him the several charges, heard
patiently his reply to each, made his remarks (which discovered plainly
that he was by no means dissatisfied or displeased with his opinions),
and dismissed him with a friendly caution to be on his guard against his
adversaries, who seemed disposed to do him mischief." And no wonder.
Swedenborg took almost as great liberties with the Pentateuch as Bishop
Colenso himself.

Robert Hindmarsh, a printer, in Clerkenwell Close, the founder of the
sect of "the New Church signified by New Jerusalem in the Revelation,"
was not of the same way of thinking as Clowes or Fletcher. In 1783 he
held meetings at his own house; he had an audience of two. In 1784 he
was joined by others; chambers were rented in New Court, Middle Temple,
under the title of "The Theosophical Society, instituted for the purpose
of promoting the heavenly doctrine of the New Jerusalem, by translating,
printing, and publishing the Theological Writings of Emmanuel
Swedenborg." Meetings were held on Sundays and Thursdays, at which
portions of Swedenborg's writings were read and discussed. In 1787 a
chapel was opened at Great Eastcheap. In 1797 Proud came to Cross
Street, Hatton Garden, a place built expressly for him; and very large
congregations for some years attended on his ministry. In time the
chapel became deserted, the preacher ceased to draw. In 1812 it was sold
to the managers of the Caledonian Asylum, and then for a time Irving
blazed in it, the comet of a season; and then once more it came back to
the Swedenborgians; and now, at any rate of a Sunday night, it is a sad,
lonely spot. Proud was succeeded by Noble, an engraver, who commenced
his ministry in 1819, and continued it till 1853, when he closed it by
his death in his seventy-fifth year. One of the blessings promised in
the Old Testament to those who keep the Commandments seems to be
pre-eminently enjoyed by the Swedenborgians, and that is length of days.
Swedenborg himself lived to be eighty-four.

From the Wesleyans the Swedenborgians got the idea of a conference which
was to govern the new Church. As represented in conference, the
Swedenborgians form a congregation of 3605 members, divided into
fifty-five societies. In London there are four societies, containing,
says Mr. White, 566 members. In 1807 one was held, at which they decreed
no one should act as minister who had not received their ordination, and
recommended all who would enter the New Je