The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-21
SWEDENBORG AND LIVINGSTONE.
EDITOR OF THE HERALD


1t is known to many OF your readers and should
be known to all, that the writings Of emanuel Swe-
denborg, published more than hundred years ago.
contained several statements to the effect that
there was at that time nation Of people inhabt-
ing some portion of the interior OF Africa
who were In somewhat advanced state
OF civilization, and were worshippers Of the
true and only God. will ask you to
copy one OF those passages, and In order that
your readers may be certain that they have the
exact words, hand you the book with the para
graph marked. The work. as you see, Is entitled "A
Continuation Concerning the Last Judgment and
Concerning the Spiritual World" published In Am
sterdam 1893, one hundred and nine years ago. In
The seventysixth paragraph OF this work the au-
thor, speaking OF the Africans. says
"There is at the present day revelation among
them. which commencing In the centre of their con-
tinent, Is communicated around but does not reach
their coasts. They acknowledge our Lord as the
God OF heaven and earth, and laugh at the monks
in those parts they visit and at the Christians who
talk OF three-f0ld Divinity, and OF salvation 10y
mere thinking, saying that there Is no man who
worships at all who does not live according to his
religion. and that whatsoever does not must become
stupid and wicked, because, in such case, he re-
ceives nothing from Heaven Ingenious wickedness
too they call stupidity because there is not life
over this revelation because, by means OF it, com
muncation is opened for them with the human IA
been drawn over the things OF faith. 10 was told
me from Heaven that the truths now published in
the doctrine or the new Jerusalem concerning the
Lord, concerning the Word and In the doctrine OF
Life for the New Jerusalem. are orally dictated by
angelic spirits to the inhabitants OF this portion OF
the globe"
Several other statements in regard to those peo-
pie, similar to the one above In their general I'M
port, occur in other parts of SwedenbOrgs writings
Those of us who believe most firmly that Sweden.
borg was not mistaken In regard to this matter
but knew the truth OF what he affirmed in relation
to those people, have been watching with the deep
est interest every reliable account that has come
from that country, hitherto and even now little
known. Every New Churchman appreciates and Is
thankful for the service the NEW YORK HERALD Is
rendering In the great OF carrying forward
| that exploration We have read with deep interest
Mr. Staneys letters, published in your issue OF last
Monday. especially those incidental remarks where
speaking OF the recent discoveries OF Dr. Living
stone. he says
HE tells OF people so nearly approaching to
white people and so extremely handsome that they
eclipse anything ever seen In Africa: and from this
TACT supp0ses them to be descendants OF the
ancient Egyptians Of some of the lost tribes OF
Israel. He tells OF copper mines at Katauga which
have been worked for ages: OF docile ana friendly
peoples who up to this time have lived buried In
the lap OF barbarism, ignorant that there lived on
have come among them, rudely awaking them
ont OF their sleep with the thunder OF gunpowder
TO kidnap rob and murder them without restraint y
Mr.. Stanleys statement, as here given, we re-
gard az reliable intimation OF facts which, when
brought ont in their lulness, will add new and
most important chapter to the ethnOlOgy Of our
race, and Will at the same time furnish another
strong and convincing proof Of the value and truth
OF Swedenbofg's writings. - VI.