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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1925-10-08, Page 2MOMMOIMI/ THE ' PRESENT MINISTER, REV, J. A. FERGUSON, B.A., Pastor of Duff's and Caven churches since 1920. l9)r®.rsr-ar,.sna®ru.m—u r®sa riTOwn Tows (Intended for last week.) Mrs. Charles Masters, of Brant- ford, is visiting her sister„ Mrs. S, Deem. Mrs. W. Clark, of Cleveland, is visiting her sisters, Mrs, F. Anderson and Miss Barton. Mr. and Mrs. J. Martin have re- turned ,from visiting their son, Mr. Clayton _Martin in New Ontario, Mrs, Habkirk, who has been spending some weeks with Mrs. James Cowan. left on Saturday for Winnipeg. Mrs,. Le Roy Oke, of Toronto, is visiting her mother, ,Mrs. H. Mason. Mrs. Hugh Grieve has moved into Miss Dallas' house. Miss 'Birdie Stephens has returned, from Toronto. Mrs, 'Grant and Miss Houston, of St. Marys, are visiting their broth- er, Mrs. S. Houston. Mr. Leslie Kerr left a few days ago for Kingston to attend Queen's University. Mr. 'Robert Hawthorne. of New York, spent a few days with his mother, Mrs, R. Hawthorne. Little Mary Fortune, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. :Albert Fortune, fell last week and fractured her arm. Mrs. J. G. Cameron, who has been visiting her parents. Mr, and Airs. W. J. Walker, left a few days ago to visit her brother, Mr. S. Walker, of Timmins, on her way to her home in Regina. Mrs. McLeod, of Egmondville, is visiting friends in Niagara Falls. Mr. J. Thompson and family have moved into Mr. A. Kennedy's house on North Main street, Mrs. Lawson and sons, of St. Paul, are guests of Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Deem. Miss Ruth Thompson, of Tilison- burg. was a week -end visitor at her home. Mrs. Eric McKay. of Hensall, is visiting Mrs. C. Simpson in Egmond- ville. Mrs. James Hudson is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Allan Stone in Nor- wich. Mr. Frank ,Murray. of Detroit, is visiting his uncle, Mr. W. Mc- Dougall. Mrs. W. G. Willis is visiting friends in Detroit. Mr, Howey, of Kitchener, acted as organist in the United church on Sunday, Sept. 27th. Miss Evelyn Adams, of London, was a week -end visitor at her home. Mr. and Mrs. John Rabb and Mrs, Thomas Dickson and son spent Sun- day in Bluevale, Miss Newell, of Alliston, was a guest of the Misses McLellan, Mr. James McMichael has rented apartments over Mr. 1,V. M. Ste- wart's store. Miss Boyce, of Toronto, was the guest of Miss Foreman, Mrs. Wade, of Stratford, is the guest Of Miss McBride. Mr. and Mrs. W. Montgomery, of Toronto, spent a few days with Mr. Montgomery's parents. Miss Clifton, of Toronto, was the guest of Miss Grace Sephens over the week -end. Mrs. S. Reid, of Medicine Hat, is the guest of Mrs. James Rankin. Mr. Joseph Matthews, ,on of Michael Matthews, 'McKillop,re- turned home from Seaforth hospi- tal much improved after treatment for heart trouble. Mr. Joseph Devereaux, of Chicago; returned this week after visiting Mr. and 'Mrs. James Devereaux, Mrs. Charles Masters, of Brant- ford, is visiting her niece, Mrs. S. Deem. Mrs. Louis Kahle, of Detroit, re- cently underwent an operation for appendicitis. Her many friends hope for a speedy recovery. Mrs. J. Weir and Mrs, J. G. Rob- erts left on Wednesday for Hamilton. Mr, and Mrs. Holmes, of Niagara Falls,, are guests of Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Cardno, ,Among those from town who left to attend Toronto University were: Messrs. Archie Hays, Wm. Greig, Ted Merner, Jack •Archibald, Arnold Turnbull, Donald Kerslake, Arthur Anent, and Miss Mary Stewart, MANLEY, (Intended for last week.) The many 'friends of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry O'Hara are sorry to learn that they are not in the best of health. Mr. John Murray has improved his residence by shingling it. Mr. Henry Beuerman, Jr., has pur- chased a Fordson tractor from J, F. Daly and is now hustling his fall ploughing along. 