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Feb. 1842.

Thy works, with hidden glory stored,

Shall gild thy path with brighter light!
Thine is the joyous welcome-" Come!
"Drink of the living crystal stream!
"The tree of life is thine !-thy home-
"The mansions of Jerusalem!"

How glorious, in her streets of gold,
From sweet angelic lips to hear,
And in angelic life behold,

The doctrines thou hadst cherish'd here.

No troubling thought, no anxious care,
Shall more thy ransom'd bosom pain;
No curse, no night, no cloud is there ;-
Light, joy, and peace, consummate reign.
Transcendant Truths!-with proofs sublime,
Anew to mortal reason given,--

O be my sacred light through Time!
O guide me to the wish'd-for heaven.

Faith, lend thy wings!-thy anchor, Hope!
And Innocence, thy lily vest!

And Love, thou radiant seraph! stoop,
And be my life-directing guest.

Ye weave the wreath, whose mystic thread
No fate can cut-no time consume !-
Whose kindred flow'rs their fragrance shed
Together, in supernal bloom!

Oh! in this shadowy vale below,

If long or short my path extend,
Still may your torch more ardent glow!
And still more ardent to the end!

So when the solemn hour-unknown-
Dissolveth every mortal tie,

I'll cheerful lay this body down,

And join the kindred choir on high!

R. A.

N. S. NO. 33.-VOL. 3.

Y Y

THE THIRTY-FIFTH GENERAL CONFERENCE.

THE Conference assembled this year at Birmingham, on Tuesday, August 9, and continued its sittings till the, following Saturday evening. Twelve ministers and sixteen representatives were present. The societies represented were Birmingham, Derby, Kersley, Liverpool, London (Friars street), Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Each day's sitting was opened and closed with the Lord's prayer.

An unusual quantity of business was transacted, some of which was of considerable importance, and upon which great diversity of opinion existed; yet, as the members in general were disposed to waive their individual opinions, and to yield to what appeared to be most conducive to the good of the Lord's church, a conciliatory spirit prevailed, such, we would say, as might be expected from NewChurch-men, and most of the numerous measures that came under consideration were, after ample discussion, adopted unanimously.

The Rev. D. Howarth was appointed President, and Mr. Hodson, Secretary.

As usual a great deal of time was occupied in routine and detail, in reading and receiving reports from societies, institutions, and committees, the accounts and memorials of the various schools; and the addresses to the members, and to and from America.

The Rev. R. Storry is appointed to draw up the address to the members of the Church for the next year.

In reference to the American addresses, the following minutes were made:

44. An address from the General Convention of the Societies of the New Church in America to this Conference, dated Boston, July 1, was read; from which it appeared that the address from the last Conference had not at that time been received; and containing several resolutions, passed in consequence thereof, expressive of regret at the interruption in the friendly communication between that body and the English Conference,

which it was hoped had been placed upon a regular and permanent footing; when, finding upon inquiry made of the secretary, and as appeared by the letter-book, that the address, with the Minutes, had been forwarded by him on the 25th of November last, it was Resolved, That this Conference extremely regrets to learn that the communication of last year has miscarried, as it has always been anxious to keep up with regularity the friendly communication with the General Convention in America, which has now so long existed; but, in the present instance, accident, or neglect in parties not connected with the Conference, appears to have caused the unpleasant interruption, against a repetition of which provision must be made; that this Conference receives with much pleasure the address voted by the late General Convention, so expressive, notwithstanding the disappointment it must have felt, of a continuance of that Christian feeling which the Conference is so desirous of cultivating.

50. An address was then read from "the Central Convention of the Receivers of the Heavenly Doctrines of the New Jerusalem, in the United States;" which is stated to have been recently formed, and explaining the object and necessity of its establishment, and its desire to enter upon a friendly exchange of communication with this Conference; when it was Resolved, That this Conference, concluding that a necessity exists for the formation of a second Convention, as stated in the above-named address, and trusting that its existence will be advantageous to the extension of the Church in that country, readily agrees to the proposed exchange of communications with the said Central Convention.

One of the most important matters that came before the Conference related to the Magazine. It appearing that its state and prospects were not such as could be desired, a committee of ministers was appointed to consider and report thereon,

and to offer suggestions for its improvement and increased usefulness. They accordingly had several meetings; and an elaborate report having been prepared, it was agreed to and presented to Conference, and received and ordered to be printed.

