YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

IN MEMORY OF SAMUEL AMOS YORK
YALE 1863
FROM THE FUND ESTABLISHED IN 1924
BY HIS SON SAMUEL ALBERT YORK
YALE 1890

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Reverend Charles Price.

Liang litho. Melb.

THE

LIFE AND WORK

REVEREND CHARLES PRICE
FIRST INDEPENDENT MINISTER
IN AUSTRALIA

JAMES FENTON
Author of " The History of Tasmania '

GEORGE ROBERTSON & COMPANY
MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE, AND BRISBANE
1886

_ (p 5
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PREFACE

This being the jubilee year of the Independent
Church, Tamar-street, Launceston, it was sug
gested by some of the members that it would be
a fitting opportunity to publish a brief memoir of
the life and work of their pastor, who has been
preaching the gospel and doing good service other
wise in the promotion of religion and morality for
the remarkably long period of more than sixty
years. This was undertaken by the writer without
Mr. Price's knowledge ; but in order to obtain some
particulars concerning his early life, it was found
necessary to ask Mr. Price to supply them. He
furnished the writer with many interesting details,
extending over the whole period of his life. He.
also kindly permitted extracts to be made from
his diary and letters, many of which will be found
real «ems.

iv Preface.
It is matter for regret that the design of the
present volume is too limited to afford space for
the publication of a mass of correspondence, daily
reflections, and heart-searching meditations, which
would have proved highly interesting as well as
instructive to the reader. At some future day they
may be published more fully, and thus Mr. Price,
though he may have ceased from his work, will
yet speak.

J. F.

Brisbane-street, Launceston,
July, 1886.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE
Mr. Price's Birth — Education — Religious Training—
Studies at College - 1

CHAPTER II.
Decides to go as a Missionary to Van Diemen's Land-
His Ordination Service

CHAPTER III.
His Marriage — Departure in the Princess Royal — The
Voyage- -Shipwreck in Frederic Henry Bay —
— Arrival at Hobart Town — Work there — Journey
to Launceston — Stay there 19
CHAPTER IV.
Sailed for Sydney — Arrived there — Opened Pitt-street
Chapel — Preached there for a time — Arranged with
Sir Edward Parry to go to Port Stephens — His
Life and Work there - 30

vi Contents.

CHAPTER V.

PAGE

Colonel Dumaresq succeeds Sir E. Parry as Com
missioner— Mr. Price remains there — His Son born
— Left Port Stephens in 1836 — Returned to Laun
ceston 47

CHAPTER VI.
Commenced to Preach in Launceston — Church formed
— Chapel and Residence built — Sunday-school
opened — Sir John Franklin — Sir Edward Parry - 63
CHAPTER VII.
Opening of Tamar-street Chapel — Various Duties —
Rev. John West arrived — Commenced Preaching
in Launceston — Members of Church divided — Mr.
Price's Grammar School — His Domestic Life —
His Diary 73
CHAPTER VIII.
Mechanics' Institute — First Lecture — Mr. Price's
Artistic Talent and Scientific Knowledge — Gover
nor Wilmot — Progress of Congregationalism —
Conference at Melbourne — At Sydney — At Ade
laide — Tasmanian Union Meetings - 90
CHAPTER IX.
Commemoration Services and Addresses — Wicliffo and
Inveresk Chapels — Visits to Hobart and Victoria —
Pastoral to his Church - 107

Contents. vii

CHAPTER X.

PAGE

Rev. C. S. Y. Price Ordained — Sermons, Lectures, and
Addresses — " Home Life " — Anniversary Sermon
— Band of Hope - 117
CHAPTER XI.
Golden Wedding — Its Celebration — Illuminated
Address — Address from the Congregational Min
isterial Association of Victoria — The Great Aus
tralian Jubilee and Conference in Sydney —
Ministers who attended it — Mr. Price honoured as
the Father of Congregationalism in Australia —
Jubilee Fund — Golden Offering in Tamar-street
Chapel — Review of the last Half-Century - 128

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Portrait of Rev. Charles Price, from a photo, taken in
1883 Frontispiece
Portrait of Mrs. Price, from a photo, taken in 1886
facing page 128
Fac-simile of Mr. Price's Diary 89

THE REV. CHARLES PRICE:
HIS LIFE AND WORK.

CHAPTER I.

The Reverend Charles Price was born in London
on the 21st day of November, 1807. When very
young he was taken to his mother's native town,
Coventry. At the age of seven he returned to
London, where he remained three years, attending
the National School in Coleman-street. Then he
returned to Coventry and attended schools in that
town until about his fourteenth year. During that
period the thoughts and feelings of the young student
were much exercised about the mysteries of God
and the soul. His anxious inquiries led him often
to pray for himself and others ; and being proficient
in reading at a very early age, he perused all the
books that were within his reach on subjects-
calculated to increase his knowledge, one of them
being Matthew Henry's Commentaries, which he

2 The Rev. Charles Price :
was permitted to study at a neighbour's house,
during the intervals he had to spare from school
exercises. Few boys of such tender years care to
read Bible commentaries ; but the whole of Mr.
Price's boyhood gave evidence of a peculiar ten
dency to store his mind with scriptural knowledge
beyond that imparted either by the church or the
school in those days. His mind was inquisitive and
aggressive. He was not satisfied with the formulae
DO
of the Established Church, to which his parents
belonged ; and while the worthy clergyman was
reading his sermon, young Price occupied his time
in reading the historical portions of the Old Testa
ment. The family pew was far away from the
pulpit, and the preacher's exhortations were almost
inaudible, so that there was really a valid excuse
for the apparent levity.
A very marked instance of confidence in the
schoolboy occurred when he was about twelve years
old. He was then attending the National School in
Coventry, and was selected from all the scholars to
go to Lutterworth, to arrange the classes, and ex
plain the method of conducting them to the teacher
of a new National School, about to be established
there. At Lutterworth he saw Wickliffe's old
church, which impressed him very much, for he
was even at that time an admirer of that great
and good man, the " morning star of the Reforma
tion."

His Life and Work. 3
At the age of fourteen Master Price began to
attend an Independent chapel with his uncle's
family, at West Orchard, Coventry. It was a very
old place of worship. The Rev. George Burder,
author of several volumes of " Village Sermons," and
the first secretary of the London Missionary Society,
had been its former pastor; and the Rev. John
Jerard was pastor in Mr. Price's time. Young Mr.
Price soon began to take part in the Sunday-school
work, tract distribution, &c. He became more and
more attached to the minister ; and that which had
been growing in his mind from conviction, heart-
searching, Bible reading, and anxious prayer, now
led to his receiving Christ fully as his Saviour,
and to final decision on the Lord's side. About
this time he felt deep concern for his own relatives.
There had never been family prayer in his parents'
house. One Sunday evening he went home from
the service, and, overcoming all feelings, asked to
be allowed to read and pray with the family. This
created some surprise : but he read and prayed.
Many tears were shed on that occasion by almost
all ; afterwards there was no difficulty in continuing
the service whenever he visited home.
Mr. Price continued assiduously to store his
mind with general knowledge, reading and study
ing English, Latin, and Greek. He was engaged
in business during the day, but he devoted himself
to his studies in the early morning and late at night,

4 The Rev. Charles Price :
while he also carried in his pocket some book for
reference or perusal at any spare interval that
would occur during the day. He took his regular
turn in Sunday-school work in the town, and in
country villages, with a number of other young
persons, attended regularly the week evening ser
vices and the prayer meetings, in which, after a
time, he took part. When about sixteen years old
he became a member of the church, and devoted
all his spare time to religious services. There were
not a few hindrances, arising from worldly associa
tions, inward trials, and varied temptations, which
often filled his mind with doubt and concern as to
whether he was truly converted, leading to more
constant and importunate prayer. He was not
much disposed to talk about his state, but took it
to the Lord. About this time some young men
connected with the church united together for
mutual improvement. Mr. Price met with them
in the vestry of the chapel. They read sermons
and essays, which were freely discussed. This
exercise was found very profitable to all : some of
them soon became local preachers in the villages
around the town.
In the month of May, 1826 — more than sixty
years ago — Mr. Price preached his first sermon in
public, at Kearsley, where he had been accustomed
to teach in the Sunday-school once a month. From
that time he joined the band of local preachers,

His Life and Work. 5
being entered on the plan, so that he preached at all
the stations, far and near, often walking many miles,
preaching three times in a day, and returning home
in the evening. A desire was growing in his mind
for some time to go as a missionary to the heathen.
This he at length mentioned to his pastor, who
rather discouraged the idea. He, however, kept on
reading, studying, and preaching in the villages.
Mr. Price's employment was in a warehouse, where
he was brought in contact with a number of
worldly young men, who often had something
to say of a light and trifling nature about his
preaching ; but that did not discourage him. He
was supported in his work by the approbation of
the people in the villages to whom he expounded
the truths of the Gospel ; and great was their
regret when they learned that the youthful
preacher was about to leave Coventry, for the
purpose of maturing his studies at Highbury
College. Mr. Price preached before the church
from Psalm li., v. 12 — "Restore unto me the joy of
Thy salvation" — and was afterwards unanimously
recommended as a student to the college by the
Rev. J. Jerard and the members of the church.
The usual questions as to character, attainments,
and fitness for the proposed work were satisfac
torily answered, and Mr. Price entered the college
in 1829. After preaching before the committee,
examination in languages, and three months' pro-

6 The Rev. Charles Price :
bation in the classes, his residence was confirmed ;
and he continued his college course until the year
1832, going through all the exercises of preaching
at various places, studying English, Latin, Greek,
and Hebrew, mathematics, biblical exegesis, and
the composition of sermons, essays, &c. The Revs.
W. Harris, LL.D., H. F. Burder, D.D., and R.
Halley, D.D., were Mr. Price's tutors at the college.
He also attended the scientific lectures of Dr.
Lardner, and other eminent men, at the London
University.

His Life and Work.

CHAPTER II.
In the year 1832 a letter was received by the
College Committee from Van Diemen's Land — to
which place the Rev. Frederick Miller, a former
student of the college, had gone in 1830 — asking if
they could supply a second minister for that colony.
After much deliberation, Mr. Price, who had pre
viously wished to be employed in mission work,
offered to go to the then almost unknown land.
There had been two applications made to the
Committee, requesting that Mr. Price might be
settled as pastor at places which he had supplied in
the usual way from the college ; but the Committee
entertained the application from Van Diemen's
Lancl, and encouraged Mr. Price to proceed thither.
Arrangements were accordingly made. Mr. Price
was ordained to the work in his old place of
worship, West Orchard Chapel, Coventry, on the
27th day of March, 1832, when the following-
ministers took part in the interesting ceremony : —
Revs. Thomas Dix, of Bedworth ; Francis Franklin,
of Coventry (Baptist) ; John Jerard, John Sibree,

8 The Rev. Charles Price :
Nathaniel Rowton, of Coventry ; and John Herbert,
of Long Itchington.
There was a very large meeting of the church
and congregation on that occasion. The members
showed great interest in one of. their number being
set apart for missionary work in so distant a land.
Mr. Price was interrogated — first, as to the reasons
which led him to engage in the work; second,
the scriptural truths he proposed teaching ; third,
the manner in which he expected to be engaged.
His replies to these questions were clear, full, and
satisfactory, displaying great mental scope and a
resolute aim to accomplish the arduous task he
had ventured to undertake. It may be stated
that the colonies were then almost unknown — that
Mr. Miller, who had gone to Hobart Town in 1830,
was the only minister connected with the Congre
gational body in the whole of Australasia.
It would have been interesting, as well as in
structive — but our space will not admit it — to give
here the whole of Mr. Price's admirable discourse
at his ordination service. We cannot, however,
omit a portion of his reply to the first query. " It
is with mingled emotions of no common kind," said
Mr. Price, "that I present myself before you on this
solemn occasion. My heart, I trust, is truly grate
ful that I have been brought to this day — a day to
which I have looked forward with anxious expec
tations — while I cannot but feel deeply humbled

His Life and Work. 9
that, though it has not come upon me unawares, it
has found me so unprepared. If, therefore, I
rejoice in being permitted thus to appear before
you, it is not without much fear and trembling,
that, standing as I do now, in the house of God, to
explain to you and to this congregation my motives
and designs in offering myself as a minister to my
countrymen in a distant land, I desire to anticipate
the time when I must appear before the judgment
seat of Christ to give in my account to Him, as at
once the Head of the Church and the great searcher
of hearts.
"In this place, sir, I think it unnecessary to
occupy any time in stating my views of the reasons
that render it imperative on the followers of Jesus
to attempt to convey the gospel of salvation to the
remotest regions of the earth. Most, if not all, who
are here present, are, I trust, friendly to the cause of
Christ, and as such must be familiar with the argu
ments generally adduced in favour of the universal
diffusion of the knowledge of His kingdom. As a
partaker of the blessings of Christianity, it might
be expected that I should regard with approbation
the exertions which are now made to communicate
these blessings to all mankind ; but your question,
sir, calls upon me to state why I, as an individual,
should consider it incumbent on me to devote
myself to the furtherance of so praiseworthy an
object. The question I regard as of the very

i o The Rev. Charles Price :
highest moment. It has often exercised my anxious
thoughts, and led me to seek for wisdom from
the Father of Lights to enable me to answer it
aright. When I reflect on the nature of the work
to which I am looking forward — the many trials
which may be anticipated in its performance — the
entire self-denial, unlimited consecration, and un
wavering faith required for a right discharge of
its duties — when I think of these things, and look
inward on the state of my heart, and backward on
the course of my conduct, a conviction of my weak
ness and unworthiness is apt to weigh heavily upon
my spirits, and to induce me sometimes to fear that
I may have mistaken the voice of natural inclina
tion for the call of duty, when I presented myself
as a candidate for so honourable, but, at the same
time, so arduous and responsible an office. On the
other hand, when I consider the leadings of Provi
dence with me, and reflect on all the way through
which I have been brought — -when I see how
obstacles, which appeared insurmountable, have
been removed, and privileges, one after another, far
greater than ever I could have hoped for, have
been conferred upon me — I cannot but think that
the voice of Providence is saying, ' This is the way,
walk thou in it! Permit me then, sir, to mention
the principal reasons which have led me to this
conclusion, that you and this assembly may be
enabled to judge whether or not I have interpreted

His Life and Work. 1 1
Providence aright. In doing this, sir, it will only
be necessary to give you a very brief account of
my life, as my circumstances and -past history are
well known to many in this congregation.
" The years of my early youth were attended by
no very peculiar circumstances ; but as far back in
my existence as memory can retrace, I have had
some conceptions of the Supreme Being, and some
fear of offending Him. I now can reflect upon
many events of my boyish days in which I can
trace the guardian care and watchful concern of
my Heavenly Father — events which tended to
produce serious thought, and to give a reflective
turn to my mind. Many a time have I been
rescued when about to follow the injurious example
of my sinful companions — frequently was I aroused
to a sense of my danger when about to yield to
temptations ; and more than once, when by accident
I was brought to the verge of death, it pleased the
Father of Mercies to spare a rebellious child.
" Until about my fourteenth year I attended the
Established Church. I carefully learnt its creeds,
collects, and prayers ; but have reason to fear that
all my religion then consisted in frequently repeating
these portions from the prayer-book ; and it was
not until I attended a dissenting place of worship
that the Scriptures were unfolded to me, and the
Spirit opened my heart to receive the truth. That
dissenting place of worship is the one in which

1 2 The Rev. Charles Price :
we are now assembled ; and to my esteemed pastor,
the Rev. J. Jerard, more than to any other man,
am I indebted for the hopes which I am now
allowed to cherish. And I am happy thus publicly
to acknowledge the kindness and attention I have
continued to receive from him to the present time
¦ — kindness and attention which have made an
impression that neither lapse of time, nor change
of scene, will ever be able to erase from my mind."
Mr. Price then briefly narrated his connection
with Mr. Jerard's church, and proceeded to say : —
" I was now brought more into the society of
Christians, and my mind was frequently directed
to the state of the heathen world. A desire to
benefit my fellow-creatures wherever they might
exist was excited in my soul, and the more I felt
the misery of a state of enmity with God, and saw
the preciousness of the Saviour, the more ardent
were my desires to bear the glad tidings of salvation
to men who were sitting in darkness and in the
region of the shadow of death. Gratitude and
compassion both united to strengthen my inclina
tion, and I longed to engage in proclaiming abroad
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners. Had I been one of the highest created
intelligences, I should have held the advancement
of the Divine purposes respecting the salvation of
the world as my greatest honour, pleasure, and
duty ; but I saw myself a sinful worm of earth, a

His Life and Work. 13
brand snatched from the burning ; and, as such, I
thought that no suffering, no hardship, no sacrifice
could be too great to undergo, in order to extend
the glory of the ever-blessed God, and promote the
benevolent views which He has towards our race.
Not that by doing this I hoped to repay Him for
what I had received, or render myself more worthy
or acceptable in His sight. No ! I knew that the
more useful an individual is to his fellow-creatures,
and the more devoted to God, the more he owes to
that grace which has made him to differ. But
circumstances of various kinds, under the control
of an All-wise Providence, prevented me from
proceeding to the accomplishment of my earnest
desires, and having relinquished the idea of going
as a missionary to the heathen, I was induced,
after much prayer for Divine direction, to attend
to the advice and encouragement of my friends,
and devote myself to the work of the ministry in
my native country. With this object in view I
applied in the usual way to the committee of
Highbury College. I need not say that my anxiety
at this time was very great, but I was enabled
then to pray, as I do now — ' Lord, if Thy presence
go not with me, carry me not hence.' . . .
" It is a question, sir, which has often been asked
— and it may occur to the minds of some in this
assembly — ' Why desire to exhaust your efforts in
a distant land, when so many of your fellow-

1 4 The Rev. Charles Price :
countrymen around you are perishing for lack of
knowledge V In reply, I would say that it is not
that I think the Gospel already well enough known
and believed in our own land, or that the soul of a
person in a distant region is of more intrinsic value
than that of my next neighbour : if there be any
difference in this respect, the very reverse of that
must be the truth ; as, if both souls are lost, the
misery of the latter must, from his abuse of greater
privileges, far exceed that of the former. Neither
is it because I dislike Britain. I love my country,
for this is the land of my fathers, the land of my
friends, the land rendered dear by my earliest
recollections and the sacred ties of relationship
and piety ; and in leaving it I must tear myself
away from some of my dearest connections. But I
go to Van Diemen's Land, believing that I am in
the path of duty, and past experience shows me
that the interests of my own country are in no
danger of being neglected, even if the zeal for
foreign service were to become tenfold more ardent
than it now is ; for still there would be many more
ready to remain and contribute to the prosperity of
the Church at home rather than unfold the banner
of the Cross in distant lands."
Mr. Price's reply to the second question sub
mitted to him, as to his views in regard to
the scriptural truths he intended to preach, was
eloquent, comprehensive, and thoroughly to the

His Life and Work. 15
purpose. He dwelt upon the sufficiency of the
revelations contained in the sacred volume to teach
us whatever is necessary for faith and duty, being
given by inspiration of God. He dwelt upon the
mysteries of creation, the fall of our first parents,
the glory and efficacy of the means adopted by
God for our salvation and restoration to holiness ;
so that if anyone perish under the plan of salva
tion, first made known at the fall, and afterwards
more and more clearly revealed to the patriarchs
and prophets of succeeding ages, until in the fulness
of time He sent forth His Son, &c.
"If anyone, therefore," said Mr. Price, "perish
under the Gospel, he perishes under the awfully
aggravated guilt of rejecting the offers of divine
mercy. Nothing but wickedness of heart will
prevent a man from believing the testimony of
God ; so that unbelief, so far from being excusable,
is in itself a sin of the most awful nature. 'He
that believeth not is condemned already, because
he hath not believed on the name of the only be
gotten Son of God.' The heart of man, however,
is so desperately wicked, that if left to his own
natural inclinations, there is a moral certainty that
he will universally reject the overtures of mercy,
coming through the medium of the righteousness
and death of Jesus. God foresaw this, and in order
to prevent it, He ' from the beginning chose whom
He would to salvation, through sanctification of

1 6 The Rev. Charles Price :
the Spirit, and belief of the truth.' And this is
the peculiar office of the holy and divine Spirit,
who operates in such a manner on the hearts of
men as to overcome their natural dislike to God ;
and, by keeping their minds in contact with the
grand truths of the Gospel, regenerates their souls,
and makes them ' new creatures in Christ Jesus.'
In Him they now believe, and their 'belief is
counted to them for righteousness.' Their future
or their past good works have nothing to do in
procuring, or in aiding to procure, their justification
with God ; for they ' are saved by grace, through
faith ; and that not of themselves — it is the gift of
God.' Thus, if any man be saved, he is saved by
the sovereign mercy of God alone ; while, on the
contrary, if any man be lost, he is lost by his own
sins, and especially by unbelief in the Gospel.
" Though holiness of heart and uprightness of
conduct form no part of the ground of a sinner's
justification before God, yet they are never-failing-
accompaniments of a change. It is the grand
design of the death of Christ and the mission of
the Spirit to produce these most desirable ends ;
and it is only in proportion to the extent in which
they are visibly produced in a man, that we have
evidence of his being one of the chosen people of
God. This holy and upright character is not, how
ever, effected all at once, on his becoming justified
by faith ; for till the end of his life on earth, the

His Life and Work. jy
believer has to struggle against many remaining-
imperfections, both of heart and conduct. But he
maintains the struggle against them, and by the
assistance of the Holy Spirit he overcomes one
after another, and attains one virtue after another,
until he ' stands perfect and complete in the whole
will of God.'"
The third portion of Mr. Price's address dwelt on
the sacrifices he was prepared to make in obeying
the dictates of the Holy Spirit, and going to a
distant colony to proclaim the glorious tidings
of the Gospel — the many spiritual privileges he
must necessarily forego in leaving his native land,
the separation from relatives and friends, and the
hardships, trials, labour, and self-denial of a life in
a new country where desperate criminals and war
like aborigines abounded on every hand. "But,"
said Mr. Price, " the great object, to which all others
ought to be subservient, is the salvation of souls.
It is delightful to contemplate the rise of schools,
and the consequent increase of knowledge among
the ignorant and ungodly. It is truly gratifying
to a feeling mind to be able, in the slightest degree,
to alleviate suffering, and reduce the sum of human
misery, were it only by soothing the way to the
tomb ; but oh ! there is something more delightful
still, something still more gratifying to a mind
enlightened from above, and that is, to impart
heavenly wisdom to those who are ignorant of God
3

r 8 The Rev. Charles Price :
— to save souls from death, and unfold the banner
that covers a multitude of sins. . . . My great
desire and aim, then, will, I trust, be to preach the
Word ; to be instant in season and out of season ;
to do the work of an evangelist; to make full proof
of my ministry, studying in all things to show my
self approved of God in my public as well as in my
private instructions to those among whom I may
be called to labour. I hope I shall never shun to
declare the whole counsel of God, in as far as I
myself understand it : but it will be my chief aim
fully to explain to them the doctrine of the Cross,
and to bring them to Jesus as the only sure hope of
salvation. In this work of faith and labour of love
I wish to spend the remainder of my earthly
existence, desiring only to be useful now to my
fellow-men, and at last to be welcomed into the joy
of my Lord."
It is now nearly fifty-five years since Mr. Price
uttered the above words. During the whole of
that long period he has " never ceased to declare
the whole counsel of God ;" he has been " instant
in season and out of season," and he has made
" full proof of his ministry," which will be seen as
we proceed.

