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I., JANUARY 8TH. 1868. » PKINTID AT TIIK DKITlSH COL<>XI«T OtriCK. ^f' CommittM of UdiM who Prooided oTor tho Tablai. 1. MRS. ALKX. MONRO, MRS. Db. I'OWKLL, MRS. DOUGLAS. 3. MRS. A. n. FFIANCIS, MRS. IIAMILTO.V. 6. MRS. Wm. BOWMAN, MRS. OAPT. KOHL. a. MRS. ROUT. WALLACB, MUS. J A MRS HUTGUESOlf, MRS. SUTTON. 4. MRS. CAPT. RAYMUR, MRS. J.BISSKT. 6. MRS. BBLL, MUS. DiBECK, MRS. J. ROBERTSON. la HiMiiTiB, RBV. T. SOMERVILLK. Comductok or Caoin, Wm.T. LIVOCK Chairman of Managing Committee. MR. ROBT. WALLACE^ ot Wallace k Sttwart. Secretary, JAMES BURNS. Treaiurer, VTu. LAWSOK. ALEX. MtTNRO, JAMES HISSBT, ANDREW SMITH. A'UCHD UnTHERfORn, Wm. GIH.SON, R, WALLACE, J. BURNS, Manageri. Wm. LAWSON. J. IIITOHESOV, t Wm.G. UOWMAN, JAMES LAWSON, n'M. V DITCH, U(*:iT. IIITHET, Tiios. ulsslll; COMMITTEFS FOR riU'JWRATlOS. F"r Furnithing Hull. ANDREW SMITH, CoMTiMKB, R. JK NKINSoN, W. EARL, W. VOKKK, W. EMEUT, For Dtenrating Uall. ARCH'l) RITnKRKORn. ('nNvi!»K«, ROUT. UITIIET. Wm.LOUTIT, JAMLri .Ml IKIIKAU, JA.MES HrTrilF.'^ON m On ^ Hall w (tf thr ftbly l{r..MAN, Mr. .STAIM.l..^. Mil, lU.ACKIIiil RNB, M«. VOKKK, Mii. KITIIKT. Mit. (M.Ari'KUTUN, Ma. Glii.Sd.S. 'hat lio |ii Colonial ♦ itlistam had been ami torn plcd^roil niMiy '> iinif till' lioy \ big end. ^ ,LACR, :CllKS01f, UUR, SON. WrM.T.LlVOCK krt. I. LAWSOK. ,! . On WcdnCHflny CTonintr, .Hli .Tamiary, the St. Nicholas Hall was filled to ovci llowiiij.'' with (lie members and friends of the oon^re^atioii. On ei.terinj,', the liall was found suit- ably derorated, and six taMe-* liounteonsly provided and |irpsiiled over i>y ladies d the ('Inireli. The Kev. Mr. Soui- Crvillo took the chair at seven o'eloek, and after the a»id- jeiiec had snnj; the lOOtli Psalm, u hlossini; was linked by l{ev. A. JJrowninir. and the lea served to about 4wario\v a quantity of lint |iul then spin f'.oni his mouth almost iniiuuieral)le yards of (lord ; he had been at (.'(iHej^c a number olyi'iirs and hud Swallowed a lillii' of the linl of learuiiijr, but still h<- could n<»l make the cord of speech iiiteniiiiial)le ; lie found that it Would run out, and fell like adnptiiiL'' the course of Art- Cuius Ward in his attempt to n'oriraiii/e [ioA-^y .lane, and lot Out the task which he liaid<'ralilc diHiciiliy luul liccn experienced by tho ('ohinial Committee in ihe selection of another, vet, not- ♦ ithstaiiiliiiir cold winds and cold sermons the atiendanco had been L'ood, and substiiiiiial progress made in >piritual ami temporal prospi'iity. The Church ol' Scotland had Icdgcd hct.-eli to the erection o|' a -uitable edifice, and iifiiiy of tlie membiMs who had not yet ideiititie(i tliemn« of hi-; narses. 'oo much pap and sittt .-^ap had sjckencil him a little, but le hov was uottiinr o\ er it and l!ii,' Bend \va- -ure to have a > lig end. Coiuineice I oo was iMiprovui^:;'. Ulind coneiign- 1919^ • **!fi II ^ *v ments were yieldinf^ to regular trade. No lon^^r ware tbere anch aaomafies ad a bank holdinp^ a liquor hccnco, and a bankrupt ralaricd for realizing his own aflTairs. In many wajH tbo Colony was improving ; the farmers were firmer, fatter and fuller ; the forents were yielding to the axe, the fields being turned over and the flocks multiplying. There might be many empty houses in the city, but in the country, komesteadn stood where no homesteads stood before. Then as to the Colonial Government the motto of which had been "all things by turns, and nothing lopfr," wo were now on the eve of Confederation. Soon would ve bo part of an empire Btretching from sea to sea with a population combining all the industry and intelligence of the British North American, all the energy and eagerness of the Yankee, and nil the per- severance of the old country. The New Dominion ! the very name was suggestive, our succcsaors would have pride in proclaiming themselves born within it. Foolish fears were entertained as regards the chance of Confederate favors, but he was sure if wo returned representatives such as those wo sent to New Westminster last year— men with too much principle to bo bouglit, and with two much aoutenesa to bo sold, there need be no such fears. As to our mother country, the great event lind been, tiint the Keiorm bill was an act of Parliament. ?'his paved the way to position by merit, and merit olo.ic, when even the most noblo would command favor only by improving the advan- tagOH of their position. Tuft liunturs iind npurting men would no longer obstruct progresjiivc legislation, while such men as the Duke of Argylc and Lord Stanley would be tho nation's pride and deli)jci»t. In church afl'uirs the most pro- minent was the l*an-Anglioan Synod. His expectations of this had been disappointed. Instead of discussing the ques- tions which agitated the times, such ns the relation of science and theology, or the province of ren.