y. l>^^ O^c li>, Ai9- CENTENNIAL ST. andrp:w's NIACzARA 1794 1894 BY JANET CARNOCHAN V > s --♦•-•♦♦- ^Toronto WILLIAM BRIGGS "895 '<^- --^z ^^ ^-i fr ^'f'r 3nu6tration0. St. Andhkw's Ch(R( h PrM'FT .\NI» ()R(; AN . Rkv. Robkrt Mrdiri,, i). |). Rkv. John C'KricKSHANK, I) I). Rkv. .J. R M,,\VAT, M.A., I). I). Rkv. ("haki.ks ('ami'mkij. Rkv. Wm. ("i.ki.and . Rkv. J. \V. Bki.l, M.A. '^-KV. Nathamki, Smith Wm. 1)1 kk Mnj,KK. Ksy., •Iamks L(t( khaki, Esq., Rkv. ,J. H. Mcuvat, M.A., •John R(j<;krs, Ks*^, which can boast of a century's existence, that it would certainly be wrong to allow the occasion to pass o\er withf)ut some permanent record. Attempts have been made to procure the portraits of the formei' ministers, and also of the otiice- bearers who had the most extended periods of service ; and many, n(» doubt, in different parts of 'tur country will welcome the faces of those whom they remember in St. Andrew's, Niagara. The work has been a labor of love, and the writer hopes that the book may in its perusal give to the reader as much pleasure as in its compilation it has given to her, and that the profit of the work may be some benefit to the Church which its. present and former iij^inlieriji i\\V iy>ve. He.ii'ty llianks ;in; luTe extended to ♦^\u)se wlifj,:. hav©*' Icindly fui-nislied illustriitions wliioli now appeal' for tlie first time in print. Mufli of wliat appeared in the paptM-, "'I wo Krontier Cliiirches," read before the Canjtdian Institute in 1S!M), is necessarily repeated, but so much has lieen added tliit it is almost a new woi-k. It may be exphiined, witii regard to th»> selection of papers read or address''s given, that ,^.> all c. Tn Ontario there have been several centennial celebrations in the last decade, notabl}' that of the settlement of Upper Canada, held in 18!S3 ; that of the first Parliament, in 1892; that of St. Mark's, in the same year, and that of the settlement of Glengarry, in 1894. Of these gatherings, three took place in Niagara, and now to these may be added a fourth, the commemoratifm of the one hundredth anniversary of the organization of the congregation of St. An(h'e\v's, and the building of the first cliurch in Niagara. Previous to the date of 1791, we are only sure of the erection of the Indian cha})el at Hrantford, 17H6, and the Presl)yterian church at Williamstown, 1787. In all ages man lias been a worshipping being, in buildings as different as the Temple at Jerusalem, St. Peters at Rome, Mi4rose Abbey, or tiie .Mos(jue of St. Sophia, or as when " tlie groves were Gixl's first tenn>ies." That we should record the primitive attempts in this direction of our young nation is rij^lit and fittinij. While this church cannot boast of the romantic suri'ound- ings of St. Mark's, or of stones mutilated by the hand of wai", of memorial windows ''throwing a dim religious light," still the history of St. Andrew's, with its solid uncompromising sti'ucture. with the solenm belt of dark pines, will be found no less inter- esting. As the fii-st century of its existence approached c<»m- pletion, the subject was ofteti discussed whether there should be a,ny celebration of the event, and at the annual congregational meeting in January, 1894, it was decirled bv a vt)te of the congregation that there should be some sctrt of commemorative service, and a committee t)f three was named, with power to add to its number. In May a preliminary meeting was held, and an outline indicated of the shape the celebration would prob- ably take. It was finally decided to have the Centennial on the 18th, 19th and 20th of August. Though meeting with some disappointments and discouragements the members of the com- mittee have reason to congratulate themselves that the printed programme was carried out almost to the letter, and that not only as regards attendance, but also interesting services, pro- pitious weather, everything united to help in the success of the celebration. In sending out invitations with programme, an lO attcnipt was made to reach all whose atkh'esses were known who had formerly hehin^ed to the Clinrch, now scattered o\er the lenj^th and l)readth of the land, and many, very many gathered at the call, renewing friendships and rejoicing to see the church, insteaci (»f being old and dilapidated as they feared, renovated and ^^'-'ght in appearance. t n Saturday afternoon, long before the hour at which the services were to conunence, groups of people were seen in the graveyard exchanging gi-eetings. At four o'clock the church was well tilled, and the proceedings were opened by singing Hymn 2.').'i, the pastor, Rev. N. Smith, being in the chair. Psalm xc. was ivad, Kev. C Campbell engaged in prayer, and the ceremony i»f unveiling the commemorative tablet was per- formed by Ke\. Pr'of. Mowat in a few ap})ropriate word<. He read aloud the inscription on the grey marble tablet, placed in the rear of the chui'ch directly opjiosite the [)ulpit : 1794 1894 Tn grateful commemoration of the one hundredth anni- \ersary of the organization of this congregation, this tablet is erected by the members of St. Andrew's Church, Niagara. The first building, begun in October, 1 794, and erected on this spot, was burnt in the war of 181 2-1 +. The coni'resration met in St. Andrew's school-room, on the north corner of this block, for some years. The present church was built in 18.