HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1938-08-25, Page 7THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE THUBSOAY, AUGUST SMS, 1988
Meeting Houses in
Devon Colony Spread
Rapidly
Coining of Missionaries to South
Huron Warmly Welcomed by the
Settlers.
Local and “Saddle Bag” Preachers,
Often Uneducated, Were Earnest
In Ministry
By W- H. Johnston in the London
Free Press
As far as churches and religious
services and leaders were conserned,
the Devon district in South Huron
was similiai* to other settlements
throughout the province. Clergymen/
filled with the missionary spirit ap
peared on the scene and received a
warm welcome from the lonely set
tlers. Finding his reception so kind
and heartening, the missioary’s first
inquiry was for a place to hold a
service. This was not hard to find,
since almost everyone was ready to
offer his cabin for the purpose. Gen
erally one of the largest was chosen,
one in which a family resided.
If he arrived early in the day, a
service was held that evening, and
invitations were sent out to all the'
neighbors, and when the evening
houi’ came the cabin was generally
crowded with an eager, expectant
congregation.
The minister,-used to speaking on
such occasions, brought a message
of cheer, coupled with exhortation,
and frequently the nucleus of a con-
giegation was formed at the first
gathering.
Early on Scene
In the Devon district the English
Church clergy were early on the
scene, .as they followed up’ their
people from the old la'nd. The Meth
odist preachers wefe active, too.
Their number was limited, but they
were assigned a large territory for
each minister, and they frequently
extended their efforts far beyond
the assigned field. One of those
early circuits stretched from Lucan
to Clinton, a distance of 30 miles
from south to north, and indefinite
ly from east to west.
These men were known as “saddle
bag preachers,’.’ because they rode
on horse back, carrying a few books
in a bog by‘the saddle. Their cir
cuits were so large that services were
held abou three weeks apart, but a
warm welcome generally awaited
them.
These were the days when there
were five active bodies of Methodists
working in Canada-\^the Wesleyan,
Episcopal, Bible Christians, Primi
tive and New , Connexion, and of
these, the first three were at work in
Devon district. The older people
tsill remember the enthusiasm, and
untiring energy of the early preach
ers and are not surprised that Meth
odist churches were soon more num
erous than, school houses.
Many Churches
In an area 12 to 15 miles from
north to south were found the fol
lowing list of churches, or meeting
houses, as they were called at that
time. On the Stephen side of the
London road were Providence, Fair
child,. Crediton, Sharon, Dauncey’s
and Ebenezer.
On the Usborne side were Devon,
Eden, Whalen, Zion, Sunshine, Elim-
ville, Bethesda, Bethany, Kirkton,
Woodham and two in Exeter with a
number of others extending out to
St. Marys.
■Some may wonder how services
could be held regularly in so many
places. At first they were not, but
in an incredibly short time log
churches were built, and a number
of laymen, known as local preachers
were pressed into the work.
These men were generally unedu
cated, but often their simple, impas
sioned addresses resulted in declara
tion of conversion. Dr, Vining, a
local preacher, living in Exeter, was
in constant demand to preach over
a large territory and in later years
his name was often mentioned in
loving terms.
FIRST CHARGE IN HURON
UNDER NEW MOTOR LAW
-GODEI'CH,—First chagre in Huron
County under the new section of the
Criminal Code respecting reckless
driving, was laid against Bernard
Cousins, Colborne farmer, who.also
is charged with drunk driving. The
new reckless driving section of the
code, passed at the last session of
the legislatude, carries a two-year
maximum jail term. Cousins was
given his liberty for two weeks on
$300 bail to allow him to finish
harvest.
DRILLING FOR OIL '
STARTS IN HULLETT TWP.
CLINTON—The belief long held
by older residents of Huron .County
that there is oil in great quantities
hidden away below the surface in
this locality is about to be put to the
test,, The company formed here re
cently has had another experimental
tests with the electrical nil indicator
when indications that there is oil on
the farm of Joseph Mann, Hullett-
township, was demonstrated and fol
lowing that a contract has been en
tered into by the company and con
tractors Jackson and McKillop to
have drilling operations started at
once. The equipment will be on the
spot this week and it is expected
that from fifty days to two months’
drilling operations will be required
to reach t'he oil deposit. Various
strata formations will be drilled
through and the nature of the for
mations will be a (governing factor
in determining the length of time
required.
