.

There are four Swedenborgian congregations in London. The principal one
is that in Argyle Square, King's Cross, at which preaches the Rev. Dr.
Bayley--a tall, pleasant gentleman, in the prime of life. Outside, the
place presents the appearance of a well-built, superior sort of chapel;
inside, the massive pillars give it almost a cathedral appearance. It
holds about 700 people; there are no galleries, and it is generally well
filled. The people have a respectable appearance, and some of them have
arrived at the dignity of "carriage folk." The preacher is attentively
listened to, and if passages of Scripture are referred to in the course
of the sermon, there is at once an appeal to innumerable Bibles. There
is service twice a day; and in the afternoon there is a conversation
class, at which the Sunday-school teachers meet and take tea together.
In the course of the week there is a theological class; and then, in
connexion with the chapel, there are societies of a friendly and
philanthropic character; there is also a lending library, and a day as
well as a Sunday school. At either school the average attendance is the
same--about three hundred.

At the far end, as you enter, there are two desks or pulpits, one for the
minister and another for the assistant reader. The minister is in the
one on the right-hand side. Between them is the communion-table. Both
the minister and the assistant are dressed alike, in white
robes--typical, we may suppose, of the doctrine and the life.

The service begins with a hymn, followed by certain passages from the
Bible, in which all the congregation join, with the help of an efficient
organ and choir. Then the minister reads, while the congregation kneel,
a prayer of confession and supplication, ending with a prayer to "our
Father who art in the _heavens_." Then the congregation stand while the
minister reads the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes. Again passages
from the Psalms are sung, and there is another prayer, varied according
to its being the first, or second, or third, or fourth Sunday--a
variation deserving to be imitated if ever we have a reformed Book of
Common Prayer. In these prayers there is a scrupulous avoidance of
evangelical formulas. Of course we hear nothing of the blood of Christ
to wash away the stain of sin; and if terms are used common to other
denominations, they are carefully toned down. Instead, praise and
adoration are offered "for the establis