Pursuant to public notice a meeting of the Melbourne Diocesan Society took place on Wednesday afternoon, at the Temperance Hall, Russell Street. The chair was occupied by the Lord Bishop of Melbourne. On the platform were his Honor Charles Joseph La Trobe, Very Rev. Archdeacon of Geelong, Rev. Messrs. Adam Compton Thomson and Daniel Newham, Messrs. John Fitzgerald Leslie Foster, Colin Campbell, James Moore, Henry Ashhurst, Edward Bernard Greene, George Augustus Robinson, &c., &c. At the hour appointed for the meeting the Hall was crowded by persons anxious to hear the proceedings, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather. The great length of the report prepared by the committee, which is extremely interesting, prevents our giving more than a summary of the proceedings.

The Bishop opened the meeting with prayer, and then proceeded to address those present upon the nature and objects of the society. It had been established for the purposes of erecting schools, building churches, and assisting in various ways to carry out the principles of that branch of the Christian Church to which they belonged. There was something interesting in meeting on the first anniversary of a religious society, as it became evident to many anxious minds whether it would fail or succeed in accomplishing the purposes for which it had been established.

He was most happy to say that the report prepared by the committee, and which would be read to the meeting, fully showed that the society had been abundantly successful during the first year of its existence. The examples set by the people of Belfast and Williams Town, were worthy of imitation by the people of Melbourne; in the former place the Building used as a Church had been enlarged without any aid, and a commodious school-house was in course of erection - and in Williams Town £70 had been subscribed by the few residents for the maintenance of a Minister. He mentioned these instances of exertion to show what can be done if persons apply themselves faithfully to the work. If the example were more generally imitated in Melbourne and through the interior, much good could be effected, and he would be relieved from a great deal of anxiety.

His Lordship then went into a long explanation of the objects of the society, and the necessity which would shortly arise for establishing Branch Associations through the Diocese. He next alluded to the class of persons who had subscribed in aid of the funds, and particularly dwelt upon the fact, that while the shopkeepers and middle classes had contributed liberally, the merchants and more wealthy inhabitants of Melbourne had not subscribed - but he supposed it was owing to not having been asked.

He admitted the mistake committed in not placing some of the middle classes on the Committee on its formation, but is was impossible to have everything perfect at first starting a Society; that mistake had been in a measure rectified this year, and would be to a greater extent, but those who had been applied to excused themselves on the ground of pressure of business. He always wishes the Established Church to be considered that of the people, and his earnest desire was to bring the entire body of the people to co-operate in promoting the spiritual welfare of the Province.

He had thought it necessary to alter the name of the Society, or rather add to it, in order more clearly to express the objects for which it was instituted - it would now be designated 'The Melbourne Diocesan Society and Church of England Association.' In future there would be monthly meetings, and a small contribution of one shilling per month would constitute membership, the members to be supplied with books from a library which it was contemplated to establish. The meetings would be held in the evening, to enable the working classes to attend.

His Lordship then referred to the money expended by him during the past eighteen months in promoting education, maintaining ministers, and building schools, which amounted to £4000, and was derived from funds raised in England from persons having no direct connection with the Colonies. This money had been expended principally in Geelong and Melbourne, the latter particularly. This could not be done in future years, they must therefore rely upon their own resources, and imitate the example of England.

Great exertions were necessary on the part of Christians in Port Phillip, ignorance or irreligion were rapidly growing up in the land, and he trusted he would receive assistance from the Christian community, in order to effectually root them out. His Lordship then referred to the necessity of Episcopalians supporting their Church in time of need, and stated that he, while claiming their support, did not object to their contributing to the funds of other Protestant Churches. He had been charged with illiberality in this respect, but he wished it to be understood that there was no truth in the charge. After a powerful appeal to the auditory to assist in carrying out the objects of the Society, his Lordship thanked the respective office bearers for their exertions during the past year, and requested Robert Williams Pohlman, Esq., Honorary Secretary, to read the report prepared by the Committee.

