SWEDENBORGIANS organized their first congregation in the United States at Baltimore, 1792; and their general convention in 1817, incorporated under the law of Illinois, and having associations, societies, or members, in nearly all the states. It holds annual sessions in different cities, has a publishing house in New York, a theological school at Waltham, Mass., a Sunday-school union and church music society. Much freedom in regard to ecclesiastical forms is allowed, the power to adopt them being lodged in the whole body of members. The form generally preferred in this country is a modified episcopacy; each state association having its overseer, whose office is per manent. In most of the congregations the worship is partly liturgical, and several books of prayer have been issued: yet as each congregation is free to adopt its own mode, in some only extemporaneous prayers are offered.. There is a congregational union, composed of ministers and churches preferring that order, having its headquar ters in Philadelphia, with its own board of publication. There are also independent
societies and churches not associated together. And, while the number of those who, in an open profession of Swedeuborgian doctrines, have separated from other Christian churches is not large, they believe that in all other denominations many persons have adopted more or less of Swedenborg's views. And it is their avowed and cherished purpose to enlarge this number everywhere. A large sum of money has been devoted to publishing some of the most popular of Swedenborg's books for gratuitous distribu tion to all who apply for them; and in a report, made 1878, it is stated that 36,000 vols. had thus been sent to ministers and theological students of all denominations, and of the white, black, and Indian races. At the general convention of 1877, 64 societies were represented, having about 4,800 members.