BACK IN EDINBURGH.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 438, 18 January 1890, Page 6

BACK IN EDINBURGH.

The Rev. Principal Rainy and the Rev. Dr. Macgregor addressed public meetings in Edinburgh on November 19bb, in explanation of the part they took in the celebration of the jubilee of the Presbyterian Church, in Victoria (writes the London correspondent of the “ Argus ”). They were enthusiastically welcomed. Principal Rainy bore emphatic testimony to the cordiality and enthusiasm of-the welcome the delegates had received in the colonies. It bad rendered the: wpri| they;pad to discharge enjoyable; and ,gave-,the ; world the assurance that ties of mutual interest:and durable regard associated the mother; countryandhercolonies. Aftercomplimenting Drl Macgregor upon the effectiveness Ofliis oratory, and the ease with which, when English failed him, lie bad poured forth in Scottish, and when Scottish failed he had exploded in Gaelic, Dr. Rainy men-' bioned in general terms the chief characteristics of the colonies. He referred to the colonial press as of a very able character. Adverting to the topographic features of rhe colonies, he stated that in the matter of natural attractions New Zealand was decidedly before Australia; but in Australia there were treasures which were every day being discovered, and all sorts of capacities and capabilities which were going to be developed, probably with most remarkable results. He described the singularly energetic character of the people and the singularly energetic work they had accomplished, and said that if anyone supposed that as a community the colonists were behind the United Kingdom they were quite mistaken. Alluding to the question of federation, Dr. Rainy admitted that “young Australia” occasionally said vehement things, as if a great improvement would be produced by “ cubbing the painter,” but that, he held, was not at all the prevalent idea in the colonies. Ac the same time, unquestionably the colonists meant to administer their own affairs, and to do so with an eye to their own interests. He had brought away the impression that while the colonies would welcome opportunities for consultation with , the mother country, yet if Imperial federation meant “ the creation of any fresh authority that was to manage ” they would be extremely slow and circumspect about agreeing to it until they were satisfied that it was an authority which would understand their affairs, and which, in matters affecting their business, would be effectually controlled by colonial opinion. Speaking of the religious life and work of the colonies, Dr. Rainy said the work of the Church was in the hands of men eminently deserving the confidence and esteem of. the churches at Home. Energetic and resolute Christianity was being built up there. The Rev. Dr. Macgregor had likewise much to relate to his congregation, respecting his visit to “the brightor Britains beyond the sea. ” He referred to the munificen t assistance given to every good cause by such men as Sir Francis Ormond, of Victoria, and Mr David Berry, of New South Wales. To the latter the most ancient of all the Scottish universities owed its deliverance from all but mortal starvation. He thankfully acknowledged the hospitality of the colonists, creating a laugh by declaring that his total travelling expenses from the day he landed to the day he left only amounted to 12s 6d., :He touched upon Mr Gillies’ sensible proposal for a union of the colonies, and thought it would prove a long step towards ultimate federation. With the exception of the trust which God had committed to the Anglo-Saxon people when He made them the permanent possessors of North America, no greater trust had ever been given to a people than had been committed to those who held; the destinies of New Zealand and the mighty Australian continent in their hands. It was surprising that the people of Great Britain knew so little about those splendid possessions, and perhaps cared so little as to what was to become of them. It was a matter for thankfulness that there was growing up in those sunny southern lands a Christian civilisation which, with features peculiarly its own, was yet, on the whole, closely formed on the British model.