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A JUBILEE lir JSPECT. 
 
 " But thou wouldsi not iiluiif 
 IJi- s,ivi'(l, my fatlnr, alone 
 ('oiHURT iind ( oiiif in thy ;;i),il, 
 LtMvinj,' the test in Uw wil.l. 
 We were weary, and we 
 Fj-aiful, and we in nur niiiicii 
 Fain tu drop (h)wn and die. 
 Still thou tunifdst, and still 
 Cavest the weary thy hand. 
 If, in the paths of the world, 
 Stones may have wounihd thy feet, 
 Toil or dejection iiave tried 
 Thy spirit, of that we saw 
 Nothing ; to us tliou wast still 
 Cheerful, and helpful, and firm. 
 Therefore to thee it was given 
 Many to save w-th thys.df. 
 O faithful Sliepherd, to come 
 Bringing thy sheep in thy hari<l ! 
 
Rev. John Wakefield. D.D. 
 
A Jubilee Retrospect 
 
 .\i>i.KK-,^Ks |)|..ii\|.:ri;i. oh I II l. Co M !■ I.KTIO N (./ 
 /• iffy Year v o i. r h k M i n , > t k \' of 
 
 REV. JOHN WAKEFIKLD, I)..'. (1852-1902) 
 
 With Introductory Sk.ich l.y A'.v. E. H. h'y.lman, M.A.^D.D. 
 
 MONTREAI. 
 
 ('. W. COATES 
 
 TORONTO 
 
 WILLIAM HKIGdS 
 1902 
 
 HAI.IRAX 
 
 V. HUESTIS 
 
n 
 
 Mgunf Timor 
 Memoiiaf 
 
 ! thr-r> 
 
A Jubilee Retrospect 
 
 IntrodiK-tioii. 
 
 'I'm; tils; ♦iiiu' tlu! writer ever saw Rw. tloliii 
 Wiikfticld \,-a.s in the autuniii ol" \Hy.i, in 
 Cohouri;, wlifii lioth wcrt' studoiiis jit Victoria 
 (V)IIt'f^e. Little tlioiijjht (Mtlior th«n of the 
 relations to he estaldishod hetween them as 
 titne rolled yn. One was a " now student," the 
 other was an " old student." One had been 
 converted, the other not. One h;.d already lia<l 
 for a year a place in the ranks of Methodi.st 
 preachers; the other was niarchii in the 
 opposite direction. Waketield was t^ one; I 
 was the other. His year o( preaching had 
 begotten in hiinaveb -^ent thi. • '"or educational 
 betterment. Hence i-.. resort to the fountains 
 of learninor. 
 
 wintering college, he addressed himself ener- 
 getically to his studies, leading " a quiet and 
 peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." 
 Heing a stranger, young and unobtrusive, he 
 made himself but little known to the general 
 
 >u7o*-rv 
 
A JUIULEE RETROSPECT 
 
 boily of the studeiits luitil, in .lanuiuy of the 
 current colUs^^e year, a circumstance occurred 
 wliioh at once gave him prominence. A j^reat 
 revival liroke out first in tlie eollej^e and then 
 in the town. At that time the tide of piety 
 was at its ebb in old Victoria. Only a small 
 minority of the students were profe.ssors of 
 reliijion, and but few of that minority wen; 
 brave enough to show their c<jlors. 'i'he atmos- 
 phere of the college was eltjctrical with mischief 
 and deci<ledly unfavorable to frank and open 
 jMi'ty. However, the faithful few recei il a 
 powerful reinforcement in a number of zealous 
 young preachers who sought the ^college that 
 year. Mr. Wakefield was one (if the number. 
 The C'hristian students soon saw the necessity 
 and the opportunity of iloing soniething for the 
 spiritual improvement of tSeir fellows. The 
 stalwarts among them organized for work. ]\Ir. 
 Wakefield was one of the.se. They met occa- 
 sionally in .some lecture room for a j)rayer- 
 nieeting. Their fellow-students took their own 
 way to enliven the.se occasicjns — sometimes by 
 the scraping of a violin anil .some heel-and-toe 
 e.xerci.se at the door, and .sometimes by the 
 apparently altogether acciflental overturning of 
 a chaii' or a form by one who entered the room 
 prompted by some other s[)ii'it than that of 
 
REV. JOHN WAKF. FIELD, D.D. 
 
 pniyer. But tlieso earnest, ^odly young men 
 persevered, fasted res^ularly, prayed without 
 ceasing,', and seconded their prayers by many a 
 warm and brotherly word of counsel and invita- 
 tion. The direct result was a great revival. 
 After six weeks of special services about 130 
 persons, probably the majority of them students, 
 coimected themselves with the Church. The 
 religious atmosphere of the college was entirely 
 changed. Several of the converted students 
 entered the Methodist ministry and some the 
 ministry of other churches. 
 
 The late Rev, Dr. G. R. Sanderson was at that 
 tim(> pastor in Cobourg, and skilfully marshalled 
 the students who were probationers and local 
 preacluirs to his assistance. No man could 
 desire better helpers in special services than Dr. 
 Sanderson had at that time — W. R. Parker, 
 Henry Tew, Thomas Stobbs, N. R. Willoughby, 
 W. C Henderson and several others, besides Mr. 
 Wakefield himself. After all the years that 
 have passed since that time it seems to me still 
 that I have never known young men so effective 
 in jirayer and exhortation as they. Many of 
 the scenes in that revival are fresh and vivid in 
 my memory unto this day. Among such workers 
 and in all that work Mr. Wakefield was in his 
 proper element. He exulted in it. His spirit 
 
A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 and aptitudes brought him to tlie front. He 
 was always willinf]f and always rea«ly. He had 
 an excellent voice and knew how to use it. He 
 had couraife to stand in tht- breach or lead a 
 forlorn hope at any time. His youthful fervor 
 never failed to warm a praycr-meetinff or fellow- 
 ship meeting. He had the resjject in a high 
 degree of his fellow-stu<leiits and exercised a 
 useful influence uj)on all who knew him. Through 
 the whole revival he rendered assistance, the 
 value of which Dr. Sanderson in later years 
 often heartily acknowledged. 
 
 From the time of that great religious awaken- 
 ing in Victoria College in January, 18.54, the 
 writer dates the beginning of his own new life, 
 and it was at that time and amid those scenes 
 that he conceived a friendship for John 
 Wakefield which has deepened in respect and 
 esteem down the years to the present hour. 
 
 The Rev. John Wakefield was born in War- 
 wickshire, England, October 7, 1830. His father 
 was a farmer in comfortable circumstances and 
 was able to rear and maintain his family well, and 
 to provide for them the limited amount of educa- 
 tion available in that day to persons of limited 
 means. His parents were conscientious and 
 exemplary members of the Church of England. 
 Their children were trained to regular attendance 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 on tbu services of the church aiul at .Sunday 
 School. Family prayers were faithfully observed, 
 and vere conducted by the mother when the 
 father was absent. Such a family was not 
 likely to be cramped by biijotry, nor was it a 
 strani^e thinjf that they should go to Methodist 
 meetinifs when the opportunity occurred. A well- 
 remembered and much-prized privilej^e to the 
 lad of seven to ten years of age was to go with 
 his mother to tl»e cottage prayer meetings an<l 
 to attend the preaching service on the village 
 green. He was sorry for the preachers, who 
 were sometimes subjected to rough treatment 
 for the supposed blasphemy of professing to 
 know that their sins were forgiven and that, in 
 th(! event of death, they should go to heaven. 
 But he felt more sorry for the poor souls who 
 wept so bitterly on account of their sins. He 
 was already in training for that fifty years of 
 preaching which has done its full share in 
 bringing about the change which has come over 
 the thought of the whole Christian world re- 
 garding a conscious salvation. 
 
 An elder brother had crossed the Atlantic, and 
 after a .sojourn of seven years on this side went 
 home for a visit, but with the enthusiastic pur- 
 pose of returning and making (Janada his home. 
 By dint of much persuasion the younger brother 
 
10 
 
 A JUniLEE RETROSPECT 
 
 obtained permission to come with him. Thoy 
 landed at Boston, and in April, 1845, they 
 reached the city of Hamilton. The j'ounnr 
 stranger made imiiiiry for a church. The f.rst 
 church he entered was the old King Street 
 Methodist, and the first sermon he heard was by 
 the Rev. Wm. Ryerson. The impression of the 
 wb 'e service upon bis mind resulted in a tixeil 
 determination that his church in C'anada should 
 be the Methodist Church. In May bis home 
 v/iis established with his brother, in the northern 
 part of the township of Blenheim, in the county 
 of O' . ird. There in sijifbt was a Methodist 
 church, and there he regularly attended service. 
 Camp-m etings were then very common. To 
 the English youth they were a new thing in all 
 their features and methods, strange and pecu- 
 liarly attractive ; but the preaching was search- 
 ing, awakening, and in demonstration of the 
 Spirit. He was often deeply convinced of his 
 sinful condition and need of salvation: but 
 because of a conviction that if he were to give 
 himself to God he .should have to give himself 
 to the ministry also, and because he felt that 
 that was a responsibility he could never bear, 
 he resisteil the Spirit and went on in liis care- 
 less ways. But in cour.se of time, when be was 
 in his nineteenth year, a protracted meeting was 
 
REV. JOHN \VAKEFlEir\ I). P. 
 
 11 
 
 conductcMl hy some <^<)dly local preacli' s in the 
 little church near his home, which was one of 
 the appointments on the old Dumfries circuit. 
 Matthew Whitip'jr and U. \V. M. Gilbert were the 
 circuit preachers, but they coild not attend this 
 meetini--. Their presence was required other- 
 where. The whole of that larj^e circuit was in 
 a flame of revival. It was a very prosperous 
 year. An increase in membership of more than 
 one hundred was reported at the ensuinjr Con- 
 ference, 'i'he HU'etinj:;, conducted by cn'y the local 
 preachers, was a j^reat success. Many souls were 
 converteci, and John Wakefield was one of then:. 
 On Wednesday evening, February 14th, 1849, 
 he found the Saviour and light and peace and 
 joy. So far as ministerial instrumenuality is 
 concerned, Mr. Wakefield was one of those 
 who>e conversion was the fruit of the labors of 
 local preacheis. The writer .stanJs in the same 
 class. There are many otli< 's. It is .said t'lat 
 tlie limes are changing and constantly improv- 
 ing. I shall not rea-on so unwisely as to dis- 
 pute the saying, but I hope that Methodism 
 may go on improving until she completes the 
 cycle. As among the heavenly bodies there are 
 certain movements which ettect a complete re- 
 vclution in certain periods of time, and then 
 repeat them.selves — the precession of the etjui- 
 
12 
 
 A JUniLEE RIITROSPECT 
 
 noxt'H, for instaiico, which comnleU's its cycle in 
 about 2ti,()()0 years — «o we •luiv ardently hope 
 that after a f^lorious period of inipioveinent. 
 somewhat less, however, than 2(i,0'^0 years, 
 Mcthoilisin may complete her cycle ami swee}) 
 round with undiminished vi;^or to where she 
 was half a century a<;o ; when aj^aiii MeUiodist 
 circuits shall be so plainied as to necessitate the 
 work of local preachers; when local pi jachers, 
 havinjf work to do, shall keep themselves in 
 (jood workin!^ condition: when the Methodist 
 peojjle shall hear the ( Jospel with as much plea- 
 sure and protit from a local preacher as from an 
 ordained minister, provided he be as ^ood a man 
 and can declare the truths of sin and salvation 
 with clearness, fulness and power ; and when 
 local preachers shall aj^ain conduct evangelistic 
 services successfully as in the former days, 
 without the minister, if need be, bringi.io in as 
 the I'esult c' their harvestinj^ scor.s and scorea 
 of vvell-Hlled sheaves for the Master's yarncr. 
 
 The young convert was plunged at once into 
 the midst of the work which such revival sea- 
 sons and their aftermath always provide for 
 those who have just begun a Christian life, such 
 as attending and holding prayer-meetings, at- 
 tending and holding class and fellowship meet- 
 ings, accompanying the local preachers to their 
 
REy. j'lHN WAKEFIELD, D.I). 
 
 i;{ 
 
 • Hstiint Sabbath services, assisting them in the 
 oDeninj; and ciosin<; exorcises " to ;ret their hand 
 in," and now and then " to try their winufs " in a 
 brief exhortation at the close of the sermon. 
 All this was very acceptable to Mr. VVaketield. 
 He had been so converted as to regard himseli 
 no longer as his own master, but enlisted for 
 any service his new Master might have for him 
 to perform. Besides, such work was congenial, 
 well suited to his mental constitution and to the 
 frame of mind he was then in. He was active 
 in a round of cottage prayer -meetings, after the 
 pattern of those he had seen in England, in 
 which a goodly number we''3 converted, among 
 them the late Rev. A. R. Campbell. Hut when, 
 soon after, it was proposed by the pioacher in 
 charge to give him official position as an ex- 
 horter, he was actually frightened, and for a 
 time could not be found. He was absent from 
 home ! But in his absence, away from the 
 accustomed round of daily occupation, with 
 plenty of time to think, he was brought face to 
 face, more directly than in other circumstances 
 he could have been, with a question which kept 
 coming to him, which demanded an answer, and 
 would accept none but the right one. That was 
 the (juestion of entering the ministry. He was 
 not rebellious against the will of God in this 
 
14 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 matter. He did not refuse to obey. It can 
 scarcely lie said that he was reluctant. I>ut he 
 dreaded responsibilities that seemed to him so 
 grave and exhaustless. The Htrui:<,de ended, of 
 course, in a hearty acceptance of the Divine call. 
 He returned to his home, and at the February 
 Quarterly Meetinj;, 1852, received license as an 
 exhorter, and a few montlus later was made a 
 local preacher. In these official positions, with 
 a mind to work, he had work enouj^h to do, 
 holdini' from one to three services each Lord's 
 day, prayer-meetinj^s most of the evenHi<;s ot 
 the week, besides attending camp-meetings as 
 opportunities occurred. 
 
 During this year the Rev. Wm. Ryerson, Chair- 
 man of the Hrantford District, pressed him into 
 the itinerancy, and that, too, on his own home 
 circuit. At the end of his year under the chair- 
 man, being anxious to go to college, and know- 
 ing that if he gave himself into the hands of the 
 Conference as a probationer there would be no 
 chance for him by reason of the pressing de- 
 mand for young men in J^ll parts of the Church, 
 he determined to keep his destiny in his own 
 hands for the time, refused to be received on 
 probation, and went to Cobourg on his own 
 account. As we have already stated, his year 
 at college was not only a year of study but, to 
 
REV. JOHN H'Ak'EFJEL/\ D.D. 
 
 15 
 
 a lar<;e extent, one of evanj^olism and soul-suving 
 iis well. At the ensuinj; ('onference he was 
 formally accepted as a probationer, and went to 
 his appointment, Ingersoll, with a heart on tire 
 with zeal for souls. 
 
 He completed his probation and was received 
 into full connexion and ordained at the famous 
 Mrockville Conference in 1856 — a Conference 
 memorable, first, for the great debate on the 
 class-meeting iiuestion, in which Dr. Ryerson, 
 J)r. Jeffers, and other giants of the Conference 
 took part ; next, on account of the official visit 
 of two mighty men of the British Conference, 
 Dr. John Hannah and the Rev. F. J. Jobson ; and 
 again, becau.se of the largest class of entrants 
 into the ministry of the Methodist Church ever 
 recorded in any one year of its history in this 
 country. The ministerial life of forty-seven 
 Methodist preachers is dated from the year 
 IS.50. Of all those who entered in the same 
 year as Mr. Wakefield, 1852, or were ordained 
 ill the same class, he is the only one still in full 
 wnrlc. Three or four superannuates still linger 
 on these hither shores, but all the rest have 
 passed over to the better land. 
 
 From that Brockville Conference Mr. Wake- 
 field went forth to a life of service in the Meth- 
 odist ministry altogether unusual — unusual, 
 
t^' 
 
 16 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 certainly, as to the term of it. an.l sel.lo.n par- 
 alleled in labors or in fruits. He combined m 
 himself many in.portant elements ol success. 
 To be<Mn with, a full half century in the Meth- 
 odist Itinerancy woul.l seem to imply a very 
 sturdy physique. I am inclined to think that 
 he is much indebted to his parents for " souml 
 health and a good constitution." That is one 
 way, unquestionably, in which the virtues of 
 parents are visited upon their children. He 
 could endure hard work lon^ continued : but he 
 always wrought with a wise moderation. He 
 uii-ht say. as did John Wesley, that he was 
 never in a hurry. He was active, to be sure : it 
 wouhl be difficult to find the "lazy bones in 
 his frame ; b- le was never nervously, excess- 
 ively active. I think, also, that he owes much to 
 nature, that is. to his parents and to God. for an 
 equable disposition. Amidst the labors and 
 attritions incident always to the itinerancy lie 
 was never one to worry : and according to well- 
 settled principles of physiology an.l conunon 
 sense, the habit of worrying is more exhaustive 
 of nervous vitality and tends more to shorten 
 our days than almost any other violation ot 
 physiological law. If one has goo.l health as 
 Mr Wak.'field has had during most of his lile. 
 and the lavor of Ood, as every minister of the 
 
NEV. JOHN IVAK'EFJEIJK I). I). 
 
 (I(is|icl «>u;,'l»t to liiivt', it is no particulur crt'dit 
 (o liiiii to !)(' clifci ful ; but, !it the smne tiino, 
 ;:(»o(l cheer is a vvuiiflerlul conservator ol" the 
 vital I'orccs. 
 
 I'erhiips tlie most prominent chai'actei'istic oi" 
 Mr. Wiiketieiirs miiiisteriai life is his aijaptation 
 to rtnival work. His first station alter ordina- 
 tion was Ayhner, in the west, hut after a lew 
 weeks in tliat Held he was taken away to supply 
 Walsincrham circuit, where the Superintendent, 
 the Rev. Simon Huntinj^don, had suddenly died. 
 It was a Iar<;e circuit. He travelled and pn-ached 
 almost every nij;ht Jind day, and the work of 
 (loil <jjreatly prospered. In protracted meetin<^.s 
 that he held, features that he had witnessed 
 in similar meetin<:s when he first beijan to 
 jireach were repeated. It was a common tiling 
 for persons to fall to the lloor, to remain uncon- 
 scious for hours, and to be carrieil in that condi- 
 tion to their conveyances at the eiid of the even- 
 in^;'. r>ut however stormy the nieetinj^, the 
 Icadei- had coolness and self-possession to com- 
 mand, control and jj^uide to successful issues. 
 Lari;e mnnbers were converted. For such work 
 Mr. Wakelielil was ailmirably adapted. He had 
 an orotund voice and perfect distinctness of utter- 
 ance. In these he possessed eli'Uients of <^reat 
 ]ii)Wei-. A <^ood voice always commands respect. 
 
IR 
 
 yl JVlilI.EE RETROSPECT 
 
 H,. ha.l MX unlailin- lifility of expri'ss.o.i m 
 l.«tl. preachin- and prayc-r. This, t.K,, is a -ivat 
 aavanta-e. If a yout.^ lUTaclu-r laLois lor 
 lan.rua.'c, or has a visibly "hanl tmu-." the tears 
 of tiu- con-rej,'atio.i that he sh.nil.l hreak .h.wn 
 are arouscl, an.I atteiiti.jn to th.^ messaj,'e is .hs- 
 phiced by sympathy, or some other feeiitiR loss 
 Ihitterin-, for the ,nessen;v.r. If Mr. Waket.e .1 
 ever ha.l a hanl time no <.nc knew it hut hiMis.ll. 
 He had also a fervent spirit. This, with Ins 
 ready utterance. j,'ave him immense power in 
 exlK.rtation. H at any time a meetin- was eoh 
 it was na his fault. He had, moreover, the j;oo<l 
 will of one and all, and could commend himself 
 to them as their friend. Hut above all, he had a 
 thorcu^'h sense of the reality of the transactions 
 which take place in conviction and conversion 
 between the Saviour and the soul that is being 
 saved. He could therefore make those who 
 heanl the Gospel from his lips feel that they 
 were face to face with- facts and realities. For 
 such reasons he was successful in finding th 
 hearts of the people an.l persuading them to 
 be reconciled to God. With such .lualiHcations 
 it might be expected that he would reap success 
 
 anywhere. 
 
 His next station was the .^Id Niagara circuit. 
 By unwearied labor in protracted meetings the 
 
Ri'iv. JO//X \vaki:fji:i.i\ />./). 
 
 I!) 
 
 in.'riilMrHlji|) ol' the church wuh <l()ul)lL'il in tw(» 
 y.'iirs. 
 
 The thrciifl of tic imrniCivc of piiMic iiiini.s- 
 tcriiil life imi.st htTe l.c cut so as to u.hnit of tho 
 iiistTtioii of a hrief pas.sa;,'f from thr lori^' .story 
 of .loin.'Mtic lifi'. Oil thf .-{rd of Auj,Mist, l,S.'>9, 
 Mr. Wukofii'M vva.s inarrit'd to Mis.s Loui.sa 
 r-aktr, (Jau^rhtcr of the; ll.-v. John iJakcr, of the 
 Kn;,Hi.sli ('oiifcrencc, and sister of the wife of the 
 lair K.-v. (}. N. A. V. T. Dixon, still his faithful 
 companion after more tlian forty years of the 
 f\er-varyin«,' experiences of the Methodi.st itin- 
 erancy. 
 
 After a hard year on the Welland circuit, 
 which then included all that is now the Welland 
 district, durinnr which special .services wen '.eld 
 with the usual result, he wa.s sent on invitation, 
 to Drtimniondville. The reasons were special. 
 For several years there had been di.sagreements 
 Itetween some of the leadin<,' families, a number 
 of church trials had been held with the usual 
 I ruit oi' discord and .spiritual dearth, and party 
 lines had been drawn d-ep throu<,di the midst 
 «'f the society. The same means that God bad 
 honored elsewhere were resorted to for the pur- 
 pose of revivinjr the languis'iin^r Church. A 
 ])rotracted meetin<? was undertaken in faith in 
 (Jod, but without the least visil'le prospect of 
 
 -^^z^m 
 
A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 20 
 
 su^ce^^)r nearly six weeks he preache.l tiye 
 „i.hts in the week to sn.all cmj^re-ations witli 
 litUe apparent effect. But earnest work pre- 
 vailed, an.l showers of blessin-s canie .lown^ 
 ForsiK weeks more the n.eetin-s werecarne.l 
 on in thesan>eway, bul the church was so 
 crowded and penitents were so nun.erous that 
 there was no roon. for them at the a tar. ( )ver 
 one hundred united with the Church, seventy- 
 six of them beins heads of families In three 
 years the member.ship was increased htty p.-'r 
 cent., wounds were healed, ene.nies vvere recon- 
 ciled, party lines were obliterated, and the whole 
 character of the circuit changed. As confir- 
 matory of what I said above, note that for auN 
 vouns preacher, except one of p-eat physical 
 endurance and facility of utterance, to preach 
 etiectively live nights in the week, tor twelve 
 weeks in succession, would be an impossibdity. 
 It would re.,uire too nnich time and space lor 
 the purposes of this sketch, to follow the whole 
 course of Mr. Wakefield's various pastorates an.l 
 to mentio.i particularly the results of his labors 
 in the several fields he occupied : but on each ot 
 a Ion- list of important stations he was at once 
 rcco-nized as a leader in evangelistic work. Le 
 one "more instance suthce. In the tovvn of 
 Chatiiatn, ..early twenty years subHe,,uent to his 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.I). 
 
 21 
 
 DruiiiiiiotKlvillc expt'rionces, lie and his follow 
 pastors ol" (jtlici- churches, deeply impressed by 
 the state of religion in all their conjrregations, 
 resolved on a campaign of union revival meet- 
 ings. The other ministers unanimously laid 
 upon him, though one of the youngest among 
 tliem, the responsibilities of generalship, binding 
 themselves to take obediently any part of the 
 work he should assign them. The meetings 
 began auspiciously ; sinners were being con- 
 verted : there was a promise of great .success : 
 but as the favorably known evangelist, 
 the Rev. E. P. Hammond, was in the country, 
 he was invited to Chatham to assist in the 
 revival. The outcome was a work of salva- 
 tion seldom, if ever, eipialled in this or any 
 country for glorious and abiding fruits. Be- 
 sides the accessions to other churches, over four 
 hundred new members were received into our 
 own, and a second church had to be opened to 
 give accommodation to the increasing hundreds 
 who wished to be called Methodists. 
 
 One phase of his Drummondville experience, 
 namely, that of reconciling enendes and making 
 peace in the Church, was destined to be repeated. 
 At one of the Conferences of the old Wesleyan 
 -Methodist Church, when the Stationing Com- 
 Hiittce liad almost Hnished \i» labors and Mr. 
 
22 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 Wiikefic'M <li<^ not expect a roinoval, durinj,' tlie 
 last liour a c;!i-n<,'e was nuule to meet, as it was 
 said, an emcr^'oncy. He was sent to a iiew 
 charge with a special order: "Settle those diffi- 
 culties." For several years the circuit had 
 heen divided by what might he called "family 
 lends," so that it had hecome a by-word lor 
 trouble throughout the whole connexion, and at 
 •he time he went to it, was rent in pieces. 15e- 
 sides that, tlie district, within the bounds of 
 which he was stationed, was, through the mis- 
 cou'iuct of an incompetent chairman, in a state 
 but little different from chaos. He had then 
 two sets of difficulties on his hands. The 
 Stationing Conunittee had given him one by 
 giv'.ng liim that appointment: the Conference 
 "tself^gave him the other by displacing the 
 former chairman and electing Mr. Wakefield in 
 his stead. Ho fulfilled his conunission in both 
 cases. He put strong and influential men out of 
 the Church, but ret; ined, all the while, their 
 respect and friei'vlsliip by the kind and Chris- 
 tianly spirit in which lie did it, and the strictly 
 disciplinary methoils lie pursued. It is no .dight 
 achievement to deal with an offi'uder in the way 
 of inexorable disciplin." and yet retain his affec- 
 tion. l'>y liie restoration of peace the circuit 
 was put upon the high road to prosperity, and 
 
RF.V. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 23 
 
 since that time a long succession of happy 
 pastors have ministered there to a united and 
 happy people. 
 
