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' ' « : .

DAVID WILLSON.

Foundi'i- of the Children of Peace.

THIRD OROAN IN THE MEETINa-HOUSE.

f C]:iil(it<eq of Peqce

THE HISTORY OF A NOVEL SECT IN YORK CO., ESTABLISHED IN THE

EARLY PART OP THIS CENTURY. THEIR CEREMONIES, AND

HOW THEY CONDUCTED THKTR SERVICES. THE ERECTION

OP A TEMPLE. THE OLD i' ST BAND IN AMERICA.

' THE FIRST ORGAN BUILT IN CANADA.

Various articles havinj? appeared
at sundry times, regarding the re-
litnoiis society called "The Children
ot Peace," whijh have only been
true in part, or unwittingly calcu-
lated to mislead the public mind in
forming a true conception of the
founder and his adherents, the
writer will endeavor to give not an
elaborate but a true history of its
inception, rise and progress, to-
ge her with interesting matters
connected therewith; also correct
dates, and the explanation of some
things attributed to them, not alto-
gether clear to the public mind,
which gained partial credence, and
were not considered as reliecting
very much credit on the society.

The writer is not entering upon
a defence of their religious belief,
but merely wishes to give their
history as it is, leaving an intel-
ligent i)ubUc to draw its own in-
ferences.

As regards their customs and
manner oi living, much has been
said to their discredit, which was

utterly untrue, and it 13 but doing
justice to their memories to ex-
plain those actions of their lives
\vhich have been wholly misunder-
stood and accepted as truth by a
miiiin formed public.

David Willsou, the founder of
this society, was born of Iriih par-
entage In Duchess County, New
York, June 7, 1778. His father
died when the subject of this nar-
rative was very young, so that the
period of his education was limited
to less than one year. While in his
minority, he with his brother, the
late John J. Willson, father of
Mrs. C. Doan, Aurora, v/ere en-
gaged on a sailing vessel that sail-
ed between New York and the
West India Islands. What length
of time he was engaged in this
business is not now known. His
brother continued to follow the
buriness for some length of time
after David Willson discontinued
his part or interest in it. In the
meantime he married before attain-
ing his majority, and by the earn-

History of the Children of Peace.

est solicitations of his wife was in-
duced to leave the West India
route and emigrate to Canada,
which they did in the year 1801,
They sunered a severe loss on
crossing Lake Ontario. The craft
on which they took passage was
wrecked, they escaped with their
lives, but all their baggage was
lost ; all they possessed, on arriving
at Toronto was the rim of a spin-
ning wheel, and the clothes they
had on.

On arriving in Toronto, he ap-
plied for, and obtained a Crown
deed of the farm in East Gwillim-
bury, (which is now owned, and
occupied by his grand-son, Mr. Abb
Willson, one of our most prominent
men). He and his wife walked up
what is now Yonge Street, at that
time a blazed r jad through an al-
most dense forest, curried their two
little sons, John D. ana Israel.
Their third sou was born Aug. 22.
1802, the first white child bom in
the Township of EastGwilHmbury,
and his cradle was a rough hewn
sap-trough, but eventually he be-
came one of the leading men of his
time and age, but to our subject.
From his earlier years, David Will-
son was much given to religious
contemplation, and sometime after
his arrival in this country, he be-
came a member of the society of
" Friends," taking quite an active
part in their meetings. Entertain-
ing, however, some peculiar views
on religious points, which the
Friends did not consider orthodox,
he was dismissed from that body,
and on his withdrawal a number,
six it is said, who entertained

similar views, also left the society
and attached themselves to Mr.
Willson, who became their leader.
This was the nucleus of the church
afterwards founded by him, and
the early combination of the little
band known as " The Cliildreu of
Peace," which began to hold its
meetings for worship in 1814.
They dilfered from the Quakers in
several peculiarities, were fond of
music and introduced both vocal
and instrumental in their devotion-
al exercises, were not obliged to
conform to any particular style of
dress, and no religious tests were
required as a standard of faith or
godliness.

Their first meetings were held in
Mr. Wilison's private house, and
later on in a log building, which
stood upon the site of the present
meetinghouse, until their first
church was built in 18U), after-
wards known as the Mirsic Hall.
It was 40 ft. square at the base, l(i
ft. high, one storey, no upper room
a door in the center on each of the
four sides and two windowM each
side of the four doors, each win-
dow containing 24 panes of glass.
It was painted white, the roof be-
ing supported by large columns
painted a light green.

The first feast was held in 1818, as
a harvest home dinner, prepared by
the wives and mothers, and was
partaken of in the open air, on the
site where the Music Hall stood,
and was afterwards instituted as
the feast of the "first fruits" cor-
responding to " Lammas day."