'When Holloway's Corn Remover is applied to a corn it kills the roots and the callosity comes out twithont injury to the flesh, CAVEN CHURCH, WJNTHROP, COMPLETES HALF A CENTURY Scarlett, elders, Mr. Hillen-having been an elder of the con- gregationthroughout the whole 50 years of its history. The Sunday School was organized almost with thecon- gregation, in 1874. Mr. Andrew.,Govenlock was the first Superintendent, and this office he retained for a quarter of a century until his death. in' 1899. His successor was Mr. Thomas Dodds, who has served ever since in this capacity. The Sunday School has always been well organized, and has had a faithful and efficient staff of officers and teachers, and it has been a great and important factor in the building up of the congregation. The first women's organization in the congregation began on Sept. 18th, 1900, as`a Ladies' Society of Christian Work- ers. There were 8 members at the beginning, and of these, 3 Still remain: Mrs. Margaret Hunter, Mrs. J. G. Grieve, and Mrs, J. M. Govenlock. Mrs, Grieve served as Secretary of this' and succeeding organizations for a period of 22 years. The Society from the beginning worked both.' for missions and for the local congregation. In 1915 it became an -Associate Society of the W. M-. S. of the Presbyterian Church in Can- ada, and in 1919 it was organized as a regular auxiliary of the W: M. S;, while a Ladies' Aid was formed to take charge of work for the local congregation. At the time .of'the build- ing of the new Church in 1907, the Ladies' Society had $900 gathered for that purpose, and they paid therewith for the furnishing of the church, and also the interest on the mortgage while this existed, The women's organizations of the congregation have •been most zealous and efficient workers throughout all its history, both for the Church at home and also for the great missionary task which Christ has given to His people. The first Young People's organization of Caven Church was a guild, which was formed in 1905. Of this, Mr, Robert Beattie was first President. This guild continued for some years and then came to an end. In 1916 another society was organized with Mr. Hiram Blanchard as President and Mr. Nelson Govenlock as Secretary. This society has con- tinued to the present time, and has filled an important place in the intellectual, social and religious development of the younglife of the congregation and community. The congregation of Caven Church had its birth about the same time as the Presbyterian Church in Canada, being organized at the time when the severa) Presbyterian bodies in our country united to form one Church, and now at the THE $ AJtiOPeirm IMBW8. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8,' 1925: Golden Jubilee consists of Rev. J. A. Ferguson, Moderator, with James Hillen, A. A, Cuthill; Thomas Dodds and Robert HE HISTORY of Caven Church, Winthrop, goes back for half a century, and after that lapse of .time, it is not easy always to learn exactly the story of the beginnings. .Most of those who were active in promoting the new enterprise have passed away, and often no record has been-- kept eenkept of thethings which one desires in after years to know. There may, therefore, be mistakes in the early parts of this brief sketch, but it states the facts so far as they can be gathered• from the records which are ,available, or from in- formation given by the few still surviving .members who saw the beginnings of the congregation's life. In 1874 Rev. Thomas. Thomson was ordained and in- ducted as minister of Duff's Church, McKillop, As there were a number of families in the neighborhood of Winthrop and northward, many of whom were attending Duff's Church, but who had no public religious services conducted in their midst, Mr. Thomson agreed to open up work in that district also if a suitable place could be procured for the holding of Sunday services. Mr, Andrew Govenlock thereupon offered the use of his house. This was accepted and services were held here until the nett year, 1875, when the new school- house at Winthrop was used instead as a place of meeting. In the same year in which services were first held, a Sunday School was ` organized with Mr. Andrew Govenlock as Superintendent. in July, 1875, a petition for organization as a con- gregation was presented to the Presbytery of Huron through the Session of Duff's Church. The petition' was signed , by 23 members and 21 adherents of Duff's Church, residing in the Winthrop district. Presbytery on August 10th, 1875, granted the request, and Rev. Mr. Thomson was instructed to organize the congregation. The meeting for organization was held in Duff's Church, on August 19, 1875. The original members were 24 in number, and so far as can be ascertained their names were as follows: Mr, and Mrs. James Hillen. Mr. and Mrs. Dan. Campbell. Mr, and Mrs. James Sparks. Mr. and 'Mrs. George Nesbit. Mr. and 'Mrs, Andrew Govenlock Mr. and ,Mrs. Jno. B. Aitcheson. Mr. and .Mrs. Robert Calder, Mr, and Mrs. Wm, Campbell, Mr. and Mrs, James Cusick. Mrs, John B, Grieve. Mr. George Henderson. Mr, John Menarey. A few of these after 50 years still survive, namely Mr and Mrs. James Hillen, Mrs. James Sparks, and Mr. George -Nesbit. At the time of organization, the congregation was asked to elect three elders, that a session might be formed. Four were nominated, and a vote was taken after divine service, at a meeting held in the school -house, Winthrop, on August 29th, 1875, resulting in the election of Messrs. James Hillen, Dan. Campbell and Robert Calder. These were ordained and inducted at a.meeting in the Temperance Hall, Winthrop, on Oct. 13th. 1875, Rev. Mr. Thomson presiding. 1n the same year, 1875, the first Church, a commodious frame structure. was built. The lumber and timber used came from the mills of Mr. Andrew Govenlock, Winthrop, and the contractor for the work was Mr, Hiram Blanchard of the same place. The Church was opened on Dec. 29th, 1875, Principal Caven of Knox College, Toronto, conducting the services, and henceforth the Church was known as Caven church. The first communion inthe new Church was held on Jan. 8th, 1876. All the original members of the new congregation came by certificate front Duff's Church, but later others united with them who had been connected with the Churches at Harpurhey, Egmondville and Walton. The Book of .Praise used in worship was the old Scottish Psalm Book with the Scripture Paraphrases, and the tunes were "raised" by a precentor, with the aid of a tuning -fork. In 1876 Rev. Mr. Thomson received a call from Brucefield congregation, which he decided to accept, and thus Duff's and Caven Churches became vacant. Mr, Thomson, by ap- pointment of Presbytery, became interim moderator, until another minister should be called. In due time a call was extended to Rev. Peter Musgrove of Milverton, in the Presbytery of Stratford, to become minister of the vacant charge. This call he accepted and the Induction took place in Duff's Church, on Sept. 25th, 1877. For a quarter of a century Mr. Musgrove labored faithfully as minister of the two congregations, and they prospered greatly under his devoted care. In January, 1884, the Hymnal with Psalm selections, was introduced for use in the service of worship in place of the Book of Psalms and Paraphrases. Some time after the question was raised of introducing the organ to aid in the praise service. That the question was not one easily settled is indicated by the fact that three votes were taken before the matter was finally decided. In February, 1889, there was a majority of three votes against the introduction of the organ. In February, 1895, a motion was carried to give the organ a three months' trial. This evidently proved satis- factory, as the final vote in June, 1895, was in favor of the permanent use of the organ. The first organist was Miss Nellie Henderson, now Mrs. John McIntosh, of Seaforth. In May, 1903, Rev. Mr. Musgrove died after a faithful ministry of more than 25 years. Rev. Neil Shaw of Eg- mondville was appointed interim moderator during the vacancy, Rev. David Carswell, formerly of Carberry, Mani- toba, but then residing at Paris, Ontario, was called as minister and was inducted in Duff's Church on Oct. 13th, 1903. During his pastorate the present Church was built in 1907. The cornerstone was laid on Sept. 13th of that year, and the opening services were held on Jan. 12th, 1908, being conducted by Rev. Prof. Robertson of Knox College, Toronto. In 1919 Mrs. Carswell died suddenlZ, and in the same year, Rev. Mr. Carswell, after 16 years of earnest and suc- cessful service, resigned as minister, his resignation taking effect on Oct. 27th, 1919. Rev. J. A. Ferguson, the present minister, then pastor of Norval and Union Churches, in the Presbytery of Toronto, was called as his successor, the In- duction taking place in Caven Church, Winthrop, on March 4th, 1920. Thus in its 50 years of history, Caven Church has had but four ministers, and two of these, Rev. Mr. Musgrove and Rev. Mr. Carswell served for a period of more than 40 years of this half century. The Session of Caven Church, as : already' mentioned,. began with the election, ordination and induction of James Hillen, Dan. Campbell and Robert Calder in 1875. During the fifty years a number of others were elected as places were left vacant by death, removals or resignations. Andrew Govenlock and Wm. Grieve were added to