SWEDENBORG - THE CHURCH

Followers of Swedenborg's teachings were known as Swedenborgian's and accepted his philosophy and theology as divinely inspired, although Swedenborg had never made an attempt to establish a new church. However, shortly after his death, Robert Hindmarsh (1759-1835), a British printer, organized a group of his followers in London in 1787 after reading a copy of "Heaven and Hell". This assembly met regularly expounding the tenets of Swedenborgian theology, thereafter establishing churches which were incorporated in 1821. The Swedenborg Society had been founded in London in 1810 to publish Swedenborg's works. The church today is referred to as the "General Conference of the Church of the New Jerusalem". There are approximately 5,000 members divided among 75 branches.

The Swedenborgian philosophy integrated into the New Church was transmitted thereafter, to Sweden by Johan Rosen and Gabriel A. Berger and then to the thirteen colonies in an unusual way. James Glen, a wealthy English planter en route to his plantation in Demerara, South America, had read a copy of Swedenborg's "Heaven and Hell" on ship board and was so impressed that he elected arbitrarily to promulgate Swedenborg's ideas to the colonists on a brief sojourn to the New World. This was evidenced by the following announcement that appeared in the Pennsylvania Gazette published in Philadelphia, PA on June 2, 1784:

"For the Sentimentalists"

"A discourse on the extraordinary science of Celestial and Terrestrial Connections and Correspondences, recently reviewed by the late honorable and learned Emanuel Swedenborg, will be delivered by Mr. James Glen, a humble Pupil and Follower of the said Swedenborg's, at 8 o'clock in the evening of Saturday the 5th of June, 1784, at Bell's Bookstore, near St. Paul's Church, on Third Street, Philadelphia."

Glen delivered one more lecture at Philadelphia and another at the Green Dragon Tavern in Boston. Following short visits to other parts of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky he then returned home. Similar ground work was laid at Demerara which continued to 1840. A mission was founded subsequently in 1900 by the New Church based in the United States.

Glen's seed planted in Pennsylvania was to bear much Swedenborgian fruit and augured well for dissemination of the faith. This was initiated by a small group of enthusiastic apostles that included: Francis Bailey, John Young and James Vickery. Shortly after Glen's return home, Robert Hindmarsh forwarded a box of Swedenborg's books which were published subsequently by Bailey, a celebrated printer of the time. Bailey had been an apprentice of Peter Miller, proprietor of the well known Ephrates Press, which had produced the Declaration of Independence and Continental money. Bailey achieved success as a Printer for the State of Pennsylvania and published the Freeman's Journal. He was a close friend of Benjamin Franklin, invented a method to prevent counterfeiting bills and notes, and was an elder of the Presbyterian Church. The first Swedenborgian publication written by John Clowes "A Summary View of the Heavenly Doctrine" appeared in 1787.

The first American church was organized in Baltimore, Maryland in 1790. President Jefferson invited John Hargrove from this congregation to preach in the Capitol rotunda before Congress during his term of office. There are two Swedenborgian societies in the United States. The General Convention of the New Jerusalem was organized in 1817 and has about 55 churches with approximately 4,500 parishioners. The other group known as the General Church of the New Jerusalem was established in 1890 as a result of a schism within the church resulting in withdrawal of the Philadelphia, PA group which adhered to strict adherence to Swedenborg's theology. Headquarters had been at Bryn Athyn, PA until 1993 when they were moved to Westchester, PA. There are 33 churches with about 2,100 members. Swedenborgian's in general have followed Protestant theology, but with some variation. The General conference (England) and General Convention emphasize missionary activities whereas the General Church places stress on education advocating the philosophy of internal growth.

There are 45 Swedenborgian Churches in North America with approximately 2,600 members with an international membership of 50,000. The General Convention has churches in the United States, Canada and Guyana. Friendly relations are maintained with sister churches in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The headquarters of the General Church has been noted above; The General conference of the New Jerusalem in England is an international Swedenborgian organization not formally affiliated with the General Convention.

Educational instutions associated with the General Convention include:

1. Urbana University at Urbana, Ohio. It was organized in 1850 by members of the Swedenborgian church. It was the second coeducational University to be established in the United States. It offers a four year liberal arts based course with a major in the field of the students choice.

2. The Swedenborgian School of Religion at Newton, Massachusetts. The school's primary function is to prepare qualified candidates for ordination in the Swedenborgian church. It is the only theological institution accredited to award a masters degree in Swedenborgian studies as of 1990. The library contains over 35,000 reference volumes on theology, philosophy, mysticism and related subjects.

3. There are also some summer retreat programs available for study in Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio. There are a number of Book Centers throughout the country from which Swedenborgian literature is available.

Churches in the early years were constructed in the traditional Gothic and Renaissance style. The majority have been sold with the passage of time and replaced by more practical and contemporary forms of architecture. Perhaps the one best known is the Wayfarer Chapel at Palos Verde, California with similar structures following glass features in Chicago, St. Louis and Seattle.

WAYFARERS CHAPEL

This beautiful chapel overlooks the Pacific ocean on a hillside on the Palos Verde Peninsula. It was conceived in the 1920's by Elizabeth Schellenberg, a member of the Swedenborgian church who lived in the area. It was her wish to have a church for Wayfarers to stop, rest, meditate and thank God for his blessings including the wonder and beauties of nature. Narcissus Cox Vanderlip, a neighbor and also a communicant of the church kindly donated the land.

Preliminary plans for a Spanish mission type chapel were prepared by Ralph Jester, a young architect to acquaint the church members of the project. Unfortunately, further progress was delayed due to the depression and World War II. Jester reviewed his earlier sketches of the church thereafter and was dissatisfied and accordingly interested his friend Lloyd Wright, son of the celebrated Frank Lloyd Wright, to design a more appropriate chapel. Church members pledged $25,000 towards the project and Mrs. Vanderlip generously deeded 3 1/2 acres for the site. The cornerstone of the chapel was laid and the church dedicated on July 16, 1949. It was based on a glass motif utilizing Palos Verde stone and redwood beams. The tower was completed in 1954 and contained chimes with sixteen bells which peal every quarter hour, at weddings and other significant events. The stele is surmounted by a cross which when lighted at night is a welcome beacon to sailors miles at sea. A colonnade followed and plans for the glass loggia reception area were completed before Wright's death in June 1978. The walls of the visitors center are replete with exhibits relating to the church, Helen Keller and Lloyd Wright together with services and programs of the chapel.

Coincidentally, there was a Swedenborgian Church in Riverside, California, my place of residence for many years, having been organized in 1885. Although active, it never had more than forty members. Unfortunately, the congregation dwlndled during the years to four in 1990 consisting of Alfred Bentley, Church President, 71; his wife Evelyn, 60; Alice Van Buren, 90 and her daughter Betty, 65 both of Pedlands. Church rules decreed congregation must disband when the membership drops below ten. Accordingly, the church property was sold at that time and most of its library was sent to the Swedenborgian seminary at Newton, Massachusetts.

It was my good fortune to meet Mr. and Mrs. Bentley on several occasions. They were most helpful in providing me with much information and material on the Swedenborgian church together with sources for additional data. I also had an opportunity to visit the Swedenborgian Church in Portland, Maine on a trip to see my sister in 1992, where I was able to find many further references as to church activities in Maine and the Northeast.

I had talked to Rev. Pasqual King from Findlay, Ohio, Grand Registrar of the Grand College of Rites concerning my interest in the church and its educational affiliations. He kindly visited Urbana University at Urbana, Ohio, including the library and sent me much interesting and most helpful material.

 

 

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