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 '^. 
 
 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 
 
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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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