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' ' '"■ '^ ^ 5 6 1 « p '■ 'r^: 1 • ¥•: MICROCOPY RiSOlUriOf^ fiST CHART (ANSI and ISO T£5T CHART H«- 2) |io "^^ '■■■ |£ |2.2 / / PPLIED IVMGE Inc 't 653 East Main SWeet ' Rochester, New Yoi'k H609 USA • (716) 482 - 0300/- Phone (716) 288 -5989/- Fox . .• * /■ / DRAUGHTS ■■/* ' or SCHEMES ■■A POR ITINEXARY PREAGHING. ** ; BY JOHN BRUCE, I ■ RUMNG ELDCll Of SAINT PAlt^.H CHUpCM, MONTnBAL. . '(': mteifi in Ifte ^gnolJ of tf)c DreflbBteriau Cfturetj in Caitaiya, IIoLDBN AT Kingston, 1st— 6i;ii July, AND OIiniiUED TO BE PRINTED AND CIRCULATED AMONG THE PRESBYTERIES OF THE SAID CHURCH. .-. ■ '-k- . .-.'"• -. ■.■■■ ■ -'. ■ ■ ■ ■■ ■: MONTREAL: PRINTED BY JAMES STARKE & CO. 1842. i ■■• ■/■ -> /■ ^ 'N&. nI •■;;* '^h^ i i^ ;*f A' DRAUGHTS OF SCHEMES FOB IT I N E R A K V V R K A C II I N CI. 7 -/■ The Want <»f missionaries for supplying the rrli'/mus (fostitUtion' of this colony, by itinerary proacliing, has lonj; Hcerr' much felt, and, so far as can bo foreseen, will c(m»- tinuj to be felt more or loss for scftne years to come ; yet, ill the absence of missionary agency, I am of opinion,^ that by the judicious use of the niciins which we -MgJar.v.v, through some well digestect plan, niuch good ini)Pfti)e donesmd advantage gained, by the itinerary proiiihin* of ministers. The disproportion, betwoen our Pre^sbyterian population. and ministers, is loss than has been gcnenilly supposed, and caimot, therefore, be the principal cause of the existing spiritual destitution. On the supposition that the Presbyterian population in Canada is about oue hun- dred thousand, and deducting, for children, one-third, we have sixty-six thousand one jiundred and sixty-six, which divided by seventy, (the number of ministers on the Synotl itoU,) gives seven hundred and forty for each minister. I'rom this it is evident that their destitution is to bo attri- buted principally to their very scattered localities, which obstacle la rendered more formidable by the want or bad state of roads: but surely tliis difficulty is surmount- able, — it is not one which will not yield to means ju- diciously employed. Besides, the natural tendency and onward movement of every thing, in a country settling by emigration, espeeially from countries already civilized and enlightened, must givi? a decreasing tcnderi('y to such an H\- ohstiicU'.' I'liis adonlH, no doubt, cousiUerubU' eiuourago- ,ti)«»nt to inisslonury etlbrts. That our clorjry labour with much zoal and (on.stancy, , udniitH of no doubt ; but their labdurs appt'ar to mo to have too Iittlt» of tho missionary rharaclor for tlie scattered state o^ thu inhal;itantji ; and Could any plan bo dcvisod for cx- <■ trudir^ their services to the many hithorti* destitute places throughout tlio Province, much good wduM, no doubt, result from it: preaching stations would be established, ot which might be l>rought together thiTgrlming elements of future congregations. The itcal of the |)VopIe at each of these would, on seeing and expcrivncingTW exertions of our niinisters, be stimulated to give countenance and support to their .ellbrts': attachment to the Presbyterian form of church goveriuiicnt and doctrine, would be preserved, a spirit of unity and co-operative zeal would be diffused and cherished throughout the whole Presbyterian popufation, and that ignorance, which is the natural result of religious destitution, would receive an effectual check. Whatever plan might be adopted for carrying on syste- matic itinerary prcacliing, certain preparatory steps would have to be taken, througli our Presbyteries. Each Pres- bytery would require to issue circulars for general dis- tribution within its bpunds, for information respecting rctligious destitution, and what parts of the country would be moj>t suitable and advantageouH for preaching stations ; or a travelling agent might be employed for this purpose. The information obtained through these circulars would efiable the different Presbyteries to form and mature their plans, and adopt measures for carrying them into effect. Another important, preparatory step would be, the for- mation of funds for defraying travelling expenses. Though, in many instances, these, perhaps, might be paid by those who would enjoy the advantages of missionary labours ; yet' it would be wise not to be altogether dependent on / their aidi ;■ ':'.•'-"'■" The following are hasty draughts oifour different p lam whiclt I would recommend.^ I shall explain these plans on the supposition that the average number of preaching stations within the limits 6f each Presbytery, would be fifteen, that being the average number of ministers in each Presbytery. Y I II S 'tf V L A K . Tlio fiKli pt'ii» |>rHK<'SOR th,p n«l<»|>runi of llie rotary priii- dnle, in s.im.lvM.'