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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-05-05, Page 18It PAGE 14-'4QPE G�c SIGNAL -STAR, TRURSDAY, MAY 5, 1977 i 4 Informatign available here :An information table was set up at the daffodil tea held Last Wednesday to raise money for the Cancer Society, Here Jean Ginn of the education committee (left), Zella Crawford, treasurer and Edna Stephens, chairman of service to patients for the Goderich branch look over some of the pamphlets offered to those attending the tea. (staff photo) 7 Local talent entertained Local talent provided the entertainment for people attending the daffodil tea. Seated in front is Jean Hanly (left) and Shirley ',McMillan. In back is Lou Bundy (left)'and Lrla Stewart, Mrs. Stewart provided aceompanimcnt on the piano. (staff photo) Reverend Stewart marks 70 years as a minister: �.' hy Wilma Oke Standing up on his mother's sewing machine and preaching enthusiastically to an imaginary audience when four , or five years old in- dicated at an, early age the• career little James Ure Stewart was interested in following. Saturday, Rev. J. Ure Stewart "marked the 70th anniversary of his ordination as a minister at his home in S'eaforth, Sunday he was the guest minister in the pulpit of Northside United Church here. something he has been doing regularly in various Churches around Western ,Ontario since he retired in 1951 and still does so today. The youngest of three, he was •born of Scottish parents ancestry on' June 18, 1882 at Sa!tford on the northern outskirts,. of Goderich. His parents established a Sunday school in the localschool, later in 1876 they were in- strumental in erecting their own church school. The family attended church at Knox Presbyterian Church in Goderich. The Stewart home was a popular stopping -off place for young men from Knox College in Toronto. who. .would come to Goderich to preach in nearby churches. Mr. Stewart says it was a different life for young people in those days, Sunday was a day strictly reserved for church and rest. Sunday visiting was discouraged at the Stewart home, unless Mends were willing to ac- company the family to church - in the morning, Sunday school in the afternoon and church again in the evening. Only necessary work was done in the home such as cleaning and blackening all shoes on Saturday night, even peeling the potatoes. Feeding and watering their animals and other necessary tasks were permitted His father even shaved the night before and no whistling was allowed. That would have been a sin. Though it was a strict life, Mr,. Stewart has many pleasant memories of those days, There was music to brighten his days. Mr. Stewart took. piano and singing lessons which he says has been an asset to him in the ministry and was while he was in college. Today he still enjoys playing classical. music on the antique piano in their home One highlight of his boyhood was the yearly visit to his mother's parents in Atwood when they would set out at 4:30 in the morning for the 50 mile trip with the horse and buggy. They took along food.. warm rugs for them- selves and hay and -oats for the horse when they stopped for a rest for two hours at noon. Two days later they returned the same way. In 1900, after a high school education in Godericb, Mr, Stewart left his home to at- tend McGill University in Montreal, Because trains were expensive, and money was short. he would sometimes make part of the trip by boat down the St, Lawreri'ce; where the rapids that had to be shot provided a lot of excitement on the journey, he i'ecalled, To earn money for tujtion . after his first year in Mon - treat, Mr. Stewart found a job as an agent for a company that made stereoscopic slides and viewers, He sold them the first summerin ,Western Ontario which kept him close to his home in ;•Goderich where the family now resided. *' • The nexttwo summers he was offered the opportunity to go to England by the com- pany to sell the equipment there Passage was arranged on a boat carrying cattle for the British market. and he earned his ticket by working as a cattleman. It was not a pleasant trip as he discovered later the boat was condemned as ,unsafe, He had a small bunk in a cabin that had beds for a dozen men. He slept on a straw tick and the cockroaches climbed over everything. The food was barely edible. He travelled widely in England and Scotland both years but he wasn't a very good salesman though, he says. Mr. Stewart graduated from McGill in 1904 and then went to Chicago to . attend McCormick Theological College. He was ordained on April 30, 1907 and became the minister of a Fort Wayne church in Michigan. While at this church, he married Katherine McLean of Goderich in 1908. They then moved in 1910 to Napier where he was the minister, then on to Whitechurch in 1913, to Longbranch .in 1916 where they bought their first car. A succession of churches followed in his long career in the ministry first as a Presbyterian and then after, church union in 1925, as 'a United Church minister in Belmont, Rockwood Aberfoyle, Paisley Memorial