Reverend Robert Steel papers

MLMSS 12008
R 2406

fonds

1842-1899

Textual Records, Ephemera, Objects

1009039

0.76 metres of textual materials (1 box, 1 outsize box)
2 plaques - 6cm x 3cm - steel, engraved

Robert Steel (1827-1893) was born in Wales in 1827. He was educated at the Ayr Academy and Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities, and in 1851, was licenced to preach by the Church Presbytery of Irvine. During the next eight years he was transferred to various ministries including Millport, Salford and Cheltenham. In 1861, Steel was appointed to the pastorate of St. Stephen’s, the Free Church in Macquarie Street, Sydney arriving there in 1862. Subsequently he played a leading part in promoting the union of Presbyterian churches of New South Wales and was elected Moderator of the third General Assembly in 1867. He was actively interested in the establishment of St. Andrew’s College, University of Sydney, and was a foundation lecturer when the Presbyterian faculty of theology was established in 1873. That year, Steel and his congregation moved to the larger stone church in Phillip Street which became the new St. Stephen’s. In 1869 he had been adjudged guilty of contempt of court for having published a letter from a missionary exposing the evils of the Polynesian labour traffic, which it turned out had reference to the proceedings against Captain Albert Ross Hovell of the Young Australian vessel, who was awaiting trial for the murder of kidnapped South Sea Islanders. The Chief Justice, Sir Alfred Stephen, dissented from the decision, and Steel was the subject of much popular sympathy evidenced by addresses and presentations. Steel died at his residence in St Leonards in 1893.

Source: File and collection material

Box 1

Folder 1

Testimonials, certificates (1845-1862)

Testimonial letter to Robert Steel by David Thomson, Edinburgh 27 March 1847

Letter of good character for Robert Steel by Janet Macdonald, 2 November 1847

Testimonial letter for Robert Steel, Aberdeen, March 1847

Testimonial letter for Robert Steel by Reverend William Mackray, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, 4 November 1847

Letter 16 December 1852 [Mostly illegible]

Testimonial letter for Robert Steel as a student in Divinity with the Free Church congregation at Irvine, Scotland by David Landsborough, Saltcoats, 8 November 1849

Testimonial letter for Robert Steel by David Wilson, Presbytery Clerk, Stewarton, 13 May 1852

Extract from the Record of the Records of the Presbytery of Birmingham by George Lewis, at Cheltenham, 23 January 1862

Certificate in Natural Philosophy for Robert Steel from King’s College, Aberdeen by David Thomson,
Professor of Natural Philosophy, 27 March 1847

Letter denoting Certificate of Mathematics for Robert Steel from King’s College, Aberdeen by John Tulloch, Professor of Mathematics, 15 October 1846

Letter denoting Certificate of Systematic Theology for Robert Steel from New College, Edinburgh by James Buckman, 2 April 1850

Certificate of Exegetical Theology for Robert Steel from New College, Edinburgh by Alexander Black, Professor of Exegetical Theology, 18 May 1850

Presbyterial Certificate for Robert Steel’s admittance to Divinity Hall, Free Presbytery, Aberdeen by Alexander Spencer, Clerk of the Free Presbytery, 26 October 1846

Unsigned letter titled ‘Worldly Doctor’ for Robert Steel with attached sworn and signed letter in Latin accepting the title of Doctor by Robertus Steel, at Cheltenham, October 1861

Presbyterial Certificate for Robert Steel to enter the second year of his course by William Moffat, Free Presbytery of Strathbogie, 13 October 1847

Presbyterial Certificate for Robert Steel to enter the third year of his course by David Wilson, Free Presbytery of Fullarton Irvine, 2 November 1848

Presbyterial Certificate for Robert Steel to enter the fourth year of his course by David Wilson, Free Presbytery of Irvine, 25 September 1849

Certificate of Robert Steel’s satisfactory progress in Greek, King’s College, Aberdeen, 27 March 1846

Testimonial letter for Robert Steel for conducting the summer school at Ochiltree by Joseph Patrick, Minister of the Fee Church, 4 November 1846

Matriculation certificate for Robert Steel in junior Greek in 1843-1844 and senior Greek in 1844-1845 at University and King’s College, by Librarian George Dickie, 27 March 1846

Testimonial letter for Robert Steel as a Catechist in communion with the Free Church station at Irvine, Scotland by David Landsborough, Saltcoats, 22 December 1848

Certificate of Chemistry for Robert Steel from King’s College, Aberdeen by Andrew Fyfe, March 1847

Certificate for Robert Steel as Communicant in communion with the Free Church congregation of Cumnock by Ninian Bannatyne, 27 March 1845

Certificate of Hebrew for Robert Steel from New College, Edinburgh by Chairman of Hebrew and Old testament, John Duncan, 2 April 1850