^1. The ministers have been : Rev. John Dun, Rev. John Young, Rev. John Burns, Rev. Thomas Fraser, Rev. Robert McGill, D.D., Rev. John Cruickshank, D.D., Rev. J. B. Mowat, M.A., D.D., Rev. Charles Campbell, Rev. William Cleland, Rev. J. W. Bell, M.A., and the present pastor, Rev. N. Smith. II After this ceremony an anthem was sung by tlie choir, ^' O Praise the Lord ! '" and an historical paper, prepared by the writer, was read l)y Rev. J. W, IJell, M.A., of Newmarket. Tt shouhl have been mentioned that the old churcli, so familiar to its present and former members, but looking (juaint and old-fashioned in many respects, with its Doric pillars and graceful steeple, its lofty, handsome, old-fashioned pulpit and squ.are family pews, had now put on a holiday aspect, being decor- ated with flowers ; while across the galler}' in large figures were the numbers 17i>4 1894, the deep windows being full of Howers in pots and vases, and suspended between each pair of pillars was a beautiful hanging basket of Howers. A cit}' paper speaks thus of the occasion in appreciative terms : '* The ceremony was peculiarly in keeping with the lofty and stately gravity of the noble church. A deep and tender interest in the historical associations of the old church was manifested and a full realization of the mighty changes which a century had wrought, but there was throughout the conscious recognition of the fact that it was a Christian ccjngregation whose anniversary was being kept ; and the devotional side of the devout thanksgiving to God for His mercies, the deep consciousness that it was to glorify Him that the congregation existed, was never lost in a merely historic interest."' Among those present were Sir Oliver Mowat, and with him his brother, Rev. J. B. Mowat, M.A., D.D., Professor of Oriental Languages in Queen's University ; Hon. Beverley Robinson, Rev. Charles Campbell, Toronto, a minister of St. Andrew's for twenty 3'ears ; Rev. J. W. Bell, M.A., Newmarket : Rev. William Gregg, D.D., Knox College ; Rev. John Young, St. Enoch's, Toronto ; Rev. J. C. Garratt, Rector of St, Mark's ; Rev. Canon Arnold, Rev. J. W. Orme, Miss Rye, and Miss Creen. Among 12 former attendants niiv be mentioned Hon. J. (t. Currie and wife, of St. Catharines ; A. U. Christie, Toronto, a memb(^r sixty veai's a«x<> ; Mrs. Hamilton, Toronto, a daughter of Mr. .I(»hn Ci'ooks, one of the first su{)erintendents of the Sunday- school ; Miss CanipV)ell, <;randdaughter of Rev. John Burns, one of the first pastors ; Mrs. Cohjuhoun, Toronto, daughter of the Treasurer of sixty years ago : Mrs. Wilson, dauglitei- of the late W. J). Millei-: Mrs. Davidson, of Xewmarket : Mr. and Mrs. Forbes, (Jriinsln- ; Misses Cleland and Dell, daughters of former pastors ; Mr. Herbert Mowat, son of Professor Mowat ; and it was much regretted that Mrs. I'^i'cjuhart, daughter of Dr. McClill, was unable to be present. There were also present Mr. and ^Irs. Carnochan, Niagara Falls, marriefl by Dr. McCTill fifty years ago; Mrs. Sjdvester, Misses Thorold, Toionto ; and Mi.ss \Vhit(;law. The historical paper was as follows : St Bn^rcw*0 Church, H^tacjara 1704*1894. Having been asked te pardoned. When, four 3'ears ago, the paper, "Two Frontier Churciies," was read l)efore the Canadian Institute, I had little idea that 1 should be able to- utilize the information then gathered for the centenary of St. Andrew's Church now held. Since that time T have been fortu- nate enough to gather several more strands of the chain then woven together, and am now glad to use tliem for the purpose of the day. The history of St. Andrew's forms an ample refutation of the charge often sneeringly made, that Canada has no history l 13 for it has been said, and well s.iid, tliat were one to study the history of this church and its surroundings, its old record l)ook, and the history of all that may be seen from its spire, he would be tolerably familiar with the history of LTpper Canada. These pages give an ever-shifting kaleidoscopic view of pioneer life, of military occupation, of strenuous efforts for religious liberty, of bright days and dark daj's, of lighttiing stroke and tornado, of debt and difficulties, of liberal gifts, of " conflagration pale," while the surroundings tell of boomin" cannons and blazing roof-trees almost a century ago of French occupation two hundred years ago. Afar, the lake spreads like a sea, And near, the river broad, l)lue, deep, Its waters flowing silently, As resting from their frantic leap ; Nur distant far the mountain, crowned With columns pointing to the sky, Willie all forget the huml)ler mound Wliere other heroes mouldering lie. Beyond, the fort and beacon light. Old Mississagua's si^uare grey tower. On either side churcli spires rise bright O'er stately home or humbler bower. Of the value of the record book here referred to, it may be said that a gentleman skilled in such lore, who saw it lately, thought it worthy to be printed in full. In the paper previously referred to I went back to the year 1794, but now can, on the highest authority — that of the Archives of Canada, prepared carefully by the distinguished Archivist, Douglas Brimner, and consisting of original State papers — by these roll back the page of history to 1792. In the volume for the year 1891, page 85, is a letter dated Newark, 12th October, 1792, from Richard Cartwright, probably the grandfather of the present Sir Richard 14 (Jjirtwright, relating to the marriage law of Upper Canada, and state of the Church of England in Upper Canada. After .some preliminary remarks, he goes on to i-efer to what he calls Sec- taiies and Dissenters, complaining oi" the poor condition of the Church of England in the Eastern District, there being no Church clergyman, " but there is one Presbyterian minister, the chaplain of the S+th Regiment." (This must be the Rev. John Hethune, who oi'ganized the cluinli in Williamstown, 1787, and also preached in Cornwall.) He goes on to say, " there is one clergyman settled here from July." This we know to have been the Rev. R. Addison who, sent as a missionary, became the first incumbent of St. Mark's. Following this, come these words : " The Hcots Presbyterians who are pretty numerous here, and to which sect the most respectable part of the inhabitants belong, have built a meeting- house and raised a subscription foi- a minister of their own who is shortly expected among them. " In the old record book of which we are so proud, there is copied the agreement between the congi-egation and Rev. John Dun : " Know all men by these presents, that we, the under- signed subscribers, aiv held and firmly Ixmnd, our heirs, etc., in the sum of three hundred pounds of N.Y. c'y, with house room for thi-ee years. The condition of the above obligation is sucli that the undersigned do jointh^ and severally obligate themselves, to pay to the Rev. J(jhn Dun, the above sum, his salary as a Presbyterian clergyman, he obligating himself to officiate as such, to the Presb3'terian congregation of Newark, commencing on the 1 3th June, 1794. "John Young. " Witness, u }^^j p^. Clench. "Samuel Shepherd. " Wm. Dunbar." 