Mr. Pohlman then read the following:

The Melbourne Diocesan Society was instituted at a Public Meeting held in the City of Melbourne, on the 12th September, 1848, and its objects and intended mode of operation have been so fully set forth in the statement printed and issued immediately after that meeting, that on this occasion of presenting their first annual report, your committee need only request your reference to that paper, while they lay before you an account of the proceedings of the Society during the last twelve months, or first year of its existence. These proceedings, though necessarily restricted to the limit of its present means, will afford ample proof of the great utility and value of the Society; and there is good ground for hope, that as its operations become more generally known and appreciated; they will also be more and more widely extended in proportion to the great wants of this colony, by a general and hearty co-operation in its plans among the members of the Church of England throughout the Diocese of Melbourne.

The first application for the assistance of this society, was received from the Collingwood school committee, and a grant of £100 was made from its funds in aid of this undertaking, payable on the completion of it within twelve months. This work was carried on with such energy by the Rev. Daniel Newham and his committee, that the grant was claimed and paid in the month of May last. Thus by voluntary contributions, and the timely aid of this society, has been erected the first of our much needed school buildings.

The following grants were subsequently made by the committee, from the funds of the society, in aid of voluntary local contributions: -

£35 In aid of a fund for building a Church Schoolhouse at Kilmore, on the application of the Rev. Daniel Newham.

£30 In aid of a fund for the erection of a portion of a Church, to be used as a Schoolroom and place of worship, at Pentridge, on the application of Charles Hutton, Esq.

£60 In aid of a fund for the erection of a Church at Heidelberg, on the application of J. Hawdon, Esq.

£60 In aid of a fund for the erection of a Church at Brighton, on the application of Henry Moor, Esq.

£35 In aid of a fund for the erection of a Schoolhouse at Little Brighton, on the application of the Rev. William Brickwood.

£220 Total

These sums, amounting in all to £220, have not yet been claimed.

The next and last grants made by the Committee were two sums of £100 each, as some contribution towards the expenditure for the foundation and maintenance of schools, and for the stipends of clergymen and lay visitors in this diocese during 18 months from January 1848 to July 1849.

The abstract of the Melbourne Episcopal account for that time, appended to this report, shews an expenditure of £4,711 8s. 7d., of which £877 17s. only have been provided (by donations) in this colony. The English Diocesan fund raised by voluntary contributions in England and placed at the disposal of the first Bishop of Melbourne, and the liberal grants of our home societies, have as yet supplied almost all the means up to this time of supporting the schools and clergy of the Church of England.

The figures in this account need no comment. Unable to do more, your committee felt that this society should at least manifest a grateful readiness to co-operate with such earnest friends in England, - and while they here record the obligations of the Church of England in this colony to the noble societies of the mother country, they would also express their cheerful confidence and hope that such examples of 'faith working by love,' will warm many hearts among us to a Christian zeal and emulation, which in due time may bring forth such fruit in this new lane, as shall greatly abound to their praise who have so helped us in our need, and to our great benefit also as members together with them of the same household of faith.

The Bishop of the diocese, on his return in June last from a visit to the districts of Mount Macedon, the Broken River, Ovens, and Township of Kilmore, informed your committee that he hoped to make arrangements for building parsonage houses and locating clergymen at the first three of those places, and for establishing a school and clergyman at Kilmore. Applications will probably be made to this society for grants in aid of the funds required for these undertakings, and your committee hope they may be enabled to meet them all with ready help.

The Bishop also took occasion to express his earnest desire to devise some measure of relief for the spiritual destitution of the inhabitants of the bush, of which he had himself so lately been, a deeply interested witness, the clergy of the diocese were consequently invited by his Lordship to bring this subject before their respective congregations on Whitsunday last, and your committee thankfully acknowledge the accession to their means, as a special fund, of £115 7s. 10d., raised by the following collections on that day, viz.: -

At St. James' Church, Melbourne sermon by the Lord Bishop - £52 7s. 6d.

St. Peter's, Melbourne sermon by the Rev. Daniel Newham - £27 10s. 0d.

Russell Street School, Melbourne sermon by the Rev. William Merry - £4 10s. 0d.

Brighton, sermon by the Rev. William Brickwood - £9 10s. 0d.

William's Town, sermon by the Rev. Willoughby Bean - £3 10s. 0d.

Portland, sermon by the Rev. James Yelverton Wilson - £5 5s. 9d.