 The affairs of the district also were adminis- 
 tered so judiciously as to efface in a short time 
 all traces of former blundering. Indeed, "judi- 
 cious " and " energetic " are the two key-words 
 which open to our view Mr. Wakefield's style of 
 iiianagemont of both circuit and district. As a 
 (•()iis('(|uenc(', he has been placed, a great portion 
 of his life, in positions of responsibility. Twenty- 
 three years, if I count aright, he has been chair- 
 man of the district in which he was stationed, 
 made so by the fx\ e ballots of his brethren — ^a 
 testimony not only to his ability in a'bninistra- 
 tion, but also to a certain ipiality calk' I urbanity, 
 suavity, courtesy and other names, all of whicli, 
 however, mean simply brotherly kindness. Yox 
 the same reasons, when elections were to be male 
 foi- positions of honor in his Conference, he was 
 sure to receive his full share of the favors be- 
 stowed. In 1878 he was secretary of the first 
 Lcmdon Conference, and in 1S80 its president, 
 lie was again president in 1891, this time of the 
 Niagara Conference. He has been a member, 
 elected on the first ballot in each instance, of 
 every (Jeneral Conference the Church has had, 
 except that of 1886, and then he was in Austru- 
 
24 
 
 A JUIUI.EE RETRnsrECT 
 
 li.-i. He has cnjoyfd the rare lunKjr ami priv i- 
 lei,fe 1)1" atteiidiii;;-, us a iiieinher, the thi-(>u Hcii- 
 meiiieal Conferences, first in Loudon, Km^land, 
 ill ISSl: then in Washini^ton, I'.S.A , in ISDI ; 
 an«l ajj^ain in Lomhjn in I'.lOl. It nmst be 
 renieiiibered that tliese privilei,'es were eai'nestly 
 coveted by many able and wortliy brethi-en, a ■ ' 
 tiiat the decision l)et\veen them was reach('d 1\\- 
 warmly contested elections. 
 
 There are methods of winninf;- electi(Mis and 
 lionors which are <fenerally jndj^ed to lie in- 
 ailmissible in the courts of the Church — personal 
 solicitation for votes, moving inlluential friends 
 to en<''a"'e in the activities of a regular canvass, 
 etc. That such methods have not lieeii resorted 
 to, even in ecclesiastical politics, it would be 
 scarci'Iy safe to say, but no one could ever 
 accuse John Waketield of employing any such 
 means. The honors have always sought the 
 man, not the man the honors. Vet no one 
 appreciates such favors more than Ik;: and now, 
 in these latest years of his ministry, it is one of 
 his most grateful reflections that lie has enjoyed, 
 as the spontaneous gift of his brethren, almost 
 every otHce it was in their power to bestow. In 
 a brotherhood like that of the Methodist Church 
 an<l ministry, ability, faithfulness to Cod and 
 duty, unsellish devotion to the welfare of fellow- 
 
RF.V. JOHN WAKEl-IELD. D.D. 
 
 iiioii, liuiiiility, ami brotherly kindness in its 
 various manifestations, are sure to carry one 
 I'oiward and upward to all the objects of a 
 healthy ambition, far more readily and certainly 
 than the shrewdest practices of a hateful, self- 
 seek in<i^ polic}'. 
 
 Forty years ago the climate of certain sections 
 of Ontario was not so salubrious as it now is. 
 In some of his stations Mr. Waketield had his 
 share of the a<,nies and fevers that prevailed, 
 and at length it became necessary to seek a 
 change for the preservation of his healtli. In 
 1H70 he was stationed at Sherbrooke, Que., and 
 placeil in the chair of the district. Tliere he 
 rest)rted to the old and tried methods for the 
 si)iritual improvement of his widely-extended 
 diocese. He had always had confidence in camp- 
 meetings as a revival agency. In J 859 he had 
 assisted in organizing Grimsby Camp, was a 
 member of the tinst committee, preached the 
 tir.st sermon on that famous ^^round, and par- 
 ticipated in the glorious successes of the early 
 years of that institution. After the Drummond- 
 ville revival, in order to shepherd .ell the con- 
 verts he had taken into the Chuvch and give 
 them work to do, he held such a meeting there, 
 and notwithstanding the opposition of " the 
 oasur Soil " iji that vicinity, achieved another 
 
2(i 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 •^reat success. So on the (^)ui'liec district he lielil 
 !i cjiiiip iiiL'ctinj4' ciU'li year aii<l arraii^cil lor a 
 permanent camp <i;round on the Danville circuit. 
 
 Moreover, lie saw the neces,sity in those 
 Eastern townships of a school lor hi<;her educa- 
 tion under the auspices of the Methodist Church, 
 instituted a series of public meetin<.>'s on this 
 behalf, in which the writer took some part, 
 eidistetl the sympathy of leading' men with tlie 
 enterprise and obtained from them promises of 
 liberal financial assistance. This efibrt resulted 
 in the erection of our noble and tlourishinif 
 Stanstead College. Durin^^ two years he made 
 a personal canvass of nearly the whole of our 
 Quebec work for funds for that institution, and 
 collected the substantial sum of 8-22,000. He 
 was removed to the east, be it remend)ered, for 
 his health's sake. All these activities may have 
 been very beneficial so far as the elimination of 
 malaria was concerned, but possibly may have 
 been unfavorable in other respects. 
 
 After a term at Aylmer in the east he came 
 west ajjjain, and Iiad happy and successful 
 pastorates at St. Mary's, Chatham, Hamilton 
 First, Coderich and l^iris. In the two stations 
 last nientione<l his health seriously declined, and 
 at the Confei-ence of 188+, just at the time of 
 the union, after he had taken his part in 
 
REV. JOHN WAKF.FIEI.D, D.D. 
 
 st;it.i()iiin<,f tli.' uiiiiistcrs in tliu Unitfil Clnirch, 
 Ik- was coiiipellcd to ask a superannuated relation 
 IV)i- liimself. It was helioved by many of his 
 friends, and feared by liiiiiself, tliat the work of 
 his hfe was tinislied. IJut it was not in accord 
 with Mr. W^aketield's constitution of cither mind 
 or body to sit <lown in supcramniation and l^e 
 sick. A}.rain lie aou<;ht recuperation in entire 
 ehaiif^e of scene and climate, and sailed for 
 Australia. In tliose eastern and southern ' vnds 
 he was received and treated with tlie kir.dness 
 and respect duo to the position lie had held in 
 liis own country, A seat was allotted him 
 on the Conference platform in the city of 
 .Melbourne for three successive years. A lonf 
 sea vv>ya<,'e had produced its effects in a ^a-eat 
 improvement of his strength, and having 
 preached several times in the Melbourne pulpits, 
 he was offered regular Sabbath work as second 
 minister in one of the city circuits. He accepted 
 an engagement which terminated only the Sab- 
 liath before he left for home. He was absent 
 thiee full years, ai.d when he reached Canada 
 again he had cir-jumambulated the globe and 
 completely recovered Ids health. 
 
 Since his return he has done some of the best 
 work of his life, as would be attested by the 
 good people of Burlington, Thorold, Dundas and 
 
28 
 
 A jnUI.F.K RETROSPECT 
 
 I'ariH, where successively Ikj has ])een [)astt»r: 
 and l)y the breth.ren wlio have been constantly 
 meeting liini during the j)ast fourteen years on 
 the executive boards and connnittees of the 
 Church, where so often he has been a nienilier, 
 and where liis mature ju(l<;;iiient and wise 
 counsel have been of so f^reat service. He has 
 had nuich ofHcial work to do because liis 
 brethren havt? always rej^arded the interests of 
 the Church as safe in his keepin<j. He is 
 thorou<5hly loyal to Methodism a.^d to Methodist 
 rules and usasxes ; is stronjflv conservative as it 
 relates to the doctrines and practices of tJ)e 
 Church ; and a a sound theologian, and able 
 preacher of sound doctrine, lias received another 
 unsouj:fht honor, very properly bestowed by 
 V^ictoria University — the Doctor's degree in 
 Divinity. 
 
 Dr. Wakefield's jubilee year came round while 
 he was ministering a second term in Paris. It 
 was a time of pleasing coincidences. It was 
 the Quarterly ( )tHcial P)oard of the Paris circuit 
 that recoiii mended him for the ministry half 
 a century before. Two of the members of 
 that Board — the two, I believe, who moved and 
 seconded the resolution recommending lum to 
 the lirantford district meeting — are still, in 
 extreme a^e, members of that same Board. The 
 
REV. JO 'VAKEFIEI.D, J)./) 
 
 L'J) 
 
 Paris church thought that tlic unusual event 
 .should he celehrated with more than usual con- 
 ifratulations. They resolved to tender their 
 ])astor a jubilee ban(|uet. Invitations were 
 issued to all the previous pastors of Paris circuit, 
 to each of the circuits Dr. Waketield had 
 travelled re(iuesting a representation, and to 
 many of his personal friends among the senior 
 ministers. The banquet took place on Tuesday 
 evening, Feb. IS, 1902. The particulars of that 
 occasion — who were there, what was said, etc. — 
 may be learned from the following pages. The 
 writer was not present, nor has he any informa- 
 tion as to what the report herein contained will 
 say. 
 
 ■ )r. Waketield is new in his fourth year on 
 Paris circuit, the tifty-first of his ministry. All 
 who know him might wish that his health of 
 body were etjual to his vigor of mind and 
 l)uoyancy of spirit, that he might continue his 
 grand work even a while longer. All do wish 
 that his years of retirement may be years of 
 ha])py rest and joyful anticipations of the 
 sweeter rest beyond. 
 
 E. B. Ryckman. 
 
.'{() 
 
 ./ junii.iih: h'/:rh'i)sr/:cr 
 
 .liihilet' Address. 
 
 I >i'li\ end ill llic ilMriilllcjii < urilciiMic, UdodshM u. <iii|., |!ki' 
 
 Ml!. l'i{Ksii)r;NT AXi. Bkktiii!i;n:— It is not 
 from ;iuy choice of niiiic tluit I .-ipjujar hcfcre 
 you iit this hour. Ihit ior many !on«,' years it has 
 heen the rule of my Mfc to obey the l.iw of the 
 Churcli and to .sul'mit to those in authority. 
 When the presiih'ut asked me to preach a jubilee 
 sermon on the Conference Sunchiy I ventured to 
 decline, but when the Conference Si)ecial (Com- 
 mittee, at their session last fall in (Juelph, 
 earnestly and magnanimously recpiested, by 
 resolution, that this Conference should be opened 
 by such an address as I niicrht give in rccountin<' 
 the goodness of (iod to mo, and to the Zion of 
 my heart's affection and love during fifty years 
 of ministerial labor, I received it as a mandate, 
 and I am here. 
 
 It seems strange to think that I have been in 
 the active work of the Methodist Church f^r 
 fifty years— that during that j)eiiod men and 
 things— a great procession— have moved out and 
 away from me, while by tlie 'roodness of r„y\ to 
 me, a .sinner saved by grace, 1 am still active 
 
REV. JOIIX IVAk'F.r/K/J), /)./). 
 
 M 
 
 ami strong; jukJ Joyful in the work. And F want 
 to say thut I would latliur liavi! proiiclied the 
 (lospel for fifty years than to liave filled the 
 most exulted position that it is within the pi)wer 
 of this world to iAXvv to any man. 
 
 I'ermit nie to trespass upon your time by 
 referrin-,' u> two thing's whicli occurred prior to 
 I.S"}2. (ireut events do not mark the lives of 
 many. Life, for the most of us, is made up of 
 little thin<,'s and small he;,'innin<fH. Some of 
 thesi', however, an deeply and ineradicably 
 impressive. 
 
 l-'irst. — When a very small boy in England 
 there settled down u])on my child-heart a deep 
 s(MiIful conviction— not o.t all understoo<l— that 
 sometime, somehow, I must preach for Jesus in 
 a far-otr land. In a general way the physical 
 teatures of that land, as in a vision, were out- 
 lined and mapped in the mind, until at fourteen 
 yiars of a<re that earlier vision near Warwick 
 Castle found its reproduction and reality when 
 I stood, an English lad, here in this county of 
 < )xford. 
 
 Secondly.— I refer to my conversion to God in 
 IS+II. It was in an old-fashioned Methodist 
 meeting where there was some smoke, it is true, 
 • •lit where, I tell you, there was also a good deal 
 ol fire. After the .services had continued for 
 several weeks there came an hour when a visible 
 
32 
 
 A J U HI LEE REIROSrECT 
 
 jjflory tilli'd the pliicu of incctin;^. I can't cxpliiiii 
 it. I woiidiT if (jiixl thus iiiaiiilVstfil His 
 proHL'ice in the thiys of ohl ;" He cannot or will 
 not do HO now. Nevcrthele.ss a visiMe {^loiy, 
 seen by all and before which saints and .sinners 
 fell prostrate, filled tliat place ol nieetinj;, ind 
 scores cried to (lod and were saved, and I was 
 one. 
 
 In my remarks, as I proceed, it will help both 
 yon and me if 1 note a few of the different 
 events of the five decades which have led mc (■> 
 tliis jubilee year, dwellinj^, of course, more hujLjcly 
 upon matters iti the earlier decades, as my talk 
 is supposed to be reniini.scen* \v. its '^hani' !;»• 
 
 First. — A few thinj;s connected with the 
 country and the Church from 1S52 to IH(!2. 
 
 The country had been i^overned from Downing 
 St, but she had cut the leading strings, and had 
 obtained the right to manage her own atf'airs. 
 This right had not been gaine<l without a long 
 struggle, in which Methodism was alw.iys in the 
 var, being at that time, and still maintaining 
 the proportion, the largest Protestant Chureli in 
 Upper Canada. Among the causes of di.ssatis- 
 faction was thi fact that one-seventh of all the 
 Crown Lanils of the Province were s(!t apart for 
 religious j)urpose>«, and called ''The Clergy 
 Reserves." These wer< claimed by those repre- 
 senting the Establisheci oiuirches of the > .id land, 
 
h'E I '. JOHN 1 1 'A KEFIEI. />, D. D. 
 
 X\ 
 
 l)iit after twenty-Hve years of bitter controversy, 
 ill wliicli Dr. Kj^erton Rycrscni and (ieor<;e Hrown 
 lH)re the brunt, these reserves were handed over 
 to tlu' various municipalities for secular, or per- 
 haps iiion^ properly, educational uses. During 
 that period Methodist ministers labored under 
 many disabilities ; they could not, for example, 
 p(M-fi)nn the marriage ceremony, and it is con- 
 ceded on every handthat the successful i.ssue of 
 that eventful time is dut; largely to the prowess 
 and energy and matchless ability of our own Dr. 
 llyerson. 
 
 These \vere the days of bad roads and ox-carts 
 iind stage-coaches, wnen under the most trying 
 circumstances the lianly pioneers of the Province 
 sought their settlements in the forest wilder- 
 ness. Hut, in the year 18., "J, Lady Elgin, with 
 gi-eat ceremony, turned the first sod of the 
 Northern Railroad : the first in the country, 
 except a small section in Lower Canada. Then 
 l)egan the railroad era in this land, when, in 
 (|uick .succession, the Grand Trunk, and Great 
 Western, and others were planned, and speedily 
 carried to a successful termination. 
 
 At this time. 18.)2, the population of Upper 
 Canada was !)o2,001, while ten years later the 
 population of the whole of Canada was only 
 2,506,755. 
 
•M 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 In 18r)3 the first ocean steamer reacheil Quebec. 
 This seems incredible, when we are so accixs- 
 toiiied now to see all our rivers, canals and coasts 
 lined with lar<fe steamers, from the head of Lake 
 Superior to the Atlantic, a tlistance of 2,000 
 miles. 
 
 In 1852 the English lanfjua<re was one of the 
 less important languatjes of the world, judt^intr 
 by the numbers of those who used it ; now it is 
 spoken by 125,000,000, and this number is 
 increasing with great rapidity every year, 'i'he 
 thrill and glory of it is, that wherever the English 
 tonrjue is found there also is to be found the 
 highest civilization, material progress , a know- 
 ledire of the Euirlish Bible and of H)n<:land's God. 
 
 Turning from the material to the spiritual, let 
 us look for a moment at the position of the 
 Methodist Church in 1852. As I was at that 
 time a Wesleyan Methodist, I will be forgiven if 
 the statistics I give only relati' to that branch 
 of the Methodi.st family to which I belonged. 
 No one rejoices more than I do that now there 
 are no divisions among us. " All one body, we." 
 
 There were at that time, ministers and proba- 
 tioners, 212: members, with tho.se on trial, 
 27,585. Missionary income, £(),517 .']s. 7^,d. W(> 
 used the pounds, shillings and pence mode of 
 reckoning finance in those days. 
 
f'',V. JOHN I AKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 35 
 
 Of the 21 2 miniatcrs who were in the work, or 
 beijan with me in 1852, I believe less than a 
 dozen are alive. The C'onference that year, it 
 may be interesting to know, was held in Kings- 
 ton. Enoch Wood was President of the Confer- 
 ence and Superintendent of Mis.sions. Geo. K. 
 Sanderson was Secretary : Anson Green, Hook 
 Steward; James Spencer, Editor; Lachlan Tay- 
 lor, Agent for the Upper Canada Bible Society, 
 and Eg.'rton Ryerson, Chief Superintendent of 
 I'ublic Schools. 
 
 In the early summer of this year a camp-meet- 
 ing was held on my father's I'arm, as several 
 others were afterwards. At this meeting William 
 Ryerson, then chairman of the Brantford dis- 
 trict, came to me and said, " You must go on 
 circuit work." Those were the days when the 
 fathers spoke with authority. Both his tone and 
 message unnerved me, for I felt that I could only 
 fail, but on further pressing me I dare not refuse 
 lest I sin against God. He said, " They want 
 you on your own circuit, and if you would rather 
 remain here than go anywhere else you can do 
 NO." The Rev. Joseph Shepley was the super- 
 intendent of the Blenheim and Stratford circuit, 
 and there I was .sent, and my home was to be in 
 Stratford This circuit covered the territory 
 em braced in, at least, .seven or eight of ourpres- 
 
:5(; 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 ent circuits, and more than many of our modern 
 districts. IMy time was spent mostly on horse- 
 back, and my two valises, fastened to my saddle, 
 one before and one behind, readily carried my 
 belongings, libiary and ah. A comfortable home 
 had been provided for me at Robert Monteith's 
 by my ever kind and never-to-be-forgotten friend 
 and superintendent, the beloved Shepley. 
 
 The church in Stratford, where I preached my 
 first sermon, was a small, unfinished frame build- 
 ing, without plaster or any permanent seats ; 
 but I feared ai I dreaded it as though it had been 
 a large cathedral. ( )n Sunday morning the little 
 church was crowded to the doors, as it had been 
 amiounccd that a ruddy-faced lad with a voice 
 like a trumpet was to preach. 1 had a wretch- 
 edly hard time of it, and on starting to my after- 
 noon and evening appointments (which were in 
 the direction of home) I packed up every item 
 ot my belongings, strapped my valises to the 
 saddle, and resolved that Stratford should see 
 my face no more. In the afternoon I preached 
 from the same text— I had no other— in a room 
 of a hotel in Hell's Corners, or what is now 
 Shakespeare, and got along no better. From there 
 I proceeded east to Kite's church, a log building, 
 in which for many years the Gospel was preach- 
 ed, and large numbers Were blessedly saved. On 
 
REV. JOH r WAKEFIELD, D.D. 37 
 
 nearint^ the buildiiifj \ heard tlie voice of earnest 
 prayer, and the burden of the petition, borne up 
 to God by many amens, was for a blessinir upon 
 the hibors of the boy preacher who was coming 
 to them, and the mercury befjan to rise in my 
 whole spiritual system. I preached ajjain from 
 the same text— 1 had no other— but, oh, the 
 cliange. The mercury rose hij,dier and higher. 
 I had only spoken a short time when the power 
 of God came down upon the assembly and pre- 
 cious souls cried for mercy, in the old-fsishioned 
 way, in every part of the house. I never knew 
 how ' got out of that pulpit. They told me after- 
 wards that I laid one liand on the front oi" it, 
 and that 1 leaped over it and went down the 
 church, lUble in hand, exhorting as I went. That 
 meeting lasted until a late hour at night,— a large 
 number professed conversion, and that meeting 
 saved me to this ministry. In the morning I 
 started back to Stratford, feeling, if not really 
 singing, 
 
 " My talents, gifts, jind gmccs, Lord, 
 Into Thy blessed h;uids receive ; 
 And let me live to preach Thy Word, 
 
 And let nie to Thy j^lory live ; 
 My every sacred ninment s|)end 
 In publishing the .sinner's friend." 
 
 I remained on the circuit for a year, going f^ jni 
 
38 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 appointment to appointment, exhorting, visitini,', 
 pi-eachinj^ to sinners. 
 
 It was in my liome at Stratford that 1 saw a 
 hirc^e, unabridged dictionary for the first time in 
 my life. 1 had never looked upon one before, 
 and when 1 found that its purpose was the study 
 of words and grasped the idea of its great value 
 to me, 1 thought it better than a gold mine. 
 
 A man lived in Stratford by the name of .lames 
 Rus'.. He had five young men who were all 
 apprentices. They built a beautiful cutter and 
 said it was for the young preacher. They made 
 me a present of it, and I had it for the winter. 
 The boys became converted, I believe every one 
 of them, and very likely the fact tliat they made 
 and crave me the cutter had a good deal to do 
 
 with it. 
 
 I speak of these few and simple things for the 
 benefit of the young men in our ministry, whose 
 success in the work I have always cherished. 
 The year was one of hard work and some priva- 
 tion, as it was not a very unusual thing to brush 
 the drifted snow from the fioor with a pillow to 
 make a comfortable place upon which to lan<l 
 my feet in the morning. But from that tirst 
 Sunday night preaching was a luxury, so that 
 you will not wonder when 1 say that the year 
 Was one of much spiritual blessing. My salary 
 for the year was one hundred dollars. 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 39 
 
 It w.is (lurini? iny year jit Stratford tliat I 
 met for the fiist time the Rev. E<.(erton llyerson. 
 It was ill tliis way. I always remeiiiljer it, and 
 iiuw speak oi it as an evidence of the greatness 
 of the man. He wa.s makin<; his first tour of 
 the country as Superintendent of Education. 
 The diirnitaries of the place jjjave him a public 
 reception and presented him with an address, to 
 which, before a j^reat thronj; gathered in the 
 open air, he made a lengthened reply. The 
 leailing citizens were introduced to him, and 
 among tlie rest the ministers of the different 
 ehurches. With my usual modesty I kept at 
 the back of the crowd. He in([uired about me, 
 however, and said he had lieanl of me, and 
 asked, " Where is the young Methodist minis- 
 ter ■* " I was taken and introduced to him, when 
 he addressed nie with many kind and encour- 
 a;,Mng words. Well do I remember his fine, 
 iuardy figure, his full head of bushy hair, his 
 flashing eyes. He impressed me as being a 
 moral and intellectual giant, an impression that 
 I have never lost. But the thouirhtful kindne.ss 
 of the man that day has always been to me one 
 signiMcant proof that he was great. 
 
 1 was asked to return to the Stratford circuit 
 for another year, but my ever faithful superin- 
 ituident dissuaded me. He told me I did not know 
 
40 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSrECT 
 
 much, which was tiuo. He tol«l ine further that 
 as men were scarce, if T was received ow trial I 
 would have to <;o to a circuit, and that I would 
 probably never get to college: so, having a 
 great thirst fo-- knowledge, I stri'ted for Victoria 
 on my own responsibility. On my way, I saw 
 in the city of Hamilton a Methoilist Conference 
 for the first time At that Conference Dr. Griffin 
 and three others were ordained. Dr. Griffin 
 may sing, " My company Ijefore is gone," for the 
 other members of his class have preceded him to 
 the better land. 
 
 It was at tliat time in Hamilton that I saw 
 and heard for the first time that womlerful 
 evangelist, the Rev. James Caughey, who was 
 tall oi stature, spare in build, with striking 
 features, an eye like an eagle's. His voice was 
 as clear as a bugle call, and with it he certainly 
 did not fail to declare the whole counsel of God. 
 Joel Carpenter had welcomed me to his home, 
 and I was thus privileged to hear this man of 
 God. In the afternoon his theme and manner 
 were gentle, persuasive, instructive, but his night 
 sermon : How the bolts flew ! He took for his 
 text, "The wicked shall be turned into hell." 
 When the wrath of God against unrighteous- 
 net • was portrayed with ter-ifying power, -jcores 
 w» ^ converted. 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 41 
 
 As it is a mutter of historic interest, there is 
 one other matter connected with this Conference 
 I may be permitted to mention. I heard the 
 Revs. John Borhmd, John Jenkins and James 
 Ihock.a dele<,'ation from the Province of Quebec, 
 whicli up to that time had been a district of the 
 Britisli Conference, proposing a union with our 
 VV(;sleyan Church in the West, a union which was 
 shortly afterwards successfully consummated. 
 
 The term I spent af, college in the years 18.')3- 
 1M.')4 (the college year extended from June until 
 June, with two weeks' holidays at Christmas), 
 passed swiftly away. But it was an eventful 
 time, so deeply impressive that it can never be 
 obliterated from my memory. I was led into 
 holding protracted services at Baltin»ore during 
 Christmas holidays, where many were converted. 
 A work oi' gi-ace of wonderful proportions 
 bloke out in the town of Cobourg, where the 
 Rev. George R. Sanderson was pastor. Large 
 numbers of the students were converted, and 
 the inHuence of that blessed revival, as Chan- 
 cellor Burwash told me lately, .still lives. Where 
 ought there to be revivals of religion if not in 
 our seats of learning? Thank God, the influence 
 of that revival was not felt in college life only, 
 but it proved, as all such times of refreshing 
 and surrender to God in college halls must 
 
42 A J UIUI. KF. RF. TROSI'FC T 
 
 prove, to lie a bfiicdictioii to the wlioli- ClHireh 
 ami country. This you will readily iH-licve 
 wlicu I tell you that it was thrre that a 
 Carnian, a llyckiiiaii, a Mr. .Ju.sticc Ihitton, and 
 scores of others, were savingly converted to (iod. 
 'J'lu! whole professional life of this country, in 
 law, in nu'dicine, and in (government, has felt 
 the impulse; and reajied tho henelit of that 
 awakeniu}^'. 
 
 I <,avatly desired to remain at college, hut 
 l..adiii<;- men in the L'hurch toM me that souls 
 were perishing and being lost, and that I W(juld 
 ho responsible for their loss if I did "ot go and 
 ])reach to them. 1 have since been sorry that 
 I took their advice, though I nnist confess that 
 much of my ministry has l)een tilled with sun- 
 shine. In 1.S5;") I was ;' Ingersoli, in 1S.")(> at 
 Woodstock, in both of wliich there was a large 
 measure of material and spiritual progress, 
 which have left only pleasant memories upon 
 the mind of the speaker. 1 remember with satis- 
 faction such standbys as John !'arker, .lames 
 ;ind William Scarti" James Ilawlings, Ceorge 
 I'arr and others 
 
 In l«5.j I heard William Case at the Confer- 
 ence iu London preach his jubilee sermon, a copy 
 of which 1 hold in my hand, lie took for his 
 text Psalm 25. H), " All the paths of the Lord 
 
REV. JOHN IVAKF.hlEI.D. I). I). 
 
 4;! 
 
 MIC iiirit'v .•mil ti'iitli unto such as keen hisfov*;- 
 ii.iut ainl hi.; 'cstiiuonies." As I reineniljor him 
 hr \v;is a ui.iii of m('(liuiii liei^'ht, with a kimlly 
 CDUiitt'iiancc und every (nidence of a fully coii- 
 srciated life. Ho was horn in the Ciiited States 
 in I7S0, and came into Canada r'ui. Fort Erie to 
 preach the Gospel, crossinj; the Nia<;ara River in 
 a \\)\s hoat, while his horse, led hy the hridle, 
 swam hehind him. For ei<,diteen years he liad 
 (•liar<,re of important districts. He took a great 
 interest in the Indians, indeed was called 
 
 The apostle to the Indians." Xot lonj,' after 
 he preached the sermon to which I have referred, 
 hr died at the Alnwick Mission, north of Co- 
 l)ourj.j, as the result of a fall from his horse. He 
 was seventy-five years of afje, and it will he 
 s.-en that he ministry of Flder Case and that of 
 my own span the 19th century. 
 
