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the general public, this weekly paper was written by the Rev. John Hargrove,
pastor of the first New Church “temple” in America, defending the doctrines
of the New Church from attack by the editor of a Deist paper in Philadelphia
called The Temple of Reason.
After several more unsuccessful attempts in other cities, a group in Boston
began printing The New Jerusalem Magazine in 1827, using the same name
as the 1790 London journal. Ten individuals had agreed to be responsible for
any losses that were incurred by the publication and the first successful New
Church journal in North America came to life.
The editors wrote in the first issue: “There is nothing within the bounds of
being . . . that may not be illustrated by the light which we suppose to be now
‘coming down from the Lord out of heaven.’ As it falls upon the paths we are
treading, we may observe and record its disclosures; and we shall attempt to
do so, as best we can.”
Though articles and editing were contributed by volunteers, the limited
number of subscribers made the cost of printing and mailing a constant concern,
causing ongoing losses. The New Jerusalem Magazine had no competition at
first but, as the New Church grew, interest increased in producing additional
journals catering to geographical and theological preferences.
The New Jerusalem Magazine was produced by private individuals until
the General Convention took over its publication in 1855. Annual deficits
continued to be a problem and the Convention reluctantly decided to cease
production in 1872. In 1877 a new series began under private control once
again and it continued until 1893.
These early New Church periodicals contain a wealth of information
about the development of the New Church and views of early members.
Scholars and people interested in New Church history have long consulted
the bound issues of these journals in places like Swedenborg Library in Bryn
Athyn. Unfortunately, many people cannot travel to New Church libraries
for research purposes and those who do are often frustrated by limited or
nonexistent indices complicating the process.
The Library took its first tentative steps to producing digital media in 1997
when it began scanning The Academy Collection of Swedenborg Documents
(also known as The Green Books) with the support of Charles S. Cole Jr. and
The Carpenter Fellowship Fund.2
In 2007 the Swedenborg Library Digital Collections were established with
a grant from the Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust. The purpose was to digitize
documents, photographs and printed material related to Emanuel Swedenborg,
the New Church, Academy of the New Church, Bryn Athyn College and the
community of Bryn Athyn to make them available to a broader audience.
2
See Academy Collection of Swedenborg Documents in January 2009 New Church Life, p. 18-25.
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