"I know men, and I tell you that Jesus is not a man! The religion of Christ is a mystery which subsists by its own force, and proceeds from a mind which is not a human mind. We find in it a marked individuality, which originated a train of words and maxims unknown before. Jesus borrowed nothing from our knowledge. He exhibited in himself a perfect example of his precepts. Jesus is not a philosopher; for his proofs are miracles, and from the first his disciples adored him. In fact, learning and philosophy are of no use for salvation; and Jesus came into the world to reveal the mysteries of heaven, and the laws of the Spirit. * Alexander, Cæsar, Charlemagne, and myself, founded empires; but upon what did we rest the creation of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ alone founded his empire upon love; and at this hour myriads of men would die for him." There appears something sufficiently characteristic in the above to justify some belief in its authenticity. POETRY. SONNETS, WRITTEN AT ST. HELIER, JERSEY, AUGUST, 1844. J. I LOOK entranced upon the magic bay A thousand hues thrown o'er its glassy wave- But now 'tis peace. Along the embattled shore II. O let this glorious scene impress the soul, And breathe its influence through the enraptured breast! M. Along this mortal Deep, with compass sure, City of Peace, Jerusalem! by Truth Made strong-thy sacred bulwarks and thy towers And glory clad are thy celestial shores. Lo! here are opening wide thy gates of Praise; Songs of Redemption rise, and Death's dread chariot stays. R. A. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. PUBLICATION OF THE SECOND VOL. OF THE "ANIMAL KINGDOM." Since our last, this magnificent work has appeared, and we trust that the subscribers are, by this time, in possession of their copies. The great care and labor which have been bestowed upon the translation of this work, the handsome style in which it is printed, and the elegant form in which it has been presented to the subscribers, and, above all, its admirable philosophical contents, will, we are certain, induce them to study it with attention and delight. They will thus acquire an exalted intelligence of the Divine economy of order and wisdom, as exhibited in the human body. PROPOSAL TO PUBLISH, IN ENGLISH, THE SPIRITUAL DIARY OF SWEDENBORG. In our last number we announced that the Rev. J. H. Smithson was engaged in translating the Spiritual Diary of Swedenborg, and terms were, in an advertisement, proposed to subscribers, on which the work would be published. As nearly all the sheets have been received from Germany, through the post, by the editor of this periodical, at a considerable expense, as soon as they were printed, much work in translating has already been done. The work will be translated, as every work of Swedenborg's. ought to be, as to every particular, in a manner as literal as is consistent with perspicuity. Every expression and phrase necessary to the perspicuity of any passage which, although involved in the original, is not, on account of the elipti cal style in which some portions of the Diary are written, literally expressed, will be carfully put in angular brackets [thus ]. The work will be printed with similar type, and on similar paper to that of the Animal Kingdom. EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT ADOPTED BY CONFRENCE, ON THE SUBJECT OF JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP.-The Conference resolved that, being fully convinced of the great uses to be derived from the formation of associations of junior members, recommends to each of the societies in its connexion to form such associations, and directs their particular attention to the report above named, in which will be found many useful hints that may be beneficially acted upon; and the Conference conceives that the subject demands the especial attention of the ministers.* "The subject of Junior Membership is certainly of great importance, since it constitutes a link most necessary and desirable in the formation of societies. Something is required between the familycircle, the school, and the adult members of the church, which may serve as a medium of communication and progression in the great work of religious instruction. The juvenile period of youth, is one of the cardinal points of human life, and much, very much depends on the turn which the mind then takes. The allurements of the world become then very fascinating, and the cupidities of the sensual principle, at that period, more fully developed, are strongly inclined to lend a willing ear to * Minute 59. the dangerous enchantment. It is obvious, therefore, that wise and vigorous efforts should then be made by our societies to guard the youth, who have left the parental circle, or who have quitted our schools to enter upon the business of the world, against evils and falses from without, and still more against the wiles and workings of an insidious self-love which lurks within. Nothing, we consider, can be a greater bane to the growth and progress of the church than the existence of mere nominal members in our societies,-members who were born and brought up in the church, but in whom the church itself has not been born and established. To this end, your committee think, every society should form an association of junior members, into which all, at the age of 14 or 15 might be enrolled. The minister or leader, should meet his juvenile association once a-week, if possible, and superintend some course of theological instruction, previously agreed upon by the association itself. This course might consist of the reading of the Holy Word, and of some