British Association of Progressive Spiritualists.

At the Fourth Annual Convention of the above Society held in Cambridge Hall, Newman Street, London, on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd June, 1868, the following principal proceedings took place, viz.:—

June 1.—The Vice-President, Mr Robert Cooper, took the chair (Mr John Hodge, the President, being unavoidably absent) and opened the proceedings with an excellent address. The Hon. Secretary Mr Green then read the Report of the past year, which, though not startling in results, was sufficiently encouraging, and was unanimously adopted. It referred to the efforts which had been made to carry out the recommendations offered at last Convention in respect to lectures, mediums, and correspondents, and the promotion of Children's Lyceums. Mr John Scott, Belfast; Mr Hodge, Mr Harper, Rev. John Page Hopps, Mr John F. Morgan, Manchester; Mr Houghton, Huddersfield, had reported their labours on the platform to the Secretary. Others had also occupied the same field, but had not reported their doings. It then glanced at the progress of some of the Societies in the larger towns; some had thirty to forty members, and from three to thirty mediums connected with them. The Secretary had received upwards of 1900 letters (correspondents should please enclose a stamp) from all classes of society, and distributed a considerable amount of literature. Himself and Mrs Green had made several missionary tours, and unmistakeable evidences of spirit power had been shown.

Local reports were also given by Signor Damiani, of Bristol; Mrs Gribble, of Braintree, Essex; Mrs Jones, of Bradford on Avon; Mr Harper, of Birmingham; Mr Watson, of Darlington; and Mr Simkiss, of Wolverhampton. Many of these local reports were extremely interesting.

June 2.—Mr Green read a paper by Mr Etchells "On the Occult Forces," which gave the impression of profound thoughtfulness on the subject. Valuable papers from the same pen will be found in the Reports of the second and third Conventions. Mrs Spear read a beautiful little paper on "Spiritual Culture."

Then followed a long discussion upon Organisation as contradistinguished from individual efforts, in which Mr Harper, Mr Simkiss, Mr Green, Mr Burns, Mr Spear, Mr Livermore, and Mr Coleman took part. This discussion lasted fully half the day and elicited many valuable ideas; the balance of opinion seemed to be in favour of organisation. Mr Harper then read the financial statement, which showed on the year past a balance due to the Treasurer of £3 7s 3d.

The following Officers were elected for the ensuing year, viz.: —President, Mr Robt. Cooper, Eastbourne, Sussex; Vice-President, Mr Wm. Tebb, 20 Rochester Road, Camden Road, London; Treasurer, Mr R. Harper, 4 Glo'ster Place, Soho Hill, Birmingham; Hon. Secs., Mr and Mrs E. H. Green, Marsh House, Brotherton, Yorkshire; Foreign Correspondent, Signor Damiani, 2 Pembroke Villas, Clifton Park, Bristol. The following central committee was appointed to conduct the society's general business for the ensuing year:—The officers of the Association, Mr and Mrs Spear, Mrs Wm. Tebb, Dr Wilmshurst and Mr Everett, all of London; Mr John Hodge, Darlington; Mr Etchells, Pool; Mr John Scott, Belfast.

The following is a list of honorary lecturers who, under circumstances convenient to themselves, are willing to lecture on Spiritualism, and whom this Association recommends. This Convention further offers its cordial thanks to the majority of the list for their services in lecturing during the past year:—Mr John Hodge and Mr Thos. Watson, Darlington; Mr John F. Morgan and Mr Witham, Manchester; Mr Andrew Cross, Mr Jas. Brown, Mr Nicholson, and Mr G. B. Clark, of Glasgow; Mr A. Baldwin, Mr A. Franklin, and Mr B, Harper, of Birmingham; Mr Andrew Leighton, Liverpool; Mr J. Macdonnell, Dublin; Mr John Scott, Belfast; Mr Houghton, Huddersfield; Signor Damiani, Bristol; Mr Simkiss and Mr Cogin, Wolverhampton; Mr Robt. Cooper, Eastbourne; Mrs Hitchcock, Nottingham; Mr J. M. Spear, Mr J. Burns, Mr Wm. Tebb, Mr Wm. Wallace, and Mr Livermore, of London.

Mr Harper read a short but excellent paper from Mr Hopewell, of Nottingham, on the Children's Lyceum there. Mr Burns further illustrated the subject from personal observation, and the following committee was appointed to obtain all the necessary information or instructions for conducting such lyceums, and to distribute the same to societies and circles throughout the kingdom:—The President, Mr Spear, Mrs Spear, and Mr James Burns.

Mr Harper then read his paper, upon "The embryology of the human spirit," which proved interesting, and elicited a spirited discussion, in which Mr Gardner, Mr Burns, Mr Harper, page 4 and others took part. As many of the friends from the country had by this time returned home, it was deemed impracticable to organise a general picnic, and a vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.