Loading...
The Goderich Star, 1924-08-14, Page 64' ; • •te....e-eeee...,• 4 1, • 11 it eke 44 .1' :9•••••• 14Z .99 -elle7reee-,,,, 0 THE GuplatC/1 ormi • 111 III 11 II 1 1 II .1 11 1 1 1 I 111 111111 11111 11 I III MOAT, AUG. 1 pit • :11 t-kt''All 1 - • ... • • . • • 1/ Andrew's Presbyterian .Church, Port Albert . A Historical Sketch of the Pioneer Spirits of this Congregation Who Laid Its Foundation Over Half a Century Ago, and of its Sons and . Daughters Who Have, Been Rearing the Superstructure Ever Since with the celebration of the completion of fiftyTfive years -of congregational life of this church recently, a sciuvenir booklet was issued, prepared by Rev, 8, G. Gray, from which we now take the liberty of republishing the following mterestirig matter : In connection ,' Foreword ey G. •Comm, pastor of Port Albert 1912 1913. "Time., like an ever -rolling stream, "Bears all its sons away ; "They fly forgotten, as a dream • "Dies at the opening day." M1 things 'work together for. good when God arid" man work together harmoniously in weaving the web of holy char- acter. The Divine Weaver and Designer supplies the long threads of the warp and the more brilliant cross -threads of the woof, while man devotes his service • and „yields his will to weave after the Diyine command. The threads of mercy and .. - love, sorrow and joY; dark and bright, produce the dark back- , ground upon which the. Rose of Sharon, the Christ of the Cross ' and the 1.11y of the Valley—the resurrected Redeemer, appears • iu ell the glory of His Power and the beauty of His holiness. "Together" means the unity of. trio, In weaving or in .. . loving. 1,6 •Story • • There is a beautiful story in connection with the life of Isaac in white it is recordeci•that on reaching a testetin place lie built' an altar,Taeliedeliielent aeideiiitered-hit servants to dig 1 often think of it -Mien the settlers who came to Canada from the old land generations ago are being remembered. The digging of wells represents work, the pitching' of the tents the establishing of home, if even for a eight and the buildesg of . the altar religion ancethe worship Of gee: , • With Isaac the place of abode was not the chief eoncern. for the building of the altar is set first in order. Such was the spirit and attitude of those who came to this place lontago. Industry is recalled as we think of the sound of the axe as the trees fell; home is thought of as we call to mind the old log • louse; and God is before our minds as we think of the simple place of worship they immediately erected, and in Which they* were found worshipping in spirit and in 'truth. it is well tie keep in mind those ideals they brought to the neweland, that we too may Believe in the sacredness of work and elo in our trious spheres honestly and thoroughly, what they did in theirs. That eve too may love .our homes and Make them sacree places 25 they did; and above all that we may so ;regard the place where we worship, that it may be to us as it was to Ahem "none other than the house of God and the gafe- of • ' • 'heaven." ALEXANDER McMILLAN, D. D. Recollections By • •Rev. D. a Cameron,' Clerk Of the Presbytery of Swift Curreut. Minister 1884-1889 , ,s. To me, the mention of the pame "Port Albert" calls up many delightful memories of a smell but devoted congregation .on the shore of Lake Huron, to which; it was my privilege to * minister for five years (1884-89,) terminating on the fifth anniversary of my induction to the pastorate of Dungannon and Port Albert, . From those memories I select one which seems the most appropriate ,to. record at ehieeimee and which may be recalled by some who were present on the occasion to which 1 refer, viz., the communion service with which my • pastorate closed. • • • It was on a December afternoon. The twilight deepened • as the closing words of exhortation were spoken, yet the ten- •dencY was to linger rather than hasten. 1 he lamps were not lighted. They ilidnot even seem to be necessary, for an inner light was shining and all was radiant beneath the outward gloom. The recollection of that impressive.service has ever • since been cherished among the best memories of myewhole ministry of over forty years. .The cause was deeper than the evident fact that a pastorate was being terminated. It as the accumulation of forces set in motion by the Holy Spirit under the ordinary ministry of the word,' which had recently found fuller e.xpression in a spiritual awakening to a new and better life. The good seed had been sown in good soil which had been well cultivated in the home and Sabbath School., In an- ,swer to pray, God visited His little flock, "for as the earei thinketh in e rain that cometh oft upoo it and hringeth forth herbs meet or them by wham it is dressed," so the Holy. Spirit made theJ.ordeeffective and fruitful. ,Nightly servicer were heki foj>Mlile study and prayer. Tlle ettendance weS tliteSarrie as on he regular Sabbath service. There was no advertising and no special attractions. The young Minister was inexperi- enced in that phase of service, but it was made clear to him .,, that to "do the work of an evangelist" was a very essential part of a minister's duty. In this effort he was well supported hy the We seders, Mr. John Bennett and Mr. James Quaid. The results were that the- Church members were revived - - spiritually, a •goodly number of the young people pro. • 'JOHN 1•INNE'TY. Sm. FIIOST titUST/AW Alytt. let.DIET( • A fessed to have been born anew arid still another result appeared later. At that period in the history of the Presby- terian Church in Canada, there were a total of about 150' students in training for the ministry, or fourteen fox ten thousand families in the Church. ,,Two of these young men I . came from' one of the eleven families which constituted ,Port Albert congregation at that time. • I ani told also tent about,„ . elte-sameetirneetwo ynung NVOtritli OT that same little group of , young -people entered ona wider sphere'„of service,. -one as --a borne missionary and the other as the mistress of a manse. • • Doubtless the rest also have found their places in the .forces• • .... .which make for righteousness. . • . Of 'such were the,peOpje whp, On lbat coninemion occa• - sion rejoiced greatly, not only 'because of•the assurance that- - . their nemesewera written in heaven but also that they had re. . mewed, their covenant to be Christ's witnesses on earth. The invitation to write a few lines as a foreword to the r historical pamphlet in preparation for the, jubilee of Port -Albert Presbyterian Churchis highly appreciated. I extend heartfelt greetings' to those who had part in the organization of .this Churell anct•whp have, by the kind °Providence of God, • been•epared o render such excellent service therein for half e century. May your Jubilee be en occasion of rich spiritual blesiing to all who may be privileged to attend not only in the backwirstelook on the way „alonf which you have been led, but in the forward look to the "better things," the life eternal,e, the incorruptible inheritance and the "many man - Asses" provided by Hen whose we are and whom we serve, was urelenominational in character and rendered valuibleier- vice during tlieWer ,years. •' After five years in the president's chair Mrs. Dieksonewas • succeeded by Mrs. J. Bennett whose. two years 'Of leadership „gave added inspiration to all members. • For six years Miss Mary McKenele acted as 'secretary. During the decade we Lind increase in spiritual interest, increase in fidances• and supplies. We regret decrease in membership, some through removalto, western homes, some rethink and four loved members *ere called borne. • One junior inerneer- step certificate is held by Miss Etta Quaid in loving° memory ot her grandmother. Mrs. James Crawford. Thank offering •meetings were held annually and sister socleties entertained.' °Delegates regularly and freely attended Presbyterial Society's annual meetings. Additional werketakee up by the Auxiliary • consisted of inaking suppliea for the Children's -Shelter, Gorier- ich ; St.:Christopher's 'House, Toronto.; responding to special ,. relief appeals, and giving occasional assistance to the Board of Managers of home Church. Present executive : Hon. Pres., Mrs. Angus Gordon; President, Mrs.* Richard McWhinney ; Vice President, Mrs. John Quaid; Secretary, Mrs. Edwin Giver; Treasurer, Mrs.. John Eennett. Number on roil 14. 4 Sunday School - Si. Andrew's Sunday School was organized lo 1874 dur- ing the pastorate of Rev. A. Y. Hartley, when Me John Ben- nett was first latiee When first organized this was a Union Sunday School and, continued so until the erection of the An- • • : Jubilee Greetings• , From Alfred Gandier, • GREETINGS frometheeMotera.tor of the Gerierel As_sem- bly, Principal Alfred Gaudier', to the good people • of Port % Alberecongregation on the occasion of their Jubilee Services. At such a time we think of the debt we owe to the faitiffee deo inCwornen who went before•end it is well for us to reitiembee 'that our ,indebtedness to the past is the measure of our ees- . • ponsibility for the future. The fathers laid the foundations of. Christ's Church ip this land, we must reer the seperstruatere. As they met pioneer conditions and conquered through todand • •sacrifice, so must we carry through the great new nieeeinents of our time with the same readiness to sacrifice. s "The Lord hath been