I merely pen this rude sketch, that you may have some idea of the character the book, in my opinion, should possess; but I wish the arbitrators to be perfectly free to define and arrange everything, inclusive of the prizes, as seems best in their judgment to meet the object in view, namely, to make known as extensively as possible, and gain the acknowledgment of mankind, that this is the time of the Second Coming of our Lord, and that it is a coming, not in person, but in the power and spirit of His Word. PHILALETHES.

INQUIRY WITH ANSWER.

To the Editor.

Dear Sir,-In Noble's Sermons on the Divine Law of the Ten Commandments, the following passages occur in the sermon on the Duties of Children to their Parents, at page 142:

"It is a certain fact that, owing to the peculiar constitution of the female mind, a young woman is liable to be imposed upon as to the character of the person who solicits her affections; it is therefore perfectly right that the cooler judgment of a parent should here be allowed to have a negative voice. *** "The real good and happiness of their child should bere be the only thing looked at by them; and to consult these in the choice of a partner, there must be congeniality of temper, virtuous principle, agreement as to religion, &c.

"Where these points concur, there are the essentials of a happy marriage. Whether they do exist in the case of a candidate for a daughter's hand, whom she might be disposed to favour, parents are entitled to judge; if they are conscientiously convinced that they do not, they may justly prohibit the union."

By your permission I wish to inquire, first, Is the authority given to a parent in the above, fairly deducible from the Word and the writings of Swedenborg? Secondly, Is that the opinion of those whose judgment and experience may be considered as representing those of the church upon that subject?

Your compliance with this request will greatly oblige your constant reader, Jan. 16th, 1863. ISOLATED.

There is no positive law or instruction in the Word on the subject, but a very definite answer to our correspondent's first question is given in the Writings.

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In the Treatise on Conjugial Love is the following passage:

"The woman ought to consult her parents, or those who are in the place of parents, and then deliberate with herself, before she consents. The reason why parents are to be consulted is, because they deliberate from judgment, knowledge, and love: from judgment, because they are in an advanced age, which excels in judgment, and discerns what is suitable and unsuitable: from knowledge, in respect to both the suitor and their daughter; in respect to the suitor they procure information, and in respect to their daughter they already know; wherefore they conclude respecting both with united discernment: from love, because to consult the good of their daughter, and to provide for her establishment, is also to consult and provide for their own and for themselves. The case would be altogether different if the daughter consents of herself to her urgent suitor, without consulting her parents, or those who are in their place; for she cannot from judgment, knowledge, and love, make a right estimate of the matter which so deeply concerns her future welfare: she cannot from judgment, because she is as yet in ignorance as to conjugial life, and not in a state of comparing reasons, and discovering the morals of men from their particular tempers: nor from knowledge, because she knows few things beyond the domestic concerns of her parents and some of her companions; and is unqualified to examine into such things as relate to the family and property of her suitor: nor from love, because with daughters in their first marriageable age, and also afterwards, this is led by the concupiscences originating in the senses, and not as yet by the desires originating in a refined mind. The daughter ought nevertheless to deliberate on the matter with herself, before she consents, lest she should be led against her will to form a connection with a man she does not love; for by so doing, consent on her part would be wanted, and yet it is consent that constitutes marriage and initiates the spirit in conjugial love; and consent against the will, or extorted, does not initiate the spirit, although it may the body; and thus it converts chastity, which resides in the spirit, into lust, whereby conjugial love in its first warmth is vitiated." (298.)

The pith of the matter is contained in the first sentence,-"The woman ought to consult her parents, and then deliberate with herself, before she consents." The right of parents is here limited to advice; final decision is left entirely with the woman herself. There is no right of veto mentioned but one, and that is on the daughter's part. While there is nothing said about the right of parents to prevent a daughter marrying a man of her own choice whom they do not like, a positive right is given to the daughter to refuse to marry a man of their choice whom she does not love.

We have spoken only of right, this being the point inquired about; but we should hope that in New Church families questions of mere right will seldom indeed be brought to bear on so important a matter; but that mutual love and confidence will always be found sufficient to lead to a right determination.

MELBOURNE.

The society here has been favoured with another pastoral visit from the Rev. Edwd. Madeley of Birmingham, who arrived on Saturday, the 24th ult., and remained until the following Tuesday afternoon.