 During the year IS.')? a marvellous revival 
 set the Walsingham CMrcuit aiiame. I at- 
 tended eight or ten ditierent camp-meetings, in 
 different places, within a few years, and wit- 
 nessed hun(h-eds of conversions to God. These 
 meetings were marked hy many phy.sical mani- 
 le-^tations that 1 nee<l not stop to explain. 
 
 The close of this decade finds me entering 
 upon my third year on the Drummondville 
 cncuit. What a change the.se ten years have 
 
imfi 
 
 44 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 l)r()U<iht: Tliu siidtlk" and vjiliscs luivc liir^vly 
 ;rivfii place t(. the coiiirortiible l>u;,';;y, the sta,i;v- 
 coach to the raihoad, tlie Kpinnin<,-\vheel (o the 
 weaver's loom, the or^'an and tlie ])iaiio, whde 
 the l)oardi!i<;-house has hcen ^rnindly supplanted 
 hy a comfortable home of my own 
 
 In IStil (5od favored us with a remarkable 
 revival of reli^it)n on the Drununondville circuit 
 It had been the unhap[)y scene of discor.ls and 
 Church trials for several years, which bore their 
 usual fruit of evil, si)iritual deartli and death, 
 and I began the services, therefore, in sheer des- 
 peration, without the slightest sign of revival. I 
 jM-eached for tlu; first five weeks to about thirty 
 people, but persevered. (Jradually the nundjer 
 <rrew until, during the last six or seven weeks oi 
 a twelve weeks' meeting, the house was crowdi'd 
 at every service. (iod gave us as the fruit of 
 that labor seventy-six heads of families, one 
 liundred and one joined the Churcli, of whom 
 only one, so far as I know, proved unfaithful. 
 Tliis was but one of a series of revivals in the 
 old Niagara district. There had been ])rioi- 
 to this a camp-meeting at Smithville an«l at 
 (Jiimsby. This meeting was followed tlie next 
 year by a large and powerful camp-meeting at 
 Drunanondville, and by the lontr and successful 
 series of sucii meetings at Grimsby. The hitter 
 
R/:V. JOHN WAKF.riRl.]), />./). 
 
 45 
 
 was rst;ii)lislit'<l in lS.")f>, jiinl lor yjirs it Wiis a 
 ci'iitrt' of jfrcat spiritual iiillucncc and power. I 
 iiia_\- lie ])ri\ ilc;^r((l to say that I am the only 
 one now livm;^ of tlic int-nihcrs of the district 
 coniniittre appcjinted to select tlie nri-ound, and I 
 preached the first sermon ever delive'od upon it, 
 takini: for my text, " There is a souml of abund- 
 ance of rain.'' In this work, in that old jmrt 
 of the country, I was as.sociatcd with such men 
 as Samuel Rose, Samuel I), liice, Isaac H. 
 Howard, Edward Wliite, .lolni Shaw, Michael 
 Kawcett, .lonathan E. Betts, Alexander Suther- 
 land, .John I'otts, and scores of others, most of 
 whom have passed into the beyond. 
 
 It was in LS(il, while I was stationed at the 
 l'\ills, that the Ameri'-an War broke out, and I 
 well remember the deep impression made when 
 t he rirst ^un was tired at Fort Sumpter. 1 cannot 
 recall the circumstances of those days without 
 thinkiiijr of the really terrible nature of that 
 wai". It cost the United States about 500,000 
 men antl five billions of money. Think of a war 
 in which, at its close, the General (Gen. Grant) 
 hail 1,000,000 of men under arms, and durinc 
 which 2,000 pitched battles hud been fouLdit. 
 Hut the war not only ileveloped (Jen. (Jrant, but 
 it also <fave to the woi Id's roll of honor Abraham 
 Liiicuin. More than tliat, the fetters, the irvves 
 
w 
 
 A JUIilI.EE R/:7h'(KSl'/:CT 
 
 .f 
 
 fvci-v slave wi'if 
 
 lirok 
 
 »'ii, 
 
 Ullil 
 
 til 
 
 cursf oi 
 
 slavery lifted IVoiii this continent. 
 
 Dnrin^' the course ol" the war iimny ol' "iir 
 horiUr territories were renilere(l uns.it'e tor 
 tnivellin;^ hy the liounty-juiiipers iin<l sk(!ilail- 
 (ilers of tlmt awful period. .Many times 1 have 
 had them on my track Imt I always kept a ^^ood 
 horse and no leal trouhle happened me. 
 
 As this decade closes we have, ministers and 
 ]»rohationers, 4N7, »n increase of "27 o . meml»ers, 
 iiichnlin*; those on trial, o-i'^S'), an increase of 
 2(i,N()0: while the niissionar}- income reacheil a 
 total of S»J:{,-277. 
 
 It will he evident to you that as I pass from 
 this memoralile period I have reached a point 
 where sentences must include decades. 
 
 I well remember l)ein<; in the Stationin;; 
 Committee of tho Conference at Montreal when 
 the Ion <f- threatened Fenian invasion tcjok place 
 at Fort Krie in iSdn. y)n the 1st of .Iinie 
 (Jeneral O'Neal had landed 1 ,400 troops (so 
 called), and attempted to reach the Welland 
 Canal. WopI came to Montreal that seven 
 T' -into volunteers were killed at Rid^eway. 
 'I . ,, Rev. E. R. Votnif,' sent me a letter which 
 he wrote on the dead hoily of a F(!iiian, 
 ami it was published in tlie Mantrcdl Witness 
 
 I 
 
 riiiay, k'^utiiiuay ;in>i ."jun-uiy 
 
 were 
 
 nVH o 
 
RE V. J I )HN li -.1 KEhlEL P, /). P. 
 
 ^Tfjit cxcitrm.iit. On Jijiif Htli (H-iicral Spt 
 
 111' 
 
 ami 
 
 ,()()() 
 
 iiKMi crossed 
 
 th 
 
 IrontitT !it St. 
 
 AIIkims, Tlif wliolf l)()i(l«T, li-oni Detroit t< 
 
 the State of M 
 
 III 
 
 ir. Was IlieTiaceil !)>' tills ra'^oed 
 
 worthless ht.r.le of cut throats ami nithans, ami 
 no one knew what would hecoiiie of it. It is 
 appan'm that the I niteil States (jovernuient diil 
 nothing' ui 'il woii-ni^^h fori-eil • . do it thron<,di 
 the protests of the eneri^vtic l; .Minister at 
 
 Washin^'toii. 'I'hen (Jenoral .Meaue seized the 
 iiiwiiitions of war from uur would-lie invaders 
 and put an einl to the farce. 
 
 Ill lN(i7 the provinces of t'aiiad 
 
 a wore con- 
 federated, and the Act came into force on tlio 
 1st of July amid ^fetieral rei<)icin;,rs all over the 
 land. In iStJN the Hudson's Hay Company 
 surrendered its rights to the Crown, and soon 
 eonfederateil Canada reached from the Atlantic 
 to the Pficitic. 
 
 The jlev. Will. Morley Pun.shon, I ).!)., that 
 peerless orator, . uiiie to tliis country in l>S(i,S, 
 •md remained until l.S7:{. I heanl him ;;ive his 
 famous lecture on "Daniel in liabylon " for (he 
 first time in Canada, in the Centenary Church, 
 Hamilton. He was present at the farewell 
 nieetiiijr to our three niissionuries, who were sent 
 ill that \v;u- to Manitoba, nam(lv: (jeorce 
 
 \'oiner. K. R. N Onne- .•'.'id I'efiV ( ';iie.i!}»!j T Ijiid 
 
 already heard of th' glorious promise of a great 
 
48 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 land in the valley of the Saskatchewan, from 
 George McDougall, of heroic memory. But it 
 was now my pleasure to entertain the mission- 
 aries at Grimsby, and to look upon the caravan 
 with which they set forth on their long and 
 arduous journey. Our missions date from 1823. 
 At a missionary meeting held at the Fifty, in 
 18G7, through the kindness of Mrs. Peter Jones, 
 I came into the possession of the tirst annual 
 return for missions, so far as I can make out. 
 It was as follows : — 
 
 Stratford §2:i (» 
 
 Ancfister and SaltHeet 44 00 
 
 Trafalgar 1*> '^ 
 
 Bertie ] f, 
 
 Sniithville... ';> 2o 
 
 Lyons' Creek 12 <>'- 
 
 Thorold '* ^^ 
 
 Beverly *» {^ 
 
 Long Point '> ^_ 
 
 John Keagey « 2;) 
 
 The Ministers at Conferenco !•) -in 
 
 Total «144 00 
 
 This bears the endorsement of Dr. Green. The 
 first report told of the conversion of Thomas 
 Davis, who was the first Indian convert. He 
 was a noble specimen of physical manhood and 
 a chief of the Mohawks upon the Grand River. 
 His conversion took place in 1 823. The con- 
 version also of Peter Jones and his sister Mary 
 at a camp-meeting held at Ancaster by Elder 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 49 
 
 Case opened the door for the conversion of the 
 Indians. It was not long after this when Peter 
 Jacobs and John Sunday wore won as trophies 
 for God near Kingston. And I lieard Peter 
 Jones say lie had kept a record of more than 
 l.oOO Indians who had died happy in the Lord, 
 I was present at the meeting of the General 
 Board of Missions, lield at Brockville, when it 
 was decided in the interests of the work, as a 
 response to duty and an inspiration to the peo- 
 ple, to establish a foreign mission. Accordingly 
 in 1872 our first missionaries were sent to Japan, 
 in the persons of George Cochrane and Davidson 
 McDonald. In that year, which closes another 
 decade in my experience, I was at Aylmer, in 
 the Ottawa district, under very trying circum- 
 stances — circumstances of Church difficulty both 
 on the circuit and the Ottawa district, of which 
 I now had charge. These things, however, soon 
 iiappily passed away and prosperity shortly 
 afterwards reigned. 
 
 The returns of our Methodist membership at 
 that time in the country were as follows : Min- 
 isters aiui jn-obationers, C57, an increase of 170 ■ 
 members, including those on trial, 69,597, an 
 increase of 15,212. And the missionary income 
 liad climbed to 8^94,010. 
 
 The year 1H74 i.n important and eventful in 
 4 
 
5() 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 the history of Canadian Methodism by reason of 
 the union that w.a8 noiselessly and harmoniously 
 effected between three of its branches, namely, 
 the Wesleyan Church of the West, the Wesleyans 
 of Eastern British America and the New Con- 
 nexion Church in Canada. There seemed to be 
 something very natural in this union. Of course 
 it introduced, of necessity, a new order of 
 Church government as, for example, the for- 
 n.ation of several annual conferences, a General 
 Conference and the introduction of laymen into 
 the legislative body. The first General Confer- 
 ence met in the Metropolitan Church (then the 
 largest Metlodist edifice in the world) in ?-p- 
 tember, 1874, under the presidency of the late 
 Rev. Egerton Ryerson, D.D. Many of the men 
 at that Conference who have now gone to their 
 reward, stand out very clearly before my mind, 
 as well as many who are yet spared to th 
 Church. The United Church started out with 
 the following members: Ministers and proba- 
 tioners, 1,031; members, including those on 
 trial, 101,946. 
 
 Let me now speak only of one or two things 
 concerning my work in St. Mary's, Chatham 
 and Hamilton up to 18S2. During this period 
 I was six years chairman of districts, one year 
 assistant secrct.ary nf Conference and one year 
 
F:EV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 51 
 
 secreturj' of Conference. I was a delegate to 
 the General Conference in 1878 at Montreal 
 was president of the London Conference in 
 1880, a member of the Ecumenical Conference in 
 1.S81, so that whatever sweets and trials there 
 were in official positions I had them to the full, 
 and as nobody else will probablv say it of me or 
 for me, I will say it myself i-evcry burden and 
 every responsibility has driven me nearer to 
 CJod, and to every duty the Church has laid 
 upon me I have ^aven of the best that was in 
 me to fulfil it. 
 
 There was also given to me to witness during 
 this period filled with many official anxieties 
 the greatest revival tliat I have ever seen on a cir- 
 cuit. It was e.stimated that over 1,000 souls 
 were converted to God in the town of Chatham. 
 This was a unio. meeting under the leadership 
 of Rev. E. P. Ha.Mmond. 
 
 In 1881 a most important enterprise was 
 launched in our Church by the organization of 
 the Woman's Missionary Society. This took 
 place in the Ladies' College at Hamilton. The 
 necessity of such a missionary agency was ur<red 
 by the late John McDonald at a regular anni- 
 versary of the Mi.ssionary Society in the Cen- 
 tenary Church, held some time previously, and he 
 generously urged the people of Hamilton to 
 
52 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 seize the honor of lea<linj? in tlie matter. He 
 ottered at that time the first subscription in the 
 name of Mrs. McDonald, givin^; SlOd. The 
 Society then organized has already done a noble 
 work. It has been well managed from the 
 beginning. lis annual income is now about 
 !?50,000, and I don't know wh^t we would do 
 without it. 
 
 After the Ecumenical Conference in 18SI the 
 Canadian delegates were called to meet in the 
 Carlton Street Methodist Church ..i Toronto, 
 where it was arranged that each delegate was to 
 •rive an account of some distinct pha.se of the 
 Conference. It fell to me to speak of " The 
 Results of the Conference." I ventured to sug- 
 gest some method by which the Methodist 
 churches still holding a separate existence could 
 be broui^.it nearer together. I did not go so far as 
 to speik of an organized union, and at that time 
 there certaiuK appeare<l to be no outward sign 
 of such a union. Yet it came. From that hour 
 union .seemed to br in the air. No one could 
 tell from whence it came, but in September of 
 1S82 and again in Novembi r, union committees 
 were hehl in Toronto to formulate a " basis of 
 union" whose findings were submitted to th»; 
 Quarterly Ho.trds of the different churches for 
 their appro- d. V large majijiily .oted in lavor 
 
^^^' JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 5.1 
 
 of tlie ttTiuM, HO that one year later, in September, 
 1HN3, a CJeneral Conference was hel.l i„ Helle- 
 ville to complete tlie .scheme. I opposed the 
 ••asis as unjust and did it for all I was worth 
 althoufrh I ha<l always been in favor of union' 
 lint I felt that in the union of 1874 the Wesleyan 
 hranclKto which I belonjred.had made concessions 
 enou-h-and I think so still -while at this time 
 still more and ^rreator were being demanded. It 
 appeared to me that those who had yielded the 
 most before were beinrr called upon to ,lo it 
 H;,'iun-and I opposed it. I thou<rht that the 
 door was already wide enough for any who 
 wantcl to enter in. I have to say, however 
 and I do so gratefully and gladly, that it looks 
 as though God approved it and that He has 
 graciously crowned it with His signal hlessinrr 
 I lie bodies M-hich united at this time were : 
 
 The Methodist Church of Canada, which 
 brought into it— 
 
 Miiii.sters . „ii- 
 
 \t I i,Jii> 
 
 J^',T';7Vi •; i2«,«;44 
 
 .VliDlars 1.-{1',.{1'0 
 
 TheMethodist Episcopal Church, which brou<dit 
 
 into it— " 
 
 Ministers .,.,„ 
 
 Meiiilicrs ,,-"-, 
 
 Suii<l;iy School Scholars. . ..'.'.'..!. 2;;jm8 
 
64 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 Tlie Primitive Methodist Church of Canada, 
 
 which brought into it — 
 
 Ministers p^ 
 
 MeiiiLers ^-''-'^ 
 
 Scholars ",0'''> 
 
 The Bible Christian Church of Canada, whose 
 
 nuuioers were — 
 
 Ministers ^ J-J 
 
 Members ' -•'•'^ 
 
 Scholars '•/.'•«• 
 
 Tliis made the United Methodist Church the 
 largest Protestant body in the Dominion, with— 
 
 Ministers and Probationers ^'*''*'.! 
 
 Members, with those on trial. .. 1»)!>,803 
 Church property, valuation $!), 130,807 
 
 The year 188:J was filled with shadows forme 
 on account of the breaking down of my health. 
 From the beginning of my ministry 1 had been 
 in labors more abundant without much recreation 
 u/ rest, and my constitution, which had been so 
 strong and healthful, failed me. I had thus to 
 learn that the powers of physical endurance have 
 their limits. Many of my brethren thought that 
 my work was nearly done, but God, in His own 
 way, turned my trouble into a blessing. It had 
 been a desire of mine, cherished for a long time, 
 to see more of the world, and esp. Jally of the 
 world in tlu.' southern seas. I had read a great 
 deal about the work in Fiji, in the New lleb- 
 
Rr^V. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 55 
 
 rides, in Samoa, and upon the island continent 
 of Australia. A cliange of climate was esteemed 
 positively necessary for me if my life was to be 
 prolongeil ; accordingly, I started on a journey 
 around the world on July 22nd, 1884, and for 
 nearly three years I lingered in the sunny south- 
 ern lands. Some of the brightest days recorded 
 upon the tablets of my memory are connected 
 with the ac([uaintances I formed there of many 
 noble men and women in Christ, who boL.. treated 
 lue with great kindness, and bestowed upon me 
 every possible honor. I believe much of this was 
 not for my own sake, but from the fact that 1 was 
 a Methodist minister from Canada. I came into 
 contact with and learned to love many of those 
 who, in order that they might win the cannibal 
 heathen for Jesus Christ, counted not their lives 
 dear unto themselves. It was a matter of rejoic- 
 ing too that, while necessarily absent from my 
 beloved Canada, I was enabled to do some work 
 for (jod. Among other things, I took regular 
 Sabbath work on ona of the Melbourne circuits 
 for more than two years, and I am not without 
 hope that from my service there some fruit shall 
 be found at the great comintr dav. 
 
 In May, 1S8G, I was present at the Jubilee of 
 Methodism in Victoria, which was held in the 
 Exhibition building, Melbourne. Without any 
 
56 
 
 A jrniJEE h'/-:rh\)sr/:cT 
 
 pressure beinj; lifouj^lit to lioar, but in u sim|>li 
 response to the opportunity aff>ir<l(Ml, SlOo.OOO 
 was contributed to the Jubilee Fund. 'I'he day 
 was memorable in every way. Tliree thousand 
 people were present at breakfast. Tea was 
 .served to more than four thousand. In the 
 eveninij a mammoth meetintj was held, svlien 
 John Watst'ord preached the jubilee sermor 
 
 Since I returned home, restored in lieu .ii, I 
 have been able to do fourteen years of, perhaps, 
 as good work as I have everdoiu; for the Master. 
 These years, however, are so near to us that 1 
 need not repeat their history. One thin<,' which 
 has impressed me most 1 will mention. I refer 
 to the Kcumenical Conference in Wasliington in 
 181)1. Some things connected with it cannot be 
 forgotten, p.<i., the sermon of the Rev. \Vm. 
 Arthur, read by the Hev. Bowman Stephenson : 
 the visit of the Conference to the President at 
 the White House : the visit of I'resid.'iit Har- 
 rison, with the late Lord Pamicefote the iiritish 
 Ambassador, and many other notabl neTi, to 
 the Conference. Perhaps tlie most noteworthy 
 feature of that memorable gathering was the 
 deep spirit not only of Christian brotherhood, 
 but aloo, very markedly, of Methodist union, 
 which like leaven put into the meal is still oper- 
 ating. Since that time Australian Metlujdism 
 
/>'/:/-. yrVAV WAKEFIELD, D.D. 57 
 
 hiis bcoiiK.' united, of which tlie first conference 
 
 h.is jn.st heen hehl, while the <,<reat Episcopal 
 
 ("hurches in tlie ['nitod States, north and south, 
 
 ;ire surely C(jinin<; much nearer tojjether. 
 
 The close of this decade fjave us, as nearly as 
 
 the correct fi<,'ures are obtainable : 
 
 Ministers ,iiul Prol)fiti<>nerH l 74^ 
 
 MeirihtTs, incliidin<,' tliose en triiil. 23;{,'8»W 
 
 niurch property, wurth Sll,5!»r!49J 
 
 Minsk iriiuy iiicimic S'249 385 
 
 Coiitriliutioiis for all purix.ses §M,U«:{i9<J7 
 
 Durin^r the last decade there are three thin crs 
 in our own Church whicli will ever stand out hi 
 monumental significance. 
 
 First. — The great awakening among our young 
 pt'ople, and their organization for the bringing 
 ..f the world to Christ. This is best seen in the 
 large number of educated and devoted young 
 Mirn atid women who have freely offered, not 
 only their money, but also themselves, to lift the 
 race up to God, and it is also to be observed in 
 the g.!neral helpfulness of our Epworth Leaguers 
 in all good work. I should get along but poorly 
 oil my circuit without the help of the young. 
 They have wonderfully improved in the past few 
 years, and limitless possibilities for good yet lie 
 liefore them. 
 
 Second.— The steadily increasing number of 
 those who are making money fast, and to whose 
 trust (Jod is committing great wealth, who are 
 
58 
 
 A J V HI LEE RETROSPECT 
 
 consecrating at least onu-tonth of their income 
 to the advancement of the hi<,'her e«hication t>' 
 the youn^' and to the spread of the (Jospei in all 
 
 lands. 
 
 Third.— The apparent ease and manifest 
 enthusiasm with which the Church raised in .so 
 short n time, and without the aid of special 
 a<,'encies, a million and a (juarter of dollars for 
 the Twentieth (VnturyThanks<,'ivin<,' Fund; the 
 name of Dr. .John Potts will ever stand linked to 
 this historic movement in Canadian Methodism. 
 Worl(l-iri<lf Methodism held its third Heu- 
 menical Conference in the City of London, Eng- 
 land, in 1901, of which I had the honor of beinjr 
 a n\eniber— one of the very few who have been 
 privileged to attend all three of the Ecumenical 
 Conferences of Methodism. In the proviilenci 
 of God its fruit for good is sure to appear. 
 
 I must make passing reference to the rapid 
 increase of wealth in our country during the 
 past few years. This is especially noticeable by 
 an exanunation of the Public Revenue returns 
 for the past ten months. Canada's aggregate 
 trade for the past ten months, ending April 
 •SOth, amounted to 8338,522,149, an increase 
 of 827,446.220 over the same period of last 
 year. The ever increasing knowledge and the 
 ever unfolding revelation of the natural re- 
 sources and possibilities of Canada convince me 
 
RFA'. JOHN lVAKEin-:i.l\ D.I). .-,!> 
 
 that there is l.eton; her a rutuif of such in.i<,nii- 
 tudi- and j,'h)iy, tliat it is iinpossibh- to fxa;^- 
 ^'erate in the expression of it. 1 l.elieve it will 
 surpass anythin;; that the most far-seein;; and 
 sai!;,'uine man in the J)oniinion has dared to put 
 forward as his dream. 
 
 Two thin<,rs have transpired durin-,' the decade, 
 artectinjj^ the Kinpirc at lar<,a', which will stand 
 out conspicuously upon the pa;,'es of history. 
 
 First.— The serious and epochal character of 
 the war in South Africa. The mi;,'ht of the 
 British Emi)ire was at stake, and the loyalty of 
 
 the ("oloni 
 
 es was tested ; but the strai 
 
 n put 
 
 upon each hut served to show their firm found 
 tions. But .somethinj.,' better will he the result, 
 namely, the fact that (iod has made use of that 
 racial conflict to lift a lari^^e number of the .sons 
 of men to a hi(,du'r civilization, to open a path 
 of more rapid pro^M-ess, and to hasten the rei^ai 
 of purer and better spiritual realities. Inci- 
 dentally it will al.so serve to fructify and render 
 more fruitful a lar^'e part o»' li earth's sui-face. 
 produein^r comfort and even wealth for millions 
 of our fellowmen yet to be. 
 
 Secondl- This decade holds in its embrace 
 the memory of the death of Queen Victoria, the 
 idol of h'T people, the ([ueenly woim.:i and the 
 woiiiiinly Queen, respected by the j;ood in every 
 land, and who, for all time to come will be re- 
 
CM 
 
 J / liii.F.r. RETh'osrr.cT 
 
 ;_rar'lf(| as ii iimdi'l !'■ m' tlir lulfi's of nal i us. 1 . 
 tlii>i coiin.'cf idii 11 wonl n.iy lif tittiii;,'ly vp.! . ri 
 of \ ''lli , ,1 McKiiilcy the li')iitst-lii-)ir 'I ml 
 ahl ■ 1' I ixlist, I osiii iit of the rrtitcii - it-"^ 
 wli iii-i'i; ,■ this p.'i-ioil was assassin ttrcl, 
 
 '■ Mf I'.i^iiiiiciiical ( ont'tTciK-f of .Missions, wli. m 
 w ■ li.i ! 'i\. N<'\\ York in t'lc \\h< 'n < : A|iiil. 
 I'lC I! \ hicli w !■- Ill}' ])i'iviit •' i(i iittcml, 
 \V! ' Ion,' 1"^ r''iar,iilH.'ri-il h\ tli<' (*1 -.tiai oi ' 
 us tilt ,.• It: l(- ■ s[)ii ' iial ;,'iitiH'rini:; \\\v liit'day 
 of I't'iiti'co^' M;tii\ who altciiilf'l I W'l'f iii'vci- 
 MS ntijir !ii;i\cii ' ore, iid ciii 'a i!t,'l\- cxpfct 
 to he a;j!iin uiii wh<Mi I'io^h' , in i i.fht<ousiifss, 
 tlu'y stand Im fore (loo \\\> liiii for a moinc; t 
 what ( iod has wrought uh'ii i ;^.ith>'rin>,' tlir 
 1 inie of Clir -^tian missions ui^rs to its a— cm 
 hly, with sympati tic and hcjil 'il ou-opo.ition 
 in their lepi^ seruati capai t\-, such persons ,i~i 
 William McKitilcv , 1. njami ilarrisDn'riici lor. 
 Koost'velt and S. h Low 
 
 The ilccadc w' ''h dose-, with this, t.,, nil ili 
 year. arti)rd> the loi w iiej,- tiLjiin witli h ?•• 
 
 S(;t forth th^ sti ■ni^l.i the Met odisL ' ii 
 in ('ana(hi : 
 
 .Ministt ' ill'! I'l^iKltin THnViT •' 
 
 Mciiilit 111(1 J'ri>l);i' ,.rs . . ifH'.i 
 
 Clmnli jii.ipcrty \.i!i, > .it -^ l(i,(; 'U.im «i 
 
 A Uiereiits of tin- C'liii! h J.tHMi,()i > 
 
 Missiiiiiiir\ inii.iiie f"" Irs j> it !!>l!e'i.4- 
 
 ( uiitril. itiuns f. ill! .ri.,,scs 8S,i>7-_',U<' 
 
A'A / 
 
 /' VA II ',1 ■/■:/■•//■://), 
 
 .1). 
 
 til 
 
 '"'' ''' 't ■ ,du Ic ti,.- .>?1,2.)0. •fX) of the 
 
 "'•l< .1. ul tin. j.ivsc'ii tiiiR. Ill the Me>h,>- 
 
 11 Im- - 
 
 
 •■It V 
 
 fi 
 
 '10 
 
 r .1 i 
 
 i"i)ii. 
 