The principal feature in this report was a recommendation, as a means of securing greater unity of design and operation, that there be but one editor: it also contained copious hints as to the best mode of conducting the Magazine, and proposed that the ministers be a council to whom the editor could apply for advice or assistance in any emergency.

The recommendation of the committee being adopted by the Conference, the Rev. J. H. Smithson was appointed editor.

A committee of laymen was also appointed to investigate the pecuniary affairs of the Magazine. From their report it appeared that, although the average sale had increased from 605 copies of the old series to 1031 of the new, yet, from the greatly enlarged size, the allowance to the editors, and other causes, a considerable loss had been sustained. With a view to economy, it was, after much discussion, agreed to have the Magazine printed at Manchester, according to an estimate, by which a saving of about 41. a month would be effected, a member of the Conference pledging himself that it should be properly done in every respect. The management of the concern was likewise transferred to the Trustees North of Trent; but the publication of the Magazine is to be continued in London.

Mr. Hodson and Mr. W. Newbery were appointed agents for the sale of the Conference publications.

The stock of books and stereotype plates belonging to the Conference have been insured.

On the subject of New Church education, which appears to be about to occupy something nearer that share of attention to which it is justly entitled than it has hitherto received from the Church at large, three reports were presented; on receiving which the following resolution was passed: Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider the subjects

of these reports, directing their attention particularly to that portion which relates to the formation of a central school for the children of members of the Church; that they obtain such further information on the subject, particularly in relation to the providing suitable juvenile books, as they may be able to procure; and that they report generally to the next Conference.

The distribution of the funds to the various Free Schools led to an animated discussion, the Conference not having so much available funds as last year, and there being an application from the society at Accrington, where, by the laudable exertions of the members, a dayschool has been established. Ultimately the following arrangement was adopted. The dividends on the Chester legacy, amounting to 961., were divided among the schools in London, Manchester, and Birmingham, 281. to each, and Brightlingsea 127. The proceeds of the Marshal and other bequests, &c., were distributed, to the Newcastle school 171., Heywood 117., and Accrington 101.

The application from the Brightlingsea society for the ordination of their leader, Mr. Wynn, which had been made last year, but was not then agreed to, tha gentleman being so little known, was again made this year, and agreed to unanimously. By his ordination not only will his own numerous society be enabled regularly to partake of the Lord's supper, from which they have long been almost entirely deprived, but his sphere of usefulness will extend to the neighbouring societies at St. Osyth, Colchester, and Ipswich.

As there are at present only two ordaining ministers, it was deemed desirable to increase the number; it was accordingly agreed that the Rev. E. Madeley, he being eligible according to the rules, and in every other respect, should be raised to that degree; and instructions were given to the ordaining ministers to admit him to the office.

A communication having been made to the Conference respecting the service in the liturgy for consecrating ordaining

ministers, a committee of the ministers was appointed to consider whether that service could not be altered with advantage.

The Manchester Tract Society, it will be recollected, was founded by the liberality of Mr. Senior, and is calculated to be of essential service to the Church as a means of diffusing a knowledge of the heavenly doctrines. In order to give permanency to so influential and important an institution, an application was made by the committee to the Trustees of the General Conference North of Trent, for them to take the society under their protection, and so to identify it with the Conference. To this they consented, the subject having previously been well discussed, and it appearing to be the best way of carrying out the benevolent intentions of the founder. When it was brought before Conference for confirmation, a lengthened discussion ensued; while it was the unanimous opinion that the institution was a most valuable one, and well deserving of being placed as far as possible on a permanent foundation, some members were afraid that the Conference would be incurring a responsibility without at the same time having the means within its power of exercising the necessary controul over the transactions of the society. The proceedings of the trustees were however ultimately approved and confirmed by the Conference.

Agreeably to a notice in the Conference circular, a revised and improved eode of rules of Conference had been prepared, having a better arrangement, omitting redundances and supplying deficiences. These were presented, but there not being sufficient time left to give these due consideration, the following resolutions were passed:

136. That a committee be appointed to whom these rules shall be referred, who shall consider them, and report thereon to the Conference committee, within six months after the adjournment of this Conference.

138. Resolved, That the Conference committee, on receiving the report, as required by the above resolution, are to consider the same forthwith; cause the

rules to be printed, and send a copy to each society for their consideration, with a request that they return the same to the Conference committee, within two months from the receipt thereof.

