n e w c h u r c h l i f e : m ay / j u n e 2 0 1 7
One of the outcomes of this is an excerpt in a recent Hurstville Society
Newsletter (Australia) written by their pastor, the Rev. Todd Beiswenger:
“How many of you have read the entire 12 volumes of Arcana Coelestia?
My guess would be ‘not many.’ I tend to think that one of the major obstacles is
just the sheer enormity of it, that people get intimidated at the prospect of 12
volumes of anything. Well, if that’s you, you are certainly not alone. And now
there is some help.
“Willard Mansfield of South Africa undertook and completed a project to
produce an Abridged Arcana. His goal was to make it a simpler reading work
but one that reflected just the continuous internal sense, without all the other
information that relates to other Biblical stories and things that were heard
and seen in the afterlife. I’ve made my way through the first volume and it
really is quite a nice read. I’d encourage you to stop by the church sometime
and borrow a volume and enjoy the work for yourself.”
Those who would like more information are welcome to contact me at
[email protected].
Willard R. Mansfield
Westville, South Africa
New Church Catechisms
To The Editors:
In New Church Life, March/April 2017, Lifelines, p. 176, the Rev. Walter
Orthwein, Spiritual Editor, recommends production of a New Church
Catechism with questions and answers about New Church doctrines which
could be used as a learning tool and to strengthen us in temptation.
I wholeheartedly support Walter’s view about the usefulness of a New
Church Catechism as I have in my possession two New Church Catechisms,
both of which give excellent answers to a number of commonly asked or
doctrinally significant questions and with every answer there are relevant
book references from the Word in all its three revelations. These two books are:
1. First Elements of The True Christian Religion;
An
Introductory
Catechism
For
The
New
Church
(Adapted to the Needs of the Schools, Homes and Missions of The General
Church of The New Jerusalem. The Academy Book Room, Bryn Athyn, PA
1927)
This book is a treasured possession. My copy was originally a gift from my
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