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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..81d75c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #53576 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53576) diff --git a/old/53576-8.txt b/old/53576-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 2401926..0000000 --- a/old/53576-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4957 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, John Black, the Apostle of the Red River, by -George Bryce - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: John Black, the Apostle of the Red River - , Or, How the Blue Banner Was Unfurled on Manitoba Prairies - - -Author: George Bryce - - - -Release Date: November 22, 2016 [eBook #53576] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN BLACK, THE APOSTLE OF THE RED -RIVER*** - - -E-text prepared by Larry B. Harrison, Martin Pettit, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images -generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 53576-h.htm or 53576-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53576/53576-h/53576-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53576/53576-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/johnblackapostle00bryciala - - - - - -[Illustration: REV. JOHN BLACK, D.D. - -The Apostle of the Red River.] - - -JOHN BLACK -THE APOSTLE OF THE RED RIVER - -Or, -How the Blue Banner Was Unfurled -on Manitoba Prairies - -by - -REV. GEORGE BRYCE, M.A., LL.D. - -Professor in Manitoba College, Winnipeg. - - - - - - - -Toronto: -William Briggs -Wesley Buildings. -C. W. Coates, Montreal. S. F. Huestis, Halifax. -1898 - - -Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year -one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, by William Briggs, at -the Department of Agriculture. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -We are in the habit of referring to the heroic deeds of our fathers, -whether English, Scottish, Irish or French, in the struggles they -endured and the sacrifices they made for country or religion. The -service rendered to liberty and religion by Cromwell and his Ironsides -at Marston Moor or Naseby, by Hamilton and his Covenanters at Drumclog, -by King William and his followers at Boyne and Londonderry, or by Henry -and his Huguenots at Ivry, may well stir our bosoms with emotion. - -But this century has, in the piping times of peace, developed a new and, -perhaps, greater heroism in the army of Christian adventurers going to -all lands, and proclaiming under King Jesus a war against sin and -idolatry, in which battles for the truth are fought against -"principalities and powers" as real as those against Prince Rupert, or -the bloody Claverhouse. Even the quieter life of a pioneer missionary -like Carey or Livingstone requires the highest daring and the sublimest -perseverance. - -To this class belongs the career of Rev. John Black, the Apostle of the -Red River of the North. To leave home and friends at the call of duty, -to cross the trackless prairies of the north-western States in order to -reach the northern and secluded plains of Rupert's Land, to bury himself -in obscurity, albeit he was engaged in laying the foundation of a -spiritual empire of the future, was to give John Black a true claim to -the honor of self-sacrificing fame and highest patriotism. - -The work of the author has been a labor of love, and it is with the hope -of awakening wider interest--especially in the minds of the young--in -the sweetness of self-sacrifice, and in what the world may call the -"reproach of the cross," that this little book is sent forth. - - - - -CONTENTS. - -CHAPTER PAGE - I. JOHN BLACK'S EARLY DAYS 9 - - II. STUDENT AND MISSIONARY 19 - - III. MONTREAL TO FORT GARRY 30 - - IV. A HIGHLAND WELCOME 45 - - V. THE EARLY SETTLERS ON RED RIVER 53 - - VI. SOWING AND WEEPING 66 - - VII. PASTOR AND PARISH 77 - -VIII. A KINDRED SPIRIT 91 - - IX. RED RIVER BECOMES CANADIAN 103 - - X. THE NEW SETTLEMENTS 114 - - XI. COLLEGE AND SCHOOLS 131 - - XII. MEMORIALS 142 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS. - - PAGE -REV. JOHN BLACK, D.D. _Frontispiece_ - -ST. BONIFACE CATHEDRAL, BURNT 1860 43 - -KILDONAN PARISH CHURCH 75 - -REV. JAMES NISBET 90 - -WINNIPEG IN 1870 122 - -KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1871 126 - -KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1879 130 - -MANITOBA COLLEGE, 1872 130 - -PUBLIC MONUMENT TO DR. BLACK 153 - -MEMORIAL TABLET IN KILDONAN CHURCH 159 - - - - -JOHN BLACK - -_THE APOSTLE OF THE RED RIVER_ - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -His Early Days. - - -John Black was the Apostle of the Red River. He will be long remembered -on the prairies of Manitoba. In 1882 he passed away, all too soon to see -the remarkable rise of the country for which he had planned and worked -and prayed. He had reached the age of sixty-two, and nearly half of that -time he had spent on the plains of the Northwest. His name is a -household word in many settlements, and his memory is revered by the -white settlers and the Christian red men alike, throughout Manitoba, -Saskatchewan, and Alberta. - - -BIRTHPLACE AND CHILDHOOD. - -On a visit to Scotland, a few years ago, the writer of these sketches -spent a few pleasant days on the Scottish border. He was guest of a -former Canadian minister in the pretty parish on the river Esk, of which -Sir Walter Scott speaks, where "there was racing and chasing on Cannobie -Lee." One day a delightful drive led along the winding valley of the -river to the town of Langholm, to attend the Presbytery meeting there. -After the business was over the Presbytery dinner was held, with all the -forms of the "olden time." While at dinner one of the ministers -addressed the writer: "Oh, I'm the minister of Eskdale Muir, where your -first minister on the Red River, the Rev. John Black, was born." It was -interesting to note that the pioneer of the western wilds was not -forgotten in the place of his birth. - -On the 8th of January, 1818, John Black was born. He was the son of -William Black and Margaret Halliday, Eskdale shepherd farmers, who lived -on the farm of Garwaldshiels. His ancestors had originally dwelt in the -neighboring parish of Ettrick, and some of them had been warm friends of -the godly minister there, Thomas Boston, whose works, "Fourfold State" -and the "Crook in the Lot," were well-read books in many a Scottish -home. - -The farm of Garwaldshiels was a lonely spot. Its steading, as the farm -buildings are called in Scotland, was two miles from any other. Indeed, -the whole parish of Eskdale Muir is mountainous and sparsely settled, -its inhabitants being chiefly sheep farmers and shepherds. In the church -on Sunday it is said the collie dogs were formerly almost as many as the -men. Sometimes the dogs became restless, and were apt to disturb the -minister. - -The shepherds of the south of Scotland are noted as a most intelligent -lot of men. Their quiet life on the hills with their flocks gives them -time for thought. They are great readers, and undertake to master the -deepest books. This is so uncommon among humble people, such as they, -that visitors from outside Scotland are greatly struck by it. It is said -that a Yorkshire wool merchant once visited the parish of Eskdale Muir -on business, and was so surprised that he said: "They are the strangest -people that ever I saw; the very shepherds talk about deep stoof -(stuff)." - -The minister of this parish who baptized John Black was in knowledge a -leader of his people, for he was the author of a work called -"Antiquities of the Jews," which was formerly very well known. - -About the time of the birth of John Black, the shepherds of the border -parishes had gained another accomplishment. Many of them undertook to -write poems. The reason of this was that a few years before, in the -parish of Ettrick, a remarkable man, James Hogg, known as the "Ettrick -Shepherd," had written a number of very beautiful poems, which had been -published and widely read. This led many of the shepherds to imitate one -of their own number. Some of the poems produced were poor, but others -were uncommonly good. It was strange to see such a burst of song in a -people so severe in their thought. - -Born of such a stock, and brought up in such surroundings, it was no -wonder that the boy of Eskdale Muir should early show a disposition to -study. He had a great thirst for knowledge, even as a child, and -especially for Bible stories and religious thoughts. In early childhood, -we are told, he was noted for his affectionate disposition. He was a -serious boy, and even early in life, at the age when most children are -thoughtless and unconcerned, he showed a desire to become a follower of -Jesus Christ. - - -REMOVAL TO HIGHMOOR. - -When John Black was a boy of seven years of age his family removed from -the lonely farm of Garwaldshiels to Highmoor, some twenty miles to the -south. Highmoor was situated in the parish of Kilpatrick-Fleming. It was -a sheep farm, of about 700 acres, and belonged to a celebrated border -family, the Maxwells of Springkeld. It was in the very centre of -historic ground. It was less than five miles from the Scottish border -where the little streamlet that divides Scotland from England marks the -change from the broad Doric tongue to the very different dialect of -Cumberland. From the door of Highmoor the Solway Frith was clearly in -view, with its small sailing vessels and greater ships passing on the -errands of commerce. - -Between Highmoor farm and the Solway was not more than ten miles, and a -beautiful little stream, the "Kirtle Water," ran through the farm and -emptied into the frith. The windings and turns of the "Kirtle" are well -filled with the thoughts of romance, and within this short distance -seven old castles are to be seen, the strongholds of the Irvings and the -Bells, so well known along the Scottish border. These old castles all -had their legends, and almost every one of them was said by country folk -to have been the scene of some great crime, and to be haunted by a ghost -or evil spirit. While John Black did not believe these old tales, he was -always fond of the stories, and read with greatest interest the "Tales -of the Border," and Sir Walter Scott's poems of the border minstrelsy. - -Highmoor was not more than four miles from Ecclefechan, the town where -the great Scottish writer, Thomas Carlyle, was born. Not half that -distance from Highmoor was the house where Carlyle's father, mother, and -brother long lived. Even the Hodden Hill farm, which Thomas Carlyle for -a time occupied, was not far from Highmoor. Upon this farm was a -celebrated erection known as the "Tower of Repentance." On this farm -Carlyle was just becoming known as a genius in the days of John Black's -boyhood, and what were called his "longnebbit" words and striking -sayings were often spoken of by his Annandale neighbors. John Black, to -the day of his death, was proud of his fellow-dalesman, who became known -as the "Sage of Chelsea." - -The wider view from Highmoor was equally beautiful. Looking eastward to -the end of the Solway Frith, one could see the tall chimneys of the city -of Carlisle, so prominent a place in the border strife. Towering to the -sky were to be seen beyond in Cumberland the gigantic Skiddaw and other -mountains, while beyond the heights of Cumberland appeared dimly the -Yorkshire fells and the hills of Durham. To the west the far view was -interesting. Majestic Criffel appeared running out into the frith, and -on a clear day the hills of the Isle of Man were seen in the middle of -the Irish Sea. Such a country, with natural beauty and historic -memories, could scarcely fail to inspire those who dwelt in it. We are -not surprised that John Black was stirred to poetry in such -surroundings, and we learn that, following the beginning as a -verse-writer, made under the name of "Glenkirtle" in the newspaper of -his county, he all his life had a faculty of writing snatches of lively -verse for his children and friends. - - -SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS. - -The parish school in the wide parish of Kilpatrick-Fleming was seven -miles from Highmoor, but a second school, known as the "Gair school," -was at the corner of the farm. Here, in 1826, John Black and one of his -sisters began their education. The school was under the charge of a Mr. -William Smith, the father of one afterwards well known in the -Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Smith, at one time -minister in Kingston, Ontario. To this school came from far and near -pupils from the scattered farms, some of them boarding in the nearest -dwellings. The parish schools of Scotland taught everything from the -alphabet to the works of the highest Latin and Greek writers. Mr. Smith -was a good scholar and a good teacher. Young John Black here laid a good -foundation for his future attainments. Mr. Smith was followed as a -teacher by Mr. John Roddick, also a man of much ability and skill as a -teacher. He was, strange to say, the father of another Canadian, Dr. -Richard Roddick, of Montreal. Under Mr. Roddick John Black made -remarkable progress. The young scholar had a great fondness for the -languages. The sturdy lad had, however, to fight with obstacles in -getting an education. To make a living on the farm his father needed the -help of all his children, and John could not well be spared when he had -reached the age when he could herd the cattle and watch the sheep. He -was often unable to be present at school, but his desire to gain a -higher education never left him. At last his father consented to his -study of the languages, and the happy boy at the age of fifteen threw -all his energy into his task. - -French was the first language on which he began under Mr. Roddick. A -curious incident is connected with his entrance on the study of French. -Full of the thought of beginning a foreign language he walked all the -way to the town of Annan, nine miles distant, to buy a French grammar. -On arriving in the town, he found the bookseller's shop shut and the -bookseller along with almost all the people in the town, wending their -way, week-day though it was, to the parish church. The boy followed the -crowd, and found the greatest excitement prevailing. It was the day of -the trial of the celebrated Edward Irving. Irving was a native of Annan -and a great friend of Thomas Carlyle. He was a minister of great -eloquence, who had first assisted Dr. Chalmers in Glasgow, and -afterwards been settled in London. He had adopted strange views as to -the humanity of Christ, and on the day of John Black's visit was being -tried for heresy by the Presbytery of Annan. The boy was present during -the whole trial, and was wont to tell to his latest day of the -prophet-like Irving as he answered for himself and of Dr. Henry Duncan, -who was the advocate for a pure doctrine and a divine Christ. Thomas -Carlyle in his "Reminiscences," defends his friend and throws ridicule -on the Presbytery, but the extravagant views of Irving, remarkable man -though he was, justified, to the mind of most of the people, the action -that was taken by the Presbytery in deposing him from the sacred office -of the ministry. - -The young scholar was able after the exciting scenes of the day to find -his way into the bookseller's shop, bought the French grammar, and -returned home to begin his study with much enthusiasm. It was always his -view that this French grammar exercised a great influence on his after -life. It was through his knowledge of French that he was afterwards -chosen, as we shall see, to work among the French-Canadians, and it was -thus through his being unattached to any special congregation that he -was led to find his way to Red River. - -The young scholar progressed very rapidly in his studies. Of Latin and -Greek he was very fond, while his love for the great authors of his own -language was intense. He had a great craving for books. At the time of -which we write, and in a country district in Scotland, books were not -easy to be had. Fortunately for the young bookworm, a "Library -Association" was formed in the village of Waterback, which lay one mile -to the west of Highmoor. Though the number of works was small, yet it -represented nearly all classes of books. Twenty huge volumes of -Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopædia were there, and it is believed that -John Black before the age of twenty had pretty well read them through. -As a shareholder of the association, he made full use of his privileges. -He read widely in history, both ecclesiastical and general, and made a -brave attempt to grapple with the thought of such writers as Bacon, -Locke, Butler, and Paley. - -During this time also his religious life became stronger and more -devoted. The parish minister was Rev. George Hastie, an earnest and -devoted preacher of the Gospel. Under Mr. Hastie's instruction, and -watered by the dew of heaven, the seed of truth, planted in early -childhood, sprouted and grew into a flourishing plant. The young student -made, under the faithful pastor, a public profession of his faith in -Christ. He was also much strengthened in the faith by his youthful -companions of kindred Christian feelings. One of these, Walter Smith, -became afterwards Free Church minister of Half-Morton in Eskdale. Many -years after, in a letter written from Red River to his brother, we find -John Black speaking of this Christian friend in far-off Eskdale. - -At about the age of twenty, his old teacher, Mr. Roddick, having left -Gair school to accept a position in Liverpool, John Black was, for a -time, called on to act as a substitute. This he did with much -satisfaction to parents and pupils. It may have been this temporary work -that suggested to the young man, who was rather retiring and bashful, -the thought of teaching elsewhere. For some time after this he was -engaged in teaching a school in one of the most beautiful and romantic -villages of Cumberland. While gaining great success in his school in -England, his mind was dwelling on the fuller devotion of himself to the -higher office of the ministry. The ministry had thus early a great -attraction to him. He, however, hesitated, for there was, to the end of -his life, a singular union of courage and diffidence in Mr. Black. It -was his disposition never to push himself forward in any cause, but if -it seemed to him a duty he would go through fire and through water to -accomplish it. - - -TO AMERICA. - -He had now reached the age of twenty-three, when a complete overturn -took place in all his plans. From hints thrown out in after years it is -made plain that his father's family had not been prosperous in their -sixteen years at Highmoor farm. It seems that they were so severely -tried that they were compelled to borrow money to take them to a new -land. John Black was his father's chief stay and counsellor, and so, -giving up all the prospects in his English school, he threw in his lot -with the rest of his family, and determined to go with them to America. - -It was a sad picture when the family was torn up by the roots from the -home where it had grown. The far-off Solway was to be left behind, the -gently flowing Kirtle to be deserted, school and church, where character -has been formed, to be forsaken, and the sweet glens and historic rivers -and market town were to be seen no more. Oh, how sad the spectacle so -often witnessed at the Broomielaw in Glasgow or on the docks of -Liverpool, where tens of thousands have thus been wrenched from the -tender associations of home, and thrust out into the wide world! On -June 18th, 1841, John Black, with father and mother, three brothers and -four sisters, formed one of these sad companies, and, none too well -provided with worldly goods, started from Liverpool to gain a living in -the New World. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -Student and Missionary. - - -It was, as has been said, in the summer of 1841, that John Black's -father with his family arrived in America. Though Canada was at this -time enjoying a large British immigration, yet the family of Highmoor -was led to find its way to the United States. Two sisters of William -Black, with their husbands, had years before found a comfortable home in -the State of New York. Twenty years' residence had made these Murray and -Davidson families fairly prosperous, and to their rocky home the -immigrants from Scotland came, ascending the Hudson River, reaching -Catskill, and then going by land carriage to Bovina, in the county of -Delaware. This region of the Catskill Mountains, though not suited for -ordinary agriculture, has long enjoyed, from its sweet grasses and clear -streams, a great pre-eminence as a dairy-farming district. No doubt this -was due to the skill, energy, and thrift of the farmers from the south -of Scotland who had settled there. - -After reaching Bovina, the newly-arrived family took a farm in the -neighborhood. For a time John gave some help in the work, but his heart -was set on preaching the Gospel. In order to obtain the means of -continuing his studies, he engaged in teaching, and by his skill and -enthusiasm awakened much interest in education among the young people of -Bovina. The work of teaching John Black found to be an excellent -preparation for the work of the ministry. The power to manage a school, -the ability to understand the character of his scholars, and the habit -of patience acquired were to him of great value in after life. - -Desiring to carry on his education further before entering on the -special study for the ministry, the young teacher looked about for an -academy where he might pursue his general studies. This he found in -Delhi, the chief town of Delaware county. Here a most accomplished -teacher, Rev. Daniel Shepherd, was in charge of a school of a very high -order. It is said that though this institution did not bear the name of -either college or university, and gave no degrees, yet in scholarship -many of its alumni were not behind university graduates. - -John Black, now on fire with a high purpose, threw himself with all his -soul into his studies. He at once took a high place in the school. The -shepherd lad from the Gair school in far-off Eskdale reflected credit on -his old teacher, Mr. Roddick. He planned a course of study in the -needful branches of mathematics, but his chief delight was in classics. -So excellent a scholar was he in Greek that the original Greek oration -delivered by him on leaving the institution was for many years spoken of -as being unusually meritorious. His metrical translations of Latin -authors, such as Horace, were well done, and though not so often as -formerly, yet now and then his muse took a poetic flight. - -Like many Scottish students, John Black lived very economically in his -school life in Delhi, "cultivating," as has been said, "the muses on a -little oatmeal." With him were two of his cousins as room-mates, William -and David Murray. These three lads, living in a little upstairs room, -cooking for themselves the provisions received from home, gained in -after life, though in different spheres, high and honorable distinction. -William Murray became Judge of the Supreme Court of New York, and Dr. -David Murray was the organizer of the educational system of Japan, and -for several years chief superintendent of education there. When he left -Japan to return to America he was invested by the Emperor with the -highest order of Japanese nobility. He has since been State Librarian at -Albany, New York. John Black may not have received such earthly honors -as fell to the lot of his cousins, although he had his share of these, -too, but he has the joy of those of whom it is said "they shall shine as -the stars for ever and ever." - - -CHURCH LIFE. - -Though baptized in the Church of Scotland, and attached to its forms, -John Black became, on his arrival in Bovina, an active member of the -"Associate Church." This was one of the bodies which afterwards were -united and became the "United Presbyterian Church of North America." The -minister of the Bovina congregation was Rev. John Graham, a native of -Montrose, Scotland, a man of ability, especially as a writer. Before his -death he published his "Autobiography," a most interesting book. Of Mr. -Graham it was said that he "was a man with eccentricities, but far more -excellencies." In Mr. Graham John Black found a true friend, as he did -also in the other members of the congregation. True piety prevailed -among them. Perhaps some would call them narrow, but they were genuine. -They had brought with them from the old land customs such as the regular -observance of family worship, the keeping of the Sabbath, and the habit -of churchgoing, and these they put into practice in their new world -home. As the country settled, many congregations, which are now strong, -hived off from the original one in Bovina. - -For three years John Black remained a member of this congregation, and -his family were very anxious that he should study for the ministry in -connection with the Associate Church. He was unable to accept all the -views of the Church, however, and this kept him for some time in grave -doubt. The Associate Church held that the Scottish covenants were -binding on the Church in later times. It will be remembered that these -covenants of 1638 and 1643 represent one of the grandest periods in -Scottish history. Nobles and people alike, in Greyfriars churchyard, -Edinburgh, and elsewhere in Scotland, signed, in some cases with pens -dipped in their own blood, the covenant or pledge to oppose prelacy and -popery, and to keep the Church of Scotland pure and true. John Black -loved and admired the martyrs and Covenanters who fought so nobly for -liberty, but he was not sure that two centuries after those stirring -times it was still necessary to subscribe these notable documents. The -Associate Church required of those who entered its ministry to declare -adhesion to "public covenanting," and this threw an obstacle in the way -of the young candidate. - -His thought was then turned to Princeton College, the seminary of the -Old School Presbyterian Church, as it was then called. Some five or six -years before this time the Presbyterian Church of the United States had -been rent by doctrinal differences, and perhaps more especially by the -question of negro slavery. Princeton College would have satisfied the -young aspirant to the ministry, but belonging, as it did, to the body -which seemed unsound on the slavery question, John Black, like all of -British blood, was horrified at the thought of being connected in any -way with so hideous and cruel a thing as slavery, and so he could not -conscientiously join the Old School. He still kept up correspondence -with Scotland, and his love was strong for the Scottish Church. At this -time, too, a great religious movement was going on in Scotland, which -led to the Disruption in 1843, and the formation of the Free Church of -Scotland. After this event the young student in Bovina began to turn his -attention to Canada, where the Church was strongly Scottish in its -character and customs. - -Just at this time, early in 1844, a minister from Canada came on a visit -to his friends in Bovina. This was the Rev. James George, then a -minister of the Church of Scotland in Scarboro, in Upper Canada. Mr. -George's father and brothers were nearest neighbors of William Black and -his family in Bovina. Mr. George was at this time an examiner in Queen's -College, Kingston, and, indeed, afterwards became a professor in that -institution. Young John Black called upon Mr. George during his visit to -Bovina, and enquired as to the opportunities for studying for the -ministry in the Canadian Church. He also sought information as to what -the Church in Canada would do in view of the disruption which had taken -place in the mother Church in Scotland. Mr. George stated that he had a -strong hope that the Church in Canada would satisfy all parties, and -thus prevent a division on this side of the Atlantic. Having examined -Mr. Black, Mr. George expressed himself as highly satisfied, and advised -the young student to come over to Canada in the autumn and to enter -Queen's College. Mr. George returned to Canada, the Canadian Synod met -shortly afterwards in Kingston, and there the disruption took place. Mr. -George thereupon wrote to Mr. Black informing him as to what had -happened, but still urging him to come over and enter Queen's College on -its opening. After all the kindness which had been shown him he felt it -to be a painful trial to refuse; but John Black's sympathies were with -the Free Church in the struggle, and he could not accept the kind -invitation of his friend. It was with great grief that he saw the -division in Canadian Presbyterianism. He never ceased to desire -reconciliation, and he was greatly overjoyed that he lived to see the -happy reunion in 1875. - - -COLLEGE LIFE. - -John Black had not an acquaintance in Canada other than Mr. George. He -had noticed in the newspapers that the Rev. Mark Y. Stark, of Dundas, -had been moderator of the synod at the time of its division, and that he -had taken the side with which he himself sympathized. Accordingly, he -wrote to this gentleman about the arrangements for starting a college in -connection with the new body, and the answer came, greatly to his -satisfaction, that the commission of synod would meet in October to deal -with this matter, and that it would be well for him to be present at the -meeting. - -The synod was held in Toronto, and, a number of students having sent in -their names, Knox College was founded. John Black waited over for the -opening of the college, which took place on November 5th, 1844, and he -may be said to have been its first student. The establishment of this -college was a great and notable event, for here many well-known -ministers of the Presbyterian Church have been trained for their work. -There were two professors to begin with: the polished Henry Esson, who -taught arts, and a gentleman from Scotland, Rev. Andrew King, acting -professor of theology. Mr. King afterward became professor of theology -in Halifax. The beginning of the college was almost as simple as that of -the well-known "Log College" which gave instruction in early days to -Presbyterian students in the United States. It began in a single room in -Professor Esson's house in Toronto. Shelves around the room contained -the professor's library and a number of books for the use of the -students, lent by other ministers. In the middle of the room was a long -pine table, surrounded by benches and a few chairs. Fourteen students -received the attention of the two professors. This first session was a -busy one, and at its close the enthusiastic young men were sent as home -missionaries to different places. - -The session was one of great interest to John Black. Well prepared as he -had been, a good Greek scholar, well instructed in English literature, -and well read in philosophy, he took a foremost place among his -fellow-students. Bursaries and prizes were won by him, and the session -was thoroughly profitable. Now fairly committed to the Christian -ministry, he thought often of the motives which were leading him. His -letters of this time show a growing love for spiritual things, and, -while there is always in them a spice of humor or of fancy, yet there -runs through them a deep and earnest vein. - -Among the greatest influences brought to bear upon him were those of -the company of good friends, for he was a man of most sociable -disposition. In after days he often spoke of the influence of that -devoted man of God, William C. Burns, who went as a missionary to China. -This remarkable man was a nephew of Dr. Robert Burns, of whom we shall -speak more fully, and a friend of Robert Murray McCheyne, one of the -most spiritual of the young preachers of his time. Many a story is yet -told of the remarkable sayings and doings of William C. Burns during his -memorable visit in Canada. His influence, though that of a passing -visitor, was very great over the students of Knox College, and over -young Black in particular. - -At the end of his second year in Knox College the young student was sent -as a missionary to preach the Gospel in a number of new settlements. The -townships of Brock, Reach, Uxbridge, and Scott were then filling up with -immigrants from Great Britain and Ireland. John Black thus writes to his -brother: - - - "Brock, May 27th, 1846. - - "I came here about five weeks ago, and have been very busy ever - since. I have four preaching stations, two here and two in the next - township south. I preach in three schoolhouses and a large barn. - The people are mostly Scotch, Irish, and English. The four would - make a decent congregation. I take them two each Sabbath, and have - prayer-meetings, when I can manage it, as well as week-day - 'preachings.' To-morrow night I must ride six miles northwest to - hold a meeting among some English people (whom I like best of all - my people), and next day, Friday, come back ten miles to a - prayer-meeting in another place, Saturday ten miles again to - another, and Sabbath two meetings." - - -This shows the spirit of the man whose faithful and unremitting services -in after years told so powerfully on the banks of the Red River. - - -A MISSIONARY. - -As John Black drew to the end of his college course the work of the -ministry became very real to him. His sympathies became more intense in -his desire to reach and rescue perishing men. The little band of -students in 1846 were all aglow with missionary zeal. The Knox College -Missionary Society, which has ever since been so good a training school -for young missionaries, was formed in that early time. The society at -that date not only did city mission work in Toronto and cultivated the -missionary spirit, but helped the Missionary Society of the Free Church -of Scotland to support a missionary in a foreign land. During the -session of 1846-7 the Rev. Mr. Doudiet, a Swiss Protestant missionary, -in the service of the French-Canadian Missionary Society, visited Knox -College and addressed the students. The students decided to assist this -movement. John Black had, as we have seen, some knowledge of French, and -was therefore urged by his fellow-students to enter upon this work. He -would have preferred preaching in English, for he had enjoyed his summer -in the mission field very greatly, but it was agreed that he should -spend the following summer at Pointe aux Trembles, a French school near -Montreal, ever since well known. This he did, and returned in the autumn -to take his last year in college. - -At the opening of this session he was made glad by his brother James -joining him from Bovina, to study for the ministry in Knox College. Not -only had he intimate companionship with his brother, but there were -three other students with whom he associated much and of whom he spoke -with the highest regard to the day of his death; these were afterward -well known as Dr. Robert Ure, of Goderich; Dr. John Scott, of London; -and the Rev. John Ross, of Brucefield--all of whom exercised a great -influence on the western peninsula of Upper Canada. He was strongly -attached to his professors. Dr. Burns he regarded as a fearless champion -of the truth; Professor Esson he admired for his refined taste and wide -scholarship; and Professor Rintoul, he tells us, he loved as he did his -own father. - - -FRENCH MISSIONS. - -On the close of the college session of 1848 John Black was ready to -enter on the work of the Christian ministry, a work lying very near to -his heart. It seemed, however, as if it were not to be. The Students' -Missionary Society insisted on his taking a part in the movement among -the French Roman Catholics. He proceeded to Montreal, and was soon busy -studying French. He was not, however, allowed to continue at his work, -for there were so many English-speaking congregations in and about -Montreal that he was compelled to take service in these week after week. -This interfered with his plans, and we find him writing, in 1849, from -Pointe aux Trembles: "I left Montreal and came here about five weeks -ago. I have been making some progress in French, especially in -conversation, for it is now the vacation and there are no lessons. It is -a dour (difficult) job. I fear I shall never be able to use the French -effectively." - -The estimate in which Mr. Black was held as a preacher and pastor may -be seen from the fact that Côte Street Church, Montreal, the leading -Free Church in Canada, having failed to receive continuous help from -Scotland, was supplied for months together by the young missionary. He -was in request by congregations in different parts of Lower Canada, but -he still remained working for the French-Canadians. At length, in May, -1851, he resigned the secretaryship of the French-Canadian Missionary -Society. His letters at this time breathe a spirit of earnestness and -devotion. He had paid a visit to his former home in New York State, and -had seen his old father and mother, and always spoke with the most -tender regard of their claims upon him. He was always anxious about the -welfare of his brother, to whom he writes. He had then a habit which -clung to him to the last, of enquiring minutely into his friends' -affairs. His letters abound with direct questions to his brother, such -as: "How do you do your work? Do you sermonize, or expound, or what? Do -you write out your sermons? Are the professors harmonious in the -college? Have you prayer-meetings in college and city? Do you go out on -Sabbaths? How are you situated for money?" This habit arose from his -warm interest in his friends. His questions at times may have seemed -abrupt and forward, but the warmth of his nature showed that it was only -"his way." - -Three years had now passed in visiting congregations in Canada and the -United States, and in preparing himself more fully for his life work, -although seriously interrupted by the pressing demands from new -congregations. It was a time of great spiritual hope, and the minds of -the students of that day had a strong evangelistic bent, which they -retained throughout life. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -Montreal to Fort Garry. - - -While John Black was wondering what special duty the Lord would lay upon -him he was startled by a cry for help from the wilds of Rupert's Land. -Forty years before this an enterprising Scottish nobleman, Lord Selkirk, -became a leading partner in the Hudson's Bay Company, and shortly after -undertook to settle a colony of Highlanders on the banks of Red River. -The colonists had come in three separate companies, by way of Hudson -Bay, and by a difficult route ascended the water courses to the very -heart of North America, and settled on the banks of Red River. With true -Highland fervor they longed for a minister and a place of worship. A -Highland elder, James Sutherland, had accompanied one of the parties, -and he had been given power to marry and baptize. He had gone east to -Canada, and no minister of their own land had ever come to these -Highland exiles. As we shall see, a Church of England minister had been -sent to them, and yet they remained Presbyterian. After many -disappointments their cry had reached Scotland, and had been referred to -Canada to Dr. Robert Burns, minister of Knox Church, Toronto. We shall -enter more fully into the steps they had taken to secure a minister, but -at last the Hudson's Bay Company Governor at Fort Garry, Mr. Ballenden, -as he was passing through Toronto, had urged the matter upon Dr. Burns. -The heart of the good man was touched, and he fixed upon John Black as -the missionary. The following extract of a letter to Mr. James Court, -the secretary of the French Canadian Missionary Society, speaks for -itself: - - - Toronto, 27th June, 1851. - - MY DEAR SIR,--"In the name of our Synod's Home Mission, and for - behoof of our poor brethren at Red River in the Hudson's Bay - Territory, I have to solicit your aid in obtaining for a time the - services of Mr. John Black, whom we have fixed on as a fit person - to make an exploratory visit to the settlement. We would not have - asked this could we have avoided it, but our fixed pastors and - professors are difficult to move; and we know Mr. Black's peculiar - qualifications. The truth is I was so impressed with the importance - of such a visit, both for our people and the red men, and the - French speaking settlers in that region, that I gave the pledge as - chairman of the committee, and Mr. Ballenden will be entitled to - hold me good for it personally, if I cannot get a substitute. If - necessary I am ready to resign my charge here and throw myself on - the far west, for I am clear that our Church is called to do some - good work in those regions; and if we lose the present opportunity, - when may we have another? - - "If you agree, as I trust you will, Mr. Black should come direct to - us." - - "Most truly yours, - "ROBT. BURNS. - - "Mr. Court, Montreal." - - -On the following day Dr. Burns wrote a letter to Mr. Black himself. Of -this we give a portion: - - - "Toronto, 28th June, 1851. - - "MY DEAR SIR,--I send you a scroll sketch of instructions, or hints - rather, for your guidance in your important mission, _but your own - judgment_ and good sense will be the best guides. - - You are called at an early period of life to a most important duty, - and on the manner in which you shall discharge it will depend, - under God, the position which we as a Church may be called upon to - occupy in regard to the progress of Christ's kingdom in these - western regions. You will find in Bishop Anderson a pious and - liberal Episcopalian and a Bishop--yea, _The Bishop_! You know what - I mean. Already you know something of Popery and its steps, open or - close. The Sabbath observance subject I commend to your serious - notice. The company like hunting on the Lord's day! The range is - wide and long; but if you can get from the United States boundary - to York Fort, it will be desirable. Your object being exploratory - keep note of all. Preach and exhort and expound, and conduct - devotional exercises wherever you have an opportunity--Sabbath days - especially. - - * * * * - - "Our prayers will accompany you, and our most fervent desires that - your way may be prospered before you, and that you may be hailed by - the settlers as a messenger of good tidings and a pioneer of - salvation. - - "Come up as soon as you can. - - "Yours, etc., - "ROBT. BURNS." - - -The young missionary engrossed in his French Canadian work received -this communication. He was at the same time earnestly sought for by the -congregation of North Georgetown in Lower Canada. After due -consideration, he refused Dr. Burns' offer to go to Red River. He did -this not because he was lacking in the true spirit of the missionary, -but because he felt anxious about his old father and mother still alive -in New York State. They were now left without any of their children -beside them, and John Black, as their eldest son, felt it to be his duty -to be within reach of them. He therefore felt justified in declining the -earnest call to visit the Northwest. It is stated that on his refusal -application was made to one who has since become known as one of the -staunchest theologians and best preachers of the Church, the Rev. -Professor MacLaren, D.D., of Knox College, Toronto. He, however, was not -able to accept. Very strong pressure was again brought to bear upon John -Black, and as the season was advancing his answer had to be given -without delay. The following letter written to his brother explains his -action in the matter: - - -ON TO RED RIVER. - - - Toronto, July 31st, 1851. - - MY DEAR JAMES,--"You will no doubt be surprised to learn that I am - so far on my way to Red River. I am to be ordained to-night and go - on to-morrow morning at half-past seven o'clock. I have been forced - into it against my will. It is a very important mission, but I - leave one important also, and what grieves me much is that I go - without seeing friends--yourself and family at home. Nobody else - would go and so I am called on to do so. I shall not be able to - return before next spring--be a good boy till I come back. Write - frequently home and comfort them. I doubt somewhat if I am in the - way of duty in leaving father and mother now in their old age. - - * * * * - - I have no time to write more. May God bless you and keep you! Do - not cease to pray for my preservation and success and I shall do - the same for you. God bless you, dear brother." - - Yours, etc., - J. BLACK. - - P.S. Now mind you write often home, or if you could possibly go - over I should like it very much. - - J. B. - - -On the following day, August 1st, the young missionary who had been -ordained for the work of the ministry on the evening before, in Knox -Church, Toronto, started on his long journey to Red River. Twenty years -afterward the writer left Toronto for Red River, and could not find -before leaving how he was to accomplish the journey after St. Paul, in -Minnesota, had been reached. How much more difficult when the long -journey of eight hundred miles to St. Paul had to be performed over bad -roads by stage coach and Mississippi steamboat! The journey that now -takes thirty hours from Toronto, _via_ Detroit, Chicago, and St. Paul, -then took two full weeks. The young missionary arrived at where the city -of Minneapolis now stands, and wrote the following letter. - - - Falls of St. Anthony, August 15th, 1851. - - DEAR JAMES: "I am so far on my way and hope to begin another stage - of my journey on Monday next. My journey has yet been comparatively - pleasant, though diversified with a good deal of the disagreeable, - owing chiefly to bad roads and anxiety as to being too late. I am, - however, here and well, and hope to get through. Pray for strength - and protection and faithfulness and success. There is now to be a - regular monthly mail and so I hope you will write regularly. The - mail starts from here on the 1st of the month. To be in time you - must post in the middle of the month previous. I add no more at - present. May God bless and keep you evermore. Do not forget me at a - throne of Grace." - - Yours, etc., - JOHN BLACK. - - -When the traveller reached the capital of Minnesota he was in the -greatest perplexity. His coming had been anxiously looked for by a -deputation of the Scottish settlers from Red River. But they were nearly -five hundred miles from home and a tedious cart journey lay before them, -so that the time of the year did not permit their delaying any longer. -On the 1st of August, just at the time their long-looked-for missionary -was leaving Toronto, the deputation left the Falls of St. Anthony to -return to Red River. - - -A FRIEND IN NEED. - -At this most important point a happy deliverance came to the young -missionary. He learned that Alexander Ramsey, the Governor of Minnesota, -was soon to set out to the north of Minnesota, attended with a mounted -escort. Governor Ramsey had organized the territory of Minnesota two -years before, and had the year before negotiated a treaty with the Sioux -Indians, by which they ceded a large tract of land in southern -Minnesota. He was now to proceed northward to Pembina, to make a treaty -with the Chippewa Indians. Mr. Black, though, as he tells us, at a -considerable expense to himself, was given the privilege of going to his -northern home along with this party. - -We are fortunate in having two camp-fire sketches written by Mr. J. W. -Bond, who was also one of the party. He tells us that the party met from -several different points near the Sauk rapids, on the Upper Mississippi. -Besides the governor and his staff there were Rev. John Black and Mr. -Bond. The escort consisted of twenty-five dragoons from Fort Snelling, -commanded by an American military officer, and accompanied by six -two-horse baggage wagons. The baggage of the party and the provisions -were carried in light Red River carts, with eight French-Canadian and -halfbreed drivers. In number there were comprised about fifty souls in -all. John Black and Mr. Bond, each mounted on an Indian pony, became -companions during the journey, and Mr. Black won the regard of all the -members of the party. - - -EN ROUTE. - -We may give a few notes of the journey over the prairies: - -Sauk Rapids, August 21st, 1851: "Fine, clear, cool day. We struck tents -and went away early. Passed over the worst piece of road between the -Rapids and Pembina. The dragoons were busy for several hours in -repairing the 'corduroy' for the passage of the teams." - -August 23rd: "We to-day rode over the rolling prairie, full of strips of -marsh, when, after a march of ten miles, we came to an almost impassable -swamp. We crossed with some difficulty by pulling the carts and horses -across by ropes, during which Rev. Mr. Black and Mr. Bond completely -mired their ponies, and came near going with them to the bottom, if -there was any. After this we took a cup of tea to refresh ourselves." - -August 24th (Sunday). "To-day our French-Canadians and halfbreeds, who -have charge of the provision and baggage carts, have been shooting -pigeons and ducks, and also making new cart axles. The day has not -seemed much like Sunday." - -August 25th. "Mosquitoes are very bad, although the weather is quite -cold and bracing." - -August 26th. "We had a very good dinner to-day, consisting of bouillon -(broth) made of geese, ducks, etc., with ham, pork, coffee, bread and -butter, etc." - -August 27th. "Cool, cloudy, and quite cold early in the morning; fine -weather for travelling; up at daylight, and away upon our march at -half-past five. We are to-day passing on the dividing ridge between the -head waters of the Red, Minnesota, and Mississippi rivers." - -August 30th. "To-day suffered much from mosquitoes. No imagination can -do them justice--they must be seen and felt to be appreciated. Mr. Bond -rode a cream-colored horse, and declared that he was unable to -distinguish the color of the animal, so thickly was he covered with the -pests. During supper they swarmed around like bees hiving, and entered -the mouth, nose, eyes, and ears, and had it not been for a cool fresh -evening breeze they would have been unbearable." - -August 31st. "Our hunters discovered two buffalo bulls about two miles -ahead. They immediately equipped and started, and soon surrounded and -killed both. We soon joined them and encamped. The buffaloes were -skinned, the choice parts cut out, and the liver and kidney fried for -dinner. These were our first buffaloes, and there was much excitement -over them." - -September 1st. "Another buffalo to-day, but a sad accident. During the -chase Pierre Bottineau, our best French halfbreed guide, was thrown -violently from his horse, which stumbled. Bottineau was picked up -insensible, terribly stunned, though not much hurt. He was bled, brought -to camp in the carriage and put to bed." - -September 4th. "The prairie is so bare that no wood is to be had. Having -no wood we were obliged to boil our kettle, and the French boys their -pork and buffalo, over a fire made of buffalo chips, _i.e._, of dried -buffalo manure picked up on the prairie. Only a few mosquitoes troubled -us, and they were driven to leeward by the strong smoke and smell of the -buffalo chips." - -September 6th. "To-night there was the finest exhibition of the _aurora -borealis_ that any of us have ever seen. To attempt a description is the -height of vanity. The Rev. Mr. Black and Mr. Bond gazed very long upon -it, as a most remarkable manifestation in the heavens, before they could -tear themselves away and return to rest. Mr. Black, who had seen the -Northern sky in Scotland and Canada, says it was much the finest -exhibition he has ever seen. Bottineau declared that he had never seen -its equal this side of Hudson Bay." - -September 7th. "It is three weeks to-day since we left St. Paul." - -September 8th. "A furious thunderstorm overtook us. It came down a -deluge, a perfect torrent of falling waters, though the heaviest of the -storm had passed around us to the south." - -September 11th. "Arrived at Pembina. The houses were full of -halfbreeds, who saluted us with the discharge of guns, etc. Two of the -staff rode on ahead, and were treated to milk and potatoes--a treat -equal to that of the milk and honey received by the Israelites of old. -Near the village, on the muddy banks of Red River, stood an admiring -group of several hundred whites, halfbreeds, and Indians of all sizes, -with any quantity of dogs, very large and wolfish. Amid this babel of -cries, yelps, barks, and shouts, from the said big dogs and little -papoose Indians, we came to a halt and reconnoitred, standing almost -glued fast in the sticky, tenacious mud caused by the rains and overflow -of the Red and Pembina Rivers for three years past. The journey to -Pembina has been accomplished, including the two rest days, in -twenty-five days in all." - -September 14th. "Cloudy, cold, raw, and windy, quite unpleasant and -unseasonable. An overcoat is necessary out of doors this morning, and -fires in the house for comfort. To-day we had preaching by the Rev. John -Black, in the dining-room of the Governor's house; a novelty most -certainly in this far distant region. The congregation consisted of -about a dozen whites and three halfbreeds. The Rev. Charles Tanner, a -halfbreed missionary among the Indians of Red Lake, met us here, and in -the afternoon preached to the assembled Chippewas in their own tongue. -He moved to this place a week ago, and intends farming, teaching school, -etc., for a livelihood after the conclusion of the treaty. His wife is a -halfbreed, and they reside at present in a lodge in the yard at this -place." - - -DOWN THE RED RIVER. - -After Sunday was past for two days the weather was bad, but on -Wednesday, 17th, the day was fine, and the two companions of the -voyage, Messrs. Black and Bond, determined to leave the party behind and -proceed down the Red River to the Selkirk settlement, a distance by land -of sixty miles, but not less than three times as far by the winding -river. Astir by daylight, the travellers were soon ready, and in a birch -bark canoe, fifteen feet long and three wide, managed by two French -halfbreeds or Bois-brulés (burnt sticks, referring to their dusky -faces), their bedding, baggage, and provisions, and finally the two -passengers were stowed away for the journey. The voyage was a tedious -one, but not without interest. The canoe was somewhat leaky, and at -times had to be hauled up on the bank, overturned, emptied, and calked -with white spruce gum. Large flocks of ducks and geese were swimming -almost within paddle length from the canoe. Everywhere were to be seen -traces of the high water which had prevailed for several years, and -marks upon the trees thirty feet above the water were seen, where in -spring the freshets had reached. - - -A NIGHT SCENE. - -The party halted for the night some forty miles below Pembina. The -description given by Mr. Black's travelling companion of the camp on the -river bank is graphic: "The night is very clear and fine, the face of -heaven is smiling amid myriads of twinkling stars; the northern horizon -is lit up with the rays of dancing beams of an aurora, while the woods -and silent-flowing river are illuminated by our camp fire; our voyageurs -are fast asleep upon the ground before us, and not a sound is heard save -that of the leaping, crackling flames and the low tone of our own voices -as we chat merrily. And now, as my companion reads a chapter in his -French pocket Bible, and I pencil down these sketches of fact and fancy -by the light of the burning fagots--but hark! we have company, it seems, -and are not so lonely as I thought; that was the hoot-owl's cry, and -sounds like the wailing of a fiend in misery; that was the cry, long -drawn out and dismal, of a distant wolf; and near, the pack like hungry -curs are heard yelping and barking furiously. In the bushes beside the -camp I see two gleaming, fiery eyeballs. "Take that, to light you to -better quarters!" I hurl a blazing firebrand toward the beast, who, with -a dismal cry, leaves us to repose and quiet sleep." - -Another day and still another night of camping, and next morning the -party started on the home stretch. With a head wind the voyageurs toiled -on, and both passengers relieved the monotony by landing on the right -bank, walking along it, and cutting off the bends kept ahead of the -canoe. During the day they found by the appearance of houses along the -banks that they were approaching their destination. The vivid -description given by Mr. Bond fell, in some way, into the hands of the -American poet, Whittier, and he has left us a sweet poem, with which we -should be acquainted. The scene is that of the voyageurs coming down the -stream, and as they approach their destination there is first the sound -of bells, and then the sight of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. -Boniface with the two towers. - -A picture much like this was seen as the voyageurs in the old days left -Ste. Anne on the Ottawa, not far from Montreal, and took their leave, -under the protection of Providence, for their long journey to the -interior. Thomas Moore, the Irish poet, was much impressed by the sight, -on his visit to Canada, when he wrote the Canadian boat song: - - - "Faintly as tolls the evening chime, - Our voices keep tune and our oars keep time." - - -So the weary voyageurs approaching St. Boniface are filled with -expectation and delight at the end of their journey by the cheery chimes -of the Roman Mission. - - -THE RED RIVER VOYAGEUR - - Out and in the river is winding - The links of its long red chain, - Through belts of dusky pine land - And gusty leagues of plain. - - Only at times a smoke wreath - With the drifting cloud-rack joins-- - The smoke of the hunting lodges - Of the wild Assiniboins! - - Drearily blows the north-wind - From the land of ice and snow; - The eyes that look are weary, - And heavy the hands that row. - - And with one foot on the water, - And one upon the shore, - The Angel of Shadow gives warning, - That day shall be no more. - - Is it the clang of wild geese? - Is it the Indians' yell, - That lends to the voice of the north-wind - The tones of a far-off bell? - - The voyageur smiles as he listens - To the sound that grows apace; - Well he knows the vesper ringing - Of the bells of St. Boniface. - - The bells of the Roman Mission - That call from their turrets twain; - To the boatman on the river, - To the hunter on the plain! - - Even so in our mortal journey - The bitter north-winds blow, - And thus upon life's Red River - Our hearts, as oarsmen, row. - - And when the Angel of Shadow - Rests his feet on wave and shore, - And our eyes grow dim with watching, - And our hearts faint at the oar, - - Happy is he who heareth - The signal of his release - In the bells of the Holy City, - The chimes of eternal peace! - -[Illustration: - - The bells of the Roman Mission, - That call from their turrets twain; - To the boatman on the river, - To the hunter on the plain!] - -In the afternoon the party disembarked and found a kindly shelter in the -hospitable home of an old French family, the Marions, not far from the -cathedral, opposite the point where the Assiniboine falls into the Red -River, and the stone walls of Fort Garry in view in the distance. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -A Highland Welcome. - - -A short rest having been made in the hospitable home of the Marions, the -young missionary, anxious to meet his future flock, crossed the Red -River by canoe and disembarked about a mile below, at "Colony Gardens." -This was the house of Alexander Ross, sheriff of Assiniboia, who had -been a leader in all the efforts to obtain a minister. Here the expected -minister received a Highland welcome, and the Ross mansion became his -home. - -A short sketch of Sheriff Ross and his wife is an absolute necessity to -our understanding of the Red River community to which John Black came. -Alexander Ross was a Highlander who, about 1803, at the age of -twenty-one, came with the disbanded soldiers of the Highland regiment of -Glengarry Fencibles to Upper Canada. He went with them to Glengarry -District on the St. Lawrence, and, being a fair scholar, taught school -there for some time. - -In 1810 he entered the Astor Fur Company, which had its headquarters in -New York. Sailing from that city, he rounded Cape Horn, went up the -Pacific coast, and helped to build Astoria, a fort at the mouth of the -Columbia river, on the Pacific. He led a rough and dangerous life for a -number of years, and found his way in the service of the Northwest Fur -Company of Montreal, to the mountains of British Columbia. Here he -married an Indian maiden, the daughter of the chief of the Okanagan -Indians. The writer was well acquainted, many years after, with "Granny" -Ross, as she was called, and can speak of her kindness and Christian -character. - -At the end of the first quarter of the century Alexander Ross was -brought across the mountains and prairies by Governor George Simpson, -and took up his abode on the banks of Red River, on what is now the site -of the city of Winnipeg. Here he reared a large family, and took a -leading part in all the affairs of the Red River settlement. Mr. Black's -companion writes: "The old gentleman met us on the bank, welcomed us to -the Selkirk settlement, and escorted us up to his house--a white, -rough-cast, two-storey stone, which stands upon a large bend of the -river and commands a view both ways; and that view is certainly the -finest I have seen for a long time." - -The scene about Colony Gardens on that September afternoon was a very -striking one. "A village of farmhouses with barns, stables, hay, wheat, -and barley stooks, with small cultivated fields or lots, well fenced, -are stretching along the meandering river, while the prairies, far off -to the horizon, are covered over with herds of cattle, horses, etc., the -fields filled with a busy throng of whites, halfbreeds, and -Indians--men, squaws, and children--all reaping, binding, and stacking -the golden grain, while hundreds of carts, with a single horse or ox -harnessed in their shafts, are brought in requisition to carry it to the -well-stored barn, and are seen moving, with their immense loads rolling -along like huge stacks in all directions. Add to this the numerous -wind-mills, some in motion, whirling around their giant arms, while -others, motionless, are waiting for a grist. Just above, Fort Garry sits -in the angle at the junction of the Assiniboine and Red rivers, with a -blood-red flag inscribed with the letters 'H. B. Co.' floating gaily in -the breeze." - -Of the house of Sheriff Ross the writer says: "We spent the night with -Mr. Ross and family, and found him to be a very intelligent and -interesting old gentleman, full of information as regards the Northwest -region, and of Selkirk colony in particular. He published a book -descriptive of the country and of the Rocky Mountains, Vancouver and the -Pacific Coast, where he spent some fifteen years of his life, since -which he has been residing in this colony, and has been for a long time -one of its leading citizens." - -A book entitled "Red River Settlement," published by Sheriff Ross, some -years after this time, is really a lively and correct account in most -respects of the Selkirk colony. We have gleaned from his writings, and -from the information communicated to Dr. Burns by him, the main facts -leading up to the coming of John Black to the Highland colony. No doubt, -late into that first night, the religious story of the forty years -preceding, was told by the old fur trader to the youthful missionary. We -may well rehearse the tale of disappointment now to be turned to joy. - -The Scottish settlers of Red River were chiefly emigrants from the north -of Scotland, brought to the country during and before the year 1815, by -the Earl of Selkirk. They had a clergyman of their own persuasion -promised by his lordship at the time of leaving their native country, -the Rev. Mr. Sage, but he remained behind them for a year in order to -perfect himself in the Gaelic language. He was expected to follow them. -Next year, however, came and passed away and with it no clergyman; and -up to the time of Mr. Black's coming no Presbyterian minister had ever -visited Rupert's Land. In the winter of 1815-16 the settlers had to -abandon the colony for want of food, and they betook themselves to the -plains for buffalo, and to the lakes for fish, and wintered among the -natives in all directions. In 1816, after their return to the -settlement, they were driven from the colony at the muzzle of the gun by -the Northwest fur traders, who did not want a farming settlement in -Rupert's Land, and they spent the following winter three hundred miles -to the north of the colony, at the foot of Lake Winnipeg. - -Led by the vicissitudes of his settlers, Lord Selkirk visited his colony -in 1817, made a treaty with the Indians, and made promises to his -settlers, among other things, to send them a minister of their own -faith. Much encouraged by his lordship's visit, the people settled down -to work, when they were invaded by a grasshopper scourge, and had been -compelled again to leave their farms and seek subsistence by the chase -of the buffalo on the plains. - -At this juncture (1818) they were surprised at the arrival of two Roman -Catholic priests sent from Montreal, on the request of Lord Selkirk, for -the Roman Catholic colonists taken out by him, and the French halfbreeds -of Red River. But no Presbyterian minister was sent. It is to be said -for Lord Selkirk that the financial difficulties of his colony and the -strife and opposition which had arisen preyed on his mind to such an -extent that he died in the south of France in 1820. He had, however, -given strict charges to his agent, then in London, to send out a -minister as promised. The agent was an Englishman and seemed to have -used his position with the directors of the Hudson Bay Company very -unfairly. In 1820 there arrived in Red River Rev. John West, a good and -suitable man, but the settlers complained that he was of the Church of -England, and that there were not "twenty individuals in the whole colony -belonging to the Church of England." - -Much dissatisfied, the colonists, in 1822, applied to Lord Selkirk's -executors for redress, but no answer was made to them. Governor Donald -Mackenzie, who was in charge at Fort Garry, made them, in the year -following, a promise that a minister of their own persuasion would be -sent them. A petition sent to Scotland for assistance received no reply. -Years rolled on, the people still adhering in their homes to the customs -of their fathers, holding prayer meetings from house to house and -teaching the Shorter Catechism in their families. In 1843 they saw six -Roman Catholic priests in the settlement, and four Church of England -ministers, but none of their own faith. - -The state of depression produced by these unavailing efforts may be seen -in the fact that in 1835 a party of one hundred and ten persons, all -Scotch settlers, left the colony for the United States, "solely because -at the Selkirk settlement they had neither minister nor church of their -own." Two years after a number of additional families left the country -for the same reason. The indiscreet and uncalled for public address of -one of their ministers, who had been once a Presbyterian but was so no -longer, did much to influence their feeling and stir up resentment. - -In the year 1844, Duncan Finlayson, a Scotchman, who was Governor at -Fort Garry, advised another application to be made to the company in -London. The petition of the people is really a most pathetic one. In it -they say that "they are in danger of forgetting that they have brought -with them into this land, where they have sought a home, nothing so -valuable as the faith of Christ, or the primitive simplicity of their -form of worship; and that their children are in danger of losing sight -of those Christian bonds of union and of worship, which everywhere -characterize the sincere follower of Christ." - -In reply to this petition, the company denied any promise of Lord -Selkirk to the settlers in the matter, but agreed to pay the expenses of -a minister of their own faith to the country, provided they were willing -to undertake his support. Again stirred up to vindicate their position, -the leaders made affidavits as to Lord Selkirk's promise in their old -Highland home of Helmsdale, in Sutherlandshire, before the Colonists -emigrated, as well as at the time in 1817 when His Lordship gave the -grant of land for church and school. The response to these declarations -from the Hudson's Bay Company was no more satisfactory than the former -had been, and thus ended the expectation which the Kildonan people had -fondly cherished for more than thirty years of having a minister sent -them by the company. - -Now that they had learned the wisdom of the admonition--"Put not your -trust in princes," the disappointed colonists began to turn their -thoughts to the sympathy of the Scottish people. In 1846 they addressed -a letter to the Free Church of Scotland, which in the following year -reached the Colonial Committee of that Church. This committee sought in -vain to obtain a minister for Red River, in Scotland, and in turn, -through Dr. Bonar, the convener of the committee, handed the matter over -to the Free Church in Canada. - -Then the persistent settlers of Red River transferred their case to -Montreal, and wrote to Sir George Simpson, who has been called the -"Emperor of Rupert's Land," and asked for his countenance and support. -Though very diplomatic, Sir George seems to have favored them. An -interesting correspondence between Rev. Mr. Rintoul, of Montreal, and -Sir George, now took place. The work of obtaining a suitable missionary -was, as we have seen, in the hands of Rev. Dr. Robert Burns, of Knox -Church, Toronto, a relative of Dr. Bonar. Chief Factor Ballenden, -resident governor at Fort Garry, took much interest in the matter, and -pressed the case of the Red River settlers on Dr. Burns and his -committee. We have already seen the steps by which the apostle of Red -River was sent upon his way. - -Mr. Black had faced the journey, and now on the scene of his future -labors heard the details of the well-nigh forty years of disappointment, -as well as of the Highland welcome awaiting him. The joy that took -possession of the Highland hearts of the people of Red River was almost -beyond measure. They had unremittingly striven in the face of many -rebuffs for a pure Gospel and for the coming of the house of the Lord. -And now in many of the homes of Red River at their family worship they -sang: - - - When Sion's bondage God turned back - As men that dreamed were we, - Then filled with laughter was our mouth, - Our tongue with melody. - - As streams of water in the south, - Our bondage, Lord, recall. - Who sow in tears a reaping time - Of joy enjoy they shall. - - That man who, bearing precious seed, - In going forth doth mourn, - He doubtless bringing back his sheaves, - Rejoicing shall return. - - -It was Friday afternoon when John Black arrived at his destination on -Red River. On Sabbath following he went with the people to the Episcopal -Church of St. John's, now on the north side of the city of Winnipeg, in -which the Kildonan people always claimed a share. Expecting their -minister, the people had made a compromise with the Hudson's Bay Company -as to property, and had been given a glebe lot called "La -Grenouilliere," Frog Plain, two or three miles down the river, as a site -for church and manse. Here they had already erected a manse for their -new minister, and though not quite finished, it served as a -meeting-place for the people in their worship for the first year or two -of the mission. - -During the week after Mr. Black's arrival, the news went quickly about -the settlement, so that on Sabbath, September 28th, 1851, three hundred -of the Selkirk settlers, who had a week before met in St. John's, -assembled for service in the manse at Kildonan. Here the first sermon -was preached by a Presbyterian minister in the wide region west of Lake -Superior, where now the Presbyterian Church is much the largest body -engaged in spreading the Gospel. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -The Early Settlers on Red River. - - -On the banks of the Red River of the North for well nigh forty years -before the coming of John Black, there had existed the Red River -Settlement. Fort Garry was its centre for upwards of thirty years of -that period. The fur trader on the Mackenzie River looked to the -settlement as his probable haven of rest when he should have finished -his days of active service and retired; the half-breed hunter of the -plains thought of it as the paradise to which he might make his annual -visit, or the place where he might at last settle, while the Kildonan -settler boasted that there was no place like his "oasis" in the -Northwest wilderness, and that the traveller who had tasted the magical -waters of Red River would always return to them again. The Canadian -youth read in his school-book of a far distant outpost, Fort Garry, and -chilled by the very sound of the name, whispering "cold as Siberia," -passed on to the next subject. The Canadian statesman dreamed of a -Canada from ocean to ocean, but as he thought of the thousand miles of -impassable rocks and morasses between him and the fur-traders, he could -only shudder and say, "perhaps sometime," while the secretary of the -Hudson's Bay Company House in London with darkest secrecy folded -together his epistles, addressed them "_via_ Pembina," and then slipped -quietly away to his suburban residence, knowing that he had the key in -his pocket to unlock the door to half a continent, around which was -built an impenetrable Chinese wall. - -As early as 1802 the Earl of Selkirk, a man of philanthropic and liberal -views, stirred by the accounts given by Sir Alexander Mackenzie (1801) -and other traders to the Indian country, wrote to the British Government -of the day a letter now in the British archives, proposing the -establishment in Red River of a colony for the purpose of relieving -Irish disaster and Highland misery. It was not until 1811 that Lord -Selkirk succeeded in obtaining, by purchase from the Hudson's Bay -Company, of which in the meantime he had become a member, the district -of Assiniboia on Red River, comprising 116,000 square miles. By way of -Hudson Bay was the route chosen, and in the letters of the founder occur -the words--words of still unfulfilled, but no doubt true prophecy: "To a -colony in these territories the channel of trade must be the river of -Port Nelson." - - -THE HIGHLANDERS. - -At this time (1811) there were sad times in the Highlands of Scotland. -Cottars and crofters were being driven from their small holdings by the -Duchess of Sutherland and others, to make way for large sheep farms. -Strong men stood sullenly by, women wept, and wrung their hands, and -children clung to their distressed parents as they saw their steadings -burnt before their eyes. The "Highland clearances" have left a stain on -the escutcheons of more than one nobleman. Lord Selkirk, whose estates -were in the south of Scotland, and who had no special connection with -the Celts, nevertheless took pity on the helpless Highland exiles. Ships -were prepared, and the following are the numbers of Highland colonists -sent out in the respective years: - - - In 1811, reaching Red River in 1812, there were 70 - In 1812, reaching Red River in 1813, there were (a part - Highland) 15 or 20 - In 1813, reaching Red River in 1814, there were 93 - In 1815, reaching Red River in the same year, there were 100 - --- - Total Selkirk Highland colonists, about 270 - - -The names of these settlers were those still well known in Manitoba, as -Sutherland, McKay, McLeod, McPherson, Matheson, Macdonald, Livingstone, -Polson, McBeth, Bannerman, and Gunn. - -From the above list it will be seen that at the end of 1814 the colony -had reached the number of one hundred and eighty or two hundred. Over -these ruled the Hudson's Bay Company governor, Capt. Miles Macdonell, a -U. E. Loyalist from Glengarry, in Canada. The fact that the Highland -settlers were under the protection of the Hudson's Bay Company roused -against them the opposition of the Northwest Fur Company, of Montreal, -which had for thirty or forty years before their coming carried on trade -in the country. - -The two companies had their rival posts side by side at many points -throughout the Territories. The Nor'wester fort standing immediately at -the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers was called Fort -Gibraltar. The fort occupied by the colony was less than a mile down the -bank of the Red River, and was known as Fort Douglas from Lord Selkirk's -family name. It is of no consequence to our present object to determine -who opened hostilities or who was to blame in the contest of the -companies. Strife prevailed, and through this the colonists suffered. In -1814 arrived on the scene a jauntily-dressed officer of the Nor'west -Company, brandishing a sword and signing himself captain--one Duncan -Cameron. This man was a clever, diplomatic, and rather unscrupulous -instrument of his company, and coming to command Fort Gibraltar, -cultivated the colonists, spoke Gaelic to and entertained them with much -hospitality, and ended by inducing about one hundred and fifty of the -two hundred of them to desert Red River and go with him to Upper Canada. -By a long and wearisome journey to Fort William, and then in small boats -along Lakes Superior and Huron, they reached Penetanguishene, and found -new homes near Toronto, London, and elsewhere. To the faithful half -hundred who remained true to their pledges all honor is due. - -The arrival of the third party of Highlanders in 1815 reinforced the -remnant who had resisted Cameron's seductive proposals. The Colony again -rose to three-fourths its original strength. In 1816 the Nor'westers -adopted still more extreme measures to destroy the colony. An attack was -made on the settlers on the 19th of June, and the new Governor, Robert -Semple, was killed, with a number of his attendants, at a spot a short -distance north of the present city of Winnipeg. Lord Selkirk on the -receipt of the news of the colony in 1815 had come to Montreal, and was -proceeding up the lakes to assist his people in 1816, when the news -reached him, on the way, of the skirmish of "Seven Oaks" and the death -of the governor. He was at the very time bringing with him as settlers, -a number of disbanded soldiers, who have usually been known as the "De -Meurons." - -The regiments to which these men belonged were part of the body of -German mercenaries which had been raised during the Napoleonic wars. The -name of Col. De Meuron, one of the principal officers, was given to the -whole. - -These new settlers were not all Germans, but had among them a number of -Swiss and Piedmontese. The regiments had been employed by Britain in the -war of 1812-15, and were disbanded in Montreal at its close. Lord -Selkirk engaged four officers and one hundred men to go to Red River. -The men were promised certain wages, as well as land grants at Red -River. In the autumn of 1816 the party arrived at Fort William, which -they seized and the camping place on the Kaministiquia River is still -called Point De Meuron. Employed during the winter in opening out for a -distance a military road, the party under command of Capt. D'Orsonnens -in early spring pushed on by the way of the western shore of the Lake of -the Woods, surprised the Northwesters, and retook Fort Douglas from -them. Lord Selkirk arrived at the Red River in the last week of June, -1817. In accordance with his agreement he settled all the De Meurons who -wished to remain, along the banks of the little river, the Seine, which -empties into the Red River opposite Point Douglas. This stream has among -the old settlers always been known as German Creek in consequence. Being -mostly Roman Catholics they were the first settlers among whom the -priests Provencher and Dumoulin took up their abode on their arrival in -1818. From the nationality of the De Meurons the first Roman Catholic -parish formed in the country was called St. Boniface, from Winifred, or -Boniface, the German apostle and patron saint. The first Roman Catholic -parish is now the town of St. Boniface, and is the residence of the -Roman Catholic Archbishop of the country. - -Some severe things have been said of the character of the De Meuron -settlers. They have been charged with turbulence, insobriety, and with -having had predatory inclinations towards their neighbours' cattle. They -almost all left the country after the disastrous year of 1826, for the -United States. No doubt like all bodies of men they had good and bad -among them, but the fact of their having been disbanded mercenaries -would not incline us to expect a very high morality of them. - - -THE SWISS. - -In the same year (1820) in which Lord Selkirk went to France, to find, -in the little town of Pau, his death and burial place, a former officer -of a disbanded regiment--Col. May--a native of the Swiss capital of -Berne, went as an agent of Lord Selkirk to Switzerland. He had been in -Canada, but not at Red River, and accordingly his representations among -the Swiss Cantons were too much of the kind circulated by Government -emigration agents still. He succeeded in inducing a considerable number -of Swiss families to seek the Red River settlement. Crossing the ocean -by Hudson's Bay Company ships, they arrived at York Factory in August, -1821, and were borne in York boats to their destination. - -Gathered, as they had been, from the towns and villages of Switzerland, -and being chiefly "watch and clock makers, pastry cooks, and musicians," -they were ill-suited for such a new settlement as that of Red River, -where they must become agriculturists. They seem to have been honest and -orderly people, though very poor. It will be remembered that the De -Meurons had come as soldiers; they were chiefly, therefore, unmarried -men. The arrival of the Swiss, with their handsome daughters, produced a -flutter of excitement in the wifeless De Meuron cabins along German -creek. The results may be described in the words of a most trustworthy -eye-witness of what took place: "No sooner had the Swiss emigrants -arrived than many of the Germans, who had come to the settlement a few -years ago from Canada, and had houses, presented themselves in search of -a wife, and, having fixed their attachment with acceptance, they -received those families in which was their choice into their -habitations. Those who had no daughters to afford this introduction were -obliged to pitch their tents along the banks of the river and outside -the stockades of the fort, till they removed to Pembina in better -prospects of provisions for the winter." - - -THE METIS. - -Alongside the Selkirk settlers others began to settle on the vacant -banks of Red River. Most worthy of notice among them were the -half-breeds of French or English descent, whose mothers were Indian -women. - -Parkman, in his account of Pontiac's conspiracy, has well shown the -facility with which the French voyageurs and Indian people coalesced. -Though a poor colonist, the French-Canadian is unequalled as a voyageur -and pioneer runner. When he settles on a remote lake or untenanted -river, he is at home. Here he rears in contentment his "dusky race." The -French half-breed, called also Metis, and formerly Bois-brulé, is an -athletic, rather good-looking, lively, excitable, easy-going being. Fond -of a fast pony, fond of merry-making, free-hearted, open-handed, yet -indolent and improvident, he is a marked feature of border life. Being -excitable, he can be aroused to acts of revenge, of bravery, and daring. -The McGillivrays, Grants, McLeods, and Mackays, who had French, Scotch, -and Indian blood, were especially determined. The Metis, if a friend, -is true, and cannot in too many ways oblige you. - -The offspring of the Montreal traders with their Indian spouses, so -early as 1816, numbered several hundreds, and they possessed a -considerable esprit-de-corps. They looked upon themselves as a separate -people, and, headed by their Scoto-French half-breed leader, Cuthbert -Grant, called themselves the New Nation. Having tasted blood in the -death of Governor Semple, they were turbulent ever after. Living the -life of buffalo hunters, they preserved their warlike tastes. Largely -increased in numbers in 1849, they committed the grave offence of -rising, taking the law into their own hands, defying all authority, and -rescuing a French half-breed prisoner named Sayer. - -This was in the time of Recorder Thom. Adam Thom, the judge, deserves a -word of notice. A native of Scotland, of large frame, great -intelligence, and strong will, he had had experience as a journalist in -Montreal. Sent up to establish law and order, he certainly did his best, -and