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diff --git a/24586-h/24586-h.htm b/24586-h/24586-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..000b575 --- /dev/null +++ b/24586-h/24586-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,34360 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Story Of My Life, by Egerton Ryerson. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + p.subhead1 { font-size: 120%; + text-align: center; + font-weight: bold;} + + + p.subhead2 { font-size: 110%; + text-align: center; + font-weight: bold;} + + p.subhead3 { font-size: 80%; + text-align: center; + } + + p.space {margin-top: 3.5em;} + + .padtop {margin-top: 4em;} + + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 90%;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + td.tl {text-align: left;} + td.tr {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} + + .footnotes {border: 0px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i19 {display: block; margin-left: 19em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i3 {display: block; margin-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i5 {display: block; margin-left: 5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i6 {display: block; margin-left: 6em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of My Life, by Egerton Ryerson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story of My Life + Being Reminiscences of Sixty Years' Public Service in Canada + +Author: Egerton Ryerson + +Editor: J. George Hodgins + +Release Date: February 12, 2008 [EBook #24586] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF MY LIFE *** + + + + +Produced by Stacy Brown, Jason Isbell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"><a name="ifront" id="ifront"></a> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="400" height="480" alt="Egerton Ryerson" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h1>"THE STORY OF MY LIFE."</h1> + +<p class="subhead3"><span class="smcap">BY THE LATE</span></p> + +<h2>REV. EGERTON RYERSON, D.D., LLD.,</h2> + +<p class="subhead2">(<span class="smcap">Being Reminiscences of Sixty Years' Public Service in Canada</span>.)</p> + +<p class="subhead3 padtop">PREPARED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF HIS LITERARY TRUSTEES:<br /> +<br /> +THE REV. S.S. NELLES, D.D., LL.D., THE REV. JOHN POTTS. D.D., AND J. GEORGE HODGINS, ESQ., LL.D.</p> + +<p class="subhead3 padtop">EDITED BY</p> + +<p class="subhead2">J. GEORGE HODGINS, <span class="smcap">Esq.</span>, LL.D.</p> + +<div style="margin-left: 20%;"> +<div class="poem padtop"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"His life was gentle; and the elements<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So mix't in him, that Nature might stand up,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And say to all the world, This was a Man!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">—<span class="smcap">Shakespeare</span>. <i>Julius Cæsar</i>, Act v., sc. 5.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Justum et tenacem propositi virum<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Non civium ardor prava jubentium,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Non vultus instantis tyranni<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mente quatit solida—<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">—<span class="smcap">Horace</span>. <i>Odes</i>, iii. 3.<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + + +<p class="subhead2 padtop">WITH PORTRAIT AND ENGRAVINGS.</p> + +<p class="subhead2 padtop">TORONTO:<br /> +WILLIAM BRIGGS, 78 and 80 KING STREET EAST.<br /> +1884.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p> + +<p style="margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 10%;">Entered, according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year +one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three, by <span class="smcap">Mary Ryerson</span> and <span class="smcap">Charles +Egerton Ryerson</span>, in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture, Ottawa.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<table style="width: 50%;" summary="contents"><tbody> + +<tr> +<td class="tl"><span class="smcap">Preface</span></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_ix">ix</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl"><span class="smcap">Estimate of Rev. Dr. Ryerson's Character and Labours</span></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER I.—1803-1825.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Sketch of Early Life</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER II.—1824-1825.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Extracts from Dr. Ryerson's Diary of 1824 and 1825</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER III.—1825-1826.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">First Year of Ministry and First Controversy</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER IV.—1826-1827.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Missionary to the River Credit Indians</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_58">58</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER V.—1826-1827.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Diary of Labours among Indians</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER VI.—1827-1828.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Labours and Trials.—Civil Rights Controversy</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER VII.—1828-1829.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Ryanite Schism.—M. E. Church of Canada organized</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER VIII.—1829-1832.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Establishment of the <i>Christian Guardian</i>.—Church Claims resisted</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER IX.—1831-1832.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Methodist Affairs in Upper Canada.—Proposed Union with the British Conference</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER X.—1833.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Union between the British and Canadian Conferences</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XI.—1833-1834.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">"Impressions of England" and their effects</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XII.—1834.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Events following the Union.—Division and Strife</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td> +</tr></tbody></table> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span></p> + +<table style="width: 50%;" summary="contents"><tbody> +<tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XIII.—1834-1835.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Second Retirement from the <i>Guardian</i> Editorship</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XIV.—1835-1836.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Second Mission to England.—Upper Canada Academy</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_152">152</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XV.—1835-1836.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">The "Grievance" Report; Its Object and Failure</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XVI.—1836-1837.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Dr. Ryerson's Diary of his Second Mission to England</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_158">158</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XVII.—1836.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Publication of the Hume and Roebuck Letters</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XVIII.—1836-1837.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Important Events transpiring in England</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XIX.—1837-1839.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Return to Canada.—The Chapel Property Cases</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XX.—1837.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">The Coming Crisis.—Rebellion of 1837</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXI.—1837-1838.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Sir F. B. Head and the Upper Canada Academy</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXII.—1838.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Victims of the Rebellion.—State of the Country</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXIII.—1795-1861.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Sketch of Mr. William Lyon Mackenzie</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXIV.—1838.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Defence of the Hon. Marshall Spring Bidwell</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_188">188</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXV.—1838.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Return to the Editorship of the <i>Guardian</i></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXVI.—1838-1840.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Enemies and Friends Within and Without</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXVII.—1778-1867.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">The Honourable and Right Reverend Bishop Strachan</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_213">213</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXVIII.—1791-1836.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">The Clergy Reserves and Rectories Questions</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXIX.—1838.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">The Clergy Reserve Controversy Renewed</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_225">225</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXX.—1838-1839.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">The Ruling Party and the Reserves.—"Divide et Impera."</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_236">236</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXI.—1839.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Strategy in the Clergy Reserve Controversy</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_245">245</a></td> +</tr></tbody></table> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> + + +<table style="width: 50%;" summary="contents"><tbody> +<tr> + +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXII.—1839.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Sir G. Arthur's Partizanship.—State of the Province</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_250">250</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXIII.—1838-1840.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">The New Era.—Lord Durham and Lord Sydenham</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXIV.—1840.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Proposal to leave Canada.—Dr. Ryerson's Visit to England</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_269">269</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXV.—1840-1841.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Last Pastoral Charge.—Lord Sydenham's Death</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_282">282</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXVI.—1841.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Dr. Ryerson's Attitude toward the Church of England</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_291">291</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXVII.—1841-1842.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Victoria College.—Hon. W. H. Draper.—Sir Charles Bagot</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_301">301</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXVIII.—1843.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Episode in the case of Hon. Marshall S. Bidwell</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_308">308</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXIX.—1844.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Events preceding the Defence of Lord Metcalfe</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_312">312</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XL.—1844.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Preliminary Correspondence on the Metcalfe Crisis</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_319">319</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XLI.—1844.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Sir Charles Metcalfe Defended against his Councillors</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_328">328</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XLII.—1844-1845.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">After the Contest.—Reaction and Reconstruction</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_337">337</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XLIII.—1841-1844.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Dr. Ryerson appointed Superintendent of Education</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_342">342</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XLIV.—1844-1846.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Dr. Ryerson's First Educational Tour in Europe</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_352">352</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XLV.—1844-1857.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Episode in Dr. Ryerson's European Travels.—Pope Pius IX</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_365">365</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XLVI.—1844-1876.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Ontario School System.—Retirement of Dr. Ryerson</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_368">368</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XLVII.—1845-1846.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Illness and Final Retirement of Lord Metcalfe</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_375">375</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XLVIII.—1843-1844.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Clergy Reserve Question Re-Opened.—Disappointments</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_378">378</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER XLIX.—1846-1848.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Re-Union of the British and Canadian Conferences</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_383">383</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER L.—1846-1853.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Miscellaneous Events and Incidents of 1846-1853</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_410">410</a></td> + +</tr></tbody></table> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span></p> + +<table style="width: 50%;" summary=""><tbody> +<tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LI.—1849.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">The Bible in the Ontario Public Schools</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_423">423</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LII.—1850-1853.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">The Clergy Reserve Question Transferred to Canada</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_433">433</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LIII.—1851.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Personal Episode in the Clergy Reserve Question</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_454">454</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LIV.—1854-1855.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Resignation on the Class-Meeting Question.—Discussion</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_470">470</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LV.—1855.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Dr. Ryerson resumes his Position in the Conference</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_491">491</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LVI.—1855-1856.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Personal Episode in the Class-Meeting Discussion</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_499">499</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LVII.—1855-1856.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Dr. Ryerson's Third Educational Tour in Europe</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_514">514</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LVIII.—1859-1862.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Denominational Colleges and the University Controversy</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_518">518</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LIX.—1861-1866.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Personal Incidents.—Dr. Ryerson's Visits to Norfolk County</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_534">534</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LX.—1867.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Last Educational Visit to Europe.—Rev. Dr. Punshon</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_539">539</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LXI.—1867.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Dr. Ryerson's Address on the New Dominion of Canada</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_547">547</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LXII.—1868-1869.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Correspondence with Hon. Geo. Brown—Dr. Punshon</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_554">554</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LXIII.—1870-1875.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Miscellaneous Closing Events and Correspondence</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_559">559</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LXIV.—1875-1876.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Correspondence with Rev. J. Ryerson, Dr. Punshon, etc.</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_573">573</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LXV.—1877-1882.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Closing Years of Dr. Ryerson's Life Labours</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_585">585</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="center" colspan="2">CHAPTER LXVI.—1882.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">The Funeral Ceremonies</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_593">593</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">Tributes to Dr. Ryerson's Memory and Estimates of his Character and Work</td> <td class="tr"><a href="#Page_598">598</a></td> +</tr></tbody></table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + + + +<table style="width: 50%;" summary="illustrations"><tbody> +<tr> +<td class="tl"><span class="smcap">Portrait of Rev. Dr. Ryerson</span></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#ifront">Frontispiece</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl"><span class="smcap">Indian Village at River Credit, in 1837</span></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#i2">59</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl"><span class="smcap">John Jones' House at the Credit, where Dr. Ryerson Resided</span></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#i3">65</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl"><span class="smcap">Old Credit Mission, 1837</span></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#i4">73</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl"><span class="smcap">Old Adelaide Street Methodist Church</span></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#i5">283</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl"><span class="smcap">Victoria College, Cobourg</span></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#i6">302</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl"><span class="smcap">Ontario Educational Department and Normal School</span></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#i7">421, 422</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl"><span class="smcap">Educational Exhibit at Philadelphia</span></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#i8">584, 585</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl"><span class="smcap">Metropolitan Church</span></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#i9">564</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl"><span class="smcap">Dr. Ryerson's Residence in Toronto</span></td> <td class="tr"><a href="#i10">587</a></td> +</tr></tbody></table> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span><br /></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="PREFATORY_NOTE" id="PREFATORY_NOTE"></a>PREFATORY NOTE.</h2> + + +<p>Twelve months ago, I began to collect the necessary material for the +completion of "<span class="smcap">The Story of My Life</span>," which my venerated and beloved +friend, Dr. Ryerson, had only left in partial outline. These materials, +in the shape of letters, papers, and documents, were fortunately most +abundant. The difficulty that I experienced was to select from such a +miscellaneous collection a sufficient quantity of suitable matter, which +I could afterwards arrange and group into appropriate chapters. This was +not easily done, so as to form a connected record of the life and +labours of a singularly gifted man, whose name was intimately connected +with every public question which was discussed, and every prominent +event which took place in Upper Canada from 1825 to 1875-78.</p> + +<p>Public men of the present day looked upon Dr. Ryerson practically as one +of their own contemporaries—noted for his zeal and energy in the +successful management of a great Public Department, and as the founder +of a system of Popular Education which, in his hands, became the pride +and glory of Canadians, and was to those beyond the Dominion, an ideal +system—the leading features of which they would gladly see incorporated +in their own. In this estimate of Dr. Ryerson's labours they were quite +correct. And in their appreciation of the statesmanlike qualities of +mind, which devised and developed such a system in the midst of +difficulties which would have appalled less resolute hearts, they were +equally correct.</p> + +<p>But, after all, how immeasurably does this partial view of his character +and labours fall short of a true estimate of that character and of those +labours!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span></p> + +<p>As a matter of fact, Dr. Ryerson's great struggle for the civil and +religious freedom which we now enjoy, was almost over when he assumed +the position of Chief Director of our Educational System. No one can +read the record of his labours from 1825 to 1845, as detailed in the +following pages, without being impressed with the fact that, had he done +no more for his native country than that which is therein recorded, he +would have accomplished a great work, and have earned the gratitude of +his fellow-countrymen.</p> + +<p>It was my good fortune to enjoy Dr. Ryerson's warm, personal friendship +since 1841. It has also been my distinguished privilege to be associated +with him in the accomplishment of his great educational work since 1844. +I have been able, therefore, to turn my own personal knowledge of most +of the events outlined in this volume to account in its preparation. In +regard to what transpired before 1841, I have frequently heard many +narratives in varied forms from Dr. Ryerson's lips.</p> + +<p>My own intimate relations with Dr. Ryerson, and the character of our +close personal friendship are sufficiently indicated in his private +letters to me, published in various parts of the book, but especially in +Chapter liii. And yet they fail to convey the depth and sincerity of his +personal attachment, and the feeling of entire trust and confidence +which existed between us.</p> + +<p>I am glad to say that I was not alone in this respect. Dr. Ryerson had +the faculty, so rare in official life, of attaching his assistants and +subordinates of every grade to himself personally. He always had a +pleasant word for them, and made them feel that their interests were +safe in his hands. They therefore respected and trusted him fully, and +he never failed to acknowledge their fidelity and devotion in the public +service.</p> + +<p>I had, for some time before he ceased to be the Head of the Education +Department, looked forward with pain and anxiety to that inevitable +event. Pain, that he and I were at length to be separated in the +carrying forward of the great work of our lives, in which it had been my +pride and pleasure to be his principal assistant. Anxiety at what, from +my knowledge of him, I feared would be the effect of release from the +work on fully accomplishing which he had so earnestly set his heart. Nor +were my fears groundless. To a man of his application and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span> ardent +temperament, the feeling that his work was done sensibly affected him. +He lost a good deal of his elasticity, and during the last few years of +his life, very perceptibly failed.</p> + +<p>The day on which he took official leave of the Department was indeed a +memorable one. As he bade farewell to each of his assistants in the +office, he and they were deeply moved. He could not, however, bring +himself to utter a word to me at our official parting, but as soon as he +reached home he wrote to me the following tender and loving note:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>171 <span class="smcap">Victoria Street, Toronto</span>,</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Monday Evening, February 21st</span>, 1876.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My Dear Hodgins</span>,—I felt too deeply to-day when parting with you in +the Office to be able to say a word. I was quite overcome with the +thought of severing our official connection, which has existed +between us for thirty-two years, during the whole of which time, +without interruption, we have laboured as one mind and heart in two +bodies, and I believe with a single eye to promote the best +interests of our country, irrespective of religious sect or +political party—to devise, develop, and mature a system of +instruction which embraces and provides for every child in the land +a good education; good teachers to teach; good inspectors to +oversee the Schools; good maps, globes, and text-books; good books +to read; and every provision whereby Municipal Councils and +Trustees can provide suitable accommodation, teachers, and +facilities for imparting education and knowledge to the rising +generation of the land.</p> + +<p>While I devoted the year 1845 to visiting educating countries and +investigating their system of instruction, in order to devise one +for our country, you devoted the same time in Dublin in mastering, +under the special auspices of the Board of Education there, the +several different branches of their Education Office, in +administering the system of National Education in Ireland, so that +in the details of our Education Office here, as well as in our +general school system, we have been enabled to build up the most +extensive establishment in the country, leaving nothing, as far as +I know, to be devised in the completeness of its arrangements, and +in the good character and efficiency of its officers. Whatever +credit or satisfaction may attach to the accomplishment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</a></span> of this +work, I feel that you are entitled to share equally with myself. +Could I have believed that I might have been of any service to you, +or to others with whom I have laboured so cordially, or that I +could have advanced the school system, I would not have voluntarily +retired from office. But all circumstances considered, and entering +within a few days upon my 74th year, I have felt that this was the +time for me to commit to other hands the reins of the government of +the public school system, and labour during the last hours of my +day and life, in a more retired sphere.</p> + +<p>But my heart is, and ever will be, with you in its sympathies and +prayers, and neither you nor yours will more truly rejoice in your +success and happiness, than</p> + +<p>Your old life-long Friend</p> + +<p>And Fellow-labourer,</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">E. Ryerson</span>.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson was confessedly a man of great intellectual resources. Those +who read what he has written on the question—perilous to any writer in +the early days of the history of this Province—of equal civil and +religious rights for the people of Upper Canada, will be impressed with +the fact that he had thoroughly mastered the great principles of civil +and religious liberty, and expounded them not only with courage, but +with clearness and force. His papers on the clergy reserve question, and +the rights of the Canadian Parliament in the matter, were statesmanlike +and exhaustive.</p> + +<p>His exposition of a proposed system of education for his native country +was both philosophical and eminently practical. As a Christian Minister, +he was possessed of rare gifts, both in the pulpit and on the platform; +while his warm sympathies and his deep religious experience, made him +not only a "son of consolation," but a beloved and welcome visitor in +the homes of the sorrowing and the afflicted. Among his brethren he +exercised great personal influence; and in the counsels of the +Conference he occupied a trusted and foremost place.</p> + +<p>Thus we see that Dr. Ryerson's character was a many-sided one; while his +talents were remarkably versatile. He was an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</a></span> able writer on public +affairs; a noted Wesleyan Minister, and a successful and skilful leader +among his brethren. But his fame in the future will mainly rest upon the +fact that he was a distinguished Canadian Educationist, and the Founder +of a great system of Public Education for Upper Canada. What makes this +widely conceded excellence in his case the more marked, was the fact +that the soil on which he had to labour was unprepared, and the social +condition of the country was unpropitious. English ideas of schools for +the poor, supported by subscriptions and voluntary offerings, prevailed +in Upper Canada; free schools were unknown; the very principle on which +they rest—that is, that the rateable property of the country is +responsible for the education of the youth of the land—was denounced as +communistic, and an invasion of the rights of property; while +"compulsory education"—the proper and necessary complement of free +schools—was equally denounced as the essence of "Prussian despotism," +and an impertinent and unjustifiable interference with "the rights of +British subjects."</p> + +<p>It was a reasonable boast at the time that only systems of popular +education, based upon the principle of free schools, were possible in +the republican American States, where the wide diffusion of education +was regarded as a prime necessity for the stability and success of +republican institutions, and, therefore, was fostered with unceasing +care. It was the theme on which the popular orator loved to dilate to a +people on whose sympathies with the subject he could always confidently +reckon. The practical mind of Dr. Ryerson, however, at once saw that the +American idea of free schools was the true one. He moreover perceived +that by giving his countrymen facilities for freely discussing the +question among the ratepayers once a year, they would educate themselves +into the idea, without any interference from the State. These facilities +were provided in 1850; and for twenty-one years the question of +free-schools <i>versus</i> rate-bill schools (lees, &c.) was discussed every +January in from 3,000 to 5,000 school sections, until free schools +became voluntarily the rule, and rate-bill schools the exception. In +1871, by common consent, the free school principle was incorporated into +our school system by the Legislature, and has ever since been the +universal practice. In the adoption of this principle, and in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</a></span> +successful administration of the Education Department, Dr. Ryerson at +length demonstrated that a popular (or, as it had been held in the +United States, the democratic) system of public schools was admirably +adapted to our monarchical institutions. In point of fact, leading +American educationists have often pointed out that the Canadian system +of public education was more efficient in all of its details and more +practically successful in its results, than was the ordinary American +school system in any one of the States of the Union. Thus it is that the +fame of Dr. Ryerson as a successful founder of our educational system, +rests upon a solid basis. What has been done by him will not be undone; +and the ground gone over by him will not require to be traversed again. +In the "<span class="smcap">Story of My Life</span>," not much has been said upon the subject with +which Dr. Ryerson's name has been most associated. It was distinctively +the period of his public life, and its record will be found in the +official literature of his Department. The personal reminiscences left +by him are scanty, and of themselves would present an utterly inadequate +picture of his educational work. Such a history may one day be written +as would do it justice, but I feel that in such a work as the present it +is better not to attempt a task, the proper performance of which would +make demands upon the space and time at my disposal that could not be +easily met.</p> + +<p>There was one <i>rôle</i> in which Dr. Ryerson pre-eminently excelled—that +of a controversialist. There was nothing spasmodic in his method of +controversy, although there might be in the times and occasions of his +indulging in it. He was a well-read man and an accurate thinker. His +habit, when he meditated a descent upon a foe, was to thoroughly master +the subject in dispute; to collect and arrange his materials, and then +calmly and deliberately study the whole subject—especially the weak +points in his adversary's case, and the strong points of his own. His +habits of study in early life contributed to his after success in this +matter. He was an indefatigable student; and so thoroughly did he in +early life ground himself in English subjects—grammar, logic, +rhetoric—and the classics, and that, too, under the most adverse +circumstances, that, in his subsequent active career as a writer and +controversialist, he evinced a power and readiness with his tongue and +pen, that often astonished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</a></span> those who were unacquainted with the +laborious thoroughness of his previous mental preparation.</p> + +<p>It was marvellous with what wonderful effect he used the material at +hand. Like a skilful general defending a position—and his study was +always to act on the defensive—he masked his batteries, and was careful +not to exhaust his ammunition in the first encounter. He never offered +battle without having a sufficient force in reserve to overwhelm his +opponent. He never exposed a weak point, nor espoused a worthless cause. +He always fought for great principles, which to him were sacred, and he +defended them to the utmost of his ability, when they were attacked. In +such cases, Dr. Ryerson was careful not to rush into print until he had +fully mastered the subject in dispute. This statement may be questioned, +and apparent examples to the contrary adduced; but the writer knows +better, for he knows the facts. In most cases Dr. Ryerson scented the +battle from afar. Many a skirmish was improvised, and many a battle was +privately fought out before the Chief advanced to repel an attack, or to +fire the first shot in defence of his position.</p> + +<p>A word as to the character of this work. It may be objected that I have +dealt largely with subjects of no practical interest now—with dead +issues, and with controversies for great principles, which, although +important, acrimonious, and spirited at the time, have long since lost +their interest. Let such critics reflect that the "Story" of such a +"Life" as that of Dr. Ryerson cannot be told without a statement of the +toils and difficulties which he encountered, and the triumphs which he +achieved? For this reason I have written as I have done, recounting them +as briefly as the subjects would permit.</p> + + + +<p class="space">In the preparation of this work I am indebted to the co-operation of my +co-trustees the Rev. Dr. Potts and Rev. Dr. Nelles, whose long and +intimate acquaintance with Dr. Ryerson (quite apart from their +acknowledged ability) rendered their counsels of great value.</p> + + + +<p class="space">And now my filial task is done,—imperfectly, very imperfectly I admit. +While engaged in the latter part of the work a deep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi">[Pg xvi]</a></span> dark shadow +fell—suddenly fell—upon my peaceful, happy home. This great sorrow has +almost paralyzed my energies, and has rendered it very difficult for me +to concentrate my thoughts on the loving task which twelve months ago I +had so cheerfully begun. Under these circumstances, I can but crave the +indulgence of the readers of these memorial pages of my revered and +honoured Friend, the Rev. Dr. Ryerson—the foremost Canadian of his +time.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Toronto</span>, 17th May, 1883.</p> + + + +<p class="space">On the accompanying page, I give a <i>fac-simile</i> of the well-known +hand-writing of Dr. Ryerson, one of the many notes which I received from +him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/note.png" width="500" height="796" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>[This is the same note, transcribed:]<br /></p> +<p> +Portland<br /> +Monday Morning<br /> +Aug 3 1863<br /> +</p> + +<p>My dear Hodgins,</p> + +<p>Your letter to the Provincial Secretary is as good as could be—better +than I could write.</p> + +<p>I have written this evening the accompanying draft of circular such as +you suggested. You can alter, add to, or abridge it as you shall think +best, before printing & sending it out.</p> + +<p> +I remain, as ever,<br /> +Yours most affectionately<br /> +E Ryerson<br /> +</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<h2>ESTIMATE OF THE REV. DR. RYERSON'S CHARACTER AND LABOURS.</h2> + + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">By the Rev. William Ormiston, D.D., LL.D.</span></p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">New York</span>, Oct. 6th, 1882.<br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My Dear Dr. Hodgins</span>,—It affords me the sincerest pleasure, tinged with +sadness, to record, at your request, the strong feelings of devoted +personal affection which I long cherished for our mutual <i>father</i> and +friend, Rev. Dr. Ryerson; and the high estimate, which, during an +intimacy of nearly forty years, I had been led to form of his lofty +intellectual endowments, his great moral worth, and his pervading +spiritual power. He was very dear to me while he lived, and now his +memory is to me a precious, peculiar treasure.</p> + +<p>In the autumn of 1843, I went to Victoria College, doubting much whether +I was prepared to matriculate as a freshman. Though my attainments in +some of the subjects prescribed for examination were far in advance of +the requirements, in other subjects, I knew I was sadly deficient. On +the evening of my arrival, while my mind was burdened with the +importance of the step I had taken, and by no means free from anxiety +about the issue, Dr. Ryerson, at that time Principal of the College, +visited me in my room. I shall never forget that interview. He took me +by the hand; and few men could express as much by a mere hand-shake as +he. It was a welcome, an encouragement, an inspiration, and an earnest +of future fellowship and friendship. It lessened the timid awe I +naturally felt towards one in such an elevated position,—I had never +before seen a Principal of a College,—it dissipated all boyish +awkwardness, and awakened filial confidence. He spoke of Scotland, my +native land, and of her noble sons, distinguished in every branch of +philosophy and literature; specially of the number, the diligence, the +frugality, self-denial, and success of her college students. In this +way, he soon led me to tell him of my parentage, past life and efforts, +present hopes and aspirations. His manner was so gracious and +paternal—his sympathy so quick and genuine—his counsel so ready and +cheering—his assurances so grateful and inspiriting, that not only was +my heart <i>his</i> from that hour, but my future career seemed brighter and +more certain than it had ever appeared before.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> + +<p>Many times in after years, have I been instructed, and guided, and +delighted with his conversation, always replete with interest and +information; but that first interview I can never forget: it is as fresh +and clear to me to-day as it was on the morning after it took place. It +has exerted a profound, enduring, moulding influence on my whole life. +For what, under God, I am, and have been enabled to achieve, I owe more +to that noble, unselfish, kind-hearted man than to any one else.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson was, at that time, in the prime of a magnificent manhood. +His well-developed, finely-proportioned, firmly-knit frame; his broad, +lofty brow; his keen, penetrating eye, and his genial, benignant face, +all proclaimed him every inch a man. His mental powers vigorous and +well-disciplined, his attainments in literature varied and extensive, +his experience extended and diversified, his fame as a preacher of great +pathos and power widely-spread, his claims as a doughty, dauntless +champion of the rights of the people to civil and religious liberty +generally acknowledged, his powers of expression marvellous in +readiness, richness, and beauty, his manners affable and winning, his +presence magnetic and impressive,—he stood in the eye of the youthful, +ardent, aspiring student, a tower of strength, a centre of healthy, +helpful influences—a man to be admired and honoured, loved and feared, +imitated and followed. And I may add that frequent intercourse for +nearly forty years, and close official relations for more than ten, only +deepened and confirmed the impressions first made. A more familiar +acquaintance with his domestic, social, and religious life, a more +thorough knowledge of his mind and heart, constantly increased my +appreciation of his worth, my esteem for his character, and my affection +for his person.</p> + +<p>Not a few misunderstood, undervalued, or misrepresented his public +conduct, but it will be found that those who knew him best, loved him +most, and that many who were constrained to differ from him, in his +management of public affairs, did full justice to the purity and +generosity of his motives, to the nobility, loftiness, and ultimate +success of his aims, and to the disinterestedness and value of his +varied and manifold labours for the country, and for the Church of +Christ.</p> + +<p>As a <i>teacher</i>, he was earnest and efficient, eloquent and inspiring, +but he expected and exacted rather too much work from the average +student. His own ready and affluent mind sympathized keenly with the +apt, bright scholar, to whom his praise was warmly given, but he +scarcely made sufficient allowance for the dullness or lack of previous +preparation which failed to keep pace with him in his long and rapid +strides; hence his censures were occasionally severe. His methods of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +examination furnished the very best kind of mental discipline, fitted +alike to cultivate the memory and to strengthen the judgment. All the +students revered him, but the best of the class appreciated him most. +His counsels were faithful and judicious; his admonitions paternal and +discriminating; his rebukes seldom administered, but scathingly severe. +No student ever left his presence, without resolving to do better, to +aim higher, and to win his approval.</p> + +<p>His acceptance of the office of Chief Superintendent of Education, while +offering to him the sphere of his life's work, and giving to the country +the very service it needed—<i>the man for the place</i>—was a severe trial +to the still struggling College, and a bitter disappointment to some +young, ambitious hearts.</p> + +<p>Into this new arena he entered with a resolute determination to succeed, +and he spared no pains, effort, or sacrifice to fit himself thoroughly +for the onerous duties of the office to which he had been appointed. Of +its nature, importance, and far-reaching results, he had a distinct, +vivid perception, and clearly realized and fully felt the +responsibilities it imposed. He steadfastly prosecuted his work with a +firm, inflexible will, unrelaxing tenacity of purpose, an amazing +fertility of expedient, an exhaustless amount of information, a most +wonderful skill in adaptation, a matchless ability in unfolding and +vindicating his plans, a rare adroitness in meeting and removing +difficulties—great moderation in success, and indomitable perseverance +under discouragement, calm patience when misapprehended, unflinching +courage when opposed,—until he achieved the consummation of his wishes, +the establishment of a system of public education second to none in its +efficiency and adaptation to the condition and circumstances of the +people. The system is a noble monument to the singleness of purpose, the +unwavering devotion, the tireless energy, the eminent ability, and the +administrative powers of Dr. Ryerson, and it will render his name a +familiar word for many generations in Canadian schools and homes; and +place him high in the list of the great men of other lands, +distinguished in the same field of labour. His entire administration of +the Department of Public Instruction was patient and prudent, vigorous +and vigilant, sagacious and successful.</p> + +<p>He repeatedly visited Europe, not for mere recreation or personal +advantage, but for the advancement of the interests of religion and +education in the Province. During these tours, there were opened to him +the most extended fields of observation and enquiry, from which he +gathered ample stores of information which he speedily rendered +available for the perfecting, as far as practicable, the entire system +of Public Instruction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<p>A prominent figure in Canadian history for three score years, actively +and ceaselessly engaged in almost every department of patriotic and +philanthropic, Christian and literary, enterprise, Dr. Ryerson was a +strong tower in support or defence of every good cause, and no such +cause failed to secure the powerful aid of his advocacy by voice and +pen. His was truly a catholic and charitable spirit. Nothing human was +alien to him. A friend of all good men, he enjoyed the confidence and +esteem of all, even of those whose opinions or policy on public +questions he felt constrained to refute or oppose. He commanded the +respect, and secured the friendship of men of every rank, and creed, and +party. None could better appreciate his ability and magnanimity than +those who encountered him as an opponent, or were compelled to +acknowledge him as victor. His convictions were strong, his principles +firm, his purposes resolute, and he could, and did maintain them, with +chivalrous daring, against any and every assault.</p> + +<p>In the heat of controversy, while repelling unworthy insinuations, his +indignation was sometimes roused, and his language not unfrequently was +fervid, and forcible, and scathingly severe, but seldom, if ever, +personally rancorous or bitter. When violently or vilely assailed his +sensitive nature keenly felt the wound, but though he earned many a +scar, he bore no malice.</p> + +<p><i>His intellectual powers</i>, of a high order, admirably balanced, and +invigorated by long and severe discipline, found their expression in +word and work, by pulpit, press, and platform, in the achievements of +self-denying, indefatigable industry, and in wise and lofty +statesmanship.</p> + +<p><i>His moral nature</i> was elevated and pure. He was generous, sympathetic, +benevolent, faithful, trusting, and trustworthy. He rejoiced sincerely +in the weal, and deeply felt the woes of others, and his ready hand +obeyed the dictates of his loving, liberal heart.</p> + +<p><i>His religious life</i> was marked by humility, consistency, and +cheerfulness. The simplicity of his faith in advanced life was +childlike, and sublime. His trust in God never faltered, and, at the end +of his course, his hopes of eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, +were radiant and triumphant.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson was truly a great man, endowed with grand qualities of mind +and heart, which he consecrated to high and holy aims; and though, in +early life, and in his public career, beset with many difficulties, he +heroically achieved for himself, among his own people, a most enviable +renown. His work and his worth universally appreciated, his influence +widely acknowledged, his services highly valued, his name a household +word<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> throughout the Dominion, and his memory a legacy and an +inspiration to future generations.</p> + +<p>And while Canada owes more to him than any other of her sons, his fame +is not confined to the land of his birth, which he loved so well, and +served so faithfully, but in Britain and in the United States of America +his name is well known, and is classed with their own deserving +worthies.</p> + +<p>Whatever judgment may be formed of some parts of his eventful and +distinguished career as a public man, there can be but one opinion as to +the eminent and valuable services he has rendered to his country, as a +laborious, celebrated pioneer preacher, an able ecclesiastical leader, a +valiant and veteran advocate of civil and religious liberty—as the +founder and administrator of a system of public education second to that +of no other land—as the President and life-long patron of Victoria +University, <i>whose oldest living alumnus</i> will hold his memory dear to +life's close, when severed friends will be reunited; and whose +successive classes will revere as the first President and firm friend of +their Alma Mater, as the promoter of popular education, the ally of all +teachers, and an example to all young men.</p> + +<p>I lay this simple wreath on the memorial of one, whom I found able and +helpful as <i>a teacher</i> in my youth—wise and prudent as <i>an adviser</i> in +after life—generous and considerate as <i>a superior officer</i>—tender and +true as a <i>friend</i>. He loved me, and was beloved by me. He doubtless had +his faults, but I cannot recall them; and very few, I venture to think, +will ever seek to mention them. The green turf which rests on his grave +covers them. His memory will live as one of the purest, kindest, best of +men. A patriot, a scholar, a Christian—the servant of God, the friend +of man.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Amicum perdere est damnorum maximum."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Yours, very faithfully, in bonds of truest friendship,</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">W. Ormiston.</span></p> + +<p>To J. George Hodgins, Esq., LL.D., Toronto +</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE STORY OF MY LIFE.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1803-1825.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Sketch of Early Life.</span></p> + + +<p>I have several times been importuned to furnish a sketch of my life for +books of biography of public men, published both in Canada and the +United States; but I have uniformly declined, assigning as a reason a +wish to have nothing of the kind published during my lifetime. Finding, +however, that some circumstances connected with my early history have +been misapprehended and misrepresented by adversaries, and that my +friends are anxious that I should furnish some information on the +subject, and being now in the seventieth year of my age, I sit down in +this my Long Point Island Cottage, retired from the busy world, to give +some account of my early life, on this blessed Sabbath day, indebted to +the God of the Sabbath for all that I am,—morally, intellectually, and +as a public man, as well as for all my hopes of a future life.</p> + +<p>I was born on the 24th of March, 1803, in the Township of +Charlotteville, near the Village of Vittoria, in the then London +District, now the County of Norfolk. My Father had been an officer in +the British Army during the American Revolution, being a volunteer in +the Prince of Wales' Regiment of New Jersey, of which place he was a +native. His forefathers were from Holland, and his more remote ancestors +were from Denmark.</p> + +<p>At the close of the American Revolutionary War, he, with many others of +the same class, went to New Brunswick, where he married my Mother, whose +maiden name was Stickney, a descendant of one of the early Massachusetts +Puritan settlers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + +<p>Near the close of the last century my Father, with his family, followed +an elder brother to Canada,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> where he drew some 2,500 acres of land +from the Government, for his services in the army, besides his pension. +My Father settled on 600 acres of land lying about half-way between the +present Village of Vittoria and Port Ryerse, where my uncle Samuel +settled, and where he built the first mill in the County of Norfolk.</p> + +<p>On the organization of the London District in 1800, for legal purposes, +my uncle was the Lieutenant of the County, issuing commissions in his +own name to militia officers; he was also Chairman of the Quarter +Sessions. My Father was appointed High Sheriff in 1800, but held the +office only six years, when he resigned it in behalf of the late Colonel +John Bostwick (then a surveyor), who subsequently married my eldest +sister, and who owned what is now Port Stanley, and was at one time a +Member of Parliament for the County of Middlesex.</p> + +<p>My Father devoted himself exclusively to agriculture, and I learned to +do all kinds of farm-work. The district grammar-school was then kept +within half-a-mile of my Father's residence, by Mr. James Mitchell +(afterwards Judge Mitchell), an excellent classical scholar; he came +from Scotland with the late Rt. Rev. Dr. Strachan, first Bishop of +Toronto. Mr. Mitchell married my youngest sister. He treated me with +much kindness. When I recited to him my lessons in English grammar he +often said that he had never studied the English grammar himself, that +he wrote and spoke English by the Latin grammar. At the age of fourteen +I had the opportunity of attending a course of instruction in the +English language given by two professors, the one an Englishman, and the +other an American, who taught nothing but English grammar. They +professed in one course of instruction, by lectures, to enable a +diligent pupil to parse any sentence in the English language. I was sent +to attend these lectures, the only boarding abroad for school +instruction I ever enjoyed. My previous knowledge of the <i>letter</i> of the +grammar was of great service to me, and gave me an advantage over other +pupils, so that before the end of the course I was generally called up +to give visitors an illustration of the success of the system, which was +certainly the most effective I have ever since witnessed, having charts, +etc., to illustrate the agreement and government of words.</p> + +<p>This whole course of instruction by two able men, who did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> nothing but +teach grammar from one week's end to another had to me all the +attraction of a charm and a new discovery. It gratified both curiosity +and ambition, and I pursued it with absorbing interest, until I had gone +through Murray's two volumes of "Expositions and Exercises," Lord Kames' +"Elements of Criticism," and Blair's "Lectures on Rhetoric," of which I +still have the notes which I then made. The same professors obtained +sufficient encouragement to give a second course of instruction and +lectures at Vittoria, and one of them becoming ill, the other solicited +my Father to allow me to assist him, as it would be useful to me, while +it would enable him to fulfil his engagements. Thus, before I was +sixteen, I was inducted as a teacher, by lecturing on my native +language. This course of instruction, and exercises in English, have +proved of the greatest advantage to me, not less in enabling me to study +foreign languages than in using my own.</p> + +<p>But that to which I am principally indebted for any studious habits, +mental energy, or even capacity or decision of character, is religious +instruction, poured into my mind in my childhood by a Mother's counsels, +and infused into my heart by a Mother's prayers and tears. When very +small, under six years of age, having done something naughty, my Mother +took me into her bedroom, told me how bad and wicked what I had done +was, and what pain it caused her, kneeled down, clasped me to her bosom, +and prayed for me. Her tears, falling upon my head, seemed to penetrate +to my very heart. This was my first religious impression, and was never +effaced. Though thoughtless, and full of playful mischief, I never +afterwards knowingly grieved my Mother, or gave her other than +respectful and kind words.</p> + +<p>At the close of the American War, in 1815, when I was twelve years of +age, my three elder brothers, George, William, and John, became deeply +religious, and I imbibed the same spirit. My consciousness of guilt and +sinfulness was humbling, oppressive, and distressing; and my experience +of relief, after lengthened fastings, watchings, and prayers, was clear, +refreshing, and joyous. In the end I simply trusted in Christ, and +looked to Him for a present salvation; and, as I looked up in my bed, +the light appeared to my mind, and, as I thought, to my bodily eye also, +in the form of One, white-robed, who approached the bedside with a +smile, and with more of the expression of the countenance of Titian's +Christ than of any person whom I have ever seen. I turned, rose to my +knees, bowed my head, and covered my face, rejoiced with trembling, +saying to a brother who was lying beside me, that the Saviour was now +near us. The change within was more marked than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> anything without and, +perhaps, the inward change may have suggested what appeared an outward +manifestation. I henceforth had new views, new feelings, new joys, and +new strength. I truly delighted in the law of the Lord, after the inward +man, and—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Jesus, all the day long, was my joy and my song."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>From that time I became a diligent student, and new quickness and +strength seemed to be imparted to my understanding and memory. While +working on the farm I did more than ordinary day's work, that it might +show how industrious, instead of lazy, as some said, religion made a +person. I studied between three and six o'clock in the morning, carried +a book in my pocket during the day to improve odd moments by reading or +learning, and then reviewed my studies of the day aloud while walking +out in the evening.</p> + +<p>To the Methodist way of religion my Father was, at that time, extremely +opposed, and refused me every facility for acquiring knowledge while I +continued to go amongst them. I did not, however, formally join them, in +order to avoid his extreme displeasure. A kind friend offered to give me +any book that I would commit to memory, and submit to his examination of +the same. In this way I obtained my first Latin grammar, "Watts on the +Mind," and "Watts' Logic."</p> + +<p>My eldest brother, George, after the war, went to Union College, U.S., +where he finished his collegiate studies. He was a fellow-student with +the late Dr. Wayland, and afterwards succeeded my brother-in-law as +Master of the London District Grammar School. His counsels, +examinations, and ever kind assistance were a great encouragement and of +immense service to me; and though he and I have since differed in +religious opinions, no other than most affectionate brotherly feeling +has ever existed between us to this day.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>When I had attained the age of eighteen, the Methodist minister in +charge of the circuit which embraced our neighbourhood, thought it not +compatible with the rules of the Church to allow, as had been done for +several years, the privileges of a member without my becoming one. I +then gave in my name for membership. Information of this was soon +communicated to my Father, who, in the course of a few days, said to me: +"Egerton, I understand you have joined the Methodists; you must either +leave them or leave my house." He said no more, and I well knew that the +decree was final; but I had formed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> my decision in view of all possible +consequences, and I had the aid of a Mother's prayers, and a Mother's +tenderness, and a conscious Divine strength according to my need. The +next day I left home and became usher in the London District Grammar +School, applying myself to my new work with much diligence and +earnestness, so that I soon succeeded in gaining the good-will of +parents and pupils, and they were quite satisfied with my +services,—leaving the head master to his favourite pursuits of +gardening and building!</p> + +<p>During two years I was thus teacher and student, advancing considerably +in classical studies. I took great delight in "Locke on the Human +Understanding," Paley's "Moral and Political Philosophy," and +"Blackstone's Commentaries," especially the sections of the latter on +the Prerogatives of the Crown, the Rights of the Subject, and the +Province of Parliament.</p> + +<p>As my Father complained that the Methodists had robbed him of his son, +and of the fruits of that son's labours, I wished to remove that ground +of complaint as far as possible by hiring an English farm-labourer, then +just arrived in Canada, in my place, and paid him out of the proceeds of +my own labour for two years. But although the farmer was the best hired +man my Father had ever had, the result of his farm-productions during +these two years did not equal those of the two years that I had been the +chief labourer on the farm, and my Father came to me one day uttering +the single sentence, "Egerton, you must come home," and then walked +away. My first promptings would have led me to say, "Father, you have +expelled me from your house for being a Methodist; I am so still. I have +employed a man for you in my place for two years, during which time I +have been a student and a teacher, and unaccustomed to work on a farm, I +cannot now resume it." But I had left home for the honour of religion, +and I thought the honour of religion would be promoted by my returning +home, and showing still that the religion so much spoken against would +enable me to leave the school for the plough and the harvest-field, as +it had enabled me to leave home without knowing at the moment whether I +should be a teacher or a farm-labourer.</p> + +<p>I relinquished my engagement as teacher within a few days, engaging +again on the farm with such determination and purpose that I ploughed +every acre of ground for the season, cradled every stalk of wheat, rye, +and oats, and mowed every spear of grass, pitched the whole, first on a +waggon, and then from the waggon on the hay-mow or stack. While the +neighbours were astonished at the possibility of one man doing so much +work, I neither felt fatigue nor depression,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> for "the joy of the Lord +was my strength," both of body and mind, and I made nearly, if not +quite, as much progress in my studies as I had done while teaching +school. My Father then became changed in regard both to myself and the +religion I professed, desiring me to remain at home; but, having been +enabled to maintain a good conscience in the sight of God, and a good +report before men, in regard to my filial duty during my minority, I +felt that my life's work lay in another direction. I had refused, +indeed, the advice of senior Methodist ministers to enter into the +ministerial work, feeling myself as yet unqualified for it, and still +doubting whether I should ever engage in it, or in another profession.</p> + +<p>I felt a strong desire to pursue further my classical studies, and +determined, with the kind counsel and aid of my eldest brother, to +proceed to Hamilton, and place myself for a year under the tuition of a +man of high reputation both as a scholar and a teacher, the late John +Law, Esq., then head master of the Gore District Grammar School. I +applied myself with such ardour, and prepared such an amount of work in +both Latin and Greek, that Mr. Law said it was impossible for him to +give the time and hear me read all that I had prepared, and that he +would, therefore, examine me on the translation and construction of the +more difficult passages, remarking more than once that it was impossible +for any human mind to sustain long the strain that I was imposing upon +mine. In the course of some six months his apprehensions were realized, +as I was seized with a brain fever, and on partially recovering took +cold, which resulted in inflammation of the lungs by which I was so +reduced that my physician, the late Dr. James Graham, of Norfolk, +pronounced my case hopeless, and my death was hourly expected.</p> + +<p>In that extremity, while I felt even a desire to depart and be with +Christ, I was oppressed with the consciousness that I should have +yielded to the counsels of the chief ministers of my Church, as I could +have made nearly as much progress in my classical studies, and at the +same time been doing some good to the souls of men, instead of refusing +to speak in public as I had done. I then and there vowed that if I +should be restored to life and health, I would not follow my own +counsels, but would yield to the openings and calls which might be made +in the Church by its chief ministers. That very moment the cloud was +removed; the light of the glory of God shone into my mind and heart with +a splendour and power that I had never before experienced. My Mother, +entering the room a few moments after, exclaimed: "Egerton, your +countenance is changed, you are getting better!" My<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> bodily recovery was +rapid; but the recovery of my mind from the shock which it had +experienced was slower, and for some weeks I could not even read, much +less study. While thus recovering, I exercised myself as I best could in +writing down my meditations.</p> + +<p>My Father so earnestly solicited me to return, that he offered me a deed +of his farm if I would do so and live with him; but I declined acceding +to his request under any circumstances, expressing my conviction that +even could I do so, I thought it unwise and wrong for any parent to +place himself in a position of dependence upon any of his children for +support, so long as he could avoid doing so. One day, entering my room +and seeing a manuscript lying on the bed, he asked me what I had been +writing, and wished me to read it. I had written a meditation on part of +the last verse of the 73rd Psalm: "it is good for me to draw near to +God." When I read to him what I had written my Father rose with a sigh, +remarking: "Egerton, I don't think you will ever return home again," and +he never afterwards mooted the subject, except in a general way.</p> + +<p>On recovering, I returned to Hamilton and resumed my studies; shortly +after which I went on a Saturday to a quarterly meeting, held about +twelve miles from Hamilton, at "The Fifty," a neighborhood two or three +miles west of Grimsby, where I expected to meet my brother William, who +was one of the ministers on the circuit, which was then called the +Niagara Circuit—embracing the whole Niagara Peninsula, from five miles +east of Hamilton, and across to the west of Fort Erie. But my brother +did not attend, and I learned that he had been laid aside from his +ministerial work by bleeding of the lungs. Between love-feast and +preaching on Sunday morning, the presiding elder, the Rev. Thomas +Madden, the late Hugh Willson, and the late Smith Griffin (grandfather +of the Rev. W. S. Griffin), circuit stewards, called me aside and asked +if I had any engagements that would prevent me from coming on the +circuit to supply the place of my brother William, who might be unable +to resume his work for, perhaps, a year or more.</p> + +<p>I felt that the vows of God were upon me, and I was for some moments +speechless from emotion. On recovering, I said I had no engagements +beyond my own plans and purposes; but I was yet weak in body from severe +illness, and I had no means for anything else than pursuing my studies, +for which aid had been provided.</p> + +<p>One of the stewards replied that he would give me a horse, and the other +that he would provide me with a saddle and bridle. I then felt that I +had no choice but to fulfill the vow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> which I had made, on what was +supposed to my deathbed. I returned to Hamilton, settled with my +instructor and for my lodgings, and made my first attempt at preaching +at or near Beamsville, on Easter Sunday, 1825, in the morning, from the +5th verse of the 126th Psalm: "They that sow in tears shall reap in +joy;" and in the afternoon at "The Fifty," on "The Resurrection of +Christ."—Acts ii. 24.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Toronto</span>, Nov. 11th, 1880.<br /> +</p> + +<p>Such was the sketch of my life which I wrote on Sabbath in my Long Point +Island Cottage, on the 24th of March, 1873, the 70th anniversary of my +birthday. I know not that I can add anything to the foregoing story of +my early life that would be worth writing or reading.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>[In his cottage at Long Point, on his seventy-fifth birthday, Dr. +Ryerson wrote the following paper, which Dr. Potts read on the occasion +of his funeral discourse. It will be read with profoundest interest, as +one of the noblest of those Christian experiences which are the rich +heritage of the Church.—J. G. H.]</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Long Point Island Cottage</span>, March 24th, 1878.<br /> +</p> + +<p>I am this day seventy-five years of age, and this day fifty-three years +ago, after resisting many solicitations to enter the ministry, and after +long and painful struggles, I decided to devote my life and all to the +ministry of the Methodist Church.</p> + +<p>The predominant feeling of my heart is that of gratitude and +humiliation; gratitude for God's unbounded mercy, patience, and +compassion, in the bestowment of almost uninterrupted health, and +innumerable personal, domestic, and social blessings for more than fifty +years of a public life of great labour and many dangers; and humiliation +under a deep-felt consciousness of personal unfaithfulness, of many +defects, errors, and neglects in public duties. Many tell me that I have +been useful to the Church and the country; but my own consciousness +tells me that I have learned little, experienced little, done little in +comparison of what I might and ought to have known and done. By the +grace of God I am spared; by His grace I am what I am; all my trust for +salvation is in the efficacy of Jesus' atoning blood. I know whom I have +trusted, and "am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have +committed unto Him against that day." I have no melancholy feelings or +fears. The joy of the Lord is my strength. I feel that I am now on the +bright side of seventy-five. As the evening twilight of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> earthly life +advances, my spiritual sun shines with increased splendour. This has +been my experience for the last year. With an increased sense of my own +sinfulness, unworthiness, and helplessness, I have an increased sense of +the blessedness of pardon, the indwelling of the Comforter, and the +communion of saints.</p> + +<p>Here, on bended knees, I give myself, and all I have and am, afresh to +Him whom I have endeavoured to serve, but very imperfectly, for more +than threescore years. All helpless, myself, I most humbly and devoutly +pray that Divine strength may be perfected in my weakness, and that my +last days on earth may be my best days—best days of implicit faith and +unreserved consecration, best days of simple scriptural ministrations +and public usefulness, best days of change from glory to glory, and of +becoming meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, until my Lord +shall dismiss me from the service of warfare and the weariness of toil +to the glories of victory and the repose of rest.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">E. Ryerson.</span><br /> +</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> My father's eldest brother Samuel was known as Samuel +Ryerse, in consequence of the manner in which his name was spelled in +his Army Commission which he held; but the original family name was +Ryerson.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> This brother of Dr. Ryerson's passed quietly away on the +19th of December, 1882, aged 92. Dr. Ryerson died on the 19th of +February of the same year, aged 79. Their father, Col. Ryerson, died at +the age of 94.—J. G. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1824-1825.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Extracts from my diary of 1824 and 1825.</span></p> + + +<p>The foregoing sketch of my early life may be properly followed by +extracts from my diary; pourtraying my mental and spiritual exercises +and labours during a few months before and after I commenced the work of +an itinerant Methodist Preacher.</p> + +<p>The extracts are as follow, and are very brief in comparison to the +entire diary, which extends over eight years from 1824, to 1832, after +which time I ceased to write a daily diary, and wrote in a journal the +principal occurrences and doings in which I was concerned.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Hamilton, August 12th, 1824.</i>—I arrived here the day after I left +home. Mr. John Law (with whom I am to study) received me with all +the affection and kindness of a sincere and disinterested friend. +Even, without expecting it, he told me that his library was at my +service; that he did not wish me to join any class, but to read by +myself, that he might pay every attention, and give me every +assistance in his power. Indeed he answered my highest expectation. +I am stopping with Mr. John Aikman. He is one of the most +respectable men in this vicinity. I shall be altogether retired. At +the Court of Assize, the Chief-Justice and the Attorney-General +will stop here, which will make a very agreeable change for a few +days. To pursue my studies with indefatigable industry, and ardent +zeal, will be my set purpose, so that I may never have to mourn the +loss of my precious time.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 16th.</i>—This day I commenced my studies by reading Latin and +Greek with Mr. Law. I began the duties of the day in imploring the +assistance of God; for without Him I cannot do anything. God has +been pleased to open my understanding, to enlighten my mind, and to +show me the necessity and blessedness of an unreserved and habitual +devotion to his heavenly will. I have heard Bishop Hedding preach, +also Rev. Nathan Bangs. I am resolved to improve my time more +diligently, and to give myself wholly to God. Oh, may his +long-suffering mercy bear with me, his wisdom guide, his power +support and defend me, and may his mercy bring me off triumphant in +the dying day!</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 17th.</i>—I have been reading Virgil's Georgics. I find them +very difficult,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> and have only read seventy lines. In my spiritual +concerns I have been greatly blessed; and felt more anxiously +concerned for my soul's salvation, have prayed more than usual, and +experienced a firmer confidence in the blessed promises of the +Gospel. I have enjoyed sweet intercourse with my Saviour, my soul +resting on his divine word, with a prayerful acquiescence in his +dispensations. But alas! what evil have I done, how much time have +I lost, how many idle words have I spoken; how should these +considerations lead me to watch my thoughts, to husband my time +with judgment, and govern my tongue as with a bridle! Oh, Lord +bless me and prosper me in all my ways and labours, and keep me to +thyself!</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 18th.</i>—The Lord has abundantly blessed me this day both in +my spiritual and classical pursuits. I have been able to pursue my +studies with facility, and have felt his Holy Spirit graciously +enlightening my mind, showing me the necessity of separating myself +from the world, and being given up entirely to his service.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 19th.</i>—I have this day proved that, with every temptation, +the Lord makes a way for my escape. I have enjoyed much peace. Oh, +Lord, help me to improve my precious time, so as to overcome the +assaults and escape the snares of the adversary!</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 20th.</i>—In all the vicissitudes of life, how clearly is the +mysterious providence and superintending care of Jehovah +manifested! how strikingly can I observe the divine interposition +of my heavenly Father, and how sensibly do I realize his +benevolence, kindness, and mercy in the whole moral and blessed +economy of his equitable and infinitely wise government! On no +object do I cast my eyes without observing an affecting instance of +a benevolent and overruling power; and, while in mental +contemplations my mind is absorbed, my admiration rises still +higher to the exalted purposes and designs of Almighty God. I +behold in the soul noble faculties, superior powers of imagination, +and capacious desires, unfilled by anything terrestrial, and wishes +unsatisfied by the widest grasp of human ambition. What is this but +immortality? Oh, that my soul may feed on food immortal!</p> + +<p>Another week is gone, eternally gone! What account can I give to my +Almighty Judge for my conduct and opportunities? Has my improvement +kept pace with the panting steeds of unretarded time? Must I give +an account of every idle word, thought, and deed? Oh, merciful God! +if the most righteous, devoted, and holy scarcely are saved, where +stall I appear? How do my vain thoughts, and unprofitable +conversation, swell heaven's register? Where is my watchfulness! +Where are my humility, purity, and hatred of sin? Where is my zeal? +Alas! alas! they are things unpractised, unfelt, almost unknown to +me. How little do I share in the toils, the labours, or the sorrows +of the righteous, and consequently how little do I participate in +their confidence, their joys, their heavenly prospects? Oh, may +these awful considerations drive me closer to God, and incite to a +more diligent improvement of my precious time, so that I may bear +the mark of a real follower of Christ!</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 22nd.—Sabbath.</i>—When I arose this morning I endeavoured to +dedicate myself afresh to God in prayer, with a full determination +to improve the day to his glory, and to spend it in his service. +Accordingly, I spent the morning in prayer, reading, and +meditation; but when I came to mingle with the worldly-minded, my +devotions and meditations were dampened and distracted, my thoughts +unprofitable and vain. I attended a Methodist Class-meeting where I +felt myself forcibly convinced of my shortcomings. Sure I am that +unless I am more vigilant, zealous, and watchful, I shall never +reach the Paradise of God. I must be willing to bear reproach for +Christ's sake, confess him before men, or I never can be owned by +him in the presence of his Father, and the holy angels.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p>Merciful God! forbid that I should barter away my heavenly +inheritance for a transient gleam of momentary joy, and the empty +round of worldly pleasure:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"Help me to watch and pray,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">And on thyself rely,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Assured if I my trust betray,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">I shall forever die."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><i>Aug. 23rd.</i>—I have been abundantly prospered in my studies +to-day; and have been enabled to maintain an outward conformity in +my conduct. But alas! how blind to my own interest, to deprive +myself of the highest blessings and exalted honours the Almighty +has to bestow. Oh, Lord! help me henceforth to be wise unto +salvation. May I be sober and watch unto prayer! Amen.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 24th.</i>—Through the mercy of God I have been enabled in a +good degree to overcome my besetments, and have this day maintained +more consistency in conversation and conduct. Still I feel too much +deterred by the fear of man, and thirst too ardently for the +honours of the world. Merciful God! give me more grace, wisdom, and +strength, that I may triumphantly overcome and escape to heaven at +last!</p> + +<p>I shall finish the first book of the Georgics to-day, which is the +seventh day since I commenced them. I expect to finish them in four +weeks from this time. My mind improves, and I feel much encouraged. +My labour is uniform and constant, from the dawn of day till near +eleven at night. I have not a moment to play on the flute.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 25th.</i>—There is nothing like implicit trust in the Almighty +for assistance, protection, and assurance! His past dispensations +and dealings with me leave not the least suspicion of his +inviolable veracity, and his efficacious promises cheer the +sadness, calm the fears of every soul that practically reposes in +and seeks after him. The truth of this, blessed be God, I have in +some measure experienced to-day. Help me, O Lord, with increasing +grace to attain still more sublime enjoyments and triumphant +prospects!</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 26th.</i>—I feel a growing indifference to worldly pleasures, +and increasing love to God, to holiness, and heaven. Entire +confidence in a superintending Providence heals the wounded heart +of even the disconsolate widow, and gives the oil of joy for +sorrow, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 27th.</i>—This day I attended a funeral; those connected with +it were very ignorant; how strikingly this showed to me the +advantages of a good education. God forbid that I should idle away +my golden moments. Help me to choose the better part, and honour +God in all things!</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 28th.</i>—The labours of another week are ended; during it I +have enjoyed much of the presence of God; surely the religion of +Christ dazzles all the magnificence of human glory; were I only to +regard the happiness of this life, I would embrace its doctrines, +practice its laws, and exert my influence for its extension.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 29th.—Sabbath.</i>—The blessings of the Lord have abundantly +surrounded me this day, and my heart has been enlarged.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 30th.</i>—In observing my actions and words this day, I find I +have done many things that are culpable; and yet, blessed be God, +his goodness to me is profuse. Help me to watch and pray that I +enter not into temptation.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 31st.</i>—How many youths around me do I see trifling away the +greatest part of their time, and profaning their Maker's name? My +soul magnifies His name that I have decided to be on the Lord's +side; how many evils have I escaped; how many blessings obtained; +what praise enjoyed, through the influence of this religion. To God +be all the glory!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>September 1st.</i>—In no subject can we employ our thoughts more +profitably than on the atonement of Christ, and justification +through his merits. With wonder we gaze on the love of Deity; with +profound awe we behold a God descending from heaven to earth. +Unbounded love! Unmeasured grace! And while in deep silence his +death wraps all nature; while his yielding breath rends the temple +and shakes earth's deep foundations; may my redeemed soul in silent +rapture tune her grateful song aloft; and fired by this +blood-bought theme, may I mend my pace towards my heavenly +inheritance!</p> + +<p>I generally close up the labours of the day by writing a short +essay or theme on some religious subject. In doing this I have two +objects in view: the improvement of my mind and heart. And what +could be more appropriate than to close the day by reflection upon +God, and heaven, and time, and eternity? No private employment, +except that of prayer, have I found more pleasing and profitable +than this. Youth is the seed-time of the life that now is, as well +as of that which is to come. Youthful piety is the germ of true +honour, lawful prosperity, and everlasting blessedness. One day of +humble, devotional piety in youth will add more to our happiness at +the last end of life than a year of repentance and humiliation in +old age. I have no intention of entering the ministry, and yet I +prefer religious topics. To-day I have chosen the atonement of our +Lord, and have written a few thoughts on it.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 2nd.</i>—Implicit trust in a superintending Providence is a +constant source of comfort and support to me.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 3rd.</i>—God has blessed me to-day in my studies. I have also +felt the efficacy of Divine aid. Help me still, most merciful God!</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 4th.</i>—In the course of the past week I have experienced +various feelings, especially with respect to the dealings of Divine +Providence with me; but in all I have had this consolation, that +whatever happens, "the will of the Lord be done." It is my duty to +perform and obey.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 5th.</i>—This morning I attended church and heard a sermon on +Ezekiel xviii. 27. When we consider the importance of repentance, +its connection with our eternal happiness, surely every feeling +heart, and ministers especially, should exhibit with burning zeal +the conditions of salvation, the slavery of vice, the heinousness +of sin, the vanity of human glory, and the uncertainty of life.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 6th.</i>—When I laid aside my studies to commit my evening +thoughts to paper, my mind wandered on various subjects, until much +time was lost; the best antidote against this is, not to put off to +the next moment what can be done in this. We should be firm and +decided in all our pursuits, and whatever our minds "find to do, do +it with all our might."</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 7th.</i>—The mutual dependence of men cements society, and +their social intercourse communicates pleasure. If we are called to +endure the pains and inconveniences of poverty, possessing this we +forget all; and in the pleasant walks of wealth, it adds to every +elegance a charm. Friendship associated with religion, elevates all +the ties of Christian love and mutual pleasure.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 8th.</i>—I have found myself too much mingled with the common +crowd, and like others, too indifferent to the subject of all +others the chief.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 9th.</i>—We "cannot serve God and Mammon." May I be firm in my +attachment to the Saviour, remembering that "godliness has the +promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 12th.</i>—I heard a practical sermon on making our "calling +and election sure," which closed with these words, "He that calleth +upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." I felt condemned on +account of my negligence, and resolved, by God's help, to gain +victory over my tendency to inconsistencies of life and conduct.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Sept. 14th.</i>—I observe men embarked on the stream of time, and +carried forward with irresistible force to that universal port +which shall receive the whole human family. Amongst this passing +crowd, how few are there who reflect upon the design and end of +their voyage; surfeited with pleasure, involved in life's busy +concerns, the future, with its awful realities, is forgotten and +time, not eternity, is placed in the foreground.</p> + +<p><i>Sept, 15th.</i>—In a letter to my brother George, to-day, I +said:—It would be superfluous for me to tell you that the letter I +received from you gave me unspeakable pleasure. Your fears with +respect to my injuring my health are groundless, for I must confess +I don't possess half that application and burning zeal in these +all-important pursuits that I ought to have. For who can estimate +the value of a liberal education? Who can sufficiently prize that +in which all the powers of the human mind can expand to their +utmost and astonishing extent? What industry can outstretch the +worth of that knowledge, by which we can travel back to the +remotest ages, and live the lives of all antiquity? Nay, who can +set bounds to the value of those attainments, by which we can, as +it were, fly from world to world, and gaze on all the glories of +creation; by which we can glide down the stream of time, and +penetrate the unorganized regions of uncreated futurity? My heart +burns while I write. Although literature presents the highest +objects of ambition to the most refined mind, yet I consider +health, in comparison with other temporal enjoyments, the most +bountiful, and highest gift of heaven.</p> + +<p>I have read three books of the Georgics, and three odes of Horace, +but this last week I have read scarcely any, as I have had a great +deal of company, and there has been no school. But I commence again +to-day with all my might. The Attorney-General stops at Mr. +Aikman's during Court. I find him very agreeable. He conversed with +me more than an hour last night, in the most sociable, open manner +possible.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 16th.</i>—There is nothing of greater importance than to +commence early to form our characters and regulate our conduct. +Observation daily proves that man's condition in this world is +generally the result of his own conduct. When we come to maturity, +we perceive there is a right and a wrong in the actions of men; +many who possess the same hereditary advantages, are not equally +prosperous in life; some by virtuous conduct rise to +respectability, honour, and happiness; while others by mean and +vicious actions, forfeit the advantages of their birth, and sink +into ignominy and disgrace. How necessary that in early life useful +habits should be formed, and turbulent passions restrained, so that +when manhood and old age come, the mind be not enervated by the +follies and vices of youth, but, supported and strengthened by the +Divine Being, be enabled to say, "O God, thou hast taught me from +my youth, and now when I am old and grey-headed, O God, thou wilt +not forsake me!"</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 21st.</i>—I have just parted with an old and faithful friend, +who has left for another kingdom. How often has he kindly reproved +me, and how oft have we gone to the house of God together! We may +never meet again on earth, but what a mercy to have a good hope of +meeting in the better land!</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 23rd.</i>—When I reflect on the millions of the human family +who know nothing of Christ, my soul feels intensely for their +deliverance. What a vast uncultivated field in my own country for +ministers to employ their whole time and talents in exalting a +crucified Saviour. Has God designed this sacred task for me? If it +be Thy will, may all obstacles be removed, my heart be sanctified +and my hands made pure.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 26th.</i>—I have been much oppressed with a man-fearing +spirit, but what have I to fear if God be for me? Oh, Lord, enable +me to become a bold witness for Jesus Christ!</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 28th.</i>—In all the various walks of life, I find +obstructions and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> labours, surrounded with foes, powerful as well +as subtle; although I have all the promises of the Gospel to +comfort and support me, yet find exertion on my own part absolutely +necessary. When heaven proclaims victory, it is only that which +succeeds labour. I consider it a divine requisition that my whole +course of conduct, both in political and social life, should be +governed by the infallible precepts of revelation; hypocrisy is +inexcusable, even in the most trifling circumstances.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 29th.</i>—I find difficulties to overcome in my literary +pursuits, I had never anticipated; and it is only by the most +indefatigable labour I can succeed. I am much oppressed by the +labours of this day. I need Divine aid in this as well as in +spiritual pursuits.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 30th.</i>—I have been enabled to study with considerable +facility. Prayer I find the most profitable employment, practice +the best instructor, and thanksgiving the sweetest recreation. May +this be my experience every day!</p> + +<p><i>October, 2nd.</i>—I am another week nearer my eternal destiny! Am I +nearer heaven, and better prepared for death than at its +commencement? Do I view sin with greater abhorence? Are my views of +the Deity more enlarged? Is it my meat and drink to do his holy +will? Oh, my God, how much otherwise!</p> + +<p><i>From the 3rd to the 9th Oct.</i>—During this period the afflicting +hand of God has been upon me; thank God, when distressed with +bodily pain, I have felt a firm assurance of Divine favour, so that +all fear of death has been taken away. My soul is too unholy to +meet a holy God, and mingle with the society of the blest. Oh, God, +save me from the deceitfulness of my own heart!</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 10th, Sabbath.</i>—I am rapidly recovering health and strength. +The Lord is my refuge and comfort. Surrounded by temptations, the +applause of men is often too fascinating, and my treacherous heart +dresses things in false colours. But, bless God, in his goodness +and mercy he recalls my wandering steps, and invites me to dwell in +safety under the shadow of his wing.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 11th.</i>—No graces are of more importance than patience and +perseverance. They give consistency and dignity to character. We +may possess the most sparkling talents and the most interesting +qualities, but without these graces, the former lose their lustre, +and the latter their charms. In religion their influence is more +important, as they form the character, by enabling us to surmount +difficulties and remove obstacles. I am far from thinking them +constitutional virtues, with a little additional cultivation, but I +consider them the gift of heaven, less common than is generally +imagined, though sometimes faintly counterfeited. They differ from +natural or moral excellence in this being the proper and consistent +exercise of those virtues.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 12th.</i>—It is two weeks to-day since I first wrote home. A +week ago I received a kind letter from my brother George, but was +too ill with fever to read it, or to write in reply until to-day. I +said: "I feel truly thankful to you for the tender concern and warm +interest which you express in your letter. Tell my dear Mother that +I share with her her afflictions, and that I am daily more forcibly +convinced that every earthly comfort and advantage is transient and +unsatisfactory, that this is not our home, but that our highest +happiness amidst these fluctuating scenes, is to insure the favour +and protection of him who alone can raise us above afflictions and +calamities."</p> + +<p><i>November 20th.</i>—More than a month has elapsed since I recorded my +religious feelings and enjoyments on paper. During this period, I +have sometimes realized all the pleasures of health; at other +times, borne down with pain and sickness, the spirit would be cast +down. At such seasons of depression, religion would come in as my +only comfort, and with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> Psalmist I would exclaim, "Hope thou in +God, for I shall yet praise him who is the light of my countenance, +and my God." Thus I find from blessed experience, that in every +state and condition, union and intercourse with God brings true +peace, joy, trust, and praise. If there be any honour, here it is. +If there be any wealth, this is it. "I would rather be a +door-keeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of +wickedness." O Lord, give me more of the mind of Christ!</p> + +<p><i>Nov. 25th.</i>—In entering on the field of life, I find my mind much +perplexed with the variety of objects presented to my view. The +comforts and tranquility of domestic happiness attract my +attention, and excite warm desires in my heart. Am I not to taste +the pleasures which two hearts reciprocally united in one, mutually +communicate? or must I give up the home of domestic enjoyment to +the calls of duty, and the salvation of men? Has heaven designed +that I should spend my days in seeking the lost sheep of the House +of Israel? May divine wisdom direct me, and suffer me not to follow +the dictates of my own will!</p> + +<p><i>Nov. 26th.</i>—By taking a retrospective view of what is past, we +learn to ask more wisely in the time to come. The cool dictates of +reason, assisted by that inward monitor, conscience, placed within +the breast of every individual, strongly condemns every deviation +from propriety, justice, or morality. By mingling with society we +learn human nature, and the scenes of public resort afford us a +field for useful observation, yet retirement is the place to +acquire the most important knowledge—<i>the knowledge of ourselves</i>. +What would it avail us to dive into the mysteries of science, or +entertain the world with new discoveries, to acquaint ourselves +with the principles of morality, or learn the whole catalogue of +Christian doctrines, if we are unacquainted with our own hearts, +and strangers to the business of self-government?</p> + +<p><i>February 12th, 1825.</i>—During the long period since I last penned +my religious meditations, my feelings, hopes, and prospects have +been extremely varied. While I was promising myself health and many +temporal pleasures, God saw fit to show me the uncertainty of +earthly things, and the necessity and wisdom of submission to his +will, by the rod of affliction. During my sickness I have derived +much pleasure and profit from the visits of pious friends, so that +I have felt it is good to be afflicted.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<p><i>Feb. 13th.</i>—I am resolved, by God's assisting grace, to keep the +following resolutions:—(1) Endeavour to fix my first waking +thoughts on God; (2) By rising early to attend to my devotions, and +reading the Scriptures; (3)By praying oftener each day, and +maintaining a more devotional frame of mind; (4) By being more +circumspect in my conduct and conversation; (5) By improving my +time more diligently in reading useful books, and study; (6) By +watching over my thoughts, and keeping my desires within proper +bounds; (7) By examining myself more closely by the scripture rule; +(8) By leaving myself and all that concerns me to God's disposal; +(9) By reviewing every evening the actions of the day, and +especially every Sabbath, examining wherein I have come short, or +have kept God's precepts.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 16th.</i>—I have lately been closely employed in reading Bishop +Burnet's History of the Reformation. How sad to reflect on the +cruelties that were then practised against the professors of true +religion! What a reason for thankfulness that the sway of papal +authority can no longer inflict papal obligations on the +consciences of men! But after careful research into this highly +authentic history, I find but few vestiges of that apostolic purity +which churchmen so boastfully attribute to that memorable period of +Christian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> history. Great allowance, is, however, to be made when +we consider that they were just emerging out of the superstitions +of popery. That doctrines, discipline, and ceremonies, cannot be +established without the royal assent, even when they are approved +both by ecclesiastical and legislative authority, is a practice so +different from anything that the Primitive Church authorizes, it +seems to me to originate from quite a different source; that a +whole nation should be bound in their religious opinions by a +single individual, savours so much of popery, I think it may +properly be called its offspring. Pretentions to regal supremacy in +church affairs were never made till a late period, although this +interference of papal authority in matters entirely spiritual, does +not annul any ecclesiastical power, or prove its doctrines to be +corrupt, or its ordinations illegal. It may be justly ranked among +the invasions of modern corruption.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 17th.</i>—Since I drew up, four days since, several resolutions +for amendment, I bless God I have reason to believe I have made +some improvement. I have applied myself more closely to study, +prayed oftener, and governed my thoughts with more rigour.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 27th.</i>—I am now emerging into life, surrounded by blessings +and opportunities for usefulness and improvement; but, alas! where +is my gratitude, my love to God, my zeal for his cause, and for the +salvation of those who are ignorant of the great truths of the +Gospel? If, O God, thou hast designed this awfully important work +for me, qualify me for it; increase and enlarge my desires for the +salvation of immortal souls!</p> + +<p><i>March 15th.</i>—This day I have recommenced my studies with Mr. John +Law, at Hamilton. How necessary that I should be very careful in my +conduct for the credit of religion and Methodism!</p> + +<p><i>March 24th.</i>—I have this day finished twenty-two years of my +life. I have decided this day to travel in the Methodist Connexion +and preach Jesus to the lost sons of men. Oh, the awful importance +of this work! How utterly unfit I am for the undertaking! How +little wisdom, experience, and, above all, grace do I possess for +the labours of the ministry! Blessed Jesus, fountain of wisdom, God +of power, I give myself to thee, and to the Church, to do with me +according to thy will. Instruct and sanctify me, that whether I +live, it may be to the Lord, and when I die it may be to the Lord!</p> + +<p><i>April 3rd.—Easter Sunday.</i>—I this day commenced my ministerial +labours. Bless the Lord, he has given me a heart to feel. He hears +my prayer. Oh, my soul, hang all thy hopes upon the Lord! Forbid I +should seek the praise of men, but may I seek their good and God's +glory.</p> + +<p>In the morning I endeavoured to speak from Ps. cxxvi. 5, and in the +evening from Acts ii. 24—a subject suitable for the day; bless the +Lord, I felt something of the power of my Saviour's resurrection +resting on my soul.</p> + +<p><i>April 8th.</i>—The Lord being my helper, my little knowledge and +feeble talents shall be unreservedly devoted to his service. I do +not yet regret giving up my worldly pursuits for the welfare of +souls. I want Christ to be all in all.</p> + +<p><i>April 10th.—Sabbath.</i>—I endeavoured this morning to show the +abundant provisions, the efficacy, and the triumphs of the Gospel +from Isaiah xxv. 6, 7, 8, and in the afternoon I described the +righteous man and his end from Prov. xiv. 32. I felt much of the +presence of the Lord, and I do bless the Lord he has converted one +soul in this place to-day. I feel encouraged to go on.</p> + +<p><i>April 13th.</i>—I have been depressed in spirit on account of having +no abode for domestic retirement, and becoming exposed to all the +besetments of public life.</p> + +<p><i>April 15th.</i>—So bowed down with temptation to-day, I almost +resolved to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> return to my native place. But, in God's strength, I +will try to do my best during the time I have engaged to supply my +brother William's place.</p> + +<p><i>April 16th.</i>—In reading Rollin's account of the conquest of +Babylon, I conceive more exalted ideas of the truth of the Word of +God, whose predictions were so exactly fulfilled in the destruction +of that city.</p> + +<p><i>April 17th.—Sabbath.</i>—My labours this day have been excessive, +having delivered three discourses. In the morning my mind was dull +and heavy, in the afternoon warm and pathetic, in the evening clear +and fertile. I feel encouraged to continue on.</p> + +<p><i>April 23rd.</i>—I feel nothing but condemnation in reviewing the +actions of the past week. Would it not be better for me to return +home until I gain better government over myself. Oh, Lord, I throw +myself upon thy mercy! "Take not thy Holy Spirit from me! Restore +unto me the joy of thy salvation!"</p> + +<p><i>April 25th and 26th.</i>—And thus I go on, depressed and refreshed; +almost discouraged because of the way, and then cheered by the kind +and fatherly conversation of Rev. Thomas Madden.</p> + +<p><i>April 29th.</i>—In travelling to-day a tree fell across the road +four or five rods before me, and another not far behind, but I +escaped unhurt. My heart glowed with gratitude; I felt that the +Lord was indeed my protector. But whilst so narrowly escaping +myself, two persons, a woman and her son, who were travelling a +short distance behind me, were suddenly killed by the falling of a +tree, and thus in an instant hurried into eternity.</p> + +<p><i>May 4th.</i>—I watched to-day a large concourse of people assembled +to witness horse-racing. I stood at a distance that I might observe +an illustration of human nature. Curiosity and excitement were +depicted in every countenance. What is to become of this +thoughtless multitude? Is there no mercy for them? Surely there is. +Why will they not be saved? Because they will not come to Him.</p> + +<p><i>May 5th.</i>—During the day I preached once, to a listening but +wicked assembly. In the afternoon I heard my brother William. I was +affected by the force of his reasoning, and the power of his +eloquence. I hope the Lord will help me to imitate his piety and +zeal.</p> + +<p><i>May 7th.</i>—A camp-meeting was commenced this afternoon on Yonge +Street, near the town of York. Rev. Thomas Madden preached from, +"Lord help me!" Every countenance indicated interest, and every +heart appeared willing to receive the word. In the evening a pious, +aged man spoke (Mr. D. Y.) His discourse was full of God. Several +were converted and made very happy.</p> + +<p><i>May 8th.</i>—The people rose at 5 a.m. After prayers and breakfast, +there was a prayer meeting, daring which God was especially +present. At 8 a.m. I preached from Hosea xiii. 3. This was followed +by two exhortations; then Rev. Rowley Heyland preached from, "Buy +the truth, and sell it not." About two o'clock the people were +again assembled to hear the Rev. James Richardson (formerly a +lieutenant in the British Navy) from the words, "Be ye reconciled +to God." His style was plain but unadorned, his reasoning clear, +and his arguments forcible. The services concluded with the +celebration of the Lord's Supper. About three hundred communicated, +sixty-two professed to have obtained the pardon of their sins, and +forty-two gave their names as desirous of becoming members of the +Methodist Society. After this, a concluding address was delivered +by the Rev. Wm. Ryerson, in which he gave particular directions to +the Methodists as subjects under the civil constitution, as members +of the Church of Christ, as parents, as children, as individuals. +He animadverted on the groundless and disingenuous aspersions that +had been thrown out through the press against Methodism, on account +of the suspected loyalty of its constitutional principles. He +warmly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> insisted on a vigorous observance, support, and respect for +the Civil Government, both from the beneficence of its laws and the +equity of its administration, as well as from the authority of God. +The concluding ceremony was the most affecting I ever witnessed, +especially in the affection which the people showed for their +ministers.</p> + +<p><i>May 12th.</i>—I have this day ridden nearly thirty miles, preached +three times, and met two classes. I felt very much fatigued, yet +the Lord has given me "strength equal to my day."</p> + +<p><i>May 19th.</i>—I have been much blessed in the society of pious +friends. A part of the week I felt very sick, but was greatly +comforted by the conversation and affectionate treatment of my +kindest friend, Mrs. Smith. Since I commenced labouring for my +Master I have found fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, all +ready to supply my every want.</p> + +<p><i>May 24th.</i>—A Camp-meeting commenced at Mount Pleasant. The +presence of both Mississauga and Mohawk Indians added greatly to +the interest of the meeting. Peter Jones addressed his people in +their own tongue; although I did not understand, I was much +affected by his fervency and pathos. He spoke in English in a +manner that astonished all present.</p> + +<p>Another Indian Chief addressed his brethren in the Mohawk tongue. I +could not understand a word of it, but was carried away with his +pathos and energy. These Indians thanked the white people for +sending them the Gospel. He said that upwards of sixty Indians had +been converted, and could testify that God had power to forgive +sin. He, <i>i.e.</i>, a young Chippewa said that the most earnest desire +and prayer of the Christian Indians was that God would drive the +horrid whiskey from their nation. It was truly affecting to see +this young man arise and testify in the presence of God and this +large assembly, that "he had the witness in his own soul, that God +for Christ's sake had forgiven all his sins." The congregation was +much moved, and prayers and praises were heard in every part of the +assembly. At the close of the exercises, on the following day, the +Mohawk Chief said, "They considered that they belonged to the +Methodist Church, as they had done all for them."</p> + +<p><i>May 29th.</i>—For many days I have been cast down by a weight of +care. My Father is exceedingly anxious that I should return home, +and remain with him during his lifetime. A position in the Church +of England has presented itself, and other advantageous attractions +with regard to this world, offer themselves.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> It makes my heart +bleed to see the anxiety of my parents. But is it duty? If they +were in want I would return to them without hesitation, but when I +consider they have everything necessary, can it be my duty to +gratify them at the expense of the cause of God? Surely if a man +may leave father and mother to join himself to a wife, how much +more reasonable <i>to leave all</i> to join himself to the Christian +ministry. My parents are dear to me, but my duty to God is dearer +still. One thing do I desire, that I may live in the House of the +Lord for ever!</p> + +<p>And shall I leave a Church through whose faithful instructions I +have been brought to know God, for any advantages that the entrance +to another might afford me? No, far be it from me; as I received +the Lord Jesus, so I will walk in him. Earthly distinctions will be +but short; but the favour of God will last forever. Besides, is it +a sacrifice to do my duty? Is it not rather a cause of gratitude +that I know my duty, and am allowed to perform it? My heart is +united with the Methodists, my soul is one with theirs; my labours +are acceptable, and they are anxious that I should continue with +them. I believe in their Articles, I approve of their Constitution, +and I believe them to be of the Church of Christ.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Saltfleet, May 30th.</i>—[Amongst Dr. Ryerson's papers I find the two +following letters. The first addressed from Saltfleet, on this day, to +his brother George; the second to his Mother on the following day.—J. +G. H.]</p> + +<p>[To his brother, Rev. George Ryerson, he said: I suppose your first +inquiry is to know my spiritual condition and prospects. As to my +religious enjoyments, I think that I have reason to believe I am daily +blessed with the divine presence to enlighten, to instruct, and to +assist me in my researches and meditations, and in the other arduous +duties I have to discharge. Never did I so sensibly feel the importance +of the work in which I am now engaged, as I have these few days past. I +feel that I am altogether inadequate to it; but God has in a very +special manner, at different times, been my wisdom and strength. I do +not feel sorry that I have commenced travelling as a preacher. I think I +feel more deeply the worth of souls at heart. I feel willing to spend my +all, and be spent in the cause of God, if I may become the unworthy +instrument in doing some good to the souls of men. The greatest +assistance I receive in my public labours, is that which results from a +firm dependence on God for light, life, and power. When I forget this I +am visited with that barrenness of mind, and hardness of heart which are +always the companions of those who live at a distance from God. In +discharging every public duty, my prayer to God is, to renew my +commission afresh, and give me wisdom and energy, and I do not find him +slack concerning his promise. I am striving to pursue my studies with +unabating ardour. My general practice is to retire at ten o'clock, or +before, and rise at five. When I am travelling, I strive to converse no +more than is necessary and useful, endeavouring at all times to keep in +mind the remark of Dr. Clarke, that a preacher's whole business is to +save souls, and that that preacher is the most useful who is the most in +his closet. On my leisure days I read from ten to twenty verses of Greek +a day, besides reading history, the Scriptures, and the best works on +practical divinity, among which Chalmers' has decidedly the preference +in my mind, both for piety and depth of thought. These two last studies +employ the greatest part of my time. My preaching is altogether +original. I endeavour to collect as many ideas from every source as I +can; but I do not copy the expression of any one. For I do detest seeing +blooming flowers in dead men's hands. I think it my duty, and I try to +get a general knowledge, and view of any subject that I discuss +before-hand; but not unfrequently I have tried to preach with only a few +minutes previous reflection. Remember me to my dear Mother, and give her +this letter to read, and tell her that I will write soon.]<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Saltfleet, May 31st.</i>—[To his Mother he writes: My dear Mother, I am +thankful to say that I am well, and am trying in a weak way to serve the +Lord, and persuading as many others to do so as I can. I feel that I am +almost destitute of every necessary qualification for so important a +work. The Lord has blessed me in a very special manner at many different +times. Our prospects are very favourable in some places. Our +congregations are generally large, and still increasing. We have +twenty-four appointments in four weeks. I have formed some very useful +and pious acquaintances since I left home. The Lord seems to be with me, +and renders my feeble efforts acceptable in general. My acquaintance +seems to be sought by all classes, and I try to improve such advantages +in spreading, by my example and conversation, the blessed religion of +Christ among all ranks. I have many temptations to contend with, and +many trials to weigh me down at times. Some of these arise from a sense +of the injustice which I have done to important subjects, on account of +my ignorance, which drives me to a throne of grace, and a closer +application to my studies. My situation is truly a state of trial, and +none but God could support and direct me. And I do feel the comforting +and refreshing influence of his divine power at times very sensibly. I +am determined, by his assistance, never to rest contented until he not +only becomes my wisdom, but my sanctification, and my full redemption. +And blessed be the Lord, my dear Mother, I do feel a hope, and a +confidence that the same divine power and goodness which supports and +comforts you in your ill state of health, and which gives you victory +over your trials, and consolation in your distress, will conduct me, +too, through this stormy maze, and we shall yet have the blessedness of +meeting at our Father's table in Heaven. And God being my helper, my +dear Mother, when you have gone home to rest with God, I am determined +to pursue the same path, which you have strewn with prayers, with tears, +and living faith, until I reach the same blessed port. I hope that you +will pray that the Lord would help and save me forever! If I had no +other inducement to serve God, and walk in the path of religion, but +your comfort, I would try and devote my life to it while I live; but +when Heaven's transcendant glory beams forth in prospective view, my +soul burns to possess the kingdom, and my heart is enlarged for the +salvation of others. I wish you would get George to write immediately, +and let me know the state of your mind, and your opinion about my +returning home, also his own opinion on that subject.—J. G. H.]</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>July 2nd.</i>—This week has been a season of trial. I have left my +Father's house once more, and arrived on my Circuit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>July 3rd.—Sabbath.</i>—I have preached twice to-day in Niagara for +the first time; felt very embarrassed, but my trust was in God, and +my prayer to Him for assistance.</p> + +<p><i>July 4th.</i>—This evening I have been distressed in mind on account +of leaving my parents. My heart melts within me when I think of my +Father's faltering voice, when lying on his bed he said, "Good-bye, +Egerton," and reached forth his trembling hand, saying by his +countenance that he never expected to see his son a resident in his +house again. He laid himself back in his bed in apparent despair, +no more to enjoy the society of the child he loved. Oh, my God! is +it not too much for humanity? Nature sinks beneath the weight. It +is only God that can sustain. May I endure manfully to the end!</p> + +<p><i>July 6th and 7th.</i>—I have been much interested in reading Dr. +Coke's discourses, also Wesley's sermons on "The Kingdom of God."</p> + +<p><i>July 9th.</i>—I have crossed the river to the United States to-day +for the first time. The manners of the people are not pleasant to +me.</p> + +<p><i>July 10th—Sabbath.</i>—The Lord has greatly blessed me this day. I +have preached three times. My heart overflowed with love for +immortal souls. Many wept, and God's people seemed stirred up to +engage afresh in His service. In the evening, I preached to very a +wicked congregation, from Matt. xvi. 24. My mind was clear, +particularly in argument, but they seemed to be unaffected.</p> + +<p><i>July 14th.</i>—I have been afflicted with illness, but the Lord has +comforted me. Again had to mourn over light conversation, still I +think I have gained some victory. I am determined to watch and pray +until I obtain a triumph over this trying besetment.</p> + +<p><i>July 17th.</i>—I felt so ill this morning that I could not attend my +appointment, but recovered so as to preach feebly in the afternoon. +The Word seemed to rest with power on the people.</p> + +<p><i>July 21st.</i>—For several days I have been much interested in +reading Fletcher's "Portrait of St. Paul." When I compare my +actions and feelings with the standard there laid down, I blush on +account of my ignorance in the duties and labours connected with my +calling. Did the ministers of the Gospel obtain and possess a +deeper communion with God? Did they cultivate primitive piety in +their lives, and Gospel simplicity in their preaching, surely the +power of darkness could not stand before them! How many learned +discourses are entirely lost in the wisdom of words, whereas plain +and simple sermons, delivered with power and demonstration of the +Spirit, have been attended with astonishing success.</p> + +<p><i>July 27th.</i>—I have been considerably agitated in my mind for the +last two days, having lost my horse. The fatigue in searching for +her has been considerable. Thank God she is found!</p> + +<p><i>July 31st—Sabbath.</i>—Greatly blessed in attending a Quarterly +meeting in Hamilton; also in hearing an interesting account of the +Indians receiving their presents at York. Peter Jones had written +to Col. Givens to enquire just what time they must be there, +stating that as many of them had become Christianized and +industrious, they did not want to lose time. The Colonel was +surprised at the news, and replied, giving the necessary +information. Peter Jones' letter was shown to Rev. Dr. Strachan and +His Excellency the Governor. It excited great curiosity. When the +Indians arrived, the Colonel had, as usual, brought liquor to treat +them, but as Peter Jones informed him the Christian Indians would +not drink, he very wisely said "the others should not have it +either," and sent it back. How the Lord honours those who honour +Him. Rev. Dr. Strachan and several ladies and gentlemen assembled +to see the distribution of presents. The Christian Indians were +requested to separate from the others, that they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> might read and +sing. The company was much pleased, and Dr. Strachan prayed with +them. On the following Sabbath, the Dr. visited the Credit +settlement, and attended one of the meetings which was addressed by +Peter Jones. Dr. Strachan proposed their coming under the +superintendence of the Church of England; but after holding a +council, they declined, deciding to remain under the direction of +the Methodists. May the Lord greatly prosper his work amongst them, +preserve them from every delusive snare, and may their happy souls +be kept blameless unto the day of Jesus Christ!</p> + +<p><i>August 1st.</i>—This day I have been admitted into the Methodist +Connexion, licensed as a Local Preacher, and recommended tn the +Annual Conference to be received on trial. How awful the +responsibility! How dreadful my condition if I violate my charge or +deal deceitfully with souls! Oh, God, assist me to declare Thy +whole counsel! and help me to instruct by example as well as +precept. How swiftly am I gliding down time's rapid stream! I am +daily reminded of the uncertainty and shortness of life. I went +to-day to visit a friend, and (as usual) smilingly came to the +door, when behold! all was mourning and sorrow! An infant son had +just taken its everlasting flight to the arms of Jesus. He was a +fine boy, active and promising, but he had suddenly gone to return +no more! The father's philosophy forsakes him now; parental feeling +has uncontrolled sway. I recommended religion as the only +sufficient support and comfort. I touched on the mysterious +government of God; that truly "Clouds and darkness are round about +him." yet "righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his +throne." I pointed out the happiness of the beloved babe, which +should lead us to devote our all to His service, that we might +eventually share in the unspeakable blessedness to which the lovely +infant is now raised.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 10th.</i>—My soul rejoices at the news I have heard from home, +that my eldest brother (George) has resolved to join the +Methodists, and become a missionary among the Indians. How +encouraging and comforting the thought that four of us are now +united in the same Church, and pursue the same glorious calling. My +Father has become reconciled, and my Mother is willing to part with +her sons for the sake of the Church of Christ.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 14th—Sabbath.</i>—Never did I feel my pride more mortified in +the discharge of public duty. I was desirous of delivering a +discourse, in Niagara, which would meet the approbation of all, +after carefully adjusting the subject, by the assistance of a +variety of authors; but through fatigue (having rode twelve miles), +and embarrassment, I was scarcely able to finish. My heart felt +hard and my mind barren, conscience reproached me that I had not +acted with a single eye to the glory of God. In the afternoon, I +threw myself on the mercy of God; my tongue was loosened and my +heart warmed. Surely, "They that trust in the Lord shall not be +confounded."</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 17th.</i>—This morning a lady died with whom I had considerable +conversation on the subject of Methodism, and on the propriety of +her daughters joining the society contrary to her wish. She +appeared to be satisfied with my account of the principles and +nature of Methodism, but did not like to acknowledge the propriety +of her daughters' proceedings, although her judgment seemed +convinced as I adverted to the principles of her own church. I am +informed that yesterday she said, "The girls are right and I am +wrong." How comforting this must be to her daughters, who have +entirely overcome her opposition by their kindness, affection, and +gospel simplicity.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 22nd.</i>—Yesterday I delivered a discourse on the subject of +Missions, for the purpose of forming a Missionary Society in this +place (Niagara).</p> + +<p><i>September 3rd, 1825.</i>—I took tea this afternoon at Youngstown, +U.S., for the first time.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 6th.</i>—Had the pleasure of meeting my brother to-day, whom I +have not seen for a year. How comforting to meet with those who are +not only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> near by the ties of nature, but much more by the changing +power of divine grace.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 9th.</i>—Have been greatly benefitted to-day by hearing Bishop +Hedding preach from Rev. iii. 5.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 16th.</i>—I bless God for what mine eyes hath seen, and mine +ears have heard to-day, being the first anniversary of the Canadian +Missionary Society. The Hon. John Willson, M.P.P., was requested to +take the chair. Several Indians, who had been brought to a +knowledge of the truth, through the efforts of this Society, were +present and spoke. How delightful to see the warlike Mohawk, and +the degraded Mississauga, exchanging the heathen war-whoop for the +sublime praise of the God of love! This is the commencement of +greater things which the Lord will do for the aboriginies of +Canada.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 23rd.</i>—I have this day received my appointment for York and +Yonge street. Never did I feel more sensibly the necessity of +Divine help. Help me, O God, to go forth in Thy strength, and +contend manfully under the banner of Christ! Amen.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> These voluminous diaries and journals are full of detail, +chiefly of Dr. Ryerson's religious experience. They are rich in +illustration of the severe mental and spiritual disciplinary +process—self-imposed—through which he passed during these eventful +years of his earlier life. They are singularly severe in their personal +reflections upon his religious shortcomings, and want of watchfulness. +They are tinged with an asceticism which largely characterized the +religious experience of many of the early Methodist preachers of Mr. +Wesley's time—an asceticism which strongly marked the Methodist +biography and writings, which were almost the only religious reading +accessible to the devoted Methodist pioneers of this country,—J. G. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> In a previous and subsequent chapter Dr. Ryerson refers +more particularly to this illness (pp. <a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, and elsewhere). It was a +turning point in his life, and decided him to enter the ministry on his +twenty-second birthday.—J. G. H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Dr. Ryerson refers in another chapter to the overtures +which were made to him at this time to enter the ministry of the Church +of England.—J. G. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1825-1826.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">First Year of my Ministry and First Controversy.</span></p> + + +<p>My first appointment after my admission on trial was to the (what was +then called the York and Yonge Street Circuit), which then embraced the +Town of York (now the City of Toronto) Weston, the Townships of Vaughan, +King, West Gwillimbury, North Gwillimbury, East Gwillimbury, Whitchurch, +Markham, Pickering, Scarboro', and York, over which we travelled, and +preached from twenty-five to thirty-five sermons in four weeks, +preaching generally three times on Sabbath and attending three class +meetings, besides preaching and attending class meetings on week days. +The roads were (if in any place they could be called roads) bad beyond +description; could only be travelled on horse-back, and on foot; the +labours hard, and the accommodations of the most primitive kind; but we +were received as angels of God by the people, our ministrations being +almost the only supply of religious instruction to them; and nothing +they valued more than to have the preacher partake of their humble and +best hospitality.</p> + +<p>It was during the latter part of this the first year of my itinerant +ministry (April and May, 1826) that I was drawn and forced into the +controversy on the Clergy Reserves and equal civil and religious rights +and privileges among all religious persuasions in Upper Canada.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> There +had been some controversy between the leaders of the Churches of England +and Scotland on their comparative standing as established churches in +Upper Canada. In my earliest years, I had read and studied Blackstone's +Commentaries on the laws of England, especially the rights of the Crown, +and Parliament and Subject, Paley's Moral and Political Philosophy; and +when I read and observed the character of the policy, and state of +things in Canada, I felt that it was not according to the principles of +British liberty, or of the British Constitution; but I had not the +slightest idea of writing anything on the subject.</p> + +<p>At this juncture, (April, 1826,) a publication appeared, entitled +"Sermon Preached and Published by the Venerable Archdeacon of York, in +May, 1826, on the Death of the Late Bishop of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> Quebec," containing a +sketch of the rise and progress of the Church of England in these +provinces, and an appeal on behalf of that Church to the British +Government and Parliament. In stating the obstacles which impeded the +progress of the Church of England in Upper Canada, the memorable Author +of the able discourse attacked the character of the religious +persuasions not connected with the Church of England, especially the +Methodists, whose ministers were represented as American in their origin +and feelings, ignorant, forsaking their proper employments to preach +what they did not understand, and which, from their pride, they +disdained to learn; and were spreading disaffection to the civil and +religious institutions of Great Britain. In this sermon, not only was +the status of the Church of England claimed as the Established Church of +the Empire, and exclusively entitled to the Clergy Reserves, or one +seventh of the lands of Upper Canada, but an appeal was made to the +Imperial Government and Parliament for a grant of £300,000 per annum, to +enable the Church of England in Upper Canada, to maintain the loyalty of +Upper Canada to England. And these statements and appeals were made ten +years after the close of the war of 1812-1815, by the United States +against Britain, with the express view of conquering Canada and annexing +it to the United States; and during which war both Methodist preachers +and people were conspicuous for their loyalty and zeal in defence of the +country.</p> + +<p>The Methodists in York (now Toronto) at that time (1826) numbered about +fifty persons, young and old; the two preachers arranged to meet once in +four weeks on their return from their country tours, when a social +meeting of the leading members of the society was held for conversation, +consultation, and prayer. One of the members of this company obtained +and brought to the meeting a copy of the Archdeacon's sermon, and read +the parts of it which related to the attacks upon the Methodists, and +the proposed method of exterminating them. The reading of those extracts +produced a thrilling sensation of indignation and alarm, and all agreed +that something must be written and done to defend the character and +rights of Methodists and others assailed, against such attacks and such +a policy. The voice of the meeting pointed to me to undertake this work. +I was then designated as "The Boy Preacher," from my youthful +appearance, and as the youngest minister in the Church. I objected on +account of my youth and incompetence; but my objections were overruled, +when I proposed as a compromise, that during our next country tour the +Superintendent of the Circuit (Rev. James Richardson), and myself should +each write on the subject, and from what we should both write, +something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> might be compiled to meet the case. This was agreed to, and +at our next social monthly meeting in the town, inquiry was made as to +what had been written in defence of the Methodists and others, against +the attacks and policy of the Archdeacon of York. It was found that the +Superintendent of the Circuit had written nothing; and on my being +questioned, I said I had endeavoured to obey the instructions of my +senior brethren. It was then insisted that I must read what I had +written. I at length yielded, and read my answer to the attacks made on +us. The reading of my paper was attended with alternate laughter and +tears on the part of those present, all of whom insisted that it should +be printed, I objecting that I had never written anything for the press, +and was not competent to such a task, and advanced to throw my +manuscript into the fire, when one of the elder members caught me by the +arms, and another wrenched the manuscript out of my hands, saying he +would take it to the printer. Finding my efforts vain to recover it, I +said if it were restored I would not destroy it but rewrite it and +return it to the brethren to do what they pleased with it. I did so. Two +of the senior brethren took the manuscript to the printer, and its +publication produced a sensation scarcely less violent and general than +a Fenian invasion. It is said that before every house in Toronto might +be seen groups reading and discussing the paper on the evening of its +publication in June; and the excitement spread throughout the country. +It was the first defiant defence of the Methodists, and of the equal and +civil rights of all religious persuasions; the first protest and +argument on legal and British constitutional grounds, against the +erection of a dominant church establishment supported by the state in +Upper Canada.</p> + +<p>It was the Loyalists of America, and their descendants, in Upper Canada +who first lifted up the voice of remonstrance against ecclesiastical +despotism in the province, and unfurled the flag of equal religious +rights and liberty for all religious persuasions.</p> + +<p>The sermon of the Archdeacon of York was the third formal attack made by +the Church of England clergy upon the characters of their unoffending +Methodist brethren and those of other religious persuasions; but no +defence of the assailed parties had as yet been written. In a subsequent +discussion on another topic, referring to this matter, I said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Up to this time not a word had been written respecting the clergy +of the Church of England, or the Clergy Reserve question, by any +minister or member of the Methodist Church. At that time the +Methodists had no law to secure a foot of land, on which to build +parsonages, Chapels, and in which to bury their dead; their +ministers were not allowed to solemnize matrimony;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> and some of +them had been the objects of cruel and illegal persecution on the +part of magistrates and others in authority. And now they were the +butt of unprovoked and unfounded aspersions from two heads of +Episcopal Clergy, while pursuing the 'noiseless tenor of their +way,' through trackless forests and bridgeless rivers and streams, +to preach among the scattered inhabitants the unsearchable riches +of Christ."<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p></div> + +<p><i>The Review</i>, in defence of the Methodists and others against such +gratuitous and unjust imputations, consisted of about thirty octavo +pages, appeared over the signature of "A Methodist Preacher;" it was +commenced near Newmarket, in a cottage owned by the late Mr. Elias +Smith, whose wife was a sister of the Lounts—a woman of great +excellence. It was written piecemeal in the humble residences of the +early settlers, in the course of eight days, during which time I rode on +horseback nearly a hundred miles and preached seven sermons. On its +publication I pursued my country tour of preaching, &c., little +conscious of the storm that was brewing; but on my return to town, at +the end of two weeks, I received newspapers containing four replies to +my <i>Review</i>—three of them written by clergymen, and one by a scholarly +layman of the Church of England. In those replies to the then unknown +author of the <i>Review</i>, I was assailed by all sorts of contemptuous and +criminating epithets—all denying that the author of such a publication +could be "a Methodist Preacher,"—but was "an American," "a rebel," "a +traitor,"—and that the <i>Review</i> was the "prodigious effort of a party."</p> + +<p>My agitation was extreme; finding myself, against my own intention and +will, in the very tempest of a discussion for which I felt myself poorly +prepared, I had little appetite or sleep. At length roused to a sense of +my position, I felt that I must either flee or fight. I decided upon the +latter, strengthened by the consciousness that my principles were those +of the British Constitution and in defence of British rights. I devoted +a day to fasting and prayer, and then went at my adversaries in good +earnest. In less than four years after the commencement of this +controversy, laws were passed authorising the different religious +denominations to hold land for churches, parsonages, and burying +grounds, and their Ministers to solemnize matrimony; while the +Legislative Assembly passed, by large majorities, resolutions, and +addresses to the Crown against the exclusive pretensions of the Church +of England to the Clergy Reserves and being the exclusive established +Church of Upper Canada, though the Clergy Reserve question itself +continued to be discussed, and was not finally settled until more than +ten years afterwards.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>Several months after the commencement of this controversy I paid my +first annual visit to my parents, and for the first two days the burden +of my Father's conversation was this controversy which was agitating the +country. At length, while walking in the orchard, my Father turned +short, and in a stern tone, said, "Egerton, they say that you are the +author of these papers which are convulsing the whole country. I want to +know whether you are or not?" I was compelled to acknowledge that I was +the writer of these papers, when my Father lifted up his hands, in an +agony of feeling, and exclaimed, "My God! we are all ruined!"</p> + +<p>The state of my own mind and the character of my labours during this +first year of my ministry, may be inferred from the following brief +extracts from my diary:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>October 4th</i>,—I have this evening arrived on my Circuit at York. +I feel the change to be awfully important, and entirely inadequate +to give proper instruction to so intelligent a people. The Lord +give me his assisting grace. I am resolved to devote my time, my +heart, my all, to God without reserve. I do feel determined, by +God's assistance, to rise early, spend no more time than is +absolutely necessary, pray oftener, and more fervently, to be +modest and solemn in the discharge of my public duties—to improve +every leisure moment by reading or meditation, and to depend upon +the assistance of Almighty God for the performance of every duty. +Oh, Lord, assist an ignorant youth to declare thy great salvation!</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 9th.</i>—Commenced my labours this day. In the morning, the +Lord was very near to help me, giving me a tongue to speak, and a +heart to feel. But in the evening, after I got through my +introduction, recollection failed and my mind was entirely blank. +For nearly five minutes I could scarcely speak a word; after this +my thoughts returned. This seemed to be the hand of God, to show me +my entire weakness.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 16th—Sabbath.</i>—Oh, God, water the efforts of this day with +thy grace! If I am the means of persuading only one soul to embrace +the Lord Jesus, I shall be amply rewarded. "Paul planted, Apollos +watered, but God gave the increase." I Cor. iii. 6.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 20th.</i>—Once more, my Saviour, I renew my covenant and give +myself away; 'tis all that I can do.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 27th.</i>—For several days past the Lord has been very gracious +to my soul, and has greatly helped me in declaring His glorious +counsels. But to-day, my heart felt very hard while preaching to a +company of graceless sinners. It was in a tavern, and I doubt the +propriety of preaching in such places.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 31st.</i>—I am one month nearer my end; am I so much nearer God +and heaven? There are many precious hours I can give no favourable +account of. Had I been more faithful, I might have led some poor +wanderer into the way of truth. Oh, God, enter not into judgment +with me! Spare the barren fig-tree a little longer.</p> + +<p><i>November 4th—Friday (Fast Day.)</i>—One reason why my labours are +not more blessed, is because I feel and know so little of spiritual +things myself. There is too much of self about me.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"When, gracious Lord, when shall it be,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">That I shall find my all in Thee;<br /></span> +<span class="i3">The fulness of Thy promise prove,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">The seal of Thine eternal love."<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></div></div> + +<p><i>Nov. 6th.</i>—I felt greatly blessed while addressing a large +Sabbath-school of more than a hundred scholars.</p></div> + +<p><i>Nov. 7th.</i>—[On this day, the following letter was written from York by +Dr. Ryerson to his Father. He said: On leaving the old home lately, I +promised to write to you, my dear Father, and let you know how I am +getting on. I arrived here a few days after I left home. I have received +a letter from brother William, who told me that his prospects are +encouraging. I received a letter also from brother John. He reached +Perth about a fortnight after he left home, and was cordially received +by all classes. He preached the Sabbath after he got there to large and +respectable congregations. He was very much pleased with his +appointment, and his prospects are very favourable. On the first evening +of his preaching, one professed to experience justification by faith, +and several were deeply convicted. He thinks, from several +circumstances, that his appointment is of God. I am very well pleased +with my appointment. I travel with a person who is deeply pious, a true +and disinterested friend, and a very respectable preacher. I travel +about two hundred miles in four weeks, and preach twenty-five times, +besides funerals. I spend two Sabbaths in York, and two in the country. +Our prospects on the circuit are encouraging. In York we have most +flattering prospects. We have some increase almost every week. Our +morning congregations fill the chapel, which was never the case before; +and in the evening the chapel will not contain but little more than +three-quarters of the people. Last evening several members of Parliament +were present. I never addressed so large an audience before, and I never +was so assisted from heaven in preaching as at this place. I have spent +the last two Sabbaths in York, and I go to-day into the country. I was +requested yesterday to address the Union Sunday-school, which contains +about 150 or 200 children. It was a public examination of the School. I +never heard children recite so correctly, and so perfectly before, as +they did. There was quite a large congregation present, as it was +designed to make a contribution for the support of the School. I first +addressed a short discourse to the children, and then addressed the +assembly. It was the most precious season that I ever experienced. It +is, my dear Father, the most delightful employment I ever engaged in, to +proclaim the name of Jesus to lost sinners. I feel more firmly attached +to the cause than ever. The Lord has comforted, blessed, and prospered +me beyond my expectations. I am resolved to devote all that I have and +am, to his service. Get George to write shortly all the news of the day. +Remember me to my dear Mother.—H.]<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<p>[After writing to his Father, he wrote on the same day to his brother +George, as follows:—</p> + +<p>I have just heard the Governor's Speech to the two Houses of the +Legislature. In the latter part of his address he hinted at a certain +communication, which, by the permission of His Majesty, he would make by +Message, to remove apprehensions that affected the civil rights of a +very considerable part of the community. As to my religious enjoyments, +I think that Christ has been more precious to me than ever. When I came +into this Circuit, I began to fast and pray more than ever I had done +before, and the Lord has greatly blessed me. I have scarcely had a +barren time in preaching. I feel more strongly attached to the cause +than ever. While the Lord will help, I am resolved to go forward. Rev. +James Richardson is a man of good sense, and deep piety, and a very +acceptable and useful preacher.—H.]</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Nov. 10th.</i>—Travelled twenty-two miles and preached twice. My +views of Scripture of late have been obscure; I can recall the +truths to my mind, but they don't make that impression they have +hitherto done. Is this change of feeling inherent, or the effect of +neglect of duty, and want of watchfulness? I will examine this +point more fully. I know it is my privilege to enjoy peace with +God, but whether it be my privilege at all times to possess equal +feeling, I am not certain.</p> + +<p><i>Nov. 23rd.</i>—I think Mr. Wesley's advice indispensably necessary, +"to rise as soon as we wake." I am resolved to be more punctual in +rising for the time to come.</p> + +<p><i>Nov. 29th.</i>—How painful does my experience prove the truth of the +Apostle, that "when I would do good evil is present with me." I +have thought sometimes it would be impossible to forget God, or to +be lukewarm in His cause; but alas I am prone to evil continually.</p> + +<p><i>December 14th.</i>—The Lord has greatly delivered my soul from the +burden of guilt and fear with which I have been so painfully bowed +down for several days past; and, blessed be the name of the Lord, +He begins to revive His work on the circuit. Five more have been +added to the Church this week. Glory to God for His mercy and love!</p> + +<p><i>Dec. 30th.</i>—A part of the day I spent in the Legislature. The +first three months of last year I was in bad health, confined to my +bed part of the time. The last nine months I have spent in trying +to seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel.</p> + +<p><i>York, January 1st, 1826.</i>—How faithful is the Saviour to that +promise, "Lo, I am with thee, even to the end of the world." Though +weak in body I have had to preach three times a day, and travel +many miles. Jesus has been very precious to my soul.</p> + +<p><i>February 3rd.</i>—I have travelled to-day in an Irish settlement, +and preached twice to them. My life is a scene of toil and pain, I +am far from well, and far from parents and relatives. While others +enjoy all the advantages of domestic life, I am doomed to deny +myself. Oh, my soul, behold the example the Saviour has set. "He +had not where to lay his head." Is the servant above his Lord?</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 11th.</i>—For several days I have been visiting my friends. I +think they are improving in religious knowledge. What an +unspeakable blessing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> to see them showing a desire to walk in the +narrow way that leads to life eternal.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 18th.</i>—I have just returned to my Circuit. This is the first +time I ever dropped appointments for the gratification of seeing my +friends. It has taught me the lesson, that labouring in the +vineyard of the Lord is more blessed than any personal +gratification.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 28th.</i>—This month presents the most mournful portrait I have +ever beheld in retrospect of my past time since I began to travel. +Since I visited my friends everything has gone against me. The +season of recreation was not improved as it ought to have been; I +lost the unction of the Holy One, and returned to my Circuit +depressed in mind. Shall I sink down in despair? No, I will return +unto the Lord. He has smitten, He will heal. I will go to the +fountain open for sin and uncleanness. I will renew my covenant, +and offer my poor all to him once more.</p> + +<p><i>March 23rd.</i>—This day closes my twenty-third year and the first +of my ministry. How mysterious was the providence which induced me +to enter the itinerant ministry. It was the Lord's doing, and it is +marvellous in my eyes. Since I have devoted myself to Him in a +perpetual covenant, how great has been His paternal care over me. I +have felt the rod of affliction, but, He has sanctified it. I have +been assailed by temptation, but He has delivered me. I have been +caressed and flattered, but the Lord, in great mercy, has saved me +from the dangerous rocks of vanity and pride. My soul has at times +been overspread with clouds and darkness, but the "Sun of +Righteousness has again risen" with brightness on his wings. I have +oft been cast down, but blessed be the Lord who has given me the +"oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit +of heaviness." My mind at times has been filled with doubts and +fears, and I have been tempted to say, "I have cleansed my heart in +vain, and washed my hands in innocency," but the Lord has saved my +feet from slipping, and established my goings upon a firm +foundation. He has put a new song into my mouth, and enabled me to +say, "What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee."</p> + +<p><i>April 17th.</i>—This day, for the first time, I have declared to the +aborigines of the country that "Jesus is precious to those who +believe." My heart rejoiced in God, who is claiming the heathen for +His inheritance.</p></div> + +<p><i>April 19th.</i>—[On this day Dr. Ryerson wrote from Saltfleet to his +Mother. He said:—</p> + +<p>As you, my dear Mother, were always anxious about my health, I write +to-day to assure you that since I left home it has been extremely good. +I think I am making some small progress in those attainments which are +only acquired by prayer, and holy devotedness to God. I find the work I +have undertaken is an all-important one. I have many things to learn, +and many things to unlearn. I have had some severe trials, and some +mortifying scenes. At other times I have been unspeakably blessed, and I +have been greatly encouraged at some favourable prospects. Several times +my views have been greatly enlarged, and my mind enlightened, while, +with a warm and full heart, I have been trying to address a large and +much affected congregation. It is not my endeavour to shine, or to +please, but to speak to the heart and the conscience. And with a view to +this, I have aimed at the root of injurious prejudices, and notions that +I have found prevalent in different places. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> find, by experience, that +a firm reliance on the power and grace of Christ is everything. I hope +that you, my dear Mother, will pray for me that the Lord will give me +grace, power, and wisdom to do my whole duty.</p> + +<p>I am very sorry to hear of your ill-health. I hope and pray that the +Father of all mercies will continue to support, comfort, and deliver +you, in the midst of your afflictions and sorrows. Blessed be the Lord, +dear Mother, the day is not far distant when you can rest your weary +spirit in the arms of Jesus; and should I survive you, while you are +pursuing the blessed, triumphant theme of redeeming love, in strains the +most exalted, I will endeavour in my feeble way to follow you to the +same blessed kingdom.</p> + +<p>Brother William received a letter from John last week. His health is +very bad. His excessive labour has overcome him. He has forty +appointments in four weeks. He is now stationed in Kingston.—H.]</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>April 25th.</i>—For several days past I have been altogether engaged +in writing a controversial pamphlet, and have attended little to +the duty of self-examination.</p> + +<p><i>April 28th.</i>—I have been much blessed in reading the Journal of +John Nelson. When I compare the unwearied labours, and severe +sufferings of that brave soldier of the Cross, with my little +efforts and sufferings, I blush for my lukewarmness, and am ashamed +of my fearfulness.</p></div> + +<p><i>May 10th.</i>—[In these early days, the Methodist ministers had but +little time for study before commencing their ministerial labours, and, +as Dr. Ryerson often told me, they had to resort to many expedients to +secure the necessary time for reading and study. This had often to be +done on horseback. Dr. Ryerson's eldest brother, George, who had +attended Union College, N.Y., turned his advantages in this respect to a +good account. He sought to stimulate his younger brothers to devote +every spare moment to suitable preparation for their work. In reply to a +letter on this subject, from Rev. George Ryerson to his brother William, +he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I thank you for your kind advice respecting composition, and shall +endeavour to follow it, although my necessary duties leave but very +little time for literary improvement. Since I saw you, I have been +principally engaged in Biblical studies which I find both +profitable and interesting. I am now engaged in reading the Bible +through in course with Dr. Adam Clarke's notes, also Paley's books. +I received a letter from brother John a few days since. He had +received a number into the Society, and there were a number more +who appeared to be seriously awakened. Elder Madden, who was at +York last week, says that Egerton is well, and that the cause of +religion is prospering in York, and on the Yonge Street Circuit. We +have had but very little increase in Niagara since I saw you, +although our congregation is very large and attentive.—H.]</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>May 18th.</i>—[In writing to-day to his brother George, Dr. Ryerson +mentioned that he and Elder Case had visited the Credit Indians. Elder +Case, he said, had come up to get Mrs. Wm. Kerr (<i>née</i> Brant) to correct +the translation of one of the Gospels, and some hymns, in order to have +them printed. He also wished Peter Jones to go down and preach to the +Indians on the Bay of Quinte (Tyendinaga). It was there, he said, that +the work of religion had begun to spread among them. About twelve had +experienced religion, and others are under awakening. They do not, he +said, understand enough English to receive religious instruction in that +language; and, therefore, he wished Peter Jones to go down for two or +three weeks.</p> + +<p>In this letter Dr. Ryerson said: I think the cause of religion is +prospering in different parts of the Circuit. Upwards of thirty have +been added to us in this town (York) since Conference, and our present +prospects are equally encouraging. My colleague is a man who is wholly +devoted to the work of saving souls. I hope that God will give us an +abundant harvest.</p> + +<p>I am employing all my leisure time in the prosecution of my studies. I +also practice composition. I am reading Rollin's Ancient History, Greek, +and miscellaneous works. Are Father, and Mother, and all the family +well? How are their minds disposed towards God and heaven?</p> + +<p>We have formed a Missionary Society in this place. I think we shall +collect $40 or $50. I hope that period is not remote when the whole +colony will be brought into a state of salvation!—H.]</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>June 7th.</i>—My mind has been much afflicted with care and anxiety, +for some days, on account of the controversy in which I am engaged. +I feel it to be the cause of God; and I am resolved to follow truth +and the Holy Scriptures in whatever channel they will lead me. Oh, +Lord, I commend my feeble efforts to thy blessings! Grant me wisdom +from above; and take the cause into thy own hands, for thy name's +sake!</p> + +<p><i>June 25th.</i>—I have spent some days in visiting my friends, and +also attending a Camp-meeting. The weather has been very +unfavourable; but the showers that watered the earth are now past, +and showers of Divine blessing are descending. The song of praise +is ascending, and sinners are crying for mercy. Oh, Lord, carry on +the glorious work!</p> + +<p><i>July 7th.</i>—The enemy gained victory over me to-day, by tempting +me to neglect Class for other employments. But I was defeated. +Company coming in, I was hindered from doing what I desired. +Conscience condemned, and darkness and distress followed. Oh, Lord, +henceforth help me <i>to do my duty</i>!</p> + +<p><i>July 9th.—Sabbath.</i>—I was called this evening to a drunken, +dying man. He was entirely ignorant both of his bodily and +spiritual danger. What a scene! An immortal soul just plunging into +hell, and yet hoping for heaven! How awful is the state of one whom +God gives over to believe a lie! His life is ended, his family +destitute, and his soul lost!</p> + +<p><i>July 19th.</i>—Surely nothing can afford more pleasure to an +enquiring mind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> bent on historical researches, than the perusal of +documents relating to the ancient chosen people of God. That a +people who could, according to their legitimate records, number +more than eight hundred thousand fighting men, should slip from the +records of men, hide themselves from human observation, and inhabit +limits beyond geographical research, is a phenomenon unprecedented +in the world's history; and that they should remain in this state +more than two thousand years, among the vast discoveries which +travellers have made, is still more surprising. Such is the +wonderful government of Him whose ways are past finding out. I +trust the day is not far distant when the lost will be found, and +the dead be alive!</p> + +<p><i>July 26th.</i>—For several days I have been holding meetings and +conferences with the Indians. Their hearts are open to receive +instruction, and their hands extended to receive the bread of life. +If the Lord will open the way, I will try to acquire a knowledge of +their language. My soul longs to bring them to the Word of Truth.</p> + +<p><i>July 30th.</i>—A day or two since I had the pleasure of seeing a +brother whose ecclesiastical duties have separated us for nearly a +year. How many tender recollections of God's care and merciful +dealings, since our last meeting rushed upon our minds. But while +enabled to rejoice together, we were called upon to mourn the loss +of one brother, taken away to the world of spirits.</p> + +<p><i>August 17th.</i>—Scarcely a day passes without beholding new +openings to extend my ministerial labours. To-day, in an affecting +manner, I witnessed the hands of suffering humanity stretched forth +to receive the word of life. More than five hundred aborigines of +the country were assembled in one place. In a moral point of view, +they may be said to be "sitting in the valley of the shadow of +death." "The day star from on high" has not yet dawned upon them. +Alas! are they to perish for lack of knowledge? Can not the dry +bones live? Oh, thou who art able to raise up children unto +Abraham! speak the word, devise the means, and these long lost +prodigals shall return to their father's house! I noticed activity, +both in body and mind, superior skill in curious workmanship; +genius flashed in their countenances; and yet shall these noble +powers be bound fast in the cruel chains of ignorance, and these +immortal spirits go from a rayless night to midnight tomb? Oh, Thou +Light of the World, shine upon them! One of their nation whom God +has plucked as a brand from the burning, attempted to explain the +Christian religion to them. They listened and bowed assent, saying +"ha, ha." Oh, Lord, if Thou wilt qualify me and send me to dispense +to them the Bread of Life, I will throw myself upon Thy mercy, and +submit to Thy will.</p> + +<p><i>August 20th.</i>—Amongst all the authors with whom I am acquainted, +who treat on Church Government, the Rev. Dr. Campbell is the most +clear and satisfactory. With a great deal of talent, penetration, +and research, he exhibits the Church in all her various forms, till +her power made empires tremble, and her riches bid defiance to +poverty. His excellent lectures have enlarged my mind on the +subject of ecclesiastical polity, and rendered my feelings more +liberal. I am convinced that form of government is best which most +secures order and union in society.</p> + +<p><i>August 20th—Sabbath.</i>—To-day closes my ministerial labours at +York, where I have been stationed for two years. Many precious +seasons have I enjoyed; and, blessed be the Lord, He has set His +seal to my labours, and I think I can call God to witness that I +have not failed in my feeble way to declare the whole counsel of +God. Oh, Lord, seal it with Thy Spirit's power!</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> A fuller reference to this subject will be found in +Chapters vi. and viii.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Letters to the Hon. W. H. Draper on "<i>The Clergy Reserve +Question; as a Matter of History, a Question of Law, and a Subject of +Legislation</i>." Toronto, 1839, pp. 11, 12.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1826-1827.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Missionary to the River Credit Indians.</span></p> + + +<p>At the Conference of 1826, I was appointed Missionary to the Indians at +the Credit, but was required to continue the second year as preacher, +two Sundays out of four, in the Town of York, of which my elder brother, +William, was superintendent, including in his charge several other +townships. He was aided by a colleague, who preached in the country, but +not in the town.</p> + +<p>The Chippewa tribe of Indians had a tract of land on the Credit River, +on which the Government proposed to build a village of some twenty or +thirty cottages, with the intention of building a church for them and +inducing them to join the Church of England, upon the pretext that the +Methodist preachers were Yankees. As my Father had been a British +officer, and fought seven years during the American Rebellion for the +unity of the Empire, was the first High Sheriff in the London District +(having been appointed in 1808); and had, with his sons, fought in +defence of the country in the war of the United States with Great +Britain, in 1812-1815, and my father's elder brother having been the +organizer of the Militia and Courts of the London District, the name +Ryerson became a sort of synonym for loyalist throughout the official +circles of the province; and my appointment, therefore, as the first +stationed Missionary among the Indians, and from thence to other tribes, +was a veritable and standing proof that the imputation of disloyalty +against the Methodist Missionaries was groundless.</p> + +<p>When I commenced my labours among these poor Credit Indians (about two +hundred in number) they had not entered into the cottages which the +Government had built for them on the high ground, but still lived in +their bark-covered wigwams on the flats beside the bank of the River +Credit. One of them, made larger than the others, was used for a place +of worship. In one of these bark-covered and brush-enclosed wigwams, I +ate and slept for some weeks; my bed consisting of a plank, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> mat, and +a blanket, and a blanket also for my covering; yet I was never more +comfortable and happy:—God, the Lord, was the strength of my heart, +and—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Jesus, all the day long, was my joy and my song."</p></div> + +<p>Maintaining my dignity as a minister, I showed the Indians that I could +work and live as they worked and lived.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="i2" id="i2"></a> +<img src="images/i59.png" width="600" height="379" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption smcap">Indian Village at the River Credit in 1827—Winter.</span> +</div> + +<p>Having learned that it was intended by the advisers of the +Lieutenant-Governor, on the completion of the cottages, to erect an +Episcopal Church of England for the absorption of the Indian converts +from the Methodists into that Church, I resolved to be before them, and +called the Indians together on the Monday morning after the first +Sunday's worship with them, and using the head of a barrel for a desk, +commenced a subscription among them to build a house for the double +purpose of the worship of God and the teaching of their children. Never +did the Israelites, when assembled and called upon by King David, (as +recorded in the 29th chapter of the first book of Chronicles) to +subscribe for the erection of the Temple, respond with more cordiality +and liberality, in proportion to their means, than did these converted +children of the forest come forward and present their humble offerings +for the erection of a house in which to worship God, and teach their +children. The squaws<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> came forward to subscribe from shillings to +dollars, the proceeds of what they might earn and sell in baskets, mats, +moccasins, &c., and the men subscribed with corresponding heartiness and +liberality of the salmon that they should catch—which were then +abundant in the river, and which, I think, sold for about twelve and a +half cents each.</p> + +<p>On the same day, a plan of the house was prepared, and I engaged on my +own individual responsibility, a carpenter-mason, by the name of +Priestman (who had been employed by the Government to build the Indian +cottages), to build and finish the house for the double purpose of +worship and school, and then mounted my horse and visited my old friends +in York, on Yonge Street, Hamilton, and Niagara Circuits, and begged +money to pay for all, and at the end of six weeks the house was built +and paid for, while our "swell" friends of the Government and of the +Church of England were consulting and talking about the matter. It was +thus that the Church-standing of these Indian converts was maintained, +and they were enabled to walk in the Lord Jesus as they had found Him.</p> + +<p>My labours this season were very varied and severe. I had to travel to +York (eighteen miles) on horseback, often through very bad roads, and +preach two Sundays out of four (my second year in town). After having +collected the means necessary to build the house of worship and +school-house, I showed the Indians how to enclose and make gates for +their gardens, having some knowledge and skill in mechanics.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> + +<p>Between daylight and sunrise, I called out four of the Indians in +succession, and showed them how, and worked with them, to clear and +fence in, and plow and plant their first wheat and corn fields. In the +afternoon, I called out the school-boys to go with me, and cut and pile, +and burn the underbrush in and around the village. The little fellows +worked with great glee, as long as I worked with them, but soon began to +play when I left them.</p> + +<p>In addition to my other work, I had to maintain a heavy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> controversy +with several clergymen of the Church of England on Apostolic Ordination +and Succession, and the equal civil rights and privileges of different +religious denominations.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> + +<p>A few months after my appointment to the Credit Indian Mission, the +Government made the annual distribution of presents to the Georgian Bay +and Lake Simcoe Indians—all of whom were assembled at the Holland +Landing, on the banks of the Holland River, at the southwest extremity +of Lake Simcoe. They consisted chiefly of the Snake tribe, the +Yellowhead tribe (Yellowhead was the head Chief), and the John Aissance +tribe. Peter Jones and I, with John Sunday, had visited this tribe at +Newmarket, the year before, and preached to them and held meetings with +them, when they embraced the Christian religion, and remained true and +faithful. Peter Jones and myself attended the great annual meeting of +the Indians, and opened the Gospel Mission among them. In my first +address, which was interpreted by Peter Jones, I explained to the +assembled Indians the cause of their poverty, misery, and wretchedness, +as resulting from their having offended the Great Being who created +them, but who still loved them so much as to send His Son to save them, +and to give them new hearts, that they might forsake their bad ways, be +sober and industrious; not quarrel, but love one another, &c. I +contrasted the superiority of the religion we brought to them over that +of those who used images. This gave great offence to the French Roman +Catholic Indian traders, who said they would kill me, and beat Peter +Jones. On hearing this, Col. Givens, the Chief Indian Superintendent, +called them together and told them that the Missionary Ryerson's father +was a good man for the King, and had fought for him in two wars—in the +last of which his sons had fought with him—and that if they hurt one of +these sons, they would offend their great father the King; that Peter +Jones' father had surveyed Government lands on which many of the Indians +lived. This representative of the Government, a man of noble feelings +and generous impulses, threw over us the shield of Royal protection.</p> + +<p>After the issuing of the goods to the Indians, Peter Jones remained with +the Huron and Georgian Bay Indians, and preached to them with great +power; while I went on board a schooner, with the Yellowhead Indians, +for the Narrows, on the northern shore of Lake Simcoe, near Orillia, +where the Indians owned Yellowhead (now Chief) Island, and which I +examined with a view of selecting a place for worship, and for +establishing a school. A Mission-school was established on this island. +It was afterwards removed by Rev. S. (now Dr.) Rose and others<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> to the +mainland at Orillia, and was faithfully taught by the late William Law +(1827) and by the Rev. S. Rose (1831).</p> + +<p>An amusing incident occurred during this little voyage on the schooner, +which was managed by the French traders who had threatened my life two +days before. The wind was light, and the sailors amused themselves with +music—one of them playing on a fife. He was attempting to play a tune +which he had not properly learned. I was walking the deck, and told him +to give me the fife, when I played the tune. The Frenchmen gathered +around my feet, and looked with astonishment and delight. From that hour +they were my warm friends, and offered to paddle me in their canoes +among the islands and along the shore wherever I wished to go.</p> + +<p>By the advice of some of my brethren, I called on the +Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Peregrine Maitland, after I arrived in Toronto, +for the purpose of giving him a general account of the progress of the +Christian religion amongst the Indian tribes I said to him:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The object I have in view is the amelioration of the condition of +the Indians in this Province. The importance of this, both to the +happiness of the Indian tribes, and the honour of the government +under which they live, has been deeply felt by the parent state, so +forcibly that a church was built and the Protestant religion +introduced amongst the Six-Nations at the Grand River, about the +beginning of the century. This effort of Christian benevolence has +been so far successful as to induce some hundreds of them to +receive the ordinances of the Christian religion. But the Chippewa +tribes have hitherto been overlooked, till about four years ago, +when the Methodists introduced the Christian religion amongst them.</p> + +<p>In a short time about one hundred embraced the religion of Christ, +exhibiting every mark of a sound conversion. Their number soon +increased, and a whole tribe of Mississaugas renounced their former +superstitions and vices, and became sober, quiet Christians. They +then felt anxious to become domesticated; their desire being +favourably regarded, a village was established at the Credit, and +houses built for them.</p> + +<p>They have this season planted about forty acres of corn and +potatoes, which promise an abundant harvest. About forty children +attend the common school, nearly twenty can write intelligibly, and +read the Holy Scriptures and the English Reader.</p> + +<p>At Belleville a change especially interesting has been effected. +The work was commenced there about two years ago, and now in their +whole tribe, numbering about two hundred, there is not one +drunkard! They are also becoming domesticated and are building a +village on one of their islands in the Bay of Quinte, which they +had squandered away in their drunken revels, but which is now +repurchased for them by some benevolent individuals. A Day and +Sunday School are established in which upwards of fifty children +are taught.</p> + +<p>From the Belleville Indians the Gospel spread to the tribes which +inhabit the country adjacent to Rice Lake. Here also may be seen a +wonderful display of the "power of God unto Salvation to every one +that believeth." In less than a year, the whole of this body, whose +census is 300, renounced their idolatrous ceremonies and +destructive habits, for the principles, laws and blessings of that +kingdom which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> Holy Ghost. +They are all, save a few, converted and changed in their hearts and +lives, and earnestly desire a settled life.</p> + +<p>The uniform language of all, so soon as they embrace the Christian +religion is, "Let us have houses, that we may live together in one +place, learn to till the ground, hear the word of the Great Spirit, +and have our children taught to read the good book." Another field +of Christian labour is already ripe amongst the Lake Simcoe +Indians, who number about 600 souls. About two months ago an +opportunity opened for introducing the Christian religion to them, +and such was their readiness to hear and believe the words of +salvation, that more than 100 have already professed the Christian +faith, and are entirely reformed. A school is established in which +forty are taught by a young man named William Law, lately from +England.</p> + +<p>This extensive reformation, has been effected and continued, by +means, which, to all human appearance, are altogether inadequate to +the accomplishment of such a work. A school at the Grand River +containing thirty scholars, one at the Credit forty, another at +Belleville upwards of thirty, and one lately established at Lake +Simcoe containing forty, and the missionaries who have been +employed amongst the Indians, together with the boarding of a +number of Indian boys, have only amounted to a little more than +£150 per annum. It is of the last importance to perpetuate and +extend the impressions which have already been made on the minds of +these Indians. The schools and religious instruction must be +continued; and the Gospel must be sent to tribes still in a heathen +state. But in doing this our energies are weakened, and the +progress of Christian labour much impeded by serious difficulties +which it is in the power of the government to remove. These +obstacles are principally confined to the Lake Simcoe Indians, the +most serious of which is occasioned by the traders, who are Roman +Catholic Frenchmen, employed to accompany the Indians in their +hunting for the purpose of procuring their furs, and who are +violently opposed to the reformation of the Indians. These traders +are about eighty in number, and have long been accustomed to +defraud and abuse the Indians in the most inhuman manner; they have +even laid violent hands on some of the converted Indians, and tried +to pour whiskey down their throats; but, thank God, have failed, +the Indians successfully resisted them. To shake the faith of some, +and deter others from reforming, they have threatened to strip them +naked in the winter, when they were at a distance of 100 miles from +the white settlement, and there leave them to freeze to death.</p> + +<p>Col. Givens, when he was up issuing their presents about a month +ago, threatened the traders severely if they disturbed the Indians +in their devotions, or did any violence to their teachers. He also +suggested the idea of your Excellency issuing a proclamation to +prevent any further abuses. Sir Peregrine replied:</p> + +<p>"When the Legislature meets, I shall see if something can be done +to relieve them more effectively, but I do not think that I can do +anything by the way of proclamation. If, upon deliberation, I find +that I can do something for them, I shall certainly do it." I +observed: The civil authority would be an ample security, while the +Indians are among the white inhabitants; but these abuses are +practised when they are one or two hundred miles from the white +settlements. The traders follow them to their hunting grounds, get +them intoxicated, and then get their furs for one fourth of their +value, nay, sometimes take them by force. These Frenchmen are +able-bodied men, and have abused the Indians so much they are +afraid of them; and, therefore, have not courage, if they had +strength to defend themselves. Under these circumstances your +Excellency will perceive the Indians have no means of obtaining +justice, and from their remote situation the power of civil +authority is merely nominal in regard to them. His Excellency +observed, "I am very much obliged to you for this information; I +shall do all in my power for them."</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> When about fourteen years of age, an abridged "Life of +Benjamin Franklin" fell into my hands, and I read it with great +eagerness. I was especially attracted by the account of his mechanical +education and of its uses to him in after years, during and after the +American Revolution, when he became Statesman, Ambassador, and +Philosopher. My father was then building a new house, and I prevailed on +him to let me work with the carpenter for six months. I did so, agreeing +to pay the old carpenter a York shilling a day for teaching me. During +that time, I learned to plane boards, shingle, and clapboard the house, +make window frames and log floors. The little knowledge and skill I then +acquired, was of great service when I was labouring among the Indians, +as well as my early training as a farmer. I became head carpenter, head +farmer, as well as missionary, among these interesting people, during +the first year of their civilized life.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> See note on p. <a href="#Page_85">85</a>; also Chapters vi. and +viii.—H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1826-1827.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Diary of my Labours Among the Indians.</span></p> + + +<p>The following extracts from my diary contain a detailed account of my +mental and spiritual exercises and labours at this time, as well as many +interesting particulars respecting the Indians, not mentioned in the +foregoing chapter:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Credit, September 16th, 1826.</i>—I have now arrived at my charge +among the Indians. I feel an inexpressible joy in taking up my +abode amongst them. I must now acquire a new language, to teach a +new people.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 17th.</i>—This day I commenced my labours amongst my Indian +brethren. My heart feels one with them, as they seemed to be +tenderly alive to their eternal interests. May I possess every +necessary gift to suffer labour, and teach the truth as it is in +Jesus.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 23rd.</i>—Greatly distressed to-night on account of a sad +circumstance. Three or four of the Indians have been intoxicated; +and one of them, in a fit of anguish, shot himself! This was caused +by a wicked white man, who persuaded them to drink cider in which +he mixed whiskey. [See letter below.]</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 24th.—Sabbath.</i>—I tried to improve the mournful +circumstance that occurred yesterday, as the Indians seemed much +affected on account of the awful death of their brother.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 25th.</i>—We have resolved upon building a house, which is to +answer the double purpose of a school-house, and a place for divine +worship. In less than an hour these poor Indians subscribed one +hundred dollars, forty of which was paid at once. What a contrast, +a short time ago they would sell the last thing they had for +whiskey; now they economize to save something to build a Temple for +the true God!</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 26th.</i>—To-day I buried two Indians, one the man who +committed suicide, the other a new-born babe.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 8th.</i>—For many days I have been employed in an unpleasant +controversy, for our civil and religious rights, which has taken +much of my time and attention.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 9th.</i>—One of my brethren has been suddenly called from his +labours, to his eternal home. Alas! my beloved Edward Hyland is no +more. He entered the field after me, but he has gone before me!</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 14th.</i>—I have been employed the whole week in raising +subscriptions for the Indian Church; we have now enough subscribed.</p></div> + +<p><i>Oct. 19th.</i>—[In a letter, to-day, to his brother George, who wished to +hear something about the Indian work, Dr. Ryerson<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> said: I have to +attend to various things previous to settling myself permanently at the +Credit. I preached there to the Indians the two succeeding Sabbaths +after I left home, and have been employed since that time in building a +chapel for them at the Credit. The Indians in general, appear to be +steadfast in their religious profession. They are faithful in their +religious duties, and exemplary in their lives. One unhappy circumstance +occurred there. [See entry in Diary of 23rd September.] I preached a +solemn discourse on the subject of guarding against temptation and +intemperance the same day, illustrating it throughout by this lamentable +example. The Indians appeared to be much affected; and, I think, through +the mercy of God, it has, and will prove a salutary warning to them. The +Indians were very spirited in building their chapel. They made up more +than a hundred dollars towards it, and are willing to do more, if +necessary. By going in different parts of the country, I have got about +enough subscribed and paid to finish it. I have now permanently resided +at the Credit Mission not quite a fortnight. I board with John Jones; +have a bed-room, but no fire-place, except what is used by the family. I +can speak a little Mississauga, and understand it pretty well. As to my +enjoyments in religion, I have lately had the severest conflicts I ever +experienced; but at times the rich consolations of religion have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> flowed +sweetly to my heart and God has abundantly blessed me, especially in my +pulpit ministrations. It is the language of my heart to my blessed +Saviour, Thy will, not mine, be done. Our prospects in little York are +favourable. The chapel is enlarged, and the congregation greatly +increased, some having lately joined.—H.]</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Nov. 9th.</i>—This evening in visiting a sick Indian man, I +endeavoured, through an interpreter, to explain to him the causes +of our afflictions, the sympathy of Jesus, and the use of them to +Christians. We afterwards had prayer, many flocked into the room. +The sick man was filled with peace in believing, insomuch that he +clapped his hands for joy.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="i3" id="i3"></a> +<img src="images/i65.png" width="600" height="376" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption smcap">John Jones' House at the Credit, where Dr. Ryerson resided.</span> +</div> + +<p><i>Nov. 26th.—Sabbath.</i>—This has been an important day. We opened +our Indian Chapel by holding a love-feast, and celebrating the +Lord's supper. The Indians with much solemnity and feeling +expressed what God had done for them. Rev. Wm. Case addressed them. +In the evening he gave them most important instruction, as to +domestic economy and Christian duties. After this a short time was +spent in teaching them the Ten Commandments, the Indian speaker +repeating them audibly sentence by sentence, which was responded to +by the whole congregation. At the close, eight persons, seven +adults and one infant were baptized. Three years ago they were +without suitable clothes, home, morality, or God. Now they are +decently clothed, sheltered from the storm by comfortable +dwellings, and many of them rejoicing in the hope of a glorious +immortality.</p> + +<p><i>Nov. 29th.</i>—Last evening, in addressing a few of the Indians, who +were collected on account of the death of one of them, (John +Muskrat) I felt a degree of light spring up in my mind. This Indian +was converted about a year ago, and has ever since maintained a +godly walk and holy conversation. Thus missionary labour has not +been in vain. This is the third that has left an encouraging +testimony behind of a glorious resurrection.</p> + +<p><i>Nov. 30th.</i>—I have this day divided the Indian society into +classes, selected a leader for each, from the most pious and +intelligent. I meet these leaders once a week separately, to +instruct them in their duty.</p> + +<p><i>Dec. 7th.</i>—I have been often quite unwell, owing to change of +living, being out at night; my fare, as to food <i>is very plain</i>, +but wholesome, and I generally lie on boards with one or two +blankets intervening.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> + +<p><i>Dec. 8th.</i>—I am feeling encouraged in the prosecution of the +Indian language, and in the spirit of my mission. There is a +tenderness in the disposition of many of the Indians, especially of +the women, which endears them to the admirers of natural +excellence. One of them kindly presented me with a handsome basket, +which is designed to keep my books in. This afternoon I collected +about a dozen of the boys, to go with me to the woods, in order to +cut and carry wood for the chapel. Their exertions and activity +were astonishing.</p> + +<p><i>Dec. 16th.</i>—I have this week been trying to procure for the +Indians the exclusive right of their salmon fishery, which I trust +will be granted by the Legislature.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> I have attended one of +their Councils, when everything was conducted in the most orderly +manner. After all the business was adjusted, they wished to give me +an Indian name. The old Chief arose, and approached the table where +I was sitting, and in his own tongue addressed me in the following +manner: "Brother, as we are brothers, we will give you a name.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> My +departed brother was named Cheehock; thou shalt be called +Cheehock."<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> I returned him thanks in his own tongue, and so +became initiated among them.</p> + +<p><i>Dec. 22nd.</i>—My brother John, writing from Grimsby, thus +acknowledges the kind advice of brother George: I thank you for +your kind advice, and I can assure you I have felt of late, more +than ever, the importance of preaching Christ, and Christ alone. It +is my aim and constant prayer to live in that way, so that I can +always adopt the language of the Apostle, Romans xiv. 7, 8. I wish +you to write as often as convenient. Any advice or instruction that +you may have at any time to give, will be thankfully received.</p> + +<p><i>January 4th, 1827.</i>—After the absence of more than a week, I +again return to my Indians, who welcome me with the tenderest marks +of kindness. Watch-night on New Year's Eve was a season of great +rejoicing among them. About 12 o'clock, while their speaker was +addressing them, the glory of the Lord filled the house, and about +twenty fell to the floor. They all expressed a determination to +commence the New Year with fresh zeal. My soul was abundantly +blessed at the commencement of the year, while speaking at the +close of the Watchnight services in York.</p> + +<p>My engagement in controversial writing savours too much of dry +historical criticism to be spiritual, and often causes leanness of +soul; but it seems to be necessary in the present state of matters +in this Colony, and it is the opinion of my most judicious friends, +that I should continue it till it comes to a successful +termination.</p></div> + +<p><i>Jan. 10th.</i>—[Having received a letter of enquiry from his brother +George, Dr. Ryerson replied at this date, and said:—</p> + +<p>I have been unwell for nearly two months with a continuance of violent +colds, occasioned by frequent changes from a cold house and a +thinly-clad bed at the Credit, to warm rooms in York. My indisposition +of body has generally induced a depression of spirits, which has often +unfitted me for a proper discharge of duties, or proficiency in study. +However, in the midst of bodily indisposition, the blessings of the Holy +Spirit have been at times abundantly poured into my soul, insomuch that +I could glory in tribulation, and rejoice that I am counted worthy to +labour and suffer among the most unprofitable and worthless of the +labourers in my Saviour's vineyard. The Indians are firm in their +Christian profession, and some of them are making considerable +improvement in the knowledge of doctrine and duties of religion, and of +things in general. They are affectionate and tractable.</p> + +<p>I am very unpleasantly situated at the Credit, during the cold weather, +as there are nearly a dozen in the family, and only one fire-place. I +have lived at different houses among the Indians, and thereby learned +some of their wants, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> proper remedies for them. Having no place +for retirement, and living in the midst of bustle and noise, I have +forgotten a good deal of my Greek and Latin, and have made but little +progress in other things. My desire and aim is, to live solely for the +glory of God and the good of men.</p> + +<p>By the advice of Mr. M. S. Bidwell and others, I am induced to continue +the Strachan controversy, till it is brought to a favourable +termination. I shall be heartily glad when it is concluded.—H.]</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Jan. 16th.</i>—One of the Indians (Wm. Sunegoo) has been tempted to +drink. I visited him as soon as he returned to the village. I +entreated him to tell me the whole truth, which he did. After +showing him his sin and ingratitude to God and his friends, he wept +aloud, almost despairing of mercy. I pointed him to the Saviour of +penitent sinners. He fell on his knees, and we spent some time in +prayer. After evening service he confessed his sin publicly, asked +forgiveness of his brethren, and promised in the strength of God to +be more watchful. Thus have we restored our brother in the spirit +of meekness.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 26th.</i>—Last Sunday we held our quarterly meeting at York. +About thirty of the Indian brethren were present; their +cleanliness, modesty, and devout piety were the subject of general +admiration.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 4th.</i>—To-day I preached to the Indians. Peter Jacobs, an +intelligent youth of 18, interpreted, and afterwards spake with all +the simplicity and eloquence of nature.</p> + +<p>A scene never to be forgotten was witnessed by me in visiting an +Indian woman this evening; after months of severe suffering, she +sweetly yielded up the ghost in the triumphs of faith. She embraced +the Christian religion about eight months ago, and was baptized by +Rev. T. Madden. Notwithstanding her many infirmities, she went to +the house of God as long as her emaciated frame, with the +assistance of friends, could be supported. A few days previous to +her decease, she gave (to use her own words) "her whole heart into +the hands of Jesus, and felt no more sorry now, but wanted to be +with Jesus." While addressing a number assembled in her room, who +were weeping around her bed, her happy spirit took its triumphant +flight to the arms of the Saviour she loved so much.</p> + +<p>How would the hearts of a Wesley and Fletcher burst forth in +rapture, could they have seen their spiritual posterity gathering +the wandering tribes of the American forest into the fold of +Christ, and heard the wigwam of the dying Indian resound with the +praises of Jehovah!</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 10th.</i>—A blessed quarterly meeting—Elder Case preached in +the morning, and my brother George in the evening. The singing was +delightful, and the white people present were extremely interested. +At the close a collection of $26.75 was taken up, principally from +the Indians! Peter Jacobs was one of the speakers.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 16th.</i>—The importance of fostering our school among the +Indians, and of encouraging the teacher in this discouraging and +very difficult task, cannot be overestimated. Rev. Wm. Case, +thinking that I had some aptitude for teaching, wrote me a day or +two ago, as follows:—</p> + +<p>Do you think the multitude of care, and burden of the school does +sometimes mar the patience of the teacher? If so, you would do well +to kindly offer to assist him occasionally, when he is present, and +so by example, as well as by occasional kind remarks, help him to +correct any inadvertencies of taste. I know the burden of a teacher +in a large school, and a perpetual sameness in the same employment, +especially in this business, is a tiresome<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> task. I consider this +school of vast importance, on several accounts, and especially +considering the hopes to be entertained of several interesting +youths there.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 27th.</i>—I have written from fifteen to sixteen hours to-day +in vindicating the cause of dissenters against the anathemas of +high churchmen.</p> + +<p><i>March 5th, 1827.</i>—To-day I am on my way to see my parents. My +Father is becoming serious, and my younger brother Edwy has joined +the Methodist Society. I thank God for this blessed change.</p></div> + +<p><i>York, March 8th.</i>—[As an interesting bit of personal history, +descriptive of Dr. Ryerson's manner of life among the Credit Indians, I +give the following extract from a letter written by Rev. William to Rev. +George Ryerson. William says:—</p> + +<p>I visited Egerton's Mission at the Credit last week, and was highly +delighted to see the improvement they are making both in religious +knowledge and industry. I preached to them while there, and had a large +meeting and an interesting time. The next morning we visited their +schools. They have about forty pupils on the list, but there were only +thirty present. The rest were absent, making sugar. I am very certain I +never saw the same order and attention to study in any school before. +Their progress in spelling, reading, and writing is astonishing, but +especially in writing, which certainly exceeds anything I ever saw. They +are getting quite forward with their work. When I was there they were +fencing the lots in the village in a very neat, substantial manner. On +my arrival at the Mission I found Egerton, about half a mile from the +village, stripped to the shirt and pantaloons, clearing land with +between twelve and twenty of the little Indian boys, who were all +engaged in chopping and picking up the brush. It was an interesting +sight. Indeed he told me that he spent an hour or more every morning and +evening in this way, for the benefit of his own health, and the +improvement of the Indian children. He is almost worshipped by his +people, and I believe, under God, will be a great blessing to them.—H.]</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>March 14th.</i>—After several pleasant days absence I return again +to my Indian brethren. Have been much profited by reading the lives +of Cranmer, Latimer, Burnet, Watts, Doddridge, and especially that +of Philip Skelton, an Irish Prelate. The piety, knowledge, love, +zeal, and unbounded charity, are almost beyond credit; except on +the principle that he that is <i>spiritual</i>, can do all things.</p> + +<p><i>March 19th.</i>—An Indian who has lately come to this place, and has +embraced the religion of Christ, came to Peter Jones, and asked +him, what he should do with his implements of witchcraft, whether +throw them in the fire, or river, as he did not want anything more +to do with them. What a proof of his sincerity! Nothing but +Christianity can make them renounce witchcraft, and many of them +are afraid of it long after their conversion.</p> + +<p><i>March 20th.</i>—Busy to-day selecting suitable places for planting, +and employed the school boys in clearing some land for pasture.</p> + +<p><i>March 24th.</i>—I am this day twenty-four years old. During the past +year<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> my principal attention has been called to controversial +labours. If the Lord will, may this cup pass by in my future life.</p> + +<p><i>March 25th—Sabbath.</i>—This day is the second anniversary of my +ministerial labours. My soul has been refreshed, my tongue +loosened, and my heart warmed.</p> + +<p><i>April 1st, 1827—Sabbath.</i>—In speaking to my Indian brethren, the +word seemed deeply to affect their hearts.</p> + +<p><i>April 2nd.</i>—In meeting Class this evening, I spoke for the first +time in Indian. My mind was much affected. The Indians broke forth +in exclamations of joy to hear a white man talk about God and +religion in their own tongue.</p> + +<p><i>April 6th.</i>—My dear brother William and Dr. T. D. Morrison have +spent a night here, and greatly refreshed me by their converse.</p> + +<p><i>April 9th.</i>—Another lesson of mortality in the death of Brother +John Jones' only child. I have been trying to comfort the parents, +who seem to bear their trial with Christian fortitude.</p></div> + +<p><i>York, April 15th.</i>—[In a letter to his brother George at this date, +Dr. Ryerson thus speaks of the work under his care:—</p> + +<p>We are all well, and are blessed in our labours at this place, and at +the Credit. I think the Indians are growing in knowledge and in grace. +They are getting on pretty well with their spring work. But in some +respects they are Indians, though they have become Christians.</p> + +<p>I came from Long Point with a full determination to live wholly for God +and His Church. Through the blessing of God I have received greater +manifestations of grace than I had felt before during the year. I have +lately read "<i>Law's Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life</i>," which has +been very beneficial to me. My greatest grief of late is, that my love +to God and His people is not more humble, more fervent, and more +importunate. O could I feel as Jesus felt when he said, "My meat and +drink is to do the will of him that sent me." How much more happy and +useful I would be! I pray that I may.</p> + +<p>John and Peter Jones seem to thirst after holiness, and are growing in +grace. The Society in this place (York) appears to be increasing in +grace and in number. I was abundantly assisted by heavenly aid to-day, +while preaching. The congregation seemed to be deeply affected this +evening. I hope the word has not gone forth in vain. The Sunday-schools +are prospering in this place. I proposed the new method of increasing +the Sunday-schools, by giving a reward ticket to every scholar who would +procure another that had not attended any other school. In two Sabbaths +between twenty and thirty new scholars were procured in one school.—H.]</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>April 16th.</i>—The last part of last week I was powerfully assailed +by the devil, and became greatly dejected. Alas! I fear I was more +disturbed on account of my own reputation than for the cause of +Jesus. While preaching on Sabbath evening, heavenly light broke in +on my soul, and all was peace.</p> + +<p>I am now among the dear objects of my care. My heart leaped for joy +as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> I came in sight of the village, and received such a hearty +welcome. Much refreshed with meeting them in Class, and +particularly in private conversation with Peter Jones, about the +dispensations of God towards us in the increase of our graces and +gifts. We had about thirty boys out at work this evening clearing +land. They are very apt in learning to work.</p> + +<p><i>April 18th.</i>—I was impressed to-day with the fact that the +untutored Indian can display all the noble feelings of gratitude, +love, and benevolence. An Indian, who has lately come to this place +and embraced the Christian religion, has ever since shown great +attachment to me. He has, without my knowledge, watered, fed, and +taken care of my horse, saying he lived closer to the stable than I +did. Yesterday I got out of hay, and could not get any till this +afternoon. When I came to the stable I found grass in the manger; +the Indian was there, and had just fed him. I said I was very glad, +for he must be very hungry, but the Indian replied, "No, he not +very hungry. I took him down where grass grow, and let him eat +plenty." Oh, God, thought I, do such principles dwell in the people +whom the white man despises? Is not this as noble and pure as it is +simple? Though the circumstance is small in itself, it involves a +moral principle to which many mighty men are strangers. He gave the +widow's mite. Enfeebled by sickness, he exposed himself; touched by +compassion, he relieved the sufferer. A few weeks ago, a heathen +from the forest, he now performs an act that might make many +Christians blush. How many professing Christians consider it a +condescension to attend upon the servant of Christ and his beast, +but this wild man of the woods esteems it a privilege to wash His +disciple's feet. "Many that are first shall be last, and the last +shall be first."</p> + +<p><i>April 25th.</i>—Last Sunday, four Indians came from Lake Simcoe, +over fifty miles, to hear the words of eternal life, while many +professors will scarcely go a mile. Does not this fulfil prophecy, +"Many shall come from the east, and the west, and sit down in the +kingdom of God, while the children of the kingdom are thrust out?" +Last summer they heard Peter Jones, at Lake Simcoe, tell the story +of the Saviour's love. They then determined to renounce ardent +spirits, and pray to the Great Spirit. With this little +preparation, they had been enabled to totter along in the path of +morality from that time till now. The old man (Wm. Snake) seems +under deep convictions, weeps much, and expresses much sorrow for +his former bad doings. They have gone back, determined to get as +many of their tribe as possible to return by the first of June. +Surely this is "hungering and thirsting after righteousness."</p> + +<p><i>April 29th—Sabbath.</i>—In our Class-meetings, one of the Indian +Leaders expressed himself thus:—"I am happy to-day. It is not with +my life alone I love Jesus, but I love Him right here (pressing his +hand upon his heart.) If I did not serve Him, what would I tell Him +when He came? Would I tell Him a lie? No, my brothers, I will tell +Him no story. I will serve Him with my whole heart. When I hear any +of my brothers or my sisters praying in the daytime alone,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> it +makes my heart feel so glad. The tears run out of my two eyes, I +feel so happy. I love Jesus more and more. Pray for me, that I may +hold on to the end; and when Jesus comes, I may go with Him and all +of you up to heaven." Another one said, "Three of us have been two +or three days in the bush, but we prayed, three poor souls of us, +three times a day, and Jesus did make our souls so happy."</p> + +<p><i>April 30th.</i>—According to announcement, we assembled in the +Chapel to examine into the cases of several who had acted +disorderly. We were compelled to expel two from the Society. Many +were deeply affected, and groans, and sighs might be heard in the +different parts of the house. After a long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> and wise address from +the old Chief, Joseph Sawyer, I said, "We must turn them out of the +Society. What do you think about sending them away from the +village? Tell us." Several spoke, and it was at last decided, by +holding up the right hand, that they must go. I then said, "I am +sorry to hear one or two have been drinking." I asked one if this +was true. He confessed that he drank some beer, being coaxed by a +white man. He felt very sorry, as he wished to be a good Christian. +I then reproved with considerable severity, and showed him it was +as bad to get drunk on cider or beer as whiskey. The devil often +cheats us in this way, but we are exhorted not to "touch, taste, or +handle" the accursed thing. This talk was explained to them in +Indian by Peter Jones, and their opinions requested. Several spoke, +but Brother William Herkimer, with a pathos that affected us all, +said, "Brothers, the white man can't pour it down your throat, if +you will not drink. When white man ask me to drink, I tell him, 'I +am a Christian, I love Jesus,' and they go right away and look +ashamed." He then concluded with a most pathetic prayer: "Oh, +Jesus, let us poor, weak creatures be faithful, and serve Thee as +long as we live." Having adjusted these matters, I next observed, +"Our God has given us another commandment which was, 'To keep holy +the Sabbath day.' Now, brothers, if a man gave you six dollars, and +kept only one for himself, would you not think it very bad to rob +him of that one? Oh, yes, you will say. Well the Lord has done more +for us. He has given us our lives, our clothes, our health, nay, +everything we have, and six days too, to do all our work in; but He +has kept out one day for Himself. Let us not rob God of this day, +but let us keep it holy. I am sorry to hear that one of you went to +York on Sunday." I turned to the guilty Indian, and told him I +wanted him to tell us why he had done so. He stated he had got out +of provisions, and he was afraid the wind would rise on Monday, and +unthinkingly he started on Sunday afternoon. He promised to do so +no more. I then spoke a few words from Gal. vi. 1, and Peter Jones +closed with an affecting exhortation and prayer.</p> + +<p><i>May 2nd.</i>—Yesterday I was almost in despair, and I was really +devising means to relinquish my present work; when in the height of +agitation I took down a package of tracts, and providentially +(surely not by chance) cast my eyes upon one entitled, +"Disobedience Punished, Repented of, and Pardoned." This was no +other than the history of Jonah; and was made the means of reviving +my expiring faith, and showing me how God alone could give me +victory over myself. I cried to Him like Jonah, and He delivered me +out of my distress.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="i4" id="i4"></a> +<img src="images/i73.png" width="600" height="339" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">School and Council House. Church. Peter Jones' Study.</span><br /> +OLD CREDIT MISSION. (<i>From a sketch by Mrs. E. Carey.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<p><i>May 3rd.</i>—To-day I have felt peace with God and good will towards +men. Several Indian women have arrived from Scugog Lake. They +report that the Indians there have all stood firm, daily meeting +for prayer to the Great Spirit, and that there has only been one +case of intoxication since Peter Jones was there last autumn. This +unhappy circumstance was caused by one (Carr) an old Methodist +back-slider (a fit emissary of the devil), who took his barrel of +whiskey, in order to trade with the Indians. He tried in vain to +persuade them to taste, till at length he made some of the whiskey +into bitters, which he called medicine, and prevailed on one unwary +man to take for his health. This he repeated several times, till at +length the poor fellow got to relish it, and becoming overpowered +he fell into the water! The Indians immediately assembled for +prayer, and through the mercy of God, he is now restored to his +former steadfastness. They then ordered Carr to take his whiskey +away, or they would destroy it. He took it on the ice, on the lake, +no doubt hoping that it would tempt some of them to drink. But in +this the devil was disappointed, the ice thawed, and the barrel +floated on the water. What an instance of human depravity, does +this man's conduct exhibit, and what a picture of the power of +Divine grace is seen in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> inflexible firmness of the Indians! +May we not sing in the language of Paradise Regained—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">"The tempter foiled<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In all his wiles, defeated, and repuls'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And Eden raised in the waste wilderness."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The Indian woman who related the above, gave another proof of the +amiable and benevolent character of her race, especially when +sanctified by grace. In token of their esteem for Peter Jones, who +had been the means of opening their eyes to immortality and eternal +life, they brought him several pounds of maple sugar, which one of +them presented in a wooden bowl. No doubt this sugar, which they +had carried sixty miles, was nearly their all. Is not this a +feeling of gratitude and love to the disciple for the master's +sake? Oh! that I may learn lessons of simplicity and contentment +from these children of the forest, for they are taught of God only. +Oh! that I may have Mary's lot in time and in eternity.</p> + +<p><i>May 6th—Sunday.</i>—A number of white people being present this +morning I addressed them on the subject of the barren fig-tree. In +the evening we had a precious time; the Indians were enraptured, +and we all, as it were, with one heart, dedicated ourselves afresh +to God. In the class meeting we all wept tears of joy and holy +triumph. Several of them said, "Jesus is the best master I ever +served." "I love Jesus better than anything else."</p> + +<p><i>May 8th.</i>—I witnessed an affecting instance of how pleasant a +thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity, in the +departure of two Indians who had paid us a few days' visit from +Belleville. Nearly the whole village, according to Apostolic +custom, collected to bid them farewell in John Crane's house, when +an Indian arose (in the absence of the chief) inviting any of the +Belleville Indians who might like to come and settle amongst them. +Others rose and spoke on Christian love, pointing them forward to +that period when they should meet to part no more. How does the +spirit of primitive Christianity lead to the adoption of the same +customs which were practised by the first followers of our Lord, +when the multitudes of them that believed were of one heart and +soul. We then sang a few verses and all knelt down, commending our +dear brothers to the care of Him who never leaves nor forsakes his +children. After this one of the Indians from Belleville delivered a +pathetic parting address; they then all shook hands, exhorting one +another to cleave to Jesus. This Indian appeared to me to be one of +the most heavenly minded men I ever saw, not an able speaker but +with a peculiar nervousness in his words, spoken with energy and +pathos that deeply affected us all.</p> + +<p><i>May 13th—Sunday.</i>—I spent the last week in assisting the Indians +in their agricultural pursuits. They are teachable, willing, and +apt to learn. This constant change of employment debars me from +literary and theological improvement, and leaves me less qualified +to expound Scripture to refined assemblies. Thus I am perplexed to +know what is best for me to do. The Lord direct me in this +momentous matter!</p> + +<p><i>May 14th.</i>—The temporal and spiritual interests of the Indians +bring upon me much care, and weigh me down. I experienced some +comfort in the class meeting. Spoke in Indian, and for the first +time repeated the Lord's prayer in Chippewa. Many of my dear +brethren praised the Lord.</p> + +<p><i>June 9th—Sabbath.</i>—This day we held quarterly meeting at +York—about twenty Indians present. I am informed that some of the +Indians on Lake Simcoe are hungering for the bread of life, and +that twelve of them were at worship at Newmarket, and expressed a +desire to become Christians. Sixteen Indian children attend a +Sabbath-school established there whose parents encamp near, for +that purpose. Several of these children learnt the alphabet in four +hours. This awakening arose through four of the Rice Lake Indians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +influenced by the divine love, traversing in their canoe the back +lakes to tell their benighted brethren about Jesus, and exhorting +them to become Christians.</p> + +<p><i>June 7th.</i>—The first quarterly conference ever held amongst +Indians in British America was held to-day. After deliberating on +several subjects, that of sending some of their pious and +experienced men on a missionary tour to Lake Simcoe, and the Thames +was proposed for consideration. Four of them soon volunteered their +services. Their hearts seemed fired at the thought of carrying the +news of salvation to their benighted brethren. At their own +suggestion $12 was soon taken up to help pay expenses.</p> + +<p><i>June 10th.</i>-About fifty converted Indians from Rice Lake, Scugog +Lake, Mud Lake, and the Credit, assembled in York to-day for the +purpose of worshipping God. The Rice Lake Indians have come to see +the Governor about building them a village, and deduct the money +due them from the lands their fathers have ceded to the British +Government, and likewise for getting boundaries of their +hunting-grounds established. The other Indians have come for the +purpose of attending the approaching camp-meeting, as they have +never had but three days' instruction from Peter Jones last autumn. +As soon as any of them experience the love of Jesus in their own +souls, they begin to feel for others, and, like the ancient +Christians, go wherever they can preaching the Lord Jesus. Here is +a whole tribe converted to God, with the external aid of only three +days' instruction, except what they communicate to one another, and +who for six months have proved the reality of their Christian +experience by blameless and holy lives. Surely "this is the Lord's +doing, and marvellous in our eyes."</p> + +<p>Elder Case told me that on his way from Cobourg to York, he saw an +Indian sitting by the road-side, he asked him where his brothers +and sisters were, he replied, encamped in the woods. Elder Case +told him to call them, as he wanted to talk some good words to +them. They soon came together to hear the <i>me-ko-to-wik</i>, or black +coat man. They pitched a little Bethel of logs, about breast high, +over-topped with bushes, for the purpose of worshipping +<i>Keshamunedo</i> (God.) After kneeling down to implore God's blessing, +they took their seats. As soon as Elder Case commenced to speak, +their hearts seemed to melt like wax. So much for the Scugog and +Mud Lake Indians. The Rice Lake Indians appear to be more +intelligent, and are the handsomest company of men I have seen. +Potash, their chief, is very majestic in appearance, possesses a +commanding voice, and speaks with great animation.</p> + +<p><i>June 12th.</i>—My brother William, who came from Newmarket +yesterday, informs me that he preached to more than fifty of these +bewildered enquirers after truth on Sunday—none of them could +interpret, but some could understand English, and they told others +what the good man said. An Indian woman came to a little white boy, +holding out her book (as most of them have bought books) and said, +"boy, boy," showing great anxiety that the boy would teach her, but +the little fellow was afraid, and slipped off. Then a little Indian +boy about his age, held out his book that he might teach him, the +white boy complied, and by the time he had showed him three or four +letters, he was unable to contain his grateful feelings, clasped +the white boy round his neck, and began to hug and kiss him.</p> + +<p><i>June 15th.</i>—A camp-meeting commenced this afternoon on Yonge +street, about twelve miles from York. A large number of white +people have assembled, and about seventy-five Indians. About a +dozen of these embraced Christianity about six months ago, the rest +are heathens from the forest. How interesting a sight that they +should travel forty miles to hear about the Great Spirit, and what +he would have them do. As soon as they arrived they commenced +building their tents. Our Saviour said to His disciples, "Go ye +into all the world, &c." but we here see heathens coming to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +disciples of Jesus and asking for the Gospel. The services were +commenced by Rev. James Richardson, followed by the Rev. Thaddeus +Osgood, who is a great lover of Sunday-schools, Peter Jones +interpreted, when they were directed to Jesus, who came to save the +Indian as well as the white man, they were melted to tears.</p> + +<p><i>June 16th.</i>—Rev. D. Yeomans preached this morning, also the Rev. +Thaddeus Osgood, first to the children, then to the Indians, which +was interpreted by Peter Jones. A lame boy, fourteen years old, +seemed to have his whole soul broken under the hammer of the word. +The Ten Commandments were recited in their own tongue, and they +repeated them sentence by sentence. It was a very impressive +exercise, giving great solemnity to the sacred decalogue.</p> + +<p><i>June 17th, Sunday.</i>—The first sermon this morning was delivered +by Rev. John Ryerson, on the sufferings of Christ, followed by Rev. +James Richardson. By this time the concourse of people was +immense—when the Rev. William Ryerson preached from Gen. vii. 1, a +most able and affecting discourse, interpreted by Peter Jones, who +afterwards addressed the white people, telling of the former +degradation of his people, their present happy condition, the +feeble instruments God had made use of to accomplish this glorious +work; he thanked the white people for their kindness, and earnestly +entreated them to pray on, that the good work might go on and +prosper—he concluded by saying, "My dear brethren, if you go +forward the work will prosper, till the missionary from the western +tribes, shall meet with the missionary from the east, and both will +shake hands together."</p> + +<p><i>June 18th.</i>—About mid-day the Camp-meeting was brought to a +close, it was very solemn and refreshing, three hundred and +thirteen whites partook of the Communion, and about forty Indians. +Thirty-five Indians, men, women, and children were baptized; with +others it was deferred till further instructed.</p> + +<p><i>July 3rd.</i>—Peter Jones has just returned from Lake Simcoe, +bringing a glorious account of the steadfastness and exceeding joy +of the Indians there. Thirty more are added to their number; a +school is established, taught by Bro. Wm. Law, in a temporary +building, put up by themselves. The traders are showing great +opposition, threatening to beat the Indians and burn their camps if +they will attend the meetings; their craft is in danger. They that +trust in the Lord need not fear.</p> + +<p><i>July 5th.</i>—Rev. Wm. Ryerson, under this date, writes from Lake +Simcoe: If Yellowhead, the Head Chief, embraces religion, his +influence will counteract the opposition of the traders, which is +very strong. I think if Peter Jones can come and remain with them +awhile, as soon as possible, they will embrace Christianity.</p> + +<p><i>July 15th.</i>—Peter Jones and I arrived at Lake Simcoe this +evening, for the purpose of being present during the distribution +of Indian goods. The change in their appearance since a year ago is +most striking. The traders are still very hostile.</p> + +<p><i>July 16th.</i>—In the morning I gave the Indians a long talk. I +showed them the superiority of the Christian religion over that of +those who worshipped images. At this remark, the French traders +present looked very angry, muttering, but making no disturbance. +Peter Jones then spoke at length, answering and correcting +statements the traders had made. Colonel Givens soon arrived and +the meeting closed.</p> + +<p><i>July 17th.</i>—Collected the Indians again, and preached from Matt. +xi. 28. Peter Jones expounded the Lord's Prayer. The Frenchmen were +much displeased at his remarks on the subject of forgiving sins. +They afterwards tried to force some of the Christians to drink, but +failed. The Lord have mercy on these wicked men, and open their +eyes before it is too late! When the presents were to be given out, +the men were seated by themselves, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> also the women; the boys +and girls according to their ages. The chiefs then requested all +who were Christians, or wished to be, to sit together, and about +150 rose and did so. The difference in their countenances, as well +as their appearance and manners, was most marked. They looked +healthy, clean, and happy, whereas many of the others were almost +naked; some with bruised heads, and black faces, and almost burnt +up with liquor. When the distribution of presents ended, an Indian +Council was held at Phelps' Inn, at which I was invited to be +present. Chief Yellowhead spoke first, saying "The desire of his +heart was that their Great Father would grant them a place where +they might all settle down together. His people wished to throw +away their bad ways, and worship the Great Spirit." Many others +spoke, particularly requesting the Indian Agent to do what he could +to quiet the rage of the French traders. We have reason to thank +God for the kind friendly influence the Indian agents exert, +especially in closing the mouths of the traders. Oh, Lord, I will +praise Thee!</p> + +<p><i>July 20th.</i>—I left the Holland Landing this morning for the +purpose of visiting the islands north-east of Lake Simcoe, to +ascertain their desirability for a settlement. I find the situation +very pleasant. The chief has a comfortable house containing four +rooms, with everything decent and convenient. This island contains +about four hundred acres of beautiful basswood, beech, and maple. +The chief told me that the Mohawks once had a village there, +probably a century ago; as there is a navigable creek running to +the mouth of the river, there was every attraction for a convenient +settlement. The chief also offers any one who will come and teach +the children, two rooms in his house for that purpose, and the +Indians will support him. Such is the field of philanthropic and +Christian labour in this place, and which demand most vigorous +cultivation.</p> + +<p><i>July 22nd.</i>—I assembled the Indians this morning, and gave them +my parting advice; after which the Chief (Wahwahsinno) spoke with +great power. He is the most interesting, intelligent Indian I ever +saw. He warned them to beware of the evil spirit which was lurking +around them on every side; to be honest and cheat nobody; not to +get drunk, but buy food and clothing for their children. You know, +he said, how our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers have +been killed by liquor—now, don't do as they have done. We are +thankful to our Great Father, over the waters, for the clothes he +has given us, and to our good brother for the good things he has +taught us. We then embraced each other and bade farewell.</p> + +<p><i>July 23rd.</i>—Arrived again at the Narrows, and found the Indians +firmly established in the faith. I have now spent eight days among +these long-neglected and injured people, and happy are my eyes that +have seen these glorious things.</p></div> + +<p>[The missionary efforts of these times were in Upper Canada chiefly +directed toward the Indians. Of this abundant evidence is given in the +preceding pages. That these efforts were also put forth by the Church of +England, may be gathered from the fact that at a public meeting held in +York, on the 29th of October, 1830, a Society was formed, under the +presidency of the Bishop of Quebec, "for the converting and civilizing +of the Indians of Upper Canada." In his address, on that occasion, the +Bishop stated that the Rev. G. Archbold, with true missionary zeal, had +resided among the Indians on the north side of Lake Huron during the +greater part of the summer, and at his departure had left them in care +of Mr. James W. Cameron. Mr. Cameron was,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> in 1832 succeeded by Mr. (now +Archdeacon) McMurray at Sault Ste. Marie. Funds for the support of this +Indian Mission were collected in England, by the Bishop in 1831, and +also by Rev. A. N. (subsequently Bishop) Bethune. The scope of this +Society was soon enlarged to "Propagating the Gospel among Destitute +Settlers." The missionaries employed in 1831 were Rev. J. O'Brian (St. +Clair), Rev. Salteen Givens (Bay of Quinte), and Mr. James W. Cameron +(La Cloche, Saulte Ste. Marie, etc.)</p> + +<p>That this interest was not confined to spiritual matters is evident from +many letters and other references to the domestic and material +improvement in the condition of the Indians, which I find in Dr. +Ryerson's papers. I select the following, which touch upon many +different matters relating to the temporal and spiritual interests of +the Indians:—</p> + +<p>In a letter written by Rev. William Case, from Hallowell, to Dr. +Ryerson, he thus speaks of the success of a school established by the +Conference among the Indians. He says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Last evening (10th March) was exhibited the improvement of the +Indian School, at Grape Island, one boy, whose time at school +amounted to but about six months, read well in the Testament. +Several new tunes were well sung and had a fine effect. The whole +performance was excellent. More than twenty names were given in to +furnish provisions for the children of the school. These +exhibitions have a good effect. It animates the children and the +teachers, and affords a most gratifying opportunity to the friends +of the Missions to witness that their benevolence is not in +vain.—H.]</p></div> + +<p>[Shortly after this letter was written, Elder Case went to New York, to +solicit aid on behalf of the Indian Schools. He was accompanied by John +Sunday and one or two other Indians. Writing from there, on the 19th +April, to Dr. Ryerson, then at Cobourg, he says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We have attended meetings frequently, and visited a great number of +schools and other institutions, both literary and religious. This +has a fine effect on our Indian brethren. The aid we are obtaining +will assist us for the improvement of our Indian Schools. We have +an especial view to the Indians of Rice Lake. Please look well to +the school there, and to the comfort of the teacher. The Indians +should be encouraged to cultivate their islands. The most that we +can do is to keep them at school, &c., and instruct them in their +worldly concerns.</p> + +<p>The managers of the Missionary Society in New York, as well as in +Philadelphia, are very friendly. In case we shall be set off as a +Conference, they will continue to afford us assistance in the +Mission cause. You will judge something of the feeling of the +people here, when I inform you that a niece of the unfortunate Miss +McCrae, who was killed by the Indians in the revolutionary war, has +given us $10 towards the Indian schools, and two sets of very fine +diaper cloths for the communion table. We shall bring with us an +Indian book, containing the decalogue, the creed, hymns, and our +Lord's Sermon on the Mount. This will stimulate our schools, as +well as afford instruction to the Indian converts. I wish you to +encourage the Indian sisters to make a quantity of fancy trinkets, +we could sell them to advantage here. They should be well made. We +have been introduced to Mr. Francis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> Hall, of the New York +<i>Spectator</i>, and about forty ladies, who are engaged in preparing +bedding, clothing, &c., for our missions and schools. We gave them +a short address on the happy effects of the gospel on the mind and +condition of Indian female converts. John Sunday's address to them +in Indian was responded to with sobs through the room. Brother +Bangs addressed those present on behalf of the Indians exhorting +them to diligence and faithfulness. He said that we would always +find in the Christian females true encouragement and aid.—H.]</p></div> + +<p>[Elder Case was anxious to re-open the school for Indian girls at Grape +Island. In writing from the Credit, he says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"When we gave up the female school it was designed to revive it, +and we had in view to employ one of the Miss Rolphs. If she can be +obtained we shall be much gratified. We wish everything done that +can be done to bring forward the children in every necessary +improvement, especially at the most important stations, and the +Credit is one of the most important. Can you afford any assistance +to Peter Jacobs? We are very solicitous to see some talent in +composition among some of our most promising scholars.</p> + +<p>We are authorised by the Dorcas Society, of New York, to draw for +$20 to purchase a cow for the use of the mission family at the +Credit, and you are at liberty to get one now, or defer it till the +Spring. As probably the $20 will purchase a cow, and pay for her +keeping through the winter.</p> + +<p>Our way this far has been prosperous. I never saw the pulse of +Missionary ardour beat higher. Tickets of admission at the +anniversaries might be sold by hundreds for a dollar each. But they +were distributed gratis. The collection at the female anniversary +was $217, and a handful of gold rings (about 20). The +superintendent is truly missionary; rejoicing in the plan of our +aiding them in the conversion of the Indians on this side of the +lines. Bros. Doxtadors and Hess' visit is well received, and a good +work commenced at the Oneida."—H.]</p></div> + +<p>[In a letter written to Dr. Ryerson, by the Rev. James Richardson, on +the 2nd Oct., 1829, referring to the privilege granted to the Indians of +taking salmon (as mentioned on p. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>), he said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As I came home, I stopped at James Gages', and found that he was +much displeased with the Indians for holding their fish so high. He +says his son could obtain them for less than 1/3d. currency (25c.). +Some of them were not worth half that. He remarked that Wm. Kerr +and others expressed great dissatisfaction with the Indians for +taking advantage of the privilege granted to them, and also for +haughtiness in their manner of dealing with their old friends. I am +afraid that unless they be moderate and civil, a prejudice will be +excited against them, which may prove detrimental to the missionary +cause. The respectable part of the inhabitants would be pleased to +have the Indians supported in this privilege, if they could +purchase fish of them at a moderate price.—H.]</p></div> + +<p>[Elder Case, who was greatly interested in the success of the Indian +Schools, and who—with a view to demonstrate the usefulness of the +schools—proposed to take two of the Credit Indian boys to the +Missionary Meetings in January, 1830, says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I should be glad to have something interesting at the York +Anniversary. Perhaps we may have a couple of promising boys from +this Station. Henry Steinheur will accompany me to Lake Simcoe, and +perhaps Allen Salt<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> will come up as far as York. They are both +fine boys, and excellent singers.]</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> + +<p>[A providential opening having occurred for getting the Scriptures +translated into the Indian language, Rev. Wm. Ryerson, in a letter to +Dr. Ryerson, dated York, 24th February, 1830, says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I lately received a letter from the Rev. Mr. West, one of the +agents for the British and Foreign Bible Society, expressing the +anxiety he felt that the Scriptures should be translated into the +Chippewa language. He said that if proper application were made, he +would take great pleasure in laying it before the Committee of the +Parent Society, and use his influence to obtain any assistance that +might be wanted. Viewing this as a providential opening, I think +that steps should be taken to have the translation made. From your +residence among the Indians, and knowledge of their manners and +customs, and your acquaintance with those natives that are the best +advanced in religious knowledge and experience, do you not think +that the Joneses are the best qualified to translate the +Scriptures?—H.]</p></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Note</span>.—[The reply was in the affirmative, and Peter Jones was entrusted +by the U. C. Bible Society with the work.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a>—H.]</p> + +<p><i>April 7th</i>, 1829.—[Writing to Dr. Ryerson, from Philadelphia, at this +date, Elder Case says:</p> + +<p>There is a fine feeling here in favour of the Canada Church and the +Mission cause. Peter Jones and J. Hess are in New York overlooking the +printing of the gospels, etc. We hope to bring back with us the Gospel +of Mark, with other portions contained in the Book of Common Prayer, the +Spelling-book and a Hymn book in Mohawk, and a Hymn-book in Chippewa. +They are all in the press, and will be ready by 5th May, when we leave +to return.—H.]</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> My home was mostly at John Jones', brother of Peter Jones; +sometimes at Wm. Herkimer's, a noble Indian convert, with a noble little +wife.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> See page <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> <i>Cheehock</i>, "A bird on the wing," referring to my going +about constantly among them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> They often retire to the woods for private prayer, and +sometimes their souls are so blessed, they praise God aloud, and can be +heard at a considerable distance.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> These Indian boys subsequently became noted for their +piety and missionary zeal on behalf of their red brethren.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> An unexpected delay occurred in getting the translation +made by Rev. Peter Jones printed, as explained in a letter from Rev. +George Ryerson to Dr. Ryerson, dated Bristol, August 6th, 1831. He +says:— +</p><p> +Peter Jones, after his return from London, experienced several weeks' +delay in getting his translation prepared for the press, in consequence +of a letter from the Committee on the Translations of the U. C. Bible +Society—Drs. Harris, Baldwin, and Wenham—stating that the translation +was imperfect. He had, in consequence, to go over the whole translation +with Mr. Greenfield, the Editor of the Bible Society Translations. Mr. +Greenfield is a very clever man, and has an extensive knowledge of +languages. He very soon acquired the idiom of the Chippewa language so +that he became better able to judge of the faithfulness of the +translation. Mr. Greenfield went cheerfully through every sentence with +Mr. Jones, and made some unimportant alterations, expressed himself much +pleased with the translation, and thinks it the most literal of any +published by the Bible Society. It is now passing through the press, and +will soon be sent to Canada.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1827-1828.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Labours and Trials—Civil Rights Controversy.</span></p> + + +<p>At the Conference of 1827 I was appointed to the Cobourg Circuit, +extending from Bowmanville village to the Trent, including Port Hope, +Cobourg, Haldimand, Colborne, Brighton, and the whole country south of +Rice Lake, with the townships of Seymour and Murray. On this extensive +and labourious Circuit I am not aware that I missed a single +appointment, notwithstanding my controversial engagements<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> and visits +to the Indians of Rice Lake and Mud Lake. I largely composed on +horseback sermons and replies to my ecclesiastical adversaries. My diary +of those days gives the following particulars:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Hope, Newcastle District, Sept. 23rd, 1827.</i>—I have now commenced +my ministerial labours amongst strangers. Religion is at a low ebb +among the people; but there are some who still hold fast their +integrity, and are "asking the way to Zion with their faces +thitherwards." I have preached twice to-day and been greatly +assisted from above.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 25th.</i>—I have laboured with much heaviness to-day. I spent +part of the day in visiting the Rice Lake Indians. They seem very +healthy, and are happy in the Lord. We have selected a place for +building a school house. With gratitude and joy they offer to +assist in the building.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 30th.</i>—Another month gone! I review the past with mingled +feelings of gratitude and regret.</p> + +<p><i>October 2nd.</i>—Yesterday and to-day I have laboured under severe +affliction of mind. I am as one tempest driven, without pilot, +chart, or compass.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 4th.</i>—This evening at the prayer-meeting, how delightful was +it to hear two children pour out their melting supplications at the +throne of grace. "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou +hast perfected praise."</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 9th.</i>—I began my labours last Sunday, weak and sick, but my +strength increased with my labour, and I was stronger in body and +happier in soul at night than in the morning.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 10th.</i>—I have now finished my first journey round the +circuit. My health has not been good. Two persons have joined the +society to-night, and several more in class expressed a +determination never to rest till they found peace with God through +Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 17th.</i>—I have been employed in controversial writing, and +sorely tempted to desist from preaching.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 20th.</i>—I have been greatly interested and strengthened in +reading the "Life of Dr. Coke." The trials with which he was +assailed, and the spirit in which he encountered them, afforded +encouragement to me. His meeting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> with the venerable Asbury, in the +Church built in the vast forest, is one of the most affecting +scenes I ever read.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 21st.</i>—To-day we held our first quarterly meeting on the +circuit, and, bless the Lord, it was a reviving time.</p></div> + +<p><i>Oct. 27th.</i>—[Archdeacon's Strachan's Ecclesiastical Chart had so +excited the righteous indignation of Elder Case, that he wrote to Dr. +Ryerson, at this date, from Cobourg, in regard to it. I insert his +letter, as it expresses (though in strong language) the general feeling +of those outside of the Church of England in regard to this Chart.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> +He said:—</p> + +<p>Notice the providence which has brought to light the mis-statements of +the Ecclesiastical Chart. This is one instance out of many in which +false representations have gone Home in regard to the character of the +people and the state of religion.</p> + +<p>As such a spirit of intolerance is altogether averse to the mild spirit +of the gospel, so it is also a most dangerous and daring assumption of +power over the rights of conscience. Against this high-handed and +domineering spirit, God himself has ever set his face. Let the Doctor be +reminded of the case of Haman and the despised dissenting Jew, who +refused to bow down to the courtiers of the king. The Doctor's wrath is +kindled against those whom he calls "dissenters," and who refuse to +submit to his Church rule. We have said, "whom the Doctor calls +'dissenters.'" I aver that the term is not at all applicable to the +religious denominations in this country. From what Church have they +dissented? Indeed most of the first inhabitants of this country never +belonged to the Church of England at all. They were from the first +attached to the denominations. Some to the Presbyterian, some to the +Baptist, some to the Methodist, and only a small portion to the Church +of England. Nor had they any apprehensions, while supporting the rights +of the Crown, that an ecclesiastical establishment of ministers of whom +they have never heard, was to be imposed, upon them, as a reward for +their loyalty! Indeed, they had the faith of the Government pledged, +that they should enjoy the rights of conscience. And in view of this was +the charter of the Province formed, to secure liberty of conscience and +freedom of thought. The blow at a loyal portion of Her Majesty's +subjects was aimed at them in the dark, 4,000 miles away, and without an +opportunity of defending themselves. An act so ungenerous, and in a +manner so impious too, cannot be endured. We must defend ourselves +against the unjust slanders of the Doctor.—H.]<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Nov. 19th.</i>—I have been blessed with more comfort this evening in +preaching from Matt. xxii. 11-13, to a congregation composed +principally of drunkards and swearers. My heart was warmed, my +tongue loosened, and my understanding enlarged.</p> + +<p><i>Nov. 20th.</i>—I have been to the Rice Lake Mission: found them +still growing in grace. The children are clean—many of them +handsome. The school teacher is happy in his work.</p> + +<p><i>Dec. 12th.</i>—My mind has been greatly afflicted this evening in +settling a difference between two brethren.</p> + +<p><i>Dec. 25th.</i>—Last night we had a service in this place (Presque +Isle) to celebrate the incarnation of our blessed Saviour. Seven +souls professed to experience the pardoning love of Christ. Many +who came mourning went home rejoicing.</p> + +<p><i>January 1st, 1828.</i>—I am now brought to the close of another +year, and the commencement of a new era of existence. The first +part of the year I spent principally amongst the Indians, and have +reason to believe the Lord blest my labours amongst those needy and +loving people, but my own soul was oft in heaviness. The latter +part of the year I have been on a Circuit, and have found my +enjoyments and improvement increased. The Societies are growing in +piety, my bodily wants have been all supplied, and I have +experienced the fulfilment of the promise, If ye forsake father and +mother, the Lord will take thee up. May I ever rest on it!</p></div> + +<p><i>Jan. 2nd.</i>—[The following letter was written at this date to Dr. +Ryerson by his Mother. She says:—</p> + +<p>My not writing to you, I understand from your letter to Father, has +given you much uneasiness; but I can assure you I have felt much +concerned about it myself, for fear that you should entertain the +thought of its proceeding from unkindness or neglect: but let the +feelings of affection of a Mother suffice and answer it all. Be +convinced that her happiness depends upon your welfare, and that her +daily prayers will ever be offered up to the throne of grace in yours +and the rest of her children's behalf. O that the Lord may keep you +humble and faithful, looking unto him for grace and strength to enable +you to work in His blessed cause, to proclaim the glad tidings of +salvation through a dear Redeemer to lost and perishing souls! This is a +great comfort to me, and more than I deserve. None other compensates for +all my trials and afflictions here, as that God, of His goodness, should +have inclined the hearts of many of my dear children to seek His face +and to testify to the ways of God being the ways of pleasantness and +peace. At so much goodness my soul doth bless and praise my God and +Redeemer. My dear boy, you must not forget to pray for your poor +unworthy Mother, that she may be daily renewed in the inner man, and so +kept by the grace of God, as to be able to endure unto the end, and at +last to be received among those that are made perfect, to praise Him +that hath redeemed us for ever and ever. Your kind and anxious enquiries +about home, I shall endeavour to answer. Your dear Father has returned, +and is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> as well as usual, but still suffers much at times. Your heavenly +Father has been pleased to lay His hand of affliction once more upon +your sister, Mrs. Mitchell, by taking away her youngest boy in November +last. Edwy, I am happy to say, appears to persevere in serving God, +which, with the blessing of God, may he continue to do. Your brother +George has left for England. He desires that all your letters be sent to +him in England, which contain anything interesting about the Indians, or +of the work of religion. The state of religion in this part, I think, is +rather on the rise, that is to say, they attend better to public +worship, and receive their preacher in a more friendly manner than +before. Write as often as you can to let us know how you are, and how +the work of religion is progressing.—H.]</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Jan. 3rd.</i>—I have this day visited the Indians at Rice Lake: all +prosperity here. I have been much refreshed this evening in meeting +my beloved brother and fellow-labourer in the Gospel, Peter Jones. +These pleasing interviews bring to mind many refreshing seasons we +have enjoyed together, when seeking the lost sheep of the house of +Israel. This year thus far, has been attended with peculiar trials; +my health has not been good; I have had conflicts without, and +fears within.