RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR 1858. (Concluded from page 38.)

In the last number we cast a cursory glance at the general religious features of the past year. The length to which our remarks extended precluded any specific notice of the New Church; indeed, one or two features, of more than ordinary significance, relating to the Old were, from the same cause, passed over unnoticed. These, however, we propose to take up at some future opportunity.

The year 1857 was memorable in the annals of the New Church as the completion of the first centenary since the last judgment, preparatory to the coming of the Lord, in the mighty power of his saving truth in his Divine Word. This epoch was, however, unnoted, except within the small circle of those who profess New Church doctrines; and the series of delightful réunions, devoted to mutual recognition and greeting of previously unknown friends, and their mutual congratulations, which marked the era, excited neither sympathy nor attention in the public at large. Whilst turmoil reigned without -the Russian war just ended, and the Indian rebellion at its climax,-peace reigned within, and apathy, apparently, prevailed with out. Signs of excitement had indeed begun to exhibit themselves among the leaders of the Old; efforts to reach the working classes by special services had been inaugurated; and, among the lesser lights, a Spurgeon or a Mursell shone out with the glare of a meteor. On the other hand, an attempt to unite the scattered and discordant elements of popular Protestantism into an alliance of mutual defence against Papal aggression had been made, under the auspices of the Evangelical Alliance; but the New Church was left to pursue her course unmolested, being, apparently, deemed too insignificant to demand attention.

Since then, however, a new phase has characterized our experience. The year 1858 has been marked by the renewal of a conflict we had believed to be at an end. After years of quiet from molestation, the past year witnessed a series of

attacks upon us, which, for virulence and want of principle, equal, if they do not exceed, any to which we have at any previous time been subjected. The religious bodies (or rather some of them) in Middleton and Rhodes, villages near Manchester, led the attack. Next, we were assailed by John Bowes, at Bolton. Leamington followed, in which town the somewhat notorious John Brindley made an onslaught on our doctrines; and, being virtually foiled, subsequently attempted to remove the seat of war to Birmingham, where he disgusted, not only the public, but, apparently, the more judicious of his own friends. Subsequently, at the instigation of a Mr. George Porter, a Plymouth brother, an attack was made in Carlisle, by Mr. Bowes; and, lastly, we have had to submit to one from a somewhat noted Gathercall, at Chatteris, where he is the vicar.

What makes these attacks the more striking and significant is, that they were entirely unprovoked. At Middleton, or rather Rhodes, the conflict was excited by an announcement from the pulpit, of the library belonging to the society being open to the public, which resulted in some four teachers of another school reading and being convinced of the truth of the New Church doctrines; and Middleton, from its contiguity, became involved. At Bolton the attack apparently arose out of the "chapter of accidents," Mr. Bowes having confessed to being drawn into it against his better judgment. The Leamington controversy arose from the works being received into the Free Library of that town; and it was out of this that the Birmingham attack sprang. The attack at Carlisle originated in the progress of the cause in that city, which, though consisting of a mere handful of persons, was sufficient to awaken the fears of Mr. Porter. Some few years previous Mr. Bowes had a small band of followers, and Mr. Cartmell, the present leader of the Carlisle society, having recently returned from America, where he had received the doctrines, was requested to preach to them. The result was, that about half became favourable to the doctrines, and the others were scattered to the winds.

Among the latter was, we understand, the gentleman who incited the recent attack; and it is not surprising that neither he nor Mr. Bowes should view us with no friendly eye. Then, as respects Chatteris, the circumstances of the attack, having been so recently detailed, must be familiar to our readers, and need not be repeated.

In the early history of the church it was the custom of many of our preachers to shew little or no mercy on the fallacies of the old dogmas. Had such been the case now-were our pulpit services characterized by the unsparing exposure of error that formerly marked them, it would have furnished some clue to the recent attacks. But, a studious avoidance of aught that might cause unnecessary pain has, for some time past, been the leading feature of New Church preaching, and the object of our preachers has been to build up the truth rather than pull down error. No external incitement will, therefore, supply a solution of the attacks made on us from so many quarters, and we must consequently seek it in some internal.

