power to any of its members to perform so vital an act of a living one as the ordination of a minister, this matter was made the order of the day for Saturday morning, after the sermon which Mr. Dawes was then to preach; and the meeting proceeded to consider the question of the Convention's life or death.

To try that question it was moved and seconded that, when this first or Thursday session of this extra meeting rises, the Central Convention be formally dissolved as a general body of the Church in the United States. The question was put, when three voted Aye, three No, and the President gave the casting vote in the affirmative. This question being so settled, the ordaining minister could not ask, and did not want, the authority of a defunct body for doing the act of a living one. Still, the members of the New Church in Philadelphia and elsewhere were invited by him to attend the religious services of Saturday morning, with the intimation that Mr. Dawes would be ordained, notwithstanding, on the Sunday morning following, by the imposition of the hands of two ordaining ministers.

The Report of the Chairman of the Ecclesiastical Council, in the contingency of the Convention's being deemed defunct, or in a dying state, had suggested that it should discharge that last duty of a dying man, make and declare its last will and testament, and dispose of its property. The meeting proceeded to act on this suggestion.

Two things were to be done. The portrait of Swedenborg, owned by the Convention, was to be disposed of; and a suitable disposition was to be made of whatever stock of books remained in the hands of the Book Depository, as well as a settlement of one or two of its outstanding accounts.

It was resolved that the portrait of Swedenborg should be held in trust by a Committee, consisting of the President, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and Secretary of the late Central Convention, to be handed over to a bona fide General Convention of the New Jerusalem in the United States, whenever such a body should be hereafter constituted, to be held by that body, in trust, for a general institution of New Church learning in these Middle States; Providing, that in case such an in stitution of learning should be instituted before such a General Convention was constituted, the Committee might feel authorized to hand over the portrait to the institution of learning, directly.

In the outstanding accounts of the Depository it was found that a balance on account of about $153 was due from the Rev. David Powell. On motion, this balance was remitted to him, in consideration of his many and unrequited services as a faithful and laborious minister of the Church in the West; and all the remaining books and accounts of the Depository and Printing Fund were consigned to the late Chairman of the Ecclesiastical Council, who had also been Superintendent of the Depository' and of the Printing Operations, he assuming the payment of all the Depository's debts, and receiving also the proceeds of sales of the remaining stock, in consideration of his very heavy expenditures in printing and publishing his voluminous Report on the Trine in the Newchurchman-Extra.

A question now arose about the propriety of printing the Report of the Chairman of the Ecclesiastical Council. The Chairman, in making the Report, had designed chiefly to place its contents on record for future history, but exceptions were taken to what were deemed, by some, offensive personal allusions in it. The Chairman promising to omit these, it was moved, seconded, and carried, that his Report be printed and published with the Journal of this extra meeting, with such modifications as he might think proper to make; and he was directed to print only a limited number of the Journal, so as to supply merely the members of the late Convention. And he here avails himself of the opportunity to say, that he intends to accompany the Journal with a detail of all the matters, in series, pertaining to the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Dawes, giving the sermon and charge delivered at his first ordination; Mr. Dawes' sermon preached on Saturday morning last; and, perhaps, a final address of his own to the late members of the Central Convention, defining his past and present position in the church. And as the best way of determining how limited a number of copies of the Journal, thus accompanied, is to be printed, as well as of receiving the pecuniary contributions requisite to defray the expense of its publication, he hereby gives notice, that he will print and deliver only so many copies as shall be subscribed for at twenty-five cents a piece. All persons, therefore, who may desire 37

VOL. V.

to have, and to receive by mail, copies of the Journal of the last meeting of the late Central Convention, will please to send their names, places of residence, and subscriptions, to the late Corresponding Secretary of that body, No. 80 South Schuylkill Sixth-street, Philadelphia. And copies of the Journal, when printed, will be sent to no others than those who shall thus send in their names, except to those who attended the late meeting, and there contributed to the publication of the Journal. These last persons may also order, for their own uses, or the use of others whom they may designate, as many copies of the Journal as their contributions will pay for at the rate of 25 cents per copy.