-on in religion, "Cave Canerji," " Beware of the Dog," had been their motto, and they separated with an exceedingly safe prtstoral. The rev gentleman epokc ut some lonirtlj ofFenianism anti its fruit- less effects, an1 class or casii.i All have wrought togcllicr it> hurmnnv to prepare ik, and !i now set themselves to cnjov ji — all, except some of us who have to make speeches. I, inysdl', have been steered iiii tho uow poaitiou of a t)pQcchni»koi- by the bkiltul cxortioni i i. r«ro iber« ;o, and a In mfcny ro firmer, axe, tho g:. There e country, re. Then I had been low on tho an empire ibining all American, ill the pcr- linion ! tho have pride alinh fears onfoderato itivcs Huch en with too acuteneM As to our the Relorm he way to i the most the advan- trtinf; men while such uld bo tho most pro- ctations of the qucs- af science ion, "Cave notto, and The rev 1 its fruit- Irohmd fyo ii'fiy of tli(> by nayini: |; complriod, u)iiianuei,"j on Itcam ofl rnlK'l np'in mo, Itut I -■; or cns'tc r> \i, ami :tl of us wlml tec rod in till i cxortioaif of oar minister, and altho' out of my el^ent, will veDtirre to say a few words about tho connection between the constita- tion of my country and religion. Near two hundred and fifty years ago a party of Christians, regarded as fanatics, embracing lUl souls, from tho decks of the Mayflowor hailed tho shores of New England. Beforo tlicy lauded and in sight of Cape Cod, they drafted ana signed a bill of rights, solemnly and mutually pledging themselves, in the presence of God and of one another, to combine themselves into a civil body politic, for better order and preservation; and by virtue thereof to enact and frame just and cqnul laws for the general good. This instrument waH signed on the llth of Novonibcr, 1020, and was tho germ from which sprung the Government of tiio I'nitotl States. IMymouth Rock on which they landed, will ever be a memorable Hpot in the history of tho States. A monument has already been erected upon it, unii tho day of their landing, -Ist November, is celebrated with as mu(;h joy and t!ianksi;;ivinu; as the anni- versary of tho birth of the (iovornmcnt. Tliis little band wore called I'uritans — the l*rct>bytcrians of their tiay. Long and weary years had tho class from which they spruncf been pcr.-ccutod in the old country, and thoy sou^;lit a land where they might worship God iu spirit and in truth, accord- ing to tiio Miblo and their own consciences. For many years they and llieir posterity struirj^led with the privations, vicis- situdes and perils of an uncivili/ed country. They still, how- ever, adhered to their bill of rigiits. the principles ot which silently and atcadily were beini:' enilicd.lrd in tlie bosoms oT tho people. Tho country, alter a lonj; striijrirle. l)OL'an to settle rapidly, and l*resliyterianisni with ConLrrei^ationalism, it-* le>s metliodical si-ter, boiauie the prevailinu: rcliRious persuasion «d' the Colony. When the population had ad- vanced to ;J,(>0().()(i(>. (he Nlotlicr country souixlit to levy a t;ix upon them without representation. Tlie piiiieiple was ro- {•iignant to the doctrine of the liill of l>i;|!i:-< promulirated ly the |>il;jriin (atlier.