Poetry. THE LIGHT OF TRUTH. Bright is the sun's first morning ray, To waking earth. Bright, breaking on an eve of sadness, Bright is the face of verdant spring, And, earth unbound from winter's frost, Bright, on a dark, tempestuous night, When doubtful his frail bark he steers, Bright, heralding the thunder's crash, Bright, dancing on the rippling stream, And oh! how bright the fitful gleam Yet brighter far than these-than all This Light, proceeding from the Lord, That man the path to bliss might know, And in that path unerring go, For this 'twas given. G. P. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. JUVENILE LITERATURE.-It is pleasing to observe the various means by which the truths of the new dispensation are ushered to the world, as well as the influence which they already begin to exercise, on the thoughts and actions of men. They go forth at times in offensive warfare, with the errors and mysticisms of the fallen church, and in opposition to prejudices which time has hallowed, and ignorance supported; at other times they appear in a position of defence, piercing the dark veils of sophistry, in which opposing falses array themselves, and, exhibiting in the contrast presented, the weakness and deformity of the latter; while at other times they are found to assume the form of the peaceful husbandman silently sowing seed in the earth, and depositing the germs of future fruit in willing and unsophisticated minds. Each of these forms has its peculiar uses, and each is indispensable to the growth and development of the Lord's New Church upon earth; but it is a matter of universal experience, that in the diffusion of truth, little progress can be made with those who have grown to maturity in the confirmation of error. They who have long dwelt in darkness cannot endure the light; indeed its very brightness blinds them, unless care be taken to shield the vision from its dazzling effects. So the generation whose obscurity is illumined by a brighter gleam of truth, are pained by its opposition to long cherished opinions, and effectually close the intellectual vision to its reception. This circumstance may, to some extent, account for the little progress which the church has made thus far amongst men, and indicates to those who are interested in its promotion, that the best field for exertion is the 'rising generation ;"-for truth is more congenial than error to those minds whose receptive power is not destroyed by previously formed prejudices; and they who are born in the light, may be easily taught to walk in the light, and eventually become the children of light. For to the little work published by the Sunday School Union-the "Juvenile Magazine," on the completion of its fourth volume, which may now be procured in a neat and useful binding, for 1s. 6d.; gilt edges, &c., 1s. 9d. In glancing over its pages we perceive, that some of the most abstruse doctrines of faith are easily and familiarly explained, and their tendency and influence illustrated in appropriate and interesting tales. The wisdom which the wise ones of the world are unable to understand, is here brought down to the comprehension of the babe, and cannot be perused without some advantage, even by the most experienced member of the church. Besides the illustrative woodcuts, which are numerous, the volume before us contains two beautiful maps, the one of "Palestine"-the other shewing "the Journey of the children of Israel through the Wilderness," with appropriate explanations appended to each, and well adapted for the elucidation of those portions of the Word which relate to these countries. The statistical information which it affords with reference to the progress of Sunday school tuition in the church, is also very valuable, and must be deeply interesting to all those who are anxious to see its strength increasing. Indeed, we may safely add, that no New Church library, whether public or private, will be complete without it, and it would form an excellent present to any young friend unconnected with the church. The first number for the present year is also embellished with a map that of Jerusalem-and as the committee have announced that increased support is needed, to carry on the work efficientlyindeed, that at least 500 additional copies should be sold, to enable them to defray the expenses attending it, we trust our friends will testify their desire to promote this most useful portion of our literature, by becoming subscribers themselves, and circulating it as widely as possible amongst their relatives and friends without, as well as within the church. LONDON MISSIONARY AND TRACT SOCIETY. these reasons we hail with pleasure every attempt to accommodate our doctrines to the youthful mind, whether in day schools or Sunday schools, or in the extensively useful and permanent form of a "Juven(Concluded from page 80.) ile Literature." As one great effort in The Rev. T. Chalklen has recently been this direction, we are desirous of drawing a on mission to the eastern district. He the attention of the church, once more, was from home only about ten days, which, however, he made good use of. Sunday, October 5, he preached twice, and administered the sacrament at Ipswich, where he afterwards delivered two lectures. At Harwich two lectures in the Temperance Hotel. Saturday,-a lecture at Wivenhoe; Sunday, October 12, service and the sacrament at St. Osyth in the morning, and at Brightlingsea afternoon and evening; also attended a friendly meeting on Monday evening. Tuesday, a lecture at Colchester. Mr. Chalklen was most heartily welcomed by all, and his labours appear to have been highly appreciated, an earnest desire having been generally expressed that he would repeat his visit at an early opportunity. With this wish the committee hope he will be enabled to comply; believing the best results may be anticipated from fostering small and newly-formed societies who have not the privilege of regular ministrations. We have heard from Ipswich, and learn that the Sunday services were held in the society's usual place of worship, and the week-day lectures in the room in Tacketstreet. The addresses, they say, were of a superior character, especially "On the Lord's Flesh and Blood." A young man of talent and excellent character, a Baptist preacher, observed that, "irrespective of any difference of opinion between us and