The formation of Ecclesiastical Parishes, or Districts, each under the care of its own resident clergyman, throughout 'the Bush,' cannot but be an object of the deepest interest to all, who regard the maintenance of a pure religious worship as essential to the real prosperity and happiness of a people. Hitherto very little has been done for the accomplishment of this object; but a beginning has been made, and we trust, that there is now a prospect, with God's blessing, of the work being progressively carried on.

In some cases where there is a rising township with a considerable concentrated population, the residence of the clergyman will be naturally fixed in it, and his ministry will be divided between it, and the stations within a convenient distance, as fifteen or twenty miles. The best example of this kind of parish is Kilmore, to which the Rev. William Jones Singleton has been recently appointed. Mr. Singleton holds service every alternate Sunday in the township, and on the other alternate Sundays he visits the stations of those more distant settlers, who contribute towards his maintenance. There is good reason to hope, that this arrangement will prove satisfactory to all parties; and that the whole, or nearly the whole of Mr. Singleton's stipend, £200, will be raised from local sources. It is intended, if God permit, to make Albury upon the Murray, Wangaratta on the Ovens, and Seymour upon the Goulburn, the centres of similar parishes.

Gippsland, the whole of which is now under the ministerial charge of the Rev. Willoughby Bean, is of so large an extent, that the present arrangement must be considered only as a temporary expedient, until one more efficient can be adopted. There are four distinct townships at, and near the port of Gippsland, in the neighbourhood of which Mr. Bean resides, and at the principal of which, Tarraville, he officiates during every alternate month, holding services also occasionally at the others. It is his duty to spend the alternate months, when the state of the roads does not render it impossible, in making circuits throughout his district.

But besides parishes of this mixed character, there is already one, and we trust that there will shortly be several more, of a purely Bush description. The one to which we allude is Ballan, where the Rev. William Hall is placed. The district under his charge is about thirty miles long and twenty broad; and it contains fourteen stations, the owners or representatives of which raise the whole of Mr. Hall's stipend (£200) amongst themselves. A residence has been built for Mr. Hall on the village reserve; but as there is not as yet any concentrated population to require his ministry, he holds service every Sunday at some one or other of the settler's houses; taking them in such an order that he officiates at each of the thirteen, which was the original number, once a quarter, and in the immediate neighbourhood of each once a month. It is obvious, that such periodical visits of a clergyman to a private house are a very imperfect substitute for his regular weekly ministrations in a church; but, in the impossibility of obtaining the latter, we may hope that they will, with God's blessing, be greatly conducive to the preservation of Christianity among the inhabitants of the interior. The Rev. W. Hall has just completed his first year's residence at Ballan; and the results of his ministry, so far as they can be observed are very gratifying. We do not know any part of the country where there exists a more kindly social feeling, and mutual good will, among the settlers; nor any, where they appear in general so desirious to promote the spiritual welfare of their domestics, and other servants. On the occasion of the Bishop's recent visit, there was assembled at the Parsonage a company of not fewer the thirty-six gentlemen and ladies to meet him. Every station comprehended in 'the Parish' was represented; and when the Bishop mentioned, that there was a deficiency of about £40 in the amount of subscriptions for the clergyman's stipend for the past year, the greatest readiness was manifested to make up this sum, and to guarentee the full amount for the present twelvemonth. On Sunday, when the Bishop preached at the Parsonage the congregation consisted of not fewer than sixty persons. All these circumstances are calculated to afford us much encouragement; and the only drawback to our satisfaction in the contemplation of them is the injury which Mr. Hall's health as sustained from his long journeys in that peculiarly wet and cold district during the winter months. This is a subject of serious anxiety; but we hope, that the Lord will graciously strengthen him for his work, and not remove him from a sphere of labour, for which he appears to be eminently qualified.

We have said, that there is a prospect, with God's blessing, of establishing other Bush Parishes similar to that of Ballan; and in fact measures are in progress for this purpose at Mount Macedon, at the Pyrenees,and on the Wannon River. With respect to all such Parishes, we would remark that they ought not to be too large in extent, nor embrace too many stations. A circuit of fifteen or twenty miles radius is as much as any clergyman can properly undertake, with a due regard to his domestic duties, and indeed to his own spiritual peace and quietness of mind, which continual travelling is so apt to disturb. Nor should the number of stations, at which he holds service, in general exceed thirteen; so that he may return to each once a quarter. The quarterly visits of an ordained minister will be a great help to a settler, if, as all ought, he is in the habit of acting as Chaplain in his own house. We are quite aware of the discouragements which are experienced in the endeavour to gather in the men about a station to a service on Sundays; but we are persuaded, that, where the endeavour is made, and persevered in, with an affectionate interest in their good, and with a simple dependance upon the Divine blessimng, the Lord will not permit it to be altogether in vain. In the Parish of Ballan there is a service held at almost every station on the Sabbath day.

Where the Settlers of a district are earnest and united, and not too far separated from one another, there will be no difficulty in raising the clergyman's stipend; for an annual payment of £15 from each of the thirteen stations will amount to £195; and, although £15 may appear at first a large sum, yet, when it is remembered that this is the wole which is required from them for the maintenance of Christian Worship, there are few sheep-holders enjoying an ordinary degree of prosperity, who will not account it small in comparison either with their profits or with the other items of their expenditure. We believe that many are able, and we know also that some are willing to contribute a much larger sum for such an object. There is likely to be more difficulty in procuring suitable clergymen; for the minister of a Bush Parish must unite great energy, and power of enduring fatigue, with much Christian wisdom and spiritual experience. It is on many accounts desirable, that he should be a married man; but, if he be, both himself and is wife must be prepared to make a great sacrifice of their domestic comfort. Let us cherish however a humble confidence, that the Lord, who sees the harvest in this land to be so plenteous, will raise up able and devoted men to gather it in. We do indeed hope, that we may be able from time to time to announce to our readers the formation of new parishes, and the location of an additional number of faithful and zealous clergymen, throughout the interior. Thus may one portion after another of this vast spiritual wilderness - for such, it must be acknowledged the interior of this province at present is, - be brought under the cultivation of its appointed husbandmen; and, through the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, blossom, and bear fruit, as the Garden of the Lord!