description, the Roman Catholics, and their
"Presbyterian brethren," (as they can condescend to call them when it
answers their purpose,)[212] have been acting in Australia for some
years past; and, aided by the potent force of agitation upon a
government which "cared for none of these things," except how it might
"please the people," they have been successful. Spurning the very name
of toleration, and despairing of exclusive establishments for their
own communion, they have succeeded in giving birth to a system of
joint-establishment for three communions of Christians, and
encouragement and assistance for as many more as the government may see
fit to patronise. In 1836, the system which now continues in operation
was commenced by Sir R. Bourke, then Governor of New South Wales, who,
in proposing this plan, expressed a confident hope, (which has never yet
been fulfilled,) that thus people of different persuasions "would be
united together in one _bond of peace_." It is pitiable to see a
fellow-creature, and him, too, a man in authority, borrowing an
expression from a passage of Holy Scripture, (Eph. iv. 3,) while he is
at the very time forgetting the duty there enforced. The eye that
glances upon the words "bond of peace," must be very careless or very
wilful, if those other words, "unity of Spirit," or the words below, in
the following verses of the same chapter, altogether escape its notice.
The principal features of the new system are these. It affords
assistance in money towards building a church or chapel, and a
dwelling-house for the minister, in all cases where not less than
300_l._ have been raised by private subscriptions. It provides a stipend
for the support of _ministers of religion_, upon certain conditions, at
the rate of 100_l._ per annum, where there is a population, of 100 adult
persons, (including convicts,) who shall subscribe a declaration stating
their desire to attend his place of worship, and shall be living
within a reasonable distance of the same. If 200 adults in similar
circumstances sign the declaration, a stipend of 150_l._ is granted; and
if 500 persons sign it, the stipend is 200_l._--the highest amount ever
granted towards the support of any one officiating teacher of religion.
In places where there are less than 100 adults ready to subscribe, or
where there is no church or chapel yet erected, the governor may
contribute a stipend not exceeding 100_l._ per annum, but in the latter
case 50