The Portland daily press., 1880-06-16
ANNUAL CONVENTION.
The New Jerusalem Church.


AS the general convention of this body of
Oh ristians meets in our city this week, brief
account of its origin and growth may be ac-
ceptable to our readers. AS is well known, it
IS based on the theory taught in the writings
OF Emanuel Swedenhorg. Swedenborg in his
day gathered no church, but diffused his
writing to his friends, the clergy, and the
universities He died in 1772 Eleven years
later, 1IS3, five persons met in small room in
Ludgate Hill, London, under the shadow Of
st. Paul's, to form an organization for the pro-
pagation Of the doctrines. Public worship
was commenced in 1888.
Since then the growth of the church has
been slow but steady. Appealing as the
doctrines do to the mature nationality of
Christian men, it has never had sensational
progress, but gradual extension with the ad-
vance of general intelligence
From the Latin, in which they were origin
ally written, these works, in whole or in part,
have been or are now being translated into
English, French, German, Italian, Polish,
Russian. Hungarian, Danish, Norwegian,
Swedish, WEIGH, Icelandic and Hindusanee.
The British Museum has made it point to
collect copies of all these editions for it's libra
ry, and its catalogue of Swedenborg's works
alone fills third of lerge folio volume;
while / is collection Of the collateral writings
OF the New Church is immense, being the
largest in the world.
AS its literature indicates this church is
sparsely spread already over the whole civil.
lied world. including all the British colonies,
while its writings have been taken by natives
in French, into Turkish dominions, and in
English, into China, India and Japan
In London are ten churches, while
worshiping congregations exist in most of the
principal towns of Great Britain and in large
number of smaller places, with national con-
ference, meeting annually. 1t is believed
there are disciples in every State in the
Union. The Massachusetts association has
about twenty churches, and the different
State associations include twenty-one States
and the District of Columbia. Ohio has a
college at Urbana with the preparatory schools
of university.
The chief spread of this religion however is
found in the great modification of the doctrin-
al teachings OF other churches, and the tenden-
cy SO widely prevailing, to adopt views more
or less Swedenborgian on immortality, and all
moral, theological, religious and scriptural
subjects.
The meeting this week will be the sixteenth
annual session, and will probably consist of
delegates from nearly every State in the
Union.
Thursday will be devoted to the Sabbath
School Association meeting. This Associa-
tion, about which few words of explanation
were promised, consists of the ministers
Icentiates, students for the ministry of the
New Church, superintendent and teachers of
New Church Sabbath Schools in America. and
persons elected from time to time by the
Association. All receivers of the New Church
doctrines are allowed to take part in its de-
liberations, without the privilege of voting
Its meeting are always held on the day prior
to the meeting of the general convention. A
programme of business and suitable topics for
discussion are previously arranged for the meet
ing during the day, and in the evening adj
dresses on subjects connected with Sabbath
School work are made. The meetings OF this
Association are growing in interest and i'm
POAeoACO OdOh yCdls LILO DGSG Iu0LuOQS TO De
employed in teaching and in carrying on Sab
bath Schools have been discussed with con-
siderable profit. The opening of the associa-
ton will take place at the Temple on New
High street at 10 a. M. y IN. address by the
Rev. A. M. Frost of Cleveland, Ohio; i23 D.
m. COLLATION.; $50 p. m. afternoon session; 7.30
p. m. conference on "The importance Of the
New Church doctrine in our Sabbath School
instruction" with addresses by the Rev. W.
Goddard, Jr., and others.
Friday, June 18th 10 a. m. opening of the
general convention: II m. annual address by
the President, the Rev. Chauncey Giles; 125 D.
m. collation.; go p. In. afternoon session; 8. D.
m. social reception at Gilbert's Hall, Congress
street Tickets to the reception will be dis
tributed under the direction of the committee
OF arrangements.
Saturday, June 19th-1O a. M morning ses-
sion; 12.30-1.30 p. m. collation.; 9 D. m. con-
ference, "The New Age," the Rev. VIM. B.
Hayden, presiding; addresses by Rev. Edwin
Gould OF Montreal. Canada, Rev. Charles
Hardon OF Providence. R. l., Rev. G. h. Mann
dianapolis, Ind; 7.3O p. m. meeting prepare
tory to the Holy Supper; religious services
conducted by the Rev. j. G. Ager of Brook
Ign, N. Y; addresses by Rev. James Reed of
Boston, Mass, and Rev. John Westall of Fall
River, Mass.
Sunday, June 2Oth-1O.3O a. m. morning
service, sermon by the Rev. S. S. Seward Of
New York city; 3 p. m. the Sacrament of the
Holy Supper; sop m. evening service, Rev.
JOS Pettee, presiding, address by Rev John
Worcester of Newtonville, Mass, Rev. T. o.
Paine of Elmwood, Mass, Rev. Richard Ward
OF Lancaster, Mass, and Rev. T. F. Wright of
Bridgewater, Mass.
Monday, June 21st-10 a. IN. morning ses-
sion; 1250-1.30 p. m. collation.; 2 p. m. after
noon session; 7.3O p. M, closing meeting,
David L. Webster, Esq, of Boston, presiding,
addresses by the Rev. Arthur O. Brickman
and others.
Tuesday, June 22d-Excursion to Crawford's
Notch in the White Mountains Or some other
point to be announced.