CHAPTER V.

1857, 1858.

Moore College-Cathedral-Bishop's Speech-Visit to Melbourne -Meetings of Clergy-Broughton Chapel, Bishop's SermonPreparation of Synod Bill-Episcopal Residence, BishopscourtOpening of Year 1858-Visit to Monaro-Illness and Death of Archdeacon Cowper-Appointment of Dean of Sydney.

THE arrival of the Principal of Moore College from England (in the month of August, 1856) had led the trustees to consider the matter of the erection of such buildings as were required for the reception of students, and the proper working of such an institution. And they resolved to build a chapel, a hall, a library, and twelve rooms for students, the whole to form part of a quadrangle. The first stone of the new buildings was laid on the 14th of January, 1857, in the presence of an assemblage of clergy and laity, who regarded the undertaking with great interest. The views entertained by the trustees were expressed by the Bishop on their behalf in the speech which he delivered upon the occasion. After speaking of Mr. Moore's munificence in leaving his estate for this and other objects connected with the support and benefit of the Church, he said:

Taking into consideration the existing educational institutions and the future wants of the diocese, the trustees judged that it would be wise to provide in the first instance for the training of those members of the Church of England who are intended for the sacred office of the ministry. Without, therefore, necessarily excluding any other students, not being in connexion with any other institution, but being anxious to co-operate with St. Paul's, we believe that we act in accordance with the intentions of the late Mr. Moore in making this a theological training college, where those who desire to enter the ministry of the Church of England will generally be required to reside. Such institutions are in accordance with the experience and practical wisdom of England. They are already established in some dioceses; they will soon exist in more. They combine the advantages of that theological course which distinguishes the University of Dublin from the English universities, together with that practical training which no university can supply. In addition to the theological instruction and the composition of sermons, opportunity is afforded for practice in the most useful parts of the Christian ministry. The Benevolent Asylum contains within its walls many aged, sick, and infirm who derive much benefit and consolation from the services supplied by the Principal and the students. The parish of Holdsworthy is placed under the pastoral care of the Principal, while my friend, the Incumbent of Parramatta, has been materially aided by one of the students in carrying on a Sunday service in the remote hamlet of Smithfield.

It will thus be seen that Moore College was calculated, as well as designed, to supply that combined theological and pastoral training through the want of which many who were in former days admitted into Holy Orders found themselves unfitted to discharge the office with which they were invested. And it is only simple truth to say that without it the progress

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of the Church would have been greatly hindered from the want of clergymen to perform its

ministrations.

Amongst the churches which were in course of erection at this time, the most prominent was the Cathedral. But its progress had been retarded by the difficulty of obtaining funds sufficient to justify the Committee in pushing on the work with greater vigour. Though commenced in May, 1837, the walls were yet incomplete, and the building was without any roof. With a view to awaken the zeal of Churchmen in the diocese to more zealous efforts and greater liberality, a public meeting was held on February the 3rd, and a report laid before it by the Building Committee of the progress made since the last meeting was held in 1853. Over this meeting the Bishop presided. The Committee acknowledged in the report that 'since the arrival of the present diocesan a new impulse had been given to all Church work, and that they themselves had partaken of the influence.'

This meeting, however, was but preparatory to another, larger and more influential, which was held within the walls of the roofless cathedral in the month of May. It was presided over by the GovernorGeneral, Sir William Denison. The estimate of the architect, which was read at the meeting, was that the sum required to finish the building so as to render it fit for public worship would be about 9500l. The Bishop spoke with his usual persuasiveness, and other gentlemen followed, urging their fellow Churchmen to put forth fresh efforts for the completion of the sacred edifice. The following

passage from the Bishop's speech shows the light in which he viewed the cathedral, and the grounds upon which he claimed the help which was required:

To the Bishop the cathedral must be an object of peculiar interest-it is his seat, his pulpit; there is-in truth what George Herbert calls that of every pastor-his 'throne.' There he can statedly minister to the people of his parochia, his parish, as his diocese is termed. For as he is the chief pastor, so in this the parish church of the whole diocese, he can, as in the language of ancient statutes he is required to do, minister and preach.

There are many aspects in which cathedral institutions have presented themselves to the minds of thoughtful men at home, and he who is curious in such matters may find them embodied in the reports of the Cathedral Commissioners. But in this case, where so large a proportion of the population of the diocese is gathered together, where people from all parts of the world and of the colony resort, to my mind the most attractive and useful point of view in which to regard it is as a building sacred to the worship of Almighty God, where two or three thousand persons, if need be, may assemble together for common prayer and united praise, where the immigrant, the soldier, the seaman as he lands, the settler from the interior visiting the metropolis with his family, and the poor who desire to do so, may meet their fellow men before their Common Maker, and learn the way of life and salvation through the knowledge of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

The result of this meeting was that a number of gentlemen came forward and offered, some their money, some their services as collectors of subscriptions, and a fresh impulse was given to the building of the cathedral. of the cathedral. More than one such meeting was, however, found necessary before the members of the Church were induced to supply all

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that was necessary for its final completion. The sum of 3800l. was contributed in the course of the year.

A few days after this meeting, the Bishop found it necessary to undertake another journey to the west, as far as Bathurst, for the discharge of episcopal duties. The journey involved seventeen days' travelling on horseback.

There still remained a portion of the diocese which he had not visited. Stretching away in a south-westerly direction there were districts, the most remote of which was five hundred miles distant from Sydney, in which population was scantily settled, and where public means of grace were almost wholly unknown. He was anxious, therefore, to visit this territory, that he might personally ascertain what could be done for the people. But it was some time before he was able to leave Sydney, so many and pressing were the calls upon his time at headquarters.

In the month of August, however, the Bishop again began his travels, accompanied on this occasion by Mrs. Barker. The journey extended as far as Deniliquin, a township four hundred and eightyone miles south-west of Sydney. It occupied fiftytwo days, during which he was constantly engaged in preaching, holding Confirmations, and conferring with persons in the different localities through which he passed, attending meetings about churches in the course of erection or needed, and taking other steps for promoting the spiritual well-being of the dwellers in those parts. Much of the travelling was done over difficult roads, and in some cases where roads were not yet formed.