The Huron Expositor, 1930-11-28, Page 1..4
4
f
Seventy -First Year 1
Whole Number 3285
SEAFORTH, ER:
COL. ALEXANDER WILSON BURIED WITH
MILITARY HONORS
The funeral of Lieut. -Col. Alexan-
der Wilson, who died on Sunday eve-
ning at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. G. B. Heintzman, in Toronto-,
from pneumonia, was held from First
Presbyterian Church, Seaforth on
Tuesday.
The large church was nearly filled
with military men, ex -service men and
citizens, who attended to pay a last
tribute of respect to the memory of
one who for many years had taken
an active interest and part in mili-
tary affairs and who for the greater
part of his fife had been an esteemed
and 'honored resident of 'Seaforth.
The service was conducted 'by the
minister, Rev. I. B. Kaine, who paid
the following eloquent tribute to the
life of Col. Wilson:
"It has never been my custom to
eulogize but on this occasion, as we
feel the loss) of one' who spent many
years in this community, serving as
best he could his fellow citizens, it
seemsfitting that we should . do so. It
seems that I met Col. Wilson only
in, times of trouble, yet brief as my
acquaintance was, I felt that he was
a man among men, and that he had
truly those characteristics which have
been mentioned by those who knew
hint best. After all, to die a Chris-
tian's death should be the great pur-
pose of every man. Honors and rich-
es and all else desired by mortal man
shall pass •away with generations and
be forgotten amid the centuries, but
the soul that has put its trust in the
rpon'queror of Death, the Deemer of
the world, 'shall live forever.
The surest and moat e'eetain hap-
pening in life is death. One must pre-
pare for it; one must spend every day
in preparation:.
"Alli must go to their cold graves;
Only the actions of the just
1Smeli sweet and blossom in the dust."
Perhaps those words written by
Carlyle, were an inspiration to him
we mourn as they are to us.
"Out of eternity this new day is barn;
Into eternity at night will return.
Behold it afore time no eye ever did,
So soon it forever from all eyes is hid.
So here bath been dawning another
blue day.
Think; will thou let it slip useless
away."
He was a well rounded men. Some
are specialists and excel in a particu-
lar line of work, or become famous
because Of some faculty abnormally
developed. Not so with Col. Wilson.
He was not a one-sided man, nor a
man with one idea or one virtue. He
was truly brave and good, and he won
to himself a multitude of men of high
and low degree by the simple magic
of loving -all humanity and inspiring
love in return. He so blended graces
and good quallities, so combined the
traits and 'characteristics which dis-
tinguished men, as to be worthy of
Anthony's compliment to Bratusl.
His life was ,gentle, and the ele-
ments so mixed in him, that Nature
might stand up and say to, all the
world, "This was 'a man."
He found his inspiration at his fire-
side and approached the ideal in his
domestic life. He and his wife in-
habited, as tenants in common, that
sacred spot called home, -and needed
no count to define their relative rights
and duties.
In that home the parents reared a
loving and dutiful family, and for-
tune so smiled upon the children that
the father was far removed from
anxious care which has caused heart-
break bo so many. He did- not leave
to his children that doubtful blessing,
a large fortune, but he left that price-
less heritage that money cannot buy—
a name without stain, a reputation
without blemish.
With him citizenship was a sacred
trust as well as a privilege, and in the
discharge of it he exercised the most
conscientious care. In times of peace
he trained for many years, the cadets
of our town. He was instrumental
in keeping intact the 33rd Battalion,
that Battalion that truly belonged to
Huron.
(.feel, with others to -day, the loss
of the man who commanded that• Bat-
talion as it went to fight for liberty
and justice and peace. Of his share
in the Great War, I know but very
little. I leave it for others to men-
tion but feel I can say that he did
each day, with all his power and abil-
ity, the thing that he found at his
First Presbyterian Church
63rd ANNIVERSARY
[ Sunday, Dec. 71
Special Services
Conducted by
Rev. A.T. Barr,D.D.,Ph. D.
OF BRANTFORD
Morning and Evening.
Mira Music by the Choir
HOT FOWLSUPPR
Monday Evn'g., Deco 8th
5
IA 8• ir.,.215Z151
'
Followed by a tensionl pct grant
the itteinberq''• of , tete} Choir,
wbi csh .11 .on fads `'to he the ,`Sea. .1 g e`►rent-
Watcht 'this paper .next', issue
ion frup btanouncertreft : turn,
osmotic*,
hand.
