B.M.H., 1866, pp. 253-254.

      The first annual meeting of the churches of Christ in Victoria was held on Monday evening, April 2, 1866, in Lygon Street Chapel, Carlton. About three hundred delegates and brethren from the country, suburbs and city assembled. Elder Picton of Ballarat, was called to preside, and Bro. J. W. Webb, of Melbourne, to act as Secretary. Bro. Alfred Shaw read a report of the schedules returned. Schedules and letters were received from New South Wales and New Zealand. The earnest spirit evinced in the letters and the deepening conviction expressed of the need of talented earnest evangelistic labourers call for special notice.

      Bro. J. W. Webb, who had returned in time for the meeting from an evangelistic tour of twenty six days gave an interesting account of his labours, resulting in the planting of one church, eleven immersions and two reclaimed.

      Bro. H.S. Earl, who had been obliged to suspend his labours in Melbourne, and visit Adelaide for his health in the last quarter of 1865, gave an interesting account of his labours there, resulting in the addition of upwards of forty to the churches. The hearts of the Brethren were cheered, and a lively interest excited in regard to the Truth.

      The schedules returned show in Victoria 749 brethren, 377 Sunday scholars, 58 Sunday school teachers, and 10 chapels belonging to the brethren. The next annual meeting was agreed to be held (D.V.) on Easter Monday, 1867, in the Chapel, Lygon street at three p.m.

      A vote of thanks was moved and carried to Brethren A. Shaw and J. W. Webb for their labour in getting the returns. It was also moved and carried that the three brethren whose names are appended send a report of the meeting to the Editors of the British Harbinger for publication.

B.M.H., 1867, pp. 297-298.

      The second annual meeting of the Churches in Victoria, and other Colonies, was held on Easter Monday, April 22nd, 1867, in Lygon Street Chapel, Carlton. Upwards of twenty representatives of the Churches met for business at 3 p.m. Elder S. H. Coles, of Brighton, was called to preside, and Bro. John Proctor, of St. Kilda, to act as secretary to the meeting. After the opening exercises, Bro. C. G. Lawson, of Carlton, read a report of the twelve schedules received from Churches in Victoria; also letters and schedules from New South Wales, South Australia and New Zealand. These communications expressed the desire that the meeting might be to the glory of our heavenly Father, and the furtherance of the cause of our Redeemer.

      Matters affecting the interests of the cause were then considered, and committees of brethren were appointed to bring up reports on different projects, such as the establishment of a book depot for the works and literature of the brethren--the training of Evangelists, etc. These reports to be received by a meeting of representatives of the Churches, to be held on Nov. 9th next, (the Prince of Wales' birthday), which is observed as a holiday here. One resolution of general interest relative to a Hymn Book for the disciples of Christ in America, England, and Australia we transcribe.--"That the Churches in the Colony be recommended by this meeting to adopt the new American Hymn Book, if Bro. King will publish an edition of it; but if Bro. King will not do so, that the Churches be recommended to adopt the English Hymn Book to be published by Bro. King."

      After settling a programme for the General Meeting of Brethren at 7 o'clock, the representatives adjourned to the vestry, where tea was served. At 7 o'clock upwards of 200 brethren assembled. Bro. G. L. Surber presided. A hymn was sung, and prayer led by Elder Wm. McGregor, the secretary then briefly informed the meeting of the business done by the representatives, and gave a concise statement of the schedules, showing in the twelve Victorian Churches, reported 666 members, 48 teachers of the young, and 469 scholars, and an increase in the said Churches, for the year, of 93 members.

      From New South Wales, four Churches report a membership of 125, increase 19, South Australia and New Zealand returned only one schedule each.

      Brothers Surber, Webb, and Coles gave cheering and encouraging addresses, exhorting to prayer, liberality, and individual labor for the achievement of greater results during the ensuing year. The meeting closed with singing and prayer by Bro. G. L. Surber.

      It was agreed that the next annual meeting should be held on Easter Monday, 1868. Representatives to meet for business at 10 a.m.

      The Brethren whose names are appended, were requested to send a report of the Meeting for publication in the British Harbinger.

      We forward the following explanatory note, which should have been under the report of schedules last year. In the date of formation of Churches, Lygon Street, Carlton, is set down as having been formed in 1854. It was formed by the junction of two Churches, Melbourne and Carlton, the former of which was formed in 1854.

