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Laa diagrammae suivanta illuatrent la m^thoda. ita luro. ] 12 3 1 2 3 4 S • I ■■ ' if -■<*-.?;w'i ;>> ■ A-J- <--..l .K-j I' I ". i ^ I < .y '^M."'a^-Av- ■'0 A FORTY YEARS' SURVEY T- "^Z ■ K,/V- •"■,:-.'V>::l^^ FROM ' r- ^-. v - , u >f ■Iv V- 13 m OND STREET IKULPIT 4 \>. <',-""' i '.■■■'■' • ! ■ ' . ^ ■-« REV. R. A. FYFE, D.D., ^ f ^ " ■ . _ ,• ■; ^ .« 1 ■ ''. i*'' . WOODSTOCK. > A V '^^^t ^ n .1'^^^^,. >..• -iXieo"*- .> T (f R ONTO t .if i.:' J DUDLFY A BURNS, PRINTERS. 1876. ^ T "**• f/ /fe-'?- M m '<■','.■,'■>" ". '■» s _;. V ^/fc -A ' !•/''.!'■' 1 ^''f-;,- ' i '"? ' •i'-'. '■'■ '■■r-^i'4. P'" .%^ ■('i-v" '•/?*■>"'.■ J''':^^.. ; Cf !l i)l. . ' .V *^f*'; -' V- J.' >.'■> '■'■' '■ ,' „-, ■ , " i l >" U-!.^^V ff^ri^ ^■.,, ;-v,^^- y ' : . '*:V K, ,'v^,r». ■■'tti 1 -.^':' P'!"-IJ|^J^iv,ii«''i '■' C' ' . ■A FOETY YEAES' SUEVEY TKOM V; ^w- \ y. v-y''' BOND STREET PULPIT, BY REV. R. A. FYFE, D.D., WUODSTOCK. r O R O N T O : DUDLF.Y & BURNS, PRINTERS. 1876. I Toronto, November 29th, 1875. I Rev. Dr. Fyfe, Dear Brother, I beg to inform you that, on the 28th inst., a part of the closing business of old Bond Street Church was to pass a cordial and unanimous vote of thanks to you for your interesting and long to be remembered sermon, "A Forty Years' Survey from Bond Street Fulpit,"— a sermon recalling the days when we were few and weak, the days when March Street Church arose and built in Bond St., recalling times of darkness and almost despair, times of spiritual pros- perity and progress, and of the growth of the Baptists in Toronto from a mere handful to hundreds. And it is requested that you kindly fur- nish the church with a copy of the above sermon, that it may be printed and published. On behalf of the church, Edmund Burke, Clerk. To the Bond Street Baptist Church : Dear Brethren, I have much pleasure in complying with your "cordial " request, to furnish you the manuscript, of the last ser- mon preached in Bond Street Baptist Church, for publication. I participated with you in the Christian duty and privilege, of review- ing God's dealings with the Church for over forty years. In such a re trospec^ we could scarcely fail to learn some painful lessons, as we'll as pleasant ones, and to receive fresh Impulses toward something hi-hcr and holier. '"^ This review I found profitable to myself, and in placing the Sermon at your disposal, I hope it will prove yet more beneficial to others. I am, in Christian bonds, Very sincerely, &c., K. A. FvKJ . Canadian Literary Institute, December, 1875. T "».• A FORTY YEARS' SURVEY IROM BOND STREET PULPIT Deutkkonomy, viii. '2.— "Thou shall remember all the way which the Lord th\ God led thee, these forty years." Tlie Chine>s(i have a proverb " Ha])py is the nation v^rhose history is uninteresting." But this, like a good man}^ other national proverbs, is only a brilliant half truth, which, in some of its applications is equivalent to a whole falsehood. Why should history be unin- teresting ? It can be only because it records a story in which there is no life, and consequently neither progress nor variety. That is the history of tomb- stones. The happiness of a state of stagnation oi- death, may commend itself to an oriental mind, it does not to ours Tlie |)roverb is of the earth earthy ; it is singularly uuspiritual, The history of individuals, organizations, or nations^ is always full of inteiest, when we trace the sources of their life, growth, and progress, and the causes and nfiuences which have moulded them, and made them what they are. From this stand point, the history of 6 A Forty years' Surrey any living thing must give pleasure, and impart beau- tiful lessons of instruction and comfort. A man cannot look upon a noble tree, and call to mind the various instrumentalities, in the hand of God, which contribu- ted to give it strength, beauty, and symmetry — the winds which fanned it, the storms which shook it, making it anchor itself more liri.ily in the soil, the I'ains and dews which moistened and refreshed it, and the sun which warmed it, making it bud and expand through many years — without feeling his pulses quickened and his interest increased. How much more are all our faculties aroused and stimulated, when we trace the growth and development ot an im- mortal being, so fearfully and wonderfully made ! And in a yet higher degree is this realized, when we are following the history of an organization like the Church, for here the hand of God can be clearly seen. On the Church of Christ, the image of her divine Re- deemer is distinctly impressed, and at every step of her advance we trace his footsteps by her side. It is the presence of God in history which gives to its les- sons special significancy and value. History has been called " philosophy teaching by example ;" it had much better be called, God teaching by examples. If the events transpiring around us and even life itself, are but fevered struggles, cut off from coimection with the past, and carrying with them no real lesson for the future, then indeed the life, whether of individuals or of societies, is but a tangled skein not worth un- ravelling. But if we are assured that in all which 7 f * From Bond Street Pulpit. 7 transpires in this world God has some purpose, and that he will make all in some way contribute to his grand designs, then all the records, even of this sin cursed earth, become inspired with a profound meaning and a living interest, which stretch through the ever- lasting future. We may not be able to read the divine purpose, in the vast majority of these events, but we know it ex- ists in them all, and in some we can clearly see it, and comprehend the lesson of warning or encouragement, conveyed by them. To the Christian especially is the discovery of God in all the events of the past as well as the present, a source of special comfort and joy. " blest is he to whom is given Tlie instinct that can tell That God is on the field, -when he Is most invisible." As I preached in this house on the first day on which it was used for public worship, (twenty-seven years ago last June), I have been asked by the Church to preach the last sermon within these walls, and in doing so, I have been requested to give some account of the history of this church, and also of the general progress of the Baptists of Ontario and Quebec, during the same period. A Christian people have not only the right to re- call the past, but are directly commanded to do so- " Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee." But why should a command like this 8 ^l Fortj Fear.s' ^Surretj V have beeu necessary ? Can j^'ood men ever forget the way by whieli (iod has led them ? Their way may liave been rough and thorny but God had them by th hand Mid made their shoes iron and brass. One would suppose tliat people so largely indebted to God. and so co itinually blest by him, (as a'l Christians are), must hourl}' have some sweet Ebenezer in review. There CSrod took my feet out of the horrible pit and miry clay and set them on a rock : hero lie chastened me for ni}^ spiritual wanderings, but how tenderly and lovingly did he watch over the chastening, that it might bring fortli the fruits of righteousness in me ! At such a time he gave me my hubau'i, my wife, m}' Sim, or my daughter, in a new rtdationship, spiritual and \mdying, and can I ever forget Him :* We can readily conceive that some Christians who have lived lar from God, and much in the atmosphere of this world, may re(piire often to have our text re]»eated to them ;" Thou shalt remember ^(7Hhe way, the rough as well as the smooth, the dark as well as the bright But to a great portion of the human family, recalling the j'ast must be anything but })leasant at any time. They hav(i passed through life thus far, and have treasured u]) nothing of ])ermanent value. Tiiey iia\«' done no good, they have laid u]) nothing tor eternity. Tliey have ))een panting their lives out, in the }»ursuit of that which has eluded tlieir grasj*. They have stained their M)ids to obtain that for which eonsciencc now reproaches them. 'IMiey have eaten the fruits of Gomorrah, and the bitter ashes are still in their From Bond Street Pulpit. 9 mouths. This world has grievously disappointed them, and they have no portion in the other, whose rapid approach is now sounding in their ears. It can- not be pleasant for such people to recall their history, for it is without God, and without hope. No word more terrible to the unsaved will ever be uttered in the world of woe, than, " Bememher.'' The most earnest and active Christian would be greatly benefited l)y having the text repeated to him, from time to time. Indeed it would be unspeakably better for us all, lid we more frequentl}^ meditate upon God's dealings with us in the past. " Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee, these forty years." This Church is forty-six years old, if we reckon from the first record which wefindof its meetings, asan organ- ized body. Its history has been in many respects, like that of human life in general. It lias had its seasons of adversity.andof prosperity, of sickness and of health, of shadow and of sunshine. The first meeting of which we have any official record, was held on the sixteenth of Octobin- 1(S21), when the late Joseph Wenham, Esq., of the Bank of Upper Canada, was appointed to kee]) a remilar account of the transactions of the C*hurch. It would seem from incidental allusions in the minutes that one or more meetings, or consultaticms, had been hehl Itefore, but there is no record of what was said or done at these supposed meetings. The old Church re- cords are very meagre, being confined to the dry statement of facts or resolutions. No list of the con- 10 A Forty Vears' Stirvet/ stitnent members has been preserved in the Church