work of E. Swedenborg, during which, at certain intervals, a conversazione should be instituted, by which questions might be elicited, answers given, and thus the views of truth would become more expanded and luminous. Subjects of science also, and of mental philosophy, might engage the attention of the members, and brief essays on different subjects, might be prepared and read at the meeting of the association, which would, no doubt, greatly tend to induce the members to read, and thus to furnish their minds with • a knowledge of the truths of the New Church theology and philosophy. The Holy Supper might be occasionally treated of, and its divine uses in promoting our regeneration might be explained, and the minds of the youth gradually prepared, when the proper time came, to partake of this ordinance, to the spiritual improvement and edification of their souls. -The senior and more influential members of the society, should take an interest in the proceedings of the association, and be present at its sittings, so as to give all the countenance and encouragement they can to its proceedings. It is understood, that at the proper period, the junior members should be introduced as adult members into the society. These are a few hints which the committee have to present respecting the mode in which junior members could be formed; but as every Accrington (two schools), in one 470 scholars, in the other, 130 scholars, and 65 teachers.-Eleven members have been obtained from the schools since the last Conference. *Birmingham, 300 scholars, and 39 teachers. Six of the teachers have joined the society, all of whom were brought up in the school. *Blackburn, 121 scholars, and 19 teachers. *Bolton, 146 scholars, and 17 teachers. Brightlingsea, 85 scholars, & 20 teachers. *Dalton, 256 scholars, and 70 teachers. *Derby, 164 scholars. Edinburgh, 20 scholars, and 2 teachers. *Embsay, near Skipton, 111 scholars, 39 teachers.-Two members obtained. Glasgow, 20 scholars, and 3 teachers. *Heywood, 179 scholars, and 44 teachers. *Kersley, 175 scholars, and 30 teachers.- Five members have been obtained. Leeds, 32 scholars, and 12 teachers London (Cross-street), 100 scholars, and 18 teachers. Manchester, 220 scholars, and 30 teachers. Several members have been obtained. Mebourne, 20 scholars, and 4 teachers. Middleton, 223 scholars, and 46 teachers. Two members have been obtained. Mirfield, 63 scholars, and 27 teachers. *Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 50 scholars, and 16 teachers. Nottingham, 50 scholars, and 8 teachers. St. Osyth.-No return. * Where this mark is prefixed, the school is in connexion with the Sunday School Union. preserved in good ground, will, in due Girls. time, grow up into a delightful harvest. 71 80 40 195 160 45 INTELLIGENCE FROM ST. HELIER, 3 JERSEY.-The anniversary of this Society was held October 9, when the members and friends of the Church met to tea at six o'clock. About sixty persons assembled on this occasion. After tea Mr. Baxter gave a brief report of the Society, shewing that it was in a progressive state. After this, the subject proposed for the edification of the meeting was from the 12th chapter of Isaiah, when the friends appeared much pleased with the remarks offered on the occasion. Mr. Brown, the leader of the Society, explained some of the principal doctrines of the New Church, and gave a brief sketch of the history of the Church in this Island. Several hymns were sung, and the company separated much gratified with the proceedings of the evening. T. B., Secretary. REPORTS OF The BirminghaAM, ACCRINGTON, AND HEYWOOD NEW JERUSALEM DAY SCHOOLS.-It is gratifying to see from these Reports, that all the schools are in great activity. The Birmingham Report says:-" In presenting this, the Eleventh Annual Report to the friends of the Birmingham New Jerusalem Free Day School Society, the Committee desire to acknowledge with devout gratitude the gracious Providence of the Lord Jesus Christ, in enabling them to report favorably of the progress of the institution during the past eventful year. Since the establishment of the boys' school, in 1833, there have been 1,675 boys registered, of whom 145 have been admitted during the year, and 170 remain in the school. Since the opening of the girls' school, in 1839, the number admitted has been 538, of whom 78 have been admitted during the year, and about 80 remain in the school. It is, therefore, an interesting and gratifying fact, that 2,213 children have thus been brought acquainted, more or less, with the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem."-Mr. Line, who so ably conducted the Accrington school for some time, has removed to Newcastleupon-Tyne, and has become the leader of the Society at that place. The Society, at Accrington, have consequently endeavoured to secure the services of an efficient person to conduct the school, and there is every prospect that the work of education, on New Church principles, will go prosperously forwards.