Christian labour, all the missionaries of this charitable society, remain unhappily powerless in a country where the government impedes the diffusion of the truth, and forbids freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, and a free press-freedom which constitutes the absolute and living condition for so holy a task. Where, however, this blessed liberty does not exist, the time, we must conclude, is not yet come for our nation to be removed from under the yoke of error and ignorance. Such, alas! is the fate of our native country! But, nevertheless, a people "sitting in darkness and the shadow of death," must, by the Divine mercy and in the Lord's good time, be redeemed from spiritual bondage. In hope of this happy future for them, it seems to us not useless nor untimely to prepare the means of diffusing in due time amongst them, the divine and beneficent truths of the New Dispensation. After having long meditated in our minds on the means required for it, we fixed on one in which we earnestly pray you, Sir, to have the kindness in assisting us with your aid, by granting us the favour of giving a place in your journal to the present letter, with the programme it contains. It will put us in connection with all our beloved brethren in the Lord. For the purpose of making known to our country the doctrines of the New Jerusalem, we find it absolutely necessary to translate into our own language all the works relating to it. England and America have already done very much, not only in publishing the doctrines, but in the important work of elaborating their truths, and applying them to life and science. A great part of the labour of these two countries is so valuable, that it will remain for ever as the basis on which other nations will build and enlarge this beautiful structure. As a beginning, and in the absence of original productions, we would translate nearly all the works already written in England and America; and had we the material possibility, we would immediately begin the work in this way:We would concentrate in a periodical publication the translation of all the principal works of the New Church, and this publication we would call "The National Library of the New Church." At the head of this would certainly be placed all the essays on the Holy Word, translated and explained in our own language, according to the views and doctrine which the New Church alone possesses. The plan of this Journal would be the following: It would be composed of seven sections, and two in addition; each section would contain a certain number of volumes or parts, according to the quantity of the materials previously prepared. These volumes would be published, not at any fixed periods, nor in any determinate order, but as they were ready. Any one who wished such an edition, could subscribe for it a whole year before, on the condition that the volume was to be paid for at the price fixed on its publication. Any one not subscribing for it, could obtain each volume singly. It would certainly be a convenience to the editor to know the number of subscribers, but the fewness of these, at the beginning of the Review, renders this concession necessary. The propagation of this publication could easily be made through all Europe, especially when, in summer, people of all nations travel so much, and because every forbidden book finds an entrance everywhere, notwithstanding every hindrance possible. This Journal could be published in the following manner : Sec. 1.-On the New Church (Clowes, Bush). Sec. 2.-Theology (Noble, Clowes, Bush, Tafel). Sec. 3.-Philosophy (Tafel). Sec. 4.-Natural Sciences (Grindon, Stewart). Sec. 5.-On Progress (of the 19th Century, by a Layman). Sec. 6.-On Education (from different articles in the American Magazines for Children, as, for instance, "Friend of Youth," &c.) Sec. 7.-On Spiritism (Woodman and Bush). 1. Addition.-Essay of the Translation of the Word of God-Apocalypse; Psalms; and some books of the Old Testament. Delivery 1st-Gospel and Apocalypse; delivery 2nd-Psalms, &c. 2. Addition.-Works of Swedenborg. Various. Some self-elaborated writings or works; a Report of the Progress or of the State of the Church, drawn from its periodical publications. This “National Library" would, by the by, render into our own language MISCELLANEOUS. all the principal works of the New Church. In the preface, after having briefly stated the end for which the journal is published, and what was already said in this letter, one could make an appeal to every person possessed of the language in which it is written, with the request to contribute to it according to the means of each individual, be it with articles written or translated, or with a subscription for sustaining that work. In this way a good beginning would be given to the Review, and doubtless, with God's almighty aid, it would become useful and practicable The number and the spirit of the articles would certainly attract the attention of many, and thus a publication would be begun under the protection of free England, and extend into every country where the necessity of such beneficial truths would be felt. On our part we are ready to labour in the work with translations of our own, and even, by the time perhaps, with our pecuniary means also. Let us, in advance, thank you, dear Sir, for the labour we take the liberty to impose upon you, and believe us, with our deepest gratitude, your most faithful and devoted readers, FROM THE NORTH-EAST REGION. SUBSCRIPTIONS TOWARDS THE ENLARGING 66 090 66 439 Mr. Watson, London ...... £1 0 0 .. 