Page images
PDF
EPUB

buildings in country districts. The Scotch Church in Sydney was built by subscription, aided by a loan from Government of £520, for which a mortgage has been taken of the premises, but no part of the money has been yet repaid. The Church of Scotland has received no other aid for buildings that I (says the author) can discover. The Roman Catholics possess one large and handsome Church in Sydney, not yet completed. In aid of its construction, donations amounting in all to £1,200, have been at different times granted by the Government. Since the date of this despatch, there has been no important addition to the number of Churches and Chapels actually completed, though several are in active progress, and many more subscribed for; but the number of Ministers of the three leading denominations, and the amount of aid afforded by Ministers, have been somewhat increased. By the estimate for Church establishments for the year 1837, it appears that there are at present one Bishop and eighteen Chaplains of the Church of England, and that six addi. tional Chaplains are expected from England in the course of the year: that there are also eight Ministers of the Church of Scotland, and seven of the Romish Church, including the Bishop and Vicar-General, six additional Romish Clergymen are also being expected to arrive in the Colony in the course of the year. The estimated charges of each establishment are as follow:

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

An Act to promote the building of Churches and Chapels, and to provide for the maintenance of Ministers of religion in New South Wales.

"In conformity to the principles upon which his Majesty's Government have been pleased to sanction contributions from the Colonial revenue, towards the support of public religion in this Colony, it is proposed to enact as follows:

"First. That whenever a sum, not less than £300, shall have been raised by private contribution, towards the building of a Church or Chapel, and Minister's dwelling, the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, to be authorized to issue from the Colonial Treasury any sum

not exceeding the amount of such private contributions to the extent of £1000, in aid of such undertaking.

"Second. The Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, to issue stipends to officiating Ministers at the following rates, viz., if there be a resident population of one hundred adults, subscribing a declaration of their desire to attend the Church or Chapel of such Minister, £100 per annum; if two hundred adults, £150 per annum ; if five hundred adults, £200 per annum.

"Third. If there be less than one hundred adults, the Governor and Executive Council, notwithstanding, to be authorized to issue, under special circumstances, a stipend of £100 per annum to a visiting Minister.

"Fourth. In places where there is no Church or Chapel, and there is reasonable ground for delaying the building of the same, the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, to be authorized to issue any sum not exceeding £100 towards the stipend of such Minister, in aid of private contributions to the same amount, such contributions not being less than £50.

"Fifth. Trustees, not less than three in number, to be appointed for every Church or Chapel, by the private contributors towards the same; to which Trustees the real estate therein shall be conveyed, and who shall receive and account for sums issued in pursuance of this Act.

"Sixth. Free sittings to be reserved in every Church or Chapel, to the extent of one fourth of the whole, for the use of poor persons.

"Seventh. Trustees to be appointed for Churches and Chapels already erected."

EXTRACT.

"For a population of 80,000 persons, scattered over a vast tract of country, there are as yet not more than thirty Churches and Chapels of every description, and about thirty-four Ministers of religion,-those of the different religious denominations being in each case included.”

[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]

Obituary.

DIED, in Paterson, New Jersey, on the 12th of June, 1837, Rev. ROBERT GAMBLE ORR, in the 50th year of his age. The immediate cause of his death was mortification, arising from an injury which he had received in one of his feet, and from which no danger was apprehended until the fatal symptoms appeared. On the morning of Sabbath, June 11th, the fact was intimated to him, that death was rapidly approaching, The intelligence was unexpected, but it was received with composure. It was evident to all, that the work of preparation for leaving the world had not been postponed until the closing scene arrived. Death and eternity appeared to be subjects with which the mind of Mr. Orr was familiar, He enjoyed those supports which the true religion provides for the hour of trial, and, therefore, he was not unduly moved when he heard, from the attending Physician, that the cold hand of the King of Terrors was already upon him.

The circumstances of the case were eminently calculated to test the reality of his faith. It stood the trial, and came off triumphant. When told that a few hours would probably terminate his life on earth, he called his wife and children to his bed, and informed them that the time for bidding them the last farewell was come. He committed them in prayer to his covenant God. He charged his afflicted partner to bring up their children in the knowledge and fear of the Lord, and then turning to his two little daughters, his only children, he enjoined it on them to live while on earth, so as to prepare for meeting him in heaven when they died.

Being asked, by his affectionate wife, whether he felt assured of his interest in Jesus Christ, his reply was, that he had long ago made up his peace with God; that he had given himself away, soul, body, and spirit, to his Saviour; and that he would not exchange for worlds the comfortable hope which then sustained him. After this, he seemed to retire within himself, and to summon up his energies to the work of immediate preparation for death. When he did, at intervals, direct his attention to those that were around him, it was remarked that his conversation was emphatically in heaven, whence he looked for the Saviour. And it was evident to all, that although it was spent upon a death-bed, this Sabbath was a day of rest to his soul.

During the day, Mr. Orr was visited by two ministerial brethren, from whose conversation and sympathies he derived much consolation.

