Part 10 (2/2)

The special tenets of the sect, which he founded, seem to have been, that, while believing in one G.o.d, they held that He was the Christ; that Christ always existed in human form, but not in human soul; and that in His Person there was a real Trinity; that the bible was to be understood in a spiritual sense, which was first revealed to Swedenborg. Their ritual, which was based on that of the Anglican Church, included a splendid priesthood and an elaborate ceremonial.

Swedenborg's very numerous writings included a number of mystic works, especially connected with what he called the ”Spiritual Influx,” which was not limited to locality but pervaded everywhere. Translations of all his works have been issued by the Swedenborg Society, located at No. 1, Bloomsbury Street, London, W.C., and at Horncastle they may be borrowed from the New Church Free Library in Croft Street. The Horncastle branch has also its own monthly magazine, _The New Church Advocate_.

The following is a brief account of the Society's origin and progress, in Horncastle, from particulars furnished to the present writer, by the esteemed minister, Rev. R. Mayes, in 1903 (the second year of his ministry), and by Mr. Edwin Townell, who has been secretary for a quarter of a century. The Society was inaugurated on August 9, 1869, when Messrs. Bogg, Moore, Hall, Cook, Austin, and Bellamy, met at the house of Mr. E. J. Moore, 19, Queen Street; Mr. Moore being appointed Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Bogg and Mr. Hall Trustees, and Mr. Bogg nominated as first Leader. Mr. Cook offered the use of a room in his house, rent free, and the first service was held on the following day, Sunday, the 10th of the same month.

As Mr. Bogg resided at Benniworth, nine miles from Horncastle, he could not undertake a service every Sunday; and, at first there was only an evening meeting, weather permitting.

[Picture: The New Jerusalem Church]

There was a good deal of opposition for a time, especially from the Congregationalists, under their minister, Mr. J. E. Whitehead; this, however, served rather to increase the general interest in the new movement, and the evening congregations grew in numbers. The first tea meeting (which ultimately became an established monthly inst.i.tution) was held March 14, 1870, in a room in the alley named ”Tinker's Entry,” there being then 14 members on the roll; when addresses were given by Mr. J. S.

Bogg, Chairman; and by Messrs. Cook, Moore, T. Wemyss Bogg, and others.

In May of the same year Mr. Richard Gunton, of the Lincolns.h.i.+re New Church a.s.sociation, visited them, followed by Rev. John Hyde in October, Mr. Gunton coming again in December of the same year. We may here observe that this connection with Mr. Richard Gunton became, as will be hereafter shewn, a most valuable a.s.set in the Society's favour, in more ways than one. He took up his residence in London, first in Oseney Crescent, Camden Road, N.W., and afterwards in Tufnell Park Road, N., but he never lost his interest in the Horncastle branch; visiting the town year after year, to preach or give lectures, in the Corn Exchange, on behalf of the Society. His last visit was in October, 1896; his death occurring on the 5th of the December following, after (as was fitly stated) ”40 years of faithful service as Superintendent Missionary,” as well as having been Treasurer of the New Church Conference.

In 1871 Mr. Moore left Horncastle, the room in Tinker's Entry was given up, and the meetings were held in the house of Mr. W. Hall, where a library was also opened for the members. Subsequently, with a view to the erection of a suitable place of wors.h.i.+p, Mr. Hall bought a piece of land in Croft Street and presented it to the Society, the project being also warmly supported by Mr. R. Gunton. A subscription list was opened, plans and estimates obtained, and the foundation stone of a fabric was laid, Sep. 16, 1872. The appeal for support concluded with these words: ”This will be the first house of wors.h.i.+p constructed in the County of Lincoln, for the wors.h.i.+p of the Lord Jesus Christ as the only G.o.d.” This was signed by W. Hall, Treasurer, and Edwin Dawson, Secretary.

The Chapel was opened Jan. 29, 1873, being dedicated by the Rev. Dr.

Bayley, Minister of the Chapel in Argyle Square, London; who had given a series of lectures in aid of the Society four years before (November, 1869) in the Corn Exchange; and, after the dedication, he again gave addresses, which were continued by Revs. P. Ramage, R. Storry, C. H.

Wilkins, Mr. R. Gunton, and others, usually morning and evening.

