"Candid and just, with no false aim in view;
To take for truth what cannot but be true;
To learn in God's own school the Christian part,
And bind the task assigned thee to thine heart:
Happy the man there seeking and there found;
Happy the nation where such men abound."

IN BRITISH NORTH AMERICA

there is no State Church. The Church of England has 14 bishops and 800 ministers; the Roman Catholic Church, a cardinal, 5 archbishops, 16 bishops, and 1,200 priests. The Presbyterian Church was formed in 1875 out of two distinct bodies. It has 900 ministers. The Methodists have 1,500. The Census of 1881 apportioned the population thus: — Roman Catholics, 1,791,982. Presbyterians, 676,165. Anglicans, 574,818. Methodists, 742,981. Baptists, 296,525. Lutherans, 46,350. Congregationalists, 26,900. Miscellaneous, 79,686. No religion, 2,634. No creed given, 86,769. Total, 4,324,810.

Roman Catholicism prevails most extensively in the province of Quebec. Its adherents number 1,170,718, or 70 per cent of the population of the Dominion. In Ontario, formerly Upper Canada, 320,839 Roman Catholic; 366,539 Anglican; 591,503 Methodist; and 417,749 Presbyterians. In Newfoundland — 64,317 Roman Catholic, and 97,057 Protestant.

The churches in the Dominion, according to their numbers, stand thus: — (1) Roman Catholic, (2) Methodist, (3) Presbyterian, (4) Episcopalian. Rome got the start. France was absolute monarch for a century and a half, sending forth the crucifix and the lily together — the source of rule and misrule being at Rome. In 1759 the Gibraltar of the American Mediterranean fell into the hands of Britons; but there has been no such fusion as between Norman and Saxon. That the Church is the Pope, and contains the State, and that every human being is subject to the Pope, is the teaching prevalent in Eastern Canada. Although there is no State creed, yet Romanism is virtually established by law. The Tithe System is in force, 1/26th of the products of the soil being appropriated. Rates are imposed for buildings; and both are enforced in courts of law. Here the revenue of the Church of Rome is equal to 13 million pounds' worth of property. This goes to uphold 4 archbishops, 20 bishops, and 1,500 priests, who claim a million and three-quarters of people.

The first Protestant missionary laboured at Quebec from 1815 to 1823; and the first organisation from Edinburgh from 1829 to 1834. Under "Father" Chiniquy, 2,263 persons abjured Popery in 1875, who were afterwards followed by large numbers. Now there are 95 French Protestant preaching stations, and 106 missionaries, with 3,000 members — the French Protestant population numbering 11,000, while multitudes of converts pass over into the United States.

The territory over which the Presbyterian Church is spread is not less than 3,330,000 square miles. After successive unions its unity extends from Prince Edward's Island in the east to Vancouver's Island in British Columbia in the west. The annual assembly consists of the fourth of the ministers along with the elders. Its six colleges, situated at Halifax, Quebec, Montreal, Kingston, Toronto, and Winnipeg in Manitoba, have upwards of 250 students. Five Foreign Mission fields are occupied by 19 missionaries and upwards of 60 teachers. Its great Home Mission seeks to provide the millions of the North-West with the bread of life by 640 mission stations. Whilst —

'Westward the course of empire takes its way,
Time's noblest offspring is the last '

And —

'There faith is kept and truth revered,
And man is loved and God is feared.'

The Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, in connection with the Church of Scotland and the Synod of the Church of Scotland in Nova Scotia consists of some who declined to enter into the union consummated in 1876. The "Macdonaldites" in Prince Edward's Island, consisting of 8,000 persons, and one congregation in Cape Breton, also adhere to the Church of Scotland.

WEST INDIES AND SOUTH AMERICA.

The Portuguese congregation at Port of Spain, Trinidad, driven by persecution from their native Madeira, and finding refuge here, enjoyed the services — first as catechist, and then for a brief period as ordained minister — of Mr. Da Silva, one of their own countrymen, who had been brought in by Dr. Kalley. After his death in 1849 — about a year after his ordination — a large number of the Portuguese in Trinidad migrated to Illinois. The Presbyterian Church of Trinidad was formed in the island in 1864, and resuscitated in 1872 out of ministers of the United Presbyterian Church, the Canadian Mission to Hindoo immigrants, and of the Free Church Portuguese Mission — each retaining the right of appeal to the Home Church.

In JAMAICA, mission work was commenced by the United Presbyterian Church in 1869, which has a synod here, with 4 presbyteries. The Presbytery of British Guiana has 10 charges and ministers, viz., Buenos Ayres, 3; Fiji Islands, 1; Grenada, 1; Jamaica, 3; Mauritius, 1; South Australia, Woodside, 1.