0 10 0 66 0 10 0 66 0 10 0 0 10 6 0 10 6 66 0 10 6 66 0 10 6 0 10 6 0 10 0 66 Obituary. 0 10 0 £124 4 0 On the 1st of July last, Mr. John Ormes, of Brightlingsea, was removed to the eternal world, aged 54. The immediate cause of his death was congestion on the brain and disease of the liver. His parents, being New Church people, carefully instructed him in the principles of the true doctrine, and set him a good example by a consistent and £. s. d. orderly life. For many years he took Gibbs, Esq., Edinburgh 50 0 O part in the various services of the A Lover of Truth... 10 0 0 church; and as he possessed a good Mr. T. Isbister, Edinburgh.. 5 knowledge of music and singing, he also Mr. Robt. Mc. Nab O made himself useful in the choir. As Mr. Geo. Meek, Manchester. 00 to his moral character, there is much to Mr. Burton, Radcliffe ...... 500 say in his favour. We may just menMr. J. Broadfield, Manchester tion one feature of it, namely, his love Mr. Thos. Downes, Glasgow. 3 0 0 of honesty and truthfulness. It is said Mr. James Eadie 300 by several who knew him well that he Mr. Jno. Fletcher, Kersley.. 3 3 0 would speak the truth at whatever cost; Mr. H. N. Williams, London. 5 0 0 and that his feelings were never so Mr. Henry Bateman, London 1 10 wounded as when he found the profesMr. James Bell, Glasgow 1 0 0 sors of religion making light of the 100 truth, and dealing unjustly in their 1 0 0 worldly transactions. Some time before 100 his death he was asked by his wife if 100 he wished to leave this world. He 1 0 0 replied, faintly-" The Lord's will be 1 0 0 done." When asked by one of his sis00 ters if he was aware how short his time was here below, his reply was-" My time is very short." She asked if he was willing to go, and having answered in the affirmative, she read to him one of the late Rev. Thos. Goyder's prayers, contained in his book called "Reflections," for which act he expressed his thankfulness, and seemed very much composed. The writer of this notice visited him several times during his illness, read to him portions of the Psalms, and offered up two or three short prayers, for which he seemed thankful, and said, in a faint voice "I am now ready to go to my Saviour." He said to his children, while assembled round his bed-"Try to be good and obedient;" blessed them, and bade them good-bye. Thus terminated the last days of one who had been a loving husband, a kind father, and a useful and consistent member of society. His wife and children that survive him will, it is hoped, strive to follow his footsteps, by living a life of holiness and righteousness. No doubt they will all deplore the loss of him whom they loved so fondly; but considering that the loss, severe though it be, will be his gain, they will be led to say with the holy men of old-" He hath done all things well." "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." STEPHEN JEPSON, Leader of Brightlingsea N. C. Society. Departed into the world of spirits, on the 29th of July, 1863-107, Maria, the most affectionate and faithful wife of Abraham Jones Le Cras, Esq., of Alderbury Lodge, St. Heliers, Jersey, and formerly of Salisbury, Wilts, after a very long illness, which she bore with Christian fortitude, aged 66 years and 11 months.' The subject of this obituary first received the doctrines of Swedenborg, as they are generally understood, in 1823, a few months after her husband com. menced preaching them in Jersey; but many years before her departure, she became an admirer of those more interior and angelic views of that author which were propounded by the late C. A. Tulk, Esq. She took great delight in hearing her husband read some of his Explications of the Lord's Travels, representing to the senses of the natural man the operations of the Divine Truth in the mind of the spiritual man. The literal signification of the names of the places, their geographical position, their distances from Jerusalem and from each other, the singular difference as to the Lord's sayings and doings at each place, all corresponding to their spiritual signification; to states of the mind, and their affinities in relation to its reception or rejection of the Divine Truth,-used to excite her admiration. About a week before her departure, her husband put a question to her, and not receiving an answer, he observed that she was absorbed in deep thought; but after awhile she replied "Wist ye not that I must be about my (Heavenly) Father's business?" She was exceedingly fond of reading the late Mr. Goyder's "Spiritual Reflections," and the New Church hymns. It would appear, by the position of her book-marker, that the following verse had much engaged her thoughts : "Farewell, conflicting hopes and fears, Her body was followed to the grave by nearly all the male members of the church in Jersey. TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. All communications to be sent to the Editor, the Rev. W. BRUCE, 48, Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, London, W. In order to insure insertion in the forthcoming Number, the eommunications must be received by the 15th of the month. National Missionary Institution, and Students and Ministers' Aid Fund.