consequence, that a public meeting was held on the 25th August, 1850, to protest against what, as colonists, they believed to be unfair treatment. Resolutions were passed expressive of sorrow and disappointment at the action of the Government, and sanctioning the presentation of a petition to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and an address to the Board of Deputies of British Jews in London, soliciting their influence with the Colonial Office. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. M. Rintel, Messrs. A. H. Hart, M. Cashmore, S. Benjamin, and others.
In 1881 the Jewish population of Victoria were some 5000, with five registered ministers, six synagogues or places of worship, offering accommodation for 1784 attendants, 489 of whom did averagely attend, and their approximate annual services were 1274.
In the Statistics for 1886-7 the numbers are thus given by Mr. Hayter:— Population, 4953;[1] registered ministers, 8; Synagogues and other buildings used for public worship, 7—affording accommodation for 2370 worshippers; number of services, 1350; average attendance, 617.
Primitive Methodists.
A congregation of this section of the Christian Church was formed in 1849, and by much perseverance a sufficient sum was collected wherewith to purchase a small piece of land in Latrobe Street, and proceed with the erection of a chapel and school-house, the estimated cost being £600. The foundation stone was laid on the 17th December. The pastor, or, as he was styled, local preacher, was MrJ. M . Bryant, and steps were taken for the building of a chapel at Brighton. The Melbourne structure, a compact brick building, was speedily run up, and so was the chapel at Brighton, for they were both opened for service early in the following year. The first anniversary meeting of the congregation was held in the Latrobe Street Chapel, on the 23rd March, 1851, when it was announced that there was cash in hand amounting to £112 15s. 4d. The place at Brighton was opened on the 20th April, when the subscriptions and collections were reported at £84 13s. 2d., and there were friendly promises of £66. The occasion was marked by the presentation to Mr. Bryant "by a number of official and unofficial friends" of a "blessed Bible and Concordance, as a small testimony of their sincerity, and as a public demonstration of their gratitude for his labours."
Church of the Tabernacle.
In 1850, the Rev. John Allen got together a small congregation under the above designation, and they erected a small chapel in Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy. On the 8th May they held their first service, and in September excited some interest, as they were joined by John Wroe, the founder of a sect known as "Beardies." Wroe himself exhibited, for that beardless time, what was considered a frightfully disfiguring hirsute crop, which fell in plentiful coils from his face down over his breast. He passed himself off as a "bearded" prophet, but his foretellings were not as realistic as his hair. He pretended he had confidential communings with a Holy Spirit, who deputed him to declare that the future of Melbourne would be of the brightest description, only that the early coming of the Millennium would spoil everything.
Wesleyan Methodist Association.
Early in 1851, the Rev. Joseph Townend arrived from England as a Missionary from the Wesleyan Association, and after beating up about forty followers commenced services in a room in George Street, Fitzroy. A small chapel was afterwards built there, but there commenced such a discord between the Minister and the Trustees, that their squabblings were only settled by the intervention of some of the legal tribunals. The Rev. Mr. Townend persevered, and though beset by many difficulties and discouragements, his mission in a few years was not unproductive of good.
German Lutheran Church.
During the years 1849 and 1850, there was an influx of Immigrants from Germany, mostly Lutherans, and as they had no ordained minister with them, they used to attend the English services at the
- ↑ About one half of these are resident in Melbourne and suburbs.