While at the present stage of pro
ceedings there is no one becoming
excited about it, the hope is freely
expressed that oil in paying quant
ity will be struck. If so fortunate
a happening should cOme about it
would mean a boom not to Clinton
alone but to all Huron Cunty.
COURT CLEARS THRESHER
OF DAMAGE TO ROADWAY
GODERICH— Damage caused by
spiked tractor wheels to the shoul
ders of a newly-iconstructed stretch
of road between Bayfield and Grand
Bend highway, Traffic Officer Webb
in the prosecution of W. F. Jamieson
a thresher. The traffic officer saio
that already procincial graders ano
road workers were out repairing
, havoc done by these tractor-drawn
outfits.
It was the first prosecution of its
kind in this county and evidence de
veloped that there is a difference of
opinion between threshermen and
the department of highways.
“The farmers, too, have some
rights,” said Magistrate Makins as
ho hesitated and finally declined to
convict. He urged threshers to use
discretion.
The defence called three witnesses
to prove that the attaching of pro-
• tector bands on spade Lugs of trac
tors was a slow and costly job. It
would use up two hours a day on
short hauls, said Mr. Jamieson and
in this he was corroborated by P.
Ireland, another thresheman.
The traffic officer pressed for a
conviction but t'he .magistrate said
that things had not yet reached the
stage in Huron County when farm
ers would be penalized foi* going
about their work trying to unake a
living. ‘
LONDON GIRL IS NAMED
TO LUCAN SCHOOL STAFF
LUCAN — Miss M. Winters, Lon
don, has been engaged by the Board
of Education to take the place of
Miss E. Blake, who resigned from the
high school staff to accept a posi
tion in Preston.
Suffer No Longer from Headaches
It is hard to struggle along with a
head that aches and pains all the time.
In nine cases out of ten persistent
headaches are caused by some de
rangement of the stomach, liver or
bowels.
Burdock Blood Bitters removes
the cause of headache by regulating
the digestive and biliary organs,
corrects acidity, regulates the con
stipated bowels, tones up the liver,
and promotes a perfect circulation
of pure blood to all portions of the
body. Get rid of your headaches by
taking B.B.B. & ,
The T. Milburn Co., Ltd., Toronto, Ont.
Uie Inside and Outside on Wood and Cement
H. S. WALTER, A. SPENCER & SON,
Exeter Hoiisall
Editorial 1 I. VJ JFb 1
We have reaped an abundant harvest. ,
********
Our farmers are our best spenders,
Pastures and meadows are looking unusually thrifty,
********
Not barriers between Canada and the United States.
It’s just as well not to keep dynamite sticks in the garage.
******* r
We’re in the cycle of good harvests. Let us take the hint.
That heat wave was pretty hard for humans to endure, but
it was great for the corn.
********
Gold is the standard of value in business because it is the best
commodity in the world for that purpose.
********
Japan is rationing sternly to pay for the war in China. The
war lords are not tightening their belts for this purpose. They
make the war. The people spill their blood and starve.
********
NO TIME TO TAKE HER EASE
Yes, the U. S. promises “to stand on guard" for Canada. But
let no one be deceived. The U. S. will stand by Canada on the
grim but reasonable condition that Canada maintains her self re
spect among the nations of the world.
********
That was a great word by President Roosevelt at the opening
of the Thousand Island Bridge. “If we can make this bridge
serve the interests of our respective countries, why not do like
wise with the water that flows under the bridge?” “There are
difficulties in the way of such a project!” someone urges. True,
but is is the duty of our statesmen to overcome precisely such
difficulties.
