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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1961-06-01, Page 5• • • • • 1 • • • 1 Brucefield Clergyman Had Commanding Voice • (By Nerissa A. McInnes, in the London Free Press) Rev. John Ross was, for many years, a Presbyterian clergyman at the village of Brucefield, Huron County. Born at Dornock, Scot- land, in 1821, John was eight years old when his family emigrated to • Canada. After a great storm at sea and a long journey across Up- per Canada, they arrived at West Zorra, Oxford county. Quite a number of people from Scotland had already settled in West Zorra and one of the first things they did was to build a church, the first minister being • Rev. Donald McKenzie. -phis con- gregation, which became the nuc- leus of the village of Embro, in the years ahead up to 1894, was to send 38 of its members to be- come ministers of the gospel. This, in a large measure, was due to Rev. McKenzie conducting classes in higher education, as • there was no grammar school nearby. John Ross was one of these stu- dents and after attending Normal School in Toronto, he taught school up to 1845. At the age of 24 he attended the new theological sem- inary in Toronto, which had open- • ed November 5, 1844. He became an explorer in dark places of Toronto and a frequent visitor to the hospitals. He used the Gaelic as much as he could and deemed it second to Hebrew in languages. At college he was very engrossed with his studies, often staying up all night persuing • them. In 1850 he finished college and it is said that he danced a jig on the college green, because now he could be off to his work. First he had to give one year to the mission field. In the meantime in Brucefield, Rev. William Graham, a mission- ary recently sent from Scotland, was the first Free Church minis- ter under whom the Brucefield people were gathered as a con- gregation. Previously Mr. Graham had ac- cepted a call from the congrega- tion at Egmondville, a village six • miles distant, and thus Brucefield was added to his charge. Rev. Graham could not speak Gaelic and as so many Gaelic - speaking people surrounded Bruce - field, they wished to have a church of their own and a minister who could speak Gaelic as well as Eng- lish. • Through Rev, Donald McKenzie, of Embro, moderator of the Pres- • Too Late to Classify FOR SALE -8 chunks pigs, six weeks old. JAMES RACHO, Eg- mondville, phone 670 J 1, Seaforth. >r 68-1 LOST—At Lions Park, Tuesday night, yellow -leather fielder's ball glove. Reward. PHONE 663 J 1. 68-1 bytery, late in 1850 the Brucefield people were able to secure John Ross to conduct two services in Gaelic. In the spring of 1851 John Ross held services there for six weeks and later became their permanent minister, his ordination and induction taking place in Sep- tember, 1861. He was to remain in this parish for 35 years. The elders at the time John Ross became the regular clergy- man at Brucefield were: George Walker, who gave him ready and efficient friendship; Hugh Mustard, one of the men of the Highlands, who saw the hand of God in every- day life; Robert Carnock, who was called the "sweet singer" of the congregation; Angus Gordon, who did not remain long with the Brucefield church after the arrival of John Ross as a congregation was formed in Clinton where he lived; and John McQueen, another elder of sterling qualities. In later years George Forrest was added to the Brucefield eldership. FOR RENT—Cabin at Bluewater Beach, one mile south of Goderich; • • sleeps four; fully equipped;, $25• weekly. PHONE 526-W, Seaforth. 14468-tf • • • • • • • • • 4 • • • • 4 • ment because of his love for young people. In the early part of his life he became interested in geometry, Latin, Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, Sy- riac, German and Italian. All •en- gaged his attention in turn. At one time he was interested in bees and gained much enjoy- ment from their study. Another time he grew grapes and had a beautiful vineyard, giving away many of its products. John Ross suffered a great loss •in the death of his young wife in February, after his settlement in Brucefield, leaving him with a daughter. His sister, Jane Ross, came nobly to his assistance. The special subject during the year 1851-61 in which Rev. Ross took an important part was the proposed union between the Free Presbyterian Church and the Unit- ed Presbyterian Church in Canada. For several years he was a mem- ber of the union committee, ap- pointed by the synod of the Free Church. Finally on June 6, 1861, the two churches agreed to unite, taking the name Canada Presby- terian Church. John Ross did not stand out against union but his heart was ill at ease over the -sub- ject of the Kingship of Christ, which had been rejected. ' During his incumbency at the Presbyterian Church in Brucefield the manse was a mile from the village and in walking to and fro he always carried a Bible with him. If he chanced to meet any- one he would stop them and read a passage from the Bible and then explain it. As he had a style that commanded attention and a voice that could be heard through a stone wall, he had many listen- ers. Many instances