Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 6 April 1844, page 2


DIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA.

(From the Report of the Society for the Propagation

of the Gospel.)

Letter from the Bishop.

Sydney, February 3, 1843.

A mail for England by; H, M. S. Favourite being on the point of closing, I avail myself of the opportunity to forward the accounts of my expenditure of funds during tho year 1812, on behalf of the Incorporated Society, for the

services of the Church within this diocese. These are :

No. 1. General Account: and the principal observation which I have to offer upon this is an expression of regret at my having found it necessary to draw so largely during the year upon the resources of the Society. Before closing this letter, I shall odd a few remarks for the satisfaction of the Society, that I have not needlessly incurred these expenses, and it will be very satisfactory to mc to leam that my proceedings herein have been approved. It is assuredly needless for me to repeat what I have before so frequently acknowledged, that but for the interposition of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Church could not have continued to maintain its footing in this colony ; and during the past year, owing to the severe losses and privations' which the settlers have so generally experienced, it would have been necessary to put a stop to every operation, had I not, by presuming (I hope not too largely) on the continued benevolence of

the Society, contrived to keep some necessary I works in progress.

With extreme difficulty, the church of St. James at Melbourne has been so far completed as to be made capable of receiving the congrega-tion, which had hitherto been assembled in the temporary wooden building mentioned in the Report of my visit to Melbourne in 1838. For the satisfactory progress thus made, I am bound to say that very great credit is due to the exertions of the Rev. A. C. Thomson, and of some gentlemen belonging to the Committee, whose names I should gladly mention with due honour if it were certain that I should not thereby cause offence, by the omission, through insufficient acquaintance with the parties, of some who might reasonably expect to have had their exertions noticed. My very earnest desire is to have it reported to me that the church has been brought to such a state of completeness, in its internal arrangements, as to be prepared for consecration. As soon as this is announced, I shall lose no time in pro-ceeding, with the Divine permission; to Melbourne, for the purpose of completing that solemnity, and of admitting to the rite of Confirmation the numerous individuals of both

sexes who are looking forward with anxiety to the period when an opportunity will be

afforded them of partaking of that important solemnity.

The churches of St. Paul at Cobbity, and St. John at Mudgee, as I have on former occasions reported, have been completed and consecrated; but it is with regret I am still compelled to state that the latter continues closed, owing to my not having at my disposal the services of a clergyman who could undertake the duties. There is a good parsonage-house there, com-plete and fit for immediate occupation.

CHURCHES IN COURSE OF ERECTION. -- The churches at East Gosfoid, Falbrook, Paterson,

and Ashfield, luncheon proceeded with so far, that the main difficulties attendant on their erection may be said to have been overcome

But they are now at a stand in consequence of the discontinuance of subscriptions and the coiibcquent ituluic ot funds. I have my thoughts and anxieties much employed about them, and trust that I may venture during the current year to make such moderate advances as I consistently can upon the Society s account, with a view to encourage the people to do their best; and by a few years perseverance in that course, I entertain a hope, if my life is so long spared, of bringing these churches to comple tion, and dedicating them solemnly to the service of Almighty God. The same observa

tions may be extended to the cases of Christ Church, and the Holy Trinity, in this City, in the erection of which considerable progress has been made, though they are still very far re moved from a state of completeness I am disposed, however, to regard our present condi-tion and prospects with any feeling but that of despair. The progress is indeed slow, but still, through the Divine goodness, we do ad-vance , and, even in connexion with the two churches last named, I could adduce instances of earnest devotion to the support of the Church, and of a willingness to submit to sacrifices for its sake, which bespeak a state of religious feeling, limited as to extent indeed, but still subsisting, such as but a few years since was not contemplated as within the limits of possibility, cvcn by those who held the most sanguine expectations as to the advancement of religion in the colony. The church of St

Mark, at Appin, is also so far completed that it has been licensed for the celebration of public worship, and I have recently held a confirma-

tion their. But the straitened circumstances

ot the people have disabled them from raising funds to provide more than two windows out of seven which the design of the chiuch in-cluded, and the congregation being in conse-

quence exposed to the inclemency of the weather, I engaged to provide the remaining five at an expense to the Society of £30, as also a font, bell, and some other requisites.

