In May. 1841, the number of Church of England worshippers was put down at 4626, for the " township and the County of Bourke." T h e erection of the church was far advanced, and the congregation, before it was completed, took steps to procure a site for a second one on the opposite, or Eastern Hill, as the region north of Swanston Street was then called. A meeting was held (23rd June, 1841) at which was announced that the East Melbourne Church movement had met with so much encouragement that more than ,£300 had been contributed without m u c h solicitation. T h e Melbourne Episcopalians were n o w stated to number 2926, and it was agreed to make immediate application to the Government for the land, and the cash advance. In the course of the year, Mr. George Beaver, a master-builder, put up an extensive room or workshop at the eastern end of Little Bourke Street, and this was utilised as a place for occasional worship, by the Rev. Mr. Wilson, pending the erection of the second church. Meanwhile the old wooden structure on the Western Hill was continued in its religious duty, whilst the new one by its side was proceeded with more slowly than was desirable through a lowness of funds; but the day at length came when it was opened for service, to a large congregation. This was on Sunday, October 2nd, 1842, when the Rev. Mr. T h o m s o n officiated, and preached an effective sermon from 2nd Chronicles, chap. 7, verse 15: " N o w mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place." A collection was m a d e to defray the expense of moving the sittings from the old to the new building, and £ 1 1 18s. 3d. received. O n Sunday the 30th October, prayers of thanksgiving were offered in St. James', and some of the other places of worship, for the escape of the Queen from assassination by John Francis, on the 301I1 M a y of same year. Nothing worth special mention occurred until the spring of the next year (1843) when a second episcopal visitation was made by the Right Rev. Dr. Broughton. T h e Bishop arrived at Geelong on the 25th September, per the " Rajah " from Sydney, and continued for a fortnight in the Western District. O n the 9 th October he came by the " Aphrasia " steamer to Melbourne, and was met at the wharf by a number of gentlemen from w h o m he received a respectful and cordial welcome. Dr. Cussen (the colonial surgeon) had his carriage in readiness, into which the Bishop and the Rev. Mr. T h o m s o n stepped and were driven to St. James'. Here there was a brief service, after which his Lordship and a few friends proceeded to the residence of Mr. James Smith, on the south side of Collins Street, where they breakfasted. This cosy snuggery was placed at the Bishop's service during his sojourn in Melbourne. O n the 15th his Lordship preached at St. James' and the next day a public meeting was held at which he presided. Their Honors the Superintendent (Latrobe) and the Resident Judge (Jeffcott) attended, when a resolution was passed affirming the necessity for vigorous action to liquidate a debt of ,£95° on the church, a special subscription for the purpose was opened, and it was determined to make a ward collection through the town. T h e Bishop held a confirmation at St. James' on the 20th, when some 80 persons, aged 14 and upwards, were confirmed and the church was densely crowded on the occasion. Dr. Broughton, took several excursions into the 'country, and was indefatigable in arranging and suggesting for present needs and future contingencies T h e contemplated erection of a church on the Eastern Hill was an object of the first importance and in order to infuse new life into a movement which had become semi-dormant, one of the best attended and most influential gatherings yet held in connection with church matters came off on the irth November in Beaver's building. T h e Bishop was present in the chair, and delivered an earnest and interesting address. T h e other speakers were Messrs. E E Williams, James Simpson J. D. Pinnock, R W Pohlman P. Davis, Drs. Palmer, Campbell, Clutterbuck, and Major St. John. Ibe speech of the day was D r Palmer's, but its literary excellence could be better appreciated by reading than hearing, it H e was always learned, ornate, and impassioned; an accomplished essayist rather than a popular speaker O n this occasion he sketched a brilliant resume of the liberal manner in which the ancients endowed the temples of Paganism, and, passing on to modern times, urged upon his co-i.ligiomsts the necessity for liberal co-operation. " Look," he exclaimed " at our own native land, or to the broad expanse 0 C e l m , and everywhere do w e behold, in its length and breadth, structures at once beautiful and imrosng raised by the piety of our forefathers; and, should it be objected, that to propose such examples for imposing ra.seu uy j Protestant I would answer that at least they m a y serve to F
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U T e r e a u g h t which should forbid as .0 light our torches at Pagan altars or to sharpen our spears at the
