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been the overseer of the work, and the church is under a debt of deep gratitude to him for his gratuitous and constant attendance during the whole progress of the work.

The friends at Radcliffe are well pleased with their new church, which for style and workmanship is the admiration of all who see it.

It is purposed to hold the dedication and opening services on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 28th, and on the two following Sundays, August 1st and 8th. For times and preachers see the advertisement on the wrapper.

WIGAN. The large New Church day schools at this town continue to make progress. The Wigan Observer of May 26th gives quite a long list of the names of children who have successfully passed examinations in drawing, geometry, etc. The number of prizes is 57; good, 104; and fair, 156. On Sunday, May 23rd, two sermons were preached by the Rev. R. Storry of Heywood, and in the afternoon Mr. John Johnson, F.M.S., delivered an address; at the close of each service collections were made on behalf of the Sunday school. The attendance at the services was good, and the congregations interested in the subjects discussed.

THE LATE THOMAS WATSON, Esq. We give the following relating to this esteemed member of the New Church from the June number of the Argyle Square Manual: "At the quarterly meeting held last October the Argyle Square Society passed a resolution requesting the committee to arrange for some suitable memorial to perpetuate the affection and respect felt for our late dear and honoured friend Mr. Watson, who was removed to his eternal home on the 23rd of September. Hitherto circumstances have prevented the adoption of any active measures in execution of this resolution, but the committee are of opinion that the time has now arrived when it should be carried into effect. On the very last occasion, when he attended a meeting of the committee, Mr. Watson obtained its sanction for the erection, on the south-east wall of the church, near the door leading into the vestry, of a brass tablet in remembrance of Mrs. Watson, whose decease had occurred on the 25th of February; and it is understood that his executors pro

pose to carry out this intention. The committee would suggest, therefore, that the Society's memorial should comprise a similar tablet, to be placed beside the other, engraved with a suitable record of Mr. Watson's long and valuable services to the Church, and the expenses of which shall be defrayed by the voluntary contributions of those who knew and loved him. It is hoped that as many members of the Church as possible will co-operate in the work, in order that the memorial may truly be that of the entire Society, and not merely of a few private friends.

To the Editor of the Intellectual
Repository.

DEAR SIR,-About three weeks ago, and just before I left Florence, Professor Scocia received two very interesting letters from two earnest receivers of the heavenly doctrines in Sicily. One is from a dean of the Catholic Church, and the other from a public librarian. With the Professor's consent, I offer through you to the readers of the Repository extracts from these letters, feeling sure that those who have themselves been spiritually delivered from error and evil, will read with true delight the evidences which these letters contain of an intelligent reception by diverse persons in Sicily of the truths of the New Dispensation. The reference in both letters to the pamphlet on the "Decalogue," needs, I think, a little explanation. The Professor, as is well known, is now translating the "True Christian Religion into Italian. During his translation of the 5th chapter, it occurred to him that when the type should be set up for the printing of this chapter, it would be well to get out a given number of copies in tract form, and send them forth as pioneers to prepare the way for the larger parent work to follow in due time. Most persons will read a small work, when a large one, which for them possesses no particular attraction, will be passed by unnoticed. But interest having been excited by the perusal of the small work, especially if it be, as in this case it is, an extract, the desire to read the parent work would naturally

follow.

in Sicily.

Besides, as the Ten Com- Extract of a Letter from a Public Librarian mandments are accepted, not only by all denominations of Christians, but by all Israelites, no religious prejudices for the three copies of the pamphlet on "DEAR PROFESSOR,-Many thanks could arise to prevent their being freely the Decalogue' which you so kindly

read in this form. This idea of the Professor's received at once my most hearty sympathy, and I felt that it ought if possible to be carried out. Upon inquiry I ascertained that the printers would reach the 6th chapter of the True Christian Religion" in April, and that 1500 copies of the 5th could then be got out for £10. I knew, at any rate I believed, that there were many more able than I, and quite as willing, who would, if they knew the circumstances, gladly furnish the means for carrying out this worthy project. But no time could be lost in trying to find such persons, so I determined to give £5 and get out as many copies as we could for that sum. In April, therefore, we received from the printer seven hundred copies, and the Professor with his usual energy immediately set about the distribution of these little messengers amongst his countrymen with results which speak for themselves as to the value of this small undertaking. I felt that this brief explanation was almost necessary in connection with the following extracts:

Extract of a Letter from a Dean of the

Catholic Church in Sicily.

