slightest power with the student who has acquired positive knowledge in other departments. If philosophy has no assets,' it must work and acquire. It must till the ground of creation, to produce the noblest crop of all, which nature will acknowledge and claim as her own production. Its results must not be contrivances, or inventions, or wooden systems, but juicy fruits, which have absorbed the choicest dew of the sciences, and embodied it in forms of beauty, brilliantly real beyond competition, and big with utility. And whenever philosophy mutters'impossible,' it must submit to be treated as a forward menial, usurping the dress and name and functions of another, and its education must re-commence at the bench and in the workshop of the sciences. In short, philosophy must teach in learning; and discern the nature of man from his extended works, from the entire body as the physiognomy of the soul, from the great frame of nature as the means to an end, and the analogue of humanity, from revelation as a divine fact and enlargement of nature; from the highest powers which the human mind has yet attained, considered as means to a further elevation. It will then have something tangible to present, which 'a mechanical age' can handle, and the intellectual months will offer their yield of precious grains, each in his season. In this case the sciences themselves, uninterruptedly supplied from the fountains of doctrine, will be but philosophy in its lower derivations, and will carry its tone and its informing spirit to the humblest door, down to the very limits of the senses. Thenceforth philosophy can never fall; for to attempt to shake it, would call forth not gowned disputants, but human nature in its defence. For what, after all, is true philosophy, but the rational mean to an unbounded charity, the quick-eyed intelligence of brotherly love-a thing appreciable in one form or another by all the dwellers upon earth." "We trust that these extracts will induce many to get the book and read the Introduction for themselves. And we hope that we shall hear from Dr. Wilkinson more at length upon the same all-important themes. There is no writer of English, as we fancy, better qualified to treat them." 66 THE MAIDEN: A STORY FOR MY YOUNG COUNTRYWOMEN. By T. S. ARTHUR, author of "Sweethearts and Wives," Lovers and Hus bands," Married and Single," The Heiress." London: J. S. HODSON, Clifford's Inn Passage, Fleet-street. pp. 148. 66 66 MANY of our readers will remember that some months ago we noticed with great pleasure a work on "Sweethearts and Wives, or before and after Marriage," by the author mentioned above. In the Preface the author has briefly explained the design of this little work: "This little volume (says he) is the first of three books by the same author, to be called, The Maiden, The Wife, and The Mother; to follow each other in the order here given. Their object will be to exhibit woman in these three conditions, under the trials and temptations that surround her, and to show that a love of virtue and truth makes for her a protecting sphere, guarding her safely through every danger. The author feels conscious that the task he has undertaken is a difficult one, but he * See this Periodical for 1846, page 71. hopes, from an earnest desire to present leading principles of action for his countrywomen, that, in the execution of his design he will not fail to interest, at the same time that he elevates and strengthens, the minds of his readers. "The leading character in this volume will be presented as the 'Wife,' and the Mother,' in the volumes that succeed." The relations of life are all of the deepest importance. The child, the youth, the maiden, the bride, the bridegroom, the husband, the wife, the father, the mother, are the different relations into which we enter, and the various characters we are called, by the laws of our being, to assume. No stage of life should be neglected; childhood is the plane of youth, and according to the culture and training of the child, such will be the development of obedience and intelligence in youth, which are again planes for the reception of love and wisdom. from the Lord, and thus for the realization of the religious, or regenerate and truly Christian or spiritual life. Now it is evident, that these distinct relations of life should be peculiarly guarded by the influence of truth. That the Maiden is especially the subject of watchful care; that every step she makes in this important condition of life is attended with weighty consequences, either for good or for evil, is abundantly obvious. She is surrounded by fascinations, delusions, and temptations of every kind, from the ensnaring enchantments of which nothing but the truth, as an operative principle from within the mind, can protect her. Of this the Maiden herself, by the previous wise training of her excellent mother, was fully aware, as is evident from the following extract: "This is my first strong trial, (thus she thought after a time)—the first temptation my woman's heart has had to endure. How easily I might have fallen into this snare, but for the right instructions and the protecting sphere of a true-minded mother. She gave me right principles by which to estimate all things around me, and guided my opening affections to things pure and elevated. Had I not been blessed with such a mother-so wise, so thoughtful, so judicious-my weak heart might have been dazzled by a brilliant offer, and I led to accept it, to the destruction of all my best hopes here, and perhaps hereafter." p. 62. It is delightful to see true religion and genuine philosophy brought to bear on human life, as the author has admirably done in the following "In fact, (said the Maiden to her intended) unless all our actions are regulated