-. Likf distant tliuntl'r tlir people bctraa to murmur and yielded an unwilling!." ob«'dicnie. Finally a larue Tea I'arty \va« held in IJoston. where they spoke freely to each otiit'r ihoir sentinient-, and after whi 'h they took bolder action. We arc not in a position to say whether this was a i're-byti'riaM Tea Party or no; wo think it was, but we are sure that liy these old 1 ui itans weiv eonservcd and <adily and '■"\ gaui en' "CO often to thepeoide, and it is obvion- that sueh a ^rovoriunent cannot bo niaiuluiucd without iutelligenoc ana virtue. Politioal eqaalitj will not prodacef{ood in any country, nnless the wiso and the yirtuous bear tho sway. If tho majority of tho people be ignorant and vicious, republicanis'.n can only be a curse. If the majority bo enlightened and virtuous, it will be fruitful in signal blessings. For it will eai^ily bo seen that a democracy can be no better than the whole mass of the people arc disposed to mnko it. If therefore wo are to have good government, we must huvo good citizens; and what makes good citizens? what ? t)ut knowledge, virtue and religion. The fathers of the United States Government knew well that freedom, inlelligcuce and the fear of God could not be separated, and they planned a Government adapted to a religious people; aud, though they suffered tho State to have no control of religious «loctrinCvH, ecclesiiastical forms, or of individual conscience, yet they knew that religion was liie only sure basid of -Republican freedom. The hope of our country, therefore, is in the advancement of true piety and the extension of knowledge. And it is the boast ot our country that through these, joined with their own Ptcrn indus- try and self denial, the labourer has come from the plough and the meclianic from his workshop to adorn the highest oiKces of the Government. Men and worth instead of suing our nation, have been sued by the nation. To no other form of governuicnt does the proverb of the olden time more \)CcmU iarly apply: "When the righteous are in autlioiity, the people rejoice." Song," CampboH'g Last Man," by Mrs. ITutchc?on, whoso voice hiled the large hall and whose rendering was most effective. Dr. Combie, R. N. being called upon, said: On such nn occasion as the meeting together of the members and friends of a Chureli that has done good service by ihe advancement of education and culture in time past, it may not bo amiss to refer to one of the prominent <]uestion8 of the pre- sent day — the relation between natural and revealed truth. I am aware that this subject Ims already been brought under your attention, still I may be permitted shortly to refer tc it from a layman's point of view. We live in an •ge, when more then any other, the triumphs of science have been revealed to our admiring ga/,e--an age of steam engines, and electric telegraphs, and when we reap the ricli harvest of Bcience in increasing wealth and amelioration of woe. Science is now a great factor of healthy civilization, and it behoves both clergy and laity, not to lag behind tlje reciuire- ments of the times. To ignore its study is culpable, to op- pose is criminal. Our clergy and laity can only anticipate a long and bright career by realizing this and acting upon it. True science has hitherto tended only to the moral and spiritual benefit of mankind. The Bible itself constantly directs us to the power of God manifested in Creation. The xesnlts of geology, at first regarded as inimical, have only led to the improved intorpretation of the Scriptares. The best 7. theologians regard tho Scriptarea m trnly ropreronting the current ideas or their dato, and in thiH they arc supported by both Geology and Ethnology. Wo find for inatauco that prehistoric races have existed in a condition fliniilar to the aborigines around us, having for titcir conlemporarien tho cave bear and other onimuls now extinct in the region whoro discovered, and passing tlirougii natural and Huccesflivo Htages. Thus wc have, (1) tho ago of stone implements ; (2) of bron/e, and (3) of iron. On thin coant, the natural ad- vancement has ix'cn anticipated by the arbitrary introduc- tion of iron instruments, but farther north we Plill find tho primitive ago of stone implement.