 4H, .,!» 
 
 — 7,(MM,i>Hr) 
 
 ', I'lt'Iy uttoreil 
 •'lis' holds theh, 
 
 I 
 n>ti 
 
 IS 
 
 i''ve .she IS i ivv 
 
 it CDIIMIlUIl 
 
 Iwlls 
 
 1 I f 1 1 
 
 •llt'S, 
 
 ^n<»ri. s iloctnncs she 
 
 I' Vrii ;iiail th' ilo;ry^ p,.,„ .,j 
 ts of utiivi rsal atoiitiinent .ml 
 with her itimniiit iiiinistr^ 
 
 III- 
 
 irii- 
 
 .li.cli Vpostolic system I h,.] 
 
 M-th 
 il< 
 
 levc 
 
 -L ppwhcr uii.k'r the Ijaj-tisi, 
 ■st and of power is, and sliall h 
 bi' I sort of incaiiiati) revival 
 
 rv 
 
 itiial 
 
 !'■ and energy that the .j.ir 
 'I' '•'' ill rise all around h n, his 
 I -t- nee rebuke to sin, and a call to n 
 
 111 the ' 'hurch of our lev 
 
 its full si 
 
 Very 
 !pent- 
 f tui(rht soon to do 
 
 Kire in the conversion of the world. 
 
 liren, we are the 
 
 lal d 
 
 esoendants of 
 
 rors, of ir„d|y „.en uiul wouLii wli.jse Hves 
 raci 'i-s are a rich le^^acy, indeed, to the 
 
 •h of the present. I would extol theui f 
 
 or 
 
62 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 tlieir luiroisiii ami <levotioii, junl for their lives 
 of iiiarvellous sacrifice and trial. Of the few 
 who linjrer with us, like myself far advanced in 
 years, I cannot now speak, but the most of them 
 rest from their labors and their works do follow 
 
 them. 
 
 I count it a jjreat honor to have been per- 
 mitte«l to spend so many years in such ji;oodly 
 company, to have been a sharer in their toil and 
 harvest, and to have been a partaker of fellow- 
 ships so hallowed. Many of us who are in the 
 Church to-day oucrht to be better. Every voice 
 that reaches us from out the past urges us to a 
 fuller, richer, hi<,'her, deeper, miijhtier consecra- 
 tion and to the attainments of a larj^er and 
 grander life. T.ut I do not look into the future 
 as a pessimist. I choose the eyes of the optimist. 
 For myself the shadows are lengthening— they 
 are creeping far to the east. Sunset is at hand. 
 Hut for the Church of God I see no lengthening 
 shadows which tell of the coming eventide. The 
 sun is not sinking behind the <listant hills to be 
 followed by the darkness. Rather, I see him 
 rising, full orbed and glorious, with the tread 
 of a fiant, to the arch of the heavens in his 
 noonday splendor and looking down upon 
 an illuminated ami an emancipated world. 
 The flower is not fading, but bursting every 
 
REV. JO FIN WAKEFIELD, D.D. fiS 
 
 liour into <ri-efitor beauty and riclicr fragrance. 
 We are not (. .spondent, but full of faith and 
 hope, for the Lord reigneth. My work is nearly 
 done, but while I live I will sinrr : — 
 
 "I live for those who h»ve ine, 
 
 For those wlio know me true. 
 For the heiivons tliat siuile »lK)ve me, 
 
 And HWJiit my coming too ; 
 For tliu cause that hicks assistance. 
 And the wrongs that need resistance. 
 And the futine in the distance. 
 
 And the good that I can do." 
 
64 
 
 A iUBILKE REIROSPECT 
 
 Tlie Jubilee BaiKiuet. 
 
 i' . 
 
 In the oltl Metliodist ini'.-tins house in the 
 Upper 'rown, laiis, in IHoi, .lolin WukcHeld, ol" 
 lilenhcini Township, was noniinuted for the min- 
 istry by Wni. Kevell and James U. Hill. tSeldom 
 has a congregation in any branch of the Church 
 militant an opportunity of joining in the jubilee 
 celebratitm of a minister still active in the work 
 of the Church. Impressed, no doubt, by that 
 thought and with an earnest desire to show their 
 love and gratitude to one whom all delight to 
 honor, the < )rticial IJoard and congregation of the 
 Methodist Church in Paris decided to tender to 
 their pastor, the Rev. John Wakefield, a bancjuet 
 in honor of the fifty years of faithful, itinerant 
 labor spent among the people called Methodists. 
 Of course the thought was to associate witii Dr. 
 Wakefield his beloved wife, who for so long has 
 shared with him the tiials and triumphs of his 
 unitjue experience. 
 
 The date fixed upon was February IS, 1902. 
 The (Quarterly < >mcial lk>:inl, whic!) took th- 
 
f^ljVjOIlN IVAk'E FIELD, D.n. (-,5 
 
 i"iti;.tiv,; in the matter, f.mn-l th.- members of 
 ti.e con-i-e-ation u.i.I the citizens <)f the town 
 .".ithus.astic about it. an.l ea^rer to unite in 
 >"al<in- the (jecasion a success in every par- 
 t"-"lnr. It was intende.! that, besides the 
 ""■'"bers and friends of his own congregation 
 "M.l the nnnisters and representatives of the 
 ocal churches. J)r. Wakefield's close personal 
 lr..'Mds throughout the province, both mini.sterial 
 •iiid lay, and representatives from all the 
 <,)uarterly Boanls with which he had ever 
 l-i')ored, should be present. The list of invited 
 -nests numbere.I about one hundred, and where 
 inv.fitions were not honore.l it was of necessity. 
 Pai-is gave their guests a most hearty recep- 
 t.0.1, and when they reached the church they 
 found the ample school room had been turned 
 iiito a ban.pieting hall, decorated with taate and 
 "1 ncli profusion, and with tables sprexd in 
 epicurean abundance. Tnder the most perfect 
 arrangements and in rare good-fellowship about 
 .00 partook of the feast, and then retired to the 
 •■lu.rch auditorium for the great event of the 
 evening. 
 
 The splendid choir of the church opened the 
 
 • xen-.ses, an.l throughout the evening greatly 
 
 •l-;Tl.ted all. The liev. K. R Rowe led the 
 
 ngregation in prayer, and the Rev. W. S. 
 
fi6 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 Griffin, D.D, was voted to the chair. He, in his 
 own inimitable style, and greatly to the delijrht 
 of all, conducted the exercises of the evening. 
 In his opening remarks Dr. (Jriffin said that of 
 all the men in the ministry of the Wesleyan 
 Church when Dr. Wakefield entered it in 18.V2, 
 he alone remained still in active service, and he 
 had already been f.t work for three years. Of 
 the men that constituted the Methodist Con- 
 ferc-.(e at that time there w<.'re but sixteen or 
 eighteen living. Dr. Griffin closed his remarks 
 with some amusing comparisons between the 
 world as it is to-day and as it was in 1S52. He 
 then presented the following programme : 
 
 ADDRESS FROM THE PARTS CHURCH. 
 To the Rev. John WakcficUJ, D.D. : 
 
 Dear I'.\stoi{, — As members of the Paris 
 Methodist Church we have learned with much 
 pleasure j-ou are now spending with us your 
 fiftieth year in the ministry. Before it passes 
 away we are desirous of expressing to you, in 
 son^e way, our high estiujation of the work you 
 have (lone during this long pcrioil. 
 
 You have been blessed by Almighty God with 
 unusual strcngtli and vigor of body and mind, 
 
REV. JOHN IVAKE FIELD, D.D. 
 
 <i7 
 
 and these l.lessing.s have been most earnestly and 
 onor-otically consecrated to Him in vour efforts 
 to promote the interests of the Methodist Church 
 "Ilin- many of the highest offices in the same 
 with <?reat accejitance. 
 
 Your labors in the various charges under your 
 care have been crowned with abundant success ■ 
 your wise counsels have been much ought and 
 h.ghly valued, lives have been brightened and 
 rnnoblo<l, and many souls led into the Kingdom 
 tlirough your instrumentality. ° 
 
 For these blessings we join with you in 
 '•.•turning thanks to the Cod of all Grace who 
 has enabled you to accomplish such noble results 
 I here are few who have been permitte<l to 
 t'Mgage tor fifty years in the active work of the 
 '"■nistry and are still able to carry.it on so 
 t'fit'ctively. 
 
 We remember with pleasure your labors a»iionrr 
 '.s some eighteen years ago. although, owing to 
 -ll-lu'alth. your stay at that time was short yet 
 wo saw with what Christian fortitude you bore 
 your atH.ct.on, and your presence proved a great 
 ''lossin*''. 
 
 L..oking farther back we remember, also with 
 a t.uch of pride, it was from this church, .some 
 fitty summers ago, you were recommended to 
 "iiferonce for active work. 
 
»;« 
 
 ./ JUBII-EE RETROSPECT 
 
 % . 
 
 Tlie luovor of tlmt motion, I'.ro. Win. Revell. 
 is still with us, although laid aside by ajre and 
 intirinity. The sccc.n.ler. Hm .!■ l'>. Hill, is an 
 active memlu-r of our OtHcial Board : as well as 
 Bro. Egerton Thompson, who heard your first 
 attempt at preaching. 
 
 We liave invite-l t l.c present this eveninpj a 
 number of ministers and friends to join us in 
 otterint,' our very best wishes for yourself, Mrs. 
 \Vaket?eld, and family, with tlie prayer that you 
 may be spared to carry sunshine to the hearts 
 of the many with whom you may yet come in 
 
 contact. 
 
 We feel that we cannot clo<e this brief address 
 without <,Mvin,Lr you the assurance that your 
 earnest, tend, r, instructive addresses and sermons 
 have betn very hij^hly appreciated, and very 
 helpful to all, making for yourself nmny new 
 and warm frien<ls. W.' may not have upheld 
 your hands as we ought, but we will endeavor 
 in the future to co-operate more fully with you. 
 and pray God to bh-ss your labors among us 
 still more abundantly. 
 
 Sigue<l, in behalf of the Church, by 
 
 Lewis M.M'S, I{r(or<''i)ig Strinird. 
 
 Takis, K.l.ni.iiy 18tli, l'.t(»'_'. 
 
RFA'. /OHM UAKEFIF.I.IK D.D. 
 
 m 
 
 ADDIiKSS KKOM PARIS .M IXlSTICIirA L 
 ASSOCIATION. 
 
 To the u. r. J,,/,, I Wiih'ti,'l(l. D.J). : 
 
 Dkari.v Beloved Buothek.— WV, your fdlow- 
 i'H..nb..r.s of the Paris Ministerial Association, 
 ;,^lu<lly embrace this favorable ()i)portunity in' 
 uivin^r exf)rcssion, on our own behalf, and also 
 on behalf of the Churches whicii we rejiresent, 
 vi/., the Ikptist, Con^r,o;rational and Presby- 
 t.rian, to our heartfelt eon^'ratulations, and to 
 "'iir thanksoivincrs to the CJreat Head of the 
 Cliureh in perniittin^r you to celebrate the 
 .i'lbilee of your service in the Christian nnnistry 
 -.1 privile^re criven to but few in tiiis In'^h 
 f.illinfr. We .lesire to express our appreciation 
 "1 your fellowship in our nieetinjrs to^jether for 
 < "hristian converse, and to bear (jur testimony to 
 tlx' profit we have derived from your larjre 
 -•xi)erience and your wise counsels in our 
 d'liberations, and also your timely papers read 
 "I our Association on matters affectin<r the 
 w.'Ifare of the community. 
 
 Vou may not be able to say with Caleb, as lie 
 ivviewed hi.s life's work, and looking back to his 
 ,\"un- manhood, "As my strencrth was then, even 
 ^:' •■ !^- my Htrcn^^th now for war both to <ro out and to 
 
70 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROF.PECT 
 
 come in," yet you do njoice in the [)Osse.ssion of 
 a sound mind and a vigorous body. 
 
 It is a matter for conjjratuUitiou that after all 
 these years of service you are still in the active 
 ministry of the Word. In this restless, l)usy, 
 airirre.ssive aire vour brethren are jjrateful to find 
 you still in the front rank of Christian activity, 
 and doin^f splendid service for Christ and the 
 Church. 
 
 Knowing as we do how highly your services 
 
 have been, and still are, appn-ciated — how you 
 
 have stood among the leaders in the great and 
 
 noble army of the Methodist Church, who glory 
 
 in having John We.sley on their bede I'oll of 
 
 honor — and the denomination to which you 
 
 belonof havinir a<rain an<l again honored \'ou in 
 
 assigning you to positions of importance and 
 
 trust on their various Official Boards, and are still 
 
 so honoring you, we, your brethren in the 
 
 ministry, "joy and rejoice with you," and thank 
 
 (iod that He " counted you worthy putting you 
 
 into this ministry," to which you have given 
 
 Hfty years of your life. Only in the light and 
 
 ble.ssedness of t'u eternal home can we measure 
 
 or understand — perhaps not even there shall we 
 
 fully comprehend — th^ glorious fraitH:;;fe of such 
 
 a mini.stry, but the Master, wl.oni ' has been 
 
 your delight tn serve and worsliip, -vill not l>e 
 
 unmindful of "your work of faith and labor of 
 
REV. JO//X WAKE FIELD, D.D. 71 
 
 love," un.l will reward you " at that .lay " with 
 a " crown of ri^rhteou.sne.ss that fa.k-th not away." 
 '• And they that be wiso shalt shine as tiie hri^dit- 
 ne.ss of the tir.nanient. an.l they that turn many to 
 ri;,diteouHne.s.s as the stars forever and ever." 
 
 Our prayer for you is that vour " bow may 
 abide in stron-th " for all the days to come, and 
 that you " may Hnish your course with joy, and 
 tlie ministry wliich you have received of the 
 Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of 
 God." and when the .Master shall call you from 
 the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant 
 m Heaven, you may receive an abundant 
 entrance into His Everlasting Kingdom, and hear 
 the words of commendation : 
 
 Seiv.mc of (Jod well done, 
 
 Rest from thy loved employ ; 
 Tliu bitttle fought and victory won, 
 
 Enter into thy M.ister's joy. 
 
 That you and your dear partner in life may con- 
 tiimc to enjoy the smile and benediction of 
 Ib-aven, we subscribe ourselves with sincere 
 iraturnal congratulations, 
 
 Yours in the Master's service, 
 
 .r<)ii\ James, J).D., President 
 
 P. C. Cameron, B.A. 
 
 Ed. Cockhurn, .M.A. 
 
 E. I). SiLcox, Hicretary. 
 I'AKis, February 18th, l!i<t2. 
 
72 
 
 / JUHII.EE RETROSPECT 
 
 1H{. WAKKKIKLDS llKl'LV. 
 
 It will he Imt littlf womlt r if I \\\\\ uiDihlf to 
 control iny.selt' eiiou^li to say a tfw woiils in 
 reply to this hearty and heaiitirul aildress from 
 what I I'ijudly call " my own Chuieh," |tn',seiited 
 as it is on this unicjuc occasion and with all the 
 surrotindintrs of this hour. When I think of 
 the thoui^htful kindness which oriijiiiated this 
 !neetin<,^ the object it has in view, the many 
 hours wliich have been spent in pn-paiation liy 
 a very large part of the Cluirch, the presence of 
 eminent and busy men in larye nundters, both 
 uiiuisterial and lay, from so many parts of tiie 
 country, I am led to ask who and what am I, 
 that all this should be done to please and lioiior 
 me? I call to mind with ;,'reii,t },'ratitudi the 
 fact that it is no new thin;^' for this church to 
 show an atTectionate interest in its presi'ut 
 pastor. When I came here uninvited, l)at at the 
 command of the Church nearly tl ree years ajjo, 
 and likely wlu-n some thought that my days 
 were too nearly numbered to make it possible 
 for me to efficiently serve this ctjngregation, 
 there was, nevertheless, a large an<l represetita- 
 tive gathering of the church, accompanied by 
 most of the ministers of the town, to bid me a 
 
REV. JOHN W'AKF.riEI.lK />./). r.\ 
 
 liearty welcr)mc-. Ajrain after a two inoiitlis' 
 visit to tlu' old woil.l durin;,' the past .suinintT, 
 "II iriy return tluMv was another larije ;,mtlierin<,',' 
 iH-!ir!y tilling (he Iuw.t part of this huilih'n^r, to 
 bi.j me w.lcMne home, and to thank (Jo.? for 
 safety in journeyinjrs hy buth hm.l and sen. 
 Happy is (he man who ministers to such a 
 Hock. I ftvl to-ni;rht deeply luu.ihled I,efore 
 <iod from a {)rofoun(l conaciousness of great 
 unfaithfulness to Him, an.l the painful realiza- 
 tion that my life has been a sad failure com- 
 pared with what by proffered ^r.-ace it ou;,djt to 
 liav.« bet-n. On the other hand, I qWg ^rniteful 
 praise to my i{<.avenly Father that after more 
 than fifty years spent in His service, I .stand 
 to-n^dit in the undimme.l ^dory of His reconciled 
 e(juntei:ance. ajid surrounded by friends of my 
 own and other clunche.s who ne.\t to Him I love. 
 Fifty years is .1 larjre part of any lif.. in this 
 world, but asompored with the life of a human 
 soul it is but as one st-p of the lonj; journey, 
 <)u.' drop ofeartl/s mi„hty oceans, or the first 
 l<-tten. in the alpi.ibet in that education which 
 IS to be carried oi under celestial teachers for- 
 ever, ^'et it is the lar<rer part of the time which 
 will make or maroui' beinjr forever. 
 
 This address very naturally speaks of my 
 relation (o the Paris ehurch. It in a ivmarkabie 
 
yf jrnii.r.E kktrospf.ct 
 
 thi.ui,' iliiit tlio Paris Quartuily lloanl. whicli 
 rocoiiiiiien<U'(l me to tlic liraiitt'onl district 
 mt't'tiii^' as a camliilate for the ministry so lonj,' 
 a<(o, sh( lid now he tendering; me this juhilee 
 liaiHiuet, and prescntint; mt with this address as 
 its minister, and still more remarkal le that the 
 two men who moved and seconded that recom- 
 mendation shonld he stUI witli us, ami one of 
 them on this phitform ( Ih'o. Hill), an active and 
 beloved member ol" the Hoard; the other (l>ro. 
 Wm. Ilevell), now nearly ninety years of a<;e, is 
 confidently waiting; till his chan;;e shall coiih'. 
 I have been three or four times invited by this 
 Hoard to liecome its pastor, and have been 
 station''d here tvyice when uninvited I have 
 been a i I'quent visitor to annivi.-rBary servicis 
 all thruu<,di the years, and now, at nearly tl>e 
 close of my third year of service in this pastoi il 
 term, I have reason to believe that our nspect 
 and love for each other has increased \\\\ t ) the 
 present hour, as witnessed by your kind and 
 unanimous invitation to me to return for a 
 fourtli year. 
 
 The aiMress speaks of my interest in the 
 Metho<list Church. Why should I not l)e 
 interested in her and love lu-r ? When I was far 
 away and lost, a special service 'leld by some of 
 her local preachers was instrumental in my 
 
RRV. Jj//\ n-AKEhllU.D. /)./). : , 
 
 salvutioii, Hti.l I lov.- tho Cliurcli ii.s I hm; i, • 
 lift.'. Wli.'ii I WHS iiuitf a youii^r iniriistor i 
 lia.l lar;,'e indiieuinents off.-rt'<l im- f* leav\! her 
 coiiiiimiiioii, hikJ still lui.rer, not to leave tiie 
 .Metlio.li.st ^'iiui-ch, l.ut toleav.- this Caim.la of 
 ours; but uuiie ,,(■ these thing's moved ii <■ IW one 
 iiiuineiit, and I have l<eeii eonteiitod and happy 
 in my Church relatiun.ships every tlay of my 
 existence Shu has done me jrood and not evil, 
 al! the days of my life. 
 
 I have had many failin^^s, but I cannot say 
 that I have been an idler, for usually up t.j the 
 limit of my .stren^rth an.! ability I have gladly 
 •riven myself to the interest of the Church of 
 Cod. I ha'-' never bci'n a place .seeker, but 
 have left the plno to s.-ek me, and have felt 
 that I wa.s houo . any sphere of labor 
 
 assigned to ne '. . . ,urch. As for any 
 little succe.ss which ^ ... wned my labor, my 
 life world have been .-.n int,olerable drudfrerv T 
 I ha<l not seen some fruit of my toil, and i i Me 
 It IS not yet too late to gather nuiny of the 
 largest sheaves. 
 
 " A.t,'c' is opi,. . tuiiity, iic ,' 
 'I'lijui youth it.self, th.. vj,h u. .-inotluT .Ins.s ; 
 AimI ,i.s tlio eveniiif,' twili^'ht fji.Ics jiw.iy, 
 The sky is full ..f stars invisildi- l)y dny." 
 
 ..«!,!t ,.., . ,,ot oven a -.i.-uw ur .;;; ; hi,-, but as 
 
 Mount W«SO* 
 Memorial 
 
 I ihrary 
 
7ti 
 
 A Junil.F.r. h'ETh'US/'F.CT 
 
 compareii with the cuiiiiiij; j^Iorv I can say, 
 " The iii;^ht is tar spent, and the (hiy is at 
 haml." 
 
 " I iisk 111! hii^luT \v;i<^t's 
 
 Wiii'ii (jiid sli.-ill cull ijic hoiiu', 
 'V\v.\.n to \\\\w foiiv'lit tlie l(.ittli-s 
 Wliicli iiiJike His kin<r(loiii onmr. " 
 
 f! . 
 
 TIIK KHV. WILLIAM MrDONAGH. 
 
 With unt'eij^ncil pleasure I stand lieforc this 
 atnlieiipe on tliis s| lemlid occasion. I con^^jratu- 
 late myself upml the honor hostowed upon nie 
 in receivinj^ an invitation, and I con^n-fitulate 
 the concrft'j'at ion and the Church, and all others 
 interested, upon tlu Imiior they have done them- 
 selves in seeking to bestow honor upon one so 
 worthy. \aa former pastor of the Paiis ( 'hurch, 
 1 can testify to tlu'ir kindne.ss of heart and their 
 tmfeijfncd love of all the hrethren. I was called 
 to the work of this ministry iit the same year as 
 J)i\ Wakefield. 1 bless (Jod for health ind 
 streiif^th for .so lun^ a sirvice, and I Mess Him 
 also that for forty years out of the fifty of my 
 n)inistry 1 have known Dr. Wakefield. I could 
 not but think to-nij;ht of h.nv ofti-n in the old 
 Woshyiin Conference .h)hn Wakelli^ld was sent 
 
 ii*Tjiimr?i *« V 
 
REV. JOHN WAKF.FIEI.I), D.D. 
 
 t(» circuits lis ji peaco-nijikor, to arran^re t|Uarrels 
 an.l strai-rliton out disturbances that threatened 
 the life of the Church. I have followed his 
 career, and to-ni;,dit as I look back upon that 
 history I rejoice that I have been associated 
 with one so esteemed, loved and successfuh 
 
 TMK l{K\. J. S. WILLIAMSON, D.D. 
 
 Ir is a jrreat ph-asure for me to be here to- 
 ni<,dit an.l meet the friends with whom I spent 
 three v.ry pleasant years of my ministerial life. 
 
 The pleasure is enhanced by the fact that the 
 occasion is an outburst of real honest sentiment 
 in honorinir a brother minister. Such and simi- 
 lar occasions are all too few. One can always 
 know when the people are not plea.sed with him 
 or his utterances, but it is more difficult to 
 ascertain the pulse when they are satisfied. 
 
 An occasion of this kind is, therefore, the more 
 hi<,d»ly appreciated. It is .still more i)leasinfr to 
 I'e here to add in some small dei,'ree to the in- 
 terest of a ;,'rand jubilee banquet so enthusiasti- 
 cally tendered to my honored brother, your 
 brlovcd pastor. Ke\. I)i. Wnkefield, ..n the evrnt 
 of his fifty years of faithful and loving toil in 
 the ministry of our Church. 
 
A jrniLEF. RETROSPECT 
 
 r . 
 
 My intimato ncfiuaintiince with the ;,Miest of 
 the ovenin<if ho<^an eiff'utcen years a<(o, when th.c 
 (lifierent branches of our Metluxlism were uiiitcil 
 in tlie present Cluirch. Previcnis to that time 
 we had each labored in anotlier and ditl'erent 
 branch of tlie Methodist Church. The rivah'ies, 
 jealousies and prejudices of the years prior to 
 that event did not tend to make men tliink 
 more hifjhly of each other than they ouj^ht to 
 think. 
 
 Since tlie union we have been closely a.sso- 
 cialed in the work of the Annual and General 
 Conferences, in missionary and collej^e boanls, 
 jind in the <i;eneral work of tlie Church. 
 
 The better a,('i|uaintance has dispelled any 
 feelint^ of inditi'erence, and a friendship, tnu; 
 and lastini^, has been the result. I can heartily 
 say that the ion<;er I know Dr. Waketield the 
 more thoroujjhly I prize him. Amo!i<; the many 
 excellent <|Ualifieations posse.ssed by him I would 
 mention that of i/z/^v/c//// ajid /u//(/////. Ne.xt to 
 his (Jod I believe the interest of our Methodism 
 has the place in his heart. While he loved in- 
 tensely the Church of his early days, with no 
 less a love is his heart drawn to the Church ')f 
 h's more matured manliDud and aee. No sacri- 
 tlce or tf'il is too great i^w liiiii t'j lay on the 
 altar of his devotion to her be.st interests. He 
 
REV. JOHN IVAk'EFIEI.D, D.I). 
 
 70 
 
 stands ever ready to defend her honor and pro- 
 mote her welfare. 
 
 Another of these (lualifications I have found 
 in him is n>iini<ir. So man who knows him 
 intimately will •■ver accuse him of cowardice or 
 even hesitation to defend what he believes to he 
 ri;?ht and true. For this he will contend if he 
 stands alone. Every opponent in moral conflict 
 has f.nmd in Dr. Wakefield a foeman worthy of 
 his steel, and if conquered hy him in the contlict 
 has l>een able to console himself that he was 
 slain by a ^'iant. 
 
 'I'he last (|Ualification that my limited time 
 will admit of mentioning' is that of pemerrravce. 
 When once the path of duty was made plain 
 and the object to be obtaine.l was a worthy one. 
 he knew no defeat. He pursued his course as 
 the caper ^old-hunter searches for the shinin<r 
 metal. Every cavern would U ransacked, every 
 crevice rummajjed, every corner .searched, every 
 stone upturned, every obstacle overturned, every 
 wall sealed, that riirhteousness and truth niit;ht 
 be brought to the litr},t an-i have a jrlori'ous 
 triumph. 
 
