IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V] <^ //, /a '^1 - ",7 7 >i^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 If? 1^0 Photographic Sciences Corporation M 2.0 U 11.6 73 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 Ua % >. " (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grdce d la g6n6rosit6 de: Harold Campbell Vaughan Memorial Library Acadia University Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nuttetd de l'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprim6e sont filmds en commengant par ie premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont fiim6s en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboies suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfxhe, selon le cas: le symbole — »► signifie "A 3UIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, ta^ I I mv.M^M"^ "Smsm/SAMM 1 JlHlLFJ- ShrVICHS mi. It IN ion rhuvdvJHoutvcal, I" '"KLEBRATK THE 60th ANNIVERSARY <'I' TIIK MIXISTERIM. Work Or Rev. Henry Wilkes, /).D..ll./j. " M\i\) J0J3 bringing ])\5 sfjcabcs luiili in Ml. i MONTREAL: PRIXTKI) nv 1 HI, lirRI.AND-DKSlt.AkATS MTHOriRAPIII, ' ,.(). 1^78. '!'» i. HI'- amuversuiy, the celebration of which thi^ jiaiuphk't simply iihokU, is one in which few pastors or con^rej^ations arc aHowcd to shaio. 'I"o the Church, of which Dr. Wilkes has so joii^ heen'an ornament and a defence, it has naturally been an occasion of solemn and thankful rejoicing. That it was regarded with sympathetic interest by other communions and by the community at large is sulficiently evidenced by the recognition of the venerable Doctor's services, as a pastor and a citi/en, which it has evoked so generally from the Canadian jires.-.. These varied testimonials to his worth and work it has hcen thought well to append in a condensed form. Altogether apart from any personal references, the pamphlet, including the sermon of Dr. Wilkes, has no slight value to the general reader as i)re- senting, in a pleasant form, an important chapter in Canadian religious and social history. The likeness, recently taken, will be duly appreciated l)y the numerous friends of Dr. Wilkes, and will serve as an interesting memorial of the occasion. % NXiviiRSAKV si:rvi(^i-:s. X Sunda}' niorni n ^->» tlic I nh October, 1878, Zimi Church, Montreal, was filled b}' a ver\' larj^e and influen- tial congrej^ation to assist and take part in the " Jubik-e Service" of the late p.istor of the church, tiie Rev. flein-y Wilkes, D.D., LL.D. The love aiui affection which the cono-rci^ation bear for their a^^^ed pastor was exeni|)liried in many ways. There were to be seen in all parts of the church the snow-white locks of men and women, who for over fortv^ \'ears hatl been cheered in their battle with the world by the kind advice of Dr. Wilkes which was always at their command. Beside them -^ it their children and their ^grandchildren ; all there to cio honour to (jod's servant. His love and anxiety lor the welfare of his flock, and especially of the youni;-, were proverbial. None went to him in trouble that did not come awa\' calm, and with renewetl strength to face their difficulties. The church was richly and handsomel)' decorated for the occasion. Runnini^ aloni; the origan gallery was a wreath of choice tlowers intertwined with the delicate maiden hair fern and smilax, while four vases filled with lilies, roses, etc., were placed on the gallery in front of the choir. In the recess in rear of the pulpit was a beautiful scroll, with the appropriate motto, " IVit/i joy, bringing his sheaves with him,'' in red letters on a white ground. The pulpit, reading-desk, etc., were also decorated with lilies, roses, fuchias, ferns, smilax and cedar, the whole forming a chaste and pleasing appearance, and an affectionate tribute of love to their revered honorary pastor. At eleven o'clock the Rev. Dr. Wilkes entered the Church accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Bray, the present pastor, and Rev. Mr. Forster, of Talvary Church. The Rev. Mr. Forster opened the service by announc- ing the 644th hymn — " God my support and hope, My help for ever near, Thine arm of mercy held me up When sinking in despair." After prayer by Mr. Forster, the 832nd hymn was sung — ** His work my hoary age shall bless. When youthful vigor is no more ; And my last hour of life confess His dying love, His saving power." The 103rd Psalm was impressively read by Mr. Forster, and after the singing of the Anthem, Te Deicm Lan- damus, the Rev. Mr. Bray engaged in prayer, drawing a picture of our fast disappearing