WESLEYAN CHURCH, GRAHAMSTOWN.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 122, 29 February 1872, Page 3

WESLEYAN CHURCH, GRAHAMSTOWN.

The llev. Mr Buller, who has lately returned from the Wesleyan Church Conference at Melbourne, delivered a very interesting and instructing lecture at the Grahamstown Church last night. There was a,large attendance,* After singing and prayer, the rev. lecturer said he was afraid his congregation would be somewhat disappointed, for lie felt very unwell, and lie had been unable to prepare his lecture, partly from this cause, and by reason of his time having been fully occunied j He only arrived- on-Saturday, and had to prepare for the Sabbath services of the following day. On Monday he had an accumulation of correspondence to g o through, and Tuesday .was occupied by the trip to Coromandeh lie would, . however, give them a short account of his visit to Australia. On the Bth Jan. lie left Auckland for Sydney in the Nebraska, and could hear testimony’ to the excellent accommodation afforded by that vessel. They had line weather on the passage, and therefore he had no opportunity of .judging how the vessel would behave in a storm, but it was liis opinion that a ship of a different class was belter adapted for rough seas. In fine weather the Nebraska was all that could be desired. There were many passengers on board, some of whom bad travelled across the American Continent by overland route, and bad visited the Mormon Capital, in Utah, where such great changes were now taking place. They had several conversations on this subject, and on American character, manners, and customs generally, and lie was much struck by a remark, illustrative of the national character, that the Americans boasted of being the biggest country in tlio world, and of having had the biggest war and tiic biggest fire on record. In 44 days they arrived in Sydney, which looked very beautiful. They arrived on the Saturday, and the next day he had the pleasure of hearing two excellent sermons, one at York-strcet Church, and the other at the Cathedral. At the latter the preacher was a somewhat remarkable mail —the llev. Thomas Smith, whom Bishop Worker had had the boldness to ordain, in spite of much opposition from the clergy, and who had become an excellent minister, and amply justified the Bishop’s choice. In person Mr Smith was a stout burly man, and unlike a clergyman, hut lie had great and sterling qualities for the ministry, which were making themselves felt. In early life lie had been a wrestler, a pugilist, a gamester, and was, lie feared, a drunkard also. lie was, in fact, a sort of rough village champion. He married the daughter of a publican to whoso business lie succeeded, and illused her. There was, however, a soft place in his heart, and the death of his little child, to whom lie was much attached, greatly affected him. He was led by his wife to hear the preaching of a lay reader of the Church of England, and not only heard, hut believed and was saved—not all at once, perhaps, but gradually. lie was now one of the leading ministers in Sydney, had a fine church, a crowded congregation, a school of 700 children, and was a Canon of the Cathedral. lie preached an eloquent sermon on the duty of contributing liberally in aid of the Church, and spoke in very plain terms to his congregation. After re-

maining a short time in Sydney, the lecturer proceeded to Melbourne, where, as in Sydney, ho was most hospitably received. The Conference was held in the Lonsdale-street Church, a most beautiful building, and he believed the most complete Protestant Church in the Southern Hemisphere. He used the word “Protestant” as the Roman Catholics had a splendid church there. The Conference presented a most impressive scene. On the platform were seated the president, elders, and officials, and he felt honoured and proud to be included in this number. There were 128 ministers present. The first part of the Conference was devoted to preliminary matters, such as enquiries as to the number and qualifications of pro bationers; candidates for the ministry, 19 in number; supernumeraries, f> ; the number of deaths which had occurred, and here there was good reason for thankfulness, for not one had died during the past year. 'When this was announced, nil rose and sang “Praise God from whom all blessings How.” In matters of discipline theie were only two cases to mention—one of a young man who, allured by gold, had taken to sharebroking at Sandhurst, and whose resignation was accepted ; and one who had trifled with the affections of a young lady. There were extenuating circumstances in the latter case, and the offender had promised to make every reparation, so he was admonished and appointed elsewhere. Five days were occupied in discussing the question of “ Stations." The statistics showed a slight decrease in numbers. The question of Colonial Conferences was then discussed, and next year they would meet in Sydney, and there would he a separate conference for New Zealand. The financial affairs were in a satisfactory condition. The reports of colleges were also most encouraging. The whole concluded with the reading and confirmation of the minutes, and with the offering up of prayer and praise to God. He was present at a glorious love feast at Collingwood, at which a Chinese convert gave a heart-stirring account of his conversion to Christianity. He also attended a missionaiy meeting and a Wesleyan Conference meeting at the Town Hall, at which there were 4,21)0 people present. He visited Sandhurst, which was rapidly increasing in prosperity, o.ving to the adoption, ns he was informed, of deep sinking in the mines. He visited the lions of Sydney and Melbourne, ami was especially struck by the People’s Library in Melbourne, which no visitor ought to miss seeing. Melbourne showed great signs of progress, much evidence of wealth ami prosperity, and also, lie was sorry to say, of poverty and vice. The sight of Paddy's Market on Saturday night would convince anyone of this being the fact. The subject of free trade and protection was now being much discussed, and the opinion of the more intelligent portion of the population was decidedly in favour of free trade. As regarded the national and denominational system of education, the former was much to he preferred. Stale aid and denominational schools would in a few years give way to the national system, and to each denomination supporting itself. Here, in New Zealand, lie hoped the national system would prevail. The rev. gentleman concluded his lecture by stating that lie had been greatly pleased and instructed by his visit, which had benefitted him in mind and in health, and with the prayers of his congregation for him, ami with his for them, lie hoped, although getting an old man, to labour many years for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom.—The singing of the Doxology. and the, delivery of "the benediction, concluded this very excellent lecture, which was listened to throughout with the deepest attention.