The Island of Jamaica has the first self-governing Presbyterian Church formed out of a mission. It is independent of, while still aided by, the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland; and it has sent forth missionaries to Old Calabar from its Theological Hall.

In MEXICO the Roman Catholic is the prevailing religion. Church and State are independent of each other. There are 62 Protestant churches, with 20,000 adherents. No ecclesiastical body can acquire landed property.

SIERRA LEONE, in West Guinea, has now an area of 486 square miles and 60,546, of whom 271 are whites. Protestants, 39,048; Roman Catholics, 369; Mahometaus, 5,178; the rest Pagans. FALKLAND ISLANDS, in South Atlantic. Population, 1,640, of whom 1,302 are Protestants, 251 Roman Catholics.

GIBRALTAR, &c.

In 1840 attention was directed to Gibraltar. In 1854 a permanent pastor was settled over 1,300 Presbyterian troops in the garrison, and for Presbyterian convicts (66), and a small but permanent civilian congregation. By the census last taken the population was 18,485, of whom 4,753 were British soldiers. Of 14 schools, 8 are Protestant and 6 Roman Catholic.

MALTA.

In the spring of 1842 the late Sheriff Jameson presented an elaborate report, entitled 'Notes on the Spiritual Condition of the South of Europe,' &c., in which he earnestly pressed upon the Church of Scotland the duty of occupying this island, and thus providing for the religious instruction both of Presbyterian residents and the great number of soldiers who are generally stationed there. After the late Rev. Dr. Wood, Malta received a succession of ministers, till in 1854 Mr. Wisely was ordained as pastor of the Presbyterian congregation in the island. It is a somewhat startling fact that there is not at this moment in the island a single native Protestant. In a population of 157,134, it has 5,216 British soldiers, with 87 public schools.

HELIGOLAND, two islands in the North Sea, has a population of 2,001 (Lutherans), with 13,000 visitors from May to October.

In CEYLON there are 4,836 Europeans and 147,977 Christians.

CYPRUS, in Asia, in a population of 186,173, has one-fourth Mahometan, the rest Greek Church.

SOUTH AFRICA. — THE DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH

had its origin in 1652, when a colony was formed in Table Bay, under John Anthony Van Riebeck. In 1665 the first minister arrived, when, besides one elder and one deacon, there were twenty-four communicants. This colony was formed by the Dutch East India Company for provisioning vessels. A small wooden fort was built where now stands Cape Town. A second congregation was formed at Stellenbosch, in 1685. This was twenty-six miles distant. The State then insisted that it had the right to elect one-half the members of session, so that from the first this Church appears to have been in bondage. A number of French exiles joined the colony in 1688, whose influence was beneficial. They formed a third congregation under Pierre Simond. The colony, in the year 1700, extended over a circuit of eighty miles. Owing to perpetual droughts a nomadic habit of life proved to the colonists unfavourable to moral advancement. Their spiritual destitution stirred the spirit of Baron Van Imhoff, by whose exertions two additional congregations were formed in 1743. Two others followed in 1790 and 1799.

In 1811, a political commissioner was appointed to carry on transactions between the consistory and the Government. As yet this was but a branch of the Church at Amsterdam, and subject to the classis or presbytery there. After Cape Colony was ceded to England, and fully possessed in 1806, the seven Dutch congregations retained their privileges, but the State continued to fetter their government. In 1824, when the first synod met, there were twenty-four congregations. Thereafter the synod was held every fifth year. No resolutions could, however, be passed without the approval of the Government, through the political commissioners. Two of these were present in the synod as representatives of the Government. They could suspend any decision until the will of the Governor was known. But in 1843 a 'Church ordinance' was passed, by which the Government recognised the right of the Church to internal regulation, without submitting everything for civil sanction.

In each congregation the consistory is composed of two or more elders and four or more deacons. These officers are appointed only for two years, subject to re-election. They go out in rotation, so that every year some new members are added. There are seven presbyteries, in which each congregation is represented by the minister and a member of the consistory. The synod or assembly is composed of a minister and elder from each congregation. A theological seminary was opened in 1859. It has two professors and twenty-two students, and has furnished twenty-nine ministers to the Church. Home and foreign mission enterprises are also carried on in some ten stations by eight agents. In 1867 the grants from the colonial treasury for ministers' salaries amounted to £8,632, 10s. This sum was divided among forty-seven congregations. No new grants have been made since the Parliament was established in 1851.

The minister of the congregation is elected and called by the consistory. But this is in combination with all the retired members. Notwithstanding, to receive the Government grant, the minister so elected must also have the appointment of the Governor, which is always given.

