The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY APRIL. 14, 1908. EMANUEL SWEDENBORG’S REMAINS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 372, 14 April 1908, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY APRIL. 14, 1908. EMANUEL SWEDENBORG’S REMAINS.

A London cable informs us that the remains of Emanuel Sweden_ borg, founder of the Swedenbor gians, has been removed from Stepney, and placed aboard a Swedish frigate for conveyance to Karlscron. Emanuel Swedenborg was born in Stockholm, January 29th, 1688, and died in London, March 29th, 1772. Hisfatherwas Jaspar Svedberg, subsequently Bishop of Skara. Swedenborg’s lifetime divides itself into two distinct periods; the first, ending with his 55th year, was given to business, science, and philosophy ; the second, of nearly 30 years, was devoted to theology and spiritual communion. Swedenborg was educated at Upsala, and subsequently travelled for four years in England, Holland, France, and Germany. He wrote several scientific and spiritual works. Swedenborg made no attempt to establish a sect. When he proclaimed the Christian Church at an end his expectation was that a new Church would be raised up among the Gentiles, but towards the close of his life he spent his energies in attacking orthodox theology, Catholic and Protestant, as if bent on the conversion of Christian lauds, but especially of Northern Europe. The Swedenborgiaus, or as they designate themselves in their corporate capacity, ‘ ‘ The New Church signified by the New Jerusalem in the Revelation,” were first organised as a distinct denomination 1788 by Robert Hiudmarsh, a printer in Clerkenwell, who became one of the first ministers of the body. The Swedenborgiaus accepted Swedenborg’s voluminous theological writings as containing a revelation from Heaven. The body has grown steadily but not quickly. The number of its registered members in Britain in 1891 was 6239, and they are also scattered over several other countries.