In the remarks we offered at the commencement of the year 1858, reference was made to the Indian outbreak, in which it was suggested that many of its features indicated the accomplishment of a judgment in the spiritual world. The present, or rather recent, outbreak against our doctrines, arises, we believe, from the same general cause. One of the results of these periodical crises in the invisible world is the increased power of the Divine influx into that world, and thence into the minds of men, with the consequent extension of the Lord's kingdom. But the legions of the Dragon will not yield without a conflict, and the struggle which rages there makes itself felt below. When John beheld the Dragon and his angels expelled from heaven by Michael and his angels, he heard a voice denouncing "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, for the devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."+ By the laws of influx out of that world into the minds of men bere, wherever a congenial ground or plane is supplied, there it operates and incites; and no doubt a very wide plane exists. Some, * See vol. v., page 42. + Rev. xii. 7-12.

from prudential considerations, may be restrained from giving public utterance to the opposition they feel; but we infer, with tolerable certainty, that a powerful agitation is going on beneath the surface, and the incidental attacks we have quoted are but a few of the ripples that rise to the top.

The results to the New Church have been the very reverse of what our opponents contemplated and desired. They were not only promptly met, but our enemies have been mortified with defeat. In Middleton, whilst the storm raged, and our foes threatened us with demolition, our friends were engaged in the erection of a new place of worship, of near threefold the size of their previous one, which has hitherto been attended with a proportionately larger congrega tion. The attack in Bolton resulted in a public discussion, the printed report of which, circulated by hundreds, has, it is believed, done good service to the Church. In Leamington, where public attention was first called to our doctrines by the denunciations of an enemy, an increasing number have already avowed themselves firm believers in their truth, and others are examining their claims, where previously there was not one; whilst the opposition in Birmingham raised up a vindicator in the person of Mr. Taylor, before unknown to us, and unacquainted with our doctrines, till his attention was drawn to them by the scurrility and virulence of Dr. Brindley's attacks. Nor must we pass over the Deep Dip of a Charity Boy, which, although intended to vindicate Mr. George Dawson, was highly favourable to us. The onslaught made on us in Carlisle awakened a degree of interest in us which any other means would, probably, have failed to accomplish, and the refutation of the scandals raised against us was listened to by approving hundreds. The results of the Chatteris attacks may be gathered from the last and present number of the Repository.

Another feature by which the past year has been distinguished has been the greater efforts to make the doctrines known by lectures. These have partly, it is true, arisen from the attacks made on us; but, independently of that circumstance, more than an average amount of missionary exertion has been sustained, and with more than average success. Under this head may be

noted a phase, in the advocacy of the doctrines, altogether new-we refer to the labours of Mr. Gladwell, who, single-handed, and without any countenance or aid from our institutionsindeed without their knowledge, in a series of more than a hundred out-door lectures, advocated the leading doctrines of the Church, and vindicated them in the face of all opposition. His labours extended from Doncaster, through the North Riding of Yorkshire, and Durham, into Northumberland. Of his subsequent labours, and present whereabouts, we hope to hear shortly.

Though we cannot stop to enumerate the different localities where these missionary visits have been made, we must not close this brief notice without reterring to the highly successful efforts made at Brighton, which have resulted in the establishment of a small society, doubtless to become the nucleus of a future large one.

The only other incident our space will admit of our noticing is the increased accommodation furnished, and contemplated in our places of worship. The friends at Middleton, as already stated, have rebuilt their edifice; at Stand-lane also a new gallery has been erected; at Liverpool, Limekiln-lane, Wigan, appeals have been made with the view of erecting new places of worship; and, though last, not least, in the metropolis and the vicinity our friends have it in contemplation to provide greater accommodation. The church in Argyle-square is, we understand, shortly to undergo considerable alteration and enlargement. At the West End, in the Borough, and at Hammersmith, the friends are desirous to inaugurate the public worship of the New Church.

