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In all this great, crowded, busy world, no man lives to himself alone, but to the world. Every life is an influence cast upon society by which it is made better or worse. Neither does that influence cease when the pulse of natural life ceases to beat; every man leaves an impression on some page of the world^s history. In proportion as the man is great and active, so will the impression be lasting and extensive. Good or bad, this influence is in- evitable, and goes on in widening circles, like the ripple from a pebble dropped in water, until its swell reaches the shores of eternity. The subject of this sketch was a good man, and great in the true sense of the word. "Though dead he yet speaketh." His memory is warm in the hearts of hundreds in this Province, and long will the influence of his life of integrity and devo- tion to the right be felt. It is a power for good; and to widen and increase that power have we prepared and now offer to the public, this little work. To those who knew and loved him, and all who love or appreciate real moral uprightness, it is dedicated. That the blessing of the God whom he served may attend it, is the prayer of The Author. lti ii fc " ii| g wi Vn > 'iii L.' iJ t 'P l Jill* W t^ C. ^V^ . m *jCTL* i J fci iJ^ ■ ^m J ' B||l«m0ir 0f ^atlt^rpjetiry 'r i sanrv i I ^^ M'^ CHAPIER I. INTRODUCTION — EARLY LIFE. ^ES, Father Henry is gone ! The great man who stood like a tower of strength in our midst, is not here. The hand that was ever ready to help, is stretched out to us no more. The lips we loved to kiss are cold ; and the voice whose sound was music and wisdom to us, we hear not. The dear and revered head lies on its pillow of earth. Our hearts, under the first sense of their great want pnd bereavement, cry out against it. Oh Death I what hast thou done? Father in Heaven, was It Thou? Didst Thou send the Dark Boatman to dip his oar in the waves of time, and bring him we loved into the "white calm*' of Thy eternal presence? " Forever with the Lord ; Amen so let it be !" 3^' 8 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. It ift well with thee, O father! and it will be well with all, who like thee, tread conscientiously in tlio path of duty. It is well that the bright spring time, and the gorgeous summer months are succeeded by the golden, fruit-crowned autumn, and the brooding snows of winter. And it is welly though our hearts cry out in pain against it, that thou hast been gathered, like a ripe cluster in the glorious autumnal days; or like the full, grain-laden sheaf into the garner of our God ! It is well with Father Henry ; and we will bear it in mind as we turn again the pages of the past, and gather up some fragments of the history of his event- ful life. Whether that life-path led up the rugged steejjs of time, or through its pleasant valleys, or bord- ered on the stormy deep, it was well with him, for he did his work well, and bore the cross ever onward through sun and storm. To those who knew and loved Father Henry, we dedicate this little work. It is less a regular bio- graphy than a few loving remembrances of him. There are old men and women, with dim eyes and ti'embling limbs, who will love to read about Bro. Henry, whom they have known and loved so long, INTRODUCTION. 9 and who hab syin])athized with them in liours of sor- row, and rejoic 3d in their days of rejoicing. We put our little work in large print and short chapters, that they may read and not grow weary. There are men and women, in the strength and fulness of life, who will want to read Father Henry's memoirs, fur they have known him as long as they can remcmher ; and there are little children who will want to read ahout him, because he was always pleas- ant and spoke to them. We will gratify these wishes by telling something of the early life of Father Henry ; or, as we must call him in those early years, Thomas Henry. We know little of his early youth, for he was not given to telling old stories with self for the hero. He was born in the Township of Drumless, County of Cavan, Ireland, on the 2nd of February, 1798. The second name was formerly spelled Henery, but after their removal to America the second e was dropped, and the name spelled Henry by all the younger branches of the family. Simeon Henry, the great grandfather of the subject of this sketch, lived to the great age of 103 years. Thomas Henry, his grandfather, professed the Quaker religion. He lived to have only two children, I 10 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. one daughter named Mary, and one son, John, who was the father of Thomas Henry. His father was brought lip under the influence of the Established Church of England ; but his mother, Nancy Biggers, was a Presbyterian. The family were loyal, and his great grandfather was buried with military honors, for service rendered the Government, in some of the rebellious outbreaks of his unhappy country. His father afterward joined the Orangemen, which at that time was a necessary precaution for the protection of himself and family. Like thousands of his countrymen, he wearied of oppression and priestcraft, and began to look long- ingly across the Atlantic, towards America, where he hoped to And that boon for which humanity ever asks, — Political and Religious liberty. Accordingly in 1811 he set sail for America with his family, consisting of a wife, four sons and three daughters. A voyage across the Atlantic was a dif- ferent thing then from what it is now. After tossing about on the restless waves for seven weeks and three days, they landed in New York. It was in June, when Nature wears her most attractive garb, they reached their destination. No wonder that after their long, fatiguing sea voyage, it looked like a beautiful, as well as a New World to them. EARLY LIFE. 11 They had some relatives iif New York City, but being able to find but one, a Mr. McGee, cousin to Mrs. Henry, they remained only a few weeks in the city, whence they proceeded to Albany. Here the family suffered severely from the ague, and did not continue their journey until September. Their des- tination was Toronto, Ontario, then Little York, capital of Upper Canada. But what now would only be a few hours ride in a rail-car, was then a long fatiguing journey. They proceeded up the Mohawk River in a flat-bottomed boat, as far as that was prac- ticable, and then by stage or private conveyance to Lewiston, thence by boat to Toronto. These months of travelling and sickness had nearly exhausted the parental purse. They were introduced to Gen. Brock, who afterwards fell at Queenston Heights, and others high in office, who not only used their influ- ence in their behalf, but held out alluring promises which were never fulfilled. Tho«e of the family who were able to earn their bread, had to go to work. Thomas, being the eldest, was hired as an attendant to Judge Powell. Here he found a good home, and as the house was frequented by those high in office, he had opportunities of learning many things that were of great benefit to him in after life. He was the Judge's attendant in various official trips, stop- ping with him at the homes of those highest in posi- ll /«* 12 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. tion in the Province. This was in 1812, the first year of the war between United States and Great Britain. Tliese journeys were made on horseback und principally through the woods, some distance hack from Lake Ontario, where the roads were mere trails marked by blazed trees. The more open and hotter worked road along the Lake Shore was render- ed unsafe for travel, by presence of parties of Yankee soldiers at various points on the route. On one of these trips to Kingston, he formed the acquaintance of a Mr. Strachan, teacher of a High School in that place. Judge Powell arranged with him to come to Toronto and teach there, which he did, and afterwards became widely known as Archbishop Strachan, of Toronto. The next year, when Judge Powell was succeeded by Judge Campbell, youiig Mr. Henry, in considera- tion of his knowledge of the route, was employed to attend him on an ofiicial trip to Montreal. On his way thither, while stopping at a small wayside inn, his hat was stolen, and to his great mortifi- ■cation he was obliged to go on to Montreal bare- headed, or at least without a hat, as such an article y EARLY LIFE. 19 Montreal, formed many pleasant acquaintances, and learned something of the French language. The next year, which was the last of the war, he hired as a substitute in the army, and did military duty until peace was restored. He was employed with others to guard a batch of American prisoners from Toronto to Kingston, and another to Fort George at Niagara. It is not probable that his ex- perience in the army was benelicial to the moral or religious character of the young man, but he learned much of human nature, and began to develop that integrity, energy, perseverance and economy, which characterized his after life. While in the Garrison in Toronto he received, as other soldiers did, besides the regular rations, an extra bottle of spirits on Saturday night for Sunday use. While others made merry over their bottle on Sunday, he sent his to a small grocery to be sold, and carefully laid by the proceeds. We may reasonably conclude this was not the only thing in which he economized during the war, as at its close, though only seventeen, he had laid by $400. In 1816 the elder Mr. Henry removed to Whitby, and purchased the farm at Port Oshawa, which after- wards became the home of Eld. Thomas Henry, where so many of his Christian friends have enjoyed his 14 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 4 hospitality, where he died, and where his widow still lives. Thomas accompanied his family to Whitby, and with his savings purchased 110 acres of land lying north of his father's farm, which is now the home of one of his sons, J. G. Henry. At the time of the settlement of the family in Whitby it was a wilderness, inhabited chiefly by the untutored Indian, the prowling wolf and timid deer ; and often the family, in their little home on the pic- turesque shores of Lake Ontario, were awakened at the dead of night by the Indian's wild whoop, or the howl of the hungry wolf. But the wood was pleas- ant when the sun gilded the tree-tops, or struggled through the boughs down into the dim mossy recesses of its silent colonades. Company was scarce, but work was plenty, and in the active employment of fitting the new farm for a home, the summer months glided rapidly away. Autumn came and wreathed its many colored drapery around the mighty forests' head, but the bright tints faded, the red leaves fell, and when the heavy frosts came down on the bare brown earth, a great affliction fell on the little household in their lonely, forest home. The wife and mother died. EARLY LIFE. 15 Almost without precursor or warning she went, and left anguish and desolation beliind her. Far from sympathizing friends, far from religious comforters, with none but her own little family around her, she bowed her head, and closed her eyes in death. But Jesus was with her, and none can be utterly desolate who hear the voice of Him who walks on the billows of death, whispering in the dull ear, " It is I ; be not afraid ! " There was no minister of religion in the Township then, but as there was one in Clark, about twenty miles distant, he was procured, and she was buried with Christian rites, on a little hill beside the lake, where now in a good old age her son has lain down beside her. To Thomas, who was not yet eighteen, the loss was extremely severe. His mother had always been an object of reverence and affection with him, and it was no wonder that now the whole world looked dark and lonely. In society, with the amusements and incentives to action which it presents, the young soon forget their sorrows ; but living retired as they were, where everything reminded him of the dear de- parted one, there was nothing to beguile his thoughts from his loss. f i 16 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 'I ) I ; To make matters worse, hia father, at the end of six months, formed another and an unliappy union. This caused the young man to arouse f'*om liis des- pondency, and look into the future. His home seemed no longer a home to him, and he could not con tent himself to remain there. lie wouid have gone to school, for his opportunities had been limited, and he felt ths need of an education ; but schools were few and mostly under the control of the Family Com- pact, which so nearly ruled the Province then, and for years after ; and it was not easy to get into a school. Business openings were scarce, and his proud spirit revolted at the idea of hiring out as a " hewer of wood and drawer of water." He finally resolved to settle on his own land. Ac- cordingly on the 30th of July, 1817, he was married to Elizabeth Davis, who was two years younger than himself. Notwithstanding the extreme youth of both parties, the union proved a happy one. The young lady was gentle, affectionate, and religiously incliu ed ; while he, with his experience and natural energy, proved himself more . capable of supporting and directing a family, than many men of mature years. With a stout heart and a strong arm, he went into the woods and cut logs, and built a cabin to shelter himself and wife until a clearing could be nuide, and ^ EARLY LIFE. 17 a better Iiouse built. Chopping uikI clearing land are no holiday work, and day after day the blows from Lis ringing axe sounded among the echoing tree- tops. His young wife, when unemployed by house- liold cares, would find her way out into the wood where he was engaged, not only that she might en- joy his society, but help in the easy work of gathering the limbs of the fallen trees. Full of energy and hope, they toiled cheerfully and unitedly to prepare them a home and provide the comforts of life. They did not remain long in the log house. With a whip- saw and the assistance of another hand, he sawed hnnber for a frame house, which was the third frame house erected in the township. It \ ■ J !f -"■Sj....