His Life and Work. 19

CHAPTER III.
The year 1832 was a notable epoch in Mr. Price's
life, being full of incident. He was ordained to
tho ministry, ns wo have seen, on the 27th day
of March in that yoar. Exactly one week after
that event ho was united in marriage with Miss
Catharine Brogden, a young lady of considerable
attainments, a member of West Orchard Church,
who had long been engaged in Sunday-school and
other Christian work. This happy union lias now
(1886) existed for more than fifty-four years, during
winch time Mrs. Price has been a faithful adviser in
perplexity, and a comforter in difficulty, sharing all
the trials and adversities incident to missionary life
in tho early days of the colony, then a penal settle
ment; and, later on, ministering with hand and
heart to tho necessities of tho church, and the
temporal and spiritual wants of the poor and
ignorant who came within their reach.
On their wedding-day, 3rd April, 1832, Mr. and
Mrs. Price bade farewell to their friends and rela-

20 The Rev. Charles PiHce :
tions at Coventry, and went by coach to London,
for the purpose of proceeding on their voyage to
Van Diemen's Land. The parting scenes when the
youthful couple took their departure from a city
where they were honoured and beloved for their
own good works and many virtues can be better
imagined than described.
The ship Princess Royal was in the Thames,
ready to sail for Hobart Town. She had been
chartered to convey the first free female emi
grants to the colony, and Mr. Price had been
appointed chaplain for the voyage, by which
arrangement he had secured a free passage for
himself and Mrs. Price. Apart from economic
considerations, this appointment was of great value
to the young evangelist, as it gave him authority
to preach the Gospel during the voyage to a class
of emigrants whose future destinies were of vast
importance in a young community. The vessel
sailed nine days after Mr. and Mrs. Price reached
London. A voyage to the antipodes in those days
was very different from one at the present time,
with all the advantages of steam propelling power,
greater speed, superior accommodation, and short
cuts by way of the Red Sea or the American rail
way, whereby the tempest-tost oceans round the
southern points of Africa and America are avoided.
The Princess Royal was four months on her
voyage from London to the Derwent — a fair length

His Life and Work. 21
of time for the passage at that period. Mr. Price
conducted religious services on deck when the
weather permitted, and between decks every even
ing. But many difficulties were encountered on
board. The surgeon indulged in intemperate
habits, and some of the ship's officers were addicted
to the same vice, one of whom, for intemperance,
was confined to his cabin when the ship had been
about a month at sea. This condition of affairs on
board the Princess Royal was a great grief to Mr.
and Mrs. Price, whose hearts were already fixed on
the principles of temperance. These sad experiences
•on the voyage tended to strengthen their con
victions. At length the voyage came to a termination—
but not in the ordinary way. When the pilgrim
fathers "moored their bark on the wild New
England shore," we are told by Mrs. Hemans that
" the breaking waves dashed high on a stern and
rock-bound coast." But the Mayflower withstood
the gale, and rode at anchor in safety while her
passengers landed. This pilgrim father of Australia
was shipwrecked. The Princess Royal sighted
Van Diemen's Land on the 17th August, 1832.
There was a head wind, which kept her tossing
about until Thursday, 23rd August, when it had
increased to a gale, and, after losing all her sails
and anchors, the ship went ashore upon a sandy
beach in Frederic Henry Bay. Then there was a

22 The Rev. Charles Price:
scene of terror and confusion among the female
passengers, and great was the disappointment of
all on board at the untoward event, so close to
their destination. Happily there was no loss of
life ; the immigrants were taken off in small vessels
and landed at Hobart Town. Ultimately the cargo
was saved and the ship floated off. Mr. and Mrs.
Price went on shore at Pittwater, where they were
kindly and hospitably entertained by the resident
magistrate of Forcett, James Gordon, Esq. Here
they remained more than a week ; and on Satur
day, 1st September, they travelled overland to
Hobart Town in a bullock-dray (the only means of
conveyance in that part of the colony at the time),
crossing in a boat from Kangaroo Point, and reach
ing Hobart Town at 6 p.m.
Mr. Price at once waited upon Governor Arthur
to know what arrangements had been made respect
ing the immigrants, and found that they had been
carefully attended to. On the following Sunday,
2nd September, 1832, Mr. Price first preached in
Hobart Town — morning and afternoon in the
immigration depot to the female passengers of the
stranded ship, and in the evening to the Rev. F.
Miller's congregation, in the Brisbane-street Chapel,
which was the only Congregational place of wor
ship occupied at that time in Australasia. He was
received kindly by the Rev. F. Miller, Mr. Henry
Hopkins, Messrs. Rout, and other friends of the

His Life and Work. 23
cause ; but he was greatly disappointed at finding
that no preparation had been made for his reception
in a field of labour to which he had been invited.
When the authorities of Highbury College had been
applied to for help, it had been represented to them
that there was a building in Hobart Town ready for
any minister they might send ; but when Mr. Price
arrived, he found the building had been converted
into an infant school, and the congregation had dis
persed. There was, therefore, no church, no people,
no provision made for the support of a second
minister of the denomination in that town. The
Rev. F. Miller did not favour any effort to carry
out the original design, and it was the general
opinion of the friends who had appealed to Eng
land for labourers that it would not be desirable to
establish a second church, and thus divide the
strength of the cause. They advised Mr. Price to
go to a town at the north side of the island, called
Launceston, where they thought he might probably
succeed in establishing a church. Mr. Hopkins
generously offered to lend him money to start his
mission work, but the young missionary replied,
" he had not come out to Van Piemen's Land to
borrow money, and that Jehovah-jireh was still
the motto on his banner." After much prayer for
guidance, and consultation with his friends, Mr.
Price resolved to go to Launceston. He stayed at
Hobart Town for two more Sundays, preaching at

24 The Rev. Charles Price:
Mr. Miller s ehurch, and at the immigrantB' depot,
Newtown. Leaving Mrs. Price behind, he started
for Launceston in a gig, in company with Captain
Jacob, of the Bombay Artillery. Mrs, Price followed
with Mr. Cos, a gentleman who afterwards ran
the first stage coaches between Hobart Town and
_umcesto_ A journey from the capital to Launceston — or
Port Dalrymple, as it was commonly called — was a
very serious undertaking in those days. The
greater part of the route was through the wild
bush, over steep roeky tiers at Constitution Hill
Spring Hill, and St. Peter's Pass, over almost
impassable swamps, and through dark forests, the
resort of bloodthirsty bushrangers, who were at
war with all mankind, and generally cared little
about what human fives they sacrificed, in seeking
revenge for the real or imaginary wrongs they had
suffered, from those who controlled them before
their escape from the penal establishments. Mr.
Rice and his companions spent a week (exclusive
of Sunday) on tie journey to Launceston. On
the first day their difficulties began. The B_v_
Derwent had to he crossed in a boat at the Risdon
ferry, where there was great delay. Same hard
work was experienced in getting the horse and gig
into and out of the boat, besides a certain amount of
nervous anxiety about personal safety with such a
top-heavy cargo on board. At length the travellers

His Life and Work. 25
landed safely on the other side of the river, pulled
the gig up the bank, gave the horse a feed, and
proceeded on their journey, thankful for having
overcome what they then believed was their
greatest difficulty. They soon found themselves
mistaken in this matter, for they had frequently to
pull the vehicle up steep acclivities, and to wade
through mud and water in order to help the horse
over creeks and swamps, which greatly retarded
progress ; but there was a charm in the novelty of
the scene which animated the spirits of the travel
lers. They had the good fortune every evening to
reach the abode of some hospitable settler, under
whose roof they enjoyed the comforts of food,
lodging, and cheerful society. On the first evening
the travellers reached Jericho, and stayed until
Wednesday morning with Mr. Pike, a settler who
lived in that locality and performed the duties of
catechist. Formidable hills and wood-covered
ranges were encountered beyond the Jordan,
and before they reached Jericho ; it took the
strength of both man and beast to get the
gig over these and other obstacles, so that the
travellers slept soundly at Mr. Pike's after their
tiresome journey. On Wednesday they resumed
their journey, passed through the little town of
Oatlands, which had a gaol and a strong division of
soldiers, rendered necessary in the interior of the
island for the safe custody of captured bushrangers.

26 The Rev. Charles Price :
Further on was the rugged dividing range of that
part of the island over which ran the unformed
highway through St. Peter's Pass. On the other
side of the Pass, with the watershed trending
northward, the plains of Ross were slowly reached
towards evening, and Mr. Price and Captain Jacob
at length arrived at the hospitable abode of Mr. W.
T. Parramore, a friend of Governor Ar_ur's,_who
received his wearv guests with that kindness and
attention which are the characteristics of a Chris
tian gentleman. On Thursday the travellers made
a comparatively short journey, from Mr. Parra-
more's, at Ross, to Wanstead Park, the fine estate
of Mr. Richard Willis, a few miles north of Camp
bell Town ; but there were many difficulties on the
road, boggy flats, creeks, and hillocks — called by
the bushmen " dead men's graves" — impeded the
way, untd at length the beautiful estate of Wan-
stead was reached, where Mr. Willis received his
guests in a hearty and sympathetic manner, and
entertained them until Saturday morning. He had
been apprised by letter of the intended visit, as also
had the other gentlemen at whose houses they
stayed. During the next day some heavy forest,
with rough bush and scrub, was passed through.
At Kerry Lodge — the residence of Mr. T. B.
Bartley — the travellers were most cordially enter
tained. The horse being unable to proceed further,
Mr. Bartley kindly lent another for the remaining

His Life and Work. 27
portion of tho journey, which was performed late
in the evening, the travellers reaching Launceston
and the residence of Mr. Isaac Sherwin between the
hours of 9 and 10 p.m.
Having obtained the use of the old Court House,
in Cameron-street, Mr. Price preached there on
the following day — upwards of fifty-four years ago !
Launceston was in an exceedingly primitive con
dition in those early days. The houses were few,
built in a humble fashion, and scattered over the
lower parts of the town, with gum and wattle-trees
growing between, and numerous stumps in the then
unformed streets. Some of the non-conforming
denomiriations had made efforts to form societies
prior to Mr. Price's visit in 1832, but they had not
succeeded in establishing a permanent ministry.
The so-called Established Church of England was
the only one in the town, so that there was every
prospect of success in opening a Nonconformist
place of worship. Subsequent events, however,
prevented Mr. Price from carrying out that object ;
but before he left Launceston, in order to occupy a
Congregational church which had been built in
Sydney, he rendered good service to the cause of
religion and morality. He attended the first meet
ing of the Cornwall Auxiliary Bible Society, held
on 26th September, 1832, prepared the resolutions,
spoke at the meeting, and was appointed one of the
vice-presidents. (He was afterwards secretary for

28 The Rev. Charles Price:
about forty years, and is now president of the
society.) Before the close of the same month he
commenced the temperance cause, single-handed,
in Launceston. He brought the subject before
Major Fairclough, who was the officer in command
of a strong detachment of soldiers in the town.
The Major said " He thought it a good thing," and
recommended Mr. Price to see the officers of the
regiment. Making his way to the barracks, Mr.
Price found the officers mending their fishing
tackle ; and, having explained the object of his
visit, they smiled, and said, " You had better see the
men ! " This was the first effort to establish a
temperance society in Launceston. Only one person
signed the pledge. At that time the advocacy of
abstinence from alcoholic drinks was confined to a
few who had the courage of their opinions, and
who ventured to assail the strongholds of vice, of
custom, and of prejudice ; the cause was, therefore,
of slow growth at first, but time has justified the
preliminary work which Mr. Price began in 1832.
Soon after his arrival in Launceston Mr. Price
called a meeting at the Court House for the pur
pose of explaining the principles and church polity
of the Independents. An influential committee
was formed, and a good congregation assembled
while the minister remained in Launceston. After a
residence in Launceston of nearly four months cir
cumstances arose which induced Mr. Price to sever

His Life and Work. 29
his connection with his Launceston friends, and
depart for Sydney. Mr. Foss, of Sydney, wrote to Mr.
Price, saying that there was an Independent Chapel
already built in Pitt-street, which remained unoccu
pied ; that they wished very much for a minister ;
that support was certain, and all was ready for the
reception of a pastor. Mr. Foss urged Mr. Price
very strongly to proceed thither. This letter was
laid before the Launceston committee ; and, as some
of them were under engagement to support a
Presbyterian minister, who was expected soon to
arrive, they recommended Mr. Price to go to the
field of labour which was thus opened. The com
mittee parted from Mr. Price with regret ; and, in
proof of their sincerity, and the appreciation in
which he was held, they presented him with the sum
of £100 on his departure.

30 The Rev. Charles Price.

CHAPTER IV.
Mb. and Mrs. Price sailed from Van Diemen's Land
in the schooner Friendship, having stayed a Sun
day at George Town, where Mr. Price preached.
They arrived at Sydney on 7th February, 1833,
and on the following Sunday Mr. Price, then the
first and only Congregational minister in Australia,
opened the Pitt-street Chapel. This was a remark
able event — more so than it might have appeared
to be at the time. The great sea-girt continent
of Australia was at that time a comparatively
unknown territory. There was no South Australia,
no Victoria, no Queensland. The grand institution
which has now spread over the length and breadth
of the land — the voluntary system of maintaining
the public worship of God — was established in
Australia by the Rev. Charles Price ; and the
same man lived to see, and to be justly honoured
by, the large meeting of brother ministers and dele
gates from all parts of the colonies at the Jubilee
Services held in the new Pitt-street Church in
1883.

His Life and Work. 31
Going back, however, half a century from the
last-named happy event, we must follow Mr. Price
in his somewhat chequered career at that time.
He was apparently permanently settled in the
ministerial office as pastor of the Sydney church,
which he had opened on 13th February, 1833 ; but
in this both the pastor and the people were dis
appointed. It may be explained here that, some
two years before Mr. Price went to Sydney, an
application for a minister had been sent to Eng
land; but, so imperfect were the postal arrange
ments and means of communication, that twelve
months sometimes passed before replies were re
ceived. Two years had elapsed, when Mr. Foss and
the other friends concluded that their want could not
be supplied, therefore they invited Mr. Price from
Launceston. The result is thus narrated by Mr. Price
in an epistle to his old pastor at Coventry, dated
19th February, 1834: — "I had not been long in
Sydney before the managers of the chapel received
intelligence that a minister was on his way out. The
people who had sent him had been written to two
years before, and the managers had heard nothing
from them till the time I refer to. In about seven
weeks the minister (Mr. Jarrett) arrived. By this
time I had collected a very respectable congrega
tion, all the seats in the chapel were let except
eight, and all appeared prosperous ; but as Mr.
Jarrett was ordained for Sydney, I immediately

3 2 The Rev. Charles Price :
gave up all into his hands, although the congrega
tion wished me to stop, and according to my
agreement I could have kept the chapel. The
managers, however, were in a dilemma, so I con
cluded my engagement with them, and was again
quite free. Many people now wished me to open
another place in Sydney. This would at once have
divided the interest, and I therefore thought it
better to see if a cause could not be raised in some
other part of the colony. For this purpose I tra
velled through the principal part of it, and visited
the towns, also obtaining information about places
which I could not personally visit."
Mr. Price's position at this time was exceedingly
embarrassing. There was no opening in the coun
try districts of New South Wales for the preaching
of God's word by evangelists, whose sole support
was derived from the free-will offerings of the
people. In England, much less in her young and
distant penal settlements, the voluntary system
had not developed into the noble organizations of
the present day. There were a few devout men
and women in Van Diemen's Land and New South
Wales, who ardently desired the spread of the
Gospel on other lines than those laid down by the
State-paid church; but, as we have seen in the
case of Mr. Price, owing to the want of an estab
lished system of management, confusion arose. It
was not long, however, before this unsatisfactory

His Life and Work. 33
state of affairs disappeared. In 1836 the Colonial
Missionary Society was established, its object being
to promote evangelical religion in the colonies and
dependencies of Great Britain, and in other parts
of the world, in accordance with the doctrine and
discipline of Independent churches. After that
time ministers were sent out to the colonies, and
were assisted, while needful, in their support. Mr.
Price, being earlier in the field, had no such assist
ance : he was thrown entirely on his own resources.
Before Mr. Price left England, he prayed — "Lord,
if Thy presence go not with me, carry me not
hence." When he was now in doubt and perplexity
as to his future movements, he realized an answer
to his prayer. He had generously relinquished his
post at Sydney, but the Lord was still with him,
and opened his way in a most unexpected manner.
In 1826 the Australian Agricultural Company
had received a grant of nearly half-a-million acres
of land in New South Wales. The headquarters
of the company were at Port Stephens, a harbour
lying north of Newcastle, and little inferior to
that of Port Jackson. At the time that Mr. Price
was seeking a field for his labour, the company's
resident commissioner was Sir Edward Parry, the
celebrated navigator, whose voyages in the polar
seas had made his name famous. This gentleman
was in the prime of life at that period, but he went
to Australia to recover his health, which had been
4

34 The Rev. Charles Price:
impaired by an over-active life. He was not only
a great but also a good man. He had built a
church out of his own resources on the Company's
estate. It was without an officiating clergyman, and
being endowed with the true spirit of Christianity,
though a churchman he arranged with the Rev. C.
Price to proceed to Port Stephens, and take charge
of the spiritual interests of the community at that
place. Thus was his way opened, and the Lord's
presence went with him still. He was greatly
sustained and encouraged in his work by the devout
zeal of Sir Edward and Lady Parry; and in a
social point of view Mr. and Mrs. Price derived
much comfort from a close intimacy with those
warm and kind-hearted friends.
Mr. Price opened the church at Port Stephens
soon after his arrival in July, 1833. It was under
stood that his appointment was only temporary, as
the company in England were desirous of sending
out a clergyman of the Established Church. That
intention, however, was not carried out until the
year 1836, and Mr. Price remained during the
interim. When Sir Edward Parry arrived from England,
in January, 1830, he found about 600 souls on
the company's estate, who were, as he expressed
it, "a nominally Christian people, living almost
entirely without God in the world." The estate
had never been visited by a clergyman, except to

His Life and Work. 35
ride over it as a proprietor. Between sixty and
seventy children of school age were without instruc
tion, and consequently were growing up in idleness,
ignorance, and vice ; profane swearing was not an
uncommon practice among them ; they were entirely
wanting in their duty to their parents, and in respect
to their superiors. A great many of the free or
" indented " servants had acquired the drinking
habits so prevalent in the colony, involving their
wives in wretchedness, and setting a dreadful
example to their helpless children. Little or no
attention was paid to the duties of the Sabbath.
The first time that Mr. Price performed service
at Carrington, the congregation consisted almost
entirely of the prisoners, about 100 in number,
who were mustered for the occasion. Mr. Price
states — " Out of more than twenty women (heads
of families), and at least sixty children, residing
on the spot, not one female was present, except
my own servant, and not a single child." Sir
Edward held services regularly until Mr. Price's
arrival. " By degrees," he says, "almost everybody
attended divine worship ; the congregation at Car
rington frequently exceeded 250 persons, including
the children, who were accompanied to church in
the usual manner by the master and mistress."
Schools were established at Carrington, the head
station, and also at Stroud and Booral (out-stations).
A clergyman had been appointed by Archdeacon

36 The Rev. Charles Price :
Broughton to visit the estate occasionally; but
during the three years prior to Mr. Price's arrival
only eight visits had been paid. This difficulty in
procuring the regular services of a clergyman led
to Mr. Price's appointment.
While Sir Edward and Lady Parry remained at
Port Stephens there was a very close friendship
existing between them and Mr. and Mrs. Price, as
we shall show from letters we are permitted to
publish. Mr. Price baptized Sir Edward Parry's
youngest son, Charles, who afterwards became a
commander in the Royal Navy, and is now dead*
The baptism is alluded to in two of Sir Edward's
letters, the first dated 20th November, 1883 : —
" My Dear Sir, —
"We are anxious to know how Mrs. Price is
after her trip. . . . Two o'clock to-morrow, or
half-past two, is the hour we have fixed for the
baptism of our little boy, if convenient to you.
" Yours very faithfully,
"W. E. Parry."