him, the lecture On the Divinity of the Lord' was the best he had ever heard in his life, and embodied the most thought, and was delivered in a sublimely impressive manner." The society express their gratitude for the visit. The following Saturday, Mr. Chalklen again left home to preach sermons in behalf of the Sunday school at Derby. The friends at Nottingham took advantage of his being in their vicinity, to secure his services in that town. They have written recording the heartfelt gratification they have experienced from the visit. Mr. Chalklen delivered three lectures during the week, on the Sole Divinity,--Charity, and Heaven and Hell, to audiences of 250 to 300, mostly strangers. On the Sabbath he preached twice, baptized eight adults and seven infants, and administered the Holy Supper to about 30 communicants. Many tracts were distributed, and the society express their warmest thanks, having been greatly refreshed and encouraged, and feeling assured of an immediate increase of receivers of the doctrines so ably advocated. To the foregoing I may add, the Chatham society has been visited, on alternate Sun days, by Messrs. Brooksbank, Bourne, Granger, and Smith; the service on the other Sundays being conducted by Mr. Evans, one of the members. The prospect is cheering. The committee affectionately appeal to their brethren of the church at large, to come forward as liberally as the cause demands, that they may often be enabled to furnish as gratifying a statement as they trust the present will be considered. Their present available funds are very low, while the opportunities for missionary exertions are increasing in frequency and importance. May the Lord bless these efforts to establish his church! To Him be all the praise ! H. BUTTER, Secretary. INTELLIGENCE FROM BOLTON. Although the society here has existed more than fifty years, very little of its sayings and doings has come before the New Church public in a printed form. If you think the following worth a place in your valuable periodical, we shall be glad to see it inserted. On Sunday evening, January 4th, our quarterly tea meeting took place, when upwards of 120 were assembled. At this interesting meeting a diamond ring was presented to our much-respected leader, Mr. Edleston. After tea the ring was handed round for inspection; it was chaste and beautiful, and contained the following inscription ::-"A token of respect to R. E.” Mr. Tickle was appointed president, who commenced by calling upon Mr. Robert Rushton, who had been selected by the ladies to make the presentation. He spoke in substance as follows:-" I have been requested to bring forward a subject which, I think, speaking from my own feelings, will be highly interesting and delightful to all present. When I look on this society with Mr. Edleston as its leader, I feel by far greater delight than I can find words to express; and when I contrast its present state with its various conditions during my long connexion with it, my delight is very much increased. In the days of my youth I have seen it fair and flourishing, with a worthy pastor watching over it and administering gra tuitously to its wants. I have seen it, even in his day, in its wintry state, assemble many times. At those times, in severe weather, the good man* would * The late Mr. 8. Dawson. See this Periodical for 1823, page 474. sometimes gather us round his own fire, and give us spiritual food. I have seen it afterwards, scattered, like sheep without a shepherd, and panting as it were for food, and no one came to administer to its wants. Brethren, "Look on this picture, and on that," (pointing to the assembly) and then say whether we have or not cause to be thankful to our heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has been pleased to bring us out of this state. We are here assembled to manifest our ardent desire to be mutually and more closely united in the holy bond of love to to one another, and to our worthy friend Mr. Edleston. This devout sentiment originated with the more amiable portion of our society (the ladies). But, not only did they first originate the subject, but they only have put their hands together, and, by pecuniary means, have realized an object, the substance of which is gold and its form a ring,—a perfect symbol of love and its continuance or duration, which I have now the pleasure to present to you, Mr. Edleston. The ladies beg your acceptance of this ring, and desire that you will wear it as a token of their esteem and affection." Mr. Edleston, on receiving it said, he felt gratified at this manifestation of kindness, and trusted that nothing would ever disturb the mutual esteem which was symbolized by the giving and receiving of a ring. towards each other, nothing can break in upon us to destroy our peace; all will be harmony and concord;-then may we exclaim, as it is written-Behold how good and pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity."" Mr. Edleston then addressed the meeting. He observed, "that there was no delight so great as that of knowing and feeling that we are esteemed and beloved by those we most esteem and love. This is a delight that I feel on this occasion, and trust for my own sake that it may long, long continue. The desire of being united to each other in mutual esteem and affection has its origin in heaven, and therefore well becomes the inhabitants of earth; and it would be well for mankind if it were more universal. The token with which you have presented me is a beautiful emblem of this desire. The gold is a representative of heavenly goodness derived from true love; and the diamond to which it is united, of spiritual truth; thus you assure me by the presentation of this ring, that the substance of your esteem is love, enlightened by pure truth; and from the circumstance of its being a circle and consequently endless, that you desire that this hallowed feeling may eternally encircle each and all, and for ever bind us more closely for our individual and united good. These are sentiments to which I respond from my heart, and hope sincerely that nothing may hereafter occur to violate the bond of friendship, which we have this night pledged ourselves to observe." After the presentation, the meeting was continued for the purpose of considering the proposition "that all true doctrine tends to advance the glory of God in the highest, and