^ Tlie Kaluschian, for instance, still uses a stone chisel for hollowing his canoe. These indicate the antiquity of man beyond our orilinary chronology. But then our accented chronology is merely tho compilation of Usher in tho 17tn century, ami a compilation from numbers uncertain at tlie best. DifToroiicc of dates affects not tiio rule of faith or spiritual truth. Tiio Darwin- ian doctrine — the latest development of science — has oc- casioned no little alarm among most orders of tho clergy. Darwin believes that now species of i)lant8 and animals have been formed by what he terms the process of " natural selec- tion," to wit, that individuals peculiar, yet by that peculi- arity being better adapted to local conditions, have per- petimted themselves where thonc of tln^ orttinary type sue- cumlted and ut even if adopted as a truth, it gives a nobler concei:tit>n of tlie majesty of that Being who b\ a patient providence has evolved the vast and varied myriads of existing life from a few typical forms. It shows how TbronRboul th« %%ti an incraMioK parpoit runi, Aod lb* tbougbtt of mio are riptoad bjr lb* proccti of th« ram. This may ap])car materialistic and militative against tho pride of what has been called the superior animal and may carry man back to inglorious auteccdenta ; but all must ad- mit how much both animals and men arc influenced by out- ward conditions. Often has the smiling vale evoked the la- tent spark of genius, causing i i i t i 1 i I :\ *'Bri|(ht-^«d fancj imlttr from b«r lilfcr uro, Tbougbtt Ibal br««tbe »ad wordt Ibatburn." And when wo behold the niitivcHof Torra del Puogo, nakod as aniinalH, Htuntod in growth, npeliko in feature, without capacity for improvement, without more than tho nhndow of a lanjjuajfo, well may wo ask, cotiM oiir progenitors bo pachas these? Thus we he(» how the past has widened t!io chasm between man and the animal, and thus can wo ^father tho lesson of. hope for fresh victories over nature in tho future. Aiid thus, thoujrh seciniif throu^rh a ^lass darkly, wo anticipate a future ever increaHJii;:: in brijxhtnt>ss, risinj? from liijrher lieijjhts tti hi'jrhcr still, ever prowinjr in knowledge and in beauty— nearinir the Supreme (Jood in derivations of kindred exeellenic. When we look ba<'k with the eye of Bcienee und st'o how far wo have come, we cannot presumo to limit tho proirress ofoiir race. .^^citMice as well as Revelation iv'Oclaims n millcuniuui of physical und moral ^ood and an immurlality in which truth and knowledire will b«» perfect.'* Ex Mayor Franklin after expri-.-siuij the very ^rreat pleas- ure which ho always had in the social assemblies of the Church — the modern " Love Kcasts" n.4 they had bcoa called, jjave a very humourous reading; of the Frenchman ia England tryini; to learn tlu> definition oj tho word liox, which convulsed the audience with laughter. A recess of fifteen ininutes was ilien lukeu. after which Mr. Wallace anuiuiucitl that Mrs. Krskiiic and .Miss llolmea had become the lucky po-scs.-ors of the rings concealed ia the cake pjcscnJcd l.y Mis. Allen Fr.\ncis. Tlirou;;h tho exertions of the lair sale>woiiieii. Miss Adam^, Miss Sutton, Miss Watkins and the Misses Fidwcll, lbt> tickets for it had realize,! Sixty Dollars. In the lait<>r portion of the cvenini:' the Choir rendered tho "(Jloiia," and the glccj " Hark, the lark at Heaven's gate piniTs," and " Sleep, geni'.c lady,'' which was accounted the best performanoc o\ ilie evening. Mr. Wallace in moving a vote of thanks to the ladie?, made the followinjr remarks : " However pleased I might I o with the interesting duty a-fiiirneil to me. and however proud to say pomething to an audience so irreat, the lateiie>s of tho liour" forbids enlargement. Indeed, I am afraitl, that tho Chairman has called upon tin' wrong man. for I was never aware before that 1 was a ladi<'3* man. Williniily would I ccmplim^ nt the ladies, but old experience warns me that il \i not only dilVieult, but dan^'Croiis. in t!ie irood city of lloston, with all generous intention, 1 oiu-e applied the word " hoaiely '' to a lady and was surprisetl to discover that what was in- teiuled as econium was taken a« an iiisuU. Look'- •' at the diversity of natiimality in our couj'rce;ation, I • r foar from the former mistake'. 1 must say, however, tn.ii oui* ladies are worthy of all praise, seeing that notw/.li»t.'i.i>ding their ditVerent climes and conntricfi, tlie\ are enthasii vtu-^ily unite«I in every good word an«l work, and that to tln.ir t^uict efforts id due the success of this meeting.*' x 0. .Mr. H!rfCHtflON-Tliouf?li not murli of a ppcnkcr I jrladly como forward to second tlio motion ho iiMy proitoficd by Mr. Wallace, and hIiouI ' I break down, as is conri(leiitlvo:i|)Octcd* by ninny present, Hlmll tool liappy in bt'iiij? van heart nnd dtdl tho intellect that docs not feel a jrlow of enthiisiusm. nntl cnnnot find words to expri'SH itsell on such a sulijcct. We've but to gaze around to hce how nobly tin* ladies have laboured to make this Hoeial ineetinji: a success. All the creature com- forts with which the tables wore so bo .. i." So it is woman's nature to Kuccor and comfort those win) ure stricken with su/«/ bachelors, by them I am irresistably reminded of the lonely pelican in tiiu wildernes.'