^^. 1 , .) ' ca t .^ ^onvtvsxon. I"i i CHAPTER II. CONVERSION AKD EARLY RELIGIOUB EXrERIENCE. ( / N the 6tli of April, 1819, Thomas Henry and his youthful wife, looked for the first time on the face of their first born. He says, " We called her Nancy after my mother." But though warm hearts welcomed its coming, the little stranger did not linger long with them ; death set his icy seal, and closed the little eyes and stiffened the tiny limbs. A group of friends and neighbors gathered, and bore the small coffin to the lonely graveyard on the hill, and interred it among the few bodies which had already been committed to that quiet dwelling place. For few as were the living inhabitants of the town- ship, this city of the dead was beginning to be built, and to gather in its dwellers. CONVERSION. n SNCE. iry and time on , "We though stranger cy seal, Y limbs. nd bore le hill, ch had place. e town- e built, Mr. Henry appears to have been, when very young, the subject of religious impressions. Like most great or good men, he had a good mother, and to her he ascribes this early tendency of his mind. The means of education were scarce, and Bibles hard to be obtain- ed ; and almost the only book to which he had access was the Book of Common Prayer, and in that he has since testified that he found much good ; but for both his mental and moral culture, he was chiefly indebted to the faithfulness and care of that noble mother. Ho says, " She used to impress on our minds, that there was a hell to shun, a heaven to gain, and our souls to save. And I remember when not ten years old, being concerned about my salvation." The religious im- pressions of childhood had never entirely forsaken him, and when he married and commenced an independent life, he resolved to dedicate it to God, and serve Him according to the best of his abilities ; but in the active labors of his busy life, time slipped away, and little religious progress had been made. But when the tendrils of parental love, which had just reached out to entwine themselves around this new-bom treasure, were thus rudely snapped, it recalled his mind from its absorbing pursuit after material good, to realize that there was another and a higher good to be sought. (^ 22 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. The Methodists had, at that time, established a church in York County, and one Elder Jackson held meetings in the vicinity of Mr. Henry's residence. To* these meetings he and his wife went. He says, " They appeared humble, and their labors were abundantly blessed." Mr. and Mrs. Henry gave in their names as seekers^ and were admitted on probation. In speaking of the exercise of his mind at this time, he says, " I did not feel that all was well with me ; that I had received the sealing evidence of God's Spirit, that 1 was a child of His in the strict sense of the word. I tried to attend to the means of grace, but could not feel that blessedness of which the saints spoke. In reading the- Scriptures, I was often delighted with the contempla- tion of the goodness of God and His tender mercies towards man, and felt there was something enjoyed by Christians to which I was a stranger." In this state of mind, he went to hear the Calvinistic Baptists preach ; and he says the doctrines of election and foreordination there taught, were an injury rather than a benefit to him. Another untoward influence was brought to bear upon his mind at the same time, by a man by the name of Herred, who boarded with him. This man was a sceptic, and scepticism finds no stronger argument than is furnished by the doctrine* CONVERSION. 23 iBhed a. ion held ice. To /'They ndantly seekerSy g of the did not eceived L was a I tried I eel that ing the- tenipla- mercies enjoyed vinistic ilection ' rather fluence e time^ sd with nds no ctrinea of Calvinism. Without the support and enjoyment which an experimental knowledge of God can give, confused and bewildered by the conflicting doctrines of teachers who darken counsel by multitudes of words, he seems to have been driven to the verge of infldelity. His strong sense of right would not allow him to appropriate to himself a name and privilege to which he felt he had no claim. Accordingly he and his wife withdrew from the class, giving as their only reason, that they did not enjoy religion, and did not wish to deceive any one. Speaking of this, he says, " After taking this unwise step, I fell into many temptations and snares of the devil, and sinned against God, the best of beings, with a high hand and uplifted arm, until the year 1825." All this time he continued to work on his farm, and was pushing ahead in his temporal affairs with all the energy ol his strong and active nature. In May, 1825, while on his way to attend court in Toronto, he fell in company with Elder Joseph Blackman, who was then a very young man. Like most of the first Christian preachers, he had " taken his life in his hand," and gone forth to preach the gospel, relying for support only on Him who feeds the ravens, and marks the sparrows fall. This young ..,-af" u MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. ni minister, with his kind and affable deportment, soon won his way to the stranger's heart ; and Mr. Henry, after a little hesitation, told him the religious exercise of his mind. They had a long and interesting con- versation together. Mr. J^lackman told him he had an appointment near Port Oshawa, and invited him to attend. At that time Mr. Henry had never heard one of those people preach, who take only the name Christian, although A. C. Morrison had held some meetings in the vici.iity. Mrs. Henry, however, who had retained more of her early religious feeling had been at some of the meetings, and heard both Balck- man and Church speak. These men were full of zeal for doing good, and preached and exhorted with warmth and earnestness, alluding feelingly to the per- secutions they had met with from the Methodists,who had obtained quite a footing in the township, Mrs. Henry's sympathies were at once enlisted for these young strangers, while the gospel truths which they proclaimed found their way to her heart, and left an impression not easily worn off. She was almost continually repeating something these young men had said, and chiefly through her influence, he he was induced to attend the meeting. Black man preached, and at the close of the sermon CONVERSION 25 it, soon Henry, jxercise ig con- he had 3d him r heard 3 name [ some jr, who ng had Balck- of zeal \ with le per- tSjwho ed for which :, and 3 was ^oung 3e, he jrmon gave liberty to others to speak. Among those who availed themselves of this liberty, was a young man with whom Mr. Henry was acquainted, and who had been very wicked. He confessed his sins ; spoke of what the Lord had done for him, and fervently ex- horted sinners to repent. This deeply impressed his mind. In the month of August he attended another meeeting held in a barn in Darlington. The Christians had no chapels in Canada then. Of this meeting, Mr. Henry says : " J. T. Baily preached the Word with power ; sinners wept ; some cried aloud for mercy ; to me it was a solemn time. I went home wounded in spirit, for the Word of God cut like a two-edged sword, and I began to see myself as I was, — a poor lost sinner." Mr. and Mrs. Henry both attended the next meet- ing, and together with Jesse Yan Camp, afterwards Elder Yan Camp, and his wife, at the close of the meeting arose and manifested a desire for prayers. After meeting the congregation repaired to the Lake Shore, and Baily baptized two happy converts by im- mersion. Of this meeting and his conversion, which followed, Mr. Henry tells us in the following simple, touching language : ** It had a glorious eifect not only in sealing former convictions, but in humbling the stoutest-hearted sinners. I saw Capt. John Trull TH" 96 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. ifi bathed in tears, and made my way to him. He wa& my wife's uncle, and we had always been intimate friends. We took each other by the hand, and made a vow to seek God together. For about two weeks I sought the Lord with all my heart. I reflected much on the past, and deeply regretted that I had been so unwise and brought such a stain on the cause of Christ. The bitter pangs of self-reproach and the sorrow which oppressed my mind, caused me many wakeful hours. Sometimes I would try to pray in my family, but it only seemed to make me feel worse. Again I would retire to my barn or the grove, and pour out my soul to God. At times every sin of my past life seemed arrayed before my eyes ; and Satan tempted me to believe that I had committed the * unpardonable sin.' I searched the Scriptures care- fully for light on this subject ; and was much bene- fited by the perusal of a sermon by one Russell, a minister of the English Church. The gist of this ser- mon was, that there was no such thing as committing this sin, except where there was light in the head, and malice in the heart. He adduced the history of Paul, to show to what depths of sin a man may go, and yet be forgiven ; also the example of Peter, who denied his Lord, to show that sin even against so great light may be forgiven, when there is no evil intent in the heart. This gave me courage to pray and ask fur CONVERSION. 27 mercy, and for an evidence of my acceptance with God. About this time Elders Baily and Blackman- came to make us a religious visit. In all my life, I had never before been visited by a minister of the Gospel. We invited in a couple of our neighbors also. They talked, and prayed, and sang with us, and urged us all to pray for ourselves. My mind had been much troubled on the subject of baptism, and 1 mentioned it to them. They said little about it^ leaving it entirely with myself and God. Having been brought up under the traditions of the Episcopalian s^ baptism by immersion was something new to me. I had searched the Scriptures with great care, and also read a debate between Campbell and McCauly on the subject, and I already believed that immersion was baptism ; but I was waiting — thinking of going for- ward, yet waiting for an evidence that God would accept me. The one great prayer of my heart was for an evidence of sins forgiven. " On the 4th of Sept., 1825, I was at work alone in the field. I wept and prayed and again reviewed my past life : again my sins stood in dark array before me. My eyes were bathed in tears and my heart was ready to break ; and there, alone in the field, I con- fessed my sins, and promised to obey God in all things. Bless His name ! He not only humbled, but W1 28 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. I i i I exalted me then and there ! A great light broke in- to my mind ; I forgot all my trouble, was strongly relieved of every burden and all distress, while my whole soul seemed full of bliss ; my tongue was loosed, and I cried, ' Glory to God ! ' Then I sat down and asked myself what this meant. Was this religion ? This the love of God shed abroad in the heart ? Was this what I had heard Christians talk so much about ? 1 was immediately impressed to go to the next meeting, and tell the exercise of my mind, and what the Lord had done for me." The next Sabbath, Mr. Henry attended a meeting, held in a grove, where Elder Baily preached — standing in the shade of a maple tree, to a larger audience than eould be accommodated in any building of which he could command the use. At the close of the sermon, Mr. Henry, his wife, and other young converts mani- fested a desire for baptism. The candidates, as was the custom of the time, were asked to relate their " ex- perience ;" and then a vote was taken to ascertain if it was satisfactory. There were a number of Baptist brethren present, who took part in the meeting, and were expected to vote. Now Mr. Henry was not bo fluent or so imaginative as some of the candidates, so his " experience " was not so satisfactory as theirs. If he could even have IT CONVERSION. 