He was honest both with himself
and others. Not only was he incor-
ruptible so far as peeuniary influences
ego, but he; was true to his own con-
viction. His fidelity to others was
insured by strict adherence to the. in-
junction --
"To thine awn • self be true, and it
must follow as night the day, thou
canst riot then be false to any man."
'Soldier: he enlisted to fight for
country and for freedom.
Sportsman: he was patriotic to the
sports of his town. and for a number
of years went with our team to Bisley.
'Citizen: ever aiding the best inter-
ests of the town.
Friend and parent: he did his duty
as he se* it.
•
And now his enlistment in the great
army of the universe has expired and
he has been enrolled in that other
great army, to the will, of whose com-
mander we must all bow, when the
orders are issued. I sincerely hope
aed trust • that he will meet with that
sweet repose and eontentri►ent he so
justly merited.
Instead of mourning, let us look up
and address him in the words of the
poet:
"The day has come, not gone;
The sun has risers, not set;
The life is now beyond
The reach of death or change;
Not ended—but begun.
0 noble soul! 0 gentle heart! Hail
and farewell,"
Following the service, the casket,
drarped with the Union Jack, was
borne from the church to the hearse,
the order of the military procession
being: :C•linton Kilty Band, Firing
Party, composed of men of D. Com-
pany of the Huron Regiment and ex -
service men of 'Seaforth, under com-
mand of Sergt. Charles Adams; bug-
lers, H. Swan, of Seaforth, and A.
W. Nanfan, of London; drum sergeant
of the 33rd Battalion, C.E.F.; pall-
bearers, Lieut. -Col. H. C. Dunlop,
Godle +ich; Lieut. -Gal. R .S. Hays, Sea -
forth; 'Lieut. -Col. W. J. Heiman, Lon-
don; .Lieut. -Col. H. T. Rance, Clinton;
Lieut -Col. J. W. Shaw, Clinton; Maj-
or C. Dowding, Oakville; 'Major M. D.
lVfeTaggart, Clinton; Miajor A. F.
Sturdy, Goderich. Bearers, Messrs.
T. A. Beattie, W. J. Cleary, G. D.
Ferguson J. E. Keating, J. M. McMil-
lan, Robert 'Smith, • all ex -service men
of Seaforth; militia and ex -service
men; the military arrangements bei
under the direction of the" Hur""airitegt-
During the hour of service, the flags
on the public buildings were at half
mast, and the business places in town
were closed,
Lieut. -Col. Wilson was the young-
est son of the late Alexander Wilson,
one of the pioneer residents of this
district, and was born on Silver Creek
Farm, the Wilson homestead, adjoin-
ing Seaforth, 75 years ago. As a
young man he attended the School of
Pharmacy and after graduation be-
came a partner in the drug business
of Lumsden & Wilson, one of the
earliest and best known drug stores
in Huron. On the retirement of the
late Robert Lumsden, Col. Wilson pur-
chased his interest and carried on the
business in Seaforth for -a number of
years.
For many years he acted as Secre-
tary of the Collegiate Institute Board
and was connected with every move-
ment which had for its objective the
advancement and welfare of Seaforth.
He was one of the 'best known curlers
and bawler% in Western Ontario, and
in later years was an enthusiastic
golfer.
All his life, .Col. 'Willson had taken
a keen interest and active part in
militia affairs, going up step by step
to the command of the old 33rd Huron
Battalion. In his younger days he
was one of the, best known rifle shots
in the Dominion, and many times was
chosen to represent Canada on the
Risley team, winning a number of
distinguished trophies in the old land.
In January, 1915, Co1.2Wilson was
commissioned to recruit he 33rd Bat-
talion for overseas service, which Bat-
talion be commanded and trained in
London and Quebec, and later took ov-
erseas.
I 882 he was united in marriage
to iss Mary Lumsden, of Aberdeen,
Scotland, who predeceased him ten
years ago. His only son, Reginald A.
Wilson, a well known editorial writer
on the New York Herald -Tribune, and
one daughter, 'Mass Harriet Wilson,
also predeceased him, but he is sur-
vived by a family of two daughters,
Mrs. Parkes Aneell, of Montreal, and
Mrs. G. B. Heintzman, of Toronto, and
one brother, Mr. Robert Wilson, of
Seaforth.
Four weeks ago Col. Wilson con-
tracted a severe cold, which developed
into pneumonia and although he made
a gallant fight for life, it was not to
be, his death 'coming shortly after
elevten o'clock on Sunday evening.
Rosedale
Alberta
Coal
The Best Coal
Produced in
the West.