On Sunday, the 25th, Mr. Madeley preached twice: in the morning, from Zechariah xiv. 8, 9, "The living waters going out from Jerusalem;" and in the evening, from Matthew vi. 7, on "The true nature of Prayer." In the afternoon he administered the Holy Supper.

On Monday evening the members and friends took tea together; after which a public meeting was held, when Mr. Madeley presided.

It is now more than thirty-six years since the present place was opened for public worship by Mr. Madeley. During that period those who originated the society have passed into the second life. For upwards of twenty-one years this society was under the public ministry of the Rev. William Mason, who for that lengthened period gave his services gratuitously. The late Wm. Haimes, Esq. gave in his lifetime land upon which to build a church, and a claim for £800., under certain conditions, in trust, one-half to go towards the erection of a suitable place of worship, and the other to be invested at interest, the annual proceeds of which to go towards paying the services of a minister. The present place in which the society meet

was also provided and fitted up by the late Mr. Haimes; and as, at the death of his widow, which took place in October last, in her 87th year, to the great loss and sorrow of the society, the premises pass into the hands of his representative, it is much desired, and great hopes were expressed at the meeting, that before very long a place in every respect consistent with the position of the society, and suitable for public worship, may be built and completed, in execution of one part of that trust.

Mr. Adcock made some very impres sive remarks respecting New Church doctrines, from his own knowledge of their power when applied to life, to yield, amidst it anxious cares and busy activities, comfort and support equal to all the emergencies that had overtaken him in his experience since their reception, now near thirty years ago.

Mr. Salsbury confirmed, so far as his own experience went, what Mr. Adcock stated; and Mr. Timms, though a younger man than either of the preceding, and now bearing the burden and heat of the day, added also his testimony, and rejoiced in the prospect of a church being built, to the funds of which his late father also had left a legacy, and which was supplemented by a similar sum from himself.

Mr. Brodilet, who for the last six months has conducted the services of the society, on being called upon by the chairman, also made some remarks; after which the proceedings of the evening were brought to a close.

E. B.

HULL. REV. DR. BAYLEY'S VISIT. To the Editor.

Dear Sir, Believing that a short notice of the following lectures, with their attendant circumstances, will prove not altogether void of interest to your readers, I am induced to offer them as giving some indication of the power of spiritual truth in the minds of a people hitherto without those means of instruc tion which the truths of a new Dispensation are qualified to impart.

Dr. Bayley gave a course of three lectures in the Hall of the Hull Royal Institution, on Monday evening, January 26th, Wednesday, the 28th, and Friday, the 30th, to which the public had free admission. "Glimpses of Heaven" being the subject of discussion on the occasion

of the first lecture, the attendance was extremely good, as long before the appointed hour, the room, which is calculated to hold about 800 persons, was filled, and many were unable to obtain admission. Treating of "The Nature of Man in his relation to the Spiritual World," the discourse was one of a deeply interesting and instructive character,'and was justly appreciated by a respectable and most attentive audience. On the evening of the second lecture, the subject, being "The Human Soul, its Nature, Substance, and Powers," was received with marked attention and applause by a crowded audience. And on the last occasion, the interest and excitement induced by the attractive nature of the subject, and the eloquence and power of the lecturer, reached the culminating point. From an early hour in the evening the space in front of the building was crowded with an eager and expectant throng waiting admission, upwards of a thousand of whom were unable to gain access. This lecture treated of "Heaven: What is it? Where is it? The Land of Law-The Law of Love Jesus the Sun of Heaven-Heaven must be formed on Earth by a heavenly life;" the lecturer occupying about two hours and a half, during which the audience listened with unwearied interest and rapt attention, as glimpses of the beautiful spirit-land were unfolded to them, and made clear to the simplest understanding.

-

The proceedings terminated each evening with a hymn, in which the whole company joined with a fervour of inspiration which told that the lecturer's labours had not been in vain. The interest on these occasions being so strikingly manifest, it was thought desirable that this should be followed by another series of lectures at an early date.

On Tuesday, the 27th of January, about sixty friends met at a social tea, after which Dr. Bayley and others addressed the meeting.

