SPEECH AT THE JUBILEE OF

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

(Camden, 1899.)

I have been entrusted with the very pleasing duty of returning thanks to the visitors attending the present gathering. Part of my duty has already been anticipated by the chairman, Mr. King, who expressed at the luncheon our grateful acknowledgements to the Bishop of Bathurst for his presence at the jubilee celebrations. The reverend gentleman, I know, came to Camden at very considerable inconvenience. The Bishop stated at the luncheon that, during his eleven years at Bathurst, he has travelled on an average ten thousand miles a yeara record which, I understand, has not been surpassed by any Australian Bishop. To the clergy and visitors I would, on behalf of the parishioners, offer our cordial welcome. It is now fifty years since the consecration of St. John's Church by Bishop Broughton, a man of high scholastic attainments, and possessed of some of the elements of a Christian statesman. Although small of

stature, he was most dignified in manner, and most reverent and impressive in all the church services. He occupied for some years years a seat in the early Legislative Council of New South Walesas also did Archbishop Polding-and took a prominent part in the debates. He established a Theological College at the Glebe, in Sydney, and opened it with a Latin oration, which was rather severely criticised by Mr. Robert Lowe (who afterwards became Lord Sherbrooke); but in the opinion of other competent critics it was a brilliant literary achievement. There were some rather singular coincidences connected with him and Sir George Gipps, who was Governor of the colony for several years during his episcopacy. Both men were born at Canterbury, and educated at the college; they both occupied at the same time the highest positions in a remote British colony; both returned to England, where they died, and were interred at Canterbury.

In looking back through the long vista of years which have passed since the consecration of our church, one is forcibly reminded of the great changes which have taken place in all our social, political, and ecclesiastical institutions. Fifty years ago, we had but one Anglican Bishop in Australia, whose

jurisdiction not only embraced the whole of this continent, but included all the islands in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Now we have fourteen in the Australian Dioceses; and if we include New Zealand, New Guinea and Melanesia, they number as many as twenty-which may be accepted as evidence of the great progress our church has made in these distant colonies. Lord Macaulay used to say, "I have been hearing of nothing but decay all my life, while I see nothing but progress"; and no doubt there are many pessimists in the present day who ignore the good, and look only at the seamy side of humanity and the existing defects in our institutions. I must confess that, as one of rather conservative views, I think in matters political we have much deteriorated; but the discussion of such topics would not be in harmony with our present proceedings.

Mr. King has asked me asked me to give a brief history of the parish since the consecration of the church. I have no written records of what has taken place, but, as I knew intimately the various incumbents who have held office, I will endeavour to give my recollections. We are mainly indebted to the Macarthur family for our picturesquely situated church and parson

age; quite recently Mrs. Onslow presented at considerable cost a beautiful peal of bells and a clock, for which that lady cannot be sufficiently thanked. Visitors to the district have often remarked on them:

"Dear bells! how sweet the sound of village bells

When undulating on the air they swim, Now loud as welcomes; faint now as farewells,

And trembling all about the ruggy dells As fluttered by the wings of Cherubim."

Dr. Forrest was the first incumbent appointed to Camden. He was originally selected by Bishop Blomfield of London for the first headmastership of the King's School. He was a man of commanding presence and great force of character. In 1839 Mr. Forrest relinquished the headmastership, and subsequently resided at Campbelltown, taking charge of the parish of Camden. He resided at Elderslie, receiving pupils for education, two of whom became my brothers-in-law. The Camden church was not then built; Mr. Forrest performed Divine Service in a small schoolroom still standing close to the residence at Camden Park. He was a most admirable reader, and the church services as rendered

by him were most impressive, and full of beauty and solemnity. It was before the days of monotoning, when to read well was considered an important qualification. In 1848 Mr. Forrest resumed the headmastership of King's School, continuing his duties until 1853, when his health again broke down. He died shortly afterwards. Mr. Forrest was succeeded in the incumbency by Mr. Rogers, who was in charge of the parish when the church was consecrated. He was a gentleman of kind and genial manners, making a point of visiting everyone in his parish; he acted on the principle that "a house-going parson makes a church-going congregation," and had his reward in seeing on Sundays a well-attended church. In 1859 Mr. Rogers was transferred to Trinity Parish in Sydney, where he ministered till his death, greatly beloved. Mr. Tingcombe came next, a man of refined tastes and manners, most earnest and devoted, but unfortunately a martyr to illhealth. Mr. Tingcombe went to England to recruit his health, leaving the parish in charge of Mr. Barlow; but he returned not much benefited, and resigned the incumbency about 1873, when he was succeeded by Mr. Moran. Of that gentleman it is not necessary to say much, as most present still