New-York tribune., 1896-04-01

open these rooms uptown ior the reason tha' many
OF the members i've on the Hill" As yet there Is
no talk OF removing the place OF worship. but such
A result seems not impossible.
The rooms arc we'll situated. and an inspection OF
them shows that some one OF rare taste mas direct
81 their decorating ard furnishing. over tne sscre.
tary's desk which occupies place In the trons
room are two fine interior and exterior photo-
graphs of the New Church. over the maniel hangs
portrait OF Swedenborg, the founder OF the sect.
Tho suite Of rooms three In numnsr mas So,nn 4ens
social and religious meetings there In the rear rear
room is a platform for speaking. and back OF tns
baaioiIm p iappn ,nev exscned map Of Palestine the
work and gift OF member G. W. Cotton a sne
engraving os the Swcdenborg Theological seminary,
in Cambridge Mass. Among The volumes seen seen
were several written by Theophilus Parsons; tho
lecturer Of the Harvard Law school. VINO is also a
member OF the society, Two volumes, owned oy
the pastor the Rev j. c. Aver. attracted much at
tention They were phoo-thographs OF sweden.
borg manuscripts. the "Msceilanea Theoosica;
and the 'De Verbo de Ultimo Judcio de Mundo
The afternoon reception was purely of social
rature Tea was served from TO l. In the even
ing there were brief addresses by the Rev. Or.
Lyman Abbott. the Rev. Dr. James NJ Farrar; ne
Rev John c. Ager
The Rev Mr.. Ager introduced tho Rev. S;
Seward. pastor of church OF the same donomina- emo ma
Seward said that the great point to be kept in view
bv the church members was to make the rooms as
centre Of spiritual activity Of various kinds Not
only would the nray o and ID e@dRFTooms bt ee sbeS
unv1 lead other churches OF that order to do like
Wise. IL was an ambition OF his. said the speaker,
to see the religious institution OF which he was tho
head provided with similar auxiliary.
The Rev. G. H. Mann. formerly OF orange. ~ j.,
was next introduced. The question was constantly
arising he continued. to just where the church
belonged as TO lust what social extensions per-
mlssiblc and proper In connection with church life.
That designed by the New Church In their library
and in o his S1n0n ,ha as
could be desired.
The third speaker was the Rev. DR.. Lyman Abbott,
"a. a
said Or Abbott In his introduction that all present
believe I'm the New Church. whether they are what
are popularity called Swedenborgians or not. In
truth. no church Is OF the living Co., unless IL Is
lie did not question the creed of the sixteenth
tury the speaker said. That was good enough for
the sixteenth century. creed was like a bark on
trce-a protection to the life In the tree this year.
next year to be absorbed by the tree. Newness
was needed In crecds and hymns. We might borrow
new songs with profit despite the stern tenets OF
certain Scotch authorities In the matter. We could
not content ourselves with always singing the
psalms OF David. The Bible Itself was . an "a. au.
who believed In combining their vocal exertions TO the
compositions OF the prophet referred TO would 90
when they reached Heaven ana iouhu that hi so"s
there was ever new.
DIR. Abbott spoke In brief OF certain departments
OF religious worship which. In his opinion. by no
means contained al. that necessary to erect
the object aimed at. In ending Dr. Abbott laid
strong stress upon the social element to be exem-
n,,ned In this adjunct OF church work. 1t was not
enough. he said. that rooms be procured and FUR
pishsd. that books from library be circulated. ana
that the ordinary conveniences be provided for
those who cared to use them. There must be somc-
thing moer than this. 1t was essential ABOVE Al
,hines that the spirit OF Christian friendIhess
Christian charity ana Chr,san ,Pv. on,d meat
with failure.