If not trespassing too much on your space, I would mention that the foregoing is the result of the occasional meeting together of a few friends here, who are interested in the views of the New Church. At a meeting on Thursday evening, the 29th, presided over by Dr. Bayley, it was resolved to form the basis of a society for the dissemination of the truths of the new or spiritual

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Dispensation, for which purpose a suitable room has been procured for holding divine service, viz., the New Temperance Hall, St. Luke-street. The leader and officers of the society are appointed pro tem. The Rev. J. F. Winn, of Beverley, kindly gave two beautiful and instructive discourses on the opening occasion, Sunday, February 1st, at which there was a good attendance.

Thus is undertaken a work which, we trust, may be humbly instrumental in the advancement of the Lord's kingdom amongst men, and that it will meet with the sympathy of all earnest followers and inquirers after truth.-I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully,

T. M. BEST, Secretary.

February 11th, 1863.

NOTTINGHAM.

To the Editor.

Dear Sir,-Knowing that you and the readers of your pages will be glad to learn any matters of interest to the church, permit me to furnish you the following report. The Hedderley-street society, Nottingham, has been passing through a series of important changes, which have ended in the entire resignation and withdrawal of Mr. Thomas Stevenson, the late secretary, and Mr. Heath, both of whom were deacons; the conveyance of the lease of the ground, and the property erected upon it, to Mr. John Bayley; and the return of many members to the church who had par tially withdrawn in consequence of some difficulties that had arisen.

A very important meeting was held on the 21st instant, which I was invited to attend. Seventy-four friends partook of tea, and several more attended the meeting afterwards. Mr. Ray was elected to the chair, and the process of reörganisation commenced. Mr. John Bayley was unanimously appointed treasurer and corresponding member; Mr. Woodward was elected secretary. Four deacons were appinted. It was resolved that a new roll for members' signatures should be prepared, conformable to the suggestion of Conference, as also a register for baptisms. A mode of raising means for the liquidation of the debt due to Mr. Stevenson, of about £65., was adopted.

I was much gratified at the evident earnestness and unanimity which characterised the whole of the proceedings; there was not a single dissentient vote,

Hedderley-street is situated in the centre of a new part of Nottingham, comprising a population of over 6,000, singularly destitute of churches and chapels. There is abundant room for activity, and already pleasing results have been obtained. The members appear earnest and sincere people, and I feel no doubt that we shall hear gratifying reports of their labours. The trials through which they have passed will only have welded them together into closer union, and fused them with a warmer love. Mr. Ray, their minister, and Mr. John Bayley, their principal and very liberal supporter, are both resolute that the society shall become an established, active, and living society, doing honour to the truth, and performing valuable uses in the district of the town where they are placed.I am, dear Sir, yours very truly, JOHN HYDE.

January 26th, 1863.

STOCKPORT.

An Appeal to the Members and Friends of the New Church.

A new place of public worship, with schoolroom, has been resolved upon by the New Church friends at Stockport. Having fully considered the matter among themselves, they now lay their proposition before the church in general, earnestly soliciting assistance in the good work, and hoping what they have begun will meet with favour and encouragement.

J. B. KENNERLEY, Vice-President. STUDENTS' AND MINISTERS' AID FUND. To the Editor.

Dear Sir,-Allow me the opportunity of informing your readers that a public meeting is shortly to be held on behalf of the "Students' and Ministers' Aid Fund."

The arrangements have not yet been completed by the Committee to whom they were entrusted; but I am enabled to state that the meeting will be held in the Church, Argyle-square, on Tuesday, March 17th, 1863.

Tea will be provided in the Schoolroom at 6-0, and the chair be taken in the Church at 7-30 p.m.-I am, &c.,

Jerusalem.

As a considerable outlay will be incurred by erecting a suitable place of public worship, to meet the advancing state of the New Church here, it is hoped this appeal will be zealously responded to. Subscriptions will be received by the various ministers and

FRED. PITMAN,

Secretary of the Students' and Ministers' Aid Fund. Paternoster-row, London, E.C., February 17th, 1863.

DISTRESS IN LANCASHIRE.

LONDON RELIEF COMMITTEE. To the Editor.

Dear Sir,-The best thanks of the Committee are tendered to those societies and friends who have continued to forward supplies in aid of this distress.

The Committee again appeal to those of liberal means and liberal hearts for further assistance, but more especially for parcels of clothing, bedding, chil dren's clothes, boots, shoes, &c. It is not easy, were it desirable, that those children or adults who have been accustomed to attend school or church in decent attire, should learn to traverse the streets with bare feet or only halfclothed; but there is no help for this, unless liberality be exercised in sparing