THE REV. E. H. GULLIVER IN MELBOURNE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 484, 28 June 1890, Page 4

THE REV. E. H. GULLIVER IN MELBOURNE.

(By an Ex-Aucklander. )

Melbourne, June 9. Some of your Auckland readers—l hope, many of them—will be pleased to hear from one who was present, a brief account of the debut of their old acquaintance, the Rev. Mr Gulliver, before a Melbourne audience. The columns of the Star, as well as my correspondence, had acquainted me with Mr G.’s proposed departure, and pub nao on the quivive as to his arrival. Though not running with him on his non-bheological lines, I have the warmest sympathy for him in the peculiar position in which his outspoken faithfulness to his conceptions of truth and duty have placed him, .so I determined if I could accomplish ib, there should be one familiar face to welcome him to, I trust, a larger field of usefulness. To learn more precisely the time Mr G. might he expected, I called on Dr. Strong, whom I found on the platform of the lecture hall underneath his church, where he gives addresses once a week. Proceedings had not begun, so I made my way to the reverend gentleman with all the assurance of an interviewing reporter, and telling him where I came from, who I was, and what information I wanted, had a brief bub pleasant chat with him. He seemed pleased to hear of Mr Gulliver from one who know him personally and could speak of him as a cultivated scholar and Christian gentleman in the best sense. I learned that Mr Gulliver was to arrive before Sunday, June Ist, and would probably be at the doctor's church on that day. I had imagined Dr. Strong as a man of middle age, bub found him, seemingly, not beyond thirty-five, fresh and clean-looking as the Rev. Mr Hill, bub nob quite so ruddy, in manner genial and open, with a voice pleasant to hear—sympathetic and kindly. Later on I found from the announcements that Mr Gulliver would give the Sunday evening address in the ‘‘Australian ” —Dr. Strong's Church —where, when the time came, I paid my first visit to the now building erected by Dr. Strong’s friends after his retirement from the noted Scots’ Church. The interior i 3 more hall than church-like. A splendid organ fills the upper part of an arched recess facing the congregation ; below, and in front of the organ, is a large platform, where the members of the large and well-trained choir sit along the sides facing each other ; lower still, against the front of the platform, sits the organist. The minister’s reading-desk is very conveniently placed, as he can, without trouble, com©unicate either with organist or choir when needed. The whole place, as far as I could make out, is seated with chairs, comfortable and substantial, somewhat of a dining-room pattern. The whole interior has almost a luxurious appearance. The music forms a special attraction, and would draw even if the preacher didn’t. As the strains of the opening voluntary filled the place Dr. Strong entered, followed by Mr Gulliver, both gentlemen gowned. The Doctor took his place at the reading desk I have spoken of,"Mr Gulliver occupying what seemed, from where I sat, a large pew in the centre of the platform. The service, except one short extempore prayer, was Liturgical throughout, and was taken by the Doctor, who is an excellent reader—an art not so common with his order. Ib is long since I heard the lessons read with so much effect.

During the singing of the hymn before the sermon, Mr Gulliver, leaving his place, ascended a flight of steps to the platform high up in front of the organ, and in full view of the whole assembly. I was much struck with this new feature in church arrangement. It gives the speaker a position, where he alone commands the gaze of everyone, a small book rest being all that occupied the place of the usual pulpit. The hymn ended, Mr G. briefly pausing as if bo gather himself well together for the task before him, began by referring to a portion of one of the lessons read, where one of the prophets was questioned by the Lord, “ What dost thou here ?” Apologising for nob dealing with the text in the usual manner, to use his own words he “consigned the prophob to oblivion,” and used the words as no doubt they were indicative of the questioning state of minds of those present, when they found him, a clergyman of the Church of England, occupying the position he did that evening. They had a right to ask, and he was prepared to answer the question, “ What dost thou here ?” I need nob recapitulate—“ has it nob all been writ ” before in the columns of the Star ’—nor need I hardly say there was breathless attention throughout, as he showed how “in response to the law of progress and inquiry, which neither would nor should leave any domain of thought untouched, he had been constrained to give up, as no longer satisfying the demands of reason, so much that was endeared by thoughts of auld lang syne,” etc., etc. Mr G., contrary to his usual practice, made a rather abrupt ending, and without peroration or poetic finish, so abrupt indeed that even Dr. Strong showed the general feeling, by the smile, half amused, half concerned, which passed over his mobile features. I had a short interview with Mr G., service over, and was pleased to find him in excellent health and spirits. If he only succeed? in his degree, as others have done, who came here from Auckland for much the same reason, I do not think he will have cause to regret the change. There is scope here impossible to him in New Zealand.