Belfast, sermon by the Rev. Dr. Thomas Henry Braim - £12 6s 3d.

Pentridge, sermon by Mr. Edward Tanner - £0 8s 4d.

Total - £115 7s 10d.

On considering how they might best employ this fund to the special purpose for which it was raised, your committee resolved to devote it towards the support of a clergyman for one year, whom they have requested the Bishop to send forth, as soon as may be, as a missionary preacher of the gospel in the Bush. The stipend guaranteed to every unmarried clergyman, coming to us from England, is £150, and the special fund falls short of this by £34 12s 2d. In order not to retard the mission of a clergyman, the treasurer of the society has undertaken to collect this additional sum, which, he hopes, will be speedily made up by small contributions from the many who must be anxious to help on this particular effort, on behalf of those who are shut out from all ordinary means of religious instruction.

Our brethren in the Bush have the strongest claim on our Christian remembrance and compassion. Shut out from society, many, by long habitude of spiritual destitution, have become unconcious or careless of their condition. It is possible that some among them have never so much as heard the name of Christ. Of men in such circumstances well may we ask, in the language of the Apostle, "How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent?" Such a mode of life, if long continued, has a tendency to degrade the children of settlers rapidly towards a state more akin to heathenism than Christian civilisation. There is much to be done, and the sooner the better; but the difficulty of applying a remedy is confessedly great, and this first and feeble effort may seem but a small matter in so great a necessity. Your committee rejoice, however, in the belief, that the gospel is the power of God committed to the feeble instrumentality of man, and that your missionary will go forth to preach its glad tidings, strong in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and relying on the promise, that, "As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void; but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

The committee most gladly embody in this report an interesting statement received from the Lord Bishop of the present condition and prospects of his diocese, as respects the ministrations of religion already established, and those in contemplation for many parts of its wide extent, which, until in the Providence of God he came with his clergy to our aid, had been utterly destitute of them.

In Melbourne within the last twelve months, in addition to the three services upon the Lord's Day at St. James', and two at St. Peter's Church, there have been commenced and are now regularly held, two services in the Hall of the Total Abstinence Society, Russell Street, and two in the new school room at Collingwood. The former are conducted by the Rev. William Merry, with the assistance of the Bishop; and the latter by the Rev. Daniel Newham, and the Rev. Samuel Edward Bloomfield.

The Rev. Thomas Augustus Strong, who has been temporarily residing here, has assisted the Rev. Adam Compton Thomson in the services of St. James' and at the jail, and has taken the particular superintendence of the immigrants and of the soldiers. He has also from time to time visited stations in the country, for the purpose of administering the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The districts connected with St. James and St. Peter's Churches respectively, have been divided into sections with the object of their being regularly visited, and many ladies who have most kindly proffered their services, are now employed in this work of Christian love. A committee of gentlemen for administering relief in cases of sickness or distress, has been in existence for some years in the former district, and in the latter a similar committee has recently been formed.

Mention has already be made of a large expenditure for the foundation and maintenance of schools in Melbourne. It amounts to £376 6s. 7d., as shewn in the Abstract of the Episcopal Account, and it will be gratifying to the friends of this society, to learn that we have now within the city the following schools: -

1. St. James' schools for boys and girls, at present held in the dilapidated wooden building adjoining the church. These schools are under an excellent master and mistress, and contain upon the books, 99 boys, and 61 girls.

2. The Russell Street Schools for boys and girls, held in the Hall of the Total Abstinence Society, which is rented for £35 12s. a year. These schools are well managed, and contain upon the books, 93 boys, and 65 girls.

3. The Swanston Street Schools for infants, held in a hired house for which an annual rent of £30 is paid. This is under the charge of an excellent and experienced mistress, who has been well known to the Bishop for several years. There are 110 children on the books of this school.

4. The Stephen Street schools for boys, girls, and infants, held in two rooms, under the Protestant Hall, which are rented for £30 a year. These are well conducted, and contain upon the books, 55 boys, 56 girls, and 74 infants.

5. The Collingwood schools, for boys, girls, and infants. The two former are held in the schoolrooms lately erected. The latter is held in a hired house at the rent of £13 a year. The number of children on the books of these schools is 63 boys, 55 girls, and 66 infants.