29 told a good dream, which waa quite common on such occasions, it would have helped him in the estimation of the tribunal before which he stood ; but as he could not, though the vote was unanimous in favor of his companions, a number voted against his being ad- mitted to a participation in the ordinance. Thi& would have disaouraged one less in earnest, but Mr. Henry felt that ifc was a matter between him and God, not man, so he did not withdraw his request. Elder Baily then put the following questions to him : " Do you love God ?" He answered, " Yes." " Do you love the people of God?" "Yes." "Have old things passed away ? " " Yes ; blessed be God." Elder Baily then concluded to baptize him. In spite of all his firmness, this lack of confidence on the part of those much older, and as he thought, much wiser and better than himself, had a depressing influence on Mr. Henry's mind. Nevertheless, he went forward in the disc] large of duty, and was led down into the clear waters of Lake Ontario by the hand of Elder Baily, who little thought that the trembling convert, for whom he and his brethren entertained so many doubts and fears, was to become one of the strongest pillars of the Church. But so it was, and so it often is. In our religious, as in our physical life, the morning of .brightest promise is overcast ere noon ; while the dull cloud-obscured morning brings the brilliant day and 'n I' A ( h I , I I m MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. glorious sunset. Making a profession of religion and being baptized was not a mere form with these sons and daughters of the forest ; nor were the feelings and -emotions under such bondage to the iron rules of con- ventional life as now. Becoming religious then meant a breaking up of the former modes of life — a •cutting away from old moorings, and launching out on a new sea. This occasion was particularly solemn. The converts with faces bathed in tears, took leave of sinful friends and associates, exhorting them at the same time to flee from the " wrath to come." A few days after this, Mr. Henry says, " I was sow- ing and harrowing in my fall wheat, but was all day engaged in prayer and meditation. My mind and affections appeared to be in heaven. Time passed swiftly while I was counting the cost of following •Christ, or wrapt in anticipation of the joys of the blessed ones above. I have never known a happier •day in my life." In the evening of that happy day, Mr. Henry attended a prayer and conference meeting held in a private house. At this meeting were present those friends who had refused to vote for his baptism. He was impressed to speak, he says, and tell the exercises of his mind. Those days of doubt and fear, those hours of sacred prayer and communion with God had not been in vain. The hour had come when his Father who seeth in secret, would reward m CONVERSION. 31 1 ■'5? him openly. He spoke ; not in the rounded periods of tlie disciplined eloquence of the schools, but in the eloquence of a heart full of the Spirit of God, and overflowing with love for his saints, and aspirations for the salvation of sinners. Ah, how should we, who have known Father Henry only in the full maturity of his powers, have rejoiced to have heard this first outburst of youthful religious fervor. No wonder those good brethren, who had so misunderstood the silent, diftident man, were startled as they listened, and recognizing in his words the lan- guage of the redeemed, come at the close of the meet- ing with tears in their eyes, to give him the right hand of fellowship. The good work continued to spread under the labors of Baily and Blackman. From this time, Mr. Henry, instead of being doubt- ed and distrusted, became a marked man among the converts, and many efforts were made to secure his membership in other churches. The Methodists and Baptists extended cordial invitations to him to cast his lot with them. But he sought a freer religious or- ganization. He had taken his lessons in theology from God's own book, and not having there learned all those doctrines to which canriidates for admission into these churches were expected o assent, he could not accept them. Unconditional election and its kindred ' T 32 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. U: ', i'1 doctrines, which had once so nearly driven him to in- fidelity, wore particularly distasteful to him, as they are to all persons of generous, benevolent dispositions. Such never accept this dogma but under the pressure of early discipline. It must be instilled into their minds before fully developed or not at all. Close com- munion was another barrier between him and them. He felt that all God's dear children should meet to- gether around their Father^s table, irrespective of minor differences in belief. He had also learned from God's Book, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and accepted the sublime and life-giving truth in the earnest simplicity of his soul, and saw only mystery and confusion in the bewildering doctrines of tlie Trinity. However, there were in both of these churches, dear souls with whom he enjoyed sweet communion, and for whom he felt the strongest fellow- ship. Yet he chose to take God's Word alone for his guide, and cast his lot with the devoted few who were rallying around that standard. . Ml in to in- as they ositions. pressure to their )8e com- d them, meet to- ctive of led from of God, h in the mystery of tlie )f these i sweet t fellow- 3 for his 'ho were | tr .. y j L. ^3ff j y. "^ C::;^: ©all to th;« ministry. 3 f t i m CHAPTER III. CALL TO THE MINISTRY. JOxNSIDERABLE interest in the religious wel- ' fare of this part of the Province of Ontario must have been felt by the Christian ministers of New Fork State at this time, as they were visited during this year, in addition to those already men- tioned, by Elders T. Mclntyre, J. Church, I. C. Goflf, J. Blodget, and E. Shaw ; the latter assisted Elder Baily in organizing a church in Darlington. Of this ■church, which numbered twenty-eight, Mr. Henry became a member. In the same place, and during the same month, September, 1825, was held the first Christian Conference in Ontario. J. T. Baily pre- sided, and besides him were present J. Blackman and Isaac Goff, all young Christian ministers from United States. There were also present J. W. Sharrard, then 35 .'jjy^ 86 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. a Baptist, afterwards a Christian minister, and Jesgo Van Camp, Sisson Bradly, Wm. Noble, and Thomas Henry, besides a number of other persons. Thus Thomas Henry attended the first Session of tlie Canada Christian Conference, and never failed to attend a Session until 1879, when he died during its sitting in that year. Whoever else might be absent or present, all expected to see Eld. Henry, or Father Henry as he was called in later years, at his post. That tender vine planted in the wilderness, and watered and tended with loving care by such faithful hearts, grew and brought forth fruit, until eighty souls were sheltered beneath its branches. During the long years which have passed away since those stirring times, that zealous band has been scattered, more by emigration than any other cause, and there is now no visible church in that place. The scattered branches, however, have not been lost, but have taken root in places to which they have been removed, and become centres around which other similar organiza- tions have been gathered. Most prominent among these is the church in Oshawa, which is not more than ten miles from the original locality. " "When we take into consideration that only inferior modes of travelling could be made available at that time to reach this part of Canada, that the country CALL TO THE MINISTRY. 87 was new, and the people generally poor, and unable to offer any pecuniary inducement to visit them, we must conclude either that it was a point of special interest, or that the Christian ministers of that day were possessed of a more active missionary spirit than at the present time. As we write these events our hearts swell with gratitude to God, and we cannot withhold a tribute of respect and veneration to those worthy laborers by whose self-sacrificing toil the standard of liberal Christianity was planted in these provinces. Most of them are gone from labor to reward. God give it to them more abundantly ! As far as I know, only two of these laborers remain, Jesse Church and Isaac C. Golf. May the smile of heaven and the veneration of the brotherhood brighten their closing hours ! For the sake of our common Protestantism — I will not say Christianity, for that is always the same — I would rather not I'ecord some events which follow. Yet why should I hesitate? These are things of the past, and show by their contrast with the pre- sent liberal spirit among these denominations, and their general tendency to. imion, the progress they have made in the school of th^ Great Teacher, who prayed that all His follower might be one. Mr. Henry soon found that the decision he had 38 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. I made served to alienate the hearts of many professed friends, and brought upon him much unkindness and some persecution. Tliis was trying to one so young in the cause ; yet he met it with true Christian forti- tude. Speaking of these things, he says: "I had taken the holy Bible, in the presence of God and men, to be my rule of faith and practice, and felt willing to suffer persecution rather than accept or teach for doctrines the commandments of men. I had become convinced that the great cause of division among Christians was their creeds and unscriptural terms. I therefore determined to speak of God only as He had revealed Himself in His sacred word ; to apply to Jesus Christ only those titles given Him by His Father; to speak of angels and men, of baptism, and all other doctrines, in the language of the sacred volume." Again, he says ; "In the year 1827, 1 was called to pass through some severe trials of my faith, severe to me in my weakness and inexperience, though to others they may seem but trifles. About the first of January I went, in company with my wife, to attend a Methodist quarterly meeting, held in a school-house called Coryell's school-house, on the main road near Oshawa. Mr. Coryell and his wife, who lived near, were both members of the Christian denomination CALL TO THE MINISTRY. 39 from New York; yet tliej had lodged four of the Methodist members, who came from a distance to attend the quarterly meeting. " We reached the house in good season, and took our seats, thinking all was right. Mr. Brackenridge was presiding elder, Mr. Atwood circuit preacher, and Mr. Moore, a neighbor of mine, class-leader. I had great respect for Mr. Moore, also for Mr. Atwood, but knew the presiding elder to be a hard man. I soon perceived they were holding a council of war. Yes, it must have been a council of war,' for it was not a council of peace. Presently I was called to the door, and questioned. Had I united with the Chris- tians? I told them 1 had united w4th a people calling themselves only Christians. Did I believe in the Trinity ? I told them I had never found that term in the Bible, consequently did not use it. I was then asked if I believed that Jesus Christ was the very and eternal God ? I said, I believed Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God ; that this was the belief of the Apostle Peter, and satisfied me. Again I was asked if I believed that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost were one? 1 answered, \'es ; not one in person, but one in -work, one in testimony, and one in spirit. I told them I wished to be distinctly understood on this point, that one did not always mean one person. Paul and Apollos were said to be r^ m MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. one. The three thousand who believed were one, and Jesus prayed that His disciples might all he one, even as He and His Father were one. These views, I told them, I honestly believed, and had come to their meeting only to get good. I was, however, told I must leave ; such views could not be tolerated there. So I took my little wife, and went away. Others also left, among them Mr. and Mrs. Coryell, who lodged their members, and furnished the table and bread for their communion. " I had my horses and sleigh with me, so we, the rejected ones, loaded up, and went to Darlington, where Eld. Baily was preaching in a private house. At the close of the sermon I arose, and repeated the whole circumstance. The relation had a great effect upon those who listened. They wept, and I cried. I felt, to say like one of old, ' If it had been from an enemy, I could have borne it ; ' but it came from ministers of the gospel, who profess to be called of God to preach deliverance to the captive, and the opening of prison doors to them that are bound." This exhibition of a persecuting spirit resulted, as it usually does, in the advancement of the persecuted. It raised up new friends for them. Others had their eyes opened to the truth, and embraced the new doctrines; and in a short timp fifty converts were CALL TO THE MINISTRY. 