On Saturday morning, the Rev. Rufus Dawes preached a truly excellent sermon from

After the religious exercises by him were concluded, the ordaining minister stated, at some length, to a considerable audience, containing four or five clergymen of the church at large, and several highly respectable lay members of the church from the West, and the Middle States, the circumstances relating to Mr. Dawes' first ordination, and requested all who, having heard him just now preach, were of the opinion that he ought to be ordained pastor of the Washington Society, and that the ordaining ministers present were duly authorized so to ordain him, to signify the same by standing up. Whereupon, a unanimous vote of the male members of the general church present, and of several of the female members, assured the ordaining ministers that they had the Lord's authority in his church for the Rev. Rufus Dawes' or dination into the second grade of the New Church ministry, with power, in addition to the powers formerly granted him, to administer the most Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, consecrate marriages, and perform all the other functions of our ministry, except ordaining other ministers; and accordingly Mr. Dawes was so ordained by the imposition of the hands of the Rev. Messrs. De Charms and Seddon, about 1 o'clock, P. M., of Saturday, Oct. 23, 1852, in the Temple of the Second, or Southwark Society, of Philadelphia.

R. DE CHARMS,

Late Chairman of the Ecclesiastical Council, Corresponding
Secretary, &c., of the late Central Convention.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25, 1852.

DISTRIBUTION OF NEW CHURCH BOOKS.

REPORT OF H. M. SAXTON.

Swedenborg's own method of disseminating the Heavenly Doctrines, was to print and circulate, both gratuitously and at very low prices; or, as his publisher remarks, "unaccountably cheap." Thus Lewis, Swedenborg's publisher, in advertising the second volume of the Arcana, remarks as follows: What I have been an eye-witness to, I can declare with certain truth; and therefore I do aver that this gentleman, with indefatigable pains and labor, spent one whole year in studying and writing the first volume of Arcana Calestia, was at the expense of two hundred pounds to print it, and also advanced two hundred pounds more for the printing of this second volume; and when he had done this, he gave express orders that all the money that should arise in the sale of this large work should be given toward the charge of the propagation of the Gospel. He is so far from desiring to make a gain of his labors, that he will not receive one farthing back of the four hundred pounds he hath expended, and for that reason his works will come exceedingly cheap to the public. Any one of small judgment may guess at the cheapness of the work, when he finds that six hundred and forty quarto pages in Latin, of the first volume, are sold for no more than six shillings, unbound. But this second volume, which is now publishing in Latin and English, will be unaccountably cheap, as any one may conclude, even from the postage of the Latin copy from abroad; for the bare postage this first number cost no less than twelve shillings, and now it is printed, doth make fifty-two quarto pages in the English tongue; and all to be sold for no more than eight pence, which is not half the price that such a quantity of paper and print is generally sold for. The postage of the second number came to eighteen shillings;

of

and that of the third amounted to one pound, two shillings; and yet these two numbers are to be sold for no more than nine pence each; so that from hence it is easy to imagine how cheap the whole will be, especially when printed in such a grand and pompous manner at so low a price. But it is the generous author's absolute command that it should be so, who, it is plain, wants neither purse nor spirit to carry on his laudable undertaking." It is well known, also, that Swedenborg distributed hundreds of volumes without receiving any compensation whatever. And may we not ask if these facts do not argue in favor of Publishing Societies, and the employment of persons to distribute the Heavenly Writings? Who will say that it is a mistake, a profanation, or an evil, to print and circulate the Word for twenty-five cents a copy, and to give away thousands of copies? Is not this the work of the LORD's Own DIVINE PROVIDENCE?

