1438 



A USTRALASIA II. I. ( 'S'l'R. I 77:7 >. 



represented, and the <-\ idences of actively energetic influence on Australian life every- 

 where apparent. The Anglican and Roman Catholic Cathedrals in Sydney and Mel- 

 bourne are worthy imitations of noble examples of ecclesiastical architecture elsewhere, 

 and man}' of the sacred edifices in the larger country towns are not far behind these 

 in importance. If we contrast the state of religion to-day with that of fifty years 

 ago. the progress and vitality of the Churches must be at once acknowledged. 



It is important to point out that all the Churches are not only centres of religious 

 instruction, but of general education and charitable activity. The Sunday-school system of 

 Kngland has been thoroughly naturalized, and fully two hundred thousand children are 

 taught in this way, the services of more than ten thousand teachers being enlisted in the 

 work. Many of the Churches, especially in the towns, have established literary and de- 

 bating societies attached to 

 them, besides Bible classes 

 for special instruction in 

 Scripture. Attached to all the 

 Churches, too, is a great va- 

 riety of societies for relieving 

 distress, and each Church 

 prides itself on not neglect- 

 ing its own poor. Most of 

 them have agencies for sup- 

 porting their own branches 

 in the more thinly populated 

 parts of the colony, as well 

 as missionary societies for sus- 

 taining religious work abroad. 

 Ta ken as a whole, the 

 Churches are important 

 agencies in the intellectual, 

 social and practical life of the 

 community, and though un- 

 aided by the State, of which 

 the policy, as we have seen, 

 is one of consistent non-in- 

 terference, they relieve it of 

 much that would otherwise 

 devolve upon it. 



The general affairs of the 

 Church of England in the Aus- 

 tralian Colonies are regulated by a General Synod of the Dioceses in Australia and Tas- 

 mania, meeting every four years under the presidency of the Lord Bishop of Sydney, as 

 Primate of Australia. This institution was called into being at a general conference held 

 'in Sydney in 1872. Provincial and diocesan synods deal with the ecclesiastical affairs of 

 the different colonies and dioceses in regard to their own immediate affairs. The Roman 





TIIK ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHKDKAL OF ST. MARYS, SYDNEY. 