15 It is evident from this that the cwn of Newai'k, or to the Home District where they have built a meeting-house, and if in Newaik, \\\\\ this was not considered sutiicient, and ste[)s are next taken to build a church, otters a field to those interested in the early history of (»ur town, the present writer not presuming to decide tlie matter, [(referring accuracy to loose statement. The earliest date in the old lecord l)ook is the copy of an agreement, 2. "ird September, 1794: ''We, the undersigned sub- scribers, do severally promise to pay the sums opposite our names for the j)Ui'poseof building a Presbyterian church in the town of Newark," — there being eighty names affixed, with sums varying from Ss. to .£'1(), while the amounts promised for the support of the clergyman are about the same pei' year. The whole amt)unt subscribed was £'1\'), of which £1<)() is marked j)aid- -John Young, Andrew Heron, A. (Jardiner giving £10 each, and Samuel Street, whose name was sn well known afterwards, giving £S. The first page of the old leather-covered book with thick }>archment-like paper is dated Newark, .■K)th September, 1794, and reads thus: "A numbei- of people met this day at Hinds hotel and resolved that as I'eligion is the f((undation of all societies, and which cannot i)e so strictly adhered to without having a place dedicated solely to di\ ine j)urposes, that a Presbyterian church should be erected in the town of Newark, and that subscriptions should be immediately set on foot, as well as for the support of a clergyman of the same persuasion. Signed, John Young, B'our-Mile Creek, chairman : Ralfe Clench, clerk : Andi'ew Heron, Robert Kerr, Alexander (iardiner, Wm. McLellan, Alexander Hemphill, all of Newark, any three i6 t(» f(trm ii (luoruni in trivial matters, hut in matters of importance the whole lo be assembled." No time is lost, for the next day (1st October) the cluireh fathers meet, when a subscrip- tion list is drawn up for the support of a cler<;yman. There appears here a hill oi lumber for the new church, enal)ling us to judj^e <»f its size and solidity being 40 x 32, the timbers S x 12, e*^c., and also a petition to the Land iJoard for hmv town lots in .)ne simare. Next, l'~)th October, agieement with regard to doors, windows and window shutters. It was not, however, till the 1 1th December, 1794, that the })lace for the erection of the church was decided on — lots loT, loS, IS.'?, 184 — -the church to l)e built on the rear line of lots 157 and 1S4, facing the street. From this we see by referring to a plan of the town, that the old building stood exactly on the site of the present building, although many who remember meeting in the school-house in the interval after the first church was burnt, regard that as the site of the original building. It is certain that this was the first church built in the town, as from the archives of Canada we learn that the £100 granted by the Home Oovernment for Niagara was not claimed b\' the Church of England till 1802, the conditions being that the money be not given till church wardens were appointed, or • iiid bought, or some similar steps taken. Mr. A. Heron was appointed treasurer, and this to be made public, as "the frame is shortly expected down, and the money will be needed for the purpose of paying for the same." On the 4th of November, 1794, it was proposed to erect the church on the lot granted to John Camp, the lot being situated near to the front part of the town, the committee to inspect, and, if vacant, to apply for the whole square, in place of the square before applied for. The wish to pay just debts is shown B ly by the words, "as it is the wish of the committee to have the first yeai's sahuy ready a^^'ainst the time due." We do not know when the congregation met in the new l)uildin<,' ; hut tliere is a notice of a business meeting in the Presbyteriati church, September 24th, 179'). Tlien follow receipts from Rev. John Dun of yearly salary. This clergyman is believed to have been from tlie Presbytery of (Glasgow, and to have come to them from Albany, N.Y. He gave up the ministry and became a merchant in tlie town, a>id was drowned in 1803, in the banjue Speecbj, in Lake Ontari('). Plans are brought forwa.'d for seating and pewing the church, casing churcli windows, and putting on tlie single architrave. Thus, step by step, the work of preparing a house in which to worship Gofi as theii' fathers had done goes on. Tn March, 179(3, James McLaughlin is to be paid £G (New York currenc}') for his services as sexton for the future ; also, pews to be let to the highest l)idder, largest not to be less than £•'), and lowest X3 ; but the results far exceeded this, as A. Heron, John Young and A. Thompson paid £10 each. Here appear the names of those holding pews, the full amount being £150 for the twenty-four seats. That of Colonel Butler appears, the name so well known as the organizei' of Butler's Rangers. Many of the same names appear on the registers of St. Mark's and St. Andrew's, they holding pews in both churches. We see here the names of many wjiose descendants still live in the vicinity : Peter Ball, Daniel Servos, Archibald Thompson, and a name found in earh'^ State papers, William Johnson Chew, and others. The last receipt from Mr. Dun is dated 8th May, 1797, and thenceforward his name appears among the pew-holders. On 16th February, 1795, it had been arranged that " Rev, John Dun is to officiate anywhere i8 north of a lino from Mv. Froman's, l)ein Kev. .James McLean, of (}lasf number of pew, number of sittings, amount paid to church, amount tc clergyman. From 1812 to 1816, not a lino records the stirring events of those years, and the record goes on without the interval of the space of a line to tell of the flame and sword alternating in possession of the town : when St. Mark's was used as a hospital and barracks by friend iind foe; when a crescent of hostile boats surrounded the harbor ; when our town was for seven months in the hands of the enemy, or of that black night in December when miles distant might be seen the glare of the flames consuming the town, and when the citizens stood in the streets gu.arding what few treasures they had saved from the flames. There is no one now to tell us of how St. Andrew's, with