From this statement it will be seen, that although a large district lying to the north of Bourke Street, and the west of Elizabeth Street, is still unprovided for, yet the Church of England schools in Melbourne, may, in respect to their number and management, afford ground for much thankfulness.

The want of suitable school buildings cannot, however, but be regarded as a matter of serious regret, and it might almost be said, of reproach to us, for, with the exception of the Grammar School adjoining St. Peter's Church, which was erected with money from England, and is intended for boys of a different class, there are as yet in all Melbourne only two school buildings belonging to the Church of England, namely, the Collingwood school rooms already mentioned, and the St. James's school room, an unsightly dilapidated appendage to the church, which ought to be immediately removed. All the other schools are at present held in hired buildings, some of which are quite unsuitable for such a purpose.

The members of our church will therefore be gratified to learn, that the committee of St. James' Church hope to be able, almost immediately, to commence erecting a complete set of school rooms, to contain accommodation for boys, girls, and infants, with suitable classrooms, upon the ground granted by the Government for that object. It is intended that these buildings should front Bourke Street, and that a separate building containing teachers' apartments should hereafter be added, having its front towards William Street.

It has also for some time been the wish of the Bishop of Melbourne to erect suitable rooms for the girls now taught in the Hall of the Total Abstinence Society, Russell Street, and for the infants of the Swanston Street School, for which purpose he has purchased a piece of land upon the north side of Bourke Street, near to Russell Street.

There is however so great a want of schools in the populous district extending to the north of Little Bourke Street, and its east and west of Elizabeth Street, that its claims upon our Christian charity seem to be paramount to all others.

At Brighton, in the neighbourhood of Melbourne, the Rev. William Brickwood has been located, and preparations have been made for proceeding at once to the erection of the Church, which has been so long in contemplation.

At Little Brighton also, there is in progress a building, which is to be used, both as a school, and as a place of worship.

The inhabitants of these two places have undertaken to raise £70 towards the stipend of their Clergyman, (viz: £100) for the present year.

At Williams Town the public services of the Church have been performed morning and evening, every sabbath day, in a vacant store fitted up for the purpose, by the Rev. Willoughby Bean, and since his removal to Gipps Land, by Mr. Thomas Sommerville, a licensed lay reader. The Bishop has received most gratifying testimonies to the effects of the ministry of the Word there, and of the pastoral oversight of these gentlemen, contributions have been promised to the amount of about £70 towards the maintenance of a resident clergyman, or lay reader.

At Pentridge an afternoon service has been regularly conducted on Sundays by Mr. Edward Tanner, a licensed lay reader. This gentleman was sent to us, and is partly maintained by the Colonial Church Society in London. A school also has been opened there, which is much valued by the people, and contains many scholars on the books. The sun of £92 17s. 8d. has been raised by the inhabitants and other Christian friends, towards a building which is to form part of a Church, and is to be used for a schoolroom, as well as for Divine Service. It is already in progress, and will be completed, if God permit, in about nine weeks.

At the Moonee Ponds and the Springs, (Mr. John Leslie Foster's house) a service is alternately held on Sunday afternoon, by Mr. Louis Alexander Baker, a licensed lay reader. A school at the former place, which was formerly maintained, chiefly by the liberal assistance of Mr. Raleigh, but had been closed from the want of a schoolmaster, has been re-opened, and is now prospering. The inhabitants of this neighbourhood, with the assistance of Christian friends, have raised nearly £250 towards the erection of a Church, of which, it is hoped that a portion to be used also as a schoolroom, will shortly be commenced.

At Richmond, a school has been opened under the care of an excellent young man, and is attended by 54 children. The girls are taught needle-work by a female, who is engaged to attend for that purpose, four afternoons in a week. The want of a suitable building for the school, and also of a place for holding Divine Service, is greatly felt in this suburban village, and to supply this want, a subscription has been recently set on foot, for erecting a portion of a Church; about £240 have already been promised.

At St. Kilda, a grant of two acres of ground has been obtained from Government for the site of a Church, Parsonage, and schoolhouse. The inhabitants of this village are anxious to erect a schoolhouse immediately, to serve as a place of worship also. The estimated cost is £200, which they have undertaken to raise by their own contributions, and the help of their friends, and a grant in aid from this society.