In 1820 a brass band of music
was organized in connection with

History o! the Children of Peace.

''ie Bociety
« to Mr.
'»• ieadep.

';•'«, and

.V'« iitMe
"^reii of
.i.oid its

'" I8I4.
akers in
fond of
J'j vocaJ
devotion-
^'ged to
sJ^yie of

ts
'aith

were
or

heJd in
se, arjj
whi«h

P'VHent
first
after-
Hull.

««, Id

fooni

»f the

win-

he.
imns

8, US

THE SHARON TEMPUE.

the society, which is the oldest
brass band in Canada, and which \
j)erforraed a sacred piece of mnsic j
during service. A pipe organ was
also added to the service during
tlie same year, the builder being
Mr. Richard Coates of Toronto,
who was a band master in the
British Army at the battle of
Waterloo and in the Peninsular
Wars. This was the first pipe
organ built in Canada and had two
barrels, ten tunes on each barrel.

Mr. Richard Coat3s was teacher
of the bi*nd when organized, he
taught each member to perform on
his special instrument. This con-
tinued for some length of time.
The late Jesse Doan, brother of the
Charles Doan of Aurora, and
father of Mrs. Col. Wayling of
Sharon, was the first recognized
loader, the time of his appoint-
ment is not known, bnt he con-
tinued to lead until September

18GG, when through failing health
he resigned, and transferred the
leadership to his nephe -n, Mr. J. D.
Graham. Jesse Doan made a
specialty in the clarionet of
which instrument he was thorough-
ly master. A number of the
members of the band purchased
silver instruments in New York,
from 1864 to 1867 inclusive, each
member owning his own instru-
ment. The two large bass horns
owned by Charles Graham and
George M. Doan, were particularly
fine, and were purchased at a cost
of $123 and $140 respectively.
All the members of the band
thoroughly understjinding the dif-
ferent scales, would transpose the

music as they played, thereby

saving the trouble of rewriting the

original score in a different key,

if so required. It has been said

by competent judges to be the most

History of the Children of Peace.

\i'"'

\imU'vt in tone, time and fXreulior
of iiny ninnteiir bund in Cantulit.

Tliey also eultivuted their talent
ioi siii^MMjr Mf, a veiy early date,
LSI!), and liad tiie best t'lichrrs eu-
|j:ap'd tliat were available at that
time. The first I'rofessor obtnin-
able was Mr. Daniel Cory of Bos-
t(»n, whom tln'y enj^ajjjed for the
purjmsc. He cominencted his
duties January 11, 184G, aud then
a systematie training in all tin*
rudiments of siL^ing was engaj^ed
in with black-board and all eon-
venienees rei^uired. This eon-
tinned for over two years. Tlie
surrounding country joined with
the Davidites iu the school exer-
cises which were conducted in the
large room above iu the meeting-
house. Mr. Cory held two grand
concerts during his engagement
here, one in Feb. 1847, the other
in the summer, both given in the
meeting house, which was filled
with an audience that fully ap-
preciated the entertainment.

In the winter of 1818 a school
was organized, the terra at that
time being " Girls' House," you ig
ladies from about 12 years of age
and upwards were placed there to
be taught thorough house-keeping
and house work, such as spinning
both wool and flax, sowing, knit-
ting, and cooking in all its
branches. The first building util-
ized for this pu]-[)ose was a log
house that stood near where the
residence of the late Hugh D.
Willson now stands. As the
number of applicants increased it
was necessary to build a house for
the purpose. They built a more

commodious one where the resi-
dence of Mr. John Waslev now is.l

• 7 1

nearly opposite the Metho^listl
Church, This was in full opera-
tion for a number of years, until
each one and all nnirried, and
lett for liomes of their own. Up to
and during this period the society
had greatly increased in numbers,
and educational facilities were in a
very crude stare. They decided to
♦^rect a still larger building, which
was about 30 feet sipnire, two
s.ories high, and was known as the
" square house '' and stood on what
is now Mrs. E. McArthnr'^ garden,
opposite the meeting house. This
institution would now l»e termed a
Ladies' Seminary, a Inrge number
of young ladies, not only of this,
but of other denoiLi nations here
received a pract'cal education.

This educational institution was
what has given rise to the report
that David Willson kept a harem,
and the inmates were his concu-
bines, but a baser calumny was
never uttered on an honest purpose,
as many who are yet living can
testify. There are six still Jiving
iu the year 1898, who attended this
institution.

