' m *n^ ":.^a5^ V^^ ^^^' -^^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) C< A fA fA -•- 1.0 I.I 1.25 I^IM la 1^ |||||2.2 1^ fcs ilM 18 lA 11 1.6 71 % ^> <p Urn «'-v4-/-^/'-irMr-»-r> l-»i Al riiuiugiapiinj Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 87i2-4503 ^^''^^'t '':j^^ <- . ■ -i - . % '(^. i/.x CIHM/iCMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/!CMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques T«chnicai and Bibliographic Notas/Notaa tachniquaa at bibliographiquaa Tha Instituta has anamptad to obtain tha baat original copy availabia for filming. Faaturas of this copy which may ba bibiiographically uniqua. which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha raproduction, or which may significantly changa tha usual mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. □ Colourad covors/ Couvarturo da coulaur rn Covars damagad/ Couvartura andommagia □ Covars rastorad and/or laminatad/ Couvartura rastaurte at/ou pallicuMa r~n Covar titia miasing/ □ □ D La titra da couvartura manqua Colourad maps/ Cartas giographiquas an coulaur Colourad ink (i.a. othar than blua or black}/ Encra da coulaur (i.a autra qua blaua ou noira) I I Colourad platas and/or illustrations/ Planchaa at/ou illustrations mn coulaur Bound with othar matarial/ Rali* avac d'autras documants Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along intarior margin/ La re liura sarria paut causar da I'ombra ou da la distorsion la long do la margo int^riouro Blank laavas addad during rastoration may appaar within tha taxt. Whanovar possibia, thasa have baan omittad from filming/ II sa paut qua cartainaa pagas blanchas ajoutias lors d'una rastauration apparaiasant dana la taxta. maia. lorsqua cala Atait possibia. cas pagas n'ont pas iti filmtes. L'Instltut a microfilm* la meillaur examplaira qu'il lui a iti possibia da sa procurar. Las details da cat axamplaira qui sont paut-dtra uniquas du point da vua bibliographiqua, qui pauvant modifiar una imaga raproduita. ou qui pauvant axigar una modification dans la mAthoda normala da filmega sont indiquis ci-dassous. D D n D n D D D Colourad pagas/ Pagas da coulaur Pagoa damagad/ Pagas andommagtes Pagas rastored and/or laminatad/ Pagas rastiturias at/ou pailicuiias Pagas discolourad. stained or foxad/ Pagas dicolorias. tachet^as ou piquies Pagas datachad/ Pagas ditachias Showthrough/ Transparanca Quality of print varias/ Qualit* inigala da I'imprassion Includas supplamantary matarial/ Comprand du material supplimantaire Only adition availabia/ Saula idition disponibia Pagas wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, ate. have baan refiimed to ensure the bast possible image/ Lea pagaa totalament ou partiailement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata. une pelure. etc.. ont iti filmies A nouveau da faqon d obtanir la maillaura imaga possibia. Additional comments:/ Commentairas supplimentaires; [Printed ephemera] [3] p. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio chackad below/ Ce document est film* au taux da reduction indiquA ci dassous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X Th« copy fllmad h«ra haa baan raproduead thanks to tha ganarosity of: D. B. Weldor^ Library University of Western Ontario (Regional History Room) Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara tha baat quality poasibia considaring tha condition and lagibiiity of tha original copy and in Icaaping with tha filming contract spacificationa. Original copiaa in printad papar eovars ara filmad baginning with tha front covar and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or illuatratad impras- •ion, or tha bacit covar whan appropriata. All othar original copiaa ara filmad baginning on tha first paga with a printad or illuatratad impraa- sion, and anding on tha iaat paga with a printad or illuttratad impraasion. Tha last racordad frama on aach microficha shall contain tha iiymbol — ^ (moaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol V (moaning "END"), whichavar appiias. L'axamplaira fiimi fut raproduit grica i la gAnirositi da: D. B. Weldon Library University of Western