*, owl in the desert, or sparrow on the housetop. Keccntly I have somewhere seen them compared with married men, as follows: " They are like the hart; walls of a noble church complied \\ilh that same chiiieli wliei; its walls arc clasped and kissed bv a wealth of tinted ivv '"aves in Autumn. They ore like tiie frame of a beautilul hoii>e compared with that same house wlun the trees are grown about it and fountains pla\ ing and children dancing on the lawn, or like tlie hull of a great i>hip on the ways eonipiired to that ship when she rides on the waters a thing of lile \iid m»)nareh of the waves." in conclusion \ct me rtinind tiain of the remark addressed ttiSiuii Slick Ity his idd minister : ' Sam," said he, " J would die happy if 1 saw you well mated." Mu. (iii.i.ox. — After the eloquence of my friend Mr. Ilatch- e-on 1 feci myself somewhat like a fixed star coming after a comet. 1 tiavc alwajs thought luodorii otiquotto at fault, in 10. J that it docs not npon oecanions liko the present, permit tho ladies to reply for thcmsolvos. All of us, ami especially the husbands amoni; us, arc fully crinviiiced of the persuasive iuHucnco of woman's touijiie; and tiiero can bo nH aoubt, but that they eouhl si>ouk for themselves a frreat deal better than vrc of tlic sterner «ex enn for them nt any rate, nmeii better than I can. My position this evening, remindri me of a story I have heard of a celebrated. They liav<', how- ever, been amply repaid for their labors, by witnessinir tho delijiht with which we u\on demolislir'd the inanipnlations of their hands, and 1 am eh;ii;red lo iiilorm this ainlirnee, that whenever the heart and hand of woman ean add anything to the social enjoyment and improvement of the eoimnnnity of Victoria, liie ladies of thi' cunLrrcLMtion are "always ready." The yotinjr ladies have imprc-scd upon me by the lanf^uaire of the eye. which i< a far more e\|tressive orekrepers, and that as this is Leap Year ihey may perhaps asi^ort the preroiralive which it cojd'ers. Ladies. I tiii>t I have exccnteil the delicate commission with wiiich I have been instructed to your sat- isfaction. I have dont^ .-• to the lie>l (»f my ability, and I beir o| yon therefore to uerrpt tlie uill for the deed. Mu. .Iamks IbssKTT. — .Mr. Chairman. Ladies, and Oen- tlemen 1 have a rc-'dulion to pi-opu.-e, which I am eonlident will meet with a cordial reccjiiion IVoin this mc.iiiir than Tcsterday, (and I have no reason to doubt his statoMiciit) thai he had taken $(i()t)() out of his claim since I saw himtln're in .luly last. There is, l believe, much latent wealth in that part of tlio country, M-hich only rei|uires time to develop. Such a hope may cause not only our choir but the Colony to sing with all heart and voice. Coiixrii-i,ou Jkitkkv wa-< sorry he had not swallowed that lint of learning which Mr. Somorville spoke of, but he was truly int»*rest('('i in coiigreijaiioiial niusir as an in valuable aid to devotion, an ' hojctl ihe time would soon coiii(> when all the members would sing us heartily and as sweetly as the choir. Mb. Livock. At tliis late hour it would ho unwise to do more than simply ackiiowictlgc iho rote of thanks so kindly accorded tlu' choir for their siit^Iit scrvii-cs this evening. It is ordy fair, however, lo stale tiial when we lirst heanl of the intention to hold this ni<-etiiig, th«> time allowed fur practice was so short, that we had many doulits wlietlitM- a sufiioient nund)er of pieces could be properly prepared; hut after some deliberatinti, eame to lln.' eMiu'lii-iou to do the iiest we could it« the limited time, teeling sure that all short coinings wouhl bp overlooked. 'I'he manner in which tlio vote of thanks l.:is been responilod to. has proved our conclusions riirhf, and we onlj regret that our part of the CMteitainmeiit this v»'(>.Iii,gs wei'i' bmuLrhl (o a eonclii?ioii about ch'ven o'clock', when t!i'' iulimilioii wa-i made iIkU the pioL-ecds of the evening would be applied to the ptn'eiia