"Fourteen pages of your translation of the True Christian Religion' have safely come to hand. I find them, like all the others, conformable in every respect to the original Latin, and I think that the translation of this important work will afford much help in the diffusing of the doctrines of the New Church. I highly approve of your idea already put in practice of publishing the 5th chapter, containing the 'Decalogue with its external and internal sense,' separately in pamphlet

form.

"I continue my study of the encyclopedical work Arcani Celesti,' and in this inexhaustible mine of wealth I find daily so many new treasures of knowledge that they seem to me to be sufficient to enrich a large library. May the Lord enable me to model my life according to the truths revealed therein."

sent me, and which I will send round I feel it my amongst our friends.

pleasing duty to acknowledge myself your debtor for some precious information on the Scriptural difference between Jehovih and Jehovah, which was quite new to me, and which I should never otherwise have been able to acquire, as Italian versions of Diodati and Martini, in the Vulgate Bible, and in the two neither the words Jehovih or Jehovah and unfortunately I do not understand are ever used, but only that of Lord, Hebrew. Ah, if I only had the privilege of being near you! I feel I have so much to learn in your school.

"The priest of whom I wrote to you in my former letter has read the first volume of the Nuova Epoca and the work on the New Jerusalem,' etc., and he tells me he likes them. The like

favourable impression has been produced by the reading of these works by another of my friends, and also by a Neapolitan lady. But above all, a person of my acquaintance whose heart has been much moved by the reading of these books, and especially the pamphlet on the 'Decalogue.' He has formed a resolution to abandon the bad habit he had of cursing and swearing, and other sins, and he frequently comes to me for advice as to his progress in the spiritual life. I feel very happy to see this lost sheep return to the fold of the Lord. There is also a workman reading the third volume of the Nuova Epoca,' and a gentleman of Alcarno (a small town not far from here) is also desirous to read. As soon as he returns from Palermo, where he has gone for the benefit of his health, I will give him a spare volume to read, which he can return to me by post," etc. etc.

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On Thursday, May 20th, at Ventnor, Isle of Wight, where she had resided for a few weeks in the hope of restoration to health, Mrs. Bayley, the beloved wife of the Rev. Dr. Bayley, aged seventysix years, formerly Lydia Cheek Hodson, was called to her heavenly home. She had all her family around her; her youngest son, who had been for twelve months making an extensive business tour round the world, having hastened home to behold his mother once more before her departure.

Mrs. Bayley was the daughter of the Rev. Francis Marcellus Hodson, formerly a Methodist and a local preacher, who became one of the most acceptable and useful ministers of the early New Church in Manchester; a contemporary of Clowes, Jones, and Hindmarsh. The early coffee-meetings which Mr. Clowes attended, and out of which arose the Manchester Printing Society for spreading the writings of Swedenborg, were occasionally held at her father's house, and she could remember the veneration the children felt for Mr. Clowes. The Hodsons at that period resided at Quay Street, then a very respectable street, quite close to St. John's, the church of Mr. Clowes; and Peter Clare, the leader of the Anti-Slavery Movement, was their next-door neighbour. The subject of this sketch was a little girl, the youngest of a large family, and her brother, a few years older than herself, on one occasion brought Mr. Clowes' hat to her, affected perhaps by his powdered hair, and the little fellow said, "See, Liddy, if it does not smell like an angel's."

Mrs. Bayley, then Miss Lydia Hodson, was associated with the Temple Society, Salford, and assisted as a teacher in its first Sunday school. Being always of a very helpful disposition, she took a leading part with her sister, Elizabeth, afterwards Mrs. Sutton, and one or two other ladies, to promote the comfort of the friends at the happy tea-meetings,

then a special feature of that Society. Everything about the church was truly dear to her; hence she became very intelligent in the doctrines and most punctual in her attendance at church: nothing would ever prevent attendance there if health would at all permit. She had suffered from a more or less troublesome asthmatic cough for many years, and when in the winter she has been urged to spare herself and stay at home when she had been unable to leave the house during the whole week, "No, no," she would say; "don't deprive me of my great comfort. I'll cough as much as you like in the rest of the week, but do let me have the enjoyment of my church."

