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1
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3
1
2
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6
^
■IP
*-
\ih^m
l^EY.
'^.
THE
Iflfq JDOl^pi^JD, ©.©.
. ^]Hf)l?EW^'S CHUI7CH,
§T. ^QMI), If. B.
of Hlfi I^lfe ai:>Qt CJiaracter, Prepaired
or I^Hv ate Clrculatioii.
* (
• 'I
i
{
/ I c
T - /
THE
1
REV. WILLIAM DONALD, D. D.
OF ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH,
ST. JOHN. N. B.
A Sketcli of His Life and Character. Prepared for
Private Circulation.
/
^.^?
..e.^
18'.>S
NOTE.
Tht' I'ollowinij sketch of the lift- ami tiiiirs of I't'v
William Donaltl. I). I>., Iiiis been incpun'd Ity Mr. W. K.
Reynolds, of St. .loliii, N. H., nieinlter of the New Hniiiswit-k
llistoriciil Sofiety : from sm-li data as was aceessibl''. Apart
from rlic writer's personal knowledije of St. .lolin and its
history, information of value was supplied hy prominent
niemhers of the eon^jrejjation of St. Andrew's <'hnreh,
ineliidinj; His Honor .ludjie .lames (Jordon Forbes and Hon.
Robert Marshall. Others who liatl bwn ac(piainted with Dr.
Donald aided willingly when applied to for information.
Other sources of ktiowledge were the tiles of city newspapers
and other contemporaneous records. At the best, however, it
is felt that there is much more abotit Dr. Donald, his jtersonal
(•haracteristics and his work, which has not been (»biained
and whicli it is desirable shmtld be made a matter of record
in these pajj;es. With this idea, tlu; present edition of the
Sketch is issued for private circiMation, in the hope that
many who can supi)ly further facts will be induced to do so.
Whatever may be known of Dr. Donald and his wctrk, in
addition to what has already been gathered, will be very
gladly received, whetlier it be in the way of further facts
illustrative anecdotes or dill'erent versions of matters wliidi
have already been treated in this Sketch. In other words,
anything bearing on the subject will be very welcome, no
matter in how crude a shape it may be supplied. Facts are
what are wanted, that they may b« incorporated in a later
edition of the book. Those who lan supply any such infor-
mation will greatly oblige the family of Dr. Donald and
render material aid in what, it is hoped, will i)e a work
of historic value in relation to St. Andrew's Church
and the city of St. .lohn. Please address Louis Donald,
P. (). Box 12.'), Mobile, Alabama.
1^1
■~7
REV. WILLIAM DONALD, D. D.
I.
(Jld Sr. Atulrew's Clmrcli.— The Karly Pn'sliytfriMiK in St.
.Idlm. — Fitnuer Pastors. — Soiik! Timo-H<»non'(l .\ .nu>s. -
An Iiillucntiiil Conjifrefjation.
WiiHN llic lire oi tlu' 20tli >♦' .Juno. ' ■ T, sue))!
jiWM.v '■'.]'■<',■ sixlt'cii hundred ltiiildin<^s in Ihc •-'•utli-
f'n p.'irl of Ilic city of St. ,Ioliri, New lU tin- wick,
it ('tlsu'od ninny of tlic most clicrishtMl limdm.iriis
which had stood since the diiys of the Loyalists
who founded the city, tmd which the hand of man
wouhl have heen rehiclant to (k'Hiolisli to make
way for a new order of thin<>s. Amono- tiiest'
was St. Andi-ew*> Church, .the tirst and oldest
Presbyterian cliiirch in the province of New
Brunswii'k. and for more than three-score years
the |)!ace of worship for hundreds who had left
the Land of the Heather to seek their fortunes in
this corner of (ireater IJritain.
A
'riic Cliuivh had miu-li in its history to eiidoar
it to rresliylcrians in this part of the world.
Those of this faith who were amon.ir the Loyalists
Avho founded St. doiin, in lTs;5, luid early trjven
their atteidion to the siiliject of erectinjr a plaee
of worsiiip. in the year foUowino- their arrival,
a <»rant of land was issued to certain trustees for
this purpose, hut as the location was not deemed
central, it was not until the year ISl.^ that
another site was secured and the church was built.
It is an od<l coinci<lence that the date of the deed
of the land was the 2(»th of June— the day on
which, sixty-two years later, the edifice was to
vanish in a whirlwind of tire.
The leadino- men aniona" tlie early Presl)y-
terians in St. John were [)ersons of note in the
history of the <ity. and the recor<ls of the conffre-
oation show that they had ecpially noteworthy
successors at later periods. In the lists of trus-
tees, from ye!ir to year, are found the names of
those intimately associated with the commercial
and social advancement of the community, and
representino; the most solid interests of the city
of their adoption. Fhe coiiirreiralion of the church
was a tine one, and it demanded pastors worthy
of the people.
I
1
Y to eiidoar
the world.
le Loyalists
3{irly <ji;ivon
iiij: a place
eir arri\al,
trustees for
not deemed
Ism that
li was built,
of the deed
the day on
tioe was to
ly Presl)y-
lote ill the
the eoiiofre-
note worthy
its of trus-
e names of
eoniniereial
iiunity, and
of the eity
f the elnirch
tors worthy
3
In this respect, it was fortunate in havinjr its
re(juirements met. When the huildinjr was com-
pleted. Ilutrh .lohnston, seniv»r, a prominent
citi/en, went to Scotltind. chartred with the duty
of pro<'iiriiiir a suital>le minister, lie fultilled his
trust l>y the selection of Hev. (Jeorire Burns, of
Aherdeen. who was later widely known and hon-
ored by all classes as Hev. Dr. liurns. His
successors between JS8(l and 1S41», were likewise
men whose mimes are tenderly cherished, but the
pastor whose name, more than any oth.'r, has
become linked with the story of the arowth and
development of the church and its conofregation
was the Rev. \Villi;im Donald. Years airo. the
writer of the present sketch referred to Dr.
Donald in words which may now lie tittinirly re-
peated as an introduction to a more extended
review of his life and lal)ors. It was then said of
him that he was '"one whose name will loiijf be
revered by all classes and all creeds. Foremost
in irood works, zealous in the cause of his Master,
an ardent lover of all that pertaiiK<l to the wel-
fare of his fellows. Dr. ^^'illialll Donald was in
the hiofhest sense worthv of the esteem in which
he was held. For twenty-two years ln' lal)ored
successfully anionir his people, teachinu" Ity his
A 3
lofty precept and pure example the great truths
of Christianity, until he was called from his
labors to his final and peaceful rest. A worker
in the cause of education, humanity and religion—
as a man, a mason, and a servant of God— his
actions gained him the esteem of the rich and
those of high estate, while his charity earned him
the benedictions of the poor and fallen. In the
home of his adoption he took a deep and kindly
interest in all that advanced the welfare of the
community, and his death left a gap which only
the death of such a man could leave." *
More than a score of years have passed since
these words were written, yet all who remember
Dr. Donald will bear witness that the language
rci)rosents at this day the feeling of those, who
recall the story of the man and his Work.
* St. .rolin Daily Telct;raph, April, 1876,
The
ex if
of ]
sud
del
mil]
Fre
be
vac
wit
for
mir
den
less
woi
for
for
one
great truths
ed from his
t. A worker
md religion —
of God — his
the rich and
;y earned him
illen. In the
sp and kindly
-elfare of tlie
) which only
3 passed since
ho remember
the language
of those, who
Work.
II.
The Act of Secession and isorae of its Results. — The rurish
Schooliiiuster of Huntly. — Furewell to Scotland. — Mr.
Donald Begins his Ministry at St. Andrew's Cliurch.
When the Free Church of Scotland came into
existence under the Act of Secession of the 18th
of May, 1843, the Estal)li8hed Church suH'ered a
sudden and great depletion in the ranks of its
clergy. No fewer than four hundred and seventy
ministers resigned their livings and joined the
Free Church, leaving that number of pulpits to
be tilled. Not only was it necessary that the
vacant parishes in Scotland should be supplied
without delay, but it was etpially important that,
for several years to come, the ranks of the
ministry should be recruited to supply the natural
demand ax Home and abroad. In some countries,
less favored with educational advantages, this task
would have been attended with grave difficulties,
for the Presbyterian standard of ([ualitication
for candidates was then, as it is now, a high
one. Scotland, however, was a land where the
6
ediu-ation of the poopk' Imd ]on<r been held to he
a matter of prime importanc-o. There were schools
whic-h were models of their time, and in these
schools were some of the most learned of school
masters. Many of these teachers needed (mly ji
Divinity course to (pialify them for the ministry,
and some of them had already taken that course,
but wen- not ordained. Thus it happened thai
the teachers of that day became, in many in-
stances, preachers of marked al)ility at a future
period.
It is more than probable that at the time of
the Act of Secession, the parish clerk and paro-
chial schoolmaster of the thrivinof district of
Huntly had little thoutrht of beinof ordained to
the ministry, nor had he dreamed that his life
work was to l>c in a colony beyond the seas.
Had there l»een no Act of Secession, it is possible
he would have live<l and died content with his
h()noral)le and ])eaceful lot, for the parish school-
master of those days was no small person in ;i
comnumity. lie ranked hut little helow the min-
ister himself, he had many trusts and responsi-
bilities, and his income was such as enahled him
to live in comfort. Huntly, with a population of
between 2.000 and 3,000 people, was a thriving
an(
thi
we
sta
at
a I
wa
ph
he;
is;
M
foi
dr.
coi
we
IX
fri
hi^
tin
an
ha
ha
vo
Ik
sen held to be
'e were schools
and in tliese
L'ned of seliool
needed only ji
I- the ministry.
[?n that course,
happened thai
. in many in
by at a future
at the time ot
'lerk an<l paro-
ig district of
Iff ordained to
I that his life
^ond the seas.
I, it is possildc
ntent with his
i parish school -
II person in ;i
below the min
i and responsi-
as enabled him
a population ol
was a thriving
and protrressive place, a bur<rh or l)arony under
the Duke of (iordon, and a schoolmaster who was
well settled there would, under ordinary circum-
stances, be srlad to remain.
The parish clerk and schoolmaster of Uuntly
at llijit time was William Donald. He was then
a m:ni of under middle age, and thouo-h his hair
was already tin<re<l with ii'rey, his fair, fresh com-
plexion showed him to be in the full vitror of
healthy manhood. He had come to Huntly in
l>i87. jind had l)een married there on the 'I'M'd of
April. 1S8*,*. to Miss Anne Milne, of that place,
formerly of Barony parish, Glasoow. Three chil-
dren had blessed the union, and Huntly had be-
come the family home. All the surroundinars
were pleasant. The i)e()ple were attached to Mr.
Donald by reason of his personal (pialities as a
friend and nei<rhb()r. while they honored him for
his scholarly attaimnents. Of sound learnintr and
tinished address, he had no j)edantic atfectation,
and he bore himself with a dijrnity that would
ha\(' commanded respect wherever his lot mijrht
have been cast, or whatever miofht have been his
vocation.
William Donah I was born at Edinffio-ht, (irantj^e,
liantishire, on the Oth of June, 1807, and was the
^^
son of .John Donald, u farinor, who was also
trround otticor to the Earl of Fife. The wife of
Jolin Donald had l)een Janet Mcllattie. Young
Donald got more than an ordinarily good educa-
tion, for not only did he anjuire all that was to
lie gained in the schools, hut he was a student
and gra<luate at Marischal College, vVherdeen,
from which famous university he received the
degree of M. A. He was, in all, eight years at
Marischal, the Divinity course reiiuiring the last
four of them.
The entrance of Mr. Donald into the ministry
of the Established Church was one of the conse-
([uences of the Act of Secession, though it was
six years tifter that event when he was ordained.
He was one of many who had comi)leted the re-
quired course of study and were ordained from
time to time as their services were refjuired at
home or abroad. Mr. Donald having been ap-
pointed to take charge of St. Andrew's Church,
St. John, was ordained by the Colonial Committee
of the Established Church, in April, 1849. In
that month he maile his preparations to leave for
America, with his wife and family. His friends
at Huntly, who embraced all classes, did not pro-
pose to let him go as quietly a^s he might have
1.
lo was also
The wife of
,tie. Yoiingr
good ediica-
that was to
IS a student
vVherdcen,
•eceived the
ght years at
•ing the last
the ministry
f the conse-
:mg\\ it was
as ordained.
L'ted the re-
da ined from
required at
g I )een ap-
w's Church,
1 Committee
1, 1849. In
to leave for
His friends
did not pro-
might have
9
wished, however, and they took an early oppor-
tunity of teslifving their esteem for him in a
substantial way.
At a largely attended meeting held in the
Duke of Uichmoncrs Ilall, liuntly, on Wednesday,
April 11, 1H4"J, Mr. Donald was presented with a
beautiful silver tea service, on which was the fol-
lowing inscription :
Presented
to
Tin: Rev. William Donald,
on his leaving for
St. .lohu,
Xew Hrunswiok,
' by
u number of hi.s friends
in liuntly and vicinity,
as a mark of their
sincere respect and esteem,
Ai'uiL, ISIU.
On the occasion of the presentation the chair
was occupied by Alexander Stewart, Estpiire, who
addressed Mr. Donald on behalf of his many
friends. Mr. Stewart stated that as Mr. Donald
w'ls al»f)ut to leave for St. John, Xew lirunswick.
to fill the highly important position of minister of
St. Andrew's Church, his numerous friends and
well wishers in the town of Huntly and neighbor-
hood could not allow the occasion to pass without
Ji
10
exprcssiiiir their lioai-tfelt sorrow and reofret for
the loss they were to sustain. He had l>een
deputed to express this to Mr. Donald, and also
to present to him the iiandsonie silver tea service
then on the table, in the name of the siihscrihers,
anions whom were members of every (.•ono:re<ra-
tion in the place. He begtrod that the reverend
gentleman would accept this testimonial as a small
token of their respect towards him, and of the
hi^h sense they entertained of his conduct since
he had come among them, nearly twelve years
i)efore. They recocfnized him not only in his
public capacity as a teacher, in which all knew he
had l)een very successful, but also in his private
character as a oentleman, and above all, as a kind
friend to the poor, whose blessinof he carried
along- with him. In conclusion, Mr. Stewart
expressed the earnest wish of the sultscribers that
Mr. Donald woukl meet with a harmonious recep-
tion from his highly resi)ectal)le congregation, and
that health, happiness and every worldly com-
fort, might attend him, Mrs. Donahl and the
family.