summer and the coming winter with its whiteness, adapting it to the occasion of the aged pastor, whose summer was on the wane, but who in the natural course of events would live in eternal sunshine, for he had earned well the reward of long and profitable labour among his fellow-men. The 477th hymn was next sung, the different parts of the excellent choir blending together in an effective ex- position of the beautiful words — " I give immortal prnisc 'I'o God the Father's love, For all my comforts here, And better hopes above." The Organist, Dr. Maclagan, then played a most ap- propriate and brilliant voluntary, after which Dr. Wilkes proceeded to preach the following sermon. ^ter, of fro ("h lo l)rc StiK )\ I .ml III 10 nt of lie 'OS lis. 111 unli a.le lion. lU ri 10 preaching ministry was more continuous than I should l)e dis- posed to ])ermit to one of my students of the present day. A fortnight after the first sermon, tliere were two prea':lied at Kil- marnock ; the next fortnight, twice at l.rirkhali : the following Sunday, at Camhuslang ; a month afterwards, twice at Hamilton ; in January, twice at Hellensburgh : a fortnight after, twice at (ireenock ; then follow, i)rior to the 17th May, the names of Alloa, Ayr and Dunfermline as places 0(' ministry tor a day. Several of these places were supi)lied more than once. The midsummer of 1829 was sjjent in Ireland, in comi)any with an Irish Deacon, of one of your churches in Scotland, who was in the habit of taking with him every year a })reacher to minister amor.g the ])eoi)le of his nalixe land. Sunday and during the week he made arrangements, and I jireached at Ik'lfast, then at Tx)n(londerr\'. and then in !iamlets. or in the oi^en fieMs around the last mentioned city. It was a most encouraging service. It wouid he of little interest to vou were I further to recount the details of this form of ministerial work during the years 1830 and 7 8^^ I. the summers of both of which years were spent in Kngland. and thai of the last of them iti efforts for the good of Canada. The resuhs of those efforts were the obtaining the services of the late Rex. Richard Miles, who formed this church, and was the hrsl |)astor: and also ac(|uiring the ruicleus of our jjresent College Library. The precise scheme for the training of godly young men of promise ff)r the Christian Ministry, which was then devised and partly executed, ultimately fell through, but the books remain, and the memory of the kindness and co- operation of such men as Dr. |. Pye Smyth and others, then in prominent positions and active service, still lives. In connec- tion with the Educational plans just noted were others of an evangelistic and missionary character to be conducted on a r I our ning nich ( ;uh()li( l);isis. and these coinbined led to ni\ s|)en(liiig the sum inerof i8^^2 in Canada in active ministerial work. I'rior to leaving Glasgow for this ])ort in the good brig "Favorite," ('aj)t. James Allan. I was solenmly set ajjart and ordained to the .\[inistry with a])i)roi)riate services in Dr. \\'ardslaw\ Church. West (ieorge Street. 'Hie Sundays ot' a voyage of five weeks were cheered and im])'-oved by Divine Service on the (ley. for the .Sunday .S( jiooj and week night ser\ i< es. the entire basement, to erei t a \estry tor a re tiring room tor the minister and for n Bible ('lass, and ilun to ere< t galleries, therein' increasing the ar( ommodation. huring this latter process we united in services with our friends ot" the .American Presbyterian Chun'h. and their then pastor. Rev. Caleb Strong. With that Churc h wc have always had the most friendly relations, as also w ith th;)t so long under the care of the late Rev. Dr. I'aylor. Indeed we have had much kindlv, fraternal intercourse with most of the IVotestnnt churches whose arrangements permitted suhnth llitjir 19 • rcdii. were inaii\ who fiivurcd the neijalive tlieology. I shall ever bless God for tlie result. Many waverers were assured ; and there followed the turning to the Lord of not a few who had heen halting between two opinions. 