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The Huron Expositor, 1960-09-22, Page 8it $--TITh MON EXPOSITOR, SEAFORTE, ONT., SEPT. 22, 1960 125th Amiversary Egmondville United Church TURKEY DINNER WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28, 1960 Dinner served 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. ADMISSION: Adults $1.50 Children, under 12 - - - 75c HURON UNIT MEETING OF THE CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY Wednesday, October 28th is the date set for people of Huron County to attend the Fall Unit Meeting, to be held in the SEAFORTH PUBLIC SCHOOL AUDITORIUM 8:00 p.m. Mr. Jack Brockie, of Toronto, an ardent worker in the Society and at present Educational Convener, will be the guest speaker. He is also Public Relations Manger for the T. Eaton Co. of Canada. , PLEASE COME AND BRING A FRIEND WANT ADS BRING QUICK RESULTS — Phone 141. EGMONDVILLE UNITED CHURCH REV. J. H. VARDY, Minister Mr. Lyle Hammond, Organist -Choir Leader 1835 - 1960 125th ANNIVERSARY SERVICES Sunday, September 25th 11 a.m. ' -- 7 p.m. Guest Minister: Rev. Harold Snell, • London + Guest Soloist: MR. JOE DAVIS, Tenor Central Baptist Church, London + A HEARTY WELCOME TO ALL OUR SERVICES ! + 10 A.M. — CHURCH SCHOOL Bigger ; and Better Than Ever ! Zurich Fall Fair SATURDAY and MONDAY September 24th and 26th Featuring Huron County's Largest Horse Show SATURDAY NIGHT — CASH BINGO in the Community Centre Dancing at 10:00 p.m. Music by Desjardine's Orchestra MONDAY.: Monster Parade at 1 p.m. Led by SDHS Girls' Trumpet Band • PET SHOW AT 2:30 P.M'. • -BABY SHOW- AT 3:00 P.M. Monday Night - Horse Show, 6 p.m. TORY GREGG Master of Ceremonies SPECIAL SERVICES AT EGMVIONDVILLE Congre.. ,Plans have been made to hold the 125th., anniversary of the estab- lishment stab lishment of one of the oldest churches in Huron County. Eg- mondville United Church is hold- ing its 125th anniversary on Sun- day, Sept. 25, with the guest min- ister for the day Rev. Harold Snell, of London, a native of Hur- on County. The history of this church is long and interesting. Settlers be- gan coming into this part of the Huron tract as early as 1831. Sev- eral families had already built log homes in the forest land. These people were mostly from Scotland and had journeyed to this part of Upper Canada, prepared to con- tend with any difficulty they might be called upon to fact. They had brought with them that religious fervour and strong Presbyterian devotion, which was the result of their pious training in the old land. We can easily believe that one of their first acts was to make plans to have a minister of the gospel settled among them. The information in this article is taken from an historical sketch of the church, which was compiled by a former member and friend, the late Miss H. Isabel Graham. In this history Miss. Graham men- tions the fact that much of her data came from notes made by her father, the Rev. William Gra- ham, who was minister of the Egmondville Church from 1845 to 1874. From this historical sketch it seems that the fifth day of Janu- ary, 1835, was an most important day in the history of Tuckersmith Township and Egmondville Church. On that day a municipal organiza- tion was formed and officials elect- ed for one year. Then, evidently with their minds made up to have a minister of thegospel in the locality, they sent the following petition, signed by 21 men, to Rev. William Proudfoot, of London: "We,- the undernamed- inhabit- ants of the Townships of Stanley and Tuckersmith, on the London Road, Huron Tract, being desir- ous of having a preacher of the gospel from the Church of Scot:- land cot=land settled among us, hereby agree and bind ourselves to con- tribute to his support, to the best of our abilities. "Witness our hands this fifth day of January, 1835." Evidently Rev. Mr. Proudfoot and Rev. Mr. Christie came to in- vestigate the possibilities of send- ing a minister. They were con- vinced that Tuckersmith had the right sort of people for a church to be organized. On January 27, Mr. Proudfoot 'arrived at Col. A. V•an Egmond's, 18 miles from Gdderich. He wrote in his diary: "Mr. Constant Van Egmond ac- companied us as we called on some people. We felt we were among the right sort of people. They wished to have a minister to teach the children four' days a week, and preach on Sunday; promised £72 stipend, probably £10 more. In this quarter there ought to be stationed a minister forthwith." On January L8 there were 70 people at Mr. Van Egmond's house to hear Rev. Mr. Christie preach a sermon, and two children were baptized: James Broadfoot and John CarnOchan. This is an ex- cerpt re that meeting, "Their pe- tition about the appointment of a minister was discussed, and• they appointed a chairman and twelve committee men to assist. They said -there were at least 60 fam- ilies,' perhaps 20 families more. Mr. Constant Van Egmond had two sleighs to bring the people and take them home again." When Mr. Proudfoot reported on Egmondville (Ross it was called), he said, 'There could be a ser- vice at Van Egmond's every third Sunday in the morning, and one on the London Road, five miles away, in the afternoon. The peo- ple are altogether unwilling to be dependent on Mission Funds." As a result of this report, Rev. Alexander McKenzie ',vas settled in 1835 -as pastor of the congrega- tion in Goderich, Stanley and Tuckersmith Townships. -He made application for a grant of land from the Canada Company, and expected to build a church in Eg- mondville the next year.4This was not done for some years, but the membership continued to grow. It appears from reports that the parish became too large far effec- tive work, and in 1844 the people of Tuckersmith and Stanley decid- ed to separate from Goderich. A call was extended to Rev. William Graham, who had come from Scot- land and was then preaching in Galt, Ont. He was • inducted in January, 1845. The salary of £80 was subscribed towards his sup- port. In later years it was in- creased to $600 without a manse. For the first years, services were held in a log schoolhouse at a Mr. Carnochan's corner. Ser- vices were often held in barns, and some times in a loft of Mr. Leo- pold Van Egmond's grist mill. M -r. Graham lived in homes where the men were keeping "Bachelor's Hall." After some months, a small log manse was built on the second concession of Tuckersmith, w,,liere the school, known as Han- nah's, now stands. . After Mr. Graham's induction', a Mrs. McKean, of Gatehouse; Scot- land, the great -great-grandmother of the late E. P. Chesney, of Tuck- ersmith, presented the young con- gregation with a Communion ser- vice and baptismal font. These articles are still in the present church building. In 1849 some of the people liv- ing near Brucefield severed their connection with the Egmondville congregation and formed a church there, Mr. 0,onstant Van Egmond short- ly after donated a piece of land, between one and two acres, where the Egmondville cemetery is. The people then proceeded to build a church. Money was not plentiful and it was put up by volunteer labour. Logs were donated, the seats were rough boards placed on blocks of wood. The table used. for the Communion belonged to a Mrs, Fleurschutz, who lived across the road. The church was opened on July 21, -1850, when the Lord's- Supper ord's-Supper was dispensed to 80 people. Some time later some friends in Scotland sent some money to be used for the needs of the church. The interior of the church was improved and a contribution of £6, 18s. and 2d. was sent to Missions. We read that the membership grew, and the church was enlarg- ed to accommodate from 450 to 500 people. • ' The .membership in 1862 was over 300. Mr. Graham opened a preaching station in Mc- Killop, and later on a church was established in Seaforth. In 1874 Mr. Graham received a call to become the minister of Pine River congregation,near Kin- cardine. The Rev. John Bain was inducted as the minister of the Eg- mondville Church in December of that year, and we believe from the historical sketch that during his short stay the membership had grown. A new church ('th'e present one) had been built and' was almost ready to be used. Rev. Mr. Gra- ham preached the last sermon in the old church in January, 1879. On February 2, the