of the law," the apostle specifically means the works of the ceremonial law, which he elsewhere calls "dead works," and by which no man could, or can be saved. Nor can a man be saved by the merely external observance of the ten commandments of the moral law, irrespective of the principle or the motive from which he observes them in his external conduct. By the term faith, therefore, where Paul speaks of it as being the sole ground of a man's justification, to the total exclusion of works, it refers entirely to the principle from which he acts, whether from self or from God, as it is that alone which justifies him in the sight of God, and constitutes his works either good or bad. It is in this sense the apostle is to be understood, where he says,—" A man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ," as it is the principle from which a man acts that constitutes his faith, and thus qualifies whatever he does, whether of a spiritual or secular nature. But that works are the true and only test of a man's faith, and by which he is to be judged, both in the sight of God and of man, is fully confirmed by the same apostle in the following passages :-" Who will render to every man according to his deeds: for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." (Rom. ii. 6-13.) Again :-" For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every man may receive the things done in the body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2 Cor. v. 10.) These passages compared with the former would seem like a contradiction, but when understood in their true sense, are quite reconcileable. And to show that they are so, the apostle adds-" Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law." (Rom. iii. 31.) Thus it is not faith alone, nor works alone, however perfect these may be, which justifies a man, any more than it was in the case of the young man in the Gospel, who said," All these things have I kept from my youth up;" (Matt. 19, 20.) but it is properly the faith or principle from which a man acts that saves or justifies him; and this is what is to be understood by being "saved through faith,” in the following passages :-"For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. ii. 8, faith" is what a man has no part in, except by coöperating with the Lord in order to receive it, but is derived or communicated solely from Him through or by the operation of His Holy Spirit, according as it is written" He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost." (John xx. 22.) Glasgow. 66 9.) This grace which saves through S. 414 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. THE CONFERENCE. The meeting of Conference is an event which is generally looked forward to with pleasure by all who feel an interest in the affairs of the New Church, especially by those who reside in and near the locality where its sittings are held. In no former instance was the interest warmer, nor the mutual pleasure greater, on the part of both the members of Conference and the friends by whom they were entertained. The late, which was the Fifty-second Conference, as many of our readers are aware, was held at Derby; and the exertions of the Derby friends, and the arrangement for the comfort and happiness of their guests, was beyond all praise, and will be long remembered by those who partook of their hospitality and kindness. The Conference commenced its sittings on Thursday, the 11th ult., and on Wednesday, the 10th, a Reception Meeting was held in the evening, for the purpose of introducing the members of Conference and friends to each other. It was an altogether informal meeting, the arrangements being made solely with the view to the free social intercourse of those assembled. Tea was provided at five, of which between sixty and seventy partook; this number was after tea augmented to one hundred, when they formed into groups for conversation, or such other objects as the moment suggested. Some visited the Arboretum, and each enjoyed himself after the bent of his own inclination. Altogether it was a delightful reunion, and proved to be the earnest of one of the most delightful, and, we believe, useful Conferences we remember to have been pre sent at. On the following morning the Conference assembled, and when the verifications were handed in was found to consist of forty members, namely, ten ministers and thirty representatives. Nineteen societies were represented by delegates, and the ministers were present from three societies which were not otherwise represented. The societies which sent representatives were-Accrington, Birmingham, Brightlingsea, Derby, Embsay, Heywood, Liverpool (Bedford-street), the three societies of the Metropolis, Longton (Potteries), Manchester, Melbourne, Middleton, Nottingham, Preston, Salford, Stand Lane, and York. Those whose ministers only were present were-Dalton, Kersley, and Norwich. One matter connected with this subject which demands the serious attention of the church is, that notwithstanding the recent Conference was more than an average one as relates to numbers, there being six more members than were present in London at the previous Conference, and six more societies represented; twenty-six societies in connection with Conference were altogether unrepresented. Even in the Centenary Conference, when forty-eight representatives and eleven ministers were present, only twenty-six societies were represented, being but little over the half. Making every allowance for the pecuniary circumstances in which some societies may be placed, it is nevertheless thought that if the subject were fairly considered, and its great importance seen, a determined effort would be made, with some societies at least hitherto unrepresented, or only occasionally represented in the Conference, to send representatives. The business of the Conference is becoming every year more important, and it becomes of increased moment that the whole church should have a voice in its deliberations. During the past year bequests to the amount of £18,000. have been made to the church, subject to the supervision of the Conference, from which greater responsi bility has also devolved on it, and a greater need of the aggregate wisdom of the church to superintend its proper application. On the other hand, the advantage which societies would derive from placing themselves in direct communication-in actual contact, as it were, with Conference, would be equally great. Many misunderstandings as respects the acts and decisions of Conference would be put right; the feeling often prevalent with those who have not taken part in the proceedings of Conference, that it carries matters with a somewhat high hand, would be removed; and, though last not