Certificate of Moral Philosophy for Robert Steel from New College, Edinburgh by Patrick MacDougall, 8 April 1847

Testimonial letter for Robert Steel by David Hoff, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries, 10 February 1845

Certificate of Church History for Robert Steel by William Cunningham, New College, Edinburgh, 20 April 1850

Matriculation certificate in Humanities for Robert Steel by George Dickie, Librarian, King’s College Aberdeen, 16 October 1846

Certificate of Logic and Metaphysics by Alexander Fraser, Professor of Logic and Metaphysics, New College, Edinburgh, 5 April 1847 for Robert Steel

Extract of Licence from the records of the Free Presbytery of Irvine for Robert Steel by David Wilson, Presbytery Clerk, 28 January 1851

Extract from the records of the Colonial Committee of the Free Church of Scotland Commission and Presbytery Certificate for Robert Steel signed by James Walker, Committee Clerk, at Edinburgh, 17 December 1861

Manuscript copies of testimonials for Robert Steel by George Dickie 27 March 1846, John Tulloch 15 October 1846, David Thomson 27 March 1847, Andrew Fyfe, March 1847 and Alexander Black, Professor of Exegetical Theology, 18 May 1850, Robert J Brown, Professor of Greek, Marischal College, 16 March 1947, Patrick MacDougall, 8 April 1847, James Buchanan, 2 April 1850, John Duncan, 2 April 1850, William Cunningham, 2 April 1850

Folder 2

Ephemera, printed material (1842-1899)

‘The Pre-Millennial Advent of Christ, and a Literal First resurrection’ by the Rev. James B. Laughton, Sydney, 1875 (2 copies)
‘Household Baptism: Its Privileges and Obligations’ by the Rev. Robert Steel, Sydney, 1875 (2 copies)

Ayr Academy certificates of Approbation, admission cards to University and King’s College, Aberdeen
New College admittance cards, 1942-1950

‘A Parting Address to the Protestant boys of HMNSS Vernon’ by Robert Steel, Sydney 1876

Prayer card ‘Gideon’s Fleece’

Rule book, Sydney University, 1874
‘The Children’s Mission Vessel: A rhyme for Sabbath Scholars of the Presbyterian Churches supporting the New Hebrides Mission’ by the Rev. Robert Steel, D.D., PhD, Sydney, 1874
St Stephen’s Church Jubilee: Fifty Years’ Work for Christ’, 1899

Box 2X

Certificates, petitions (1859-1880)

Certificate of support from the congregation of St Stephens Presbyterian Church, Macquarie Street for Reverend Robert Steel in response to the judicial reprimand from the Supreme Court with respect to the murder trial of Captain Albert Ross Hovell of the Young Australian vessel, 27 July 1869

Certificate of support, signed by John Hay on behalf of the attendees of a public meeting held in support of Reverend Robert Steel in light of the judicial reprimand from the Supreme Court with respect to the murder trial of Captain Albert Ross Hovell of the Young Australian vessel, 8 July 1869

Certificate of gratitude of the ministers of several non-conformist congregations in Cheltenham, England for The Reverend Robert Steel. Signed by William Garrett Lewis (1821–1885), Leonard James Walker, A. Morton Brown, Benjamin Waddy, Benjamin Smith

Certificate (in Latin) Honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Lafayette College, Pennsylvania, USA for Rev. Robertus Steel, 7 October 1872

Certificate of Farewell to The Reverend Robert Steel from the Executive Council of the United Kingdom Alliance signed by Chairman and Mayor of Salford, William Harvey, Honorary Secretary Samuel Pope, and Secretary Thomas Barker, 12 January 1859

Certificate (In English and Chinese) acknowledging the conversion of Chinese members of the Sydney community by the Rev. Robert Steel, signed by George Ah Len (missionary), Peter Ah See, George Ach Goon, Thomas Steel Taosching, Ah Shoon, James Ah Lett, George Chung, Young Choy, Bea Yooy, George Geen Sing, 21 March 1880

Certificate for degree of Doctor of Philosophy from University of Gottingen, 1861

Petition of the congregation of the Presbyterian Church, Cheltenham to the Rev. A. McLean for Rev. Robert Steel to be their Pastor, 1858

Petition of the congregation, communicants and adherents of the Presbyterian Church, Cheltenham to the Rev. Robert Steel to be their Pastor, 20 November 1858

Petition of the Elders, Deacons, members and adherents of the Free Church, Cumbrae to the Rev. Robert Steel to be their Pastor, 15 November 1852

Petition of the members and adherents of the Free Church, residing in Cumbrae the Reverend, the Presbytery of Greenock asking that the Rev. Robert Steel not be transferred from Millport to Salford

Realia

2 small metal plaques, 1862, 1893 (R 2406)

English, Latin

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Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder