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to expose a tissue of falsehood, for the benefit of those whom you labour to deceive (p. 24).

statements.

Mr. Smithson exhibits a happy acquaintance with the arguments which the curate's own church supplies in refutation of his own This artillery Mr. Smithson has brought to bear upon his antagonist with destructive effect. And here it is our duty to mention, that we have seen a letter from Mr. S., in which he thankfully acknowledges the valuable assistance he has received from the Rev. Augustus Clissold, who pointed out to him the excellent sermon of Bishop Butler, On the Government of the Tongue, (of which Mr. S. has made an able use,) and who, in the course of the controversy, has offered various suggestions to him which have proved of considerable service.

There is every reason to expect that this "fiery trial" to our deeply injured, and, for the time, suffering friends at Ramsbottom, will issue in an increased degree of success to the church there, and an increased estimation with their neighbours. They may be assured, that they have had the warm sympathy of their brethren in the truth; and that the gallant and eminently successful defence which has been made for them by the ministers and others in Lancashire, and from other places, has claimed the admiration of those who have looked on from a distance. We are bound to say, that Mr. Smithson, in particular, is entitled for the part he has acted on this trying occasion, to the gratitude of the members of the church generally.

For further particulars, we must beg leave to refer our readers to this second letter of Mr. Smithson, which we think will not disappoint the expectations that our remarks may have a tendency to raise.

W. M.

POETRY.

TO THE BUTTERFLY.

Gay, gentle tenant of the air,
Child of the sunny hour,

In white, or rich embroidery fair,
Saluting ev'ry flower!

Though thy soft grace and gay attire

The mind may justly please,
Yet thou hast what may well inspire
Thoughts higher far than these.

May, 1812.

Dear gladsome butterfly! in thee
A wisdom not of earth
The philosophic eye may see-
A symbol of that birth

Immortal souls shall know-released
From prison-house of clay;

We, when our slumber here has ceased,
Like thee, shall wake to Day!
A Caterpillar once, thy frame
The Chrysalis enclosed;

But soon to light, with alter'd name,
A Butterfly disclosed!

How, then, exulting in the change,
In freedom didst thou soar!
Amidst delights refined to range,
Unknown, unthought before!
So, one day, shall the spirit rise,
Freed from the chains she bore,
Fly to her proper home-the skies,
To change her home no more!
Wisdom, to all who love to learn,

Can Nature's page supply.

Man's heavenly state we may discern
In thee, sweet Butterfly!

LONDON PRINTING SOCIETY.

THIRTY-THIRD ANNIVERSARY.-This meeting was held, as usual, at the Freemasons' Tavern, on Tuesday, June 21. The most striking circumstance in reference to it was the smallness of the number present; and it was the more remarkable from the continued increase of subscriptions and donations. Without attempting to assign the cause that has led to this result, we may fairly regard it as evidence that the members in general are well satisfied with the proceedings of the committee, and have implicit confidence in them. This cannot but be highly gratifying to them, and must encourage them to persevere in the same line of conduct; yet the presence of a greater number of zealous friends would,

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unquestionably, have been still more gratifying, and more encouraging. It may be laid down as a rule of almost universal application, that it is the duty of every member of a society, should circumstances allow him, to do more for it than merely to pay his subscription. His presence at the meetings is often positively useful. It is at least an evidence of his taking an interest in its concerns. Some friends suggested the propriety of holding the anniversary as an evening meeting, at which a greater number, including ladies, would attend, and might take tea together; others urged that it would be a great pity to alter the plan, it being the only opportunity for the friends of the church to

dine together; and many members having experienced from it not only delight, but likewise a strengthening and refreshing influence, at times when their state of mind seemed to require it, which no other kind of communion had ever produced. The conversation on this point ended by leaving it in the hands of the committee, to do what they thought best for the society.

The reading of the Report gave general satisfaction, shewing, as it does, the onward movement of the society. Notwithstanding the improved state of the funds to which we have alluded, the members must not relax in their contributions, all the available stock having been sold out. Several interesting particulars we must reserve till the publication of the Report.

When the business was concluded, twenty of the friends adjourned to another

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room, and partook of an excellent dinAfter the cloth was removed, some loyal and appropriate toasts were given; among them the healths of the indefatigable Tafel and the worthy Secretary. The Address of the President will be found in a previous page. The Rev. Aug. Clissold interested the meeting by some remarks on the various modes of Scripture interpretation; the literal, the figurative, and the spiritual; and shewed how utterly untenable is the first, how vague the second, and the growing attention which the last is obtaining. He illustrated his positions by copious extracts from popular modern publications. The party separated about ten o'clock, having spent a very agreeable evening, the chief regret being that the pleasure had not been shared by other friends, and enhanced by their presence.

LONDON MISSIONARY AND TRACT SOCIETY.

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of this Society was held at the London Coffee House, Ludgate Hill, on Thursday, May 12, when about sixty ladies and gentlemen took tea together, and about thirty more attended afterwards. At

half past seven, the Rev. Augustus Clissold having been called to the chair, requested the Rev. T. C. Shaw to open the meeting with a prayer for the Divine blessing on the proceedings.

The Secretary then read the minutes of the proceedings of the last anniversary and the report of the Committee for the past year.

The Treasurer then read his report; from which it appears, that, although the subscriptions and donations have exceeded the ordinary subscriptions of any preceding year, the expenditure has been so large as to leave the Society indebted to the Treasurer about 187.

The usual resolutions for adopting the report, appointing the Treasurer, recommending the Society to the patronage of the Church, &c., were unanimously passed; also one suggesting the propriety of making missionary efforts in the me

tropolis. The several friends who moved and seconded these resolutions addressed the meeting in a strain of thankfulness to the Lord that we had been permitted to be thus engaged in his service, of congratulation for the success that had hitherto attended the society's operations, and of encouragement to make renewed exertions to meet the daily increasing desire for more satisfactory views on theological subjects.

The Treasurer read several very interesting extracts from letters; from which it appears that two ladies at Cheltenham have very liberally offered, the one to entertain a missionary at her house for a fortnight, and the other to hire a lecture-room in one of the best streets, which he might occupy twice a day if he wished.

The Treasurer also read a letter from a lady who said that, as she had no money to contribute to the Society, she had sent a guitar, hoping that Mr. Newbery's zeal would excuse her troubling him to find a purchaser. The lady did not give her name, and sent the guitar by a porter. Mr. Newbery stated

that he would be happy to meet with a purchaser in any one who was willing to add to the funds of the Society. We are glad to say that he has already been successful.

Mr. Senior, of Dalton, was present, and in reference to the deficiency in our funds, mentioned the very great exertions that had been made for erecting the chapel in his neighbourhood, and concluded by making a liberal donation towards liquidating the debt; an example which was followed by several other friends, so that more than half the amount was forthwith raised. This account still remains open.

In the concluding address the Rev. A. Clissold said he thought that "next to the Society for Printing and Publishing the Writings of Swedenborg, the Missionary and Tract Society deserves our most strenuous support. Many clergymen felt perfectly safe, when the Works of Swedenborg were put into the hands of their parishioners, in the shape of ponderous volumes of two or three hundred pages of, what they consider, abstruse subjects: but, when they find these same doctrines widely disseminated in the shape of tracts, their alarm is great; and I believe that the success attending the distribution of tracts equals their alarm.

"I would offer as a suggestion, and merely as such, that it would be better, where a few receivers of the doctrines have arisen through the efforts of a missionary, that, instead of exhausting their means in the formation and support of a small chapel, which has too often proved a failure, they should use their best endeavours towards the support of this institution; so that they might have lectures delivered by missionaries in some public rooms, where many clergymen and others would not object to go hear a lecture upon general principles, who would on no account enter a small dissenting chapel; their prejudices not being aroused in the case of a lecture in public rooms.

"We must not be discouraged if we do not see the result of our labors, but must continue to do our best; for even very small things sometimes lead to

great results. As an instance of this, I will mention a circumstance which has lately come within my personal knowledge. I was reading the Index to the Arcana Cœlestia, and left the book open at the article 'Charity.' A servant, who happened to have to wait in the room, read this, the mere Index, which referred him to the article, Faith,' and this he also read. And these two articles, he afterwards said, let into his mind a perfect flood of light from heaven.