* Sir Edward Parry's eldest son (Edward) was a boy at this
time, about four years of age. He is now the Right Rev. E.
Parry, D.D., Suffragan Bishop of Dover. He has written
memoirs of his father — a work which has passed through several
editions. He also wrote "Memorials of Commander Charles
Parry, R.N."

His Life and Work. 37
On the following day he wrote : —
" That we may not keep you waiting, be so good
as to understand that half-past two is to be the
hour. . . . Lady Parry unites with me in
wishing you many happy returns of the day.
" Yours very sincerely,
"W. E. Parry."
It was Mr. Price's birthday : Lady Parry's
thoughtful remembrance must have been gratifying
to Mr. and Mrs. Price. The kindliness of her
nature may be seen in the following epistle : —
Lady Parry to the Rev. G. Price.
" My Dear Mr. Price,—
" Sir Edward is not at home, having set out
upon his usual surveying expedition. He was
writing a letter to Mr. Ebsworth for you to take,
but I cannot find it anywhere. He will probably
be home at about eleven o'clock. I think he would
not wish you to delay going, for fear the weather
should change, but I will leave it for you to decide.
I hope you leave Mrs. Price pretty well, and will
not have cause to be anxious on her account during
your stay at Booral. May God bless and prosper
your labours there and elsewhere, and believe me,
" Yours very truly, "J. L. Parry.
" Tahlee, 11th January, 1834."

38 The Rev. Charles Price:
In those early days of settlement in New South
Wales, the colonists, scattered far and wide, had
generally to deplore the want of neighbours with
whom they could enjoy the comfort of social inter
course. The runs were of large area, so that in
very few places could the settler build his house in
proximity to others ; he was therefore, as a ' rule,
isolated from society and altogether lonely. At
Port Stephens matters were not so bad, as will be
seen from the following correspondence : —
Sir Edward Parry to the Rev. Charles Price.
" Tahlee, Saturday, 1st February, 1834.
" My Dear Sir, —
" Will you and Mrs. Price do us the favour of
taking dinner with us to-morrow ? You can have
a quiet room to yourself after dinner.
" Yours very faithfully,
"Rev. C.Price." "W.E. Parry.

" Wednesday, 5th February, 1834.
" My Dear Sir —
" Will you and Mrs. Price dine with us to-day, to
meet Mr. and Mrs. Ebsworth, at one o'clock ? You
can return home as early as you please, to prepare
for the meeting.
" The carriage shall come for you if you say yes.
" Yours very truly,
"W. E. Parry.
"Rev. C.Price."

His Life and Work. 39
" Tahlee, 13th February, 1834.
" My Dear Sir, —
"Will you and Mrs. Price consider yourselves
engaged to us at dinner on Thursday, the 20th
instant, at five o'clock, to meet Colonel and Mrs.
Dumaresq, Mr. Ebsworth, and Mr. Jenkin ?
" If you like to have the pony, to call on our
guests to-day, I will send it. Mrs. Dumaresq has
been asking very cordially after you both, and is
desirous of making your acquaintance. I think
about twelve o'clock would be a convenient time to
Mrs. Dumaresq. " Yours very sincerely,
"W. E. Parry.
" Rev. C. Price."
These letters are introduced from a pile of similar
ones to show how kind and friendly the Parrys
were, and how exceedingly fortunate was Mr. Price
in forming such an intimate acquaintance with
Sir Edward, a man of many Christian virtues, as
well as of great scientific attainments. Following
closely on the above letters came others — one from
Lady Parry to Mrs. Price : —
" My Dear Mrs. Price, —
" How do you feel inclined to-day in regard to
the little ones paying their visit? Pray do not
hesitate to say so if you would rather they came

40 The Rev. Charles Price:
another day. It is extremely hot, certainly; but
your rooms will, perhaps, be tolerably cool for
them to play in, if you wish them to come. . . .
" Believe me ever yours most sincerely,
"Isabella L. Parry."

Sir Edward Parry to Mr. Price.
" The Cottage, 19th February, 1834.
" My Dear Sir, —
" Lady Parry has just sent me down your note,
by which I think you have forgotten that you and
Mrs. Price are to dine with us at five to-morrow.
We agree with you in thinking that the weather is
too boisterous to attempt a meeting to-night. We
have some of our friends to dinner on Friday, but
that need not prevent a meeting on that night. I
cannot tell you how disappointed we all are at the
weather to-night, as we were all intending to come
down to the meeting. These things, however, even
trifles as they seem to us, are better managed for
us than we could manage them ourselves.
It is delightful beyond expression to be able to
assure you how cordially and sincerely your ser
vices are appreciated where (humanly speaking) it
is of most importance that they should be so. You
will rejoice in this for your work's sake, and for
the sake of Him whose you are. Go on, my dear
sir ; be strong in the Lord. The weapons of your

His Life and Work. 41
warfare are not carnal ; but they are effectual to
the pulling down of the strongholds of sin and
Satan, and in bringing souls to Christ.
I have a beautiful letter to show you from a
dying friend, who was with me on all my polar
expeditions. Christ has been his only hope for
many years ; he now knows, experimentally, in
whom he has trusted, and is departing full of faith
and hope.
" I have sent out Collins to take round any mes
sage you may have as to altering the meeting to
Friday. We got home pretty comfortably between
seven and eight last night.
" Yours very sincerely,
"W. E. Parry."
This letter was, of course, gratifying to Mr. Price,
bearing testimony, as it does, that his labour at Port
Stephens was not in vain. It would be well if
Christians generally followed the example of its
writer more fully than they do. It is a great
encouragement and support to ministers of the
Gospel to know that, in proclaiming its truths, they
have been enabled to leave impressions on the
minds of their hearers — that they have sown the
seed upon ground that will yield good fruit ; but it
too often happens that the servant of the Lord is
left in doubt and uncertainty as to the efficacy of
his ministry, through the hesitancy of those who

42 The Rev. Charles Price:
could cheer his heart by their evidence of having
received the light.
Mr. Price's three preaching places were — Carring
ton, where the Commissioner and others belonging
to the establishment lived ; Booral, 18 miles, and
Stroud, 24 miles distant. Sir Edward Parry con
ducted the services at the home station when Mr.
Price was absent at either of the others. There
were some high-church people who did not approve
of the dissenting minister's appointment at Port
Stephens ; but upon the whole there was no cause
for depression. The services were well attended,
and much good was done in raising the tone of
morals among the people around, which had been
of a very low order indeed, on account of the drink
ing habits of those days, and the social degradation
of the convict element.
In March, 1834, Sir Edward and Lady Parry left
Carrington for Sydney, with the intention of pro
ceeding to England. It was a great sorrow to
Mr. and Mrs. Price to part with such kind friends.
Theirs was not a mere casual friendship, lasting
only for the time the families were brought together
in the course of circumstances. It will be seen from
further correspondence that friendship deepened
into mutual affection, genuine and life-long, no
matter how wide the space that divided those
Christian friends. While he remained in Sydney,
Sir Edward wrote to Mr. Price enclosing a draft

His Life and Work. 43
for £20 as a contribution "to the comfort of the
faithful minister whom the Providence of God
has placed over the little flock at Port Stephens,"
adding — -" Lady Parry unites with me in begging
you will accept with it our affectionate acknow
ledgments for the benefit we have received from
your ministry, together with the expression of our
earnest hope that, by a steady perseverance in the
work of the Master whom you love, you may be
made in His hands the happy instrument of turning
many, many souls from darkness to light, and from
the power of Satan unto God. Remember us most
kindly to Mrs. Price, and believe me, my dear sir,
" Your sincere and faithful friend,
" W. E. Parry."
Mr. Price, in reply to the above letter, wrote,
under date 8th April, 1834 : —
" My Dear Sir Edward, —
"Your very kind favour of the 31st ult. was waiting
for me on Monday morning, when I returned from
Stroud and Booral, for which Mrs. Price and myself
desire unitedly to express our gratitude 
We are, indeed, grateful to you, dear Sir Edward
and Lady Parry, who have so kindly thought upon
us as servants of God ; and we desire to praise
Him who knows the circumstances of all, and
guides the thoughts of His people to do His

44 The Rev. Charles Price:
pleasure. We look upon the present instance as
another interference of Heaven designed to en
courage us in the good work, and to induce us to
commit ourselves to His keeping who 'feeds the
ravens when they cry,' and who has given us
assurance that, ' although the young lions do lack
and suffer hunger, yet they who trust in the Lord
shall not want any good thing.' Your letter has
given me additional cause of gratitude to God, inas
much as it tells me that you derived benefit from
my ministry. I can assure you that I often leave
the pulpit under a sense of my insufficiency rightly
to proclaim and enforce the Divine Word ; and if
you have received any good in the services which I
have been permitted to conduct, it must have been
from God. Therefore, let Him have the praise that
is due unto His name. In the midst of my duties,
when I consider the hardness of the human heart,
its proneness to unbelief, and the powers of Satan
by which it is bound, I am frequently induced
to exclaim — 'Who is sufficient to contend with
these things ?' ' Old Adam frequently appears too
strong for young Melancth on!' Still we have this
assurance, that the Word shall not return void, but
it shall accomplish that which the Lord shall please,
and prosper in the thing whereto He has sent it.
It adds to the responsibility of an individual every
time he hears it, and becomes the savour of life
unto life or of death unto death. I feel that

His Life and Work. 45
renewed zeal and watchfulness are needed here, now
that you have left us. It appears as if a pillar had
been taken out of the temple ; yet I hope that the
glory of the Lord will continue to shine forth upon
our little Zion, and that renewed strength may be
given to those of us who remain. When you are
at a distance, and the ocean rolls between us, you
may help us to obtain this blessing by praying that
times of refreshing may come at Port Stephens
from the presence of the Lord. You still have an
interest in our prayers and in the prayers of others
here. Do not forget us when you are far away,
but let us often meet in converse with our heavenly
Father at the throne of grace, and obtain blessings
for each other. I hope that to you and Lady Parry
strength will be given to meet every trial, to with
stand every temptation, and to leave the things
which are behind while you press forward to the
prize of your high calling. And I hope that, if your
dear children are spared, they will not be led away
by the glittering and delusive scenes of this world ;
but that, as their minds expand and their passions
grow stronger, they may rise higher and higher,
until they become consecrated to God and delight
to walk in His ways 
" I remain, dear Sir Edward,
" Yours most respectfully, " Chas. Price."

46 The Rev. Charles Price:
The last of a series of affectionate letters from
Sir E. Parry to Mr. Price, while the former was in
New South Wales, was written on board the
Persian, in Sydney Harbour, on the 20th May,
1834 :—
" My Dear Mr. Price, —
" Being about to sail this day, I have only a few
moments left to write. You will shortly receive
from Mr. Harrington a copy of my written state
ment, which I wish you to show to Colonel and
Mrs. Dumaresq, and Mr. and Mrs. Ebsworth. . . .
Letters from Mrs. Dumaresq speak in terms of
great esteem for you and Mrs. Price. It has been
a great comfort to Mrs. D. (as she says in the
warmest way) to have your advice and assistance on
every occasion. Go on, my dear friends, as the
good soldiers of Jesus Christ — be circumspect, be
vigilant ; and may the God of all peace and comfort
be ever with you. In this prayer, and in every
kind remembrance to Mrs. Price, I am cordially
joined by Lady Parry ; and believe me,
" Always your affectionate friend,
"W. E. Parry.
"Rev. C.Price."

His Life and Work. 47

CHAPTER V.
Colonel Dumaresq succeeded Sir Edward Parry
in the management of the Australian Agricultural
Company's estates. Like his predecessor, he was a
man of superior intelligence, large-hearted charity,
and active zeal in the cause of Christianity. He
conducted the services, whenever Mr. Price was
away, at the outlying stations : thus the loss sus
tained by the departure of Sir Edward, who was
beloved and esteemed by all, was in a degree
repaired by the presence of such a worthy suc
cessor. The new commissioner was at Port Ste
phens during the remaining period of Mr. Price's
ministry, and the whole of this time the most
friendly relations existed between them.*
In May, 1834, Mr. Price paid a visit to Sydney,
where he was warmly received by his old friends,
* Colonel Dumaresq's brother is one of the oldest and most
honoured of Tasmanian colonists. His summer home is Mount
Ireh, near Longford. He was appointed by Governor Arthur to
the commission of the peace so far back as 1828, and now heads
the list of magistrates, as first in order of date.

48 The Rev. Charles Price:
with whom he had become acquainted when he was
pastor of the Pitt-street Church. One of these
was the late Hon. George Allen, solicitor, with
whom a close intimacy was formed, and at whose
house Mr. Price stayed. While he was in Sydney,
the Rev. F. and Mrs. Miller arrived from Hobart
Town, the former suffering with pressure of blood
on the brain. Mr. Price in his diary says : — " I
called on him at Mr. Jarrett's, and hope that inter
view will be the commencement of a lasting friend
ship. May the Lord restore him to health, and to
his sphere of labour in the church, for the harvest
is plenteous but the labourers are few." This is
an interesting record of the past — the meeting of
the Revs. Miller, Price, and Jarrett, the only Con
gregational ministers then in Australasia.
Matters went on very smoothly at Port Stephens
during the administration of Colonel Dumaresq,
except that there were a few personal incidents
about the month of September, '34, which tended
to mar domestic comfort for a time. They are
briefly described in a letter from Mr. Price to Sir
E. Parry : — " I had a severe fall from a horse about
three weeks ago, which shook me very much, but I
am now nearly well. The Colonel fancied my pony,
and I have had a horse which was recommended
as a gentle animal, but she has turned out to be a
terrible kicker, and of course she kicked me off."
Thus the worthy minister experienced the vicissi-

His Life and Work. 49
tudes of equestrian exercise on the back of an
expert buckjumper. The same letter conveyed the
sad intelligence that Colonel Dumaresq had lost the
use of his left side through an attack of paralysis ;
but "his mind is composed and in a very proper
frame. I have had some very interesting and satis
factory meetings with him and Mrs. Dumaresq since
his affliction. Mrs. D. is wonderfully supported
in this afflictive dispensation; they both trace
it to the hand of an all-wise God, and endeavour
patienth" to commit themselves to Him. May
He bless the means to restoration. Captain E.
Dumaresq (the Colonel's brother) was sent for
from St. Aubins, and has arrived." Happily, the
Commissioner recovered from this attack.
As soon as time would permit, Mr. Price heard
from his honoured friend, the former Commis
sioner : — Sir Edward Parry to Mr. Price.
" Entrance to Rio de Janeiro,
" 9th August, 1834.
"My Dear Mr. Price, —
" Though I cannot promise to write a letter, I
cannot omit to avail myself of the opportunity which
our call at Rio may possibly afford, to inform you
of our welfare thus far on our long voyage. We
cannot, indeed, be sufficiently thankful to Almighty
God for His preservation and protection of ourselves 5

50 The Rev. Charles Price:
and our dear little ones, who are in fact much better
at this moment than when we left Sydney — eighty-
four days ago. What shall we render unto God for
all His mercies ?
" Our passage to Cape Horn was unusually
tedious, owing to the extraordinary prevalence of
easterly and light winds during July, when we
were from 800 to 1,000 miles to the westward of
the Cape. Our children were, in consequence,
beginning to suffer, as we were obliged to confine
them to their cold, dark cabins during the short
and inclement days of a high latitude. But ever
since we rounded the Cape, on the 23rd July, we
have had a most favourable run, producing a change
of climate as delightful as it has been rapid, or,
rather, sudden. Our dear little ones have improved
in proportion as we have advanced to the north
ward, and we trust that our few days' stay in this
charming climate will have the best effect upon
them all. Lady Parry is tolerably well, but she
wants quiet rest more than ever. . . . We have
put in here for supplies — not before we wanted
them, our poultry being nearly at an end, and our
cow and goat dry. However, we have done pretty
well, and now look forward to the remaining part
of the voyage (though probably of nine weeks'
duration) as comparatively nothing.
"August 16th. — We have been seeing sights every
day since I wrote the above; and, among the rest

His Life and Work. 51
we and our little ones have been paying a visit
to Pedro II., the young Emperor (nine years old),
and his two little sisters, the Princesses. It was
delightful to see the gratification they experienced
in kissing and making much of our children, to
whom this visit will always be an interesting
event. . . .
" A ship is sailing for the Cape, so I must close
this. Lady Parry has written a few lines to Mrs.
Price, to whom I request you will convey my
cordial remembrances. I need not say with what
feelings of interest we continue, and ever shall
continue, to think of you both. May God bless,
and I am sure that He will bless, your endeavours
to promote His glory in the salvation of precious
souls. " Believe me, my dear Mr. Price,
" Your affectionate friend,
"W. E. Parry."
The year 1835 was ushered in by Mr. Price with
prayer and meditation. He committed to writing
a review of the departed year, which we transcribe
from his diary: — " New Year's Day, 1835. — I con
sider the year which has just closed one in which
I have enjoyed most of the presence and seen most
of the providence of God. We have had bestowed
upon us many unforeseen mercies, and have been
delivered from the wicked designs of the enemies

52 The Rev. Charles Price:
of the cross of Christ, and they have been instru
mental in promoting our good. Signs of useful
ness have appeared, but the good that we desired
has not been produced. I leave this to infinite
wisdom, and desire to be more laborious in en
deavouring to win souls to God. Some of our most
decided Christians and best supporters have left;
and this has impressed upon my mind the import
ance of not confiding in an arm of flesh, but of
living near to God, and trusting to His assistance
alone. Oh, that I may have a double portion of His
Spirit during the present year ! . . . Keep me,
0 Lord, from all levity in thought or word. Give
me more enlarged views of Thy glorious character ;
show unto me more clearly all that relates to
Christ and salvation, and forbid that I should in
any way vex the Holy Spirit during this year.
Amen." On 3rd April he wrote : "On this clay, three years
since, we left our Coventry friends to go to Van
Diemen's Land. The intervening time has been
filled with mercies. We have had trials, which I
hope have been sanctified, and have fitted me more
for my work in this retired spot. I bless the Lord
for them. May I be endowed with more grace, and
do more good than I have yet done for Christ's
sake." This was also the third anniversary of
Mr. and Mrs. Price's wedding clay. On the 16th,
Mr. and Mrs. Price, with Dr. Jeannerett and other

His Life and Work. 53
riends, went up the river to Booral, and on the
following day (Good Friday) a new chapel was
opened at that place—" a very neat building,
beautifully situated on the bank of the Karuah
River. Many persons attended on the occasion
from Stroud, and joy was in the countenances of
the people. I addressed them from Isa xxxv. 1 —
' The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad
for them.'"
In August of this year Mr. Price met with a
serious accident, which laid him aside for a fort
night. A gun burst in his hand, burnt one side of
his face, wounded his head in three places, and tore
the thumb of his right hand. The explosion burnt
all round one eye, but the sight was not injured.
One of the wounds extended over the temple, but
the artery was not cut. Mr. Price wrote in his
diary : " I bless the Lord that none of my faculties
are injured." On the following Sunday he wrote :
' I long to be in the sanctuary, to point sinners to
the Saviour ; but my wounds are at present very
sore, and I wait patiently the Lord's time. This is
truly the stroke of a Father's rod. Cast down,
not destroyed ! 0, that it may lead me nearer to
Him ; and, as I recover my strength, may I devote
it all to Him." Another Sabbath came, and he was
unable to attend to his duties in the sanctuary ; but
he was, nevertheless, in the Spirit on that day. He
writes : " I have enjoyed the consolations of that

54 The Rev. Charles Price :
Gospel which I preach to others. Truly the promises
are comprehensive and precious. How miserable
that man must be in affliction who has no God
to look to, and nothing of a spiritual kind to
console him ! How sad must be the state of his
soul! I bless thee, O Lord, for a humble hope,
through grace ; that Thou hast looked upon me in
mercy ; grant that I may ever live under a sense of
pardoned sin, in Thy favour, familiar with Death,
and prepared to pass through his gloomy domains
to the eternal abode of the saints." On the next
Sunday he wrote: "I have been able to-day to
attend the house of God — the place which I love
above all others in this world. ' I have loved the
habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine
honour dwelleth.' ' I had rather be a doorkeeper in
the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of
wickedness.' If it is so cheering and delightful
to come to the throne of grace here, with so many
imperfections, what must it be to unite with the
assembly who bow before the throne of glory !
Blessed thought — glorious anticipation ! 0, that
these resting clays during my pilgrimage may be
preparatory to an eternal Sabbath at the right
hand of God . . . ."
The aborigines were numerous around Port
Stephens half a century ago. As a rule they were
inoffensive, so long as the whites treated them with
any degree of kindness ; but occasionally a feeling

His Life and Work. 55
of revenge was kindled in their breasts on account
of the iniquitous conduct of the stockmen and
shepherds in taking away the young native women
from their tribes. In 1833 a shepherd who com
mitted this outrage was murdered by the abori
gines, and in retaliation a number of the blacks
were shot by the English. More recently a shepherd,
who kept a black woman, murdered her husband in
order to extinguish her desire to return to him.
Several diabolical crimes of this nature had been
committed, which both Mr. Price and the Com
missioner greatly deplored, though they could not
entirely suppress such crimes, perpetrated as they
were by the lowest and most depraved of the con
vict servants. During Mr. Price's journeys from
station to station he frequently met parties of fifty
or a hundred of those poor savages in the bush,
sitting round their fires, with their spears and other
weapons set all about their camp. They were never
troublesome, called him " Barson," and were under
an impression that, when he put on his gown on
Sunday in church, it was to drive the devil away ;
so that they had a little superstitious fear of him.
He could make them understand all about common
things, but they did not like to hear about God and
their souls, for they were incapable of comprehend
ing the truths of the Gospel. Still they formed
vague notions of invisible spirits and a future
state, which only tended to make them miserable.

