New Church Life March/April 2017 | Page 98

new church life: march/april 2017 John S Haller Jr. takes us from the mid-19th century worlds of Henry James Sr., Ralph Waldo Emerson and Charles Fourier through to the 1960s era of counterculture that D. T. Suzuki helped shape and in which he saw out his life. “Each chapter can be read as a self-contained essay: biographical and critical appraisals (and reappraisals) in which the subjects are linked together by their use of Swedenborg, their interest in Oriental beliefs and their desire for the betterment of society.” Essays include: Henry James Sr., Ralph Waldo Emerson, Charles Fourier, Albert Brisbane, Thomas Lake Harris, J.J.G. Wilkinson, James Tyler Kent, Charles Bonney, the World’s Parliament of Religions, Paul Carus, Herman Vetterling, Ralph Waldo Trine and D.T. Suzuki. John Haller is emeritus professor of History and Medical Humanities at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has written on subjects ranging from the history of race and sexuality to medicine, pharmacy and spirituality. His most recent books include: The History of American Homeopathy; Swedenborg, Mesmer and the Mind-Body Complex; and Shadow Medicine. Devin Zuber says of the book: “Distant in time as these voices from the 19th and early 20th century might be . . . their words captured by Haller continue to reverberate very much with our present.” convention for convention It's been 200 years since a number of members of the New Church from different parts of the United States met together in the New Jerusalem Temple in the City of Philadelphia. This was the first convention of the receivers of the doctrines of the New Jerusalem Church, when we were all one. Now there is the opportunity to celebrate the bicentennial of this momentous occasion. The General Convention is gathering at West Chester University, just outside Philadelphia, July 8-12, 2017 for their annual convention. Please join us! A special day is planned for Sunday, July 9, at the Asplundh Theater with worship, nationally known speaker Diana Butler Bass, and an evening barbecue. On July 8 there will be visits to the Bryn Athyn Cathedral, Glencairn Museum and the Lord’s New Church. For more information check the site at http://tinyurl.com/Swedenborg2017 where you can find links for registration, check out the Facebook page, or call 617-969-4240. general church education administrators retreat Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss Jr. Assistant to the Bishop General Church Education hosted a successful Education Leadership 164