its heavy timbers, fell a swift victim to the devouring element, or of how saddened the hearts of the worshippers must have been when they .saw the building that they had struggled to erect and maintain thus rising to heaven 22 HKV. ROBKHT MXiILL, D.U. in smoke uiid flume, or how hopeless now seemed the task in the poverty caused 'oy these two years of war, of aji;ain building a house of (lod, with a j)eople scattered and a congregation ))roken up. Tt is believed that parts of houses were left unl)urnt in the liaste of the retreat, and that the school-room was not wholly consumed, for we find an entry, unfortunately without date, "that a collec- tion be taken up at divine service in the school-room to repair windows and building as far as necessar}' for comfort of congre- gation." This must have been done, for in ISIS we read of a meeting in the school-house, and in 1S19, there iV an agreement of town and township with Kev. Charles James Cook to be paid in advance, any difference to be referred to the Presbytery of Canada. In the Glcawr newspaper, publishefl by Andrew Heron, 1S19, in Niagara, is an advertisement of annual meeting (tf Presbyterian Church to be held in the school-house. "The account of moneys i-eceived and expended in building school- house will be produced " While saying there are no entries from iSl2 to ISIG, an exception must l)e made of one division not yet referred to, viz., the baptisms; which are from August, ITDo to 1S02; and later, two daughters of A. Henm recorded in his own peculiar hand- writing, L'^OO, and Novem})er 27th, IS 14, the latter nearl}' a year after the burning of the chui'ch, in connection with which a pathetic story is recalled. It is, that the mother and infant child were carried out to the street from the burnina: buildinir. The infant must have been this same Cathei'ine Heron. The baptisms are by the i-egular ministers n,nd others called \isiting clergymen. One in 171)2, is P^v. John McDonald, from Albany, U.S.; another, Kev. — Mars, a visiting clergyman in 1801. The children of Ebenezer Colver, Louth, are entered as baptized 1781, 1783, 1792, but the officiating clergyman is not mentioned. 23 -.V .■ '. In 18:20 is u petition to the E;irl of Dalliousie for a sum of money to build a church in town, and give title to land on which former church stood. T have read somewhere that this claim of the church for .£400 damages from the (Jovernment was resisted on the plea that its steej)le was used as a place for observation, to tell of the apj)roach of the enern}'. This was, no doubt, the reason why St. Mai-k's obtanied nothing from the Canadian CJovernment, that church having been used for war purposes, although they did oV)tain £()00 from CJeorge III. Finally £400 was granted to St. Andrew's, but in small instal- ments, extending over many years. In 1820 is a letter asking for the services of Rev. Thomas Creen, who had preached for them a few weeks, and with whom they were })leased. He was a catechist from (Glasgow University, and afterwards taught a classical school, joined the Church of England, and l)ecame Rector of St. Mark's. At a meeting in the schoctl-house held in 1821, "Resolved to put themselves under the Presbytery," and in 1821, six elders are chosen, viz., Andrew Heron, W. D. Miller, John Crooks, John Wagstaff, John Grier, and John Munro. The Rev. Wm. Smart, from Brockville, was appointed their commissioner, the Rev. John Barns presiding. During this period — when for .some years we have no record of anv settled minister — to St. Andrew's Church behmgs the honor of having had the first Sunday-school in the town. There are at pres<>nt living in the town several who attended, and the}^ have gi^■en me the names of several faithful teachers, who little thought while working, no doubt, often in the midst of many discouragements, thnt to-day their names would be rememljered and quoted as wor-thy of praise. The superintendent (who was also an elder) was John Crooks, a merchant in the tt)wn, wht a word of the loss of members or otticers occurs. A gallant battle, which we cannot but admire, they fought to support the views they held. T)iey met for a time in what was called the Temperance Hall, then built the substantial brick edifice in the centre of the town nng the faithful and valued elders of the Church belong the names of James Lockliart, John Mc- Farland, (Jeorge I)aw«on, Andrew Martin, Robei't Daw.son and Thomas P. Blain. When the Rev. CMiarles Campbell resigned and removed to Toronto, the Rev, William Cleland was called by the congregation. He had received a sound education in Belfast College, and after removing to Toronto, wrote a iiistory of Presbyterianism in Ireland, which hap. received much praise. In this incumbency the present (»rgan was purchased. In this connection it may l)e mentioned that frequent references are made to the Psalmody, Precentor and choir ; sometimes a salary I!i;\. CIIAlil.KS CAMl'HKr-l, KEV. \V.V. ("LKL.\NI>. is ;^ivf'M, and a;4iiii». tliaiiks reeorded to those who ;;av«> their help <^'ratuitously in cun(hictinfj; the siiiarts of the countiy jodk back with j,'ratitude to his faithful Christian teaehin^. On the nuu'h-iegretted removal in ISSS of Ke\. .1. W. Hell to Newmarket, lie was succeeded hy our present pastoi-, Rev. N. Smith In this pastorate the chui'ch has l)een th(»rou;,ddy reno- vated, and in this connection the name of Mrs. Milioy «leserves special mention for tlie zeal and taste displayed, and the time and labor given so ungrudgingly. At the present time we are pleased to find on the Conuuunion roll a larger number than for some time previous, also an increased Sabbath-school and larger congregation. Dui'ing this pastorate tiie congregation sustained a serious loss, deeply felt yet, in the sad and sudden death of Mr. Flint Currie, Chairman of the Boanl of Managers. Of the eleven clergymen whose nationalit}- is known, seven have belonged to Scotland, one to Ireland, one to England, and two were natives of our own loved Ontario. A small tablet inserted in the north church wall has the words, "The Ministers' burying-place." Is it not strange that in all those hundred years no minister of the church died here, so that but for an infant of a day this s(juare is unoccupied, Mrs. Mowat who died here being buried beside her beloved father in Montreal ? They rest in far different graves, one in the depths of Lake Ontario, one in Montreal, another in Scotland. On tlie south side of the church is a monument to Di-. Campbell, late of Toronto, but a former member of St. Andrew's, who was buried here by his dying wish " as close to old St. Andrew's as 40 Hi;\. .1. w. |{i:m., m.