4^ baptized, and a charca organized in the same house from which the few had been driven. This was the foundation of the Christian Church in Oshawa. Another circumstance, which occurred during the same year, left a lasting impression on his mind. He thus relates it : " My father, at that time, kept a public-house at the Rouge, some twenty miles from where I lived. I was invited there to attend a wedding. Great prepa- rations had been made for the occasion, as Archbishop Strachan was to perform the marriage ceremony. Taking advantage of the favorable opportunity, two children were to be brought to the house to be christened. The attendance at a public-house of the Archbishop of Upper Canada was quite an event, and it would be something for parents to tell, that the child was * christened by the Archbishop.' To me the wedding had far less interest than the chris- tening. It was the first time I had witnessed the ceremony since embracing scriptural views of baptism. According to the usual form, they chose godfathers and godmothers, who promised for their charges, first, * That they should believe in God with all their hearts; second. That tliey should renounce the devil and his works ; third. That they should keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same 42 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. all the days of their lives.' It aftected me deeply to hear those solemn promises made by those who regarded them so lightly, as did the whole iinscrip- tural ceremony. After performing the marriage cere- mony and sprinkling the babes, a fiddler came in, and the whole c >mpany, with the exception of the Bishop, who had left, repaired to the ball-room. My father invited me to join the dance. I told him I could not conscientiously do so. To me it was sin, therefore I must be excused. The company were dancing over my head at the time. Father said, ' You cannot prevent the crows from flying over your head.' I replied, * But I can prevent their making nests in my hair.' " In 1828, Eld. Henry says, " The Methodists appeared more friendly. I had become acquainted with a local preacher, by the name of Cry derm an, who was a good speaker, and appeared to be a very liberal man. I often went to hear him, and frequently spoke at his meetings. He invited me to attend a quarterly meet- ing which was to be held in Darlington, on the farm of Mr. Shaw, near the residence of the Hon. J. Simpson. I had a great anxiety to attend the meeting, I had a kind regard for the Methodists. I had begun to get over what they had done in Whitby, and really thought they would never do the same again. CALL TO THE MINISTRY. 43 were said, over their I told him I would go. I saw the presiding elder, Mr. Coiirson, and told him Bro. Cryderman had kindly invited me to attend their quarterly meeting. He said he should be happy to see me there. " So we dispensed with the prayer and conference meeting in the old school-house, from which we had once been driven, got a pair of horses and double waggon, collected a load of the young brethren and sisters, and went to the meeting. Others came on horseback. So we had quite a company. We arrived in good season for the Lovefeast. I saw that Bro. Cryderman was door-keeper, and took courage. To my surprise, as we approached Bro. Cryderman left the door, and Mr. Courson took his place. He at once asked me if we wished to go into the Lovefeast. I said it was for that purpose we had come. * Well, Bro. Henry,' said he, ' we cannot let you in, unless you believe in the Trinity.' I told him I did not expect him to put such a question to me now ; that I knew he had done so formerly, but thought he was becoming more liberal ; and as I was invited to come, I had supposed I should be welcome. Then I told him, in the presence of them all, that he had no right to ask me, or any one else, that question, as neither Christ or His apostles required it of their followers.. Then I said, ' Now, sir, I will remain outside; but I ' t i M^ MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. I I i would be pleased to have these young people, who have come so far, go into the Lovefeast.' He then passed around among them, as though it had been a class-meeting, asking questions something like the fol- lowing. To a sister — *' * Daughter, you believe in the Holy Trinity ?' " * I never saw it in the Bible.' "*My son, don't you believe that Jesus Christ is the very and eternal God V ** * I always read, and believed, that Jesus was the Ohrist, the Son of God.' " * You believe, my daughter, doii't you, that three persons are one God ? ' ** ' I believe, as it is revealed, that God is one.^ "By this time quite a company had collected around us, and the rev. gentleman, finding he was not gaining much ground, said he had not time to talk any more ; but advised us, as it looked like rain, to go to a private house, and stay until after the Lovefeast, when we would be admitted. We chose to go to our waggon, and await the close of the Lovefeast^ if such it might be called. At its close he came to us, and said to me — " * How do you stand this ? It will try you, and prove whether you are a Christian.' CALL TO THE MINISTRY. 45 " My reply was, ' Bro. Coiirson, I am surprised to hear you speak thus. I have yet to learn that God tries His children in this way. It is like tempting us, and it is written, '* God tempts no man." ' We went into the meeting. Mr. Coureon, however, only injured his own cause. The best of his own members disapproved of his course, and our young brethren were more established in their principles." If this chapter should come under the observation of any of our Methodist friends, we beg them to remember that these things occurred long ago, and that those were days of ignorance and prescription. We record this, and similar events, not as a reproach on the Methodists, but because they are part of the life of the man whose character we are delineating, and helped to form, as well as to exemplify that character. These small things show, as the events of all his after-life do, a character at once strong and tender, firm and forgiving. Mr. Henry had given up all for Christ ; had offered soul and body a living sacrifice on the altar of his God. Much of his time was given to searching the Scriptures; much to self-examination and secret prayer. He also bore public testimony to the spiritual ^ ^ MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. i I .'i i i I if ''I i J I blessings which he enjoyed in secret, and spoke often of the goodness of God among his brethren. Those who listened to him, and were blessed by his warm •exhortations, began to appreciate his gift; and he was called to take a prominent part in all their prayer and conference meetings. He too began to feel that hidden fire which burns in the soul of every true minister of Christ — that yearning over the souls of men, and that prophetic looking forward to their final destiny. But with these promptings came the over- ■whelming sense of the greatness of tlie work, and the bitter consciousness of his insufliciency. Like Moses, he exclaimed, "I am slow of speech." But, unlike Moses, he was not learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, or any other human school. He deeply felt his need of education. But the still, small voice would not be silenced ; day and night it followed him, whispering, " This is the way ; walk in it. The church also appeared to hear the voice, at least they continued to put him forward, and in June, 1 829, gave him letters recommending him as a public speaker. Eld. Jesse Yan Camp, who had embraced religion, and been baptized at the same time, at the same time received letters for public improvement. A strong friendship existed between the two, and together they travelled and preached through the townships of Wliitby, Darlington, Clarke, and Hope. CALL TO THE MINISTRY. 47 In Hope was a small church, composed of females, with the exception of one member — mostly young ladies ; they kept up tlieir meetings, and altogether maintained a sensible and exemplary deportment. The one male member did not lonor remain connected with the church ; but the little band of females main- tained their standing and influence until emigration, death, and marriage scattered them. A part of Mr. Henry's labors were devoted to this church, and he formed an acquaintance with, and a fellowship for some of its members, which was not readily forgotten. h I A ©tottds ana JitittsMm. ' CHAPTER IV. CLOUDS AND 8UN8IIINK. 'ERE we pause in our record of the more public events of Mr. Henry's life, to paint a sorrowful domestic picture. Here we touch a cord which made every fibre of his great, strong heart vibrate to the touch of sorrow. Mrs. Henry, who had united her destioy with his in his earliest manhood, and had thus far shared his holiest hopes and heaviest trials, was a very lovable woman. Being possessed of a pleasing person, engag- ing manners, and an amiable disposition, she was not only an object of deep affection in her own family, but beloved by all who knew her. She was an excellent singer, and often would the notes of her bird-like voice awaken the echoes of the 51 111 M. 52 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. forest around her lonely home, or along the unfre- quented roads by which she and her husband retum- •ed, sometimes late in the evening on horseback, from those little gatherings for public worship so common then. How little could her imagination picture then, what her home and the surrounding country have since became. Wonderful indeed have been the changes, but she is not forgotten. There are those who still cherish in the deepest recesses of their hearts, sweet remembrances of her short life of love and devotion. Still young in years, she and her husband had begun together that new and holier life, and might well look forward to many years of hap- piness in each other's society, and in the service of God. As he had commenced the work of the ministry, and the deep responsibilities of that sacred office were beginning to gather around him, as well as the care of a growing family consisting of five sons, it is not strange they both felt that a great work lay before them. But the wise disposer of all events, who metes out to man the length of his days and the fulness of his years, changed all their calculations. Mrs. Henry had a naturally delicate constitution, with consumptive tendency, and during the year of ii^ CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 53 1829 that insiduous disease commenced its ravages upon her frame. Day by day it continued to sap the foundations of being, and drink at the fountain of life. Some- times indeed there came days of seeming brightness, when the work of the destroyer appeared for the time to be stayed, and Hope ventured to whisper that she might still live. But all who are acquainted with that disease, know too well the meaning of such appearances. Life seems to linger a while as if in pity of our sorrow, and brighten with the semblance of health the frail tenement it is leaving ; just as the sun lingers on the verge of winter, and gives us the bright days of Indian summer, as if loth to leave us without one kind farewell. Much as she had to bind her to life, she seems to have been resigned to her fate ; but her heart yearned sadly for the little ones she was leaving without a mother's care, — her five little boys. John, William, George, Thomas and El)en. She often exclaimed, " What will they do ? " And he as often assured her the Lord would provide. She talked much with her husband about death and separation, and found in his courage, faith, and tenderness, the support and sympathy she so much needed. But her trust was in the loving Saviour. Oh, we never know how near 64 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. He can come to ns until the days of suffering and weakness are upon us, and everything to wliich we cling seems sliding from our grasp. In November, her husband took her and her youngest child, then about a year old, to visit Iier mother who lived twenty miles away, and returned liome leaving them with her mother. While there a new phase of the disease was developed, which brought her to the verge of the grave in a few days. A hasty message brought her husband to her side, and all that under the circumstances could be done, WP3 done to alleviate her sufferings ; but the rude skill of the times was unavailing, as the most pro- found scientific knowledge would have been. They had to take her child away from her, and her hus- band went to carry it home. Oh, that long, lonely ride ! Will he ever forget it ? He went