his delight to carry the glad tidings of salvation into the villages wherever he could find access and opportunity. And as he sought the good of their souls, so he both laboured and suffered to relieve their temporal wants; living himself in a style of frugality and self-denial, that he might have whereof to give to them that needed." Page 265. Before concluding this brief paper, I may ask, Might not the two offices of pastor and evangelist be combined in the case of some of the most earnest and effective preachers among our ministers? Might not the Committee of the Home Missionary Society, under the conduct and direction of their excellent Treasurer and Secretary, make arrangements for engaging six or more of such ministers to travel as itinerant evangelists through a county or district during the summer months of the new year, preaching out of doors, or in county halls or large rooms, as well as in chapels? But might there not, if sufficient encouragement were held out, be found zealous, devoted men, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, eloquent men and mighty in the Scriptures, who would give themselves exclusively to what Ronert iall describes as "the more enterprising and brilliant career of an evangelist?" A great man and a diligent explorer of ecclesiastical antiquity,-Richard Baxter, has expressed a very decided opinion that "such unfixed general officers as Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Titus, Apollos, with multitudes more that went up and down to convert the world, and stayed only to order and confirm the newgathered churches, then went further; sometimes returning to renew, preserve, and strengthen their converts, were instituted by Christ, settled by Him in his church, and that no repeal or revocation of their office and order can be proved." He professed, on the contrary, to have "proved that the world and the church should still have such a general itinerant unfixed ministry as that was of the apostles, evangelists, and others."* *Five Disputations of Church Government and Worship, &c. 1653. Pp. 21, 22, 276. May we not indulge the hope-I might say, should we not present the prayer-that God will be graciously pleased ere long to raise up an itinerant evangelist to go forth in the spirit and power of George Whitefield, who might travel through the length and breadth of the land, expatiating in a much wider sphere than can be filled by any pastor or by a stationary evangelist, whose preaching of the Cross, with a mighty power of persuasion, might, by the blessing of God, be rendered effectual to the conversion of hundreds and of thousands. To such an honoured individual we might hope, and even confidently expect, that into whatsoever city, town, or village he might come, God would, as to the apostles of old, decree a triumph, and by his means diffuse abroad in every place a sweet odour of Him whose name,-Jesus the Saviour, is as fragrant balsam poured forth. Such a man, like his great prototype, a man of strong faith, and of fervent habitual prayer, clearly understanding "the mystery of the Gospel" having gladly received the joyful message and felt its melting, subduing power in his own heart, and placing full confidence in it as the efficacious instrument employed by God for the salvation of all men everywhere who believe it-to whatever place his steps were directed might, in the exercise of a courageous and unwavering faith, adopt the great apostle's language, “I am sure that when come, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ." I Tunbridge Wells, Dec. 8, 1863. CONGREGATIONALISM IN BY THE REV. THOMAS JAMES. IN reviewing the present state of the Congregational churches in the Australian Colonies, we desire, at the outset, to bear full testimony to the efforts of other denominations in their labours to propagate the essential truths of the Gospel of Christ. The Episcopalians, the Presbyterians, the different sections In It is not, therefore, with any design to neglect or cast into the shade our fellow Christians by whatever name they are distinguished, but simply to furnish our readers with a "bird's-eye" view of the churches of our own faith and order. We are greatly mistaken if it will not awaken a feeling of devout thankfulness for what has been accomplished, especially considering the comparatively brief period that has elapsed since these efforts were commenced. order to form a just idea of the rate of progress which has characterised our ecclesiastical history in those regions, it is necessary to remember certain dates and other circumstances connected with them. The colony of New South Wales, the oldest of the group, was founded in the year 1788, Western Australia in 1829, South Australia in 1836, Victoria in 1851, and Queensland in 1859. Every one will easily imagine the difficulties that must necessarily attend the founding of a new colony, and how slowly by the incessant toil of the first settlers they are Overcome. As an illustration of this, it may be stated that two years elapsed in the colony of New South Wales before the first brick building was erected on the spot where the city of Sydney now stands. It was not till the year 1794 that the first place of worship (Episcopal) was built, and in 1821 the Wesleyan and Roman Catholic chapels were erected. The first newspaper was printed in 1813, and the first daily journal in 1827. We could multiply particulars of this nature to an indefinite extent, and with reference to each of the several colonies constituting the Australasian group; but this would occupy too large a space in the limits within which this paper must be confined. Let, then, the above suffice, and be regarded as a specimen of the obstacles which must be overcome before society will assume a settled form and order. As population in the several colonies increased, the necessity for a settled form of government in which the people should have a share, begun to be felt. Accordingly, in the year 1843, representative political institutions were conferred upon them—an Assembly, one-third nominated by the Governor, who was appointed by the Crown, and two-thirds elected by the colonists. In the year 1855 responsible self-government was conceded to all the colonies, except, for the present, Western Australia; the system being as nearly as possible