PARSONAGE HOUSES-SCHOOLS - Wlth repect to the parsonage houses, on account of which expenses have been incurred, the first to be noticed is Pitt Town, where a residence for the clergyman was formally provided at the ex-pense of Government, but when that advantage failed no resource remained, but either to purchase the house, or to abandon a position which had been advantageously occupied duning a great many years by the Church and which is the key to a wide extent of populous country. I therefore determined on effecting the purchase for £400; and having from time to time applied to that purpose such resources as happened to be at my disposal, I have now paid off the balance due, and so secured the premises for the perpetual service of the Church. The schools there, at Pitt Town, and Wilber-

force, are enlarging, and the religious condition of the people is improving in a very satisfactory manner, under the zealous direction of the resident minster the Rev. C.C. Kemp.

The case of Patrick s PIains, or the township of Singleton, his been frequently brought un-der the attention of the Society, and not with anv satisfactory account of the progress making there. On the 18th of December last I ad-mitted to deacon's orders Mr John Cameron, M.A., of king's College, Aberdeen and he has now gone to reside at the station here spoken of, where I trust that through, his acti-

vity and care, the obstacles which haveo hitherto opposed the erection of a church may be re-moved. I cannot, however, expect to carry

that mensure into eftect without an occasional advance from the Society's funds; and a simi-lar observation will apply to Fallbrook church, in the immediate neighbourhood, and which will be united with Singleton under the charge of Mr. Cameron. I may conclude this portion of my remarks with a reference to the case of

the King's School, ait Parramatta; the master= ship of whIch, at the suggestion of the Rev. M. M. Campbell, I offered the Rev. James Walker, M. A., by whorn it was accepted. But Mr, Walker being already stationed in the Society's employ in charge of George Town, near Laun-ceston, in Van Diemen's Land, it was impos-

sible that he should by his own resources provide for the expenses of removing his very large family to so great a distance. Upon con-sideratton, therefore, of the importance of se-curing the services of a very competent master for this school, and not perceiving any other practicable mode of accomplishing it, I agreed to allow Mr. Walker, on the Society's account the sum of £50, which will be found accord-

ingly so charged, and a bill of exchange drawn on the Treasurers to meet that expenditure.

No. 2-Unattached Missionary Grant; to the close of last year. The items of expenditure here require no particular notice. They will, however, show to the Society, that although under the multiplied necessities which exist in

all parts of the colony for the services of addi-

tional clergymen, it has not been m my power

to appropriate this grant to the purpose for which it was so kindly designed, of attaching a clergy man personally to me, who might take a share in the great variety and extent of busi-

ness connected with the ordinary management of the Diocese, which now falls upon me, yet this resource has been available in furnishing religious instruction in a variety of places, which, without having such a fund at my dis-posai, it would not have been wlthin the com-pass of my ability so to supply. The station of Castle Hill, still occupied by the Rev. W. B. Clarke, affords a special proof of this; for

in proportion as the influence of religion is less felt among the people there, and the example and admonitions of a clergyman are more ur-gently needed, by so much less is it to be hoped or expected that those people will ever contri-

bute among themselves the amount which the Colonial Church Act renders it imperative on them to raise, before any stipend will be allowed by Government for the maintenance of a clegy-

man there. Had it not been for the bounty of the Socirty enabling me (though by diver-

sion of the grant from the strict purpose tor which it was bestowed) to provide an income for Mr. Clark, that entire distnct must have continued, as it ever had been before, destitute of all the ordinances, public observances, nay, and the very name of religion.

No. 3. Account of the Mission beyond the Boundaries of Location. - I entertain some hope that I may shortly be able to appoint the Rev.

E. G. Pryce to that very distant station; in the event of my obtaining the services of any clergyman qualified to succeed him in his widely extended district on the Havvkesbury The first item in the account relates to Port-

Iand Bay, where the expenditure at the outset has been considerable; but what has been in-curred is more than compensated, I trust, by the benefit arising from the ministration of the Rev. J. Y. Wilson, in a remote region, which would otherwise be wholly cut off from parti-

cipation in any one religious ordinance, accord ing to the use of the Church of England. The scattered population cannot now be entirely beyond the shephard's care