At Heidelberg, where the Rev. Francis Hales is now located, service continues to be performed on alternate Sundays at the Presbyterian Church, which is kindly lent for the purpose, but steps have been taken for erecting a church of our own. This has been long contemplated, and the commencement of it may be shortly expected. Towards the expense of the building, the sum of about £325 has been raised, and a grant of £60 has been promised by your committee. Application has also been made for aid from the Government. Besides the amount subscribed by them towards the proposed church, the inhabitants have contributed £100 for the maintenance of a clergyman. On the alternate Sundays, when the Rev. Francis Hales does not hold service at Heidelberg, he officiates in the morning at a small chapel on the Darebin Creek, and in the afternoon at a station on the River Plenty. The settlers in the neighbourhood of the former have raised £39 towards his stipend for the past year, and those in the latter neighbourhood have promised contributions which have not yet been collected.

At Ballan, there is now a resident clergyman (the Rev. William Hall) who itinerates through a district of about 30 miles in diameter, holding services on Sundays at the different stations in rotation. A parsonage house has been built, towards which the Bishop granted £150 from his English fund, on the understanding that the settlers should endeavour to raise the whole stipend of the clergyman, £200, among themselves. Of this £110 have been already paid for the present year.

Gipps Land has at length obtained the regular ministration of a clergyman. The Rev. Willoughby Bean arrived there in July, and will divide his time between the townships near the port and the interior. The inhabitants have engaged to use their best exertions to obtain a residence for him, and some building where he may hold Divine Service at Tarraville. The Bishop has agreed upon this being done to maintain him during the present year, without any cost to them, trusting that they will be able to provide the whole or the greater part of the stipend afterwards.

At Geelong there is now resident an Archdeacon, the Venerable Hussey Burgh Macartney, D.D., together with a lay reader, Mr. John Cheyne, in addition to the former minister, the Rev. Ebenezer Collins, and services on Sunday at different stations in the suburbs and neighbourhood. Several schools also have been opened. A Branch Diocesan Society has been formed there, but little has been done as yet by it; the exertions of the members of our church having been mainly directed to the erection of the archdeaconry, and of a schoolroom in the populous suburb of Ashley, where Divine Service may be held. The former has been happily accomplished at the cost of £714, and the latter will be commenced immediately. Towards these objects the sum of £651 has been raised by subscription. £35 specially appropriated by friends in England to Geelong, have been appropriated, and £200 have been granted by the Bishop from his general English fund. Besides these works, a subscription has been opened, and a plan has been adopted for a second church, adjoining the Archdeacon's house, and so soon as this has been completed it is in contemplation to enlarge the existing one.

At the Barrabool Hills, near Geelong, is a flourishing school, under the care of Mr. and Mrs. James Aaron Clowes. This school owes its establishment entirely to the liberality of Messrs. Willis and Swanston, the proprietors of a large estate there. A piece of ground 12 acres in extent has been appropriated to the use of the church, and the schoolroom and teacher's residence; a substantial building of stone, well finished and comfortably fitted, was erected almost at their sole cost. James Aaron Clowes was sent out from England by the Colonial Church Society and officiates as a lay reader as well as a schoolmaster, holding services on Sunday there, and at the Waurn Ponds, an adjoining district.

At the Waurn Ponds a small schoolroom has been erected by private subscription, and a school is now established.

On Belfast, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Henry Braim, has through the blessing of God succeeded in impressing almost the character of an English parish. During the year, the little weatherboard church has been enlarged to almost double its former size, and is filled every Sunday with an attentive congregation. A portion of it is now used as a daily school, and there are 91 scholars upon the books, there is also a Sunday School of 108 scholars. Besides making the addition to their church, the inhabitants have built a residence for the schoolmaster and his wife, and they are now about to raise a subscription for a parsonage, towards which Mr. Atkinson and Mr. W. Rutledge have promised £50.

Portland will henceforth have the undivided labours of the Rev. James Yelverton Wilson, whose ministry was formerly interrupted by his visits to Belfast and the Wannon. To secure this great benefit, the inhabitants have undertaken to raise £100 a year towards his stipend; they have also completed the schoolroom and fitted it up in a suitable manner for holding divine service.