56 The Rev. Charles Price:
Towards the end of the year news reached
Carrington that the directors of the Australian
Agricultural Company in England had decided to
appoint a clergyman of the Established Church for
Port Stephens — a decision which was rendered in
some measure necessary, through the objections of
some of the residents to the ministrations of one
who did not conform to the rules and practices of
the church in which they had been brought up.
Mr. Price, however, had done good service amongst
the evangelical section of the community, few of
whom, if any, were prevented from uniting in
worship under his ministry on account of doctrinal
differences. Colonel Dumaresq, the Commissioner
of the company, and his brother, Captain Edward
Dumaresq, both of whom had estates at the Hunter
River, offered to assist in the establishment of a
cause there, and were otherwise exceedingly kind ;
but Mr. Price hesitated to go where there seemed
to be no prospect of forming a church of the
Congregational body. He communicated with the
Rev. F. Miller, Mr. Henry Hopkins, Mr. Corbett,
Mr. Henry Jennings, and other friends in Hobart
Town and Launceston, and at length decided to
make Launceston his future place of abode. On
arriving at this decision he wrote in his diary
(30th October) : " I feel satisfied that we have been
brought to this determination in answer to our
many prayers, and therefore look to God to guide

His Life and Work. 57
us to our destination, and make us useful among
the people there. 0 Lord, if Thou goest not with
us, carry us not hence. I look to Thee for wisdom
to guide, and strength to do Thy holy will ; be
Thou on nry right hand by land and by sea, that I
may never be moved from the path of duty, nor
faint in performing the duties of my sacred office."
There was nothing done in haste. Mr. and Mrs.
Price were sa beloved by the people in general, and
were so much respected by those who, from sec
tarian prejudices, did not join with them in spiritual
communion, that there was no need for haste. In
the meantime Mr. Price made arrangements at his
leisure in regard to his removal to the other colony.
There were many pleasing circumstances which
rendered delay a pleasure rather than a pain, one
of which was the estimation in which he was held
by the head officers of the company at the different
stations. But there was another important event,
the occurrence of which necessitated delay for
a time — an event which will be noted as we
proceed. On New Year's Day, 1836, we find Mr. Price at
Carrington, working with renewed vigour, and in
a most happy frame of mind. He writes on that
day : " In my private studies and devotions I have,
upon the whole, enjoyed more light, and divine
assistance, than I remember in any previous year.
My mind has rested much upon the person and

58 The Rev. Charles Price :
work of the Redeemer, and my faith has been
confirmed in His glorious undertakings as the
Mediator and Intercessor. I have delighted much
in the contemplation of the personality and work
of the Holy Spirit, and am more confirmed in my
views of His immediate influence upon the heart,
and His indwelling in the soul. My love to my
Heavenly Father is increased : I can more unhesi
tatingly than formerly trust His providence, feel
myself and mine more fully in His hands, and
believe that He does all things well for us. Ador
able triune Jehovah, all my powers praise Thee !
May my love to Thee, and my faith in Thee,
increase until time with me shall be no more, and
I shall be with Thee in glory."
On Friday, 8th January, the following appears
in the diary: — "A day to be remembered with
thankfulness. The Lord has given us a son."
This was an event of more than ordinary interest
at Yahrah Cottage. It was indeed a day to be
remembered with thankfulness through a long
series of years ; for, as in the case of Samuel, " the
child grew on, and was in favour both with the
Lord, and also with men ; " and as was Hannah's
experience, so has been that of Mr. and Mrs. Price.
" For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given
me my petition which I asked of Him ; therefore
also I have lent him to the Lord ; as long as he
liveth he shall be lent to the Lord."

His Life and Work. 59
Mr. and Mrs. Price, with their infant charge,
took their departure from Port Stephens on the
16th March, 1836. They drove to Raymond Terrace,
Hunter River, and there embarked in the little
steamboat Sophia Jane for Sydney — the only one
running to the district at that time. Prior to his
departure, Mr. Price was gr-atified by receiving a
substantial token of the manner in which his
services had been appreciated by the English
directors of the company, who had sent out in
structions to the resident Commissioner to present
him with a supplementary half-year's stipend, as a
recognition of his faithfulness and zeal in proclaim
ing the message of salvation. In addition to this,
and what was more valuable still, Mr. and Mrs.
Price took with them the esteem of kind friends,
and the best wishes of the little community for
their future prosperity. The gentleman who suc
ceeded Mr. Price in the ministry was the Rev. W.
M. Cowper, M.A., who is the present much -respected
Dean of Sydney. His father was the Rev. W.
Cowper, of St. Philip's Church, Sydney ; the late
Sir Charles Cowper, the well-known Australian
statesman, was a brother. No one more truly
evangelical, or better suited for the mission work
at Port Stephens, could have been selected to take
up the labours Mr. Price had relinquished.
Mr. Price and his wife were not as pilgrims in a
foreign land when they reached Sydney. They had

60 The Rev. Charles Price :
formed many acquaintances, and had warm-hearted
friends to welcome them on their way to Van
Diemen's Land. As soon as he heard of their
arrival from Port Stephens, Mr. George Allen sent
his carriage into the city for Mr. Price, and the
family became that gentleman's guests for nearly a
month. Mr. Allen was not only a successful man,
but a good man. He built an altar to the Lord
on his own estate, and did not shun to declare the
whole counsel of God. He was a lawyer, who,
when he died, went to heaven not " by degrees,"
but as swiftly as he could be carried on the wings
of angels. His son was Sir Wigram Allen, who
died a short time since.* The latter was a school-
* When Mr. J. A. Froude visited Sydney, in 1885, he met Sir
Wigram Allen, and writes thus in his new book, " Oceana" : —
" One evening we dined with Sir Wigram Allen, the late Speaker
in the House of Assembly, a man of vast wealth, one of the
millionaires of Sydney. His house, three miles out of town,
was like the largest and most splendid of the Putney or Roe-
hampton villas. There was a large gathering of distinguished
people, legal and political magnates ; ladies dressed as well,
perhaps as expensively, as the ladies of New York, some of them
witty, all pretty, and one or two more than pretty. The cuisine
would have done credit to the Palais Royal. The conversation
was smart, a species of an intellectual lawn tennis, which the
¦colonists play well. There were as many attendants as you
would find in a great house at home, with the only difference
that they wore no livery . . . The person whom I liked
best was Lady Allen's father, a beautiful old clergyman of
eighty-twr), who told me that he had read all my books, that he
disapproved deeply of much that he had found in them, but
that he had formed, notwithstanding, _ sort of regard for the

His Life and Work. 61
boy when Mr. and Mrs. Price stayed at his father's
house; but he did not forget the friend of his
youth. When Mr. Price went to Sydney, in 1883, to
assist in celebrating the Jubilee of the establish
ment of Congregationalism in Australia, which he
himself had founded fifty years before, by the
opening of Pitt-street Chapel, Sir Wigram Allen
sent his carriage for him, and would have had him
remain during his stay in Sydney, but the Jubilee
meetings prevented it.
Mr. Price was not idle while he sojourned with
his friend in 1836. He preached on three different
Sundays in Mr. Allen's church, and was also
actively engaged with Mr. Jarrett in endeavouring
to promote a revival of religion amongst the people
of the Pitt-street Church, who had been in a state
of apathy, and had exhibited symptoms of discord
and discontent, which were not conducive to the
success of the cause. Mr. Price wrote in his diary :
" I talked affectionately and freely with many,
and suggested those things which I thought would
promote union, love, and zeal for the divine glory."
Before leaving Sydney, Mr. Price's friends presented
writer. He followed me into the hall when we went away, and
gave me his blessing. Few gifts have ever been bestowed on me
in this world which I have valued more. Sir Wigram Allen, I
regret to see, is since dead ; the life and spirits which were flow
ing over so freely that night, all now quenched and silent ! He
could not have had a better friend near him at the moment of
departure than that venerable old man."

62 The Rev. Charles Price :
him with a communion service as a token of esteem.
It has been used at the Lord's Table by the Tamar-
street Church ever since it was formed, fifty years
ago. On Monday, 11th April, 1836, Mr. and Mrs.
Price, with their infant boy, went on board the
brig Ni/mrod, bound for Launceston. A voyage
from Sydney to Launceston occupied generally
about a fortnight in those days. The brig cleared
the Sydney Heads at dusk, with a favourable
breeze, which lasted until Thursday morning and
took her within sixty miles of Kent's Group, when
a head wind arose. After tacking about in a severe
gale until Saturday, the captain ran before the
wind, and made Twofold Bay on Sunday morning.
Mr. Price preached on board, when all the sailors
attended. On Tuesday, the 19th, the Nvmrod
resumed her voyage, and reached Launceston on
the 29th — thus doing the passage in eighteen
clays ! Mr. Price and his family were kindly
entertained by his old friends, Mr. and Mrs.
Corbett, who, however, belonged to the Presby
terian denomination, which had now a resident
minister in Launceston — the Rev. J. Anderson.
During Mr. Price's absence in New South Wales
the Wesleyans had also established a church in
the town, over which the Rev. J. A. Manton had
charge.

His Life and Work. 63

CHAPTER VI.
We have now reached the period in Mr. Price's
life and work of which this is the jubilee year —
1886. Fifty years ago he returned to Launceston,
and began the work in connection with Congre
gationalism which he has carried on ever since —
first, single-handed in Northern Tasmania, and,
later on, assisted by other ministers. He had
not entered on the work, as has been seen, without
much prayerful thought and anxious consideration.
He was aware that, at that time, there were no
centres of population in the two penal settlements
of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land,
except perhaps Sydney and Hobart Town, where
a sustenance fund could be raised for the support
of a ministry under the voluntary principle. There
were some excellent men who honoured the Lord
with their substance, who were "taught in the
Word, and communicated to him that teacheth in all
good things ;" but there was no immediate prospect
(humanly speaking) of another Nonconformist cause
being adequately supported in the little town of

64 The Rev. Charles Price :
Launceston. Li this Mr. Price was not discouraged.
He had a message to deliver, and by the guidance
of the Spirit he was led to that place ; not, how
ever, without remembering that he had personal
responsibilities, and was required to exercise his
own judgment and reflection in the step he had
taken. The first thing Mr. Price did towards establishing
the cause was to proceed by coach to Hobart Town,
and see what could be done towards procuring a
piece of land for a chapel. At that time the
journey by "Cox's" coach occupied two days. Mr.
Price arrived at Hobart Town on Tuesday, 3rd
May, and was hospitably entertained by Mr. and
Mrs. Henry Hopkins, who are named in Mr. Price's
diary of that early date as " a holy pair, and instru
ments in the hands of God of doing much good."
He saw several of the females who had come out
with him in the Princess Royal, and found they
were doing very well indeed. On the two following
Sabbaths Mr. Price preached in the Rev. F. Miller's
chapel, in Brisbane-street, and at Mr. Nisbet's
chapel, in Liverpool-street. Mr. Nisbet had arrived
in the colony in 1835, to aid Mr. Miller in his
ministerial duties, the latter having been laid
aside by broken health ; subsequently Mr. Nisbet
became pastor of a second church in Hobart Town.
Mr. Price also, at Governor Arthur's request, con
ducted service at Government House.

His Life and Work. 65
At Hobart Town Mr. Price collected the sum of
£130 towards the erection of a place of worship at
Launceston, and he also procured from Governor
Arthur a piece of land in Tamar-street on which
to erect a chapel. Matters thus seemed to be in a
promising condition ; but there was a great difficulty
experienced in providing funds for the chapel and
house, the cost of building materials being at that
time enhanced by the demand which had just
sprung up in the then infant settlements of South
Australia and Port Phillip. On Mr. Price's return
from Hobart Town, he rented a house in St. John-
street — one of the brick houses that are still stand
ing in front of the Quadrant. There he held
services for a time, but afterwards obtained the use
of the Government school-house in Cameron-street.
He also opened a grammar school as a means of
support. In his diary on 27th June, 1836, he was
enabled to write : " A meeting took place to-day
to form a committee to superintend the affairs of
the Independent denomination. A good spirit per
vaded the meeting, and the general desire expressed
was that we must soon have a chapel. I bless the
Lord that we have advanced thus far towards
establishing a cause at Launceston ; may He direct
all our movements, and bless our efforts. My mind
has been oppressed for a short time with the
thought that perhaps our coming here without any
visible means of support, and casting ourselves on
6

66 The Rev. Charles Price :
the providence of God alone, might be tempting the
Lord ; but blessed be His name for enabling us to
cast ourselves upon His bounty, and for the pro
vision He has given us. I have three scholars, and
my house is not large enough for my congregation.
I view this as a token for good. I will trust the
Lord at all times, and repel the tempter by remem
bering all my Father's former kindnesses."
Mr. Price always enjoyed a deep-rooted faith in
the power and efficacy of prayer. His diary glitters
with gems illustrative of the purity and holiness of
a mind devoted wholly to the advancement of the
Saviour's kingdom. It would be edifying and in
structive to publish the whole of his interesting
diary, so far as it exhibits the tenor of his daily
meditations and prayerful appeals to the almighty
disposer of events ; but the space at our disposal
in this little volume will not permit it. He was
especially mindful of past mercies, and on the
anniversary of notable events in his life he devoted
much time and thought to reflections. On the 17th
August, 1836, he wrote : " Hitherto hath the Lord
helped me. On this clay of the month I was pre
served from sudden death ; and I cannot be suffi
ciently thankful that at this time, although I have
the mark of a severe wound on my head, I preserve
all my faculties unimpaired, vigorous, and engaged
in the service of God. 0 Lord, all I am and have
is from Thee. Do Thou direct me in the use of all,

His Life and Work. 67
that Thy name may be glorified. I would make a
fresh surrender of all to Thee this day. Here I
inscribe ' Ebenezer ; ' and under Thy guidance may
I go on my way rejoicing. Bless me in my family,
my little flock, in public and private, in my body
and soul, for the sake of my great High Priest,
Jesus." " August 22nd. — I attended the anniversary
meeting of the Wesleyan Sunday-school, and felt
much pleasure in moving a resolution, urging the
audience to incessant prayer for the outpouring of
the Spirit upon teachers and children. 0 Lord,
send them and all Thy people prosperity.
"August 23rd. — I would this day call to mind,
with the deepest gratitude, our deliverance from a
watery grave. This day four years the Princess
Royal went on shore in Frederic Henry Bay.
The Lord rode upon the floods, directed the storm,
controlled the thunder, and by His guidance alone
we all got safe to land. Bless His name."
On the 26th September, 1836, Mr. Price was
present at the annual meeting of the Cornwall
Auxiliary Bible Society. It was the fourth year
of its existence ; it was established on the same
date in 1832. On both occasions Mr. Price was
present and spoke ; he prepared the resolutions for
the first meeting, and the report for the other. Eight
days later (4th October) the Temperance Society
was formed in Launceston. Mr. Henry Jennings

68 The Rev. Charles Price:
was chairman on that occasion. Mr. Price was
appointed President of the society, which was
composed of several active and energetic members
during the early years of its existence, none of
whom remain but Mr. Price and Mr. W. B. Dean,
the latter a man of great ability and energy,
whose long life in Tasmania has been exercised
in devotion to the cause of temperance, and kindred
efforts to elevate the tone of public morals in the
town, particularly amongst the working classes.
The next event which we have to record was the
formation of an Independent Church — the first in
Northern Tasmania. On Sunday, 23rd October,
1836, there was a meeting, preparatory to forming
the church, at which Mr. Price explained the
principles of faith, church order, and discipline
which it was proposed to adopt. On the following
Wednesday (26th October), eighteen persons joined
together in church fellowship, and it is recorded in
the diary — " Great grace appeared to rest upon us
all. 0 Lord God, I entreat Thee to bless the
pastor and the little flock. May the union be
cemented by holiness and love ; may every member
increase in faith, purity, devotedness, zeal ; and
may every eye be fixed upon Thy glory alone.
Glorify Thyself in us, O Lord, individually and
collectively ; own our union in heaven, Thy dwell
ing place, and may we all meet with the general
assembly of the church of the First-born, to surround

His Life and Work. 69
Thy throne, and to cast the crowns of our victory
before Thee, the author of our salvation, for the
Redeemer's sake. Amen and amen." On the
Sunday following the sacrament was administered,
and the church gave Mr. Price a formal call to
become its minister.
Plans and specifications of the chapel, school,
and minister's residence having been prepared, the
building was let by contract for the sum of £1,300
on 14th November, 1836, and the work was at once
commenced. It is a most substantial structure,
worth now, after nearly fifty years' use, more
than double the amount named as the cost of its
construction. The year 1837 was ushered in with fair pros
pects of success. It was, of course, a time of much
anxiety, on account of the many disappointments
and difficulties incident to pioneer work, besides
which heavy liabilities were incurred in building
the place of worship; but Mr. Price continued
trustful and prayerful, with full confidence in the
promises. On Sunday, 29th January, a Sabbath
school was commenced with nine children, and no
less than eleven volunteer teachers. On that day
the pastor wrote : — " Gracious God, I commend the
undertaking to Thy paternal care. May it be
the means of bringing many lambs into the" flock,
and of leading them to heaven. May peace and
harmony prevail amongst the teachers, and a sincere

70 The Rev. Charles Price :
desire to promote Thy glory influence them in all
they do."
In the early part of January, Sir John Franklin
arrived at Hobart Town as Governor, in succession
to Colonel George Arthur, who had been the King's
representative in the colony for the long period of
twelve years. Governor Arthur was a conscientious
man, but he had made himself extremely unpopular
with a section of the little community, owing to a
stern, and too often a harsh, demeanour. His
successor, Sir John Franklin, was also conscientious;
but in natural disposition he was the reverse of
Governor Arthur — mild, compassionate, tender
hearted almost to a fault in a Governor whose
unpleasant duty it was to cany out a rigid system
of prison discipline in a penal colony. Sir John
Franklin visited Launceston in February, 1837.
He was the bearer of a letter to Mr. Price from his
friend, Sir Edward Parry, who had not forgotten
his faithful minister in Australia, as will be seen
from the following extracts : —
Sir Edward Parry to Mr. Price.
" Congham Lodge, Lynn, Norfolk,
" 21st November, 1836.
" My Dear Mr. Price, —
" I will not waste your time by making long
apologies for my remissness as a correspondent,
though I confess that many are due to you ; but I

