BOOK NOTICES.

Evening Star, Issue 7402, 23 December 1887, Page 4

BOOK NOTICES.

The Slory of the Olago Church and Settlement, by the Rev. C. Stuart Ross (formerly of Otago and now minister of . Skipton, Victoria). Wise, Caffin, and Co., Dunedin, publishers. The colonisation of New Zealand is a deeply interesting sociological study. It haß been from its first inception experimental. We need not dwell on the irregular settlement of lawless whalers on its shores, or of straggling wanderers from New South Wales who from different motives made it their abode. They, no doubt, as pointed put by Dr Lang and others, rendered necessary: the introducing of law, as they were sowing the elements of disorder and immorality; and the New Zealand Company was organised to save, if possible, the Maori race from that extinction which has hitherto marked the encroachment of civilised man on the territory of barbarians. Whether the experiment is destined to succeed or not seems problematical. The intention was good when it was determined to acknowledge the native right to the soil, and to purchase from the aborigines such land as was needed for colonisation. Based upon thjs view of justice, not only the New Zealand Company, but the Canterbury Association and tho Free Church of Scotland, on religious grounds, determined to found settlements, where their special forms of worship might take root and spread without interfering with each other. That these intentions were frustrated by circumstances over which the emigrants had no control, and that instead of isolation these small colonies have been merged into one general whole, only renders the separate history of each the more interesting. The Rev. Stuart Ross, the writer of the ' Story,' was long resident in Otago, and took a deep interest in the founding of the Presbyterian Church in this provincial district; and he has, in a small readable volume of 447 pages, given a most readable and valuable record of those now historical transactions. It is a neat volume, well printed, and illustrated with woodcuts. To many who are but young the events narrated will be new, but to those of mature years the actors in thorn were well known. We are glad to say many remain among us, though " some are fallen aßleep." To all, however, whether young or old, it is interesting to learn the efforts that have been made to found a colony where sound religion was the moving power and where education of the young was liberally provided for —priceless treasures to be jealously guarded and transmitted to posterity, Tale of a Pioneer Church, by Peter Vogle. H. C. Vine, 5 Exchange Court, Dunedin, agent. The history of every Christian church may be regarded as supplementary to the Narrative of the Acts of the Apostles. The Bpirit that led them to found churches in the old Roman Empire has animated their successors throughout the world, and in many respects the same features present themselves in all. Earnest pastors, God-seeking people, united efforts for the conversion of men from vicious and sinful habits, works of charity and selfdenial for the good of others. But some churches succeed better than others, and it is therefore instructive to study their histories, although not a name of one of their members is previously known. This, however, is not the case in the work before us. It is in some respects a somewhat romantic story of the founding of a Baptist Church at Somerset (Pennsylvania), and carries the reader back to the state of society in the United States nearly four score years ago. It traces the influence of a few words upon an earnest mind, capable of resolving and doing. Many will sympathise with the theological bias of the writer, others may dissent. On this point wc have nothing to say. No doubt creed has had its value in Christianising efforts, although as a set-off it has been a drawback to Christian nnity. In the present day, in reading Church history, its narrowing effect should not be allowed to bias the judgment in regard to the characters of those whose consciences were governed by it. For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight; His can't bo wrong whoso life is in tho right. It is quite possible to discern the beauty of holiness in one from whom we differ on points of doctrine, which, after all, are unresolvable problems of faith. In this catholic spirit, this story of this Church, if read, will prove most interesting and instructive. __^_^^^____^_