to Him in faith and love, He will conduct us by His Word, by His Spirit, and by the power and influence of His ministering angels, into the way of life and peace and joy. He is ever striving to do this; by the pure impulses of childhood-the voice of conscience in manhood-and the calm reflection of maturer years. But man is free, free to choose good or evil, God respects his freedom, and will not force him; man in his perversity chooses the downward path, the path of sensual pleasure and wickedness, and pursues it to his own destruction. The path of life is said to be narrow, because there are so few that walk in it, not because it is so difficult; for if we continue in welldoing, the Saviour's 'yoke is easy, and His burden light.' However attractive the flowers of sin may appear, its fruit is poison, misery, and woe; while the path of duty, apparently hard, yields perennial joy and inward peace that the worldly mind knows not. Worldly wisdom is as opposite to heavenly wisdom as darkness to light. Sin appears pleasant; but the Saviour saith, Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.""

SALTAIRE SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERsary. On Sunday afternoon, the 23d June last, the teachers and scholars of New Church Sunday School at Saltaire, along with their friends, spent a very pleasant time at the farm of Mrs. Walker, on Hope Hill, near that town. Mrs Walker has for many years been a reader and a receiver of New Church truths, but being unable to leave her mountain home, had expressed a wish that the children and teachers should go to her house and sing some of their beautiful hymns there. Accordingly, on the day named, about 150 of the friends took their way up the steep ascent, the sun shining brightly, as befitted midsummer, and the woods and fields looking their best after the great storms of the preceding week. Before three o'clock the party was complete, and under the shade of some noble trees they drew up in a circle, and sang some of the choice songs to be found in that beautiful American book "Chapel Gems." The prospect before these humble singers was really magnificent, and with all these surroundings it was indeed delightful to listen to the children, as they sang on this elevated platform :

"Children of Jerusalem,

Place the royal diadem
On the Savour's head,

And raise sacred anthems to His praise;
Parents, teachers, old and young,
All unite to swell the song;
Higher, and yet higher rise,
Let the chorus reach the skies."

And one could not but long for the period, when days and years being past, we all shall meet in heaven, and there, having joined husbands, wives, and the children we loved so dearly, again sing together the praises of Him who will wipe away all tears from our eyes. After suitable refreshment and enjoyment of the splendid prospect from the summit of Hope Hill, the party dispersed, each group taking the road home which pleased them best, having spent a few happy hours which will be long remem bered.

GENERAL CONFERENCE.-The sixtyfifth Annual Meeting of the General Conference is appointed to be held in the New Jerusalem Church, Avenham Road, Preston, and to commence its sittings on Monday, the 25th of August next, at seven o'clock in the evening. The societies at Middlesboro'-on-Tees and Salisbury apply to be received into connection with the Conference. The Brightlingsea Society applies for the ordination of Mr. Stephen Jepson, and the Nottingham Society for the ordination of Mr. Charles Henry Wilkins. It is hoped that, as far as practicable, the secretaries of the Committees appointed to report to the ensuing Session will forward their Reports without delay, as the early receipt of such documents by the secretary greatly facilitates the preparation and arrangement of the business that has to come before Conference. All resolutions arising out of reports should be prepared and forwarded to the secretary, each written on a separate slip, prior to the opening of the Session.-JOHN PRESLAND, 25 Rochester Square, Camden Road, London, N.W.

THE CONFERENCE.-Ministers and representatives to the ensuing Conference are respectfully requested to forward their names to the secretary of the Preston Society as soon as possible, that arrangements may be made for their accommodation. Those gentlemen who may not have received intimation of their appointments will, on their arrival,

please to proceed directly to the New Church, Avenham Road, where all the requisite information for them will be ready.-GEO. STONES, Latham Street, Preston.

Marriages.

At Kearsley, by the Rev. W. Woodman, March 30th, Mr. John Wild to Miss Mary Ann Stones, both of Farnworth.

May 18th, Mr. Abraham Evans to Miss Ellen Stones, both of Farnworth. June 8th, Mr Joseph Partington to Miss Betsy Gee, both of Farnworth.

At the New Church, in The Mall, Kensington, on the 22d June 1872, by the Rev. Dr. Bayley, Edward Spear to Catherine Jane, youngest daughter of Mr. Thomas Whitmore Alport of Hammersmith.

At the New Jerusalem Church, Old Lane, Worsley, on June 22d, by Mr. Thos. Mackereth, Mr. Edward Lindley of Pendlebury to Miss Ann Clenton.

June 25th, Mr William Hatton Cooke of Farnworth, to Miss Betsy Jones, of Patricroft.

June 25th, at the New Jerusalem Church, Flodden Street, Camberwell, London, by Mr. E. Austin, Mr. S. Dicks to Miss E. Barratt, both of Camberwell. [This being the first occasion on which members of the congregation have been married at the above place of worship, a handsome Bible was presented by Mr. Austin, in behalf of the Society, to the newly wedded pair, at the close of the ceremony.]

At the New Jerusalem Church, Heywood, June 26th, by the Rev. R. Storry, Mr. A. C. Maden to Miss Ellen Ashton. On Thursday, June 27th, at the New Jerusalem Church, Keighley, by Mr. R. B. Swinburn, Mr. Adam Moore to Miss Mary Dixon, both of Keighley.

At the New Jerusalem Church, Heywood, July 6th, by the Rev. R. Storry, Mr. James Pilkington to Miss Harriet Glover, On July 6th, at the New Jerusalem Church, Camberwell, London, Charles Higham to Alice Mary, eldest daughter of Mr H. W. Brown of Camberwell.

Obituary.