His Life and Work. 71
will at once assure you, which I can do most
sincerely, that we have had great pleasure in hearing
from you, and have ever felt a deep and cordial
interest in your welfare. At the time Mr. Cowper
left England I was very poorly, and at the same
time occupied in a most harassing office, which
illness soon after obliged me to give up, or I should
then have written to you. Since that time affliction
has been added to illness, it having pleased God to
take to Himself our beloved little Isabella, by
scarlet fever last March, under circumstances of
very great trial to Lady Parry and myself. I
began by saying that I should make no apologies,
but I have somehow got into the midst of them.
" We were rejoiced to hear of the birth of your
little one, as we cannot but hope that it will add to
the happiness of Mrs. Price and yourself — though,
as you have no doubt experienced, it will add
to your cares. Of the additional responsibility I
need not say anything to you, as we well know
that both you and Mrs. Price will consider your
babe as a loan from God, to be nurtured for eternity,
to be educated for the Saviour's flock. As I heard
of you from my friends at Newcastle, at the time
you were proceeding to Sydney, you will long ere
this have returned to Launceston ; and we do hope
and trust that God will provide you a congregation
there, and place you once more in a sphere of
usefulness in His own vineyard. Of one thing I

72 The Rev. Charles Price:
always did, and always shall feel perfectly confident,
that the Lord, whose you are, and whom you serve,
will not suffer you to want ; and I know that you
possess the same confidence. Indeed, we should
distrust the most clear and strong promises of
Scripture if we could for a moment doubt this.
" I am sure you would rejoice to be succeeded at
Port Stephens by a young man who gives promise
of following in the footsteps of his excellent father.
As you may suppose, it was a matter of great
anxiety to me when the directors of the company
(though in a very flattering manner) requested me
to recommend a clergyman. I can truly say that I
very deeply felt the responsibility, and I trust it
may please God to make Mr. Cowper a blessing to
your late flock. I fear that, before you left that
ground, your own difficulties had increased. How
ever, ' duties are ours, events are God's ; ' and
while a Paul may plant, and an Apollos water, He
alone can give the increase. I do trust that the
seed which has been sown there by your endeavours
will bring forth some fruit to the praise and glory
of the Great Husbandman. You may imagine how
deep (and often painful) an interest we take in
that place, which is dear to us on so many accounts.
'' I may now mention to you that when my
friend, Sir John Franklin, left England to take the
government of Van Diemen's Land, I gave him a
memorandum, particularly requesting that he would

His Life and Work. 73
do you all the attention in his power. ... I
am sure he will value you as a minister of Christ.
. . . We hope you have quite recovered from
the effects of the accident you met with before
leaving Port Stephens. Let us hear from you ;
and may God bless you is the fervent prayer of
your faithful and affectionate friend in Christ
Jesus,
"W. E. Parry.
" Lady Parry desires her kindest regards to Mrs.
Price and yourself. We often talk of you with
the most cordial interest, and the sincerest good
wishes for your welfare. — W. E. P."
In 1837 there was a Government cottage in
Launceston, with Botanical Gardens attached,
which were neatly kept by the imperial authorities
of that day. The ground has since been handed
over to the Municipal Council, and converted into
what is known as the People's Park. It was the
custom of Sir John Franklin and some of his
successors to stay often at Government Cottage, by
which means the Governors became more popular
with the inhabitants at the northern end of the
colony, and, at the same time, enjoyed the pleasures
of retirement at intervals from the duties and
ceremonies of vice-regal life at the capital. Sir
John and Lady Franklin were glad to take advan
tage of the opportunities thus afforded, and they

74 The Rev. .Charles Price :
paid frequent visits to the north. Sir John's first
visit to Launceston was in the beginning of Feb-
ruary, 1837, on which occasion he was accompanied
by his private secretary, Captain Maconochie. Mr.
Price called upon His Excellency, and afterwards,
by invitation, dined with him at Government
Cottage. Thenceforward there was friendly inter
course between Mr. Price and Sir John Franklin,
who often exchanged visits and spent evenings
together, their residences being at each side of the
gardens. The accomplished sailor-Governor ad
mired and commended Mr. Price's stock of scientific
lore, as well as the ingenious apparatus he had
contrived for illustrating his lectures,, being much
interested in transparent diagrams of the solar
system and the motion? of the planets. Neither
was Sir John Franklin unmindful of Mr. Price's
claims to honour and respect as a teacher of the
Gospel, but regarded them as superior to any for
proficiency in the arts and sciences.
On Friday, 17th June, 1S37, the following is
entered in the diary : — " We removed to-day to the
Chapel House. My heart is filled with gratitude
to the God of all our mercies on this day. He has
blessed us, and our efforts to promote the interests
of His kingdom are succeeding. Bless His holy
name. 0 Lord, do Thou abide in our tabernacle ;
glorify Thyself in this house in the conversion of
sinners and the edification of believers."

His Life and Work. 75

CHAPTER VII.
The Tamar-street Chapel was opened for public
worship on Wednesday, 6th September, 1837. Mr.
Price preached in the morning from Zechariah vi.
13 — " Even He shall build the temple of the Lord,
and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule
upon His throne ; and He shall be a priest upon
His throne ; and the counsel of peace shall be
between them both." The Rev. Joseph Beazley
preached in the evening from 1 Timothy i. 11 —
"According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed
God, which was committed to my trust." On the
following Sabbath the Rev. F. Miller preached in
the morning from Solomon's Song — " He brought
me to His banqueting-house, and His banner over
me was love ;" and in the evening Mr. Beazley
preached from Psalm Ixviii., v. 18 — "Thou hast
ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive,
Thou hast received gifts for men ; yea, for the
rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell
among them." This was a refreshing season to the
members of the young church. The services were
well attended ; feelings of spirituality and solemnity

76 The Rev. Charles Price:
pervaded the assemblies ; the singing was good, and
the collections amounted to £320 — " an astonishing
sum, but I think it was given in answer to prayer
for the advancement of the divine glory," was
the pastor's quaint remark in his diary. This
liberality on the part of the people at the opening
of Tamar-street Chapel was the cause of much
thankfulness to Mr. Price, who now felt that the
Independent denomination was fairly established in
Launceston. He had much work to do. The chapel was of
course still heavily burdened with a debt, but Mr.
Price did not despair of seeing it removed ere many
years. The Honourable W. P. Weston and Mr.
Henry Reed had contributed £100 each towards
the building, and Mr. Weston also acted as treasurer,
and lent money for the execution of the work. A
Grammar School was established at the Chapel
House, Tamar-street, where Mr. Price received
both day pupils and boarders ; it early became one
of the most successful scholastic institutions in
the colony; his proficiency in the French, Latin,
Greek, and Hebrew languages was now of much
practical benefit, and in addition to the usual
routine of a plain education he imparted to his
pupils the rudiments of mathematics, geometry,
land surveying, algebra, elocution, rhetoric, short
hand, as well as music, drawing, and mental
philosophy.

His Life and Work. yy
Mr. Price took a leading part at the evening
meetings held in the town upon religious, philan
thropic, or scientific subjects, also being ever ready
to help the needy and console the suffering. On
10th November, 1837, he wrote in his diary : — " I
spent several hours last night and this morning
with four prisoners who were about to be executed
— Gardener, Hudson, Stewart, and Hawze. They
were wonderfully changed in the state of their
minds during the time of their confinement, and
gave every evidence (in their circumstances) of a
penitent spirit, and faith in Christ as the only
Saviour of sinners. I attended them to the scaffold,
and they appeared to die rejoicing in hope. What
cannot the Lord effect by His grace ? I felt myself
as wicked in heart as the worst of the prisoners,
and sensible that it was by grace alone I felt any
change of heart from a state of enmity to love
towards God and His ways."
Mr. Price always regarded his birthday as a time
for deep meditation and prayer. On the 21st
November, 1837, he wrote — " I am now thirty —
about which age the Saviour entered upon His
ministry. I now resolve, in divine strength, to
enter upon my ministry afresh. 0 Lord, give me
new love, knowledge, zeal, patience, perseverance,
faith, obedience. Send down Thy Spirit in a more
copious measure ; and may He dwell in me, and rule
my affections, heart, motives, words, deeds ; help me

78 The Rev. Charles Price:
to look constantly to heaven as the place of my rest,
and for the coming of Christ to fetch me home ;
and to so anticipate it as to be always ready. Bless
me to my family, the church and congregation, my
pupils, and the public . . . Gracious Father, I
give myself, my family, and all my interests into
Thy hand, to employ us and them for Thy glory.
Glorify Thyself in my life, death, and salvation
throughout eternity."
During the Christmas holidays of 1837-8 Mr.
Price spent some time at Hobart Town. He
preached for the Wesleyans on their watch-night,
and fulfilled sixteen engagements in the nineteen
days he was from home, including a visit to Green
Ponds on behalf of the Van Diemen's Land Home
Missionary Society, to make arrangements with
the people there for the reception of the Rev. J.
Beazley as pastor of a new church at that place.
Returning to Hobart Town from Green Ponds he
was present at a union meeting of the two Congre
gational churches, when the sacrament of the Lord's
Supper was administered, and the ministers then
in the colony were present : the Revs. Miller, Price,
Nisbet and Beazley — a solemn meeting.
Mr. and Mrs. Price's eldest daughter, Catharine
Ann, was born on the 21st of March, 1838 ; at the
early age of twelve years and eleven months she
was taken to her Saviour, on February 22nd, 1851.
This dear child early manifested superior mental

His Life and Work. 79
ability, combined with much personal beauty, and
an exquisite gentleness of Christian character. A
year after the latter event there is a record in the
diary — " This is the anniversary of my dear Kate's
departure to glory. It has been a year of great
heaviness, hope, joy in God. The Lord doeth well :
this is enough. Still, 0 Lord, sanctify this trial.
My soul is wholly Thine. Thou art my portion ; I
commit all to thee. Glorify Thyself in me and
mine." On the 21st March, 1852, it is recorded —
"This is my dear Kate's 14th birthday. I feel
that she has spent more than a year in heaven.
Bless the Lord, 0 my soul. Still my heart is with
her ; and often the sigh tells the working of
affection. It is well. Thy will, 0 Lord, be done."
Eleven years after the dear child's death the
parent thus remembered his lost treasure — " 0 how
time flies ! my dear Kate died eleven years since.
Eleven years in glory ! Bless the Lord. Many
trials since — all for good. The Lord has been very
pitiful. My soul longs for perfect holiness, and
fitness to follow to heaven." Returning to the year
1838, we find these reflections in the diary: —
"April 13th. — Good Friday — Christ was crucified!
What an overwhelming consideration for guilty
man ; what wisdom, love, condescension, and power
in God and His co-equal Son ! Dost thou, my soul,
love the Lord Jesus Christ ? I love His service,
word, people, and ways — and Himself supremely.

So The Rev. Charles Price :
My chief desire is to glorify Him in time, and to be
with TTim for ever : and I do now make a fresh
surrender of myself, my family, my all to Him.
Lord Jesus, eternal Jehovah, Infinite Spirit, triune
God, glorify Thyself in me, a sinful worm, and raise
me at length to the glorious company of angels and
the church of the I'tret-born."
It is a common trait in the human character,
from which even many spiritually minded people
are not exempt, that past mercies which have been
the stepping-stones to their temporal prosperity are
soon forgotten. Mr. Price always remembered such
mercies. On 23rd August. 1N3S: in referring to the
gun accident at Port Stephens, he wrote: "This
day three years I was taken very near to the gates
of death, but the Lord delivered me. I desire to
remember the undeserved and great goodness of
my heavenly Father in protecting so unworthy a
child : and oh that the remembrance of past mercies
may keep alive a deep sense of my unspeakal le
obligations to TTim My mind, time, and strength
are now fully occupied. May the Lord be glorified
in them, and I shall then see the design of my
preservation." On the evening of Wednesday, 7th November,
1S3S. a meeting was held in the chapel for the
purpose of forming a Congregational Christian
Instruction and Benevolent Society. It is recorded
in the diary, with this petition : " Heavenly Father,

His Life and Work. 81
I commenil this cause to Thee, who alone can bless
the labours of Thy servants. May many poor
souls be benefited by its instrumentality. May the
meekness, perseverance, benevolence of Christ be
manifested by all who shall be engaged in visiting
the sick and in imparting instruction. The work
of my hands, 0 Lord prosper it."
Towards the latter part of 1838 the Rev. John
West arrived in Launceston. He, and another
minister — the Rev. Alexander Morison — had been
sent to the colony by the then newly-formed
Colonial Missionary Society, to act as itinerant
missionaries in the country districts of Tasmania.
To Mr. Morison was assigned the southern, and to
Mr. West the northern districts, as fields of labour.
Mr. West came from Hobart Town with his family,
on 27th December, to reside at Launceston, in view
of thus being in a better position for carrying out
his itinerant work in the surrounding districts.
Mr. Price occupied all the spare time he had, during
the vacation, in visiting the outlying localities
where there was a prospect of establishing preach
ing stations for the new minister, but found that
in almost every little centre of population the
spiritual wants of the people had been cared for br
other denominations, and the good intentions of the
Colonial Missionary Society anticipated. Mr. West,
therefore, did not find much scope outside of
Launceston for the exercise of the duties he had
7

82 The Rev. Charles Price:
been sent to perform, and thus he began to preach
in the town on the Sundays. At the same time
some differences arose at the Tamar-street Church,
through circumstances over which Mr. Price had no
control. This untoward event led to the secession
of some of the members, and the establishment of
Mr. West as pastor of a second church in the town.
The Independent Church, thus divided, languished
for a time. It occurred at a season of great com
mercial depression, when the immigration of free
settlers had almost entirely ceased, and the Home
Government was flooding the colony with criminals
of the lowest class. There was a Baptist church
in the town, presided over by the Rev. Henry
Dowling, who arrived in 1835, and ministered in
holy things for thirty -four years. There were also
the ever-active Wesleyans, and the Presbyterians
— each with a church and congregation ; but there
was no opening for two Independent churches in so
small a town. Even the Episcopalians, who num
bered nearly half the community, had only one
place of worship. Under ordinary circumstances
the voluntary system, after this division, would
have failed to support a minister, but Mr. Price
continued his labours gratuitously for fourteen
years, devoting all the offerings during that period
towards paying off the debt upon the chapel, school,
and minister's residence, while he supported himself
and family by other means.

His Life and Work. 83
Mr. Price conducted the Launceston Grammar
School in Tamar-street for 26 years. Many there are
in the various colonies — ministers of religion, bar
risters, conductors of the press, merchants, officers in
the army and in the civil service, who were educated
in the old school-room (which is still used for the
Sunday-school and week-night services) — who now
look back to the days of their youth with pleasurable
emotions when they visit the colony, and call upon
Mr. Price to express their interest in the spot where
they spent their happy boyhood, and their kindly
remembrance of their teacher, and of Mrs. Price, who
had attended them in sickness, and ministered to
their comfort when away from the parental eye.
The school did not prevent Mr. Price from attend
ing to a multitude of other duties. He devoted, as
a rule, every night in the week either to ministerial
work, or to attendance at public meetings of the
temperance, bible, or kindred societies, frequently
delivering lectures on philanthropic and scientific
subjects in the public assembly rooms, besides
giving his pupils lectures every week, illustrated
by numerous experiments in various branches of
scientific investigation. He also for many years
employed the galvanic battery with considerable
success, in cases of human suffering from nervous
debility, and diseases of the muscular tissues, some
signal cures having been effected when other
remedies failed to produce any favourable results.

84 The Rev. Charles Price:
On 25th October, 1839, there is a record in Mr.
Price's diary of the celebration of the Wesleyan
centenary, which was observed in Launceston on
that day. It closes thus : " May the Holy Spirit
descend in a copious measure upon their body, and
make them still more useful during the next
hundred years." On 21st November, 1839, his
birthday was not forgotten: " My birthday ! Since
this time twelve months my troubles have been
many and various ; but grace has abounded. Per
haps I ought to expect new kinds of troubles every
year as I advance on my pilgrimage. After all, I
love the service of God more, His own people, and
His word — and I desire to enter fully into the spirit
of His word, and to proclaim it with tenfold more
ardour than ever. The Lord has in some measure
blessed my feeble efforts by the power of His Spirit.
. . . Gracious Father, I would now give up
everything afresh into Thy hands, to be employed
in Thy service and for Thy glory. May I live near
Thee, act for Thee, and be honoured by Thee. May
my dear partner enjoy Thy protection, and honour
Thee ; may my children live before Thee in love.
Blessed God, take me under Thy care, and enable
me to do all for Thy glory, for my dear Saviour's
sake. Amen."
The first record in the diary for the year 1840
is entered on 7th January: — "To-day the Lord
graciously gave us another little girl. It is Thine,

His Life and Work. 85
O Lord. I give it back to Thee that Thou mayest
glorify Thyself in it  "
" February 9th. — To-day I baptized our dear
little Rebecca Elizabeth. 0, thou covenant-keeping
God, from this time may she be Thine, and receive
covenant blessings. May she, with her brother and
sister, father and mother, glorify Thee together
throughout eternity." This lady is now the
honoured wife of the Rev. W. A. Whitney, Baptist
minister at Castlemaine, Victoria, a man of much
Christian excellence, who, aided by his faithful
partner, is actively engaged in the service of the
Lord, and winning many souls to Jesus.
It is not necessary to place in chronological
order a detailed account of the various events
which occurred during the last forty-six years of
Mr. Price's ministry, so far as they relate to the
annual festivals, anniversaries, and ordinary routine
of church affairs; these have quietly and unos
tentatiously been continued without interruption
during the whole of that long period, and are still
observed by the pastor, the deacons, the teachers in
the Sunday-schools, and the members, with feelings
of increasing thankfulness for the prosperity of the
church, and the prolonged and still useful life of
the venerable pastor. There were many incidents
by the way, however, which rendered Mr. Price's
life far from monotonous. He took a leading part
in founding the institutions of the town which

86 The Rev. Charles Price:
have for their objects the spread of knowledge, the
amelioration of the mental and physical condition
of the poor and ignorant, the promotion of temper
ance, and the inculcation of moral and religious
principles in the community. In all such organiza
tions the pastor of the Tamar-street Church ever
took a profound interest — so much so, indeed, that
the history of the rise and progress of every un-
sectarian institution in Launceston which tends to
elevate the tone of public morals, and the social
standard of the people, is intimately connected with
his active life.
In his family Mr. Price has been exceedingly
happy. We have seen how his estimable wife
walked hand in hand with him in the earlier days,
when youth and vigour were handmaids of the
will. The same spirit animates Mrs. Price still,
though the flesh is weak in the performance of the
more arduous duties and pleasures of the Christian
life. In addition to their son (to whom we shall
again refer), the sweet child who was taken to
heaven, and Mrs. Whitney, they have a daughter
who is the comfort of their age — Miss Price — an
active and energetic worker in the Sunday-school,
and organist in the church.
In his public career Mr. Price was not always
exempt from the envy of some, the jealousies of
others, and the anger of those who love the unfruit
ful works of darkness, for he has been their open

His Life and Work. 87
enemy at all times, ever ready to do battle against
sin and the devices of Satan ; thus he has been free
of the condemnation — "Woe unto you when all men
shall speak well of you."
At one time it was whispered abroad that he
had obtained money for building a chapel and
minister's residence on his own private property.
For some years this report had been uncharit
ably circulated, and it was considered by the
church necessary to remove the impression by
a positive denial, which was published, signed
by the deacons, as follows : — " The Tamar-street
Independent Church deem it right to make
the following public statement, with the view of
removing the erroneous impression entertained by
some persons in this town and colony, that the
chapel and premises are the private property of the
present pastor : — 1. The ground and premises were
conveyed on the 16th January, 1840, to seven
trustees, to be held for the Independent church
meeting in this place of worship for ever. 2. The
church fully approve of every article contained in
the trust deed as strictly in accordance with their
views as Independents. 3. Regular accounts of all
receipts and disbursements have been kept, and
annually presented for examination, so that all the
church and congregation have had frequent oppor
tunities of knowing the state of their affairs. 4.
The Rev. Charles Price has no personal property in

88 The Rev. Charles Price:
the chapel and premises, but is appointed by the
church its pastor, and in that capacity resides in
the chapel-house. The church deem it due to the
Rev. C. Price to state that, from the commencement
of his connection with this church, in the year 1836,
to the present time, he has held the office of pastor
without receiving any salary for the same, he
having resigned his right in this respect for the
purpose of enabling the church to free their
premises from debt ; neither has he received any
remuneration from the government nor any society."
Mr. Price worked on, conscious of his integrity, but
with humbleness of heart. Thus he wrote in his
diary on 9th April, 1841 : — "What shall I render
to the Lord for all His mercies ? I will give myself
unreservedly to the God of my salvation. When I
recount the mercies of the Lord, I am overwhelmed
by His goodness. Jesus is my rock — His word is
my guide, His people are my people, His work is
my delight, salvation is my theme, to know of
sinners being saved is my greatest joy — to behold
peace and prosperity in His church fills my heart
with pleasure — to hear of His cause prospering in
any part of the world is the best news that comes
to my ears. The past mercies bestowed upon me —
in myself utterly unworthy of the least — fill me
with confidence in the promises of God. The
future I commit to His gracious care, hoping to
live nearer to God, bring forth more abundantly

FAC-SIMILE OF Mr. PRICE'S DIARY.
- ' v : ,. *» '

-^ ^/N

His Life and Work. 89
the fruits of the Spirit, be more useful in the world,
live nearer heaven, think of death as a friend,
and anticipate heaven as my home. 0 Lord God
of love and mercy, pour out Thy Spirit, I most
earnestly entreat Thee, for Jesus' sake, upon me, my
clear partner, my little son and two little daughters,
my mother, brother, and sister, and all the members
of the family wherever they may be in the world, —
upon my pupils, servants, church, congregation,
neighbours, country, — the whole world. 0 Lord,
reign triumphantly and gloriously throughout the
universe. Amen."
Mr. Price's diary is a memorial of thoughts and
events surpassing in interest all ordinary records
of the sort. For years he had been in the habit
of writing down his meditations in five different
languages — Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, and
English. He was indeed a skilful Hebraist, the
writing having a close resemblance to copper-plate.
A facsimile is given on the opposite page.