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The Arcana was her favourite book, and through life, when a quiet hour could be obtained from other duties, and especially on Sunday afternoons, she would have a good read at the "Arcana." Hence she could converse intelligently and with interest on any subject of spiritual edification with her husband or others.

She was married in 1833, and she took an early opportunity of suggesting to her husband, who was then much called from home on Sundays in missionary work, that her father's frequent absence from home in the same way had, as her mother believed, been prejudicial to the best interests of their children, and she hoped if they should be blessed with a family, that they might have their father mainly at home on Sundays as well as their mother. This it was which largely contributed to induce her husband to accept the invitation to become the minister of the New Church Society of what was then the very small town of Accrington, whose first chapel had been opened in 1807 by her father.

Mr. Hodson took as his text, at the opening service, the passage respecting finding a bird's nest (Deut. xxii. 6), and gave a most edifying unfolding of its spiritual sense. He became known to the common people as "Th' bird'snest fellow." Whenever "Th' bird'snest fellow" came to preach the chapel was certain to be filled. His services were much valued.

He was the author of a small collection of excellent hymns, a few of which are favourites in the present hymn-book.

Mrs. Bayley was an admirable model of a pastor's wife. She had the fullest

sympathy with her husband's labours, always cheering him in her quiet way and rejoicing in his success. She felt interest in what he wrote, and would get him to let her hear it; and if the subject were at all controversial, and a word or sentence seemed too severe, she would suggest its reconsideration, and on such occasions her judgment was most valuable. Whatever he could do orgive for the advancement of the Church was always right to her. Her house was constantly in order, her family gently in hand. Every one who came to visit her husband for advice or hospitality was welcomed and received with kindly greeting. Any one in affliction was sure to find a sympathizing listener, and consolation if within her power. Hence she was respected and beloved universally in the wide circle in which she and her husband were known. A friend, now a minister, who had known her from his youth, and had large experience of this trait in Mrs. Bayley's character, writes:

"How the thought of her calls up in my mind some of the most delightful recollections of my life! And how far back they go! Quite forty years come under my gaze as I think of it. The loving consideration, and the quiet care that I remember so well, and the face that I never saw ruffled, all make a page in my life which I shall ever treasure and dwell upon with deep affection. She was indeed a mother in Israel. "May I be helped to strive to live somewhere near her in heaven."

Amongst her family her loving selfsacrifice was incessant and continuous. Her quiet intelligence was always there, encouraging them for study and for good. They all felt that home was ever the abode of comfort, for mother was there.

She never inflicted corporal punishment on one of her children, never even reproved one, when any one else was present but herself or her husband. Hence they grew up lovers of the New Church, and lovers of each other. Her influence was the cement of the family. Attentive to her own duties, she was ever very considerate to others. All through life she felt the utmost pleasure in giving something or doing something for every one around her.

Her grandchildren delighted in her, and to have the whole of them about her

at Christmas to receive their presents, was to her the supreme joy of the year. If a child were restless at church, where another would have frowned, shaken the head, and looked solemn, she would put something sweet into its mouth, for which operation her pocket was always prepared.

In her last illness her chief anxiety was the trouble she thought she was giving to others. When her daughter was persistently striving by friction to remove some pain, she would open her eyes, thinking little of her own suffering, and say, "Oh how patient you are!" She was anxious to live until her youngest son came back, because she thought her departure while he was away would be so great a grief to him. When he had returned it seemed that every wish was gratified, and she only wanted to enter into rest. It was a great happiness to her, and it was a great consolation to them, that every one of her immediate family circle was about her at the last.

When asked if she had any further desire to express, any little wish to be gratified, in anything, "Oh, no,” she said, "I am very content, I am very content.'