on horse- back which was the easiest mode of travel over such roads, and took the little boy in his arms. The road lay mostly through the woods, with here and there a clearing and log-cabin by the way. Three times he stopped to get nourishment for the little one. Reach- ed home in the gloom of twilight, gathered the boys around him, quieted them as best he could, went to a sleepless couch. In the morning he found some one to take care of the babe, and returned to his CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. m ne lis wife. The silent messenger had come in with noise- less step before him, and stilled the pulsations of the gentle heart, whose last throb was a prayer for his return. O could he have been beside her, and sup- ported her head in the last hour, and gathered up the last broken sentences uttered by those dear lips, it would have been such a consolation to his grieving heart. The bright, sweet spirit was gone, and only the beautiful cold form was left to his embrace. O broken ties! O sad and sorrowing hearts! "Were there no hereafter, no pitying Christ, no loving Father, what would you do? They brought her home and the little boys looked on that saddest sight a child can see — the dead face of their mother. They buried her on that little eminence, where her babe and his mother already slept, near the shore of Lake Ontario, and the cease- less murmur of the waves on the white pebbled beach, seems like a requiem to her memory. The year which followed the death of his wife was one of great trial to Mr. Henry. He still felt it his duty to travel and preach, and the care of his family rested heavily on his mind. He did not then possess a great share of this world's goods, and in the new state of the country, the comforts and conveniences of life were hard to obtain. m MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY, 1i An unmarried sister lived with him, and supplied as well as she could the place of the last one ; but there was a great vacuum in his heart and life. He always found it difficult to live without sympathy. To the world he appeared strong and self-sustained ; but away down in his heart was an unfathomable fountain of affection. Love was a part of his being, and he felt that he could not do his life-work nobly and well without the companionship of one true heart, which should abide next to his heart through sun and storm. Therefore at the end of the year, inclination as well as expediency pointed to another union. He did not take this step without due deliberation, nor without the advice of his friends, as he felt that he had the interest of his family to look after, as well as his own. But he has told us about this matter, and we will repeat his own language : " I counselled with my sister and friends on this important subject. I was well aware that a minister, and especially a widower was very closely watched. I did not wish to injure my character nor the cause of God ; both were precious to me. I made up my mind that I would do my courting in a different manner from what it is generally done. I had form- ed some acquaintance with Miss Lurenda Abby, of / CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 67 the township of Hope. SLe was a member of that small church of females to whom I had preached occitsionally. She had been at my place and seen my children, and I thought she was the one. So I con- cluded to write her a letter on the subject, and if she was agreeable, well, and if not, why that would be the end of it. Accordingly I wrote as follows : " Whitbt, Oct. 10th, 1830. " Beloved Sister, — "I embrace this opportunity of writing to you for the first time, to let you know luy mind. Since I ' first knew you, I have had for you, fellowship as a Christian, and respect as a woman. You no doubt have had trials and temptations, and cruel moekings from the enemy, but the Lord has been your refuge. He is a strong hold into which the righteous run and are safe. I too have known what aifiictions are. I have sufiered much persecution from the enemies of the Cross ; but my greatest affliction has been the .v,3& of my wife. Life since then has been a scene of sorrow and pain, and I am like the dove bereft of its tender mate. No one knows the trials through which I have passed. My children are without a mother's care, and I have no one into whose breast I can pour my complaints. This has led me to think much about seeking another companion, or help-meet — one who 58 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. I i will care 'for my children, and bear the burdens of life with me. ** Having seen and formed something of an acq .lint- ance with you, I have confidence in you as a Christian and as a woman. I would therefore ask, Do you feel disposed to unite in the holy bonds of matrimony* and if so, will you give me your hand ; to live and die with me ? I hope you will not take as an oftence what I have written. Give me an answer as soon as possible. I have nothing more to say at present. .* I am your friend till death.' " Thomas Henry. I "In a few days, to my great satisfaction, I received the following straightforward, sensible reply. **floPE, Oct. 28th, 1830. " Yery Dear Brothek, — "After maturely weighing every circumstance relative to the subject of your letter, I can see no reasonable objection to tlie proposal with which you have been pleased to favor me. I am well aware of the very important duties that will^devolve upon me in taking the place of a mother at so early an age. But looking to God, the great source of wisdom, for CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 69 f direction, and to you for counsel and advice, I shall endeavor to act with an eye single to the happiness and welfare of the family committed to my care. '* Having the fear of God continually before my eyes, I shall endeavor, with your assistance, to form their young minds for virtue's noble end, and to advance their eternal welfare by teaching them the fear of the Lord, and the first principles of our holy religion. " With respect to ourselves, my dearest friend, you know that our happiness must greatly depend on our conduct towards each other; therefore, it will be our duty to strengthen each other's virtue, and reprove each other's faults with gentleness, and as much as in us lies, come up to that perfect standard of conjugal duty so admirably laid down by St. Paul. " I should be happy to see you as soon as convenient, but if you cannot come soon, send a line the first opportunity. " Yours affectionately. Farewell. "LUEENDA AbBY. "At this time I was preaching occasionally in Hope^ and soon made it convenient to call and see Miss : 60 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. Abby, and make farther arrangements ; and on the second day of Nov., 1830, we were married in Port Hope by an Episcopalian clergyman. The next day we started for home, and I soon had the pleasure of introducing to my children a mother of whom they have never had occasion to be ashamed. No one, who was not acquainted with the circumstances, would ever have known but what Lurenda was mother to the whole family. No difference has ever been made, but love and affection have ever existed between father, mother, and children. It was well understood that I should preach all I could, but I never intended to neglect my family as some ministers did ; and I believe, I have always provided for my family. We were both very economical and industrious, and have always been blessed with enough of the good things of this life to make us comfortable, and to make our numerous friends comfortable when they visited us. God and the religion of Jesus Christ ^«^, has always been our motto; all other matters were of minor importance, and must bow to the leading object of life." No one who reads the foregoing will doubt Mr. Henry's being as fortunate in his second, as in his fir-^t choice. The second Mrs. Henry was an earnest active Christian; intelligent and well educated for . CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 61 the times, with a tine constitution and great energy and activity of character. If she was not more affectionate, she was stronger in body and mind, and well calculated to take up the cross, which the other had laid down in weakness ; and bear it with honor to herself and family, through the busy years of a long life. She still lives in the old home. Though broken in health, and somewhat subdued in spirit, she is firm in her attachment to the cause to which her husband's life energies were devoted, consistent in her life, and always ready to welcome and enter- tain any of his numerous friends, who may call on her. Like her husband, she is, as far as I know, without an enemy ; being one of the few ministers' wives who have come out of that trying position untouched by the hand of jealousy or malice. \ .^ IT . i, xtv^tts fvom iowmal. I i i- w 111 I li ra I CHAPTER V. EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL — EARLY LABORS. E will here introduce some extracts from Mr. Henry's Journal. "My father honestly thought I was in an error, and sent one Jackey Richardson to set me right on the doctrine of the Trinity, that first principle of the Christian Religion in their belief. " He came one pleasant Sunday morning, and made known his errand. I told him I was thankful to my father for his care for my welfare, and also to him for his kindness in coming. Then I got the good old Bible and laid it on the table and said : ' Now sir, if it was not for this book, I should not know there was a God in heaven, any more than do the heathen. 1 should not know that man was a sinner, 65 5 1 1 1 66 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. nor that Christ came to save 8nch. Neither should I know how to obtain heaven. Having taken it as my only rule of religious faith and practice, I endeavor to observe the idvice given by St. Peter*, *' If any man speak, let 1 im &peak as the oracles of God." The word Triniy not being found in the Bible, I do not use it.' After some more conversation, he took dinner with us and left, I hope thinking better of me than when he came. "' In 1830 a gentleman by the name of J )rdan Post, wdio was present at a funeral where I preached, asked me to preach in his house, saying he had a large house with a commodious upper room which had been fitted up for a ball-room. I gave him an appointment, which I had to travel twenty-three miles on horseback to fill. This I did cheerfully, not for the hope of any earthly gain, but because, like Moses, I had an eye to the * recompense of reward' away in the future; and because I loved mv fellow- men, and wished to do them good. " The congregation was large, many no doubt having come out of curiosity. One Methodist preacher was present and the class-leader, Jackey Richardson, ot whom I have already spoken. The latter gentleman called me one side before the com- mencement of the meeting, and asked me if 1 believed 1 EARLY LABORS. 67 as did one A. C. Morrison of the State of New York. I told him that T knew A. C. Morrison, and believed him to be a good man, and in good standing with one of the N. Y. C. Conferences, and that he had preached some in Canada to good acceptance. He said he had heard him, and that if I preached the same views he did, he would not stay to hear me. I advised him not to be hasty, but to stay and hear what I had to say ; to prove all and hold fast what was good. He, however, left the room with his wife. On the way out he met a man named Secor coming in with his wife. Learning that he was leaving he remonstrated with him, telling him it was not right to judge of a thing without hearing. Richardson finally came back with him. " I read a hymn, but could get no one to sing, so introduced the meeting by prayer. I then gave a short history of the rise of our people in the East, South and West, where they came out all in one year, with- out any knowledge of each other ; from the Baptist in the East, Methodist in the South, and Presby- terians in the West. I told them our people brought no creed with them but the Bible ; no test of fellow- fihip but Christian character; and no name but Christian. Finding I had got the attention of the people I named my text : * But one thing is needful, 68 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. and Mary has chosen that good part which shall never be taken from her.' From these words I endeavored to preach to them salvation through a crucified Christ and a risen Saviour, and had good liberty for one so timid. At the close I read another hymn, and all who could sing joined in singing it. I left another appointment and closed. My good brother Richardson came and shook hands with me, saying I had preached a good Methodist sermon. I said : * Brother R., if I have preached the truth, give God the glory, and not Mr. Wesley.' There is a great wrong in this particular among the sects. When free salvation is preached, the Methodists claim it as their doctrine. When we