********
Czechoslovakia has reaped a splendid harvest. That is noth
ing new, as the people of that country are outstanding for their
thrift and frugality and enterprise. All over their country you
will find large barns and good farm homes and the people hard
at work. Between their times of hard service in their factories
and on their farms they spend a due amount of time in military
training, with the result that right, snug little country possesses
not only the most thriving countryside on the continent, but the
best drilled army you can find. Yet it is that country Hitler
would bully out of its very existance. Can the world allow such
a tragedy to take place?
********
A FULFILLED PROPHECY
When Lord Dufferin; outstanding gentleman and diplomat,
was Governor General of Canada, relations between the beavei*
and the eagle were not as cordial as they have been in later years.
It was the fashion then to do a little international twitting, as
Lord Dufferin was not long in finding out. However, he rose
equal ' to such occasions, as the following incident "exemplifies,
when he referred to Miss Canada as delightful colleen and to Uncle
Sam as a hobbledehoy. “He may be loathe to make approaches
to the lady he thinks so much of, but he’ll punch the head off any o trier fellow who ventures to become too familiar with her.” And
there you are! President Roosevelt said at Kingston that what
the republic could do it would do to promote Canadian interests.
****$***
DANGER IS REAL
Folk are inclined to be cynical regarding the political situa
tion in Europe. For instance, ten days ago was the occasion set
as the time for the great explosion. That period past and the war
dogs still were in their kennel. Let no one imagine, however,
that the period was not one frought with extreme danger. Had not
the best statesmen on the continent wrought night and day to the
limit of their patience and ability, the guns would have been roar
ing. The passing of the hour of terror without the lightning was
an occasjon for thankfulness rather than of disappointment. Oc
tober is now thought of as the month for the outbreak. May our
statesmen be able to get us by once 'more without bloodshed!
Every crisis safely got by means growing sobriety of thought and
control of passion. While .two madmen occupy the place they do
in Italy and Germany, there is no forecasting of what may be the
news any morning.
& * Sp * ¥ * *
Did You Know That- -
Ant-eaters tongues are 2 1-2 feet
long.
• * # *
One person in every four iu the
world is a Chinese.
* *
You cannot bluff a pretty girl by
telling her there are microbes in
kisses,
* * *
Fifty per cent, of the people have
not enough to eat.
* * *
There’s a time to sleep and a time
to eat; but never yet was a time to
quit.
♦ » s*
Canada has the largest hotel in
the British Empire. (Royal York at
Toronto)* * *
AVe cannot buy keys to the ele
phant’s trunk or yeast for the sun
rise.
* * *
From nature we come and to her
we return. Here is a life of struggle
—against storms, fire, droughts and
floods, yet, in -her ever changing
form, she is the inpsir^tion of man
in all of his struggles.
S. J, S.
ONTARIO BOARD DEFERS
DECISION ON PARKMILL LOAN
Opposing Opinions Voiced on Pro
posed $8,000 Outlay on Rink and
Community Hall
PARKHILL — After R. S. Colter,
K.C., chainmail, had warned that a
“time must come when taxes on the
property owner must be .reduced,”
the Ontario Municipal Board sitting
in the city hall recently defer
red a decision on the application for
approval of an $'8,00 0 debenture is
sue to cover the cost of the proposed
construction of a skating rink and
community hall in Parkhill.
Fred (Laughton, ex-M.L.A., clerk
of Parkhill, voiced t'he views of those
in favor of the undertaking, while
Norman Newton, resident of Park
hill, and present crown attorney, re
presented the opposition forces,
while several businessmen appeared
ni protest.
A decision of the board will be
delayed pending receipt of a report
from solicitors covering certain leg
al angles.
The construction of the rink or
community hall wasn’t authorized by
a vote of the electors although the
majority was only 19. Mr. Colter
was more seriously interested in the
tax obligations and spent some time
questioning both sides as to what
demands were being made.
It was stated that the. 193 8 tax
rate of 44-mills was among t’he high
est in the town’s history.
“How long can yo.u expect the
people to. pay such a rate?” asked
the chairman.
Opposition forces contended that
the original cost of $8,000 would be
considerably increased through main
tenance charges. Mr. Newton said
that whille the building might be des
cribed as a community hall, it would
probably not be used for that pur
pose.
