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Swedenborg (EMANUEL founder of the Church)

EMANUEL, founder of the Church of the New Jerusalem, and one of the most distinguished men of science of the 18th century; born in Stockholm, Sweden, Jan. 29, 1688. He was carefully educated under the care of his father, Bishop of Skara, in W.

Gothland, in the principles of the Lutheran Church. After pursuing his studies and taking the degree of Ph.D. at Upsala, he went on his travels in 1710, and visited the universities of England, Holland, France, and Germany. On his return, he was appointed assessor extraordinary to the College of Mines, and in 1719 was ennobled, on which occasion his name was changed from Swedberg to Swedenborg. He had in the previous year achieved a great engineering feat, in the transport, over a mountain district, of several galleys and boats for service at the siege of Frederikshald. In 1721, he again traveled to examine mines, etc. He continued his scientific studies till the year 1743, when, as he himself affirms, a new era of his life commenced, and he was permitted to hold intercourse with the inhabitants of the invisible world. In 1747 he resigned his office in the mining ng college, retired from public life, and spending his time alternately in Sweden and in England, devoted himself to the publication of his theological works. They are filled with EMANUEL SWEDENBORG illustrations from the scientific and metaphysical lore of their author, and present a remarkable combination of science and theology. Though it is frequently affirmed that Swedenborg labored under a delusion, his writings show no symptoms of aberration. He was always regarded as a learned and pious man; and it would appear that the story of his insanity rests for its support on the word of a single enemy. He was never married. The believers in his doctrines are now become a numerous body (see SWEDENBORGIANS). Of his very numerous works, only a few of the most important can be named: The "Philo- "Dædaperboreus" (1716-1718); sophical and Mineralogical Works" (1734); "Economia Regni Animalis" (Economy of the Animal Kingdom) and "Regnum Animale" (The Animal King-