The following letter was read in the various Churches in Melbourne on Sunday last:-

My Reverend Brethren -

The promises of our blessed Lord, that whatever His Disciples should agree together in asking, should be done for them of His Father, is justly regarded by all earnest Christians as a peculiar encouragement for united prayer. Hence the value which we so properly attach to our ordinary public services, wherein we are used to unite our common supplications unto Almighty God. And hence also those invitations which on various occasions of late years have been addressed to the members of our own and other Churches, to join at certain appointed times in petitioning God for special blessings for themselves, the community to which they belong - the Universal Church of Christ, or the world at large.

You have probably heard of such an invitation, addressed a few months ago to the Disciples of Christ in this country, that they would all set apart stated hours during the first week of the present year, for prayer, either alone or collectively, that God would be pleased to pour down His Spirit to revive His work in these lands. Now the object contemplated by those who issue that invitation, is in itself excellent, and the Clergy of the United Church of England and Ireland should be ready to show their cordial concurrence in it

We do indeed most earnestly desire that true religion and piety may be enkindled and cherished among all who profess and call themselves Christians in this land - we know too, that no exertions for this end can be successful, except through the gracious assistance of the Holy Spirit; - and we are assured, that to obtain such assistance, no means can be so effectual, as the united supplications of the Lord's people. Hence we should be ready to unite ourselves, and to persuade others to unite in humble, earnest, persevering prayer, for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

But it would seem to become us, instead of adopting for this purpose, a time arbitrarily selected by a few individuals, to make use of that which has been already set apart by our Church, for the commemoration the first descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, and which is therefore most appropriate for joining together in prayer to God, that he would pour out the abundance of the same spirit upon His people now. Such an use of Whitsuntide appears to be in strict accordance with the views of the great Reformers of our Church, as shewn in our appointed services; and I have therefore no hesitation in suggesting to you, who are associated with me in the Ministry of the Gospel, that you should bring the subject before your respective congregations and request and exhort them upon the three days of which this festival consists, viz: Whit Sunday, and the following Monday and Tuesday, to make it a special subject of prayer by themselves, and in their families, that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, would look in mercy upon His Church in this land, and pour down upon it the gracious influence of His Holy Spirit, bringing into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived, strengthening such as do stand, comforting the weak hearted, raising up them that fall, and finally beating down Satan under our feet.

I will not dictate to you the course which you ought to pursue on this occasion, but leave the particulars to your own discretion. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will of course be administered on Sunday morning by all those who are in full orders, and I should wish, wherever it is possible, that collections should be made not from the communicants only, but from the entire congregations, for providing the ordinances of the Gospel for the destitute inhabitants of the Bush; the amount collected to be placed at the disposal of the Diocesan Society, or of the Local Branch, if there be one, where the money has been contributed. - Hence you will in your sermons be naturally led to direct the attention of your people to the religious condition of the country in general, and to the spiritual necessities of the parish in particular.

You will specially invite attendance at the morning prayers on Whit Monday and Tuesday, but you will judge for yourselves whether it is expedient to address the people at those services. You will also determine, according to the circumstances of your parochial charge, upon the expediency of holding any meetings for exhortation and prayer upon the evenings of those days. Knowing my general object, and I trust in concurring in it, you will discern the best means of carrying it out.

The idea of selecting this Festival for the purpose which I have mentioned, occurred to me some time ago; but it is a remarkable coincidence that Whit Sunday of the present year will be the tercentenary anniversary of the day on which our Book of Common Prayer was ordered to be used for the first time in all the churches of our native land; and that the Bishop of Gibraltar, in a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury has suggested the propriety of solemnly commemorating that day, and making collections on it for the extension of the Episcopate and clerical body in the colonies throughout the Empire. It is probable that this suggestion will be almost universally complied with, and thus we may hope that there will be on this occasion a sympathy and spiritual communion among all our various congregations, not only in this Diocese, but in the whole of British Christendom.

That the Lord may present us in this and all our doings, with His most gracious favour, and further us with his continual help, is the earnest prayer of

Your faithful and affectionate Brother in the Lord,

C. MELBOURNE