Another matter may be explain-
ed here, and that is why the young
women were dressed in white on
the feast days, at that time many
were in very moderate circumstances
and one of Mr. Willson's mottoes
being "Equality," he suggested
white as the color of their dresses,
it being the emblem of purity, and
the material inexpensive placed it
within the reach of all.

History of the Children of Peace.

'7 "le resi.
^«i<iv now iK,

^"" operft.
y^V'""' until
•^'•^•''*d, and
';;^"- Upfo

" ^'unihers

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'•'^^'- Tiiis

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fions here
ition.

ition

a- iJarem,
*^ conen-
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P"''pose,
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young

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THE MEETING-HOUSE

In 1825 they began the erection
lof the Temple, which has long been
the wonder and admiration of all
I who have seen it. It is a three-
storey structure 75 ft. in height,
surmounted by a gilded ball, on
which is inscribed the word
** Peace." The first or ground
storey, which is the auditorium, is
sixty feet square. The second or
middle storey is a music gallery
where the band rendered a selec-
tion of musit*^ while the congregation
were entering the building. The
third storey is a dome, from which
there is an open space to the
ground floor. In the centre on the
first floor stands a small finely
finished structure, built by the late
John Doan, called the Altar, and
which occupied 365 davs in build-
ing, and like nie temple is square
and contains the Holy Bible. It
stands on twelve gilded pillars,
representing the twelve apostles

and is emblematical of tne religion
of Christ, on the f ol r corners of
each storey of the Temple, a spire
is placfd, making twelve in all, and
vt'hen illuminated is symbolical of
the twelve apostles going out into
the world to preach the salvation
of Christ to the people.

THE SYMBOLIC MEANING OP THE
TEMPLE.

Mr. Willson bad a symbolic
meaning attached to each and
every part of the Temple. We
will give it in his own words as the
writer heard him repeat it.

" My meaning for the three-
storeys is to represent tlie Trinity.
Being square at base meant to deal
on the square with all people.
The door in the centre on each of
the four sides is to let the people
come in from the east and the
west, the north and the south on
equal and the same footing. The
equal number of windows on each

^■s^ss^mm

History ot the Cnildren of Peace.

8i(le of every door is lo let tlie
lijifht of the jfoapel be e<iually the
same on all the pe<>ple herein as
sembled. The four pilhirs at each
corner of the Altar, with the words
Faith, Hope, Love and Charity, in
scribed on them is the fonr eardin-
al virtues, whieh are the fonnda-
tion, or in other words the prin
ciples on which it is built. The
Golden Ball on the top storey with
the word *' Peace '' inscribed meant
peace to the world."

On the evening of the first Fri-
day in each September, the Temple
was illuminated for divine worship,
and presented a very beautiful ap
pearance when lig:hted, there being
2,952 panes of glass in the win
dows and spires. The illumina-
tion of the building was intended
to represent Christianity enlight-
ing the darkened understanding of
the mind.

The foUowingday the feast of tlje
" first fruits," was celebrated a»i(l
another service in the Temple, fol-
lowed by a dinner provided in tlie
meeting-house. During the after
noon the band rendered a number
of selections on the green in front
of the meeting house, or, in other
words, an open air concert. The
members also held a feast the fii'st
Saturday in June, at first in honor
of David Will son's biithday, after-
wards instituted as " thepassover."

The building was intended to be
used fifteen times during the year,
never at any time for Sunday wor-
ehip, viz.: service on the last Satur-
day of each month, when the
members made contributions for
charitable purposes. It has genei-

ally been suppose*! that this oc-
<Mipied 7 years in building, after]
King Solomon's Temple, but su<?h
was not the case, as it was begun
in 1825, and the first service was!
held in it October 20, 1831, m>»king|
the period of erection six years.'
It was painted white with green
facings.

At the time and during the erec-
tion of the Temple, it was proposed
to erect what is known as the
Study, which was erected in 1829.
This though of small dimensions iu
one to excite interest from an
architectural point of view. This
building like the meeting-house is
surrounded by a colonnade of pil-
lars, 10 in number, the measure-
ment of the colonnade being 24 ft.
long, 16 ft. G in. wide. The body
of the building 16 ft. long, 8 ft.
wide and one storey high, a door in
centre on east and wesc sides,
twelve small spir. s on the roof and
twelve windows, four on each side,
ivvo at each end and painted like
the temple, white with gie(?n fac-
ings. This structure was finished
and the opening took pla?e in
September of the same year.
They had ^eats placed in front of
the building to accommodate the
large gathering of friends that
availed themselves of the pleasure.
The time was spent in speeches and
singing, and social intercourse all
iu harmony with the occasion, and
so the afternoon passed away.