'Till 1862 the Dutch Church had experience of no struggle of importance, whether external or internal. The leaven of Rationalism, however, which it was well known had been creeping into its pulpits, manifested itself openly in that year. The occasion on which this took place was a debate that arose as to whether the whole of the usual formularies should be read at the administration of such ordinances as Baptism and the Lord's Supper. In that debate the Rev. Mr. Kotze, a young clergyman, took up the negative, and referred to the 60th question in the Dutch Catechism, in which the doctrine of natural depravity is strongly affirmed, and maintained that what was said there could not be true even of a heathen, or he must be a devil. The synod required a retraction of the words, not only because they implied a denial of the doctrine of original sin, but chiefly because the utterance of them in the circumstances made Mr. Kotze unfaithful to his ordination vows. This demand, however, he refused to comply with, and he was first suspended for six months, and finally deposed from the office of the ministry. Against this decision, however, he appealed to the Supreme Court of the colony, and the judges, after asserting in the face of the synod's protest the competency of the tribunal, gave a decision in his favour, and reported him in his charge. The same thing occurred in another case, that of Mr. Burgers of Hanover. One of the judges, indeed, gave an opinion favourable to the Church's plea in that connection, but he was overborne by his colleagues; so that, in so far as the local civil court was concerned, its decisions were adverse to all exercise of spiritual independence.

'An appeal was taken to the Privy Council at home, and there it was argued on two points. First, it was pled that it was ultra vires of the Supreme Court of the colony to take up the case at all; and second, it was discussed under protest on the merits. It seems quite clear, however, that the Privy Council was either incapable of understanding the question submitted to it, or did not put itself to the trouble of trying to understand it; for Lord Westbury, who pronounced the judgment, while deciding in favour of the court below, grossly and admittedly blundered in stating what was the point at issue. At the same time the sentence was practically hostile to the Church's right of self-government; and when the synod met in October 1869, it was keenly felt that a crisis in its history had arrived. There were four courses suggested: to restore the deposed men pure and simple; to restore under protest; to say, "No! we must obey God rather than man;" or to postpone the synod. The last measure was adopted, as best fitted to serve two ends (1.) It was a declaration to this effect: "We cannot restore to a spiritual office men whom we have solemnly deposed, even at the bidding of the majesty in Council;" and (2.) "It gave time and opportunity for the rectification of the blunder which Lord Westbury is allowed to have made."'

In November 1870, the synod of the Dutch Reformed Church met in Cape Town. The synod, as stated, had adjourned in 1867, because the Privy Council had dismissed their appeal. Counsel had stated that the Church would not now be interfered with. For a week the question was discussed whether Messrs. Burgers and Kotze, suspended or deposed, should be restored, as ordered by the civil courts. It was decided to declare the spiritual independence of the Church anew, but to restore these brethren, so as to open up the way for a proper prosecution before the presbyteries — the Church having erred in this respect — a small minority protesting.

AFRICAN CHURCHES.

In the interior many persons were never reconciled to British rule. These, in 1835, went and remained beyond the northern boundary.

In Natal British rule was proclaimed in 1842, when the majority of the Dutch removed. After its colonisation they had been subjected to a terrific slaughter from the natives. There is a presbytery in Natal, composed of four congregations, with 1,200 members.

Natal became a separate colony in 1856, and the European population has increased 50 per cent. since 1879. Much assistance is granted by Government for education.

The Orange Free State comprises 50,000 square miles. It was annexed to British rule in 1848. In 1867 the Basutos were taken under British protection. Here there is a synod, composed of two presbyteries and eleven congregations; and the Dutch Reformed Church prevails, 51,716 of the population belonging to it. The Church of England has a bishop and complete organisation; others have mission stations and churches. Large grants are given for education. There are 61,022 whites, and 72,496 natives.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC, formerly the Transvaal, extends over 70,000 square miles. It was founded by the Boers from Cape Colony going into Natal in 1835, but quitting it when annexed to Britain. Although its independence had been guaranteed, the Transvaal was annexed to Britain in 1877. This the Boers resisted by arms in 1880, and by the subsequent treaty self-government was restored as to internal affairs — external being reserved, as restricted, to the Queen as Suzerain. The Dutch Reformed Church prevails, but various English Churches are represented, while Government gives assistance to public schools.

There are also Lutheran congregations at the Cape. In 1714 and afterwards German soldiers formed the garrison. It was twenty years after their settlement before they were allowed to assemble for divine service. Two ministers are at the Cape, there being a secession in 1847 from the High Church Lutherans. There is another congregation in Stellenbosch, several in the eastern provinces, and others in Natal. There are in addition five separate congregations without ecclesiastical connection. The Scotch Presbyterian Church at Cape Town was opened in 1828. There is a Presbytery at Natal of the Free Church, consisting of four ministers and two missionaries, although not yet formally recognised. Pietermaritzburg and Impolweni are the chief stations.

Cape Colony has a population of 1,252,347, most of whom belong to the Dutch Reformed Church. There is no State Church, but a certain sum is appropriated annually for 'religious worship' (£10,013 in 1885-6) to the Dutch Reformed, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic Churches; but in 1875 an Act was passed for the gradual withdrawal of this grant.