preach Christian Baptism, the Baptists claim it as theirs. When we dwell on the influence of the Spirit, the Friends claim that, whereas all belong to God, and are parts of one harmonious whole." In 1832, after much hesitancy and many doubts and misgivings on his part, Thomas Henry was ordained to the work of the ministry, in Darlington, Upper Canada — afterwards Canada West — now Ontario. The ofliciating ministers were T. Mclntyre and Asahel Fish. The former preached the ordination sermon. Thus did Elder Henry, like many of the early ministers ofthisdenoniination, accept the great responsibility, and enter upon the sublime work of the Christian Ministry, EARLY LABORS. with but little preparation except that made in com- munion with God and His Word. Unlearned in the wisdom of the schools, but strong in faith, and over- flowing with fervor and love, they went into the world, bearing the cross of Christ through sunshine and storm, undaunted by opposition, and undis- couraged by disappointment. All honor to them ! They were the men for the time and place. Little polished eloquence or profound logic was needed in the log-cabins of this then uncultivated country. The pi iin unvarnished truth, uttered with strength and sincerity, and sent home by the Spirit of God, did a great work and reached a class which a more discip- lined ministry might have failed to affect. At all events, they did what they could in the great harvest where laborers were few. * The next four or live years after Elder Henry's ordination, were filled up by him without much varia- tion, with work at home and ministerial labor. Though no lengthy record has been kept of these years, we have no reason to doubt that their work was faithfully done, as far as one pair of hands could do it. He says : " I never neglected my family, let cir- cumstances be as they might." The consequence was, that he prospered in temporal as well as spiritual matters. The country improved, and property gained 70 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. in value. With that wise foresight for which he was remarkable, he laid by each year a little, and aa opportunity offered, invested his savings in land, which was then cheap, but rising rapidly in value. Thus he laid the foundation of competence for himself and family. 1834 was remarkable in the Oshawa church, for the beginning of that long and tedious controversy which arose between those who embraced the views of Alexander Campbell, and those who adhered to the original Christian platform. I do not intend to enter into the merits of the question at issue, nor pass an opinion on the conduct of either party. It is an episode in the history of the church, of which I can never think of with other feeling than that of profound sadness. Whatever may have been the motives of those who introduced these vexing questions, the result is deplorable, in that we have in Ushawa, and in other parts of Canada, two weak bodies of Christians, both professing to take the Bible alone for their creed, while neither is strong enough to make much headway against creeds and sectarianism. Had they remained together, as I believe a little more for- bearance would have enabled them to have done, their influence for good might have been trebled. Speaking of this subject Elder Henry says : " I did not ■■ IS n EARLY LABORS. 71 come out so hard on these brethren as some of our ministers did. I preached to both parties, and did all in my power to prevent a division, by kind words and gentle dealing; and in preaching always strove to ' give a ' Thus saith the Lord ' for whatever I advanced." At the annual meeting of the Conference in 1835 Elder Henry was appointed to superintend the drafting and circulation of a petition to the Provincial Parlia- ment, that the Christians as a body might be known in law, or, in other words, have the same privileges enjoyed by other religious denominations. Until this time, and for years afterwards, the Christians were nnable to solemnize marriages, or hold church property in the Province. This right was not, as in the United States, guaranteed to all religious bodies, but to certain denominations named. At first only the Established Church enjoyed the privilege, others obtaining it afterwards by petition. The Christians had more difficulty in obtaining this right than others, on account of the prejudice existing against United States, their first ministers having come from there. This being the case, they naturally made most converts among those who had emigrated from the States, or were natives of Canada. Wone of their ministers, and verv few of the converts came from the Mother Country, or were educated there. To this day the 7» MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. Christians form a liberal element in the population of the Provinces. The petition was another responsibility, in addition to what Mr. Henry already had on his hands and heart. Still he continued to bestow much ministerial labor in Whitby, Pickering, Scarboro, and Darlington; sowing the good seed, watering the tender plants, and gathering in an occasional sheaf. At the Conference in 1836 J. W. Sherrard— a man who had come from the Baptists — a man of education and influence, was ordained to the Christian ministry, and joined with Elder Henry in the effort for legal rights. Again Elder Henry writes : " At the close of this Conference, I had put up at Bro. J. Ash's two miles below Cobourg, with a number of other brethren, when I was startled by the arrival of a messenger, who informed me that my father lay at the point of death — could not possibly live but a short time. I made my way home as soon as possible, and found him at my house nearly gone. He knew me, however, and asked me to pray for him. God only knows my feelings as I bowed by that bed of death. He died in a short time. Elder Van Camp preached at his funeral, which was attended by a large concourse of friends and relatives. His remains were deposited by the side of mother's, and near his other EARLY LABORS. is relatives in the family burying-ground on the hill beside the lake." This year Elder Henry attended the N. Y. W. Con- ference held at Shelby, and received a flattering testimonial from them. He had previously attended several sessions of the N. Y. 0. Conference, and formed many pleasant acquaintances there. Ho alwaj^s loved these gatherings of his brethren. ' ^ tAo^XrS ii e ^ t=^is^ ^r^ K r:xr :sil g ^ ^ : ^j t ^'rr jhi^ 'ght 36hemon, CHAPTER VI. • THE REBELLION. JHE years of 1837-8 were eventful years in the ' history of Canada ; it was during those years that the Rebellion took place. It is not our province to give an opinion of the political merits of that convulsion, which shook the country throughout its length and breadth. We may, however, suggest that it was one of those outbreaks, which are apt to follow long periods of misrule, in coimtries where the people have no legal means of redress. A sad struggle it was, and unfortunate in many respects ; yet it opened the eyes of men in power, and was the means of securing many privileges to the inhabitants, and breaking up the monopoly of the Family Compact! Religious organizations, as they usually do in times of political disturbance, suffered; and the Christians 77 ' 78 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. from the Bame causes which operated against their political recognition, suffered more than others ; their members were subject to unjust suspicion, which caused much annoyance. Many of them left the country, and some of the smaller churches lost their visibility. Elder Henry speaks of this period as follows : " The years of the Rebellion will never be for- gotten by me. We suffered much on account of our liberal views, and peace principles. I was well acquainted with Wm. Lyon McKenzie : he was a staunch reformer and friend to his country. At the commencement of the disturbance he published a paper in Toronto. On account of his liberal views, and some exposures of the Family Compact, ho was beset by a mob of their sons, and, I am sorry to say, a fion of Archbishop Strachan was among them. They came in the night, broke open his office, and threw his type and press into the lake ; but his friends soon got him another press and more type. This cruel act served to bring him before the public, and he was elected member of Parliament. I supported him from principle. I was well acquainted with Lount and Matthews, and stood near when they were executed at Toronto as leaders of the Rebellion. I was a witness for Dr. Hunter when he was tried for treason, THE REBELLION. n and the foreman of the jury told me afterwards it was my evidence that saved him. Having been at his house on the evening of the fight in Toronto, I was able to clear him from being there. I was not only a friend to British law and to order, but I had much sympathy for many who unwisely took up arms against it." That is what Mr. Henry says of himself in con- nection with the Rebellion, but he does not record, and probably at the time it would not have been safe to record, the many deeds of kindness and Christian charity, performed on behalf of those unfortunate men, who upon the suppression of the outbreak be- came outlaws and outcasts from home. His house was a refuge and safe asylum for them. Being a native of Ireland, and having taken no active part in the disturbance, he was comparatively free from sus- picion. His house, barn, and even cellar, were often occupied by those who dared not be seen abroad ; here they were concealed, fed, and comforted, until an opportunity could be found for them to cross the lake, and take refuge on Republican soil. More than once, his sons and his team met the lonely wanderers at appointed places along the shore of the marsh or lake, and brought them to a safe retreat. And again have the same agents conveyed them to out of the way places, where they could embark on some American vessel bound for the " other side." ..jm& 80 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. Many of these incidents were interesting and some quite exciting. John, the eldest son, a wide awake youth of seventeen, the principal actor on such occasions, was i:i his element : had he been older he might, in spite of parental advice, have been among the agitatd^B. At ono time, about a dozen refugees were concealed in a house some three miles from Oshawa Harbor. Somebody gave John to understand that his services were needed in that direction on a particular night. Without his father's knowledge, he took the team, put all the bells on the horses he could get, drove to the place, got the men in the sleigh, drove back through Oshawa about midnight, and had his men on board a schooner before daylight without molestation; when if he had gone quietly, he would have been suspected, and probably arrested. The schooner was wpiting for them in the marsh, that stretche* back from the lake at Port Oshawa. One night after the family had retired, Dr. Hunter, of whom we have spoken, presented himself at Elder Henry's door. He was cautiously admitf "^d, and soon told his trouble in hurried whispers. Freeh evidence oihis disloyalty had been obtained, and the officers of the law were on his track. Elder Henry well knew he couM do nothing for him outside of the THE REBELLICN. ai 1 house without awakening suspicion. He therefore conducted him to the room where his sons were in bed. John took in the situation at once, and in an in- credibly short time was dressed, and had left the house with the medical rawi, who dared not remain there an hour. They ffossed the fields like two shadows, and were soon lost to sight in the wood skirting the marsh. John was familiar with every nook and tree of that wood, and guided the doctor by a circuitous route to a shanty on the border of the marsh, where an old man lived alone. The doctor was soon disposed of in bed, and as it was some time until daylight, the young man sat down to think. It was the latter part of March, and considerable ice was still in the man^h. A vessel that had wintered there was being prepared for sailing. The captain and owner of the vessel, Jesse Trull, was John's uncle, and though he dared not make his business known to his uncle, the relationship would furnish Kim an ex- cuse for being there. He knew his uncle to be favorably disposed to his cause, yet he felt that he would not risk concealing a refugee on his vessel, which would be thereby subject to confiscation. But the mate, an eccentric man called Billy Barrow, he knew he could depend on for assistance. When day- light came, John T-ent down to the boat, but there a new danger presented itself. Sergeant Martin, a 6 82 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. government officer, had been stationed there on purpose to keep refugees from going on board. With a quickness of perception and promptness of action, remarkable in one of his age, the youth took of hi& coat, and went to work with the men, who were clearing