The establishment of societies meeting publicly for worship in the suburbs of our large towns, we have long been convinced, will give a new impetus to the numerical growth of the church. In this "age of great cities," considerations of health and retirement drive our friends further and further into the country, and to the same extent apparently weaken the church by increasing the distance between them and the place where they attend the Sabbath ministrations. In some instances they have no alternative but either to forego public worship, or attend

some of the churches or chapels of the locality. The time, however, seems to be drawing near when new centres will spring up around these great centres of population, which in furnishing accommodation to our own friends, will also form nuclei of future societies, and afford to those not before cognizant of our doctrines facilities of becoming acquainted with the glorious truths they embody.

From this hasty and brief outline of the past year, our readers will gather that the prospects of the Church are brightening. There are some problems, of great practical moment, it is true, waiting for solution; we may, nevertheless, mutually congratulate each other on the gradual extension and consideration of the truths in the minds of men, and, in humble gratitude, raise our Eben Ezer,* acknowledging that the Lord hitherto hath helped us. As respects our duties, it is to be hoped no member of the Church is either ignorant of, or indifferent to them. Under a sense of the responsibility devolving on us, let us hope the commencement of another year will mark a more decided progress, both in the Church within us, in our own states, and in the Church without us. The Lord and his angels, we are assured, are working for us; let us cöoperate; and-"Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE

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*

sense of the Word than I had previously done at these places, and to dwell less on the general doctrines. I took, there fore, at Chatteris, the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins for the first evening, Nov. 16th, and the Intercession of our Lord for the following one. Both meetings were distinguished by deep attention; and, after each discourse, questions were asked and answered, which added to the interest, and no doubt to the profit of the people. The vicar of Chatteris was present, and on the second evening was induced to put some questions, and, for about an hour, to discuss the difference between the old doctrines and the new. * The vicar kept in tolerable good humour, though he said many inconsistent things. He announced also that he would lecture against us on Sunday evening, and probably on several Sunday evenings. The vicar kept his word. In a very few days after my return home I received a letter from Chatteris, informing me that the vicar had abused us so outrageously that the friends considered it incumbent that he should be replied to at the very earliest period. The week but one after was the very earliest I had at my disposal. This I ventured to name, though I was unable to see and obtain the sanction of the Committee, fully relying on your concurrence under such circumstances. Our friends issued a bill, which I enclose, and had taken notes for me. The meetings were now more crowded than ever; many gathered round the place who were unable to get in. On the first evening I took for my subject the compactness of the New Jerusalem, as referred to in Ps. cxxii., and replied to the vicar's objections as I came across them. The discourse took me about two hours, but no one seemed wearied. After the lecture, a deputation was appointed to wait upon the vicar, and request his presence on the following evening. He declined to appear; but the congregation was again most crowded. I took the description of the New Jerusalem, Rev. xxi. 2. We had a most delightful evening. All seemed edified. The deputation gave an account of their interview with the vicar, and a letter was read from him. Our friends expressed their strong conviction that the church had been much strengthened by the opposition, and the agitation alto gether.

"At St. Ives, open opposition does not so much appear; but every secret effort is made to induce persons to keep away from the New Church services. We had, however, good audiences and great attention. The applause of the people broke out from time to time; and our worthy and indefatigable friend, Mr. Tall, expressed the gratitude of the friends to the Committee in the warmest terms.

The

"I have also just concluded six lectures at Hammersmith. Our friend, the Rev. W. Bruce, who was commissioned a little time ago to obtain a place, but failed, called upon me to say that happily a place could now be had, and the opportunity was most favourable. His health would not permit him to deliver the lectures, nor any of them; but he was most anxious I should carry out the Committee's design. I therefore undertook it, Mr. Bruce and Miss Fawsett making the arrangements. audience at first was thin, but improved each lecture. We commenced with 60, and at the last lecture had probably 120 present. Interesting discussions were held, and many signs of interest and adhesion were given. The few families we have in the vicinity were much cheered, and they are wishful that worship should be had in harmony with the New Church at Hammersmith, in which I heartly concur. The likelihood is, a respectable little band would be gathered at once, and, if well supported, they would be the nucleus of what in time would be a good society. An eligible room may be obtained at an easy rate, and they would contribute a tolerable sum towards the expenses at once. You will, however, no doubt hear from them upon this subject. I am, &c.,

"Dec. 18th, 1858."