Such is an al)stract of the acklress, given in
one of the news})apers of the time. The reply of
Mr. Donakl has been preserved. In its simplicity
11
I reofret for
; had been
(I, and also
I- tea service
subscribers,
•y conofretja-
tlie reverend
ial as a small
and of the
onduct since
twelve years
only in his
1 all knew he
I his private
dl, as a kind
f he carried
Mr. Stewart
(scribers that
onions recep-
^re<itition, and
kvorldly coni-
ald and the
ess, given in
The reply of
its simplicity
of expression it ofives the keynote to the charac-
ter of the future minister of St. Andrew's Church.
"There are some feelinirs and emotions that
lano-u!iL''e cannot express," sai<l Mr. DonaM.
^ ^ I.
"Some such do I now exi)erience in acceptintr this
verv flattering and sulistantial mark of your re-
gard. Sinu)lv to sav 'I thank vou ' W(mld best
accord with my present feelinofs, for I am sensi-
ble that no words of mine can convey any ade(piate
i<lea of my heartfelt orratitude for all the kind-
nesses and marks of good will which I have
experienced during the eleven an<l a half years I
have been among you. And now, when about to
leave, to have this addititmal splendid testimony
of your frien<lshi)) — to which men of all parties
and religious denominjitions, as I am given to
understand, have been contributors— makes me
ask myself, what have I done to be accounted
worthy of all thisf It cannot be from any
superior (jUaliHcations disi)layed in the exercise of
the various duties devolving on me. for these I do
not possess ; but with such abilities as I do pos-
sess J have endeavored to discharge the several
trusts committed to me, with honesty of pur[)ose
and zeal in performance. \Miilst laboring among
the youth of this parish, it has l)een my anxious
MMUUtoMMwiilMvtMltCXSiaaitofNtfHH
12
cndeiivor to point tlie way to their obtaining the
knowledjre reciuisito for the fiiitillment of their
duties as i^ood citizens, and at the same time to
teach them to ^remend)er their cireator in the days
of their youth/ and thus prepare them for the ful-
iillment of tlieir duties as good christians. In the
difficult task of attending to the wants of the poor,
it has been my endeavor to do it in su<'h a way
as not to injure their feelings; to preserve their
spirit of self-dependence, and at the same time
to be the least burdensome to those who supplied
the funds. In my intercourse with all, it has
been my study to 'live peaceably with all men,'
o-ranting to others the same liberty of opinion as
I claim to myself. During the period of my in-
cumbency here, there have been troublous times,
yet so far as 1 am aware, 1 have been enabled to
steer through the shoals and quicksands of party
strife and religious contention, without losing a
single friend or making a single enemy. For this
I am thankful to a higher i)ower; and that my
conduct in this respect has met your approbation
affords me the utmost satisfaction.
''In reviewing the whole of my intercourse
with the inhabitants of Huntly and vicinity, 1 do
not think that a line of conduct dilierent from
18
(tainin^ the
nt of their
ine time to
in the <hiys
for the ful-
ims. In the
of the |)()or,
siu'h !i way
eserve their
s same time
^iio supplied
all, it has
h all men,'
f opinion as
I of my in-
iblous times,
n enabled to
ids of party
[)iit losincr a
ly. For this
and that my
• approbation
r intercourse
vicinity, 1 do
iti'erent from
what I have pursued would have tended to the
public tjfood or my own comfort. And wherever
I iio. this splendid testimonial will ever be a
memorial of the lia[)py days I have enjoye<l amons;
you, and will also cniourajjfe me so to conduct
myself and to discliarire the duties of the import-
ant charirc' on which I am soon to enter, in such
a way as to merit the approbaticm of those amontr
whom I am al»out to lul»or, and to secure that
inward satisfaction which is above all price, and
to ol)tain the orrace and blessinof of (lod, without
which there can be no comfort here and no happi-
ness hereafter.
"To you personally, sir. I betf to express my
best thanks for the too tlattcrinjr terms in which
you have l)cen pleased to s[»cak of me at this time,
and for the courtesy and kindness which I have
ever experienced from ycm during our intercourse,
which of late years has been very close. To all
I bejr to say that. Iiiohlv as I esteem this valuable
testimonial on its own account, yet still hiirher do
I prize the feelings of regard and friendship
Avhich i)roin])ted the gift— and yet more that it is
not the gift of a sect or party, but the spon-
taneous expression of the good will of all classes
and denominations. Most sincerely do I thank you
i
14
;in«l pni.N lliiit, tlioiii:'!) we mimv never Mjr.'iiit mII
meet on eiirlli. we ni.iy :ill meet ;irouM<l llu^
tlinme nlmve. .iinl In' received there with tlie
joyous sentence, '('onie ye hlessed of my Father,
inherit the kin^jfthnn prepiiri'd for yon het'ore the
t'onnd:ition> of thi' earth were hiiil. '"
The senior pupils of the school tan^dit l»y Mr.
Donald als() presented him, before his departure,
with a larire and handsomely hound liihie, in
which was the followinir inscription:
Presented
to
'I'm-: Rev. Wii.i.iam Donam),
I'iuooliial Scliodlriiivster of llniitl^',
oi) tlie occasion of
his tjoiii<T to St. .loliii, \ew Brunswick,
by tlie sclicdars attemliiig liis scliool,
as 11 small token of their gratitude for his
unvaried exertion for their improvement,
and a mark of the high respect and esti'ein
they entertain for liini.
lllMI.V. ACKII., 1S4!).
In those days the most of the ocean [)assenor<-'r
l)U.siness was done by sailinof ships. A little more
than ten years before, it liad been demonstrated
that steam was practical, and in LS4(» the (.'unard
line w.'is established. Imt for n family jroino- direct
to St. .John tile vovaii'e bv sailinof vessel continued
16
IT !i»riiiii :ill
:iroiiM<l 1ll(^
V with the
iiiv Fatlit'i',
I I K' tori' iIk'
lo-lit l»y Ml'.
s (U'piirtiiro,
(I Hil)Us in
y,
vick,
)ol,
or his
meiit,
esti't'in
ill! [)ass(.'norer
I little more
lemonstratod
) the CiiiiJird
ofoini>- (lireet
ie\ continued
to l»e the pret'eniMe method, llsivin^ taken leave
of his friends at lliintly, Mr. Donald, " ith his
fan)ily and a nurse for the children, started in
Kcan-h of a siiitalde ship. From Iluntly they
Mcnt 1)V stajre coach to Alierdeen, thence l>y
steamer to tlu' Port of Fdinhiirgfh, from which
phu'c ihey went l>y railway to (ilas«r<)w. In
Ih'' latter city they remained a week, Imt failinir
to tind a ship bound for St. rJohn, they weii< to
Liverpool. There they learned that the s lip
Themis, Captain LeiLditon, was chartered lor St.
John, and ; iter a delay of another week they
started on their journey to their new home across
the seas. The Themis called at Belfast, and
reached St. John on the I8th of June, 1S4!», after
a passa<2:e of twenty-nine days. The \'oyaire was
without incident worthy of note.
The fellow passengers with Mr. Donahl and
his family wei'e Mrs. Scott, wife of Captain S<-ott,
K. X., who was afterwards Kxaminer of Mastcr>
and Mates at the port of St. John, and her son,
Heresford Scott, now of tiie liritish navy; Miss
Tilley. who later became Mrs. Younir Jind lived
in one of the iij)i)er provinces of Canada; Mr.
Pirn : Miss Xash, wiio suijsetpiently married flohn
S. Klleo:ood, of the parish of Dumfries, York
16
County, New Brunswick, and whose dauorhter is
now the Avife of Alhin Dibhlee, M. P. P., of
Carleton county; Ca])tiin Cressor; C'apttiin Han-
nernian: Mr. Bardslc.N , wlio settled in St. John
as a slonecntter ; and Miss Margaret Murray, wiio
was afterwards married to Sergeant Murray, of
the St. John police. Durinir the passage it was
the custom of Mr. Donahl to liave evening'
prayers for the benefit of tlie passengers and such
of the ship's company as couhl attend.
Mr. Donald received a hearty welcome on his
arrival at St. John. ''From the high character he
has hitherto mnintained and the very flattering
testimonials he brings with him, we anticii)ate the
ha])piest results," said the Observer newspaper in
referring to his arrival. The anticii)ati()n was
destined to be fully realized in the future years.
On the following Sabbath, Mr. Donald ma(U'
his first appearance in the pulpit of the Old Kirk,
and his initial sermon proved that he was the
minister for whom the congregation had been
looking. The first marriage at whicli he olhciated
was on the 2()th of June, and the first btiptisni
was on the ."ith of July. Such were the begin-
ninii"*^ of a ministry which was destined to e.\ten<l
over tlie next tv,<> and twenty years, wiiii-h is
(lauo^hter is
M. P. P., of
C'iipttiin Hiin-
in St. John
Muri'jiy, wlu)
Murray, of
.ss!io:o it was
lave cvcniiii!'
^ers and such
(I.
ilcoiiic on iiis
1 c'ha racier lie
ery tlatterini:
ant ici pate the
newspaper in
('i[)ati()n was
future vears.
Donald made
the Old Kirk.
he was the
n\ iiad l>een
ii lie ollii'iated
first l);iptisni
re the I )e.<''i li-
ned to extend
irs, wiui'ii i.'^
f
I
Li.
m
J
I
u
con
of
peo
IT
now recotrnized as having been notable in many
ways, and not the least feature of which was the
continual sfrowing to greater and greater strength
of the ties which united the pastor and the
people.
B
r f"
III.
A Fine ConiirojTiition.— Men wlio Gave of tlieir Means.— 'Dk
Steps wliicli Led to tlie Appointment of Mr. Donald.—
Settled as a Pastor.
While the Church of Enorland enjoyed the
hio-hest official favor in the |)rovince of >;t"
Brunswick, as in the other British colonies \\\
that time, the Established Church of Scotlam!
stood on no lower plane hi reofard to the status
and influence of its members and adherents. vSt.
Andrew's Church had in its congregation men
who were honored in public life and those whose
names were towers of strength in the business ol
the conuiumity and the country. At the time oi
Mr. Donald's arrival, the chairman of the trus-
tees of the cluirch was John Pollok, of the great
timber and shipping tirm known as Kobeil
Rankin & Co. in St. John, and by other liriii
designations in the various ports where it carried
on business in Great Britain, the colonics and the
United States. Another of the trustees was tin
Honorable John Kobertson, a member of tin
19
eir Means. — 'Dn
)f Mr. Donald.—
enjo5''e(l tlic
ince of ^«t"
li colonies n1
1 of Scot lam!
to the statii>
ulherents. tSt,
cregation men
d those whost
he business ol
Lt the time oi
1 of the trii---
i, of the gvv'M
n as Kobeil
by other tirtii
here it carric'i!
)lonics ami tin
iistees ^vas tin
.'mber of tin
Leo:islativc Council of Now linuiswicU. who had
been mayor of Si. John l»y appoiiituiont of the
governnicnt. lie was an extensive shipi.ino- mer-
chant :ui(l :i man of ample means, lie took a-
deep interest in Mr. Donald from the oiitM't. and
durinu- the ioiii!- pastorate he was of miiteria! aid
to the ministrr. not only l»y his counsel and sup-
p(U-t hill by the free use of his wealth in aid of
every i>-o<)<l work. 'I'he other trustees were Adam
Jack, president of the St. Andrew's Society;
John Wisharl. a prominent and wealthy citizen;
E. W. (ireenwood: James Kobertson ; James
Adam; Thomas Nisbet. i>resident of the Me-
chanics' Whale Fishini-- Company; (ieorire Mur-
ray; John Duncan, of the extensive shipluiildinu-
and shipownino- tirn.i of Owens ^<: Duncan; Alex-
ander Jardine and James Kirk. These are n:ime>
well and favorably remembered lo this d:iy by
th(»se of niMture yetirs in St. John, juid they ;iri>
names which are familiar to many a younger
person, through the traditions of tlie city and its
business during tlu' last Hfly years.
The conoTegation. then and alterwMrd>. in-
cluded many othei's of high .-tan.ling. amonu-
whom it may be ■>iiiHcient to mention -u^'h n;i;)ies
as tlu)se of Dr. J(tlm \\'ad(kdl. >iii-erinten'ichl of
IS •,'
20
the Provincial Lunatic Asylum; William Girvaii,
later cashier of the liank of New Ih'unswick, and
now ins])ector of tlie same tinancial institution;
Thomas Siiue, of her Majesty's Customs, and suh-
seiiuently of Lloyd's; Robert Robertson; Koherl
Rankin; Robert Jardine; William and Robert
Thomson; James McFarlane; Dr. William Livinji-
stone. a leadino- physician and a relative of llic
irreat Africtm explorer, and who had himself been
on an arctic expedition; Dr. Thomas Walker, a
wealthy old time physician, and his sons; Jame>
Reed, of the tirm of J. tt R. Reed, owners of the
famous lilack Ball line of clipper sailing; shii)s:
flames Lawton; William Mackay; William Smith,
afterwards Deputy Minister of Marine of Canada:
Lauchlan Donaldson, who had l»een mayor of the
city, under irovernment api)ointments, for seven
years; William (). Smith, who was later elected
mayor by the city council, and Avas afterwards
continued in office four consecutive years f)y th(
annual vote of the citizens; the llonoralde Hugli
.Johnston, a member of the Legislative Council:
lienrv Jack; Georo-e Younc^; Francis Fergfuson. a
wealthy lumber merchant and prominent citi/eii:
AlexaiKier ilalloch. for many years Grand Master
of the Freemasons in New lirunswiek; Robert
21
illiam Girvuii.
riinswick, iind
111 inwtitiilioii -.
toms, and suli-
■rtson; K()))(.'il
and Kol)eit
illiam Livinji-
elative of Uw
I himself hooii
las Walker, a
is sons; Jam(.'>
owners of the
sailino^ shii)s:
Villiam Smith,
ine of Canadn:
mayor of the
nts, for se\'eii
i later elected
as afterwar(l>
' years by tin
tnorable Hiijili
lative Council:
s Ferofiison, a
ninent citi/eii:
Grand Master
swick; Kobert
Nisbet: Julius L. Inches, now Secretary for Ajiri-
cuhnre in New Brunswick; Charles McLauchlan;
Duncan Hol)erts(m; John (Jillis, a well known
editor; Robert 1). McArthur; William Hutchinson
and Alexander Robertson.