on earth peace and good-will towards men." The subject was interestingly discussed by several speakers. Upon the whole, the meeting was felt to be one of the most delightful and interesting that we have ever held in Bolton. R. E. Mr. Rushton then resumed-" My dear brethren, you have witnessed the giving and receiving of a ring as a pledge of our mutual love. But as, through the frailty of human nature, the course of love does not always run smooth,' let us at all times be upon our guard not to say or do any thing which may in the least injure or impede its free course. For our instruction it is written—' Avoid all quarrelling and bitterness, lest it endanger the church.' Solomon says- A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.' Our Lord says, 'Let your communication be Yea, yea, Nay, nay; REV. W. WOODMAN'S MISSION TO for whatsover is more than these cometh of evil.' Seeing it is evil to vex one another with grievous words, because they stir up anger, and thereby destroy loveshould any thing be said or done, or proposed to be done, which we do not approve, let us, when we express our disapprobation, be careful to choose such words as cannot possibly give offence. If we will be at all times and on all occasions thus careful to act with brotherly love N. S. NO. 75.-VOL. VII. THE POTTERIES. To the Editor of the Intellectual Repository. MY DEAR SIR,- Having just returned from a missionary visit to the Staffordshire Potteries, I forward you an account of it, hoping it may not be altogether uninteresting to your readers. It may, however, be well to give a brief account of the present religious state of this district. The principal portion of the dis I senting population are Wesleyans of different classes, among which the New Connexion is a numerous body. Some time since a preacher in the New Connexion (Mr. Joseph Barker), struck out a new path, and has pursued it till he appears to have settled down in Unitarianism. A very considerable number in the Potteries have followed him in the rapid changes his views have undergone within a few years past. These parties form a distinct body, known as "Barkerites:" the name they give themselves is that of "Christian Brethren." Last August Mr. Barker held a public discussion at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for ten nights, with a Mr. William Cooke, one of the most talented ministers in the New Connexion. As is generally the case in such matters, both sides claim the victory, and each party has printed a report of the discussion, which has passed through several editions, and circulated it wheresoever the New Connexion and the Christian Brethren are found. This has, of course, occasioned much excitement; and great diversity of opinion exists on the subject: in no locality more so than in the Potteries, where the followers of Mr. Barker are numerous. In consequence of this, our friends in the Potteries thought there was a good opening for presenting the clearer and more Scriptural views of the New Church on some of the great doctrines of Christianity. Accordingly it was announced by placards that I would deliver four lectures: the first, "On the Descent of the New Jerusalem;" the second, "On Redemption;" the third, "On the Resurrection ;" and the last, "On the Person and Character of the Lord." On Sunday, January 11, therefore, after preaching in the morning at the New Church Meeting-room, Longton, where I administered the sacrament to ten communicants, I proceeded in the evening to the Christian Brethren's School-room, at Stoke, which they kindly lent for the occasion of the first lecture: the other three were delivered in the Union Town Hall, Longton, on the evenings of the following Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Monday evening the New Church friends held a tea meeting, in their own room, Market-place, Longton. About fifty took tea together on that occasion, several of them strangers, and a very delightful sphere was felt, I believe, by all present. To return to the lectures: the School-room in which the first lecture was delivered, is a very spacious one, capable of holding from 600 to 800. On the occasion of the lecture, there were from 200 to 300: probably quite 300. The lecture was listened to with marked attention; and as it had been announced on the bills that persons were at liberty to ask questions, two availed themselves of the opportunity; their questions turning, however, on the "peace” and “ resistance" doctrine, an account of them would not be so interesting to your readers. I have since understood that the observations I made on the true nature and object of punishments, were well received by many. non On Tuesday evening, as before stated, I lectured in the Union Town Hall, Longton, "On the Redemption of the Human Race." This is a large room, calculated to hold about 1000 persons. Half of it was filled with forms for this occasion, for the loan of which we were indebted to the kindness of the New Connexion. About 200 were present at this lecture. More attentive listeners I never had the pleasure of addressing. Two questions were asked, to only one of which, however, I replied: the other related to the divinity of the Lord, which, I observed, was to be the subject of the last lecture, and much time would be saved by the questioner consenting to postpone it till that occasion, when he would be in possession of our views on that point. The other related to the meaning of the following passage (1 Peter i. 18, 19): "Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, * * *but with the precious blood of Christ," &c. I said, I had referred to the same passage in the course of the lecture, for the purpose of illustrating the nature of redemption; for the apostle stated to those whom he addressed, that that from which they were redeemed was "their vain conversation, received by tradition from their fathers." In reference to the blood of Christ, I remarked, that must evidently mean something spiritual, otherwise it could not be "incorruptible." I then explained the meaning of eating the Lord's flesh, and drinking his blood; of his blood cleansing froin all sin; and concluded by stating that it was evident from the Lord's declarations, "Now are ye clean through the word that I have spoken unto you," and, "For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth-thy word is |