1 am not favorable to rushing at all times into controversy, for it often distracts the mind with- out any corresipnding benefit. Hut there are occasions when it is our duty to stand for the defence of the (losi)el, and 1 have e\er thought that this was one of them. During all this j)er()d 1 was Secretary to our Auxiliary Bible vSociety. and from 1839 an active j)r()moter and officer of the French Canadian Mission- ary Societx'. It \\;ts mv custom to make an annual visit to our newly-planted churches in the Eastern 'Jownshi])s. Aud al^o north-west of the city. As I drove my own sleigh and went alone. I had some rough exjierience amid our severe winter storms. During several weeks of one summer I was engaged, at the instance of the .Mission, in visiting Nova Scotia and New Bruns- wick ; looking after our lonely churches there, and ma king arrange- ments for ihe occupancNof new fields. At St. (ohn I preached in churches of several (huiomipations. and was received with remark- able kindness by, in some instances, crowded congregations. It should also be noted as a feature of the times amongst us. thai the Mercantile Library .Association and the Mechanics' institute came into existence, the first mentioned largel) through the energy of the late Hon. John Voung. Lectures then began to be desired : and I i)repared and delivered free r)f any < harge fjuitc out these days the (|uestion of our Colleges came up for adjustment, and we held public meetings in advocacy of a liberal, non-denominational policy in their management. An amended charter was obtained for McCiill securing this end. and the University of 'I'oronto was |)laced on a similar basis. Our annual meetings of Bible, 'J'ract, and Sunday School Societies were wont to be held at different jjeriods of the year as their committees might determine. It fell to my lot to suggest an anniversary week, which has been the course for nearly all the years since the erection of the large Methodist Church on St. fames Street. Our Orphan Asylum, Ladies' Benevtjlent Society, and other charities demanded and obtained such heljj as one could afford in the advocacy of their claims. 'I'he late Dr. Bethune, Mr. Esson and myself, with a number of lay gentlemen, inaugurated the High School, the clerical jjortion of the originators retiring from a prominent position from motives of expediency having relation to the wel- fare of the institution. Several ladies' educational institutions which have jiroved a great blessing to our city have received such attention and help as it was possible to afford them. Quite a large portion of the successive pupils in two of them attended my ministry regularly, constituting a very intelligent part of my audience. Students in the School of Medicine and other students were among my hearers. I have met in my journeyings with several of them in full practice, whose remini- scences were pleasant to them and encouraging to me. The Ministerial Association of Montreal originated with five of us, of whom 1 am the only survivor; it was formed al)0Ut 1837 ^^ 1838, and yet continues in existence. I have only further to say in regard to some of these movements, which were in their nature rather for the general benefit of so( iet> than strictly sa yel in I h( f^ 21 rn\' Irnini- Thc r us, 157 ^'^ er to their rictly religious, that I have always had and rt-tain the coiu'icton tliat the true minister of Christ i>. only in his place when he is advo eating and jjromoting the general good. He is a tVietid and helper in every good work. 'I'iie twenty-five years in /ion (Jluirt h were of tiie sanu- general nature as the ten ye:'rs already described. The chunh and congregation grew in numbers, in intelligenc «.■ and in intluence. 1 sup[jose it will be admitted that they became a very great power in the community, and that their inrtuence extended for good far and wide. Hut the first ten years were very trying financially. Hie change in the com mercial policy of the Mother Country necessarily affecting crlonial interests which had sprung up under the former system. f)roduced much distress and disaster in this conmiercial centre. 'I'he ground on which this building had been erected was not paid for, and was, after five years, now becoming due, and this amid great commercial dejjression. I went to England with my tale of difficult) and distress, having the full sanction of tin- Colonial Missionary Society. Oh. it was hard work, for 1 hated to ask any one for money. Bui they allowed me to tell my story in their puli)its. and they read my printed aij[)eal, and I moved among them, often weary, and heart as well as footsore, and as the result of the six months' toil, I brought with me ^i ,ooo sterling, and paid for the land which, indeed, had been pur- chased in my name. Hut there was still a heavy incubus of debt which was not lifted off for some years, and which ne( es sarily affected unfavourably ministerial stipend. hor fifteen vears I received coiisiderably less than m-- ministerial brethren in the city of the same standing. But I neither starved nor did I incur debt ; hence have no complaint to make. My people l)egan of their own accord to increase the inadequate stipend as k 22 thf finiinccs of \hv ( luirch enabled thcMn so to do. Thi.s was dune spontaneously and several times, until at length it became an average amount — paid, let me say to their credit, always punt tually. A sketch of my ministry in Montreal should contain an allu- sion lo a practice continued for many years of cultivating most friendly and fralrrnal relations with Christian brethren in the [inited Stales. ( Mi three occasions I was honoured b\ calls to address at College commencements certain of their theolo- g".al or literary societies- -i )armouth College in 1S47. University of X'ermont in 1S50. Middlebury College in [860. l)Ut apart from these invited occasions. I have attended fre(juently the meetings of State Associations, the Annual Meetings of the American Hoard for Foreign Missions, and other anniversar\' services, besides preaching for my brethren in [Boston, Portland. Hartford. New Vork, Ikooklyn and other [)laces. 'I'he time was when the |)resent conhal feeling did not exist between the (Canadian and American i)eople of the United States : I deemed it alike a duty and a privilege to do all in my j)Ower to promote that which has since become a joy to us on both sides tlie boimdary line. In the year 1862 leave of absence for five or six months was granted me. and a i)urse to aid in defraying expenses was put into my hand, that with my eldest daughter 1 might visit iMigland and the Continent. These months were thoroughl\ occupied in a most enjoyable manner. .Scenes of nature and of art were i)hotographed on the memory, and in the autumn pastoral work was resinned with fresh impulse and energ\. That I have always understood to mean, primarily, preaching .tnd teaching in the best manner possible to one. How can that be done witli anything like freshness and power among \v> hi an 25 tlu' same people for a period of thirty-five years? Well, first, they do not really continue to be the same i)eoi)le. The child- ren grow to be men and women, and the middle-aged l)c< ome aged. Many remove, and in a city likr this many are con- tinually arriving. But, second, the Bible is a wonderful book, affording endless variety of the most interesting and instructive teachings. I have r,6oo MSS.. for the most part discourse^, written out, but hardly ever delivered just as they were written. There are biographical sketches from our first })arents down U) Mo.ses. The parables and miracles of our 1 -ord were examined for purj)oses of instruction, and so the life and labours of the Apostle Paul. The Epi.stles of Peter, the first Epistle of |(jhn, two chapters in Isaiah, the whole Epistle to the Hebrews were expounded and their lessons enforced. These ire but a sample — there was much else after the same mannei. Current e\enl> were used for illustration and instruction. 1 was not elocjuenl ; indeed, from a mistaken dread lest 1 should be found i)reaching myself rather than Christ, I have never done my very best in elaborating a discourse — hardly ever having written one twice. 1 do not commend this. We ought to produce the very best we can, now and again, and yet do it not for our own credit and distinction, but for the glory of our Master. \'et, I do not repent my one pre^^ailing desire for usefulnes:, in my preaching ; that 1 commend to all. And now, thirdly, the Godward of truth lias been made prominent in my ministry. There is a humanitarianism in the pulj)it sometimes which grievously sins by omission. I believe in man's communion with (lod, as well as in the communion of saints. We may not without great and fatal loss neglect the claims of God. He, great, glorious, and blessed — TTe must ])e magnified and adored if w(^ are to be good practical Christians. Vou ma\ dilate i)U the beaut) (;f 24 virtue, \()U may insist on a manly and honorahk' course ol life, vou may fling scorn and contempt on the little, the mean, the wrong, dwelling thus on the human, the manward side of truth, and you may do some good and avert some evil : but. if you would transform men into lovers of truth and righteousness, lovers of one another in Christ, if you would raise them out of themselves and u]) to that character to which it is the great j)ur|K)se oi' the (los])el to bring them, you must draw them into personal contact with the ev.T-blessed (xod in Christ jesus our Lord ; they must come to the ("rosb of the Redeemer, look up to Him in faith, trust and consecration, and thus live I if we keep our j)eoj)le at the nether springs, not only will they lack the kind of water they need, l)ut the springs themselves will become dry to them. 