Some of these men were wealthy, and all were
well to do. That they srave freely for the su])-
port of the church and pastor may be inferred
from the fact that when a si)ecial collection was
taken uj) to pay oti' the del)t of the <'hurch, in
1854, the sum realized was s;>,;W8, to which the
contribution of one man, the Honorable John
Robertson, was >t^.")(M), Nor were the con^re<jfation
less liberal when their aid was asked for national
movements, as was shown when the Kirk aston-
ished the other churches of the province by the
liberal donation it o-ave to what ^vas known as the
Patriotic Fund, durinof the Crimean war.
The minister of the church from 1842 to 184S
had b;'en Kev. Andrew Halket. a man of rare
gifts, who Avas a i)oet as well as a scholar.
Wishinii" to return to Scotland, he resigned in the
last named year and correspondence was begun
with the Colonial Committee of the (ieneral As-
seml>ly. with a \iew to obtaining a suitalile min-
ister. During the previous year. Rev, Norman
//r
mm
' ,1
22
M:icIa>(kI. wlio was oven tlion :» man of note.
Ihouiili not as famous as lie iKramo in later lime,-.
had v'siti"! Si. ,)olin in company with two other
pronrniciit members of the (Jeneral Assemhls.
'riu« position St. .Vndrew's ("hiireli held a> repre
sentative of the Kslahlished Chureh in this pari
of the world was. it was thoii<»-ht. elearly pointel
out to lliese visitors, and they were understood to
he much itnpressed. When, therefore, eorro
pondence m rcpird to a pastor was he.irun with
tiie Coloiual Committee, it was believed that iid
time w(;uld iie l(;>t in sendin,i>- the ri,i>ht kind of :>
man. The C'oir.miltee. however, failed to o-ive the
attention which was expected, and some sharp let-
ters were sent torward l>y the trustees durino- tho
summer of l^-t>^. In July of that year, on the
()(rasi(m of Mr. Ciiarles Inches o'oino- to Scotland,
he wa> furnished witli docinnents likely to awaken
the Colonial Committee to a sense of its netrlect.
One of these documents, a letter addressed to tlic
Committee otlicially. expresses surprise that "an
atfair of such uroent importance to the intereM
of the Kstaltlished Church as the plaeinir of a
man of eminence in a position such as St. John
atlords for streno'thenini*- and sustaining the
Church should have l)een allowed to l)e so lono
23
tin of note.
later times,
li two other
I Assembly.
['1(1 as re})re-
in this part
tt\v\y pointei
inderstood to
'ore, eorres-
heiriin with
■\e<l tliat 11(1
[ht kind of ;i
(i to ji'ive tlic
ne sharp let-
's (iiirino* tiu'
year, on the
to Scotland.
1\' to awaken
f its neo^leel.
ressed to tlu'
ise that "an
the intere>t
^laeinir of ;i
I as 8t. Joliii
staining the
) he so lonii
api)arently unattended to.'' There was further
correspondence in the autunui of that year, and
finally word was received that a suitahle minister
had heen chosen, in the person of Rev. William
Donald, of lluntly.
Durintr the vacancy in St. Andrew's Church,
Kev. William Stewart was engaged as temporary
pastor, leaving to go to Chatham, New Bruns-
wick, in February, 1M45>.
In those days, the majority of the men of the
conirreiration were Scotchmen horn, and it may he
readily understood that they wouhl he satistied
with no pastor who was not ipialified to do full
justice to the Presbyterian belief and the tradi-
tions of his native Scotland. The happy choice of
Dr. liurns, had been made, a generation pre-
viously, l)y Hugh Johnston, senior, when in Scot-
hmd, but in the instance of Mr. Donald the
instructions were given to the Colonial Com-
mittee, with an intimation that the best was none
too good for the Ohl Kirk. Tlie salary of i*5()»>
currency (/r^'2,000) was large, as sahiries went
in those days, and a first-class nunister was ex-
pected. The letter to the Cohmial Committee
had asked for "a man of eminence," and the re-
sult slicjwcd that the Committee was fully alive to
f f- ^m m m m
^mm
24
its ivsponsihilities. The wis^doin of its choice ot
Mr. Donald was recoornizcd from the time of
his lirst appearance before the con.ofregation.
Mr. Donald was in(Uicted us pastor on Tues-
day, July loth, 1H-H>. On this occasion, Kev.
John Koss, of the town of St. Andrew's, N. B..
presided and preached an impressive sermon.
With him were Rev. John M. Brooke, of Fred
ericton. and Kev. John Cassilis, of St. Patrick.
On the folU)winir Thursday was held the first
Ivirk Session at which Mr. Donald sat as mod-
erator. His remarks were ])lain and practical,
and he laid stress upon hi« intention to visit the
members of the conofreiration as early thereafter
as possible, and to cultivate the acquaintance ot
all who sat under his ministry. All who knew him
will bear witness that he carried out this idea to
the end t)f his days. As a pastor, he was ever
watchful of his Hock.
One of Mr. Donald's early official duties was
to ifo to Fredericton, two months after his arrival
at St. John, to confer with the o^overnment iu
regard to some lands owned by the Kirk. Hero
he met the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Edmund
\>'alker Head, from whom he had a most favor-
able reception.
ts choice ot
he time of
gation.
or on Tue.s-
•asion, Rev.
Bw's, N. li..
ivc scrinoii.
ke. of Fred
St. Patrick.
;kl the Hrst
sat as mod
id practical,
to visit the
ly thereafter
uaintance ot
lio knew him
t this idea to
he was ever
bl duties was
3r his arrivid
)vernment iu
Kirk. Here
Sir Edmund
I most favor-
TV
St. .lolm at* It \V;is in ISI'.i.— Some IMiniitivf Coiiditidtis.—
Tilt' riaiii Kasliioii of t>u' Old Kirk.— Its One I.iixnry.
In the interval helween Mr. Donald's induction
and Ills mcc'ting with the Kirk Session, a storm
had swc])t over St. John in which lie or his c(m-
gre«iiition had no part, l)ut whicli seriously
distiii'hed the pence of the conununity nt the time
and accentuated feelings of bitterness whicli
continued for years. This was the riot of the
12tli of July, due to a street parade of tiie
Oran<nMnen. As it has no relation to Mr. Donakl
and his work, it is merely mentioned as an inci-
dent of the times. During- the disturbance several
lives were lost and a number of people injured.
In this connection, however, it mtiy be noted that
in all Mr. Donald's career as a minister, he
never did ;uioht to provoke or encourage religious
strife, or indeed controversy of any kind. Firmly
adhering to his own faith, he was most tolerant of
the beliefs of others, and he lived at peace with
men of all creeds. As a residt, no clergyman
t 7*
26
in St .Tclm w:is held in tuoro siiiccro rospci t
l»y :)11 chissi'S of lu-opk'.
Al tlu' lime of Mr. l>()n:il(rs tirrivul, tlu- t'il\
„f St. John liii'l !i population of !il)()iit iil,0(Mi.
:ni.l there were twenty ehiiivhos. The city hii>
now more than (h)ul)UMl its tiirures in l)()tli
respects. St. .Jolm had then many needs wljicli
have siiiee heen >.ipi)lie<l, hut the phiee was tjrow
iiiL' rapi<lly. H had not tiien a o-ood water
siipi)ly. A partial siii)p!y lia<l l>een inano-nrate<l
ill is;5s. Wnt there was not a siilKeient system
until ls.">2. dohn Duncan, presick-nt of the Water
Com^)any. was a memi.er of St. Andrew's eimorn-
cration, and so was James Robertson, the seerctarv
and manaii-er. Mr. Duncan was not only a
prominent shipl)uilder, as before mentioned, bill
he was a l»ank director, the president of an insui'-
ance company and in other ways a very aetivi
man of atfairs.
(ias hatl l»ecn introduced into St. John in lbi4t).
but no church was li»-hted with it until the latter
part of Is-fT. In 1S8(), ten years before the ad
vent of jras in the city, the trustees of the ehurdi
had voted to a(» away with lamps in the chiircli
and to use c;ndles. This may now be thouuflit
suofo-estive of primitive times, but still more so
27
core ros|)L'( t
V!il, the c'itv
l)()llt 'it,0(M>.
riie city lit-
res in l)<>tli
iioeds Nvhicli
L'c was grow-
ffood water
I iiiauji'iiratnl
icieiit sysU'iii
of the Water
rewV eouijre
the seeretar.v
not only a
entioned, but
t of an insui'-
i \ei'y actiw
John in 184*).
ntil the hitter
)efore the aii-
of the ehunli
in the chureli
w be thouoflit
still more s<i
is the record that, in is;','), the trustees had vo-
ted to |)iit a railinir in front of the ehureh h)t, in
order, as they -aid, to ket'i) cattle ott' the <rr()unds.
One ol the early presidents of the (ias Com-
pany was Robert ,jardine, one of the Kirk
conLn-e«»alion. Mr. riardine was also the president
of the New iininswieU Mau'netic Telegraph Coin-
puny, which sent its tirst inessa<re from St. .John
to Halifax in November. 1841». A still trreater
distinction which he enjoyed was in l)eino: eliair-
nian of the Hoard of Railway Commissioners of
the Knropean and North American Railway, the
firsl (o connect St. John with other parts of the
pro\ inee. In later years it became a portion of
the Intercolonial railway, uniting Quel)ec and the
Maritime Provinces, and it is now a part of the
Canadian (iovernment Railway system.
in is-t!>, the uTeater number of the houses in
St. John were l)uilt of wood, and so were the
churches, with two exceptions. One of these
latter, belonging to the Church of England, had
been l)uilt of stone, in LSi>4, ami got the name of
the '-Stone Church." which it i)ears to this day.
The other exception was the Congregational
Church. l)uilt of brick and opened a few years
before Mr. Donald's arrival.
1 r*
wm
28
li
In 1849 there was not a mile of raihvay in
New Brunswick, llioiiirli :i I'ttle work had been
(lone in the previous year as a preliminary to tlio
construction of what was called the St. Andrews
and Quebec Kailway. The first sod of that lim-
was othcially turned in 1852, hut it was not until
Sei)teml)er, ISoli, that the tirst sod of the
European and North American railway was turned
at St. John.
St. Andrew's Church was in line with the
majority of the churches in being; a wooden
structure, thouoh the St. Andrew's church of
to-day is a beautiful edifice of brick and freestone.
Like most of the other churches, too, the Kirk
was plain almost to u«-liness, and it continued so.
with scarcely any clianae, until the day of it-
destruction by tire in I.S77. Its orio^imil capacity
was 650 seats, but as finally enlaro;ed, it would
seat about one thousand [)eople on the main floor
and in the g-alleries. The pews were of the old-
fashioned type, those at the sides being stpiarc.
ami the pulpit was one of those octagonal boxes
built of mahoo-any [)erclied high above the heads
of the congregation upon pillars and with a pre-
centor's Ik)x or puli)it half ^^ay up. It had ti
sounding board above it, and it was reached by :i
iu ^
■ii
29
f niihvay in
rk had been
ninary to tlio
St. Andrews
of that line
was not until
sod of the
iy was turned
ne with tlie
r a wooik'ii
's church oJ
nd freestone,
oo, the Kirk
continued so.
e day of it>
jinal cai)acit\
:ed, it would
le main tloov
e of the old-
being st^uarc.
;aofonal boxes
>ve the hea<l>
with a pri'
ip. It had ti
reached by n
fli<rlit of windiiiir stairs. At the time of Mr.
Donahl's arrivtil no instrumeni of music had ever
been heard in the Kirk. It has hee?i said of the
buildinu' that it was erected at ;i time in the
history of St. fb)hn when simplicity was a
characteristic of the people. Placed a little back
from the street, and entdosed l)y the iron railiuir*
once deemed necessary to keep cattle oti' the
grass, the Kirk hixl tiiree small and [)lain
entrance doors, with three «>allery windows al)ove
then). There were two rows of small windows at
the sides of the l»uildini>-, and they conld only
havi' b''en more severely sim[)le had they been
square, iuhtead of roinided. at the tops of the
sashes. The steeple was a modest atfair indi'cd,
there was no more than enouiih of il to iiive a
finish to the belfry v. ITudi it surmounted.
lVrhaj)s the only thiiiii' about the Kirk that
was suiiii'cstive ol' (dea'ance \\as the communion
ser. ice. This was of solid silver, and was the
g^ft of Lieutenant-denera! the Hi<rht IIonoral)le
Georiie. Karl of Dalhousie. and Lady Dalhousie,
in isj^, when the Karl was (iovernor of Nova
Scotia. In the t'oiiowino- year he was a[»pointed
* X(i. .'i Kiit,'iiH' ("oinpiiiiy usimI io iKmi.' iliclr iKisr un iliis . •';•<■ to
wasli iiijtl dry it after every tin.'.
ir^
■w^
-'■,0
Governor-General of C'ansula. The silver plalc^
were the gift of Miss Affnes Campbell, (lan<rliloi
of William Cainpliell, a leading meml>er of llu
cono-reo:ation in the early days. Mr. 'Jampbell had
the honor of heinjr mayor of St. John for mon
than twenty years, frotn iVl»5 to 1S1(>, and A\;h
postmaster of the city for twenty-one years,
Miss Campbell died in 1H40, at the tis^e of TS.
This silver, valuable intrinsioally and oi
aocount of its history, was amonj? the little save;
on the da the Kirk was burned.
.Ai
silver plalo
)ell, (lanfrliloi
ci>il>er oi" tin
'Jampboll had
)lin for mvw
Sl(>, iind A\:h
ty-oiie year?-,
lo'e of Ts.
illy and oi.
lie little savo(i
V.
Mr. J)()Mi»M\s AllUotinii.— Tho Ifoiiic in Gormain Street.—
Historic Grouiul.— Some I'crsoiuil ( 'luiriicteristie!5.
