subject to the classis or presbytery there. After Cape Colony was ceded to England, and fully possessed in 1806, the seven Dutch congregations retained their privileges, but the State continued to fetter their government.

In 1824, when the first synod met, there were twenty-four congregations. Thereafter the synod was held every fifth year. No resolutions could, however, be passed without the approval of the Government, through the political commissioners. Two of these were present in the synod as representatives of the Government. They could suspend any decision until the will of the Governor was known. But in 1843 a Church ordinance' was passed, by which the Government recognized the right of the Church to internal regulation, without submitting everything for civil sanction.

In each congregation the consistory is composed of two or more elders and four or more deacons. These officers are appointed only for two years, subject to re-election. They go out in rotation, so that every year some new members were added. There are seven presbyteries, in which each congregation is represented by the minister and a member of the consistory. The synod or assembly is composed of a minister and elder from each congregation. A theological seminary was opened in 1859. It has two professors and twenty-two students, and has furnished twenty-nine ministers to the Church. Home and foreign mission enterprises are also carried on in some ten stations by eight agents. In 1867, the grants from the colonial treasury for ministers' salaries amounted to £8632, 10s. This sum was divided among forty-seven congregations. No new grants have been made since the Parliament was established in 1851.

The minister of the congregation is elected and called by the consistory. But this is in combination with all the retired members. Notwithstanding, to receive the Government grant, the minister so elected must also have the appointment of the Governor, which is always given.

'Till 1862, the Dutch Church had experience of no struggle of importance, whether external or internal. The leaven of Rationalism, however, which it was well known had been creeping into its pulpits, manifested itself openly in that year. The

occasion on which this took place was a debate that arose as to whether the whole of the usual formularies should be read at the administration of such ordinances as Baptism and the Lord's Supper. In that debate the Rev. Mr Kotze, a young clergyman, took up the negative, and referred to the 60th question in the Dutch Catechism, in which the doctrine of natural depravity is strongly affirmed, and maintained that what was said there could not be true even of a heathen, or he must be a devil. The synod required a retraction of the words, not only because they implied a denial of the doctrine of original sin, but chiefly because the utterance of them in the circumstances made Mr Kotze unfaithful to his ordination vows. This demand, however, he refused to comply with, and he was first suspended for six months, and finally deposed from the office of the ministry. Against this decision, however, he appealed to the Supreme Court of the colony, and the judges, after asserting in the face of the synod's protest the competency of the tribunal, gave a decision in his favour, and reponed him in his charge. The same thing occurred in another case, that of Mr Burgers of Hanover. One of the judges, indeed, gave an opinion favourable to the Church's plea in that connection, but he was overborne by his colleagues; so that, in so far as the local civil court was concerned, its decisions were adverse to all exercise of spiritual independence.

‘An appeal was taken to the Privy Council at home, and there it was argued on two points. First, it was pled that it was ultra vires of the supreme court of the colony to take up the case at all; and second, it was discussed under protest on the merits. It seems quite clear, however, that the Privy Council was either incapable of understanding the question submitted to it, or did not put itself to the trouble of trying to understand it; for Lord Westbury, who pronounced the judgment, while deciding in favour of the court below, grossly and admittedly blundered in stating what was the point at issue. At the same time the sentence was practically hostile to the Church's right of self-government; and when the synod met in October 1869, it was keenly felt that a crisis in its history had arrived. There were four courses suggested to restore the deposed men pure and simple; to restore under protest; to say, No! we must obey God

The last measure

rather than man; or to postpone the synod. was adopted, as best fitted to serve two ends-(1.) It was a declaration to this effect: "We cannot restore to a spiritual office men whom we have solemnly deposed, even at the bidding of the majesty in Council;" and (2.) "It gave time and opportunity for the rectification of the blunder which Lord Westbury is allowed to have made."'

In November 1870, the synod of the Dutch Reformed Church met in Cape Town. The synod, as stated, had adjourned in 1867, because the Privy Council had dismissed their appeal. Counsel had stated that the Church would not now be interfered with. For a week the question was discussed whether Messrs Burgers and Kotze, suspended or deposed, should be restored, as ordered by the civil courts. It was decided to declare the spiritual independence of the Church anew, but to restore these brethren, so as to open up the way for a proper prosecution before the presbyteries-the Church having erred in this respect -a small minority protesting.