 Dr. Wakefield has been true in his friend- 
 ships, manly in his l)attles, and fervent in his 
 piety. We pray for him that be may have a 
 bright and lovely sun-setting and a .juiet, peace- 
 
m 
 
 A JUnil.EE RETROSPECT 
 
 ful eventide. And when at last lie lays off" tin; 
 armor on earth in..y he hear the Master ,s ,^., 
 " Well <Ione : thou hast been faithful over a 
 few things, I will muke thee ru!<'r over tnaiiy 
 thinj^s : enter thou into th»' joy of thy lord." 
 
 
 THE RKV. I). L. r.HKTMOri?, !'ii D. 
 
 Men are known and reineinhered in the vari- 
 ous walks and professions of life fur many 
 thinfjs. Sonit^ for words, and s<mi.c Tor dce'ds : 
 some for words (july, and others for both. \ Jreat 
 physicians and surfxeons are known for their 
 marvellous skill in sueoessfully treating,' o!)-(in-e 
 and complicated disease. aiwJ in the delicate 
 handling of instruments in ditlicult sur;;ical 
 operation.s. (Ireat statesmen and soldit-rs show 
 their skill an<l jjenius in <j;uidiiii; states and 
 empires in perilous times throuj^h imminent 
 dan<rers; they are known in the councils of 
 natioti.s and on the fields of conlliet. 
 
 Some by stroni; self -as.se rtion thrust them- 
 selves before the world and k(H>p themselves in 
 the eye of men. Others by absolute- self-denial 
 and exaltation of truth and hi;^di principle forj^'e 
 .•'.head of all .-ompetitors. ' »ur fri.'iid and brother, 
 Dr. Wakefield, in who.se honor this mairiiitiemt 
 
/>7s/'. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 81 
 
 • Icnionstratiun of love uiul loyalty is given, pre- 
 '•iiiinuntly brlonn^s to the latter class. 
 
 Jn his early y.'ai-s of life he was foumi by his 
 ,i,Mvat Master and converted to God. Up sprann- 
 a new purpose within his heart, to the proclama- 
 tion of which he c<jnsec'rated his powers. All 
 men must see the new light and know the new- 
 Joy which pos,sessed him. He "was not dis- 
 olxdient unto the heavenly vision," and with 
 increasing gladness, and horn of God-given 
 success, he told " to others aroun<l what a dear 
 Saviour he had found." It is a great grati6ca- 
 ti.iii to Dr. W'akeHeld's friends that he has been 
 spareil for a half century of years to preach the 
 Divine mesisage of love. Very few are so 
 lionored. Some men, as years come upon them, 
 grow narrower in intellect, and poorer in heart 
 sympathies, with less power and willingness to 
 help other-s. But he who sits anrmgst us to- 
 iiiu'ht was never of brighter intellect, nor richer 
 in tru<" hroadni'.ss cjf soul. He goes forth to-day 
 with a /..al as (juenchle.ss as holy fire kindled on 
 alters divine "with cries, entreaties, tears to 
 ■-iive." The world in which we live, whose 
 forces .'iiwrap us like a man in the cloud.s, has 
 mighty and malign power in .sapping the holy 
 .--uurce.s of thought, t.iith and conduct. To pro- 
 tect ourselves from waste and lo.ss every 
 
.*-.■"*% If 
 
 82 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 activity must be keyeil to the pitch of most 
 strenuous endeavor, while we " seek those thiii^ 
 that are above " where God is. In this way will 
 ripeness of years brinj; ripeness of experience 
 and sympathy. 
 
 It is a great pleasure to say the devotion and 
 consecra^'on of Brother Waketield have been 
 recognized by the Church which he has served 
 so long and so faitlifully : and to him has been 
 ungrudgingly given the highest honors she had 
 to Ijestow, and he has tilled those positions with 
 credit to himself and satisfaction to the Church. 
 Dr. Wakefield is one of those men who never 
 grow old. Years may whiten his locks, and the 
 step may be less ela.stic than it was, but his 
 heart in its finest qualities is as green and fresh 
 as the fields of the sun hine land. In all that 
 constitutes a true and emhiring manhood, the 
 smell of age has hardly touche.l his garments, 
 and never will. It \'^ one of the pleasures of my 
 ministry that I preach to people in old Lundy's 
 Lane church nearly every Sunday who were 
 brought to (Jod by his ministry, and others who 
 were helped in their heavenly journey, as he 
 told the shining story of the simple, saving, 
 keeping gospel of -Tesus ('hrist. One of the most 
 blessed things in Hrotlu-r Wakefiehl's life is em- 
 botlied in the simple statement, "His work 
 endures," 
 
^^^- JOHN WAKEFIELD, I)./). K^ 
 
 In evidence of this he is welcomed to fields of 
 labor where some of the best years of his life 
 were spent in times ^jone by. He tells the same 
 old story now that he told then, and with a rich- 
 ness of experience he never knew before. There 
 are many on the circuits of his early mini.stry 
 who rejoice to-day that a man called John 
 W akefield came to them with the burning zeal of 
 a sc-raph to tell them the evangel of Chri.st 
 which won them to His ble.s.se.1 service. I have 
 the pnvile<.e and lionor of lal>oring on a part of 
 'me of his old circuits, where forty years ago he 
 literally turned the country upside down. His 
 name is a household word in all that range of 
 country. 
 
 In the earlier years of the Doctor's ministry 
 the Church was her own evangelist. She be- 
 I'oved God had raised her up to spread scriptural 
 lioliness throughout the land. .She had faith in 
 '.od, and faith in herself to this end. Her mem- 
 bers came together for prayer, for fellowship 
 lor ren.>wal of consecration vows to reach this 
 •■"'1. and the God of the harvest gave them a 
 'I'vme reaping. Few in the Church in those 
 'lays over thought thoy were e.xempt from 
 'ttend.ng the .sfx;ial services of the hou.se of 
 '""'• '>»«t fnt it was as necessarv to them as 
 water to the thirsty. Hence Dr. Clmlmers eo„ld 
 ^^ay. " They were all at it, and ai^ay^ at it ■ 
 
K4 
 
 A JUIill.EE RETROSPFXT 
 
 A chanjjc somohow and Hoinewlu-rc Ims gradu- 
 ally come over us in these modern, unheroic days, 
 and we titid ourselves cotnparatlvely helpless for 
 successful spiritual work. We have, alas, too 
 fully come under the power of an all-pervadin<r 
 and almost all-triumphant worldliness. 
 
 We need men like .lohn Wakefield, who will 
 jro into this modern world of j,'reed-possess(>d, 
 pleasure-lovinj;, iidatuated men and women, call- 
 itig them to repentance, for the kinj^dom of (!od 
 has come ni<,di, I am j,'lad I have been honored 
 with the friendship and confidence for many 
 years of Brother Wakefield Though we did not 
 always agree in all things, I found it safe to fol- 
 low his counsel. In times of peculiar trial and 
 temptation his strong courage and high moral 
 principle, which were the gui<lingstar of his life, 
 was a tower of strength to n»e. " Like the 
 shadow of a ^reat rock in a weary land." 
 
 We cannot afford to lose from amoiiofst us men 
 like John Wakefield, men of siicli unswerving 
 loyalty to the Bible -to the oM and well-tried 
 doctrines of Methodism which hav< j-.roved vic- 
 torious on ten thousand fieMs of conilict— men 
 whose loyalty to .lesus C^hrist was only e(|ualled 
 by tlieir .splendid allegiance to tlu' usages and 
 discipline of the truly Apostolic Church of 
 Mcih(j(lisni. May God spare him many years 
 fur service. 
 
A'AF. JOHN WAKEFIELD. DJ. 
 
 85 
 
 THK llEV. G. \V. CALVKRT. 
 
 Al/rH()r(;n tny Hurroundinij.s are very home- 
 like and the spot on which I stand u very fain- 
 ihar one.yeL I do not remember that at any time 
 I ever found it more difficult to attempt an ad- 
 dress than I Hnd it to he at this moment. The 
 dithculty arises, not Uyr want of som.-thinjr to 
 say, but from the fact that so much can he ^lid, 
 while so little time is allowed one in whicli to 
 say it. 
 
 However, I may say that I am here to join with 
 this company in con(;ratulations to our hi^dily 
 esteemed and beloved brother, Dr. Wakefield, on 
 havinjr completed fifty years In the Christian 
 mini.stry, an achievement that but few men 
 iiccomplish and one that but few of us litre to- 
 lll^dl^ -if.indeed, anyof us— maylook forward to. 
 ir, )iow< ver, it should be my jrood fortune to 
 nc(|uire such distinction, I know of no place 
 wht;re I would sooner celebrate my jubilee than 
 here in Paris, amon^r ,„y old friends, who have 
 <n(leared themselves to me by many acts of 
 kindne-ss during' our a.ssociations of former 
 \»'ar.s. 
 
 'I'hey are indeed to be connrratulate.l on the 
 ■ iia.uniticent success of thi> jubilee ban.,uet, 
 
m 
 
 A J I HI J. KF RE TROsrr.cr 
 
 lortM 
 
 1 iind 
 
 whieli tlx'y liavi' ti'ndt'n'd tlnir 
 l)ilovi«l ji.istor. 
 
 Attain I sii\ tliat T hrin;,' {TiectiTij's ami fon- 
 ^n-atulutions to Dr. Wakcli^'ld on this juljilet" 
 occasion, accoiiiji III '"I with a sincen- wisli (hat 
 lie may yet live to render service to tli- cause 
 so dear h< his heuri in the years to come. 
 
 I think it is Dr. 'ralina<;e who lias Paid that 
 " it would be better for the world if, for life s 
 toilers, we had a little more taffy an<l a little less 
 epitaphy," meaning, I presume, that their hearts 
 would be cheired and their lives sweetened an«l 
 their burdens made to f«'el li;,'hter if we had 
 njore kindly words to say to t'aem anu uf them, 
 while they lived, instead of reservini; all the 
 nice thini^s jind kindly words to be spoken after 
 they are dead. Sir, I confess that I tjuite aj^ree 
 with him, and am here to say a few kindly 
 wnrds of and to an honored servant of (Joil, 
 whose life and work justly merit .some words of 
 commendation from those who have known him 
 bust And when I say this, T do not mean that 
 I shall descend to anythin«,'like fulsome flattery. 
 In this ca.se such a thinjj is not at all necessary, 
 and if indulged in would not be acceptable to 
 the fiiends present. 
 
 It is indeed a great gratification to me that 
 men like Dr. Wakefield are permitted, through 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 87 
 
 tho ;,'()(xl provitJenro of God, to tarry so loiifj in 
 tlu' arena of earthly toil for the Master, to cheer 
 hy their presence, and to bless and inspire hy 
 tiieir mature jud^'inent and ripe experience and 
 wise coiinHelH, those of us who are voun'^'r and 
 inexperienced, as well as the Church nt large. 
 Especially so since there is a tendency in these 
 days on tlie part of some con <,'regat ions to dis- 
 count men of years, and a corresponding eager- 
 ness to obtain men for i)astors who are youthful. 
 Now, sir, while I uiii gla.l for the .splendid 
 young Elishas to be found in our ranks, I am 
 doubly glad for the grand old Elijahs that 
 remain with us, who have done sf) much for the 
 Church of Go<l, and wluj.se saintly presence is 
 ever a benediction and whose mantles even we 
 .are anxious .shall fall oji other shoulders when 
 they are tiken away from us. 
 
 My ac(|uainti«nce with our esteemed Brother 
 Wakefield covers a pericjd of about thirty-four 
 years. In June of 18<kS he U^came thepa.stor of 
 tlie Methodist Church in the town of Sinicoe. 
 At that time I was teaching school at old Mount 
 Zion. on the adjoining circuit of Port Dover, and 
 I freijuently had the privilege of hearing him 
 preach. .lust then the authorities were urging 
 me to enter the Christian ministry, l)ut I was 
 undecided in the matter, greatl\- preferring 
 
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88 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 ■ p 
 
 either the medical or legal profession to that of 
 the Christian ministry. And one thing that 
 kept me in that state of indecision was a sense of 
 my inability to preach and exhort like many of 
 the men under whose ministry I had sat as a 
 listener, and among those men, especially, was 
 John Wakefield. His fearless preaching and 
 rousing exhortations made me appear very little 
 in my own eyes. 
 
 And yet his influence over me was beneficial, 
 for in the course of time his earnest utterances 
 became an inspiration to me in my early efforts 
 at preaching ; and in subse([uent years, as I be- 
 came more intimately acquainted with him, and 
 more closely associated with him, I found myself 
 catching from him an inspiration still as I lis- 
 tened to his deliverances on the floor of the 
 Conference in debate, or to his messages from the 
 pulpit. 
 
 One thing that particularly drew me to him 
 was his manly courage in standing up for what 
 he conceived to be right. He always appeared 
 to me to be a man that ha<l the courage or his 
 convictions. 
 
 Then, again, I cherished a sincei'e regard for 
 him because of his brotherliness. I have ever 
 found him ready to help his brethren in their 
 work when it was in his jvjvver to do so, and 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 89 
 
 that with a hearty cheerfulness that made you 
 like to have liitn with you. 
 
 With ;ill the honors his brethren have con- 
 t'<Tred upon him, lie has always remained the 
 same genial, friendly brother he was before tliose 
 honors came to him, and I for one will ever be 
 thankful to God that it has been my good for- 
 tune to know him and to be associated with him 
 in the Master's work. And if he should precede 
 me to the better land I shall gladly and lovingly 
 I)ay this tribute to his memory— that his life and 
 labors have been an inspiration to me. 
 
 I have long counted Brother Waketteld among 
 my truest and best-loved friends, and I hope to 
 do so to the end. 
 
 Mr. Chairman, as the time allotted to me in 
 which to speak must have expired, I will close 
 my remarks by wishing for Dr. Wakefield, and 
 his dear wife and family every earthly happi- 
 ness an(] blessing, and pray that to him and to 
 them " in the eventide there may be light," and 
 when life's labors are ended and they "have 
 crossed the Ijar," may they be greeted with the 
 Master's smile and His loving words of praise 
 and welcome, "Well done; enter into my joy, 
 sit down on my throne." 
 
90 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 THE REV. W. F. WILSON, D.D., 
 
 President of Hamilton Conference. 
 
 It afibrJs me a great deal of personal pleasure 
 to be present on this uniijue and joyful occasion, 
 not only to congratulate Dr. Wakefield, the 
 honored guest of the hour, on his jubilee, but 
 also Mrs. Wakefield, the devoted lady who has 
 so nobly a.ssisted him in his ministry, together 
 with their gifted, cultured children, whose labors 
 have been a benediction wherever they have 
 toiled. Now, sir, I am asked as President of the 
 Hamilton Conference to say a few words in 
 connection with this magnificent banquet that is 
 given in honor of one of the most distinguished 
 sons of our Church, and easily the most conspi- 
 cuous member and leader of our Conference. 
 
 This splendid gathering of representative min- 
 isters and laymen might well gratify the ambi- 
 tion of any Christian pastor, and be a fitting close 
 to a long and almost unparalleled ministerial 
 career. But I beg leave to assure this distin- 
 guished company that Dr. Wakefield has no 
 immediate idea of retiring f roni our active work; 
 in fact he is in spirit, energy and efiiciency, one 
 of the most acceptable preachers and successful 
 pastors of our Conference. He is at present hold- 
 
f:EV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 91 
 
 ing more official positions of a conferential and 
 connexional character than any minister amonjr 
 us ; and, be it said to the credit of Dr. Wakefield, 
 tliat no position of trust assifjned him by the 
 Church, or his brethren, has ever suffered in his 
 hands. 
 
 Now, after fifty years of arduous toil, we are 
 gathered to pay our tribute of respect to the 
 character and work of one of the most success- 
 ful ministers Canadian Methodism has ever 
 known. Sometimes the king follows the cabi- 
 net, but this evening the cabinet comes to the 
 king ; for, as members of the Hamilton Confer- 
 ence, we very greatly appreciate the presence of 
 our beloved General Superintendent, and the 
 distinguished representatives of our missionary, 
 educational, publishing, and other connexional 
 interests of our Church, who are here to show 
 their appreciation of one whom we in this Con- 
 ference look upon as a wise, earnest, godly, be- 
 loved Christian minister and gentleman. One 
 loyal to our Methodism, for no power, prize, or 
 position has ever had any influence upon Dr. 
 Waketield's fidelity to the doctrines and discip- 
 line of our Charch, having over fifty years ago 
 dedicated hi splendid gifts and graces of intel- 
 lect and heart to preach the glorious Gospel of 
 redeeming love^ he has remained steadfast in his 
 
92 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 
 purpose to this liour, and to-day the pulpit of 
 tiiis Paris church is his throne. 
 
 With stronff convictions, he has not hoen un- 
 mindful of the intidlectual progress of the years, 
 while standing by the old truths he lias applied 
 the new methods, his preaching never prosy, but 
 ever interesting and instructive, and always for 
 the edification of the Church and the conversion 
 of the souls of men. Hence we are not sur- 
 prised that young and old in this congregation 
 unanimously say, " Y(ju must remain another 
 year." Dr. Wakefield lias the strong, yet tender, 
 spirit that made John Fletcher, Matthew Simp- 
 son and William Arthur pre-eminentleadersin tlie 
 Church of God, and our Church needs such men 
 to day. Not star- preachers or silver-tongued 
 orators, but men full of the Holy Ghost and 
 power. This spirit made Egerton Ryerson our 
 statesman, Samuel Nelles our splendid scholar, 
 George Macdougall our lieroic missionary, and 
 George Douglass our matchless orator, together 
 with Samuel D. Rice, Enoch Wood, George R. 
 Sanderson, Samuel IJose, John Shaw, John A. 
 Williams, Ephraim B. Harper, and others, suc- 
 cessful and honored leaders in our belovnl Meth- 
 odism, while W. J. Maxwell, Samu- ' Hunter, 
 Ezra StafFord, A. M. Phillips, John E. Lanceley, 
 and many more, touched by this spirit, became 
 
REV. JOffN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 !>3 
 
 princely preachers and beloved pastors wherever 
 they tolled. 
 
 I soiiietiuics wonder as our ranks grow thin 
 and our leaders fall, if we liave men ready to 
 step forwartl and fill the pulpits and positions of 
 trust in our Zion ; I believe we have. We never 
 had as many young men, converted, cultured, 
 consecrated and Christ-inspired, ready for work 
 at home or service in the foreign field, as we 
 have to-day. 
 
 And now, Dr. Wakefield, I most sincerely con- 
 gratulate you on this happy occasion, and trust 
 you may long be spared to our Conference to 
 cheer us by your words, and guide us by your 
 counsels; to you and the sainted fathers who 
 laid the foundations of our glorious Church so 
 wisely and so. well (let me say), cherish no mis- 
 givings about the future, about the loyalty and 
 fidelity of your successors. 
 
 With the old Gospel as onr theme, the salva- 
 tion of men our desire, and the advancement of 
 Christ's kingdom as the object of our toil, we 
 shall do our best to hasten the day when a ran- 
 somed world shall sing, " Bring forth the royal 
 diadem and crown Him Lord of all." 
 
94 
 
 A JUniLEE RETROSPECT 
 
 THE REV. J. H. HAZLEWOOD. 
 
 To ine it is a great pleasure to have a part in 
 tliis banquet to an jld friend, and I most heartily 
 join with my old flock, among whom I spent 
 three pleasant years, in doing honor to our 
 Brother Wakefield as he sounds out tliis jubilee 
 year in the ranks of tl.o Methodist n.inistry. 
 Five years l^efore I began to breathe my native 
 air, that je, that has so often thrilled the 
 multitudes, had begun to call the people to 
 repentance ; and after fifty years, with a vigor 
 seemingly unabated, with unflinching loyalty to 
 Methodist doctrine, and with a voice that has 
 lost none of its richness and meicdy, the people 
 still hear of " the wonderful works of God." 
 
 It is an occasion of joy to " - 'ave been 
 
 his associates to thus recall th A service 
 
 to the Church and its great ..'^ i, and to 
 remember that " his bow abode in strength, and 
 the arms of his hands were r.:ade strong by the 
 hands of the Mighty God of Jacob." 
 
 When as a youth I first saw him, to me he 
 was one of the giants of those days — and ther; 
 were giants in those days. What shall I say of 
 Ryerson and Douglass, of Rico and Williams, of 
 Sanderson and Harper, and a host of others 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 95 
 
 now ainongrthc glorified, who through faith sub- 
 due:: kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained 
 promises, out of weakness wen.- made strong, 
 waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the 
 armies of aliens ? Truly others labored, and we 
 younger men enter into their labors. 
 
 Now that a (juarter of a century has passed 
 I can say I have never admired, respected and 
 loved him as I do to-night. May we who are 
 younger, inspired by the unswerving devotion, 
 and heroic sacrifice of such n>en as the brother 
 we honor to-night, prove ourselves worthy com- 
 panions and followers in the great work. 
 
 That many years of usefulness may be granted 
 our worthy guest, and a full realization of the 
 promise that at "evening time there shall be 
 light," till " the land that is fairer than day " 
 breaks on his view, is my earnest wish. 
 
 THE REV. JOHN PICKERING. 
 
 I HAD better be frank and own that I feel a 
 little embarrassment, first, arising perhaps from 
 the fact that my work as a plodding Methodist 
 preacher has not often brought me where I have 
 been called upon for an " after-dinner speech " ; 
 /Second, embarrassment because I know 1 am in 
 
96 
 
 A JUIULKE RETROSPKCT 
 
 tlie prcHcnce of those who are experts in this iirt, 
 these elect members of our Methodist Siinliedrim, 
 men in wliose veins the blood of Apolloiuus flows 
 — Now Apollonius was an elo(|Uent man — 1 must 
 therefore crave your indulj^ence wiiile 1 try my 
 apprenticed hand. 
 
 Sir, I have first a pleasin-; duty to dischar<,'e 
 on behalf of the Cliurch I have the honor to 
 serve. At the last official meeting', i)y unanimous 
 vote, my worthy reconling steward, Brother 
 Wilkinson, and myself were recjuested to convey 
 to this meetinj?, and to our honored j^uest, their 
 congratulations, that through the good provi- 
 dence of our God he has attained his jubilee 
 year in this ministry, and, like Paul, when 
 sending his letter of congratulation to the 
 devoted Philippians, said, " The brethren which 
 are with me greet you— all the saints salute 
 you— especially those" of Wellington Street 
 Church, Brantford. 
 
 Permit me now, sir, to express my thanks to 
 the church at Paris for this niark of esteem to 
 the chairman of this district, and also affording 
 the opportunity of saying a few words of eulogy to 
 the living. It is pleasant to feel that when we are 
 gone somebody may arise and utter a few words 
 to our memory ; but why not say it when we arc 
 in the battle and the din >. Well, sir, I want t,Q 
 say a few things of our guest- 
 
RFA'. JOHN WAKEFIELD, IhD. 
 
 97 
 
 IIK HAS WON ms HONORS I'AIHLY. 
 
 It lias fallen to the lot of Dr. Wakefieli' to HU 
 well ni<rh every ofHce in the gift of the Confer- 
 ence. His l.retliren have honored him year 
 alter year, lie has been elected president twice, 
 and chairman I know not how many times, not 
 because he was an eternal schemer and ever- 
 lastinjr wire-puller, but because of his sterling 
 worth. Who ever heard John Wakefield called 
 ii clerical mill -grind, r, and all the grist coming 
 to his mill ? 
 
 HE HAS BEEN STRONG IN HIS CONVICTIONS. 
 Possibly some coming to the yearly assembly, 
 and hearing the Doctor for the first time, may 
 suspect him of a little autocracy, but those who 
 have come closer, close enough to "see the rift 
 that peeps within," close enough to forget the 
 metallic ring in the voice and feel the beatin. of 
 the heart, these have found him tend, r and .ull 
 of sympathy; and, if his words have been 
 decisive and emphatic, it has been because of 
 decided conviction. 
 
 HE HAS BEEN FAIR IX DEBATE. 
 Oft some have not been able to see eye to eye 
 with him, and the debate has been keen und 
 earne.st, but this can be said, those who did not 
 7 
 
PM 
 
 08 
 
 A JUIilI.EE RETROSPECT 
 
 a;,'ree with him have .l.-clarcl he ti-hts fair an.l 
 never hits a man below the holt; win or lose his 
 C(mtentioiis, he wins or loses with ho'ior. 
 
 HE HAS l»KKN l.oYAI, TO HIS CHriMll. 
 Not a hij^ot— not a pharisce— hvit an iM. C. (. 
 Loyalist; now M. C. C stands for Methodist 
 Church of (.'anada. 
 
 HE HAS 15EEX T-OYAI. TO ITS DISCIPLINE. 
 
 Just now I notice a little flurry in some 
 quarters re<,'ardinj,' a certain note in tluDiscipline. 
 I'll i)redict if John Wakefield can help it not a 
 line will be scored. 
 
 LOYAL TO ri'S DOCTRINES. 
 
 There has been no uncertain sound on the 
 cardinal doctrines of our faith, nobody left his 
 Church wondering whether the Bible was true, 
 or was there such a thin-,' as original sin, or was 
 the story of Adam and Eve a legend. 
 
 His congregations will tell you he believed in 
 a gospel as old as the 53rd of Isaiah, as old as 
 the 51st Psalm, as old as Calvary, as old as 
 Pentecost, and yet as new iud fresh as the dawn 
 which came creeping o'er the eastern hills this 
 very morning. To hini the old gospel is the 
 newest thing out. To him the pulpit has been 
 his throne, and when the roll is called up yonder. 
 
REV. JOHN W'AKEllEl.n, D.D. 
 
 !H» 
 
 imiiiy, very many will be his crown of rejoicinj;. 
 I trust that tiiiu; will .Imi ;juiitly with him from 
 this (lay till tho hour of departuro is at han.l, 
 an ! then that he may nurt "the pilot at the l.ar."' 
 
 RKV. ALEXANDEU Sl'THhitLAXD, D.D. 
 
 I KSTKKM it u priviletje to have some part in 
 a <,nithoriii;r to do honor to my youn^^ friend 
 Dr. WakeHeld I say " youn^r friend " advisedly, 
 and I say it emphatically. Youn^r and. old arc 
 comparative term.s that sometimes have little to 
 do with years. Some men are old at twenty, 
 and some are youncr at four times twenty, and 
 Dr. Wakefield iKilongs to the honore.l few who 
 carry over th '"reshness of youth into a <rreen 
 old age. He ; reminded us that he is a Metho- 
 dist, and it v^ l.kely most of you have suspected 
 as much buiore now ; hut it reminds one of an 
 =ncideni A lew years a,<To I was in Xashville, 
 lenne.ssee, and the Rev. Dr. Ho.ss, editor of the 
 Nashville Christian Advocaie, kindly procured 
 a conveyance and took a party of us some ft)urteen 
 miles into the country to vi.sit the hi.storic lionio 
 of General Jackson. Here we found an aged 
 Jiegro, familiarly known as Uncle Alf, who had 
 been the General's body servant, and whose duty 
 
100 
 
 A. JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 now was to show visitors about the place. He 
 performed his duties with old-time courtesy, 
 and after viewing the various objects of interest 
 we prepared to depart. Just before leaving, 
 Dr. Hoss encjuired, with a twinkle in his eye, 
 "By the way, Uncle Alf, you're a Methodist, 
 aren't you ? " and the old man, with an assumed 
 deprecatory air, replied, " Oh, yes, Mistah Hoss, 
 Ise a Metibdist; but t'ank de Lawd Ise a 
 Chris'yuii all de same." I emphasize the fact 
 that while Dr. Wakefield is a Methodist, he's a 
 Christian all the same. 
 