On Mr. Dtmald's arrival in St. John he and his
family lodfivd at the house of Mr. Thomas Xishet,
one of his ^onffrefration, whieh was on the ,<rroimd
now orcupied hy the IJayard l)iuldin<r, Trinee
William street, nearly opposite the IJank of New
Brunswick. Later in the year, he experienced his
first atlliction in this country, when he received
intelliii-encc of the death of his mother in Scot-
land. But a few more months had passed when
death darkened his immediate iiousehohl. and
claimed Ihe wife who hiul accompanied him to
this distant land to share whatever of joy or
sorrow mi^rht await inm. She i)assed away unex-
poetedly (/U Sunday evenin.o-. the :^rd of Ahirch,
1850. tlio event havinof n irreater sadness from the
fact th:'.t Mr. Donald was :d)s(^nt in Fredericton,
where he had a-one to assist Kev. ^Ir. Brooke in
the <ascharp' of miuis1<'rial duties. Mrs. Donahl
was thivtv-one Ncars of aov. In commentino- on
f ^^^masam
32
the occurrence, the Courier newspaper remarked
that ^'althou^rh Mrs. Donald only carat among u>
last summer, she had hecome a general favorite:
and by her amenity of manners and kindness ot
disposition had not only gained the respect and
esteem of the Presbyterian church of which her
husband had the spiritutd charge, but also of a
large circle of friends belonging to other religion*
bodies. The funeral took place on Thursday last.
,, n the stores were closed; and although the
dav was exn-emely stormy, it was numerously
and most respectably attended."
Before Mrs. DonaM's death, it had been tin
intention of the family to have a home of their
own, and preparations had been made for house-
keeping. The plan was carried into etl'ect by Mr.
Donald in the following May; a housekeeper
assuming the care of tht children.
The new home was in (iermain Street, and
the house stood on historic ground. It was a
portion of Lot i"21, on the east side, a short
distance south ot Duke street. On this lot
originally, was the tirst place of worship erected
by the Loyalists after their arrival at St. John,
in J7S3. The building was used also for tlu'
sessions of the courts and the meetings of tlic
n' remark('(l
It among us
ral favorite:
kindness of
rospei't and
f which her
it also of ti
her re litigious
nirsclay hist,
although tiic
numerously
lad l)een the
loine of their
le for house
ottect i)y Mr.
housekeeper
Street, and
1. It was :i
side, a short
In this lot
irsiiip erected
at St. fJoliii.
also for I he
itinjrs of tlic
■HII
f r
33
city council. It was occupied :is n clnircli hy the
Episcopaliiins mitil Trinity clinrch was coin{)lete<l,
in IT'.H. In it were the royal arms which had
adorned the council chaniher of the Oh' State
House in lioston. in the days when (ieoi-je 111
was Kino- over Massachusetts as well as over
Enu-land. When the old huildiuL^ was sohl, the
arms were removed to I'rinity church, where they
remained until the <i-reat tire of i.s77. On the
latter occasion they were sjived by ureat exertion.
and they adorn the handsome interior of the
Trinity church of to-day.
When the Kpisco))alians moved to Trinity
church, tile old buildinii' liecaine the herita.ufc of
other denominations. It was used tirst l»y the
Baptists and then by the Methodists, until ISls,
by which time l)oth of these bodies had l)uilt
chui'ches of their own. In tlie course of time the
old meetJJi.o- house was ninoved. and when Mr.
Donald went there tlu> site w;is occupied by ;i
substantial )»rick mansion.
The Churcli had been opened in ISl.',, the tirst
sermon beinu' i)reached by Kev. ,James Waddell.
The hitter's son. Dr. riolui Waddell, was one of
the conii-reoalion who welcomed Mr. Donald, a
third of a century later.
u
Jr'
34
Ik'foi-e tlu' Kirk wtts opcnod, many of Hi'
Pivsl)yU>i-i:uis were in the lial)it of atlondiiiL
services a1 Trinity <-luuvli. In tlie early di.N^
indeed. i)eoi)le of all denomiiuitions went there l.
iiear the sermons of the famous Dr. Byles, wh.
hiid !)eon the hist reetor oi' Christ ehurch, Boston,
.hirincr the P.ritish orciipation. Before Trinil^
cinireh existed, however, the (dd meeting hoiM
was "the eluireh "" of St. John. On the Ian.
around the Wuihlino- was the tirst hurial o-ronii
of the >ettlers. and thou,o-h :dl ext<'rnal trace of i'
h;ul disappeared lonu' hefore the arrival of M:
Donald, yet the remains of many of the earl^
inhabitants lay i)eneath the surface and wcr
occasionally hrouii'lit to li.ilht when ex'-avatioi.
were made. Indeed, as late as ISTT, when lli'
foumiation^ were laid for huildinors to repla-^
those destroyed, hy the tire, l.ones were unearthi'
iiv the workmen.
In L^r.o this portion of the city was, as n :•
to-day. a choice residential section. The immedini
neidihors of Mr. Donald were Hon. John K<ii
c-L'tM>n and Cyrus K. Fi>ke. M. D.. the leadiii:
denti'4 in the cilv at that day. Other neio-hlH...
wcrv Hon. llu.i!-h ,I(»hiist()n. junior. Drs. Willia!:
and YA^\\\\ r.avard. Hon. Uohert Parker, judov .:
85
lany of lli'
)t' jittentliiiL
early (lii\-
venl tlioii' h
. Bvles, vv!(
iircb, Boston,
fore Trinity
leeting houv
On the iiiih
)urial iiTouii
lai trace of i
[•rival of M:
of the earh
•e and wcr
n ex'-a\ atioi:
.77, wiien lli'
•s to replai'
ere iineartlif
' was, as 11 '•
Tlie ininieil.iiii
n. John K<:i
, . the ieiiMii!:
[her neiu'liln'..
Drs. Willi;i:
rker, Jik'u'*' "
t)ie supreme .oiirt and hiter tlic <hief jn>tiee:
\Viili;mi (). Smith: Colonel Harry Ornamd,
I'ormcriy of Her Majesty's 3otli re.ii'iment of foot:
Lii'iilcnanl-CoioiH'! the Hon. .lohn il;imiltoii (rray.
one of the foremost Inwyt-is of th<' i)rovin('e.
later a meml)er of the parliiiment of ( anada, and
eveJitually ;i jiidiie of the sii[)reme cDiirt of
Briiish ( 'ohMiil)i;i: Dr. William Li\ inL^stonc; Kev.
I. Iv r,iil. a leadini:- I'apli^t: John .Johnston,
stipendiary mairistrate. and his l.rothor, Charles
Johnston, wlio was afterwards hi<i"h --lieritt. The
Johnston family had come from the vicmity of
Huniix. ,)oiin :«.nd Charles were half liroth; rs of
Hon. Iluii'h ,Jolinst()n. junior, and their father was
the Huoh d.hnstoii. stnior, who has alreiidy l)een
mentioned ;is ha\ irii" i'cen instruuH'iual in >ecurintj['
Dr. r>iirns :!- ndnislcr of the Kirk.
Mr. i)(>n;dds later years were spent at a re-^i-
denc* in l^i«.ian Tiace. a home of which m;inv of
the older mend)ers of the Kirk conii-rco-ation
retain pleasant recollei/tions.
]\Jr. Donald won ihr !ieart> of liis coni^-re
sratioii from the tir-t. and it t(K)k hut lilUe time
to satisfy the most criticai th;it the Coloni:d
ConunitK't^ had alamdanliy :ii!tici| aled llieir want-.
Just tMniC'l of i'ortv. the new minister wa>- in the
36
primo of physical an<l intellectual v^or, ami -.a.
[ man whose face was an in.lex ot the kn. 1>
,,ture within inm. He was of avei^ge heijrh .
with a stout and well proportioned hgure, wln.l,
ho carried with an air of peculiar grace a,.l
.licmitv. Of itvii- c.onn)U'xion. with blue eyes, h.
oiK-e i.rown hair had turned to gray early m lih-.
, .inaTn.stance that added to his impressne
:,ppearance. He ha<l a shapely head, and ahov.
all a fac-e where the clear cut lines indicative oi
chara<.ter were softened l.y the look of gentlenc^-
.o noticeable in this pastor of his people. ,i
would be impossible for a stranger to look upon ;:
portrait of the man without being impressed Kv
it lie would pick it out among hundreds u:
others, to ask whom it represented. So it was ^^ it.
Mr Donald in his life, lie was a man at whom
the casual passor by would turn to look, and wi,o
would be sinoled out among a multitude as on.
of no conun.)n measure of education, culture t.u.
character. Amply armed was he with all tli;''
was essential for one who was to be a guide.
counsellor and friend of a people.
r, and was
the kii-.<lly
gje hoi*i'lit.
fiu'c, wliifli
grace ami
10 eyes, hi>
irly in lite.
impressive
and alH)M
ndicativc oi
i uentlenc-
people. !i
look u})oii
npressed li\
liundreds (H
) it was witi:
[in at whom
jk, and wild
tude as oiH
eidture iiii'i
ith all thti!
be a guide.
VJ
A Srcoml ^l!iiTiiiir<'.--Fiifnil'liip will) Dr. liriMiKc— 'I'lit-
Fir.^t Oiiliiiatinii in FriMlcrii'ton.— Traxrllini;- in tin-
Kai-ly l).iy.<.— 'I'Ih- ( hnrrh al H<>llii'<ay.--Mr. Dnualil's
Only Vacaticii Tri!'.
The usefulness of a paslov is iniitvrially increased
when he has made a wise rhoice of a wile. Mr.
Donald, having been deprived of Ids helpmate
and having ihe eare of a familv on his hands,
mi^dil have had a less siuee^.-^fid future had it not
been h\> lot to meet, at a hiter date, a hidy
eminently (pialiiied to aid him in his pastoral
labors. This lady was Miss Louisa Agnes Wilson,
daughter of Hugh Wilson. Escpiire, of Kilinhurgh,
and then in the twenty-fourth year of hei' age.
Miss Wilson, who was at that tiine residing at
the house of Hon. John Robertson, was a mend)er
of a family of high standing in Scotlam!. She
was a woman naturally gifted, highly cdiieated
and with- many aeeomplishments. The marriage
took plaee on the '2\nh of dune, ls.52. at Mr.
Robertson's resilience, the othciating (dergyman
,r
iiciDi;' l{c'\ . John M. I)i'(»()ki'. of Fi'cdericlon,
Mrs. l)(>ii;il(l siu'vivcMl her liiisltiiiid iiiori- llijiii ;
si-orc of yciirs, ilyiiiif in Is'.ti' ;il llic iiii'c of si\l\
four. Bv lliis union tlicrc were nine children.
OIK' of whom died in infancv.
hi
The nniiic cd' l)i'. Hn)olvo is i'iiiniliar , ijit ut
the iinvd cxpoiiciil of l*i'C'sl>ytei'ian docli'inc in
Frcdi'i-ictoii from the forties to tlic ciji-htios. !i
ha> heeii .-aid that tlie life of Dr. IJrooke. \\\\V
that of Bislioi) Medlew would he a laro-e i)art o'
the history of Fredc-ricton for half a eeiitiiry, for
he was a man iiotahle in all that pertained to tin
w(dfare ol the c.ipilal city of the })rovince. .Mr,
Brooke and Mr. I)onal(l were warm friends. a})aii
from their ministerial relationships. It will lu
rememhered that Mr. Donald was in Frr ictoii,
assist inu- Mr. Brooke, at the time of ll.. .dden
death of his first wife. Duties in conneetioii
with the Presbytery of St. Jolm fiviiuently called
Mr. Donald to Fredericton. and one of the eai'ly
notai)le occasiims was in October. IS;")!, when tin
first ordination of a Presl)yterian minister in th.il
city took i)lace. Tlie candidate Avas Rev. F"ranci>
Xicol, of Halifax. Mr. Donald lu-esided at tlu-
l)ublic services, and preached what the papers of
that day styled ''an excellent and appropriatt
3»
Frcdoricluii
MIOIV tllilll ;
iiu'c of sixlv
line children.
inr . i!i( (it
I (ioctriric in
ciji'litios. !i
Ui'ookc. Willi
l;irav [)iirt (*'
I ('cntiirv, In
I'laiiKMl to ila
rovince. Mi'
friends, jipiiii
. It will I,
Frr ietoii.
f ll:. .videi!
II conneetioi!
[uently callcti
of the eai'ly
51, when tin
iiister in th.it
Rev. Fnuiri-
dded iit tile
he papers of
appropriiitc
discourse,"' I'roin St. John \ll. !»;•. •• I .mi conic
a liii'ht into the world, thai w lia1-ne\ er lielii'\cth
on nic -hoidd not aliidc in darkness." Mr.
Donald nia<!e an earn .-.1 address t<i the \i)iniii'
minisirr on the nature of the duties he had
undertaken, and to the '•on.vreii'at ion (Hi tiieir
re8i)onsil)ilities as inen)liers of the church and
hearers (d' the Word.
Dnrinir the many years of hi- ministry. Mr.
Donald had fre(|Uent occasion to ti'a\(d io distant
parts of the pro\ iiK e. in hi> altciidarice at ciiurch
courts and on other work in the connection with
the Prr<l)yteries of St. dolui and Mir.-iniichi. At
the i)resent day. such journey> niay he attended
with the luxury of modern ti';i\(>l. Itut tor xcars
after Mr. Donald hecanie minister of the Kirk
the facilities for tra\-eHinir were of the primitive
kind, involvino- hoth discomfort and dehiy. It
wa^ not dlliicult to u'o to Freilericton in the sum-
mer, foi- the distance of ^4 miles was made easy
by a ,-Ntea!nl)oat route on a ri\(>r famed for the
beauty of its scenery, Imt durino- the winter the
journey had to be accom))lislied oxcrland. in all
kinds of weather and with ad conditions of roads.
It was. at iiest, a weary pilo-rimaue sometimes
requirinii' two days, and tliere was no better mode
4-0
of tn-vel (luring tlie active years of Mr. DonaUrs
ministry. It was not until a year or so before
his death that there was throuo-h railway eonimu-
nieation between Fredericton and St. John. To
reaoh St. Andjews. in suninier or winter, was
another stao-e coaeh journey of <ir. miles, though
(.:ii' coidd get there l»y steaml);;at by way of
Eastport, Maine. Miramiehi and all of the (iulf
shore of the province was still further removed
from St. John. From the latter city to New-
castle W!is nearly '2W miles by highway. It was
not until IStJO that there was a railway availabh
for even half the distance, and Miramiehi itself
was not connected with St. John Dy rail until
1875, or more than four years after Mr. Donahl
had passed away. It was Nvell for him that he
was naturailN an :ictive man and a hard worker,
for there was much in the round of his duties,
vear after year, that demanded all hie strength.