the Session in 1876. In 1883, Robert Calder, having previously resigned, was again elected and inducted, and with him. Thomas Dodds, Sr. In' 1899. Robert _Govenlock and A. A. Cuthill were chosen, in 1907 And. Somerville' and Adam Dickson, and in 1916 Thomas Dodds and Robert Scarlett. The Session at the time of the close of 50 years it has entered with the Mother Church into a still larger union, becoming part of the United Church of Canada. - We believe that there awaits -it great opportunities of blessing and of seryice as it begins the second half century of its history, One of the things which has characterized the congre- gation has been the grace' of perseverance,. This has been shown in the extended terms of service given by some of -T':: its members and officers as well as in various other ways. Thus one of its lninisterS served for 26 years, and another for 16,—one of its elders for the long period of 50 years. During the half century of its life it -has had but two, S. S. Superintendents, while one secretary of the Women's Mis- sionary Society filled that office for 22 years, resigning it then on account of ill health. These long tenures of office have not, however, interfered with variety and advancement. They are one indication of the spirit that becomes not weary in well doing, and which shall reap in due' time. It is not possible to sunt up thefruits of 50 years of .. service by a congregation. Results cannot be givenby statistics, for the Church's greatest work is spiritual. Its greatest monument is not in its church buildings -,or in its finances, though these are to some extent an indication of its life and its activity, but in the lives of those.whom it has influenced, and who have in turn become a power for good in the world. And a country congregation has one of the largest opportunities in these respects. As the young people grow up many of them must of necessity leave the homes, and the congregations in which they spent their early life, to take a place in the larger world outside as teachers, business leen, and in other walks of life. And those qualities which have been developed, and the training which has been received, in the homes and congregations ofthe community, ' they carry with them wherever they go to enrich the country's life. The work of -a congregation is a constant seed sowing, over a far wider area than its own immediate constituency, the precious seed being lives which have learned the things that make wise unto salvation, and that prepare for the highest and richest kind of service. Some- times it seems that there is a constant process of loss, as these young lives- go out front the home Church and com- munity. Yet it is not really loss, and if a congregation could accurately measure the results of 50 years of work it would be amazed at their magnitude and variety, and would understand the joy of which the Psalmist speaks: "He that goeth forth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless "'come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." The most urgent requirement in Canada's Agricultural Products CANADA produces every year large quantities of wheat, oats, barley, butter, cheese, bacon, beef, eggs, 'apples, potatoes, grass seed and /clover seed that she cannot consume. Her natural outlet for these pro- ducts is, of course, Great Britain—the one great consuming country of the world with an open market. Unfortunately, nearly every other country with any surplus of food products seems to want to send its surplus to this same market. The keenness of the competition on this, our only market, and the energy and resourcefulness of our competitors began to impress them- selves upon the Department of Agriculture some time ago, but it is only within very recent years that the real and only way to grapple with this - problem has been discovered, or at least put into effect. This Department now believes, as do also most of the farmers of this country, that the "grading" of our agricultural products is the policy and practice that is seeing us through the struggle and will assure us of our rightful place on the British market. "Grading" means the classifying of products, whether they be hogs, bu ter, cheese, eggs or anything else into what plight be .called in a general way'BEST", "GOOD", "FAIR"' and "POOR" classes. 