The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-28

libraries has been agtated, ana nope and predict
| that from 1t good may come. In this hope we ven
| ture 10 submit proposition. We would premise IL
by endorsing IN its most comprehensive sense. the
| fourth commandment OF the Decalogue, and 10 Is
with view that this commandment may be more
| generally respected and observed that we suggest
the immediate establishment a new and inde-
pendent basis, OF Sunday library. We are aware
the proposition will clash with the conservative
sentiments OF many good Christians; but.
while we condemn that sensation Christianity
which would make religion mere "moral amuse-
ment," we equally condemn the Pharseeism which
ignores ana locks up every proposition not strictly
in unison with Its own ideas. The age Is magnani-
nous In its spirit and design. Public sentiment
rising to lotier and ioer conceptions OF ways and
means tor the progress and elevation OF the race,
and. as II thus rises sweeps away narrow preudices
signs every legitimate auxiliary direct indirect,
great or small that may assist TO work out by varied
application and device the highest development OF
the temporal and spiritual welfare of men. We
believe n Sunday library, properly oraanlzed and
great city TO Illustrate this i let Us refer to the thoa
sands or men and women In the metropolis
who are virtually wtaS nr,g homes mes Compelled
come at It's close weary and worn to their
uesolate and miserable lodgings. The peaceful Sab
but from indifference or prejudice they care not or
viii not 60 to church. In the desire, however, ana
need Of recreation tney must go somewhere. Fond
OF reading. were o library accessible many VINO
spend the day in lager beer saloons or other unpro
htable places would turn their steps thitherward
with profit to themselves.
Let US therefore have Sunday library. founded
the standard WORKS OF secular aud religious iitera
ture carefully arranged and slited 0i the chaT
which disgrace our public libraries. Let there be
and tone. and the library embellIshed with
the best q Of arr especially
win every other adjunct which may IN
| form the understanding ana refine the taste.
In ,fi.trn Tho ifp0rv
music nall Tor sacred music or concerts and where
religious addresses by the representatives OF the
would not interfere with church services. We also
suggest that relreshment room upon strictly tenn
dispense refreshments at low price, enabling those
who have no comforts at home TO enjoy comfort
able meal In the building In short, we would have
and residents Of rural districts who would be happy
to embrace the religious privileges OF our city would
gladly avail themselves OF such place Of rest and
refreshment during the interval between church
services. but chiefly would meet tine wants Of the
popular divines OF the age asserts mat
the most efective preaching is not confined to the
means used for the salvation of souls. Thousands
who could not be persuaded or induced to cross the
threshold OF church might, through the means OF
| higher life. The seeds informally sOwn by the
wayside might spring up In many heart and bear
The churches are doing their work and the
helping he BY distributing
the most enlightened thought. The Young
Mems Christian ASSOCIATION Is doing It's
work. The Young Ladies' Christian Association Is as
busy as bees. There are homes for the aged, homes
for the young, homes for the lnd9ent-ai OF which
meet tnelr respective NV. wants NOW let tnere DE
sale restrictions, but where saints and sinners may
refresh their bodies, souls and spirits from the foun
tains OF knowledge secular and divine. Open such
libraries in the spirit OF the Master, who declared
'the Sabbath was made for man;" the motive will
consecrate the act ana gather III the fold from the
highways and hedges OF life many who aliens
from the commonwealth Of Israel.
| library on this plan open on Sunday woud, we
believe promote the common veal ana do Its part
towards Fastening the happy day when .'the glory
OF the Lord snail cover the earth the waters cover
the sea-"
"Was Swcdenbors a Spiritualist ~
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The above Is an inquiry made by "Reader, in last
Sundays HERALD. Realizing most fully, with the
| editor OF the HRRALD, that new era Is dawnng
| upon the world-an era OF light ana freedom from
secarian shackles. when Christians to be united
by the warm bonds OF charity aud not separated by
| cold, dead faith or doctrines, believe most
ligiously that this ia from the Lord that
| the wonderful manifestations we behold OH every
| hand the result or the descending light and
heat truth and love, or the New Jerusalem. and
that swedenborg was the chosen instrument OF the
Lord for revealing to the world the grand central
spiritual truths Of this new era-tnat GOd tsone
essence andn persona that the Lord Jesus Christ
was God manifested In the nesh; that the
second Scriptures Divine having
living, rational, spiritual sense running
from the beginning to the end when has at this day
been revealed to mans rational perception, demon
stratng their character that all natural things
correspond to spiritual effects correspond to their
causes. Swedenborg was genuine spiritualst, but
not modern spirtuallst. His spiritualism COM
pares with modern spirituaism Is the light OF the
sun compares with the nlckerng lights invented BY
WIN so6 e s c
Scriptures, are the ladder let down from Heaven to
earth, on which the angels ascend and descend to
man. Modern spir1tualstS, as general rule ignore
personal God and all special revelations from God.
| In she writings Of Swedenborg we are taught that
and love OF self and the world constitute he'll;
therefore. man being born into selfish natural
enter Heaven-in other words, BY stunning
evils as sins against Cod, and living life ac-
cordng to His commandments, the old ruling
selfish loves must be subdued ana heavenly afTcc.
lions take their place. Spiritnalism teaches pro-
gression instead OF spiritual regeneration, ana a
generation and claim that II is impossible for men
| TO live from higher motives than seldsnness. With
Swedenborg the Lord Jesus Christ IL the chief
! corner stone OF the New Jerusalem and special
providence is clearly and beautifully taught
| whereas spiritualists. with but few EXCEPTIONS
deny the divinity OF the Lord and all special prov
dences Swedenborg claims that the Lord revealed
word the truths Of a new dispensation or of lis
second coming and the spiritual sense OF the sacred
| Scrptures and also that He opened his spiritual
| vision that he might behold the spiritual world
and converse with the Inhabitants dwelling
! with man here, and that he enjoyed this
privilege for over twenty-sevcn years, ana
that he was specially guided and protected by
angels without which protection he shows clearly
1t would have been impOssible) that he might see
ana converse with the inhabitants OF heaven, hell
and the world OF spirits for the sake OF describing
men on eartn the state OF man after death. He de-
scrpes three great classes Of Inhabitants with whom
he came contact IN that world. In class love
to the LORD and ne9hbor governed their actions IN
another class selfish loves ruleu; the third was In
or those recently from this earth, in whom the
ruling love was not fully developed. Swedenborg
assures us that he witnessed the last Judgment IN
the spiritual world IN 1857, and he describes it.
Swedcnborg sought open intercourse with the
spiritual world, and repeatedly warned his readers
against seeking open intercourse; aud taught and
illustrated so fully the hangers Of conversing
with spirits, and the little dependence to be