Ontario (Regional History Room) Laa imagaa suK^antaa ont 4t6 raprodultaa avac la plus grand soin, compta tanu da la condition at da la nattati da l'axamplaira film*, at an conformitA avac laa conditiona du contrat da flimaga. Laa axamplairaa originaux dont la couvartura an papiar aat imprimte sont fllmte an commandant par la pramiar plat at an tarminant soit par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'impraaaion ou d'illustration, soit par la sacond plat, salon la caa. Tous laa autraa axamplairaa originaux sont fllmia an commandant par la pramlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'impraaaion ou d'illustration at an tarminant par la darniAra paga qui comporta una talla amprainta. Un daa eymbolaa suivants apparaltra sur la darnlAra Imaga da chaqua microficha, salon la caa: la symboia — ^ signlfia "A SUIVRE", la symboia V signlfia "FIN". Mapa, plataa, charts, ate., may ba filmad at diffarant raduction ratioa. Thosa too larga to ba antiraiy Inciudad in ona axposura ara filmad baginning in tha uppar laft hand cornar, left io right and top to bottom, aa many framas aa raquirad. Tha foMowing diagrams iilustrata tha mathod: Laa cartaa, pianchas, tablacux, ate, pauvant Atra filmte A das taux da reduction diffArants. Lorsqua la documant sat trop grand pour Atra raproduit an un saul clichA, ii ast filmA A partir da I'angia supAriaur gaucha, da gaucha A droita, at da haut 9n baa, an pranant la nombra d'imagaa nAcasaaira. Laa diagrammaa suivants illustrant la mAthoda. 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 HISTORY OF The Oldest Metjioiii^li Ghurcj in We^terii Mm BEARING THE GRAND HISTORIC NAME. "QUEEN'S AVENUE." The Parent Tree of London Methodism. A Glance Over Fifty Years of Progress. Men at the Helm Twenty-tlve Years Ago. A Long Line of Pastors Who Have Been in Charge. Metluxlism in London and suburbs has for more than half a century had for its <^rcat centre what is known from one end of CAna(h\ to the other as the ijueen's Avenue Methodist Church, a name adopted some years ago, when North Street as the cognomen of that spacious, maple- lined highway was discarded. This congregation has from the first been the centre of wealth, intliience and enterprise, the jiossession of such vast resources of vitality making it the parent vine from which others have been developed, under circumstance.-; that soon rendered them self-supporting and strong. The splendid edifice that stands, crowned with a lofty spire, at the corner of (Jueen's and I'ark Avenues, which, with Wesley Hall, the $9,000 organ and other appointments, is valued at from $45,000 to $50,000, seems a long remove, as indeed it i.>, from the modest ' roughcast " in which a few pioneers worshipped after the manner of John Wesley on Kidout Street. It is, moreover, a great advance on the more pretentious frame erected at the southeast corner of King and Talbot Streets, now occupied by a hotel, and its successor, the Richinond Street Church, on the east side, a few rods south of Dundas, where, about 1849, the Rev. John Carroll, whose name is a household word among the older Metliodists, occupie<l the primitive pulpit and laid the foundation of the cause which .soon fixed itself perma- nently upon North Street, Space would not suffice lo recount the names of all the laymen in connection with the congregation whose time and means were in the past so liberally givin in aid of building new local churches, and in furthering Mission, Sunday School and Educational Work. .Many young ministers i)erformed their early work in connection with the circuit under the direction ol the Superintendent, who e.xercised a fatherly care over the little causes that grew up on St. James and Pall Mall Streets, in I'etersville, on Adelaide Street, in London South and elsewhere. .