"J. BAYLEY.

Heywood.-A delightful meeting of the members and friends of the New Church at Heywood was held in the school-room on the evening of Christmas Day. Upwards of 500 persons were accommodated with tea, and afterwards the number considerably increased.

The programme for the occasion consisted of addresses, recitations, and choice selections of sacred music.

In his opening address the chairman (Mr. Holt) said he had much pleasure in congratulating the meeting on the present prosperous condition of the

society. Within the last few years their place of worship had been considerably enlarged and beautified, and during the past year the school-room in which they were then assembled had also been enlarged to almost double of its former size. He felt happy in being able to say that the society had been compelled to make these alterations in consequence of their steadily increasing numbers. There were then 427 scholars in the Sunday School, with an average attendance of nearly 400, and the room in its former state was not calculated to hold with comfort more than two-thirds of that number. In the Temple, also, in its present improved condition, there were but few seats vacant, and he had no doubt that when the young people whom he then saw around him had grown up, the society would again be under the necessity of extending their borders.

He then called upon the musicians to favour the meeting with "Unto us a child is born," which was admirably rendered by the Bury Apollo Glee Club and choir of the church.

Mr. Fairbrother followed next, and gave an interesting sketch of the history of the Sunday School from its commencement to the present time, and attributed a great portion of their present success to the establishment of evening classes, a few years since, in connection with the Sunday School, for instruction in singing and other branches of useful knowledge; and he hoped that every advantage would now be taken of their commodious rooms to establish other classes of a similar kind, that would ultimately contribute, as he believed the others had done, to the welfare and benefit of the society.

Several other interesting remarks were offered during the evening, by Messrs. G. Ashton, S. Stott, T. Isherwood, W. Whitworth, F. Smith of Manchester, the Rev. R. Edleston, and others, the proceedings being interspersed with selections of music, chiefly from the Messiah.

Several excellent recitations were also given during the evening by teachers and scholars of the Sunday School, one in poetry, composed, for the occasion, on the late enlargement of the school buildings.

The proceeds realised, on the occasion, £23. 2s. 6d., the trays being gratuitously furnished, as is usually done

here at Christmas, by the liberality of the ladies of the congregation.

Keighley. The annual meeting of the scholars, teachers, members, and friends of the society, took place on Christmas Day last. A tea was provided for the occasion, to which about one hundred sat down, exclusive of scholars. After tea, the meeting was opened by singing. Addresses were then delivered by Mr. Kenyon, the present leader, and Mr. Dixon, one of the members of the society; after which the entertainment was of a varied character, consisting of recitations by the scholars (bearing upon the views entertained by the church), among which may be noticed the catechism repeated by sixteen of the scholars, a dialogue on employments in heaven," the Lord is my shepherd," and others. A selection of music was sung by the choir, commencing with the 133rd psalm. "Behold a virgin" (recit.), and "O thou that tellest" (air); "He was cut off" (recit.), and "But thou didst not leave" (air): "Holy, holy, holy Lord God" (air), were very correctly and feelingly sung by three young females of the choir.

Other anthems were also sung, closing with the Hallelujah chorus and the 213th hymn. A very pleasant evening was thus spent. 200 were present, by whom the occasion will no doubt be long remembered for the kindly feelings by which it was characterised.

Jan. 6th, 1859.

A MEMBER.

The following items have, from the pressure on our space, stood over from the last number. The intelligence from Manchester, Derby, and Melbourne were omitted through an accident.

Manchester.-The society at Peterstreet have availed themselves of their commodious school-rooms to inaugurate a series of reunions, some for the members of the congregation, intended for social intercourse and the cultivation of a more intimate acquaintance among them; others for mutual improvement by lectures, conversazioni, &c.; in all there is the effort to combine the utile et dulce, which it is believed has been realized, these occasions having been felt, by those who have taken part in the meetings, to be fraught with both pleasure and instruction. We hope to be able in a future number to furnish more particulars.

Derby. On the 21st of November,