Two noteworthy events happened in September, viz.:— On the 7th, a meeting of the Diocesan Society was held at the Temperance Hall, when Mr. W. F. Stawell made his first appearance in the role of a religious lecturer, his theme being "The Reformation." He delivered a second one, on the same subject, which brought forth a fierce rejoinder from Mr. James Wallace, a Roman Catholic school-master. The annual meeting of the same body was held on the 20th, at which an excellent address was delivered by the Right Rev. Dr. Short, Bishop of Adelaide, who was paying a visit to Dr. Perry.
St. Paul's Church.
The foundation stone of this edifice (now being displaced to make way for the Cathedral) was laid on the 21st September, 1850, in the presence of thousands of people. At one o'clock the two prelates (Perry and Short) made their appearance, accompanied by Archdeacon Macartney, and as many ministers as could be mustered. The Superintendent, the Mayor, and most of the City Council were there. The ceremony began by Dr. Perry offering a prayer, "that God would be pleased to further their endeavours to promote His Glory, by raising edifices where His people might assemble to thank Him for His blessings, and receive instruction in His Word." Mr. J. M. Smith then read from a parchment slip the following inscription:—
THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE CHURCH OF ST. PAUL'S, MELBOURNE,
Was laid by
The Right Reverend Charles Perry, DD.,
First Bishop of Melbourne,
On the Twenty-first day of September, Anno Domini, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty, being the Fourth Year
of his Consecration, and the Fourteenth of the Reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty
QUEEN VICTORIA.
Governor of the Colony of New South Wales,
Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, Knt.
Superintendent of the District of Port Phillip,
Charles Joseph Latrobe, Esq.
Mayor of Melbourne,
A. F. A. Greeves, Esq.
Trustees of the Church:
The Rev. Daniel Newham, M.A., Incumbent of St. Peter's; Richard Grice; Germain Nicholson;
John Matthew Smith; George Haskell.
Architects:
James and Charles Webb.
Builder:
James Linacre.
In the good Providence of God there was also present on the occasion, on his journey to attend the first Conference of the
Bishops of the Australasian Dioceses, to be held at Sydney,
Augustus Short, D.D.,
First Bishop of Adelaide.
This was sealed in a bottle and placed in an excavation in the under stone upon which the upper one was to be lowered. The builder handed the trowel to the Bishop who spread some mortar, and the upper stone was slowly eased from its suspense when the requisite mallet knocks were given and the stone so "laid." Bishop Perry delivered an effective address; Bishop Short, the Archdeacon, and Rev. Mr. Newham following. A collection was next made, and a simultaneous rendition of the 100th Psalm closed the proceedings, after which, Mr. H. Moor, M.L.A., on behalf of the clergy and laity of the Church of England, Port Phillip, presented an address of Christian welcome to Bishop Short.
Soon after, the Rev. A. C. Thomson returned from leave in Van Diemen's Land, and announced his intention of permanently connecting himself with the ministry over the Straits. On the 9th October one hundred and fifty persons publicly bade him farewell at a tea party in the school-room of St. James', the Mayor presiding, when Mr. Thomson was presented with an address, and a testimonial of a purse of sovereigns. He ministered in Van Diemen's Land for a considerable time, and died there some years ago. It is a singular incident that the three clergymen of different denominations, who were so well and popularly