The Kaffrarian mission was founded in 1821 by a Glasgow Society and transferred to the Free Church in 1844. The presbytery embraces six missionaries and a minister of a European congregation. Five of the missionaries are also regularly appointed pastors of native congregations. There are 1,147 native communicants. The chief stations are Lovedale, Pike, Burnshill, Macfarlan, and the Transkei Territory.

TABULAR VIEW OF DUTCH REFORMED CHURCHES IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The synod of the Dutch Reformed Church is by statute recognised as the Established Church, but since 1875 it receives no financial support from the State. Thus for legal purposes this Church consists only of the congregations in the colony; but for ecclesiastical purposes others in the provinces of Natal, the Orange Free State and the Transvaal are associated as one Church. The Synodical Commission consists of the Moderator, the Assessors, the Actuaries, the Scribe, and sixteen other members.

The Churches in Cape Colony and Natal meet in a provincial synod. The synod of the Republic of the Orange Free State consists of representatives of presbyteries in the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Ringbesturen.

The synod of the Dutch Reformed Church, Orange Free State, has four classes or presbyteries, and one synod composed of all ordained ministers and an elder from each congregation.

The Christian Reformed Church of South Africa is in sympathy with the parent Church in the Netherlands.

Of WEST AFRICAN COLONIES, GAMBIA has a population of 14,045 natives and 105 whites. Of these 5,300 are Mahometans, and 2,385 Christians (Wesleyans).

The separate synod in Cape Colony, which arose from anti-British feeling and a desire for thorough orthodoxy, is very energetic, and has 3 presbyteries, 14 congregations, 7 ministers, and 4,362 members.

IN SOUTH AFRICAN MISSIONS

a basis of union has been agreed to between the Free and United Presbyterian Church Presbyteries; and efforts are made to have one theological school for the training of Presbyterian and Congregational agents, a formula of doctrine having been agreed to by the Home Churches. A missionary labouring with the French amongst the Basutos in South Africa is supported by the Waldensian Church; and a United Mission from the Free Churches of French Switzerland and of Geneva, under direction of a council of twelve, labours amongst the Magwambas in the Transvaal. The ISLAND OF MAURITIUS, in the Indian Ocean, with its harbour of Port Louis, became a British possession in 1810; but in 1814 French laws, customs, and religion were guaranteed. Out of a population of 370,404, 250,861 are Indian; and 108,000 Roman Catholic, with 8,000 Protestants — State aid being granted to both.

MADAGASCAR,

by a treaty signed at Tamatave, 1885, is virtually under the protection of France. A French general, with military escort, resides at the capital, while foreign relations are regulated by France, which occupies the Bay of Diego-Saurez.

A large portion of the Hova and the people in the east and central districts profess Christianity, which is protected as the State religion; 350,000 are Protestant, 35,000 Roman Catholic, while three-fourths are Pagan. The praiseworthy labours of the London Missionary Society there have been greatly impeded by Jesuitical agency.

At old Calabar, in Upper Guinea, or Western Africa, the United Presbyterian Church has for a long period maintained a successful mission. There are 20 stations, 35 agents, 35 ministers, 110 members, and 411 pupils. The chief places are Creek Town, Duke Town, Ikunetu, and Ikorosiong.

AUSTRALASIA.

"O place me in some heaven-protected isle,
Where peace and equity and freedom smile,
Where no volcano pours his fiery flood,
No crested warrior dips his plume in blood;
Where power secures what industry has won,
Where to succeed is not to be undone."

In VICTORIA

the Rev. S. Clow was the first Presbyterian minister. In 1835 the first white man entered the river Yarra. In 1837 Mr. Clow began to labour. The Rev. J. Forbes was the first minister of a settled charge. The presbytery of Melbourne first met on the 1st June 1842; and in 1846, falling in with the Free Church movement, a Free synod was formed. The United Presbyterians were represented from 1847. So rapidly did the colony develop after the great gold discoveries in 1851, that in 1859 sixty ministers were labouring there. On the 7th April 1853, fifty-three of these brethren, representing all sections, met in Melbourne, and with representative elders constituted the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. An Act of the Colonial Legislature, previously obtained, gave civil effect to that union. Since that time the ministry has increased from 50 to 180, and settlements are being effected all over the colony — not only amongst natives, but for the Chinese, and in the islands of the New Hebrides. At the theological hall, under four professors, one— fourth of the ministers have been trained; and the 'Ormond College' in Melbourne has been largely endowed.