? ti\*n|>|»>«*''> *'«'l'""^ ;^'''' ''''"'" '«■■: vice, ana timt i«• sabbaths in fifty-two. This plan wou.l require that he rotation of the duties of the several clergymen, and the successive days of preaching at each station, should be so regulated and timed, that each would bo absent at certain, regular intervals of time, that no congre.'ation mi^ht be without service, on the sabbath, oftencr than once m five or six weeks, duritvg the months that Itinerary preachmg woiild be practicable. For this purpose, it should be re- ouii-ed of cacli Presbytery to draw up tables annnaUy, Exhibiting, in regular rotation, the days on which service would be performed at each station, and associatmg with each day in the table the name of the individual minister by whom the service would be conducted; and, to prevent ^. \ *-^. vH.,. 6 - hoglcct, Bomo Indlvldiml at each atatlon slioiilil be HupplifU with a copy of thin loblo, with an order to glv«? duo notice to each minilitfr of hin turn at \m Htntion. Kiicli niiiiisitcr being aUo furnishod with ci copy, wouhl boa further check on neglect. An«l should nnv cireum»tanco prevent a ml- nitter fr9m Uking bin turn, ho, receiving ihio notice from the Htntion, (sliotdd hi) have forgot to conHult hiti table,) would bo tiblo to Bupply hi« place by another, or by timely notice prevent diHappouitment or inconvoninco at any par- ticular Mtation. ^ ' By this, or some similar plan, ninety stalons, in both divisions of the Province, could be supjdied wjlh spiritual instructions, every second week, dunng, atylediit, nine months of the year. And to follow up those instructions, catechists, or other religious instructors, properly «|uulincd, might be most usefully employed at those stations and in their surrounding neighbourhood, in superintending and conducting sabl^ath schools, instructing Bible classes, hold- ing prayer and other religious meetings, and stirring up heads of families to religious duties : but all to b(! under the direction and superintendanco of the Presbytery. L a II c r s II i.. . ■ 1.1 >' « i:C O N D PLAN. By this plan the different statipns within the bounds of each Prosbvtcry niiytery, aided by missionaries, when their services could be obtained. Let this be ex- plained bj, selecting a particular town and district (rf the country. Around Montreal is a number of places in which considerable audiences niight be collojctod, and which, by watchful care, would form the nuclei of future congregations. Let these, as already recommended, be supplied by the ministers in Montreah or the others in the neighbourhood. In the district of Chateauguay, there might be several preaching stations. These could be -**-,. more convQuiontly suppliotl l»^ iniiiiHter« in ihat (iwtrict. Uy ajioptini^ ih'iH |»hm, oontinuoiiH utiilioiMJ would have ail occiwional Hervico almoHt fVor^ nioiitli in tlio yoar. Ilc- inolc iiUtionii, except whero miHsioimruii won? providocl, could havo «crvic« only at loft^ intorvuU. 'I'lio working pjirt of tWs plan would rtMiuiro to be drawn up with con- Hideral»l0 cure, in order to equali/.o, tlio «n'rvicc« at much iw poHHible among all tho statlona and to |»rovcnt the too- frenucnt ahscnie of any miniHtor from his own rongre- gation. !■ ■ • Till R D PL A N. Thlji plan propose* that every minister would have his own • station, and selected, with referiMuc, as much as possible, to his convenience. The people at each of these statioin* might be considered, as forming ^tftrt of his spiritual charge, and as such, be made a constituted a body — having a jjesaion— and tho ordinance of the Supper regularly ad- . . ministen«d to them, when that could bo conyoniently done, 7 ami when not, they might communicate with his congre- giitlon. A chatechist, at, each station, under the direc- tion of the Minister and Session of the station, WQuld he of considerable service. See first plan. * FO UU Til PL AN. The fourth and Inst plan which I would jvcoiuiucnd, proposes the application of tho same principle diUcrenlly trom those of the precceding schemes, — It proi>08Cs that each nvinistcr should itinerate in regular monthly siicccs- sion : that the ttfrangcmcnts of his Presbytery shall be such ^ as to have tho ground of his itineracy marked out for his month : that during his absence from his own congregatipn,, the Presbytery shall cause his church to bo sttpplied as often as possibfe : that his missionary duties rotnr.n not oftener than onco in twelve months ;, that the whole missionary la- bpurs of the Presbytery be, as much as possible, equalized 8 among the different stations ; tlmt the rotations of each mi- nister, and the seasons of his communion, will bo so timed as not to interfere with each other ; that the annual turns ot^ the several memj>ers^f each Prdsbytery, will be so changed, ''every year, that non6 will bo called from liis congregation, on the same mohth each year; that, with respect to the ' weather, and state of the roads, the rotation will bo so , regulated that each «vill only in turn bo exposed to the inclemency; of the weather, &c. ; that each will be at liberty to appojnt a sul).