90 The Rev. Charles Price.

CHAPTER VIII.
In the year 1842 a number of gentlemen inte
rested themselves in forming an association for
the establishment of a Mechanics' Institute and
reading room in the little town of Launceston.
The undertaking was quite a success. In those
days the artisans and tradesmen had much less
spare time to devote to intellectual culture than
they now possess, but they embraced more eagerly
the opportunities that were offered. The meetings
were well attended at that time, and lecturers
were more willing than they are now to come
forward and deliver lectures on scientific and
general subjects of interest. Mr. Price delivered
the first lecture in 1842, in the Infant School,
Frederick-street, which had been used for public
purposes prior to the erection of the present fine
structure at the corner of Cameron and St. John
streets. The lecturer's introductory remarks on
that occasion are worthy of record : —
" It is gratifying, on an occasion like this, to be
surrounded by an audience which is interested in

His Life and Work. 91
the subjects about to be laid before it, and to feel
assured that the interest felt is not excited by
merely selfish motives, but arises from a desire
to promote the public good. It will at once be
admitted that an Institute for the promotion of
science is much needed in this rising town, and it
may reasonably be hoped that talent and energy
enough will be found to carry forward the work
which has now been commenced. I could have
wished, indeed, that this first lecture had fallen into
abler hands. I can offer no apology for acceding
to the request of the committee and undertaking
the task, beside the interest I feel in, and the desire
I have to promote the usefulness of the Institute.
I shall, therefore, proceed to state that the present
lecture will consist of a brief sketch of the ' Objects,
Advantages, and Pleasures of Science.' These will,
consequently, confine me almost entirely to bare
statement, without allowing scope for enlargement
or illustration. I have to do the work of a pioneer
— to explore the fields of science, tell you the
results of my investigations, and draw you into
the pursuit of her objects. Our observations will
inecessarily be brief, from the multitude of objects
which present themselves to view. In order to
comprehend the advantages, and know something
of the pleasures to be obtained from an acquaint
ance with science, it is necessary, more or less, to
have unfolded to the mind some of those branches

92 The Rev. Charles Price:
which have engaged the attention of philosophers.
Examples alone can now be given, from which must
be inferred the pleasure and advantage to be
derived from them in their full extent. It is not
a small pleasure that is derived from the acquire
ment of knowledge for its own sake, whether it be
mental or physical, material or mechanical. The
intellect, the animal, the machine, alike afford
interesting fields of inquiry and observation. The
practical purposes to which knowledge is applied
in all the departments of life are undoubtedly
of the greatest importance in increasing the
refinements, conveniences, and comforts of the
human race. It is pleasant to behold in every
land the development of the principle that
' knowledge is power ' in the varied and com
plicated forms in which it presents itself in all
classes of civilized society. The truths of science
may sometimes wear an uninviting form to some
minds, on account of their apparently abstruse and
unimportant character ; but even these only require
to be looked upon in their natural positions and
relations. Then they display their native beauties
and their usefulness. And it requires not so much
mental exercise as many suppose to attain this view
and realize the satisfaction of true philosophers. It
must not be inferred from a mere recital of these
truths, without experiments or diagrams to illustrate
them, that they are not calculated to impart great

His Life and Work. 93
pleasure to the inquiring mind. If you give but a
patient hearing to the truths stated, with the recol
lection that they have a practical tendency, and are
connected with important doctrines in the various
departments of science, you will find yourself
acquiring real knowledge, whilst you are led to see
its objects and advantages. By looking at its
various parts you may form some estimate of its
value, have the springs opened whence you may
draw large supplies, and, being familiar with even
the first principles of science, you will be surprised
at the advantages you have gained and the doors of
information and pleasure which lie open before you.
To all, from the infant to the man, and from the
peasant to the prince, the floodgates of knowledge
are set open, and the nations rush eagerly to imbibe
the mind-informing stream. Why should this
colony or this town be behind in the pursuit of the
knowledge and enjoyments the sciences afford ?
The sciences may be divided into three great
classes — 1. Those which relate to number and
quantity ; 2. Those which relate to matter ; and,
3. Those which relate to mind. The first are called
the Mathematics, and teach the properties of num
bers and figures ; the second are called Natural
Philosophy, and teach the properties of the various
bodies which we are acquainted with by means of
our senses ; the third are called Intellectual, or
Moral Philosophy, and teach the nature of the

94 The Rev. Charles Price:
mind, of the existence of which we have the
most perfect evidence in our own reflections,
or, in other words, the moral nature of man, both
as an individual and as a member of society. Con
nected with all the sciences, and subservient to
them, though not one of their number, is History,
or the record of facts relating to all kinds of
knowledge. In illustrating these several branches
I shall as much as possible avoid merely technical
terms, and use the plainest language and easiest
examples." These were the introductory remarks in a highly
interesting lecture delivered by Mr. Price in 1842,
the first of a series of lectures delivered at the,
Launceston Mechanics' Institute, when first organ
ized. The young artisans and tradesmen do not
now enjoy the same opportunities for improving
their minds, although, after the lapse of forty-four
years and the favourable transitions which have
taken place in the condition of the colony, better
results might have been expected. Many of Mr.
Price's lectures at the Institute, Temperance Hall,
and elsewhere, on natural history, peculiar astrono
mical appearances, phrenology, the effects of alcoholic
poisons on the human system, &c, were illustrated
and popularized by illuminated diagrams.
At that early period the difficulty of obtaining
anything but food and clothing, or other actual
necessaries, was great; there was not an electric

His Life and Work. 95
telegraph line in the whole of the Australias, much
less the necessary appliances for scientific investi
gation. Mr. Price had, therefore, to construct his
own apparatus for chemical and scientific illustra
tions — they were not to be bought at any cost.
He prepared a great variety of electrical machines
for experiments at lectures, and galvanic batteries
for electrotyping with copper, silver, gold, and
platina; also, magneto-galvanic machines, which
have been useful in cases where the efforts of
professional experts failed to give relief to the
sufferer. He was one of the first to introduce
the Daguerreotype process, which led on to pho
tography. Some of the likenesses taken by the
former process between thirty and forty years
ago are still sharp and clear. He was amongst
the first to exhibit the electric light ; he explained
spectrum analysis in reference to the heavenly
bodies, showing the spectrum by water prisms ;
the imported apparatus illustrating the movements
of the planets round the sun called forth the
unqualified admiration of His Excellency Sir John
Franklin, who declared them to be the most perfect
he had seen. Later on, Mr. Price was the first in
Launceston to make telephones and microphones,
and to use them in a practical manner. He was
also amongst the first to test mineral-bearing stone
for gold, tin, and copper, which had been brought
to him from different parts of the colony, and

96 The Rev. Charles Price :
his assays led to discoveries in several places.
All those acquirements were made useful and
instructive. They exhibited in a remarkable
degree the mental capacity and physical energy of
a man who had also his church and school duties
to fulfil, as well as to attend numerous public
meetings of a purely religious character. In all
his engagements there was not an hour wasted in
frivolous or unprofitable pursuits — all tended to
the temporal and spiritual welfare and enlighten
ment of the community.
Mr. Price continued to deliver lectures and
addresses in the public halls of the town for nearly
half a century. Many of those lectures were instru
mental in elevating the tone of morals amongst
the working classes, improving their intellectual
condition, and in inducing many to abandon the
degrading vice of intemperance. On the 3rd
October, 1855, he delivered a lecture in the old Hall
upon "The Material and Moral Improvement of
the Working Classes, dependent upon Abstinence
from Intoxicating Liquors." He pointed out with
telling force in that lecture, and in many others
which preceded and followed it on the same
subject, that "in times of mercantile prosperity,
high wages, and overflowing business, as well as
when depression in trade curtailed the supplies
of workmen, many families became the victims
of poverty, disease, and crime. The men were

His Life and Work. 97
possessed of artistic skill, and the women were not
wanting in thrifty housewifery — yet the children
grew up uneducajted, rude, and ragged." The
deeply-seated root of the evil he traced to the
drinking habits of the times, and the only effective
remedy was total abstinence. A lecture on "The
Intellectual Improvement of the Working Classes"
was delivered by Mr. Price at the Institute, on 4th
April, 1850, and was printed by desire and at
the expense of the tradesmen and mechanics of
Launceston. It is well worthy the perusal of the
working classes of the present day. The fine new
Mechanics' Institute was opened in April, 1860,
when there was a very successful bazaar held in
the Hall, the proceeds of which went towards
reducing the debt on the building. Mr. Price
continued to lecture there for some years.
There are many interesting incidents recorded
in the diary from year to year, all of which carry
back the memory to some event worthy of note.
At some future date it may be hoped that this
valuable journal of a most spiritually minded man
will be published more fully. We shall transcribe
a tfew lines here : — " 1st April, 1841. — The Arab
arrived with 200 immigrants, sent out by Mr. Henry
Dowling. . . . 8th August, '42. — Commenced
the Bible class. May the Lord of light smile upon
this effort to promote His glory. . . . 16th
Oct., '42. — This day was kept as the anniversary of

98 The Rev. Charles Price :
the chapel. The Revs. Hastie and Morison preached.
Good congregations. £22 collected. Monday we
had a pleasant tea meeting. . . . 2nd Dec. —
Sent some tracts to Dr. Jeannerett, and the blacks
under his care at Flinders Island. Follow them,
Lord, with Thy blessing. 25th Dec. — The Rev.
W. Jarrett preached for the Colonial Missionary
Society. 27th (Tuesday). — The Teetotal proces
sion passed through the town to-day — a very large
assembly. Much good appears to proceed from the
advocacy of this cause. This is the tenth year of
my advocacy. The ' Church of the Holy Trinity '
was opened to-day. . . . 13th Aug., '43. — Mrs.
Hopkins accompanied Mr. Nisbet to the anniver
sary of the St. John's Square Chapel. Great has
been the goodness of the Lord to this family. 20th
Aug. — Governor Sir E. E. Wilmot arrived in the
barque Cressy. May he be a man of the right
sort." Governor Wilmot succeeded Sir John Franklin
in the government of the colony. He was a fine
old English gentleman ; but he arrived at a time
when the Imperial authorities were inflicting a
great injustice upon the colony, by pouring into it
a flood of criminals who were a terror to the free
inhabitants. Various systems of penal discipline
were tried, but they all failed in accomplishing the
end desired. The Governor, undeservedly, received
a share of the blame. It was not in his power to

His Life and Work. 99
alter the wild experimental schemes of the Home
Government in thus inundating the colony with
the most degraded class of human beings. Sir E.
Eardley Wilmot did his best to promote peace and
goodwill among the colonists, but they were loud
and expressive in their demonstrations of indig
nation at the cruelty of thus polluting the moral
atmosphere of the island in which they had cast
their lot. The government of a colony so seriously
disturbed by the conflicting elements of social
discord was too arduous for the tender hearts
of both Sir John Franklin and Sir Eardley Wilmot.
Mr. Price at a later period took a prominent part,
in conjunction with nearly all the colonists, to
slay the giant evil which was destroying the fair
fame of the young colony — the transportation
system. They at last accomplished their object.
The diary records a jubilee of the foundation
of the colony, and a festive demonstration in
honour of its freedom on the 10th day of August,
1853. The Congregational Church was slow to develop
its system in the Australias during the early years
of colonization. After the gold discoveries of 1851,
however, the population increased so rapidly that
new fields for labour presented themselves in many
districts, which soon became self-supporting, or
nearly so. A conference of ministers and delegates
connected with the denomination assembled from

100 The Rev. Charles Price:
the four colonies of New South Wales, Tasmania,
South Australia, and Victoria, in Melbourne, in
February, 1855. There were present at that con
ference — two ministers from New South Wales >
two from Tasmania, two from South Australia, and
eight belonging to Victoria; besides a number of
influential lay delegates, including Messrs. J. Fair
fax and Ambrose Foss, of Sydney, and Mr. Henry
Hopkins, of Hobart. The chairman of the con
ference was the Rev. T. Q. Stow, of Adelaide, and the
Rev. C. Price was chosen secretary. The chairman,
in his address, explained the causes which militated
against the establishment of the voluntary system
of church government and maintenance in the
elder colonies: — "For a long time the substance
of the population, and for a longer period a large
proportion of it, consisted of criminals, soldiers,
functionaries, and dependents. We had not been
accustomed to work under such circumstances, and
when we began to do so, the progress was slow, and
the result small. And even when immigration set
in, it became so distributed by the land regulations
that it was not easy to find population sufficiently
concentrated to encourage an effort. These circum
stances were rendered still more difficult by the
fact that there were four denominations relying on
the proffered aid of the government, contending
for localities which could furnish the required
number of auditors." Mr. Stow made the following

His Life and Work. 101
remarks at the closing portion of his eloquent
address : — " It has not escaped observation for some
time past that our denomination in these colonies
stands well in the public eye. In this case others
have borne witness of us. Unasked they have
given this testimony, and have given it in all the
four colonies. One ground of approbation they
have themselves chosen to assign. Our refusal of
government aid has excited the admiration of
many, who, whilst they disapproved that course,
praised the disinterestedness thus manifested, and
the honesty thus proved. It is a great advantage
to have the confidence of society when seeking to
benefit it. Signs of earnest purpose, of loving
attachment, of readiness of action, of noble gene
rosity, augur well for stability and progress. It is
certainly a significant fact, that by a denomination
so recently known in these colonies, and even now
not numerous, £50,000 (fifty thousand pounds), in
addition to current expenses, should have been
contributed during the last year ! " At this con
ference several questions of common interest to the
church were discussed' — collegiate education, lay
agency, public education, congregational statistics,
denominational literature, finance, additions to the
ministry, State-aid to religion. A deputation from
the British and Foreign Bible Society, Messrs.
Beecher and Charles from Manchester, was intro
duced to the conference, and its members addressed

102 The Rev. Charles Price:
the assembly. Thanks were awarded by the con
ference to Mr. Stow, the chairman, and Mr. Price,
the secretary ; and it was resolved that the next
meeting be held in Sydney in the following year
(1856), the Rev. F. Miller to preside.
Accordingly, arrangements were made for the
Sydney conference ; but the delegates did not
meet until the 15th February, 1857. Mr. Price was
present, and stayed during his sojourn in Sydney
with his old friend, Mr. George Allen. There were
present at the conference eleven ministers of the
denomination belonging to New South Wales, two
from Tasmania, and two from Victoria ; besides a
considerable number of laymen, including Mr. H.
Hopkins, Hon. D. Jones, M.L.C., Hon. T. Holt,
M.L.C., Messrs. Fairfax, Foss, &c. The Rev. E.
Griffith (father of the Hon. S. W. Griffith, Premier
of Queensland), was at the conference ; also the
Rev. John West, who was at that time editor of the
Sydney Morning Herald. He had resigned his
pastoral charge in Launceston some time before, in
which he was succeeded by the present respected
minister, the Rev. W. Law.
The conference was presided over by the Rev.
F. Miller, who, twenty-six years before, was the
only Congregational minister in these colonies, but
was then surrounded by nearly seventy ministers
and delegates, in addition to whom several ministers
were expected shortly to arrive, as the Rev. J. L.

His Life and Work. 103
Poore was on a mission to England, supplied with
funds from the churches of the four colonies, to
secure the services of efficient ministers.
When Mr. Miller was about to leave Highbury
College for the purpose of entering on his solitary
work in Tasmania, the Rev. Dr. Burder delivered
a charge, in which were the following impressive
admonitions : — " You, my dear brother, if a guar
dian Providence permit, are to settle in a far
distant land, but little known to us, and you will
naturally feel interested in inquiring into its
peculiarities of soil, climate, and productions. This
curiosity will not need to be altogether repressed,
but it will need to be restrained within the limits
of due subordination. It is important to keep in
mind that you are not to be ambitious of the
reputation of a naturalist, or a botanist, or a
mineralogist, any more than you are to be ambitious
of the gains of an agriculturist, or a merchant.
You go out with higher aims ; you are to be
occupied in nobler pursuits ; your concern is not
with the soil or its productions, but with its living
and dying population. You go to save souls from
death — souls in danger of the wrath to come."
Mr. Miller remembered those admonitions, and read
them at the Sydney conference.
The last of those general conferences was held
in Adelaide in the early part of November, 1859.
Besides fourteen ministers of South Australia, only

104 The Rev. Charles Price:
the Rev. R. Fletcher and the Rev. J. L. Poore
(visitor), from Victoria, the Rev. W. Law and Mr.
Henry Hopkins, from Tasmania, attended. At that
period the means of intercolonial communication
were not at all inviting; few travelled but those
who were under urgent necessity. Mr. Price was
appointed chairman of the next conference, which,
it was resolved, should be held in Melbourne.
Such a conference would not now be attended with
the same personal inconvenience, the railway facili
ties being so very complete.
The method subsequently adopted was that of
having a Congregational Union in each colony, at
which the ministers and delegates meet annually
to discuss matters connected with the well-being of
the churches. The first council of the Tasmanian
Union commenced its sittings at Hobart on the
20th August, 1867. The chairman was the Rev. C.
Price ; secretary, Rev. W. C. Robinson ; travelling
secretary, Mr. R. E. Dear; treasurer, Hon. J. E.
Salier ; executive committee, Revs. G. Clarke, W.
Law, Walter Mathison, J. Nisbet, J. W. Shipphird,
J. W. Simmons, W. Waterfield, and the lay delegates
of the Union ; Messrs. G. Salier and James Walch,
auditors. These appointments were made at a
meeting of the Union held at Hobart in June,
1866, when it was deemed expedient to revise its
constitution. For several years before, the public
meetings of the Union had been held at irregular

His Life and Work. 105
intervals, and for a while had been entirely sus
pended. This was, therefore, the first meeting held
under the revised constitution. The objects of the
" Congregational Union and Mission of Tasmania "
are : — 1. To promote the spread of the Gospel ; 2.
To cultivate brotherly love and co-operation among
the associated churches ; 3. To diffuse information
on the prmciples of the Congregational churches ; 4.
To obtain statistics relative to the condition and
work of the churches; 5. To establish fraternal
correspondence with other churches and unions ;
6. To address, when expedient, a circular letter to
the churches of the Union; 7. To bring into
the colony accredited Congregational ministers, to
educate young men for the ministry, and to employ
lay preachers ; 8. To maintain our civil rights."
At the Council of 1867, Mr. Price, the chairman,
had the sad task of referring to the death of the
Rev. Frederick Miller. "We cannot look back upon
past years," said the chairman, " without having
awakened in our minds the solemn, and in some
measure saddening, recollection of fellow-labourers
who have been called to their reward — noble-
spirited men, who were found labouring in the vine
yard to the last, faithful to their principles, their
church, and their God. We honour the name of
Frederick Miller and others who have first fallen
in the work, and we glorify the grace of God in
them. Their works live, and their memories are

106 The Rev. Charles Price:
fragrant in the churches. May we emulate their
wisdom, zeal, and singleness of aim in carrying on
the work we still have in charge."
The meetmgs of the Union have been continued
annually (with only four omissions) since 1866 ;
being held alternately at Hobart and Launceston.
In 1879 Mr. Price was appointed chairman for the
year, and again, for the third time, in 1883. The
Jubilee year of Congregationalism in Australasia
occurred in 1880, on which occasion the Rev. G.
Clarke, chairman, delivered an eloquent address.
The Jubilee meetings were of a very interesting
character. They commenced on Sunday, 21st March*
and were continued until Wednesday, 31st March.
Delegates were present from New South Wales,
South Australia, and Victoria (the Revs. Sun
derland, Halley, and Manthorpe). The Rev. C.
Price preached the sermon in connection with the
event, on Wednesday evening, 24th March. On
the previous evening the Rev. W. Law read an
interesting paper on " Our Principles." Historical
papers were read during the session concerning the
rise and progress of Independency in the several
Australasian colonies, including an elaborate account
of the past and present condition of the churches
in Tasmania, by Mr. Price.