should have had a proper force to support him. True, exception has -been taken to his decisions, but where is the judge that escapes that? - -Among the leaders in this affair was one with the ominous name of Riel, -a Scoto-French half-breed, who owned a mill on the Seine River. He was -the father of Louis Riel, who afterwards led the French half-breeds in -their two rebellions. Louis Riel, the younger, was the embodiment of the -restless spirit of his race. Ambitious, vain, capable of inspiring -confidence in the breasts of the ignorant, yet violent, vacillating and -vindictive, the rebel chieftain died to atone for the turbulence of his -people. - - -ENGLISH HALF-BREEDS. - -As different as is the patient roadster from the wild mustang, is the -English speaking half-breed from the Metis. So early as 1775 the -traveller, Alexander Henry, found Orkney employees in the service of the -Hudson's Bay Company at Cumberland House. The Orkney Islands furnished -so many useful men to the company that in 1816, when the Bois-brulés -came to attack the colony, though the colonists were mostly Highlanders, -they were called "Les Orcanais." Since 1821 the same supply of employees -to the company has continued and increased with occasionally an -admixture of Caithness-shire and other Highlanders. - -Accordingly the English-speaking half-breeds are almost entirely of -Scotch descent. From Hudson's Bay to distant Yukon the steady-going -Orkney men have come with their Indian wives and half-breed children and -made the Red River their home. We have but to mention such well-known -respectable names as Inkster, Fobister, Setter, Harper, Mowat, Omand, -Flett, Linklater, Tait, Spence, Monkman, and others, to show how -valuable an element of population the English half-breeds have been, -though, of course, there are those bearing these names as well who are -of pure Orkney blood. - - -HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY OFFICERS. - -No element, however, did so much for Red River of old as the intelligent -and high-spirited officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, of whom many -settled in the country. There was among them also a strong Highland and -Orkney strain. In few countries is the speech of the people generally so -correct as it was in the Red River settlement. This undoubtedly arose -from the influence of the educated Hudson's Bay Company officers. At -their distant posts on the long nights they read useful books and kept -their journals. Numbers of them collected specimens of natural history, -Indian curiosities, took meteorological observations, and the like. -Though all may not have been the pink of perfection, yet very few bodies -of men retained, as a whole, so upright a character as they. We have but -to mention such names as that of the notable governor, Sir George -Simpson, of Pruden, Bird, Bunn, Stewart, Lillie, Campbell, Christie, -Kennedy, Heron, Ross, Murray, MacKenzie, Hardisty, Graham, McTavish, -Bannatyne, Cowan, Rowand, Sinclair, Sutherland, Finlayson, Smith, -Balsillie, McLean, McFarlane, and Hargrave, and others who have settled -on the Red River, to establish this. - - -THE PENSIONERS. - -Most portions of the new world have grown from additions from the -military, who have for some reason or other come to them. So it was in -Red River settlement. In 1846 the 6th Regiment of foot, some three -hundred and fifty strong, was sent out by way of Hudson's Bay under Col. -Crofton, in connection with the Oregon question, then disturbing the -relations of Great Britain and the United States. Few of the regiment -remained in the country. The troublous state of affairs in Recorder -Thom's time induced the company to send out a number of pensioners and -settlers who should be settled near the fort, and be useful in time of -emergency as police. It was in 1848 that Col. Caldwell, with fifty-six -non-commissioned officers and men, of whom forty-two were married and -had families, came out by way of Hudson's Bay, each man being promised -twenty acres of land and each sergeant forty. It was after their arrival -that the Sayer emeute took place. - - -THE CENSUS. - -The nucleus of 150 Kildonan settlers in 1816 had with it a few Metis, -already settled down, but there was a need for a settlement for the -heart of the vast fur territories. The North-west Company, ever opposed -to settlement, we learn from Harmon's book, had a scheme on foot at this -time to establish a native settlement on Rainy River, and had the money -subscribed for an educational institution there. A settlement having -been once established on Red River, many flocked to it. Thus it was that -in ten years after the death of Governor Semple there were of -Highlanders, De Meurons, Swiss, French voyageurs, Metis, and Orkney -half-breeds, not less than fifteen hundred settlers. It was certainly a -motley throng. The Rev. Mr. West the first missionary, tells us that he -distributed copies of the Bible in English, Gaelic, German, Danish, -Italian, and French, and they were all gratefully received in this -polyglot community. Though the colony lost by desertion, as we have -seen, yet it continued to gain by the addition of retiring Hudson's Bay -Company officers and servants, who took up land, as allowed by the -company, in strips along the river, after the Lower Canadian fashion, -for which they paid small sums. There were in many cases no deeds, -simply the registration of the name in the company's register. A man -sold his lot for a horse, and it was a matter of chance whether the -registration of the change in the lot took place or not. This was -certainly a mode of transferring land free enough to suit the greatest -radical. The land reached as far out from the river as could be seen by -looking under a horse, say two miles, and back of this was the limitless -prairie, which became a species of common where all could cut hay, and -where herds could run unconfined. - -Wood, water and hay, were the three r's of a Red River settler's life; -to cut poplar rails for his fences in spring and burn the dried rails in -the following winter was quite the proper thing. There was no inducement -to grow surplus grain, as each settler could only get a market for eight -bushels of wheat from the Hudson's Bay Company. It could not be -exported. Pemican from the plains was easy to get; the habits of the -people were simple, their wants were few, and while the picture was -hardly Arcadian, yet the new order of things since that time has borne -pretty severely upon many, so that they feel as did the kindly old lady, -"granny" Ross, of whom we have spoken, that they were "shut in" by so -many people coming to the country. The census of the whole settlement in -1849 amounted to 5,291. - - -THE PARISHES. - -No municipal government was ever provided for the people of Red River, -though extensive petitions were forwarded to Britain for changes to be -made in the government of the country. The Assiniboia council, however, -passed certain ordinances, appointed road overseers, and from a slight -tariff of four per cent. on imports, enough was raised to carry on -public affairs. The local sub-divisions of Assiniboia were national and -religious. French and Roman Catholics taking up a certain portion of -river bank, Church of England half-breeds another, Scottish settlers and -Presbyterians another. This was done sometimes by the will of the -Hudson's Bay Company and sometimes without it. The first parish was -Kildonan, so set apart and named by Lord Selkirk, on his visit in 1817; -the De Meuron and Swiss settlement (1817-20) on the Seine, was the next, -resulting in the parish of St. Boniface. - -It was to this community with its varied elements and many conflicting -interests that John Black found his way. It was here his life was spent, -and with this people we shall see he at length threw in his lot. The -population when he reached Red River was estimated at about 5,500 in -all. The settlement was at length swallowed up in the Manitoba of -to-day. It did its work though what that was will probably never be -quite appreciated by those who see the Manitoba of to-day. - -It marked the slow but sure process of an influence of the -christianization and semi-civilization of many of our Indians; it gave -the introduction from a barbarous and wandering life to habits of order -and settled work; it furnished a valuable pioneering and trading agency -for the fur trade, for surveying our plains, and for our Canadian -exploration. It gave the nucleus of the present educational and -religious organizations, it made the Hudson's Bay Company not only a -trading company but a company helping forward in different ways, the -improvement of the Indians, and made them the friends of education and -religion, and if we read the story of its history aright, it saved to -Britain and Canada, the vast northwest which would otherwise not -unlikely have met the fate of Oregon. And to do so great a work was not -to fail. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -Sowing and Weeping. - - -It was not strange that the mixture of population should be a matter of -anxiety to the young pioneer of the Red River. Almost all the -Highlanders and their descendants followed the newly-arrived preacher; -but the Orkneymen, who had largely in the Hudson's Bay Company outposts -married Indian women, seemed to form a guild of their own, and were more -inclined to adhere to the Church of England. No doubt the Highland pride -of character and connection of the Selkirk settlers kept the Orcadians -at arm's length. Twenty years afterward the writer found a sentiment of -this kind in Kildonan. The hope of Dr. Burns that John Black might, on -account of his knowledge of French, gain an entrance to the Metis was -never to any extent realized. Though never able to speak more than a few -words of Indian, yet the minister had, as we shall afterwards see, a -warm side for the red men. - -Thus shut in, the young man found himself surrounded from the first by -stalwart theologians, and for these he framed his habits of thought and -course of action. So successfully did he do this that he reached their -ideal as a preacher, though he knew not a word of Gaelic, and "bore his -faculties so meek" that he won unusual admiration and regard on Red -River. - - -NO INFANCY OR CHILDHOOD. - -The work of the hardy pioneer is usually a slow and painful process of -gathering together a few people at a time, of making the community -familiar with his voice and thought, and at last from a small beginning -growing gradually stronger and stronger. This is the natural course of -development, but in Kildonan Mr. Black found a congregation ready made, -and it arose like Minerva, fully armed and scarcely needing equipment. -Its infancy, childhood, and youth were all omitted. Within two months of -Mr. Black's arrival, and while the people worshipped in the manse, which -was used as a temporary church, the organization was begun. - -At this time the pioneer wrote as follows: - - - "Red River, Dec. 17th, 1851. - - "The temporary church will accommodate 250 or 300 persons, and is - always well filled with a most attentive auditory. We have service - forenoon and afternoon, and also a lecture on Wednesday. We have a - large and interesting Sabbath-school. There are ninety-six - scholars, thirty-six of whom are young people in my own class. - Finding, as I did, that the congregation was pretty ripe for - organization, I proceeded, with the help of a few of the heads of - families, whom the people at my request appointed to aid me in the - work, to examine and admit to the privilege of Church membership, - such as presented themselves with this desire." - - -THE ELDERS OF THE PEOPLE. - -In any other than a Highland community it would have been a dangerous -experiment to choose elders so soon in the history of the congregation. -But the Highlander has the natural tendency to follow leaders. His chief -is everything to him. Every Highland community, by a process of natural -selection--character of a lofty kind being a chief element--chooses its -ideal men. - -Precisely seven weeks after the first Presbyterian service was held in -Red River six elders were chosen by ballot by the people who had been -admitted by Mr. Black. Alexander Ross, of whom it was said that his work -for the people for twenty-five years laid the people under a debt that -they could never discharge, was chosen as leading elder. He died four -years afterward. A second, James Fraser, a man of high spiritual power, -filled the office for eleven years, till his death. George Munro, Donald -Matheson, and John Sutherland made up the five who accepted office. One -chosen, Robert McBeth, did not see his way to enter upon the office. The -ordination of this first kirk session took place on the 7th of December. -The young minister was always a wholesome upholder of the principle of -doing everything "decently and in order." He did not even perform a -baptism till the session was formed. A most interesting entry is made at -this time in the session record: "On the same day as the ordination of -the elders took place, the ordinance of baptism was dispensed for the -first time in the congregation, the recipient being the child of Mr. -Richard Salter, the only Englishman in the community. It was also the -first baptism dispensed by the minister." At this time, too, came the -recognition of the new minister by the governor and council of -Assiniboia. A resolution was passed authorizing any legally ordained -Presbyterian minister belonging to the settlement to solemnize -marriages. This was regarded as a very considerable concession at the -time. - - -A HIGHLAND COMMUNION. - -To the Highland imagination the communion stands out as the great feast -day at Jerusalem did to the ancient Jew. The Celt is highly imaginative -and is especially fervid. Few of us can estimate how much religion owes -in the old world and the new to Celtic fervor. The communion is looked -forward to as an especially close approach to God himself. At times we -have to deplore a false view that keeps some in Highland communities -from coming forward until late in life to the Lord's table. How much it -must have meant to the exiles on Red River, forty years after some of -them had partaken of the communion in the Kildonan in Sutherlandshire to -now take part in Kildonan on Red River. - -Due preparation was made for the first celebration of the New Testament -feast by the newly constituted session. On December 13th, 1851, the -people met together for a preparatory service--not now with perhaps -thousands gathered from parishes far and near, but with the few hundreds -dwelling side by side. Tokens of admission to the Lord's table were -cautiously distributed, and we learn that the position of the tables was -carefully determined, as well as the number of table services and the -part each elder should take in the administration. The method seen by -the writer twenty years after this date was then introduced. It was to -have the table covered with linen and to have it successively occupied -by different relays of communicants. The number of communicants, at this -first communion after the Presbyterian form on Red River, was 45. The -services following the communion were carried out as rigidly as those -preceding it. Rev. John Black wrote in his description of this same -service: "It was to all of us a solemn day, being the first time in -which, according to our simple and scriptural form, that blessed -ordinance was ever dispensed here. It was also the first time for the -pastor who administered; the first time for the elders who served; and -the first time for not a few who sat at the table--among others, two old -men--the one 87 and the other 99 years of age; and all this in addition -to its own intrinsic solemnity." - - -ARISE AND BUILD! - -To the settlers on Red River the only true ideal was that of the parish -church--and it was the parish church of the beginning of this century -when in the Highlands dissent was unknown. New settlers elsewhere have -been willing to erect such temporary structures as their circumstances -permit and to wait for better days. In new countries this plan has some -advantages. But to the Highland hearts on Red River old Kildonan parish -church must be reproduced in the Kildonan of the New World. But stone -and mortar were needed, and there were few stone buildings in the -settlement. The site on which the church was to be built had been given -by the Hudson's Bay Company along with £150 toward the new church, as an -equivalent to the people for their rights in St. John's Church which -they relinquished to the Church of England, although they retained an -interest in the burying ground in which their dead were lying. The new -site at Frog Plain was really more centrally situated than that at St. -John's for the Scottish settlers, and it contained glebe land amounting -to some three hundred acres. Already their manse and school had been -erected upon it. It had formerly been a camping place for the Indians, -and of it Mr. Black remarked in one of his letters: "The church is to be -erected on a piece of land long desecrated by the idolatrous revels of -the Indians, and the Sabbath evening sports of some who bore a better -name, but whose works were not so much better than theirs." Ten miles -away from Red River on the open plain is an old Silurian outlier of -limestone rock, which still furnishes building stone for Winnipeg. Even -by the end of December the people had quarried at Stony Mountain nearly -all the stone required, and with Red River cart or ox-sled had brought -the most of the material to the new site on Frog Plain. The limestone of -Stony Mountain produces excellent lime, and a sufficient quantity had -already been burnt and placed on the ground ready for work in the -spring. It was a time of earnest enthusiasm in Kildonan, and the most -real parallel to it which comes to the mind of the writer is where in -the days of Ezra after the captivity "the people gathered themselves -together as one man to Jerusalem" and "when the builders laid the -foundation of the temple of the Lord." - - -THE FLOODS OPPOSE. - -The people but awaited the opening of spring in 1852 to erect the -building for which they had the material on the ground. The winter had -been one of great blessing to the newly-founded church. There had, -however, been a great fall of snow and the swamps and streams had been -filled with water in the autumn. The Red and Assiniboine rivers run -through flat prairie lands, and an overflow in time of high water is -very possible. In 1826 the valley of the Red River had been flooded, the -water reaching in a great lake for miles across the country. The -fathers of Kildonan remembered that former date when in 130 tents they -had dwelt on Stony Mountain and the higher lands back from the river. -Now to the people ardent to go on with their church building--which was -all in all to their Highland hearts--it came as a great disappointment -to see another flood, which, while not so great as the former, yet was -very serious. We are fortunate in having a letter of Mr. Black's which -gives us a vivid description of the - - -SCATTERING OF THE PEOPLE. - -"Red River, May 27th, 1852. - -"The only thing of great consequence of which I have to tell is that we -are at present suffering from a great inundation--second only to that of -the year 1826, of which you have heard. The consequence is that we are -living in a tent on the Stony Hill, whither many have fled for shelter, -and where I have been for more than two weeks and have the prospect of -being so for some time longer. - -"The ice began to break up on the river about the 23rd of April; by the -29th, the water was coming over the lower lands. Its increase was about -a foot per day, and those whose houses were low had to flee to the -heights on the 1st of May. Still rising, on the 7th and 8th the river -began to carry down floating houses from the upper or French part of the -settlement, where the banks are lower and the houses less substantial. -On Sabbath 9th, I preached for the last time in our temporary church and -had to go part of the way to it in a canoe. On Monday 10th, the flight -from the Scotch part of the settlement was general. On that very day -twenty-six years before had the poor people fled from the former flood. - -"Such a scene it has never before been my lot to see. The water was now -a considerable depth in many of the houses and flowing in behind them -completely surrounded the people. In trying to reach a place of safety -men and women were seen plunging through the water, driving and -carrying, while the aged and little children were conveyed in carts -drawn by oxen or horses. Most of the Scotch settlers had from 100 to 300 -bushels of wheat in lofts which they kept from year to year in case of -failure, and now for this there was much anxiety. The first night we -encamped on the plain without wood or shelter, saving what we erected; -and amid the lowing of cattle and the bleating of sheep, and the roaring -of calves, and the squealing of pigs, and the greeting of bairns, you -may be sure we had a concert. After three days we arrived here which is -a beautiful woody ridge far from water mark, but thirteen miles from our -houses. A few families are with me here, but my congregation is -scattered, so that, from extreme to extreme is, I suppose, more than -thirty miles. - - -A SEA OF WATERS. - -"Thus the waters prevailed and spread themselves over the cultivated -lands, sweeping away everything loose and much that was thought fast. -Houses, barns, byres, stacks of wheat, etc., were floating down thick -and fast. The rail fences--and there were no other--were swept clean -away. Not a bridge is left on the road in all the flooded district. -Sometimes the wind blew very strong, and acting on the lakelike expanse -of waters agitated them like a sea, and this was very destructive to the -houses of the settlers. The breadth flooded in our part of the -settlement might be eight or nine miles, while the ordinary width of the -river is not more than 150 yards. The destruction of property has been -immense. From 3,000 to 4,000 people have been driven from their homes, -though the water did not rise so high as in 1826 by 3 feet 6 inches. I -have crossed this wide expanse twice to visit our people on the east -side. It is like a great lake. I have now three preaching stations -instead of one--_all camp meetings_. The water began to fall about the -21st. We hope to be home again in about two weeks. Our sacrament was to -have been held last Sabbath, but we have had to defer it indefinitely. -The whole will be a serious blow to the settlement, and will be an -injury to the congregation. Many will be rendered much less able to pay -their subscriptions for church building." - - -HOME AGAIN. - -The pastor and his people reached their desolated homes in June. The -country presented a dreary aspect. Crops to a limited extent were sown -and yet the harvest, though the floods had done their worst, according -to the promise did not fail. The church building was again taken up. The -flood during its continuance had destroyed a considerable portion of the -lime prepared for the building. A quantity of lumber was drifted off, -and timbers for the couples had been floated away but were secured -again. The people resumed the work with great cheerfulness. During the -season following, the church was erected. Alexander Ross in his "Red -River Settlement," says: "It was finished in 1853; and though small, it -is considered the neatest and most complete church in the colony. It is -seated for 510 persons and is always well filled. Its cost was £1,050 -stg. The manse is also completed; and it is pleasing to add that when it -was finished there was not a shilling due on either church or manse." - -In 1853 Mr. Black returned to Canada, and spent the summer there. He was -induced to return to Red River, and had the pleasure of opening the new -church in January, 1854. His heart was gladdened. - -[Illustration: KILDONAN PARISH CHURCH.] - -"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless -come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -Pastor and Parish. - - -The uncertainty as to whether he was to be the permanent leader of the -Red River Presbyterians remained for years in the mind of John Black. -Five years at least after his arrival we find him wondering whether the -committee intended to recall him or not. This arose from a strain in his -nature which rendered him liable to depression, and also from a deep -desire to see the spiritual development of the people, which he -determined should not be hindered by his personal defects. He was a man -of intense humility. In the year after the Red River flood (1853), when -he saw the church building fairly under way, he returned to Canada, -undoubtedly to allow a substitute to be sent if such were possible. The -impression made by the pioneer missionary during his year and a half of -labor had been so marked that the people of Red River were determined -that he should not be replaced. - -The Hudson's Bay Company, as before stated, had been averse to another -denomination entering Rupert's Land until they saw that the -Presbyterians could not be refused. Then Sir George Simpson, with a -stroke of diplomacy, allowed the privilege in his letter to Rev. Mr. -Rintoul, of Montreal. The company's attitude was still for various -reasons one of caution. Mr. Black had been exceedingly wise and politic. -In one of his letters he states that at times when his inclination had -impelled him to interfere yet he had studiously refrained from taking -sides in the struggle which was beginning between the company and the -people. He had a strong sense of the fact that he was an ambassador of -peace. That he had succeeded well is shown by an extract from a letter -written him by Sheriff Ross on his first return to Toronto. - - -SIR GEORGE SIMPSON WON OVER. - -"Colony Gardens, Red River, June 29th, 1853. - -"I have just had an interview with Sir George Simpson, the -Governor-in-Chief of Rupert's Land, who regrets very much he had not -been in time to see you before you left the settlement, and desires me -to write immediately and intimate to you, that he would be most happy to -see you in passing through Toronto. - -"Sir George has expressed himself in a very kind and friendly manner, -and says that from the high sense the committee in London entertains of -your moderation, zeal, and peace-working ministrations, while in the -colony, he is authorized to convey to you a sense of its esteem for your -character and to grant you a certain sum annually from the company as -minister of the Presbyterian congregation in Red River, and adds, 'If I -had been here I should not have consented to Mr. Black's leaving the -settlement at this time.' - -"In connection with what has been said, I must further observe that the -offer Sir George is prepared to make to you, on the part of the company -as already stated is not to be considered to be made to any Presbyterian -clergyman that may come to labor in Red River, no, _but to you_, -distinctly intended for you, for the great satisfaction you have given -and the high esteem you are held in by all classes in the colony. This -high and flattering opinion of the company at home will, we trust, be an -additional motive for your return to resume your duties among us. We all -look for it, will expect it, if God spare your health." - - -THE PIONEER RETURNS. - -After an absence of five months the longed for pastor returned. The -committee had not succeeded in finding one to replace him, and, indeed, -do not seem to have striven hard to do so. In a spirit of submission he -turned northwestward, though immediately on his arrival he wrote to his -aged father: "Whether the Canadian Church will allow me to stay here or -not I do not yet know. I am perfectly willing to return if they get some -one to supply the place. For some reasons I would wish it to be so. We -shall see." His return to Red River on this occasion was one that even -he confessed to be "tedious and toilsome." He actually took forty-nine -days to reach his destination, starting from Galena, on the Mississippi -river. On his northward journey he reached the establishment of the -Presbyterian missionaries at Red Lake, in Minnesota. Supplied by these -kind friends with pemican, bread, and flour, Mr. Black and his voyageur, -about the end of October, pushed through Red Lake in their birch bark -canoe, the missionary having to paddle as well as the boatman. On the -third day, on account of the ice, the canoe could proceed no further. -Unwillingly the travellers retraced their course and reached again the -shelter of their missionary friends. In the following week the start was -again made, but again to be interrupted by ice. The party then camped on -the shore for several days, until the ice would bear their weight, when -they proceeded on their slippery way. They walked over the ice for forty -miles, until having obtained a horse and cart they reached by land -carriage, in four and a half days, Pembina, a fort on the boundary line. - -At the Pembina trading post a good Presbyterian fur trader named Murray -supplied the pioneers with a conveyance, and the journey was again -resumed to Fort Garry. The horse was weak and the weather cold, and so -Mr. Black trudged most of the way and reached the Ross mansion, near -Fort Garry, at the close of his last day's walk of forty miles. Surely -it needs a man of iron frame for frontier mission work! And yet Mr. -Black writes of this journey with a cheerful heart: "During all these -hardships and toils and disappointments, sleeping in the open air in -northern frosts, I have reason to bless God I have enjoyed the most -vigorous health and have not as much as caught a cold." - - -THE CURE OF SOULS. - -With the new Church now almost ready the pastor settled down to regular -work. His parish proper was his kingdom. He regarded every parishioner -as worthy of his attention and most anxious thought. Years after it was -a well-known sight to behold the faithful pastor, staff in hand, a gray -checked plaid thrown over one shoulder, and with light moccasined feet -tripping along the banks of Red River on his errand of mercy. On account -of the settlement of Red River, being like that of the French Canadians -along the St. Lawrence, his parish was an example of length without -breadth. The Kildonan houses were in two rows, facing each other from -each side of the river, and made a continuous village along each bank. -The writer has heard the announcement from Kildonan pulpit that the -pastor, during the coming week, would visit from the house of Mr. Donald -Matheson to that of Mr. Samuel Matheson. On another occasion from Mr. -Harper's to Mr. Gunn's, and the like. These visits were very thorough. -All the children expected the minister; all the housewives had their -houses swept and garnished; even the men, on the day of the expected -visit, laid aside their working garb, and the godly pastor emulated, in -many ways, Goldsmith's "village preacher." As everyone knows, every -preacher has not the faculty of successful visitation of the sick. This -was, however, an especially strong feature of the Kildonan pastor. His -sympathy, deep feeling, and wise regard for the condition of the -invalid, are spoken of to this day. In cases of severe illness his -visits were daily and unremitting. - - - "In his duty prompt at every call - He watched, wept, prayed, and felt for all." - - -THE PARISH SCHOOL. - -To a man brought up in the parish schools of his native land, and so -impressed with the value of education, the parish school of Scotland was -the model. The conditions in Red River settlement were favorable for it. -John Knox's ideal of the parish church and manse and parish school were -easily realizable; and so church and school went up side by side. Even -before the church was built we find the following entry (1852) in a -letter by the pioneer: "The York Factory boats have just come and -brought the annual supply of goods. They have brought in the box of -school books which we had ordered all safe. We have, among other things, -ten large wall maps. Our school will now be the best furnished in the -settlement." - -The Kildonan parish school always retained its pre-eminence on the Red -River. The government of the country under the Hudson's Bay Company gave -no aid. The Church of England and Catholics had their schools supported -by private effort, and the Kildonan parish school was of the same kind. -Even after the transfer of the Red River country to Canada the writer -remembers being present at a Kildonan school meeting when it was decided -still to continue the support of the school by voluntary subscriptions. -Mr. Black was soon instrumental in sending three Kildonan young men to -Toronto to complete their education. Donald Fraser, a youth of great -promise, who died early; Alex. Matheson, afterwards a minister of the -Church, and now a resident of his native parish of Kildonan; and James -Ross, son of Sheriff Ross, a young man who was afterwards on the -editorial staff of the Toronto _Globe_. The pastor afterwards at times -helped studious boys privately with their Latin and Greek, and did his -best to encourage good education in the parish. - - -THE PREACHER. - -But great as John Black was as a pastor and as an educator, he was not -less noted as a preacher. He always retained the dialect of the Scottish -south country, but this was modified somewhat by a pronunciation, said -to have arisen from his use of French in his mission work. He pronounced -the letter a broad in such words as "grace," "congregation," and the -like. His manner was very free and natural, though in voice he was -possibly a little louder than some would have desired. He was, however, -regarded all over the country as an excellent preacher. The writer -remembers his first opportunity of hearing John Black, and this more -than a quarter of a century ago. Kildonan Church was plain, even to -severity. On the right hand, as you entered the church, was a small -vestry under the stair. Here the pastor entered, and waited for the -signal from the ringing bell, as it called the worshippers from all -parts of the parish. It was the custom always to use the Geneva gown. On -the morning referred to, Mr. Black came forth, gowned, as the bell -ceased, and ascended the high pulpit. In accordance with the custom of -the country at that time, the pastor was shod with moccasins, which gave -the quick, lively motion which so characterized him. The psalm was given -out with rapid movement and much impressiveness, the prayer was purely -extempore, and entered with considerable minuteness into the needs of -his people, and marked a man of unmistakable devotion. The lessons were -read with perhaps a want of variety. When the preacher began his sermon -it was evident, from the attitude assumed by his auditors, that they -regarded this as the chief part of the service, and that they waited -with expectancy for its development. Mr. Black always wrote his sermons -in full, and had the sermon before him in the pulpit. Like Dr. Chalmers, -however, he was not hampered by his "manuscript." As the preacher opened -his subject, it was plain to see that his method was textual and -expository, and showed intimate acquaintance with Scripture. As the -sermon progressed the speaker became more and more animated, and -frequently rose to the heights of eloquence. His denunciation of sin and -wrong-doing were fearless, and at times reminded one of the fervor of -the Hebrew prophets. He was, however, very tender, and frequently was -moved to tears, and his appeals to sinners were most touching and -effective. In Mr. Black's preaching there was much variety of subject, -though there was little of dealing with popular questions of the day. -Congregation and preacher alike had very strict views as to what was -dignified and suitable to the house of God. As a result of the high -standard of preaching of the pioneer, the Kildonan people became -excellent judges of sermonizing, and after hearing many preachers in the -later part of Mr. Black's ministry and since that time, are of opinion -that Mr. Black was the greatest of them all. - - -HABITS OF STUDY. - -That Mr. Black was able to maintain himself in the same congregation for -thirty years as an interesting preacher arose, no doubt, from his -systematic method of study. In writing during his earlier ministry to -his brother, who was also a minister, and had been settled in Caledonia, -Upper Canada, Mr. Black says: "How do you get along with study? What is -your plan in preparing sermons? Do you write fully and commit, or how? -What are your general studies? How many hours a day can you spend? Tell -me all about it--your Hebrew, Greek, philosophy, theology, etc. How are -you in natural science and astronomy, geology, etc.? These and such like -branches we would need to study nowadays if we would not be despised by -everyone with a smattering of knowledge. My much travelling and my long -separation from my books have inflicted an injury upon me that I will -never recover I suppose in this world. I am trying to study four hours a -day four days in the week--the other two are devoted to sermon-making. -My subjects are Greek Testament, Hebrew Bible, systematic or -philosophical theology, and practical theology, and an hour to Biblical -interpretation. Of course I indulge to some extent also in general -reading. The work that has attracted my mind most of late in the -theological department is McCosh's 'Divine Government,' which I esteem -about the noblest performance that ever I read. I lay out my time -regularly, but am constantly getting into debt and becoming a literary -bankrupt, failing to carry out my plans. And so I have almost given up -hope of ever being anything more than a third or fourth-rate man." - -Such words as these show the aspiration of the true student, and show -Mr. Black to have been a man well qualified to shine in the highest -walks of Church and scholarly life. - - -DOMESTIC LIFE. - -On the return of Mr. Black from his first visit to Canada the longing of -his heart for domestic sympathy shewed itself. Indeed it was a necessity -of his life that he should be surrounded by friends and companions. That -he needed the cheering influence of friends was shown all through his -career. No one ever loved his friends more strongly, delighted more to -sit and spend hour after hour in a social chat, and loved home life more -tenderly than he. The house of Sheriff Ross had been his home from the -first day of his arrival in Red River Settlement. It was not strange -that his heart should incline to Henrietta Ross, one of the tall and -handsome daughters found in the numerous family of his Highland host. -Miss Ross was, it is true, one of the daughters of the land, being, as -we have seen, on the mother's side, related to the Okanagan Indians of -the Rocky Mountains. This attachment created, indeed, a ripple of -excitement among the Scottish settlers, who were somewhat exclusive in -their notions, but Miss Ross was attractive in appearance, well -educated, having had the advantages of the excellent "McCallum School" -at St. John's, and was distinguished for Christian character and worth. - -So the pastor was married and the establishment seemed to Mr. Black -complete--church, school, manse, and the last now with the appearance -and tone of home. In this home there grew to manhood and womanhood three -sons and three daughters, all living to-day in different places in the -valley of Red River. One of the family the pastor named after the father -of the Red River Mission, Robert Burns. In the collection of letters is -a most pathetic account of the death by accident of this promising -little boy, and the sore bereavement seems to have for years cast a deep -shadow over the Kildonan manse. The home thus founded was the very abode -of hospitality. The circumstances of Red River were such that suitable -accommodation for visitors or newcomers was very hard to obtain. The -bountiful table at the manse was rarely without visitors, and the -writer, a quarter of a century after enjoying such hospitality, still -remembers the kind-hearted and noble mistress of the manse. The home at -Kildonan was plunged into the deepest gloom by the death of Mrs. Black -in 1873. The day of the funeral is still remembered as one of the -coldest and fiercest days of the cold years of the early seventies. It -was long before the desolated hearts of the husband and children -recovered from the terrible stroke. Dr. Black some years after married -Miss Bannatyne, a lady connected with one of the leading families of -the country. She was a mother indeed to the motherless children, and -still lives in the family home in Kildonan. - - -PUBLIC DUTIES. - -With a sympathy for every good work Mr. Black was identified with every -moral movement in Red River Settlement. Coming as he did to people who -had had for forty years an unfortunate religious experience, he had -naturally to take a firm stand against evil of every kind. The Highland -ideal of church discipline is very high, and Mr. Black seemed equally -solicitous with his people to suppress aggravated forms of sin. It would -neither be interesting nor expedient to detail the session cases which -came up as the years rolled on. There was one thing always to be said, -that the moderator never flinched in his duty, but it is plain to see -that he rather aimed at the reclamation of the wrongdoer, than took -satisfaction in meting out punishment to the offender. He associated -himself very heartily with the ministers of the Church of England, who -welcomed his assistance in joint meetings for prayer and temperance -reform throughout the parishes. He was instrumental in carrying out the -work of the Bible Society. He was also very anxious to gain the -acquaintance of the officers and men of the Hudson's Bay Company--many -of them his countrymen--scattered over the Northwest. With these men he -kept up a correspondence, and hardly a chief factor or trader from the -interior visited Fort Garry, who did not think it a duty and a pleasure -to take the five miles journey from the Fort to Kildonan manse to visit -the representative of the church of his fathers. So strong did this -feeling become that in 1862 Governor Dallas invited Mr. Black to hold -service at Fort Garry, and this was undertaken with the approval of -Kildonan session, and thus was begun the first Presbyterian service on -the site of the city of Winnipeg, which has become one of the -strongholds of the Presbyterian Church in Canada to-day. In every good -thing the Kildonan pastor was a leader, and while his sympathetic nature -encouraged many a confidence, and many a sad story that caused him -trouble and anxiety, yet he was full of resource, and thought nothing of -pain and trouble and expense if he might be helpful to the vicious, or -lead the young into wisdom's ways, - - - "As a bird each fond endearment tries - To tempt its new-fledg'd offspring to the skies, - He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay, - Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way!" - - -[Illustration: REV. JAMES NISBET, - -Presbyterian Pioneer Indian Missionary, 1866.] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -A Kindred Spirit. - - -It might not be right to say that it was John Black's intermarriage with -the native people of the country and the fact of his own children having -Indian blood rather than the Christian sentiment in favor of carrying -the Gospel to the wandering Indian tribes of the prairies, that more -strongly influenced him, but it is certain that early in his ministry he -began to cry out for a Presbyterian mission among the Indians. His -ardent appeal led to the synod so early as 1857 passing a resolution in -favor of undertaking this work. The comforting task of passing favorable -resolutions was indulged in for ten years, but toward the end of this -decade some money had been accumulated and the church undertook its -first work among the Red Indians of the plains. - -This period was a time of much anxiety to John Black, the ardent -advocate of the project. Sitting in his lonely study on Red River it was -discouraging to read letters from Toronto telling how one year more, and -another year, and so on was deemed necessary to mature the scheme. One -year he refers to the agitation going on at the Red River in favor of -union with Canada and to a petition signed by upwards of five hundred -heads of families being forwarded to the British government to further -this object. John Black's chief thought was that if the petition were -granted, and the northwest became a part of Canada, something would -surely then be done for the poor Indian. - - -A SELECTION MADE. - -While not quite prepared to undertake the mission the church went so far -in 1862 as to send to Mr. Black's assistance at Red River, one of its -ministers who should be engaged in learning the Indian language, and -otherwise preparing himself for the Indian work resolved on. This agent -was Rev. James Nisbet, minister of Oakville, Upper Canada. James Nisbet -was of a missionary family, his brother, Dr. Nisbet, who paid a visit to -Canada, more than a quarter of a century ago, having been honored to -take a leading place in the South Sea mission of the Free Church of -Scotland. James Nisbet had come out to Canada from Scotland full of the -fervor of the period of the disruption and though a skillful tradesman, -had thrown in his lot with the first band of students which entered Knox -College. The minister of Kildonan and he had been fellow students and -co-workers, and now that James Nisbet had been appointed to Red River, -John Black found in him a kindred spirit. - -On his arrival in 1862, being an unmarried man, he became a resident at -the Kildonan Manse, and we find frequent reference, in the collection of -letters, to the hearty co-operation of the two ministers, and the spirit -of rejoicing that now they could overtake Kildonan, Little Britain, -Headingly, and the new station to which the Governor had given an -invitation at Fort Garry. Mr. Nisbet while an earnest preacher, and as -Mr. Black writes, "working diligently and acceptably," yet had a -remarkable liking for building. At Kildonan there is still pointed out -the parish schoolhouse, a stone building, much of the woodwork of which -was done by Mr. Nisbet personally. Mr. Nisbet very readily fell into the -ways of the Red River people, and two or three years after his arrival -was married to Mary McBeth, a member of one of the best known Kildonan -families, and sister of the present minister of Augustine Church, -Winnipeg. - - -HEATHEN INDIANS. - -The question of how and where to begin work among the Indians was a -difficult one, and on Mr. Black largely fell the responsibility of -determining the question. He had the confidence of the committee in the -east, and he was the friend of the Hudson's Bay Company in the far west. -The Church of England and Roman Catholics were carrying on work among -the Swampy Crees, Saulteaux, and other Ojibways about Lake of the Woods -and Lake Manitoba, as well as in the far off Mackenzie River district, -while the former had almost a monopoly of the missions around Hudson -Bay. The English Wesleyans had for years carried on missions among the -Indians near Norway House and the north end of Lake Winnipeg, and after -the visit of John Ryerson, whose letters about the region were -published, the work was taken over by the Methodist Church in Canada. It -was manifest that the call sent the Presbyterian Church was to the -Indians of the western prairies, who had only seen the passing -missionary and were still in absolute heathenism. After much -deliberation it was decided to undertake work among the Crees of the -plains, of whom there were said to be from ten to fifteen thousand -largely without the gospel. - -These Indians are among the finest physically and mentally of the -Canadian Indians. They are of the same race as the Ojibways, belonging -to the great Algonquin family known on the Atlantic sea-board and -continuing along the Laurentian country to the north of our Canadian -lake chain. Leaving behind the rocky regions where the birch-bark canoe -and wigwam, and the fish of the streams, with the game of the forest, -had been their chief dependence, the Crees of the Plains used horses, of -which they had numerous bands, chased the buffalo to obtain a bountiful -subsistence, and lived in leathern teepees. The language of the Crees, -while the same in structure as that of the Ojibways, has yet its -vocabulary much modified from that of the parent tongue. While the -Crees, in their love of the buffalo and fondness for following the herds -over the plains, were thoroughly nomadic and likely to be difficult to -evangelize, yet the task was undertaken cheerfully. Their great camps -were the scenes of the wildest excitement and greatest excesses, and yet -they were a brave, self-reliant, and able people. The cut given of four -of their chiefs who visited Brantford at the time of the unveiling of -the Brant statue in 1886, gives a good illustration of the appearance of -staidness and solidity found among them. - - -THE TASK BEGUN. - -In 1865 Mr. Nisbet was recommended to the synod for a mission among this -uncivilized but interesting people. The gravity of the enterprise is to -be borne in mind. Hudson's Bay Company traders had for many years -ventured among the tribes of the plains. The Hudson's Bay Company -trader, however, had the Union Jack flying over him; he was housed in a -strong fort; in his hands were weapons, and the power of the company was -felt over the whole land; but the missionary came with a message of -peace; he had no emblem of force about him, he preached the doctrine, -"If one cheek was smitten to turn the other also," and so to proceed 500 -miles from Red River and break ground on the Saskatchewan, to be largely -dependent on the locality for sustenance, and to trust to the good-will -of the Indians, required courage and resource. And these qualities James -Nisbet had. He was not a man of display, was a man of quiet, -undemonstrative manner, but had no cowardice or surrender in him. Like -his countryman, the Highland piper, who was asked to play the "retreat," -he could reply that he had never learned that tune. Mr. Nisbet's -theology was of a very exact kind. He was in the habit of advising -complete reliance in God, perhaps there was a strain of the severe, even -of the stoical, in it; but in the case of our pioneer Indian missionary, -he lived out and exemplified it as well as preached it. - - -FOR CHRIST AND COUNTRY. - -A journey from the Red River to the Saskatchewan by the Canadian Pacific -Railway to-day is a comparatively trifling matter, taking twenty-five or -thirty hours; but thirty years ago it meant much. It required an outfit -that could serve the purpose for forty or fifty days. The sending of a -missionary, known to the people of Kildonan and by marriage one of -themselves, profoundly stirred the Highland parish. In one of Mr. -Black's letters he states that the people of the parish had raised -between £80 and £100 sterling for the purpose of making a suitable -send-off for the man who had become so popular among them. - -Mr. Nisbet's plan, in so far as we can gather, was from the first to be -practical and industrial. His effort was to induce the nomadic Indians -to settle, to cultivate the land, and to make the Indian independent of -the precarious results of the chase. In order to accomplish his ideal it -was necessary to provide himself with a considerable establishment, so -that the mission party, inclusive of his wife and little child and two -other children, numbered ten persons. They were provided with the -necessary outfit for hunting, fishing, building, and farming. The day of -departure was the 6th of June, 1866, and it was a day of great moment -for Kildonan. The Saskatchewan was being looked to as the land of -promise. Gold had been discovered in its sands, and one of Mr. Black's -letters mentions that a number of Kildonan young men had been among the -fortunate explorers. The establishment had about it the air of a -Kildonan enterprise, and these elements added wider interest to the -Christian effort to evangelize the heathen, which was so dear to Mr. -Nisbet's heart. It was a high day for John Black, for he had felt it a -scandal that his church should be the only one of the four churches at -work in Rupert's Land not doing something for the aborigines of the -country. - - -INTO THE WILDERNESS. - -We are fortunate in having a letter, quoted in Dr. Gregg's "Short -History," giving in Mr. Nisbet's own words an account of the journey -into the wilderness. From this we make a few extracts: - -"All our goods were carried in carts; each cart was drawn by one ox, -harnessed something like a horse. Mrs. Nisbet and our little girl and a -young woman rode on a light wagon with a canvas top, such as you -sometimes use in Canada. For myself I was generally on horseback but -frequently walking, as the oxen do not go very fast. We had tents, such -as soldiers use, which we pitched every night, and in them we were -generally very comfortable. The Sabbaths were delightful to us. Both men -and animals were prepared for the weekly rest. It was pleasant to see -the poor oxen evidently enjoying the rich pasture of the wilderness and -the rest they had from their daily toil. We had regular Sabbath -services, and they were very devout. - -"We had a good many creeks and rivers to cross, and I dare say you would -have been much amused had you seen the plans that were fallen upon for -crossing such as were too deep for loaded carts. Few of my friends in -the east have seen a boat made with two cartwheels tied together and an -oilcloth spread over them, or one made of ox hides sewed together and -stretched on a rough frame, that would take two carts and their loads at -a time. Such were the contrivances for getting over streams where there -are no bridges or large boats by which we could cross. We passed over a -great deal of beautiful country, with hills and valleys, streams, lakes, -and ponds. Hundreds of ducks were swimming about in the little lakes, -and sometimes they furnished dinners for us. Sandhill cranes were also -seen occasionally, and a few of them were shot for our Sabbath dinners. -Forty days after we left our Red River homes we got to a place called -Carlton House, on the north branch of the great Saskatchewan River, and -there we camped for one week, while I went to see some places that I -could fix upon for our future home." - - -PRINCE ALBERT FOUNDED. - -At Carlton, George Flett, the interpreter of the mission, who had been -in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company at Edmonton, met the party. -He has since become known to the Church as its oldest living Indian -missionary. Born on the Saskatchewan of Scottish and Indian extraction, -he had received a good English education at the schools on Red River. -His wife was a member of the Ross family, being a sister of Mrs. John -Black. The gathering of missionary agents also included Mr. John McKay, -a Scoto-French-Indian native, who belonged to a family well known at Red -River for its energy and influence. John McKay was married to a sister -of Mrs. Nisbet, and he steadfastly clung to Mr. Nisbet in the -prosecution of the Indian work. - -The party at Fort Carlton made a considerable impression upon the -Indians. While the Indians were glad to see so many of the Red River -people coming to them, yet some trouble arose when the decision was made -to settle at a point sixty miles south-east of Carlton House and not far -from the forks where the north and south branches of the Saskatchewan -unite. No treaties had as yet been made with the Indians, and they -objected to the incomers erecting buildings, ploughing fields, and -taking possession of the land as the agents of the mission proposed to -do. George Flett was the useful man for the occasion. His mother's -people were Crees, and he was among the very band, whose members he -recognized as relations. With his characteristic shrewdness he claimed -his portion and gave permission to the Red River party to utilize his -rights. This claim seems to have been at once admitted by the Cree band -of the locality. The new mission was appropriately named after the -Prince Consort, Albert the Good, who had passed away a few years before. - - -MISSION WORK BEGUN. - -The plan of the establishment was soon vigorously worked out. During the -first year two small buildings were erected, and what was since known as -the large mission building in the year after. A school was immediately -opened, a farm begun, and every means taken to attract the Indians to -the place. As was not unnatural, the maimed, the halt, and the blind -were brought to the kind-hearted missionary, and it must be stated that -no small trouble was experienced in protecting the missionary from the -cunning and the lazy among the Indian bands. The Indian's view of -salvation is very often a willingness to accept the white man's religion -provided the consideration offered is sufficient. How to meet this -difficulty was one of Mr. Nisbet's chief concerns. - -For four years Mr. Black was the sole intermediary between the Foreign -Mission Committee of the Church and Mr. Nisbet. When the Presbytery of -Manitoba was established in 1870 matters took a slightly different -shape. A Foreign Mission Committee of Presbytery was formed, of which -Mr. Black was convener. - -Mr. Nisbet did such itinerant work as he was able. He journeyed to -Edmonton, a point upwards of 400 miles west of Prince Albert. He visited -the Indians of Carlton House once a month and had success with them. But -the management of an industrial centre, such as Prince Albert had -become, was plainly inconsistent with any large amount of sowing the -Gospel "broadcast" among the wandering tribes, from fifty to five -hundred miles away. Another difficulty overtook Prince Albert as an -Indian mission in a few years after its founding. It was the centre of a -fertile region very attractive to white settlers. The white settlement -led the bands of wandering Crees to retreat to more remote districts. -The writer in 1871 became a member of the Presbytery's Committee, of -which Mr. Black was convener, and well remembers the unrest of the -period. - -At this time the large expense of an establishment like Prince Albert -was meeting opposition in the Church and this, along with the other -considerations stated, brought much trouble to the venerable convener in -regard to the mission which he loved as a child of his own. In 1872 Dr. -Moore, of Ottawa, went as a delegate to the Saskatchewan, in behalf of -the General Assembly. His report led to the discontinuance of the -industrial phase of the mission, but it also rendered a tribute of -commendation and praise to the faithful work that had been done by the -founder, to the high reputation borne by the mission among all the bands -of Crees, and to the steady influence for righteousness attached to the -name of James Nisbet. In the course of time the Indian mission at Prince -Albert ceased to be, unless the mission school among a wandering band of -Sioux still maintained there be so regarded. John McKay, afterwards -ordained, was invited to a band of Crees north of Carlton, and till his -death ministered to Mistawasis' band. Other churches have taken hold of -the bands about Prince Albert, and to-day as a result direct or -indirect, of James Nisbet's work, few Indians of the district are -without the Gospel. - -Shortly after Dr. Moore's visit to Prince Albert, Mr. Nisbet and his -wife visited his old home in Ontario, and he was present at the General -Assembly of 1873. He returned to his dear Prince Albert, but being left -alone by the resignation of Rev. Edward Vincent who had come to -Manitoba, and finding his plans somewhat changed by the action of the -Church, he arrived with his wife at Kildonan, in September, seeking a -temporary rest. The writer well remembers them as they returned. Their -work seemed to be done, and the Presbytery soon decided to lay hands on -Hugh McKellar, an earnest student, and license and ordain him for the -work in Prince Albert. Mrs. Nisbet soon passed away in the home where -she was born, and eleven days afterward her husband followed her. They -are together in Kildonan churchyard. His grave marks the spot where lies -as true, brave and single-minded a man as ever laid a foundation stone -in the work of missions. - - -A NEW DEPARTURE. - -Though Mr. Black as Convener of the Foreign Mission Committee of the -Presbytery had some sympathy for the industrial ideal of Missions among -the Indians held by Mr. Nisbet, yet, on the decision of the General -Assembly being given, he loyally accepted the plan proposed, of -attending simply to evangelistic work among the tribes and to teaching -the young. It is to be remembered, however, that between 1866 and 1874 -circumstances had changed. It was evident in 1874 that the buffalo was -soon to be a thing of the past, and the Canadian Government approved the -plan of settling the Indians upon reserves and of teaching them to be -farmers. The policy of the Government thus left the Church to pursue its -own method. - -The Committee now began to extend its work. George Flett, who had left -Prince Albert Mission in 1869, was sent to two bands, one near Fort -Pelly, the other on the west side of Riding Mountain. These missions -were very successful. Mr. Flett was ordained as an Indian missionary, -and lived to see the Okanese Reserve on Little Saskatchewan entirely -Christianized. The Fort Pelly band was left to a young half-breed of Red -River, Cuthbert McKay, since dead, and has grown to be the Crowstand -Mission of to-day. In 1875 the Sioux or Dakota band of refugees from the -United States living on the Birdtail Creek were taken under the care of -the Presbytery's Foreign Mission Committee and a pure blooded Sioux -missionary from the States obtained for them. This mission is still -maintained, and is part of the constituency of the Birtle Indian -boarding school. - -Mr. Black lived long enough to see the Mistawasis, Okanese, Pelly, and -Birdtail missions fairly established. Nothing delighted him more than to -preside at the meeting of his committee, read the letters from the -missionaries, and then to write the necessary letters of counsel and -advice, and at times even of gentle fault-finding, which were agreed on. -All his friends lament that he passed away too soon to know of Round -Lake, File Hills, the western Qu'Appelle Valley reserves and the Portage -la Prairie, Birtle and Regina Indian schools. He saw enough, however, to -assure him that his dream of a Christianized Indian population would in -the end be realized. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -Red River Becomes Canadian. - - -The union of Red River Settlement with Canada was in the air in 1857. In -a letter to his brother, Mr. Black, after discussing the reasons given -by the settlers for the change, says in his own cautious way: "I do not -know whether Canadian annexation will much better them. However, it -looks as if the time was come for a change, and if we suffer some -inconvenience during the transition period perhaps 'the good time -coming' may compensate for all. I have taken no part for or against the -movement. I do not think it is good for ministers to jump into the -maelstrom of politics. Let them stop till they are pushed in. I have my -views and preferences, _and aiblins it wadna hae taen a muckle dunch to -ding me in_, but in the meantime I am better pleased to be out." - -While Mr. Black was thus so politic the leaders among the people of Red -River were by no means undecided. The movement seems to have taken so -strong a form that the greater part of the people, who were not -immediately connected with the Hudson's Bay Company, strongly favored -it. - -Ten or eleven years before this, the desire for self-government took a -much more disagreeable form. Petitions from some of the people of Red -River at that time were to the American Government asking it to "annex -the Red River Territory to the United States, and promising assistance -against the Hudson's Bay Company in case of war." - - -BUT WE SHALL BE FREE. - -This shameful proposal had completely failed, but now a large petition -to "The President of the Executive Council, Toronto, Canada," was signed -by "Roderick Kennedy and 574 others," reciting their grievances, and -appealing for reception by Canada. The petition says: "We love the -British Name! we are proud of that glorious fabric, the British -Constitution, raised by the wisdom, cemented and hallowed by the blood -of our forefathers.... It will be seen, therefore, that we have no other -choice than the Canadian plough and printing press, or the American -rifle and fugitive slave law." - -One of the most active and influential men in this movement was the Hon. -David Gunn, the leading elder in the Little Britain congregation. A -Caithness Highlander, he had come out in Lord Selkirk's time, had been -schoolmaster, meteorological observer, Smithsonian agent, and now took a -leading part in all public matters. Being the literary man of the -movement, he wrote a document setting forth very well the advantages of -the Red River country, and showing the profit the country would be to -Canada. This statement may be found in the government publications of -the time. Donald Gunn lived for many years after and became a member of -the Legislative Council of Manitoba after Confederation. - -Canada made a strong effort under the leadership of Chief Justice -Draper and others to obtain the Northwest, and the British Commons -ordered a complete investigation by committee into the case, but it took -a number of years more to bring about the desired result. - - -CANADIAN SETTLERS. - -Immediately after this movement, Canadian settlers began to drop by ones -and twos into the Red River Settlement. An important exploration of the -Red River, Assiniboine, and Saskatchewan Valleys took place by Henry -Youle Hind, and the report of this was at the time a mine of interesting -and useful information. The well-known Dr. Schultz arrived in 1859. Two -English-Canadians, Messrs. Buckingham and Coldwell, came to the -settlement at this time with a printing press, and began to publish the -_Nor'-Wester_, the first newspaper of the country. This paper soon -passed into other hands, and had a stormy existence, being regarded by -many, certainly by the Hudson's Bay Company, as a disturber of the -peace. The arrival of a number of aggressive and determined men during -this decade introduced much strife into the hitherto quiet and -easy-going settlement, and the weakness of the Hudson's Bay Company, -which was rather uncertain of its powers, encouraged restless spirits to -insubordination. The formation of what was called a "Canadian party" -during this time certainly did not improve the chances of a peaceful and -speedy union of the country with Canada. Shortly after the transfer the -writer remembers Mr. Black when speaking of the disturbed and clamorous -times through which we were passing, sighing for "the peaceful days of -the old Red River." Oh! but responded the writer, in his youthful -Canadian enthusiasm, "Surely you would not have the broad acres of Red -River locked up from cultivation! Life is hardly worth living without -progress!" "Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle in Cathay." "Well, -perhaps so," said Mr. Black, "but there are animals that like to lie at -the bottom of the pool and bask in peace and quiet." - - -THE GRASSHOPPERS. - -The steady flow of small groups of Canadians to the banks of the Red and -Assiniboine rivers, and the interest taken by a few of the -representatives in the Canadian Parliament led to negotiations of a more -definite kind between the Canadian government, the Imperial government -and the Hudson's Bay Company. In the year 1868 a destructive visitation -of grasshoppers took place in the Red River Settlement. Any one who has -not seen this locust invasion cannot imagine it. The pictures given by -the Prophet Joel were reproduced. Myriads of voracious insects ate up -every green thing, and heaps of their dead, decaying and putrid, filled -the air with disgusting odors. - -Sympathy in Britain and America was awakened for the people left without -food in Red River Settlement. The Hudson's Bay Company gave £6,000 stg. -to relieve the distress, and Canada sent her quota. Mr. John Black, as a -member of the Relief Executive, took an active part in relieving the -distress, and was in his element in comforting the discouraged and the -suffering. The Canadian government determined on a plan of assistance -which led to serious complications, though at the time, it seemed -[missing word] - - -JUDICIOUS CHARITY. - -The Canadian government thought it better to give public work to the -destitute than to bestow indiscriminate charity. Accordingly they -undertook to build the wagon road from Fort Garry to the Lake of the -Woods, which has since been known as the Dawson Road. This was really a -work of much importance, the distance of 110 miles through the wet -country being much shorter than the long circuit by Winnipeg River and -Lake Winnipeg. Though begun with the most benevolent intention it was -not long before the question was raised by what right the Canadian -government undertook it when they did not own the territory. - -The Canadian agents, Messrs. Snow and Mair, who were in charge of the -work, paid all those who chose to work upon the road, but there were -questions as to the rate of wages, method of payment, and the like, that -became bitter enough. - -Trifling remarks of the contractors and their assistants, as to the new -state of affairs likely to come to the country, to their seizure of -land, and dispossession of the old settlers and halfbreeds, were told -about, and a very disagreeable state of feeling was thus engendered. -"The Canadian Party" was certainly most unwise in its attitude to the -old settlers of the country, though it is quite evident also that -unreasonable suspicion took possession of the people of Red River. - -The leaders of opinion in the settlement were, however, in favor of the -change to join fortunes with Canada. Mr. Black was most outspoken in -favor of the advantage it would be to have Canadian law established, and -to be brought in closer touch with his own church, and the brethren -from whom for twenty years he had been in a measure severed. - - -THE FLAME BURSTS OUT. - -The negotiations between Canada and the Hudson's Bay Company had been -favorable, the wide fields of the Northwest were to become Canadian, and -a million and a half of dollars were to make up the loss to the veteran -company. Hon. William McDougall was chosen as first Governor and was -sent by way of Minnesota and Dakota to his new vice-royalty. - -Suddenly one of the Canadian party, on October 22, 1869, appeared before -the Master of Fort Garry and made affidavit that forty French -halfbreeds, fully armed and equipped, had taken possession of the -Queen's highway, some nine miles south of Fort Garry, and proposed to -prevent Mr. McDougall, the new Governor, entering the colony. This -startling news proved to be true and was a great surprise to the Company -and to all the English-speaking people of Red River. All seemed -paralyzed. Some were afraid of bloodshed, some thought the demonstration -of the French was mere bravado, some that after a parley with the -incoming Governor it would be arranged by his giving a promise of just -treatment and equal rights. The inactivity of the civil authorities -encouraged Riel, the French halfbreed leader of the unruly Metis. - -Riel was a vain-glorious fellow, and he must do something brilliant. The -party defending the "barriere" at St. Norbert began to tamper with the -mails. Next, though most of his followers opposed it, Riel, by a -_coup-de-main_, quartered a number of his men in the Fort, much to the -disgust of the Hudson's Bay officers. Here again there was criminal -inactivity on the part of the authorities. - -Riel, the dictator, became still more bold, and issued a call to the -parishes to send delegates to a meeting in the Fort. A show of -opposition, even at this stage, on the part of the English-speaking -people would probably have checked the insolent desperado at the Fort. -The feeling of disgust on the part of the English at the impudent -assumption of power by Riel was strong. Why, then, it may be asked, did -not the spirit of their race assert itself at all hazards? - - -DIVIDED COUNSELS. - -The answer is easily given. Jealousy and rivalry prevailed among the -English speaking people themselves. The leader in the Canadian party was -regarded as a selfish and unscrupulous man. He had for years instilled -discontent through the columns of the _Nor'-Wester_. Many of the people -of the settlement disliked him intensely. The incoming governor seemed -to the people to be simply the shadow of this man. Colonel Dennis, the -head of the surveying party was personally popular, but lacked -penetration and decision. Had Governor McTavish, who unfortunately was -in poor health, been able to make a call on the loyalty of the people, -all would have been well, but this sentiment of distrust and dislike -prevented it, and nothing was done. The Bishop of Rupert's Land declared -he had gone to the first meeting of the Council of Assiniboine "prepared -to recommend a forcible putting down of the insurrection." Mr. Black was -as firm as any man could be against the arrogant impostor who held the -Fort. Mr. Bannatyne, who understood the French people thoroughly, was -forward in endeavoring to avert the disaster, but inaction, arising from -mutual hatred, lost the opportunity, and encouraged by this, the French -halfbreeds in the Fort grew to be six hundred in number. - - -TOO LATE. - -Then it was too late. The Canadian garrison in Dr. Schultz's store but -aggravated the feeling; the gathering of the English halfbreeds and -others in Kildonan church only roused bitterness without accomplishing -anything. It was useless to throw water on the fire, after standing and -gazing listlessly at the blaze till it had grown strong. The stealing by -Riel and his followers at the "barriere" of goods which were being -imported to the settlement, the breaking open of the stores and looting -the cellars of the Fort by his hungry horde, the killing of Scott, the -suffering of the prisoners confined in Fort Garry, and the loud -vapouring and personal insults of the insolent chief of the "New Nation" -were part of the penalty inflicted on the people of the country, for the -masterly inactivity arising from divided counsels, which had been shown. -Mr. Black and the Highland parish stood sullenly by amazed and disgusted -at the current of events. With few exceptions the whole parish would -have responded to the call of authority, but the call never came. Mr. -McDougall issued a proclamation when he was no Governor, Col. Dennis was -divided in his mind and had no real authority, the true source of -power--the Company--felt itself unable to act, and in the meantime the -rebellion triumphed. - - -THE COLLAPSE. - -The rebellion had been agoing for two months, and Riel seemed at the -summit of his power, when, two days after Christmas, Donald A. Smith, a -prominent member of the Hudson's Bay Company, arrived from Canada, at -Fort Garry. The Canadian government had realized its blunder, and now -sought to do by negotiation what it should have done three months -before. If instead of the hasty visit of Hon. Joseph Howe, which itself -did some good, two members of the government, one French and the other -English, had come up and conferred with the people, there would have -been no rebellion. It is so easy to be wise after the event! Mr. Smith -was virtually a prisoner in Riel's hands, was watched by him with -suspicion, and was treated as discourteously by the petty tyrant as he -dared to do. However, by degrees, the Commissioner, who displayed great -tact as well as decision, began to sap the foundation of Riel's -authority. A monster meeting of the people was held January 19th, in the -open air at Fort Garry, with the thermometer at 20 degrees below zero. -Riel, with the true instincts of a desperado, had seized a number of the -papers sent by the Governor-General of Canada. The mass meeting, -however, resulted in a demand for the election of representatives to -consider the invitation from Mr. Smith to formulate their grievances. - -One of the most useful and trusted men at this time in the Red River -settlement was A. G. B. Bannatyne, merchant and postmaster, in the -village of Winnipeg, near Fort Garry. Mr. Bannatyne was the real -representative chosen to the convention for Winnipeg, but an American -mob by force elected one of themselves. Mr. Bannatyne acted as -intermediary between the English and French, and long after wielded much -influence in Winnipeg. He was, however, openly opposed to the leader of -the Canadian party. - -Step by step the power of Riel waned until on the 4th of March, -probably to awe the people and regain his weakening power, he committed -the desperate act of executing Thomas Scott, a Canadian, contrary to the -pleadings of Donald A. Smith, Mr. Bannatyne and others. That was the -beginning of the end. The party to meet the Canadian government, bearing -a Bill of Rights, left soon after for Ottawa. The news of the execution -of Scott threw Canada into a blaze. Ten thousand volunteers would have -reported in a day to go to Red River, if they had been called. The name -of Riel was despised and hated throughout the English-speaking parishes -and by many of the French. The Canadian government busied itself in -passing the Manitoba Act, which established a province in a part of -Rupert's Land. The Wolseley expedition started as soon as the spring -opened, and the followers of Riel began to leave him. The back of the -rebellion was broken. Late in August, 1870, the vanguard of the -expedition reached Fort Garry. Shortly before their arrival Riel and two -of his lieutenants left the Fort. The 60th regiment were anxious to have -a brush with the rebels, but the three captains, as the troops appeared -in the distance, "folded their tents like the Arabs and silently stole -away." - - -RESTORING PEACE. - -The coming of Governor Archibald and the establishment of Canadian -institutions took place in the same year as the arrival of the -expedition. But it took years to establish peace. The writer came to -Manitoba in the year after this, and well remembers the bitterness and -hatred which continually showed themselves. The two old English-speaking -factions struggled for supremacy. The influx of new people in due time, -however, overcame the feuds. - -The sentiment against Riel and his associates burned as strongly years -after as it did in the time of the troubles. Peace never came really -until in Chief Justice Wood's court Riel and Lepine were found guilty of -murder and sedition. The springs of action in communities are hard to -trace, but it is plain to see that the burning questions which have -agitated Manitoba, and through her the whole Dominion, since that time, -have gained their intensity from the terrible months--for they were -nothing short of that--from November to March, of the Red River -rebellion. - -Undoubtedly the heat of feeling of the "Canadian party" included for a -time Mr. Black as being one of the other wing of the English-speaking -people. But in his case this soon passed away. His personal character, -his kindly and friendly manner, his open hospitality, and his unwavering -loyalty to British institutions made new-comers find in the "Apostle of -Red River" a friend, willing to aid all. Some of the more extreme of the -so-called "Canadian party" attempted to misinterpret a casual remark of -the good old pioneer to his disadvantage, but it was not accepted -generally, and a few years after Mr. Black was as acceptable as a -preacher to the rising congregation of Winnipeg as in his own beloved -Kildonan. Often, often did he commiserate the people compelled to go -through such an experience as that of 1869-70. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -The New Settlements. - - -To some, the story of early settlement appears prosaic. To the deep -thinking, there is in it romance of the most thrilling kind. Who has not -read with sympathetic interest the story of Abraham going into a far -country that God would tell him of? How Scottish hearts have been moved -with the accounts of the Highland Clearances, when thousands of crofts -and straths and glens were left behind, and their occupants hurried -forth to find homes in Pictou, Glengarry, or on the banks of the Hudson! - -It is not only in the painful separations, the leaving behind of spots -and scenes consecrated with the dearest memories, and in some degree the -sense of failure in having to give up old associations forced by hard -necessity; but the tearful outlook into the unknown, the dread of -meeting the inhospitality of a cold world, and the utter feeling of -uncertainty that give its human interest to the emigrant ship as it -sails forth from the old-world port, or the settler's wagon as it wends -its way through the bush or over the "interminable prairie." - -All the pathetic scenes of early settlers' life became familiar in -connection with the Red River becoming a part of Canada. As soon as the -Rebellion had been quelled, and Manitoba became open for settlement, a -movement took place from all parts of Canada to occupy the fertile -prairies of the West. Farmers, whose families were finding the small -farm of one hundred acres or less on which they had grown up too strait -for them, sold off their possessions and journeyed to Manitoba to take -homesteads and pre-emptions on its virgin prairies. - -For the first few years the journey was made by rail to St. Paul, in the -American State of Minnesota. Here the old-fashioned settler's wagon with -its canvas top--the prairie schooner as it has been called--was revived; -the household goods and a stock of provisions were packed in closely, -and after them the women and children entered to undertake a journey of -nearly five hundred miles to the new land of hope in the north. The -father and sons drove the herd of cattle and the extra horses; and from -camping place to camping place groups of settlers' wagons moved in daily -caravans over the prairie trails. - -In one such wagon the writer remembers to have seen an old lady of over -eighty years, who, seated in her commodious arm chair, held her post -among the boxes and bedding and farming tools over this long and weary -route. At a stopping place in the then utterly wild territory of Dakota, -the writer remembers to have seen the quaint entry in the register of -the wayside hostelry of J. W., "Citizen of the World." The traveller had -evidently been impressed with the illimitable stretch of the prairie, so -like the sea. At times the unbridged coulée, with its depth of water, -was to be crossed, when all the goods had to be unloaded from the -wagons, the goods and chattels floated across, the horses and cattle -made to swim over; and a delay, sometimes dangerous, of several hours -checked the forward advance of the caravan. Sometimes the fierce storm -of the prairie rose, and compelled the parties to keep camp for two or -three days. The writer calls to mind one storm in 1872 that blew over -tents, drove horses and cattle hither and thither over the prairies, and -well-nigh brought bands of travellers to despair. Such are the dramatic -features of frontier life. - -At times the settler and his family went by rail as far as the Red -River, and reached a town two hundred and twenty-five miles by land -above Fort Garry. Here a Red River steamer was taken, and by following -seven hundred miles of the winding river the destination was reached. -The Red River steamer was of the Mississippi type, flat-bottomed and -easily running over shallows. Indeed, speaking in western phrase, it -could run over the prairie if there was a good heavy dew upon the grass. -The extra goods were towed in barges behind the steamer, and old-timers -still delight to recount the picturesque scenes connected with the Red -River steamboat. At times, when the river had flooded its banks, the -steamer lost her course in the night, and was compelled to fasten her -bow to a tree on a prairie bluff till the morning. Thousands of the -early settlers of Manitoba remember the river steamers--the delay of -days together when stranded on the rapids--the wretched meals, and the -primitive accommodation. Arrived at Fort Garry, the settler found the -troubles and discomforts soon forgotten in the hurry and bustle of a new -life. - -Then the toilsome journey, on steamboat or over muddy roads, with -myriads of mosquitoes and inevitable hardships, was past, and the -steamer "tied up" at the warehouse, or the prairie caravan crossed the -ferry of the Assiniboine and camped by the walls of Fort Garry. The sun -seemed to shine all the brighter and the air was all the more -exhilarating since the goal had been reached and the land of promise -entered on. - -At a distance of about half a mile from the fort was now springing up -the straggling village of Winnipeg. This nucleus of the present city was -a separate place, with different ideals and often divergent aspirations, -from old Fort Garry. For years the struggle prevailed as to which should -rule, but the increase of population, the influx of men of wider view, -and the softening influence of time abolished the rivalries, and the -Hudson's Bay Company has in late years entered into all the objects and -prospects of the city along with its most enterprising citizens. The -picture of that early Winnipeg is a strange contrast to the city of -to-day. - -Soon after his arrival the family patriarch and his stalwart sons found -their way to the land office, inspected the list of vacant lands, -ascertained where acquaintances had gone, and after visits and journeys -hither and thither, made up their minds where to take up lands from the -embarrassing plenty that was offered them. New townships were opening up -in all directions where the surveyors had gone, and east and west new -settlements sprang up like magic. - -The Kildonan people, from their greater intelligence than that of their -neighbors, and their long residence in the country, were naturally much -consulted as to the best parts of the country and the localities most -desirable for settlement. Their habits of life, however, being more -pastoral than agricultural, had led them to different views from those -taken by the majority of the new-comers who were farmers. The writer -remembers very well in 1871 hearing of several Canadian families, who -had broken the immemorial custom of settling along the river bank, and -had ventured beyond Bird's Hill on the one hand, and Stony Mountain on -the other, several miles from the river. These were looked upon by some -of the old settlers as simply mad, their failure was prophesied, and the -expectation was strongly held that they would be frozen on the plains, -or lost in the snow-drifts if they attempted during the winter to find -their way to the old settlement. To-day, tens of thousands of Manitoba -settlers have their comfortable houses on the open plains. - - -SOUND THE GOSPEL CLARION. - -Wherever the settler goes, there must the herald of the Gospel follow -him. Many of the early settlers of Manitoba came from the congested -agricultural districts of Bruce, Huron and Lanark counties, in Ontario. -As these were strongly Presbyterian localities, a very large proportion -of the incoming settlers belonged to the church whose foundation John -Black had been for twenty years so industriously and firmly laying. The -Presbytery of Manitoba had been formed just in time (1870) to deal with -this great influx of people, and applications came to it from almost -every new locality to have the Gospel preached. It was a great -responsibility. Money and men were scarce, and the source of both these -lay in the older provinces, from which so many of the older settlers -were coming. The doctrine was laid down that it was the duty of settled -pastors, ordained missionaries, college professors, students and also -efficient elders, to occupy the new and rising settlements, and the -leading members of Presbytery cherished it as an ambition to be the -first church to preach the Gospel in each rising settlement. That -ambition has been largely fulfilled in the quarter of a century that has -elapsed since it was formed. It involved great self-denial to accomplish -this. But the spirit prevailed. It has led to the enormous growth that -has taken place, as seen in the fact that the nine preaching places of -1870 have increased to the vast number, north and west of Lake Superior, -of 839 in 1897. - - -CHURCH STATESMANSHIP. - -Much more, however, than this was necessary. The new province of -Manitoba was unknown. People do not send their contributions largely to -places of which they know nothing. There were many in the eastern -provinces who had no confidence in the future of Manitoba. One of the -leaders of the Church denounced it as a frozen Siberia, and declared -himself unwilling to spend a dollar of mission money within its -hyperborean limits. - -It became the duty of John Black and his colleagues to do away with this -false notion. They knew well their advantage as belonging to the -Presbyterian Church. It is a church which legislates in its highest -court--the General Assembly--for the weak as well as for the strong; for -the maligned as well as for the popular; for the distant as well as for -the central interests. Accordingly the Manitoba men began the work by -letter, and full report, and map, and speech, and personal influence, -with the purpose of letting the church know the capabilities of the -country, and the prospect of a large population coming to cultivate its -fertile soil. - -And this was not a mere spasmodic effort, but it has continued from -that day to this. The Presbytery of Manitoba kept up a constant -agitation as to its wants, knowing that the kindly mother in the east -but needed to hear the cry of her children and she would relieve them. -And so it has been. The outlook of the church has been so widened that -to day money flows freely to Manitoba, Assiniboia, Alberta, Saskatchewan -and British Columbia for the wide mission work of the west. - - -HARD WORK. - -But the organization and development of the work in the new settlements -was a mighty task. In Mr. Black's letters are frequently found: -"Received your letter as I was leaving to visit Grassmere"; "Have just -returned from the new settlement in Springfield"; "Paid a visit on -church work to the Portage," and the like. This was to an equal or -larger extent the same with every ordained missionary, professor and -other laborer. The great question became, Who could do the most, not, -Who could escape the most. The work was carried on during the winter as -thoroughly as in summer. - -In 1874 one of the ministers undertook to supply a new settlement, forty -miles from Winnipeg, once a month during winter. Preaching at the -distant point on Sabbath morning he came towards the city, about half -way took another service among people who had come in that very year, -and then struck homeward across the treeless, pathless, uninhabited -prairie, having nothing to guide him but the stars. - -The roads over the prairie in early days were nothing but trails running -in a most perplexing manner, and missionaries were constantly losing -their way, and sometimes spent the night in the shelter of a bluff, or -solitary stack in the wide hay meadow. In some years the roads were very -bad. To become "mired" or "bogged" in a "slough," and to have the -shaganappi or Indian pony coolly lie down in the mud, was an occurrence -by no means uncommon. Winter with its biting blasts gave no respite to -the faithful missionary. - -The history of Manitoba missions has been a marvellous record of -faithful, uncomplaining, self-denying service. Men have been placed in -charge of six or seven townships with settlers scattered sparsely -through them. They have carried on for years, in winter's cold and -summer's heat, service at six and seven points, three and even four on a -Sabbath, and all this on small and poorly paid stipends. Truly Christ -said, "My kingdom is not of this world." - - -THE HONOR ROLL. - -Did time and general interest permit, the growth from year to year, and -from district to district, in Manitoba might be traced; the special work -of faithful missionaries might be given and their great services -recounted. This is not our present purpose. The presbytery, in its early -missionary plans in 1871, consisted of Revs. John Black, James Nisbet, -William Fletcher, John McNabb, and the writer. Mr. Nisbet was five -hundred miles west, at Prince Albert, and the little knot of members -seemed too small to face so large a work; but missionary after -missionary was sent by the generous and patriotic home mission committee -in Toronto. Prof. Hart, a missionary of the Church of Scotland in -Canada, came to join us in the following year, and Rev. James Robertson -two years after that. - -[Illustration: WINNIPEG IN 1870.] - -Frazer, Matheson, Donaldson, and Vincent were active members of -presbytery and worthy foundation builders. McKellar, Bell and Stewart -were a trio who did yeoman service in the splendid farming region of -Portage la Prairie and Gladstone. Scott and Borthwick and Ross took hold -of Southern Manitoba and laid the foundations of numerous congregations, -such as Emerson, Carman, Morden and others, now self-sustaining and -influential. Alex. Campbell, James Douglas, A. H. Cameron, and Alexander -Smith all earned a good degree in the later seventies, and are still -residents of the west. Such men as McGuire, Wellwood, Donald McRae, -Hodnett, and Polson were hard-working pioneers in the last years in -which John Black yet remained with us. - -St. Paul's list of worthies was well called a cloud of witnesses in his -wonderful chapter in the Hebrews, and we honor those whose names have -become world wide for their faith and self-sacrifice; but many of the -names now mentioned are also those of men of unflinching courage, of -splendid endurance, of godly lives, and truest influence. The fact that -numbers of them, and others who have since come to the west, were -willing to bury themselves in obscure mission stations for the sake of -Christ, but showed them to be men of the same spirit as John Black, and -their virtues call for admiration and regard. - - -SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES. - -The great mission work, from 1871 to 1881, was of the most difficult and -trying kind. The settlements were new, the people were very scattered, -were strangers to one another, their resources were small, and mission -work was carried on under the greatest disadvantages. But such -faithful, self-denying work never goes unrewarded. During one-half of -this decade the country suffered from the terrible plague of the -grasshoppers. The new farmers all through the settlements were greatly -discouraged. About the year 1875 there were thousands of settlers of -Manitoba reduced to the scantiest fare. The writer recalls those dark -days of the new settlement. - -If ever the consolations of religion were needed, and indeed largely -appreciated, it was during the years of the grasshopper scourge. The -services were held in settlers' houses. The settlers kindly invited the -missionaries after service to share their scanty fare, and many a time -the missionary felt ashamed to be a burden on those who were literally -suffering from the lack of sufficient food. The settlers were, however, -in a country from which they had not means to return to their eastern -homes, and so, ragged and hungry, they were compelled to wait to be -delivered by a Higher Hand. In 1876 the last grasshoppers left Manitoba, -and gradually the new settlements have risen, till now neatly built -Presbyterian churches dot the landscape in all quarters of Manitoba, and -the sacrifice of pioneer missionaries, elders and people has been -rewarded. - - -EARLY WINNIPEG. - -Perhaps the most picturesque and successful example of mission effort -was that in what was at the beginning of the period the village of -Winnipeg. For years before the transfer of the Red River country to -Canada service had been held by Mr. Black in the Court House near Fort -Garry. There had been little growth. The expectation roused by the new -state of things led to the erection of a small Presbyterian church in -the village. John Black obtained some $400 assistance from Canada, and -erected a wooden building, 30 × 40 feet. This building, yet unfinished, -but sufficiently advanced to be used, was opened for public worship by -Rev. Dr. Black on December 3rd, 1868. - -The completion of this building was interfered with by the Rebellion of -1869-70, but the arrival of the troops and the coming of a few Canadians -led to the partial fitting up of the church in 1870, a committee -consisting mostly of the officers and men of the volunteer force doing -the work necessary. A view of the cut given herewith will show the -appearance of the church. The original intention was to have a tower on -the top, and in the sketch the timbers are shown which were to have been -the mainstays. For a year these posts were an eyesore to the community, -but one night they disappeared. It is said that the sexton, acting on a -hint from some quarter, clambered on the roof and removed the offending -posts. - -The interior of the church was somewhat ambitious for those times. The -pulpit had a high Gothic backpiece, in harmony with the churchly windows -to be seen in the sketch. The committee of the troops in 1870 -partitioned off a portion of the interior as ante-rooms, and left the -church seated for about one hundred and fifty persons. To this little -building John Black gave the name Knox church, in memory of the mother -church in Toronto, of which Dr. Burns, the patron of the Red River -mission, had been pastor. - - -KNOX CHURCH ORGANIZED. - -In October, 1871, the writer was placed in charge of Knox church, and -regular services twice a day were begun. John Black took the most lively -interest in everything connected with the congregation. He knew that it -represented the movement in a city which was to become the central -fortress of Presbyterianism in Manitoba and in all the far west. The -congregation was organized in 1872 with eleven members, and a session -was elected in the following year. In 1874 the congregation had grown to -have seventy-three members, and unanimously called Rev. James Robertson, -of Norwich, Ontario, and though small in numbers guaranteed a salary of -$2,000 per annum. In 1872 the church building had been enlarged, again -in 1873 and a third addition took place in 1875. During the pastorate of -Mr. Robertson, which lasted seven years, there was a large immigration -to the province. Knox church grew very rapidly. Mr. Robertson was a most -faithful pastor, and took an especial interest in the incoming -population. He was ever willing to give a helping hand to the lonely or -discouraged newcomer. Knox church has ever been known as a great -supporter of the home mission work of the Church. - -[Illustration: KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1871.] - -As has been well said: "The greatest enterprise in which the -congregation engaged, in addition to its regular and missionary work in -Mr. Robertson's pastorate, was the new Knox church building. This is -known as the second Knox church. This was largely accomplished through -the energy and personal effort of the pastor. Indeed so sedulously did -the pastor work up the subscription list, that it has been said that it -was in this that Mr. Robertson laid the foundation of the great success -that he has since gained in finances as Superintendent of Missions." The -congregation had in 1879 grown to have four hundred names upon the roll, -and thus desired to have a more comfortable place of worship. The second -Knox church, as will be seen from the accompanying illustration, was a -handsome and commanding building. In August, 1881, the first colony -from Knox church went off to form St. Andrew's church. This was placed -in the northern part of the city, and was begun just in time to meet the -great railway population which came in in connection with the Canadian -Pacific Railway. It was ministered to by the Rev. C. B. Pitblado. These -two congregations represented the Presbyterianism of Winnipeg during the -life of Dr. Black, but he always believed in the growth of Winnipeg. How -greatly he would have rejoiced could he have lived to see the handful he -had nursed and seen begun as a congregation in the little wooden church -with eleven members, develop into seven self-sustaining congregations -and two missions, with nine church buildings in all to-day, numbering -two thousand five hundred and fifty-four communicants in the city of -Winnipeg. - -As we have said before, it has often been spoken of regretfully by the -friends of the pioneer that John Black was taken away just when the -fuller measure of the success of Presbyterianism in the great west was -dawning. However, Simeon-like, he was satisfied. He lived to see the -foundations well laid in the new settlements, including the new city of -the prairies. He saw the mission work become too large for management by -the ordinary machinery of the presbytery. He was quite in sympathy with -his brethren as to the necessity of a special agent being set apart to -superintend the rapidly rising missions, and when Dr. Robertson was -unanimously chosen as superintendent of missions, though Mr. Black -regretted his being taken from Knox church congregation, yet he rejoiced -in the appointment and gave his heartiest congratulation to the new -superintendent. Dr. Robertson had just begun his work, which has -yielded such a magnificent fruitage to the cause of Christ in the West, -while the good pastor of Kildonan was struggling for health in the last -few months of his life. How often do we see the true, the good, the -noble, thus - - - "By affliction touched and saddened." - - "But the glories so transcendant - That around their memories cluster, - And on all their steps attendant, - Make their darkened lives resplendent - With such gleams of inward lustre." - - -[Illustration: KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1879.] - -[Illustration: MANITOBA COLLEGE, 1872.] - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -College and Schools. - - -Next to John Black's desire for the spiritual good of the people among -whom he labored, was his anxiety for the education of the young. Born in -Scotland, where to be illiterate is looked upon as disgraceful; brought -up under teachers in the parish school, who had a real love of knowledge -and whose joy it was to select from their pupils every "lad of pairts"; -afterwards well trained in a higher institution in New York State; and -having finished his course in Canada at a time when a new educational -impulse led to the founding of Knox College, the pastor of Kildonan -could scarcely fail to be - - -AN EDUCATIONIST. - -His bent of mind constantly showed itself in his desire to help forward -promising youths. It was not enough to him that the parish school of -Kildonan should be the best in the Red River Settlement. He took those -who were looking forward to professional life, and in his own study -drilled them in the Latin and Greek classics, with which he was so -familiar. A number of the Kildonan lads went on to higher positions, -led in their earlier stages by his kindly hand. - -Higher educational facilities were not wanting to Kildonan, for upon the -borders of the parish, and beside the very church where until 1851 the -fathers of the Kildonan people had attended public worship, was St. -John's College. Here a good education was given, and, so far as known to -the writer, there were no restrictions placed upon those students who -were not members of the Church of England; but John Black desired to -mould the leaders of the Presbyterian people after a fashion to preserve -the best traditions of the race from which they sprang. - -The small number of people in the Red River Settlement, and their -remoteness from highly civilized life, was for a time an objection to -the founding of another college on the banks of the Red River. Now, -however, the vista of hope was opening out before the country, as a new -province was entering on its career as one of the Canadian sisterhood. -The Kildonan school reached the culmination of its excellence during the -years 1870 and 1871 under the direction of Mr. David B. Whimster, a -teacher from western Ontario. The attendance was large, the educational -interest was great, and a goodly number of the best pupils were being -instructed in Latin and French by Mr. Black. Now seemed the time for -carrying out the dream which the Kildonan pastor had long cherished. - - -THE COLLEGE PLANNED. - -In the autumn of 1870, the very year in which the young province of -Manitoba was born, a provisional board of twelve of the leading -Presbyterians of the province signed a prospectus and circulated it -through the province inviting assistance for an institution to give a -training in Classics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Natural History, Moral and -Mental Philosophy, and the Modern Languages. We may certainly say there -was no restricted view in the minds of the founders of the infant -college. Early in 1871, £300 sterling had been subscribed on the Red -River, and before the meeting of the General Assembly material for the -new building had been secured and the building was expected to be -sufficiently advanced for use in the autumn of the year. - -The General Assembly met that year in Quebec, and the Rev. William -Fletcher, a commissioner from Manitoba, strongly presented the case for -the new college. - - -THE ASSEMBLY DECIDES. - -As usual "some doubted," but the Assembly entered with spirit upon the -project, and after certain negotiations the writer was appointed to go -to Manitoba and lay the foundations of the new institution. He was -ordained for the work in Gould Street church, Toronto, in company with -Dr. MacKay of Formosa, and pushed on to reach Manitoba before winter. -After a long and toilsome journey, in October the writer arrived at Red -River, and looks back with pleasure to the first night spent in company -with John Black at Kildonan manse. The Rev. William Fletcher and the -writer on arriving at Fort Garry could find no accommodation in the -crowded hotel in Winnipeg, and accordingly they walked down the four -miles or more to the manse on a pleasant autumn evening. - -The Apostle of the Red River, with a mass of iron gray hair, as shown in -his portrait, with well marked and yet kindly face, and his Dumfrieshire -Doric, not yet displaced by forty years of absence from his native -moorlands, was in high spirits. So often had the people of Red River -seen those coming to them foiled in their plans by the too early -approach of winter that their fears had been awakened lest another -disappointment would reach them. But the journey had been made, and now -the pioneer, whose tastes had always remained scholastic and literary, -even in the remote solitudes of the west, saw one of his strongest -anticipations about to be realized. He spoke of the youths ready to go -on with their work, of the numbers coming into the country, of the -bright prospects of the Church, and the value of education as a factor -of national growth. Late into the night all phases of the subject were -discussed and plans laid for immediately beginning work. - - -MANITOBA COLLEGE BEGUN. - -A few days afterward the provisional board met, and the name "Manitoba -College" was adopted for the new institution--a name which has meant -much in the educational development of the western prairies. On November -10th, 1871, classes were opened, and the work immediately took hold of -the minds and hearts of the Presbyterian people of the country, and of -many others as well. The first building was of logs covered with siding, -and so Manitoba College while not emulating the fame of the log college, -out of which great Princeton College grew, yet has a similarity in its -first housing and surroundings. The cut on page 130 gives a view of the -first college building at Kildonan, with the Kildonan church in the -background. - -In the year following the opening of the college the staff was -strengthened by the arrival of the Rev. Thomas Hart, B.D., who was the -representative of the Church of Scotland in Canada. Professor Hart came -under an arrangement with the Church of Scotland Synod to take part in -the educational work, and has in the quarter of a century since his -coming labored with unwearied diligence for the good of the college. The -co-operation of the two branches of the Church in college work three -years before the union of the Churches proved the advisability of the -scheme of union, and was the harbinger of that event which has been such -a blessing to religion throughout the Dominion of Canada. - - -REMOVAL TO WINNIPEG. - -The college steadily progressed for two sessions, when an event took -place which seriously tried the stability and attachment to principle of -the Presbyterians of the country, more especially of the people of -Kildonan. This was nothing less than the proposed removal of the -newly-founded college from Kildonan to Winnipeg. There can be no doubt -that this was one of the most trying things to Mr. Black in his whole -experience. Kildonan was four or five miles distant from the rising -capital of the province. Three miles nearer the city than Manitoba -College stood St. John's College. The Methodist Church had opened an -academy in the heart of Winnipeg, and the disadvantages of fair -development under which Manitoba College lay at Kildonan were manifest. -The matter came up in the Presbytery of Manitoba, and the scheme -favorable to beginning work in the provincial centre was carried by the -casting vote of the Moderator. It was naturally a great grief to the -people of Kildonan, and especially to their earnest pastor. To see the -longed-for tree of knowledge so speedily plucked up by the roots seemed -to the good old pioneer unnatural and uncalled for. And yet it was the -struggle between reason and sentiment. The good of the institution -itself and the plan to be adopted for its greatest usefulness must be -the highest considerations. The matter was necessarily taken to the -General Assembly. Mr. Black had not intended to be present that year at -the General Assembly, but at the wish of Kildonan itself went in order -that he might give the view of the people against the removal of the -college. All who were present at that Assembly will remember the address -of the valiant representative. With singular clearness and the highest -dignity, though with deep emotion, he recounted the struggles of the -people of Kildonan, the sacrifices they had made for the Church and -country, the hopes that had been awakened, and the damage it would do -the college among the relatively small number of Presbyterians yet -settled in the country. The Assembly was deeply impressed by the appeal -of the devoted and unselfish advocate. The writer recalls the fact of -one of the most respected pillars of the church, Hon. John McMurrich, -coming to him privately and saying, "I quite agree with the argument in -favor of removing the college to the rising town, but it does seem hard -that after all the struggles of the faithful pioneers of Presbyterianism -on the Red River, and especially after the devoted and self-sacrificing -life that John Black has lived, that there can be found no way in which -their wishes may be gratified." There was not a member of the General -Assembly who did not feel in the same way as good old John McMurrich. -But it was a critical moment in the history of northwestern -Presbyterianism. To have hesitated at that time would have been to take -up the same movement in a few years again with the added difficulty of a -falling cause and a sense of failure. - - -DEPUTATION SENT. - -The Assembly acted with extreme caution and discernment in the matter. A -commission of two of its members, Drs. Ure, of Goderich, and Cochrane, -of Brantford, the former an old fellow-student and warm friend of Mr. -Black, was appointed to visit Manitoba and report upon the case. The -commission decided that after a year the college should be removed to -Winnipeg, and carry on its whole work there. This was naturally a great -disappointment to Mr. Black. He was not convinced by the decision, and -feared especially that hurt would be done the college among the old -settlers of the country. He quoted in confirmation of his opinion the -statement made by the Bishop of Rupert's Land, the head of St. John's -College, that the removal was a mistake. - -In this John Black, to his own surprise and happiness also, found -himself mistaken. The Kildonan people, to their infinite credit, stood -true to their principles and in the next and succeeding years, numbers -of their young men were educated in their own college in Winnipeg, -notwithstanding their feeling of disappointment at the loss of the -college. Acting in the same manner as he had done when his views were -not carried out in regard to the policy of managing the Prince Albert -mission, the true-hearted Presbyterian pastor still gave his unwavering -support to the college, and for several years when the college undertook -the instruction of a small band of theological students, came, in -company with Dr. Robertson, at considerable inconvenience to himself, -and unrewarded except by the gratitude of the board and the high -appreciation of the students, to deliver lectures in church history of -which he was so complete a master. It was with the deepest appreciation -of his scholarship and high character that the Board of Manitoba -College congratulated him in 1876, when the sister institution in the -Church, Queen's College, conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon -the one who had been the originator and strong supporter of general and -theological education among the Presbyterians of the western prairies. - - -THE UNIVERSITY ESTABLISHED. - -The college continued to grow and, after the union of 1875, obtained a -building of its own in the northern part of Winnipeg. It became in 1877, -along with the Church of England College of St. John and the Roman -Catholic College of St. Boniface, a part of the University of Manitoba, -which was established in that year. From the first it took the lead in -the University of Manitoba, and to-day has upwards of one hundred and -eighty graduates in Arts. Dr. Black was among the earliest -representatives of the college on the council of the university. The -needs of the college became so great that in 1881 the beautiful college -building represented in the accompanying cut was erected at a cost of -$40,000. The Marquis of Lome laid the corner stone of the new college. -Dr. Black lived to see the erection of the building, but passed away too -soon to witness its occupation in the autumn of 1882. - -The difficulties of the college were many during these early years. As -has been said, "this part of its history was the period of uncertainty, -and of many sleepless nights for its professors. Eleven or twelve years -of no visible means of support, of inevitable friction, arising from the -necessary change from Kildonan to Winnipeg, of an utterly insufficient -staff for undertaking the university work in which it early took part, -and of its professors each weighted down with as much missionary work -as an ordinary missionary, to enable them to gain remuneration from the -Home Mission Committee--these were the struggles of development with -which the young organism grew into strength." No one was more -sympathetic than John Black in encouraging the professors in their toil. - -During its whole history Manitoba College has been a missionary centre -for the west. The authorities of the college have always been anxious to -make the college in every way useful to the Church. Its professors have -taken a very active part in the home mission work and Indian missions, -and its students have been strongly possessed with the missionary -spirit. Before the college had the status of a theological college, in -co-operation with the Presbytery of Manitoba, it gave instruction to -students in theology with the approval of the General Assembly. In the -year following that of the death of Dr. Black, Manitoba College was -granted a regular theological department, and this part of the college -work has been well organized and maintained under Dr. King and Professor -Baird. No less than 81 graduates in theology have left the walls of the -college between 1878 and the present time (1897). In token of its -absorbing interest in home mission work, Manitoba College has willingly -placed itself at the service of the Church in conducting a summer -session in theology, for the better supply of the mission stations of -the synods of Manitoba and British Columbia. Dr. Black would have -greatly rejoiced, could he have seen the present prosperity of the -institution for which he prayed and labored so long. - - -PUBLIC SCHOOLS. - -The change made by the first parliament of Manitoba from the -denominational schools formerly prevailing to a system of public -schools was a very striking one. The desire of the Roman Catholics to -have separate schools for themselves was granted, and thus the germ of -the great question which has for years disturbed Manitoba was -introduced. Those, who in the old Red River Settlement days had been -accustomed to their parish schools, were not seriously opposed to the -separate school system. To them it seemed simply a more systematic way -of working their parish schools, and receiving the assistance of a -government grant. Dr. Black thus became the representative of the -Presbyterian parishes and was a member of the first Board of Education -for the province. Matters worked with a fair amount of smoothness, but -there was a constant grasping of power by the Roman Catholic hierarchy -to make a greater and greater division between the two sections of the -board, until in ten years after the formation of the province the Roman -Catholic schools were to all intents and purposes managed privately by -the Catholic section of the board, and the Roman Catholic Archbishop -recognized as the authority by whom, for his own section, all books in -religion and morals should be approved. Protests in the newspapers, in -political campaigns and otherwise were made against this gradual -aggression on the part of the Roman Catholics. - - -ACTION TAKEN. - -The Protestant section of the board at length took action in the matter. -A series of resolutions were passed on Oct. 4th, 1876, by a majority of -the section, looking toward the doing away of separate schools. The -matter promised to bring on a great agitation in the country, and Dr. -Black ceased to be a member of the board, though Rev. Dr. Robertson, -who was also a Presbyterian representative on the board, held with the -majority and ardently approved of the national school ideas. Dr. Black -in this matter felt that he could not be a party to interfere with the -amity between Protestants and Roman Catholics, which had been a feature -of the old days of the Red River Settlement. While he probably differed -little from the other members of the board as to what should be done, -yet his strongly expressed desire to be freed from the personal turmoil -and discussion of this difficult question was regarded, and the burden -thrown on younger men. - - -THE GOVERNMENT INTERFERES. - -The Provincial Government of the time became alarmed at the action of -the Protestant section of the board, and took the strong measure of -reconstituting the board at the time of next appointment. Some of the -more aggressive members were replaced by others of a more pacific -character and the crisis was thus postponed. Dr. Black's anticipations -of the reality of this struggle were by no means mistaken. For several -years the question slumbered, with, in 1881, a new aggression on the -part of the Roman Catholics, making the two systems more distinct and -maintaining the share of joint stock company assessments, which were -almost entirely those of Protestant stockholders, _pro rata_ for Roman -Catholic schools. Dr. Black's fears of trouble were soon to be realized, -for after ominous rumblings, on the incoming of a new government, in a -few years the educational change took place (1890), giving rise to what -has been widely known throughout the world as the "Manitoba School -Question." Dr. Black died a number of years before this reformation came -about. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -Memorials. - - -In the thirtieth year of Mr. Black's ministry a considerable religious -movement took place in Winnipeg and the neighboring country. Mr. Black's -interest in vital religion was ever one of his outstanding features. His -conception of the Christian minister was that he was in reality a -shepherd of the flock. It was his high mission to study the times and -the seasons and to avail himself of any wise and timely circumstances -which might arise in connection with the religious life of the parish. - -The influx of a large number of new settlers can hardly be said to have -had a favorable influence on the Highland parish. The life of the -colonist or settler, even when he is well disposed, is likely to lead to -carelessness in religious things, to laxity in the observance of the -Sabbath, and to exposure to many temptations. Kildonan parish, being -near Winnipeg, and much in touch with the new settlers, was thus exposed -to hurtful influences. As a wise watchman, the pastor of Kildonan saw -this, and gladly welcomed tokens of spiritual revival, and took part -very heartily in the movement to have special services in his beloved -parish. We are fortunate in having a sermon of the pastor on the -subject of revivals, published some years before the time of which we -are speaking. - -Referring to - - -REVIVALS, - -Mr. Black says: "Happy the ministers thus privileged to be instruments -in God's hand. Happy the souls who plentifully partake of this -extraordinary grace! And it is well worth remembering how beautifully -this mode of dealing with men is adapted to the wants and weaknesses of -the race. - -"Not only do spiritual affections become languid and require to be -freshened with new life, but even the very ideas and impressions of a -spiritual and eternal world wax dim upon the soul through the lapse of -time, and the influence of the world and something extraordinary is -required to renew these--some fresh testimony that there is a God and an -eternity. - -"It must be familiar to all, how events and appearances, however -stupendous in themselves, lose their impressions by such regular -recurrence as renders them familiar to our minds. What, for instance, -can present a more magnificent spectacle than the passage of the sun -through the heavens on a clear summer day? Yet so familiar are we with -the spectacle that we scarcely think of it. It is a part of the regular -operations of nature and passes unobserved. - -"But suppose some day that the sun should appear of double size, or that -another sun of equal brilliancy were to traverse the heavens from north -to south, then all would be struck and filled with amazement--it may be -with alarm--for then it would appear that there is some power superior -to nature that can interfere with its regular course when he will. God -would thus be brought near. - -"So it is in spiritual things; however mightily the work of God might be -carried on, men would soon begin to forget God in it, and to attribute -the deep and earnest religious feelings prevailing to natural causes, -and so something higher still would be needed to prove that the work was -of God. Much more is this needed in a time of comparative indifference -to bring palpably before men's minds that there is a God and a spiritual -world. Men require something uncommon to stir them up from to time. Our -private devotions would be more ready to sink into coldness and apathy -were they not quickened by the public services of the sanctuary, and the -Sabbath services would also degenerate, were we not stirred up by the -occasional occurrence of Sacramental services. So God's ordinary -dealings require the aid of these seasons of revival." - - -SOME DROPS DESCEND. - -The meetings, as conducted by the evangelist in Kildonan church, were -attended with good. There was much in the manner of the professional -evangelist that did not commend itself to the more staid religious -customs of Kildonan, but Dr. Black and his session, being in earnest in -the cure of souls, overlooked the defects and sought to make the most of -the efforts of the messenger of God sent amongst them. A considerable -quickening took place among the young people, and the older people were -helped as well. This was a great joy to the pastor. The strain upon the -faithful minister in his person was, however, very great. The frequency -of the services and the feeling of responsibility told upon his deeply -moved nature, and by the time the meetings were ended the godly man was -prostrated in body. Rest was tried, and a visit to the Province of -Ontario was undertaken, but without very much permanent benefit. - -The good old apostle took advantage of his eastern visit to attend the -meeting of the General Assembly in Kingston in 1881. He was expected to -be present at it, and it seemed to be the desire of the leading -ministers of the Church that the honor of the Moderatorship should be -conferred on Dr. Black, as no less than ten presbyteries had nominated -him. On the opening of Assembly a letter was read from Dr. Black, -declining, on account of his poor health, to be put in nomination for -this exalted position. - - -A HIGH ESTIMATE. - -The grounds for the proposed honor were not only the fact that John -Black was the first missionary to the Red River, but that he had so well -fulfilled the functions of pastor, preacher, and leader. Few had, -indeed, heard the apostle of Red River, but it was well-known that he -was a preacher of no mean order. His reputation as a theologian was well -established, an evangelical tone was highly characteristic of his -sermons, and his fervid appeals and denunciation of wrong-doing were -telling, while a poetic and eloquent power of expression was certainly -possessed by him in his nobler efforts. As an example of his successful -preaching, we may refer to a very effective and touching sermon -delivered by him in the earlier part of his ministry. - -Among the youths who had gone from Red River to study, we have already -mentioned Donald Fraser. He was a young man of singularly attractive -disposition, who as a boy had suffered from a disease in the hip joint. -Recovering somewhat, he had gone on with his education, and had in 1854 -entered Knox College, Toronto, where he continued a student for three -years. It is said of him that in addition to his more than ordinary -ability and diligence, he was distinguished for "his deep and steady, -yet gentle, cheerful, unobtrusive piety." On his return to Red River, -the disease increased, and attended by the kindly and continuous -spiritual care of his minister, in the late winter he passed away, -joyfully exclaiming, "I am going to glory." Ardently attached to his -young friend, the Kildonan pastor preached a beautiful sermon on Rev. -vii. 