books, so that it is doubtful whether any one now knows with certainty, who were the real constituent members of this church. The only persons now living whose names appear on the early records, are Robert Yorston of this city, and William Hewitt, of Vittoria, the father of one of the present deacons of the Church. The name of Wm. Hewitt, appears in the minutes of the third Church meeting whosp])ortunity ; one of these was the late be. 12 A Forty Years Survey loved pastor of this Church, T. F. Caldicott, D.D. In July 1832, Mr. Caldicott was chosen deacon; and during this year the first Chapel, or Church edifice was built in what was then known as March Street, but now as Stanley. At that time (1832) the Street had been laid out indeed, but there were scarcely any buildings on it, and no one could predict that it would not become one of the very best streets in the city. But such was not to be its favored des- tiny. The Chapel itself was very far from being attractive to look at, besides being very small. It could not seat comfortably more than one hun- dred and sixty people. Miserable houses sprang up all around it ; and what was still worse, many of them were inhabited bv the most vicious, and miser- able kind of people, so that the whole street soon became extremely unsavory in every sense of the term. For sixteen long years the outward condition of the Baptists of this city might be compared to that of those unhappy criminals, who were, by their Tus- can tyrants, tied hand to hand and face to face, with the rotting dead. The surrounilings of the Church were constantly growing worse, and thus tlic last part of their sojtniin there was worse than the first. Often, on Sabbath evenings, a ]»olic('man was secured to ])atrol the side walk, in front of March Street Church, to keep down the upioar which the children and others would thoughtlessly, or wilfully, make in the neiirhbourlxxxl. Vhis is only one of the adverse in I From Bond Street Pulpit. 13 fluences against which this Church had to struggle iu her earlier years Another obstacle to her progress, was encountered in the want of homogeneity, among a considerable por- tion of her members. Without reflecting on the character of a single individual, it cannot have escaped the notice of tlie observant that in a new country, where immigrants from all points of the compass are thrown together, even good men of the " same faith," are often very illy adapted to work together. Men of strong individuality, with set habits, made angular sometimes, by the peculiarities of some able ministers under whom they Avere trained in the old world, are generally more anxious to lead than to follow. Half a dozen such in any church, would be likely to make severe friction in its working ; and the smaller the Church the worse would tliis state of things be. Each one would think, when the work was not done as he had been accustomed to see it doue, that there must be something very wrong, and his conscience could not sanction vrrong. O that conscience, what a singulai- instrument it is ! And practically it often happens that such men will do nothing, because they cannot have precisely their own M'ay. Their principles are so strong and sliari)ly defined, that they constantly stand in tlio way of their practice. If they were not men of sucli sterling prin- ci})le, they might do something for God and their fellow men, but as it is they have too much principle to have much practice ! 14 A Forty Years' Survey A man has made great progi-ess when he has learned to co-operate heartily with his brethren, with the full approbation of his whole nature. It requires a many sided and self-forgetting person, to see that it is rarely of much importance how a thing is done, so that it really is well done ; and that in all organizations it is generally better to co-operate with our brethren in a less perfect scheme, than to stand alone admiring the most perfect. Opinions regulate the ways and modes of doing things, principles rarely do. Such people as I have in my mind, have a very imperfect idea of the true design of the gospel. That is chiefly remedial, and its loving spirit should be wrapped around all we touch and do. A fo.w .such members as I have sketch- ed would soon influence a church, and without intending it, make her feel that work for God and for perishing men is not the greatest thing, that hwilding lip is not the main idea, but huUdlnf/ up in their way. Such principles introduced among the members of am- organization infallibly lead to disintegration. I believe no denomination in this country is yet wholly free from spiritual stones so peculiarly cut, that no other stone can be laid beside them. The state of thinfrs was much harder to manage twenty-five years ago. When a Church becomes large and strong, a few such stones do no grejit harm ; they can be laid upon the top of the wall to keejt over-forward folks from climl»- ing over. This Church has been retarded in her progress also, by some who suddenly became too ]iious any longer 1<» From Bond Street Puljrit. 15 walk with their brethren ; who sunk all their interest for the lost and perishing, in their overwhelming de- sire for personal edification and comfort. Or to state the thought differently ; they lost their sympathy for humanity, through the professed greatness of their love for Christ. St. Augustine says, if one reached up to kiss the Saviour's lips, and in doing so, he should lacerate and tear the Saviour's bare feet, with the spikes and nails of his shoes, he would be asked why do you wound and pain my feet, in your endeavors to kiss my lips ? So he asks, why do you trample upon, and wound my people, through your professed great ]ove for me ? Such people set up to be Angels before their wings are grown. I name one other hindrance to Baptist progress, deeply felt in the past, both here and elsewhere in the provinces. I refer to the difficulty of securing suitable pastors and teachers. The Baptists in their origin, in any new place, are less dependent upon ministers technically so called, than perhaps any other denomination of Christian s. This is easily proved by tracing the progress of the great religious movements — the reformation of the sixteenth century for example. During the progress of this, we find the Baptists spring- ing up everywhere, without a ministry strictly speaking. Or take a more modern illustration, the revival which manifested itself in a French prison during the wars with Napoleon. There about one hundred young men were converted, simply by reading the New Testa- ment, and of these over ninety became Baptists. But the word of God, quick and powerful as it is, was 10 A Forty Years' Survey I never meant to supersede the living preacher among the Baptists, any more than among others. The ministry of the Gospel is a permanent institution of God, and it is absolutely essential to the growth, deve- lopment, and proper training of Christian churches- And no where have the Baptists suffered more than in Canada, for want of preachers properly trained, and in sufficient numbers. For a number of years, no man gave up his v/hole time to the work of the minis- try in this churcli. The first pastor pursued a secular calling and preached on the Sabbath, and others in the church preached as they found opportunity. It was this feature in the church, which probably gave to some the impression, that originally this church held what are called Scotch Baptist principles. I find no evidence however, that Scotch Baptist views were ever even proposed, to be embodied in the constitu- tion of the church, whatever individual members may liave held. Indeed the constitution of this church has ever been eminently sound and scriptural. None but converted members, were received to the ordinances iind thus spiritual character always came first. Those (inly who were professedly regenerated by the Spirit of CJod, and who exercised faith in the Lord Jesus Christ could be received for baptism ; and none but those who had been baptized on a profession of their faith could be received to the Lord's Supper. And in pass- ing I deliberately affirm, that it is tliis last mentioned position alone which gives us the logical right to or- a church separate from our pedo-baptist ganize From Bond Htreet Pulpit. 17 brethren. Let the Baptists give up close communion, and with this surrender they yield up their logical right to have a Baptist Church at all. This church was " close communion " from its foundation, and her strength and compactness this day are largely due to the consistent position which she has always held on this subject. The first pastor, the Kev. A. Stewai-t, seems to have met with some difficulties as pastor, and he resigned his office in 1886, (his death did not take place till 1840), but this act did not prove a complete remedy if we may judge from a paper read about that time. In 1839, a paper drawn u\) by the authority of the Church, and signed by six leading members, was sent to the Colonial Baptist Missionary Society in London. This document was giving an account of the state of the Church, and applying for a missionary pastor. The following is an extract : " But these encouraging prospects were blighted by a succession of labourers who were defective either in character or in talent, and therefore failed to bring in and keep united the elements of which a church of Christ is composed. The members one after another retired to other de- nominations or formed tliemselves into lesser divisions, citlier with or without a ministry ; their usefulness being restricted thereby, almost to themselves. After the lapse of years however, these lesser divisions have dwindled away to a mere nominal existence, and the difficulties which but recently stood in the way to 2 1 r , r I H 18 A FoH(j Years Sai'vey \ render the reoccupaney of the station, in some measure painful or embarassint? to tlie Christian labourer, no longer exist." A strong rally was made in 1840 the year after the paper was written from which the foregoing extract was taken and a pastor was secured. The church then possessed an amount of wealth and a strength of membership, greater than she exhibited for many years afterwards. But the members were not homo- geneous, and the three pastors who were settled between 1840 and 1844, viz., Messrs. Coombes, Tapscott, and Campbell, were unable to weld, or work them together. So that in 1844, a large portion of the membership and half the wealth, were scattered never again to be gathered. In the last named year, there were only sixty-four members on the books, (and these could not all be found), and they were barely able to raise $400 for the new pastor's salary. This is not a very cheering ex- hibit of fifteen years work. I was called to the pastorate of tliis church, in Sep- tember 1844, and endeavoured to discharge the duties of the office for four years, March Street being our head quarters. In June 1848, the present house in its first form was opened for public worship. Soon after this I lesigned, and Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Pyper, was called to the pastorate, which he filled with credit and ability for seven years, till 1855. Getting the church away from March Street and its surroundings was, humanly speaking, the first step toward perma- I ; From Bond Street Pulpit. 19 nent prosperity. Indeed it is a wonder that the church grew at all in that evil atmosphere. During the last four years of its stay in that unfortunate local- ity, its membership increased only about fifty per cent. VV^hen Dr. Pyper came therefore, he had not quite one hundred members, to mould and train for usefulness. During his seven years' labours the church increased to two hundred and forty-nine members, a gain of about one hundred and fifty per cent in seven yeai's. But it should be borne in mind, that such statistics give no adequate conception of the real work and changes in the church during these periods. For ex- ample, in two years from 1855 to 1857, one hundred and twenty six persons were added to the church by letter and baptism, and yet the net gain was only 45- Toronto has always been a place where a large portion of the immigrants remain only for a few months, till they can inform themselves about the country, and then they move away and take their letters with them- In 1855, the present speaker again became pastor, and I'etained the office until he reluctantly resigned it, at the urgent request of the leading brethren of the de- nomination, to enter upon his present occupation. About the close of 1860, tlie late Dr. Caldicott be- came pastor, in which office he c(mtinued till 1869, when God said to him " come up higher." The Rev, W. Stewart, M.A., was the next pastor, for three years. His work is too recent and well-known to re_ (juire any lengthened notice. He was followed by the present highly esteemed pastor, 20 A Forty Years* Survey Not to weary you with minute details, in regard to the growth of the Baptists in this city from year to year, I may remark that, in 1859 there were four hundred and twenty -four members in the Bond Street and Queen Street Churches, and in 1869, just ten years afterward, there were five hundred and eight in the Bond Street, Alexander Street, and Queen Street churches together. In the Associational minutes of June last twelve hundred and sixteen members are reported, in the six Baptist churches of this city. That is during the ten years lying between 1859 and 18G9, the net gain of the churches was not quite twenty per cent, but dujing the six years between 18«>9 and 1875, the net gain has been over one hun- dred and forty per cent! Surely God was walking among the golden candlesticks ! Before making any practical application of the foregoing facts and principles, I may be allowed to make a few remarks illustrative of the growth of the denomination at large, during the period under review in this discourse. It is difficult to speak very positively of minute events in early Baptist history, because so few records have come down to us. The truth is early Baptists were making liistory, rather than writing it. None of the churches in Ontario or Quebec can claim to be much over eighty years old. The oldest in Quebec was formed at Caldwell's Manor, in 1794, and between that date and 1803 several small churches were gathered in Prince Edward District, and an association • Form Bond Street Pulint. 