N. CLUFF & SONS
410111.
ed upon to undertake, and it is yet
too early to state the extent of its
success or just how much longer it
will be before Alice can be discharg-
ed. 'Progress so far is favorable; she
is cheerful and considering the very
trying ordeal of the operation and
subsequent treatments, her health is
good. Alice has been visited at the
Hospital for Sick Children by C. A.
Barber, R. M. Jones, J. E. Keating,
Mrs. R. M. Jones, John Beattie and
Dr. Mackay. She is a very bright
girl of happy disposition, but anxious
to be home again. At present she is
stretched on a wooden frame to cor-
rect spinal deformity and another, op-
eration' may be necessary, but this
would not be of such important nature
as the first one. The committee is
following this case with the greatest
interest, and we are hoping this little
patient can be home- for Christmas,
and looking forward to the time when
she will be able to walk.
Case No. 21, Brussels.—This little
girl was operated on to correct a
marked deformity of her leg. It has
proved quite successful and she is
now at home, but will be in a cast un-
til early in January. Recently visit-
ed by 'Mr. and Mrs. C. Stewart, Mr.
and Mfrs. R. M. Jones and C. A. Bar-
ber.
Case No. 37, W'ingham. — This
youngster is at the Hospital for Sick
Children, being fitted for brace ap-
pliances required subsequent to op-
eration for club foot. No progress
report has been received.
Case No. 38, Belgrave —The pre-
paratory work on this case has been
started and an x-ray examination ar-
med for in Goderich. Until a re-
port on the examination is made, we
cannot state the extent of the work
the Lions Club will be asked to under-
take.
Crippled Children's Committee.
CRIPPLED CHILDREN'S
REPORT.
To President of Lions Olub:
• The following is a report on crip-
pled children's work to date.
Case No. 9, Seaforth.—Young boy
is at home after operation to legs.
The plaster casts will be removed at
an early date and it is confidently ex-
pected that the work udder taken will
prove entirely successful, Child in
good 'health and was vielted recently
by 'Mrs. 1t. M. Jones.
'Case • No. 17, Blyth. --This young
girl. has been in hospital ab Toronto
for 18 weeks. the entered in a rvery
crippled condition and clinic reports
indicated' that _unless an immediate
epen'+at1 n could be Pertained, she
Would never he able to walk again.
•' 'het op4iatitsl was one of the Motet dif-
'tietll t that ;t114 heSpital IWO been eat.
MUNICIPAL NOMINATIONS
MUNICIPAL NOMINATIONS
McKILLOP. — For Reeve, John
Dodds, John Campbell, John Eckert,
Dan Regele.
For 'Councillors -Joseph O'Rourke,
Thomas McKay, D. Bauerman, R.
Dorrance, John Campbell.
Mr. John Dodds has withdrawn from
the contest and Mr. Campbell will
run as a councillor, so than the fight
for the Reeveship will be between Mr.
Regele and Mr. Eckert.
GODFRICH TOWNSHIP—Goderich
Township in Huron County, where
nominations were held on Friday last,
is having a lively election contest.
Wilmot Haacke and David Churchill
are contesting the Reeveship, while
six candidates have qualified for the
Council (four to be elected). Those
running for Council are: F. Powell,
B. W. Churchill, John Sowerby, Oliver
Jervis, Ernest Johnston and F. Hop •
kine.
WIN'OHAM.--Thomas Fels, Ihr. R.
C. Redmond and H. B. Elliott were
nominated to contest the mayoralty
at the municipal elections here. Two
were nominated for the Reeveship.
They are J. W. McKibben and C. R.
Wilkinson, while W. H. Gurney and
Abner Cosens were nominated for
the office of Public Utilities Commis-
sioner, for which one is to be elected.
For the six seats on the Council the
following were nominated: James Mc-
Gillivray, C. R. Wilkir!son, Amos Kip-
ling, H. B. Elliott, A. J. Walker, Fred
Davidson, Wesley Walters, Harry Dy -
merit, John Porter, J. H. McKay, A. C.
Adams, J. A. Mills, John Hanna, Fred
Fuller, Arthur Wilson.
James Isard in ward one and J. M.
Graham in word two were given accla-
mations as public school trustees. In
ward three J. 0. Habkirk, C. B. Arm-
itage, E. S. Copeland, Frank Hill and
Walter Van Wyck were nominated,
while in ward four W. F. Burdman
also was given an acclamation,
-'ASHFIELD.—The entire council of
A.sihfield Township, was elected by ac-
clamation. No one was nominated to
oppose Reeve John A. MacKenzie,
while James E. Ritchie, was the only
nominee to remain in the field for
deputy reeve out of five possible can-
didates. The Council will consist of:
Murdock Matheson, Samuel Swan and
Richard Joiunstom.
