The Portland daily press., 1884-01-07

neV. Charles +. Dole, of Jamaica Plains
formerly pastor of Plymouth church. IN tb;o
CITY, delivered lecture on Saturday afternoon
at the First Parish church, on the life and
works of Emanuel Swedenborg. Swedepborg
porn when Charles the Twelfth was on The
thFone, was reared under the evil auspices Of
oiooey internal wsrs, corrupt influences, moral
s'agnation, and at the era that deviisn. and
wi'chcraft were taught At the age of twenty
swo, young Swedenborg left the bishop,s honsa
where he had been educated, and visited Rel
GUM, Holland, England and France. After
MS return he as appointed by the government
professor of mathematics in 1747. He RESIGNED
ms ONCE, On half-pay pension. to engage N
ms liter airy pursuits. d uring his remarkable
iiie and wonderful experiences, he published
more tnan fft3 different WORKS, the printinp
OF which Re generously paid for.
The speaker described Swedenhor, Of tha
age OF seventy as being distinguished ,ook-
ing person, and dressed in a hlack ,alu.+ 80.
anu cooked hat, the style in the reign of
ueoise Inc second He was deyout and pru-
oent' and above the average Clergyman of his
Time when ffty.fve years old. He was sub-
Ject 10 herrible dreams, and spirits of devils
appeared to him. He kept diary ot b;s
dreams Tor seventeen years (Which has been
puoiished) meny of them grotesoue. sn6 others
niied With horrors equaling the rawlings of
bediam, and almost driving him to the verge
OF insanity.
The lec'urer gave many details of Sweden.
oorg's visions of King David, of mjsers no !,
venues, upstairs and others when in tn : o,b q
life. The fifteen hundred q a. tho snr;,
osa oiarH+s 4 Swedenborg resemble, some what
the ancient Revelations, or cabalistic writing
Swedenborg liked snuff, coffee and sugar. In
useo no vine or other stimulauts He wa
generous to those who served him, hnt de- !,
proved beggars. He seldom smiled. and he
heved the gift of spiritual intercourse IN he
rare one. He believed in universal trntb am
Iehglon, ana That Judgment was revelation
OF character also in natural affinities ana ~.
unity OF all things. In his writings on in,yard
lessoration or communication with spirits he
rang out the clear notas of faith working II
love. The doctrine of love is a universal oh
ssous run, "hich recommends itself to moral
conscientousness. @
Swedenborgs diary tells of the secrats Of an.
o.ner word; his experience with the inhabi-
ssnts OF the planets, heaven and hell: the
gnastly caves OF the damned; the nsuffsrable
T1uI ne, VI the Jews; the double nature OF
Jesus Christ aDd the tribulations Of Calvin
ana Luther; that where there vas q heaven
tnere was hell, and that where there was an
anger there was devil; that in 1857 the spirit.
oa, "ofid was nlled with malicious spirits. and
was ready for the New Jerusalem.
Mr. Dole claims that Swedenborg was a VIC
III OF a theorf, and too logical 10 foil owing
ms tneerv, owing to the character of the york
ing OF his slroni mind. All of Swedenbore;s
s wr,.lngs had J .ee and significance, and
Seemed % 70 Dc reys aled from God. He possess
60 memory stored with riches: truth and er-
TOT blended together in his teeming brain.
MT. Dole said it was difficult to estimate cor
rectly the amount Of influence the writings of
Swedenborg have produced. At the time of
.ne advent OF the New Jerusalem, death was
surrounded with terror. Sweden borg promul-
gates exeResis OF faith, universal life, the reali-
y and msterialism of heaven The believers
IN me New church live lovable, cheerful lives.
ana the doctrine of the New Jerusalem hes
with the broad church. been ipstFnmentsi in
sweeping away dogmatism, making our mod
srn chu1cn people more eclectic and catholic.
rev. John A. Bellows of Park street church
viii deliver the next lecture in the course.
next Saturday afternoon. A''0'