least, the sphere of so many earnest men from every part of the country, sometimes indeed from almost every part of the world, would be borne back to the societies themselves. It might also be added, that no incon MISCELLANEOUS. siderable benefit would result from the effort and self-sacrifice called forth in the performance of such a duty, and the consolidation of the energies arising therefrom. The Conference then proceeded to the election of a President, when the Rev. E. D. Rendell, the Vice-president of the previous Conference, was unanimously appointed to the office. The next business was the appointment of the Vice-president, and the Rev. J. H. SMITHSON proposed the Rev. E. Madeley, of Birmingham. The Rev. R. STORRY seconded the proposition, remarking that the Derby Society owed much to the father of Mr. Madeley, and he thought it would be only a grateful recognition of this obligation to confer on Mr. Madeley the office of Vice-president. It was not, however, on that ground alone that he urged the adoption of the proposition, but on the ground of use. It would, he thought, be difficult to find any one who would fill the office better. Mr. A. HAWORTH, of Accrington, rose to support the motion. He had come with the intention of moving a layman to the office of Vice-president; but for the reasons stated by the previous speaker, he had decided to waive his own feelings, and to support the appointment of Mr. Madeley. 415 suspending of a rule which stated that the Secretary should not be a member of the Conference, and that were he sent as a representative, he should cease to be one on his appointment to the office. Granting that the Conference might, as it had done on some occasions, suspend its rules, the proposition of the Secretary involved the introduction of a new one, which, in his (the speaker's) opinion, would not only be irregular, but might be hazardous. The Conference was entrusted with valuable propertywhich had recently received an important accession-for the use of the church, and this it held under a deed enrolled in Chancery; and it became the Conference to be very guarded lest any of its acts might invalidate its legality, and thus endanger the funds entrusted to its care. Mr. Butter having resigned, he begged to propose Mr. Edward Madeley, jun., as Secretary to this Conference. The proposition having been seconded, Mr. A. HAWORTH proposed that the conditions of Mr. Butter be complied with. Mr. SMITH (we believe), of Argyle Square, seconded it. The Rev. J. H. SMITHSON proposed that the Secretary be allowed to address the Conference on any question on which he might deem it necessary to do so. The Rev. R. STORRY Supported the The motion was then carried unani- view of Mr. Woodman, when Mr. BROADmously. a Mr. BUTTER having been re-elected to the office of Secretary, read a paper explaining that he could not accept the honour conferred on him, unless the Conference would make the Secretary member of Conference ex-officio. He had felt that in any remarks he might offer to the Conference he did so on sufferance, which, in his opinion, placed the Secretary in a false position. He had desired to come to the Conference as a representative of the Argyle Square Society, with which he was connected; but they had'declined to send him, on the ground that the rules of the Conference as they now stood did not allow of the Secretary being a member of the Conference; hence he had appealed to the Conference direct. The Rev. W. WOODMAN stated, that unwilling as the Conference might be to be deprived of the services of its Secretary, the proposition could not be entertained. It involved two things, the FIELD strongly urged Mr. Butter to reconsider the matter, and withdraw his resignation. The members of Conference joining their requests with those of Mr. Broadfield, Mr. Butter at length acceded to the general wish. [One of the representatives from Argyle Square having, in urging on Mr. Butter to withdraw his resignation, intimated the probability of the Argyle Square Society on the next occasion complying with his desire, by appointing him a representative, and of the Conference suspending its adverse rule in his favour, we feel it important (and our friends will no doubt pardon our adverting to the subject), without offering an opinion on the desirableness, or otherwise, of the Secretary of Conference being a member of the Conference, to point out the irregularity of taking a course known to be in opposition to the rules of Conference, in the assumption that the Conference may alter or suspend its rules in favour of such course. Such a proceeding, in case of its becoming general, would introduce endless confusion and disorder, and moreover lead to almost interminable discussion. The rules of Conference are the safeguards to external order, and in their present form are the result of the experience of more than half a century; it is therefore exceedingly undesirable to interfere with their regular action, especially as provision has been made for the effecting of any change in them that may be deemed desirable by the majority of the Conference. Circumstances which justify the suspension of a rule may, it is true, and do sometimes occur: this should, however, be resorted to in urgent cases only, and in no case that we can conceive of ought a course to be adopted by a society with the view of its being carried out in the Conference through the suspension of one of its rules.] Mr. Warren, who had just returned from America, where he had visited several societies and the last Convention, from which he was the bearer of the Address, being observed to be present, was on the motion of Dr. Bayley invited to take his seat in the Conference, and to address the members whenever he might feel inclined to do so. The reading of such Minutes of the previous Conference as referred to business to be brought under the consideration of the present Conference, was then proceeded with. On its conclusion the Conference proceeded to determine where the next Conference should be held; and the invitation from the friends at Newcastle-on-Tyne that it be held in their town was accepted. A discussion next ensued on the time of its commencement. It formerly commenced its sittings on the second Tuesday in August; but on the last two occasions they commenced on the second Thursday in the same month. A few of the members gave the preference to the present arrangements, but it was decided by a large majority to return to the former practice of commencing the sittings on the Tuesday. The place and time of the meeting of next Conference having been fixed, a resolution was passed calling the attention of the National Missionary Society to Newcastle and its neighbourhood, with