His Life and Work. 107

CHAPTER IX.
We shall now go back from the Union meetings,
in which Mr. Price took so large a part for many
years, and note other events of his life. We shall
go back to Sunday, 30th August, 1857, on which
day Mr. Price preached a sermon in the Tamar-
street Chapel in commemoration of his completion
of twenty-five years' ministerial service in Aus
tralia. His text was 1 Samuel vii. 12 — " Ebenezer,
hitherto hath the Lord helped us." In the evening
a devotional service was held, to return thanks to
God for His abundant mercies, and to invoke His
continued blessing on pastor and people. On the
following Wednesday a social tea-meeting of the
church, congregation, and old Sunday-school scholars
was held in the school-room, on which occasion
James Aikenhead, Esq., presented Mr. Price with
the following address, on behalf of the church and
congregation : — " My dear sir, — I have a very pleas
ing duty to perform this evening. I am requested
by the church and congregation assembling in this
place, as one who has been longest connected with

1 08 The Rev. Charles Price :
the cause, and who knows particularly its vicissi
tudes, to present to you in their name these fifteen
volumes — the works of the Rev. Dr. Sumner, Arch
bishop of Canterbury, who is still living and is a
liberal Christian man; and also these seven volumes
of John Owen's work on the Hebrews, as a token
of their sincere affection and esteem for you as
their pastor, and in commemoration of the comple
tion of a quarter of a century's ministerial labour
in Australia. Twenty years ago I was an occasional
hearer, and eighteen years ago I became a regular
attendant on your ministry. I know only two
persons remaining of the church which worshipped
here at that time. This has emphatically been a
shifting population; I have seen this chapel at
tended by three or four sets of people in succession.
I am not accustomed to flatter, or to say too much,
but I do say this, sir, from my own knowledge, that
you have preached the Gospel to us with faithful
ness and affection. It has been said by some, of
ministers of your denomination, depending for
support on their congregations, that they are apt
to soften down the truth, and not preach it in its
integrity. But this has not been your case ; you
have preached the whole truth, without respect of
persons. Whilst avoiding preaching at individuals,
you suited your sermons and explained your texts
so as to reach the hearts of the people, and fix the
truth in their minds. You have had many difficul-

His Life and Work. 109
ties to encounter as a pioneer pastor in this place.
You assisted greatly in building this chapel and
school, and suited yourself to the necessities of your
position, after the example of the great Apostle of
the Gentiles, labouring for your support with your
own hands. You have taken your part, sir, in
all public objects calculated to advance the moral,
intellectual, and spiritual interests of the people of
this town, and have fulfilled the duties of a good
citizen as well as of a Christian pastor. You have
emphatically been an industrious man. In the
morning we have found you in the study, during
the day hard at work in the school, and in the
evening in the desk or on the platform ; whilst you
have also kept up pastoral visitation. On the
Sabbath always in the pulpit, whether there were
many or few, faithfully dispensing the Word of
Life for their good. Our God has been pleased to
bless your ministrations. Many have been con
verted under your ministry here, and many now
in the other colonies can date their first serious
impressions from your preaching the Gospel. In
begging your acceptance of these volumes, I would
express our sincere love to you as our pastor, and
our thanks to God for preserving you until the
completion of a quarter of a century's ministerial
labour in Australia."
Mr. Price then rose and, with much feeling, said :
— " My dear friends, — I have a very difficult task

no The Rev. Charles Price:
to perform. I am overwhelmed with a sense of
God's goodness to me and mine, and with the
expressions of your affectionate kindness. I accept
these volumes in the spirit in which they are
presented — of thankfulness to God for His great
mercies, and of love to you the people of my
charge. It is twenty-five years to-day since I
preached my first sermon in Tasmania. Soon after
that time I left for Sydney, and after about three
years' ministerial service in that colony I returned
to Launceston. By the assistance of a few this
chapel was commenced. Many difficulties presented
themselves, but, by the help of God, they have
been surmounted, and the chapel is paid for. I
have received encouragement, at various times,
from friends who knew the circumstances of this
place, to enter on a larger field of labour, but I
have declined, and am with you this day. In
reviewing the labours of past years, I have much
to thank God for, and much to humble me in
the dust before Him. By His grace I have been
enabled to withstand opposition, and to go forward
in the performance of my varied duties. You have
presented to me these volumes as a token of your
Christian affection and confidence. I am conscious
that I have endeavoured to preach Jesus Christ
and Him crucified; to watch over, guide, and
build up all under my care. If any have been
profited and led to Christ as their Saviour, I am

His Life and Work. in
amply repaid for my work. I thank you, my dear
friends, for this token of your love to me. I have
received several testimonials, but I shall never
value any more than that now presented after
twenty-five years' labour in the colonies. This
will encourage me in my work, and when my head
is laid low these books will be prized by those I
love." One of the old Sabbath-school scholars then rose
and said : — " Reverend and dear sir, — I am deputed
by the old scholars of the Sabbath-school connected
with this chapel to beg your acceptance of these
three volumes — Poole's 'Annotations on the Bible' —
as a token of their respect and affection to you,
and to commemorate the completion of a quarter
of a century's ministerial labour in Australia; " to
which Mr. Price replied : — " My dear old Sabbath-
school scholars, — I did not expect this. I have
been connected with Sabbath-schools from my
early days, and I can assure you that I have
derived much encouragement from seeing yours so
well sustained. It has been my privilege to see
scholars become teachers and members of the
church. I receive these volumes with deep feelings
of attachment to you all, and I hope you will still
have confidence in me. Come to me with your
doubts and inquiries, that I may advise and console
you, as God may enable me by His grace, and may
we all at last meet in heaven."

1 1 2 The Rev. Charles Price :
Those services, in the words of the pastor,
" afforded a hallowed delight not often experi
enced. Gratitude for past mercies mingled with
hope for blessings yet to come. All humbled
under a sense of personal nothingness, and united
in ascribing glory, honour, and majesty to Him
that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb."
Nearly thirty years have elapsed since the
celebration of Mr. Price's ministry of a quarter of
a century in Australia, and he is still with the
church militant on earth, serving the Lord with
the same energy and devotion which impelled his
steps to this almost unknown colony fifty-four
years ago. It may be inferred, from a perusal of
the addresses presented to the pastor in 1857, that
there was considerable vitality in the Tamar-street
Church in those days.
A few interesting events occurred about this
time, in connection with Mr. Price's ministry,
which remain to be recorded. In the year 1848
the little Wicliffe Chapel had been built by the
pastor, at his own expense, in Vincent-street, for
the purpose of holding week-evening services for
the greater convenience of some aged members of
the congregation. The services were continued
for about eight years, when it was found that the
attendance was not better than it had been at
Tamar-street. The meetings were consequently
discontinued at the former place. Since then the

His Life and Work. 113
room has been occupied by the Primitive Method
ists and by the Free Presbyterians, at the com
mencement of their work in Launceston, before
their own churches were built. Shortly after —
in 1858 — the Tamar-street congregation erected
a church at Inveresk, in which services were con
ducted for some years on Sunday afternoons. A
Sabbath-school has been held there since its com
mencement, which has proved very useful to the
children in that suburb. Mr. William Gurr, a
deacon of the Tamar-street Church, was super
intendent of the school for about twenty-five
years. On his retirement he received a gratifying
memorial of respect and esteem from the teachers
and scholars. Mr. D. Room, another deacon, is now
the superintendent.
Mr. Price frequently visited Hobart, the country
districts, and the other colonies. In April, 1866,
he travelled through portions of Victoria, holding
meetings, on behalf of the Bible Society, at Warr-
nambool, Belfast, Portland, Hamilton, Ballarat,
and Brighton. This journey nearly cost him
his life. He had a most providential escape from
drowning in the Fitzroy River, where the horse
and buggy were plunged into deep water while
crossing a fording place during a flood in the river.
Mr. Price went through the (involuntary) process
of immersion. With considerable difficulty all
were rescued. The journey from Hamilton to
9

114 The Rev. Charles Price:
Ballarat was performed in Cobb's coach, the time
occupied being from one o'clock in the morning
until seven in the evening, over an exceedingly
rough road. In November, 1871, he visited the
North Coast districts of Tasmania, and on Sunday,
26th, opened the Formby Congregational Church,
preaching both morning and evening. The Rev.
E. W. Nye, Wesleyan minister, preached in the
afternoon. Under the pastoral care of the Rev.
Walter Mathison, and the services of Mr. George
Best the deacon, and others, this place of worship
supplied a much felt want in that town, where
there was no other sanctuary.
Mr. Price was always prepared to defend the
interests of the Independents against attack from
without, whether assailed by the opponents of
Christianity or by members of other denomina
tions. Now, as a rule, the different denominations
respect each others' rights ; but it was not always
so. The first bishop of Tasmania sought to
establish ecclesiastical courts in the colony, where
by witnesses would be compelled to attend his
summons, and give evidence, irrespective of their
communion. Governor Wilmot, however, refused
his consent to a legal enactment giving such power.
The question of State-aid to religion was one in
which the Independents were especially interested,
as they were compelled to pay taxes which were
employed in supporting other denominations. Mr.

His Life and Work. 115
Price, and the Independents generally, who received
no State-aid, strongly remonstrated against this
injustice ; and, ultimately, in 1869, the annual grant
for religious worship was abolished — at the cost,
however, of an equivalent, paid to the recipients, in
the shape of debentures amounting to £100,000,
which sum is included in the permanent debt of
the colony.
In February, 1868, Mr. Price issued a spirited
pastoral to his church, which abounded in godly
counsel and admonition. It was at a time when
pastorals had been delivered to other denominations,
and the bishop of Tamar-street Church improved
the occasion. "By following the example of the
noble Bereans," said Mr. Price, in one portion of his
letter, "who searched the Scriptures daily to see
if these things were so, you will be preserved from
the errors which have been promulgated in modern
times to the subverting of the faith of many, and
which are propagated in this colony to the spiritual
danger of souls. . . . Dearly-beloved brethren,
you will feel the necessity of cultivating the grace
of charity. . . . Ever cherish the spirit which
says — ' Grace be with all them that love our Lord
Jesus Christ in sincerity.' You will not strive for
mastery, for one is your Master, even Christ ; but
you will acknowledge a brother in every true
Christian, and show how good and how pleasant it
is for brethren to dwell together in unity. In

116 The Rev. Charles Price:
society, in the family, in the public assembly, you
will respect the rights of individual opmion, and
will follow peace with all men, and holiness, with
out which no man shall see the Lord. . . . You
have, indeed, exhibited a spirit of Christian for
bearance, whilst the Legislature of the colony
has expended large sums of money upon the
maintenance of conflicting creeds and antagonistic
churches. No doubt you feel the burden, and the
necessity of using every legitimate means for its
removal."

His Life and Work. \\y

CHAPTER X.
On the 5th day of March, 1861, an interesting and
solemn service was held in the Tamar-street Chapel.
Mr. Charles Seckerson Yahrah Price, the pastor's
only son, was ordained to the work of the ministry.
He had grown up in the church, and had devoted
himself to Christian work for a considerable time,
conducting services and preaching at various out-
stations ; thus his fitness for ministerial work
gradually became unfolded, and he was encouraged
by his friends to devote his life to the service of
God. A large congregation assembled in the chapel
on that occasion, most of whom were well known to
the young minister, and evinced a warm sympathy
with him in the new engagements upon which he
was about to enter. Much feeling was manifested
as the pastor delivered the charge to his son ; and
many prayers were offered for the temporal and
spiritual prosperity of the one who was about to
leave his home and church, to labour in the neigh
bouring colony of Victoria. The Rev. W. Law
and the Rev. J. Lindsay assisted in the ordination

118 The Rev. Charles Price:
service. The Rev. C. S. Y. Price has been the
pastor of churches in Wahgunyah, Emerald Hill,
Geelong, and Newcastle (New South Wales) ; and
is now the agent of the Victoria Auxiliary of the
British and Foreign Bible Society.
Many sermons, lectures, and addresses of the
esteemed pastor of Tamar-street Church have been
published in pamphlet form from time to time
during his ministry of fifty years; these we
would like to reproduce in this little volume, but
its design will not permit such enlargement. There
is a short paper, however, on the subject of
"Home Life," which must have a place here. It
was read at the meeting of the Congregational
Union of Tasmania in March, 1878 : —
" We are accustomed to speak of the Church of
God as consisting of believers in the Lord Jesus
Christ, the flock of Christ, the family named by
the name of Jesus, those who have given them
selves to the Lord, and to His people according to
His will. Such have come out from the world and
entered into the kingdom of God, and have become
citizens of Zion. According to a late writer, ' the
Church is that body of men in whom the Spirit of
God dwells as the source of their excellence, and
who exist on earth for the purpose of exhibiting
the Divine life, and the hidden order of humanity ;
to destroy evil, and to assimilate humanity to God ;
to penetrate and purify the world, and, as salt,

His Life and Work. 119
preserve it from corruption.' As such, they realize
many spiritual privileges, and are led into a new
course of life. As the people of God, they are
interested in all that pertains to the interests of
His Church — in maintaining its purity and honour,
as well as seeking its extension in the world. As
children of the light and of the day, their whole
life must harmonize in the Christian assembly
and in the domestic circle. Public teaching and
profession of belief, with a life of private devo
tion and godly cultivation. The practice at home
should illustrate the profession of gospel truth and
supreme attachment to Christ, who says, ' Follow
me.' The church's prosperity very much depends
upon home consistency of life. If this is devout,
showing a sense of the Divine presence and a
promotion of the spiritual good of the family circle,
the connection is seen between the public profes
sion and private life, but if the home character and
pursuits are out of harmony with the public pro
fession, then an unhealthy, chilly state of mind is
produced, which unfits for the enjoyment of Divine
ordinances. The influence of home life takes hold
of the heart and affections, and very materially
tells upon all that affects the character in public
teaching and church associations. Hence the
necessity of a healthy, pious tone in the family
circle ; not only in the observance of the ordinary
family devotions, but in the general spirit and

120 The Rev. Charles Price:
conversation of the household. In such a house
the associations of the Sabbath extend through
the week, and produce a thankful, cheerful spirit,
which meets aright all the duties of life, and,
without complaint or fear, works through its diffi
culties and disappointments. In such a home there
will be a candid and fair appreciation of what is
seen and heard in the church, which may lead
onward in knowledge, the correction of what may
be discovered wrong, and the cultivation of excel
lences which adorn the Christian character. Are
any influences at work in home circles which may
tend to lower the tone of Christian feeling, or
weaken the attachment to a godly life, their
entrance will be resisted as inconsistent with a
cheerful and healthy spirit, and out of harmony
with a public profession of following Christ. Pro
vision will be made in such a family, in accordance
with its means, for mental cultivation by such
entertaining and useful literature as is now
cheaply and abundantly provided for every branch
of the household. This may extend far beyond
the leading truths of religion and yet conduce to
the promotion of its interests. Our Congregational
magazines should not be forgotten. Then the
recreations encouraged will be of a nature to
promote health and cheerfulness without weaken
ing the taste for the sober and devout exercises
of piety. There will be no discordance between

His Life and Work. 121
the merry heart at home and the song of the
sanctuary. The time employed in recreation will
not encroach upon the ordinary duties of life,
nor prevent taking a fair part in the work of the
church. When either the business pursued, or
the number of engagements for mere amuse
ment or recreation, tends to hinder growth in
Divine knowledge, delay church work, or decision
for God, they become injurious, and mar the
Christian's home life. Again, injury is inflicted
when, in this luxurious age, home expenses to
maintain appearances are allowed to increase out
of proportion to income, and prevent contributing
to the cause of God, or reduce contributions to
the lowest scale. These things rob the church of
strength, and cripple its various organizations,
in which it needs the employment of all kinds of
talent. " In home life the church touches the world in
many ways — it is sometimes difficult in Christian
families to withstand its influence. Christians are
admonished ' not to be conformed to this world ; '
they have to make a stand against much that
claims to be innocent, and yet cannot be adopted
by them with proper regard to character and con
sistency ; they do not want to displease their
friends; they love them, but they love Christ
more ; they cannot take into their home life
for themselves and children many things recom-

122 The Rev. Charles Price:
mended by those whom, on other grounds, they
may greatly respect. It is a matter of great im
portance for Christians to show that their connec
tion with and work for the Church of God do not
hinder the full enjoyment of home life in every
grade of society ; that they feel it no sacrifice ; that
they lose nothing of healthy recreation or mental
enjoyment by keeping a home free from corroding
pleasures, untimely amusements, and questionable
associations ; that they can live in the world and
be kept from its evil. In such houses the church
has its best representatives in lives which accord
with its public teachings, as 'living epistles of
Christ.' " Some, called Christians, will not identify them
selves with the church because, in their home
circle, they feel that the world has great control,
although it is supposed to be in a harmless manner.
This prevents many young persons from becoming
decided for God, and often leaves them the prey of
changing fashions and worldly amusements, when
their characters should be forming upon the scrip
tural basis of piety and godliness. In this way the
church may sustain a great loss of power, whilst
many souls are injured. Many instances might be
adduced of those who appeared to run well in the
way of life, but who have been hindered by
parental want of decision in suppressing some
evil influence at home. A bright, cheerful,

His Life and Work. 123
glowing piety at home commends a decided
public attachment to the Church of God, and a
devotion to Christian work for the salvation of the
world. The mantle of holiness should cover the
whole life. Holiness to the Lord should be written
not only on the church, but upon the home, from
the nursery to the parlour, and upon all the recrea
tions and business of life, in order to maintain
peace and purity, alike honouring to God and to
man. The results of such home influences have
been made manifest in the church by men like
Matthew Henry, Doddridge, and the Wesleys, and
hosts of ministers, missionaries, teachers, visitors,
and tract distributors.
" Our times call for decision in professed Chris
tians against the invasion of the world's spirit and
practices in home life. Loyalty to Christ, attach
ment to His cause, regard for the well-being of
others, all demand that there should be an identity
of life in the church and at home. Jesus says, ' Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works and glorify your Father which is
in heaven.' "
The following is an outline of Mr. Price's sermon
on Sunday morning, 3rd October, 1881, at the
anniversary service of his Sunday-schools, held in
the hall of the Mechanics' Institute : — " These anni
versary services suggest many themes for medita
tion, but I think I cannot do better than introduce

124 The Rev. Charles Price:
you to a friend of mine. I met with some letters
from Him in my early days, and was then intro
duced to Him, and found Him a rich, faithful, and
kind friend. When I came to this country, about
fifty years ago, and left my mother, sister, and
brothers, I asked Him to come with me, and He
came, and has proved Himself a friend, sticking
closer than a brother through all my pilgrimage up
to this time. I have recommended Him to a great
number of young, middle-aged, and old people, and
those who have welcomed Him declare that He is
the best friend in the world. Perhaps you would
like to see the letters, and know His name. Well,
here they are in the Bible, and you can see His
name in Matt. i. 21, where it is said, ' Thou shalt
call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people
from their sins.' A name to sinners dear. All
other names put together would not make one so
precious as this. A wondrous name, full of mean
ing, full of beauty, full of riches — it must be
opened like a flower to show its glories. He has
many names given Him to unfold the name Jesus,
as in Isaiah ix. 6 — ' Unto us a child is born.'
Then He is a King with many subjects; a High
Priest offering the all-atoning sacrifice; the Prophet
revealing the mysteries of God; the Master with
loving servants ; the Brother not ashamed of those
He loves. Then He is spoken of as the Lion of the
tribe of Judah, who opened God's mysterious book,

His Life and Work. 125
and as the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world; the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of
the Valley; the chief among ten thousand; the
altogether lovely ; the Sun of Righteousness, and
the bright and morning star; the foundation laid
in Zion, and the chief corner stone. All heaven
belongs to Him, and yet while showing His friend
ship to man, He had not where to lay His head.
Such are some of the glories in the name Jesus, and
He wants you all this morning to be His friends.
" 1. He would have you know that He loves you.
Yes, you ! He came from heaven to let you know
this, that 'God is love.' All the reasons of the love
of Jesus to you are in Himself. He suffered, bled,
and died for you on the cross. He has sent you
these letters, teachers, and ministers to impress you
with a sense of His love ; then ought you not to
love Him who saves His people from their sins ?
"2. He teaches you. He is the Light of the
world, the Great Teacher from God, the Revealer
of life and immortality. He sends forth His
servants and says, 'Lo, I am with you always!'
So He gives line upon line, repeated in parables,
promises, doctrines, precepts, invitations. Then
He gives the Holy Spirit to them who ask Him.
He gives milk for babes, and strong meat for those
of riper years.
" 3. He purifies you ; He makes you holy. Your
hearts need cleansing, for evil thoughts and corrupt

126 The Rev. Charles Price:
passions nestle there. His blood cleanseth from all
sin. He takes away the guilt and also the love of
sin ; your friendship is shown to Him by keeping
His commandments.
" 4. He makes you happy. Oh, how He loves to
take away the causes of sorrow, and to hear from
children the song, Hosanna ! How He takes you
in His arms and blesses you, ' for of such is the
kingdom of heaven' — thus He makes you happy.
How He dries the widow's tears, and invites the
poor and heavy-laden with sins and sorrows to
come to Him for rest. He gives the happiness of
wisdom, of love, of holiness, of spiritual employ
ment, all of which prepare for the unspeakable
happiness of heaven. Dear children and friends,
read His letters, study His wondrous name, Jesus !
Accept His friendship in your hearts for ever.
What shall I tell Him, from this great meeting —
that 200 children and many people would give
Him their hearts ? This would be joyful news ;
the angels would sing a new song, perfected spirits
would rejoice, and you, dear children, would renew
your Hosannas to Jesus, the Children's Friend, who
' saves His people from their sins.' "
When he thus addressed his Sunday-schools
in 1881, they were amongst the most useful and
efficient organizations of the kind in Tasmania.
The Honourable James Aikenhead was superin
tendent of the principal school, and Mr. W.