mindful of us, He will bless us" • . • s • ALFRED GANDIEIE To the Presbyterian Congreiation, Port 'Albert The Presbytery of Maitland congratulate you on•theccen- pletion- of Fifty-tive . ears of congregational life. This Jubilee day marks the point when pioneer days are lere behind. Your ,godly fathers, and mothers through "peril, toil and *pain" -- transformed this section from a forest wilderness to a well - ordered Courfrtry-side with homes,, school and church. Other, • 'men laboured and ye ate entered into their !abodes. This Jubilee is a season when seered memories are recalled. It is also a time when our spirits are chestened by "the thought of: " the gassing years. We trust as you look back you -will be enthused by the past achievements, realizing that;thrdugh the . • ministry of the congregation as a whole, righteousness whieh atone exalthtb a nation, has been vital in the correnuhity. • And, as you look toward the future, may hope bed.rour, help, the -uplifted Christ the- centre of your attraction, faitli the atmosphere lie which you move, and we .pray that the promise may be fulfilled in you, "1 will do better unto you than at your. begng." • glican and Methodist Churches in 1119o. Many names 2SSO- • REV. CHAS, CUMMING, John Bennett, Janus Quaid, George Caldwell, Julius .Weise, Moderator Maitland Presbyttery. John Dougherty, Mrs. K. Murray and Mrs. Woodman. .......„ It is given. to few men in the Church to occupy the position - . r4IN t V of superintendent consecutively for thirty years. Mr. James - date themselves with the early Sunday School, among them . . Quaid was elected in 1876 and retired in 19d6, when Mr. • • • . . • Angus Gordon 'succeeded him. Mr. Quaid wee bride the re- MEMBERS AND HEADS OF FAMILIES • cipient of an illuminated address, extiolliog his splendid sere• .• .• vices and -was also presented with a fine Morris chair and Mrse Quaid ielth,a rocking chair. • *Mr. Angus Gordon rendered faithful- and earnest service ° during fourteen years, when compelled to retiree due t� an injury. • Mr. David Johnston was elected in 1920 and was • .*Geo. Ashton Mrs. Geo. Ashton ° „*eohn Bennett, sr, *Johntie.nnett, jr. Mrs.. John Bennett assisted -ley Messrsettall and Dickson., — eeM .... Robert Jetteeenan The first organ used in the Church w'as presented by the • Ethel Brown *James Crawford *William -Crawford • Mrs. William. Crawford. • Harvey Crawford • *Charles Crawford- , Mrs. Charles Crawford Mrs. N. Cunningham •• *Thomas Dixon Mrs. Thomas Dixon Minnie Dixon • • . *Edgar Dougherty• ° Mrs. Edgar Dougherty • Mary Fielder '"" *Russell Free3 Mrs. Russell Free "Mrs. Peter Greene *Angus Gordon Mrs. Angus Gordon. *David Johnston Mrs. David Johnst *William Johnston Mrs. William Johnston *James Johnston Mrs. James Johnston I , *Mrs. George Johnston *Henry Lednor Mrs. Henry Lednor f$khard McWhinney *Heads Sunday School 011'Februttfy 13th, 1889. The first organist was Miss Hattie Mahaffy. The unwritten history of tbe work of thesplendid com- pany of' teachers is one of earnestness and devotio ; to duty. The present able staff of teachers. under Mr., rry Lednor as supefintendent embraces : Mrs. John Quai44 Miss Eliza' McMillan and the pastor Mr. Bruce Gray. Wm. J. Crawford, Sec.-Treas. Roll call, 42. , Women's Missionary Society ' • 191e-1924 ° During 'the pastorate, and through the. efforts of Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Gomm,;° an auxiliary of the Womeles Missionary Society was organized by Miss B. Thompson, field secretary of F.M. 'S.', le petoteee 1913: 'Preilderit, 'ettseeettoreat Dickson; lst Vice ' Vresident, Mrs. Angus Gordon: Secretary, Migt Mary McKenzie; Treasurer, Miss Jessie McMillan; with a membership of 20. First Meet* was held et the home of Mrs. Angus Gordon and plans and regulations of the auxiliary were heartily entered into by members. In a few short months war forced its cruel way and the spirit of omanhood TOR to • • 145 height. • In November. 1013,, (at the close of a regular meeting) Mrs. Gordon organized a Snldkrs' Aid Circle which ete° 6.4 Mrs. Richard McWhinney • *Mrs. Dohald McKenzie Mary McKeneja • Grace McKenzie Alex McKenzie _ Donald McKenzie _ _ *James McKenzie ' Mrs.. Jellies McKenzie *George Richardson Mrs, George Richardson *Mrs: Balfour Simpson *Mrs. Ftank Witlis Linie Willis Nellie *AMIresx. AYloetxmg Youngt e *John McKenzie • Mrs. John McKenzie *Mrs. William McMillan • Miss Meet McMillan *James McMillan • Mrs. James McMillan *Earl McDonald • Mrs. Earl McDonald Reg. McGee B. J. Mtnary *Earl McIlwain Mrs. „Earl Mcllwain • *Edwin Olver Mrs. Edwin Giver *James Quaid • Mrs. James Quaid 11 :John Quaid Mrs. John Quaid Howard Quaid of bundle* I .0 • .1 • •;;;;f•ri 490.. • • '., . • , '