1, 3, 14, entitled, - - -"FROM TRIBULATION TO GLORY." - -We may well give an extract or two: - -"How many have been thus removed who seemed the very men to labor for -God here! This is the Lord's doing. It is marvellous in our eyes." It is -mysterious, yet we can see reason in it--the Lord will show that He is -not dependent on men. And there is mercy in it--He spares the green and -takes the ripe. To our departed brother the change is unspeakable -gain--he is gone forth out of all his tribulations. Faith is changed -into sight, hope into enjoyment. He is gone to see the Saviour, whom -long he had trusted and long loved. Faith, we may be well sure (a -favorite form of speech of John Black), had many a struggle to realize a -present Redeemer; but now there is no struggle; he sees Him as He is, -and is like Him. We are left. His form is no longer before our eyes. But -in his meekness and gentleness of disposition, in his Christian -consistency and cheerfulness, in his patience under suffering, in his -prayerfulness and faithfulness, and in his kindness of heart and -spirituality of mind, he has left us an example which woe unto us if we -forget. And in his happy, joyful deathbed, unvisited by doubt or fear, -we have another blessed evidence of the reality of religion and the -faithfulness of God. To the family the loss is great, but their sorrow -is mingled with joy, for not the shadow of doubt is left upon their -minds. To myself the loss is also great. There I found sympathy, -counsel, encouragement, prayer. But that heart and those lips are now -still. - - -"IN ROBES OF WHITE." - -"See these glorious, these shining ones, walking in brightness the -golden streets of the New Jerusalem. They are clothed in white -robes--angels' garments. Such was the clothing of our Lord on the day of -His transfiguration, and such was the clothing of the angel that rolled -the stone away from the door of His tomb." - - -THE WHITE ROBE IS THE EMBLEM OF PURITY. - -The white robe without signifies the pure and holy heart within. These -are purified, holy souls. In them has been fulfilled to the utmost, -David's prayer: "Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me and -I shall be whiter than snow." No stain of guilt now remains upon their -consciences, no stain of corruption now defiles their hearts; no sinful -desire, no vile or tumultuous passion now agitates their minds. Their -thoughts are all pure; their affections are all heavenly; they are -conformed to the image and the will of God. Not the smallest thing in -them is out of keeping with the holy heaven in which they now dwell. - - -THE WHITE ROBE IS ALSO AN EMBLEM OF JOY. - -It is the wedding garment--the dress of the bride, the Lamb's wife--the -garment of the guests that sit at the heavenly banquet. The white robe -without signifies the joyful heart within. And, oh, a happy company are -all these white-robed ones in their Heavenly Father's home! The sorrows -of earth are all left behind, and not even the shadow of evil now -obscures the sunshine of their holy joys. No sin, no sorrow, no care, no -toil, no fear, no conflict; but purity, peace, delight--their Father's -smile, their Saviour's presence, the society of the redeemed and of holy -angels, the sight of heavenly beauty, the sounds of heavenly music, the -fragrance of celestial flowers, the sweetness of the water of life, the -exercises of heavenly devotion, all conspiring to fill their minds with -gladness ineffable. The marriage robe without is the emblem of the -joyful heart within. - - -THE WHITE ROBE IS THE EMBLEM OF VICTORY. - -It was worn by those who after victory returned to the Imperial city and -passed in triumphal procession through the crowded streets, and the -admiring and shouting multitudes. Those who have entered the New -Jerusalem have gained the victory; they now enjoy the triumph. They have -fought the good fight; they have finished their course, they have kept -the faith; henceforth they are to enjoy their crowns of righteousness, -their white robes, and their evergreen palms. Long and hard was the -conflict; many and fierce were their enemies; but now the victory is -won--sin, Satan and the world are subdued; and the sword and the -breastplate, the buckler and the shield have been exchanged for the -white robes of victory and of peace. "They hang their trumpet in the -hall and study war no more." - - -OUT OF AFFLICTION. - -"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him -out of them all." They were in pain, in sickness, in poverty, in hunger, -thirst, and nakedness; they were exposed to shame, they were oppressed -by tyranny; they have been captives, slaves, victims of cruelty and -injustice; they have seen their dearest snatched from their embraces, -they have passed through the trials which are common to man, and many -peculiar to themselves; but they have come out of all their -tribulations--sickness and pain, captivity and bereavement, oppression -and suffering are now forever ended, and God has wiped away all tears -from their eyes. - - -A BELOVED ELDER. - -We have before us another address of Mr. Black worthy of being quoted. -This was delivered on the death of one of his best beloved elders, John -Pritchard. This elder was the son of an English fur trader of the same -name, who had been in the service of the Northwest Fur Company, and -afterward acted as Lord Selkirk's agent. The tender heart of John Black -comes out in his words for his departed friend: "John Pritchard was a -man of God. In him we have lost a man of much prayer--of deep humility, -and one who knew well how to speak the truth in love, and who in his -deportment beautifully mingled the gravity and the cheerfulness of true -religion--a gravity without gloom or austerity--a cheerfulness without -levity--a mingling or union of qualities which gave him at once the -respect of the aged and the confidence of the young. - -"In him his family have lost a wise, faithful, loving head--a large -connexion has lost one of its most beloved members--society has lost a -man of much usefulness and Christian worth--for myself, I have lost a -good counsellor and a faithful and confiding friend; and you, as a -congregation, have lost an office-bearer whose place it will not be easy -to supply. - -"How often in private have many of you heard his earnest counsels; at -how many sickbeds and deathbeds have you been comforted by his -consolations; how often, here and elsewhere, have we heard his earnest -pleading voice in prayer; and how often has that voice been lifted up in -wrestling intercession for us all, when there was no ear to hear but -that of our Father in Heaven." - - -LIFE DECLINING. - -It was in April, 1881, that Mr. Black so felt the need of rest that he -obtained leave of absence from the Presbytery of Manitoba and went to -Ontario and to his old home in New York State, seeking health. After -spending some months in the east and being present at the meeting of the -General Assembly, he returned to Manitoba, feeling much improved. -Unfortunately he caught a severe cold on his return journey and was -again reduced in strength. Reaching Kildonan he sought to minister to -his devoted people, but after a few Sabbaths was again compelled to make -application to the presbytery for relief. This was granted most -willingly, but at the same time with a feeling of great anxiety on the -part of his brethren. It seemed the presage of the approaching end. The -affectionate attention of friends and relations was given him, but he -remained very weak. Reclining on his sofa, he received his ministerial -and other friends, and still with clear mind discoursed on the topics -of the day and on the blessedness of the service of Christ with the -great future rewards of the people of God. Even in the time of declining -strength his was no weak or halting faith, but a strong and unwavering -confidence. - -The old year passed away and the opening days of January saw no marked -change. His interest in the affairs of the parish did not flag, but he -was patiently resigned in his weakening strength. At last as the opening -hours of the second Sabbath, 12th, of February, 1882, were approaching, -the spirit of the devoted minister passed away to its eternal rest. The -event, though somewhat expected, yet produced a shock in the parish, and -on the word reaching Winnipeg references were made in the city pulpits -on that day to the departure of the good man. - - -TRIBUTES. - -The tributes of kind friends came from all directions. The leading -newspaper of the province referred to the great service he had rendered -the whole Northwest, and said: "In the midst of his many duties he was -able in a wonderful degree to keep abreast of the literature of the day. -Although occupying so remote a field, he was remarkable for the -superiority of his scholarship, so that he enjoyed an eminent reputation -as a man of learning and particularly as a theologian." - - -LAST SAD RITES. - -On the following Wednesday the funeral took place, the service being -held in Kildonan church. The day was one of the most bitterly cold days -of the season. Yet the people of all denominations were there, and -representatives from the river parishes and Winnipeg, so that the church -was pretty well filled with men and women. Several of the oldest -members of the presbytery were absent from the province at the time, and -were prevented from paying their last tokens of respect to the departed -leader. Rev. Professor Hart, who had been for ten years intimately -acquainted with Mr. Black, took the service and made the address. In the -course of his remarks he said: "In reference to Dr. Black's public life, -I have only a word or two to say. As a preacher he was well known to us -all as being clear, forcible, simple, impressive and eloquent in his -exposition of divine truths; as a pastor he was indefatigable, visiting -regularly in succession all the families in his parish, especially in -times of sickness, distress or in death. He was active in forwarding the -interest of the Sabbath-school and also of the Bible Society, of which -for years he was president. - -"Every good cause found in him a faithful and zealous advocate. As a -friend, the departed was judicious, faithful, steadfast and true. His -whole course among us was, I may add, such as became a true and faithful -man of God. When work was to be done he did it up to the measure of his -strength and even beyond it. Hence, though naturally of a strong and -healthy constitution, he succumbed--not to old age, but to excess of -work. He was worn out by his exertions, and his death took place at a -time when in his prime, intellectually, years of activity and usefulness -might be looked forward to. - -"The All Wise Disposer of events seemed to say that our friend's work on -earth was done, and called for him from labour and trial here to the -rest that remains for the just. The last illness of our brother (and -father), though protracted to nearly a year, was not during the latter -portion of it accompanied with much pain. To the end his faith remained -unshaken, his hope undimmed, his peace of mind undisturbed. That end -came quietly. He sweetly fell asleep in the arms of Jesus. Just as that -day he loved the best was being ushered in, just as that earthly Sabbath -dawned, he passed away to the enjoyment of an eternal Sabbath in the -courts above." - -[Illustration: PUBLIC MONUMENT ERECTED TO REV. JOHN BLACK, D.D. - -In Kildonan churchyard.] - -The Rev. Alexander Matheson, a native of Kildonan, then led in prayer; -the Rev. C. B. Pitblado, the minister of the new St. Andrew's -congregation of Winnipeg, pronounced the benediction; the Rev. Alexander -Campbell was also present, and the Rev. R. Y. Thompson took the service -at the grave. - - -RETROSPECT. - -We have now completed our long journey from Garwaldshields farm in -Eskdale Muir, where John Black was born, to Kildonan kirkyard, where his -honoured bones now lie. Sixty-four years was his alloted span, and no -one who has followed our story can fail to admit that the character and -life described are those of a true man. - -Born among the shepherd people of the region that has been made historic -by the names of Thomas Boston, James Hogg, Edward Irving and Thomas -Carlyle, the worthy lad of Eskdale very early showed the features of a -religious and deep-laid character. What he would have been had he -remained in the land of his birth we can only conjecture, but it is -certain that wherever he was to dwell his earnest, manly, studious -boyhood was the promise of a useful life. - -Perhaps nothing shows the chivalry of his nature more than his -surrendering all the bright hopes of a student life, and the career of a -successful teacher, in order that he might with his family, which had -suffered losses, seek a New World home to better their condition. His -unselfish devotion led to his becoming the mainstay in the counsels of -the family as they settled in the State of New York. Years afterwards we -find his love of his aged parents in the Catskills a matter for -consideration in choosing where his lot should be cast. - -The return of John Black to the Canadian branch of the Church of his -fathers illustrates two or three points in his character. There was in -him a strong attachment to old associations. The Scottish type of -Presbyterianism was to him the best, and he sought his defence in the -shelter of the "burning bush." His characteristic discrimination and -determination to follow his convictions were shown in his choice of the -newly formed Free Church, while his love of the past and strong personal -attachment would have led him to cling to the Church of Scotland. His -love of country was also strong, and there can be no doubt that he -greatly preferred the shadow of the Union Jack to that of any other -flag. - -His student and missionary life were characterized by great thoroughness -and enthusiasm. While strongly evangelical, and counting all things -other than the Gospel as "wood and hay and stubble," yet he valued -knowledge, and laid the foundation of subsequent excellence in Latin, -Greek, History, and English Literature. His missionary life in Brock, in -Upper Canada, in the district of Montreal, and on behalf of the French -Canadian Society, all indicates the spirit of thorough consecration, -which is the beauty and strength of the aspirant to the Christian -ministry. The most critical time in the life of John Black was his -reception of the command, for it was nothing else, of Dr. Burns to go to -Red River Settlement. Those who knew Dr. Burns can easily imagine the -ardency and enthusiasm with which he would argue the case. He was a man -of strong personality, and to him his opinions had all the strength of -principles. Mr. Black could not resist what was put to him as the call -of duty. It is somewhat remarkable to see, however, that year after year -he was not convinced that the Red River was to be his permanent sphere -of labor. This no doubt arose from a certain sensitiveness of -disposition, and an unwillingness to stand in the way of what he thought -was the highest spiritual good of his people. And yet it was as all his -friends said it would be: God's finger pointed out the Red River -unmistakably as his lifelong sphere. - -The founding of a new cause among a people who, for thirty or forty -years had been without their own form of faith, was a great work. The -church building, the alarming flood which hindered his work, the severe -task of supplying, while still alone, the small groups of Presbyterians -outside of Kildonan, the anxiety about the spiritual condition and -insobriety of so many of the native people about him, cases of -discipline which required at the same time firmness and tact--all these -filled up the measure of his busy life. - -The effect of the arrival of an additional laborer in the person of Rev. -James Nisbet, in 1862, can hardly be estimated by us now. The fact that -another clergyman may arrive now in the field of Manitoba missions is an -everyday occurrence, and gives rise to little comment; but when the -arrival of a laborer doubled the available missionary force it made it -an event of first importance. When, four years later, James Nisbet began -the Indian missions of the Church it was something, too, of immense -moment. John Black's dream of fifteen years was then realized, and he -saw in the future the vista of a reclaimed and civilized race in place -of the helpless and sin-afflicted savages by whom he was surrounded. - -When the stirring days of the Riel Rebellion were over, there came the -rush of immigration, which startled the quiet solitudes of the Red River -prairies. It was to Mr. Black, as to the older people of the country, a -time of change, but the religious needs of the new settlements were well -looked after, and the movement begun of the mission advance, which has -been so notable a feature of the Presbyterian cause in the Northwest, -and has led to the Church, which John Black came to the west to found, -becoming much the largest and most influential body of the prairies. - -Not only in Winnipeg, with its thoroughly organized body of -communicants, and in Portage la Prairie, Brandon, Regina and Calgary -have the Presbyterian views of church doctrine and life become -potential; but, in more than a score of towns, such as Morden, Pilot -Mound, Deloraine, Carman, Glenboro, Treherne, Holland, Miami, Minnedosa, -Russell, Rapid City, Gladstone, Moosomin, Prince Albert, Edmonton, -Souris, Virden, Boissevain, Emerson, Keewatin, Rat Portage, Fort -William, and Port Arthur have strong self-sustaining churches been -established. Notably is the Church strongly ensconced in the affections -of the agricultural communities spread over the prairies. It would -gladden the heart of John Black to-day could he see the presbytery of -which he was the first moderator now developed into two synods with -fourteen presbyteries, and could he realize how "the little one has -become a thousand." - -As an educationist, we have shown the really fundamental work of Mr. -Black in the cause of education. It is very rare to see the men who lay -foundations equally strong on the missionary and on the educational -sides. It shows the even balance of his mind, that Mr. Black was as -much interested in one direction as in the other. Manitoba College is -the outcome to-day of the hopes and pleadings and plans of this scion, -transplanted from the parish schools of Scotland, and of the early love -of knowledge of the Presbyterianism of Canada, which took root in the -favorable soil of the Red River, Assiniboine, and Saskatchewan valleys. - -These are the memorials of the Apostle of Red River. We are not carried -away by any absurd sentiment which would lead us to make John Black a -hero. As a rule the surroundings of his life were not of an exciting -kind. The Red River community was isolated, its opportunities of -communication with the outer world were small; for two-thirds of the -life of John Black upon the Red River there was little increase in the -population, but during his thirty years of Northwest life we see in him -the white lily of a blameless life, we see the spirit of an ardent -social reformer, we see the public sentiment leading him to labor for -the educational good of his people, we see the exercise of a diligent -pastorate, and the attainment of honorable distinction as a preacher--in -short, we see in him the embodiment of high domestic, social, public and -Christian virtues. We shall cherish the memory of "the Apostle of the -Red River." - -[Illustration: - - In Memoriam - OF THE - Rev. John Black, D.D. - - FIRST PRESBYTERIAN - MISSIONARY TO RUPERT'S LAND - SEPT. 18TH, 1851, AND - FIRST PASTOR OF THIS PARISH - TO WHOSE SPIRITUAL WANTS - HE MINISTERED FOR MORE - THAN THIRTY YEARS. - - DIED FEB. 11TH, 1882 - AT THE AGE OF 84 YEARS - - "_He being dead yet speaketh._" - - TABLET IN KILDONAN CHURCH.] - - - - -ADVERTISEMENTS - - -The Selkirk Settlers in Real Life - -By REV. R. G. MACBETH, M.A. - -WITH INTRODUCTION BY - -HON. SIR DONALD A. SMITH, K.C.M.G. (Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal). - -PRICE, - - - 75 Cents, Postpaid - -Press Comments - -"In every instance Mr. MacBeth tells his story in happy terms, and -supplies many details of the life of the settlers."--_Royal Colonial -Institute Journal._ - -"The author is a descendant of one of the hardy Scots who were in the -Red River Valley a life-time before Riel was born. His story is the more -romantic for its very simplicity."--_St. John Sun._ - -"Not a dry collection of details, but an interesting account of the -Settlement.... These experiences are unique.... Mr. MacBeth is to be -congratulated on his book."--_Canadian Magazine._ - -"A fascinating little volume, telling a tale that redounds to the honor -of the Scottish race.... Mr. MacBeth's sketch gives a pleasing -impression of the sterling worth and industry of the settlers."--_Review -of Historical Publications_, Vol. II. - -"A small but useful contribution to the history of the North-West.... -Mr. MacBeth was brought up in the colony, and recalls some of its -primitive laws, methods of agriculture and social customs, with a flavor -of personal reminiscence."--_Montreal Witness._ - -"The story of the Red River Settlement is one of unique interest. Its -early days were a perfect Iliad of disaster. Flood, famine and hostile -Indians sorely tried the faith and patience of the brave pioneers. A -descendant of one of these tells in these pages the stirring -story."--_Onward._ - -Rev. Robert Murray, Editor of the _Presbyterian Witness_ (Halifax, -N.S.), writes the author: "Accept of my thanks for your most readable -and refreshing book. I am delighted with it. Brought up among the -Highlanders I appreciate some of the chapters more than others; but the -book as a whole is excellent. I only wish it were ampler in its -details." - -"As the title indicates, the aim of the writer is to give to the people -of to-day an idea of how the settlers lived in their homes, as apart -from their struggles as a community for political and commercial rights. -In this he has been eminently successful, and a valuable picture of the -social life as it then was has been preserved for future -generations."--_Winnipeg Tribune._ - -WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher -29-33 Richmond Street West, TORONTO, ONT. - - - LEAVES FROM -Manitoba MY LIFE IN - THE PRAIRIE -Memories PROVINCE. - -By REV. GEORGE YOUNG, D.D., -_Founder of Methodist Missions in the "Red River Settlement."_ - -WITH INTRODUCTION BY -REV. ALEXANDER SUTHERLAND, D.D., - -_General Secretary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Church._ - -In Extra English Cloth Boards, with 15 Portraits and Illustrations. - -PRICE, $1.00, POSTPAID. - -Personal and Press Comments - - "The book is of fascinating interest, and gives authentic - information not elsewhere to be obtained on the stirring events of - the early history of Manitoba. It is handsomely printed, with - numerous portraits and other engravings."--_Onward._ - - "The reader will readily perceive that one who has lived so long in - such varied scenes as have fallen to the lot of Dr. Young must have - witnessed many things worthy of record, and will rejoice with the - present writer that the venerable author, notwithstanding his - characteristic modesty, was prevailed upon, after much entreaty, to - send forth this charming volume."--_Mail and Empire._ - - "An interesting chapter is devoted to the Fenian Raid of 1871; - another to Dr. Lachlan Taylor's tour among the missions in the - 'Great Lone Land,' taken from Dr. Taylor's own report and journal; - and still another chapter recounts the history of the early - educational movement in the West. On the whole the book is a very - interesting and indeed valuable one, not only to members of the - author's Church, but also to the general reader."--_Ottawa - Citizen._ - -S. R. PARSONS, Esq., writes: - - "Only one who has lived in that land of 'illimitable - possibilities,' and experienced the brightness of its winter and - summer sunshine, and tasted of the water of the Red River, that - ever after leaves an unquenchable thirst, and sniffed the ozone of - the prairies, and mingled with the heartiest and most friendly - people on earth, can fully appreciate this book. The high respect - in which the author is deservedly held will, no doubt, ensure a - large sale for the work. In the North-West, particularly, it should - be in every home and Sunday School library." - -WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher, -29-33 Richmond St. West, TORONTO, ONT. - - -The Warden of the Plains -AND OTHER STORIES OF LIFE IN THE -CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. - -By JOHN MACLEAN, M.A., Ph.D., - -_Author of "Canadian Savage Folk," etc._ - -_Illustrated by J. E. LAUGHLIN._ - -CLOTH, $1.25, POSTPAID. - - CONTENTS: The Warden of the Plains--Asokoa, the Chief's - Daughter--The Sky Pilot--The Lone Pine--The Writing - Stone--Akspine--Old Glad--The Spirit Guide--Alahcasla--The Hidden - Treasure--The White Man's Bride--The Coming of Apauakas. - -[Illustration: Cover] - - "Dr. Maclean's familiarity with western life is evident in this - collection of stories. All are well told."--_The Westminster._ - - "Dr. Maclean has rendered a distinct service to Canadian literature - by photographing in this series of pictures a type of Canadian life - which is fast passing away."--_Rev. W. H. Withrow, D.D._ - - "These stories are admirably written. They present the life and - legends of the great North-West in a manner calculated to excite a - sincere and useful interest among strangers."--_Mail and Empire._ - - "A collection of short stories, some dramatic, some pathetic, all - serious.... The Indian tales are very pathetic and most interesting - from an ethnological standpoint.... The stories are accurate - pictures of North-West life."--_Victoria Times._ - -WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher, -29-33 Richmond St. West, TORONTO, ONT. - - -Some Notable - -Canadian Books - -[Illustration] - -Biographical and Historical - -Canadian Men and Women of the Time. By Henry J. Morgan. -Cloth $3 00 - -Haliburton: A Centenary Chaplet. A Series of Biographical and -Critical Papers, with Portrait and Illustrations 1 25 - -Life and Times of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock. By D. B. Read, -Q.C., with Portrait and Illustrations 1 50 - -Life and Work of D. J. Macdonnell. Edited by Prof. J. F. McCurdy, -LL.D. With Portraits, etc. 1 50 - -Popular History of Canada. By W. H. Withrow, D.D. Illustrated 3 00 - -History Of Canada. By W. H. P. Clement, LL.B. With Maps and -Illustrations 0 50 - -History of British Columbia. By Alex. Begg, C.C. With Portrait -and Illustrations 3 00 - -In the Days of the Canada Company. By Robina and Kathleen M. -Lizars. Illustrated 2 00 - -Humours of '37, Grave, Gay and Grim. Rebellion Times in the -Canadas. By Robina and Kathleen M. Lizars 1 25 - -The Story Of the Union Jack. By Barlow Cumberland. Illustrated in -Colors 1 50 - -Ten Years of Upper Canada in Peace and War--1803-15. By Mrs. -J. D. Edgar 1 50 - -The Selkirk Settlers in Real Life. By R. G. MacBeth, M.A. 0 75 - -The Making of the Canadian West. By R. G. MacBeth, M.A. With -Portraits and Illustrations 1 00 - -The History Of Annapolis County, including old Port Royal and -Acadia. By Judge Savary. With Portraits 3 25 - -The History of Lunenburg County. By Judge DesBrisay. With -Illustrations 2 50 - -Canadian Savage Folk. By John Maclean, Ph.D. Illustrated 2 50 - -The Forge in the Forest. A Historical Romance of Acadia. By Chas. -G. D. Roberts. Illustrated 1 25 - -_Postpaid to any Address._ - -WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher, -29-33 Richmond Street West, TORONTO, ONT. - - -Across the Sub-Arctics of -Canada - -_3,200 MILES BY CANOE AND SNOWSHOE -THROUGH THE BARREN LANDS_ - -By J. W. TYRRELL, C.E., D.L.S. - -_Illustrated by Engravings from Photographs and from Drawings -by ARTHUR HEMING._ - -CLOTH, $1.50, POSTPAID. - -PRESS COMMENTS - -[Illustration: Cover - -ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA] - -"A story of immense scientific value."--_Toronto Globe_. - -"A most valuable contribution to the literature of the great -North-West.... Mr. Tyrrell's touches of description are -delightful."--_Victoria Times._ - -"As a mere record of adventure, of imminent peril and hair-breadth -escapes, of hunting polar bears, and taking a winter tramp of a thousand -miles, we know no narrative of more absorbing character."--_Methodist -Magazine._ - -"Upon the whole, no book of travel and exploration in Canada has -appeared since Butler's 'Great Lone Land' was published, that combined -the interest and value of Mr. Tyrrell's book."--_Hamilton Herald._ - -"A remarkable trip of exploration, one of the most important of recent -years."--_Buffalo Illustrated Express._ - -"The tale is a marvellous one; the only wonder is the party ever -succeeded in returning to civilization."--_Christian Guardian._ - -"The record of their journey will be found delightful reading by those -who feel the peculiar fascination of the vast melancholy Northland.... -Altogether the volume is one of solid merit."--_Christian Advocate_ (New -York). - -"There is a variety in this narrative which those of strictly Arctic -expeditions lack. It leads through wonderful lakes and rivers hitherto -unvisited by white men, with thrilling adventures in running unknown and -perilous rapids."--_The Bookman_ (New York). - -"The illustrations have the double virtue of illustrating the subject -and of being trustworthy; and this final remark applies to the whole -book."--_N. Y. Independent._ - -WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher, -29-33 Richmond St. West. TORONTO, ONT. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN BLACK, THE APOSTLE OF THE RED -RIVER*** - - -******* This file should be named 53576-8.txt or 53576-8.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/3/5/7/53576 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p>Title: John Black, the Apostle of the Red River</p> -<p> , Or, How the Blue Banner Was Unfurled on Manitoba Prairies</p> -<p>Author: George Bryce</p> -<p>Release Date: November 22, 2016 [eBook #53576]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN BLACK, THE APOSTLE OF THE RED RIVER***</p> -<h4>E-text prepared by Larry B. Harrison, Martin Pettit,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Internet Archive<br /> - (<a href="https://archive.org">https://archive.org</a>)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - <a href="https://archive.org/details/johnblackapostle00bryciala"> - https://archive.org/details/johnblackapostle00bryciala</a> - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class="center"><a name="cover.jpg" id="cover.jpg"></a><img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="cover" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><a name="frontis.jpg" id="frontis.jpg"></a><img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt="REV. JOHN BLACK, D.D." /></div> - -<p class="bold">REV. JOHN BLACK, D.D.</p> - -<p class="center">The Apostle of the Red River.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p> - -<h1>JOHN BLACK<br /><i>THE APOSTLE OF THE RED RIVER</i></h1> - -<p class="bold">OR,</p> - -<p class="bold">HOW THE BLUE BANNER WAS UNFURLED<br />ON MANITOBA PRAIRIES</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">BY</p> - -<p class="bold">REV. GEORGE BRYCE, M.A., LL.D.</p> - -<p class="bold"><i>Professor in Manitoba College, Winnipeg.</i></p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p class="bold">TORONTO:<br />WILLIAM BRIGGS<br /><span class="smcap">Wesley Buildings.</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">C. W. COATES, Montreal.</span> <span class="smcap">S. F. HUESTIS, Halifax.</span><br />1898</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center">Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year -one<br />thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, by <span class="smcap">William Briggs</span>,<br />at -the Department of Agriculture.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> - -<h2>PREFACE.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p>We are in the habit of referring to the heroic deeds of our fathers, -whether English, Scottish, Irish or French, in the struggles they -endured and the sacrifices they made for country or religion. The -service rendered to liberty and religion by Cromwell and his Ironsides -at Marston Moor or Naseby, by Hamilton and his Covenanters at Drumclog, -by King William and his followers at Boyne and Londonderry, or by Henry -and his Huguenots at Ivry, may well stir our bosoms with emotion.</p> - -<p>But this century has, in the piping times of peace, developed a new and, -perhaps, greater heroism in the army of Christian adventurers going to -all lands, and proclaiming under King Jesus a war against sin and -idolatry, in which battles for the truth are fought against -"principalities and powers" as real as those against Prince Rupert, or -the bloody Claverhouse. Even the quieter life of a pioneer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> missionary -like Carey or Livingstone requires the highest daring and the sublimest -perseverance.</p> - -<p>To this class belongs the career of Rev. John Black, the Apostle of the -Red River of the North. To leave home and friends at the call of duty, -to cross the trackless prairies of the north-western States in order to -reach the northern and secluded plains of Rupert's Land, to bury himself -in obscurity, albeit he was engaged in laying the foundation of a -spiritual empire of the future, was to give John Black a true claim to -the honor of self-sacrificing fame and highest patriotism.</p> - -<p>The work of the author has been a labor of love, and it is with the hope -of awakening wider interest—especially in the minds of the young—in -the sweetness of self-sacrifice, and in what the world may call the -"reproach of the cross," that this little book is sent forth.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<table summary="CONTENTS"> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="left"><span class="smaller">CHAPTER</span></td> - <td><span class="smcap">Page</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>I.</td> - <td class="left"> <span class="smcap">John Black's Early Days</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>II.</td> - <td class="left"> <span class="smcap">Student and Missionary</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>III.</td> - <td class="left"> <span class="smcap">Montreal to Fort Garry</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>IV.</td> - <td class="left"> <span class="smcap">A Highland Welcome</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>V.</td> - <td class="left"> <span class="smcap">The Early Settlers on Red River</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>VI.</td> - <td class="left"> <span class="smcap">Sowing and Weeping</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>VII.</td> - <td class="left"> <span class="smcap">Pastor and Parish</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>VIII.</td> - <td class="left"> <span class="smcap">A Kindred Spirit</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>IX.</td> - <td class="left"> <span class="smcap">Red River Becomes Canadian</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>X.</td> - <td class="left"> <span class="smcap">The New Settlements</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>XI.</td> - <td class="left"> <span class="smcap">College and Schools</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>XII.</td> - <td class="left"> <span class="smcap">Memorials</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_142">142</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span></p> - -<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> - -<table summary="ILLUSTRATIONS"> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td><span class="smcap">Page</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Rev. John Black, D.D.</span></td> - <td><a href="#frontis.jpg"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">St. Boniface Cathedral, Burnt 1860</span></td> - <td><a href="#i043.jpg">43</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Kildonan Parish Church</span></td> - <td><a href="#i075.jpg">75</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Rev. James Nisbet</span></td> - <td><a href="#i090.jpg">90</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Winnipeg in 1870</span></td> - <td><a href="#i122.jpg">122</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Knox Church, Winnipeg, 1871</span></td> - <td><a href="#i126.jpg">126</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Knox Church, Winnipeg, 1879</span></td> - <td><a href="#i130a.jpg">130</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Manitoba College, 1872</span></td> - <td><a href="#i130b.jpg">130</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Public Monument to Dr. Black</span></td> - <td><a href="#i153.jpg">153</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Memorial Tablet in Kildonan Church</span></td> - <td><a href="#i159.jpg">159</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold2">JOHN BLACK</p> - -<p class="bold"><i>THE APOSTLE OF THE RED RIVER</i></p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER I.</span> <span class="smaller">His Early Days.</span></h2> - -<p>John Black was the Apostle of the Red River. He will be long remembered -on the prairies of Manitoba. In 1882 he passed away, all too soon to see -the remarkable rise of the country for which he had planned and worked -and prayed. He had reached the age of sixty-two, and nearly half of that -time he had spent on the plains of the Northwest. His name is a -household word in many settlements, and his memory is revered by the -white settlers and the Christian red men alike, throughout Manitoba, -Saskatchewan, and Alberta.</p> - -<h3>BIRTHPLACE AND CHILDHOOD.</h3> - -<p>On a visit to Scotland, a few years ago, the writer of these sketches -spent a few pleasant days on the Scottish border. He was guest of a -former Canadian minister in the pretty parish on the river Esk, of which -Sir Walter Scott speaks, where "there was racing and chasing on Cannobie -Lee." One day a delightful drive led along the winding valley of the -river to the town of Langholm, to attend the Presbytery meeting there. -After the business was over the Presbytery dinner was held, with all the -forms of the "olden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> time." While at dinner one of the ministers -addressed the writer: "Oh, I'm the minister of Eskdale Muir, where your -first minister on the Red River, the Rev. John Black, was born." It was -interesting to note that the pioneer of the western wilds was not -forgotten in the place of his birth.</p> - -<p>On the 8th of January, 1818, John Black was born. He was the son of -William Black and Margaret Halliday, Eskdale shepherd farmers, who lived -on the farm of Garwaldshiels. His ancestors had originally dwelt in the -neighboring parish of Ettrick, and some of them had been warm friends of -the godly minister there, Thomas Boston, whose works, "Fourfold State" -and the "Crook in the Lot," were well-read books in many a Scottish home.</p> - -<p>The farm of Garwaldshiels was a lonely spot. Its steading, as the farm -buildings are called in Scotland, was two miles from any other. Indeed, -the whole parish of Eskdale Muir is mountainous and sparsely settled, -its inhabitants being chiefly sheep farmers and shepherds. In the church -on Sunday it is said the collie dogs were formerly almost as many as the -men. Sometimes the dogs became restless, and were apt to disturb the minister.</p> - -<p>The shepherds of the south of Scotland are noted as a most intelligent -lot of men. Their quiet life on the hills with their flocks gives them -time for thought. They are great readers, and undertake to master the -deepest books. This is so uncommon among humble people, such as they, -that visitors from outside Scotland are greatly struck by it. It is said -that a Yorkshire wool merchant once visited the parish of Eskdale Muir -on business, and was so surprised that he said: "They are the strangest -people that ever I saw; the very shepherds talk about deep stoof (stuff)."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p><p>The minister of this parish who baptized John Black was in knowledge a -leader of his people, for he was the author of a work called -"Antiquities of the Jews," which was formerly very well known.</p> - -<p>About the time of the birth of John Black, the shepherds of the border -parishes had gained another accomplishment. Many of them undertook to -write poems. The reason of this was that a few years before, in the -parish of Ettrick, a remarkable man, James Hogg, known as the "Ettrick -Shepherd," had written a number of very beautiful poems, which had been -published and widely read. This led many of the shepherds to imitate one -of their own number. Some of the poems produced were poor, but others -were uncommonly good. It was strange to see such a burst of song in a -people so severe in their thought.</p> - -<p>Born of such a stock, and brought up in such surroundings, it was no -wonder that the boy of Eskdale Muir should early show a disposition to -study. He had a great thirst for knowledge, even as a child, and -especially for Bible stories and religious thoughts. In early childhood, -we are told, he was noted for his affectionate disposition. He was a -serious boy, and even early in life, at the age when most children are -thoughtless and unconcerned, he showed a desire to become a follower of -Jesus Christ.</p> - -<h3>REMOVAL TO HIGHMOOR.</h3> - -<p>When John Black was a boy of seven years of age his family removed from -the lonely farm of Garwaldshiels to Highmoor, some twenty miles to the -south. Highmoor was situated in the parish of Kilpatrick-Fleming. It was -a sheep farm, of about 700 acres, and belonged to a celebrated border -family, the Maxwells of Springkeld. It was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> in the very centre of -historic ground. It was less than five miles from the Scottish border -where the little streamlet that divides Scotland from England marks the -change from the broad Doric tongue to the very different dialect of -Cumberland. From the door of Highmoor the Solway Frith was clearly in -view, with its small sailing vessels and greater ships passing on the -errands of commerce.