“Anyway, have yop ever seen any
such enterprise completed for the
estimated cost?” Mr. Newton asked.
The board’s finding will not be
presented until reports from soli
citors are obtained.
Making Canada
A Better Place in Which to Live and Work
A Series of Letters From Distinguished Canadians on Vital
Problems Affecting the Future Welfare of Canada
Specially Written for Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association
and Addressed to the President, George w, James, of Bowmanville
LETTER NO, 17
Dear Mr, Editor;
I was very pleased, indeed, to hear
that you are president of so influ
ential a body as the Canadian Week
ly Newspaper Association. They
are a fine lot of fellows as I learned
personally a couple of years ago
when they met here.
But as for giving advice to- men
wiho are specialists in their own
field, I am afraid that I am not quit?
senile enough yet to try that. There
is one thing, however, that I have
always thought about weekly news
papers. They ought to be the safest
and most lucid guides to public opin
ion in what might be called “the
small town or city” areas. We daily
chaps get to know our cosmopolitan
populations fairly well by dint of
(MILD STRUCK BY CAR
NOT’ SERIOUSLY HURT
ISE A'FORTH—Some excitement
was caused on Main Street Wednes
day morning when Mary Lou Sills,
little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. P.
Sills, ran out from behind two park
ed cars in front of the Bank of Com
merce and was thrown to the ground
by the rear bumper of a moving car
driven by Mr. Crawford, Dublin 'ho
telkeeper, She was fortunate to es
cape with a few bruises and after
being given medical attention was
able to be about again in a little
while.
The same morning a car driven by
the Misses Hugill, of town, while
backing out of a parking space in
front of Thomas Dickson’s store,
collided with a car driven by John
Hey, of Zurich, damaging his head
light, fender and a tire.
REDMOND PICNIC
The Redmond picnic held at Grand
Bend was an enjoyable affair. The
original home was at Fansville, three
miles west of the village of Hensail,
where the parents, Charles and An
nie Rousome Redmond, farmed for
many years and where the various
members of the family were born.
rubbing them t'he wrong way and
hearing about it. But I feel at sea
as regards, say Bowmanville -or Rich
mond.
The weeklies could hold a mirror
>up to local opinion in such fashion
as to enlighten their brethren of the
dailies, not to mention politicians,
statesmen—if any,—publicists and
other parasites who live by guessing
which way the public wind is blow
ing. As for guiding that wind, they
are in the beet position to do it,
If the local editor is not the most
influential man in his community,
he ought to be ashamed of himself.
In any case I wish you and your
association every sort of luck.
^Sincerely yours,
A. R. CARMAN, Editor
Montreal Daily Star
Little Demand for
Western Horses
A fair crowd attended the sale of
some twenty Clyde, Percheron and
Belgian horses, which was held at
the farm of Mr. Anderson, just east
of Seaforth on Monday. The car-
lod, which was consigned to McNeil
& Nairn, auctioneers came from
Simpson, Sask. The horses were of
good quality, perfectly quiet and had
no brands. The demand for horses
at this time of year, however, held
up the bidding and prices were not
satisfactory. Gut of the twenty
horses, 8 were sold, the top price
being $106.00—Clinton News-Record
ri Keep a day or two - Sept. 12-17 *
EXCEEDINGLY WELL DONE
Queen’s University has recently conferred the degree of Doctor
of Laws upon President Roosevelt of the United States. In quite
as true a sense the President of that mighty people has accepted
the offering of this degree from Queen’s University. Both Uni
versity and President Roosevelt are great. I?nt great and sig
nificant as was the occasion greater still was the speech of the
President on accepting the degree. Dignified, not a word out of
place, not a single light word in all the utterance. It was char
acterized by a statesman’s outlook and appreciation of world af
fairs. Every sentence breathed good will and understanding of
Canada’s destiny and of a University’s duty in times like these.