away the ice from around the boat. He wa& soon accosted by Sergeant Martin, who demandei what he was doing there. " Helping my uncle get his boat off !" was the ready answer. He worked all day, took his meals with the crew on board, and at night went to the cabin with Billy Barrow. Mr. Trull did not stay on board at night, so the two had the cabin to themselves. They had little chance of communication during the day, but they now talked the matter over in whispers, and laid their plans for Hunter's escape. When all others were asleep, John stole away to the shanty, carrying supplies to his man, and reporting progress. There wa& another morning, another challenge from Sergeant Martin, and another day's woric for John. They had hoped to get the boat ready to sail that day, but night came, and it was evident the programme of the last two days was to be repeated. That night, when John went to carry supplies to * 1 k THI£ REBELLION. m his man, he went further ; and before his return a little red skift' was snugly concealed behind a point nearly a half-mile west from the harbor. The third day drew to a close, and the schooner was free from the ice, and floated out into open water, ready to sail in the morning, as soon as she could obtain a " clearance." Between 12 and 1 o'clock that night, two figures instead of one emerged from the shanty, and proceed- ed cautiously towards the point where the red skiff was concealed. It was a wild, dark night, but the young man's accustomed feet led the way, and the doctor followed with nervous tread. They reached their des- tination safely, and found the skift' where he had left it. They looked out over the water, and for a moment stood silent, almost irresolute. It was a fearful venture. The wind was blowing almost a gale, breaking the water into yeasty waves, mixed with fragments of floating ice. The case was urgent. The dauntless young man launched his boat among the seething waves, and ordered the doctor to lie flat in the bottom ; for the boat was barely safe for two on calm watei*s, and he knew that with his unaccustomed companion erect in it, they would surely be swamped. The gentleman at first demurred at this arrangement, but being bluntly informed that he must obey orders or he would be left to look after himself, submitted ; 84 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. and the frail craft was soon tossing among the breaker. Clouds of inky blackness enveloped the sky, and entirely hid the schooner from their view, •but the intrepid oarsman held on his way, steering half by guess, until a fiercer gust of wird made a rift in the clouds, and gave him a glimpse of the masts of the vessel, towards which he steered. As they passed the outlet of the marsh, cakes of ice were floating sea- ward, and a large piece came in contact with the little skiff, threatening to capsize it. The doctor made a move to rise, but an assurance from John, that a blow from his oar would quiet him if he did not keep quiet, caused him to lie still, until they drew up on the lee- ward side of the vessel, and the little red skiff was made fast to a rope, which John knew would be hanging in a convenient place near the stern of the boat. Shortly after this, two dark figures might have been seen climbing into the schooner, if any one had been there to see them. As it was, only the wind and waves were around them, and the dark clouds above. They stood on the stern deck, and a dark hole, just about large enough to ad- mit a man's body, was before them. This led down into a small dark place only a few feet square, where odds and ends which it was desirable to have out of sight, were usually thrown. Billy Barrow had pre- pared this place for their passenger. John taking his THE REBELLION. 8S . hand helped him lower himself into his snug quarters, and then putting on the " hatch," was soon after in the berth with the mate, to whom he dared to com- municate his success only by a nudge, which was answered in the same way. After waiting un- til certain that no one had been disturbed, Billy Barrow crept softly on deck, and proceeded to put large bolts into the corners of the " hatch," in holes previously bored for them ; to give it an appearance of great security. Then he closed the cracks with oakum and pitch, having previously prepared a place for ventilation from the freight room. 9 In the morning all was activity on board the boat. About nine o'clock, John Trull, Militia Captain, and brother to the boat owner, came on board to search the vessel. The duty was strictly performed, but as no contraband goods or men were found, the captain got his " clearance ;" landsmen came ashore, the schooner weighed anchor, and sailed away with Dr. Hunter to- wards the " other side." We know nothing more of his adventure, than that he reached the Republic in safety. Again Elder Henry says : " I was much engaged in preaching at that time, and was called to preach some r^ 86 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. funeral sermons that were a trial to me, and I fear little comfort to surviving friends. Among these was that of one Thomas Conat, who was killed in- stantly by a blow from the sword of a dragoon in government employ ; he was under the influence of liquor at the time, and probably said something in- sulting to the soldier. Another was that of a young man by the name of McCall, who was stabbed with a butcher knife by one Skinner, who was afterwards hanged for the deed. Skinner lived at the time, not far from me, and his wife was sick, and family in such destitute circumstances that I was obliged to take my horse and sleigh, and go out among the farmers and gather up provisions for them. Soon after I was called upon to preach the funeral sermon of a man who had shot himself ; and in a short time again, for one who had committed suicide by cutting his throat. This last case was particularly trying to me. The family were respectable. His son asked me if I would come and preach a funeral sermon for his father. I felt for them, but hardly knew what to say to comfort them. When I arrived at the school-house in Bow- manville, where meetings were frequently held — as Churchoa were scarce in those days, I found a largo congregation assembled, and felt that something must be said. I told them my mission was to preach to the living not to the dead. So I took a text and THE REBELLION. 87 preached as well as I could, warning all to prepare to meet God. To the mourning widow and children I said, the good Father would not forsake in this hour of sad bereavement, if they put their trust in Him." i pastor at ®shnvou. CHAPTER VII. PASTOR OF 08HAWA CHRISTIAN CHURCH. BOUT the commencement of 1839 the politi- cal disturbance had in a great measure sub- sided, but its eflect remained in the low state of public morals, and general declension of the churches. From causes before mentioned, none had suffered more than the Christians. The following extract from a letter written by Elder Henry to J. Badger, editor of the Christian Palladium^ presents as clear a picture of the existing state of things as can well be given in so many words. "The rebellion has been very much against us, as it has caused many of our preachers to leave this country for the States. Besides this, a great ^ 91 *> IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V /. /. .^ f/, 1.0 I.I 130 1^ 1^ 2.5 Hi 1^ 12.0 1- ^ 1.8 1125 il.4 ill 1.6 V] s n /,. (? / w w w is' ^^. ^ ^j> ^ 6^ 92 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. many of our brethren do not believe in fighting at all with carnal weapons; therefore certain persons whose loyalty is a trade, have represented that we were disaffected to the Government ; thereby pre- venting us from obtaining our legal rights. A few days since Elder Sharrard and myself went to Toronto to make some enquiries about our petition, which has passed the third reading in the Lower House. We went to Mr. Sullivan, one of the Governor's Council. Having made our business known, we were asked a great many questions, which we answered ; and told him we were ready to answer more, if he had them to ask. " He told us that if Canada remained a British Province, all American teachers and preachers would be prevented from settling in it, and then we should dwindle away and come to nought ; he therefore considered it best not to be in a hurry about granting our request. Thus you see we have our own diffi- culties to contend with. I do hope you, or O. E. Morrill, or both of you, will try to attend our next Conference, for if we ever needed help it is now." The Session of Conference, to which Elder Henry referred, was held in "Whitby, and Elder Badger, who appears to have been a friend in need, attended. PASTOR. ()3 Elder Henry was again called to preside, and he sj^eaks of it as a good and profitable time. In 1840 Elder Henry was chosen to the pastorate of the church in Whitby, since called the Oshawa Christian Church. Oshawa is a village in the town- ship of Whitby, and takes its name from Oshawa Creek, on which it is located. Oshawa signifies in the Indian dialect. White Fish, or White Fish Creek, and formerly abounded in white fish; and Elder Henry could tell some exciting tales of early exploits, in fishing in its waters. To return to our subject. Elder Henry had long been pastor of the churches in Darlington, Clarke, and Scarborough. The Oshawa church was at first considered a branch of the church in Darlington, but was afterwards organized into a separate church. At this time it was in a very unhappy condition. The wearing controversy on Mr. Campbell's theories, still continued unabated. Elder Mclntyre, its former pr-stor, had left, and it was almost impossible for the warring elements to agree on a man to fill his place. Elder Henry had all the time kept the confidence of both parties, and was finally chosen unanimously to fill the position ; and he was probably the only minister on whom they could have agreed. His con- duct was conciliatory, and in his sermons he avoided u. MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. extremes, and dwelt on those points on which all could agree. The early Christian ministers conscientiously refused to accept stated salaries, living on voluntary contributions from the brethren, or supported them- selves by the labor of their hands. When Elder Henry was chosen to this responsible position, it was without the expectation or promise of any reward, save what was to be found in doing good. In speak- ing of those times he says, " More work was done then for love and the good of souls than is now done for salaries." It is doubtful if Elder Henry has ever received as much from the churches as would defray his travelling expenses. Under date of April, 1841, he writes : "Brother Marsh, my only apology for not writing sooner is the want of time. My business is crowding, and calls for the preaching of a free gospel are abundant. Since I wrote you last we have had many precious seasons here. My preaching for the past winter has been confined mostly to- Whitby and Darlington. In the month of March I baptized twenty -three happy converts, and three of the number were my own sons. This has given me great joy. " T. Henry." PASTOR. 95 The years which immediately followed Elder Henry's appointment to the pastorate of the Oshawa Christian Church, were years of upward progress and general prosperity. A brighter day had dawned both on the church and country. The earnest, energetic spirit of the pastor was infused into ^lis flock. They began to feel an interest in the work before them, and an inclination to contribute of their means for its advancement. The necessity of a suitable house for the worship of God had long been evident, and the work was commenced. It is hardly necessary to add that Elder Henry was the life and soul of this enter- prise. Though receiving no salary for his labors as pastor, he nevertheless contributed of his means, and gave much of his time and labor to the work. It was a success. The chapel was finished, and was large and expensive for the times, and spoke well for the liberality of the churches. We should naturally suppose that Elder Henry during these years found employment for head, hands and heart in the work at Oshawa, but no one vicinity could monopolize these. His heart yearned over all the vineyard, and he went frequently among the other churches ; always arous- ing, encouraging, and comforting as he went ; and seldom failing to gather a few clusters for the Master by the way. He was then in the full vigor and strength of his manhood, and his labors were almost ■ gigantic. Could he, during those years, have devoted more time to self-culture his usefulness in after life would have been enhanced. He deeply felt this, but 6aw no time for study. The requirements of the season were pressing, and he did his heaviest day of work where and when it was most needed ; and the recording angel has written it down in that great ledger, where all accounts are justly balanced. The sun does not shine always on the same fields. Rain fell in the midst of harvest. The long ferment- ing questions which vexed the church, assumed a .definite form, and the wearisome discussions culmin- ated in a division of the body. Those brethren who Advocated the views entertained by A. Campbell withdrew, and formed a separate church, known as the Disciples of Christ. Elder Hen^/ remained on the old platform, and \ without wasting time in vain regrets, applied himself At once to the work of rebuilding the walls, and heal- ing the wounds of Zion. The following letter written for, and published in the Palladium is characteristic : "Brother Marsh, our Conference met in New- market. We had a good time. The visit of Elders PASTOR. 