His holidays were few and short, and the
constant care and exertion told on even his robust
constitution. Tnv etlect of his labors on his
health was apparent by tiie tlr-ie he had reached
his sixtieth year, and he died at sixty -three.
Under more favorable conditions he should have
lived many years longer, perhaps even to the age
^4«M.'
/
Jk*^ Jt^4*^i^t4^4^
y/i
'-■^
;;^-tw;>i t.i>* ,Uj!A. J*t-'-
i:U'.M
/
•'^•^ j^.J*i4ei..^
f^-'-
-:^.
"4-. /•
>','i^- i<«
</^^ri.j.
V '
:i il
t
<*^ ^**'.*< .'WV '
^^.
-^' <itli.^-
"'W
of tilt
(lied
oisrht;^
41
of the first minister of the Kirlv. Dr. Burns, who
(lied in Kdinhiiro;!!. in 1S74. at the :ii>o of
eighty-six.
Mr. Donald was a zealous worker in whatever
he undertook, and an instance of this was siiown
in his etfort to establish and maintain a I^reshy-
terian chureh at Hothesay. This vijlatje.
beautifully situated nine miles from St. ,!ohn. is
now the place of suburban residence of a number
of prominent St. .John families. Amoiiu" tlie
Presl>yierians livino; there in the early sixties was
Hon. John Koberts(m, and with his ai<i Mr.
Donald started a ♦■hureh there, which was in the
nature of a chapel of ease to St. Andrew's
church. Public worship wa- held there Simday
afternoons, Mr. Donald drivinii' from the city
after mornino- service at the Kirk and returnino;-
in time for evenino- service. Later, after the
huddino- of St. Ste])hen's church in St. .!ohn,
IJev. G. J. Caie assisted in the work at Hothesay.
The service was maintained during- Mr. Donald V
life time, and for some years after his death. I»ut
the lal)or was never crowned with the success
that Mr. Dcmald and others had anticipated.
While the poiiuhition of Kothesav increased year
l)y year, the Presbyterians did not iirow in
i»
4l^
proportioiitile number. Jind the biiildino; tinally
beeame the [)r<)i)ertv of the Church of Encfhind.
Mr. DoiuiM's only vacation trip to his native
lantl was in 1S04, when he went in a sailin<)f ship,
accompanied by one of his sons, and remained
four months.* On the eve of his (le})arture, April
L'nth. I8<)4. he was presented with a purse of
S4(>(», the gift of his cono-reji'ation. On his return
from Scotland, he was welcomed with another
presentation, that of ;"n easy chair and carpet for
his study. the irift of members of the
c()n<ireo'ation.
Durino- the absence of Mr. Donald, the pulpit
was occu})ied by Hev. Prof. Mowat, of (Queen's
ITniversity, Ivin<>'ston, a tiifted preacher and
a brother of Sir Oliver Mowat, now Minister of
Justice of Canada.
1.
* Thopassatro to Liverpool was made in the Baniue "Proteus," Cap-
tain .lorgensen, and ofcupieil t\ve!ity-one days. Thero were no other pas-
sentrcrs. llelurniny. hMcaniu out in the SS. "Arabia'" to Halifax, N. S..aiul
tlioy had a very rough passage. Other passi^ngers included iVIr. .lames
MaiK'hestiT, (of Manchester. Kol)erts(ui & Allison), anil Mr. John \'assie.
(of J. Vassie & Co.) both of -Si. .lolin. Dr. Donald had services on board
on Sunday for the passengers and crew, and among his audience were
two Roman Catholic priests. This incident is characteristic of liis
unsectarian views, on account of which he was popular with all classes
ill St. John, from Bishop Sweeney of the K. C. Cathedral to members ol
denominations of extremely opposite views. After visiting relative^
(by mai'riage) the Elmigers, at Liverpool, he went to Edinburgh. lb
me' 'here Mrs. (.4eorge Kerr, and daughter Miss liessie, from Chatham,
N. H. He then visited Glasgow. Aberdeen, Huntly, Kolhiemay, and
Crange. At Aberdeen he visited Mai'ischal College once more. Hi^
holiilay was not much more than three months altogether, including the
passages across.
VJl.
Til
'i'illt' >>\' Duflt'l' nf |>
M niii\
A i;,rc II.
iiidi'. — Di"
I)
ii!l;lH
p))'Mram-<' :i
Srll'i|;i|' iiipl l''|i(.|!ij
i;i| Wiiv- ;i- :i I'r
'illi-;l(l'Mi.— -
Hi.
I'lichcr.
Millie
lllil.-
Irativt' Aiiccddlt'^.
FoK a third oi' n (•cuiiirv the ii.-mu- of "'l)!'.
Doiial'i'" has i)t'(.'ii so j'amiliar lo the vnv an>l cnc
oi' the j>eo[)le of S1. ,lohn that ono is iiu iiiieil to
associaic the tilh' of hciiior with that leanied
mairs \'-hoh' oart'or. 'I'liis inijji'ession is as natural
with lh(>s(' who knew him a> with the voiinu'cr
t'-ciuiation who have only the tradilicus of his
Jifc aii'i lahoi's. The title, iihieed. would ha\e
lifted him from tlu oiitsrt oi his work in the
minislr;;. for hv was a >eho!ar. in a hin-h sense of
li)e term, when he enme ainont>- tlie j)eo})Ie as
plahi "^Ir. Doimld. '" He was an earnest student
from the he2'iHnino' of his career to (he end of
Ids (hiy.s.
\\'hen (hieenV l^'u'versitv. of Kinu-ston. eon-
ferred on Mr. Donald the honorary de^Tee of
l)(ctor of Divinity, in A[)ril. 1S<;1. it was no
I
44
u
more than n just rocoofnition of his scholarship
and ability, and its action received the apj)ro-
hation of a hiru'e circle beyond that of the
cono-reo-ation of the Kirk. Mr. Donald was not
only educationally (inalified for the title, but he
was a representative minister, holding a eharo-e
of no small importance in this part of the world.
It is no disparao-ement to the learned doctors of
recent years to say that, in Ncav BrunsAviek at
least, such honorary de,o-rees had a greater signifi-
cance with the pul)lic than they now have or can
have. The title of Doctor was more exceptional
then, and the holder of it was regarded by many
with a certain amoiuit of awe from the fact that
he was always a notable man in other respects.
Dr. (iray. the rector of Trinity church, for
instance, was a famous man of his time, and so
was Dr. Matthew Hichey. of the Methodist
church, to say nothing of tlie reverence of the
name of Dr. Burns, of the Kirk. Drs. Gray and
Uicliey were the only Doctors of Divinity resident
in St. John when Mr. Donald received the honor.
Dr. Paterson, the erudite principal of the Graiu-
mar School, was the great LL. D.. and in the
eyes of old and young lie seemed to personify
all that the term implied.
<i
45
s-
Dr. Donald was a mnn who would have stood
out in relief as a scholar in a parliament of
>rhohirs. Trained on the solid basis of the Scotch
schools and colle.ires of the enrly part of the
century, he had been m worthy recipient of tiie
(le<i-ree of Master of Arts from his alma mater.
There was no royal road to learnino- ihon. and
when a man aspired to a dea-ree he liad to work
for it. This was especially true of the Scotch
universities, and anions- them of Marischal
Colleo-e, Aberdeen.
Dr. Donald was not only a learned man and :i
lifeiono- student, but his heart was in the work of
the education of others. Havina- been a >cIiool-
luaster, he continued to recall his past by the
interest he took in the schools of St. John, lie
was one of the " lioard of the (iovcrnors and
Trustcics of the Madras School." a l)ody of \ cry
;irave and reverend seio-niors, consisting ofti-iniiy
of the Lieutenant-CTOvernor. the Hishoj) of the
( hurch of England in New lirunswick. the niein-
iicr-; of Her Majesty's (omicil. the Jiidax' of
Adnuralty, the Speaker of the House of
Assembly, the Mayor and Recorder of St. John
•Mul the Rector and \^';lrden^ of Trinity church,
with such other leadina" nien as Rev. Canon
■■«
4t;
Scovil. \\'illi:uii W'riii'hl. .Vdvocalc-fu'iicnil. mikI
otlitTs whose ntiiiics nw :i \n\v\ of llic history o!
the city,
'Hie (iraiuiiiiii' School l.ccinl \\;is nnothcr
iiiiportniil lio'ly ot which Dv. Ooiuihl was ;i
Jiieinher. Ihv hiw established the Kectoi' oj
Trinity as ils presiiieiit and the Maytu' ot the cit_\
as its vic<>-[)i'e>ident. with the Iveccd'der of the
cit\' a menilter of the hoard hy \irtue of id'-
otHce. Associated vitl; I )r. Donald on this l»oard
were sucli men as Jiidji'e Parker. Ad\-ocat(--
(xeneral Wright, lion. John 11. (ir.iy. Canon
Scovil and Dr. Li\in<>stone. Tiiis stdiool was not
only amonii: the ohiest Um conllniied lo iu- ainon^:
the most eilicienl in the ])ro\ince. (he phice ot'
education of many whose lUtUK'S are an«l will lie
conspicuous in the annals of the coujitry. So
far as i,s known. ;:d'ier Dr. Dontdd hccanie n
niend)er of the l)oar<i. lie never misse<l attendance
at the send-a,nnu;d cxan.ii)i;!tions. mid in addrcssinu
till' [)U))ils on one of these occasi(,ns. in fJuiu,
Ist!,"). he state<l that it wa^ the thirtieth exauii
nation at which he had deeii ()i'e-('n1. it i-
douhtful if any hut the most exi :;ioi'dinarv
cir<'umstances could ii,",-e kept Inm away, ('ertaiii
it is that he was jii attendance at the (Irammai'
School, as iisiinl. on his woddino- (|;,y. in Jmie.
l.sr)2. tlioii.irh }i iiiiiii U'ss (k"('j)l,v intcrestt'd in the
raii:^e of oducatioii inijj-ht rcasoiiahly have askod
1o Itc excused from a'iviiii: his lime io (ireek
Latin, verbs, nouns and adjectives, on an orr:ision
of sucli moment in his own lite.
Not only on examination days. I»iit at fre(|iient
intervals during- the terms. Dr. Donald was a
\ isitor to the schools. His was no perfunctory
attendance, hut one due to an earnest interest in
education. He was a welcome visitor, for he had
always somethlno- to say which the Itoys were
o-lad to hear, and when there was anythino- like a
sutHcient reason, he would Wrino- delia'ht hy
declarino- a half holiday.
Witli all Dr. Donald's scholarship), there was
nothinsT of the pedant al)out him. He made no
cHort to please his cona"re<j:ation i»y ornate
preachino-. He had the hia-Ji icieal that 1lic dutv
of a minister was to si'uide and couf. "i his [xople.
not only from Sunday to Sunday h\ h\> wor<ls in
llie pulpit, hut to l)e their pastor and friend from
day to day throuo-liout the year. It was eminently
as a pastor that he was deal' to his conirreaation.
llis sermons were graceful in their con, tructlon
and they abounded with forceful Io<iJc. I»ul \\v
48
never preached for cft'ect. or witli tlie idea of
wiimiiiiT :i repiitiition as a speaker. He simply
saw his (hity and sotiiiht lo a('('oiiii>lish it. Kvery
sermon was careiidly prepared, for he had never
trained himself to imi)r(>mptti spoakin*:-. and he
never l)uilt a sermon lo please the passinn- fancy
liy dealin<:' with sensations of th(> day. His
sermons mio-ht he called old fashioned in these
times, hut they were earnest expositions of helief,
und strictly in iiccord with the tenets of the
Kst;d)lished Church of Scotland.
Dr. Donald h)ved to preach of (iod's nien-y.
rather than of His wrath. His appeals were that
men should he christians throuijrh love, and not
throu*i-h fear. Controversy, in the |)ulpit or out
of il. was far removed from his nature. When
he was :ittacked. a> iiapiH'ned on rare occasicms.
he o-ained the iireater mora! victory by refrainin<:-
from the retort which he was amply (pialitied to
oive. On one occa>ion. ;i minister of another city
church assailed him in a series of letters to a
newspa])er, in the e.\i)ectation of ))rovokin»>- him
to a reply. Dr. Donald made no answer. I»u1
shortly after the letters had ceased, he nu>t the
writer of them, on the street, and sU)[)i)ed to
speak to him. The assailant, douhtless. expected
tread.
40
■^
1
to hjive a vcrhul contliei thon and tlicrc, lail Dr.
Donald, sinilintr pleasantly, nicroly roi.iarlu-1,
'•Now, Mr. H , since you havo tivod your
system of so much hile, I. lioi)e you are feelintr
very mneh better."'
Those who remendter Dr. Donald in the pulpit
reeall the absolute majesty o+' the man in the
cxereise of his ministerial funeticms. lie realized
to the fullest measure the dio-nity ot' his callinuf,
and Ids ap[)earanee impre^ised the idea of that
dio-nity upon others. As the hour approached,
the expectant eonffrciration would tix their a'aze
oil the doorway Avhieh led from the vestry.
Presently the door would oj)en and the sexton
would emeriie, cariyino- the lar<>:e F)il)le with
a-reat solemnity. Ascending- the stairway to the
liio'h pulpit, he would i)lace the book in [)osition,
descend the stairway and take his ])osition at their
foot like a soldier at attention. A few moments
Inter Dr. Donald would enter from the vestry.
Dressed in irown and l)ands, with black kid ifloves
upon his folded hands, he would walk with stately
tread, his tine fio-ure erect, his head crrandly
[)osed and his eyes ohuicino- neither to the rig"ht
Dor left. Slowly advancino- across the platform.
he would ascemi the •stairway as a king- niiiilit
1)
I( '•'
60
h;ivc mounted to his lliroiu-, mikI would take his
,„,sili(«n in thr pulpit. Wlien this hud been done,
Ih,. sexton would :i,2-:iiii ;iM-end the stops, (doso the
,lo,,r (,t' the pulpit behind the luinister, descend
the stiiiruny and retire. A!) this, done in the
ino-t diLnii!ie<l niiinner. was sinijularly im])russive,
;ind thouiih witnessed .S;il)l):itii after Sabbath, it
Dcvei- et'ase.l to inspire the eono-reojjition as a
cerenionial ol' pi'cuUar solenniity.