No address ever brought more good will to Canada from a nation
outside her borders. “Canada is a nation within the British Em
pire,” said the President. “Should any nation threaten that re
lationship I assure you that the United States will see to it that
those bonds remain unbroken. That is what the President meant
only he said it far more eloquently. The members of the great
Anglo Saxon have at last drawn together the flags fold within
fold, their hearts ‘united in the solemn purpose of greatly serving
every child of Adam. He is an enemy of the race who seeks to
put them asunder,
* * * * * * * *
WELCOME MESSAGE
For many a 'day the rest of us have wished that the United
States would get into the line with all those who stood for the
security of the world. We never doubted the good will of that
miglity people but we realized that sooner or later she must throw
her all into the scale in behalf of all that makes for the world’s
welfare. She seemed to be standing on the sidelines while she
Should have been putting in her best licks for the good of the
race. We were not of those who said U.S. meant Uncle Shylock,
though we did think she should have stood beside Arthur Balfour
when he spoke of the cancellation of the world’s war debts and
beginning all over again after the world’s strange combination Of
colossal blunder and colossal disaster.
But now Cordell Hull, her really great Secretary, has point
ed out that the United States must get into the world struggle
with the rest of the democratic nations. For her to remain isolat
ed is for her to invite destruction. She must stand with, the na
tions that stand right, he points out, or be drawn into a maelstrom
from which she cannot but emerge twisted, broken, ruined. His
great message has in it at once the ring of the judgement day and
of hope. We know too much of history to place a great deal of
confidence in the words of men whose breath is in their nostrils.
All flesh is grass, we know very well, but we honour the man like
Cordell Hull who reviews the world situation from his high place
and who resolves, highly, that he and his people shall do their
duty. The United States, France and the British Empire make a
fine combination as they unite in the interests of freedom and good
will, May the day grow brighter.
DWELLING NEAR VARNA ®
DESTROYED BY FIRE
Fire completely destroyed the
large residence on the farm of Al
bert Robinson, near Varna. The Den-
inson residence, some 60 rods away,
firemen. Threshers working on the
firemen. Thershers working on the
farm started a fire when they came
in for dinner and were in the yard
wheh the fire was first noticed. The
building, a frame one, was soon a
mass of flames and despite the
splendid work of the Brucefield fire
brigade, .'could not be saved.
purchases Property
LUCAN—iSupertest Petroleum Co.
has purchased the McFalls property
on Main street now occupied by a
livery barn, and it is understood a
new service station will be erected.
Celebrates Birthday
On Monday, Mrs. Thomas John
son, of Zurich, celebrated at her
home her 91st birthday. Mrs. John
son has been a resident of Zurich
for over 60 years. She enjoys good
health and takes her daily walk.
Mrs. Johnson was born in Baden,
Ont., and has four daughters. Her
many friends iu the district wish
many years of good health and hap
piness.
The ceiling in the Jones’ bedroom
was faulty, aud one night a chunk
of plaster fell and struck Jones as
he lay in bod,
He rose, yawned, rubbed his eyes,
and said: “AH right, dear, I’ll get
tip.”
ONTARIOLONDON
The week of Western Ontario's own big exhibition
PRIZE LIST - $32,000
Speed Events Daily—-Night Horse Show—Photography Salon
Dog Show—Superb Grandstand Spectacle—Hobby Fair
Carnival Midway—Hundreds of Exhibit^
W. D. JACKSON, Secretary
Teaches Farley To “Draw Long Bow”
Keen appreciation of the won
derful playground Canada
possesses in the Canadian Rockies
was expressed by Jim Farley,
postmaster-general of the United
States and organizer Of the Demo
cratic Party, who spent a pleasant
few days with his daughters Ann
and Betty at the Banff Springs
Hotel. While at the mile-high
playground, they took part in the
various activities Usually enjoyed
by the international colony there
and thoroughly explored the sur
rounding country by motor. Mr.
Farley, who is noted for the fact
that ho can ball people by their
first names years after a single
meeting, will have a hard time
forgetting Jacob Two Young Man,
chief of the Stoney Indian tribe,
snapped showing him how to
handle a bow and arrow in the
accepted Indian style. Interested
in the spectacle of their daddy
taking orders from anyone less
than President Roosevelt himself
aro Ann, loft, and Betty.