-At Heywood the number of children continues to increase, 124 being at present on the books.These Schools, together with those in Manchester, Salford, London, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, are well deserving of the support of all who know the importance of implanting genuine truths of Christian doctrine in the minds of children. It is impossible that so great a number of children as pass through these schools, can be brought so closely into connexion with genuine Scripture truth, without receiving some seeds, which, being MISSIONARY VISIT TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT, BY THE REV. MR. CHALKLEN. To the Editor of the Intel. Repository. SIR,-Having recently had an opportunity of making an effort for introducing the doctrines of the Lord's New Church to public attention in the Town of Ryde, Isle of Wight, it may be interesting to the friends of the Church to learn what degree of success attended me on the occasion. A family residing at Cobbid Hall, a farm about two miles from Ryde, had invited me to the Island. Several members of this family are decided receivers of the doctrines, having become such through the instrumentality of Mr. Butcher, the present leader of the society at Winchester, who, a few years since, related himself to them by marriage, and subsequently introduced the writings to their attention. Arrangements having been made for delivering a course of lectures, at Ryde, I repaired thither, on Tuesday the 30th July, and found the following lectures announced by bills:-1. The Lord Jesus Christ proved to be the only God of Heaven and Earth, the Creator, Redeemer, and Regenerator of Men. 2. On the Nature of Heaven and Hell, and the Origin of Angels and Devils. 3. On the popular Doctrines of the Resurrection of the Body, and of the Destruction of the World. The Town Hall had been hired for the occasion; and to prevent any mis. haps, the whole amount for the three evenings, amounting to £4 18s., had been paid, and a receipt procured. In the evening, I delivered the first lecture to a respectable audience of about two hundred persons; and judging from the very marked attention with which it was listened to, the interest excited by the mere novelty of the subject, appeared to be overcome by a deep feeling of its importance. This effect proved fatal, however, to the proceeding with the lectures. Clergymen and commissioners took the alarm, on finding so much attention awakened to the strange doctrines, and determined on preventing the delivery of the remaining lectures. Accordingly, a meeting of some of the Town Commissioners was convened, though illegally, and their agent sent to state to me their positive refusal to allow the hall to be used for the remaining lectures, and to return the money paid for the three evenings. As no other room at all suitable could be obtained for the purpose, I was unable to proceed with the lectures, although numerous audiences might have been collected, as would appear from the commotion that had been produced. Possibly some future opportunity may occur, when the effect of this excitement may prove advantageous. From some notices of the matter in the local newspapers, it appears that the conduct of the commissioners, in violating their engagement to let the hall, has been, in a public manner, very severely deprecated by those of their body who had not joined the lawless confederacy, as illegal, uncharitable, and unjust. In giving this account of my visit to Ryde, I should not omit to mention, that the London Missionary and Tract Society engaged to meet the expense of lectureroom and printed bills, and furnished me with a liberal supply of tracts for distribution. Trusting to the Divine Providence for future opportunities and useful results, I remain, yours, &c., THOS. CHALKLEN. INTERIOR OF AFRICA.- -Extracted from Simmonds's Colonial Magazine. The interior of Africa is as yet almost a terra incognita. We know Europe pretty thoroughly. Asia has been traversed in all its length and breadth by civilized travellers. With the geography of America we may call ourselves familiar. But how little do we know of the vast continent which lies almost wholly within the tropics, and of which the greater part seems shut up as effectually against the advances of civilization as if it were upon another planet! Indeed, the mountains of the moon would be subject to a more accurate observation, were they situated upon the satellite from which they derive their name. The efforts of civilized travellers have been for many centuries directed to the recesses of this continent, yet four-fifths of it is blank upon our maps. Its whole centre is one broad unexplored region, and the information obtained by recent travellers is of the most aggravating kind, shewing us mines of wealth which it is impossible to work. Before giving the results of these discoveries, let us look upon Africa as the world has known it, and, as it may be familiar to most of our readers. Egypt, an old and wornout country, in its antiquities one of the most interesting places on the continent, occupies a small portion of the north-western corner. The river Nile has been explored to its sources, by Bruce and other travellers, who have given us some curious facts. The Barbary States occupy the northern portion bordering on the Mediterranean. South of this, and stretching from the Nile to the Atlantic, is the great desert of Zaara. Along the whole western coast are small establishments or factories, for trade in slaves, gold dust, ivory, palm oil, and other vegetable productions. This trade has been nearly monopolised by the English until lately; but now American enterprise has taken a large portion of it out of their hands. On this coast are the two settlements of Sierra Leone and Liberia, established as colonies for emancipated slaves; but both, we have reason to believe, are in a wretched condition. The English have possession at the Cape of Good Hope. On the eastern shore there are a number of independent sovereignties, which carry on a limited trade. The Imaum of Muscat is a prince of considerable liberality and enterprise. Quite recently, the English have made a settlement at Aden, near the mouth of the Red Sea. Having once obtained a foot-hold, they, English-like, began |