Later on, the second pipe organ,
also built by Mr, R, Coates with
<^hree barrels attached to it, ten
tunes on each barrel, was put in,
and the music produced by this

History of the Children of Peace.

^.^«t this on-,
,"'<^""ff, after
P't', but 8ll(.hf
was hegunl

««;';vic.e WU8!

six years.
with green

"fe' the ereo-

Hs proposed

-^« as the

vd in 1829.

"lensions io

t from au

'•'^v. This

'K-Jjoiise is
ido of pi|.

6 measiire-
eing24 ft.
, ^he body
'«»ff, 8 ft.
^> a door in
'i'sc sides.
^^ I'oof and
each side,
inted JikJ
'«'*" fae-
=5 finished
plaee in

^'' year,
front of
date the
ds that
^leasnre.
'hes and
«rse all
^n, and

organ,
es with
it, ten
Hit in,
y this

INTERIOR OF TEMPLE.

organ w«8 the old time ballnds
su«-h as *' Blue Hells of Seotland,"
" Heiiry's Cottnge Maid," Water
Painted from the Sea," " Loch-a-
bar no more," thirty tunes in all.
The tone of tbis organ was particu-
larly sweet and very harmonious
to the ear.

The ladies ip connection with the
society made white, plain muslin
curtains to drape the organ ; they
formed a point at the top, and
reached to the floor, slightly drawn
or parted in front, and trimmed
with blue ribbon, which had a most
pleasing effect. The windows
were draped in white corded mus-
lin, valances cord and tassels, a

bii<;]it seiirlet valance was fastened
around the inside above the win-
dows. It was neat, plain and very
attractive. This was the decora-
tion of the Study, at that time.
At this time, the members still in-
creasing in numbers, it was decided
to build a more commodious church
for Sunday worship, which result-
ed in the building of the Meeting-
House, a ^tructure 100 ft. long by
50 ft. wide surrounded by a colan-
nade of pillars. This building was
painted a light yellow with green
facings, and has a large room up
stairs for Sabbath Schools, and
band rehearsals. The main part of
the building which was used ior

History of the Children off Peace.

service contains another, the thud
pipe organ, plavjed here iu 1848,
built also by Mr. Richard Coatts.
In this place worship was held
every Sunday after the following
manner : — Organ voluntary, sacred
piece by the band, reading the
scripture, hymn by the choir, pray-
er, anthem, sermon, hymn, closing
voluntary by the 01 gan.

Service was also held on Christ-
mas morning at 6 a. m., when the
house was lighted by a candle be-
ing placed in each window both
above and below, followed by a
free breakfast, service again at
11 a. m., followed by the Christ-
mas offertory and dinner. The 5
a. m. service was in commemora-
tion of the Saviour's birth, at that
time in the morning.

In this building the feasts were
held ; prior to this in the open air
in the Temple field. This church
was commenced in 1834, finished
and dedicated in the summer of
1842, the month and date not now
known.

During the early times of this
society, it was the custom for a
number to go to Toronto and
Markham Township to hold a Sun-
day service, a written sermon be-
ing left at home to be read by one
of their members. Revival meet-
ings were unknown among tliem,
neither had they any other minister
than David Willson, and his ser-
vice was at all times given free.
While he always maintained " The
laborer was worthy of his hire," he
was averse to high salaries being
paid to ministers, preferring rather
to give the surplus to the poor, and

so this little body grew and thrived,
gaining for themselves a repuiii-
tiou for morality, upright dealiug
and honesty of purpose nnd beli«t,
never asking f(>r assistance outside
their own congregation. As Mr.
Wilison once wrote, *' Our wants
are few and simple," and thus they
passed their lives in helping each
other and the poor around them,
in their own unostentatious wav of
serving their Creator. Thoy did
their life's work and quietly pass-
ed away in the hope of their re-
ward in the great hereafter.

Upon the completion of their
numerous buildings the society
contiaued to floarish until the
death of David Willson, which oc-
curred on January 19, 1866, at the
age of 87 years, 7 months, and 12
days. His remains were interred
beside his life partner, in the
cemetery one mile south of Sharoi»,
and not in a vault under the Study
as was reported by many at the
time of his death. The reading of
the service devolved upon his eld-
est son, John David Willson,
David Willson having left a num-
ber of sermons, prayers, and hymns
on^l-ecord. •

After this the society began to
fail in numbers, many moved
away a: d others identified them-
selves with other churches. At
this time the society has become
extinct. The churches still stand
as a monument to the memory of
the dt parted.

The Music Hall, and Square
House were both removed some
years ago.