\ great deal of the preaching in these places was done b) the '' young man," under the North .Street " Superintendent,"' but he was the resiionsible person for the circuit and did his share of the mi.ssion work. The old Richmond Street Church in which I'ather Carroll, Dr. ICvans and others held forth, did not keep pace with the congregation, and under Rev. Wm. Pollard, the North Street Church came into existence. The lot w.as bought from one Anthony Pegler on January 13th, 1S52, for ;i'700. On March 9th of the same year a Trustee Hoard meeting was held, consisting of .Messrs. Sam Class, (ieo Tyas, John I'.lson, S. Peters, .S. McBridc ard ,S. Screaton, Rev. Hro. Pollard [ire.^iding, when it was decided to erect a church on the site purchased. On .\|)til9th, the Hoard <lecided to engage Mr. llodgins, a Toronto architect, who received /.too for drawing plans, superintend- ing the v/ork, etc. (^n June 26th, \Vm. Ellis was awarded the contract for the excavation at /.'j9 15s., and in January, 1853, the tender for brick work was let to .Screaton tV drant the carpenter work to Ceo. Watson; the glazing and p-ainting to John Honser and the plastering to .Mr. Tibbs. According to a miiuUe in the secretary's books Mr.s Raymond was engaged as organist in Novendier, 1S53, and in Juiy, 1854, the trustees fixed the yearly rental ol pews and decided to sell tliem by auction to the highest bidder. Samuel McHride receive<l the important appointment of pew steward and collector of rents during the same month. The time at length arrived when the all-important work drew to a successful close and the church was opened for pidilic worship on July i6th, 1854, the collections of the day amounting to /50 15s. Rev. Dr. Evans, took one of the services on that memorable occasion. Rev. Mr. Pollard, who was in charge during the buiiding of theechfice, left about the time of opening or before, and was succeeded by Rev. Wm. Wilkinson. In the year 1856 came the Rev. J, Douse, and a couple of years later the Rev. Dr. Cooney, a remarkable man in his way, as some of our readers may remember. The St. Paul's peal of chimes were wont to ring out their music across the street while the Wesleyan .services were in progress, and one nu)rning Dr. Cooney stopped to inform the congregation that the only pleasure tho.se bells ever gave him was when they stopped ringing. In i860 Rev. C. R. Sanderson becan;e pastor. .After a continuous, active, ministerial service of 52 years he was superannuated at the London Conference of June, 1888, held in the same old edifice, and he is now in his declining years a member of the congrega- tion over which 28 years ago he presidecl as [lastor. Though on the re- tired list, he still answers numerous calls to fill pulpits in the city and else- where I'ollowing Rev. Mr. Saiuler.son in the North Stieet pastorate were Rev. R. Joiiesand Rev. John Potts (1863), Rev. J. II. Hishoj),Rev. W.J. Hun- ter, Rev. Dr. Elliott, Rev. Wm. Hriggs, and about 1871 Rev. Dr. W. Jeffers, Rev. Jas, Hannon, a late [iresident of the C.uelph Conference, succeedeci Dr. Jeffers, and then came the Rev. James ( Irahain, that sturtly, out-spoken, (|uic<-witted preacher whom the London Conference last summer placed in the president's chair. The Rev. John Philp was the next regular occu- pant of the Queen's Avenue pulpit, and since leaving here he has held the leading pastorates in ('anada, inrluding Creat St. James of .Montreal. An elo(juent and magnetic preacher. Rev. Leo Caet/, followed him, but the strain of the work on his nervous organism proved too great, and besought restoration by outdoor enterprise on the great plains west of the Rocky Mountains, where he is proving a successful pioneer farmer. He is an elo- quent advocate of the far Northwest. Rev. R. J. Treleaven, a successful young minister, followed Mr. Caetz. Among the trustees of the church who held ofiice were Me.ssrs. Peters, Tyas, .Xbbott, S and W. McHride, Screaton, Lawless, Elson, Carrelt, .\. Johnston, Ware, M. Anderson and Leary. I'assing on down to November, 1872, .Messrs. Thos. .McCormick, (ieo. Robin.son and .