146. Resolved, That the Rules of Conference being under revision, societies are requested to guide themselves by the rules, as printed in the last Minutes, it being unadvisable to reprint them in the present Minutes, under the above circumstances.

The Conference is to be held next year at the church in Peter street, Manchester.

We have thus, we believe, noticed every point of general interest that occurred during the sitting of Conference. We are well aware, however, that what we have said will not afford an adequate idea of the amount of labor sustained by the members, who were occupied early and late, with scarcely any intermission, from Tuesday morning till Saturday evening: that can only be appreciated by those who have performed the duty themselves. The heat of the weather was oppressive; and towards the close the friends from Lancashire were rendered anxious by the alarming accounts that reached them of the rising of the populace in their neighbourhood. strong desire to promote the welfare of the Church, we believe, influenced every member; and we sincerely hope that the divine blessing may accompany the results, and prove that their labours were wisely directed.

A

For full particulars we must refer to the Minutes, which will shortly be published. As a larger number of copies will be printed than last year, the various societies will have a better supply for distribution among their members.

A considerable and happy assemblage of the friends met the members of the Conference at tea, on Thursday evening, in the large school-room. The room was decorated in a manner equally creditable to the feeling, taste, and diligence of the younger female friends, who had undertaken the task. We say to the feeling, because the motto, in laurel leaves, "Wis

It

dom, love, and use," which they had placed on the wall over the chair, indicated, that while intent on ornament, they had not lost sight of higher considerations. happened, that under a guiding, good Providence, this motto proved the guiding-star of the proceedings of the evening. The meeting was addressed after tea by the chairman, the Rev. E. Madeley, whose suitable and weighty observations, as well as his previous arrangements with the other speakers, were well calculated to give that high moral and religious tone which pre-eminetly distinguished the proceedings throughout. He was followed by the undermentioned ministers: Messrs. Smithson, Woodman, Howarth, Bayley, Storry, Shaw, Mason, Rendell, and T. Goyder; and these gentlemen were followed by Mr. Knight, whose observations were marked by a strain of lively and delicate allusions to the happiness conferred by the sexes on each other, it being his province to return thanks to the ladies for their kind attentions. The highly pleasing address of this gentleman was followed, after a few words from Mr. Dearden, by some concluding remarks from the worthy chairman.

The speakers had been judiciously requested not to occupy above a quarter of an hour, also to adopt each a different subject, and as far as convenient, to interweave their remarks with those of their predecessors. This arrangement gave to the speeches at the same time a remarkable degree of blended unity and variety. The first speaker adverted to the motto before mentioned, reversing its order to love, wisdom, and use, and then made it the pivot on which his thoughts moved, in presenting his ideas on the particular subject committed to him. Other speakers, in following him, also viewed their particular subjects in the light of the motto thus reversed, until some proceeded to take it as it stood (wisdom, love, and use), and thus introduced a new and highly pleasing and edifying train of thought;—the order of the words, "love, wisdom, and use," exhibiting the course according to which

the regenerate mind acts in descending into the various uses of life, in acting from love by wisdom; and the order of the words "wisdom, love, and use," exhibiting the course by which the mind labours up the hill of Zion, in acting on all occasions, according to the truths of wisdom, and thus attaining more and more to the reception of love :--the first indeed being the order according to which the inhabitants of heaven think and act; and the second, the order by which the true man of the church seeks to become an angel.

The sentiments uttered on this occasion were meet for the ears of angels; and the pure and simple eloquence with which they were delivered, varied by the peculiar turn of thought and feeling of the various speakers, and the particular subjects given to them, we are bold to say, would not have discredited a highly polished assembly. This evening will be long remembered by those who were present, as most satisfactorily proving the steady and successful advancement of the New Church in the true essentials of that church, namely, intelligence in divine truth, united with the pure love of goodness. A divine sphere seemed to swell the channels of truth so largely opened by the different speakers, even to overflowing, and compelled the conviction and confession,-"The Lord is in this place!" We might profitably have given the substance of the speeches, but to do so would have occupied more space than we can possibly spare; we must therefore be content with the above general notice.

In compliance with the rules of Conference, divine service was performed on the evenings of Tuesday and Friday; the Rev. J. Bradley preached on the former occasion, and the Rev. D. Howarth on the latter. We cheerfully bear testimony to the healthy condition of the Birmingham society, evidenced by the regularly good attendance at the Lord's house and table, by the beautiful singing in which most of the congregation heartily join, the order and zeal exhibited by the younger members as teachers in the Sun

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