The Portland daily press., 1868-07-10
Convention Of .hc Rev .se,uso,ep,.

AhohsDAh, JuiN y, loOo
Ministers, delegates and visitors to attend
the meetings of the general convention of the
New Jerusalem i'll the United States, at its
forty-ninth session, have already begun to ar
rive i'll this city. The convention itself does
not tassemble until Friday morning at 10 o'clock,
but various committees Of the same are hold
ing meetings today.
The people who call themselves of the New
Jerusalem are denominated by the world at
large "Swedenborgians, inaSmuch as the doc
trines OF the church ara to be found in the
writings of Emanuel 5wedenborg. The re-
ceiyers of those doctrines forget Swedenborg
in his writings, regarding him merely as the
instrument Though fit one on account of his
rare scientific attainments ana his love for the
Lords Holy Word), in the hands of the Lord
for the PRONUNCIATION of truth, adapted to the
rational mind of man. They do not refer to
Swcdenborg as authority in the matters of the
church in any other than rational way. They
believe that the letter of Gods word alone con-
tains the precepts of life which are to be obey
ed on the authority of their Author. In the
writings of Swedenborg they are as they be-
lieve, afforded Il key to many of the savings of
that word; that in every part of it there is n
living, spiritual meaning, which is within the
letter as mans soul is in his body. This mean
ing in no sense degrades the letter of the Word.
but rather exalts it, while affording still more
exalted place Of truth
The General doctrines Of the church are these;
1st, That there is one God in whom there is a
Divine Trinity called the Father, Son and HOLY
Ghost; that these three are distinct and at the
same time united in the Lord, as the soul, the
body and the operation or active life from them
are in man.
Second, That the Sacred Scripture is Divine
Truth in the letter and in the spirit; that it is
revealed to US as means by which we may
distinguish between good and evil, and be led
away from evils to good
Third, That having Faith is to believe in the
Lord as the Redeemer, Regeneration and Sa-
viour of men.
Fourth, That men must shun evils as sins
against God, because they are of and from the
devil, and that men must do good because it is
of and from God: and that in abstaining from
evils and in doing good they are to act freely
as of themselves, at the same time admitting
that the understanding, the will and the pow
er to do SO are from the Lord alone.
The convention is composed of ministers of
the New Church, and of lay delegates from
each State Association Of the Church, appor-
toned according to their numerical strength.
and other new churches. "a.
This afternoon the Sabbath School Union of
the n. G. held a session in the Temple of the
Portland Society in New j. Jsrusalem church on
High street. Ir the evening musical society
OF the church met at the same place. The
latter exercises were very interesting and pleas
ant Among those present was Mr.. George f
Root, of Chicago, well known to the musical
community.
MEETING OF THE AMERICAN NEW CHURCH SAB
BATH SCHOOL UNION
This Union, composed of New Church Sab
bath School teachers, superintendents, minis
ters and others interested in the work of the
Sabbath School, assembled at O'Clock and
was opened by invocation and prayer by Rev.
Frank SewalI, of Glendale, Ohio The Presi-
dent, j. Westhall, Esq, of Fall River, Mass,
then delivered a short and eloquent address,
welcoming all who We're present to the meet
ing, and referring to the Importance and varie-
ty of the uses of the Sabbath School. The
Union was then addressed by the Rev. Messrs.
Sewall of Ohio, and Reed of Boston. The
meeting was interrupted by the advent of three
little children, bearing each beautiful bouquet
of flowers, which Benz Kinsbury, Jr, Esq,
presented to the Union in behalf of two infant
classes of the Portland Sabbath School of the
New Church. He stated that they were the
voluntary gift of those little scholars. The
President received the flowers and thanked
the givers for them. He expressed the hope of
all in the Union that all the children might be-
come beautiful as the flowers by becoming
good. The incident was very pleasant one.
The Union was then called to order for busi-
ness. The minutes of the last meeting We're
read by the Secretary, Prot. f. Fl. Stafford, Of
the Chicago Observatory The committee on
constitution then reported constitution, which
the Union, after various amendments, adopted.
The Association finally accepted as an
amendment of its former name the following /:
american New Church Sabbath School Asso-
ciation."
After listening to reports from various Sab
bath Schools as presented by the Secretary
the Association adjourned to meet again as
soon as a committee shall determine.