An interesting ceremony was performed in the East End of
London on Tuesday, when the remains of Emanuel Swedenborg were removed from the Swedish Lutheran Church in Princes Square for reburial in Sweden. The coffin of Swedenborg was opened in 1817 by two Swedish Army officers, who removed the head with the hope of selling it to the Swedenborgians. They failed in this sinister plan, and when one of the thieves died, the head was discovered and restored to the coffin. The body was taken from the vault on Tuesday in the presence of the Swedish Minister and many members of the New Church. Those who cannot accept the reality of the visions or the Gnostic-like anthropomorphism of the New Church creed may still heartily admire the high standard of conduct and spirituality of the Church, and remember that the creed itself appealed to such men as Coleridge and Emerson. The distribution of Swedenborgians in Britain is curious. In one Essex town, we believe, they outnumber any other sect.
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