In Victoria, prior to 1875, the sum of £50,000 was given for the advancement of the Christian religion, but there has been no State aid since that date. Of the population the percentage stood thus by the last census: — Protestant, 73 per cent; Roman Catholic, 24 per cent; Jews, half a cent. The numbers were — Anglicans, 352,087; Presbyterians, 149,849; Methodist, 122,504; other Protestants, 74,689; Roman Catholics, 229,917; Jews, 4,894; Pagans (Chinese), 11,000; others, 30,100.

The Melbourne University, opened in 1885, has £11,000 income, and two affiliated colleges — Trinity and Ormond — Anglican and Presbyterian, with 483 students. Education is compulsory, free, and secular; but the exclusion of religion is mourned over by many who at first so advised. In 1884 it was estimated that 94 per cent. were being educated, the cost being £559,660. Secondary education is usually under the control of religious denominations; and Roman Catholics have 172 schools apart from State control.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

'By reference to the map,' said Mr. Forbes, 20th December 1838, 'you will perceive that Port Phillip is in the southern part of the territory of New South Wales. Three years ago its only inhabitants were the indigenous population; now it also has a population of several thousand white men. Melbourne, the capital, was, two and a half years since, mere forest, or bush as we call it. Now it has between three and four hundred houses, and a population not short of 1,000.' How strange these statements appear, though made so recently, regarding a district now numbering about a million of inhabitants, and a city which, with its suburbs, contains some 200,000 souls! What would Mr. Forbes have thought when he penned his account of the wonderful progress then achieved, if he had imagined that in the lifetime of many it would be quoted for the sake of exhibiting the prodigious strides taken after he wrote, and the contrast between his description and the present state of things?

The extraordinary material progress of Victoria has outstripped that of the parent colony of which it formed a part, and the growth of the Church in New South Wales has also proceeded at a more moderate rate.

The Rev. Dr. Lang was the first Presbyterian minister in 1823. In 1831 five others had arrived. In 1840 the disunited branches were formed into the synod of Australia. In 1842 Dr. Lang seceded, and in 1846 the synod of Eastern Australia was formed on Free Church principles. In 1864 that synod and the synod of New South Wales united, under the designation of 'The Presbyterian Church in New South Wales.' In 1865 a further union of this body with the Established Church party and the United Presbyterians was formed. This is known as the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales.

New South Wales is a colony of 'genuine British people,' with all its principal Churches represented. The relative position is stated thus:— Episcopalian, 45 per cent; Roman Catholic, 28 per cent; Presbyterian, 10 per cent. Of 870,000 of a population there are 87,000 Presbyterians. These are scattered over the colony, while spiritual oversight and organisation is being earnestly pursued at 476 centres,

RELIGIOUS ENUMERATION — NEW SOUTH WALES, 1885.

Various or no religion, 18,776; Pagans, 11,882; Protestants, 662,635; Roman Catholics, 264,692; Jews, 4,215. The Protestants — comparative position — stand thus: — Anglicans, 435,883; Presbyterians, 92,542; Methodists, 82,195.

The university of Sydney had 37 professors, 203 students, and £20,338 income Education and three colleges are under the control of the State.

THE SYNOD OF EASTERN AUSTRALIA

was formed in 1846 by the secession from the synod of Australia of three ministers and a large body of people. On November 15, 1864, the synod was dissolved by the moderator for the purpose of uniting with the synod of New South Wales. Several ministers entered protests, and claimed the right of retaining the designation They continue separate in seven congregations.

St. Andrew's College, within the university of Sydney, was erected by Presbyterians. The Government offered, in terms of the Colleges Act, £10,000, and £500 a year to the principal, provided £10,000 be raised by subscription. Of twelve governors, four are Presbyterian ministers. The moderator of assembly is their visitor. Control as to doctrine is vested in the presbytery of Sydney, which appoints the professor of divinity. A legacy of £10,000 endows two of the professorial chairs.

TASMANIA

from 1804 was a convict establishment. Free immigrants arrived in 1820. The Rev. A. Macarthur in 1822 arrived in Hobart Town. In 1835 the presbytery of Van Diemen's Land was constituted, apart from Mr. Macarthur. After a struggle this presbytery obtained public recognition. In 1837 an Act of Legislature put all churches on an equality as regards aid from the public treasury, and in a short time ten congregations were organised and had churches built, with a minister for every 700 Presbyterians in the colony. In 1845 an attempt was made by the then bishop of the Church of England in Van Diemen's Land to obtain ecclesiastical authority over all the inhabitants of the island, which was resisted by the Presbyterians, who had influence enough to get the bishop's letters-patent revoked, and to get a rule recognised limiting the power of English bishops in these colonies to the superintendence of their own clergy. Since the discovery of gold on the neighbouring continent, and especially since the cessation of imperial expenditure in connection with the convict system, all interests have drooped in Tasmania, and the Presbyterian Church is in a less flourishing state there now than it was several years ago. Tasmania is the only colony in Australasia in which the various sections of Presbyterians have not yet united in one Church. There are (1) the presbytery of Tasmania, with twelve congregations; and (2) the Free presbytery of Tasmania, with four congregations. More than half the population are Anglican, with 22 per cent Roman Catholic, and 27 per cent illiterate.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