 I congratulati the good people of Paris on 
 having carried out .so successfully what is in 
 itself a beautiful and praiseworthy idea— the 
 recognition of long and faithful service while 
 yet a man is living, instead of reserving all, kind 
 and appreciative words till after he is dead. 
 PoN.' mortem praise is no inspiration to the liv- 
 ing and it brings no joy to the dead; but words 
 of generous appreciation, spoken while yet a 
 man lingers amid the scenes of his toil, will be 
 cherished as a precious memory, and will tinge 
 with a brighter glow the sunset of his declining 
 years. 
 
 Fifty years of blameless and almost unbroken 
 service in the Christian ministry is a distinction 
 which falls to the lot of very few ; and when it 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 101 
 
 <loe.s occur, a fittin- recognition may l>e justly 
 clanne.1. Fifty years seems a long time'when 
 ooking torwanl, but not nearly so long when 
 Icx^kmg backward. When I used to hear ]:>r 
 Kyerson, of honored memory, speak of havin.r 
 .een m public life "for nearly half a century " 
 I thought what a long time that is, and how 
 very old the Doctor must be ; but when I rind 
 thefnendsof myyouth beginning to celebrate 
 tlieir jubdee years, the time seems very short 
 •since we were young together. And yet what 
 changes those fifty years have witnessed. When 
 J)r. Wakefield began his ministry we had but 
 one Conference, not very much bigger than some 
 modern district meetings. The u.embei-ship was 
 small, connexional funds very limited, and we 
 Imd not begun to dream of the pos.sibilities of 
 e.xpansion that the coming years would brinff to 
 pass. But the Doctor has lived to see a develop- 
 ment that IS almost without parallel. He has 
 seen the inception and the consummation of two 
 union moven.onts that have given us a united 
 Methodism from the Atlantic to the Pacific He 
 luis seen the one Annual Conference expand into 
 ten ; the growth of membership to some ;J00 000 
 U...1 membership and adherents together num- 
 b.M mg nearly a million, or approximately one- 
 hlth of the population of the Dominion. He 
 
102 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 has seen our Missionary Fund jjrow from a few 
 tliousand dollars to over a quarter of a million, 
 and our mission work extend all over the Do- 
 minion and into the regions beyond. He has 
 seen our Book Room grow from a small retail 
 store into the largest' and most prosperous pub- 
 lishing house in the Dominion, while our educa- 
 tional work is represented by colleges and aca- 
 demies in every province. During the same 
 fifty years our laymen have taken their rightful 
 position in every court of the Church, and our 
 godly women have come to the front in the great 
 missionary enterprise. When to these evidences 
 of crowth within the denomination we add the 
 marvellous changes outside of it, may we not 
 congratulate our honored brother on having had 
 his lot cast in the brightest and most fruitful 
 fifty years in this old world's history ? 
 
 Although a modern man in many ways. Dr. 
 Wakefield belongs to the ol<l dispensation of 
 Methodist preachers. He began his work at a 
 time when the revival power of primitive 
 Methodism was yet strong throughout the 
 Church, and when the spirit of our ascending 
 Elijahs rested on many a young Elisha. The 
 old pioneers were men of on*' aim and purpose 
 —to preach the Gospel so as to save men from 
 sin and bring lost sinners to God. Their theo- 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 103 
 
 Io<ry was not very brotid, perliaps, but it was 
 <leep and high ; deep as the sin into which men 
 had fallen, high as the heaven to which tliey 
 might ascend. And let cavillers say what they 
 will, the preaching of those old heroes did the 
 ivo-^k, which is more than can be siid of some 
 modern substitutes. In his preaching Dr. Wake- 
 field faithfully followed the men of the past, 
 hence he did not think it necessary to tell his 
 congregations that Genesis had been compiled 
 from many documents of unknown anti({uity, 
 worked over by many editors ; or that Leviticus 
 was historically out of joint, belonging not to the 
 time of Moses but to a period centuries later ; or 
 that when the old prophets "testified before- 
 hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that 
 should follow " they did not mean exactly what 
 they said ; or that the book of Isaiah was not 
 written by Isaiah but by two or three other men 
 of the same name, or whose guesses took shelter 
 under his name. These things Dr. Wakefield 
 regarded as speculative (juestions, curious or 
 useful, as the case may be, in the minister's study, 
 but that when offered to men who were 
 starving for the bread of life they were simply 
 husks that no man could eat. He was content 
 therefore, to preach the old gospel of ruin by 
 sin and redemption by Christ, and this made his 
 
104 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 every sermon a direct spiritual force lor the con- 
 version of man and their upbuilding' in holiness 
 of life. 
 
 There is another thino; wliich ought to be 
 said : Dr. Wakefield has always been a loyal 
 man — loyal to his country as became a good 
 citizen; loyal to his Church, its doctrines and 
 its discipline ; and, last but not least, loyal to 
 his bretliren. In all this he was honest and 
 above-board, neve- descending to intrigue or to 
 pull wires, but seeking in all things to pursue a 
 manly, straightforward course. The result jus- 
 tified the wisdom of his choice, and in this gath- 
 ering we have the proof that the man who can 
 win and hold the love and confidence of Chris- 
 tian men and women is the man who with single 
 aim and unselfish pur'^ose strives to do his duty 
 without fear or favor. 
 
 On such an occasion one cannot withhold a 
 thought that projects itself into the future. At 
 the northern extremity of Sweden, where the 
 bold promontory of the North Cape fronts the 
 Polar Sea, a sight is witnessed at a certain 
 season of the year that is worth going around 
 the world to see. As the traveller stands watch- 
 ing, he sees the sun sinking toward the horizon, 
 but it never disappears. It may almost touch 
 the horizon's rim, but in a little while begins to 
 
_ R EV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 105 
 
 climl. upward a^fain on a sleepless march that 
 never ei. Is. Rut there is another sljjht of still 
 chM.per ini,.ro«.t. A little earlier in the season 
 the sun, as seen from the North Cape, not only 
 approaches the horizon l-t dips some distance 
 below it. Then the trav Jler behohls a sunset 
 whose frlories are never seen in Southern climes; 
 but almost before he h . tune to vvcnder at the 
 marvellous display his attention is called in a 
 new direction. He turns a little toward the 
 east, and lo : the sky is already tirjred wii.. the 
 ro^y hues of the com'ngmorning-the splendors 
 of the settin^r mingling with the excjuisite beauty 
 of the risi:>j sun is a picture never to be forgot- 
 ten. Such a close of life's long day we all wish 
 for the brother beloved in whose honor we have 
 met together— a sunsec that .shall have in it the 
 prophecy of a still more beautiful ri.sing in some 
 far-off easfarn sky. There may be times amid 
 the wearmess and .-ihadows of waning years 
 when one will say : 
 
 " The gnives grow thicker and life's ways in..re bare 
 As years and years go by :" 
 
 but faich puts on a more chee. coura;^^ and 
 answors : 
 
 " Nav, thou hast more green gardens in thy care, 
 And more stars in thy sky. 
 
 e<M» , 
 
lOG 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 Behind — hopes tiirne<l to griefs iiiul joys to iiR'iii.!''ies 
 
 Are fading out of siglit ; 
 IJefoi-e - jKiins changed to pejice ;ind dreams to certainties 
 
 Are ghtwing in God's ligiit." 
 
 THE REV. J. M. KAGAK, M.A. 
 
 The class I represent to-niglit is a large one, 
 viz., the boys in the families of which Dr. Wake- 
 field has bee', pastor. For four years Dr. Wake- 
 field was pastor of my father's family while I 
 was a boy at home; so what I may say will be 
 reminiscent, and as it refers to happenings of 
 about forty years ago, it will be son^ewhat of an 
 excursion into ancient history. 
 
 Among the forces that moulded my character 
 when a boy, a large one was the influence of the 
 Methodist preachers, who were frequent visitors 
 at my father's house : and among them none 
 obtained so strong an influence over me for good 
 as did Dr. Wakefield. Some of the excellfnt 
 ministers who preceded him had about them .so 
 intense an odor of sanctity that their presence 
 inspired me with awe : they stood at an awful 
 distance above me ; so that while I greatly re- 
 spected them, there was no comradeship and 
 little friendship. But with the advent of Dr. 
 
 ^'Jte '' 
 
REV. JO//N . 'A KE FIELD, D.I). 107 
 
 Wakefield there was a new order of tlun«.rs, and 
 he had not been with uh long before we were 
 the best of friends. And as it was with nie, so 
 it was with my brothers and the other boys of 
 the neiffhborhood. 
 
 If I were to subject Dr. Wakefield to an 
 analysis I ahould say that the (tualities that 
 drew boys to hin were three : 
 
 1. Hi.s unaffected good ii Lure. Boy nature 
 is human nature in its most exuberant, fun- 
 loving stage, and Dr. Wakefield loved fun, could 
 see the point of a boy's joke and could laugh at 
 it with an infectious sort of laugh. Indeed, in 
 those days his appearance was somewhat boyish 
 for like the youthful David he was "ruddy and 
 of a fair countenance." If the boys did not 
 come to him in the parlor he would go out to 
 the woodshed, or barn or orchard— anywhe-e to 
 find them and get on good terms with them. 
 
 2. The second quality that won the boys was 
 his fondness of a good horse. Boy nature is fond 
 of dogs and horses: and here was common 
 ground, I might say a large territory of common 
 ground, for Dr. Wakefield and the boys. For at 
 that time Dr. Wakefield's love of a good horse 
 was almost a passion, he had a large stock of 
 horse lore, and in the estimation of -is boys w/is 
 a great authority on horseflesh. David Harum 
 
108 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 \\. ^^ 
 
 says, " A hoss is the most deceivitiest thing in the 
 world Tor wlien you think you know everytliing 
 aijout a hoss, you don't know nothin'." That 
 might hold true of other men, but in our boyish 
 opinion it did not hoKl truo of Dr. WakefiehJ, 
 for what he didn't know about ' horse wasn't 
 worth knowing. And he not only knew a good 
 horse, but he kept one, too ; indeed, the mere fact 
 that a horse belonged to Dr. Wakefield was proof 
 positive to us that he was a most extraordinary 
 animal. Like H. W. Beeeher, he believed a horse 
 was made to go, and he had a deep-rooted aver- 
 sion to taking dust from anybody. Should 
 anyone have asserted that some sporting charac- 
 ter with a fast horse had compelled Dr. Wake- 
 field to take his dust, we boys would liave re- 
 sented it as an impossibility and a slander. 
 
 3. A third quality of Dr. Wakefield's that 
 excited boyish admiration was his powerful 
 voice. In the matter of sounds a boy's prefer- 
 ence is decidedly for the loud, and strong, and 
 forcible, rather than for the (juiet and feeble : and 
 in Dr. Wakefield's voice we boys found every- 
 thing we could desire. For powerful, and even 
 explosive efli'ects, it was unrivalled. When he 
 spoke, no one ever complained of inability to 
 liear him. Of late years I have heard him say 
 that his voice was a mere wreck of what it once 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 ion 
 
 was. Well, lis a boy, I heard it as it "once was." 
 At cainpineetinjrs people hi.l behind trees to jjet 
 out of the way of it. And, be.sides thi.s, the Dr. 
 had a splendid couraft:e, attackin<r sins of every 
 dye, and sinners of low and hi^di de^^ree, and 
 when he launched forth his thunderbolts, as he 
 often did, we boys thouglit him a veritable son 
 of thunder. 
 
 The.se qualities ^'ave him a great inHuence over 
 ine, and opened njy boyish heart to receive the 
 truth he faithfully preached. And I accept it as 
 a providential favor that just when my character 
 was at the formative period I had the privilege 
 of a pastor who was able to win my admiration 
 and my affection as well. He also had something 
 to do with my entering the ministry. He and 
 the late J. B. Howard were the examiners who 
 reconnnended me to the Church as a candidate 
 A.id this is the only thing that I have against 
 Inm. After forty years of uninterrupte.l friend- 
 ship, the only fault I have to tind with him is 
 that he might have shut the door into the min- 
 istry against me, and didn't do it. 
 
 It has afforded me unbounded pleasure to be 
 here, and to add my tribute of respect and gra- 
 titude to my almost life-long friend, and "my 
 father's friend as well ; and I feel that .so well 
 deserved are the honors we give Dr. WakcHcld 
 
Ill 
 
 no 
 
 A JUIilI.EE RETROSrECT 
 
 to-night, that in bestovvi-.g them w^ only <lo 
 honor to ourselvus. 
 
 THK KEV. ALBKIIT CAIIMAN, D.D., 
 
 (ieneral Superintendent. 
 
 This magnificent occasion is called a banquet. 
 Bamjuets are often given to great men an<l to 
 special friends : and the good and noble man 
 and beloved friend is here. We honor Dr. Wake- 
 field for his life and labors, his character and 
 record of fidelity to God and the Methodist 
 Church and people. Further, banquets are taken 
 advantage of to explain foreign relations and 
 declare dome^itic policy. Now, as to foreign rela- 
 tions, our Canadian Methodism has peace with 
 all the world. Very possibly it has peace where 
 more aggression in the kingdom of (iod would 
 give it sharp conflict. For a Churcli to have 
 peace with the world, and in the world, is not 
 the highest commendation. Ii is entitled to the 
 peace which its Builder and Head gives. Can- 
 adian Mt^thodism has peace, possibly too indolent 
 a peace, with the Church of Italy and Spain. We 
 have peace with the Churcli of Gernmny, and 
 with the Churches of Scotland and Switzerland. 
 Our relations with the Church of England, and 
 
'^Ev JOHN n-AKEhiEi.n, n.n, m 
 
 thu Church of Russia are amicaHe, and wo are 
 frien.lly to the Churclies of China un.l Japan. 
 We ;oul.| like the titniost fraternity with all of 
 them, so furastlieyare in Christ and show it 
 by their spirit and work. Our leader, John 
 Wesley, said, " \V<,> have a lea^rue offensive and 
 defensive with every soldier of Jesus Christ." 
 
 Now, as to our domestic policy, Canadian 
 Methodism ou^dit to say stron.; things for New 
 Ontario, and do strong things for British Col- 
 umbia. Manitoba, and the North-West. Perhaps 
 we cannot boast of New ()ntario as the politi- 
 cians do. Perha^ .s in our polity and practice we 
 are not keeping pace with its progre.ss. Is this 
 our domestic policy, to lag behind, to fail to meet 
 the demands of the time and place ? Is it our 
 domestic policy to discount the claims of our 
 superannuated ministers, and to be weakened by 
 aimual deficits in our missionary budget ? Are 
 we boasting of surplusages in our educational 
 work, of vast e.xpansion in our Church enter- 
 pn\es, and of mighty revival over all our domain ? 
 Are these the growing times ? What say our 
 laymen to such features of our domestic policy ? 
 Are our achievements splendid, and are we really 
 beating the other side in th. battle and race ? 
 >Some things in our foreign relations, and some 
 things in our domestic policy, might well be im- 
 proved. 
 
 m 
 
112 
 
 A JUIill.EE RETROSrECT 
 
 In this ch'iiioiistnitioti iiml juMli-o l))iiii)U<-t wo 
 honor a wisi-, truf and worthy man. Dr. Wakc- 
 fiehl'H fifty years in the Methodist ministry have 
 not been passed in vain, hut havt; reared noble 
 monuments, and Ijorne abundant fruit. What I 
 would here emphasize, above even his success as 
 pa.stor and preacher, his special and most import- 
 ant work, is his value and efficiency as a con- 
 nexional man. Some men are broad enouffh, 
 fnr-seeing and stronjj enouj^h to be conne.xional, 
 to take an ontlonk upon Methodism as a whole, 
 to nurture ad her ins'.! .tions, and foster every- 
 where and all the time her broadest arid best 
 interests. In the connexional boards and insti- 
 tutions, with which perhaps I am most buniliar, 
 the counsel, experience, (^nerj^y, courajje, and .sac- 
 rifice of this man of God are invaluable. Then 
 in the union ()f our ( anadian Methodisms he 
 disphiyed his Christian manhood with the hap- 
 piest results. Not an ailvocate of union at its 
 inception, when it had been achieved he gave it 
 his loyal and hearty support. We were not 
 bribed into union, no • forced, nor flattt;red, 
 nor coaxed int( union ; but led of the 
 Spirit of (iod we were molted and fused into one 
 .spirit and one body ; and we jjive (}od the jjlory. 
 The marvellous prayer of Dr. John A. Williams 
 in the tabernacle at Belleville on the historic 
 
KKV. JOHN IVAK'EFIELIK D.D. 113 
 
 occasio,, „f tfu. firnt united ii.eef ,g „f the Con- 
 ttTences, l,y the i>ovver „f tlw. Holy Spirit hrou.^ht 
 •IS, ill t„.,rethor at th.,- Cn.ss of Christ in the 
 ;,'lorious a.lv)iiicu of the kin^'doni of (Jod 
 
 Also, J)r. WakeH.l.l has shown himself in 
 Mit-olo^ry, .loetrine, and .liscipline a progressive 
 conservative-pro^rn-ssive enou|,d. for the a^re- 
 (•onservative enough for the welfare of t^- 
 Church. Not all ol<l things are to be discon. 
 und abandoned ; not all new things are to 
 commended and embraced. 
 
 '* 'Tis viiin to chH old notions fudge, 
 ^ And l)(!n<l our conscioncc to our dealing ; 
 Tho Tun Cumniandinents will not budge, 
 
 And Htoiiling will continue stealing. 
 Tis vain to call our rules too tight, 
 And loosen Scripture for desires ; 
 Tis sur- to dim the Spirit's light, 
 And :ndle deep, infernal fires." 
 Iti the conflicts raised by aggressive, ambitious 
 novelties, we always know where to tind John 
 Wakefield. 
 
 TMK ]{P:v. JOHN POTTS, D.D. 
 This is a uni(|uo occasion in the history of 
 (Canadian Methodism. It is not the first tim.; 
 that the jubilee of a minister has been celebr,,. . : 
 bv bis Conference. 
 
 - .f 
 
 ;. t! 
 
114 
 
 A J LIU LEE RETROSPECT 
 
 \\ , 
 
 In ii few instances there have been jubilee 
 sermons preachrd, and I liave Jio doubt the 
 genial and thoughtful President of the Hamilton 
 Conference will arrange to honor the jubilee of 
 Dr. Wakefield by appropriate services at the 
 foi'thcoming Conference in June. It is, however, 
 the tirst time, at least so I think, in all the his- 
 tory of Methodism that a Methodi.st Church, in 
 its congregational capacity, has done so. All 
 honor to Paris for its official and generous 
 action in this matter. 
 
 It would not be so strange in other churches, 
 and yet it is not a frequent experience of any of 
 the churches. I can easily understand, in 
 churches of settled pastorates, when a man has 
 crossed the line of a quarter of a century and is 
 still fresh and powerful in the pulpit, and a 
 chief and influential citizen in the community, 
 that the desire may grow to the effect that he 
 may spend his fiftieth year in their midst, and 
 still lead them, as a true and much-loved shep- 
 herd, into green pasture and by still waters. 
 How seldom this occurs, even in churches where 
 it is allowable, in view of the theory of Church 
 (Tovernment. In our Church such a thing is im- 
 possible. One of the difficulties of this occasion 
 is that our thoughts are revolving around one 
 man. And yet we are here becau.se of that one 
 
 ■.'■Am^:.,if 
 
 ii'-... 
 
 ■i^Js^fSM' 
 
'^^^' -^^^^'^ ^i'AKEF/E/.D, n.D. 
 
 115 
 
 man, an.l he nuist bo the t.xt of nmny brief 
 ■sennons at this protracted .noetin<r. 
 
 I have known the subject of n.y little sermon 
 for over forty years, an.l I n.ay say that we have 
 been warn,, increasincjly warn,, frien.ls through 
 all these years. To-ni^ht I am carried back to 
 the old Nia^crara district, an.i especially to the 
 C.nm,sby ca.np-meoting. The mention" of that 
 <l>str.ct calls ui> such men as Samuel Rose of 
 precious and fragrant memory. He was chair- 
 •nan and General of the n.ini.sterial host, who 
 always were ready to do his bidding, in doing 
 battle for the Lord Mo.st High. Mr. Rose was 
 like a father to the m.-mbers of his district, of 
 which he was very proud, and to his dying day 
 he referred with pride to the men of th^t dis^- 
 trict. Richard Fawcett. John Shaw, Thos S 
 Keough, Alexander Sutherland, and the hero of 
 this evenino-. 
 
 What a brotherhood that was \ What .neet 
 ings those were on the old Grimsby camp 
 ff-und- We of the Methodist n.inistrv Ire 
 more to each other than any other ministrV be- 
 cause of the itinerancv. A settled pastor i^ 'less 
 
 (l( 
 
 pendent upon hi.- 
 
 Wakefield and 
 
 niinistenal l)rethrrn. Jol 
 
 hearts r.f his bretl 
 The Doctor has \y 
 
 men like him have lived 
 
 in 
 
 in tl 
 
 le 
 
 iren. 
 
 »een a 
 
 strong personality. I 
 
 ^^s.^^i?A 
 
110 
 
 A JUnil.EE RETKOSPECT 
 
 have never lieard of him a|)olo<^izin<^ for liis 
 existence. The Doctor has been a manly man — 
 indeed, I mi;^ht say that he has been noted for 
 his nianhness. This is no small accomplisliment. 
 In liis Church, in the community where he has 
 resideil, in the Conference to which he has be- 
 loufied, and in the Boards of the Connexion no 
 one has been at a loss to kno-.' wliere John 
 Waketield stood. 
 
 Dr. Wakefiekl has been, in the ministry of 
 fifty years, noted for two very important (juali- 
 ties, which are sometiines sadly lackin<i; aiid 
 which are vital to true success in the ministry of 
 the Methodist Church. I will do little more than 
 name tho.se characteristics of his ministerial life 
 and career — ernngilism and conne.flonallxm. 
 He, thank God, has not been a stranger to the 
 cry of the perislied and to the gladness of the 
 saved. His .sermons have been ble.s.sed of God 
 the Holy Spirit in helping many into the king- 
 iU)m of grace and glory. Then he, too, has been 
 a foremost connexional man on every circuit, in 
 every district and in all the work of the Church. 
 Fifty years in the ministry represent a great 
 variety of service. Such a term is an unusually 
 lontr service. How few reach it in aiiv of the 
 walks of pul)lic life. How specially varied when 
 the man has been a representative minister, such 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 117 
 
 V\ . ket,ol,l s „„„,rt.y represents f;re„t olmnge.s 
 tW^Churd, what „„„,eriea,, .,«ial a„d religiou. 
 
 The one thinj; which more than any other 
 ■stand, out hefore our vision is the woLerfu 
 u...o„ ot ail the branches of Methodisn, J, tl^ 
 Atiant-ctotePacihc. (id, the Lord and Head 
 ot tl,e Cln,rch, has put the seal of his approval 
 upon the union of Methodisn, throu.ho'u': ^h^ 
 
 o. f vf r";.'"'"' '" ^°"''°"' ^'''"'"J'' Wo", good 
 
 old KIder Case preached his jubilee sermon and 
 
 m dune, .902, John Wakefield will preach lis 
 b lee sermon at the Han.ilton Conference in 
 
 tlatFM 1 ''""t- '"■— aarkable thin,, 
 tha Elder < ase an.I John Wakefield, in their 
 
 In the State, how wonderful the chancres and 
 how changed the position of Cana,la, in tt f!," 
 p.re and ,„ the world . If we had, in those fifty 
 y,'a™, a ^rreat Methodist union in the Church 
 .avo we not had a great State eo„fe,leration of 
 
 Canada, to-day, „a great pa.toffJreater Britain 
 and ,„ the old land to-day Canada is spelkd 
 
 '~'^. 
 
i • 
 
 118 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 with capital letters. Methodism, in the fifty 
 years <foiie by, has had an historic fj;lory, but it 
 has to-day a prophetic glory that excel leth. 
 
 i 
 
 THE REV. GEO. W. HENDERSON. 
 
 This is certainly a very unicjiie occasion, and 
 it is suggestive as well. Suggestive to those 
 who tell us tha. -he trend of the times is to 
 push the minister of age and experience to the 
 wall. 
 
 In 1883 the Quarterly Official Board of this 
 circuit invited the honored guest of this occasion 
 to become their pastor. For three years he 
 served this Church with great acceptability. 
 Time passed on. Three years ago this Board 
 was looking around for a man to succeed. 
 
 As is the custom of these Quarterly Boards, I 
 doubt not that these dear brethren canvassed 
 every likely and available man. They looked 
 their records — personal, private, official and 
 family — and then by an unanimous and hearty 
 vote, they ])laced their invitation in the hands 
 of Dr. Wakefield. 
 
 He is now closing his second term of three 
 years, having completed his half century in the 
 ministry, and as an expre.ssion of the high 
 
REV. JOI/N WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 119 
 
 esteem in wl.ich he is held, they tender to him 
 tins magnificent jubilee banquet. More 
 tlum this. I see by our Ckrmlan Guardian 
 that you have done both him and yourselves 
 the honor to recjuest his appointment for the 
 fourth year. 
 
 Here is a man over threescore years and ten 
 Long smce he has reached and crossed over the 
 so-called "dead line," and yet you are pleased 
 to load hnn with honors— honors which were 
 never more richly deserved. Dr. VVaicefield has 
 never allowed th." sympathy of a great lovin.r 
 heart to wane. He has kept well abreast of the 
 tunes. He has, in spite of advancing yeara 
 continued young. 
 
 In one of our religious periodicals I recently 
 noticed an article under this caption, " What 
 shall we do with the old minister?'" "Kill 
 Jinn." No, no I but if he be of tlie type of our 
 beloved Wakefield, we say. and I believe the 
 best sentiment of this age says, let us do him 
 Jionor— let us record our convictions that lonc^ 
 years of experience, study and fellowship with 
 God .lo not render the minister of Jesus Christ 
 less competent as our spiritual teacher and 
 guide. 
 
 I am 1 re in a two-fold capacity. As their 
 representative I am instructed to convey the 
 
120 
 
 A JUniI.EE RETROSPECT 
 
 greetinj^s of tho Churcli at St. Mary's. Though 
 many years have passed, those who remain have 
 the most precious memories of our brother's 
 pastorate. But I esteem it a still greater honor 
 to have been invited as a personal frierxl. To 
 be numbered among the friends of sucli a 
 man I reckon as one of the privileges of my 
 life. 
 
 Twenty-two years next June he laid loving 
 hands upon my head and ordained me to the 
 office and work of this Methodist nn'nistry. 
 That was the beginning of an actjuaintance 
 which has become increasingly intimate, and to 
 me most helpful to this very hour. 
 