One of these read in his hearing the 14th chapter of the Gospel by John. Distinctly and joyfully Mr. Orr assented to its various statements, and blessed God for the comfort which they gave him. When the usual time for family worship arrived in the evening, he called the family to his bed, and engaged in prayer. The "spirit of grace and supplication" seemed to be poured upon him. He prayed for himself, his family, and friends, his native and adopted country, the Church and the world,-he appeared to anticipate an immediate admission to heaven, and shewed distinctly to his admiring and rejoicing friends, that although he was passing through the valley of the shadow of death, he feared no evil. He concluded his prayer by committing his spirit to God, his Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, and, in a few hours, he was in eternity.

Upon the occurrences of this the last day spent by a deceased brother

in the ministry, upon earth, the writer of this notice has dwelt so long, because they were characteristic of the man.

Mr. Orr died as he had lived, an intelligent, sober-minded, and consistent Christian. He was an honest and amiable man ; a good scholar; a friend of every laudable enterprise; a Christian of high attainments, and a minister of Jesus Christ, ardently attached to his Master's work. His course since his arrival in this, a land of strangers, was marked by many adverse dispensations. He always, however, seemed to be well sustained, and the discipline of adversity was evidently doing its part in advancing the sanctification of his soul. He had much tribulation, but there is every reason to believe, that, relieved from it, he has entered the kingdom.

At the period of his death, Mr. Orr was the Moderator of the Eastern Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and was under appointment to open the Synod with a sermon on the subject of "Christ's presence in the courts of his house," on the 14th August next. He will not be there to discourse to his brethren respecting the Saviour's presence in the Church on earth. He will be enjoying that presence, we doubt not, in the glories of the temple above. J. N. M'L.

ORDINATION.-The Rev. A. C. Maclatchey was Ordained on Tuesday, 29th August, to the pastoral charge of the Congregation of Enniskillen. The services of the day were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Chambers, Armstrong, and Hanna.

PROFESSOR DAVIDSON'S LETTER ON THE PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT OF THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN.

(The following is the copy of a letter which has been addressed to every minister of the Synod of Ulster. It will sufficiently explain itself.)

DEAR SIR,

THE Editorial management of the Orthodox Presbyterian is about to be given up into my hands, at the close of the present year. This little Periodical has accomplished extensive good. It was started at a time when the true interests of the General Synod of Ulster required the existence of a magazine to illustrate, maintain, and defend its princi ples. Such an organ the Orthodox Presbyterian has proved itself to be. But it has been thought that it is now capable of several improvements, and that articles of a more substantial nature may be admitted into its pages, by virtue of which it may justly assume a higher character. It has been proposed to alter its shape from Duodecimo to Octavo, and to increase the price by the small addition of one shilling and six-pence per annum. In consequence, also, of the inconvenience of commencing the

year of the Magazine's existence on any other month than January, it is deemed advisable to suspend the publication till the beginning of the new year, by which time all arrangements shall have been fully made, and all means possible taken, in order to render it worthy of the Presbyterian Church, and specially deserving the support of every member belonging to the General Synod of Ulster. Those under whose management it has hitherto been, have requested me to undertake its Editorship, as it is in my power to devote to it more time than they can possibly spare, amid the laborious duties of their parishes. In thus undertaking to enlarge the sphere of its usefulness, and to introduce a greater variety of original articles into its pages, the benefit of the same class of readers to whom it has hitherto been acceptable, will be chiefly consulted, while neither the wants and wishes of our students will be wholly overlooked, nor papers withheld, of a complexion congenial to the theological taste and literary habits of the ministers. I propose, especially, to attend to the interests of Presbyterianism, as developed by our own Church, and the facilities afforded by our scriptural form of Church government for the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom. I conceive it to be a matter of the greatest importance, that the General Synod of Ulster should continue to support a periodical intended to defend and explain its own principles, and to form a permanent record of steps taken, and measures passed, which shall form objects of surpassing prominence in the pages of our Church's history.

It would lengthen this circular beyond due measure, were I to insert in it a full and lengthened statement of the subjects and measures on which it is proposed that the new and enlarged series of the Orthodox Presbyterian shall expatiate. I shall merely state, at present, one important feature which it will present, viz., that of a Missionary Register, contain. ing regular periodical accounts of the operations of our Home Mission, as well as of other societies, whose efforts are directed to the Christianization of foreign lands. The fundamental principles according to which it shall be conducted, are the same as those on which it has hitherto stood, and the doctrines inculcated will be in accordance with the acknowledged standards of the Church. This brief statement must suffice, at present; but I shall endeavour, in the introduction to the first number, to state, with perspicuity and comprehensiveness, the topics that may be expected to be taken up in all their bearings and discussed in their varied aspects. Meantime, I request of you to forward the interests of the periodical, according to your ability. In the sphere of your labours, you can recom. mend it to the notice of all who have any regard for the general welfare of the visible Church, and the prosperity of our Zion. To your people

[ocr errors]
« PreviousContinue »