in Guelph, . Elmira, Moorefield,. Bright and Oxford Centre. Mr. Stewart retired from the ministry in 1951 and since then has hardly slowed down at all. Katherine Stewart died in 1954 and he kept busy with projects of all kinds. He has written his autobiography, which runs to over 200 pages. closely typed. Another major project was the compilation of a genealety of his mother's family, the LYlathesons, in 1 961,Mr. Stewart met his second wife. The widow of Rev. H. V, Workman she had placed an ad in the United Church Observer to sell, the gown and collar her husband had worn. Mr, Stewart an- swered the ad and met Laura, "I went for the gown and got the girl" Mr, Stewart laughs today. They were marriedfn 1961 and now' live on 80 Janies Street in Se<•iforth They keep busy in their garden and .are active in community organizations. Mr. Stewart is writing a history. of Northside United, Church which is celebrating its centennial this year. He has spent hours researching and writing on a typewriter in . his study often until midnight Today, while xaJert .art t active and full of enthusiasm,. lotfking forward eagerly each morning, to a'" full day Of meeting friends •and doing things, he is walking a little more slowly than he used to. He has a' bit of trouble with' his hearing but still drivcs•his Car, In almost a• century of life, Mr, Stewart has seen his share of hardship but there have been good,. times as well and a lot of happy memories, He has seen a lot of chtnge.s in the church in all those years, "It will change. It has changed hut it can't he destroyed, Certainly there k a future for the church. The church is not just a building but a gathering together of God's people." 'Our modern inventions have brought great changes in the church, especially the car and television in the past with the horse t'nd. buggy people didn't get far, hut with the car they do. Now there Isn't the evening; service for most churches." Mr. Stewart said, ' ecumenical spirit has cer- tainly developed with more recognition of other ehurehes. The breadth of vision has certainly di'velope•d in the HOLL0 I,V„ MILLER I BenmiJh r Estates R.R. 4 Goderich 524-2874 REMEMBER MOTHER with something special from our collection of treasures * WEAVING * POTTERY * PEWTER * BRASS * ANTIQUES * CANADIAN AND IMPORTED JEWELLERY * GOURMET FOODS AND CANDLES * HANDCRAFTED FURNITURE •AND , * HANDMADE TOYS AND CANDIES * SOAPS AND MIRRORS * LEATHER CRAFT DOLLS * BEDSPREADS AND PLACE MATS OPEN DAILY EXCEPT MONDAY church today, Lcica1ly here the priest comes to gatherings • at the United Church. That was unheard of 'years ago. I have hope for the etlurch." "Young people today are excellent. They have. more of an independent spirit. In days gone by what mother and father said was law, but today it isnt," he said. A reception was held at Northside United Church following the morning service Sunday when 4unch was served by the United Church Police report The, police investigated one minor traffic accident this week. They laid 27 charges under the highway traffic act, three charges under the criminal code and three under, the liquor Iic•ense act. +-f--l- Gun fun If kids think playing with a gun is fun, says the Ontario Safety League, think about your life. You've only got one! Women for family, friends and members of, the congregation who wished to. stay, He has received many congratulatory messages from former churches where he served and friends from all over. All year The Ontario Safety League believes that Child Safety Week should have 365 days in it each year. ANN WEL wouldStER?.t tn�f 'housewarming l° formation about' location. The Nott., glad to arrange Iroii tion to the 81 Call her of 52 PLY -IN FIBRIN To Beautiful lak@�n Plan Y our TroU;,� Now. Boats $yppll CONTACT AIR SERVIta"' GODERICH AIRWINCHPORr4' OR: ?f; Bob Grunewald 482 RR • CLINT Also Sight-seeing and Air Tax NOMINATIO MEETING Huron -Middlesex (Prov,) Progressive Conservative Association THURS., MAY 12 at 8:30, P South Huron Secondary School, Ezete Written nominations, duly signed • shall be l ler# with secretary at least 24 hours prior to the nomination meery' by the prospective candidate, Memberships available from your' local municipal chain! Also obtained of The door, All Members Entitled To Vote. AL MAY Save now on spring and summer men's wear SPECIAL SELECTION PANTS REG. SALE $25,00 $1 6.75 530.00 $19.95 REG. SALE $18 95 • $28.00 $33.00 $22.95 SPECIAL GROUP SUITS Reg. '160 to '325 X107 TO X195 ALL CASUAL SUITS Reg. Reg. 595 Sale 76 $145 Reg. 5160 T Sale Sale $ 125 - ALL LEVI JEANS $15.q: Pre -washed Wide leg Sizes 26 to 31 waist Sale ALL LEVI SHIRTS Reg.$12 15 515.95 Sale ALTERATIONS AT COST aser SHOP FOR MEN Corner of Montreal 3tI•Et t and The Square, Godard) OPEN FRIDAYS TILL, 1 rif al la nt nci or Ac th 4'2 al. rit or a er; P( ev tha. tha wig tial ml d' ne sol re ba ri t sui app! be heir cam p th ase nt tire ng Ural Ural ee y gran ul,. stud ged far ust the dun Peri nor ost hand Cen0 any TI es d ndinf relat dent arm e to pi ro( er We day,try I ppliet inforr cal o Ag re ,a Du ntari tion lieu! th er g.