 During the year of his presidency I was pei-- 
 mitted to serve as his assistant, and a tliousand 
 times I have thanked God for that year. His 
 devotion to the interests of the Church, his 
 godly life, full of sunshine, were then and liave 
 since been to me an inspiration. He counselled 
 me. He trusted me, and with all my heart I 
 loved him. Two years later it was, to us, a 
 great joy to have him officiate at our wedding. 
 Last summer it was my privilege to have him 
 for my travelling companion, and I have great 
 pleasure in bearing my humble testimony that 
 to know Dr. Waketield better is to love him 
 more. 
 
RF.V. JOIf,\ IVAKEFIEU), D.D. 121 
 
 THE IIKV. S. S. SELLERY, M.A., H.D. 
 
 ^ I i-KLT pleased and honored when my Official 
 Board elected me to represent them on this in- 
 torotin- and. may I not say, historical occasion 
 ior this jubilee l.an.|uet will certainly be a mat- 
 ter of ("anadian :\retliodist history. It .rives me 
 very great pleasure indeed to convey to Dr 
 Waketiel.i, the honored guest of this evening, 
 the very warm and hearty congratulations of 
 n.y Official Hoard, an.l I may say of my whole 
 Church, on hi« reaching the jubilee year of his 
 ''"nistry. J confess that in undertakincr to 
 represent my Board in this matter I have" as- 
 sumed no little responsibility, because I know 
 somethnig of the high esteem in which he is 
 held and of the strong terms in which they 
 wouKl like their congratulations to be conveyed. 
 Dr. WakeHeld had a most successful pastorate 
 in ])undas. and has a very warm place in the 
 hearts of the Dundas congregation. I am (juite 
 safe in saying that no minister was ever sta- 
 tione,l in Dundas whose pulpit ministrations 
 were more highly appreciated than J)r. Wake- 
 held s. He is spoken of by all classes as a prince 
 •n the pulpit and as a devoted, faithful pastor 
 and triend out of the pulpit. 
 
 I { 
 
 i * 
 
 f 
 
 
 'li i 
 
 if 
 
 '^^"^^^mm, 
 
122 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 You all kno\ that he spent in Duiidas the 
 full term allowed by the Chuicli, and if the time 
 limit had been removed I .ju<l;;e that he would 
 have been there .still, for the simple reason that 
 I have been told on every hand that his popu- 
 larity increased with faeh year, s(j that he was 
 better liked at the close of his fifth ye;ir than at 
 the close of any of the preceding; years. Of 
 course I am glad that the lime limit was not 
 removed just then. You can remove it now as 
 soon as you like, for there is only one J3undas 
 in Canadian ]\rethodism. One of my officials 
 told me some time ago that he recpiesteil J)r. 
 Wal'efield (luring the last year, I think, of Ids 
 pastorate to repeat one of his sermons. It was 
 one, i believe, of unusual excellence, and he 
 wished to hear it again. I know some preachers 
 are very glad to repeat a sermon before the 
 three years are up, even without a reijuent, but 
 Dr. Wakefield, at the close of his fifth year, was 
 still so full of sermons, or had still such a supply 
 on hand or enjoyed so nmch the work of getting 
 up new ones, that he respectfully declined to 
 comply with the reijuest. 
 
 It is said tLat the churches are after the 
 young men — the coming man — and are weary 
 of the man, whatever his (|ualiHcations, who has 
 already come. The man fresh from the shell is 
 
I^RV. JOHN WAKEIIF.LD, J)./). 
 
 12a 
 
 wanted, aii.f so much the better if he is steain- 
 hatehe.1. It is said that Paul's exhortation to 
 Timothy to let no man (lesi)i,«,e his youth, is (|uite 
 .superfluous in our day, that it is not the beard- 
 less but the greybeard w.io is in danger of 
 being despised. There are two sides to this 
 (|Uestion. I don't know as there is as much in 
 these reports as some would make out. There 
 are old men and old men. There are men 
 younger at seventy than others at forty. I 
 dont believe that the deman.l is so much for 
 men young in years as young in heart-men who 
 are still fresh intellectually, who have kept up 
 with the times, it is not simply veal, as some 
 would make out, that the churches are after, but 
 juicy meat, independent of its age. The fact is 
 that the most popular preachers in Canadian 
 Methodism, the preachers that everybody wants 
 to hear, and that no one can hear often enoucrh, 
 are men nearly if not .,uite threescore years' 
 and ten. 
 
 Why do the people of Paris want Dr. Wake- 
 field for a fourth year, although he lias pas.sed, I 
 imagine, the threescore years and ten ? Because 
 he has kept abrea.st of the times and is still 
 young in heart. One of our ministers boasted 
 that he had put in three years on a circuit with- 
 out preparing a single new sermon. Believe 
 
 I 
 
 J, ^ 
 
 11:- 
 
124 
 
 A JUIULF.E RETROSPECT 
 
 me, these are the iiioii who are not wanted when 
 they have a few <,'rey hairs. 'I'hey use tlieir 
 manuscripts till they are blael: .vith atfe and 
 their sermons become stale as mouldy dou^^h- 
 nuts — to use a classic expression. 
 
 Just another word. Dr. Wakefield has been 
 a Gospel preacher. There is nothinj; that wi^ars 
 like the dospel. You cannot imaj;;ine Dr. Wake- 
 field dealini^ in sensational twaddle. He has 
 preached tlie old Gospel, preached it in such a 
 way as to meet the needs of the growing' aye, 
 preached it with freshness and vicror, so that 
 after a ministry of fifty years he is still in 
 demand. It gives me very <,'reat pleasure to 
 convey to Dr. Wakefield, on this ever-to-be- 
 remembered jubi'ee :iCcasion, the hearty conijra- 
 tulations of the Dundas Church — the Church 
 that he served so faithfully and so acceptably 
 for a period of five years. 
 
 THE REV. W. C. HENDEHSON, D.D. 
 
 To but few men is it <,'iven to continue their 
 nunistry durinjr a period of fifty years, and to 
 fewer still on attaining the half century limit 
 to have tendered to them a jubilee bancjuet. l!oth 
 of these distinguished privileges have fallen to the 
 
 V- 
 
 m^^'3ii^'*;^i'» 
 
 'm^^''^m^mmm:. wmiP!?wmm 
 
lot of tl.o honored ^.ucst of this oveniri^r, „„,i i^,th 
 wive come in the providence ,,f (io.i, on the one 
 i.an.l hy the exercise of sunctiHe.l connnon s.-nse 
 m cirn.jr for the hody, and on the other by th.. 
 k'ood-will and love of the Church over which he 
 presides. The l.an.,uet of this evenin^r {« alike 
 cre.htabl.,. to the con^^re^ration an<l pastor. I f.-el 
 It a ^a-eat i^leasnre to he present on this happy 
 occasion and thus to show n.y appreciation of 
 Kt'nuuie worth and true Christian n.an}ioo<l. We 
 are hero to rejoice together, J)r. Wakefield Iiavinrj 
 thus tar ascen.led the Mount of Transfi;.uration 
 cm now raise his Ebenezer. and with gladness 
 recount the various incidents by tlie way. 
 
 His life has been devoted to one object: he 
 has lived not for self, but for others. 
 
 The purest joy we must p.-vrtaku 
 
 In giving j..y tootluTs, 
 Our burdens we the lighter make 
 
 liy bearing one another's. 
 To scatter sunshine in His name 
 
 Amid earth's gloom and sadness, 
 Is sowing light to reap the same 
 
 In sheaves of heavenly gladness. 
 
 •"Father," said a small boy, "What is a 
 pessimist { " " A pessimist is a man who deliber- 
 ately turns out the liuht so that he may look at 
 
 mi 
 
 Ipt: i.' ; I 
 
 m 
 
 the dark side of 
 
 til 
 
 Higs," Dr. Wakulleld h 
 
 mt: t 
 
 as 
 
12« 
 
 .-/ JUlilI.EE Rh TROSrECT 
 
 never Ix't'ti a pessimist, lie lifts iilwnys turned nji 
 all tlie li<rlit and seen thing's From the liriylitest 
 stanilpoint. The (juspel he has preacheil has 
 been tlie (Josju^l ol" jflail tiilinjjs It is said that 
 at the head of its "Sunshine" column, tht; Nni> 
 York Triliii lie keep.s these lines standing;: 
 
 Hiivo ymi lunl ;i kiii(hu'ss sliowii ' 
 
 Pass it on. 
 'T\v;is not given for you jilono, 
 
 1'ii.ss it on. 
 Lot it travel ilnwii tlie yojira, 
 Let it wipe iinotlier's tears. 
 Till in heaven tlie di'ed appears, 
 
 ras,s it on. 
 
 Havinj( realize*! in early life thi^ «.jreat kind- 
 ness oF Ciud, t;i>so fifty years have been spent in 
 passinpf the inestimable gift on. Who can 
 compute the good accomplished by all these 
 blessed influences set in operation, and which 
 travel down the years in ever- widening; circles 
 of sweetness and power ^ 
 
 From a lonof and somewhat intimate accjuaint- 
 ance with Dr. Wakefield, I have been struck 
 with three leading; characteristics, and which I 
 believe have been the main elements of his 
 strength and power. 
 
 1. His great faith in Cod. Faith in (Jod is 
 tho backbone of moral character as well as the 
 
h'EV. JO/fX WAKE IT: 1 1), A/;. 
 
 127 
 
 inspimti.,,, tc, Christian achi..v.M,u.nt. fl7who 
 ms (J.>.lo„hi,s,si.lc is nhva-,-s i„ th. n.ai„rity 
 \Ve read „. th • ..|..v,M,tl. chapf-r of hJi.p.ws 
 <>' those 'who throu^^h fuith s,.l,.l„e,| kin-r- 
 . on.s. wrouuht ri.hteons.nss, ohtaiue.l pron.is;; 
 .stoppe,! the ...out hs nf lions.,,„enche,l the vioh.nce 
 of hre u-axe.l valiant in H^^ht, an.l turned to 
 llifflit the armies of the ah'ens." 
 ^^Mi^l.ty faith in (Jod makes nu^hty men for 
 
 2 His jrroat faith in the efficacy of the Gospel 
 Ho has always believed the Gospel good enomd,' 
 and great enough to n.eet the needs of nianl 
 the panacea for human ill, the sweetening tree 
 for all the bitter waters of this life. The old 
 Gospel, the same Gospel from century to century 
 but having its adaptati(,ns to each age and 
 generation. Applied Christianity will not only 
 *ave the individual man, but will solve the social 
 and other problems of society. Hence Dr 
 Wakefield's loyalty to the Gospel. His mini.stry 
 1ms always been, in the highest and most eminent 
 sense, a gospel ministry. 
 
 .'J. His great fnith in himself, and this is the 
 best am most Christian sense : this has been a 
 power ul element of strength in his character 
 often Iea.Iing him to atten.pt great things fo^ 
 God where many others would have faltered 
 
 1 I 
 
 f1 
 
 7-A"J_ 
 
iA^i^ 
 
 128 
 
 A J U HI LEE RETROSPECT 
 
 Witliout tliis, life could not havt.' been so pott" • 
 for goo<l. When any promised land was in vie ,,- 
 he always had the spirit of Caleb and Joshu 
 " Let us ^o up at once and possess it, for we are 
 well able to overcome it." Whenever any lar<,a( 
 project was before the Church, no matter how 
 many might be timid and fearful, his voice was 
 generally heard urging on the hosts of (U)d, and 
 pleading ability to succeed. In the work of the 
 circuit, district, Stationing Committee, or Con- 
 ference his convictions were always clear cut and 
 without misgivings, and the sequel generally 
 proved that he was in the main correct. My 
 prayer is that his life may be long spared and 
 his years of active ministry extended, an<l when 
 at the close of another decade he celel»rates his 
 diamond jubilee, that many of us who are here 
 to-night may be present to take part in the 
 general rejoicing. 
 
 X^l 
 
 THE REV. fJEORGE CLARKE, Pii.D. 
 
 Few men in the Methodist ministry celebrate 
 their fiftieth anniversary while yet in the active 
 work. Fewer still .who spare themselves as 
 little as ])r. WakefieM has done. To begin with, 
 Brother Wakefield was, and happily is yet, 
 
REV. JCWN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 12f) 
 
 r.o.sse,sso.l of a marvellous voice and a vigorous 
 constitution wl.icl,, coupled with good judcrment 
 have carried him triumphantly through where 
 others must have failed. Dr. Wakefield's work 
 ■n the Methodist Church has been much more 
 than the or.linary work of a superintendent of a 
 CM-cmt, great as that often is. Few men have 
 iield as long, filled as continuously, with as great 
 credit to themselves and atisfaction to their 
 brethren the position of district chairman, with 
 all Its additional toils and responsihilities, a.s he 
 has done. In addition to this, he has been 
 honored more than once with the highest honors 
 iHs Conference could confer. At a time when 
 ■n the judgment of many loyal Methodists' 
 <l..sc.pl,ne was not being satisfactorily guarde.l 
 m our Church, there was great delight created 
 m the Conference at the pro.spect of Brother 
 VVakeheld, alter being compelled to recuperate 
 on the other side of the world, returning to the 
 active work of the ministry with an enriched 
 exper^nce. Ic has been my privilege to have 
 Dr WaKefield as my chairman on difibrent 
 'h-stricts, and I have always regards my asso- 
 cation with him with inten,se satisfaction and 
 pleasure. 
 
 Let me briefly ref.T to Dr. Wakefield is a 
 predecessor, as a pastor and circuit superintend- 
 
Df I 
 
 [mmr.'^r 
 
 VAO 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 I 
 
 I '! 
 
 
 
 ent. I had the li'-nor of following liim on the 
 Thorold circuit, of following him on tl)at chartre 
 only a few months after the greatest revival in 
 the history of Thorold. For a Methodist minis- 
 ter to go to a new field and tnu! everything left 
 to his satisfaction means a great deal. Yet, I 
 want to say, that such .satisfaetion was mine. 
 The mendjership roll, notwithstanding the great 
 ingathering, was all I could ask. Not a name 
 was returned, but in all honesty should have 
 been returned. Then there was a carefully pre- 
 pared record of the atHicted, of the aged, and of 
 a few new converts in need of .special care, that 
 was a great help to me in my new charge. I 
 not only found the good people of Thoi-old all he 
 represented them to be ; but I never, and I .say 
 this without throwing a single reflection on any 
 other predeces.sor, went to a charge where I 
 found everything in as complete order — in the 
 home and on tlu; circuit. All I had to do was 
 to simply pick up the lines an<l drive right on 
 about my Master's business. As a preacher of 
 the Gospel, as an adnnnistrator of discipline and 
 as a pastor, especially among the aged and 
 afflicted, I never expect to follow his ecjual. 
 And I am thankful for the pri\ ilege of being 
 here to-night and give this testimony. 
 
^^iiw'.rt.^k. 
 
 f^V-JOHNWAKKFIELD, D.D. 
 
 THE REV. D. W. SNIDER. 
 
 UVHER circmnstances so auspicioP.s an.l u„i,,„e 
 - the present. I an. happy to «nd myself in 
 I uns, ,n boaufful and pictures,ue Paris^ This 
 pace of ,dor,c,us hills and restful valleys, and of 
 
 -nd.ng creek and river, is precious o n.e be 
 cause o the hallowed character of the recolll 
 
 itii;;: ; "^ '^"" '"^' '"^""-^^' -" -•> '- 
 
 ;'^ r , '""""^ ,n my soul, being set ariame 
 '>y the du-,ne fires of thankfulness and lov" 
 It was in thispl.ce during the early sixties 
 
 my ch Idhood were receive,!, and the first never- 
 
 orded ,n memory-was across these ravines 
 My firs sle.gh r.des were down these hills. My 
 hrst hsh.ng was m these streams. Here I toil.d 
 at the A B Cs after the manner of the" d s^'; 
 iy^n, method of approach to the gates of tZ 
 
 P'lMlege. Ihe first memories of a consecrated 
 .ome and of godly paren. , who now "t i^ n 
 i r ''-^bors n> the abode of the saints, are her" 
 Ihe roughcast Metho<list n.eeting house tha^' 
 used to stand on the river bank, Lding to th 
 
 
 t t 
 •i f? 
 
 
!32 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 i 'I 
 
 w 
 
 upper town, was my tirst place of worship, and 
 there the preacliers of tliose days <;ave nie my 
 earliest coi options of the necessary ((ualifiea- 
 tions of the man of (jod. The most essential 
 was that he must have hair that put to shame 
 the winfj of the raven, and nnist ascend on hi<^h 
 like his prayers. Who that remembers the 
 bushy blackness of the heads of the late Jiimes 
 Spencer, and especially of \V. S. Griffin and (Jeo. 
 H. Bridi^man, in their palmiest or more hirsute 
 days, will find fault wilh the childish fancy ? 
 Alas, that many of us have not been able to 
 pass down the illusion to succeedinjjf generations. 
 In September, 18S.S, the authorities of the old 
 London Conference laid their hands on me and 
 broke the cherished plans of many years. They 
 interrupted my course at old Victoria and 
 brouffht me, while an under^^raduate in Arts, to 
 the assistance of Brother Waketield in this place 
 of my early memories, because the health of the 
 robust veteran and truest of honor to-nij'ht was at 
 that time seriously threatened with break-down 
 and collapse. From the instruction and culture of 
 collej^e halls, I pas.se<l under hissuperintendency 
 whose stren(>;th of character an<l splendid min- 
 istry Victoria has sinc(! properly acknowdedj^ed 
 by conferrin<^ upon him the hcmorable degree of 
 Doctor of Divinity. I became his Timothy. 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 
 
 I3;j 
 
 for luno months n.y home was with Pr 
 VVukeheM ni the adjoining, parsona^re. I l.^ve' 
 vivid and knidly ren.en.brance of every men.her 
 ot the household : of the earnest. thou^dUful 
 cultured motherhood of Mrs. Wakefield ; of rest- 
 loss and musical Melville, of the ambitious and 
 versatde Miss I.iHiar, of the anecdotal and 
 q>.^Cramn.atic Miss Rose with literary instincts 
 ot the lu^diest quality, of Hubert ea^^erly plaein.. 
 h.s wondenn^r feet upon the paths of in.miry 
 
 ('Od <.avx' us a <rood year in the work of the 
 (^^hurch. Many were converted and -loriously 
 snved Iron, amon^r the brightest and best in the 
 congregation. Not very long ago I received a 
 letter from one of them, the Kev. Joseph L. 
 Ualker, L.A now an honored minister in an 
 Illinois Conference-a letter in which he tells 
 again to the glory of God and my abounding 
 gratitude Uie story of his conversion. 
 w^°T, !''*"' «»^1^ close association with ])r 
 Wakeheld as those months atfbrded and an inter- 
 ested observation of his career up to this hour I 
 am not going to say that his character or gifts 
 are Ideal or perfect. His love of fine horses has 
 nothing t(, do with it nor the way in which he 
 can be tempted to purchase what he can never 
 n.se at an auction sale. But I wish to keep on 
 the good side of him, and I know he would be 
 
 '11 
 I 
 
 W 
 
 r^J 
 
 '5»| 
 
l.M 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECr 
 
 tlie first to re{)udiat(' the tlatterinj; stiiteinent of 
 his [)erfeftibility ami the man that made it. 
 
 I want however, to say, with the <f.oatest 
 Irt'edoin and candor — and witli thorouj^h- 
 f,'oin<f emphasis what many in our ^Muthodist 
 connexion throu^li ignorance do not believe, 
 vi/., — that tlie youni; men of our C'hurch, 
 l)robationers and younir ordained ministers, 
 iiave no truer friend, no more deeply inter- 
 ested friend from ocean to ocean, than John 
 VVaketield. But that leads me to say another 
 thinj;: Dr. Wakefield puts what he conceives to 
 be the welfare of the Methodist Church before 
 all other considerations. For the welfare of the 
 Methodist Church as he estimates it, he lives and 
 breathes, he labors and prays, he ardently loves 
 or openly hates : the thouirht of the welfare of 
 the Methodist Church is first with him and 
 controls him ; and men may come and men may 
 (JO — they are subordinate and secondary. If 
 any have ever thou<fht themselves impaled by 
 his action it was not because h(; loved them less 
 but because he loved our Zion more. And in 
 what he has believed to be for the highest good 
 of the Church this man of predominating per- 
 sonality and of stern inHexible will has been will- 
 ing if it were the world against Athanasius, to 
 let it stand " Athanasius against the world." 
 
 i ! 
 
'[EV-J^yiN UAKEFlELn, D.n. j.-j- 
 
 Nmv l.avin. thu. exprosscl whauTiJii^, 
 •>e the prevu.un;: motive winch, t..rou^rh fifty 
 years, has ^au.le.l the actions of the ,nan whon, 
 we honor to-ni>.ht, I shall not trespass upon the 
 
 h'-^LJ "'^J;"-*"'"^>- ''f ^^^-'- ^y any further 
 characterization. 
 
 Af ^h'^'T- '! n"! '''^'"'' '^' ^''^ I*^°I'^« '^^" tl'o Pari. 
 Mothochst Church my congratulations upon this 
 
 ""•qne gathering assembled under the wann and 
 nn-.tnig wnigs of their Christian hospitality, and 
 made n.en.orahly itnpressive hy their affectionate 
 appreciation of their whole-hearted and veteran 
 pastor: and to Dr. Wakefield, one of the noble 
 succession ot men in the Christian Church of 
 positive character and action, bearing the four- 
 square name of John, from John the Baptist sent 
 iom God to John Wesley and John A. Williams 
 let me, as the colleague of 1883-4 and the friend 
 of this hour, .say devoutly : " The Lord bless 
 thee and keep thee : the Lord make His face 
 
 tZxT '!r' ""' ^'^^^'^^ unto thee ; the 
 Lord Idtup His countenance upon thee and .dve 
 thee peace. " 
 
 THE REV. WILLIAM BRIGGS, D.D. 
 
 Afr^w'l «^if ''"', ^^^""''•'^tulations to Dr. and 
 Mrs VVakeheld, and to the members and friends 
 v.! the Pans Church. Dr. Bri^rgs procepd.d 
 
136 
 
 A JUniLF.E RETROSPECT 
 
 Thought, at such a tiim; as this aiui in sucli a 
 luei'ting as this, has a doul)Io cdj^e. It teiiiixM-s, 
 if needed, the retrospective and the prospeelivr 
 look of the mind. 
 
 At whatever point of Hfe we may have arrived, 
 whether more or less of the milestones that 
 mark the way are behind us, when we look back 
 alon{,f that way, does not a vastly <,M-eater part of 
 it lie in sunshine than in shadow '. We wdl not 
 forget that shadows have fallen, and that when 
 they fell they were dark and depressing. Still, 
 when each is summed up and set hy itself, when 
 the light and the darkness are gathered up, separ- 
 ated and set in opjKjsition, which is really the 
 greater ? Is there not much more of sunshine 
 than of shadow ? 
 
 Some of us may be inclined to doubt this, but 
 if so, do we do so reasonably ? Do we take sutfi- 
 ciently into account the common blessings of 
 afe, the daily, hourly good that comes to is 
 through our relations to outward nature, and 
 through the relations, social, domestic and busi- 
 ness, which we sustain to our fellow-men ? 
 
 Again, do we count in our estimate our highest 
 blessings, the religious blessings ; namely, the 
 privilege of being the rhildren of (Jod, subjects 
 of His government, ministers of His pleasure, 
 with faculties to understand His character, to 
 
RE I : JOffN IV A KE FIELD, I). I). ] :j7 
 
 rej.Mce in His iHMlVction.s, and to ceK-hn.to His 
 I'ra.se ^ An<l, then^fore, c-m we not answor this 
 wlK,!,. <,uostion in the well-known .netrcl words: 
 " It is truo, thniijrii cynics (l..ul)t if, 
 
 M..1C of .sunshine tli.m ..f shaduw, 
 On our pjithvv.iy t.. thu Um\h. 
 
 Ismul found, iiniid Iier w;inderinj,'.s, 
 ^ Kio licr weary iniiicli was ,.n\l, ' 
 Eiin.'s wolls wore .■sweet and many, 
 Miint's pool was only one." 
 
 There is anotlier thinir in our personal experi- 
 ence, as we are ponderin^r o'er the past to-nicdit 
 w(.rthy of special notice. Have we not Cen' 
 ffi-owm^r all the.se years, our powers e.vpandin.r 
 our capacity to enjoy and understand increasin"' 
 our vision openin. wi.ler, our thoughts deepen- 
 inir and enlar^'inf>- :* 
 
 We luue brio.?ter lights, and more advanced 
 e.s.sons tiian our fatliers had, and God intends 
 that we shall open our eyes to see more, and our 
 minds to comprehend more, an.l our hearts to 
 enjoy more, than any mortals who have lived 
 '.etoi^ us. But not only does God intend that 
 wo should l,e an improvement on the past of 
 others, of our predecessors. He also intends that 
 we should be an improvement on the past of 
 ourselves, that we .should mount above our old- 
 
 m 
 
 HI 
 
138 
 
 A JUnil.EE RETROSPECT 
 
 time i^jnumnce, tluit wo sliuuitl disdiiin the level 
 of our foniier l)i<,'()trie.s, that we shouM elinib to 
 the crest ol" the occasion, that we should staiid 
 on the suiiiniit ol" cpportuiiities, that thus "on 
 our dead selves as steppin^f-stones," we should 
 " rise to hi«;her thin^js." And so throu<rh all the 
 chequered scenes of life let the full view, the fair 
 view, be taken by us. Let Us reineniber all the 
 way the Lord has lulpod ns, and the renieni- 
 branco will stren<,'then liopefulness. 
 
 And now, sir, enlaroin^r the teachinu' of this 
 thou^dit from an individual to a <reneral applica- 
 tion of it, let ine say that I believe the experi- 
 ence of the world is calculated to stren<'thi"ti our 
 liope lor the world, and hence to <^ive us coura'-'e 
 to labor for its redemption. 
 
 Whether we think of the political, educatiimal 
 or relioious world, e.xperience worketh hope in 
 each realm. Think of politics ] Now, by politics 
 I do not for a moment mean partyism, but poli- 
 ticalism ; and the politics of lon(,mt,'o meant, anil 
 went to establish a stronn; jjovenunent rerrard- 
 less of the means. Justice, mercy, truth, had 
 nothin<,' to do in the case. When a man was pro- 
 claimed kin*,', his entire business was to make 
 sure of his kin<,'dom. He usually be«,nin by 
 removing all liis rivals: the relatives and friends 
 of the former king, and all his own relatives wlio 
 
/^'EV. /0//A' IIAK'KF//-:/./)^ IKI). i;j.j 
 
 looke.1 ask.nce. Tlu- next tl.i„. vv,us to put his 
 lavon es ,„to oflie... This last pructice has not 
 .•tltoj,n-thor ,hccl out y.t. \.xt in order he went 
 i'^rth to conquer all thr weak provinces roun.l 
 ahout, una carry honu- their ^^old. an.l n.ake 
 slaves ol their p.-ople. That was ancient politics 
 -supreme selHsiiness an.l lust of power; but 
 politics .h.l not remain there. A new id . was 
 p-owino. Some may say that moral ,, ..stions 
 have no place in politics, but politics will find a 
 place anion- the ^rreat moral (juestions, and ex- 
 perience worketh hope in this respect, for Web- 
 ster s definition of politics as 'a brancli of ethics" 
 's bem^r widely accepted and a<lopted. It is 
 bein^Y"^»-^'^^'*i"^'ly seen that every problem that 
 iaces humanity must be face.! at the polls; that 
 every subject that touches the general welfare 
 must be grapple<l in the Le^dsluture ; that there 
 IS no more stupendous folly on earth tiian to 
 suppose that politics can ^dve any moral ,,ues- 
 tion the slip. 
 