^titutc, or mako an interchange of turn ; and that each minister shall be required to keep a record of his proceedings, for the information of his Pres- bytery. Other plans might be brought before the Synods but it is hoped that these arc sufficient to afford some guidance to the Court it\ selecting what may be best adapted for ac(^ompIishing the desired end. But whatever sc'icme be adopted, the important results of systematic itinerary preaching must appear evident. Unity of design, and'co- operation, in this, as well as in every thing else, must pro- duce unity of effect. ^ systematic co-operation in the cause of Christ, must be. on o of the most effectual modes of kindling zeal, encouraging and urging on perseverance, fostering working habita, and generating schemesfor the promotion of the cause of truth. None of the plans re- commended interferes with missionary operations, ptrictly so called. Beyond the sphere proposed exists a 6014 of sufficient extent for them-r-indeed, having two such spheres of labour gives advantages. The operations of the one would help on the other; the itinerating pastpr w^uld injibibe more of the missionary spirit — the raissioniry would be more stimubted and encouraged in his work — the parts -of the country forniing "the different fields of operation would be so traversed by theni that the actual state of the people would be better kndwn, and theii* prejudices, arid the different features of their moral character so well *studiSd, and so well ascertained, that both missionary and pastor, taking advantage of this, would be better prepared for their labour. vi ..■■ r L A 5J^ raa C0NPUCTIN3 MISSIONS BY SUPElUNi ENDENTS This scheme was not submWSl to the Synod ; but, as it offors many advantages, in supplying the i^eligious destitu- tion of the colony, the writer l^as taken the liberty of adding it to his other plans, thdt attention may be more generally directed to the subject— hoping to see, very soon, a system formed for evangelizing our long neglected TresbyTerian brethren, w()>/% o/'ow*' <^^iM>'<'^- Under existing circumsiances, I should consider it pru- dtvnt to divide the whole field of dostitutiop into three (livisions. The first would include our large towns, whose spiritual wants have not been sufficiently provided for. The second would comprehend those ^)art55 of the country proposed to be supplied by the foregoing plans,. The re- mainder of the field would form the third division, and to which this plan has reference. The first would be a proper sphere for town missions : the last would take in all those parts of the country which could not be conveniently supplied with divine service by our clergy. Our missionary ground might be divided into districts, corresponding, as -much as possible, with the boutids of the different Pres- byteries. Let each district hav^ its own chief missionary, (except when the 6xtent of the district, or its great amount of destitution, would require more,) under whose direction all missionary operations, within his ov^n bounds, flight be conducted. DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENTS. The work and different duties of superintendents would be the dividing* and sub-dividing of those parts of the country within their bounds, Into sections or localities for ' :■ ■ 10 ■■.