MUNICIPAL CORPORATION.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 23, 18 October 1842, Page 2

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION.

(Communicated) .

The first public act of this body was that of attending divine service, at the Church of England on Sunday the 9th current, all the members being present, when an interesting and appropriate sermon was preached by Dr. Selwyn, the Right Rev. and first Lord Bishop of New Zealand.—The text, Matthew, c. 22, v. 5. “ But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.”

The Bishop warned his hearers against the spirit of a desire for worldly gain, beyond all other, and more important and immortal interests, which was found too prevalent in new colonies—he enforced the ‘duties* of the'public authorities, and those of the people, for the discharge of which they were mutually respon-

sible—rstr.ongly Veconimended avoiding every thing tfyat iciald introduce factious or party feeling|Vfvldiitisfipght divide the community—sfated to ..that they had a nolle they were the first who honor of carrying into islands, the timeh rifrtheir native land, which had among the nations of the earth. , God for having put it into the .members of the . Corporation to of their respect for : and the benefit of a good example ; hje|prayed fervently, that the choicest blessings ofTl'daven might rest upon their heads, and those ofralllthe settlers, and thus concluded his affectionate address (of which this is but a very brief summary) which we are sure will not soon be forgotten. Again, yesterday, the 16th current, the Mayor, and a majority of the Corporation, attended divine service at the Church of Scotland, three members only having unavoidably been absent, when an excellent' and useful discourse was addressed to the congregation by the Rev. J. Macfarlane, first Minister of the Kirk in New Zealand. It may be scarcely necessary to state, but perhaps it will be new to some of your readers, that on a recent occasion —thanks to the Bishop of Exeter ! —the Judges of England pronounced an opinion, that in all the colonies, the Church of Scotland stood upon a footing of perfect equality, and enjoyed the same rank, rights, and privileges, as the Church of England. It is superfluous to add, that in Scotland, the Kirk is the dominant establishment, a designation which, we trust, will never be recognised here of any church. The Corporation, therefore, we hope and believe, in the spirit of Christian humility, and devoid of any feeling of hypocritical parade, decided upon doing honor to themselves, and shewing their respect and attachment to the other venerable, national Protestant establishment at home, The Reverend Gentleman preached chiefly from the 13th chapter of Romans, but made distinct reference also to St. Paul’s Epistle to Titus, and the Epistles of St. Peter; the principal doctrinal point argued being, that all power originated with, and was conferred by God, whose ministers all magistrates and persons in authority were; but the clergyman distinctly disavowed any thing like slavish submission to wicked or corrupt rulers, which indeed the history of Scotland shewed, that the people of that nation never would endure.

His sermon concluded with sound advice and important practical remarks drawn from the subject, to'goVernors and governed; he prayed earnestly for blessings on the labors of the Corporation, and in behalf of the Colony at large; warned his hearers against slander, calumny, and especially Sabbath breaking, which was a crying sin in this Settlement; and, we believe, left an impression on the minds of all present, that the doctrines discoursed upon were handled (though upon very short notice) in an able and Christian-like manner.