Since March 1, 1851, I have distributed by sale 3254 books, including about 90 varieties, which are as follows: 359 Heaven and Hell; 120 Book of Doctrines, including 7 small works; 149 Divine Providence; 104 Divine Love and Wisdom; 32 Universal Theology, or True Christian Religion; 13 Four Leading Doctrines; 2 sets of the Arcana Coelestia, equal to 26 volumes; 3 sets of the Apocalypse Explained, equal to 15 volumes; 5 Apocalypse Revealed; 62 Earths in the Universe; 28 Last Judgment; 20 Conjugial Love; 3 volumes of the Spiritual Diary; 15 Doctrine of the Sacred Scripture; 30 Sacred Scripture, White Horse, and summary of the Prophets and Psalms, bound together; 4 summary of the Prophets and Psalms; 2 White Horse; 12 Charity; 18 Doctrine of the Lord; 23 Brief Exposition; 53 Heavenly Doctrines; 100 Heavenly Doctrines and Brief Exposition, bound together; 33 Heav enly Doctrines, and Doctrine of the Lord, bound together; 44 Doctrine of Life; 25 Heavenly Doctrines and Doctrine of Life, bound together; 15 Doctrine of Faith; 12 Canons; 7 Coronis; 3 Index to True Christian Religion; 1 Index to Arcana Colestia; 51 Influx; 1 Worship and Love of God; 3 Animal Kingdom; 1 Economy of the Animal Kingdom, in 2 volumes; 1 Principia, in 2 volumes; 30 Way to a Knowledge of the Soul, Posthumous Tracts; 96 Life of Swedenborg by Hobart; 6 Copies of the Documents; 4 Life of Swedenborg by Wilkinson; 144 do. by Rich, Detroit Edition; 101 Biographical Sketch by Barrett; 56 True Religious Philosophy, by Des Guays; 22 Religious Philosophy, Parsons' Essays, and Influx, bound together; 11 Parsons' Essays; 8 Copies of Worcester's Sermons on the Lord's Prayer; 4 copies of S. Worcester's Sermons; 35 Antediluvian History; 35 Barrett's Lectures; 23 Nineteenth Century or New Dispensation; 2 Noble's Lectures; 10 Noble's Appeal; 1 Noble's Plenary Inspiration; 1 Clissold's Letter; 1 Divine Humanity, including Mason's 2 works on the Body of the Lord; 21 Regenerate Life; 17 Growth of the Mind; 16 Judgment Day; 31 Ohio Tract Book; 193 Bush's Reasons; 31 Letters to a Trinitarian; 5 Copies of Bush's Sermon on Heaven; 29 Dictionary of Correspondences; 9 Book of Worship; 2 Hymn Book; 5 Character and Work of Christ; 2 Nature, Design, and Evidence of the Doctrines, by Clowes; 97 Pamphlets, parts of the "Swedenborg Library" 1 vol. of Swedenborg Library; 4 Domestic Education, by Mason; 95 Golden Wedding Ring; 111 Weller on Marriage; 37 Bruce on Marriage; 7 Open Intercourse with the Spiritual World, by Barrett; 2 Worcester on the Sabbath; 2 Goyder's Spiritual Reflections; 20 Illustrations of Physiology, by Dr. Rice; 11 Freedom and Slavery, by De Charms; 82 Heat and Light; 168 Cosmogenia; 73 Books for Children, 6 or 8 varieties; 67 Progress since the Last Judgment; 74 Visible and Invisible World; 43 Immortal Fountain; 150 Miniature of the New Jerusalem; 10 names for the N. C. Messenger; 1 name for the N. C. Repository; 5 names for the Medium. For these 3254 books I have received about $1,100; which is only $36 more than the actual cost, including transportation.

The following have been distributed gratuitously: 3,000 Tracts, Ohio series, equal to 12,000 pages; 300 "Address to the People of Michigan and Northern Indiana;" 110 Pamphlets, parts of the "Swedenborg Library;" 5 Bush's Reasons; 10 Heavenly Doctrines; 4 Heavenly Doctrines and Doctrines of the Lord, bound together; 5 Doctrine of Life; 4 Doctrine of the Lord; 2 Divine Love and Wisdom, from A. E.; 3 Affectionate Address to the Clergy; 20 Corner Stone Tract; 3 Heat and Light; 1 Barrett's Lectures; 1 Book of Doctrines; 1 Divine Providence; 1 Religious Philosophy, by Des Guays; 4 Life of Swedenborg by Rich; 15 Report of the New Church Meeting in London during the World's Fair; 19 Freedom and Slavery, by De