■■ ■ ■■■■'." ' missionaries, exhorters* catechists, &c. — selecting preach- ing stations— establishing Sunday schools — forming reli- gious classes for the young— administering cljurch ordi- nances and directing and regulatiijg the whole mission with- in th6ir bounds. Preaching would form anotheir part of . their duties : this they would be required to do wherever audiences could be collected; and in those parts <>f their districts, where the people live in too scattered a state, opportunities should be embraced to preach from Imuse to hou^e, stirring up, especially heads of families, to r^d the scriptures, practice family worship, and regularly to instruct iheir households. It should also be required of ■ them, not only to visit, preach, appoint, direct, and pre\ scribe duties, but also to examine the life, diligence, and/ behaviour of all under their supervision, and regularly to\ report to the Presbyteries of their own labours and those/ of others, under their direction. The religious trainingl of youth ought to be a particular part of their work ; and no opportunities should be missed to encourage and sti- mulate secular instruction^ The time of their remaining in any pa:rticular part or parts of their jurisdiction, shouldT have espe-:ial reference to the character of the destitution,' of such part or parts — ^the exposure of the settlers undef their chargs to the contaminating influence or example of the surrounding population — or any other cause requiring consideration. ^ADVANTAGES OF MISSIONARY OVERSEERS, | To Presbyteries, they might be of much service in gaining support to the mission. Through them, much valuable, statistical information could be obtained, and which would be of great service in regulating or directing missionary operations. By their agency, the labour of Presbyteries would be concentrated, and very much lessened. The work, therefore, so far as that would, have reference to them, ought to be better done. But the greatest advantage of such an agency would b&, the presence, on. every part of the field of labour, of an indi- vidual of talent, .experience, and tact, to manage, regulate, and direct all missionary work— .of sufficient sagacity to ii -a-- trace those trains of exciting circumstances, which are the causes of that lamentable depravity and ignorance, that ■■ have been growing and extending their influence? for so long a period ; and to ap ply the proper moans foi^ oppos- ing their inllucnce and destroying their ertccts. It offers other advanta{.^es. The under missionary, teacher, or exhortcr would require counsel, and rapch encourage- ment, with respect both to himself and those under his care : the sn.okmg flax would require to be gently fanned, '' the bruised reed tenderly handled, and the openly profane prudently dealt with.r |u these respects their services would be most valuable^' The communities or localities ' in which missionarici5''Kniglit be stationed, would have the \further advantage of tlifcsir preachers, cxhorters, &cyb^ing Seldom called from, their spheres of labour. The^ork of ■ evangelizing would thus be carried on with less interrup- tion, and with a greater increase of effect. And it admits of rto doubt, that the good to a scattered population, in havink the gospel brought to their homes, however se- cluded^or remote, bi men of fit qualifications, traversing * the country in every direction, would be greater, and effected m such way as would exactly suit their circum- - stances ancl, situation. A Other advantages might be stated, but, it is hoped these arc sufficient to shew that it merits some considerationi and may be of service in digesting a general scheme* suitable to the state of the country and the character of our destitution. \ \ Whatever plan be adopted, it ought to be one thatr^ would take in fl/r.thVdestltution of our Presbyterian pp- pulation— draw forth \nd effectually exercise the mis- sionary spirit, zeal, and\charity of our churches— unite them more closely within V system of dependent co-ope- ration—and capable of. application to the growing wants ^ of a growing colony. , \ . ^ N. B. Want of room pre vents me from giving an out- line of my second plari for missions, in vhich Ihave pro- posed that each Presbytery should have a distinct field within its own bounds, and be divi(W into different com- mittees for conducting and superintending missions. Each Presbytery is supposed to form a kinoxof sub-committee il^ \ ■, ■ \ \. 12 to tho Synod, to which an annual rcpcm would lie made by the difforent Presbyteries, a condcnsetk outline of wJjich wouhl by them be published. The comi«ittees pro(>osed are, three", — a eommittee of fmance, a sViperintending, and a prudential committee. The 'first woiild have the sole management of money matters, atid tl>e correspondence, local and foreign, which these would require; rae second tho immediate conducting of missionaries, catecm$ts, &C.; and the third would have to provide places for apsdmbling people to hear service at the difl'eront preaching stations, ascertain what parts of the nmntry .should l)e m^de stations, &c. :/: ■^ J *'.. ;. '1 ■» k"S "^v... : V'- . ^ . ■ ■ , i.^i'friy. 1 ' *■ "\ 1 Y •'■ * \ I Y • ■ • ■ . \ ■ ■ ■./"*" ■/ \ / \ /, ' \ ^ . \ / ■ _ 1 - i- * ■ / • - . ' / . 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