Dr. Donald, while the eiulK.dinient of diornity
in \\w pidpit, ha. I a way ot uiakincr ti point by
i)rinLnni:" hunioi' to his aid. An instant,, of this
was witnessed durinu- what was known as the
'•ora'an controversy." in l^^'iT. Up to that
perio(!, no instrument of music had been allowed
in the church, but in the evolution of popular
sentimcn.t a lar^e number of tiie e,on,irre<>-ation
eneaiied in a movement to secure ;in ora'tm. On
tile -JMrd of Ma\ m tiiat year, ii petition in favor
of instrunuMilai music, signed iiy l^lO members
and adherents, was presented to the Kirk Session,
and on the 20)li ot dune, it appearino- that l<»i'
conur:unicants favored the petition and only
thirteen opposed it. the Session resolved that th,'
praver be iiTanVed. Iv was clearly stated, how-
ever, that this nuisic was simply to be used as
I
■i
51
It
aid to the voicie, nnd that it was to lie wholly
umler the control of tiie Kirk Session. This
meant that not only was it not [)ennissihle
to play voluntaries before, durinj:- or after the
service, hut that the oroanist could not even play
over the tune before the choir be<ran to sinL^ or
in the intervals between the verses. Those who
know of the tine nmsic in the St. Andrew's
church of to-day can understand the ])ro<rress that
has been made in this rest)eet durin^r the last
thirty years.
The or<ran Avas jjurchased, at a cost of >;j,()(Mi
and the l)reaeh in the contrreo-ation was less
serious than some had anticipated. Only two
families withdrew, thouo-h some others wiio
remained continued, for a time, to make a silent
jjrotest by sittina' durin<r the sin<>-in<r while all the
others stood. On the first Sabl)ath that the ori>an
was heard. Dr. Donald gave out the OL Psalm,
in metre. The tirst two verses of this he read in
ills usual manner, but when he came to the third
verse he changed his tone to the brt»ad Seotch
and rolled out the words
" Pniise liim with trumpet's sound; his piaist- witli
psiiltery advance
Witli timbrel, harp, string'il instruments, and oikjans
in the dance."
D2
■PIP
52
Even \\w oi)i»()]ionts of tlio oriran foil that a
poliil lia<i Iktii ,-r()iX'(l na-aiiisl tlioni, wbilc the
etfcci oil the ivst ol' tlu' t-oiiirroirution was
c'iv'i-lrical. ll nas Iho more mai'kod from the fact
that Dr. DonaM's huliit w:is to s})eak in pure
Kiiii'Iish, -.(M(loin ns'niii' even a St-oteli i)lir:ise.
unless to illustrate :iii aiieolote.
As a preacher, i)r. l)onal(rs diction was
polished ;Uid his deliverv iini)ressive. He wa.-
especialh- earnest in his [>rayers, and his laniruaa-e
at such times iiad a streni2-ih because of its very
simplicity. One of his supplications which is veil
remen!l>ered was. ""O Lord, renienilier thine
ancient [)eoi)le the ,Jews/" Another petition
whicii he frciiueiitly used was ••Ilelj) us so to
li^.e as we may wish we had lived when we come
to die." In these seventeen words t)f clear-cut
Saxon is emhodieil the desire of all who seek to
ser\e (iod hi this world with the hope of a
rcNvard in the worh' to come.
Vlll.
Dr. Donald's ChararUM- as a Pastor.— His WOrK aiiioii"- the
Sick and Destitute. — The Cliolt'ra \'fai-.--r!Kii»laiii to
the 'rroo])s. — Soci;il Characfrristics.— 'I'hf Curler^ and
tlie St. Andrew's Soeielv. — 'I'lie Volunteer Movement.
!v
Du. DoNAr.i), wliik' n sound jx-cMchri'. w.ts ni'ONc
all a i)ra(lioal pastoi' who kept in loiicJ! with his
people. It was hy his visits to the honics tiiai he
endeared hiniselt' to all classes of the cono-reo-iiion.
and his pid[)ii ellorts were aniono- the least of his
duties. Where sorrow, sickness or deatii had
entered, there he found his mission, and a case
of sull'erino; drew from him all the symi)alhy of
his kindly nature. On such o»-casions. he \\a> not
a mail of many words, nor of words nloiic where
deeds were needed. \\'hen he uave counsel or
soutrht to l)ring comfort, it was not so much what
he said that [)rove(l ellectixe as it was the way in
which he said it. Of far lircatcr jjowcr than his
wortls were his simi)le, eainest w:iy>. as he
heeame for the time the sharer of the hurdens of
msm
•^4
others. He Avas in perfect sympathy Avith those
who sought to strengthen or to soothe, and they
Avere strengthened and soothed because they
realized that in hiin they had a friend.
While the congregation of the church ^va8 of a
well to do class, there Avere in it, as in all
congregations people of slender means, and there
Avere instances where the sickness of the bread-
Avinner of a family meant the need of an economy
so close that really needful artifdes were beyond
the siiderers"' reach. Dr. Donald had a keen eye
for such cases, and was prompt to relieve them
in such delicate Avays as to give Avorthy people
no feeling that they were the recipients of formal
charity. Not only Avas his own larder levied
upon, hut the larders antl well stocked cellars of
such men as Francis Ferguson and the lion. John
Kobertson were opened at his bidding. Many a
hamper of such nourishing food as the invalids
needed, and many a bottle of wine which royalty
might have coveted, thus found its way to the
households of those to whoui it meant a rencAval
of sti'ength. In these and other Avays it Avas
the tlelight of the Doctor to go about doing good,
yet letiing not his left hand knoAv what his right
hand accomjjlished.
iit
fill
HHBaas
66
The sumiiier of \s:,i was iDonionihlc fivmi \hv
visit.'ition of the Asiatic cliolcra, \viiicli ciuiscd
more than twelve liuiidred deaths in Si. John ninl
its vieinity. This tryiui)- ])eri()d hroiiulil its
experiences to Dr. Donald, as to other city
clvrtryinen, thou<»]) the sconri>'e did not have its
strono-liold ainonjr the Scotch },e(i))le. Durina- the
whole of that dreiid season [)y. Donald remained
in the city, o-oino- freely into tlic infected
districts, aiding- the si(d<, comforting the dying
and burying the dead. For nearly two months
the fearful epidemic raged, business was to a
great extent susj)ended, tmd the workinu' (dasses
had little or no means of earning a li.iiig-. 1'hc
j^i'ospect of great and general dest'^^ution was so
alarming that i)ublic meetings were held and a
conunittee aj)pointed to relieve the <lestitnte. Dr.
Donald was one of the leading members of this
committee, by the active' work ot' wliich much
sutfering" was relieved and })ri)\ ision .uade for
the future.
(Quietly carrying on his pasiortd work. Di'.
Donald did not strive to come to the front in
general public mo\ements. lie was a worker.
rather than a talker, and he was not given lo
public speaking ujdess it was (brcctly in the line
li
5=
56
)■ ,
of his duty. In practical work, however, his
voice was not silent and his counsel commanded
attention. One of the movements in which he
took a deep interest was the work of the Female
Keform Society, in connection with a Home for
Fallen A\'omen, of Avhich body he was the
vice-president.
Mention has heen made of the way in which
some of the wealthy citizens were glad to aid him
in his good works. Among these Avere some out-
side of his c(mgregatioii. Dr. Donald's friends,
indeed, included many prominent members of the
Church of England, such as Canon Scovil, Hon.
K. Ij. Hazen and others. Lot only did his
position as a minister of the Established Church
of Scotland give iiini a social prestige, but he
was a chaplain to the forces, having such appoint-
ment from the Imi)erial authorities, and the Kirk
was the garrison chajjcl for the Presbyterians
among the regiments stationed in St. John from
time to time. The ofticers* pew, on the south
side of the main floor, was distinguished by
being raised a step above the others. On Sunday
mornings the men in garrison would be told olf
in three detachments, one of which would be
marched to Trinity church, another to St.
57
Mahichi's (Ctitliolir) and in laU'r years the
Cathedral, while the tliird would oo to St.
Andrew's church, wliere it occujjicd the north
guUery. The h(st rea'iment st;dione<i in St. John
l)efore the lin:).l withdmwal of the Imperial
troops, was the Tstli llio-idanders, under Major
Warren, and a detachment (d' it formed the cseoxl
at Dr. Donahl's funeral.
While Dr. Donald had thus an otHcitd standinfif
in the community, still more did his courtly man-
ners and o'enial dis])osition make him a welcome
o'uest in what were the exclusive i-ircles at ;i time
when the lines of social demarcation were more
strictly detined than at the present day. He, in
his turn, was the soul of hos])itality. and the
doors of his house were opened wide to his many
friends. The Doctor and his accomplished wife
were entertainers of rare ability. From the day
of his arrival, indeed, he wow the aiVection of all
classes, for he could a(hii)t himself to any
company in Avliich he was placed. \\'hilc literally
a gentleman and a scholar, there was notliina' of
stitfness or pedantry in his nature, and he was
far removed from the traditional and se\erely
rio-id type of tlic Scotch Preshyterirui minister of
the olden time. He shone in society, and couhi
58
Ijotl) tell iind enjoy a g-ootl story. Not long after
his arrival in St. John he officiated at an evening
at the house of a prominent member of his
congregation. The host \\'as hospital )le, and there
^vas such an abundance of good cheer that the
hearts of some of the guests were matle unusually
glad. One gentleman, a leading merchant, who
was not a Presbyterian, was so pleased to find
the minister of the Kirk such an affable ami
genial man that he enthusiastically slapped him
on the back, exchiiming in tones of admiration,
"Mr. Donald, you are a brick I ■" Some of the
guests stood horrified, but Mr. Donald smilingly
accepted the compliment in the spirit in which it
was intended.
Dr. Donald was the chaplain of the St.
Andrew's Society, and a willing worker in all
that pertained to its interests. All that belonged
to Scotland and its people was dear to him, and
he was a member of the first curling club which
was organized in St. John. In tliose days the
curlers were almost Avholly native born Scotch-
men and it Avas more strictly a national game
than it is in these times. The first curling in St.
John Avas by the officers of the 72nd Regiment,
which Avas stationed in this garrison from 1851 to
wf.p-"'.',v'':jt" L-i'VTJ'i'jirjf, .'
-. I r'yys^mmB
59
1854. They had the stones niiule l)y Peter
Cormack, a city stonecutter, and at times mem-
bers of the 8t. Andre^v V Society joined with the
officers in the «ranie. When the reirinicnt leit St.
John, the stones were gixtm to the St. Andrew's
Society, and tlie first U)cal curling club was
formed. The rinks were at Lily Lake, and Dr.
Donahl was one of the keenest of the players.
Dr. Donald was to the front in all movements
of a Scottish national character. This was shown
at the inception of the vokinteer militia ortjani-
zation in St. .John, in 1S60, when a meetino; N\as
heUl to consider the feasibility of forminir a
Scotch company. Mr. Donald Mas \cry active in
urging suitable men to have their names placed
on the roll, and when this one or that made
excuses for keeping aloof, he would become very
earnest. "You must join,'' he would say. *'You
are a man wlv. oan hc'.p the movement, and y<m
will have to be one of the company." In this
way he persuaded into active mendtership some
who had gone to the meeting intending to be
only spectators. In a short time the conipiiny
was formed, with lion, flolm Robertson as
captain; James MacFarlane, tirst lieutenant, and
Archibald Kowan, second lieutenant. The Prince
{
mmt
(iO
* ■
of Wiilos was expected to visit St. John two
luontiis liiter. and it was deeided to ask his
permission to name the eonipany the Rothesay
Ritles, in honor of his title as Didve of Rothesay.
Shortly after this, Afr. Robertson was appointed
colonel of the St. John City Lio;ht Infantry.
Mr. MacFarlane then became cai)tain, and hehl
that position in Aii<rust, 18(30, when the Prince
came to St. John. His Royal Highness was
pleased to accede to the recpiest of the company
to adopt his title of •"Rothesay.
,,11
IB
IX.
i
Dr. Donald as a Freemason. — His Zial in the WorU of the
Various IJodies. — Notsible Kveiits in \\'liicii He Took
Part. — Masonic Tril)Mtes to His Wdith.
In Autrust. is*);"). Dr. Donald Ix'rainc a niciiiiicr
of tlio Masonic fratornity, liis iiiitialion lakiiiof
phu'o ill tlio Union Lodtj'c of I'orlland. He was
proposed l)y I^obort Marshaii. master of the
l()d,a"e. a incMnl)or of llic Kirk cono-roo'ation and a
warni admirer of the pastor. Mr. Mar>liall was a
very prominent Avorker in the fraternity, ha \i no-
all the iiiii'lier (k\L':r(!es and lillinof responsihie posi-
tions in the ditl'erent Ixxlies. Dr. Donald, thoiioii
then a man of 5S. showi'd a> iniich /eal in
Masom. as a yo'i^h of iM could liaxc sliown. and
was constant in his attendance at the iodo-c nicci -
iniJfs. At the annual election followino- his
rece[)tion he was appointed i-haplain of the lodofe.
which position he held until his death. The niojit
of the reo'ular meetina*. the third Thiirsday of
each month, was a date for which he wouhl make
no other ena'aii'enient, and reo-ularly on that nii»ht
62
r
II
u cojioh was sent to his residence to convey liini
to the Masonic Hall, returninir with him at the
close of the nieetintr- In ;i 'n'iel' history of the
lodg^e, hy one who knew Dr. Donald well, this
tribute to his worth is recorded:
"Until sickness overtook him, he Avas constant
in his attendance to the duties of the fraternity:
and in his holy ministrations most zealous. He
Avas ofentle and uH'ectionate, and his ligrht shines
that others may see his tjood works — the Avidow's
friend and the orphan's stay.