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 30th.</i>—Visited a poor woman to-day in the last stage of +consumption, she gives evidence that her peace is made with God. I +find it a heavy cross to visit the sick. Help me, Lord, to search +out the mourner, bind up broken hearts, and comfort the sorrowful.</p></div> + +<p><i>February 22nd</i>—[A Central Committee at York having, of behalf of the +various non-Episcopal denominations, deputed Rev. George Ryerson to +proceed to England to present petitions to the Imperial Parliament +against the claims of the Church of England in this Province,<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> the +Rev. William Ryerson was requested to write to his brother George on the +subject. In his letter he gave the following explanation of the sources +of information from which Archdeacon Strachan's Ecclesiastical Chart was +compiled. He said:—</p> + +<p>It may be proper to apprise you that the Church of England has been +making an enquiry into the religious state of the Province, the result +of which they have sent home to the Imperial Parliament. And in order to +swell their numbers as much as possible, they have sent persons through +almost every part of the Province, who, when they come into a house, +enquire of the head of the family as to what Church he belongs. If he +says, to the Methodist, or any other body of dissenters, they next +enquire if their children belong to the same Church. If they say no, +they set the children as members of the Church of England! If they say +that neither themselves nor their children belong to any particular +Church, they set them all down as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> members of the Church of England! So +that should they make a parade of their numbers you can tell how they +got them.</p> + +<p>The Report of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, for +1821, gives the number of communicants in the Church of England here as +between 4,000 and 5,000. In the Chart, the Methodist communicants only +have been returned, which is about 9,000. The number of those who call +themselves Methodists, is, at least, four times that number, or 36,000. +This is the way in which almost all the other bodies estimate their +numbers, the Baptists excepted.</p> + +<p><i>Cobourg, Feb. 27th.</i>—Dr. Ryerson's youngest brother, Edwy, who +remained at home, wrote from there on the 20th, in regard to his +Father's health and religious life. He says:—</p> + +<p>I think there is no doubt but that he will, in a short time be able, +with the care and the mercy of Almighty God, to enjoy himself again at +the family altar. He says that, by the grace of God, the remainder of +his days shall be devoted to the service of God. He feels that he has +acceptance with God; that God condescends to receive him—blessed be +God! My dear Egerton, although we have had great difficulties and many +trials to contend with, yet the Lord has stood by us, and by His +goodness and mercy He has kept us from sinking under them, by pointing +out ways and means for our escape, and He has brought our aged Father to +the knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Oh, my dear brother, let us +praise the name of God forever, who hath dealt so bountifully with us. +Mother is much better than when you were here. Father and Mother send +their love to you. May the Lord give you good speed, and crown your +labours with success in the saving of souls.</p> + +<p><i>April 3rd.</i>—With a view to throw an incidental light upon the personal +influence which prompted Dr. Ryerson to controvert certain statements +made by Archdeacon Strachan,<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> I quote a letter which Dr. Ryerson's +brother William wrote to him from York, on the 1st, as follows:—</p> + +<p>I send you a pamphlet containing Dr. Strachan's defence before the +Legislative Council. If I had time I would write a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> reply, at least to a +part of it. I think you had better write a full answer to it. You will +perceive that the Doctor's defence consists in telling what he told +certain gentlemen in England and what they told him. The misstatements +and contradictions with which he has been charged, he has not noticed. +Such as that "the Church is rapidly increasing, and spreading over the +whole country, and that the tendency of the population is towards the +Church of England, and that the instructions of dissenters are rendering +people hostile to our institutions, civil and religious." He says: "It +is said I have offended the Methodists." Who told him so? I presume it +must have been his own conscience. If you write a full answer would it +not be better to do it in the form of letters, addressed to the doctor, +and signed by your real name? Write in a candid, mild, and kindly style, +and it will have a much more powerful effect upon the mind of the +public. Do not cramp yourself, but write fully, seriously, and +effectually.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson's reflections upon the peculiar difficulties of his +itinerant life at this time are recorded in his diary, under date of +April 13th, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>No situation of life is without its inconveniences; but, perhaps, +the Methodist itinerant Preacher is more exposed to privations than +most others. His home is everywhere, and amongst persons of every +description; and if he needs retirement or books, where can he find +a retreat to hide himself, or a secret place where he can, like +Jacob, wrestle till the dawn of day? He is a target to be shot at +by every one; his weaknesses and failings tried every way; and, +after his youth, his health, his life, his all are spent, he too +often dies an enfeebled and impoverished man. But, bless the Lord, +all does not end here. We have "a building of God, eternal in the +heavens;" and we have a home "where the wicked cease from +troubling, and the weary are at rest."</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson resumes his diary on the 9th of May. He says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>My time has of late been much taken up with provincial affairs. I +have felt a hardness towards those who I think are injuring the +interests of the country, and with whom it has fallen to my lot to +be much engaged in controversy. Necessity seems at present to be +laid upon me, from which I cannot free myself.</p> + +<p><i>May 10th—Sunday.</i>—To-day I delivered a discourse on Missions. I +had intended much, this being a favourite topic with me, but I made +out nothing, and I felt truly humbled.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 1st.</i>—For months past I have been greatly tried. My +controversial labours have occupied too much of my time and +attention. I thank God, the day of deliverance seems to be dawning. +The invisible hand of the infinitely wise Being is clearly at work, +and I have no doubt the result will be to His glory.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson then continues the narrative of his life. He says:—</p> + +<p>A change in my domestic and public life now commenced,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> which involved +my marriage, and my appointment to the Hamilton and Ancaster Circuits. +In my diary I say:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Aug. 24th.</i>—I soon expect to alter my situation in life. What an +important step! How much depends upon it in respect to my comfort, +my literary and religious improvement, and my usefulness in the +Church? I have kept up a correspondence with a lady since and +before I was an itinerant preacher; but postponed marriage since I +became a minister, thinking that I should be more useful as a +single man. My ministerial friends all advise me now to marry, as +every obstacle seems moved out of the way and I have now travelled +three years.</p> + +<p><i>Ancaster, Oct. 31st.</i>—I have passed through a variety of scenes +since I last noted the dealings of the Lord with me. On the 10th of +September, 1828, I entered into the married state with Miss Hannah +Aikman, of Hamilton. Through the tender mercy of God, I have got a +companion who, I believe, will be truly a help-meet to me, in +spiritual as well as temporal things.<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p></div> + +<p>The Hamilton and Ancaster Circuit reached from Stoney Creek, east of +Hamilton, to within five miles of Brantford, including the township of +Glandford; thence including the Jersey settlement, Dundas Street, and +Nelson, to ten miles north of Dundas Street, embracing Trafalgar, the +mountain beyond the town of Milton, Credit, and back to Stoney Creek.</p> + +<p>The death of the Rev. Wm. Slater, my colleague and Superintendent, about +the middle of the year, was a great loss and affliction to me, as I had +to take his place. Brother Slater had been the colleague of my brother +John for two years, and he was now mine for the second year. He was a +true Englishman, a true friend, and a faithful and cheerful minister.</p> + +<p>About the middle of this year (1828) were held the Ryan Conventions at +Copetown, in West Flamboro', and Picton, Prince Edward District, of +which I have given an account in "The Epochs of Canadian Methodism," pp. +247-269.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> The first of these controversial engagements extended from +the spring of 1826 until the spring of 1827; the second from the spring +of 1828 until near midsummer of the same year.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> The nature and purpose of this Chart are fully explained +and discussed by Dr. Ryerson in his "Epochs of Canadian Methodism," pp. +165-220.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> See "Epochs of Canadian Methodism," p. 222.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> "Letters from the Reverend Egerton Ryerson to the +Honourable and Reverend Dr. Strachan. Published originally in the <i>Upper +Canada Herald</i>, Kingston, U.C., 1828. Pp. 42—In his "advertisement" or +preface, Dr. Ryerson illustrates the pressing nature of his engagements +at the time when he was engaged in the controversy with Archdeacon +Strachan. He also referred to the unusual difficulties with which he had +to contend in writing these "Letters" to the Archdeacon. Of many +important and most forcible arguments against establishments, especially +those derived from the Holy Scriptures, the author has not availed +himself, nor has he referred to so many historical authorities as might +have been adduced, * * * as he has had to travel nearly two hundred +miles, and preach from twenty to thirty sermons a month." See note on p. +80 and also Chapter viii.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> This union was of comparatively short duration. Mrs. +Ryerson died on the 31st of January, 1832, at the early age of 28. (See +the latter part of Chapter ix.)</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1828-1829.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Ryanite Schism—M. E. Church of Canada Organized</span>.</p> + + +<p>There is a break in Dr. Ryerson's "Story" at this point; no record of +any of the events of his life, from August, 1828, to September, 1829, +was found among the MSS. left by him. The Editor, therefore, avails +himself of the numerous letters preserved by the venerable author, from +which he is enabled to continue a narrative, at least in part, of the +principal events in his then active life.—H.</p> + +<p><i>Hamilton, 6th Nov.</i>—Writing at this date, from Cobourg, to Dr. +Ryerson, on the expediency of petitioning the Legislature to give the +Methodist Ministry the right to perform the marriage ceremony amongst +their own people, Elder Case, says:—</p> + +<p>Should not the petition include all "dissenters," and the prayer be for +authority to perform the marriage rite for members of our congregations? +I would rather not have any law in our favour, but that which gives the +privilege to the Calvinists. If the Church of England is not the +established religion of this province (and who believes it is?) +"dissenters" at least, have an equal right with the Church. If numbers +and priority are to determine the right, the "dissenters" have a +superior right, for they were first here, and they are more numerous. We +cannot but feel a pious indignation at the idea, that all should not +enjoy the same privilege, in regard to marriage; and can this be the +fact when one denomination, in any sense whatever, has a control over +the marriage ceremony of another denomination?</p> + +<p>The Ryanite Schism, which commenced in 1824, is fully described by Dr. +Ryerson in his "Epochs of Canadian Methodism," pp. 247-269. In a letter +from his brother John, dated River Thames, January 28th, 1824, the +strife caused by this schism is thus referred to. Mr. Ryerson also +describes the state of the Societies in the London District during this +crisis. He said:—</p> + +<p>I am happy to hear that Mr. Ryan's plans are defeated, and that the +measures you have adopted to frustrate his machinations against Elder +Case, have proved successful. I hope you will continue to assist and +support Elder Case, especially in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> affair, and on many other +accounts he is deserving of much esteem; his disinterested exertions in +behalf of the Missionary interest in Canada, are deserving of the +highest praise.</p> + +<p>The work is prospering in the different parts of this District. Niagara +and Ancaster Circuits are rising. There is a good work in Oxford, on the +Long Point Circuit, as also on the London and Westminster Circuits. The +Indian Mission, on the Grand River, is progressing finely. At the Salt +Springs, about thirty have been added to the Society, among whom are +some of the most respectable chiefs of the Mohawk and Tuscarora nations. +Visiting them, from wigwam to wigwam, they in general appear to be +thankful.—H.]</p> + +<p>The Ryanite controversy turned chiefly on the refusal at first of the +American General Conference to separate the Canada work from its +jurisdiction. Rev. John Ryerson, in a letter from Pittsburg, Pa., dated +May, 1828, gave Dr. Ryerson the particulars of the reversal of that +decision. He says:—</p> + +<p>A Committee of five persons has been appointed on the Canada Question. +Dr. Bangs is the chairman. The Committee reported last Thursday +pointedly against the separation; declaring it, in their opinion, to be +unconstitutional. Dr. Bangs brought the report before the Conference, +and made a long speech against the separation. William and myself +replied to him pointedly, and at length, and were supported by the Rev. +Drs. Fisk and Luckey. Dr. Bangs was supported by Rev. Messrs. Henings, +Lindsey, and others. The matter was debated with astonishing ability and +deep-felt interest on both sides, for two days, when the question being +put, there were 105 in favour of the separation, and 43 against—a +majority on our side of 62. Our kind friends were much delighted, and +highly gratified at our singular and remarkable triumph; and those who +opposed us, met us with a great deal of respect and affection. You will, +doubtless, be surprised on hearing of Dr. Bangs' opposing us as he has +done, but you are not more surprised and astonished than we were; and we +had no knowledge of his opposition to the separation until the morning +of the debate, when he got up and commenced his speech in Conference. +But, blessed be God for ever, amidst the painful and trying scenes +through which we have passed in the Conference business, the God of +David has stood by us, and has given us a decided victory.</p> + +<p><i>Nov. 22nd.</i>—Elder Case, in a letter from Cobourg, gives a detailed +account of the efforts put forth by Rev. Henry Ryan to foment discord +among the societies. He says:</p> + +<p>As in the west so in the east, Elder Ryan had induced several members to +attend as delegates at his convention<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> in Hallowell. At Matilda, George +Brouse; at Kingston, Bro. Burchel and Henry Benson have been elected to +go. Mr. Case then urges that a circular be issued to the societies +setting forth "that the Conference, so far as they have had evidence, +has laboured in every instance to do justice to Mr. Ryan, and even to +afford him greater lenity, on account of former standing, than, perhaps +the discipline of the Church would justify."</p> + +<p>In a subsequent letter, dated Prescott, 27th November, Elder Case thus +describes the proceedings of Mr. Ryan. He says:</p> + +<p>On my way down, I spent a few hours at Kingston, one day at Brockville, +and one here. I have learned all the circumstances of Mr. Ryan's +proceedings. At one place he would declare in the most positive manner +that he would "head no division," that he "would even be the first to +oppose any such work," he "would esteem it the happiest day in his life +if, by their assistance, he could regain his standing in the Church," +and that "the measures which he was now professing would prevent a +division." But when he thought he had gained the confidence of his +listeners, and they had entered fully into his views, he would throw off +his disguise, and openly declare, as he did at Matilda, "Now, we will +pull down the tyrannical spirit of the Conference. There will, there +must be a split," &c. Brother, there is one very material obstacle in +the way of effecting a "split," in our societies, and raising a "fog" of +any considerable duration, <i>i.e.</i>, the authors of this work may, by +their strong and positive statements, make a people mad for a +"division." But, when there is a sense of religion in the mind, they +will become good natured—they can't be kept mad long. Our people in +these parts are becoming quite good natured, and now perceive their arch +friend has made a fool of them.</p> + +<p>To show how deeply the Ryanite schism had affected the Societies, and +how widely the agitation had spread, we give a few extracts from a +letter written from London (U.C.), to Dr. Ryerson, by his brother John, +dated 2nd January. He says:—</p> + +<p>The day I left you I rode to Oxford (52 miles), and after preaching, I +gave an explanation of Ryan's case, an hour and a half long. My dear +brother, this is a desperate struggle. I am using every possible +exertion to defeat Ryan. I go from house to house to see the friends I +don't see at the meetings. Could you not go to Burford and see Mr. +Matthews, as he has a great deal of influence in Burford and the +Governor's Road? Egerton, by all means, try and go, even if you have to +neglect appointments. Though I know it is hard for you, I am sure the +approbation of your conscience, and the approbation of the Church, will +afford you an ample reward. It will also be necessary for you to keep a +look out about Ancaster. Write to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> Rev. James Richardson, and tell him +to look out, and also write to Rev. S. Belton, and Rev. A. Green. Don't +fail to go to Burford and, if you can, to Long Point also, and hold +public meetings on the subject.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p> + +<p><i>Nov. 26th.</i>—At the Conference held this year (1828), at Switzer's +Chapel, Ernestown, Bishop Hedding presiding, resolutions were adopted +organizing the Canada Conference into an "independent Methodist +Episcopal Church in Canada." Subsequently, Rev. Wilbur Fisk, A.M., +Principal of the Wilbraham Academy, U.S., was elected General +Superintendent, or Bishop, of the newly organized Church. Dr. Ryerson +was deputed to convey the announcement of this election to Mr. Fisk, +which he did on this day, as follows:—</p> + +<p>The Canada Conference of the M.E. Church have taken the liberty of +nominating you for our General Superintendent, agreeably to the +resolutions of the General Conference. I take the liberty, and have the +pleasure of observing that the nomination was warm and unanimous; and I +hope and pray, that while our wants excite your compassion, our +measures, in this respect, will meet your cordial approbation and +receive your pious compliance. Although writing to a person whom I have +never seen, yet the pleasure and profit I have derived in perusing your +successful apologies in favour of the pure Gospel of Christ against the +invasions of modern libertinism, remind me that I am not writing to an +entire stranger; and your able and affectionate appeal to the late +General Conference in behalf of Canada—of which my brothers gave a most +interesting account—emboldens me to speak to you "as a man speaketh +with his friend." Rev. Dr. Fisk's reply to this letter is as follows:—</p> + +<p>The deep solicitude I have felt, to weigh the subject well, to watch the +openings of divine providence, and decide in the best light, have +induced me to deliberate until this time [April]. All my deliberations +upon this subject have resulted in a confirmation of my earliest +impressions in relation to it—that it will not be prudent for me to +accept of the affectionate and flattering invitation of the Canada +Conference. I feel, however, the influence of contrary emotions. My high +sense of the honour you have done me, is enhanced by the consideration +that "the nomination was unanimous and warm." I highly appreciate, and +cordially reciprocate those warm and concurrent expressions of +confidence and affection. The information I have of the character of the +Conference, joined with my personal acquaintance with some of its +members, convinces me, that whoever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> superintends the Canada Church, +will have a charge that will cheer his heart, and hold up his hands in +his official labours. Equally encouraging and inviting, are the growing +prospects of your country and your Church, and especially of your +missionary stations. These to a man of missionary enterprise, who loves +to bear the banner of the cross, and push its victories more and more +upon the territories of darkness and sin, are motives of high and almost +irresistible influence. And they have so affected my mind, that although +my local attachments to the land of my fathers, and for that branch of +the Church where I was, and have been nurtured, are strong; although my +aged parents lean upon me to support their trembling steps, as they +descend to the tomb; although I might justly fear the influence of your +climate upon an infirm constitution; yet these considerations, +strengthened as they are by a consciousness of my own inability, and by +the almost unanimous dissuasives of my friends, would hardly of +themselves have induced me to decline your invitation, were it not that +I am connected with a literary institution that promises much advantage +to the Church and to the public, but which, as yet, will require close +and unremitting attention and care on my part for some time to come, to +give it that direction and permanency which will secure its +usefulness.<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></p> + +<p><i>Nov. 28th, 1828.</i>—Mr. H. C. Thompson, of Kingston, who had charge of +the re-printing in pamphlet form of Dr. Ryerson's recent letters on +Archdeacon Strachan's sermon, writes to him to say:—It lingers in the +press, merely for the want of workmen, who cannot be procured in this +place.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> He adds:—The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> changes which have recently taken place in the +two provinces cannot fail to gratify every lover of his country, though +the party in power will no doubt hang their heads in sullen silence. I +am highly pleased with the Methodist Ministers' Address to the Governor, +and the reply thereto,—Strachanism must seek a more congenial climate.</p> + +<p><i>March 19th, 1829.</i>—Dr. Ryerson had, at this time, met with an +accident, but his life was providentially spared. Elder Case, writing +from New York, at this date, speaking of it, says:</p> + +<p>Thank the Lord that your life was preserved. The enemies of our Zion +would have triumphed in your death. May God preserve you to see the +opponents of religious liberty, and the abettors of faction frustrated +in all their selfish designs and hair-brained hopes!</p> + +<p>I have seen a letter from the Rev. Richard Reece, dated London, 19th +January, to Mr. Francis Hall, of the New York <i>Commercial Advertiser</i> +and the <i>Spectator</i>, in which he says:</p> + +<p>I am of opinion that the English Conference can do very little good in +Upper Canada. Had our preachers been continued they might have raised +the standard of primitive English Methodism, which would have had +extensive and beneficial influence upon the work in that province, but +having ceded by convention the whole of it to your Church, I hope we +shall not interfere to disturb the people. They must, as you say, +struggle for a while, and your bishops must visit them, and ordain their +ministers, till they can do without them. He speaks of being highly +gratified at the conversion of the Indians in Canada.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Rev. Henry Ryan was born 1776 entered the ministry in +1800, and died at his residence, in Gainsborough, on the 2nd September, +1833, aged 57 years.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> The post-office endorsement on this letter was as +follows:—Paid to Lewistown, N.Y., 25c. postage; ferryage to Niagara, +2d.; from Niagara to Hamilton, 4-1/2d.; total, 36 cents postage, for +what in 1882 costs only one-twelfth of that amount.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> The title of this pamphlet (in possession of the Editor) +is: Claims of Churchmen and Dissenters of Upper Canada brought to the +test in a Controversy between several Members of the Church of England +and a Methodist Preacher. Kingston, 1828. pp. 232. (See note on page 80, +and also Chapter viii.) +</p><p> +Rev. Dr. Green, in his <i>Life and Times</i>, thus speaks of the effect of +the publication of these letters upon Rev. Franklin Metcalf and +himself:—The sermon was ably reviewed in the columns of the <i>Colonial +Advocate</i>, in a communication over the signature of "A Methodist +Preacher." Mr. Metcalf and I took the paper into a field, where we sat +down on the grass to read. As we read, we admired; and as we admired, we +rejoiced; then thanked God, and speculated as to its author, little +suspecting that it was a young man who had been received on trial at the +late Conference (1825). We read again, and then devoutly thanked God for +having put it into the heart of some one to defend the Church publicly +against such mischievous statements, and give the world the benefit of +the facts of the case. The "Reviewer" proved to be Mr. Egerton Ryerson, +then on the Yonge Street Circuit. This was the commencement of the war +for religious liberty, pp. 83, 84. (See also page 143 of Dr. Ryerson's +"Epochs of Canadian Methodism.")—H. +</p><p> +For specimens of Dr. Ryerson's controversial style in this his first +encounter, see the extracts which he has given from the pamphlet itself +on pages 146—149, etc., of "Epochs of Canadian Methodism."—H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1829-1832.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Establishment of the "Christian Guardian"—Church claims resisted.</span></p> + + +<p>Dr. Ryerson takes up the Story of his Life at the period of the +Conference of 1829. He says that;—</p> + +<p>At this Conference it was determined to establish the <i>Christian +Guardian</i> newspaper. The Conference elected me as Editor, with +instructions to go to New York to procure the types and apparatus +necessary for its establishment.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> In this I was greatly assisted by +the late Rev. Dr. Bangs, and the Rev. Mr. Collard, of the New York +Methodist Book Concern.</p> + +<p>The hardships and difficulties of establishing and conducting the +<i>Christian Guardian</i> for the first year, without a clerk, in the midst +of our poverty, can hardly be realized and need not be detailed. The +first number was issued on the 22nd November, 1829. The list of +subscribers at the commencement was less than 500. Three years +afterwards (in 1832), when the first Editor was appointed as the +representative of the Canadian Conference to England, the subscription +list was reported as nearly 3,000.</p> + +<p>The characteristics of the <i>Christian Guardian</i> during these three +eventful years (it being then regarded as the leading newspaper of Upper +Canada) were defence of Methodist institutions and character, civil +rights, temperance principles, educational progress, and missionary +operations. It was during this period that the Methodist and other +denominations obtained the right to hold land for places of worship, and +for the burial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> of their dead, and the right of their ministers to +solemnize matrimony, as also their rights to equal civil and religious +liberty, against a dominant church establishment in Upper Canada, as I +have detailed in the "Epochs of Canadian Methodism," pp. 129-246.</p> + +<p>The foregoing is the only reference to this period of his life which Dr. +Ryerson has left. I have, therefore, availed myself of his letters and +papers to continue the narrative.</p> + +<p><i>June—August, 1830.</i>—With a view to correct the misstatements made in +regard to the Methodists in Canada, and to set forth their just rights, +Dr. Ryerson devoted a considerable space in the <i>Christian Guardian</i> of +the 26th June; and 3rd, 10th, 24th, and 31st July, and 14th August, +1830, to a concise history of that body in this country, in which he +maintained its right to the privileges proposed to be granted to it +under the Religious Societies Relief Bill of that time.<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> He pointed +out, as he expressed it, that—</p> + +<p>His Majesty's Royal assent would have been given to that bill had it not +unfortunately fallen in company with some ruthless vagrant (in the shape +of a secret communication from our enemies in Canada) who had slandered, +abused, and tomahawked it at the foot of the throne.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 11th.</i>—Being desirous of availing himself of his brother George's +educational advantages and ability in his editorial labours, Dr. +Ryerson, under this date, wrote to him in his new charge at the Grand +River. He said:—</p> + +<p>I am glad to hear that you enjoy peace of mind, and feel an increasing +attachment to your charge. It is more than I do as Editor. I am scarcely +free from interruption long enough to settle my mind on any one thing, +and sometimes I am almost distracted. On questions of right, and +liberty, as well as on other subjects, I am resolved to pursue a most +decided course. Your retired situation will afford you a good +opportunity for writing useful articles on various subjects. I hope you +will write often and freely.</p> + +<p><i>Nov. 1st.</i>—Another reason, which apparently prompted Dr. Ryerson to +appeal to his brother George for editorial help, was the fear that the +increasing efforts of the influential leaders of the Church of England +to secure a recognition of her claims to be an established church in +Upper Canada might be crowned with success. He, therefore, at this date +wrote to him again on the subject, and said.—</p> + +<p>The posture of affairs in England appears, upon the whole,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> more +favourable to reform than in Upper Canada. We are resolved to double our +diligence; to have general petitions in favour of the abolition of every +kind of religious domination, circulated throughout the Province, +addressed to the Provincial and Imperial Parliaments, and take up the +whole question—decidedly, fully, and warmly. We must be up and doing +while it is called to-day. It is the right time. There is a new and Whig +Parliament in England, and I am sure our own House of Assembly dare not +deny the petitions of the people on this subject.</p> + + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Nature of the Struggle for Religious Equality</span>.</p> + +<p>During this and many succeeding years the chief efforts of Dr. Ryerson +and those who acted with him were directed, as intimated before, against +the efforts put forth to establish a "dominant church" in Upper Canada. +A brief <i>resumé</i> of the question will put the reader in possession of +the facts of the case:—</p> + +<p>The late Bishop Strachan, in his speech delivered in the Legislative +Council, March 6th, 1828, devoted several pages of that speech (as +printed) to prove that "the Church of England is by law the Established +Church of this Province." This statement in some form he put forth in +every discussion on the subject.</p> + +<p>The grounds upon which this claim was founded were also fully stated by +Rev. Wm Betteridge, B.D. (of Woodstock), who was sent to England to +represent the claims of the Church of England in this controversy. These +claims he put forward in his "Brief History of the Church in Upper +Canada," published in England in 1838. He rests those claims upon what +he considers to have been the intention of the Imperial Parliament in +passing the Clergy Reserve sections of the Act (31 Geo III., c. 31) in +1791, and also on the "King's Instructions" to the Lieutenant-Governor +of Upper Canada in 1818. He further contended that the "Extinction of +the Tithes Act," passed by the Upper Canada Legislature in 1823, +inferentially recognized the dominancy of the Church of England in +Canada as a Church of the Empire. Beyond this alleged inferential right +to be an Established Church in Upper Canada, none in reality existed. It +was, therefore, to prevent this inference,—which was insisted upon as +perfectly clear and irresistible,—from receiving Imperial or Provincial +recognition as an admitted or legal fact, that the persistent efforts of +Dr. Ryerson and others were unceasingly directed during all of those +years.</p> + +<p>Few in the present day can realize the magnitude of the task thus +undertaken. Nor do we sufficiently estimate the significance of the +issues involved in that contest—a contest waged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> for the recognition of +equal denominational rights and the supremacy of religious liberty. All +of these questions are now happily settled "upon the best and surest +foundation." But it might have been far otherwise had not such men as +Dr. Ryerson stepped into the breach at a critical time in our early +history; and if the battle had not been fought and won before the +distasteful yoke of an "establishment" had been imposed upon this young +country, and burdensome vested interests been thereby created, which it +would have taken years of serious and protracted strife to extinguish.</p> + +<p>As the fruits of that protracted struggle for religious equality have +been long quietly enjoyed in this province, there is a disposition in +many quarters to undervalue the importance of the contest itself, and +even to question the propriety of reviving the recollection of such +early conflicts. In so far as we may adopt such views we must +necessarily fail to do justice to the heroism and self-sacrifice of +those who, like Dr. Ryerson, encountered the prolonged and determined +opposition, as well as the contemptuous scorn of the dominant party +while battling for the rights which he and others ultimately secured for +us. Those amongst us who would seek to depreciate the importance of that +struggle for civil and religious freedom, must fail also to realize the +importance of the real issues of that contest.</p> + +<p>To those who have given any attention to this subject, it is well known +that the maintenance of the views put forth by Dr. Ryerson in this +controversy involved personal odium and the certainty of social +ostracism. It also involved, what is often more fatal to a man's courage +and constancy, the sneer and the personal animosity, as well as +ridicule, of a powerful party whose right to supremacy is questioned, +and whose monopoly of what is common property is in danger of being +destroyed. Although Dr. Ryerson was a gentleman by birth, and the son of +a British officer and U. E. Loyalist, yet the fact that, as one of the +"despised sect" of Methodists, he dared to question the right of "the +Church" to superiority over the "Sectaries," subjected him to a system +of petty and bitter persecution which few men of less nerve and +fortitude could have borne. As it was, there were times when the tender +sensibilities of his noble nature were so deeply wounded by this +injustice, and the scorn and contumely of his opponents, that were it +not that his intrepid courage was of the finest type, and without the +alloy of rancour or bravado in it, it would have failed him. But he +never flinched. And when the odds seemed to be most against him, he +would, with humble dependence upon Divine help, put forth even greater +effort; and, with his courage thus reanimated, would unexpectedly turn +the flank of his enemy; or, by concentrating all his forces on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +vulnerable points of his adversary's case, completely neutralize the +force of his attack.</p> + +<p>It must not be understood from this that Dr. Ryerson cherished any +personal animosity to the Church of England as a Divine and Spiritual +power in the land. Far from it. In his first "campaign" against the +Venerable Archdeacon of York (Dr. Strachan), he took care to point out +the difference between the principles maintained by the aggressors in +that contest and the principles of the Church itself. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Whatever remarks the Doctor's discourse may require me to make, I +wish it to be distinctly understood that I mean no reflection on +the doctrines, liturgy, or discipline of the Church of which he has +the honour to be a minister. Be assured I mean no such thing. I +firmly believe in her doctrines, I admire her liturgy, and I +heartily rejoice in the success of those principles which are +therein continued, and it is for the prosperity of the truths which +they unfold that I shall ever pray and contend. And, with respect +to Church government, I heartily adopt the sentiments of the pious +and the learned Bishop Burnet, that "that form of Church government +is the best which is most suitable to the customs and circumstances +of the people among whom it is established."<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></p></div> + +<p>Such was Dr. Ryerson's tribute to the Church of England in, 1826. His +disclaimer of personal hostility to that Church (near the close of the +protracted denominational contest in regard to the Clergy Reserves), +will be found in an interesting personal correspondence, in a subsequent +part of this book, with John Kent, Esq., Editor of <i>The Church</i> +newspaper in 1841-2.</p> + +<p>With a view to enable Canadians of the present day more clearly to +understand the pressing nature of the difficulties with which Dr. +Ryerson had to contend, almost single-handed, fifty years ago, I shall +briefly enumerate the principal ones:—</p> + +<p>1. The whole of the official community of those days, which had grown up +as a united and powerful class, were bound together by more than +official ties, and hence, as a "family compact," they were enabled to +act together as one man. This class, with few exceptions, were members +of the Church of England. They regarded her—apart from her inimitable +liturgy and scriptural standards of faith—with the respect and love +which her historical prestige and assured status naturally inspired +them. They maintained, without question, the traditional right of the +Church of England to supremacy everywhere in the Empire. They, +therefore, instinctively repelled all attempts to deprive that Church of +what they believed to be her inalienable right to dominancy in this +Province.</p> + +<p>2. Those who had the courage, and who ventured to oppose the Church +claims put forth by the clerical and other leaders of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> the dominant +party of that time, were sure to be singled out for personal attack. +They were also made to feel the chilling effects of social +exclusiveness. The cry against them was that of ignorance, irreverence, +irreligion, republicanism, disloyalty, etc. These charges were repeated +in every form; and that, too, by a section both of the official and +religious press, a portion of which was edited with singular ability; a +press which prided itself on its intelligence, its unquestioned +churchmanship and exalted respect for sacred things, its firm devotion +to the principle of "Church and State"—the maintenance of which was +held to be the only safeguard for society, if not its invincible +bulwark. An illustration of the profession of this exclusive loyalty is +given by Dr. Ryerson in these pages. He mentions the fact that the plea +to the British Government put forth by the leaders of the dominant +party, as a reason why the Church of England in this Province should be +made supreme and be subsidized, was that she might then be enabled "to +preserve the principles of loyalty to England from being overwhelmed and +destroyed" by the "Yankee Methodists," as represented by the Ryersons +and their friends!</p> + +<p>3. The two branches of the Legislature were divided on this subject. The +House of Assembly represented the popular side, as advocated by Dr. +Ryerson and other denominational leaders. The Legislative Council (of +which the Ven. Archdeacon Strachan was an influential member,) +maintained the clerical views so ably put forth by this reverend leader +on the other side.</p> + +<p>4. Except by personal visits to England—where grievances could alone be +fully redressed in those days—little hope was entertained by the +non-Episcopal party that their side of the question would (if stated +through official channels), be fairly or fully represented. Even were +their case presented through these channels they were not sure but that +(as strikingly and quaintly put by Dr. Ryerson, on page 94).</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In company with some ruthless vagrant—in the shape of a secret +communication from enemies in Canada—it would be slandered, +abused, and tomahawked at the foot of the throne.</p></div> + +<p>As an illustration also of the spirit of the Chief Executive in Upper +Canada in dealing with the questions in dispute, I quote the following +extract from the reply of Sir John Colborne to an address from the +Methodist Conference in 1831.<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> He said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Your dislike to any church establishment, or to the particular form +of Christianity which is denominated the Church, of England, may be +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> natural consequence of the constant success of your own +efficacious and organized system. The small number of our +Church<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> is to be regretted, as well as that the organization of +its ministry is not adapted to supply the present wants of the +dispersed population in this new country; but you will readily +admit that the sober-minded of the province are disgusted with the +accounts of the disgraceful dissensions of the Episcopal Methodist +Church and its separatists, recriminating memorials, and the +warfare of one Church with another. The utility of an Establishment +depends entirely on the piety, assiduity, and devoted zeal of its +ministers, and on their abstaining from a secular interference +which may involve them in political disputes.</p> + +<p>The labours of the clergy of established churches in defence of +moral and religious truth will always be remembered by you, who +have access to their writings, and benefit by them in common with +other Christian Societies. You will allow, I have no doubt, on +reflection that it would indeed be imprudent to admit the right of +societies to dictate, on account of their present numerical +strength, in what way the lands set apart as a provision for the +clergy shall be disposed of.</p> + +<p>The system of [University] Education which has produced the best +and ablest men in the United Kingdom will not be abandoned here to +suit the limited views of the leaders of Societies who, perhaps, +have neither experience nor judgment to appreciate the value or +advantages of a liberal education....</p></div> + +<p>Such was the spirit in which the Governor in those days replied to the +respectful address of a large and influential body of Christians. He +even went further in another part of his reply, and referred to "the +absurd advice offered by your missionaries to the Indians, and their +officious interference."<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> Such language<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> from the lips of Her +Majesty's Representative, if at all possible in these days, would +provoke a burst of indignation from those to whom it might be addressed, +but it had to be endured fifty years ago, when to question the +prerogative of the Crown, or the policy of the Executive, was taken as +<i>prima facie</i> evidence of disloyalty, and republicanism.</p> + +<p>5. Into the discussion of the claims of the Church of England in Upper +Canada, two questions entered, which were important factors in the case. +Both sides thoroughly understood the significance of either question as +an issue in the discussion; and both sides were, therefore, equally on +the alert—the one to maintain the affirmative, and the other the +negative, side of these questions. The first was the claim that it was +the inherent right of the Church of England to be an established church +in every part of the empire, and, therefore, in Upper Canada. Both sides +knew that the admission of such a claim, would be to admit the exclusive +right of that Church to the Clergy Reserves as her heritage. It was +argued, as an unquestionable fact, that the exclusive right of the +Church of England in Upper Canada to such reserves must have been +uppermost in the mind of the royal donor of these lands, when the grant +was first made. The second point was, that the admission of this +inherent right of the Church of England to be an established church in +Upper Canada, would extinguish the right of each one of the +nonconformist bodies to the status of a Church. It can well be +understood that in a contest which involved vital questions like these +(that is, of the exclusive endowment of one Church, and its consequent +superior status as a dominant Church), the struggle would be a +protracted and bitter one. And so it proved to be. But justice and right +at length prevailed. A portion of the Reserves was impartially +distributed, on a common basis among the denominations which desired to +share in them, and the long-contested claims of the Church of England to +the exclusive status of an established church were at length +emphatically repudiated by the Legislature; and, in 1854, the last +semblance of a union between Church and State vanished from our Statute +Book.<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a>—J. G. H.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Dec. 18th, 1830.</i>—In the <i>Guardian</i> of this day, Dr. Ryerson published +a petition to the Imperial Parliament, prepared by a large Committee, of +which he was a member, and of which Dr. W. W. Baldwin was Chairman. In +that petition the writer referred to the historical fact, that, had the +inhabitants of this Province been dependent upon the Church of England +or of Scotland for religious instruction, they would have remained +destitute of it for some years, and also that the pioneer non-Episcopal +ministers were not dissenters, because of the priority of their +existence and labours in Upper Canada. The petition, having pointed out +that there were only five Episcopal clergy in Canada during the war of +1812, and that only one Presbyterian minister was settled in the +Province in 1818, declared that:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The ministers of several other denominations accompanied the first +influx of emigration into Upper Canada, (1783-1790,) and have +shared the hardships, privations, and sufferings incident to +missionaries in a new country. And it is through their unwearied +labours, that the mass of the population have been mainly supplied +with religious instruction. They, therefore, do not stand in the +relation, of Dissenters from either the Church of England or of +Scotland, but are the ministers of distinct and independent +Churches, who had numerous congregations in various parts of the +Province, before the ministerial labours of any ecclesiastical +establishment were, to any considerable extent, known or felt.</p></div> + +<p><i>Jan. 20th, 1831.</i>—As an evidence that the views put forth by Dr. +Ryerson, in the <i>Guardian</i>, against an established Church in Upper +Canada, were acceptable outside of his own denomination, I give the +following letter, addressed to him at this date from Perth, by the Rev. +Wm. Bell, Presbyterian:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Though differing from you in many particulars, yet in some we +agree. Your endeavours to advance the cause of civil and religious +liberty have generally met my approbation. Some of your writings +that I have seen discover both good sense and Christian feeling. +The liberality, too, you have discovered, both in regard to myself +and in regard of my brethren, has not escaped my observation. Be +not discouraged by the malice of the enemies of religion. Your +<i>Guardian</i> I have seldom seen, but from this time I intend to take +it regularly. Consider me one of your "constant readers." The +matters in which we differ are nothing in comparison of those in +which we agree.</p></div> + +<p><i>Feb. 9th.</i>—Some members of the Church of England in the Province +evinced a good deal of hostility to the Methodists of this period, +chiefly from the fact that they had been connected with the Methodist +Episcopal Church in the United States, and that the Canada Conference +had formed one of the Annual Conferences of that Church, presided over +by an American Bishop.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> As an evidence of this hostility, Dr. Ryerson +stated in the <i>Guardian</i> of this date, that Donald Bethune, Esq., and +others, of Kingston, had petitioned the House of Assembly:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>To prohibit any exercise of the functions of a priest, or exhorter, +or elder of any denomination in the Province except by British +subjects; 2nd, to prevent any religious society connected with any +foreign religious body to assemble in Conference; 3rd, to prevent +the raising of money by any religious person or body for objects +which are not strictly British, etc.</p></div> + +<p>The Legislature appointed a Committee on the subject, and Dr. Ryerson, +as representing the Methodists, Rev. Mr Harris the Presbyterians, and +Rev. Mr. Stewart the Baptists, were summoned to attend this Committee +with a view to give evidence on the subject. This Dr. Ryerson did at +length, (as did also these gentlemen). Dr. Ryerson traced the history of +the Methodist body in Canada, and showed that, three years before this +time, the Canada Conference had taken steps to sever its connection with +the American General Conference, and had done so in a friendly +manner.<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a></p> + +<p>The petition was aimed at the Methodists, as they alone answered the +description of the parties referred to by the petitioners. The petition +was also a covert re-statement of the often disproved charge of +disloyalty, etc., on the part of the Methodists. The House very properly +came to the conclusion—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"That it was inconsistent with the benign and tolerant principles +of the British Constitution to restrain by penal enactment any +denomination of Christians, whether subjects or foreigners," etc.</p></div> + +<p>This, however, was a sample of the favourite mode of attack, and the +system of persecution to which the early Methodists were exposed in this +Province. At the same session of Parliament in 1831, the Marriage Bill, +which had been before the House each year for six successive years, was +finally passed. This Bill gave to the Methodists and to other +non-Episcopal ministers the right for the first time to solemnize +matrimony in Upper Canada.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 19th.</i>—Sir John Colborne, the Lieutenant-Governor, having +nominated an Episcopal chaplain to the House of Assembly, the question, +"Is the Church of England an established church in Upper Canada?" was +again debated in the House of Assembly and discussed in the newspapers. +With a view to a calm, dispassionate, and historical refutation of the +claims set up by the Episcopal Church on the subject, Dr. Ryerson +reprinted in the <i>Guardian</i> of this day, the sixth of a series of +letters which he had addressed from Cobourg to Archdeacon Strachan, in +May and June, 1828. It covered the whole ground in dispute.<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Nov. 6th, 1832.</i>—Archdeacon Strachan, in his sermon, preached at the +visitation of the Bishop of Quebec at York, on the 5th of September, +speaking of the Methodists, said that he would—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Speak of them with praise, notwithstanding their departure from the +Apostolic ordinance, and the hostility long manifested against us +by some of their leading members.</p></div> + +<p>In reply to this statement, Dr. Ryerson wrote from St. Catharines to the +Editor of the <i>Guardian</i>. He pointed out that:—</p> + +<p>It was not until after Archdeacon Strachan's sermon on the death of the +former Bishop of Quebec was published, in 1826, that a single word was +written, and then to refute his slanders. In that sermon, when +accounting for the few who attend the Church of England, the Archdeacon +said that their attendance discouraged the minister, and that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>His influence is frequently broken or injured by numbers of +uneducated, itinerant preachers, who, leaving their steady +employment, betake themselves to preaching the Gospel from +idleness, or a zeal without knowledge ... and to teach what they do +not know, and which from their pride they disdain to learn.<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></p></div> + +<p>Again, in May, 1827, Archdeacon Strachan sent an "Ecclesiastical Chart" +to the Colonial Office, and in the letter accompanying it stated that:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Methodist teachers are subject to the orders of the United +States of America, and it is manifest that the Colonial Government +neither has, nor can have any other control over them, or prevent +them from gradually rendering a large portion of the population, by +their influence and instructions, hostile to our institutions, +civil and religious, than by increasing the number of the +Established Clergy.</p></div> + +<p>Who then [Dr. Ryerson asked] was the author of contention? Who was the +aggressor? Who provoked hostilities? The slanders in the Chart were +published in Canada, and in England, by Dr. Strachan before a single +effort was made by a member of any denomination to counteract his +hostile measures, or a single word was said on the subject.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Nov. 19th, 1834.</i>—In connection with this subject I insert here the +following reply (containing several historical facts) to a singularly +pretentious letter which Dr. Ryerson had inserted in the <i>Guardian</i> of +this date, denouncing the opposition of a certain "sect called +Methodists" to the claims of the Church of England as an established +church in the Colony. The reply was inserted in order to afford +strangers and new settlers in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> Upper Canada correct information on the +subject, and to disprove the statement of the writer of the letter, Dr. +Ryerson mentioned the following facts:—</p> + +<p>The pretensions of the Episcopal clergy began to be disputed by the +clergy of the Church of Scotland as soon as it was known that the former +had got themselves erected into a corporation. This was, I believe, in +1820.<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> The subject was brought before the House of Assembly in 1824, +and the House in 1824, '25, '26, '27, passed resolutions remonstrating +against the exclusive claims of the Episcopal clergy. From 1822 to 1827 +several pamphlets were published on both sides of the question, and much +was said in the House of Assembly; but during this period not one word +was written by any minister or member of the Methodist Church, nor did +the Methodists take any part in it, though their ministers were not even +allowed to solemnize matrimony—a privilege then enjoyed by Calvinistic +ministers—and though individual ministers had been most maliciously and +cruelly persecuted, under the sanction of judicial authority.... But in +the statements drawn up for the Imperial Government by the Episcopal +clergy during the years mentioned, the extirpation of the Methodists was +made one principal ground of appeal by the Episcopal clergy for the +exclusive countenance and patronage of His Majesty's Government. Some of +these documents at length came before the Canadian public; and in 1827 a +defence of the Methodists and other religious denominations was put +forth by the writer of these remarks in the form of a "Review of a +Sermon preached by the Archdeacon of York." Up to this time not one word +was said on "the church question" by the Methodists. But it was so +warmly agitated by others, that in the early part of 1827 Archdeacon +Strachan, an executive and legislative councillor, was sent to London to +support the claims of the Episcopal clergy at the Colonial Office. His +ecclesiastical chart and other communications were printed by order of +the Government, and soon found their way into the provincial newspapers, +and gave rise to such a discussion, and excited such a feeling +throughout the Province as was never before witnessed. The shameful +attack upon the character of the Methodist ministry, whose unparalleled +labours and sufferings, usefulness, and unimpeachable loyalty were known +and appreciated in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> Province, and the appeal to the King's +Government to aid in exterminating them from the country excited strong +feelings of indignation and sympathy in the public mind. The House of +Assembly investigated the whole affair, examined fifty-two witnesses, +adopted an elaborate report, and sent home an address to the King +condemning the statements of the agent of the Episcopal clergy, and +remonstrating against the establishment of a dominant church in the +Province.<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> The determination to uproot the Methodists was carried so +far in those by-gone days of civil and ecclesiastical despotism, that +the Indians were told by executive sanction that unless they would +become members of the Church of England, the Government would do nothing +for them! In further support of my statement, I quoted four Episcopal +addresses and sermons, sufficient to show who were the first and real +aggressors in this matter—certainly not the Methodists.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>As a sample of Dr. Ryerson's controversial style in 1826, when he wrote +the Review of Archdeacon Strachan's sermon (to which he refers above) I +quote a paragraph from it. In replying to the Archdeacon's "remarks on +the qualifications, motives, and conduct of the Methodist itinerant +preachers," which Dr. Ryerson considered "ungenerous and unfounded," he +proceeded:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Methodist preachers do not value themselves upon the wealth, +virtues, or grandeur, of their ancestry; nor do they consider their +former occupation an argument against their present employment or +usefulness. They have learned that the Apostles were once +fishermen; that a Milner could once throw the shuttle; that a +Newton once watched his mother's flock.... They are likewise +charged with "preaching the Gospel out of idleness." Does the +Archdeacon claim the attribute of omniscience? Does he know what is +in man? How does he know that they preach "the Gospel out of +idleness?" ... What does he call idleness?—the reading of one or +two dry discourses every Sabbath ... to one congregation, with an +annual income of £200 or £300?... No; this is hard labour; this is +indefatigable industry!... Who are they then that preach the Gospel +out of idleness?—those indolent, covetous men who travel from two +to three hundred miles, and preach from twenty-five to forty times +every month?—who, in addition to this, visit from house to house, +and teach young and old repentance towards God, and faith in our +Lord Jesus Christ?—those who continue this labour year after year +... at the enormous salary of £25 or £50 per annum?—these are the +men who "preach the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> Gospel out of idleness!" O bigotry! thou +parent of persecution; O envy! thou fountain of slander; O +covetousness! thou god of injustice! would to heaven ye were +banished from the earth!<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a></p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Jan. 22nd, 1831.</i>—In the <i>Guardian</i> of this day Dr. Ryerson publishes +a letter from the Rev. Richard Watson to the trustees of the Wesleyan +University, in Connecticut, declining the appointment of Professor of +<i>Belles Lettres</i> and Moral Philosophy. He says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>To <i>Belles Lettres</i> I have no pretensions; Moral Philosophy I have +studied, and think it a most important department, when kept upon +its true principles, both theological and philosophic. Being, +however, fifty years old, and having a feeble constitution, I do +not think it would be prudent in me to accept.</p></div> + +<p>During this year (1831) Dr. Ryerson engaged in a friendly controversy +with Vicar-General Macdonnell, Editor of the <i>Catholic</i>, published in +Kingston. This controversy included six letters from Dr. Ryerson, and +five from the Vicar-General, published in the <i>Christian Guardian</i>. It +touched upon the leading questions at issue between Roman Catholics and +Protestants. The correspondence was broken off by the Vicar-General.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> The following is a copy of the document under the +authority of which Dr. Ryerson was deputed to go to New York to procure +presses and types for the proposed <i>Christian Guardian</i> newspaper:— +</p><p> +This is to certify that the Bearer, Rev. Egerton Ryerson, is appointed +agent for procuring a printing establishment for the Canada Conference, +and is hereby commended to the Christian confidence of all on whom he +may have occasion to call for advice and assistance for the above +purpose. +</p> +<p><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 12.5em;">(Signed) <span class="smcap">William Case</span>, <i>Superintendent</i>.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;"><span class="smcap">James Richardson</span>, <i>Secretary</i>.</span><br /> +</p><p><br /> +Ancaster, Upper Canada,}<br /> +Sept. 4th, 1829. }<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> These seven papers, taken together, were the first attempt +to put into a connected form the history of the Methodist Church in +Canada down to 1830.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> "Claims of Churchmen and Dissenters," &c., 1826, p. 27. +(See p. <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> For various reasons (apparently prudential at the time) +this reply was never published in the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, as were +other replies of the Governor.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> This expression, "our Church," illustrates the fact which +I have indicated in first paragraph on page 97.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> This charge, preferred by such high authority, was taken +up boldly by the Methodist authorities. Rev. James (afterwards Bishop) +Richardson, Presiding Elder, was commissioned to inquire into its +truthfulness. He made an exhaustive report, proving the entire +incorrectness of the statement, and that the whole difficulty arose from +the persistent efforts of a Mr. Alley (an employé of the Indian +Department) to promote his own interest at the expense of that of the +Indians, and to remove out of the way the only obstacle to the +accomplishment of his purpose—the Methodist Missionary. Dr. Ryerson +having pointed out these facts in the <i>Guardian</i>, Capt. Anderson, +Superintendent of Indian affairs at Coldwater, questioned his conclusion +"that the advice given to the Indians was both prudent and loudly called +for, and perfectly respectful to His Excellency." Dr. Ryerson then +examined the whole of the evidence in the Case, and (See <i>Guardian</i>, +vol. iii., p. 76) came to the following conclusion:—1. That sometimes +the local agents of the Indian Department are men who have availed +themselves of the most public occasions to procure ardent spirits, and +entice the Indians to drunkenness, and other acts of immorality; being +apparently aware that with the introduction of virtue and knowledge +among these people will be the departure of gain which arises from +abuse, fraud, and debauchery. 2. That these agents are not always men +who respect the Sabbath. 3. That the Missionary's "absurd advice" was in +effect that the Indians should apply to their Great Father to remove +such agents from among them. 4. That their "craft being endangered," the +agents and parties concerned, "with studied design, sought to injure the +missionary in the estimation of His Excellency, and to destroy all +harmony in their operations, in order, if possible, to compel the +Missionary to abandon the Mission Station." The effect of this +controversy was very salutary. His Excellency, having reconsidered the +Case, "gave merited reproof and suitable instructions to the officers of +the Indian Department in regard to their treatment of the Methodist +Missionary." Dr. Ryerson adds:—We had no trouble thereafter on the +subject.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> Another disturbing element entered subsequently into this +controversy. And this was especially embarrassing to Dr. Ryerson, as it +proceeded from ministers in the same ecclesiastical fold as himself. I +refer to the adverse views on church establishments, put forth by +members of the British Conference in this country and especially in +England (to which reference is made subsequently in this book). Dr. +Ryerson was, as a matter of course, taunted with maintaining opinions +which had been expressly repudiated by his Methodist "superiors" in +England. He had, therefore, to wage a double warfare. He was assailed +from within as well as from without. Besides, he had to bear the charge +of putting forth heretical views in church politics, even from a +Methodist standpoint. He, however, triumphed over both parties—those +within as well as those without. And his victory over the former was the +more easily won, as the views of the "British Methodists," on this +question were almost unanimously repudiated by the Methodists of Canada. +See "Epochs of Canadian Methodism," pp. 330-353.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> See pages 63, 64 of the <i>Christian Guardian</i> for 1831; +also page 90, <i>ante</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> See <i>Christian Guardian</i> of Feb. 19th, 1831, and also the +pamphlet containing the whole of this series of eight letters, entitled: +"Letters from the Reverend Egerton Ryerson to the Honourable and +Reverend Doctor Strachan, published originally in the <i>Upper Canada +Herald</i>; Kingston, 1828," pp. 42, double columns. See page 80.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> For reply to this statement see extract from Review given +on p. <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> In "a Pastoral Letter from the Clergy of the Church of +Scotland in the Canadas to their Presbyterian Brethren" issued in 1828, +they say:—"We did, in the year 1820, petition His Majesty's Government +for protection and support to our Church, and claimed, by what we +believe to be our constitutional rights, a participation in the Clergy +Reserves." Montreal, 1828, p. 2. This Pastoral Letter gave rise to a +protracted discussion for and against the Presbyterian side of the +question.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> The Report was adopted by a vote of 22 to 8. It +stated:—The ministry and instructions [of the Methodist Clergymen] have +been conducive—in a degree which cannot be easily estimated—to the +reformation of their hearers, and to the diffusion of correct +morals—the foundation of all sound loyalty and social order.... No one +doubts that the Methodists are as loyal as any other of His Majesty's +subjects, etc. Full particulars of this controversy will be found in Dr. +Ryerson's "Epochs of Canadian Methodism," pp. 165-218.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> In "An Apology for the Church of England in Canada, by a +Protestant of the Established Church of England," the writer thus refers +to this controversy:—"Our Methodist brethren have disturbed the peace +of their maternal Church by the clamour of enthusiasm and the madness of +resentment; but they are the wayward children of passion, and we hope +that yet the chastening hand of reason will sober down the wildness of +that ferment," etc. Kingston, U.C., 1826, p. 3.—H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1831-1832.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Methodist Affairs in Upper Canada—Proposed Union with the British Conference.</span></p> + + +<p>Of the events transpiring in Upper Canada during 1831 and 1832, in which +Dr. Ryerson was an actor, he has left no record in his "Story." His +letters and papers, however, show that during this period he retired +from the editorship of the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, and that plans were +discussed and matured which led to his going to England, in 1833, to +negotiate a union between the British and Upper Canadian Conferences. +His brother George had gone on a second visit to England in March, 1831. +This second visit was for a twofold purpose, viz., to collect money with +the Rev. Peter Jones, for the Indian Missions, and also to present +petitions to the Imperial Parliament on behalf of the non-episcopalians +of the Province. I give extracts from his letters to Dr. Ryerson, +relating his experiences of, and reflections on, Wesleyan matters in +England at that period. Writing from Bristol, on the 6th of August, +1831, Rev. George Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In my address to the Wesleyan Conference here I stated that we +stood in precisely the same relation to our brethren of the +Methodist Conference in the United States as we do to our brethren +of the Wesleyan Conference in England—independent of +either—agreeing in faith, in religious discipline, in name and +doctrine, and the unity of spirit,—but differing in some +ecclesiastical arrangements, rendered necessary from local +circumstances. I also expressed my firm conviction that the +situation in which we stand is decidedly the best calculated to +spread Methodism and vital religion in Canada. This statement did +not, I think, give so much satisfaction to the Conference as the +others, for what Pope said of Churchmen:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"Is he a Churchman? then he's fond of power,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>may also be literally applied to Wesleyan ministers, and, I may +add, to Englishmen generally. I have reason to know that they would +gladly govern us. I was, therefore, very pointed and explicit on +this subject. I rejoice that our country lies beyond the Atlantic, +and is surrounded by an atmosphere of freedom. A few months' +residence in this country would lead you to value this circumstance +in a degree that you can scarcely conceive of; and you would, with +unknown energy, address this exhortation to the Methodists and to +the people of Canada: "Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty +wherewith God's providence hath made you free, and in this abound<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +more and more." I also assured them of our respect and love for +them as our fathers and elder brethren, and mentioned my reasons +for giving this information to prevent future collision and +misunderstanding.</p> + +<p>The Conference or Missionary Society have, however, not given up +their intention of establishing an Indian Mission in Upper Canada, +but, in consequence of my remonstrances, have delayed it. Brother +James Richardson's letter to the Missionary Committee, which I +submitted, and was told by Rev. Dr. Townley, one of the +Secretaries, that they would by no means withdraw their missionary +at Kingston, as it was still their intention to establish a mission +to the Indians in Upper Canada, and this station would be very +necessary to them. I see that they are a little vexed that +emigrants from their Societies should augment our membership.</p> + +<p>The whole morning service of the Church of England is now read in +most of the Wesleyan Chapels, and with as much formality as in the +Church. Many of the members, when they become wealthy and rise in +the world, join the Church, and their wealth and influence are lost +to the Society. Organs are also introduced into many of their +Chapels.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter dated London, Feb. 6th, 1832, Rev. Geo. Ryerson writes again +to Dr. Ryerson, and says that he and Peter Jones:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>By request, met the Rev. Richard Watson, and some others of the +Missionary Committee. They wished to consult us respecting the +resolutions forwarded to them from your Missionary Committee. They +profess that they will not occupy any station where there is a +mission, as Grand River, Penetanguishene, etc., except St. Clair. +But they declare that as it regards the white population, the +agreement with the American Conference ceased when we became a +separate connexion. I opposed their views, as I have invariably +done, in very strong and plain terms, and explained to them the +character and object of the persons who were alluring them to +commence this schism. They proposed that we should give up the +missions to them. I told them we could no more do so, than they +give up theirs. They finally acquiesced, and voted the £300 as Rev. +Dr. Townley wrote. At the Conference, at Bristol, I explained that +a union of the two Conferences would be inexpedient and +unprofitable, any further than a union of brotherly love and +friendship.</p></div> + +<p>In another letter to Dr. Ryerson from his brother George, dated London, +April 6th, 1832, he says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have been detained so long on expenses, and continually advancing +money for the Central Committee at York, that I hope it will be +repaid to Peter Jones. I was a long time attending to the business +of my mission to bring it to the only practicable arrangement, that +is, having it submitted to the Legislature of Upper Canada, with +such recommendations and instructions as would give satisfaction to +the country by consulting the wishes and interests of all parties. +I have never before in my life been shut up to walk in all things +by simple faith more than I have for some months past; yet I was +never kept in greater steadfastness and peace of mind, nor had such +openings of the Spirit and life of Jesus in my soul. The judgments +of God are spreading apace—the cholera is more deadly in London, +and it has now broken out in Ireland, and in the centre of Paris, +where it is said to be very destructive. You need no other evidence +of its being a work of God, than to be informed that it is made the +public mock of the infidel population of this city; a state of +feeling and conduct in regard to this pestilence that never, +perhaps, was witnessed from any country, and that would make a +heathen or Mahommedan ashamed. I have seen gangs of men traversing +the streets<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> and singing songs in ridicule of the cholera, and have +seen caricatures of it in the windows.</p></div> + +<p><i>August 29th, 1832.</i>—To-day, in a valedictory editorial, Dr. Ryerson +took leave of the readers of the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, having been its +first editor for nearly three years. In that valedictory Dr. Ryerson +said (p. <a href="#Page_116">116</a>):—</p> + +<p>I first appeared before the public as a writer, at the age of two and +twenty years. My first feeble effort was a vindication of the +Methodists, and several other Christian denominations against the +uncalled-for attack made upon their principles and character. It also +contained a remonstrance against the introduction into this country of +an endowed political Church, as alike opposed to the statute law of the +Province, political and religious expedience, public rights and +liberties. I believe this was the first article of the kind ever +published in Upper Canada, and, while from that time to this a powerful +combination of talent, learning, indignation, and interest has been +arrayed in the vain attempt to support by the weapons of reason, +Scripture, and argument, a union between the Church and the +world—between earth and heaven; talents, truth, reason, and justice +have alike been arrayed in the defence of insulted and infringed rights, +and the maintenance of a system of public, religious, and educational +instruction, accordant with public rights and interests, the principles +of sound policy, the economy of Providence, and the institutions and +usages of the New Testament.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson also published in this number of the <i>Guardian</i> the general +outline of the arrangements proposed at Hallowell (Picton) on behalf of +the Canada Conference to the English Conference, and designed to form +the basis of articles for the proposed union between the two bodies. +Rev. Robert Alder was present at the Conference, and was a consenting +party to the basis of union.</p> + +<p><i>December 7th, 1832.</i>—The prospects of Union with the British +Conference were not encouraging in various parts of the Connexion, and +chiefly for the reasons mentioned by Rev. George Ryerson in his letters +from England (see pp. <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_108">8</a>). Rev. John Ryerson, writing to Dr. Ryerson +from Cobourg, also says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The subject of the Union appears to be less and less palatable to +our friends in these parts, so much so, that I think it will not be +safe for you to come to any permanent arrangements with the British +Conference, even should they accede to our proposals. I am of the +opinion that, except we give ourselves entirely into their hands in +some way or another, no Union will take place. I tell the +preachers, and they and I tell the people, that, Union or no Union, +it is very important that you should go home; that you will +endeavour, in every way you can, to convince the British Conference +of the manifest injustice and wickedness of sending missionaries to +this country.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>November 21st, 1832.</i>—The proposed union with the British Conference +excited a good deal of discussion at this time in various parts of Upper +Canada. Dr. Ryerson, therefore, addressed a note on the subject to Rev. +Robert Alder, the English Conference representative. I make a few +extracts:—</p> + +<p>At the Hallowell Conference (1832) the question of the union was +principally sustained by my brothers, and was concurred in by the vote +of a large majority of the Conference.... But in some parts of the +country, where Presidential visits have been made, certain local +preachers have found out that the Societies ought to have been +consulted; that they have been sold ("by the Ryersons,") without +consent; that no Canadian will henceforth be admitted into the +Conference; that our whole economy will be changed by arbitrary power, +and all revivals of religion will be stopped, etc. The first of the +objections is the most popular, but they have all failed to produce the +intended effect, to an extent desired by the disaffected few. The object +contemplated is, to produce an excitement that will prevent me going to +England, and induce the Conference to retrace its steps. The merit or +demerit of the measure has been mainly ascribed to me; and on its +result, should I cross the Atlantic, my standing, in a great measure, +depends. If our proposals should meet with a conciliatory reception, and +your Committee would recommend measures, rather than require +concessions, in the future proceedings of our Conference, everything can +be accomplished without difficulty or embarrassment. You know that I am +willing, as an individual, to adopt your whole British economy, <i>ex +animo</i>. You also know that my brothers are of the same mind, and that a +majority of the Conference will readily concur. May the Lord direct +aright!</p> + +<p>Dr. Alder's reply to Dr. Ryerson in February, 1833, was that:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You must look at the great principles and results involved in this +most important affair, and not shrink from the duties imposed on +you, to avoid a few present unpleasant consequences. It is not for +me to prescribe rules of conduct to be observed by you, but I must +say, that I am surprised that any circumstance should cause you to +waver for a moment in reference to your visit to Europe. If you +were to decline coming, would not the many on the other side, who +are strictly watching your movements, at once say that the whole +arrangements are deceptive, and merely designed to make an +impression on me for a certain purpose. You know they would. Of +course you will act as you please. I neither advise nor persuade, +but say: Be not too soon nor too much alarmed. There are no +jealousies, no evil surmisings, no ambitious designs in the matter, +but a sincere desire to promote the interests of Methodism and the +cause of religion in Upper Canada; and nothing will be desired +from, or recommended to, you, but for this purpose.</p> + +<p>It is a noble object that we have in view. Rev. Richard Watson +takes a statesmanlike view of the whole case, and will, I am +persuaded, as will all concerned here, meet you with the utmost +ingenuousness and liberality, and, if they be met in a similar +manner, all will end well. If you can agree to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> the following +recommendation, I think everything else will easily be settled, +viz., to constitute two or three districts, to meet annually, as +District Conferences, and to hold a Triennial Conference, to be +composed of all the preachers in the Provinces, under a President, +to be appointed in the way mentioned in the plan of agreement +proposed by your last Conference. Several of your preachers wish +it; Bro. Green, the presiding Elder, is in favour of it.</p></div> + +<p><i>January 10th, 1833.</i>—It being necessary to collect funds to defray Dr. +Ryerson's expenses to England, his brother, William, wrote to him from +Brockville at this date, giving an account of his success there as a +collector. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>After the holidays I commenced operations, and having besieged the +doors of several of our gentry, most of whom contributed without +much resistance, on most honourable terms, of course, such as +paying from $3 to $6, with a great many wishes, and hearty ones +too, for your success. More than two-thirds of the sum collected +are given by the gentlemen of the village, most of whom expressed +and appeared to feel a pleasure in giving, and who have never been +known to give anything to the Methodists before on any occasion +whatever. Our congregation has greatly increased, so that we now +have about five hundred, some say more, in the evening. A majority +of the first families in the village attend our chapel. Among many +others, Mr. Jonas Jones, and several of the families in the same +connection; Mr. Sherwood, the High Sheriff, and several others, +most of whom have never been known to attend a Methodist meeting +before. You will be surprised to hear that Mrs. James Sherwood has +become my warm friend, treating me with the greatest attention and +kindness; and also on various occasions speaking most kindly and +respectfully of me and all our family, especially yourself.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>January 31st, 1833.</i>—Under this date, Dr. Ryerson has recorded in his +diary the following tribute to his first wife:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A year ago this morning, at half-past five o'clock, the wife of my +youth fell asleep in Jesus, leaving a son and daughter (John and +Lucilla Hannah), the former two years and a half old, and the +latter fourteen days. Hannah Aikman (her maiden name) was the +daughter of John and Hannah Aikman, and was the youngest of eleven +children. Hannah was born in Barton, Gore District, on the 4th of +August, 1804. Her natural disposition was most amiable, and her +education was better than is usually afforded to farmer's daughters +in this country. At the age of sixteen she was awakened, converted, +and joined the Methodist Church, of which she remained an exemplary +member until her death. I became intimately acquainted with her in +1824, when she was twenty years of age, and after taking the advice +of an elder brother, who had travelled the circuit on which they +lived, at the strong solicitation of my parents, and the impulse of +my own inclinations, I made her proposals of marriage, which were +accepted. This was before I had any intention of becoming a +preacher in the Methodist Church, either travelling or local.</p> + +<p>About this time the Lord laid his afflicting hand upon me;<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> I +was brought to the gate of death, and in that state became +convinced by evidence as satisfactory as that of my existence, that +in disregarding the dictates of my own conscience, and the +important advice of many members of the Church, both<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> preachers and +lay, in regard to labouring in the itinerant field, I had resisted +the Spirit of God; and on that sick, and in the estimation of my +family, dying bed, I vowed to the Lord my God, that if He should +see fit to raise me up and open the way, I would no more disobey +the voice of His Providence and servants. From that hour I began +visibly to recover, and, though the exercises of my mind were +unknown to any but myself and the Searcher of hearts, before I had +sufficiently recovered to walk two miles, I was called upon by the +Presiding Elder, and several official members, and solicited to go +on the Niagara Circuit, which was then partly destitute through the +failure in health of one of the preachers. I could not but view +this unexpected call us the voice of God, and, after a few days' +deliberation and preparation, I obeyed, on the 24th of March, 1825, +the day on which I was twenty-two years of age.</p> + +<p>This unanticipated change in the course of my life, while it +involved the sacrifice of pecuniary interests and some very +flattering offers and promises, presented my contemplated marriage +in a somewhat different light; though the possibility of such a +change was mentioned as a condition in my proposals and our +engagement. And I will here record it to the honour of the dead +that she who afterwards became my wife, wrote to me a short time +after I commenced travelling, that if a union between us was in any +respect opposed to my views of duty, or if I thought it would +militate against my usefulness, I was perfectly exonerated by her +from all obligations to such a union; that, whatever her own +feelings might be, she begged that they would not influence +me,—that God would give her grace to subdue them,—that she +shuddered at the thought of standing in the way of my duty and +usefulness.</p> + +<p>Knowing, as I did, that her fondness for me was extravagant, I +could not wound the heart which was the seat of such elevated +feelings, or help appreciating more highly than ever the principles +of mind which could give rise to such noble sentiments, and such +martyr-like disinterestedness of soul. In subsequent interviews, we +mutually agreed—should Providence permit—and (at her suggestion) +should neither of us change our minds, we would get married in +three or four years. During this interval, I had at times +agitations of mind as to the advantages of such a step, in regard +to my ministerial labours, but determined to rely on the Divine +promise, "Blessed is the man that sweareth to his own hurt, and +changeth not." This promise has been abundantly fulfilled in me. We +were married on the 10th of September, 1828. A more affectionate +and prudent wife never lived. She was beloved and respected by all +that knew her. I never saw her angry, nor do I recollect that an +angry or unkind word ever passed between us. Her disposition was +sweet, her spirit uniformly kind and cheerful, sociable, and meek. +Her professions were never high, nor her joys rapturous. But in +everything she was invariably faithful, and ready for every good +word and work. In her confidence, peace, and conduct, as far as I +could discover, without intermission, the poet's words were clearly +illustrated:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"Her soul was ever bright as noon, and calm as summer evenings be."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Though her piety for years excited my respect, and in many +instances my admiration, it was nevertheless greatly quickened and +deepened about six months before her death, during the Conference +held at York. From that time I believe she enjoyed the perfect love +of God. At least, as far as I can judge, the fruits of it were +manifest in her whole life.</p> + +<p>Several days previous to her death, when her illness assumed a +mortal aspect, and she became sensible that her earthly pilgrimage +was closing, her usual unruffled confidence rose to the riches of +the full assurance of understanding, faith and hope, and she +expressed herself with a boldness of language, a rapture of hope, +and triumph of faith that I never before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> witnessed. Passages of +Scripture, and verses of hymns, expressive of the dying Christian's +victories, triumphs, and hopes, were repeated by her with a joy and +energetic fervency that deeply affected all present. Her deathbed +conversations and dying counsels were a rich repast and a valuable +lesson of instruction to many of her Christian friends. The night +before she took her departure, she called me to her and consulted +me about disposing of the family and all her own things, with as +much coolness and judgment as if she had been in perfect health, +and was about leaving home on a few days' visit to her friends. A +little before midnight she requested the babe to be brought to +her—kissed it—blessed it, and returned it. She then called for +the little boy (John), and, embracing and kissing him, bequeathed +to him also the legacy of a pious mother's dying prayer and +blessing. Afterwards she embraced me, and said, "My dear Egerton, +preach the Word; be instant in season and out of season, and God +will take care of you, and give you the victory." She then bid an +affectionate farewell individually to all. She continued in the +perfect possession of her reason, triumphing in the Rock of her +salvation, until the messenger arrived and her spirit took its +departure with the words, "Come, Lord Jesus," lingering upon her +lips. Thus lived and died one of the excellent of the earth,—a +woman of good, plain sense, a guileless heart, and a sanctified +spirit and life. Such is the testimony respecting her, of one who +knew her best.</p></div> + +<p>In his deep sorrow and affliction, at that time, Dr. Ryerson received +many sympathizing letters. I give an extract of one from his brother +George, dated London, Eng., 29th March, 1832. He says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I deeply sympathize with you in your affliction. I know how to feel +for you, and you as yet know but a very small part of your trials. +Years will not heal the wound. I am, even now, often quite +overwhelmed when I allow myself to dwell upon the past. I need not +suggest to you the commonplace topics of comfort and resignation, +but I have no doubt you will see the hand of God so manifestly in +it, that you will say "It was well done." I will further add that +the saying of St. Paul was at no time so applicable as at the +present (1 Cor. vii. 29, etc.).</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The years 1830-1832 were noted in the history of the Methodist Church in +Upper Canada for two things: 1st. The establishment of the Upper Canada +Academy—the radiating centre of intellectual life in the Connexion. +2nd. The erection of the Adelaide St. Chapel, which for many years was +the seat and source of Church life in the Societies. At the Conference +of 1830 it was agreed to establish the Upper Canada Academy. In the +<i>Guardian</i> of the 23rd of April, 1831, Dr. Ryerson gave an account of +the new institution and made a strong appeal in its favour. On the 7th +June, 1832, the foundation stone of the Academy was laid at Cobourg. On +the 16th June, 1833, the new brick church on Newgate (Adelaide) St. was +opened for Divine Service. In the <i>Guardian</i> of June 19th, Dr. Ryerson +says: "For its size—being 75 by 55 feet—it is judged to be inferior to +very few Methodist Chapels in America." P. 126.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> See note on page 86 and page 28.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1833.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Union between the British and Canadian Conferences.</span></p> + + +<p>I undertook the mission to England to negotiate a Union between the +British and Canadian Conferences with great reluctance. I determined in +the course of the year, from various circumstances, to abandon it; but +was persuaded by letters from Rev. Robert Alder, the London Missionary +Secretary (one of which is given on page 110), and the advice of my +brother John, to resume it.</p> + +<p>The account of my voyage and proceedings in England are given in the +following extracts from my journals:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>March 4th, 1833.</i>—This morning at 6 a.m. I left York <i>via</i> +Cobourg, Kingston, and New York, on my first important mission to +England, an undertaking for which I feel myself utterly +incompetent; and in prosecution of which I rely wholly on the +guidance of heavenly wisdom, imploring the special blessing of the +Most High.</p> + +<p><i>Kingston, March 11th.</i>—I find that considerable excitement, and +in some instances, strong dissatisfaction, exists on the question +of Union, by misrepresentation of the proceedings and intentions of +our Conference respecting it. Full explanations have in every +instance restored confidence, and acquiescence. A correction of +these misrepresentations, and the reply of the Wesleyan Missionary +Committee to the proposals of our Conference have given universal +satisfaction, and elicited a general and strong desire for the +accomplishment of this all-important measure. My interviews with my +brothers (William and John) have been interesting and profitable to +me.</p> + +<p><i>Watertown, N.Y., March 12.</i>—Came from Kingston here to-day, +twenty-eight miles. This Black River country is very level, and +appears to be fertile, but the people generally do not seem to be +thriving.</p> + +<p><i>Utica, March 13th.</i>—This is a flourishing town of about 10,000 +inhabitants, beautifully situated on the south side of the Mohawk +river. I travelled through a settlement and village called Renson, +consisting principally of Welsh, where the Welsh language is +universally spoken; there is a <i>Whitefield</i> Methodist chapel, but I +was told they retained more of the name, than of the genuine spirit +of their founder. "Because of swearing the land mourneth."</p> + +<p><i>Hartford, March 16th.</i>—The southern part of Massachusetts and the +northern part of this State, are mountainous and rocky and barren. +The inhabitants are supported by manufactures, grazing and dairies. +They appear to be rather poor but intelligent. In my conversation +to-day with a professed infidel I felt sensibly the importance of +being skilled in wielding any weapon with which theology, history, +science, so abundantly furnishes the believer in the Christian +revelation; and never before did I see and feel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> the lofty +superiority of the foundation on which natural and revealed truth +is established, over the cob-web and ill-shaped edifice of +infidelity.</p> + +<p><i>Hartford, March 17th.</i>—I have attended service three times +to-day, and preached twice. Religion seems to be at a low ebb. Yet +I have not heard religion spoken of, or any body of religious +people referred to, in any other way than that of respect.</p> + +<p><i>New York, March 20th.</i>—I am now about to embark for England, the +reason of my long journey from Canada to New York is the slow +travel by stage, before any railroads, and the Hudson river not +navigable so early.</p></div> + +<p><i>New York, March 21st.</i>—[Just on the eve of sailing for England, Dr. +Ryerson wrote from New York to his brother John, at Hallowell. He +said:—</p> + +<p>I stayed with the Rev. Dr. Fisk all night and part of two days. I was +much gratified and benefited, and have received from him many valuable +suggestions respecting my mission to England and agency for the Upper +Canada Academy. He was unreserved in his communications, and is in +favour of my Mission, as were Brother Waugh, Drs. Bangs, Durbin<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> and +others. They all seem to approve fully of the proceedings of our +Conference in the affair.—H.]</p> + +<p><i>New York, March 22nd.</i>—[On the day on which Dr. Ryerson sailed for +England, Mr. Francis Hall, of the New York <i>Commercial Advertiser</i>, sent +him a note in which he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have just received from a friend in Montreal the following +information which I wish you would give to the Rev. Richard Reece, +of London:—The Lord has blessed us abundantly in Montreal. Upwards +of four hundred conversions have taken place in our chapel since +last summer. It is now necessary for us to have a chapel in the St. +Lawrence suburbs, and another in the Quebec suburbs immediately. +This (said Mr. Hall) for those who know Montreal, is great news +indeed. It is equal to an increase of as many thousands in the city +of New York; the whole population being only a little more than +thirty thousand, a great portion of which are Roman Catholics.—H.]</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson's journal then proceeds:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>At Sea, April 10th.</i>—On the 22nd ult., I embarked on the sailing +ship "York," Capt. Uree, New York. I was sick for fourteen days, +ate nothing, thought little, and enjoyed nothing. Feeling better, I +was able to read a little.</p> + +<p><i>April 12th.</i>—After twenty days' sail we landed at Portsmouth. +Thanks be to the God of heaven, earth, and sea for His protection, +blessing, and prosperity! I was greatly struck with the extensive +fortifications, and vast dockyards, together with the wonderful +machinery in this place; such indications of national wealth, and +specimens of human genius and industry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>April 13th.</i>—This morning I arrived in London, and was cordially +received by the Secretary of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, and +kindly invited to take up my lodgings at the Mission House.</p> + +<p><i>April 14th—Sabbath.</i>—Heard the Rev. G. Marsden preach. In the +afternoon this holy man addressed about four hundred Sunday-school +children, after which I spoke a few words to them. We then attended +a prayer-meeting, where many found peace with God. In the evening I +heard the Rev. Theophilus Lessey preach a superior sermon, and I +felt blessed.</p> + +<p><i>April 16th.</i>—This evening I preached my first sermon in England, +in City Road Chapel, from John iii. 8. This is called Mr. Wesley's +Chapel, having been built by him, and left under peculiar +regulations. Alongside is Mr. Wesley's dwelling-house, and in the +rear of it rest his bones, also those of Rev. Dr. Adam Clarke and +Rev. Richard Watson; three of the greatest men the world ever saw. +In the front of this chapel, on the opposite side of the street, +are the celebrated Bunhill Field's burying ground, among whose +memorable dead rests the dust of the venerable Isaac Watts, John +Wesley's mother, John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe, etc.</p> + +<p><i>April 21st—Sunday.</i>—To-day I went to hear the celebrated Edward +Irving. His preaching, for the most part, I considered commonplace; +his manner, eccentric; his pretensions to revelations, authority, +and prophetic indications, overweening. I was disappointed in his +talents, and surprised at the apparent want of feeling manifested +throughout his whole discourse.</p> + +<p><i>April 20th.</i>—This morning I attended the funeral of the great and +eminently pious Rev. Rowland Hill, who died in the 89th year of his +age. Lord Hill, his nephew, was chief mourner. There was a large +attendance of ministers of all denominations, and a great concourse +of people. Rev. Wm. Jay, of Bath, preached an admirable sermon from +Zech. ii. 2. "Howl fir tree, for the cedar hath fallen." The +venerable remains were interred beneath the pulpit.</p> + +<p><i>April 26th.</i>—To-day I heard Rev. Richard Winter Hamilton, of +Leeds, an Independent, preach a missionary sermon for the Wesleyan +Society. His text was Col. i. 16. It was the most splendid sermon I +ever heard.</p> + +<p><i>April 28th.</i>—Heard the Rev. Robert Newton in the morning. In the +afternoon I preached a missionary sermon in Westminster Chapel, and +in the evening another at Chelsea.</p> + +<p><i>April 29th.</i>—This day was held the Annual Meeting of the Wesleyan +Missionary Society, in Exeter Hall, Lord Morpeth in the chair. He +is a young man, serious and dignified in his manners. The speeches +generally were able and to the point. Collection was £231.</p> + +<p><i>May 1st.</i>—The Annual Meeting of the British and Foreign Bible +Society was held in Exeter Hall. Lord Bexley presided. The Bishops +of Winchester and Chester, brothers, addressed the meeting. They +are eloquent speakers, but the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel was the +speaker of the day.</p> + +<p><i>May 3rd.</i>—This morning I attended the Annual Breakfast Meeting of +the preachers' children, at the City Road Morning Chapel; nearly +200 preachers and their families were present. Rev. Joseph +Entwistle spoke, as did Mr. James Wood, of Bristol, myself and one +or two others.</p> + +<p><i>May 5th., Exeter.</i>—Left London at 5 a.m. and arrived here at 10 +p.m., within a minute of the time specified by the coachman. We +passed over the scene of that inimitable tract, "The Shepherd of +Salisbury Plain." We were shown the tree under which the shepherd +was sheltered.</p> + +<p><i>May 6th.</i>—Rev. Wm. Naylor preached this morning in Exeter, and I +preached in the evening.</p> + +<p><i>Taunton, May 7th.</i>—At a Missionary Tea Meeting to-day, deep +interest was excited in the cause of the British North American +Missions. Taunton is a very ancient town. It existed in the time of +the Romans. It was in this town that King Ina held the first +Legislative Assembly or Parliament ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> held in Britain. It +consisted of ecclesiastics and noblemen and enacted certain laws +for the better government of the Heptarchy. It was near this town +King Alfred concealed himself, and was discovered in the capacity +of a cook. Here also stands the Church of St. Mary, a most splendid +and ancient gothic building, where that venerable and holy man of +God, Joseph Alleine, author of the "Alarm to the Unconverted," +preached.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter to a friend in Upper Canada, Dr. Ryerson at this date +writes:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Nottingham, May 29th.</i>—I this morning called upon Mrs. Watson, +mother of the late distinguished Richard Watson. She is nearly +eighty years of age, and in rather humble circumstances. She is in +the possession of a naturally strong and unimpaired intellect, and +has apparently not the least vanity on account of the unrivalled +talents, high attainments, and great popularity of her son. In +conversation she stated the following particulars: That her husband +was a saddler, that he formerly lived and followed his business in +Boston-on-the-Humber in Lincolnshire, where Richard was born; that +her husband was the only Methodist in the town, and was the means +of introducing Methodism into that town; that his business was +taken from him, and he was obliged to leave and remove to another +place on account of it; that Richard was very weakly, and so poorly +that she carried him when a child on a pillow in her arms; that +when he began to talk and run about he was unusually stupid and +sleepy, would drop asleep anywhere; that he was very tall of his +age, and made such advancement in learning, that he read the Latin +Testament at five years of age, and had read a considerable part of +it before his parents knew that he had been put to the study of +Latin; the clergyman, his tutor, thought him older, from his size +and mind, or, as he said, he would not have put him to Latin so +young; that Richard had a very great taste for reading; when he was +a very small boy, he read the History of England (when not eight +years of age), and recollected and related with the utmost +correctness all its leading facts; that he would frequently remain +at school after school hours, doing difficult questions in +arithmetic for older boys; that he was bound out, according to his +request, to the trade of a house-joiner; that he was most diligent +and faithful at his work, and made such rapid advancement in +learning the trade, that at the end of two years, his master told +his father that he had already learned as much as he could teach +him, and that he was willing to give him up if he desired—the best +hand in his shop; that Richard began to go out and exhort when he +was fourteen years of age, and that he preached when he was +fifteen, and was received on trial by the Conference as a +travelling preacher about a month after he was sixteen; that he was +frequently pelted with eggs, and even trodden under foot; that his +own uncle on one occasion encouraged it, saying, "My kinsman does +it pretty well, give him a few more eggs, lad" (addressing one of +the mob), and that Richard came home frequently with his clothes +completely besmeared with eggs and dirt.</p> + +<p>I attended the Wesleyan Missionary meeting here and spoke at it. +The meeting was highly interesting. It was addressed by Rev. Mr. +Edwards, (Baptist) and by the Messrs. Bunting, Atherton, and +Bakewell. In this town the noted Kilham made his first Methodist +division, and here suddenly ended his life. Here Bramwell got the +ground for a chapel in answer to prayer. Near the town runs the +River Trent. From Nottingham I went fourteen miles to Mansfield and +attended a missionary meeting. I was in the house which was the +birth-place of the great Chesterfield, and passed through Mansfield +forest, the scene of Robin Hood's predatory exploits.</p></div> + +<p>In his journal Dr. Ryerson says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>London, June 24th.</i>—I had an interview with Rt. Hon. Edward +Ellice,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> on Canadian affairs; a man of noble spirit, liberal mind, +and benevolent heart. He condemned Dr. Strachan's measures, and +manifested an earnest, desire to promote the welfare of Upper +Canada. I gave him an account of the political and religious +affairs in Upper Canada with which he expressed himself pleased, +and gave me £50 for the Upper Canada Academy.</p> + +<p><i>June 16th.</i>—This day was dedicated, by Rev. Wm. Ryerson, the new +brick chapel on Newgate (Adelaide) Street, Toronto. (See subsequent +chapter.)</p></div> + +<p><i>June 24th.</i>—Writing to-day to a valued friend in Upper Canada in +regard to his mission in London, Dr. Ryerson told him that he had no +doubt of its advantageous results in promoting harmony and peace. He +then said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I apprehend that Mr. Stanley's appointment to the Secretaryship of +the Colonies will not be very beneficial to us. The reason of Lord +Goderich and Lord Howick (Earl Grey's son) retiring from that +office was that they would not bring any other Bill on slavery into +Parliament, but one for its immediate and entire abolition. I +understand that Lords Goderich and Howick are sadly annoyed at Mr. +Stanley's course.</p> + +<p>It will only be for the friends of good government to pray for the +re-appointment of Lord Goderich, or insist upon a change in the +Colonial policy towards Upper Canada. This part, however, belongs +to political men. But I am afraid it may have an unfavourable +bearing upon our religious rights and interests.</p> + +<p>In Rev. J. Richardson's letter to me, he mentions that the +petitions were sent in the care of Mr. Joseph Hume. He is not the +person to present a petition to His Majesty on religious liberty in +the Colonies, and especially after the part he has taken in +opposing the Bill for emancipating the slaves in the West Indies. +It has incensed the religious part of the nation against him. He is +connected with the West India interest by his wife, and his +abandoning all his principles of liberty in such a heart-stirring +question, destroys confidence in the disinterestedness of his +general conduct, and his sincere regard for the great interests of +religion. I leave London this afternoon for Ireland. My return here +depends upon whether I can do anything in this petition +business.<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a></p> + +<p>It is difficult to get a moment for retirement, excepting very +early in the morning, or after twelve at night. It is not the way +for me to live I had, however, a very profitable and good day +yesterday. I preached, and superintended a love-feast in City Road +Chapel last evening. It was a very good one, only the people were a +little bashful in speaking at first, like some of our York friends +who are always so very timid, such as Dr. Morrison, Mr. Howard, and +others.</p></div> + +<p>In his journal Dr. Ryerson says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>June 26th.</i>—According to appointment, I called upon the Earl of +Ripon, and was most kindly received. I wished to enquire about the +medal promised by His Majesty, William IV., to Peter Jones, and to +solicit a donation towards our Academy at Cobourg. His Lordship +gave me £5. He expressed his disapprobation of Sir John Colborne's +reply to the Methodist Conference in 1831, (see page 98). He stated +that he was anxious for the Union between the British and Canadian +Conferences, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> was gratified at the prospect of its success.<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> +His Lordship stated that, while in the Colonial Department, he had +only received Mr. W. L. Mackenzie as a private individual, and had +done no more than justice to him.</p> + +<p><i>June 28th.</i>—I called at the Colonial office, and laid before Mr. +Stanley statements and documents relative to the Clergy Reserve +Question. Mr. Stanley was very courteous, but equally cautious. I +stated that the House of Assembly of Upper Canada had nearly every +year since 1825, by very large majorities, decided against the +erection of any Church Establishment in that Province, and in +favour of the appropriation of the Clergy Reserves to the purposes +of General Education; that this might be taken to be the fair and +deliberate sense of the people of Upper Canada; that this question +was distinct from any question or questions of political reform; +that parties and parliaments who differed on other questions of +public policy, agreed nearly unanimously in this. He expressed his +opinion that the Colonial Legislature had a right to legislate on +it, and asked me why our House of Assembly had not done it. I told +him it had, but the Legislative Council had rejected the Bill +passed by the Assembly on the subject.</p></div> + +<p><i>July 13th.</i>—In a letter at this date to a friend in Upper Canada, Dr. +Ryerson further refers to this and a subsequent interview as follows:—</p> + +<p>I have had two interviews with Mr. Secretary Stanley, on the subject of +the House of Assembly's Address on the Clergy Reserves, and have drawn +up a statement of the grounds on which the House of Assembly and the +great body of the people in Upper Canada resist the pretensions and +claims of the Episcopal clergy. Mr. Solicitor-General Hagerman has been +directed to do the same on behalf of the Episcopal clergy. I confess +that I was a little surprised to find that the Colonial Secretary was +fully impressed at first that Methodist preachers in Canada were +generally Americans (Yankees);—that the cause of the great prosperity +of Methodism there was the ample support it received from the United +States;—that the missionaries in Upper Canada were actually under the +United States Conference, and at its disposal. The Colonial Secretary +manifested a little surprise also, when I turned to the Journals of the +Upper Canada House of Assembly, and produced proof of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> the reverse, +which he pronounced "perfectly conclusive and satisfactory."</p> + +<p><i>August 8th.</i>—Dr. Ryerson received a touching note at this date from +Mrs. Marsden, with explanation of her reluctance to let Rev. Geo. +Marsden, her husband, go to Canada as President of the Conference. She +says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>At length my rebellious heart is subdued by reason and by grace. I +am made willing to give up my excellent husband to what is supposed +to be a great work. I am led to hope that, as a new class of +feelings are brought into exercise, perhaps some new graces may be +elicited in my own character, as well as that of my dear husband; +at any rate it is a sacrifice to God, which I trust will be +accepted, and, both in a private and a public view, be overruled +for the glory of God. I am sure, notwithstanding some repeated +attempts to reconcile me to this affair, I must have appeared very +unamiable to you; but the fact was simply this, I could not see you +or converse with you, without so much emotion as quite unnerved me, +therefore I studiously avoided you; but did you know the happiness +which dear Mr. Marsden and I have enjoyed in each other's society +for so many years, you would not be surprised that I should be +unwilling to give up so many months as will be required for this +service; but to God and His Church I bow in submission.</p></div> + +<p>This estimable lady did not long survive. She died in six months—just +after her husband had returned from America. In a letter from Rev. E. +Grindrod, dated March, 1834, he says, Mrs. Marsden died, after a short +illness, on 22nd February. She was one of the most amiable and pious of +women. Her lite was a bright pattern of every Christian virtue. Her end +was delightfully triumphant.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The following is an extract from Dr. Ryerson's diary of this year:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>After many earnest prayers, mature deliberation, and the advice of +an elder brother, I have decided within the last few months to +enter again into the married state. The lady I have selected, and +who has consented to become my second wife, is one whom I have +every reason to believe possesses all the natural and Christian +excellencies of my late wife. She is the eldest daughter of a pious +and wealthy merchant, Mr. James Rogers Armstrong. For her my late +wife also entertained a very particular esteem and affection, and, +from her good sense, sound judgment, humble piety, and affectionate +disposition, I doubt not but that she will make me a most +interesting and valuable companion, a judicious house-wife, and an +affectionate mother to my two children. Truly I love her with a +pure heart fervently I receive her, and hope ever to treat and +value her as the special token of my Heavenly Father's kindness +after a season of His chastisement. If thou, Lord, see fit to spare +us, may our union promote Thy glory and the salvation of sinners!</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson's marriage with Miss Mary Armstrong, took place at Toronto, +on the 8th of November 1833.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> While in England, Dr. Ryerson received the following note +from Rev. Dr. J. P. Durbin, in which he said: After I parted with you at +my house, I felt a strong inclination to engage your correspondence for +our paper, at least once a week, if possible, for the benefit of our +people and country, through the Church. Can you not write us by every +packet? Information in regard to English Methodism will be particularly +interesting, especially their financial arrangements. Do inquire +diligently of them, and write us minutely for the good of our Zion.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> In Epochs of Canadian Methodism, Dr. Ryerson says:—When +the writer of these Essays was appointed a representative of the +Canadian Conference to negotiate a union between the two Conferences in +1833, he carried a Petition to the King, signed by upwards of 20,000 +inhabitants, against the Clergy Reserve Monopoly and the Establishment +of a Dominant Church in Upper Canada. This petition was presented +through Lord Stanley, the Colonial Secretary. Page 221.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Dr. Ryerson has left no record in his "Story" of the +negotiations for this Union. His report, however, on the subject will be +found on pages 193, 194, Vol. iv. of the <i>Guardian</i> for October 16th, +1833, from which I take the following extracts: On the 5th June, Rev. +Messrs. Bunting, Beecham, Alder, and myself, examined the whole question +in detail, and prepared an outline of the resolutions to be submitted to +the British Conference, and recommended that a grant of £1,000 be +appropriated the first year to the promotion of Canadian Missions. On +the 2nd August these resolutions were introduced by Rev. John Beecham +(Missionary Secretary). They were supported by Rev. Jabez Bunting, Rev. +Jas. Wood (now in his 83rd year), and Rev. Robert Newton. A Committee +was appointed to consider and report on the whole matter consisting of +the President, Secretary, and seven ex-Presidents, the Irish +representatives (Messrs. Waugh, Stewart, and Doolittle), and fifteen +other ministers. This Committee considered and reported these +resolutions, which were adopted and forms the basis of the Articles of +Union. Hereafter, the name of our Church will be changed from "The +Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada," to "The Wesleyan Methodist Church +in British North America."—H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1833-1834.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">"Impressions" of England and their Effects</span>.</p> + + +<p>On my return to Canada, after having negotiated the Union of 1833 with +the English Conference, accompanied by Rev. George Marsden, as first +President of the Canadian Conference, I was re-elected editor of the +<i>Christian Guardian</i>, and continued as such until 1835, when I refused +re-election, and was appointed to Kingston; but in November of the same +year, the President of the Conference appointed from England (Rev. +William Lord) insisted upon my going to England to arrange pecuniary +difficulties, which had arisen between him and the London Wesleyan +Missionary Committee.</p> + +<p>Except the foregoing paragraph, Dr. Ryerson has left no particulars of +the events which transpired in his history from the period of his return +to Canada in September, 1833, until some time in 1835. I have, +therefore, selected what follows in this chapter, from his letters and +papers, to illustrate this busy and eventful portion of his active life.</p> + +<p>The principal circumstance which occurred at this time was the +publication of his somewhat famous "Impressions" of public men and +parties in England. This event marked an important epoch in his life, if +not in the history of the country.</p> + +<p>The publication of these "Impressions" during this year created quite a +sensation. Dr. Ryerson was immediately assailed with a storm of +invective by the chief leaders of the ultra section of politicians with +whom he had generally acted. By the more moderate section and by the +public generally he was hailed as the champion, if not the deliverer, of +those who were really alarmed at the rapid strides towards disloyalty +and revolution, to which these extreme men were impelling the people. +This feature of the unlooked for and bitter controversy, which followed +the publication of these "impressions," will be developed further on.</p> + +<p><i>October 2d, 1833.</i>—On this day the Upper Canada Conference ratified +the articles of union between it and the British Conference, which were +agreed upon at the Manchester Conference<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> on the 7th of August. (See +note on page 119.)<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> At the Conference held this year in York +(Toronto), Dr. Ryerson was again elected editor of the <i>Guardian</i>. He +entered on the duties of that office on the 16th October.</p> + +<p><i>October 30th.</i>—In reply to the many questions put to Dr. Ryerson on +his return to Canada, such as: "What do you think of England?" "What is +your opinion of her public men, her institutions?" etc., etc., he +published in the <i>Guardian</i> of this day the first part of "Impressions +made by my late visit to England," in regard to public men, religious +bodies, and the general state of the nation. He said:—</p> + +<p>There are three great political parties in England—Tories, Whigs, and +Radicals, and two descriptions of characters constituting each party. Of +the first, there is the moderate and the ultra tory. An English ultra +tory is what we believe has usually been meant and understood in Canada +by the unqualified term tory; that is, a lordling in power, a tyrant in +politics, and a bigot in religion. This description of partizans, we +believe, is headed by the Duke of Cumberland, and is followed not "afar +off" by that powerful party, which presents such a formidable array of +numbers, rank, wealth, talent, science, and literature, headed by the +hero of Waterloo. This shade of the tory party appears to be headed in +the House of Commons by Sir Robert Inglis, member for the Oxford +University, and is supported, on most questions, by that most subtle and +ingenious politician and fascinating speaker, Sir Robert Peel, with his +numerous train of followers and admirers. Among those who support the +distinguishing measures of this party are men of the highest Christian +virtue and piety; and, our decided impression is, that it embraces the +major part of the talent, and wealth, and learning of the British +Nation. The acknowledged and leading organs of this party are +<i>Blackwood's Magazine</i> and the <i>London Quarterly Review</i>.</p> + +<p>The other branch of this great political party is what is called the +moderate tory. In political theory he agrees with his high-toned +neighbour; but he acts from religious principle, and this governs his +private as well as his public life. To this class belongs a considerable +portion of the Evangelical Clergy, and, we think, a majority of the +Wesleyan Methodists. It evidently includes the great body of the piety, +Christian enterprise, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> sterling virtue of the nation. It is, in time +of party excitement, alike hated and denounced by the ultra Tory, the +crabbed Whig, and the Radical leveller. Such was our impression of the +true character of what, by the periodical press in England, is termed a +moderate Tory. From his theories we in some respects dissent; but his +integrity, his honesty, his consistency, his genuine liberality, and +religious beneficence, claim respect and imitation.</p> + +<p>The second great political and now ruling party in England are the +Whigs—a term synonymous with whey, applied, it is said, to this +political school, from the sour and peevish temper manifested by its +first disciples—though it is now rather popular than otherwise in +England. The Whig appears to differ in theory from the Tory in this, +that he interprets the constitution, obedience to it, and all measures +in regard to its administration, upon the principles of expediency; and +is, therefore, always pliant in his professions, and is even ready to +suit his measures to "the times"; an indefinite term, that also +designates the most extensively circulated daily paper in England, or in +the world, which is the leading organ of the Whig party, backed by the +formidable power and lofty periods of the <i>Edinburgh Review</i>. The +leaders of this party in the House of Lords are Earl Grey and the Lord +Chancellor Brougham; at the head of the list in the House of Commons +stands the names of Mr. Stanley, Lord Althorp, Lord John Russell, and +Mr. T. B. Macaulay. In this class are also included many of the most +learned and popular ministers of Dissenting congregations.</p> + +<p>The third political sect is called Radicals, apparently headed by +Messrs. Joseph Hume and Thomas Attwood; the former of whom, though +acute, indefatigable, persevering, popular on financial questions, and +always to the point, and heard with respect and attention in the House +of Commons, has no influence as a religious man; has never been known to +promote any religious measure or object as such, and has opposed every +measure for the better observance of the Sabbath, and even introduced a +motion to defeat the bill for the abolition of colonial slavery; and Mr. +Attwood, the head of the celebrated Birmingham political Union, is a +conceited, boisterous, hollow-headed declaimer.</p> + +<p>Radicalism in England appeared to me to be but another word for +Republicanism, with the name of King instead of President. The notorious +infidel character of the majority of the political leaders and +periodical publications of their party, deterred the virtuous part of +the nation from associating with them, though some of the brightest +ornaments of the English pulpit and nation have leaned to their leading +doctrines in theory. It is not a little remarkable that that very +description of the public<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> press, which in England advocates the lowest +radicalism, is the foremost in opposing and slandering the Methodists in +this Province. Hence the fact that some of these editors have been +amongst the lowest of the English radicals previous to their egress from +the mother country.</p> + +<p>Upon the whole, our impressions of the religious and moral character, +and influence, of the several political parties into which the British +nation is unhappily divided, were materially different in some respects, +from personal observation, from what they had been by hear-say and +reading.</p> + +<p>On the very evening of the day in which the foregoing appeared, Mr. W. +L. Mackenzie (in the <i>Colonial Advocate</i> of Oct. 30th), denounced the +writer of these "Impressions" in no measured terms. His denunciation +proved that he clearly perceived what would be the effect on the public +mind of Dr. Ryerson's candid and outspoken criticisms on men and things +in England—especially his adverse opinion of the English idols of (what +subsequently proved to be) the disloyal section of the public men of the +day in Upper Canada and their followers.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mackenzie's vehement attack upon the writer of these "Impressions" +had its effect at the time. In some minds a belief in the truth of that +attack lingered long afterwards—but not in the minds of those who could +distinguish between honest conviction, based upon actual knowledge, and +pre-conceived opinions, based upon hearsay and a superficial +acquaintance with men and things.</p> + +<p>As the troubled period of 1837 approached, hundreds had reason to be +thankful to Dr. Ryerson that the publication of his "Impressions" had, +without design on his part, led to the disruption of a party which was +being hurried to the brink of a precipice, over which so many well +meaning, but misguided, men fell in the winter of 1837, never to rise +again.</p> + +<p>It was a proud boast of Dr. Ryerson (as he states in the "Epochs of +Canadian Methodism," page 385), that in these disastrous times not a +single member of the Methodist Church was implicated in the disloyal +rebellion of 1837-8. He attributed this gratifying state of things to +the fact that he had uttered the notes of warning in sufficient time to +enable the readers of the <i>Guardian</i> to pause and think; and that, with +a just appreciation of their danger, members of the Society had +separated themselves from all connection with projects and opinions +which logically would have placed them in a position of defiant +hostility to the Queen and constitution.</p> + +<p>But, to return. The outburst of Mr. Mackenzie's wrath, which immediately +followed (on the evening of the same day) the publication of Dr. +Ryerson's "Impressions," was as follows:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The <i>Christian Guardian</i>, under the management of Egerton Ryerson, +has gone over to the enemy,—press, types, and all,—and hoisted +the colours of a cruel, vindictive, Tory priesthood.... The +contents of the <i>Guardian</i> of to-night tells us in language too +plain, too intelligible to be misunderstood, that a deadly blow has +been struck in England at the liberties of the people of Upper +Canada, by as subtle and ungrateful an adversary, in the guise of +an old and familiar friend, as ever crossed the Atlantic.</p></div> + +<p>In his "Almanac," issued on the same day, Mr. Mackenzie also used +similar language. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The arch-apostate Egerton, alias <i>Arnold</i>, Ryerson, and the +<i>Christian Guardian</i> goes over to Strachan and the Tories.</p></div> + +<p><i>Nov. 6th.</i>—In the <i>Guardian</i> of this day Dr. Ryerson inserted an +extended reply to Mr. Mackenzie, and, in calm and dignified language, +gave the reasons which induced him to publish his "Impressions." He +said:—</p> + +<p>We did so,—1st, As a subject of useful information; 2nd, To correct an +erroneous impression that had been industriously created, that we were +identified in our feelings and purposes with some one political party; +3rd, To furnish an instructive moral to the Christian reader, not to be +a passive or active tool, or the blind, thorough-going follower of any +political party as such. We considered this called for at the present +time on both religious and patriotic grounds. We designed this +expression of our sentiments, and this means of removing groundless +prejudice and hostility in the least objectionable and offensive way, +and without coming in contact with any political party in Canada, or +giving offence to any, except those who had shown an inveterate and +unprincipled hostility to Methodism. We therefore associated the +Canadian <i>ultra</i> tory with the English radical, because we were +convinced of their identity in moral essence, and that the only +essential difference between them is, that the one is top and the other +bottom. We therefore said, "that very description of the public press +which in England advocates the lowest radicalism, is the foremost in +opposing and slandering the Methodists in this Province."</p> + +<p>That our Christian brethren throughout the Province, and every sincere +friend to Methodism, do not wish us to be an organized political party, +we are fully assured—that it is inconsistent with our profession and +duty to become such. Out of scores of expressions to the same effect we +might quote quite abundantly from the <i>Guardian</i>, but our readers are +aware of them.</p> + +<p>That the decided part we have felt it our duty to take in obtaining and +securing our rights in regard of the Clergy Reserve Question, has had a +remote or indirect tendency to promote Mr. Mackenzie's political +measures, we readily admit; but that we have ever supported a measure, +or given publicity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> to any documents from Mr. Mackenzie, or any other +political man in Canada, on any other grounds than this, we totally +deny.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mackenzie's attack rests on four grounds: 1. That our language was +so explicit as to remove every doubt and hope of our encouraging a +"thick and thin" partizanship with him, or any man or set of men in +Canada; or, 2. That we did not speak in opprobrious, but rather +favourable terms, of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor; or, 3. That +we expressed our approbation of the principles and colonial policy of +Lord Goderich (now Earl Ripon), and those who agree with him; or 4. That +we alluded to Mr. Hume in terms not sufficiently complimentary. If Mr. +Mackenzie's wishes are crossed and his wrath inflamed, because we have +not entered our protest against His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, +we could not do so after we had learned the views of His Majesty's +Government, in a reply of His Excellency to an address of our Conference +about two years ago,<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> when every unfavourable impression had been +removed, and when good-will was expressed towards the Methodists as a +people; we have not so learned to forgive injuries—we have not so +learned to "honour and obey magistrates,"—we have not so learned our +duty as a minister, and as a Christian. We, as a religious body, and as +the organ of a religious body, have only to do with Sir John Colborne's +administration, as far as it concerns our character and rights as +British subjects; His Excellency's measures and administration in merely +secular matters lie within the peculiar province of the political +journalists and politicians of the day. If our offering a tribute of +grateful respect to Lord Goderich, who had declared in his despatches to +Canada his earnest desire to remove every bishop and priest from our +Legislature, to secure the right of petitioning the King to the meanest +subject in the realm, to extend the blessings of full religious liberty +and the advantages of education to every class of British subjects in +Canada, without distinction or partiality, and in every way to advance +the interests of the Province;—if honouring such men and such +principles be "hoisting the colours (as Mr. Mackenzie says), of a cruel, +vindictive, Tory priesthood," then has Mr. Mackenzie the merit of a new +discovery of vindictive cruelty, and with his own definition of liberty, +and his own example of liberality, will he adopt his own honourable +means to attain it, and breathe out death and destruction against all +who do not incorporate themselves into a strait-jacket battalion under +his political sword, and vow allegiance and responsibility to everything +done by his "press, types, and all?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Mackenzie did not reply to Dr. Ryerson in the spirit of his +rejoinder. He was a master of personal invective, and he indulged in it +in this instance, rather than discuss the questions raised on their +merits. He, therefore, turned on Dr. Ryerson, and, over his shoulders, +struck a blow at his venerable Father and his eldest Brother. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Father of the Editor of the <i>Guardian</i> lifted his sword against +the throats of his own countrymen struggling for freedom from +established churches, stamp acts, military domination, Scotch +governors, and Irish government; and his brother George figured on +the frontier in the war of 1812, and got wounded and pensioned for +fighting to preserve crown and clergy reserves, and all the other +strongholds of corruption, in the hands of the locusts who infest +and disturb this Province.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson's simple rejoinder to this attack on his Father and Brother +was as follows:—</p> + +<p>The man who could hold up the brave defenders of our homes and firesides +to the scorn and contempt of their countrymen, must be lost to all +patriotic and loyal feelings of humanity for those who took their lives +in their hands in perilous times.</p> + +<p><i>Nov. 14th.</i>—As to the effect of the "impressions" upon the country +generally, the following letter from Hallowell (Picton) written to Dr. +Ryerson by his brother John, may be safely taken as an example of the +feeling which they at first evoked. It is characterized by strong and +vigorous language, indicative of the state of public opinion at the +time. It is valuable from the fact that while it is outspoken in its +criticism of Dr. Ryerson's views, it touches upon the point to which I +have already referred, viz: the separation into two sections of the +powerful party which was then noted as the champion of popular rights. +Mr. Ryerson says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Your article on the Political Parties of England has created much +excitement throughout these parts. The only good that can result +from it is, the breaking up of the union which has hitherto existed +between us and the radicals. Were it not for this, I should much +regret its appearance. But we had got so closely linked with those +extreme men, in one way or another, that we cannot expect to get +rid of them without feeling the shock, and, perhaps, it may as well +come now as anytime. It is our duty and interest to support the +Government. Although there may be some abuses which have crept in, +yet, I believe that we enjoy as many political and religious +advantages as any people. Our public affairs are as well managed as +in any other country. As it respects the Reformers, so called, take +Baldwin, Bidwell, Rolph, and such men from their ranks, and there +is scarcely one man of character or honour among them. I am sorry +to say it, but it is so. The best way for the present is for us to +have nothing to say about politics, but treat the Government with +respect. Radcliffe, of the Cobourg <i>Reformer</i>, and Dr. Barker, of +the Kingston <i>Whig</i>, have come out in their true character. +Radcliffe is preparing a heavy charge against you. But let them +come; fear them not! I hope they will show themselves <i>now</i>. I +thought that you, in your reply to W. L. Mackenzie, did not speak +in a sufficiently decided manner. You say you have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> not changed +your views; but I hope you have in some respects. Although you +never were a Radical, yet have not we all leaned too much towards +them, and will we not now smart for it a little? But, the sooner it +comes on, the sooner it will be over.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. John Ryerson then gives the first intimation of the existence of +that germ of hostility to the recently consummated Union on the part of +the British Wesleyan Missionaries in this country—a hostility which +became at length so deep and widespread as to destroy the Union +itself—a union which was not fully restored until 1847. Mr. Ryerson +points out the political animus of the movement, and proceeds:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You see that the Missionaries are making great efforts to have +Kingston and York made exceptions to the general arrangements. +Should the English Committee listen to them, confidence will be +entirely destroyed. Their object is to make the British Conference +believe that we have supported Radical politics to an unlimited +extent, and that, therefore, the people will not submit to the +Union with such people; they (the Missionaries) are, however, the +authors of the whole trouble. Rev. Mr. Hetherington told me that +they were getting the back numbers of the <i>Guardian</i> to prove that +we had been political intimidators! They say that Mr. Marsden, the +President, told the members at Kingston that it they could make it +appear that we had done this, they should be exempted from the +Union, and be supplied with Missionaries from home.</p></div> + +<p>In a subsequent letter from Rev. John Ryerson, he discusses his +brother's "Impressions of Public Men in England," and utters a word of +warning to the Methodist people who have allied themselves too closely +with the disloyal party. He says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>What will be the result of your remarks in the <i>Guardian</i> on +Political Parties in England, I cannot say. They will occasion much +speculation, some jealousy, and bad feeling. I have sometimes +thought you had better not have written them, particularly at this +time, yet I have long been of the opinion (both with regard to +measures and men) that we leaned too much towards Radicalism, and +that it would be absolutely necessary to disengage ourselves from +them entirely. You can see plainly that it is not Reform, but +Revolution they are after. We should fare sumptuously, should we +not, with W. L. Mackenzie, of Toronto, and Radcliffe, of Cobourg, +for our rulers! I have also felt very unpleasant in noticing the +endeavours of these men (aided by some of our members) to introduce +their republican leaven into our Ecclesiastical polity. Is it not a +little remarkable that not one of our members, who have entered +into their politics, but has become a furious leveller in matters +of Church Government, and these very men are the most regardless of +our reputation, and the most ready to impugn our motives, and +defame our character, when we, in any way, cross their path. There +are some things in your remarks I don't like; but, on the whole, I +am glad of their appearance, and I hope, whenever you have occasion +to speak of the Government, you will do it in terms of respect. I +am anxious that we should obtain the confidence of the Government, +and entirely disconnect ourselves from that tribe of levellers, +with whom we have been too intimate, and who are, at any time, +ready to turn around and sell us when we fail to please them.</p></div> + +<p><i>Nov. 20th.</i>—In another letter to Dr. Ryerson from his brother John, at +this date, he says:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I deeply feel for you in the present state of agitation and trial. +My own heart aches and sickens within me at times; I have no doubt, +however much of a philosopher you may be, that you at times +participate in the same feelings; but, pursuing a conscientious +course, I hope you will at times be able to say:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"Courage, my soul! thou need'st not fear,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Thy great Provider still is near."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +</div> + +<p>The following sympathetic letter from Dr. Ryerson's friend, Mr. E. C. +Griffin, of Waterdown, written at the same time, gives another proof of +the unreasoning prejudice of those whose knowledge of the outer world +was circumscribed and superficial. In England, Dr. Ryerson saw things as +they were. He was, therefore, not prepared for the burst of wrath that +followed the plain recital of his "impressions" of men and things in +England. Mr. Griffin writes:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The respect I have for you and yours should at all times deter me +from bearing evil tidings, yet the same consideration would make it +a duty under peculiar circumstances. You have already learned that +the public mind has been much agitated in consequence of your +remarks in the <i>Guardian</i> on Mr. Joseph Hume, M.P., and Mr. Thomas +Attwood, M.P. (see page 123). On this Circuit it is truly +alarming—some of our most respectable Methodists are threatening +to leave the Church. The general impression has obtained (however +unjustly) that you have "turned downright Tory," which, in this +country, whether moderate or ultra, seems to have but one meaning +among the bulk of Reformers, and that is, as being an enemy to all +reform and the correction of acknowledged abuses. This general +impression among the people has created a feverish discontent among +the Methodists. The excitement is so high that your subsequent +explanation has seemed to be without its desired effect. I should +be glad if you would state distinctly in the <i>Guardian</i> what you +meant in your correspondence with the Colonial Secretary, when you +said you had no desire to interfere with the present emoluments of +the Church clergy (or words to that effect); and also of the term +"equal protection to the different denominations." You are, +doubtless, aware of the use made of these expressions by some of +the journals, and, I am sorry to say, with too much effect. These +remarks, taken in connection with those against Mr. Hume, is the +pivot on which everything is turned against you, against the +<i>Guardian</i>, and against the Methodists.</p></div> + +<p>A few days later Dr. Ryerson received another letter from Mr. Griffin, +in which he truthfully says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Perhaps there have not been many instances in which sophistry has +been applied more effectually to injure an individual, or a body of +Christians, as in the present instance. Whigs, tories, and radicals +have all united to crush, I may say at a blow, the Methodists, and +none have tried to do so more effectually than Mr. W. L. Mackenzie. +He persisted in it so as to make his friends generally believe that +the cause of reform was ruined by you. His abuse of you and your +friends, and the Methodists, is more than I can stand. He has +certainly manifested a great want of discernment, or he has acted +from design. I see that the Hamilton <i>Free Press</i> has called in the +aid of Mr. F. Collins, of the <i>Canadian Freeman</i>, to assist in +abusing you and your whole family.</p></div> + +<p>From Augusta, Rev. Anson Green wrote about the same time, and in a +similar strain, but not so sympathetically. He says:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I fear your impressions are bad ones. Our people are all in an +uproar about them.</p></div> + +<p><i>Nov. 22nd.</i>—Rev. William Ryerson writing from Kingston at this time, +reports the state of feeling there. He says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As to the <i>Guardian</i>, I am sorry to inform you that it is becoming +less popular than formerly. If your English "impressions" are not +more acceptable and useful in other parts than they are here, it +will add little to your credit, or to the usefulness of your paper +to publish any more of them. I know that you have been shamefully +abused, and treated in a most base manner, and by no one so much so +as by Mr. Radcliffe of the Cobourg <i>Reformer</i>. I hope you will +expose the statements and figures of the <i>Reformer</i> to our friends. +It is rather unfortunate that if you did intend, as is said, to +conciliate the Tory party in this country, you should have +expressed yourself in such a way as to be so much misunderstood.</p></div> + +<p><i>Nov. 23rd.</i>—Rev. Alvah A. Adams, writing from Prescott, says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>There are a few disturbances in our Zion. Some are bent on making +mischief. You need not be surprised that the Grenville <i>Gazette</i> +speaks so contemptuously of you and the cause in which you have +been, and are still, engaged. There are reasons why you need not +marvel at the great torrent of scurrilous invectives with which his +useless columns have of late abounded.</p></div> + +<p><i>Nov. 23rd.</i>—Although not so intended by Dr. Ryerson, yet the +publication of his "impressions," had the effect of developing the plans +of Mr. W. L. Mackenzie, and those who acted with him, much more rapidly +and fully than they could have anticipated. In the second supplement to +his <i>Colonial Advocate</i>, published November 23rd, Mr. Mackenzie used +this unmistakeable language:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The local authorities have no means to protect themselves against +an injured people, if they persist in their unconstitutional +career.... There are not military enough to uphold a bad government +for an hour, if the Rubicon has been passed; and well does Sir John +Colborne know that although he may hire regiments of priests here, +he may expect no more red-coats from Europe in those days of +economy.... He also knows that if we are to take examples from the +Mother Country, the arbitrary proceedings of the officers of his +government <i>are such</i> as would warrant the people to an open and +<i>armed resistance</i>.</p></div> + +<p><i>Dec. 6th.</i>—Dr. Ryerson having received a protest from five of his +ministerial brethren in the Niagara District,<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> against his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +"impressions" he wrote a remonstrance to each of them, but this did not +appease them. Rev. David Wright said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As an individual I am not at all satisfied either with the course +you have taken or the explanation given. Could you witness the +confused state of our Church on Stamford Circuit; the insults we +receive, both from many of our members and others of good standing, +you would at once see the propriety of the steps we have taken for +our defence. Hardly a tea-party or meeting of any kind, but the +<i>Guardian</i> is the topic of conversation, and the conversion of its +editor and all the preachers to Toryism. The Ranters and the +Ryanites are very busy, and are doing us much harm. I am more and +more convinced of the imprudence of the course you have taken, +especially at this trying time in our Church. In Queenston, +Drummondville, Chippewa, Erie, St. Davids, the Lane, and Lyons' +Creek the preachers are hooted at as they ride by. This is rather +trying. I assure you.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. James Evans said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You request me not to solicit any to continue the <i>Guardian</i> who +are dissatisfied, and who wish to discontinue. This is worse than +all beside. And do you suppose that, in opposition to the wish of +the Conference, and interest of the Church, I shall pay attention +to your request? No, my brother, I cannot; I will not. It shall be +my endeavour to obtain and continue subscribers by allaying as far +as practicable, their fears, rather than by telling them that they +may discontinue and you will abide the consequences. I am +astonished! I can only account for your strange and, I am sure, +un-Ryersonian conduct and advice on one principle—that there is +something ahead which you, through your superior political +spyglass, have discovered and thus shape your course, while we +land-lubbers, short-sighted as we are, have not even heard of it.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson, therefore, challenged these five ministers to proceed +against him as provided by the Discipline of the Church. In his reply to +them, he lays down some important principles in regard to the rights of +an editor, and the duty of his ministerial accusers. He said:—</p> + +<p>I beg to say that I cannot publish the criminating declaration of which +you speak. You will therefore act your pleasure in publishing it +elsewhere. The charges against me are either true or false. If they are +true, are you proceeding in the disciplinary way against me? Though I am +editor for the Conference, yet I have individual rights as well as you; +and the increased responsibility of my situation should, under those +rights, if possible, be still more sacred. And if our Conference will +place a watchman upon the wall of our Zion, and then allow its members +to plunge their swords into him whenever they think he has departed from +his duty, without even giving him a court-martial trial, then they are a +different description of men from what I think they are. If, as you say, +I have been guilty of imprudent conduct, or even "misrepresented my +brethren," make your complaint to my Presiding Elder, according to +discipline, and then may the decision of the Committee be published in +the <i>Guardian</i>, or anywhere else that they may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> say. So much for the +disciplinary course. Again, if "the clamour," as you call it, against +the <i>Guardian</i> be well founded, are you helping the <i>Guardian</i> by +corroborating the statement of that clamour? Can Brother James Evans +consistently or conscientiously ask an individual to take, or continue +to take the <i>Guardian</i>, when he or you publish to the world the belief +that its principles are changed? Will this quiet the "clamour?" Will +this reconcile the members? Will this unite the preachers? Will this +promote the harmony of the Church? Will it not be a fire-brand rather +than the "seeds of commotion?" One or two others here got a meeting of +the male members of the York Society, and proposed resolutions similar +in substance to yours, which were opposed and reprobated by brother +Richardson, on the very disciplinary and prudential ground of which I +speak, and rejected by the Society. In your declaration you say (not on +account of "clamour," or accusations of editors or others, but on +account of editorial remarks in the <i>Guardian</i>), "you express your +sentiments to save your character from aspersion." In this you imply +that the editor of the <i>Guardian</i> has misrepresented your sentiments, +and aspersed your character; and, if so, has he not changed his +principles? And, if he has changed his principles, is he not guilty of +falsehood, since he has positively declared to the reverse? You +therefore virtually charge him with inconsistency, misrepresentation, +and deliberate falsehood. Is this the fruit of brotherly love? Again, +you say that "our political sentiments are the same as before the visit +of the editor of the <i>Guardian</i> to England." Is not this equal to +asserting that the editor's sentiments are not the same? You therefore +say that you love me; that you desire the peace of the Church, and the +interests of the <i>Guardian</i>, yet you propose a course which will confirm +the slanders of my enemies—to implicate me with inconsistency and +falsehood—to injure the <i>Guardian</i>, and deprive yourselves of the +power, as men of honour and truth, to recommend it—to kindle and +sanction dissatisfaction among our Church members—to arm preacher +against preacher—and to criminate a brother before the public, without +a disciplinary trial. You say "our friends are looking out for it." Is +this the way, my brother, that you have quieted their minds, by telling +them that you also were going to criminate the editor? If this be so, I +am not surprised that there is dissatisfaction on your circuit. Brother +Evans said that nothing but a denial of having changed my opinions, and +an explicit statement of them, would satisfy our friends. I did so, and +did so plainly and conscientiously. Yet you do not even allude to this +expression of my sentiments, but still insist upon doing what is far +more than taking my life—stabbing my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> principles and integrity. I ask +if this is my reward for endangering my life and enduring unparalleled +labours, to save the Societies heretofore from being rent to the very +centre, and enduring ceaseless storms of slander and persecution for +years past in defending the abused character of my brethren? Are they +the first to lift up their heel against me? Will they join in the hue +and cry against me, rather than endure a "hoot," when I am unjustly +treated and basely slandered? I hope I have not fallen into such hands.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson received at this time a candid and kindly characteristic +letter from his youngest brother, Edwy, at Stamford, which indicated +that a reaction was taking place in regard to the much discussed +"impressions." He says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The present agitated state of the Societies, partly from the Union, +and, in a greater degree, from your "impressions" (which would have +been a blessing to our Societies, had they never been published) +make it very unpleasant to ask even for subscriptions to the +<i>Guardian</i>. We are here in a state of commotion; politics run high, +and religion low. "The <i>Guardian</i> has turned Tory," is the hue and +cry, and many appear to be under greater concern about it, than +they ever were about the salvation of their souls. Many again, have +got wonderfully wise, and pretend to reveal (as a friend, but in +reality as an enemy) the secrets of your policy. Under these +unpleasant circumstances, the Ranters have availed themselves of +the opportunity of planting themselves at nearly all our posts, and +sowing tares in our Societies.</p> + +<p>You have received a protest, signed by several preachers, and my +name among them. Those were my impressions at the time. Therefore I +thought it my duty, in connection with my brethren, to make my +protest. I have, however (since seeing the <i>Guardian</i>), been led to +believe you had not changed from what you were. Many of the +preachers are rejoiced that you were put in the editorial chair, +and feel strongly disposed to exert their influence that you may +not be displaced.</p></div> + +<p><i>Dec. 2nd.</i>—On this day Dr. Ryerson received a kind word of +encouragement from Mr. Alex. Davidson, a literary friend in Port Hope, +afterwards of Niagara. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have had an opportunity of seeing most of the provincial papers. +They exhibit a miserable picture of the state of the press. The +conduct of the editors ought, I think, to be exposed. I have been +afraid that from such unmerited abuse, you would quit the +<i>Guardian</i> in disgust, and I am glad to see that, though your mind +may be as sensitive as that of any other person, you remain firm.</p></div> + +<p>Another indication of the reaction in regard to the "impressions" is +mentioned in a note received from Rev. Ephraim Evans, Trafalgar. He +says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Mr. Thos. Cartwright, of Streetsville, who had given up the +<i>Guardian</i>, has ordered it to be sent to him again so that he may +not seem to countenance the clamour that has been raised against +you. Mr. Evans adds: "I am happy to find that the agitation +produced by the unwarrantable conduct of the press generally, is +rapidly subsiding; and, I trust, nay, am certain, that the late +avowal of your sentiments, will be perfectly satisfactory to every +sensible and ingenuous mind. I am, upon the whole, led to believe +that Methodism will weather out this storm also, and lose not a +spar."</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Dec. 6th.</i>—Among the many letters of sympathy received by Dr. Ryerson +at this time, was one from his Father, in which he says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I perceive by the papers that you have met with tempestuous +weather. I devoutly hope that the Great Pilot will conduct you +safely through the rocks and quicksands on either side.</p></div> + +<p><i>Jan. 6th, 1834.</i>—In a letter from Rev. Anson Green, at Augusta, it was +apparent that the tide of popular opinion against Dr. Ryerson had +turned. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have been very much pleased indeed with the <i>Guardian</i> during the +last few months. There is a very great improvement in it. In this +opinion I am not alone. Your remarks on the Clergy Reserve question +were very timely and highly satisfactory. A number of our brethren +have wished me to express to you the pleasure they feel in the +course which you have pursued as editor. There has been very great +prejudice against you in these parts, among preachers and people, +but I think they are dying out and will, I trust, shortly entirely +disappear. I hope we shall soon see "eye to eye."</p></div> + +<p><i>March 5th.</i>—In the <i>Guardian</i> of this day, Dr. Ryerson intimated +that:—</p> + +<p>Among many schemes resorted to by the abbettors of Mr. Mackenzie to +injure me, was the circulation of all kinds of rumours against my +character and standing as a minister. For proof, it was represented that +I was denied access to the Wesleyan pulpit in this town. When these +statements were made early in the year, the stewards and leaders of the +York Society met on the 11th of last January, and passed a resolution to +the effect</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>That being anxious, lest, under exciting circumstances, you might +be tempted to withhold your ministrations from the York +congregation, they desire their Secretary to inform you that it is +their wish, and they believe it a duty you owe to the Church of +Christ, to favour it with your views on His unsearchable riches as +often as an opportunity may present itself.</p></div> + +<p>As these rumours have now been revived, I published this resolution in +the <i>Guardian</i> of to-day.</p> + +<p>The capital offence charged against Dr. Ryerson in publishing his +"impressions" was his exposure of Joseph Hume, M.P., the friend and +patron of Mr. Mackenzie. (See pages 118 and 123.) In the <i>Guardian</i> of +December 11th, Dr. Ryerson fully met that charge. Among other things he +pointed out:—</p> + +<p>1st. That, having voted for a Church establishment in India, Mr. Hume +was the last man who should have been entrusted with petitions from +Upper Canada, against a Church establishment in Upper Canada. 2nd. That +Methodists emigrating to this country, when they learn that Mr. Hume is +regarded as a sort of representative of the principles of the Methodists +in Upper Canada, immediately imbibe strong prejudices against them, +refusing to unite with them, and even strongly opposing them,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> saying +that such Methodists are Radicals—a term which, in England, conveys +precisely the same idea that the term Republican does in this Province. +Thus the prejudices which exist between a portion of the Canadian and +British Methodists here, are heightened, and the breach widened. 3rd. +That even adherents of the Church of England here who were Reformers in +England join the ranks of those opposed to us when they know that Mr. +Hume is a chosen representative of our views in England; for the +personal animosity between the Whigs and Reformers and Radicals in +England is more bitter, if possible, than between the Radicals and +Tories, and far more rancorous than between the Whigs and Tories. There +is just as much difference between an English Reformer and an avowed +English Radical as there is between a Canadian Reformer and an avowed +Canadian Republican. In the interests of the Methodists, therefore, +religiously and politically, the allusion to Mr. Hume was justifiable +and necessary. Dr. Ryerson continues:—</p> + +<p>I may mention that so strongly impressed was I with these views, that in +an interview which I had with Mr. Secretary Stanley, a few days before +the Clergy Reserve petitions were presented by Mr. Hume, I remarked that +the people of Upper Canada, not being acquainted with public men in +England, had sent them to the care of a gentleman of influence in the +financial affairs of Great Britain, but that I was apprehensive that he +was not the best qualified to advocate a purely legal and religious +question. Mr. Secretary Stanley smilingly interrupted me by asking "Is +it Hume?" I replied, "It is, but I hope this circumstance will not have +the least influence upon your mind, Mr. Secretary Stanley, in giving the +subject that important and full consideration which its great importance +demands." Mr. Stanley replied: "No, Mr. Ryerson, be assured that the +subject will not be in the least prejudiced in my mind by any +circumstance of that kind; but I shall give it the most important and +grave consideration."</p> + +<p><i>May 24th.</i>—Within three months after Dr. Ryerson had stated these +facts in regard to Mr. Hume, overwhelming evidence of the correctness of +his statement that Mr. Hume was unfit to act as a representative, in the +British Parliament, of the people of Upper Canada, was given by Mr. Hume +himself in a letter addressed to Mr. W. L. Mackenzie, dated 29th March, +1834. In that letter Mr. Hume stated that Mr. Mackenzie's</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Election to, and subsequent ejection from the Legislature, must +hasten that crisis which is fast approaching in the affairs of the +Canadas, and which will terminate in independence and freedom from +the baneful domination of the mother country.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<p>He also advised that</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The proceedings between 1772 and 1782 in America ought not to be +forgotten; and to the honour of the Americans, for the interests of +the civilized world, let their conduct and the result be ever in +view.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson added: There is no mistaking the revolutionary and +treasonable character of this advice given to Canadians through Mr. W. +L. Mackenzie. Yet I have been denounced for exposing the designs of such +revolutionary advisers!</p> + +<p>The following is an extract from Mr. W. L. Mackenzie's remarks in the +<i>Colonial Advocate</i> on Mr. Hume's letter:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The indignant feeling of the honest old Reformer (Hume), when he +became acquainted with the heartless slanders of the unprincipled +ingrate Ryerson, may be easily conceived from the tone of his +letter.... Mr. Mackenzie will be prepared to hand the original +letter to the Methodist Conference.</p></div> + +<p><i>June 4th.</i>—In the <i>Guardian</i> of this date, Dr. Ryerson replied at +length to Mr. Hume's letter, pointing out how utterly and totally false +were Mr. Hume's statements in regard to himself. He, in June, 1832, +expressed his opinion of Mr. Hume (pages 118 and 123). He then said:—</p> + +<p>That was my opinion of Mr. Hume, even before I advocated the Clergy +Reserve petition in England,—such it was after I conversed with him +personally, and witnessed his proceedings,—such it is now,—and such +must be the opinion of every British subject, after reading Mr. Hume's +revolutionary letter, in which he rejoices in the approach of a crisis +in the affairs of the Canadas, "which will terminate in independence and +freedom from the baneful domination of the mother country!" I stated to +Mr. Mackenzie more than once, when he called upon me in London, that I +could not associate myself with his political measures. But +notwithstanding all my caution, I, in fact, got into bad company, for +which I have now paid a pretty fair price.... I cannot but regard it as +a blessing and happiness to the Methodist connexion at large, that they +also, by the admission of all parties, stand so completely distinct from +Messrs. Hume and Mackenzie, as to be involved in no responsibility and +disgrace, by this premature announcement of their revolutionary +purposes.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 25th.</i>—As to the final result of the agitation in regard to the +"Impressions," Rev. John Ryerson, writing from Hallowell (Picton), at +this date, says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The work of schism has been pretty extensive in some parts of this +District. There have as the result of it left, or have been +expelled, on the Waterloo Circuit, 150; on the Bay of Quinte, 40; +in Belleville, 47; Sidney, 50; Cobourg, 32; making in all 320. +There have been received on these circuits since Conference 170, +which leaves a balance against us of 150.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Remarks on the Result of the "Impressions."</span></p> + +<p>The result (on the membership of the Societies) of this +politico-religious agitation was more or less the same in other parts of +the Connexion. The publication of the "impressions" was (to those who +had for years been in a state of chronic war with the powers that be) +like the falling of the thunderbolt of Jove out of a cloudless sky. It +unexpectedly precipitated a crisis in provincial affairs. It brought men +face to face with a new issue. An issue too which they had not thought +of; or, if it had presented itself to their minds, was regarded as a +remote, if possible, contingency. Their experience of the working of +"British institutions" (as the parody on them in Upper Canada was +called), had so excited their hostility and embittered their feelings, +that when they at first heard Dr. Ryerson speak in terms of eulogy of +the working of these institutions in the mother country, they could not, +or would not, distinguish between such institutions in England and their +professed counterpart in Upper Canada. Nor could they believe that the +great champion of their cause, who in the past had exposed the +pernicious and oppressive workings of the so-called British institutions +in Upper Canada, was sincere in his exposition of the principles and the +promulgation of doctrines in regard to men and things in Britain, which +were now declared by Mr. W. L. Mackenzie to be heretical as well as +entirely opposed to views and opinions which he (Dr. Ryerson) had +hitherto held on these important questions. The novelty of the +"impressions" themselves, and the bitterness with which they were at +once assailed, confused the public mind and embarrassed many of Dr. +Ryerson's friends.</p> + +<p>In these days of ocean telegraphy and almost daily intercourse by steam +with Britain, we can scarcely realize how far separated Canada was from +England fifty years ago. Besides this, the channels through which that +intercourse was carried on were few, and often of a partizan character. +"Downing Street [Colonial Office] influence," and "Downing Street +interference with Canadian rights," were popular and favourite topics of +declamation and appeal with the leaders of a large section of the +community. Not that there did not exist, in many instances, serious +grounds for the accusations against the Colonial Office; but they, in +most cases, arose in that office from ignorance rather than from design. +However the causes of complaint were often greatly exaggerated, and very +often designedly so by interested parties on both sides of the Atlantic.</p> + +<p>This, Dr. Ryerson soon discovered on his first visit to England, in +1833, and in his personal intercourse with the Colonial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> Secretaries and +other public men in London. The manly generosity of his nature recoiled +from being a party to the misrepresentation and injustice which was +current in Canada, when he had satisfied himself of the true state of +the case. He, therefore, on his return to the Province, gave the public +the benefit of his observation and experience in England.</p> + +<p>In the light of to-day what he wrote appears fair and reasonable. It was +the natural expression of pleased surprise that men and things in +England were not so bad as had been represented; and that there was no +just cause for either alarm or ill feeling. His comparisons of parties +in England and in Canada were by extreme political leaders in Canada +considered odious. Hence the storm of invective which his observations +raised.</p> + +<p>He showed incidentally that the real enemies to Canada were not those +who ruled at Downing Street, but those who set themselves up—within the +walls of Parliament in England and their prompters in Canada—as the +exponents of the views and feelings of the Canadian people.</p> + +<p>The result of such a proceeding on Dr. Ryerson's part can easily be +imagined. Mr. Hume in England, and Mr. W. L. Mackenzie in Canada, took +the alarm. They very properly reasoned that if Dr. Ryerson's views +prevailed, their occupation as agitators and fomenters of discontent +would be gone. Hence the extraordinary vehemence which characterized +their denunciations of the writer who had so clearly exposed (as he did +more fully at a later period of the controversy), the disloyalty of +their aims, and the revolutionary character of their schemes.</p> + +<p>This assault on Dr. Ryerson was entirely disproportionate to the cause +of offence. Were it not that the moral effect of what he wrote—more +than what he actually said—was feared, because addressed to a people +who had always listened to his words with deep attention and great +respect, it is likely that his words would have passed unchallenged and +unheeded.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>I have given more than usual prominence to this period of Dr. Ryerson's +history—although he has left no record of it in the "Story" which he +had written. But I have done so in justice to himself, and from the fact +that it marked an important epoch in his life and in the history of the +Province. It was an event in which the native nobility of his character +asserted itself. The generous impulse which moved him to defend Mr. +Bidwell, when maligned and misrepresented, and Sir Charles Metcalfe, +whom he looked upon as unjustly treated and as a martyr, prompted him to +do full justice to English institutions,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> and to parties and leaders +there, even at the expense of his own pre-conceived notions on the +subject.</p> + +<p>By doing so he refused to be of those who would perpetuate an imposition +upon the credulity of his countrymen, and especially of those who had +trusted him and had looked up to him as a leader of men, and as an +exponent of sound principles of government and public policy. And he +refused the more when that imposition was practised for the benefit of +those in whom he had no confidence, and to the injury of those for whose +welfare he had laboured for years.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson preferred to risk the odium of interested partisans, rather +than fail to tell his countrymen truly and frankly the real state of the +case—who and what were the men and parties with whom they had to do in +England—either as persons in official life, or as members of +Parliament, or writers for the press. He felt it to be his duty to warn +those who would heed his warning of the danger which they incurred in +following the unchallenged leadership of men whose aim he felt to be +revolution, and whose spirit was disloyalty itself, if not a thinly +disguised treason.</p> + +<p>After the storm of reproach and calumny had passed away, there were +thousands in Upper Canada who had reason to cherish with respect and +love the name of one who, at a critical time, had so faithfully warned +them of impending danger, and saved them from political and social ruin. +Such gratitude was Dr. Ryerson's sole reward.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>It would be impossible, within the compass of this "Story," to include +any details of the speeches, editorials, or other writings of Dr. +Ryerson during the many years of contest for civil and religious rights +in Upper Canada. The <i>Guardian</i>, the newspaper press (chiefly that +opposed to Dr. Ryerson), and the records of the House of Assembly +contain ample proof of the severity of the protracted struggle which +finally issued in the establishment on a secure foundation of the +religious and denominational privileges and freedom which we now enjoy. +To the Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Baptists, etc., who joined +heartily with the Methodist leaders in the prolonged struggle, the +gratitude of the country must always be due.—J. G. H.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>March 7th.</i>—In the midst of his perplexing duties as editor, and the +storm of personal attack which his "impressions" had evoked, Dr. Ryerson +received a letter from his Mother. It must have been to him like "good +news from a far country." Full<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> of love and gratitude to God, it would +be to him like waters of refreshment to a weary soul. His Mother said:—</p> + +<p>With emotions of gratitude to God, I now write to you, to let you know +that the state of my health is as good as usual. Surely the Lord is +good, and doeth good, and His tender mercies are over me as a part of +the work of His hands. I find that my affections are daily deadening to +the things of earth, and my desires for any earthly good decreasing. I +have an increase of my desire for holiness of heart, and conformity to +all the will of God. I can say with the poet,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come life, come death, or come what will,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His footsteps I will follow still."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I long to say, "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Besiege the +throne of grace, dear Egerton, in my behalf. Pray that the Lord would +finish his work, and cut it short in righteousness, and make my heart a +fit temple for the Holy Ghost to dwell in. Oh, my son, be continually on +your guard. You have need to believe firmly, to pray fervently, to work +abundantly. Live a holy life, die daily; watch your heart; guide your +senses; redeem your time; love Christ, and long for glory. Give my love +to your wife, and to all whom who may enquire for me, and accept a share +yourself, from your affection-mother,</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Mehetabel Ryerson</span>.<br /> +Charlotteville, March 4th, 1834.<br /> +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>After his return from England, Dr. Ryerson received a letter from Rev. +Wm. Lord, dated Manchester, 25th March, 1834, in which he referred to an +incident of Dr. Ryerson's visit to his house while in England. He +says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Your company, I am thankful to say, was very useful to several +members of my family. The last time you prayed with us, an +influence was received by one or two, the effects of which have +remained to this day. I now allude more particularly to ——, who, +more than twenty times since, has met me at the door, saying, "Have +you a letter from Mr. Ryerson?"</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> As an example of the manner in which the Union was hailed +in some parts of the Province, a gentleman, writing from Merrickville on +the 11th December, mentions a gratifying incident in regard to it. He +says:—At one Quarterly Conference Love Feast, when the presiding Elder +told the assembled multitude that they were for the first time about to +partake of bread and water as a token of love under the name of British +Wesleyan Methodists, a general burst of approbation proceeded from +preachers, leaders, and members, and such a feeling seemed to pervade +the whole assembly, as it would be difficult to describe.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> See page 98.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Rev. Messrs. David Wright, James Evans, William Griffis, +jun., Henry Wilkinson and Edwy Ryerson. The protest was as follows: We, +the undersigned ministers of the W. M. Church, desirous to avert the +evils which may probably result to our Zion from "impressions" made by +certain political remarks in the editorial department of the <i>Guardian</i>, +take this opportunity of expressing our sentiments for your +satisfaction, and to save our characters from aspersion. First. We have +considered, and are still of the same opinion, that the clergy of the +Episcopal Church ought to be deprived of every emolument derived from +Governmental aid, and what are called the Clergy Reserves. Secondly. +That our political views are decidedly the same which they were previous +to the visit of the editor of the <i>Guardian</i> to England, and we believe +that the views of our brethren in the ministry are unchanged.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1834.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Events following the Union.—Division and Strife.</span></p> + + +<p>Dr. Ryerson has left nothing in his "Story" to illustrate this period of +his personal history, nor the strife and division which followed the +consummation of the union of the British and Canadian Conferences. These +untoward events are, however, fully described in the "Epochs of Canadian +Methodism," pages 247-311: They arose chiefly out of the differences +which disturbed the British and Canadian Methodist Societies in Kingston +and other places, and the separation in the Societies generally, caused +by the establishment of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1834.</p> + +<p>I have already given, in chapter xi., page 128, an extract of a letter +to Dr. Ryerson, from his brother John, indicating the causes of strife +between the British and Canadian Societies. I give the following letter, +also from the same gentleman, written from Hallowell early in November, +1833, in which he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Brother William and I called on the Rev. Mr. Hetherington at +Kingston. He said:—That there could be no union; that we were +Radicals; that they would not be united with us; that the District +Meetings of Lower Canada, Halifax, etc., intended to make common +cause with them; especially they intended to remonstrate against +giving up York and Kingston. They also intended to appeal to the +British Conference, and if they were not heard by it they would +appeal to the British people. If the British Conference will allow +its members to throw firebrands, arrows, and death around in this +way, and reciprocate their proceedings after this manner with +impunity, they are very different men from what I have taken them +to be.</p></div> + +<p><i>Nov. 20th.</i>—In a subsequent letter to Dr. Ryerson, his brother John +says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I fear much for the Union from the English Missionary party. Should +they, from any consideration, undertake to retain Kingston and +York, our cause there will be ruined. In case of such an event, I +will retire immediately, and bid farewell to the strife and toil in +which we have been engaged ever since we have been travelling +preachers. Let me know who have thrown up the <i>Guardian</i>. You will +have seen the Cobourg <i>Reformer's</i> attacks. It is of much more +importance for you to expose Mr. Radcliffe, the editor, than any +one else, and point out that, in his present enmity to Methodist +principles, this is not the first time he has endeavoured to break +the Methodist ranks, and to sow the seeds of discord among her +friends.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> I would take good care not to lean a hairsbreadth towards +radicalism. One reason of their making this onslaught is to scare +you, and induce you to say something which will excite the jealousy +of the Government, and the disapprobation of our British brethren, +and thereby destroy us with them as they seek to do with other +parties.</p></div> + +<p><i>Nov. 22nd.</i>—What is thus stated by his brother John was corroborated +by his brother William, who was stationed at Kingston, and who, in a +letter to Dr. Ryerson, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I need not say what my feelings were when I arrived at this place, +and found that arrangements had been made by Mr. Marsden, in +violation of the understanding with the Conference, and in defiance +of the opinions and wishes of every one of our friends in the town +and country, whose feelings have not only been wounded and grieved, +but have rendered the prospects of a union in this place more than +ever entirely hopeless. I have not been considered fit (probably +for want of ability) to act as Superintendent of such an important +station; I have no authority to receive or expel a member, or even +to preside in a meeting of Stewards and Leaders; while my +Superintendent is in Montreal or Quebec; whether or not he will so +stoop as to visit us at all, we cannot say. Besides being shut out +of the British Wesleyan Chapel, every possible means is being used +to prevent a single individual of their Society from attending our +Chapel; and my field of labour is not only greatly circumscribed, +but the prospect of usefulness is nearly destroyed. What my +feelings must be, under such circumstances, you can easily judge. I +can only say that as soon as I can see a way opened, and can do so +consistently, I will not labour as a travelling preacher one day +longer.</p></div> + +<p><i>January 8th, 1834.</i>—His brother John, in another letter to Dr. Ryerson +from Hallowell, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Whoever may be the agents in making alterations in our economy, I +will not be one. With "improvements," alterations, unions, and +disunions, we have been agitated long enough. I am done with such +business, henceforth and forever. At our last Conference it was +understood, and expressly stated that no alterations would +hereafter be attempted; and so we have assured the people. But +behold, before they receive that assurance, some alterations are +mooted. Do away with the Presiding Elders, lessen the Districts, +etc., and a dozen other things which will necessarily follow. The +reason urged for these changes is worse than the things +themselves—namely: If we don't, the British Missionaries will +write to the Superintendents and raise such a storm in England, +etc., etc. If this is the way we are to be governed, and if this is +the state of the Connexion at home, the Resolutions on Union, on +parchment or paper, are a miserable farce. The more I think on this +subject, the worse I like it.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter from Kingston to Dr. Ryerson on this subject, Rev. Joseph +Stinson says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have done my utmost to promote the union of the two Societies in +this town. If things are carried with too high a hand, we shall +lose our Kingston Chapel and congregation altogether; and, should +the Kingston people shut their Chapel against us, it will be +impossible to keep things quiet in Lower Canada. I do not think it +necessary to sacrifice the Union to Kingston, nor is it necessary +to sacrifice Kingston, because a number of disaffected radicals in +the Bay of Quinte like to make the state of things here an excuse +for their anti-methodistical proceedings. If there were no Kingston +in existence, these men would never cordially love the Union.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>April</i>, 1834.—Dr. Ryerson received a letter from the new President of +the Canada Conference (Rev. Edmund Grindrod) dated London, England, in +which the latter said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>One object of my visit will be to allay the hostility of our +Societies in the Lower Province to their union with us.</p></div> + +<p>Mr. Alder (said Mr. Grindrod) was to have accompanied him, but at Mr. +Bunting's suggestion this plan was abandoned in the hope that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The friends in Lower Canada, when they have had time to reflect, +would return to better views and feelings.</p></div> + +<p><i>Dec. 3rd.</i>—Writing to Dr. Ryerson from Kingston, at this date, Rev. +John C. Davidson<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have been told by the most influential members of the Leaders' +Meeting here that pledges to the following effect have been most +solemnly given to them by Mr. Alder and Mr. Grindrod, viz:—That +the members of the British Society here did not, and were never to +make a part of the Societies governed by the Canada Conference; +that they were to remain as they always were; that their numbers +were to be returned to the home Conference; that our Society was to +be merged in theirs; and Kingston become the head of the Missionary +establishment in Canada,—always to be the residence of the +Superintendent, who was to control and regulate the Kingston +Societies; and that the Presiding Elder was to have nothing to do +with the town; that a large chapel was to be forthwith built,—to +be deeded to the British Conference; and that the minister in +charge of Kingston was always to be an Englishman.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Towards the close of this year, the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada +was organized. Full details of this division are given by Dr. Ryerson in +the "Epochs of Canadian Methodism," pages 270-288. Happily this +separated branch of the great Methodist family is being re-united to the +parent stock in 1883. Further reference to the subject is, therefore, +unnecessary in this "Story." Nevertheless it should be remembered that +in the discussion and controversy which for years followed this event, +Dr. Ryerson occupied a foremost place as the champion on the Wesleyan +Methodist side.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> This gentleman entered the Methodist Church in 1827, +joined the Church of England in 1854, and was for many years a minister +of a congregation in the Province of Quebec. He died in 1881.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1834-1835.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Second Retirement from the "Guardian" Editorship.</span></p> + + +<p>As already intimated in Chapter xi., the publication of Dr. Ryerson's +"Impressions" of England, etc., in the <i>Guardian</i> of 1833, excited quite +a political and social sensation. Public men of all shades of opinion +had their feelings at once enlisted for or against the Editor of that +paper, and condemned or commended his course accordingly.</p> + +<p>Such a result did not cause much immediate concern to Dr. Ryerson. He, +as Editor, claimed from the first, and his opponents outside of the +Connexion admitted, that in battling for religious equality and +denominational rights, he should be left untrammelled. In other words, +that as Editor of a leading paper like the <i>Guardian</i>, he should be left +free to counsel, to advise and warn, and, if necessary, to take strong +ground on all questions involving purely civil rights, and the +constitutional exercise of the prerogative on the part of the Executive. +This was the more necessary, as civil and religious freedom were largely +identical in those days of undefined prerogative, irresponsible +government, and inchoate institutions.</p> + +<p>All parties, therefore, tacitly conceded what the Editor of the +<i>Guardian</i> claimed—a wide latitude and a reasonable discretion in +discussing questions of the day which involved either civil rights or +religious freedom. This wise discretion was the more necessary from the +fact that the <i>Guardian</i> was unquestionably the leading newspaper during +these years, and was edited with more than ordinary ability and +power.<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<p>Besides, there were many thoughtful men who took little part in +politics, and yet who looked with alarm on the claims and encroachments +of the Family Compact,—a powerful and influential party, and dominant +alike in church and state. Many of the able public men of the day, who +were moderate in their views, were nevertheless the champions of popular +rights. These men were Messrs. Bidwell, Baldwin, Dunn, and others. Their +influence was strongly felt in the House of Assembly, and was sustained +by their great moral worth and high social position. To such men the +powerful aid of the <i>Guardian</i>, in advocating the principles of equal +justice to all parties alike, was indispensable; and from its support +they derived much strength, and were greatly aided in maintaining their +position in the House and in the country.</p> + +<p>It was under these circumstances, and amid the peculiar exigencies of +the times, that the <i>Christian Guardian</i> became the great organ of +public opinion on the liberal side in Upper Canada. It can, therefore, +be well understood how at such a time, when the supremacy of party was +the question of the hour, the publication of Dr. Ryerson's +"impressions"—candid and moderate as they were—fell like a bombshell +amongst those in Canada who had set up as political idols such men as +Hume and Roebuck in England. To dethrone such idols was of itself bad +enough; but that was not the head and front of Dr. Ryerson's offending. +What gave such mortal offence was that Dr. Ryerson saw any good whatever +in the moderate English Conservative (though he saw none in the English +Tory). And worse still, that he saw many undesirable things in the +English Whigs, and nothing good in the English Radicals. To give special +point to these criticisms and comparisons Dr. Ryerson stated that:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Radicalism in England appeared to me to be another word for +Republicanism, with the name of King instead of President ... and +that the very description of the public press, which in England +advocates the lowest Radicalism, is the foremost in opposing and +slandering the Methodists in this Province. Hence the fact that +some of these editors have been amongst the lowest of the English +Radicals, previous to their egress from the mother country.</p></div> + +<p>The point of this criticism struck home; and, on the very day on which +it appeared, the cap was fitted upon the head of the leading radical of +the province. In fact, he placed it there himself, and thenceforth +proclaimed war to the knife against the Editor of the <i>Guardian</i>. (See +page 125.)</p> + +<p>With singular ability and zeal did Mr. W. L. Mackenzie carry on this +warfare. He at once saw what would be the effect of the new departure. +And so promptly and energetically did he denounce the "arch-apostate +Egerton, <i>alias</i> Arnold, Ryerson"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> as a deserter, that he secured with +little difficulty an impromptu verdict from the public against him. This +he the more readily accomplished, by the aid of at least half a dozen +editors of newspapers in various parts of the province, while Dr. +Ryerson was single-handed. Not only did these editors join with great +vigour in the hue and cry against Dr. Ryerson (for they had many scores +of their own to settle with their powerful rival), but many of Dr. +Ryerson's own brethren were carried away by the sudden outburst of +passion against him. Hundreds of the supporters of the <i>Guardian</i> turned +from him, as a deserter, and many gave up the paper.</p> + +<p>It is true that the tide soon turned; and those who had refused at first +to heed, or even to listen to, the words of warning uttered by Dr. +Ryerson in this crisis, were afterwards glad to profit by them, and thus +saved themselves in time from the direful consequences which followed +during the sad events of 1837-38.</p> + +<p>The effect, however, of that severe and unexpected encounter with +irrational prejudice (joined to the hostility of those whose plans were +prematurely disclosed and frustrated) was too much for one who, as a +Christian minister and a lover of his country, was filled with higher +aims than those of a mere politician.</p> + +<p>In the course of the discussion which followed, Dr. Ryerson came into +contact with some of the more unreasoning of his brethren. (See pages +130-133.) The question was raised as to how far the <i>Guardian</i> should be +involved in conflicts like the present, which from their very nature +introduced an apple of discord into the Connexion, as they partook more +of a political than of a religious character. This question was pressed +upon members of the Conference by the British Missionaries, whose +national prejudices and political sensibilities were, as they alleged, +wounded by the adverse strictures of the Editor of the <i>Guardian</i> on +Church Establishments, the Clergy Reserve question, and kindred topics.</p> + +<p>Knowing the impossibility of reconciling views so opposite as those +expressed by the British Missionaries and those of the great majority of +Canadian Methodists (as represented by the <i>Guardian</i>), Dr. Ryerson +resolved to retire from the editorship. This, by a vote of his brethren +in the Conference of 1834, he was not permitted to do. But, like a wise +and prudent counsellor amongst men of differing views, he determined to +take the initiative in settling, on a satisfactory basis, the future +course of the <i>Guardian</i> as to the discussion of political and social +questions. At that Conference, therefore, he prepared and submitted a +series of resolutions to the following effect:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>1. That the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, as the organ of the Conference, +shall be properly and truly a religious and literary journal, to +explain our doctrines and institutions, and, in the spirit of +meekness, defend them when necessary; to vindicate our character, +if expedient, when misrepresented; to maintain our religious +privileges, etc. 2. To publish general news, etc. 3. That the +<i>Christian Guardian</i> shall not be the medium of discussing +political questions, nor the merits of political parties; as it is +injurious to the interests of religion, and derogatory to our +character as a religious body, to have our Church amalgamated or +identified with any political party.</p></div> + +<p>These resolutions were cordially adopted by the Conference.</p> + +<p><i>October 4th, 1834.</i>—In a letter received by Dr. Ryerson from Rev. G. +Marsden, Liverpool, the latter referred to this subject and said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Your continuance in office, as editor, is of very high importance; +indeed, in some respects it is essential to the consolidation of +the Union. Loyalty to our Sovereign, and firm attachment to the +British Constitution will be supported by it. You will also be able +to defend, and to support sound Wesleyan Methodism; and the +foundation being now laid, you will be able to guard it well.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. E. Grindrod, also writing from England, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>From the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, I perceive that you have had a hard +battle to fight, but you have proved victorious; and at a future +day, I have no doubt, you will rejoice that the Lord counted you +worthy to suffer in the achievement of an object which will +probably result in immense benefit to a whole Province for +generations to come.</p></div> + +<p><i>January 28th, 1835.</i>—About this time Dr. Ryerson received a +remonstrance on the subject from his brother John, who said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The more I think of your leaving the office, the more unfavourably +I think of it. There is a tremendous opposition to it in these +parts (Hallowell), among both preachers and people. I think it will +do the paper a great wrong; you had better remain undisturbed until +next Conference.</p></div> + +<p><i>Feby. 20th.</i>—Rev. William Ryerson, in a kind letter from St. +Catharines, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The spirit and feeling displayed in your most interesting letter +has made the deepest impression on my mind. I know that you have +your own difficulties and troubles, yet they do not appear to +prevent the outflow of your sympathy for others. How sincerely do I +pray that the God of mercy and truth may graciously support you +under all your trials and difficulties, and in His good time bring +you out of them, purified as gold. I am exceedingly fearful that we +shall have more, and great difficulties, at our next Conference. +Every article and word in the <i>Guardian</i> is criticised and noted, +and made the subject of a large and constant correspondence, +especially with the local preachers, in different parts of the +Province. We shall be much embarrassed about the editorship of the +<i>Guardian</i>. Perhaps Providence will point out some suitable person +should you retire.</p></div> + +<p><i>May 27th.</i>—In the <i>Guardian</i> of this date, Dr. Ryerson again gave +expression to his long-cherished desire to retire from the editorial +management of that paper. He did so for reasons already given—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Besides (he said) it was the understanding entered into with the +Conference of 1834, when I consented to undertake the duty of +editor for one year. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> is gratifying to notice that the +vituperation of party interest and malevolence are nearly, if not +quite, spent. I have, in this and the last two numbers of the +<i>Guardian</i>, endeavoured to leave nothing for my successor to settle +on that score. My editorial career in the past has been during an +eventful and agitated period of our Provincial history. I have +steadily endeavoured to keep one object in view—the promotion of +Christianity and the prosperity of the country. In severing my +connection with a large portion of the reading public, I am moved +with feelings not easily expressed. My interest in the cause which +I have advocated, and in the general welfare of my native Province +(which has been intense for years past), will not be less so in any +future fields of labour.</p></div> + +<p>When it was found that Dr. Ryerson had finally decided to retire from +the editorship of the <i>Guardian</i>, various suggestions were made to him +as to his future field of labour. The Connexion in Lower Canada were +anxious to secure him as a minister there. The question came up at an +official meeting in Quebec, and Rev. William Lord, who presided, wrote +to Dr. Ryerson on the subject, in May, 1835, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Respecting your future appointment to this Province, I may mention +that several of the brethren objected to your leaving the Upper +Province, lest it should be thought you were sent away in disgrace. +I think, however, that I can obtain a station that will be deemed +honourable to yourself, and, I think, quite agreeable, affording a +fine field of usefulness. I am now sitting in the Quarterly +Meeting, and when the question of preachers for the next year came +on, I mentioned that I had conversed with you respecting taking a +circuit, in this Province. They unanimously requested that Brother +Wm. Squire and Brother Egerton Ryerson might be appointed to them +next year. I shall soon be in York, when I will endeavour to obtain +the consent of the friends there, and I think you will be pleased +with the place.</p></div> + +<p>As an indication amongst others of the appreciation in which Dr. +Ryerson's services were held, Rev. R. Heyland, in a letter to him from +Adolphustown, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The people in these parts are very desirous of seeing and hearing +the champion who has written so much in defence of Methodism, and +rescued the character of our Church from the odium which its +unprincipled enemies have been endeavouring to heap upon it for +years past. Be so good as to gratify them this once, and come and +dedicate our new chapel here.</p></div> + +<p><i>June 17th.</i>—On this day, for the second time, Dr. Ryerson took leave +of the readers of the <i>Guardian</i>—having been relieved by the Conference +of the duties of Editor, at his own request. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I was, however, elected Secretary of the Conference, and was +stationed at Kingston. In addition, I was appointed, with Rev. +William Lord, President of our Conference, a delegate to the +American General Conference.</p></div> + +<p>In his valedictory he said:—</p> + +<p>In relinquishing my present position my thoughts are spontaneously led +back to the period—ten years since—when I first commenced public life. +At that time the Methodists were an obscure, a despised, an ill-treated +people; nor had their church<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> the security of law for a single chapel, +parsonage, or acre of land.... Now the political condition and relations +of the Methodist connexion are pleasingly changed. Ten years ago there +were 41 ministers and 6,875 church members; now there are 93 ministers +and 15,106 church members. We may well thank God, therefore, and take +courage.</p> + +<p>I have no ill-will towards any human being. I freely and heartily +forgive the many false and wicked things said of me, publicly and +privately. I have written what I thought best for the cause of religion, +the cause of Methodism, and the civil interests of the country. I have +never received one acre of land, nor one farthing from Government, nor +of any public money. I have never written one line at the request of any +person connected with the Government. I count it to be the highest +honour to which I can aspire to be a Methodist preacher; and in this +relation to the Church and to the world I shall count it my highest joy +to finish my earthly course.</p> + + + +<p class="space">Dr. Ryerson's wish having been fully gratified, and the Conference of +1835 having relieved him of the editorship, he was stationed at +Kingston. This place, of all others, had been the scene of strife and +division between the British and Canadian branches of the Church, and +was the key to the position held by the British Missionaries in Upper +Canada. (See pages 128 and 141). Dr. Ryerson's arrival there and his +reception by the people at Kingston are described in a letter which he +wrote to his friend, Mr. S. S. Junkin, of the <i>Guardian</i> office, dated +July 15th:</p> + +<p>We have just arrived, and are for the present staying at the house of +Mr. Cassidy, the lawyer, where we receive every possible kindness and +attention. (See Chapter xxiii.)</p> + +<p>I have been very kindly received by the members here. Strong prejudices +have existed in the minds of individuals against me. But they are not +only broken down, but in the principal cases are turned into warm +friendship already. Some who were as bitter as gall, and croaking from +day to day that "the glory has departed," are now like new-born babes in +Christ; are happy in their own souls, praying for sinners, and doing all +they can to build up the cause. I can scarcely account for it. I never +felt more deeply humbled than since I came here. I have indeed resolved +to give my whole soul, body and spirit, to God and to His Church anew, +but I have had scarcely a tolerable time in preaching. Yet the Divine +blessing has specially accompanied the Word. On Wednesday night last the +fallow ground of the hearts of professors seemed to be completely broken +up. On Thursday night I was in the country, but was told the +prayer-meeting was the largest that had been held for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> two years. On +Sunday evening we had prayer-meeting after preaching. Several came to +the altar, two or three of whom found peace. I closed it at nine +o'clock, but some stayed and others came in, and it was kept up until +near one o'clock in the morning. On Monday night the altar was +surrounded with penitents, and the meeting, I was told (for I was not +there), was better than any former one, and was kept up until after +midnight. At our preachers and leaders' meeting last night there was a +good time. We have preaching and prayer-meeting again to-night. We have +formed the leaders' meeting of both chapels into one, to the +satisfaction of the brethren on both sides. I now begin to hope for +better times. My soul was bowed down like a bulrush for some days after +I came here. But I thank God I have a hold upon the salvation of Christ +that I had not felt for a long time before; and I do believe the Lord +our God will help us and bless us. I have preached at Waterloo twice +since I came down. The last time, several penitents came to the altar; +two professed to find peace, but it was upon the whole a dry time to me. +They are hard cases there. I attended a very blessed quarterly meeting +on the Isle of Tanti, on Thursday last. It was the best day to my own +soul that I have experienced for years.</p> + +<p>I feel like a man liberated from prison; but I have reason to believe +that the people are in general amazingly disappointed in my pulpit +exercises. They expected great things—things gaudy, stately, and +speculative,—and I gave them the simplest and most practical things I +can find in the Bible, and that in the plainest way. You would be amused +at the sayings of some of the plain Methodist people; they think that it +is the "real pure Gospel, but they did not expect it so, from that +quarter." I am told that Dr. Barker has said in his <i>Whig</i>, that my +"pulpit talents are nothing." I am very glad to have this impression go +abroad; it will relieve me from distressing embarrassments, and enable +me to do much more good in a plain way; for I know the utmost I can +attain in the pulpit is to make things plain, and sometimes forcible.</p> + +<p>We had a very blessed prayer-meeting last night, after preaching. A +considerable number of penitents came to the altar, and some found +peace. The work seems to be deepening among the Society. I think we +shall have a comfortable and prosperous year.</p> + +<p><i>September 24th.</i> In a subsequent letter to Mr. Junkin, Dr. Ryerson +speaks of a sudden and severe bereavement which had overtaken him. He +said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>My poor little son John<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> has been removed to the other and +better<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> country. He continued to walk about until within ten +minutes before his death, on the 22nd inst. After attempting to +take a spoonful of milk, he leaned back his head and expired in my +arms, without the slightest visible struggle. He has suffered much, +but expressed a desire that he might live, so that he could see his +little sister. He told me a few days before he died, that he hoped +to go to Heaven, because Jesus had died for him, and loved him. I +feel as a broken vessel in this bereavement of the subject of so +many anxious cares and fond hopes. But this I do know, that I love +God, and supremely desire to advance His glory, and that He does +all things for the best. I will therefore magnify His name when +clouds and darkness envelope His ways, as well as when the smiles +of His providence gladden the heart of man. O may He make me and +mine more entirely and exclusively His, than ever!</p></div> + +<p>In a letter to Mr. Junkin, dated November 14th, Dr. Ryerson says:—</p> + +<p>We all go into one chapel to-morrow, which will complete the Union. +Thank the Lord for it! Every one of our members of the "American" +Society (so called heretofore) has already taken sittings in the newly +enlarged chapel, and all things appear to be harmonious and encouraging. +Every pew in the body of the chapel has already been taken by our +brethren and intimate friends; and, notwithstanding the new chapel will +hold more than both the old ones, we are not likely to have enough +sittings to meet the applications that are likely to be made, when it is +known out of the Society, though the whole chapel above and below +(except one tier around the gallery) is pewed.</p> + +<p>I have learned that I shall have to take another trip to England. We had +just got comfortably settled here in Kingston; had become acquainted +with the people on all sides, and are happy in our souls, and in our +work. Nothing but the alternative, as Rev. William Lord deeply feels, of +the sinking or success of the Upper Canada Academy, could have induced +me this year to have undertaken such a task. But my motto is—"the cause +of God, not private considerations."</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> The amount of postage paid by newspapers would be a fair +indication of their circulation. For instance, in 1830-1, the postage on +the <i>Christian Guardian</i> was £228 sterling ($1,140), which exceeded by +£6 the aggregate postage paid by the thirteen following newspapers in +Upper Canada at that time, viz.:—Mackenzie's <i>Colonial Advocate</i>, £57; +<i>The Courier</i>, £45; <i>Watchman</i>, £24; <i>Brockville Recorder</i>, £16; +<i>Brockville Gazette</i>, £6; <i>Niagara Gleaner and Herald</i>, £17; <i>Hamilton +Free Press</i>, £11; <i>Kingston Herald</i>, £11; <i>Kingston Chronicle</i>, £10; +<i>Perth Examiner</i>, £10; <i>Patriot</i>, £6, <i>St. Catharines Journal</i>, £6; +<i>York Observer</i>, £3. Total £222, as against £228 paid by the <i>Guardian</i> +alone.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> John William, aged six years, one month, and eleven days. +(See pages 111 and 113.)—H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1835-1836.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Second Mission to England.</span>—<span class="smcap">Upper Canada Academy.</span></p> + + +<p>Scarcely had Dr. Ryerson been settled at Kingston in the enjoyment of +the freedom and pleasure of his new life as a pastor, than the +exigencies of the Upper Canada Academy called him a second time to +England. The causes of this sudden call upon his time and energies, on +behalf of the Academy, were many and pressing. They were caused chiefly +by the miscalculations, if not indiscreet zeal, of Rev. William Lord, +who, as President of the Conference and Chairman of the Trustee Board of +the Academy, had, by inconsiderate expenditure, plunged the Board into +hopeless embarrassment. (See page 166.)</p> + +<p>Mr. Lord was sanguine that what he did in Canada, on behalf of the +Academy, would, if properly represented, be cordially endorsed by the +brethren and friends in England. He, felt that although he himself might +not be able to realize these hopes by a personal appeal, yet he was +certain that the presence in England of Dr. Ryerson on such a mission +would be highly successful. He, therefore, as President of the Canada +Conference, called upon him to undertake this task. He furnished Dr. +Ryerson with such letters and appeals to influential friends as he hoped +would ensure success. Dr. Ryerson, acting on his motto, that "the cause +of God, not private considerations," should influence him, obeyed the +call, and set out for England on this difficult, and, as it proved, +arduous and protracted mission, on the 20th November, 1835.</p> + +<p>The nature and extent of the embarrassments of the Academy are stated in +the letters written to Dr. Ryerson after he had left for England. His +brother John said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>While you are travelling in England making collections for the +Academy, there are, I can assure you, a great many heartfelt +prayers and fervent supplications being offered in this country for +your success. The whole concern is in an extremely embarrassed +state. If Rev. William Lord had not urged us to expenditure, it +would have been at least £1,000 better for us, although what he did +at the time, he doubtless did for the best. Mr. Lord was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> means +of inducing the building committee to make an unnecessarily +expensive fence, out-houses, furniture, &c., saying at the time +that money would be forthcoming, and that John Bull never failed to +respond to such calls. We have applied to the Legislature for +assistance, but I think with but little prospect of success. Should +we not get anything there, and you raise no more than £2,000, we +must go down, and the concern be sold. It will require £4,000 or +£5,000 to get us out of debt. If you should collect no more than +£2,000 before you return home, don't fail to make some arrangements +for borrowing two or three thousand more.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. Mr. Lord, writing to Dr. Ryerson, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>By the delay in finishing the buildings, and the excitement caused +by the falsehood of the ultra-Radicals, confidence was gone, money +could not be raised, either by begging or borrowing; and if +something had not been done, the consequence would have been +ruinous. I expect that you will have me greatly blamed for not +considering before I drew bills on England for the debt, but there +was no time. The mischief would have been done before we could have +heard. The man would have been arrested immediately,—our character +ruined,—societies divided,—and subscriptions would have been +withheld. Our difficulties are great, and we must make a desperate +effort to extricate ourselves. Everything depends upon your making +a good case, which you can do.</p></div> + +<p>In another letter to Dr. Ryerson, from Canada, Mr. Lord said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Let me urge you to lose no time in obtaining a Charter and grant +from Government. I expect our Radical friends will be using their +influence through their friends to prevent your success. Be +diligent in procuring subscriptions. You possess great advantages +now, by the introductions with which you have been favoured. Mr. +Alder tells me that my bills will be dishonoured. If so, in +addition to the loss of character, there will be a waste of +property in fines, &c. We are all distressed, our drafts are coming +due and the Banks have ceased to discount, in consequence of the +stagnation of trade, through "stopping the supplies." We have +agreed upon a temporary mode of relief, by drawing upon you for +about £500. It has given me great surprise and sorrow to ascertain +that upwards of £5,000 are wanted to relieve us from our +difficulties. What an unfathomable depth this building has reached. +You must stay in England until the money is got. Use every effort, +harden your face to flint, and give eloquence to your tongue. This +is your calling. Excel in it! Be not discouraged with a dozen of +refusals in succession. The money must be had, and it must be +begged. My dear Brother, work for your life, and I pray God to give +you success. Do not borrow, if possible. <i>Beg, beg, beg</i> it all. It +must be done!</p></div> + +<p>Such were the circumstances under which this important mission was +undertaken by Dr. Ryerson. As a set off to these disheartening letters, +Dr. Ryerson received the following from some of his brethren in Canada. +Rev. Ephraim Evans said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have become a consenting party to your being solicited, at +considerable sacrifice of feeling, to undertake a tedious journey +at the most untoward season of the year, for the good of the common +cause, and I sincerely tender, in common with my Brother James, my +best thanks for your kind compliance, and my hearty wishes for your +complete success. Indeed I feel most deeply that upon your success +depends, under God, the prosperity or downfall of the Upper Canada +Academy. Be assured that my most fervent prayers will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> daily +offered up for your health and safety, for a happy issue to attend +your generous endeavours again to promote the interests of the +Church of our mutual affection.</p> + +<p>I entertain not the slightest hope of being able to procure such a +Charter as we would be justifiable in accepting, or any support to +the institution from our own Legislature.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. John Ryerson, writing from Hallowell, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Your friends in Kingston (and all the Methodists there seem to be +such) spoke much about you and your successful labours there. +Brothers Counter, Jenkins, and others, say they are resolved to +have you for their preacher next year, on your return from England. +I hope and pray that good luck will attend your efforts. Everything +depends on the issue of your mission. May the Lord give you favour +in the eyes of the people, and good success in your vastly +important work.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. Joseph Stinson, writing from Kingston, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We all feel very strange now that you are gone, but be of good +cheer; we follow you with our sympathy and prayers. We doubt not +but God—that God in whose cause you are making this additional +sacrifice, will succeed your labour, and cause all things to work +together for your good.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter from London, England, Dr. Ryerson says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Mr. Lunn and other friends have arrived from Quebec, and have given +me Canadian news, among other items the stations of various +ministers: Rev. James Richardson and Rev. J. S. Atwood withdraw +from the Conference, and Rev. Mr. Irvine goes to the States. The +President and I remain at Kingston. I have been appointed, by a +unanimous vote, the representative to the British Conference, and I +am to present to Lord Glenelg an Address from the Conference to the +King. On the 18th of June, 1836, the Upper Canada Academy was +opened, and the Principal (Rev. M. Richey) inaugurated.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson added:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am to stay in Birmingham, at the house of a worthy and wealthy +Quaker, by the name of Joseph Sturge.</p> + +<p>At the general meeting of the Missionary Committee, held recently +the resolutions of the Committee relative to the withdrawal of the +Government grant for the work in Upper Canada were read. Dr. +Bunting rose and mentioned its restoration, and kindly and +cordially mentioned me as the means of getting it restored. He gave +a flattering account of my proceedings in the affair. I thanked him +afterwards for his great kindness in the matter.</p></div> + +<p>The labours and result of this, Dr. Ryerson's second mission to England, +are given in Chapter xvi., pages 158-166.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1835-1836.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">The "Grievance" Report; its Object and Failure.</span></p> + + +<p>Amongst the Committees of the House of Assembly at this time was a +useful one called the "Committee on Grievances." To this Committee was +referred all complaints made to the House, and all projects of reform, +etc. At the close of the Session of 1835, Mr. W. L. Mackenzie, as +Chairman, brought in an elaborate Report which, without being read, was +ordered to be printed. In that Report, Mr. Mackenzie endeavoured to +create a diversion in his favour by showing that while Dr. Ryerson +professed to be opposed to Government grants to religious bodies, yet he +was willing to receive one for the Wesleyan Conference. The Report +stated that:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The "British Wesleyan Methodist Conference," formerly the M.E. +Church, received £1,000 in 1833, and £611 in 1834, to be applied +... "to the erection, or repairing of chapels and school-houses, +and defraying the general expenses of the various missions."</p> + +<p>This appropriation to the Methodists, as an Ecclesiastical +Establishment, is very singular. In the year 1826 ... Dr. Strachan +informed the Colonial Minister that the Methodist ministers +acquired their education and formed their principles in the United +States.... They appealed to the House of Assembly, which inquired +into and reported on the matter in 1828.</p> + +<p>Upon another occasion they received a rebuke from Sir John Colborne +... in answer to the Address of the Conference requesting him to +transmit to His Majesty their Address on the Clergy Reserves. +Since, however, a share of public money has been extended to and +received by them, there seems to have been established a mutual +good understanding.</p></div> + +<p>To this Report, Dr. Ryerson replied to the effect—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>That the grant was made to the British Conference in England (over +which we had no control) and not to the Canada Conference; that the +grant in question was made by Lord Goderich, as part of a general +scheme agreed upon in 1832, to aid Missionaries in the West Indies, +Western, and Southern Africa, New South Wales, and Canada, "to +erect chapels and school-houses in the needy and destitute +settlements;" that the Rev. R. Alder had come from England, in +1833, to establish separate and distinct missions from those under +the Canada Conference with a view to absorb this grant; that when +the Union was formed, in 1833, the missions in charge of the Canada +Conference became the missions of the British Conference, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> were +managed by their own Superintendent; that the Canadian Missionary +Society from that time became a mere auxiliary to the parent +Society in England; that the Canada Conference assumed no +responsibility in regard to the funds necessary to support these +missions; and that, in point of fact, they had cost the British +Methodists thousands of dollars over and above any grant received +from Lord Goderich as part of the general scheme for the support of +missionaries in the extended British Colonies.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson, in concluding these explanations, adds:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We trust that every reader clearly perceives the unparalleled +parliamentary imposition that has been practised upon the public by +the "Grievance Committee," and their gross insinuations and +slanders against the Methodist ministers.</p></div> + +<p>In 1836, the Report of the Grievance Committee came up in the House +again. On this subject Rev. John Ryerson wrote in March, 1836, to Dr. +Ryerson, in London, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The altercations and quarrels which have taken place in the +Assembly this session on the part of Peter Perry and W. L. +Mackenzie, especially about the "Grievance Report," have raised you +much in the estimation of the people. The correctness of your views +and statements are now universally acknowledged, and your defamers +deserted by all candid men. Political things are looking very +favourable at the present time. The extremer of the Radical party +are going down headlong. May a gracious Providence speed them on +their journey!</p></div> + +<p>To Mr. Perry, Dr. Ryerson replied fully and explicitly. He said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Mr. Perry has charged me with departing from my former ground in +regard to an ecclesiastical establishment in Upper Canada. My +editorials and correspondence with Her Majesty's Government will be +considered conclusive evidence of the falsity of the charge, and +will again defeat the attempts of the enemies of Methodism to +destroy me and overthrow the Conference. Another cause of attack by +Mr. Perry is, that amongst several other suggestions which I took +the liberty to offer to Lord Glenelg, Colonial Secretary, was the +appointment of a certain gentleman of known popularity to the +Executive Council. Mr. Perry seemed to consider himself as a sort +of king in Lennox and Addington, and appears to regard it as an +infringement upon his sovereign prerogatives that I should be +stationed so near the borders of his empire as Kingston. But many +of his constituents can bear record whether the object of my +ministry was to dethrone Peter Perry, or to break down the power +and influence of a much more formidable and important +personage—the power of him that ruleth in the hearts of the +children of disobedience.<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p></div> + +<p><i>March 30th, London.</i>—During his stay in England, Dr. Ryerson had been +able to look upon public affairs in Upper Canada with more calmness, and +more impartiality, than when he was there in the midst of them as an +actor. In that spirit he, at this date, addressed a letter to the +<i>Guardian</i> on what he regarded as an approaching crisis of the highest +importance to the Province. He said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It is not a mere ephemeral strife of partizanship; it is a +deliberate and bold attempt to change the leading features of the +Constitution—a Constitution to which allegiance has been sworn, +and to which firm attachment has been over and over again expressed +in addresses to the Governor up to 1834. Such being the case, it +becomes every man who fears God and loves his country to pause, to +think, to decide. I have told the Colonial Secretary, that whilst +the Methodist Church asked for nothing but "equal and impartial +protection," yet I believed the attachment to the Constitution of +the country and to the British Crown, expressed in petitions and +addresses from the Methodist Conference and people of Canada, to be +sincere, and that they would prove to be so in their future +conduct. They had been falsely charged as being Republicans, but +they had always repudiated this charge as a calumny. Nor would they +be found among those who, like Messrs. Peter Perry and W. L. +Mackenzie, had recently avowed their intention to establish +republican elective institutions in the Province.</p> + +<p>As to the charges of the "Grievance Committee" party, I can truly +say that I have never received one farthing of public money from +any quarter, and my humble support to my King and country is +unsought, unsolicited, and spontaneous.</p></div> + +<p><i>May 21st—London.</i>—At this date Dr. Ryerson wrote:—</p> + +<p>During my exile here in England I have more and more longed for news +from Canada, and cooling water to the panting hart could not be more +refreshing than late intelligence from my dear native land has been to +me. I can now listen with an interest and sympathy that I never did +before, to the patriotic effusions of the warm-hearted and eloquent +Irishmen, whom I have recently heard, respecting "the first flower of +the earth, the first gem of the sea."</p> + +<p>The news from Canada presents to my mind strange contrasts. A few years +ago efforts were made to prove that the Methodist ministers were the +"salaried hirelings" of a foreign republican power. Now efforts are +being made to persuade the Canadian public that the same ministers are +the salaried hirelings of British power, because they refuse to be +identified with men and measures which are revolutionary in their +tendencies. Our motto is "fear God and honour the King," and "meddle not +with them that are given to change." Many who were influenced to take +part in the former crusade have long since given proof of a better +spirit; so it will be, I trust, with those who have now been hurried on +into the present shameless and malignant opposition, against a cause +which has confessedly been of the highest spiritual and eternal +advantage to thousands in Upper Canada. I venture to predict that not a +few of our partizan adversaries will ere long lament their madness of +political idolatry and religious hostility. In the former case, +Methodism survived, triumphed, and prospered; in the present case, if we +are true to our principles and faithful to our God, He will again "Cause +the wrath of man to praise Him, and restrain the remainder of that +wrath."</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> Dr. Ryerson's reply to Mr. Perry was afterwards reprinted +as an election flysheet, headed "Peter Perry Picked to Pieces by Egerton +Ryerson," and circulated broadcast in the counties. It resulted in Mr. +Perry being rejected as M.P.P. for Lennox and Addington in the elections +of 1836. (See Chapter xxiii.)</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1836-1837.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Dr. Ryerson's Diary of his Second Mission to England</span></p> + + +<p>The following is from Dr. Ryerson's diary (which is incomplete) giving +the result of his experiences and labours in England, during his second +mission there.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>London, January 1st, 1836.</i>—I am again in the great metropolis of +the Christian world. My wife and I left our native land, and +affectionate pastoral charge, on the 20th of November, 1835, and +arrived here the 30th of December, after a voyage of tempest and +sea-sickness. But to the Ruler of the winds, and the Father of our +spirits, we present our grateful acknowledgments for the +preservation of our lives. To our Heavenly Father have I, with my +dear wife, presented ourselves at the commencement of this new +year. O, may we through grace keep our vows, and henceforth abound +in every Christian grace and comfort, every good word and work!</p> + +<p>We have been most kindly received by the Missionary Secretaries and +other brethren; the prospects appear encouraging for the success of +our mission: another ground of thankfulness, increased zeal, and +faithfulness.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 2nd.</i>—Called at the Colonial Office to present my note of +introduction from Sir John Colborne to Lord Glenelg. We were +admitted to an interview with Mr. (afterwards Sir James) Stephen, +Assistant Colonial Secretary, who promised to present Sir John +Colborne's letter to Lord Glenelg, and inform me when he would +receive me. To-day I received a call from my kind and excellent +friend, Rev. John Hannah, a thorough scholar, a profound divine, an +affectionate, able, and popular preacher. He heartily welcomed us +to the country.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 3rd—Sabbath.</i>—It being the first Sabbath in the year, I +attended that most solemn and important service—the renewal of the +covenant. It was conducted by Rev. Dr. Bunting, in a manner the +most impressive and affecting I ever witnessed. There were but few +dry eyes in the chapel. He spoke of the primary design of Methodism +as not to oppose anything but sin—not to subvert existing forms of +faith, but to infuse the vital spirit of primitive Christianity +into them. Dr. Bunting said that the renewal of the covenant was a +service peculiar to Methodism, and expatiated on the importance of +its being entered upon advisedly, and in humble dependence upon +Divine grace. After singing, the whole congregation knelt down, +remaining some time in silent prayer. After Dr. Bunting, as their +mouthpiece, read the covenant, all then rose and sang "The covenant +we this moment make," etc. The Lord's Supper was administered to +several hundred persons, and the services concluded with singing +and prayer.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 4th.</i>—I spent the evening at Rev. Mr. Alder's, in company +with Dr. Bunting, Rev. John Bowers, and Rev. P. L. Turner. In +conversation, the religious and general interests of the Methodist +Connexion were introduced. I was no less edified than delighted +with the remarks of Dr. Bunting,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> especially those which related to +the former distinction between, and the present confounding of, +supernumerary and superannuated preachers, and the desirableness of +restoring the ancient distinction. He spoke of the experience +requisite to, and evils of general legislation in, Church +affairs—introducing matters of legislation into Quarterly +Meetings, etc. Dr. Bunting's prayer at parting was deeply +spiritual.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 5th.</i>—Spent the day in writing an article for the +<i>Watchman</i>, on the present state of the Canadas; and in drawing up +some papers on the Upper Canada Academy. Had a pleasant visit from +Rev. John Beecham, one of the Missionary Secretaries.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 6th.</i>—Met at the Mission House with Rev. Richard Reece, +President of the Conference. He is, I believe, the oldest preacher +who has filled the presidential chair since the days of Wesley.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 10th, Sunday.</i>—In the morning heard Rev. Mr. Cubitt, and in +the evening endeavoured to preach for him.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 13th.</i>—Received a note from Lord Glenelg fixing the time +when he would receive me.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 14th.</i>—Spent a delightful evening in company with Rev. John +Hannah and wife, Dr. Sandwich (Editor of the <i>Watchman</i>) and wife, +and several others. The conversation principally turned upon the +learning of the ancients, and the writings of the early Protestant +Reformers and their successors. Dr. Sandwich is a very literary +man, Mr. Hannah an excellent general scholar.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 15th.</i>—Spent the evening with Rev. William Jenkins, an old +superannuated minister, in company with several friends. Mr. and +Mrs. Jenkins are a venerable couple about 80 years of age.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 17th—Sabbath.</i>—Heard the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel. The +Church was plain, the congregation large, and very attentive and +solemn. A large number of school children were present; the little +girls all dressed alike; they all had prayer and hymn books; they +read the responses and sung with the utmost correctness. In the +afternoon we went to that splendid monument of art and wealth—St. +Paul's. The sermon was more evangelical than I expected. In the +evening I preached to a very large congregation in St. George's +Chapel, Commercial Road. A gracious influence seemed to rest on the +congregation.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 24th—Sabbath.</i>—Preached in the Hinde-street Chapel. In +Surrey Chapel I heard Rev. James Parsons, of York, one of the first +preachers of the day. Surrey Chapel is the place of the celebrated +Rowland Hill's protracted ministry. Its shape is octagon, and it +will seat 3,000 persons. The church service was read well by a +person of strong, sonorous voice. At the conclusion of the church +service Mr. Parsons ascended the pulpit. His prayer was simple, +unaffected, and scriptural. His text was Luke xi. 47-48. His manner +was by no means pleasing; he stood nearly motionless, and appeared +to be reading his sermon. Yet attention was riveted; the current of +thought soon began to rise, and continued to swell, until he came +to a pause. Then there was a general burst of coughing; after which +the preacher proceeded in an ascending scale of argument, until he +had his audience entranced, when he would burst forth upon his +captives with the combined authority and tenderness of a conqueror +and deliverer, and press them into the refuge city of Gospel +salvation.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 25th.</i>—Attended a Missionary-meeting in Southwark Chapel. +Mr. Thomas Farmer, presided. Several spake: one a New Zealander, +whose wit and oddities amused all, but profited none.</p> + +<p><i>Jan. 26th.</i>—Had an interview with Lord Glenelg, on the subject of +my mission. We can get a charter for the Upper Canada Academy, but +assistance is uncertain. His Lordship was very courteous and +communicative. He thanked me for the information I gave him +concerning the Colonies.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Jan. 31st, Sunday.</i>—Preached twice to-day (in City Road and +Wilderness Row). The Lord was with me, and I believe I did not +labour in vain.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 13th.</i>—Had an interview with the Rt. Hon. Edward Ellice; was +received with great kindness; he promised to use his utmost +influence to promote the object of my mission at the Colonial +office.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 18th.</i>—Called at the residences of several of the nobility; +found none at home, but Lord Ashburton, who gave me £5.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 20th.</i>—Made no progress in the way of collecting; much +ceremony is necessary. Have obtained some useful information, and +written to Sir Robert Peel on the object of my mission.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 21st, Sunday.</i>—Heard the Rev. Peter McOwan preach. It was +the best sermon I have heard from a Methodist pulpit since my +arrival in England. I preached in Great Queen-street Chapel in the +evening, on the new birth. I think the Lord was present to apply +the word.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 22nd.</i>—Called upon Lord Kenyon. I was very courteously +received; but His Lordship declined subscribing on account of the +many objects to which he contributed in connection with America. He +expressed his good wishes. I next called upon the Earl of +Aberdeen—Colonial Secretary under Sir Robert Peel's government. He +expressed himself satisfied with my letters from Upper Canada, but +said that he would enquire of Mr. Hay, late under Colonial +Secretary, and directed me to call again. I was also received by +Dr. Blomfield, Lord Bishop of London. Dr. Blomfield is a handsome +and very courteous man. He declined subscribing on account of its +not having been recommended by the Bishop of the Diocese; was not +unfriendly to my object; said he had a high respect for the +Wesleyan body, and considered they had done much good; he had +expressed this opinion in print.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 23rd.</i>—Addressed a letter to Lord Glenelg requesting an +early answer to our application, stating our pressing +circumstances. Called upon Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P., who gave me +£5. I find it very hard and very slow work to get money.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 24th.</i>—Received an answer from Sir Robert Peel in the +negative. His reason is non-connection with Upper Canada! A +gentleman of the house of Thomas Wilson & Co. gave utterance to a +sentiment which singularly contrasted with the selfishness of Sir +Robert Peel. He said: Education was the same thing throughout the +world, and that was the light in which this institution should be +viewed. His house gave me ten guineas, and have kindly engaged to +furnish me with names of other gentlemen.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 25th.</i>—Obtained £21 for the Academy. The sentiments +expressed by two of the gentlemen on whom I called deserve to be +recorded. Mr. A. Gillespie, jun., who is connected with Lower +Canada, after subscribing £10 and furnishing me with a list of +names of merchants engaged in trade with the Canadas, said:—"I am +a member of the Church of Scotland, but I have a high respect for +John Wesley and Dr. Bunting. I admire the principles of John +Wesley, and hope you will abide by them, and that they will be +taught in this institution. Above all things keep out Socinianism." +I then called on a Mr. Brooking, who said:—"I feel happy in the +opportunity of contributing to such an object. I have been in the +North American provinces and know that nothing is wanted more than +good institutions for the education of youth, and especially under +the superintendence of the Methodists. From what I have seen I +believe they have done more good in the colonies than any other +Church. Though I am a member of the Church of England, I feel it my +duty as a Protestant, and a friend to religion, to give my utmost +mite to the labours of your ministers in the colonies. I believe in +those new countries the Methodists are the bulwark of Protestantism +against popery and infidelity, and I am glad you are establishing +such an institution."</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 27th.</i>—Received the greatest kindness from Mr. E. H. +Chapman,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> who was in Upper Canada last summer, and had seen the +institution at Cobourg. He expressed himself happy in the +opportunity to subscribe, and said he had travelled two days with +Sir John Colborne. Mr. Chapman considered, of all people, the +Methodists the most active and successful in imparting religious +instruction to the Colonists.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 28th—Sabbath.</i>—Preached at Islington; then dined with a Mr. +Brunskill, who was well versed in the history of Methodism.</p></div> + +<p>From this date until the close of July there is no record in Dr. +Ryerson's diary. From letters written by him to Canada, I therefore +continue the narrative:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Birmingham, April 11th.</i>—During a delightful visit here at the +missionary anniversaries I had an opportunity of hearing and +conversing with two of the most remarkable men of the present day: +William (or, as he is called, Billy) Dawson, the Yorkshire farmer, +and the venerable Gideon Ousley, the patriarchal Irish missionary. +Mr. Dawson excelled in his own characteristic way any man I ever +heard. His great strength lies in a matchless power of graphic +description, dramatic imitation, and hallowed unction from the Holy +One. He is a man of an age. At the missionary breakfast I sat +beside the venerable Ousley, and told him of some of his spiritual +children in Canada that I knew. He gave God the praise, and desired +me to deliver this message to his old friends and spiritual +children in Canada: "I am now in my 75th year, labouring as hard as +ever; am well, and strong. Be faithful unto death. I will meet you +in Heaven."</p> + +<p><i>London, June 8th.</i>—To-day my brethren are assembling in Annual +Conference at Belleville. It is the first conference in the +proceedings of which, I have not been permitted to take a part +since I entered the ministry. A considerable part of the day I +spent in imploring the divine blessing upon the deliberations of my +brethren. After reckoning the difference of time, I retired at the +hour when I knew they would be engaged in the conference +prayer-meeting in order to unite with them at the throne of the +Heavenly grace; and truly, I found it refreshing indeed to be +present in spirit with them in beseeching the continual direction +of the Divine Pilot to guide the Wesleyan ship over the tempestuous +sea. I long to be with my fellow-labourers in Canada in their toils +as well as joys. "If I forget thee," O thou Spiritual Jerusalem of +my native land, "let my right hand forget its cunning, and my +tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. Peace be within thy walls, +and prosperity within thy palaces!"</p> + +<p><i>June 12th.</i>—Although I find that collecting for the Upper Canada +Academy is a wearisome work, yet I must not slacken my exertions so +long as our friends in Upper Canada are in such straits for funds. +Brother John has written me an urgent letter from Hallowell, in +which he says:—I hope the Lord will give you good success in +collecting for our Seminary. Everything depends on the success of +your exertions. £4,000 is the least that will answer. O, how +awfully we have got involved in this painful and protracted +business! O, if you can help us out of this mire, the Lord reward +you! I am greatly at a loss what to do. I had concluded to leave, +and go to the States; but thought I had better wait your return and +take counsel with you. I hope the Lord may direct me!</p> + +<p><i>Dublin, July 2nd.</i>—I have just come over here to the Irish +Conference, and was affectionately received by the Irish preachers. +While in Dublin I stayed with a very intelligent and kind family. I +attended the Irish Conference, which was held in Whitefriar's +Street Chapel—a building rented for a preaching-place by the +venerable Wesley himself. Here in the midst of the sallies of Irish +wit and humour, mingled with evident piety and kindness, I sat down +and wrote a letter to the dear friends in Canada.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + +<p>From this letter I make an extract:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The preachers are warm-hearted, pious men, some of them very +clever; warm in their discussions, abounding in wit; talk much in +doing their business; several are sometimes up at a time. They are +certainly a body of excellent men. In their financial reports it +appears that many of them are really examples of self-denial, +suffering, and devotion.</p></div> + +<p>The following are extracts from Dr. Ryerson's diary:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>July 26th.</i>—Attended the Conference at Birmingham. When Dr. Fisk +was introduced, the address of the American General Conference was +read. Silence and attention were marked until the words "negro +slavery" were mentioned, when there was a general cry of "hear, +hear," and "no, no, no."</p> + +<p>During the Conference a Mr. Robinson was called upon to explain his +reason for preaching to a secret society called "Odd Fellows." Dr. +Bunting and Dr. Newton had always refused to preach to such +societies. Dr. Fisk made some remarks on Masonry in the United +States, and the evil of the Methodist preachers being connected +with, or countenancing, such societies.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 2nd.