A DUNEDINITE IN VICTORIA.

Evening Star, Issue 3026, 31 October 1872, Page 3

A DUNEDINITE IN VICTORIA.

I was nearly six years resident in Otago, in comparatively public positions, both as a journalist and teacher. 1 am tolerably well known in jour admirable Province, and, apart from any superior excuses, many will he glad to read a public letter from me, more especially in your columns, which have ever been open to anything tending to _ infer u your numerous readers. 1 arrived m Melbourne last May. I have consequently been in Victoria about six mouths. I am now engaged as English master at the Grammar School, Castlemaine. . ... Having said so mtlch egotistically, 1 will now speak about Melbourne. Everything in it has extended. The Ary us is a good index of Melbourne, especially its advertisements ; but I assure you one’s owu eyes are a far better receptacle of knowledge. The Melbourne of 1872 is not the Melbourne of 1882, still less the Melbourne of 1852. Melbourne now has all the employments (almost) of Glasgow, Manchester, or Liverpool. Factories are very numerous. Railway engines and other railway plant are constructed by Melbourne engineers. Theatres are worked almost solely by actors who have never been out of Victoria. Melbourne paragraphing for the papers is now a distinct branch ot journalism. Churches have increased too. The best clerical elocutionist is the now famous Charles i lark, of the Eap.ist Chuich, formerly tenanted by the Rev. Isaac Ecu. M r Clark wears no gown, but he docs wear many finger rings. In the street he would never be mistaken for a preacher. He is ill—rather than good-looking. But Mature has given him voice, and he knows it. He gives many secular readings. He is a “ draw” where he goes. He is also a good preacher from a literary point of \ iew ; but ow in" to his having an excellent voice, it has become a habit with some superficial people to state that he is “ all voice, and nothing more. It is also said he would make a good actor. Let people not be too sure about that. What seems very excellent in an pmateur especially a clerical amateur—might be only a shade above mediocrity in a theatre. The Rev. Anketell M. Henderson, of the amphitheatrical Independent Church, in Collins street east, is, as a literary man, a cry good indeed; his association of ideas and flow of thought and memory being wonderful, as he never once looks at a note, but quotes “ innumerable” verses and chaptors entirely from recollection. Like all the preachers here, he uses little or no "esturo, but unlike the preachers of other places, he speaks in a familiar, jet highly literary tone, which cunics with it immense force, notwithstanding the tact more patent every day—that physically he is growing weaker and weaker. It is most difficult to catch many of his words, especially at opening and conclusion of his discourses. Looked at from a literacy point of view, he must have been a splendid pieacher when in his prime. Yon yourself must have heard Mr Lari, of a sect here called the Christian Disciples ; their place is in Lygon street, Carlton. Mr Earl was, until lately, in South Australia, but a Mr Serber, his predecessor in Lygon street, went to the United States, Mr Earl has taken his place in Lygon street, which is every Sunday night packed with a very attentive audience, chiefly composed of the respectable working classes. No money is asked for in this church, the rule of the sect prohibiting collections of an indiscriminate character. Mr Earl has emphatic utterances, a solid voice, and a fine, manly, and at the same time aimahle physique. He has groat influence. His sect, compared with others, is not large, but it is increasing. Their chief aim is to add nothing to, and subtract nothing from the New Testament, whiou is almost the only part of Scripture they are guided by, and where reason does not condemn, they accept even the minutest parts of the New Testament almost literally. On baptism they place great reliance. M r Charles Bright is a layman. He was formerly a shining light on the Argus. He is now I think in some new literary employment. He is a Unitarian and Spiritualist, His style, secularly considered, is most attractive. He reads his addresses. His locality is sometimes the Hall of the Progressive Spiritualists in Latrobe sometimes the Unitarian Church on Easter Hill. He has a terrible “down” on priests and parsons, as have all free thinkers, and he comes out decidedly strong, making our flesh creep Avitli his heterodox utterances. I fancy that the {we-thinkers think far more

freely than they say, social reasons preventing the pure outflow of their thoughts. You know Mr James Smith. He was editor of the Australasian, but he got notice to quit because he defended Spiritism in the Argus. He is still, however, a contributor to numerous journals. He has broken loose from the Spiritists, and now pa . ..u s his own canoe. He says he never was a Spiritist [what will Mr Stout think of this ?], and that Spiritism enfeebles the brain, He preaches that he is inspired by God alone, and that a magnetic wave will soon pass over the earth and wash away all who are disobedient to lus teachings. He says he will not be at all sony when he himself gives up the ghost. His friends think he has taken leave of his wits. Mr Martin, a Presbyterian, is a learned and homely preacher. It is not often that you see erudition and homeliness meet, but they do meet in him, Either superior to, or fully equal—but I really think superior—to Mr Henderson, is the Rev. Peter Menzies, Presbyterian, now at the Temperance Hall, Hassell street, while his new church is being built, which will be, I believe, a credit to our city. Mr Menzies is not an elocutionist —nay, he is not an ordinarily good speaker. He has most awkward gestures, but he has intellectual tire, vast How of language, apparently inexhaustible How of thought as well as of words, and evidently indomitable zeal aud energy. His mind is an ever active volcano. 1 really think he is the greatest Victorian preacher. He is most catholic in his creed, and ho believes that there is an element of good in even the most discordant creeds. (To he continued.)