of this are giv- en. Once when he drove to Un- derwood to catch the stage to Kin- cardine, a crowd gathered for an election. As Mr. Ross had a 20 - minute wait, he preached a ser- mon and soon a large crowd gath- ered and reverently listened to him. Another timeThe preached to a crowd of people gathered around a circus tent. Many times when travelling on a train, he preached sermons, and on one occasion even in a store in Quebec City. Thus he became known as "The Man with the Book." John Ross did not spend all his time 'preaching the gospel, as dur- ing his lifetime he indulged in many hobbies. His best, perhaps, was the time he had a class of school teachers meeting at the manse to study Hebrew. For the greater part of 10 years this went on and it Gave him great enjoy- Seaforth Native Visits From North. (By Pamela Baker, in the London Free Press) As a child Margaret Strang would sit with her chin cupped, in her hands listening to fascinating• tales of homesteading in the west as told by her father and uncles and dream that one day she, too, would experience the thrill of liv- ing in the bush and pioneering in the New Frontier of Canada. Many little' girls dream of things which never materialize, but Mar- garet Strang had the determina- tion to make her dream come true. She studied hard at school in her home town of Exeter, in Seaforth and London, and then went to the University of Western Ontario Medical School where she obtain- ed her degree in 1929—only the third woman to graduate from the school since it was founded. When Mr. Ross took up resi- dence in the so-called manse it was made of logs. Later it was replaced by a brick cottage and was surrounded by nine acres of land, covered with beautiful trees long after the rest of the country was cleared. But the day came when Mr. Ross, with a heavy heart, cut out all the t nderbrush and some trees, leaving only 10 sugar maples. These proved to be a great delight to him as he tapped the trees every spring and made syrup and maple sugar—even go- ing so far as to having a "sugar- ing off" for the children of the neighborhood at the end of the season. During the last 20 years of his life his almost constant compan- ion and source of amusement was a black colt which he called "Col - tie." He raised and trained his horse. It was always a very lively sight' to see "Coltie" hitched to a buggy or sleigh going pell-mell over the country roads. In 1870 there was another sub- ject which demanded from Mr. Ross a great decision, namely the union of the Presbyterian church of the Lower Provinces and the Presbyterian church of the Mari- time Provinces with the Ontario church. Mr. Ross, along with his elders, sent in a resolution against union under the proposed conditions, but this was ignored and on June 15, 1875, the supreme courts of the negotiating churches met in Mont- real to consummate the union. But in the Brucefield congrega- tion it was decided to hold a meet- ing and take • a vote. This was done on September 28, 1875, and 45 members voted to adhere to their minister and 40 announced their decision to enter the union. Rev. Logie, of Rodgerville (a i south com- munity at this s u h of Brucefield on the London Road), conducted this meeting. Three weeks later another meet- ing was held in the Brucefield church to sanction the organiza- tion of another congregation in Brucefield.' Mr. Ross allowed the new con- gregation to hold its meetings in the church until they built one of their own ' and even went s� far as to rent them part of the 18 acres of land on which the church stood. After John Ross died on March 8, 1887, his daughter, Anna Ross, wrote "The Man with the Book," It was published in 1897. Nelson Hood, of Kippen, kindly loaned me this book, from which the 'above article has been written. Success comes before work on- ly in the dictionary. TIT.LTITJ.TJ.TJ.T.LTJT1 Weed Spray, Weed Spray ORDER NOW! GREEN CROSS HIGH QUALITY WEED SPRAYS Are Now in Stock ! CROP MATERIAL CEREAL GRAINS (Not Seeded Down) OATS and MIXED GRAINS (Seeded Down) BARLEY, WHEAT or CORN , MEADOWS, FENCE LINES and ROADSIDES COUCH GRASS CONTROL ry Amine "80" — 2,4-D M.C.P. Amine 80 or M.C.P..Sodium 48 Weed -No -More "80", 2,4-D, Ester or Amine "80", 2,4-D Brushkil "64" L.V. Dowpon Available in 16 Ounces, 1 Gallon and 5 Gallons CASH DISCOUNTS AND QUANTITY DISCOUNTS DOUBLE RECLEANED EXTRA 3 CW WESTERN OATS (48 lbs. per Bushel) Available at Mill or Truck Load Lots OPNOTCH FEEDS LIMITED PHONE 775 : SEAFORTH " THE MOST VALUE FOR THE FARMER'S DOLLAR " , Tl Tl TLT J T 1. TJ.TL1i After 32 Years In London last week to visit with relatives, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Caldwell, of Tecumseh Avenue, Dr. Savage recalled that following her graduation she took a three- month vacation in Northern On- tario "where I slashed' bush and swatted mosquitoes." She began her medical career as an intern at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton and then went to Ayr as assistant to a medical practi- tioner. When she heard that the Pres- byterian Church was looking for a medical missionary to serve in the west, Dr. Savage applied for the job and was sent to the Peace River district where