celebrated city. I find that the minds of the people are far more free from this sphere of bigotry and spiritual despotism out of Term time, than during the Term; that is, when the heads of colleges and the students are not here. This sphere, however, must be encountered and dispelled; and if a ray of light may be permitted to penetrate it, our labour will not be in vain. In my next, I will tell you further particulars respecting the mission to Oxford; in the mean time, I am, yours most sincerely,

J. H. SMITHSON.

AMERICA.-We have sadly fallen into arrear with our American intelligence, chiefly through the pressure of home news, and we now proceed to continue our notice of the contents of the recent numbers.

The Nov. No. opens with an admirable lecture on Painting, by Joseph Ropes, the object of which is to give just and enlarged views of the art, and to shew how it may subserve the noblest purposes. The facilities we now enjoy for obtaining excellent copies of fine pictures, are referred to with delight. This is appropriately followed by an Essay on Architecture, especially ecclesiastical, which is continued in the next number.

We observe with pleasure that several ordinations have taken place: Mr. S. F. Dike, as pastor to the society in Bath, Maine, and Mr. A. Howard, to that in Gardiner, also in Maine. Mr. B. F. Barrett, whose lectures caused so great a sensation in New York, a few months ago, has been ordained pastor of the society in that city. Mr. T. O. Prescott has been admitted into the first degree of the ministry.

In the January Number, we have An Address, by Samson Reed, delivered before the Boston Society and the teachers

and pupils of the Sabbath and week-day schools. It describes the reciprocal duties of parents and children, drawing beautiful illustrations from the instincts of animals and insects, defines the distinction between natural and spiritual affection, and points out the superiority of public over private education, as tending to a fuller and more healthful development of the affections. The concluding remarks are addressed more especially to the children. Then we have four letters from Mr. Sibly to Mr. Hargrove; in one of which, he recommends us to "Let the purity of our lives manifest the purity of our doctrines. That is the most effectual way to stop the mouths of all gainsayers." Then follow "Facts in Mesmerism," continued, including some very remarkable particulars. Readings with my Pencil," contain several extracts from Bishop Warburton to his friend Bishop Hurd, tending to prove the assertion that the Old Church has come to its end through the failure of charity. There is a paper respecting "Degrees in the Ministry;" then a notice of the "Documents concerning Swedenborg ;" then a Letter from Mr. Proud to Mr. Hargrove. In reference to the Intellectual Repository, we are gratified to find that our brethren

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