\, B. Powell were added to the Trustee Hoard, and about that time the resolve was made to erect the brick school-room in rear of the church, which cost some $13000, and was popularly known as Wesley Hall. In 1873 the <jld Methodist Cemetery east of the city was sold, and a new plot west of I'etersville having been purcfiased, the .Mount Pleasant Cemetery Company, an organization distinct from the church, was organized. In October, 1874, the late Wm. Mcliride resigned the secretaryship of the Trustee Hoard, and Mr. A. H. Powell was cliosen to fill the position, and has acted in that capacity ever since. Thos. (Ireen, R J. C. Daw. son and jas. Eaton were chosen trustees in 1874. Mr. Dawson has been rei'ordiiig steward since Mr. (ieorge Robinson resiLjned the position, .\mong the incidents of 1S78 was the resignation of Mr. S. Screaton from the position of choir leader, after a quarter of a century's faithful and valuable aid in the service of song. In the .same year Wm. Class was chosen as a trustee i'> place of his fnther, Mr. S. Class, deceased. .Vmong other worthies whom the chuicli has lo>t l>y dealli were S. I'clers, Win. Mclliide (drowned in lliu Victoria rlisasteri, John KIson, (ieo. Tyas and las. t'oyno. Messrs. John (jrccii and (ieo, I liililvji's were ihostn IrusUcs In rSSj. About the end of 1880 ini|iorlanl iin|)rovements, destined to revolu- tionize the interior of the church, coupled with the inlnxluction of a $9,(xxj or),'an, liuilt hy W.Trren, of Toronto, were resolved u|)on, ami the nest year saw all this accon)|)lishe<l before August, involving an outlay of $i5,ocxj. The reopening services l)egan on ("riday, August 5111, 1881, those taking part being Kev. l.eo. (iael/,, the new pastor, Kev. I)r Nelles, of \"ict(]ria Collegi' and others Dr. Verrinder, the organist, giving a grand concert at night. On Sunday, August 7th, Kev. Dr. Nelles anil Kev. Dr. Hunter, then of Toronto, preached, ami on Sunday, .\ugust 14th, Kev. Wni. Williams and Kev. J. .\. Murray. We continue the history of this old church by .idding the following historic events which look place in its history from August l4lh, 1881, to the date of laying the corner stone of the new edifice, on the corner of Dufferiii .\venue and Wellington Street. This history, though brief, covers some important events in the history of the nliove named church .\fter Mr. < iaet/. liad closed his pastorate in the church, he was suc- ceeded by the now sainted Kev. I), (i Sutherland, M..\., B.D., to (ill the piipit for three years, and who had won, by his stn ng mental powers and Christian life, the hearts of the people. After his pastorate the Kev. J. Ci. .Scott received the ajipoinlmenl as pastor, who spent three years as pastor of the church. During the time of .Mr. .Scott's pastorate 1 he Kev. (leorge Uoyd, of Newfoundland, i)aid a visit to our city in connection with the Missionary ("ommittee <i\ the (leneral Confeience. His manly deportment captured the hearts d the ofiicial membership of the c'.urch ; he was rei|uestecl to take a Sabbath service during his stay, wli .h he did. It ))roved til l)e a day long to Ix.- lemembered in the church. .\s s ion as the brethren could put the machinery in motion, a call was eMende<l to the now sainted Hoyd. The Transfer Committee having transferred him from Newfoundland to the London Conference, he was duly appointed as pastor. Cireat grovilh and spiritual fervor markeil every department of the church during his pastorate. His thoughts were nol only for the larger church, but he looked oul on the surroundings with a view to directing and estab- lishing other interests. He was the cause of establishing two smaller churches, one on Kichmond .Street and one in Kensington, West London, each if which has lived a vigorous life. In the midst of his many labors and toils he sickened and died. The hearts of the (jcople were crushed and sa<ldened, but while (lod btiries His workmen His work still goes on. The remaining part of his pastorate was lilled by Mr. Marshall, student from Victoria College. At the ncNt Conference meeting the Kev j. W. .\nnis, .M.A , was a|)pointed to this charge as i)astor, but it was not the \>ill of ilie good Lord to destine him to id! the important place to the end of his term, lieing in rather delicate health when he came to the charge, he also sickened and <lieil, nnich regretted and much thought of. One important and never to l)e forgotten event a few weeks previous to the death of tlu- late pastor, Kev. Mr. .