34 AUSTRALIAN PICTURES. 



happens to be a vacancy, and all the men who have made a deep impression 

 on the community have been trained there. The whole religious and spiritual 

 life of the colonies is inspired and stimulated by that of England, both in the 

 sense that they naturally lean upon the stronger thought of English writers, 

 and that they are guided by ministers who have studied in British universities. 

 There are colleges connected with the more important denominations, which, 

 it is hoped, will gradually grow till they rival those of other lands. As yet 

 they are incompletely equipped, and one or two men have to bear the brunt 

 of work that is usually divided among four or five. 



In a new country, which attracts to itself all sorts and conditions of men, 

 nearly every form of belief is represented. Many of the sects, however, are 

 very small, and may be said to be practically confined to the metropolitan 

 cities. The Catholic Apostolic Church, the Swedenborgians, Lutherans, 

 Moravians, Unitarians, and various bodies of unattached Protestants, are thus 

 limited. The Episcopalians, the Roman Catholics, the Presbyterians and 

 Methodists have by far the largest hold on the people, while Independents 

 and Baptists are fairly numerous and influential. Altogether, the Churches 

 provide accommodation for more than one-half of the people, and the ordinary 

 attendance at their principal weekly service amounts to fully one-third. 



Sunday-schools flourish in every part of the country. The total number 

 of children attending them is returned in Victoria as ^2 P er cen t. of the 

 whole who are at the school age, and the average is not much less in any 

 other colony. When allowance is made for the children who are kept at 

 home by parents that prefer to give their own instruction, and for those in 

 the country who cannot well attend a Sunday-school, it is evident that there 

 are comparatively few who receive no religious education at all. 



The love of church building, which every nation has displayed, is by no 

 means wanting among the Australians. In every town the ecclesiastical 

 edifices are the chief features, and in the larger cities some of them are 

 imposing structures. Cathedrals are gradually rising in different places. Even 

 the Churches which are not usually credited with paying much respect to 

 outward appearance are inclined to beautify their buildings. 



It would be too much to expect that the denominations could lay aside 

 their differences and unite. But a very kindly feeling exists for the most 

 part between them, whether it be due to their equality, or to the novel 

 circumstances in which they were placed when they began their work. That 

 it may continue and tend to further co-operation is the earnest wish of all. 



Statistics, giving the most recent facts about the condition of the 

 various Churches in the colonies, will be found in the Appendix. 