she worked in the little community. of Dixonville for the next 12 years. In addition to riding horseback along winding trails to treat her patients, she was also active in church work and helped to build the little log church which still stands today. Although she had to travel through the bush, Dr. Savage said she was never afraid of the animals which roamed the countryside because she had been raised on a farm and was used to them. Afraid of Freezing "The thing I was afraid of," she getting "was g g frozen to death. Usually the temperature was around 20 to 30 degrees below zero, but I have made calls when it's been 70 below." On such occa- sions she first donned a pair of riding breeches and a warm jacket, then a pair of cowboy's hairy chaps, a big mackinaw jacket, two pair of socks, two pair of mocca- sins, ear -muffs and mittens. Since there was no veterinarian for 50 miles, Dr. Savage often found herself prescribing for ani- mals as well as people. With no training in this field she just had to use common sense combined with knowledge !gained when liv- ing on a farm, and doses of medi- cine about 12 times larger than those for humans! "One day when' I went out in the bush to treat a woman," she re- called, "I saw her husband stand- ing in the' yard looking sadly at his ailing horse, It was obvious the horse .had been over -fed and under -worked, so I just'told him to run it around the farm and not feed it any more oats for a month. Then I went in and gave his wife some pills. Both horse and wife recovered!" During the last war, Dr. Savage heard, via the grape -vine, that a doctor was needed at the hospital in Cold Lake which was then just a hamlet 200 miles north-east of Edmonton on the Saskatchewan border. The Woman's Missionary Society of the United Church built her a house near the hospital and she moved there in 1943. With the change in modes of transportation and construction of good highways, Dr. Savage can now sit back and let the patients come to her 'instead of setting off On the lontivly-14ail by herself. "This means I can accomplish more medically," she said, "be- cause I don't have to spend all day travelling to see just one patient." Although medical work is her' vocation, Dr. Savage said her avo- cation is church work. Having rais- ed three children of her own, she found great satisfaction in work- ing with a group of Trail Rangers and later a pack of Wolf Cubs. When an organ was installed in the church, she also became the organist. This slighty-built, white-haired doctor thinks Cold Lake and other areas like it are ideal places in wh'ch to bring up children. "They GAS SALES VOLUME up -13. ?ER SENT; UNION GAS, NET PROFIT HIGHER Union Gas Company of Canada, Limited, and its subsidiary com- panies, recorded an increase•of 13 per cent in volume of gas sold, an increase of 11 per cent. in gross revenue from these sales and an increase of 29 per cent in net pro- fit, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1961, as compared with the preceding fiscaf year. During the past year, Union Gas Company ,acquired 86,814 (96.5%) of the Class A preference shares and 47,222 (67.8%) of the Class B preference shares of United Fuel Investments, Limited, of which company, Union also holds 89,907 (99.9%) of the common shares. In view' of the predominant interest Union now has in the outstanding shares of United Fuel, the 1961 report reflects the operations of United Fuel and its wholly-owned subsidiary, United Gas Limited, on a consolidated basis with Union Gas Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ontario Natural Gas Storage and Pipelines Limited. According to the report, gross revenue from gas sales rose from $33 million in the fiscal year end- ed March 31, 1960, to $36.7 mil- lion in the fiscal year just com- pleted. The volume of gas sold in- creased from 30.7 billion to 34.7 billion cubic feet, in the same per- iod. Similarly, consolidated net profit rose from $3 million to $3.9 million. The progress indicated by these figures was made despite the fact that, on the average, somewhat milder than normal weather pre- vailed during the heating seasons. Also, there was keener competi- tion from suppliers of other fuels and generally rising costs. The report noted a net increase in op- erating costs, exclusive of depre- ciation, interest and taxes, of slightly more than $2 million (from $21.5 million in the 1959-60 fiscal year to $23.5 million in the fiscal year just completed), after allowing for discontinuance of cok- ing operations by a former United Fuel subsidiary, sold late in the preceding fiscal year. The r noted an rt also t report in- crease of 11,000 in the number of customers served (up to 230,000 at March. 31, 1961) and to a rise in the number of customers using Sas for heating. This latter increase contributed to a substantial jump in the peak day send -out from 265 million to 358 million cubic feet, in one 24-hour period — and was reflected in the growth of average annual consumption per residential meter, from 97,000 to 101,000 cubic feet. TIMELY TIPS Use a fertilizer higher in nitro- gen if corn planting time is late this year, suggests Tom Lane, soils specialist at the O.A.C. For ex- ample, use a 10-20-20 rather than a 5-20-20.. If you have already bought your fertilizer, additional nitrogen can be applied at the time of sidedressing; put on 25 pounds more nitrogen per acre than you normally would. CROMARTY Many friends and relatives at- tended the funeral of the late Wil- liam Patrick, which was held Sat- urday from the G. A. Whitney funeral home, Seaforth. Burial was in Staffa cemetery. Rev. S. Kerr preached his fare- well sermon on Sunday to a large congregation. He leaves here to take a charge at-Embro and West Harrington. We wish Mr. and Mrs. Kerr 'the best of health and pros- perity in their new home. Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Kendrick, of Lucan, with Mr. and Mrs. Mac Lamond on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Alex Gardiner in Sarnia on Sunday with friends. Mr. and Mrs. Herb Walker, of Markdale, with Mr. and Mrs. Otto Walker on Sunday. Bride is Showered A miscellaneous shower was held on Monday evening in the basement . of the church in honor of Mrs. Gary Quance, nee Mildred Howe. This shower had been plan- ned several weeks ago, but had to be cancelled on account of re- pairs being made at the church. Mrs. M. Lamond, leader of the CGIT, with Mrs. Gordon Laing as assistant, and the members of the CGIT group conducted the pro- gram, which began with commun- ity singing. Karen and Sharon ,Scott, Carol Ann Dow and Cdnnie Sorsdahl favored with a.son ; Miss Olive Speare and Mrs. G. Carey each gave. a reading. Two contests were in charge of Joyce Kerslake with Mrs. Gordon Laing as pianist. Mildred took her place in a bea- tifully decorated chair and the girls displayed the gifts after an address was read by Margaret Ann Wallace. Mildred thanked the la- dies for the many beautiful gifts * * :r Harrow those hay and pasture fields you manured last fall and winter. Get the job done before the plants become so high as to hinder the action of the harrow. Turn the harrows upside down so that they don't kick up stones that would hurt your haying equipment. can go oil into the bush on camp- ing trips and really learn to look after themselves," she s a i d. "Things are not ready-made for them. They have' to make their own fun." Even in a small community like Cold Lake, with a population of 1,400, ]fir. Savage said medical work is multiplying day \ by day and it is getting to the point where she and the surgeon at the hospi- tal just cannot find enough hours in the day to complete their work. "There seem to be more ills to- day," she reflected. "People have more household gadgets and have more time to sit around and think about their ills. Years ago, a doc- tor •treated people who had suffer- ed an accident or contracted pneu- monia. Now, he gets all sorts of people with nervous troubles, rash- es and ulcers." Although Dr. Savage was happy to have her six -weeks vacation in this part of the country—"the long- est I've ever had"—shewas eager to get back to Cold Lake. "Im a converted Westerner," she said with a twinkle in her eye. "I'm not the type of person who longs for fine china and drapes. I would rather build a log shack from scratch, put up cheesecloth curtains and carry my own water from the spring. I'm just the rus- tic type who likes to go camping out where there is nothing but what nature provides." IALF4AT TEEII . 411T FQSI'QE, SEAMITA PNT, 41INEVia. FRESH NEW For a Fashion -Wise Sumner! New Bryant Juniors, Leo Danal and Stotland Cottons, featuring ginghams, polished cottons, print- ed sateens and mercerized broad- cloths — all "easy -care" fabrics, styled in misses', women's and half size dresses; also Petites in a wide range of new patterns. See this glamorous showing to- day! SIZES 7 TO 24%z 10.95 Budget COTTONS This group features classic styles, cool sleeveless or sun dresses, in a wide range of washable floral prints, paisleys, checks, dots and plain shades, styled for a dressy summer at SIZES 9 TO 24%Z Q.95 to 6.95 STEWART BROS. —TitseCtElOWIE During June " DAIRY MONTH " Sundays and Holidays and Everyday, Maple Leaf Products are available at BROCK'S SUPERTEST and SEAFORTH GRILL. P� MAPLE LEAF DAIRY Phone 101 SEAFORTH This Week's Special SPRING MOTOR TUNE-UP Here's What We Do: Clean and adjust spark plugs Clean and -set points Check and set timing Adjust carburetor for idle and mixture Check coil and condenser Check generator and voltage regulator Check battery Adjust fan belt ONLY $6.66 Any 6 -Cylinder Car BRAKE RELINE We use bonded lining. Price in- cludes freeing hand brake cables. Now Only 15.95 Wheel . Alignment Have those wheels lined up now at a special low price. Now Only 7.95 SPRING CHANGEOVER • New Filter • Change Oil • Lubrication • Check Differential, Transmission, Steering Gear. $5.55 ANY CAR BATTERY CLEARANCE 6 VOLT 12 VOLT Sizes to fit most models. 6;95 Exchange 11.95 Exchange POLISH JOB Includes minor touch-up, clean 9.95 and vacuum. Now Dominion or Goodyear Tires Reduced Prices on All Sizes 750 x 14 NYLON TIRES 17.50 TUBLESS — Now 670 x 15 TIRES — Now 13.50 ALL MECHANICAL AND BODY • JOBS INCLUD• 1NG PARTS — SPECIAL SPRING PRICES! Ask For Estimates Seaforth Motors YOUR GUARDIAN MAINTENANCE SERVICE CENTRE Phone 541 -- Seaforth