Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-29
Today's Sessions of the Council of
Ministers.
RECOGNITION BY FOREIGN SOCIETIES
Rev. John Whitehead's Interesting
Paper on Education.
o T II e r M A T T E r S

of 1G-h and Corcoran streets, this morn
ing al 10 o'clock. The meeting opened
by Rev. l.. G. Landenberger Of st. Louis
and was presided over by S. S. Seward
Considerable business was transa cted lead
irg up to the general convention, which
meets Saturday afternoon.
The chair appointed as a committee 10
| revise the roll OF ministers. Rev. Messrs.
Wright, Werrcn and Hay.
The council then took UP the applca ton
of S. G. Broenickc Of Copenhagen, Den
mark, for ordination a minister under
the American Society. 1t was decided 10
recommend favorable action by the conveE-
ton upon the application. A letter was
also read from the society in Paris asking
for the ordination CT NJ. Decembre who
has been the minister of the New Church
in that city for three years. The applicst-
ton referred to a committee consist
ing of Rev. Messrs. Wright, Mann ard
SeWall. Several of the ministers took ad-
vantage of the opportunity to express
their qualification at the action OF foreign
societies in recognizing the American body
in such a substantial manner. In years
past European societies have even gone so
far as to refuse TO recognize ordination in
tbs country, holding that If a man We're
ordained in this country and then went
abroad it would be necessary for them 10
be ordained anew.
New Church Education.
The report of the committee on the trans
lation of the word was presented, after
which Rev. John Whitehead read paper
Oh New Church Education"
Mr.. Whitehead took the ground that
there should be distinctive new church
education. giving his reasons therefor
Af"r sneaking Of The claims of Urbana
University he concluded as foliows
10 accomplish lie purpose we have in
view. the active and affectionHtc co-opera-
ton of the church is necessary. Every
minister Of the church see the i'm
lortance OF having young men and women
thoroughly instructed in the theology and
philosophy of the church. who can CO.
operate with him in the instruction of the
children Of the society, and also the i'm
poftahcc or having lavlncn well instructed,
and thus prepared for mere interior APP
probation and reception of his instruction
moreover, such 4 preliminary training as
we have outlined would be an invaluable
Pre- paratlon for the work of the theological
school This course would also turn the
minis of some of the youths of the church
to this sacred calling. and lead them to
choose it as their life's work and Tins
me college would become a seminary for
the theological school, and for the min
fstry of the church.
who can forctell the beneficial results
to the church in the future of establish
irg this work firm basis There is
more power and strength in the church
IN superior intelligence and wisdom than
that the early church derived its sturdy
Character. This gave it the determine
tion to carry its work on under the most
dlf'icult circumstances. These men were
interested and believed in New Church
education. They devoted their energies and
means to establish institutions in which
that work was carried on. The duty of
sustaining and developing this work has
been transmitted to us. and on our exer-
lions and faithful efforts depends the re-
suit in the future. We appeal. therefore
to the church for a thoughtful considera-
ton OF this question from the light of the
neaEenlE doctrines
that conviction will thence arise of the
truth of our position, and that from this
convictions the means will be provided fer
the performance of the work in a manner
and on scale suited to the changed con-
ditions of the church at the present time"
Yesterdays Lutte Session.
Rev. S. S. Seward of New York presided
at the meeting of the ministers council yes
terday afternt On, when reports We're made
by the different ministers of the confer
erces held during the year and the SUBJ
jects for discussion at each
Rev. John Goddard OF Cincinnati read an
able paper on 'Swedenborg and the Oc-
cult" In the course Of his address he said
that the Savior did not come simply to
cure the bodily blind and lame but to
make 1t known that unless man be born
from above he carnot enter the kingdom
OF heaven. To acknowledge Jesus as the
prince of mesmersts hypnotics, mediums
or mhnd-curers is to mistake His mission
The antidote for these things is supplied
by the doctrines of the New Church.
There never was more diligent or more
thoroughly equipped or profound scientist
than Swedenborg. But with all his knowI-
edge he could not solve the mystery and
only when in the spirit of a little child he
submitted himself to divine influx was he
able to be illuminated and to see the fall
lacy of the claim that heavenly mysteries
are amenahle to science. 1t was Sweden
horg's mission to reveal and unfold the
degree or quality of truth which should
fOnn13flnn rafi vol
ity and thus develop and strengthen spirit
ual character.
Any claims of spiritual intercourse,
whether by seer, prophet, or medium
simply degrades revelation. These are sim
ply appeals 10 earthly love of the novel
and the marvellous. The wisdom of the
spiritual life and character revealed
through Swedenborg depends for its re-
cepticn, not upon his personal character, or
the testimony of sensuous science. but
upon the truth itself, distinct from all self
says: THE Jews require a sign, and the
Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach
Christ crucified."
Leading by Truth to Good.
At the evening session three papers were
read The first was on Aims of Preach
ing" by Mr.. Seward; the second, by the
Rev. John Whitehead of Urbana, Ohio on
Leading by Truth to Good and the third.
by the Rev. Frank Sewall, on Methods of
Preaching in the New Church.
Rev. Mr.. Whitehead in his paper, put 1t
down as a principle of the New Church,
that man can be reformed and receive
spiritual life from the Lord when he is in
a state of nationality and freedom. The ra-
tional faculty is given to him that he may
see. know and understand truth: and the
will is given to him that he may choose to
receive this truth freely, and embody it
in his life. To blindly accept principle of
religion from the authority of others does
lot implant it in the real man. To force it
into mans actions without his free consent
causes him to be internally averse from it.
and therefore it does not enter into the real
man.
1t is a principle of the New Church that
a man must be led to the things Of religion
through rational acceptance of them on
mans part, and by his own volition re-
ceiving and doing them. 1t is, therefore, a
fundamental principle that the minister
should teach the truth in a rational man.
ner, so as to convince the reason and
through the truth, he should lead to the
good of life. Man can be led to good only
through the truth. The truth teaches the
way, but it should be SO taught that it con-
vinces and does not compel. The will also
to receive it freely must be affected pleas
antly, not disagreeably. for the will hates
compulsion. 1t loves to do things of itself
Man, therefore, to be truly regenerated
must be led to take a delight in truth and
to act spontaneously and freely according
to it. But the minister, to do this perfectly
and we'll, must himself be a believer and
lover of the truth These two faculties op