Charms. We would here acknowledge the receipt, from Wm. H. Chauvenet, Esq of Annapolis, Maryland, of 30 copies of the pamphlet on Freedom and Slavery, for gratuitous distribution. Some persons wanted this pamphlet, and preferred to pay for it; we therefore sold a few copies, and distributed others of equal or greater value. We also sold a few of the pamphlets received from the American N. C. Tract and Missionary Society, and distributed gratuitously others in the place of them. The books have been distributed in upwards of 70 cities, villages, &c., which are as follows, in the order in which they were visited. Cincinnati, Xenia, Cedarville, Selma, South Charleston, London, West Jefferson, Columbus, Newark, Granville, Mount Vernon, Gambier, Mansfield, Shelby, Wellington, Oberlin, Cleveland, Ohio City, Rockport, Newberg, Bedford, Hudson, Ravenna, New London, Plymouth, New Haven, Monroeville, Norwalk, Sandusky, Ypsilanti, Detroit, Salina, Ann Arbor, Marshall, Ceresco, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Paw Paw, Dowagiac, Niles, Edwardsburg, New Buffalo, Michigan City, Laporte, Chicago, Albion, Jackson, Buffalo, Attica, Batavia, Rochester, Geneva, Auburn, Syracuse, Canastota, Peterborough, Utica, Rome, Watertown, Sackett's Harbor, Schenectady, Albany, Ellington, Hartford, Euclid, Strongsville, Columbia, Seville, Wooster. Places in which no books were distributed are not mentioned. Some were distributed in the country away from villages and cities, and some on cars and steamboats.

The following sums have been received for the Publishing Society, and forwarded to the Treasurer: In Cleveland, M. Carson, $3, J. L. Warren, $1. Rockport, Israel D. Wagar, $3, James Colahan, $3, James Nicholson, $3, Charles Calkins, 50 cents. Mrs. K. Wagar, $1, Mrs. Annie Mitchell, $1, Mrs. Mary Hooper, $1, making in all $16,50.

Not having reported particulars since leaving Rochester, I will mention a few items from that place onward. In Rochester I sold upwards of $100 worth of books. By the efforts and liberality of A. Reynolds, Esq., and James S. Bush, Esq., forty volumes were purchased for the Athenæum Library. Esquire Reynolds paid the greater part of the expense from his own pocket. He is one of the oldest citizens of Rochester, and manifests increasing interest in the Heavenly Doctrines. His mother was an ardent lover of the New Church Truths for many years.

A bookseller in Rochester bought nearly $20 worth, and in a book which he published soon after, he made use of some of the blank pages in the back part of the book for advertising the N. C. books. He gave the title and price of each book, and also the cost of sending them by mail. His store is in the Arcade, the same building of the Post Office. Messrs. Reynolds and Bush have each an office in the same building, and the Athenæum Library is only a few steps off, so that it forms a sort of radiating centre.

In visiting some of the Public Schools, two or three opportunities were given to address the children, a hundred or more a time. I endeavored to impress on their minds the truth that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only God, and that they should think of Him and worship Him as the infinite man; and that to know and obey Him, is to enjoy Him and be happy. Also that the spirit of man is in the human form, and that at death man does not really die, but goes into another life, having the same form, and the same affections, thoughts, &c. Some of the teachers bought books.

In a store I met with a young man who had recently come from Canada. He had there seen some books which a man purchased of me about six months previous in Cleveland. He said he was so much interested with the work on Heaven and Hell, that he has sent and bought one for his own use. He expressed his assent to the

Doctrines so far as he understands them.

In passing from place to place my attention has been frequently called to the subject of Spiritual Manifestations, and I have endeavored by the light of the Holy Word and the Heavenly Writings to get a right understanding of them. We have not time at present to enter upon this subject, and will therefore pass over it.

In Syracuse about $125 worth of books were sold, including $40 worth for a New Church library, which were obtained by the liberality and efforts of Messrs. Stevens, Montgomery, Masters, Cone, and others. These four brothers are warmly attached to each other, and meet often for conversation, reading, &c. There is quite a number in Syracuse who favor the Heavenly Doctrines, and they hold weekly meetings on the Sabbath for worship and reading. Professor Bush has lectured successfully there several times.