18 shillings a long hundredweight below t- Danish, has gradually grown in the esti- mation of the British wholesale buyer until it is now quoted at only from 1 or less to at most 5 or 6 shillings per long hundredweight below the best Danish. These exact words are not used in describing the grades, but that is what is meant. The purpose served in'grad- ing is threefold - 01.) EduCatiOnal. When the pro- ducer sees the relative quality of his product he is spurred' on to maintain that quality if it is the "best" or to improve the quality where necessary. (2) Fair Play. When products are not graded the inferior article for various reasons often brings as much as the superior article, and the credit and advantage of puttingthe superior pro- duct on the market is lost to the one who really deserves it. (3) Facilitating 'bade. The dealer learns to have confidence in the article he is buying and buys more free- ly, because it is guaranteed by grading, and gradually everybody gets to know what the "best" article really looks like or tastes like. In short, grading brings about standardization and ensures to the producer the best price. Canada now grades her cereals, grass seeds, hay, potatoes, apples, eggs, but- ter, cheese, wool and bacon hogs. The results have been inevery case bene- ficial and in some cases quite markedly so, even though the grading system' has been in effect in some cases for only two or three years, thus:— Cheese—Grading began April 1st, 1923, Canadian cheese the year before had fallen into such disfavour on the• British market that New Zealand cheese was quite commonly preferred. Today Canadian cheese commands cents per pound higher than New Zealand. Butter -Grading began same time as for cheese. The reputation of our but- ter was then indeed at low ebb. Canadian butter today, while not the best on the market, is rapidly improving in quality and gaining in reputation. Hogs—over two years ago the De- partment of Agriculture began to grade live hogs al the packing houses and stock yards. The 10% premium paid by. the packers for "`select' bacon hogs as against " thick smooths"tas classed by departmental graders has done wonders 40 improve the quality of our hogs and develop the bacon industry. Best Canadian bacon, which ordinar- ily was quoted two years ago from 10 to This, improvement in price is, of course, due to quality and has come about very gradually, the spread nar- rowing down by a shilling or two a month until now it is not at all a rare occurrence to see best Canadian selling on a par with the Danish article. • Eggs—Canada was the first country to grade and standardize eggs. These grades and standards apply not only to export, interprovincial and import ship- ments, but also to domestic trading, The basis is interior quality, clean- ness and weight. Standardizing Canadian eggs has established confidence between producer and consumer and between exporter and. British importer, and has resulted in a greatly -increased demand for the Cana- dian egg both at home and abroad. Other products might be mentioned where grading has worked to the great advantage of the producer and to the advancement of Canadian agriculture. Already Great Britain recognizes our store cattle, wheat, cheese, eggs, apples and oats as the best she can buy. It is for us to so improve our other products, particularly our butter and bacon as to bring them also into this list of "the best on the British market" • and consequently the highest priced. Grading enabled us tb do this for ' cheese; wheat, eggs and apples. Grading is helping us to do it for butter and bacon. Quality Counts Canadian exporthus trail apd,st then steady, for supply. Itit along these lines the Department of Agriculture is working byyy educational methodds8, volume of 6Canada siagricultural exports Lok at these figures :— Canada's Principal Exports of Parra Products 1920-21 1924-26 Wheat (•ban•) 129,516,15.7 101,764,587 �n (Mkt.) ,6,017,082 11,029,291 f e Bast Cattle W t.) 082,988 1,208,721 Batter Om),. 206,511 18:054 Batter (cwt.) 9,789,414 94,601,981 Appler (We.) 2,558,59 1,405 Cats (bus.) , 14.821,045. 82,775,791 Barley (bas.) 8.568,659 22,826.494 Rye (bus.).. ...� 8,207.450 7.624,895 Bran nSShor(s (a�ad •«,,• oatmeal and Rolled 819,781 9,667,098 Oats (cwt.) - 297.2e0 .890,046 Clover, Seeds (bu .),,,..-.,, 179.255 417,907 Tobacco (lbs.) ,,,,.,,,,„„ 500,168 8,651,422 Cream (gala.) ..,-,.,,, 1,278"195 2,884,180 rasa Seed (bmf— _- 5,844691 1,000,105 Per inether roloonweillsa and pm6Msatloste wrlAo AMNION DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OTTAWA 8101