assimilated to the home Government. Our readers, by these brief preliminary remarks, will be able to form a tolerably accurate idea of the state of society in these interesting communities at our antipodes. Britain is there reproducing herself, and there can be no doubt, as the millions of acres in that truly wonderful country are occupied by the persevering agriculturist and busy citizen, towns and villages will spring up, churches and schools will be erected, and His purposes will be accomplished who rejoices in the habitable parts of the earth, and whose delights are with the children of men. The object of this paper is to furnish a review of the present state of our churches in these colonies. This is obviously by far too comprehensive a subject for the circumscribed limits necessarily allotted to us. The history and present prosperous condition of many of the churches, individually considered, would furnish materials for an article in our pages which would not fail to awaken a deep interest in our readers. We must, therefore, content ourselves with but a very cursory glance at the several colonies, all of which, though distinct and separate, are in ordinary converse spoken of as Australia. NEW SOUTH WALES. We begin with this as the oldest of the group. In the year 1829, when the population of the colony generally, and of Sydney, its chief city in particular, was comparatively but small, a congregational church was formed, of which the Rev. C. Price, now of Launceston, Tasmania, was pastor. He was succeeded in 1833 by the Rev. W. Jarratt, who subsequently united himself to the Presbyterians. On his retirement in 1839, an application was made to the Committee of the Colonial Missionary Society, then recently formed and conducted, as its Secretary, by the late Rev. Algernon Wells, to find for the church a suitable pastor. The Committee regarded it as a matter of the utmost importance; and though the resources of the Society were extremely limited, they resolved to use their best endeavours to secure the services of some minister whose standing in the body and whose general qualifications might fit him to take a high position in that city; and who, by his influence and effort, might, by the blessing of God, extend the cause of evangelical Christianity, in connexion with Congregational church polity, throughout the colony. They were most happy in their selection of the late Rev. Dr. Ross, then pastor of the church at Kidderminster, who, having acceded to the invitation of the Committee, proceeded to the colony, and on the 25th of February, 1840, arrived in Sydney, and was cordially received by the few friends who then constituted the wreck of the church in that city. The success attending the labours of Dr. Ross, until in the year 1854 he was struck down with paralysis, constitutes one of the brightest portions in the history of the Colonial Missionary Society. It is impossible to over-estimate the excellencies of the character of Dr. Ross and his pre-eminent qualifications for the important position he occupied. He was, however, perhaps, a little too conservative in his feelings, and lacking somewhat of the expansiveness of zeal which characterises the present age. The consequence was that but little effort was put forth for the colony at large. He appeared anxious to gather strength at the fountain-head, so that when the opportunity should arise, the streams of his benevolence might flow to distant regions. This is a sound principle if it be not carried to an extreme. In the month of June, 1856, the Rev. Wm. Cuthbertson, B.A., of West Bromwich, proceeded to Sydney as the successor of Dr. Ross. After labouring for about six years he returned to this country, and is now settled as pastor of the church at Bishopsstortford. The church at Pitt-street, Sydney, is at present without a pastor. If comparatively but little has been attempted by the friends in Sydney for the country, they have done nobly for the city. There are now no fewer than nine Congregational churches in that city and its immediate suburbs, viz., Pitt-street, the parent church, at present vacant; Balmain, for which the Rev. A. Fraser, M.A., is now on his way; New Town, the Rev. T. C. Kent; Paddington, vacant; Redfern (formerly under the pastoral care of the Rev. Joseph Beazley, now of Blackheath), the Rev. W. Slatyer; Riley-street, Rev. S. Humphreys; Surrey Hills, Rev. T. Johnston; Woolhara, Rev. J. E. Vetch, B.A.; and Woolongong, Rev. G. Charter. These are all prospering, sustaining their pastors without ab-extra assistance. As might be expected, the influence of these ministers with their churches is felt for good in everything relating to the general welfare of society. No measure hostile to the liberty of the community, or to the claim of equal religious privileges to all, could pass the Legislature even if proposed. It is right also to state that the friends in Sydney have appealed to the Committee for four additional ministers, for whom they will not only provide on their arrival, but coutribute generously towards the cost of sending them. These will be sent with as little delay as the circumstances of the case will permit. When we represent that the chief attention of the Sydney churches has been directed to the claims of the city, we do not wish it to be supposed the country has been wholly neglected. The contrary is the case. Besides a numerous bånd of lay-preachers who render efficient aid in efforts to evangelise the country districts around Sydney, a Missionary Society, liberally sustained, has for some years been in vigorous operation. Its object is to introduce the Gospel wherever a sufficient number of settlers are congregated to justify the expectation that, within a short period, a minister will be adequately supported. By its instrumentality, assisted by grants from the funds of the Colonial Missionary Society, a church has been gathered at Maitland, and a second at Ipswich; the latter being in the part of the country which now constitutes the new colony of Queensland. In the year 1851 the Rev. J. T. Waraker was sent to the one, and in the year 1853 the Rev. E. Griffith to the other. Both are in a prosperous condition, no longer requiring assistance either from the Society there or from the mother-country. There are also four other churches