same year, the new one was opened. Following the opening services, Rev. Joseph McCoy was inducted as the first minister of the new church. Be- fore Mr. McCoy left in 1890, the membership had grown to 189. The debt incurred by the building of the church had been wiped out, and the present manse had been built. Rev. George Needham succeed- ed Mr. McCoy, but unfortunately he died two years later. Rev. Neil Shaw was inducted as minister On May 23, 1893. Mr. Shaw is probably better remem- bered•than any of the earlier min- isters by the older members of the present church. When he died in 1912, there was a membership of 245. ' Rev. James Argo, the next pas- tor of the, church, was inducted in 1912. On account of ill health he had to retire after only six years' of service in this church. He died six .years later. Rev, Samuel..--McLean-succeeded Mr. Argo in 1918. It -was during his ministry that the choir alcove and church sheds were built. Mr. McLean resigned in 1922, and was minister in different places before. he died in .Ottawa a few years ago. Rev. W. D. McDonald became minister in 1922. On June 10, 1925, the United Church of Canada was formed, and the Egmondville Pres- byterian Church became a part of that great church. Mr. McDonald left to become minister, of the Agincourt United Church.' in 1929. After serving the church there for a time, he.retired on account of ill health. He, tdo, has been called to his reward. 'Since the church became part of the United Church, and follow- ing Mr. McDonald's ministry, these ministers have been in charge: Rev. Charles Malcolm, 1929-1936: Mr. Malcolm is now retired in Port Stanley. Rev. A. W. Shep- herd came in 1936, and after a short ministry of two years, re- tired to London, where he died. Rev. A. W. Gardiner, who is the present minister in the Alvinston United Church, tame to Egmond- ville in 1938, and stayed until June, 1953. Following Mr. Gardiner in 1953, Rev. W. E. Melroy was in- ducted and was minister until June, 1956. He is now minister in the Underwood United Church. Rev. Dr. James Semple who came from Guelph in 1956 and stayed un- til 1960, is now the minister of the United.Chureh in Thessalon. The work«sand zeal of these Unit- ed Church ministers has been ap- preciated, and just as the faithful work of the early iiifffisters is not forgotten, neither is theirs. - From early day there has al- ways been a Sunday School, where the attendance has been good. Through the years many faithful men and women have given their time and ability to teach the grow- ing boys and girls. Mr. A. C. Routledge has been the faithful superintendent for' 31 years. Just, as our pioneer forefathers • felt that a -church was needed in• the community, conditions have not changed. The third, fourth, and even fifth generations of these people realize that a church -is' needed, where they mdy come to- gether week after week to worship God. The present minister is Rev. John H. Vardy, a young man, who has the welfare of the church at heart. It is our hope and prayer that he will be given health, strength andcourage to serve the Church for many years. The following prayer, written by Miss Graham and used for the centennial service in 1935, is still appropriate for a prayer at this time: "God of the present and the past, And of the future hid from view, We would approach Thy mercy seat And once again our vows review; God of our fathers, hear our prayer And keep us ever in Thy care. "Be our religion;,that which gives Our best to others.; may we make A better world, in which to live And laugh and love for Thy dear sake, , Till saved and sanctifiedby grace, We each. shall see Thee, face to face." NEW FASHIONS FOR FALL! All Top -Grade Canadian -Made Shoes at terrific savings to you Thke a look at our racks and tables filled with bargains. Willis Shoe. Store SEAFORTH i ///j', '' %�%i,/ / ii%/r%l/:!i.,!/j,/ / 1957 DODGE SEDAN 1957 PLYMOUTH COACH 1956 PLYMOUTH SEDAN 1955 DE SOTQ. SEDAN 2-1955 DODGE .SEDANS 1953 CHEVROLET COACH 1953 PONTIAC SEDAN 1957 FORD PICKUP • ROWCLIFFE MOTORS DODGE - DE SOTO SALES and SERVICE Phone 267.. 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