Another district for which I have been ena-bled to make a similar provision is Moreton Bay, in the extreme north oi the colony, which has been recently opened for settlement. I have stationed here the Rev. John Gregor, M.A. This gentleman came to this colony a presbyter of the Church ol Scotland, in whIch communion he had been always brought up. He was for some time in charge of the Presby -terian Church at West Maitland, on Hunter's River, but, after the institution of the Synod of Australia, was ejected from that position. The dissensions and animosities so long pre-

vailng in the Presbyterian body here, first occasioned Mr Gregor to devote his attention to a serious enquiry into the scriptural giounds of that form of Chtuch discipline under which he had heretofore been placed ; and the result

was, to satisfy him that Episcopacy was the only true Apostolic ordinance for the government

of the Church. He communicated to me his

change of views, and applied for admission into holy orders according to the ordinances of the Church of England, producing testimonials of conduct during three years last past, signed by titree clergymen, licensed by me, who had had personal opportunities, during that period, of knowing Mr. Gregor's course of life. Upon the fullest consideration of this important sub-ject, and after having satisfied myself that as regarded pecuniary emolument there was less to be gamed by Mr. Gregor in uniting himself with the Church of England, than was actually open to him if he chose to continue in associa-tion with the Synod, and submissive to their

decrees, I thought it my duty to admit him as

a candidate for ordination, and he was accord-ingly admitted to deacon's orders after the Ember week of September last. As in accept-ing Mr. Giegor as qualified, I had been anxious as a token of respect for his previous avocation, not to piess furth than was ncecssary for the satisfaction ot my own conscience, my enquiries into his scholarship and similar qualification, (bing disposed rather to assume, as far as with propriety I could, that the fact of his having bein acknowledged as a minster by the Church of Scotland, was in itself a strong presumption ol his competeny, ) so I was anxious, so far as was in my powrr, to consult the feelings of Mr.

Gregor himself, by not retaining him, longer than was absolutely unavoidible, in the office of a deacon; and therefore, on Sunday, the 18th of December, he was received into priest's orders. Mr. Gregor was considered, justly, I have every reason to believe, as one of the best qualified among the Scots ministers, in literary and scientific ac-quirements: his character indeed stood high and irreproachable in every respect. I trust that in the engagements which he has now taken upon himself, he will be blessed with that peace of mind and satisfaction in the dis-charge of his sacred duties, to whIch he was long a stranger; and I see every reason to be-lieve and expect that he will prove himself an active, zealous, and devoted clergyman of the Anglican Church.

While upon this subject, I may record that another minister of the Presbyterian commu-nion, the Rev. James Allan, has notified to the Synod a change in his persuasions, arising fiom study and examination of the Holy Scriptures, withdrawing hlmself from any further con-nexion with the Church of Scotland. Mr. Allan has at the same time transmitted to me an elaborate digest of his opinions and motives for relinquishing the persuasions of his past life, and attaching himself to our Episcopal Church, in which he is desirous to receive hoiy orders. There does not appear to be any mo-tive of self interest which can be fairly charged against Mr. Allan as probably operating to sway his decision against his conscience. His statement of reasons is perspicuous and unaf-fected, and although upon a matter of such importance I should not come to a final deter-

mination until after long and serious reflection, I need not hesitate to say, that so far as I have yet preceeded in the case, no reason has pre-sented itself to my mind of a nature to occasion my taking an unfavourable view of Mr. Allan's application.

Connectively with the same subject I may state, for the information of the Society, that I

also admitted into deacon s orders on the 18th of December, 1812, Mr. John McConnelI, who had been in communication with the Society during his residence in London, and was fun-ished w ith a letter to the Bishop of Nova Scotia. With reference thereto, the Rev. Charles B. Dalton states, in his note to Mr.

McConnelI, dated 18th Febrary, 1812, "The Committee have mentioned to the Bishop that they have had an interview with you, and that the Society will be glad to acquiesce in any ar-rangements whIch his lordship may make with regard to your future destination." The state of Mr. McConnelI's health not allowing him to encounter the clímate of Nova Scotia, and he having on that account directed his views to this Diocese, I conceived that the above com-munnication might allowably be considered as having reference to me in place of the Bishop of Nova Scotia. Having, therefore, placed Mr. McConnelI as a student at the Society's charge under tuition of the Rev. T. W. Bodenham, and finding his conduct, application, and im-

provement, to be such as afforded me entire satisfaction, and confirmed the testimonials which he brought with him from the West Indies, and other places in which he had been known and employed as a missionary or cate-christ, I felt no scruple in admitting him into holy orders. He has proceeded to the River Clarence; one of those newly opened districts to the northward, where a considerable popu-Iation is resident, though widely scattered. Hitherto they have been totally devoid of the visible forms of religion: no clergyman having ]previously been there, nor, as far as I have been able to learn, any individual whatever professing to teach and to preach. There has not been time, as yet, to admit of my receiv-ing any account of his proceedings from Mr.