-The Committee meet at Bloomsbury-street, on the second Thursday in each month, at 6-30 p.m. Members of Conference present in London are invited F. PITMAN, Sec. 66 Religion, Philosophy, and Literature, No. V.," in our next. Notice of annual sermons on behalf of the Sunday-school at Middleton is left over for want of space. to attend. CAVE & SEVER, Printers by Steam Power, Hunt's Bank, Manchester. DEPARTED, August 29th, into the spiritual world, in his 68th year, Dr. John Frederick Emanuel Tafel, Regius Professor of Philosophy at the University of Tübingen, Chief Librarian of the Royal Library of that city, and Member of the Historico-Theological Society of Leipzig. He had set out from Tübingen towards the end of August on his journey into Switzerland, to join a circle of New Church friends at Zurich. It appears that on his arrival at Rayatz, in Switzerland, he was attacked with gastric fever, under the effects of which his constitution speedily succumbed. His death, therefore, was unexpected and sudden, nor had we heard of any previous illness that might have led to the anticipation. of such an occurrence. This melancholy event will cause great grief to many friends in Germany, England, France, America, and Russia, and to all who knew the personal Christian worth of our departed brother, and his numerous labours in promoting a knowledge of the New Church doctrines, and of the divine truths of the Word, now opened of the Lord's mercy, through the instrumentality of Swedenborg, for the enlightenment of the human mind in spiritual and divine things, and for the establishment of genuine Christianity upon earth. Dr. Tafel was born 17th February, 1796. His father was a clergyman, much respected, of the Protestant Church in the kingdom of Wirtemberg; and his mother's memory-some of whose ancestors were celebrated for their learning at the university of Tübingen-was, on account of her deep-felt piety, in which she endeavoured to train up her children, always dear to his heart. He was, we believe, the second of three sons, the oldest, still living, is a distinguished barrister at Stutgardt; and the youngest, Dr. Leonard Tafel, who a few years since emigrated to America, was one of the greatest linguists in Germany, and who kindly assisted his brother in correcting the sheets of the new Latin edition of the Arcana Calestia, and of the other Latin editions which our departed friend had published up to the time of his brother's departure for America. Our late friend, Dr. Tafel, published, we believe, about ten years ago, in German, an extensive memoir of himself, which, as an historical document, contains, no doubt, many interesting particulars respecting his early life, and his reception of the New Church doctrines. As we do not possess this historical memoir, we cannot enter so fully into details in this notice as we could wish; but Dr. L. Tafel will, we trust, supply, in English, an extended memoir of his respected brother's life. We can however state, from historical documents in our possession, that Dr. Tafel's reception of the New Church doctrines was at an early period of his life; for in December, 1821, when he was about twentyfive years of age, he issued an advertisement, widely circulated through the booksellers of Germany, announcing his intention of publishing a translation, in German, of the theological works of Swedenborg, and, if desired, to reprint the Latin originals. This announcement pre-supposes several years previous study, and an earnest devotion to the work to which he intended to dedicate his future life. After a profound study of the entire system and doctrines of the New Dispensation, he came to the conclusion that the great desideratum of the theological world was the theological intelligence, and system of Biblical interpretation, which the works of Swedenborg, through the Lord's providence, supplied, and that the highest use, for the good of his countrymen and of the forty millions of people who speak the German language, to which he could devote his life, was to translate, and to make known as far and as widely as possible, the theological and spiritual treasures of knowledge contained in the works of Swedenborg. About 1819 or 1820, Dr. Tafel was introduced, at Stutgardt, to the acquaintance of J. A. Tulk, Esq., a most sincere receiver of the Heavenly Doctrines, and a most liberal promoter of the same by the press both in England, France, and Switzerland.* Mr. Tulk, in his tour on the Continent, having heard of Dr. Tafel's intention to translate and to publish the works of Swedenborg, went to Stutgardt with a view of * See a letter from this gentleman in the "Intellectual Repository" for 1821, page 329. See also some account of this excellent man in this periodical for 1861, page 577. |