OTHER COLONIAL CHURCHES.

In the interior many persons were never reconciled to British rule. These, in 1835, went and remained beyond the northern boundary. In Natal British rule was proclaimed in 1842, when the majority of the Dutch removed. After its colonization they had been subjected to a terrific slaughter from the natives. There is a presbytery in Natal, composed of four congregations, with 1200 members.

The Orange Free State comprises 50,000 square miles. It was annexed to British rule in 1848. In 1867 the Basutos were taken under British protection. Here there is a synod, composed of two presbyteries and eleven congregations, receiving grants from the treasury. A seventh of the population are of European origin.

In the Transvaal, or South African Republic, extending over 70,000 square miles, the Established Presbytery is composed of four ministers, supposed to be Rationalists. The Reformed Church is a voluntary denomination. They object to the worship of God by any other medium than the Psalms in praise. They are thoroughly evangelical, but few in number, there being only four ministers. Two ministers represent the Cape synod. Some expect that these divided Churches may yet become the Church of South Africa.

There are also Lutheran congregationsat the Cape. In 1714, and

afterwards, German soldiers formed the garrison. It was twenty years after their settlement before they were allowed to assemble for divine service. Two ministers are at the Cape, there being a secession in 1847 from the High Church Lutherans. There is an

other congregation in Stellenbosch, several in the eastern provinces, and others in Natal. There are in addition five separate congregations without ecclesiastical connection.

The Scotch Presbyterian Church at Cape Town was opened in 1828. There is a Presbytery at Natal of the Free Church, consisting of four ministers and two missionaries, although not yet formally recognized. Pietermaritzburg and Impolweni are the chief stations.

The Kaffrarian mission was founded in 1821 by a Glasgow Society, and transferred to the Free Church in 1844. The presbytery embraces six missionaries, and a minister of a European congregation. Five of the missionaries are also regularly appointed pastors of native congregations. There are 1147 native communicants. The chief stations are Lovedale, Pike, Burnshill, Macfarlan, and the Transkei territory. The presbytery of Natal at its last meeting, held at Maritzburg, on Thursday, 26th October, the Rev. Dr Dalzell mooted the question of taking steps towards making proposals for a union between the Dutch Reformed and the Free Church of Scotland.Churches. The proposal appeared to have been received by the presbytery with considerable favour, and it was ultimately resolved that the Rev. J. Smith represent the presbytery at the General Assembly of the Dutch Reformed Church, to be held in Ladismith in June next, and that he report to the next ensuing meeting of the presbytery. (See 'Dutch Ref. Church,' by Rev. J. McArter, Ladismith, 1870.)

TABULAR VIEW OF DUTCH REFORMED CHURCHES IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Receipts from church resources (Cape Colony), £63,032, 5s 5d.; (Natal), £812.
Annual Government grant (Cape Colony), £8632, 10s.; (Natal), £650.
The sum

of £15,382 was expended on ecclesiastical affairs in 1868 on Cape Colony.

Transvaal.

Total.

SOCIETY.

The separate synod in Cape Colony, which arose from anti-British feeling, and a desire for thorough orthodoxy, is very energetic, and has 3 presbyteries, 14 congregations, 7 ministers, and 4362 members.

At Old Calabar, in Upper Guinea, or Western Africa, the United Presbyterian Church has for a long period maintained a successful mission. There are 20 stations, 35 agents, 110 members, and 411 pupils. The chief places are Creek Town, Duke Town, Ikunetu, and Ikorosiong.

§ 5. AUSTRALASIA.

'Oh place me in some heaven-protected isle,
Where peace and equity and freedom smile,
Where no volcano pours his fiery flood,
No crested warrior dips his plume in blood;
Where power secures what industry has won,
Where to succeed is not to be undone.'

1. In Victoria

In 1835

In 1837 Mr Clow

the Rev. S. Clow was the first Presbyterian minister. the first white man entered the river Yarra. began to labour. The Rev. J. Forbes was the first minister of a settled charge. The presbytery of Melbourne first met on the 1st June 1842; and in 1846, falling in with the Free Church movement, a Free synod was formed. The United Presbyterians were represented from 1847.