      Two Evangelists are at present laboring in Victoria--Bro. G. L. Surber in connection with the Carlton Church, and Bro. J. W. Webb in connection with the Evangelist Committee.

      Various brethren are scattered throughout the Colony, in places where there are no Churches. The following Churches did not return schedules,--Ballarat, Mount Clear, Bulleen and Warrnambool; they are estimated to number 150 members.

      If I were qualified to search out the best Christian in the kingdom, I should not expect to find him either in a professor's chair or in a pulpit. I should give the palm to that person who had the least thought of himself, and the most admiring and cordial thoughts of the Saviour.

J. NEWTON.      

B.M.H., 1867, pp. 316-317.

      The second Annual Conference of the Churches of Christ in Victoria has come and gone. The anxieties of many disappeared after the meeting of delegates. When they sat down to tea joy and peace seemed to take possession of them all. Those who had been estranged from each other were brought closer together again, and an evident desire pervaded every mind for a closer union than has obtained for the last two or three years; may it go on and increase. As a short review of the meeting may not be uninteresting, I shall take the items seriatim.

      It was intimated in the circular of the secretaries, that the Meeting of the Delegates was to take place at 3 p.m., "to arrange the programme," etc., consequently "the churches" did not assemble at that time, so that the whole of the business was got through in time for the evening meeting. Whether the secretaries intended that the business should be transacted solely by the delegates I do not know, but I think that had it been otherwise it would not have prospered so well. The representatives seemed to think they were appointed by their respective churches to constitute a committee for that purpose, and, therefore, non-representatives had no voice other than through them. To this I cheerfully submitted, rather than impede the progress of their deliberations. It is to be hoped that the churches will continue this order, as it is, in my opinion, the best way of getting through the business; all they have to do is to select their most clear-headed men to do their business for them. At first sight it may appear an infringement upon the liberty of the people, but I do not think so. It is my conviction that the success of the meeting was owing to it.

      Brother Coles, of Brighton, was called to the chair. The first business gone into was the reading of the schedules from the colonies. I need not say anything about them further than that the South Australian churches returned none, (with one exception), through a misunderstanding. Letters from churches in New South Wales, New Zealand, etc., were read, in which the great need of evangelists was a prominent feature. I may here mention that Victoria stands in as much need of efficient and faithful evangelists as any of the colonies. Brother Surber is laboring at Lygon Street, he being supported by that church alone, and the Evangelist Committee have recently engaged the services of Brother Webb for three months only. He goes back to South Australia at its expiration. They therefore at the close of the evening meeting, invited Brother Exley to devote himself to the work, and which, after a week's consideration, he consented to do. I may further state that he was sent out on his mission by a meeting

held at Manchester Unity Hall, on the 15th of May, when prayers were offered to our Heavenly Father for his success. He had been a "lay" preacher for twenty years among the Wesleyans, but having now "learned the way of the Lord more perfectly" we had much pleasure in "bidding him God speed." Victoria has at present no other Evangelists.

      After reading letters, the next business considered was that of "bringing out and sustaining Evangelists." Brother Webb admitted resolutions which, after slight modification, were carried. "Bringing out and sustaining" should be "bringing out and sustaining while training. " Brethren Surber, Shaw, Thomson, and Ashton were appointed a Training Committee, the latter to collect funds, while Brother Surber gives the instruction. Appeals for funds to be confined to Victoria, although, I have no doubt, contributions may be received from the neighboring colonies.

      It was also resolved that a book depot be established in Melbourne, so that we shall be able to obtain more readily the works of brethren at home and in America, and at the lowest possible price. I feel certain that a very large number of works will thus find their way into the hands of brethren who otherwise would not go to the trouble of sending to Europe or America for odd copies. As regards the hymn book, all I can say is the sooner we get it the better. If the American hymn book is adopted we hope we shall have a good article as regards size, typography, paper, and binding, but I do not think the American production altogether meets the approval of the brethren generally. If a new hymn book is put to press, approved, and stereotyped, a thousand copies might very safely be sent out; five hundred would be taken up at once. But under no circumstances send us an imperfect article; bad as we want them we prefer doing as we have done rather than have a hymn book which would shortly have to be replaced by another.