 Now think of the educational world, and can 
 we not say that this is an age ahead of all pre- 
 vious eras of educational progress ? Churches are 
 taking hold of educati<jn : governments are tak- 
 ing hold of education ; there is a demand for 
 knowledge, and there is an effort made to .supply 
 the demand by the philanthropic powe.Vof 
 
 1 
 
 I. 
 
140 
 
 ^/ JUHIl.l.F. RETROSPECT 
 
 Church uiid State. This is jin ti^n- when kiinwl- 
 e(l;ff has heen hroiiirht down from the MuiiimitM 
 <»l' Hocit'ty to l)e spiciid over the pljiiii.s. 'I'liis is 
 an u<,'c of e<hif^atioiuil institutions, IVoni connnon 
 schools as the has.- up to Hi<,di schocjls, and Col- 
 le^'iatc Institutes and rnivcrsity ( 'ollej^cs, as the 
 steps to an apex (;n which is the cuhiiination of 
 Imnian thouj/lit, or on which is the focus li*,d>t 
 from the first Hash of educated tliou;,dit. And 
 the knowled^fe wldch arises fn^ii tliis libt:. ! 
 education is not only diti'used with a facility, and 
 an extension which places it within the reach of 
 all, hut it is a knowIed<,'e which is increasing. 
 Its organ of sight and the attributes of the mind 
 are strengthening; and in all its ingenuity it is 
 seeing farther. The arm of its industrial achieve- 
 ment is striking harder, and the thoughts and 
 facts of its discovering power are travelling with 
 a rapidity which puts human calculation at 
 fault. 
 
 In higher education at the beginning of the 
 century, an.l later years, even within the time of 
 the ministry of our dear friend whose Jubilee we 
 celebrate to-night, woman received but scant 
 recognition, and the majority of people thought 
 that reading and writing were enough for any 
 girl. In the business world she was seldom tru.sted 
 to sell a yard of calico or count a dozen of 
 
A' A-/'. y<9/AV WAKEI'IEID, D. 
 
 n. 
 
 141 
 
 i'%'«;th.- .,n-hty masculine miiul alono wascon- 
 snlom ..,Mul to these transact io„,s. The century 
 which has ^ron.., a.ul especially the half of which 
 wetlunk,.Fto.ni;rht,has 1....,, a woman's con- 
 tnry, a century of e.lucation, of .,n.m\ uplift- 
 ".^': ucent.ny in which won.an has co.ne to her 
 clucational and industrial opportunity 
 
 And now think of the Chri.s.ian reli;rio„_thc 
 cause <,t every advance i.. politics, in literature 
 "' '-^Hnd in science. Hero we n.ark. not a 
 |'> ■ d or monumental institution, huta^^row- 
 •n^^ force. The Kev. H. T. Brown, the ^.Poatly 
 »>eIoved and popular Baptist .livine in Liverpool 
 shortly before his death said, " When I Io<,k hack 
 I really cannot find the time when any portion 
 ot the CJiurch was as much onhVhtened as many 
 portions of it are now." Consider our own coun- 
 try We have the one Presbyterianism, the one 
 Methodism, and a closer fraternal union of the 
 churches, for never, it appears to me, have the 
 heart and mind of Christendom been so .renerally 
 ami fondly turned as during the present year or 
 the years our minds are dwelling upon, toward 
 Christ — 
 
 " The sinle;;s yo;irs 
 Tliat breathed beneath cerulean bhie." 
 What of our Methodism i In 1842 we were 
 divided, and but one-Hfth of the population of 
 
 
 li»5^" 
 
 i 
 
p 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 : 
 
 ■ 1 
 
 
 = ' 
 
 :l« 
 
 142 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 the Province. We are a unit now, and are about 
 one-third of Ontario's people. So much for the 
 (juantity of our Canadian Methodism — a jjrovN ing 
 quantity. What ahout the quality ? Is it 
 growing? I mean is it growing better? Still 
 the (juality is ditterent. Then the Methodism 
 was the camp-meeting, the educational, the 
 shouting, the hallelujah Methodism — not a bad 
 kind, remember. I am not stating it to scoff at 
 it ; far from it, for it was a soul-saving Methodism. 
 The "old-time religion " is still good enough for 
 me. Now the Methodism is more quiet, more 
 thouglitful, more practical, but in giving to the 
 Lord and in working for the Lord, I believe tlie 
 Church has not backslidden. 
 
 The singing wus more general then, and more 
 lively; more openly articulated, if not as educa- 
 tionally artistic. The lung power of Methodism 
 was grand. In those days, when Methodism sang 
 " I'll praise my Maker while I've breath," they 
 meant it, and used nearly all their breath in 
 singing it. 
 
 The praying was more fervent; long, dull 
 prayers were not very often heard. Such praying 
 ones weree.xhorted to " cut them off at both ends 
 and set them on fire in the middle." 
 
 The preaching had more of the spiritual 
 abandon, more of the awakening; the sin-con- 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 143 
 
 vincing and soul-converting resulting from the 
 there and tlien preachinnr. Yet, Mr. Chairman 
 count me not a pessimist. I am an optimist in 
 relation to our Chureh in giving, praying, singing 
 and preaelung, as well as working ; for our youn" 
 people are working nowadays as never before'' 
 And experience worketh hope that still more 
 ia.th. more .eal. more energy, more missionary 
 enthusiasm, more willingness to sacrifice self 
 more charity, and more holiness may be ours' 
 Ihe Lord hasten it to our churches, and all the 
 churches of His care. Amen. 
 
 For a variety of reasons several of those invited 
 to thejub.lee banquet were unable to attend, and 
 forwarded, with their letters of regret, their 
 el.c.tations and good wishes. Many others, also 
 throughout the length and breadth of the land 
 took occasion to ".joy and rejoice " with the great 
 ffithenng in Paris on the unique event. From 
 a multitude of letters, addressed either to Dr 
 VVakeheld or to Mr. Lewis Maus, the Recording 
 Steward of the Church, we select a few af 
 mdicating the great and abiding love that Dr 
 U akeheld has awakened in the hearts of those 
 who have been associated with him in his loner 
 years of service in the Church. 
 
 I'.i 
 
144 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 THE REV. E. D. KYCKMAN. 
 
 I HAVE considered well your invitation to the 
 jubilee bancjuet to be <riven to your pastor, Dr. 
 Wakefield, on February 18th, now approaching, 
 and am sorry to have to say that I shall not be 
 able to be there. I could f;ive several j^ood 
 reasons. 
 
 Nevertheless I am thankful for the invitation. 
 I should like very nmch to spend an evening 
 with the good people of Paris, of whom myself 
 and family have the pleasantest recollections on 
 their own account ; but doubly glad when they 
 mean to do honor to such a man as ])r. Wake- 
 field. I honor him myself. My ac<iutnntance 
 with him began forty- ine years ago, when we 
 were students together at college. I began by 
 thinking well of him, and from that time to the 
 present each successive year has but deepened 
 my respect ajul afi'ection f' •>. I have been 
 
 associated with him in ah . ery relation in 
 
 which Methodist preache? come together, 
 
 and I hnow him, and a more iiianly, honorable, 
 generous, judicious, and, in everyway, likeable 
 friend I never found in the whole of our vast 
 brotherhood. 
 
 I rejoice that he has attained to his jubilee. 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 145 
 
 and that his acceptability and usefulness are 
 increasing instead of diminishing. 
 
 I shall be with you in spirit at the banquet, 
 
 and feel assured that the occasion will be worthy 
 
 of yourselves and of the beloved pastor and 
 
 friend whom you seek to honor. Mrs. Ryckman 
 
 joins me in what I have said in these lines. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 E. B. Ryckman. 
 
 THE REV. J. S. ROSS, D.D. 
 
 I THANK you heartily for your very kind 
 invitation to be present at the jubilee bancjuet 
 to be held in honor of your pastor, Rev. Dr. 
 WakeHeld. As I find it impossible to attend on 
 account of special services, I wish you would 
 kindly convey my sincere regrets. If present 
 and had an opportunity to speak, I would join 
 enthusiastically in all the kind, good and true 
 things said of my old friend, the Rev. Dr. Wake- 
 field, whom I have known for over thirty years. 
 He has ever been a stalwart with a kind heart 
 below— just and jealous of the purity of the 
 Church, but always fair. When thoroughly 
 convinced that an unpopular measure is right, 
 he may, in upholding it, have fear, but no one 
 lu 
 
 1 
 
 :l 
 
 
 III 
 
iii 
 
 146 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 ever saw signs of it. I have known many men, 
 especially ministers, but for nieeting emergencies 
 with superb courage, when heroic treatment 
 was neede.l, John Wakefield excels them all. He 
 liolds the respect and confidence of the Connex- 
 ion for his loyalty to the doctrines and principles 
 of the Church of his youth, an<l for his well- 
 balanced juiigment on the various perplexing 
 ([uestions which have come bef. re him m the 
 several Boards, Committees and Conferences of 
 the Church. His honorary degree of D.D. was 
 conferred upon him unanimously l)y the Senate 
 of Victoria University, and in addition he has 
 been elec.jd to nearly all the leading ofiices the 
 Church has had at its disposal, which he has 
 tilled with credit to himself and general satis- 
 faction. Not every travelling preacher's life is 
 filled with years and honors, and rarely do we 
 find one who, amidst the many hanlships of the 
 early itinerancy, reaches his juV)ilee year. 
 Therefore, when it arrives, let hearty congratula- 
 tions, felicitations and good wishes for the future 
 be the music of the hour. 
 
 With best regards, believe me, 
 
 Ever truly yours, 
 
 J. S. Ross 
 
 w?Tw:wwm 
 
RF.V. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 147 
 
 THE rp:v. wm. kettlewell. 
 
 It is with the keenest regret that I find myself 
 un.ible to Jiceept your kind invitation to be pres- 
 ent with you on tlie occasion of the jubilee ban- 
 quet to the Rev. Dr. Wakefield on the 18th of 
 February. 
 
 I feel very proud of tlie Paris friends that they 
 are not allowintr the unusual opportunity of such 
 a jubilee celebration to pass without recognition. 
 I think that probably no minister of our Church 
 more worthily represents the heroic generation of 
 Methodist ministers that has all but slipped away 
 from us. The pioneer e.Kperiences of Dr. Wakefield 
 are of more exciting interest to the lover of his 
 Church and country than the well-written novel. 
 It is a matter of surprise and congratulation that 
 one wlio courageously faced the hardships of our 
 early history should still be so vigorous and suc- 
 cessful in his ministry. Will you kindly pre- 
 sent my apologies, and express my wish that Dr. 
 Wakefield may be spared to many more years of 
 usefulness in connection with our beloved 
 Church. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 Wm. Kettlewell. 
 
 I 
 
 It! 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 I 
 
.X.. 
 
 ■ 1 ! 
 
 MM 
 
 ; 1 
 
 148 
 
 A JUIULEE RETROSPECT 
 
 MR. Z. B. LEWIS. 
 
 Allow me to congratulate yon on the fiftieth 
 anniversary of your ministry in connection with 
 the Methodist Church. Our acquaintance was 
 made in Cobourg while attending college. Well 
 do I remember the many pleasant hours spent 
 together at our boarding house on Division 
 street. The interest you took in my spiritual 
 welfare will never be forgotten. Through your 
 reasonings and prayers I was led to change my 
 mode of careless living, and felt the need of a 
 Saviour. What a change took place ! I first 
 felt the weight of sin, and afterward the great 
 satisfaction of knowing my sins were forgiven. 
 
 " Happy day that fixed my choice." 
 
 I will never cease thanking you for your lov- 
 ing and comforting words of counsel and advice. 
 It has been my good fortune to enjoy much of 
 your society during the past fifty years, and 
 during your ministry on this circuit a kind Pro- 
 vidence honored your efforts with a great revival. 
 Many have died in the faith, and a few of us 
 are left on our way to the better land. I so often 
 think of you when I review my past life. I 
 trust the reunion banquet may be an occasion of 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.D. 140 
 
 unmingle.! joy. I would much like to attend 
 and meet you and your numerous friends, and 
 wi.sh you (Jod speed. Trusting' you may 
 have many years added to your useful life is the 
 prayer of your sincere friend, 
 
 Z. B. Lewis. 
 
 THE REV. J. G. SCOTT. 
 
 Permit me. however, to concrratulate you and 
 to join you in gratitude to the Head bf the 
 (Church for tl< honor which rarely comes to men, 
 but has been given to you, of preaching the ever- 
 lasting Gospel lor nearly a half century. You 
 helped lay the foundations of our Church, rear 
 her walls, and develop and sustain in her that 
 spiritual life wliich is her crowning glory. 
 
 I think of you, and of others, your fellow- 
 laborers in the ministry, I am thinking also of the 
 future of our Church. Your jubilee banquet re- 
 minds methat the long bond which hasunitedyou 
 to the work you love must .soon of necessity be 
 locsened. From otlier lips men will soon listen to 
 the words of eternal life. Your interest in many 
 things, fresh, vivid, and hearty for fifty years, 
 will become by a law which is common,' fainter 
 and fainter, until down the corridors of memory 
 you will gaze to recall, with an effort, the names 
 
 I 
 
 11 
 
 i 
 
U ijii i 
 
 150 
 
 A jubii.ee retrospect 
 
 \ i 
 
 r 
 
 \ 
 
 ami circumstances so familiar to you nvcn now : 
 but deeply on your lieart, which will not soon 
 for<ret, will be indc^libiy enifraven the names of 
 the churches where you have ministered, the 
 confjre<;atio» s <j;athered within their sacred walls, 
 anil the ti'iu ^phs of the truth in the salvation 
 and puritici ' >n of men there witnessed by you. 
 And if you can never forj^et these crowninpr 
 glories of your ministry, neither can thos(!, many 
 of whom are on earth and many in heaven, who 
 have h^Gw enriched forever by them. I cherish 
 the hope that as the work of the tVthers draws 
 to a close the children may be baptized for the 
 d('!>d. So may the bright succession of manly, 
 common sense, intelligently pious, conseerate<l 
 men, run, preventing our graveyards, where 
 sleep the ashes of the fathers, from becoming 
 richer than the Churches. 
 
 Yours in hearty congratulations, 
 
 Jno. G. Scott. 
 
 THE REV. STEPIIKN BOND. 
 
 Dkar Bkotheu, — The receipt to-day of the 
 St<i r-Tr<i,iiscr'ii>t withax'eport of your great jubi- 
 lee celebration prompts nie at once to carry out 
 a purpose which I had formed of writing you 
 
 
 .w^'-^:::'m^' 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIELD, D.I). 
 
 151 
 
 for tlie purpose of fxprt'ssin*,' my sense of loss at 
 the (lejitli of your brother Dutiiel, and in the 
 next phice of con^^ratulatin;,' you on the attain- 
 ment of yijur ministerial jubilee. I had noted 
 the latter fact before I received the paper, and 
 felt that I would like to express my delight a.', 
 the f'act. I remember distinctly the time when 
 you first preached as a local preacher in the old 
 Thompson's church. I wns at Ayr, in Mr. R. 
 Seniors store tryin^j how I would like clerking, 
 and s(j was not })re.sent, but I heard of it, and I 
 remember how prou<l the members of that church 
 were of j'ou at the time. During our lengthened 
 period in the itinerancy, it is somewhat strange 
 that we were never even in the same district at 
 the same time, nor in the .same Conference since 
 the division. But I greatly appreciate the fact 
 of your steady and honorable history in this 
 great work. And I must congratulate you on 
 the history of the past, and hope that in age 
 you may still have strength to follow your loved 
 emplo}'. 
 
 It is fitting and the promptings of my lieart 
 lead me to express my sympathy M'ithyou in the 
 loss of your only brother. J was at his liouse 
 for two nights a year ago last August and enjoyed 
 the opportvniity of renewing ac(|Uaintance, and 
 renewing old memories. He was a true man 
 
 
 ^1 
 
 ■fT;'^?^l3Xf^''«2fer 
 
152 
 
 A JUIULEE RETROSPECT 
 
 m- 
 
 1 ! 
 
 ::♦ 1 
 j If i I 
 ill: i I 
 
 V f 
 
 5 ! 
 
 and walked in the v v.s of rivrhteonsness. I can 
 see how a man beer nos lonely amidst many 
 friends when all liis earlier ac(|uaintance.s and 
 relatives pass away Happy is the man who has 
 a strong hold on the world beyond. 
 
 Your ministry, with the exception of the short 
 term spent at Sherbrooke and Aylmer (Kast), has 
 been within a comparatively limited area, while 
 mine has been spread over a great portion of 
 these two provinces. But we are nearing one 
 goal. 
 
 Receive kindly expressions of regard from the 
 one who, though never vi ry intimate, has known 
 you the longest, probably, of any one now in our 
 ministry. 
 
 Yours ^i. ly, 
 
 .S. Bono, 
 
 THE IlEV. CHANCKIXOR BURWASH, 
 S.T.D., LL.D. 
 
 Until the end of last week I had heU; fast to 
 the hope of being with you to-morrow on the 
 auspicious completion of your fiftieth year in the 
 Methodist ministry. Uur Board is engaged in 
 important financial and other delil)erations 
 which we hope may place our A liiui Mdtcr in a 
 position of permanent financial and educiifcionil 
 
 i:a 
 
 1 
 
 % 
 
 
 ! 'i 
 
 
 ■! 
 
 
 ^ f 
 
 
 r ' 
 
 
 * 
 
 

 NEV. JOHN WAKEFIELl\ D.D. 15.1 
 
 stren;,'tlj, Lee from the eiiibfirra.s.sinents of the 
 I>Hst. All itiiportiint meeting on \Ve<liie.sday 
 mak.'s it imperative that I should avoid a late 
 session Tuesday iiii,'lit, as now my strength is but 
 small. 
 
 Let me, lunvever, add my word of congratula- 
 tion to that of your many friends. I remember 
 well the beginning of your fifty years' work, 
 when, after a year uii.ler the chairman, you 
 entered college in the autumn of 185.S, and with 
 Stobbs, Tew and Lainl now in heaven, and 
 Parker, Henderson and Ru.s.s,and others still with 
 us, took part in the glorious revival which gave 
 our country such grand men as Carman, Ryck- 
 man. Senator Kerr, Judge Brit ton and scores of 
 others, and which made Victoria from that day 
 to tliis a centre of spiritual power for C^unadian 
 3Ietho<lism. Vou will pardon this little reminis- 
 cence, and believe me, with prayers that (Jod may 
 still add to your years and the fruits of your 
 laboi'v. 
 
 Yours in Christ, 
 
 X. Br n WASH. 
 
 TJIK KKV. CANOX VLFTJKD JiHOWN. 
 
 I AM glad to know that your many fricnrls, 
 both in and out of town, are combinin"- to tfiidor 
 
ir.4 
 
 ,-; J I nil r-'F. av / a'< 'SI'/-: 
 
 I 
 
 J 
 
 you ;i conipliiiicnli ;y li;iiii|Ui't iii r. .■^fiiiti' t' 
 
 your having' I iiiflctfd tit'ly yt'iirs ct niiuisi vyX 
 lilV'. ] rcMT, ,1' 1 ciinnot Ix' pn"-! ut 01 >o 
 
 iMtort'stii _ ;in I" r.i 'mt 1 w ! 1' to > prcs: iiy 
 
 sympathy witii tli • ct of : ti. 1 ''1 ' lii; ' 
 
 rospt'ct " I ' >tct'iii \'\ vl, h 1 1 i. '' 
 
 MCipiaitu nee has not b' u S' loiij^ui -*<> ■•■ iinia'<' 
 as otliri ot" ail friend . itut " h: bei'ii 
 sntlicieni y so as to Irad to I iiii i vci lii<^'h 
 opinion ■ '' your cliaractcr, and 'o !'■ ' ' ui lliat 
 
 your dl .cium; ilnrin^' tin- lon;_ \ 1 fifty 
 
 yc'u s \\. . bnii uidtoindy f\ "d lioso 
 
 l! iifjs winch uiako tor truth ai i^li I'-s 
 
 Witi kiml ri ards ' >r 'urs. ,. \\\ l;i li! 
 a ' |)niyiiii; th, ytiu may -pan lor 1 lan 
 varsi't Usefulness ani! ha]>] 
 
 Bfiievi' me fid Id'ii \ ■. !• 
 
 A i-'Hi.i) 1; '\^ 
 
 I 
 
 Ml 
 
 II i'Jl''- ' V, 
 
 P. 
 
 ? i 
 
 Soiilti ini lit 
 of the silvel' ' vs uu 
 
 of vonr fri'ii 
 
 I ^l our years 
 
 d I T'oiiU'li n|)ini >UH 
 
 '1 . H V T - 
 
f^.V. JOflN WAKF.l-lEI l\ DP. 
 
 inr, 
 
 iiiiiis il 
 
 .;[)r('s.' iiy 
 t!i.- hi ' 
 ■ M. ^ 
 
 iina!'' 
 
 h. berii 
 
 vci \v'\\ 
 
 111 iliiii 
 
 it\v 
 
 I'M ll(»SC 
 
 • la Mil 
 
 iOf I lilll 
 
 J; .\v 
 
 V. 
 
 our years 
 '■ i])iii'' 'IIS 
 
 i 
 
 \VKI.LIN(;T()N ST. cmiUJH, |{K.\NT1(»KI). 
 
 Joi n P >L 1,1. hi)., 
 
 t'lnii iiHii II liniiitfnnJ l>istricf, 
 M thai list f/mrc/i, I'urls. 
 
 Dear I'.ik.t I am iii.stnjotod t.. forwanl 
 
 y- the folic j; resolution, passed at the 
 i iterly Mretii ^ on the 14th Inst. :-- 
 
 ''he <,)iiarter y Koar-l of W .■llin«,'toii Street 
 Ch rch (iesire< to conjjratulate Kev ' )r. Wak- - 
 ficlu on theatt.innieiit of his juhiler asa preaeher 
 in die Method ; Cliurch. We devoutly thank 
 
 • oniplisheci hy him thiouffh 
 We pra\' tliat his how mav 
 i"^rh, a id thai many more niay 
 throuffli his ministry." 
 
 VS M WlI.KiXS^ x. 
 
 Rcriifil I III/ Sft'iriird. 
 
 JoiTX PlCKERlNc;, Pitstm: 
 
 ( iod for the \S.i 
 these ma^^ 
 still ahide ■, 
 he led into th 
 
 'i ;t- 
 
15« 
 
 A JUHILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 THE INVITKD GIJKSTS. 
 
 It .^ . 
 
 Rev. Dr. uihI Mrs. (irillin, Tnnnitn. 
 Dr Jno. Potts, " 
 
 Dr. Sutherknd. 
 Dr. N. Uurwfish, " 
 
 Dr. I'arker, 
 
 Dr. CHnufin, " 
 
 Dr. Ikigf^s, " 
 
 W. M. Cruij^htoii, 
 H. \V. Woods worth, 
 John iiiul Mrs. Mills, (iiii'lph. 
 .lohii I'hilp, D.D., Kingston. 
 E. 1$. Kycknum, D.D., Cornwall. 
 Wni. MfDonagh, Stratford. 
 A. K. and Mrs. !luss. 
 D. W. and Mrs. Snider, Sinicoc. 
 J. S. and Mrs. Williamson, D. D. , Berlin. 
 G. W. Calvert, IngersoU. 
 John (J. Scott, '* 
 
 Win. and Mrs. Kettle well, Mount Forost. 
 .1. II. and Mrs. Hazel wood, Hamilton. 
 Alex. Dmgford, D.D., Owen Sound. 
 Peter German, Cainsville. 
 1). L. Brethour, D.D., Niagara Falls South 
 W. C. Henderson, D.D., Burlington. 
 Jno. Kay, Thorold. 
 W. F. Wilson, Hamilton. 
 J. S. Ross, D.D., Walkerton. 
 J. M. Hagar, Acton. 
 Jno. Pickering, Brantford. 
 (J. K. B. Adams, 
 
REV. JOHN WAKEFIEI.n, D.D. 
 
 157 
 
 Rev. ,1 \V. .Smith, Bnintfonl. 
 
 " Win. Savage, Guelpli. 
 
 " <i. Clark, Ph.D., Wiarton. 
 
 " Jas. Harris, (Jiiulpli. 
 
 " S. \V. Jackson, Klora. 
 
 " U. W. Rowe. Cainsville. 
 
 " <ro(). \V. Fienderson, St. Mary's. 
 
 " S. S. Sellery, Duiulas. 
 
 " Dr. Jno. and Mrs. James, Paris. 
 
 '* E. D. and Mrs. Sikox, 
 
 " T. M. and Mr.s. Cameron, '* 
 
 " E. and Mrs. Cock hum, 
 Mrs. .John Wakefield, " 
 
 Miss Rose Wakefield, 
 Miss Lillie Wakefield, " 
 
 Mr. Hubert Wakefield, Los Angel.'s. 
 Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Wakefield, Honolulu. 
 Dr. Frank and Mrs. Wakefield, L-.s .Vngeles. 
 Mr. and Mrs. W.ilter Robson, W.ishington. 
 
 Laymen. 
 
 T. H. Preston, M.P.P., P.rantford. 
 
 R. S. .Schell, Es<i., , 
 
 Jno. Mann, Es(|., " 
 
 Wm. Wilkinson, M-.A., " 
 
 J. B. Grafton, Dundas. 
 
 W. H. Keagey, " 
 
 W. R. Hooming, " 
 
 S. F. Liizier, Hamilton. 
 
 Wm. Hunter, " 
 
 Jo.seph Gibson, Ingersoll. 
 
 R. UaHS, Washington. 
 
 Jno. Read, Stratford. 
 
J 58 
 
 A JUBILEE RETROSPECT 
 
 Will. (liirtliiier, (.'hiithani. 
 
 R. L. White, Hamilton. 
 
 K. liutler, Ingeisoll. 
 
 /. B. Lewis, Niagfua Falls SduIIi. 
 
 <iei(. Allen, Burlin;^tnn. 
 
 Win. McClary, Thoi-uld. 
 
 W. IJ. Calder, (iriinsby. 
 
 Press Rki'Rkskntatu ks. 
 
 C. W. Liiwton, Pmi.'i Ili'i-ieir. 
 
 (j. W. Feathorston, Shtr Tinn^rriiit. 
 
 <i. V. Brown, liniid Ej/Hi-iitoy. 
 
 Dr. Duiiton, (Unhc. 
 
 W . 1). Creiglituii, Chiisli<ni Oniinlixit. 
 
 If;-