In Canastota there are a few receivers. We had a pleasant visit in the family of Dr. V. W. Mason. I was not subjected to any expense while there, and on leav ing, Dr. Mason gave me a gold dollar to help on the work.

In Watertown I was kindly received by Dr. W. V. V. Rosa. We sold some books, and Dr. Rosa contributed $3 as an evidence of his interest in the use.

Thence I passed on to Sackett's Harbor, and spent the Sabbath pleasantly in the family of D. N. Burnham, Esq. He also manifested an interest in the work, and gave us $3.

In Peterboro I sold a few books and spent the night at the house of Gerrit Smith, Esq., where I was kindly treated. Mrs. S. is considerably interested in the N. C. Doctrines, and Mr. Smith has the candor to examine them. They purchased books, and Mr. Jas. G. Birney, who was there at the time, also bought two or three books. The Editor of the Repository has lectured in Peterboro.

In Rome I sold about $10 worth of books. In Utica we met with Dr. E. Leach' who has been a receiver of the Heavenly Doctrines for many years. A few others are partially interested.

In Albany there are a few persons interested. Among others, Dr. Salisbury, chemist in the State laboratory, bought $4 or $5 worth of books. In the State Library there is nearly a set of Swedenborg's Theological Works, in a good state of preservation, which were given to the Library by the General Convention. They appear to have been rebound.

In Hartford I sold a few books, and had a short interview with A. J. Davis, the writer of Nature's Divine Revelations, the Great Harmonia, &c.

Thence I came West, where I find I can breathe somewhat more freely than at the East. In Cleveland there are a few receivers of the Heavenly Doctrines, and the number is gradually increasing. The books are having a steady and permanent influence here. Soon after I came here last spring, there were two young men who bought each about $4 worth of books, and they now acknowledge them to be good and true. One of them has gone to Wisconsin, but he left two or three of the books in the family where he had lived, and they are now considerably interested. other young man's name is mentioned in the preceding as a contributor of $1 for the Publishing Society. Another man, a member of the Presbyterian denomination, had become vastated of the old doctrines, and was drinking in the teachings of "the spirits." He now sees their fallacy, and is becoming deeply interested in the N. C. Doctrines, having purchased four or five books.

The

There is another generous-hearted young man here, a medical student, who is very earnest in disseminating the Heavenly Doctrines. He is of German descent, and understands both German and English. He often buys books to lend and give away, and also for his own use. He came to my room a few weeks ago and bought a small package of books to send to Germany; an acquaintance of his being about to leave. He and his brother-in-law, who is also a receiver of the Doctrines, occasionally send and receive books and letters, to and from Germany.

One of the most active and useful persons in this vicinity is our friend T. Bedford. There are from ten to twenty persons in Cleveland and vicinity, who have become receivers of the Heavenly Doctrines through his influence, and many more who have become partially interested. His home is twenty miles from here, near Strongsville. But as he is a painter, he spends much of his time in Cleveland. He is an ardent lover of the Doctrines, and his example has an influence as well as his words. I regard him as a co-worker; for he incites people to read, and informs me of those who he thinks will buy books. As an encouragement to missionaries and lecturers, may be mentioned that he became acquainted with the Doctrines by hearing the lectures of Mr. Field in Cleveland, six or eight years ago. He is perhaps almost the only one who became a receiver of the Doctrines by hearing those lectures.

it

Cleveland is an important place for New Church labors, and there is a wide and fruitful field in the vicinity, easy of access by railroads. I recently made a pleasant tour about 60 miles south of Cleveland, through Columbia, Strongsville, Seville, Wooster, and vicinities, and distributed about $50 worth of books. Mr. Howey of Columbia, Mr. C. R. Strong, and Mr. T. Bedford, of Strongsville, Mr. J. Hay of Seville, and Mr. J. H. Piles, of Wooster, were so kind as to assist me in going from place to place free of expense. Dr. C. J. Kenworthy, of Wooster, a recent receiver