'I'he upper springs feed the lower, take them up to the higher plane. 1 have had to fight many a battle against what [ re- garded as exaggerations and errors in the faith called Orthodox, and have insisted on dealing with difficult questions with com- mon sense, but the grand old verities themselves stand fast as the throne of God ! 1 have seen them work marvels on men and women — marvels of grace. — Pastoral Work — I understand it to include, " Watching for souls as they who must give account," and this necessarily demands no little personal inter- course. I have sometimes thought that more benefit was con- ferred on many of my hearers by such private ministration than by pulpit utterances. My habit was to have an hour or more three times a week in my vestry, assigned to this kind of service. Inquirers, {)ersons spiritually in peri)lexity, and those in sorrow and those in doubt were wont to come to me with their ques- tions, their doubts, their trials, and receive pastoral counsel and instruction. Our churches throughout the country having in- creased in number, involving augmented labour on my part in 1 .1 ) - - ■> corrcspoiuk-ncf and (jlhcrwise, my cngagcmciUs and jjulpit ])rcpnrati()n j)rcrludcd ninrh or frequent visiting except in cases of sickness ; l)iit this access to myself at stated and known liours siii)i)lied some of the want. I have great reason to begrateful for no inconsiticral'e success. \'er\niany luive been I jd to embrace the Saviour in His blessed person and work as all in all to them. Very many ha\e encouraged me by declarmg their indebtedness to this Mim'stry under (iod for great comfort and strength in the trials and battles of life, and others for mental and s])iritua] training in the school of Christ. To Him who helped me and blessed my work be all the praise. I would that more had been done in the way of self-improvement, and that I had used to much greater extent the power of the press. Let my younger brethren take note of this regret and foster by their every effort a healthy literature. Let them cult i\ ate the talent and use it well. Our Dt'iioniiiidf ioiKil Me(ame merely pastor eiucritiis. T need not si)eak of my subse(iueiu ministry during the last seven years : it has included no httle preaching both in Canada and England, where six months of 1874 were spent; but its main effort has been to bring to be. 11 v> 26 upon lliL- ycjiiiig men wlioarc [)iviiariiiL; to enter upon llicir^re;it and ini|)()rtant work whatever of acquirement and of e\])crien(e 1 may have obtained by (iod's goodness (ku'ing tliis long min- istry. And now what shall he the conclusion of this imperfect review of a ministry extending over half a centur\ ? Before the I,or(l I how with humility, because of nuu h short-coming and imperfection, and 1 lift up m\ heart with thanksgivings f(jr unnumbered favours. Whatever planting and sowing i may have done it was He that gave the increase. IJefore my fellow-man I bear testimony that self-denial and self- sacrifice in (iod's service become in one's hand a cup of joy and blessing. The choice made fifty years ago is vindi- cated by the issue. Wealth was not chose*-, and it did not come, and sometimes comparative poverty was for the time inconv*enient. J)Ut usefulness to one's fellow-man was chosen, and througli (iod's goodness it did come aljundantly. One cxceedingl}' rejoices not to have lived in vain. One is thankful beyond measure that the ministry has left its impress for good on a great multitude of people here and elsewhere. There is a spiritual force that descends from one gereration to another, so that we being dead in due time, yet speak. I ha\ e loved this work of ministry in all its parts with a sort of passionate fond- ness, notwithstanding its trials and disappointments, and to-day 1 lemember with gratitude, homage and joy, the years of the right hand of the Most High. ti - rh •XiB I Biographical sKinrii. I HK Rc\'. Dr. Wilkes has been spcciallx' idciUifucl with the religious h..