^. UFA. NATHAMKL SMITH. possible." The solemn pines sinj^ a recjuiem over the city of the dead of different lands and colors, for of late many have been buried here who followed the north star for freedom. All alike await the hour when the trumj)et shall s(iund and the dead shall be raised. While we admire the courage and persistency of these early pioneers in thus la^inj^ the foundati<»n of a church in ditticulties such as would discouraj^e the stoutest heart, may we, in this brighter day of the world's history -when in missionary circles is done more in five years than in a century in former days — as the poet has expressed it, "better fifty years of Europe tlmn a cycle of Cathay '" — may we not prove degenerate sons of such noble sires, ))ut may we tlo the duty that comes each da\' to each one of us, striving to deserve that highest })raise given by the Master to the poor widow, " she hath done what she could," humbly hoping that the rains from heaven and the fruitful showers may descend on us that the work may prosper, knowing well that " except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it, except the Lord keep the city the watchman waketh but in vain " After the reading of this paper the choir sang an anthem, '' O Praise the Lord." A duet was sung by Mr. and Mrs. Sey- mour, "Love Divine." Brief addresses were given, the first by Professor Mowat, giving several reminiscences of his own incum- bency of seven years ; one, that a visiting committee appointed by the General Assembly had given St. Andrew's the most 4» favorable report of all the churches in the Province. There was no organ then, and the salary raised by the congregation was only half that now given 'by them, there then being a Commuta- tion fund. The r<»of falling in fi-oni a storn the architecture was changed by Kivas Tully for greater safety and strength. In conclusion, he paid a tribute to the \v(»i-k done by Miss Carnochan and Miss l>lake in later years. Uev. Charles Cani}»bell spoke of his connection with the schools in the town during his pastorate, and of the U. E. element in the town. Kev. J, W. Bell and Kev. John Young also made short addresses. In the evening a large audience assembled, notwitlistunding counter-attractions. The Rev. N. Smith presided, Psalm xxiv. was sung, Rev. Professor Mowat oflFered prayer, and the address ()f the evening was given by Sir Oliver Mowat, who had kindly promised his help, and was now- present to fulfil his pn^nise. The pastor in intrwlucing him said Sir Oliver had been Premier the lojigest continuous term ()f years known to history in the British Emjiire. It was no surprise that the address was interesting and eloquent, but it was a surprise to many that the Premier could supply so many links in the history- of the congregation, having known so intimately some of its former ministers and members, and thus the congregation felt that they were {)eculiarly fortu- nate, not only in securing the presence of the Premier, but also that his address was so peculiarly appropriate to the occasion. The choir sang "Praise ye the Mighty God," and there was also given a solo, "Jerusalem," by Mrs. Seymour. The address b}'^ Hon. Sir Oliver Mowat was as follows : I often wish to accept invitations which I receive to public gatherings of various kinds, and which I am, notwithstaniling, unable to accept. Were I to accept all that I should like tO' 42 accept, other aiul more necessary public duties would have to he neglected, and my stren<;th and energy be spent prematurely. There are occasions, however, which ai-e exceptional enough to permit of my accepting, or even to make acceptance a duty. I considered the great celebration here two years ago of the one hundredth anniversary of the Province to be of that character. That celeljration was followed by the centenary celebration of the founding of the first congregation of the Church of England here ; and now Presbyterians, in their turn, celebrate the like anniversary of the first Presbvterian church in this old historic town. Being a Presbvterian, as mv ancestors were for T know not how many generations, 1 have considered this occasion to be exceptional enough and interesting enough to bring me to a Niagara gathering once more. It is interesting to know that the Presbyterian lesidents of Niagara of one hundred years ago loved the Presbyterianism of the fatherland as much as we of the present day do. It is interesting to know that they desired to set up in this new place a church in which they and their children should worship (iod in the same manner as in far-oft' Scotland ; that the same teaching should come h'om the pulpit ; that the same psalms and paraphra^ es and hymns should be sung, and to the same old tunes : that tl e same forms in all the services shoukl be observed ; that the same Shorter Catechism should be taught to their children ; and that, though far away, they should feel themselves still to be members of the Church in their fatherland. The population of Upper Canada was then very small, and the Presbyterians in the Province were very few ; the population has in the centur\' which has passed become great, and the Presbyterians have become many. I understand that the occasion is considered one for 43 reminiscences of the congret,'jition, and perliaj)s ot" the locality and the period. Others can give you more of such reminiscences than T can, but there are some reminiscences of events which, for personal reasons, it is interesting to myself to recall, and the mention of some of them may be of more or less interest to others who like to recall things past. My first knowledge of Niagara, so far as I can recollect, I got when a very small boy from the Niagara Ghdiwr. I remember how I enjoyed reading that journal's stories and selectif)ns. About all that I knew of Niagara at that time was