On the Wannon, the Glenelg, and the Grange, the settlers are very anxious to obtain the ministrations of the Gospel. A subscription has been raised for the maintenance of a clergyman, and a communication opened with the Bishop on the subject.

At Warrnambool, a small building has been erected by subscription, and Divine Service is performed in it every Sunday by one of the settlers in the neighbourhood. The inhabitants are very desirous to have a clergyman there.

At Woodford, a small village lying inland between Belfast and Warrnambool, Mr. William Rutledge has appropriated a portion of ground for church purposes, and a proposal has been made to the Bishop, respecting the appointment of a clergyman to minister there and at Warrnambool on alternate Sundays.

At Mount Macedon, the settlers have already commenced building a residence for a clergyman, whom the Bishop has engaged to place there, as soon as it is completed.

In Kilmore, and in its immediate neighbourhood, a subscription has been raised for erecting a schoolroom within the Township, where Divine Service may be performed, and for maintaining the minister, who shall hold services alternately there, and at one of the neighbouring stations.

On the Oven's River, exertions are being made to obtain for the people, the ordinances of the Gospel, and it is hoped that many months will not elapse before a residence is built, and a clergyman located there. Urgent applications and promises of subscription have been received by the Bishop from the settlers at the Pyrenees, the neighbourhood of the Fiery Creek, Muston's Creek, the Broken River, &c.

This statement will shew, that many and great as are our wants, something has been effected by God's blessing on our labours; sufficient, at least, to call forth our hearty thanksgivings, and to cheer the hearts of all who have befriended us by their Christian love and liberality, and to encourage your committee, and every friend of this society, to go forward hopefully in their work. Much, however, is required.

The experience gained in our native land, the most favoured of all the nations of the earth, teaches us a fearful lesson which we should lay to heart, notwithstanding the immense efforts made in the present century, and, especially of late years, by numerous Christian and philanthropic societies, we see that it is almost in vain for them to hope to overtake the evils which have been accumulating for many generations through the neglect of providing anything like adequate means for the religious instruction of the people. The reports of these societies abound with appalling evidences of the spiritual destitution, gross ignorance, and depravity of thousands of families, even in London itself. They speak of tens of thousands, of whole generations, living and dying, in a state of vice and wretchedness. England's prisons and penitentiaries, her convict ships and penal colonies, are the monuments which illustrate the history of ignorance too long neglected in her people.

Here, in a new world, enjoying in no scanty manner the bounties of Providence (for poverty may be said scarcely to be known among us), we may look with wonder on the rapid progress and increasing wealth of this young colony. But can we shut our eyes to the fact, that we have been to a great extent laying the foundations of society almost without a thought to spare for religion and education? Do we not see a precocious generation rapidly springing up in that ignorance, which is the broad way of degeneracy and vice? And while our growing city excites surprise on every new view of its extent, can we point with reasonable satisfaction to the churches and the schools, which are the evidences of a wise and understanding people,' profiting by the experience of the past, and seeking, in the formation of new communities, to lay the foundations of good instead of evil, in our own day and generation.

We want churches, schools, clergymen; houses for them to live in, and something to support them too. All this may be readily granted, but the enquiry will be - where and how are we to get the means? Your committee are bold enough to answer this question, by confessing that the means are to be sought within the colony itself. It does, in fact, possess the means, more abundantly than any colony in the world, of providing an adequate establishment of schools and churches for its present population. A more general willingness, a more extensive and well directed co-operating among our people, might easily increase the means of this society ten fold; for where is there any so poor among us that he cannot spare something from his earnings in aid of its funds?

It should be remembered that while our societies and friends in England encouraged us by their example and their generous support, to show ourselves of a Christian name among them, they cannot admit a continual claim upon their funds. They may willingly bear a large share of our expenses, while we are unable to provide for them ourselves; but they expect that, animated by the same spirit, we should relieve them from this charge as soon as possible, in order that their help no longer needed by us, may be transferred to other colonies whose necessities are yet greater than ours.

The committee would therefore entreat the friends of this society, not only to continue their contributions to its funds, but to use their influence on its behalf wherever they can induce others to become subscribers. They would especially seek the assistance of those who have numerous dependents and servants in the Bush, among whom are doubtless to be found many as willing as they are able to give to this society.