At Farnworth, April 22d, aged sixtyeight, Maria, relict of the late John Roscoe, was removed into the spiritual world. Born of New Church parents, and educated in the New Church doctrines, she formed an attachment to

them which continued through life. In her early years she attended with her parents at Top o' th' Brow, Ringley, but removing after her marriage into Farnworth, she attended the Kearsley Society, till sickness and increasing infirmities prevented her. Although for some time ailing, her end was somewhat sudden. There is, however, every reason to hope that her change has been her gain.

His

At Great Lever, June 11th, in his sixty-sixth year, Mr. Thomas Howe passed into the eternal world. He was a member of the Kearsley Society, where he formerly attended. Paralysis, however, confined him to his house for several years, and for some time disabled him from moving without assistance. great consolation was reading the doctrines, and among the books he read, his great favourites were the True Christian Religion, and Heaven and Hell, with which he became so familiar that he could almost have repeated the latter by heart; and doubtless the advantage he derived from their constant perusal was greater even than the comfort they conveyed. The benefit to be obtained by utilizing the information communicated in the writings relative to the unseen world, its phenomena and laws, is unfortunately not duly appreciated by the members of the New Church. It is well when sickness or infirmity leads to the study of them; but it is far better when such acquaintance is sought whilst in the enjoyment of health. Our departed friend will now find his anticipations joyously realised, entering, as he doubtless has done, on a scene for which he was prepared by the knowledge he had acquired as well as by the life he had led.

June 30th, Isabella Howard, infant daughter of Lester L. and the late Isabella H. Mosley of New York.

Mr. John Rocliffe Lee, of Handsworth, near Birmingham, departed from the natural into the spiritual world on the 25th of May last, in the sixty-third year of his age. He was a native of Mainsforth, in the parish of Bishop Middleham, in the county of Durham. As a child, he was always obedient and dutiful, kind and respectful. Evincing no inclination for his father's profession of farming, he was apprenticed to a silk mercer and draper, and was brought up in connection with the Wesleyan Methodists, and very early became a teacher in the Sunday School. Fond of music, he soon excelled in that

delightful and fascinating art, and also joined the choir in the chapel. He successively resided at Liverpool, Manchester, and finally at Birmingham in the year 1841. In all these towns he took an active interest in the religious body with which he was connected, both as class leader and in the Sunday Schools. Shortly after the Flysheet controversy in 1848, Mr. Lee joined the seceding party, who had assumed the name of "The Reformed Wesleyans," and had erected a chapel in Branstone Street. A short time before this event, he became acquainted with the inventor of the new and easy system of singing, known as the "Tonic Sol-Fa " method. He at once became a zealous advocate of it as a means of social improvement and enjoyment, and was a success ful teacher. Notwithstanding that he was engaged in an extensive partnership business, it is calculated that he taught in his classes not less than 5000 pupils, some of whom attained considerable proficiency. It was about the year 1858, when he had become a popular class leader and a highly respected bible-class teacher in the Branstone Street Society, that he was first struck with the doctrinal difficulties in the system of religion which he had so long espoused. He was plunged by his mental anxieties into deep and dreadful despair. He sought comfort and guidance in earnest prayer, and for a time withdrew himself from all public duties. Many attempts were made by numerous friends to relieve his burdened mind, but in vain. At this critical period he was providentially introduced to some New Church friends, and found, to his inexpressible delight, that for which he had been seeking. His sceptical cavils were triumphantly answered; all his religious contradictions were reconciled; his tormenting doubts, scruples, and fears were at once dissipated. He found the glorious doctrines of the New Jerusalem, as so many others have, to their unspeak able satisfaction and delight, a system of light and love and joy, at once scriptural, rational, and practical, and able by the influences of the Holy Spirit of love and faith "to make men wise unto salvation." At the close of the year 1859, unexpected circumstances induced him and others, with their impulsive minister, to secede from "The Reformed Methodists." They engaged for a short time the Music Hall, and soon afterwards, principally through the exertions of Mr. Lee, built a school

room at Hockley, a populous suburb of Birmingham. In 1867 a church was erected over it. After sundry changes in the supply of the pulpit, Mr. Lee became the licensed and acceptable leader of the small congregation. He continued his zealous and self-denying efforts, actively employed in the Sunday school and the church, besides the cares of a family and a large business. His health finally gave away. He never received any remuneration for his services. In the year 1870 the seceding party from Summer Lane received an earnest invitation from the Hockley Society to join them. At the partial accomplishment of this he was greatly delighted, for he hoped that united efforts would crown the hopes of both societies with success. In all the relations of life he was exemplary, carrying out the apostolic injunction to be "diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." He was a lover of liberty in every sense of the word. His opinion was that of Cowper"He is the freeman whom the truth makes free

And all are slaves beside."

For a change of air, he took lodgings in a neighbouring town, but the end of his earthly probation rapidly drew near. At his request the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered to him a few days before his departure, and was a source of inward comfort, a memorial of his faithfulness and love, and an evidence of his unabated and conscientious attachment to the religion which he had espoused. His disease was somewhat obscure and complicated, frequently producing great feebleness of body and mental depression, though he retained his consciousness to the last. He said to those around him, in his latest moments, "I have no fear of death; the bitterness is past; it is past and gone. Meet me in heaven. I shall be waiting for you, and then our association will be renewed for ever." He afterwards exclaimed, "If I had strength, I would sing praises, I would shout praises." With a brief interval, he raised his feeble and emaciated hands, and said, "Glory be to God," and then took an affectionate farewell of the children and relatives who were present, until they are reunited in a better land. On Sunday evening, the writer of this preached a funeral discourse to a very large and sympathising congregation from Numbers xxxiii. 10," Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his."

E. M.