"We have witnessed the peculiar jdeasure his
t)resence afforded when minu^linof with the
fraternity — his high position and holy calling-
giy'nnr increased respect and status to the Craft
in the province. We Avould fail were we not to
o-ive utterance to our estimation of his o^oodncss
and character, and to record that, in his demise
the instituti(m of Freemasonry has ex])erienced a
|)rofoun(l loss." *
Dr. Donald, in due time, was exalted to the
detj:ree of Royal Arch Mason, in New IVrunswick
chapter, was received into St. John Council of
the Cryptic Kite and was created a Knio-ht
* History of ilie Union Lo(l^,'e of Poriliuui.
68
Tcniplai' in DoMohiy prcccjjton. He suhsc-
(lucnlly rccoiviMl the orders of Mjilta and of Koine
and ( Jonstantine, and in l^Hlt \\v \\u> installiMl a
Kniii'lil of Hose Croix in Moore eliaijler of the
Aneient and aeee[)1"d Seollisli Kite. At that
period, the Hose Croix (ls"i was the hiii:iiest
de<rree of the rite eonferred in New Urnnswiek.
Moore chapter had a most select nieinliershi]). in
wiiich such men as Kev. William Sco\ il. Dr. T.
A. I). Foster, Dr. (JeorL^e S, Keator, James
Domville,' Kohert iNIarshall and other well
known citizens took an active interest.
In all the bodies of -which Dr. Donald was a
memlter he tilled the olhce of cha|)lain or its
eipiivalent position, lie was also (irand ('hai)lain
of the Provincial (irand Lodiiv of Xcw Uruns-
wick, and of the same body when it l»ecame an
inde))endent (irand Loiiuc. Tin' tirst publie
exercise of his functions as u'raiid cha))iain was on
the (Jtli of September, isi*.*!. On that occasion a
procession under the bunners of the Provincial
(irand L()d,i>-e was formed in the forenoon and the
members of the fraternity marched to St.
Andrew V Church, where Dr. Donald prenched a
* Now Col. Doiuvillo. M. I'.
64
scriDoii siii1;il)l(' 1() tlic occasion. A l)!iiH|iK't Wiis
iiivcii :it llic l*;irk Ilctlcl in tlic csciiiiiijr. In l>i<5S
lie iissislcd in the or^'imiztttion of tlic (inuid
Lodiic of Ni'W Urun.'-wick. and conliniU'd to lio ils
(Inind ( liajjlMin luilil liis dcatli. On no ini[)ortant
occasion was lie al»si'nl, cxct^i)! at the special
coinmiinication of the (ii'and Lod<re in Septend'er,
1^70. when the Cai'leton Masonic Hall v'as
dedicated. Al that tinic he was sutl'erinir from
his tinal illness, and was iinal)le to be i)resent.
Two of the n()tal)lc masonic events in whieh
Dv. Donald tooU part were the layini; of the
corner st(»ne of St. Stcjdien's Presbyterian elmrch,
St. John, on the 'JMh of Jnly. JSCd, and the
laying of the «'orner stone of Carleton Masonic
Hall, on the ;!(»t!i of July. ls(;i». Both of these
were nieinoraltle occasions in tlu- history of the
fniternity in St. J(rhn.
At the annual cominiinication of the (irand
Lodu'e. in Se])tend)er, isTI. a touchino- reference
to the character of Dr. Donald as a Freemason
was made by the (Jrand Master. William \\'edd(,'r-
biirii. now .Indue ^^'edderburn. Amonir other
thing's, he said :
'" AltlKMiirh many may date, their initiation into
onr mvsteries far back bevond that of our
f^
1
66
reverend jiiid veiioriihle hrother. few luivc eviiu'f(l
a deeper or us enthusiastic m love for llie Craft.
By the ijuilelessness and ireiithMiess of nis inter
couro, the iinassiiinini>- wisdom of liis coiinsels.
his devoted interest in (Jrand Lodije, he made a
mark ii})on our Masonic history and hearts which
can (mly he fora'otten when life ceases. Von, mv
In'otiiers will vividly nnneniher his last attendance
n])()n the sacred duties of the (irand ('haplaiiiry.
His eye lio-hled with fraternal enti'iisiasm v.hich
years could not dim, his stej) ttirned towards our
altar with a huoyancy w^hich tlic fet^hleness of aire
eoulii not i!n])ede; and yet. even then, the uTim
hand of disease was visiljJv upon him. and the
inexorable messeno-ev was at the outer <l<t()r. I
need not prolonjj; words upon his worth, lie who
so often and so ;';ealously pointed iis to the «iiirk
valley, and tauo'ht us how to ai)proach it - who
kriew so well ;ind wisely the value of that
"immortal i)art which shall surviNc the u'rave" —
needs neither storied urn noi' p(;st humous pi-aisc
from us wIh-i learned of hii... ai.<i no j'ar- reaching
fajtli is re(piiL'ed to thini% of him as eiijoyinu;- the
eternal refreshnn.'nt a. I !)ene(liction of tiie
Celestial JamIu-c. "
V.
X.
Df. Dnii'il.T- IK'alth l'';iils and ;iti .^ -sisrant is Clinscn. —
I'carli oi IM'. Doiialil. — 'I'in' I'lricral ;i Triliiit*! of
<icn('ial I'fsjict't. — Kcstiiiji- IMact' in llic IJiiral ( tMneti'iy.
I)i'KiN(; the year iS^iU it l)e('!mie evident tlitit
Dr. Donald's litultli and strength were hocominu"
lUKMiual to the increasing luties of his position,
and later a suitable allowance was made for an
assistant. On tlie 14th of April. isTo, Dr. Donald
introduced How {•ioi)ert fl. Cameron as his
asi^istnnt, and the name of Mr. Cameron was
added to the Session Roll. During the remaining
months (f the year I)r. Donald's health began to
tad very materially, and it was evident that not
only were his (la\'s of active labor ended but that
his life was dr;nving to a close. His nervous
system l)ecanie broken down. Ue had i)een very
tdnd of exendse, ;ind it was a severe attliction to
him to ha\e the powers of locomotion so atVected
that he could walk oidy with ditticulty. Mr.
Cameron performed the ministerial duties, ami on
the 2!ind of .January, isTl, Dr. Donald tendered
■i-'i^ M iFf.'iig~
67
his resignation. It was accepted as a sad neces-
sity, and Mr. Cameron was elected the minister
of the Kirk,
Dr. DonahTs })hysi('ians were Drs. William
Livingstone and P. K. Inches, l»ut his disease was
heyond the power of the healing art. The
expected stroke of paralysis came, and the tinal
summons became a matter of days. Dr. Donald
passed away, at his home in Pagan Place at ten
minutes after eight on the morning of Monday,
the 20th of Fehriiary, 1S71, at the age of sixty-
three years and seven months.
Though his friends had been prepared for the
announcement of his death, their sorrow on
hearing the tidings was not the less. This sorrow
was geiiTMi throughout the comnnmity, but it
was especially marked among all classes in the
Kirk congregation. He had l)een the friend and
counsellor of so many for more than a score of
years that, in many a liome. his death was
regarded in the light of a personal loss. The
newspa})ers of the time, in the warm trii)utes to
his worth, voiced the sentiments of the com-
nnmity in general. His friends were among all
creeds and (Masses, and of enemies he had none.
The funeral of Dr. Donald, on the afternoon
68
of 'i'liursdiiy. the t^Urd of February, was a notable
cvciil in that period of the city's iiistory. It was
attended !)y a multitude of eiti/ens of all ranks,
and many i)ai1s of the j)ro\'inee were represented
in the procession. As half-})ast two, the hour for
the services at the house, ap[)roaehed, lara'e
crov\ds of peo[de u'athered on (ierniain street an(i
l*a<ran Thu'e. where they waited in resi)ectful
sih'nce. Wilhin the darkened house the family
and intimate friends were assembled, and the
scene was a deei)!y atl'eetint)- one as the last fare-
\\ells were ma<le ere the casket was closed.
Prayi'r was oll'ered by l\e\-. Peter Keay of
Nashwtiak. after which the procession to the Kirk
was formed.
A[)art from the dee]) im])ressi()n made on those
to wiiom Dr. Donald was dear as a pastor and
Iriend. the occasion \\as one to be rememl)ered
as a matt<r of historic interest. As was remarked
l)y Mi'. C'aie in his address, not cmly was it
the tirst funeral of a minister of St. Andrew's
church in tiie tifty-tive years of its history, but
it was the lirst funeral of a Presbyterian elcriry-
man in St. ,Iohn and it was the tirst time that a
l)()dy litid l)een borne over the threshold of the
Kirk.
A\'ith
and g'd
mourn in
been so
larii:e e(
solenui
hundred;
Tiie
choir s
I Thesi
Parai)hr:
T
'V
\\
I)
The 1
i)y Rev.
.1. Caie
Ilcl>rewf
In this (
the life
Followii
|i
(i'.t
Within Iho l)ui!.linL^ the pulpit. cliMihrl. oio-nu
and izaHoiy fronts were h,,,vi!y .;.;,p(.| ' j,,
moiirnincr. Xc^vvr in its history lual 1l„ ..huivh
been so throno-d. uhik" niihont the .Io,m> stood ;i
hirire foncourso iinahh' to o-.-iin .'.(Inii.sion. The
solemn tollincr ot the I.HI t',)iii,<| an cho ui
hundreds of hearts.
The corteo-c havino- entered the clinrch. the
ehoir san.iT the words of pronjise foiin,! ,n
I Thessulonians IV, 1.'! to i^s, ;,s ^iven in
Paraphrase LIIJ :
i
Take coint'ott. Clirisiiiiiis. wlicu youi Irii ml..
in Jesus I'all aslct^i.:
Thfir Iicttcr bcinu' never einls;
\Vli\' then (lejeelod wceli?
WJiy inc()iis()Ia!»le. as thcjse
to wlioni no lidpe i< liiv'u r
Dcatli is the inesseiiner of pcice.
and calls Uie -oul u> iieav"n.
'I'he sino-iiio- of this was followed by a praver
i)y K'ev. K. J. Cameron, afti^r which lve\ . (icori>c
fl. Caie delivered a hrief address frou) the text of
Ilel>rews XI. 4, "He hejno- ,ioad yet sixakelh.""
In this discourse Mr. Caie ))ai(l a jii^t tribute to
the life work and inlliience of tin' departed pastor.
Followins: this came the hymn. ••Thoii ait oonc lo
70
the ofrave,''' iifter which the large congreofation
filed out of the editiee and the procession to the
cemetery was formed.
First in order, preceding the hearse, were tlie
members of the Masonic fraternity, without
regalia, including Grand Master Wedderburn,
Past Grand Master B. Lester Peters and the
officers of the Grantl Lodge. Next followed the
St. Andrew's Society, and after it came lievs. K.
J. Cameron, George J. Caie, P. Melville and
Peter Keay, with the attending physicians, Drs.
Livinjrstone and Inches.
The pallbearers, chosen from the elders, were
Hon. John Kol)ertson, Robert Robertson (Indian-
town) \Mlliam Girvan, Alexander Jardine, John
Wishart and Dr. John Waddell. A detachment
of the 78th Highlanders attended as an escort.
The mourners consistetl of Dr. Donald's sons,
the elders of the Kirk, the members of the Kirk
Sesyion and clergymen of ^'arious denominations.
Among the latter were Revs. Canon Harrison,
George M. Armstrong and Maurice SAvabey, all
of the Church of England; James Bennett, St.
John's Presl'/jterian church; Neil McKay, St.
David's church; Joshua Burgess, Carleton Presby-
terian church; A. McL. Stavely, Reformed
Presbyl
and T.
were a
funeral
iilong tl
closed,
respect
the Kir
The
green
Cemete:
made 1)
The
l)ears tl
Presbyterian church, I. []. r.ill. G. M. \\'. (\u-cy
and T. Hurley. IJainist. Follow inu- tlic inoiinicrs
were a hirire mimi.er of the L'cncrai |)i!i>lic. tiic
funeral corteov rcachinu' to a urcnt IciiLith. All
alonw tJie route ot the i)iorcssion the >toi;os were
closed, all classes joining- in their tiilmte ol
respect to iuv nieiuory of *Jie beloved i)ast()i oi
the Kirk.
The burial was in the family lot. on Ewv-
o-reen Path, a beautiful part of t!.<. Knml
Cemetery. The elosiiio- pravef at llu litave wa;>
made by llev. P. Melville.
The monument afterwar<'s erected on the lot
))ears the followino- !nscrij)ti(»n :
111 .McilKiiy I't'
TiiK Ki:\'. Wii.i.iA.M [)o.\.\i.i). 1). I).,
foi- 22 years iriiiii-stt-r of
St. Andkf.w 's ('iiri;eii,
St. Joliii. X. 15.,
Born .June (Jtli, 1807,
Diod I'Y't). 2nili, 1S71.
XI.
.
A Memorial IMiicod on Record by tlio TnisHM's. — The
Tablet in the Church. — Destroyed in the Fii'e and
Replaced with Imposing Ceremonies. — Proeeeilings and
Addresses at the Unveiling.
TiiK death of Dr. Donald was deplored by all
classes, but above all by the eonoreiJfation of the
Kirk. At a subse((uent ineetino; of the trustees a
committee, consistino" of Rev. R. J. Cameron, Dr.
John Waddeli and INIatthew Lindsay, was
appointed to preptire and place on record a
suitable memorial ex[)ressive of the feelino's of
the conofi-eo'tttion towards their late pastor. The
report of these geritlemen was as follows:
"'Voiir committee, in drawino- up a memorial
in acknowled<rment of the faithful services of the
late Rev. William Donald, D. D., as minister of
St. Andrew's church and congreii'ation, desire to
o-i\e expression to tli(> a'reat feelino's of respect
and veneration which were cherished towards him
during the period of his ministry in this city.