      The next item considered was the propriety of publishing a periodical in Melbourne, and a committee was appointed to collect information bearing on this subject, and to report to a meeting that day six months. It was resolved, therefore, that that meeting at its rising adjourn to the 9th of November next, so as to report progress, etc. Now, although a periodical may and would be of great service to us here, I am inclined to think that we are not prepared to do it efficiently.

      Taking the meeting as a whole, I am happy to say that it has proved a great success. In the evening Brother Surber presided, and gave an interesting account of the rise and progress of the cause in his native town in Kentucky, U.S. Brother Webb gave an account of his labors here and in Adelaide, and Brother Coles reviewed the secretaries' report.

T. R. NORRIS.      

B.M.H., 1868, pp. 255-256.

      The third annual meeting of Churches of Christ in Victoria and adjoining colonies was held in Lygon Street Chapel, on Easter Monday, April 13th, 1868. At 10 a.m. about forty representatives assembled for business. With the exception of Br. M. Green, who represented Sydney, New South Wales, all represented Churches in Victoria. Br. George Gowdy, of Maryborough, was called to preside, and Brethren S. H. Coles, of Brighton, and C. G. Lawson, of Carlton, acted as secretaries. The meeting having been opened by devotional exercises, Br. C. G. Lawson read the minutes of the last annual meeting, and the meeting held November 9th, 1867, both of which were confirmed.

      A report of the Schedules received from the Churches in Victoria was read, also the Schedules and letters from the Churches in South Australia, New South Wales, and New Zealand. Br. M. Green, who had been deputed to convey the suggestions of the brethren in Sydney, delivered these orally to the meeting. All the communications breathed the same spirit of desire for happy issues from the meeting, to the glory of God our Father and the onward progress of the cause of our Redeemer.

      A programme of business was drawn up by a committee and adopted by the meeting. After an adjournment of half an hour for luncheon in the vestry, the subjects on the programme were considered seriatim, as far as time permitted, and were as follows:--"The publication of a Periodical, the Hymn Book, Book Depot, General Scheme of Evangelization," and kindred subjects.

      In discussing "The Hymn Book" an important question was raised, namely, "How far the resolutions or recommendations passed at the annual meeting affected representatives and churches?" The majority were decidedly opposed to legislation and regarded consultation and encouragement as the object of the meeting, and that the duty of representatives ended in conveying to the churches they represented the recommendations passed at the meeting and an adjournment for tea, which was served in the Vestry, the meeting and the business that remained on the programme were adjourned till the 9th of November; business to commence at 2 p.m. in the Chapel, Lygon Street.

      The general meeting at 6 p.m. was attended by upwards of 300 brethren. Br. G. Gowdy presided, Br. C. G. Lawson gave a brief report of the schedules received, and of individual and collective church progress. Effective and stirring addresses were given by Brethren M. W. Green, Sydney, J. G. Burtt, Melbourne, G. L. Surber, Carlton, and H. Picton, Ballarat. The representatives remained after the general

meeting, and having passed a vote of thanks to the Secretaries, requested them to forward a report of schedules and the meeting to the Editor of the British Harbinger for publication.

A.C.P., 1868-1869, p. 112.

      It may be interesting to your readers to know that the adjourned meeting of delegates from churches took place on 9th November. This was adjourned from the annual meeting held on Easter Monday, the greater portion of which day was spent in discussing the question of how far the decisions of such meetings should be held binding, the majority deciding that the decisions should not be binding, but that the delegates should convey such decisions to their respective churches for their acceptance or otherwise. Some of the oldest brethren opposed this very stoutly, and consequently, the subject was renewed on 9th November, when, after several hours' discussion, it was carried that the meeting adjourn sine die. Thus ended the Victorian Annual Meeting. What good it has ever accomplished it is difficult to tell, unless it is the obtaining of statistics, which could be accomplished in a much simpler way. Some brethren here are very wary of even the appearance of establishing a body of brethren--call it what you may--vested with power to control the action of the churches, or to legislate for them in matters of expediency, believing such to be wrong in principle, and injurious and evil in its results; hence its action has been narrowly watched. However desirous we are to see the truth spread throughout the colony, it will have to be done by some other instrumentality than an annual meeting of delegates from churches.

[NOF 334-337]