Noniinees for deputy reeve in addi-
tion to Mr. Ritchie were: Thomas An-
derson, 'Samuel Sherwood, Murdock
Mlatheson and Samuel Skean. W. J.
Black and J. E. Ritchie were nomin-
ated for the council.
ER 28, 1930,,
IRST PRES
Representing Sixty-three Years' of
C;ontin}uing Presbyterianism •
The biggest single attempt to set-
tle Western Ontarrio was made by an
English Land Company, known. as
The Canada 'Company; which obtained
a grant of 1,100,000 acres of fertile
land, near Lake Huron; known as the
Huron Tract, which' they disposed of
to settlers on easy terms. They
founded the towns of ' Guelph and
assembling of the Presbyterians of
Seaforth and vicinity on the Sabbath,
and to share in their simple, sincere
services, to realize that here has
been kept intact much of the true
form of Presbyterian worship that
was brought to this place over three
generations ago by pioneer fore-
fathers of the piesent community of
REV. I. B. KA1NE, B.A.
The Present Minister.
Goderich in 1827, and we find that it
was around the year 1831 that set-
tlers first came to the ebuntry around
what is at present, the town of Sea -
forth. In reading an old Canadian
history, we note that a very poor type
of settler was :brought out by various
comlpanies, but "those beenght out by
the Canada Land Company were of
a much better class." The IIuron
Atlas states that the first settler came
to E:gmondvill'e in 1830 and the first
to Harpurhey in 1831.
Many of these came from Scotland
and settled near .the eastern Limits of
the County of Huron. Beside them
settled Irish immigrants, some from
the north of Ireland, but a large num-
ber from the south, forming that Ir-
ish Roman Catholic community which
starts at the (Mein Street of Seaforth
and extends eastward almost to the
town of Mitchell. To the west, north
and south of the present town the
majority were Scotch. If we had
space we would 'be able to mention
with greater fullness the Village
of Harpurhey and its Presbyterian
Church, and the Village of Egm'ond-
eine and its Presbyterian church. All
we can say is that there was a church
in ae ch place, built by the people who
brought that love of- church and all
it stands for, from the home land,
and that that same love of church is
found among them to this day.
Steadfast and Stalwart.
It does the heart good to see the
TUCKERSMITIY
Mr. Henry Phiule, of lienal], pur-
chased the Kippen Hall and he in-
tends tearing it down and erecting it
on the land he recently purchased
from Dr. IVIloir, south of Hensalh
Mr. Wm. M. Doig left on Monday
Morning for Toronto to attend the
Stock Fair.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Doig, of
lilewick, and IN& and 'Mrs. Moody
Ki ieade, of Listowel, visited Mr. and
M ., Mi. DPig diving the iICOlt•
steadfast and stalwart Canadians.
Strong men and brave women, they
settled here in virgin forest, and hew-
ed their homesteads out of the un-
yielding bush, making possible, by
their heroic determination, the fertile
smiling fields that characterize the
the prosperous countryside to -day.
In pioneer kirkyards, where cluster-
ing tombstones, gray and pale, catch
the gleam of golden sunset, and of
ruddy dawn, their resting bones are
laid to -clay awaiting the Resurrection.
Their sons and their grandsons till
the fields that they courageously
cleared, carry on the work they so
magnificently began, and keep alive
and unaltered the grand old faith that
wastheirs for the worship of God,
Whose name they blessed and Whose
benefits they did not forget. Canada
owes much to these great souled men
and women.
Founding The Church.
Back a long way into the past goes
the history of the churches of Har-
purhey and Egmondville. Tho exact
date of their beginnings is not known,
but the beautiful picture in the Man-
treal Art Gallery of a Highland
pioneer father reading the Scriptures
to his family in their log cabin in the
bush may well be a picture of the be-
ginnings of religious life in the com-
munity.
In the summer and fall of 1866, Rev.
William Graham, of Egmondvllle, and
Rev. Mr. Barr, of Harpurhey, came
to Seaford). and Preaehed'OneaS196.41,.
osi ISund'ay afternoon in e 'TslapA:
ance Hall. As there were a Mina,
of families in •'Seaforth and• AleT op
Township, (north ..of Seaf;orth), -vsrbp
were anxious to found a ehiireh, they,
petitioned the Presbytery of Huron to
grant - the erection of a chureb in .eon
nection with 'the' Presbyterian. Chu:reh
of 'Can'ada, but this petition was re. ,
fused.