His Life and Work. 127
Gurr of the branch school at Inveresk. Since
that time the former gentleman, in consequence of
impaired health, has retired from a work to which
he was warmly attached. Mr. Price has under
taken the superintendence of the school himself.
The number of scholars has slightly decreased, but
still the good work of imparting scriptural know
ledge to the young is vigorously carried on. There
is a Band of Hope in connection with the schools,
which meets monthly in the school-room. Time only
can tell how great will be the results of these and
similar institutions.

128 The Rev. Charles Price:

CHAPTER XL
April 3rd, 1882, was a red-letter day — nay,
rather a gold-lettev day, in Mr. and Mrs. Price's
life — we say life, for they were one spirit. This
was their wedding day — their golden wedding.
Only a few, in this transitory state, are per
mitted to journey together on life's stream for
fifty years. Fewer still have realized the blessings
of Christian fellowship during the whole of that
long period. None, we venture to say, were ever
more happy in their union than Mr. and Mrs. Price.
In support of this we have evidence in the diary
from which we have freely quoted, and might
further quote with pleasure to the writer and
profit to the reader. On 22nd September, 1877,
there is the following record : —
" Saturday evening. — Forty-five years ago, about
this hour, I rode for the first time into Laun
ceston. How changed is everything ! The people,
the colony, the circumstances — myself and mine.
What unnumbered mercies have been bestowed
upon me during those forty-five years. I cannot

Catharine Price.

L,Lanc/ litho. Melb.

His Life and Work. 129
express my thanksgiving to God for all His mercies.
I can only give myself and mine into His gracious
hands, with full confidence for the future. My
son a minister; my eldest daughter a minister's
wife; my dear partner spared; my youngest
daughter with us. 0, my soul, bless the Lord for
all His mercies. My Catharine Ann twenty-six
years in heaven !"
The golden wedding was celebrated by a social
gathering in the old school-room, at which the Rev.
W. and Mrs. Law, and many of Mr. and Mrs. Price's
friends, besides the members of the church, were
present. It is noted thus in the diary : —
" Our friends kept the day with us by a meeting*
in the evening. The room was decorated with
evergreens and various devices. An illuminated
address, most Christian and encouraging, with
every expression of goodwill from numerous
friends. Surely God hath been merciful to us all
through. Now I love the Lord, His work, His
people, and desire to live more for His glory.
0 Lord God, take me and mine — wife, children,
grandchildren, and great grandchildren, under Thy
care. May all live to Thy glory. Amen."
The address presented to Mr. and Mrs. Price by
Mr. D. Room, the senior deacon of the church,
with some well-chosen remarks, was as follows : —

130 The Rev. Charles Price:
"To the Rev. Charles Price,
" Minister of Tamar-street Congregational Church,
Launceston. " 3rd April, 1882.
"Rev. and Dear Sir, —
"On behalf of the members and friends of the
church over which you preside, it is our pleasing
duty on this occasion — the jubilee of your golden
wedding — to congratulate you on your attainment
to such a happy period of life.
" Very few indeed are, in the order of Providence,
permitted to retain the conjugal relation for half a
century — fewer still have been co-workers (as have
Mrs. Price and yourself) in the promotion of those
-virtues that adorn the family circle and exalt the
morals of a community. In precept and in practice
your united aim has ever been the advancement of
the Saviour's Kingdom; and around us — in the
Sabbath schools and other organizations — we see
the gratifying results. There is, therefore, great
cause for thankfulness that an occasion has been
afforded to review the past from such a pleasing
standpoint in your history.
" When we remember your long career of useful
ness in this town, which extends back to those early
days when there was not one white inhabitant
in the now great colonies of Victoria and South
Australia, with the prominent part you have taken
during that time in founding temperance, tract,

His Life and Work. 131
Christian instruction, and branch Bible societies—
in giving your time and talent in aid of the es
tablishment of the Mechanics' Hall and other local
institutions for the advancement of knowledge :
with your unflagging zeal, not only in the pulpit,
the prayer meeting, and the Sunday-school, but
also on the platform, with the noble and good of
other denominations, whenever the wants of the
community call forth united effort. When we
remember these things, we have much reason for
rejoicing in the relation — that of pastor and people
— which exists between us this day.
" Looking from the past to the present, we
further rejoice in the fact that your mental and
physical powers are unimpaired by the wear of
such a long and active life — that you are still
proclaiming the glad tidings you told of more
than fifty years ago — that every member of your
respected family is walking in your footsteps —
and that for many years the hand of Death has not
left you a vacant chair.
" With fervent prayer that the remaining years
upon earth of Mrs. Price, yourself, and family may
be a reflex of the past, we remain, yours in
Christian love,
"D. Room, x
"Wm. Gurr, |- Deacons."
" Thomas Ridge, J

132 The Rev. Charles Price:
On the 2nd September, 1832, Mr. Price first
preached in Hobart. In September, 1882 — fifty
years later — he received the following congratu
latory epistle from Melbourne : —
"To the Rev. Charles Price, Launceston.
"Melbourne, 27th September, 1882.
"Dear Brother in Chbist,
" The members of the Congregational Ministerial
Association of Victoria, having received intimation
that you have recently completed the fiftieth year
of your pastorate, beg to tender to you their very
sincere congratulations on the occurrence of this
happy event. They unite in hearty thanks to God,
their Father, in prolonging your days, and thereby
sparing you during so protracted a period to your
family and to the church over which His pro
vidence has placed you.
" They also congratulate you that the whole of
your career has been characterized by unbroken
usefulness, and that your reputation as a Christian
and as a minister has not only remained unsullied,
but has been associated with high honour during so
many years of active service.
"They further rejoice in the happiness you
enjoy in possessing a son in the ministry, who, in
his daily life, is illustrating the wisdom of your
early counsels and the influence of your Christian
example, and who, they trust, will, like yourself,

His Life and Work. 133
be spared unto a good old age to preach to his
fellow-men the unsearchable riches of Christ.
" While thanking God for the numerous tokens
of His favour vouchsafed to you in the past, with
sincere affection they commend you, your church,
and family to His care and blessing for the future,
breathing the earnest prayer that your last days
may in every respect prove to be the calmest and
best you have yet enjoyed ; and with assurances of
their deep ' respect and high esteem, they rejoice
in the pleasure they experience in thus trans
mitting to you this expression of their fraternal
regard. " Signed on behalf of the above-named Minis
terial Association, " E. T. Miles, Secretary."
The grandest event in Australasia in connection
with Congregationalism was the Australasian
Jubilee. It resolved itself into an Intercolonial
Conference, and was held in Pitt-street church,
Sydney, May 15th to 23rd, 1883. Mr. Price was
present on the occasion, in the enjoyment of ex
cellent health. More than fifty years before — on
the 13th day of February, 1833 — he had opened
the first Pitt-street chapel. There he stood again,
after the lapse of half a century, " the living " to
praise God for innumerable mercies, and prepared
to give an account of his stewardship from the clay

1 34 The Rev. Charles Price :
he first landed in Sydney, and was alone — the
only Independent minister on that great continent.
In 1883 there were 147 ministers of the denomi
nation in Australasia, not including Tasmania and
New Zealand.
The members of the Intercolonial Conference of
1883 consisted of about 250 representatives of
churches in the colonies of New South Wales,
Victoria, South Australia, West Australia, Queens
land, New Zealand, and Tasmania, and the follow
ing ministers : — New South Wales.
Pitt-street Church Rev. J. Jefferis, LL.B.
Newtown Rev. J. T. W. Davies, M.A.
Petersham - Rev. S. Savage.
Balmain - Rev. A. Gr. Fry.
Bourke-streef, Rev. T. Johnson.
Newcastle Rev. C. S. Y. Price.
Q-Uhe Rev. J. Rickard.
Redfern Rev. Gr. Campbell.
Burwood Rev. G. Gr. Howden.
Woollahra ( Point Piper J Rev. S. Bryant.
Waterloo Rev. E. Adams.
Woollahra ( Ocean-street ) Rev. P. Law.
North Shore Rev. W. C. Robinson.
Croydon Rev. W. Mathison, B.A.
Manly Rev. J. Olley.
Devonshire-street - Rev. Gr. Preston.
West Maiiland Rev. Gr. Heighway.
Campbelltoiun Rev. W. Fincham.
Hunter's Hill Rev. F. C. B. Fairey.
Marrickville - Rev. R. Dey.
Wollongong Rev. Gr. Charter.
Gulgong - Rev. J. Trevor.

His Life and Work.

135

Druitt Town
North Willoughby
Wallsend and Lambton
Windsor
Lambton f Welsh Church J
Gerringong Ulladulla

Rev. J. Dinning.
Rev. S. W. Asher.
Rev. P. Moses.
Rev. Walter Mathison.
Rev. E. Lewis.
Rev. W. Riding.
Rev. R. Wilson.

Personal Members. — Revs. S. Ella, T. S. Forsaith,
J. G. Fraser, M.A., R. T. Hills, A. W. Murray, C. Pittman,
G. Pratt, E. Robinson, W. Slatyer, M. Williams, B.A., W.
West, and J. P. Sunderland.

Victoria.
Carlton Rev.
Oxford-street, Collingwood Rev.
Lennox-street, Richmond Rev.
Cavlfield f Union J Rev.
Hawthorn - Rev.
Collins-street, Melbourne Rev.
Williamstown - Rev.
Emerald Hill Rev.
Albury (N.S. W.J - Rev.
Prahran Rev.
Ballarat - Rev.

W. Allen.
W. Bradley.
F. H. Browne.
E. Day.
A. Gosman.
D. J. Hamer.
J. J. Halley.
J. King.
J. Masters, M.A.
T. E. Owens Mell.
J. Walker.

South Australia.

Glenelg

Rev. C. Manthorpe.

Hindmarsh

- Rev. J. M'Ewin.

West Australia.

Fremantle

Rev. J. Johnston.

Queensland.

Brisbane

Rev. E. Griffith.

Ipswich

Rev. E. Greenwood.

South Brisbane

Rev. T. J. Pepper.

Toowoomba

Rev. J. T. Waraker.

Maryborough

Rev. J. Whiting.

136 The Rev. Charles Price:

New Zealand.

Oamaru

Rev. J. Foster.

Dunedin

- Rev. T. Roseby, M.A.,

LL.D.

Auckland

Rev. J. Robertson, M.A.

Wellington

- Rev. W. H. West, B.A.

Tasmania.

Huon District

Rev. J. M. Bayley.

Latrobe

Rev. J. Bennett.

Hobart

Rev. J. W. Simmons.

Richmond

Rev. D. B. Tinning.

Launceston

- Rev. Charles Price.

It must have been peculiarly gratifying to Mr.
Price to see himself surrounded by such a noble
army of co-workers in the cause he commenced
single-handed in Australia. It required, indeed,
a well-balanced mind to tone down the feelings
which such a happy transformation must have
excited, in a heart still burning with zeal for the
spread of the gospel and the salvation of souls.
He found the denomination whose interests he
had espoused in his youth, and for whose pros
perity he had prayed without ceasing, now magni
fied in the land, and he rejoiced in the contempla
tion of such a glorious result.
The Jubilee meetings were of a spiritual and
thoroughly practical character. They are fully
reported in a closely-printed octavo volume of 258
pages, published by Lee and Ross, Sydney. Every
person interested in the progress of Congrega-

His Life and Work. 137
tionalism should possess a copy of this valuable
record, which not only contains a history of Con
gregationalism in each colony, but also illustrates
its power, talent, and vitality. Mr. Price received
special honour and notice on this interesting occa
sion. Many of the young ministers who expected
to see their venerable father bowed down with the
weight of years — feeble and infirm from so long
a pilgrimage on earth — were surprised when they
observed his erect figure, his active step, his
clear, unbroken voice, his vigorous mind. He
preached the Jubilee sermon in Pitt-street church,
took an active part in the meetings, and was
honoured in a marked degree as the father of
Congregationalism in Australia. He forms the
central figure in a group, photographed when about
2,500 ministers and delegates were indulging in a
picnic in celebration of the Jubilee.
The most practical result of the Jubilee, in a
pecuniary sense, was the raising of a fund to pay
all the debts upon the Congregational churches in
New South Wales. At that time the sum of
£130,000 had been expended in the colony, of which
£23,000 remained as a debt. More than £34,000
have been received for this fund ; it is hoped the
total receipts will be £40,000.
There is only one more incident to record. While
Mr. Price was at the Sydney Jubilee Conference,
his son-in-law, the Rev. W. A. Whitney, Baptist

138 The Rev. Charles Price :
minister of Castlemaine, occupied the Tamar-
street pulpit. He suggested that in addition to a
Jubilee fund, which had been subscribed to by the
members of the church and congregation, as well
as other friends in Launceston, for the purpose of
repairing and improving the chapel, a golden offer
ing should be made by the congregation at the
morning and evening services on the 12th August,
1883. This was responded to in a most liberal man
ner. The chapel and minister's residence were roofed
with iron, all necessary repairs and alterations to
the chapel and fences were executed. The church
property is in excellent order, and out of debt. The
pastor continues his Sunday and week-evening
services with unabated zeal, and he is also present,
morning and afternoon, as superintendent of the
Sunday-school. The attendance at public worship
has been sensibly reduced during the last year or
two, owing to many deaths, constant removals to
a distance, and other causes. Under the careful
management of Mr. Daniel Room and Mr. William
Gurr, who have been deacons for thirty -two years
and about twenty-five years respectively, the tem
poral affairs of the church are attended to with
fidelity and devotion.
The 23rd day of October, 1886, will be the
fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the church.
It is intended (D.V.) to commemorate the occasion
in a suitable manner.

His Life and Work. 139
The Rev. Charles Price has been in active
service longer than most ministers in the Southern
Hemisphere. He is still one of the most punc
tual attendants at all general religious services of
the churches and philanthropic societies.
Before closing our narrative of the Rev. Charles
Price's life and work, it would be well to take a
glance at the wonderful changes which have taken
place in the world since he left his native country
in 1832. . At that time, even in England, the
restraints on both civil and religious liberty were
considerable. The Established Church was domi
nant by means of legislative enactments, which
gave her great power over all who dissented from
her forms and doctrines. All in the United King
dom, including the Irish Catholics, had to pay
tithes in order to support the establishment. It
was only three years before Mr. Price left England
that Roman Catholics were permitted to take
their seats in Parliament ; nor were they allowed
to hold any corporate or municipal office. Re
forms followed in quick succession, until at length
the Established Church was wholly abolished in
Ireland, and in all parts of the British empire
the Roman Catholics enjoyed both civil and
religious freedom. So great has been the change,
that now, over nearly the whole of Her Majesty's
wide dominions, except England and Wales, there
is no State church. In constitutional government

140 The Rev. Charles Price :
there have been similar reforms during the last
half-century. Had they existed when England
lost her American colonies, that magnificent terri
tory would, doubtless, now be one of the richest
jewels in the British crown.
During the same period England has, by her
wise policy, and the indomitable energy of the
Anglo-Saxon race, gained more territory than she
lost in 1776. In January, 1877, Queen Victoria
was proclaimed Empress of India. British India
contained at that time nearly two hundred millions
of inhabitants, occupying an area of nearly one
hundred millions of square miles. By the accession
of Burmah these numbers in population and area
are considerably increased. Although the Indian
provinces are not to be regarded as British colonies,
yet the mighty power of England has extended
over the length and breadth of the land. Under
the sovereignty of Queen Victoria there have been
great and increasing changes, tending to enlighten
and Christianize the inhabitants. Fanaticism is
curbed by the ruling power only when it in
dulges in such excesses as the burning of widows,
human sacrifices, &c. Since 1859, government
schools have been opened for the instruction of all
classes of the Indian people. There are directors
of education and inspectors of schools in each
province. Normal schools for the training of
teachers have also been established, and attempts

His Life and Work. 141
are being made to extend education to females.
There are about 70,000 government and private
schools and colleges, giving instruction to nearly
two millions of pupils. Knowledge is imparted to
the people through their own language, but the
teaching of English is combined with careful atten
tion to the study of the native languages. Thus,
during the reign of Queen Victoria, the highway of
knowledge has been opened to the teeming masses
of India, which will slowly but surely lead to the
total subversion of false religions, and to the
general acceptance of the inspired truths of the
gospel of salvation.
In addition to the wonderful changes which have
taken place in India, the British Empire has
steadily advanced in other parts of the world.
Since Mr. Price first came to Launceston the fine
colonies of South Australia, Victoria, Queensland,
New Zealand, Natal, and Fiji have been founded,
and British supremacy has been established at Hong
Kong, the Falkland Islands, Labuan (a valuable
island of the Malayan Archipelago), Aden, a portion
of New Guinea, and an island lying north of China,
of which Port Hamilton is an important naval
station. These results of half a century supply a forecast
of the future. They have been a mighty stride
towards the fulfilment of that glorious consum
mation when all nations shall be brought to a

142 The Rev. Charles Price:
knowledge of the true God — when the light of the
gospel shall shine forth
"Till, like a sea of glory,
It spreads from pole to pole."
The advance of the arts and sciences during the
same period has been truly marvellous. When Mr.
Price left England railways were almost unknown
in the world. About twenty miles of the first
railway for public traffic had been constructed,
and trains ran between Liverpool and Preston;
thus commenced the first of the great railway
systems of the present day. The electric tele
graph had not been brought into use ; letters
were carried at a slow pace, on bad roads, and
a heavy charge, according to distance, was made
on the persons to whom they were addressed;
the system of pre-payment by means of adhesive
stamps having come into use at a later date.
Paddle steamboats, of small size only, had been
employed in the coasting trade, and in crossing the
channels between England and the adjacent coun
tries ; it was not until 1838 that a steamship ven
tured across the Atlantic to America. Photography
— that valuable art of producing almost instanta
neously the most faithful portraits — is a discovery
long within the last half-century. Gas had not
begun to be generally used ; the kerosene lamp
was unknown. What factors to the comfort and

His Life and Work. 143
convenience of mankind are all these modern
inventions ! What a change has come over the
world in education, locomotion, social comfort,
periodical literature, civil and religious liberty,
freedom of thought, and fearless criticism !
But in all this change and general advance of
culture, the necessity remains for a faithful and
scholarly proclamation of the gospel of redemption;
the subject of our memoir has been engaged in this
glorious work for upwards of sixty years.
New gems may reveal themselves in the Scrip
tures ; new light may break forth from heaven,
but the " everlasting gospel " abideth. " Heaven
and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not
pass away."
" Eternal hope ! when yonder spheres sublime
Peal'd their first notes to sound the march of Time,
Thy joyous youth began — but not to fade.
When all the sister planets have decayed —
When wrapt in fire the realms of ether glow,
And Heaven's last thunder shakes the world below —
Thou, undismay'd, shalt o'er the ruins smile,
And light thy torch at Nature's funeral pile."

GEORGE ROBERTSON AND CO.
MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ADELAIDE
AND BRISBANE

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