^tor}- of the city of Montreal, and indeed with that of the countr\' generally. In the suniii.er of 1820. the faniilv of which he was the eldest son arrived in Upper Canada, from l^irmini^ham, Enj^land, u lu-re he was born in 1805, and entered into business in Montreal in 1822, first as a clerk, and then as a partner, till 1828. In the summer of that year, he proceeded to (jlas^Dw, Scotland, with tlu^ intention of pursuini^ a course of study for the ministry. P^e became connected with the Theo- logical School of the Independents, in Scotland, and ent(M'ed the University of Glasgow. The sunimei \a- cation of 1832 was spent in Canada, in the performance of certain {)ublic duties, chiefly in the Western province. Immediately after taking his degree ot M.A., Mr. Wilkes entered upon the jxistorate o( the Church in lulinhurgh to which he had been unanimously called. .At the end of three years of a successful Ministry, he was appointed by the Colonial Mission of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, which had just been organized, to represent them in C'anada, and the congregation of Mon- treal sent him a call to become their pastor. In August, „ i,.ijt. , !X 18^6, lie iinivcd, and procccdin^^ Westward, occiii)icd sonic time in visiting various sections of the country, with a view to phicc Ministers of the (jospel. lie returned, and took charge of the church now called Zion Church, on October i. i«S36. He retains to the i)rescnt time the position connected with the I^nglish Societ)', and until May, i a loiij^^ |icii()d Id look back t'l, and tlir rcllection is all the niMi-c pica -.1 11 j^^ when it is eonsidered that almost the whole of that time ha-^ heeii >j)ent in eo'iiiectioii with one church, whose ])resent mciid)ers, each oiu ol iluni, havt' i^rown up a,i it were under the eye of their i)a.>!or, whom they have come lo regard in l\\v lii^ht of a still closer relationship. l'os.>il)ly no minister in ( 'anaila is lnUei known or more deservedly rcsjiected li\ his fellovv workers of other churrhcs, and these will one and all watch with in^M'est tlie golden wed- ding — the inhileo of the Rev. hoctor's lon:.^ and successful ministerial career. As a i ili/en and as a philanthropist I )r. Willccs has occupied a distintjuished position, and we sincerely trust that his days may yet he long spared to watch over the successes of those institutions with wliieh he has for .so long heen so eminently connected. (.Montreal "La Minervc.") A loitchiiv' unniversarv was celebrated last Stindav. at /ion Church, of the 50th ministerial year of Re\-. Dr. Wilkes. Altlioiigh we do not belong to the creed of tlie Hew Doctor, we ma\ bear testinion\- to the esteem and respect which he enjoys among his own people, as well as among intelligent [)ers()ns of all sects. His career has been one of ample labor. 'I'hrough his high-miiuledness and large views he has rendered his social relations as agreeable as they are usefid, and lie rea|)s in his old age the fruits of a long life of labor and charity. (Montreal '• I.e National."') During the tifty years of Dr. Wilkes' ministry, Montreal has been transformed. The great city, with its richly decorated buildings and the park which overlooks it, was then in a condition which ga\ e no clue to its present prosperity. How many works of human geniu^!, has Dr. Wilkes seen accoi ipli ppt and Lower Canada, the confederation of the British North American Provinces, the building of the Intercolonial, the enlargenient of our canals, and the immense enterpriiie of the Pacific Kailw;)\. W holh 3:> ) lodls idered ill oiu- i|i a> it in tlu' K\(la i> f other II wed- ii>teii;il ipied a belong it /.ion though La\ bear his own s career ess and as they of labor las been uildinj^s ich gave m genius 1" I l)per \lnerican nt of our \\lu)ll\ absorbed in his mission, Dr. Wilkes has seen all these things realized. He has seen men and things triumph, while he too triumphs on his side by study and meditation. To this distinguished fellow - citizen the people of Montreal extend the wish of a long career and happiness in the paths of rectitude. (Niotuieal *' CaiJiuliaii Spectator."*) It is not often thai in this age of terrific energy — wJicii men tliiiik fa-^t, and work hard, and wear out ([uickly — that it is given to any man to speak of fifty years of labor. We are greatly developed : in a wonderful degree we are masters of ourselves, and the press of circumstance is so severe that we are compelled to do much work in a little time. Therefore it i> the nioie to be noted that l>r. Wilkes, of Montreal, could stand u|) and >av : l'')r half a century 1 have been a preacher of the CJospel of Jesus Christ. \\ iih bodily force somewhat impaired, but with mental vigour unabated, he stood forth and spoke his words of history and of hope. It was a rare occasion, and the audience was a sight to witness. .Mniost every Protestant Church was represented. Old men and women went to hear again the voice of him from whose lips they had heard in the youth long dead — ])ut not forgotten —words of counsel and rel)uke. What a flood of memory must have rushed in upon them I i'ifty years of })attle — >,ome- times marked by defeat and sometime^ by victfiry — hopes kindled and quenched — joy and sorrow crowding each on the heels of the other — all looking back through a long vista of years, and on to the ef)mingor nii;lit. How much work the preacher iiad done in that time, not e\cn himself could tell ; enough that he had set in motion great intluenees fm good, which have gone working on making men out of children, anfl good out of stuft indiffer- ent. Forty-two years ago Dr. Wilkescame to Canada in a semi-missionary character. Congregati(»nalism was hardly known here, and the Dr. think ing it should be well known, and having convinced the Church of that name and order in Kngland of the sanie necessity, obtained the needful helj). That missionary character has been sustained by him throughout his long and useful career. He has been fro»n the fnsi until now the head of the denomination — its principal counsellor and guide — second to no one as preacher — the accredited leader in all matters ol organization — tilling all possible oftice: doing all possible work — as j^reneher goin;^ from emi to n 34 (11(1 of llic country -as secretary for v;?rious societies — as treasurer ad- ministeriri}; their funds — and as president of the only colle j^oo;) to have the sermon — it will be better if we can copy the example he has given of good living and patient able working. ((Quebec "Chronicle.") The Montreal papers publish full reports of an interesting sermon preached on Sunday last in Zion Church, Montreal, by the Rev, I)r, Wilkes. The occasion had been announced as a jubilee service in honor of the date, it being the fiftieth anniversary of the first sermon j>reached. His reminiscences of fifty years in the Ministry of the (iospel commanded the strictest attention of the congregation. When a young man, twenty-two years of age, Mr. Wilkes was a partner in the house of the late John Torrance of .Montreal. This position he voluntardy resigned to enter a theological college in Scotland and study for the ministry, the same self-denying spirit subsecpiently leading him to give up the pastorate of a church in l'!dinbin-gb with a congregation ha\ing a membership of 240, and to come out again to Montreal and take charge of one numbering less than 50 souls. Since that dale, October, 1X36, the reverend gentle- man has been pastor of Zion Churcii, and as every citizen of .Montreal, .md hundreds of people in all parts of the Dominion are well auaie, he has been foremost in all good works. Not only the new Congre- gational College in Montreal, but the High School, Orphan .\s\lum. Ministerial .Association and French Canadian Missionaiy Societ\, owe their origin, to a \er\ great extent, to his earnest efforts in their behalf. During a large portion of the term of Dr. Wilkes' pastorate m Montreal, we regret to s;i\' that his stipend was considerably less than that of his ministerial bretliren in the city, of the same stand- ing. We feel fully assured that the reverend gentleman's many friends and admirers tliroughoul the country would be glad of an opportunity of testifying in a practical manner their aj)preciation of and admiration for the self-denying Ciiristiaii labors of Dr. Wilkes' (iosj)el .Ministry of(j\ei half a century. 36 (Sl. John, N.I3., "Telegraph.") The Rev. I)r. Wilkes of Zion Church, Montreal (Congregalionalj, lately celebrated the 5olh anniversary of his ministry in that city by preaching a sermon on " Fifty years of Ministerial Work.'' In this sermon hemodestlv describes a remarkable ministerial career. Dr. Wilkes, when a young man, was engaged in business in the house of John 'lorrance& Co., of Montreal, and had becoi..e a partner. Impressed with the spiritual necessities of the country, he rclinquislu-il business and jjioceeiled to (ilasgow, studying literature, science and philo>ophy at the I'niversiiy and theology under Dr. Wardlaw and his associates, lie returned to Canada and came near ])eing settled in Toronto, but failing, returne»l and was for several years i)astorof a church in l^.-, been well fought. ilbiiiiiUoti '■ iiiuo.") Sabbath beroie hibl, /ion Cluircli_| (Congregaiiunal) in Montifal was crowded 'hear Dr. Wilkes i)reacli an especial sermon on " Fifty \ ears of Ministerial Work," it l)eing the jubilee anniversary of his (listinguishe no wonder when they celel)rate the anniversaries of their consecration to their sacred duties, they meet with a cordial recognition from a lari^ediearte