by divine laws, our morality has but a slender base to stand upon-is, in fact, only an assumed and not a real morality; and when the storms of temptation arise, and the floods beat against it, it will fall. * * * * * * A man may render civil obligations to his country, because his interest is involved in doing so; and he may act in all the varied relations of life with external faultlessness, and yet not be in heart a moral man, or a good citizen. He may obey the laws, because he thereby secures his own good; and he may be hospitable, and kind, and generous, from a love of the world's good opinion. But, if he could believe that it would be more to his interest to violate the law, what would hold him in obedience to the law? Or, if he were placed in circumstances where he could not forfeit or gain the world's good opinion, would he be generous and hospitable? But, if he is a good citizen and a moral man from a religious principle-that is, because civil laws and moral laws are at the same time divine laws, can he even be tempted to break them? No. He only, therefore, who is governed by religious principles, is, in reality, a good citizen, or a truly moral man." p. 135. This work is evidently written under the influence and guidance of New Church truths, and we earnestly recommend it to our readers, who will be delighted to find the principles of the New Dispensation gradually making their way into every department of human life, and brought to bear upon all its conditions and relations. Every Maiden should peruse this little volume; it will awaken her mind to a true sense of her condition, guard her against numerous delusions and temptations, and guide her safely to a happy choice of a partner for life. Our best thanks are due to the author, and we look forward with pleasure to the appearance of his other little volumes on the WIFE and the MOTHER. The publisher has brought out this work in a very neat form, and at a very cheap rate. Poetry. SONNET. Written at Hawkestone Park, May, 1847. Hail, lovely scenes! by Nature and by Art By the meek messengers of Zion's peace ;— Here Clowes and Hindmarsh taught the Spirit-Word, And raised anew the hallowed song to the Anointed Lord. R. A. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. LONDON MISSIONARY AND TRACT SOCIETY. The twenty-sixth anniversary of this society was held at the church in Argylesquare, on Wednesday, May 12. Ninety ladies and gentlemen partook of tea and coffee in the school-room, at half-past five. The company afterwards assembled in the church, a voluntary being performed on the organ by Mr. Baker. At seven o'clock, the chair was taken by the Rev. T. C. Shaw, who opened the meeting, by stating its objects, in a short address, and offering up an appropriate prayer. More than 160 persons were present during the evening. The secretary, Mr. Butter, then read the minutes of the last anniversary, and the report of the committee for the past year. The operations of the society, it appears from the report, have again been numerous, extensive, and important. With a view of not trenching upon the resources of the society, but little has been attempted towards opening new ground; the chief endeavour has been to cheer and strengthen those societies which, from various causes, have needed assistance. In this direction much good has doubtless been effected. The most extensive mission of the year was that of the Rev. T. Chalklen to Devonshire, of which the particulars appeared in the Repository for January. This visit, which altogether occupied seven weeks, embraced the towns of Ilfracombe, Barnstaple, and Bideford, where the doctrines of the New Church had never before been publicly announced. This step was taken at the express wish of a friend in the neighbourhood, who liberally bore a great part of the expense. To Exeter Mr. Chalklen devoted a fortnight, delivering six lectures, two of them on Sundays. He also administered the sacraments and assisted in organizing the society. In a letter received from that city it is said"Mr. C.'s visit has been of very great good to our little society, in reducing it to order, and strengthening and encouraging the members, by his lectures, sermons, conversations, &c.; and they desire to express their unfeigned gratitude to the London Missionary and Tract Society, for the boon thus conferred upon them." During six consecutive weeks, Mr. Chalklen was engaged on Sundays at Chatham, and on Tuesdays at Maidstone. At the former place the society appears N. S. No. 91, VOL. VIII. to be steadily progressing. The leader, Mr. Evans, and another member, have given a course of lectures, which have been well attended. With occasional assistance from London, there is every prospect of their becoming an orderly and permanent society. At the earnest solicitation of the committee of the Brightlingsea society, who were without a leader, that place has been frequently visited by Messrs. Shaw, Woodman, Chalklen, Brooksbank, Mc.Nab, and Gunton. Under the divine blessing, these visits have been instrumental in hinding the members together, and they have expressed their deep obligation to the Missionary and Tract Society. On one occasion, Mr. Chalklen was there for three Sundays, and visited the neighbouring societies of St. Osyth and Wivenhoe. The Norwich society likewise, being for a time deprived of the services of a minister, applied for assistance, which was promptly afforded. Mr. Chalklen passed four Sundays there, and gave several lectures during the time. He also visited the members at their homes, and greatly contributed to their better organization, This society is about to have Mr. Abbott as their stated minister. Particular attention has also been paid to the society at Ipswich, where a newly erected freehold place of