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"I have since given him some of the tracts; and upon the occasion of his going into the service of a very zealous clergyman of the Church of England, I advised him to use that due discretion which St. Paul recommends. But I did not expect that the matter would end here, in consequence of his master's being so very zealous in the cause of the established church. Nor was I mistaken; for I have received a letter from him which I will read to you; first informing you that this man is only able to read so as to be able to understand what he reads; and to write, without being able to spell."

Mr. Clissold then read the letter, which, considering the opportunities of the writer, was certainly one of the most remarkable instances of the power of truth ever penned; and observed, that "Swedenborg informs us, that, when a man is in good, the Lord is continually leading him to truth: such was the case with this man; and the rapidity with which he imbibed the New Church verities was truly astonishing."

Mr. C. afterwards received another letter from him, which he also read, exciting at once the admiration and the delight of all present.

Mr. Clissold then repeated the Lord's prayer, and the meeting separated a little before eleven o'clock, highly gratified with the accounts they had heard of the great good which has been effected with such small means; and we hope, indididually, determined to do their utmost to increase those means.

The REPORT has just been published. It mentions the visits that have been performed during the year: 1. By Rev. T. Goyder to Exeter, Tiverton, Cheriton,

Salisbury, Bath, and Chalford Vale. Mr. G.'s interesting accounts of these visits will be found in the Repository for September, November, and March last. 2. By Rev. D. Howarth to Oxford;—the first time that the doctrines of the New Church had ever been proclaimed in that city. Particulars are given in our November No. 3. By Rev. J. H. Smithson to the same city, when the Vice Chancellor interfered to prevent the continuance of the lectures. His report we published in April.

These very important missions were urged upon the Committee, and, as appears by the Treasurer's account, have left the society in debt, notwithstanding the regular subscriptions and donations have been greater than in any previous year.

In reference to the TRACTS we observe, that 13,000 have been printed, and upwards of 11,000 circulated during the year, being a large increase as compared with former times. They have been sent to various parts, both of this country and of the world. Of their great usefulness there is no doubt, as frequent instances testify. By a late regulation, subscribers are entitled to receive tracts to the amount of half their subscriptions.

As the operations of the society are not confined to any locality, it is to be hoped that individuals that desire the enlightenment of the public mind, will strengthen the hands of the committee by contributing liberally of their wealth, which is then only truly enjoyed when it is wisely employed. Societies, too, may feel themselves especially called upon to uphold an institution whose objects are so congenial to their own. The plan of periodical collections for this purpose should be generally adopted. It is to many a matter of surprise, that this society is not better supported. Let us hope a better state of things is at hand.

CHELTENHAM.-Respecting the Rev. D. Howarth's visit to this place, the following letter has been received by the Treasurer from one of the ladies to whose zeal and liberality we are indebted for the mission.

"Mr. Howarth delivered four lectures

at this place, in the assembly room, situated in the centre of the High-street. A general view of New Church;' the

The 1st lecture was the Doctrines of the 2nd-' On the true nature of the human Soul, and its immortality;' the 3rd- On the sole Divinity of Jesus Christ, and the Divine Trinity;' and the 4th On the Nature of saving Faith, and the Truly Christian Life.' Each lecture was repeated twice, one day at 2 o'clock, for the gentry, and again the following evening at 7, for the working classes. During the whole course the weather was so hot as to prevent many from attending; and I am sorry to say the higher orders did not shew much inclination to do so. The evening lectures were pretty well attended; and I believe I may say, with truth, that whoever did hear our lecturer, went away rather agreeably surprised. Any one, with a grain of sense who was there, must have allowed that he never before heard any sermon to equal it delivered by a mere

man.

"Mr. Howarth has a good voice, and speaks in a clear, distinct, and conciliatory manner: he divides his subject into parts, in an orderly method, places the Bible before him, brings forward texts from that, and uses arguments that are forcible, rational, and convincing; avoiding as much as possible language that may arouse the prejudices of his hearers: consequently, I believe he gave very general satisfaction. Many of the lower orders say, that if he would set up a place of worship here, they would attend his preaching. A great many tracts were distributed, and seemed to be much sought after; and many who have read them say they like them very much so that altogether I believe and hope that our humble endeavours have been crowned with some success, and that Mr. Howarth's labours here have not been entirely without a good effect. The town is very empty at present, many of the resident gentry and winter visitors being absent; but another course, during the ensuing winter, would not perhaps be amiss.

"Before I close, I must just tell you

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