that it was the place wliere the Niagara Gleaner was printed, and from which the Niagara Glemier came. \ knew nothing of the politics of the paper. If it had any politics, \ am afraid, judging fiom my experience of the old town since I became a public man, that its politics are not likely to have been as good according to the judgment of ray n^xature age, as its stories and selections were according to the judgment of my early boyhood. I wonder if there is a file of that old newspaper still in existence. If there is, I should like, in memory of the pleasure it gave me in my early bo3'hood, to see it again, whatever its politics were. I hope that if anyone has a file he will deposit it in the Legislative Assembly library, or in some other e<{ually safe place, for preservation and public reference. But long before my boyhood had ripened into manhood, T learned more of Niagara and the Niagara district than the Gleatier taught me. I learned how rich the district w^as, and is, in interesting historical associations, how grand in local attractions, how advantageous in situation, how fertile in soil. As for soil and climate, the district was long regarded as pre-eminently the garden and orchard of the Province. As for local attractions, here is the great world's wonder, the Falls of 44 Niagara, and here ai'e the no le-s interesting rapids above and below the falls. As for other advantages of situation, the district is on one side washed by Lake Erie, and on the opposite side by Lake Ontario, and forms a peninsula l)et\veen these two great waters; while on still anothei' side it is locally separated from the richest of the American States bv a narn)W river. As for historical associations, the}-^ abound. The first settlers of the district were men and women almost of romance. From love of country most of them had, at the close of the war of the Revolution, left their old homes ami possessions in the revolted colonies and had come to Canada, preferring t<» l)egin life anew in the wildei'ness rather than part with their British citizenship. Then came the war of 1)^12, when so many valiant deeds were done by the Niagara people and by those associated with them in he defence of the country. Wliose heart has not been stirred when reading or calling to remembrance the accounts given of the liattles of Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane, and of the fighting at Fort Erie ? For eight}' years since that war tlie two contending nations have been at peace, and it is the desire and hope of all good men of both nations that tliat peace may be perpetual. Assuredly our common Christianity demands that it shall. Some of the loyal combatants in the war were Presbyterians — and Presljyterians, Scotch and Irish, have always recognized, and been faithful to, the duty which all men owe to their country when it is attacked l)y a f( treign foe. But there are reminiscences of persons connected with the congregatit)n which give it to me a special interest. One of its ministers, three-quarters of a century ago or more, the Rev. John Burns, was the father of my friend and first partner in business, Mr. Robert E. Burns. The son was born in Niagara in 1805, and f<3rty-five years afterwards he became a judge of 45 the Court of Queen's Bench, lie died on the 12th of January, 1863. I know but little of the father. Judge Burns was, T believe, his eldest son. He was a most estimable man, upright in all his dealings. As a judge lie was painstaking and con- scientious — -no judge was ever more so. In every capacity he was esteemed by all who knew him. The Rev. !Mr. Burns was for some years master cf the (iranimar School, while he performed clerical duty for the Pres- byterian congi-egation. Another of the early teachers in Nia- gara was, like Mr. Burns, a Presbyterian, and him I personally knew in mv early boyhood. T mean Dr. John Whitelaw. He was appointed master of the District Grammar School in 1830, and held that post until 1851. He was a very able and very learned man. He had previously practised medicine in King- ston, and I knew him from his being the physician who was emploj'ed in my father's family, and also from his having given in Kingston a course of popular lectures on chemistry, which were attended by a considerable number of the educated men and women of the town, and by a few boys, of whom I hap- pened to be one. Chemistry was a favorite study with him. I believe he afterwards delivered lectures on chemistry in Niagara. The earliest minister of the Niagara congregation whom I knew personally in any sense was Rev. Dr. McGill. I saw him first when I was ten years old. That (shall I confess ?) is sixty- four years ago. He became minister of the congregation in 1830, the same year that Dr. Whitelaw became master of the Grammar School. Travelling was performed slowly in those days, and I think it was while Dr, McGill was on his way to Niagara from the seaboard that I first heard him preach in Kingston. I recollect my boyish admiration for him, by reason of at once his taking appearance and his interesting sermon. 46 IJKV. .lOITN rHrirKSHAXK. II. I). While liis discourse no doubt coiituiiu'd inuih more than I under- stood or {ii>|»reei!ited, it was at the same time so simph* and so cleai' as to he in great part interesting even to a lx)y — a boy, at all events, who listened with the knowledge that beloved parents expected him to listen, and were not unlikely t<> catechise him afterwards as to his knowledge of the sermon. Dr. Mcdill was an able man, and was recognized in his day as one of the best preacliers in i he Province. Ho was an earnest Christian and a diligent pastor. Nor did he confine himself to congregational work. I recollect that he started, and carried on for some time, a useful and well-c»mducted religious magazine in the interest of the Canadian Church. I recollect, also, that he took an active part in vindicating the equal rights of his Church in Ui)per Canada as one of the established churches of (Jreat Britain. Happily, not only are the two established churches of Great Britain now in all respects ecjual before the law in Ontario, but the law gives equal rights to all churches, and to the ministers and members oi all. The rivalry among them now is, who