in the colony, viz., at Campbell Town, the Rev. J. Gibson, pastor; at Geeringong, the Rev. R. Wilson; at Manning River, the Rev. J.Watt; and at Newcastle, the Rev. T. Gainsford. These congregations are feebler than those above enumerated, but are exerting a beneficial influence in their respective districts, and will, no doubt, as the population increases, become a power for good in all the region round about. If the churches in New South Wales are not so numerous as in some of her sister and younger colonies, still there is no cause for discouragement. Sydney as a city is yet in advance of any other spot on that side of the globe. It is the metropolis of Australasia. The Pitt-street church includes in it men prepared with their intelligence, their personal effort, and their wealth, to carry forward the most extended schemes for future usefulness which wisdom and piety can desire. VICTORIA. In an early part of the Colonial Missionary Society's operations in Australia, Messrs. West and Morison were sent to Tasmania. The latter was ordained by the brethren on the island in the year 1839, and engaged in an extensive range of itinerant labours amongst the scanty and widely-scattered population in the interior. He continued with untiring zeal to fulfil his mission till the year 1843, when he was induced to exchange with the Rev. W. Waterfield, who had been sent by the Committee of the Colonial Missionary Society to Melbourne, Port Philip, or Australia-Felix, as that portion of New South Wales, now the colony of Victoria, was then designated. Mr. Morison was for a time jointly sustained by the Society at home, and by a Missionary Society established in the colony. He was subsequently joined by the Rev. T. Odell, who proceeded thither on his own resources, and, being cordially welcomed by Mr. Morison, a second congregation was gathered in a distant part of the city, and a chapel built. Both these brethren continue their ministry to this day. The population in this district having been rapidly augmented by the numerous immigrants, who found their way thither, it was separated in the year 1851 from New South Wales and established as a distinct colony, and designated Victoria, after her gracious Majesty the Queen. It was in the beginning of that memorable year that the Australian gold-fields were discovered by Mr. Hargreaves. Their existence was inferred on scientific grounds-seven years previously by Sir R. J. Murchison. As is well known this occasioned a rush of emigrants to those shores, so that the population has increased with a rapidity unparalelled in the history of colonization. In was in the year 1835 or 1836 that a few individuals first pitched their tents on the spot where now the city of Melbourne with its suburbs numbers more than 100,000 souls.* The attention of the Committee of the Colonial Missionary Society having been directed to the inadequate provision which had been made for the spiritual wants of such a people, they resolved to use their best efforts to induce the fittest men they could find to give themselves as labourers in this promising harvest-field. Whether they considered the present or the future of the colony, the importance of the mission, as it presented itself to their view, could scarcely be overstated. After prayerfully considering the matter, they invited the Rev. Messrs. R. Fletcher and J. L. Poore, both of Manchester, to undertake the contemplated enterprise. The former, had his life been spared, would have devoted himself to the train ing young men for the Christian ministry, and the latter was intended to do the work of an evangelist, travelling throughout that and the neighbouring colonies, preaching the Gospel, and initiating efforts for the gathering congregations, and forming churches. In the month of October, 1853, these honoured brethren were designated to their work by a solemn service, conducted in the chapel in the city of Manchester, in which Mr. Fletcher had for many years faithfully preached the Gospel of Christ. The Rev. E. Day, of Hyde, moved by the example of these brethren, volunteered his services for the same work; and having been accepted by the Committee, the whole party sailed at the close of the year from Greenock, and in due course arrived in Hobson's Bay, and were most enthusiastically welcomed by the friends in Melbourne. Measures were imme diately adopted, and funds liberally contributed to sustain them, by which an impulse was given to the Christian community in that city, the benefits resulting from which continue to this day. Mr. Fletcher began his ministry at St. Kilda, in the Iron Church, the funds for which had been specially contributed by the friends of the Society in this country, and which was erected in that locality. In this sanctuary he continued his ministrations until, after a brief illness, he "rested from his labours;" and on the 15th of December, 1861, he " departed to be with Jesus." Although his residence in Melbourne was little more than six years, he had won to himself the profound esteem, not only of his own denomination, but of all others. He was permitted to witness the accomplishment of the object on which his heart was set, viz., the institution of a college for training young men for the Christian ministry, to promote which he had made arrangements to visit Britain, when it pleased God to remove him to his rest and reward. Mr. Poore, very soon after his arrival, gave himself with exemplary zeal to the special work for which he was destined. He has visited for missionary pur. poses all the Australian colonies, and has laboured with untiring energy to initiate Christian churches wherever there was a gathering of settlers in sufficient numbers to justify the expectation that a minister being sent he would be adequately sustained. Mr. Day on his arrival proceeded to Castlemaine, in the vicinity of the goldfields. So successfully has he laboured that he has now, perhaps, the largest congregation in the colony out of Melbourne, who worship in a noble stone edifice which is an ornament to the place. From that time the Society has carried on its labours, with what result may be seen from the number of ministers now labouring in the colony, all of whom are sustained by the congregations they have gathered around them. There are now there no fewer |