In 1881 religious divisions were — Anglicans, 16,263, or 54.74 per cent; Roman Catholics, 8,413, or 28.32 per cent; Wesleyans, 2,084, or 7.01 per cent; Independents, 1,262, or 4.25 per cent; Presbyterians, 1,004, or 3.38 per cent; other religions, 329, or 1.11 per cent; unnamed, 209, or 0.29 per cent. Education is compulsory; 9.93 per cent were illiterate.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

The Rev. R. Drummond, formerly of the United Presbyterian Church, Crail, was the first Presbyterian minister. From 1839 he formed a congregation in Adelaide. The Free Church branch was formed by the Rev. J. Gardner in 1850 — the Rev. R. Haining having laboured in connection with the Church of Scotland. On the 10th May 1865 a union was formed. It consists of 13 congregations and 14 ministers.

The South Australian census of 1871 showed 50,849 persons — men, women, and children — described as belonging to the Church of England; this number is 27.39 per cent of the whole population. The Roman Catholics have 28,668, or 15.44 per cent of the population; the Wesleyan Methodists, 27,075, or 14.59 per cent; the Lutherans, 15,412, or 8.30 per cent; the Presbyterians, 13,371, or 7.20 per cent; the Baptists; 8,731, or 4.70 per cent; the Primitive Methodists, 8,207, or 4.42 per cent; the Congregationalists, 7,969, or 4.29 per cent; the Bible Christians, 7,758, or 4.18 per cent.

The remainder of the population comprises some members of smaller denominations, with 5,436 objecting to answer, and 3,802 whose religion is not stated. The Wesleyans and the Roman Catholics show the largest numerical increase since 1861. The total population in 1871 was 185,626; the census of 1881 counts Anglicans as 75,812; Roman Catholics, 42,628; and Methodists at 42,103.

QUEENSLAND.

The first minister who arrived in Moreton Bay was the late Rev. T. Mowbray, in 1847. That district in 1869 was proclaimed the separate colony of Queensland. A union forming the Presbyterian Church of Queensland was consummated in 1863. In 1868 there were 13,179 Presbyterians, the total population being 99,312. Now in a population of 300,000 there are 30,000 Presbyterians, but only 23 ordained ministers.

In Queensland the principal religious denominations retain, free of taxation, original grants of land, but there is no State Church. The proportion to the population in 1881 was — Anglican, 34.62; Roman Catholic, 25.47; Presbyterian, 10.59; other Protestants, 19.48; other religions, 9.07. Education is compulsory, but unenforced. 29.44 were illiterate, as were 5.56 of persons married.

NEW ZEALAND.

The Rev. D. Bruce of Auckland gives the following interesting account: — 'This colony is situated in the Pacific Ocean, about a thousand miles to the south-east of the Australian continent, and stretching from 34° to 47° south latitude. Keeping in view its configuration, its extreme length may be estimated at a thousand miles, its average breadth at a hundred. It consists of a group of three islands, known as the North, Middle, and South, separated from each other by narrow straits; but, for all practical purposes, the colony may be said to be restricted to the two main islands, the North and the Middle. As might be inferred from its extremes of latitude, its climate is finely graduated; so that, while in the far south you may have a climate not unlike to that of Scotland, it becomes milder as you proceed northwards, till at the remote north you find it partake of a true semi-tropical character. As may be easily understood from the near approach of the ocean on both sides, there is all over the colony a very considerable modification of the climate, so that it seldom or never happens that either from cold in the south, or from heat in the north, a cessation from out-door labour becomes at all necessary. The general salubrity of the country, thus accounted for, very naturally made it be thought of by intending emigrants; and accordingly, by means of the agencies that have at various times been set on foot, these have poured in upon its shores in steady stream, till its European population may be said to reckon nearly half a million of souls. This progress, if it be remembered that the colony is not of much more than thirty years' standing, and that its settlement has been carried forward in the face of peculiar internal difficulties, especially in the North Island, where the native population chiefly resides, may, without exaggeration, be said to be great.

'The seaboard of New Zealand may, on a rough estimate, be said to be about four thousand miles in extent; and this, coupled with the fact that its interior is to a very large extent of a mountainous character, determined the mode of its settlement. It was not at one point, but at several points, that its enterprising colonists took possession of its extensive coasts, according as a good harbour or good land might guide their choice. Wellington, at the extreme south of the North Island; Nelson, at the extreme north of the Middle Island; and Taranaki, on the west side of the North Island, were settled by the New Zealand Land Company, which existed in England, and comprised not a few of the members of Parliament. Canterbury, on the east coast of the Middle Island, was a settlement formed under the auspices of the Church of England; and Otago, including all the southern extremity of the Middle Island, was established by an association connected with the Free Church of Scotland; while Auckland, situated towards the northern part of the North Island, arose in virtue of the selection of its site by Governor Hobson as the seat of the Colonial Government. From these six points as centres, the population has, for the most part, extended along the coasts and into the interior, as circumstances might direct. The discovery of gold has within the last ten years been the chief object in attracting a large population to the west coast of the Middle Island, the interior of Otago, and the Thames Gulf in the vicinity of Auckland.