shall do most for the Master. The memory of Dr. McCxill ought not to be forgotten by Canadian Presbyterians, and will not be. The Rev. John Cruickshank was another eminent miniser of the congregation whom I personally knew. It is nearly half a century ago that he was minister liere. He succeeded Dr. McGill in 1846, and was minister until 1849, when he returned to Scotland. After having been engaged there for a time at one of the universities as an assistant professor, he was presented to the Parish of Turriff, in Aberdeenshire. He died on the 12th of June, 1892, at the good old age of ninety. He was a cultured man, a good preacher and a good man. My acquaintance with him arose from his having been one of my early teachers in Kingston. He came there from Scotland in 1828 to take charge 47 of a school which the principal Scotch residents of the town^ with some others, wished to establish in consequence of being dissatisfied v/ith the Government (Jrammar School or its nian- agei's. He was V)ut two years in charer twenty thousand. This great army of church workers have five hundred thousand children in Sunday-schools, and administer to a million of actual conmui- nicants, while the native Chi'istians anu)ngst peoples previously heathen now number some four millit)n. These figures are great as compared with matters a century ago. If they strike any as otherwise when compared with the work not yet accomplished, there is the assuring fact to be added from experience, that where Christianity once takes root in a heathen land, and begins to bring forth fruit, the ratio of increase in the num}>er of Christians becomes thenceforward much great«i- than the ratio of increase in the whole population. What has been done so far by foreign missions has thus l)een })ut the sowing uf the seed. The christianizing of a country previously heathen may be said to have been already accomplished or almost accom- plished in the case of Madagascar, the Sandwich Islands, the Friendly Islands, and most of the New Hebrides. There are, of course, many other well-known new agencies of great Christian power which the century of your congre- gation's existence has proa^ced. Among these are the Young Men's Christian Associations, Women's Christian Associations of various kinds, the Societies of Christian Endeavor, the Epworth League, and the Salvation Army. These societies in most instances are connected with the churches, and are composed of persons l)elonging to various churches. There is nothing more remarkable in the history of the century than the growing disposition of men and women of all evangelical denominations to unite in Christian work, and to recognize the common Christianity of churches to which they themselves do not belong, and the common Christianity of the members and 52 adherents of those churches. While all Christian churclies justly assi«rt the necessity of a belief in Christianity and its Divine Founder, they do not teach, if they ever taught, that all the truths or supposed truths contained in their church standards are of equal importance ; and that belief in them all is essential to salvation, or essential to inter-church communion, or (as regards the laity at all events) essential to church mem- bership. There are essentials, and there are admitted non-essen- tials, though every Church may hold its non-esftentials to be important and to be capable of sufficient proof. But fdl agree that belief in essentials must be accompanied by the proper fruits of belief, and that belief not so accompanied is good for nothing as respects either this world or the next ; all agree that as regards character and conduct and sentiment, an essen- tial characteristic of every man and woman must be love for God and for our fellow men, a love manifested practically in the daily life ; and all agree in the main as to what that prac- tical life must include. The Christianity taught by all the churches commands every virtue and forbids every vice and crime. Tt requires everyone to do justly, and love mere}*, j-"s well as to walk humbly before God. It gives emphasis to the golden rule " Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." At the same time Christianity presents to the mind and heart inducements and influences to righteous- ness, which are the most pcjwerful that the human imagination can conceive. Christianity is thus, as the result of its teachings and through the influence of the Divine Spirit, the greatest pcjwer for good that the world has ever known, or (as Christians believe) ever can know. Eminent non-Christians have recog- nized the value to the world of such a religicm, even though tliev do not believe it to be divine. To Canadian Christians it 53 is deliast a grand history of Christian heroism in many Lands, and are making more of such history from gener- ation to generation. Presbyterianism has accomplished and is still doing great things in every land in which it has taken root. Its clergy everywhere are learned and faithful, laborious and self-denying. It has always been, and always will be, the Church of the poor as well as the rich, of the leai'ned and the unlearned. It concerns itself with the earthlv well-being of men as well as with their eternal ccmcerns. In view of all its influence f*)r good, the founding of its congregations in this new world is well worthy of all remembrance. And let us all, my fellow-Presbyterians who have joined in the present celebration, endeavor henceforth to \ie better Presbyterians than ever before, and thereby we shall be better men and better Christians, of 54 more service to the world, and more acceptable to the (Uxl of heaven and earth, and to Jesus Christ His eternal 8on, the (»o., Professor of Church His- tory in Knox Collej^e, the text hein^ l)eut. iii. 7, ^'iving a sketch of Preshyterianisiu in Canada. Ma(hinie (iranun aj.