Rev. William Robertson, of Waltpn,
a village ten miles north of Seaforth,
who was connected with the Presby-
terian Church of North America, was
asked to preach on -Sunday afternoons
and this he did for some time. In
February, 1867, a church was erten;
ized in the Masonic Hall with some
twenty-five members. In the Mean-
time Presbytery was again approach-
ed but again refused, giving as their
reason for doing so, that a dhurch in
Seaforth would result in the closing
of t'hlose in Harpurbey and Egmond-
ville.
However, members of Harpurhey
and Egmond'ville churches living in
Seaforth, seeing that a church w
going to be built, proposed, that if
paps
Ib was ase t la r
inert wee +too;sn,
*ion • and it* as -4e
audiqum,. ;
Dr '
the Inglis,
ed e serviceg tat;
auditornlin ,•of
'Rev 'Thomas G
en pastor and l'ab'
tion for nine years,'.
parish to *cent a;•
Church,la�milton'
The next' minister ea,_
Rev. A. D. MacDonald!
was inducted in April., 1$'>•<'-
Dr. MacDonald retired ,a:r h
faithfully served` the congregat*on�
almost twenty Yea'ss,
In June, 1900, (Rev. F. H. Lar
, T ,
who was then of Chathamwas i
eAke
ducted into the pastorate . of tlhel;
church. 'In 1928, Dr. Larkin, due tib,
ill health, retired, having served they
church most effvciently for over 2
years.
as The fourth minister of the church
is the Rev. Irving B. Kaine, who oa ,G
-i
lig
3
THE OLD CHURCH
the new organization would drop their
planes and buy a let on G.ederich
Street, (the lot on which the present
church stands) they would go with.
them and build -a larger churr.n. This'
proposition was tlepted. Presbytery
was again petitioned and again the
petition was rejected. A few days
after the meeting some ministers
changed their mind' and called a meet -1
ing to reconsider the matter at which
the petition was granted.
Rev. Mr. Ross, of Brucefield, was
appointed to organize the new congre-
gation. He did so some time in June,
and the first Communion service was
held soon after when the following
REV, Ai O. 1►iet O.kYA L, 11.D.
Ilei istel 1879.1899
•
to Seaforth in November, 1928, from
the Town of Orangeville, and is the
present minister.
le 1904 it was decided by the con-
gregation to remodel the ehurch, This
was done, the Ladies' Aid being re-
sponsible for the seating of the audi-
torium, and in December, 1909, Rev.
Dr. Milligan, of Toronto, preached the
anniversary services in the renovated
church.
'First Presbyterian Church seats
about one thousand people. On an
ordinarily fine Sunday in the summer,
and there are many fine Sabbaths in
this exceptionally lovely district, there
are large congregations both morning;
THE NEW CHURCH
names were placed on the Communion
Roll: Ms. and Mrs. John Douglas,
Mr, and Mrs. John Cowan, Mr. and
Mrs, Walter Cowan, Mr. and Mrs.
Andrew Cowan, Mr. and Mrs, Darling
Forsyth, Mr. and Mrs. 'George For-
syth, Mr, and Mrs. William Balilan-
tyne, Mr. and Mrs. James Nichol and
Mr, and Mrs. James Hastie. Mr.
Graham continued preaching until the
opening of the new church.
Building the Church.
WHl1iam Shaw and Hugh Grant
were the contractors. The farmers
drew in most of the material as well
as .giving liberally; so the new church
was opened for worship hi the base-
ment, with an immense attendance,
on Decemfberr 1e, 1867. Dr. Cochrane,
of Brantford, was the preacher on
that occasion, and on the lifonday
insight a tea meeting taut held So
InfAny: attended a baaeineni,
and evening.
A strong church in 1879, First
Church was greatly strengthened in
membership when, after some nego-
tiations, started by Rev. MacDonald•,
the duelers •and members of Harpjnrhesr
Church were received in a body. One
half of what Presbytery expected had
taken place, and now there was
mondville Presbyterian lahurch and
First Ohureh .serving the Presbytter,-
ians of the community.
Did Egmoudville close and tib
with First Church? It did *4_0100
at this time First Church is tligi wilt
place in the coniknu'nitl • */10116 rb1i „
Presbyterians, tW7iabntitl'tted
main true to the faith of their
and untswerving its tli'eiri ,10
the • tenets of the chtitr`'
fathers, can Meet for the. Wo'ifF,
'he year 1925 will be
ti
sl
f ; •