'The original mode of settlement, resulting as it did in the creation of six far-separated and independent communities, very naturally suggested the idea of the peculiar constitution afterwards conferred upon the colony, and brought into operation in 1853. That constitution was drawn up by the master-hand of Sir George Grey, the Governor of the colony for the time being. This shrewd and observant statesman, inspired by the spirit of the age, and taking a true view of the circumstances of the colony, shaped its constitution as nearly as possible after the model of government furnished in the polity of the Presbyterian Church. Each of the six different and remote points of settlement was recognised as the centre of a province, and invested with power to regulate all matters of merely local interest, which power might in a less degree be afterwards conferred upon municipal or rural boards; while all the six provinces, having the country apportioned amongst them, were entitled, according to their population, to send representatives to what is called "The General Assembly," to which body belong all the higher legislative functions, and whose enactments are binding upon the whole colony. These original provinces have, in some instances, been sub-divided, and the number has thus been increased to nine, but the principle of the constitution has nevertheless remained the same, and though not free from faults in the estimation of some, it is yet well suited to the country, and works well on the whole. It remains only to be added here, that these several points of settlement, thus constituted the headquarters of provincial institutions, became the natural centres of the Church's influence — the seats of her presbyteries so soon as they could be formed, as in most cases they ultimately will be of her provincial synods or assemblies.

'The ecclesiastical history of New Zealand, in so far as it concerns the Presbyterian Church, dates from the year 1840. In the course of that year, the Rev. John Macfarlane was sent out by the Colonial Committee of the Church of Scotland to take the spiritual oversight of the members of the Church resident at Wellington. During the ten succeeding years, clergymen were sent out by the Free Church of Scotland to Nelson, Otago, and Auckland, according as immigration was directed to these several places. Thereafter the extension of the Church, like that of the colony, became more rapid.... In the part of the colony over which the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand exercises ecclesiastical care — including the whole of the North Island, and the provinces of Nelson, Marlborough, and Canterbury, in the Middle Island — there are not fewer than 115 churches, schools, and manses, while in the provinces of Otago and Southland, where the Presbyterian population is most numerous, there is at the least an equal number. It will thus be seen that throughout the whole length of New Zealand, extending over upwards of a thousand miles, there have been 230 ecclesiastical structures built, for the most part, during the last twenty years — at the rate of fully 10 per year — by the agency of comparatively a handful of people, and, in the great majority of cases, without any aid extraneous to the Church.

'The general organisation of the Church began in 1855. In that year the presbytery of Otago was constituted; and the presbytery of Auckland was constituted the year following. In 1861 negotiations were entered into between these two presbyteries for the purpose of uniting the Church throughout the whole extent of the colony into one organisation; but eventually the brethren in the provinces of Otago and Southland preferred to have a distinct organisation of their own. There thus came to be two general organisations, known as the Church of Otago and Southland, and the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand; in no wise antagonistic, but co— operative, not only in spirit but in act, sending deputies to their respective supreme courts, and destined, at no distant day, to become visibly one, as they already are in heart and in work. The synod of Otago consists at present of three presbyteries; takes the ecclesiastical care of the provinces of Otago and Southland, as also of the South, or Stewart Island; and is making vigorous and efficient efforts to supply the spiritual wants of the numerous members of the Church in these parts of the colony. The whole of the rest of the colony — comprising seven provinces, and a territory fully eight hundred miles in length — is under the spiritual supervision of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, consisting at present of five presbyteries. Now, throughout this great range of territory, there are many districts where there are considerable numbers of our countrymen who are living without any provision for their religious culture.'

(1.) THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND

comprises 5 presbyteries, with 58 congregations. Most of the churches are used as schools. The assembly is to meet biennially.

(2.) THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND

embraces the southern portion of the Middle Island, and the Southern or Stewart Island. The two Churches send friendly deputations to each other's assemblies.

The settlement of Otago was founded by an association of gentlemen in connection with the Free Church of Scotland, the Rev. D. Burns accompanying the first settlers in 1848 to Dunedin. In 1854 the Presbytery was constituted. In 1861 negotiations for union were broken off. In 1865 the Church was subdivided into three presbyteries, and next year the synod was constituted. This Church has a general sustentation fund, out of which all receive an equal dividend. Had it not been for this fund, churches could not have been planted in many of the districts. As the province of Southland has been re-united to Otago, the designation proper will be the Presbyterian Church of Otago. In the three presbyteries there are thirty-three charges.