</p> - -<p>Between Highmoor farm and the Solway was not more than ten miles, and a -beautiful little stream, the "Kirtle Water," ran through the farm and -emptied into the frith. The windings and turns of the "Kirtle" are well -filled with the thoughts of romance, and within this short distance -seven old castles are to be seen, the strongholds of the Irvings and the -Bells, so well known along the Scottish border. These old castles all -had their legends, and almost every one of them was said by country folk -to have been the scene of some great crime, and to be haunted by a ghost -or evil spirit. While John Black did not believe these old tales, he was -always fond of the stories, and read with greatest interest the "Tales -of the Border," and Sir Walter Scott's poems of the border minstrelsy.</p> - -<p>Highmoor was not more than four miles from Ecclefechan, the town where -the great Scottish writer, Thomas Carlyle, was born. Not half that -distance from Highmoor was the house where Carlyle's father, mother, and -brother long lived. Even the Hodden Hill farm, which Thomas Carlyle for -a time occupied, was not far from Highmoor. Upon this farm was a -celebrated erection known as the "Tower of Repentance." On this farm -Carlyle was just becoming known as a genius in the days of John Black's -boyhood, and what were called his "longnebbit" words and striking -sayings were often spoken of by his Annandale<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> neighbors. John Black, to -the day of his death, was proud of his fellow-dalesman, who became known -as the "Sage of Chelsea."</p> - -<p>The wider view from Highmoor was equally beautiful. Looking eastward to -the end of the Solway Frith, one could see the tall chimneys of the city -of Carlisle, so prominent a place in the border strife. Towering to the -sky were to be seen beyond in Cumberland the gigantic Skiddaw and other -mountains, while beyond the heights of Cumberland appeared dimly the -Yorkshire fells and the hills of Durham. To the west the far view was -interesting. Majestic Criffel appeared running out into the frith, and -on a clear day the hills of the Isle of Man were seen in the middle of -the Irish Sea. Such a country, with natural beauty and historic -memories, could scarcely fail to inspire those who dwelt in it. We are -not surprised that John Black was stirred to poetry in such -surroundings, and we learn that, following the beginning as a -verse-writer, made under the name of "Glenkirtle" in the newspaper of -his county, he all his life had a faculty of writing snatches of lively -verse for his children and friends.</p> - -<h3>SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS.</h3> - -<p>The parish school in the wide parish of Kilpatrick-Fleming was seven -miles from Highmoor, but a second school, known as the "Gair school," -was at the corner of the farm. Here, in 1826, John Black and one of his -sisters began their education. The school was under the charge of a Mr. -William Smith, the father of one afterwards well known in the -Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Smith, at one time -minister in Kingston, Ontario. To this school came from far and near<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> -pupils from the scattered farms, some of them boarding in the nearest -dwellings. The parish schools of Scotland taught everything from the -alphabet to the works of the highest Latin and Greek writers. Mr. Smith -was a good scholar and a good teacher. Young John Black here laid a good -foundation for his future attainments. Mr. Smith was followed as a -teacher by Mr. John Roddick, also a man of much ability and skill as a -teacher. He was, strange to say, the father of another Canadian, Dr. -Richard Roddick, of Montreal. Under Mr. Roddick John Black made -remarkable progress. The young scholar had a great fondness for the -languages. The sturdy lad had, however, to fight with obstacles in -getting an education. To make a living on the farm his father needed the -help of all his children, and John could not well be spared when he had -reached the age when he could herd the cattle and watch the sheep. He -was often unable to be present at school, but his desire to gain a -higher education never left him. At last his father consented to his -study of the languages, and the happy boy at the age of fifteen threw -all his energy into his task.</p> - -<p>French was the first language on which he began under Mr. Roddick. A -curious incident is connected with his entrance on the study of French. -Full of the thought of beginning a foreign language he walked all the -way to the town of Annan, nine miles distant, to buy a French grammar. -On arriving in the town, he found the bookseller's shop shut and the -bookseller along with almost all the people in the town, wending their -way, week-day though it was, to the parish church. The boy followed the -crowd, and found the greatest excitement prevailing. It was the day of -the trial of the celebrated Edward Irving. Irving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> was a native of Annan -and a great friend of Thomas Carlyle. He was a minister of great -eloquence, who had first assisted Dr. Chalmers in Glasgow, and -afterwards been settled in London. He had adopted strange views as to -the humanity of Christ, and on the day of John Black's visit was being -tried for heresy by the Presbytery of Annan. The boy was present during -the whole trial, and was wont to tell to his latest day of the -prophet-like Irving as he answered for himself and of Dr. Henry Duncan, -who was the advocate for a pure doctrine and a divine Christ. Thomas -Carlyle in his "Reminiscences," defends his friend and throws ridicule -on the Presbytery, but the extravagant views of Irving, remarkable man -though he was, justified, to the mind of most of the people, the action -that was taken by the Presbytery in deposing him from the sacred office -of the ministry.</p> - -<p>The young scholar was able after the exciting scenes of the day to find -his way into the bookseller's shop, bought the French grammar, and -returned home to begin his study with much enthusiasm. It was always his -view that this French grammar exercised a great influence on his after -life. It was through his knowledge of French that he was afterwards -chosen, as we shall see, to work among the French-Canadians, and it was -thus through his being unattached to any special congregation that he -was led to find his way to Red River.</p> - -<p>The young scholar progressed very rapidly in his studies. Of Latin and -Greek he was very fond, while his love for the great authors of his own -language was intense. He had a great craving for books. At the time of -which we write, and in a country district in Scotland, books were not -easy to be had. Fortunately for the young bookworm, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> "Library -Association" was formed in the village of Waterback, which lay one mile -to the west of Highmoor. Though the number of works was small, yet it -represented nearly all classes of books. Twenty huge volumes of -Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopædia were there, and it is believed that -John Black before the age of twenty had pretty well read them through. -As a shareholder of the association, he made full use of his privileges. -He read widely in history, both ecclesiastical and general, and made a -brave attempt to grapple with the thought of such writers as Bacon, -Locke, Butler, and Paley.</p> - -<p>During this time also his religious life became stronger and more -devoted. The parish minister was Rev. George Hastie, an earnest and -devoted preacher of the Gospel. Under Mr. Hastie's instruction, and -watered by the dew of heaven, the seed of truth, planted in early -childhood, sprouted and grew into a flourishing plant. The young student -made, under the faithful pastor, a public profession of his faith in -Christ. He was also much strengthened in the faith by his youthful -companions of kindred Christian feelings. One of these, Walter Smith, -became afterwards Free Church minister of Half-Morton in Eskdale. Many -years after, in a letter written from Red River to his brother, we find -John Black speaking of this Christian friend in far-off Eskdale.</p> - -<p>At about the age of twenty, his old teacher, Mr. Roddick, having left -Gair school to accept a position in Liverpool, John Black was, for a -time, called on to act as a substitute. This he did with much -satisfaction to parents and pupils. It may have been this temporary work -that suggested to the young man, who was rather retiring and bashful, -the thought of teaching elsewhere. For some time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> after this he was -engaged in teaching a school in one of the most beautiful and romantic -villages of Cumberland. While gaining great success in his school in -England, his mind was dwelling on the fuller devotion of himself to the -higher office of the ministry. The ministry had thus early a great -attraction to him. He, however, hesitated, for there was, to the end of -his life, a singular union of courage and diffidence in Mr. Black. It -was his disposition never to push himself forward in any cause, but if -it seemed to him a duty he would go through fire and through water to -accomplish it.</p> - -<h3>TO AMERICA.</h3> - -<p>He had now reached the age of twenty-three, when a complete overturn -took place in all his plans. From hints thrown out in after years it is -made plain that his father's family had not been prosperous in their -sixteen years at Highmoor farm. It seems that they were so severely -tried that they were compelled to borrow money to take them to a new -land. John Black was his father's chief stay and counsellor, and so, -giving up all the prospects in his English school, he threw in his lot -with the rest of his family, and determined to go with them to America.</p> - -<p>It was a sad picture when the family was torn up by the roots from the -home where it had grown. The far-off Solway was to be left behind, the -gently flowing Kirtle to be deserted, school and church, where character -has been formed, to be forsaken, and the sweet glens and historic rivers -and market town were to be seen no more. Oh, how sad the spectacle so -often witnessed at the Broomielaw in Glasgow or on the docks of -Liverpool, where tens of thousands have thus been wrenched from the -tender associations<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> of home, and thrust out into the wide world! On -June 18th, 1841, John Black, with father and mother, three brothers and -four sisters, formed one of these sad companies, and, none too well -provided with worldly goods, started from Liverpool to gain a living in -the New World.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER II.</span> <span class="smaller">Student and Missionary.</span></h2> - -<p>It was, as has been said, in the summer of 1841, that John Black's -father with his family arrived in America. Though Canada was at this -time enjoying a large British immigration, yet the family of Highmoor -was led to find its way to the United States. Two sisters of William -Black, with their husbands, had years before found a comfortable home in -the State of New York. Twenty years' residence had made these Murray and -Davidson families fairly prosperous, and to their rocky home the -immigrants from Scotland came, ascending the Hudson River, reaching -Catskill, and then going by land carriage to Bovina, in the county of -Delaware. This region of the Catskill Mountains, though not suited for -ordinary agriculture, has long enjoyed, from its sweet grasses and clear -streams, a great pre-eminence as a dairy-farming district. No doubt this -was due to the skill, energy, and thrift of the farmers from the south -of Scotland who had settled there.</p> - -<p>After reaching Bovina, the newly-arrived family took a farm in the -neighborhood. For a time John gave some help in the work, but his heart -was set on preaching the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> Gospel. In order to obtain the means of -continuing his studies, he engaged in teaching, and by his skill and -enthusiasm awakened much interest in education among the young people of -Bovina. The work of teaching John Black found to be an excellent -preparation for the work of the ministry. The power to manage a school, -the ability to understand the character of his scholars, and the habit -of patience acquired were to him of great value in after life.</p> - -<p>Desiring to carry on his education further before entering on the -special study for the ministry, the young teacher looked about for an -academy where he might pursue his general studies. This he found in -Delhi, the chief town of Delaware county. Here a most accomplished -teacher, Rev. Daniel Shepherd, was in charge of a school of a very high -order. It is said that though this institution did not bear the name of -either college or university, and gave no degrees, yet in scholarship -many of its alumni were not behind university graduates.</p> - -<p>John Black, now on fire with a high purpose, threw himself with all his -soul into his studies. He at once took a high place in the school. The -shepherd lad from the Gair school in far-off Eskdale reflected credit on -his old teacher, Mr. Roddick. He planned a course of study in the -needful branches of mathematics, but his chief delight was in classics. -So excellent a scholar was he in Greek that the original Greek oration -delivered by him on leaving the institution was for many years spoken of -as being unusually meritorious. His metrical translations of Latin -authors, such as Horace, were well done, and though not so often as -formerly, yet now and then his muse took a poetic flight.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p><p>Like many Scottish students, John Black lived very economically in his -school life in Delhi, "cultivating," as has been said, "the muses on a -little oatmeal." With him were two of his cousins as room-mates, William -and David Murray. These three lads, living in a little upstairs room, -cooking for themselves the provisions received from home, gained in -after life, though in different spheres, high and honorable distinction. -William Murray became Judge of the Supreme Court of New York, and Dr. -David Murray was the organizer of the educational system of Japan, and -for several years chief superintendent of education there. When he left -Japan to return to America he was invested by the Emperor with the -highest order of Japanese nobility. He has since been State Librarian at -Albany, New York. John Black may not have received such earthly honors -as fell to the lot of his cousins, although he had his share of these, -too, but he has the joy of those of whom it is said "they shall shine as -the stars for ever and ever."</p> - -<h3>CHURCH LIFE.</h3> - -<p>Though baptized in the Church of Scotland, and attached to its forms, -John Black became, on his arrival in Bovina, an active member of the -"Associate Church." This was one of the bodies which afterwards were -united and became the "United Presbyterian Church of North America." The -minister of the Bovina congregation was Rev. John Graham, a native of -Montrose, Scotland, a man of ability, especially as a writer. Before his -death he published his "Autobiography," a most interesting book. Of Mr. -Graham it was said that he "was a man with eccentricities, but far more -excellencies." In Mr. Graham John Black found a true friend, as he did -also in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> the other members of the congregation. True piety prevailed -among them. Perhaps some would call them narrow, but they were genuine. -They had brought with them from the old land customs such as the regular -observance of family worship, the keeping of the Sabbath, and the habit -of churchgoing, and these they put into practice in their new world -home. As the country settled, many congregations, which are now strong, -hived off from the original one in Bovina.</p> - -<p>For three years John Black remained a member of this congregation, and -his family were very anxious that he should study for the ministry in -connection with the Associate Church. He was unable to accept all the -views of the Church, however, and this kept him for some time in grave -doubt. The Associate Church held that the Scottish covenants were -binding on the Church in later times. It will be remembered that these -covenants of 1638 and 1643 represent one of the grandest periods in -Scottish history. Nobles and people alike, in Greyfriars churchyard, -Edinburgh, and elsewhere in Scotland, signed, in some cases with pens -dipped in their own blood, the covenant or pledge to oppose prelacy and -popery, and to keep the Church of Scotland pure and true. John Black -loved and admired the martyrs and Covenanters who fought so nobly for -liberty, but he was not sure that two centuries after those stirring -times it was still necessary to subscribe these notable documents. The -Associate Church required of those who entered its ministry to declare -adhesion to "public covenanting," and this threw an obstacle in the way -of the young candidate.</p> - -<p>His thought was then turned to Princeton College, the seminary of the -Old School Presbyterian Church, as it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> then called. Some five or six -years before this time the Presbyterian Church of the United States had -been rent by doctrinal differences, and perhaps more especially by the -question of negro slavery. Princeton College would have satisfied the -young aspirant to the ministry, but belonging, as it did, to the body -which seemed unsound on the slavery question, John Black, like all of -British blood, was horrified at the thought of being connected in any -way with so hideous and cruel a thing as slavery, and so he could not -conscientiously join the Old School. He still kept up correspondence -with Scotland, and his love was strong for the Scottish Church. At this -time, too, a great religious movement was going on in Scotland, which -led to the Disruption in 1843, and the formation of the Free Church of -Scotland. After this event the young student in Bovina began to turn his -attention to Canada, where the Church was strongly Scottish in its -character and customs.</p> - -<p>Just at this time, early in 1844, a minister from Canada came on a visit -to his friends in Bovina. This was the Rev. James George, then a -minister of the Church of Scotland in Scarboro, in Upper Canada. Mr. -George's father and brothers were nearest neighbors of William Black and -his family in Bovina. Mr. George was at this time an examiner in Queen's -College, Kingston, and, indeed, afterwards became a professor in that -institution. Young John Black called upon Mr. George during his visit to -Bovina, and enquired as to the opportunities for studying for the -ministry in the Canadian Church. He also sought information as to what -the Church in Canada would do in view of the disruption which had taken -place in the mother Church in Scotland. Mr. George stated that he had a -strong hope that the Church in Canada would satisfy all parties, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> -thus prevent a division on this side of the Atlantic. Having examined -Mr. Black, Mr. George expressed himself as highly satisfied, and advised -the young student to come over to Canada in the autumn and to enter -Queen's College. Mr. George returned to Canada, the Canadian Synod met -shortly afterwards in Kingston, and there the disruption took place. Mr. -George thereupon wrote to Mr. Black informing him as to what had -happened, but still urging him to come over and enter Queen's College on -its opening. After all the kindness which had been shown him he felt it -to be a painful trial to refuse; but John Black's sympathies were with -the Free Church in the struggle, and he could not accept the kind -invitation of his friend. It was with great grief that he saw the -division in Canadian Presbyterianism. He never ceased to desire -reconciliation, and he was greatly overjoyed that he lived to see the -happy reunion in 1875.</p> - -<h3>COLLEGE LIFE.</h3> - -<p>John Black had not an acquaintance in Canada other than Mr. George. He -had noticed in the newspapers that the Rev. Mark Y. Stark, of Dundas, -had been moderator of the synod at the time of its division, and that he -had taken the side with which he himself sympathized. Accordingly, he -wrote to this gentleman about the arrangements for starting a college in -connection with the new body, and the answer came, greatly to his -satisfaction, that the commission of synod would meet in October to deal -with this matter, and that it would be well for him to be present at the -meeting.</p> - -<p>The synod was held in Toronto, and, a number of students having sent in -their names, Knox College was founded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> John Black waited over for the -opening of the college, which took place on November 5th, 1844, and he -may be said to have been its first student. The establishment of this -college was a great and notable event, for here many well-known -ministers of the Presbyterian Church have been trained for their work. -There were two professors to begin with: the polished Henry Esson, who -taught arts, and a gentleman from Scotland, Rev. Andrew King, acting -professor of theology. Mr. King afterward became professor of theology -in Halifax. The beginning of the college was almost as simple as that of -the well-known "Log College" which gave instruction in early days to -Presbyterian students in the United States. It began in a single room in -Professor Esson's house in Toronto. Shelves around the room contained -the professor's library and a number of books for the use of the -students, lent by other ministers. In the middle of the room was a long -pine table, surrounded by benches and a few chairs. Fourteen students -received the attention of the two professors. This first session was a -busy one, and at its close the enthusiastic young men were sent as home -missionaries to different places.</p> - -<p>The session was one of great interest to John Black. Well prepared as he -had been, a good Greek scholar, well instructed in English literature, -and well read in philosophy, he took a foremost place among his -fellow-students. Bursaries and prizes were won by him, and the session -was thoroughly profitable. Now fairly committed to the Christian -ministry, he thought often of the motives which were leading him. His -letters of this time show a growing love for spiritual things, and, -while there is always in them a spice of humor or of fancy, yet there -runs through them a deep and earnest vein.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p><p>Among the greatest influences brought to bear upon him were those of -the company of good friends, for he was a man of most sociable -disposition. In after days he often spoke of the influence of that -devoted man of God, William C. Burns, who went as a missionary to China. -This remarkable man was a nephew of Dr. Robert Burns, of whom we shall -speak more fully, and a friend of Robert Murray McCheyne, one of the -most spiritual of the young preachers of his time. Many a story is yet -told of the remarkable sayings and doings of William C. Burns during his -memorable visit in Canada. His influence, though that of a passing -visitor, was very great over the students of Knox College, and over -young Black in particular.</p> - -<p>At the end of his second year in Knox College the young student was sent -as a missionary to preach the Gospel in a number of new settlements. The -townships of Brock, Reach, Uxbridge, and Scott were then filling up with -immigrants from Great Britain and Ireland. John Black thus writes to his -brother:</p> - -<blockquote><p class="right">"Brock, May 27th, 1846.</p> - -<p>"I came here about five weeks ago, and have been very busy ever -since. I have four preaching stations, two here and two in the next -township south. I preach in three schoolhouses and a large barn. -The people are mostly Scotch, Irish, and English. The four would -make a decent congregation. I take them two each Sabbath, and have -prayer-meetings, when I can manage it, as well as week-day -'preachings.' To-morrow night I must ride six miles northwest to -hold a meeting among some English people (whom I like best of all -my people), and next day, Friday, come back ten miles to a -prayer-meeting in another place,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> Saturday ten miles again to -another, and Sabbath two meetings."</p></blockquote> - -<p>This shows the spirit of the man whose faithful and unremitting services -in after years told so powerfully on the banks of the Red River.</p> - -<h3>A MISSIONARY.</h3> - -<p>As John Black drew to the end of his college course the work of the -ministry became very real to him. His sympathies became more intense in -his desire to reach and rescue perishing men. The little band of -students in 1846 were all aglow with missionary zeal. The Knox College -Missionary Society, which has ever since been so good a training school -for young missionaries, was formed in that early time. The society at -that date not only did city mission work in Toronto and cultivated the -missionary spirit, but helped the Missionary Society of the Free Church -of Scotland to support a missionary in a foreign land. During the -session of 1846-7 the Rev. Mr. Doudiet, a Swiss Protestant missionary, -in the service of the French-Canadian Missionary Society, visited Knox -College and addressed the students. The students decided to assist this -movement. John Black had, as we have seen, some knowledge of French, and -was therefore urged by his fellow-students to enter upon this work. He -would have preferred preaching in English, for he had enjoyed his summer -in the mission field very greatly, but it was agreed that he should -spend the following summer at Pointe aux Trembles, a French school near -Montreal, ever since well known. This he did, and returned in the autumn -to take his last year in college.</p> - -<p>At the opening of this session he was made glad by his brother James -joining him from Bovina, to study for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> ministry in Knox College. Not -only had he intimate companionship with his brother, but there were -three other students with whom he associated much and of whom he spoke -with the highest regard to the day of his death; these were afterward -well known as Dr. Robert Ure, of Goderich; Dr. John Scott, of London; -and the Rev. John Ross, of Brucefield—all of whom exercised a great -influence on the western peninsula of Upper Canada. He was strongly -attached to his professors. Dr. Burns he regarded as a fearless champion -of the truth; Professor Esson he admired for his refined taste and wide -scholarship; and Professor Rintoul, he tells us, he loved as he did his -own father.</p> - -<h3>FRENCH MISSIONS.</h3> - -<p>On the close of the college session of 1848 John Black was ready to -enter on the work of the Christian ministry, a work lying very near to -his heart. It seemed, however, as if it were not to be. The Students' -Missionary Society insisted on his taking a part in the movement among -the French Roman Catholics. He proceeded to Montreal, and was soon busy -studying French. He was not, however, allowed to continue at his work, -for there were so many English-speaking congregations in and about -Montreal that he was compelled to take service in these week after week. -This interfered with his plans, and we find him writing, in 1849, from -Pointe aux Trembles: "I left Montreal and came here about five weeks -ago. I have been making some progress in French, especially in -conversation, for it is now the vacation and there are no lessons. It is -a dour (difficult) job. I fear I shall never be able to use the French -effectively."</p> - -<p>The estimate in which Mr. Black was held as a preacher<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> and pastor may -be seen from the fact that Côte Street Church, Montreal, the leading -Free Church in Canada, having failed to receive continuous help from -Scotland, was supplied for months together by the young missionary. He -was in request by congregations in different parts of Lower Canada, but -he still remained working for the French-Canadians. At length, in May, -1851, he resigned the secretaryship of the French-Canadian Missionary -Society. His letters at this time breathe a spirit of earnestness and -devotion. He had paid a visit to his former home in New York State, and -had seen his old father and mother, and always spoke with the most -tender regard of their claims upon him. He was always anxious about the -welfare of his brother, to whom he writes. He had then a habit which -clung to him to the last, of enquiring minutely into his friends' -affairs. His letters abound with direct questions to his brother, such -as: "How do you do your work? Do you sermonize, or expound, or what? Do -you write out your sermons? Are the professors harmonious in the -college? Have you prayer-meetings in college and city? Do you go out on -Sabbaths? How are you situated for money?" This habit arose from his -warm interest in his friends. His questions at times may have seemed -abrupt and forward, but the warmth of his nature showed that it was only -"his way."</p> - -<p>Three years had now passed in visiting congregations in Canada and the -United States, and in preparing himself more fully for his life work, -although seriously interrupted by the pressing demands from new -congregations. It was a time of great spiritual hope, and the minds of -the students of that day had a strong evangelistic bent, which they -retained throughout life.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER III.</span> <span class="smaller">Montreal to Fort Garry.</span></h2> - -<p>While John Black was wondering what special duty the Lord would lay upon -him he was startled by a cry for help from the wilds of Rupert's Land. -Forty years before this an enterprising Scottish nobleman, Lord Selkirk, -became a leading partner in the Hudson's Bay Company, and shortly after -undertook to settle a colony of Highlanders on the banks of Red River. -The colonists had come in three separate companies, by way of Hudson -Bay, and by a difficult route ascended the water courses to the very -heart of North America, and settled on the banks of Red River. With true -Highland fervor they longed for a minister and a place of worship. A -Highland elder, James Sutherland, had accompanied one of the parties, -and he had been given power to marry and baptize. He had gone east to -Canada, and no minister of their own land had ever come to these -Highland exiles. As we shall see, a Church of England minister had been -sent to them, and yet they remained Presbyterian. After many -disappointments their cry had reached Scotland, and had been referred to -Canada to Dr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> Robert Burns, minister of Knox Church, Toronto. We shall -enter more fully into the steps they had taken to secure a minister, but -at last the Hudson's Bay Company Governor at Fort Garry, Mr. Ballenden, -as he was passing through Toronto, had urged the matter upon Dr. Burns. -The heart of the good man was touched, and he fixed upon John Black as -the missionary. The following extract of a letter to Mr. James Court, -the secretary of the French Canadian Missionary Society, speaks for itself:</p> - -<blockquote><p class="right">Toronto, 27th June, 1851.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">My Dear Sir</span>,—"In the name of our Synod's Home Mission, and for -behoof of our poor brethren at Red River in the Hudson's Bay -Territory, I have to solicit your aid in obtaining for a time the -services of Mr. John Black, whom we have fixed on as a fit person -to make an exploratory visit to the settlement. We would not have -asked this could we have avoided it, but our fixed pastors and -professors are difficult to move; and we know Mr. Black's peculiar -qualifications. The truth is I was so impressed with the importance -of such a visit, both for our people and the red men, and the -French speaking settlers in that region, that I gave the pledge as -chairman of the committee, and Mr. Ballenden will be entitled to -hold me good for it personally, if I cannot get a substitute. If -necessary I am ready to resign my charge here and throw myself on -the far west, for I am clear that our Church is called to do some -good work in those regions; and if we lose the present opportunity, -when may we have another?</p> - -<p>"If you agree, as I trust you will, Mr. Black should come direct to us."</p> - -<p class="right">"Most truly yours,<span class="s3"> </span><br />"<span class="smcap">Robt. Burns</span>.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Mr. Court, Montreal."</p></blockquote> - -<p>On the following day Dr. Burns wrote a letter to Mr. Black himself. Of -this we give a portion:</p> - -<blockquote><p class="right">"Toronto, 28th June, 1851.</p> - -<p>"<span class="smcap">My Dear Sir</span>,—I send you a scroll sketch of instructions, or hints -rather, for your guidance in your important mission, <i>but your own -judgment</i> and good sense will be the best guides.</p> - -<p>You are called at an early period of life to a most important duty, -and on the manner in which you shall discharge it will depend, -under God, the position which we as a Church may be called upon to -occupy in regard to the progress of Christ's kingdom in these -western regions. You will find in Bishop Anderson a pious and -liberal Episcopalian and a Bishop—yea, <i>The Bishop</i>! You know what -I mean. Already you know something of Popery and its steps, open or -close. The Sabbath observance subject I commend to your serious -notice. The company like hunting on the Lord's day! The range is -wide and long; but if you can get from the United States boundary -to York Fort, it will be desirable. Your object being exploratory -keep note of all. Preach and exhort and expound, and conduct -devotional exercises wherever you have an opportunity—Sabbath days especially.</p> - -<p class="center">* * * *</p> - -<p>"Our prayers will accompany you, and our most fervent desires that -your way may be prospered before you, and that you may be hailed by -the settlers as a messenger of good tidings and a pioneer of salvation.</p> - -<p>"Come up as soon as you can.</p> - -<p class="right">"Yours, etc.,<span class="s3"> </span><br /> -"<span class="smcap">Robt. Burns</span>."</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p><p>The young missionary engrossed in his French Canadian work received -this communication. He was at the same time earnestly sought for by the -congregation of North Georgetown in Lower Canada. After due -consideration, he refused Dr. Burns' offer to go to Red River. He did -this not because he was lacking in the true spirit of the missionary, -but because he felt anxious about his old father and mother still alive -in New York State. They were now left without any of their children -beside them, and John Black, as their eldest son, felt it to be his duty -to be within reach of them. He therefore felt justified in declining the -earnest call to visit the Northwest. It is stated that on his refusal -application was made to one who has since become known as one of the -staunchest theologians and best preachers of the Church, the Rev. -Professor MacLaren, D.D., of Knox College, Toronto. He, however, was not -able to accept. Very strong pressure was again brought to bear upon John -Black, and as the season was advancing his answer had to be given -without delay. The following letter written to his brother explains his -action in the matter:</p> - -<h3>ON TO RED RIVER.</h3> - -<blockquote><p class="right">Toronto, July 31st, 1851.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">My Dear James</span>,—"You will no doubt be surprised to learn that I am -so far on my way to Red River. I am to be ordained to-night and go -on to-morrow morning at half-past seven o'clock. I have been forced -into it against my will. It is a very important mission, but I -leave one important also, and what grieves me much is that I go -without seeing friends—yourself and family at home. Nobody else -would go and so I am called on to do so. I shall not be able to -return before next spring—be a good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> boy till I come back. Write -frequently home and comfort them. I doubt somewhat if I am in the -way of duty in leaving father and mother now in their old age.</p> - -<p class="center">* * * *</p> - -<p>I have no time to write more. May God bless you and keep you! Do -not cease to pray for my preservation and success and I shall do -the same for you. God bless you, dear brother."</p> - -<p class="right">"Yours, etc.,<span class="s3"> </span><br /><span class="smcap">J. Black</span>.</p> - -<p>P.S. Now mind you write often home, or if you could possibly go -over I should like it very much.</p> - -<p class="right">J. B.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On the following day, August 1st, the young missionary who had been -ordained for the work of the ministry on the evening before, in Knox -Church, Toronto, started on his long journey to Red River. Twenty years -afterward the writer left Toronto for Red River, and could not find -before leaving how he was to accomplish the journey after St. Paul, in -Minnesota, had been reached. How much more difficult when the long -journey of eight hundred miles to St. Paul had to be performed over bad -roads by stage coach and Mississippi steamboat! The journey that now -takes thirty hours from Toronto, <i>via</i> Detroit, Chicago, and St. Paul, -then took two full weeks. The young missionary arrived at where the city -of Minneapolis now stands, and wrote the following letter.</p> - -<blockquote><p class="right">Falls of St. Anthony, August 15th, 1851.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear James</span>: "I am so far on my way and hope to begin another stage -of my journey on Monday next. My journey has yet been comparatively -<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>pleasant, though diversified with a good deal of the disagreeable, -owing chiefly to bad roads and anxiety as to being too late. I am, -however, here and well, and hope to get through. Pray for strength -and protection and faithfulness and success. There is now to be a -regular monthly mail and so I hope you will write regularly. The -mail starts from here on the 1st of the month. To be in time you -must post in the middle of the month previous. I add no more at -present. May God bless and keep you evermore. Do not forget me at a -throne of Grace."</p> - -<p class="right">"Yours, etc.,<span class="s3"> </span><br /><span class="smcap">John Black</span>.</p></blockquote> - -<p>When the traveller reached the capital of Minnesota he was in the -greatest perplexity. His coming had been anxiously looked for by a -deputation of the Scottish settlers from Red River. But they were nearly -five hundred miles from home and a tedious cart journey lay before them, -so that the time of the year did not permit their delaying any longer. -On the 1st of August, just at the time their long-looked-for missionary -was leaving Toronto, the deputation left the Falls of St. Anthony to -return to Red River.</p> - -<h3>A FRIEND IN NEED.</h3> - -<p>At this most important point a happy deliverance came to the young -missionary. He learned that Alexander Ramsey, the Governor of Minnesota, -was soon to set out to the north of Minnesota, attended with a mounted -escort. Governor Ramsey had organized the territory of Minnesota two -years before, and had the year before negotiated a treaty with the Sioux -Indians, by which they ceded a large tract of land in southern -Minnesota. He was now to proceed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> northward to Pembina, to make a treaty -with the Chippewa Indians. Mr. Black, though, as he tells us, at a -considerable expense to himself, was given the privilege of going to his -northern home along with this party.</p> - -<p>We are fortunate in having two camp-fire sketches written by Mr. J. W. -Bond, who was also one of the party. He tells us that the party met from -several different points near the Sauk rapids, on the Upper Mississippi. -Besides the governor and his staff there were Rev. John Black and Mr. -Bond. The escort consisted of twenty-five dragoons from Fort Snelling, -commanded by an American military officer, and accompanied by six -two-horse baggage wagons. The baggage of the party and the provisions -were carried in light Red River carts, with eight French-Canadian and -halfbreed drivers. In number there were comprised about fifty souls in -all. John Black and Mr. Bond, each mounted on an Indian pony, became -companions during the journey, and Mr. Black won the regard of all the -members of the party.</p> - -<h3>EN ROUTE.</h3> - -<p>We may give a few notes of the journey over the prairies:</p> - -<p>Sauk Rapids, August 21st, 1851: "Fine, clear, cool day. We struck tents -and went away early. Passed over the worst piece of road between the -Rapids and Pembina. The dragoons were busy for several hours in -repairing the 'corduroy' for the passage of the teams."</p> - -<p>August 23rd: "We to-day rode over the rolling prairie, full of strips of -marsh, when, after a march of ten miles, we came to an almost impassable -swamp. We crossed with some difficulty by pulling the carts and horses -across by ropes, during which Rev. Mr. Black and Mr. Bond completely -mired their ponies, and came near going with them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> to the bottom, if -there was any. After this we took a cup of tea to refresh ourselves."</p> - -<p>August 24th (Sunday). "To-day our French-Canadians and halfbreeds, who -have charge of the provision and baggage carts, have been shooting -pigeons and ducks, and also making new cart axles. The day has not -seemed much like Sunday."</p> - -<p>August 25th. "Mosquitoes are very bad, although the weather is quite -cold and bracing."</p> - -<p>August 26th. "We had a very good dinner to-day, consisting of bouillon -(broth) made of geese, ducks, etc., with ham, pork, coffee, bread and -butter, etc."</p> - -<p>August 27th. "Cool, cloudy, and quite cold early in the morning; fine -weather for travelling; up at daylight, and away upon our march at -half-past five. We are to-day passing on the dividing ridge between the -head waters of the Red, Minnesota, and Mississippi rivers."