326 A HISTORY OP THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



Hall, in April, 1847, afforded journalistic deliverances for a month, 

 and the nursing of physical as well as moral injuries for even a 

 longer period. 



The other, and lesser cause of trouble, was the disruption of 

 the Presbyterian body, following on the news of a similar break-up 

 in Scotland. Vigorous attempts were at first made by some of the 

 wiser heads to maintain an attitude of neutrality for the Australian 

 Synod, which, it was sensibly argued, should give its adherence to 

 neither the Established nor the Free Church of Scotland, but hold 

 friendly correspondence with both. But an ecclesiastical court is 

 not an easy body to bring into line, and for two or three years, 

 1845-47, there was very persistent contention, into which the irre- 

 pressible Dr. Lang, of Sydney, jauntily intruded, with a far from 

 healing effect. Most Scotchmen love controversy, and it is probably 

 true that the discussions, withdrawals, depositions and threatened 

 expulsions did more towards arousing a personal interest in their 

 Church than a longer course of the gospel of peace and good-will. 

 The era of the new colony opened with three or four contending 

 varieties of Presbyterian church government, but in time the force 

 of old traditions weakened, and in later years a happy union of 

 interests and aims was peacefully effected. 



The third great public teacher, the Stage, did not occupy a 

 prominent stand on the educational platform at this time. Its 

 advent in Melbourne was of the meanest kind, and shabby as was 

 the temple, it must be owned that the mirror it was supposed to 

 hold up to Nature did not present a fascinating reflection. The 

 first Thespian home, erected early in 1841, was a small wooden 

 building on the south side of Bourke Street, midway between 

 Swanston and Elizabeth Streets. It stood a little back from the 

 alignment, and was entered by a steep flight of wooden steps ; the 

 interior was divided into a so-called dress circle, with pit and 

 gallery. The lighting arrangements were based on candles in tin 

 sconces, which could hardly have done justice to what the local 

 paper called the " neat and elegant appearance of the proscenium 

 and stage ". It was erected by the proprietor of an adjoining 

 public-house, known as the Eagle Inn, but he had omitted the 

 important preliminary of securing a licence, and when all was ready 



