CHAPTER X.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS: THEIR FOUNDATION AND FIRST CELEBRATIONS.
SYNOPSIS: —First Religious Service. —Dr. Thomson. —First Baptism. —First Sabbath-School Teacher. —Church of England. —Bishop Broughton's Visit. —The First Minister. —Rev. Mr. Gryll's Leave of Absence.—Is Succeeded by Rev. J. Y. Wilson. —Foundation of St. James' Laid. —Church Fees. —Prayers for the Queen. —Dr. Broughton's Second Visit. —"Parson Thomson's Cabbage Garden." —Rev. E. Collins at Geelong. —Foundation Stone of St. Peter's. —Port Phillip an Independent Bishopric. —Right Rev. Dr. Perry, first Bishop. —His Arrival and Installation. —Letters Patent Mislaid. —The Bishop's First Sermon. —Sectarian Discord. —"Jack Ketch" in Church. —Geelong an Archdeaconry. —Dr. Macartney's Appointment. —Bean, Braim, and Bloomfield at Geelong. —Episcopal Conference at Albury. —St. James' and St. Lawrence's Cathedral Sites. —Richmond Church. —St. Paul's Church. —The Foundation Laid. —Reverend Thomson's Return, and Farewell. —Death of the Revs. Forbes and Geoghegan. —Diocesan Board of Missions. —Church Conference. —The Rev. Clowes, First Minister at Collingwood. —First Deceased Clergyman in the Colony. —Proceedings of the Diocesan Society. —Death of the Rev. D. Newham. —Opening of the Church at Brighton. —Ministerial Changes. —Dr. Perry's Resignation and Departure.
THE historical work of Mr. Bonwick before referred to, supplies a few curious incidents connected with the early religious services in the colony, and the arrival of the pioneer ministers of the chief Christian communities. Mr. Bonwick had access to special sources of information, both oral and otherwise, and for several of the events narrated, as having occurred anterior to 1840,1 a m in some degree indebted to his researches. Whatever else m a y be written of the motives actuating the Batman co-partnery in their purposed acquisition of the public territory, credit must be given them for a desire to provide, though on a very limited scale, for the religious and moral requirements of their employes; for it is alleged that none but married servants were to be engaged by them, and Dr. Thomson's services were retained as the Company's Medical Officer and Catechist or Lay-reader. In April, 1836, the Rev. Mr. Orton, Wesleyan minister, came on a visit with Batman's family from V a n Diemen's Land, and thefirstregular religious service was performed by him on the 25th, in Druidical fashion, under " the blue ethereal sky," surrounded by sheoaks, on Batman's Hill. It partook slightly of a dramatic display, and was invested with attractions which would be quite a novelty at the present day. In addition to the white portion of the audience there was a large muster of opossum-rugged, blanket-covered, half-naked aborigines, w h o squatted about; and as the proceedings were about to commence, Batman marched in a contingent often blackfellows, brought from Sydney to facilitate his landbuying from the Chief. These darkies were costumed in black neck-ties, white trousers and red shirts, and their head m a n or Serang cut quite a dash in a cast-off military uniform, given him by Colonel Arthur, Governor of V a n Diemen's Land; the inevitable cocked-hat and feathers were included, and in the language of the chronicler formed "the crowning ornament to a dress which he wore with ease and grace." The service of the Church of England was read by the Wesleyan minister, Mr. James Simpson acting as the respondent. " T h e h y m n tunes were pitched by Dr. Thomson, the Surgeon-Catechist, and the preacher's text was the Saviour's address to Nicodemus :—' Except a m a n be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" Captain Lonsdale henceforth added to his other duties those of temporary chaplain, and occasionally read prayers in the old Police Court to a mixed gathering of townspeople, soldiers, constables, and convicts. Towards the close of 1836, Mr. George Langhorne, principal of the Black Missionary Station, established in the n o w Botanic Gardens, though not an ordained clergyman, was able to prepare and preach his o w n sermons, and for a time was acknowledged to be a very worthy pro tern, pastor. His ambition was to take orders in the Episcopalian Church, and this necessitated his early departure to Sydney. His place was supplied by the very useful man-of-all work, Mr. James Smith, w h o became afterwards so thoroughly identified