But above all, they would most earnestly appeal to all, who having freely received of the great blessings of the Gospel are more especially called on freely to give for those who are perishing for lack of knowledge, let the love of Christ constrain all whose hope is in Him, to active exertion in spreading the Gospel throughout this land, well knowing that wherever a heart is won to Him, there is the beginning of every good work. We live in a time, when "men's hearts are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth," and while we seek not to know the times and seasons, our manifest duty is to be watchful and diligent, that we may be found as faithful servants doing our Master's will, and mindful of his parting words, "Occupy till I come," so that even here in this extreme part of the earth a remnant may be found waiting his coming, and seeking, in dependence on the Divine blessing, ???? others to the like watchfulness and blessed hope.

John Fitzgerald Leslie Foster, Esq., M.L.C., proposed the first resolution, and expressed his astonishment at the amount of good already done by the society. The following is the resolution: -

"That this meeting desires to return humble thanks to Almighty God for the successful progress of the Melbourne Diocesan Society in the first year of its operations, as recorded in the report now read. And that the report be adopted, printed, and circulated under the adoption of the committee."

The Very Rev. Hussey Burgh Macartney, D.D., Archdeacon of Geelong, seconded the resolutionin in a most elegant address.

Carried unanimously.

The Rev. Adam Compton Thomson proposed the second resolution, conveying thanks to the various religious societies at home which had assisted in relieving the religious destitution of Port Phillip. The Rev. gentleman's address set forth the amount of aid received from the several societies named in the resolution: -

"That the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Melbourne be requested to forward copies of the report to the following societies in London, and to express to them the grateful acknowledgements of this meeting for their Christian interest in the spiritual welfare of this new diocese, and for their liberal contributions in its behalf.

1. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

2. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.

3. The British and Foreign Bible Society.

4. The Colonial Church Society.

5. The Religious Tract Society.

6. The Church of England School Society for Newfoundland and the Colonies.

7. The Prayer Book and Homily Society."

Colin Campbell, Esq., seconded the resolution at length, in which he showed the necessity in giving religious instruction to the rising generation, in order to render the people happy and the country exhaulted.

Carried unanimously.

Octavius Brown, Esq., proposed the third resolution, in appropriate terms. The gist of the speaker's observations went to prove the peculiar position of the Church of England in this colony, having no state support to rely upon, and which rendered it the more imperitive upon Churchmen to render assistance, in proportion as God had blessed them with worldly wealth: -

"That in order to extend the operations of this society, on the plan proposed by the Lord Bishop, its designation be altered to 'The Melbourne Diocesan Society and Church of England Association.' That a subscription of 1s. a month or 12s. per annum, do constitute membership; and that monthly meetings of the members be held at such place and time as the committee may appoint."

The Rev. Daniel Newham seconded the resolution, and adverted to the fact of the Lord Bishop having gone from door to door, in England, soliciting donations from Christian friends, to expend in Port Phillip to relieve the religious destitution which prevailed there. The Rev. Gentleman spoke at great length as to the state of the Church of England here.

Carried unanimously.

James Moore, Esq. proposed the following resolution, which was to the following effect: -

"That the following gentlemen be the lay members of the committee for the ensuing year, viz.: - Messrs. Edward Barber, Colin Campbell, Daniel Stodhart Campbell, Richard Grice, James Graham, John Sealy Griffin, Samuel Gregory, John Werge Howey, John Fitzgerald Leslie Foster, Charles Hutton, Andrew Halley Knight, Henry Moor?, William Nicholson, Germaine Nicholson, Robert William Shadforth, Henry Arthur Smith, Edward Byham Wight, Dr. Robert Martin."

Edward Bernard Greene, Esq., seconded the resolution, which was put and carried.

Henry George Ashhurst, Esq. proposed and George Augustus Robinson, Esq., seconded a vote of thanks to the Lord Bishop for his conduct of the chair, and great ??? in aid of the society. The resolution was passed with acclamation.

His Lordship briefly returned thanks and expressed his pleasure at seeing so many gentlemen of energy and power coming forward in Melbourne to speak in favour of the Church to which they all belonged.

After the Bishop had delivered the usual blessing, the meeting separated.