97 Mclntyre, Marvin, and Galloway, was like the com- iiig of Titus. They attended a general meeting in Whitby, which was truly an interesting season, and ono long to be remembered. On the 16th and 17th I attended a meeting in Haldimand with Elders Mc- lntyre and Marvin ; Elder Mclntyre baptized two. We feel much encouraged. Since Conference I have baptized sixteen happy converts. I have attended a number of meetings this season in Whitechurch with Elder Sharrard. We have baptized nineteen in a beautiful little sheet of water called Musp-ilman's Lake. The work is progressing. I have just returned from a visit to the State of New York, in company with my wife, and Deacon J. Ainsbury and wife. At Marion I attended a two days' meeting. From Marion went to Auburn, and spent a day visit- ing the State Prison and prisoners. We returned home by way of Niagara Falls, and spent two days there visiting some friends, and viewing that wonder- ful work of God, the great cataract. From here we made our way to Lewiston, and took the steamboat across our own beautiful lake to Toronto; reached home the following evening and found all well. "T. Heney." Again in October we find another letter in which he gives an account of attending a meeting in White- 7 98 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. \ church, and baptizing 12, with prospects still flatter- ing; but closes with the remark that good and wise shepherds are needed to feed the flock. We cannot but notice in his writings this constant appeal for help. The vastness of the work, and the scarcity of laborers was ever present to his mind. On the 28th of May, 1843, the new chapel was opened, and dedicated to the worship of God, and the promotion of liberal Christianity. Elder J. Badger preached the dedicatory sermon. Mr. Henry wrote : " I regard it as one of Badger's best efforts. A number of our ministers were present, all of whom took part in the exercises. The chapel is 54x38 feet, has a gallery on three sides, is well painted, and cost $2,450. The day was pleasant, and it was thought 400 had to leave for want of room. On the 8th, 9th and 10th of July, a General Meeting and the Session of the Canada Christian Conference was held in the new chapel, and Elder Henry again called to preside. We can scarcely fashion the figures which stand for eighteen hundred and forty-three without recurring mentally to the memorable religious excitement con- nected with that year, growing out of Mr. Miller's then new exposition of prophecy. The influx of PASTOR. 99 members to the churches was very groat; and no doubt some good fruit-laden sheaves were gathered in. Yet when we read of the numerous conversions and baptisms of that period, we look in vain for the strong and extensive churches in which they should have resulted, and are forced to the conclusion, that many who flocked to the sheltering fold were driven there from fear of a near-approaching storm, rather than from love to God or sympathy with His people. In this may be seen the wisdom of the great Disposer of events, in keeping the times and seasons in His own hand. Elder Henry, firm as he was true, was not carried away by the general excitement, though we have no reason to suppose that he loved the appearing of the Saviour less than those who were swept along by the general inundation of feeling. He did not, however, as some did, oppose the move- ment by harsh deeds and harsher words, but gently and cautiously advised those around him to watch and wait. By his prudence, forbearance and ready sympathy with whatever was good in the movement, he was able to gather all that was of real value which the swollen waters brought within his rb ch, and at the same time preserve his flock from much of the evil which followed the receding tide. During the year he baptized 150 converts. In the month of 100 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. April alone 123. In May he attended a meeting in Mariposa, and administered the communion to a large number, more than half of whom were Methodists. In the three years of his pastorate, he had seen the membership of the church of his charge raised from 28 to 174. Few men are as well calculated for the pastor's office as was Elder Henry. In the first place, having the cause at heart made him thoroughly in earnest. Active and energetic in whatever he under- took, and punctual to the moment, things never lagged behind where he led. Having a remarkable faculty for remembering details, email matters were not likely to be neglected. He had also an ability for making himself at home in the house of God, and making others feel the same, thereby divesting worship of that stifihess and dis- tance from the heart and life which destroys much of its power. Having a quick sympathy with the common joys, sorrows and^ needs of humanity, and an ability of adapting himself to circumstances, he was an efficient as well as welcome visitor. I have known him to make as many as fourteen calls in a day, finding time at each place to say something to cheer and benefit those he visited, make a favorable impression himself, L. PASTOR. 101 and say a few words for his Master. He had not, as some ministers are accused of having, a beaten path to the houses of the wealthy. The poor, the sick, the ignorant and disagreeable were remembered, and every one made to feel that he or she was of some consequence, and had a part in the work. He was also fond of social gatherings, and no anniversary, tea-meeting, or donation was complete without Elder Henry. Elder Henry's youngest brother — Elder William Henry, the only surviving member of his family, is also a minister of the Christian denomination. He lives in Harriston, Ontario, and though not so widely known as Thomas, has many of his characteristics. He embraced religion among the Methodists, and was for a number of years a member of that body, though now loyal in sentiment and life to the Christians, he retains -much of the fervor of the people with whom his early religious life was spent. Like his brother, he is active and business-like in his habits, and earnestly devoted to the cause of liberal Chris- tianity. 'Cip-iJBvr-vAviAi i^^i «i^ P^jegal flctoQttitiott. cirnrar Mli t ; i CHAPTER YIII. THE LUMINARY — LEGAL RECOGNITION — LOSS OF FRIENDS, A LETTER. ItiLE years that followed the exciting period of 1843, were a season of comparative quiet ^^ ^ in the life of Eld. Henry, and in the churches of Canada. Eld. Langdon had been em- ployed to preach in Oshawa, but Eld. Henry was still the pastor, and preached part of the time there, and went about more among the churches where his coming was always welcomed with joy. More labor- ers were now in the vineyard, and he had oftener than formerly the privilege of greeting loved co- workers in the cause he so dearly loved. At the Conference in 184-4:, the propriety of publish- ing a denominational paper in Canada was discussed. 105 / 1(^ MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. In a letter to the Palladiuin, dated Nov. 29th, Eld. Henry writes : " We hope the Christian Palladium will still be taken and read by many in Canada, and that harmony and friendly co-operation may exist as heretofore. Though the Palladium is conducted by good and able men, yet it does not in all respects meet our wants in Canada. The printing press is purchased, and the paper will go on, conducted by Eld. "Wm. Nobles and Mr. Hicks; I am not without fears respecting this enterprise." The Christian Luminary was -published atOshawa, and was both a convenience and satisfaction to the Canadian Churches ; but the result proved that his fears were well grounded. The Christian member- ship was too small in the Province to justify the / undertaking. Considerable enthusiasm was mani- fested in its support, but it was never a paying enterprise. It finally fell into Eld. Henry's hands, as burdens generally did, and he continued its publi- cation at a sacrifice until 1849, when it was discon- tinued. In 1845 Eld. Henry writes : " This has been a marked year in my life. Our cup is a mixed one. We may have joy in the morning, but sorrow cometh LEGAL RECOQNITIOJSI. 107 in the evening. In the first part of February I was moved to visit my brothers who lived near Guelph, I started accordingly, accompanied by my wife. The snow was deep, and we had an uncommonly hard journey. When within about three miles of the place we met my brother William. Being very tired we were overjoyed at the meeting, but sooii, alas, our joy was turned to sorrow, for he informed us that my dear brother James was dead. He had died the day before of inflammation of the lungs, and we had arrived in time to attend the funeral, which was to take place at two o'clock the next day. We had expected to meet him well and happy, and enjo y a pleasant visit with him. We arrived at his house and found him cold in death, with his wife and nine children weeping around him. It was an affecting time. The next day about eighty sleighs filled with people met at the house, and followed his remains to the Manse burying ground." We find in the Luminary of March, 1845, the following announcement : "I have the gratification of announcing to our friends, that I have just received a letter from Mr. T, Williams, M.P., stating that his Excellency, the Governor-General, on the 17th ult., came down in 108 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. : I I state to the honorable the Legislative, and assented in her Majesty's name to the Bill presented by hinn to the Legislature in our behalf. "T.Henry." Thus after so many years of waiting and working, the Christians in Canada obtained that political recognition necessary to their prosperity as a religious body. No one had worked so hard or done so much towards the accomplishment of this object as Mr. Henry. He had circulated the petitions, had visited Montreal and Quebec and Toronto in pursuance of this object, and now felt that ho was rewarded for his labor. During the next three years, much of Eld. Henry's time, and a great deal of thought besides considerable money, were devoted to the support of the Luminary. He was doubtful from the first of the expediency of the undertaking, yet no one worked so hard, or sacri- ficed so much as he did in its behalf. In Sept., 1846, Eld. Henry's second son, Wm. Henry, died, after an illness of five days. He was an intelligent, upright young man, and one of the three whom Eld. Henry mentions as having been among the number he baptized in 1841. He conversed freely with his father and friends about his departure, A LETTER. 109 and expressed his confidence in Christ, and his hope of a glorious resurrection. lie was not only loved and highly prized in the family, but respected and valued by all who knew liim. But at the early age of24, •' He who young and strong has cherished Ardent longings for the strife, By the way side fell and perished— Weary with the march of life." Extracts from Eld. Henry's letters for the Lumi/n- ary in 1847, will show that he still enjoyed visiting conferences and churches abroad, and felt a deep interest in their prosperity. " I have just returned from attending the N. Y. Eastern and Western Con- ferences, which were seasons of great interest. How pleasant are these reunions of ministers and brethren after a year of toil and care. They are like the green spots which the traveller meets in his journey across the desert, and we always go out from them rested and refreshed." Again. " Our Conference and General Meeting in Cramahe were of deep interest. All matters of differ- ence were amicably adjusted, and our meeting and visit there were of an encouraging nature." " On Saturday and Sunday the 4th and 5th inst., I attended a meeting in the Newmarket C. Chapel. I 110 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. J' It was a good meeting, and the brethren and sisters spoke freely of the goodress of God. It was remark- ed by one of the brethren, that they did not know how much they loved each other until they were separated. The church has liad a good revival." In 1848-4:9 in addition to acting as publishing agent for the Luminary^ Eld. Henry with the assist- ance of Eld. Geo. Colston published a Hymn Book. He writes in the Lumin