The habit of reading the Word daily had been constant, and in her illness the Psalms seemed to unfold to her especial beauty, appropriateness, and consolation. At first only the Lord's Prayer was added to each Psalm from the fear of fatiguing her; but she soon requested her husband to offer a short prayer besides, for she felt it soothed and comforted her.

No shade of doubt or dread intruded itself about entering into the eternal world. She had lived in the very element of New Church teaching, and she just waited to realize it, according to the will of the Lord.

When it was evident that a few hours only remained to her, her sons, who had returned to London for a day or two, as her state of health seemed somewhat improved, were telegraphed for, and all arrived about half an hour before the last breath. The daughters and husband were already there. She recognised them, and very soon the power to breathe became less and less, but without pain or struggle, her husband holding her hand, the eyes looking brightly upwards as if directed by steady

reliance on the Saviour and His kingdom, until gradually the motion ceased. "So fades the summer cloud away,

So sinks the gale when storms are o'er, So gently shuts the eye of day,

So dies a wave along the shore."

Her remains were interred at Highgate on May 25th, and the beautiful service of the New Church was impressively read by the Rev. John Presland, there being present friends from all parts of London, and one esteemed friend to represent Accrington. An admirable discourse was delivered by Mr. Presland on Sunday morning, May 31, in which most appropriate reference to Mrs. Bayley was made, and deeply appreciated by a large and sympathizing congregation. This discourse we are sure will be read with interest, and we are happy to refer our friends to it in another portion of our present number.

Mrs. Mary Eliza Biden of Wotonga, Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, was somewhat suddenly called away to her spiritual home on Wednesday, 31st March last. Her illness commenced on the preceding Monday by what was regarded as a bilious attack, and on the following day she appeared to be better. Subsequently, however, another source of danger was recognised, and she expired on the third day, in the evening, to the deep regret of her family and friends. Mrs. Biden was the granddaughter of the late Thomas Jones of Pentonville, one of the earliest editors of the Intellectual Repository, and one of the founders of the Swedenborg Society, as well as for many years its treasurer. She was also the great-niece of the late Rev. Richard Jones of Peter Street, Manchester, and my eldest daughter. From very early childhood she evinced such hearty amiability and practical good sense as to make her a very delightful companion, and prepare her for a life of active usefulness. In our early efforts to establish a Society of the New Church at Islington she was a great helper. In the Sunday school she was especially useful. Bright, earnest, affectionate, intelligent, and eloquent, she exerted a most beneficial influence over her class. It was delightful to see her with her "twelve disciples," as her class of twelve pupils was called, imparting spiritual truth suited to their states,

and charming them alike by the manner and the matter of her instruction. She married whilst yet young, and the duties of Sunday-school teacher had to be superseded by those of wife and mother, which were also admirably performed. After a while the happiness of her home was marred by what is called misfortune. Her household was broken up and her husband had to seek the means of maintaining his family in Australia. This led to a temporary separation of husband from wife and father from children. During this time she again came under my more immediate care and protection, to the further strengthening of those bonds of affection which were dear to us both. At this period of trial she so "bore her griefs and carried her sorrows" in reliance on the Divine protection and sustenance as to excite the admiration of her friends. There was no whining sentimentality, no exaggeration of the painfulness of her position, but a cheerful endurance of her privations, and a grateful recognition of the help by which those privations were lessened. Her husband was an unusually clever man. He was soon enabled to provide for himself in his new sphere of life, and to look forward to providing also for his wife and family. At length, although somewhat prematurely as subsequent events showed, Mr. Biden sent over for his wife and children, and they rejoined him in Sydney. This reunion only lasted long enough to add to their family without much increasing their means, when the clouds of difficulty once more gathered around them, and they had to seek a new home, first at Maitland and then at Singleton in the same colony. Here, then, prosperity, although somewhat chequered by losses in connection with an unsuccessful literary speculation, was on the whole more steady and persistent until Mr. Biden's health failed. He had now a small estate and a large family, and when death opened to him an entrance into the eternal world, my daughter was left a widow with eight children, of whom the eldest was under nineteen years of age, and a very moderate income with which to sustain them. She was not, however, a disconsolate widow. The Lord Jesus Christ, whom she had been taught to love and worship from her earliest years, never left her or forsook her. She had

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