We will now describe the Croft Street fabric, opened under these favourable auspices. It consists of a square oblong, standing north and south, 40-ft. by 20-ft.; the architect was Mr. Gosling of London, the builder Mr. Chas. Blyton of Horncastle, the material being red and white brick. There is accommodation for 150 persons; the cost of the structure was 350. The fittings, which had formerly belonged to a chapel in Cross Street, Hatton Gardens, London, were presented by Mr. William Pickstone.

At the south end there is an apsidal recess with three lancet windows, the central one having coloured gla.s.s, with the figure of the Good Shepherd and an inscription at the bottom stating that it was ”Presented by J. W Fishleigh and f.a.n.n.y his wife, in memoriam, Feb., 1901,” being in memory of their only daughter, who died in London, the mother having been brought up in this connection.

Within this apse there is a platform, with polished oak rail in front, resting on carved pillars. On this is a Reading Desk and Communion Table. The carpet and communion cus.h.i.+on were presented by the late Mr.

T. Tapling, carpet manufacturer, of London, who was a native of Lincolns.h.i.+re. In the centre of the apse is a carved oak chair, having the monogram I.H.S., which was given by Mr. C. Blyton. In front, standing on the Chapel floor, is a harmonium by Alexandre & Sons, of Paris; it is a fine instrument, having four sets of vibrators and 14 stops. It was obtained partly at the cost of the congregation, and partly by a donation of the late Mr. John Jobson, from Mr. Thomas Gunton (son of Mr. Richard Gunton of London), who resided at Bunnyfield House, Hatfield Park, and was for many years private secretary to the late Marquis of Salisbury. The instrument originally cost 84. Mr. William Hall presided at this harmonium from the first.

We have mentioned Dr. Bayley of London as the earliest preacher in the new chapel; there was no resident minister till 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Hall entertained during the whole of the first year (1873) the preachers above named. Others of note who followed were Mr. Layland of Nottingham, Leader of the Society in 1876; followed, 18778, by Mr. J. R. Boyle; to whom succeeded, 18789, Mr. W. A. Bates (afterwards of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia); Mr. W. J. Adc.o.c.k, 187980; Mr. A. E. Beilby, 18801; Mr. W. Hall, 1882; and Mr. William Robinson, October of that year. At various dates the preachers were Rev. R. Storey of Heywood near Manchester, Rev. Mr. Wilkins of Nottingham, Mr. Skelton of London, Mr.

Pulsford of Leicester, Mr. Cameron of Edinburgh, Mr. Fairweather of London, Mr. Ashby of Derby, Mr. Best of Hull, Rev. T. Prestland of London, Rev. Joseph Deans in 1899, and Rev. J. R. Rendell, President of the Conference; Rev. Lewis A. Slight of Northampton, 1900; Rev. J. T.

Freeth of Bolton, President, 1901. From time to time preachers were sent by the New Church Conference, and later by the East Midland and Lincolns.h.i.+re a.s.sociation.

Three marriages were solemnized in the Chapel by Rev. L. A. Slight, viz., that of Miss Townell and Mr W. Chapman of Oundle, Dec. 11, 1900; Miss Elizabeth Hall and Mr. Edwin White, both of Horncastle, May 21, 1901; and Miss Florence Smith to Mr. Alfred Storton of London, July 9, 1901.

The Rev. Richard Mayes, the first resident Minister, came from Leicester, first preached here Feb. 23, 1902, and entered on his ministry in October of that year. Other preachers during that interval were Mr. Fairweather of Loughborough, Mr. L. A. Slight, Mr. Layland, Mr. W. Hall and Mr. H.

Deans.

A Sunday School was opened with the Chapel in 1873; this was, at a later date, temporarily closed, but re-opened by Mr. Mayes. Under him, ably supported as he is by members the Townell and Blyth families, and others, the services, which are short, bright, and musical, are being attended by increasing numbers. Mr. Edwin Townell is still Secretary, as he was in 1880; and with Mr. Mayes' ministry Mr. H. Freeman succeeded Mr. W. Hall as Treasurer.

THE REV. THOMAS LORD.

The subject of this notice, no longer holding a ministerial charge, is by many years the doyen among Nonconformist preachers in Horncastle, being the oldest Congregational Minister in England. He completed his hundredth year on April 22, 1908; on which occasion he received a congratulatory telegram from His Majesty the King; while a public fund was inst.i.tuted for a presentation to be made to him in recognition of the occasion, which he desired to be given in his name to the local Inst.i.tution of Nurses.

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