the view of making the services of the ministers available in the promul gation of the doctrines in the town and neighbourhood. There are several important localities where it is desirable the doctrines should be known; Tynemouth, Sunderland, North Shields, and South Shields, where Mr. Gladwell has been labouring with success, and even Carlisle, within practicable distance. Other places may probably be suggested, as offering a favourable opportunity for missionary effort. After the various reports had been brought up, the Conference had the pleasing duty of receiving into connection with it the societies in Carlisle and at Sheffield. Though they are of comparatively recent establishment, it is gratifying to find that there is good reason to believe in their permanency, and that they already number 20 members each. They were accordingly admitted by a unanimous vote. Messrs. Pegg, of Nottingham, and Hyde, of Brightlingsea, were licensed for the administration of the sacraments, and it was ordered that the President should, in the exercise of his duties, license any other leader it might be desirable to license in the interim till the next Conference. On bringing up the Report of the Committee appointed to examine the Conference Address to the Societies of the New Church in Great Britain, the Address was ordered to be printed as usual after the minutes, and besides, a number to be printed separately for transmission to the societies not in connection with the Conference, and to isolated receivers. It was also recommended that it be read from the pulpit by the minister or leader the Sunday after its reception. TheAddress is printed in this number of the Repository, and we can cordially recommend the adoption of the suggestion of the Conference, believing that the excellence of the matter contained in the Address will prove a source of both pleasure and edification to the church. In addition to the usual schools receiving grants from the educational funds at the disposal of Conference, viz., Accrington, Birmingham, Manchester, and Salford, each receiving £24., Heywood, £20., and Embsay, £19., an application was made from the society at Middleton, for a grant, the society there having established a school on the plan of those so long and successfully in operation. The question of informality in the application having been raised, a discussion ensued; but it being ruled that the application was not informal, a grant of £10. was agreed to. Other matters connected with the question of education were also somewhat fully ventilated. The educational funds, which have hitherto been kept in separate accounts, are now amalgamated, and not only the manner of keeping them, but also the division of them, is greatly simplified. The question of the efficiency of the religious instruction imparted in the schools was next raised, it being intimated that such education was not in a satisfactory state in all our schools. After a long discussion, the especial attention of the educational committees was directed to the subject, and they are required to see that instruction in the doctrines of the New Church be imparted at least once a-week, and empowered to withhold their signatures from the accounts, should they not deem the religious instruction satisfactory. On bringing up the report of the National Missionary Society, an interesting discussion ensued. The report itself spoke of the past labours undertaken under its auspices during the first year of its existence, and the future prospects of the institution itself, as most satisfactory and encouraging. Some societies which were languishing had, through its instrumentality, been revived, and others which were weak had been strengthened, and some new ground had been broken up. Visits had been made by the Rev. R. Storry to various places in Yorkshire, among others Sheffield; Todmorden and Newcastleon-Tyne had been visited by the same gentleman; Stockport and Ramsbottom had been visited by Mr. Kennerley; and Ipswich, Brightlingsea, Chatteris, and Norwich by Dr. Bayley. The Lecturers had also been requested to accept 10s. 6d. per lecture, not as a remuneration, but simply as a slight acknowledgment of their labours. In moving the reception of the Report, the Rev. R. STORRY made some useful remarks on the nature of missionary operations. He remarked that the question as to whether the results of public lectures in large towns and in public halls were adequate to the ex [Enl. Series.-No. 69, vol. vi.] penses incurred, had often forced itself on his attention. He had frequently lectured to numerous audiences in public lecture-rooms, where a favourable impression had apparently been made, and yet he could not point to any specific result. It then became a question, whether it might not be preferable to strive to labour in a humble way. He had for example visited Dewsbury monthly, the services being conducted in a small cottage. The numbers attending them were not large, but some two or three had become readers. While, therefore, he would not discourage missionary efforts made at greater expense in larger places, he would urge that especial attention should be given to these less pretending but not less useful exertions. Mr. BATEMAN seconded the proposition, expressing his concurrence in the view offered by the previous speaker. They had found much advantage had resulted from similar efforts in Islington. The Rev. J. B. KENNERLEY rose to support the view of the previous speakers, when the President overruled that it was not in order to pursue this line of speaking in moving the reception of the Report. The latter question had better be decided first, after which the question might be mooted in connection with a substantive motion. After some remarks from the Secretary, and also from the Vice-president, who showed the peculiar uses of this society from its universal character-our other missionary societies being more local in their operations-also from its being under the direction of the General Conference, whereby it was brought under the direct influence of the church, adding that it would doubtless receive the general support of the church (he could speak for Birmingham, explaining that at present, indeed, they had an important local work to accomplish, but that when that was completed he was sure this institution would receive their support),—the Report was received. Dr. BAYLEY then proposed a resolution, that in the opinion of the Conference the working of this institution during the past year had been satisfactory, and strongly recommending it to the support of the members of the church; strongly urging also on the Committee, in their future operations, while not neglecting efforts such as are 1 D |