</i>—Presented to Lord Glenelg the Address, to the King, +of the Canadian Conference. He read it carefully, and expressed +himself pleased with it. He enquired as to the charges against Sir +Francis Head, and the appointment of those persons only to office +who are truly attached to the British Constitution. I answered his +lordship on each of these points mentioned, and assured him of the +loyal British feelings of the inhabitants of Upper Canada. I +pressed upon him the importance of an early settlement of the +Clergy Reserve question. His lordship thanked me for the +communications which I had from time to time made to him on +Canadian affairs. He requested me to write to him on any matter, +relative to the Canadas, I thought proper.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 4th—Sunday.</i>—Attended the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel's +Church at 8 a.m., when he administered the Lord's Supper to such as +could not attend at any other hour. I communed for the first time +in the Established Church. I heard this evangelical minister preach +at 11 a.m. Preached myself in Spitalfields in the evening.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 6th.</i>—Came here (Birmingham) from London on a collecting +tour. Have been kindly received by my Quaker friends, the Sturges. +In commemoration of the first Wesleyan Conference being held in +Birmingham, gold medals were presented to Dr. Bunting and Dr. +Newton, and silver medals to representatives of other +Conferences—the Irish and American. My name as representative not +having been received in time for a presentation at Conference, a +medal was subsequently presented to me as Canadian representative, +and to Rev. Richard Reece, ex-President, by the ladies of the +Society in Birmingham. The addresses on the occasion were made by +the President and Secretary—that to Mr. Reece in a few choice +words by Dr. Bunting; and to me, in a kindly manner, by Dr. Newton. +In reply I acknowledged the unexpected compliment, not as paid to +me, but to the country and connexion which I represented.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 7th.</i>—Have been kindly received by the preachers in +Birmingham. Spent a pleasant evening at Mr. Oldham's (son-in-law of +Rev. John Ryland), where I met no less than six clergymen of the +Established Church; the conversation was wholly of a religious +character, perfectly free and social. I was informed that all the +clergymen in Birmingham, except one, were truly evangelical. Mr. +Ryland told me that Rev. J. A. James had expressed his conviction +that there is decidedly more piety amongst the mass of the +Established Clergy than among the Dissenting Clergy. It was +altogether the most unaffectedly genteel, and truly religious party +I have met with in England.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 9th.</i>—Busy and successful. Very kindly received by the +following<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> Church of England ministers, viz., Rev. Mr. Mosely, +Rector, Rev. Dr. Jeune [afterwards Master of Pembroke College], and +Rev. William Marsh, who is frequently called the model of the +Apostle John, on account of the depth and sweetness of his piety, +the purity of his life, and the heavenly expression of his +countenance. [His daughter is a noted evangelist and writer, 1883.]</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 10th.</i>—Took tea with Mr. Meredith, a Swedenborgian, upwards +of 80, perfectly sincere in his belief, and sweet in his spirit. +Also met the celebrated Dr. Philip, of South Africa, and the more +celebrated John Angel James, of Birmingham. The conversation of the +evening was principally turned upon the means by which the great +measure of emancipation was carried—the conduct of Mr. Stanley and +Mr. Buxton. I was struck with Mr. Sturge's remark, that he +"believed such men as Sir A. Agnew, Sir Harry Inglis, and Lord +Ashley [now, in 1883, Lord Shaftesbury], were the most honest men +in the House of Commons."</p> + +<p><i>Sheffield, Sept. 17th.</i>—Here I met with my old friends, Revs. +Messrs. Marsden, Grindrod, and Moss.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 18th—Sunday.</i>—Preached in Craven street Chapel in the +morning, and at Brunswick Chapel in the evening.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 20th.</i>—Attended the Financial District Meeting. It was +stated that 900 persons had seceded in Sheffield in the Kilhamite +schism, and yet the finances were better at the end of the quarter +than they had been the preceding one. Kind references were made to +myself, and the object of my mission.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson's Diary ends here. From his letters to Canada I make the +following extracts:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Sheffield, Oct. 5th.</i>—I was in Barnsley on Friday and Saturday; +went to Wakefield on Saturday, and preached there on Sunday. +Addressed about 40 circulars to gentlemen in Wakefield on Monday +morning. Returned to Sheffield and spoke at the Missionary Meeting; +begged yesterday; spoke at the adjourned meeting last evening; have +been begging to-day. Spent Friday and Saturday in Wakefield; go to +Leeds on Saturday evening, and so on. The preachers and friends +shew me all possible kindness and attention. The Yorkshire people +are very warm-hearted and social. Methodism there presents an +aspect different in several respects from that which it presents in +London, or in any other part of England I have visited; more warm, +energetic, and unaffected—something like Hallowell Methodism in +Upper Canada. Oh! I long to get home to my circuit work. Amidst all +the kindness and interest that it is possible for piety, +intelligence, Yorkshire generosity and wit to impart, I feel like +an exiled captive here in England.</p> + +<p><i>Bradford, Oct. 10th.</i>—The time I am here appears very dreary, as +I am from morning until midnight in public labours or society of +some kind. I have collected £83 last week, and for much of it I +have begged very hard—though some think that I do not beg hard +enough. It is, however, only one who has been a stranger and had to +beg, that can fully appreciate the feelings and embarrassments of a +stranger in such circumstances. This work and sacrifice have not +been of my own seeking—but against my seeking. I was comfortably +settled amongst kind friends in Kingston, but am now cast forth in +this distant land, and engaged in the most disagreeable of all +employments,—and for what? Oh! it is for the sake of Him to whose +cause and glory I have consecrated my life and all. I shall love, +honour, and value my pastoral labours more than ever. I hope that +they may be more useful. During the past week I have been enabled +more fully than for a year past to adopt the language of St. Paul. +Gal. ii. 20.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 11th.</i>—While here I was truly gratified to receive a letter +from Miss Clarissa Izard, of Boulogne (France), in which she +says:—I trust you will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> pardon me, sir, for this expression of my +gratitude. If it had not been for a sermon preached by you on the +21st of February last, I might have been where hope never cometh; +but, blessed be God, now I have a hope—a hope which lifts me above +this world, and which, I trust, I shall retain until I obtain the +crown of righteousness which fadeth not away.</p></div> + +<p>Among the many pleasing incidents in Dr. Ryerson's otherwise unpleasant +duty of collecting funds for the Upper Canada Academy, was the note +written from Kensington Palace by command of Her Royal Highness the +Duchess of Kent. It was as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am commanded by the Duchess of Kent to acknowledge the receipt of +your letter of the 22nd inst., and accompanying statement of "The +Upper Canada Academy, for the education of Canadian youth, and the +most promising youth of converted Indian tribes—to prepare them +for school-masters." Her Royal Highness is most happy in +patronizing, as you request, so useful and benevolent an +Institution, and calculated especially to promote the best +interests of the native population, the British emigrants, and the +aboriginal tribes of that valuable and important British Province. +Her Royal Highness desires that her name be placed on the +subscription list for £10.</p></div> + +<p>Referring to the great importance of the Upper Canada Academy, and to +the services rendered by Dr. Ryerson in connection with its +establishment, Rev. William Lord said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>There have been many circumstances and occurrences connected with +this institution which, to my mind, are indicative of Providential +interference. The bitterness manifested against it by the enemies +of Methodism and of the peace of the country; the difficulties +which stood in the way of its completion; the distressing, +overwhelming, and unforseen embarrassments of its funds, which +forced the Committee to send you to this country to seek relief, +just at a time when the affairs of the Province had arrived at a +crisis, and at a time when you could render special service, by +communicating with the Home Government—service, allow me to say, +greater than any other man could render, or than you could have +rendered at any other time or place—the favourable turn which +public affairs have recently taken, and, I know, in some degree +through your instrumentality; the perplexing and most painful +disappointments experienced in obtaining suitable teachers, now +happily overcome; the share of public favour which the Academy has +obtained on the commencement of its operations; and, lastly, the +great services you have rendered the Missionary Society, in the +advantage you have secured to our Indian Missionaries by your +representations and applications to the Government, are to me +reasons for believing God is in this business. You may, I think, +take courage, and go on in the name of the Lord. I can sympathize +with you; I have also suffered in this cause. I would not endure +the anxiety and mental agony I have experienced on account of this +institution for any earthly consideration. But if it flourish, I +have my reward. And now the reflection that, at much personal risk, +I have more than once saved innocent and deserving men from +imprisonment, and Methodism from indelible reproach, is cheering +and consoling. I will still stand by your side and share in your +difficulties. My honour in this matter is united with yours, and +the ruin of this institution will be mine.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter from London, dated 21st July, 1836, Dr. Ryerson narrates the +difficulties which he had encountered in obtaining a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> Charter for the +Upper Canada Academy. The correspondence with the Colonial Office +embraced twenty-nine letters, and extended over a period of six months. +In conducting it, Dr. Ryerson states:—I found those in the Colonial +Office, and those who retired from it (during that time) equally +favourable to the object of my mission, and equally desirous of +promoting the best interests of the Colonies. In his report of the +negotiations for the Charter, Dr. Ryerson says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Attorney-General assured me that not only Lord Glenelg, but +every member of His Majesty's Government was anxious to accede to +my application—that the difficulties were purely legal—that +though the doctrines and rules of the Methodist body in Canada were +doubtless very sacred, yet they were unknown in law, (in England.) +I, therefore, laid before the Crown officers<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> a copy of the +statutes of Upper Canada (which I had borrowed from the Colonial +office), and showed the grounds on which we professed to be +invested with the clerical character by the statutes of the +Province, as well as by the formularies of our connexion, and were +recognized as ministers by the Courts of Quarter Sessions; that we +might be defined as ministers (for the purposes of the Charter) as +in the Marriage Statute of U.C., which would be the same thing as +being defined according to the Rules of our Discipline. Placing the +question before the Crown officers in this simple light, their +scruples were at once removed, and they cordially acceded to my +proposition to recognize our ministerial character. As I was +required to name in the Charter the first trustees and visitors, +and as I had no list of those who had been appointed by the +Conference, I was obliged to furnish names myself. I was also +required to name in the Charter the time and place of the next +Annual Meeting (Conference) of Ministers. I inserted the second +Wednesday of June as the time of meeting; Cobourg, or Toronto, as +the place of meeting.</p> + +<p>With the aid of a professional gentleman (whom I could only get for +a small portion of each day) the draft of Charter was prepared +after a delay of five weeks. This draft was approved, with the +exception of the words: Wesleyan Methodist <i>Church</i>, for which the +Solicitor-General had substituted the words: Wesleyan Methodist +<i>Connexion</i>, as the designation of the Body on whose behalf a +Charter was to be granted. In a letter to Sir George Grey I stated +my reasons why the word <i>Church</i> should be retained, as the +Wesleyan ministers, under whose superintendence the Academy is to +be placed, had been licensed (under the Provincial Statute referred +to in the Charter) as Ministers of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in +Canada. To these reasons the Crown Officers yielded, and thus the +Charter was completed.</p> + +<p>I then renewed my application for receiving aid from the Casual and +Territorial Revenue of Upper Canada. In reply, I was assured that +the Lieutenant-Governor would be directed to bring the claims of +the Academy before the notice of the Provincial Legislature.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson concludes:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Thus terminated this protracted correspondence of more than six +months, during the whole of which time I was enabled to cleave to +and maintain my original purpose; though I had to encounter +successive, discouraging, and almost insurmountable difficulties. +Not having been able to effect any loan from private individuals, +on account of the agitated state of the Canadas—being in suspense +as to the result of my application to the Government, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> was +several months pressed down with anxiety and fear by this suspense, +and by reason of the failure of my efforts to obtain relief. In +this anxiety and fear my own unassisted resolution and fortitude +could not sustain me. I had to rely upon the unfailing support of +the Lord, my God.</p> + +<p>In my negotiations for the Charter, I was uniformly treated with +courtesy and kindness in the Colonial office, and by the several +members of His Majesty's Government. Praise God!</p></div> + +<p>In a letter written to Dr. Alder, after Dr. Ryerson had returned from +England, the latter said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We have not yet received a farthing of the Government grant to our +Academy. The Governor's reply still is, there is no money in the +treasury; but he has given us his written promise, and offered his +word to any of the banks, that it shall be paid out of the first +money which had not been previously appropriated. But, strange to +say, there is not a bank or banker in Upper Canada that will take +the Governor's promise for £100. Mr. Receiver-General Dunn kindly +lent, out of his own pocket, to my brother John, about £1,200 for +the Academy, upon my brother's receipt, remarking at the same time +that he did it upon his credit, and out of respect to the +Methodists, but that he could place no dependence upon the word of +Sir Francis in the matter. We are thus pressed to beg or borrow in +relation to the Academy as much as ever, or even worse, for several +of us are individually responsible for £2,200, besides Mr. Farmer's +loan of £800. At our recent Academy Board Meeting, the damages of +Mr. Lord's protested bills came under consideration. The +circumstances of the case are briefly as follows:—Mr. Lord's +sincere desire and zeal to promote the interests of the Institution +and Connexion generally, were admitted and appreciated by all the +brethren; but it appears, 1. That a large portion of the debts were +incurred in compliance with the advice of Mr. Lord, and in +consequence of his influence as the representative of the British +Connexion. He assured the Sub-Committee at Cobourg that money +should be forthcoming, and if necessary he would go to England and +beg it, that John Bull never stopped when he commenced a thing, +etc.; that Mr. Lord did that contrary to the recommendation of the +Conference Committee, and against the advice and even remonstrance +of the Chairman of the District (John Ryerson), who had been +appointed by the Conference to see that the Sub-Committee should +not exceed the appropriations of the Conference, as they had done +in former years. 2. The premises were mortgaged to Mr. Lord as +security for the sum of £2500, some of which has not been advanced, +and the payments of which he did advance were provided for (with +the exception of two or three hundred pounds) by the brethren in +this Province. 3. After Mr. Lord received information from the +Committee in London that his bills would not be honoured, he called +a meeting of the Board—stated his difficulties—got individuals to +allow him to draw upon them to meet the bills on their return, and +sent me to England. 4. Mr. Lord assured our Conference at +Belleville, June, 1836, that the brethren here would never be +called upon to pay a farthing of the damages for non-payment of his +bills. I believe that no man could feel more earnestly desirous to +promote the interests of the Canadian Connexion in every respect +than he did. It is also the full conviction of our leading brethren +that had I attended the American General Conference, instead of +being in England, such an arrangement would have been made as to +have secured to our Connexion what was due us from the New York +Book Concern—which amounts to more than I obtained in England, +besides the mortification and mental suffering which I experienced +in my most unpleasant engagements, notwithstanding the sympathy and +never-to-be-forgotten kindness of many of my fathers and brethren +of the parent Connexion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> Sir J. Campbell, afterwards Chief Justice, and Sir R. M. +Rolfe, afterwards a Baron of the Exchequer.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1836.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Publication of The Hume and Roebuck Letters</span>.</p> + + +<p>In a letter from London, dated 29th April, 1836, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<p>This day week I went to the House of Commons to hear the debates on the +motions relative to the Canadas, of which Messrs. Roebuck and Hume had +given notice. As Mr. Roebuck was about to bring forward his motion, the +House of 202 members thinned to 50 or 60 members. Under these +circumstances he postponed it for a week, in the hope that a sufficient +number of members would give him an opportunity to make a speech in +return for the £1,100 a year paid to him as Agent of "the poor and +oppressed Canadians." When Mr. Hume brought forward his motion there +were only 43 members present. I thought how much Canada was benefitted +by such men who could only command the attention of 50 out of the 658 +members of the House of Commons! I know not a man more disliked and +despised by all parties in the House than is Mr. Roebuck—a man who has +been employed to establish (as he says in one of his letters to Mr. +Papineau) a "pure democracy in the Canadas." One of the serious +drawbacks to the credit and interests of our country, amongst public and +business men of all parties in England, is their supposed connection +with such a restless political cynic as Mr. Roebuck, and such an +acknowledged and avowed colonial separationist as Mr. Hume.</p> + +<p>In regard to these proceedings of Messrs. Hume and Roebuck, Dr. Ryerson +writes, in this part of the Story of his Life, as follows:—</p> + +<p>It was during the early part of 1836 that I was accosted by almost every +gentleman to whom I was introduced in England with words, "You in Canada +are going to separate from England, and set up a republic for +yourselves!" I denied that there was any such feeling among the people +of Canada, who desired certain reforms, and redress of grievances, but +were as loyal as any people in England.</p> + +<p>After the Canadian elections of 1836, Dr. Charles Duncombe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> (afterwards +leader of the rebels in the County of Oxford) came to England, the +bearer of petitions got up by Mr. W. L. Mackenzie and his partizans and +crammed Mr. Hume to make a formidable assault upon the British Canadian +Government. In presenting the Canadian petition Mr. Hume made an +elaborate speech, full of exaggerations and mis-statements from +beginning to end. I was requested to take a seat under the gallery, and, +while Mr. Hume was speaking as the mouth-piece of Dr. C. Duncombe, I +furnished Lord Sandon and Mr. W. E. Gladstone with the materials for +answers to Mr. Hume's mis-statements. Mr. Gladstone's quick perception, +with Lord Sandon's promptings, kept the House in a roar of laughter at +Mr. Hume's expense for more than an hour; the wonder being how Mr. +Gladstone was so thoroughly informed on Canadian affairs. No member of +the House of Commons seemed to be more astonished and confounded than +Mr. Hume himself. He made no reply, and, as far as I know, never after +spoke on Canadian affairs; and Mr. Roebuck soon ceased to be Agent for +the Lower Canada House of Assembly. He has since become an ultra +Conservative!</p> + +<p>In a letter from London, dated 1st June, Dr. Ryerson says:—</p> + +<p>Before Dr. Duncombe arrived in England, and seeing how much injury was +being done to the reputation and influence of Canada by these +representations, I commenced a series of letters in the London <i>Times</i>, +designed to expose the machinations and mis-statements of Messrs. Hume +and Roebuck in England, in regard to matters in Upper Canada, showing +from their own letters to Messrs. Papineau and Mackenzie that they were +the first prompters of the project.<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> To-day I also addressed a letter +to Sir George Grey, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, on the political +crisis in that Province. After discussing several matters relating to +the recent election of a new House of Assembly, I concluded as +follows:—As the affairs of the Province will now be taken into +consideration by His Majesty's Government, there are three subjects on +which I would respectfully request an interview with Lord Glenelg, +yourself, and Mr. [Sir James] Stephen. 1. The Clergy Reserve question—a +plan to meet the circumstances of the Province, and yet not deprive the +clergy of the Church of England of an adequate support. 2. The +Legislative Council—how it may be rendered more influential and +popular, without rendering it elective, or infringing (but rather +strengthening) the prerogatives of the Crown. 3. The Executive—how its +just authority, influence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> and popularity may be promoted and +established, so as to prevent the occurrence of that embarrassment in +which it is now involved, not from improper acts, but from an actual +deficiency of the requisite operative means to secure the Royal +Prerogative from insult and invasion. I am aware that each of these +subjects is surrounded with difficulty, and that no plan proposed will +be entirely free from objection, but I should like to state the views +which my acquaintance with the Province has impressed on my own mind, +and which I have not seen suggested in any official document or public +journal, but which have been favourably thought of by two or three +respectable gentlemen connected with Canada, to whom I have stated them.</p> + +<p>In reply, Lord Glenelg appointed the following Monday for the desired +interview. I afterwards embodied the substance of my views in a letter +to Sir George Grey.</p> + +<p>No further reference is made to this interview by Dr. Ryerson. But in a +letter from him, dated 21st July, he says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I was applied to, and did, in my individual capacity, communicate +to the Colonial Secretary frequently, and in one or two instances +at great length, on the posture of Canadian affairs; and the +parties and principal questions which have divided and agitated the +Canadian public. I repeatedly received the thanks of the Secretary +of State for the Colonies, for the pains which I had taken in these +matters; but what influence my communications may have had, or may +have, on the policy of His Majesty's Government towards the Canadas +is not for me to say, as I desired Lord Glenelg not to assume, +<i>prima facie</i>, as correct, any of my representations, but to +examine my authorities—to weigh my arguments—to hear what could +be said by others—as I had no friends to recommend to office, and +no personal interests to promote, only the religious and general +peace and prosperity of the Canadas, and the maintenance of a firm +and mutually beneficial connection between these Colonies and the +parent State.</p> + +<p>I think I have good reason to believe that much more correct and +decided views are entertained by His Majesty's ministers and many +public men in England, in respect to the interests and government +of the Canadas, than were possessed by them six months ago; and +that all of those inhabitants of the Colonies, who patriotically +maintain their Christian and constitutional allegiance, will ensure +the respect, equal and firm protection, and parental regard of +their Sovereign and his government, by whatever party it may be +administered.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter from London, dated 26th July (page 154), Dr. Ryerson +says:—Mr. William Lunn, of Montreal, has just arrived from Quebec. He +informs me that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>My letters to the London <i>Times</i>, on Hume and Roebuck, have +produced the most amazing effect upon the public mind of the +Province, of anything that I ever wrote. To the Lord be all the +praise for his great goodness, after all our toil and suffering. +There is nothing like integrity of principle and faithfulness in +duty, in humble dependence upon the Lord, and with an eye to His +glory!</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> The British North American Association of Merchants had +these letters reprinted from <i>The Times</i> newspaper, and a copy sent to +each member of Parliament, both of the Lords and Commons. They were +signed, "A Canadian."</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1836-1837.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Important Events Transpiring in Upper Canada</span>.</p> + + +<p>Dr. Ryerson was absent in England from 20th November, 1835, to 12th +June, 1837. On the 15th of January, 1836, Sir John Colborne, by order in +Council, endowed fifty-seven Rectories in Upper Canada out of the Clergy +Reserve Lands. On the 23rd of that month Sir F. B. Head, the new +Governor, arrived in Toronto. On the 14th of January following, he +opened the Session of the Legislature. What followed was reported to Dr. +Ryerson by his friend, Mr. S. S. Junkin, in a letter, dated, Toronto, +1st May:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Our Parliament was prorogued on the 20th April, after such a +session as was never before known in Upper Canada. You will form +some idea of the state of affairs when I tell you that it "stopped +the supplies," and the Governor reserved all of the money bills, +(twelve)—including that for the contingences of the House,—for +the King's pleasure.</p></div> + +<p>The immediate cause of the rupture between the new Governor (Sir F. B. +Head) and the House of Assembly—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Arose out of the resignation of the Executive Council. On the 20th +February, the Governor (as directed by Lord Glenelg) added three +Reformers to his Council, viz.: Messrs. Robert Baldwin, John Rolph, +and John Henry Dunn. On the 4th March, these gentlemen and the +Conservative members, (Messrs. Peter Robinson, George H. Markland, +and Joseph Wells) resigned. They complained that they were held +responsible for measures which they never advised, and for a policy +to which they were strangers. In reply the Governor stated in +substance that he alone was responsible for the acts of his +government, and was at liberty to have resource to their advice +only when he required it; but that to consult them on all questions +would be "utterly impossible." This answer was referred to a +Committee of the House of Assembly, which brought in a report +censuring the Governor in the strongest terms. On the 14th March, +Sir F. B. Head appointed Messrs. R. B. Sullivan, William Allan, +Augustus Baldwin, and John Elmsley, as his new Executive Council. +On the 17th the House declared its entire want of confidence in the +new Council, and stated that in retaining them the Governor +violated the instructions of the Colonial Secretary to the +Governor, to appoint Councillors who possessed the confidence of +the people. Much recrimination followed; at length Sir F. B. Head +dissolved the House, and directed that a new election be held.</p></div> + +<p>In regard to this election, Dr. Ryerson, in the "Epochs of Canadian +Methodism" (page 226) says:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Sir F. B. Head adroitly turned the issue, not on the question of +the Clergy Reserves, or of other practical questions, but on the +question of connection with the mother country, and of +Republicanism vs. Monarchy, as had been recommended by Messrs. Hume +and Roebuck, and advocated by Messrs. Mackenzie and Papineau. This +was successful, inasmuch as those Reformers who would not disavow +their connection with Messrs. Mackenzie, Hume and Roebuck, lost +their election; for though not more than half a dozen had any +sympathy with the sentiments of Messrs. Hume, Roebuck, Papineau, +and Mackenzie, they did not wish to break the unity of the Reform +party by repudiating them, and suffered defeat in consequence at +the elections. The successful candidates, generally, while they +repudiated Republican separation from the mother country, promised +fidelity to the oft-expressed and well-known wishes of the people +in the settlement of the Clergy Reserve question, which, however, +they failed to fulfil.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter to Dr. Ryerson, from Hallowell, his brother William said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Our loyal address, a very moderate one, to the Governor, was +carried unanimously—all the young Preachers on trial being allowed +to vote on that occasion. This is equally gratifying and surprising +to all the friends of British supremacy. A gentleman from Montreal, +who was present, was so surprised, and I may say, delighted, that +he could hardly contain himself. I did not know for a short time, +but he would be constrained from the violence of his feeling to +jump up and shout. The Conference also adopted a very good address +to the King. (See page 162.)</p> + +<p>We are on the eve of a new election. The excitement through the +country at large exceeds anything I have ever known. There would be +very little cause for doubt or fear as to the results, were it not +for one of the last acts of Sir John Colborne's administration, in +establishing and endowing nearly sixty Rectories. Knowing, as I do, +that the public mind is strongly opposed to any measure of that +sort, or any step towards legalizing a church establishment, yet I +could not believe the feeling was so strong as it actually is. If +the elections should turn out disastrously to the best interest of +the country, the result can only be attributed to that unjust and +most unpolitic act. We are willing to do all that we consistently +can, but everywhere the rectory question meets us. While I am +compelled to believe that a vast majority are devotedly loyal to +our gracious Sovereign, yet the best and most affectionate subjects +of the King would almost prefer revolution to the establishment of +a dominant Church thus sought to be imposed on us.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter to Dr. Ryerson, from Toronto, his brother John says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The late elections agitated the Societies very much in some places, +but they are now settling down to "quietness and assurance." I hope +that the worst of the storm is over. The Governor is a talented +man, but very little magisterial dignity about him. He takes good +care to let every one know that <i>he</i> esteems every day alike, +travelling on Sabbaths the same as other days. Indeed he seems to +have no idea of religion at all, but is purely a man of pleasure. +His popularity will soon be upon the wane if he does not mend in +these respects.</p> + +<p>The friends in Kingston are very anxiously looking for your return, +and are becoming quite discontented and out of patience. They +complained bitterly to me of your long absence, and were anxious to +have me stay with them until you return.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1837-1839.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Return to Canada.—The Chapel Property Cases</span>.</p> + + +<p>In this part of the "Story" of his life, Dr. Ryerson has only left the +following sentence:—At the Conference held after my return to Canada, +in June, I declined re-election as Editor of the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, +having promised my Kingston brethren, from whom I had been suddenly +removed in November, 1835, that I would remain with them at least one +year on my return from England.</p> + +<p>After Conference, Dr. Ryerson (with Rev. E. Healy) attended as a +deputation to the Black River Conference. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Conference was presided over by Bishop Hedding, who, in strong +and affecting language, expressed his feelings of respect and love +for our Connexion in Canada. In reply, I reiterated the expression +of our profound respect and affection for our honoured friend and +father in the Gospel; by the imposition of whose hands, I, and +several other brethren in Canada, have been set apart to the Holy +Ministry. After my return to Kingston, brother Healy and I received +from the Black River Conference a complimentary resolution in +regard to our visit. In enclosing it to me, Rev. Jesse T. Peck, the +Secretary [afterwards Bishop], said:—Allow me humbly, but +earnestly, to beg a continuance of that friendship with you, which +in its commencement has afforded me so much pleasure.</p></div> + +<p>In August of this year, 1837, the celebrated trial of the Waterloo +Chapel case<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> took place before Mr. Justice Macaulay, at the Kingston +Assizes, and a verdict was given against the Wesleyan Methodists. It was +subsequently appealed to the Court of King's Bench, at Toronto. Three +elaborate judgments were delivered on the case. Rev. John Ryerson was a +good deal exercised as to the ill effects, upon the connexional church +property, of Judge Macaulay's adverse decision. In a letter to Dr. +Ryerson, he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We are much troubled and perplexed, here in Toronto, about the +Waterloo Chapel case. I saw the Attorney-General on the subject +to-day. When Judge Macaulay's judgment is published, I hope you +will carefully review the whole matter, and lay the thing before +the public in such a way as to produce conviction. Everybody is +inquiring whether or not you will take up the subject.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<p>An appeal was made to the King's Bench at Toronto. This Court—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Set aside the verdict of the lower Court, and ordered a new +trial.... At this second trial, as also that respecting the +Belleville Church property case, [November, 1837], ... the whole +matter was "ventilated," and the result was that the legal decision +of the highest judicial tribunal of the land confirmed the Wesleyan +Methodist Church as the rightful owner of the Church property, it +being the true representative and successor of the original +Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada. These litigations extended +over more than two years, and the friends of Zion and of peace +greatly rejoiced when they were brought to a just and final +settlement. (Epochs of Canadian Methodism, pages 278, 279.)</p></div> + +<p>In regard to these three judgments on the case, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>During the latter part of this month I have devoted such time as I +could spare to a lengthened review for the <i>Guardian</i>, of the +elaborate judgments of Chief Justice Robinson, and Justices +Macaulay and Sherwood, on the Waterloo Chapel case.<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> The opinion +of the Chief Justice displays profound research, acute +discrimination, and sound judgment. The opinion of Mr. Justice +Macaulay indicates great labour and strict religious scrupulosity. +The opinion of Mr. Justice Sherwood betrays great want of +acquaintance with the discipline, usages, and general history of +Methodism. To the Methodist Connexion the conflict of opinion and +confusion of reasoning of these learned judges are most prejudicial +and disastrous. I have therefore sought, in the "review," to set +forth the true facts of this abstruse case—facts connected with +the history of Methodism—facts, with the most material of which I +am personally acquainted, and in the progress of which I have been +called to act a conspicuous part.</p></div> + +<p>In regard to this "review," Rev. E. Healy wrote to Dr. Ryerson, from +Brockville, and said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have read your review of the opinion of the judges, and am happy +to see it. What the judges will do with you, I do not know. You are +considered, I believe, by some in this part of the country, as part +man and part demon. This is one reason, doubtless, why I am also so +bad a man, as I have said so much in your favour.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. Hannibal Mulkins,<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> writing from Whitby on this subject, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The agitation which was anticipated by some of the preachers at the +last Conference, and which has existed in some degree has happily +subsided, notwithstanding the most vigorous efforts have been made, +and all the arts of calumny and misrepresentation, employed to +harrass, to worry, and devour.</p> + +<p>I was very glad to see your "review" of the opinions of the Judges +in the Chapel case. I have read it with much satisfaction. On this +circuit, notwithstanding the prejudices of some individuals, it has +been perused with general delight, and to our friends in particular +it has been highly satisfactory.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson, in a letter from New York, dated November, 1837, says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have just returned from an extended tour of about 500 miles in +the Middle and Southern States, in order to obtain information and +evidence relative to the organization of the Methodist Church in +America, the character of its Episcopacy, and the powers of the +General Conference—points which involve the issue of our chapel +property case. From the mass of testimony and information I have +been able to collect, by seeing every preacher in this continent +who was in the work in 1784, relative to the character of Methodist +Episcopacy, and the powers of the General Conference, I feel no +doubt as to the result.<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a></p></div> + +<p>Rev. Joseph Stinson, in making his report on the same subject, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I spent a whole day with Bishop Hedding, and had much conversation +with him about our affairs generally. He told me that the American +Methodist Church had never regarded Episcopacy as a Divine +ordinance—nor as an essential doctrine of the Church—but as an +expedient form of ecclesiastical government, which could be +modified by the General Conference, or even dispensed with without +violating the great principles of Methodism. The Bishop is of the +opinion, however, that if our Courts decide against us, we shall +have to return to Episcopacy, and that the first Bishop should be +ordained by the Bishops of the American Church.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson, in the same November letter, says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have also accompanied Mr. Stinson to render him what assistance I +could, in examining Manual Labour Schools, with a view to +establishing one for the benefit of our Indian youth—an object of +the very greatest importance, both to the religious and civil +interests of our aboriginal fellow countrymen. Also to get from the +New York Missionary Board a sum of money for the Indian work which +was expected from them before our Union with the English +Conference.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter to Dr. Alder, written from New York in the same month, Dr. +Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The concern of our preachers and friends on the Chapel case is deep +and truly affecting. As I took so responsible a part in the Union, +I cannot describe my feelings on this question. At the request of +our brethren I have undertaken to do what I could to secure our +Church property from the party claiming it. I have travelled nearly +500 miles this week for that purpose. But it is cheering amidst all +our difficulties, and the commotions of the political elements, +that our preachers, I believe, without exception, are of one +heart—that our societies are in peace—that the work of our +blessed Lord is reviving in many of the circuits, although the +cause in Kingston suffers, and my dear brethren there complain, in +consequence of my connexional engagements and absence from them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> Between the Episcopal and Wesleyan Methodists for the +possession of the Church property. Waterloo was four miles north of +Kingston.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> The Review is inserted in the <i>Guardian</i>, vol. viii., +pages 169-178. The Belleville case was published in pamphlet form.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> This gentleman entered the Wesleyan ministry in 1835, but +joined the Church of England in 1840. He was for many years Chaplain to +the Penitentiary, at Kingston, and always retained a warm regard for Dr. +Ryerson. He died in 1877, aged 65 years.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> The particulars here referred to are given in detail in +the "Epochs of Canadian Methodism," pages 279-281.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1837.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">The Coming Crisis.—Rebellion of 1837.</span></p> + + +<p>As Dr. Ryerson had anticipated, the combined effects of the publication +of his "impressions," in 1833; his letters exposing the designs of +Messrs. Hume, Roebuck, and Mackenzie in 1837; the secession of a section +of the Methodist Church, and the disputes consequent thereon +(culminating in the Waterloo and Belleville Chapel suits)—in which he +took a leading part—provoked the parties concerned to active hostility +against him. He had, however, many warm friends, especially among his +ministerial brethren. One of these was Rev. John Black, in the Bay of +Quinte District,—a quaint, but true and warm-hearted man. In inviting +him to take part in the Quarterly Meeting services, at Napanee, Mr. +Black indulges in a little playful satire, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It appears that there are some amongst us here whom we dare not +number amongst your friends, and who prophesied that you would +never return from England—that you dare not, etc. Now we wish to +afford them living proof of their vanity in prophesying, by your +presence amongst them. Besides, on the other hand, the good-hearted +brethren amongst us greatly rejoiced on hearing of your successful +mission to England, and they wish to see and hear you once more.</p></div> + +<p>Somewhat in Rev. John Black's spirit of kindly raillery, Rev. John C. +Davidson, of Hallowell, in inviting Dr. Ryerson to take part in a +Camp-meeting (and after mentioning several inducements), said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I would mention another inducement for you to come, viz.: the +multiplicity of warm friends and virulent enemies you have on this +circuit. Your presence and preaching will afford pleasure and +profit to your friends, and will very much tend, in my opinion, to +disarm the groundless prejudice entertained by many others against +you.</p></div> + +<p>In a more serious letter to Dr. Ryerson, dated Cobourg, 16th November, +1837, Rev. Anson Green gives expression to a general feeling of +uneasiness and distrust which prevailed everywhere in the country at +that time:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I pity you most sincerely. You have a storm about your ears that +you must bear, if you do not bow before it. In these perilous times +a man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> scarcely knows what to advise. I fear that destruction +awaits us on either hand. With the Radicals we are Tories; and with +the Tories we are Rebels. It is said by the Rebels here that they +have money enough, and men enough, and guns enough, and that the +plans are so laid that there can be no mistake. The Government +appears to be in possession of these facts. Thus far the +proceedings of the Rebels do not show much wisdom, or skill, in +laying plans, or in executing them. I am mistaken if they stop +short of a civil war.</p> + +<p>I very much regret that you should be under the necessity of coming +in contact with Governor Head in any one thing. I could not be a +rebel; my conscience and religion forbid it; and, on the other +hand, I could not fight for the Rectories and Church domination. I +think them both to be great evils, and I have resolved to choose +neither. I believe that in Haldimand and Cramahe townships there +are twenty rebels to one sincere loyalist. Brother Wilson, (son of +old Father Wilson), says that his life has been threatened for +circulating the petition which you sent down, and others are in a +similar condition. What will be the effect of all this I cannot +say, but I have thought from the beginning that either the +Rectories must be abolished, and a suitable disposition made of the +Reserves, or a change of Government will ensue. And if the Church +party have it all in their own hands to make peace, by allowing +other Churches to enjoy equal privileges with themselves, and do +not do so, they must bear the responsibility of all the bloodshed +and carnage that may ensue. I fear that they are so perfectly +infatuated that they will suffer utter destruction, and choose it +rather than equal and impartial justice.</p></div> + +<p>On the 5th December, 1837, Dr. Ryerson reached Cobourg on his way to +Toronto. When he arrived there, Elders Case and Green, and other +friends, thought that as his life had been threatened it would be unsafe +for him to proceed to Toronto.<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> He, therefore, waited there for +further news, and, in the meantime, wrote to a friend in Kingston, on +the 6th, as follows:—</p> + +<p>You will recollect my mentioning that I pressed upon Sir Francis the +propriety and importance of making some prudent provision for the +defence of the city, in case any party should be urged on in the madness +of rebellion so far as to attack it. He is much blamed here on account +of his overweening confidence, and foolish and culpable negligence in +this respect. There was great excitement in this town and neighbourhood +last night. To-day all is anxiety and hurry. The militia is called out +to put down the rebellion of the very man whose seditious paper many of +them have supported, and whom they have countenanced.</p> + +<p>The precepts of the Bible and the example of the early Christians, leave +me no occasion for second thoughts as to my duty, namely, to pray for +and support the "powers that be," whether I admire them or not, and to +implore the defeat of "fiery conspiracy and rebellion." And I doubt not +that the sequel will in this, as in other cases, show that the path of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +duty is that of wisdom, if not of safety. I am aware that my head would +be regarded as something of a prize by the rebels; but I feel not in the +least degree agitated. I trust implicitly in that God whom I have +endeavoured—though imperfectly and unfaithfully—to serve; being +assured nothing will harm us, but that all things, whether life or +death, will work together for our good if we be followers of that which +is good. Let us trust in the Lord, and do good, and He will never leave +nor forsake us!</p> + +<p>About 700 armed men have left this district to-day for Toronto, in order +to put down the rebels. There is an unanimity and determination among +the people to quash rebellion and support the law that I hardly +expected. The country is safe, but it is a "gone day with the rebel +party."</p> + +<p>In a graphic letter to Dr. Ryerson, written on the 5th December, by his +brother William, at Toronto, the scenes at the <i>emeute</i> in that city are +thus described:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Last night, about 12 or 1 o'clock, the bells rang with great +violence; we all thought it was an alarm of fire, but being unable +to see any light, we thought it was a false alarm, and we remained +quiet until this morning, when, on visiting the market-place, I +found a large number of persons serving out arms to others as fast +as they possibly could. Among many others we saw the +Lieutenant-Governor, in his every-day suit, with one +double-barrelled gun in his hand, another leaning against his +breast, and a brace of pistols in his leather belt. Also, Chief +Justice Robinson, Judges Macaulay, Jones, and McLean, the +Attorney-General, and Solicitor-General, with their muskets, +cartridge boxes and bayonets, all standing in the ranks as private +soldiers, under the command of Colonel Fitzgibbon. I assure you it +is impossible for me to describe my feelings. I enquired of Judge +McLean, who informed me that an express had arrived at the +Government House late last night, giving intelligence that the +Radicals had assembled in great force at Montgomery's, on Yonge +Street, and were in full march for the city; that the Governor had +sent out two persons, Mr. A. McDonell and Ald. J. Powell, to obtain +information (both of whom had been made prisoners, but escaped).</p> + +<p>Dr. Horne's house is now in flames. I feel very calm and composed +in my own mind. Brother John thinks it will not be wise for you to +come through all the way from Kingston. You would not be safe in +visiting this wretched part of the country at the present. You know +the feelings that are entertained against you. Your life would +doubtless be industriously sought. My dear brother, farewell. May +God mercifully bless and keep you from all the difficulties and +dangers we are in!</p></div> + +<p>Rev. William Ryerson further writes, on the 8th December:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>About 10 o'clock to-day about 2,000 men, headed by the +Lieut.-Governor, with Judge Jones, the Attorney-General and Capt. +Halkett, as his aides-de-camp, and commanded by Cols. Fitzgibbon +and Allan N. Macnab, Speaker of the House, left the city to attack +the rebels at Montgomery's. After a little skirmishing in which we +had three men wounded but none killed, the main body commenced a +very spirited attack on their headquarters at Montgomery's large +house. After a few shots from two six-pounders, and a few volleys +of musketry, the most of the party fled and made their escape. The +rest of them were taken prisoners. There were also three or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> four +killed and several wounded. After which His Excellency ordered the +buildings to be burnt to the ground, and the whole force returned +to the city. All the leaders succeeded in making their escape. A +royal proclamation has just been issued offering £1,000 for the +apprehension of Mackenzie, and £500 for that of Samuel Lount, David +Gibson, Silas Fletcher, and Jesse Lloyd; so that now, through the +mercy of God, we have peace, and feel safe again, for which we +desire to feel sincerely thankful.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson, having reached Toronto safely, and knowing how anxious his +parents would be to know something definite as to the state of affairs, +wrote a letter to his Father on the 18th December, as follows:—</p> + +<p>I have been trying to get time to make you and Mother a visit of at +least one night; but I find it quite out of my power to secure the +enjoyment of so precious a privilege.</p> + +<p>It is remarkable that every man, with very few exceptions, who has left +our Church and joined in the unprincipled crusade which has been made +against us, has either been an active promoter of this plot, or so far +connected with it as to be ruined in his character and prospects by the +timely discovery and defeat of it! I have been deeply affected at +hearing of some unhappy examples, among old acquaintances, of this +description. I feel thankful that I have been enabled to do my duty from +the beginning in this matter. Four years ago, I perceived and began to +warn the public of the revolutionary tendency and spirit of Mackenzie's +proceedings. Perhaps you may recollect that in a long article in the +<i>Guardian</i>, four years ago this winter, headed "Revolutionary Symptoms," +I pointed out, to the great displeasure of even some of my friends, what +has come to pass.</p> + +<p>It is also a matter of thankfulness that every one of our family and +marriage connections, near and remote, is on the side of law, reason, +and religion in this affair. Such indications of the Divine goodness are +a fresh encouragement to me to renew my covenant engagement with my +gracious Redeemer, to serve Him and His cause with greater zeal and +faithfulness.</p> + +<p>I hope, my dear Father, you are employing your last days in preparing +for your approaching change, and for standing before the bar of God. My +poor prayers are daily offered up in your behalf. Much travelling and +other engagements have hitherto prevented me from writing to you as I +would; but, hereafter, the first Monday in each month shall be +considered as belonging to my dear aged Parents, in praying for or +writing to them. My dutiful respects and love to my dear Mother. I would +esteem it a great favour and privilege to receive a few lines from you +or her.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> Dr. Ryerson in his "Epochs of Canadian Methodism," page +314, says:—It had been agreed by W. L. Mackenzie and his fellow rebels, +in 1837, to hang Egerton Ryerson on the first tree they met with, could +they apprehend him.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1837-1838.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Sir F. B. Head and the Upper Canada Academy</span>.</p> + + +<p>Lord Glenelg, as agreed, when Dr. Ryerson was in England, (page 165,) +directed Lieutenant-Governor Sir F. B. Head to bring the pecuniary +claims of the Upper Canada Academy before the Legislature. This he did +in February, 1837. A committee (of which Hon. W. H. Draper was +chairman)<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> brought in an excellent report on the subject. The House +of Assembly by a vote of 31 to 10 agreed to advance $16,400 to the +Academy. The Legislative Council, on motion of Hon. J. Elmsley, made +such onerous conditions as virtually defeated the bill, and no relief +was granted.<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> Dr. Ryerson, then in England, pressed the matter most +urgently upon Lord Glenelg, who in April 1837, sent directions to Sir F. +B. Head to advance the money without delay. This, on various pretexts, +he refused to do; but when the Legislature opened in January, 1838, he +sent a message to the House, which Dr. Ryerson, then in Toronto, thus +describes, in a letter to a friend at Kingston, dated February 3rd, +1838. He said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Instead of giving us the promised money for the Upper Canada +Academy, Sir Francis Head has sent a part of the correspondence +with Lord Glenelg and with me down to the House of Assembly, with a +message in which he implicates me, as also a letter to Lord +Glenelg, written a few weeks after my return from England, in which +he impeaches me. I have, in consequence, drawn up a petition to the +House, filling six large sheets, exposing the whole of his conduct +towards us, vindicating myself from the charges contained in his +despatches, and proposing to establish every fact which I have +stated before a select Committee of the House of Assembly. My +petition was presented this morning. According to rule, a petition +has to lie on the table for twenty-four hours before it is read. +But a motion was made and agreed to, to dispense with the rule, and +read my petition. It was then read, and created a great sensation. +It was then moved that 200 copies of it be printed, together with +all the documents sent down by the Governor, to which the petition +referred. After discussion the motion was carried by a vote of 33 +to 4. This was, of course, very gratifying to my feelings, as it +must be extremely mortifying to the Governor. This is the first +petition that has been ordered to be printed by the present—Sir +Francis' own—Parliament. The dispensing with the rule, and giving +such a petition the preference, was the highest mark of respect +which the House could have shown me. I have not felt so much +agitated with anything for years, as with this matter. I am now +greatly relieved. I feel as if the Lord God of Hosts was on our +side. The Governor clearly thought that as he was so greatly lauded +and had become so famous a conqueror, we would not dare to come out +against him before the public, or meet him face to face before the +Assembly.</p></div> + +<p>On the 16th, Dr. Ryerson again writes to Kingston:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>This Academy business is a most painful one to me. The Legislative +Council and the House of Assembly have each appointed a select +Committee on the subject. But I am afraid we will get nothing until +we hear from Lord Glenelg.</p> + +<p>My mind has been, and is, in a great degree depressed beyond +expression, in regard to our circumstances. My only trust is in Him +who has thus far brought us through, and turned the designs of our +enemies to our account. For the last two days I have been as low as +I was at my lowest in London.</p></div> + +<p>In addition to Dr. Ryerson's petition to both Houses, he made a separate +Appeal to members of the Assembly. In it he stated in substance that Sir +Francis Head—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Had already issued his warrant for $8,200; that he was informed in +December, 1837, not merely verbally, but in writing, by Hon. J. H. +Dunn, Receiver-General, that he had funds with which to pay the +balance ($8,200), yet the Governor refused to issue the requisite +warrant for it, on the plea of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> much business; but said that Mr. +Dunn had all the warrant that was necessary. In January he again +declined to issue the warrant, and excused himself by saying that +Mr. Dunn required no further authority. When, later in the month, +Dr. Ryerson had not only removed every variety of objection and +excuse, but sent a note from Mr. Dunn saying that he had the +necessary funds, Sir F. B. Head stated that he "must see one or two +of his councillors." After he had done so, he wrote a note to Dr. +Ryerson to say that he had misled him, as to the advance being a +grant instead of a loan, etc.</p> + +<p>On 21st February, the House of Assembly recommended that the +balance be paid over at once. It pointed out that Dr. Ryerson had +become personally liable to the banks for $3,400, and Revs. John +Ryerson and E. Evans for $2,000 of the balance due; that although +grants were constantly being made by the House, yet there was no +precedent for a loan; and that as to whether the advance was to be +a grant or a loan they would abstain from offering an opinion. This +report had the desired effect. The money was paid.</p></div> + +<p>On the 22nd February, Dr. Ryerson was, therefore, enabled to write to +his friend in Kingston, to say that</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The prayer of my petition has been this day complied with by a +unanimous vote of the House of Assembly; and the Hon. Mr. Draper +told Brother Evans that His Excellency would issue his warrant for +the money as soon as the Address of the Assembly is presented. Not +a man in the Assembly would risk his reputation in defence of the +conduct of the Governor in this affair. The Report of the Committee +was received, and the Address passed two readings last night and +one this morning, and without one word from any member of the +Assembly in the way of comment or remark. The Committee of the +Legislative Council has actually declined entering into the +investigation of the subject at all, as had been desired by His +Excellency. Thus has Sir Francis Head not only disgraced himself, +but helped us.</p> + +<p>I thank the Lord for His blessing thus far. We will still trust in +Him, and not be afraid. Tories, Radicals, and the Governor, have +each had their turn at us. I hope we may now be allowed to live in +peace. The result of this affair has in some measure compensated me +for the anxiety of mind I have endured.</p></div> + +<p>After this unpleasant controversy with Sir F. B. Head was over, Rev. +Anson Green wrote to Dr. Ryerson as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>How do you feel after your brush with Sir Francis? You need not +feel very downcast, having attained so triumphant a victory. I +doubt not but Sir Francis would willingly pay double the amount +claimed by us, if he could have prevented the result which has +happened. It is too late, however, to recall it now. I hope he will +learn wisdom from the past, and not be so self-willed and +headstrong in future. No one seems pleased with him but those whose +praise is a reproach.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. W. H. Harvard, in a letter from Kingston, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am truly pained at the conduct of the Lieutenant-Governor, and +sympathize with you in thus being brought into such an unavoidable +collision with him. I am more than grieved that he should use us so +ungenerously.</p> + +<p>I am glad that you are the warrior, for you will combine caution +and courage, and will come off more than conqueror. You are at +present the centre of our solicitude. I pray that your heart may be +comforted and controlled from above. We are the Lord's covenanted, +consecrated servants. In His work we are employed. By His Holy +Spirit may we ever be actuated and aided!</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> At the Conference of this year resolutions of thanks were +passed to Mr. Draper, and were sent to him by Dr. Ryerson, the +Secretary. Mr. Draper's reply was as follows:— +</p><p> +I feel deeply indebted to the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist +Church for the honour conferred upon me in deeming my humble exertions +in the cause of Christian education worthy of their approbation, and I +trust I shall never forget their good opinion. I cannot, at the same +time, pass by the opportunity of thanking you for the terms in which you +have communicated that resolution to me, and of expressing my +satisfaction that I have in any degree contributed to the success of +your unwearied exertions in behalf of the Upper Canada Academy in +England. I sincerely rejoice that you were enabled to obtain that aid +for its completion, which was so necessary and so well deserved.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> In a letter to Dr. Ryerson, his brother William thus +accounts for the failure to get the grant: To the miserable Missionary +grant of £900 to the English Conference we are chiefly indebted for the +loss of the Bill for the relief of the Upper Canada Academy, as we are +positively informed by our best friends in the House of Assembly. It has +also been the means of depriving many of the preachers of a considerable +part of their small salary, and in one or two instances, of the whole of +it. It has, and still does more to weaken our hands, and to embarrass +our labours, and also to strengthen the hands and to increase the number +of our enemies, than almost any or all other causes put together.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1838.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Victims of the Rebellion.—State of the Country</span>.</p> + + +<p>Early in 1838 the trials for treason took place. Messrs. Lount and +Matthews were found guilty and sentenced to death. Other parties were +also tried: among them was Dr. Thomas D. Morrison, a prominent Methodist +in Toronto.<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> In a letter to Dr. Ryerson, at Kingston, his brother +John mentions that Dr. Morrison was triumphantly acquitted. He also +mentions (as an amusing incident at the trial) the success of the two +counsel for Dr. Morrison, in showing that statements entirely +contradictory to each other could be fully proved from Sir F. B. Head's +own speeches and dispatches. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Mr. Macdonald, of St. Catharines, stated that Sir Francis had +declared in his speech at the opening of the Parliament, that he +knew of the rebellion long before it occurred, and that he was the +cause of it. Mr. Boswell, of Cobourg, admitted that Sir Francis had +said he knew a good deal. But the Governor was very fond of a fine +style; he liked rounded periods, or, as Lord Melbourne had +expressed it, "epigrammic" flights, so well, that he could hardly +make his pen write the words of truth and soberness on such +occasions. Mr. Boswell read several extracts from Sir Francis' +despatches to Lord Glenelg, which were in direct opposition to the +extracts read by Mr. Macdonald. A gentleman whispered to me that +anything (no matter what) could be proved from Sir Francis' +writings and sayings. In reply to the Attorney-General, Mr. +Macdonald said:—That if the suspicion of treasonable motives and +doings in others, and not informing or using prompt measures to +correct or prevent what might follow, was treason, then Sir Francis +was the greatest traitor in the country, for he said he knew all +about the proposed outbreak. Mr. Boswell said, that after Sir +Francis had seen the "Declaration," and had taken the advice of the +Attorney-General, he had sent a despatch to the Colonial Secretary +declaring that there was nothing treasonable in the country; that +everything was as it should be! To<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> demonstrate this, he had sent +away all the troops. Thus, you see, the two lawyers made poor Sir +Francis prove everything.</p> + +<p>The jury returned with a verdict of "not guilty," which caused +great cheering, and which could not be suppressed for some time. +Several of the jury were warm Tories, but they acquitted the +Doctor.</p></div> + +<p>In another letter to Dr. Ryerson, his brother John gives an account of +the efforts made to induce Sir George Arthur, the new Governor, to +commute the sentence of Lount and Mathews. He says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have signed a petition for the mitigation of Lount and Mathews' +punishment, as did Brother William. I have just seen Rev. James +Richardson, who has been with Lount and Mathews. Mathews professed +to have found peace. Lount is earnestly seeking. A good deal of +feeling has been excited respecting the execution of these +unfortunate men. A petition signed by 4,000 persons in their behalf +was presented to His Excellency. It was agreed that Rev. Mr. Brough +(Church of England minister from Newmarket) and I should go and +present the Toronto petition, and that we should seek a private +interview with him. Instead of having a private interview, we were +called into the Council Chamber in the presence of the Executive +Council. This was rather embarrassing to me, as I did not wish to +say what I had intended to say in the presence of Sir Francis' old +Executive Council. After presenting the petition, Mr. Brough +introduced the conversation and referred Sir George to me. I told +him that I was extensively acquainted with the country,—that I had +travelled lately through the Niagara, Gore, Home, Newcastle, Prince +Edward, and part of the Midland Districts,—had conversed with a +great many persons, many of whom, even persons of high +respectability, and were strongly attached to the interests of His +Majesty's Government, and the pervading feeling was that the severe +penalty of the law should not be executed on those victims of +deception and sin. I also read an extract of your last letter to +His Excellency [p. <a href="#Page_188">188</a>]—relating to the inexpediency of inflicting +severe punishment "in opposition to public sentiment and policy, +for political offences," etc. After having listened to me very +attentively, His Excellency said, that after the fullest +consultation with his Executive, and the most serious and prayerful +consideration of this painful matter, he had come to the conclusion +that Lount and Mathews must be executed.</p> + +<p>I also mentioned to the Governor that you and Rev. J. Stinson had +waited on Sir Francis about four weeks previous to the +insurrection,—that you informed him of insurrectionary movements +about Lloydtown and other places, which you had learned from +me,—that you had strongly urged Sir Francis to raise volunteers, +and put the city and other places in a state of defence,—that you +and I had waited on the Attorney-General next day, and that we had +urged these things on him in a similar manner;—but that these +statements and advice had been disregarded, if not disbelieved.</p></div> + +<p>In a subsequent letter he thus related the closing scene:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>At eight o'clock to-day, Thursday, 12th April, Lount and Mathews +were executed. The general feeling is in total opposition to the +execution of those men. Sheriff Jarvis burst into tears when he +entered the room to prepare them for execution. They said to him +very calmly, "Mr. Jarvis, do your duty; we are prepared to meet +death and our Judge." They then, both of them, put their arms +around his neck and kissed him. They were then prepared for +execution. They walked to the gallows with entire composure and +firmness of step. Rev. J. Richardson walked alongside of Lount, and +Rev. J.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> Beatty alongside of Mathews. They ascended the scaffold +and knelt down on the drop. The ropes were adjusted while they were +on their knees. Mr. Richardson engaged in prayer; and when he came +to that part of the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses, as +we forgive those that trespass against us," the drop fell!</p></div> + +<p>In a letter written to Dr. Ryerson the next day, his brother John +mentioned a sad incident connected with Lount's trial:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Lount's daughter, a young woman, was present when her father was +condemned. It had such an effect on her, that she went home and +died almost immediately afterwards. These are indeed melancholy +times!</p></div> + +<p>The evil effects upon the country of the arbitrary conduct of Sir F. B. +Head, are thus described in a letter to Dr. Ryerson from his brother +William, dated Toronto, 22nd April:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The very painful excitement caused by the execution of Lount and +Matthews has in some degree subsided, but dissatisfaction with the +state of things is, I fear, increasing from day to day. Emigration +to the States is the fear of the hour. It is indeed going on to an +extent truly alarming and astonishing. A deputation has been sent +from this city to Washington to negotiate with the American +Government for a tract of land on which to form a settlement or +colony. They have returned, and say that they met with a most +gracious reception, encouragement and success beyond their most +sanguine expectations. An emigration society has been formed, +embracing some of the leading citizens. Its object is to commence a +colony in the Iowa Territory, on the Mississippi River.<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> A very +large class are becoming uneasy, and many of the best inhabitants +of the country, as to industry and enterprise, are preparing to +leave. My own spirit is almost broken down. I feel, I assure you, +like leaving Canada too, and I am not alone in those feelings; some +of our friends whom you would not suspect, often feel quite as much +down in the throat as I do. If ever I felt the need of faith, and +wisdom, and patience, it is at the present. I have just returned +from visiting the prisoners. After all, we know but little of the +calamities and miseries with which our once happy land is now +afflicted, and yet Sir Francis, the most guilty author of this +misery, escapes without punishment; yes, with honour and praise! +How mysterious are the ways of Providence—how dark, crooked, and +perverse the ways of man.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Dr. Morrison had been a clerk in the Surveyor-General's +office,—had, indeed, while there, collected materials for Dr. +Strachan's Ecclesiastical Chart,—but, without any charge, or the +slightest deficiency in faithfulness and efficiency, was dismissed, for +the simple reason that he had become a Methodist! He then devoted +himself to the medical profession. He was once elected to the House of +Assembly for York, defeating the Attorney-General. He was also once +elected Mayor of Toronto. He was the writer's [and the editor's] +physician during life; died in great peace, strong in faith, giving +glory to God.—"Epochs of Canadian Methodism," pages 188, 189.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> This disposition to remove from Upper Canada to Iowa was +not confined to Toronto and its vicinity. In the following chapter the +case of a Mr. John Campbell, M.P.P. for Frontenac county, is mentioned. +He was on his way to Iowa when he saw and read Dr. Ryerson's defence of +Mr. Bidwell. The reading of that defence changed his plans, and he +remained in Canada. (See page 192.)</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1795-1861.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Sketch of Mr. William Lyon Mackenzie</span>.</p> + + +<p>The story of Dr. Ryerson's life would scarcely be complete without +giving some information in regard to the chief opponents whom he +encountered in the earlier part of his career—men well known at the +time, but whose names and memories are now passing away.</p> + +<p>With the exception of Bishop Strachan, no man came so immediately in +contact with Dr. Ryerson in the first years of his public life as did +Mr. W. L. Mackenzie.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mackenzie was born in Scotland, in March, 1795. He died in Toronto, +on the 28th August, 1861, in the 67th year of his age. He came to Canada +in 1820, and until 1824 was engaged in mercantile pursuits. In May of +that year he entered public life, and commenced the publication of the +<i>Colonial Advocate</i> at Queenston. From that time until near the close of +his life, he maintained his connection, more or less, with the press; +but he was always on the stormy sea of politics, even when not a +journalist. The reasons which induced him to enter public life are thus +given in Mr. Charles Lindsey's "Life and Times of Mackenzie," page 40. +They are in Mr. Mackenzie's own words, and were written some time after +the rebellion of 1837-8:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I had long seen the country in the hands of a few shrewd, crafty, +covetous men, under whose management one of the most lovely, +desirable sections of America remained a comparative desert. The +most obvious public improvements were stayed; dissension was +created among classes; citizens were banished and imprisoned +[Gourley, Beardsley, etc.] in defiance of all law; the people had +been forbidden, under severe pains and penalties, from meeting +anywhere to petition for justice; large estates were wrested from +their owners in utter contempt of even the forms of the courts; the +Church of England, the adherents of which were few, monopolized as +much of the lands of the Colony as all the religious houses and +dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church had had the control of in +Scotland at the era of the Reformation. Other sects were treated +with contempt, and scarcely tolerated; a sordid band of +land-jobbers grasped the soil as their patrimony, and with a few +leading officials, who divided the public revenue among themselves, +formed "the family compact," and were the avowed enemies of common<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +schools, of civil and religious liberty, of all legislative or +other checks to their own will. Other men had opposed and been +converted by them. At nine-and-twenty I might have united with +them, but chose rather to join the oppressed; nor have I ever +regretted that choice, or wavered from the object of my early +pursuit. So far as I, or any other professed reformer, was +concerned in inviting citizens of [the United States] to interfere +in Canadian affairs, there was culpable error. So far as any of us, +at any time, may have supposed that the cause of freedom would be +advanced by adding the Canadas to [that] confederation, we were +under the merest delusion. Mr. Lindsey adds:—In some respects the +condition of the Province was worse than Mr. Mackenzie described +it. He dealt only with its political condition.</p></div> + +<p>With a Scotchman's idea of justice and freedom, he felt a longing desire +to right the wrongs which he saw everywhere around him. This, therefore, +constituted, as he believed, his mission as a public man in Canada, and +it furnishes the key to his life and character.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mackenzie was a political pessimist. He looked upon every abuse +which he attacked, with a somewhat severe, if not a jaundiced, eye. +Every evil which he discovered was, in his estimation, truly an evil; +and all evils were about of equal magnitude. Besides, in attacking an +evil or an abuse, he did not fail to attack the perpetrator or upholder +of it also, and that, too, with a strength of invective, or of cutting +sarcasm, which brought every foible, and weakness of his, and even those +of his father before him, vividly into view. This was the baleful secret +of his strength as an assailant; but this, too, caused him to be +regarded by his victims with intense dislike, bordering on hatred. This +style of attack, on the part of Mr. Mackenzie, did not necessarily arise +from anything like vindictiveness, but rather from a keen sense of +dislike to what he conceived to be wrong in the thing he was attacking.</p> + +<p>In 1849 (12 years after the rebellion), Mr. Mackenzie, in a letter to +Earl Grey, used the following remarkable language:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A course of careful observation during the last eleven years has +fully satisfied me that, had the violent movements in which I and +many others were engaged on both sides of the Niagara proved +successful, that success would have deeply injured the people of +Canada, whom I then believed I was serving at great risks.... I +have long been sensible of the errors committed during that +period.... No punishment that power could inflict or nature +sustain, would have equalled the regrets I have felt on account of +much that I did, said, wrote, and published; but the past cannot be +recalled.... There is not a living man on the continent who more +sincerely desires that British Government in Canada may long +continue, etc. Page 291, 292.</p></div> + +<p>No man was more unselfish than Mr. Mackenzie. He would rather suffer +extreme hardship than accept a doubtful favour. Even in regard to kindly +and reasonable offers of help, he was morbidly sensitive (as mentioned +on page 298 of his "Life and Times"); and yet, looking at the conduct of +many men in like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> circumstances, he deserved commendation rather than +censure for his extreme conscientiousness.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mackenzie did the State good service in many things. His +investigations into the affairs of the Welland Canal were highly +valuable to the country, greatly aided as he was by Mr. (now, Sir) +Francis Hincks as chief accountant. His inquiries in regard to the Post +Office and Prison management were also useful. Besides, he advocated +many important reforms which were afterwards carried out. Mr. Mackenzie +was the first Mayor of Toronto.</p> + +<p>Towards the close of his life he and Dr. Ryerson were not on unfriendly +terms; and when in 1852, as a member of the Legislature he instituted an +inquiry into the management of the Educational Depository, he expressed +himself satisfied with its usefulness.<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> At a later period when Mr. +John C. Geikie<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a>—then a bookseller in Toronto—commenced his attack +upon the Depository in 1858, Mr. Mackenzie thus rebuked him in his +<i>Weekly Message</i> of April 9th, of that year:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>At one time we thought with the redoubtable Geikie that Dr. +Ryerson's book concern was a monopoly, but a more thorough inquiry +induced us to change that opinion. We found that great benefits +were obtained for the townships, the country schools, and general +education through Dr. Ryerson's plan which could in no other way be +conferred upon them, etc.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson, on his part, felt kindly towards Mr. Mackenzie. He +mentioned to the Editor of this book near the close of the year 1860, +that on the ensuing New Year's day he (Dr. Ryerson) would call upon and +shake hands with his old antagonist, and wish him a "Happy New Year."</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> Mr. Mackenzie frequently visited the Educational +Depository to make inquiries, etc. The Editor of this book had frequent +conversations with him on the subject, and explained to him the details +of management. He was pleased to know that through the agency of the +Depository thousands of volumes of good books were being yearly sent out +to the schools.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> Now the Rev. Dr. Cunningham Geikie, of England, and author +of the "Life and Words of Christ," and other valuable books. He declined +the use of the title of reverend in his controversy with Dr. Ryerson.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1838.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Defence of the Hon. Marshall Spring Bidwell.</span></p> + + +<p>From various papers and letters left by Dr. Ryerson, I have compiled the +following statement in regard to his memorable defence of the Hon. M. S. +Bidwell, in 1838. I have used Dr. Ryerson's own words throughout, only +varying them when the sense, or the construction, or condensation of a +sentence, required it. He said:—</p> + +<p>On Dr. Duncombe's return to Canada, I believe the conspiracy was +commenced by him, Mr. Wm. Lyon Mackenzie, and others, sought to +accomplish their objects by rebellion; but in this the great body of +Reformers took no part except to surpress it. I had warned them that Mr. +Mackenzie's proceedings would result in rebellion. I afterwards received +the thanks of great numbers of Reformers for having by my warnings and +counsels saved them and their families from being involved in the +consequences of the rebellion. I was so odious to Mr. Mackenzie and his +fellow rebels, that they determined to hang me on the first tree could +they get hold of me. Of this, I had proof from one of themselves; yet I +afterwards succeeded by my representations and appeals, to get several +of them out of prison. My brother John, who was then in Toronto, +presented to Governor Arthur and advocated a largely signed petition +against the execution of Lount and Matthews. He also read a letter from +me (then a stationed minister in Kingston) against their execution, and +on the impolicy of capital punishment for political offences.</p> + +<p>After the suppression of the rebellion—in the putting down of which the +great body of the Reformers joined—the leaders of the dominant party +sought, nevertheless, to hold the entire party of the Reformers +responsible for that rebellion, and to proscribe and put them down +accordingly. The first step in this process of proscription was the +ostracism of Mr. M. S. Bidwell, an able and prudent politician, and a +gentleman who took a high place in the legal profession.<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> and +completed them in the office of Mr. Daniel Hagerman, of Ernestown. He +was admitted as a barrister-at-law in April, 1821.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bidwell was first elected to the House of Assembly in 1824; +re-elected and chosen Speaker in 1828. On the death of George IV., in +1830, a new general election took place, when the Reform party were +reduced to a minority, and Mr. Bidwell was not re-elected Speaker; but +he greatly distinguished himself in the debates of the House. In 1834, a +new general election took place; a large majority of Reformers were +returned, and Mr. Bidwell was again elected Speaker. In May, 1836, Sir +F. B. Head dissolved the House of Assembly, and Mr. Bidwell and his +colleague, the late Peter Perry, were defeated in the united counties of +Lennox and Addington, which Mr. Bidwell had represented in Parliament +during twelve years. From that time (May, 1836) Mr. Bidwell never +attended a political meeting, or took any part in politics.</p> + +<p>During my stay in England, from December, 1835, to April, 1837, I had +many conversations with Lord Glenelg, Sir George Grey, and Sir James +Stephen (Under Secretaries), on the Government of Canada, shewing them +that the foundation of our Government was too narrow, like an inverted +pyramid, conferring the appointments to all offices, civil, military, +judicial, to one party—excluding all others, however respectable and +competent, as if they were enemies, and even aliens. I mentioned that +not one member of the Reform party, (which had commanded for years a +majority in the House of Assembly) had ever been appointed to the Bench, +though there were several of them able lawyers, such as Bidwell, Rolph, +etc. (Page 169.)</p> + +<p>Lord Glenelg, in a despatch, directed Sir F. B. Head to appoint Mr. +Bidwell to a judgeship on the first vacancy. Sir F. Head refused to do +so, for which he was recalled, and Sir George Arthur was appointed in +his place. In the meantime the House of Assembly was dissolved by Sir +Francis, and a general election ordered. I had warned the public against +Mr. Mackenzie's doings in converting constitutional reform into +republican revolution, in consequence of which he attacked me furiously. +Peter Perry, in the parliamentary session of 1836, attacked me also, and +defended Mr. Mackenzie in a long speech. This speech reached me in +England. I sat down and wrote a letter in reply, which reached Canada, +and was published there on the eve of the elections, of which I then +knew nothing. The constitutional party in Lennox and Addington had my +letter printed by thousands, in the form of a large hand-bill headed: +"Peter Perry Picked to Pieces by Egerton Ryerson." Although Mr. Bidwell +took no part in the controversy, he was on the same electoral ticket +with Mr. Perry, and both were defeated.<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Radical party being defeated at the polls, its leaders: Mr. Wm. L. +Mackenzie, Dr. Charles Duncombe, and many others, sought to accomplish +by force of arms what they had failed to accomplish by popular +elections; the rebellion of 1836-7 was the result. As Mr. Bidwell was +known to be the intimate friend of Dr. Rolph, and as Dr. Rolph was +thought to be implicated in the rebellion, it was assumed by Sir F. Head +that Mr. Bidwell was concerned in it also. But this was perfectly +untrue. Besides, Mr. Bidwell entertained the strongest views that not a +drop of blood should be shed to obtain the civil freedom of a +country—that only moral suasion and public opinion should be employed +for such purposes.</p> + +<p>Sir F. Head thought that now was the opportunity to revenge himself +alike upon Lord Glenelg and the Whig Government, which had ordered him +to appoint Mr. Bidwell to a judgeship, and also upon Mr. Bidwell as a +former leader of the Reform party who had opposed him. Mr. Bidwell's +letters having reached the Governor, he sent for that gentleman. What +transpired is thus related by Mr. Bidwell, in a letter written to me +some time afterwards:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Sir Francis assured me that the letters had been sent to him +without his orders, and that he never would allow my letters to be +opened. I asked him to open them, as I did not wish to have any +suspicions about them indulged afterwards; but he refused to do it, +and said he had too much respect for me to allow it. Indeed, on the +Wednesday previously, I expressly informed the Attorney-General of +my own anxiety, (and that I was willing) to undergo the most full +and unreserved examination, and to let all my papers be examined.</p> + +<p>The terms of my note of the 8th December—the evening of the day of +the interview—were dictated, or at least, suggested to me by Sir +Francis, and referred particularly to his expressions of personal +regard. The object of drawing such a note from me is now +apparent—but I was not then aware that he had received orders from +Lord Glenelg to make me a Judge.</p></div> + +<p>Before leaving Toronto (as he intimates), and after his arrival at +Lewiston, Mr. Bidwell wrote to Sir F. Head (December 11th, 1837), +protesting his innocence and against the injustice of the means used to +compel him to leave his country.</p> + +<p>The conclusion of Mr. Bidwell's note from Toronto is as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am confident ... that the investigations, which will now of +course be made, will fully remove those suspicions from the mind of +your Excellency,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> and will prove that I had also no knowledge or +expectation that any such attempt [<i>i.e.</i> insurrectionary movement] +was in contemplation.</p></div> + +<p>To accomplish his revengeful purpose, however, Sir F. Head wrote or +inspired an editorial to the Toronto <i>Patriot</i> newspaper (then the organ +of his Government) stating that as Mr. Bidwell had left the country, +under circumstances that proved his consciousness of guilt, it was +therefore the duty of the Benchers of the Law Society to erase his name +from their rolls.</p> + +<p>I was then stationed at Kingston. When I saw the editorial in the +<i>Patriot</i>, I at once recognized Sir F. Head's hand in it, and was +horror-struck at the idea of a man being exiled from his country, and +then deprived of his professional character and privileges without a +trial! I passed a sleepless night.</p> + +<p>The late Mr. Henry Cassidy was then mayor of Kingston; a staunch +Churchman and Conservative. His wife was a relative of mine, so a sort +of family intimacy existed between us. Mr. Cassidy had been a student in +Mr. Bidwell's law-office and was now his law agent. Mr. Bidwell enclosed +to Mr. Cassidy the correspondence which had taken place between himself +and Sir F. Head and Attorney-General Hagerman, and Mr. Cassidy had shown +it to me. The morning after I saw the article in the <i>Patriot</i>, +proposing the erasure of Mr. Bidwell's name from the books of the Law +Society, I went to Mr. Cassidy, saying that I had not closed my eyes all +night, in consequence of Sir F. Head's article in the <i>Patriot</i>; that I +was the only person besides himself who knew the facts of the case, and +though I had been assailed by the newspapers of the party with which Mr. +Bidwell had been connected, I felt it in my heart to prevent a gross act +of injustice and cruelty being inflicted upon a man, in his absence and +helplessness, who had introduced and carried through our Legislature the +laws by which the different religious denominations held their Church +property, and their ministers solemnized matrimony. I asked Mr. Cassidy +if he would allow me the use of the letters which Mr. Bidwell had +enclosed to him, justifying his own innocence, and showing the injustice +done him by the misstatements of Sir F. Head. After some hours of +deliberation, Mr. Cassidy consented. I sat down, and over the signature +of "A United Empire Loyalist," I detailed the case, introducing as +proofs of Mr. Bidwell's innocence the injustice proposed to be inflicted +upon him, referring to Mr. Attorney-General Hagerman's own letter, and +appealing to the Law Society, and the country at large, against such +injustice and against such violation of the rights of a British subject. +I got a friend to copy my communication, so as not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> to excite +suspicion.<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> It was the first article that had appeared in the public +press after the rebellion, breathing the spirit of freedom, and +advocating British constitutional rights against illegal oppression.<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a></p> + +<p>The effect of this article upon the public mind was very remarkable. As +an example, Mr. John Campbell, member of the Legislative Assembly for +the County of Frontenac, despairing of the liberties of the country +under the "tory" oppression of the day, determined to sell his property +for whatever it might bring, and remove to the States. He was on a +steamboat on Lake Ontario, on his way to the Territory of Iowa to buy +land and settle there, when the newspaper containing my communication +fell into his hands; he read it, rose up and said that as long as there +was a man in Canada who could write in that way there was hope for the +country. He returned home, resumed his business, and lived and died in +Canada.</p> + +<p>The Attorney-General was annoyed at the publication of his letter to Mr. +Bidwell, and attempted a justification of his conduct. At the conclusion +of a letter to me, he said that I had concealed my name for fear of the +legal consequences of my seditious paper. I at once sat down and wrote +the most argumentative<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> paper that I ever penned (and for the recovery +of which I afterwards offered five pounds, but without success), +reducing the questions to a series of mathematical propositions, and +demonstrating in each case from the Attorney-General's own data, that my +conclusions were true, and his absurd. I concluded by defying his legal +threat of prosecution, and signed my name to the letter.</p> + +<p>The effect of my reply to Mr. Attorney-General Hagerman was marvellous +in weakening the influence of the first law adviser of the Crown, and in +reviving the confidence of the friends of liberal constitutional +government.<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a></p> + +<p>Subsequently, (in June, 1838), I received a letter from Mr. Hagerman, in +which he stated that in my observations on Mr. Bidwell's case I had made +assertions that impeached his character, and desired me to inform him on +what evidence I had based my statements. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The first assertion is that I was the author of certain remarks +published under the editorial head of the <i>Patriot</i> newspaper of +this city, injurious to the reputation of Mr. Bidwell.... The +second statement is that I desired to procure his expulsion from +the Province, because he had been preferred to me for the office of +judge.</p></div> + +<p>My reply to Mr. Hagerman was brief and to the point:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I beg to say, in reply to your letter, that I am not conscious of +having made either of the assertions which you have been pleased to +attribute to me.</p></div> + +<p>I think it only just to the late Mr. Hagerman to add, that the sharp +discussions between him and me did not chill the friendliness, and even +pleasantness, of our personal intercourse afterwards; and I believe few +men would have more heartily welcomed Mr. Bidwell's return to Canada +than Mr. Justice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> Hagerman himself. Mr. Hagerman was a man of generous +impulses. He was a variable speaker, but at times his every gesture was +eloquent, his intonations of voice were truly musical, and almost every +sentence was a gem of beauty.</p> + +<p>The discussion ended there; but no proposal was ever made to, much less +entertained by, the Law Society to erase Mr. Bidwell's name from its +rolls.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bidwell's case did not, however, end here. In 1842, on the +recommendation of Hon. Robert Baldwin, any promise given by Mr. Bidwell +not to return to Canada—of which no record was found in any of the +Government offices—was revoked, in 1843, by the Governor-General (Lord +Metcalfe). Mr. Bidwell was also strongly urged to come back, and a +promise was given to him by the authority of the Governor-General that +all of his former rights and privileges would be restored to him, with a +view to his elevation to the Bench. He, however, declined to return. +Again, some years afterwards, when Sir W. B. Richards was +Attorney-General, he was authorized to offer Mr. Bidwell the position of +Commissioner to revise our Statute Law. He declined that offer also.</p> + +<p>In conversation, in 1872, with Sir John Macdonald in relation to Mr. +Bidwell's early life, Sir John informed me that some years before, he +himself had, while in New York, solicited Mr. Bidwell to return to +Canada, but without success. Sir John said that he had done so, not +merely on his own account (as he had always loved Mr. Bidwell, and did +not believe that he had any connection whatever with the rebellion), but +because he believed that he represented the wishes of his political +friends, as well as those of the people of Canada generally.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bidwell was an earnest Christian. He was also a charming companion. +A few weeks before his lamented decease, he visited his relatives and +friends in Canada, spent a Sabbath in Toronto, occupying a seat in my +pew in the Metropolitan Church. While here he presented me with a +beautiful likeness of himself on ivory. I have placed it in the Canadian +room of our Departmental Museum. I little thought it was my last meeting +with him, as I had long anticipated and often intended to visit him in +New York, where he promised to narrate to me many incidents of men and +things in the Canada of former years, which had not come to my +knowledge, or which I had forgotten. A suitable monument would be an +appropriate tribute to his memory by our Legislature and country.</p> + + + +<p class="space">The following are extracts of letters written to Dr. Ryerson, by Mr. +Bidwell, at the dates mentioned:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>May 21st, 1828—Kingston.</i>—I admire and fully approved of your +plan (as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> I advised Mr. H. C. Thompson) of striking off a large +number of copies, in pamphlet form, of your Review of Archdeacon +Strachan's Sermon. (See page 68.) I have no doubt it will be really +a great service to the country to do so. Indeed, I sincerely think +that you could not in any other way be instrumental in promoting so +much the cause of Christ, as in the labours which you have +undertaken. The concerns of this Colony, as you see in the +newspapers, are attracting the attention of the British Parliament; +and the decided expression of public opinion here at present will +outweigh all that Dr. Strachan and his junto can say and do. My +father and I will shortly give the subject of Church Establishment +in this Province, contended for by Dr. Strachan, a full and careful +examination, and communicate to you the result.</p> + +<p><i>January 19th, 1829—York.</i>—I rejoice once more to receive a +letter from you.... I sincerely thank you for your congratulations +on my elevation to the Speakership. I am sensible how much I need +the prayers and counsels of my friends in discharging the duties of +my station. I wish Christians would reflect what important +consequences may follow from every step taken by those in public +life, and especially in the Legislature.... I send you a copy of +Wilbur's Reference Bible, which I beg you will accept as a +testimony of my respect and friendship.</p> + +<p><i>March 10th, 1829—York.</i>—The Marriage Bill has been passed, with +amendments made by the Legislative Council. The House is about +equally divided on trying questions, so that we often forbear +attempting measures which we would wish to pass. This unpleasant +state of things produces anxiety, uncertainty, and (worst of all) +violent party spirit. I can with great truth declare that I have +received but little satisfaction in my public life.</p> + +<p>To you and your brother the Province owes a large debt of +gratitude. For one, I feel it sensibly, and wish most sincerely +that we could have the benefit of your counsel in our House. Two or +three such men would be a comfort, a relief, a support, and an +assistance, beyond what you have any idea of.</p> + +<p><i>April 6th, 1831—Kingston.</i>—I am very glad to see your +commendations of the Attorney-General.[A] I think they are just. +They are certainly politic and seasonable. Indeed, I had thought of +hinting to you the propriety of some such notice of his liberality, +etc. I was afraid otherwise the coldness of the courtiers towards +him might make him repent of such liberality. But I think that your +remarks have come at the right time, and are exactly of the right +sort.<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a></p> + +<p><i>June 14th, 1833—York.</i>—We have heard with pleasure of your safe +arrival in England: and pleasing indeed this has been to your many +friends in the Province, whose prayers, good wishes, and friendly +recollections, have accompanied you across the Atlantic.... Mr. +John Willson, M.P.P., of Saltfleet, has, within a day or two, +obtained from the Receiver-General, on the warrant of the +Lieutenant-Governor, £600 of the public money, to aid in building +chapels, I suppose, for the Ryanites. (See page 87). The fact was +mentioned to me privately this morning, but I deem it so important +as to justify and require me to inform you confidentially of it, +leaving it to your judgment to use the intelligence in the most +discreet manner that may be consistent with the duty you owe to +liberty and religion.</p> + +<p>It excites surprise, pain, mortification, indignation, and +contempt, to see the Executive Government here making unjust and +invidious distinctions between His Majesty's subjects in the +appropriations of the Clergy Reserves, thereby endeavouring to +secure an unconstitutional and corrupt influence, especially after +Lord Goderich's declaration in his despatch (which he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> directed to +be published), that if any preference was shown to one denomination +of Christians more than another, it was contrary to the policy of +His Majesty's Government, and against repeated instructions sent to +the Government here.</p> + +<p>As a Presbyterian I lament the grant to the Presbytery, and will do +all I can to get it repealed, for I am convinced it will do injury +to liberty and religion, and to the very persons who may wish, or +wicked enough, to receive it. I suppose the Province is indebted to +Sir John Colborne for these grants. If it is the Government at +home, it ought to be known: if it is not, they ought not only to +remove Sir John, but also reform this abuse. Have the Government +ever given your Society sixpence, or even a foot of land for your +chapels?—although it is the oldest and most numerous body of the +kind in the Province; is not wealthy, and has rendered the most +valuable services, and at a time when no other Church evinced the +least interest for the religious instruction or the welfare of the +people.</p> + +<p><i>April 12th, 1838—New York.</i>—Your letter of the 23rd ult. and its +enclosure [the defence], I need not say, have effected me deeply, +too much, indeed, for me to describe my feelings. I thank you from +the bottom of my heart for this instance of your kindness; not less +valued, certainly, because it was unexpected, not to say +undeserved. If my misfortunes shall be the means of recovering a +friendship which I formerly enjoyed and always prized, I shall feel +not a little reconciled.<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p> + +<p>I took the precaution some time ago, to send to England a plain, +distinct statement of all that had occurred between Sir Francis +Head and myself. This was transmitted to a friend to show to Lord +Glenelg. My only object was the vindication of my character. I have +never had the least expectation of obtaining justice or redress +from the Colonial office. There seems in that department utter +incapacity. The very persons they select for the Government of +Upper Canada are enough to prove this. And yet I believe that Lord +Glenelg is an able, as well as amiable, devout, good man.</p> + +<p><i>May 15th, 1838—New York.</i>—I have received a letter from the +gentleman in England, to whom I had written. He had seen Lord +Durham, and shown him my letter. He expressed no opinion; but the +gentleman thinks that the matter stands favourably before him. He +has not yet seen Lord Glenelg.</p> + +<p><i>August 10th, 1839—New York.</i>—Mr. Christopher Dunkin<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> is very +anxious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> to have the honour of an introduction to you. I am very +happy to be the means of gratifying him. Mr. Dunkin was editor of +the Montreal <i>Courier</i>, in the latter part of 1837, and beginning +of 1838. He was afterwards appointed by Lord Durham on the +Commission relating to education, and has latterly resided in the +United States.</p></div> + +<p>About the time of Mr. Bidwell's defence, Dr. Ryerson also wrote an +explanatory letter to the Colonial Office in regard to his excellent +friend, Hon. John H. Dunn, the Receiver-General, whose generous conduct +towards the Upper Canada Academy is mentioned on page 166<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a>. In a +letter of acknowledgment from Mr. Dunn to Dr. Ryerson, he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am very glad to learn from your letter that you have written to +Lord Glenelg. It is but just to put His Lordship in possession of +facts which may counteract the influence of misrepresentation, and +enable His Lordship to exercise his own humane disposition in +putting matters right, which have been so wrong and arbitrary +towards the individual Mr. Bidwell, whom you have taken the +interest in, and trouble, to restore to his position and his +country.</p> + +<p>I feel exceedingly obliged for the kind feeling which you entertain +towards me. Believe me, that you have only done me justice by +mentioning my name to Lord Glenelg. I have laboured hard since I +have been in the Province to discharge my duty to my God and my +Government. I have entertained different opinions at times of the +"Powers here," but they have been the dictates of an honest heart. +I cannot guide my opinions to the service of any party. Whatever +they may be, I shall lament if they should result in any other than +for the best interests and welfare of the Province of Upper Canada.</p> + +<p>You were so good as to read me your letter to Lord Glenelg, on the +subject of the late execution of Lount and Matthews. Your version +too, of the real meaning of the representation which caused Sir +Francis Head to compel us to retire from the Executive Council, is +so correct, that I cannot suggest any amendment; besides, I am +bound by my oath not to divulge any transaction arising at the +Council Board. I shall be very happy to see the letter published. +(See page 170.)</p> + +<p>You have seen my name kindly mentioned in the public prints. What +has been said has been the spontaneous expressions of other +persons, quite unknown to me. I am grateful to those persons who +have vindicated me against a party, eager to destroy me, and my +family. I leave them to a Judge who knows the secrets of all +hearts, and before whom we all shall soon appear. I have had my +share of afflictions and troubles in this world,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> and to which I +feel little or no attachment whatever. When the heart is sick, the +whole body is faint.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson (in the <i>Guardian</i> of 22nd January, 1840) thus referred to +Mr. Dunn as one of the speakers in the Legislative Council on the +popular side of the clergy reserve question:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I was glad to hear Mr. Dunn speak so well and so +forcibly,—universally and affectionately esteemed as he is beyond +any other public functionary in Upper Canada.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Some months after the exile of Mr. Bidwell, Mr. James S. Howard was +dismissed by Sir F. B. Head from the office of Postmaster of Toronto. +The alleged ground of dismissal was that he was a Radical, and had not +taken up arms in defence of the country. Dr. Ryerson, with his usual +generous sympathy for persons who in those days were made the victims of +Governor Head's caprice, at once espoused Mr. Howard's cause. In his +first letter in the Defence of Sir Charles Metcalfe, he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>After the insurrection of 1837-8, unfavourable impressions were +made far and wide against the late Postmaster of Toronto, and Mr. +Bidwell. But subsequent investigations corrected these impressions. +The former has been appointed to office, and Sir F. B. Head's +proceedings against the latter have been cancelled by Sir Charles +Metcalfe. (Page 16.)</p></div> + +<p>Again, in the "Prefatory Address" to the Metcalfe Defence, he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>While God gives me a heart to feel, a head to think, and a pen to +write, I will not passively see honourable integrity murdered by +grasping faction.... I would not do so in 1838, when an attempt was +made to degrade and proscribe, and drive out of the country all +naturalized subjects from the United States, and to stigmatize all +Reformers with the brand of rebellion.... I relieved the name of an +injured James S. Howard from the obloquy that hung over it, and +rescued the character and rights of an exiled Bidwell from ruthless +invasion, and the still further effort to cover him with perpetual +infamy by expelling him from the Law Society. (Page 7.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> According to the books of the Law Society, Mr. Bidwell +commenced his legal studies in Kingston, the 14th March, 1816, in the +office of Mr. Daniel Washburn, and completed them in the office of Mr. +Daniel Hagerman, of Ernestown. He was admitted as a barrister-at-law in +April, 1821. +</p><p> +Mr. Bidwell was first elected to the House of Assembly in 1824; +re-elected and chosen Speaker in 1828. On the death of George IV., in +1830, a new general election took place, when the Reform party were +reduced to a minority, and Mr. Bidwell was not re-elected Speaker; but +he greatly distinguished himself in the debates of the House. In 1834, a +new general election took place; a large majority of Reformers were +returned, and Mr. Bidwell was again elected Speaker. In May, 1836, Sir +F. B. Head dissolved the House of Assembly, and Mr. Bidwell and his +colleague, the late Peter Perry, were defeated in the united counties of +Lennox and Addington, which Mr. Bidwell had represented in Parliament +during twelve years. From that time (May, 1836) Mr. Bidwell never +attended a political meeting, or took any part in politics.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> As stated by Dr. Ryerson, in the above note, Mr. Bidwell +took no part in politics after his political defeat in May, 1836. In a +note to Mr. W. L. Mackenzie, dated August 3rd, 1837, Mr. Bidwell said: +Having learned from the <i>Constitution</i> of yesterday that I was chosen as +a delegate to a Provincial Convention, I think it right without delay to +inform you ... that I must be excused from undertaking the duties of +that appointment.... I cannot but regret that my name should have been +used without my consent, or previous knowledge, by which I am driven to +the disagreeable necessity of thus publicly declining [the] appointment, +etc. In the <i>Guardian</i> of 27th September, where this letter appears, it +is stated that Mr. Mackenzie did not publish it in the <i>Constitution</i> +until the 20th September—six weeks after he had received it. +</p><p> +In a letter from Mr. Bidwell, dated, the 30th April, 1837, to Dr. +O'Callaghan, of Montreal, he said: Retired from public life, probably +for ever; I still look with the deepest sympathy on the efforts of those +who are actively contending for the great principles of liberty, and +good government, etc.—"<i>Political History of Canada</i>, 1840-1855, by Sir +Francis Hincks, 1877, page 7."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> Sir Alexander Campbell, now Minister of Justice, in a note +to the Editor, thus explains this circumstance:—In the winter of +1837-38, I was a student-at-law, and a resident of Kingston. Dr. Ryerson +was then the Methodist minister in charge of the only congregation of +that body in town. The rebellion of 1837-8, had led to excited, and very +bitter feelings—arrests had been frequent; and it was not prudent for +any one to try to palliate the deeds of the rebels, or to seek to lessen +the odium which covered their real, or even supposed allies and friends. +Dr. Ryerson, however, desired to bring out the facts connected with Mr. +Bidwell's banishment, and to change the current of public feeling on the +subject—but it was not wise to send letters to the press in his own +handwriting, or in any other way suffer it to become known that he was +the author of the letters in defence of Mr. Bidwell. Under these +circumstances he asked me to copy them, and take them to the <i>Herald</i> +office—then the most liberal paper in Upper Canada. I was proud of the +confidence placed in me, and copied the several letters, and went with +them to the publisher. The letters were signed in words which I have not +since seen, but which remain impressed upon my memory, and which were as +follows:— +</p> +<p><br /> +"I am Sir, by parental instruction and example, by personal feeling and<br /> +exertion,<br /> +</p><p><br /> +<span class="smcap">A United Empire Loyalist</span>"<br /> +</p> +<p> +The letters constituted an eloquent defence of Mr. Bidwell, who +certainly took no part in the counsels of those who were afterwards +engaged in the rebellion, when it became evident that they intended to +push matters to extremes. +</p><p> +The incident made a great impression on me at the time, and was the +beginning of a friendship with which Dr. Ryerson honoured me, and which +ended only with his life. +</p> +<p><br /> +<span class="smcap">A. Campbell</span>.<br /> +</p><p><br /> +Ottawa, 29th December, 1882.<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> The defence was afterwards reprinted in a pamphlet on the +10th of May, 1838, with the following title: "The Cause and +Circumstances of Mr. Bidwell's Banishment by Sir F. B. Head, correctly +stated and proved by A United Empire Loyalist." Kingston, 1838, pp. 16.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> Some time after Sir George Arthur's arrival as Governor, +he sent for me, and stated that his object in doing so was to request +me, for the sake of the Government and the country, to withdraw the +letter I had written in answer to Attorney-General Hagerman; that it +greatly weakened the Government; that my power of argumentation was +prodigious, but he believed I was mistaken; that Mr. Bidwell had called +to pay his respects to him at Albany, on his way to Canada; and that he +(Sir George) believed Mr. Bidwell was guilty, as far as a man of his +caution and knowledge could be concerned in the rebellion; and though my +argument on his behalf seemed to be irresistible, he believed I was +wrong, and that the withdrawal of my letter would be a great help to the +Government. I replied that my weekly editorials in the <i>Christian +Guardian</i> (of which I had consented to be re-elected Editor) showed that +I was anxious to suppress the factious and party hatreds of the day, and +to place the Government upon a broad foundation of loyalty and justice; +that what I had written in the case of Mr. Bidwell had been written by +me as an individual and not as the editor of the organ of a religious +body, and had been written from the firm conviction of Mr. Bidwell's +innocence, and that his case involved the fundamental and essential +rights of every British subject; and that, however anxious I was to meet +His Excellency's wishes, I could not withdraw my letter. I then bowed +myself out from the presence of Sir George, who, from that hour became +my enemy, and afterwards warned Lord Sydenham against me as "a dangerous +man," as Lord Sydenham laughingly told me the last evening I spent with +him in Montreal, at his request, and before his lamented death.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> These remarks will be found on page 83 of the <i>Guardian</i> +of 2nd April.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> This loss of friendship with Dr. Ryerson may be explained +by the following reference to Mr. Bidwell, in a letter from Dr. Ryerson, +to his brother John, dated, Kingston, 29th May, 1838:—From an intimate +religious friend of Mr. Bidwell, I learn that during the last few years +he had acted more after a worldly policy, common to politicians, and +had, therefore, partly laid himself open to the censure which he has +received. I am also sensible of his prejudices against me of late years, +and of the great injury which I have thereby sustained. I had some +difficulty to overcome my own feelings in the first instance. But as far +as individual feelings and interests are concerned, "it is the glory of +man to pass over a transgression," generous as well as just, as we have +received help from Bidwell himself when we could not help ourselves, and +were trampled upon by a desperate party. If others had seen the letters +from Bidwell to Mr. Cassidy, which I have been permitted to read, I am +sure the noble generosity of their hearts would be excited in all its +sympathies. I do not think, however, that he will ever return to this +Province to reside. That appears to be altogether out of the question +with him; but that does not alter the nature of the case. +</p><p> +I have replied to Mr. Hagerman with calmness, but with deep feeling. My +reply will occupy about eight columns in to-morrow's <i>Herald</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> Mr. Dunkin afterwards became a noted politician, and +member of the Parliament of United Canada, from 1857, until +Confederation. He was the promoter of the "Dunkin Act." He was one of +the contributors to the <i>Monthly Review</i>, established by Lord Sydenham +in 1841. He was subsequently appointed to the Bench, and died a few +years since.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> The Hon. John Henry Dunn was a native of England. He came +to Canada in 1820, having been appointed Receiver-General of Upper +Canada, and a member of the Executive and Legislative Council. He held +the office of Receiver-General until the union of the Provinces in 1841, +when the political exigencies of the times compelled him to resign it. +He and Hon. Isaac Buchanan contested the city of Toronto, in the Reform +interest, in 1841, and were returned. Mr. Dunn received no compensation +for the loss of his office, and soon afterwards returned to England, +where he died in 1854. He was a most estimable public officer. His son, +Col. Dunn, greatly distinguished himself during the Crimean war, and, on +his visiting Canada soon afterwards, was received with great enthusiasm, +and a handsome sword was presented to him.—H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1838.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Return to the Editorship of the "Guardian."</span></p> + + +<p>The Rebellion of 1837-38 was suppressed by the inherent and spontaneous +loyalty of all classes of the Canadian people. Yet, after it was over, +the seeds of strife engendered by the effort to prove that one section +of the community was more loyal than the other, and that that other +section was chiefly responsible for the outbreak, bore bitter fruit in +the way of controversy. Dr. Ryerson took little part in such +recriminatory warfare. It was too superficial. He felt that it did not +touch the underlying points at issue between the dominant, or ruling, +party and those who were engaged in a contest for equal civil and +religious rights. He, and the other leaders who influenced and moulded +public opinion, clearly saw that this recriminatory war was carried on +by the dominant party as a mask to cover their ulterior designs—designs +which were afterwards developed in the more serious struggle for +religious supremacy which that party waged for years afterwards, and +which at length issued in the complete triumph of the principles of +civil and religious freedom for which Dr. Ryerson and the +representatives of other religious bodies had so long and so earnestly +contended. (See page 452.)</p> + +<p>Besides, Dr. Ryerson was anxious to fulfil the engagement made with the +Kingston Society that he would resume his pastoral charge there, after +his return from England in June, 1837. He was, however, repeatedly +pressed by his friends to write for the <i>Guardian</i>, or other newspaper, +on the vital questions of the day. In reply to his brother John, who had +urged him in the matter, he wrote (March, 1838) saying that he was so +happily engaged in his pastoral duties at Kingston that he could not +then devote the necessary time to the discussion of public questions. +His brother, in remonstrating with him on the subject, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Your letter affords me great satisfaction, accompanied with sorrow. +I am afflicted to think of the state the Province is in. Never did +high-churchism take such rapid strides towards undisputed +domination in this country as it is now taking. Never were the +prospects of the friends of civil and religious liberty so gloomy +and desperate as they are now. You say that you have not time to +write on these subjects. I will say, if you had, it would not now, +I fear, accomplish much. Indeed, it would, require the undeviating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +course and the whole weight of the <i>Guardian</i> to accomplish +anything at this time, so completely is all moral power in the +country enervated and liberty prostrated.</p> + +<p>It is a great blessing that Mackenzie and radicalism are down, but +we are in imminent danger of being brought under the domination of +a military and high-church oligarchy, which would be equally bad, +if not infinitely worse. Under the blessing of Providence there is +one remedy, and only one; and that is, for you to take the +editorship of the <i>Guardian</i> again. Several preachers have spoken +to me on this subject lately. One of them said to me (and he could +think of nothing else) that that alone would save us and the +country from utter ruin, and urged the necessity of the Conference +electing you, whether you would consent to serve or not. The truth +is, it is absolutely necessary for the sake of the Church and the +country that you reside in Toronto, and have direction of affairs +here. I wish all of our proceedings to be calm and moderate, but +that we be firm, and that the great principles of religious freedom +and equality should be uncompromisingly maintained.</p></div> + +<p>In a subsequent letter to Dr. Ryerson his brother John said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In fact there is no way of escape out of our troubles but for you +to take the <i>Guardian</i>. The feeling of dissatisfaction at the +present state of things is becoming exceedingly strong among the +preachers and people. I participate in their feelings.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson yielded to these appeals, and did write for the <i>Guardian</i>. +In a letter, dated Kingston, April 4th, he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have recently written at considerable length to Lord Glenelg +respecting the Academy and other local matters. What you say in +regard to myself, and my appointment next year, I feel to be a +delicate and difficult matter for me to speak on. In regard to +myself I have many conflicting thoughts. My feelings, and private +interests, are in favour of my remaining where I am, if I remain in +the Province. I have been very much cast down, and my mind has been +much agitated on the subject. For the present I am somewhat +relieved by the conclusion to which I have come, in accordance with +Dr. Clarke's "Advice to a Young Preacher," not to choose my own +appointment, but after making known any circumstances, which I may +feel it necessary to explain, to leave myself in the hands of God +and my brethren, as I have done during the former years of my +ministry. If the Lord, therefore, will give me grace, I am resolved +to stand on the old Methodistic ground in the matter of appointment +to the <i>Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p>I thank you for Chief Justice Robinson's address at the trial of +the prisoners. It is good. My own views are in favour of lenity to +these prisoners. Punishments for political offences can never be +beneficial, when they are inflicted in opposition to public +sentiment and sympathy. In such a case it will defeat the object it +is intended to accomplish. It matters not whether that sentiment +and sympathy are right or wrong in the abstract; the effect of +doing violence to it will be the same. But I would not pander to +that feeling, how carefully soever one may be disposed to observe +its operations. The fact, however, is, that Sir Francis Head +deserves impeachment, just as much as Samuel Lount deserves +execution. Morally speaking, I cannot but regard Sir Francis as the +more guilty culprit of the two.</p> + +<p>I admire, as a whole, Sir George Arthur's reply to the address of +the "Constitutional Reformers." There is good in it. They will see +the folly of continuing the former party designations, and +pretended grounds of complaint. I think, however, that their +address will do good, from the large number of names attached to +it. I was surprised, and it has created quite a sensation here, +that there are so many as 772 in Toronto, who still have the moral +courage to designate themselves "Constitutional Reformers." It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +will teach the other party that they are not so strong, and so +absolute in the voice of the country, as they thought themselves to +be.</p> + +<p>I am satisfied that there never was such a time as from the +termination of the trial of the prisoners to the next session of +Parliament, for us to stamp upon the public mind at large, our own +constitutional, and Scriptural, political, and religious doctrines; +and to give the tone to the future Government and Legislation of +the Province, and to enlarge vastly a sphere of usefulness. I shall +write some papers for the <i>Guardian</i> with this view.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter from Brockville, Rev. William Scott said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>My humble opinion is, that in order to our safety as a Church—our +preservation from high church influence—you must be at Toronto. I +assure you that is the opinion of our influential men in this +quarter, who understand the state of the province, and the position +of Methodism. Permit me to add that the one hour's conversation +which I had with you amply repaid me for all the furious battles +which I have fought on this circuit in your defence.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. Joseph Stinson, in a letter to Rev. John Ryerson, said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am quite of your opinion that your brother Egerton ought to take +the <i>Guardian</i> next year. There is a crisis approaching in our +affairs which will require a vigorous hand to wield the defensive +weapon of our Conference. There can be no two opinions as to whom +we should give that weapon. We now stand on fair ground to maintain +our own against the encroachments of the oligarchy, and we must do +it, or sink into a comparatively uninfluential body—this must not +be.</p></div> + +<p>As urged by these letters from his brethren, Dr. Ryerson, early in May, +1838, prepared several articles for the <i>Guardian</i>. His brother John, +who was a member of the Book Committee, thus speaks of the series of +articles sent to that paper:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I cannot express to you how much I am gratified and pleased with +your article on "Christian Loyalty." It will, no doubt, do immense +good. We have had a regular campaign in our Book Committee, in +reading and discussing your articles. The one on "Christian +Loyalty" occupied nearly the whole time. Your article on "The +Church" is one of the most admirable papers I ever read. Not a word +of that is to be altered. Your communication on "Indian Affairs," I +cannot speak so highly of. I hope you will pardon me for leaving +out some of the severe remarks on Sir Francis. I am afraid they +will do harm with the present Government.</p></div> + +<p>At the Conference of 1838, Dr. Ryerson was re-elected Editor of the +<i>Christian Guardian</i>. In his first editorial, dated 11th July 1838, he +said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Notwithstanding the almost incredible calumny which has in past +years been heaped upon me by antipodes-party-presses, I still +adhere to the principles and views upon which I set out in 1826. I +believe the endowment of the priesthood of any Church in the +Province to be an evil to that Church.... I believe that the +appropriation of the proceeds of the clergy reserves to general +educational purposes, will be the most satisfactory and +advantageous disposal of them that can be made. In nothing is this +Province so defective as in the requisite available provisions for, +and an efficient system of,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> general education. Let the distinctive +character of that system be the union of public and private +effort.... To Government influence will be spontaneously added the +various and combined religious influence of the country in the +noble, statesmanlike, and divine work of raising up an elevated, +intelligent, and moral population.<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a></p></div> + +<p>In combatting the idea that his editorial opinions in the <i>Guardian</i> +were necessarily "the opinions of the Methodists" as a body, and that +they were responsible for them, Dr. Ryerson, in the <i>Guardian</i> of August +15th, thus defines the rights of an editor:—To be the mere scribe of +the opinions of others, and not to write what we think ourselves, is a +greater degradation of intellectual and moral character than slavery +itself.... In doctrines and opinions we write what we believe to be the +truth, leaving to others the exercise of a judgment equally unbiassed +and free.</p> + + + +<p class="space">In the exuberance of loyal zeal, and yet in a kindly spirit which was +characteristic of him, Rev. W. M. Harvard, President of the Canada +Conference, issued a pastoral on the 17th April, 1838, to the ministers +of the Church, enjoining them not to recognize as members of the Society +those whose loyalty could be impeached. The directions which he gave +were:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Should there be a single individual for whose Christian loyalty the +preacher cannot conscientiously answer for to his brethren, in the +first place such individual should not be included in the return of +membership, and in the second place such individual should be dealt +with kindly and compassionately, but firmly, according to the +provisions of the Discipline.</p> + +<p>No man who is not disposed to be a good subject can be admissible +to the Sacraments of the Church....</p> + +<p>Should any person apply hereafter for admission into our Church, +who may be ill-affected to the Crown ... tell him kindly, but +firmly, ... that he has applied at the wrong door.</p></div> + +<p>As soon as this extraordinary pastoral had appeared, Dr. Ryerson +addressed a letter of some length to the <i>Guardian</i>, objecting in very +temperate, but yet in very strong language to the doctrine laid down in +it by the President of the Conference. Before publication, however, he +sent it to Mr. Harvard for his information and perusal. He showed from +the writings of John Wesley, Richard Watson, and others, and from +examples which he cited (John Nelson, "the apostolic fellow-labourer of +John Wesley," etc.) that such a doctrine savoured of despotism, and was +harsh and inquisitorial in its effects. He concluded thus:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>None of the various political opinions which men hold, and their +respectful and constitutional expression of them, is any just cause +of excluding from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> Lord's Table any human being, provided his +religious character is unexceptional. The only condition of +membership in our Church is "a desire to flee from the wrath to +come,"<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> and none of the opinions mentioned is inconsistent with +the fruits by which that desire is evidenced. The Discipline of the +Church, or the Scripture itself, does not authorize me to become +the judge of another man's political opinions—the Church is not a +political association—any man has as good a right, religiously and +politically, to his opinions of public matters as I have to +mine—and laymen frequently know much more, and are better judges, +than ministers in civil and secular affairs.</p></div> + +<p>It can be well understood what would be the effect of the Pastoral, and +not less so of Dr. Ryerson's clear and dispassionate disclaimer of the +doctrines which it officially laid down.</p> + +<p>It required courage and firmness, in the loyal outburst and reaction of +those days, to question the propriety or expediency of any reasonable +means by which the unimpeachable loyalty of members of the Church could +be ascertained. What added to the embarrassment of Dr. Ryerson in +discussing such a question was the fact that the Methodists were being +constantly taunted with being disloyal. Knowing this, and sensitive as +to the disgrace of such a stigma being cast upon the Church, the +President felt constrained to take some decisive, and yet, as he +thought, kindly and satisfactory means of ridding the Church of members +who were the cause, in his estimation, of such a disgrace and reproach +to that Church.</p> + +<p>Among many other strong letters of commendations of his reply to Mr. +Harvard, which Dr. Ryerson received, were two,—one from a +representative minister of the Canadian section of the Church, and the +other from an equally excellent representative of the British +missionaries. Thus:</p> + +<p>Rev. Anson Green, writing from Picton, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I was sorry, though not surprised, to hear that you were very much +perplexed. I could easily understand your feelings, and quite +sympathize with you. Your recent efforts for the peace and +prosperity of the Church have very much endeared you to my heart. I +am fully prepared to believe the assertion which you made while in +England, "that you love Jerusalem above your chief joy." This you +have fully proved by your untiring efforts on behalf of the +Academy, the Chapels, and on the Church question; but in nothing +more, allow me to say, than in the firm, manly, and Christian +spirit, in which you have come out, publicly, in defence of the +membership of the Church, and of sound principles. I had resolved +when Rev. Mr. Harvard wrote to me to carry out the principles of +his instructions and Pastoral in this district, to write him a +letter respectfully and yet firmly declining to do so. But when I +saw the storm gathering in every quarter, I could only exclaim in +the despondency of my soul:—When will our brethren cease to +destroy us, and when will the Church again have rest from internal +commotion and strife! And just at this crisis (a memorable crisis +to thousands of our Canadian friends) your excellent rejoinder to +Mr. Harvard's Pastoral came out in the <i>Guardian</i>. It was a balm to +the afflicted heart. It was a precious cordial poured forth. Your +letter was sent from house to house, from cottage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> to cottage, and +met with unequivical applause from all. The lowering sky began to +clear up, and we are encouraged once more to hope for clear +sunshine. You have had the courage to speak the truth in opposition +to men in high authority. Your letter was in every respect just +what it should have been, and thousands do most sincerely thank you +for it.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. Joseph Stinson, writing from Simcoe, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As far as I can ascertain, your appointment as Editor of the +<i>Guardian</i> next year will give general satisfaction. The +President's Pastoral and your reply are producing quite a +sensation. Most people give Mr. Harvard credit for purity of +intention, but regret that the subject of politics has been +adverted to by him in such a form. Your remarks on the Pastoral +have hushed the fears of many who were greatly disturbed; but some +think that your statement of abstract right is carried too far, and +may at a future day be appealed to in support of measures which you +would utterly condemn.</p> + +<p>Some of your old tory friends think that there is design in all you +write on these questions, and do not hesitate to designate you by +the amiable title of a "jesuit," etc. You can bear all this and +much more in carrying out your design, to show them that their +tactics are understood, and their proceedings are closely watched, +so as to prevent them from obtaining those objects which would be +alike unjust to us as a Church, and ungenerous to themselves. It is +well that in all of the "burnings which your fingers" have had, you +have not yet lost your nails; for I expect that you will need them +before long. The high church party have the will, if they can +muster the courage, to make a renewed and desperate attack upon +you. Fear not; while you advocate the truth, you can defy their +rage.</p> + +<p>The public mind seems to me to be in a state of painful suspense. +The people hate and dread rebellion. They are not satisfied with +the present leading political party. They hope to see a new man +rise up with sufficient talent and influence to collect around him +a respectable party to act as a balance between oppression and +destruction. Some talk of a new election; some talk of leaving the +country; all seem to think that something must be done; none know +what to do. How ought we in this awful crisis (for an awful crisis +it is), to pray for the Divine interposition in behalf of our +distracted province.... I saw your venerable father last night. He +very much wishes you to write to him.</p></div> + +<p>On the 7th of November, 1838, the first number of the 10th volume of the +<i>Guardian</i> was issued. In it there is an elaborate article signed by Dr. +Ryerson (although he was then Editor), on the state of public affairs in +Upper Canada. In his introductory remarks he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>From the part I have usually taken in questions which affect the +foundations of our Government, and our relations with the Mother +Country,—and from the position I at present occupy in respect to +public affairs, and in relation to the Province generally, it will +be expected that I should take a more than passing notice of the +eventful crisis at which we have arrived. In conclusion, he says: +Having faithfully laid before the Government and the country the +present posture of affairs, and the causes of our present +dissatisfaction and dangers, I advert to the remedies: (1. Military +defence.) 2. Let the Government be administered as much in +accordance with the general wishes of this country, as it is in +England. 3. Abolish high-church domination, and provide perfect +religious and political equality. 4. Let them be at equal fidelity +to obey the authorities when called upon.... He who does most to +bring about this happy state of things in the Province will be the +greatest benefactor of his country.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> Even at this early date, Dr. Ryerson indicated the +comprehensive character of the system of education which he was +afterwards destined to found in Upper Canada.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> These words as to membership are identical with those +which Dr. Ryerson uttered fifteen years afterwards in his discussion on +the Class-meeting question.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1838-1840.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Enemies and Friends Within and Without</span>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Any controversialist, whose honest belief in his own doctrines +makes him terribly in earnest, may count on a life embittered by +the anger of those on whom he has forced the disagreeable task of +reconsidering their own assumptions.—<span class="smcap">Canon Farrar</span>.</p></div> + + +<p>All through his public career, Dr. Ryerson had many bitter enemies and +many warm and devoted friends. This was not to be wondered at. No man +with such strongly marked individuality of will and purpose, and with +such an instinctive dislike to injustice and oppression, could fail to +come in contact with those whose views and proceedings were opposed to +his sense of right. The enmity which he excited in discussing public +questions was rarely disarmed (except in the case of men of generous +impulses or noble natures) by the fact that he and those who acted with +him were battling for great principles—those of truth, and justice, and +freedom.</p> + +<p>When these principles could not be successfully assailed, the usual plan +was to attack the character, and wound the tender sensibilities of their +chief defender. This was a mistake; but it was the common error with +most of Dr. Ryerson's assailants. And yet those who did so in his +presence, and in the arena of debate, rarely repeated the mistake. With +all his kindness of heart and warmth of friendship, there was, when +aroused, much of the lion in his nature. Few who assailed him in +Conference, or made a personal attack upon him in other places of public +discussion, could stand before the glitter of his eye when that +lion-nature was aroused; and fewer still would care to endure the effect +of its fire a second time.</p> + +<p>Most of the personal attacks made upon Dr. Ryerson were in writing, and +often anonymously. He had, therefore, to defend himself chiefly with his +pen. This he rarely failed to do, and with good effect.<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> On such +occasions he used strong and vigorous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> language, of which he was an +acknowledged master. Very many of these attacks were ephemeral, and not +worthy of note. Others were more serious and affected character, and +these were more or less bitter and violent. They, of course, called +forth a good deal of feeling at the time, but are only referred to now +as part of the story of a life, then singularly active and stormy.</p> + + + +<p class="space">The Editor of the Toronto <i>Patriot</i> having published extracts from a +pamphlet issued in the Newcastle District (County of Northumberland), in +1832, in which attacks were made upon Dr. Ryerson's character, he +replied to them in the columns of that paper. In 1828, his circuit was +in the Newcastle district, and the person who made these attacks resided +in Haldimand, about eight miles east of Cobourg. Among other things, +this man said that Dr. Ryerson "read seditious newspapers at his house, +on the Sabbath day!" In reply, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As my plan of labour prevented me from reaching this person's +locality until Sunday evening, and then preach in the Church there, +it would be impossible for me to do as he has alleged. Were I to +have done so, I would be unworthy of the society of Christian men. +But the author of this libel, which was published by him four years +after the alleged circumstance took place, was defeated as a +candidate for the House of Assembly, on account of a personal +attack which he made upon me at the hustings! <i>Hinc illæ lucrymæ.</i> +This person also said that I "hoped yet to see the walls of the +Church of England levelled to the dust." In my reply to this I +said:—I solemnly declare that I never uttered such a sentiment, +nor have I cherished any hostility to the Church of England. Some +of my friends desired me to take orders in the Church of England +[see page 41]; and a gentleman (now an Episcopal clergyman) was +authorized by the late Bishop of Quebec to request me to make an +appointment to see him on his then contemplated tour through the +Niagara District, where I was travelling. After mature, and I +trust, prayerful deliberation, I replied by letter declining the +proposals made, at the same time appreciating the kindness and +partiality of my friends. A short time afterwards, I met the friend +who had been the medium of this communication from the late Dr. +Stewart. He was deeply affected at my decision. When I assigned my +religious obligation to the Methodists as a reason for declining +the offer, he replied that all of his own religious feelings had +also been derived from them, but he thought the Church required our +labours.</p></div> + +<p>Some person having written, professedly from Kingston, a diatribe +against Dr. Ryerson, in the London (Eng.) <i>Standard</i>, Rev. Robert Alder +replied to it, and apprised him of the fact:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>An attack having been made on you in a letter from Kingston, and +inserted in the <i>Standard</i>, I have been stirred up to write in your +defence. I expect also to have a battle to fight with Sir Francis +Head, for "I guess" he knows something of your Kingston friend.</p></div> + +<p>From Mr. Alder's reply, I make the following extracts:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>There is no man, either in the Canadas or at home, better +acquainted with the former and present state of these fine +provinces than Mr. Ryerson, as his letters in the <i>Times</i>, signed +"A Canadian," testify. Even his Kingston<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> slanderer admits that the +facts stated in these letters were, in the main exceedingly +correct, indisputably true, and for the publication of which he is +entitled to the grateful thanks of every loyal subject throughout +British North America. But the malice of an adversary is too often +swifter than the gratitude of those who have derived benefit from +our services. This is proved in the case of Mr. Ryerson; for while +every radical and republican journal in the province has teemed +with communications vilifying his character and motives in the +strongest terms, a stinted meed of praise has been doled out to +him....</p> + +<p>No wonder that persons in this country deeply interested in Canada +frequently consulted him; no wonder that the British North American +Land Company re-published his letters from the <i>Times</i> at their own +expense. And it is to the honour of the noble lord at the head of +the Colonial Department, that he did obtain from so intelligent and +influential an individual as Mr. Ryerson, information respecting +the state of parties in a country so well-known to him. If his +information and advice, and that of another "Methodist Parson" in +Canada, had been received and acted upon elsewhere, there is reason +to believe that Mackenzie and his traitorous associates would not +have been permitted to unfurl the standard of rebellion in the +midst of a peaceful and loyal people. (See pages 176 and 183.)</p></div> + +<p>The inspired truth that "A man's foes shall be they of his own +household" received many a painful illustration in Dr. Ryerson's +history. In 1838, it was reduced to a system. The assailant was often "A +Wesleyan," or, "A True Wesleyan," and under the friendly <i>ægis</i> of four +or five papers, which were usually hostile to Methodism itself, the +attack would be made. From numerous examples noted in the <i>Guardian</i>, I +select a specimen:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The rebellious <i>Guardian</i> is shut against us; its cry is war, +havoc, and bloodshed, with Wesley on the lips, but implacable +hatred to him in the heart of its editor and his friends.... One of +two things remain for us, either to expel the Ryerson family and +their friends from our Society, who are the root of all our +misfortunes, or ... for all true Wesleyans to withdraw from them +and their wicked adherents, as the Israelites did from Egypt, or a +leper.</p></div> + +<p>In Dr. Ryerson's effort to protect individuals who were oppressed, and +who had no means of defence, except in the columns of the <i>Guardian</i>, he +was often virulently assailed, and even his life threatened. On the 22nd +December, 1838, he received a letter of this kind from an influential +gentleman in Toronto, who threatened legal proceedings unless the name +of a writer in the <i>Guardian</i> was given to him. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In reply to your letter of last evening, I have to say that the +writer of the communication in the <i>Guardian</i>, to which you refer, +is one of the "peaceable members of the Methodist Society," whose +character had been gratuitously and basely assailed by the Editor +of the <i>Patriot</i> and his associate. He is a poor man, whose living +depends upon his daily industry. Were he a rich man, I might +consult with him on the subject of your letter; but being in those +circumstances of life which disable him from sustaining himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +against your wealth, and relentless persecution, I at once +determine to shield him from your power. I will not, therefore, +furnish you with his name.</p> + +<p>In the published paragraph of his communication, the writer has +asserted that certain things were published some time since in the +<i>Patriot</i>, respecting the associate of its Editor, and an attempt +was made to blast the character and prospects of several +unoffending members of the Methodist Society—men, the daily bread +for whose families must be taken out of their mouths, if the +political or private character of their protectors is, in times +like the present, believed to be what this associate has +represented it to be. These men do not, like you, get rich upon +"wars and rumours of wars;" their high church zeal would not, like +yours, treble their business, and bring them into possession of a +tolerable fortune in a few years. It is to blunt the assassinating +dagger of a marked, and hitherto privileged slanderer, against the +character of such men that I admitted the paragraph in question +into the <i>Guardian</i>. If you are not the associate of the city +Editor in this "crusade against the character of peaceable members +of the Methodist Society," then you are exonerated from the remarks +in the letters, and the columns of the <i>Guardian</i> are open to you +for any reparation you can desire. Notwithstanding your attacks +upon both my public and private character for years past; +notwithstanding your late unprovoked attack upon my private +character in a city newspaper; notwithstanding your late indirect +threats upon my life, and the <i>Guardian</i> office in the event of an +invasion; notwithstanding all this, and much more, I am still ready +to open the columns of the <i>Guardian</i> to you, if you think that any +kind of injustice has been done you. The letter to which you refer, +mentions no name, but adverts to an already published portrait of a +certain character who is, upon good grounds, believed to be +figuring behind the scenes in this high church warfare against +Methodists and others, and who is known to be indiscriminately +scattering "firebrands, arrows and death," amongst all of Her +Majesty's subjects who will not contribute to the profits of his +newspaper craft in crying up his golden idol of a dominant church. +It is amusing to see you, sir, who have availed yourself so +lavishly, in all time past, of the freedom of the press to assail +others, so sensitive at the mere suspicion of a mere report against +causeless attacks upon private individuals, having been intended +for yourself.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson concluded in the following vigorous language:—</p> + +<p>Sir,—After having exhausted the resources of a free, I may add a +licentious press to destroy me, with a view of extinguishing the +principles of civil and religious liberty which I advocate, you and your +party now seek to have recourse to the "glorious uncertainty of the law" +to accomplish what you cannot effect by free discussion before an +intelligent public; but I am not concerned at your threats. I know the +malice of the party of which you are a convenient, active, and useful +tool; I know its resources; I know its power; but I also know the ground +on which I stand. I know the country for whose welfare I am labouring; +above all, I rely upon the wisdom and efficiency of that Providence, +whose administration, I believe, if I can judge of the signs of the +times, has better things in store for the inhabitants of Upper Canada +(my native land) than the despotism of a dominant oligarchy, upheld and +promoted by the persecuting, the anti-British, and anti-patriotic spirit +of such partizans as yourself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rev. Matthew Richey wrote to Dr. Ryerson from Cobourg, in January, 1839, +stating that some of the leading Methodists in Montreal were inducing +subscribers to give up the <i>Guardian</i>, on the alleged ground of some +disloyal sentiments contained in that paper of the 12th December.<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> +Mr. Richey adds:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have written to a leading friend in Montreal, earnestly +expostulating with him upon the precipitancy of such a course. I +have not failed to apprise him of the bitter hostility of the +<i>Kingston Chronicle</i>, the <i>Toronto Patriot</i>, the <i>Cobourg Star</i>, +and <i>The Church</i>, to Methodism, and to say that, did they read +these papers, they would not be surprised at the pungency with +which you express yourself on the questions at issue between the +arrayed parties of the Province.</p> + +<p>To intimate that the faithful discharge of your duty may expose you +to gaol or gibbet ... is not very complimentary to the freedom of +the Government under whose protection you are placed. Situated as +you are in the burning centre of excitement, and aware of the high +hopes, as well as high-handed measures of your opponents, you have +great need of patience, and forbearance.</p></div> + +<p>The leading Methodists in Montreal to whom Rev. Matthew Richey refers in +the foregoing letter, having written to Dr. Ryerson on the subject of +their complaint, he replied to them, on the 7th January, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Your letter of the 24th ult. being rather unusual, both in matter +and form, seems to demand more than a silent acknowledgment. I +shall have much pleasure in complying with your request; but I +should despise myself, were I capable of making any reply to the +allegation contained in your letter.</p> + +<p>Not a few of you impugned both my motives and principles in former +years, I have lived to furnish a practical commentary on your +candour and justice, by being the first to excite in the Colonial +Office in England a determination to protect British interests in +Lower Canada against French ambition and prejudice. I may yet have +an opportunity of furnishing a second similar commentary upon your +second similar imputation.</p> + +<p>It is true that I am not of the high church school of politics, nor +of the Montreal <i>Herald</i> school of bloodshed and French +extermination; but I, nevertheless, think there still remains +another basis of Scripture, justice, and humanity, on which may +rest the principles of a loyalty that will sacrifice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> life itself +in the maintenance of British supremacy, in perfect harmony with a +vigorous support of the constitutional rights of the +subject,—unmoved at one time by the fierce denunciations of +revolutionists, and unshaken at another time by the imputations of +ultra-sycophantic partizanship.</p> + +<p>Twice have the leading members of the Methodist Society in Montreal +had the opportunity of insulting (and if their influence could have +done it, of injuring) me—and twice have they improved it,—in May, +1834 [see page 148], when I was in Montreal; and in December, +1838—a juncture when a stain might be inflicted upon the character +and reputation of any vulnerable minister of the Church that would +tarnish his very grave. It is a pleasing as well as singular +circumstance, and one that will be engraved upon the tablet of my +heart while memory holds her seat, that when in 1834 I was insulted +in Montreal, I was invited to preach in Quebec; and now that I am +honoured from Montreal a second time in a similar way, I have this +day received from Quebec a second token of "respect for my +character and love to Methodism" of ten new subscribers to the +<i>Guardian</i>, with a promise "ere long of from ten to twenty +more."<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a></p></div> + +<p>On the other hand, Dr. Ryerson, in the <i>Guardian</i> of October 17th, 1838, +exposes the kind of warfare which was carried on against him by the high +church party:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have been informed, upon the authority of creditable eye +witnesses, that the number of the <i>Patriot</i> which contained four or +five columns of attacks on the Editor of the <i>Guardian</i> in his +private and public relations, has been carried from house to house +for the edification of Methodists; that in one instance the wife of +a rector had carried and read the <i>Patriot</i> to members of the +Methodist Church and friends of the Editor, and then asked if they +could be led by such a man as Egerton Ryerson?</p></div> + +<p>In the <i>Guardian</i> of the 31st October, Dr. Ryerson says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Another example of this vicious and disgraceful mode of warfare is +contained in a pamphlet published at the <i>Kingston Chronicle</i> +office, with a view of preventing the soldiers from deserting to +the United States.... I copy the following infamous passages, +purporting to be written by a deserter [name and regiment not +given]:—Well, I deserted. Ryerson never rested till he worked me +up to the deed. I was like a child in his hands—he led me as he +pleased.... It was only to get clear off, and then the road to all +that I ever wished for was open before me—so said Ryerson, etc.... +Ryerson has two or three more on hand, etc.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson adds:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I had marked other passages of a like character, from the +<i>Patriot</i>, the <i>Cobourg Star</i>, and the <i>Statesman</i>.... Such are the +barbarous weapons used to pull down the religious liberties of the +people of this Province, and to establish a church domination.</p></div> + +<p>While Dr. Ryerson was at the Conference at Hamilton, in 1839, Rev. D. +McMullen, of Hillier, in a letter to him, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have read the <i>Guardian</i> with some attention during the past +year. I believe the general principles of political, civil, and +ecclesiastical policy advocated in it are such as must be supported +and ultimately prevail, or our country will be ruined. Yet, while I +admire the talent displayed by you, it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> is still a question with me +whether you, as a Methodist minister, in conducting a religious +journal, are justifiable in going the lengths you do in discussions +of a political character. I know that your ability and your +intimate acquaintance with the state of things in the country, with +parties, and all the questions at issue, etc., render you a very +competent person (perhaps the most so of any other in the country) +to write on these subjects; nor do I think that you ought to bury +this talent, but that through some other medium than the +<i>Guardian</i>, you should employ it for the country's good, and in a +way that would occasion less dissatisfaction among our people, and +excite and stir up less bad feeling against us and you from +without.</p></div> + +<p>At the same Conference, Dr. Ryerson received a strong letter of approval +and encouragement from Mr. Hugh Moore, a highly respected and active +member of the Church in Dundas. Mr. Moore said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I came to Hamilton this morning (13th June) to see you and to +strengthen your hands in the course that you have taken, and are +taking, in the <i>Guardian</i>. I could not get an opportunity of seeing +you, so I take this way of assuring you of our hearty approbation +and support,—as it is deemed necessary at this time to speak out. +Go on; you speak the language of our hearts. I should have seen you +at Toronto on my way from Montreal, and have told you of the +opinion and feelings of our community here, but time would not +permit. It is worthy of note that the people are determined to +support you. May God aid and direct you and all that are with you!</p></div> + +<p>Equally hearty was a letter which Dr. Ryerson received from Rev. John +McIntyre, in September, 1839,<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> inviting him to come and preach for +him in Perth. In urging him to comply with the request, Mr. McIntyre +said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>If the day is favourable, the people will assemble from all +quarters. I know myself of persons who intend to come about 20 +miles to hear you. You can have no idea of your popularity in this +district, although principally a military settlement. Methodists, +Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, and moderate Churchmen, consider +you, as some Presbyterians were pleased some time ago to style you, +"The Saviour of Upper Canada." Now, to disappoint their just +expectation would be almost unpardonable. The people entertain so +high an opinion of your abilities, that (as some have lately said) +you could speak with five minutes' notice on any subject. I should +be extremely sorry that they should ever hold any other opinion; +but, at your departure from Perth, the people may say, as the Queen +of Sheba did on her visit to Solomon, "It was a true report we +heard of his acts, and of his wisdom, and behold the half was not +told us."</p></div> + +<p>Rev. G. R. Sanderson, also writing to Dr. Ryerson, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I greatly regret these constant attacks upon you, who have laboured +so arduously and struggled so perseveringly for the good of our +country, and the settlement of the Clergy Reserves. I am sure, +however, that you will have the warmest thanks of all true friends +of their country; and that posterity will not withhold that praise +which is due you for your indefatigable exertions.</p></div> + +<p>I have already, on page 101, inserted a kindly letter to Dr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> Ryerson +from Rev. William Bell, Presbyterian minister, expressive of his +sympathy with the course pursued by the <i>Guardian</i> on the Clergy Reserve +and other questions. The following letters of the same character were +from parties outside of Dr. Ryerson's own Church. Thus in 1839, the +Congregational Association of Upper Canada passed resolutions approving +of Dr. Ryerson's course—the last one of which was as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We express to the Rev. Egerton Ryerson our thanks for his able and +persevering exertions to effect a settlement of the Clergy Reserve +question, and our determination to afford him any and every support +in his endeavours that it may be in our power to render.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. James Noll in enclosing the resolutions said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I feel myself happy, Sir, to be the medium of communicating to you +the sentiments and feelings of my brethren at a time when you are +insulted and abused as a public disturber, a rebel, and a political +demagogue, by those who are willing to sacrifice the peace, and +even risk the safety of the Colony.... Allow me to assure you of my +admiration of the fair, spirited, and able manner in which you have +conducted this important and painful controversy.... The cause you +are advocating is closely identified with the cause of God. Your +object is not only the temporal but spiritual welfare of your +country, and your friends are the great bulk of its loyal and +well-disposed inhabitants.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. John Roaf (Congregational), of Toronto, in a letter to Dr. Ryerson, +dated December, 1838, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am desirous of not omitting one of my duties in relation to the +"Church question," and looking to you as the Leader of the +non-established parties, am anxious to understand your views upon +the rectory question. Should you also think of any other measure by +which I and my immediate brethren can support the cause which you +are so zealously and efficiently promoting, or can assist in +weakening the opposition to which you are subject, I shall be happy +in attending to your suggestions.</p></div> + +<p>Mr. William Greig (Baptist), Bookseller, Montreal, in a letter to Dr. +Ryerson, dated June, 1839, says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As an ardent friend to civil and religious liberty, and an admirer +of the course pursued by yourself as Editor of the <i>Christian +Guardian</i>, I cannot but express my regret at seeing you assailed on +all sides, and especially by those for whose good you have been +exerting yourself. As a native of Great Britain, I am fondly +attached to her civil institutions, and will yield in loyalty to no +one. I cannot, therefore, but approve of any lawful and fair +measures which will tend to bring all denominations to that level, +that every one provide for itself. I therefore say, go on in your +present course; keep up the fire, brisk and hot on the enemy, till +they are routed. As I see several are withdrawing their +subscriptions to the <i>Guardian</i>, the friends of civil and religious +liberty, of whatever denomination, ought to come in and take their +places. Although not a Methodist, please put me down as a +subscriber to the <i>Guardian</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> Dr. Ryerson, early in his controversial career, adopted +Lord Macaulay's motto: No misrepresentation should be suffered to pass +unrefuted. We must remember that misstatements constantly reiterated, +and seldom answered, will assuredly be believed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> The article in the <i>Guardian</i> to which reference is made, +is the reply of Dr. Ryerson to several Methodists in Toronto who had +signed the Address of the British Missionary party to the Governor; and +who, in a letter to him, had repudiated the construction put upon the +Address by the <i>Patriot</i>. Among other things the Editor said: The manly +firmness with which the signers of this Address have resisted the +cunning wiles of Egerton Ryerson, is a solemn pledge of their love and +veneration for the glorious institution of the Empire.... Thus ever +thought we of British Wesleyans; and thus thinking was our impelling +motive for persevering for the first three years of our editorial +career, in one incessant battering of the pernicious, seditious +principles of Egerton Ryerson; the very first number of whose paper +betrayed him to us, <i>flagrante delicto</i>, a pestilent and dangerous +demagogue.... If his ambition were as legitimate and praiseworthy as his +talents are commanding, he would be a far more valuable member of +society than he can ever hope to be while hankering to return to the +flesh pots of Yankee Episcopal Methodism, etc. +</p><p> +Dr. Ryerson's reply was an elaborate defence of his opposition to the +efforts of the <i>Patriot</i> party to create a dominant Church, the +application of the reserves to high church uses, and the establishment +of the fifty-seven rectories.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> In a letter to Dr. Ryerson, dated Montreal, 1st February, +1836, Rev. William Lord said:—Rev. Anson Green was here last week and +preached. An Upper Canada Presiding Elder preaching with acceptance in +Montreal! Who would have thought of such a thing when brother Egerton +Ryerson and even brother Joseph Stinson were denied the pulpit!</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> This gentlemen entered the Methodist ministry in 1835, and +joined the Church of England in 1841. He died some years since.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1778-1867.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">The Honourable and Right Reverend Bishop Strachan.</span></p> + + +<p>The Venerable John Strachan, D.D., LL.D., Archdeacon of York, and +subsequently (1839-1867) first Bishop of Toronto, was the chief clerical +opponent which Dr. Ryerson encountered in the contest for religious +freedom and denominational equality during nearly twenty years.</p> + +<p>Dr. Strachan was born in Scotland, in April, 1778, and died at Toronto, +in November 1867, in the 90th year of his age.</p> + +<p>It was a singular coincidence that Dr. Strachan entered the ministry of +the Church of England in May, 1803, just two months after Dr. Ryerson +was born. Who could then have foreseen the respective careers of these +two remarkable men! The one, the virtual founder and administrative head +of the Church of England in Upper Canada for upwards of 60 years; and +the other, although not the founder, yet the controlling head and leader +of the Methodist Church in the Province for nearly the same period.</p> + +<p>Dr. Strachan was an uncompromising high churchman. His exclusive views +on the "priestly authority, and the catholic and apostolic character of +the Church of England," were those of a church optimist, but they were +not based upon any profound study of the subject, as his own statement +will attest.<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is interesting to note the causes which led Dr. Strachan to cling so +tenaciously to the idea of "Church and State"—a union which he regarded +as sacred, and ordained of God for the maintenance of His cause and +Church on the earth. It is no less interesting to understand the reason +why Dr. Ryerson as strenuously repudiated and resisted the practical +application of the same idea to Canada. The reason in each case may be +stated in a few words.</p> + +<p>The one from early associations regarded the idea of Scottish parish +churches and parochial schools, supported by the State, as eminently +Scriptural, if not divinely enjoined from the earliest Jewish times. The +other was brought up in a land where such a state of things had never +existed, and where the pure gospel had been preached from the earliest +times without the aid of a state endowment. He lived in a land, too, +where the command to the Christian Church was felt to be fitly expressed +by John Wesley, to take the "world as a parish" and preach the Gospel to +every creature. The manner in which this command was to be obeyed was +indicated by our Lord's example, when He sent forth His disciples with +this injunction:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses ... for +the workman is worthy of his meat. Matt. x. 9, 10.</p></div> + +<p>Members of the Conference, in Dr. Ryerson's early days, unhesitatingly +obeyed the directions of the Conference—many regarding it as the voice +of God in the Church—and went forth, without scrip or purse, +everywhere, even to the remotest corner of the land, bearing the good +tidings, not considering their pecuniary interests,<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> or even their +lives dear unto them, so that they might win souls for the Master.<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a></p> + +<p>Dr. Strachan's views on the question of State aid to churches<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> were +clearly, on the other hand, the result of his observations, in Scotland. +They are prominently brought out in his memorable speech, delivered in +the Legislative Council, on the 6th of March, 1828. He says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Have not the Methodists in this Province ... ever shown themselves +the enemies of the Established Church? Are they not at this moment +labouring to separate religion from the State, with which it ought +to be firmly united?... Has it not been the primary object of all +enemies to regular government ... to pull down religious +establishments?... If they tell me the Ecclesiastical +establishments are great evils, I bid them look to England and +Scotland, each of which has a religious establishment, and to these +establishments are they mainly indebted for their vast superiority +to other nations. To what but her Established Church, and the +Parochial Schools under her direction, does Scotland owe her high +reputation for moral improvement. (Pages 27 and 28.)</p></div> + +<p>Again, in a remarkable letter to his friend (Rev. Dr. Thomas Chalmers, +of Edinburgh<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a>), written in 1832, on the Life and Character of Bishop +Hobart of New York, Dr. Strachan relates a conversation with that Bishop +in which he took him severely to task for extolling the voluntary system +of the American Episcopal Church as compared with the endowed State +Church of England. I make a few extracts:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Let us look at the Episcopal Church of the United States, and see +what moral effect it can have on the population, as a source of +religious instruction.... The influence of the two Churches as +confined to England and New York (alone) is as one to seventy.... +Such influence on the manners and habits of the people [in that +state] is next to nothing, and yet you extol your Church above that +of England, and exclaim against establishment! Add to this, the +dependence of your clergy upon the people for support—a state of +things which is attended with most pernicious consequences ... but +in general, the clergy of all denominations in the United States, +are miserably dependent upon their congregations.... It is the duty +of Christian nations to constitute, within their boundaries, +ecclesiastical establishments.... For it is incumbent upon nations +as upon individuals, to honour the Lord with their substance. +(Pages 41-47.)</p></div> + +<p>Bishop Strachan's early and later writings abound in expressions of +similar views. It was not to be wondered at, therefore, that a man of +his strong convictions would seek to give practical effect to them in +dealing, as opportunity offered, with questions of church establishment +and the clergy reserves.</p> + +<p>It is true that by his persuasive words and strong personal +influence—when the object was the financial benefit of the +Church—Bishop Strachan rallied around him many of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> leading members +of the Church of England in Upper Canada who aided him in his plans for +endowing the Church out of the public domain. Yet it is also true that +many equally sound churchmen were opposed to these schemes, and saw in +them the germ of a fatal canker, which in time would be sure to destroy +the Church's missionary zeal, and paralyze all of those noble and +generous impulses which characterize a living Church in the promotion of +Christian effort in the various departments of Church work.<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a></p> + +<p>As time has passed on the little band of loyal churchmen, who incurred +the Bishop's unmerited censure for opposing his exclusive schemes of +Church aggrandisement, has increased to thousands in our day. They +deeply regret the success of those schemes, and deprecate the existence +of clergy reserves and rectory endowments as in themselves fatal to the +healthy development of Church work as an active and aggressive force in +the Christian life.</p> + +<p>It is not necessary to refer here to Bishop Strachan's views in regard +to ecclesiastical polity. They are well known. On this matter also many +sound churchmen differed widely (and still differ) from his views. Yet +Bishop Strachan, while holding such strong and exclusive views, was +kindly disposed towards "Sectaries" individually, and lived on terms of +personal friendship with many of those whose opinions were opposed to +his on church questions. In his Legislative Council speech, already +quoted, he says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have been charged with being hostile to the Scotch Church, and +with being an apostate from that communion.... My hostility to the +Kirk of Scotland consists in being on the most intimate terms with +the late Mr. Bethune and Dr. Spark.... To both these excellent men +I willingly ... pay a tribute of respect.... Nor have I ever missed +an opportunity, when in my power, of being useful to the clergy of +the Church of Scotland, or of treating them with respect, kindness, +and hospitality. (Page 22.)</p></div> + +<p>Again, in his sermon on "Church Fellowship," preached in 1832, Dr. +Strachan says:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Widely as we differ from the Roman Catholics in many religious +points of the greatest importance, we have always lived with them +in the kindest intercourse, and in the cordial exchange of the +charities of social life. The worthy prelate, by whom they are at +present spiritually governed, has been my friend for nearly thirty +years. With the members of the Church of Scotland we associate in +the same manner....<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> The merits of our sister Church cannot be +unknown to you, my brethren. To me they are familiar, and connected +with many of my cherished and early associations.... Of that +popular and increasing class of Christians [the Methodists], who +call themselves a branch of our Church, both at home and abroad, I +would speak with praise. (Pages 23-25.)</p></div> + +<p>As to his relations with Dr. Ryerson, I here insert two notes from the +Bishop to him. The first is dated February 7th, 1838, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Archdeacon of York presents his compliments to the Rev. E. +Ryerson, and begs to acknowledge with satisfaction his courtesy in +sending him a copy of his excellent sermon on the Recent +Conspiracy, which the Archdeacon has read with much pleasure and +profit. Such doctrines, if generally diffused among our people, +cannot fail of producing the most beneficial effects, both +spiritual and temporal.</p></div> + +<p>The second related to the calamity which had befallen the Church of +England congregation of St. James, in the destruction of its church +building by fire early in January, 1839. Dr. Ryerson at once wrote to +the Archdeacon offering him the use of the Newgate (Adelaide Street) +Church. On the 6th January, Dr. Strachan replied as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I thank you most sincerely for the kind sympathy you express in the +sad calamity that has befallen us, and for your generous offer of +accommodation. Before your note reached me, I had made arrangements +with the Mayor, for the Town Hall, which we can occupy at our +accustomed hours of worship, without disturbing any other +congregation. I and my people are not the less grateful for your +kind offer, which we shall keep in brotherly remembrance.</p></div> + +<p>In his Charge to the Clergy in 1853, and again in 1856, he pays a +personal tribute to Dr. Ryerson. In the later Charge, speaking of the +School system, he says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>So far as Dr. Ryerson is concerned, I am one of those who +appreciate very highly his exertions, his unwearied assiduity, and +his administrative capacity.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson's last reference to the Bishop is contained in the "Epochs +of Canadian Methodism," written in 1880, as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Upwards of fifty years have passed away since my criticisms on Dr. +Strachan's "Sermon on the death of the Bishop of Quebec" were +written. On the re-perusal of them, after the lapse of so long a +time, the impression on my own mind is that Dr. Strachan was honest +in his statements and opinions.... He was more moderate and liberal +in his views and feelings in his later years, and became the +personal friend of his old antagonist, "The Reviewer," who, he +said, had "fought fair." (Page 145.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> My mother (he said) belonged to the Relief +denomination.... My father was attached to the Non-Jurants; and although +he went occasionally with my mother, he was a frequent hearer of Bishop +Skinner, to whose church he was in the habit of carrying me. He died +when I was very young, but not before my mind was impressed in favour of +Episcopacy.... I readily confess, that in respect to Church Government, +my principles were sufficiently vague and unformed; for to this +important subject my attention was never particularly drawn till I came +to this country, when my venerated friend, the late Dr. Stewart, of +Kingston, urged me to enter the Church, and as I had never yet +communicated, that excellent person, whom I loved as a father, admitted +me to the altar a little before I went to Quebec to take holy orders, in +1803. Before I had determined to enter the Church of England, I was +induced by the advice of another friend (the late Mr. Cartwright) ... to +make some inquiries respecting the Presbyterian Church of Montreal, then +vacant. (Dr. Strachan's Speech in the Legislative Council, March 6th, +1828, pages 25, 26.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> The stipends of Methodist ministers in those days were +very small. Rev. Dr. John Carroll tells me that the "quarterage" payable +to an unmarried Methodist minister in America, at first, was only $60 +per annum; then it was increased to $80, at which rate it remained until +1816, when the General Conference fixed it at $100, at which it remained +until 1854. The rule for a married minister was double that for a single +man, and $16 for each child. Besides quarterage, there was an allowance +for travelling and table expenses. Two hundred dollars was the sum for +salary, besides travelling and aid expenses, allowed to a minister up to +1854, and even then this sum was rarely ever paid in full.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> Rev. H. Wilkinson in a note to Dr. Ryerson, in 1837, thus +describes the kind of places to which some ministers had to be sent, and +their duties and qualifications when there. He said: I require a man for +a mission which lies about 200 miles from Bytown, up the Grand River +(Ottawa), and which will be difficult of access in the winter. A +suitable person could make his way northwards with some of the rude +lumbermen, who now and then go up in companies. The brother would need +to be strong in mind and body, and fervent in spirit. He would need to +go on foot, and paddle a canoe, or row a boat, as the case might be, and +thus reach his appointments in the best way he can.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> While in the vicinity of St. Andrews I contracted several +important friendships, amongst others, with Thomas Duncan, afterwards +Professor of Mathematics, and also with Dr. Chalmers, since then so +deservedly renowned. We were all three very nearly of the same age, and +our friendship only terminated with death, being kept alive by a +constant correspondence during more than sixty years. (Bishop Strachan's +Charge to his Clergy, June, 1860; page 10.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> Speaking of the passage of a Clergy Reserve Bill in 1840, +to which the Bishop of Toronto was strongly opposed, Dr. Ryerson says: A +considerable majority of the members of the Church of England in both +Houses of the Legislature voted for the Bill, and were afterwards +charged by the Bishop with "defection and treachery" for doing so. On +this point, Lord Sydenham, in a despatch to Lord John Russell, dated, +5th February, 1840, said: It is notorious to every one here, that of +twenty-two members (being communicants of the Church of England) who +voted upon this bill, only eight recorded their opinion in favour of the +views expressed by the Right Reverend Prelate, whilst, in the +Legislative Council the majority was still greater; and amongst those +who gave it their warmest support, are to be found many gentlemen of the +highest character for independence, and for attachment to the Church, +and whose views on general politics differ from those of Her Majesty's +Government. (Dr. Ryerson's Criticism on Bishop Strachan's letter to Lord +John Russell, dated, February 20th, 1851.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> These kindly words the Bishop repeated in substance to the +Editor some years since, when talking with him on the subject.—H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1791-1836.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">The Clergy Reserves and Rectories Questions</span>.</p> + + +<p>The discussion of the Clergy Reserve Question enters so largely into the +Story of Dr. Ryerson's Life, that I give in this chapter a short, +condensed sketch of its origin and history down to 1837-38. The +remainder of the sketch will be developed in an account of the contest +preceding the settlement of the question in subsequent chapters.</p> + +<p>After the conquest of Canada, in 1760, the right of the Roman Catholic +inhabitants to enjoy their religion was guaranteed to them in the Treaty +of Paris, Feb. 10th, 1763. In 1774, an Act was passed by the British +Parliament (14 Geo. III., ch. 83) by which the right to their accustomed +dues and tithes was secured to the clergy of the Church of Rome in the +then Province of Quebec (including what was afterwards Upper and Lower +Canada). The same Act provided for the encouragement of the Protestant +religion, and, for the support of a Protestant clergy, by other tithes +and dues.<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a></p> + +<p>In 1791, the Province of Quebec was divided into Upper and Lower Canada, +and, in an Act introduced into the British Parliament by Mr. Pitt, +provision was made for their government. Sections 35-42 of that Act +dealt with the maintenance and support of a Protestant Clergy, and this +provision (1) allotted one-seventh of all lands which might be hereafter +granted by the King for settlement; and (2) gave authority for the +erection of "parsonages or rectories, according to the establishment of +the Church of England," to be endowed out of the lands so allotted, etc. +(Sec. 38).</p> + +<p>The alleged reasons which induced George III. to make provision for the +support of religion in the North American Colonies, are set forth, so +far as they related to the Protestant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> religion, by the late Bishop +Strachan in a pamphlet which he published in England in 1827.<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> He +mentions the fact that Great Britain, of all European nations, had +hitherto made no provision for religious instruction in her colonies. He +further states that:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The effect of this was that emigrants belonging to the Established +Church who settled in America, not having access to their own +religious ministrations, became frequently dissenters; and when the +Colonies (now the United States) rebelled, there was not, among a +population of nearly 3,000,000, a single prelate, and but very few +Episcopal clergymen.</p> + +<p>The folly of this policy was shown in the strongest light during +the rebellion; almost all of the Episcopal clergy and their +congregations remained faithful to the King, demonstrating by their +conduct, that had proper care been taken to promote a religious +establishment in connection with that of England, the revolution +would not have taken place.<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a></p> + +<p>Aware of the pernicious effects of this narrow and unchristian +policy, and sensible that the colonial ought to be attached to the +parent state by religious, as well as by political feelings, the +great Mr. Pitt determined (in forming a constitution for the +Canadas) to provide for the religious instruction of the people, +and to lay the foundation of an Ecclesiastical Establishment which +should increase with the settlement.</p> + +<p>To accomplish this noble purpose, Mr. Pitt advised that one-seventh +of the lands should be set apart for the maintenance of a +Protestant Clergy. In Upper Canada this appropriation comprises +one-seventh of the whole province: but in Lower Canada, one-seventh +of those parts only which have been granted since 1791 (pages 2, +3).<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a></p></div> + +<p>In a pamphlet published at Kingston, U.C., during the previous year, the +substance of Mr. Pitt's remarks on that part of the Bill which +authorized the setting apart of these lands, is given as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Mr. Pitt (House of Commons, 12th May, 1791), said that he gave the +Colonial Government and Council power, under the instructions of +His Majesty, to distribute out of a sum arising from the tithes for +land or possessions, and set apart for the maintenance and support +of a Protestant clergy. Another clause (he said) provided, for the +permanent support of the Protestant clergy, a seventh portion of +the lands to be granted in future. He declared that the meaning of +the Act was to enable the Governor to endow and to present the +Protestant clergy of the established church to such parsonage or +rectory as might be constituted or erected within every township or +parish, which now was, or might be formed; and to give to such +Protestant clergyman of the established church, a part, or the +whole, as the Governor thought proper, of the lands appropriated by +the Act. He further<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> explained that this was done to encourage the +established church; and that possibly hereafter it might be +proposed to send a Bishop of the established church to sit in the +Legislative Council. (Parl. Reg., vol. 29, pp. 414, 415.)<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a></p> + +<p>Mr. Fox was entirely opposed to these arrangements. He said: By the +Protestant clergy, he supposed to be understood not only the clergy +of the Church of England, but all descriptions of Protestants.... +That the clergy should have one-seventh of all grants, he must +confess, appeared to him an absurd doctrine. If they were all of +the Church of England, this would not reconcile him to the measure. +The greater part of these Protestant clergy were not of the Church +of England; they were chiefly Protestant dissenters.... We were, by +this Bill, making a sort of provision for the Protestant clergy of +Canada [of one-seventh of the land] which was unknown to them in +every part of Europe; a provision, in his apprehension, which would +rather tend to corrupt than to benefit them. (Hansard, vol. 29, +1791, page 108.)</p></div> + +<p>I have carefully gone through the whole of the debate on this subject, +but I cannot find one word in it which would indicate that Mr. Pitt, Mr. +Fox, or Mr. Burke (the chief speakers), entertained the idea that +endowing the clergy had any political significance as a precautionary +measure for ensuring the loyalty of the inhabitants. The opinion was +expressed that setting apart these lands was the most feasible way (as +Mr. Pitt said) of providing "for the permanent support of the Protestant +clergy," and of giving "them a competent income."<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a></p> + +<p>In a letter to Dr. Moore, Archbishop of Canterbury, dated December, +1790, Col. J. Graves Simcoe said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am decidedly of opinion that a regular Episcopal establishment +... is absolutely necessary in any extensive colony which England +means to preserve, etc. The neglect of this principle of +overturning republicanism in former periods, by giving support and +assistance to those causes which are perpetually offering +themselves to affect so necessary an object, is much to be +lamented; but it is my duty to be as solicitous as possible, that +they may now have their due influence, etc.</p></div> + +<p>In a "Memoir" written by Governor Simcoe in 1791, he said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In regard to the Episcopal establishment ... I firmly believe the +present to be a critical moment, in which that system, so +interwoven and connected with the monarchical foundation of our +government, may be productive of the most permanent and extensive +benefits, in preserving the connection between Great Britain and +her Colonies.</p></div> + +<p>From various sources I gather the following particulars:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>From 1791 to 1819, the Clergy Reserves were in the hands of the +Government, and managed by it alone. For years they yielded +scarcely enough to defray the expenses of management. In 1817 the +House of Assembly objected to such an appropriation for the clergy, +as "beyond all precedent lavish," and complained that the +reservations were an obstacle to improvement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> and settlement. In +1819, lands were taxed for the construction of roads, and it was +contended that the reservations on the public roads should also be +taxed.</p> + +<p>In 1819, the question was first mooted, as to the right of +Presbyterians to share in the reserves. In March, of that year, +thirty-seven Presbyterians of the town of Niagara, petitioned Sir +Peregrine Maitland, to grant to the Presbyterian congregation +there, the annual sum of £100 in aid, out of the clergy reserves, +or out of any other fund at the Governor's disposal. In +transmitting this petition to the Colonial Secretary for +instructions, Sir P. Maitland mentioned that "the actual product of +the clergy reserves is about £700 per annum." In May, 1820, a reply +was received from Lord Bathurst, stating that, in the opinion of +the Crown officers, the provisions of the Act of 1791, "for the +support of the Protestant clergy, are not confined solely to the +clergy of the Church of England, but may be extended also to the +clergy of the Church of Scotland," but not to dissenting ministers.</p> + +<p>In 1819, on the application of Bishop Mountain, of Quebec, the +clergy in each province were incorporated for the purpose of +leasing and managing the reserves—the proceeds, however, to be +paid over to the Government. On the appearance of a notice to this +effect in the Quebec <i>Gazette</i>, dated, 13th June, 1820, the clergy +of the Church of Scotland memorialized the King for a share in +these reserves.</p> + +<p>In 1823, the House of Assembly, on motion of Hon. William Morris, +concurred in a series of resolutions, asserting the right of the +Church of Scotland in Canada to a share in the reserves. These +resolutions were rejected by the Legislative Council, by a vote of +6 to 5.</p> + +<p>In April, 1824, Dr. Strachan was deputed by the Bishop of Quebec +and Sir P. Maitland, to go to England and get authority from Lord +Bathurst to sell portions of the reserves. In the meantime, the +Canada (Land) Company proposed to purchase all the Crown and Clergy +Reserve Lands at a valuation to be agreed on. The clergy +corporation having desired a voice in this valuation, the Bishop of +Quebec deputed Archdeacon Mountain to press this view on Lord +Bathurst. Some misunderstanding having arisen between Lord Bathurst +and Archdeacon Strachan, and the Canada Land Company, Dr. Strachan +went to England in April, 1826, and was deputed by Lord Bathurst to +arrange the differences with Mr. John Galt, Commissioner of the +Company. This they did by changing the original plan. The clergy +lands were exchanged for 1,000,000 acres in the Huron tract. Out of +the moneys received from the Canada Company the Home Government +appropriated £700 a year to the Church of Scotland clergy,<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> and +the same amount to the clergy of the Church of Rome in Upper +Canada.</p> + +<p>In June, 1826, the Home Government, on the memorial of the Church +of Scotland General Assembly, and an address from the House of +Assembly, founded on the resolutions of 1823 (which, as introduced, +had been rejected by the Legislative Council), acknowledged the +rights of the Church of Scotland clergy to a share of the reserves. +In January, 1826, the House of Assembly memorialized the King to +distribute the proceeds of the reserves for the benefit of all +denominations, or failing that to the purposes of education and the +general improvement of the Province. The reply to this memorial was +so unsatisfactory that the House of Assembly (December 22nd, 1826), +adopted a series of eleven resolutions, deprecating the action of +the Home Government in appropriating the clergy reserves to +individuals connected with the Church of England "to the exclusion +of other denominations"—that church bearing "a very small +proportion to the number of other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> Christians in the province." The +Assembly prayed that the proceeds of the reserves be applied to the +support of district and common schools, a Provincial seminary, and +in aid of erecting places of worship for all denominations of +Christians. These resolutions passed by majorities of from 25 to +30; the nays being 2 and 3 only. The bill founded on these +resolutions was negatived in the Legislative Council (January, +1827). In the year 1826, Dr. Strachan obtained a royal charter for +King's College, with an endowment of 225,000 acres of land, and a +grant of £1,000 for sixteen years. This charter was wholly in +favour of the Church of England, and its obnoxious clauses remained +unchanged until 1835.</p> + +<p>In March, 1827, Hon. R. W. Horton introduced a Bill into Parliament +to provide for the sale of the clergy lands, as asked for by the +Bishop of Quebec. This led to a protracted discussion between the +friends in the House of the English and Scotch Churches, and +requests were made for information on the state of these Churches +in Upper Canada. Archdeacon Strachan, then in England, furnished +this information in his famous letter and Chart, dated, May 16th, +1827. Objection to giving the clergy corporation power to sell +these lands having been made, Mr. Horton withdrew his original +bill, and in a new one, which was passed, confined the exercise of +this power to the Executive Government.</p> + +<p>In March, 1828, the House of Assembly memorialized the King to +place the proceeds of the reserves at the disposal of the House for +the purposes of education and internal improvement. Mr. Morris' +motion to strike out "internal improvement" was lost. In this year +a committee of the House of Commons reported against continuing the +reservation in mortmain of the clergy lands, as it imposed serious +obstacles to the improvement of the colony.</p> + +<p>In 1829, two despatches on the clergy reserve question were sent to +the Colonial Secretary by Sir John Colborne. In one, dated 11th +April, Sir John says: If a more ardent zeal be not shown by the +Established Church, and a very different kind of minister than that +which is generally to be found in this Province sent out from +England, it is obvious that the members of the Established Church +will be inconsiderable, and that it will continue to lose ground. +The Methodists, apparently, exceed the number of the Churches of +England and Scotland.... If the Wesleyan Methodists in England +could be prevailed on to supply this Province with preachers, the +Methodists of this country would become, as a political body, of +less importance than they are at present.</p> + +<p>In this year the House of Assembly passed a bill similar to that of +1828. It was rejected, as in the previous year, by the Legislative +Council. In 1830, the same proceedings were repeated with like +result.</p></div> + +<p>In December, 1830 (see page 101), a monster petition was agreed to, and +afterwards signed by 10,000 persons and sent to England, praying that +steps be taken to leave the ministers of all denominations to be +supported by the people among whom they labour and the voluntary +contributions of benevolent Societies in Canada and Great Britain—to do +away with all political distinctions on account of religious faith—to +remove all ministers of religion from seats and places of political +power in the Provincial Government—to grant to the clergy of all +denominations the enjoyment of equal rights and privileges in everything +that appertains to them as British subjects and as ministers of the +Gospel, particularly the right of solemnizing matrimony—to modify the +charter of King's College, so as to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> exclude all sectarian tests and +preferences—and to appropriate the proceeds of the sale of the lands, +heretofore set apart for the support of a Protestant Clergy, to the +purposes of general education and various internal improvements.</p> + +<p>Such was the comprehensive character of the reforms prayed for in this +province upwards of fifty years ago. All of these reforms have been long +since granted; but the enumeration of them shows how far off the mass of +the people and their ministers were then from the enjoyment of the civil +and religious privileges which are now the birthright of every British +subject in Canada.</p> + +<p>This "programme of reforms" will also show what were the principles for +which Dr. Ryerson, and other pioneers of religious freedom in Upper +Canada, had to contend half a century ago. Nor was the victory easily +won which they achieved. The struggle was a long and arduous one. Each +step was contested by the dominant party, and every reform was resisted +with a determination worthy of a better cause.</p> + +<p>In March 1831, the first attempt was made (on motion of Mr. Hagerman) to +deprive the Canadian Legislature of the power to deal with the clergy +reserve question. His motion was to revest the reserves in the crown for +religious purposes, but it was negatived by a vote of 30 to 7. Although +defeated now, the same proposition was frequently made afterwards, and +at length with success. In 1839 a provision of that kind was passed, but +it failed on technical grounds to receive the royal assent. See chapter +xxxi.</p> + +<p>In 1831 and 1832, addresses to the King were adopted by the House of +Assembly praying, as before, that the reserves be applied to educational +purposes. In this year a satisfactory reply from the Home Government, in +regard to the clergy reserve question, was communicated to the +Legislature, and it was invited to consider the desirability of +exercising its power to "vary or repeal" certain provisions for the +support of a Protestant Clergy. In 1832 and in 1833, bills to revest the +clergy reserve lands in the Crown were read a second time, and, in 1834, +one to that effect was finally passed, but was rejected by the +Legislative Council. A bill for the sale of the reserves and the +application of the proceeds to educational purposes, was passed in 1835, +by a vote of 40 to 4, but was again rejected by the Legislative Council. +This body in the same year proposed that both Houses should abdicate +their functions in regard to the reserves (as they were unable to concur +in any measure on the subject), and request the Imperial Parliament to +legislate on the subject! The House of Assembly peremptorily refused, by +a vote of two to one, to concur in such a proposition, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> read a +dignified lecture to the Council on its refusal to pass their measures, +or to originate one of its own. The members of the Assembly felt that +the influence of the Governor and the members of the Council would be so +potent in England, that by it the wishes of the people of Upper Canada, +as repeatedly expressed by that House, would be frustrated.<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> In 1836, +the bill of the previous year was passed by the Assembly by a majority +of 35 to 5. The Legislative Council amended it so as to leave the matter +as before with the British Parliament. This amendment was defeated by +the House of Assembly by a vote of 27 to 1, and so the matter ended. In +1837-38 the rebellion took place, leaving the clergy reserve question in +abeyance for some time.</p> + +<p>On the 15th January, 1836, Sir John Colborne, by order in council, +established fifty-seven rectories in Upper Canada, and endowed them out +of the clergy reserve lands. This was done at the last moment, and while +the successor of Sir John Colborne (Sir F. B. Head) was on his way from +New York to Toronto. So great was the haste in which this act was done, +that only 44 out of the 57 patents were signed by the retiring Governor; +so that only that number of rectories were actually endowed. There is no +doubt but that the Constitutional Act of 1791 authorized not only the +setting apart of the clergy reserves, but also the erection of +"parsonages and rectories according to the establishment of the Church +of England," to be endowed out of the lands so allotted. (Sec. 38). But, +in Lord Glenelg's opinion, the subject was never submitted for the +signification of the King's pleasure thereon. Certain ambiguous words, +in Lord Ripon's reply to a private communication from Sir John Colborne, +was the authority relied upon for the hasty and unpopular act of the +retiring Governor. The legality of the act was frequently questioned, +but it was finally affirmed by the Court of Chancery in Upper Canada in +1856. The judgment in the case of the Attorney-General <i>vs.</i> Grasett was +that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Under the statute 31, Geo. III., ch. 31, and the Royal Commission, +Sir John Colborne, the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, had +authority to create and endow rectories without further +instructions.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> These tithes continued to be collected for the support of +a Protestant Clergy until February, 1823, when a declaratory Act, passed +by the Legislature of Upper Canada in 1821, was sanctioned by the King +to the effect that hereafter "no tithes shall be claimed, demanded, or +received by any ecclesiastical parson, rector or vicar, of the +Protestant Church within this Province."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> Observations on the Provision made for the Maintenance of +a Protestant Clergy in the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, under +the 31st Geo. III., cap. 31. By John Strachan, D.D., Archdeacon of York, +Upper Canada, pp. 44. London, 1827.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> In a letter written by Dr. Ryerson in 1851, he criticised +a similar statement then made by Bishop Strachan. He pointed out that +Washington and other leaders of the revolution were staunch churchmen.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> In no part of Mr. Pitt's remarks on the Bill setting apart +land for the Protestant Clergy do I find any intimation of the kind +mentioned by Bishop Strachan. Governor Simcoe, however, held these +views, which by mistake the Bishop may have attributed to Mr. Pitt. (See +next page.)—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> An Apology for the Church of England in the Canadas, etc. +By a Protestant of the Established Church of England. Kingston, U.C., +1826, page 11.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> It was in the discussion on this Bill that the long +personal friendship which had existed between Fox and Burke was brought +to an abrupt termination.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> In 1830, Presbyterian ministers not of the Church of +Scotland, were, on petition to that effect (signed by Rev. W. Smart, +Moderator, and Rev. W. Bell, Presbytery Clerk), placed on the same +footing as the ministers of the Kirk.—H.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> This was abundantly proved afterwards. In the following +Parliament an amended bill was carried, by a majority of one vote, in +the House of Assembly to place the proceeds of the reserves at the +disposal of the British Parliament. Petitions were at once sent to the +Queen to induce her to assent to this bill, and the Bishop went to +England to present them. Sir George Arthur also lent his aid for the +same object. The scheme failed, however, on technical grounds, but was +successfully revived the next year. (See <i>Guardian</i> 1st January, 1840, +and page 249.)—H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1838.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">The Clergy Reserve Controversy Renewed.</span></p> + + +<p>The question at issue, when the House of Assembly was elected in 1836 +for the parliamentary term ending in 1839, was adroitly narrowed by Sir +F. B. Head to the simple one of loyalty to the Crown, or—as Dr. +Ryerson, in a letter to Hon. W. H. Draper (September, 1838), expressed +it—"Whether or not ... this Province would remain an integral part of +the British Empire." Lord Durham pointed out that Sir F. B. Head led the +people to believe "that they were called upon to decide the question of +separation [from Great Britain] by their votes."</p> + +<p>Under such circumstances the clergy reserve question was subordinated to +those of graver moment. Besides, even if pledges had been given by +members before the election on the subject, they were not felt, as the +event proved, to be very sacred. Speaking of this Parliament, Dr. +Ryerson, in his letter to Mr. Draper, (already mentioned), said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The present Assembly at its first session adopted a resolution in +favour of appropriating the reserves for "the religious and moral +instruction of the Province." But its proceedings during the second +session were so vacillating that it is now difficult to say what +the opinions of the members are.</p></div> + +<p>One explanation of this state of feeling was, that the political views +of a majority of the members were in harmony with those of the ruling +party in the country, and yet were at variance with the views of their +constituents on the clergy reserve question. Advantage was taken of the +existence of this political sympathy by the leaders of the dominant +party, with a view to secure the removal of the clergy reserve question +from the hostile arena of the Upper Canada Legislature to the friendly +atmosphere of the English House of Commons, and the still more friendly +tribunal of the House of Lords—where the bench of bishops would be sure +to defend the claims of the Church to this royal patrimony.<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p> + +<p>Accordingly, at the third session of this Parliament, Mr. Cartwright, of +Kingston, introduced a bill "to revest the Clergy Reserves in Her +Majesty"—the first reading of which was carried by a vote of 24 to 5, +and passed through Committee of the whole by a vote of 29 to 12. As soon +as Dr. Ryerson, then in Kingston, got a copy of this bill he wrote the +following letter, on the 13th January, 1838, to the <i>Guardian</i>:—</p> + +<p>The professed object of this bill is described by its title, but the +real object, and the necessary effect of it, from the very nature of its +provisions, is to apply the reserves to those exclusive and partial +purposes against which the great majority of the inhabitants of this +province, both by petition and through their representatives, have +protested in every variety of language during the last twelve years—and +that without any variation or the shadow of change. The bill even +proposes to transfer future legislation on this subject from the +Provincial to the Imperial Parliament! The authors of this bill are, it +seems, afraid to trust the inhabitants of Upper Canada to legislate on a +subject in which they themselves are solely concerned; nay, they will +environ themselves and the interests they wish to promote behind the +Imperial Parliament! The measure itself, containing the provisions it +does, is a shameful deception upon the Canadian public—is a wanton +betrayal of Canadian rights—is a disgraceful sacrifice of Canadian, to +selfish party interests—is a covert assassination of a vital principle +of Canadian constitutional and free government—is a base political and +religious fraud which ought to excite the deep concern and rouse the +indignant and vigorous exertion of every friend of justice, and freedom, +and good government in the country.</p> + +<p>My language may be strong; but strong as it is, it halts far behind the +emotions of my mind. Such a measure, I boldly affirm, is not what the +people of Upper Canada expected from the members of the present Assembly +when they elected them as their representatives; it is not such a +measure as, I have reason to believe, a majority of the present members +of the Assembly gave their constituents to understand they would vote +for when they solicited their suffrages. Honourable gentlemen, if I can +be heard by them, ought to remember that they have a character to +sustain, more important than the attainment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> of a particular object; +they ought to remember that they act in a delegated capacity; and if +they cannot clear their consciences and maintain the views and interests +of their constituents, they ought, as many an honest English gentleman +has done, to resign their seats in the legislature; they ought to +remember to whom and under what expectations they owe their present +elevation; above all, they ought to remember what the equal and +impartial interests of their whole constituency require at their hands.</p> + +<p>If, however, every pledge or honourable understanding should be +violated; if every reasonable hope should be disappointed; and if the +loyal and deserving inhabitants of Upper Canada should be deceived, and +disappointed, and wronged by the passage of this bill into a law, +petitions ought to be circulated in every part of the province to Her +Majesty the Queen to withhold the royal assent from the bill; and I +hereby pledge £50 (if I have to sell my library to obtain the amount) +for the promotion of that object. Such an act, under the present +circumstances of the country, would be worse than a former alien bill, +and ought to be deprecated, resisted, and execrated by every enlightened +friend of the peace, happiness, and prosperity of the Province.</p> + +<p>In reply to a letter from Rev. Joseph Stinson, urging him to come to +Toronto and oppose this bill, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>For me to leave Kingston, under present circumstances, and go to +Toronto would ruin my ministerial influence and usefulness here and +blast all our present hopes of prosperity. You know that by my +continued and repeated absence, I have already lost fifty per cent. +in the confiding hopes of the people, and consequently in very +power of doing them good. You know, likewise, that the financial +interests of the Society have so lamentably declined that we are +already largely in arrears. I cannot, therefore, leave, unless I am +positively required to do so by the Book Committee.</p></div> + +<p>A more serious aspect of the matter, however, was presented to Dr. +Ryerson in the extraordinary silence of the Conference organ on the +subject. In the same letter he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I cannot but feel deeply grieved at not only the tameness but the +profound silence of the <i>Guardian</i> on this bill. Silence on such a +measure, and at such a time, and after the course we have pursued +hitherto, is acquiescence in it to all intents and purposes, and +may be fairly and legitimately construed so by both friends and +enemies. Oh, is it so? Can it be so, that the Editor of the +<i>Guardian</i> has got so completely into the leading strings of that +churchism which is as poisonous in its feelings towards us, and its +plans respecting us, as the simoon blast; that he will see measures +going forward, which he must know are calculated, nay, intended, to +trample us in the dust, and not even say one word, except in praise +(as often as possible), of the very men who he sees from day to day +plotting our overthrow!</p> + +<p>I have also observed, in Dr. Strachan's letters to Hon. Wm. Morris, +an attack upon Lord Glenelg, the Colonial Secretary—such a one as +would enable us to turn to our account on the clergy reserve +question (and against Dr. Strachan's exclusive system) the entire +influence of Her Majesty's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> Government, which would have great +weight both in and out of the House of Assembly. How I have heard +Dr. Bunting, Mr. Beecham, and other members of the Committee at +home, say that Lord Glenelg is one of the best and ablest men of +the present day. At all events, after what we have obtained through +his Lordship's instrumentality, I think that silence on our part is +disgraceful—apart from considerations of local interests in this +battle for right and justice.</p></div> + +<p>Two able and moderate advocates of the settlement of the clergy reserve +question were sent to England in 1837 to confer with Lord Glenelg on the +subject, viz.: Hon. William Morris on behalf of the Church of Scotland, +and Hon. W. H. Draper on behalf of the Church of England. In November of +that year Dr. Ryerson was requested to draw up a paper embodying the +opinions of the leading members of the Conference. This was done, and an +elaborate paper on the subject was published in the <i>Guardian</i> of +January 17th, 1838.<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> Shortly afterwards Dr. Ryerson addressed a +letter to Lord Glenelg on the subject. I only insert the narrative part +of it, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I was favoured with a conversation on the clergy reserve question +with Mr. [Sir James] Stephen, in accordance with your Lordship's +suggestion, the day before I left London for Canada (27th April, +1837). After my arrival in this Province it was unanimously agreed +to support the plan for the adjustment of that important and long +agitated question, which had been mentioned by Mr. Stephen, in the +interview referred to.</p> + +<p>Sir F. B. Head set his face against it from the beginning, and did +not wish me to say anything about it publicly. The Attorney-General +acknowledged it was equitable, and did not make any serious +objection to it.<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a></p> + +<p>Recently a meeting of our principal ministers took place in +Toronto, in order to consult upon the measures which it was +desirable to adopt in order to promote the settlement of the +question at the next session of Parliament.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> At the request of the +meeting, another gentleman and myself waited upon the Hon. Mr. +Draper (who had taken the most official part in previous sessions), +and showed him the resolutions agreed to. We stated that if it +would embarrass him in promoting the earliest settlement of the +question, we would desist from publishing anything on the subject. +He expressed himself as highly gratified at our frankness, +courtesy, and general views, and said that if his high-church +friends had treated him with the same liberality and courtesy he +would have been saved from much difficulty and embarrassment, which +he had experienced in his previous exertions; but that he thought +there could be no objection to our publishing at large our views on +the subject. The preparation of the document was assigned to me. +When published, it appeared to meet the views of all parties, +except the ultra shade of one party, who want the whole of the +reserves; and it is now the most popular plan throughout the +Province of settling the question, except that of appropriating the +reserves to educational purposes exclusively.</p> + +<p>A day or two before the publication of this document, the House of +Assembly went into Committee on a Bill to revest the reserves in +the Imperial Parliament! Going to Toronto at this time, I did what +I could to bring the subject again before the House, and +accordingly addressed a letter through the press to Speaker MacNab, +of the Assembly, on the importance of an immediate settlement of +the question, and also urging the adoption of the plan which had +been recently proposed.<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> These papers appeared to create a +considerable sensation among the members of the Assembly; it was +agreed on all sides that the question ought to be settled +forthwith. But the reluctance of the Crown Officers to take up the +subject soon became manifest; and it was not for some weeks after, +that the subject could be forced upon them.<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a> Then all (with very +few exceptions) professed that the subject ought not to be +postponed any longer. But the Crown Officers had no measure +prepared, and differed in opinion on the subject—the +Attorney-General consenting to the revesting of the reserves in the +Crown, the Solicitor-General contending that they should be divided +among four denominations (Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, +and Roman Catholics, according to their relative numbers in Great +Britain and Ireland!) This proposition had but three or four +advocates in the House, including the author of it. Mr. Boulton, +seconded by Mr. Cartwright, moved, in substance, that the clergy +reserve provision was made for the clergy of the Church of +England;—that it does not provide for more than a competent +support for them;—that to appropriate it for them would give most +satisfaction to the country. This resolution had five votes in +favour of it. All these amendments, and several others, having been +lost in Committee, the original resolution moved by Mr. Cartwright, +to revest the clergy reserves in Her Majesty, for "the support of +the Christian religion in this Province," was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> adopted by a +majority of three or four. A bill was then brought in and read a +first time, and ordered to a second reading next day, but was never +afterwards taken up—the exclusive church party being anxious to +keep it out of sight. Thus the question is laid over for another +year, to the great disappointment and dissatisfaction of thousands +who have promptly come forward to the support of the Government of +the country.</p></div> + +<p>As an indication of the determination of the party then in power in +Upper Canada to carry their scheme for the re-investment of the Reserves +in the Crown, before the close of this friendly Parliament, I quote the +following extract from a despatch from Sir George Arthur to Lord +Glenelg, dated 11th July, 1838:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>At the first meeting of the Legislature, I propose to cause a bill +to be introduced for re-investing the lands reserved for the clergy +in the Crown, to be applied for religious purposes, and I have +reason to think that it will be carried by a considerable majority.</p></div> + +<p>In June, 1838, Dr. Ryerson became Editor of the <i>Christian Guardian</i>. It +was, as I have shown, at a most critical period in our provincial +history. He was called to that post by the unanimous voice of his +brethren. That call, too, was emphasized by the fact that the object of +the dominant party in decrying the loyalty of their opponents was now +clearly seen; and that, therefore, none but a man of undaunted courage, +unimpeachable loyalty, as well as unquestioned ability, could +successfully cope with the powerful combination of talent and influence +which the ruling party possessed.</p> + +<p>Nor should it be forgotten, that in the unfortunate crisis through which +the Province had just passed, the prestige of the party which had always +claimed the whole of the reserves as the patrimony of the Church of +England, had, from political causes, immensely increased. This gave them +a double advantage; while, on the other hand, the prestige of the party +which for years had firmly and consistently resisted these claims, had, +for the same political reasons, as sensibly and as seriously declined.</p> + +<p>These facts were well known to every one in Upper Canada at the time. +They imposed a double burthen upon those who had the courage (or, it +might be said, audacity) to question the righteousness of claims, +which—not to speak of the invaluable services and inviolable loyalty of +the claimants themselves in the crisis of the rebellion—were by words +of the statute, as interpreted by the law officers of the Crown, so +clearly given to those claimants.</p> + +<p>Such was the position of parties, and the condition of affairs in Upper +Canada, when Dr. Ryerson was called to the editorial chair of the +leading newspaper in the Province. That he was possessed of the +requisite ability and firmness to maintain the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> rights of a discouraged +minority, and resist the then almost unquestioned will of a powerful +majority, few doubted. The bold defence of the supposed exiled rebel, +Bidwell, proved that neither courage nor talent was wanting. The bitter +hatred of the revolutionary party, as expressed in the threat that, +should they succeed, their first victim would be Egerton Ryerson, showed +that in the new crusade he would have no help (if not covert opposition) +from that extreme section of his former friends. Nor, as events proved, +could he reckon on any support from the British missionary section of +the Methodist community. Indeed, they were hostile to his views, as will +be seen in a subsequent chapter.</p> + +<p>In entering into this contest, therefore, Dr. Ryerson found that he +would have to encounter a threefold enemy—each section of it able, +resolute and influential, especially that one practically in possession +of the reserves—fighting, as it was, for its very existence, and acting +entirely on the defensive.</p> + +<p>Soon after Dr. Ryerson entered on his editorial duties he published in +the <i>Guardian</i> an elaborate series of letters on "The Clergy Reserve +Question, as a matter of History, a Question of Law, and a Subject of +Legislation," addressed to Hon. W. H. Draper, Solicitor-General. After +reviewing the proceedings of the Government and Legislature on the +subject down to the end of the session of 1838, he summed up the leading +facts which he had established, in the following words:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have stated that the Government has been administered for +fourteen years in utter contempt of the wishes of the inhabitants, +constitutionally, continuously, and almost unanimously expressed +through their representatives and otherwise, on a subject which +concerns their highest and best interests, and which, as the +history of Great Britain amply shows, has always more deeply +interested British subjects than any other. Sir, on the unspeakably +important subjects of religion and education our constitutional +right of legislation has, by the arbitrary exercise and influence +of Executive power, been made a mockery, and our constitutional +liberties a deception; and it is to the influence over the public +mind of the high religious feelings and principles of those classes +of the population who have been so shamefully calumniated by the +Episcopal clergy and their party scribes, that the inhabitants of +Upper Canada are not doing in 1838, what Englishmen did do in 1688, +when their feelings were outraged and their constitutional +liberties infringed, and the privileges of Parliament trampled +upon, in order to force upon the nation a system of religious +domination which the great majority of the people did not desire.</p></div> + +<p>As the session of the Legislature of 1839 approached, a vigorous effort +was made by <i>The Church</i> newspaper (the clerical organ), and the +<i>Patriot</i> (the lay organ) of the church party to influence public +opinion in favour of a re-investment of the clergy reserves in the Crown +(for the reasons given on page 225.)</p> + +<p>It was well known that Dr. Ryerson had strenuously opposed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> any +reference of the questions to the British Parliament as a pusillanimous, +and yet an interested, party abnegation of Canadian rights. He, +therefore, prepared and circulated extensively a petition to the House +of Assembly on this and kindred subjects. This proceeding called forth a +counter petition, urging the Legislature to recognize the principle of +an established church, etc. Dr. Ryerson, therefore, lost no time in +inserting in the <i>Guardian</i> of 24th October, a stirring appeal, in which +he urged the Methodist ministers and members throughout the country to +sign the petition which he had prepared without delay. He insisted upon +the abolition of the rectories surreptitiously established by Sir John +Colborne, on the ground that, although authorized by the Act of 1791, +yet that their establishment was not in harmony with the terms of the +despatch of Lord Ripon, dated November 8th, 1832, which stated that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>His Majesty has studiously abstained from the exercise of his +undoubted prerogative of founding and endowing literary or +religious corporations, until he should obtain the advice of the +representatives of the people in that respect.</p></div> + +<p>He concluded the appeal with these words:—It becomes every man who +properly appreciates his civil and religious rights and privileges, and +those of posterity after him, to give his name, his influence, and +exertions, in the final effort to place those rights and privileges upon +the broad foundation of equal justice to all classes of the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>In a subsequent appeal, issued in November, he said:—Let every man who +has a head to think, a foot to walk, and a hand to write, do all in his +power to circulate the petitions for the entire abolition of high church +domination, and the perfect religious and political equality of all +denominations of Christians.... The majority of the people of England +are willing to have glebes, rectories, tithes, church rates, etc.; but +the majority of the people of this Province want nothing of the kind.... +The right of the inhabitants of this Province to judge, and to have +their wishes granted on everything connected with the disposition of the +clergy reserves, and the proceeds of them, has been formally recognized +in gracious despatches from the Throne.</p> + +<p>Few in the present day can realize the storm which these petitions and +appeals provoked. Every effort was made (as will be seen) to silence the +voice and stay the hand of Dr. Ryerson, the chief promoter of the +petitions, and the able opponent of the establishment of church +ascendancy in Upper Canada. Thus matters reached a crisis in the latter +part of the year 1838. So intense was the feeling evoked by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> ruling +party against Dr. Ryerson's proceeding, that in many places the +promoters of the petitions were threatened with personal violence, and +even with death, as may be seen by letters published in the <i>Guardian</i> +at this time. The publication of these letters at the present time would +excite feelings of amazement that such a state of things was ever +possible in a free country like Canada.</p> + +<p>Not only was this policy of intimidation pursued in the rural parts of +the country, but the newspapers in Toronto and the larger towns, +controlled by his opponents, made a combined assault upon Dr. Ryerson, +as the central figure in this movement. On the 19th December, 1838, he +inserted an able defence of himself. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The question of the Clergy Reserves, or in other words, of a +dominant ecclesiastical establishment in this Province, embracing +one or more Churches, has been a topic of public discussion for +nearly twenty years. For thirty years after the creation of Upper +Canada (in 1783) there was no ecclesiastical establishment in the +country, except in the letter of an Act of Parliament. During that +time there was no weakening of the hands of Government by +discussing the question of a dominant church.... But from the time +that the Episcopal clergy commenced the enterprise of +ecclesiastical supremacy in the Province, there has been civil and +religious discord. The calumnious and persecuting measures they +have pursued from time to time to accomplish their purpose, I need +not enumerate. For twelve years I have sought to restore peace to +the Province, by putting down their pretensions. I have varied in +the means I have employed, but never in the end I have had in view, +as I have always avowed to them and their partizans, and to the +Colonial and Imperial Governments, on every suitable occasion.</p></div> + +<p>It was a favourite weapon of attack to denounce as rebels and +republicans all those who opposed the exclusive claims of the then +representatives of the Church of England. And this stigma was, in 1838, +a personal and social one which every person to whom it was applied +resented. But the more such persons resented the charge of disloyalty +the more was the charge reiterated, and they were harassed and denounced +as "radicals" and "republicans."</p> + +<p>In repelling this unfounded charge, Dr. Ryerson did not descend to +vindication or explanation. He became in turn the assailant, and began +to "carry the war into Africa." With scorn and invective he replied to +the charge, and showed that his opponents, with all their boasting and +professions of loyalty, had failed to render the necessary aid in time +of need. Thus: It has been said that I prevented the militia from +turning out when first called upon.... It is true that I did not exhort +any one to volunteer.... One reason ... was that I desired to have the +country furnished with a practical illustration of high-church +patriotism and loyalty in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> hour of need. The <i>Church</i> and the +<i>Patriot</i> had boasted of their multitudes; but those multitudes +shrivelled into a Falstaff's company in an hour which detected the +difference between the loyalty of the lip and the heart.... The +elongated countenances in certain quarters for a few days [in December, +1837], will never be forgotten! From the Government House to the poorest +cottage the omnipotent power of the <i>Guardian</i> was proclaimed as +producing this alarming state of things! Indeed, I received a verbal +message from His Excellency on the subject. At this juncture ... the +heads of the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches formally addressed +[their adherents] exhorting them to rally to the standard of their +country, and from that hour we have heard nothing but congratulations +and boasts in regard to the readiness ... with which the militia came +forward in all parts of the Province at the call of the Government. It +has been insinuated that I attacked the local Government.... The charge +is unfounded. When the local Government was attacked for having pursued +a different course from that of Lord Durham towards the political +prisoners, I reconciled the course of the two administrations. Several +numbers of the <i>Guardian</i> containing that dissertation were requested +for the Government House, and ... were sent to England.... But when both +my position and myself stand virtually ... impugned by proclamation, I +am neither the sycophant nor the renegade to crouch down under unmerited +imputations, come from whence they may, even though I should suffer +imprisonment and ruin for my temerity.</p> + +<p>I am at length exhorted to silence, but not my opponents.... A royal +answer was returned to an address of the Episcopal Clergy a few weeks +since.<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a> Nor is silence imposed upon me until the entire weight of the +Chief Magistracy is thrown into the Episcopal scale. If the injunction +had been given to <i>all</i> parties ... then we might have felt ourselves in +some degree equally protected.... But at the moment when the Province is +turned into a camp—when freedom of opinion may be said to exist, but +scarcely to live—when unprecedented power is wielded by the Executive, +and the Habeas Corpus Act is suspended, for one party in the Province to +have free range of denunciation, intimidation, etc., against Methodists +and others ... and then for silence to be enjoined on me and those who +agree with me ... does excite, I confess, my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> anxious concern, as the +object of it in regard to myself and a large portion of the country +cannot be mistaken.</p> + +<p>The despatches of Lord Ripon (Nov. 8th, 1832) and Lord Glenelg (Dec. +15th, 1835) recommended a "comprehensive liberality" in every +department, and in all the acts of the Government, they conceded in full +the popular demands on the clergy reserve question, and deprecated the +establishment of any religious corporations until the advice of the +local Legislature had been obtained—these very despatches Sir F. B. +Head promised to carry out.... But has that pledge been redeemed by him? +Has it not been grossly violated?... In his appointments and dismissals +from office, and in the whole tone and spirit of his government, did not +Sir F. B. Head become the head of a party instead of the Governor of the +Province?... The result of his new system of government already is +derangement of the currency—insurrection—bloodshed—loss of +property—demoralization, by calling large bodies of men from rural to +military employments—decrease of population—cessation of +immigration—decrease of credit—decrease of revenue—increase of the +public debt—decrease of the value of property—increase of popular +dissatisfaction—vast military expenditures from the taxes of an +overburthened British population—insecurity of person and property, and +general distrust. Under these "Church and King" counsels, for two years +more, and this province will be a Paradise!... We have laboured hard to +obtain and secure many blessings for our native land, but certainly not +such blessings as these!</p> + +<p>In connection with this discussion, a Kingston paper stated that Dr. +Ryerson was moved by ambitious motives. In reply Dr. Ryerson said:—As +to my motives of ambition, etc., my enemies will probably concede to me +two or three things. 1. That long before Sir F. B. Head came to Upper +Canada I had been honoured by as large a share of popular favour in this +province as any individual could reasonably expect or desire.... 2. That +the path to royal favour has been opened as widely to me as it is +possible for it to be opened to any clerical individual who has laid it +down as a rule, and stated it to Ministers of the Crown and Governors, +that he never could knowingly receive a farthing from any quarter, or in +any way, which was not pointed out and authorized by the discipline of +his Church. But as a love of popular favour has not obliterated from my +recollection the rightful prerogatives of the Crown, I cannot see why I +should thereby be disqualified from a disinterested maintenance of +constitutional rights, especially when many more are immediately +concerned in the latter than in the former.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> In his despatch to Lord Glenelg, giving an extract of his +speech at the opening of the ensuing session of the Legislature, Sir +George Arthur puts this idea in an official form. He says:—That such "a +tribunal is free from those local influences and excitement which +operate too powerfully here." In his seventh letter to Hon. W. H. Draper +on the clergy reserve question, dated January, 26th, 1839, Dr. Ryerson +argues the whole question of the re-investment of the reserves at +length. He also shows that so far from the "tribunal" here spoken of by +Sir George Arthur being a desirable one to adjudicate on this question, +it would be the very reverse. +</p><p> +It should be remembered that in more than one despatch the Colonial +Secretary held that the question was one to be settled by the +Provincial, rather than by the Imperial Parliament, and declined to +interfere with the rights of the Canadian Legislature in the matter. +This will be clearly shown in a subsequent chapter. Lord Glenelg's +utterances on this question are very emphatic, especially in his +despatch dated 5th December, 1835.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> The paper was signed by Rev. Messrs. Harvard, Case, +Stinson, J. Ryerson, W. Ryerson, E. Ryerson, Green, Evans, Jones, +Wilkinson, Beatty, and Wright. See also <i>Guardian</i> of October 10th, +1838.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> In the <i>Guardian</i> of September 12th, 1838, page 180, Dr. +Ryerson makes a fuller reference to this matter. Speaking of the Hume +and Roebuck letters (page 167), he says: I was indeed—what I never +thought of in London—applauded to satiety by the constitutional press +of Upper Canada [for these letters], and by many individuals, several of +whom, on my landing in Canada last year, gave me no small thanks for the +results of the election of 1836. But all that ceased within a week after +my return to Canada.... And why? Because I availed myself of the first +opportunity after my return to submit and press upon Sir Francis and the +Attorney-General and others, the importance and necessity of an early +and equitable settlement of the clergy reserve question, in order to +satisfy the expectations of thousands who had voted for constitutional +candidates.... The very moment it was seen that my views and intentions +on that subject remained unchanged, I saw a change in the expression of +countenances. Sir Francis, indeed, <i>never</i> thanked me, for [the +letters]; he wished me to say nothing about the clergy reserve question; +and within four weeks sent a calumniating letter against me to Lord +Glenelg; and the Attorney-General, so far from remembering the estimate +he professed (on my return from England) to place upon my services to +the Province, sought last winter to get a clause inserted in the Report +of the Select Committee on the Upper Canada Academy, impugning my +motives and exonerating Sir Francis from the allegations contained in my +petition (see page 180), without even investigating its merits, etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> In a letter to a friend, in January, 1838, Dr. Ryerson +relates an amusing incident which was characteristic of Sir Allan +MacNab's love of a bit of fun. He said:—In conversation one day with +Mr. Speaker MacNab, he gravely proposed to me that I should meet +Archdeacon Strachan and a clergyman of the Church of Scotland; and for +him and other members of the Assembly to hear us put forth our +respective claims to the clergy reserves, and for them to say a word now +and then if they liked. After having heard the parsons argue the point, +some member was to bring such a measure before the Assembly, as we three +should propose. This rather amusing way of settling the question was +evidently by way of a joke, so I made no objection to it. He is to +inform me of the time and place for the argument, after having consulted +the other parties concerned; but I shall hear no more of it!</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> The cause of this apathy will be apparent from the +narrative in chapter xxxi., and the note on page 225.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> In their address they designated themselves as the Bishop, +Archdeacons, and Clergy of the Established Church <i>of Upper Canada</i>; but +Sir George Arthur, in his reply, addressed them as the Bishop, +Archdeacons, and Clergy of the established Church <i>of England</i> in Upper +Canada.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1838-1839.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Ruling Party and the Reserves</span>.—"<span class="smcap">Divide et Impera</span>."</p> + + +<p>In dealing with so large and influential a body as the Methodists, made +up, as it was years ago, of two distinct elements, somewhat antagonistic +to each other, it can easily be understood that the more astute among +the high church or "family compact" party clearly saw that their only +hope of success in the clergy reserve controversy was by taking +advantage of the presence of this antagonistic element in the Methodist +body, and to turn it to practical account against Dr. Ryerson, so as to +checkmate him in the contest. Queen Elizabeth's motto: <i>Divide et +impera</i>, was therefore adopted. And every effort was made to intensify +the feelings and widen the breach which already existed between the two +sections of the Methodists. This was the more easily done by the appeal +which was made to the national prejudices of Methodists of British +origin, as against the alleged republican tendency of their colonial +brethren.<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> In this effort the ruling party were publicly and +privately aided by members of the Missionary Committee in London. To +discuss this question now would be practically useless. None but actors +in the scenes and conflicts of those times could realize the strong, +even bitter, feelings which existed in the chief towns between the two +parties at the time. Cherished sentiments of loyalty, strong home +feelings, and orthodox Methodist principles, were appealed to, and +alternately asserted their influence on opposite sides in the contest.</p> + +<p>Added to the difficulty which Dr. Ryerson experienced in conducting the +clergy reserve controversy was the fact, that many Methodists of British +origin fully sympathized with the claims of the old national and +historical Church of England—they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> held that it was <i>ipso facto</i> the +"established" church in every British Colony, as often asserted by the +Missionary party.</p> + +<p>As the clergy reserve question gradually became the absorbing topic of +discussion in the country (with Dr. Ryerson as one of the chief leaders +in that discussion), it was natural that so important a matter should +receive the attention of Conference. This it did at an early date. In +1837 strong resolutions were passed upon the subject, which excited much +uneasiness among the English Missionary party. The Rev. W. H. Harvard, +President of the Conference, in writing to Dr. Ryerson on the subject +after Conference, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Since I came away from the Conference, I have been greatly +concerned as to the anti-church impression likely to be made on the +mind of our people by our recent resolutions of Conference; and I +would fain engage your interest with Rev. E. Evans, our Editor, to +accompany them with some saving paragraph on the general principle +of an establishment which may keep our people from the danger of +imbibing the principle of dissent, the operation of which will +always foster a religious radicalism in our body, and the influence +of which our fathers at home strongly deprecate. I think with you, +that in the altered circumstances of our Colonial relations, we +have reason to plead for concessions of equality of rights and +privileges which would never be granted in the Mother Country. In +that respect I do not dissent from the spirit of the resolutions. +But I more and more think and feel that there is a middle path of +respectful deference to the principle of an establishment even in +the Colonies, which, so modified, would not be injurious, but +rather helpful, to our good cause,—and which is a vantage ground +on which none of our enemies could touch us. It is true, that from +Wesleyan high quarters you have had encouragement to believe an +independent stand against Church domination would not be +disapproved; yet even there a denial of the principle of an +establishment (or that the Government should profess some one form +of Christianity, with equal privileges to other Christians) would +meet with reprobation; and if not, who does not see, if we take +that anti-Wesleyan ground, it may involve the question of Wesleyan +consistency on our part, while at the same time it would be in +danger of throwing our people into the arms of the +Radical-popish-infidel faction, where they will, bear like, be +hugged till the breath of piety is pressed out of them. Of course, +it would drive away from our congregations many of those pious or +well-disposed Church people who occasionally mingle with and derive +good from us. It was Mr. Wesley's conviction that the Methodists +were in part raised up to spread scriptural holiness in the Church +of England, as well as in the world at large. I must repeat my +wish, that you had yielded to my suggestion to admit into the +resolution the phrases, "that the principle of an establishment +should be so administered in this Province as to secure perfect +equality of rights and privileges among all other communities."</p> + +<p>You may have ulterior views which I am too short-sighted to +perceive. But I am fully convinced, that if the <i>Guardian</i> does not +save us from identification with dissent from the Church of England +at this crisis, the real friends of our Zion will bitterly deplore +it another day.<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a></p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p>Here was a broad and distinct declaration of principle, as fully in +harmony with the views of the dominant party as they were entirely +opposed to those held by the Canadian Conference party. They were +perfectly sincere, too, and were uttered by one of the most moderate, +and yet most thoroughly representative agents of the British Missionary +party in this Province. It can be easily seen how tempting an +opportunity it was for the ruling party to foster this feeling amongst +the English Missionary section of Methodists, by strong appeals to their +well-known loyalty—their respect and love for the old mother-church, +which John Wesley so venerated. Even condescension and flattery were +employed. <i>The Church</i> and other newspapers made appeals with tact and +ability<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> (see page 236); the Lieutenant Governor himself took the +trouble to address a letter on the subject direct to the Missionary +Committee in London, and Archdeacon Strachan never failed to single out +for respectful mention and commendation the representatives of the +British Missionary party in Canada, as distinguished from the "disloyal +and republican section of the Methodists."<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> + +<p>Referring to this period, Rev. John Ryerson, in his Historical +Recollections of Methodism (as annotated by Dr. Ryerson) informs us +that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>After aiding to suppress the rebellion, the <i>Guardian</i> resumed the +discussion of the clergy reserve question, and insisted that it +should be settled. But nothing was farther from the thoughts of Dr. +Strachan and Sir George Arthur. They contended that the mooting of +the question at such a time was evidence of disloyalty on the part +of those who were endeavouring to despoil the Church of its lawful +rights. The Editor of the <i>Guardian</i> (Dr. Ryerson) was threatened +with personal violence, with prosecution, and banishment. Yet the +<i>Guardian</i> kept on the even tenor of its way; and in proportion to +the fury of the monopolists, did the Editor increase his exertions +to wrest from them their unjust gains. Then the oppressors of equal +rights, seeing that nothing else would do, called into requisition +the old craft to divide the Methodists, or, by other influences, to +coercively control them.</p> + +<p>Sir George Arthur, the amanuensis of Dr. Strachan in these matters, +wrote to the Missionary Committee in London of the evil and +disturbing doings of the <i>Guardian</i>, and called on them for their +interference. This flattering appeal received a very complimentary +reply. The Committee also wrote to their missionary agents in +Canada, directing them to interpose and arrest the unjustifiable +course of the <i>Guardian</i>. The objection was that the paper "had +become party-political;" that "its course was disquieting to the +country, and disreputable to Wesleyan Methodism," ... etc. It is +not denied (adds Rev. J. Ryerson), that the <i>Guardian</i> at this time +was very political for a religious journal....</p></div> + +<p>On this Dr. Ryerson remarked—</p> + +<p>It is true, as my brother has intimated, that the <i>Guardian</i> was "very +political," because the Editor was intensely in earnest on the great +object for which he had been elected by the Conference.... The times of +his former proposed conciliations and compromises were now past. He felt +the awfulness of the crisis and the responsibility of his position. The +Reform party had been crushed by the rebellion of 1837, and the Reform +press silenced; there was, in fact, no Reform party. The high-church +party thought that their day of absolute power and ecclesiastical +monopoly had dawned. It had been agreed by Mr. W. L. Mackenzie and his +fellow rebels ... that Egerton Ryerson [should be their first victim]. +He alone stood above successful calumny by the high-church party, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +backed as he was by his Canadian Methodist brethren, he determined to +defend to the last, the citadel of Canadian liberty....</p> + +<p>He knew that, as in a final struggle for victory between two armies, +when that victory was trembling in the scales, the wavering of a single +battalion on either side might animate and decide victory in favour of +the enemy; so a compromising sentence or ambiguous word from the Editor +might rouse the high-church party to increased confidence and action, +and proportionally weaken the cause of civil and religious liberty in +Upper Canada. The Editor of the <i>Guardian</i> had no fear, and he evinced +none.... I contended that all the political questions then pending had a +direct or indirect bearing on this great question; ... that I would not +be turned aside from the great object in view until it was obtained; +that the real object of the Government and of the Missionary Committee +was not so much to prevent the introduction of politics into the +<i>Guardian</i>, as the discussion of the clergy reserve question itself, and +of the equal religious rights of the people altogether, so that the +high-church party might be left in peaceable possession of their +exclusive privileges, and their unjust and immense monopolies, without +molestation or dispute.</p> + +<p>Rev. J. Ryerson adds: Had Dr. Ryerson "yielded to the dictation of Sir +George Arthur's government, and the interference of the London +Missionary Committee, one-seventh of the land of the Province might now +be in the hands of the Church of England. But the course of the +<i>Guardian</i> in this matter, however right, brought upon [the Canadian +Methodist Church] calamities and sufferings of seven years' +continuance."</p> + +<p>About a month before the Conference of 1839 met, Sir George Arthur +received a reply, by the hands of Dr. Alder, from the Missionary +Committee in London (signed by Dr. Bunting and the other Secretaries), +which he published in the <i>Patriot</i> newspaper. Dr. Ryerson inserted the +letter in the <i>Guardian</i> of the 22nd May, with these remarks:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We copy from the <i>Patriot</i> a letter, addressed by the Wesleyan +Missionary Secretaries in London to Sir George Arthur, disclaiming +"all participation in the views expressed in the <i>Guardian</i> on the +ecclesiastical questions of this Province."</p></div> + +<p>He then goes on to show that the views expressed in the <i>Guardian</i> were +identical with those embodied in the proceedings of the Wesleyan +Conference in Upper Canada from the beginning, and that they were +explicitly avowed and understood by both parties at the time of the +union of the Conferences in 1833.</p> + +<p>The object of the publication of the letter was evidently twofold: 1st. +To put a weapon into the hands of the friends of a dominant church in +Upper Canada. 2nd. To paralyze the efforts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> of Dr. Ryerson to secure +equal rights for all religious bodies, and thus to weaken his powerful +influence as a champion of those rights.</p> + +<p>It was a noticeable fact that all of the disclaimers from the British +party first appeared in the Church of England organs, and were there +triumphantly appealed to as the unbiassed expression of Methodist +opinion from headquarters in England. In supplementing Rev. John +Ryerson's Historical Narrative of events at this period, Dr. Ryerson +stated, in substance, that:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It was soon found that Sir George Arthur had thrown himself into +the hands of the oligarchy on the question of the clergy +reserves—he would not consent to have them applied to any other +purpose than the support of the clergy, and was anxious to have +them revested in the Crown. When Sir George's views and plans were +brought before the Legislature, I opposed them. The Missionary +Committee interposed (at Sir George's own request) and supported +him on that question. However, Her Majesty's Government +subsequently set aside the proceedings of Sir George Arthur, upon +the very same grounds on which I had opposed them; but that made no +difference in the feelings towards me of Dr. Alder and his +colleagues.</p></div> + +<p>Early in June, 1839, Dr. Alder addressed a letter to the <i>Guardian</i>, +explaining and defending his views on church establishments. On the 12th +of that month, Dr. Ryerson replied to him at length, and, at the close, +put a series of questions to Dr. Alder. From the 2nd and 6th I make the +following extracts:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>2. Are you satisfied that you are providentially called of God to +attempt to make Methodism an agency in promoting a national +establishment of religion in a new country, in the teeth of an +overwhelming majority of the inhabitants?</p> + +<p>6. Are you warranted from any writings or authority of Mr. Wesley +to insist that, "under <i>no</i> circumstances," the principle of an +establishment shall be abandoned?... Mr. Wesley and his coadjutors +have left it on record, in the minutes of their Conference, as +their deliberate judgment, that "there is no instance of, or ground +at all for, a national church in the New Testament;" that they +"apprehended it to be a merely political institution." How can any +true Wesleyan convert that into a matter of faith and religious +principle for which Mr. Wesley declared there "was no instance or +ground at all in the New Testament?" ... I know that the local +Executive is most intent to secure the aid of the Missionary +Committee to support the recent re-investment act of spoliation; I +believe that your letter ... emboldened and encouraged them in the +re-investment scheme, and His Excellency stated some months since +that he had written for you to come to this country; they think +that they can bargain with you upon more advantageous terms than +they can with the Methodist Conference in this Province, but I +entreat you to pause before you proceed to insist that that which +Mr. Wesley declares ... to be "a merely political institution," +forms any part of Wesleyan Methodism.<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a></p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson's account of what transpired at the ensuing Conference is in +substance as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Dr. Alder attended the Conference at Hamilton, June, 1839, and +introduced resolutions expressive of his views, to which he +insisted upon the concurrence of the Conference. The resolutions +were discussed for three days. On the last day Dr. Ryerson replied, +after which the resolutions were negatived by a vote of 55 to +5.<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a></p></div> + +<p>At the same Conference Dr. Ryerson was appointed secretary, by a vote of +41 to 14. But it was in regard to the election of Editor that the +greatest interest was taken, not so much amongst the Canadian section of +the Methodist people as amongst the members of other religious bodies. +The <i>Guardian</i> stated:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>For the last two months the several provincial journals have +renewed their efforts of vehement vituperation against the Editor; +... they have sought and hoped to create a division in the ranks of +the Methodist family, and, by thus dividing, to conquer; they even +triumphed by anticipation—so much so, that the Editor of <i>The +Church</i> oracularly predicted the speedy release of the Editor of +the <i>Guardian</i> from his editorial duties.</p></div> + +<p>The chagrin which was felt by these parties can be well imagined when +the ballot announced that Dr. Ryerson had been re-elected editor, by a +vote of 60 to 13! Speaking of this memorable triumph, Dr. Ryerson +declared that:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Never before did I receive, directly or indirectly, so many +unequivocal testimonies of respect and confidence, not merely from +the Methodist Church at large, but also from members of other +churches.</p></div> + +<p>In the meantime (as Dr. Ryerson stated elsewhere) the discussion on the +question of a dominant church monopoly and party ... proscription waxed +hotter and hotter; ... rumours prevailed of a change of Governors in +Upper Canada; the high church party felt that this was their time, and +perhaps their last chance to confirm their absolute power.... Under +these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> circumstances, I stated to the Conference that the moment that +the clergy reserve and other questions affecting our constitutional and +just rights as British Canadian subjects, and as a religious body, were +adjusted, we ought to abstain entirely from any discussions in reference +to civil affairs. When Dr. Alder's resolutions were rejected by our +Conference, one prepared by myself was agreed to, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>While this Conference has felt itself bound to express its +sentiments on the question of an ecclesiastical establishment in +this Province, and our constitutional and religious rights and +privileges, and our determination to maintain them, we disclaim any +intention to interfere with the merely secular, party-politics of +the day.</p></div> + +<p>This resolution, as it afterwards appeared, did not go far enough to +meet the wishes and designs of Dr. Alder. He, therefore, brought the +matter before the Book Committee, Toronto, in October, 1839. To that +Committee he stated at length his decided objection to the course +pursued by the <i>Guardian</i> since Conference as "a violation of the known +design of the resolution adopted by it." Dr. Ryerson, while fully +justifying the course which he had pursued, nevertheless tendered to the +Committee his resignation as Editor. The Committee, however, instructed +Rev. William Case to write to him as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>By request of the Book Committee, I beg leave to communicate the +result of their deliberations on the subject of your proffered +resignation of the editorship of the <i>Guardian</i>. "<i>Resolved</i>, That +the Committee do not feel themselves at liberty to accept of the +resignation of the Editor of the <i>Guardian</i>, and that he be +affectionately requested to withdraw it, and to continue his +services in accordance with the deliberately framed regulations of +the Committee until the ensuing Conference, the regulations to +which he objects having been adopted, not for the purpose of +reflecting in any way upon the Editor; and that we assure him that +we have the utmost confidence in his ability, his integrity, and +his anxious desire to promote the best interests of the Connexion."</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson withdrew his resignation at the time, but resolved to press +it at the next Conference. This he did; and peremptorily declined +re-election at the Conference of 1840—in fact other and more serious +matters were pressed upon him. He thus finally retired from the +editorship of the paper which he had established in 1829, and which he +had made such a power in Upper Canada. He justly felt that, with the +enlarged Methodist constituency which the <i>Guardian</i> at this time +represented, it would be impossible for him, while great questions +remained unsettled, to harmonize the conflicting opinions on +politico-religious matters which were then held by opposite and +influential sections of the Methodist Church. He clearly foresaw further +conflict on these and other inter-connexional subjects, and was, +therefore, the more anxious to free himself from the unwise, official +trammels, which a hostile, anti-Canadian and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> unpatriotic party sought +to impose upon him—single-handed as he was. He longed for more +congenial work. He also felt that literary freedom was essential to him +in his thorough and practical discussion of the all absorbing questions +of the day.<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a> This it was well known he could do, in dealing with +these questions, not only on their own merits, but with the +comprehensive grasp which his enlarged experience, intuitive clearness +of perception, and naturally statesmanlike views on grave public +questions, eminently qualified him for.</p> + +<p>As an illustration of the acknowledged ability, fairness, and +conclusiveness of argument with which he dealt with questions which +touched the sensibilities and even prejudices of leading members of the +British Missionary party in Canada, it is a striking fact that when +these gentlemen were not under the direct and potent influence of the +Mission House, they were Dr. Ryerson's personal friends, and gave him an +active support. This was particularly the case with the late Rev. Dr. +Stinson, a man of noble and generous impulses; Rev. W. H. Harvard, +always kind and courteous; Rev. Dr. Richey, a man of much refinement and +culture, and others. In the important crisis of 1838, both Dr. Stinson +and Dr. Richey voted for Dr. Ryerson as Editor. The former wrote a +strong letter urging his appointment as Editor. (Page 201.) The latter, +on his way to Halifax, after the Conference of 1839, wrote from Montreal +to Dr. Ryerson, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Sir John Colborne, on whom I called, and by whom I was graciously +received, is delighted with the continuance of the Union. So are +all our Montreal friends, after my explanations. They will +immediately order the <i>Guardian</i>. Sir John paid a handsome tribute +to your talents, as who with whom I conversed did not? however they +might happen to view your course. They all say you commenced +admirably,—that the moment the paper passed into your hands, it +manifestly improved; and they all approve of your course for the +last six months, just about as well as you know I do. Adhere most +religiously, my dear brother, to the spirit and letter of the +resolutions, by which the Conference has expressed its will that +you should be guided. Your friend Joseph Howe<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> begins, I +perceive, to mingle with tories, as they are invidiously +designated. I do not wish you to be a tory; and I will not insult +you by expressing a desire that you were a high conservative.</p> + +<p>I do not flatter you in saying, that on no man in Upper Canada does +the peace of our Church and of the Province so much depend, as on +yourself. May all your powers be employed for good! Guard against +the fascination of political fame. It will do no more for you on a +dying bed than it did for Cardinal Wolsey. O! that your fine mind +were fully concentrated upon the [Greek: politeuma] of Heaven!</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> Dr. Ryerson, in the <i>Guardian</i> of October 31, 1838, +says:—Five columns of <i>The Church</i>, of the 20th ult., are occupied with +an appeal to the old country Methodists, to induce them to oppose the +Conference and Connexion in this Province in the clergy reserve +question. The Cobourg <i>Star</i> follows in the wake of <i>The Church</i>, in the +same pious crusade. The <i>Patriot</i> of the 26th inst. also copies the +schismatic appeal of <i>The Church</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> Even Rev. J. Stinson (who heartily sympathized in many +things with the Canadian Methodists), in a letter to Dr. Ryerson, +written in February, 1839, said:—I have read your address to Hon. W. H. +Draper, on the clergy reserve question, with considerable attention; and +while there is much in it which I admire, I must honestly tell you, <i>en +passant</i>, that it contains more against the principle of an +establishment in this Colony than I like.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> Not satisfied with these strong appeals in the newspapers, +resort was had to personal ones, made to leading members of the +missionary party. In a kind and yet candid letter which Dr. Ryerson +received in November, 1838, Rev. Joseph Stinson says:—I sincerely +sympathize with you in your present perplexing and trying circumstances. +I heard to-day that some of the dominant church champions are appealing +to me to array myself against you. They may save themselves the trouble +of making such appeals. Whenever I have differed in opinion with you, I +have told you so, and shall do so again,—but shall never, unless you +become a revolutionist, either directly or indirectly sanction any +factious opposition to you. I think, as Wesleyan Methodists, we ought, +openly and fearlessly, to advocate the righteous claims of our own +Church; but we ought to do it without detracting from the merits or +opposing the interests of that Church which is so closely connected with +our Government, as is the Church of England. I know that the exclusive +spirit—the arrogant pretentiousness—the priestly insolence—the +anti-Christian spirit of certain members of that Church richly deserves +chastisement.... I know that your public services have been undervalued; +your faults have been shamefully exaggerated; your motives have been +misrepresented; your influence (connected as you are with a large and +influential body of Christians) is feared, and your enemies are as +bitter as Satan can make them; but, if you are conscious that, in the +sight of God, you are aiming at the right object, why not leave your +cause in His hands? why so frequently appeal to the people? You may not +see it; but there is a recklessness in your mode of writing, sometimes, +which is really alarming, and for which many of the members of the +Conference of our Society do not like to be responsible. I know well, +that the acts of the high church party are far more likely to excite +rebellion than your writings. There is a strong, a very strong, feeling +against a dominant Church; but a majority of the Province would rather +have that, and connection with Great Britain, than republicanism.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> On the other hand, the Editor of <i>The Church</i> thus +sketched Dr. Ryerson:—As The promoter, if not originator, of prejudices +of indigenous growth, against the Church of England, and as the +thoughtless scatterer of the seeds of political error and of antipathy +to the national church. Notwithstanding these counteracting influences, +the Editor does not despair of seeing the day when Methodists in Canada +will join with Churchmen in vindicating the Church's right to the +property of the reserves, which will enable them to plant the +established church in every corner of these Provinces. And this they +will do, not upon the ground merely of filial partiality, but on the +most rational security for the permanence and purity of our Protestant +faith, etc. Under these circumstances, Dr. Ryerson said:— +</p><p> +I have felt it due to the <i>Guardian</i> connexion to enter my protest +against the claims of the Episcopal Church, and to combat and explain +the opinion of my English brethren as not those prevalent in this +Province. +</p><p> +A lengthened communication, embodying those views, appearing on page 109 +of the <i>Guardian</i> of May 16th, 1838.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> With a view to increase the clamour against the Editor of +the <i>Guardian</i> on this subject, Mr. Alex. Davidson, writing to Dr. +Ryerson from Niagara, said:—Dr. Alder's letter to you had been printed +and circulated there in the form of a hand-bill. Mr. E. C. Griffin, of +Waterdown, writing from Hamilton on the same subject, said: I have +learned from brother Edward Jackson what are the feelings of the Society +in Hamilton, respecting the letter of Dr. Alder. He says, that if the +leaders' meeting is any index of the views of the entire Society here, +they are a "unit" to a man (except the preacher) in their determination +to support you in your principles and proceedings.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> The following incident in connection with this vote is +mentioned by Dr. Ryerson: Dr. Alder (he said) appeared disappointed and +depressed; and, after the close of the Conference I said to him: Dr. +Alder, you see how entirely you have mistaken the state of Canadian +society, and the views and feelings of the Methodist people. Now, I do +not wish that you should return to England a defeated and disgraced man. +I purpose to write a short editorial for the <i>Guardian</i>, stating that +the differences and misunderstandings which had arisen, after having +been carefully considered and fully discussed, were adjusted in an +amicable spirit, and the unity of the Church maintained inviolate. Dr. +Alder appeared delighted and thankful beyond expression. I prepared the +editorial. Dr. Alder used and interpreted this editorial on his return +to England, to show that the Canadian Conference and its Editor had +acceded to all of his demands, and that he had been completely +successful in his mission to Canada! The English Committee adopted +resolutions complimentary to Dr. Alder in consequence; but I did not +imagine that Dr. Alder's fictitious representation of the results of his +mission would afterwards be made the ground of charges against myself!</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> Dr. Ryerson gave full expression to these views in a +letter addressed to the Governor-General in April, 1840. (See chapter +xxxiii., page 266.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> See letter from Mr. Howe to Dr. Ryerson on page 258.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1839.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Strategy in the Clergy Reserve Controversy</span>.</p> + + +<p>The year 1839 was somewhat noted for the prolonged and animated +discussions which took place in and out of the Legislature on the clergy +reserve question. There were some new features in the discussion of the +preceding year which had their effect on the clergy reserve legislation +of that year. And while they partially ceased to be influential in the +discussions of 1839, yet the legislation of that year was practically +brought to the same issue as that of 1838, only that it was more +decisive. It may be interesting, therefore, to refer to these special +features in the discussion of 1838-9.</p> + +<p>The first was the final change of tactics on the part of the leaders of +the Church of England party in the contest. The second was the +persistent and personal efforts which Lieutenant Governor Arthur put +forth in behalf of that party, so as to enable them to accomplish their +object, and, at the same time, to counteract the efforts of those who +were seeking to uphold Canadian and popular rights. The third was (as +shown in the last chapter) the plan adopted to foment discord in the +Methodist body—which was by far the most formidable opponent of the +scheme of monopoly and aggrandisement which the ruling party was seeking +to promote.</p> + +<p>At this distance of time it is easy to survey the whole field of +conflict, and to note the plans and strategies of the combatants. +Although efforts had hitherto been made to shift the battle-ground from +Upper Canada to England, yet, as the Colonial Secretary had discouraged +such efforts as unwise, and as an unnecessary interference with the +rights of the Provincial Legislature, the matter was not openly pressed +in 1839. Nor was it pressed at all to a conclusion in 1838. For, by a +singular coincidence, the very day (29th December, 1837) on which Mr. +Cartwright had moved to bring a bill into the House of Assembly to +revest the clergy reserve in Her Majesty, Sir George Grey penned a +despatch to Sir George Arthur, in which he disclaimed, on behalf of the +Imperial Government,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> any wish or intention to interfere, in the +settlement of the clergy reserve question, with the functions of the +Provincial Legislature, on the ground that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Such interference would tend to create a not unreasonable suspicion +of the sincerity with which the Legislature have been invited to +the exercise of the power [to vary or repeal] reserved to them on +this subject by the Constitutional Act of 1791.</p></div> + +<p>It is likely that the publication of this despatch prevented the House +of Assembly from proceeding any farther with Mr. Cartwright's bill, than +ordering it to a second reading on the 26th February, 1838. In this +dilemma the ruling party were evidently at a loss how to act. It +required much tact and skill to break the ranks of the chief forces +arrayed against the scheme to revest the reserves in the Crown—a scheme +distasteful to Canadians generally, and subversive of the legislative +independence of Upper Canada. Two methods were therefore adopted: The +first was to divide the Methodists (as shown in the last chapter). The +second and more astute one was to appeal to the professed loyalty of +that class which hitherto had been held up to scorn as disloyal, and +denounced as republican in its tendencies, as well as seditious in their +conduct. The appeal was varied in form, but it was in substance that as +those who made it were not themselves afraid to trust their interests in +the hands of the Sovereign, their opponents should be equally trustful +in the equal and entire justice which would be meted out to all of her +Canadian subjects.<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a> This appeal, from its very speciousness, and the +skill with which it was pressed, had its effect in many cases. But, as a +general rule, it failed. The object of the decisive change of tactics +was too transparent to deceive the more sensible and thoughtful men to +whom the appeal was addressed.</p> + +<p>The two other methods adopted (already referred to) were only partially +successful; but the three combined, no doubt, strengthened the hands of +the advocates of the scheme for the re-investment of the reserves in the +Crown. They, however, ceased to press the matter upon public attention, +being determined to bide their time, and (as events proved), to carry +their point in another and more skilful way.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, and early in 1839, Dr. Ryerson was deputed by several +important circuits to present loyal addresses to Sir George Arthur. This +he did on the 2nd February; and in enclosing them to the Governor's +secretary, used language which sounds strange in these days of religious +equality. He said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I feel myself fully authorized, by various communications and my +official position, to assure His Excellency that the members of the +Wesleyan Methodist Church will not be contented with subordinate +civil standing to any other church, any more than the members of +the Church of Scotland. They do not, and never have asked for any +peculiar advantages; but they feel that upon the principles of +justice, by labours, by usefulness, by character, by numbers, and +by the principles laid down in royal despatches, they are entitled, +in the eye of the law, and in the administration of an impartial +government, to equal consideration, and equal advantages with any +other church. I am confident that I but state a simple fact, when I +express our belief that the Methodist Church, in its doctrines, +ministry, and institutions, furnishes as formidable a barrier +against the irreligion and infidelity of the times as any other +section of Protestantism. Nor is it possible for +us—notwithstanding our unfeigned respect for His Excellency—to +feel ourselves under any obligations to tender our support to +another section of the Protestant Church, whose clergy, in this +Province, collectively, officially, and individually (with solitary +exceptions), have resisted the attainment of every civil and +religious privilege we now enjoy—have twice impeached our +character and principles before the Imperial Government—who deny +the legitimacy of our ministry, who, in their doctrines respecting +Church polity, and several points of faith, do not represent the +doctrines of the Church of England, or of the established clergy in +England as a body, but that section only of the established clergy +that have associated with all arbitrary measures of government +against various classes of Protestant non-conformists which have +darkened the page of British history, and also the dark ages, +notions of rites and ceremonies, and the conductor of whose +official organ in this Province has recently represented the +Methodist ministry as the guilty cause of those divine +chastisements under the influence of which our land droops and +mourns. I am sure my brethren, as well as myself, freely forgive +the great wrongs thus perpetrated against us; but we feel ourselves +equally bound in duty to ourselves, to our country, and to our +common Christianity, to employ all lawful means to prevent such +exclusive, repulsive, and proscriptive sentiments from acquiring +anything more than equal protection in the Province.</p> + +<p>I might appeal to circumstances within His Excellency's knowledge, +to show that from 1836 to the close of the last session of our +Provincial Parliament, I have spared no pains—without the remotest +view to personal or even Methodistic advantage—to second, to the +utmost of my humble ability, any plan to which the Province might, +under all circumstances, be induced to concur, in order to settle +the protracted controversy on the clergy reserve question; and that +it has not been, until I have had indubitable proofs that there was +no disposition or intention on the side of the Episcopal clergy to +yield a single iota any further than they were compelled. It was +not until all these circumstances had transpired, that we +reluctantly determined to appeal against the exclusive and unjust +pretensions of the Episcopal clergy, to the bar of public +opinion—a power recognized by our free constitution, and which no +party or administration can successfully resist many years.</p></div> + +<p>The reply of the Governor was friendly and conciliatory; but in it he +expresses his</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Surprise to find that his appeal on a late occasion to the Wesleyan +Methodists, to give the Church of England their most cordial +support, had been misunderstood and construed into an expression of +sectarian preference. By inviting the Methodists to such a course +of conduct, His Excellency thought that he was only appealing to a +feeling of attachment for the Church of England, which he had +always been induced to consider—especially from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> personal +observation—as a badge of "legitimate Wesleyan Methodists" all +over the world.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson in his remarks on this reply, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The questions at issue about the clergy reserves do not involve the +principle of "attachment for the Church of England" from the well +known fact that many respectable members of that Church, in every +district throughout the Province, concur in the views advocated in +the <i>Guardian</i> on that question—therefore an appeal to "attachment +for the Church of England" as the rule of judgment in this +controversy, much less as a "badge of legitimate Wesleyan +Methodists," is the very climax of absurdity.</p></div> + +<p>The discussions on the clergy reserve question up to the time when the +House reassembled (27th February, 1839), must have convinced the +dominant party that it was, and ever would be, hopeless, in the face of +the determined opposition which their schemes encountered, to obtain +that which they wanted from the local legislature. They could not again +openly bring in a bill (as they did last year) to revest the reserves in +the Crown, in the face of the declarations of the Colonial Secretary, +that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Imperial Parliamentary Legislation on any subject of exclusively +internal concern, in any British colony possessing a representative +assembly is, as a general rule, unconstitutional. It is a right of +which the exercise is reserved for extreme cases, in which +necessity at once creates and justifies the exception. (Lord +Glenelg to Sir F. B. Head, 5th December, 1835.)</p></div> + +<p>They therefore adopted what events proved to be a ruse, to accomplish +their object. It is true that Sir George Arthur, in his opening speech, +urged that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The settlement of this vitally important question ought not to be +longer delayed.... I confidently hope, that if the claims of +contending parties be advanced ... in a spirit of moderation and +Christian charity, the adjustment of them by you will not prove +insuperably difficult.</p></div> + +<p>The Governor then adroitly added—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>But, should all your efforts for the purpose unhappily fail, it +will then only remain for you to re-invest the reserves in the +hands of the Crown, and to refer the appropriation of them to the +Imperial Parliament, as a tribunal free from those local influences +and excitements which may operate too powerfully here.</p></div> + +<p>Both Houses, in apparent good faith, sought to carry out the wishes of +the Governor as expressed in the first part of his speech. The managers +of the scheme indicated in the latter part of the speech initiated a +totally different bill in each House, apparently liberal and +comprehensive in character, but yet objectionable in detail. Dr. Ryerson +felt this so strongly that he petitioned to be heard at the Bar of the +House of Assembly against the bill which had been introduced into it. +His request was at first granted on the 7th April, by a vote of 24 to +22, but afterwards refused by a vote of 21 to 17. After<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> protracted +debates in the House of Assembly and about forty-four divisions, that +House sent up its bill to the Legislative Council for concurrence. The +Council struck out the whole of the bill after the word "whereas," and +substituted one of its own, and in turn sent it down to the House of +Assembly for concurrence. That House, not to be outdone by the other, +struck out the whole of the Legislative Council bill, and substituted a +bill of its own, totally different from the one first sent up to the +Legislative Council, the last clause of which read as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The moneys to arise, and to be procured and henceforth received for +any sale or sales [of clergy reserve lands] shall be paid into the +hands of Her Majesty's Receiver-General of this Province, to be +appropriated by the Provincial Legislature for religion and +education.</p></div> + +<p>The bill thus constructed needed but the alteration of the last five +words to adapt it admirably to the object and purpose of the Church +party. The Legislative Council, therefore, changed the concluding words +in the last clause into the words "Imperial Parliament for religious +purposes." In this apparently simple way, but in reality, fundamental +manner—and without any attempt at a conference between the Houses, with +a view to adjust differences—the Legislative Council, taking advantage +of a comparatively thin House of Assembly, made the desired change on +the last day of the session. By adroit manœuvring the agents of the +Church party carried the bill in the House of Assembly thus altered. In +this way they succeeded in destroying the whole object of the bill, as +passed by the House of Assembly. Sir George Arthur, in his despatch to +the Colonial Secretary, virtually admitted that the passage of the +altered bill was due to the fact that it was carried in the House of +Assembly by a majority of one vote [22 to 21], in a House of 44 members, +and at a late hour on the night preceding the prorogation!</p> + +<p>Such were the discreditable circumstances under which the bill +re-investing the clergy reserves in the Crown was passed. It, however, +required the assent of the Queen before it became law. This it was +destined never to receive, owing to a technical objection raised in +England in the following October, that such a delegation to the Imperial +Parliament could not be made by a subordinate authority. This defeat, +however, proved to be a moral victory for the vanquished, as it gave +them time for farther deliberation; it incited them to greater caution +in their mode of warfare, and induced them to adopt tactics of a more +secret and, as it proved, effective character.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> In the <i>Guardian</i> of September 19th, 1838, the question +is put in this form and discussed: "Why do you not appeal to Her +Majesty's Privy Council, or to the High Court of Parliament instead of +appealing to the public here?" The answer was conclusive.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1839.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Sir G. Arthur's Partizanship.—State of the Province</span>.</p> + + +<p>The bill for revesting the clergy reserves in the Crown barely escaped +defeat (as just mentioned) in the House of Assembly, on 11th May, 1839. +On the 14th Sir George Arthur sent the bill to Lord Normanby (successor +to Lord Glenelg) for Her Majesty's assent, with an elaborate despatch. +On the 15th, Dr. Ryerson also addressed to Lord Normanby a long letter +on the same subject. In it he called the attention of the Colonial +Secretary to the following facts, which he discussed at length in his +letter:—</p> + +<p>1. That the great majority of the House of Assembly in four successive +parliaments had remonstrated against the exclusive pretensions of the +Church of England in Upper Canada; and that the claims of the Church of +England to be the established Church of the Province had from the +beginning been steadily denied by such representatives, and elsewhere.</p> + +<p>2. That the ground of dissatisfaction in the Province was not merely +between the Churches of England and Scotland, but between the +high-church party, and the religious denominations and the inhabitants +of the Province generally.</p> + +<p>3. That from the beginning the House of Assembly had protested against +any appropriation of the clergy reserves being made to the Church of +England, not granted equally [for educational purposes] to the other +Christian denominations.</p> + +<p>4. That notwithstanding the annual remonstrances of the House of +Assembly, large grants had been paid since 1827, to the Episcopal +Clergy, exclusive of grants by the Imperial Parliament and the +Propagation Society.</p> + +<p>5. That under these circumstances it was not surprising that there +should be a widespread and deeply seated dissatisfaction. It is rather +surprising that a vestige of British power exists in the Province.</p> + +<p>6. That Sir George Arthur has for the last five months endeavoured—by +official proclamations and other published<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> communications through +public offices, and by military influences in various parts of the +Province—to prevent any expression of opinion on this subject, even by +petition to the Legislature.</p> + +<p>7. That the Lieutenant-Governor has been induced to make himself a +partizan with the Episcopal Church in the clergy reserve discussion; the +entire influence of the Executive has been thrown into that scale; the +representation of impartial sovereignty has been made the watchword of +party.</p> + +<p>8. That under the pretense of resisting brigand invasion, large militia +forces have been raised; violent penniless partizans have been put on +pay in preference to respectable and loyal men; and these forces have +not been placed on the frontier where invasion might have been expected, +but have been scattered in parties over many parts of the interior, in +order to exterminate discontent by silencing complaint.</p> + +<p>These, with a reference to the embarrassed financial condition of the +Province, were the chief points to which Dr. Ryerson called the +attention of the Colonial Secretary in this elaborate letter.</p> + +<p>On the 22nd of the same month (May) Dr. Ryerson addressed another +vigorous letter to Lord Normanby, on the clergy reserves and kindred +questions. "That letter," he says, he writes "with feelings which he has +no language to express."</p> + +<p>The main points of the letter were as follows:—</p> + +<p>1. For thirty years (up to 1820) nothing was heard of an ecclesiastical +establishment in the Province: all classes felt themselves equally free, +and were, therefore, equally contented and happy.</p> + +<p>2. From the first open and unequivocal pretensions to a state +establishment being made, the inhabitants of Upper Canada, in every +constitutional way, have resisted and remonstrated against it.</p> + +<p>3. Every appropriation and grant to the Episcopal clergy out of the +lands and funds of the Province has been made in the very teeth of the +country's remonstrance.</p> + +<p>4. The utter powerlessness of the representative branch of the +Legislature has rendered the officers and dependents and partizans of +the Executive more and more despotic, overbearing, and reckless of the +feelings of the country.</p> + +<p>5 This most blighting of all partizanship has been carried into every +department of the Executive Government—the magistracy, militia, and +even into the administration of justice. Its poison is working +throughout the whole body politic; it destroys the peace of the country; +rouses neighbour against neighbour; weakens the best social affections +of the human<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> heart, and awakens its worst passions; and converts a +healthy and fertile province into a pandemonium of strife, discontent, +and civil commotion.</p> + +<p>6. While upwards of $220,000 (besides lands) have been given to the +Episcopal clergy since 1827, the grants made by the Imperial Parliament +to the clergy of Upper Canada amount to over $400,000, being over +$620,000 in all.</p> + +<p>7. A very large sum has been expended in the erection of Upper Canada +College, on the grounds of King's College, and with an endowment of +$8,000 or $10,000 a year. This institution is wholly under the +management of Episcopal clergymen, while the Upper Canada Academy, which +has been built at Cobourg by the Methodists at a cost of about $40,000, +could not without a severe struggle get even the $16,000 which were +directed to be paid over to it by Lord Glenelg. The matter had to be +contested with Sir F. B. Head on the floor of the House of Assembly +before he could be induced to obey the Royal instructions. (Page 179.)</p> + +<p>8. In the recent legislation on the clergy reserve question, the high +church party resisted every measure by which the Methodist Church might +obtain a farthing's aid to the Upper Canada Academy. And, to add insult +to injury, the high church people denounce Methodists as republicans, +rebels, traitors, and use every possible epithet and insinuation of +contumely because they complain, reason, and remonstrate against such +barefaced oppression and injustice—notwithstanding that not a single +member of that church has been convicted of complicity with the late +unhappy troubles in the Province.</p> + +<p>9. A perpetuation of the past and present obnoxious and withering +system, will not only continue to drive thousands of industrious farmers +and tradesmen from the country, but will prompt thousands more, before +they will sacrifice their property and expatriate themselves, to +advocate constitutionally, openly, and decidedly, the erection of an +"independent kingdom," as has been suggested by the Attorney-General, as +best both for this province and Great Britain.</p> + +<p>10. It rests with Her Majesty's Government to decide whether or not the +inhabitants shall be treated as strangers and helots; whether the +blighted hopes of this province shall wither and die, or revive, and +bloom, and flourish; whether Her Majesty's Canadian subjects shall be +allowed the legitimate constitutional control of their own earnings, or +whether the property sufficient to pay off the large provincial debt +shall be wrested from them; whether honour, loyalty, free and +responsible government are to be established in this province, or +whether our resources are to be absorbed in support of pretensions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +which have proved the bane of religion in the country; have fomented +discord; emboldened, if not prompted, rebellion; turned the tide of +capital and emigration to other shores; impaired public credit; arrested +trade and commerce, and caused Upper Canada to stand "like a girdled +tree," its drooping branches mournfully betraying that its natural +nourishment has been deliberately cut off.</p> + +<p>In a third and concluding letter to Lord Normanby, Dr. Ryerson uses this +language:—</p> + +<p>The great body of the inhabitants of this province will not likely again +petition on the question of the clergy reserves and a church +establishment in this province. They will express their sentiments at +the hustings with a vengeance, to the confusion of the men who have +deceived, and misrepresented, and wronged them; ... A petition would +acknowledge the right of the Imperial Parliament to interfere—which +ought not to be admitted. If past expressions of public sentiment will +not satisfy Her Majesty's Government, none other can do it; and more +efficient means (such as the coming elections), must and ought to be +adopted, instead of the fruitless method of asking by petition for what +has been guaranteed to the constituencies of the country as a right.</p> + +<p>The validity of the recent Act of the Legislature, revesting the +reserves in the Crown, never will be acknowledged, or recognized by the +electors of this province. Any Ministers of the Crown in England would +more than lose their places, who should press through the House of +Commons, on the last night of the session, in a thin house, a great +public measure which had not only been repealed by four successive +parliaments, but had been negatived from six to twelve times during the +same session of the existing parliament. Nor would the British nation +ever submit to any public measure (much less to loss of the control of +one-seventh of their lands, and the infliction upon them of an +uncongenial ecclesiastical system) which had been forced upon them.</p> + +<p>The declarations of the Representative of Royalty have heretofore been +regarded in this province as sacred and inviolable; but the reliance of +the Canadian electors upon those declarations from the lips of Sir +Francis Head has cost them bloodshed, bankruptcy, and misery.... The +electors will employ the elective franchise to redress their accumulated +wrongs to the last farthing.</p> + +<p>It is, of course, my good or bad fortune to be assailed from week to +week, whether I write or not.... I am no theorist. I advocate no change +in the Constitution of the Province. I have never written a paragraph +the principles of which could not be carried out in accordance with the +letter and spirit of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> the established Constitution. I desire nothing +more than the free and impartial administration of that Constitution for +the benefit of all classes of Her Majesty's subjects. I only oppose or +support men, or measures, for the attainment of that object.</p> + +<p>Entertaining such strong feelings in regard to the personal conduct of +Sir George Arthur in respect to the passage of the clergy reserve bill, +Dr. Ryerson felt that he could not accept any social courtesy at his +hands. In reply, therefore, to an invitation from Sir George, for Her +Majesty's birthday, he felt constrained to decline it. In his letter to +the A.D.C., he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>After the most mature deliberation up to the last moment in which +it is proper to reply, I feel it my duty respectfully to decline +the honour of His Excellency's invitation. I most firmly believe +that the office of impartial sovereignty has been employed by His +Excellency for partial purposes; that an undue and an +unconstitutional exercise of the office of royalty has been +employed by His Excellency to influence the public mind, and the +decisions of our constitutional tribunals on pending and debatable +questions between equally loyal and deserving classes of Her +Majesty's subjects in this Province; that His Excellency has also +employed the influence of the high office of the Queen's +representative to procure and afterwards express his cordial +satisfaction at the passing of a Bill, in a thin House, on the very +last night of the session, the provisions of which had been +repeatedly negatived by a considerable majority of the people's +representatives, and which deprive the faithful but embarrassed +inhabitants of this Province of the control of a revenue and lands +sufficient in value to pay off the whole public debt—a proceeding +at complete variance with the fair and constitutional +administration of a free monarchical government, and the imperial +usages since the accession of the present Royal Family to the +throne of Great Britain; and, finally, that His Excellency has +employed the influence of his high office to the disparagement of +the large section of the religious community whose views, rights, +and interests, I have been elected to my present offices to +advocate and promote.</p> + +<p>I beg that my declining the honour proposed by His Excellency may +not be construed into any disrespect to His Excellency personally, +or to the high office His Excellency holds—for the inviolableness +and dignity of which I feel the jealous veneration of a loyal +subject—but I beg that it may be attributed solely to a fixed +determination not to do anything that may in the slightest degree +tend to weaken, but on the contrary, to use every lawful means, on +all occasions, to advance those civil and religious interests which +I am most fully convinced are essential to the happy preservation +of a prosperous British Government in this country, and to the +happiness and welfare of the great body of Her Majesty's Canadian +subjects.</p></div> + +<p>In order to insure the assent of Her Majesty to the Bill which had been +sent to the Colonial Secretary by Sir George Arthur, the authorities of +the Church of England in the Province circulated a petition for +presentation to the Queen and the British Parliament<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a> containing the +following statement and request:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Your petitioners, consisting of the United Empire Loyalists and +their children, took refuge in this Province after the American +Revolution, under the impression that they possessed the same +constitution as that of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> the Mother Country, which includes a +decent provision for the administration of the Word and Sacraments +according to the forms of the Church of England."</p></div> + +<p>The prayer of the petition was—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>That the proceeds of the clergy reserve lands be applied to the +maintenance of such clergy, and of a bishop to superintend the +same, so that the ministrations of our Holy Religion may be +afforded without charge<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a> to the inhabitants of every township +in the Province.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson, having with difficulty procured a copy of this petition, +pointed out in the <i>Guardian</i> of July 3rd, 1839: 1st. Its historical +misstatements, and denounced the selfish and exclusive character of its +demands. He showed in effect that the Province was settled in 1783, +whereas the constitutional Act (which was invoked as though it had +existed long before that date), was not passed until 1791—eight years +after "the United Empire Loyalists and their children took refuge in +Upper Canada." 2nd. That for forty years and more, nine-tenths of the +United Empire Loyalists and their descendants, with all their +"impressions," might have perished in heathen ignorance had not some +other than the Episcopal clergy cared for their spiritual interests; and +that after these forty years of slumbering and neglect, and after the +incorporation of the great body of the old Loyalists and their +descendants into other churches, the Episcopal clergy came in, and now +seek, on the strength of these apocryphal "impressions" (which never +could have existed), to claim one-seventh of the lands of the Province +as their heritage.<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> In proof of these facts Dr. Ryerson referred to +the testimony of fifty-two witnesses, given before a select Committee of +the House of Assembly in 1828, and published in full at that time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p> + +<p>I have purposely abstained from making any special reference to +discussions in the clergy reserve question with which Dr. Ryerson had no +connection. An important one, however, took place between Hon. Wm. +Morris and Archdeacon Strachan in 1838-39, chiefly in regard to the +claims of the Church of Scotland. Mr. Morris, however, did good service +in the general discussion.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>In November, 1838, Dr. Ryerson received a letter from Thomas Farmer, +Esq., of London, England, in regard to the Centenary Celebration, to +which he replied as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Our prospects as a country are rather gloomy. We have lately had +the excitement and loss produced by Lord Durham's departure, and +the second rebellion in Lower Canada, followed in a few days by a +brigand invasion of this province to distract and destroy us. You +refer to a Centenary Offering. I cannot say what we shall be able +to do. We have not the slightest provision yet for the education of +preacher's children; nor a contingent fund to aid poor circuits, or +to relieve the distressed preachers' families; and an unpaid for +Book Room, and not an entirely paid for Academy;—all of which +subjects have engaged our most anxious consideration;—but in the +present entirely unsettled state of our public affairs, we scarcely +know what to do in respect to the future. We cannot, therefore, as +yet fix upon the objects of our Centenary Offering.</p></div> + +<p>The Methodist Centenary Year occurred in 1839. The Conference set apart +the 25th October for its celebration,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>By holding religious "services in all of our chapels and +congregations, for the purpose of calling to mind the great things +which the Lord has done for us as a people; of solemnly recognizing +our obligations and responsibilities to our Heavenly Father; and of +imploring, on behalf of ourselves and the whole Wesleyan Methodist +family throughout the world, a continuance and increase of +religious happiness, unity and prosperity."</p></div> + +<p>Meetings were held all over the Province during the months of August, +September and October, for the collection of a centenary offering, to be +applied to the Superannuation Fund, Book Room, Parsonages, Missionary, +and other objects. Dr. Ryerson, as one of a deputation, attended a large +number of meetings. Writing from Brockville, he mentions the fact that +he</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Stopped at a graveyard, a few miles west of Prescott, to survey the +graves of some of the honoured dead. The remains of Mrs. Heck, the +devoted matron who urged Philip Embury (the first Methodist +preacher in America) to lift up his voice in the city of New York, +in 1766, are deposited here.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> See note on page 224.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> This selfish demand—"that the ministrations of our Holy +Religion be afforded without charge to the inhabitants of every +township" (in which members of the Church of England were persistently +educated in those days)—was most unfortunate in its influence on the +Church, and has borne bitter fruit in these later times. Its legitimate +effect has been to dry up the sources of Christian benevolence, paralyze +the arm of Christian effort, and secularize, if not render impossible, +any successful plan of Church extension and missionary work. Witness the +almost complete failure (as compared with other Christian bodies) to +raise sufficient funds to support even the limited number of Home +missions in most of the dioceses, and the nearly hopeless task of +infusing a genuine missionary zeal in behalf of the "regions beyond."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> It should be noted, in connection with this petition, +that one most important part of its prayer was granted in that +year—viz., the appointment of the Archdeacon (who went to England to +present the petitions and to receive the appointment) as first Bishop of +Toronto. His patent bears date, 27th July, 1839. The other part of the +prayer was also granted, but not until 1840, when Lord John Russell, +then Colonial Secretary, by an unprecedented and unlooked for stretch of +official authority, but no doubt with the assent of his colleagues, +introduced a bill into the House of Commons to do what even he and other +Colonial Secretaries had deprecated doing—viz., the re-investing of the +reserves in the Crown. Dr. Ryerson, then in England, strongly protested +against this act of provincial spoliation and legislative invasion, but +the bill became law. (See next chapter.)</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1838-1840.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">The New Era—Lord Durham and Lord Sydenham.</span></p> + + +<p>In the midst of the gloom which overspread the Province, in consequence +of the long continued exercise of irresponsible and arbitrary power on +the part of the local executive, Dr. Ryerson, like many other +loyal-hearted Canadians, rejoiced at the advent of Lord Durham,—a man +possessed of plenary powers to inquire into and report on the grievances +existing in Canada. Those who wished to perpetuate the reign of the +ruling party, strongly deprecated Dr. Ryerson's advocacy of Lord +Durham's schemes of reform. One of the most respectable organs<a name="FNanchor_108_108" id="FNanchor_108_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a> of +that party (Neilson's Quebec <i>Gazette</i>) in a complimentary editorial on +Dr. Ryerson (in May, 1839), expressed regret that a man "of his +undoubted talents and great industry" should have endorsed Lord Durham's +system of Responsible Government. In the <i>Guardian</i> of the 5th June, Dr. +Ryerson replied, pointing out the fair and equitable system of +Responsible Government advocated by Lord Durham, as compared with the +crude one put forth by Messrs. W. L. Mackenzie and L. J. Papineau. He +then illustrates the necessity for the reform proposed by Lord Durham, +by referring to the arbitrary and irresponsible acts of Sir Francis +Head. He said:—</p> + +<p>The published word of the Representative of Royalty had [until Sir F. B. +Head's time] been sacred and inviolable in Upper Canada; the majority of +the people believed him. In 1836 they elected a House of Assembly in +accordance with his wishes. He fulfilled his pledges by dismissing many +of the magistrates and militia officers, because they voted against his +candidates at the elections, and finished his career by plunging the +country into misery, and thereby insuring its ruin.</p> + +<p>Now, where (he asked) was the "responsibility" under which ... such a +Governor acts? He abuses the confidence reposed in him,—where is his +censure? He disobeys the orders given<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> him from England,—where is his +punishment? He ruins men [Bidwell, etc.] whom he was ordered to +appoint,—where is their redress, and his accountability? They are +exiles, and he is made a Baronet! He disgraces and degrades numbers of +persons without colour of reason, or justice, or law—yet they are +without redress, and he is even without reproof. He tramples upon the +orders from Her Majesty's Government, and attacks her ministers in their +places—then returns to England, and boasts of his disobedience.... And +there are those who tell us of the responsibility of our Governors to +the Queen and Parliament!... The history of Sir F. B. Head's +administration is enough to make the veriest bigot a convert to +"Responsible Government."</p> + +<p>For these and other important reasons it can be seen how the great +question of the day (in 1839) was that of responsible government for +these provinces. Dr. Ryerson and others had written freely on the +subject, claiming that the government of the country should be +administered, as it was then expressed—"according to the well +understood wishes of the people." This could only be done by men +representing their wishes, and responsible to the legislature for their +exercise of power and for every official act of the Governor.</p> + +<p>In October, Dr. Ryerson received a letter on this subject from a +well-known advocate of the principle of responsible government in Nova +Scotia—Hon. Joseph Howe. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>May I beg your acceptance of a little work on responsible +government, the object of which is to advance the good cause in +which you have so heartily and with so much ability embarked. It is +a great satisfaction to the friends of responsible government here, +that the cause has been taken up in Canada by men about whose +intentions and loyalty there can be no mistake. So long as we +deprive the family compact of their only defence, which the folly +of rebels and sympathizers raised for them, and act together +without just cause for suspicion that we are anything but what we +say, there can be little doubt of ultimate success. Should your +electors return a majority favourable to responsibility at the next +election, and all the colonies unite in one demand, it will be +yielded. Our legislature, and any that can be chosen here, will +uphold the principle. So will the majorities in Newfoundland, and +Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. I cannot speak with +certainty, but hope they will soon understand the question +thoroughly in that province. It may be necessary for all the +provinces to send delegates at the same time to England, to claim +to be heard on the subject at the Bar of the Commons and Lords, and +to diffuse, through every fair channel, correct views of the +question. Think of this, and drop me a line at your leisure.</p></div> + +<p>This Dr. Ryerson did in due time.</p> + +<p>The coming of Lord Durham was the first harbinger of better days for +Canada. His mission was one of enquiry, and for the suggestion of +remedial measures. The mission of Mr. Poulett Thompson (who followed +Lord Durham as Governor-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>General) was hailed with delight by the people +generally. He came to give practical effect to pressing measures of +reform—to unite the provinces, and to introduce a new element of +strength into the administrative system of the country.</p> + + + +<p class="space">The year 1839 was noted for the enthusiasm with which "Durham Meetings" +were held throughout Upper Canada. These meetings were for the purpose +of endorsing the famous report of Lord Durham, and for approving of the +many valuable reforms which that report suggested. Much opposition and +even violence characterized these meetings; but they revived and again +inaugurated the right of free speech on public questions. The only +record which Dr. Ryerson has left of this period of his history is as +follows:—</p> + +<p>In 1838 I yielded to persuasion and remonstrances, and was again +re-elected Editor, and continued as such until June, 1840, when I +relinquished finally all connection with the Editorship of the +<i>Christian Guardian</i>.</p> + +<p>It was during this period, from 1833 to 1840, that the most important +events transpired in Upper Canada; the controversy respecting the clergy +reserves, and a church establishment, was steadily and earnestly +maintained.</p> + +<p>The constitution of Lower Canada was suspended for two years, and an +Executive Council Government was established in its place. The dominant +party in Upper Canada by liberal professions succeeded in the elections, +in 1836; but, instead of adopting a just and liberal policy, they sought +to exclude all Reformers from a share in the Government as virtual +rebels, and set themselves to promote a high-church establishment +policy, to the exclusion of the Methodists and members of other +religious denominations.</p> + +<p>This unwise, unjust, and inverted-pyramid policy laid the foundation for +a new agitation. The Methodists were the only party capable of coping +with the revived high-church policy to crush out the rights of other +denominations and the liberties of the country, and to paralyze their +influence. The Presbyterians being divided, the Canadian Conference was +not to be deterred, or moved from its principles, avowed and maintained +for more than ten years; the result was a contest between the English +and Canadian Conferences, which culminated in 1840 in a separation of +the two bodies, and a conflict of seven years—wholly political—for +London Wesleyan, English superiority, and tory ascendancy on the one +side, and Canadian Methodist and Canadian liberty on the other side.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p><hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>It is not my purpose to enter into detail, except in so far as Dr. +Ryerson became an actor in the new scenes and events which followed the +appointment of Mr. Charles Poulett Thompson as Governor-General.</p> + +<p>Mr. Poulett Thompson arrived in Quebec on the 19th October, 1839, and in +Toronto on the 21st November. As Governor-General, he superseded both +Sir John Colborne at Quebec and Sir George Arthur at Toronto.</p> + +<p>On the 3rd December, the Governor-General opened the Upper Canada +Legislature; and on that very day Dr. Ryerson addressed to him an +elaborate letter on the chief object of his mission. In referring to the +clergy reserve question, he said:—</p> + +<p>For sixteen years this question has been a topic of ceaseless +discussion; and one on which the sentiments and feelings of a very large +majority of the inhabitants have been without variation expressed; +notwithstanding that Governor has succeeded Governor, and party has +succeeded party.... From the time when, at the elections of 1824, the +sentiments of the country were first called forth to the present moment, +its collective voice has demanded, what your Excellency has avowed on +another subject, "equal justice to all of Her Majesty's subjects." This +question is the parent of social discord in Upper Canada; all the other +party questions have originated in this. The elevation of one class +above all others in a community where there is little diversity of rank +or intelligence, begets a necessity for special means to support that +elevation. Hence partizan appointments to office; hence partizan +administration of offices; hence party animosities, embittered by the +jealousies of conscious weakness on one side, and a deep sense of +unmerited exclusion and provocation on the other.... Hence on the one +side a selfish, insolent, baseless ecclesiastical and political +oligarchy, and, on the other side, an abused, an injured, and +dissatisfied country.</p> + + + +<p class="space">The bill providing for the vesting of the proceeds of the reserves in +the Imperial Parliament, to which I have referred in the preceeding +chapter, was not sanctioned by Her Majesty. This was "a sore blow and a +heavy discouragement" to those who had laboured so assiduously to carry +such a bill through the local Legislature. The objection raised to it by +Lord John Russell was twofold. The chief reason, however, was thus +expressed:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It appeared to Her Majesty's Government that strong objections +existed to this delegation to Parliament by a subordinate authority +of the power of legislation. The proceeding should have been by +address to the three estates of the Realm, asking them to undertake +the decision of the question.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus by a stroke of Lord John Russell's pen, the whole of the pet scheme +of the ruling party, devised after three months' anxious local +legislation, was irrecoverably lost. And yet it was not lost, for by the +after careful manipulation of Lord John and his colleagues by Bishop +Strachan, Lord Seaton (Sir John Colborne) and Sir George Arthur, that +bill afterwards proved to be, for ten years, the basis of a far more +sweeping and unjust measure than even the most reckless and partizan +member of the Legislature in Upper Canada would have ventured to +propose.</p> + +<p>When it was known that Her Majesty had declined to sanction Sir George +Arthur's bill, steps were taken by the Governor-General to devise such a +measure as would meet with the approval of the great mass of the people +in Upper Canada. To aid him in accomplishing this desirable end, Mr. +Poulett Thompson privately sought the aid of leading public men in the +Province. Having obtained their assistance, he, with the advice of his +Council, prepared a compromise measure which was designed to be just and +equitable to all parties concerned.</p> + +<p>On the 6th January, 1840, the Governor-General sent a message to the +House of Assembly, in which he thus outlines the measure which, with his +sanction, Hon. Solicitor-General Draper submitted to the House:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Governor-General proposes that the remainder of the land should +be sold, and the annual proceeds of the whole fund, when realized, +be distributed [one half to the Episcopal and Presbyterian +Churches, and the other half among other religious bodies desiring +to share in it] for the support of religious instruction within the +Province, and for the promotion there, of the great and sacred +objects for which these different bodies are established or +associated.</p></div> + +<p>On this bill, Dr. Ryerson remarked:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>From this message, the hopelessness of success in any further +attempts to get the annual proceeds of the reserves appropriated to +exclusively secular objects, is apparent.... Up to the present time +I have employed my best efforts, by every kind of argument, +persuasion and entreaty, to get the proceeds applied simply and +solely to educational purposes.... This is unattainable, and is +rendered so by an original provision of our Constitution (of 1791), +as stated by the Governor-General.</p></div> + +<p>The bill was fiercely attacked by the then newly-appointed Bishop of +Toronto. He denounced it as—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Depriving the National Church of nearly three-fourths of her +acknowledged property, and then, in mockery and derision, offering +her back a portion of her own, so trifling as to be totally +insufficient to maintain her present Establishment; it tramples on +the faith of the British Government by destroying the birthright of +all the members of the Established Church who are now in the +province, or who may hereafter come into it; it promotes error, +schism and dissent, and seeks to degrade the clergy of the Church +of England to an equality with unauthorized teachers, etc.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Bishop then uttered, that which events proved to be a memorable and +true prophecy, that the Church—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Need be under no great apprehension in regard to any measure likely +to pass the Provincial Legislature on the subject of the +reserves:—reckless injustice in their disposition will not be +permitted; although the Church may appear friendless and in peril, +from the defection and treachery of some professing members.... If +any of her children incline to despondency, let them turn their +eyes to England, where we have protectors both numerous and +powerful, watching our struggles, and holding out the hand of +fellowship and assistance. [See next page.]</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson at once joined issue with the Bishop, and—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Confuted the pretensions of "John Toronto" by the doctrines and +statements of "John Strachan," who, when in England in 1827, +published a pamphlet in which he stated that "the provincial +legislatures have nothing to do, either directly or indirectly, +with the Romish Church; but the same legislatures may vary, repeal, +or modify the 31st Geo. III., cap. 31, as far as it respects the +Church of England."</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson pertinently asked the Bishop—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>How could a "birthright" be "varied, repealed, or modified," as he +had admitted that the constitutional act could do, "as far as it +respects the Church of England?" Can (he asks) the Legislature +"vary or repeal" the deeds by which individuals hold their +lands?—Which of the "dissenting" denominations recognized by law +is not as orthodox in doctrine as the Church of England, and far +more orthodox than those who endorse the Oxford "Tracts for the +Times?"</p></div> + +<p>The bill was finally passed in the House of Assembly, by a vote of 31 to +7, and in the Legislative Council, by a vote of 13 to 4, notwithstanding +a remarkably outspoken and defiant speech from the Bishop. In it he used +the following language:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Feeling that the bill provides for the encouragement and +propagation of error; inflicts the grossest injustice by robbing +and plundering the National Church; that it attempts to destroy all +distinction between truth and falsehood; that its anti-Christian +tendencies lead directly to infidelity, and will reflect disgrace +on the Legislature, I give it my unqualified opposition.</p></div> + +<p>The Bishop again utters his prediction, and stated that what he wanted +would be secured in England. He said—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>At the same time I have no fear of its ever becoming law. But it +may be useful, for its monstrous and unprincipled provisions will +teach the Imperial Government the folly of permitting a Colonial +Legislature to tamper with those great and holy principles of the +Constitution, on the preservation of which the prosperity and +happiness of the British Empire must ever depend.</p></div> + +<p>Although it was almost impossible to reason with any one who would +deliberately use such extravagant language, yet Dr. Ryerson replied to +the Bishop's statements <i>seriatim</i>. With a touch of irony, he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>After penning such an effusion, the Bishop might well betake +himself to the Litany of his Church, and pray the good Lord to +deliver him—from all blindness of heart; from pride, vain glory +and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred and malice, and all +uncharitableness.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p> + +<p>The fate of the bill is thus described in a statement on the subject, +prepared by Dr. Ryerson. What he details clearly reveals the powerful +and sympathetic influences which the Bishop of Toronto was able +successfully to bring to bear upon "Henry of Exeter"—the then leader of +the Bench of Bishops,—and, through him, upon the other Bishops in the +House of Lords. Besides, Sir John Colborne (now Lord Seaton) took strong +ground in the House of Lords in favour of the views of his old friend, +Bishop Strachan, and aided the English Bishops in giving them practical +effect. Thus the reiterated prophecy of the Bishop of Toronto was not +uttered without abundant foreknowledge. It proved too true. Knowing +this, he no doubt felt free to deal in strong language, both against the +Legislature of Upper Canada, and the members of the Church of England in +both Houses, who were too patriotic, just and reasonable, as well as +far-seeing, to second his efforts to aggrandize the Church at the +expense, and against the strongly-expressed and oft-repeated wishes, of +the majority of the people, of Upper Canada. He said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>On the bill being sent to England (accompanied by a most energetic +despatch from the Governor-General, imploring Her Majesty's +Government not to disallow, but to sanction it), the Bishop of +Exeter moved in the House of Lords, that the question of the right +to the clergy reserve property in Canada should be referred to the +twelve Judges of England; but the decision of the Judges having +proved adverse to the exclusive pretensions of the Bishop of Exeter +and his party in England and Canada, the English Bishops then +conferred with Lord John Russell, in order to set aside Lord +Sydenham's Canadian bill, and introduce one into the Imperial +Parliament which would accomplish as far as possible the objects +aimed at by referring the question to the Judges. Lord John Russell +became a consenting party and agent in this unconstitutional act of +injustice and spoliation against the rights and feelings of a large +majority of the people of Upper Canada. It was against this act +that Messrs. W. and E. Ryerson (then in England), on behalf of the +Wesleyan Church in Canada, remonstrated in an elaborate and +strongly-worded letter to Lord John Russell—the only communication +of the kind made by any religious body in Canada against the bill +while it was before the British Parliament, or for several years +afterwards.</p></div> + +<p>Knowing the strong influences which had been brought to bear upon Mr. +Poulett Thompson against Dr. Ryerson, by Sir George Arthur (page 193), +and against the Methodist body generally by interested parties in this +discussion, Dr. Ryerson addressed a letter to the Governor-General on +the 25th March, 1840, in which he reviewed the course of the <i>Guardian</i> +and his own attitude on public questions during the preceding ten years. +The letter was evidently written with deep feeling, and under a keen +sense of the injustice done to the Methodist people by means of the +prolonged and persistent misrepresentation of these years. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I address your Excellency with feelings of the highest respect and +strong affection. You are the first Governor of Canada who has +exerted his personal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> influence and the authority of his station, +to accomplish that in Upper Canada which has been avowed and +promised by every Colonial-Secretary during the last ten +years—framing enactments and administering the Government for the +equal protection and benefit of all classes of Her Majesty's +Canadian subjects.... In doing so, your Excellency has been told +that you have patronized "republicans and rebels."... The +<i>Guardian</i>, which you have been pleased to honour with an +expression of your approbation, has been charged with opposite +crimes from different quarters.... You have been told that the +ministers of the Wesleyan Methodist Church—whose rights you have +justly and kindly consulted—have formerly come from the United +States; and that the <i>Guardian</i>, during the first years of its +existence, was nothing but a vehicle of radicalism, disaffection, +and sedition.... As to the former, I may say that the Methodist +ministers have not come from ... the United States during the last +twenty years.... As to the latter, I furnish three columns of +extracts from the <i>Guardian</i>, ... from which the following may be +adduced:—</p> + +<p>1. That in 1830 I entertained less friendship towards our American +neighbours than I do in 1840.</p> + +<p>2. That in 1830 I advocated the very principles in the +administration of the Provincial Government that your Excellency +has declared to be the basis of your administration in 1840.</p> + +<p>3. That in 1830 I was as strongly opposed to an exclusive, or +sectarian, spirit as I am in 1840.</p> + +<p>4. That the very advice which I gave to the electors in 1830, as to +their rights and interests, I could now repeat with a view to +support your Excellency's administration.</p> + +<p>5. That the very principles upon which your Excellency has +commenced your administration, ... were actually promised and +assured to the people of Upper Canada by a Tory Government in 1830.</p> + +<p>In 1830 the Colonial-Secretary and Sir John Colborne proclaimed the +"good laws and free institutions," and the non-preference system +amongst religious denominations, which your Excellency is +determined to carry into practice.... When the hopes created by +these avowals have not only been deferred for these years, but +those who have indulged these hopes have been maligned and +proscribed for constitutionally seeking a realization of them, you +cannot be surprised if many of their hearts have been made sick, +and that confidence and hope has yielded to distrust and despair.</p></div> + +<p>The Governor-General, through his private secretary, often requested Dr. +Ryerson, while Editor of the <i>Guardian</i>, to correct misstatements which +were made in regard to His Excellency's proceedings.<a name="FNanchor_109_109" id="FNanchor_109_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a></p> + +<p>After an interview with His Excellency, at his request, Dr. Ryerson, in +a letter dated 4th April, 1840, made a practical suggestion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> as to the +desirability of establishing the <i>Monthly Review</i>, as a means of +disseminating the liberal views which he entertained in regard to the +future government of this country, and also as an organ of public +opinion in harmony with these views. It was at first proposed that Dr. +Ryerson should edit the <i>Review</i>, but after fuller consideration of the +matter he declined, and the editing and management of it was, at his +suggestion, placed in the hands of John Waudby, Esq., Editor of the +Kingston <i>Herald</i>. It was issued in Toronto early in 1841, but ceased on +the death of Lord Sydenham, in September of that year. In Dr. Ryerson's +letter to the Governor he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>About a fortnight after your Excellency left Toronto, I happened in +the course of conversation with Hon. R. B. Sullivan to mention the +subject of establishing a monthly periodical, such as I had +mentioned to you. Mr. Sullivan was anxious that something of the +kind should be undertaken; I stated to him that I understood that +your Excellency would highly approve of such a publication, if it +could be successfully established. Mr. Sullivan pressed me to +prepare a prospectus and submit it for your Excellency's +consideration. I drew up a prospectus, and got an estimate of the +cost, covering all expenses. Mr. Sullivan fully concurred in the +prospectus, except the first paragraph. He was afraid it might be +construed into an expression of opinion in favour of "responsible +Government," and proposed another paragraph in place of it. The one +was as acceptable to me as the other. A feeling of apprehension and +embarrassment at the responsibilities of such an undertaking, and +the course of exertion which a successful accomplishment of it +would require, has deterred me from forwarding, until now, the +accompanying prospectus for your Excellency's perusal and +signification of your pleasure thereon.<a name="FNanchor_110_110" id="FNanchor_110_110"></a><a href="#Footnote_110_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span></p> + +<p>I cannot but see that the public mind in this country is in a +chaotic state, without any controlling current of feeling, or fixed +principle of action, in civil affairs; but susceptible, by proper +management and instruction, of being cast into any mould of +rational opinion and feeling; yet liable, without judicious +direction, to fall into a state of "confusion worse confounded." I +know that now is the time—perhaps the only time—to establish our +institutions and relations upon the cheapest, the surest, and the +only permanent foundation of any system, or form of Government—the +sentiments and feelings of the population. But I alone have not the +means or the power of contributing to the accomplishment of these +objects. To the utmost of my humble abilities and acquirements, I +am willing to exert myself; and that without a shillings' +remuneration—although my present salary is less than £200 per +annum. I believe the government about to be established in these +provinces may be made the most enduring and loftiest memorial of +your Excellency's fame, and the greatest earthly blessing to its +inhabitants; and it will be to me a source of satisfaction to +contribute towards the formation and cementing of materials for the +erection of a monument at once so honourable to its founder, and so +beneficial to Her Majesty's Canadian subjects.</p> + +<p>The personal influence of your Excellency in Lower Canada will be +required to induce two or three of the cleverest men in Lower +Canada to contribute to the columns of the <i>Review</i>; especially on +questions and subjects which grow out of the state and structure of +society in that province. Mr. Sullivan thinks he will be able to +contribute one, if not two, articles for each number. I am +acquainted with several other gentlemen who are competent to +contribute very ably on some subjects. I know from experience that +furnishing matter for any periodical, as well as giving it +character, must chiefly devolve upon the conductor of it. He must +give it soul, if it have any; he must combine, concentrate, and +direct its power. And such a publication, got up under so high and +favourable auspices, and properly conducted, and embodying the +productions of the leading minds of both provinces, cannot fail to +prove an engine of immense and even irresistible moral power in the +country; and must materially contribute to its intellectual as well +as political elevation.</p> + +<p>As to my own views and feelings, I would greatly prefer retiring +altogether from any connection with the press in all discussions of +civil affairs in every shape and form, and I can consistently and +honourably do so in June. But if this course be not justifiable in +the present circumstances of the province; if it be deemed +expedient for me still to take a part in public matters, I am +sensible I ought to do more than I do now, or can do through the +organ of a religious body. The relation, character and objects of +the publication I now conduct, impose a restriction upon the topics +and illustrations which are requisite to an effective discussion of +political questions. Under such circumstances I can neither do +justice to myself, nor to the subjects on which I occasionally +remark, or might discuss.</p> + +<p>I have felt the more disposed to make this communication, because +your Excellency's avowed system and policy of Government is but +carrying out and reducing to practice those views of civil polity +in Canada which have guided my public life, as your Excellency will +have observed from the articles and references which have appeared +in the <i>Guardian</i>. I have been defeated and disappointed +heretofore, because the local executive itself has been for the +most part rather the head of a party, than the Government of the +country, and the opposition, or "Reform" party, has often gone to +equal extremes of selfishness and extravagance; so that I have +occupied the unenviable and uncomfortable position of a sort of +break-water—resisting and checking the conflicting waves of mutual +party violence, convinced that the exclusive and absolute +ascendancy of either party would be destructive of the ends of just +Government, and public happiness; a position which, previously<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> to +your Excellency's arrival in Canada, I had determined to abandon, +as I found myself possessed of no adequate means of accomplishing +any permanent good by occupying it.</p> + +<p>I think the appearance in this province of Lord John Russell's +despatch on "Responsible Government" is timely. The "Reformers" are +too fully committed to Government to fly off; and a large portion +of the old "Conservative" party are glad of an excuse to change +their position. Neither party can triumph, as <i>both</i> must concede +something. This mutual concession will prepare the way for mutual +forbearance, and ultimately for co-operation and union. Having +perceived that the Editor of the <i>Examiner</i> was seeking, under the +pretence of supporting the Government, to get a House of Assembly +returned, consisting wholly of the old Reformers, who had +identified themselves in 1834-5-6, with the Papineau party of Lower +Canada, I thought it desirable to check such a design in the bud, +by insisting upon the support of Hon. W. H. Draper, and that he +should be returned upon the same grounds as those of Mr. Baldwin. +The elucidation and description of this one case will affect the +position of parties in the character of the elections throughout +the province, and make them turn, not upon Lord Durham's "Report," +or any of the old questions of difference, but upon your +Excellency's administration. This, I have no doubt, with a little +care, will, in most instances be the case. Thus will the members +returned from Upper Canada, be isolated from the French +anti-unionists of Lower Canada, and be more fully, both in +obligation and feeling, identified with the Government. I have not, +therefore, been surprised at the <i>Examiner's</i> indignation, as it is +so ultra, and thorough a partizan, and as it has some discernment, +though but little prudence.</p></div> + +<p>In reply, the Private Secretary of the Governor-General said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am to express to you His Excellency's approbation of the plans +you have suggested, and he desires me to say that he requests that +you will visit Montreal, on your way to New York, as he is anxious +to see you on the subject contained in your letter.</p> + +<p>The Special Council meets this day for the first time.</p></div> + +<p>The Secretary further added:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>His Excellency agrees that the line which you have taken is most +judicious. There is no doubt that the gentleman to whom you refer +is doing very great mischief both to Hon. Robert Baldwin and the +Government, by the extremes to which he is pushing his cry for +responsible government, and his opposition to Hon. W. H. Draper.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson (who was on his way to the General Conference at Baltimore) +in a note, dated Montreal, 4th May, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Governor-General having kindly invited me to visit him and +converse on matters relating to public affairs, I did so, and was +most cordially received by him. I also had a long interview with +him on Friday afternoon, and am desired to spend the evening with +him on Saturday. His Excellency has given every requisite +information as to his plans. I am thus enabled to accomplish the +object of my visit far beyond what I expected when I left home.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter from New York (dated 9th May) Dr. Ryerson said:—Much to my +surprise to-day, while in New York on my way to Baltimore, I received a +note from the Governor-General's Secretary, T. W. C. Murdoch, Esq., as +follows:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>By direction of the Governor-General I send you the enclosed bill +of exchange for £100 stg., the receipt of which I would request you +to acknowledge.</p> + +<p>You will have seen the English papers which hold out every prospect +that both the Union and the Clergy Reserve Bills will be +satisfactorily settled. I feel that I may congratulate you, and +every friend of Canada, on such a result.</p></div> + +<p>I acknowledged this kind and generous act, but at once returned the Bill +of Exchange to His Excellency—at the same time respectfully assuring +him, that under no circumstances could I receive anything for what I had +done, or might do, to support the policy and administration of Her +Majesty's Government, in the peculiar circumstances of the Province.</p> + + + +<p class="space">One of the chief points discussed in Upper Canada, in connection with +the proposed union of the provinces, was the effect it would have on the +Protestant character of the government and institutions of the county. +Mr. John W. Gamble, a public man, and a leading member of the Church of +England, in Vaughan, writing to Dr. Ryerson on the subject, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I feel deeply the conviction that the time has now arrived when +Protestants must sink all points of minor consideration, and unite +in defence of our common faith. The union of the provinces will +most assuredly result in giving not only a preponderance, but a +large majority to the Roman Catholics in the united legislature; +and this taken in conjunction with the plans now in operation for +pouring a large Roman Catholic population into these provinces, +surely ought not only to excite the fears, but rouse the energies +of those who know and love the truth as it is in Jesus. I am +altogether ignorant of your opinion upon the union question, but I +call upon you as a Protestant to unite with me in endeavouring to +avert the threatened calamity.</p></div> + +<p>Mr. Gamble was for many years afterwards an earnest opponent in the +Legislature of United Canada of the extension of the Separate School +system in the province.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Although greatly enfeebled in health, yet Dr. Ryerson's Mother was +enabled to write to him occasionally. In a letter written by her in +1839, after returning from seeing him, she said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I suppose you are anxious to know the state of my mind. I yet feel +that the Lord is my trust, and I am waiting daily till my change +come. I feel that when the "earthly house of this tabernacle be +dissolved, I have a house not made with hands, eternal in the +heavens." Dear Egerton, I feel very much as I did when I left +you—a great deal of weakness. I am anxious to live to see you all +once more, perhaps for the last time. Do not neglect to come up, +one and all, as soon as convenient, if you only stay one day. When +you come fetch some books, such as you think would be profitable +for me, and one of your good-sized Bibles; also three of your +likenesses. I thought that your Father had brought them up when he +came. Do not fail to come up and see us. Don't let me be denied the +happiness of seeing you soon.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_108_108" id="Footnote_108_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> The organs of that party in Upper Canada spoke of Dr. +Ryerson's advocacy of Lord Durham's reforms with far less courtesy, and +for obvious reasons.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_109_109" id="Footnote_109_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> Thus in a note dated 8th April, 1840, the Private +Secretary said:—I know that His Excellency would wish you to comment on +Lord John's despatch in the sense in which it is treated in the Montreal +<i>Gazette</i>. [This was done in the <i>Guardian</i> of 15th April.] There +is no doubt also that it is absurd in Hon. Henry Sherwood to pretend +that he is supporting the Government when he opposes their own +Solicitor-General, but not less so in the <i>Examiner</i> to support him and +oppose Mr. Draper, or to stand up for a kind of responsible government +which both His Excellency and Lord John Russell have declared to be +inadmissible. I know that His Excellency would wish you to do everything +in your power to support both Mr. Draper and Mr. Baldwin. Should any +article come out which you consider would interest His Excellency, may I +request you to send me a copy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_110_110" id="Footnote_110_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> The following was the prospectus agreed upon and +issued:— +</p><p> +A <span class="smcap">Monthly Review, Devoted to the Civil Government of Canada</span>. +</p><p> +The Canadas have been united under an amended constitution; the +foundation has been laid for an improved system of government. The +success of that constitution will greatly depend upon a correct +understanding and a just appreciation of its principles; and the +advantages of the new system of government will be essentially +influenced by the views and feelings of the inhabitants of the Canadas +themselves. At a period so eventful, and under circumstances so +peculiar, it is of the utmost importance that the principles of the +constitution should be carefully analysed, and dispassionately +expounded; that the relations between this and the Mother Country, and +the mutual advantages connected with those relations, should be +explained and illustrated; the duties of the several branches of the +government and the different classes of the community, stated and +enforced; the natural, commercial, and agricultural resources and +interests of these Provinces investigated and developed; a comprehensive +and efficient system<a name="FNanchor_A_111" id="FNanchor_A_111"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_111" class="fnanchor">[a]</a> of public education discussed and established; +the subject of emigration practically considered in proportion to its +vast importance; the various measures adapted to promote the welfare of +all classes of the people originated and advocated; and a taste for +intellectual improvement and refinement encouraged and cultivated. +</p><p> +As the Editor's views on all the leading questions of Canadian policy +accord with those of His Excellency the Governor-General, who has been +pleased to approve of the plan of the <i>Monthly Review</i>, it will be +enabled to state correctly the facts and principles on which the +government proceeds; yet the writers alone will be held responsible for +whatever they may advance.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_111" id="Footnote_A_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_111"><span class="label">[a]</span></a> Dr. Ryerson, who wrote this prospectus, evidently had in +view such a system of Education as he afterwards established.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1840.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Proposal to leave Canada—Dr. Ryerson's Visit to England</span>.</p> + + +<p>The year 1840 is somewhat memorable in the Methodistic history of Upper +Canada, for three things: 1st. The final retirement of Dr. Ryerson from +the editorship of the <i>Christian Guardian</i>; 2nd. Visit of Revs. William +and Egerton Ryerson to England, and the painful, yet fruitless, +discussions with a Committee of the British Conference on the lapsed +Union; 3rd. The annual and special Canada Conferences of that year—at +the latter of which the formal separation of the British and Canadian +sections of the Conference took place under peculiarly affecting +circumstances.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson and his brother John attended the American General +Conference at Baltimore, May, 1840. In a letter from there he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Methodist Connexion here are much in advance of us, and, as a +whole, even of the British Connexion. I have never seen a more +pious, intelligent, and talented body of men than the preachers +assembled here at Conference; nor more respectable, intelligent +congregations. The manners of the people in these Middle States are +very like the manners of intelligent people in Upper Canada—alike +removed from the English haughtiness and Yankee coldness—simple, +frank, and unaffected. Bishops Roberts, Soule, Hedding and Waugh +dined with us to-day. They are venerable and apostolic men. We have +had cordial invitations to come to this country, and did we consult +our own comfort, brother John and I would do so without hesitation. +Bishop Hedding hopes to visit us at our approaching Conference. +Rev. R. Newton, of England, will not visit Canada. Mr. —— has +told him that it was not worth while to go to Canada; and all that +can be said to induce him to come is unavailing. We in Canada are +not worth so much trouble, or notice!</p></div> + +<p>In a letter from Baltimore, dated May 25th, 1840, Dr. Ryerson states the +reason why he proposed to leave Canada:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am still at the General Conference. Rev. Dr. Bangs says that I +ought to remain until the close. After much consideration I have +decided upon a step which, for many reasons, appears desirable. +Instead of coming to this country for a few months, in order to +avail myself of some collegiate lectures, to pursue certain +branches of science, I have concluded and have made arrangements to +take a station in the city of New York for one, if not for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> two +years. My brother John would have done the same if we could have +both left Canada this year. If things in the province do not go on +better with us he will do so another year. I have seen the new +constitution which is about to be adopted by the British Parliament +for the future Government of Canada. I do not approve of it. To +interfere any more in civil contentions will be wasting the best +part of my life to little purpose, for there seems to be no end to +such things. To remain in Canada and be silent, will incur the +hostility of both parties. The government will regard my neutrality +as opposition, and the popular party will view it as indifference +to the rights of the people; and, in such circumstances, I shall +neither be useful nor happy. While, therefore, I am on good terms +with the Government and the country at large, my brother thinks +with me that it is by all means best to withdraw from such scenes. +I have the offer of one of the three or four largest Methodist +Chapels in New York. I shall be appointed to one of the largest and +most elegant in the city, where all the great public meetings are +held. There are, however, three or four vacant, equally desirable. +I much prefer this to my taking a district in Canada. I would not +return to the <i>Guardian</i> again for any earthly consideration.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson went to the Conference at Belleville after his return from +Baltimore. Writing from there, he said:—</p> + +<p>Previously to proceeding to elect the Secretary, an English brother +remarked that he had certain communications from the Committee in +London, which he wished to read. I observed that no communications could +be read until the Conference was organized, and the Conference could not +be organized until the Secretary was elected. The brother persevered, +and then stated that the documents referred to me. I then arose, and +observed that the proceeding was at variance with law, Methodism, and +justice. The Conference was justly roused to indignation by my remarks, +which were followed by some observations from my brother John, in the +same strain. Not a man spoke in favour of the English brother's +proceeding, and he was compelled to withdraw his proposal. Such an +anti-Methodistic and barbarous attempt to sacrifice me (as some of the +preachers afterwards expressed it), excited a strong feeling in my +favour, and, I was told, increased my majority of votes for the +Secretaryship. When the Conference balloted for Secretary, the votes +stood as follows:—Matthew Richey, 1; Anson Green, 1; Wm. Case, 2; E. +Evans, 12; Egerton Ryerson, 43. The circumstance has so deeply affected +me, that I feel it to be like tearing soul from body to be separated +from brethren who stand by me in the day of trial, and who will not +suffer me, as one of them expressed it to me, to be sacrificed at the +pleasure of my enemies.<a name="FNanchor_111_112" id="FNanchor_111_112"></a><a href="#Footnote_111_112" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> But I see no reason to change my purposes; +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> my brother John thinks I can do more good to the Connexion by being +in New York, than by remaining in Canada.</p> + +<p>I desire, with humble dependence upon the wisdom and providence of God, +to commit my all to Him. I hunger and thirst after the mind which was in +Christ Jesus.</p> + +<p>Subsequently Dr. Ryerson wrote, saying:—</p> + +<p>My plans in regard to the United States must now be changed. The charges +of the London Committee, and the state of the Connexion in regard to the +Union, render my absence from the Province, in the judgment of my +brethren, unjustifiable and out of the question. Some of the preachers +insist that I must go to England, and meet Mr. Alder before the British +Conference. Such a mission is not impossible, but, I hope, not probable.</p> + +<p>After the election of Secretary, the charges against Dr. Ryerson were +read. They were embodied in a resolution to the effect that he had +improperly interfered and sought to deprive the British Conference of +its annual grant from the Imperial Government for the extension of +missions in the province. The resolution was negatived by a vote of 59 +to 8, and a series of resolutions sustaining Dr. Ryerson, in the +strongest manner, was passed. He and his brother William were appointed +as Representatives at the British Conference, with directions "to use +all proper means to prevent collision between the two Connexions."</p> + +<p>As intimated in Dr. Ryerson's letter from Baltimore, he decided to +retire finally from the Editorship of the <i>Christian Guardian</i>. This he +did at the Belleville Conference, and on the 24th of June, 1840, he laid +down his pen as Editor of the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, and was succeeded by +Rev. Jonathan Scott. In his valedictory of that date, Dr. Ryerson +said:—</p> + +<p>The present number of the <i>Guardian</i> closes the connection of the +undersigned with the provincial press. To his friends and to those of +the public who have confided in him, and supported him in seasons of +difficulty and danger, he offers his most grateful acknowledgments; +those who have opposed him honourably, he sincerely respects; those who +have assailed him personally, he heartily forgives; and of those whose +feelings he may have wounded in the heat of discussion, he most humbly +asks pardon. While he is deeply sensible of his imperfections, +infirmities, and failings, he derives satisfaction from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> the +consciousness that he has earnestly aimed at promoting the best +interests of his adopted church and his native country.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Egerton Ryerson</span>.<br /> +</p> + +<p>Immediately after the close of the annual Conference of 1840, Dr. +Ryerson and his brother William left for England. From his diary, +written at that time, he had made the following extracts for this +work:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>July 22nd, 1840.</i>—After landing at Liverpool, I called upon an +old and kind friend, Mr. Michael Ashton, and I had much +conversation with him and Rev. R. Young, on the affairs of our +mission. I and my brother William arrived in London on the 23rd. +Took up our lodgings with my old hostess, 27 Great Ormond Street. +Addressed a note to Lord John Russell, on the object of our +mission; an interview was appointed for the next day. Went to the +House of Commons in the evening, having an order for admission to +the Speaker's gallery, through the kindness of Lord Sandon.</p> + +<p><i>July 24th.</i>—Went to the Colonial office; had a long interview +with Lord John Russell, on the Canada Clergy Reserve Bill. Mr. +[afterwards Sir James] Stephen was present. We pointed out to His +Lordship the injustice of the bill, and the probable consequences +if it were passed in its present shape. We spoke at some length, +but with great plainness; intimating that we regarded the measure +as the forfeiture of good faith on the part of Her Majesty's +Government, as the violation of the constitutional rights of the +inhabitants of Upper Canada, and as the cause of the unpopularity +of the British Government in that country. But his Lordship +appeared inflexible, and seemed to regard it essential to +conciliate the Bishops, but not essential to do what he considered +just in itself, or to fulfil the declarations of Government to the +inhabitants of Upper Canada, or to consult their oft-expressed +views and wishes. In the afternoon we went to see Mr. Charles +Buller, but he was not in town. In going through Hyde Park we saw +the Queen and Prince Albert, coming from Windsor. We took a hasty +view through Westminster Abbey, and in the evening we called upon +the Rev. Mr. Stead, formerly a missionary to India, and received +from him many useful suggestions respecting the object of our +mission.</p> + +<p><i>July 27th.</i>—Prepared a long letter to Lord John Russell on the +Canada Clergy Reserve Bill, now before Parliament. Went to the +House of Commons in order to hear the debate on the third reading +of said bill. Lord John Russell was not present. But we heard a +long debate on the China opium trade, etc. Mr. W. E. Gladstone +introduced the discussion. Afterwards Sir Robert Peel spoke on the +present position of the Church of Scotland in resisting the +decision of the House of Lords. Mr. Fox Maule [Lord Panmure] spoke +in reply, and contended that the point for which the General +Assembly contended was the right of the people to a voice in the +choice of their ministers.</p> + +<p><i>July 28th.</i>—Visited the City Road Chapel Grave-yard, the Bank, +various book establishments, and St. Paul's Cathedral.</p> + +<p><i>July 30th.</i>—Left London yesterday; entered the city of York by +the southwest gate; got a glimpse of the Minster; the country +exceedingly beautiful, and in a high state of cultivation. Heard of +the death of poor Lord Durham. The attacks upon him in the House of +Lords as Governor-General of Canada, the abandonment of him by the +Government, the mortification experienced by him in consequence of +the Royal disapprobation at his sudden return from Canada before +his resignation had been accepted, are said to have hastened, if +not caused his death. His heart seems to have been set upon making +Canada a happy and a great country, and I think he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> intended to +rest his fame upon that achievement. He was defeated, disappointed, +died! How bright the prospect two years ago—how sudden the change, +how sad the termination! Oh, the vanity of earthly power, wealth +and glory!</p> + +<p><i>July 29th.</i>—Arrived this morning at Newcastle-upon-Tyne by stage, +eighty miles from York. The next morning we went to the Conference, +and sent in our cards to Rev. G. Marsden; he came out and kindly +received us, and hoped our mission would be for good. We met with a +very cool reception from several of the preachers, with whom I was +acquainted and on friendly terms during my former visits. Not +feeling very well, or very much at home, we enquired our way to our +lodgings, and left.</p> + +<p><i>July 31st.</i>—Went to the Conference this morning at 7 a.m. We were +furnished with the President's card of admittance, and shown a seat +in a corner at the side of the Chapel, and could hear but a part of +the debates. In the afternoon we addressed a note to the President, +to which we only received a verbal reply.</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 1st.</i>—This morning we were engaged in writing a strong +letter to the President concerning our treatment, our position, the +objects of our mission, etc., but we were saved the pain of +delivering it, as, on our arrival, we were met and introduced as +accredited Representatives of the Canada Conference. Rev. J. +Stinson and Rev. M. Richey were also introduced at the same time. +My brother William then presented the address and resolutions of +the Canada Conference. A comfortable seat was now provided for us, +in front of the President. Thank God, we now have a right to speak, +can take our own part, and maintain the rights and interests we +have been appointed to represent!</p> + +<p><i>Aug. 3rd.</i>—The Committee of the last year on Canadian affairs had +met and reported:—That the resolutions of the Committee of which +the Canadian Conference had complained we unanimously confirmed, +and recommended that the Conference appoint a large Committee to +whom the Messrs. Ryerson and the documents of the Canadian +Conference be referred.</p> + +<p>The cases of Circuits proposed to be divided were next taken up. +This caused many amusing remarks. Rev. R. Newton thought they were +losing the spirit of their fathers in travelling, who had +insuperable objections to solitary stations. Dr. Bunting assigned +as a reason for the failure of the health of so many young men, the +custom of giving up horses: said it was an innovation; quoted some +of the last words of Wesley: "I cannot make preachers—I cannot buy +preachers—and I will not kill preachers."</p> + +<p>A long conversation ensued on the subject of reading the Liturgy +generally, and concluded by a resolution that the Liturgy be read +on the principal Sabbath at each Conference. On the subject of +reading the Liturgy by the preachers themselves, Dr. Bunting said: +It was very well for men to spend their strength in preaching, and +let others read the prayers, when Methodism was only a Society +supplementary to the Church; but having in the order of Providence +grown up into an independent and separate Church, the preachers +were something more than mere preachers of the Word—they were +ministers of the Church, and ought to read as well as preach.</p> + +<p>The address of the Irish Conference was read. Rev. T. Jackson said +he could bear testimony to the very respectful manner in which the +address of the British Conference had been received by the Irish +Conference, and he trusted the brethren would understand the import +and bearing of that remark. Rev. Mr. Entwistle referred to the +liberality and cheerfulness of the Irish preachers in their +difficulties, when Dr. Bunting replied that if they had been in +such difficulties their heads would have hung down.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson's diary ends here. A full account of the interviews<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> and +discussions with the Wesleyan authorities in England are given in the +Epochs of Canadian Methodism, pages 407-426. The result was, that the +Committee on the subject reported a series of resolutions adverse to the +Canada representatives, which were adopted by the Conference after "more +than four-fifths of its members had left for their circuits." The +pacific resolutions of the Upper Canada Conference were negatived by a +majority, and it was declared "that a continuance of the more intimate +connection established by the articles of 1833 [was] quite +impracticable."</p> + +<p>Thus was ignominously ended a union between the two Conferences which +had (nominally) existed since 1833, and which had promised such happy +results, and thus was inaugurated a period of unseemly strife between +the two parties from 1840 to 1847, when it happily ceased. What followed +in Upper Canada is thus narrated by Dr. Ryerson:—</p> + +<p>The English Conference having determined to secede from the Union which +it had entered into with the Canadian Conference in 1833, and to +commence aggressive operations upon the Canadian Conference, and its +societies and congregations, a special meeting of the Canadian +Conference became necessary to meet this new state of things, to +organize for resenting the invasion upon its field of labour, and to +maintain the cause for which they had toiled and suffered so much for +more than half a century.</p> + +<p>The prospects of the Canada Conference were gloomy in the extreme; the +paucity of ministers, and the poverty of resources in comparison to the +English Conference, besides numerous other disadvantages; but the +ministers of the Canadian Conference with less than a dozen individual +exceptions, had hearts of Canadian oak, and weapons of New Jerusalem +steel, and were determined to maintain the freedom of the Church, and +the liberties of their country, whatever might be the prestige or +resources of their invaders; and "according to their faith it was done +unto them;" out of weakness they waxed strong. They sowed in tears, they +reaped in joy. Their weeping seed-sowing was followed by rejoicing, +bringing their sheaves with them.</p> + +<p>The Special Conference caused by these events was held in the Newgate +(Adelaide) Street Church in October, 1840. The venerable Thomas +Whitehead, then in his 87th year, opened the proceedings, after which +Rev. William Case was elected to preside. Rev. Mr. Whitehead was +subsequently elected President. Dr. Ryerson was elected Secretary, but +declined, and Rev. J. C. Davidson was appointed in his place. The whole +matter of differences between the two Conferences was discussed at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +great length, and with deep feeling on the part of the speakers. Dr. +Ryerson spoke for five hours, and his brother William for nearly three. +Finally a series of eleven resolutions were adopted, strongly +maintaining the views of the Canadian Representatives to England, and +protesting—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Against the Methodistic or legal right or power of the Conference +in England to dissolve, of its own accord, articles and obligations +which have been entered into with this Conference by mutual +consent.</p></div> + +<p>In consequence of the adoption of these resolutions, the following +ministers requested permission to withdraw from the Canada Conference +with a view to connect themselves with the British Missionary party, +viz:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Rev. Messrs. William Case, Ephraim Evans, Benjamin Slight, James +Norris, Thomas Fawcett, William Scott, John G. Manly, Edmund +Stoney, James Brock, Thomas Hurlburt, Matthew Lang, John Douse, +William Steer, John Sunday, and C. B. Goodrich.</p></div> + +<p>The leave-taking was said to have been very tender and sorrowful. Of the +members of the Canada Conference who left it, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Among the ten who seceded from the Canada Conference to the London +Wesleyan Committee was the venerable William Case, who took no part +in the crusade against his old Canadian brethren, but who wished to +live in peace and quietness, with the supply of his wants assured +to him in his old, lonely Indian Mission at Alnwick, near Cobourg, +isolated alike from the white inhabitants and from other Indian +tribes, where he continued until his decease.</p></div> + +<p>The character of this untoward contest with the British Conference +party—so far as it related to Dr. Ryerson—can be best understood from +the conclusion of his five hours' speech before the Special Conference. +He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am aware that a combined effort has been determined upon and is +making to destroy me as a public man, and to injure this Connexion, +as far as my overthrow can affect it. I rejoice to know that the +strength and efficiency of our Church are not depending upon me; +but I am not insensible to the advantages which it is supposed will +be gained over the Church if I can be put down. Our adversaries +seem to have abandoned the idea of answering my arguments, or of +diverting me from my purposes, in regard to my position, and views +and feelings towards this Connexion. The only expedient left is +that which requires no strength of intellect—no solid +arguments—no moral principle—but abundance of confidence, +malignity, and zeal. It is the expedient of impeaching my moral +integrity, and blackening my character. And this is attempted to be +accomplished. One class of adversaries, not by an appeal to reason, +or even to official documents, but by the importation and retail +from one side of the Atlantic to the other, and one end of the +province to the other, and from house to house, of bits and parcels +of perverted private conversations—a mode of warfare disgraceful +to human nature, much more to any Christian community. History +apprizes me that, in such a warfare, some of the best of men have +not triumphed until long after they slept in death, when the hand +of time and the researches of impartial history did them that +justice which the cupidity and jealousies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> of powerful +contemporaries denied them. I know not the present result of +existing combinations against myself. On that point I feel little +concern, though I am keenly alive to their influence upon my public +usefulness. I engaged in the Union, because I believed the +principles upon which it was founded were reasonable, and the +prejudices against it on all sides were unreasonable. I do not +regret the opposition which I have experienced—the reproaches +which I have incurred—the labours I have endured; but I do +regret—and every day's reflection adds fresh poignancy to my +regrets—that in carrying out a measure which I had hoped would +prove an unspeakable blessing to my native country, I have lost so +many friends of my youth. No young man in Canada had more friends +amongst all Christian denominations than I had when the Union took +place. Many of them have become my enemies. I can lose property +without concern or much thought; but I cannot lose my friends, and +meet them in the character of enemies, without emotions not to be +described. I feel that I have injured myself, and injured this +Connexion, and I fear this province, not by my obstinacy, but by my +concessions. This is my sin, and not the sins laid to my charge. I +have regarded myself, and all that Providence has put into my hands +from year to year, as the property of this Connexion. I can say, in +the language of Wesley's hymn—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"No foot of land do I possess,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">No cottage in the wilderness;<br /></span> +<span class="i5">A poor wayfaring man."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And it is to me a source of unavailing grief, that after the +expenditure of so much time, and labour, and suffering, and means, +one of the most important measures of my life may prove a +misfortune to the Church of my affections and the country of my +birth. I have only to say, that as long as there is any prospect of +my being useful to either, I will never desert them.</p> + +<p>We have surveyed every inch of the ground on which we stand: We +have offered to concede everything but what appertains to our +character, and to our existence and operations as a Wesleyan +Methodist Church. The ground we occupy is Methodistic, is rational, +is just. The very declarations of those who leave us attest this. +They are compelled to pay homage to our character as a body; they +cannot impeach our doctrines, or discipline, or practice; nor can +they sustain a single objection against our principles or standing; +the very reasons which they assign for their own secession are +variable, indefinite, personal, or trivial. But the reasons which +may be assigned for our position and unity are tangible, are +definite, are Methodistic, are satisfactory, are unanswerable.</p></div> + +<p>The effect of this disruption was disastrous to the peace and unity of +the Wesleyan body, especially in the towns and cities.</p> + +<p>Some time after the Conference, Dr. Ryerson received the following +characteristic letter from the venerable Thomas Whitehead, the President +of the Canada Special Conference:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have been not a little pleased with the expectation of seeing you +this evening, and of hearing you speak of the sorrows and joys of +Wesleyan Methodism in Upper Canada. God grant that you and I and +all of us, when our labours, sorrows and joys on earth are ended, +may meet around the throne of God and the Lamb. Your labours, +sorrows and joys for these years past have been unparalleled, and +to the present they are increasing. Well, you have been called +(with not a few invaluable assistants) to stand up in defence of +the Gospel, and have been sometimes placed near the swellings of +Jordan; however, you still rejoice in your labours, and the effects +thereof, and so do I; and, blessed be God, the Pilot of the +Galilean lake is still on shipboard, and he will soon speak peace +to the troubled waters, and there will be a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> great calm. I have no +doubt but Brother Green and Brother Bevitt (a comical soul) and +yourself have had cold travelling (I hope good lodging) in your +western rides; I am persuaded you have met with friends, and a +generous people. God bless them!</p> + +<p>I greatly rejoice that our brethren in the ministry are faithful, +affectionate, and successful in defence of all that appertains to +the privileges of the glorious Gospel of the Son of God, long, long +preached by the Wesleyan Methodist ministers in the wilds of Upper +Canada, and I trust they will, by all Christian means and measures, +support Her Majesty's Government in Canada. May the Holy and +Blessed God give us peace, and good government in our day. I have +been a little vexed with the travelling gab of one of our own +former friends, who is pleased to inform the people that you were +the sole cause of the late rebellion. I must tell him, the first +time I meet with him, that the meaning of his sing-song is not +understood, and that if he will explain his hidden meaning, it will +be, that he is ready to prove that the Rev. Egerton Ryerson was the +sole cause of the rebellion in Heaven, by the fallen angels. In +that case no one would mistake his meaning.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter of congratulation, written in May, 1841, to Rev. Dr. Bangs, +on his appointment to the Presidency of the Wesleyan University, +Middletown, Conn., Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I hope and pray that you may be able to continue without abatement +to favour and edify the religious public with the rich results of +your varied reading and matured thinking. On this ground I desire +to express my personal obligations; and not the least for your +"Letters to young Ministers of the Gospel," which were the first I +recollect of reading. Many of your remarks and suggestions, on the +subjects which they treat, have been of great service to me.</p></div> + +<p>Speaking of the rupture of the union between the British and Canadian +Conferences, and of alleged personal obstacles which he presented in the +way of a reunion, Dr. Ryerson said:—The agents of the London Missionary +Committee have not injured the Societies generally; although the scenes +of schism which have been and are exhibited in many places are highly +disgraceful. I am not aware that Elder Case has taken any active part in +these transactions, and he has continued an acting and useful member of +the Academy Board, notwithstanding his strange secession from our +Conference. I have observed by the discussion, especially in the +pamphlet lately published by the Committee in London, that the whole +affair is made to appear, as much as possible, a matter of difference +between the Committee and me personally, and epithets have been +multiplied against me in proportion to the want of facts. I have always +resolved not to allow myself to be the ground of difference between two +bodies. If I can make this circumstance instrumental in effecting an +amicable adjustment of differences, such as would be agreeable and +advantageous to my brethren, I have thought it would be best to do so, +and retire personally from the Conference, either employing my pen for +the religious and general interests of my native land, or seeking a +more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> peaceful field of labour in your part of the world, where I almost +wish I had gone last year as proposed—although I know not that I could +have done otherwise than I did, in accordance with what is due to +personal honour and character.</p> + +<p>The Imperial Parliament has disposed of the clergy reserves in a manner +the most unfair, unjust, and corrupt, although the old Constitution of +Canada provides for the disposal of them by the Provincial Legislature. +Wide-spread, secret dissatisfaction exists in the country; a majority of +the new Assembly (which has not yet met) are friends of the people, but +many are afraid to move, or to say what they think. My own apprehension +is that, notwithstanding all exertions to the contrary, under the +present system of things the morals and intelligence of the people will +be on a level with their liberties. Whether my continued silence in such +circumstances is a virtue, or a crime; or whether I should retire from +the country, or remain and make one Christian, open, and decisive effort +to secure for my fellow-countrymen a free constitution and equal rights +among their churches, is a perplexing question to me, as well as to my +brothers. It is believed by some intelligent men, who have talked on the +subject, that if I would come out as the advocate of the country, there +would be no doubt of success, from my knowledge of the subject, from a +general, and, as I think, overweening confidence on the part of my +friends in my powers of concentration, perseverance and energy, and from +the feelings of the country. It is also thought that, if there should be +a failure of success, I could then honourably retire to the United +States. I am no theorist, but I hate despotism as I do Satan, and I love +liberty as I do life; and my thoughts and feelings flow so strongly in +favour of the religious and civil freedom of my native country, that +with all my engagements and duties, I cannot resist them, at least half +of the time. I would be most grateful to you for your opinion on this +general matter, irrespective of details, with which, of course, you +cannot be acquainted.</p> + +<p>To this letter Rev. Dr. Bangs replied as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I feel much for my Canadian brethren, and I can never be +indifferent to their weal or woe. I have never had but one opinion +respecting your separation from us, and that is, that it was an +erroneous step at the time, originating with the ambition of one +man—Henry Ryan. (See page 87.) Regrets, however, are useless now. +The die has been cast; but from that unhappy moment you have been +tossed about from one point of the compass to another. What a sad +condition the people are in, according to your representation! And +who shall right them? I suppose you cannot do it, although you +cannot be indifferent to their interests, temporal and eternal.</p> + +<p>Respecting your leaving the country, I would say, that if your +brethren judge it best, you will receive a cordial welcome among +us; as I am sure you would from me. In the meantime, you would do +well to consult Bishop<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> Hedding, who presides among us this year. I +thank you for the expressions of affection. Whatever of good you +may have received from my poor labours, let God have the praise and +glory. I never undertook any duties with more appalling feelings +than I did the present ones; and yet I have been wonderfully +blessed and favoured by providential indications. When I was called +to the Presidency of the Wesleyan University, I dared not say no; +but I accepted it with a trembling sense of my responsibilities, +and thus far I have been greatly blessed and comforted. I shall be +glad to see you, and remember that I have a prophet's room, and a +bed and a table for you.</p></div> + +<p>From Rev. Dr. D. M. Reese, a noted member of the New York Conference, +Dr. Ryerson received the following letter:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am at a loss to say what is the opinion of our great men here, +touching your Canadian conflict with the British Conference; though +all our sympathies are with you. All concur that you have the +victory in your pamphlet war. I have not heard a different opinion +from any one who has read them. I suppose you may have learned how +cavalierly Rev. R. Newton treated Rev. Mr. Gurley, though +introduced to him by letters from those to whom Mr. N. was largely +indebted here. He refused to introduce him to Dr. Bunting, etc., +although this favour was solicited. He neither invited Mr. G. to +see him again, nor even called on him. This British reciprocity of +American politeness is humiliating, and resembles the treatment you +and your brother received at his hands, as well as that of other +great men in the Wesleyan Conference towards you.</p></div> + +<p>At the Special Conference of October, Dr. Ryerson was appointed +Corresponding Secretary of the Wesleyan Missionary Society of Upper +Canada. On the 10th November he issued a statement and appeal on behalf +of the Society. In it he indicates definitely the secret causes which +led to the disruption of the Union. He said:—</p> + +<p>Zealous attempts have been made to lead astray sincere friends of +Methodism and religion by the pretense that party politics is the +[difficulty]. Never was a pretext more unfounded.... It will be seen by +the proceedings of our Conference— ... and is even admitted in the +report of the ... English Conference—that no political party question +should, on any account, be suffered amongst us, ... or in our official +organ, and that we did not even desire the continued discussion of the +clergy reserve question.... But with even silent neutrality on all +questions of civil polity ..., the authorities of the English Conference +were not satisfied; they insisted that we should "admit and maintain, +even in this Province, the principle of Church and State Union"—a +question which has been the most exciting and baneful topic of party +feeling and party organization of any question which has ever been +discussed in Upper Canada. They also insisted that we should concede to +the Conference in England the right of an "efficient direction over the +public proceedings" of the Connexion in this province....<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> These are the +real grounds of the difference between the two bodies.</p> + +<p>In a letter on this subject, written by Dr. Ryerson, 13th November, he +said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Herewith is a copy of a letter which I addressed to the late Rev. +Richard Watson in 1831 [see <i>Guardian</i> of November 18th, 1840], +deprecating the interference of the London Committee with our work +in this province, and explaining our views and operations as a +body.... In going one day into the Wesleyan Mission House, when in +England in 1833, I found one of the clerks copying that letter into +the official books of the Committee. That letter is of some +importance on several accounts. It will show that we were just as +moderate, and as reasonable, and as constitutional in our views as +a body in 1831, as we have been from that time to this, and that +the representations to the contrary are the fabulous creations of +party feelings.... [It will also show] that [the London Committee] +fully understood our views on the question of a church +establishment in Upper Canada, respecting which they have not even +pretended that we ever made the slightest compromise; and that we +as a body were in a prosperous condition before the Union.</p></div> + +<p>It was not, therefore, without full knowledge of Dr. Ryerson's views on +this subject, and of the state of the Methodist body in Upper Canada, +that the British Conference in 1833, and again in 1840, sought to +interfere with the work in this province and divide the Societies. By +Dr. Ryerson's mission to England this evil was averted by a union in +1833, which proved to be but a hollow truce, as the events of 1840 +demonstrated.</p> + +<p>That the evil genius of Rev. Robert Alder exercised a baneful influence +upon both Conferences, is abundantly evident from his own subsequent +conduct and other events. And that this was the case is more clearly +manifest from the fact that when he ceased to exert any influence in the +Connexion, and when Dr. Ryerson and the Canadian Representatives were +able to lay the whole case before the British Conference in 1847, that +body, led by Dr. Bunting himself, entirely endorsed the consistent +action of the Canada Conference in all of this painful and protracted +business. He said: "The Canadian brethren are right, and we are wrong." +(See a subsequent Chapter on the subject.)</p> + +<p>Looking at the facts of the case in the light of to-day, can any one +wonder at the pertinacity and zeal with which Dr. Ryerson resisted the +unnatural and unwise system of foreign dictation sought to be imposed +upon the Canadian Connexion. This he did at a great sacrifice of +personal feeling, and of personal friendship, as well as of personal +comfort and popularity. He maintained, as he had stipulated in the +articles of Union, that "the rights and privileges of the Canadian +preachers and Societies should be preserved inviolate." He knew that a +Church in a free country like Canada, characterized as it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> by +Methodistic zeal and vigour, and yet tempered by the moderation of +Canadian institutions and manners, possessed within itself a spirit of +independence and of growth and progress which would never brook the +official control of a Committee thousands of miles away. To be subject +to even the generous control of such a Committee, possessed of no +practical experience in Canadian matters, would, he knew, doom the +Church to a dwarfed, and unnatural, and a miserable existence. Events +had already proved to Dr. Ryerson (while the Union during 1839-1840 was +in a moribund state) that the Church, controlled by a dominant section +of the British Conference, would be a prey to internal feuds and +jealousies. In the conflicts that would then ensue spiritual life would +die out, missionary zeal would be fitful in its efforts, and every +Church interest would partake largely of a sectional and partizan +character, destructive alike to the symmetry, growth and harmony of +development of a living Church, endowed with rich spiritual life and +free and vigorous in its independent action.</p> + +<p>To a person of the statesman-like qualities of mind which Dr. Ryerson +possessed in so high a degree, these things must have been ever present. +They gave evident decision to his thoughts and vigour to his pen. He was +no novice in public or ecclesiastical affairs. He had been trained for +fifteen years in a school of resistance, almost single-handed, to +ecclesiastical domination, and had detected and exposed intrigues,—one +of which was of parties in this conflict, which was entirely derogatory +to the dignity and independence of Methodism in Canada. (See pages +238-241.)</p> + +<p>His knowledge of public affairs and of party leaders gave him abundant +insight into the motives and tactics of men bent upon accomplishing pet +schemes and favourite projects. And all of this knowledge had so ripened +his experience that it rendered him the invaluable and trusted leader in +Canadian Methodism, which in those days made his name a household word +in the Methodist homes of Upper Canada. This trust and confidence he +never betrayed. His unswerving fidelity to his Church and people cost +him dearly—the loss of many friends, and the reproaches of many +enemies. But he survived it all, and was enabled, under Providence, to +mould the institutions of Canadian Methodism and even of his native +country. He has left on some of them the impress of his mind and genius, +which it is the pride of Canadians to recognize and acknowledge to this +day.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_111_112" id="Footnote_111_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111_112"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> The more important parts of the painful proceedings at +this Conference are given in "Epochs of Canadian Methodism," pages +341-358. The result of this formidable attack on Dr. Ryerson by the +English Missionary party before the Canada Conference, is thus stated by +Rev. Dr. Carroll: "When the Rev. Matthew Richey's motion of condemnation +on the Rev. Egerton Ryerson for his interference in the matter [of the +Government grant of £900 to Wesleyan missions] was put to the +Conference, there were only eight in its favour, several of whom, after +obtaining further light, wished to change their votes; and fifty-nine +against it. Three were excused from voting."—<i>Case, etc.</i>, vol. iv., +page 298, note.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1840-1841.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Last Pastoral Charge.—Lord Sydenham's Death</span>.</p> + + +<p>The following paragraphs, prepared by Dr. Ryerson, refer to this period +of his history:—</p> + +<p>In the autumn of 1840, on returning from England, when the English +Wesleyan Committee and Conference seceded from the Union with the +Canadian Conference, I was appointed to Adelaide Street station in +Toronto, which had been filled for two years by the Rev. Dr. Richey—an +eloquent and popular preacher. The separation between the two +Conferences had taken place the week before I assumed the charge of +Adelaide Street station. Dr. Richey had carried off the greater part of +both the private and official members of the Church, and I was left with +but a skeleton of each. When I ascended the pulpit for the first time, +the pews in the body of the church, which had been occupied by those who +had seceded, were empty, and there were but scattered hearers, here and +there, in the other pews and in the gallery. By faith and prayer I had +prepared myself for the crucial test, and conducted the services without +apparent depression or embarrassment. I made no pretensions, and had +never made any, to pulpit eloquence—the motto of my ministry being to +make things plain and strong by previous thought and prayer, and without +verbal preparation. I often went from lying on my back in my study, in +an agony of distress and prayer, to the pulpit, where a divine anointing +seemed to rest upon me, such as I had never before experienced. There +were frequent prayer-meetings in my own study, at six o'clock in the +morning. The result was, by the Divine blessing, that the church was +filled with hearers, and the membership was more than doubled.</p> + +<p>At the first Annual Missionary Meeting in the Church after the division, +the President of the Executive Council presided; several members of the +Government were on the platform, and the collections and subscriptions +were more than double those of any previous year. The pretext for this +separation of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> English Wesleyan Committee and Conference from the +Canadian Conference, was professed loyalty in Church and State; but both +the Imperial and Canadian Government of that day approved the position +of the Canadian Conference, withdrew and suspended the grant previously +made to the London Wesleyan Missionary Committee during the seven years +of its hostility to the Canadian Conference, and only consented to its +restoration for the joint interests of the two Conferences, and on +recommendation of the Representatives of the Canadian Conference, after +the reconciliation and reunion of the two Conferences, in 1847.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="i5" id="i5"></a> +<img src="images/i283.png" width="600" height="382" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption smcap">Old Newgate Street (afterwards Adelaide St.) Wesleyan Church, 1832-1872.</span> +</div> + +<p>In October, 1840, Dr. Ryerson addressed a letter of congratulation to +Lord Sydenham, on his elevation to the peerage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> He again referred to +the publication of the <i>Monthly Review</i>, proposed by His Excellency. In +regard to the latter he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The publication of a monthly periodical such as I suggested to your +Excellency last spring, appears to me now, as it did then, to be of +great importance, in order to mould the thinkings of public men and +the views of the country in harmony with the principles of the new +Constitution and the policy of Your Excellency's administration, +and to secure a rational and permanent appreciation of its objects, +and merits; and it would have afforded me sincere satisfaction to +have given a proper tone and character to a publication of that +kind. But what I have written publicly in reference to the +principles and measures of Your Excellency's Government has already +been productive of serious consequences both to myself and the Body +with which I am connected.</p> + +<p>In the discharge of my ecclesiastical duties, I have to devote +several hours of four days in each week to visiting the sick, poor, +and other members of my pastoral charge, and am preparing a series +of discourses on the Patriarchal History, and the Evidences of +Christianity, arising from the discoveries of modern science, and +the testimony of recent travellers, besides the correspondence and +engagements which devolve upon me in the office I hold in the +Methodist Church. Under such circumstances the assumption by me of +the management of such a periodical is impracticable. I could not +do justice to it, nor to my other appropriate duties. I might, in +the course of my miscellaneous reading, select passages from +established authors, which would be suitable for a miscellany at +the end of each number, to illustrate and confirm the principles +discussed in the preceding pages of it. I might now and then +contribute a general article on the Intellectual and Moral Elements +of Canadian Society; or, on the Evils of Party Spirit; or, on the +Necessity of General Unity in order to General Prosperity, etc., +etc.; but even in these respects I fear I could not render much +efficient aid, from the exhaustion of my physical strength in other +labours, and for want of the requisite time for study, in order to +write instructively and effectively on general subjects.</p></div> + +<p>In the same letter, Dr. Ryerson thus referred to his determination to +take no further part in the discussion of public affairs, owing to the +hostility which his support of Lord Sydenham's policy had excited in +various quarters<a name="FNanchor_112_113" id="FNanchor_112_113"></a><a href="#Footnote_112_113" class="fnanchor">[112]</a>:—</p> + +<p>In retiring from taking any public part in the civil affairs of this +country, I beg to express my grateful sense of the frankness,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> kindness, +and condescension which I have experienced from Your Excellency. You are +the first Governor of Canada who has taken the pains to investigate the +character and affairs of the Wesleyan Methodist Church for himself, and +not judge and act from hearsay; the first Governor to ascertain my +sentiments, feelings, and wishes from my own lips, and not from the +representations of others. As a body, considering our labours and +numbers, we have certainly been treated unjustly and hardly by the Local +Government. Every effort was used here to deprive us of the Royal +liberality, and Lord Glenelg's recommendations in regard to the Upper +Canada Academy. I think Lord John Russell himself was prepossessed +against me by the representations of Rev. Mr. Alder, and probably of Sir +George Arthur and others. But by your condescension and courtesy I have +been prompted and emboldened to express myself to Your Excellency on all +questions of civil government and the affairs of this country, more +fully than I have to any man living. My private opinions and public +writings have been simultaneously before Your Excellency, together with +all the circumstances under which I have expressed the one and published +the other. I feel confident, therefore, that however I may be +misrepresented by some, or misunderstood by others, I shall have justice +in the estimate and opinions of Your Excellency—that I have been +anything but theoretical or obstinate—that I have shrunk from no +responsibility in the time of need and difficulty—and that my opinions, +whether superficial or well-considered, are such as any common-sense, +practical man, whose connection, associations, and feeling are involved +in the happiness and well-being of the middle classes, might be expected +to entertain.</p> + +<p>It is not my intention or wish to obtrude my opinions upon your +attention, except in so far as may be necessary to acquaint Your +Excellency with the interests and wishes of the body whom I have been +appointed to represent. In regard to the many other important questions +embraced in the great objects of your Government, I shall abstain from +any officious interference; although all that may be in my mind or heart +on any subject shall be at the service of Your Excellency when desired.</p> + +<p>From what I have witnessed and experienced, I have no doubt that every +possible effort will made to prejudice me in Your Excellency's mind, and +induce Your Excellency to treat the Methodist body in this province as +preceding Governors have done. But I implore Your Excellency to try +another course of proceeding, whether as any experiment, or as an act of +justice. I am persuaded that Your Excellency has found no portion of the +people of this Province more reasonable in their requests, or more +easily conciliated to your views and wishes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> than the Representatives, +members and friends of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada; and, I +doubt not, Your Excellency will find them cultivating and exhibiting the +same spirit during the entire period (and may it be a long one!) of your +administration of the Government of Canada.</p> + +<p>On the 8th of the same month, Dr. Ryerson felt himself constrained to +address a note to Lord Sydenham in regard to the policy of Lord John +Russell's Clergy Reserve Bill, so far as it might affect the question of +public education, in which he was deeply interested. He said that he +conceived the Bill to be most unjust in its provisions, as he had stated +to His Lordship (while it was under consideration of Parliament). He +added: Should the partial and exclusive provisions of the measure +pervade the views and administration of Government in Canada, in regard +to a general system of education, etc., I should utterly despair of ever +witnessing social happiness, general educational culture, or unity in +this country. But I have no doubt the exclusive powers with which the +Bill invests the Governor, will be exerted to counteract the inequality +of its other provisions, and that Your Excellency's whole system of +public policy will be based upon the principles of "equal justice to all +classes of Her Majesty's Canadian subjects." Under these circumstances, +I have suggested to the conductor of the <i>Christian Guardian</i> (from the +editorship of which I retired last June) not to make any remarks on the +Bill which may tend to create dissatisfaction; nor do I intend, for the +same reasons, to publish the letter which my brother and I addressed to +Lord John Russell on the subject. His Lordship said, indeed, that the +Bill was not what he wished, nor could he say it was just; but he had +clearly ascertained that a more liberal one could not be got through the +House of Lords, and he thought that that Bill was better than none.</p> + +<p>The Hon. Isaac Buchanan, in a letter to the Editor, dated April +1882,—speaking of these times and events—said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I was one of Dr. Ryerson's oldest friends and coöperators that have +survived him. I was first in Toronto (then York) in 1830. Although +not then 20 years of age, I came out to Montreal as a partner in a +mercantile firm; and in the fall of 1831 I came up to York to +establish a branch House. From that time I have known Dr. Ryerson, +and then formed that high opinion of both his abilities and his +character which went on increasing more and more; so that for the +last forty years of his life I have regarded him as Canada's +greatest son. Of late years I seldom met him, but when I did, it +was an inexpressible pleasure to me, as an interchange of the most +unbounded mutual confidences took place between us in our views and +objects. He knew my view of religion,—that as with Spiritual +Religion (which is nothing to the mind unless it is everything), so +with the Religion of Humanity (my name for the removal of all +impediments out of the way of the employment, and of the enjoyment +of living of our own people)—it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> will not take a second place, but +must be the first question in the politics of every +country—otherwise its Government is a mere political machine. He +knew my belief that the Church Question being in the way of this +people's question, it took the first place among the causes of all +the industrial evils in England and Ireland. With me, therefore, it +was a <i>sine qua non</i> to get quit of our dominant Church nuisance in +Canada, viewing it as a thing in the way of the prosperity of the +people, and therefore as a thing insidiously undermining their +loyalty. I am sure that his views were not far removed from mine in +this matter, and yet not a particle of enmity to the Church ever +affected me, and, I believe, the same thing was true of Dr. +Ryerson. But I felt the insufferable evil of the position it had in +this country, not only as usurping the first place in politics, +which the Labour Question should occupy, but as rendering the +connection with England odious and short-lived. Being one of those +sent for by the Governor-General (Mr. Poulett Thompson) on the +clergy reserve question, I told His Excellency plainly that +although my countrymen, the Scotch, did not hesitate to dissent, as +a matter of conscience, they would not be loyal to a government +that made them dissenters by Act of Parliament.</p> + +<p>Five years previous to this, or in 1835, I had, as an extra of the +<i>Albion</i> newspaper, published by Mr. Cull, about the time York +became Toronto, proposed a plan of settlement for the clergy +reserves, fitted to solve the difficulties connected with them, +whether Industrial, Educational, or Political. My proposal was that +an educational tax should be levied, the payments by each church or +sect being shewn in separate columns, and each sect receiving from +the clergy reserve fund, in the proportion of its payments for +education.</p> + +<p>This first attempt of mine to get an endowment for education +failed, as there was then no system of Responsible Government. But +five years afterwards (in 1840) when my election for Toronto had +decided the question of Responsible Government, and before the +first Parliament met, I spoke to Lord Sydenham, the +Governor-General, on the subject. He felt under considerable +obligation to me for standing in the breach when Hon. Robert +Baldwin found he could not succeed in carrying Toronto. I told him +that I felt sure that if we were allowed to throw the accounts of +the Province into regular books, we would show a surplus over +expenditure. His Excellency agreed to my proposal, and I stipulated +that, if we showed a surplus, half would be given as an endowment +for an educational system. Happily we found that Upper Canada had a +surplus revenue of about $100,000 a year—half of which the +Parliament of 1841 set aside for education as agreed—the law +stipulating that every District Council getting a share of it would +locally tax for as much more, and this constituted the financial +basis of our educational system. Thus I have given you a glimpse of +the time when Dr. Ryerson and I were active coöperators.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson has left no farther record of his two years' ministry in +Newgate (Adelaide) Street circuit, Toronto, than that recorded on page +282. Some incidents of it will be found in the letter of the Rev. +Jonathan Scott, editor of the <i>Guardian</i>, on page 294. Rev. I. B. +Howard, Dr. Ryerson's assistant at the time, has also furnished me with +some personal reminiscences of his intercourse with him during the +latter year of Dr. Ryerson's pastoral life. He says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>When I was Dr. Ryerson's assistant in Toronto, upwards of forty +years ago (in 1841-2), he was studying Hebrew with a private tutor. +As I had previously taken lessons in that language he kindly +invited me to unite with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> him (at his expense) in this study. This +I did three times a week at his house. On those days I always dined +with him; and as it was his custom to spend the hour before dinner +in devotional reading and prayer, I had the great privilege of +spending this hour with him in his study—and I shall never forget +the sincere, heart-searching, and devout manner in which he +conducted these hallowed exercises, nor the great spiritual +instruction and benefit I received from them. His humble +confessions, earnest pleadings, and fervent spirit deeply impressed +my youthful heart with the fact that he was indeed a man of God.</p> + +<p>During that year (one of the few of his regular pastorate) I had +also the privilege of frequently hearing him preach, especially +during eight weeks of special and very successful revival services, +which we held in old Adelaide (then nearly new and known as +"Newgate") Street Church. I have frequently heard him preach since +that time, mostly on special occasions, and always with pleasure +and profit; but never since he left the pastoral work have I heard +from him such earnest, powerful and overwhelming appeals to the +minds, and hearts, and consciences of men, as when, with the +responsibilities and sympathies of a pastor's heart, he delighted, +and moved, and melted the large and admiring audiences which +attended his ministry. I have always believed, that, had he +continued in his pastoral work, he would have been not only an able +and popular, but also in an eminent degree a successful soul-saving +preacher.</p> + +<p>During the year I was with him in Toronto, Dr. Ryerson frequently +heard me preach; and as it was only the second year of my ministry +his presence in the congregation was at first a great terror to me; +but the kind words of encouragement, as well as the wise and +fatherly counsels which he frequently gave me soon allayed my +fears, and led me to regard it rather as a privilege than a cross +to have him for a hearer.<a name="FNanchor_113_114" id="FNanchor_113_114"></a><a href="#Footnote_113_114" class="fnanchor">[113]</a> Would that every young preacher had +such a kind and sympathizing superintendent!</p></div> + +<p>Hon. William Macdougall also bears testimony to the kindness which he +experienced from Dr. Ryerson at this period. He says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>About the year 1840, I was living in the township of Vaughan, and +like other boys of the same class and age, devoting my winters to +school, and my summers to the healthful exercise of the farm. My +father was a good farmer, pretty well-to-do, and I, being the +eldest son, was second in command. He had purchased two or three +uncleared lots in the same township, one of which was designed for +me. I was fond of books, and possessed some good ones, besides I +had made diligent use of a circulating library in the +neighbourhood. We took in a political newspaper, an agricultural +monthly, and the <i>Christian Guardian</i>. At this point of my career I +met Dr. Ryerson. He came into our neighbourhood to attend a +missionary meeting, and stopped at my father's house. I was asked +to go with him to his next appointment. We were thus alone together +for some hours. On the way we chatted about temperance, history, +politics, education, etc. The rebellion of 1837, and the political +questions that grew out of it still agitated the public mind. He +spoke of Mackenzie and Rolph; of Baldwin and Bidwell; of Sir +Francis Head and the Family Compact. I discovered that he admired +Bidwell, but disliked Mackenzie. He took much pains to explain to +me some points in reference to the clergy reserve and rectory +questions, and seeing that I was an appreciative listener, he asked +me if I would like to be a politician. I said I would, if I thought +I could overturn the Family Compact, secure the clergy reserves for +education, and drive the Hudson Bay Company out of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> North-West. +He looked at me for a moment with an amused expression. The last +plank of my platform seemed to arouse his curiosity. The Hudson Bay +Company and its affairs had not then attracted much notice. He +asked me why I desired to drive out the Hudson Bay Company. I +replied that I had read a lecture by Hon. R. B. Sullivan, on +immigration and the movement of population westward, in which he +described the Great Valley of the Saskatchewan in colours so +glowing, that I wondered why we did not all go there, but on +further enquiry I found that a small body of London Fur-traders +claimed the whole country as a preserve for musk-rats and foxes, +under an old charter from a King who, at the time, did not own a +foot of it; that I thought the fur-traders ought to be compelled to +give up the good land, <i>vi et armis</i>, if need be. He said, "My +young friend, your ambition is great; I am afraid you have not +considered the difficulties to be overcome." I felt slightly sat +upon; but I warmed with my subject, and as I had already made +temperance speeches to admiring audiences in the "back +concessions," I was not easily disconcerted. He then made the +remark which forty years afterwards I recalled to his recollection. +"Before you undertake such enterprises you must study law; it is a +noble profession, and in this country is the only sure road to +success in politics. If I had not felt it my duty to preach the +Gospel, I would have studied law myself." I remarked that I had +read articles in the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, attributed to him, which +I had heard people say exhibited a great deal of legal knowledge. +He seemed pleased by the compliment, but did not acknowledge the +paternity of the articles. After some further conversation as to my +studies, etc., he recommended me to begin at once to read Latin, +and promised to speak to my father and advise him to let me study +law. He kept his promise; my father rather reluctantly consented, +telling me that if I left home I would lose the farm. You know the +rest.</p> + +<p>May I not venture the remark, that if a promising agriculturist was +spoiled by that interview, Dr. Ryerson was the spoiler? and, if +Canada has derived any benefit from my humble labours as +journalist, legislator, executive councillor, etc., he is entitled +to a share of the credit, for, as I loved—and still recall with +envious regret—the unsophisticated pleasures and contentment of a +farmer's life, I would, probably, have pursued the even tenor of my +bucolic way but for his advice and kind-hearted mediation.</p> + +<p>In the political controversies that agitated the country from 1850 +to 1862, we sometimes crossed swords. In 1865, it became my duty, +as a member of Government, to carry through Parliament an important +measure relating to Grammar Schools. Much to his surprise, I +successfully resisted all attempts at mutilation, for which he +warmly expressed his acknowledgements. During the serious, and +sometimes acrimonious discussions which preceded and followed the +Act of Confederation, I enjoyed the benefit of his approving +sympathy and wise counsel. Others with better warrant may speak of +his great power and achievements as a Christian Minister; but you +will permit me to say that I knew him as a generous friend and +patron of Canadian youth; as a sagacious and resolute man of +affairs; as a staunch defender of the British constitutional system +of government; and as a patriotic, true-hearted son of Canada—<i>Si +monumentum requiris—circumspice!</i></p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson's pastoral charge of the Toronto City Circuit in 1840-41, +and other ministerial duties, engrossed all of his time to the exclusion +of other matters. It seemed to have been a positive relief to him to +engage in these more congenial pursuits. He rarely used his pen, except +on very pressing occasions. He was nevertheless a close observer of +passing events, but took no active part in them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lord Sydenham frequently availed himself of Dr. Ryerson's counsel and +co-operation. Shortly before the death of that able Governor, Dr. +Ryerson had gone to Kingston, as requested, on matters of public +interest. The unexpected death of Lord Sydenham, on the 19th of +September, 1841 (the immediate cause of which was a fall from his +horse), called forth a burst of universal sorrow throughout the then +newly created Province of Canada. One of the most touching tributes to +his memory was penned by Dr. Ryerson, while on his way to Kingston to +see him. It was published in the <i>Guardian</i> of the 29th September, and +republished with other notices in a pamphlet by Mr. (now Sir) Francis +Hincks, then editor of the Toronto <i>Examiner</i>. From that sketch of Lord +Sydenham's career I take the following concluding passages:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>At the commencement of His Lordship's mission in Upper Canada, when +his plans were little known, his difficulties formidable, and his +Government weak, I had the pleasing satisfaction of giving him my +humble and dutiful support in the promotion of his non-party and +provincial objects; and now that he is beyond the reach of human +praise or censure—where all earthly ranks and distinctions are +lost in the sublimities of eternity—I have the melancholy +satisfaction of bearing my humble testimony to his candour, +sincerity, faithfulness, kindness and liberality. A few days before +the occurrence of the accident which terminated his life, I had the +honour of spending an evening and part of a day in free +conversation with His Lordship; and on that, as well as on former +similar occasions, he observed the most marked reverence for the +truths of Christianity—a most earnest desire to base the civil +institutions of the country upon Christian principles, with a +scrupulous regard to the rights of conscience—a total absence of +all animosity against any person or parties opposed to him—and an +intense anxiety to silence dissensions and discord, and render +Canada contented, happy and prosperous.</p> + +<p>... The day before his lamented death he expressed his regret that +he had not given more of his time to religion.... The last hours of +his life were spent in earnest supplications to the Redeemer, in +humble reliance upon whose atonement he yielded up the ghost.</p></div> + +<p>After the publication of this letter in the <i>Guardian</i>, Dr. Ryerson +received the following acknowledgment from T. W. C. Murdoch, Esq., late +private Secretary to Lord Sydenham:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I ought to have thanked you before for the numbers of the +<i>Guardian</i> containing your letter on the death of Lord Sydenham. +That letter I have read over and over again with the deepest +emotion, and I cannot but feel how much more worthily the task of +writing the history of his administration might have been confided +to your hands than to mine. That I shall discharge the duty with +affectionate zeal and good faith, I hope I need not assure you, but +I fear my inability to do justice to so statesmanlike an +administration, or to make apparent to others those nice shades of +policy which constituted the beauty and insured the success of his +government. In the meantime what are we to hope or expect from the +new Governor Sir C. Bagot. My principal confidence is that Sir R. +Peel is too prudent a man to wish discredit to his administration +by allowing the re-introduction of the old, bad system, and that +consequently Sir Charles will be instructed to follow out to the +best of his ability Lord Sydenham's policy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_112_113" id="Footnote_112_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112_113"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> In the <i>Guardian</i> of October 7th, 1840, Dr. Ryerson +says:—Lord Sydenham well knows the feelings of reluctance and +apprehension under which I assumed the responsibility of giving my +humble and earnest support to the measures of his government in Upper +Canada.... He well knows that I adopted the course I did with a deep +consciousness that it would be attended with personal sacrifice, with no +other expectation or wish but justice to the church to which I +belonged—equal justice to other churches—and the hope of prosperity to +my native country under an improved and efficient system of government. +I did not indeed expect that hostility against me from London would be +prosecuted to the extent it has been.... I have incurred the censure of +the British Conference for supporting, and not for opposing, the +government when it needed my support, and when it was in my power to +have embarrassed it.... As it respects myself personally, I shall not +repine at having made the sacrifice, if the new system of government but +succeeds, and the land of my birth and affections is made prosperous and +happy. Note on page 199.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_113_114" id="Footnote_113_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113_114"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> This the Editor has been assured was also Rev. Dr. Potts' +experience of Dr. Ryerson as a hearer, several years afterwards, and +during the time that he (Dr. Potts) was pastor of the Metropolitan +Church, Toronto.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1841.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Dr. Ryerson's attitude toward the Church of England</span>.</p> + + +<p>The constant references in this volume to Dr. Ryerson's attitude of +hostility to the exclusive claims and pretensions put forth on behalf of +the Church of England in this province, require some explanation. His +opponents sought to neutralize this opposition by endeavouring to make +it appear that, because he opposed these claims and ignored these +pretensions, he was hostile to the Church of England as a great +spiritual power in the land.<a name="FNanchor_114_115" id="FNanchor_114_115"></a><a href="#Footnote_114_115" class="fnanchor">[114]</a> He had himself often pointed out the +fallacy of this reasoning, and drawn so clear a distinction between men +and things in the controversy—the Church and her representatives—that +I cannot add any thing to what he has written on the subject. In one +letter he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am often charged with hostility to the Church of England. Did I +know nothing of the Church of England except what has been +exhibited in this province, ... how could I have any partiality for +that Church? There is a large and growing branch of the Established +Church in England that I venerate, admire, and love; but there is a +semi-popish branch of it for which I have no such respect, and that +is the branch, with a few individual exceptions, which exists in +this province....</p></div> + +<p>Again, in a letter to Hon. W. H. Draper, on the clergy reserve question, +dated October 12th, 1838, he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I would not derogate an iota from the respect claimed by the Church +of England on account of the prerogatives to which she is legally +entitled [in England]. As the form of religion professed by the +Sovereign and rulers of the Empire—as the Established Church of +the British realm—as the Church which has nursed some of the +greatest statesmen, philosophers, and divines that have +enlightened, adorned, and blest the world, she cannot fail to +command the respect of all enlightened men, whatever may be thought +of the conduct and pretensions of the Canadian branch of that +Church—pretensions which have been virtually repudiated in royal +charters, and contradicted by the entire civil and ecclesiastical +history of the old British colonies.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson's attitude to the Church of England was clearly defined in a +private and friendly correspondence between him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> and John Kent, Esq., +Editor of <i>The Church</i> newspaper, in 1841-42. (See page 97.) That paper +was established in May, 1837, as the organ of the Church of England in +Upper Canada. It was at first edited by Rev. Dr. (afterwards Bishop) +Bethune, rector of Cobourg. In 1841, John Kent, Esq., became its +editor.<a name="FNanchor_115_116" id="FNanchor_115_116"></a><a href="#Footnote_115_116" class="fnanchor">[115]</a> In the religions controversies of those days <i>The Church</i>, +was ably edited. It was a decided champion of the high church, or +Puseyite party, and, as such it came into constant conflict with the +Wesleyan Methodists and their organ, the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, and +especially with its chief editor, Dr. Ryerson. On the 21st December, +1841, Dr. Ryerson wrote a letter for insertion in <i>The Church</i>, and +accompanied it with a private note to Mr. Kent. From that letter I make +the following extracts:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I, as well as my friends, have been the subjects of repeated +strictures in your pages; during the last two years I have replied +not a word, nor published a line in reference to the Church Of +England.</p> + +<p>I have stated on former occasions—and perhaps my two years' +silence may now give some weight to the statement—that my +objections had no reference to the existence, or prosperity, of the +Church of England as a Church, but simply and solely to its +exclusive establishment and endowment in Upper Canada, especially, +and indeed entirely, in reference to the clergy reserves. During +the discussions which took place, and which were continued for +years, I wrote many strong things; but nothing on the Episcopal +form of Government, or the formularies, or doctrines of the Church +of England. The doctrines of the Church of England, as contained in +the Articles and Homilies, I always professed to believe. On the +subject of Church Government, I often expressed my views in the +language of Dr. Paley, and in accordance with the sentiments of +many distinguished dignitaries and divines of the Church of +England, that no particular form of Church Government has been +enjoined by the Apostles. I have objected to the Episcopal, or any +other one form of Church Government, being put forth as essential +to the existence of the Church of Christ, and as the only +Scriptural form; but no further. I do not think the form of Church, +any more than the form of civil government, is settled in the +Scriptures; I believe that both are left, as Bishop Stillingfleet +has shown at large, to times, places, and circumstances, to be +determined upon the ground of expediency and utility—a ground on +which Dr. Paley has supported the different orders of the Church of +England with his accustomed clearness, ability and elegance. I +know, on the contrary, that much may be said upon the same ground +in favour of itinerancy, of Presbyterianism, and of independency.</p> + +<p>On the subject of forms of prayer, I have never written; though I +have for many years used forms of prayer in private as helps to, +not substitutes for, devotion. I believe the foundation of the +Church of Christ is not laid in forms, but in doctrines....</p> + +<p>I believe it would be a moral calamity for either the Church of +England, or Church of Scotland, or the Wesleyan Methodist Church, +the Congregational,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> or the Baptist Churches to be annihilated in +this province. I believe there are fields of labour which may be +occupied by any one of those Churches with more efficiency and +success than by any of the others. They need not, and I think, +ought not, to be aggressors upon each other....</p> + +<p>As there were seven Apostolic Churches in Asia, we believe +ourselves one of the Apostolic Churches in Canada.... Those +persons, who believe that the instruction, and religious advantages +and privileges afforded by our Church will more effectually aid +them in working out their salvation than those which they can +command in any other part of the general fold of Christ, are +affectionately received under our watch-care; but not on account of +our approximation to, or our dissent from, the Church of England, +or any other Church.</p> + +<p>With the settlement of the clergy reserve question ended my +controversy with the Church of England, as I have again and again +intimated that it would. Churches, as well as individuals, may +learn wisdom from experience. I therefore, submit, whether the +controversies and their characteristic feelings between the Church +of England and the Wesleyan Methodist Church in this province ought +not to cease, with the removal of the causes which produced +them?... Whether both Churches are not likely to accomplish more +religious and moral good by directing their energies against +prevalent vice and ignorance than by mutual warfare?</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson concludes his letter in the following truthful and striking +language:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I intend no offence when I express my conviction that the Church of +England in this province has vastly greater resources for doing +good than for warring with other Protestant Churches. I know her +weak points, as well as her strong towers. I am not a stranger to +the appropriate weapons for assailing the one, and for neutralizing +the strength of the other. And you have not to learn that it is +easier to deface than to beautify—to pull down a fair fabric than +to rear a common structure; and that a man may injure others +without benefitting himself. On the other hand I am equally +sensible that the Wesleyan Methodist Church has nothing to gain by +controversy; but I am quite sure, from past experience, as well as +from present aspects, that she has not so much to fear, to risk, or +to lose, as the Church of England. If controversy be perpetuated +between your Church and our own, I wash my hands from all +responsibility of it—even should the duty of self-defence compel +me to draw the sword which I had, in inclination and intention, +sheathed for ever. History, and our own experience to some extent, +abounds with monitory lessons, that personal disputes may convulse +churches, that ecclesiastical controversies may convulse provinces, +and lead to the subversion of governments....</p></div> + +<p>In his private note to Mr. Kent, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have long been impressed with the conviction that Canada could +not prosper under the element of agitation. I supported the Union +of the Canadas with a view to their civil tranquility. I believe my +expectations will be realized. In our new state of things I desire +not to be considered as standing in an attitude of hostility to the +Church of England, any more than to any other Church. I have wished +and resolved to leave civil and ecclesiastical party politics with +the former bad state of things. Travelling, observation and +experience, have been a useful school<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> to me, and time will do +justice to the merits or demerits of my motives and conduct.</p></div> + +<p>On the 22nd of December, Mr. Kent replied to Dr. Ryerson:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Do not think that I wish to meet you coldly. I would gladly fling +away the weapons of strife. The warfare in which I am engaged, and +which I dare not decline, is literally embittering my existence, +and pressing upon me very severely. I am not aware that I have in +any way personally attacked you, or ever by name, since the +commencement of my editorial career. I should hail a day of concord +with overflowing joy. I should rejoice to see your powerful, acute, +and vigorous mind exerting itself in a manner that we should all +consider serviceable to the cause of loyalty and the Protestant +religion.</p> + +<p>From a glance at your letters, I fondly hope that some gleam of +light is breaking in upon us all. My firm conviction is that the +doctrine of the apostolical succession will be the bond of union +and the cementer of differences, now apparently impossible. You +must have studied the question—and how can your vivid and clear +mind elude its force? Must there not be some one apostolical mode +of conferring the ministerial functions, or must it be open to all, +and Quakerism be right? I do not think I have been the assailant. +The <i>Guardian</i> is outrageously personal and unscrupulous in its +misstatements.... I am far from thinking that I am meek and gentle +enough; but I have carefully excluded personalities,—though I +readily concede that my course of argument, which pervades all I +write or select, has been to cut away the ground from under the +feet of every denomination in the province, outside of the Church.</p> + +<p>The papists, I firmly believe, are meditating some grand movement +all over the world; and it would be glorious indeed if Protestants +could find a common centre of union. But what can I, in my humble +way, do? I dare not drop the necessity of the apostolical +succession,—though I might dwell less upon it, and avoid, as much +as possible, as I always have done, to mix it up with offence to +other denominations. Yet, as I before intimated, the assertion and +maintenance of it, in the simplest and least controversial manner, +must ever provoke hostility. It is an endless subject to get +upon....</p> + +<p>I shall be very happy to call on you at an early opportunity, and +obtain, or rather revive, the pleasure of your personal +acquaintance. It would be the happiest Christmas I ever spent, if +it witness the extinction of long theological enmities, and the +dawn of an era of Christian concord and love.</p></div> + +<p>On the 29th December, Dr. Ryerson wrote a private note again to Mr. +Kent. He said:—I was glad to learn by the last <i>Church</i> that you will +give my remarks a place in your columns, and that you cordially and +elegantly respond to the general spirit and design of them....</p> + +<p>I have had a correspondence with the Editor of the <i>Guardian</i> in +reference to the mode of conducting it, in regard to the Church of +England, and in some other respects. I am happy to be able to say that +he has at length yielded to my reasonings and recommendations, and will, +I have no doubt, conduct the <i>Guardian</i> in accordance with the general +views expressed in my communications to you.<a name="FNanchor_116_117" id="FNanchor_116_117"></a><a href="#Footnote_116_117" class="fnanchor">[116]</a> To-day's <i>Guardian</i>, +as you see,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> presents a visible and agreeable improvement in the points +referred to.</p> + +<p>I blame you not for your strict and high principles as a churchman, but +I do not think that you do now make sufficient allowance for difference +of forms and ceremonies in the common faith of Protestantism. I think +you should allow as much as Archbishop (Lord Keeper) Williams has done, +and as much as is involved in the passage quoted by him from Irenæus. +Why<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> should we be "unchurched" any more than the continental churches?</p> + +<p>Mr. Kent, in reply to Dr. Ryerson (31st December), said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I trust you will think that in the remarks which I have made on +your letter in <i>The Church</i>, I have met your overtures in a pacific +and cordial spirit. I am sure that my remarks will be much more +acceptable to churchmen, so far as such remarks are friendly to +you, than they will be to others not belonging to our pale. I have +not consulted a soul about what I have written, nor have I shown +your pleasing reply to my first note to any one save good and safe +Mr. Henry Rowsell; though I should like to show it to Rev. H. J. +Grasett, and Bishop Strachan. You need never be afraid of what you +say to me in confidence.... It is certainly much more consistent in +you (provided only you get rid of Mr. Wesley's authority, and then, +by the way, you destroy your genealogy and succession) to call +yourselves a Church, than to be of the Church and not in it.... You +are said to possess some fine old Divinity works. You cannot have +read them without some approximation to our Church.</p> + +<p>You are not in the position of the continental Churches. No +constraint is upon you. You can get Episcopacy, if you desire it. +Neither does the Church of England stand relatively towards you, as +the Gallican Church towards the Huguenots. You admit the purity of +our doctrine, and do not consider our discipline unscriptural. If +you were to read Bishop Stillingfleet on Separation, I think you +would open up new trains of thought. I just became so staunch an +Episcopalian, from viewing the matter extrinsically of Scripture +and history, and was led to conclude, from the nature of things, +that there can be but one valid ministry.</p> + +<p>You are certainly a <i>Prospero</i>. You have waved your magic wand over +the <i>Guardian</i>. I saw it in an instant, and saw that you had done +it. I purposely, in my editorial, abstained from all allusions to +our confidential intercourse, or I would have thanked you for this +exercise of your healing influence.</p> + +<p>It is by no means an unpleasing marvel that you and I, on the last +day of 1841, should be conversing so pleasantly and amicably. I +trust that peace and amity will flourish still more!</p> + +<p>Do me the favour to accept a slight New Year's gift at my hands.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson wrote a reply to the strictures of <i>The Church</i> newspaper, +and on the 26th addressed a private note on the subject to Mr. Kent, in +which he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>... The great difference between us seems to be that I value what I +hold to be the cardinal doctrines, and morals and interests of +Christianity, above either Churchism or Methodism. So that those +interests are advanced, either through the Church of England, or +Church of Scotland, or any other Protestant Church, I therein do +rejoice and will rejoice. You make the Church of England first of +all—essential to all—all in all; and that all who are not in the +Church of England are enemies to the Church of Christ, "strangers +to the covenants of promise, and aliens from the commonwealth of +Israel."... It is true you have exempted me by way of compliment; +but no intelligent man would wish to hold his religious intercourse +and standing on the tenor of a compliment; and that too at the +expense of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> ecclesiastical connexion and general principles. If +I cannot but be viewed as an enemy of the Church of England as a +Methodist, it is a poor compliment to tell me that I am friendly to +it as a man. I do not understand the hair-splitting casuistry which +separates the man from the Christian....</p> + +<p>I believe in your perfect sincerity and personal disinterestedness +and kindness, but I must say that you do not appear from the last +<i>Church</i> to suppose it possible for a man to think in a different +channel from yourself without endangering his title to the skies, +or to common sense, and without absolutely forfeiting his claim to +orthodox Christianity. I refer not all to your maintenance of +apostolic succession, but to your unqualified reprobation of the +motives, feelings, and character of all who are not of your own +fold. How different are the sentiments and spirit of Bishop +Onderdonk's essay in support of the "Divine Right of Episcopacy" +from those of your articles in the last <i>Church</i>? Now, though we +may be without the attributes of what you believe to be a +scripturally constituted Church, we are not without the attributes +and feelings of men.... The apparatus of the Church of England is +surprisingly powerful when spiritually, rightly, and +comprehensively applied; but to build your structure like an +inverted pyramid, and to rouse every one not of you into warfare +against you, does not appear to me to be sound in theory, or wise +in practice.</p></div> + +<p>Mr. Kent, in a private reply, dated 3rd February, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have read your letter over so as to prepare my remarks. In doing +this I anticipate no trouble. On the contrary, I hope to strengthen +my position and give greater weight to my axioms respecting the +duties of Churchmen in withholding aid from all religious societies +unconnected with the Church. I find, however, that your tone of +remark is excessively warm and indignant; and, deeming from the +tenor of your conversation on Thursday last, that you have doubts +on your mind respecting church government, and feeling convinced +that if ever you are led to subscribe to the indispensable +obligations of episcopacy, ... you will admit the validity of my +reasons for acting and writing as I do—under all these +circumstances I feel bound to ask you to meditate whether you will +not withdraw your letter. I give you my sacred honour that I do not +dread its effects. But I feel this, that should you ever experience +and avow a change of opinion in reference to the matters that are +now engaging your attention, it will be brought up against you by +your enemies, and may altogether prove a constant embarrassment. +Should you withdraw it, I will only mention the matter to Mr. +Grasett, who has already seen it. Should you determine on its +insertion, it shall appear next Saturday.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson did not withdraw his letter, and it appeared in <i>The Church</i> +of February 5th. The personal correspondence, however, ended here.</p> + +<p>In accounting for his decided opposition to a church establishment in +Upper Canada, Dr. Ryerson said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Before I was twenty years of age I had read Paley's Political +Philosophy, including his chapters on the British Constitution and +a Church Establishment; Locke on Government, and especially +Blackstone's Commentaries, particularly those parts on the Rights +of the Crown and the Rights of the Subject. From Paley I learned +that a Church Establishment is no part of Christianity, but a means +of supporting it, and a means which should be used only when the +majority of the people are of the religion thus supported. From +Blackstone I learned that the Church of England is the Established +Church of England and Ireland, but not of any colony, except under +one or more of three conditions, none of which existed in Upper +Canada. Upon the grounds, therefore, furnished by Blackstone and +Paley, I opposed the erection of a Church Establishment in Upper +Canada, without touching the question of a Church Establishment in +England.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson in a letter to a friend, thus refers to his early +experiences in regard to the Church of England:—</p> + +<p>Although I had no opportunity of attending the service of the Church of +England until I was nearly twenty years of age, I made the Homilies and +Prayer Book, with the Bible, very constant companions of travel and +subjects of study. I drew my best pulpit illustrations from them, at the +very time that I was controverting the pretensions of the leaders of +that Church to exclusive establishment and supremacy in Upper Canada; +and, in so doing, I had the sympathies and support of a large portion of +the members of the Church of England, in addition to the unanimous +support of the members of other religious denominations. I felt that I +was preaching the Protestant Reformation doctrines of the Church of +England; and throughout life I have loved the Church of England with all +its faults, only second to that of my own church. I declined the offer +of ordination in the Church of England [page 206] several months after I +commenced preaching on a Methodist circuit, simply and solely upon the +ground that I was indebted to the Methodists for all the religious +instruction and influences I had experienced. I believed that I would be +more useful among them, though my life would be, as then appeared, one +of privation and labour. During the first four years of my ministry, my +salary amounted to less than one hundred dollars per annum, and during +the next twelve years (after my marriage) my salary did not exceed six +hundred dollars a year, including house rent and fuel.</p> + +<p>In a letter written on the 28th October, 1843, to the Editor of the +<i>Guardian</i> by Dr. Ryerson, he says:—</p> + +<p>It is still, as it has long been, the position with the Editor of <i>The +Church</i> and writers of his school to represent the efforts of other +Churches to maintain their own equal rights and privileges as hostility +to the Church of England.... Who proposed peace, and who has perpetuated +war—aggressive war? [page 292.] ... Who is it that proclaims bodies +prior to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> own in Western Canada as "Dissenters," and seeks by every +species of unfair statement and insinuation to injure and degrade +them—both politically and religiously—and substantially maintaining +that Civil Government itself is an appropriate Providential instrument +to put down "dissent." For one, I have as yet been silent under this +provocation, insult, and proscription.</p> + +<p>Circumscribed must his views be who does not perceive that "Puseyism," +both in a religious and civil point of view, will soon become a far more +important question for the consideration and decision of the inhabitants +of Western Canada than that of the seat of Government, or than even that +of the University. And the day is hastening apace, when it will be a +prime matter of inquiry with them to determine ... whether they will +quietly consent to have their civil rights and liberties placed in any +form in the hands of men who regard the great majority of their +Christian fellow-subjects as unbaptized heathens and aliens in a +Christian country. Such is the issue to which <i>The Church</i> is bringing +matters in Western Canada.<a name="FNanchor_117_118" id="FNanchor_117_118"></a><a href="#Footnote_117_118" class="fnanchor">[117]</a></p> + + + +<p class="space">In a journey from Kingston to Toronto by stage, which Dr. Ryerson made +in February, 1842, Bishop Strachan was a fellow passenger. Dr. Ryerson +thus speaks of the agreeable intercourse which he had with the Bishop on +that occasion:—</p> + +<p>For the first time in my life I found myself in company with the Lord +Bishop of Toronto. He was accompanied by Mr. T. M. Jones, his +son-in-law, and Mr. Jarvis (Indian Department), very pleasant +companions, nor could I desire to meet with a more affable, agreeable +man than the Bishop himself. It would be unpardonable to introduce +remarks ... of one's neighbours ... into travelling notes in any form, +but there has been something so peculiar in the relations of "John +Toronto" and "Egerton Ryerson," that I must beg, in this instance, to +depart from a general rule. Conversation took place on several topics, +on scarcely any of which did I see reason to differ from the Bishop. He +spoke of the importance to us of getting our College at Cobourg +endowed—that an annual grant was an insufficient dependence—that as +the clergy reserve question had been settled by law, we had as much +right to a portion of the clergy lands as the Church of England—that as +we did not desire Government support for our ministers, we ought to get +our proportion appropriated to the College, as religious education was +clearly within the provisions of the Clergy Reserve Act. Valuable +suggestions, for which I thanked his lordship. I took occasion to advert +to what had excited the strongest feelings in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> my own mind, and in the +minds of our people generally—namely imputations on our loyalty to the +Government and laws of the country. The Bishop, with his characteristic +energy, said that what he had written on the subject he could at any +time prove—that he never represented or supposed that the Methodist +body of people were disaffected; nor had he represented or supposed that +those preachers who had been born and brought up in the country were +disloyal; but he was satisfied that such was the case with the majority +of those who used to come from the United States. I felt that the whole +matter was one of history, and not of practical importance in reference +to present interests; and I was much gratified in my own mind to find +that the real question, as one of history, was the proportion of +preachers who formerly came from the United States, and the character +and tendency of their feelings and influence; for no preachers have come +from the United States to this country these many years, and we have +none but British subjects in the Canada Conference.</p> + +<p>After parting with the Bishop at Cobourg, in analyzing the exercises of +my own mind, I found myself deeply impressed with the following facts +and considerations:—</p> + +<p>1. That the settlement of the clergy reserve question had annihilated +the principal causes of difference between those individuals and bodies +in this province who had been most hostile to each other.</p> + +<p>2. That how much asperity of feeling, and how much bitter controversy +might be prevented, if those most concerned would converse privately +with each other before they entered into the arena of public +disputation.</p> + +<p>3. That how much more numerous and powerful are the reasons for +agreement than for hostility in the general affairs of the country, even +among those who differ most widely on points of religious doctrine and +polity.<a name="FNanchor_118_119" id="FNanchor_118_119"></a><a href="#Footnote_118_119" class="fnanchor">[118]</a></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_114_115" id="Footnote_114_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114_115"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> I have already on pages 41 and 206 mentioned the +overtures which were made to Dr. Ryerson by the late Bishop Stewart of +Quebec to induce him to enter the ministry of the Church of England. See +also page 97.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_115_116" id="Footnote_115_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115_116"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> "From 1841 to 1843 the editorial management of <i>The +Church</i> was assumed by Mr. John Kent, who had been a valuable +contributor to its pages from the commencement. The excitement, however, +amid the clash and din of party strife was too much for him, and the +paper came back to its first editor, who held it again ... for nearly +four years.... It gradually lost ground, and died out ... in 1856. +Memoir of Bishop Strachan by Bishop Bethune," page 159.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_116_117" id="Footnote_116_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116_117"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> From Dr. Ryerson's letter to Rev. J. Scott, Editor of the +<i>Guardian</i>, I make the following extracts:—I take the liberty to +mention two or three things that I have seen in the <i>Guardian</i> which +have caused me some pain and concern. I refer to your mode and style of +controversy with "<i>The Church</i>." During, and since my late tour to the +West, I have heard several preachers and some others allude to it, and +nearly all in terms of regret. I set down the questions as they occur to +my own mind. +</p><p> +1. We have no controversy with the Church of England as a Church +Establishment. We have disclaimed opposing, or doing anything to +disparage the Church Establishment in England.... 2. Then on the subject +of church polity. Your articles, especially the series entitled +"Dissent, etc., No Wonder"—were put forth as a defence.... But which of +our institutions did they defend? The burden of them went to prove that +the Church of England is unscriptural in its polity, union with the +state, etc. Suppose all this were true, would it prove that our own +Church is apostolic and Scriptural? To prove that our neighbours are +black, does not prove that we are white. We do not profess to build up +ourselves upon the ruin of any body else, or to be "foragers" upon +others, although we readily accept members of other churches when they +offer themselves. To prove that Presbyterian ordination is valid (as did +the valuable series of articles copied by you from the <i>Wesleyan +Magazine</i>, and Powell, on Apostolic Succession) defends our ordination. +To prove that the Church of England is wrong and rotten from beginning +to end cannot be a defence of ourselves. It may, indeed, please some of +our friends; but it also tends to prove that we are settled enemies to +the Church of England in all its forms and features, as well as in its +union with the state. +</p><p> +Far be it from me to look upon the things I have mentioned as +characteristics of the <i>Guardian</i>; I look upon them as blemishes, and as +drawbacks from its usefulness—objects which I know are scarcely less +dear to your heart than life itself. If we narrow our own foundations by +such sweeping denunciations against the Church of England, and +strictures on persons without our communion, ... we multiply our +opponents, and reduce the circulation of our journal within the circle +of our own members. +</p><p> +I am sensible of my own errors, deficiency and unworthiness; but I have +felt that I should not do my duty to you as a brother beloved, and one +from whom I have received too many proofs of regard, and so much aid in +my labours, without thus telling you what was in my heart. +</p><p> +Rev. Mr. Scott at first felt aggrieved and disappointed on receiving +this letter and a personal correspondence between him and Dr. Ryerson +ensued, which, however, ended satisfactorily. In a letter to Dr. +Ryerson, written in 1864—23 years afterwards,—Mr. Scott thus recalls +the reminiscence of his career as Editor of the <i>Guardian</i>. He says:—My +esteemed friend: You and I have not always thought alike (and what is +manliness worth that is not independent enough to disagree?) but as age +advances I have an increasing pleasure in recalling to mind the years, +when you were Superintendent of old Adelaide street Church, and I was +your supplementary helper,—in joint intercession with the humbled at +night—in the damp basement, and during the day pursuing the penitents +in dirty taverns, and the dens of dirtier March [now Lombard] street, +the sainted Mrs. S. E. Taylor praying for us; and Christ won many souls. +Since then what progress Scriptural Christianity—Methodism—has made in +Canada! I trust that when you repose in the tomb, and I am beneath some +quiet sod of loved Canada, we shall meet those again for whose salvation +we laboured. In the words of an ancient wish: May your last days be your +best days! Mr. Scott entered the ministry in 1834; and died at Brampton, +May 5th, 1880, aged 77.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_117_118" id="Footnote_117_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117_118"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> In this connection see the significant conclusion of the +note on page 291.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_118_119" id="Footnote_118_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118_119"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> This incident might also form a fitting sequel to chapter +xxvii, page 213.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1841-1842.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Victoria College.—Hon. W. H. Draper.—Sir Chas. Bagot.</span></p> + + +<p>Amongst the last public acts performed by Lord Sydenham was the giving +of the Royal assent to a Bill for the erection of the Upper Canada +Academy into a College with University powers. This he did on the 27th +August, 1841. Dr. Ryerson thus refers to the event, in a letter written +from Kingston on that day:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The establishment of such an institution by the members of the +Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada attests their estimate of +education and science; and the passing of such an act unanimously +by both Houses of the Legislature, and the Royal assent to it by +His Excellency in Her Majesty's name, is an ample refutation of +recent statements and proceedings of the Wesleyan Committee in +London ... while the Act itself will advance the paramount +interests of literary education amongst Her Majesty's Canadian +subjects.... For the accomplishment of this purpose, a grant must +be added to the charter—a measure ... honourable to the +enlightened liberality of the Government and Legislature. When they +are securely laying a broad foundation for popular government, and +devising comprehensive schemes for the development of the latent +resources of the country, and the improvement of its internal +communication, and proposing a liberal system of common school +education, free from the domination of every church, and aiding +colleges which may have been established by any church, we may +rationally and confidently anticipate the arrival of a long-looked +for era of civil government and civil liberty, social harmony, and +public prosperity.</p></div> + +<p>In October, 1841, Dr. Ryerson was appointed Principal of the +newly-chartered College, and on the 21st of that month, he opened its +first session by a practical address to the students.</p> + +<p>At the close of that address he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>His late Most Gracious Majesty William IV., of precious memory, +first invested this institution, in 1836, with a corporate charter +as an Academy—the first institution of the kind established by +Royal Charter, unconnected with the Church of England, throughout +the British Colonies. It is a cause of renewed satisfaction and +congratulation, that, after five years' operation as an Academy, it +has been incorporated as a College, and financially assisted by the +unanimous vote of both branches of the Provincial +Legislature,—sanctioned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> by more than an official cordiality, in +Her Majesty's name, by the late lamented Lord Sydenham, one of +whose last messages to the Legislative Assembly was, a +recommendation, to grant £500 as an aid to the Victoria College.... +We have buoyant hopes for our country when our rulers and +legislators direct their earliest and most liberal attention to its +literary institutions and educational interests. A foundation for a +common school system in this province has been laid by the +Legislature, which I believe will at no distant day, exceed in +efficiency any yet established on the American Continent;<a name="FNanchor_119_120" id="FNanchor_119_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_119_120" class="fnanchor">[119]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> and +I have reason to believe that the attention of Government is +earnestly directed to make permanent provision for the support of +colleges also, that they may be rendered efficient in their +operation, and accessible to as large a number of the enterprising +youth of our country as possible.</p></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="i6" id="i6"></a> +<img src="images/i302.png" width="600" height="494" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption smcap">University of Victoria College, Cobourg.</span> +</div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson, although appointed Principal of the newly chartered +Victoria College in October, 1841, did not relinquish his pastoral +duties as Superintendent of the Toronto City Circuit until the +Conference of June, 1842. His appointment as General Secretary of the +Wesleyan Missionary Society, in 1840, necessitated his constant +attendance during the winter season at missionary-meetings. +Correspondence, consultation, and committee meetings filled up such time +as he could spare from his duties as Superintendent of the Circuit. His +was indeed a busy life; and by his untiring energy and industry he was +enabled to give more than the usual time to the various departments of +the Church's work. His aid and counsel was constantly being sought in +these things, and was as freely given as though he had the most abundant +leisure at his command. In February, 1842, he went to Kingston to attend +its missionary anniversary. While there he says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In an interview which I had with Sir Charles Bagot, the new +Governor-General, it affords me a satisfaction I cannot express, to +be able to say that, in advancing the interests of Victoria +College, and in securing the rights and interests of our Church, +Sir Charles Bagot will not be second to Lord Sydenham—that while, +as a man and a Christian, His Excellency is a strict and +conscientious churchman, as a Governor he will know no creed or +party in his decisions and administration.... I believe that it is +a principle of His Excellency's Government, in public appointments, +etc., qualifications and character being equal, to give the +preference to native and resident inhabitants of the +province—those who have suffered in the privations, have grown +with the growth, and strengthened with the strength of the country. +Sir Charles has the wisdom and experience of sixty-three years, and +the buoyant activity of our public men of forty. If I mistake not, +the characteristics of his government will be impartiality and +energy—not in making further changes, but,—in consolidating and +maturing the new institutions which have been established amongst +us—in obliterating past differences, in developing the latent +resources of the country, and in raising up a "united, happy, and +prosperous people."</p></div> + +<p>In March, 1842, the question was raised as to the right of ministers of +the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada, who had been members of the old +organization of the Methodist<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> Episcopal Church in Upper Canada, to +solemnize matrimony, or for the Conference legally to hold church +property. Dr. Ryerson prepared a case on the subject, and submitted it +to Hon. R. S. Jameson, the Attorney-General, for his opinion. The +opinion of the Attorney-General was conclusive in favour of these +rights, and thus this troublesome question, so often raised by +adversaries, was finally set at rest.</p> + +<p>The transition period between the death of Lord Sydenham and the arrival +of his successor, Sir Charles Bagot, was marked by much uncertainty in +political matters. In September, 1842, Dr. Ryerson wrote to his friend, +Mr. John P. Roblin, the Liberal M.P.P. for Prince Edward county, on the +apparently threatening aspect of affairs. Mr. Roblin, in his reply, +dated Kingston, September 16th, said:<a name="FNanchor_120_121" id="FNanchor_120_121"></a><a href="#Footnote_120_121" class="fnanchor">[120]</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The political sea has indeed appeared rough; the clouds were dark +and ominous of a dreadful storm. But I am happy to say that they +have passed away, and the prospect before us is now favourable. +There were in the House quite a large majority against ministers; +this they plainly saw, and, therefore, shaped their course to avert +the blow. Hon. W. H. Draper stated distinctly that it was, and had +been, his opinion, that the Lower Canadians should have a fair +proportion of members in the Executive Council, and for that +purpose he had no less than three times tendered his resignation; +that he was ready to go out, and would do so at any moment. Hon. R. +Baldwin certainly occupies a proud position at present, and may +continue to do so, if he is not too punctilious. The arrangement, +which it is understood has been come to, is that Messrs. Ogden, +Draper, and Sherwood go out, and that Mr. L. H. Lafontaine comes in +as Attorney East; Mr. Baldwin, Attorney-General West; Mr. T. C. +Aylwin, Solicitor-General East; Mr. James E. Small, or some other +Liberal, as the third man. This will make a strong Government, for +it can command a large majority in the House. It is true that the +gentleman you mentioned, and a few others will be dead against it, +but they are a small minority, and will form a wholesome check.</p> + +<p>No man would regret more than I would to see the country thrown +into confusion at this time. I entertain a high opinion of the +Governor-General (Sir Charles Bagot.) He certainly has shown a +disposition to do everything he consistently could to give +satisfaction to the prominent party, and being (as he is) of the +Tory school, and appointed by a Tory ministry, he certainly is +deserving of much credit for going as far as he did to meet the +views of the Reformers.</p></div> + +<p>The following was the only record left by Dr. Ryerson of his +principalship of Victoria College:—At the end of two years' labours in +the station of Adelaide Street Church (the predecessor of the present +Metropolitan Church), I was again wrested from my loved work by an +official pressure brought to bear upon me to accept the Presidency of +Victoria College, which was raised from Upper Canada Academy to a +College, and opened and inaugurated, in 1842, as a University College.</p> + + + +<p class="space">On the 3rd of August, 1842, the Wesleyan University at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> Middletown, +Connecticut, conferred on the Principal of Victoria College the degree +of D.D. His old and valued friend Francis Hall, Esq., proprietor of the +New York <i>Commercial Advertiser</i>, was the first to convey to him the +pleasing intelligence. He said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Perhaps this will be the first communication from Middletown which +announces to Victoria College that its head is Rev. Egerton +Ryerson, D.D. May you long live to enjoy the distinguished title! I +hope to take you by the hand in a few days, and congratulate you +personally.</p></div> + +<p>On the 21st of June, 1842, Dr. Ryerson was, with appropriate ceremonies, +formally installed as Principal of Victoria College. The Editor of this +volume well remembers what a joyful day it was for the College; and how +heartily and kindly the new Principal spoke words of encouragement to +each of the students then present. On that occasion he delivered a +carefully prepared inaugural address, which was afterwards published in +pamphlet form and widely circulated. On the 10th September, he sent a +copy of the address to Hon. W. H. Draper. In his note Dr. Ryerson called +Mr. Draper's attention to what he conceived to be the defective nature +of the provisions for the education of law-students, before their +entrance on the study of the law (pages 24 and 25 of the address). To +this Mr. Draper replied on the 16th. He also added an explanation in +regard to his present position in the Government. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have perused your address with much satisfaction. The Law Society +of Upper Canada, by appointing a well-qualified examiner last term, +will, I think, forward your views as to the education which should +precede the study of that profession.</p> + +<p>By the recent changes which have taken place, I have no longer the +right to visit Victoria College officially; but I hope that I may +be favoured with an opportunity of doing so in my private capacity.</p> + +<p>You will not, I trust, consider it intrusive in me to briefly state +the cause of my retirement from the Cabinet. I have long considered +the Government in a false position, while the French Canadians saw +in the Council no person acquainted with their wants and +wishes—able and willing to look after their interests, and in whom +they had confidence. Apprehending from what took place in the +beginning of last session that they might refuse to take office +with me, I signified several months ago my readiness to retire if +that were the case. In July I renewed that offer. And now, when a +negotiation was opened on, it appeared that they would not come in +without Mr. Baldwin. I again offered my resignation, because, +taking the view I do of his conduct when we were last in Council +together, I feel I should not be in that body if he were there +also. From that moment I ceased to advise or have anything to do +with the matter. Had every other part of it been satisfactory to +me, or had it been altered so as to make it satisfactory, +nevertheless his being brought in inevitably put me out. Should you +hear my conduct canvassed and misunderstood, this explanation will, +I trust, set it right.</p></div> + +<p>To Mr. Draper's letter Dr. Ryerson replied, and on the 7th October again +wrote, asking him to deliver an address to the students at the opening +of the session. In his letter Dr. Ryerson said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I deeply regret any occurrence which would deprive Canada of the +advantage of your official counsels. I have observed your public +conduct throughout, and it has been such in my estimation, as I +have felt it a pleasurable duty to appreciate and defend, even in +the most doubtful and trying circumstances. You now enjoy the proud +distinction of advising and assisting, on public grounds, to form a +government, from which, on personal grounds, you have felt it your +duty to retire. You cannot suppose that I entertain a less exalted +opinion of your disinterestedness and high sense of honour, when +the strong opinions I have again and again expressed of it, have +been more than realized by your present patriotic and noble course +of proceeding.</p> + +<p>In regard to the address which I have solicited you to deliver at +the opening of the next session of our College, I desire to state +that you will of course make it long or short, as you like, +although I should like it long. It is my intention to get, if +possible, some gentleman of high public standing and literary +talent to deliver an address at the commencement of each collegiate +year. I think that such addresses will have a salutary influence +upon the taste and feeling and ambition of the students; and the +notices and publication of them in the newspapers will tend to +elevate the standard of the public taste, and will, I think, be +useful to public men themselves. I shall be gratified, and I am +sure good will ensue, from your appearing before the public in a +somewhat new character.</p></div> + +<p>To this letter Mr. Draper replied, on the 10th October:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I find that, consistently with my professional engagements at the +different assizes (which are now of paramount importance to me), I +cannot prepare an address so as to do justice to your request. If +it involved only the attendance on the day, I would cheerfully make +some sacrifice to accomplish it; but there is more, for I would +wish, if I undertook the task, to perform it well, and try to +approximate the favourable expectation of those who were willing to +entrust it to me; and for this end I cannot devote time enough out +of the short interval between this and the latest day named by you. +Accept my assurance that I feel great reluctance in declining your +proposal. The compliment it conveyed was highly gratifying to me +under existing circumstances, and I should have felt sincere +pleasure in exciting my humble abilities in favour of an +institution to which, when I had fuller opportunities, I had +endeavoured to be of use (page 179). Accept my acknowledgements for +the kindness and courtesy of your other remarks in reference to +myself.</p></div> + +<p>Sir Charles Bagot did not long hold the office of Governor-General. Like +Lord Sydenham, he was unexpectedly stricken by the hand of death, at +Kingston, on the 19th May, 1843. A sketch of his life and character was +prepared by Dr. Ryerson and published in the Kingston <i>Chronicle</i>. In +that sketch he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Sir Charles Bagot has created throughout the length and breadth of +United Canada the settled and delightful conviction that its +Government is henceforth to be British, as well as Colonial—and, +as such, the best on the continent of America; that Canadians are +to be governed upon the principle of domestic, and not +transatlantic, policy; that they are not to be minified as men and +citizens, because they are colonists; that they are (to use the +golden words of Sir Robert Peel) "to be treated as an integral +portion of the British Empire."</p></div> + +<p>This sketch was very favourably received by the leading public men of +Canada, and, after it appeared in the <i>Chronicle</i>,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> was reprinted by +Stewart Derbyshire, Esq., Queen's Printer, who, in a letter to Dr. +Ryerson on the subject, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Your letter in the <i>Chronicle</i> has attracted high admiration in the +quarters most competent for criticism, and it is felt you have done +a real service to the country. Supposing your wish is to diffuse +the sentiments of your letter, I have taken the liberty of giving +it to our printers of the <i>Canada Gazette</i> to set up in handsome +type, 8 octavo pages, and shall strike off 1,000, and send about, +giving away a good many, and putting the rest at book-stores at a +very small price. The common run of people do not value what they +do not pay for. Have I acted in this in accordance with your +wishes—or do you interdict the publication? Many extra copies of +the <i>Chronicle</i> were struck off, and about forty copies sent to-day +to England by the steamer "Great Western." Sir Robert Peel, Lord +Stanley, and Sir Charles Buller had one each.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson assented to the republication of his letter.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>In the light of after events, the following extract from a letter +received by Dr. Ryerson from Hon. R. B. Sullivan, dated Kingston, 21st +July, 1843, is somewhat interesting. Mr. Sullivan had placed one of his +sons under Dr. Ryerson's care at Victoria College. After referring to +matters relating to the education of youth, Mr. Sullivan proceeded:—"I +hope that our friendship will be a sufficient inducement to you to teach +my boy that upon his own good conduct under Providence his future +happiness depends, and to give him that steadfastness of mind which lads +naturally want. In asking these things of you, I place myself under no +common obligation. There is no man in Canada of whom I would ask the +same. My doing so of you arises from a respect and regard for you +personally, which has grown as we have been longer acquainted, and which +no prejudices on the part of those with whom I have mixed, and no +obloquy heaped upon you by others, have ever shaken."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>It is pleasant to get a kind word from those who approve of one's +course. It is pleasanter to get it from those who have been indifferent, +or even hostile. Thus, in a letter from Rev. Matthew Holtby to Dr. +Ryerson, written in March, 1842, he said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Soon after I arrived here from England, I became acquainted with +you and your writings, and ever since, I have watched your course, +often with painful and prayerful anxiety. It is long since I +doubted the propriety of your public conduct, or the justice of +your cause; but as I observed the storm gathering around you, and +the winds blowing into a hurricane, from all the cardinal points at +once, I have had my fears, that you might faint in the apparently +unequal conflict. Thank God, he has delivered you—he has enabled +you to stand at the helm, and to steer the Old Ship into smoother +water. But we may rest assured that our foes are not dead. I only +wish you may manifest as much nautical skill in a calm, as you have +in the long storm, and I doubt not but all will be well.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_119_120" id="Footnote_119_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119_120"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> This memorable prophecy as to the future of our +educational system was evidently made by Dr. Ryerson under the +conviction that the verbal promise made to him by Lord Sydenham in +1841,—that he should have the superintendence of that system—would +have been carried out by his successor, Sir Charles Bagot. There was no +written promise, however, on the subject, and he and his friends were +greatly surprised at the singular appointment made in May, 1842. It was +not until 1844 that Dr. Ryerson received the promised appointment—the +reward (as was then most unjustly alleged against him) of services +rendered to Sir Charles Metcalfe in the crisis of that year. (See, +however, chapter xliii. on Dr. Ryerson's appointment as Superintendent +of Education.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_120_121" id="Footnote_120_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120_121"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> This correspondence illustrates one phase of the +political history of the times.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1843.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Episode in the Case of Hon. Marshall S. Bidwell</span>.</p> + + +<p>As mentioned in Chapter xxiv., page 188, an effort was made in 1843 to +induce Hon. M. S. Bidwell to return to Canada. Copies of the +correspondence on the subject were enclosed to Dr. Ryerson, by the Hon. +Robert Baldwin, in a letter dated Kingston, 5th June, 1843, as +follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I enclose you copies of letters which I am sure will afford you +much pleasure. At present this communication of them must be +confidential, as you will see by their date that they have not yet +reached their object himself. But after the warm interest you have +taken in the cause of my friend, at a time when any interference on +my part would have been worse than useless, I feel it due to you to +make you early acquainted with what has taken place. I have seen, +with much pleasure, that you have carried out the intention you +hinted to me when I last had the pleasure of seeing you at +Kingston. Your admirable letter must have had a good effect. I see +that some little popguns were let off at you on the occasion, but +they are too puny to excite anything but a smile at their +imbecility.</p> + +<p>I regret much my inability to have been present at your last annual +examination, but hope to be more fortunate another year.</p></div> + +<p>The Hon. Robert Baldwin's letter to Mr. Bidwell, enclosed to Dr. +Ryerson, dated Kingston, 2nd June, 1843, was as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have great pleasure in being able to transmit to you a copy of a +note addressed by me to His Excellency the Governor-General, with a +copy of that of Mr. Secretary Harrison, conveying His Excellency's +reply, which, I am happy, so distinctly removes every obstacle to +your return to what has been in all essentials your native country; +and that without the descent on your part, by even a single step, +from the high ground which you have always maintained in relation +to your unjust expatriation.</p> + +<p>I will at present only stop to assure you of the sentiments of +unabated affection and respect with which you have ever continued +to be regarded in this country, during the whole period of your +exile, and to express my conviction of the satisfaction with which +your return will be hailed by all your former friends, and by many +even of your former political opponents—in which satisfaction, I +trust, I need scarcely add that no one will more sincerely +participate than myself.</p></div> + +<p>The following is a copy of Mr. Baldwin's note to Sir Charles Metcalfe, +the Governor-General, dated 25th May:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Mr. Robert Baldwin, having been informed by Mr. Secretary Harrison +that with reference to the case of Mr. Bidwell, which Mr. Baldwin +had the honour of bringing under the notice of the Governor-General +shortly after his assumption of the Government, His Excellency only +requires a request to be made to him as a foundation for his +directing that the pledge taken from that gentleman, in his +departure from Upper Canada, should be cancelled,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> and giving His +Excellency's sanction for the introduction into Parliament of a +Bill to restore to Mr. Bidwell the political rights of which his +residence abroad, under pressure of that pledge, has deprived him, +Mr. Baldwin respectfully begs leave to make that request.</p></div> + +<p>The letter in reply, of Mr. Secretary Harrison to Hon. Robert Baldwin, +dated 29th May, was as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am commanded by the Governor-General to inform you, in reply to +your note of the 25th inst., that His Excellency considers it right +that whatever pledge may have been given by Mr. Bidwell on his +departure from Upper Canada, to preclude his return, should be +cancelled. The letter of that gentleman to the then +Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Francis Bond Head, supposed to contain +such a pledge, is not to be found in the archives of the +Secretary's office. I am, therefore, directed to say that the +pledge is considered as cancelled, and that the letter, if ever +found, may be returned.</p> + +<p>I am also further desired to acquaint you that in the event of Mr. +Bidwell's proposing to return, His Excellency will give his +sanction to the introduction into Parliament of a Bill to restore +to that gentleman the political rights of which his residence +abroad, under pressure of his pledge, deprived him.</p></div> + +<p>On the 14th August, 1843, Hon. Robert Baldwin wrote the following letter +to Dr. Ryerson:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I send you a copy of a letter from our friend, Mr. Bidwell, in +answer to my letters to him. The original I have sent up to my +father, but had a copy made for you, knowing the interest you have +ever taken in his case.</p></div> + +<p>Hon. M. S. Bidwell's letter to Hon. Robert Baldwin, dated New York, 31st +July, 1843, was as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I hardly know how to commence my answer to your letter after so +long a delay which has been unintentional and unexpected, and in a +great measure unavoidable. I might, indeed, and ought to have +written to you when I first received it, but I then hoped it would +be in my power to make you a short visit in compliance with your +invitation. On this point I was kept in suspense by the state of +Mrs. Bidwell's health, and was besides very laboriously occupied +with indispensable professional engagements. With this frank +explanation I throw myself upon your indulgence to pardon my delay.</p> + +<p>Never, my dear friend, for one moment have I doubted your kind and +friendly feelings, or your anxiety that I should be treated with +justice and liberality by the Government, and I have never ceased +to be gratified that I was honoured with the friendship of one +whose wishes and talents have, for many years, commanded my +respect. Amidst the dejection of spirits and perplexity of mind +that I have suffered, this consideration has afforded me great +consolation.</p> + +<p>Your communication has now taken me by surprise. You will add to +your former obligations if you will make suitable acknowledgements +for me to His Excellency for the answer which, by his directions, +Mr. Secretary Harrison returned to your letter.</p> + +<p>All that I have learned of Sir Charles Metcalfe's character and +measures has filled me with the highest respect, and with a +confidence that Canada will be governed by him with wisdom, +justice, and liberality. Loving that country, this confidence has +been a source of great joy to me.</p> + +<p>Let me add that, in my judgment, Sir Robert Peel in all his +measures, since his last appointment has shown a wise moderation +and conciliatory spirit, and an anxious desire for the true welfare +of the vast Empire beneath the sway of Her Majesty's sceptre.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span></p> + +<p>I would gladly make you a visit at once if I could, but I should +feel great pleasure to see you here. I shall do with great pleasure +what I can to make the visit agreeable to you. I have heard with +concern of the feeble health of your venerable father. I cannot +tell you with what deep interest and great respect I think of him. +He has been the consistent friend of constitutional liberty through +evil report as well as good report. Amidst perfidy and violence, +folly and bigotry and intolerance, he has presented a rare and +happy example, which I admire, of an enlightened and cultivated +mind supporting the great principles of the British Constitution +with discriminating zeal, constancy of purpose, and moderation of +temper. I beg that you will do me the favour when you write to him +to present my most affectionate and respectful regards.</p> + +<p>I perceive that Mr. Secretary Harrison alludes to the possibility +of my returning to Canada. I cannot fail to feel, as long as I +live, a deep interest in that country, and the most ardent wishes +for its prosperity. But I have formed no plans for a change of +residence. A constant attention to my business, which is necessary +for the support of my family, has left me no time to form plans.</p> + +<p>With a gratified sense of your kindness and with great regard and +affection, your friend,</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Marshall S. Bidwell</span>.<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>To this letter from Mr. Bidwell, Hon. Robert Baldwin replied on the 12th +August, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have, believe me, great pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of +your letter, as well on account of its relieving me, to a certain +extent at least, from apprehensions that Mrs. Bidwell's health was +the cause of your silence.</p> + +<p>I cannot, however, conceal my disappointment at the last paragraph +of your letter, in which, though you do not altogether shut out the +hope of our having you again amongst us.... The obligations in +regard to Mrs. Bidwell's health which you wrote (as precluding such +consideration for the present) are, however, too sacred for even +friendship to venture upon more than a repetition of those +assurances, which my former letter contained, of the feelings of +affection entertained towards you in this country, and the +satisfaction which your return would afford. I, however, find it +impossible to do otherwise than indulge in the pleasing +anticipation of again seeing you amongst us, not as a mere visitor, +but as once more a Canadian, in fact as well as in feeling. We have +not, and certainly for the generation to which we belong, shall +not, have any subjects of equal importance, in a pecuniary point of +view, to those which seek the aid, and reward the exertion, of your +professional talents where you are. It seems, therefore, to partake +somewhat of selfishness to wish to withdraw you from an arena +worthy of your great talents, to appropriate those talents to a +sphere so much more limited. Be that as it may, I will indulge the +hope, so long as you do not forbid it. In the meantime, could you +not take a leave of absence for a few weeks during the coming +Autumn Assizes, and amuse yourself with holding some briefs on some +of them here? We have now five Circuits—the Eastern, Midland, +Home, Niagara, and Western. Mr. Justice Jones takes the Eastern, +Mr. Justice McLean the Midland, the Chief Justice the Niagara, and +Mr. Justice Hagerman the Western. Nothing would give me more +pleasure than to see you thus renew your relations with our bar; +even if you should not do so with a view to a final return to it. +Let me know soon, in a post or two, if possible, as well as the +circuit you mean to go on.... Now as I have gone on with this +scheme, I find myself grow warm on it, so do not throw cold water +upon it by a negative.</p> + +<p>If I could do so with any propriety, I would avail myself of your +kind invitation to visit you at New York for the purpose, not only +of seeing you,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> but of urging this my suit in person. But I assure +you it is out of my power to do so. Parliament is called for 2nd +September, and I shall not have a moment's leisure from this time +till the Session is over. You must recollect that, as a Parliament +man, I am comparatively but a young hand, and I have to try and +make up for want of experience by hard work; though I find it by no +means a sufficient substitute.</p> + +<p>I complied in substance with your request to make your +acknowledgements to His Excellency for the answer, which by his +direction, Mr. Secretary Harrison returned to my letter; but lest I +should do so less appropriately than I ought, I took the liberty of +letting you speak for yourself, by showing His Excellency your +letter.</p> + +<p>Your opinions of the Governor-General and of Sir Robert Peel +entirely agree with my own. But I regret to say that some of our +friends, and of our firm friends too, seem to me to forget what has +been accomplished because everything is not done at once, or, +because some things are done not exactly as they would have them. +This impatience is much to be regretted. If I were one whom it was +necessary to keep up to the mark, as it may be called, it might be +excusable, but they do not even profess to think that to be the +case as respects the points in question. Their display of +dissatisfaction, therefore, has only the effect of lessening the +weight of the party in Upper Canada in the eyes of both the Head of +the government here and the Imperial authorities at home. But I did +not mean to make this a letter of complaint; but the fact is, I am +just now smarting under an ebullition of violence on the part of +our friends in Toronto, on the subject of Mr. Stanton's appointment +to the Collectorship there, which almost involuntarily led me into +these remarks. You will, I hope, excuse me.</p> + +<p>My dear father, I am happy to say, appears by his last letters to +be rather better. I fear much, however, that the improvement cannot +be considered of a permanent character. As the Governor-General +kept your letter till yesterday, I was only able to send it up to +him to-day. It will, I am sure, afford him much gratification.</p> + +<p>I hope you will excuse the length of this epistle, and rebuke me by +the shortness of your reply, which need contain no more than six +words, to wit: "I will ride the circuit." I believe "ride" is the +professional term; at least used to be so, though it may belong to +the era of Mr. Justice Twisden, if not a still more remote one, +rather than at present.... You see how inclined I am to run on, so +that lest I should transgress beyond endurance, I will conclude at +once, with the assurance of my warm and continued regard. Ever your +affectionate friend,</p> + +<p> +R. B.<br /> +</p> + +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1844.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Events Preceding the Defence of Lord Metcalfe</span>.</p> + + +<p>The defence of Lord Metcalfe, the Governor-General of Canada, who +succeeded Sir Charles Bagot in 1843, was unquestionably the most +memorable act of Dr. Ryerson's long and eventful life.</p> + +<p>His previous training for twenty years in the school of controversy in +relation to civil and religious rights; his personal intercourse with +leading statesmen in England on Canadian affairs; his contests for +denominational equality with successive Governors in Upper Canada, and +his counsels and suggestions, (offered at their request), to such +notable representatives of Royalty in Canada as Lord Durham, Lord +Sydenham, Sir Charles Bagot, and Sir Charles Metcalfe, put it beyond the +power of even the most captious to question the pre-eminent +qualifications of Dr. Ryerson to discuss, in a practical and intelligent +manner, the then unsettled question of responsible government as against +the prerogative—a question which had arisen between Sir Charles +Metcalfe and his late Councillors. In the chapter which Dr. Ryerson had +prepared for this part of the Story of his Life, he thus refers to his +intercourse with, and relations to, the distinguished Governors whom I +have mentioned. He said:—</p> + +<p>In 1839 a Royal Commission was issued to Lord Durham to investigate the +affairs of Canada, and report thereon to Her Majesty. While engaged in +his important duty he sent for and conferred with me repeatedly, and +treated me with such consideration, as that on leaving him he would +accompany me to the door and open it for me, shaking hands with me most +cordially. After his return to England he sent me a copy of his famous +Report (addressed by himself) before it was laid on the table of the +House of Lords. On receiving in advance this report of Lord Durham I +published in the <i>Guardian</i>, with appropriate headings, extracts from +that part of it which related to the establishment of responsible +government and its administration in Canada, and then lent the extracts +and the type on which they were printed to Mr. (afterwards Sir) Francis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> +Hincks for insertion in the <i>Examiner</i> newspaper, of which he was at +that time proprietor and Editor. I afterwards aided Lord Sydenham in +every way in my power to allay the party passions and animosities of the +past, and to establish responsible government upon liberal principles, +irrespective of past party distinctions, comprehending Hon. W. H. Draper +and Hon. Robert Baldwin in the same administration—a union or coalition +which did not long survive the life of Lord Sydenham—Mr. Baldwin +declaring his want of confidence in Mr. Draper, and retiring from the +government. Soon afterwards, Mr. Baldwin and his friends succeeded to +power under Sir Charles Bagot.</p> + +<p>This was the state of things until 1843, when Sir Charles Bagot died, +and Sir Charles Metcalfe was appointed to succeed him. I had the +melancholy pleasure of offering a tribute (in the form of an obituary +notice) to the character and administration of both Lord Sydenham and +Sir Charles Bagot—papers much noticed and widely circulated at the time +as the best specimens of any writing which had ever appeared; but I had +a genial theme and good subjects in both cases. Sir Charles Metcalfe was +popular with all parties at first: but after a few months a difference +arose between him and his Councillors as to the appointment of the Clerk +of the Peace of the County of Lanark, and then on the principle of +appointments to office; or in other words, the exercise of the patronage +of the Crown.</p> + +<p>To understand the character of this famous and much misrepresented +controversy, and how I became involved in it, some preliminary and +explanatory remarks are necessary:—</p> + +<p>It is to be observed in the first place, that one chief subject of +complaint by "Reformers" for many years—nay from the beginning—was the +partial exercise of the patronage of the Crown, appointing magistrates, +officers of militia, judges, etc., from men of one party only, in whose +behalf every kind of executive favour was bestowed for years. This was +the purport of their complaints in the various petitions and addresses +of "Reformers" to the Earl of Durham, Lord Sydenham, Sir Charles Bagot, +etc., who necessarily promised that the Governments should henceforth be +conducted upon the principles of justice, "according to the well +understood wishes of the people," of whom "Reformers" claimed to +contribute a large majority, and even of the liberal Conservative +members of the Church of England. But singular to say, on the occurrence +of the first vacancy, the Reform government urged upon Sir Charles +Metcalfe the appointment of one of their own party, irrespective of the +superior claims, as the Governor conceived (on the ground of service, +experience and fitness), of a deserving widow and her orphan son. The +circumstances were as follows:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Amongst the early gentlemen immigrants in the County of Lanark was +a Mr. Powell, a man of wealth and education; but in attempting to +clear and cultivate a farm in a new country, he soon expended his +means and became reduced in circumstances. He was appointed Clerk +of the Peace, and discharged its duties for many years, when he +sickened and died. During the two years' sickness which preceded +his death, the duties of office were discharged satisfactorily by +his son, who was then about twenty or twenty-one years of age. On +the death of her husband, the Widow Powell proceeded to Kingston to +plead in person before Sir Charles Metcalfe for the appointment of +her son to the office vacated by the death of her husband, and as +the only means of supporting herself and family. One can easily +conceive the effect of such an appeal upon Sir Charles Metcalfe's +benevolent feelings. He declined the advice of his Councillors for +a party appointment, and determined to appoint the widow's son to +the office rendered vacant by the death of her husband, and one +which he had successfully discharged for nearly two years. The +Council, instead of resigning on the fact of the appointment, +sought to obtain from Sir Charles Metcalfe a promise that he would +henceforth act upon their advice. He said he would always receive +and consider their advice, but would give no promise on the part of +the Crown as to how far he would pledge the prerogative in advance +and act upon that advice. On this the Councillors resigned, +charging Sir Charles Metcalfe with violating the principles of +responsible government. This he positively denied. The +circumstances of the case were so mystified by the statements made, +that general prejudice was excited against Sir Charles Metcalfe, +and the Councillors seemed for the time to have the country at +their backs.<a name="FNanchor_121_122" id="FNanchor_121_122"></a><a href="#Footnote_121_122" class="fnanchor">[121]</a></p></div> + +<p>I was at that time President of Victoria College; and the late Hon. Wm. +Hamilton Merritt, returning from Kingston at the sudden close of the +Session of Parliament held there, stopped the stage in front of the +College, called to see me, and asked me what I thought of the +occurrences between the Governor-General and his Councillors. I told him +that, from what I had heard, my sympathies were with the Councillors. He +answered that I was mistaken; that the Councillors were clearly in the +wrong; that they had made a great mistake, and were endangering +principles of government for which he had so long contended. He then +stated the particulars of what had transpired, and referred me, in +confirmation of his statement, to the documents and correspondence which +would all be printed in a few days. I replied, that if what he (Mr. +Merritt) stated was correct, Sir Charles Metcalfe was an injured man, +and that the new system of responsible government was likely to be +applied in a way contrary to what had always been professed by its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> +advocates. Mr. Merritt requested me to examine for myself the documents +and correspondence to which he had referred, but enjoining secresy as to +his conversation with me—and which I never mentioned to any human being +during his life.</p> + +<p>After Mr. Merritt returned to St. Catharines he wrote to Dr. Ryerson +early in January, 1844 on the subject, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>There can be little doubt that both the Governor and his late +administration have erred. A conciliatory spirit would have avoided +this crisis; they had an opportunity of placing this Province in a +most enviable situation—they have neglected, or did not possess +the ability to avail themselves of it; and I am sorry to say, that +I am neither satisfied with their measures, nor can I place +confidence in their judgment. At the same time I feel so thoroughly +convinced of the necessity of having under the control of our +Legislature the entire management of our internal concerns—without +which any attempt at a thorough reformation would be useless—that +I have my apprehensions, that any movement which would have a +tendency to check its onward progress, would be injurious—the +principle does not appear to be fully understood, or fully +conceded. The time has not arrived—nevertheless I feel satisfied +the Governor-General would admit it, and act fully up to it with +any Cabinet which possessed his confidence, and thus bring it into +action much earlier than persisting in the opposite course. On the +other hand, you are subject to the imputation of abandoning men who +resigned for the maintenance of that principle, and few can doubt +the honesty of purpose of Lafontaine and Baldwin.</p> + +<p>Being thus placed on the horns of a dilemma, the wisest plan is, +perhaps, to let matters take their course—at all events I have +made up my mind to do so. I should be most happy to hear from you +on the subject, knowing you have given those subjects much +attention; and believing that your mind is devoted to promoting the +best interests of your fellow countrymen, your opinions are +received with attention, and always carry great weight with me.</p></div> + +<p>To this letter from Mr. Merritt, Dr. Ryerson replied on the 20th +January, 1844, as follows:—</p> + +<p>After you called upon me, I turned my attention to the state of our +public affairs, and reflected on them from various points of view. I +concluded to state my views to His Excellency, if he requested me to do +so, and also to Hon. S. B. Harrison, if I should see him.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson having gone to Kingston at the request of Sir Charles +Metcalfe, saw Mr. Harrison, who urged him to state his views fully to +the Governor-General. In the same letter to Mr. Merritt, Dr. Ryerson +said:—The next day, in compliance with His Excellency's expressed wish, +I laid before him the result of my reflections on the present state of +our affairs, in an interview of three hours and a half. In them His +Excellency expressed his full concurrence, and thanked me cordially for +the trouble I had taken to wait upon him and state at large what he +considered of so much importance. In addition to the question at issue +between Sir Charles Metcalfe and his late Councillors, Dr. Ryerson +discussed with him the subject of the reconstruction of his Cabinet. The +result he thus states in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> letter to Mr. Merritt:—I cannot of course +enter into every one of the subjects to which I referred in my +conversation with the Governor-General. Mr. Harrison has doubtless +written to you on the whole matter. The result was that Mr. Harrison +will take office if you will.<a name="FNanchor_122_123" id="FNanchor_122_123"></a><a href="#Footnote_122_123" class="fnanchor">[122]</a></p> + +<p>As to your superior qualifications for the position offered you, there +can be but one opinion in the country. I am satisfied that, without the +slightest sacrifice of principle or consistency—upon the broadest +principles of responsible government, and in harmony with the best +interests of the country—you can accept of office. I think that when +the views I have expressed to His Excellency are fairly and fully stated +to the country, you would, in office, have a large majority of at least +the Upper Canada members of the present House of Assembly to support +you; and, in case of a general election, I doubt not but you would have +an ample majority in the new Parliament. Should you consent to take +office, I think you need not fear the result. I think there is a fair +opportunity for you to render a great service to the country, and to +establish still more widely and permanently an already honourable +reputation of no common order.</p> + +<p>I shall be glad, at your earliest convenience, to learn the result of +your deliberations. I should also be happy to see you, if you should +soon proceed to Kingston. Whatever the Governor-General may have +heretofore thought of either the theory or practice of responsible +government, he is certainly right on the subject now. And when His +Excellency avows what Sir F. Head denied, and offers everything that has +been demanded, surely, as far as principles of government are concerned, +the country wants, and ought to have, no more. I think it will be a +fearful calamity to the country, if we drive Sir Charles Metcalfe away +from us. I doubt whether England can produce his like for Canada.</p> + +<p>To this letter Mr. Merritt replied, on the 25th January:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I regret to say that my own private affairs, arising from +circumstances which have occurred since I saw you, prevent my +assuming any situation under the Government which must necessarily +occupy my undivided attention. I have heard from and replied to Mr. +Harrison to the same effect.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> No person can more regret the +unfortunate position in which we are placed than I do, and I agree +with you that the loss of Sir Charles Metcalfe will be a public +calamity. I have no doubt he will honestly carry out the principles +of responsible government, and with a competent council, who +understand what the country requires, and with competent +individuals to carry those measures into effect, he would render +more essential service to Canada than any former Governor whatever.</p> + +<p>I am under some apprehension that you mistake the feelings of the +majority of Upper Canada members. A mere majority would ensure +defeat; they must act in a body to give a majority in the present +House; and from recent indications, there appears to be a change in +the minds of those who were under very different impressions some +time since. Although I was under a different impression some time +since, I cannot see any chances of a new ministry being sustained, +unless by a dissolution. 1. A majority seems indispensable to +secure which the Reformers of Upper Canada must unite—and every +Conservative must support them also;—the first cannot be relied +on, therefore it is unnecessary to discuss the second. Most of the +present members will feel themselves committed by their recent +vote; they will all be pressing for a new election; and shape their +course to the prevailing opinions. No ministry can have time to +bring their measures before the public to produce any general +impression; and no ministry can have confidence in the ultimate +success of the wisest measures. In short, they will have no chance +to exercise their ability, with a view of commanding success. +Whereas, were a new election to take place (on the declaration by +the Governor-General, that from the difficulty he experienced in +making up a ministry which would command a majority of the present +House, in conformity to the principles he avowed), the +Governor-General could appeal to the people to return a +representation from which he could select a Council possessing +their confidence. Such an appeal would not be inconsistent with his +former declarations, which must have been predicated on his +obtaining a Council which would command a majority. Under such +circumstances members would feel very naturally a much greater +anxiety in sustaining any ministry with a chance of four years to +test their measures, than as many days, as in the present instance. +As far as I am individually concerned, even in that case, I could +not accept of office unless I succeeded in arranging my own +personal concerns, which I hope to effect during the season.</p> + +<p>I hear that in this district a strong feeling prevails in favour of +the late ministry, who resigned, as they believe, to support the +principle of responsible government; and they cannot understand +that the Governor-General adheres to the same. This impression is +natural; and it takes a long time to remove error. No man doubts +the motives of Mr. Baldwin; none other of the administration is +named, or possesses the least weight. I have not moved about or +corresponded with a single member of the House, and I shall remain +as passive as possible.</p> + +<p>I fully agree with you, that with the present Governor-General a +fair opportunity offers to carry out useful projects; nay more, I +am sure that one half of the present revenue now wasted, could be +saved (not less than £100,000) for useful objects; but I cannot at +present assist in carrying it into effect, which you cannot regret +more than I do.</p></div> + +<p>In a note received from Mr. Civil Secretary Higginson, dated 10th April, +he gave Dr. Ryerson the reasons for the unexpected delay in the +formation of a new Cabinet. Hon. S. B. Harrison had also written to him +on the same subject, so far as he and the other proposed Upper Canada +members were concerned. Mr. Higginson said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The formation of a permanent Council has been most vexatiously, but +unavoidably, delayed, owing to the extraordinary timidity—I can +call it by no more appropriate name—of our friends in Lower +Canada—the most eligible of whom have hitherto shrunk from the +responsibility they would incur by the acceptance of office. Hon. +D. B. Viger, who is still in Montreal, and who ought from long +experience, to have a good knowledge of his countrymen, expresses +himself confident of the result, and is of opinion that the delay, +of which we complain, produces good and strengthens His +Excellency's position. It is very evident that it has a different +effect in the West; and it is to be hoped that as soon as the +Montreal election is over (of which, barring violence, Mr. Molson +is certain) immediate steps will be taken to fill up the offices +now vacant.</p></div> + +<p>In reply to Mr. Higginson's note, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<p>I do not think that much evil arises at the present time, even in Canada +West, from delay. Could the vacancies be filled up two or three months +ago, the government would have secured the support of thousands who have +since swelled the ranks of the ex-Councillors. But the loss by delay +was, I think, incurred to its full extent during the months of January, +February, and March. The proceedings of the late meeting of the Leaguers +in Toronto have doubtless added something to their strength. But some +portions of these very proceedings will meet them in a way they little +expect—not, to be sure, before a jury of twelve men, as did the nine +months' proceeding of O'Connell and his associates, but before the jury +of the whole country, and upon principles sanctioned by the Constitution +and history of England, which, I believe more confidently than when I +wrote last, will result in a triumphant acquittal and justification of +the Vice-Regal defendant.</p> + +<p>On the 23rd May, Mr. Civil Secretary Higginson wrote to Dr. Ryerson, as +follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You will be sorry to hear that Hon. Mr. Harrison has failed to make +certain private arrangements which he so much hoped for, and that +he has declined to take office. He is, therefore, unable to join +the Cabinet.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_121_122" id="Footnote_121_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121_122"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> As an indication of outside opinion on this question, I +insert the following note, written by Rev. Anson Green, on the 31st +December, 1843, to Dr. Ryerson. Mr. Green said: I cannot see why the +Executive Council should resign at the present time, for they stated in +the House that both Mr. Stanton, Collector at Toronto, and the Speaker +of the Legislative Council were appointed by their advice. I think they +should have waited until His Excellency refused to ask or take their +advice, and not force him to make pledges. In my opinion both parties +have acted indiscreetly. I have reason to believe that a majority of the +Reformers from Upper Canada, in Parliament, would be happy to support +Hon S. B. Harrison, if he could form a ministry from the majority on the +question at issue.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_122_123" id="Footnote_122_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122_123"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> In regard to this proposal, Mr. Harrison wrote to Dr. +Ryerson on the 17th of January, to say that he had an interview with the +Governor-General, and that: His Excellency expressed himself favourably +disposed upon all the points touched upon, and was willing to consider +the means of carrying out the objects contemplated. It appears, +therefore, to me, that the matter may be arranged if our friend Merritt +can be persuaded to join. I have written to him in that view. Should +that be the case, I am prepared, and a communication should be made to +Hon. W. H. Draper, which I will make immediately upon hearing from you +and Mr. Merritt. As Mr. Draper will be here by the latter end of this +week, it would be better, on hearing from Mr. Merritt, that you should +be here yourself.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL"></a>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1844.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Preliminary Correspondence on the Metcalfe Crisis</span>.</p> + + +<p>With a view to a thorough understanding of the question at issue between +Sir Charles Metcalfe and his Councillors, the following statement by Dr. +Ryerson is necessary:—</p> + +<p>After the conversation with Hon. W. H. Merritt, in January, 1844, and +after subsequent communications with him on the subject, I most +carefully and minutely examined the documents and correspondence and +other statements of parties, and was satisfied of the correctness of Mr. +Merritt's statements and conclusion. The question then arose in my own +mind, whether, after I had so much to do in the establishment of +responsible government and was morally so largely responsible for it, I +should silently witness its misapplication, and see a man stricken down +for maintaining, as the representative of his Sovereign, what Reformers +had maintained in all previous years—that the patronage of the Crown, +like the administration of justice, should be administered impartially +according to merit, without respect to religious sect, or political +party.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson also states (26th February) that:—After a prolonged and +interesting interview with the Governor-General, I addressed a letter to +him on the subject of that interview. In it I said: In looking over what +I have from time to time, during the last eight years, written on the +best government for Canada, I find that I have invariably insisted upon +precisely the same views which I expressed to your Excellency, and with +a frequency and fulness that I had no recollection of when I was +honoured with the late interviews by you. These views were then warmly +responded to by that portion of the public for whom I wrote. I am, +therefore, the more fully (if possible) convinced of their correctness +and importance to the best interests of Canada, and that they will be +sustained when properly brought before the public—at least in Western +Canada.</p> + +<p>In reply to a note from Mr. Civil Secretary Higginson, dated 2nd March, +Dr. Ryerson, on the 7th, addressed a reply of some length to His +Excellency. In it he said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The aspect of things in Western Canada has clearly changed for the +worse during the last two months—since my first interview with +Your Excellency in January. The party of the opposition have become +organized—organized under circumstances more formidable than I +have ever witnessed in Canada. Their ranks and influence have been +increased by numbers who, two months since, were neutral, and who +could have been forthwith brought to the side of constitutional +government. Private letters to me (on which I can rely) speak in a +very different tone as to the state of public sentiment and +feeling. Unless a change to a very considerable extent be affected +in the public mind, I think a dissolution would rather strengthen +than weaken the ex-Council party. I am confident I do not overrate +their strength—and it is a dangerous, though common error, to +underrate the strength of an adversary. They are likewise +organizing their party, and exciting the public mind to such a +degree as to prevent any sentiments or measures from the present +administration from being regarded or entertained at all. Such +being the case, I have felt that delay has been loss. Whether that +loss can be repaired presents to my own mind a problem difficult of +solution.</p></div> + +<p>Speaking of his former relations with the Lieutenant-Governors of Upper +Canada, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<p>I love liberty, personal and public, as much as any man. I have written +much in its defence; but as much as I love liberty, and as ultra liberal +as some may have supposed me to be, I have always regarded an +infringement of the prerogative of the Crown as a blow at the liberty of +the subject, and have, in every instance, resisted and repelled it as +such. I did so in support of Sir F. Head in 1836. I did so in support of +Sir George Arthur, in the difficult and painful task of administering +the criminal law after the insurrection of 1837. I did so in support of +the Royal instructions and recommendations of which Lord Sydenham was +the bearer and agent; but in each instance, after having been lauded +without measure, I was abandoned, or pursued, without protection or +mercy. Sir Francis Head took offence at certain communications which +Rev. Dr. Alder and Rev. Peter Jones justly made to the Imperial +Government respecting his treatment of the Indians, and swore that, "as +he had put down the radicals, he would now put down the Methodists;" and +the Bishop of Toronto avowed and rejoiced that, radicalism having been +extinguished, "the Church" would and should be maintained inviolate in +all its (assumed) rights and immunities. Sir George Arthur having got +through his many difficulties (in the course of which he gave me many +thanks) determined, when the Session of the Legislature came, not to +split with the Bishop of Toronto; not to grant, under any circumstances, +the Methodists more than a mouse's share of public aid, and none at all +except as salaries for their clergy, actually employed. He embodied +these views in resolutions, and employed Hon. R. B. Sullivan to advocate +them in the Legislative Council.</p> + +<p>It was with extreme reluctance that I could at all assent to the measure +of Union of the Canadas. The agents of the London<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> Wesleyan Committee +vehemently opposed it, and wished me to write against it. I wished to +remain neutral. Lord Sydenham most earnestly solicited my aid—promised +a just measure on the clergy reserve question, and assured me against +any hostility of the agents of the London Committee, of all the +protection and assistance that the Government could give. He died,—and +I have been left, without the slightest assistance or protection on the +part of the Government, to meet alone the hostile proceedings and +influence of the London Wesleyan Committee. In order to sustain myself +in these reverses, and especially in the last, but most painful one, I +have been compelled to put forth physical and intellectual efforts that +I am absolutely incapable of repeating.</p> + +<p>I have adverted—even at the expense of being tedious and egotistic—to +these unpleasant details, that Your Excellency may fully understand and +appreciate my present position, and my caution in embarking in another +conflict without a reasonable hope that I will not be made a victim of +abandonment and of oppression, after I have employed the utmost of my +humble efforts in support of the principles of the constitution and +prerogatives of the Crown.</p> + +<p>In the present crisis, the Government must of course be first placed +upon a strong foundation, and then must the youthful mind of Canada be +instructed and moulded in the way I have had the honour of stating to +Your Excellency, if this country is long to remain an appendage to the +British Crown. The former, without the latter, will only be a partial +and temporary remedy.</p> + +<p>Anything like a tolerable defence of Your Excellency's +position—anything approaching to an effective exposure of the +proceedings of the late Council in their demands, the grounds of their +resignation, their explanation, their tribunal of appeal, their +variations of position, the principles and consequences involved in each +step of their course, and the spirit and doctrines they now exhibit, +appears to me to be a desideratum. They could be convicted out of their +own mouths on every count of the charges they have brought against the +Governor-General, and from the same source might evidence be adduced +that they advocate sentiments and sanction proceedings which are unknown +to the British Constitution, and which appertain only to an independent +state. Yet, in place of exposition, and arguments and illustrations that +would tell upon the public mind, we have nothing but puerile effusions, +thread-bare assertions, and party criminations—nothing that would +convince adversaries and make friends of enemies. Your Excellency's +replies, and a few passages in the Montreal <i>Gazette</i>, and in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> +pamphlet which lately appeared in the Kingston <i>Chronicle</i>, are all that +I have seen which are calculated to produce practical effect upon the +public mind. Hon. D. B. Viger's pamphlet is too limited in its range of +topics, and too speculative and refined to be effective upon any other +than well-educated statesmen.</p> + +<p>The desideratum required I would attempt to supply, and then devise +measures, put forth publications, and employ efforts to direct the +public mind into new channels of thinking, and furnish the youthful mind +with instruction and materials for reading that would render this +country British in domestic feeling, as I think it now is intentionally +in loyalty. To do anything effectual toward the accomplishment of such a +task, my position should be made as strong as possible. At best my +qualifications for a work so difficult and varied are extremely limited, +but more especially under present circumstances.</p> + +<p>After weighing the matter carefully, and pondering (in comparing small +things with great) upon the part which Bishop Burnet took in settling +the disordered elements of British intellect after the revolution of +1688, I have resolved to do as he did—place my humble services at the +disposal of my Sovereign—and in whatever situation Your Excellency is +of opinion I can render most service to the government and the country +under existing circumstances. I will hazard the enterprise, and stand or +fall with the Governor-General in the present crisis, notwithstanding +the increased cloudiness of our political atmosphere. I would rather aid +as a private individual, and as an independent volunteer in the service +of the Crown and country—as I have been on former occasions—than be +placed in any official situation.</p> + +<p>To this letter Dr. Ryerson received the following reply from Mr. +Secretary Higginson, dated 12th March:—I am directed to convey to you +the expression of the Governor-General's cordial thanks for the public +spirited offer of your able and valuable services in the present crisis +of public affairs; an offer which His Excellency accepts with a high +degree of satisfaction, feeling confident that you will bring most +efficient aid to the Government.</p> + +<p>On March 18th Dr. Ryerson replied to this note from Mr. Higginson. He +said:—I think there will be but little difficulty in disentangling the +question from the perplexing confusion in which it has been involved, +and placing it upon the true issue as to a government of party, or of +justice. If, in elucidating and applying it, I can incorporate some of +Lord Brougham's fulminations on the evil of party with my own +conceptions, I may be able to add the occasional discharge of a cannon, +or the bursting of a bombshell, to the running fire of ordinary +musketry. Though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> I am no stranger to contests, I cannot divest myself +of palpitations at the approach of an engagement. When once the fire has +commenced, I feel but little concern except to keep cool and +good-natured, and to have an ample supply of ammunition for all +exigencies—satisfied of the righteousness of the cause and the +government of an over-ruling Providence.</p> + +<p>In February the Rev. John Ryerson wrote to Dr. Ryerson on the Metcalfe +crisis, and said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>While I believe that the late Executive Council, in the main, and +in principle, was right, and Sir Charles wrong, yet I am very far +from endorsing all that the Council did as right. I think that they +should not have resigned when they did. I think they were guilty of +a breach of trust in throwing up office in the midst of a session +of Parliament, and when many important measures were pending. I +think, as the "antagonism" which caused the resignation of the late +Council existed before the Parliament was convened, that they +should then have resigned, or remained in office until the +prorogation....</p> + +<p>You are not to suppose from these remarks that I have turned +politician, or that I am intermeddling with things which do not +belong to me. I have been endeavouring to attend to my appropriate +work; and though continually pressed with questions, soliciting my +opinions respecting passing events, I have said as little on all +these matters as possible, and I am identified with no party. +Indeed, the state of my health is such as to admonish me to think +about other things than worldly politics, and I blush to think that +I have written so much respecting them. Powerfully convincing +reasoning, with truth on your side, might produce a great effect +among our people; but at the present more than nine-tenths of them, +in these western parts, are the supporters of the late Executive +Council.</p></div> + +<p>In reply to a letter from his brother John, asking his opinion on the +pending dispute between Sir Charles Metcalfe and his late Councillors, +Dr. Ryerson wrote on April 3rd, and said:—</p> + +<p>Of the general measures of the late Council I cordially approve. I +cannot say so of their dispute with the Governor-General. Of the policy +which he or they had pursued, I have nothing to say. In that they might +have been right, and he wrong. But, according to British practice, they +ought to have resigned on what he had done, and not on what he would not +promise to do. If the Crown intended to do just as they desired the +Governor-General to do, still the promise ought not to be given, nor +ought it to have been asked. The moment a man promises to do a thing he +ceases to be as free as he was before he made the promise. It is +essential principle that in the British Constitution that the Crown +should be free—should be undefined in its prerogative. The exercise in +that prerogative may be checked in various ways; but to bind it by +promises is to infringe its constitutional liberty. If the Queen were to +bind herself by promise, or declaration, that she would not appoint any +person contrary to Sir Robert Peel's advice, how could she refuse to +make O'Connell a peer, or appoint him Lord<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> Chancellor of England if Sir +Robert were to insist upon it? How could she ever get clear of Sir +Robert by differing with him on a question of policy, if she were to +bind herself before-hand to act according to his advice? Would it not be +virtually giving the regal power into his hands?</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson then proceeded to illustrate the views which he held on this +subject:—</p> + +<p>I can find examples in English History since 1688, of British Sovereigns +having done just as Sir Charles Metcalfe is alleged to have done; I can +also find examples of ministers resigning on account of what such +Sovereigns had done; but I can find no example of any minister resigning +on account of what the Sovereign would not promise to do on the subject +of consultation and possible appointments.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have seen it alleged, that the Governor-General was not bound to +act upon the advice of his Council, only to ask it before he made +any appointment. But the Governor-General did take the advice of +the Council, in regard to the appointments of the Clerks of the +Peace, both in the Bathurst and Dalhousie districts. Yet he is +blamed as much for not acting upon it as if he had acted without +taking it. But in Mr. Hincks' writings, and in all the papers +advocating the same sentiments, I observe that it is contended that +the Governor-General should act upon, as well as take, the advice +of his Council. If so, what is he but their amanuensis—the +recorder of their decrees?—the office which Sir Charles Bagot +sustained on account of his illness; but whose example, in such +circumstances, can not be laid down as a general rule.</p> + +<p>Responsible government was a mere theory with the late Council, or +until they came into office under Sir Charles Bagot. They had +thought and reasoned about it, but they had never acted upon it, +until then; what they learned under the government of a sick and +dying man was not adapted to make them perfect practitioners. So +they were about as wise and as raw in the business practically, as +was Sir Charles Metcalfe, who had doubtless thought, and read, and +reasoned upon the subject also. The unskilfulness of inexperience, +with good intentions, seems to me to have been evinced in the whole +proceeding.</p> + +<p>Of course it was considered, on the impulse of the moment, good +policy to take a stand upon the principle of responsible +government, and not upon the propriety, or policy, of certain +appointments. By taking the latter ground, all might be lost; by +taking the former ground, all would be gained, and a great deal of +glory too, in the course of a few days, or a few weeks at most. But +it has turned out otherwise. The question of prerogative has been +brought up—a constitutional and imperial question. As such the +British Government have decided upon it.... It is now no longer a +question between the late Councillors and Sir Charles Metcalfe, but +between them and Her Majesty's Government. I see, therefore, +nothing in prospect but a renewal of the scenes of 1837, and 1838, +only on a larger scale. Whether the point contended for is worth +that price, or will be even obtained at that price, is +problematical. I see no alternative, unless some enlightening, +healing agency interpose. I pray for the safety of our Zion and +people, especially, while I implore Divine interposition in behalf +of our beloved country.</p> + +<p>I am no party man—I have never judged—I cannot judge questions +according to party, but according to constitutional principles and +history. On the first blush I was favourably impressed with the +position and resignation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> of the late council; but when I came to +examine their position, as I had done Hon. Mr. Draper's speech on +the University question by the light of history (it being a new +question), I came to the conclusions that I have stated above. I +think the most general impression in the country, and perhaps +amongst the members of our Church, is that which first struck my +own mind; but I think it is contrary to the principles and practice +of the British Constitution.</p></div> + +<p>During one of his visits to Kingston, early in 1844, Dr. Ryerson called +at the office of his old friend, Hon. J. H. Dunn (one of the late +Councillors), who had desired to see him. Mr. Dunn was not in when he +called. He therefore, on his return to Cobourg addressed him as +follows:—My brother John told me that you had asked him what I thought +of the late differences between the Governor-General and his Council. +After all that I have read and learned, I think very much of them as I +did of the differences between the late Lord Sydenham and Hon. Robert +Baldwin. You then asked me (at the Lambton House) whether I approved of +your remaining in office, or of Mr. Baldwin's resigning. You will +recollect my reply, that I thought Mr. Baldwin ought to have waited +until an actual difference arose between him and other members of the +Council on some measure, or measures; and that he ought not to have +resigned on account of an alleged want of confidence, or theoretical +difference of opinion. So I think in the present case. After stating +your views to Sir Charles Metcalfe, you ought to have waited until some +act, or acts, had taken place in contravention of these views, and which +act, or acts, you were not disposed to justify; or if you thought it +your duty to resign, then it appears to me you should have resigned on +some acts which had been performed, and which you would not justify, and +on the policy involved in which you were prepared to appeal to the +country. But to resign upon a conversation, and not upon specific +administrative acts, appears to me to be without precedent. It has +brought up the question of prerogative, the constitutional decision of +which, rests of course, with the supreme tribunals of the Empire. I +think Mr. Baldwin's conscientious theoretical rigidness has led to an +error, praiseworthy in its motives, but not the less an error—an error +which in private life would have attracted no attention, but in public +life makes a great noise, and may lead to serious consequences. I could +wish with all my heart that you were in your late office, which you have +so long and so faithfully filled.</p> + +<p>In a note to Dr. Ryerson, on various matters, dated April 10th, Mr. +Civil Secretary Higginson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Reform League in Toronto are making unusual exertions, and as +you may have seen by their late resolutions, no longer conceal +their real object, but in defiance of all their machinations, and +they are not over scrupulous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> as to their means, truth and honesty +of purpose, backed by loyal hearts and liberal measures, must and +will prevail.</p></div> + +<p>To this note Dr. Ryerson thus replied on the 12th April:—</p> + +<p>I think the public feeling in Canada West is now stationary; or since +the rumour of my appointment as Superintendent of Education (and how it +got afloat I cannot imagine) is rather turning in favour of the +Governor-General. The reason seems to be this: The opponents of His +Excellency represent him as weak—as supported by nobody but a weak +ultra-party. It has been alleged by both my friends and enemies, that +whether the best or worst man in Canada, I have not hesitated to face in +succession the united press and councils of each of the two +ultra-parties in Canada, and succeeded in each instance to reduce them +from a large majority to a small minority—deriving no advantage from +the victories, except as some suppose, the pleasure of humbling my +enemies. It is the impression of great numbers of persons, and to an +extent and degree which has often amused me, that whatever cause I +espouse, be it good or bad, will succeed; and that I never undertake a +thing, however apparently impracticable, without a certainty of success. +Though such a feeling increases the difficulty of every step of a man's +career, it furnishes him with capital to begin with. My life having been +bound up with the two great principles of constitutional monarchy on the +one hand, and equal civil and religious principles in Canada on the +other, all who really desire such a government, without regard to the +domination of a party, ... seem to think the Governor-General will +succeed if I have resolved to espouse his government....</p> + +<p>From this state of mind in the case of many Reformers, and from what I +have learned from other sources, I am satisfied that, notwithstanding +the efforts to inflame party spirit—to produce party blindness, and +create party organizations—there is still a spirit of candour and +enquiry (all I ask) amongst a large portion of the Liberal party which +will furnish an ample fulcrum for a lever that will overthrow the enemy. +I think that June will probably be the best time for the application of +such a lever. The opposition can do nothing more at present. June is +rather a leisure month for reading—the hay and wheat harvest will come +on in July, August and September,—during which time agitators can do +but little, and then I suppose will come the session of the Legislature. +I hope to produce a vindication of His Excellency that will do no +discredit to him, and shake, if not confound, his enemies, and exhibit +such a platform of government as will appeal to every candid, common +sense, sound British subject, best adapted to promote the best interests +and greatest happiness of Canada....<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span></p> + +<p>To vindicate injured worth, either in high or humble life, has on +different occasions, afforded me peculiar pleasure, and I contemplate, +even as a pleasing task (though painful from the occasion) the purpose +and opportunity of doing so in respect to so noble a subject and so good +a cause as that with which His Excellency is identified. When the +Government once assumes the attitude of strength, many who are now +neutral, or perhaps professedly leaning to the apparently stronger +party, will come over avowedly to the Crown. The timidity of the secret +friends of the government in Lower Canada is an infirmity (I think of a +majority of mankind) which requires as much pity as it deserves censure. +All Greeks are not Spartans. Ten men seem to be made for work, where one +is constituted for war. I have found it so in the hour of peril; when I +have been left almost alone, though I found abundance of helping and +co-operating friends as soon as the tide of victory began to turn in my +favour. I think it will be so with the government in less than twelve +months—at least in Upper Canada. The League organization in Toronto is +the most formidable affair that has ever been formed in western Canada. +I am told that its funds are large also,—several thousand pounds—but I +think its power can be broken.</p> + +<p>In a note to Dr. Ryerson from Mr. Higginson, dated 23rd of May, he +said:—You will of course have seen the manifesto just hatched and +brought forth by the League, jesuitically and cleverly enough put we +must admit; it will no doubt be widely circulated, and it is very +desirable that an antidote to the poison should be as extensively +communicated to the people; and who in the province is so capable as +yourself for such a task? If you would take up the arguments +<i>seriatim</i>—you could prove their fallacy without much difficulty. The +fabric being founded upon misapprehension and falsehood, must go with a +run. I confess I long to see these ambitious party-men unmasked.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLI" id="CHAPTER_XLI"></a>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1844.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Sir Charles Metcalfe Defended against his Councillors.</span></p> + + +<p>On the 27th May, 1844, Dr. Ryerson issued the first part of his +memorable Defence of Sir Charles Metcalfe, not only against the attacks +of his late Councillors, but also against those of the all-powerful +League which had been formed against him on the 24th March, under the +auspices of the Toronto Reform Association. The Manifesto of that famous +League was dated on the 16th May. Its issue at once decided Dr. Ryerson +to enter the lists in defence of Sir Charles, and the prefatory note to +his rejoinder was written on the 27th May. From the introductory portion +of it I make the following extract:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Rev. Egerton Ryerson ... proposes ... to prove [from the] testimony +of his late Advisers ... that His Excellency is entitled to the +verdict of the country on every count of the indictment got up +against him.</p> + +<p>Sir Charles Metcalfe may say to the people of Canada, as +Themistocles said to the Athenians who were incensed against him, +"Strike, but hear me!"</p> + +<p>... If Leonidas,<a name="FNanchor_123_124" id="FNanchor_123_124"></a><a href="#Footnote_123_124" class="fnanchor">[123]</a> with three hundred Spartans, could throw +themselves into the Thermopylæ of death for the salvation of their +country, it would ill become one humble Canadian to hesitate at any +sacrifice, or shrink from any responsibility, or even danger, in +order to prevent his own countrymen from rushing into a vortex, +which, he is most certainly persuaded, will involve many of them in +calamities more serious than those which followed the events of +1837.</p></div> + +<p>The following account of this memorable controversy was written by Dr. +Ryerson himself. It has been slightly abridged and a few explanatory +notes added:—</p> + +<p>After much consideration, but without consulting any human being, I +determined to enter the arena of public discussion to set forth and +vindicate the true principles of responsible government, and to defend +Sir Charles Metcalfe, as I had before defended Mr. Bidwell, from the +unjust attacks made upon him; and I published an introductory paper +avowing my purpose. My friends generally and the country at large were +against me. My elder brother, John, a life-long Conservative, on first +meeting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> me after the publication of that introductory paper, said, +"Egerton, you have ruined yourself, for nine-tenths of the people are +opposed to the Governor-General." I answered, "I know it; but I believe +that nine-tenths of the people are mistaken, and that if they will read +what I am about to write they will think as I do."</p> + +<p>The contest was severe; the ablest and most meritorious public men in +the province were arrayed on the opposite side; but I felt that truth +and justice did not rest on numbers—that there was a public, as well as +an individual, conscience, and to that conscience I appealed, supporting +my appeal by reference to the past professions of Reformers, the best +illustrations from Greek, Roman, and English history, and the authority +of the best writers on constitutional government, and moral and +political philosophy, and the highest interests, civil and social, of +all classes of society in Upper Canada. For months I was certainly the +"best abused man" in Canada; but I am not aware that I lost my temper, +or evinced personal animosity (which I never felt), but wrote with all +the clearness, energy, and fire that I could command.</p> + +<p>The general elections took place in October, 1844, and in all Upper +Canada (according to the <i>Globe's</i> own statement) only eight candidates +were elected in opposition to Sir Charles Metcalfe! Such a result of a +general election was never before, or since, witnessed in Upper Canada.</p> + +<p>It has been alleged again and again, that Sir Charles Metcalfe was +opposed to responsible government and that I supported him in it. The +only pretext for this was, that in the contest with Sir Charles Metcalfe +his opponents introduced party appointments as an essential element of +responsible government, which they themselves had disavowed in previous +years when advocating that system of government. The doctrine of making +appointments according to party (however common now, with its +degenerating influences) was then an innovation upon all previously +professed doctrines of reformers, as I proved to a demonstration in my +letters in defence of Sir Charles Metcalfe.</p> + +<p>Sir Francis Hincks, in an historical lecture delivered at Montreal, in +1877, has revived this charge against Sir Charles Metcalfe, and has +attempted to create the impression that there was a sort of conspiracy +between the late Earl of Derby and Lord Metcalfe to extinguish +responsible government in Canada. For such an insinuation there is not a +shadow of reason, though the author may have thought so, from his strong +personal feelings and former party views, as one of the actors in the +struggle.</p> + +<p>I was in England during the latter part of 1844 and 1845, when the Earl +of Derby was Colonial Secretary, and had more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> than one conversation +with him on Canadian affairs; and I know that the Earl of Derby had no +more intention or desire to abolish responsible government in Canada +than had Sir Francis Hincks himself. The Earl of Derby had, indeed, +fears lest the party in power, under the new system, should act upon the +narrow and prescriptive principles and spirit of the old tory party, and +wished to see that with the new system an enlarged policy would +extinguish the hatreds, as well as the proscriptions, of the past, and +unite all classes in the good government and for the advancement of the +country. This was the view of Lord Metcalfe; and this was the view +advocated in my letters in his defence, which may be appealed to in +proof that the essence of that contest was not responsible government, +but as to whether or not the distribution of the patronage of the Crown +should be dispensed upon the principles of party, or on those of justice +and morality.</p> + +<p>I may add an illustrative and curious incident on this subject:—On the +passing of the Imperial Act for confederating the British North American +Colonies into the Dominion of Canada, and its proclamation, I wrote and +published an address to the people of Upper Canada in 1868, suggesting +to them to forget the differences of the past, and the principles and +spirit in which they should introduce the new system of government, and +build up for themselves a united and prosperous nation. A few days after +the publication of this address, I met in the street, an honourable +gentleman, who had been one of the party opposed to Sir Charles +Metcalfe, a member of a Liberal government, a life-long Reformer. He +complimented me on my recent address to the people of Upper Canada; but +added, "The great mistake of your life was the letters you wrote in +defence of Lord Metcalfe." I answered, "Do you think so?" "Yes," said +he, "that was the great mistake of your life." "And," said I, "you +approve of my recent public address?" "Yes," he answered, "I think it is +the best thing you ever wrote." "Well," said I, "do you know that that +address with the exception of the introductory and concluding +paragraphs, is a reproduction, word for word, of my third letter in +defence of Lord Metcalfe, counselling my fellow-countrymen as to the +principles and spirit in which they should act in carrying into effect +the then new system of responsible government!" He exclaimed, "It cannot +be! I have these letters." I said, "It can be; and it is so; and if you +will compare my third letter in defence of Lord Metcalfe with my recent +address, you will find that I have not omitted an illustration from +Greek, or Roman, or English history, or an authority from standard +writers, on political or moral science, or a petition or address from +Reformers from the rebellion of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> 1837 to the establishment of +responsible government under Lord Sydenham and Sir Charles Bagot in +1840-42; that I have not added to, or omitted, a word, but have repeated +<i>verbatim et literatim</i> in 1868, in regard to confederate government, +what I advised the people of Canada in 1844 in regard to responsible +government." And now, I continued, "who has changed? you or I?" "Oh," he +said, "circumstances alter cases." "Truly," I said, "circumstances alter +cases; but circumstances don't change principles; I wrote on the +principles and spirit of government irrespective of party." On such +principles I have endeavoured to act throughout my more than half a +century of public life—principles, the maintenance of which has +sometimes brought me into collision with the leaders of one party, and +sometimes in opposition to those of another party; but principles which +I have found higher and stronger than party.</p> + + + +<p class="space">A day or two after the issue of Dr. Ryerson's first paper in defence of +Sir Charles Metcalfe, Hon. Isaac Buchanan sent to him copies of letters +which he had written to Hon. Joseph Howe, Halifax, and to Civil +Secretary Higginson, Kingston, on the Metcalfe controversy. In this +letter he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It is with infinite pleasure that I see you have publicly come out +to tell the truth as to politics and public men. The fact is, +politics in a new country are either the essential principles of +society or parish business. In both cases every man is interested, +and to a less extent than in an old state of things, where in a +hereditary educated class, there are natural guardians of the +public virtue. Is it objectionable that clergymen interfere in the +arrangement of detail for the happiness of the country? But it is, +as I have always maintained, their most imperative duty to hold and +express an opinion on constitutional politics. The priests in Lower +Canada, from not doing so, permitted the rebellion of 1837. I, +myself, care nothing, and never did care anything, for party +politics in Canada; and, in my mind, the distinction has always +been more marked between these and constitutional politics than I +have been able to explain.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson did not attend the opening of Conference at Kingston, in +June, 1844. Mr. Higginson wrote to him on the 12th to express his +disappointment at not seeing him there, and added:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Of your letters—your admirable letters—I only hear one opinion, +that they are most powerful, unassailable; and this the opposition +press appears to find them, for I can perceive no attempt to answer +the convincing arguments adduced by you. They merely abuse you and +impugn your motives: lying and misrepresentation are their +favourite weapons.</p> + +<p>You will have heard of the discovery of the Orange Plot, the +conspiracy between Sir C. Metcalfe and Ogle R. Gowan to upset the +Government!</p> + +<p>We had a very satisfactory communication from Lord Stanley, by the +last packet, entirely approving of the "dignified and temperate" +conduct of the Governor, and assuring him of the strenuous support +of Her Majesty's Government, in resisting the "unreasonable and +exorbitant pretensions of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> the late Cabinet." Shall we see you +again before we move to Montreal? Sir Charles goes to the Falls, +and then returns to Kingston, which he leaves on the 20th for +Montreal.</p></div> + +<p>From Mr. Higginson Dr. Ryerson received the following interesting +letter, dated Montreal, 20th July:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As you will no doubt think it right, after you complete the series +of your admirable and unanswerable letters, to expose the fallacy +and falsehood with which Hon. R. B. Sullivan, as "Legion," +endeavours to bolster up his arguments in reply to them, I think +the enclosed <i>précis</i> of a conversation that took place between the +leader of the French party in the late Council and myself, early in +May last, will convince you that His Excellency did not write his +despatch of the 23rd of that month, quoted in the debate by Lord +Stanley, upon insufficient grounds, or in ignorance of the real +sentiments and inclinations of his then advisers. Letter No. 5 of +"Legion," in referring to this despatch, charges His Excellency +with what he calls paraphrasing, or, in other words, +misrepresentation, as no men in their senses could have made such +demands as the late Council are stated to have urged. The words +made use of by His Excellency are not theirs, it is true; but did +not the opinions expressed by Mr. Lafontaine, their leader, bear +out the assertion? I regret that Lord Stanley did not quote what +followed. I have given the meaning, rather than the words, of the +dictatorial Councillor; but I have not in the slightest degree +exaggerated the substance of his discourse. I ought to add that the +conversation originated in a rumour of His Excellency's intending +to appoint a Provincial Aide-de-camp, of whom Mr. Lafontaine did +not approve; and that, although addressed to me, I could only +suppose that it was intended for the ears of His Excellency. You +will, of course, not believe the newspaper statements of Sir +Charles having sent for Mr. Lafontaine. Ever since our arrival here +the French party have been urging that the only way of getting out +of our difficulties is by allowing Messrs. Lafontaine and Baldwin +to resume their places—as the French people believe that they +cannot enjoy responsible government without them. To this His +Excellency cannot consent. What the result may be is not quite +clear; our future plans have been delayed by this negotiation, +which, though still pending, must terminate in a day or two. I hope +that under any circumstances we shall be able to meet the present +Parliament, if not with a majority, at least with a strong +minority.</p> + +<p>The following is the <i>Précis</i> to which I refer:—</p> + +<p>Mr. Lafontaine said: Your attempts to carry on the government on +principles of conciliation must fail. Responsible government has +been conceded, and when we lose our majority we are prepared to +retire; to strengthen us we must have the entire confidence of the +Governor-General exhibited most unequivocally—and also his +patronage—to be bestowed exclusively on our political adherents. +We feel that His Excellency has kept aloof from us. The opposition +pronounce that his sentiments are with them. There must be some +acts of his, some public declaration in favour of responsible +government, and of confidence in the Cabinet, to convince them of +their error. This has been studiously avoided. Charges have been +brought against members of the Council, in addresses, and no notice +given to them, viz.: Mr. B. was even mentioned by name, or at least +by office, and will declare on the first day of the session that it +is only as a member of responsible government that he for one would +consent to act. If he supposed for a moment that Sir Charles could +introduce a different system, he would resign. In fact, the +Governor ought to stand in the same position towards his Cabinet as +Her Majesty does. They cannot be prepared to defend his acts in +Parliament if done without their advice—instance the case of the +Collector of Customs' intended dismissal. No new-comers ought to be +appointed to office. Declares<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> his disinterestedness, as his +party—<i>i.e.</i> the French Canadians—must carry the day. The +Conservatives would be just as ready to join them as those that +have—has no desire for office for office's sake. If the Governor +does not take some steps to denounce and show his disapprobation of +Orangeism, his not doing so will be construed into the reverse, and +the system will extend, and bloodshed will follow. The other party +will organize—and they would be great fools if they did not—no +Orangemen to be included in Commissions of the Peace—no justice at +present for Catholics in Upper Canada. A law for the suppression of +illegal societies does exist, but very difficult to discover +members of them and to execute the law. Conciliation is only an +attempt to revert to the old system of government—viz: the will of +the Governor. It must fail. Lord Stanley decidedly adverse to the +Lower Canadians; does not forget their expunging one of his +despatches from their journals—it was so impudent. Trusts the Home +Government will accept the proposed civil list; they will never +have so large a one offered again. In conclusion, Sir Charles +Metcalfe's great reputation places him in an eminently favourable +position for carrying out Sir Charles Bagot's policy, by which +alone the Province can be satisfactorily governed. A declaration by +Government to this effect would put a stop to political agitation +which the opposition keep alive as long as they have the slightest +hopes of office—all they care for. Let them know that the game was +up, and all would go right, and many come round. The differences of +religion in Upper Canada will always prevent amalgamation; you must +make them all of the same, like ourselves in Lower Canada. French +language clause in Union Bill must be expunged.</p></div> + +<p>On the 26th July Dr. Ryerson replied to Mr. Higginson—</p> + +<p>I shall make use of the enclosure <i>Précis</i> in substance when I come to +reply to "Legion"—which will, of course, not be until he shall have got +through his series.</p> + +<p>The "Defence" of Sir Charles Metcalfe consisted of nine papers, in which +the whole question at issue was fully discussed. In concluding the +ninth, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have written these papers ... as a man who has no temporal +interest whatever, except in common with that of his native +country—the field of his life's labours—the seat of his best +affections—the home of his earthly hopes;—up to the present time +I have never received one farthing of its revenue. I know something +of the kinds and extent of the sacrifices which are involved in my +thus coming before the public. If others have resigned office, I +have declined it, and under circumstances very far less propitious +than those under which the late Councillors stepped out.... I have +no interest in the appointment of one set of men to office, or in +the exclusion of any other man, or set of men, from office. I know +but one chief end of civil government—the public good; and I have +one rule of judging the acts and sentiments of all public +men—their tendency to promote the public good.... I am as +independent of Messrs. Viger, Draper and Daly, as I am of Messrs. +Baldwin, Sullivan and Hincks.... I might appeal to more than one +instance in which the authority and patronage of the Governor did +not prevent me from defending the constitutional rights of my +fellow-subjects and native country.... The independent and +impartial judgment which I myself endeavour to exercise, I desire +to see exercised by every man in Canada. I believe it comports best +with constitutional safety, with civil liberty, with personal +dignity, with public duty, with national greatness. With the +politics of party—involving the confederacy, the enslavement, the +selfishness, the exclusion, the trickery, the antipathies, the +crimination of party, no good man ought to be identified.... With +the politics of government<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span>—involving its objects, its principles, +its balanced powers, its operations—even against the encroachments +of any party—every British subject has much to do. Civil +government, as St. Paul says, "is an ordinance of God." Every +Christian ... is to see it not abused, or trampled under foot, or +perverted to party or sectional purposes; but he is to seek its +application to the beneficent ends for which it was designed by our +common Creator and Governor. Such have been the ends for which the +people of Canada have long sought its application; such have been +the ends sought by the Governor-General.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson, in his letter to Mr. Higginson (26th July) said:</p> + +<p>I have now concluded my defence of His Excellency against the attacks of +his late councillors. I have done the best I could. As to its influence +upon the public mind, I am, of course, not responsible. I cannot compel +persons to read, think, or reason, however I may do so for them. In some +places, I am told, a most essential change has taken place in the public +mind, in consequence of the perusal of my letters. In other places, +passion has prevented the perusal of them, and numbers of persons have +just become calm enough to desire to peruse them, and are anxiously +waiting for the pamphlet edition.</p> + +<p>I have not yet heard of any one who has read them all, who has not +become convinced of the correctness of my reasoning. But it is the +opinion of persons who have far better means of judging than I have, +that the effect of them the next two months will be much greater than +during the last two months. The violent feelings which the whole party +of the Leaguers sought to excite against myself have, to a great extent, +subsided, and a spirit of inquiry and reflection is returning to the +public mind. I believe nothing has been done to circulate my articles +among the mass of the people—beyond the ordinary newspaper agency. I +believe that were my ninth number itself printed and widely circulated +in Upper Canada in tract form, it would prepare the way for the success +of a just administration, consisting of any persons whom His Excellency +might select—at least so far as the great majority of the people of +Western Canada is concerned. I think the decision of the Imperial +Government on the whole question should be laid before the Legislature +in a despatch. The matter would be thus brought to a single issue, and I +doubt not but the prerogative would be placed upon the true foundation.</p> + +<p>To proceed again to legislation, without a distinct settlement of this +question, appears to me derogatory to the dignity of the Crown itself +(both in England and Canada) and unsafe in every respect; and unjust to +both His Excellency and to all who have supported him. I think also that +the Hon. Mr. Draper ought (if necessary) to be supported as strongly as +ever George III. supported Mr. Pitt. Mr. Draper has thrown himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> into +the breach, and defended and supported the Government in no less than +three emergencies, when others have abandoned, and even sought to +overthrow it. I think that Mr. Draper ought not to be made a sacrifice, +without an appeal to the people. Much prejudice and passion have, of +course, been excited by the Leaguers since last January, and they have +formed a regular and extensive organization; but a reaction has already +commenced; the backbone of their power is broken. They can form +branches, associations, and threaten us as they did a few months ago; +but not a few amongst themselves are wavering. If the Government will +act with liberality and energy, and the Home Government transmit an +official decision on the question at issue, to be first submitted to the +Legislature and then to the people, I believe His Excellency's exertions +will be crowned with a glorious victory, to his own credit, the honour +of the British Crown, the strengthening of our connection with the +Mother Country, and the great future benefit of Canada.</p> + +<p>As to myself: when I commenced this discussion I did not know what might +be my own fate in respect to it. I wished, at least, to do my duty to my +family; to quiet their apprehension, and not embarrass and distrust my +own mind, while undertaking a task of so great magnitude.</p> + +<p>In regard to the past: I have completed my task to the best of my humble +ability. The satisfaction of having done my duty is all the +acknowledgment or commendation I desire, or can receive. With my present +experience, I might perform the task in a manner more worthy of the +subject, and more to my own satisfaction. I hope, however, an occasion +for such a discussion may not occur again in Canada. The hostile +personal feelings excited against me in some quarters will, I hope, be +lived down in time. The disclosures which have been made of the alleged +sins of my public, and even private life, have not, I trust, brought to +light one dishonourable act, one republican or unconstitutional +sentiment, even under the severest provocations, and grossest abuse.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson had written to the Governor-General early in August on +several matters. He received a reply from Mr. Secretary Higginson on the +15th of that month. In it he says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Governor-General looks forward to the pleasure of seeing you +soon, when he will have an opportunity of personally expressing his +warmest thanks for your admirable and unanswerable letters in +defence of the Queen's Government. His Excellency feels very much +indebted to you for the zeal and ability that enabled you to +perform, in so truly an efficient manner, the arduous task which +your patriotism and public spirit induced you to undertake. Upon +other important subjects adverted to in your letter, His Excellency +will be very happy to have personal communication with you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> when +you come down. Our object now is to complete the Council, as far as +may be practicable, without the body of the French party, who +doggedly refused to take part in any Administration of which +Messrs. Lafontaine and Baldwin are not members. Mr. William Smith, +of the Montreal Bar, accepts the Attorney-Generalship, for the +duties of which he is said to be well qualified. He is a Liberal in +politics, and has always been looked on as a friend of the French +party. The Hon. Mr. Morris is willing to take the +Receiver-Generalship, and I hope that Mr. W. H. Merritt will now +find himself at liberty to join the Council. The Crown Lands +Department will still remain unfilled; and perhaps it is well that +that door should be still kept open.</p></div> + +<p>Mr. Billa [now Hon. Senator] Flint, of Belleville, in a letter dated +14th August, in correcting an error in one of Dr. Ryerson's Metcalfe +letters on a matter of fact, adds:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I hope soon to read your pamphlet, but in not reading your letters +heretofore, I have been enabled to answer the attacks of your +enemies, not on the grounds of a consent, but upon other, and I +trust better ground, that of not condemning a man unheard, as is +the case in this part of the community, and as I have stated that +you must be near right from the fact that your enemies dare not +publish your productions.</p></div> + +<p>With a view to aid Dr. Ryerson in his personal defence, Hon. Isaac +Buchanan wrote to him on the 22nd August, and said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As I think you may feel called on to answer the personal attacks +made upon you, or, at all events, to defend the ministerial +character from those who deprive it of all manliness and +independence, I send you Hetherington's "History of the Church of +Scotland." On one page, and in the note referred to, you will find +the methods and conduct of Knox explained. It will be the best, as +well as the most truthful policy on your part, to show your +agreement with this great character. The effect will be great, not +only on the Methodist Scotch, but all other Scotch in the Colony, +for we are all for national, instead of party, freedom; we prefer +our country to our party.</p> + +<p>It may be my fondness for my country; but I think no other country, +or people, have ever shown that indomitable love of equal justice +and rational, because national freedom, as opposed to party +supremacy, as we have done in Scotland.</p> + +<p>I feel sure that you may make some happy illustrations from +Hetherington's History to enlighten the public on the present state +of affairs, when we are about to be enthralled by party tyranny, +and do much to revive the spirit:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"Ne'er will I quail with down-cast eye<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Beneath the frown of tyranny;<br /></span> +<span class="i3">In freedom I have lived, in freedom I will die."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The history of our Church is not only the history of Scotland, but +the history of the world's freedom from the tyranny of men, or +parties.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson had written to His Excellency in regard to the issue of his +letters in a pamphlet with a full index. To this letter Mr. Higginson +replied on the 19th August:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am desired by His Excellency to repeat his thanks for your +continued exertions in support of Her Majesty's Government.</p> + +<p>Your index to the pamphlet will be exceedingly useful. I should +like very much to have the pamphlet translated into French, for the +benefit of the Lower Canadians, and perhaps I shall be able to +accomplish it. I should be obliged by your ordering a few hundred +copies to be sent to me for distribution in the Eastern Townships.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_123_124" id="Footnote_123_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123_124"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> By a singular popular error, which this sentence may have +suggested, it was stated and generally believed that the Defence of Lord +Metcalfe by Dr. Ryerson was written and published under <i>the nom de +plume of</i> "Leonidas."</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLII" id="CHAPTER_XLII"></a>CHAPTER XLII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1844-1845.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">After the Contest.—Reaction and Reconstruction</span>.</p> + + +<p>Dr. Ryerson naturally took a deep interest in political affairs at this +time, and Sir Charles Metcalfe kept him fully informed of events +transpiring at the seat of Government. In a letter, dated 19th August, +1844, Mr. Civil Secretary Higginson said to him:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You will be glad to hear that Hon. D. B. Papineau accepts a seat in +the Council. The Inspector-General and Solicitor-General of Lower +Canada are the only offices unprovided for. As to Mr. W. H. +Merritt, the state of his private affairs may operate in his case, +as in that of Mr. Harrison. If it should prove so, the Hon. James +Morris may be induced to join the Council, and a very worthy +representative of the Upper Canada Constitutional Reformers he +would be. Whether the present Parliament is to be met again, or to +be dissolved, remains for discussion. Sir Charles inclines to meet +them, and I think we can do with a majority, albeit a small one, to +support the Government.</p></div> + +<p>Mr. Higginson wrote to Dr. Ryerson, Sept. 8th, and said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Dissolution or no dissolution, still undetermined. Thorburn +declines office. We must have an Inspector-General, and from the +Upper Canada Liberals. Where are we to find one fit for the duties?</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson addressed a letter, on the 10th September, to Hon. W. H. +Draper, in reply to Mr. Higginson's note—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I need scarcely say that I congratulate you most heartily on your +formal appointment as Attorney-General, and on the important +additions which have been made to your strength in the Council. +Would not Mr. Scobie make a good Inspector-General? He is said to +be a good financier. His private character, sound principles, and +moderate feelings, are all that you could desire. After much +reflection, and conversation with some judicious persons who have +travelled more than I have throughout the country, and have better +opportunities of forming an opinion than I have, I am inclined to +think that you will gain much more than you can lose, by meeting +the present Parliament, and declaring your views, and taking your +stand upon the true principles of responsible government. I make +these remarks, because I spoke rather in favour of a dissolution +when I saw you last.</p></div> + +<p>To this letter Hon. W. H. Draper replied, on the 17th:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I acknowledge the force of your arguments against a dissolution, +but at the same time it appears to me you have not weighed the +arguments on the other side. These may be concisely stated. 1st. +That the ensuing session<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> will be one certainly preceding a general +election, and therefore, one in which popular doctrines have their +fullest force. 2nd. That members having committed themselves by the +vote of last session would fear to retrace their steps and brave +the charge of inconsistency at such a time. 3rd. That the +ex-ministers would have an opportunity, which they would not +neglect, of presenting a new question for the country. You have +sickened them of the first question; they would like a second, +better selected, if they could get it. For example, if they moved a +committee to inquire how the Government has been administered +during the last ten months, would they not be very likely to carry +it? Information can do no harm; enquiry is a right of the House, +etc., etc. Who would venture to oppose when the committee was +granted? No business would be done till it had reported. Whatever +the report—and if they got a majority on the committee, we may +judge its character—their point would be gained, and they would +have a new issue to try before the country; a new topic of +inflammatory harangue, and studious misrepresentation. Whether this +would be their move I cannot say, but they would do something +tending to a similar end. The experience of 1836 will teach them +not to make a dead set against doing business, or granting +supplies, etc. They will make that a consequence, and if possible +force the Government to a dissolution, thus casting the onus of +doing no public business on the Government. Again, although not +meeting the present House may be considered as an admission of +inferiority there, I think this less injurious than that the new +Administration should be beaten there; and I cannot in any way +anticipate a different result. After going over the list in every +way I see no just ground for hoping for victory there. Again, of +those in whom we might place some hope of a vote in a crisis, there +are some who will not be in their places. Col. Prince certainly +will not, and I doubt much if Hon. W. H. Merritt, or Mr. Thorburn +can. Does no other Upper Canadian Reformer suggest himself? I +confess that I am at a great loss. Neither Harrison nor Merritt can +take office, as they say, because of their private affairs. Hon. +James Morris has given up politics. I have not failed to note your +observation respecting Mr. Scobie, and have brought the matter +before the Council.</p></div> + +<p>To this letter Dr. Ryerson replied on the 19th September:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You will observe that my remarks had reference almost exclusively +to the best means of augmenting the elective suffrage in favour of +the Government. The facilities for circulating knowledge amongst +the mass of the people are so very imperfect, that it takes a long +time, and great exertions, even out of the ordinary channel, to +inform the great body of the people on any subject.</p> + +<p>In the present instance, the Tory party, although they approve of +my letters, do not take pains to circulate them gratuitously. It is +amongst the persons opposed to the Governor-General, that the +reading of them is the most important. That class of persons cannot +be supposed to be very solicitous to procure publications against +their own sentiments and feelings, although they—at least very +many of them—would readily read them if they were put into their +hands. I have scarcely heard of an individual who has read all my +letters who does not adopt the sentiments of them—how strong +soever his feelings might be against the Governor-General. It was +with a view, therefore, of gaining over to the Government a larger +portion of the electors, that I proposed delay, and the +intermediate means of fully informing the public mind.</p> + +<p>From the considerations which you assign, I do not see that you can +do otherwise than dissolve the House. I can easily conceive how +some persons can absent themselves from a short session, and thus +weaken the Government more than others could strengthen it by their +presence and support; and that popular movements may be devised to +shift the question and embarrass you.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> You will probably not gain +as many elections now as you would six months or three months +hence; but what you may not gain in numbers you may gain in the +moderation of new members, or in a new House; especially if you can +reduce the majorities of opposition members who may be returned, +and hold before them in a new House the possibility of a second +dissolution.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson then sums up his suggestions as follows:—</p> + +<p>The great question then is, How can you come before the country +forthwith to the best advantage? I would take the liberty of offering +the following suggestions, which have probably occurred to yourself, +with others that I shall not mention: 1. Ought not the views of the +Government, on the great questions, be put forth in some more +authoritative, or formal and imposing way, than has yet been adopted? I +know not whether it would be in order for the Governor-General to issue +a proclamation in some such form as Lord Durham adopted, when he made +his extraordinary appeal to the inhabitants of British North America. In +such a document, whatever ought to be the form of its promulgation, the +question and doctrine of responsible government should be stated with an +explicitness that will leave the ex-Council party no room to cavil, or +justify further resistance on that subject. You have this advantage, +that you can state your case as you please, and as fully as you please, +to the country. 2. Ought there not to be more effective means used than +have yet been employed to circulate the refutations of the ex-Council's +publications amongst their own supporters? Every one you gain from that +side counts two, in more ways than one. And from what I have understood, +I am persuaded the chief desideratum is to furnish them with the +refutations of the attacks of the late Councillors. A proper improvement +of means for nearly two months might accomplish a great deal, and would +soon reduce them to a minority, in a large majority of the counties in +Upper Canada.</p> + +<p>On the 18th September, Mr. Higginson wrote to Dr. Ryerson:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The question of meeting the present Parliament, or of going to the +people, has at last been decided in favour of the latter measure. +There was so much to be said, <i>pro</i> and <i>con</i>, that it was a most +difficult point to decide. If the Government could have reckoned +with any degree of certainty upon a majority in the House, which +they unfortunately could not, there would have been the strongest +reasons, as your brother so forcibly put them, for not dissolving. +Your suggestion to Hon. Mr. Draper as to Mr. Scobie filling the +Inspector-Generalship, engages the attention of His Excellency and +the Council. Can the gentleman referred to command a seat? I fear +not.</p> + +<p>They complain of a great want of information in the Colborne +District. I mean Dr. Gilchrist's portion of it, where they see +nothing but the Peterborough <i>Chronicle</i>. Mr. Hickson may be +depended on as far as he can be of use in circulating some of your +wholesome truths. As there will now be no opportunity of speaking +to the people from the Throne previous to the elections, some other +mode must be taken to ensure our not coming before the country upon +a wrong issue, and such language used as the masses can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> readily +comprehend. It is to the electors we must look for victory, and +that Sir Charles Metcalfe will triumph I entertain no doubt.</p></div> + +<p>In acknowledging an official letter to His Excellency, Mr. Higgins on +(October 10th) informed Dr. Ryerson that he should receive an official +reply through Mr. Daly. He then added:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I doubt not that you will outlive all the abuse that foul-mouthed +radicalism can heap upon you.</p> + +<p>It is, as you know, impossible to calculate with any degree of +certainty upon the results of the elections until the polls are +tested; but, I think I may assert with safety that our prospects in +Lower Canada are by no means so discouraging as our enemies, and, I +believe, some of our friends, would make it appear. Of the latter, +there is a class that stand still with their arms folded, fancying +that there must be a majority against the Government, and that it +will be taken by the Home authorities as an evidence of the +impossibility of working responsible government.</p></div> + +<p>In sending letters of introduction to friends in England, Hon. George +Moffatt, of Montreal, wrote to Dr. Ryerson in October to say:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As to the result of the Metcalfe contest, returns have been +received from more than half of the constituencies in the two +sections of the Province, and it is gratifying to find that the +Governor-General is assured of having a good working majority in +the Assembly. I have no fears about him, and my only anxiety now is +that things may not be again grossly mismanaged at the Colonial +Office. Unfortunately, however, Sir Charles Metcalfe's health is +very precarious, and should he resign, it will be of the utmost +importance that a statesman of ability and character should be sent +out to succeed him.</p> + +<p>I drew your attention to the ungrateful conduct of the returned +exiles, generally; and if proof were wanting of the entire failure +of the conciliation system in this section of the Province, it +would only be necessary to refer to the active part taken by these +men in the late contest.</p></div> + +<p>Hon. Peter McGill, of Montreal, in his letter of introduction to Sir +Randolph Routh, thus referred to Dr. Ryerson:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Rev. Egerton Ryerson, with whose name you, and every one +connected with Canada, must be familiar, has recently been doing +the State some service, by his eloquent writings in defence and +vindication of Sir Charles Metcalfe's Government, and in support of +law, order, and British Connection.</p></div> + +<p>Having applied to His Excellency for letters of introduction to parties +in England, Mr. Secretary Higginson writes:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have the pleasure to enclose an introduction from His Excellency +to Lord Stanley, and letters to old friends of his and mine, Mr. +Trevelyan, of the Treasury, and Mr. Mangles, M.P.</p> + +<p>How nobly and strongly Upper Canada has come out! She will send us +at least thirty good men and true, who will not be overawed by a +French faction. From this section of the Province we shall have, on +the lowest calculation, thirteen or fourteen, which gives us a +majority of five or six to commence with, and that will doubtless +increase.</p></div> + +<p>From no one did Dr. Ryerson receive during the Metcalfe contest more +faithful and loving counsel than from his old friend, Rev. George +Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson had been a brave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> soldier before he entered the +ministry, in 1816, and he was, up to the time of his death, in 1857, a +valiant soldier of the cross. In a letter to Dr. Ryerson, in September, +1844, he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>My esteemed friend, beloved brother, (and may I add) dear son: +These epithets you know come from a warm heart; a heart of +friendship, affection, and love, without dissimulation. If you have +a friend in this little wicked and deceitful world it is George +Ferguson. I have watched you in all your movements from first to +last with great anxiety and deep concern. Your welfare and +prosperity I have, do, and will rejoice in; and when you are +touched in character, or otherwise, I feel it acutely. When I +understood what you intended to undertake, and hearing the clamour +among the people, I felt awful, not that I feared that any +production or argument coming from your pen would be controverted +successfully. I believe that your last production is unanswerable +on logical, constitutional, and fair, honest principles, but I was +afraid that it would not accomplish the end for which it was +designed; for the people, generally, had run mad, formerly by the +word "reform," and now they are insane by the word "responsible." I +fear that the Governor will lose the elections in Canada West. Your +pamphlet may, it is true, be a text book to the next Parliament, +and keep them right from fear. I was not afraid that you had +committed yourself with the Conference and the Church after all the +fuss preachers and people made in this respect, (and I am of +opinion many would have been glad of it) but I had my serious fears +that it would injure your enjoyments in religion, and be a source +of temptation that would cause you to leave the ministry. But I +hope and pray that one who has stood against all the bribes, baits, +and offers made to buy him, when but a boy, will be upheld. Oh! no, +no; having Christ in the soul, walking with God, having secret +communion and fellowship with the Deity continually, with your +talents and qualifications what a treasure to the Church! and the +good you would be made the happy instrument of doing! This is true +honour, real dignity, true popularity, and eternal wealth. I would +rather go to the grave with you dying well, than ever hear that my +beloved Egerton was lost to the Church. But, my dear son, you have +need to watch, to stand fast, to be strong, and acquit thyself as a +man; to have an eye single to the glory of the Lord, to keep the +munition, to watch the way. You never will be out of danger till +you get to heaven. Be much in secret prayer and communion with your +Maker. These simple truths come from a father in his 29th year of +his ministry—one that is, in every sense of the word, +superannuated, and one that will shortly be known no more.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Hon. R. B. Sullivan (under the <i>nom de plume</i> of "Legion") in a series +of thirteen letters, with appendix, extending to 232 pages of a +pamphlet, replied to Dr. Ryerson's Defence of Lord Metcalfe. These +letters were afterwards reviewed by Dr. Ryerson in a series of ten +letters, extending to 63 pages of a pamphlet. This review was in the +form of a rejoinder, but in it no new principles of government were +discussed. Dr. Ryerson's "Defence" proper, was originally published, as +was his review of "Legion's" letters, in the <i>British Colonist</i>, then +edited by the late Hugh Scobie, Esq. The Defence was afterwards +published in pamphlet form, and extended to 186 pages.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIII" id="CHAPTER_XLIII"></a>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1841-1844.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Dr. Ryerson Appointed Superintendent of Education</span>.</p> + + +<p>The alleged "reward" which Dr. Ryerson was positively asserted to have +received from Lord Metcalfe for his memorable Defence of that nobleman, +was long a favourite topic on which Dr. Ryerson's enemies loved to +dilate. Beyond the fact that the appointment was finally made by the +administration of Sir Charles Metcalfe, upon the recommendation of Hon. +W. H. Draper, there was nothing on which to base the charge of such a +<i>quid pro quo</i> having been received by Dr. Ryerson for his notable +Defence of the Governor-General.</p> + +<p>In point of fact, the appointment was first spoken of to Dr. Ryerson by +Lord Sydenham himself, in the autumn of 1841. The particulars of that +circumstance are mentioned in detail in a letter written by Dr. Ryerson +to T. W. C. Murdoch, Esq., Private Secretary to Sir Charles Bagot, on +the 14th January, 1842. Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In the last interview with which I was honoured by [Lord Sydenham], +he intimated that he thought I might be more usefully employed for +this country than in my present limited sphere; and whether there +was not some position in which I could more advantageously serve +the country at large. I remarked that I could not resign my present +official position in the Church, with the advocacy of whose +interests I had been entrusted, until their final and satisfactory +adjustment by the Government, as I might thereby be represented as +having abandoned or sacrificed their interests; but that after such +adjustment I should feel myself very differently situated, and free +to do anything which might be beneficial to the country, and which +involved no compromise of my professional character; that I knew of +no such position likely to be at the disposal of the Government +except the Superintendency of Common Schools (provided for in the +Bill then before the Legislature), which office would afford the +incumbent a most favorable opportunity, by his communications, +preparation and recommendation of books for libraries, etc., to +abolish differences<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> and jealousies on minor points; to promote +agreement on great principles and interests; to introduce the best +kind of reading for the youth of the country; and the not onerous +duties of which office would also afford him leisure to prepare +publications calculated to teach the people at large to appreciate, +upon high moral and social considerations, the institutions +established amongst them; and to furnish, from time to time, such +expositions of great principles and measures of the administration +as would secure the proper appreciation and support of them on the +part of the people at large. Lord Sydenham expressed himself as +highly gratified at this expression of my views and feelings; but +the passing of the Bill was then doubtful, although His Lordship +expressed his determination to get it passed if possible, and give +effect to what he had proposed to me, and which was then +contemplated by him.</p></div> + +<p>Apart from this statement of the intentions of Lord Sydenham, it is also +clear that the determination of Sir Charles Metcalfe to appoint Dr. +Ryerson to a position in which he could carry out a comprehensive scheme +of Public School Education, in Upper Canada, was come to some time +before the question of the difference between Sir Charles Metcalfe and +his late Councillors had engaged Dr. Ryerson's attention, and even at a +time when his impressions on the subject were against the +Governor-General. This conclusion was arrived at by Sir Charles +Metcalfe, after full and frequent conversations with Dr. Ryerson on the +subject of the University Bill. With a view to avail himself of Dr. +Ryerson's knowledge and judgment on that subject, he directed his +Private Secretary to address the following note to him on the 18th of +December, 1843:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>One of the many important subjects that at present engages the +attention of the Governor-General your Church is particularly +interested in, and His Excellency is, therefore, desirous of having +the benefit of your opinion upon it. I mean the consideration of +the arrangements that are now necessary in consequence of the +failure of the University Bill introduced last session. I beg to +add that His Excellency will be happy to have some conversation +with you on the question to which I allude, the first time you may +visit this part of the province.</p></div> + +<p>Not having been able to go at once to Kingston, Dr. Ryerson wrote to the +Governor-General in regard to the University Bill. His Secretary replied +early in January, saying:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>When it suits your convenience to come this way, His Excellency +will have an opportunity of fully discussing the subject touched +upon in your letter.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson soon afterwards went to Kingston and saw Sir Charles +Metcalfe on the subject. In a letter written to Hon. W. H. Merritt +shortly after this interview, Dr. Ryerson said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>His Excellency's object in desiring me to wait upon him had +reference to the University question, on which he intends, with the +aid of Mr. Draper, etc., to have a measure brought into the +Legislature, which I think will be satisfactory to all parties +concerned. I took a day to consider the questions he had proposed. +In the meantime I saw Mr. S. B. Harrison and stated to him the +opinions I had formed. Of their correctness and importance, and +practicability he seemed to be fully satisfied, and urged me to +state them to His Excellency.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter from Dr. Ryerson, published in the <i>Guardian</i>, and dated +28th October, 1843, the character of Mr. Baldwin's University Bill is +thus described:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It is a measure worthy of the most enlightened government; and is, +I have reason to know, entirely the production of Hon. +Attorney-General Baldwin.... In the discussion [on the University +question] the authorities of Victoria College have taken no part. +We have remained perfectly silent and neutral, not because we had +no opinion as to the policy which has been recently pursued in +converting a Provincial ministry into a Church of England one<a name="FNanchor_124_125" id="FNanchor_124_125"></a><a href="#Footnote_124_125" class="fnanchor">[124]</a> +... because we, as a body, had more to lose than to gain by any +proposed plan to remedy the abuse and evil complained of. As a +body, we gain nothing by the University Bill, should it become a +law; it only provides for the continuance of the small annual aid +which the Parliament has already granted; whilst, of course, it +takes away the University powers and privileges of Victoria +College—making it a College of the University of Toronto. Our +omission, therefore, from the Bill would be preferable, as far as +we, as a party, are concerned, were it consistent with the general +and important objects of the measure. But such an omission would +destroy the very character and object of the Bill. As a Provincial +measure, it cannot fail to confer unspeakable benefits upon the +country. Viewing the measure in this light, the Board of Victoria +College have consented to resign certain of their rights and +privileges for the accomplishment of general objects so +comprehensive and important.</p></div> + +<p>In a written statement on this subject prepared by Dr. Ryerson for this +volume he says:—</p> + +<p>Towards the close of 1843, Sir Charles Metcalfe determined to prepare +and give effect to a liberal measure on the University question—on +which subject Hon. Robert Baldwin had proposed elaborate and +comprehensive resolutions. Sir Charles Metcalfe sent for me to consult +with me on the University question, as I was then connected with one of +the colleges. I explained to His Excellency my views, and added that the +educational condition of the country at large was deplorable, and should +be considered in a system of public instruction, commencing with the +Common School and terminating with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span> University; being connected and +harmonious throughout, and equally embracing all classes without respect +to religious sect or political party. Sir Charles was much impressed and +pleased with my views, and expressed a wish that I could be induced to +give them public effect.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson then goes on to say:—I remarked to Sir Charles that Lord +Sydenham, a few days before his sudden death, had proposed the same +thing to me, and that had he survived a few weeks, I would likely have +been appointed, with a view of organizing a system of Elementary +Education; but that as Lord Sydenham died suddenly, and as I scorned to +be an applicant to Government for any office, I mentioned the fact to no +member of the Government. In May, 1842, another gentleman was appointed +Assistant to the Provincial Secretary as Superintendent of Education. He +was treated as a clerk in the office of the Provincial Secretary, having +no clerk himself, and having to submit his drafts of letters, etc., to +the Provincial Secretary for approval. [For particulars of this +appointment, see p. <a href="#Page_347">347</a>.]</p> + +<p>After this interview Dr. Ryerson, on the 26th February, wrote to the +Governor-General on the University Question. Mr. Secretary Higginson +replied, and at the conclusion of his letter repeated the offer which +Sir Charles Metcalfe had made at the close of the year:—The +Governor-General is so sensible of the great value of the aid you would +bring to the Government in the intellectual improvement of the country, +that he anxiously hopes, as suggested, that some arrangement may be +devised satisfactory to you to obtain your co-operation; and His +Excellency will keep his mind bent on that object, and will be happy to +hear any further suggestion from you with a view to its accomplishment.</p> + +<p>Early in this month (February, 1844), Dr. Ryerson's appointment as +Superintendent of Education has been talked of. His brother John wrote +to him on the 6th of March, recalling the fact of that appointment +having been the subject of conversation with Sir Charles Bagot and some +members of the Cabinet in 1842. Rev. John Ryerson then went on to say:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You know that when your appointment to the office of Superintendent +of Education was talked of in Toronto, in 1842, I was in favour of +your accepting the appointment. The appointment that was made I +thought a most unwise one, and the late Executive greatly lowered +themselves in making it. Whenever I have thought of the thing +since, I have felt disgusted with the late Government, that they +should have been guilty of such a shameful dereliction of duty and +honour as not, at least, to have offered the appointment to you.</p></div> + +<p>In reply to this letter, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<p>As liberal as the Council of Sir Charles Bagot were in many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> things, +they rejected the application of every Methodist candidate for office. +Making appointments upon the principles of party, they must be given +only to one of the party; a system of appointment which holds out a poor +prospect to the Methodist who makes religion first, and party not more +than second—especially when he may have as a rival candidate one who +makes party everything, and religion nothing.</p> + +<p>To this letter Rev. John Ryerson replied:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am very well pleased with the idea of your being appointed to the +office of Superintendent of Education—an office for which, I +think, you are better qualified than any other person in the +Province, and an office in which you can be of more service to the +Church, and the country generally, than in any other way.... You +say the appointment is not political.... Yet, is it true, in point +of fact, that the appointment is not political?... Would any person +be continued in the office who would not support the Government for +the time being?... Did not Lord Sydenham create this office for the +very purpose of connecting the incumbent with the Government, and +did he not have you in his mind's eye when he influenced this part +of the enactment?... There is no doubt, however, that in case of +the Baldwin Ministry again coming into power, the stool will be +knocked from under you. And we should not forget that the success +of the Governor-General, in carrying out his contemplated measures, +respecting the University, Colleges, etc., depends upon the +Parliament; and I have very little expectation of his being able to +secure the support of the present Parliament, in connection with +every other Ministry but the late ones; and what will be the result +of another election, who can tell?</p></div> + +<p>In corroboration of the foregoing statements, Hon. Isaac Buchanan, in a +letter to the Editor of this volume dated 24th March, 1883, says:—</p> + +<p>Being on the other side of the Atlantic from the fall of 1841 to that of +1843, I was not in circumstances to know to what extent the name of Dr. +Ryerson was discussed prior to the appointment of Mr. Murray [in May, +1842]; but I cannot believe that the minds of many who knew him to be +the fittest man, could have been otherwise than on Dr. Ryerson. On the +contrary, I believe that nothing prevented him being gladly offered the +originating of an educational system for Upper Canada—a Province which +he knew so well and loved so much—but the most unworthy church +prejudices of parties who had influence with the Government of the day, +for it was known to be a herculean task which no one could do the same +justice to as Dr. Ryerson, and which few men (however great as scholars +themselves) could have carried through at all.</p> + +<p>Thus from the foregoing statements of Dr. Ryerson, Rev. John Ryerson, +and Hon. Isaac Buchanan, the following facts clearly appear:—</p> + +<p>1. That Dr. Ryerson was offered the appointment of Superintendent of +Education by Lord Sydenham in 1841, and "had he survived a few weeks +[Dr. Ryerson] would likely have been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span> appointed, with a view of +organizing a system of Elementary Education" for Upper Canada.</p> + +<p>2. That Dr. Ryerson's appointment as Superintendent was "the subject of +conversation with Sir Charles Bagot and some members of his Cabinet in +1842."</p> + +<p>3. That the failure to appoint Dr. Ryerson was due to the fact that the +Cabinet of Sir Charles Bagot—the Governor himself being unable to +act—"rejected," as Dr. Ryerson himself stated, "the application of +every Methodist candidate for office;" or, as Hon. Isaac Buchanan +states: "Nothing prevented [Dr. Ryerson] being gladly offered the +originating of an educational system for Upper Canada, but the most +unworthy church prejudices of parties who had influence with the +Government of the day."</p> + +<p>4. That the appointment of Dr. Ryerson by Sir Charles Metcalfe was due +to the discussion on the comprehensive scheme of education which took +place between Dr. Ryerson and Sir Charles Metcalfe, on the University +question, late in 1843.</p> + +<p>It may be proper to state that the appointment of Rev. Robert Murray in +May, 1842, was a surprise to the public, as the Editor of this volume +well remembers, and was, as Rev. John Ryerson states, "a most unwise +one." Mr. Murray was a minister of the Church of Scotland at Oakville. +He was chiefly known at the time as an anti-temperance writer<a name="FNanchor_125_126" id="FNanchor_125_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_125_126" class="fnanchor">[125]</a>; but +had never been known to have taken any special interest in education. He +was intimate with Hon. S. B. Harrison, who owned mills at Bronte, a few +miles west of Oakville, where Mr. Harrison resided for some years. To +Mr. Harrison, the then leader of the Government, Mr. Murray was +indebted, as was then understood, for the appointment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rev. John Ryerson having written to his brother Egerton, asking if the +rumour of his appointment as Superintendent of Education was true, Dr. +Ryerson replied, on the 3rd April:—</p> + +<p>As to the appointment to which you allude, it is but a rumour. No +appointment has yet been made. Should it take place, it will not require +my removal from Cobourg. Whatever has been proposed to me on that +subject, has been proposed with a view of giving body, form, practical +character and efficiency, to a system of general education, upon these +non-sectarian principles of equal justice which have characterized my +life. Nothing political is involved in the appointment—although it was +at first proposed to give me a seat in the Council! The education of the +people has nothing to do with the dispute with Lord Metcalfe, of which +you speak. I do not think it would become me to refuse to occupy the +most splendid field of usefulness that could engage the energies of man, +because of the dispute which has arisen.</p> + +<p>On the 12th April, Dr. Ryerson replied to a letter from Mr. Secretary +Higginson, in which he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Dr. Bethune, the Editor of <i>The Church</i>, has indeed protested +against my proposed appointment;<a name="FNanchor_126_127" id="FNanchor_126_127"></a><a href="#Footnote_126_127" class="fnanchor">[126]</a> but I understand that a +majority of the members of his own congregation at Cobourg approve +of the appointment. Mr. Boswell, M.P.P., and Mr. Sheriff Rultan +(the most influential churchmen in the District), have expressed +themselves in favour of it in the strongest and warmest terms; as +have Mr. Keefer, of Thorold (who is a magistrate of wealth, leisure +and benevolence,—was foreman of the Grand Jury at the late assizes +in the Niagara District, and has, at the request of the District +Council, consented to superintend the schools in that district); +also Dr. Beadle, who is an old resident, and I believe, an American +Presbyterian.</p></div> + +<p>Up to this time (April), Dr. Ryerson had decided to take no part in the +controversy between Sir Charles Metcalfe and his Councillors, but to +devote his energies to the great work of founding a system of education +for his native country. Much to the surprise of his friends, and (as he +says in his prefatory paper) "without consulting a human being," he felt +that it was his duty—after the issue of the manifesto of the Toronto +League—to relinquish the work assigned to him, and once more to take up +his pen in defence of one whom he believed to be in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> the right, and yet +who was left single-handed to meet the storm of popular clamour which +had been excited against him by combined and powerful enemies. Dr. +Ryerson, therefore, determined to decline the appointment offered to +him, and to abide the issue of the impending contest in which he +proposed to take a prominent part. In the opening remarks of this +memorable "Defence," he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I was about entering upon the peaceful work—a work extensive and +varied beyond the powers of the most untiring and vigorous +intellect—a work down to this time almost entirely neglected—of +devising and constructing (by the concurrence of the people, +through their District Councils) a fabric of Provincial common +school education—of endeavouring to stud the land with appropriate +school-houses—of supplying them with appropriate books and +teachers—of raising a wretched employment to an honourable +profession—of giving uniformity, simplicity, and efficiency to a +general system of elementary educational instruction—of bringing +appropriate books for the improvement of his profession within the +reach of every school-master, and increased facilities for the +attainment of his stipulated remuneration—of establishing a +library in every district, and extending branches of it into every +township—of striving to develop by writing and discourses, in +towns, villages and neighbourhoods, the latent intellect, the most +precious wealth of the country—and of leaving no effort unemployed +within the limited range of my humble abilities, to make Western +Canada what she is capable of being made, the brightest gem in the +crown of Her Britannic Majesty. Such was the work about to be +assigned to me; and such was the work I was resolving, in humble +dependence upon the divine aid, to undertake; and no heart bounds +more than mine with desire, and hope, and joy, at the prospect of +seeing, at no distant day, every child of my native land in the +school-going way; and every intellect provided with the appropriate +elements of sustenance and enjoyment; and of witnessing one +comprehensive and unique system of education, from the a, b, c, of +the child, up to the matriculation of the youth into the Provincial +University, which, like the vaulted arch of heaven, would exhibit +an identity of character throughout, and present an aspect of equal +benignity to every sect, and every party upon the broad basis of +our common Christianity.</p> + +<p>But I arrest myself from such a work—leave it perhaps for other +hands, and the glory of its accomplishment to deck another's brow; +and, if need be, to resign every other official situation; and, +unsolicited, unadvised by any human being—inwardly impelled by a +conviction of what is due to my Sovereign, to my country, to a +fellow-man—I take up the pen of vindication, of reasoning, of +warning and appeal, against criminations and proceedings of +impending evil, which, if they be not checked and arrested, will +accomplish more than the infamous ostracism of an Aristides, render +every other effort to improve and elevate Canada abortive, and +strew in wide-spread desolation over the land the ruins of the +throne and its government.</p></div> + +<p>From the date of Mr. Higginson's letter (12th April) until the 7th of +September nothing was done in regard to the appointment of a +Superintendent of Education. On the latter day, however, Mr. Higginson +wrote to Dr. Ryerson as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We find a great difficulty in making a provisional arrangement for +the Educational duties. The University authorities require the +immediate services of a mathematical professor, and His Excellency +proposes Mr. Murray for the office, which will, it is hoped, be a +satisfactory arrangement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span> to all parties; but Mr. Murray cannot +hold both positions, even for a time. Under these circumstances it +appears to be worthy of consideration, whether your appointment +ought not to take place at once, which would not, of course, +interfere with your projected visit to Europe in November, when it +might be easier to make some proper temporary provision for the +performance of your duties during your absence. His Excellency is +aware that you were in favour of deferring your nomination until +after your return from Europe; and if you should adhere to this +opinion, you may, perhaps, be able to suggest some means of meeting +the apparent difficulty.</p></div> + +<p>On the 18th September, Mr. Higginson addressed another note to Dr. +Ryerson, in reply to one from him, in which he said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You will have learned from my last note that Sir Charles approved +of all your suggestions, except the non-announcement of your +appointment. As you see reason to alter your opinion on this point, +the difficulty is removed, and you shall be gazetted in the last +week of the month, as you propose. I wish, with you, that the +College question could be settled in England, if we could only +prevail on the contending parties to agree to a case of facts. This +might be accomplished, and I am not without hope that some scheme +may be devised to which no party will have just ground of +objection. I shall write to you upon this subject as soon as +anything is determined on.</p></div> + +<p>At this point I resume the narrative which Dr. Ryerson had prepared for +this volume in regard to his appointment:—In September, 1844, a vacancy +occurred in the Professorship of Mathematics in the University of +Toronto, by the resignation and return to England of Mr. Potter; and, as +the gentleman who had been appointed to the Education branch of the +Secretary's Office, was reputed to be an excellent mathematician, and +had high testimonials of his qualification, he applied for the +professorship; evidently feeling the anomalousness of his position, and +his inability and powerlessness to establish a system of Public School +Education.<a name="FNanchor_127_128" id="FNanchor_127_128"></a><a href="#Footnote_127_128" class="fnanchor">[127]</a></p> + +<p>The Governor-General appointed him to the Mathematical Professorship, +and formally offered the Education Office to me. I laid the official +letter containing the offer before the executive authority (a large +committee) of my Church, and was advised to accept it. But as I had +determined to abide by the decision of the country as to the principles +of its future government, on which I was then appealing to it, I +determined not to accept of office until I should know the result of +that appeal.</p> + +<p>After the endorsement of my views by all the constituencies of Upper +Canada, with eight exceptions, I felt no hesitation, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span> accepting an +office which had been some months before offered to me. The draft of my +official instructions, stating the scope and design of my appointment +and of the task assigned to me, was written by myself, at the request of +Mr. Secretary Daly, afterwards Governor in Australia.</p> + +<p>During my connection with the Education Department—from 1844 to 1876—I +made five educational tours of inspection and enquiry to educating +countries in Europe and the United States. I made an official tour +through each county in Upper Canada, once in every five years, to hold a +County Convention of municipal councillors, clergy, school-trustees, +teachers and local superintendents, and thus developed the School system +as the result of repeated inquiries in foreign countries, and the freest +consultation with my fellow-citizens of all classes, in the several +County Conventions, as well as on many other occasions.</p> + +<p>During the nearly thirty-two years of my administration of the Education +Department, I met with strong opposition at first from individuals—some +on personal, others on religious and political grounds; but that +opposition was, for most part, partial and evanescent. During these +years I had the support of each successive administration of Government, +whether of one party or the other, and, at length, the co-operation of +all religious persuasions; so that in 1876 I was allowed to retire, with +the good-will of all political parties and religious denominations, and +without diminution of my public means of subsistence.</p> + +<p>I leave to Dr. J. George Hodgins, my devoted friend of over forty years, +and my able colleague for over thirty of these years, the duty of +filling up the details of our united labours in founding a system of +education for my native Province which is spoken of in terms of strong +commendation, not only within, but by people outside of the Dominion.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Note</span>.—It is the purpose of the Editor of this book (in accordance with +Dr. Ryerson's oft expressed wish) to prepare another volume, giving, +from private letters, memoranda, and various documents, a personal +history of the founding and vicissitudes of our educational system from +1844 to 1876 inclusive.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_124_125" id="Footnote_124_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124_125"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> The second resolution adopted by the Victoria College +Board, on the 24th October, 1843, says:—the noble and comprehensive +objects of the amended Charter have been entirely defeated; and the +abrogated, sectarian Charter has been virtually restored, by the partial +and exclusive manner in which appointments to that institution have been +made, and its affairs managed; apart from the misappropriations of large +portions of its funds.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_125_126" id="Footnote_125_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125_126"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> In September, 1839, Rev. Robert Murray, of Oakville, +published a series of lectures on "Absolute Abstinence." From a review +of these lectures, by Dr. Ryerson in the <i>Guardian</i> of the 18th of that +month, I make the following extracts:— +</p><p> +We confess we have seldom read anything so illiberal and sweeping.... +The principle of total abstinence is wholly repudiated, and temperance +societies are forbidden an existence.... But such a work ... shall not +by us be allowed to go forth without the accompaniment of our decided +reprobation. This is not the day for encouragement to be given to the +drunkard, nor this the time when a Minister of the Gospel is ... to fill +the cup of death and present it to his fellows without an attempt being +made to dash it to the ground. +</p><p> +The following extract from the second lecture, relating to the +fulfilment of a certain prophecy in the book of Jeremiah, is given by +Dr. Ryerson:— +</p><p> +"Many of you, I am persuaded, have witnessed this prophecy fulfilled to +the very letter. Have you never seen young men making themselves +cheerful with malt liquors, while the young maids were producing the +same effect with the blood of the grape? Nor is there the slightest +doubt on my mind, that the prophet hailed this event as a special +manifestation of the great goodness of God." +</p><p> +It was in reference to the author of such opinions, and the advocate of +such views, that Rev. John Ryerson used the language quoted on the +preceding page.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_126_127" id="Footnote_126_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126_127"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> On the 19th October, 1844, Dr. Ryerson was appointed +Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada. Of his appointment, Rev. +Dr. Bethune, Editor of <i>The Church</i>, on the 25th October, said:—It was +an impolitic and a heartless step, as regards the Church of England in +this colony, to raise to the office of Superintendent an individual who +has thriven upon his political obliquities, and who owes his fame, or +rather his notoriety, to his unquenchable dislike to the National +Church. In a moment of danger we can forget the injury; but it must not +be thought that we shall sit quietly beneath the wrong. +</p><p> +Rev. Dr. Bethune subsequently changed his opinion of Dr. Ryerson, and, +when Bishop of Toronto, referred to him in some of his public utterances +in very kind and complimentary terms.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_127_128" id="Footnote_127_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127_128"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> In regard to this appointment, the Hon. Isaac Buchanan, +in a letter to the Editor of this volume, dated March, 1883, said:—I +was one of the first to see the necessity of our getting Dr. Ryerson to +take hold of our Educational system, and I shared the somewhat delicate +duty of getting our esteemed friend, Rev. Robert Murray (whom we had got +appointed Assistant-Superintendent of Education), to accept a +professorship at the Toronto University, when Rev. Dr. Ryerson succeeded +to the vacant post in 1844.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIV" id="CHAPTER_XLIV"></a>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1844-1846.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Dr. Ryerson's First Educational Tour in Europe</span>.</p> + + +<p>Dr. Ryerson left Canada for Europe in November, 1844, on his first +educational tour through Europe. He visited and examined into the +educational systems of Belgium, France, Italy, Bavaria, Austria, the +German States, and Switzerland. He kept a full diary of his travels. +Much of it is out of date, but I shall give those portions of it which +relate to his personal history, and his impressions of men and things. +The epitome of these travels which he had prepared is as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>England.</i>—Scenery of Essex and Kent from the Thames; landing in +Holland; its scenery, palaces, school system, schools, +universities, museums, principal cities and towns, churches, canals +and roads.</p> + +<p><i>Belgium.</i>—From Utrecht to Antwerp—cathedral, churches, schools, +museums; Rubens' paintings; Brussels—schools; Hôtel de Ville, +etc.; field of Waterloo; Belgian school system; Howard's Model +Prison; convent; university buildings.</p> + +<p><i>France.</i>—Journey to Paris; curiosities and peculiarities of +Paris; acquaintance with the Protestant clergy; my residence and +employments there for three months, to qualify myself to speak as +well as write official letters, etc., in the French language.</p> + +<p><i>From Paris to Rome.</i>—Modes of travel; places viewed on the way; +Orleans, Loire, Lyons, Rhone, Avignon, Nismes, Montpellier, Arles; +antiquities; Marseilles, Genoa, Leghorn, Civita Vecchia, to Rome.</p> + +<p><i>Rome.</i>—Three weeks among its antiquities, palaces, churches, +colleges and schools.</p> + +<p><i>June 13th, 1845.</i>—Naples; the peasants on the way from Rome to +Naples; Vesuvius, Herculaneum, Pompeii, museums, hospitals, +college, schools.</p> + +<p><i>June 20th.</i>—In a steamer from Naples to Leghorn, thence in a +hired coach to Pisa and Florence,—beautiful country, and highly +cultivated. Employed four weeks in studying the institutions and +peculiarities of Florence; no beggars or Jesuits allowed in +Florence; the grand Duke a father to his people.</p> + +<p><i>July 19th.</i>—Proceeded to Bologna, re-enter the Papal dominions, +and crossed the Appenines; views; a Normal School at Bologna, +containing 1,000 pupils, and a Foundling Hospital with 3,000 +children.</p> + +<p><i>July 23rd.</i>—Left Bologna in a vetturina, in company with two +agreeable gentlemen, a German and an American; Ferrara; reached the +Po, where we entered Austrian dominions; when we entered the first +custom-house in Italy, the head officers of which did not ask for +money, and declined it when offered to them. Crossed the Adige; +interesting places; thence to Venice, where I spend four days in +that wondrous city.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Bavaria.</i>—In a stage by the Trent, through the Tyrolese Alps to +Munich, capital of Bavaria, where I employed nineteen days in +visiting its schools and museums, conversing with the professors.</p> + +<p>From Munich by stage to Ratisbon; down the Danube to Luiz and +Vienna—the most perfect city in its buildings, streets, and +gardens I had visited. Gave a day to go down the Danube to the +capital of Hungary.</p> + +<p><i>Bohemia.</i>—From Vienna, through Bohemia, by the first train on the +then new railroad to Prague; women working on the railroad.</p> + +<p><i>Saxony and Germany.</i>—From Prague to Dresden—visits to schools; +thence to Leipsic—visits to public buildings, schools, and +university; thence to Halle—Franke's foundations, and other +schools; to Wittemburg—Luther and Melancthon.</p> + +<p><i>Prussia.</i>—Berlin, Sept. 8th.—Examination of its various +institutions, schools, and its university; Hanover, Cologne, +Mayence, Wiesbaden, Frankfort, Strasbourg, Bâle, Zürich; school of +M. Fellenburg; Lausanne—Geneva—to Paris.</p> + +<p><i>Episode in my European travels, 1844, etc.</i>—Acquaintance and +travel with a Russian nobleman, who becomes a Catholic priest—the +Pope's Nuncio at the Court to have the Canadian school regulations +for Separate School translated and published in the Bavarian +newspapers; also requested me to be the bearer of a medal to +Cardinal Antonelli. Rome; presentation to, and interview with, the +Pope.</p> + +<p><i>London—February 22nd, 1845.</i>—Started this morning in company +with a young Russian nobleman (Dunjowski), for the Continent. We +commenced our voyage on the Thames, wending our way amidst shoals +of craft of all descriptions. The most prominent object in the +river was the new "Great Britain" iron steamer; she seemed to +preside Queen of the waters; excelling every other ship, as much in +the beauty and elegance of her form, as in the vastness of her +dimensions. On our left lay Essex, rising gradually at a distance +from the river; the undulating surface presents a high state of +cultivation, variegated by stately mansions, farm-houses, and +villages. On the right lay Kent, remarkable for its historical +recollections. The chalk-hills near Purfleet, the men working in +them, also the lime and sand, attracted my attention as a novelty I +had never before witnessed. We had a tolerable view of Gravesend, +the great thoroughfare of south-eastern England. We passed the +ancient village of Tilbury Fort, and Sheerness. We arrived at +Holland on Sunday morning (about twenty hours from London), but +could not ascend the river to Rotterdam on account of the ice. We +therefore steamed to Screvinning, a village on the sea-shore, about +three miles from the Hague. There were about fifty fishing-boats +lying on the shore, high and dry, with their prows to the sea, as +the tide was out. I was struck with their shortness, breadth, +strength, and clam-like shape of their bottoms, with a portion in +the centre perfectly flat. The speed of these curiously-constructed +crafts is considerable; they sail close to the wind; having boards +at the side as a substitute for a keel. Our mode of landing was +novel. The boats were run aground, when several stout Dutch sailors +jumped into the water nearly waist deep, and each took a passenger +on his shoulders, soon placing him on <i>terra firma</i>. I have +travelled in a great variety of ways, but I was never before placed +on a man's shoulders, astride of his neck; but in this way I took +my leave of the German Ocean. There is not a rock to be seen on the +shore; which consists of fine sand thrown up from the sea, and +forms a bank about twenty feet high; the highest land on the coast +of Holland, forming a ridge from one to three miles wide along the +northern coast. Screvinning is principally inhabited by fishermen. +The road to the Hague is perfectly straight, level, and smooth, +lying between two rows of oak trees, one row of which divides +between it and a collateral canal—the accompaniment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span> of every road +throughout Holland. At 5 p.m. we went to the French Protestant +Church, the place in which the famous Saurin delivered his eloquent +discourses. The congregation was thin; my emotions and +recollections of Saurin contrasted with the present preacher and +congregation. The pulpit was at the side; the form of the church +was amphi-theatrical. I noticed old Bibles, and Psalms; the text +was Luke xxiii 27-28. A moderate preacher, calm, solemn and +graceful; baptisms after the service. Went from the French to the +English Church; only fifteen persons were present, including +ourselves. I spoke to the clergyman (Mr. Beresford), introducing +ourselves, and the object of our mission.</p> + +<p><i>February, 24th.</i>—Went to the British Embassy with Rev. Mr. +Beresford; from thence to the Royal Library; and then proceeded to +the Chinese and Japanese collection of curiosities; then on to the +Gallery of Paintings; some very exquisite. From thence to the +residence of the Russian (Greek) clergyman, Chaplain to the Queen +of Holland, who kindly shewed us the Queen's private +apartments—refined taste, and great magnificence. Then on to a +Protestant school, of about 800 poor children, which is supported +by subscription. The King is a subscriber to the amount of 1,000 +guilders. The teachers consist of a head master and four +assistants. No monitors; admirable construction of the seats; +excellent order of the children; rod never used—shame, the chief +instrument of correction; fine specimens of painting; Scriptures +read, and prayers four times a day; salary of the head master 1,000 +guilders, and assistants from 300 to 400; books furnished to the +children, and all the stationery; an excellent building, +well-ventilated, comfortably warm, and perfectly clean; the +children remain from six to twelve years of age. Saw the British +Chargé d'Affaires, who procured me a general letter of introduction +to teachers, etc., throughout Holland, from the Minister of the +Interior. Visited the largest and principal free school at the +Hague; it contains about eleven hundred children, girls and boys, +taught by a head-master, aided by a second, and five other +under-masters, and five assistants, lads from fifteen to eighteen +years of age. No master ever sits, or has a seat to sit on. Were +conducted by the Russian clergymen to the palace again; the state +apartments were splendid indeed; collection of paintings extensive +and most select; hot-houses and gardens delightful. Spent the +evening with this gentleman, and was deeply interested in his +conversation on his own labours, and the customs and character of +the Hollanders.</p> + +<p><i>February 25th.</i>—Left the Hague for Leyden. The country perfectly +level, looking like a low meadow won from the empire of water by +the industry of man, intersected by dykes and canals, interspersed +with villas and good private dwellings; here and there a wood of +twenty or fifty years growth. On our way we visited Dr. de Rendt, +who keeps the most select private school in Holland for the first +class of nobility and gentry.</p> + +<p><i>February 26th—Leyden.</i>—Attended the University, and conversed at +large with the Inspector of Schools for the district, Mr. Blusse, +who gave the history, and explained the whole system of elementary +education in Holland. Visited six schools, admirable upon the +whole. Three thousand poor children are taught in them, at an +expense to the State. Visited the Museum, University, and Library; +then proceeded to Haarlem, examined the schoolrooms of the +celebrated Mr. Prinsen and afterwards heard his own views of the +essentials of a good system of popular education: his remarks were +profound and practical. He remarked, "a good system of education +consists in the men. Theory and practice make the teacher. The +government of the head, how acquired and how exercised. Few books; +much exposition." His business for forty-four years has been to +make school-masters. Religious instruction, history of his own +career and of his own school. Afterwards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span> examined Casler's +monument and the church; heard the organ, and proceeded to +Amsterdam.</p> + +<p><i>Feb. 27th—Amsterdam.</i>—Had some talk with the Government +Inspector of Schools. Visited a school, taught by a Roman Catholic, +in which there were 950 children in one room, all quiet, and all +attentive. There were four masters and twelve assistants. They have +prayers four times a day.</p> + +<p><i>Feby. 28th.</i>—Went to Saundau. Reflections on Peter the Great. +Visited the palace, its paintings and museum. Took supper with the +Rev. Mr. Jameson, Episcopal clergyman.</p> + +<p><i>March 1st—Belgium.</i>—Proceeded to Utrecht, thence to Antwerp.</p> + +<p><i>March 2nd—Sunday.</i>—Went to the cathedral; paintings by Rubens; +earnestness and oratory of the preacher. Went to St. Pauls; the +streets very quiet.</p> + +<p><i>March 3rd.</i>—Visited the Jesuit's church, and three schools; +phonic and Lancasterian method of learning. Visited the museum, the +city, the view from the tower of the cathedral, statues of Rubens, +of the Virgin and Saviour. Proceeded to Brussels; visited three +schools; courteously received; arrangements good. Visited the Hotel +de Ville; Gobelin tapestry; history of Clovis; abdication of +Charles V. Paintings. Reflections.</p> + +<p><i>March 4th.</i>—Spent three hours in examining the field of Waterloo. +Went to Nivelles and visited the Normal School for south Belgium; +all the arrangements perfect. Returned to Brussels.</p> + +<p><i>March 3rd.</i>—Left Brussels for Ghent; met a commissioner at the +railway station, and visited the Government Model School; the views +of the intelligent master were very excellent. Called on a Doctor +to whom I had a letter of introduction. He explained the school +system of Belgium with great clearness. Visited the prison, the +celebrated establishment that excited the admiration of Howard, and +after the model of which several prisons in England and America +have been built. There were about twelve hundred +prisoners—arrangements wonderful, discipline apparently +perfect—kept by twenty-eight men. Visited a poorhouse, a +benevolent establishment to assist poor old people; about three +hundred inmates; grateful feelings, sympathy. Visited the +celebrated convent, containing about eight hundred nuns, who come +and remain voluntarily; none, it is said, have ever left. Visited +the university buildings—the best I have seen on the continent; +lecture-rooms very fine. Left for Lille, in France; courteously +treated at the French custom house.</p> + +<p><i>March 8th—Paris.</i>—On our way from Lille we crossed a branch of +the Rhine and the Meuse on the ice; country level and well +cultivated; passed Cambray and other towns. Walked to the park, +Tuileries, to the Triumphal Arch of Napoleon—a world of +magnificence.</p> + +<p><i>March 9th.</i>—Studying French; walked through and around the Palais +Royale in the boulevards—noble, splendid.</p> + +<p><i>March 10th—Sunday.</i>—Attended the Wesleyan chapel—about one +hundred present—then the English Church; thence to the Madeleine +Church—most magnificent; congregation vast; music and chanting +excellent beyond description; discourse read; paintings and +sculpture fine; church built by Napoleon.</p> + +<p><i>March 11th.</i>—Went to Dr. Grampier, the director of the French +Protestant Evangelical Mission, a pious man, an able author, at the +head of an excellent institution having missions in Africa as well +as in different parts of France.</p> + +<p><i>March 12th.</i>—Removed to new lodgings; tolerably comfortable.</p> + +<p><i>March 13th.</i>—Went to the university; heard lecture on history; +Attended an evening party at Dr. Grampier's; was introduced to +several gentlemen of rank and wealth. Singing and reading of the +Scriptures; much pleased with the party; as many ladies as +gentlemen; assembled at eight, broke up at eleven o'clock.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>March 14th.</i>—Heard a most splendid lecture on astronomy from the +celebrated Arago; audience very large; the professor had no notes; +the subject was light—comets, causes of the changes in the color +of the stars, etc., etc.; lecture two hours, much cheered.</p> + +<p><i>March 15th.</i>—Went to the French Chamber of Deputies; saw Guizot. +Difference between the French Chamber of Deputies and the British +House of Commons struck me—1st. The more ample accommodations for +members; 2nd. The little attention which appeared to be paid to the +President of the Chamber; 3rd. In the members going to the tribune +to speak, and reading their speeches; 4th. In the position of the +different officers of the House; 5th. The fine appearance of the +servants, and the very convenient accommodations for them; 6th. The +superior accommodations for strangers. Heard two lectures at the +university, one on mineralogy; lecture good; specimens +numerous—the other on electricity; splendid lecturer; fine +illustrations.</p> + +<p><i>March 16th—Sunday.</i>—Went to the Oratoire, the principal +Protestant place of worship; about seventy catechumens admitted; +the dress of the females white. Sermon by Mr. Monod; text—"<i>Mon +fils, donne-moi ton coeur</i>;" very practical and impressive; the +singing peculiarly touching. He is a complete talking machine; read +from Lamartine, as did M. Delille beautifully and effectively.</p> + +<p><i>March 17th.</i>—Close application to the study of French all day. +Anecdotes at breakfast respecting the pride of Victor Hugo. Walked +along the Seine, then across the river into Notre Dame—the +Westminister Abbey of Paris—worthy of the appellation.</p> + +<p><i>March 18th.</i>—Pursued my studies till 7 p.m., when I attended a +party given by Count Gasparin, M.H.D., who, with his father, is +styled the Wilberforce of France—the one being a member of the +House of Peers, the other of the House of Deputies. They are +regarded as the representatives of Protestantism in the French +Legislature. Had a good deal of conversation with Dr. Grampier, on +the strength, state, and prospects of Protestantism in France; also +the mode of instructing young persons for public recognition in the +Church, and admission to the Holy Communion. These catechumens are +instructed two or three times a week, for six months, in the +evidences, doctrines, and morals of Christianity. They are then +examined, and if they shew themselves qualified, they are publicly +admitted. The ceremony of admission takes place twice a year, a +little before Easter, and at Pentecost. None are admitted under +fifteen years of age. Dr. Grampier considered that Protestantism +was decidedly gaining upon Popery; and that his own university had +been as successful amongst the Catholics, as amongst Protestants, +in genuine heart conversions; that whole congregations in some +parts of France had embraced Protestantism. His remarks respecting +Guizot were interesting and curious. The mother of this great man +is now eighty-four years of age, a woman of great vigour of mind; a +saint, and nursing-mother in Israel; she offers daily prayers for +her son. Guizot is an orthodox Protestant, employed Dr. Grampier to +instruct and prepare his children for the Holy Communion, but never +goes to church himself, but has told Dr. Grampier that he prays +every day. He has been much afflicted in the loss of two wives whom +he greatly loved; and also of a son, about twenty-one, a young man +of most amiable disposition, great acquirements, talents and +virtues. Conversed also with Count Gasparin, who appears to be a +truly converted man; spoke of the inefficiency of a formal +religion, and the necessity of the religion of the heart. Mentioned +the readiness of Roman Catholics to hear Protestant missionaries. +He believes that God is about to do a great work in France. The +Count is an author; his father has been Minister of the Interior.</p> + +<p><i>March 19th.</i>—Heard lecture on chemistry by Prof. Dumas, one of +the ablest chemists of the present day, and a most eloquent +lecturer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>March 20th—Good Friday.</i>—Went to hear a Protestant clergyman, +one of the most pious and able ministers in Paris; his manner +unaffected, eloquent, and impressive. No organ; singing good, all +sang. It being a holy day, crowds were everywhere; streets for +miles were filled with three, and sometimes four lines of +carriages, of all descriptions; the broad sidewalks were literally +crowded with pedestrians, forming solid masses from twenty to fifty +feet wide, and extending two miles. Order was preserved by soldiers +and cavalry, stationed at short distances. I never saw such a +moving mass of people, embracing, no doubt, every nation in Europe +and America. The attractions of the harlequins, jugglers, +hucksters, etc., of all descriptions, surpass imagination. I walked +to Napoleon's Arch of Triumph; observed the inscriptions and +remarkable figures on that elegant and extraordinary structure; +ascended to the top, and there enjoyed one of the most magnificent +views I ever beheld, embracing all Paris and its environs for many +miles, the day being cloudless; the serpentine Seine, the richly +cultivated country, its parks, its gardens, its arcades of trees, +its villas, churches, colleges, hospitals, palaces, squares, and +monuments, together with the elegant Tuileries, the noble Louvre, +the magnificent Champs Elysées, the playing fountains, the spacious +streets, and the moving masses of people, presented a scene which +for variety, splendour, and I may add, solemnity, could not be +excelled by any prospect that might have been commanded on the +pinnacle of Jerusalem's Temple. In fifty years the mass of this +vast multitude will be numbered amongst a bygone generation; and +these stately works of art shall perish. What a worm am I amongst +such a multitude! yet I am destined to immortality; have but a few +years to live in a probationary state, but an eternity to exist!</p> + +<p><i>March 21st.</i>—Went to the Louvre to see the paintings; about two +thousand in number; some large and splendid, many beautiful, and +some affecting; none of the paintings from sacred history equal +those I have seen in England, Holland, and Belgium, especially in +Antwerp.</p> + +<p><i>March 22nd—Easter.</i>—Went to the Oratoire, where a discourse was +delivered, and the Lord's Supper celebrated. The preacher, Mons. +Venueil, was so impressive and affecting that the greater part of +the congregation were in tears several times. Being Easter Sunday, +his subject was the resurrection, of Christ. He reminded me of +Saurin. The spectacle presented of the communicants standing around +a long table, and the minister in the midst, at one side, +distributing the emblems with suitable addresses, reminded me of +pictures I have seen of Christ at the Last Supper. The catechumens +who had been received on the previous Sabbath, first partook. I, +for the first time, communed with French Protestants, and I felt it +good to be there. I attended the Wesleyan chapel; service in +French; congregation about seventy-five; preacher (a little +Frenchman), quite animated; he quoted many passages of Scripture, +chapter and verse, proving the universality of the Atonement. The +communion followed.</p> + +<p><i>March 24th, 1845.</i>—This day I am forty-two years of age! My life +is more than half gone, at the best. The recollections of the past +year are painful and humiliating beyond expression. It has been the +least spiritual year of my Christian life. For some weeks past I +have been revived in my purposes, devotions and enjoyments. By +God's grace, my future life and labours shall be His. I have never +before felt so keenly the weakness and depravity of the human +heart; nor have I ever felt so deeply the necessity and the +sufficiency of the atoning blood of Christ. He is all. All is +wretchedness and death without Him.</p> + +<p><i>March 26th.</i>—Worked very hard at my French studies; much +discouraged, but must not abandon my efforts to speak a new +language. Visited the Pantheon—wondrous structure—a sovereign's +pride, and a nation's monument. Visited the tombs of the dead; +ascended to the dome—magnificent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span> view; fine paintings in fresco. +My impressions will never be effaced. This evening was in company +with Count Gasparin and his noble father, and Mr. Monod, one of the +principal Protestant ministers in Paris. Mr. Monod spoke strongly +of Puseyism; mentioned that he was at a school this week where +there were twelve Protestant young ladies sent from England to be +educated in a Papal school, and every one of them had become Roman +Catholics. He told me there was no intercourse between the +Protestants in France and Holland; he considers vital religion is +advancing in Holland.</p> + +<p><i>March 27th.</i>—Went to the Observatoire; heard lecture from Mons. +Arago; room crowded. Visited the beautiful gardens of the +Luxembourg.</p> + +<p><i>March 30th.</i>—Heard Mons. Armand Delille (my host) preach, in Dr. +Grampier's Church; impressive service, and a comfortable place of +worship outside the gates of the city.</p> + +<p><i>March 31st.</i>—Commenced receiving lessons in French from Mons. O. +De Lille; believe I shall soon be able to speak. The name of God be +praised for His help and blessing!</p> + +<p><i>April 2nd.</i>—Went to the College (Sorbonne); heard a lecture on +Botany.</p> + +<p><i>April 3rd.</i>—Was strongly talked with for not speaking French; Oh, +that God would help me; I desire to employ it to His honour. Heard +Mons. Arago on Astronomy.</p> + +<p><i>April 5th.</i>—Commenced conversing in French, in good earnest. +Heard a lecture by Mons. Despretz on Modern History, in which the +eloquent lecturer drew a parallel between France and Rome, and the +reign of Augustus and the career of Buonaparte, of course in favour +of the latter.</p> + +<p><i>April 6th—Sabbath.</i>—Attended church both morning and evening. +Received this morning a present of several books in French from the +pious author of them; read the description and reflections upon +"Jésus Bénissant les Enfants"; was deeply affected with the +remembrance of the manner in which my most pious and excellent +mother brought me, in various ways, to the Saviour, when I was a +little boy. I owe my all to her, as a divinely-owned instrument, in +my early conversion and dedication of myself to God and His Church. +She is now on the verge of heaven—may grace strengthen me to meet +her there.</p> + +<p><i>April 7th.</i>—Heard four lectures this day on law, chemistry, +theology, and philosophy. The lecture on theology was on the +authenticity of the Scriptures—comparing the prophecies of Isaiah +with the narrative of the evangelists. Lecture on philosophy was +devoted to an admirable analysis of Locke.</p> + +<p><i>April 8th.</i>—Attended four lectures at the university at 9 +o'clock. "Droit de la nature et des nations," (in the college of +France) by Mons. de Postels; "Poésie latine," by M. Patin, the +subject was Horace; "Anatomie, physiologie comp. et zoologie," by +De Blainville; much of geological theory; "Physique-Acoustique," by +M. Despretz; musical instruments.</p> + +<p><i>April 9th.</i>—Have attended five lectures: "Histoire de Littérature +Grecque," by Egger; "Histoire Ecclésiastique," by l'Abbe Jager; +"Botanique anat. et Physiologie Végétales," by Payer; "Théologie +Morale," by l'Abbe Receveur.</p> + +<p><i>April 10th.</i>—Attended three full lectures, and part of a fourth. +1st. Eloquence latine—Cicero, by M. Hanet; 2nd. Histoire Moderne, +by M. Michelet, celebrated, (Collége de France) crowded audience +and much applause; 3rd. Littérature Grecque; 4th. Histoire Moderne, +par M. Sornement. I understood more than I ever did before. The +name of the Lord be praised!</p> + +<p><i>April 11th.</i>—Attended five lectures. 1st. Civil Law of France; +2nd. Astronomical Geography; 3rd. Sacred Literature; 4th. Botany +and Vegetable Physiology; 5th. French Eloquence. Read French and +English with a young collegian. The name of the Lord be praised for +the goodness of this day, and for the success of my labours!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>April 12th.</i>—Was enabled to make a long recitation this morning, +and have attended five lectures at the university. Received a +parcel from London, furnishing me with Canadian papers; how +refreshing is news from home in a foreign country. Thus has my +heavenly Father blest me with all good things.</p> + +<p><i>April 13th—Sabbath.</i>—Attended service at the Chapelle Tailbout; +M. Bridel preached on prayer; thence to the Wesleyan Chapel, which +was crowded. Read the religious intelligence from Canada. I rejoice +to hear of the doings of my brethren; the success of the work in +their hands; hope still to labour with them.</p> + +<p><i>April 14th.</i>—Attended four lectures at the university, besides my +studies. I pray my heavenly Father to assist and prosper my +exertions. I can do nothing without confidence in Him. To the glory +of His name shall the fruit of my unworthy labours be consecrated.</p> + +<p><i>April 15th.</i>—Attended the meeting of the "Société des Introits +généraux du Protestantisme français." Proceedings commenced with +prayer. The meeting was addressed by a number of pasteurs; most of +the speakers had notes. Also attended the annual meeting of the +"Société des Traités religieux" in the Chapelle Tailbout; report +well read; speeches short and energetic.</p> + +<p><i>April 16th.</i>—Attended the Conference of the Protestant Pastors, +in the Consistory of the Oratoire. About sixty present; the +proceedings opened with prayer. The President then asked the +members present to propose the subject of their friendly +conversation; several were proposed. Two hours brotherly +conversation took place on the duties, powers, and interests of the +synod. Most of those who spoke had notes; delivered their +sentiments sitting; were asked in order. Attended the twenty-fifth +anniversary of the "Société Biblique Protestante;" commenced with +prayer and singing. The Count de Gasparin spoke extemporaneously, +and with great elegance and ease. A number spoke with energy and +force; the last speaker selected passages to show that the Gospel +is not incomprehensible to the vulgar, as Romanists assert; also +attended the annual meeting of the "Société Evangélique de France;" +Chairman read a very short address; several spoke; M. de Gasparin +concluded by prayer.</p> + +<p><i>April 17th.</i>—Attended the Conference of Pastors; the proceedings +the same as yesterday. At the annual meeting of the "Société des +Missions Evangélique;" the chair was occupied by a venerable old +man, who seemed, from the allusions made, to be an old friend and +supporter of the Society. The aged President read with a feeble +voice a short address. There were nine speakers; the last the +venerable Monod, who delivered a charge and parting address to the +young men who were going to Africa. He embraced in his address the +marrow of the Gospel, its power, its promises, its preciousness. +The young men were deeply affected, as were all present. He +directed them to the power and promises of Christ; assured them of +the continued sympathy of the Protestant pastors and churches of +France. Another pastor volunteered a few words of address to the +young men, on the distribution of religious tracts, and everywhere +proclaiming themselves as the missionaries of Christ from France. +There was a most affectionate greeting of pastors and old friends. +In the Consistory Chapel of the Oratoire de l'Eglise, there are +four busts of ministers whose memory is cherished by their +survivors. The names and epitaphs are as follows:—(1) F. +Methezet—"Il se repose de ses travaux et ses œuvres le +suivent." (2) J.A. Barbant—"Je sais en qui j'ai cru." (3) J. +Monod—"Christ est ma vie, et la mort est gain." (4) P. H. +Marron—"O mort où est ton aiguillon! O sépulcre où est ta +victoire!"</p> + +<p><i>April 18th.</i>—Attended the annual meeting of the "Société Biblique +Françoise et Etrangère." Count de Gasparin in the chair; speeches +spirited;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span> details of report interesting and encouraging. Went to +Dr. Grampier's; a social meeting of pastors, to converse and pray +on the subject of Missions; subject of conversations; the +Missionary work and spirit. From thence went to an annual party, +where there was much of fashion and elegance; magnificent tea; +peculiar manners; conversed with Mr. Touse, an English clergyman, +and with M. G. de Gasparin.</p> + +<p><i>April 19th.</i>—Attended the annual meeting of the "Société pour +l'encouragement et l'instruction primairie le protestants de +France." The Protestants are not satisfied with the system of mixed +schools; they wish to have exclusively Protestant schools. The +report was full, explicit, and decided. Several speeches from the +principal Protestant ministers, dwelling upon religious instruction +in primary schools. Attended the morning conference; nothing new in +the proceedings; but there was a marriage; but neither groomsmen +nor bridesmaids. Address of the pastor. The bride led by her +father, the brother-in-law leading the bridegroom; salutations of +friends; the presentation of the wedding-ring by the father of the +bride; presentation of a Bible to the newly-married couple; +touching offering to the poor.</p> + +<p><i>April 20th—Sabbath.</i>—Went to the "Institution des Diaconesses de +l'Église Evangélique de France." The situation is delightful. +Several addresses and statements of affairs. Employed the evening +in religious study. Witnessed much lightness among certain +ministers of the Protestant Reformed Church. The prevalent views +here respecting the sanctity of the Sabbath are very different from +those which prevail either in England or Canada.</p> + +<p><i>April 25th.</i>—Visited several schools of the Protestant dissenters +in Paris—called "Ecoles Gratuités." The first was the Female +Normal School, containing nineteen pupils. I was impressed with the +admirable arrangement of the school and its appliances, as well as +the taste and neatness of the botanical garden. The dormitory was +plain, neat, and airy; in it on the wall were pasted the following +passages of Scripture, viz., Psalms xv. 5., Amos iv. 12. There were +two schools for boys and girls attached to the institution, but +these several departments constitute one school—all Roman Catholic +children taught by Protestants, on strictly Protestant principles. +The priests make no opposition. People independent of the priests.</p> + +<p><i>April 26th.</i>—Pursued my studies with encouraging success. Visited +M. Toase who gave me useful information.</p> + +<p><i>April 27th—Sabbath.</i>—Heard M. Toase; went afterwards to the +Madeleine; building magnificent; passed through the garden of the +Tuileries; a paradise of a place; shades; walks; grass-plots; +lakes; fountains; fish; statues; amusements; but, alas! what +profanation of the Sabbath!</p> + +<p><i>April 30th.</i>—Went to Versailles; grand and little Trainon, +magnificent.</p> + +<p><i>May 1st.</i>—The King's birthday and fête; illuminations; fireworks; +appearance of the King Louis Philippe on the balcony of the palace. +The Tuileries; the Champs Elysées; booths; fêtes; riding; examples +of physical strength; girls riding; jumping; great multitudes; good +order preserved; Church of St. Roch; music; saw Lord Cowley; his +kindness in lending me his ticket for the House of Peers; getting +recommendations from the Government; documents on education, etc.</p> + +<p><i>May 3rd.</i>—Visited Notre Dame; Hôtel-Dieu; Chambre des Pairs; +Chapelle; gallery of paintings; nuns; few peers present; old men; +session short; not imposing; fine paintings in the Chapel; +admirable selection in the gallery; answer from Lord Cowley.</p> + +<p><i>May 8th.</i>—Have devoted several days to study, nothing worthy of +remark.</p> + +<p><i>May 9th.</i>—Left Paris for Lyons; on the top of the diligence on +the railroad to Orleans, level, fertile country; passed through +Orleans; saw Cathedral; Jeanne d'Arc; Loire; historical +recollections.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>May 12th.</i>—Examined the curiosities of the town; rough-looking +people; homage to the Virgin; "Hôtel du Midi;" view from the +Observatoire; Roman antiquities.</p> + +<p><i>May 13th.</i>—Left Lyons in a steamer for Avignon; confluence of the +Rhone and Soane; varied, beautiful, and sometimes bold; romantic +scenery on the Rhone. Vienne; vineyards; wines; St. Villars; +Pontius Pilate; river very narrow and crooked; Roch de Tain; +Hannibal; vista of the valley of the Isère; Alps; Valence; St. Pay; +Percy; wine of St. Peroy; Castle of Crupol; Drôme; Montilvart; +Viviers; rocks; canal; Ardiche; "Paul St. Esprit," great curiosity; +Roquemon; women carrying stones; noble and extensive work on the +banks of the river, and in the erection of new bridges.</p> + +<p><i>May 14th.</i>—Avignon; wall; view from the tower of the Cathedral; +visit it; paintings very beautiful; palace; inquisition; left +Avignon for Beaucaire; river uninteresting; thence to Nismes by +railway; poor country; asses and mules used; women shoeing them; +people athletic, but very passionate and quarrelsome.</p> + +<p><i>May 15th.</i>—Examined the antiquities of Nismes; truly wonderful +and interesting.</p> + +<p><i>May 16th.</i>—Arrived at Montpellier; narrow streets; Citadel +Fountaine; promenade; Jardin des Plantes; Mrs. Temple's tomb; read +a passage from Young's Night Thoughts there; Baunia Palm; Ecole de +Médicine; Cathedral; Museum of Painting.</p> + +<p><i>May 17th.</i>—Returned to Nismes; revisited the Amphitheatre and the +Maison Carée; beautiful in proportion and execution. Returned to +Beacaise; visited the Castle; very high, and remarkably strong; +crossed the river to examine a castle, now a prison; historical +recollections of both castles. Visited the Church dedicated to St. +Martha; curious front. Visited St. Martha's Tomb; felt awful in the +grim darkness, rendered barely visible by the flickering lamp; +inscription at the head of the Tomb: "Solicita Noritubatur"; +singular well; old women in the Church; the Image of St. Martha, +with its knees and feet worn by kissing. Proceeded to Cette; the +Amphitheatre is by no means as well preserved as that of Nismes, +but larger; the walls immeasurably thick. Saw the remains of a +Roman theatre; its curious workmanship attests its former +magnificence.</p> + +<p><i>May 18th—Sabbath.</i>—Back at Marseilles, but no Sabbath here; +theatres all open, and crowds pressing into them; saw some curious +handbills about the Pope granting indulgences; holy water in the +churches; children using it.</p> + +<p><i>May 20th.</i>—Coast from Marseilles, bold, varied, picturesque; +barren rocks; vineyards and olive trees; entrance into the bay and +harbor of Genoa very beautiful.</p> + +<p><i>May 21st.</i>—In Genoa the streets are very narrow; the buildings +very high; the city clean; all preferable to Paris; left for +Leghorn.</p> + +<p><i>May 22nd.</i>—At Leghorn, visited Smollet's tomb. At Pisa, saw the +leaning tower; baptistry, etc.</p> + +<p><i>May 23rd.</i>—Entered Rome at sunset. We could see St. Peter's more +than fifteen miles off.</p> + +<p><i>May 25th.</i>—Commenced visiting the churches of the city. 1. Temple +of Antonius; column to his honour, and his victories inscribed. 2. +Church of St. Ignazia; tomb of Gregory XV. 3. Pantheon of +Agrippa—built 22 B.C., of Oriental granite brought from Egypt. The +obelisk is from the Temple of Isis. 4. In the second chapel to the +left, Raphael was buried in 1520. He gave orders to his scholar +Lorenzetto to make the statue of the Virgin, behind which he is +buried. It is ornamented by gold and silver offerings of trinkets, +rings, and bracelets. 5th. Piazza della Minerva—formerly Temple<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span> +of Minerva, another of Isis, another of Serapis, now a church +obelisk. Statue of Michael Angelo. 6. Roman College. 7. Palace of +Prince Doria. In the picture gallery I was especially struck by a +beautiful painting of the Holy Family; also Titian, by himself, his +last work. Visited the Church of St. Joseph—under which was the +Mamertine Prison, where St. Paul was confined. Arch of Titus. The +Church of St. Peter's in Vincola has twenty pillars from the +Diocletian Bath, two of them Oriental granite. Michael Angelo's +last work is a marble figure of Moses, with the two tables of the +law under his right arm,—magnificent. There are also twelve +magnificent marble figures of the twelve apostles.</p> + +<p><i>May 26th.</i>—Church of St. Maria, in Villicella; festival in honour +of St. Fillippo. High mass was celebrated in presence of the Pope +and cardinals. I stood near the altar, and had a good view of them +all. The Pope passed twice within a few feet of me; was carried in +a splendid chair by twelve men, who passed up the aisle into the +vestry. He is eighty years of age, good looking and walked with a +firm step; he blessed the people as he passed. The cardinals kissed +the Pope's hand, the priests his toe or foot. Next went to the +Church of the Jesuits, where there is a splendid representation of +Religion, giving the foot to Protestant heresy in the person of +Luther and Calvin.</p> + +<p><i>June 1st—Sunday.</i>—Went to the Roman College to the worship of +the congregation of Jesuits. In another hall a discourse was being +delivered to the pupils, some four hundred being present. At St. +Paul's, was shown the house in which St. Paul resided during two +years a prisoner in Rome. Witnessed an extraordinary but most +impressive service in the celebrated Amphitheatre, where, it is +said, 200,000 Christians were put to death in two centuries.</p> + +<p><i>June 6th.</i>—During the last five days have been studying Italian, +and revisiting some of the more remarkable remains of Roman +antiquities, colleges, and schools; also a prison for women, well +managed and arranged; much attention is paid to their religious +instruction.</p> + +<p><i>June 10th—Sabbath.</i>—Visited the Churches of St. John, and Maria +Maggiore; visited one of the most important and interesting schools +of the Christian Brothers; 400 pupils taught by four masters; 4,000 +pupils are taught by the same fraternity. Visited also the College +of Propaganda; was shewn by the Rector over the whole +establishment; it is wonderful, the influence of which is felt in +all lands; he shewed me the oldest and most curious MSS. I ever +saw.</p> + +<p><i>June 14th.</i>—Arrived at Naples, after a stage journey of thirty +hours. Peasants very lazy; passed the murdered body of a man. As we +advanced we observed a great change in the manners and habits of +the people.</p> + +<p><i>June 15th—Sabbath.</i>—Vesuvius was splendid last night, to a +degree, I understand that has not been seen since 1839. Visited the +Poor House; the establishment accommodates upwards of 2,000.</p> + +<p><i>June 16th.</i>—Visited Pompeii, and Herculaneum, and Vesuvius. Met +with the Jesuit Prefect of Educational Institutions; and a Priest +from the United States. From the Jesuit I obtained a full account +of the educational institutions in Naples; from the American Priest +much useful information on various subjects. Ascended Mount +Vesuvius; when we reached the summit my face was burnt; lava +falling all round us—God of dreadful majesty, who art a "consuming +fire!" Beheld here the setting sun—God of glory who art "the light +of the world!" Descending we reached our hotel about midnight; +thank God for His protection and mercy.</p> + +<p><i>June 18th.</i>—Went to the museum to examine the antiquities of +Herculaneum and Pompeii. Left for Leghorn.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>June 20th—Pisa.</i>—Took a coach with two other gentlemen; a +beautiful ride of eight hours along the valley of the Arno, from +Pisa to Florence. The best cultivated country, and the best looking +peasantry I have ever seen; the river walled, and the bridges fine.</p> + +<p><i>June 24th.</i>—The celebration of the Feast of John the Baptist, +commenced by a chariot race, after the fashion of the chariots in +the games of the Greeks and Romans.</p> + +<p><i>June 26th.</i>—The Grand Duke of Tuscany will not allow Jesuits in +his dominion; but in Naples the Jesuits are all +powerful—confessors to the king and royal family—and that even an +artist cannot get employment who has not a Jesuit for a confessor.</p> + +<p><i>July 19th.</i>—This day I leave Florence after four weeks of study, +and acquaintance with its schools, arts and science.</p> + +<p><i>July 20th—Bologna.</i>—Crossed the Appenines, and had a view of the +Adriatic. Visited the Scoules Normali, containing upwards of 1,000 +pupils.</p> + +<p><i>July 23rd.</i>—Left Bologna in a vetturina for Ferrara, in company +with a German and two Americans. Ferrara is fallen, forsaken, +solitary.</p> + +<p><i>July 25th.</i>—Crossed the Po in a curious ferry-boat, and entered +the Lombardo-Venetian dominions of Austria. Here I met with the +first instance in Italy of money not being asked by Custom House +officers; every part of the proceeding indicated dignity unknown to +the Papal States. Crossed the Adige by a ferry; passed through +Monselice, near which is the town and castle of Este. North of Este +is Argna, or Argnota, where Petrarch retreated, dwelt, and died! +Next passed through Battaglia and Padua; on the left is Abano, the +birth-place of Livy. Gothic laggia, vast hall, said to be the +largest unsupported roof in the world, built by Frate Giovanni; +bust and tomb of Livy.</p> + +<p><i>July 30th.</i>—Came on to Venice, where we spent four days; a +wondrous city.</p> + +<p><i>August 4th.</i>—Have been in Munich nineteen days; visited its +museum, churches, elementary schools, &c., &c.; conversed with many +professors.</p> + +<p><i>August 25th.</i>—Left Munich; passed through Landsport; arrived at +Ratisbon; visited Valhalla; descended the Danube to Linz.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 3rd.</i>—The city of Vienna is the most perfect I have seen, +in its buildings, streets, gardens, etc.; it would furnish me with +materials for a volume were I a writer of travels.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 4th.</i>—Came through Bohemia by the first railroad train from +Vienna to Prague, where I remained two days. The houses in the +villages through which we passed, were all of one story, thatched +with straw; the peasants wear skins, and women work on the +railroads.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 5th.</i>—Left Prague in a small steamer for Dresden; visited +Dr. Blockman's school; every appurtenance; very complete schools, +both public and private. From thence on to Leipsic; visited all the +principal buildings; visited the Burgher school, designed for the +education of the middle ranks, and those of the upper ranks, if +desired.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 15th and 16th.</i>—From Leipsic went on to Halle (in Prussia); +visited the schools on Franke's Foundations; several farms belong +to the establishment; there are six schools, rather small; there +are free scholars, orphans, and money scholars. Went to the +University.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 17th—Wittemburg.</i>—This morning visited the church in which +Luther first preached the doctrines of the Reformation, and where +both Luther and Melancthon are buried; I ascended the pulpit, and +there prayed that the spirit of the Reformation might more +abundantly rest upon me; I experienced strong sensations on +entering the church; it is a plain building with a few monuments; +the statue (bronze) of Luther is in the market-place, with the +words:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"Ist's Gottes Werk, so wird's bestehen;<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Ist's Menschen, so wird's untergehen."<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>We then visited the house in which Melancthon lived, now being +repaired; Luther's chamber in the convent; his study, with his +chair, table, and stove; his library, his bed-room; at his table I +knelt and prayed, and renewed my covenant with my God. I afterwards +visited the place where Luther burnt the Pope's Bull.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 18th—Berlin.</i>—Employed the day in visiting the great +schools of this magnificent city: Frederick William Gymnasium, +Dorothean Higher City School, Royal Red School, embracing both the +classical and scientific departments; went over the establishment.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 19th.</i>—Visited the University and Picture Gallery; went +through all the apartments of the City Trade School; the collection +of apparatus and specimens to carry out the course of instruction +is perhaps the most complete in Prussia, in schools of this class.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 20th.</i>—Potsdam—a magnificent place; went into the Court, +and visited several of the rooms of the Royal Military School—a +noble establishment; visited the Normal School; witnessed the +teaching of two of the pupil-teachers,—both used the blackboard, +and both appeared thorough masters of what they were teaching, +using no books,—other pupil-teachers were looking on; never saw a +finer class of young men.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 23rd.</i>—Berlin. Dined with the British Ambassador, and had +an interview with the Prussian Minister of Public Instruction; +witnessed the semi-annual parade of the Prussian army—more than +10,000 men; saw also the King of Prussia and the Empress of Russia.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 24th.</i>—Hanover. Passed through several townships; visited +the Palace; saw the gold and silver plate, much of which belonged +to former British Sovereigns; visited Herrenhausen, favourite +residence of George I. and II. of England.</p> + +<p><i>Sept. 28th.</i>—Cologne. Visited Cathedral and Churches; saw the +tomb of Charlemagne, and the house in which Rubens was born.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 1st.</i>—Bonn. Saw the University buildings; saw the great +Catholic Normal School, at Bright.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 2nd.</i>—Mayence. Ascended the Rhine from Bonn,—embracing all +the magnificent scenery of this celebrated river.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 3rd.</i>—Visited Wiesbaden, capital of Hesse-Cassel; went to +Frankfort; visited Burgher School there, 700 children. Birth-place +and monument of Gœthe.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 5th.</i>—Strasburg. Left Frankfort; passed through Darmstadt; +heard two sermons in French, and one in German; visited the +magnificent Cathedral, and Normal School.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 7th.</i>—Zurich. Came to Bâle yesterday; arrived here this +morning; visited the great Cantonal Industrial School—noble +building.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 8th.</i>—Cargon. Obtained much information from the director of +the Gymnase, Real and Higher Burgher School here.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 9th.</i>—Berne. Travelled through a mountainous and picturesque +country to Papiermühle; walked three miles to the celebrated school +of M. de Fallenberg; had the whole system explained—gymnasium, +real, intermediate, poor, and limited to the number of thirty; +dined at the Agricultural School,—situated on a gentle hill, in +the midst of the valley of Switzerland, surrounded by mountains,—I +have been abundantly repaid in spending a whole day in surveying +such an establishment.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 11th.</i>—Lausanne. Fine view of the Alps; visited the garden +where Gibbon finished his History on the rise and fall of the Roman +Empire.</p> + +<p><i>Oct. 12th.</i>—Geneva. Arrived here in heavy rain; attended three +services; visited the tomb of Sir H. Davy; had a fine view of Mt. +Blanc; left for Paris.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLV" id="CHAPTER_XLV"></a>CHAPTER XLV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1844-1857.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Episode in Dr. Ryerson's European Travels.—Pope Pius IX.</span></p> + + +<p>One of the many episodes in my European travels which I have been +requested by many to narrate led to my presentation to Pope Pius IX., +and is as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>On my arrival in England on my first educational tour, near the end +of 1844, I was invited to a Christmas dinner party at the house of +an English clergyman, where I was introduced to a young Russian +nobleman, by the name of Dunjowski, who had attended lectures in +several German universities, and came to England to learn the +English language, in which he soon became a proficient. During his +residence in England he became acquainted with a number of +distinguished men, noblemen and others; among whom were the late +Rev. Dr. Chalmers. This young Russian nobleman, having learned that +I was on a tour of investigation of the educational institutions of +Europe, proposed before the close of the evening to join me in +investigating the educational institutions of western and central +Europe, with a view to his writing an account of them on his return +to St. Petersburg. I accepted his proposal; and in the course of a +few weeks we commenced our tour through Holland and Belgium to +Paris, of which some account will be found in the extracts from my +Journal in the preceding Chapter.</p> + +<p>At Paris my Russian friend conceived the idea of attending another +course of lectures on some branch of Roman law at Tubigen. We +parted, but he changed his mind, and instead of attending an +additional course of lectures in a German university, he proceeded +to Rome. A few weeks after my arrival there, I felt a tap on my +shoulder at the dinner table, and, on looking up, I recognized my +young Russian friend, who was already speaking Italian, with as +much fluency as he had spoken English, French, and German, when we +parted at Paris six weeks before.</p> + +<p>We renewed our travels together, after having completed our tour of +Rome, with its antiquities and institutions; we proceeded to Naples +by stage, where we spent several days in examining its College of +Nobles and other educational institutions, including its +antiquities of Herculaneum and Pompeii, Vesuvius, etc. In the +College of Nobles we met an American Priest, who was President of +the Roman Catholic College at Georgetown, near Washington, and +invited him to take a seat in our carriage the next day on an +excursion to Herculaneum and Pompeii. In the course of the day a +religious discussion took place between the American Priest and the +Russian, who was very fond of controversy. I took no part in it, +but I thought the Priest had rather the best of it. The result was, +my Russian friend was persuaded to go into a house of retirement +near Rome, and devote some weeks to solitary prayer, fasting, and +meditation. I never afterwards saw him or heard from him for eleven +years, though I remonstrated with him, and wrote him from Florence, +entreating him to reconsider what he was doing; but he said that +what I spoke and wrote rather confirmed him in his course, than +diverted him from it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span></p> + +<p>When making my third educational tour on the Continent of Europe, I +was, with my daughter, at Munich, in Bavaria, about the beginning +of 1857, and while at dinner at our hotel, I felt two hands placed +upon my shoulders; on looking up, I recognized, notwithstanding his +present dress, my old friend, Dunjowski, who embraced and kissed me +as a brother. After dinner we retired to the parlour, and talked +over the past. I asked him what he had been doing these eleven +years, how he had become transformed from a Russian nobleman, +scholar, and lawyer, into a Roman Catholic priest, in full +canonicals. He told me that after we separated at Naples, eleven +years before, he went into a house of retirement at Rome, and by +prayer, fasting, and meditation, devoted himself to God and His +Church, without reserve of rank, fortune, or country; that he had +ultimately decided to be a Catholic; that he had studied theology +four years in France; that he had been appointed a Missionary to +the North, and had been some years a Missionary to the Lapps, and +had preached before the Kings of Denmark and Sweden; that he was +then Missionary Apostolic to all the Catholic Missions in Europe +and America, north of latitude 60; and that he might yet visit +Canada. This extraordinary man had mastered the languages of the +various countries in which he had travelled and laboured, and gave +my daughter specimens of his writing in twenty-seven different +languages. I never knew a man of more disinterestedness, more +devotion, and singleness of purpose, than Mr. Dunjowski. He was up +and out at prayers to his church before five o'clock, in the +terribly cold mornings the last of December and the beginning of +January, in one of the coldest capitals of Europe.</p> + +<p>On the other hand he asked me what I had been doing during the last +eleven years. I replied that I had devised and brought into +operation a system of public instruction, which had been approved +by the Government and Legislature, and by the people at large, whom +I had consulted, in the several counties of Upper Canada. He wished +to know what I had done in respect to his co-religionists. I shewed +him the provisions of our School Act, and the Regulations founded +upon it in respect to Roman Catholics in Upper Canada. My Russian +friend thought that nothing could be more just and fair than these +clauses of the law and regulations, and requested permission to +shew them to the Pope's Nuncio (an Italian Archbishop), at the +Court of Bavaria. The Pope's Nuncio was so pleased with them, that +he requested the loan of them until he got them translated into +German, and published in the Bavarian newspapers, to shew how +fairly the Roman Catholics were treated under the Protestant +Government of Upper Canada. The Pope's Nuncio afterwards desired me +to call upon him; and during the interview, after some +complimentary remarks, requested me to be the bearer of a medal +from the King of Bavaria to Cardinal Antonelli, at Rome. I readily +accepted the honour and the office, and found the Pope's arms and +seal a ready passport when I got in a tight place among the +avaricious Italian Custom House officers.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson thus describes his interview with Pope Pius IX.:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>On my arrival at Rome I duly delivered my letters of introduction, +and the King of Bavaria's medal to Cardinal Antonelli who received +me with the utmost courtesy, offered me every facility to get +pictures copied by my own selection at Rome, and proposed, if +acceptable to me, to present me to His Holiness the Pope. I readily +accepted the attentions and honours offered me; but told the +Cardinal that I had a young daughter, and young lady companion of +hers, whom I should wish to accompany me; His Excellency said, "By +all means."</p> + +<p>On the day appointed we went to the Vatican. Several foreign +dignitaries were waiting in an ante-room for an audience with the +Pope, but the Methodist preacher received precedence of them all. +"Are you a clergyman?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span> asked the Chancellor, who conducted me to +the Pope's presence; "I am a Wesleyan minister," I replied. "Ah! +John Wesley. I've heard of him," said the Chancellor, as he +shrugged his shoulders in surprise that a heretic should be so +honoured above orthodox sons of the Church. We were then in due +form introduced to the Pope, who received us most courteously, and +stood up and shook hands with me and with whom I conversed (in +French) for nearly a quarter of an hour; during the conversation +His Holiness thanked me for the fairness and kindness with which he +understood I had treated his Catholic children in Canada. Before +the close of the interview, His Holiness turned to the young ladies +(each of whom had a little sheet of note paper in their hands) and +said, "My children, what is that you have in your hands?" The girls +curtsied respectfully, and told His Holiness that they brought +these sheets of paper in hopes His Holiness would have the +condescension and kindness to give them his autograph. He smiled, +and wrote in Latin the benediction: "Grace, mercy, and peace from +God our Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord," and then kindly gave +them also the pen with which it was written.</p> + +<p>Thus ended our interview with Pope Pins IX., of whose unaffected +sincerity, candor, kindness, and good sense, we formed the most +favourable opinion, notwithstanding the system of which he is the +head.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson also mentions another interview which he had:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In addition to my letters of introduction to Cardinal Antonelli, my +Russian friend, Dunjowski, gave me a letter of introduction to +Father Thyner, the keeper of the Archives at Rome, and an intimate +personal friend of the Pope; in which letter he referred to the +school systems of Upper Canada, in reference to Roman Catholics. +Father Thyner wished to see the Canadian school law and +regulations, and shewed and explained them to the Pope, who +afterwards spoke of their fairness and kindness, in my interview +with His Holiness.</p> + +<p>Father Thyner was once Librarian to the King of Prussia, and being +a Roman Catholic, he went to Rome, where his varied learning and +high character soon obtained him a high position at the Vatican. +He, as well as the Pope, in his early life was an enemy of the +Jesuits, and was regarded by them as such throughout his whole +life.</p> + +<p>I had a severe illness of some weeks at Rome, during which Father +Thyner visited me almost daily, but never said one word to me on +the grounds of difference between Roman Catholics and Protestants.</p> + +<p>During my last visit to England in 1876-7, I spent part of a day at +the residence of the Rev. Wm. Arthur, A.M., who showed me the works +in his library from which he had derived the principal materials of +his masterly work on <i>The Pope and The People</i>. Among other works +he shewed me some volumes written by Father Thyner, containing an +account of the proceedings of the Council of Trent. "Why," I said, +"I know Father Thyner personally," and related my acquaintance with +him. Mr. Arthur said in reply, "This work is the chief source of my +knowledge of the proceedings of the Councils of Trent;" and added, +"Father Thyner having determined to publish an account (which had +never before been published) of this Council, was forbidden to do +so, and banished, or driven from Rome, when he went to Hungary, and +published his great work on the Councils."</p> + +<p>I have observed in the papers, that Father Thyner died in Hungary a +year or two since. He was a man of profound learning, of fervent +devotion, of great moderation in his views, of uncompromising +integrity. I visited him in his convent, near Rome, and drank the +juice of the grape grown in his own garden, and pressed by his own +hand.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVI" id="CHAPTER_XLVI"></a>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1844-1876.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Ontario School System.—Retirement of Dr. Ryerson</span>.</p> + + +<p>Although I hope to be able to prepare a record of the private and +personal history of the founding of our System of Public Education, and +of the vicissitudes through which it passed, as requested by Dr. Ryerson +(page 350), yet in this chapter I give a brief outline of the principles +of that System.</p> + +<p>After his educational investigations in Europe, in 1844-1846, Dr. +Ryerson prepared an elaborate Report on a "System of Public Instruction +for Upper Canada," which was published in 1846. In that report he +says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>By Education, I mean not the mere acquisition of certain arts, or +of certain branches of knowledge, but that instruction and +discipline which qualify and dispose the subjects of it for their +appropriate duties and appointments in life, as Christians, as +persons in business, and also as members of the civil community in +which they live.</p> + +<p>A basis of an educational structure adapted to this end should be +as broad as the population of the country; and its loftiest +elevation should equal the highest demands of the learned +professions; adapting its gradation of schools to the wants of the +several classes of the community, and to their respective +employments or professions, the one rising above the other—the one +conducting to the other; yet each complete in itself for the degree +of education it imparts; a character of uniformity, as to +fundamental principles, pervading the whole: the whole based upon +the principles of Christianity, and uniting the combined influence +and support of the government and the people.</p> + +<p>The branches of knowledge which it is essential that all should +understand, should be provided for all, and taught to all; should +be brought within the reach of the most needy, and forced upon the +attention of the most careless. The knowledge required for the +scientific pursuit of mechanics, agriculture, and commerce, must +needs be provided to an extent corresponding with the demand, and +the exigencies of the country; while, to a more limited extent, are +needed facilities for acquiring the higher education of the learned +professions.</p></div> + +<p>With a view to give a summary sketch of Dr. Ryerson's exposition of the +system of Public Instruction which he desired to establish, I give the +following additional extracts from his first Report. After combating the +objection which then existed in some quarters to the establishment of a +thorough system of primary and industrial education, commensurate with +the population and wants of the country, he remarked:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>The first feature then of our Provincial System of Public Instruction, +should be universality. The elementary education of the whole people +must, therefore, be an essential element in the legislative and +administrative policy of an enlightened and beneficent government. Nor +is it less important to the efficiency of such a system that it should +be practical than that it should be universal. The mere acquisition, or +even the general diffusion of knowledge, without the requisite qualities +to apply that knowledge in the best manner, does not merit the name of +education. Much knowledge may be imparted and acquired without any +addition whatever to the capacity for the business of life.... History +presents us with even University Systems of Education (so called) +entirely destitute of all practical character; and there are elementary +systems which tend as much to prejudice and pervert, not to say corrupt, +the popular mind as to improve and elevate it.</p> + +<p>The state of society, then, no less than the wants of our country, +requires that every youth of the land should be trained to industry and +its practice, whether that training be extensive or limited.</p> + +<p>Now education, thus practical, includes religion and morality; secondly, +the development to a certain extent of all our faculties; thirdly, an +acquaintance with several branches of elementary knowledge.</p> + +<p>By religion and morality, I do not mean sectarianism in any form, but +the general truth and morals taught in the Holy Scriptures. Sectarianism +is not morality. To be zealous for a sect and to be conscientious in +morals are widely different. To inculcate the peculiarities of a sect +and to teach the fundamental principles of religion and morality are +equally different.</p> + +<p>I can aver, from personal experience and practice, as well as from a +very extended inquiry on this subject, that a much more comprehensive +course of biblical and religious instruction can be given than there is +likely to be opportunity for in elementary schools, without any +restraint on the one side, or any tincture of sectarianism on the +other—a course embracing the entire history of the Bible, its +institutions, cardinal doctrines and morals, together with the evidences +of its authenticity.</p> + +<p>With the proper cultivation of the moral feelings, and the formation of +local habits, is intimately connected the corresponding development of +all the other faculties, both intellectual and physical. The great +object of an efficient system of instruction should be, not the +communication of so much knowledge, but the development of the +faculties. Much knowledge may be acquired without any increase of mental +power; nay, with even an absolute diminution of it. (See Chapter li.)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span></p> + +<p>In founding the System of Public Instruction, Dr. Ryerson wisely laid +down certain great principles which he believed to be essential to the +success of his labours. These general principles may be thus summarized: +1. That the machinery of education should be in the hands of the people +themselves, and should be managed through their own agency; they should, +therefore, be consulted in regard to all school legislation. 2. That the +aid of the Government should only be given where it can be used most +effectually to stimulate and assist local effort in this great work. 3. +That the property of the country is responsible for, and should +contribute towards the education of the entire youth of the country, and +that as a complement to this, "compulsory education" should necessarily +be enforced. 4. That a thorough and systematic inspection of the schools +is essential to their vitality and efficiency. These, with other +important principles, Dr. Ryerson kept steadily in view during the whole +thirty-two years of his administration of the school system of Ontario. +Their judicious application has contributed largely, under the Divine +blessing, which he ever sought, to the wonderful success of his labours.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the zeal and ability with which Dr. Ryerson had +collected and arranged his facts, analyzed the various systems of +education in Europe (largely in Germany) and America, and fortified +himself with the opinions of the most eminent educationists in those +countries, yet his projected system for this province was fiercely +assailed, and was vehemently denounced as embodying in it the very +essence of "Prussian despotism." Still, with indomitable courage he +persevered in his plans, and at length succeeded in 1846 in inducing the +legislature to pass a School Act which he had drafted. In 1849 the +Provincial administration personally favourable to Dr. Ryerson's views +went out of office, and one unfavourable to him came in. The Hon. +Malcolm Cameron, a hostile member of the cabinet—although he afterwards +became a personal friend of Dr. Ryerson—having concocted a singularly +crude and cumbrous school bill, aimed to oust Dr. Ryerson from office, +it was (as was afterwards explained) taken on trust, and, without +examination or discussion, passed into a law. Dr. Ryerson at once called +the attention of the Government (at the head of which was the late +lamented Lord Elgin) to the impracticable and un-Christian character of +the bill, as under its operation the Bible would be excluded from the +schools. Rather than administer such an Act, Dr. Ryerson tendered the +resignation of his office to the Government. The late Honourable Robert +Baldwin, C.B., Attorney-General (the Nestor of Canadian politicians, and +a truly Christian man), was so convinced of the justness of Dr. +Ryerson's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span> views and remonstrance, that he took the unusual course of +advising His Excellency to suspend the operation of the new Act until +Dr. Ryerson could prepare a draft of a bill on the basis of the repealed +law, embodying in it, additional to the old bill, the result of his own +experience of the working of the system up to that time. The result was +that a law passed in 1850, adapted to the municipal system of the +Province, so popular in its character and comprehensive in its +provisions and details, that it is still (in a consolidated form) the +principal statute under which the Public Schools of Ontario are +maintained.</p> + +<p>The leading features of that measure may be briefly summed up under the +four following heads:—</p> + +<p>1. The machinery of the system was mainly adapted to the circumstances +of Upper Canada, from the school laws of the Middle (United) States.</p> + +<p>2. The method of supporting the schools by a uniform rate upon property +was adopted from the New England States.</p> + +<p>3. The Normal and Model schools (established in 1847), were projected +after those in operation in Germany.</p> + +<p>4. The school text-books were originally adapted from the series then in +use in Ireland, and acceptable to both Protestants and Roman Catholics.</p> + +<p>In 1850, Dr. Ryerson, while in England, made preliminary arrangements +for establishing the Library, and Map and Apparatus Depository in +connection with his department; and in 1855 he established +Meteorological Stations in connection with the County Grammar Schools. +In this he was aided by Colonel (now General) Lefroy, R.E., for many +years Director of the Provincial Magnetical Observatory, at Toronto. +Sets of suitable instruments (which were duly tested at the Kew +Observatory) were obtained, and in 1855, the law on the subject having +been amended, twelve stations were selected and put into efficient +working order. In 1857 Dr. Ryerson made his third educational tour in +Europe, where he procured at Antwerp, Brussels, Florence, Rome, Paris, +and London an admirable collection of copies of paintings by the old +masters; statues, busts, etc., besides various articles for an +Educational Museum in connection with the Department. In 1858-60, Dr. +Ryerson took a leading part in the discussion in the newspapers, and +before a committee of the legislature, in favour of grants to the +various outlying universities in Ontario, chiefly in terms of Hon. +Robert Baldwin's University Bill of 1843. He maintained that "they did +the State good service," and that their claims should be substantially +recognized as colleges of a central university. He deprecated the +multiplication of universities in the province, which he held<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span> would be +the result of a rejection of his scheme. In consideration of his able +services in this contest, the University of Victoria College conferred +upon him the degree of LL.D. in 1861.</p> + +<p>In 1867 he made his fourth educational tour in England and the United +States. On his return, in 1868, he submitted to the Government a highly +valuable "special report on the systems and state of popular education +in the several countries of Europe and the United States of America, +with practical suggestions for the improvement of Public Instruction in +Upper Canada." He also made a separate and extensive "Report on +Institutions for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind in Various Countries."</p> + +<p>In a letter to a friend, Dr. Ryerson thus explained the principles upon +which he conducted the educational affairs of the Province for upwards +of thirty-one years. He said:—</p> + +<p>During these years I organized the school system and administered the +Education Department upon the broad and impartial principles which I had +advocated. During the long period of my administration of the +Department, I knew neither religious sect nor political party—I knew no +other party than that of the country at large—I never exercised any +patronage for personal or party purposes—I never made or recommended +one of the numerous appointments of teachers in the Normal or Model +Schools, or Clerks in the Education office, except upon the ground of +testimonials as to personal character and qualifications, and on a +probationary trial of six months.</p> + +<p>In this way only competent and trained persons were appointed to the +Normal and Model Schools, and to the Education Office, when a vacancy +occurred by resignation or death. Each employé below the one who had +resigned or died was advanced a step if deserving; and the most +meritorious lad was selected from the Model school, or on other +testimonials, and placed at the bottom of the list, and trained and +advanced according to his merits in the work of the Education +Department. Each one, thus felt, that he owed his position not to party, +or personal patronage or favour, but to his own merits, and respected +himself and performed his duties accordingly.</p> + +<p>I believe this is the true method of managing all the Public +Departments, and every branch of the public service. I believe it would +contribute immensely to both the efficiency and economy of the public +service. Needless and inefficient appointments would not then be made; +and it would greatly elevate the standard of action and attainments, and +emulate the ambition of the young men and youth of the country, when +they know that their selection and advancement in their country's +service depended upon their individual merits, irrespective<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span> of sect or +party, and not as the reward of zeal as political party hacks in +elections and otherwise, on their own part, or on that of their fathers +or relatives.</p> + +<p>The power of government in a country is immense, for good or ill. It is +designed by the Supreme Being to be "a minister of God for good," to a +whole people (without partiality, as well as without hypocrisy), like +the rays of the sun; and the administration of infinite wisdom and +justice, and truth and purity. But when government becomes the mere +agency of party, and its highest gifts the prizes of party zeal and +intrigue, it loses its moral prestige and power; and from the corrupt +fountain would flow polluted streams into every Department of the public +service, which would corrupt the whole mass of society, were it not for +the counteracting and refining influences which are exerted upon society +by the ministrations and labours of the different religious +denominations.</p> + +<p>I know it has been contended that party patronage, or, in other words, +feeding partizans at the public expense, is an essential element in the +existence of a government. This is the doctrine of corruption. The +Education Department—the highest public department in Upper +Canada—existed for more than thirty years without such an element, and +with increased efficiency and increased strength in the public +estimation, during the whole of that period. Justice and virtue, and +patriotism and intelligence, are stronger elements of power and +usefulness than those of buying and rewarding partizans; and if the +rivalship and competition of public men should consist in who should +best devise and promote measures for the advancement of the country, and +who should exercise the executive power most impartially and +intelligently, for developing and promoting the interests of all +classes, then the moral standard of government and of public men would +be greatly exalted, and the highest civilization of the whole country be +advanced. But I will not pursue this topic any further. The truths I +state are self-evident.</p> + + + +<p class="space">For many years after Confederation Dr. Ryerson felt that the new +political condition of the Province—which localized as well as +circumscribed its civil administration of affairs—required a change in +the management of the Education Department. He, therefore, in 1869 and +1872, urged upon the Government the desirability of relieving him from +the anomalous position in which he found himself placed under the new +system.</p> + +<p>The reasons which he urged for his retirement are given in a pamphlet +devoted to a "Defence" of the System of Education, which he published in +1872, and are as follows:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>When political men have made attacks upon the school law, or the school +system and myself, I have answered them. Then the cry has been raised by +my assailants, and their abettors, that I was "interfering with +politics." They would assail me without stint, in hopes of crushing me, +and then gag me against all defence or reply.</p> + +<p>So deeply did I feel the disadvantage and growing evil of this state of +things to the Department and school system itself, that in 1868 I +proposed to retire from the department.... My resignation was not +accepted; ... when, two months later, I proposed that, at the +commencement of each session of the legislature, a committee of seven or +nine (including the Provincial Secretary for the time being) should be +elected by ballot, or by mutual agreement of the leading men of both +parties, on the Education Department; which committee should examine +into the operations of the Department for the year then ending, consider +the school estimates, and any bill or recommendations which might be +submitted for the advancement of the school system, and report to the +House accordingly. By many thoughtful men, this system has been +considered more safe, more likely to secure a competent and working head +of the department, and less liable to make the school system a tool of +party politics, than for the head of it to have a seat in Parliament, +and thus leave the educational interests of the country dependent upon +the votes of a majority of electors in one riding. This recommendation, +submitted on the 30th January, 1869, was not adopted; and I was left +isolated—responsible in the estimation of legislators and everybody +else for the Department—the target of every attack, whether in the +newspapers or in the Legislative Assembly, yet without any access to it, +or to its members, except through the press, and no other support than +the character of my work and the general confidence of the public.</p> + + + +<p class="space">In 1876, however, Dr. Ryerson was permitted to retire on full salary +from the responsible post which for nearly thirty-two years he had so +worthily and honourably filled.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVII" id="CHAPTER_XLVII"></a>CHAPTER XLVII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1845-1846.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Illness and Final Retirement of Lord Metcalfe</span>.</p> + + +<p>In a letter to Dr. Ryerson from Mr. Higginson, dated 27th May, 1845, he +thus refers to Lord Metcalfe's increasing illness:—</p> + +<p>I wish that I could answer your inquiries about Lord Metcalfe's health +in a satisfactory manner. The torturing malady with which he is +afflicted is no better; and although there is no decided change for the +worse, yet there is in my mind too much reason to apprehend that the +disease, though slow in its progress, keeps constantly advancing and +threatens farther ravages. The pain is incessant and unabated. The +resignation with which he suffers, and his unyielding determination to +remain at his post as long as his presence can serve Canada, inspires a +feeling of veneration which I will not attempt to describe. He seems to +be quite prepared to realize, if necessary, that noble sentiment—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Mr. Higginson again wrote to Dr. Ryerson, from Montreal, on the 28th of +October, as follows:—</p> + +<p>As bad news travels fast, you will probably have heard before this +reaches you of the aggravation of the painful malady from which Lord +Metcalfe has so long suffered. No other man, in his present lamentable +condition, would think of administering the Government. He seems quite +ready to die in harness, if necessary, but is determined not to leave +here as long as he can, at any sacrifice of personal considerations, +continue to discharge the duties. I hope and believe that Her Majesty's +Government will not hesitate to relieve him as soon as a successor can +be found—it would be inhuman to delay any longer. How much of Canada's +weal or woe depends upon the selection? It is far easier to mar than to +mend the triumph my inestimable friend has achieved—to weaken than to +strengthen its effects.</p> + +<p>Mr. Higginson wrote to Dr. Ryerson on the 18th December:—</p> + +<p>I, two days ago, had the pleasure to receive your kind and feeling +letter of the 11th. It will afford me great satisfaction<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span> to communicate +to my suffering friend the grateful sentiments to which you give +expression.</p> + +<p>Lord Metcalfe's retirement was, as you justly observe, strictly a +providential dispensation. He remained at his post until it pleased the +Almighty to render him physically incapable of discharging all its +duties; and he was quite prepared to die at it, in the service of his +country. The terms in which the Queen's permission to return home was +acceded are, beyond measure, gratifying and complimentary. I shall have +much pleasure in reading the despatch to you the first time we meet. Of +the fearful malady, I can only say that its onward progress seems to be +beyond human control, and that I entertain no hope of its being +arrested. But the surgical skill of Europe may, and I earnestly pray to +God will, alleviate the intensity of the blessed man's sufferings.</p> + +<p>After Lord Metcalfe had returned to England, the Hon. D. Daly, Secretary +of the Province, wrote to Dr. Ryerson, who had returned to Canada, on +the 20th December, as follows:—</p> + +<p>Your disappointment was naturally great at missing the only opportunity +that, in all human probability, can be afforded you in this world of +seeing our lamented and excellent Governor. In his late and most severe +suffering, the greatness of that most inestimable man's character was, +if possible, more resplendent than under the trials to which you saw him +subjected. May he enjoy a peaceful termination to his useful existence! +We can know nothing certain of his successor until the news of which he +is the bearer has reached England, his relinquishment of the Government +having been left entirely to his own free will. He had the comfort of +knowing how fully his services were appreciated by his Sovereign; and +his removal was effected in the most gratifying way by Her Majesty's +command.</p> + +<p>On the 9th May Dr. Ryerson wrote a farewell letter to Lord Metcalfe, +from which I make the following extract:—</p> + +<p>Having passed Your Lordship on the ocean, and being disappointed of the +privilege of ever seeing you again in this world, I wrote by the first +packet after my arrival to Mr. C. Trevelyan, requesting him to have the +goodness to convey to Your Lordship the expression of those sentiments +of gratitude and affectionate respect which I can never fail to cherish +while memory remains....</p> + +<p>In Your Lordship's retirement and suffering, ... I think it wrong to +intrude further than to state my deep sympathy in your sufferings, and +that my supplications are offered up daily to the God of all +consolation, that He would grant you patience, resignation, and a "sure +and certain hope of a glorious resurrection to everlasting life;" and to +assure Your Lordship that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span> my life shall be sacredly devoted to the work +in behalf of the youthful and future generations of Canada, for which +Your Lordship's kindness has done so much, to enable me to qualify +myself. With, these the strongest feelings of my heart, I have, etc.</p> + +<p>The final letter received from Mr. Higginson was dated Montreal, June +10th, 1840:—</p> + +<p>I beg you to accept my cordial thanks for your very kind communication +of the 30th ult. I am not insensible to the high honour that has been +conferred upon me by our Sovereign—far beyond my humble merits; but I +have great satisfaction in feeling that I won it fighting shoulder to +shoulder with you and the other advocates of those great British +Constitutional principles of Government, for which we contended, and +which were so fiercely assailed by the British Democratic party, who, I +earnestly trust may never again be able to make head in Canada. That I, +in the slightest degree contributed to the victory will be to me a +source of pride. To the eminent Pilot who directed us no one knows +better than yourself how much is due. Would that he had been spared to +perfect the good work. My latest account of his health encourages the +hope that I may yet be permitted to see him again.</p> + +<p>We closed the session yesterday, which was got through with success, and +I hope with some advantage to the public interests.</p> + +<p>I regret very much that I have not had the pleasure of seeing you since +your return from Europe. Farewell!</p> + +<p> +J. M. H.<br /> +</p> + + + +<p class="space">The appointment which Mr. Higginson received from the Queen was that of +Governor of Antigua. In his reply to an address from the Wesleyan +missionaries of that island, on his arrival, he thus referred to his +experience of that body in Canada:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have had frequent opportunities of witnessing in various quarters +of the globe the untiring exertions of your brethren in the sacred +cause of religion and humanity, and whether in the sultry heat of +Asia, ... or struggling against the rigours of a Canadian winter, I +have always found the Wesleyan missionaries animated by the same +benevolent and philanthropic spirit, and undaunted by obstacles, +however appalling, manifesting the same discreet zeal to spread far +and wide the healing influence of the holy Gospel of Christ.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVIII" id="CHAPTER_XLVIII"></a>CHAPTER XLVIII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1843-1844.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Clergy Reserve Question Re-opened.—Disappointments.</span></p> + + +<p>Extraordinary efforts were put forth (as shown in Chapter xxxiii., page +263) by the leaders of the Church of England party in Upper Canada to +prevent the Royal assent being given to Lord Sydenham's Clergy Reserve +compromise Bill of 1841. Equally strenuous efforts were successfully +made to ensure the fulfilment of Bishop Strachan's prediction that the +rejected Bill of Lord Sydenham would form the basis of an Imperial Act, +which would secure to the national Churches of England and Scotland, for +all time, the lion's share of the proceeds of George the Third's +ill-fated gift to Canada of the clergy reserves. Lord John Russell, the +pretentious and vacillating Secretary of State for the Colonies at the +time, proved himself to be, in this matter, a pliant instrument in the +hands of Henry of Exeter. This prelate endorsed, <i>con amore</i>, all the +extreme views of the Bishop of Toronto; and with the aid of Lord Seaton +(Sir John Colborne) and the Bench and Bishops in the House of Lords, +compelled the Government to perpetuate an act of legislative usurpation +and injustice, which even the tyros in constitutional law, as applied to +the Colonies, were wont at the time to instance in the press as examples +of history repeating itself—quoting, as an illustration, the +ill-advised Imperial legislation in the case of the Stamp Act, etc.</p> + +<p>By a singular fatality, which often attends arbitrary and unjust +proceedings, the success of the scheme, which had been so carefully +prepared, and carried through the British Parliament in the interests of +the Church of England, was destined to become a source of weakness to +that Church, and a foreboding of financial disaster. On the 29th +December, 1843, the Attorney and the Solicitor-General of Canada (as +stated by the Bishop of Toronto in his pastoral letter of the 10th of +December, 1844) reported that having attentively examined the provisions +of the acts for this subject, it was their opinion that the proper +construction of the law threw upon the revenues of Canada the burthen of +making up any deficiency in the clergy reserve fund, in paying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span> the +usual and accustomed allowances and stipends to the Ministers, ... and, +while that deficiency lasted, the Imperial Treasury could not be called +upon to make any payments to the two Churches. (See page 4 of Pastoral.)</p> + +<p>The Bishop then charges the Provincial Government with being the cause +of this financial difficulty, and accounts for the deficiency in the +fund by the mismanagement of that Government. He adds further on:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>But, alas! the mismanagement has increased, pending these +difficulties; and while my clergy are left in a state of +destitution, large sums continue to be wasted in remunerating +services which are really worse than useless, and this to such an +extent as to render hopeless the expectation that the clergy +reserve fund will ever answer the wise and holy purpose for which +it was established.</p></div> + +<p>In this dilemma the Bishop states what he had done to extricate the +Church out of its difficulty. In doing so, he uses language which +partakes more of the character of a wail than of a simple statement of +facts. He also draws a most gloomy picture of the prospective religious +state of Upper Canada, should the dearly prized, and as dearly bought, +Imperial Clergy Reserve Act prove, after all, to be an apple of Sodom.</p> + +<p>It is curious to notice how the Bishop, in his despairing outburst, +studiously ignores the active and successful labours of the several +voluntary churches—whose claims to a share in the reserves he had so +strongly and selfishly opposed—churches which were even then actively +engaged in "spreading scriptural holiness throughout the land," without +the aid of a penny from the State. In his Pastoral, the Bishop says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I applied to the venerable [Propagation Society] in England to +advance, in the meantime, the salaries (only £100 per annum each) +to my five suffering clergy,—assuring the Society that I had the +fullest conviction it would be repaid as soon as it was decided +which Government was liable.... The Society paid the stipends for +the year ending 30th June, 1843, but have declined since that time +to continue the advance.... In consequence, my five clergymen have +been left without their stipends since June, 1843 [to December, +1844], ... and this large and increasing Diocese [then the whole of +Upper Canada], already so destitute of the means of public worship +(if the statute be allowed to operate as it has done for the last +four years), will, in a spiritual sense, become, through half its +extent, a wilderness. Not only are five clergymen in a state of +want, but two parishes are left vacant, and the process is +unhappily going on.... I have brought this disheartening and +deplorable state of things under the notice of the Provincial +Government.... I have pressed [the matter] upon His Excellency the +Governor-General.... But all that was in my power to do has been +without avail (page 6).</p></div> + +<p>I also quote the foregoing passages from this noted Pastoral, as they +throw a vivid side-light upon the course of the Bishop in so vehemently +pursuing the shadow of a state endowment for the Church of England in +Upper Canada. The subsequent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span> utterances of the Pastoral show how +persistently the otherwise clear-headed and practical chief ruler of +that Church shut his eyes to the remarkable success and vitality of the +non-endowed Churches in the Province, and how much he deplored the +necessity of adopting their successful voluntary system in his own +church.<a name="FNanchor_128_129" id="FNanchor_128_129"></a><a href="#Footnote_128_129" class="fnanchor">[128]</a> He says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I represented to His Excellency, in May last, that, "on a review of +this unfortunate subject ... the distress of my five clergymen, and +the desolation with which it menaces the Church, it involves +consequences so calamitous and imminent as to justify the +representative of the sovereign in assuming more than ordinary +responsibility in arresting their progress...."</p> + +<p>On the 31st October, I again brought this painful subject at great +length before the Provincial Government, and stated that, having +failed to receive relief, I could only see one way left of +mitigating the evil, and that is by an appeal to my people on the +present critical situation of the Church, and in behalf of my +destitute clergymen. It is indeed a step which I take with extreme +reluctance, and which, were it possible, I would most willingly +avoid.... (page 6.)</p></div> + +<p>In a remarkable document, which the Bishop published in 1849, on "<i>The +Secular State of the Church in the Diocese of Toronto</i>," he furnishes a +painful and striking commentary on the effect of his own teaching: that +it was the duty of the State to support the Church, and thus relieve the +people of the chief obligation of supporting the Gospel amongst them. +Speaking of "contributions to the Church within the Province," he says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Till lately we have done little or nothing towards the support of +public worship. We have depended so long upon the Government and +the [Propagation] Society, that many of us forget that it is our +bounden duty. Instead of coming forward manfully to devote a +portion of our temporal substance to the service of God, we turn +away with indifference, or we sit down to count the cost, and +measure the salvation of our souls by pounds, shillings, and +pence.... While we are bountifully assisted, and seldom required to +do more than half; yet we are seen to fail on every side (page +19).<a name="FNanchor_129_130" id="FNanchor_129_130"></a><a href="#Footnote_129_130" class="fnanchor">[129]</a></p></div> + +<p>On pages 34-40 of this pamphlet, Bishop Strachan is very severe on the +clergy to whom Bishop Fuller refers, whom he accuses of putting forth +efforts "to disturb the peace of the diocese—efforts which were rapidly +being organized into something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span> of a regular system of agitation, so +common ... among the traders in politics" (page 34).</p> + +<p>An agitation having been commenced by the Bishop and clergy in Western +Canada, in 1843, for "better terms" and an amendment to the Imperial +Clergy Reserve Act of 1840, the question was re-opened. The effect of +this re-opening of the question was deprecated by Dr. Ryerson and +others. Early in January, 1844, Mr. Surveyor-General Parke sent to Dr. +Ryerson the copy of a letter written by Rev. Prof. Campbell, of Queen's +College, Kingston, in which Mr. Campbell sets up the claim of the Kirk +of Scotland, having a branch in Canada, as such, to a portion of the +Canadian clergy reserves. Mr. Parke says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The writer of the letter arrives at two other conclusions, which, I +think, are based on error, and calculated to interfere materially +with the rights of the other bodies of Protestant Christians: +namely, that the Kirk in Canada participate in the clergy reserves, +solely by the right it has as a branch of the Kirk in Scotland; and +that other bodies of Christians participate in them merely as an +act of favour. To the first of these conclusions I entirely object, +on the ground that the Act confers the reserves, purely and solely, +on Canada, and for the benefit of interests and persons, absolutely +within Canada. To the second conclusion or statement of the +Professor, that is, that other bodies participate as a matter of +favour, I object on every ground on which it is possible for equity +to place the subject. What! shall the unexampled toils, and +incessant labours of the early and later Methodists, and other +pioneers of the christianizing of Canada, have doled out to them, +as a matter of simple grace, and a body in Scotland, who never knew +nor participated in the labour of sowing the seeds of the Gospel +through the length and breadth of the land, claim as a matter of +absolute right, for one of its branches, a participation in lands, +purely Canadian in fact and law? This I can never assent to; it was +the question on which, as a Methodist, I first became a Canadian +politician, and it is the question on which I yet feel the keenest. +I desire to call your attention to the matter, and solicit a +correction from you of errors which, I think, are insidiously +calculated to mislead the public mind, and make uphill work in +combating other questions which may arise in unfortunate Canada, +bye-and-bye. Some of the Kirk folks would monopolize for +themselves, as far as they dare, and the Church of England too; but +the general community, who have borne the burden and heat of the +day—fought and won the battle—should not in any way have their +interests and feelings trifled with by the unreasonable claims of a +few, who at comparatively a late day entered the field.</p></div> + +<p>As the agitation increased, Dr. Ryerson, who was in England in 1845, +addressed a letter to Lord Stanley, Colonial Secretary, in January, on +the injustice to the non-episcopal churches of the Act of 1840. He +said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>There is a subject which, in connection with transpiring +circumstances in Canada, deeply involves the future condition of +the government of Canada, and which can be considered by your +Lordship alone: I refer to the withholding, to the present time, +from the Wesleyan Methodist body in Upper Canada all benefit of the +Act passed for the settlement of the clergy reserve question—a +question which certain parties in Canada propose to re-open, with a +view of depriving the Church of England of what is considered a +disproportionate share of the proceeds of the clergy reserves. The +advantage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span> afforded by such a subject of agitation would be eagerly +seized upon by the leaders of the opposition in Parliament. The +Wesleyan Methodist body in Upper Canada (now numbering 131 regular +ministers, and 24,000 communicants), has for many years possessed +and does still possess the casting vote between the contending +political parties in that country; and should they join in the +agitation contemplated, nothing but military power will prevent the +wresting out of the hands of the Church of England their—the +chief—pecuniary advantages which it derives from public sources. +Hitherto the leading members of the Wesleyan Methodist body have +declined any public agitation on the subject—though solicited by +influential parties—contenting themselves with private +communication to the Government until they should find them +hopelessly unsuccessful. Should not their case be considered? I +have reason to believe that they will at their next annual meeting, +to be held in June, commence an appeal to the public and to the +Local Legislature on the injustice done them; as they have +ascertained that all the leading lawyers in Upper Canada of both +parties, as well as three successive Governors considered them +wronged in the manner in which they alone, of the four great +leading denominations of the country, have been excluded from the +benefits of an act, to the basis of which Lord Sydenham never could +have obtained the consent of the Canadian Legislature without their +most decided support.</p> + +<p>I should deeply lament the re-agitation of the clergy reserve +question in Canada. Such a step, on the part of the great Wesleyan +body there, would doubtless be attended by the strengthening of the +opposition in the Legislature, and to probable withdrawal of the +support of several members from the present Government. In an +interview with the official Committee of the Wesleyan body, shortly +before I left Canada, I promised them to bring the subject before +your Lordship during my stay in England. They, therefore, deferred +appealing to the Local Legislature to interpose in their behalf, +until they should learn the result of such an appeal to your +Lordship....</p> + +<p>I cannot suppose that it has been the wish of your Lordship, any +more than the intention of the Crown officers, to perpetuate the +exclusion of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada from their +confessedly-just claim of which they have already been deprived for +a period of four years. The amount of the claim is less than +one-half of what has been secured to the Roman Catholic Church in +Upper Canada—less than one-third of the amount paid the Church of +Scotland, and less than one-tenth of what has been guaranteed to +the Church of England. The Wesleyan body, whose members in Upper +Canada have increased eight thousand during the last four years, +will be satisfied on the payment of the sum admitted in their +behalf. And I submit that the sanctioning of it by your Lordship +will, in my humble opinion, be far better, even as a matter of +policy—apart from higher considerations—than affording just +ground for an agitation, the consequences of which cannot be easily +foreseen.</p></div> + +<p>No relief was, however, afforded by a change in the administration of +the Act of 1840. The Act itself remained unrepealed until 1853.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_128_129" id="Footnote_128_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128_129"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> In process of time, the necessities of his Church +compelled the Bishop to adopt a new financial scheme, which he laid +before his clergy in 1841, one main feature of which was to incorporate +the voluntary principle with a system of moderate grants—such as has +been the rule adopted for some years by the Mission Board of the Diocese +of Toronto.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_129_130" id="Footnote_129_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129_130"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> In sending a copy of this pamphlet some years ago to the +Editor of this volume, Archdeacon Fuller (now Bishop of Niagara), +said:—This able and interesting document ... was drawn out from the +late Bishop by the growing dissatisfaction amongst the clergy and laity, +in consequence of Bishop Strachan managing the whole of the clergy +reserve fund, without consulting anybody, and managing to get several +thousand pounds of arrears paid to himself, as Bishop, and his protegé, +the present Bishop [Bethune], made Archdeacon of York, with a salary of +£365 a year as Archdeacon, while he could not find means to pay the +missionaries more than £100 a year.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIX" id="CHAPTER_XLIX"></a>CHAPTER XLIX.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1846-1848.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Re-Union of the British and Canadian Conferences.</span></p> + + +<p>During and before the period of the Metcalfe Controversy events were +transpiring in Methodist circles in which Dr. Ryerson took an active +part, and in which he was deeply interested.<a name="FNanchor_130_131" id="FNanchor_130_131"></a><a href="#Footnote_130_131" class="fnanchor">[130]</a></p> + +<p>Important correspondence on the relations to each other of the British +and Canadian Conferences took place in 1842. But as the issue of the +contest between these Conferences was so prolonged, and involved so many +important questions—religious and public—I think it desirable to give +a brief preliminary outline of the origin of the difficulties between +the two bodies. This is the more necessary, as Dr. Ryerson's own +personal history and conduct became, from a variety of circumstances, +most prominently mixed up with these controversies. His letters to the +Government on the subject, and to the Missionary Secretaries, now first +published, are also valuable Methodist historical documents—although +they partake largely of a personal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span> character—as he was the foremost +figure in all of these connexional contests. They are highly +characteristic of the courage and self-sacrifice of the writer.</p> + +<p>Methodism, after its introduction into Upper Canada in 1790, was +organized into a Church by preachers from the United States. In 1811, +when Upper Canada was on the eve of being the theatre of war with the +United States, several American preachers who had been appointed to +Canada declined to come, while those here (Messrs. Roads and Densmore) +applied to the Canadian Government in 1812 for leave to return to their +own country.<a name="FNanchor_131_133" id="FNanchor_131_133"></a><a href="#Footnote_131_133" class="fnanchor">[131]</a> Nevertheless, after the war, and on the representation +of persons prompted by high churchmen, the London Wesleyan Missionary +Society sent out missionaries to four of the larger towns in Upper +Canada. This schismatical policy was pursued by the British Conference +until 1820, when the American General Conference sent Rev. John +(afterwards) Bishop Emory, as a deputation to that Conference to +remonstrate. The result was that the following resolutions were passed +by the British Conference in that year (1820):—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>1. That as the American Methodists and ourselves are but one body, +it would be inconsistent with our unity, and dangerous to that +affection which ought to characterize us in every place, to have +different societies and congregations in the same towns and +villages, or to allow of any intrusion on either side into each +other's labours.</p> + +<p>2. That this principle shall be the rule by which the disputes now +existing in the Canadas, between our missionaries, shall be +terminated.</p></div> + +<p>In transmitting these and several other resolutions on the subject to +the British Missionaries in Canada, the Secretaries (Rev. Joseph Taylor +and Rev. Richard Watson) said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We know that political reasons exist in many minds for supplying +even Upper Canada, as far as possible, with British Missionaries; +and, however natural this feeling may be to Englishmen, and even +praiseworthy when not carried too far, it will be obvious to you +that this is a ground on which, as a Missionary Society, and +especially as a Society under the direction of a Committee which +recognizes as one with itself the American Methodists, we cannot +act.</p></div> + +<p>The British Conference loyally observed this compact from 1820 until +1833. At that time (Dr. Ryerson says) the advocates of a dominant church +establishment, though in a small minority in the House of Assembly, were +all powerful in the Executive and Legislative Councils, and employed +very naturally all the resources at their command to perpetuate their +supremacy. For this purpose they appealed to the Wesleyan Missionary +Committee in England, and solicited them upon the ground of their +loyalty to the Church of England and to the Throne to send out +Missionaries to Upper Canada, offering $4,000 per annum out of the Crown +revenues to assist in so loyal a work. The English<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span> Wesleyan Missionary +Committee sent out a representative agent, who contended that the +engagement into which the English Conference had entered with the +American General Conference in 1820, through Dr. Emory, to leave Upper +Canada to the Canadian preachers, was no longer binding since the +Conference in Canada has become separate from that in the United States, +and the English Committee was therefore free to send missionaries into +any part of Upper Canada. The Canadian Conference was thus confronted by +a double danger—the danger of division in their congregations, and the +danger of increased power against their claims to equal rights and +privileges; and a two-fold duty devolved upon them—to prevent division +if possible, and, at the same time, to secure the attainment of their +own constitutional rights.</p> + + + +<p class="space">In the meantime other disturbing influences occurred. In 1824, an +agitation was commenced, with a view to take the appointment of the +Presiding Eldership out of the hands of the Bishops, and make the office +elective by the annual Conferences. The Presiding Elders of Upper Canada +(Rev. Henry Ryan and Rev. William Case) opposed this change, and, in +consequence, failed in their election by the Genesee Annual Conference +as delegates to the General Conference. Mr. Ryan was chagrined at this +result, and on his return to Upper Canada commenced to agitate for an +entire separation from the American Church. A memorial to that effect +was sent to the General Conference. The request was not granted, but the +Canadian work was set off to itself as the "Annual Conference of the +Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada." This was not what Mr. Ryan +wanted, and it displeased him. The theme of his complaint was "the +domination of republican Methodism and the tyranny of Yankee Bishops." +He therefore, set himself again to agitate for entire independence. +Finally, after having been the means of stirring up personal strife all +through the Connexion, the Conference of 1827 directed that he should be +reproved and admonished by Bishop Hedding in presence of the Conference. +This was done. Next day Mr. Ryan withdrew from the Conference. (See +chapter vii.)</p> + +<p>The high-church party encouraged Mr. Ryan in his disaffection; and when +he withdrew, and set up a separate church organization, Dr. Strachan +actually sent Mr. Ryan $200 to assist him in his schismatical efforts! +(Epochs, page 305.) Hon. John Willson, Speaker of the House of Assembly, +and formerly a Methodist, joined the high-church party, and did all he +could to aid and encourage Mr. Ryan. Thus, in addition to the £50 sent +to Mr. Ryan by Ven. Archdeacon Strachan, to aid him in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span> his schismatical +crusade against the Conference, a Government grant of £666 ($2,664) was +made to the new organization at the instance of Mr. Willson in 1833, and +£338 ($1,352) in 1834. (Epochs, page 359.)</p> + +<p>The cry of disloyalty having been again raised, the Government and +clerical party (for they were one under the control of the Archdeacon of +York), lost no time, therefore, in maturing a plan to induce the British +Conference again to undertake the occupancy of Upper Canada as +missionary ground, and forthwith to send missionaries into the province +for that purpose. A correspondence was opened between the head of the +Canadian Executive Government, Sir John Colborne, and the Wesleyan +Missionary Committee, on the subject of the new missionary enterprise +into Upper Canada. (Epochs, page 305.) The result was, that in May, +1832, without notice, an intimation was received that the Rev. Robert +Alder, and twelve missionaries were to be sent out to Canada. With a +view to avert the calamity of again having hostile Methodist camps in +every city and town in Upper Canada, Rev. John Ryerson suggested to Dr. +Ryerson that the Canada Conference should endeavour to form a union with +the British Conference, and thus secure harmonious action instead of +discord and disunion. This was done, and provisional arrangements were +made with Dr. Alder at the Hallowell Conference of 1832, subject to the +ratification of the British Conference. This ratification was made, and +took effect in 1833, and the union continued for four or five years +only.</p> + +<p>About the year 1840, a considerable controversy arose in regard to the +payment of an annual grant of £900 by the Government, in aid of the +general work of the Church. It may be well, therefore, to state the +circumstances under which this grant was made, and then point out the +personal causes which intensified the feeling of estrangement between +the English and Canadian Conferences.</p> + +<p>In a letter on this subject to the Provincial Secretary, dated 28th +December, 1842, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Rev. Robert Alder was in Upper Canada in the spring and summer of +1833, negotiating on the subject of the grant and the union, which +Sir John Colborne was anxious to promote. The Canadian Conference, +aided by Dr. Alder's counsels, agreed to propose certain articles +of union with the English Conference. Those articles contemplated a +financial, as well as ecclesiastical union; and Dr. Alder expressed +his conviction that the English Conference would grant £1,000 per +annum out of its Contingent Fund, to aid our Conference, besides +the aid granted out of the Mission Fund, in aid of Missions in +Upper Canada. A copy of these proposed articles of union was +forthwith laid before Sir John Colborne by Dr. Alder, and published +in the <i>Guardian</i>, of the 29th August, 1832, five days after which +Sir John Colborne wrote to Lord Ripon, recommending a grant to the +Wesleyan Committee of £900 per annum [on terms of the comprehensive +scheme mentioned on page 155].<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span> But the Government delayed making +any payment until October, 1833, after the ratification of the +union by both bodies. In the meantime, however, the English +Conference declined granting any aid out of their Contingent Fund, +and had a clause inserted in the Articles of Union against any +claims upon the funds of the English Conference on the part of the +Canadian Preachers. Of this clause in the Articles of Union the +Government seems never to have been made aware until Lord Sydenham +came to Upper Canada in 1839.</p></div> + +<p>In a long and valuable historical letter to Mr. Murdoch, Chief Secretary +to Sir Charles Bagot, dated May, 1842, Dr. Ryerson further said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The first payment of the grant was made in October, 1833, a few +days after the final ratification of the Articles of Union by the +Canadian Conference; so that every payment of the grant was made +and applied according to the "usage" prescribed by the Articles of +Union....</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson then discussed various matters relating to their "usage," +and the articles of Union, and proceeded: Some weeks after Lord +Sydenham's arrival in Toronto, His Lordship sent for me—as I was +afterwards informed, at the recommendation of Sir Allan MacNab, +Receiver-General Dunn, and others—but the interview, and one or two +subsequent ones, related entirely to the objects of his Lordship's +mission, in accomplishing which, he desired all the aid I could give +him. The last week of the year 1839, and the first week of 1840, Lord +Sydenham spent in seeing various parties and concerting a measure on the +clergy reserve question. He sent for the Rev. Messrs. Stinson and Richey +(agents of the London Wesleyan Committee) as well as for me. As all the +present difficulties grew out of these interviews of the London Wesleyan +Committee's agents and myself, with Lord Sydenham, I think it important +to state the substance of them, and the evidence on which I make my +statement.</p> + +<p>First as regards myself. The proposed measure being intended to secure a +continued payment of grants already made out of the Casual and +Territorial Revenue, and the Clergy Reserve Fund, to the parties +receiving them, I submitted to Lord Sydenham that, as the three +principal denominations (Church of England, Church of Scotland, and +Roman Catholics) received large aid out of one or both of these funds, +it was clear that unless some assistance was granted to the Wesleyan +Methodist Church before the passing of the Clergy Reserve Bill, and +transferred with other charges by the provisions of the Bill, we would +be effectually excluded from obtaining any aid for a series of years. I +submitted to Lord Sydenham an application, which I had been directed to +make, in behalf of the Upper Canada Academy—now Victoria College. His +Lordship acceded to the justice of my views, but replied that aid was +given to us also in the form of an annual grant. I replied, and sought +to impress upon his Lordship, that the grant referred to by him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span> had not +been made to the Canadian Conference, and did not operate to its +advantage, but to the sole advantage of the Wesleyan Missionary Society +in England; and, at his request, I prepared a statement of the case in +writing. It will be seen by the date of my letter that these +communications took place January 2nd, 1840. It is perfectly clear, +therefore, that up to that time there could have transpired between Lord +Sydenham and myself, nothing relative to the transfer of the grant.</p> + +<p>On the same day, Rev. Messrs. Stinson and Richey (agents of the Wesleyan +Committee) had an interview with Lord Sydenham. They told him that the +union between the English and Canadian Conferences was not likely to +continue; and prayed (in their memorial, written the day after) "that +the sum intended for the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada, should be +given to the Wesleyan Methodists, who are now, and who may be hereafter, +connected with the British Wesleyan Conference." I believe Lord +Sydenham's laconic reply was, that he had to do with religious bodies in +Canada, not in England.</p> + +<p>It will be seen that the communication of Messrs. Stinson and Richey, as +well as mine, served to impress Lord Sydenham that there was not an +identity of interests between the English and Canadian Conferences, as +he had supposed, and, as His Lordship said, Her Majesty's Government +also supposed.</p> + +<p>A day or two after Messrs. Stinson and Richey's interview with Lord +Sydenham, I waited upon him, when I was given to understand that a +memorial had been presented to him in behalf of the British Conference, +on the ground of an anticipated dissolution of the Union. My feelings of +surprise and indignation, and my remonstrances against such a monstrous +proposition, may be easily conceived. It is known that Lord Sydenham, +from the very first, viewed such a proposition with disapprobation; it +was on this occasion also that His Lordship apprised me of the +conclusions he had come to on the subject of any proposition for a grant +to the Canadian Conference, previously to passing the Clergy Reserve +Bill; that he was satisfied that the Canadian Conference had a just +claim to assistance; that it did not derive any practical benefit from +the grant to the London Committee, but that it ought to do so, as such +were the original intentions of the Government in making it. Lord +Sydenham stated his recollection of the intention of the Government in +1832 to be—and perhaps the recollections of Lord Stanley may be to the +same effect—that it was supposed by the Government, from communications +from Upper Canada, that the Wesleyans here were not quite as +(conservatively) loyal as was desirable; that it being understood they +were willing to unite with the English Conference, the Government +thought it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span> advisable to enable the English Conference to assist them, +as it would exert a salutary influence upon their feelings and +usefulness. Thus was the grant made; but from the peculiar nature of the +articles of Union, the leading objects of the grant had never been +accomplished, as the Canadian Conference had to support all its own +members and institutions—except a few missions—as much since, as +before the Union. He had, therefore, determined to write to Lord John +Russell, and recommend a different distribution of the grant; believing +that to accomplish the original and benevolent objects in Canada, it +ought to be placed under the entire control of the Canadian Conference. +In these views I did, of course, gratefully concur, although I never +fully understood until then the intentions of the Imperial Government in +making the grant. I also thought the course proposed would defeat the +intimated project of breaking up the Union, and furnish real aid to the +Church of which I was appointed advocate and representative. Leaving the +matter in the hands of Lord Sydenham, I had no intention of saying +anything more upon the subject, until, nearly a fortnight afterwards, +when His Lordship requested me—as I was so familiar with the +subject—to furnish him with a written statement of the financial +relations of the English and Canadian Conferences, in regard to the +grant, etc., as it would aid him in preparing his despatch to Lord John +Russell. I did so. The letter, written at the request of Lord Sydenham, +was intended as a memorandum for his Lordship. But he thought it best to +transmit a copy of it with his own despatch to Lord John Russell, by +whom it was enclosed to the Wesleyan Committee; and hence the present +controversy. That letter is dated 17th January, 1840.</p> + +<p>I cannot but feel that I labour under great disadvantages in the present +discussion, from the numerous representations and statements which the +Wesleyan Committee have made to the noble Secretary of State to my +disadvantage. My standing, as a public man, is my all, and therefore, +however small relatively, is as important to me as a kingdom to a +monarch.</p> + +<p>As the Wesleyan Committee have made me so prominent a subject in this +affair, I have offered to submit to His Excellency, Sir Charles Bagot, +or to the Executive Council—or to His Excellency and the Executive +Council—or to the Lord Bishop of Toronto; or to the Moderator of the +Synod of the Church of Scotland in Canada—or to the Lord Bishop of +Toronto and the Moderator of the Scotch Synod—and to bind myself in any +penalty to abide by the decision of such tribunal. When the Wesleyan +Committee are accusers, judge, and jury in their own case, it is not +likely they will be very impartial; but if there is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span> a shadow of truth +or justice in their accusations and statements, I have given them full +opportunity to secure the confirmation of them, by the highest +tribunals, in the country of my life and labours.</p> + + + +<p class="space">The Wesleyan Committee declined to refer the matter in dispute to an +independent tribunal, and Dr. Alder wrote to members of the Canadian +Conference impugning Dr. Ryerson in the strongest terms, insisting upon +his withdrawal of certain things which he had written, and making +various threats. Dr. Ryerson decided then to address a final letter to +Rev. Messrs. Bunting, Beecham and Hoole, Missionary Secretaries. This he +did on the 19th October, 1842. This letter, and the preceding letter, +are doubly valuable from the fact that they embody a number of +interesting details of the interviews and correspondence between Lord +Sydenham and Dr. Ryerson, and also between Sir Charles Bagot and Dr. +Ryerson, which have not hitherto been published. There is a tone of +manly dignity and independence in this letter which commends itself, and +which were characteristic of Dr. Ryerson in his best moods as a +controversialist. From the letter, which extends to thirty-four foolscap +pages I make the following extracts. He said:—</p> + +<p>I wish the most extended success to the general labours of the Wesleyan +Missionary Society, however much they have sought to retard those of the +Canadian Conference; nor have I ever objected to their labours among the +"destitute white settlements" and heathen tribes of Canada; I only +object to their works of schism, and division.... Did you ever think of +sending missionaries, or of employing your money and men, in our regular +circuits, before the breaking up of the Union?—Kingston, or Belleville, +or Toronto, or Hamilton, or Brantford, or London, etc.?—places where +there is no more need of missionary men or missionary money than there +is in City Road, or Great Queen street circuits in London—places in +which it is notorious that the soul, body, and strength of your +societies consists, not in converts from the world, but in secessions +from the Canadian Conference. When, therefore, four-fifths of your +missionaries (so called) in Western Canada are employed on regular +circuits of the Canadian Conference, is it surprising that I should +complain, remonstrate, and condemn?</p> + +<p>The burden of Dr. Alder's letter is that I have been the first, +gratuitous, and wanton aggressor upon the character and motives of those +"to whom the British Conference has entrusted the transaction of its +most important business;" and, as such, the author and fomenter of the +difficulties between the British and Canadian Conferences. And it has +been more than once<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span> intimated on your part that if I, the Jonah, were +thrown overboard, the commotion of the Methodistic element of Western +Canada would soon cease, and mutual confidence and joy would be restored +to the whole ship's company.... Need I add, that in the columns of your +<i>Watchman</i> newspaper, and in the pages of pamphlets, and in your +<i>Wesleyan</i> in Canada, not only my public conduct, but my character, my +motives, my principles, have been impugned without delicacy or +restraint? Need I add, that the Canada Conference and myself have been +the defendants, and you the assailants, throughout? That in Dr. Alder's +letter to Lord John Russell the proceedings of the Canada Conference are +represented as revolutionary?</p> + +<p>I am also impeached in almost every form of phraseology—the Christian +integrity and loyalty of my brethren and myself have been impugned by +your agents throughout this country—our fields of labour have been +invaded, and our flocks divided, while our principles and feelings have +been resented as dangerous to the safety and interests of the State. Yet +Dr. Alder complains of the occasional exposure of these things in the +<i>Guardian</i>, and is rampant at the application of the word divisionists, +to those of your missionaries who are dividing our regular societies, +and establishing rival congregations on our regular circuits!... But, in +reply, there may be opposed to the unanimous resolutions of your +Conference, adopted in Liverpool, in 1820, and the whole tenor and +spirit of the New Testament, especially the writings of St. Paul, who +denounces partialities for Peter, or Paul, or Apollos, as pretext for +schisms in the Church of God.</p> + +<p>Then as to my desire to protract litigation. Does my having done all in +my power to have the affair referred to a third party—to any impartial +tribunal you might prefer—evince the truth of such a charge? Or does +your refusing to agree to any such reference look most like desiring to +protract hostilities? Great Britain and other civilized nations have +more than once submitted their differences to the decision of a third +party; ancient churches did the same; I have advocated the same; you +refuse; your refusal does not certainly argue a consciousness that you +are right, or a desire for peace, whatever else it may argue.</p> + +<p>Furthermore, as to my own feelings and conduct, I will let the following +memorandum, which I presented at the late session of the Canada +Conference, speak in reply to your various allegations:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I hereby resign my seat in the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist +Church in Canada.</p> + +<p>I do not resign my membership in the Conference, but I resign all +privilege and right to take part in its deliberations, or even to +be present at its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</a></span> sittings. I hold myself as much as ever +responsible and subject to the Conference, and am as ready as ever +to do all in my power to defend the Conference and Institutions of +the Church when necessary; but I voluntarily relinquish +participating in any way whatever in its Executive or Legislative +Councils. The following are the considerations which have induced +me to take this step:—</p> + +<p>1. My presence and participation in the proceedings of the +Conference have been represented as forming an insuperable obstacle +to any adjustment of differences between the Wesleyan Conference in +England, and this Conference.</p> + +<p>2. I prefer the unity of Methodism, and an honourable adjustment of +differences between two branches of the great Methodist family, to +the exercise of any influence I may possess, or may be supposed to +possess in the Councils of this Conference; or to the profit and +pleasure I may derive from attending the annual deliberations of my +reverend and beloved brethren.</p> + +<p>3. I can now take this step without incurring any imputation upon +my character, and without injuring the interests of the Conference, +or of the Church at large.</p> + +<p>I respectfully request that this memorandum may be inserted in the +journals of the Conference, as an official record and recognition +of this my voluntary act.</p> + +<p> +(Signed) <span class="smcap">Egerton Ryerson</span>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hallowell</span>, June 14, 1842.<br /> +</p> + +</div> + +<p>You will see from the above memorandum, that I proposed to relinquish +all except my connection with a church which I had joined in obedience +to conscience, and my connection with a field of labour to which I +believed myself called by the voice and providence of God. My request +was laid upon the table of the Conference for a day, and then pressed by +me with as much propriety as I could employ on such a subject, but, with +one exception (Andrew Prindle), was unanimously rejected, it being +insisted that I should not be allowed to change my relations to the +Conference, in any respect, on account of your differences with me. To +relinquish my connection with the Church, and my labours as a Methodist +minister, involve considerations which ought not to yield to the impulse +of passion, or bow to the suggestions of expediency. By God's grace, +therefore, I hope to be able to "stand in my place to the end of the +day," say or do what you may....</p> + +<p>Dr. Alder and his Canadian friends have advised you from the beginning +that my standing and influence in Canada was merely political; that I +was aware of this, and was, therefore, determined to employ myself in +political affairs in order to gratify my ambition. My assertions to the +contrary were, of course, rejected and scorned by you. Well, nearly +three years have elapsed since, by common consent, I have had nothing +whatever to do with the civil affairs of Canada, as all the public men +in it know. My own conduct, therefore, has thus far refuted one part of +the statements of your informers. As to the other part, has my standing +as a public man declined? or, have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</a></span> all parties, during that period, +awarded me a testimony of regard more gratifying than that which I had +ever before received from any party?</p> + +<p>You were also told that my principles were revolutionary, and were so +viewed by the wealth and intelligence of this country, which would +support you and repudiate me and those connected with me. What do you +now see, but the Government at home and in Canada adopting the very +system of administration, both in religious, educational, and civil +affairs, which I maintained many years ago to be most suitable to the +social condition of this Province; and the wealth and intelligence of +our population (save a little knot of Puseyite ultras) rejoicing in its +establishment; and the country in happy tranquility, and blooming with +prosperity, under its operations? What do you see but Her Majesty +possessing a strength far more formidable than that of swords or +bayonets, in the hearts of her Canadian subjects? What do you see, but +three branches of the Legislature unanimously incorporating as a +College, with the privileges of a University, an institution under the +direction of the Canada Conference (which you had repudiated), and in +compliance with an application which I had the honour to have advocated, +and according to the provisions of a Bill, <i>verbatim et literatim</i>, +which I drew up? What do you see, but that same Legislature, with equal +unanimity, granting £500 to the same institution, and lately, by the +recommendation of His Excellency, Sir Charles Bagot, renewing that grant +as an annual aid to the institution, now presided over by the individual +against whom all your attacks have been directed? Can I but feel a +grateful, as well as a dutiful attachment to a Government so perfectly +consonant with my own feelings? Can I but feel an honest pride, +retrospecting the past, and looking abroad upon the present, to see in +the constitution and spirit of Her Majesty's Canadian Government my own +views and wishes carried out to the very letter? Can I but rejoice, to +see several members of the Government on our College Board and +Senate—and to be aided by their counsel, abilities, and influence?</p> + +<p>I advert to these facts with heart-felt thankfulness, as a practical +vindication of my life and character against your imputations, and as an +indication strong, if not providential, that I have, in the main at +least, endeavoured to do my duty to my God, my Sovereign, and my +country.... Unconnected as I am with any party, and on friendly terms +with leading men of all parties, countenanced by the Government, aided +by the Legislature, and sustained by the public, I can, by the divine +blessing, employ my humble abilities, even under the weight of Dr. +Alder's frowns, to rearing up a large body of well instructed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</a></span> youth, +and a considerable number of ministers, who, I hope, will be a blessing +to this their country, and to the church, and who will, doubtless, do +justice to me when both Dr. Alder and myself shall be receiving our +reward according to our respective works, "whether they be good or bad."...</p> + +<p>My differences with you are wholly of a public and official character; +personally I esteem and honour you as much as I ever did, and wish you +God speed in your general works of faith and divine labours of love....</p> + +<p>The only persons in England with whom I have the slightest personal +difference are Dr. Alder and Mr. Lord, for their uncalled for and unjust +personal attacks upon me. I cherish no ill-feeling towards them. But I +ask not your indulgence; I fear you not; I know and admire you as +distinguished servants of the Most High, but as greatly mistaken as to +what truly appertains to one hundred and twenty-one itinerant ministers, +and a large and growing branch of the Wesleyan body in Western Canada—a +body now beginning, like yourselves, to raise up a regularly educated as +well as a zealous ministry....</p> + +<p>This epistle shall be my witness to the Government, to the church, and +to posterity, that the dreadful disgrace and varied evils of +perpetuating the present unseemly violation of Methodistic and Christian +unity in Upper Canada, and the creation and continuance of unnatural and +unchristian schisms and divisions in a Christian church, lie not at my +door; and that for the sake of peace, I have offered to do all that +could be demanded of me by reason of Christianity....</p> + +<p>As the Government is interested in this controversy, I shall deem it my +duty to enclose a copy of the present letter to His Excellency the +Governor-General, with a request that His Excellency will have the +goodness to forward it to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the +Colonial Department, that Her Majesty's Government, both at home and in +this country, may fully understand the present posture of this affair, +at least as far as you and myself are concerned, and with whom lies the +responsibility of this continued controversy.</p> + + + +<p class="space">For the reasons given above to the Secretaries of the Wesleyan +Conference in England, Dr. Ryerson transmitted a copy of his letter to +them to Sir Charles Bagot, on the 10th December, 1842, accompanied with +an explanatory letter, from which I extract the following narrative +connected with this matter:—Two weeks before the late Lord Sydenham's +arrival in Toronto (in November, 1839), at a meeting of the agents of +the London Committee, and the Executive Committee of the Canadian +Conference, every matter of misunderstanding and jealousy, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</a></span> far as I +know, was satisfactorily settled. It was explicitly agreed on all sides, +and recorded, that I should press the settlement of the clergy reserve +question. On other things it was my wish and aim to remain neutral. This +I did, until some weeks after Lord Sydenham's arrival. Parties were very +equally divided on the question of the union of the Canadas, and the +terms on which it should be effected. I was then Editor of the +<i>Guardian</i>; I was desired by the agents of the London Wesleyan Committee +and their friends (and some of my own friends), to oppose the union of +the Canadas; Lord Sydenham sent for me, and earnestly solicited me to +advocate it, and assured me that it should involve no change in the +principles of our Constitution, but even secure greater privileges to +the people of Canada, and that it was the only hope of Canada. He +promised, in case he could get the Union measure through the Canadian +Legislature, to apply himself to the settlement of the clergy reserve +question, in accordance with such principles as I had expressed, and +which he understood to be general in Upper Canada. After much +consideration, I consented to give a decided support to the Government +in that great measure. The agents of the London Committee were greatly +offended, and were sure, as were many others, that Lord Sydenham would +not be supported by the Imperial Parliament, and threatened a breaking +up of the union between the English and Canadian Conferences; and in +about three weeks afterwards, they intimated to Lord Sydenham that the +union between the two bodies would not be continued, and sought to get +the Methodist portion of the proceeds of the clergy reserves secured to +those who should be connected with the British Wesleyan Conference. Lord +Sydenham, learning the circumstances in which I was placed, opposed by +the agents of the London Committee and all the opponents of the union of +the Canadas, and by the "radical reform" portion of the press, for +assenting to the application of the clergy reserves to religious +purposes at all, and by many of the members of my own Church, because I +assented to a Bill which recognized the Churches of England and Scotland +by name, and not the Methodist Church,—assured me of all protection and +support that his Government could give. I asked for nothing but a due +consideration and protection of the interests of the Church which I +represented. Of this I received repeated assurances; and when, a few +months afterwards, Lord Sydenham received from Lord John Russell, a copy +of Dr. Alder's first letter to his Lordship, Lord Sydenham not only +renewed the private expression of his views and purposes, but introduced +them voluntarily in an answer to a congratulatory address of the +Canadian Conference. In reference<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</a></span> to these very matters, out of which +the present question has arisen, Lord Sydenham thus expressed himself, +and pledged the faith of his Government. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Whilst I administer the affairs of the Canadas, it is my duty to +look to the feelings of the people of that country; and you will +find me ever ready and willing, whenever any question connected +with the Executive Government may arise, to support the reasonable +views, and maintain the just rights of your society, as expressed +through your recognized authorities within these Provinces.</p></div> + +<p>When it was ascertained that the English Conference would not abide by +the articles of union, and that several months' delay had taken place +without carrying out the views which Lord Sydenham had expressed—that +an Act on the clergy reserve question had been passed by the Imperial +Parliament, different in several important respects from that which Lord +Sydenham had got through the Canadian Legislature, it was our intention +to have the claims and interests of our Church in respect both to the +grant and clergy reserves, brought under the consideration of the +Canadian Legislature. But previously to taking this step, I was directed +to proceed to Kingston (June, 1841), to ascertain what measures the +Government were disposed to adopt; when I learned from Lord Sydenham +that he had been empowered to settle the question of the grant, and that +in that and all other respects he would consult the interests of our +Church to the utmost of his power. It was not his wish to communicate +his decision officially until near the close of the session of the +Legislature, which, unhappily, proved to be the end of his life. What +has since transpired is within the personal knowledge of Your +Excellency.</p> + + + +<p class="space">After all this correspondence, the question of reunion with the British +Conference was often and earnestly discussed privately between leading +members of the Canadian and British Conferences, as well as in the +American Methodist journals.<a name="FNanchor_132_134" id="FNanchor_132_134"></a><a href="#Footnote_132_134" class="fnanchor">[132]</a></p> + +<p>In October, 1843, Rev. Joseph Stinson, then in Sheffield, England, wrote +to Dr. Ryerson on the subject, and said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>There is a strong desire on the part of many of our most +influential ministers that the work in Canada should be +consolidated and made one. It is certainly most desirable that +there should be one vigorous, united, and prosperous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</a></span> Methodist +Church; in which the pure doctrines of Methodism, and of the +Gospel, shall be preserved, and a refuge for those who really want +to be saved shall be presented—to all those, I mean, who prefer +our religious system to any other. Now, my dear sir, allow me to +say, that I think that the only two men in the world who can effect +this most desirable object, are yourself and Dr. Alder. If any plan +could be adopted by which you and he could be reconciled to each +other, the work would be done; and it will not be done effectually, +I fear, until this is the case. I still entertain the hope of +spending many happy and useful years in Canada; and I thank you +sincerely for your kind offer with reference to Cobourg. I cannot +forget the happy, and, I may say, holy hours we have spent together +before God in prayer; and I hope and trust we shall yet be found +side by side in the Church militant and in the Church triumphant.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. Joseph Stinson wrote again in December, and was very urgent in +regard to the reunion of the Conferences. He says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Let us still labour and pray for the great object of union. Every +day, and every aspect which the Church and the world presents, +deepens the conviction of my mind of its necessity, and I hope we +shall live to see a united and prosperous Church in Canada, against +which the gates of hell cannot prevail. We are now very busy with +our Educational movements. We intend to raise £200,000 in seven +years, and we shall, by the Divine blessing, succeed. Our people +were never more united, and truly Methodistical in their feelings +and purposes. God has a great work for us to do in the world, and +if we are but faithful, we shall be a greater blessing to our +Empire than we have ever been.</p></div> + +<p>In November, 1844, after his arrival in London, Dr. Ryerson addressed a +letter to his two friends, Rev. Joseph Stinson and Rev. G. Marsden, on +the Union question. From Mr. Stinson he received a reply, from which the +following is an extract:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I heartily congratulate you on your promotion. I pray that you may +be happy and useful in the interesting and responsible station +assigned you by the providence of God and the Government of your +country. I hope your visit to this country may be one of those +Providential events which will lead to the accomplishment of an +object which lies as near to my heart now as it ever did—the unity +of our Methodist interests in Canada. The aspects of the times at +home and abroad surely are plainly indicating that our very +existence as a Church depends, in no small decree, upon our unity. +In the meantime, if I can, by any little influence I have, be able +to effect a reconciliation between you and our friends at the +Mission House, nothing on earth will afford me so much pleasure.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. G. Marsden, in his reply to Dr. Ryerson, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Often have I reflected with deep interest on the whole of that very +important affair—the union of the two bodies; and though it was +afterward dissolved, I firmly believe that the union at that time +was of God. It gave a favourable opportunity for our Conference +reviewing and improving the code of Discipline, and I hope that it +is now rendered permanent. In that respect I believe you in Canada +are on good ground; and I could almost wish that it may be +unalterable. There may be attempts made, under the pretence of +improvements, to alter in future our Book of Discipline, but I +trust that those preachers who were at the Conference when the +Discipline was settled and solemnly agreed upon, will not hastily +adopt any material alterations.</p> + +<p>The union was also providential as it occurred before the rebellion +commenced. So far it appeared to be in the order of Providence; and +though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</a></span> in a few years the union was dissolved, yet you have gone +on well in Canada, and the Lord has prospered you.</p> + +<p>The position which you now occupy is one of great importance, as it +respects the future good of Canada. If the youth of that country be +trained up in sound Christian principles, the country, as it +respects the inhabitants, may become one of the finest in the +world. The old countries are formed, yours is in some measure yet +to be formed; and as is the education, such in all probability will +be the inhabitants in future.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson after his arrival in England, also addressed a letter to Dr. +Bunting, dated December 11th, 1844, as follows:—</p> + +<p>I desire your acceptance of the accompanying publication [relating to +the Metcalfe controversy]. The Prefatory Notice and Address will explain +to you the circumstances under which it was written.</p> + +<p>I take the liberty of presenting you with this publication, not merely +from feelings of profound respect for yourself personally, but also for +the following reason:—That you may have the best possible proof of the +sentiments which I have ever inculcated upon the public mind in Canada, +and which are current among the ministers and members of the Wesleyan +Methodist Church in that country. In appendix No's. 3 and 4, pages +171-178, I have made extracts from what I wrote between the years 1838 +and 1841, the period, in August, 1840, during which both my sentiments +and conduct were impugned in your presence. You will probably recollect +that I then stated that my principles were strictly British, and such +alone as could perpetuate British authority in Canada. The fact that the +present Governor-General of Canada, and Her Majesty's present +Government—apart from a candid inquiry into the nature of them—have +staked their character and authority in Canada upon those principles, is +ample proof of their constitutional orthodoxy and essential importance; +and the manner in which Sir Charles Metcalfe has been, and is, supported +in Upper Canada, is sufficient evidence of their influence over the +public mind there, without your expending some three thousand pounds a +year of missionary money within the bounds of the regular +self-supporting and missionary-contributing circuits of the Canada +Conference in order to teach us loyalty. (See pages 282, 283.) Since I +was last in England, I have not written a word on civil affairs, except +a short obituary notice of the late Sir Charles Bagot (which was not +inserted in the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, any more than what I have recently +written) until the publication which I herewith transmit. By referring +to pages 134, 153, 164, you will find that I have not, even as an +individual, written for party, or in the spirit of party, but with a +view of giving and securing the application of a Christian +interpretation of the fundamental principles of the British +Constitution, and of all good government.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</a></span></p> + +<p>I am thankful that I have been permitted to live and give to the British +Government in England, and to the public in Canada, a more tangible and +abiding proof of my principles and feelings than the representations +which were made of them in your presence in 1840.</p> + +<p>It may not be improper for me to add, that the appointment with which +the Government has honoured me, in placing under my direction, the +public educational instruction of the youth of Upper Canada, was not +accepted by me, until after my ministerial brethren, officially, as well +as unofficially, expressed their approbation of my doing so.</p> + + + +<p class="space">After the Conference of 1845, Dr. Ryerson (then in Europe) received a +letter from Rev. John Ryerson, in which he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Conference received a note from the sub-Secretary of the +British Conference, enclosing certain resolutions which had been +passed two years ago, appointing a committee to settle matters with +the Canada Conference respecting the differences between the two +Connexions. Our Conference appointed a similar committee, and the +Secretary was directed to communicate to the British Conference, +and request it to make some proposals for settlement, as they had +rejected all the proposals which we had made. In fact, parties here +have taken advantage of the overtures which we have made to injure +the Canada Conference, while there is no move on the part of the +British Conference to indicate that they even desire a settlement. +For my own part, I would have gone so far as to have made the +proposal which you suggested; but I could not influence a majority +of the Conference to do so. The belief here is gaining ground that +the British Conference has no intention to settle the differences; +that they are only tampering with us, and, at the same time, they +are striving to get the £700. I believe that no settlement can be +effected until that grant matter is adjusted, and that no grant +will be paid until that settlement is made. I cannot forget the +reprehensible conduct of the Missionary party, in sending a +missionary to Bytown, at the very time that they were pretending to +negotiate a settlement with us! Still I am anxious to do almost +anything to effect an adjustment of our misunderstandings; but I +fear that the British Conference, influenced by the Missionary +party here, will accede to no feasible plan of settlement—at all +events, not while these men are kept here, and are allowed to have +the influence in England which they seem to possess.</p> + +<p>You are aware, of course, that a party in Toronto have for these +six months been publishing a paper, the object of which is by +agitation among our people, to drive the Conference to censure you +and your political writings. The Radical party in the Conference +tried to get that body to pass some such resolutions as Rev. C. R. +Allison introduced at Brockville, but they totally failed. The +Conference in reply to two memorials—the one from Brantford, and +the other from Cobourg—defended the resolutions passed at +Brockville on political matters, and the pastoral address of the +same year, and remarked that it saw no reason to say more than it +had said. This was sadly mortifying to the parties opposed to you. +However, every effort of that party in this and other questions +totally failed. They were left in most miserable minorities in +everything they undertook of a party and revolutionary character. +The party has assailed all of our funds, especially our Missionary +Society and Victoria College. Indeed, there was nothing connected +with our institutions which they have not tried to injure, taking +good care to connect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</a></span> your name with everything, so as to let the +Church know that you would be a sacrifice entirely satisfactory to +them.</p> + +<p>Political matters in the country are in a state of great quiet. I +think the present Government has got on strong ground—being +assailed by the two extreme sharks—the <i>Pilot</i> and the +<i>Patriot</i>.... The impartiality and high-minded justice of the +Governor-General are becoming more and more apparent. Indeed, I do +not think the Radicals will be able to recover their power in any +degree while Lord Metcalfe remains, certainly not if he continues, +in defiance of party strife, to administer the Government as it has +been administered since the present Council has been organized.</p> + +<p>The University Question is a most perplexing one, and the Ministry +will find the utmost difficulty to so devise a plan of settlement +so as to satisfy a majority of the people and carry the House with +them.</p></div> + +<p>After this correspondence on the Union question had taken place little +was done and less resulted from it. When Dr. Ryerson returned to Canada, +he wrote to Rev. Peter Jones, then in England, to see Rev. Dr. James +Dixon, and urge him to come to Canada. In February, 1846, Rev. Mr. Jones +replied:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>On receiving your letter I lost no time in calling upon Dr. Dixon, +who appeared pleased with the invitation from our Executive +Committee. He said that if he could see that his visit to Canada +would bring about a reconciliation between the two Conferences, he +would be most happy to go. I am very glad that the Committee have +invited him to come and inspect the state of affairs. I believe +that the invitation will do much good, whether Dr. Dixon goes or +not, as it will be seen that our Conference is anxious for a +settlement, and courts investigation.</p> + +<p>I do assure you that we are getting very homesick; and I am +heartily tired of the work of begging. I shall be glad when we are +again quietly settled in our own wigwams.</p></div> + +<p>In reply to this invitation, Rev. Dr. Dixon wrote a letter to Rev. Dr. +Ryerson, in March, in which he foreshadowed the important Methodistic +legislation which resulted in the establishment of the General +Conference which met at Toronto in 1874, with Dr. Ryerson as its first +President. Dr. Dixon said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>My own idea is that a measure much more comprehensive than that of +a mere settlement of these disputes is needed. The time must come +when the North American provinces will be united ecclesiastically, +by having a General Conference of their own, in connexion with the +Provincial or District Conferences, after the manner of the United +States. Things must come to this at no remote period; and this +being the case, it seems reasonable to consider such a scheme in +connection with the measure now under review. To do the thing well +will require, of course, very much and mature deliberation. In case +such a measure should be thought of, some form of fellowship, some +bond of union—must be recognized betwixt the British Conference +and such a body as I contemplate. Here is a ticklish point—it is +at this point that all splits and quarrels begin. But clearly the +line of justice, religion, and a Christian experience may be +discovered, if honestly sought. I am deeply convinced myself that +the organization of such a body as I refer to must, in the nature +of things develop the energies of Methodism in the Provinces +infinitely more vigorously than can be secured by the action of a +distant government.</p> + +<p>I venture to throw this out as my general feeling and impression. +Of course, it has been thought of by others as well as myself; and +I found the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</a></span> other day from Rev. Peter Jones that the subject is +engaging the attention of different parties on your side of the +water. Could you not open a discussion on this question in your +periodicals? But it should be free from party bias, from angry +passions, from national views and partialities; indeed, the +discussion of such a subject requires the highest reason, +philosophy and statesmanship. If a calm head and pure patriot could +be found amongst you to argue such a point, it would be clearing +the ground. Of the soundness of the principle that the Methodist +body ought to be one in all the adjacent colonies; and I am +convinced that it would be wise and expedient to establish as soon +as men's minds are prepared for it, such an establishment as a +general colonial Conference. And in the present state of things, I +conceive it would be useful to receive a certain amount of British +influence in such a Conference. You cannot do very well without us; +and on this side there would be great alarm at the idea of an +entire separation. But all these are questions of detail.</p> + +<p>Let me say now, that I have a strong desire to visit your +Provinces—I should like above all things to obey your call; but I +see it possible not only to do no good, but to do harm, by +exasperating parties on my taking up an independent position. Let +me say, I think the object we desire is being promoted by your +communication; and I hope that either myself, or some other one +better fitted, will, ere long, appear amongst you as a messenger of +peace. I long to see it.</p> + +<p>It would afford Mrs. Dixon and I the highest gratification to see +you in this country again—to have the very great delight to see +you by our fireside, and experience over again some of the happy +moments we dearly enjoyed in your friendly society. Thank God there +is a Christianity infinitely above ecclesiastical divisions, and +sub-divisions; and there is a depth of feeling and affection in the +human heart which cannot be destroyed by the miserable squabbles of +nations and churches.</p></div> + +<p>At the Conference held at Kingston, after the receipt of this letter +from Rev. Dr. Dixon, it was considered expedient to send a deputation +from Canada to the English Conference. Rev. John Ryerson and Rev. Anson +Green were selected for this important mission and soon left for +England. In a letter to Dr. Ryerson from his brother John, dated +Bristol, August 1st, he says that:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The difficulties in the way of any proper adjustments of our +differences seem to be almost insurmountable. Prejudices so strong +and so extensive, have been excited against us that we, as the +representatives of the Canada Conference, are looked upon with +shyness, if not fear and contempt. Our situation is anything but +pleasant; it is even distressing and painful.... Rev. Joseph +Stinson is most cordial and affectionate, and is doing his utmost +to further the object of our mission and promote peace in Canada; +this is also the case of Rev. William Lord.</p></div> + +<p>Subsequently Rev. John Ryerson wrote to say that:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Dr. Alder presented the address of our Conference, and also the +certificate of our appointment to the British Conference. It was +moved by Dr. Bunting, and seconded by Dr. Alder, that the address +be received, and that we be affectionately and cordially requested +to take a seat in the Conference. The resolution was opposed, and +it called up a warm debate. The opposers contended that their +connection with the Canada Conference and its matters had only been +a source of trouble and injury to themselves, and that, as the +Union was now dissolved, they should keep aloof from all +intercourse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</a></span> with us. The resolution was warmly supported by +Doctors Bunting, Alder, Beaumont, Dixon, Mr. Lord, and Mr. Stinson. +It at length passed triumphantly, and all things are coming out +right, and will end well.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. John Ryerson again wrote to Dr. Ryerson from Bristol:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Although we took our seats in the Conference last week, yet we were +not formally introduced until yesterday. It is clear that Dr. Alder +and others were resolved that we should not take our seats on the +platform, but Mr. Lord and Mr. Atherton (the President) and others +were resolved that we should. The President accordingly stated that +the brethren from Canada, Representatives of the Canada Conference, +would be introduced to the Conference, and would take their seats +on the platform, which we did. What Dr. Alder may hereafter do, I +know not; up to this time his conduct has been cold and repulsive; +he, however, continually declares that he is in favour of an +adjustment of matters in Canada.</p> + +<p>In looking at matters here, I cannot express the painful anxiety of +my mind; sometimes I can neither eat nor sleep, and it quite +destroys all the satisfaction which I might otherwise enjoy from a +visit to England. Had I known that things would be as I find them, +I should never have come to England. I left Canada distressed in +mind about our mission; the distress has only continued to increase +every day since. Were I to follow the strong impulse of my mind, I +should leave at once and return to America.</p></div> + +<p>All this was changed, however; and on the 15th September Rev. John +Ryerson thus writes to Dr. Ryerson as to the final issue of negotiations +with the British Conference:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>After four days' conference in committee on Canada affairs, the +whole business was brought to a happy and most amicable conclusion. +When I wrote my last letter I was under most painful apprehensions +respecting the results of our mission. Little change took place in +the bearing of the leading men towards us, until we met in +committee on the 9th inst. Then a most full, frank, and undisguised +explanation of all missionary and domestic matters was entered +into. After this full unburthening of ourselves, the one to the +other, a totally different feeling seemed to come over Drs. +Bunting, Alder, and the whole committee—which consisted of about +thirty leading members of the British Conference. In consequence of +the strong feeling which exists chiefly in Lower Canada, the +British North American plan mentioned by Dr. Dixon in his letter to +you, was thought not practicable at present. The plan of settlement +to which we have agreed, is a union with the British Conference, on +a basis similar to that by which the British and Irish Conferences +are united. The British Conference appoints our President and the +Superintendent of Missions, as in the former union; all of our +missions become missions of the Wesleyan Missionary Society; our +Missionary Society is auxiliary to their Society. The £700 grant is +to be placed under the Missionary Committee, to be appropriated for +missionary purposes in Canada. On the other hand, all the regular +British Missionary circuits in Canada, are to be placed under the +Canada Conference, the same as any other circuits; and there are to +be no missionary districts; but the missionaries are to be members +of the different districts in the bounds of which their missions +are situated. The missionaries are to be stationed by our +Stationing Committee, the same as other ministers. The British +Conference is to appropriate £600 sterling annually to our +contingent fund; and the Missionary Committee is to place £400 at +the disposal of our Conference for contingent purposes.</p> + +<p>More kindness, more nobleness of sentiment and feeling, I never +witnessed than was manifested towards us after we had succeeded in +removing suspicion,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</a></span> and allaying fears, etc. In the course of the +conversations, your name came up frequently, but always in terms of +great respect; only they all seemed to think that you got astray in +the matter of the disruption of the union. I assured them, however, +that no man in Canada was more desirous of a settlement of +differences than you were, and in order to the attainment of it, +you were desirous that all the past should be forgotten, and that +henceforth in these matters all should become new. I assured Dr. +Alder that no man in Canada would receive him more cordially than +you would. This assurance seemed to be very gratifying to him and +all the other ministers present.</p></div> + +<p>On the 24th November, 1846, after the return of the Conference +delegation from England, Dr. Ryerson addressed the following letter to +Drs. Bunting and Alder:—At the suggestion of my brother, Rev. John +Ryerson, and in accordance with my own feelings, I take the liberty of +addressing you a few lines on adjustment of differences between the +English and Canadian Conferences, and the concentration of the work of +Methodism in Upper Canada. In the arrangement which has been mutually +agreed upon between your Committees and the Canadian Representatives, I +entirely concur. Into the consideration of a measure so purely Christian +and Wesleyan, I have never allowed, and could not for a moment allow, +any sense of personal injury to enter. I have had the pleasure of +expressing to the Conferential Committee of the Canadian Connexion my +appreciation of the honourable and generous arrangement to which you +have agreed, and to propose a resolution expressive of the concurrence +of that Committee in that arrangement, to which it assented cordially +and unanimously. I have also had the pleasure of moving that Rev. M. +Richey be invited to occupy the relation to Victoria College which I +have for some years sustained, and to which the College Council has also +unanimously agreed. Nor shall I hesitate to use every exertion in my +power to complete and render beneficial an arrangement so honourable to +the British Conference, and so eminently calculated to promote the best +interests of Methodism in Western Canada.</p> + +<p>Your treatment of my dear and most beloved brother, John, I regard and +acknowledge as a favour done to myself. I did not do myself the honour +of calling upon you personally when I was in England, nor should I feel +myself at liberty to do so even now, were I again to visit London. It is +not that you have objected to many things that I have said and done, and +have expressed your objections in the strongest language. In this you +have acted as I have done, and for which I ought not either to respect +or love you the less. But, in your resolutions of April, 1840, you were +pleased to charge me "with an utter want of integrity;" and in a +subsequent series of resolutions, you were pleased to represent me as +unworthy of the intercourse of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</a></span> private life. These two particulars of +your proceedings attracted the painful notice of the late Sir Charles +Bagot before I ever saw him, and, I have reason to believe, made no +slight impression on the mind of his successor, the late venerated Lord +Metcalfe; and they have sunk deeply into my own heart. But I have not so +much as alluded to them in my official intercourse with my Canadian +brethren, nor will I do so; and as a member of the Canadian Conference, +I shall (if spared) receive and treat Dr. Alder with as much respect and +cordiality as I ever did, and shall do my best to render his +contemplated visit to Canada agreeable to himself, and successful in its +objects. I have, more than once, through the press, disclaimed any +imputation upon his integrity, motives, or character; but with his +recorded declaration of my "utter want of integrity," and my unfitness +for social intercourse in private life, I feel that my own conduct +towards him should be confined to official acts and official occasions; +in which I shall treat him with as much cordiality as I would any other +member of the English Conference. Had it not been for the two +particulars in your former proceedings to which I have referred, I +should have as readily sought the opportunity of paying you my personal +respects, during my recent visit to England, as I did in 1836.</p> + +<p>I have thought this explanation, at the present moment, due both to you +and to myself. I assure you at the same time of my personal regard, and +of my desire and purpose to promote, in every possible way, the great +objects which you have proposed, viz., the amicable reunion between the +English and Canadian Connexions. [The <i>amende</i> was subsequently made.]</p> + + + +<p class="space">In order to place the English and Canadian reunion question fully and +fairly before the English Wesleyan public, Dr. Ryerson was requested to +prepare an article on the subject for the London <i>Watchman</i>. This he +did. Rev. M. Richey writes from Montreal, on the 28th June, 1847, and +thus acknowledges the service which Dr. Ryerson had rendered in this +matter:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Your promptitude in preparing an article for the <i>Watchman</i>, and +the ability, as well as noble spirit of Wesleyan catholicity by +which it is characterized, have afforded to Dr. Alder the highest +satisfaction. The article perfectly corresponds to the ideal he had +conceived of a production adapted to place the whole matter before +the transatlantic public so as best to accomplish the important +object. The article will doubtless appear in the earliest +impression of the <i>Watchman</i>, to the joy of thousands of hearts. He +has also to acknowledge the receipt of the address of the Canada to +the British Conference. Permit me to assure you that Dr. Alder and +myself most affectionately reciprocate your expressions of kindness +and regard, and we have every confidence that no elements will be +ever hereafter permitted to disturb either our ecclesiastical +relations or our personal friendship.</p></div> + +<p>On his return from Canada, Dr. Alder wrote to Dr. Ryerson,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</a></span> under date +of the 17th September, expressing his grateful feelings at the result of +his visit. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I assure you of the recollection which I cherish of the candid and +manly part which you took, both in public and in private, in +connexion with the various important matters of business which were +brought before us during the sittings of the last Conference in +Toronto, as well as previous to the meeting of that assembly. I +have not failed in my communications since my return, to do you +that justice to which you are so well entitled; and I trust, as I +doubt not you do, that the good understanding which has thus been +restored, will be as permanent as it is gratifying. Much will +depend upon you, as well as upon myself, in securing the harmonious +working of the union which has been accomplished; and I shall +always be happy to receive from you free and full communications, +which will be regarded by me as confidential.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Alder in a subsequent letter, to Dr. Ryerson, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In the <i>Watchman</i> I have prefaced an account of our Missionary +Anniversary by a few observations, in which I have taken occasion +to bear testimony to the spirit and conduct of your brother +William, as well as of your own, with a view, not merely to perform +an act of justice to you, but to prepare the way for the +appointment of one, or you both, coming, either now, or at some +future period, in a representative character, to our +Conference,—an arrangement which, I am persuaded, will be +productive of much good in various ways.</p> + +<p>In carrying out practically so great a measure as that of the +union, difficulties of no ordinary kind will be felt. I have +pressed upon, and fully explained our financial matter to, Earl +Grey, who has, I believe, written to Lord Elgin on the subject. I +think I have made Earl Grey understand the peculiarity of our case. +You must press the matter on your side.</p> + +<p>In the union matter you must have the greatest practical freedom of +operation. I have explained my views to Dr. Dixon, your new +President, who sailed last Saturday in the best of spirits.</p></div> + +<p>In a fraternal letter, written in July, 1847, to the Rev. Dr. Olin, +President of the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., Dr. Ryerson +gave some particulars as to the union with the British Conference. He +said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You have, doubtless, ere this, heard that a complete adjustment of +past differences between the Wesleyan Conferences in England and +Canada, has been effected, and that provision has been made for a +perfect <i>oneness</i> of their interests and labours in Upper Canada. +This important object has been accomplished with a cordiality, and +unanimity, and devotion, that I have never seen surpassed, and +without the loss—so far as has yet been ascertained—of a single +minister or member of either body, and to the universal +satisfaction and even joy of both parties. We look upon it with +gratitude and wonder, as the Lord's doing, and as marvellous beyond +expression in our eyes.</p></div> + +<p>In a reply to this letter written to Dr. Ryerson, in September, 1847, +Dr. Olin discusses the question of the Union, and also the relations of +the Church, North and South, on the Slavery question:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I do most cordially rejoice at the happy termination of your +negotiations with the Wesleyan body in England. I must confess, +however, that I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</a></span> been somewhat disappointed at the results of +your attempts to get on as an independent Conference. In theorizing +upon the subject, I have concluded that union would be far more +likely to embarrass than to facilitate your movements. I have since +learned that there were disturbing influences not discernible by +observers at a distance, growing out of the occupancy of the field +by conflicting agencies; the heterogenous character of your +population and the power of home associations, etc. I rejoice that +you have overcome these various obstacles, and are likely to have +harmony for the future. All parties will probably be warned and +instructed by the temporary interruption in your connexional +relations. All must be now deeply impressed with the importance of +forbearance and concessions after an experience so memorable of the +necessity of union.</p> + +<p>I deeply regret that you should have received anything but kindness +from our side of the line. I think I can assure you that, as a +Church, our sympathies are, and have been, strongly with you; but +the natural and spontaneous feelings of the Body are not well +expressed; and they are in imminent danger of being perverted on +certain questions, which, unfortunately, become party questions +amongst us. The Methodist Episcopal Church is passing through a +crisis. It has fallen upon her to decide momentous questions under +peculiar temptations to error. The ministers are pure and high, +above all liability to be influenced by corrupt motives; but we are +calamitously enough thrown into a position where we must judge +between ourselves and our brethren, with powerful interests and +more potent prejudices to mislead us. Beyond all reasonable doubt, +we are coming to an issue for which, it is my opinion, the Church +of Christ, the world and history, will not cease to reproach us. +And yet we are coming to that issue with a good conscience, +honestly, so far as party spirit and blind prejudice, and the most +unfortunate leading, has left us the power of being honest. I wish +my convictions of the right were not quite so unchangeably settled. +It would afford me unspeakable relief to be able to suspect that +the predestined course of the Church could be other than a flagrant +violation of justice. I would gladly surrender my opinion, if I +could avail myself of even the benefit of a doubt in favour of +retraction. How we shall hereafter be looked upon by the world, is +a consideration of less interest than another which perpetually +thrusts itself upon my fears—what will God pronounce upon our +policy? My only hope is in the indulgence wont to be extended to +errors, and even to high offences which are the result of haste, +excitement, or prejudice. All of these mitigations may be claimed +in anticipation in behalf of the measures which will certainly +prevail at our next General Conference. Of the vast majority, which +will deny to the South what I esteem their unquestionable rights, I +am sure I shall never suspect a man of doing an intentional wrong. +I hope your public sentiment and your press will enable to temper +their disapprobation with this needful infusion of charity.</p></div> + +<p>After his return to England Rev. Dr. Dixon, in a letter to Dr. Ryerson, +thus referred to the impression which his visit to Canada made upon him. +He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>My impressions are strong respecting the importance of Methodism in +Canada. It is at present a glorious religious element in the +country, and will become much more powerful. The colony is destined +to become, either in its present, or some new connection, a great +empire. It is consequently of great importance to adapt your +religious system to existing things, preserving points of doctrine.</p> + +<p>I must say, that I never think of my intercourse with you; my +journeys with your brother; my connection with the Conference; and +the kindness of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</a></span> the brethren, but with feelings of intense +interest. In imagination, I try to live everything over and over +again. Many faces and persons are imprinted on my mind; and almost +every scene through which I passed lives in vivid reality. I am +often journeying down your glorious lakes and rivers, gazing on +your woods and forests, and stretching myself in the expanse, as if +there were room to live and breathe. Then, the affection and +kindness of everybody! The people and the scenery agree. All is +magnificent in America. I hope you may be able, by the divine +blessing, to preserve the purity of religion amongst you. I have +strong feelings on one point—viz.: the necessity of giving to all +our movements an evangelic and aggressive character. We Methodists +are so fond of organizations of every sort, and hence of +legislating and placing everything under rule and order, that we +leave no room for extension and for development. I am convinced +that a religious system which does not act on the evangelic +principle; and, moreover, have good people free to work and +exercise the divine affection, must break down.</p> + +<p>I consider myself much more in the character of an observer now, +than an actor in anything. I have finished my mission, as regards +public work. It ended in Canada; and the above are my last, and, I +believe will remain, my unalterable convictions. Our danger is +over-legislation; cramping the energies of living piety by decrees +and rules; laying too much weight on the springs of individual +movement; destroying the man in society, the committee, etc.</p> + +<p>I am glad to hear that you preach constantly. This is all that I +care about—to endeavour to do some little good in the way of +saving souls. Noble work this! So let me intreat you never to let +your other avocations interfere with this glorious calling. It is +painful to see some men merge the ministerial character in some +pitiful clerkship—some book-keeping affair. And worst of all, +these parties take it into their head, generally amongst us, to +consider themselves and their office as much higher than that of +the messengers of Christ!</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Two deaths of notable representative men in Canadian Methodism occurred +during 1846:—Rev. Thomas Whitehead and Rev. James Evans. Rev. Thomas +Whitehead was the venerated representative of the early pioneers of +Methodism in Upper Canada, and Rev. James Evans was a remarkable type of +the self-sacrificing and devoted missionaries of that Church in the +great North-west. A brief sketch of each of these ministers will +illustrate points in the history of Methodism in Upper Canada, without +which the account of Dr. Ryerson's career and labours would be +incomplete,—especially as he had to do with both of these ministers +during his lifetime. Rev. Mr. Whitehead was one of these so-called +"Yankee Methodists," whom Dr. Ryerson so often and so strenuously +defended against the charge of disloyalty; and Rev. James Evans was one +of the five brethren with whom he remonstrated so earnestly and yet so +kindly in 1833. (See page 131.)</p> + +<p>Rev. Thomas Whitehead was in many respects a strongly-marked +representative man. He was elected President at the memorable Special +Conference held, in the dark days of the Church, in 1840. (Page 274.) A +characteristic letter from him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</a></span> to Dr. Ryerson will be found on page +276. Mr. Whitehead was born in Duchess County, New York, in December +1762, when it was still a British Province. He was, therefore, not a +"Yankee Methodist," but a United Empire Loyalist. He commenced his +ministry in 1783, and went on a mission to Nova Scotia and New +Brunswick, where he remained from 1786 until 1804. In September, 1806, +he was sent by Bishop Asbury to Upper Canada, where he resided for forty +years. He preached his last sermon on Christmas Day, 1845. He was in the +ministry 62 years, and died at Burford in January, 1846, aged 83 years.</p> + +<p>Rev. James Evans was one of the most noted missionaries of the +North-west; and was specially so from the fact that, by his wonderful +inventions of the syllabic character in the Cree language, he has +conferred untold blessings upon the Indian tribes and missions of all +the Churches in that vast North-West territory, in which he only was +permitted to labour for six years.</p> + +<p>Mr. Evans was born in England in 1800. He was converted in Upper Canada, +and in 1830 entered the Christian ministry, and was a member of the +Canada Conference from that year. In 1840 he volunteered his services as +a missionary to the North-west. At his station of Norway House, he +devoted himself to his great work. Rev. E. R. Young, in the <i>Canadian +Methodist Magazine</i> for November, 1882, thus speaks of Mr. Evans' +eminent service to the mission cause by his famous invention. He says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The invention of what are known as the syllabic characters was +undoubtedly Mr. Evans' greatest work, and to his unaided genius +belongs the honour of devising and then perfecting this alphabet +which has been such a blessing to thousands of Cree Indians. The +principle on which the characters are formed is the phonetic. There +are no silent letters. Each character represents a syllable, hence +no spelling is required. As soon as the alphabet is mastered, the +student can commence at the first chapter in Genesis and read on, +slowly of course, at first, but in a few days with surprising +facility.</p> + +<p>When the invention became more extensively known, and other +Churches desired to avail themselves of its benefits, the British +and Foreign Bible Society nobly came to the help of our own, and +the kindred Churches having missions in the North West, and with +their usual princely style of doing things, for years have been +printing, and gratuitously furnishing to the different Cree Indian +missions, all the copies of the Sacred Word they require.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. Mr. Young relates an interesting anecdote connected with this +alphabet, which occurred when he was a missionary in the North-West. +During Lord Dufferin's visit there he conversed with Mr. Young in regard +to the Indians in these distant regions, and expressed his solicitude +for the welfare and happiness of these wandering races, and made general +enquires in reference to missionary work among them. Mr. Young adds:—</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</a></span></p><div class="blockquot"><p>In mentioning the helps I had in my work, I showed him my Cree +Indian Testament, in Evans' Syllabic Characters, and explained the +invention to him. At once his curiosity was excited, and jumping up +he hurried off for pen and paper, and had me write out the whole +alphabet for him, and then with that glee and vivacity for which +His Lordship was so noted, he constituted me his teacher, and +commenced at once to master them. Their simplicity, and yet +wonderful adaptation for their designed work became clearly +recognized by him, for in a short time he read a portion of the +Lord's Prayer. Lord Dufferin became quite excited, and, getting up +from his chair, and holding the Testament in his hand, exclaimed, +"Why, Mr. Young, what a blessing to humanity the man was who +invented that alphabet!" Then continuing, he added, "I profess to +be a kind of literary man myself, and try to keep up my reading of +what is going on, but I never heard of this before. The fact is," +he added, "the nation has given many a man a title, and a pension, +and then a resting-place, and a monument in Westminster Abbey, who +never did half so much for their fellow-creatures." Then turning to +me again, he asked, "Who did you say was the author, or inventor of +the characters?" "The Rev. James Evans," I replied. "Well, why is +it, I never heard of him before, I wonder?" he answered. My reply +was, "Well, my lord, perhaps the reason why you never heard before +of him was, because he was a humble, modest Methodist preacher." +With a laugh he replied, "That may have been it," and then the +conversation changed. (Pages 437, 438.)</p></div> + +<p>The following are examples of the</p> + +<p>CREE SYLLABIC CHARACTERS.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/cree.png" width="500" height="386" alt="table of Cree characters and English equivalents" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>The following is the mode of forming words:—</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/cree2.png" width="450" height="111" alt="table of Cree words and English translations" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_130_131" id="Footnote_130_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130_131"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> In a letter to him from the Rev. A. Green, dated +November, 1842, the desirability of a union with the Episcopal +Methodists was pressed upon his attention. Mr. Green said:—The +Episcopal Methodists are gaining ground in many circuits. It would be of +much service to us, could we take them on board the old ship again. I +learn from Brother Richardson that they are anxious for this, and that +Mr. Reynolds would give up his claims, and many of their preachers would +retire, could they effect it. But in some parts of the Province the +re-union would be opposed; and some members have said, that they would +even join the English missionaries if we were to be united with them +(the Episcopals). You are a wise man, tell us what we should do. If we +do not take steps soon, it will be entirely too late. I understand that +they talk of having a Bishop elected soon,—and should Mr. Richardson or +Mr. Smith be appointed, it would add greatly to the influence of the +party; and yet I cannot now see what steps we could safely take, until +we settle the English Union question, for they would take advantage, I +fear, of such a reconciliation, to prejudice the old country members +against us. +</p><p> +I wish also to obtain your views upon the propriety of petitioning the +Governor-General, at once, for a share of the public money granted for +the purchase of Sabbath-school books. The sum of £150 goes into the +hands of Dr. Strachan annually, for that purpose; and where is it? We +are never benefited a farthing by it! Could we obtain one-half, or even +one-third of the sum for our schools, it would be of great service to +them.<a name="FNanchor_B_132" id="FNanchor_B_132"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_132" class="fnanchor">[b]</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_132" id="Footnote_B_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_132"><span class="label">[b]</span></a> I have no copy of the reply sent to this letter. The letter +itself, however, shows what subjects were being discussed in Methodist +circles in 1842.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_131_133" id="Footnote_131_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131_133"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> Epochs of Canadian Methodism, pages 292-294.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_132_134" id="Footnote_132_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132_134"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> Dr. Thomas Bond, Editor of the New York <i>Christian +Advocate</i>, having suggested in December, 1842, the basis of settlement +of the differences between the English and Canadian Conferences, Rev. W. +M. Harvard wrote from Quebec to Dr. Bond, dissenting from his +proposition. Dr. Bond, in a letter to Dr. Ryerson, commenting on Mr. +Harvard's objections, thus refers to the Canadian Connexion: +</p><p> +The Canada Conference was sound in the faith, and well affected to +primitive Wesleyan discipline, and when it came of age, the Methodist +Episcopal Connexion allowed them, and aided them, to go to housekeeping +by themselves. We knew of no objection on either subject, when we, with +the kindest of feelings, have now hinted at the possibility of an +amicable arrangement between our British and Canadian brethren.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_L" id="CHAPTER_L"></a>CHAPTER L.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1846-1854.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Miscellaneous Events and Incidents of 1846-1854.</span></p> + + +<p>After his return from England, Dr. Ryerson was engaged in the +preparation of his Report on a "System of Public Instruction for Upper +Canada," from which I have given extracts on page 368. In that report he +gave the broad outlines of his proposed scheme of education, and fully +explained the principles of the system which he proposed to found. He +also prepared a draft of a Bill designed to give effect to some of the +most pressing of his recommendations.</p> + +<p>In a letter to a friend, dated 18th April, 1846, he said:—My report on +a system of public elementary instruction occupies nearly 400 pages of +foolscap. It will explain to all parties what I think, desire, and +intend. But I would not hesitate to resign my situation to-morrow, and +take my place and portion as a Methodist preacher, if I thought I could +be as useful in that position to the country at large. My travels have +added to my limited stock of knowledge, but they have not altered my +principles, or changed my feelings.</p> + +<p>To another friend he wrote about the same time:—As the science of civil +government is the most uncertain of the uncertain sciences, if I should +fail in my exertions—if counteracting influences should intervene which +I cannot now foresee, and give success to the opposition against me, or +paralyze my influence—I would not remain in office a day, or would I +retain it any longer than I could render it a means of strength to our +system of government as well as of good to the country. I would rather +break stones on the street than be a dead weight to any government, or +in any community.</p> + + + +<p class="space">It may be of interest at the present time to learn what was Dr. +Ryerson's opinion of Mr. Gladstone in 1845. Writing in the <i>Guardian</i> of +March 18th, 1846, in reply to strictures on that statesman, Dr. Ryerson +said:—During my late tour in Europe, I was one evening present at the +proceedings of the British House of Commons, and heard Mr. Gladstone, +the Secretary of State for the Colonies, avow a change in his opinions +in regard to ecclesiastical and educational matters. Sir Robert Peel's +Government had determined to establish several colleges<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</a></span> in Ireland, not +connected with the Established Church. Mr Gladstone, in his book on +"Church and State," had maintained that the National Church was the only +medium through which the Legislature ought to instruct the nation in +every department of knowledge.... There was, therefore, a complete +antagonism between Sir Robert Peel's policy and Mr. Gladstone's book. On +the night I was present, Mr. Gladstone ... frankly stated that he had +written a book advocating an opposite policy to that which Her Majesty's +Government had deemed it their duty to pursue, in establishing secondary +colleges in Ireland; that further reflection and experience had +convinced him that his views were not correct; that he fully concurred +in the policy of the Government in respect to those colleges, and +should, as an individual member of Parliament, give it his support; but +that should he do so as a Minister of the Crown, after having publicly +avowed very different sentiments, he would not be in a position to place +his motives of action above suspicion. To exonerate himself, therefore, +from the imputation, or suspicion, of being actuated by a love of office +or power, to support, as a Minister of State, what he condemned as an +author, he resigned his office; and to do justice to his present +convictions of what he conceived the interests of Ireland demanded, he +avowed his change of opinion, and his determination to support the Irish +policy of Sir Robert Peel, with whom he declared he cordially concurred +in every measure which had been discussed in the Cabinet.</p> + +<p>Sir Robert Peel followed in a beautiful and touching speech—appealing +to the sacrifice which the Cabinet had made in the loss of so able a +member as Mr. Gladstone, as a proof of the sincerity of the Government, +and the strength of its convictions in its Irish educational policy.</p> + +<p>The conduct of those two distinguished statesmen (Dr. Ryerson adds) +towards each other on that occasion, presented one of the finest +examples of strong personal friendship between two public men that I +ever witnessed.</p> + + + +<p class="space">No man excelled Dr. Ryerson in his respect and love for his parents. +This was apparent from many incidents, and from the tone of his mother's +and father's letters to him, as given in this volume. He generally wrote +to them at the beginning of each year. His letter dated Toronto, 1st +January, 1847, is, however, the only one which I have. It is as +follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">My Dear and Most Venerated Parents</span>,—</p> + +<p>As heretofore, the first work of my pen is employed in presenting +to you my filial respects, and offering you my dutiful and +affectionate congratulations at the commencement of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</a></span> another +year,—lifting up, as I most earnestly do, my heart to Almighty +God, that, having brought you at so advanced an age to the +beginning of this year. He will make it the happiest, as well as +the holiest of your lives! I cannot but regard the lengthening out +of your earthly pilgrimage so much beyond the ordinary period of +human life—so much beyond what I expect to reach—as a special +means and call of God to become fully ripe for heaven. You stand a +long time on the margin of eternity—may that margin prove the +verge of eternal glory! As the body grows feeble, may the soul grow +strong! As the bodily sight becomes dim, may the heavenly vision +become brighter, and the heavenly aspirations and assurances +stronger! How great the privilege, and how soul-cheering the +thought, especially at the approach of death, to know that "your +life is hid with Christ in God." It is in safe keeping, and the +disclosure of it bye-and-bye will be glorious beyond conception; +for "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, shall we then +appear like Him in glory." The sufferings of the present life, +however severe and protracted, are not worthy to be compared with +the glory which that life shall reveal. O, my dear parents, may +that glory be yours in all the fulness of its splendour, and in all +the perfection of its beatitudes!</p> + +<p>I thankfully acknowledge the receipt of the two pairs of socks—the +last of the many like tokens of my Mother's affection, and the work +of her own hands. I scarcely ever put them on without a gush of +feeling which is not easily suppressed. They every day remind me of +the hand which sustained my infancy and guided my childhood, and +the heart which has crowned my life with its tenderest solicitudes, +and most fervent and, I believe, effectual prayers. Praised be God +above all earthly things, for such a Mother! May I not prove an +unfaithful son!</p> + +<p>We are all well. I was at brother George's to-day. I hope to see +you in the course of the winter. Each of the family unite with me +in expressions of dutiful respect and affection to you. Please +remember me to all those who reside with you, and to all relatives, +and old acquaintances and neighbours.</p> + +<p>With daily prayers at the family altar for your health, comfort and +happiness, and anxiously desirous of hearing from you, I am, my +most honoured Parents, your affectionate son,</p> + +<p>Toronto, 2nd January, 1847.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Egerton Ryerson.</span><br /> +</p> + +</div> + +<p>Between Dr. Ryerson and Rev. Peter Jones a life-long friendship existed. +In a note to Dr. Ryerson, dated Credit, Nov. 1st, 1847, Mr. Jones says: +I had the pleasure of receiving a set of your School Reports, for which +I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I trust I shall receive +much valuable information<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</a></span> which may prove beneficial in our Indian +School schemes.<a name="FNanchor_133_135" id="FNanchor_133_135"></a><a href="#Footnote_133_135" class="fnanchor">[133]</a> My brother, I thank you for all the kindness you +have ever shown to me and my dear family, and I hope and pray that the +friendship which was formed between us many years ago will last for +ever. Pray for us. Rev. Peter Jones had been an inmate of Dr. Ryerson's +house during his last illness in 1856. As the crisis approached he +desired to return to his own home in Brantford. After he reached there, +Ven. Archdeacon Nelles visited him, and in a note to Dr. Ryerson, dated +25th June, said:—Mr. Jones has been gradually sinking ever since his +return from Toronto. He enjoys great peace of mind, and I believe truly +trusts on that Saviour whom he has so often pointed out to others as the +only refuge and hope of poor sinners. May my last end be like his.</p> + + + +<p class="space">After the change of administration, consequent on the result of the +recent elections, it was confidently stated that Dr. Ryerson would be +removed from office. Having written to his brother John on the subject, +his brother replied, on the 9th of February, 1847, as follows: It is +quite certain that combined and powerful efforts are being made against +you by certain parties, no doubt with a determination to destroy you as +a public man, if they can. The feeling of the "radical" party is most +inveterate. They are determined, by hook or by crook, to turn you out of +the office of Chief Superintendent of Education. All the stir among the +District Councils, and about the school law, etc., are but the schemes +and measures set on foot by the party in power for the purpose of +compassing the great object in view of ousting the "Superintendent of +Education."</p> + + + +<p class="space">In a letter which I received from Dr. Ryerson, while at the Belleville +Conference, dated June 13th, 1848, he said:—Every distinction has been +shown me in the appointments and arrangements of the Conference; and I +believe the great body of the preachers will sustain me in all future +contingencies.</p> + +<p>The Conference thus far has been the most delightful I ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[Pg 414]</a></span> attended. I +took the evening service of yesterday, and preached with considerable +freedom to an immense congregation; text, John xvii. 17—first part of +verse.</p> + +<p>There has been an advancement in every department of the interests of +our Church during the year. This is very encouraging, and a ground of +special thankfulness.</p> + +<p>Judge then of Dr. Ryerson's surprise and of mine on seeing the following +paragraph in the <i>Globe</i> newspaper, about the same time:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It is said that Egerton Ryerson is trying to get the Methodist +Conference to deprive him of his clerical standing, because of his +holding a permanent Government situation.</p></div> + +<p>In the course of his reply, Dr. Ryerson said:—When the situation in +connection with elementary education was offered to me, in February, +1844, before replying to the offer, I laid the letter containing it +before the large Executive Committee of the Wesleyan Conference, and was +authorized by that disinterested body to accept of the appointment. +When, in the latter part of the May following, I placed the appointment +again at the disposal of the Government, as absolutely as if no offer +had ever been made or accepted, and determined in June not to accept it +under any circumstances, should the offer again be made, a written +address was got up to me, numerously signed by the Wesleyan ministers of +the Conference which assembled that month, requesting me not to refuse +it, should the offer be again made; and it is to the influence of that +judgment, in which I confided more than in my own feelings, that the +<i>Globe</i> and some other papers are indebted for the opportunity and +privilege of abusing me in my present position these last four years. +Sir, the Wesleyan Conference is as incapable of entertaining such a +proposition as you have attributed to me, as I am indisposed to make it; +and, though I am not insensible to the honour and importance of my +educational office, I hold it as in all respects consistent with my +relations and obligations to the Church, through whose instrumentality I +have received infinitely greater blessings than it is in the power of +any civil government to bestow.</p> + +<p>At the proper time I shall be prepared to show, that I was personally as +disinterested (whether right or wrong) in what I wrote in 1844, as in +what I wrote in 1838 and 1839 in connection with the names of Marshall +S. Bidwell and J. S. Howard, Esquires. I have ever maintained since 1827 +what appeared to me right and important principles, regardless of man in +high or low places, and favour or oppose what party it might. I have +never borrowed my doctrines from the conclaves or councils of party, nor +bowed my neck to its yoke; nor have I made my office subservient to its +interests in any shape or form, but to the interest of the country at +large, so far as in my power,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[Pg 415]</a></span> irrespective of sect or party. I should +contemn myself if I could perform one act or say one word to court party +favour, or avert party vengeance, if such exists. I shall do as I have +done, endeavour faithfully to perform the duties and fulfil the trusts +imposed upon me, and leave the future, as well as the past, to the +judgement of my native country, for the equal rights of all classes of +whose inhabitants I contended in "perilous times," and for years before +the political existence of the chief public men of any party in Canada, +with the exception of the Hon. William Morris.</p> + +<p>The question, incidentally raised by the <i>Globe</i> newspaper, after the +Conference of 1848, as to Dr. Ryerson's retaining a ministerial +<i>status</i>, while holding and administering a civil office was brought up +at the next Conference, held at Hamilton, in June, 1849. In a letter to +me from the Conference, dated 11th of the month, he said:—I brought my +position before the Conference in consequence of a remark from one of +the preachers, saying, while Mr. Playter's case was under consideration, +"that there was a general opposition among the members of the +Conference, occupying the position that Mr. Playter did, or a civil +situation." Several of the senior members of the Conference spoke in a +very complimentary way respecting me; and a strong satisfaction was +expressed from all parts of the Conference with my position—the manner +in which I had filled it, and consulted the interests of the +Church—expressing their earnest desire that I would continue in it.</p> + +<p>In a letter to Dr. Ryerson from his brother, Rev. E. M. Ryerson, from +Brantford, on July 2nd, 1848, it would appear, from the foregoing, that +some hostile movement was being generally formed against him. His +brother said:—I found upon my return from Conference to Brantford that +the general topic of conversation was your dismissal from your present +office. When I told them it was not the case, some rejoiced, while +silent grief and disappointment were visible on the countenances of +others.</p> + + + +<p class="space">Dr. Ryerson having been called to Montreal on educational matters, in +April, 1849, wrote a letter to me from that city, dated 27th of the +month, in which he gave a graphic account of the state of the city +during the crisis at that time:—You may well imagine my surprise and +regret, on reaching Lachine yesterday, to learn that the Parliament +House had been burnt, together with a noble library of 25,000 volumes, +containing records of valuable books which can never be replaced. On +arriving in Montreal, I found nothing but confusion and excitement, +which, instead of subsiding, are increasing, and it is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[Pg 416]</a></span> apprehended that +to-morrow will be a more serious day than any that has preceded it. +Yesterday, the court of the Government House was filled with soldiers, +while the street in front of it was crowded with a multitude, who +saluted every appearance of any members of the Executive Council, or any +of their Parliamentary supporters with hisses and groans. This continued +from one o'clock until eight or nine o'clock in the evening. Mr. +Lafontaine came out in care of Colonel Antrobus and soldiers, to get +into a cab, and he was pelted with eggs and stones. Not one of the +Ministers can walk the streets. Last night Mr. Lafontaine's house was +sacked, and his library destroyed; and Mr. Hincks' house was also +sacked, but he had removed nearly all of his furniture, as well as his +family. The scene of to-day was similar to that of yesterday. This +afternoon a meeting of several thousands of persons was held in the +Champs de Mars. I heard some of the speeches. They were moderate in +tone, but the feelings of disgust and contempt for Lord Elgin exceed all +conception. There have been two vast assemblages this evening—the one +French, the other British—in different parts of the city. Companies of +soldiers have been stationed in the streets between them, preventing +persons going from one party to the other. I have heard their shoutings +since I commenced this letter.</p> + +<p>The next day Dr. Ryerson wrote to me again to say:—Nothing has occurred +in the city since last night, worth noticing. Soldiers meet you at every +turn almost. Two companies of soldiers were stationed to-day in the +building in which the Legislative Assembly met. There was a long debate +on the causes of the recent disturbances, and strong protestations from +all sides of the House against "annexation."</p> + + + +<p class="space">An opportunity to appoint Hon. M. S. Bidwell to the Bench in Upper +Canada having occurred, Dr. Ryerson, on the 3rd September, 1849, +addressed the following letter to Hon. Robert Baldwin, urging the +appointment:—There is one subject I take the liberty of mentioning, +although it is contrary to my practice to interfere in any matter of the +kind; but the peculiarity of it may excuse me on the present occasion. I +allude to the appointment of Mr. Bidwell as one of the new judges in +Upper Canada. The recent history of Europe affords many illustrations of +circumstances being seized upon by despots to compel the departure of +valuable and dreaded men from their own country. You know that it was +under such circumstances that Mr. Bidwell was compelled to leave Canada. +You know that it was the order of the Imperial Government to elevate Mr. +Bidwell to the Bench, that prompted Sir Francis Head to adopt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[Pg 417]</a></span> the +course towards him that he did. You know, likewise, how long, and +faithfully, and ably, Mr. Bidwell laboured to promote the principles of +civil and religious liberty which are now established in Upper Canada; +and that at a time when great responsibility and obloquy attached to +such advocacy. Mr. Bidwell was the author, as well as the able advocate +of the laws by which the religious denominations in Upper Canada hold +Church property, and by which their ministers solemnize matrimony. I +believe he has never altogether abandoned the hope of returning to +Canada; but I believe he has felt that he was entitled to the offer of +that position, which the Home Government contemplated conferring upon +him in 1837. I felt it too delicate a question to propose to Mr. Bidwell +when I saw him the other day; but my friend Mr. Francis Hall, of the New +York <i>Commercial Advertiser</i> (who sees and converses with him every +week), expressed his full conviction that Mr. Bidwell would accept a +Judgeship in Upper Canada—that Mr. Bidwell had constantly taken the +Canadian Law Reports, and procured the Canadian and English Statutes, +and kept up his reading of them as carefully as if he had lived in +Canada. I believe the appointment of Mr. Bidwell would be an honour to +the Canadian Bench, and an act of moral and political gratitude most +honourable to any party, and of great value to Upper Canada. You are +aware of the reasons for which I feel a deep interest in this subject, +and which will, I trust, excuse in your mind the liberty I +take—believing, as I do, that it will be as grateful to your feelings +as it will be noble in your character, to remember a man to whom our +common country is so much indebted.</p> + +<p>To this letter Mr. Baldwin replied, on the 20th September</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>With respect to the principal object of your letter, you need not, +I assure you, have made any excuse for introducing it, even +independently of the part taken by you formerly with reference to +the case of my friend Mr. Bidwell, and which alone would give you a +just claim to address me. I can never feel any suggestion, no +matter from what quarter, having his good for its object, to be an +intrusion on me, and be assured that nothing could have afforded me +greater pleasure than to have had it in my power to have advised +his appointment to the Bench. Nor have I ever ceased to do all that +I could with propriety to get him to put himself in the position +which might lead to such a result. You are aware of the steps I +took in 1843 to have his pledge to Sir Francis Head cancelled. I +sent you, I think, the correspondence respecting it. (See page +308.) On that being done, I wrote him a letter of which I preserved +a copy, from which I send you one. By this you will see how +earnestly I pressed him to return then. Had he come in, as I +suggested, it was my intention to have offered him the Crown +business on whichever of the Circuits he might have chosen. I have +subsequently, as often as I felt I dared to do so, urged his +return. But it has been felt impossible, until he had placed +himself in the position of a practitioner, as formerly, at our own, +and not at a foreign, Bar, to advise his appointment to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[Pg 418]</a></span> the Bench +of the Province. For myself, although friendship might have led me +to have overlooked, or overstepped, this difficulty, my judgment, +when appealed to, forced me to admit, with my colleagues, that the +objection was insuperable.</p> + +<p>I am not acquainted with the income he realizes from his profession +in New York, but I doubt not it is much beyond what could be +obtained in Toronto. Still, if he really does wish to return to +Canada, the time is most propitious as far as professional +prospects are concerned. Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Blake, and Mr. Esten +being taken from the Bar leaves a space to be filled that, I should +say, offers the best possible opening.</p> + +<p>Had Mr. Bidwell been in his proper professional position here when +the Government was called upon to appoint to the places now filled, +or on the eve of being filled, by those gentlemen, there is not one +of those high judicial positions to which it would not have been at +once a pride and a pleasure both to myself and my colleagues to +have advised his appointment. Vice-Chancellor Jameson's health, +too, will probably ere long lead to his retirement. When that time +arrives, will our friend's continued absence be still a barrier to +the gratification of our wishes?</p> + +<p>If the affairs of the Province shall be then conducted by the same +Councils as now sway them, I may say, with almost the same +confidence of that future as I do of the past, that it will be the +only obstacle to such gratification. I should add, too, that last +winter one of my colleagues who, as well as myself, has always +taken a particular interest in Mr. Bidwell's return to the +Province, wrote to him, informing him of the Judiciary measures +intended to be introduced by the Administration, and giving him to +understand as distinctly as could properly be done, that, if he had +returned to this country when those measures were to go into +operation, it would afford us and our colleagues the greatest +pleasure to have it in our power to advise his being placed in a +situation alike agreeable to his tastes, deserving of his talents, +and satisfactory to the public at large. And though, when he wrote +first, he expressed some doubt of the Bills becoming law during the +last session, yet shortly after, when it was felt expedient to +carry them through, he again wrote to inform Mr. Bidwell that this +would be done if the sanction of Parliament was obtained to the +measures. Whether, in my letters to Mr. Bidwell, on the subject of +his return, I have appeared to him not to speak with sufficient +warmth, I know not. It has, at all events, not been from +indifference to the object. I certainly have felt that, in the +uncertainty that must for the future attach to political power, +there was a great responsibility in urging one in good business +elsewhere to leave that and throw his fortunes again in with us +here. I am naturally cautious, and my caution may have led me to +speak less warmly than I felt, particularly when I found my first +appeals unsuccessful. But he ought, and I hope, does, appreciate my +motives. It is true his ear may be poisoned by having had unjust +suspicions poured into it. I know I have never afforded any just +grounds for such suspicions, and I feel confident that his generous +nature would have been far above conceiving any such, had they not +been suggested by others. I am, however, perhaps doing wrong. It +may be that none such have ever been thought of by anyone. I trust +it is so. If otherwise, it is but just to myself to say that they +are the foulest, basest and most malignant that mortal ever +breathed.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. Dr. Bangs attended the Conference at Brockville in 1850, as a +delegate from the American General Conference. On his return to New York +he wrote a letter to Dr. Ryerson on the 3rd July:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I think my trip to Canada was one of the most pleasant tours I ever +made,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[Pg 419]</a></span> and shall reflect upon it with peculiar delight. I have +commenced, as you will perceive by the <i>Christian Advocate</i>, to +give the public an account of my visit to your Conference.</p> + +<p>The pleasure we enjoyed in our visit to Canada, and especially your +hospitality at Toronto, makes us feel truly thankful to God for +such hallowed friendships, and reminds us more forcibly than ever +of that eternal union which the spirits shall enjoy in a future +world.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson made a second educational trip to Europe in October, 1850. +Writing to me from London on the 8th November, he said:—The day before +yesterday, I left Lord Elgin's note of introduction, with my card, at +the Colonial Office; the same evening I received a note, appointing +yesterday for an interview. Mr. (afterwards Sir B.) Hawes, the +Under-Secretary was present. It was most agreeable and gratifying. Lord +Grey seemed much delighted with what had been done, educationally, in +Upper Canada; and of which he was until then, entirely ignorant. Mr. +Hawes asked if I had published any report of my tour in Europe, or the +results of it; and as I happened to have a copy of each of the documents +I brought with me, I presented Lord Grey with copies of them. He seemed +surprised that he had not seen them before, and said he must write to +Lord Elgin to send him a copy of each of them for the office. The +conversation extended to the United States—our system of Government as +contrasted with theirs, etc. Lord Grey and Mr. Hawes appeared +entertained and pleased. His Lordship offered to aid me in any way, in +his power, that I might devise; and asked me to dine with him.</p> + +<p>Last evening, I received from Lord Grey letters of introduction to the +Marquis of Lansdowne (President of the Privy Council Committee of +Education) to the Rt. Hon. T. B. Macaulay, and Mr. Lingard, successor of +Sir J. P. Kay Shuttleworth, and an unsealed letter of introduction from +Mr. Hawes, to Sir Henry Ellis, Librarian of the British Museum, in which +he said: This will be presented to you by Dr. Ryerson, of Canada, who +has rendered great services to the cause of education, not only by his +writings, but by his great exertions.</p> + +<p>Both Lord Grey and Mr. Hawes seemed to know something about me; and the +above copy of note shows the spirit in which they are desirous of aiding +me. I shall now commence my work here in good earnest.</p> + +<p>Lord Grey introduced the subject of the Toronto University, and of the +Bishop of Toronto's Mission to this country, and when he found that I +had a copy of the amended University Bill, and the proceedings of the +Wesleyan Conference on the subject, he requested them for perusal. In my +next interview with His Lordship I shall introduce the subject of the +clergy reserves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[Pg 420]</a></span></p> + +<p>I have been very cordially received at the Wesleyan Mission House. I was +affected to see Dr. Bunting's great bodily weakness, and surprised to +see his intellect clear, quick, and powerful as ever. When he walks, he +can only step about six inches at a time. I expect to hear him on Sunday +morning, in the same Chapel (Spitalfields Chapel—a once French church, +in which the eloquent Saurin has preached, and made a collection for the +refugee Huguenots to the amount of £3,000) in which I preached last +Sunday, and aided in administering the Lord's Supper.</p> + +<p>On the 10th January, 1851, Dr. Ryerson addressed the following note to +Sir Benjamin Hawes, from Paris: I saw Cardinal Wiseman on the strength +of your kind note of introduction. He appeared to be pleased with the +compliment which my call involved—invited me to hospitalities which I +think it would not be prudent for me to accept, and promised to have a +list of popular (but not denominational) reading books prepared, and the +books selected for my inspection on my return to London.</p> + +<p>I most fervently hope that you will be prepared to bring before +Parliament, early in the approaching session, a Bill to settle the +Canadian clergy reserve question—the only remaining obstacle to the +social harmony of Canada, and to its affectionate and permanent union +with the Mother Country.</p> + + + +<p class="space">In 1852, the new buildings of the Education Department and Normal +School, as shown in the accompanying engravings were completed. For Dr. +Ryerson's Office see page 422.</p> + +<p>Being in England in 1853, Dr. Ryerson wrote to me there:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I was glad to learn that Lord Elgin was to go in the same steamship +with you from Boston. I have no doubt it will have proved +interesting to him as well as to you, and perhaps useful to you. I +miss you very much from the office, but I do not like to employ any +more aid without sanction of the Government, though I could get no +one to take your place. I would wish you to write me what Lord +Elgin may have thought or said as to our doings and plans of +proceeding. If the Library plan succeeds, it will achieve noble +results.<a name="FNanchor_134_136" id="FNanchor_134_136"></a><a href="#Footnote_134_136" class="fnanchor">[134]</a> I feel that our success and happiness in the +Department are inseparably united.</p></div> + +<p>In 1854 Dr. Ryerson was appointed a member of Commission to enquire into +matters connected with King's College, Fredericton, N.B. His +fellow-commissioners were Hon. J. H. Gray, Dr. Dawson, Hon. J. S. +Saunders, and Hon. James Brown. Mr. Grey the Chairman, in transmitting +the Report of the Commission to the Provincial Secretary of New +Brunswick, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I beg to express, with the full conscience of my +fellow-commissioners, our acknowledgment of the very valuable +assistance offered us by Dr. Ryerson. His great experience, and +unquestioned proficiency in all subjects connected with Education, +justly entitles his opinions to great weight.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_133_135" id="Footnote_133_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133_135"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> Being a member of the Conference Committee appointed to +confer with the Government on the establishment of Manual Labour Schools +for the Indians, Rev. Peter Jones, in writing to Dr. Ryerson from the +Credit, on the subject, in September, 1844, said:—You will be glad to +see that our Indian brethren have subscribed liberally, which shews +their ardent desire to have Manual Labour Schools established amongst +them. We forwarded a copy to the Governor-General, and His Excellency +was pleased to approve of the liberality of the Indian tribes. From the +manner in which His Excellency has always spoken of Indian Manual Labour +Schools, I am sure that he will take great pleasure in aiding their +establishment. As you have access to the ears of our Great Father at +Montreal, may I beg the favour of your explaining to him the object of +my visit to England, and the necessity of His Excellency's sanctioning +the payment of my expenses. As I intend to visit England for the purpose +of augmenting the funds of the Manual Labour Schools, I think at least +my expenses should be paid out of the Indian subscriptions of $400.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_134_136" id="Footnote_134_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134_136"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> Lord Elgin always referred to Dr. Ryerson's library +scheme in his educational addresses, as the "Crown and Glory of the +Institutions of the Province."</p></div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[Pg 421]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="i7" id="i7"></a> +<img src="images/421.png" width="600" height="297" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption smcap">The Ontario Education Department, and Normal and Model Schools, Erected 1851.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[Pg 422]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/422.png" width="600" height="259" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption smcap">Education Department, showing Dr. Ryerson's Office for 25 Years, in the S. W. Angle of the Main Building in Front.</span> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[Pg 423]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LI" id="CHAPTER_LI"></a>CHAPTER LI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1849.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">The Bible in the Ontario Public Schools.</span></p> + + +<p>Early in 1849 an important crisis occurred in the history of our Public +School system, the evil effects of which were only prevented by the +prompt and emphatic protest on the part of Dr. Ryerson, and the equally +prompt measures taken by Hon. Robert Baldwin in the matter. The event to +which I refer was the hurried passage of a revolutionary School Bill at +the end of a Session of Parliament by parties hostile to Dr. Ryerson—a +Bill the effect of which would have been the exclusion of the Bible and +religious teaching and influence from our Public Schools. In regard to +that calamitous event, Dr. Ryerson stated that within three hours of +learning that such a Bill was law he informed Mr. Baldwin that the +office of Chief Superintendent of Education was at his disposal.</p> + +<p>I was absent from Toronto at this time. Dr. Ryerson therefore wrote me a +letter on the subject, dated December, 1849, in which he said:—I am +happy to say the scandalous School Bill of last session is upset. The +members of the Government (including the Governor-General) have examined +my letter to Mr. Baldwin, of July last, and have come entirely into my +views. Mr. Malcolm Cameron is also out of office, and is striving to +create opposition against his former colleagues. Some of the extreme +radical papers (<i>Examiner</i>, <i>Mirror</i>, <i>Canada Christian Advocate</i>, +<i>Provincialist</i>, &c.,) all state that I had tendered my resignation, and +had been persuaded by one or two members of the Government to withdraw +it, and they speak piteously of the Government having succumbed to me. +The <i>Canada Christian Advocate</i> says I have watched my opportunity to +get "Mr. Baldwin and the Government under my thumb." I have been +permitted to publish the correspondence of July last, and it has placed +me in this new and proud position. I thank God for His goodness in thus +opening before me a wider field of usefulness than ever, and for sealing +at so early a period, with His approbation, adherence to great +principles of Christian truth and social advancement, irrespective of +men or parties. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[Pg 424]</a></span> shall commence the New Year with new courage and +hope, and I am anxious to see you that we may together devise and +prosecute the best means to promote our great work.</p> + +<p>The circumstances under which this abortive School Bill, as it proved, +of 1849, was passed, is thus described by Dr. Ryerson in a letter +written ten years afterwards (in 1859):—</p> + +<p>From 1846 to 1849 a host of scribblers and would-be school legislators +appeared, led on by the <i>Globe</i> newspaper. It was represented that I had +plotted a Prussian school despotism for free Canada, and that I was +forcing upon the country a system in which the last spark of Canadian +liberty would be extinguished, and Canadian youth would be educated as +slaves. Hon. Malcolm Cameron, with less knowledge and less experience +than he has now, was astounded at these "awful disclosures," and was +dazzled by the theories proposed to rid the country of the enslaving +elements of my Prussian school system. Mr. Cameron was at length +appointed to office; and he thought I ought to be walked out of the +office. Messrs. Baldwin and Hincks (as I have understood), thought I +should be judged officially for my official acts, and that, thus judged, +I had done nothing worthy of evil treatment. The party hostile to me +then thought that, as I could not be turned out of office by direct +dismissal, I might be shuffled out by legislation; and a School Bill was +prepared for that purpose. That Bill contained many good, but more bad +provisions, and worse omissions, but of which only a man who had studied +the question, or rather science, of school legislation could fully +judge. Mr. Cameron was selected to submit it to his colleagues, and get +it through Parliament. He executed his task with his characteristic +adroitness and energy. Mr. Hincks never read the Bill, and had left for +England before it passed. Mr. Baldwin, amid the smoking ruins of a +Parliament House and national library, looked over it, and thought from +the representations given him of its popular objects, and a glance at +the synopsis of its provisions, that it might be an improvement on the +then existing law, while the passing of it would gratify many of his +friends. On examining the Bill, I wrote down my objections to it, and +laid them before the Government, and proceeded to Montreal to press them +in person. I left Montreal in April, 1849, with the expectation that the +Bill would be dropped, or essentially mended. Neither was done; the Bill +was passed in the ordinary manner of passing bills during the last few +hours of the Session; and within three hours of learning that the Bill +was law, I informed Mr. Baldwin that my office was at his disposal, for +I never would administer that law.</p> + +<p>As to the effect of Mr. Cameron's Bill on Dr. Ryerson's future, he +said:—The new Bill on its coming into operation, leaves me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[Pg 425]</a></span> but one +course to pursue. The character and tendency of the Bill clearly is to +compel me to relinquish office, or virtually abandon principles and +provisions [in regard to the Bible in the Schools] which I have +advocated as of great and vital importance, and become a party to my own +personal humiliation and degradation—thus justly exposing myself to the +suspicion and imputation of mean and mercenary conduct. I can readily +retire from office, and do much more if necessary, for the maintenance +of what I believe to be vital to the moral and educational interests of +my native country; but I can never knowingly be a party to my own +humiliation and debasement. I regret that an unprecedented mode of +legislation has been resorted to to gratify the feelings of personal +envy and hostility. I regard it as a virtual vindication of myself +against oft-repeated allegations, that it was felt I could not be +reached by the usual straightforward administration of Government. +Lately, in the English House of Lords, the Marquis of Lansdowne stated, +that Mr. Lafontaine had returned to Canada, and boldly challenged +inquiry into any of the allegations against him in reference to past +years. I have repeatedly done the same. No such inquiry has been granted +or instituted. Yet I am not only pursued by the base calumnies of +certain persons and papers, professing to support and enjoy the +confidence of the Government, but legislation is resorted to, and new +provisions introduced at the last hour of the Session, to deal out upon +me the long meditated blows of unscrupulous envy and animosity. But I +deeply regret that the blows, which will fall comparatively light upon +me, will fall with much greater weight, and more serious consequences, +upon the youth of the land, and its future moral and educational +interests.... Acting, as I hope I do, upon Christian and public grounds, +I should not feel myself justified in withdrawing from a work in +consequence of personal discourtesy and ill-treatment, or a reduction of +means of support and usefulness. But when I see the fruits of four +years' anxious labours, in a single blast scattered to the winds, and +have no satisfactory ground of hope that such will not be the fate of +another four years' labour; when I see the foundations of great +principles, which, after extensive enquiry and long deliberation, I have +endeavoured to lay, torn up and thrown aside as worthless rubbish; when +I see myself deprived of the protection and advantage of the application +of the principle of responsible government as applied to every other +head of a Department, and made the subordinate agent of a Board which I +have originated, and the members of which I have had the honour to +recommend for appointment; when I see myself officially severed from a +Normal School Institution which I have devised,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[Pg 426]</a></span> and every feature and +detail of which are universally commended, even to the individual +capacities of the masters whom I have sought out and recommended; when I +see myself placed in a position, to an entirely novel system of +education at large, in which I can either burrow in inactivity or labour +with little hope of success; when I find myself placed in such +circumstances, I cannot hesitate as to the course of duty, as well as +the obligations of honour and self-respect.... I think it is my right, +and only frank and respectful, on the earliest occasion to state, in +respect to my own humble labours, whether I can serve on terms and +principles and conditions so different from those under which I have, up +to the present time, acted; though I cannot, without deep regret and +emotion, contemplate the loss of so much time and labour, and find +myself impelled to abandon a work on which I had set my heart, and to +qualify myself for which I have devoted four of the most matured years +of my life.</p> + +<p>Having now fulfilled my promise—to communicate to you, in writing, my +views on this important and extensive subject—I leave the whole +question in your hands.</p> + +<p>The result of this letter was, the suspension and abandonment of the Act +of 1849, and the preparation and passing of the Act of 1850.</p> + +<p>Now Mr. Cameron might naturally feel deeply at the repeal of his own Act +without a trial; but after he had time for further examination and +reflection, and a more thorough knowledge of the nature and working of +the system I was endeavouring to establish, I believe no man in Canada +more sincerely rejoiced than Mr. Cameron at the repeal of the Act of +1849, and no man has more cordially supported the present system, or +more frankly and earnestly commended the course I have pursued.<a name="FNanchor_135_137" id="FNanchor_135_137"></a><a href="#Footnote_135_137" class="fnanchor">[135]</a></p> + +<p>The letter to Mr. Baldwin was written on the 14th July, 1849. Speaking +of it, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<p>In the former part of that letter I stated the circumstances under which +the Act of 1849 had passed, and the fact that my remonstrance against it +had not been even read. I then stated what I considered insuperable +objections to it. I will quote part of my eighth and tenth +objections:—the former relating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[Pg 427]</a></span> to the exclusion of ministers as +school visitors—the latter relating to the exclusion from the schools +of the Bible and books containing religious instruction. They are as +follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Another feature of the new Bill is that which precludes Ministers +of Religion, Magistrates, and Councillors, from acting as school +visitors, a provision of the present Act to which I have heard no +objection from any quarter, and from which signal benefits to the +schools have already resulted. Not only is this provision retained +in the School Act for Lower Canada, but Clergymen—and Clergymen +alone—are there authorized to select all the school books relating +to "religion and morals" for the children of their respective +persuasions. But in Upper Canada, where the great majority of the +people and Clergy are Protestant, the provision of the present Act +authorizing Clergymen to act as School Visitors (and that without +any power to interfere in school regulations or books) is repealed. +Under the new Bill, the Ministers of religion cannot, therefore, +visit the schools as a matter of right, or in their character as +Ministers, but as private individuals, and by the permission of the +teacher at his pleasure. The repeal of the provision under which +Clergymen of the several religious persuasions have acted as +visitors, is, of course, a virtual condemnation of their acting in +that capacity. When thus denuded by law of his official character +in respect to the schools, of course no Clergyman would so far +sanction his own legislative degradation as to go into a school by +suffrance in an unministerial character.... The character and +tendency of such a change in connection with the Protestant +religion of Upper Canada, in contrast with a directly opposite +provision in connection with the Roman Catholic Religion of Lower +Canada, must be obvious to every reflecting person.</p> + +<p>To the school-visiting feature of the present system I attach great +importance as a means of ultimately concentrating in behalf of the +schools the influence and sympathies of all religious persuasions, +and the leading men of the country. The success of it, thus far, +has exceeded my most sanguine expectations; the visits of Clergy +alone during the last year being an average of more than five +visits for each Clergyman in Upper Canada. From such a beginning +what may not be anticipated in future years, when information shall +become more general, and an interest in the schools more generally +excited. And who can estimate the benefits, religiously, socially, +educationally, and even politically, of Ministers of various +religious persuasions meeting together at quarterly school +examinations, and other occasions, on common and patriotic ground, +and becoming interested and united in the great work of advancing +the education of the young.</p> + +<p>The last feature of the new Bill on which I will remark, is that +which proscribes from the Schools all books containing +"controverted theological dogmas or doctrines." [Under a legal +provision containing these words, the Bible has been ruled out of +schools in the State of New York.] I doubt whether this provision +of the Act harmonizes with the Christian feelings of members of the +Government; but it is needless to enquire what were the intentions +which dictated this extraordinary provision, since construction of +an Act of Parliament depends upon the language of the Act itself, +and not upon the intentions of its framers. The effect of such a +provision is to exclude every kind of book containing religious +truth, even every version of the Holy Scriptures themselves; for +the Protestant version of them contains "theological doctrine" +controverted by the Roman Catholic; and the Douay version of them +contains "theological dogmas" controverted by the Protestant. The +"theological doctrine" of miracles in Paley's Evidences of +Christianity is "controverted" by the disciples of Hume. Several of +the "theological doctrines" in Paley's Moral Philosophy are also +"controverted;"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[Pg 428]</a></span> and indeed there is not a single doctrine of +Christianity which is not controverted by some party or other. The +whole series of Irish National Readers must be proscribed as +containing "controverted theological doctrines;" since, as the +Commissioners state, these books are pervaded by the principles and +spirit of Christianity, though free from any tincture of +sectarianism.</p> + +<p>I think there is too little Christianity in our schools, instead of +too much; and that the united efforts of all Christian men should +be to introduce more, instead of excluding what little there is.</p> + +<p>I have not assumed it to be the duty, or even constitutional right +of the Government, to compel any thing in respect either to +religious books or religious instruction, but to recommend the +local Trustees to do so, and to provide powers and facilities to +enable them to do so within the wise restriction imposed by law. I +have respected the rights and scruples of the Roman Catholic as +well as those of the Protestant.</p> + +<p>By some I have been accused of having too friendly a feeling +towards the Roman Catholics; but while I would do nothing to +infringe the rights and feelings of Roman Catholics, I cannot be a +party to depriving Protestants of the Text-book of their faith—the +choicest patrimony bequeathed by their forefathers, and the noblest +birthright of their children. It affords me pleasure to record the +fact—and the circumstance shows the care and fairness with which I +have acted on this subject—that before adopting the Section in the +printed Forms and Regulations on the "Constitution and Government +of the Schools in respect to Religious Instruction," I submitted +it, among others, to the late lamented Roman Catholic Bishop Power, +who, after examining it, said, [he could not approve of it upon +principle, but] he would not object to it, as Roman Catholics were +fully protected in their rights and views, and as he did not wish +to interfere with Protestants in the fullest exercise of their +rights and views.</p> + +<p>It will be seen that New England or Irish National School advocates +of a system of mixed schools did not maintain that the Scriptures +and all religious instruction should be excluded from the schools, +but that the peculiarities of sectarianism were no essential part +of religious instruction in the schools, and that the essential +elements and truths and morals of Christianity could be provided +for and taught without a single bitter element of sectarianism. The +advocates of public schools meet the advocates of sectarian +schools, not by denying the connection between Christianity and +education, but by denying the connection between sectarianism—by +comprehending Christianity in the system, and only rejecting +sectarianism from it. The same, I think, is our safety and our +duty....</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson concludes this part of his letter with these emphatic words: +Be assured that no system of popular education will flourish in a +country which does violence to the religious sentiments and feelings of +the Churches of that country. Be assured, that every such system will +droop and wither which does not take root in the Christian and patriotic +sympathies of the people—which does not command the respect and +confidence of the several religious persuasions, both ministers and +laity—for these in fact make up the aggregate of the Christianity of +the country. The cold calculations of unchristianized selfishness will +never sustain a school system. And if you will not embrace Christianity +in your school system, you will soon find that Christian persuasions +will soon commence establishing schools<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[Pg 429]</a></span> of their own; and I think they +ought to do so, and I should feel that I was performing an imperative +duty in urging them to do so. But if you wish to secure the co-operation +of the ministers and members of all religious persuasions, leave out of +your system the points wherein they differ, and boldly and avowedly +provide facilities for the inculcation of what they hold in common and +what they value most, and that is what the best interests of a country +require.</p> + +<p>Speaking in a subsequent letter of another feature of this question of +the Bible in schools, Dr. Ryerson says: The principal opposition which, +in 1846 and for several years afterwards, I encountered was that I did +not make the use of the Bible compulsory in the schools, but simply +recognized the right of Protestants to use it in the school (not as an +ordinary reading book, as it was not given to teach us how to read, but +to teach us the way to Heaven), as a book of religious instruction, +without the right or the power of compelling any others to use it. The +recognition of the right has been maintained inviolate to the present +time; facilities for the exercise of it have been provided, and +recommendations for that purpose have been given, but no compulsory +authority assumed, or right of compulsion acknowledged; and the +religious exercises in each school have been left to the decision of the +authorities of such school, and the religious instruction of each child +has always been under the absolute authority of the parents or guardian +of each child.... Now many a parent may not exercise the right of using +the Bible as a text-book of religious instruction for his child in +school, but would even such parent (much less every Protestant parent) +be willing to be deprived of that right?</p> + +<p>To the objection that the Bible is "often read in a formal and +perfunctory manner without any real benefit being derived from it by the +pupils," Dr. Ryerson replied: Is not the Bible often read in the family, +and even in the Church, "in a formal and perfunctory manner," without +any benefit to either reader or hearers: but should we, therefore, take +away even "the abstract right of reading the Bible" in the family and in +the Church?</p> + +<p>To the objection urged against the reading of the Bible in the schools +because "a majority of the teachers are utterly unfit to give religious +instruction," Dr. Ryerson replied: The reading of the Bible and giving +religious instruction from it are two very different things. The +question is not the competency of teachers to give religious +instruction, but the right of a Protestant to the reading of the Bible +by his child in the school as a text-book of religious instruction. That +right I hold to be sacred and divine.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[Pg 430]</a></span></p> + +<p>To a rejoinder that "the cry for the Bible in the schools is a sham," +Dr. Ryerson thus replies: Apart from religious instruction, apart from +even the reading of the Bible in the schools, the right of having it +there—its very presence there—is not "a sham," but a sign, a symbol of +potent significance. The sign of the Cross ... is not a "sham," but a +symbol precious to the hearts of hundreds of thousands of our brethren; +the coat of arms which stands at the head of all royal patents, nor the +sparkling crown which encircles the brow of royalty, is not "a sham," +but a symbol which speaks more than words to every British heart; the +standard that waves at the head of the regiment, nor the flag that +floats at the ship's masthead is not "a sham," but a symbol that nerves +the soldier and the sailor to duty and to victory. So the Bible is not +"a sham," but a symbol of right and liberty dear to the heart of every +Protestant freeman, to every lover of civil and religious liberty—a +standard of truth and morals, the foundation of Protestant faith, and +the rule of Protestant morals; and "the cry" for the Bible in the +schools is not a "sham," but a felt necessity of the religious +instructor, whether he be the teacher or a visiting superintendent or +clergyman,—is the birthright of the Protestant child, and the +inalienable right of the Protestant parent....</p> + +<p>No man attaches more importance than I do to secular education and +knowledge, and few men have laboured more to provide for the teaching +and diffusion of every branch of it; yet, so far am I from ignoring the +Bible, even in an intellectual point of view, that I hesitate not to +say, in the language of the eloquent Melville, that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Whilst every stripling is boasting that a great enlargement of mind +is coming on the nation, through the pouring into all its dwellings +a tide of general information, it is right to uphold the forgotten +position, that in caring for man as an immortal being, God cared +for him as an intellectual, and that if the Bible were but read by +our artizans and our peasantry, we should be surrounded by a far +more enlightened and intelligent population, than will appear to +this land, when the school-master, with his countless magazines, +shall have gone through it, in its length and its breadth.</p></div> + +<p>With a view to supply an omission, and to provide a Manual on Christian +Morals for the schools, Dr. Ryerson, in 1871, prepared a little work, +entitled <i>First Lessons in Christian Morals</i>. This work was recommended +by the Council of Public Instruction for use in schools. It was objected +to by the <i>Globe</i> newspaper on several grounds. To each of these +objections Dr. Ryerson replied. The first and second objections referred +to alleged errors and defects in style. In a letter on the subject, +written in April, 1872, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<p>Your third objection is against any book of religious instruction being +recommended for use in the public schools. To this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[Pg 431]</a></span> objection I reply, +firstly, that the want of such a book has been not only felt, but +expressed, from different quarters. Secondly, the Irish National Board +have not only books on this subject, in their authorized list of school +text books, but the Council of Public Instruction has long authorized +three of them; each of which contains more reading than any one book of +mine. Thirdly, in the Toronto University College, not only is Paley's +"Evidences of Christianity" an authorized text book, but also Dr. +Wayland's "Moral Science," of the most essential parts of which my books +are an epitome.</p> + +<p>A fourth objection is that I have given a summary of the "Evidences of +Christianity," in respect especially to the inspiration of the +Scriptures, miracles, and mysteries. In reply, I observe, first, that if +young men, before they finish their collegiate education, should be +fortified on this ground, it is equally necessary that those youths who +finish their education in the public schools should not be left unarmed +on this point. Secondly, pupils in the public schools of the fourth and +fifth years are quite as capable of understanding the few pages in which +I have condensed and simplified the answers to the common infidel +objections, as are young men at college to master the large text books +prescribed on the subject. Thirdly, the Irish National Board has +provided a book on the subject to which I have devoted two lessons. On +the list of text books authorized by the Irish National Board is one +entitled, "Lessons on the Truth of Christianity, being an appendix to +the Fourth Book of Lessons, for the use of Schools." This book enters +far more largely into the subject of miracles than I have done, besides +the additional two lessons of answers to infidel objections.</p> + +<p>A fifth objection is that I have pointed out the defects of the +teachings of Natural Religion, and shown the superiority of the +teachings of Revelation over those of Natural Religion. In this I have +followed the example of Rev. Dr. Wayland, President of Brown University, +R. I.</p> + +<p>A sixth objection is, that I have not confined myself to those "laws +which regulate our natural obligations;" that I have taught the +"positive institutions" of Christianity, such as repentance, faith, +reading the Scriptures, personal devotion, family worship, attendance at +public worship. In this I have also followed Dr. Wayland. In the +conclusion of this letter Dr. Ryerson offers this "apology" for writing +his little book on "Christian Morals:" Besides desiring a small amount +of religious teaching, one hour (Monday morning) in the week, for the +senior pupils of the Public Schools, which the trustees and parents +might approve, I did desire a united testimony on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">[Pg 432]</a></span> part of +Protestantism, as there is a united testimony on the part of Roman +Catholicism, as to religious teaching in the schools. One County +Inspector writes, that the Roman Catholic priest, in a separate school +which the Inspector visited, said, "Your schools are atheistic. You +don't acknowledge God." The same charge has been often repeated by the +same authority against the public schools. While I have provided and +contended for full provision by which the Roman Catholics could teach +their own children in their own books of religious instruction, I did +desire that there might be a somewhat corresponding unity of testimony +and teaching in religious principles and duties of common agreement +among Protestants, being first most strongly impressed with its +feasibility by the remarks of the late excellent Rev. A. Gale, who, when +principal of Knox's Academy, on closing a public examination of the +pupils, said that he was persuaded, from his own experience, that all +needful religious teaching could be given to pupils at schools without +infringing upon any denominational peculiarity. I had long meditated, +and at length sought to realize this grand idea in our public schools. +One discordant note has interrupted the harmony. The responsibility of +the failure, if it is to be a failure, is not with me. I hope the +Protestant Christians of Canada will yet realize it, and that my country +will yet enjoy the untold advantages of it, though I may die without the +sight.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_135_137" id="Footnote_135_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135_137"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> Mr. Cameron's avowals on the subject are frank and manly. +On the occasion of his nomination for the County of Lambton, in October, +1857, he thus referred to the School System, and to its founder:— +</p><p> +On the whole, the system had worked well, the common schools of Canada +were admirable, and had attracted the commendation of the first +statesmen in the United States, and even in Great Britain they proposed +to imitate Canada. He was opposed to Dr. Ryerson's appointment +politically, but he would say, as he had said abroad, that Canada and +her children's children owed to him a debt of gratitude, as he had +raised a noble structure, and opened up the way for the elevation of the +people.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">[Pg 433]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LII" id="CHAPTER_LII"></a>CHAPTER LII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1850-1853.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">The Clergy Reserve Question Transferred to Canada.</span></p> + + +<p>The re-opening of the clergy reserve question by Bishop Strachan, with a +view to obtain relief in the temporary distress mentioned in Chapter +xlviii., proved to be a fatal step, so far as his hopes for securing +"better terms" were concerned. In the next year after he had issued his +pastoral appeal for help, the clergy reserve fund yielded an increase, +"and an expectation of a gradual increase annually was officially +expressed." ("Secular State of the Church," page 11.)</p> + +<p>The Bishop's complaint against the Provincial Government (Chapter +xlviii., page 379) was that its management of the clergy reserve lands +was wasteful and extravagant. An effort was therefore made, in 1846, to +vest these lands in the religious bodies then entitled to a share in the +income derived from their sale. Mr. Gladstone communicated with the +Governor-General on the subject, with this view, in February, 1846. The +proposal, was, however, viewed with alarm, as well as was the fact that +such efforts being made in England showed that, as in 1840, so in 1846, +the rights of the Canadian people to this patrimony could be at any time +alienated or extinguished by the Imperial Government, without the +official knowledge or consent of the Canadian Parliament.</p> + +<p>These two facts, when they became known and appreciated by the people of +Upper Canada, led to the taking of decisive steps to prevent them from +becoming realities. The representatives in the Canadian House of +Assembly of the Bishop of Toronto sought to get an address to the Crown +passed, with a view to vesting a portion of the lands in the Church +Society of Toronto. Hon. Robert Baldwin warned the friends of the Bishop +of the impolicy and imprudence of such a proposition, and pointed out +that if the clergy reserve question was thus re-opened, the former +fierce agitation on the subject would be resumed, which might "end in +the total discomfiture of the Church." His warning was unheeded, and +although the motion for vesting the lands as proposed was rejected, by a +vote of 37<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">[Pg 434]</a></span> to 14, yet the Bishop in his charge, delivered the next year +(in June, 1847), said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>After all, our great desire continues to be to acquire the +management of what is left to the Church of the reserves; and why +this reasonable desire is not complied with remains a matter of +deep regret (page 19).</p></div> + +<p>The question thus brought before the Legislature, led to its being +brought before the people, until it became a subject of discussion in +political meetings and election contests. Finally, in 1850, the +Government of the day secured the passage in the House of Assembly of an +address to the Crown, praying for the repeal of the Imperial Clergy +Reserve Act of 1840. In that address it is stated that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>During a long period of years, and in nine successive sessions of +the Provincial Parliament, the representatives of the people of +Upper Canada, with an unanimity seldom exhibited in a deliberative +body, declared their opposition to religious endowments.... The +address further pointed out that the wishes of the people were +thwarted by the Legislative Council, a body containing a majority +avowedly favourable to the ascendancy of the Church of England. +That the Imperial Government, from time to time, invited the +Provincial Parliament to legislate on the subject of these +reserves, disclaiming on the part of the Crown any desire for the +superiority of one or more particular Churches; that Your Majesty's +Government, in declining to advise the Royal assent being given to +a Bill, passed by a majority of one, for investing the power of +disposing of the reserves in the Imperial Parliament, admitted that +from its inaccurate information as to the wants and general +opinions of society (in which the Imperial Parliament was +unavoidably deficient), the question would be more satisfactorily +settled by the Provincial Legislature; that subsequently to the +withholding of the Royal assent from the last-mentioned Bill, the +Imperial Parliament passed an Act disposing of the proceeds of the +clergy reserves in a manner entirely contrary to the formerly +repeatedly expressed wishes of the Upper Canadian people, as +declared through their representatives, and acknowledged as such in +a message sent to the Provincial Parliament by command of Your +Majesty's Royal predecessor.</p> + +<p>That we are humbly of opinion that the legal or constitutional +impediments which stood in the way of provincial legislation on +this subject should have been removed by an Act of the Imperial +Parliament; but that the appropriation of revenues derived from the +investment of the proceeds of the public lands of Canada, by the +Imperial Parliament, will never cease to be a source of discontent +to Your Majesty's loyal subjects in this Province; and that when +all the circumstances connected with this question are taken into +consideration, no religious denomination can be held to have such +vested interest in the revenue derived from the proceeds of the +said clergy reserves, as should prevent further legislation with +reference to the disposal of them; but we are nevertheless of +opinion that the claims of existing incumbents should be treated in +the most liberal manner; and that the most liberal and equitable +mode of settling this long-agitated question, would be for the +Imperial Parliament to pass an Act providing that the stipends and +allowances heretofore assigned and given to the clergy of the +Church of England and Scotland, or to any other religious bodies or +denominations of Christians in Canada, and to which the faith of +the Crown is pledged, shall be secured during the natural lives or +incumbencies of the parties now receiving the same ... subject to +which provision the Provincial Parliament should be authorized to +appropriate as, in its wisdom, it may think proper, all revenues<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">[Pg 435]</a></span> +derived from the present investments, or from those to be made +hereafter whether from the proceeds of future sales, or from +instalments on those already made.</p></div> + +<p>As the agitation proceeded, Bishop Strachan and Dr. Ryerson again became +involved in it. The Bishop took the lead, and addressed a letter to Lord +John Russell on the subject. Dr. Ryerson at once joined issue with the +Bishop, and prepared the following able rejoinder in reply to the +Bishop's letter. He said:—</p> + +<p>The statements of the Lord Bishop of Toronto, in his letter to Lord John +Russell, dated Canada, February 20th, 1851, and in his Charge delivered +to the clergy of the Diocese of Toronto, in May, 1851, relate to the +same subjects, and appear to be designed for perusal in England, rather +than in Canada. These statements, as a whole, are the most extraordinary +that I ever read from the pen of an ecclesiastic, much less from the pen +of a Bishop of the Church of England, and an old resident and prominent +actor in the affairs of the country of which he speaks. These statements +are not only incorrect, but they are, for the most part, the reverse of +the real facts to which they refer; and where they are most groundless, +they are the most positive. To discuss them <i>seriatim</i> would occupy a +volume. I will, as briefly as possibly, notice the most important of +them under the following heads:—</p> + +<p>1. The circumstances and objects of the original Clergy Land +Reservation.</p> + +<p>2. The position of the Church of England in Canada, and the professed +wishes of the Lord Bishop.</p> + +<p>3. The conduct of the Imperial and Canadian Governments towards the +Church of England.</p> + +<p>4. The effect of the union of the two Canadas on the proceedings and +votes of the Legislative Assembly in regard to the Church of England.</p> + +<p>5. Public grants to the Church of Rome, and the endowment of that Church +in Lower Canada.</p> + +<p>6. The Toronto University and Public Schools.</p> + +<p>I am to notice in the first place the statements of the Lord Bishop +respecting the circumstances and objects of the Clergy Land Reservation. +He speaks of it as having been suggested by the circumstances of the +American revolution, and as having been intended as the special reward +of those who adhered to the Crown of England during that seven years' +contest.</p> + +<p>The Bishop says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>At the close of the war, in 1783, which gave independence to the +United States, till then colonies of the British Crown, great +numbers of the inhabitants, anxious to preserve their allegiance, +and, in as far as they were able, the unity of the empire, sought +refuge in the western part of Canada, beyond<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">[Pg 436]</a></span> the settlements made +before the conquest under the King of France. These loyalists, who +had for seven years perilled their lives and fortunes in defence of +the throne, the law, and the religion of England, had irresistible +claims when driven from their homes into a strange land (yet a vast +forest), to the immediate protection of government, and to enjoy +the same benefits which they had abandoned from their laudable +attachment to the parent State.</p></div> + +<p>The Bishop subsequently states [See Chapter xxviii., page 219] that the +object of the Constitutional Act of 1791 was</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>More especially to confer upon the loyalists such a constitution as +should be as near a transcript as practicable of that of England, +that they might have no reason to regret, in as far as religion, +law, and liberty were concerned, the great sacrifices which they +had made.</p></div> + +<p>Allusions of this kind pervade a considerable part of the Bishop's +letter, and furnish the first example, within my knowledge, of any +writer attempting to invest the dispute between the American colonies +and the mother country with a religious character; when every person the +least acquainted with the history of those colonies, and of that +contest, knows that the question of religion was never alluded to on the +part of the colonists—that General Washington and other principal +leaders in the revolution were professed Episcopalians—that the Church +of England did not exist as an established church in any of those +colonies, unless adopted as such by the local legislature, as in the +case of Virginia—and that in the northern and eastern parts of those +colonies, whence the first emigration to Upper Canada took place after +the peace of 1783, the Church of England never did exist as an +established church. Therefore, for the "religion of England" in that +sense, those "loyalists" never could have "perilled their lives and +fortunes;" nor could they have been influenced by any predilections for +an establishment which they had never seen. The Bishop says truly that:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The noble stand which the Province made against the United States +in the war of 1812, in which the attachment of its inhabitants to +the British empire was a second time signally displayed, brought +the country into deserved notice.</p></div> + +<p>But nothing can be more fallacious than the claims he would found upon +this fact, any more than those of the American revolution of 1776, to +the clergy reserve land. For the Lord Bishop himself, when Archdeacon of +York, in a printed discourse on the death of the first Bishop of Quebec, +represents the benefits of the establishment as "little felt or known" +in Upper Canada, and states that down to the close of the American War +of 1812—namely, in 1815—there were but five clergymen of the Church of +England in that vast province. And a few years afterwards, December +22nd, 1826, the Upper Canada House of Assembly, consisting of the +representatives of the Loyalists and their sons, who had twice "signally +displayed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">[Pg 437]</a></span> their attachment to the British empire," adopted, by the +extraordinary majority of 30 to 3, the following remarkable and +significant resolution:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Resolved</i>, that the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Province +bears a very small proportion to the number of other Christians, +notwithstanding the pecuniary aid long and exclusively received +from the benevolent society in England by the members of that +Church, and their pretensions to a monopoly of the clergy reserves.</p></div> + +<p>The original Loyalist settlers of Upper Canada, and their immediate +descendants, must be held to have understood their own feelings and +sentiments better than the Lord Bishop: and the almost unanimous +expression of such sentiments, through their representatives twenty-five +years since, together with other circumstances to which I have referred, +show how greatly mistaken is his Lordship, and how perfectly baseless +are his assumptions and frequent allusions and appeals in reference to +the hopes, wishes and sentiments of the original settlers of Upper +Canada as a ground of claim to the clergy reserves in behalf of the +Church of England.</p> + +<p>I have next to say a few words on the Bishop's statement as to the +position of the Church of England in Canada, and the professions which +he makes in respect to her position. He says, "Our position has, for +some time, been that of a prostrate branch of the National Church;" and +that position he, in another place, calls "a condition of inferiority to +other religious denominations;" and he says, "she has been placed below +Protestant dissenters, and privileges, wrested from her, have been +conferred upon them." As to the position in which the Bishop would wish +the Church of England in Canada to be placed, he says, "We merely claim +equality, and freedom from oppression."</p> + +<p>These expressions are deeply to be regretted, when it is perfectly +notorious that the pre-eminence and peculiar civil advantages claimed by +the Bishop for the Church of England, have been the ground of all the +disputes which have agitated the Legislature and people of Upper Canada +for more than twenty-five years; when every person of the least +intelligence in Canada knows that the Church of England, besides other +large educational and pecuniary patronage of government, enjoyed until +1840 an exclusive monopoly of the clergy lands which the Legislative +Assembly of Upper Canada long contended, and which the judges of England +have decided, extended by law to Protestants generally—that the Church +of England enjoys at this moment the greater part of the annual proceeds +of the sales of those lands, besides rectory endowments of portions of +them—that every political and religious party in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">[Pg 438]</a></span> Canada awards every +thing to the Church of England that they ask for themselves—"equality +and freedom from oppression." During the present session of the +Legislature, Bills have passed the Assembly giving the Church of England +in Lower Canada all the facilities of holding property and managing her +affairs which have been desired by the Bishop of the Diocese, as had +been granted a few years since in Upper Canada; and when it was objected +that privileges were given by such Bills to the Church of England not +possessed by any other religious persuasion, it was replied that others +might obtain them by asking for them, and the Bills in question were +passed with only two dissentient votes.</p> + +<p>I repeat the expression of my regret that the Bishop should draw +entirely upon his imagination for such statements, and that his feelings +should prompt him to represent objections to his own particular views +and pretensions as oppression and persecution of the Church of England.</p> + +<p>The next class of the Bishop's statements which I shall notice, relate +to the conduct of the Imperial and Canadian Governments towards the +Church of England. Throughout his voluminous documents the Bishop +represents the conduct of government, both Imperial and Colonial, as +hostile to the Church of England; and employs, in some instances, terms +personally offensive. The great question at issue is thus stated by the +Bishop himself in his recent charge to his clergy:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In 1819, the law officers of the Crown gave it as their opinion +that the words Protestant clergy embraced also the ministers of the +Church of Scotland, not as entitling them to endowment in land, but +as enabling them to participate in the proceeds of the reserves, +whether sold or leased. In 1828, a select committee of the House of +Commons extended the construction of the words Protestant clergy to +the teachers of all Protestant denominations; and this +interpretation, though considered very extraordinary at the time, +was confirmed by the twelve judges in 1840.</p></div> + +<p>In his letter to Lord John Russell, the Bishop alludes to two of these +decisions in terms peculiarly objectionable, while he omits all +reference to the latter. He says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Established Church of Scotland claimed a share of those lands, +or the proceeds, as a National Church within the Empire; and in +1819, the Crown lawyers made the discovery that it might be +gratified, under the 37th clause of the 31st of George III., chap. +31. Next, the select committee of the House of Commons, in 1828, on +the Civil Government of Canada, influenced by the spurious +liberality of the times, extended this opinion of the Crown lawyers +to any Protestant clergy.</p></div> + +<p>The Bishop thus impugns the impartiality and integrity of the opinions +expressed by the law officers of the Crown in England, and by the select +committee of the House of Commons, sarcastically calling the one a +"discovery," and ascribing the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">[Pg 439]</a></span> other to "spurious liberality;" while he +declares that the Act 3 and 4 Victoria, chapter 78 (which only carried +partially into effect the decision of the twelve judges, and was, as he +states, agreed to by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other Bishops +in London), "deprived the Church of England in Canada of seven-twelfths +of her property."</p> + +<p>In other documents the Bishop has designated this Act "an act of +spoliation," and "robbery" of the Church of England.</p> + +<p>When the Bishop employs language of this kind in respect to Acts of +Parliament and the official opinions in regard to their provisions, he +cannot reasonably complain if other parties should respect them as +little as himself, much less regard them as a "final settlement" of a +question to which they have not been parties, and against which they +have always protested. Under any circumstances, it is singular language +to be employed by a person towards a government by whose fostering +patronage he has become enriched. The fact is, that the successive +Governors of Upper Canada have been members of the Church of England; +that the principal cause of their unpopularity, and the most serious +difficulties which both the Imperial and local governments have had to +encounter in the colony, have arisen from their efforts to secure as +much for the Church of England, in the face of the popular indignation +and opposition, so much inflamed and strengthened by the irritating +publications and extreme proceedings of the Bishop himself. It is +understood that the report of the committee of the House of Commons on +the civil government of Canada, in 1828, was written by Lord Stanley. +However that may be, the sentiments of that report on the clergy reserve +question were strongly expressed by his Lordship in his speech on the +subject, 2nd May, 1828; and he and the other distinguished men who +investigated the subject at that time, know whether they were +"influenced by a spurious liberality" in the conclusion at which they +arrived, or whether they were guided by a sense of justice, and yielded +to the weight of testimony. At all events, the grave decision of the +twelve judges of England to the same effect ought to have suggested to +the Bishop other terms than those of "spurious liberality," +"spoliation," and "robbery," and to have protected not only the "powers +that be," but the great majority of the Canadian people, from the shafts +of his harsh imputations.</p> + +<p>Here I think it proper to correct the Bishop's repeated references to +the origin and circumstances of the differences of opinion in Upper +Canada, as to the import of the words "Protestant clergy," and the +"right of dissenting denominations" to participate in the benefit of the +clergy reserves. He represents those differences as having originated +with the clergy of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">[Pg 440]</a></span> the Kirk of Scotland, and that the idea that any +other than the clergy of the Church of England had a right to +participate in the benefit of the reserves was never entertained in +Upper Canada until the friends of the Kirk of Scotland commenced the +agitation of the question.</p> + +<p>So far from this representation being correct, it appears that +the first submission of the question to the law officers of the +Crown in England took place at the request of Sir P. Maitland, +in reference, not to the clergy of the Kirk of Scotland, but to +"all denominations" of Protestants—a question on which Sir P. +Maitland, then Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, states in a +despatch to Earl Bathurst, dated 17th May, 1819, that there was not +only a "difference of opinion" on the subject, but "a lively feeling +throughout the Province." It appears that certain "Presbyterian +inhabitants of the town of Niagara and its vicinity" (not at that +time in connexion with the Church of Scotland), petitioned Sir P. +Maitland for "an annual allowance of £100 to assist in the support +of a preacher," to be paid "out of funds arising from the clergy +reserves, or any other fund at His Excellency's disposal." In +transmitting a copy of this petition to Earl Bathurst, Sir P. +Maitland ("York, Upper Canada, 17th May, 1819,") remarks as +follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The actual product of the clergy reserves is about £700 per annum. +This petition involves a question on which I perceive there is a +difference of opinion, viz., whether the Act intends to extend the +benefit of the reserves, for the maintenance of a Protestant +clergy, to all denominations, or only to those of the Church of +England. The law officers incline to the latter opinion. I beg +leave to observe to your Lordship, with much respect, that your +reply to this petition will decide a question of much interest, and +on which there is a lively feeling throughout the Province. [See +page 221.]</p></div> + +<p>Earl Bathurst's reply to this despatch is dated "Downing Street, 6th +May, 1820," and commences as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Having requested the opinion of His Majesty's law officers as to +the right of dissenting Protestant ministers, resident in Canada, +to partake of the lands directed by the Act of the 31st George +III., c. 31, to be reserved as a provision for the support of a +Protestant clergy, I have now to state that they are of opinion +that though the provisions made by the 31st George III., c. 31, ss. +36 and 42, for the support and maintenance of a Protestant clergy, +are not confined solely to the Church of England, but may be +extended also to the clergy of the Church of Scotland, yet that +they do not extend to dissenting ministers, since the terms +Protestant clergy can apply only to the Protestant clergy +recognized and established by law.</p></div> + +<p>It is thus clear that the question of the right of different Protestant +denominations to participate in the benefit of the clergy reserves did +not originate in any claims or agitation commenced by the clergy of the +Church of Scotland; that as early as the beginning of 1819, (only four +years after the close of the last American War, during which, as the +Bishop truly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">[Pg 441]</a></span> says, "the attachment of the inhabitants to the British +empire was a second time signally displayed,") there was "a lively +feeling throughout the Province" on the subject. The first Loyalist +settlers, and their immediate descendants, were opposed to the Bishop's +narrow construction of the Act 31st George III., chapter 31; their +representatives in the Legislative Assembly maintained invariably the +liberal construction of the Act; the select committee of the House of +Commons in 1828, on the Civil Government of Canada, after taking +evidence as to the intentions of the original framers of the law, +expressed the same opinion, and that opinion was ultimately confirmed by +the decision of the twelve judges in 1840. The Bishop is, therefore, as +much at fault in his facts on this point, as he is in the language he +employs in reference to Imperial legal opinions, and an Imperial Act of +Parliament.</p> + +<p>It now becomes my duty to examine another large class of statements, +which I have read with great surprise and pain; and which are, if +possible, less excusable than those which I have already noticed. I +refer to the Bishop's statements in regard to the influence of the union +of the two Canadas on the votes and proceedings of the Legislative +Assembly of the united Province, on the question of the clergy reserves.</p> + +<p>The Bishop, in his letter to Lord John Russell (referring to the Address +of the Legislative Assembly, at the session of 1850, to the Queen), +states as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Before the union of Upper and Lower Canada, such an unjust +proceeding could not have taken place, for, while separate, the +Church of England prevailed in Upper Canada, and had frequently a +commanding weight in the Legislature, and at all times an influence +sufficient to protect her from injustice. But since their union +under one Legislature, each sending an equal number of members, +matters are sadly altered.</p> + +<p>It is found, as was anticipated, that the members returned by +dissenters uniformly join the French Roman Catholics, and thus +throw the members of the Church of England into a hopeless minority +on all questions in which the National Church is interested.</p> + +<p>The Church of England has not only been prostrated by the union +under that of Rome, and the whole of her property made dependent on +Roman Catholic votes, but she has been placed below Protestant +dissenters, and privileges wrested from her which have been +conferred upon them.</p></div> + +<p>In his recent charge to the clergy of his Diocese, the Bishop remarks +again:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>So long as this diocese remained a distinct colony, no measure +detrimental to the Church ever took effect. Even under the +management and prevailing influence of that able and unscrupulous +politician, the late Lord Sydenham, a Bill disposing of the clergy +reserves, was carried by one vote only—a result which sufficiently +proved that it was not the general wish of the people of the colony +to legislate upon the subject.</p></div> + +<p>I shall first notice that part of the Bishop's statement which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">[Pg 442]</a></span> relates +to Upper Canada, before the union with Lower Canada. The Bishop asserts +it not to have been "the general wish of the people of the colony to +legislate upon the subject" of the clergy reserves; that the Church of +England prevailed, and had sufficient influence to maintain what he +regards as her just rights. The Bishop has resided in Upper Canada +nearly half a century, and such a statement from him, in direct +contradiction to the whole political history of the Province during more +than half that period, is difficult of solution, though perfectly easy +of refutation. I have already transcribed one of a series of +resolutions, adopted by the Legislative Assembly as early as December, +1826, by a majority of 30 to 3, objecting entirely to the exclusive +pretensions made in behalf of the Church of England. But I find that +nearly a year before this, namely, the 27th of the January preceding, +the House of Assembly of Upper Canada adopted an Address to the King on +the subject, in which it is stated, respectfully, but strongly,—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>That the lands set apart in this Province for the maintenance and +support of a Protestant clergy ought not to be enjoyed by any one +denomination of Protestants to the exclusion of their Christian +brethren of other denominations, equally conscientious in their +respective modes of worshipping God, and equally entitled, as +dutiful and loyal subjects, to the protection of Your Majesty's +benign and liberal Government; we, therefore, humbly hope it will, +in Your Majesty's wisdom, be deemed expedient and just, that not +only the present reserves, but that any funds arising from the +sales thereof, should be devoted to the advancement of the +Christian religion generally, and the happiness of all Your +Majesty's subjects of whatever denomination; or if such application +or distribution should be deemed inexpedient, that the profits +arising from such appropriation should be applied to the purposes +of education and the general improvement of this Province.</p></div> + +<p>The following year (January, 1827), the House of Assembly passed a Bill +(the minority being only three), providing for the sale and application +of the whole of the proceeds of the reserves for purposes of education, +and erection of places of public worship for all denominations of +Christians. And, on examining the journals, I find that from that time +down to the union of the Canadas in 1841, not a year passed over without +the passing of resolutions, or address, or bill, by the House of +Assembly of Upper Canada, for the general application of the proceeds of +the reserves, in some form or other, but always, without exception, +against what the Bishop claims as the rights of the Church of England in +respect to those lands.</p> + +<p>It is difficult to conceive a more complete refutation than these facts +furnish of the Bishop's statement, that the Church of England prevailed +in Upper Canada, and had a commanding weight in the Legislature; nor +could a stronger proof be required of "the general wish of the people of +the colony to legislate upon the subject," than such a course of +procedure on the part<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">[Pg 443]</a></span> of their representatives for so many years during +successive Parliaments, and amidst all the variations of party and party +politics on all other questions.</p> + +<p>It is also incorrect to say that the Bill of Lord Sydenham in 1840 "was +carried by a majority of one vote only." A Bill did pass the Assembly of +Upper Canada the year before, by "a majority of one vote only;" but that +was a Bill to re-invest the reserves in the Imperial Parliament for +"general religious purposes,"—a Bill passed a few hours before the +close of the session, during which no less than forty-eight divisions, +with the record of yeas and nays, took place in the Assembly on the +question of the clergy reserves; and after the Assembly had passed, by +considerable majorities, both resolutions and a Bill to give the Church +of England one-fourth of the proceeds of the clergy reserves, and the +other three-fourths to other religious denominations and to educational +purposes—a Bill which, with some verbal amendments, also passed the +Legislative Council, and against which the Bishop, joined by one other +member, recorded an elaborate protest. But just at the heel of the +session, and after several members of the Assembly voting in the +majority had gone to their homes, a measure (which had been previously +negatived again and again) was passed by a "majority of one vote only" +(22 to 21), to re-invest the reserves—a measure which the law officers +in England pronounced "unconstitutional," as the manner of getting it +through the Canadian Legislature was unprecedented. [See page 249.]</p> + +<p>But the measure of Lord Sydenham was carried in the Assembly by a +majority of 4, and in the Legislative Council (of which the Bishop was a +member and voted against the bill) by a majority of 8. A considerable +majority of the members of the Church of England of both Houses of the +Legislature voted for the bill, and were afterwards charged by the +Bishop with "defection," and "treachery" for doing so. [See page 262.] +On this point Lord Sydenham, in a despatch to Lord John Russell, dated +Toronto, 5th February, 1840, stated as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It is notorious to every one here, that of twenty-two members being +communicants of the Church of England who voted upon this Bill, +only eight recorded their opinion in favour of the views expressed +by the right reverend Prelate; whilst in the Legislative Council +the majority was still greater; and amongst those who gave it their +warmest support are to be found many gentlemen of the highest +character for independence and for attachment to the Church, and +whose views in general politics differ from those of Her Majesty's +Government.</p></div> + +<p>After this epitome of references to the proceedings of the people of +Upper Canada, through their representatives, from 1825 to 1840, on what +the Bishop terms the "rights" and "patrimony" of the Church of England, +it is needless to make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">[Pg 444]</a></span> more than one or two remarks on his statements +as to the influence of the union of the Canadas on the proceedings and +votes of the Legislative Assembly upon the subject. My first remark is, +that the question of the clergy reserves has not been introduced into +the present Legislative Assembly by any member, or at the solicitation +of any member, from Lower Canada. I remark, secondly, that though there +is not a Roman Catholic among the forty-two members elected for Upper +Canada; yet when a resolution was introduced into the Assembly, both at +the last and during the present session, expressing a desire to maintain +the present settlement of the clergy reserves, as provided in the Act, 3 +& 4 Vic., chap. 78, only sixteen in the first instance, and thirteen in +the second, voted for it—only about one-third of the members for Upper +Canada. Should, therefore, the union of the Canadas be dissolved +to-morrow, the Bishop would be in as hopeless a minority as he was +before the union. The following remarks of a recent speech of Mr. +Lafontaine (the leader of the Roman Catholic French members of the +Assembly) will show how entirely groundless are the Bishop's imputations +upon that portion of the Assembly.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>He thought the clergy reserves should be fairly divided among the +Protestant denominations, and that they should be altogether taken +out of the hands of the Government, as the only way to take them +out of the reach of agitation. He thought the rectories were vested +rights, and should not be disturbed, unless by due process of law, +if, as was pretended, they were improperly obtained. If there were +any claims in the Act of 1791 which seemed to connect the Church of +England to the State, though he did not think they did, they might +be repealed, and the Bishop of Toronto seemed to be of opinion that +that might be done. Let the appointment of the incumbents to the +rectories, too, be taken from the Government, if it were thought +proper, and given to the Church for other uses. He merely suggested +that without wishing to impose it. He would conclude with one +reflection: Let his Protestant fellow-countrymen remember they +would never find opposition to their just rights from Roman +Catholics and French Canadians. The latter had repeatedly passed +Acts in Lower Canada to give equal rights to those who were called +dissenters, and Jews, which were rejected by members of the Church +of England in the Council, and it was worthy of remark that, at a +moment when in England a pretended aggression had given occasion +for persecution, the Church of England here had to rely upon +Catholics to protect it against the aggression of other Protestant +sects.</p></div> + +<p>I shall now make a few observations on the Bishop's statements +respecting government grants to the Church of Rome, and the endowments +of that Church in Lower Canada. The Bishop, framing his statements with +a view to the Protestant feeling of England, inveighs in general terms +against the Government on account of its alleged patronage of the Church +of Rome; makes exaggerated statements on one side, and omits all +references to facts on the other side which would enable the Protestants +of England, to whom he appeals, to understand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">[Pg 445]</a></span> the part which he has +himself taken in favour of grants to the Church of Rome, the manner in +which those grants are paid at the present time, and the alliance which +he has long endeavoured, and would still wish to form with that Church +in respect to endowments. The Bishop says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In Upper Canada, the Roman Catholic clergy do not, at present, +exceed seventy in number, and the provision for their support is +very slender. It depends chiefly on their customary dues, and the +contributions of their respective flocks; unless, indeed, they +receive assistance from the French portion of the Province, where +the resources of the Romish Church are abundant.</p></div> + +<p>Now, while the Bishop presents an overdrawn and startling picture of the +emoluments of the Church of Rome in Lower Canada, he omits all +statements of public grants and payments to the clergy of that church in +Upper Canada. The Bishop must know, that in addition to their "customary +dues, and the voluntary contributions of their flocks," the clergy of +the Church of Rome receive £1,666 per annum, and that that sum is paid +out of the clergy reserve fund under the provisions of the very Act, 3 & +4 Vic., chap. 78, for the perpetuation of which he contends. The first +instructions to support the Roman Catholic clergy in Upper Canada out of +public funds, were given by Earl Bathurst, in a despatch to Sir P. +Maitland, dated 6th October, 1826, and which commenced in the following +words:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You will receive instructions from the Treasury for the payment, +from funds to be derived from the Canada Company, of the sum of +£750 per annum, for the salaries of the Presbyterian ministers, and +a similar sum for the support of the Roman Catholic priests.</p></div> + +<p>But what is remarkable is, that this very policy of granting aid to the +Roman Catholic priests in Upper Canada, for which Government has been so +much blamed by the Bishop's friends in England, was urged by, if it did +not originate with, the Bishop himself. For, in a speech delivered by +the Bishop in the Legislative Council of Upper Canada, 6th March, 1828, +and afterwards published by himself, I find his own statement of his +proceedings in this matter, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It has always been my wish to see a reasonable support given to the +clergy of the Church of Scotland, because they belong to a Church +which is established in one section of the empire; and to the Roman +Catholic Church because it may be considered as a concurrent church +with the establishment in the sister Province; and to this end I +have, at all times, advised the leading men of both those churches +to make respectful representations to His Majesty's Government for +assistance, leaving it to Ministers to discover the source from +which such aid might be taken.—His Excellency, the +Lieutenant-Governor of this Province (Sir P. Maitland), having +represented in the strongest manner to His Majesty's Government the +propriety of making some provision for the clergy in communion with +the kirk, and also of the Roman Catholic clergy resident in Upper +Canada, a reference was made to me on that subject,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">[Pg 446]</a></span> while in +London, in June, 1826. On this occasion I enforced, as well as I +could, the recommendations made by His Excellency, in respect to +both churches.</p></div> + +<p>Thus four months before Earl Bathurst sent out instructions to give +salaries to Roman Catholic priests in Upper Canada, the Bishop states +that he urged it upon the favourable consideration of His Lordship. The +Bishop then significantly adds:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I did flatter myself that they would have been satisfied, as indeed +they ought to have been, and that henceforth the clergy of the two +denominations, the Roman Catholic and Presbyterian, while +discharging their own religious duties, would cordially co-operate +with those of the establishment in promoting the general peace and +welfare of society. It is gratifying to me to state that, as far as +I know, the Roman Catholic clergy, during this contest, have +observed a strict neutrality.</p></div> + +<p>However ingenious it may be, I cannot regard it as ingenuous that the +Bishop should promote the endowment of the Roman Catholic clergy in this +country in order to secure their political alliance and support against +other Protestant denominations, and then appeal to Protestants in +England against the Government and Legislature in Canada, because of the +countenance given to the Church of Rome. It is hardly fair for the +Bishop to act one part in Canada and another in England; and it is +fallacious and wrong to represent the votes of Roman Catholics as +exerting any influence whatever on the state of the question in Upper +Canada—as of the twenty-five Roman Catholics who voted on the question +last year, twelve voted on one side and thirteen on the other; and they +are known to hold the opinion declared by their leader, Mr. Lafontaine, +that the proceeds of the clergy reserves belong to the Protestants of +the country in contradistinction to Roman Catholics.</p> + +<p>The Bishop's statements in regard to the endowments of the Roman +Catholic Church in Lower Canada are most extravagant. They cannot +affect, in the least, the merits of the question which has so long +agitated Upper Canada; and they appear to be introduced merely for +effect in England, where the social state and position of parties in +Canada are little known or understood. It is needless to examine the +Bishop's statements on this subject in detail; but I will make two or +three remarks, to show the fallacy of both his assertions and his +reasoning. He gives no data whatever for his perfectly gratuitous and +improbable assumption of four hundred parish priests in Lower Canada at +a salary of £250 each, exclusive of those employed in colleges, +monasteries, and religious houses, making, he says,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The revenue of the Roman Catholic Church in Lower Canada, £100,000 +per annum, a sum which represents a money capital of at least +£2,000,000!</p></div> + +<p>This imaginary estimate of the Bishop is simply absurd, and supposes in +Lower Canada ten-fold the wealth that really exists.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">[Pg 447]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Bishop also gives a return of the seignorial lands of several +religious orders of the Roman Catholic Church in Lower Canada, then +invests those lands with a fictitious value, and sets them down as +representing "a capital of £700,000!" whereas the rights to these lands +are simply seignorial, and the annual revenue arising from them does not +amount to threepence per acre. The Jesuits' estates, 891,845 acres—by +far the largest item in the Bishop's paper—are in the hands of the +Government, and not of the Roman Catholic Church at all.</p> + +<p>The fallacy of the Bishop's reasoning on this point will appear from the +facts, that the British Crown has never made a grant or endowment to the +Roman Catholic Church in Lower Canada, or to any religious order of that +Church; that whatever lands or endowments that Church or its religious +communities may possess, were obtained either from the Crown of France, +and therefore secured by treaty, or by the legacies of individuals, or +by purchase. The island of Montreal was obtained by purchase; the rights +are merely seignorial, or feudal, and yield to the seigneurs £8,000 per +annum.</p> + +<p>There is, therefore, no analogy whatever between endowments thus +obtained and held, and lands appropriated by the Crown for certain +general objects, which have been vested in the hands of no religious +community, and over which Parliament has expressly reserved the power of +discretionary legislation.</p> + +<p>I shall now offer a few remarks on the Bishop's statements respecting +the Toronto University and system of public schools in Upper Canada. As +these are questions which have been set at rest by local legislation, by +and with the sanction of the Imperial Government, I need only refer to +the Bishop's statements so far as to remove the erroneous impressions +and unjust prejudices which they are calculated to produce.</p> + +<p>In reference to the Bishop's statements, that "graduates in holy orders +are declared ineligible as members of the Senate," I remark that such +graduates are and have been members of the Senate from the commencement. +And when the Bishop pronounces the University "essentially unchristian," +he must have known that not only a Parliamentary law, but a University +statute, exists for the religious instruction and worship of all the +students of the University; whereas, when the Bishop had the management +of it, no provision whatever existed for the religious instruction and +worship of any of the students except members of the Church of England. +The statement, therefore, of the Bishop, that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>There is at present no Seminary in Upper Canada in which the +children of conscientious churchmen can receive a Christian and +liberal education,</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">[Pg 448]</a></span></p> + +<p>is contradicted by the fact that the children of many churchmen, as +"conscientious" as the Bishop himself, are receiving such an education +at a "Seminary in Upper Canada."</p> + + + +<p class="space">The lands out of which the University has been endowed were early set +apart by the Crown, not on the application or recommendation of any +authority or dignitary of the Church of England, but on the application +of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada; and the cause of all the +agitation on the subject is, that the Bishop, unknown to the Canadian +people, and by representations which they, through their +representatives, declared to be incorrect and unfounded, obtained a +University Charter in England, and the application of those lands as an +endowment, which the Legislative Assembly never would recognize. And now +that that Assembly has at length got these lands restored to the objects +for which they were originally appropriated, but from which they had for +a time been alienated, the Bishop seeks, by the most unfounded +imputations and representations, to do all in his power to damage a +Seminary which he ought to be the first to countenance and support.</p> + +<p>In his recent charge to his clergy, the Bishop has sought to damage the +public elementary schools; and here his statements are equally at fault +with those noticed in regard to the University. The Bishop says, +"Christianity is not so much as acknowledged by our School law." This +statement is contradicted by the 14th section of the School Act, and the +general regulations which are made under its authority, headed, +"Constitution and government of schools in respect to religious +instruction," and which commence with the following words:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As Christianity is the basis of our whole system of elementary +education, that principle should pervade it throughout.</p></div> + +<p>The Bishop says again:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>To take away the power of parents to judge and direct the education +of their children, which is their natural privilege from God, as +our schools virtually do, will never be allowed in Great Britain.</p></div> + +<p>The Bishop makes this statement in the face of the express provision of +the 14th section of the School Act, which declares that "pupils shall be +allowed to receive such religious instruction as their parents or +guardians shall desire."</p> + +<p>The Bishop furthermore states that "the Bible appears not among our +school books," and says also that the "system is not based on a +recognition of the Scriptures." It would be strange if the Bishop were +ignorant that in a lengthened correspondence, printed by order of the +Legislative Assembly, the Chief Superintendent of Schools objected to +any law or system which would exclude the Bible from the schools,—that +the Government<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449">[Pg 449]</a></span> sanctioned his views,—that his annual reports show that +the Bible is used in the great majority of the schools in Upper Canada. +By the returns of last year, the Bible was used in 2,067 of the 3,059 +schools reported—being an increase of 231 schools over those of the +preceding year in which the Bible was used.</p> + +<p>The Bishop likewise says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A belief of Christianity is not included among the qualifications +of school-masters; and I am credibly informed that there have been +instances of candidates for schools disavowing all religious +belief.</p></div> + +<p>There is no law to prevent the vilest person from being "candidates" for +any office, even that of holy orders; but "candidates for schools," and +"school-masters," with legal certificates of qualification, are two very +different things. According to the school law, no person can be a +legally qualified teacher, or receive any portion of the school fund, +without appearing before a County Board of Examiners (who consist, in +all cases, more or less of clergymen), produce to them "satisfactory +evidence of good moral character," and be examined and approved by them. +Even the name of the church to which the "school-master" belongs is +specified, and the annual reports of the Chief Superintendent of Schools +include this item of information. A teacher may also, at any time, be +dismissed for intemperance or any immoral conduct. It is notorious that +the standard of qualification for teachers, both moral and intellectual, +and the provisions and regulations for religious instruction in the +schools, are much higher, and more complete and efficient, than under a +former school law which the Bishop himself introduced into the +Legislature, when he was Chairman of the Provincial Board of Education.</p> + +<p>Again, the Bishop states that</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>All that is wanting is, to give power to the different boards or +authorities to grant separate schools to all localities desiring +them.</p></div> + +<p>This is precisely what the school law provides; for the 24th section of +the Act expressly authorizes and empowers the Board of School Trustees +in each city or town, "to determine the number, sites, kind and +description of schools which shall be established in such city or town." +The Boards of School Trustees may therefore establish as many "separate +schools" in all the cities and towns in Upper Canada, as they shall +think proper. But they are not willing to establish such separate +schools as the Bishop desires; and when an amendment to the school law +was proposed at the last session, to compel the local "boards or +authorities" to do so, it was almost unanimously rejected. The Bishop +says, indeed, referring to this circumstance, that "when the Church of +England requested separate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450">[Pg 450]</a></span> schools for the religious instruction of her +own children, her prayer was rejected by the votes of Romanists." The +fact is, that that proposition received the votes of but five members of +the Legislative Assembly, in which there are upwards of fifty +Protestants.</p> + +<p>It is lamentable to see the Bishop making such statements to damage and +pull down the educational institutions of the country, merely because +they are not under his denominational control, and subservient to his +denominational purposes,—a system of schools which he has, from the +commencement, endeavoured to establish in Upper Canada, and for which he +has agitated the country these many years. That I do the Bishop no +injustice in this statement, I may remark, that in his letter to the +Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, in 1827, applying for the +so-much-agitated Charter of the Provincial University, he states his +object to be, that the clergy of the Church of England in Upper Canada +may "acquire by degrees the direction of education which the clergy of +England have always possessed." Now that the Legislative Assembly, since +the establishment of free constitutional government, have defeated the +peculiar objects of the Bishop, he labours by groundless imputations and +statements to bring the whole system of public instruction into +contempt. It is to be hoped that such efforts will be as unsuccessful in +England as they have been in Canada, where his appeals for agitation +have not been responded to by one out of ten of the congregations of the +Church of England, and are not sustained by the greater part of the +members of the Church of England in both branches of the Legislature. +Not a petition has been presented by members of the Church of England +against the present system of public schools, except one, adopted by a +meeting presided over by the Bishop, and signed by himself; and the +Legislative Council within the last few days, by a majority of more than +two to one, concurred with the Legislative Assembly and Administration +in regard to the clergy reserves and University. The Bishop's extreme +policy and proceedings have been and are a great calamity to the Church +of England in Canada—a calamity which can only be mitigated and removed +by the discountenance of such proceedings, and by the adoption of a more +Christian and judicious policy on the part of members of the Church, +both in England and in Canada.</p> + + + +<p class="space">In reviewing the history of this question from 1840 until its final +settlement by the Canadian Parliament, in 1854, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Messrs. William and Egerton Ryerson had been appointed +representatives<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451">[Pg 451]</a></span> of the Canadian to the British Conference in 1840. +On their arrival in England, they found Lord John Russell's Bill +for the disposal of the Canadian Clergy Reserves to the Churches of +England and Scotland before Parliament; and, as representing the +largest religious denomination in Upper Canada, they requested an +interview with Lord John Russell on the subject of His Lordship's +Bill before Parliament. In the interview granted, they pointed out +to His Lordship the injustice, impolicy, and danger of the Bill, +should it become law, and respectfully and earnestly prayed His +Lordship to withdraw the Bill; but he was inflexible, when the +Messrs. Ryerson prayed to His Lordship to assent to their being +heard at the Bar of the House of Commons against the Bill; at which +His Lordship became very angry—thinking it presumptuous that two +Canadians, however numerous and respectable their constituency, +should propose to be heard at the Bar of the British House of +Commons against a measure of Her Majesty's Government. But the +Messrs. Ryerson knew their country and their position, and +afterwards wrote a respectful but earnest letter to His Lordship +against his measure, and faithfully warned him of the consequences +of it if persevered in; they went so far as to intimate that the +measure would prove an opening wedge of separation between Great +Britain and the people of Upper Canada; and lest they should be +considered as endeavouring to fulfil their own predictions, they +did not publish their letter to Lord John Russell, or write a line +on the subject for more than ten years—knowing that a wound so +deep would, without any action or word on their part, fester and +spread so wide in the people of Upper Canada as ultimately to +compel the repeal of the Act or sever their connection with Great +Britain. The result was as they, Messrs. Ryerson, had apprehended; +for in 1853 the Act was repealed by the British Parliament.<a name="FNanchor_136_138" id="FNanchor_136_138"></a><a href="#Footnote_136_138" class="fnanchor">[136]</a></p></div> + +<p>Early in 1852, the Government of which Earl Grey was Secretary of State +for the Colonies, was superseded by that of the Earl of Derby, with Sir +John Packington as Secretary of State for the Colonies, who, in a +despatch to Lord Elgin, dated April 22nd, 1852, says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>By a despatch from my predecessor, Earl Grey, of the 11th July +last, you were informed that Her Majesty's then servants found +themselves compelled to postpone to another Session the +introduction of a Bill into Parliament giving the Canadian +Legislature authority to alter the existing arrangements with +regard to the clergy reserves.</p> + +<p>With reference to that intimation, I have to inform you that it is +not the intention of Her Majesty's present advisers to propose such +a measure to Parliament this Session. "The result would probably be +the diversion to other purposes" of the clergy reserves than "the +support of divine worship and religious instruction in the colony."</p></div> + +<p>Sir John Pakington was soon undeceived as to the continued Canadian +sentiment on the subject, for Sir Francis Hincks, then Inspector-General +and Premier of Canada, who happened to be in London on official business +on behalf of the Canadian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452">[Pg 452]</a></span> Government, enclosed to Sir John Pakington an +extract from a report, dated 7th April, 1852, approved by His +Excellency, in which the Executive Council said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The assurances of Her Majesty's late Government that such action +would be taken, had prepared the people of Canada to expect that no +further delay would take place in meeting their just wishes upon a +question of such paramount importance to them; the Council, +therefore, recommend that their colleague, the Inspector-General, +be requested by the Provincial Secretary to seek an interview with +Her Majesty's Ministers, and represent to them the importance of +carrying out the pledges of their predecessors on the subject of +the clergy reserves, and thus empower the Colonial Legislature to +deal with the question in accordance with the well-understood +wishes of the people of Canada.</p></div> + +<p>The Derby ministry resigned office in December, 1852, and the Duke of +Newcastle succeeded Sir John Pakington as Secretary of State for the +Colonies. On the 15th January, 1853, the Duke addressed a despatch to +the Earl of Elgin announcing the decision of the new ministry to propose +the repeal of the Imperial Act of 1840, which was successfully +accomplished.</p> + +<p>After the passing of the Imperial Act transferring the final settlement +of the clergy reserve question to Canada, a coalition Government was +formed by the aid of Sir Allan McNab, called the Hincks-Morin Ministry. +After protracted negotiation (with the beneficiaries under the Imperial +Act) and discussion in the Legislature, a Bill was passed providing for +the interests of these claimants, but "secularizing" the remaining +proceeds of the reserves to municipal purposes. This was the last of the +Acts assented to by Lord Elgin previous to his departure from Canada. +Sir Edmund Head, his successor, speaking on this subject, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>An Act assented to by my predecessor has finally settled the long +pending dispute with regard to the clergy reserves, and it has done +so in such a manner as to vindicate liberal principles, whilst it +treats the rights of individuals with just and considerate regard.</p></div> + +<p>Thus was a struggle of more than twenty-five years ended, equality +before the law of all religious denominations established, and +constitutional rights of the people of Upper Canada secured, to their +great joy. But the Bishop of Toronto, whose policy and measures had +caused so much agitation in Upper Canada, regarded this settlement of +the clergy reserve question as an irreparable calamity to the Church of +England in Canada. On the 16th of March, 1853, the Bishop addressed a +letter to the Duke of Newcastle, of which the following are extracts:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Power and violence are to determine the question; vested rights and +the claims of justice are impediments to be swept away. Hence the +spoliation sought to be perpetrated by the Legislature of Canada +has no parallel in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453">[Pg 453]</a></span> colonial history. Even in the middle of the +American Revolution, the old colonists, during the heart-burnings +and ravages of civil war, respected the ecclesiastical endowments +made by the Crown against which they were contending....</p></div> + +<p>The grants made by the Crown were all held by the same tenure—whether +to individuals or corporations—not reservations for certain purposes, +with power expressly given to Colonial Assemblies to "vary or repeal" +them. The Bishop proceeded:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I feel bitterly, my Lord Duke, on this subject. Till I heard of +your Grace's despatch, I had fondly trusted in Mr. Gladstone and +his friends, of whom you are one, notwithstanding the present +doubtful Administration; and I still argued in my heart, though not +without misgivings, that the Church was safe, I have cherished her +with my best energies for more than half a century in this distant +corner of God's dominions; and after many trials and difficulties I +was beholding her with joy, enlarging her tent, lengthening her +cords, and strengthening her stakes, but now this joy is turned +into grief and sadness, for darkness and tribulation are +approaching to arrest her onward progress. Permit me, in +conclusion, my Lord Duke, to entreat your forgiveness if, in the +anguish of my spirit, I have been too bold, for it is far from my +wish or intention to give personal offence. And of this rest +assured, that I would most willingly avert, with the sacrifice of +my life, the calamities which the passing of your Bill will bring +upon the Church in Canada.</p></div> + +<p>There is a touching pathos in the close of this letter; but the Bishop +himself lived to see his apprehended calamities turned into blessings; +for the most prosperous and brightest days of the Church of England in +Upper Canada have been from 1853 to the present time.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_136_138" id="Footnote_136_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136_138"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> Earl Grey had intended to propose its repeal in 1850-51, +and had requested the writer of these papers (who was then on an +educational tour in Europe) to remain in England in order to furnish His +Lordship with data and details to enable him to answer objections which +might be made to his Bill in the House of Lords, and wrote to Lord +Elgin, then Governor-General of Canada, requesting the protracting of +Mr. Ryerson's leave of absence for two or three months. But the Bill had +to be deferred until another Session, and Mr. Ryerson returned +immediately to Canada. (See page 455.)</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454">[Pg 454]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LIII" id="CHAPTER_LIII"></a>CHAPTER LIII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1851.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Personal Episode in the Clergy Reserve Controversy.</span></p> + + +<p>Dr. Ryerson made another educational tour in Europe in 1850-51. While in +London, early in 1851, Earl Grey sought Dr. Ryerson's counsel on the +clergy reserve question, which had been lately re-opened in Canada. The +proceedings and result of the interviews which he had with Earl Grey, +are detailed in several letters which he wrote to me from London during +a period of four months. I give such extracts from these letters as will +explain the nature of Dr. Ryerson's conferences with Earl Grey on the +subject. His first letter was written on the 7th February, in which he +said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You will rejoice to learn that Her Majesty's Government have +adopted the prayer of the Canadian Legislature on the question of +the clergy reserves, and have determined to bring forward a measure +on the subject. Whether Lord Grey will desire me to remain longer +on account of the question I have not had time to learn. Mr. +[afterwards Sir Benjamin] Hawes says that he will procure me +admission to the speaker's gallery to tear Lord John Russell bring +forward his measure on the Papal Question.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter written by Dr. Ryerson the following week, dated 14th +February, he enclosed to me a confidential letter on the clergy reserve +question, in which he explained the likelihood of his being detained in +England by Lord Grey in connection with it. He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I send this to you, so that you may know all the circumstances +which are likely to protract my stay for some months in this +country; and for the same reason, and that you may co-operate with +me, I entrust you with the perusal of my confidential +letter—another proof of my unreserved confidence in your prudence +and fidelity. I think it would not be well for you to mention +anything as to my probable delay in England, and especially as to +the reasons of it, until it becomes known to the public.</p> + +<p>My position is, indeed, a gratifying one, after so long labour and +so much abuse in connection with the great clergy reserve question, +that I should be desired to aid in its final settlement according +to the voice of the people of Canada, and should now be called upon +to aid Lord John Russell himself to undo his own measure of 1840, +against which I then protested. I am sure you will be prepared to +perform any additional labour to enable me to fulfil such a +mission. I trust that I will be enabled to confer a benefit upon +Canada. It is a gratifying position in which such a concurrence of +circumstances<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455">[Pg 455]</a></span> will place me, and my personal character and history +in regard to a question which has engaged so large a portion of my +past life—the ground of all the opposition I formerly met with +from the London Wesleyan Committee and Conference. Verily there is +a God that ruleth over all things, that makes the wrath of man to +praise Him, that rules in ways we know not of. We should indeed +fear Him, bow down in the dust before Him, but at the same time +most calmly and implicitly trust Him. Please write me as to the +effects produced by Lord Grey's despatch, the manner in which it is +received, etc.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter, dated 13th March, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have received a letter from a member of the Government in Canada, +expressing a wish that I would remain in England until after the +great Exhibition, as the Canadian Parliament would not meet until +May. This, in anticipation of what Lord Grey has desired, has quite +settled my mind on the subject of remaining until May or June.</p> + +<p>I shall remain in Paris until I am wanted in London on the clergy +reserve question—I suppose until the middle of next month. +Listening some hours each day in Paris to some of the most learned +men in Europe, giving the results of all their researches and +reflections on various branches of literature and science, will be +of great advantage to me in my future lectures, writings and +labours, and this I shall continue until the voice of war on the +clergy reserves shall echo across the Atlantic. I suppose my +presence in England at this time will be a great annoyance to the +exclusive Church party, and it will perhaps make them more cautious +than they might otherwise be in their statements.</p> + +<p>As the ministry in England continue firm, I hope no effort will be +wanting in Canada to sustain Lord Grey, should an opposition be +raised against his proposed bill, the bringing in of which may be +delayed some time by the late long ministerial crisis in England.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter, dated 11th April, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In regard to the clergy reserves, I have been inclined to think the +Bishop of Toronto and his friends would not attempt to renew the +agitation of the clergy reserve question in Canada, but would +prepare the strongest statement of their case for the Parliament +here, in the mouths of some of their ablest friends in both the +Commons and Lords, and thus take the Government here by surprise, +and try and defeat the Bill in the Lords, after having, reduced the +majority in favour of it in the Commons as much as possible.</p></div> + +<p>On the 18th April, 1851, Dr. Ryerson wrote again:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Scotch Presbytery of Kingston, U. C., have sent a petition to +the House of Commons against Lord Grey's Bill, or against complying +with the prayer of the address of the Canadian Assembly, and sent +to me with the request that I would prepare an answer to it. I +think of preparing my answer in the form of a communication or two +to the <i>Times</i> newspaper, and thus bring the whole subject before +the Members of Parliament and the public. Should I succeed in this, +Lord Grey may not think my longer stay to be necessary. I am +anxious to get away as soon as possible; the season is advancing, +and I have so much to do before the close of it in the autumn.</p> + +<p>Business and embarrassments have so accumulated in the House of +Commons that it is pretty nearly decided to bring the clergy +reserve Bill into the Lords by Lord Grey himself, and he expects to +do so about the middle of May. Should it be brought into the Lords, +of course there would not be so long delay there before deciding +the question one way or the other. But the chances are so strong +against its success if brought into the Lords first, that Lord Grey +is unwilling to adopt that course until it is seen that that is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_456" id="Page_456">[Pg 456]</a></span> +the only alternative. If it should be lost in the Lords now, he, of +course, thinks it would soon be carried by a pressure from Canada, +such as the rejection of the Bill by the Lords would probably call +forth.</p></div> + +<p>On the 25th April, Dr. Ryerson wrote:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The late crisis has made no change in the intentions of the +Government in regard to the clergy reserve question. I send you a +copy of the <i>Times</i> of the 23rd instant, the day before yesterday, +in which you will see the first of my papers on "The Clergy +Reserves of Canada." The second and third will occupy a column and +a half or two columns, each. I finished and handed in the remaining +papers this morning. Lord Grey spoke to me twice on the subject of +writing something for the press, and Mr. Hawes, the last time I saw +him, seemed to think the Bill would be lost in the House of Lords, +but the Government would send out a despatch to Canada saying that +the question was not abandoned, but would be brought forward again +the next Session. I have thought this was a very poor consolation +for the loss of the Bill, and that it was best to see what could be +done. I have written strongly, and with an express view to the +House of Lords—confining myself wholly to the question of the +right of the people of Canada to judge and decide in the matter. +What may be the effect of these papers, I cannot, of course, tell; +but if Lord Grey should be of opinion that the publication of them +will supersede the necessity of my longer stay for that purpose, I +will leave as soon as possible—by the third week in May.</p></div> + +<p>I wrote fully to Dr. Ryerson on this subject, pointing out the relation +of parties in Canada on this subject, and deprecating his taking any +further active part in the discussion which had become so heated in this +country. On the 2nd May, Dr. Ryerson replied:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>What you have communicated on the clergy reserve question has +changed my mode of proceeding in some respects; and the second and +third articles I prepared for the <i>Times</i> will not appear as first +intended; but I will explain by and by. I was at the great +Exhibition yesterday. It was the grandest of all grand affairs I +ever witnessed. I had a place near the centre, within a few feet of +the "Iron Duke," until he left to join the procession.</p></div> + +<p>On the 9th May, Dr. Ryerson wrote his final letter:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>On reflection, and from what I found to be the relations of parties +in Canada, and the turn the clergy reserve question was likely to +take, I came to the same conclusion you have expressed in your last +letter—not to come into collision with any party on the question, +beyond what is expressed in the short article in the <i>Times</i> +newspaper—namely, that Canada should judge for itself on the +question. I have determined to furnish Lord Grey with a memorandum +of facts and principles on the question. I have seen Lord Grey and +stated my wish not to remain longer, and not to be further mixed up +with the question—that I was now on good terms with all +parties—had thus great facilities for usefulness—that party +agitation in Canada was becoming violent—two extreme parties, +uniting against the Ministerial measure. I told him that I would +furnish him with a memorandum, with all the chief points of the +question on which he was likely to be opposed. He seemed to be +disappointed, but said if I thought my Department would suffer by +my longer absence, he would not insist upon my staying. I told him +that all parties would approve of my staying for the Great +Exhibition, and that I thought a memorandum, such as I would +prepare on the question of the clergy reserves, would be as +serviceable as my presence, etc.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457">[Pg 457]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Memorandum on the Clergy Reserve Question</span>.</p> + +<p>The following is the memorandum which Dr. Ryerson prepared for Lord Grey +on the clergy reserve question, and to which he refers in his letter to +me of the 9th May, 1851:—</p> + +<p>Fully concurring in the remark of the Bishop of London, in a late reply +to the deputation of the inhabitants of St. George's, Hanover Square, +that "there is no kind of intestine division so injurious in its +character and tendency as that which is grounded on religious +questions;" and firmly believing, as I do, that the long continuance of +Canada as a portion of the British Empire depends upon the proceedings +of the British Parliament on the question of the clergy reserves, I +desire, as a native and resident of Upper Canada, as a Protestant and +lover of British institutions, to submit the following brief +observations on that question, in order to correct erroneous impressions +in England, and to induce such a course of parliamentary proceedings as +will conduce to the honour of Great Britain, and to the peace and +welfare of Canada:—</p> + +<p>1. My first remark is, that this is a question agitated for more than +twenty-five years, almost exclusively among Protestants in Canada, and +the agitation of which, at the present time, has not, in any way +whatever, been promoted by Roman Catholic influence. An attempt has been +made in some quarters to create a contrary impression in England; but +that I am correct in my statement will, I think, appear from the +following facts:—First, though the question of the clergy reserves +nominally relates to Lower as well as Upper Canada (since the union of +the two Canadas under one Legislature), it is historically and +practically an Upper Canadian question. The agitation of it originated +in Upper Canada; it never was agitated in Lower Canada before the union +of the two provinces; it is discussed chiefly by the Upper Canada press, +and pressed most earnestly by the Upper Canada members of the +Legislature. So strongly is it viewed as an Upper Canadian question, +that a considerable portion of the press of Upper Canada has objected to +Lower Canadian members of the Legislature interfering in its discussion +or influencing its decision by their votes. Secondly, all the Upper +Canadian members, both of the Executive Council and of the Legislative +Assembly, are Protestants. Of the forty-two members of the Legislative +Assembly elected in Upper Canada, not one of them is a Roman Catholic; +of the five Upper Canadian members of the Executive Council, all are +Protestants, and all were in favour of the late Address of the Assembly +to the Queen, praying for the repeal of the Imperial Act, 4 & 5 Vic., +chap. 78. and for restoring to the people of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_458" id="Page_458">[Pg 458]</a></span> Canada the constitutional +right of judging for themselves as to the disposal of the clergy reserve +lands in that country. It ought, therefore, to be remembered in England, +that this question relates chiefly to Upper Canada, which is, for the +most part, a Protestant country, and which has not a single Roman +Catholic in the Legislative Assembly.</p> + +<p>2. I remark, in the next place, that it is not a question of Church and +State union, or whether the State shall contribute to the support of +religion in one or more forms. It is whether the Canadian people shall +judge for themselves as to the mode of supporting their religious +worship, as well as to the religious creed they shall adopt. This right +was clearly secured to them by their constitutional Act of 1791, 31st +George III., chap. 31, but was taken from them by the Imperial Act of +1840, 3 & 4 Vic., chap. 78. In what manner the people of Canada, through +their representatives, may exercise the constitutional right, the +restoration of which they claim, for the support of religion, I am not +prepared to say. But whether they shall exercise wisely or not that, or +any other right constitutionally vested in them, is a matter +appertaining to themselves, and not to parties in England. I am not to +be the less anxious for the restoration to my country of its +constitutional rights because it may not exercise them wisely, or +exercise them in a manner opposed to my personal views and wishes. The +constitutional rights of legislation in Great Britain may not have +always been exercised most judiciously, but who would adduce that as an +argument for the annihilation of those rights, or against the existence +of constitutional freedom in England? Is Canada to be made an exception +to this rule?</p> + +<p>3. I remark, thirdly, that neither is this a question which affects the +vested rights of any parties except those of the people of Canada +generally. When one-seventh of the wild lands of Canada was reserved for +the support of a Protestant clergy, by the Act of 1791, 31st George +III., chap. 31, the Canadian Legislature, created by the same Act, was +invested with authority, under certain forms, to "vary or repeal" the +several clauses relating to that clergy land reservation. That vested +right the people of Upper Canada possessed from 1791 to 1840. All other +vested rights are subordinate to those of a whole people, and are not to +be exalted above them. The Canadian Legislative Assembly has proposed to +secure all parties who have acquired rights or interests in the revenue +arising from the sales of the clergy reserve lands during the lives of +the incumbents or recipients; but, beyond that guarantee, it claims the +right of "varying or repealing," as it shall judge expedient, the landed +reservation in question, and the application of the revenues arising +from it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_459" id="Page_459">[Pg 459]</a></span></p> + +<p>4. The real question for consideration in England being thus separated +from other questions with which it has sometimes been erroneously and +injuriously confounded, I proceed to remark that the Imperial Act 3 and +4 Vic., chap. 78, is at variance with what the Imperial Governments +without exception and without reservation, for twenty-five years, have +admitted and avowed to be the constitutional rights of the people of +Canada. It has at all times been admitted in the first place, that the +Act 31st Geo. III., ch. 31, which created a legislature in Canada, and +authorized the clergy land reservation, invested the Canadian +Legislature with authority to legislate as to its disposal, and the +application of revenues arising from it; and secondly, that whatever +legislation might take place on the subject should be in harmony with +the wishes of the Canadian people. The Imperial Act 3 and 4 Vic., ch. +78, deprives the Canadian people of that right of legislation which they +had possessed for forty years, and does violence to their wishes and +opinions in the disposal which it makes of the revenues of the lands in +question. Now the rights of the people of Canada on this subject were +explicitly stated by the late Sir George Murray in 1828, by the Earl of +Ripon in 1832, by His late Most Gracious Majesty in a message to the +Legislature of Upper Canada in 1833, and by Lord Glenelg in 1835 and +1836. I give a summary of the whole in the words of Lord Glenelg, in a +despatch to the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, dated December 5, +1835, in reply to an attempt on the part of the latter to induce +Imperial legislation on the subject. Lord Glenelg says, in behalf of the +Imperial Government, that:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Parliamentary legislation on any subject of exclusively internal +concern, in a British colony possessing a representative assembly, +is as a general rule unconstitutional. It is a right of which the +exercise is reserved for extreme cases, in which necessity at once +creates and justifies the exception.</p></div> + +<p>After showing that no necessity existed for setting aside the +constitutional rights of the Canadian people, Lord Glenelg expresses +himself in the following language of enlightened political philosophy:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It is not difficult to perceive the reasons which induced +Parliament, in 1791, to connect with a reservation of land for +ecclesiastical purposes, the special delegation to the Council and +Assembly of the right to vary that provision by any Bill which, +being reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure, +should be communicated to both Houses of Parliament for six weeks +before that decision was pronounced. Remembering, it should seem, +how fertile a source of controversy ecclesiastical endowments had +supplied throughout a large part of the Christian world, and how +impossible it was to foretell with precision what might be the +prevailing opinions and feelings of the Canadians on this subject +at a future period, Parliament at once secured the means of making +a systematic provision for a Protestant clergy, and took full +precaution against the eventual inaptitude of that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_460" id="Page_460">[Pg 460]</a></span> system to the +more advanced stages of a society then in its infant state, and of +which no human foresight could divine the more mature and settled +judgment.</p> + +<p>In the controversy, therefore, respecting ecclesiastical +endowments, which at present divides the Canadian Legislature, I +find no unexpected element of agitation, the discovery of which +demands a departure from the fixed principles of the constitution, +but merely the fulfilment of the anticipations of the Parliament of +1791, in the exhibition of that conflict of opinion for which the +statute of that year may be said to have made a deliberate +preparation. In referring the subject to the future Canadian +Legislature, the authors of the Constitutional Act must be supposed +to have contemplated the crisis at which we have now arrived—the +era of warm and protracted debate, which, in a free government, may +be said to be a necessary precursor to the settlement of any great +principle of national policy. We must not have recourse to an +extreme remedy, merely to avoid the embarrassment which is the +present, though temporary, result of our own legislation.</p> + +<p>I think, therefore, that to withdraw from the Canadian to the +Imperial Legislature the question respecting the clergy reserves, +would be an infringement of that cardinal principle of colonial +government which forbids parliamentary interference, except in +submission to an evident and well-established necessity.</p></div> + +<p>In January, 1840, the two branches of the Legislature of Upper Canada +passed a Bill (the Legislative Assembly by a majority of 28 to 20, and +the Legislative Council by a majority of 13 to 4) relative to the clergy +reserve—provided for the interests of their existing incumbents, and +dividing the proceeds of the sales of said lands among various religious +persuasions according to a census taken once in five years, and leaving +each religious persuasion free to expend the sum or sums to which it +should be entitled according to its pleasure, whether for the support of +its clergy, the erection of places of worship, or for purposes of +education. Though the great majority of the people of Upper Canada +desired the application of the proceeds of these lands for educational +purposes only; yet a majority of both branches of the Legislature agreed +to a compromise which could be defended as just to all parties, whatever +preferences might be entertained on the subject in the abstract. But +instead of the Royal assent being advised to be given to that Canadian +Bill on a local Canadian question, a new Bill was introduced into the +Imperial Parliament, giving about three-fourths of the proceeds of the +clergy reserves (including past and future sales) to the clergy of the +churches of England and Scotland, giving nothing to any other church, +but leaving the remaining one-fourth (or half of future sales) at the +discretionary disposal of the Executive for religious purposes. This +part of the Imperial Act has proved inoperative to this day; and should +any religious persuasion receive any portion of this comparative +pittance of the clergy land funds, it would do so not as a matter of +right (as do the Churches of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_461" id="Page_461">[Pg 461]</a></span> England and Scotland in receiving their +lion's share), but at and during the pleasure of any party in power—a +position in which no religious community should be placed to the +Executive, and in which the Executive ought not to be placed to any +religious community. Such an Act can be justified upon no principle of +justice or sound policy, and is at variance with the almost unanimous +and often recorded wishes of the people of Upper Canada. The <i>Christian +Examiner</i>—a monthly organ of the Church of Scotland in Upper +Canada—expressed not only the general sentiments of the members of that +Church, but also of people at large, in the following words, contained +in an elaborate editorial which appeared in that publication a few +months before the passing of the Imperial Act of 1841:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Year after year, at least during the last decade, the general +sentiment in this colony has been uttered in no unequivocal form, +that no church invested with exclusive privileges derived from the +State, is adapted to the condition of society among us. It cannot +be doubted that this is the conviction of nine-tenths of the +Colonists. Except among a few ambitious magnates of the Church of +England, we never hear a contrary sentiment breathed. Equal rights +upon equal conditions is the general cry. And although several +Assemblymen of the present House have chosen to misinterpret the +public voice, and to advocate a different principle, we doubt not +that on their next appearance before their constituents, they will +be taught that this is not the age, nor this the country, in which +the grand principle of equal rights can be departed from with +impunity.</p></div> + +<p>Now, although the Imperial Act of 1840 may have induced "a few magnates" +of the Church of Scotland to unite with other "magnates," whom they once +considered "ambitious," in denying the "grand principle of equal rights" +to their more numerous Methodist brethren, and other religious +persuasions, yet the "convictions of nine-tenths" of the Canadian people +remain unchanged; nor will they, because of the changed circumstances of +a few clergymen of the Church of Scotland, suffer "the grand principle +of equal rights to be departed from with impunity."</p> + +<p>5. I observe, likewise, that the continuance of the Imperial Act of 1840 +is desired by a mere fraction of the Canadian population, while its +repeal is demanded by that country at large. The assertions of any +interested parties on a matter of this kind are of little weight against +the proceedings and statements of the representatives of the people. The +Address of the Legislative Assembly to Her Majesty must be regarded as +the authoritative and true expression of the opinions and wishes of the +Canadian people. It is true, there was diversity of opinion as to the +manner in which the incumbents on the clergy reserve fund should be +dealt with, and also as to certain other declarations contained in the +Address of the Assembly; but no member<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_462" id="Page_462">[Pg 462]</a></span> of the Canadian Legislature +ventured to justify the provisions of the Imperial Act, and very few +ventured to vote in favour of its continuance, even upon the ground of +expediency, in behalf of the "magnates" of two favourable Churches. When +the resolutions of the Address to Her Majesty were moved in the +Legislative Assembly of Canada on this subject, an amendment was moved +by the supporters of the present exclusive privileges of the Churches of +England and Scotland in Canada an amendment which contained the +following words:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>That in the opinion of this House it is inexpedient to disturb or +unsettle, by resolution or enactment, the appropriations or +endowments now existing in Upper and Lower Canada for religious +purposes; that the well-being of society and the growing wants of +the various Christian bodies in Canada demand that the several +provisions of the Imperial Act 3 and 4 Vic., cap. 78, should be +carried out to their fullest extent.</p></div> + +<p>In favour of the amendment, that is, in favour of the continuance and +operations of the Imperial Act of 1840, voted sixteen; against it voted +fifty-two. Who would think of perpetuating a law in England at variance +with the sentiments of three-fourths of the members of the House of +Commons, and even of a large proportion of the constituency of Great +Britain? Could the present constitution of government in England be +maintained, could revolution be long prevented, if laws were retained on +the statute book condemned by three-fourths of the Commons, and more +than three-fourth of all classes of people in the land, and those +statutes involving religious questions? And is that to be perpetuated in +Canada which would not be retained in England for a month?</p> + +<p>6. Into the origin and progress of the controversy connected with the +clergy reserves, it is needless for me to enter. They are sufficiently +stated in the Address of the Legislative Assembly of Canada to the +Queen, a copy of which is herewith annexed, together with the majorities +by which each of the thirty-one clauses of the Address was separately +voted. It will be seen that the first twenty-three clauses of the +Address were carried by a majority of 52 to 18; the 24th clause by 51 to +20; the 26th clause by 48 to 19; the 27th and 28th clauses by 47 to 20; +the 29th clause by 36 to 34; the 30th clause by 40 to 28; the 31st +clause, containing the prayer of the Address, by 45 to 23. The only +clause of the Address, therefore, in favour of which the majority of the +Assembly was not large and decided, was the 29th; and in a vote to that +clause, I have shown that the smallness of the majority was occasioned +by objections to different parts of the clause upon quite opposite +grounds, of three classes of members—the sixteen supporters of the +present pre-eminence of the Churches of England and Scotland, a section<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_463" id="Page_463">[Pg 463]</a></span> +of the Roman Catholic members, and what in England would be called the +extreme dissenters. In the vote referred to, I have explained the ground +of the opposition to this clause by each of these three classes of +members. It will be seen that the 29th clause is rather speculative than +practical, and does not affect the character and completeness of the +Address, every other clause of which was carried by a large majority. It +is, however, curious to remark, that while the supporters of the present +exclusive privileges of the Churches of England and Scotland are +indebted to the assistance of Roman Catholic members for the only vote +in which the minority was large; yet in England some of these same +parties represent the Address as having been carried chiefly by Roman +Catholic votes, with a view of destroying all Protestant institutions in +Canada.</p> + +<p>7. No enlightened and candid person can look at the religious history +and social state of Canada and desire the perpetuation of the Imperial +Act 3 and 4 Vic., ch. 78. It is now quite sixty years since Upper Canada +was formed into a province with a representative government. Its +population was then 7,000 souls; it is now about 700,000. During the +first and most eventful half of that sixty years, the ministrations of +the Churches of England and Scotland can scarcely be said to have had an +existence there. The present Bishop of Toronto, in a discourse published +on the occasion of the death of the first Canadian Bishop of the Church +of England, states that down to the close of the war between Great +Britain and the United States in 1815, there were but four resident +clergymen or missionaries of the Church of England in all Upper +Canada—a statement which is confirmed by the annual reports of the +Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts; and the same +reports will show how few were the clergy of the Church of England in +that province down to a recent period. We learn from the same authority, +that till 1818 there was but one clergyman of the Church of Scotland in +Upper Canada, and that in 1827 there were but two. It is, therefore, +clear that during the first half of its sixty years' existence as a +province, Upper Canada must have been indebted almost entirely to other +than clergy of the Churches of England and Scotland for religious +instruction; yet during that thirty years, it is admitted that the +people of Upper Canada were a religious, an intelligent, and loyal +people. To whom the people of that province were mainly indebted for +their religious instruction, and for the formation and development of +their religious character, appears in a report of a Select Committee of +the Upper Canada House of Assembly, appointed in 1828, on the religious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_464" id="Page_464">[Pg 464]</a></span> +condition of the country, and before which fifty witnesses, chiefly +members of the Church of England, were examined. I quote the following +words from the report of that Committee, (which was adopted by the +Assembly by a majority of 22 to 8), a report which was partly prepared +in reference to a letter addressed by the present Bishop of Toronto to +His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1827:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The insinuations (says the report) in the letter against the +Methodist clergymen, the committee have noticed with peculiar +regret. To the disinterested and indefatigable exertions of these +pious men this province owes much. At an early period of its +history, when it was thinly settled, and destitute of all other +means of religious instruction, these ministers of the Gospel, +animated by Christian zeal and benevolence, at the sacrifice of +health, and interest, and comfort, carried among the people the +blessings, and consolations, and sanctions of our holy religion. +Their influence and instruction have been conducive in a degree +which cannot be easily estimated, to the reformation of the vicious +and to the diffusion of correct morals, the foundation of all sound +loyalty and social order.</p></div> + +<p>This religious body has now 180 regular ministers in Upper Canada, about +1,100 churches and preaching places, and embraces in its congregations +one-seventh of the population.<a name="FNanchor_137_139" id="FNanchor_137_139"></a><a href="#Footnote_137_139" class="fnanchor">[137]</a> Yet this oldest religious community +in Upper Canada, together with the Free Presbyterian Church of Canada, +the United Presbyterian Church, the Baptists and Congregationalists, are +treated as nobody by the Imperial Act, while the more modern Churches of +England and Scotland are exclusively endowed, and that by setting aside +legislative rights which the Constitution of 1791 had conferred upon the +people of Upper Canada! In Great Britain the Established Churches are +associated with the early and brightest periods of British history, and +are blended with all the influences which distinguish and exalt British +character; but the feelings and predilections arising from such +reminiscences and associations are not the proper rule of judgment as to +the feelings, predilections and institutions of Canadian society. As +Englishmen best know their own feelings and wants, and claim and +exercise the sole right of judging and legislating for themselves; so do +the people of Canada best know their own wishes and interests, and ought +to judge and legislate for themselves in all local matters which do not +infringe any imperial prerogative. No Englishman can refuse this who +wishes to do to others as he would have others do to him.</p> + +<p>8. But it should also be observed, that down to the passing of the +Imperial Act of 1840, the influence of the Church of Scotland itself was +adverse to any such act of partiality and injustice, and in favour of +applying the proceeds of the clergy reserves even to educational as well +as religious purposes. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_465" id="Page_465">[Pg 465]</a></span> discussion of this question was first +introduced into the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada in 1823, by the +Hon. William Morris—a gentleman of great respectability, and who has +always been regarded and acknowledged as the guardian of the interests, +and representative of the sentiments, of the Church of Scotland. +December 22nd, 1826, Mr. Morris moved a series of resolutions on this +subject, of which the following are the 9th and 10th:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>9. <i>Resolved</i>,—That it is the opinion of a great proportion of the +people of this Province that the clergy lands, in place of being +enjoyed by the clergy of an inconsiderable part of the population, +ought to be disposed of, and the proceeds of their sale applied to +increase the provincial allowance for the support of district and +common schools, and the endowment of a provincial seminary for +learning, and in aid of erecting places of public worship for all +denominations of Christians. [Carried by a majority of 31 to 2.]</p> + +<p>10. <i>Resolved</i>, That it is expedient to pass a Bill, authorizing +the sale of the clergy lands within this Province, for the purposes +set forth in the foregoing resolution; and to address His Majesty, +humbly soliciting that he will be graciously pleased to give the +royal assent to said Bill. [Carried by a majority of 30 to 3.]</p></div> + +<p>On the 28th of the same month, Mr. Morris reported a draft of Bill for +the sale of the clergy reserves, pursuant to the foregoing resolutions. +The Bill passed the Assembly by a majority of 20 to 3; was sent to the +Legislative Council, and was rejected. Similar attempts to legislate +having in like manner and from the same cause proved abortive, another +address to the King on this subject was adopted by the Assembly in +March, 1831, and supported, if not introduced, by Mr. Morris. That +address, which was adopted by a majority of 30 to 7, contains the +following words:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>That a large majority of the inhabitants of this Province are +sincerely attached to your Majesty's person and government, but are +averse to any exclusive or dominant Church. That this House feels +confident that, to promote the prosperity of this portion of your +Majesty's dominions, and to satisfy the earnest desire of the +people of this Province, your Majesty will be graciously pleased to +give the most favourable consideration to the wishes of your +faithful subjects. That, to terminate the jealousy and dissension +which have hitherto existed on the subject of the said clergy +reserves—to remove a barrier to the settlement of the country, and +to provide a fund available for the promotion of education, and in +aid of erecting places of worship for various denominations of +Christians: it is extremely desirable that the said land reserved +should be sold, and the proceeds arising from the sale of the same +placed at the disposal of the Provincial Legislature, to be applied +exclusively for those purposes.</p></div> + +<p>This address was replied to the January following, 1832, by a formal +message from the King, from which I extract the following sentences:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The representations which have at different times been made to His +Majesty and his Royal predecessors of the prejudice sustained by +his faithful subjects in Upper Canada, from the appropriation of +the clergy reserves,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_466" id="Page_466">[Pg 466]</a></span> have engaged His Majesty's most attentive +consideration.... It has, therefore, been with peculiar +satisfaction that, in his inquiries into this subject, His Majesty +has found that the changes sought for by so large a portion of the +inhabitants of Upper Canada, may be carried into effect without +sacrificing the just claims of the established Churches of England +and Scotland.... His Majesty, therefore, invites the House of +Assembly of Upper Canada to consider how the powers given the +Provincial Legislature by the Constitutional Act to vary or repeal +this part of its provisions, can be called into exercise most +advantageously, for the spiritual and temporal interests of His +Majesty's faithful subjects in the Province.</p></div> + +<p>It will be seen that the Address to the Crown and reply, above quoted, +contemplated the application of no part of the proceeds of the clergy +lands for the support of the clergy of any religious persuasion, but the +application of the whole to the promotion of education, and in aid of +erecting places of worship. I do not make these references to advocate +this view of the question, but to show that the Crown has long since +assented to the alienation of the whole of the proceeds of the reserves +from the support of the clergy of any Church, should the Canadian +Legislature think proper to do so, and that the Church of Scotland in +Upper Canada agreed with the other religious persuasions, and the great +majority of the Canadian people, in the advocacy of such an alienation +of said reserves. The same parties cannot now object on constitutional +and moral grounds to what they heretofore advocated on those same +grounds.</p> + +<p>9. It has, however, been alleged that the people of Canada have +acquiesced in the provisions of the Imperial Act, and are satisfied with +it. At the time of passing the Imperial Act, in 1840, and down to within +the last two years, the discussion of questions relating to the +organization and system of government itself occupied the attention of +the public mind in Canada; but no sooner was the public mind set at rest +on those paramount and fundamental questions, than the Canadian people +demanded the restoration of their rights on the question of the clergy +reserves. What they have felt for two years, and often and strongly +spoken, through the local press and at the hustings, they now speak in +the ears of the Sovereign of the Imperial Parliament. That there must be +deep and general dissatisfaction in Canada on this subject, will appear +from the following circumstances: (1) The Imperial Act infringes the +rights, and contravenes the wishes of the Canadian people; (2) It +inflicts an injustice and wrong upon the great majority of the religious +persuasions in that country, where the "convictions of nine-tenths" or +rather ninety-nine one-hundredths, of the inhabitants are in favour of +"equal rights upon equal conditions," among all classes and persuasions; +(3) The Legislative Assembly, by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_467" id="Page_467">[Pg 467]</a></span> a majority of 51 to 20, declare that +the Imperial Act, "so far from settling this long agitated question, has +left it to be the subject of renewed and increased public discontent;" +(4) The comparative silence of the Wesleyan body—the oldest, the most +numerous, and the most unjustly treated, of all the excluded +denominations—is expressive and ominous. Its representatives, having +proceeded to England in 1840, remonstrated against this Bill, then +before Parliament; they sought the assent of Her Majesty's Secretary of +State for the Colonies to be heard at the Bar of the House of Commons +against it, and having been refused, they presented to him, July 27th, +1840, a most earnest remonstrance against the Bill. On the Bill becoming +law, they silently submitted, and on grounds which were explained, a few +months since, by the official organ of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in +Canada, in the following words:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>On Lord John Russell's Bill becoming a law, the question was +changed from a denominational to a Provincial one—from an +ecclesiastical to a constitutional one. It was no longer a question +between one denomination and another, but a question between Upper +Canada and the Imperial Parliament. As Canadians, and acting in +behalf of a large section of the Canadian community, the +representatives of the Wesleyan Methodist Church expressed their +convictions, their feelings, and their apprehensions to Her +Majesty's Government while the question was pending before +Parliament; but when the execrable Bill became an Imperial Law, it +was as much out of place for them as clergymen, or of any religious +persuasion to strive to fulfil their own predictions, or set on +foot a Colonial civil contest, as it would have been pusillanimous +in them not to have remonstrated before the consummation of such an +act of wrong against the people of Upper Canada. The question is +now being taken up in the right place, and, we trust, in the right +spirit.</p></div> + +<p>10. Under such circumstances it is impossible that the question can long +remain in its present state, and it is for the Imperial Parliament to +say what shall be done. It is admitted upon all hands that the members +of the Churches of England and Scotland in Canada are more wealthy in +proportion to their numbers, and, therefore, less needful of extraneous +aid than the members of any other religious persuasion; and in +proportion to their numbers and wealth will be their comparative +influence and advantages in the proceedings of their own Legislature. It +is a grave question, whether the Imperial Parliament will place itself +in an attitude of hostility to the Legislative Assembly and people of +Canada for the sake of conferring questionable pecuniary distinctions +upon the clergy of the two most wealthy denominations in that country? +Should any members of Parliament be disposed to pursue this course, and +hazard this experiment, I beg them to pause and consider the following +questions:—</p> + +<p>(1) Can the real interests of the Churches of England and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_468" id="Page_468">[Pg 468]</a></span> Scotland +themselves be advanced by occupying a position of antagonism to the +acknowledged equal rights of the great majority of the people of Canada? +And is it desirable that these Churches should be the instruments and +emblems of wrong to a country, rather than natural and powerful agencies +of its unity, advancement, and happiness? Interested parties in Canada +may not be able to see this, but British and Christian statesmen ought +not to overlook it.</p> + +<p>(2) Ought the members of the Churches of England and Scotland, who take +a part in public affairs in Canada, and who may be candidates for +popular power, to be placed in circumstances in which they must either +war against the position and authorities of their own Church, or war +against all other religious persuasions, or retire from public life +altogether?</p> + +<p>(3) What will be the natural, or apparently inevitable, result of thus +singling out two classes of Canadian people, and distinguishing them +from all others by pecuniary endowments, and sustaining them in that +position, not by the free Legislature of their own country—not by the +original principles of their constitution of government to which Canada +may have pledged itself—but by a recent Imperial Act, to the preparing +or provisions of which the Canadians were no parties, and against which +they protest? Is it likely that the will or predilections of a +transatlantic House of Lords, so largely composed of and influenced by +one class of ecclesiastical dignitaries, can long determine the mutual +relations of religious persuasions in a country constituted as Canada +is, and bordering on the northern free Anglo-States of America? What the +Canadians ask they ask on grounds originally guaranteed to them by their +constitution; and if they are compelled to make a choice between British +connection and British constitutional rights, it is natural that they +should prefer the latter to the former? It is also to be noted that the +Imperial Act in question has to be administered through the local +Canadian administration. Such is the machinery of the Act. The revenue +that it appropriates is Canadian, and it is worked through Canadian +agency—through Canadian heads of departments, responsible to the +representatives of the people of Canada. Should the Canadian people, +then, find that their respectful and earnest appeal to the Imperial +Parliament, through the Sovereign, is in vain, they will naturally look +to their own resources and elect representatives at the ensuing general +elections who will pledge themselves to oppose the administration of the +Imperial Act—representatives who will support no Inspector or +Receiver-General that will be responsible for the payment of even any +warrant for moneys under such Act. The consequence must soon be, not +only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_469" id="Page_469">[Pg 469]</a></span> injury to existing incumbents whom the Canadian Assembly now +propose to secure, but collision between the Government and the +Legislative Assembly, and ultimately between the latter and the Imperial +authorities; and finally, either the establishment of military +government in Canada (an impossibility), or the severance of that great +country from Great Britain. On the other hand, if the reasonable demand +and constitutional rights of the people of Canada be regarded in this +question, I believe Canada will remain freely and cordially connected +with the Mother Country for many years, if not generations, to come. I +will conclude these observations in the expressive words of Lord +Stanley, to the spirit of which I hope every British statesman will +respond. On the 2nd of May, 1828, in a speech on this subject, Lord +Stanley expressed himself in the following terms:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>That if any exclusive privileges be given to the Church of England, +not only will the measure be repugnant to every principle of sound +legislation, but contrary to the spirit and intention of the Act of +1791, under which the reserves were made for the Protestant clergy. +I will not enter further into it at present, except to express my +hope that the House will guard Canada against the evils which +religious dissensions have already produced in this country and in +Ireland, where we have examples to teach us what to shun. We have +seen the evil consequences of this system at home. God forbid we +should not profit by experience; and more especially in legislating +for a people bordering on a country where religious intolerance and +religious exclusions are unknown—a country to which Parliament +looked in passing the Act of 1791, as all the great men who argued +the question then expressly declared. It is important that His +Majesty's Canadian subjects should not have occasion to look across +the narrow boundary that separates them from the United States, to +see anything there to envy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_137_139" id="Footnote_137_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137_139"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> Since the foregoing was written, it has been ascertained +that the Wesleyan Methodists number 142,000, or more than one-fifth of +the entire population (1850).</p></div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_470" id="Page_470">[Pg 470]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LIV" id="CHAPTER_LIV"></a>CHAPTER LIV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1854-1855.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Resignation on the Class-Meeting Question.—Discussion.</span></p> + + +<p>The last important connexional discussion in which Dr. Ryerson was +engaged was on the Class-Meeting Question. For years he had objected, +chiefly privately, amongst his brethren, clerical and lay, to making +attendance at class-meeting a condition of membership in the Wesleyan +Methodist Church of Canada. For various reasons, few members of the +Conference desired to have the subject publicly discussed in Conference. +They felt that a serious practical difficulty surrounded the question +itself—difficulties which could not be surmounted by public discussion. +Many of them also knew that in calmly discussing, without personal +feeling, the abstract principle involved in the rule, it would be found +that their judgment and loyal feeling to the Church would go one way, +while their uniform practice in the administration of the rule would +often be at variance with both, owing to peculiar circumstances. On the +other hand, Dr. Ryerson thought, that not only should preaching and +practice in this matter agree, but that theory and practice should also +agree. And hence he felt that as his preaching and practice agreed in +opposition to the rule, he was not loyal to the Church in ministering at +her altars, while he was heartily and conscientiously opposed to the +fundamental rule of membership prescribed by that Church. Hence, on the +2nd of January, 1854, he addressed the following letter to the Rev. Dr. +Wood, President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference (I omit extraneous +matter):—</p> + +<p>I hereby resign into your hands, my membership in the Conference, and my +office as a minister of the Wesleyan Methodist Church—herewith +enclosing my parchments of ordination, thus taking my place among the +laity of the Church.</p> + +<p>I have resolved to take this step after long and serious deliberation, +but without consulting any human being. I take this step, not because I +do not believe that the Wesleyan ministry is as fully authorized as the +ministry of any other branch of the universal Church, to exercise all +the functions of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_471" id="Page_471">[Pg 471]</a></span> Christian priesthood; not because I do not as +unfeignedly as ever subscribe to all the doctrines of the Wesleyan +Church; not because I do not profoundly honour the integrity and +devotedness of the Wesleyan ministry; not because I do not think that +Christian discipline is as strictly, if not more strictly, maintained in +the Wesleyan Church than in any other Christian Church in the world.</p> + +<p>But I resign (not my connection with, but) my ministerial office in the +Wesleyan Church, because I believe a condition of membership is exacted +in it which has no warrant in Scripture, nor in the practice of the +primitive Church, nor in the writings of Mr. Wesley; and in consequence +of which condition, great numbers of exemplary heads of families and +young people are excluded from all recognition and rights of membership +in the Church. I refer to attendance upon class-meeting—without +attendance at which no person is acknowledged as a member of the +Wesleyan Methodist Church, however sincerely and cordially he may +believe her doctrines, prefer her ministry, and support her +institutions, and however exemplary he may be in his life.</p> + +<p>I believe the class-meetings, as well as love-feasts, have been and are +a means of immense good in the Wesleyan Church, and that both should be +employed and recommended as prudential and useful, means of religious +edification to all who may be willing to avail themselves of them. But +attendance at love-feast is known to be voluntary and not to be a +condition of membership in the Church; so I think that attendance at +class-meeting should also be voluntary, and ought not to be exalted into +an indispensable condition of membership in the Church; I am persuaded +that every person who believes the doctrines, and observes the precepts +and ordinances enjoined by our Lord and His Apostles, is eligible to +membership in the Church of Christ, and cannot, on Scriptural or +Wesleyan grounds, be excluded from its rights and privileges upon the +mere ground of his or her being unable to reconcile it to their views to +take a part in the conversations of class-meetings.</p> + +<p>The views thus stated, I have entertained many years. After having +revolved the subject in my mind for some time, I expressed my views on +it in 1840 and 1841.... But since my more direct connection with the +youth of the country at large, and having met with numbers of exemplary +persons who prefer the Methodist Church to any other, but are excluded +from it by the required condition of attending class-meeting, besides +thousands of young people of Wesleyan parents and congregations, I have +become more deeply than ever impressed with the importance of the +question, to which I referred in remarks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_472" id="Page_472">[Pg 472]</a></span> made at the last and preceding +Conferences. I had intended until within a short time to defer any +decision on the step I now take until the next annual Conference, and +until after bringing the question in the form of distinct propositions +before the Conference; but, after the best consideration in my power, I +have thought it advisable to resign my office in the Church at the +present time—fearing the revival and results of unpleasantnesses from +my bringing the question formally before the Conference, ... and from a +deep conviction that I should no longer delay taking the most effectual +means in my power to draw the attention of the ministry and members of +the Wesleyan Church to this anomaly in her Disciplinary regulations, and +secure, if possible, to tens of thousands of persons the rights and +privileges of membership in that branch of the Church of Christ which +they prefer—rights and privileges to which I am persuaded they are +justly entitled upon both Scriptural and Wesleyan grounds.</p> + +<p>I do not think it is honest or right for a man to hold the office of a +minister in a Church, all whose essential regulations, as well as +doctrines, he cannot justify and recommend. I say essential regulations; +for there may be many regulations and practices in a Church of which a +minister may not approve, and the existence of which he may deplore, but +which would not prevent him from maintaining, as usual, his relations +and course of labour. An enlightened Christian mind can and will, +without any compromise of principle, allow a wide latitude in modes of +proceeding, and in matters of opinion, taste, and prudence. But a +regulation which determines who shall and who shall not be recognized as +members of the Church of Christ, involves a vital question, the +importance of which cannot be overrated, and which must be determined by +Divine Revelation, and not by mere conventional rules.</p> + +<p>Now, while as an individual I may value and wish to attend, as far as +possible, all prudential as well as instituted means of grace in our +Church, I cannot as a teacher, by word or office, declare that all +persons who will not attend class-meetings, in addition to observing all +the ordinances of Christ, should be rejected and excluded from the +Christian Church. I cannot say so—I cannot think so—I cannot believe +it Scriptural or right, in respect to great numbers of estimable +persons, and of the sons and daughters of our people, who believe +Wesleyan doctrines, who respect and love the Wesleyan ministry, support +Wesleyan institutions, are exemplary in their lives, and who wish to be +members of the Wesleyan Church, but who, from education, or mental +constitution, or other circumstances, cannot face much less enjoy, the +developments and peculiarities of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_473" id="Page_473">[Pg 473]</a></span> class-meeting. I have met and +sympathized with many who have sought to reconcile their views and +feelings to the personal speakings and communications of class-meetings, +but who could not succeed; and not being allowed otherwise to enjoy the +privileges of membership in the Wesleyan Church, were driven to seek +admission into some other Christian communion.</p> + +<p>Our Lord and His Apostles have prescribed no form of religious communion +but the Lord's Supper. The New Testament meetings of Christian +fellowship, in which the early Christians edified one another, are +appropriately adduced as the exemplars of Wesleyan love-feasts—that +voluntary and useful means of religious edification. But it is +remarkable that a person may neither attend love-feast nor the Lord's +Supper, and yet retain his membership in the Wesleyan Church, while he +is excluded from it if he does not attend class-meeting, though he may +attend both the Lord's Supper and love-feast, as well as the preaching +of the word and meetings for prayer. Nay, I find in the latter part of +the section of our Discipline on "Class Meetings," that the minister in +charge of a circuit is required to exclude all "those members of the +Church who wilfully and repeatedly neglect to meet their class," but to +state at the time of their exclusion, "that they are laid aside for a +breach of our rules of Discipline, and not for immoral conduct." I know +of no Scriptural authority to exclude any person from the Church of +Christ on earth, except for that which would exclude him from the +kingdom of glory, namely, "immoral conduct." But here is an express +requirement for the exclusion of persons from the Wesleyan Church for +that which it is admitted is not "immoral conduct," namely, neglect of +class-meeting. This is certainly going beyond Scriptural authority and +example.</p> + +<p>I have said that I do not regard as Wesleyan, or having the sanction of +Mr. Wesley, the making attendance at class-meeting an essential +condition of membership in the Church of Christ. Mr. Wesley declared +that the sole object of his labours was, not to form a new sect, but to +revive religion in the Church and in the nation; that each class was a +voluntary society in the Church, but was no more a separate Church +organization than a Bible Society, or Temperance Society, or Young Men's +Christian Association, is a separate Church organization. Nor did Mr. +Wesley regard the admission of persons into, or exclusion from, any one +of his societies as affecting, in the slightest degree, such person's +Church membership. Nay, Mr. Wesley insisted that all who joined his +societies, in addition to attending class-meeting, and the ministrations +of his preachers, should regularly attend the services and sacraments of +the Church of England. In his sermon "On Attending Church Service," Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_474" id="Page_474">[Pg 474]</a></span> +Wesley says, "it was one of our original rules, that every member of our +society should attend the church and sacrament, unless he had been bred +among Christians of another denomination." In his Tract, entitled +"Principles of a Methodist Further Explained," (written in reply to the +Rev. Mr. Church,) Mr. Wesley says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The United Society was originally so called, because it consisted +of several smaller societies united together. When any member of +these, or of the United Society, are proved to live in known sin, +we then mark and avoid them: we separate ourselves from every one +that walks disorderly. Sometimes if the case be judged infectious +(though rarely) this is decided openly; but this you style +"excommunication," and say, "does not every one see a separate +ecclesiastical communion?"</p></div> + +<p>Mr. Wesley replies:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>No. This society does not separate from the rest of the Church of +England. They continue steadfast with them both in the apostolical +doctrine, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.</p></div> + +<p>And in further reply to the charge, that in excluding disorderly persons +from his society, he was usurping a power committed to the higher order +of the clergy, Mr. Wesley says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>No; not in the power of excluding members from a private society, +unless on the supposition of some such rule as ours is, viz.: "That +if a man separate from the church, he is no longer a member of our +society."</p></div> + +<p>These passages (from scores of similar ones in Mr. Wesley's works), are +sufficient to shew what Mr. Wesley understood and intended by admission +into, or exclusion from, any one of his societies—that it did not in +the least affect the relations of any person to the Church of which he +was a member. Now, the rule which Mr. Wesley imposed as a condition of +membership in a private society in a Church, we impose as a condition of +membership in the Church itself.</p> + +<p>It is also worthy of remark, that attendance at class-meeting is not +required of members in the general rules of the society—those very +rules which our ministers are required to give to persons proposing to +join the Wesleyan Church.</p> + +<p>In those rules no mention is made of class-meeting, nor is it there +required that each member shall meet the leader, much less meet him in a +class-meeting, in the presence of many others; but that the leader shall +see each person in his class, and meet the minister and stewards once a +week. Yet, by constant and universal practice, we have transferred the +obligation from the leader to the member, and made it the duty of the +latter (on pain of excommunication), to meet the former in +class-meeting; an obligation which is nowhere enjoined in the general +rules. In those rules it is said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_475" id="Page_475">[Pg 475]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>There is only one condition previously required of those who desire +admission into these societies—a desire to flee from the wrath to +come, and to be saved from their sins.</p></div> + +<p>The rules then truly state, that wherever this desire is really fixed in +the soul, it will be known by its fruits. These fruits are briefly but +fully set forth under three heads. (1) By doing no harm. (2) By doing +good. (3) "By attending all the ordinances of God: such as, the public +worship of God; the ministry of the word, either read or expounded; the +Supper of the Lord; family and private prayer; searching the Scriptures, +and fasting or abstinence. These are the general rules of our societies, +all of which we are taught of God to observe, even in His written word, +which is the only rule, and the sufficient rule, both of faith and +practice." Now, neither class-meeting nor love-feast is mentioned among +the "ordinances of God" enumerated in the general rules of the society; +nor is it mentioned in Mr. Wesley's Large Minutes of Conference among +the instituted means of grace. So far as the general rules themselves +are concerned, there is nothing which makes attendance at class-meeting +a condition of membership, even in Mr. Wesley's societies as he +originally instituted them; nor did the idea of holding class-meetings +at all occur to Mr. Wesley until after the general rules were drawn up +and published.<a name="FNanchor_138_140" id="FNanchor_138_140"></a><a href="#Footnote_138_140" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> But what was not required<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_476" id="Page_476">[Pg 476]</a></span> by the general rules soon +became a condition of membership in another way—this was by the system +of giving tickets. Mr. Wesley says in his Plain Account of People called +Methodists:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As the society increased, I found it required still greater care to +separate the precious from the vile. In order to this, I +determined, at least once in three months, to talk with every +member myself, and to inquire at their own mouth, as well as of +their leaders and neighbours, whether they grew in grace and in the +knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. To each of those whose +seriousness and good conversation I had no reason to doubt, I gave +a testimony under my own hand, by writing their name on a ticket +prepared for that purpose. Those who bore these tickets, wherever +they came, were acknowledged by their brethren, and were received +with all cheerfulness. These tickets also supplied us with a quiet +and inoffensive method of removing any disorderly member. He has no +ticket at the quarterly visitation (for so often the tickets are +changed); and hereby it is immediately known that he is no longer +of the community.</p></div> + +<p>It was at length required by a minute of the Conference, (as our own +discipline enjoins,) that a preacher should not give a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_477" id="Page_477">[Pg 477]</a></span> ticket of +membership to any person who did not meet in class. In our own +Discipline, in the section on class-meetings, will also be found the +following question and answer:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Question.</i>—What shall be done with those members of our church +who wilfully and repeatedly neglect their class?</p> + +<p><i>Answer.</i>—1. Let the chairman, or one of the preachers, visit them +whenever it is practicable, and explain to them the consequence if +they continue to neglect, viz., exclusion.</p> + +<p>2. If they do not attend, let him who has charge of the circuit +exclude them (in the church), showing that they are laid aside for +a breach of our rules of discipline, and not for immoral conduct.</p></div> + +<p>By this added ministerial authority and duty, a condition of membership +in the society is imposed which is not contained in the General Rules, +and which subjects a member to exclusion, for that which is acknowledged +to be "not immoral conduct."</p> + +<p>This appears a strange regulation in even a private religious society +within a Church; but no objection could be reasonably made to any such +regulation in such a society, if its members desired it, and as it would +not affect their Church membership. But the case is essentially +different, when such society in a Church becomes a Church, and exercises +the authority of admitting into, and excluding from the Church itself, +and not merely a society in the Church.</p> + +<p>In England, and especially in the United States and Canada, the Wesleyan +Societies have become a Church. I have repeatedly shewn in past years, +that they have become organized into a Church upon both Wesleyan and +scriptural grounds. I believe the Wesleyan Church in Canada is second to +no other in the scriptural authority of its ministry and organization. +Believing this, I believe that exclusion from the Wesleyan Church +(either by expulsion or refusal of admission) is exclusion from a branch +of the Church of God—is an act the most solemn and eventful in the +history and relations of any human being—an act which should never take +place except upon the clear and express authority of the word of God.</p> + +<p>Far be it from me to say one word other than in favour of every kind of +religious exercise and communion which tends to promote the +spiritual-mindedness, brotherly love, and fervent zeal of professing +Christians. That class-meetings (notwithstanding occasional +improprieties and abuses attending them), have been a valuable means in +promoting the spirituality and usefulness of the Wesleyan Church, no one +acquainted with her history can for a moment doubt; and I believe that +myriads on earth and in heaven have, and will ever have, reason for +devout thankfulness and praise for the benefits derived from +class-meetings, as well as from love-feasts and meetings for prayer. But +attendance upon the two latter is voluntary on the part of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_478" id="Page_478">[Pg 478]</a></span> the members +of the Wesleyan Church; and what authority is there for suspending their +very membership in the Church of God on their attendance upon the +former? The celebration of the Lord's Supper, and not class-meeting, was +the binding characteristic institution upon the members of the primitive +Church. So I am persuaded it should be now; and that Christian faith and +practice alone (and not the addition of attendance upon class-meeting,) +should be the test of worthiness for its communion and privileges. +While, therefore, as an individual I seek to secure and enjoy all the +benefits of the faithful ministrations and scriptural ordinances of the +Wesleyan Church, I cannot occupy a position which in itself, and by its +duties requires me to enforce or justify the imposition of a condition +of membership in the Church of Christ, which I believe is not required +by the Holy Scriptures, and the exclusion of thousands of persons from +Church membership and privileges, to which I believe they have as valid +a right as I have, and that upon the sole ground of their non-attendance +at a meeting, the neglect of which our own Discipline admits, does not +involve "immoral conduct," and which Mr. Wesley himself, in his Plain +Account of the People called Methodists, has declared "to be merely +prudential, not essential, not of divine institution."</p> + +<p>It is passing strange, that while the Wesleyan Church is the avowed +"friend of all and enemy of none"—is the most Catholic of any +Protestant body towards other religious communions—she should close the +door of admission into her own fold even to attendance upon +class-meeting. I regard it as the misfortune rather than the dishonour +of the Wesleyan Church, that she repels thousands that seek her +communion rather than relax this term of admission. If her success has +been so great under disadvantages unparalleled, I cannot but believe, +that, with the same divine blessing, and upon a basis of membership less +narrow and more scriptural, the Wesleyan Church, would, beyond all +precedent, increase her usefulness, and enlarge her borders.</p> + +<p>I will not permit myself to dwell upon associations and recollections +which cannot be expressed in words, any more than they can be +obliterated from the memory, or effaced from the heart. Though I retire +from councils in the deliberations of which I have been permitted to +take a part during more than twenty-five years, and relinquish all +claims upon funds to which I have contributed for a like period, I +should still deem it my duty and privilege to pray for the success of +the former, and continue my humble contributions to the latter; while I +protest in the most emphatic way in my power against shutting the doors +of the church upon thousands to whom I believe they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_479" id="Page_479">[Pg 479]</a></span> should be opened, +and against making that essential and divine, which, as Mr. Wesley says, +"is merely prudential, not essential, not of divine institution." I hope +the day is not remote when the Wesleyan Church will be as scriptural in +her every term of membership as she is in her doctrines of grace and +labours of love.</p> + +<p>To this letter of resignation, Rev. Dr. Wood, President of the +Conference, replied on the 4th of January:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>To accept the enclosed documents would be assuming a responsibility +at variance with my judgment and affections. If the proposal you +make of withdrawing from the Methodist ministry be ever received, +it must be with the concurrence of the collective Conference; or, +should the question require immediate attention, that of its +executive committee. I shall be glad to see the enactment of any +regulation which will promote the usefulness of our Church to the +benefit of a large and intelligent class of adherents now receiving +no recognition beyond their contributions to our institutions; and +also the adoption of practical measures by which the youth baptized +by Wesleyan ministers may be more personally cared for, and +affiliated to our ordinances. Your distinguished ability and +matured experience eminently qualify you as a safe legislator and +counsellor on such grave questions, which by some cannot be +separated from ancient usages greatly blessed to the growing +spirituality of true believers, without injury to the vital +character of the Church. After so long and useful a career, your +separation from our Conference and work would be a connexional +calamity. You stand among the few in Canada to whom the present +independent and legal position of the Wesleyan Church stands deeply +indebted. Future generations of ministers and people will partake, +imperceptibly to themselves, of the advantages a few of the more +gifted and noble-minded brethren struggled and contended for +against so many obstacles. You are as capable of remedying anything +wrong, or supplying anything wanting within the Church, as you were +many years ago, to overcome impediments to her usefulness without.</p></div> + +<p>Nothing further was done in the matter until at the Belleville +Conference of 1854 Dr. Ryerson moved the following resolution:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>1. That no human authority has a right to impose any condition of +membership in the visible Church of Christ, which is not enjoined +by, or may be concluded from the Holy Scriptures.</p> + +<p>2. That the General Rules of the United Societies of the Wesleyan +Methodist Church being formed upon the Holy Scriptures, and +requiring nothing of any member which is not necessary for +admission into the kingdom of grace and glory, ought to be +maintained inviolate as the religious and moral standard of +profession, conduct and character, in regard to all who are +admitted or continued members of our church.</p> + +<p>3. That the power, therefore, of expelling persons from the visible +Church of Christ, for other than a cause sufficient to exclude a +person from the kingdom of grace and glory, which the fourth +question, and answers to it, contained in the second section of the +second chapter of our Discipline, confer and enjoin upon our +ministers, is unauthorized by the Holy Scriptures, is inconsistent +with the Scriptural rights of the members of Christ's Church, and +ought not to be assumed or exercised by any minister of our Church.</p> + +<p>4. That the anomalous question and answers referred to in the +foregoing resolution, be, and are hereby expunged from our +Discipline and are required to be omitted in printing the next +edition of it. (See page 477.)</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_480" id="Page_480">[Pg 480]</a></span></p> + +<p>These resolutions having been negatived by a considerable majority on +the 12th June, Dr. Ryerson wrote to the President:</p> + +<p>The decision of the Conference this afternoon on the scriptural rights +of the members of our Church, and the power of our ministers in respect +to them, makes it at length my painful duty to request you to lay before +the Conference the letter which I addressed to you the 2nd of last +January, and that you will consider that letter as now addressed to the +Conference through you.</p> + +<p>I hereby again enclose you my parchments of ordination. I propose to do +all in my power to promote those important measures in regard to the +college and means for the regular training of received candidates for +the ministry which have been recommended by the Conference. I cannot +attempt to add anything more to what is contained in my letter of the +2nd January, expressive of what I feel on the present occasion, except +to say that, although I gave no intimation during the discussion of the +result of the decision on this subject upon my own official relations to +the Conference, I retire from it with feelings of undiminished respect +and affection for my Reverend Brethren, and my earnest prayer for their +welfare and usefulness.</p> + +<p>In reply to this letter Dr. Wood said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The purpose you aim to accomplish can be effectually secured by a +different resolution to that introduced yesterday; if you will stay +and hear what the brethren may say about the appointment of a large +committee to take up this subject before I lay your resignation +before them, I shall feel much gratified. I again say, I look upon +your proposed withdrawal with deep sorrow, and must say, I cannot +bring myself to believe that on such grounds you can be justified +in taking so serious a step.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson did attend the Conference as suggested, after which he wrote +to Dr. Wood:—</p> + +<p>I listened with delight and hope to the observations and recommendations +which you made. I anticipated happy results from the appointment of the +very large committee which you nominated, and which might be considered +as representing the sentiments and feelings of the Conference. But from +the lengthened meeting of that committee, in the evening, it was clear +that no disposition existed to modify the power of ministers to expel +persons from the Church for non-attendance at a meeting which, in the +12th section, chap. 1st, page 47, of our own Discipline, taken from the +writings of Mr. Wesley, is declared to be "prudential," even among +Methodists—that thus the highest and most awful penalty that the Church +can inflict—a penalty analagous to capital punishment in the +administration of civil law—is to be executed upon members of the +Church<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_481" id="Page_481">[Pg 481]</a></span> for the omission of what our own Discipline does not exalt to +the rank of a "prudential" means of grace among Christians,—only among +Methodists.</p> + +<p>It was also clear that views of baptism prevailed (I cannot say how +widely) at variance with the 17th Article of Faith in our +Discipline,<a name="FNanchor_139_141" id="FNanchor_139_141"></a><a href="#Footnote_139_141" class="fnanchor">[139]</a> and altogether opposite to those set forth by Mr. +Wesley in his sermons and in his Treatise on Baptism.</p> + +<p>But that for which I was not prepared (which I supposed to have been +settled, and which I therefore assumed), was the obviously prevalent +opinion against the Church membership of children baptized by our +ministry. It will be recollected that I had not proposed any other +condition or mode of admitting persons into our Church from without, +than that which already exists amongst us; but I urged in behalf of both +parents and children, the practical recognition of the rights and claims +of children who were admitted and acknowledged as members of the Church +by baptism, as implied in our Form of Baptism, and according to our +Catechism, and according to what the Conference unanimously declared at +Hamilton, in 1853, our Church holds to be among the privileges of +baptized persons,—namely, that "they are made members of the visible +Church of Christ." Persons cannot, of course, be members of the +"visible" Church of Christ without becoming members of some visible +branch or section of it; and it is not pretended that children baptized +by our ministry are members of any other visible portion of the Church +of Christ than the Wesleyan. To deny, therefore, that the baptized +children of our people are members of our Church, and that they should +be acknowledged as such, and as such be impressed with their obligations +and privileges, and as such be prepared for, and brought into, the +spiritual communion and fellowship of the Church, on coming to the years +of accountability, is, it appears to me, to make the Sacrament of +Baptism a nullity, and to disfranchise thousands of children of divinely +chartered rights and privileges. Mr. Wesley, in his Treatise on Baptism, +in stating the third benefit of baptism, remarks:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>By baptism we are admitted into the Church, and consequently made +members of Christ, its Head. The Jews were admitted into the Church +by circumcision, so are the Christians by baptism.</p></div> + +<p>Mr. Wesley, speaking of the proper subjects of baptism, says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>If infants are capable of making a covenant, and were and still are +under the evangelical covenant, then they have a right to baptism, +which is the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_482" id="Page_482">[Pg 482]</a></span> entering seal thereof. But infants are capable of +making a covenant, and were and still are under the evangelical +covenant.</p> + +<p>The custom of nations and common reason of mankind prove that +infants may enter into a covenant, and may be obliged by compacts +made by others in their name, and receive advantage by them. But we +have stronger proof than this, even God's own word: "Ye stand this +day all of you before the Lord,—your captains, with all the men of +Israel; your little ones, your wives, and the stranger,—that thou +shouldst enter into covenant with the Lord thy God."—Deut. xxix. +10-12. Now, God would never have made a covenant with little +children, if they had not been capable of it. It is not said +children only, but little children, the Hebrew word properly +signifying infants. And these may be still, as they were of old, +obliged to perform, in aftertime, what they are not capable of +performing at the time of their entering into that obligation.</p> + +<p>The infants of believers, the true children of faithful Abraham, +always were under the Gospel covenant. They were included in it, +they had a right to it, and to the seal of it; as an infant heir +has a right to his estate, though he cannot yet have actual +possession.—Vol. x., English Edition, pp. 193, 194. Vol. vi., +American Edition, pp. 16, 17.</p></div> + +<p>Again, Mr. Wesley's third argument on this subject is so clear, so +touching, and so conclusive, that I will quote it without abridgement, +as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>If infants ought to come to Christ, if they are capable of +admission into the Church of God, and consequently of solemn +sacramental dedication to Him, then they are proper subjects of +baptism. But infants are capable of coming to Christ, of admission +into the Church, and solemn dedication to God.</p> + +<p>That infants ought to come to Christ, appears from his own words: +"They brought little children to Christ, and the disciples rebuked +them. And Jesus said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and +forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."—Matt. xix. +13, 14. St. Luke expresses it still more strongly: "They brought +unto him even infants, that he might touch them."—xviii. 15. These +children were so little, that they were brought to him; yet he +says, "Suffer them to come unto me:" so little, that he "took them +up in His arms;" yet he rebukes those who would have hindered their +coming to Him. And his command respected the future as well as the +present. Therefore His disciples or ministers are still to suffer +infants to come, that is, to be brought, unto Christ. But they +cannot now come to Him, unless by being brought into the Church; +which cannot be but by baptism. Yea, and "of such," says our Lord, +"is the kingdom of heaven;" not of such only as were like these +infants. For if they themselves were not fit to be subjects of that +kingdom, how could others be so, because they were like them? +Infants, therefore, are capable of being admitted into the Church, +and have a right thereto. Even under the Old Testament they were +admitted into it by circumcision. And can we suppose they are in a +worse condition under the Gospel, than they were under the law? and +that our Lord would take away any privilege which they then +enjoyed? Would He not rather make additions to them? This, then, is +a third ground. Infants ought to come to Christ, and no man ought +to forbid them. They are capable of admission into the Church of +God. Therefore they are proper subjects of baptism.—Vol. x., +English Edition, pp. 195, 196. Vol. vi., American Edition, pp. 17, +18.</p></div> + +<p>Upon these Wesleyan and Scriptural grounds, I believe that the promise +and privileges of membership in the Church belong to the baptized +children of our people as well as to their parents;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_483" id="Page_483">[Pg 483]</a></span> that the parents +have a right to claim this relationship and its privileges for their +children until such children are excluded from the Church by the lawful +acts of its executive authorities. Otherwise, the youth baptized by our +ministry are in the most pitiful and degrading religious position of the +youth of any Church that recognizes the doctrine of infant baptism; and +it appears to me that we ought rather not to baptize infants at all, or +recommend their parents to take them to other churches for baptism, than +thus to treat the feelings of such parents, and to regard their children +as having no more membership and privileges in our Church than the rest +of the youth of the land, or even the world at large.</p> + +<p>It is happily true, that many of the children of our people, as well as +those of other people, are converted and brought into the Church under +the faithful ministrations of the Word; but how many ten thousand more +of them would never wander from the Church, would more easily and more +certainly be led to experience all the power of inward religion and the +blessings of Christian fellowship, were they acknowledged in their true +position and rights, and taught the significancy, and obligation, and +privilege of all that the outward ordinances and their visible relations +involve were intended to confer. It ought to make a Christian heart +bleed to think that our largest increase of members, according to +returns over which we are disposed to congratulate ourselves, falls +vastly short of the natural increase of population in our own community, +apart from the increase of the population of the country at large, and, +therefore, that perhaps five or more persons are sent out into the +world, as worldlings, from the families of our Church, while one is +retained or brought into it from the world by all our ministrations and +agencies. The prophets did not deny to a Jew his membership in the +Jewish Church, in order to make him a Jew inwardly. Mr. Wesley did not +un-church the tens of thousands of baptized members of the Church of +England to whom he successfully preached salvation by faith: he made +their state, and duties, and privileges, as baptized members of the +Church of Christ, the grounds of his appeals; and this vantage ground +was one great means of his wonderful success.</p> + +<p>But I will not enlarge. I will only add, that as in former years, I, +with others, maintained what we believed to be the rights of Canada and +of our Canadian Church against pretensions which have long since been +withdrawn, and the erroneous information and impressions connected with +which have long since been removed; so, I now feel it my duty to do what +I can to secure and maintain the Scriptural and Wesleyan rights of +members of our Church against the exercise of ministerial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_484" id="Page_484">[Pg 484]</a></span> authority +which has no warrant in Scripture nor in the writings of Mr. Wesley; and +I feel myself specially called upon by my position in respect to the +youth of the country, as well as by my strong convictions, to claim and +insist upon the Scriptural and Wesleyan rights of church membership in +behalf of the many thousands of children baptized by our +ministry—believing upon both Scriptural and Wesleyan grounds, it is due +to such children and to their parents.</p> + +<p>I have no object in view, beyond what is avowed in this correspondence. +If I have had any personal ambition, it has been more than satisfied +both in the Church and in the country at large. I have nothing more to +seek or desire, than to employ the short and uncertain time that remains +to me in striving to become more and more meet for the intercourse of +the saints in light, to mature and promote for my native country the +great educational system in which I am engaged, and to secure to all +members of our Church, and to all parents and children baptized into it, +what I am persuaded are their sacred rights and privileges. I am +satisfied that Scriptural and Wesleyan truth will, as heretofore, +prevail, and that the Conference and the Church will yet rejoice in it, +however it may, for the moment, be clouded by error and +misrepresentation, or impeded by personal feelings, groundless fears, or +mistaken prejudice.</p> + +<p>On the 13th June Dr. Ryerson made a request to the Conference that the +documents connected with his resignation be published in the <i>Guardian</i>. +He said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I wish the church to know the reasons which have influenced me on +this occasion—especially as I believe them to be both Wesleyan and +Scriptural. As I have for thirty years contributed to all the funds +of the preachers and Church, without receiving or expecting to +receive a farthing from them, and from the period and kinds of +labours I have performed in the Church, and from my wish to live in +connexion with it, I think my letters of resignation might at least +not be withheld from the members of our Church. If any expense +attend the publication of the correspondence between us, I will +defray every farthing of it.</p> + +<p>I do not think any other member of the Conference is called upon to +do as I have done—my circumstances being peculiar. But I do not +wish to be wronged and blackened by misrepresentations; I only +desire that my brethren and old friends through the land may be +permitted and enabled to read my own reasons and views on this the +last occasion of my official intercourse with them.<a name="FNanchor_140_142" id="FNanchor_140_142"></a><a href="#Footnote_140_142" class="fnanchor">[140]</a></p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_485" id="Page_485">[Pg 485]</a></span></p> + +<p>This request was denied, so that Dr. Ryerson published the documents in +a pamphlet himself. In doing so he said:—</p> + +<p>A more vitally important and deeply affecting subject can scarcely be +laid before the Wesleyan community; but in order to present it to the +pious judgment of that body at large, I have had no other alternative +than to assume the position I now sustain—otherwise being compelled to +observe, as in past years, a strict silence beyond the walls of the +Conference room. But from what I have witnessed and heard in that room, +I appeal to the calm consideration of the intelligent and devout members +of the Wesleyan Church, either in their closets with their Bible before +them, or at their firesides with their children around them. Whether I +have or have not overrated the importance of the question, I leave +everyone to decide after reading the following correspondence. It will +be seen that the question is not one of a personal nature—is not one +which ought to excite any unkind feeling between persons who may take +different views of it. The question is as to whether, on the Wesleyan +Conference assuming the position and functions of a distinct and +independent Church, a condition of membership has not been imposed which +is a departure from the principles of Mr. Wesley and the doctrine and +practice of the Apostolic and Primitive Church—a condition which +ignores the church relation, rights and privileges of the baptized +children of the Wesleyan body, and excludes thousands from its +membership upon unscriptural and un-Wesleyan grounds. It will be seen by +an extract on page 20, that Mr. Wesley's disciplinary object in giving +quarterly tickets was, "to separate the precious from the vile," "to +remove any disorderly member;" but in vain have I sought for an instance +of Mr. Wesley ever excluding, even from his private societies in a +Church, an upright and orderly member for mere non-attendance at +class-meeting. That, however, he might have consistently done in a +society in a Church, if he had thought it expedient to do so, as it +would not have affected the membership of any parties in the Church<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_486" id="Page_486">[Pg 486]</a></span> to +which they belonged. The three paragraphs of our Discipline, containing +three sentences against which I protest, had no place in the Minutes of +Conference finally revised and printed by Mr. Wesley in the year of his +death; nor do they exist in the Minutes of the British Conference to +this day. From what is therefore modern and unauthorized by Scripture, +by the practice of the Primitive Church, or by Mr. Wesley, I go back to +first principles, and say, as did Mr. Wesley to Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury, +when he sent them to organize the Societies in America into a Church, +let us "simply follow the Scriptures and the Primitive Church."</p> + +<p>It is often said that "nobody objects to attending class-meeting except +those who have no religion." Persons who thus judge of others show more +of the Pharisaical, than of the Christian, spirit, and evince but little +of the "wisdom that cometh from above" in thus "measuring others by +themselves." The following correspondence shows that I am second to none +in my appreciation of the value and usefulness of class meetings; but I +have had too much experience not to know that the best talkers in a +class-meeting are not always the best livers in the world; and I attach +less importance to what a person may say of himself in a class-meeting, +than to uprightness in his dealings, integrity in his word, meekness in +his temper, charity in his spirit, liberality in his contributions, +blamelessness in his life. Doings, rather than sayings, are the rule of +Divine judgment....</p> + +<p>It may not be improper for me to observe, that there are ministers who +loudly advocate attendance at class-meeting as a Church-law, and yet do +not observe that law themselves perhaps once a year, much less +habitually, as they insist in respect to private members; and the most +strenuous of such advocates pay no heed to the equally positive +prohibitions and requirements of the discipline in several other +respects, especially in regard to band-meetings, which were designed, as +the Discipline expressly states, "to obey that command of God, 'confess +your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be +healed.'" I am far from intimating, or believing, that there are many +advocates of class-meeting tests of this description. But history shows, +from our Lord to the present time, that the most vehement advocates for +the "mint, annise and cummin" of particular tests and forms, are not +proportionably zealous for the "weightier matters of the law." It is +easier for men to impose and enforce law upon others than to observe it +themselves. But when a man's words and actions contradict each other, +the argument of his actions is the more forcible, as well as the more +honest and sincere.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_487" id="Page_487">[Pg 487]</a></span></p> + +<p>It has likewise been alleged, that if attendance at class-meeting be not +made a church-law, and the capital punishment of expulsion be not +attached to its violation, class-meetings will fall into disuse. I +answer, this is beside the question. The question is, whether there is +such a law in the Bible? Has our Lord or His Apostles given authority to +any conclave or conference to make such a law? Our Lord and the Apostles +knew better than their followers what was essential to membership in the +Christian Church, as well as what was essential to its existence and +prosperity. I may also observe, that if the existence of class-meetings +cannot be maintained except by the terror of the scorpion-whip, or +rather executioner's sword, of expulsion from the church, it says little +for them as a privilege, or place of delightful and joyous resort. My +own conviction is, that if class-meetings, like love-feasts, were +maintained and recommended as a privilege and useful means of religious +edification, and not as a law, the observance of which is necessary to +membership in the visible Church of Christ, but made voluntary, like +joining the Missionary Society, class-meetings would be more efficient +and useful than they are now, and attendance at them would be more +cordial and profitable, if not as, or even more, general. But what might +be or not be in any supposed case, is foreign to a question as to what +is enjoined in the law and testimony of the Holy Scriptures as essential +to discipleship with Christ.</p> + +<p>It is well known that meeting in class, by a large portion of the +members of the Wesleyan Church, is very irregular—that their absence +from class-meeting is the general rule of their practice, and their +attendance the exception. Yet such persons are not excluded, as it would +involve the expulsion of the greater part of the members of the body, +including several of its ministers. It is, therefore, so much the more +objectionable, and so much the more wrong, to have a rule which ignores +at one sweep the membership of all the baptized children of the body, +which sends and keeps away the conscientious and straightforward, who +would not think of joining a religious community without intending +habitually to observe all its rules, and yet, after all, habitually +disregarded by a large portion of both preachers and people, and is +made, as far as my observation goes, an instrument of gratifying +individual hostility, rather than a means of promoting the religious and +moral ends of Christian discipline.</p> + +<p>It is, however, the bearing of this question upon the relationship and +destinies of the youth of the Wesleyan body that has most deeply +impressed and affected my own mind, as may be inferred from the +correspondence on the subject. It requires less<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_488" id="Page_488">[Pg 488]</a></span> scriptural zeal, and an +inferior order of qualifications, and it is much more exciting and easy, +to minister or attend at special meetings, and in the ordinary public +services of the Church, than to pursue "in season and out of season" the +less conspicuous and more detailed labour of teaching and training up +children and youth in the knowledge and experience of the doctrines of +Christ, and thus secure them to the Church, and to the Saviour, and +secure to them the "godliness which has the promise of the life that now +is, and of that which is to come."<a name="FNanchor_141_143" id="FNanchor_141_143"></a><a href="#Footnote_141_143" class="fnanchor">[141]</a></p> + +<p>And what is the result of the general adoption (with a few fine +exceptions), of the former in preference to the latter—instead of the +union of both? It is the humiliating and most painful fact that the +great majority of Methodist youth are lost to the Church, if not lost to +Christ and to heaven—that in a large proportion of instances, Methodism +is not perpetuated to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_489" id="Page_489">[Pg 489]</a></span> the second generation of the same family—that in +the great majority of instances it is only so perpetuated very +partially, and in very few instances to all the children of Methodist +parents; while there is each year the conversion of only a few hundreds, +or thousands, mostly from without. The return of prodigals, and the +accession of strangers and aliens to the body, are indeed causes of +thankfulness and rejoicing; but prevention is better than cure—piety +from childhood is better than reformation in manhood. The judgment of +the Apostle upon him "who neglects to provide for his own house," even +in temporal matters, is well known; and must there not be a radical +defect and wrong in any religious organization which loses the great +majority of its own youth, and depends largely on infusions from without +for the recruit of its numbers? Such an organization may do much good, +and widely extend in many places for the time being, especially in a new +and unsettled state of society; but the vital element of permanent +strength and lasting prosperity is wanting, where, by its repulsion or +neglect, the great majority of its baptized youth are alienated from, +and lost to its communion. It is not in the promise of God, or in the +genius of Scriptural Christianity, that "children trained up in the way +they should go," will, in many instances, much less generally, depart +from it in after years....</p> + +<p>Impressed with the magnitude of the wrongs and evils above referred to, +dreading personal collision in the Conference, anticipating but little +success from it, and feeling uncertain as to how few were likely to be +the days of my earthly career, and believing that a special duty was +imposed upon me in this respect by Providential circumstances, I +addressed to the President, the 2nd of January, ... as the most likely +means, without collision with any person or body, to draw practical +attention to the subject, on the part of both the ministry and the laity +of the Church.... I have the satisfaction of knowing that, if the first +efforts of my pen, after joining the Conference in 1825, were to +advocate the right of the members of the Church to hold a bit of ground +in which to bury their dead, and the right of its ministers to perform +the marriage service for the members of their congregations, my last +efforts in connection with the Conference have been directed to obtain +the rights of Christian citizenship to the baptized children and +exemplary adherents of the Church. While I maintain that each child in +the land has a right to such an education as will fit him for his duties +as a citizen of the state, and that the obligations of the state +correspond to the rights of the child, so I maintain, upon still +stronger and higher grounds, that each child baptized by the Church is +thereby enfranchised with the rights and privileges of citizenship in +it, until he forfeits them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_490" id="Page_490">[Pg 490]</a></span> by personal misconduct and exclusion, and +that the obligations of the Church correspond to the rights of the +child. I also maintain that each member of Christ's visible Church, has +a scriptural right to his membership in it as long as he keeps the +"commandments and ordinances of God," whether he attends or does not +attend a meeting which Mr. Wesley (who instituted it), declared to be +"merely prudential, not essential, not of divine institution," and for +not attending which he never excluded, or presumed to authorize +excluding, a person from Church membership. It is a principle of St. +Paul, in the 14th chapter of Romans, of all true Protestantism, as well +as of the writings of Mr. Wesley, "in necessary things unity, in +non-essentials liberty, in all things charity."</p> + + + +<p class="space">In a letter, written from Quebec to a dear friend in Toronto, Dr. +Ryerson thus refers to his religious experience at that time of personal +trial on the class-meeting question. He said:—In compliance with the +entreaties of the Hon. James Ferrier and the Rev. Wm. Pollard, I +preached here last Sunday evening, and perhaps seldom with so much +effect—certainly, never in Lower Canada. The congregation was very +large; many members of the Legislature were present; and some were much +affected. I had felt condemned for not preaching in New Brunswick when +solicited; and I have felt that I have done right in obeying the powers +that be in this respect in Quebec. I am solicited to remain and preach +here again next Sunday, as many public persons have expressed +disappointment at not having heard me last Sunday evening. A leading +member of the church from Montreal was so comforted and edified, that +after having spent the evening in my room until after ten o'clock, he +went to write out all of the discourse he could remember. The friends +here seem delighted to think I will still preach, and say that I would +sin against God and man if I refused. My discourse on Sunday was the +result of my reflections and prayer here without books or notes; and I +feel much better since I consented to do what all seemed to think I +ought to do. They are quite satisfied with the course I have adopted, +and think it will result in great good, if I will not refuse to preach. +The words of St. Paul (1st Cor. ch. 9, verse 16), in a chapter to which +I opened the other day, have affected me much; and I know not that I can +otherwise do so much good during the very few years at most that now +remain to me, as to preach when desired by those who have authority in +the matter, in any church or place. I feel deeply humbled under a sense +of my own unfaithfulness, and am amazed at the great goodness, +long-suffering and compassion of God towards me.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_138_140" id="Footnote_138_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138_140"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> Mr. Wesley's own account of the origin of the office of +class-leader and class-meetings, illustrates the accuracy of what I have +stated. The office was first created at Bristol, 15th February, 1742, +for financial purposes alone. A few weeks afterwards, it was instituted +for religious purposes also; and for the twofold object of religion and +finance, it was embodied in the General Rules, which were drawn up and +signed by Mr. Wesley, 1st May, 1743; but in which there is no mention +made of class-meeting, or of the duty of any member to meet in class. In +his "Plain Account of the People called Methodists," Mr. Wesley thus +states the origin of the office of class-leader and the institution of +class-meetings. +</p><p> +At length (says he,) while we were thinking of quite another thing, we +struck upon a method for which we have had cause to bless God ever +since. I was talking with several of the Society in Bristol (Feb. 15, +1742,) concerning the means of paying the debts there, when one stood +up, and said, 'Let every member of the Society give a penny a week till +all are paid.' Another said, 'But many of them are poor, and cannot +afford to do it.' 'Then,' said the other, 'put eleven of the poorest +with me, and if they can give anything, well: I will see them weekly; +and if they can give nothing, I will give for them as well as for +myself. And each of you will call upon eleven of your neighbours weekly, +receive what they give, and make up what is wanting.' It was done. In a +little while some of these informed me, they found such and such an one +did not live as he ought. It struck me immediately, This is the very +thing we have wanted so long. I called together the Leaders of the +classes (so we used to term them and their companies,) and desired that +each would make particular inquiry into the behaviour of those whom he +saw weekly. They did so. Many disorderly walkers were detected. Some +turned from the evil of their ways. Some were put away from us. Many saw +it with fear, and rejoiced in God with reverence. As soon as possible, +the same method was used in London, and in all other places. The +following is Mr. Wesley's account of the first appointment of +class-leaders in London, extracted from his Journal, Thursday, March 25, +1742: I appointed several earnest and sensible men to meet me, to whom I +showed the great difficulty I had long found of knowing the people who +desired to be under my care. After much discourse, they all agreed there +could be no better way to come to a sure, thorough knowledge of each +person, than to divide them into classes, like those at Bristol, under +the inspection of those in whom I could confide. This was the origin of +our classes at London, for which I can never sufficiently praise God; +the unspeakable usefulness of the institution having ever since been +more and more manifest. In his "Plain Account of the People called +Methodists," Mr. Wesley says, "At first they (the Leaders) visited each +person at his own house; but this was soon found not so expedient, and +that on many accounts." Mr. Wesley assigns several reasons for this +change, and proceeds to answer several objections to class-meetings. The +following passage shows the exact ground on which Mr. Wesley based the +institution of class-meetings: +</p><p> +Some objected, 'There were no such meetings when I came into the society +first; and why should there be now? I do not understand these things, +and this changing one thing after another continually.' It was easily +answered: It is a pity but they had been from the first. But we knew not +then either the need or the benefit of them. Why we use them, you will +easily understand, if you will read over the Rules of the Society. That +with regard to these little prudential helps, we are continually +changing one thing after another, is not a weakness or fault as you +imagine, but is a peculiar privilege which we enjoy. By this means we +declare them all to be merely prudential, not essential, not of divine +institution. +</p><p> +Now, while it is proper for each person, as far as may be consistent +with his circumstances and views of duty, to use every prudential means +of doing and getting good, yet the observance of nothing but what is +Divinely instituted should be imposed as a condition of membership in +the Church of God. To make attendance at class-meeting that condition, +is to require what the Lord hath not commanded, and to change +essentially the character and objects of a means of good which Mr. +Wesley (with whom it originated) declared to be "merely prudential, not +essential, not of divine institution." +</p><p> +That Mr. Wesley conceived the basis of a church should be much more +comprehensive than the rules he drew up and recommended in regard to the +"little prudential helps" which were suggested to him from time to time, +is obvious from the eighth of his twelve reasons against organising a +new church—reasons published many years after the preparation and +adoption of all his society rules. His words are as follows: "Because to +form the plan of a new church would require infinite time and care, with +much more wisdom and greater depth and extensiveness of thought than any +of us are masters of."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_139_141" id="Footnote_139_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139_141"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> The following is the Article of Faith referred to:— +</p><p> +<i>XVII. Of Baptism.</i> Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark +of difference, whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are +not baptized, but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth. +The baptism of young children is to be retained in the church.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_140_142" id="Footnote_140_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140_142"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> I have understood, nevertheless, that a resolution was +adopted expressing the sense of the Conference as to my past labours in +the Church; but the publication of it has been suppressed in the +official organ, as also in the printed minutes, of the Conference. +</p><p> +The correspondence in the subsequent pages shows with what feelings and +sentiments I retired from the councils of the Conference; and I could +not have supposed that any members of that body were capable of +excluding from the public records of its proceedings what the Conference +had deemed a bare act of justice to an individual who had laboured +nearly thirty years in connection with it, and often performed most +difficult services and labours in its behalf. Such a proceeding will +reflect more dishonour upon its authors than upon me, in the judgment of +every honourable and Christian mind in Upper Canada, of whatever +persuasion or party. I am happy to believe that this poor imitation of +the system of the "Index Expurgatorius" cannot blot from the memories of +an older generation in the Church recollections of labours and struggles +of which the expurgators know nothing but the fruits—among which are +the civil and religious privileges they enjoy. +</p><p> +I have also been credibly informed that, while the real grounds of my +resignation and the judgment of the Conference upon my conduct and +labours during many years' connection with it, are withheld from the +Wesleyan public, insinuations are circulated, that my resignation has +been dictated by ulterior political objects—an idea which I have never +for one moment entertained, and which is foreign, as far as I know, to +the thoughts of every public man in Canada.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_141_143" id="Footnote_141_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141_143"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> Of the utter insufficiency of public ministrations alone, +even for grown up Christians, much more for children, Mr. Wesley thus +speaks in his large and authorized Minutes of Conference:—"For what +avails public preaching alone, though we could preach like angels? We +must, yea, every travelling preacher must, instruct them from house to +house. Till this is done, and that in good earnest, the Methodists will +be little better than other people. Our religion is not deep, universal, +uniform; but superficial, partial, uneven. It will be so, till we spend +half as much time in this visiting, as we now do in talking uselessly." +"For, after all our preaching, many of our people are almost as ignorant +as if they had never heard the gospel. I speak as plain as I can, yet I +frequently meet with those who have been my hearers many years, who know +not whether Christ be God or man. And how few are there who know the +nature of repentance, faith and holiness. Most of them have a sort of +confidence that God will save them, while the world has their hearts. I +have found by experience, that one of these has learned more from one +hour's close discourse than from ten years' public preaching." "Let +every preacher having a catalogue of those in each society, go to each +house. Deal gently with them, that the report of it may move others to +desire your coming. Give the children the instructions for children, and +encourage them to get them by heart. Indeed, you will find it no easy +matter to teach the ignorant the principles of religion. So true is the +remark of Archbishop Usher—'Great scholars may think this work beneath +them. But they should consider, the laying the foundation skilfully, as +it is of the greatest importance, so it is the masterpiece of the wisest +builder. And let the wisest of us all try, whenever we please, we shall +find that to lay this ground-work rightly, to make the ignorant +understand the grounds of religion, will put us to all our skill.'" +"Unless we take care of the rising generation, the present revival will +be <i>res unius aetatis</i> (a thing of one generation); it will last only +the age of a man." +</p><p> +There are several ministers who earnestly labour in the spirit of these +extracts from Mr. Wesley's Minutes of Conference—printed the year of +his death. But their labours are the promptings of individual zeal and +intelligence, and not dictated or backed by the authoritative example of +the ministry and Church at large, or the recognition of the Church +relations of the interesting subjects of their instructions. The effect +of the general disuse or neglect of systematic individual instruction of +children, not speaking of such, instruction of adult members, and +reliance upon public ministrations and meetings alone, must be +instability of religious profession, want of clear and acute views of +the grounds, doctrines, nature, institutions and duties of religion, +indifference to all religion, or wandering from denomination to +denomination according to circumstances or caprice; but in all cases the +loss to the Wesleyan Church of the greater part of the harvest which she +should and might gather into the garner of Christ.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_491" id="Page_491">[Pg 491]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LV" id="CHAPTER_LV"></a>CHAPTER LV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1855.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Dr. Ryerson Resumes his Position in the Conference</span>.</p> + + +<p>Although the great majority of the Conference of 1854, after much +conflict of feeling—in which regret and sympathy were mingled—rejected +the resolutions proposed by Dr. Ryerson on the class-meeting question, +yet sorrow at the loss from their councils of so distinguished a man as +Dr. Ryerson prevailed amongst them. This feeling deepened as the year +advanced, and much personal effort was made to induce him to consent to +some honourable means by which his return to the ministerial ranks could +be secured. At length, as the Conference-year neared its close, he +yielded to the wishes of his friends, and, on the 26th May, 1855, +addressed the following letter to Rev. Dr. Wood, President of the +Conference:—</p> + +<p>From the conversations which have taken place between you, my brother, +and some others of our ministers and myself, in reference to my present +and future relations to the Conference and to the Church, I think it but +respectful and an act of duty to state my views in writing, that there +may be no misapprehension on the subject, and that you may adopt such a +course as you shall think advisable.</p> + +<p>When I wrote my letters of resignation of office in the Church, the one +dated 2nd January, 1854, and the other the 12th day of June following, I +had but faint expectations of being in the land of the living at this +time. In what I wrote and did, I acted under the apprehension of having +no longer time for delay in attesting, in the most decisive and +practical way in my power, what I believe to be the divine rights of +members of the visible Church of Christ whether they are baptized +children or professing Christians. Since then I have reason to be +thankful that the alarming symptoms in respect to my health have in a +great measure subsided, and that I have the prospect of being able to +continue my labours with undiminished strength and vigor, at least for +some time to come.</p> + +<p>In my first letter to you I stated and explained at length my belief +that making attendance at class-meeting an essential condition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_492" id="Page_492">[Pg 492]</a></span> of +membership in the Church of God, is not only requiring what is not +enjoined in the word of God, but excluding, on other than scriptural +grounds, exemplary persons from the Church of Christ, and unchurching +the baptized children of our people who, as well as their parents, are +scripturally entitled to membership in the Church. Having given the +subject much further consideration during the last twelve months, and +having examined all the works on it within my reach, I am, if possible, +more fully confirmed in the views I expressed last year, as both +Wesleyan and scriptural, than when I penned them. And it is not unworthy +of remark, that the only two newspapers in Canada which have combatted +my views have been <i>The Church</i> and <i>The Catholic Citizen</i>; and both of +these papers have done so upon the ground that my views were not +compatible with the due authority of the Church to decree dogmas, rites +and ceremonies. I acknowledge myself a heretic according to their creed +of ecclesiastical authority; and I confess that the position I have been +unexpectedly compelled to assume during the last two or three years as +to the right of every man to the Bible, and the rights of individuals +and municipalities against compulsion in regard to taxation for the +support of sectarian schools, has more deeply impressed upon my mind +than ever that the Bible is the only safeguard of civil liberty, and +that "the Bible only ought to be the religion of Protestants;" and +especially in a matter so important as that which determines who are +members and what are the conditions of membership in the Church of +Christ.</p> + +<p>I must, therefore, in all frankness and honesty, still declare my +conviction that there is no scriptural authority for the power which is +given to a minister, by the answers to the 4th question in the 2nd +section of the 2nd chapter of our Discipline, to exclude a person from +the Church of God for what is expressly stated not to be "immoral +conduct," namely, not attending a meeting which is not ranked among the +ordinances of the Church in the General Rules of our Societies, which +the 12th section of the 1st chapter of our Discipline does not enumerate +among the "prudential means of grace," even among Methodists, and which +Mr. Wesley stated to be "not spiritual, not of divine institution." I +would never exercise such authority myself; I never have exercised it; +but I will not assume to judge those who think and act otherwise.</p> + +<p>I beg, however, that it may not be forgotten, that while I thus speak +and quote the authorities of the Church in respect to class-meeting as a +test or condition of Church membership; yet as a prudential means of +grace and a mode and means of Christian fellowship, I regard +class-meetings (as stated in my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_493" id="Page_493">[Pg 493]</a></span> former letters above referred to), as +well as love-feasts and prayer-meetings, as of the greatest value and +importance. But when I think of class-meeting being converted into a +condition of membership in the Church of Christ, and thus made the +occasion of excluding from its pale the whole early generation of our +people and many other sincere Christians, I cannot view it as I would +wish, and as I could otherwise do, with the same feelings that I view +love-feasts and prayer-meetings.</p> + +<p>In regard to the other aspect of the question, as it applies to the +baptized children of our people, and in which the nature and office of +Baptism are involved, I feel it to be of such vital importance that I +must beg to make some observations which I hope may not be considered +out of place, or prove altogether useless.</p> + +<p>The circumstances which have caused me to feel so strongly on this point +were stated in my letter to you on the 2nd January, 1854, and afterwards +more fully justified in my letter of the 12th of June following; and it +is with no small degree of surprise that I have found my views +misapprehended and pronounced unsound. It has been alleged that they +involve baptismal regeneration. Nothing can be further from the fact. +What I maintain is simply what is stated in the 17th Article of Faith +professed by our Church, and by the catechism used in the Methodist +Church on both sides of the Atlantic, and what is set forth at large in +the writings of Mr. Wesley and Mr. Watson. Baptism, like the Lord's +Supper, is an outward sign; but, of course, neither can be that of which +it is the sign.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Baptism (as the 17th Article of our Faith expresses it), is not +only a sign of profession, and mark of difference whereby +Christians are distinguished from others that are unbaptized, but +it is also a sign of regeneration, or the new birth.</p></div> + +<p>What I maintain is, that baptism is the outward and visible sign, while +regeneration, or the new birth, is the inward spiritual grace; that by +baptism we are born into the visible Church of Christ on earth, while by +the Holy Ghost we are born into the spiritual or invisible Church of +Christ in heaven, the same as in the Lord's Supper; there is the visible +act of the Church and of the body of communicants, and the invisible act +of the Saviour by the Holy Ghost and of the soul of the communicant. The +two are distinct; the one may not accompany the other; but they may, and +often do, accompany each other. The parent should bring his child in +faith to the Lord's baptism, the same as the communicant should come in +faith to the Lord's Supper. The communion of the Lord's Supper is the +act of a professed member of Christ's visible Church; the receiving of +the Lord's baptism, is receiving the seal of membership in Christ's +visible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_494" id="Page_494">[Pg 494]</a></span> Church, that "mark of difference whereby Christians are +distinguished from others that are not baptized." Hence in the Wesleyan +catechism, the question is asked,—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>What are the privileges of baptized persons? The answer is,—They +are made members of the visible church of Christ; their gracious +relation to Him as the Second Adam, and as the Mediator of the New +Covenant, is solemnly ratified by divine appointment; and they are +thereby recognized as having a claim to all the spiritual blessings +of which they are the proper subjects.</p></div> + +<p>I maintain, therefore, that the language of our Articles of Faith and +Catechism, as well as of our Baptismal Service and the writings of Mr. +Wesley, explicitly declares baptism an act of the Church by which it +receives the children baptized into its bosom—that all baptized +children are truly members of Christ's visible Church, although they be +not communicants in it until they personally profess the Faith of their +Baptism, and evince their desire to flee from the wrath to come by the +negative and positive proofs so briefly and fully enumerated in the +General Rules of our societies.</p> + +<p>The Church membership of baptized children is known to be the doctrine +of all parties in the Church of England, as well as of Mr. Wesley. It is +equally the doctrine of all sections of the Presbyterian Church, in +which the baptized children are regarded as members of the Church, but +not communicants until they make a personal profession of conversion, +and receive a token or ticket of admission to the Lord's Supper. On this +point it is sufficient to cite the following passages from the fifteenth +chapter of the fourth book of Calvin's Institutes.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Baptism is a sign of initiation, by which we are admitted into the +society of the Church, in order that being incorporated into +Christ, we may be numbered among the children of God.... For as +circumcision was a pledge to the Jews, by which they were assured +of their adoption as the people and family of God, and on their +parts professed their entire subjection to Him, and, therefore, was +their first entrance into the Church; so now we are initiated into +the Church of God by baptism, are numbered among His people, and +profess to devote ourselves to his service.... How delightful is it +to pious minds, not only to have verbal assurances, but even +occular proof, of their standing so high in the favour of their +heavenly Father, that their posterity also are the objects of his +care! This is evidently the reason why Satan makes such great +exertions in opposition to infant baptism: that the removal of this +testimony of the grace of God may cause the promise which it +exhibits before our eyes gradually to disappear, and at length to +be forgotten. The consequence of this would be an impious +ingratitude to the mercy of God, and negligence of the instruction +of our children in the principles of piety. For it is no small +stimulus to our education of them in the serious fear of God, and +the observance of His law, to reflect, that they are considered and +acknowledged by Him as His children as soon as they are born. +Wherefore, unless we are obstinately determined to reject the +goodness of God, let us present to Him our children, to whom He +assigns a place in His family, that is, among the members of His +church.</p></div> + +<p>Richard Watson, the great expounder of Wesleyan Christian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_495" id="Page_495">[Pg 495]</a></span> doctrine, +treats this subject elaborately in the third chapter of the fourth part +of his Theological Institutes. I will only quote the following +sentences:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Infant children are declared by Christ to be members of His Church. +That they were members of God's Church, in the family of Abraham, +and among the Jews, cannot be denied.... The membership of the Jews +comprehended both children and adults; and the grafting-in of the +Gentiles, so as to partake of the same "root and fatness," will, +therefore, include a right to put their children also into the +covenant, so that they, as well as adults, may become members of +Christ's Church, have God to be their God, and be acknowledged by +Him, in the special sense of the terms of the covenant, to be His +people.... "Whosoever (says Christ) shall receive this child in my +name, receiveth me;" but such an identity of Christ with His +disciples stands wholly upon their relation to Him as members of +His "mystic body, the Church." It is in this respect only that they +are "one with Him;" and there can be no identity of Christ with +"little children" but by virtue of the same relation, that is, as +they are members of His mystical body, the Church; of which +membership baptism is now, as circumcision was then, the initiatory +rite.... The benefits of this Sacrament require to be briefly +exhibited. Baptism introduces the adult believer into the covenant +of grace and the Church of Christ; and is the seal, the pledge, to +him, on the part of God, of the fulfilment of all its provisions, +in time and in eternity; whilst on his part, he takes upon himself +the obligation of steadfast faith and obedience. To the infant +child, baptism is a visible reception into the same covenant and +church, a pledge of acceptance through Christ—the bestowment of a +title to all the grace of the covenant as circumstances may +require, and as the mind of the child may be capable of receiving +it; and as it may be sought in future life by prayer, when the +period of reason and moral choice shall arrive. It conveys also the +present blessing of Christ, of which we are assured by His taking +children in His arms, and blessing them; which blessing cannot be +merely nominal, but must be substantial and efficacious. It +secures, too, the gift of the Holy Spirit in those secret spiritual +influences, by which the actual regeneration of those children who +die in infancy is effected; and which are a seed of life in those +who are spared to prepare them for instruction in the word of God, +as they are taught by parental care, to incline their will and +affections to good, and to begin and maintain in them the war +against inward and outward evil, so that they may be divinely +assisted, as reason strengthens, to make their calling and election +sure. In a word, it is, both as to infants and adults, the sign, +and pledge of that inward grace, which, though modified in its +operations by the difference of their circumstances, has respect +to, and flows from, a covenant relation to each of the Three +Persons in whose one name they are baptized,—acceptance by the +Father—union with Christ as the head of His mystical body, the +Church—and communion with the Holy Ghost. To these advantages must +be added the respect which God bears to the believing act of the +parents, and to their solemn prayers on the occasion, in both of +which the child is interested; as well as in that solemn engagement +of the parents which the rite necessarily implies, to bring up +their child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.</p></div> + +<p>To these impressive words of Richard Watson, I add the following equally +impressive extract from the pastoral address of the Wesleyan Conference +in England to the Societies under its charge in 1837:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>By baptism you place your children within the pale of the visible +Church,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_496" id="Page_496">[Pg 496]</a></span> and give them a right to all its privileges, the pastoral +care of its ministers, and as far as their age and capacity will +allow, the enjoyment of its ordinances and means of grace. These +children are not offshoots of the Church, enjoying only a distant +relation to it, but they are of it, as a fact; they are grafted +into the body of Christ's disciples; they are partakers of an +initiatory and provisional state of acceptance with God, and can +forfeit their right to the fellowship of the saints only by a +course of sin. Besides, when this sacred ordinance is regarded by +parents in the spirit of prayer and faith, it cannot be +unaccompanied by the divine blessing. Grace is connected with every +institution of the Christian Church; and when children are +constituted a part of the flock of Christ by being placed within +the fold, they have a peculiar claim on the care of that good +Shepherd who "gathereth the lambs with his arms and carries them in +his bosom;" and they will receive instruction, spiritual +influences, tender care, and the exercise of mercy, agreeing with +the relation in which they stand to God. On these grounds we +affectionately exhort you to place your beloved offspring within +the "courts of the house of our God," and amongst the number of His +family, by strictly attending to this divinely appointed ordinance +of our Saviour.<a name="FNanchor_142_144" id="FNanchor_142_144"></a><a href="#Footnote_142_144" class="fnanchor">[142]</a></p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson's views were, therefore, the same in 1834 as they were in +1854—that by Baptism children stand in the relation of members of the +Church, and should be enrolled in its registers, and entitled to its +privileges, until they, by their own voluntary irregularity or neglect, +forfeit them. The coincidence mentioned, and the consistency of the +views expressed by Dr. Ryerson twenty years before, are very remarkable.</p> + + + +<p class="space">Now what are these solemn and affecting words of John Calvin, of Richard +Watson, and of the British Conference, but a mockery and a snare, if the +baptized children are not to be acknowledged and treated as members of +the visible church of Christ? Ought not then children baptised by the +Wesleyan ministry to be recognized and cared for as members of the +Wesleyan Church? It is absurd, and leaves them in a state of religious +orphanage, to say that they are members of the visible Church of Christ, +but not members of any particular branch of it. As well might it be +said, that the children born in Canada, are members of the Canadian +family, but not members of any particular family in Canada. To be the +former without being the latter, would indeed allow them a country, but +would leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_497" id="Page_497">[Pg 497]</a></span> them without a home, without a parent, without a protector, +without an inheritance—homeless, houseless, destitute orphans. Is this +the relation in which the baptized children of our people are to be +viewed to the Church of their parents? In doing so, are not the most +powerful considerations, motives and influences brought to bear upon +both parents and children? In not doing so, is not the greatest wrong +inflicted upon both, the ordinance of baptism virtually ignored, and its +blessings lost? But in denying that any one is or can be a member of the +Church except one who meets in class, are not the baptized children of +our people refused a place within its pale? deprived of their baptismal +birthright, before they are old enough to forfeit it by transgression? +shut out from the family of God's people, and as practically unchurched +as if they had never received a Christian name, in the name of the +Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost? I cannot reflect upon the +subject or contemplate its consequences, without the deepest pain and +solicitude. I will pursue it no further, but will leave it with you and +those on whom the responsibility of deciding upon it devolves.</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that I have never said anything as to the mode of +receiving adult persons from without into the Church; nor as to the +class of members who alone should be eligible to hold office in the +Church; nor have I entertained the idea that any other than the +scriptural summary of Christian morality contained in the General Rules +of our Societies should be applied to all members of the Church, whether +in full communion or not. Nor have I other than supposed that all +persons recognized as a part of the Church, would, as far as +circumstances can permit, be registered as classes, and called upon +regularly by a leader or steward for their contributions in support of +the ministry and other institutions of the Church, the same as persons +meeting weekly in a class. What I have said applies wholly and +exclusively to the Church relation and rights of the baptized children +of our people, and to the rights of persons otherwise admitted into the +Church, who, I believe, ought not to be excluded from it except for what +would exclude them from the kingdom of grace and glory.</p> + +<p>Anything appertaining to myself personally is unworthy of mention in +such a connexion. I banish from my mind and heart the recollection and +feeling of anything I consider to have been uncalled for and unjust +towards myself on the part of others. Though I have resigned the +ecclesiastical or outward authority to exercise the functions of the +Christian ministry, I have never regarded myself as a secular man; I +have felt, and do feel, and especially with improved health, the inward, +and, I trust, divine conviction of duty to preach, as occasion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_498" id="Page_498">[Pg 498]</a></span> may +offer and strength permit, the unsearchable riches of Christ to dying +men. And if after the past publication and foregoing statement of my +convictions on the point of Church Discipline and its administration, as +affecting baptized children and other scripturally blameless members of +the Church, and my purpose to maintain them on such occasions, and in +such manner as are sanctioned by the Discipline, the Conference thinks +it proper and desirable that I should resume my former relations to it +and to the Church, I am willing to cancel my resignation, and to labour, +as heretofore, to preach the doctrines and promote the agencies of the +Church which I have sought by every earthly means in my power, though +with conscious unfaithfulness before God, to advance during the last +thirty years, and which are, I believe, according to the Scriptures, and +calculated to promote the present and everlasting well-being of man.</p> + +<p>The reading of this letter at the London Conference of 1855 led to a +great deal of discussion and various explanations, which unfortunately +afterwards resulted in much misunderstanding and recrimination. The +Conference, however, with a unanimity and heartiness which reflected +great credit for its calm judgment and Christian love of unity, passed +the following resolution by a nearly two-thirds majority:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>That while this Conference declares its unaltered determination to +maintain inviolate the position held respecting the views contained +in Dr. Ryerson's communications of last year, and upon which his +resignation was tendered and accepted; yet upon the application +which the latter part of Dr. Ryerson's present communication +contains, this Conference restores him to his former standing and +relations to the Conference and the Church.</p></div> + +<p>After the resolution was passed, Dr. Ryerson went to the Conference at +London, and in a letter which he wrote to me, dated January 9th, he +said:—</p> + +<p>My entrance into the Conference was cordially greeted. I was very +affectionately welcomed and introduced by the President, Rev. Dr. Wood, +after which I briefly addressed the Conference, and I have since taken +the same part in the proceedings as heretofore.</p> + +<p>After a long discussion yesterday, a very important change was made in +the Discipline. By this change a minister may be stationed in the same +circuit during five years, if requested by the quarterly meeting. A +prominent member made a long and violent speech against it. I replied at +length, and stated the general grounds on which I thought the change +recommended by the Stationing Committee should be adopted. After the +adoption of the resolution, I congratulated the Conference on this +indication of progress in a direction to what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_499" id="Page_499">[Pg 499]</a></span> was regarded as heretical +when I first introduced the proposition five years ago. Some preacher +said I was a little too soon. I said perhaps I had the misfortune of +having been born a few years too soon. Another said that he supposed I +expected that other changes would also follow. I replied, time would +show. I was informed that all (even Messrs. Jeffers and Spencer) +expressed a desire for my return to the Conference. The lengthened +discussion was based upon certain parts of my letter to Mr. Wood, which +it was held were not courteous, but a bearding of the Conference. On the +other hand, it was contended that my sentiments even on the +class-meeting condition of membership were the practice of those very +preachers who objected to them. Examples were given, much to the +surprise of certain parties, who professed to be the greatest sticklers +on the subject. It was professed by all, without exception, that but for +certain phrases in my letter (to the sentiments of which, it was +maintained, the Conference would be committed by the resolution +proposed) the vote in regard to me would have been unanimous.</p> + + + +<p class="space">Amongst other congratulatory letters received by Dr. Ryerson, none were +more gratifying to him than the following characteristic letter from +Rev. John Black, in township of Rawdon, written on the 16th of June:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>My good Mr. Lever, of Sidney, in a letter from the Conference, +informs me that "Dr. Ryerson is once more among his brethren, and, +as usual, taking an active part in the affairs of Conference." +Although three of my children were confined to bed by sickness, yet +on hearing such news I was almost ready for a shout.</p> + +<p>Permit me to say that your departure from us at Belleville, twelve +months ago, lay heavy on my heart; and now to hear the above +intelligence is good to my soul. For many years I have been much +attached to Mr. Egerton Ryerson. We were "taken on trial" at the +same time, and together were ordained to the great work of the +ministry. And although you, Mr. R., have been near the head, and I, +Mr. B., near the foot, yet we are in the same ranks, fighting the +battles of the Lord, and exercising our talents in behalf of truth +and righteousness. I know that your time is precious, yet I believe +you will spare a minute or two in reading a few lines from your +affectionate, and now almost worn-out, friend and well-wisher. Long +may you live for the purpose of using your talents for the benefit +of Church and State! This fervent wish stands at a distance from +mere compliment and from flattery, and is the free emotion of a +Methodist heart.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_142_144" id="Footnote_142_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142_144"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> As early as 1834, Dr. Ryerson was deeply impressed with +the correctness of these views. Having, in the Guardian of the 9th of +April, 1834, called the attention of his ministerial brethren to the +pressing duty of giving effect to the section of the Discipline on the +"Instruction of Children," he proceeded to point out in the Guardian of +the 23rd of that month, the privileges which baptism confers upon +Methodist children, fortifying his views by the following quotation from +Rev. R. Watson's Institutes:—Baptism introduces the adult believer into +the covenant of Grace, and the Church of Christ.... To the infant child +it is a visible reception into the same covenant and Church.... In a +word, it is both to infants and adults a sign and pledge of that inward +grace, which has respect to and flows from a covenant relation to each +of the three persons, in whose one name they are baptized—acceptance +with Christ as the Head of His mystical body, the Church, and of +communion of the Holy Ghost.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_500" id="Page_500">[Pg 500]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LVI" id="CHAPTER_LVI"></a>CHAPTER LVI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1855-1858.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Personal Episode in the Class-Meeting Discussion.</span></p> + + +<p>I have already referred to the character of the discussion which +resulted in Dr. Ryerson's restoration to the Conference. In the heat of +that discussion some things may have been said by Dr. Ryerson's friends +which were not warranted by the terms of his letter of the 26th of May; +or what was said may have been construed (designedly or otherwise) into +an admission of assurance on Dr. Ryerson's part that he would cease to +agitate the question, or that he would hold his opinions in abeyance.</p> + +<p>The discussion on the Class-meeting question was the chief event in the +proceedings of the Wesleyan Conference of 1855. Yet not the slightest +reference to the subject, or to Dr. Ryerson's return to the Conference +was made in the report of the proceedings which were published in the +<i>Guardian</i> of the 13th and 20th of June in that year. It was not until +some time after the adjournment of the Conference, and the departure of +Dr. Ryerson for Europe, that the subject was mentioned in that paper, +and what did appear was apparently an afterthought.<a name="FNanchor_143_145" id="FNanchor_143_145"></a><a href="#Footnote_143_145" class="fnanchor">[143]</a></p> + +<p>After Dr. Ryerson had gone, an editorial appeared in the <i>Guardian</i> of +the 27th of June from which the following is an extract:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_501" id="Page_501">[Pg 501]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We did not notice in our summary account of the proceedings of the +Conference the return of Dr. Ryerson to his former position with +that body, but as erroneous statements have appeared in the paper +respecting it we think proper to give the facts of the case.</p> + +<p>A short time previous to the sitting of the Conference Dr. Ryerson +addressed a letter to the President, in which he stated that his +views remained unaltered respecting the points of difference +between himself and the Conference; he expressed a desire to resume +his ministerial duties in the Church. The communication was +accompanied with a verbal assurance that his own peculiar views on +the questions at issue would be held in abeyance in deference to +the determination of the Conference to maintain inviolate those +parts of the Wesleyan Discipline to which his communication +referred. This was the position in which the application of Dr. +Ryerson was presented to the Conference, and, after a somewhat +animated discussion on the subject, the resolution [for his +re-admission] was adopted by nearly a two-thirds majority.</p></div> + +<p>Immediately on the publication of this article, I sent it to Dr. Ryerson +at Boston, where he was about to take the steamer for England. He at +once replied to the Editor, and sent the letter to me for insertion in +the <i>Guardian</i>. In his private note to me, dated 3rd July, he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I think the <i>Guardian's</i> statement is the most shameful attack that +was ever made upon me—one that I did not expect even from him—one +that I would not have believed had I not seen it. What may be the +end of this affair, I cannot yet see. But I am satisfied in my own +conscience as to the course I have pursued, and as to my present +duty. As to rescinding the clause of the Discipline relating to the +exclusion of persons for not attending class-meetings, no +determination was expressed to enforce it. On the contrary, it was +declared to be a dead letter in many places. What I maintained was, +that the practice and the rule should be in harmony. You will see +what I have said to the Editor of the <i>Guardian</i> in a private note.</p> + +<p>Remember me affectionately to all; and may Almighty God prosper you +in your educational work during my absence.</p></div> + +<p>The following is a copy of the private letter to Rev. J. Spencer, which +accompanied Dr. Ryerson's reply to the editorial:</p> + +<p>I was not a little surprised and pained at your unfair and unjust +statement respecting me, and especially after what passed on my leaving +the Conference, and your careful silence on the subject until I had left +home, and would not therefore be likely to have it in my power to +furnish an antidote until your injurious statement had accomplished its +object as far as possible. But I am thankful that, through the prompt +kindness of Mr. Hodgins, and by that means alone, I have been furnished +with a copy of the <i>Guardian</i> in time to write a hasty reply before +embarking for the other side of the Atlantic. I have requested Mr. +Hodgins to take a copy of my communication to you, as I have not time to +transcribe it. You can as easily command my letter to the President of +the Conference as you did the resolution of the Conference. I ask for no +indulgence or favour; I ask for nothing but truth and justice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_502" id="Page_502">[Pg 502]</a></span></p> + +<p>I will thank you to inform Mr. Hodgins as early as possible as to +whether you intend to perpetuate the wrong you have done me, by refusing +to insert my letter to the President of the Conference, and the note I +have this evening addressed to you in reference to your statement. I +wish Mr. Hodgins to inform me of the result by the next mail to England, +and also to act otherwise by me as I would by him in like +circumstances.<a name="FNanchor_144_146" id="FNanchor_144_146"></a><a href="#Footnote_144_146" class="fnanchor">[144]</a></p> + +<p>Having got Dr. Ryerson's reply to the <i>Guardian's</i> attack of 27th June, +inserted in the Toronto city papers, I wrote to him to that effect. His +reply is dated, London (Eng.,) 3rd August:—I thank you sincerely for +the pains you have taken in regard to my letter to the <i>Guardian</i>. I am +thankful that, by your zeal and good management, the Methodist body, as +well as the public at large, will have an opportunity of learning my own +views from my own pen; but considering the intended course<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_503" id="Page_503">[Pg 503]</a></span> of the +<i>Guardian</i>, and what he alleges to be the feelings of many others, I +have great doubts whether I can be of any use to the Wesleyan body, or +of much use to the interests of religion in connection with the +Conference, and that I shall rather embarrass, and be a burden to my +friends in the Conference, than be a help to them. My only wish and aim +as a minister is, to preach the evangelical doctrines I have always +proclaimed, and which are preached with power by many clergymen of the +Church of England and Presbyterian Churches, and often more forcibly, +than by many Methodist ministers.</p> + +<p>I confess, from what you state, I see no prospect of effecting the +changes in the relation and privileges of baptized children, and the +test of membership in the Methodist Church, which I believe to be +required by the Scriptures, and by consistency. I apprehend that +anything proposed by me on these subjects will be made the occasion of +violent attacks and agitation, and that personal hostility to me will be +made a sort of test of orthodoxy among a large party in the Conference +and in the Church—thus exposing my friends to much unpleasantness and +disadvantage on my account, and reducing, if not extinguishing, all +opportunities on my part to preach, as I should be (as in times past) +wholly dependent upon the invitations of others.</p> + + + +<p class="space">From this incident a private and confidential correspondence on the +subject was maintained for months between Dr. Ryerson in Europe and +myself, in Canada.</p> + +<p>It was clear to my mind at the time that the Editor took an unfair +advantage of Dr. Ryerson's absence from the country to injure (as he +supposed) his brother in the ministry. In this he was mistaken; and, in +his chagrin, he attacked me personally in the <i>Guardian</i> for my zeal on +behalf of Dr. Ryerson. Events proved that my interposition was opportune +and just; and that, had I not done so, the Methodist people would have +been improperly and cruelly misled, and irreparable injustice would have +been done to the character and motives of a noble and generous man, who, +in this instance, ought not to have been held responsible for the +utterances of warm hearts, but of possibly indiscreet tongues.</p> + +<p>I speak advisedly when I say that I understood perfectly well the two +men with whom I had to deal. Rev. James Spencer was well known to me, +when I was a student at Victoria College forty years ago. He was a good +man, no doubt; but no student at that College ever thought of comparing +him with the Principal of the College. How he ever got to be Editor of +the <i>Guardian</i> was always a mystery to me. I never had the slightest +difference with him—quite the reverse; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_504" id="Page_504">[Pg 504]</a></span> no comparison could be +instituted between James Spencer and Egerton Ryerson.</p> + +<p>In this matter I had no personal feeling. Both men were Methodists, +while I am an Episcopalian, and both have gone to their final account. +Moreover, the question was not one of doctrine, or of denominational +preference. It was one of simple justice and fair play between man and +man. Hence, I took the earliest opportunity of apprising Dr. Ryerson of +the unjust and anomalous position in which he had been placed by the +Editor of the <i>Guardian</i>.</p> + + + +<p class="space">The following private letters were successively received by me from Dr. +Ryerson while he was in Europe:—</p> + +<p><i>Paris, 23rd August.</i>—I enclose my answer to Rev. James Spencer. I wish +you would have it inserted in the <i>Globe</i> and <i>Colonist</i>. As you are +acquainted with all the circumstances in Canada, being on the spot, if +you think it best to abridge, omit, or modify the words of any part of +my communication, I would wish you to do so. Whatever course I may think +it my duty to pursue in future, I wish in this communication to preserve +that tone of remark which can give no offence to any minister or member +of the Wesleyan Church. I will not be the offending party, and the +responsibility of a wider breach between the Conference and myself will +not be with me. What course duty may require me to pursue, I still leave +to the direction of Infinite Wisdom, and to future consideration....</p> + +<p>The Queen is in Paris this week, during which all business in my way +seems to be suspended. She is received with great enthusiasm. We have +seen her and the Emperor two or three times.</p> + +<p><i>Paris, 30th August.</i>—Rev. Dr. Wood's denial of my having given him any +pledge, or any thing that would be so construed, is full and decided, +and if my brother John says anything at all, it will be, I have no +doubt, less than I have stated in my letter. But still the main question +of my position in the Conference is unaffected by these disclaimers. It +appears from Mr. Spencer's statement (in which he seems to be sustained +by others) that the terms of my letter were not acted upon or complied +with by the Conference, but that the Conference acted upon a verbal +assurance that I never made, or authorized. The simplest and most +natural way for me to act, is, to withdraw my letter on these grounds, +and to decline availing myself of, or recognizing an act of, the +Conference based upon what I never proposed or authorized. Thus the +responsibility of this irregular and absurd proceeding will rest with +others, and I will stand, in the maintenance of all that I have stated +and done,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_505" id="Page_505">[Pg 505]</a></span> with the advantage of having acted a most conciliatory part. +But what I shall do must not be decided upon hastily, as I act for life, +and finally. If it ultimately appears to me, as it does at present, that +there is no consistent or justifiable ground on which I can remain a +member of the Conference, it will then be for me to consider whether I +can occupy the position of a layman, or enter the ministry of some other +section of the Christian Church. I would like to have your own +impressions and views on this point, in reference to my future standing +and usefulness in Canada.</p> + +<p><i>Paris, 20th September.</i>—In my reply to Mr. Spencer I did not allude to +the cases of Montreal and Quebec. Perhaps the disclaimer which has been +adopted by quarterly meetings in those places may require from me a +remark or two. What I said was founded upon what was told me on reliable +authority that no preacher had enforced, or dare enforce, the rule. I +understand the same at Quebec. I have been assured, and I have no doubt +the enquiry will establish the fact, that there are men, trustees of the +Churches, in either or both Montreal or Quebec, who do not meet in +class, and whose names are not, and I think whose names never have been, +on any class book. But I think the natural and necessary effect of the +whole is, to terminate my connection with the Methodist Church. I still +remain undecided; but I see no other course on the ground of +consistency, propriety, or duty, as well as of religious enjoyment. But +this is only to yourself. The remaining question will be whether I +should remain a private member of a Church, or enter another Church. On +this point I am quite undecided. May I be divinely directed!</p> + +<p>In a further letter directed to me from Paris in September, 1855, Dr. +Ryerson discussed the whole question at issue. After pointing out the +unfair conduct of the Editor of the <i>Guardian</i> in attacking and +misrepresenting a member of the Conference, and then saying that his +columns were closed against any further discussion of the subject, Dr. +Ryerson said:—The Editor of the <i>Guardian</i> and others represent me as +hostile to class-meetings. This may do injury, in the estimation of some +persons, to a means of religious edification which I regard as one of +the most efficient human agencies for promoting spiritual-mindedness +among religious people. The responsibility of such a proceeding is with +themselves. The Editor of the <i>Guardian</i> represents this as a matter of +dispute between the Conference and myself. This is wholly incorrect. The +resolution of the Conference is avowedly based upon my letter, and upon +that alone. That record cannot be falsified. The variation between the +wording of the resolution of the Conference and the latter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_506" id="Page_506">[Pg 506]</a></span> part of my +letter referred to in it, is not of the slightest consequence. The acts +of the Conference, as well as of the Legislature, are to be judged of, +not by what may have been said by individual members in the course of +discussion, but by its attested records and official papers.</p> + +<p>Now with the same truth and propriety that my assailants charge me with +having written against class-meetings, might I charge them with being +opposed to prayer-meetings and love-feasts, and even the Lord's Supper, +because they do not make the observance of all or of any one of these +institutions (though the latter is expressly instituted by our Lord +himself), a condition of membership in the Church of God. Because I have +avowed my long-settled conviction that class-meetings ought not to be +exalted above all the other ordinances and institutions of +religion—giving as an authority the words of John Wesley himself—am I +to be charged with having written against class-meeting? So far from +having written against these meetings, I have expressed myself in the +strongest terms in their favour; and I repeat that, after the public +preaching of the Word, and the Lord's Supper, I believe class-meetings +have been the most efficient means of promoting personal and vital piety +among the members of the Wesleyan Societies.</p> + +<p>Yet I am not insensible to the fact that Mr. Wesley found the prototype +of this kind of religious exercises, not in any institution or practice +of the Primitive Church for fifteen hundred years, but in a society of +Monks called <i>La Trappe</i>, whose ardent piety Mr. Wesley greatly admired, +the lives of some of whose members (such as the Marquis de Renty, etc.,) +he wrote, and whose manual of piety (Imitation of Jesus Christ) he +translated and abridged, for the use of his own Societies, and several +of whose questions in conducting what may be called their weekly band or +class-meetings, Mr. Wesley adopted, translated and modified, for +conducting his own meetings of a similar character. These weekly +exercises in the Societé de la Trappe were eminently instrumental in +reforming, and kindling the name of devotional piety among its members; +and Mr. Wesley found them equally useful among the members of his own +Societies, and so they have continued till the present time. But will +any Wesleyan minister in England or Canada—will any man of intelligence +and honesty—venture to assert that Mr. Wesley ever intended that +attendance at such weekly exercises should be an essential condition and +fundamental test of membership in the visible Church of God? Will any +one assert, or can he believe, that Mr. Wesley ever could have +anticipated, or supposed, that such an application would, or could, be +made of an institution which he expressly stated to be "merely +prudential, not essential,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_507" id="Page_507">[Pg 507]</a></span> not of divine origin?" But I am again met +with the charge, on another ground, of having departed from Mr. Wesley. +It is said, in substance: "Mr. Wesley has committed class-meeting to us +as a trust; it is not for us to inquire into the origin of the +institution; it is our duty to maintain inviolably the trust committed +to us—which trust Dr. Ryerson has violated." In reply, I remark that +the statement of the question itself is fallacious, and the charge +groundless. In the first place, the question assumes, what is contrary +to fact, that Mr. Wesley instituted and committed the trust of +class-meetings as a condition of membership in the visible Church of +God, whereas he instituted and transmitted it as a means of grace among +the members of a private society in a church. In the next place, the +trust of class-meetings was only one part of a system which Mr. Wesley +committed as a trust to his followers. The one part of that trust was as +sacred as another, and the connection of one part with another is +essential to the fulfilment of the obligation. Now one part of Mr. +Wesley's trust, and that on which he insists ten times more voluminously +and vehemently than he ever spoke of class-meetings, was that his +followers should attend the services of the Church of England, should +receive the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper in it, should +abide in the Church of England, and that whenever they separated from +the Church of England they separated from him. These are so many trusts +that Mr. Wesley committed to his followers in England, and on which he +insisted as tests of membership in his Society; and in connection with +these trusts, he committed the trust of class-meetings—"as the +observance and practice of members of a private society in the Church of +England." Have Dr. Bunting and others, who charge me with being +anti-Wesleyan, fulfilled these trusts committed to them by Mr. Wesley? +Have they not wholly separated from the Church of England—ordaining +their own ministers, administering the ordinances, claiming and +exercising all the attributes of a Church, as much as the authorities of +the Church of England herself. And while Mr. Wesley disclaimed +exercising the office of excommunicating Church members, and denied that +admission into or exclusion from his Societies was admission into or +exclusion from the visible Church of Christ, my accusers exercise this +authority in the highest degree—confessedly and avowedly admitting into +and excluding persons from the visible Church, and making the attendance +at class-meeting a test of Church-membership—which Mr. Wesley never +believed, much less authorized. I leave it, therefore, to the judgment +of every man of common sense to say whether there is the shadow of a +reason for the pretensions and charges of my assailants. I am<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_508" id="Page_508">[Pg 508]</a></span> not +surprised that Dr. Bunting and others should feel sensitive on the +class-meeting test of church-membership, as it so enormously increases +clerical power—the ruling idea of Dr. Bunting's legislation throughout +his whole life. It virtually places the membership of each member in the +hands of the minister. The quarterly class ticket, signed by the +minister, is the only proof and title of membership for each member. If +the minister withholds this (and he may be prompted to do so on many +grounds, personal and others, irrespective of any suspicion, much less +charge, against the moral or religious character of the member) the +member is deprived of his membership, and this I believe has occurred in +more than twenty thousand instances, in England, during the last six +years, during which period the connection has experienced the lamentable +and unprecedented loss of nearly a hundred thousand members, the fruits +of the labours of an age.</p> + +<p><i>London, 5th October.</i>—I know that my brother John was not pleased with +my letter to Mr. Wood, read in the Conference. He told me so on the way +to the Conference; he wished me to write a short letter, couched in +general terms, and that the affair might be passed over in the +Conference as quietly as possible—believing that to be the best way to +accomplish the object I had in view. In this I could not agree with him, +and stated that unless received in the terms of my letter, I did not +wish to be received at all; nor did I wish the letter read if any +opposition were apprehended. What has transpired shows, I think very +clearly, that had I not been as explicit as I have, I should have been +more grossly misrepresented, and with some degree of plausibility. I am +exceedingly glad that I wrote as I did. It has removed all uncertainty +on the subject. There can now be no mistake or misunderstanding. I do +not think my friends have been frank with me in not telling me all that +has transpired in the Conference. But it is not worth while to refer to +these things now. The question is settled. I shall write to Dr. Beecham +on the subject of the remarks reported to have been made in reference to +me by Dr. Bunting and Mr. Methley, in the English Conference, and +respecting my settled and avowed convictions and position—affording him +an opportunity of stating how far he and others think such views are +consistent with the relations I sustain to the Wesleyan Body. I shall +also advert to the propriety of such men as Mr. Methley, or any member +of the English Conference, assuming to exercise a censorship over the +character of any members of the Canada Conference. After receiving Dr. +Beecham's answer, I shall finally decide as to my future course. I look +upon my connection with the Wesleyan body as virtually terminated. I +have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_509" id="Page_509">[Pg 509]</a></span> not been in one of their chapels, or seen one of their ministers, +since I left America. On seeing, at Boston, what Mr. Spencer had +written, and what was likely to occur, I thought I would keep myself +entirely aloof until the final issue of the whole affair.</p> + +<p><i>London, 10th October.</i>—I wrote you on the 5th inst., under the +influence of strong and indignant feelings. But I have since calmly, and +with much prayer and many tears, for days considered the whole matter of +Church relations. I have resolved to stand my ground in my present +position, and fight out the battle with my assailants.</p> + +<p>In a letter to me, written a few days afterwards, Dr. Ryerson thus +states the conclusion which he had come to in regard to his remaining in +the Methodist Church. He said:—Last Sunday I heard a very powerful +sermon from Dr. Cumming on, "No man liveth to himself, and no man dieth +to himself;" and I resolved, by meditation and prayer, to come to a +conclusion on the subject of my Church relations, and future course. I +walked, and wept, and prayed over the subject from seven till twelve +o'clock last night, and the conclusion at which I have now arrived is to +stand in my present position and relation, and maintain my views, and +let my opponents do their worst, and thrust me out if they will or can. +If I lived to myself, that is, if I consulted my taste, feelings, +personal comforts, and enjoyments, I could not remain in the Methodist +Church a week; I have more views and sympathies with the evangelical +clergy and members of any Protestant church than I have with such men as +Mr. Spencer. But still I have, in the Providence of God, been called to +labour in connection with the Methodist Church, and have been prospered +in it; and I think, all things considered, I can do more good to stand +my ground. If I do nothing else than secure to Methodist children and +youth the recognition of their rights and privileges, and the +appropriate religious instruction and care, that point alone will +involve more good in the end than all I could do in any other section of +the Christian Church. If Methodist pulpits should be closed against me, +others will be opened to me in abundance.</p> + +<p><i>Paris, 18th October.</i>—I feel very happy in my own mind since I have +finally decided upon my future course, and which, I have no doubt you +will think with me, is, under all the circumstances, the best that I +could take. After the course which has been pursued towards me, I shall +be free from all restraints on the matters respecting which they hoped +to impose silence. I shall make the James Methleys, and the James +Spencers, of both the English and Canadian Conferences, feel very +uncomfortable, while I think I shall secure the respect and sympathies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_510" id="Page_510">[Pg 510]</a></span> +of various religious persuasions and parties in Canada, and the ultimate +accomplishment of the great and divine end I have had in view. Mr. +Spencer's remarks that you enclosed are very weak and flat—more so than +I expected. He speaks of a difference between the Conference and me. The +difference is between him and his abettors (as individuals) and me, not +between the Conference and me. The Conference has avowedly based its +proceedings upon my letter—which is all I care for since my letter is +published. If the terms of the resolution of the Conference are not in +harmony with the terms of my letter, that is of no consequence to me +now—it is for the judgment or taste of those who wrote it. I am glad to +hear that my remarks on Mr. Spencer are favourably received by all my +friends. Mr. Malcolm Cameron has said that if I never wrote another word +on the subject I had mooted, or were I even to leave the Body, the +subject would not sleep—it would be taken up by others—it could not +sleep—and their attacking me, and I defending myself, was, in effect, +discussing the question in the most telling manner.</p> + +<p><i>Paris, 8th November.</i>—I am glad to learn that at that period when I +was undecided, you entertained the views as to my relations and future +course which I have at length decided to maintain and pursue. I will +stand my ground and battle the affair with my adversaries, on both sides +of the Atlantic, to the last. In order to exclude me from the Conference +they must now bring charges against me; and, in attempting this, they +will raise a difficulty such as they have never yet encountered, and +will invest the whole question with an interest and importance that they +little dream of. Indeed, they have done so already.</p> + +<p><i>Paris, 14th November.</i>—I am happy to learn that you also entirely +concur in the course I have decided to pursue. I care not a fig for all +that the parties to whom you refer may do or try to do. I have not a +shadow of doubt as to the result. It is most strange that rashness +should be attributed to you in the matter. It was the course best +calculated to defeat the objects they wish to counteract. I do not think +my letters would have appeared at all in the <i>Guardian</i> had you not +pressed the matter as you did; and had I not taken the course I did at +Belleville, the questions could not have been brought before the body as +they can and must. I have written a reply to the <i>Guardian</i>—it contains +sixteen pages of letter paper. But after your suggestion, I will keep it +another week, and may, perhaps, substitute for it a note making my +acknowledgements to the daily press of Toronto, and stating my position +and intended course of proceedings. I think something of this kind may +be best to counteract the misrepresentations which they are no doubt +industriously<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_511" id="Page_511">[Pg 511]</a></span> circulating. Possibly I may not say anything at all, as +you suggest.</p> + +<p><i>Paris, 29th November.</i>—I cannot but smile at the pamphlet on the +Class-meeting question, after it had been declared as the determination +of the Conference that the subject of my letters was not to be agitated. +I could not be more effectually aided in what I would wish to see +accomplished than by such a publication, as it will afford me an +opportunity to re-consider the subject, and to say what I please on the +general subject, and expose every petty sophism and absurdity of my +opponents, and to show what are really the rights of the members of the +Church in more senses than one. The strength of the opposite side of the +question is silence and Conference authority; the strength of my side is +discussion. For one on the opposite side to write and publish a pamphlet +is to give up Conference authority, and to come upon the ground of +reason and Scripture. It is also an abandonment of the pretence that the +question is not a debatable or open one. There being several writers on +one side and only one on the other, gives the latter an advantage. He +can point out the variations and weak points of the former, illustrating +the criteria of error and truth. The whole will afford me an opportunity +to deal with general principles, and curiosity and enquiry will be +attached to what I can say in reply to such efforts to prove me +heretical. I look upon all such occurrences as the ways of Providence to +open the way of truth and righteousness.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson returned to Canada in time to attend the Conference at +Brockville. While there he wrote to me, on the 6th of June, 1856:—Mr. +Spencer has given me notice that, as I have denied and repudiated the +terms upon which I had been re-admitted into the Conference, when my +name comes up in the examination of character, it will be moved +that the resolution re-admitting me into the Conference be rescinded. +I am glad of this. It will afford me an opportunity of exposing the +conduct of my assailants, and of entering into the whole question. +To-day the subject of class-meetings came up, by a philippic on the +subject by one of the ministers, in connection with the return of +members, and the manner of administering the Discipline. I at once +accepted the challenge—reiterated my sentiments, and stated when the +time came I should be prepared to show that they were founded on the +Scriptures, the primitive Church, the Fathers of the Protestant +Reformation, and such men as Baxter and Howe, down to the present +time. What I said seemed to be favourably received by a considerable +portion of the Conference. I think the Spencer clique (and it is only +a clique) will be disappointed greatly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_512" id="Page_512">[Pg 512]</a></span> when the affair comes up. I feel +that I stand upon the Rock of Truth. I would that my soul were more +fully baptized with the Spirit of the Truth, the principles of which +I maintain.</p> + +<p>On the 9th of June, he also wrote as follows:—This afternoon, on my +name being called, Rev. J. Borland moved, seconded by Rev. W. Jeffers, +the following resolution:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Resolved</i>, That as Dr. Ryerson has denied the authority of the +verbal assurances given in his behalf at the Conference in London, +and repudiated the basis upon which the resolution restoring him to +his former standing in the Conference was founded; therefore, all +that part of the said resolution which relates to his re-admission +be, and is hereby, rescinded.</p></div> + +<p>When the President came to the question as to the examination of +character, he observed that that question was always considered with +closed doors, and intimated to strangers to withdraw. I arose at once, +and said that as far as I was concerned, notice had been given to me of +a resolution to exclude me from the Conference, and that upon the ground +of what had appeared in the public papers—that I had been +misrepresented and maligned in the official organ of the Conference—in +professed reports of what had taken place in the Conference, and I +demanded, as a matter of right and equity, that the proceedings of the +Conference should be public as far as I was concerned. A discussion then +took place in regard to reporting. I at length moved an amendment that +the proceedings of the Conference should be public as far as I was +concerned. This was adopted by a large majority, though voted against by +the whole clique hostile to me. Several of them made speeches against +me. My brother John, Rev. E. Wood, Rev. R. Jones, Dr. Green, as well as +others, stated what was said as to my pledge, just what I had supposed +and intended; and my brother John made a most powerful speech, and +scathed Mr. Spencer and others. His references to me were warmly cheered +by an evident majority of the Conference. The cheers to the remarks +maligning me seemed to be made by about fifteen or twenty—many less +than I had supposed. I have no doubt they will be defeated by a very +large majority. When the hour of adjournment arrived, the President +asked me if I wished to make any remarks; I stated to the Conference I +was willing to give my assailants the advantage of leaving their strong +statements and attacks unrefuted and unnoticed until Monday morning. A +large number of persons were present, and a strong popular feeling +seemed to be excited in my favour. My opponents have themselves in the +very position in which I have desired to get them, and I shall now have +the best possible opportunity of exposing them.</p> + +<p>At the request of the friends here, I have consented to preach<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_513" id="Page_513">[Pg 513]</a></span> +to-morrow evening, notwithstanding the opposition of the preachers +hostile to me. I feel as if God the Lord would help me on this occasion, +notwithstanding my unfaithfulness and unworthiness; He has never failed +me in such an extremity.</p> + +<p>On the following Monday Dr. Ryerson's case was brought up for +discussion. Rev. J. Borland made a strong appeal on behalf of his +resolution. The <i>Canadian Independent</i>, of July 16th, in speaking of the +debate said:—</p> + +<p>Mr. Borland had not spoken long in support of this before he was +interrupted by Rev. Dr. Wood, the President, who made this most +important declaration, that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>He gave no verbal assurance for, or in behalf of Dr. Ryerson; that +he received no such assurance from him; that the document he +received from Dr. Ryerson was laid on the table, and read before +the Conference, unaccompanied by any verbal statements or +assurances of any kind from him.</p></div> + +<p>This he afterwards repeated, when Rev. J. Spencer, the Editor of the +<i>Guardian</i>, re-asserted the giving of such assurances. The co-delegate, +Rev. J. Ryerson, also said that—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>He never thought of pledging Dr. Ryerson to silence on any of these +questions, and he was sure the Conference would not ask him to do +so, as the Conference never gagged any man.</p></div> + +<p>The <i>Independent</i> then proceeds:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Dr. Ryerson has been most unfairly treated. He has not denied +having made application for re-admission, but only an application +with pledges of silence. The resolutions of Conference, in 1854, +accepting his resignation and warmly acknowledging his past +services, and, in 1855, consenting to his re-admission, were never +communicated to him, and were suppressed by the <i>Guardian</i>. This +was most unmanly and unjust.<a name="FNanchor_145_147" id="FNanchor_145_147"></a><a href="#Footnote_145_147" class="fnanchor">[145]</a> The matter now before the +Conference was introduced at the Toronto District Meeting in his +absence, and without notice being given him.<a name="FNanchor_146_148" id="FNanchor_146_148"></a><a href="#Footnote_146_148" class="fnanchor">[146]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_514" id="Page_514">[Pg 514]</a></span></p> + +<p>He uttered some memorable things in his eloquent defence.</p> + +<p>I believe the true foundation or test of membership in the Church +of Christ is not the acute angle of a Class-meeting attendance, but +the broad bases of repentance, faith, and holiness. I can have no +sympathy with that narrow and exclusive spirit, the breadth of +whose catholicity is that of a goat's track, and the dimensions of +whose charity are those of a needle's point, whether inculcated by +the Editor of <i>The Church</i> on the one hand, or by the Editor of the +<i>Guardian</i> on the other. He would give no pledges, had no +concessions or promises to make; would be accountable to the rules +of the Church as others, and would stand in that Conference on the +same footing as other members, or not at all. While he subscribed +to all that had been said as to the utility of Class-meetings, and +reiterated the grounds on which he had recommended and maintained +them; yet, on the ground of Scripture obligation he demurred, and +averred, in the language of Mr. Wesley, with whom they originated +and who best knew their true position in the Church, that they are +merely prudential, not essential, not of Divine institution.</p></div> + +<p>The Editor of the <i>Independent</i>, in conclusion, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We congratulate Dr. Ryerson on his successful defence.... We should +esteem it a dire calamity, could any dishonour be attached to his +name. He is one of the most devoted, conscientious, able and +successful officers in the public service. In the school system of +Upper Canada, he has built for himself an enduring monument, as a +benefactor of the Province. He is a brave yet courteous champion +for some of our most precious rights. May those who watch for his +halting be confounded and put to shame!</p></div> + +<p>After a reference to some personal matters, Dr. Ryerson, in the course +of his remarks, showed that he was prepared to sacrifice much for the +maintenance of the truth. He said: Shortly after the occurrence to which +I have just referred, an act was got through the Legislature at the end +of the Session of 1849, which excluded clergymen from visiting the +public schools in their official character, and which would have +excluded the Bible from the schools. What was my conduct on the +occasion? Why, I forthwith placed my office at the disposal of the Head +of the Government sooner than administer such a law. The result was the +Government authorized the suspension of the Act, and caused its repeal +at the next Session of Parliament.</p> + + + +<p class="space">The debate lasted over two days, and was finally closed by the adoption +of an amendment by the Rev. A. Hurlburt, recognizing the application of +the previous year as admitted by Dr. Ryerson, and as understood by the +Conference. The amendment was passed by an immense majority, only 23 out +of 150 members present voting against it.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_143_145" id="Footnote_143_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143_145"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> Dr. Ryerson left Toronto for Quebec immediately after +Conference, to confer with the Government there on matters connected +with his Department. While there he wrote to me a private letter as +follows:— +</p><p> +At Mr. Attorney-General Macdonald's suggestion I have been appointed +Honorary Commissioner at the Paris exhibition. Mr. Macdonald also +endorsed my recommendation for your appointment as Deputy Superintendent +with an increased salary. His Excellency appointed you yesterday +according to my recommendation, and you will be gazetted on Saturday.... +Sir Edmund Head has given me very flattering letters of introduction to +Lord Clarendon and Lord John Russell.... I leave here for Boston on my +way to England.... I have no doubt but that you will do all things in +the best manner, and for the best. I fervently pray Almighty God greatly +to prosper you, as well as guide and bless you in your official duties.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_144_146" id="Footnote_144_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144_146"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> The antagonism between Mr. Spencer (now Editor of the +<i>Guardian</i>) and Dr. Ryerson was of long standing. Thirteen years before +the date of this attack upon Dr. Ryerson, Mr. Spencer was proposed, in +1842, as a candidate for a Mastership in Victoria College. Dr. Ryerson +advised him to attend the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., so +as to fit himself for the post. He did so. But the Board of Victoria +College refused to appoint him. He was very indignant, and so expressed +himself to Dr. Ryerson. He afterwards wrote to him a letter (in 1842) as +follows:—You were no doubt surprised at the remarks I made to you, and +perhaps you thought they were unnecessarily harsh and severe, and made +under the momentary impulse of excited feelings. If so, you are +mistaken. I spoke deliberately, though strongly. You know the +circumstances under which, at your request, I went to the College, and +that the situation, though congenial to my feelings, was not sought for +by me. Of the decision of the members of the Board, to give the +Principal permission to employ me part of the year, I express my decided +disapprobation. Now, Sir, I consider such a resolution a downright +insult. Had I come before that Board as a stranger, or under the +character of a mercenary hireling, and one concerning whose +qualifications you were entirely ignorant, then there would have been +some appearance of propriety in making such a proposition, as a +safeguard, and against imposition. But I am a member of that Conference +under whose direction the affairs of that institution are placed; its +interests are closely connected with those of the Church of which I am +now, and expect to remain, a member. I believed I could render greater +service to the Church in labouring to promote the prosperity of that +institution. I trust I have yet too much of public spirit, and too +ardent a desire for the prosperity of our College, to wish to remain +there if my labours were not conducive to its efficiency. But what is +the spirit of that resolution? "Why, we wish to get rid of you, and the +easiest way to do it is, to employ you for a specified time, and then we +can dismiss you with propriety. But the absurdity of that resolution is +its most prominent feature. I intend, at the first opportunity, to +express my mind more fully to you personally upon this subject." In one +of his letters in this controversy, Dr. Ryerson thus refers to this +Victoria College episode. He says: In regard to Mr. Spencer, I am aware +of his feelings toward me during these many years; ever since he failed +to procure an appointment to the Chair of Chemistry and Natural +Philosophy in Victoria College, for which he had devoted a year of +special preparation. I believe he has attributed his disappointment to +me, and that I had not acted toward him in a brotherly way, in not +securing his appointment, as he supposed I could have done from my +connection with the College. The fact was, I recommended his +appointment, at least for a trial, but my recommendation was not +concurred in by any other member of the Board, as Dr. Green and others +know.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_145_147" id="Footnote_145_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145_147"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> Dr. Ryerson, in his speech at the Brockville Conference, +referring to this omission, said:—The Conference passed a resolution +complimentary and affectionate towards myself, and expressive of its +high sense of my long services in defending the rights and advocating +the interests of the Connexion. The copy of that resolution has never +been communicated to me to this day; Mr. Spencer suppressed the +publication of it in the <i>Guardian</i>, and thus defeated the noble and +generous intentions of the great majority of the Conference in regard to +myself.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_146_148" id="Footnote_146_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146_148"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> To this proceeding, Dr. Ryerson also referred in his +speech as follows:—How did my opponents bring up their charge against +me? Did they inform the defendant of the approaching ordeal, and secure +his presence in an ecclesiastical court prior to his attempted +execution? No, Sir; the defendant obeys the call of duty, at personal +sacrifice, to attend to a meeting of the senate and annual public +exercises of the students of Victoria College; and, while absent, these +professed advocates of Methodistic rule, arraign him without notice, and +seek to get a resolution passed against him. Is that Methodism? Is that +old Methodism? If these, my assailants, believe, as they say, that the +interests of the Church will be greatly promoted by my expulsion, then +let them do it on Methodistic principles. Now, although I was well aware +that they were opposed to me personally, yet I thought, though I was +absent from the district meeting, they would treat me, at least, +honourably. If I had done wrong, let them accuse me—give me a specific +charge and due notice of trial, and let me prepare for my defence. This +would be the manly course—this would be Methodism; and if I had +committed no offence, if no charge could be brought against me, why seek +to exclude me from this body without a charge and without a crime? Is +not this course opposed to all proceedings of civil and ecclesiastical +tribunals, and to every principle of civil and religious liberty—to +true Protestant freedom and to genuine Methodism, whether new or old?</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_515" id="Page_515">[Pg 515]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LVII" id="CHAPTER_LVII"></a>CHAPTER LVII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1854-1856.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Dr. Ryerson's Third Educational Tour in Europe.</span></p> + + +<p>While in Europe in 1854 and 1856, Dr. Ryerson, under the authority of +the Government, commenced the collection of objects of art for the +Educational Museum in the Education Department. While there he met Hon. +Malcolm Cameron, who after Dr. Ryerson returned to Canada, wrote to him +from London on the subject of his mission. In a letter, dated 3rd of +January, 1857, Mr. Cameron said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have myself witnessed the result of the labour and reading which +you must have gone through with in order to obtain the information +and cultivation of judgment necessary to get the things our young +Canada can afford; things, too, of such a character and description +as shall be useful, not only in elevating the taste of our youth, +but of increasing their historical and mythological lore, as well +as inform them of the facts of their accuracy in size and form. I +was much flattered to find that my humble efforts to begin, in some +degree, a Canadian gallery—by securing a few of Paul Kane's +pictures in 1851—had been followed up by you in your +universally-acknowledged enlightened efforts for education, which +(in my bitterest moments of alienation from you, for what I +esteemed a sacrifice of Canadian freedom, and right to +self-government), I have ever cheerfully admitted.</p> + +<p>Your determination to obtain a few works of art and statuary, a few +paintings, prints of celebrities, and scientific instruments, has +cost you much labour, anxiety and thought, which I never would have +conceived of had I not met you, and gone with you, and seen your +notes and correspondence.</p> + +<p>You have passed through many trials, and in most of them I was with +you. The period that presses on my mind (as Lord Elgin said of +Montreal), I do not want to remember. God grant that we may see, in +all matters for the rest of our few days, eye to eye, as we do now +on all the subjects in which you are now engaged, publicly and +privately. I think God is with you, and directing you aright in +that Conference matter which is nearest to your heart, and I am +confident that you will have a signal triumph.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson has written the following account of a distinguished +physician whom he met at Rome:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>One of the most remarkable men with whom I became acquainted in +Italy, in my tour there in 1856-7, was Dr. Pantelioni, a scholar, +physician, patriot, and statesman; to whose character and +banishment from Rome the London <i>Times'</i> newspaper devoted about +three columns.</p> + +<p>Prefatory to the circumstances of my acquaintance with this +remarkable man, I may observe, that when in England in 1850-1, I +had a good deal of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_516" id="Page_516">[Pg 516]</a></span> correspondence with Earl Grey, who was then +Secretary of State for the Colonies, and through whom I was able to +procure maps, globes, and essential text-books for Canadian +schools, at a discount of forty-three per cent. from the published +selling prices. Earl Grey was much pleased in being the instrument +of so much good to the cause of public education in Canada; wrote +to the English booksellers and got their consent to the +arrangement, shewed me much kindness, and invited me to dine at his +residence, in company with some distinguished English statesmen, +among whom was Sir Charles Wood (afterwards a peer), and the late +Marquis of Lansdowne, the Nestor of English statesmen, and beside +whom I was seated at dinner. The Countess of Grey shewed me many +kind attentions, and the Marquis of Lansdowne invited me to call +the next day at Lansdowne House, and explain to him the Canadian +system of education, as he was the Chairman of the Privy Council +Committee on Education, and wished to know what had been done, and +what might be done for the education of the labouring classes. I +called at Lansdowne House, as desired, and explained as briefly and +clearly as possible the Canadian school system, its popular +comprehensiveness and fairness to all parties, its Christian, yet +non-sectarian, character. At the conclusion of my remarks, the +noble Marquis observed, "I cannot conceive a greater blessing to +England than the introduction into it of the Canadian school +system; but, from our historical traditions and present state of +society, all we can do is to aid by Parliamentary grants the cause +of popular education through the agency of voluntary associations +and religious denominations."</p> + +<p>Five years afterwards, in another educational tour in Europe, +myself and daughter spent some months at the Paris Exhibition in +1855. The Earl and Countess of Grey, seeing our names on the +Canadian Book of the Exhibition, called and left their cards at our +hotel. We returned the call the following day, when the Earl and +Countess told us they had an aunt at Rome devoted to the fine arts, +who would have great pleasure in assisting us to select copies of +great masters for our Canadian Educational Museum; that they would +write to her, and, if we left our cards with her on our arrival, +she would gladly receive us. We did so, and, in less than an hour +after, we received a most friendly letter from Lady Grey, saying +that she had been expecting and waiting for us for some time, and +writing us to come to her residence that evening, as she had +invited a few friends.<a name="FNanchor_147_149" id="FNanchor_147_149"></a><a href="#Footnote_147_149" class="fnanchor">[147]</a> In the course of the evening, I was +introduced to Dr. Pantelioni with this remark, "Dr. Ryerson, if you +should become ill, you cannot fall into better hands than those of +Dr. Pantelioni." I replied that "I was glad to make his personal +acquaintance, but hoped I should not need his professional +services." But the very next day I was struck down in the Vatican +while examining the celebrated painting of Raphael's +Transfiguration and Dominichino's Last Communion of St. Jerome, +with a cruel attack of lumbago and sciatica, rendering it necessary +for four men to convey me down the long stairway to my carriage, +and from thence to my room in the hotel, where I was confined for +some three weeks, requiring three men for some days to turn me in +bed. Language cannot describe the agony I experienced during that +period. Dr. Pantelioni was sent for, and attended me daily for +three weeks, and never charged me more than a dollar a visit. After +two or three visits, finding that I was otherwise well, and had +knowledge of government and civil affairs in Europe and America,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_517" id="Page_517">[Pg 517]</a></span> +he entered into conversation with me on these subjects. I found him +to be one of the most generally read and enlightened men that I had +met with on the Continent.</p> + +<p>He frequently remained from one to three hours conversing with me; +and in the course of these frequent and lengthened visits, Dr. +Pantelioni related the following facts:</p> + +<p>1st. That he was one of the liberal party in Rome that opposed the +despotism of the Papal government, and contributed to its +overthrow, when Garibaldi for a time became supreme at Rome.</p> + +<p>2nd. That he, with many other liberals, became convinced that the +government which Garibaldi would inaugurate, would be little better +than a mob, and would be neither stable nor safe.</p> + +<p>(Garibaldi was a bold and skilful party leader, but no statesman. I +witnessed his presence in the Italian Legislature, then held in +Florence; he could declaim against government, and find fault, with +individual acts; but he seemed to have no system of government in +his own mind, and commanded little respect or attention after his +first speech.)</p> + +<p>3rd. Dr. Pantelioni stated, that under these circumstances, he, +with several liberal friends, agreed to go confidentially to the +Pope, who was then an exile at Gaeta, and offer their offices and +influence to restore him to power at Rome, provided he would +establish a constitutional government, and govern as a +constitutional ruler. The pope agreed to their propositions, but +when they reduced them to writing for his signature, and those of +the gentlemen waiting upon him, he declined to sign his name; in +consequence of which Dr. Pantelioni and his friends felt they had +no sufficient ground upon their own individual word, without a +scrap of writing from the pen of the pope, to influence their +friends, and risk their lives; they, therefore, retired from the +presence of his holiness, disappointed but not dishonored.</p> + +<p>4th On my recovery Dr. Pantelioni invited me to visit him at his +residence. I did so and found him possessed of the best private +library I had seen in Italy, or even on the continent. It filled +three, large rooms; one of which contained books (well arranged) of +general history and literature, comprising the latest standard +works in English (published both in England and America), French, +German, Italian and Spanish. The second room was equally filled +with shelves and books, beautifully arranged, on medical and +scientific subjects of the latest date, and highest authority, in +English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish, &c. The third room +contained a fine and extensive collection of the latest standard +works which had been published in England and the United States, +France, Spain, Germany, and Italy, on Civil Government. I was not +before aware that the Italian language was so rich in political +literature. I selected the titles, and ordered several books in +that language for myself.</p> + +<p>5th. In the course of these conversations, Dr. Pantelioni related +the efforts of himself and friends to establish a constitutional +government, despairing, as they did, of any competence of the +Garibaldi party to establish such a government. A deputation (of +whom Dr. Pantelioni was one) went from Rome to Florence to consult +the Right Honourable Richard Shiel, then the British Ambassador, or +representative of the British Government, at Florence, as the +British Government had no diplomatic relations with Rome. Mr. Shiel +asked them what they wanted? They replied, nothing more than the +protection of the British Government for twelve months, during +which time they could establish a just and safe government, if +protected from the interference of other governments. Mr. Shiel +agreed to support their views, and Dr. Pantelioni and one or two +others of the deputation took letters from Mr. Shiel on the subject +to the late Viscount Palmerston and Lord John Russell, who +encouraged their undertaking, entirely agreeing with the +recommendations<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_518" id="Page_518">[Pg 518]</a></span> of Mr. Shiel, who, although a Roman Catholic, was +a constitutional liberal. But it unfortunately happened that on the +very day on which Dr. Pantelioni and his friends, after their +mission to England, had intended to carry their plans into +operation, the French army landed at Civita Vecchia, and having +subdued the Garibaldi party at Rome, restored the Pope to the +Vatican, with all his former pretensions and power.</p> + +<p>6th. Some time afterwards, when the King of Italy overran the Papal +territories, Dr. Pantelioni was nominated to the Italian +Legislature for one of the new electoral divisions, but declined at +once the acceptance of the nomination, and sent his resignation by +the first post, well knowing the effect it might have upon his +personal safety and interests at Rome, which was still under the +rule of the Pope. But the partiality shown to Dr. Pantelioni by his +newly enfranchised fellow-countrymen enraged the Court of Rome, +which banished him from his city and country on a notice of only +twenty-four hours! The London <i>Times</i> newspaper devoted some two +articles to Dr. Pantelioni's history and banishment, eulogizing him +in the strongest terms.</p> + +<p>7th. Dr. Pantelioni then took up his abode at Nice, in the south of +France, and there pursued his profession.</p> + +<p>Some years afterward, when making my last educational tour on the +Continent in 1867, I stopped a day with my son at Nice, and learned +that there was an Italian physician residing there, an exile from +Rome. I knew it must be my old physician and friend, and +immediately called upon him. We were, of course, both delighted to +see each other again; and he invited myself and son to spend the +evening at his house, which we did. He had, since I saw him at +Rome, married an English lady, who seemed in every respect worthy +of him.</p> + +<p>When in the course of the evening I expressed my sympathy with him +in his exile, privation of his beautiful residence and fine +library, he replied with energy, bringing his hand down strongly on +the table, "I have such faith in the principles on which I have +acted, and in the providence of God, that I shall just as surely go +back to Rome, as that I am sure I am now talking to you." Some one +or two years afterwards I learned from the newspapers, that Dr. +Pantelioni had been recalled to Rome by the King of Italy, and +appointed to the head of all the Roman Hospitals.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>In a letter from Dr. Ryerson dated London, 30th October, 1857, he said: +"On the 28th inst. we witnessed the consecration of Dr. Cronyn as Bishop +of Huron, and were afterwards invited to lunch with the Archbishop of +Canterbury. Several bishops were present. Afterwards we went with Dr. +Cronyn to Woolwich, and dined with him at his son-in-law's (Col. +Burrows)."</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_147_149" id="Footnote_147_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147_149"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> These evening parties are conversazioni on a small scale. +There were no suppers, but cups of tea and biscuits, chiefly for ladies; +the gentlemen did not take off their gloves or sit down, but kept their +hats in their hands or under their arms. We were introduced to, and +conversed with various parties. Lady Grey seemed to be ubiquitous, and +to know everybody, and to make all feel at home. She is the widow of +General Grey, and is said to have been in early days a belle and bright +star in the highest London society.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_519" id="Page_519">[Pg 519]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LVIII" id="CHAPTER_LVIII"></a>CHAPTER LVIII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1859-1862.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Denominational Colleges and the University Controversy.</span></p> + + +<p>One of the most memorable controversies in which Dr. Ryerson was engaged +was that on behalf of the Denominational Colleges of Upper Canada.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, at various stages of the discussion, the controversy +partook largely of a personal character. This prevented that clear, +calm, and dispassionate consideration of the whole of this important +question to which it was entitled, and hence, in one sense, no good +result accrued. Such a question as this was worthy of a better fate. For +at that stage of our history it was a momentous one—worthy of a +thoughtful, earnest and practical solution—a solution of which it was +then capable, had it been taken up by wise, far-seeing and patriotic +statesmen. But the opportunity was unfortunately lost; and in the +anxiety in some cases to secure a personal triumph, a grand movement to +give practical effect to somewhat like the comprehensive university +scheme of the Hon. Robert Baldwin, of 1843, failed. Mr. Baldwin's +proposal of that year was defeated by the defenders of King's College, +as a like scheme of twenty years later was defeated by the champions of +the Toronto University. The final result of the painful struggle of +1859-1863 was in effect as follows:—</p> + +<p>1. Things were chiefly left in <i>statu quo ante bellum</i>.</p> + +<p>2. An impetus was given to the denominational college principle; and +that principle was emphasized.</p> + +<p>3. Colleges with university powers were multiplied in the province.</p> + +<p>4. Life and energy were infused into the denominational colleges.</p> + +<p>5. Apathy and indifference prevailed (and, to some extent, still +prevails) among the adherents of the Provincial University.</p> + +<p>I have already stated that the issues raised in the memorable university +contest of 1859-1863 were important. So they were, as after events have +proved. The question, however, was unfortunately decided twenty years +ago, not by an independent,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_520" id="Page_520">[Pg 520]</a></span> impartial and disinterested tribunal, but +by the parties in possession, whose judgment in the case would naturally +be in their own favour. Besides, members of the Government at the time +felt no real interest in the question, and were glad, under the shelter +of official statements and opinions, to escape collision with such +powerful bodies as the Wesleyan Methodists and the Church of Scotland.</p> + +<p>This discussion originated in the presentation to the Legislature of a +memorial from the Wesleyan Methodist Conference, prepared by Dr. +Ryerson, dated November, 1859, to the following effect:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>That the Legislature in passing the Provincial University Act of +1853, clearly proposed and avowed a threefold object. First, the +creation of a University for examining candidates, and conferring +degrees in the Faculties of Arts, Law, and Medicine. Secondly, the +establishment of an elevated curriculum of University education, +conformable to that of the London University in England. Thirdly, +the association with the Provincial University of the several +colleges already established, and which might be established, in +Upper Canada, with the Provincial University, the same as various +colleges of different denominations in Great Britain and Ireland +are affiliated to the London University—placed as they are upon +equal footing in regard to and aid from the state, and on equal +footing in regard to the composition of the Senate, and the +appointment of examiners.</p> + +<p>In the promotion of these objects the Conference and members of the +Wesleyan Methodist Church cordially concurred; and at the first +meeting after the passing of the University Act, the Senatorial +Board of Victoria College adopted the programme of collegiate +studies established by the Senate of the London University, and +referred to in the Canadian Statute. But it soon appeared that the +Senate of the Toronto University, instead of giving effect to the +liberal intentions of the Legislature, determined to identify the +University with one college, in contradistinction and to the +exclusion of all others, to establish a monopoly of senatorial +power and public revenue for one college alone; so much so, that a +majority of the legal quorum of the Senate now consists of the +professors of one college, one of whom is invariably one of the two +examiners of their own students, candidates for degrees, honors, +and scholarships. The curriculum of the University studies, instead +of being elevated and conformed to that of the London University, +has been revised and changed three times since 1853, and reduced by +options and otherwise below what it was formerly, and below what it +is in the British Universities, and below what it is in the best +colleges in the United States. The effect of this narrow and +anti-liberal course is, to build up one College at the expense of +all others, and to reduce the standard of a University degree in +both Arts and Medicine below what it was before the passing of the +University Act in 1853.</p> + +<p>Instead of confining the expenditure of funds to what the law +prescribed—namely, the "current expenses," and such "permanent +improvements or additions to the buildings" as might be necessary +for the purposes of the University and University College—new +buildings have been erected at an expenditure of some hundreds of +thousands of dollars, and the current expenses of the College have +been increased far beyond what they were in former times of +complaint and investigation on this subject.</p> + +<p>Your memorialists therefore submit, that in no respect have the +liberal and enlightened intentions of the Legislature in passing +the University Act been fulfilled—a splendid but unjust monopoly +for the city and college of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_521" id="Page_521">[Pg 521]</a></span> Toronto having been created, instead +of a liberal and elevated system, equally fair to all the colleges +of the country.</p> + +<p>A Provincial University should be what its name imports, and what +was clearly intended by the Legislature—a body equally unconnected +with, and equally impartial to every college in the country; and +every college should be placed on equal footing in regard to public +aid according to its works, irrespective of place, sect, or party. +It is as unjust to propose, as it is unreasonable to expect, the +affiliation of several colleges in one University except on equal +terms. There have been ample funds to enable the Senate to submit +to the Government a comprehensive and patriotic recommendation to +give effect to the liberal intentions of the Legislature in the +accomplishment of these objects; but the Senate has preferred to +become the sole patron of one college to the exclusion of all +others, and to absorb and expend the large and increasing funds of +the University, instead of allowing any surplus to accumulate for +the general promotion of academical education, as contemplated and +specifically directed by the statute. Not only has the annual +income of the University endowment been reduced some thousands of +pounds per annum by vast expenditures for the erection of buildings +not contemplated by the Act, but a portion of those expenditures is +for the erection of lecture-rooms, &c., for the Faculties of which +the Act expressly forbids the establishment!</p> + +<p>But whilst your memorialists complain that the very intentions of +this Act have thus been disregarded and defeated, we avow our +desire to be the same now as it was more than ten years ago, in +favour of the establishment of a Provincial University, unconnected +with any one college or religious persuasion, but sustaining a +relation of equal fairness and impartiality to the several +religious persuasions and colleges, with power to prescribe the +curriculum, to examine candidates, and confer degrees, in the +Faculties of Arts, Law, and Medicine.</p> + +<p>We also desire that the University College at Toronto should be +efficiently maintained; and for that purpose we should not object +that the minimum of its income from the University Endowment should +be even twice that of any other college; but it is incompatible +with the very idea of a national University, intended to embrace +the several colleges of the nation, to lavish all the endowment and +patronage of the state upon one college, to the exclusion of all +others. At the present time, and for years past, the noble +University Endowment is virtually expended by parties directly or +indirectly connected with but one college; and the scholarships and +prizes, the honors and degrees conferred, are virtually the rewards +and praises bestowed by professors upon their own students, and not +the doings and decisions of a body wholly unconnected with the +college. Degrees and distinctions thus conferred, however much they +cost the country, cannot possess any higher literary value, as they +are of no more legal value, than those conferred by the <i>Senatus +Academicus</i> of the other chartered colleges.</p> + +<p>It is therefore submitted that if it is desired to have one +Provincial University, the corresponding arrangement should be made +to place each of the colleges on equal footing according to their +works in regard to everything emanating from the state. And if it +is refused to place these colleges on equal footing as colleges of +one University, it is but just and reasonable that they should be +placed upon equal footing in regard to aid from the state, +according to their works as separate University colleges.</p> + +<p>It is well known that it is the natural tendency, as all experience +shows, that any college independent of all inspection, control, or +competition in wealth—all its officers securely paid by the state, +independent of exertion or success—will in a short time, as a +general rule, degenerate into inactivity, indifference, and +extravagance. In collegiate institutions, as well as in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_522" id="Page_522">[Pg 522]</a></span> higher +and elementary schools, and in other public and private affairs of +life, competition is an important element of efficiency and +success. The best system of collegiate, as of elementary education, +is that in which voluntary effort is developed by means of public +aid. It is clearly both the interest and duty of the state to +prompt and encourage individual effort in regard to collegiate, as +in regard to elementary, education and not to discourage it by the +creation of a monopoly invidious and unjust on the one side, and on +the other deadening to all individual effort and enterprise, and +oppressive to the state.</p> + +<p>We submit, therefore, that justice and the best interests of +liberal education require the several colleges of the country to be +placed upon equal footing according to their works. We ask nothing +for Victoria College which we do not ask for every collegiate +institution in Upper Canada upon the same terms.</p> + +<p>We desire also that it may be distinctly understood that we ask no +aid towards the support of any theological school or theological +chair in Victoria College. There is no such chair in Victoria +College; and whenever one shall be established, provision will be +made for its support independent of any grant from the state.<a name="FNanchor_148_150" id="FNanchor_148_150"></a><a href="#Footnote_148_150" class="fnanchor">[148]</a> +We claim support for Victoria College according to its works as a +literary institution—as teaching those branches which are embraced +in the curriculum of a liberal education, irrespective of +denominational theology.</p> + +<p>We also disclaim any sympathy with the motives and objects which +have been attributed by the advocates of Toronto College monopoly, +in relation to our National School system. The fact that a member +of our own body has been permitted by the annual approbation of the +Conference to devote himself to the establishment and extension of +our school system, is ample proof of our approval of that system: +in addition to which we have from time to time expressed our +cordial support of it by formal resolutions, and by the testimony +and example of our more than four hundred ministers throughout the +Province. No religious community in Upper Canada has, therefore, +given so direct and effective support to the National School system +as the Wesleyan community, but we have ever maintained, and we +submit, that the same interests of general education for all +classes which require the maintenance of the elementary school +system require a reform in our University system in order to place +it on a foundation equally comprehensive and impartial, and not to +be the patron and mouthpiece of one college alone; and the same +consideration of fitness, economy and patriotism which justify the +state in co-operating with each school municipality to support a +day school, require it to co-operate with each religious +persuasion, according to its own educational works, to support a +college. The experience of all Protestant countries shows that it +is, and has been, as much the province of a religious persuasion to +establish a college as it is for a school municipality to establish +a day school; and the same experience shows that, while pastoral +and parental care can be exercised for the religious instruction of +children residing at home and attending a day school, that care +cannot be exercised over youth residing away from home and pursuing +their higher education except in a college where the pastoral and +parental care can be daily combined. We hold that the highest +interests of the country, as of an individual, are its religious +and moral interests; and we believe there can be no heavier blow +dealt out against those religious and moral interests, than for the +youth of a country destined to receive the best literary education, +to be placed, during the most eventful years of that educational +course, without the pale of daily parental and pastoral instruction +and oversight. The results of such a system must, sooner or later, +sap the religious and moral<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_523" id="Page_523">[Pg 523]</a></span> foundations of society. For such is +the tendency of our nature, that with all the appliances of +religious instruction and ceaseless care by the parent and pastor; +they are not always successful in counteracting evil propensities +and temptations; and therefore, from a system which involves the +withdrawal or absence of all such influence for years at a period +when youthful passions are strongest, and youthful temptations most +powerful, we cannot but entertain painful apprehensions. Many a +parent would deem it his duty to leave his son without the +advantages of a liberal education, rather than thus expose him to +the danger of moral shipwreck in its acquirement.</p> + +<p>This danger does not so much apply to that very considerable class +of persons whose home is in Toronto; or to those young men whose +character and principles are formed, and who, for the most part, +are pursuing their studies by means acquired by their own industry +and economy; or to the students of theological institutions +established in Toronto, and to which the University College answers +the convenient purpose of a free Grammar School, in certain secular +branches. But such cases form the exceptions, and not the general +rule. And if one college at Toronto is liberally endowed for +certain classes who have themselves contributed or done nothing to +promote liberal education, we submit that in all fairness, apart +from moral patriotic considerations, the state ought to aid with +corresponding liberality those other classes who for years have +contributed largely to erect and sustain collegiate institutions, +and who while they endeavour to confer upon youth, as widely as +possible, the advantages of a sound liberal education, seek to +incorporate with it those moral influences, associations, and +habits which give to education its highest value, which form the +true basis and cement of civil institutions and national +civilization, as well as of individual character and happiness.</p></div> + +<p>The various statements and propositions in this memorial were fully and +ably discussed on both sides at the time before a Committee of the +Legislature. The discussion itself and voluminous papers and documents +on either side were published in pamphlet form and in the newspapers, so +that no further reference to them is necessary. The only other point +raised in the discussion which is not mentioned in the memorial, is one +on which Dr. Ryerson has expressed himself clearly. That is the +relations of denominational colleges to the national system of public +schools. On that point he says:—</p> + +<p>The denominational collegiate system which I advocate is in harmony with +the fundamental principles of our Common School system.... The +fundamental principle of the school system is two-fold. First, the right +of the parent and pastor to provide religious instruction for their +children; and to have facilities for that purpose. While the law +protects each pupil from compulsory attendance at any religious reading +or exercise against the wish of his parent; it also provides that within +that limitation "pupils shall be allowed to receive such religious +instruction as their parents and guardians shall desire, according to +the general regulations which shall be provided according to law." The +general regulations provide that the parent may make discretionary +arrangements with the teacher on the subject; and that the clergyman of +any Church shall have the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_524" id="Page_524">[Pg 524]</a></span> right to any school house being within his +charge for one hour in the week between four and five, for the religious +instruction of the pupils of his own Church. Be it observed, then, the +supreme right of the parent, and the corresponding right of the pastor +in regard to the religious instruction of youth, even in connexion with +day schools, where children are with their parents more than half of +each week day, and the whole of each Sunday, is a fundamental principle +of the Common School system. The less or greater extent to which the +right may be exercised in various places, does not affect the principles +or right itself, which is fundamental in the system. The second +fundamental principle in the school system is the co-operation and aid +of the State with each locality or section of the community as a +condition of, and in proportion to local effort. This is a vital +principle of the school system, and pervades it throughout, and is a +chief element of its success. No public aid is given until a school +house is provided, and a legally qualified teacher is employed, when +public aid is given in proportion to the work done in the school; that +is, in proportion to the number of children taught, and the length of +time the school is kept open; and public aid is given for the purpose of +school maps and apparatus, the prize books and libraries, in proportion +to the amount provided from local sources. To the application of that +principle between the State and the inhabitants of localities there is +no exception whatever, except in the single case of distributing a sum +not exceeding £500 per annum in aid of poor school sections in new +townships, and then their local effort must precede the application for +a special grant.</p> + +<p>Such are the two fundamental principles of the school system, on which I +have more than once dwelt at large in official reports.</p> + +<p>Now apply these principles to the collegiate system of the country. +First, the united right and duty of the parent and pastor. Should that +be suspended when the son is away from home, or should it be provided +for? Let parental affection and conscience, and not blind or heartless +partisanship, reply. If, then, the combined care and duty of the parent +and pastor are to be provided for as far as possible when the son is +pursuing the higher part of his education, for which he must leave home, +can that be done best in a denominational or non-denominational College? +But one answer can be given to this question. The religious and moral +principles, feelings, and habits of youth are paramount. Scepticism and +partisanship may sneer at them as "sectarian," but religion and +conscience will hold them as supreme. If the parent has the right to +secure the religious instruction and oversight of his son at home, in +connection with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_525" id="Page_525">[Pg 525]</a></span> his school education, has he not a right to do so when +his son is abroad? and is not the State in duty bound to afford him the +best facilities for that purpose? And how can that be done so +effectually—nay, how can it be effectually done at all—except in a +college which, while it gives the secular education required by the +State, responds to the parent's heart and faith to secure the higher +interests which are beyond all human computation, and without the +cultivation of which society itself cannot exist? It is a mystery of +mysteries, that men of conscience, men of religious principle and +feeling, can be so far blinded by sectarian jealousy and partizanship, +as to desire for one moment to withhold from youth at the most feeble, +most tempted, most eventful period of their educational training, the +most potent guards, helps, and influences to resist and escape the +snares and seductions of vice, and to acquire and become established in +those principles, feelings, and habits which will make them true +Christians, at the same time that they are educated men. Even in the +interests of civilization itself, what is religious and moral stands far +before what is merely scholastic and refined. The Hon. Edward Everett +has truly said in a late address, "It is not political nor military +power, but moral sentiments, principally under the guidance and +influence of religious zeal, that has in all ages civilized the world." +What creates civilization can alone preserve and advance it. The great +question, after all, in the present discussion, is not which system will +teach the most classics, mathematics, etc. (although I shall consider +the question in this light presently), but which system will best +protect, develop, and establish those higher principles of action, which +are vastly more important to a country itself—apart from other and +immortal considerations—than any amount of intellectual attainments in +certain branches of secular knowledge. Colleges under religious control +may fall short of their duty and their power of religious and moral +influence; but they must be, as a general rule, vastly better and safer +than a College of no religious control or character at all. At all +events, one class of citizens have much more valid claims to public aid +for a College that will combine the advantages of both secular and +religious education, than have another class of citizens to public aid +for a College which confers no benefit beyond secular teaching alone. It +is not the sect, it is society at large that most profits by the high +religious principles and character of its educated men. An efficient +religious College must confer a much greater benefit upon the State than +a non-religious College can, and must be more the benefactor of the +State than the State can be to it by bestowing any ordinary amount of +endowment. It is, therefore, in harmony with the first fundamental +principle of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_526" id="Page_526">[Pg 526]</a></span> the Common School system, as well as with the highest +interests of society at large, that the best facilities be provided for +all that is affectionate in the parent and faithful in the pastor, +during the away-from-home education of youth; and that is a College +under religious control, whether that control be of the Church of the +parent or not.</p> + +<p>I have already given on page 344, Dr. Ryerson's opinions in regard to +the provisions of Hon. Robert Baldwin's University Bill of 1843. From +the extract there inserted it will be seen that the practical objection +which he raised in 1859, to the administration of the University Act of +1853, was in general harmony with the views and opinions on University +matters which he had expressed fifteen or sixteen years before. A fuller +expression of these opinions was given in a letter which Dr. Ryerson +wrote to the <i>British Colonist</i> on the 14th of February, 1846. From that +letter I make the following extracts:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Board of Victoria College took no part in the University +question until after the introduction of a Bill into the +Legislature which affected the chartered rights and relations of +Victoria College. On that occasion a special meeting of the Board +was called, to decide whether it would, under any circumstances, +acquiesce in that Bill, and upon what terms. The Board expressed a +strong opinion in favour of the general terms of the Bill, but +expressed an unfavourable opinion respecting some of its details, +especially the project of the "Extra mural Board," and the +non-recognition of Christianity. The Board also objected to the +smallness of the amount proposed to be given to Victoria College. +It stated that Victoria College, having been erected by public +subscription, for the purpose of "teaching the various branches of +science and literature upon Christian principles," could not cease +to be a literary institution, as some supposed the Bill +contemplated; it stated the peculiar hardships of the aspect of the +Bill to the Methodist institution, under all the circumstances +(which it explained), and submitted them to the honourable and +generous consideration of the Government.... Mr. Baldwin's Bill +proposed to grant the sum of £500 per annum each for several years +to no less than four seminaries [besides the University].... It was +objected to on the part of both Presbyterians and Methodists, that +its application to them was not liberal enough; it was objected to +on the part of King's College Council that it gave even a farthing +to any of them.</p> + +<p>Afterwards King's College Council objected to the Bill, and +employed counsel to oppose it, on the ground that the Legislature +had no right to interfere with their charter, or to divert any +portion of King's College funds in aid of other institutions. To +this plea of the King's College Council an individual member of the +Victoria College Board offered an argumentative reply, contending +that the endowment of King's College was the property of the +Province, and upon legal, constitutional, and equitable grounds, +came within the limits of Provincial legislation. This principle, I +believe, is now generally admitted.</p> + +<p>From this summary of well known facts it is evident—1. That Mr. +Baldwin's Bill did contemplate giving aid to other institutions +than the Toronto University. 2. That the friends of Queen's, +Regiopolis, Victoria and King's Colleges did expect to derive +assistance from the University funds. 3. That the objections to Mr. +Baldwin's Bill on the part of the Presbyterians and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_527" id="Page_527">[Pg 527]</a></span> Methodists +were, not that any portion of the University funds should be +applied in aid of their institutions, but that the portion proposed +was entirely too small. 4. That those who supported Mr. Baldwin's +Bill cannot consistently object to aid being given from the +University funds to institutions in connection with the Church of +England, Roman Catholics and Methodists. The amount and duration of +such aid is a mere prudential consideration; the principle is the +same, whether the amount of aid be five hundred or five thousand +pounds, whether the duration be five years or five hundred +years....</p> + +<p>That there should be a Provincial University, furnishing the +highest academical and professional education, at least in respect +to law and medicine; that there should be a Provincial system of +common school education, commensurate with the wants of the entire +population; that both the University and the system should be +established and conducted upon Christian principles, yet free from +sectarian bias or ascendancy; that there should be an intermediate +class of seminaries in connection with the different religious +persuasions, who have ability and enterprise to establish them, +providing on the one hand a theological education for their clergy, +and on the other hand a thorough English and scientific education, +and elementary classical instruction for those of the youth of +their congregations who might seek for more than a common school +education, or who might wish to prepare for the University, and +who, not having the experience and discretion of University +students, required a parental and religious oversight, in their +absence from their parents; that it would be economy and patriotic +on the part of the Government to grant liberal aid to such +seminaries, as well as to provide for the endowment of a University +or a common school system;—these are views which I explained and +argued at length when the University question was under discussion, +from 1828 to 1834; these are the views on which the Methodists +asked in establishing the Upper Canada Academy, now Victoria +College; these are views, by pressing which, a royal charter and +government aid were obtained for that institution; these are the +views which received strong confirmation in the recommendation of a +despatch from Lord Goderich to Sir John Colborne in 1832, and which +greatly encouraged the friends of the Upper Canada Academy in their +commencing exertions. That institution was not originally intended +to be a University College; nor was it sought to be made so until +after the establishment of a Presbyterian University College at +Kingston; when, prompted by example and emulation, and +encouragement of aid, it was thought that the operations of a +University might be grafted upon those of the academy, without +interfering with the more extended objects of the latter....</p> + +<p>More than a thousand youth have received more or less instruction +at the Cobourg Institution; very few of them, apart from other +considerations, have gone from it without forming a high standard +of education, and a deeper conviction of its importance than they +had before entertained; it has prevented hundreds of youth from +going out of the country to be educated, upon whom, and upon +hundreds of others, it has conferred the benefits of a good +practical education. Its buildings present the most remarkable +monument of religious effort and patriotic energy which was ever +witnessed in any country of the age and population of Upper +Canada....</p> + +<p>The Wesleyan Methodists have not, like the Churches of England, +Scotland and Rome, derived any assistance from the clergy reserve +fund, or other public aid to their clergy or churches. It is much +easier to figure upon a platform than to establish educational +institutions, or to preach the Gospel throughout new countries. +Those who have been in Canada twelve months can do the former, and +sneer at the latter. The flippant allusions of certain speakers at +the late Toronto meeting to the Methodists and to Victoria College +... were as unfounded as they were unbecoming.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_528" id="Page_528">[Pg 528]</a></span></p> + +<p>The discussions on the University question at Quebec in 1860 were, as I +have intimated, bitter and largely personal. Dr. Ryerson, being in the +fore front of the University reformers, was singled out for special +attack by some of the ablest defenders of the University. I shall not +enter into detail, but will give the opening and concluding parts of Dr. +Ryerson's great speech, which he made before the Committee of the +Legislature on the 25th and 26th of April, 1860:—</p> + +<p>I am quite aware of the disadvantage under which I appear before you +to-day. I am not insensible of the prejudices which may have been +excited in the minds of many individuals by the occurrences of the last +few days; ... I am not at all insensible of the fact that the attempt +has been made to turn the issue, not on the great question which demands +attention, but upon my merits or demerits, my standing as a man, and the +course which I have pursued. This subject, of very little importance to +the Committee, ... possesses a great deal of importance to myself. No +man can stand in the presence of the Representatives of the people; no +man can stand, as I feel myself standing this morning, not merely in the +presence of a Committee, but, as it were, in the presence of my native +country, the land of my birth, affections, labours, hopes, without +experiencing the deepest emotion. But how much more is that the case +when attempts have been made, of the most unprecedented kind, to deprive +me of all that is dear to me as a man, as a parent, as a public officer, +as a minister of the Christian Church. More especially do I thus feel +because reading and arranging the papers on this subject, to which my +attention has been called, occupied me until five o'clock this +morning....</p> + +<p>Sir, the position of the question which demands our consideration this +day, is one altogether peculiar, and, I will venture to say, +unparalleled in this or any other country. The individuals connected +with myself—the party unconnected with what may be called the National +University of the country, stand as the conservators of a high standard +of education, and appear before you as the advocates of a thorough +course of training that will discipline, in the most effectual manner, +the powers of the mind, and prepare the youth of our country for those +pursuits and those engagements which demand their attention as men, +Christians, and patriots, while the very persons to whom has been +allotted this great interest, this important trust, stand before you as +the advocates of a reduction, of a puerile system which has never +invigorated the mind, or raised up great men in any country; which can +never lay deep and broad the foundations of intellectual grandeur and +power anywhere, but which is characterized by that superficiality which +marks the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_529" id="Page_529">[Pg 529]</a></span> proceedings of the educational institutions in the new and +Western States of the neighbouring Republic. Sir, I feel proud of the +position I occupy; that if I have gone to an extreme, I have gone to the +proper extreme; that even if I may have pressed my views to an extent +beyond the present standing, the present capabilities of the Province, +my views have been upward, my course has been onward, my attempt has +been to invigorate Canada with an intellect and a power, a science and a +literature that will stand unabashed in the presence of any other +country, while the very men who should have raised our educational +standard to the highest point, who should have been the leaders in +adopting a high and thorough course, have confessed during the +discussion of this question, that the former standard was too high, and +that they have been levelling it down, incorporating with it +speculations which have never elevated the institutions of any country, +and adopting a course of proceedings which never advanced any nation to +the position to which I hope in God my native country will attain.</p> + +<p>The resolutions on which these proceedings have taken place, were +adopted by the Wesleyan Conference in June, 1860. Now, whatever other +changes may have taken place, I still adhere to the people of my youth, +who were the early instruments of all the religious instruction I +received until I attained manhood. Whether they are a polished and +learned or a despised people, I still am not ashamed of them, nor of the +humblest of their advocates or professors. I stand before you without a +blush, in the immediate connection, and identified with that people. The +resolutions that were adopted by the Conference, in pursuance of which +the Conference appointed a large Executive Committee, consisting of +nearly one hundred of the most experienced members of their body, to +prepare the memorial which has been presented to Parliament, are +these:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Resolved.</i> 1st. That it is the conviction of a large proportion, +if not a large majority of the inhabitants of Canada, that their +sons, in pursuing the higher branches of education (which cannot be +acquired in day schools, and rarely without the youth going to a +distance from the paternal roof and oversight), should be placed in +institutions in which their religious instruction and moral +oversight, as well as their literary training, are carefully +watched over and duly provided for; a conviction practically +evident by the fact that not only the members of the Wesleyan +Methodist Church, and other Methodists, but the members of the +Churches of England, Scotland and Rome have contributed largely, +and exerted themselves to establish colleges and higher seminaries +of learning for the superior education of their children.</p> + +<p>2nd. That no provision for instruction in secular learning alone, +can compensate for the absence of provision, or care, for the +religious and moral instruction of youth in the most exposed, +critical, and eventful periods of their lives.</p> + +<p>3rd. That it is of the highest importance to the best interests of +Canada that the Legislative provision for superior education, shall +be in harmony<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_530" id="Page_530">[Pg 530]</a></span> with the conscientious convictions and circumstances +of the religious persuasions, which virtually constitute the +Christianity of the country.</p> + +<p>4th. That the exclusive application of the Legislative provision +for superior education, to the endowment of a college for the +education of the sons of that class of parents alone who wish to +educate their sons in a non-denominational institution, +irrespective of their religious principles and moral character, to +the exclusion of those classes of parents who wish to educate their +sons in colleges or seminaries where a paternal care is bestowed +upon their moral and religious interests, at the same time that +they are carefully and thoroughly taught in secular learning; is +grossly illiberal, partial, unjust and unpatriotic, and merits the +severest reprobation of every liberal and right-minded man of every +religious persuasion and party in the country.</p> + +<p>5. That the ministers and members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, +aided by the liberal co-operation of many other friends of +Christian education, have largely and long contributed to establish +and maintain Victoria College, in which provision is made for the +religious instruction and oversight of students, independent of any +Legislative aid—in which there are fifty-nine students in the +Faculty of Arts, besides more than two hundred pupils and students +in preparatory and special classes—in which no religious test is +permitted by the charter in the admission of any student, or pupil, +and in which many hundreds of youths of different religious +persuasions, have been educated and prepared for professional and +other pursuits, many of whom have already honourably distinguished +themselves in the clerical, legal and medical professions, as also +in mercantile and other branches of business.</p> + +<p>6th. That Victoria College is justly entitled to share in the +Legislative provision for superior education, according to the +number of students in the collegiate and academical courses of +instruction.</p> + +<p>7th. That we affectionately entreat the members of our Church, to +use their influence to elect, as far as possible, public men who +are favourable to the views expressed in the foregoing resolutions, +and do equal justice to those who wish to give a superior religious +education to the youth of the country, as well as those who desire +for their sons a non-religious education alone.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson concluded his speech on the 26th April. Towards its close he +said:—[One of the speakers] thought to amuse the Committee, by a +reference to an expression of mine, used in a letter written by me +several years since, that I had meditated my system of public +instruction for this country—(for I contemplated the whole system from +the primary school to the University)—on some of the highest mountains +in Europe, and said, using a very elegant expression, it must therefore +be rather "windy."... No one can have read the history of Greece or +Scotland, or the Northern and Western parts of England, without knowing +that, from elevated and secluded places, some of the finest inspirations +of genius have emanated which have ever been conceived by the mind of +man. There are mountains in Europe where the recluse may stand and see +beneath him curling clouds, and roaring tempests spending their +strength, while he is in a calm untroubled atmosphere, on the summit of +a mountain of which it may be said,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Though round his breast the rolling clouds are spread,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Eternal sunshine settles on his head."<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_531" id="Page_531">[Pg 531]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>And I ask whether it was unphilosophical for an individual who had +examined the educational systems of various countries, and who was +crossing the Alps, to retire to a mountain solitude, and there, in the +abode of that "eternal sunshine," and in the presence of Him who is the +fountain of light, to contemplate a system which was to diffuse +intellectual and moral light throughout his native country, to survey +the condition of that country as a whole, apart from its +political-religious dissensions, and ask what system could be devised to +enable it to take its position among the civilized nations of the +world?...</p> + +<p>After giving expression to his views on what he conceived to be a proper +and suitable University system for the Province, he concluded with these +words:—It is perfectly well known to the Committee that its time, for +the last four or five days, has been occupied, not in the investigation +of these principles, but by attempts to destroy what is dearer to me +than life, in order to crush the cause with which I am identified; and a +scene has been enacted here, somewhat resembling that which took place +in a certain committee room, at Toronto, in regard to a certain +Inspector-General. Every single forgetfulness or omission of mine has +been magnified and tortured in every possible way, to destroy my +reputation for integrity, and my standing in the country. A newspaper in +Toronto, whose editor-in-chief is a man of very great notoriety, has +said, since the commencement of this inquiry, that, in my early days, I +made mercenary approaches to another church, but was indignantly +repelled, and hence my present position. I showed the other day that I +might have occupied the place of Vice-Chancellor of the University which +Mr. Langton now holds, had I desired (and the proposal was made to me +after my return from Europe in 1856), and I have similar records to +prove that in 1825, after the commencement of my Wesleyan ministry, I +had the authoritative offer of admission to the ministry of the Church +of England (see pages 41 and 206). My objection, and my sole objections +was, that my early religious principles and feelings were wholly owing +to the instrumentality of the Methodist people, and I had been +providentially called to labour among them; not that I did not love the +Church of England. Those were "saddlebag days," and I used to carry in +my saddlebags two books, to which I am more indebted than to any other +two books in the English language, except the Holy Scriptures, namely, +the Prayer Book and the Homilies of the Church of England. At this very +day, Sir, though I have often opposed the exclusive assumptions of some +members of the Church of England, I only love it less than the Church +with which I am immediately associated.</p> + +<p>I have been charged with being the leader of the present<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_532" id="Page_532">[Pg 532]</a></span> movement. I am +entitled to no such honour. If I have written a line it has been as the +amanuensis of my ecclesiastical superiors; if I have done anything, it +has been in compliance with the wishes of those whom I love and honour; +and my attachment to the Wesleyan body, and the associations and doings +of my early years, have been appealed to, as a ground of claim for my +humble aid in connection with this movement. Sir, the Wesleyan people, +plain and humble as they were, did me good in my youth, and I will not +abandon them in my old age.</p> + +<p>I have only further to add, that whatever may be my shortcomings, and +even sins, I can say with truth that I love my country; that by habit of +thought, by association, by every possible sympathy I could awaken in my +breast, I have sought to increase my affection for my native land. I +have endeavoured to invest it with a sort of personality, to place it +before me as an individual, beautiful in its proportions, as well as +vigorous in all the elements of its constitution, and losing sight of +all distinction of classes, sects, and parties, to ask myself, in the +presence of that Being, before whom I shall shortly stand, what I could +do most for my country's welfare, how I could contribute most to found a +system of education that would give to Canada, when I should be no more, +a career of splendour which will make its people proud of it. I may +adopt the words of a poet—though they may not be very poetical:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Sweet place of my kindred, blest land of my birth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The fairest, the purest, the dearest on earth;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where'er I may roam, where'er I may be,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My spirit instinctively turns unto thee.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Whatever may have been the course of proceeding adopted towards me in +this inquiry, I bear enmity to no man; and whatever may be the result of +this investigation, and the decision of the committee, I hope that +during the few years I have to live, I shall act consistently with the +past, and still endeavour to build up a country that will be +distinguished in its religious, social, moral, educational, and even +political institutions and character; to assist in erecting a structure +of intellectual progress and power, on which future ages may look back +with respect and gratitude, and thus to help, in some humble degree, to +place our beloved Canada among the foremost nations of the earth.</p> + + + +<p class="space">The following private letters, written to me at the time from Quebec and +Kingston, by Dr. Ryerson, throw additional light upon the nature of the +contest in which he was engaged. They also reveal what the character of +his personal feelings and the exercise of his mind during that eventful +time were.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_533" id="Page_533">[Pg 533]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the 20th April, Dr. Ryerson said:—I have had a very painful and +laborious week; but I hope to-morrow to be able by divine help, to +answer two of my principal opponents effectually. One of these gentlemen +made a very plausible speech yesterday in defence of the University, and +in reply chiefly to me, but full of fallacies and misquotations.</p> + +<p><i>April 27th.</i>—I finished my defence yesterday in the presence of a +densely crowded room—consisting of a large number of Legislative +Councillors and members of the House of Assembly—several of whom, I was +told, were quite moved when I closed, and cheered me heartily when I sat +down. I was congratulated on all sides by them in the afternoon, upon +the manner in which I had triumphantly defended myself. I can only say, +to God be all the praise. I felt myself as weak as water. I was so +depressed and affected the night before, and the morning of commencing +my defence, that I could not speak without emotion and tears; but I +prayed and relied upon Him who had never failed me in the hour of trial, +and my personal friends were also engaged in prayer in my behalf.</p> + +<p>As soon as I commenced, I felt as if an army of such assailants were as +so many pigmies, and, my friends say, I handled them as such. The +remarks of members of both Houses are various, and some of them +amusing—all agreeing in the completeness of the defence. All agree also +as to the extravagance and defects of the system, and the unquestionable +claims of denominational colleges.</p> + +<p>I cannot review the great goodness of God to me during this mortifying +week without an overflowing heart and tears of gratitude. More conscious +and manifold help from above I never experienced. I hope I may never be +called to pass through such another conflict. I spoke two hours and +forty minutes on the day before yesterday, and one hour and +three-quarters yesterday.</p> + +<p><i>May 8th.</i>—I shall be able to send you to-morrow a copy in slips of my +reply to my two principal opponents. I know not what will be the result, +but I trust in God, who has done better for us than all our fears or our +hopes thus far. I hear that the general conviction of members is with +me. One of the Senators told me that he had heard but one opinion on the +subject. There are some who are satisfied that I have gained in the +contest, but who are not in favour of dividing the endowment. All seem +to feel that the present system is bad, and that something must be done, +and that denominational colleges must be sustained. I think the House +will refuse to do anything until the evidence, etc., on the subject is +laid before the country. I thank you for your very kind sympathy in my +conflicts.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_534" id="Page_534">[Pg 534]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Kingston, June 7th.</i>—The Conference met yesterday, and seems to be in +a very good spirit. A Committee was appointed, named by myself, and +moved by Rev. Dr. Wood—to arrange for proceedings on the University +question. The Committee met last night, and agreed to have a public +meeting; and myself and one or two more to draw up resolutions to be +submitted to it. I am desired to address the meeting in the evening, +when it is expected there will be a great gathering. I find the +preachers to be very cordial and grateful.</p> + +<p><i>Kingston June 8th.</i>—The official lay members of the Church in the city +of Kingston presented a congratulatory address to the Conference this +forenoon, in which they referred with great feeling and force to the +University question, also to the representatives of the Conference at +Quebec, and especially to myself—requesting that the <i>Guardian</i> might +be more and more the medium of furnishing the connexion with facts and +information on the subject, and that my Defence should be inserted in it +for the information of our people.</p> + +<p>Rev. G. R. Sanderson, seconded by Rev. W. Jeffers, moved a vote of +thanks to the official members of Kingston for their address. Rev. J. +Spencer, Editor of the <i>Guardian</i>, regarded the address as an attack +upon himself, and said the lay members had been instigated to make the +attack upon him. Dr. Wood showed that the address simply made a request. +Mr. Spencer was considered to have made a great mistake for himself.</p> + +<p>The feeling of Conference in regard to myself is very cordial and very +enthusiastic on the University question. The article in <i>The Canadian +Church</i> is much admired. A copy of it has been sent to the Montreal +<i>Gazette</i>, also to the Kingston <i>Daily News</i>. It is an able and most +scholarly article.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Kingston, June 13th.</i>—Yesterday afternoon, the Conference +considered and unanimously and cordially adopted a series of +resolutions on the University question—thanking those who were at +Quebec, especially myself—endorsing the memorial pamphlet. My name +was received with cheers, whenever mentioned in the resolutions. In +the evening, a public meeting was held, and it was a perfect +ovation to myself. Some of those present thought that that was the +object of the meeting. Rev. W. Jeffers, the new editor, made an +excellent speech. Rev. Lachlan Taylor read extracts in a most +amusing and effective manner from the Hamilton <i>Spectator</i>, +<i>Colonist</i>, <i>Echo</i>, and <i>Church Press</i>. The Hon. Mr. Ferrier spoke +most happily on the effect of the discussion, and also of the +effect of my speech on the members of both branches of the +Legislature. I was cheered throughout, and sat down with four long +rounds of cheers. There was much laughter, and occasional deep +feeling during my criticisms on the variations, and some of the +topics of the speeches of my opponents at Quebec, especially the +after-dinner speeches at the Toronto University gathering.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_148_150" id="Footnote_148_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148_150"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> Since established and supported, as is the one in +Montreal, by contributions from the Methodist people.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_535" id="Page_535">[Pg 535]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LIX" id="CHAPTER_LIX"></a>CHAPTER LIX.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1861-1866.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Personal Incidents.—Dr. Ryerson's Visits to Norfolk Co.</span></p> + + +<p>During the years of 1861-1866, Dr. Ryerson was chiefly engaged in his +official duties, and part of the time with the University question. +There is, therefore, little to record during these years except personal +matters. The following letters from two of his brothers indicate how +strong was their attachment to him:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Brantford, 4th October, 1861.</i>—Rev. John Ryerson writes: I have +derived more benefit from reading Milner's History this time than I +ever did before; especially the experience, writings, &c., of St. +Augustine, Cyprian, Bernard, Luther and Zwingle. St. Augustine's +conversion and "confessions" have been much blessed to me. I have +been led to examine with more care and prayerful attention than +ever before, the power, influence, and fruits of vital godliness, +as experienced and manifested in the hearts and lives of both the +Greek and Latin Fathers; and also the principal instruments of the +Reformation in the sixteenth century. O! the power, wisdom, and +goodness of God; displayed in all these scenes, matters and lives!</p> + +<p><i>Kingston, May 8th, 1862.</i>—The Rev. Geo. Ryerson writes: We +arrived here safely this morning. I write this by the first mail +because I feel anxious concerning you. I fear that if you undertake +a journey to Quebec in your present state of weakness and disease, +that it will be fatal to you. You are providentially unable to bear +the bodily and mental exertion. God does not send a sick man to +labour in any good work, and he requires us to use ourselves +tenderly, when he weakens us.</p> + +<p><i>Brantford, May 9th.</i>—Rev. John Ryerson writes: I had no idea that +you had been so seriously ill. It is, however, gratifying now to +learn that you are convalescent, and the loss of a little of your +"fleshly substance" may prove no great calamity. Were I to lose +"forty pounds," as you have, there would be very little of me left!</p> + +<p><i>Brantford, December 22nd.</i>—Rev. John Ryerson writes: During my +long missionary tour I preached about ten times, always with +liberty and freedom. Since I returned home I have resumed all of my +domestic and private devotional exercises, and after my missionary +labours realize the return of quiet peace and spiritual communion. +Recently, after much prayer, I received a great blessing to my +soul, the peace of God coming down upon my heart and going all over +me, and I still have peace. God is my portion, my righteousness, +and my salvation all the day long.</p></div> + +<p>In September, 1864, Dr. Ryerson wrote the following account of visits +which he made to his native county of Norfolk:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In compliance with many requests, I have thought it would not be +improper,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_536" id="Page_536">[Pg 536]</a></span> and might be acceptable to my Norfolk friends, for me to +give an account of my visits during the last two years to my native +place, and to the Island within Long Point, which my father +obtained from the Crown, and which now belongs to me—marked on old +maps as Pottahawk Point, but designated on later maps, and more +generally known, as "Ryerson's Island."</p> + +<p>I may remark, by way of preface, that for more than thirty-five +years of my public life my constitution and brain seemed to be +equal to any amount of labour which I might impose on them; but of +late years, the latter has been the seat of alarming attacks and +severe pain, under any protracted or intense labour; and the former +has been impaired by labour and disease. Change of scene and +out-door exercise have proved the most effectual remedy for both. +My first adoption of this course (apart from foreign travel) was +two years since, when a month's daily sea-bathing, boating and +walking, at Cape Elizabeth, near Portland, State of Maine, +contributed greatly to the improvement of my health and strength. +After again resuming my usual work for several weeks, I found that +my relief, if not safety, required a further suspension of ordinary +mental labour, and diversion of my thought by new objects. I +determined to visit the place of my birth and the scenes of my +youth. At Port Ryerse I made myself a little skiff after the model +of one I had seen at the sea-side, and in which I rowed myself to +and from Ryerson's Island, a distance of some thirteen miles from +Port Ryerse, and about four miles from the nearest mainland—the +end of Turkey Point.</p> + +<p>Last autumn I lodged two weeks on the farm on which I was born, +with the family of Mr. Joseph Duncan, where the meals were taken +daily in a room the wood-work of which I, as an amateur carpenter, +had finished more than forty years ago, while recovering from a +long and serious illness.</p> + +<p>When invited to meet and address the common schools of the county +of Norfolk, at a county school picnic held in a grove near Simcoe, +the 24th of last June, I determined to proceed thither, not by +railroad and stage, as usual, but in a skiff fifteen feet and a +half long, in which I had been accustomed for some months to row in +Toronto Harbour, between six and eight o'clock in the morning.</p> + +<p>Providing, as far as possible, against the double danger of +swamping and capsizing, by a canvas deck, proper ballast, and +fittings of the sail, I crossed Lake Ontario alone from Toronto to +Port Dalhousie in nine hours; had my skiff conveyed thence to Port +Colborne on a Canadian vessel, through the Welland Canal, and +proceeded along the north shore of Lake Erie, rowing in one day, +half-way against head wind, from the mouth of Grand River to Port +Dover, a distance of forty miles, taking refreshments and rest at +farm houses, and bathing three times during the day. The following +day scarcely conscious of fatigue, I delivered two addresses; the +one to a vast assemblage of school pupils and their friends, in a +grove; the other a lecture to teachers and trustees in the evening.</p> + +<p>After visiting my island and witnessing the productive and +excellent garden of the family that occupies it, I returned to +Toronto in my skiff, by the way of Niagara river, sailing in one +day between sun-rise and sun-set (stopping for three hours at Port +Colborne) from Grand River to Chippewa, within two miles of the +Falls. I had my skiff conveyed on a waggon over the portage from +Chippewa to Queenstown (ten miles), and started from Niagara to +Toronto about noon of the first Friday in July. When a little more +than half way across the lake, I encountered a heavy north-east +storm of rain and wind, and a fog so thick as to completely obscure +the Toronto light-house, which was within a mile of me. When it +became so dark that I could not see my compass, I laid my course, +with the sail reefed, by the wind and waves, reaching (a mile west +of my due course) the east side of the Humber Bay, between ten and +eleven in the evening, and making my way, by a hard pull, to the +Toronto Yacht Club House a little before midnight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_537" id="Page_537">[Pg 537]</a></span></p> + +<p>About four weeks since my son and myself made the voyage in the +same skiff from Toronto to Long Point, but proceeding by railroad +from Port Dalhousie to Port Colborne, intending to spend a week or +two on the farm, and two or three days on the Island.</p></div> + +<p>I conclude this epitomised sketch with three remarks. I am satisfied of +the truth of what I have long believed, that a small boat is as safe, if +not safer, than a large one, if properly constructed, fitted out, +trimmed, and managed. I believe that many a large open boat, if not +capsized by the wind, would have been swamped by the waves over which my +little craft rode in safety.</p> + +<p>I have never experienced the benefit of out-door exertion and the +comfort of retirement to the same degree as during these excursions, +besides daily riding on horseback and preparing all the wood consumed at +my cottage. Between two and three years ago I found it painful labour to +walk one mile, I have since walked twelve miles in a day, besides +attending to other duties—an improvement of my general system, which is +already acting sensibly and encouragingly on the seat of thought and +nervous influence. In my lonely voyage from Toronto to Port Ryerse, the +scene was often enchanting, and the solitude sweet beyond expression. I +have witnessed the setting sun amidst the Swiss and Tyrolese Alps, from +lofty elevations, on the plains of Lombardy, from the highest eminence +of the Appenines, between Bologna and Florence, and from the crater +summit of Vesuvius, but I never was more delighted and impressed (owing, +perhaps, in part to the susceptible state of my feelings) with the +beauty, effulgence, and even sublimity of atmospheric phenomena, and the +softened magnificence of surrounding objects, than in witnessing the +setting sun the 23rd of June, from the unruffled bosom of Lake Erie, a +few miles east of Port Dover, and about a mile from the thickly wooded +shore, with its deepening and variously reflected shadows. And when the +silent darkness enveloped all this beauty, and grandeur, and +magnificence in undistinguishable gloom, my mind experienced that +wonderful sense of freedom and relief which come from all that suggests +the idea of boundlessness—the deep sky, the dark night, the endless +circle, the illimitable waters. The world with its tumult of cares +seemed to have retired, and God and His works appeared all in all, +suggesting the enquiry which faith and experience promptly answered in +the affirmative—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">With glorious clouds encompassed round<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whom angels dimly see;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Will the unsearchable be found;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Will God appear to me?<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>My last remark is the vivifying influence and unspeakable pleasure of +visiting scenes endeared to me by many tender, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_538" id="Page_538">[Pg 538]</a></span> comparatively few +painful recollections. Amid the fields, woods, out-door exercises, and +associations of the first twenty years of my life, I have seemed to +forget the sorrows, labours and burdens of more than two score years, +and to be transported back to what was youthful, simple, healthy, +active, and happy. I can heartily sympathise with the feelings of Sir +Walter Scott when, in reply to Washington Irving, who had expressed +disapprobation in the scenery of the Tweed, immortalized by the genius +of the Border Minstrel, he said,—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It may be partiality, but to my eyes these gray hills and all this +wild border country have beauties peculiar to themselves. I like +the very nakedness of the land. It has something bold, and stern, +and solitary about it. When I have been for some time in the rich +scenery of Edinburgh, which is ornamented garden land, I begin to +wish myself back again among my honest gray hills, and if I did not +see the heather at least once a year I think I should die.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson was very bold and skilful in the management of a sail boat, +as may be inferred from the foregoing incidents. On one occasion, a few +years ago, while sailing on the Toronto bay in his skiff, he was +overtaken by a gale, during which the steeple of Zion Church was blown +down, but, through God's goodness, he reached <i>terra firma</i> in safety.</p> + +<p>He frequently sailed his little craft, as he has mentioned, from Port +Ryerse and Port Rowan to his Long Point cottage—a distance of thirteen +and nine miles respectively—and that, too, in all sorts of weather, and +sometimes when much larger boats would not venture outside of the +harbour.</p> + +<p>For many years Dr. Ryerson was considered one of the best shots at Long +Point. When over seventy years of age, he killed from seventy to eighty +duck in one day in his punt and with his own gun. In the spring of 1880, +when in his seventy-eighth year, he was overtaken by darkness, and, not +being able to reach his cottage, was compelled to remain all night in +the marsh. Rolling himself up in his blankets, in his boat, he quietly +went to sleep. In the early morning he was rewarded by capturing nine +wild geese.</p> + +<p>He crossed Lake Ontario, between Toronto and Port Dalhousie, four times +alone in his skiff (only sixteen feet long), and three times accompanied +by his son. Fear was unknown to him, and he never lost his presence of +mind, even in the most perilous circumstances.</p> + +<p>Another favourite recreation of his was riding. He was often seen before +six o'clock in the morning enjoying a canter in the suburbs of Toronto.</p> + + + +<p class="space">Writing to me from Ridgeway in August, 1866, he said:—</p> + +<p>To-day I left Toronto in my little skiff for Port Dalhousie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_539" id="Page_539">[Pg 539]</a></span> The lake +was as smooth as glass the greater part of the day, and the latter part +of the day there was not a breath of wind, so that I had to row. I got +into Port Dalhousie in the evening. I was at the Queen's Own camp at +Thorold yesterday. I visited a large number of tents, and examined the +whole mode of living, and especially of cooking. It was amusing, among +other cases of the same kind, to see several young gentlemen of Toronto +cooking, and others assisting. I saw them cutting their meat, etc. They +have the reputation of being the best cooks in the battalion. I go to +Port Colborne in the rail cars, and will proceed in my skiff to Port +Ryerse, or rather to Port Dover first. I hope to get there to-morrow. I +went over the battle-ground here last evening.</p> + + + +<p class="space">As many people were curious to know how Dr. Ryerson spent his time at +his Long Point cottage, the following letter, written to his cousin, +Major Ryerse, in April, 1873, will supply the information. It relates to +one day's experience, and was about the average of these experiences +there:—On leaving the island cottage, I paddled and pushed my boat +about six miles in the marsh, Monday forenoon. I rowed all the way to +Port Ryerse against a head wind, one part of the way so strong that I +shipped a good deal of water, and got wet. I was from two to eight +o'clock rowing from my cottage to Port Ryerse. I was too wet and +fatigued to walk to your house, but went to bed at nine, got up at five, +and started for Simcoe at six. I walked eight miles out of ten on the +ice, from Port Rowan over—going the other two miles by water, in a +skiff which we took with us on a hand-sled. During the first eight days +I did not go out in the marsh at all, but devoted myself wholly to my +papers and books. The second week I went out three times, about three +hours each, got a little game, but not enough to leave any on the way, +except to a few friends. I am now beginning to enjoy rest more than +exertion; and am not certain when I shall come again, or whether I shall +come at all again.</p> + + + +<p class="space">While on his educational tour in 1866, Dr. Ryerson wrote to me from +Napanee, and said:—There was a very large meeting in Picton on Saturday +and another here to-day, and both went with me in everything, with +showers of compliments and almost enthusiastic feeling.</p> + +<p>A large number of the oldest settlers and Methodists were invited to +meet me last night at Mr. Dorland's, in Adolphustown. The service in the +evening was to them a feast of fat things, and some of them spoke of it +as the happiest occasion of their lives. I felt very happy with them. +They said it reminded them of "old times."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_540" id="Page_540">[Pg 540]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LX" id="CHAPTER_LX"></a>CHAPTER LX.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1867.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Last Educational Visit to Europe.—Rev. Dr. Punshon.</span></p> + + +<p>In 1867 Dr. Ryerson made his last educational tour to Europe. On his +return he prepared two elaborate reports—one on Systems of Education in +Europe, and the other on the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. He also +went to Paris as an Honorary Commissioner to the International +Exhibition held in that city in 1867. While absent he constantly wrote +to me. From his letters I make the following selections:—</p> + +<p><i>Paris, January 22nd, 1867.</i>—The pretended concessions of the Emperor +of France to the French nation was not much thought of in Paris, as it +is regarded here of little value. His announcement of his concessions, +as being final, will do him more harm, than the concessions themselves +will do good.</p> + +<p>The Attorney-General told me to-day that I had won the the heart of Mr. +Adderly, M.P., Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, who is an able +man. The Attorney-General gave me a note of introduction to him (in the +absence of Lord Carnarvon) in order to introduce me to Lord Stanley, +which Mr. Adderly did. He asked me many questions about our school +system, and told the Attorney-General I had given him an immense deal of +information in a short time.</p> + +<p><i>Nice, February 25.</i>—We left Paris Wednesday evening, and reached +Marseilles Thursday noon—passing Lyons, Vienne, Avignon, etc., in the +valley of the Rhone, by daylight. The scenery was very beautiful, +vine-yards on the hillsides, cultivated fields, trees and shrubs green, +almonds in blossom. In the afternoon we "did" Marseilles, visiting the +Exchange, the Palais de Justice, the ancient and modern port with its +thousands of ships,—28,000 entering it per year—ascended the lofty +mount, with garden walls on its sides, to the Notre Dame church which +surmounts it—a small church of the sailors hung with innumerable +characteristic mementoes of their escapes from shipwreck, through the +intercession of their Mother-protector! The view of the city and +surrounding country, all dotted with villas, is magnificent. Next +morning we started for Nice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_541" id="Page_541">[Pg 541]</a></span> Toulon, the Mediterranean naval station of +France, is about thirty-six miles this side of Marseilles—about +one-third of the way to Nice. It is strongly fortified; its port, which +is admirable, contains many French ships of war. The population is about +50,000. Between Toulon and Nice lies the town of Cannes—a rival to Nice +as a resort for invalids. The scenery from Marseilles to Nice is +beautiful, and sometimes grand—the sea on one side, and the gardens, +fields, olive and orange orchards, hillsides and mountain slopes, dotted +with hamlets and villas, on the other. In the back-ground of Nice are +seen the maritime Alps. Oranges are here seen on the trees; and the +trees, shrubs and flowers are green, and some of them in blossom. The +breezes gentle, the sun bright and warm, the sky clear, and the +atmosphere soft and balmy, one seems to inhale healthful vigour with +every breath, and to behold cheerful beauty on every side.</p> + +<p>I have here met my old friend, Dr. Pantelioni, who attended me when I +was ill in Rome, who was employed by Count Cavour to negotiate with +Prince Napoleon and the Emperor the treaty of the 15th September, by +which the French troops have evacuated Rome; but he is now an exile from +Rome, but hopes soon to return thither. He has the first medical +practice here, as he had at Rome.</p> + +<p><i>Florence, March 19th.</i>—Since I wrote to you from Rome, we went to +Naples, in ten hours, by railway; spent three days there, and returned, +the fourth, here—in 23 hours from Naples—arriving here Sunday morning, +in time to dress, get breakfast, and go to church, where we heard the +liturgy read evangelically, and a good evangelical sermon. The Church at +Rome is High Church; that at Florence is evangelical. But I heard an +excellent service from the Dean of Ely (Mr. Goodwin), at Rome. I can +give you no particulars of our tour. I do not enjoy it. I have wished a +good many times that you were in my place, and that I had a week's quiet +on my Island. Rome was dirty, as well as almost wholly given to +superstition, though there is a strong and widespread hostility among +the masses to the temporal power of the Pope. Naples was dirty, but +evinced much business activity. Florence is clean, industrious, and all +the people cleanly and well-dressed, except some beggars—an old legacy. +But the general hostility to the priesthood is remarkable, though not +surprising. The Government had gained in the recent elections, but has a +difficult part to play, between the Church and Anti-Church parties, and +keeping up a large army, and imposing heavy taxes, of which all +complain.</p> + +<p><i>Venice, March 28th.</i>—At Florence, the British Minister introduced me +to Count Usedon, the Prussian Minister at Florence,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_542" id="Page_542">[Pg 542]</a></span> formerly at Paris, +a most delightful and variously learned man, who invited me to go to his +villa, but I had not time, and who told me all about the working of the +Prussian System of Public Instruction, in each neighbourhood—saying +that the law had not been changed at all since I was in Prussia; that +the Government did nothing but inspect, and see that each locality had a +school of a certain kind, and that each person educated his children; +but that each locality taxed itself for the support of its school. He +told me I could find nothing suitable to my purpose in Prussia, in +respect to the militia organization in connection with the school +system, as there was no connection between the one and the other, and +that the military system was expensive, and much interfered with the +ordinary employments; but that Switzerland was the place for me to learn +and study the blending of the school system with military training, in +consequence of which every Swiss had a good education, understood the +use of arms and military drill, and was yet practical, industrious, and +sober, while the whole system was very inexpensive. He gave me a letter +of introduction to a friend of his in Switzerland, who could give me +every information I might desire, and all needful documents.</p> + +<p><i>Lake Como, April 1st.</i>—This is the first place of rest and retirement +that we have had since we came to Europe. We are inhaling fresh country +air every day. We are in the centre of a natural magnificence, beauty, +and grandeur such as I have never witnessed—before us the little, deep, +Y-shaped lake, abounding in fish, dotted with skiffs, skirted with +flower gardens, walks, shrubs, and villas, and overhung on either side +by snow-capped mountains—roses and plants and green flowers at the +bottom of the mountains—craggy rocks and deep snow at the top, and all +apparently within a mile's distance. Here where we stop is the villa of +the Duke of Meiningen, and the palace-residence of the late Queen +Caroline of England (now an hotel), and the villa of the King of the +Belgians—a favourite place of retirement of the late King. What I have +witnessed here, in the quiet Sabbath of yesterday, has given me more +impressive views of the varied beauty and magnificence of the works of +God than I ever had before, though I had travelled much, and finished my +sixty-fourth year the Sabbath before.</p> + +<p><i>London, 30th April.</i>—I was present two hours at the anniversary of the +Church Missionary Society—heard the report (a very good one) read, and +heard Lord Chichester (President), the Lord Bishop of Norwich, Dean of +Carlisle, and the Lord Bishop of Cork. The speaking was +evangelical—Methodistically experimental, but nothing like so able and +effective as that at the Wesleyan Missionary meeting yesterday.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_543" id="Page_543">[Pg 543]</a></span></p> + +<p>I attended a meeting this afternoon at City Road Chapel, to hear an +address from Lord Shaftesbury on Ragged Schools, and to witness the +laying of the corner-stone of a chapel school-house in an alley about +six minutes' walk from City Road Wesleyan Chapel—one of the most +wretched neighbourhoods in London. I never knew before what the ragged +poor of London, in the lanes and alleys, were. I never witnessed such a +sight of squalid wretchedness—the neighbourhood literally swarming with +children—every window of the houses around full of heads—all +indicating that lowest degradation, but many of the children had good +features and bright eyes sparkling through the encrustation of dirt. We +have no such class in Canada, and I hope we never may.</p> + +<p>Lord Shaftesbury's remarks were of the highest type of Scriptural and +experimental truth—eminently practical and suggestive. His address to +the poor creatures, at the laying of the corner-stone of the edifice, +was full of kindness and affection—adopting even the very style of +address common among the class whom he addressed. As a specimen, his +Lordship said:—"I just heard a boy say behind me, 'which is him?' Now, +I am him; you want to see him; and I want to see you, and to talk to +you, and to do you good. We have all come here to do you good, because +we love you, and the poorer you are, and the more you suffer, the more +we wish to help you, and to do you good." He reminded me of the Saviour +going about doing good, and of the words of Job (chap. 29), "When the +ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me it gave +witness to me, because I delivered the poor that cried, and the +fatherless, and him that had none to help him," etc. (verses 11, 13, 15, +and 16). It was to me an impressive, affecting, and, I trust, a useful +lesson.</p> + +<p><i>London, 1st May.</i>—We attended to-day the annual meeting of the British +and Foreign Bible Society. The Report was admirably read, and was most +gratifying and encouraging. The speeches were excellent, and some parts +of them produced a wonderful effect. The Lord Bishop of Carlisle spoke +nobly and scripturally; the Dean of Carlisle spoke fervently and +affectingly; the Rev. Dr. Miller spoke very ably and effectively; but +Mr. Calvert (of Fiji mission), spoke irresistibly to the heart; and Dr. +Phillips spoke with surpassing beauty, and charming power. The latter +two are both Welshmen, and Methodists—the former a Wesleyan, and the +latter a Whitfield Welsh Methodist. The Rev. Mr. Nolan spoke with great +excellence; Lord Shaftesbury speaks as a matter of business, naturally, +simply, but with dignity, and great force.</p> + +<p>But the speeches of clergymen to-day, as well as yesterday,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_544" id="Page_544">[Pg 544]</a></span> painfully +impressed me with the divided, and deplorable state of the Church of +England. Indeed, I thought to-day that it was hardly in good taste, or +even politic, for clergymen to give such prominence to the internal +heresies and divisions of the Church, at a non-denominational meeting, +and before their brethren of other denominations, and before the world. +But they feel that the evil and danger is so great that they should +speak out, and do so on all occasions. There have been disputes and +divisions among the Methodists, on personal and political +quasi-ecclesiastical grounds, but never of the grave character of those +which agitate the Church of England. It is the opinion of many of the +clergymen and laymen of the Church, that a formal and great separation +will ere long take place between the opposing parties. But, still, I +think that the heart of the Church is sound—that neither the ritualists +nor the neologists touch the masses of the labouring and middle +classes—only some speculative minds, and imaginary spirits, seeking for +excitement in religion, as they do in reading novels, and at the +theatre. But, after all, I believe, as I hope, the Church will come out +of this fiery trial, better, stronger, and more qualified to do good, +and with a deeper baptism of the Divine Spirit for its promotion. So far +as I have had opportunity to mingle with the ministers and members, and +to witness services and meetings, I think I never saw the Wesleyan body +in so good a state; so perfectly at peace and united, and so devoted to +their one great work; and with a fervour and depth of spirituality not +excelled even in Mr. Wesley's day. The personal example and influence of +the most eloquent and leading men in the Connexion is highly spiritual +and practical.</p> + +<p><i>London, 5th May.</i>—During my present visit to England I have been so +deeply impressed with the vast benefit to my native land by a visit to +it of Rev. William Morley Punshon that I have written to him on the +subject, and have got others to speak to him about it. I was rejoiced, +therefore, to get from him a note to-day, dated Bristol, 4th May, as +follows:—The more I think about your proposition the more I am +impressed that it is in the order of Providence that I should accept it. +I have always hoped that I might some day see your great continent and +have the opportunity of acquainting myself with the capabilities of your +country, and with the work which has been done in it; and on many +accounts the present seems to be the most favourable time. If, +therefore, you should honour me with an invitation, and the British +Conference shall see good to appoint me, I shall place no hindrance in +the way, but shall endeavour to regard it as the wish of the Lord.</p> + +<p><i>London, 6th May.</i>—I have gratefully replied to Mr. Punshon,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_545" id="Page_545">[Pg 545]</a></span> and shall +now return to Canada, satisfied that I have, with God's help, +accomplished a great work for her, and that we shall reap a rich reward +from the services of this honoured minister of Christ.</p> + +<p><i>London, 15th May.</i>—In a kind parting note from Rev. Dr. Elijah Hoole +to Dr. Ryerson, dated Mission House, May 15th, the former says: I have +written to Dr. Wood to-day, and have informed him how grateful it has +been to us to renew our personal intercourse with you. When you have +once taken your departure we may hardly hope to meet again, but I shall +always thankfully retain the impression of the ability and purity, and +Christian love, and missionary zeal, which have always distinguished +your personal intercourse with us.</p> + +<p><i>London, 19th June.</i>—This day I had the pleasure of writing to Rev. +William Morley Punshon, inviting him to my house when he comes to +Toronto. I said to him,—You have probably learned, ere this reaches +you, that the Canadian Conference, (now consisting of altogether 612 +ministers and preachers), has most cordially and warmly solicited your +appointment as its next President, with the request that you will visit +and travel through Canada the current year. I assume that you will +accept this appointment, and I understood from Rev. Gervase Smith that +you would probably come to Canada, in September or October next. As +Toronto is the centre of Methodism in Canada, as well as the largest +city, and capital of Canada West, I assume, for reasons I have stated in +a letter this day addressed to your friend, Mr. Gervase Smith, that you +will make Toronto your home. I shall be most happy to entertain you and +yours, on your arrival there. I shall be happy to do all in my power to +consult your wishes, and promote your comfort, as well as usefulness, in +Canada. I pray that the Lord will direct your steps, and prosper your +way, to us in this country.</p> + +<p><i>London, July 17th.</i>—In a note from Rev. Gervase Smith to Rev. Dr. +Ryerson, dated July 17th, he says:—We all seemed to feel from your +first call at our house, that we were adding another valuable friendship +to our list, and we followed you over the water with many kind feelings +and remembrances. I am very glad to hear so cheering an account of your +Conference. As far as I can see, the way is opening out for Mr. +Punshon's visit to Canada, as clearly as you or his friends in this +country could wish. His removal from us, even for a space, will be a +great loss to us; and on grounds of friendship, especially so to myself; +but I hope it is all right. It is our earnest prayer that he, and the +Conference in his case, may be guided rightly. I should very much like +to accompany him. I do not give up the hope of seeing you and the +Canadian world, during his residence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_546" id="Page_546">[Pg 546]</a></span> among you. I have formed a secret +resolution to steal away for a few weeks within the next year or two. +But perhaps it is wrong to anticipate. "Ye know not what shall be on the +morrow."</p> + +<p><i>Toronto, 24th July.</i>—I was thankful this day to receive from Rev. Wm. +Morley Punshon a letter dated Bristol, 10th July, acknowledging mine to +him of the 19th June. He says:—It brought me the only intimation which +I have yet received of the request of the Canadian Conference that I +should be appointed to preside over its next session. I feel humbled and +thankful for this mark of the confidence of my brethren over the water, +and, if Providence opens my way, shall regard myself as favoured with no +mean opportunity of getting and doing good. No step in this whole matter +has been of my own motion. I am simply passive in the hands of God and +of His Church. You have very truly interpreted my wishes and feelings in +what you have said to some of my brethren. All our affairs are in higher +hands than our own; and if by God's overruling providence, I shall be +assured of welcome in Canada, and enabled to work for Christ upon that +continent, which I have so often longed to see, I shall regard the +disruption of all older ties, and the sacrifice of present position in +this country, as a small price to pay—the more, if I can aid in the +establishment of a grand Methodist confederacy which shall be one of the +great spiritual powers of the New World.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson adds, With a grateful heart at God's goodness in this +matter, I replied to the letter on the 1st of August, 1867.</p> + +<p>While I was in England in 1867, Dr. Ryerson wrote to me (<i>Toronto, +August 1st</i>,) to say that:—The Rev. W. M. Punshon, M.A., is coming out +to Canada, in October, with his family. He has addressed me several +inquiries, which I answer by this mail; but I wrote him to say who you +were, what your address was in London, and that you could give him every +needful information and suggestion as to his best mode of proceedings. I +told him I would write you, and request you to write him a line—also +telling him your address, and where you could see him, if he came to +London, and offering him every information in your power, that he might +desire. All things go on as usual in the Office.</p> + +<p>Rev. Gervase Smith, in a letter to Dr. Ryerson, dated at the Bristol +Conference, 4th August said:—We have had many important conversations +and decisions. Some of which will be interesting to you, and the +Canadian friends. Mr. Punshon's appointment to Canada was made by the +Conference. I need not say that we are all sorely grieved at even the +temporary loss of his presence and service. But the call from Canada +was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_547" id="Page_547">[Pg 547]</a></span> loud, and Providence seemed to indicate the way thither. I need not +say that you will take care of him, and let us have him back again as +soon as practicable. I am sure that his sojourn among you will be made a +great blessing to multitudes, and I doubt not that the future of +Methodism in Canada will be influenced by it. He is also heartily +appointed as our Representative to the General Conference in America. I +judge that the Conference now being held here will be regarded in the +future as a very important one.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_548" id="Page_548">[Pg 548]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXI" id="CHAPTER_LXI"></a>CHAPTER LXI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1867.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Dr. Ryerson's Address on the New Dominion of Canada</span>.</p> + + +<p>While I was in England, in 1867, Dr. Ryerson wrote to me late in July, +to say:—Some of our leading public men were anxious that I should do +something to assist in placing government upon the right foundation in +our new civil state. But before communicating with them I determined to +write boldly, an Address to the people of Upper Canada. These friends +were delighted when they learned my determination, after I had written +about half my address. It was printed last evening. It will, of course, +draw upon me a great deal of abuse. But I have counted the cost, and +thought I ought to issue it under the circumstances. I think a reaction +is already beginning. I have thought it my duty to make one more special +effort to save the country from future wretchedness, if not ruin, caused +by the bitter party spirit of the press, whatever it might cost me.... I +am wonderfully well; but take some exercise every day, and do not work +very long at a time.</p> + +<p>The Address was issued in pamphlet form in July, 1867, and under the +title of "The New Canadian Dominion: Dangers and Duties of the People in +regard to their Government." From it I make the following extracts:</p> + +<p>While I heartily unite in your rejoicings over our new birth as a +nation, I beg to address you some words on our national duties and +interests. I do so because my opinions and advices have been requested +by many persons deeply interested in the public welfare; because I am +approaching the close of a public life of more than forty years, during +which I have carefully observed the hindrances and aids of our social +progress, and have taken part, since 1825, in the discussion of all +those constitutional questions which involved the rights and relations +of religious denominations and citizens, and which have resulted in our +present system of free government and of equal rights among all +religious persuasions; because my heart's desire and prayer to God is, +that the new Dominion of Canada may become prosperous and happy, by +beginning well, by avoiding those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_549" id="Page_549">[Pg 549]</a></span> errors which have in time past been +injurious to ourselves, and which have impeded the progress and marred +the peace of other peoples, and by adopting those maxims of both feeling +and conduct which the best and most experienced public men of Europe and +America have enjoined as essential to the strength and happiness, the +advancement and grandeur of a nation....</p> + +<p>We are passing from an old into a new state of political existence. The +alleged evils of former civil relations have induced the creation of new +ones; and the denounced evils of a former system of government have led +to the establishment of a new system.... We have been raised from a +state of colonial subordination to one of affectionate alliance with the +mother country. Then the first act of wisdom and duty is, to note and +avoid the evils which marred our peace and prosperity in our former +state, and cultivate those feelings and develop those principles of +legislation and government which have contributed most to the promotion +of our own happiness and interests as well as those of other nations.</p> + +<p>If you will call up to your recollection the events of our country's +history for the last twenty years, I am sure you will agree with me that +personal hostilities and party strife have been the most fatal obstacles +to our happiness and progress as a people—an immense loss of time and +waste of public money in party debates and struggles—a most fruitful +source of partiality and corruption in legislation and government.... +During the last two years that there has been a cessation of party +hostilities and a union of able men of heretofore differing parties for +the welfare of the country, there has been an economy, intelligence and +impartiality in legislation, and in the whole administration of +government, not equalled for many years past, a corresponding +improvement in the social feelings and general progress of the country, +as well as an elevation of our reputation and character abroad, in both +Europe and America....</p> + +<p>In no respect is the education of a people more important than in +respect to the principles of their government, their rights and duties +as citizens. This does not come within the range of elementary school +teaching; but I have sought to introduce, as much as possible, +expositions on the principles, spirit and philosophy of government, in +my annual reports, and other school addresses and documents, during the +last twenty years, and so to frame the whole school system as to make +its local administration an instrument of practical education to the +people, in the election of representatives, and the corporate management +of their affairs—embracing most of the elementary principles and +practice of civil government, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_550" id="Page_550">[Pg 550]</a></span> doing so to a greater extent than is +done in the school system of any country in Europe, or of any State in +America. And the strength and success of the school system in any +municipality have been in proportion to the absence of party spirit, and +the union of all parties for its promotion.... What is true in school +polity is true in civil polity; and what is true in the educational +branch of the public service, is true in every branch of the public +service.</p> + +<p>I am aware that many good and intelligent men, of different views and +associations, regard partyism as a necessity, a normal element, in the +operations of free civil government.... I think they are in error, at +least in the Canadian sense of the term party; and that this error has +been at the bottom of most of our civil discords and executive abuses. I +think that partyism is a clog in the machinery of civil government, as +in that of school or municipal government; in which there is free +discussion of measures, and of the conduct of Trustees and Councillors; +and there have been elections and changes of men as well as of +measures.... When party assumptions and intolerance have gone so far as +to interfere with the proper functions of government, with the +constitutional rights of citizens, or of the Crown, I have, at different +times, in former years, being trammelled by or dependent upon no party, +endeavoured to check these party excesses, and oppressions, sometimes to +the offence of one party, and sometimes to the offence of another, just +as one or the other might be the transgressor. I was, of course, much +assailed by the parties rebuked; but no consideration of that kind +should prevent the public instructor—whether educator or preacher—from +... teaching what he believes to be true and essential to the +advancement of society, please or offend whom it may, or however it may +affect him personally.</p> + +<p>I have rejoiced to observe, that many who have heretofore been men of +party and of party government have resolved to inaugurate the new system +of government, not upon the acute angle of party, but, upon the broad +base of equal and impartial justice to all parties, the only moral and +patriotic principle of government, according to my convictions, and the +only principle of government to make good and great men, and make a +progressive and happy country....</p> + +<p>Thankful to find that the new system of civil government was to be +established upon the same principles as those on which our school system +has been founded and developed to the satisfaction of the country, and +to the admiration of all foreign visitors; and believing that the +present was the juncture of time for commencing a new and brighter era +in the history of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_551" id="Page_551">[Pg 551]</a></span> Canada—I have felt that it had a claim to the +result, in epitome at least, of my fifty years reading and meditation, +and more than forty years occasional discussion, respecting these first +principles of government, for the freedom, unity, happiness, advancement +and prosperity of a people....</p> + +<p>I believe there is a judgment, a conscience, a heart in the bosom of a +people, as well as in that of an individual, not wholly corrupted—at +least, so I have in time past found it in the people of Upper +Canada—and to that judgment, and conscience, and heart, I appeal. If +what I have written is true, and if what I have suggested is wise, just, +and patriotic, I am not concerned as to what any deceptive or dishonest +art can do to the contrary; for, as Robert Hall beautifully said, on a +similar occasion, "Wisdom and truth, the offspring of the sky, are +immortal; but cunning and deception, the meteors of the earth, after +glittering for a moment, must pass away."</p> + +<p>After devoting several pages to illustrate the evils of partyism in +government, Dr. Ryerson proceeds:—This partyism in government is +contrary to the avowed principles and objects of reformers in the true +heroic age of Canadian reform. "Equal rights and privileges among all +classes, without regard to sect or party," was the motto of the +reformers of those days, and was repeated and placed upon their banners +in almost every variety of style and form. And what was understood and +meant by that expressive motto, in the whole administration of +government, will be seen from the following facts:—The reformers and +reform press of Upper Canada, hailed and rejoiced in the principles of +the government of Lord Durham, Lord Sydenham and Sir Charles Bagot. The +Earl of Durham, in his reply to the address of the citizens of Toronto, +July, 1838, said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>On my part, I promise you an impartial administration of +government. Determined not to recognize the existence of parties, +provincial or imperial, classes or races, I shall hope to receive +from all Her Majesty's subjects those public services, the +efficiency of which must ever mainly depend upon their +comprehensiveness. Extend the veil of oblivion over the past, +direct to the future your best energies, and the consequences +cannot be doubted.</p></div> + +<p>The favourite phrase and avowed doctrine of Lord Sydenham was "equal and +impartial justice to all classes of Her Majesty's subjects." After the +union of the Canadas, Lord Sydenham appointed Mr. Draper +Attorney-General, and the late Mr. R. Baldwin, Solicitor-General—the +first "coalition" in Upper Canada. He also intimated at the time that he +attached equal importance to the return of Mr. Draper and Mr. Baldwin; +and that opposition to the one as well as to the other, under whatever +pretence it may be got up, is equally opposition to the +Governor-General's administration. Parties and party spirit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_552" id="Page_552">[Pg 552]</a></span> have nearly +ruined the country; the object of the Governor-General is to abolish +parties and party feelings by uniting what is good in both parties....</p> + +<p>Lord Sydenham's two years administration of the Canadian government +proved the greatest boon to Upper Canada, and the principles and policy +of it were highly approved by Reformers and the Reform press +generally....</p> + +<p>Judge Story, in his Commentaries on the Constitution of the United +States, says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The best talents and the best virtues are driven from office by +intrigue and corruption, or by the violence of the press or of +party.</p></div> + +<p>In harmony with the statement of the great Judge Story, the famous +French writer, M. de Tocqueville, in his Democracy in America, +observes:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It is a well authenticated fact that, at the present day, the most +talented men in the United States are very rarely placed at the +head of affairs, and it must be acknowledged that such has been the +result in proportion as democracy has outstripped its former +limits. The race of American statesmen has evidently dwindled most +remarkably in the course of the last fifty years.</p></div> + +<p>These remarks of M. de Tocqueville apply to some extent to Canada where +there has been a manifest decline in the standing and ability of our +public men. There are exceptions, but what instances have we now of the +representatives or equals of the Robinsons, the Macaulays, the Bidwells, +the Jones', the Lafontaines, the Hagermans, the Baldwins, the Drapers, +the Willsons, and many other political men of forty and twenty years +ago?<a name="FNanchor_149_151" id="FNanchor_149_151"></a><a href="#Footnote_149_151" class="fnanchor">[149]</a> To what is this decline in public men, in an otherwise +advancing country, to be ascribed but to the unscrupulous partizanship +of the press and politics, which blacken character instead of discussing +principles, which fight for office instead of for the public good, and +that by a barbarous system of moral assassination, instead of public men +respecting and protecting each other's standing, and rivalling each +other's deeds of greatness and usefulness. In England, the character of +public men is regarded as the most precious property of the nation; and +if the personal character of any member of Parliament, or other public +man, is assailed by the public press or otherwise, you will see +opponents as well as friends rallying round the assailed, and sustaining +and shielding him by their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_553" id="Page_553">[Pg 553]</a></span> testimony, as a matter of common or national +concern. When Sir Robert Peel, in the last great debate of his life, +objected to Lord Palmerston's Grecian policy, he referred to Lord +Palmerston's character and abilities—not to depreciate and calumniate +his great rival, but to exclaim, amid the applause of the House of +Commons, "We are proud of the man! And England is proud of the man!" But +in Canada, the language of a partizan press and politician is "down with +the man; execrate and execute the man as a corruptionist and traitor!"</p> + +<p>It is with a view to the best interests of our whole country, that I +have thus addressed my fellow countrymen, contributing the results of my +best thoughts and experience to your beginning well, that you may do +well and be well under our new Dominion, though I cannot expect long to +enjoy it. My nearly half a century of public life is approaching its +close. I am soon to account for both my words and my deeds. I have +little to hope or fear from man. But I wish before I go hence to see my +fellow citizens of all sects and parties unite in commencing a new +system of government for our country and posterity,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>That all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, +upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, +truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us +for all generations.</p></div> + +<p>On the publication of this Address, Dr. Ryerson received commendatory +letters from various gentlemen throughout the Province. I select three. +The first is from Mr. Jasper J. Gilkison, Brantford, dated August +10th:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As a Canadian and British subject, permit me to thank you for the +admirable pamphlet which you have had published, as it is the one +thing wanted for the instruction and guidance of the people of the +Dominion, aye, and for the world. It should be circulated free +throughout the land. Never in the history of any country did a more +favourable opportunity arise to test the fallacy that good +government can alone emanate from that of party. We have, in fact, +had an illustration of no-party government during the past few +years productive of peace and quiet among us, and it could be +continued indefinitely, were it not for bad-hearted men.</p> + +<p>Were men actuated solely for the welfare and progress of our +country, the Government could most successfully be carried on, much +in the same way as a great company; the Executive and Parliament +being somewhat analagous to a board of directors and shareholders.</p> + +<p>Your pamphlet cannot fail to be productive of immense good, for it +will cause reflection on a subject but little thought of by many +with a vast amount of ignorance as to the true form of government +calculated to confer the greatest benefits and happiness on a +people, and which, I think, you have clearly pointed out. In our +present position, were the Government to try the experiment, and +take Parliament into its counsels, I fancy it would succeed, by all +uniting for the common good.</p></div> + +<p>The second was from Mr. Wm. (now Judge) Elliot, dated London, August +20th:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_554" id="Page_554">[Pg 554]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Allow me to express to you a sense of gratitude, which I feel in +common, I trust, with all reasonable people, on the occasion of +your address on the political aspect of the Dominion of Canada.</p> + +<p>I have had some limited connection with political contests in this +part of the Province, and what I have seen and learned impels me to +offer you my humble thanks for this contribution to our political +treasury.</p> + +<p>Whether we have arrived at such a condition of society as entirely +to discard party political conflict may, I suppose, admit of +serious doubt. But that at this juncture your admonitions are most +valuable, all who reflect on the future will, I think, acknowledge. +In more than one electoral contest already, I have referred, I +believe with good effect, to your remarks, and I beg of you to +allow me the pleasure of thus acknowledging the value of your +counsel. That you may long be spared to advance the educational +interests of the country, and to allay the discord and acrimony of +faction, is the sincere prayer of yours faithfully,</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">William Elliot.</span><br /> +</p> + +</div> + +<p>The third from a gentleman in Matilda:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Permit me to thank you for the seasonable pamphlet you have issued +on the Dominion, and the sound advice it contains, addressed to the +people of this country. I have read it with pleasure, and am of +opinion that it should be scattered broadcast, for the +consideration of electors at this very important juncture.</p></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_149_151" id="Footnote_149_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149_151"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> It affords me pleasure to remark, and I do so without any +reference to the political opinions or relations of the gentlemen +concerned, that some of our rising Canadians have entered, and others +are seeking an entrance into Parliamentary life upon the ground of their +own avowed principles, personal character and merit, as free men, and to +exercise their talents as such, and not as the articled confederates, or +protegés, or joints in the tail of partizanship. Free and independent +men in the Legislature, as in the country, are the best counterpoise to +faction, and the mainspring to a nation's progress and greatness. +Faction dreads independent men; patriotism requires them.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_555" id="Page_555">[Pg 555]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXII" id="CHAPTER_LXII"></a>CHAPTER LXII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1868-1869.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Correspondence with Hon. George Brown.—Dr. Punshon.</span></p> + + +<p>On the 24th of March, Dr. Ryerson addressed the following letter to the +Hon. George Brown:—</p> + +<p>I desire, on this the 65th anniversary of my birth, to assure you of my +hearty forgiveness of the personal wrongs which, I think, you have done +me in past years, and of my forgetfulness of them so far, at least, as +involves the least unkindness and unfriendliness of feeling.</p> + +<p>To express free and independent opinions on the public acts of public +men, to animadvert severely upon them when considered censurable, is +both the right and duty of the press; nor have I ever been discourteous, +or felt any animosity towards those who have censured my official acts, +or denounced my opinions. Had I considered that you had done nothing +more in regard to myself, I should have felt and acted differently from +what I have done in regard to you—the only public man in Canada with +whom I have not been on speaking and personally friendly terms. But +while I wish in no way to influence your judgment and proceedings in +relation to myself, I beg to say that I cherish no other than feelings +of good will, with which I hope to (as I soon must) stand before the +Judge of all the earth—imploring, as well as granting forgiveness for +all the wrong deeds done in the body.</p> + +<p>On the same day Mr. Brown replied as follows:—</p> + +<p>I have received your letter of this day, and note its contents.</p> + +<p>I am entirely unconscious of any "personal wrong" ever done you by me, +and had no thought of receiving "forgiveness" at your hands.</p> + +<p>What I have said or written of your public conduct or writings has been +dictated solely by a sense of public duty, and has never, I feel +confident, exceeded the bounds of legitimate criticism, in view of all +attendant circumstances. What has been written of you in the columns of +the <i>Globe</i> newspaper, so far as I have observed, has been always +restrained within the limits of fair criticism toward one holding a +position of public trust.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_556" id="Page_556">[Pg 556]</a></span></p> + +<p>As to your personal attacks on myself—those who pursue the fearless +course as a politician and public journalist that I have done for a +quarter of a century, cannot expect to escape abuse and +misrepresentation; and assuredly your assaults have never affected my +course toward you in the slightest degree. Your series of letters +printed in the <i>Leader</i> newspaper some years ago, were not, I am told, +conceived in a very Christian spirit, but I was ill at the time they +were published, and have never read them. Your dragging my name into +your controversy with the Messrs. Campbell—on a matter with which I had +no personal concern whatever—was one of those devices unhappily too +often resorted to in political squabbles to be capable of exciting more +than momentary indignation.</p> + +<p>The following letter from Dr. Ryerson to Mr. Brown, dated Toronto, April +13th, closed the correspondence:—Your note of the 24th ult., did not +reach me until Saturday evening—night before last.</p> + +<p>I wrote my note of that date with the view of forgetting, rather than +reviving, the recollection of past discussions.</p> + +<p>I never objected to the severest criticisms of my "public conduct or +writings." My remarks had sole reference to your "personal attacks" and +"assaults," made over your own name, and involving all that was dear to +me as a man, and a father, and a Christian—"personal attacks" and +"assaults" to which my letters in the <i>Leader</i> referred to by you, and +which you had engaged to insert in the <i>Globe</i>, but afterwards refused, +were a reply; in the course of which I convicted you not only of many +misstatements, but of seven distinct forgeries—you, by additions, +professing to quote from me in seven instances the very reverse of what +I had written, and your having done all this to sustain "personal +attacks" and "assaults" upon me.</p> + +<p>Besides this, on at least two subsequent occasions, you charged me with +what involved an imputation of dishonesty; and when I transmitted to you +copies of official correspondence relating to the subject of your +allegations, and refuting them, you refused to insert it in the <i>Globe</i>, +and left your false accusations unretracted to this day.</p> + +<p>It was to such "personal attacks" and "assaults" on your part against +me, and not to any legitimate criticisms upon my "public conduct or +writings," that I referred in my letter of the 24th ult.</p> + +<p>I admit the general fairness of the <i>Globe</i> towards me during the last +few months; but that does not alter the character of your former +"personal attacks" and "assaults" upon me, and to which alone what you +call my "personal attacks" and "assaults" upon you were but defensive +replies and rejoinders.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_557" id="Page_557">[Pg 557]</a></span></p> + +<p>I certainly have no reason to be dissatisfied with the results of such +"personal attacks" and replies, notwithstanding your great advantage in +having a powerful press at your disposal; and I am prepared for the +future, as I have been for the past, though I wish, if possible, to live +peaceably with all men.</p> + + + +<p class="space">Dr. Ryerson having been appointed delegate (with Dr. Punshon) to the +American General Conference of 1868, at Chicago, he wrote to me from +that city on the 14th of May:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>On our way here we stopped at London, where Mr. Punshon lectured +nobly. We reached here Tuesday evening, and were most heartily +welcomed by Bishop Janes, and by our hosts.</p> + +<p>We were introduced to the Conference to-day, and were most +cordially received. Mr. Punshon was introduced by Bishop Janes, and +made a touching and noble address, which won the hearts of the +Conference, and vast audience, and was frequently and loudly +cheered.</p> + +<p>I was introduced heartily and eulogistically by Bishop Simpson, and +addressed the Conference. The latter part of my address was warmly +cheered.</p> + +<p>Rev. Dr. Richey, President, and Representative of the Eastern +Conference of British America, was introduced by Bishop Simpson, +and made a very excellent address to the Conference.</p> + +<p>Mr. Punshon preached powerfully and gloriously before the +Conference and an immense crowd to-day; all were delighted, and +seemed deeply affected.</p></div> + +<p>On the 18th of May, Dr. Ryerson wrote again to me:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Mr. Punshon has made a wonderful impression here by his addresses +and discourses, beyond any thing they have ever heard from the +pulpit and the platform. He is to lecture to-morrow evening in the +Opera House—the largest room in Chicago—and there is a great rage +to get tickets. He preached there yesterday afternoon to several +thousand persons, a great part of whom were affected to tears +several times. I trust that many sinners were awakened, while +believers were greatly comforted and encouraged.</p> + +<p>We went out on Saturday on an excursion train to Clinton, in Iowa, +145 miles west of this, crossing the Mississippi there, by +railroad, and crossing the prairies. The people of +Clinton—Presbyterians, etc., and Methodists—united, and prepared +an excellent dinner for three hundred and six persons, after which +speeches were delivered. The North-West Railroad Company prepared +the excursion gratuitously for the General Conference.</p></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson having addressed a request to the British Conference for the +re-appointment of Rev. W. M. Punshon to Canada, Rev. Gervase Smith +replied on the 17th of August:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Your first request was complied with without much debate. Mr. +Punshon is transferred to you for a term. The second request raised +a long discussion; the result of which was that you should be left +to elect your own President next year. Mr. Arthur, Drs. Waddy and +Rigg, and others, pleaded for Mr. Punshon's appointment on the +ground that the preceding vote placed him under Canadian +jurisdiction. But there were others who were influenced by the +consideration that to leave you to elect your own President, would +doubtless lead to Mr. Punshon's election. I pray that you all may +be guided rightly at this important juncture.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_558" id="Page_558">[Pg 558]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dr. Punshon's continued residence in Canada was a source of great +delight to Dr. Ryerson. Of the wonderfully beneficial effects upon +Canadian Methodism of that memorable visit, it is not necessary that I +should speak. The hallowed memories of those days are engraven on +thousands of hearts on both sides of the lines.</p> + +<p>Rev. Dr. R. F. Burns, of the Fort Massey Presbyterian Church, Halifax, +in a letter to the <i>Presbyterian Witness</i>, gives the following graphic +account of the visit of Drs. Ryerson, Punshon, and Richey to the General +Conference at Chicago. The <i>Wesleyan</i>, of Halifax, speaking of Dr. +Burns' letter, says:—The reminiscence is of special interest to the +editor of this paper, as he was one of the party who lunched with Dr. +Ryerson at Dr. Burns' on the occasion mentioned. Dr. Burns says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A memory of the worthy man comes up which you will excuse me for +jotting down. In the summer of 1868, during my residence in +Chicago, the Quadrennial Convention of the Methodist Episcopal +Church was held. It was then that I first made the acquaintance of +Dr. Punshon, who came out as delegate from the English Conference +to that great gathering. Dr. Matthew Richey was there representing +the Methodism of Eastern, and Dr. Ryerson of Western Canada. Quite +a colony of Canadian Methodists came over, including my old friend +Rev. A. F. Bland, to whom the celebrated Robert Collyer expressed +himself more indebted than to any other living man.</p> + +<p>I invited several of the Methodist brethren to luncheon—Drs. +Ryerson and Richey of the number—(Punshon had a prior engagement). +Ryerson had given his speech that forenoon, and Richey too, with +characteristic ability, representing the two Canadian Conferences. +Dr. Richey had, a little before, met with the accident, but yet +though he had aged and failed considerably since the days when I +counted him the beau-ideal of elegance in manner and style in +pulpit and on platform, he bore himself with much of his former +stately demeanour and fine felicity of diction. Ryerson was hale +and hearty as of yore, and with perhaps less of the old tendency to +tremble while speaking which surprised me so much when I first +witnessed it, for, under the influence of strong feeling, and a +sort of constitutional timidity, linked in him with indomitable +pluck, his limbs—indeed often his whole massive frame—so shook +that I have felt the platform quiver. The Rev. George Goodson told +me in an undertone of an unkind remark made by a distinguished +member of the Conference to his neighbour as Dr. Ryerson got up to +speak, and that he had rebuked him for it, not knowing at the time +who he was. This gentleman, it came out in course of conversation, +was closely related to Elder Henry Ryan, a well-known minister in +the old Canada Methodist Church, with whom Dr. Ryerson, in his +early days, carried on a keen warfare. The Ryan-Ryerson controversy +is one with which the older Canadian Methodists are familiar. +Without hinting at the rudeness of his relative, I alluded to Elder +Ryan when conversing with Dr. Ryerson, and got from him in graphic +detail, the history of that ancient controversy in which he was a +principal party. It was very keen while it lasted, but there was no +bitter animus in the recital—though the old war horse pricked up +his ears and seemed to "hear the sound of battle from afar." I then +discovered a reason for the sharp tone of the gentleman's remarks, +aforesaid, which drew forth Brother Goodson's rebuke. Though but +four years of age when he left Canada, he had imbibed a dislike to +his old relative's chief antagonist, and to the very people amongst +whom the Ryerson party had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_559" id="Page_559">[Pg 559]</a></span> proved victorious. Hence his remark on +another occasion to a lady friend of mine, with reference to his +early connection with Canada, to the effect that he was "ashamed of +being born there," which so roused her patriotic spirit that she +promptly retorted: "Well, I am ashamed of you for saying so." The +gentleman was then one of the rising hopes of that great +denomination, and has since risen to a foremost rank in it. When +this little incident was mentioned to Dr. Ryerson, he richly +enjoyed it, and before leaving the house, with his native +gallantry, he expressed a desire to use the privileges of an old +man towards the fair defendress of her country's honour, saying, +naively, as we all stood, before parting in the hall, "I would like +to kiss you for your patriotism?" (See chapter vii.)</p></div> + +<p>While at Peake's Island, near Portland, Maine, in 1869, Dr. Ryerson met +with a serious accident, which nearly proved fatal. In a letter to me, +he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>On Monday a plank from the wharf to a vessel, on the outside of +which lay our boat, fell and precipitated me some feet on the deck +of the vessel; I falling on my head, shoulder, and side. I was +stunned and much injured, and have suffered much from my side; but +I am now getting better and am able to dress myself, and to use my +right arm. My head came within six inches of the band which +surrounds the hatchway. There was thus but six inches between me +and sudden death! I am truly thankful for my deliverance, and for +my blessings.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_560" id="Page_560">[Pg 560]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXIII" id="CHAPTER_LXIII"></a>CHAPTER LXIII.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1870-1875.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Miscellaneous Closing Events and Correspondence.</span></p> + + +<p>On the 23rd of April, 1870, Rev. Drs. Punshon, Wood and Taylor, Chairman +and Secretaries of the Central Board of Wesleyan Missions, addressed a +letter to Sir George Cartier, Minister of Militia, on the subject of +sending a Methodist chaplain with the Red River expedition under General +Lindsay and the present Lord Wolseley. In their letter they said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Believing that many who will volunteer to complete this enterprize +will be members of our own church, we are desirous of securing your +official sanction to the appointment of a Wesleyan Minister as +Chaplain to that portion of the military expedition who are +professedly attached to our doctrines and ordinances, upon such +terms as may be agreed upon, affecting personal rights and military +operations and duties.</p></div> + +<p>This letter was merely acknowledged, and no action was taken upon it. In +the following June Conference, the subject was brought up, and much +feeling was evoked at Sir George Cartier's apparent want of courtesy to +the Missionary Board. Sir Alexander Campbell, on seeing a report of the +Conference proceedings on the subject, wrote a very kind note to Dr. +Ryerson, in which he expressed his opinion that some mistake must have +occurred in the matter, and that he was sure no discourtesy was thought +of on the part of Sir George Cartier. To this note Dr. Ryerson replied +on the 18th of June:—</p> + +<p>I yesterday received your very kind letter of the 13th inst. I think you +know too well my high respect, and even affection for you, and my +expectations long since formed of your success and usefulness to the +country, as a public man, to doubt my implicit confidence in any +statement made by you, and my desire to meet your views as far as +possible.</p> + +<p>In the matter as relating to Sir George E. Cartier, I may remark, that +the President of the Wesleyan Conference stated to me the week before +its annual meeting, that a communication had been addressed by himself, +and the Missionary Secretaries, to Sir George Cartier respecting our +sending a Wesleyan<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_561" id="Page_561">[Pg 561]</a></span> Minister with the Red River expedition, to supply +the spiritual wants of many members of our own congregations, and +proposing to confer with him (Sir G. C.) as to the arrangement; that he +regarded the treatment of their letter by Sir George as discourteous, +and that he thought the Conference should be informed of it, and that it +should take some action on the subject. The Rev. Dr. Wood, senior +Missionary Secretary, read to the Conference the correspondence and the +draft of four resolutions, on the subject of which he gave notice. I was +not in the Conference when this took place. On reading Dr. Wood's +resolutions, I suggested some modifications of them, and prepared +resolutions which he preferred to his own, and which I proposed for +adoption the day after giving notice of them.</p> + +<p>As to Sir George's courtesy, I may observe that the letter addressed to +him, proposed a conference with him on the subject: that his Deputy, in +reply, by direction of Sir George Cartier, as he says, acknowledged the +receipt of the letter addressed to him, but though that letter was dated +at Toronto, and signed officially, the answer to it was addressed simply +to the "Rev. Mr. Punshon, Montreal," and no further notice taken of it +to this day. And it seems that Sir George did not think it worth his +while even to mention, much less submit the letter, to you and your +colleagues from Upper Canada.</p> + +<p>In regard to the question of chaplain, our view is, and the proposal +contemplated by our President and Missionary Secretaries was, that the +Government should not pay any salary to the chaplain, but simply provide +his rations and accommodations. It is our view that the Government +should not pay or appoint any chaplain, but leave to each denomination +the right of doing so, if it should think proper. Each chaplain thus +nominated and paid, to be recognized by the military authorities, and be +subject, of course, to the military regulations. In such circumstances, +it is probable there would have been three Protestant chaplains—Church +of England, Presbyterian, and Methodist. I infer or assume this on the +ground of experience. In our Normal School of one hundred and fifty +students, each is asked his religious persuasion, and the chief minister +of that persuasion is furnished with a list of the names of students +adhering to or professing his Church, and the day, and hour, and place +where he can give them religious instruction. The result is, that by +mutual consultation and agreement of ministers, all the Presbyterians, +including even the Congregationalists and Baptists, meet in one class, +and receive religious instruction from one minister, the ministers +agreeing to take the labour in successive sessions—one minister +performing all the duty one session. The arrangement voluntarily exists +among the different<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_562" id="Page_562">[Pg 562]</a></span> classes of Methodists—though Wesleyan ministers do +all the work. A Church of England minister attends to the instruction +and religious oversight of the Church of England students, and the chief +Roman Catholic priest does the same in regard to the Roman Catholic +students. Nothing can be more fair, practical, and satisfactory than a +similar arrangement in regard to the Red River expedition. What may be +the peculiar views, habits, etc. of the Church of England chaplain +appointed and salaried by the Government, I know not; but you know as +well as I do that a man being a clergyman of the Church of England is no +longer a guarantee that he does not entertain and teach views and +practices more subversive of unsophisticated Protestant principles and +feelings than could be as successfully done by a Roman Catholic priest. +Besides, as a general rule, men, especially young men, do not regard, +and are not controlled, as to their own worship and pastorate, except by +the services and pastoral oversight to which they are accustomed and +attached; and without such influence and aid to the preservation and +strengthening of moral principles, habits, and feelings, more young men +are liable to be demoralized and ruined in military expeditions, such as +that of the Red River, than are likely to be killed in battle or die of +disease.</p> + +<p>This is the view for which the Methodist body will contend, whatever may +be the result. The Secretaries of the Bible Society went among the +volunteers, while at Toronto, and proffered a Bible to each one that +would accept of it, and found on inquiry, that four-fifths of the +volunteers, even from Lower Canada, were Protestants, and a much larger +proportion of the volunteers of Upper Canada, and a large number of them +not members of the Church of England but Methodists and Presbyterians. +Of course, it answers the Roman Catholic purpose, and will doubtless be +acceptable to many members of the Church of England, for the Government +to appoint and pay chaplains of those persuasions; but I am persuaded +there will be little difference of a contrary opinion on the subject +among the ministers and members of the excluded persuasions. I wish I +could share with you in your expressed confidence in Sir George Cartier, +but I have no such confidence in him, and especially in the +ecclesiastical influence under the dictation of which he acts. Wherein I +may have been misinformed, and may not have stated matters correctly, I +shall be prepared to correct any such errors, when I come to reply to +the various attacks which have been made upon me, in vindication of +myself, and the Wesleyan Conference in regard to the complaint made, and +the position assumed in respect to Sir George E. Cartier, and the Red +River business.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_563" id="Page_563">[Pg 563]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the 30th June, Mr. James Wallace, of Whitby, addressed Dr. Ryerson a +letter on the subject, in which he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A stranger to you personally, although not so to your many able, +pungent, and truthful letters, connected with public matters, that +have from time to time appeared in the public press: I trust you +will excuse this liberty, and accept my congratulations on your +last effort in that connection as published in the <i>Globe</i>.</p> + +<p>I have some knowledge of the Red River matter, having been there +during the first stages of the rebellion, and had, therefore, +chances of becoming acquainted with its origin and progress that +few men had; and when I see one in your position come forward so +bravely and lay bare the origin of that infamous revolt, I must say +that I feel proud of you as a Canadian, and not only of you, but of +the body with which you are connected, who so nobly sustained you.</p></div> + +<p>On the 24th August, 1870, the corner stone of the Metropolitan Church, +Toronto, was laid. Dr. Ryerson felt that it was a memorable day in the +annals of Methodism in Toronto. I was honoured (he said) by being +selected to lay the corner stone of the Metropolitan Church. Rev. Dr. +Punshon, President of the Conference was present, and delivered an +admirable address. He also read one which I had prepared, but which I +was unable to deliver myself. The auspicious event of the day amply +repaid me for the anxiety which I had so long felt in regard to the +success of the enterprise, and for the responsibility which, with other +devoted brethren, I had personally assumed to secure the site, and carry +to a successful issue the erection of a building which would be an +honour to Methodism, and a credit to the cause in Toronto.</p> + + + +<p class="space">On the 17th March, 1871, Dr. Ryerson received a letter from the +venerable Rev. Dr. James Dixon, dated Bradford, Eng., 2nd inst. In it he +says:—In my eighty-third year, blind, deaf, and so paralyzed as to be +unable to walk without assistance, I feel that the world is fast +receding. Having sense and affection remaining, I feel desirous of +holding a little fellowship once more with you, my dear old friend. The +world to me looks like one of your forests with the trees cut down, +except here and there one a little stronger than the rest. I look upon +you as one of those, vigorous forest trees still remaining. And may you +long remain, a blessing to your country and the Church! After referring +to his own religious life and experiences, he concludes:—As long as I +live my affection for you will never vary. I also remember other +Canadian friends with great interest and affection. Farewell! my dear +old friend. We shall meet again before long in a brighter world. If you +can find time, I shall be most happy to receive a line from you.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"><a name="i9" id="i9"></a> +<img src="images/564.png" width="400" height="630" alt="drawing of a church" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson did find time to respond to the letter of his dear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_565" id="Page_565">[Pg 565]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_564" id="Page_564">[Pg 564]</a></span> and +valued friend Dr. Dixon. His venerable aspect was well remembered, when, +as President of the Canada Conference in 1848, he did good and valued +service for the Methodist Church in Canada.</p> + + + +<p class="space">On the 29th of June, 1871, Mr. John Macdonald and Rev. Dr. Evans having +asked Dr. Ryerson to enclose to Rev. W. M. Punshon a letter urging him +to continue his noble work in Canada, he did so most heartily, as the +letter to be enclosed expressed the real sentiments not only of the +ministers and members of the Church generally, but those of the country +at large. Dr. Ryerson accompanied the letter with a note from himself, +in which he said to Mr. Punshon:—To have the power, as God has given +you, to mould, to a large extent, the energies and labours of six +hundred ministers, and developments of the Canadian Church, and to +control largely the public mind in religious and benevolent +enterprises—looking at the future of our country—appears to me to +present a field of usefulness that Mr. Wesley himself might have coveted +in his day. All that God has enabled you to do already in this country +is but the foundation and beginning of what there is the prospect of +your doing hereafter by the Divine blessing. You know this is the old +ground on which I first proposed to you to come to this country, and +which I am sure you have no reason to regret. This is the only ground on +which I ought to desire your continued connection with it.</p> + + + +<p class="space">A pleasing episode in the <i>Globe</i> controversy respecting Dr. Ryerson's +"First Lessons on Christian Morals," occurred in June, 1872. Bishop +Bethune, in his address to the Synod of the Diocese of Toronto, spoke of +the increasing spread of evil, and of the duty of the Church, under her +Divine Master, to cope with it. He said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Her work is, confessedly, to lead fallen man to the true source of +pardon, and to teach him to aim at the recovery of the moral image +in which he was at first created. If the passions, and prejudices, +and divisions of professing Christians themselves are a distressing +hindrance to the attainment of this noble and dutiful aspiration, +we have much in the condition of the world around us to warn and +rouse us to a vigorous and united effort to arrest the increasing +tide of sin and crime. The developments of a grossly evil spirit at +the present day fill us with horror and alarm; the profligacy and +wanton cruelty of which we hear so many instances, make us tremble +for our social peace and safety.</p> + +<p>It is but right to enquire to what all this enormity of wickedness +is traceable, that we may come, if possible, to the remedy. That is +largely to be ascribed, as all must be persuaded, to the neglect of +religious instruction in early life; to the contentment of peoples +and governments to afford a shallow secular education, without the +learning of religious truth, or the moral<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_566" id="Page_566">[Pg 566]</a></span> obligations that it +teaches. The child taught and trained for this world's vocations +only, without a deep inculcation of the love and fear of God, and +the penalty hereafter of an irreligious and wicked life, will have +but one leading idea—self-aggrandizement and self-indulgence, and +will be checked by no restraint of conscience in the way and means +of securing them. Gigantic frauds will be perpetrated, if riches +can thus be acquired; atrocious murders will be committed, if these +will remove the barrier to unholy and polluting connections, or +cast out of sight the objects of jealousy and hatred.</p> + +<p>I have no disposition to reprobate this defect in the system of +education, prevailing with the authority and support of Government +among ourselves. I know the difficulty, the almost impossibility, +of securing the temporal boon with the addition of the spiritual; +how hard it must prove in a divided religious community to +introduce among the secular lessons which are meant for usefulness +and advancement in this world, that lofty and holy teaching which +trains the soul for heaven. The irreverent and fierce assaults +recently made upon a praiseworthy effort of the Superintendent of +Education in this Province to introduce a special work for moral +and religious instruction amongst our common school pupils, testify +too plainly the difficulty of supplying that want.</p> + +<p>I have confidence in the good intentions and righteous efforts of +that venerable gentleman to do what he can for the amelioration of +the evils which the absence of systematic religious teaching of the +young must induce; so that we may have a hope that, from his tried +zeal and unquestionable ability, a way may be devised by which such +essential instruction shall be imparted, and the terrible evils we +deplore to some extent corrected.</p></div> + +<p>In response to this portion of his address, Dr. Ryerson addressed the +following note to the Bishop on the 1st of July.</p> + +<p>I feel it my bounden, at the same time most pleasurable duty, to thank +you with all my heart for your more than kind reference to myself in +your official charge at the opening of the recent Synod of the Diocese +of Toronto; and especially do I feel grateful and gratified for your +formal and hearty recognition of the Christian character of our Public +School System, and of the efforts which have been made to render that +character a practical reality, and not a mere dead and heartless form.</p> + +<p>It has also been peculiarly gratifying to me to learn that your +Lordship's allusions to myself and the school system were very generally +and cordially cheered by the members of the Synod.</p> + +<p>My own humble efforts to invest our school system with a Christian +character and spirit have been seconded from the beginning by the +cordial and unanimous co-operation of the Council of Public Instruction; +and without that co-operation my own individual efforts would have +availed but little.</p> + +<p>Since the settlement of the common relationship of all religious +persuasions to the State, there is <i>a</i> common patriotic ground for the +exertions of all, without the slightest reasonable pretext for political +jealousy or hostility on the part of any. On such ground of +comprehensiveness, and of avowed Christian principles, I have +endeavoured to construct our Public School<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_567" id="Page_567">[Pg 567]</a></span> System; such, and such only +has been my aim in the teachings of my little book on Christian Morals; +and such only was the aim and spirit of the Council of Public +Instruction in the recommendation of it,—a recommendation to which the +Council inflexibly adheres, and which it has cordially and decidedly +vindicated.</p> + +<p>The Bishop replied on the 3rd of July, thus:—I have to thank you for +your letter of the 1st instant, received last evening, and to express my +gratification that I had the opportunity to bear my humble testimony to +your zealous and righteous efforts to promote the sound education of the +youth of this Province.</p> + +<p>I believe that in the endeavours to give this a moral and religious +direction, you have done all that, in the circumstances of the country, +it was in your power to accomplish. I was glad, too, to give utterance +to my protest against the shameless endeavours to hold up to public +scorn the valuable little work by which you desired to give a moral and +religious tone to the instruction communicated in our Common Schools. If +more can be done in this direction, I feel assured you would assume any +allowable amount of responsibility in the endeavour to effect it.</p> + +<p>Wishing you many years of health and usefulness, I remain, dear Dr. +Ryerson, very faithfully yours,</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">A. N. Toronto</span>.<br /> +</p> + +<p>This correspondence affords a striking instance of the fact that the +very earnest discussions between the writers of these notes in past +years, had not diminished in any way the personal respect and kindly +feeling which happily existed between them. And it was so with the late +venerable Bishop Strachan, with whom Dr. Ryerson more than once measured +swords in days gone by. Among his very latest utterances on the Separate +School Question in the Synod of 1856, he thus referred to the Head of +the Education Department and his labours:—</p> + +<p>One new feature, which I consider of great value, and for which I +believe we are altogether indebted to the able Superintendent, deserves +special notice: it is the introduction of daily prayers. We find that +454 schools open and close with prayer. This is an important step in the +right direction, and only requires a reasonable extension to render the +system in its interior, as it is already in its exterior, nearly +complete. But till it receives this necessary extension, the whole +system, in a religious and spiritual view, may be considered almost +entirely dead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_568" id="Page_568">[Pg 568]</a></span></p> + +<p>I do not say that this is the opinion of Dr. Ryerson, who no doubt +believes his system very nearly perfect; and so far as he is concerned, +I am one of those who appreciate very highly his exertions, his +unwearied assiduity, and his administrative capacity. I am also most +willing to admit that he has carried out the meagre provisions of the +several enactments that have any leaning to religion, as far as seems +consistent with a just interpretation of the law.—<i>Charge of 1856, pp. +15, 16.</i></p> + + + +<p class="space">In a note dated Toronto, 2nd October, 1872, Hon. W. B. Robinson sent to +Dr. Ryerson an extract from the Barrie <i>Northern Advance</i> containing an +obituary notice of Dr. Ryerson. In enclosing it, Mr. Robinson said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I send you a Barrie paper that I think will amuse you. It is not +often we are permitted to "see ourselves as others see us" when +once we go "hence and are no more seen,"—but you are an exception, +and I congratulate you on such being the fact; and hope the Editor +will be satisfied that he is in "advance" of the times, and may +have cause to give you credit for much more good work in the +position you have so long held, with so much benefit to the +country. I observed the death of your brother William in the papers +a short time ago, which I suppose accounts for the mistake.</p></div> + +<p>The extract from the Barrie paper is as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Most of our readers are aware of the fact that the great champion +of education in Upper Canada has gone to his rest. Coming +generations, so long as time lasts, will owe a debt of gratitude to +Dr. Ryerson, as the only real founder of a comprehensive school +system in Ontario. Through evil report and through good report he +has steadily worked on his way; neither daunted by the abuse he has +received, nor unduly elated by the unmeasured tribute of praise +paid to his efforts in the department to which his whole life was +devoted. He kept the even tenor of his way, and we think most +people, unblinded by partisan prejudice, will acknowledge that his +life purpose has, more than that of most men, been accomplished. He +leaves behind him a structure so nearly completed that men with a +tithe of his enthusiasm, and infinitely less knowledge of the +educational requirements of the Province, can lay the capstone, and +declare the work complete.</p></div> + +<p>Hon. Marshall S. Bidwell died in New York shortly after his visit to +Canada in 1872. Hon. Judge Neilson, his friend, wrote to Dr. Ryerson for +particulars of Mr. Bidwell's early life, with a view to publish it in a +memorial volume. This information Dr. Ryerson obtained from Sir W. B. +Richards, Clarke Gamble, Esq., Q.C., and Rev. Dr. Givens, and, with his +own, embodied it in a communication to Judge Neilson. In a letter to Dr. +Ryerson, dated 30th April, 1873, the late Rev. Dr. Saltern Givens +said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A short time since, Hon. W. B. Robinson informed me that a letter +of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_569" id="Page_569">[Pg 569]</a></span> condolence was written by the late Mr. Bidwell to Lady Robinson +and her family, on the death of Sir John, and that he thought it +would answer your purpose.... I am sure that you will peruse it +with as much pleasure as I have done.</p> + +<p>It ought to be a matter of devout thankfulness and congratulation +with us Canadians, that two of our most distinguished statesmen and +jurists have left behind them such unequivocal and delightful +testimonies of their faith in Christ, and of their experience of +the power of His Gospel, in extracting the sting from death and in +comforting the bereaved.</p> + +<p>I am sure that Sir John's letters to Mr. Bidwell, under his similar +trial, if you could obtain them, would be read with a thrill of +delight and profit by their many friends throughout Canada.</p> + +<p>When witnessing—as we have done, some forty years ago—those +fierce political contests in which our departed friends were +involved, how little did we think that in the evening of their days +they would have been united in the bonds of Christian love and +sympathy, as this interchange of friendship evinces.</p></div> + +<p>The following is Mr. Bidwell's letter to Hon. W. B. Robinson, dated 24th +February, 1863:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I thank you for your kind and friendly letter, and for the +particular account of the closing scenes of the life of your +honoured and lamented brother. The wound inflicted by his death can +never be altogether healed. The grief which it produces is natural +and rational, and is not inconsistent with any of the precepts, or +with the spirit of the Gospel. It is a duty, however, to keep it +within bounds, and not to allow murmurs in our heart against Divine +Providence. The language of our hearts should be that of the +Patriarch, "The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the +name of the Lord." Gratitude for the gift should be mingled with +our deep sorrow for the loss of it. In my own case, a consideration +of the unspeakable goodness of God in having bestowed upon me such +an inestimable blessing has been continually present to my mind, +and trust such feelings will abound in the bosom of Lady Robinson, +her family, and yourself. He, whose removal from earthly scenes +your hearts deplore, was all that you could have desired, in his +public and private character, and in the homage of universal +veneration and esteem. Where will you find one like him? Was there +not great and peculiar goodness in God's bestowing him upon you? +Was he not the joy and pride of your hearts continually? Did not +his presence irradiate his home, and make it like an earthly +Paradise? Every pang which you may suffer attests the value of the +blessing which you have so long had. Your gratitude to God, the +author of every good and perfect gift, ought to be in proportion to +your grief. It is to be remembered, also, that he was not cut down +prematurely in the midst of his days, but had passed the period +which Moses, the man of God, in his sublime and pathetic prayer +(Psalm xc.) considers as the ordinary boundary of human life, and +retained all his powers and faculties to the last; and that during +this long life he had not been absent from his family, at least not +from Lady Robinson (if I am not mistaken) except during the +transient separation when he was on the circuit. It is natural that +your hearts should yearn for him, should long to see him again, and +enjoy the pleasure of his company; yet death must sooner or later +have separated you, and longer life might have been a scene of +suffering. Would it not have been inexpressibly painful to you all +to have seen his mental and bodily powers decay and fade away? Such +a spectacle would have been distressing and mortifying. Now his +memory is associated with no humiliating recollections; but you +remember him as one always admired, respected and loved. Death has +set his seal upon him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_570" id="Page_570">[Pg 570]</a></span> and although he is removed from you to +return no more to earthly scenes, you know that it is only a +removal, and that he is now in a state of exalted and perfect, +though ever progressive, felicity. I trust you have the most +consolatory evidence that this is now his present and unalterable +state, and that you constantly think as David thought and said, "I +shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." In the meantime +you have the consolation of knowing that while you remember him +with the tenderest affection and interest, he has not forgotten +you, but has a more distinct and perfect recollection of you than +you have of him. That this is literally true is the conviction of +my understanding, founded not only upon reason and analogy, but +upon the irrefragable testimony of divine revelation. There surely +is nothing in such a thought that is improbable. We have daily +experience of the revival in our minds of past events long +forgotten; they lived there, though dormant. Then how many well +authenticated and well known instances, where persons recovered +from drowning have stated that before they lost consciousness, all +the scenes and incidents of their lives flashed instantaneously, as +it were, upon their minds, and appeared to be present to their +view. They had been treasured up there, though latent. Death does +not extinguish the mental faculties, thought does not cease, but +the conscious and thinking being passes from scenes present to +scenes eternal. "Mortality is swallowed up of life." There would be +good ground for this conviction, if revelation gave us no higher +proof; but it is explicit. "Every one of us shall give account of +himself to God." This necessarily implies a perfect recollection of +our lives. We are to answer for all the deeds done in the body; for +every idle word, for every secret and sinful thought and feeling. +This requires a perfect recollection of every event, sentiment, and +emotion of our lives. The soul, therefore, must carry into the +unseen world a perfect recollection of its associates and friends; +and as there will be no decay then of mental powers, this will be +an abiding, ever-present recollection. Every holy feeling will also +continue after death—conjugal, parental, filial, fraternal +affections are holy; they are expressly enjoined upon us by divine +authority. Love, indeed, pure, fervent affection, is the +characteristic element of Heaven. It is impossible, therefore, that +the holy affections should cease at death. I have, therefore, a +conviction that our departed friends, whose death we mourn, +remember us distinctly and with tender affection. I have dwelt upon +this subject because it has afforded me in my great affliction much +consolation, and if I had time, I might expatiate more fully upon +it, and adduce further evidence in support of its truth.</p> + +<p>Yes! it is a truth, and therefore it is full of consolation. While +we are thinking of our departed friends with grief, they, too, are +thinking of us, with at least equal affection, and this they will +continue to do until we meet. In the meantime we may comfort +ourselves with the thought that, to use the language of a sober and +judicious commentator on the sacred Scriptures, "The separation +will be short, the re-union rapturous, and the subsequent felicity +uninterrupted, unalloyed, and eternal."</p> + +<p>I have felt peculiar sympathy for Lady Robinson. I am sure her +affliction must be extreme. I hope the Son of God is with her in +the furnace, and that she has a consciousness of His presence. He +can give both support and consolation, and both she must greatly +need. He can gently, and imperceptibly, bind up and heal her +wounded and bleeding heart.</p> + +<p>I wish that I could furnish reminiscences that would be interesting +to you, for I should be glad to testify my respect for the memory +of your brother, but I cannot tell you anything with which you are +not familiar. I remember distinctly his appearance the first time I +saw him. He had just returned to Canada, after his first visit to +England. I was a student at law, and had gone from Bath to Toronto, +to attend the Court of King's Bench at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_571" id="Page_571">[Pg 571]</a></span> Michaelmas Term. He, and +Lady Robinson, came from Kingston in the steamer "Frontenac." I +think that Mr. Hagerman was on board also. From another passenger, +I heard that on the voyage they were overtaken at night by a storm, +which stove in the dead-lights, and poured a flood of water into +the cabin. It was a time of alarm, probably of danger; your brother +was perfectly composed. He came into court on his arrival, and upon +that occasion I saw him. His appearance was striking. His features +were classically and singularly beautiful; his countenance was +luminous with intelligence and animation; his whole appearance that +of a man of genius and a polished gentleman, equally dignified and +graceful. Altogether his features, figure and manners filled my +youthful imagination with admiration, which subsequent +acquaintance, and opportunities to hear him at the Bar and in +Parliament, only strengthened, and which was not diminished by the +difference between us in our views and opinions on public affairs. +I heard him frequently at the Bar, and upon some occasions, I had +the honour to be junior counsel with him.</p> + +<p>He was a consummate advocate, as well as a profound and accurate +lawyer. He had extraordinary powers for a speech <i>impromptu</i>, and +needed as little time for preparation for an address to a jury, or +an argument to the Court, as any one I have ever known. But he was +never induced by this readiness to neglect a patient and careful +attention to his client's case.</p> + +<p>No one could be more faithful. He studied every case thoroughly, +examined all the particular circumstances, made himself master of +its details, and considered it carefully, in all its aspects and +relations. I do not think he ever delivered a speech from memory. +He was self-possessed in the trial, his mind was vigilant, his +thoughts flowed rapidly, he had rapid association of ideas, great +quickness of apprehension, as well as great sagacity, and a power +of arranging anything in his mind, luminously and instantaneously; +his fluency was unsurpassed.</p> + +<p>I was present upon those occasions in Parliament which aroused him +to great exertions.</p> + +<p>He was at all times a correct, elegant, interesting speaker, but +upon those occasions he spoke with great force and effect.</p> + +<p>The fire of his eye, the animation of his countenance and the +elegance of his manner, combined with dignity, cannot be +appreciated by any one who did not hear him. No report of his +speeches, no description of his manner and appearance, can convey +to others a just and adequate idea. To report him <i>verbatim</i> was +impossible. His ideas flowed so rapidly, and he had such fluency of +language, that no reporter could have kept pace with his delivery. +He was an admirable parliamentary leader. He never exposed himself +by any incautious speech or act, and never failed to detect and +expose one on the other side. He was sincere and earnest in his +opinions, uncompromising, frank and fearless in the expression of +them. He never attempted to make a display of himself, or indulged +in useless declamation; but spoke earnestly and for the purpose of +producing an immediate effect. I heard that when he was in England +in 1823 (I think that was the year), the ministry had under +consideration introducing him through one of their boroughs into +Parliament. If it had been done, I have no doubt he would have +become a distinguished member of the House of Commons, and I think +it probable that he would have attained to the highest honours of +the land. During two years I had the honour to be Speaker of the +House of Assembly, while he was Speaker of the Legislative Council; +our official stations rendered it necessary for us to confer +together concerning the business before Parliament. He was always +courteous, communicative and obliging. The difference between us on +political questions while I was in Parliament precluded intimate or +confidential relations, but he was always pleasant and candid,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_572" id="Page_572">[Pg 572]</a></span> and +more than once did I share in that elegant hospitality which was +dispensed so cordially and so gracefully by him and Lady Robinson.</p> + +<p>I have had the honor to receive friendly letters from him +occasionally since I have been here, and after my great affliction +last spring he wrote to me two very kind letters for which I shall +ever be grateful.</p> + +<p>I should be sincerely glad to evince my respect for his memory. I +have not space left to add anything respecting his judicial +character and career, but this is unimportant. Every one in Canada +knows it.</p></div> + +<p>Writing to me after the Conference at London, in June, 1873, Dr. Ryerson +said:—The proceedings of the Conference were very harmonious, and the +discussions very able and courteous upon the whole. I received many +thanks for my labours in connection with the scheme for Methodist +Confederation and for union with the New Connexion Methodists. I trust I +have been able, through Divine goodness, to render some service to the +good cause.</p> + + + +<p class="space">In a letter to Dr. Ryerson from Rev. Dr. Punshon, dated 2nd December, +the latter expressed some fears as to one or two points in the future of +the General Conference arrangement. He says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am looking with some solicitude to the result of the Appeal to +the Quarterly Meetings on the Union question. I hope it will be +carried, though your modifications of the scheme do not quite meet +my approval, as one who would like to see a statesman's view taken +of things. I do not see the bond of cohesion twenty years hence, +when those who are now personally known to, and therefore +interested in, each other, have passed off the stage. Then the +General Conference will meet as perfect strangers, having hardly a +common interest but that of a common name; and as there are no +General Superintendents, who know all the Conferences, there will +not be, as in the States, any link to bind them together. I trust +some remedy will be found for this, or the lack of such link will +be disastrous.</p> + +<p>We are losing our prominent men. You will have seen that Mr. Heald +has passed away—also Mr. Marshall, another Stockport "pillar." I +am greatly concerned about my dear friend, Gervase Smith, the +Secretary of the Conference. He has overtaxed himself, and is very +ill. Absolute rest is enjoined for some time. It would be a sad day +for me, if dear Gervase were to pass from my side. We have just +heard of the loss of the "Ville du Havre," with 226 lives. Emile +Cook, from Paris, was on board, and injured by the collision. How +terrible! Now, my dear Dr. Ryerson, the good Lord be with you, and +make you always as happy in His love as you desire to be, and spare +you yet for many years, to counsel and to plan for His glory and +the benefit of Canada.</p></div> + +<p>Writing from his Long Point Cottage to me on the 12th of April, 1873, +Dr. Ryerson said:—Some days I have felt quite young; but upon the +whole, I doubt whether the means which have been so successful in the +past in renewing my strength, can be of much use any longer to "stave +off" old age. A medical gentleman here from Port Rowan said yesterday, I +looked the perfection of health at my age; but my strength I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_573" id="Page_573">[Pg 573]</a></span> feel +already to be "labour and sorrow." So true are the words of inspiration +to practical life.</p> + + + +<p class="space">The union question having been carried, and the General Conference +established, that body met in Toronto in September, 1874. Speaking of it +Dr. Ryerson said:—In 1874 I was elected the first President of the +first General Conference of the Methodist Church of Canada; consisting +of an equal number of ministers and laymen, and representing the several +Annual Conferences of the Dominion of Canada.</p> + +<p>On his return home from the General Conference held in Toronto in 1874, +Hon. L. A. Wilmot, a former Judge, and late Lieutenant-Governor of New +Brunswick, wrote to Dr. Ryerson a note, in which he said:—How can we +ever repay you and your dear family for the warm-hearted hospitality and +the intellectual repast we so much enjoyed while with you? To me it is +much more than a sunny memory, as you have so enriched me with treasures +of thought, and words of wisdom. Really, I long to see you again, and I +cannot express to you the pleasure it will afford us to welcome you all +to our suburban home. We have room enough for you all, and sincerely do +we pray that we may all be spared to meet again. [Mr. Wilmot has since +then gone home to his reward.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_574" id="Page_574">[Pg 574]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXIV" id="CHAPTER_LXIV"></a>CHAPTER LXIV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1875-1876.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Correspondence with Rev. J. Ryerson, Dr. Punshon, etc.</span></p> + + +<p>Dr. Ryerson went up to Simcoe to preach the anniversary sermons there, +in December, 1874, and hoped to have gone to Brantford to see his +brother John, but was prevented. He therefore wrote to him a New Year's +letter, on the 3rd January, 1875: I have often prayed for you, thinking +sometimes that I was even praying with you. We have spoken of you more +than once during the recent holiday salutations and good wishes, and +have wished you happy returns of this season of kindly greetings and +renewed friendships.</p> + +<p>I feel to bless God that during the last several weeks I have +experienced, in a deeper and brighter degree than I ever experienced +before, "the love of Christ which passeth all knowledge." The pages of +God's book seem to shine with a brighter lustre and a more luminous, +comprehensive and penetrating power than I ever beheld in them. Without +care, without fear, without a shadow of doubt, I can now, through God's +wonderful grace, and by His Holy Spirit, rest my all upon Christ—lay my +all upon His altar, and say, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is +gain."</p> + +<p>On Sunday afternoon we had the renewal of the Covenant Service, in the +Metropolitan, and the Communion. It was a good time. I think there were +more than five hundred at the Communion—the largest number I ever +witnessed in America, even at a camp-meeting. It took Rev. Dr. Potts and +I more than an hour to distribute the elements.</p> + +<p>I am anxious to go up to my cottage for change and retirement, so as to +be quite alone for a few weeks with my books and papers.</p> + +<p>I am at work, as hard as I can, upon my history. On New Year's Day I +worked at it for fifteen hours—writing upwards of twenty pages of +foolscap, besides researches, comparing authorities, etc. I am anxious +to complete the two volumes of the New England Loyalists, before I go to +England in May.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_575" id="Page_575">[Pg 575]</a></span></p> + +<p>In reply to Dr. Ryerson's letter of 3rd January, his brother John +wrote:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>My health is still precarious.... My attention to religious duties +(reading the Scriptures, private and meditative self-examination, +etc.,) I unremittingly persevere in, but my religious enjoyment is +low and my faith weak.... This winter I have read the Life of Dr. +Bradshaw, an eminent clergyman of the Church of England, some time +Rector of Colchester, then of Birmingham, and then of a Rectory in +the suburbs of London, where he died in 1865, at the age of +eighty-nine. His ministry extended over more than sixty years. He +was one of the most devoted, and singularly pious ministers whose +memoirs I ever read. O! into what dwarfishness the morality, and +the spiritual and elevated attainments of most Christians sink in +the presence of such men! Dr. Bradshaw's life was written by Miss +Marsh, the authoress of the Life of Captain Vicars, and other +excellent books. I have also read the Life of Miss M. Graham, a +most eminently pious and devoted lady, also a member of the Church +of England. She died at the early age of twenty-eight. Another +memoir—of Mrs. Winslow, from the reading of which I ought to have +derived much profit, one of the holiest women of whom I ever read, +was a devoted member of the English Church. She was the daughter of +a wealthy West India planter, and born in the West Indies. Her +father died when she was quite young. She was married to a Captain +in the British army, in one of the regiments stationed in the +Island of Jamaica, but singular to say, not long after her +marriage, was wonderfully converted, and towards the close of his +life, was the means of saving her affectionate and devoted husband, +who was a nephew of the once Governor of the Colony of +Massachusetts. He was very wealthy, besides his West India +estate—owning a large estate in England. The wonderful piety of +this devoted saint, during the long years of her widowhood, ought +to humble pigmy Christians, like me, in the dust. Oh, can I ever be +saved, if such men and women are only saved?</p> + +<p>I am now reading the life and labours of Rev. Dr. Shrewsbury, a +Wesleyan missionary to the West Indies and South Africa—then late +in life back to England, where he died in 1866, aged seventy-three +years. He was a man of ability, much industry and zeal, and of more +than the medium piety of Methodist preachers generally.</p></div> + +<p>In reply to this letter, Dr. Ryerson wrote to his brother on the 21st of +February and said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You speak of the want of joy in your religious experience. I do not +pray for joy, I simply pray for the indwelling of Christ, for the +stamp of His image upon my soul, and for the harmony of every +desire, and thought, and feeling, with His holy will, and divine +glory; and there comes a "peace that passeth all understanding," a +rest of the soul from fear, and anxiety—a sinking into God,—and +now and then greater or less ecstacies of joy. I think we mistake +when we make what is usually termed joy, the end of prayer, or of +desire. I believe that even heaviness, and especially when +superinduced by bodily disease, is not only consistent with a high +state of grace, but even instrumental in its increase—especially +of faith; the faith which realizes things invisible, as visible, +and things to come, as things present.</p> + +<p>I should like to read the biographies of which you speak, +especially that of Rev. Dr. Marsh, but my time is insufficient to +read what I have to read for my historical purposes. After all, +biographies are very much what the biographers choose to make of +their heroes. The writings of the Holy Apostles are the simple and +true standard of Christian experience, practice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_576" id="Page_576">[Pg 576]</a></span> and privilege, and +help us also from sinking into despondency by the illustrations +they give of human imperfections and infirmities, and directing us +so plainly to the source of all strength and supply, as well as to +the "God of all consolation." We will talk more of these things +when I see you.</p></div> + +<p>Rev. John Ryerson, in his letter of February 24th, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I never pray for joy in religion; to pray or seek for such a thing +would be to begin at the wrong end; but truly pious persons might +have joy as the fruit of a real experience, as growing out of a +life "hid with Christ in God," joy in believing, joy in the Holy +Ghost—but what I do offer my poor prayers for, is to know my sins +forgiven, my acceptance with God; that I have a lot among the +sanctified, that I have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus +Christ. If I had an abiding evidence of such an experience, it +would produce more or less joy. Surely the Bible is the best book; +it is "The Book;" but still he may find many blessed illustrations +of its truths, of its morality, its spirituality, in the experience +and lives, not only of saints of ancient days, but many of modern +times. Rev. Dr. Marsh was one of these. He was a man of great +learning, and extensive reading, but he loved the Bible infinitely, +and above all books, read it (I was going to say) almost +continually, and died with the New Testament in his hand. I try to +read God's blessed Word. I am reading the Bible through by +course—five or ten chapters every day in the Old Testament, and +two or so in the New, besides on my knees, I read all the Psalms +through every month. But what does this amount to? Nothing, so long +as I am not saved from pride, irritability, selfishness, etc., +within; the workings of which, more or less, I daily feel. This +greatly troubles and distresses me; besides the remembrance of my +sins of unfaithfulness, wanderings, backslidings, is grievous to +me, and sometimes a burthen too heavy to be borne. The temptations, +trials, sorrows, of true saints sometimes shed a little light upon +my dulness, and give some strength to my weak and wavering faith.</p></div> + +<p>On the 28th of February, Dr. Ryerson replied:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I thank you for your kind and interesting letter. I did not suppose +you had made joy an object or subject of prayer; but from the tone +of your letter, it appeared to me that the absence of joy, or +"heaviness of spirit," had led you to judge of your state too +unfavourably. I quite agree with the views you express on the +subject. I have not seen Rev. Dr. Marsh's life: but I can conceive +him quite worthy of what is written, and of the opinion you express +respecting him. During my attendance at the Wesleyan Conference in +Birmingham, in 1836, my host invited Rev. Dr. (then Mr.) Marsh, +Rev. John Angell James, and several other clergymen and persons of +note, to meet me. I was very much struck with Mr. Marsh's +appearance, and the more so from a circumstance mentioned to me by +the hostess. A short time before that, a publisher there wished to +get a portrait of the Apostle St. John, to have it engraved as an +illustration in some book or publication he was issuing; and Mr. +Marsh was solicited to sit for the artist, as his countenance was +supposed to reflect more strongly the purity and loveliness of the +Apostle than any ideal that could be found. In consequence of this +circumstance, I was told that Mr. Marsh was often called St. John +the Apostle, from his Apostolic character and truly lovely manner +and countenance. His praise was then in every mouth, as I was told, +among the Dissenters as well as members of the Church of England. +(See page 163.)</p></div> + +<p>After Dr. Ryerson became President of the General Conference in 1874, he +was gratified at the many kind things said to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_577" id="Page_577">[Pg 577]</a></span> him by his brethren and +other friends. None were more kind and loving than those contained in a +letter from his friend, Rev. Dr. Punshon, who speaks of his own +elevation to the Presidency of the British Conference. Dr. Punshon, in +his letter to Dr. Ryerson of the 19th of February, said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>First of all, let me congratulate you most heartily upon your +well-merited elevation to the Presidency of the General Conference. +They did themselves honour, and you will do them honour in their +choice. My elevation here was unexpected, but very grateful, +although the responsibility and work which it entails make me long +for July, when, if God wills, I shall doff my regalia. I hope most +earnestly to have the pleasure of seeing the Canadian +representatives at the next Conference in Sheffield. I have already +spoken for a very sweet home for you. It will be a great +gratification to see you once again, and to enjoy sweet converse, +with you as of old. Mr. Gervase Smith and I are to be with +relatives just across the road. So please do not delay your coming +for another year, as no one knows to what place the Conference will +be carried. It seems almost improper to talk about it when we +remember the heavy loss into which, as into an inheritance, we have +all come by the death of dear Wiseman. You would, I am sure, be +very grieved to hear of it. It fell on all here like a +thunder-clap. But the Lord is good, and knows what is best for us +all. There is a sorrowfully-occasioned vacancy at the Mission +House, which the friends say I must fill, but I cannot tell how it +will go, and of course, all is premature as yet. The Lord will +direct us as He has always done.</p> + +<p>By the way, I have been set seriously thinking by Mr. Wiseman's +removal, whether I had sufficiently secured, by the document I gave +to Rev. Dr. Rice, that the principal of the Testimonial Fund, given +to me on leaving Canada, should, at my death, pass to the Canadian +Conference for the benefit of the worn-out ministers and widows. I +found on enquiry that it was not so secured as to be beyond doubt. +I have been in consultation with my solicitor as to the best method +of effecting this. I have therefore given directions for a deed of +trust to be prepared, which will state that I hold this money in +trust for the "Superannuated Minister's Fund of the Methodist +Church of Canada." I advise you of this as the honoured President +of the General Conference. I was, on the whole, satisfied with the +proceedings of the General Conference. I felt a little pang at the +hasty change of name. It was inevitable to do it, at the same time, +but it showed rather a leaping desire of freedom, and a wish to get +as far as possible from the old mother at once, which might have, +perhaps, been spared. This was not, I dare say, present to all who +desired the change. I admit all the force of your able reasoning +for the present—but twenty years hence the General Conference will +meet as strangers, with no community of interest, and I dread the +result, without a visible bond of cohesion.</p></div> + +<p>Writing to me from Port Rowan in September, 1875, Dr. Ryerson said:—My +friends here think that I am stronger, walk better, and appear more +active than when I was last in this village. This is a common remark to +me, and for which I cannot feel sufficiently thankful to my Heavenly +Father. He is my portion; my all is His; and I feel that He is all and +in all to me—my joy as well as my strength.</p> + +<p>Writing from his Long Point cottage to me on the 13th April, 1876, Dr. +Ryerson said:—Next Sunday will be Easter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_578" id="Page_578">[Pg 578]</a></span> Sunday—the 51st anniversary +of my ministerial life, and what a life! Much to lament over; much to +humble; with many exposures and hardships; full of various labours; +abounding in heavenly blessings.</p> + + + +<p class="space">Dr. Ryerson was appointed as a representative of the Conferences of +British America to the General Conference of the United States in 1876. +Being unable to go, he addressed a letter to Bishop Simpson, from which +I take these extracts:—</p> + +<p>I regret that I have been unable to fulfil my last public mission in +behalf of our Canadian Church to the Conference of British Methodism to +go to Baltimore to look upon your General Conference, and bid a last +earthly farewell to brethren whom I esteem and love so much—with whom I +was first brought into church membership, by whose Bishop Hedding I was +ordained both deacon and elder, and with whom I feel myself as much one +this day as I did half a century ago.</p> + +<p>My first representative mission was in 1828, to visit and urge upon the +late Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fisk, of Wilbraham, Conn., the request of our +Conference to become our first bishop; and had he consented, or Dr. +Bangs afterwards, I believe it would have been a great blessing to +Methodism in Canada; but an overruling Providence ordered it otherwise, +and the extension of the work of God, through our ministry and Church, +down to the present time, is one of the greatest marvels to ourselves +and to others.</p> + +<p>For thirty-one years and upwards, by the annual permission of my +Conference, I have administered the governmental system of public +instruction in this country; but the Government and Legislature have at +length acceded to my request to retire, and have done so without +reducing my official allowance; and now, in the seventy-fourth year of +my age, and fifty-second of my ministry, I am enabled, in the enjoyment +of good health, to go in and out, as aforetime, among my brethren, with +a brightening hope and increasing desire of soon being permitted to +"depart and be with Christ, which is far better," and where I feel sure +of joyously meeting thousands of fellow-ministers and labourers whom I +have known in the flesh on both sides of the Atlantic.</p> + + + +<p class="space">In May, 1876, Dr. Ryerson went to England to consult works on the +history of America in the British Museum Library. Writing to me from +near Leeds, just after his arrival, he says:—I was most cordially +received by Rev. Gervase Smith, and Dr. Punshon. The latter insisted +upon my being his guest first, as he had the strongest claim upon me. I +was his guest for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_579" id="Page_579">[Pg 579]</a></span> eight days—and they were very agreeable days to me. +When I came here I was enthusiastically received by the Methodist New +Connexion Conference—a most cultured, gentlemanly, and respectable body +of men—their whole body being not numerous, but select.</p> + +<p>I have thus far enjoyed my visit to this country most thoroughly—free +from care, and surrounded by most kind friends and agreeable +associations.</p> + +<p>Writing to me from London, on the 17th July, he says:—I experienced a +great pleasure in my visit to Ireland, in becoming personally acquainted +with many of the Irish preachers, and in witnessing their conferential +proceedings. They are a faithful, hard-working body of men; they have +hard work to do, and their success the last year has been in advance of +that of preceding years.</p> + +<p>I have seen Mr. Longman in regard to publishing my history. He was very +cordial and complimentary. I explained to him in brief the origin and +scope of what I had written, and of what I intended to write, and gave +him the table of contents of the first fifteen chapters—to the end of +the reign of Elizabeth, and the 13th chapter on the "Protestantism of +Queen Elizabeth," as published in the <i>Canadian Methodist Magazine</i>.</p> + +<p>I was at the Houses of Lords and Commons a part of one afternoon and +evening. Sir Stafford Northcote, hearing that I was there, came to me +under the Speaker's gallery, and conversed with me nearly half an hour. +Other members also spoke to me. Earl Grey recognized me in the street, +and stopped and conversed with me.</p> + +<p>I go to the Wesleyan Conference at Nottingham next Monday, and may +probably remain there ten days. I attended four services yesterday—at 8 +a.m. (communion), at the parish Church of St. James, near Piccadilly, +where I was lodging; at the Temple at 11 a.m., a grand service, +delightful music, and an excellent sermon from Rev. C. J. Vaughan, +Master of the Temple; at 3 p.m. at Westminster Abbey—prayers read by +the Dean of Lichfield, and sermon by the Dean of Richmond on the words, +"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,"—a plain, +practical sermon, but the music, etc., inferior to that of the Temple. +In the evening I went to one of the most fashionable and advanced +Ritualistic Churches; poor singing, poorer preaching. Everything +pretentious, and certainly not attractive to me. In all three churches, +the hymns and tunes were old Methodist hymns and tunes, and well sung.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson did go to the British Conference as President and +Representative of the General Conference of Canada. The London +<i>Methodist Recorder</i>, speaking of his presence there,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_580" id="Page_580">[Pg 580]</a></span> said:—Rev. Dr. +Punshon, the President, gave a brief and discriminating introduction to +Dr. Ryerson. The Doctor's personal appearance is very prepossessing; he +is grey-haired; of a fine, healthy complexion; has a gentle eye; and a +full, emotional voice. He dresses in the style of the "fine old English +gentleman," with a refreshing display of "linen clean and white." One +scarcely knows which most to admire—the simplicity of the man, his +well-furnished intellect, or his practical good sense; which most to +wonder at, the real progress which has been made in this one lifetime, +or the boundless possibilities of the future to which that progress +leads. It is something to have rocked the cradle of an empire-Church. +The audience was several times deeply moved by the Doctor's allusions to +the memories of the past, but most of all when, in the conclusion of his +address, he said "farewell," with a tearful expression of his own +rejoicing "in the hope of eternal life."</p> + +<p>Rev. D. Savage, who was also Representative of the General Conference, +in a private note, said:—It is a grand Conference, distinguished by +remarkable manifestations of Divine power. The reports which will come +to you through the press cannot do justice to the influence that is +abroad. Dr. Ryerson's address was eloquent and impressive. The fact that +Dr. Ryerson was representative to the British Conference in 1833, and +that after the lapse of forty-three years, he has returned in the same +capacity, is in itself a most extraordinary event. The words in which +Dr. Punshon introduced Dr. Ryerson were eloquent and kindly.</p> + +<p>The following letters were addressed to me by Dr. Ryerson while in +London, at the dates mentioned:—</p> + +<p><i>September 19th.</i>—My lodgings are just opposite the British Museum, the +library of which I find of great use to me. I am absorbed in revising +and completing my work. Whether it will be a success or not, is one of +the uncertainties of the future.</p> + +<p>I am glad to be here, instead of being in Toronto, during the ensuing +session of our Legislature, as I do not wish to be where any party can +call upon me, or use my name in respect to any measure that the +Government may think proper to bring forward on the subject of +education.</p> + +<p><i>November 14th.</i>—The Earl of Dufferin enclosed flattering letters of +introduction to the Earl of Carnarvon and the Dean of Westminster, both +of whom have received me with great cordiality. The Earl of Carnarvon +shook hands with me two or three times, and said how glad he was to see +and shake hands with an old Canadian, whose services to his country were +spoken of as Lord Dufferin has spoken of mine. His Lordship told me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_581" id="Page_581">[Pg 581]</a></span> he +would give instructions, whenever I desired, to have every possible +facility and aid given me in the Record Office in referring to any +documents or papers there, relating to the history or affairs of the +British Colonies.</p> + +<p>I submitted to the Dean of Westminster the last (14th), recapitulating +summary chapter on the "Relations of Early English Puritanism to +Protestant Unity and Religious Liberty," for his judgment. I last +evening received a kind note from him (returning the manuscript), in +which he says: "I have gone through the summary of the reign of +Elizabeth, and find it full of just views, rendered the more attractive +by the impartiality of judgment, and by the exact knowledge of the +subject which pervades the chapter." The Dean kindly suggests the use of +some neutral word, such as "Roman Catholics" for "Papists," and not to +use the words "Ritualists," "Ritualism," as all these words are terms of +reproach, and the use of them may lay me open to the charge of +partizanship. I shall adopt his suggestions.</p> + +<p><i>December 7th.</i>—With your letter I received day before yesterday a long +letter from my brother John—a real news letter with some sparklings of +wit. He mentions that during each of two preceding Sabbaths he had +attended a quarterly meeting on neighbouring circuits, and on each day +he had conducted a love-feast, preached at half-past ten in the morning, +administered the Lord's Supper (one to-day to 150 alone) and preached +again at half-past six in the evening, riding several miles in the +afternoon between each appointment, which, I think, as he says, "is +pretty well for an old man in his seventy-seventh year."</p> + +<p>I am wonderfully well—having no pain of back, or limb, or head. I am +careful of my living and exercise; but during the last three years I +have worked fifteen hours each day. I have every possible facility of +books, retirement, and an amanuensis; and am doing what I would have to +do under less favourable circumstances on my return to Canada. It is +singular that your History and other books are almost the only ones +which have been furnished to the British Museum, and are found on its +catalogue. I have read every word of your essay on a Central University +and think it admirable, exhibiting much research, acute observation, and +profound thought.</p> + +<p><i>December 14th.</i>—My present purpose is to finish and publish my purely +Canadian History of the United Empire Loyalists as soon as possible, and +leave the other to my executors—yourself and others—to do as you +please. I am assured that my two volumes on the Puritans in Old and New +England will raise a storm on both sides of the Atlantic. I wish to +have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_582" id="Page_582">[Pg 582]</a></span> nothing more to do with controversy, and I do not wish to die in a +storm. I am now popular with all parties. I am sure I am right and just +on the character and relation of the Puritans and their opponents; but I +am strongly inclined to believe what I have written in regard to them +(for I am done with them) will perhaps take better if left as a legacy, +than if now put forth by myself. My reputation, and the pleasure to my +country, will chiefly depend upon my United Empire Canadian History, and +to that my all of strength and time is now directed until I finish it.</p> + +<p><i>December 26th.</i>—I heard Dean Stanley preach in Westminster Abbey, on +Christmas Day. His sermon was able and eloquent, but disappointed me by +the absence of all mention of the guilt and depravity of man, and the +"good tidings," including an atonement for the pardon of guilt, and the +power of the Holy Spirit to regenerate and sanctify. He is a very +amiable man, and looks at the good side of everything. He enumerated ten +blessings brought to man by the Incarnation of Christ, as distinguished +from all the advantages of science and philosophy; but I felt, if I had +not received through Christ the two blessings he omitted to mention, I +should never have received the blessings, to which I owe my all, of +renewal, pardon, strength and comfort and hope, in the religion of our +Lord Jesus Christ.</p> + + + +<p class="space">The award to the Ontario Educational Collection at the Centennial +Exhibition, at Philadelphia, was made during Dr. Ryerson's absence in +England. Being a government exhibit, no medal could be awarded for it. A +diploma was, however, granted by the Centennial Commission, which was +declared to be—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>For a quite complete and admirably arranged Exhibition, +illustrating the Ontario system of Education and its excellent +results; also for the efficiency of an administration which has +gained for the Ontario Department a most honourable distinction +among Government Educational agencies.</p></div> + +<p>Such was the gratifying tribute which a number of eminent American +educationists paid to the Ontario system of Education, and through it to +its distinguished founder, in estimating the results of his labours as +illustrated at the Centennial Exhibition.</p> + +<p>Having communicated this to Dr. Ryerson, in England, he replied:—I +cannot sufficiently express my gratitude with you to our Heavenly +Father, for His abounding care and goodness in connection with the +Education Department, in prospering us in our past work, and in +sustaining us during all these years against attacks and adversaries on +all sides. It is a singular and gratifying fact, that the Centennial +Exhibition at Philadelphia<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_583" id="Page_583">[Pg 583]</a></span> should afford us, at this juncture (the year +of my retiring from office), the best of all possible opportunities, to +exhibit the fruits (at least in miniature) of our past policy and +labours. To you, with myself, equally belongs the credit, as I am sure +the pleasure and gratitude, of these signal displays of the Divine +goodness to us.</p> + +<p>During his stay in England Dr. Ryerson received a note from Rev. Dr. +Jobson, dated January 25th, 1877, in which he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It will afford me lasting pleasure to think that I have said or +done anything towards augmenting your enjoyment on what you have +been pleased to term your 'last visit to England.' I remember with +pleasure your former visits, and our associations together with +Princes in our Israel who have passed to "the better country—even +a heavenly." And, for more than a quarter of a century, I have +traced your course as an acknowledged leader and counsellor for +Methodism in Canada. The result of this has been to produce within +me deep reverential esteem and affection towards you, which have +been only slightly expressed by such attention and acts that you +are pleased to acknowledge. My best wishes will accompany you on +your return to Canada; and I am sure that I express the feeling of +all my ministerial friends when I say that your appearance among us +at our late Conference in Nottingham heightened its interests with +us and that your utterances in it render it joyously memorable to +us.</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_584" id="Page_584">[Pg 584]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="i8" id="i8"></a> +<img src="images/584.png" width="600" height="376" alt="left side of educational exhibit" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_585" id="Page_585">[Pg 585]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i585.png" width="600" height="373" alt="right side of educational exhibit" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_586" id="Page_586">[Pg 586]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXV" id="CHAPTER_LXV"></a>CHAPTER LXV.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1877-1882.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Closing Years of Dr. Ryerson's Life-Labours.</span></p> + + +<p>After Dr. Ryerson's return from England, he devoted some time to the +final revision of his principal work, in two volumes: <i>The United Empire +Loyalists of America</i>, and to two additional volumes on the Puritans of +Old and New England. These works cost him a good deal of arduous labour, +but their preparation was in many respects a source of pleasure to him, +and of agreeable occupation. After their completion, he lived in quiet +retirement at his residence, No. 171 Victoria-street, Toronto. His pen +was soon again employed in writing a series of essays on Canadian +Methodism for the <i>Canadian Methodist Magazine</i>, which were afterwards +re-published in book form. Immediately after his return from England, +his brother John addressed him the following letter on the 23rd March, +1877:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I heartily congratulate you on your safe arrival in your native +land, and also that in health and strength you are spared to see +your seventy-fourth birthday. As age advances time seems to fly +more and more rapidly; and however it may be with others, certainly +we are to the "margin come," and how important it is that we live +in readiness, and in continual preparation for our departure.</p></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="i10" id="i10"></a> +<img src="images/i587.png" width="600" height="371" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption smcap">Dr. Ryerson's Private Residence and Study (in the rear building), 171 Victoria St., Toronto.</span> +</div> + +<p>On the 7th May, 1877, Dr. Ryerson received a letter from his brother +John urging him to commence a proposed series of essays on Canadian +Methodism. He says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I am glad that you think of writing a review of Church matters, and +that there are so many leading ministers who think you ought to do +so. The more I think and pray about the matter, the more I am +satisfied that is a path of duty opened up to you, the pursuit of +which will be a great blessing to the Church and the country in +coming time. The matters referred to and somewhat explained and +exhibited, with other things which doubtless will occur to you, +might be:—1. Missionary Society; 2. Ryanism; 3. Canadian +Conference formed; 4. Clergy reserve land matter; 5. <i>Christian +Guardian</i> commenced; 6. Church Land and Marriage Bill; 7. Victoria +College; 8. Book-Room; 9. Centenary celebration and fund; 10. Union +with the British Conference; 11. Hudson Bay mission; 12. Disruption +with British Conference; 13. Re-union; 14. Superannuated ministers; +Contingents; Chapel Relief, and Childrens' Funds; 15. Remarkable +camp-meetings—Beaver Dams, some one hundred and fifty professed +conversion; seventy or eighty joined the Church. Ancaster Circuit: +Peter Jones converted. Yongestreet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_588" id="Page_588">[Pg 588]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_587" id="Page_587">[Pg 587]</a></span> Circuit: Mrs. Taylor converted +under a sermon preached by Wm. Hay. Bay Circuit: Peter Jacobs, and +many other Indians saved. Hamilton, back of Cobourg, held in time +of Conference—Bishop George presiding; when and where the Rice and +Mud Lake bands were all converted; a nation born in a day! 16. The +first protracted meeting; held at the twenty-mile camp, by Storey +and E. Evans, and Ryerson, P. E.—no previous arrangement, between +two hundred and three hundred professed religion, the wonderful +work spreading through most of the Niagara district.</p></div> + +<p>In a letter to me dated Guelph, 9th June, 1877, Dr. Ryerson said:—I +came here yesterday forenoon, and was most respectfully and cordially +received by the Conference. In the course of the day, Rev. J. A. +Williams, seconded by Rev. E. B. Ryckman, moved that I be requested to +prepare a history of the principal epochs of our Church, etc. The +resolution, with many kind and complimentary remarks, was unanimously +passed by a standing vote. I assented, and am now committed to the work, +and will lose no time in commencing—dividing my time between it and my +history, which I hope to complete in a few months. I hope before the +next General Conference to complete what this Conference has requested, +and what, from what I hear, will be repeated by other Conferences. As I +am endeavouring to do some justice to the founders of our country and +its institutions, I hope to do the same for the Fathers of our Church +and its institutions. I spoke last night at the reception of young men, +and my remarks were very favourably received.</p> + +<p>In a letter to me from Whitby, dated 27th June, Dr. Ryerson +said:—To-day I had the great pleasure of laying the foundation stone of +an important addition to the Methodist Ladies' College at Whitby. Mr. +Holden kindly intimated that the trustees had decided to name the new +structure "Ryerson Hall." My remarks were few, and related chiefly to +the importance of female education. I referred to the great attention +which was now given to the education of women, on both sides of the +Atlantic. There were different theories, I said, as to how it should be +done, but all were agreed that women should be educated. Even the +English Universities were helping in the work. I did not believe, I +said, in Colleges for both ladies and gentlemen. They should be +separate. It was of vital necessity that the mothers of our land should +be educated. Woman made the home, and home made the man. If the +daughters were educated, the sons would not remain ignorant. Both +patriotism and piety should make people encourage these institutions, +which would be the pride of future generations.</p> + + + +<p class="space">On the 30th July Dr. Ryerson received an affecting letter from his +brother John, enclosing to him the manuscript of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_589" id="Page_589">[Pg 589]</a></span> "Reminiscences of +Methodism," during his long and active life. In regard to them, he +said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>What I have written is entirely from memory. In speaking about many +things I had to do with, of course I had to speak a good deal about +myself, but I was writing for the public, not for you; and if any +of the facts I have referred to will be of any use to you in your +Essays, I shall be glad. That use, however, can be made without +mentioning my name, which I have dreaded to see in print anywhere. +By prayer, reading, reflection, and God's grace helping a poor +worm, I have so far overcome the natural pride of my evil nature, +as to be content, and sometimes happy, in my position of +nothingness. My circumstances give strength to these feelings of +contentment. My age and growing weakness show me that I am come +very near the margin of my poor life, and unfavourable symptoms, +from time to time, strongly remind me that, with me at least, "in +the midst of life, we are in death." I do not, however, deprecate, +nor pray deliverance from, sudden death. My prayer is that of +Charles Wesley's:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"In age and feebleness extreme,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Who can a sinful worm redeem?<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Jesus, my only help Thou art,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Strength of my failing, flesh and heart;<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Oh I might I catch one smile from Thee<br /></span> +<span class="i3">And drop into eternity."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Several years ago I read a poem, or part of one, written in old age +by the celebrated English poetess, Mrs. Barbauld, whose sweet words +I very frequently repeat. She says:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"Life, we have been long together,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Through pleasant and through cloudy weather,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">'Tis hard to part when friends are dear,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh, or tear.<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Then steal away, give little warning,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Choose thine own time;<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Say not 'good night,' but in some happier clime,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Bid me 'good morning.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +</div> + +<p>These words were almost prophetic, for within three months after they +were written, Dr. Ryerson left Toronto for Simcoe to attend at the dying +bed of his beloved brother. Immediately after his death, Dr. Ryerson +wrote to me and said:—Nothing could have been more satisfactory than +the last days of my dear brother; and it was a great comfort to him and +all the family that I was with him for ten days before his departure. +His responses to prayer were very hearty. He seemed to dwell in a higher +region. He was so nervously sensitive that he could not only not +converse, but could hardly bear being talked to. On one occasion he +said, "Egerton, don't talk to me, but kiss me." One day I asked him if I +should unite with him in prayer; he answered (and this was the longest +sentence during the ten days I was with him) with some warmth, "Egerton, +why do you ask me that? You know I always want you to pray with me." One +day I repeated, or began to repeat, the fifth verse of the thirty-first +Psalm, "Into Thy hands I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O +Lord<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_590" id="Page_590">[Pg 590]</a></span> God of truth." He said "I have uttered these words many times. I +have not a doubt upon my mind." Another day he seemed to be very happy +while we united in prayer, and after responding "Amen and Amen!" he +added, "Praise the Lord."</p> + + + +<p class="space">As the General Conference of September, 1878, approached, Dr. Ryerson +was anxiously hoping that the Conference would be favoured with the +presence of an able counsellor and friend, Rev. Dr. Punshon. Greatly to +his regret, he received a note from Dr. Punshon, saying:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You will know by this time that I am not coming to Canada this +year, but that Mr. Coley is appointed Representative to your +General Conference. Among other things, Dr. Punshon said:—You will +see that our Conference has been a solemn one. A minister and a lay +representative were smitten with death on the premises, and died +before they could be removed. These shocks did not help my already +shaken nerves to regain their tone. Otherwise the Conference was a +memorable success. I shall have some of my heart with you in +Montreal. I trust you will have a blessed Conference, and will be +able to get some solution of the transfer question, and some +approach to a scheme for connexional superintendency on a broad, +practical basis, thus strengthening the two weak places of your +present system.</p></div> + +<p>On the 31st August, 1878, Rev. Dr. Wood addressed the following note to +Dr. Ryerson:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Thirty-one years ago, when appointed by the British Conference to +the office of General Superintendent of Missions in the Canada +Conference, I forwarded to your address some testimonials which my +brethren presented to me when giving up the chair of the New +Brunswick District. I now enclose to you the resignation of my +office as one of the General Secretaries of the Missionary Society, +which you can either present personally, or hand over to the +President. I have very pleasant recollections of the past +associations, especially in the early years of the Union of 1847, +to which you gave invaluable assistance in the working out of its +principles, which have resulted in the present wonderful +enlargement of the Methodist Church.</p></div> + +<p>As was his custom, Rev. Dr. Punshon sent to Dr. Ryerson a kind note at +the New Year of 1879. Speaking of Methodist affairs in England he +says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The new year has dawned gloomily enough with us in England. I never +knew such protracted commercial depression. In spite of all, +however, Church enterprises are projected, and we have started our +Connexional Thanksgiving Fund auspiciously, both so far as spirit +and money go. It is proposed to raise £200,000 at least, and some +are sanguine enough to think, if times mend, that a good deal more +will be raised. There never was a meeting in Methodism like the one +at City Road. It was an All-day meeting. The first hour was spent +in devotional exercises, and then the contributions flowed in +without pressure, ostentation, or shame. We are beginning the +Circuit Meetings next week. Our Brixton one is fixed for Monday +evening, but the cream of our subscriptions was announced at City +Road. Dr. Rigg makes a good President.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_591" id="Page_591">[Pg 591]</a></span></p> + +<p>Writing to a friend in December, 1880, Dr. Ryerson said:—</p> + +<p>You speak of being old. I feel myself to be an old man. It is more +labour for me to write one page now, than it used to be to write five +pages.... We shall soon follow those who have gone before. With you I am +waiting and endeavouring to be prepared for the change, and have no fear +of it, but often rejoice in the bright hopes beyond.</p> + + + +<p class="space">Again, writing to the same friend on the 9th of August, 1881, he said:—</p> + +<p>My latest attack has reduced my strength (of which I had little to +spare) very much. My desire is likely soon to be accomplished—to depart +hence.</p> + +<p>Writing to another friend on the 24th of July, 1881, Dr. Ryerson +said:—I have to-day written a letter of affectionate sympathy to Rev. +Dr. Punshon on the decease of his son John William. I trust that his +last days were his best days.</p> + +<p>It has always been a source of thankfulness and gratification, that I +was able to show him some kind attentions during his last visit to +Canada.</p> + +<p>I have been deeply concerned to read in this morning's newspaper that +Dr. Punshon himself was seriously ill. I trust and pray that the Church +and nation may not yet, nor for a long time to come, be deprived of his +eminent services.</p> + +<p>I cannot tell how deeply we all sympathize with Dr. and Mrs. Punshon in +this great trial.</p> + + + +<p class="space">From the last (almost illegible) letter written by Dr. Ryerson, two +weeks before his death and dated 6th of February, 1882, I make the +following extracts. It was addressed to Rev. Hugh Johnston, B.D., of +Montreal, (now of Toronto).</p> + +<p>I am helpless myself—have lost my hearing so that I cannot converse +without a tube. I have been confined to my room for five weeks by +congestion of the lungs, from which I have only partially recovered. I +have not been out of the house since last September, so that I can take +no part in Church affairs. But God has been with me—my strength and +comforter. I am beginning to revive, but have not yet been able to go +down stairs, or move, only creep about with the help of a cane. I do not +know whether you can read the scrawl I have written, but I cannot write +any better.</p> + +<p> +Yours most affectionately,<br /> +Monday, February 6th, 1882. <span class="smcap">E. Ryerson.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>The concluding words of Dr. Ryerson's story of his life were:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_592" id="Page_592">[Pg 592]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>In 1878, I was elected for the third time Representative of the Canadian +to the British Conference. After the fulfilment of these functions, I +have retired from all active participation in public affairs, whether of +Church or State. I have finished, after twenty years' labour, my +"History of the Loyalists of America and their Times." I have finished +the "<span class="smcap">Story of my Life</span>"—imperfect and fragmentary as it is—leaving to +another pen anything that may be thought worthy of record of my last +days on earth, as well as any essential omissions in my earlier career.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>At length the end of this great Canadian drew near; and the shadows at +the closing of life's eventide deepened and lengthened. I visited him +frequently, and always found him interested in whatever subject or topic +I might speak to him about. His congenial subject, however, was God's +providential goodness and overruling care throughout his whole life. In +his personal religious experience, he always spoke humbly of himself and +glowingly of the long-suffering tenderness of God's dealings towards +him. At no time was the character of his religious experience more +practical and suggestive than when laid aside from duty. Meditation on +the past was the subject of his thoughts.</p> + +<p>To him God was a personal, living Father—a Brother born for +adversity—a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother—a great and +glorious Being, ever gracious, ever merciful. His trust in God was +child-like in its simplicity, firm and unwavering. His conversation +partook of it and was eminently realistic. He had no more doubt of God's +daily, hourly, loving care and superintending providence over him and +his than he had of any material fact with which he was familiar or which +was self-evident to him. He entirely realized that God was his ever +present friend. There seemed to be that close, intimate union—reverent +and humble as it was on his part—of man with God, and this gave a +living reality to religion in his life. To him the counsels, the +warnings, the promises; the encouragements of the Bible, were the voice +of God speaking to him personally—the very words came as living words +from the lips of God, "as a man speaketh to his friend." This was the +secret of his courage, whether it was in some crisis of conflict or +controversy, or in his little frail craft when crossing the lake, or +exposed to the storm.</p> + +<p>To such a man death had no terrors—the heart had no fear. It was +cheering and comforting to listen to him (as I often did alone) and to +hear him speak of his near departure, as of one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_593" id="Page_593">[Pg 593]</a></span> preparing for a +journey—ceasing from duty, in order to be ready to be conveyed away, +and then resuming it when the journey was over.</p> + +<p>Thus he spoke of the time of his departure as at hand, and he was ready +for the messenger when He should call for him. He spoke of it +trustfully, hopefully, cheerfully, neither anxious nor fearful; and yet, +on the other hand, neither elated nor full of joy; but he knew in whom +He had trusted, and was persuaded, and was not afraid of evil tidings +either of the dark valley or the river of death. He knew Him whom he +believed, and was persuaded that He was able to keep that which he had +committed unto Him against that day.</p> + +<p>Thus the end drew near, and with it, as the outward man began to fail, +the feeling of unwavering trust and confidence was deepened and +strengthened. At length hearing failed, and the senses one by one +partially ceased to perform their functions. Then to him were fully +realized the inspired words of Solomon: Desire failed, and the silver +cord was loosed, the golden bowl was broken, the pitcher broken at the +fountain, and the wheel at the cistern. Gradually the weary wheels of +life stood still, and at seven o'clock on Sunday morning, February 19th, +1882, in the presence of his loved ones and dear friends, gently and +peacefully the spirit of Egerton Ryerson took its flight to be forever +with the Lord!</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Servant</span> of God, well done!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thy glorious warfare's past;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The battle's fought, the vict'ry won,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And thou art crowned at last;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Of all thy heart's desire<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Triumphantly possessed;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lodged by the sweet angelic choir<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In thy Redeemer's breast.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In condescending love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thy ceaseless prayer He heard;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And bade thee suddenly remove<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To this complete reward.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O happy, happy soul!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In ecstacies of praise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Long as eternal ages roll,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou seest thy Saviour's face.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Redeemed from earth and pain,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ah! when shall we ascend,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all in Jesus' presence reign<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With our translated friend?<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_594" id="Page_594">[Pg 594]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXVI" id="CHAPTER_LXVI"></a>CHAPTER LXVI.</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">1882.</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">The Funeral Ceremonies, Wednesday, Feb. 22nd, 1882.</span></p> + + +<p>Amid the tolling of bells, said the Toronto <i>Globe</i>, and the +lamentations of many thousands of people, the remains of the late Rev. +Dr. Ryerson were conveyed to their final earthly resting-place in Mount +Pleasant Cemetery, on Wednesday, the 22nd February. During the day large +numbers visited the sorrowing house, and gazed for the last time on the +features of the revered dead. As was to be expected, the larger number +were, like the venerable deceased, far into "the sere and yellow leaf," +and many who had known him for a long time could scarce restrain the +unbidden tear as a flood of recollections surged up at the sight of the +still form cold in death.</p> + +<p>No one present, probably, says the <i>Guardian</i>, ever saw so many +ministers at a funeral. Among the ministers and laymen were many +grey-haired veterans, who had watched with interest the whole brilliant +career of the departed.... All the Churches were well represented, both +by their ministers and prominent laymen. Bishop Sweatman and most of the +ministers of the Church of England were present. Nearly all the +Presbyterian, Baptist, and Congregational ministers of the city were +present; and even Archbishop Lynch and Father McCann, of the Roman +Catholic Church, showed their respect for the dead by their presence +during the day. Devotional service at the house was conducted by Rev. R. +Jones, of Cobourg, and Rev. J. G. Laird, of Collingwood.</p> + +<p>The plate on the coffin bore the inscription:—"Egerton Ryerson born +21st March, 1803: died 19th February, 1882." The floral tributes +presented by sorrowing friends were from various places in Ontario, and +not a few came from Detroit and other American cities. The following may +be noted:—Wreath, with "Norfolk" in the centre, from Mr. E. Harris; +wreath, with "Rest" in the centre, from Dr. and Mrs. Hodgins; pillow, +with "Father," from Mrs. E. Harris; crown from the scholars of Ryerson +school; pillow, with "Grandpapa," from the grandchildren of the +deceased: wreath from Mr. C. H. Greene; cross,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_595" id="Page_595">[Pg 595]</a></span> also scythe, with sheaf, +from Mr. and Mrs. George Harris, London; crown and cross from Rev. Dr. +and Mrs. Potts; anchor from W. E. and F. E. Hodgins; sheaf from George +S. Hodgins; lilies and other choice flowers inside the casket from Dr. +and Mrs. Hodgins.</p> + +<p>Shortly before three o'clock the room was left to the members of the +family, after which the coffin was borne to the hearse by the following +pall-bearers, preceded by the Rev. Dr. Potts:—Dr. Hodgins, Rev. Dr. +Nelles, Dr. Aikins, Rev. Dr. Rose, Rev. R. Jones, Mr. J. Paterson. +Previous to the arrival of the hearse at the church, His Honour the +Lieutenant-Governor, the Speaker of the House, members of the +Legislature, which had adjourned for the occasion, and the Ministerial +Association, were in the places assigned to them. The members of the +City Council and Board of Education were also present in a body. The +pupils of Ryerson and Dufferin Schools marched into the church in a +body, wearing mourning badges on their arms. There were representatives +of all conditions in society, and it might be said of all ages. The +lisping schoolboy who was free from the restraint imposed by the +presence of his master; and the aged man and woman tottering unsteadily +on the verge of the grave—all were hushed in the presence of death. +Everywhere within the building were the evidences of a great sorrow. +Crape was seen wherever the eye turned—surrounding the galleries, +fronting the platform, encircling the choir. But there was one spot +thrown into <i>alto relievo</i> by the sombre drapery of woe. In front of the +pulpit, on a small table, were the exquisitely beautiful floral tributes +of friendship and affection, whispering of the beauty and glory of that +spring-time of the human race, when this "mortal shall have put on +immortality."</p> + +<p>Cobourg and Victoria College were well represented; the Rev. T. W. +Jeffery and Wm. Kerr, Q.C., and others, being present; also the +following professors and students from Victoria College:—Rev. Dr. +Nelles, Prof. Burwash, Prof. Reynard, Prof. Bain, Mr. McHenry +(Collegiate Institute), and Dr. Jones. The students from the +College—one from each class—were Messrs. Stacey, Horning, Eldridge, +Brewster, and Crews. The Senate of Victoria University walked in a body +immediately after the carriages containing the mourners. Upon entering +the west aisle of the church, Rev. Dr. Potts commenced reading the +burial service, the vast audience standing. The pall-bearers having +deposited their charge in front of the pulpit, Rev. Mr. Cochran gave out +the 733rd hymn,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come, let us join our friends above,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who have obtained the prize."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Rev. Dr. Rose offered prayer, after which Rev. Wm. Scott, of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_596" id="Page_596">[Pg 596]</a></span> Montreal +Conference, read a portion of the 1st Cor. xv., commencing at the 20th +verse. The choir of fifty voices, led by the organist, Mr. Torrington, +sang an anthem—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Brother, thou art gone before us"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Rev. Mr. Telfer, from England, gave out the 42nd hymn, which was +fervently sung by the congregation. The Rev. Dr. Potts then delivered +the following funeral address:—</p> + +<p>My place of choice on this deeply sorrowful occasion would be in the +ranks of the mourners, for I feel like a son bereft of his father. +Gladly would I sit at the feet of aged ministers before me, and listen +to them speak of one they knew and loved so well. I venture to address a +few words to you, in fulfilment of the dying request of my reverend and +honoured father in the Gospel.</p> + +<p>Regarding the well-known wishes of the departed, my words must be few +and simple. To-day, Methodism, in her laity and ministry mourns over the +death of her most illustrious minister and Church leader. To-day, many +in this house, and far beyond Toronto, lament the loss of an ardent and +true friend. To-day, Canada mourns the decease of one of her noblest +sons. This is not the time nor the place for mere eulogy; in the +presence of death and of God eulogy is unbecoming. We would glorify God +in the character and in the endowments of his servant and child.</p> + +<p>We cannot, we should not, forget the greatness of the departed. His was +a many-sided greatness. Dr. Ryerson would have been great in any walk in +life. In law he would have been a Chief Justice. In statesmanship he +would have been a Prime Minister. He was a born leader of his fellows. +He was kingly in carriage and in character. The stamp of royal manhood +was impressed upon him physically, mentally, morally. We cannot forget +the distinguished positions occupied so worthily and so long by our +departed friend. He lived for his country, spending and being spent in +the educational and moral advancement of the people.</p> + +<p>As a servant of Methodism, he was a missionary to the Indians of this +Province, an evangelist to the scattered settlers, and a pastor in this +city long, long ago. He was President of Victoria College, and never +ceased to love and support that institution of learning. For it he +solicited money in England and in this country, and to it he gave the +intellectual energy of his early manhood, as well as ranking in the +front place as a personal subscriber to its funds. He was the first +Editor of the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, the connexional organ of our branch +of Methodism.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_597" id="Page_597">[Pg 597]</a></span></p> + +<p>As a servant of Canada, he was for over thirty years Chief +Superintendent of Education in this Province. His monument—more +enduring than brass—is the Public School system of Ontario. When the +history of this country comes to be written, the name, the imperishable +name of Egerton Ryerson shall shine in radiant lustre as one of the +greatest men produced in this land.</p> + +<p>But it is not of these things Dr. Ryerson would have me speak if he +could direct my thoughts to-day. Rather would have me speak of him as a +sinner saved by grace, as a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. I knew +him well in his religious life. His experience was marked by scriptural +simplicity, and his conversation was eminently spiritual. Of all the +ministers of my acquaintance, none spoke with me so freely and so +frequently on purely religious subjects as the venerable Dr. Ryerson. He +gloried in the cross of Christ. He never wearied speaking of the +precious blood of the Lamb. He was one of the most helpful and +sympathetic hearers in the Metropolitan Church congregation. Rarely, in +my almost six years' pastorate, did he leave the church without entering +the vestry and saying a kindly, encouraging word.</p> + +<p>The doctor belonged to a class of men rapidly passing away. Most of his +companions passed on before him. But few linger behind. Grand men they +were in Church and State. Canada owes them a debt of gratitude that she +can hardly ever pay. Let us revere the memory of those gone to their +rest and reward, and let us treat with loving reverence the few pioneers +who still linger to bless the land for which they have done so much. We +may have a higher average in these times, but we lack the heroic men who +stood out so conspicuously in the early history of Canada.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson was a Methodist, but not a narrow sectarian. He knew the +struggles of our Church in this country, and shared them; he witnessed, +with gratitude to God, the extension of Methodism from feeble beginnings +to its present influential position. He desired above all things that +our Church should retain the primitive simplicity of the olden time, and +yet march abreast of the age in the elements of a Christian +civilization.</p> + +<p>At the first General Conference which met in this church, after the +Union, and after that eminently providential event, the introduction of +laymen into the highest Court of the Church—at that time, when the +representatives of both ministry and membership desired a man to preside +over the Methodist Church of Canada, to whom did they look? To the man +whom Methodism delighted to honour—Egerton Ryerson.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson was regarded by the congregation belonging to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_598" id="Page_598">[Pg 598]</a></span> this church +with peculiar respect and affection. While he belonged to all Canada, +we, of the Metropolitan Church, claimed him as our own especial +possession. He was a trustee of the Church, and one of its most liberal +supporters; for its prosperity he ever prayed, and in its success he +ever rejoiced. It is hard to realize that we shall no longer see that +venerable form—that genial and intellectual countenance.</p> + +<p>The life of Dr. Ryerson was long, whether you measure it by years or by +service—service to his God, to his fellow-men, and to his native land. +He was a shock of corn ripe for the heavenly garner. He was an heir, +having reached his majority, and made meet for the inheritance of the +saints in light, has gone to take possession of it. He was a pilgrim, +who after a lengthened pilgrimage has reached home. He was a Christian, +who with Paul could say, "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain." In +such an hour as this, what comfort could all the honours of man give to +the sorrowing family as compared with the thought that the one they +loved so dearly was a man in Christ and is now a glorified spirit before +the throne. Henceforth we must think of him and speak of him as the late +Dr. Ryerson, and to many of us this shall be difficult and painful. We +have been so accustomed to see and hear him, we have so long looked up +to him as one specially gifted to lead, that a sad feeling comes over +us, left as we are without the guidance of our beloved leader and father +in the Church. The memory of the just is blessed, and our memory of Dr. +Ryerson shall be precious, until we overtake him in the better country, +that is the heavenly. Until then let us not be slothful, but followers +of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Could he +speak to us to-day from the heights of the heavenly glory to which he +has just been admitted, he would say to this vast concourse of friends, +"Follow Christ; seek first the kingdom of God; serve your generation; +build up in your Dominion a nationality based on righteousness and +truth; be strict in your judgment upon yourselves, but be charitable in +your judgment of others; live that your end may be peace, and your +immortality eternal blessedness."</p> + +<p>Dr. Potts concluded by reading the following extract from a letter +written by Dr. Ormiston, of New York, to Dr. Hodgins:—</p> + +<p>Dear Dr. Ryerson, I mourn thee as a son for a father. Thou wert very +dear to me. I owe thee much. I loved as I esteemed thee. I have no one +left now to fill thy place in my heart and life. Through riches of +Divine grace I hope soon to meet thee again. My dear Brother +Hodgins—You and I knew our noble-hearted friend better than most, and +to know him was to love him. You have been longer and more intimately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_599" id="Page_599">[Pg 599]</a></span> +associated with him in social life and earnest work than I was. But I +scarcely think that even you loved him more, and I feel as if I was +hardly even second to you in his regards. Let our tears fall together +to-day, and in each of our hearts let his memory live ever fresh and +fondly cherished.</p> + +<p>Hymn 624, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me," was then sung, after which +prayer was offered and the benediction was pronounced by the Rev. J. G. +Laird, President of the Toronto Conference. A musical voluntary and the +"Dead March" concluded the impressive service.</p> + +<p>The remains were then borne to Mount Pleasant Cemetery, where they were +afterwards interred.<a name="FNanchor_150_152" id="FNanchor_150_152"></a><a href="#Footnote_150_152" class="fnanchor">[150]</a> The concluding portion of the burial service +was read by the Rev. Dr. Nelles.</p> + +<p>On the following Sunday the funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. +Nelles. The <i>Guardian</i> said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The discourse of Dr. Nelles was a masterly and eloquent review of +the salient points in Dr. Ryerson's life and character. We have +rarely listened to a sermon with greater satisfaction, and never to +a funeral sermon so discriminating in its statements and +characterization. It was distinguished by a broad mental grasp of +the great lessons and facts of history, in the light of which all +personal and local events must be viewed, to be seen truly and +impartially. His appreciative recognition of the privileges of +religious equality which we possess in Canada, and of the prominent +part taken by Dr. Ryerson in obtaining them, was very suggestive +and felicitous. We rarely follow to the grave so eminent a man as +Dr. Ryerson; and we seldom have heard a discourse so fully equal to +a great occasion.</p></div> + + +<p class="subhead2"><span class="smcap">Tributes to Dr. Ryerson's Memory.</span></p> + +<p>After Dr. Ryerson's death kind telegrams and letters of condolence were +received by the family from many sympathizing friends, among which was +one from the Marquis of Lorne, Governor-General. The following letter +was also received by Mrs. Ryerson from the Rev. William Arthur, M.A., +dated London, England, April 10th, 1882:—</p> + +<p>The news of your great bereavement, a bereavement which, though yours in +a special sense, is not yours alone, but is felt by multitudes as their +own, came at a moment when a return<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_600" id="Page_600">[Pg 600]</a></span> of an old affection of the eyes +made writing difficult, and I did not like to give you a mere line. From +my heart I do condole with you on the removal from your side of one who +was pleasant to look upon, even for strangers, and whose presence was +not only a natural delight, but a stay, and an honour. Not many women +are called to sustain the loss of such a husband. But on the other hand, +not many women in the day of their great loss have the legacy left to +them of such a memory, such a career, and such appreciation of whole +communities of the merits of that career. Very few have such a +combination of true religious consolation, of full hope and unclouded +faith, with the sense of comfort derived from general sympathy and +universal public respect. Dr. Ryerson was the servant of God, and the +Lord blessed him. He was the servant of the Church, and the Church loved +and revered him. He was the servant of his country, and his country +delighted to honour him, and will hold him in permanent and honourable +remembrance. To many friends on this side of the Atlantic, as well as on +his own, he was a rarely honoured and prized representative of long and +noble services to the cause of God, and to general society, services +rendered with commanding abilities and unflinching vigour. To you and to +the children the loss is far different to what it is to others. To you +and to them have the hearts of others turned with unaffected sympathy. +You have had many praying for you; many hoping that blessings will rest +upon the name of Ryerson, and that it will long be represented in every +Christian work, and every branch of public usefulness. With truly +affectionate regards, and condolences to Mr. and Mrs. Charles, believe +me, dear Mrs. Ryerson, yours with heartfelt sympathy,</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Wm. Arthur.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Lord Bishop of Manchester</span>, who was in Canada as one of the Royal +Commissioners on Education, in concluding his report on our Canadian +Schools, said: "Such, in all its main features, is the school system of +Upper Canada. A system not perfect, but yet far in advance, as a system +of national education, of anything we can show at home. It is indeed +very remarkable to me that in a country, occupied in the greater part of +its area by a sparse and anything but wealthy population, whose +predominant characteristic is as far as possible removed from the spirit +of enterprise, an educational system so complete in its theory and so +capable of adaptation in practice should have been originally organized, +and have maintained in what, with all allowances, must still be called +successful operation for so long a period as twenty-five years. It shows +what can be accomplished by the energy, determination, and devotion of a +single earnest man. What national education in England<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_601" id="Page_601">[Pg 601]</a></span> owes to Sir J. +K. Shuttleworth, what education in New England owes to Horace Mann, that +debt education in Canada owes to Egerton Ryerson. He has been the object +of bitter abuse, of not a little misrepresentation; but he has not +swerved from his policy or from his fixed ideas. Through evil report and +good report he has found others to support him in the resolution, that +free education shall be placed within the reach of every Canadian parent +for every Canadian child."</p> + +<p>In a letter addressed to Dr. Ryerson in 1875, the Bishop says:—I take +it very kindly in you that you remember an old acquaintance, and I have +read with interest your last report. I am glad to observe progress in +the old lines almost everywhere. I was flattered also to find that some +words of mine, written in 1865, are thought worthy of being quoted.... +It is pleasant to find a public servant now in the thirty-second year of +his incumbency, still so hopeful and so vigorous. Few men have lived a +more useful or active life than you, and your highest reward must be to +look back upon what you have been permitted to achieve.</p> + +<p>The <span class="smcap">Very Reverend Dean Grasett</span>, in a letter to Dr. Hodgins, dated 9th +November, 1875, said:</p> + +<p>I thank you very much for your kindness in presenting me with a complete +set of the <i>Journal of Education</i> from the date of its commencement in +1848 to the present time.</p> + +<p>You could not have given me a token of parting remembrance more +acceptable to me on various accounts; but chiefly shall I value it as a +memorial of the confidence and kindness I have so invariably experienced +from the Rev. Dr. Ryerson from the day I first took my seat with him at +a Council Board in 1846 to the time that I was released from further +attendance there this year. Similar acknowledgments I owe to yourself, +his coadjutor, in the great work of his life, and the editor of the +record of his labours, contained in these volumes.</p> + +<p>I shall carry with me to the end of life the liveliest feelings of +respect for the public character and regard for the private worth of one +who has rendered to his country services which entitle him to her +lasting gratitude. My venerable friend has had from time to time many +cheering recognitions of his valuable public services from the Heads of +our Government, who were capable of appreciating them, as well as from +other quarters; but I think that in his case, as in others that are +familiar to us, it must be left to future generations adequately to +appreciate their value when they shall be reaping the full benefit of +them.</p> + +<p>I esteem it an honour that I should have been associated with him in his +Council for so many years (30), and a privilege<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_602" id="Page_602">[Pg 602]</a></span> if I have been of the +least assistance in upholding his hands in performing a work, the credit +of which is exclusively his own.</p> + + + +<p class="space">The Rev. Dr. <span class="smcap">Withrow</span>, in his "Memorials of Dr. Ryerson," (<i>Canadian +Methodist Magazine</i>, April, 1882,) said: No man ever passed away from +among us in Canada whose true greatness was so universally recognized as +that of Dr. Ryerson. He lived in the hearts of his countrymen, and</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Read his history in a nation's eyes."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Even envy and detraction could not lessen his grandeur nor tarnish the +lustre of his name.... Scarce an organ of public opinion in the country, +no matter what party or what interest it represented, has not laid its +wreath of praise on the tomb of this great Canadian. And far beyond his +own country his character was revered and his loss deplored.... From the +Roman Catholic Archbishop; from the Anglican Bishop, from many members +of the Church of England and other religious bodies, as well as of his +own Church; resolutions of the Board of the Bible Society, the Tract +Society, School Boards and Conventions, and Collegiate Institutes, all +bore witness to the fact that the sorrow for his death was not confined +to any party or denominational lines, but was keenly felt in other +churches as well as in that of which he was the most distinguished +minister.... Almost every Methodist journal in the United States has +also paid its tribute to his memory. We quote from the <i>North Western +Christian Advocate</i>, of Chicago, but one such tribute of loving +respect:—"We believe that Canada owes more to him than to any other +man, living or dead. In all his official relations to the public he was +true to his Church. Men like Wellington and Washington 'save their +countries,' but men like Ryerson make their countries worth saving. The +mean little soul flinches when its brethren rise in reputation and power +in the Church. The more exalted soul rejoices when the Church grows rich +in competent workers. The death of such a servant as Ryerson is a loss +to the world greater than when the average president or king passes +away. Thank God, the great Ruler lives, and He will continue the line of +prophets in modern Israel!"</p> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson possessed in a marked degree the faculty of commanding the +confidence and winning the friendship of distinguished men of every +rank, of every political party and religious denomination. He possessed +the confidence and esteem of every Governor of Canada, from Lord +Sydenham to the Marquis of Lorne. No native Canadian ever had the +<i>entree</i> to such distinguished society in Great Britain and in Europe +as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_603" id="Page_603">[Pg 603]</a></span> he. He had personal relations with several of the leading British +statesmen. He enjoyed the personal friendship of the Bishop of +Manchester, the Dean of Westminster, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and +other distinguished divines of the Anglican and Dissenting Churches. He +was one of the very few Methodist preachers who have ever shared the +hospitalities of Lambeth Palace, for six hundred years the seat of the +Primates of England; and when Dean Stanley passed through Toronto, he +and Dean Grasett called together on Dr. Ryerson. When making his +educational tour in Europe....</p> + +<p>Speaking of his personal worth, Dr. Withrow says:—A very good criterion +of a man's character is: How does he get on with his colleagues? Does +the familiarity of daily intercourse, year after year, increase or +lessen their esteem? Few men will bear this test as well as Dr. Ryerson. +The more one saw of him the more one loved him. Those who knew him best +loved him most. Dr. Hodgins, the Deputy Minister of Education, for +thirty-two years the intimate associate in educational work of Dr. +Ryerson, knowing more fully than any living man the whole scope of his +labours, sharing his anxieties and toils, tells us that in all those +years there never was an hour's interruption of perfect mutual trust and +sympathy. No son could have a stronger filial love for an honoured +father than had Dr. Hodgins for his late venerated Chief. It was his +privilege to minister to the latest hours of his revered friend, and it +is to him a labour of love to prepare for the press the posthumous story +of his life.</p> + +<p>With all his catholicity of sentiment and charity of spirit, Dr. Ryerson +was a man of strong convictions, and he always had the courage of his +convictions as well. When it came to a question of principle he was as +rigid as iron. Then he planted himself on the solid ground of what he +believed to be right, and said, like Fitz James:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come one, come all! this rock shall fly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From its firm base, as soon as I."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Dr. Ryerson's controversies were for great principles, not for personal +interests. Hence no rancour, no bitterness disturbed his relations with +his antagonists. Even his old and sturdy foe, Bishop Strachan, after his +controversy was over, became his personal friend....</p> + +<p>Such benefactors of his kind and of his country, as Dr. Ryerson, deserve +to be held in lasting and grateful remembrance. His imperishable +monument, it is true, is the school system which he devised.</p> + +<p>To future generations of Canadian youth the career of Dr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_604" id="Page_604">[Pg 604]</a></span> Ryerson shall +be an inspiration and encouragement. With early educational advantages +far inferior to those which he has brought within the reach of every boy +and girl in the land, what a noble life he lived, what grand results he +achieved! One grand secret of his success was his tireless industry. As +a boy he learned to work—to work hard—the best lesson any boy can +learn—and he worked to the end of his life. He could not spend an idle +hour. The rule of his life was "no day without a line," without +something attempted—something done.... Over a score of times he crossed +the Atlantic on official duties. He often turned night into day for +purposes of work and study; and on the night before making his famous +three-hours' speech on University Administration before the Committee of +the Legislature in 1860, he spent the whole night long in the study of +the documents and papers on the subject—to most men a poor preparation +for such a task.</p> + +<p>But again we remark his moral greatness was his noblest trait—his +earnest piety, his child-like simplicity, his Christ-like charity, his +fidelity to duty, his unfaltering faith. Not his intellectual greatness, +not his lofty statesmanship, not his noble achievements are his truest +claim upon our love and veneration—but this—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The <i>Christian</i> is the highest style of man."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The Rev. Dr. <span class="smcap">Dewart</span>, in the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, of February 22nd, +1882, says:—The simple announcement that Dr. Egerton Ryerson is dead, +will awaken sorrow and regret in many Canadian homes.... For several +years of his early life he faithfully bore all the hardships and +privations of the pioneer work of that day, being for a time missionary +to the Indians of the Credit Mission—a circumstance to which he often +referred with peculiar satisfaction. His keen and vigorous refutation of +the misrepresentations of the Methodists and other bodies by the then +dominant Church party, led by the late Bishop Strachan, revealed to his +own, and other Churches, his rare gifts as a powerful controversial +writer. From that time forward for many years, his pen was used with +powerful effect, in defence of equal religious rights and privileges for +all Churches.... Dr. Ryerson was longer and more prominently associated +with the interests of Methodism in Canada than any other minister of our +Church. His life covers and embraces all but the earliest portion of the +history of our Church in this country.</p> + +<p>But it is his work as an educationist that has made him most widely +known, and upon which his fame most securely rests.... The office of +Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada was not a new one; +but the vigorous personality<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_605" id="Page_605">[Pg 605]</a></span> of Dr. Ryerson lifted it into a prominence +and importance in public estimation that had never belonged to it +before. For thirty-two years he continued to discharge the duties of +this high office with a broad intelligence and rare executive ability, +which have for all time stamped his name and influence on the +educational system of his country. He was not a mere administrator, +acting under the orders of the Government of the day. He was the leader +of a great educational reform.... Changes of Government made no change +in his department. Such was the estimate which the Ontario Government +took of his public services that on his resignation, in 1876, his full +salary was continued till the time of his death, and after his death the +Legislature made a grant of $10,000 to his widow. It is not too much to +say that among the gifted men whom Canada delights to honour, not one +has left a more permanent impression for good on the future of our +country than <span class="smcap">Egerton Ryerson</span>.</p> + +<p>He was large-minded and liberal in his views on all subjects. Though +strong in his attachment to Methodism he was no sectarian, but cherished +the most liberal and kindly feeling toward all sincere Christians. He +was an able controvertialist, and in the heat of conflict dealt heavy +blows at his opponents; but when the battle was over he retained no +petty spite toward his late antagonists. His controversial pamphlets are +numerous, and mostly relate to current events with which he was in some +way associated. Though a man of war, from his youth engaging in many +conflicts, religious and political, Dr. Ryerson's last years were +eminently tranquil. He had outlived the bitterness of former times, and +in a sincere and honoured old age possessed in a high degree the respect +and good feeling of men of all parties. During these later years he +produced his most important contributions to literature, viz., his +"Loyalists of America," and "Chapters on the History of Canadian +Methodism." His Educational Reports are also valuable treasuries of +facts relating to public education.</p> + +<p>During all the years of his public life he co-operated heartily with +every enterprise of his Church, and was always ready to preach at the +shortest notice for any of his brethren who required his help. In his +later years there was an increasing spirituality and unction observable +in his ministrations.</p> + +<p>Though not exempt from the faults and failings of humanity—yet his wide +range of information—his broad and statesmanlike views—his intense +devotion to a great work—his patriotic interest in all public +questions—his wonderful personal energy and force of character—and his +long and intimate connection with Canadian Methodism—warrant us in +saying:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_606" id="Page_606">[Pg 606]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"He was a man, take him for all in all,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We shall not look upon his like again."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Rev. Dr. Douglas, in a letter to the <i>Guardian</i>, says: A great man and a +prince has fallen in our Israel! The last of the illustrious three who +bore the name of Ryerson has gone to enrich the heavens. Henceforth that +honoured name will be enshrined in the history of our land.</p> + +<p>Egerton Ryerson's patriotic service to the State, in resisting the +introduction of feudal distinctions and ecclesiastical monopolies will +ensure to him enduring recognition, as one of Canada's noblest +benefactors. No statues of marble or of bronze need be raised to +perpetuate his memory. The academies and schools which his organizing +genius brought into existence, lifting up successive generations to the +dignity which education ever confers, will make that name immortal. For +nearly six decades he laid his great powers of intellect and heart on +the altar of service for Canadian Methodism—winning for her ministry +equality before the law, and for her people a status which allowed no +coign of vantage to a favoured class—vindicating her polity and +proclaiming her distinctive truth....</p> + +<p>Now, when the sepulchre has received him, will not a grateful Church +arise and give a permanence to his name more lasting than marble, by the +founding of a Ryerson Chair of Philosophy with whatever is required to +augment the usefulness of the institution which his great manhood loved, +and for which he toiled with a life-lasting endeavour? Would that every +minister, who bows his head in sorrow for a fallen chieftain, might in +every circuit gather the piety, intelligence, and financial strength of +the Church together, and in this supreme hour of the Church's grief, +decree that before the spring-time shall come with its emerald robe +enamelled with flowers, adorning the resting-place of our honoured dead, +the name of Egerton Ryerson will be inwrought with our University, as an +abiding inspiration to the student-life that shall throng her halls +along the coming years.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The Methodist Ministers of Toronto, in a sketch of Dr. Ryerson's life +and character, written by Rev. W. S. Blackstock, say: To most of us, +from our early childhood, the name of Egerton Ryerson has been a +household word, and we learned to esteem and love him even before we +were capable of estimating his character, or the greatness of the +service which he was rendering to his own and coming generations; and +the knowledge of him which we have been permitted to acquire in our +riper years, has only tended to deepen the impressions of him which we +received in early days.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_607" id="Page_607">[Pg 607]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the fearless and powerful champion of civil and religious liberty, +and of the equal rights of all classes of his countrymen, he is +associated in our memory with the patriotic and Christian struggles of a +past generation, which have resulted in securing to our beloved land as +large a measure of liberty as is enjoyed by any country under the sun. +In respect to the incomparable system of Public Instruction, to the +perfecting of which he devoted so many years of his active and laborious +life, and with which his name must ever be associated, we feel that he +has laboured and we have entered into his labours. We can hardly +conceive how either our country or our Church could have been what they +are to-day, but for his fidelity and the work which he accomplished.</p> + +<p>The lively interest which he took in every patriotic, Christian, and +philanthropic movement, especially those which tended to increase the +influence and usefulness of his own Church—the zeal with which he +laboured for them, and the large-hearted, generous liberality with which +he contributed of his means for their support—awaken our gratitude and +thankfulness, and will be a perpetual inspiration in our efforts to +promote those objects which lay so near his heart, and to further the +interests of that cause which he served so well.</p> + +<p>But standing, as we are to day, with bowed heads and stricken hearts, +beside the grave which has just closed upon the mortal remains of our +venerable departed brother, though we would not forget what he had done +for us, we prefer to think of what, by the grace of God, he was, than of +what by God's good Providence he was permitted to accomplish. We delight +to cherish the memory of his penitent and childlike faith in Christ—the +sinner's only Saviour and hope—and of those graces of the Holy Spirit +which gave so much beauty and sweetness to his character, and which were +more and more conspicuous in his declining years.</p> + +<p>Though Dr. Ryerson was a man of positive views and devotedly attached to +his own Church, he was distinguished for his comprehensive charity, and +his genuine appreciation of great and good men from whom he differed +widely in opinion. His goodness no less than his greatness will serve to +keep his memory fresh among us, and the recollections of his virtue is +to us a powerful incentive to a fuller consecration to the service of +God.</p> + +<p>The General Conference at its Session of 1882, passed the following +resolution:—</p> + +<p>Whereas it has pleased Almighty God, in His divine wisdom, to call from +a life of faithful service in the Church of Christ on earth to his +everlasting reward in heaven our reverend and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_608" id="Page_608">[Pg 608]</a></span> honoured father in the +Gospel, the Rev. Egerton Ryerson, D.D., LL.D., the first President of +the General Conference of the Methodist Church of Canada, this General +Conference desires to place upon record its deep feelings of gratitude +to God for His gift to the Methodist Church and to the people of this +land for so many years of a man so richly endowed with native gifts and +so largely adorned with the Christian graces and its profound sense of +the great loss the Church and country have sustained in his death. As +the devoted Christian missionary and pastor; as the faithful defender of +the rights and liberties of the people of this land against +ecclesiastical assumptions and civil disabilities; as the Editor for +many years of the <i>Christian Guardian</i>, the official organ of our Church +and the first religious journal in Canada; as the President of the +University of Victoria College, the oldest institution of higher +learning of Canadian Methodism; as the trusted representative of his +Church in the religious councils of Methodism in the old world and the +new; as the Superintendent for over thirty years of the education of his +native Province—a system which he almost created, and which he +developed to a state of proficiency unsurpassed by that of any country +in the world; as the wise counsellor in the union movement which led to +the organization of the Methodist Church of Canada; and as the +President-Administrator of its highest office during the first +quadrennium of its history, Dr. Ryerson has an imperishable claim upon +the love and gratitude especially of his own church, and also of the +entire community. We magnify the grace of God as manifested in him; we +revere his memory as that of a true patriot and devoted Christian; we +rejoice in his labours for the glory of God and the welfare of man; and +we deeply sympathize with his bereaved family, and pray that the +consolations of God may more and more abound in their souls to the end.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_150_152" id="Footnote_150_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150_152"><span class="label">[150]</span></a> This interment took place in May. The ceremony was a +private one, attended only by immediate relatives and intimate personal +friends. Among the former were the venerable doctor's aged eldest +brother, Rev. George Ryerson (91 years old) and Mrs. George Ryerson; the +bereaved widow, Mrs. Ryerson, Mr. Charles E. Ryerson, his two sons, and +Mrs. George Duggan. Among the latter were the Rev. Dr. Potts, Mrs. +Potts, Dr. Hodgins, and Mr. H. M. Wilkinson (son of Rev. H. Wilkinson), +of the Education Department, and two or three others. After lowering the +coffin into the grave, the Rev. Dr. Potts read a portion of the burial +service, committing the body to the earth in hope of a joyful +resurrection at the last day.</p></div> +</div> + +<p class="subhead2 padtop">THE END.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_609" id="Page_609">[Pg 609]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX.</h2> + +<p class="subhead2">BIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES.</p> + + +<p> +Aberdeen, Earl of, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Adams, Rev. A. A., <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Adderly, Mr., M.P., <a href="#Page_540">540</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Agnew, Sir A., <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aikman, John, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aikman, Miss Hannah, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Alder, Rev. Dr. Robert, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>, <a href="#Page_395">395</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Allan, Hon. William, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Alley, Mr., <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Allison, Rev. C. R., <a href="#Page_399">399</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Althorp, Lord, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Anderson, Capt., <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Antonelli, Cardinal, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Antrobus, Colonel, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Arago, M., <a href="#Page_356">356</a>, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Archibald, Rev. G., <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Armstrong, Jas. R., <a href="#Page_120">120</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Armstrong, Miss Mary, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Arthur, Rev. Wm., <a href="#Page_367">367</a>, <a href="#Page_556">556</a>, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Arthur, Sir George, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Atherton, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_117">117</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Attwood, Thos., M.P., <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Attwood, Rev. J. S., <a href="#Page_154">154</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Asbury, Bishop, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ashburton, Lord, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ashley, Lord, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ashton, Michael, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Atherton, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_402">402</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Aylwin, Hon. T. C., <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Bagot, Sir Charles, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_550">550</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bain, Prof., <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bakewell, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_117">117</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Baldwin, Dr. W. W., <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Baldwin, Hon. Augustus, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Baldwin, Hon. Robert, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>, <a href="#Page_425">425</a>, <a href="#Page_426">426</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <a href="#Page_518">518</a>, <a href="#Page_525">525</a>, <a href="#Page_526">526</a>, <a href="#Page_550">550</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bangs, Rev. Dr. Nathan, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Baring, Thomas, M.P., <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Barker, Dr., <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bathurst, Lord, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_440">440</a>, <a href="#Page_445">445</a>, <a href="#Page_446">446</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Beadle, Dr., <a href="#Page_348">348</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Beardsley, Colonel, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Beatty, Rev. J., <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Beaumont, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_402">402</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Beecham, Rev. Dr. John, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_507">507</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bell, Rev. Wm., <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Belton, Rev. S., <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Benson, Henry, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Beresford, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_354">354</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bethune, Donald, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bethune, Bishop A. N., <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>, <a href="#Page_564">564</a>, <a href="#Page_565">565</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Betteridge, Rev. Wm., D.D., <a href="#Page_95">95</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bevitt, Rev. Thomas, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bexley, Lord, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bidwell, Hon. M. S., <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>, <a href="#Page_551">551</a>, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>, <a href="#Page_568">568</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Black, Rev. John, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_498">498</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Blackstock, Rev. W. S., <a href="#Page_605">605</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Blainville, M. de, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Blake, Hon. Chancellor, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bland, Rev. A. F., <a href="#Page_557">557</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Blockman, Dr., <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Blomfield, Dr. (Bishop of London), <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Blusse, Mr., <a href="#Page_354">354</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bond, Dr. Thomas, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Borland, Rev. J., <a href="#Page_511">511</a>, <a href="#Page_512">512</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bostwick, Col. John, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Boswell, G. M., M.P.P., <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Boulton, Mr., M.P.P., <a href="#Page_229">229</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bowers, Rev. John, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bridel, M., <a href="#Page_359">359</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brock, Rev. James, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brooking, Mr., <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brough, Rev. C. C., <a href="#Page_183">183</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brougham, Lord, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brouse, George, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brown, Hon. George, <a href="#Page_554">554</a>, <a href="#Page_555">555</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brown, Hon. James, <a href="#Page_453">453</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brunskill, Mr., <a href="#Page_161">161</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Buchanan, Hon. Isaac, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Buller, Sir Charles, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bunting, Rev. Dr. Jabez, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_420">420</a>, <a href="#Page_506">506</a>, <a href="#Page_507">507</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Burchel, Mr., <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Burke, Edmund, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Burnet, Bishop, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Burns, Rev. Dr. R. F., <a href="#Page_557">557</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Burrows, Colonel, <a href="#Page_517">517</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Burwash, Prof., <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Buxton, Mrs., <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Calvert, Mr., <a href="#Page_542">542</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cameron, Hon. Malcolm, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>, <a href="#Page_423">423</a>, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>, <a href="#Page_426">426</a>, <a href="#Page_509">509</a>, <a href="#Page_514">514</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cameron, James W., <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Campbell, Rev. Prof., <a href="#Page_381">381</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_610" id="Page_610">[Pg 610]</a></span>Campbell, Sir J., <a href="#Page_165">165</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Campbell, John, M.P.P., <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— Sir Alexander, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Canterbury, Archbishop of, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Carlisle, Bishop of, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Carlisle, Dean of, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Carnarvon, Lord, <a href="#Page_539">539</a>, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Carroll, Rev. Dr. John, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cartier, Sir George, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>, <a href="#Page_560">560</a>, <a href="#Page_561">561</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cartwright, M.P.P., <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cartwright, Thos., <a href="#Page_133">133</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Case, Rev. Elder Wm., <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cassidy, Henry, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Chalmers, Rev. Dr. Thomas, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Chapman, E. H., <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Chester, Bishop of, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Chichester, Lord, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Clarendon, Lord, <a href="#Page_499">499</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cochran, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Colborne, Sir John, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>, <a href="#Page_526">526</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Coley, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_589">589</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Collard, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Collins, F., <a href="#Page_129">129</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cook, Emile, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cork, Bishop of, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Counter, John, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cowley, Lord, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Crane, John, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cronyn, Bishop, <a href="#Page_517">517</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cubitt, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cull, Mr., <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cumming, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_508">508</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Daly, Sir Dominick, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Davidson, Alex., <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— Rev. J. O., <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dawson, Dr. J. W., <a href="#Page_453">453</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dawson, Wm., <a href="#Page_161">161</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Delille, M. Armand, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Delille, Mons. O., <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Densmore, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_384">384</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Despretz, M., <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Derby, Earl of, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_451">451</a>, <a href="#Page_452">452</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Derbyshire, Stewart, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dewart, Dr. E. H., <a href="#Page_602">602</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dixon, Rev. Dr. James, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>, <a href="#Page_562">562</a>, <a href="#Page_564">564</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Doolittle. Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dorland, Mr., <a href="#Page_538">538</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Douglas, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_605">605</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Douse, Rev. John, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Doxtadors, Mr., <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Draper, Hon. W. H., <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_550">550</a>, <a href="#Page_551">551</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dufferin, Lord, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>, <a href="#Page_409">409</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dumas, Prof. 356.<br /> +<br /> +Duncan, Mr. Joseph, <a href="#Page_535">535</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Duncan, Prof. Thomas, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Duncombe, Dr. Charles, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dunjowski, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dunkin, Christopher, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dunn, Colonel, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dunn, Hon. J. H., <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Durbin, Dr. J. P., <a href="#Page_115">115</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Durham, Lord, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>, <a href="#Page_550">550</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Edwards, Mr., <a href="#Page_117">117</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Egger, M., <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Elgin, Lord, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>, <a href="#Page_420">420</a>, <a href="#Page_451">451</a>, <a href="#Page_452">452</a>, <a href="#Page_514">514</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ellice, Rt. Hon. Edward, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Elliott, Judge Wm., <a href="#Page_552">552</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ellis, Sir Henry, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Elmsley, Hon. John, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Embury, Rev. Philip, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Emory, Bishop, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Entwistle, Rev. Joseph, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Esten, Hon. Vice-Chancellor, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Evans, Rev. Dr. Ephraim, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_564">564</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Evans, Rev. James, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_407">407</a>, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>, <a href="#Page_409">409</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Exeter, Bishop of, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Fallenberg, M. de, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Farmer, Thomas, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Farrar, Canon, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fawcett, Rev. Thomas, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ferguson, Rev. George, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ferrier, Hon. James, <a href="#Page_490">490</a>, <a href="#Page_533">533</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fisk, Rev. Dr. Wilbur, A.M., <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fitzgibbon, Colonel, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fletcher, Silas, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Flint, Hon. Billa, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fox, Charles James, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fuller, Bishop (Archdeacon of Niagara), <a href="#Page_380">380</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Gage, James, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gale, Rev. A., <a href="#Page_432">432</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Galt, John, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gamble, John W., <a href="#Page_268">268</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gamble, Clarke, Q. C., <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gasparin, Count, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>, <a href="#Page_359">359</a>, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Geikie, Rev. Dr. Cunningham, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gibson, David, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gilchrist, Dr., <a href="#Page_339">339</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gilkison, Jasper J., <a href="#Page_552">552</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gillespie, A., Jun., <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Givens, Col., <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— Rev. Dr. Saltern, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gladstone, Rt. Hon. W. E., <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_410">410</a>, <a href="#Page_411">411</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <a href="#Page_452">452</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Glenelg, Lord, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Goderich, Lord, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_526">526</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Goodrich, Rev. C. B., <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Goodson, Rev. George, <a href="#Page_557">557</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Goodwin, Dean, (of Ely), <a href="#Page_540">540</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gourley, Robt., <a href="#Page_185">185</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gowan, Ogle R., <a href="#Page_331">331</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Graham, Dr. James, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Grampier, Dr., <a href="#Page_355">355</a>, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Grasett, Very Rev. Dean, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_600">600</a>, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gray, Hon. J. H., <a href="#Page_453">453</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Green, Rev. Dr. Anson, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_501">501</a>, <a href="#Page_511">511</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Greenfield, Mr. 79.<br /> +<br /> +Greig, William, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Grey, Earl, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>, <a href="#Page_451">451</a>, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>, <a href="#Page_455">455</a>, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>, <a href="#Page_457">457</a>, <a href="#Page_515">515</a>, <a href="#Page_578">578</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Grey, Sir George. 165, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Griffin, Smith, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— Rev. W. S., <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Griffin, Rev. Wm., Jun., <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Griffis E. C., <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Grindrod, Rev. E., <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gurley, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Guizot, M., <a href="#Page_356">356</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Hagerman, Daniel, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hagerman, Mr. Justice, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_551">551</a>, <a href="#Page_570">570</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Halkett, Capt, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hall, Francis, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hamilton, Rev. R. W., <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hanet, M., <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hanna, Rev. John, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— Mrs. John, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Harris, Dr. 79.<br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_611" id="Page_611">[Pg 611]</a></span>Harris, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Harrison, Hon. S. B., <a href="#Page_314">314</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Harrison, Mr. (A.D.C.), <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Harvard, Rev. W. M., <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hawes, Sir Benjamin, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>, <a href="#Page_420">420</a>, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hay, Mr., <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Head, Sir F. B., <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Head, Sir Edmund, <a href="#Page_499">499</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Heald, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_571">571</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Healy, Rev. E., <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hedding, Bishop, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Henings, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Herkimer, Wm., <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hess, Mr. J., <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hetherington, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Heyland, Rev. Rowley, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hickson, Mr., <a href="#Page_339">339</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Higginson, Secretary, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>, <a href="#Page_327">327</a>, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>, <a href="#Page_335">335</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hill, Lord, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hill, Rev. Rowland, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hincks, Sir Francis, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>, <a href="#Page_451">451</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Holden, Mr., <a href="#Page_587">587</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Holtby, Rev. Matthew, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hoole, Rev. Dr. Elijah, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_544">544</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Horne, Dr., <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Horton, Hon. R. W., <a href="#Page_222">222</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Howard, James S., <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Howard, Mr., <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Howard, Rev. I. B., <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Howe, Hon. Joseph, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Howick, Lord, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hume, Joseph, M. P., <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hurlburt, Rev. Thomas, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_513">513</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hyland, Edward, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Inglis, Sir Harry, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Inglis, Sir Robert, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Irvine, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_154">154</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Irving, Rev. Edward, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Izard, Miss C., <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Jackson, Edward, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jackson, Rev. Thos., <a href="#Page_273">273</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jacobs, Peter, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jager, Abbe, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +James, Rev. John Angel, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jameson, Vice-Chancellor, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_355">355</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Janes, Bishop, <a href="#Page_556">556</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jarvis, Mr., <a href="#Page_299">299</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jarvis, Sheriff, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jay, Rev. Wm., <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jeffers, Rev. Dr. W., <a href="#Page_498">498</a>, <a href="#Page_511">511</a>, <a href="#Page_533">533</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jeffery, Rev. T. W., <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jenkins, Rev. Wm., <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jeune, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jobson, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_582">582</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Johnston, Rev. Hugh, B.D., <a href="#Page_590">590</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jones, Dr., <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jones, Jonas, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— John, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Junes, Mr. Justice, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_551">551</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jones, Rev. R., <a href="#Page_593">593</a>, <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jones, T. M., <a href="#Page_299">299</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Jones, Rev. Peter, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Junkin, S. S., <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Keefer, Jacob, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Kent, Duchess of, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Kent, John, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Kenyon, Lord, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Kerr, Mrs. Wm. (<i>nee</i> Brant), <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Kerr, Wm., <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Lafontaine, Hon. L. H., <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_425">425</a>, <a href="#Page_444">444</a>, <a href="#Page_446">446</a>, <a href="#Page_551">551</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Laird, Rev. J. G., <a href="#Page_593">593</a>, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lane, William, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lang, Rev. Matthew, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Langton, John, <a href="#Page_530">530</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lansdowne, Marquis of, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>, <a href="#Page_425">425</a>, <a href="#Page_515">515</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Law, Rev. John, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— William, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lefroy, General, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lessey, Rev. Theophilus, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lever, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_498">498</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lindsay, General, <a href="#Page_569">569</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lindsey, Charles, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lindsey, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lingard, R. W., <a href="#Page_419">419</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lloyd, Jesse, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Longman, Mr., <a href="#Page_578">578</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lord, Rev. Wm., <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lorne, Marquis of, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lount, Samuel, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Luckey, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lunn, Mr. Wm., <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lynch, Archbishop, <a href="#Page_593">593</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Macaulay, Lord, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Macaulay, Mr. Justice, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_551">551</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Macdonald, John, <a href="#Page_564">564</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Macdonald, R., Q.C., <a href="#Page_182">182</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Macdonald, Rt. Hon. Sir John A., <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_499">499</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Macdonnell, Vicar-General, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Macdougall, Hon. Wm., <a href="#Page_288">288</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mackenzie, W. L., <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Macnab, Sir Allan, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Madden, Rev. Thomas, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Maitland, Sir Peregrine, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_440">440</a>, <a href="#Page_445">445</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Manchester, Bishop of, <a href="#Page_599">599</a>, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mangles, Mr., M.P., <a href="#Page_340">340</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Manly, Rev. John G., <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mann, Horace, <a href="#Page_600">600</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Markland, Hon. George H., <a href="#Page_170">170</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Marsden, Rev. G., <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Marsh, Rev. Dr. Wm., <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Marshall, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_571">571</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Matthews (see Lount and Matthews), <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Maule, Fox (Lord Panmure), <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Meredith, Mr., <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Merritt, Hon. W. H., <a href="#Page_314">314</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Metcalfe, Sir Charles, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Methley, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_507">507</a>, <a href="#Page_508">508</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mitchell, Judge James, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Michelet, M., <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Miller, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_542">542</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Moffatt, Hon. George, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Molson, Hon. Mr., <a href="#Page_318">318</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Monod, M., <a href="#Page_356">356</a>, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>, <a href="#Page_359">359</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Montgomery, John, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Moore, Archbishop, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Moore, Hugh, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Morpeth, Lord, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Morris, Hon. James, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Morris, Hon. Wm., <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>, <a href="#Page_465">465</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Morrison, Dr. T. D., <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_612" id="Page_612">[Pg 612]</a></span>Mosely, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Moss, Mr., <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mountain, Bishop, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mulkins, Rev. Hannibal, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Murdoch, T. W. C., <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Murray, Rev. Robt., <a href="#Page_346">346</a>, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Murray, Sir George, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Muskrat, John, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.<br /> +<br /> +McCann, Rev. Father, <a href="#Page_593">593</a>.<br /> +<br /> +McCrae, Miss, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.<br /> +<br /> +McDonnell, A., <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.<br /> +<br /> +McGill, Hon. Peter, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>.<br /> +<br /> +McHenry, Mr., <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.<br /> +<br /> +McIntyre, Rev. John, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>.<br /> +<br /> +McLean, Mr. Justice, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +McMullen, Rev. D., <a href="#Page_210">210</a>.<br /> +<br /> +McMurray, Archdeacon, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.<br /> +<br /> +McOwan, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Naylor, Rev. Wm., <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Neilson, Hon. Judge, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Neilson, Mr., <a href="#Page_257">257</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Nelles, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_594">594</a>, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Newcastle, Duke of, <a href="#Page_452">452</a>, <a href="#Page_453">453</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Newton, Rev. Dr. Robt., <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Noel, Hon. and Rev. Baptist, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Nolan, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_542">542</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Noll, Rev. James, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Normanby, Lord, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Norris, Rev. James, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Northcote, Sir Stafford, <a href="#Page_578">578</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Norwich, Bishop of, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ogden, Mr. Justice, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Oldham, Mr., <a href="#Page_162">162</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Olin, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_406">406</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ormiston, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_597">597</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Osgood, Rev. Thaddeus, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ousley, Gideon, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Callaghan, Dr., <a href="#Page_190">190</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Connell, Daniel, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Brien, Rev. J., <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Packington, Sir John, <a href="#Page_451">451</a>, <a href="#Page_452">452</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Palmerston, Lord, <a href="#Page_516">516</a>, <a href="#Page_551">551</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Panmure, Lord (see Mr. Fox Maule).<br /> +<br /> +Pantelioni, Dr., <a href="#Page_514">514</a>, <a href="#Page_515">515</a>, <a href="#Page_516">516</a>, <a href="#Page_517">517</a>, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Papineau, Hon. D. B., <a href="#Page_337">337</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Papineau, Hon. L. J., <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Parke, Thomas, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Parsons, Rev. James, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Patin, M., <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Patterson, Mr. James, <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Payer, M., <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Peck, Bishop Jesse T., <a href="#Page_172">172</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Peel, Sir Robert, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>, <a href="#Page_411">411</a>, <a href="#Page_551">551</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Perry, Peter, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Philip, Dr., <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Phillips, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_542">542</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pitt, Rt. Hon. William, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pius IX., Pope, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>, <a href="#Page_362">362</a>, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Playter, Rev. George, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Postels, M. de, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Potter, Prof., <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Potts, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_573">573</a>, <a href="#Page_594">594</a>, <a href="#Page_595">595</a>, <a href="#Page_596">596</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Powell, Ald. J., <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Powell, Mr., <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Power, Bishop, <a href="#Page_428">428</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Prince, Colonel, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Prindle, Rev. Andrew, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Prinsen, Mr., <a href="#Page_364">364</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Punshon, Rev. Dr. W. M., <a href="#Page_539">539</a>, <a href="#Page_543">543</a>, <a href="#Page_544">544</a>, <a href="#Page_545">545</a>, <a href="#Page_556">556</a>, <a href="#Page_557">557</a>, <a href="#Page_558">558</a>, <a href="#Page_560">560</a>, <a href="#Page_562">562</a>, <a href="#Page_564">564</a>, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>, <a href="#Page_573">573</a>, <a href="#Page_576">576</a>, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>, <a href="#Page_589">589</a>, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Radcliffe, Mr., <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Receveur, Abbe, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Reece, Rev. Richard, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Reese, Rev. Dr. D. M., <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Reynard, Rev. Prof., <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Reynolds, Bishop, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rice, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_576">576</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Richards, Sir W. B., <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Richardson, Bishop, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Richey, Rev. Dr. M., <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_556">556</a>, <a href="#Page_557">557</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rigg, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_556">556</a>, <a href="#Page_589">589</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ripon, Earl of, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Roads, Rev. Mr. 384.<br /> +<br /> +Roaf, Rev. John, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Roberts, Bishop, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Robinson, Hon. Peter, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— Chief Justice, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_551">551</a>, <a href="#Page_568">568</a>, <a href="#Page_570">570</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Robinson, Hon. W. B., <a href="#Page_567">567</a>, <a href="#Page_568">568</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Robinson, Mr., <a href="#Page_162">162</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Roblin, John P., M.P.P., <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Roebuck, J. A., M.P., <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rolfe, Sir R. M., <a href="#Page_165">165</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rolph, Dr. John, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rose, Rev. Dr. S., <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Routh, Sir Randolph, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rowsell, Henry, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Russell, Lord John, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_395">395</a>, <a href="#Page_435">435</a>, <a href="#Page_438">438</a>, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>, <a href="#Page_451">451</a>, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>, <a href="#Page_467">467</a>, <a href="#Page_499">499</a>, <a href="#Page_516">516</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rultan, Sheriff, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ryan, Rev. Henry, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>, <a href="#Page_557">557</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ryckman, Rev. E. B., <a href="#Page_587">587</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ryerse, Major, <a href="#Page_538">538</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ryerse, Samuel, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ryerson, Rev. George, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>, <a href="#Page_534">534</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— Rev. John, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>, <a href="#Page_503">503</a>, <a href="#Page_507">507</a>, <a href="#Page_511">511</a>, <a href="#Page_512">512</a>, <a href="#Page_534">534</a>, <a href="#Page_573">573</a>, <a href="#Page_574">574</a>, <a href="#Page_575">575</a>, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>, <a href="#Page_585">585</a>, <a href="#Page_587">587</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— Rev. William, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ryerson, Rev. Edwy, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ryerson, Mrs., Sr., <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ryerson, Samuel, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— Colonel, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ryerson, Lucilla Hannah, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ryland, Rev. John, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Salt, Rev. Allen, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sanderson, Rev. Dr. G. R., <a href="#Page_211">211</a>, <a href="#Page_533">533</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sandon, Lord, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sandwich, Dr., <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Saunders, Hon. J. S., <a href="#Page_453">453</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Saurin, Rev. J. S., <a href="#Page_354">354</a>, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Savage, Rev. D., <a href="#Page_579">579</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sawyer, Chief Joseph, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scobie, Hugh, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scott, Rev. Jonathan, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Scott, Rev. Wm., <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Seaton, Lord (see Sir J. Colborne).<br /> +<br /> +Shaftesbury, Rt. Hon. Lord, (see Lord Ashley), <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sherwood, Mr. Justice, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sherwood Sheriff, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Shiel, Rt. Hon. Richard, <a href="#Page_516">516</a>, <a href="#Page_517">517</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Shuttleworth, Sir J. P. Kay, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>, <a href="#Page_600">600</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Simcoe, Governor, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_613" id="Page_613">[Pg 613]</a></span>Simpson, Bishop, <a href="#Page_556">556</a>, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Skinner, Bishop, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Slater, Rev. Wm., <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Slight, Rev. Benjamin, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Small, James E., <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Smart, Rev. W., <a href="#Page_221">221</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Smith, Elias, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Smith, Rev. Bishop Philander, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Smith, Rev. Dr. Gervase, <a href="#Page_544">544</a>, <a href="#Page_545">545</a>, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>, <a href="#Page_576">576</a>, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Smith, William, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Snake, Wm., <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sornement, M., <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Soule, Bishop, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Spark, Dr., <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Spencer, Rev. James, <a href="#Page_498">498</a>, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>, <a href="#Page_501">501</a>, <a href="#Page_502">502</a>, <a href="#Page_503">503</a>, <a href="#Page_504">504</a>, <a href="#Page_508">508</a>, <a href="#Page_509">509</a>, <a href="#Page_510">510</a>, <a href="#Page_511">511</a>, <a href="#Page_512">512</a>, <a href="#Page_513">513</a>, <a href="#Page_533">533</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Squire, Rev. Wm., <a href="#Page_148">148</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stanley, Right Hon. Lord, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>, <a href="#Page_469">469</a>, <a href="#Page_539">539</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stanley, Very Rev. Dean, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stanton, Mr., <a href="#Page_311">311</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stead, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Steer, Rev. Wm., <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Steinheur, Rev. Henry, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stephen, Sir James, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stewart Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stewart, Rt. Rev. Dr., (Bishop of Quebec), <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_463">463</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stickney, Miss, (Mrs. Ryerson, Sen.), <a href="#Page_23">23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stinson, Rev. Dr. Joseph, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stoney, Rev. Edmund, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Strachan, Bishop, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <a href="#Page_435">435</a>, <a href="#Page_436">436</a>, <a href="#Page_437">437</a>, <a href="#Page_438">438</a>, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_442">442</a>, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>, <a href="#Page_444">444</a>, <a href="#Page_445">445</a>, <a href="#Page_446">446</a>, <a href="#Page_447">447</a>, <a href="#Page_448">448</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>, <a href="#Page_452">452</a>, <a href="#Page_453">453</a>, <a href="#Page_455">455</a>, <a href="#Page_457">457</a>, <a href="#Page_463">463</a>, <a href="#Page_464">464</a>, <a href="#Page_566">566</a>, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>, <a href="#Page_603">603</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sturge, M. P., Joseph, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sunday, Rev. John, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sunegoo, Wm., <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sullivan, Hon. R. B., <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sweatman, Bishop, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>, <a href="#Page_581">581</a>, <a href="#Page_594">594</a>, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sydenham, Lord, (C. Poulett Thompson), <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>, <a href="#Page_395">395</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>, <a href="#Page_550">550</a>, <a href="#Page_561">561</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Taylor, Rev. Dr. Lachlan, <a href="#Page_533">533</a>, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Taylor, Rev. Joseph, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Telfer. Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_595">595</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thompson, C. H., <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thompson, Chas. Poulett (see Lord Sydenham)<br /> +<br /> +Thorburn, A. B., <a href="#Page_328">328</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Thyner, Father, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Touse, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Townley, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Trevelyan, Sir Charles, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Turner, Rev. R. L., <a href="#Page_158">158</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Usedon, Count, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Vaughan, Rev. C. J., <a href="#Page_578">578</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Venueil, Mons., <a href="#Page_357">357</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Viger, Hon. D. B., <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Waddy, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_556">556</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wallace, James, <a href="#Page_562">562</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wahwahsinno, Chief, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Washburn, Daniel, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Waudby, John, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Watson, Rev. Richard, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>, <a href="#Page_494">494</a>, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Waugh, Bishop, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Waugh, Dr., <a href="#Page_115">115</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Waugh, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wayland, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_431">431</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wellington, Duke of, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wells, Hon. Joseph, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wenham, Dr., <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.<br /> +<br /> +West, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Whitehead, Rev. Thomas, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>, <a href="#Page_407">407</a>, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wilkinson, Rev. Henry, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wilson, Mr., <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wilson, Thomas, & Co., <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wilmot, Lient.-Gov., L. A., <a href="#Page_572">572</a>.<br /> +<br /> +William IV., King, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Williams, Rev. J. A., <a href="#Page_587">587</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Willson, Hugh, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Willson, Hon. John, M.P.P., <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>, <a href="#Page_551">551</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Winchester, Bishop of, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wiseman, Cardinal, <a href="#Page_420">420</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wiseman, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_576">576</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Withrow, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_600">600</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wolseley, Sir Garnet, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wood, Rev. Dr. Enoch, <a href="#Page_470">470</a>, <a href="#Page_479">479</a>, <a href="#Page_480">480</a>, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>, <a href="#Page_498">498</a>, <a href="#Page_503">503</a>, <a href="#Page_507">507</a>, <a href="#Page_511">511</a>, <a href="#Page_512">512</a>, <a href="#Page_533">533</a>, <a href="#Page_544">544</a>, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>, <a href="#Page_560">560</a>, <a href="#Page_589">589</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wood, Rev. James, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wood, Sir Charles, <a href="#Page_515">515</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wright, Rev. David, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Yellowhead, Chief, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Yeomans, Rev. D., <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Young, Rev. E. R., <a href="#Page_408">408</a>, <a href="#Page_409">409</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Young, Rev. R., <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_614" id="Page_614">[Pg 614]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="INDEX_TO_SUBJECTS" id="INDEX_TO_SUBJECTS"></a>INDEX TO SUBJECTS.</h2> + + +<p> +American General Conference of 1868, attendance at, <a href="#Page_556">556</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Bagot, Government of Sir Charles, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bethune, Correspondence with Bishop, <a href="#Page_564">564</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bible, The, in Public Schools, <a href="#Page_423">423</a>, <a href="#Page_564">564</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bidwell, Defence of, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.<br /> +<br /> +British Conference, Union with, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— Separation from, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Cartier, Sir George. Correspondence relating to, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Chapel Property Cases, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<i>Christian Guardian</i>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<i>Christian Guardian</i>, Discussion with, <a href="#Page_499">499</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Church of England, Dr. Ryerson's attitude towards, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Church Property, Right of Conference to hold, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Civil Rights Controversy, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Class Meeting Question, <a href="#Page_470">470</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_499">499</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Clergy Reserve Question, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <i>et seq.</i> 119, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>, <i>et seq.</i><br /> +<br /> +Confederation, Dr. Ryerson's Address on, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Connecticut University, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Controversy with W. L. Mackenzie, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Controversy with Rev. W. M. Harvard, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Controversies, Newspaper, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>, <i>et seq.</i><br /> +<br /> +Council, Legislative, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Denominational Colleges Controversy, <a href="#Page_518">518</a>, <i>et seq.</i><br /> +<br /> +Dominion, Dr. Ryerson's Address on the New, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Durham, Government of Lord, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Early Life, Sketch of, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Early Education, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Education, Appointment as Chief Superintendent of, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.<br /> +<br /> +—— Retirement from Office of, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Educational Administration, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_368">368</a>, <i>et seq.</i><br /> +<br /> +Educational Tours, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>, <a href="#Page_514">514</a>, <a href="#Page_539">539</a>, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Education, Dr. Ryerson's status in the Conference while holding Office of Chief Superintendent of, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>.<br /> +<br /> +England, Visits to, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>, <a href="#Page_514">514</a>, <a href="#Page_539">539</a>, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Estimate of Dr. Ryerson's Character and Labours, by Rev. Dr. Ormiston, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Estimates of Dr. Ryerson's Character and Work, <a href="#Page_595">595</a>, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>, <a href="#Page_600">600</a>, <i>et seq.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Family Compact, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Funeral Ceremonies, <a href="#Page_593">593</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Grievance Report, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Hume and Roebuck Letters, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +"Impressions" of England, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Indians, Labour among, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <i>et seq.</i><br /> +<br /> +Infant Baptism, <a href="#Page_470">470</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>, <i>et seq.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +"Legion's" Letters, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Loyalists, U. E., History of, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>, <a href="#Page_585">585</a>, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Matrimony, Right of Methodist Ministers to Celebrate, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Metcalfe, Defence of Sir Charles, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Metcalfe, Administration of Sir Charles, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Methodist Union, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Metropolitan Church, <a href="#Page_562">562</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Minister, Work as, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mission to River Credit Indians, page 58, <i>et seq.</i><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Norfolk County, Visits to, <a href="#Page_534">534</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Presidency of General Conference, <a href="#Page_575">575</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Rebellion of 1837, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Rectories Question, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>, <i>et seq.</i><br /> +<br /> +Red River Expedition, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Religious Experiences, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, 51-57, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Religious Instruction in Schools, <a href="#Page_423">423</a>, <a href="#Page_564">564</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Responsible Government, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <i>et seq.</i><br /> +<br /> +Roebuck and Hume Letters, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ryanite Schism, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +School Act, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Spencer, Controversy with Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_499">499</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Style, Controversial, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sydenham, Administration of Lord, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Thompson, Mr. Charles Poulett, Government of, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Union, Methodist, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>.<br /> +<br /> +United Empire Loyalists, History of, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>, <a href="#Page_585">585</a>, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>.<br /> +<br /> +University Controversy, <a href="#Page_518">518</a>, <i>et seq.</i><br /> +<br /> +Upper Canada Academy, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, 161. <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Victoria College, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <i>et seq.</i>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_615" id="Page_615">[Pg 615]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="OPINIONS_OF_THE_PRESS" id="OPINIONS_OF_THE_PRESS"></a>OPINIONS OF THE PRESS,</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">OF</p> + +<p class="subhead2">STATESMEN AND OTHERS,</p> + +<p class="subhead3">ON</p> + +<p class="subhead2">REV. DR. RYERSON'S "HISTORY OF THE LOYALISTS OF AMERICA AND THEIR TIMES, +FROM 1620 TO 1816."</p> + + +<p class="center padtop"><i>From the Toronto</i> <span class="smcap">Daily Mail</span>, <i>July 7th, 1880.</i></p> + + +<p>In a lengthened review of more than two columns, the <i>Mail</i> says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"It is with great pleasure that we introduce and commend to our +readers these portly volumes, which together contain nearly a +thousand pages. Dr. Ryerson deserves well of his country on account +of his long and inestimable services to the cause of popular +education. He is the still surviving father of our public school +system, and for over thirty years directed its progress with +characteristic zeal and activity. But apart from the author's +public work, these volumes—the result of twenty-five years' +labour—are exceedingly valuable on their own account. * * * Dr. +Ryerson has performed his task with great thoroughness, inspired by +a deep interest in his subject. The style is easy and flowing; the +facts stated are almost superabundantly established by reference to +the authorities; and wherever it becomes necessary to demonstrate +the misrepresentations of American writers, the author's forcible +way of putting the subject-matter in dispute is at once clear and +cogent. In short, the narrative is interesting, whilst the +arguments that crop up now and again are pointed and convincing. We +had some doubts as to the venerable author's age; but he leaves no +doubt upon the point in a passage relating to the war of 1812 (Vol. +II., p. 353). At the outbreak of the war, amongst the Norfolk +volunteers who went with General Brock to the taking of Detroit +were the elder brother and brother-in-law of the writer of these +pages (he being then ten years of age). Dr. Ryerson must be +consequently seventy-eight, or thereabouts; still, as his father +lived to the ripe old age of ninety-four, the author may have a +long lease of life before him."</p></div> + +<p class="center padtop"><i>From the Hamilton</i> <span class="smcap">Evening Times</span>, <i>June 13th, 1880.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"It has been well said, that Dr. Ryerson needs no monument to +perpetuate his industry, zeal, ability, and aptitude for literary +work, and successful management other than the system of public and +high schools of Ontario, which he may be said to have created +nearly forty years ago, and nourished until 1876, when he retired +from the position of Chief Superintendent of Education.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_616" id="Page_616">[Pg 616]</a></span> But if he +do, that other monument will be found in his <i>History of the +Loyalists of America and their Times</i>. This contribution to native +literature is not the work of a day. It is the result of +twenty-five years of more or less arduous labour and diligent +inquiry. It is therefore all the more valuable and trustworthy. +When one carefully examines the tersely-written pages of the two +volumes comprising the History, one can, in a measure, conceive the +pains taken by the venerable author to do justice to his subject. * +* * The History is a mine of information. It stands alone as a +voluminous authority, and will probably do so for many years. It is +admirably written, thoroughly systematised, and clear and concise. +It is just such a work as should adorn the shelves of every +Canadian library."</p></div> + +<p class="center padtop"><i>From the Hamilton</i> <span class="smcap">Spectator</span>, <i>June 19th, 1880</i>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"No book issued in Canada in recent years is more worthy of cordial +reception than the one which forms the subject of this notice. With +the name of U. E. Loyalists most Canadians are familiar, but with +the experience, the noble deeds, the unswerving loyalty to king and +country, of those who took part in the events of the early history +of America, very many are lamentably ignorant; or such knowledge as +they have has been derived from unfriendly or unreliable sources. * +* * The work Dr. Ryerson undertook was no light one. The time was +long past when the events treated of took place, and when the +actors in them could be consulted. But though the actors in the +stirring scenes of our early history had passed away, there were +authentic documents and records of them left behind, and these the +author has searched out and consulted. The results of his +researches appear as a work which must be commended for the vast +amount of information it contains, its accuracy of detail, and the +supplying of a want long felt and often deplored. * * * Altogether, +the book is one which should be read throughout the length and +breadth of Canada; and even across the sea it should, and doubtless +will, find a place. The Rev. Dr. Ryerson's efforts in the cause of +education have borne good fruit; it is certain that his great +literary work will also accomplish high beneficial results.</p> + +<p>"The mechanical part of the book is in every way creditable to the +publishers."</p></div> + +<p class="center padtop"><i>From the</i> <span class="smcap">Evangelical Churchman</span>, <i>Toronto, June 24th, 1880</i>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This is, without exception, the most important and elaborate +historical work which has yet issued from the Canadian press. The +incidents of the memorable struggle, which resulted in the +separation of the colonies from the Empire, are given in nervous +and graphic language, and shed a flood of light on the contest +itself. The subsequent privations and sufferings of the "United +Empire Loyalists" are most vividly portrayed. Their settlement in +this and other Provinces are feelingly and touchingly described. +Reminiscences, recollections and experiences of expatriated +Loyalists are also given, and illustrations of the hardships +endured by them are related in the work by many of the living +descendants of these Loyalists. This portion of the history is +deeply interesting and instructive, but space forbids us to enter +into it. Our readers cannot do better than possess themselves of +these entertaining volumes, which we most cordially commend as a +most valuable addition to our colonial historical literature."</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_617" id="Page_617">[Pg 617]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center padtop"><i>From the Toronto</i> <span class="smcap">Christian Guardian</span>, <i>July 14th, 1880</i>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This new book by the venerable Dr. Ryerson is the most important +literary work of his life. It fitly crowns a career of unusual +intellectual activity with a standard history of the formative +period of Anglo-American civilization. The range and scope of the +work are much wider than most persons would suppose from the +announcement. Most people looked for a work that would be mainly +made up of biographical sketches of the U. E. Loyalist pioneer in +the settlement of Canada. But Dr. Ryerson goes back to the +beginning, and traces the whole origin and growth of the English in +America, the relation of the Colonists to the Home Government, the +character and doings of the Colonial Governments, and the political +causes which produced dissatisfaction, and ultimately led to +rebellion and independence.</p> + +<p>"The first thing that strikes us in examining this work is the +evidence it presents of extensive research, in the examination of +original documents, and consequently the extent to which it must be +a valuable repertory of important historic facts for future +historians of American civilization.</p> + +<p>"One thing that invests this work with special interest to all +Canadians and Britons is that nearly all the histories of the +United States, as well as the popular literature of that country, +glorify the deeds and character of all who took a part in the +Revolutionary war, on the Republican side; but the Loyalists who +could not feel justified in fighting against their Sovereign and +country, are uniformly painted in the blackest colours, as if they +were cowardly and base wretches who had no redeeming qualities. All +that is hateful and mean is suggested by the word 'Tory' or +'Royalist' in the annals of the United States. They have never had +fair play; because they were generally painted by those who +bitterly hated them. But while the author admits fully the folly +and unconstitutional despotism that goaded the colonists into +rebellion, and the patriotic feeling of many on the Republican +side, no one can read his work without feeling that great injustice +has been done to the Loyalists, whose wrong acts were generally +provoked by the relentless persecution of the other party. In the +light of the real facts, it does not appear criminal or +discreditable that they were unwilling to join in open war against +the land of their fathers and the Government to which they owed +allegiance. * * * The account of the war of 1812 will possess still +greater interest for Canadians. The part played by the people of +Canada at that time, in resolutely resisting an unjustifiable +invasion, made by a greatly superior power, at a time when England +was contending almost single-handed against the immense forces +Napoleon I. had combined against her; and the fact that eleven +different attacks were repelled without loss of territory, are +achievements of which Canadians have no need to be ashamed."</p></div> + +<p class="center padtop"><i>From the Montreal</i> <span class="smcap">Gazette</span>, <i>June 26th, 1880</i>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In the course of an elaborate review of three columns of this work, +the editor of the <i>Montreal Gazette</i>, June 26th, 1880, says:</p> + +<p>"This most important work, whose approach to completion we had the +pleasure some months ago of announcing to our readers, is now an +accomplished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_618" id="Page_618">[Pg 618]</a></span> fact, and the people of Canada will have an +opportunity of gratifying their desire for a full and fair history +of one of the most interesting and meritorious elements of our +population. For the laborious, and in some respects perilous task +of writing such a history, few, if any, of our prominent men of +learning could have been so well fitted as Dr. Ryerson. Himself the +son of a leading Loyalist, of a family which had given Canada many +men of earnest thought and strenuous act, familiar from his +childhood with the traditions of those heroic settlers who were +mainly the founders of his native Province, and having himself had +no small share in extending the progress and perpetuating the +prosperity of which, at the cost of their fortunes and the risk of +their lives, they laid the firm basis, he was indignantly conscious +of the many calumnies propagated by hostile pens, from which, for +nearly a century, they had suffered almost undefended. Not alone, +indeed. Happily there were others also who longed to see the story +of the Loyalists written by an impartial and skilful hand. And when +those who represent what was best in the public life, the +literature, the pulpit and the press of the two united Provinces a +quarter of a century ago, looked around on each other and beyond +their own circle for a person to whom they might entrust the +performance of so needed a duty, they unanimously fixed upon the +Superintendent of Education of Upper Canada as that person. Thus +selected, and not unmoved, besides, by potent inward urgings, Dr. +Ryerson accepted the honourable but difficult charge." [Then +follows an analysis of the principal facts and arguments of the +work.]</p></div> + +<p class="center padtop"><i>From the</i> <span class="smcap">Morning Chronicle</span>, <i>Halifax, Nova Scotia, August 4th, 1880.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This is undoubtedly one of the most notable of recent works from +the press of Canada. It is a work of such interest as to its +subject, and, we must add, of such merit as to its execution, that +no proper justice can be done to it in any such review as can be +afforded within the limited eligible space of a daily newspaper."</p></div> + +<p class="center padtop"><i>From the</i> <span class="smcap">Morning Herald</span>, <i>Halifax, N. S., July 24th and August 4th, +1880.</i></p> + +<p>The <i>Herald</i> devotes two articles in review of this work, commencing +with the following words:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The author of this work is so well known to the people of this +country, that any publication in which his name appears is a +sufficient guarantee of its value, its accuracy, and the +interesting nature of its contents. No work ever published in +Canada is more worthy of a cordial reception from our people than +the 'Loyalists of America and their Times,' and none will be read +with more intense interest by the descendants of those noble men +and women, 'who, stripped of their rights and property during the +war, * * * were driven from the homes of their birth and of their +forefathers,' because of their loyalty to their king, to seek new +homes in the (then) wilderness of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick."</p></div> + +<p>N.B.—Numerous other notices, of a similar character to the above, are +said to have appeared in various provincial newspapers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_619" id="Page_619">[Pg 619]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center padtop"><span class="smcap">Letter from Sir Stafford Northcote</span>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +"79 <span class="smcap">Portland Place</span>, July 26th, 1880.<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">My Dear Sir</span>,<br /> +</p> + +<p>"I ought long ago to have thanked you for so kindly sending me your +work on the 'Loyalists,' but I have been so busy since it came that +I have had little time for reading. I have been much interested +with it, and am very much obliged for it.</p> + +<p> +"Believe me, yours very faithfully,<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) <span class="smcap">"Stafford H. Northcote</span>."<br /> +</p> + +</div> + +<p class="center padtop"><span class="smcap">Letter from Lord Carnarvon</span>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +"<span class="smcap">Highclere Castle, Newbury</span>, Sept. 1st, 1880.<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">My Dear Sir</span>,<br /> +</p> + +<p>"I have received the 'History of the Loyalists of America' which +you have been good enough to send me. I have as yet only been able +to turn the pages, but before long I hope to find the leisure to +become acquainted with the contents of these two volumes, of which +I have seen enough in my rapid glance to be sure that they embrace +not only much that is most interesting, but in a historical point +of view very valuable matter.</p> + +<p> +"I remain, my dear Sir, yours faithfully,<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">Carnarvon</span>."<br /> +</p> + +</div> + +<p class="center padtop"><span class="smcap">Letter from Alpheus Todd, Esq., Librarian of the House of Commons</span>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +"<span class="smcap">Ottawa</span>, September 16th, 1880.<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">My Dear Dr. Ryerson</span>,<br /> +</p> + +<p>"I have just returned from a visit to England, much refreshed. I +found your two interesting volumes on my desk, and am very grateful +for your kind remembrance of me. I shall prize them highly.</p> + +<p>"We have all reason for congratulation that you have completed this +great book, which is a noble retrospect of the loyalty of our +forefathers. I earnestly hope that it may be the means of +quickening and strengthening the present generation in this land in +the endeavour to render themselves worthy of the noble inheritance +that the zeal and devotion of our ancestors obtained for us, and +that it will deepen our attachment to the British Crown and +Imperial connection.</p> + +<p> +"Always with much respect and regard,<br /> +<br /> +"Your sincere friend,<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">Alpheus Todd</span>."<br /> +</p> + +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_620" id="Page_620">[Pg 620]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center padtop"><span class="smcap">Letter from His Excellency the Marquis of Lorne</span>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +"<span class="smcap">Citadel, Quebec</span>, June 10th, 1880.<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">My Dear Dr. Ryerson</span>,<br /> +</p> + +<p>"I have to-day received your most welcome gift, and hasten to tell +you my gratitude for what was to me a very pleasant surprise—a +surprise, for I had not heard that you were engaged in the task you +have now completed, and had I heard it, I could not have expected +the kindness which has made me the recipient from the author of +such a full and extremely interesting history.</p> + +<p>"It should become a household book in Canada; and I can well +imagine the delight it will give to those who are able through the +work, as you have been in its composition, to trace the actions and +live again in sympathy with the thoughts of heroic ancestors.</p> + +<p> +"Believe me, with very many thanks,<br /> +<br /> +"Yours very truly,<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">Lorne.</span>"<br /> +</p> + +</div> + +<p class="center padtop"><span class="smcap">Letter from Lord Dufferin</span>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +"<span class="smcap">St. Petersburg</span>, September 6th, 1880.<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">My Dear Dr. Ryerson</span>,<br /> +</p> + +<p>"I have just received your two beautiful volumes. I cannot tell you +how grateful I am to you for your kind thought of me. There is no +present I value more than that of a book from its author. Indeed, I +have now a very interesting library composed of volumes given to me +at different times by the various distinguished men of the present +generation whom I have had the happiness to know, and your work +will find an honoured place upon its shelves.</p> + +<p>"You well know how fully I understand and appreciate all that you +have done for education in Canada, and that there are few people in +the Dominion for whom I have always entertained a greater regard or +respect.</p> + +<p> +"Believe me, my dear Dr. Ryerson,<br /> +<br /> +"Yours most sincerely,<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">Dufferin</span>."<br /> +</p> + +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_621" id="Page_621">[Pg 621]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Canadian_Methodism" id="Canadian_Methodism"></a>Canadian Methodism:</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">ITS</p> + +<p class="subhead2">EPOCHS AND CHARACTERISTICS,</p> + +<p class="subhead3">WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE</p> + +<p class="subhead2">LONDON, TORONTO, AND MONTREAL CONFERENCES.</p> + +<p class="subhead3">BY THE</p> + +<p class="subhead2"><i>REV. EGERTON RYERSON, D.D., LL.D.</i></p> + + +<p style="margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;" class="padtop"><i>This Volume is elegantly bound in Extra English Cloth, with ink and +gold stamping, 12mo. size, containing 448 pages</i>,</p> + +<p class="subhead2 padtop">WITH STEEL PORTRAIT,</p> + +<p class="subhead3">PRICE ... $1.25</p> + + +<p>This Volume is not a mere reprint of the Essays that appeared in the +Magazine from month to month, but contains a large amount of new matter +which has not heretofore appeared.</p> + +<p>It possesses also, to the many admirers of its beloved and honoured +author, a melancholy interest, as being the latest production of that +pen which, during a long and busy life, was ever wielded in defence of +civil and religious liberty.</p> + + +<p class="subhead2 padtop">Agents wanted to sell this important +Work.</p> + +<p> +Address—<br /> +<br /> +WILLIAM BRIGGS, <span class="smcap">Publisher</span>,<br /> +<br /> +78 & 80 King St. East, Toronto.<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_622" id="Page_622">[Pg 622]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Loyalists_of_America" id="The_Loyalists_of_America"></a>The Loyalists of America</h2> + +<p class="subhead3">AND</p> + +<p class="subhead2">THEIR TIMES.</p> + +<p class="subhead3">BY THE</p> + +<p class="subhead2">REV. EGERTON RYERSON, D.D., LL.D.,</p> + +<p class="subhead3"><i>Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada from 1844 to 1876.</i></p> + + +<p>This book is one of national importance. It is the most ample and minute +account of the U. E. Loyalists and their Times which has hitherto been +published. It describes very fully the early Colonial History of +America, and traces the important distinction, often overlooked, between +the Pilgrim Fathers and the Puritan Fathers in New England, who +maintained separate Governments for seventy years. The religious +persecutions of the Quakers and other dissidents from Puritan creed and +civil constitution are reviewed, and the stern intolerance of the latter +is shown. The fortunes of the Colonies under the Long Parliament, the +Commonwealth, and the Restoration, are carefully traced. The prolonged +conflict between France and England for the possession of the Continent, +with its battles, sieges, and adventurous campaigns is given in detail. +The growing estrangement between Great Britain and the Colonies, and the +stormy events of the Revolutionary War, are recounted. This epoch is +very fully discussed from a British Loyalist point of view. The author +avows his sympathy with the colonists in their assertion of their rights +as British subjects, and avers his belief that but for their +revolutionary Declaration of Independence they would within a +twelvemonth have obtained all that they desired without the shedding of +blood, without the unnatural alliance with France, much less a war of +seven years. But the outbreak and conduct of the war are emphatically +condemned.</p> + +<p>No portion of this history will be read with greater interest than that +which describes the sufferings, in maintaining their allegiance to their +King, of the U. E. Loyalist Founders and Fathers of Canada. For the +first time, the full and detailed account of these sufferings is now +published. The account of the early development and organization of the +Government of the Maritime Provinces and of Upper Canada is full and +minute. The stirring events of the War of 1812-15 are also given with +much copiousness of detail. The grand patriotism of our country, +struggling against tremendous odds, is amply asserted and illustrated.</p> + +<p>To this work the venerable author has devoted several of the best years +of his life. Of U. E. Loyalist stock himself, he writes with hearty +sympathy with his subject. He has devoted many years to the study of +historical and constitutional questions. He has made laborious and +extensive research. And he furnishes in these volumes copious +documentary evidence of the validity of his assertions and conclusions.</p> + +<p>It is beautifully printed on extra calendered paper, and forms</p> + +<p>TWO HANDSOME OCTAVO VOLUMES,</p> + +<p>containing 1,055 pages, with Steel Portrait of the Author. Strongly +bound</p> + +<table style="width: 30%;" summary="prices"><tbody> +<tr> +<td class="tl">IN EXTRA ENGLISH CLOTH,</td> <td class="tr">$5 00</td> +</tr><tr> +<td class="tl">IN HALF MOROCCO,</td> <td class="tr">7 00</td> +</tr> +</tbody></table> + +<p>AGENTS WANTED.</p> + +<p> +Address for particulars,<br /> +<br /> +<i>WILLIAM BRIGGS, <span class="smcap">Publisher</span></i>,<br /> +<br /> +78 & 80 KING STREET EAST, TORONTO.<br /> +</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of My Life, by Egerton Ryerson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF MY LIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 24586-h.htm or 24586-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/5/8/24586/ + +Produced by Stacy Brown, Jason Isbell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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