On Saturday, 21st September 1850, the very interesting ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a third church in Melbourne, to be known as St. Paul's Church, was performed by the Lord Bishop of Melbourne. The day was most propitious, and the occasion attracted a very large and respectable assemblage to the site of the intended building, which is at the corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Lane, nearly opposite to the Prince of Wales Hotel.

The whole of the clergymen of the Church of England in this province were in attendance, together with the lord Bishop of Adelaide, and amongst the spectators we noticed the ministers of the Gospel of almost every denomination.

A painting of the intended building was exhibited on the ground, and if the reality be equal to this, St. Paul's will unquestionably be the handsomest church of which Melbourne can boast.

A considerable time was consumed in parties attaching their autographs to the scroll prior to its being deposited in the bottle placed under the foundation stone; an addition was also, at the suggestion of James Simpson, Esq., made to the scroll itself, in which the name of the present Mayor of Melbourne had inadvertently been omitted.

The Lord Bishop of Melbourne commenced the proceedings with prayer, invoking a blessing upon the work which they had that day met together to commence. Mr. John Matthew Smith, one of the Trustees of the Church, read the scroll, which was as follows, the addition of the name of the Mayor being, as already stated, subsequently made:-

The preliminaries having been adjusted, His Lordship the Bishop of Melbourne assumed the trowel, and the huge stone was lowered to its resting place. The Rev. Daniel Newham gave out the hundredth psalm which was sung by the audience, after which the Bishop of Melbourne addressed the meeting, remarking that in consequence of the oppressive heat of the day, he should not occupy them long, not thinking it right to keep them any longer than was necessary under such a broiling sun. He trusted that they would not be satisfied with what they had done that day, but that they would persevere in the good work; that no exertions or liberality on their part should be wanting to bring the present undertaking to a speedy completion, and that when this was achieved, they should set about raising funds for the erection of another house of God until accommodation were supplied for the spiritual well-being of the whole community.

He could not help adverting to a statement which had been made on the previous day by his beloved brother the Bishop of Adelaide, that there were eleven churches already in the City of Adelaide, and seven others in course of erection, whilst here we had only just laid the foundation stone of a third church. He did not wish however to make any comparisons between the two places unfavourable to Port Phillip, particularly as he believed that in Adelaide the population was not disseminated over so large a tract of country, but being more collected, were divided into parishes, whilst here from the scattered population in the bush, we required itinerating clergymen, rather than the erection of places of Worship in the interior. As he had before told them God claimed a portion of the earnings of every man for himself, and this portion it was the duty of every man to set aside and give cheerfully to the giver of all goodness, for God loveth a cheerful giver.

THE BISHOP OF ADELAIDE in addressing the meeting, disclaimed anything like a spirit of jealousy or rivalry with this colony. He was anxious that the most friendly feeling should exist, and that the two colonies should co-operate in the advancement of the pure spirit of true religion and piety. He assured the meeting that he did not envy the Church of England in this colony a sixpence of the money which they had obtained either from the Government or the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge; on the contrary, if he should be spared to again visit the province, it would afford him most heartfelt gratification to find that the cause of true religion and piety had advanced with infinitely more rapid strides than it had hitherto done. He must repeat that, if any of his observations had been construed into an expression of anything like a spirit of rivalry or jealousy existing in the Episcopal bodies of the two colonies, they had been totally misunderstood.

The Archdeacon of Geelong having briefly addressed the meeting, the Rev. Mr. Newham intimated that a collection would take place upon the spot, and he trusted the appeal would be liberally responded to. From the extreme difficulty which the collectors would have in soliciting each individual, it was hoped those present would not mind going a little out of their way to put themselves in the way of a collector. The reverend gentleman dwelt upon the singular fact that, only two days before God put it into the hearts of thirteen gentlemen to subscribe a sum nearly equivalent to the cost of the church, such an undertaking was not thought of; the work, therefore, might be regarded as peculiarly God's work, and, as such, he had no doubt it would receive God's blessing, and be liberally supported.

Some little commotion was created towards the close of the ceremony, by several ladies fainting from the oppressive heat; medical attendance, however, was promptly at hand, and, except in one instance, a speedy recovery was effected.

After the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of St. Paul's Church, on Saturday, the members of the Church of England adjourned to the Mechanics' Institution for the purpose of being present at the presentation of a congratulatory address to the Bishop of Adelaide. The room was densely crowded with highly respectable persons, who appeared to take a lively interest in the proceedings. The address, which was presented by Henry moor, Esq., M.L.C., was as follows:-

Mr. Moor said he had the honor of presenting that address to his Lordship on behalf of the deputation and many of the residents of Port Phillip. It was a source of regret to him that the address was not more numerously signed, but the short notice which they had had would not permit of many signatories being obtained; he might, however, remark that the address was signed by upwards of one hundred of the most respectable and influential parties in this city of Melbourne.

THE BISHOP OF ADELAIDE, in reply, declared that the address was so wholly unexpected, that he felt completely overpowered and overcome. He firmly believed that the office of Bishop was a Divine appointment, nor did he believe that there was any security on earth for any church without a natural head. If all things were to be done in order, if ministers of the church were to act according to orders, there must be someone to order them.

Allusion having been made to the cause which had brought them to Port Phillip, he having been called to attend the Synod at Sydney, together with his beloved brother, the Bishop of Melbourne, he would avail himself of that opportunity to express a fervent hope that whatever subject was brought before them their hearts might be so guided by the spirit of love and truth, that it might be so determined and so decided upon, that in the words of the address their labors might accomplish the maintenance of loyalty to our beloved sovereign, the establishment of peace and good-will amongst all conditions of men, and the advancement of the pure spirit of true religion and piety.

It would be wrong of him of course to anticipate any of the subjects which might be brought forward, but whilst they would no doubt embrace broad and comprehensive views, and a fair latitude allowed, he trusted they would neither trespass on the one hand towards Rome, nor on the other towards Geneva. He trusted as he believed that their Church would continue spreading, winning the affections of those who conscientiously differed from us, for it could hardly be expected that all men should see as we see, but on any controversies which might take place upon the subject, he trusted Christian charity would never be lost sight of.

He observed the address alluded to the advancement of the pure spirit of true religion and piety. What was it, he would ask, the mere founding of a church if there were no Godliness? We had before us as an instance in the gorgeous structure and paraphernalia of the Jewish church which was forty-seven years in adorning, not one stone was left upon another; the people were scattered and were living now without a priest. Thus as we stand by faith so they fell from unbelief.

He was aware that he had expressed himself inadequately on the occasion, but still what he had stated was the truth. He returned the meeting his sincere thanks for the kindness they had shewn him that day, and could assure them that the recollection of his visit to this province would be amongst the most delightful of his reminiscences; he hoped after he had left them that they might still retain the poor Bishop of Adelaide in their prayers.

THE ARCHDEACON OF GEELONG, the Rev. Dr. Hussey Burgh Macartney, begged to explain why it was that the churchmen of Geelong had not presented a separate address to his Lordship. The fact was that the proposition to get up an address originated with the laity, but there really was not time to do so and they therefore preferred adding their names to the address, which had already presented.

THE BISHOP OF ADELAIDE expressed himself gratified that this course had been pursued, adding that the laity were the body of the church, and that it was in the union of the laity with the clergy that the strength of the church consisted.

Intimation was given that any parties, who had not yet signed the address, but who might wish to do so, would be afforded an opportunity; a number of gentlemen availed themselves of the offer and the meeting separated.