(ain sang a solo, "Calvary," and her nuigniHcent voice will long be reinenil)ered. The hymns 2^7, 248, and Psalm cxxii. seemed peculiarly appro- priate. Dr. (Jregg's closing words were solemn and his prayer affecting. The text was, "Remember the days of old." This admirable t'eannu' of the historj' of Presbyterianism in Canada it is impossible to give in full It was printed in tlie I'rexby- terian Hievieu', August .SOth, Iju" a few of the interesting facts are given, and the elocjuent and touching closing words. " These words form part of the song of Moses in which he recounts GodV: dealings with His Church in ancient times. They suggest the propriety of reviewing the history of the Cljurch in later times, I propose, therefore, in connection with this Cen- tennial celebration, to sketch the history of the Presbyterian Church in this province, hoping that by the blessing of God a brief retrospect ma}' serve to awake, gratitude for the past and inspire confidence ft)r the future. I would like, also, to say something respecting our Church in the Maritime Provinces, respecting the Nova Scotia colony of the Huguenots who were the first Pres'r)yterians in British North America, respecting the Dutch Reformed, Secession Church, Burghers and anti-Burghers, but this will be impossible. Soon after the capture of Quebec in 1759, a Presbyterian congregation was organized in that city which met for worship in the Jesuits' College. The pastor, the Rev. George Henry, who was a minister of the Church of Scot- land, had been present at the capture (ti Queljec, having been a military chaplain. The first Presbj'terian minister of Montreal was Rev. John Bethune, who had been imprisoned during the Revolutionary war, and suffered many hardships. He removed 6o next year, 17)^7, t<» Williiiiustown, iind miiiisteird to .se\tMal cimirreuiitions in that viciiiitv. One son became a Dean and ancttlier a Bishop of the Church of EM;;lan(l. A ^'ran(is(»n is Presbyterian minister of lieaverton. lie was succeeded in Montreal by Rev. John Youn^', who, in ISOl', came to this St. Andrew's con<,M'e^Mtion in Nia^'ai-a. " Fn I7!n, tlie only Presbyterian ministei- in tiie l'i){)er Province was Rev. Jolm Rethune. (jleneral Simcoe invited Rev. .jabez Collver, and next came Rev. John Dun, the first minister of this con;rej;ation. Tn ISOO, there were only four Presbyterian ministers in Uj){)er Canada, six Methodists, four Baptists, three Church of En;(hind, of whom Rev. R. Addison, the first minister of St. Mark's in this town, was one. The Rev. John Burns preached here at intervals from lf<04 to IS'22. During the war of 1S12 14 he was taken captive, but was permitted to preach to his captors. He is described as an earnest, scholarly and effective preaclier." After referring to the disruption, the colleges, the missionary stations, connimni- cants (174,000), contributions ($2,000,000), six colleges, and three missionary colleges respectively in Formosa, Tndore and Trinidad, the reverend speaker concluded thus : " I hope that this brief sketch is fitted to awaken gratitude for the past and confitlenoe for the future. But whatever may be the state of the Church at the end of another century, let me ask you to consider, as a matter of infinite importance to each of us, what are our own personal prospects for the future. It is almost absolutely certain that before the close of another hundred years, not one of us, not even the youngest, will be ali\'e on earth. Far sooner our summons from time into eternity may come. The snows even of the coming winter may fall on our new-made graves. The earliest beams of to-morrow even may shine upon some of 6i our faces pale and cold in death. What shall be our condition when the change shall cornel Blessed be God, it is my privilege, as a minister of the Gospel, to hold out to you the offers of mercy. God has sent His Son into the world to obey, suiFer and die for our salvation. I know not what your sins may be, what their number and what their aggravations, Ijut whatever they may be, God is willing to grant to you pei?.ce and eternal life, . only, in the exercise of sincere repentance and genuine faith, you cast yourselves at the feet of the gracious Saviour, whose blood can cleanse from all sin. God Almi^fhtv, . Praise, Paraphrase 20th. Prayer, Rev. J. W. Bell, M.A. Reading, Luke xviii. Duet, " Blessed Assurance." Ten-minute addresses to Sunday School l,y Clergymen present, inter- aspersed with Sunday School Hymns. Offering. Evening at 7. SO. Prayer Praise, Hymn 248. Reading, Revelation xxi., Rev. N. Smith. Prayer, Rev. N. Smith. Praise, Psalm cxxii. Offering. Solo, "Calvary," Madame Gramm. Sermon, Rev. W. Gregg, D.D. Praise, Choir, "O be joyful in the Lord." Prayer, Rev. W. Gregg, D.D. Praise, Hymn 247. Benediction. Monday Afternoon. Congregational Reunion from 5 to 7. Evening at 7.30. Praise, Hymn 244. Reading, Psalm Ixxxiv., Rev. N. Smith. Prayer, Rev. J. W. RatcliflF. Addresses from resident Clergymen and others, interspersed with music by the Choir, anthem " I will praise Thee." Offering. Solo, " Angels ever briglit." Hymn 232. Benediction. 69 In what more fitting woi-ds tlian those of (Jeorge McDonald, in describing an old church in the aS'^^ Board Parish and cjuoted by the writer l>efore in the record of St. Mark's, can this sketch of an old church be concluded : " And when I saw it 1 rejoiced to think that once more I was favored with a church that had a history, but to the full idea of the building it is necessary that it should be one in wliich the hopes and fears, the cares and consolations, the loves and desires of our forefathers should have been roofed, where the hearts of those through whom our country has become that which it is — from whom not merely the life- blood of our bodies but the lifeblood of our spirits has come down to us, whose existence and whose efforts have made it possible for us to be that which we are. Therefore I would far rather, when I may, worship in an old church whose very stones are a history of how men strove to realize the Infinite, compelling even the powers of nature into the task." And again come appropriately the words of the same writer in another work : "I delighted to think that even by the temples made with hands, outlasting these bodies of ours, we were in a sense united to those who in them had before us lifted up holy hands without wrath or doubting, and with many more, who like us had lifted up at least prayerful handrf without hatred or despair. And I thought how many witnesses to the truth had sat in these pews. I honored the place ; I rejoiced in its history ; it soothed me, tuned me to a holy mood.' 70