Durino; the \\\o and twenty years which it was
7a
his lot to labor in this . ornor of his Master's
vineyard, it is not too much to sn.v llial a cluiin
of associations hound him :ind his j)Coi)le toavtlicr,
which was not to he easily liroken. We arc now
niourninir his loss, not merely as a laborer in the
ministry of tlie (iosi)el, but as ;i kind and inti-
mate friend. lie was to us and the members of
this church a faithful minister of Christ. From
the puljjit, Avith marked intellectual v i^or, he
preached the Wcml of the living- (Jod. J lis \()ice
was ever (lirectin«- the minds and thouirhls of his
l)((>[)Ie heavenward. He always spoke for their
A\arnino-, their reconciliation to (io<l Ihroniili
Jesus, and thus for their comfort and peace. Ik-
was tender and sym[)athetic in his feelings,
which often broke throui>"!i their barriers and
poured forth in Hoods of emotion whicli could not
be controlled, lie deliii'hted in visit jnii' the poor.
the widow and the fatherless, to enter many a
door darkened l)y miseries oi the world, to hear
man.y a heartrending!; tale of sutlcritiir and to calm
the aii'itation of such domestic sorrow. His
delio-lit was to xisit the sick, the weak, the
infirm- -to nunister to d\ini>' saint and sinner such
consolation and conifort as the Word of (iod
could jrive. It is of these faithful labors that we
have 1)0(11 deprived, and of which we are
mourn iiio" the h)ss.
" liy the ministry and mem))ers of all branches
of tlie ciiric^tian church in this city and country,
where lie was known, Dr. Donald was much
heloved, and as a member of society he was much
respected, and esteemed, for he was ever kind
and jjfenial in his manner.
" As the Kirk Session of the church in con-
ne<;tion witii which Dr. Donald was so lon^
associated, we desire to convey to his bereaved
and niournino; widow and family our heartfelt
sympathy for them in their deep affliction. Our
earnest prayer to the (rod of the widow and the
fatherless is that he may <i"ive them consolation,
that He may bless them and cause His face to
shine upon them. '"'
Two memorial tablets had adorned the walls of
the interior of the church for many years, to
honor the names of two of the founders. One
was to the memory of William Pagan, a promi-
nent old-time merchant and member of the
legislature, and the other to the memory of
William Campbell, who had been mayor of St.
John at the time the Kirk was Ijuilt. A third,
commemoratino; the life and labors of Dr. Donald,
i
H)
">
WHS placed on the wmII in Mnrdi. \s7:>,. When
the Kirk was burned, in ihe lire oi' |s77, these
tnhlets were destroyed, ;is wciv the oil portraits
of Dr. I'lurns and Dr. Donald, which h;u| Uumr
in the vestry. With the exception of the few
artieles previously mentioned ;is h:i\in<:- l>een
saved, the destruction on that day was swift and
eoinplete. Kven the l)ell was incited and utterly
disai)peared, only the iron tonn'ue reniaininu- a> an
evidence of its fate.
In the latter part of the year isss. the
niendiers of the Union Loduo of Portland, F. c<:
A. M., of which Dr. Donald had heen a nieinher.
determined to erect another tablet to his memory,
in the new St. Andrew's church. The ceremonial
of unveilin<r took place on the evening- of the
24th of January, 18S1>, the editice bein»2: crowded
to the doors. The seats in the centre of the
ehurcii were occu])ie(l by the members of the
Masonic fraternity. On the platform were a
number of eleroymen and prominent Masons.
The ta])let, which was i)laced at the south side of
the pulpit, was of white marble, with a raised
sliield on a frosted irroundwork. At the four
corners were the Masonic emldenis of the s({uare
and compasses, plumb and rule, roufjh ashlar and
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
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Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
23 WESl MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. I4SS0
(716) 872-4503
•SJ
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perfect jishhir. The insc-ri[)ti()n, in <r()l<l letters,
wjis us follows :
by Tht! luion I.od.m' i>l' I'orthiiKl,
l'. .V A. M.,
in Memory of their hitc Cliaplain.
Rev, Wii.i.iA.M DoNAi.i), 1). I).,
Minister of tliis Church for 22 years',
who (lied February 20th, 1871,
Atfed 1)3 years.
The eeremonijil was of eonsidenihle leiifi^th, and
only a few features of the exercises can be men-
tioned here. The o[)eirm,ir prayer was hy He v.
li. (i. McNeill, pastor of 8t. Andrew's church,
and in the course of it he said:
"We thank thee that we in this conirrejration
are to-niohl reminded of thy o:reat love to us in
thy raisinir up <>f "len — devotional men- to pro-
claim thy blessed truth to us from day to day
and week to week. We are certainly reminded
to-nio'ht by the i-ircumstances under which we are
assembled, of thy jxift to us. in the years jrone
by, of sio'ually devoted and faithful men and
l)astors of this church. Oh, our Father, we thank
thee for the oift ih(»u didst ""rant unto us of our
late pastor. Dr. Donald. We thank thee for his
pure private life; for his public life of benevo-
lence and philanthropy, and for all the jjood he
77
WMs enabled to :u'c'()ini)lish. We thank thee for
the influence he wielded in the wiiminir and
keepinjr ol' th--' h)ve and alt'ectioii, not oidy of this
ehiireh an<l eonfriViration. l>iit of this wlioh'
eoniniMnity. We render thanks :ind [)raise thee
that tile nieniory of his benevolence, faithfulness
and devotion, have lin<rered in the hearts of the
l)eoj)le. We thank thee that the circunistanees
which iiave Iiroii«:ht us to,i>-ether are tilted In
remind us that there is a nieniorial of his
intluence erected in the hearts of the people that
will lin<rer lon^ after marble and irranite have
(•rumbled away. We thank thee for the faithful
record of his love, and we pray that the memory
of his pure, devoted life may be more and more
exemplified in our lives."
After Psalm ('XX XI 1 1 had l)een chanted by a
selected (luartette. Mr. William A. MacLauchlan.
Worshij)ful Master of the Tnion LodL^'e of I'orl
land, addressed Dr. I*. H. Inclie>. chairman of the
I)Oard of Trustees of the church, and formally
presented the tablet. It was. he said, erected to
the memory of Dr. Donald, as a tril»ute of esteem
for him as a mason and a man.
The taldel was then luivcilcd. Dr. Inches
aceeptin*): it and makin<r a suitable reply.
I
7S
'^Kememher now thy creator "" was cluintod by the
choir. Then followed an address l)y Mr. B.
Lester Peters, senior Past (irand Master of the
Grand Lodije of Freemasons of New Hrunswiek.
Mr. Peters referred in tittinjj; huiiruacfe to the
Masonic character and career of Dr. Donald, an<l
to the pleasure his presence «rave on occasions of
note durinsr his connection with the fraternity.
In conchidinir, he said:
"The advantages which the fraternity enjoyed
under his instructions Avere not, unhapi)ily for us,
to continue as long as we had hoped. Early in
the year isTl, our venerated and Iteloved l)rother
was called hy his Divine Master from his labors
of love in this terrestial lodge. His memory is
eml)almed in our hearts, his prece})ts and example
live for our instruction. His mother lodge erects
here a tablet in his honor, that his name and
work may be remembered through succeeding
generations when all those wlio delighted in his
personal fellowship have, in the order of nature,
gone to 'that undiscovered country, from whose
bourn no traveller returns."
"It is not in sorrow that we meet to-(lay, l»ut
with the joy of Christian hope. And as we muse
on the life of our Iteloved brother for our
79
encouraarcnicnt in sfood works, we acknowledo-o
that he roalized to us the piclurc of ;i Christiun
pastor drawn hy the poet; and iviiioinherinir his
Avarns heart, moved \yy the troiiMes and sorrows
of others around him that it w:is his diiilv efl'ort
to relieve: and, witiial, his firm f:nth which lifted
his head in ealni confidence to rely on the sure
promises of (lod, we tidnk of the api)ropriMteness
to him, while amon*! us, of the closiiiir iiua<rery
with which the description of the poet is adorned :
" ' As some lall clilVthat lilts irs iiwriii ronii.
Swells from tin; vah" uml mi(hv;iy Iravcs thr stnnii.
'I'lio' roiiinl its hreast the rolJini; cIoikIs an' -pn-ad.
Eternal sniishiiie settles on its lieinl." "
Followino; the address by Mr. l*eters, came the
sinirintr of the paraphrase —
'•() tioil of Hetliel. liv winise liaml
Tliy peoplt! <till are I'e
! .
and this was followed by an address by Kev.
Donald Macrae, I). I)., pastor of St. Stephen's
church and Past (irand Chaplain of the (irand
Lodii'c. Dr. Macrae, referrno; to the fact that he
had come to St. John at a later period than thai
covered by the lonir ministry of Dr. Donald,
pointed out that they had l»ecn students at the
same universitv, and that both were ordained
so
ministers of llio Cliurcli of Scotland. Continuinj;
he said :
•'Fortv years aL^'o. llie Rev. William DonaM,
a native of IJanll'sliii-e, Scolland, heeame a resi-
dent of this city, a man in the fidl viiror <>f life.
a pastor elect of this conu-reiralion, then
nun)l>erinu- amonu' its members not a few of the
most inlliiential eiti/ens of St. John. Durinyf the
siieceedinu- twenty-one years, he pursued the
career (d an active and devoted Presbyterian
minister, jrrowiiiir in inlliienee as he altoiinde<l in
usefulness, uniil the day, in 1S71, of his some-
what su<lden and widely lamented death. And
now. eiii'hteen years after hi> departure, and after
the de])arture or seatterinjj: of the majority of
those with whom in his day he took counsel—
whom he advised, instructed, warned, exhorted,
comforted- hi- memoiy is still fraLn'ant, and his
character is .-till held worthy of Iteiiia' emlila/oned
as you have enihla/.oued it to-niofht. '"
Speakinu- from his own knowledoe ;ind from
what he had been told i»y others, rejrar;linu' some
of the characteristics of Dr. Donald. Dr. Macrae
said :
" It was impossible to avoid beino- struck, at
the first introduction, by his air of natural.
81
iirmrtVrtc'l (li<.niily. It was a diiriiity, one very
soon discovered, Ix'L^olteii ot i\ liiirh-souled. sino-le-
v\■(.'^\ dcNolion 1(» his work: of a worthy coneeptioii
of the character of his work as a Christian
minister. For. iiiideriyiii,!>- this unconscious air of
ditrnity. it was speedily a|)|>;'.rent, was a kin<hiess
o<|Ually iinatfected, and which not only swiftly
came to the siirfa<'e. I»iit overflowed ir) every act
and utterance of the man."
The speaker, after a reference to the schohirly
character of Dr. Donald and to the deep interest
he ha<l taken in the sclioois. proceeded to olance
at his traits as a i)reaciier and pastor.
•'Men m(.re irifled in this or that respect you
may have heard, no douitt. l)Ut never a man more
sincere or earnest in his manner of presentinii"
these verities, never a man more free from
vulii'arily. extra vair'ance. assumption, sensation-
alism all that stamps the charlatan whose aim is
almost assure* ily [)ersonal popularity.
"Ahove all. Dr. Donald excelle<l in his
l»astoral ministrations. In these, emi)hatica.lly, he
was al)undant ahove measure: and what rendered
them so pec(diarly acceptable was- his irentleness
and christian charity- lei me add, his fearlessness,
evinced durino- the visitation of the choJei'a.
^
sy
VoiiiiL'' mikI o1<I \vc'lc(>!n('<l liiiii tis :i pastor: llieiv
sire iiu'ii of luiiMlc :i«:v in tlii> <-oiiiiuiniil y who
still speak of llu- l)o«'toi''s i<iii(lly ways as he
patted tliem on the head in their ehildliood and
hreathed a word of counsel: nor eoidd the tenderest
of women l>e ni(;ie sympathetic towards the
sullerinu-. more eomfortintr to the sorrowin<r and
the bereaved. Never, let me add, did pastor
hihor more earnestly or successfully to enforce
the spirit of duty, to elicit the christian o-mces at
lar^e."*
The address of Dr. Macrae further ])ointed
out that with all Dr. Donald's attachment to the
church of his fathers, there Avas no hiootry in his
nature. Reference was made to some of his
works, such as the mission at Kothesay. and to
his wisdom and ahility as shown at the various
church courts. He had lieen identilied with no
o-reat i)ul.lic measures, hut what was Letter, with
countless acts of benevolence and patient,
persistent and cheerful doino- from day to day.
"To the poor, his charity was simply unre-
mittinjr. Amonjr the rich, he made felt the
presence of the christian scholar: he commanded
the respect justly due to the oftice of one who,
while lie never assumed to be more, could never
VI
bi
h<
S(
s:',
r
11
|„. U^ss tlKin the .l.ristian ininistor. In IIk- pros-
,K.,i1v of Lis pcci.U' iH' ivjo-u-CMl: in their s,.n-«.ws-
1,,. ,nin-lo.l in 1Ik« spirit of one who nuulo thnr
sorrows his own."
'llu. .U.oplv interestinjf service was eonelude.l
l,v the sinking of the Doxoh.-y and hene.lietion
l,v Kev. L. (i. MeNeill.
f
I
II
In half a eentury, the eity of St. John has
rhancrod beyond the <lrean.s of thv men of the day
^vho"^veleon.ed the ehuvehV new pasti,r Iron.
Iliintly. The popuhition lias douhle.l, the jrreater
portion of the eity has l>een rehuilt. the phiin,
old-fashlone<l eluuvh itself is hut a memory. 1 he
former -eneratiou has passed away, new faces
have taken the plaee of the .M and n.ore
advaneed i<leaB are found in all lines of wc»rk
Little remains as it was. Mueh that once seemc.!
of areat import has passed into oWlivion. l)ee<l.
that were .Icemed o-reat are scarce recalle.l. and
the names of those who lal.orcd for humanity are
tcH, conunonly forgotten. In this age of steam
and electricity, when events crow<l upon eacM
other so rapidly, few men c-an hope to he
/
^4
iriiK'iiilK'ird for lono' niter tljcy liiivc passed
away, and one whose iiiemory eonlinues lo )>e
honored for more than a (|uarter of a cenlury
after he has Iteen called from earth must I)e
ranked as having- been preeminently a man anionL'
men. Only here and there are some smli as
these, some whose memory is elierished l»y iho.-^e
who knew them, ;nid the story of whose [)ersonal
virtues will l»e handed down in tradition, from
father to son, in one generation after another. So
it has Iteen. so it is and <u it will he, with the
story of Dr. Donald and his pastorate of the
Kirk. It is a livin*;- theme to-day, and siieh it
will eontinue to he when we who are of th(>
l)resent shall have niinu;led with the multitude of
those who ha\e passed away.
" 'I'lic iiirmi>ry of tlic jii<;t i- Itlessi-il."
MOi.ir.F. . rAiiON-i.i'V c ^'■-O'.^ffejtM^ iTur.---, Mont:.' . /
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