\imis, was, on the morning of February .Jnd, 1805, the old church took lire and was bm-ned to the ground, the only pan remaining of that historic edifice was ilie darkened and dis- maiilleil walls of the once -stalely and historic church. .Many were the sr.d hearts on that Sunday morning after the lire, as people wended their way to worship as formerly, but found no cluirch. .-\ meeting of the olliciary of the church v\as at once called to provide for the congregation and to gel some place for them to worship in, when they decided to engage the Opera House as a pl.ice 10 liold divine s-jrvice, and the l^ity Hall as a place of meeling for the .Sumlay .School and Class meeting service of the church, and Somerset Hall as a place to hold Thursday night piayer meeling. We now turn a page over and nuike reference regarding the Trustees of the church. It was thought projK-r in the wisdom of the Board to add a number of young and .active men to its number; on November 28th, l8i)0, W. K. Hobbs, S. W. AblxitlandWm .\l..Spencer were appointed trustees of the church, and on !)eceinber I2th, 1801, < ieo. T. .Mann, D. C. Hannah, I.. Ingrain, and S. t llass were appointed trustees. Noevent of any accouni took place in th<' history of the church from the date just given above until September, lS()2 when the true and noble Thos (Ireen closed his eyes in death. He had been IriNtee for a number of years ami filled the position of treasurer and pew steward for a long term of years. We now follow on for one more year, when the kind, loving and sympathetic Sheriff tilas^ w.is (ailed 10 his reward, in October, 1893, he having been appointed trustee a number of years jirevious, to succeed his father, the late Samuel (ilass. To replace these iwi, worthy men, on November 17th, 1893, L H. Chapman and Chas. H. Ivcy were added to theirustee Ixiard, and thus to complete the number, making a full appoiiitinen'. as the iliscipline of our church provides, Mr. D. S. I'errin, one of our honored r.iembeis, was ap- pointed to (ill the place of one who had resigned. We must not close without referring to the fact that we find ourselves lo-ilay, as a church, well manned and well officered. The London Conference accepted the transfer of Kev. ( ieo. Daniels, .\L.\., I'h. D.,of Manitoba C'onference, and have appointed him pastor of our church, and to-day he with others lakes his place as |)aslor of this cluirch, <lirectiiig his ]iarl of the programme of the ceremony of laying the corner slone, which is to be laid iiy Samuel .McMride, one of the oldest trustees of the church, and one of the men whom we all delight to honor. We ca.inol leave this subject without making a p.issing allusion to one of the important figures in connection with tlie closing liislur) of this old church, vi/. ; .\. S. .Abbott, Ivsip, late City Clerk of our city, who filled for so many years of useful life and loyal work as Trustee and Churcli Steward. having reached the advanced age of S4 years, he can now well atTi>ril to transfer his oliticial place in tlie church he so much loved, and whose history he helped to make, to younger men, especially to those of his sons who are taking a sirong and important place in the work assigned them as officials in the churcli where they ha-e spent the greater part of their lives. This history would be incomplele without a word or two of praise and thanks to Kev. Dr. Sanderson, «hi) has given uniiring attention to the work of llie church .■.iiiccthe death of the late p.istor, Kev. J. W. .\iinis ; neither can the ofticeis of the church forget to thank tlie Kev. .Mr. (lundy, late Chairman of ihe London District, for his many laUirs in attending llie various meetings of the dillerent Hoards, who always lendered wise and judicious advice in the recent crisis of llie church. We now close by recognizing the earnest and thoughtful services of the Kev. .Mr. Kennedy, who has acted as pastor, liy visiting our people since llie de.ltli of the late pastor. We cniiclurie this history by hoping for .'i bright luture of the church, whose curiHr sto le is laid to-day, on this ^oili d.iy of July. 1895. 1. i.\i>n. July ^oih. 1S05.