A mission to the Maories was begun in 1869, also in the New Hebrides and to the Chinese.

Besides the sites of all churches and manses, an estate belongs to the Church, which forms a valuable endowment. It consists of a number of sections in the city of Dunedin, and some suburban and country districts, amounting in all to 1300 acres. This came to the Church chiefly through the Otago association. Of every eight properties sold by the association one property was allowed to the Church. These Church properties have become very valuable, although the revenue as yet is small. When Government schools were established, one-third of the revenue devoted to education was applied to university education, in the endowment of the chair of mental and moral philosophy. The other two-thirds constitute the ecclesiastical fund, devoted to the building or repairing of manses and churches, &c. Two hundred pounds is given to the building of every manse.

Three other properties were the gift of the New Zealand Company, on the birthday of the settlement. For these Crown grants were issued in name of the superintendent of the province, in trust for the Church. The sites on which — (1.) The first manse was erected; (2.) The first church and school; and (3.) That on Church Hill, where the first church is being built. After the opening of the gold-fields of Otago, the first site, at the head of the principal jetty, being unsuitable, by order of the Provincial Council this was leased, and the proceeds devoted to the erection of a church and repairs of others throughout the province. The second site was set apart for a college, and the third for a church and manse. A manse was built with this at a cost of £2000, and the synod voted £10,000 towards the church, which is to cost £14,000.

'The immigrants for some years were mainly, though not exclusively, Presbyterians. With the gold discovery in 1861 a change came, and thenceforth the representatives of several nationalities and religions crowded to our shores. Great as was the excitement which accompanied the rush of population thirsting for gold, yet through the influence of government, education, and religion, all parties gradually sank down to the safe working level. Those among the recent settlers who could not with comfort avail themselves of religious ordinances as dispensed by our conservative Church, set about getting them after their own order and liking. It is, however, to the credit alike oft the Old Identity, as the original settlers were happily termed, and the more pushing immigrants of the gold time, that they respected each other's predilections and prejudices, and rendered to each other cheerful and substantial assistance in their building operations.'

IN NEW ZEALAND, at the present time, Anglican and Free Churches retain original endowments, but otherwise there is no State recognition. The percentage of population in 1881 was — Anglican, 41.50 (exclusive of Maories); Presbyterian, 23.09; Methodists and others, 9.52. Protestants numbered 387,767; Roman Catholics, 68,984, or 14.08 per cent; Jews, 1,536; Pagans, 9,436; unnamed, 13,978. The university of New Zealand has 3 affiliated 'colleges — Dunedin*, Otago, 8 chairs and 9 lectureships; Christchurch*, Canterbury, 6 chairs, 2 lectureships; Auckland, 4 chairs and 1 lectureship. Two of the colleges (marked *) are munificently endowed. £427,904 was in 1885-6 expended on education, which is compulsory; and at the primary schools, free and secular, 7.91 per cent (exclusive of Maories and Chinese) in 1881 could neither read nor write.

The population has increased from 26,707 in 1851 to 578,482 in 1886.

POPULATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

The census of New Zealand was taken on the night of Sunday, the 28th of March 1886. According to the official returns, the population of the colony, exclusive of Maories, was 578,482, or, adding the natives and half-castes — who amount to 41,969 — the grand total was 620,451. The males considerably outnumber the females, as in all newly-developed countries. There are 74 'boroughs' in the colony, but only one of these exceeds 30,000 in population, while nine have less than 500 inhabitants each. Auckland has largely increased, Wellington has slightly advanced, Christchurch is stationary, and Dunedin has slightly decreased. There are 197 'towns' in New Zealand, but 82 of them have less than 100 inhabitants, while Devonport, the most populous, has only 2,650 inhabitants. Throughout the whole colony there are only 5,561 persons to the square mile. Inhabited houses have greatly improved, for while there is a decrease of 2,648 in two-roomed houses, there was an increase of 5,026 in those having three and four rooms, an increase of 7,880 in those of five and six rooms, and of 5,693 in those of more than six rooms. Out of the whole population of New Zealand, 51.89 per cent are native born, 21.72 come from England, 9.48 from Scotland, 8.89 from Ireland, 0.34 from Wales. With respect to education, 73.52 are able to read and write, 4.77 able to read only, and 21.05 unable to do either. It is calculated that only about 2.6 per cent of the children of the compulsory school age are being wholly neglected. The native races in New Zealand are decreasing, while those of European stock are rapidly multiplying.

AFRICAN ORGANISATIONS — imperfect.

WEST INDIA ISLANDS.

TABLE OF AUSTRALIAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.