The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Building intended for the New Scots' Church took place on Friday last, 22 January 1841. The members of the congregation having met in the School House, sung the 122nd Psalm and then moved to the ground, preceded by a number of the school children.

The stone was laid by David Patrick, Esq., M.D., one of the Elders, who at the same time delivered the following excellent address:-

"We have assembled this morning my Christian friends, to perform a very solemn and interesting service, that of founding a temple to the living God. I regret that the honor of laying the foundation stone of the Church proposed to be erected on the spot where we now stand, should not have been assigned to some one who from his maturer age and experience, would have conferred a grace and dignity on a ceremony of so simple a nature."

"The erection of a Church is at all times an object of pleasing contemplation, even to the mere moralist, or the man of the world. To the eye of taste, the church with its graceful tower or spire may add a new beauty to the landscape, or prove an ornament to the town. The Christian however, contemplates such a building with far higher and holier feelings, that it is dedicated to the service and worship of our Heavenly Father, who has graciously promised to vouchsafe his presence there to every sincere worshipper."

"It should be carefully borne in mind, that it is not the church itself, however beautiful and symmetrical its proportions, that is entitled to our admiration, but it is the presence of God there, which constitutes its chief charm and beauty. When one of the disciples of our Lord with a feeling of pride, directed his attention to the magnificence of the temple, "Master see what manner of stones and buildings are these?" Jesus said unto him, "Seest thou these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." O how little value is external pomp in the eye of God, where there is not real purity."

"The want of church accommodation has been long and is still much felt by the members of the Church of Scotland in this town - but notwithstanding this unfavourable circumstance, it is pleasing to observe that our numbers have gone on steadily and even rapidly increasing with the progress of Melbourne, rendering additional accommodation not merely desirable, but indispensably necessary. I am sure therefore, that it must be a matter of sincere rejoicing to every member of the Church of Scotland in this place, as it is to myself, that as we have just laid the foundation stone of the building - we have now, I trust, the not very distant period of having a church built adequate to the wishes and wants of our rapidly increasing Scottish population."

"We have certain great cause of gratitude to Almighty God, that although our lot has been cast in this far distant isle of the sea, we are still in a country where the Gospel is faithfully preached, and where it is still said to us, as in our native land, "Go ye up to the House of the Lord." And as we are so highly privileged, let us remember that we lie under the strongest obligations to improve the means of grace we so richly enjoy. It is a solemn yet a pleasing reflection, suggested by the erection of this new church that, after we, and the men of this generation shall have passed away, the descendants of many now present, shall be also engaged in their day and generation from sabbath to sabbath in worshipping the God of their fathers within its walls. May God grant, that when they like ourselves, shall have done with ordinances and services in earthly temples, we and they may all meet together in the Zion above, where we shall serve Him for ever, without sin or imperfection, in the temple not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens."

After the conclusion of this eloquent and appropriate speech, the Rev. James Forbes offered prayers for the divine blessing on the undertaking, and concluded the services by giving out the 122nd Psalm and pronouncing the apostolic benediction.

				PSALM 122
			
		1. I was glad when they said unto me,
			Let us go into the house of the LORD.
		2. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
		3. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
		4. Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel,
			to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
		5. For there are set thrones of judgement, the thrones of the House of David.
		6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
		7. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
		8. For my brethren and companions' sakes,
			I will now say, Peace be within thee.
		9. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

Underneath the foundation stone were deposited a large bottle, containing Mr. Arden's Latest Information, &c., Kerr's Almanac for 1841, and the latest copy of each of the Port Phillip papers, together with the following inscription:-

"The Foundation of the "Scots' Church" for the use of the Congregation in Melbourne, in connexion with the National Church of Scotland, laid on the twenty-second day of January, Eighteen hundred and forty-one, by David Patrick, M.D., Elder.

Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland; His Excellency Sir George Gipps, Knight, Captain General and Governor-in-Chief of New South Wales; His Honor Charles Joseph La Trobe, Superintendent of Port Phillip; the Reverend John Tait, Moderator of Australia, in connexion with the established Church of Scotland; James Forbes, A.M., Minister of this Church and Congregation; David Patrick, M.D. and Robert Campbell, Elders; Skene Craig, William Ryrie, George Sinclair Brodie, James Oliphant Denny, and John Hunter Patterson, Trustees; Samuel Jackson, Architect."

On Friday last, agreeably to announcement, the foundation stone of the Melbourne Scots' Church, the first Presbyterian Church in the province, was laid by David Patrick, Esq., M.D., with the usual ceremonies. Beneath the stone were deposited specimens of the various coins current in the Colony, and a copy of "Kerr's Melbourne Almanac and Port Phillip Directory" for the present year. The day was wet, and numbers were in consequence prevented from being attendance to witness the interesting ceremony.

On Friday last, the following Address was presented to William Henry Yaldwyn, Esq., for his highly generous conduct towards the Presbyterian body:-

"Sir,

We have the pleasure of offering you, on behalf of the Presbyterians of Australia Felix, their utmost acknowledgements for your generous conduct in presenting the Congregation of the Scots' Church, Melbourne, at the cost price, the allotment purchased by you at the Government Sale in August last, much increased as its value has since become. The spirit which you displayed on that occasion has excited the liveliest admiration throughout the community, and, in the minds of the Presbyterians is much enhanced by the conviction that the favour they have to acknowledge has been conferred by one neither a member of their community, nor a worshipper in their church. With a view of furnishing you with some permanent memorial of their sense of your kindness, we are instructed to state, that Major Mercer and John Gardiner, Esq. have been appointed to present you with a piece of plate, should it please the Almighty God to conduct you in safety to London. We cannot help expressing our regret at your proposed departure from among us. Your services as a citizen and a magistrate will not be soon forgotten, and you may be assured, that you carry along with you the best wishes of many for the health and happiness of yourself and family. Trusting that you may be permitted to enjoy many years of comfort and usefulness in your native land.

We have the honor to be, Sir,

Your obedient servants,

JAMES FORBES
GEORGE SINCLAIR BRODIE
A. McLACHLAN
WILLIAM KERR
JOHN HUNTER PATTERSON
HORATIO NELSON CARRINGTON
THOMAS HAMILTON OSBORNE
JAMES WILLIAMSON
J. ORR"

Mr. Yaldwyn replied to the deputation who waited upon him in the following terms:-

"It is with heartfelt pleasure, Gentlemen, I receive from you this flattering testimonial of the estimation you are kind enough to entertain of my conduct. In making the purchase of the allotment at the government sale, I was influenced principally by the desire to carry out the views of a great majority of the inhabitants assembled there. It has always been my wish to forward the well-directed efforts of the community in which it has been my lot to fall, and I rejoice that on this occasion I met with the hearty concurrence of my fellow citizens. Allow me to thank you for your expressions of regret at my early departure from the Colony, and for your approbation of my conduct as a citizen and a magistrate. The testimonial you are kind enough to present me with, shall be always esteemed by me as a memento of the good-will exhibited towards me on this occasion."