21 j \ \ of these churches was formed in 1803, called first, Thurlow, and then Haldimand. But many of the set- tlers moved away and most of the churches changed their names, or becaiiK? extinct. The oldest church west of this city, is I think Vittoria, (Beamsville is about of the same age), which was founded in 1804. If we draw a line due north from this city, then all the Baptist communicants west of that line did not, in 1829, number quite one thousand. Now the same area contains at least fifteen thousand ; more than fifteen times as many. Forty-six years ago the two provinces of Ontario and Quebec, contained about fifteen hun- dred Baptist communicants, now they contain at least twenty-three thousand ; more than fifteen times as many. Or let us compare the growth of the whole de- nomination, during the last sixteen years, with the growth of the Baptists in this city during the same time. In 1859, the members of our churches in Ontario and Quebec numbered a little over twelve thousand five hundred ; in 1869, they had increased to a very little over sixteen thousand, an increase of only 28 per cent, in ten years. From sixteen thousand in 1869, they have now become twenty three thousand, that is a gain of fully forty-four per cent, in six years. This is not equal to their growth in this cit}'', during the past six years, still it is great and encouraging pro- gress. No statement of the comparative amounts contribu- ted for objects of benevolence by the denomination at difterent periods of its history, can be given ; nor 2a 22 A Forty Year^' Survey ? would it be of much interest perhaps if it could. It is sufficient to say that for denominational objects, and for objects of general benevolence, more than thirty thousand dollars were contributed the past year. This of course does not include the salaries of pastors, nor church expenses, nor the large sums con- tributed, in a number of places, for church buildings. Of these thirty thousand dollars, upwards of one-tenth was contributed by the churches in this city. During the past six years the Baptists of Ontario and Quebec, have increased the value of their churjh property, by at least two hundred and sixty thousand dollars. They iiave contributed not less than fifty thousand dollars for educational i^urposes, during tlie same period. These facts and statements suggest a few closing re- marks of a more practical character. 1. What personal memories, sorrowful and joyful painfid and pleasant, does this review of the past bring to the mind of many now hearing me ! I have been speaking almost exclusively of the dry outward facts of your history. But every christian knows, that a church of Jesus Christ has an inner as well as an outer history. History should enter into the very source and springs of a church's spiritual life and growth, as well as into the outer forn and develop- ment. You, my christian l)rethren,are about to move into a lar;»or more convenient and more beautiful house of worship, than that whicli you have long oc- cupied — one where you will have greater facilities for doing your work for Ood. But how many of you I i t ? From Bond Street Pulpit. 23 * I will look back to old Bond Street with feelings which you never can have for any other place of worship on earth. Here your eyes were first opened to see your condition as sinners, and here God's great pity found you. As you were in this house, made to see how evil and bitter it is, to be a sinner against God, so you were enabled to feel how precious is the blood which cleanses from all sin. This was your spiritual birth place, and this was the school where you learned your first precious Itssons in the christian life. O what prostrations of soul before God have you known here, and to what heavenly places in Christ Jesus have you at times been exhalted ! I am sure there are many before me, who through the never ending future will in thought tenderly revisit Bond Street. There are many scattered over the face of the earth, who will do the same — aye, and many now in ^he mansions of glory, who will fondly recall the spot where Christ met them and first spoke peace to their souls. Even God, tenderly remembers " the love of our espousals :' and Christ forbids us to forget our " first lovo." Re- member these things, my brethren. I need scarcely remind you that there are very few things worth retaining in a Christian's mind, except the gracious dealings of God with him. It is assured- ly not the size, the beauty, nor the costliness of our house of worship which is worth thinking of, but the spiritual benefit we receive in it. Nothing in thought oven is worthy to be compared with this. I am |)ersuaded ol'you, that in bile of doing much good, could they liave found within the church work adapted to them, on which they could employ their own methods of work. It is perfectly well known, that all men cannot do the same kind of woi-k, nor can all those who can do the same kind of work, do it in the same methods. N(^t being employed in any productive religious work, such members coidd not be at rest or satisfied. In l(So6-7 a inission School and preaching station was oj^ened in the West partof thccitj'', and for a time was (piite jnomising : Init those who conduete