McConnelI.

Upon the whole, reviewing the proceedings of the year that is passed, I regard them with satisfaction and thankfulness, and look forward with any feeling but despondency to the future. I must express my thankfulness to God for supplying me, even against hope, w ith so many diligent and exemplary fellow-labourera among my clergy; and may, without impropriety, offer an acknowledgement in gratitude to the Society for Propagating the Gospel, as having been the most effective human agent in sup-pling the means of grace to a country in which, not many years ago, they threatened entirely to fail. I see clearly, and, therefore, say with full conviction, that the Church of England is every year strengthening and ex-tending her influence, and is doing so by the most legitimate of means; namely through the blameless lives, active zeal, and incorrupt teaching of her clergy. Thus proceeding they are acquiring giadually, an improving

influence over the hearts and minds of

the people, who recognise in them their

truest friends and best advisers. More

than one half of the population belongs to the Church of England. As its true nature and object become better understood among them, their attachment to it is increased and confirmed, to their own great benefit. Neither, as I have occasion to learn by fiequent proofs, is a feeling of deep reference towards the Church of England wanting on the part of veryj many who yet stand far aloof from her communion and principles of faith

I remain, &c,

W. G. AUSTRALIA.

1 ? ?

An wa or Honour Tui nextto -It Inning ti inspired til it theic w as to be a hostile meet

mg between tw o higlilj talented gentlemen of the legal profession the eonsenators of the peicc under the autborit) of a won ant giantcd by Air Windojei, sen , had one of the gentle men apprehended and bound o\er 1 he same course will probabl) bo followed with the other

as soon as he arru es ni town

Lrrrrn CAiinirns Umiohm -flic following articles of clothing being requiiedfor the public sen ice, persons disposed to proN ide the same mo united to transmit their öfters in writing to the Colonial Secretaiy s Office, by tv ehe 0 clock, on MondttN, the 8th instant endorsed, 1 lenders for Letter Cainers Uniform -1 lurtcen red coats, with the VR button thirteen black beaN cr hats, w ith j,old bands Samples must aceonipan) the tenders and patterns foi the co its niaN bo se en at the General Post Ofhce Persons tendering arc requested to attend at the Colonial becretaiy s Ofhce on the da> appointed for opening the offers

LineiuoolPjaius -Dli ístuiungLicexses

-The folio widg notice appears m yesterdays GotonmentGa etta "Notice Greatlrregulanty haNing occurred m the transmission to this Ofhce of the half ycaily returns of stock, bj pcisons holding depasturing licenses ni tins district, and which returns, according to the Act of the Go\ crnor and Council, 2nd Victoria, No 27, ought to be lodged with the Com missioners of Crown Lands bj the 1st Januaiv and 1st July in each j ear Notice is hereby given to such parties as h ive not ) et fi rnished their returns due on the 1st Januuj last that thc> arc hablo to the penalties prescribed bj the said Act Vnd m future parties furnishing these documents, w ho arc not resident in the Border Distnct of Lneiiool Plains arc ic

quested to forw ard their address to the Border Police Oflico, lamwoith -Border Police Ofhce, Liverpool Plains, March 27, 1814 -Roderick Mitchell Junior, J P , Cominis sionei Crown Lands

Gmain -Statement ot the Nanous dcscup tions of gi am held by GoNernmcnt, on the 1st April, l8« -"Wheat, 39,014 bushels, mauc, 6,640 bushels

Femall Factoki -State of the Témale

Tactory, Parramatta, on the 1st April 1844 -Under colonial sentence, 71, not under colonial sentence, 316, in sohtarj confinement, 4, in hospital, 21, total numbci of women, 415, total number of children, 122