worship was opened, and consecrated to the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ, in January, by the Rev. W. Woodman, who had been the means of introducing the doctrines into that town eight years previously. An account is given in the Repository for March. Several friends from London have visited Ipswich nearly every alternate Sunday, and the consequence has been an increase of the congregation. Some new members have also been obtained. In addition to the missions already noticed, visits have been paid to Oswestry and Shrewsbury by Mr. Abbott, to Market Bosworth by Mr. Rendell, to Wolverhampton, Derby, and Nottingham by Mr. Chalklen, and to Derby, Melbourne, and Nottingham by Mr. Bayley. Mr. Chalklen has also delivered lectures in London, on week-day evenings, at Argyle-square, Cross-street, and Whitechapel. Reports have been received from the Birmingham, the West of England, and the Edinburgh branch societies. From these it appears that, under the auspices of the Birmingham branch, thirteen les X tures have been delivered by Messrs. Madeley, Mason, Bayley, Woodman, Rendell, and Chalklen. The Edinburgh branch has had lectures by Mr. Bruce, at Paisley and Edinburgh. The West of England branch has had missions to Bristol, Twerton, Stroud, Salisbury, Southampton, Norwich, Ipswich, Brightlingsea, and St. Osyth. We hope there will be an accession of new branches, and that their operations will increase in importance from year to year. The distribution of tracts, although not so large as last year, has reached 21,000. Out of such an amount of seed, widely scattered as it has been in various soils, some must undoubtedly have fallen on good ground, and, in the Lord's own time, will yield an abundant harvest. There have been printed 26,000, and there are in stock 18,000. By an alteration of the law, adopted at the anniversary, in consequence of the state of the society's funds, subscribers are to have only one quarter of their subscriptions returned in tracts. The treasurer's report exhibits a total expenditure of £200. 15s. 11d., more than half of which is for printing tracts, &c. The income has been £203. 18s. 11d., and there still remains due to the treasurer £129. 13s. 9d. Besides those of Argylesquare and St. Helen's, in London, the only societies in Great Britain that have contributed towards the year's income are Birmingham, Brightlingsea, Edinburgh, Exeter, Melbourne, and Wivenhoe. After the appeal which was sent to every society in connection with the General Conference, and printed in the Repository for April, it will surely be matter of surprise that several names of towns, aye, and of cities too, both such as have had missionary aid, and such as have not required it, are not included in this enumeration. Let us hope either that collections have been already made, and not yet forwarded, or that they will be forthwith made and transmitted, so that the balance due to the treasurer may be greatly diminished, if not entirely paid off. Unless the hands of the committee are strengthened, they will be unable to carry on the operations of the society in so energetic a manner as every friend to the extension of the truths of the New Church must desire. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. To the Editor of the Intellectual Repository. SIR,-The following intelligence of the extension of the Lord's kingdom in the southern hemisphere, will, no doubt, be welcomed by our friends of the New Church in England. I write that I may enjoy, in all their fulness, the delightful feelings which attend the humblest efforts to build up Zion, by bringing such feelings into the ultimate forms of expression for the gratification of the church at large, and also, in compliance with the kindly expressed wish of Mr. Bateman, to whose generosity and influence we are mainly indebted for most of the writings of the New Church we possess in this colony, and who desired that I would write for the information of the home department, at least, once a year. On the 7th instant, the members and friends of the New Church met, for the first time, to commemorate the day when an altar was first erected in the province of Adelaide (and for any thing we know to the contrary, in the southern hemisphere,) for the worship of the Lord Jehovah Jesus, as the only God of heaven and earth in human form divine. The evening was spent in the following manner:-Tea and coffee at six o'clock, upwards of fifty being present. The rooms (lent for the occasion by one of our little band) were too much crowded for personal comfort, but this was scarcely felt in consequence of the increased sphere of mental pleasure afforded by the presence of so many friends. After tea and the readjustment of the seats, our little New Church choir, consisting of five members, (strengthened for the occasion by the services of two musical friends) delighted the company with a selection of sacred music. Between the pieces, myself and my dear friend and companion, Mr. Holden, addressed the meeting. As it may readily be supposed, the occasion was one of peculiar interest, and most pleasurable associations to us all. To myself, it was a season of great spiritual delight, after an absence of nearly nine years from similar New Church meetings in the land of my birth. The little one here is not yet become a thousand, it is true, but when I call to mind that two years ago, when we first met to worship our common Lord from true doctrine, only two individuals were present besides my own family, there is cause for gratitude. Our increase affords us ground for joy, though it is nothing very extraordinary. Three of our friends have left the province for other countries, and several others are at this time in the Bush. Of those who have left us, bearing with them |