We announced in our issue of yesterday the death of the Rev. Alexander Morison, at his residence in the Domain Road, South Yarra.

Mr Morison was a very old colonist, having emigrated to Tasmania more than 50 years ago. He came to this colony in 1843 to take the temporary pastorate of the Collins Street East Congregational Church, at the corner of Russell Street. This building, which was opened for public worship on the 1st of January, 1841, and had been in the ministerial charge, first of the Rev. William Waterfield, and afterwards, for a few months, in that of the Rev. Frederick Miller, was the first Congregational church erected in Victoria, and the members of it were so well pleased with the young minister that they were glad to secure him in permanence, and he accordingly remained in Melbourne, and at once entered upon a career of active usefulness.

The church was already considerably in debt, and this hindrance to its progress he soon succeeded in removing. He then set himself to work to extend the religious body with which he was connected, meanwhile enlarging the borders of the church with which he was ministerially associated. For a long time, however, he had to perform the whole of the pastoral work himself, both in Melbourne and the adjacent neighbourhood. In this way he would ride many miles on Sunday afternoons, and on week days also to conduct the service in other churches.

During all this time he took an active part in all social movements. He lectured frequently on topics of a social, literary, or scientific character; he was a constant contributor to the local journals, and occasionally he published pamphlets on subjects of general interest. The charitable institutions of Melbourne received liberal contributions by means of his advocacy, and money was not infrequently sent to England in aid of missionary and other enterprises.

In 1853, when the first council of the then just founded University of Melbourne was formed, Mr. Morison was appointed one of its members, and in the progress of our chief seat ot learning he has always taken great interest, and has helped in no inconsiderable way to promote its progress. His death causes a vacancy in the council.

In 1864, owing principally to circumstances arising out of certain questions upon which he was at issue with the Congregational Union, whose authority he felt himself unable to recognise, he resigned his pastorate of the Collins Street Church, and, at a meeting of the members held in August of that year, he was the recipient of some valuable testimonials and an affectionately worded address expressive of the feeling of regard entertained towards him. The church property, of which he was trustee, then passed out of his hands, and, a few years later, the large building which now occupies the site of the modest little brick structure which preceded it was erected.

At a subsequent period Mr. Morison was admitted to the ministry of the Presbyterian body, but the authorities of that church, having views of their own which were not consonant with the advantage of the new accession to their ranks, banished him to Clunes, where he passed several weary years cut off from all the congenial society to which he had been accustomed. It was quite natural, therefore, that, with his literary tastes, he should wish to escape from such an exile and this at last he did, and on coming back to Melbourne he rejoined the body in which he had originally so long and so successfully laboured. He did not, however, attach himself to any single pastorate, but supplied from time to time the pulpits of ministers who were sick or temporarily absent. This mode of employing his clerical functions, indeed, suited him all the better, as he had begun to take a strong interest in the Congreational College, some years ago founded, and of which he was appointed professor of Hebrew, of church history, of philosophy, and of apologetics. To the work involved in this office he devoted himself with great ardour, and was eminently successful in it.

He also, in connection with the college, succeeded in getting together a most valuable library. Indeed, he may be truly said to have created it, for besides being one of the most book-loving of men, he felt that to the students in such a college this means of reference was indispensable. He really loved the work he did in this college, and although latterly for many months in most infirm health, he insisted upon lecturing to his class, which he met up to within a week ago.

Mr. Morison was a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, his father being a Scottish Highlander, whose settlement in Ireland was due to his being wrecked upon its coast. The Rev. Mr. Morison was born on the 22nd ot February, 1813. He married, in 1851, Miss Salome Pitt, daughter of Mr. Philip Pitt, of Cliftonvale, Tasmania. She died many years ago, having borne him eight children, of whom five survive.

The funeral of Mr. Morison will take place to-day, and he will be interred in the Melbourne Cemetery. The body, however, will first be taken to the Collins Street Church, where the Rev. Dr. Bevan will conduct a service.