A Gold Watch Stolen -On Thursday, about mid day, Mr J R Brenan happening to go to the water closet at the Police Office, left his gold Nvatch behind him, and did not miss it tdl about an hour afterwards in hen it was

looked after, it was not to be found

AusTiUMAN TnuíT Comfany -At the meet-ing of the Australian Trust Company, held July 31st, a dividend of tinco per cent tot the halt year was declared, leaving £l,08o to be carried to the lcscivc fund, which it appears now amounts toupwmds of £5,000, mid is m

vested in Gov eminent secuiitics lins divi ¡ dondis pay able on and aftci Imlay, the 1th of August During the piocccdmgs n good deni ot discussion ensued on the subject ot the dis

tiibution of the report and nccounts among the shareholder a few days before the meetings take place, which was carried by ti large nnjo

nt), w ith the v lew of mote re utily discussing, questions that might anse on the general in tcrests of tho company, The dircctois appealed to fear that so distiibutuig the îeport and ac-counts would be pioductivc of much mconvcni

once, as they would piobably be made public before the proper explanations could be given, mid thus lend to contiovctsy in the daily papers, w Inch it w ns alleged vv ould cntntl moi c damage than good on the concern Altogclhei there seemed to be sonic dislike to acquiesce in the wishes of the pioTiietirv, till the voice of the loom showed how much this course of action was desired, and although nothing vvhatev er transpired to lead any one to suppose that the efficiency of management w as doubted, still it was evident that the directors looked upon the suggestion made ns one nffect mg their characters, which they were certainly i not warranted in doing, md tieated it tes a

contemplated infringement on their pow cr and responsibility, which most decidedly did not nppcnr to be the intention of the pcisonb who supported the motion Dnectois, in ninny m stances aro lather too nice on this point Whenever ti suggestion is made, which m the

least manner exhibits on the nart of the share

holdcis an lnchnntion to be more hilly ne

quninted w ith the state of then ow n all ins, it is immediately construed ns n wish, on the pnit of those w ho happen to hav e the moral courage to st mci forvv aid and espouse the cause of the proprietary for complete und satisfactory infor-mation to interfere with and cast i sim upon the management, audit is upon this question tint

so ni my of our lomt stock company executiv cs I have picmntiucly como into collision with thor constituencies, and occasioned disagreements which by tuning concessions and leal desire to propm itc, might have saved the endless contusion iollovvuig to the injuiy of nil pnrtics Ducctorntcs ni genertl should lecollcct that were they to meet then shtuchokleis (nilly, and litstcid of attempting to withhold information show they were at all times willing to alford it

they would at once disabuse the minds of people, who ure more îeady to believe, when such n spirit of resistance on the point of eti

qucttc is raised, that such resistance does not ilto0cthci spring trom thnt source but, m fact, is only made the cloak for the concealment of other misdeeds Directorates should also bear

in mind that too much publicity cannot be t,i\ cn to ptospeious and successfully managed companies and that therefore nil) nttempt to suppress investigation and publication can only be lcgnrded as unf wourublc, and casting a suspicion upon such companies who would v> oik without it, and lastl), that a readiness to consent to adopt till useful suggestions w Inch ma) be made by their shareholder is the safe course of action for commanding their attention md confidence Before the close of the pro cccdmgs, the hint of economy was given, mid pionused to be sedulously attended to -Colo

mai Vaga-me

Goon Nkws iou thf Graziers -Mr Chnrlcs Smith, with sevcrnl of his friends, have commenced mnkmg arrangements for silting beef on a large scnlc for the English ninrket It is intended bj them, not ns nn opposition, I but ns an nuxih ir) to the present Snltmg Com pan), to snlt down onl) the prime parts, to uoil down the other pieces, and nftcr the tallow li is been cxtucted to cnijloy the îcsidue m f lttcning pt^s Mr Smith proposes ns soon ns the hit ingeníente nrc complete to give the stockholder at the rate of a penny per lb by the cnicass for prune fat bullocks

BusitnwGixc - Uiout foin o clock on Ihursday afternoon as Ihomas Halloran, io siding at Ultimo, was piocceding to Liverpool to look after some cattle, he was suddenly stopped by aman, who took his horse, saddle and bridle from lum, with £7 m bank notes Hie plunderer was armed with a musket and gave his name tis Holloway While Halloian was being com ey ed into the bush for the pur

| pose of being searched, ho observed another

m m tied to a tree