RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 918, 10 September 1910, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

CONGREGATIONAL CENTENARY. CELEBRATED IN AUSTRALIA. On August 27, 1810, tlio first 'Congregational Church : in■ Australia '.was formed by the Rev. William. Pascoe Crook, in his schoolhouse at the corner ol Hunter ,and Bligh Streets, Sydney; and the centenary of the denomination was recently, colebrated by special services throughout tho Commonwealth. Admittedly it is an open question whether any claim can be made to, 100 years' continuous history as a denomination, but'there is sufficient evidence in the hands of the- Union committees to .warrant them in .determining.that the birth of. Congregationalism dates back tho full century.. At a recent meeting, the following resolutions were.approved of, and were in turn transmitted-to. the Unions of the . neighbouring States: — (a) That allministers of the churches of our denomination be asked to observe the hundredth anniversary of-tho formation, of the first church of our order,in Australia ' by a special sorvice or, services on Sunday, August 28, call-' jug attention to'so important, an event to the; Christian life of, our\;ountry, and emphasising'; the principles which'; are distinctive v ..of our denomination,- ..with special reference .to the part; taken by Rev. W. P. Crook, in the formation of the church on August 27, 1810:.. "(b); That a special , service- in commemoration '..0f... the. centenary, ■ of. the formation of the' first .Congregational Church in Australia be held, in tho Pitt Street. Church' at the commencement of the annual meetings of the 'Onion in the.third week of October."

'~ . The; Rev.'William i Pascoe" Crook, : the founder.'.of the denomination, was born at.Dartmouth, England, April 20, .1775; came.> out ..'with ;the . first; missionaries inthe ship Duff in 1796,' and landed at Santa Christina, ; Marquesas . Group, March 5, 1797.-; He returned -to. England iii. May, 1799, but. afterwards ac-. companied Lieutenant-Governor Collins on. an expedition, to" colonise. Port., Phillip; landing there - with' his '■ wife on October. 7, .1803; He remained for- three weeks, . and • th'en/s.yoyaged'., Jo';'. Sydney, and 'afterwards', conducted 'a' school at Parramatta.-., On August -27, lfelO, ht. formed a . church on - the \Cohgregational or.slndependent plan. ;;In'-1832,;he' .is recorded;, as Shaving collected. subscript tions for., the first.... Congregational Church.at' Watson's' Bay- -Mr. Crooks , ,was elected : a deacon, of '■ tho. first Con-f gregational-Church in Pitt-Street,. 1833, and' on December. 23, 1839,' -was. present at. the.first annual meeting of the Aus.traliaii Auxiliary to. the L.M:S.,'being, appointed a.;memher;of'the committee-. Signed a.letter'of,welcome to,the Rev. Dr.' Ross, second pastor .of the present. .Congregational •Church. in Pitt,Street, February; 1840;; He-died at' Melbourne. I at the house'of'his ..soli on .Juno; 14). 1846, in ;the -7lst: ycarlof hisage; haviiig been,over 50 years 'a' faithful -labourer in'the vineyard of the.Lord. ;'.,'■