</p> - -<p>August 30th. "To-day suffered much from mosquitoes. No imagination can -do them justice—they must be seen and felt to be appreciated. Mr. Bond -rode a cream-colored horse, and declared that he was unable to -distinguish the color of the animal, so thickly was he covered with the -pests. During supper they swarmed around like bees hiving, and entered -the mouth, nose, eyes, and ears, and had it not been for a cool fresh -evening breeze they would have been unbearable."</p> - -<p>August 31st. "Our hunters discovered two buffalo bulls about two miles -ahead. They immediately equipped and started, and soon surrounded and -killed both. We soon joined them and encamped. The buffaloes were -skinned, the choice parts cut out, and the liver and kidney fried for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> -dinner. These were our first buffaloes, and there was much excitement -over them."</p> - -<p>September 1st. "Another buffalo to-day, but a sad accident. During the -chase Pierre Bottineau, our best French halfbreed guide, was thrown -violently from his horse, which stumbled. Bottineau was picked up -insensible, terribly stunned, though not much hurt. He was bled, brought -to camp in the carriage and put to bed."</p> - -<p>September 4th. "The prairie is so bare that no wood is to be had. Having -no wood we were obliged to boil our kettle, and the French boys their -pork and buffalo, over a fire made of buffalo chips, <i>i.e.</i>, of dried -buffalo manure picked up on the prairie. Only a few mosquitoes troubled -us, and they were driven to leeward by the strong smoke and smell of the -buffalo chips."</p> - -<p>September 6th. "To-night there was the finest exhibition of the <i>aurora -borealis</i> that any of us have ever seen. To attempt a description is the -height of vanity. The Rev. Mr. Black and Mr. Bond gazed very long upon -it, as a most remarkable manifestation in the heavens, before they could -tear themselves away and return to rest. Mr. Black, who had seen the -Northern sky in Scotland and Canada, says it was much the finest -exhibition he has ever seen. Bottineau declared that he had never seen -its equal this side of Hudson Bay."</p> - -<p>September 7th. "It is three weeks to-day since we left St. Paul."</p> - -<p>September 8th. "A furious thunderstorm overtook us. It came down a -deluge, a perfect torrent of falling waters, though the heaviest of the -storm had passed around us to the south."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p><p>September 11th. "Arrived at Pembina. The houses were full of -halfbreeds, who saluted us with the discharge of guns, etc. Two of the -staff rode on ahead, and were treated to milk and potatoes—a treat -equal to that of the milk and honey received by the Israelites of old. -Near the village, on the muddy banks of Red River, stood an admiring -group of several hundred whites, halfbreeds, and Indians of all sizes, -with any quantity of dogs, very large and wolfish. Amid this babel of -cries, yelps, barks, and shouts, from the said big dogs and little -papoose Indians, we came to a halt and reconnoitred, standing almost -glued fast in the sticky, tenacious mud caused by the rains and overflow -of the Red and Pembina Rivers for three years past. The journey to -Pembina has been accomplished, including the two rest days, in -twenty-five days in all."</p> - -<p>September 14th. "Cloudy, cold, raw, and windy, quite unpleasant and -unseasonable. An overcoat is necessary out of doors this morning, and -fires in the house for comfort. To-day we had preaching by the Rev. John -Black, in the dining-room of the Governor's house; a novelty most -certainly in this far distant region. The congregation consisted of -about a dozen whites and three halfbreeds. The Rev. Charles Tanner, a -halfbreed missionary among the Indians of Red Lake, met us here, and in -the afternoon preached to the assembled Chippewas in their own tongue. -He moved to this place a week ago, and intends farming, teaching school, -etc., for a livelihood after the conclusion of the treaty. His wife is a -halfbreed, and they reside at present in a lodge in the yard at this place."</p> - -<h3>DOWN THE RED RIVER.</h3> - -<p>After Sunday was past for two days the weather was bad, but on -Wednesday, 17th, the day was fine, and the two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> companions of the -voyage, Messrs. Black and Bond, determined to leave the party behind and -proceed down the Red River to the Selkirk settlement, a distance by land -of sixty miles, but not less than three times as far by the winding -river. Astir by daylight, the travellers were soon ready, and in a birch -bark canoe, fifteen feet long and three wide, managed by two French -halfbreeds or Bois-brulés (burnt sticks, referring to their dusky -faces), their bedding, baggage, and provisions, and finally the two -passengers were stowed away for the journey. The voyage was a tedious -one, but not without interest. The canoe was somewhat leaky, and at -times had to be hauled up on the bank, overturned, emptied, and calked -with white spruce gum. Large flocks of ducks and geese were swimming -almost within paddle length from the canoe. Everywhere were to be seen -traces of the high water which had prevailed for several years, and -marks upon the trees thirty feet above the water were seen, where in -spring the freshets had reached.</p> - -<h3>A NIGHT SCENE.</h3> - -<p>The party halted for the night some forty miles below Pembina. The -description given by Mr. Black's travelling companion of the camp on the -river bank is graphic: "The night is very clear and fine, the face of -heaven is smiling amid myriads of twinkling stars; the northern horizon -is lit up with the rays of dancing beams of an aurora, while the woods -and silent-flowing river are illuminated by our camp fire; our voyageurs -are fast asleep upon the ground before us, and not a sound is heard save -that of the leaping, crackling flames and the low tone of our own voices -as we chat merrily. And now, as my companion reads a chapter in his -French pocket Bible, and I pencil down these sketches<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> of fact and fancy -by the light of the burning fagots—but hark! we have company, it seems, -and are not so lonely as I thought; that was the hoot-owl's cry, and -sounds like the wailing of a fiend in misery; that was the cry, long -drawn out and dismal, of a distant wolf; and near, the pack like hungry -curs are heard yelping and barking furiously. In the bushes beside the -camp I see two gleaming, fiery eyeballs. "Take that, to light you to -better quarters!" I hurl a blazing firebrand toward the beast, who, with -a dismal cry, leaves us to repose and quiet sleep."</p> - -<p>Another day and still another night of camping, and next morning the -party started on the home stretch. With a head wind the voyageurs toiled -on, and both passengers relieved the monotony by landing on the right -bank, walking along it, and cutting off the bends kept ahead of the -canoe. During the day they found by the appearance of houses along the -banks that they were approaching their destination. The vivid -description given by Mr. Bond fell, in some way, into the hands of the -American poet, Whittier, and he has left us a sweet poem, with which we -should be acquainted. The scene is that of the voyageurs coming down the -stream, and as they approach their destination there is first the sound -of bells, and then the sight of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. -Boniface with the two towers.</p> - -<p>A picture much like this was seen as the voyageurs in the old days left -Ste. Anne on the Ottawa, not far from Montreal, and took their leave, -under the protection of Providence, for their long journey to the -interior. Thomas Moore, the Irish poet, was much impressed by the sight, -on his visit to Canada, when he wrote the Canadian boat song:</p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"Faintly as tolls the evening chime,</div> -<div>Our voices keep tune and our oars keep time."</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p><p>So the weary voyageurs approaching St. Boniface are filled with -expectation and delight at the end of their journey by the cheery chimes -of the Roman Mission.</p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/dec.jpg" alt="decoration" /></div> - -<p class="center">THE RED RIVER VOYAGEUR</p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>Out and in the river is winding</div> -<div class="i1">The links of its long red chain,</div> -<div>Through belts of dusky pine land</div> -<div class="i1">And gusty leagues of plain.</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div>Only at times a smoke wreath</div> -<div class="i1">With the drifting cloud-rack joins—</div> -<div>The smoke of the hunting lodges</div> -<div class="i1">Of the wild Assiniboins!</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div>Drearily blows the north-wind</div> -<div class="i1">From the land of ice and snow;</div> -<div>The eyes that look are weary,</div> -<div class="i1">And heavy the hands that row.</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div>And with one foot on the water,</div> -<div class="i1">And one upon the shore,</div> -<div>The Angel of Shadow gives warning,</div> -<div class="i1">That day shall be no more.</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div>Is it the clang of wild geese?</div> -<div class="i1">Is it the Indians' yell,</div> -<div>That lends to the voice of the north-wind</div> -<div class="i1">The tones of a far-off bell?</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div>The voyageur smiles as he listens</div> -<div class="i1">To the sound that grows apace;</div> -<div>Well he knows the vesper ringing</div> -<div class="i1">Of the bells of St. Boniface.</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div>The bells of the Roman Mission</div> -<div class="i1">That call from their turrets twain;</div> -<div>To the boatman on the river,</div> -<div class="i1">To the hunter on the plain!</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>Even so in our mortal journey</div> -<div class="i1">The bitter north-winds blow,</div> -<div>And thus upon life's Red River</div> -<div class="i1">Our hearts, as oarsmen, row.</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div>And when the Angel of Shadow</div> -<div class="i1">Rests his feet on wave and shore,</div> -<div>And our eyes grow dim with watching,</div> -<div class="i1">And our hearts faint at the oar,</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div>Happy is he who heareth</div> -<div class="i1">The signal of his release</div> -<div>In the bells of the Holy City,</div> -<div class="i1">The chimes of eternal peace!</div> -</div></div></div> - -<div class="center"><a name="i043.jpg" id="i043.jpg"></a><img src="images/i043.jpg" alt="The bells of the Roman Mission" /></div> - -<p>In the afternoon the party disembarked and found a kindly shelter in the -hospitable home of an old French family, the Marions, not far from the -cathedral, opposite the point where the Assiniboine falls into the Red -River, and the stone walls of Fort Garry in view in the distance.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER IV.</span> <span class="smaller">A Highland Welcome.</span></h2> - -<p>A short rest having been made in the hospitable home of the Marions, the -young missionary, anxious to meet his future flock, crossed the Red -River by canoe and disembarked about a mile below, at "Colony Gardens." -This was the house of Alexander Ross, sheriff of Assiniboia, who had -been a leader in all the efforts to obtain a minister. Here the expected -minister received a Highland welcome, and the Ross mansion became his home.</p> - -<p>A short sketch of Sheriff Ross and his wife is an absolute necessity to -our understanding of the Red River community to which John Black came. -Alexander Ross was a Highlander who, about 1803, at the age of -twenty-one, came with the disbanded soldiers of the Highland regiment of -Glengarry Fencibles to Upper Canada. He went with them to Glengarry -District on the St. Lawrence, and, being a fair scholar, taught school -there for some time.</p> - -<p>In 1810 he entered the Astor Fur Company, which had its headquarters in -New York. Sailing from that city, he rounded Cape Horn, went up the -Pacific coast, and helped to build Astoria, a fort at the mouth of the -Columbia river,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> on the Pacific. He led a rough and dangerous life for a -number of years, and found his way in the service of the Northwest Fur -Company of Montreal, to the mountains of British Columbia. Here he -married an Indian maiden, the daughter of the chief of the Okanagan -Indians. The writer was well acquainted, many years after, with "Granny" -Ross, as she was called, and can speak of her kindness and Christian character.</p> - -<p>At the end of the first quarter of the century Alexander Ross was -brought across the mountains and prairies by Governor George Simpson, -and took up his abode on the banks of Red River, on what is now the site -of the city of Winnipeg. Here he reared a large family, and took a -leading part in all the affairs of the Red River settlement. Mr. Black's -companion writes: "The old gentleman met us on the bank, welcomed us to -the Selkirk settlement, and escorted us up to his house—a white, -rough-cast, two-storey stone, which stands upon a large bend of the -river and commands a view both ways; and that view is certainly the -finest I have seen for a long time."</p> - -<p>The scene about Colony Gardens on that September afternoon was a very -striking one. "A village of farmhouses with barns, stables, hay, wheat, -and barley stooks, with small cultivated fields or lots, well fenced, -are stretching along the meandering river, while the prairies, far off -to the horizon, are covered over with herds of cattle, horses, etc., the -fields filled with a busy throng of whites, halfbreeds, and -Indians—men, squaws, and children—all reaping, binding, and stacking -the golden grain, while hundreds of carts, with a single horse or ox -harnessed in their shafts, are brought in requisition to carry it to the -well-stored barn, and are seen moving, with their immense loads rolling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> -along like huge stacks in all directions. Add to this the numerous -wind-mills, some in motion, whirling around their giant arms, while -others, motionless, are waiting for a grist. Just above, Fort Garry sits -in the angle at the junction of the Assiniboine and Red rivers, with a -blood-red flag inscribed with the letters 'H. B. Co.' floating gaily in -the breeze."</p> - -<p>Of the house of Sheriff Ross the writer says: "We spent the night with -Mr. Ross and family, and found him to be a very intelligent and -interesting old gentleman, full of information as regards the Northwest -region, and of Selkirk colony in particular. He published a book -descriptive of the country and of the Rocky Mountains, Vancouver and the -Pacific Coast, where he spent some fifteen years of his life, since -which he has been residing in this colony, and has been for a long time -one of its leading citizens."</p> - -<p>A book entitled "Red River Settlement," published by Sheriff Ross, some -years after this time, is really a lively and correct account in most -respects of the Selkirk colony. We have gleaned from his writings, and -from the information communicated to Dr. Burns by him, the main facts -leading up to the coming of John Black to the Highland colony. No doubt, -late into that first night, the religious story of the forty years -preceding, was told by the old fur trader to the youthful missionary. We -may well rehearse the tale of disappointment now to be turned to joy.</p> - -<p>The Scottish settlers of Red River were chiefly emigrants from the north -of Scotland, brought to the country during and before the year 1815, by -the Earl of Selkirk. They had a clergyman of their own persuasion -promised by his lordship at the time of leaving their native country, -the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> Rev. Mr. Sage, but he remained behind them for a year in order to -perfect himself in the Gaelic language. He was expected to follow them. -Next year, however, came and passed away and with it no clergyman; and -up to the time of Mr. Black's coming no Presbyterian minister had ever -visited Rupert's Land. In the winter of 1815-16 the settlers had to -abandon the colony for want of food, and they betook themselves to the -plains for buffalo, and to the lakes for fish, and wintered among the -natives in all directions. In 1816, after their return to the -settlement, they were driven from the colony at the muzzle of the gun by -the Northwest fur traders, who did not want a farming settlement in -Rupert's Land, and they spent the following winter three hundred miles -to the north of the colony, at the foot of Lake Winnipeg.</p> - -<p>Led by the vicissitudes of his settlers, Lord Selkirk visited his colony -in 1817, made a treaty with the Indians, and made promises to his -settlers, among other things, to send them a minister of their own -faith. Much encouraged by his lordship's visit, the people settled down -to work, when they were invaded by a grasshopper scourge, and had been -compelled again to leave their farms and seek subsistence by the chase -of the buffalo on the plains.</p> - -<p>At this juncture (1818) they were surprised at the arrival of two Roman -Catholic priests sent from Montreal, on the request of Lord Selkirk, for -the Roman Catholic colonists taken out by him, and the French halfbreeds -of Red River. But no Presbyterian minister was sent. It is to be said -for Lord Selkirk that the financial difficulties of his colony and the -strife and opposition which had arisen preyed on his mind to such an -extent that he died in the south of France in 1820. He had, however, -given strict charges to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> agent, then in London, to send out a -minister as promised. The agent was an Englishman and seemed to have -used his position with the directors of the Hudson Bay Company very -unfairly. In 1820 there arrived in Red River Rev. John West, a good and -suitable man, but the settlers complained that he was of the Church of -England, and that there were not "twenty individuals in the whole colony -belonging to the Church of England."</p> - -<p>Much dissatisfied, the colonists, in 1822, applied to Lord Selkirk's -executors for redress, but no answer was made to them. Governor Donald -Mackenzie, who was in charge at Fort Garry, made them, in the year -following, a promise that a minister of their own persuasion would be -sent them. A petition sent to Scotland for assistance received no reply. -Years rolled on, the people still adhering in their homes to the customs -of their fathers, holding prayer meetings from house to house and -teaching the Shorter Catechism in their families. In 1843 they saw six -Roman Catholic priests in the settlement, and four Church of England -ministers, but none of their own faith.</p> - -<p>The state of depression produced by these unavailing efforts may be seen -in the fact that in 1835 a party of one hundred and ten persons, all -Scotch settlers, left the colony for the United States, "solely because -at the Selkirk settlement they had neither minister nor church of their -own." Two years after a number of additional families left the country -for the same reason. The indiscreet and uncalled for public address of -one of their ministers, who had been once a Presbyterian but was so no -longer, did much to influence their feeling and stir up resentment.</p> - -<p>In the year 1844, Duncan Finlayson, a Scotchman, who was Governor at -Fort Garry, advised another application to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> be made to the company in -London. The petition of the people is really a most pathetic one. In it -they say that "they are in danger of forgetting that they have brought -with them into this land, where they have sought a home, nothing so -valuable as the faith of Christ, or the primitive simplicity of their -form of worship; and that their children are in danger of losing sight -of those Christian bonds of union and of worship, which everywhere -characterize the sincere follower of Christ."</p> - -<p>In reply to this petition, the company denied any promise of Lord -Selkirk to the settlers in the matter, but agreed to pay the expenses of -a minister of their own faith to the country, provided they were willing -to undertake his support. Again stirred up to vindicate their position, -the leaders made affidavits as to Lord Selkirk's promise in their old -Highland home of Helmsdale, in Sutherlandshire, before the Colonists -emigrated, as well as at the time in 1817 when His Lordship gave the -grant of land for church and school. The response to these declarations -from the Hudson's Bay Company was no more satisfactory than the former -had been, and thus ended the expectation which the Kildonan people had -fondly cherished for more than thirty years of having a minister sent -them by the company.</p> - -<p>Now that they had learned the wisdom of the admonition—"Put not your -trust in princes," the disappointed colonists began to turn their -thoughts to the sympathy of the Scottish people. In 1846 they addressed -a letter to the Free Church of Scotland, which in the following year -reached the Colonial Committee of that Church. This committee sought in -vain to obtain a minister for Red River, in Scotland, and in turn, -through Dr. Bonar, the convener of the committee, handed the matter over -to the Free Church in Canada.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p><p>Then the persistent settlers of Red River transferred their case to -Montreal, and wrote to Sir George Simpson, who has been called the -"Emperor of Rupert's Land," and asked for his countenance and support. -Though very diplomatic, Sir George seems to have favored them. An -interesting correspondence between Rev. Mr. Rintoul, of Montreal, and -Sir George, now took place. The work of obtaining a suitable missionary -was, as we have seen, in the hands of Rev. Dr. Robert Burns, of Knox -Church, Toronto, a relative of Dr. Bonar. Chief Factor Ballenden, -resident governor at Fort Garry, took much interest in the matter, and -pressed the case of the Red River settlers on Dr. Burns and his -committee. We have already seen the steps by which the apostle of Red -River was sent upon his way.</p> - -<p>Mr. Black had faced the journey, and now on the scene of his future -labors heard the details of the well-nigh forty years of disappointment, -as well as of the Highland welcome awaiting him. The joy that took -possession of the Highland hearts of the people of Red River was almost -beyond measure. They had unremittingly striven in the face of many -rebuffs for a pure Gospel and for the coming of the house of the Lord. -And now in many of the homes of Red River at their family worship they -sang:</p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>When Sion's bondage God turned back</div> -<div class="i1">As men that dreamed were we,</div> -<div>Then filled with laughter was our mouth,</div> -<div class="i1">Our tongue with melody.</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div>As streams of water in the south,</div> -<div class="i1">Our bondage, Lord, recall.</div> -<div>Who sow in tears a reaping time</div> -<div class="i1">Of joy enjoy they shall.</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>That man who, bearing precious seed,</div> -<div class="i1">In going forth doth mourn,</div> -<div>He doubtless bringing back his sheaves,</div> -<div class="i1">Rejoicing shall return.</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>It was Friday afternoon when John Black arrived at his destination on -Red River. On Sabbath following he went with the people to the Episcopal -Church of St. John's, now on the north side of the city of Winnipeg, in -which the Kildonan people always claimed a share. Expecting their -minister, the people had made a compromise with the Hudson's Bay Company -as to property, and had been given a glebe lot called "La -Grenouilliere," Frog Plain, two or three miles down the river, as a site -for church and manse. Here they had already erected a manse for their -new minister, and though not quite finished, it served as a -meeting-place for the people in their worship for the first year or two -of the mission.</p> - -<p>During the week after Mr. Black's arrival, the news went quickly about -the settlement, so that on Sabbath, September 28th, 1851, three hundred -of the Selkirk settlers, who had a week before met in St. John's, -assembled for service in the manse at Kildonan. Here the first sermon -was preached by a Presbyterian minister in the wide region west of Lake -Superior, where now the Presbyterian Church is much the largest body -engaged in spreading the Gospel.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER V.</span> <span class="smaller">The Early Settlers on Red River.</span></h2> - -<p>On the banks of the Red River of the North for well nigh forty years -before the coming of John Black, there had existed the Red River -Settlement. Fort Garry was its centre for upwards of thirty years of -that period. The fur trader on the Mackenzie River looked to the -settlement as his probable haven of rest when he should have finished -his days of active service and retired; the half-breed hunter of the -plains thought of it as the paradise to which he might make his annual -visit, or the place where he might at last settle, while the Kildonan -settler boasted that there was no place like his "oasis" in the -Northwest wilderness, and that the traveller who had tasted the magical -waters of Red River would always return to them again. The Canadian -youth read in his school-book of a far distant outpost, Fort Garry, and -chilled by the very sound of the name, whispering "cold as Siberia," -passed on to the next subject. The Canadian statesman dreamed of a -Canada from ocean to ocean, but as he thought of the thousand miles of -impassable rocks and morasses between him and the fur-traders, he could -only shudder and say, "perhaps sometime," while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> the secretary of the -Hudson's Bay Company House in London with darkest secrecy folded -together his epistles, addressed them "<i>via</i> Pembina," and then slipped -quietly away to his suburban residence, knowing that he had the key in -his pocket to unlock the door to half a continent, around which was -built an impenetrable Chinese wall.</p> - -<p>As early as 1802 the Earl of Selkirk, a man of philanthropic and liberal -views, stirred by the accounts given by Sir Alexander Mackenzie (1801) -and other traders to the Indian country, wrote to the British Government -of the day a letter now in the British archives, proposing the -establishment in Red River of a colony for the purpose of relieving -Irish disaster and Highland misery. It was not until 1811 that Lord -Selkirk succeeded in obtaining, by purchase from the Hudson's Bay -Company, of which in the meantime he had become a member, the district -of Assiniboia on Red River, comprising 116,000 square miles. By way of -Hudson Bay was the route chosen, and in the letters of the founder occur -the words—words of still unfulfilled, but no doubt true prophecy: "To a -colony in these territories the channel of trade must be the river of Port Nelson."</p> - -<h3>THE HIGHLANDERS.</h3> - -<p>At this time (1811) there were sad times in the Highlands of Scotland. -Cottars and crofters were being driven from their small holdings by the -Duchess of Sutherland and others, to make way for large sheep farms. -Strong men stood sullenly by, women wept, and wrung their hands, and -children clung to their distressed parents as they saw their steadings -burnt before their eyes. The "Highland clearances" have left a stain on -the escutcheons of more than one nobleman. Lord Selkirk, whose estates -were in the south of Scotland, and who had no special connection with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> -the Celts, nevertheless took pity on the helpless Highland exiles. Ships -were prepared, and the following are the numbers of Highland colonists -sent out in the respective years:</p> - -<table summary="numbers of Highland colonists"> - <tr> - <td class="left">In 1811, reaching Red River in 1812, there were</td> - <td>70</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">In 1812, reaching Red River in 1813, there were (a part Highland) </td> - <td>15 or 20</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">In 1813, reaching Red River in 1814, there were</td> - <td>93</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">In 1815, reaching Red River in the same year, there were</td> - <td>100</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"></td> - <td>——</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">Total Selkirk Highland colonists, about</td> - <td>270</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p>The names of these settlers were those still well known in Manitoba, as -Sutherland, McKay, McLeod, McPherson, Matheson, Macdonald, Livingstone, -Polson, McBeth, Bannerman, and Gunn.</p> - -<p>From the above list it will be seen that at the end of 1814 the colony -had reached the number of one hundred and eighty or two hundred. Over -these ruled the Hudson's Bay Company governor, Capt. Miles Macdonell, a -U. E. Loyalist from Glengarry, in Canada. The fact that the Highland -settlers were under the protection of the Hudson's Bay Company roused -against them the opposition of the Northwest Fur Company, of Montreal, -which had for thirty or forty years before their coming carried on trade -in the country.</p> - -<p>The two companies had their rival posts side by side at many points -throughout the Territories. The Nor'wester fort standing immediately at -the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers was called Fort -Gibraltar. The fort occupied by the colony was less than a mile down the -bank of the Red River, and was known as Fort Douglas from Lord Selkirk's -family name. It is of no consequence to our present object to determine -who opened hostilities or who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> was to blame in the contest of the -companies. Strife prevailed, and through this the colonists suffered. In -1814 arrived on the scene a jauntily-dressed officer of the Nor'west -Company, brandishing a sword and signing himself captain—one Duncan -Cameron. This man was a clever, diplomatic, and rather unscrupulous -instrument of his company, and coming to command Fort Gibraltar, -cultivated the colonists, spoke Gaelic to and entertained them with much -hospitality, and ended by inducing about one hundred and fifty of the -two hundred of them to desert Red River and go with him to Upper Canada. -By a long and wearisome journey to Fort William, and then in small boats -along Lakes Superior and Huron, they reached Penetanguishene, and found -new homes near Toronto, London, and elsewhere. To the faithful half -hundred who remained true to their pledges all honor is due.</p> - -<p>The arrival of the third party of Highlanders in 1815 reinforced the -remnant who had resisted Cameron's seductive proposals. The Colony again -rose to three-fourths its original strength. In 1816 the Nor'westers -adopted still more extreme measures to destroy the colony. An attack was -made on the settlers on the 19th of June, and the new Governor, Robert -Semple, was killed, with a number of his attendants, at a spot a short -distance north of the present city of Winnipeg. Lord Selkirk on the -receipt of the news of the colony in 1815 had come to Montreal, and was -proceeding up the lakes to assist his people in 1816, when the news -reached him, on the way, of the skirmish of "Seven Oaks" and the death -of the governor. He was at the very time bringing with him as settlers, -a number of disbanded soldiers, who have usually been known as the "De -Meurons."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p><p>The regiments to which these men belonged were part of the body of -German mercenaries which had been raised during the Napoleonic wars. The -name of Col. De Meuron, one of the principal officers, was given to the -whole.</p> - -<p>These new settlers were not all Germans, but had among them a number of -Swiss and Piedmontese. The regiments had been employed by Britain in the -war of 1812-15, and were disbanded in Montreal at its close. Lord -Selkirk engaged four officers and one hundred men to go to Red River. -The men were promised certain wages, as well as land grants at Red -River. In the autumn of 1816 the party arrived at Fort William, which -they seized and the camping place on the Kaministiquia River is still -called Point De Meuron. Employed during the winter in opening out for a -distance a military road, the party under command of Capt. D'Orsonnens -in early spring pushed on by the way of the western shore of the Lake of -the Woods, surprised the Northwesters, and retook Fort Douglas from -them. Lord Selkirk arrived at the Red River in the last week of June, -1817. In accordance with his agreement he settled all the De Meurons who -wished to remain, along the banks of the little river, the Seine, which -empties into the Red River opposite Point Douglas. This stream has among -the old settlers always been known as German Creek in consequence. Being -mostly Roman Catholics they were the first settlers among whom the -priests Provencher and Dumoulin took up their abode on their arrival in -1818. From the nationality of the De Meurons the first Roman Catholic -parish formed in the country was called St. Boniface, from Winifred, or -Boniface, the German apostle and patron saint. The first Roman Catholic -parish is now the town of St. Boniface, and is the residence of the -Roman Catholic Archbishop of the country.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p><p>Some severe things have been said of the character of the De Meuron -settlers. They have been charged with turbulence, insobriety, and with -having had predatory inclinations towards their neighbours' cattle. They -almost all left the country after the disastrous year of 1826, for the -United States. No doubt like all bodies of men they had good and bad -among them, but the fact of their having been disbanded mercenaries -would not incline us to expect a very high morality of them.</p> - -<h3>THE SWISS.</h3> - -<p>In the same year (1820) in which Lord Selkirk went to France, to find, -in the little town of Pau, his death and burial place, a former officer -of a disbanded regiment—Col. May—a native of the Swiss capital of -Berne, went as an agent of Lord Selkirk to Switzerland. He had been in -Canada, but not at Red River, and accordingly his representations among -the Swiss Cantons were too much of the kind circulated by Government -emigration agents still. He succeeded in inducing a considerable number -of Swiss families to seek the Red River settlement. Crossing the ocean -by Hudson's Bay Company ships, they arrived at York Factory in August, -1821, and were borne in York boats to their destination.</p> - -<p>Gathered, as they had been, from the towns and villages of Switzerland, -and being chiefly "watch and clock makers, pastry cooks, and musicians," -they were ill-suited for such a new settlement as that of Red River, -where they must become agriculturists. They seem to have been honest and -orderly people, though very poor. It will be remembered that the De -Meurons had come as soldiers; they were chiefly, therefore, unmarried -men. The arrival of the Swiss, with their handsome daughters, produced a -flutter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> of excitement in the wifeless De Meuron cabins along German -creek. The results may be described in the words of a most trustworthy -eye-witness of what took place: "No sooner had the Swiss emigrants -arrived than many of the Germans, who had come to the settlement a few -years ago from Canada, and had houses, presented themselves in search of -a wife, and, having fixed their attachment with acceptance, they -received those families in which was their choice into their -habitations. Those who had no daughters to afford this introduction were -obliged to pitch their tents along the banks of the river and outside -the stockades of the fort, till they removed to Pembina in better -prospects of provisions for the winter."</p> - -<h3>THE METIS.</h3> - -<p>Alongside the Selkirk settlers others began to settle on the vacant -banks of Red River. Most worthy of notice among them were the -half-breeds of French or English descent, whose mothers were Indian -women.</p> - -<p>Parkman, in his account of Pontiac's conspiracy, has well shown the -facility with which the French voyageurs and Indian people coalesced. -Though a poor colonist, the French-Canadian is unequalled as a voyageur -and pioneer runner. When he settles on a remote lake or untenanted -river, he is at home. Here he rears in contentment his "dusky race." The -French half-breed, called also Metis, and formerly Bois-brulé, is an -athletic, rather good-looking, lively, excitable, easy-going being. Fond -of a fast pony, fond of merry-making, free-hearted, open-handed, yet -indolent and improvident, he is a marked feature of border life. Being -excitable, he can be aroused to acts of revenge, of bravery, and daring. -The McGillivrays, Grants, McLeods, and Mackays, who had French, Scotch, -and Indian blood, were especially determined.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> The Metis, if a friend, -is true, and cannot in too many ways oblige you.</p> - -<p>The offspring of the Montreal traders with their Indian spouses, so -early as 1816, numbered several hundreds, and they possessed a -considerable esprit-de-corps. They looked upon themselves as a separate -people, and, headed by their Scoto-French half-breed leader, Cuthbert -Grant, called themselves the New Nation. Having tasted blood in the -death of Governor Semple, they were turbulent ever after. Living the -life of buffalo hunters, they preserved their warlike tastes. Largely -increased in numbers in 1849, they committed the grave offence of -rising, taking the law into their own hands, defying all authority, and -rescuing a French half-breed prisoner named Sayer.</p> - -<p>This was in the time of Recorder Thom. Adam Thom, the judge, deserves a -word of notice. A native of Scotland, of large frame, great -intelligence, and strong will, he had had experience as a journalist in -Montreal. Sent up to establish law and order, he certainly did his best, -and should have had a proper force to support him. True, exception has -been taken to his decisions, but where is the judge that escapes that?</p> - -<p>Among the leaders in this affair was one with the ominous name of Riel, -a Scoto-French half-breed, who owned a mill on the Seine River. He was -the father of Louis Riel, who afterwards led the French half-breeds in -their two rebellions. Louis Riel, the younger, was the embodiment of the -restless spirit of his race. Ambitious, vain, capable of inspiring -confidence in the breasts of the ignorant, yet violent, vacillating and -vindictive, the rebel chieftain died to atone for the turbulence of his people.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> - -<h3>ENGLISH HALF-BREEDS.</h3> - -<p>As different as is the patient roadster from the wild mustang, is the -English speaking half-breed from the Metis. So early as 1775 the -traveller, Alexander Henry, found Orkney employees in the service of the -Hudson's Bay Company at Cumberland House. The Orkney Islands furnished -so many useful men to the company that in 1816, when the Bois-brulés -came to attack the colony, though the colonists were mostly Highlanders, -they were called "Les Orcanais." Since 1821 the same supply of employees -to the company has continued and increased with occasionally an -admixture of Caithness-shire and other Highlanders.</p> - -<p>Accordingly the English-speaking half-breeds are almost entirely of -Scotch descent. From Hudson's Bay to distant Yukon the steady-going -Orkney men have come with their Indian wives and half-breed children and -made the Red River their home. We have but to mention such well-known -respectable names as Inkster, Fobister, Setter, Harper, Mowat, Omand, -Flett, Linklater, Tait, Spence, Monkman, and others, to show how -valuable an element of population the English half-breeds have been, -though, of course, there are those bearing these names as well who are -of pure Orkney blood.</p> - -<h3>HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY OFFICERS.</h3> - -<p>No element, however, did so much for Red River of old as the intelligent -and high-spirited officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, of whom many -settled in the country. There was among them also a strong Highland and -Orkney strain. In few countries is the speech of the people generally so -correct as it was in the Red River settlement. This undoubtedly arose -from the influence of the educated Hudson's Bay Company officers. At -their distant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> posts on the long nights they read useful books and kept -their journals. Numbers of them collected specimens of natural history, -Indian curiosities, took meteorological observations, and the like. -Though all may not have been the pink of perfection, yet very few bodies -of men retained, as a whole, so upright a character as they. We have but -to mention such names as that of the notable governor, Sir George -Simpson, of Pruden, Bird, Bunn, Stewart, Lillie, Campbell, Christie, -Kennedy, Heron, Ross, Murray, MacKenzie, Hardisty, Graham, McTavish, -Bannatyne, Cowan, Rowand, Sinclair, Sutherland, Finlayson, Smith, -Balsillie, McLean, McFarlane, and Hargrave, and others who have settled -on the Red River, to establish this.</p> - -<h3>THE PENSIONERS.</h3> - -<p>Most portions of the new world have grown from additions from the -military, who have for some reason or other come to them. So it was in -Red River settlement. In 1846 the 6th Regiment of foot, some three -hundred and fifty strong, was sent out by way of Hudson's Bay under Col. -Crofton, in connection with the Oregon question, then disturbing the -relations of Great Britain and the United States. Few of the regiment -remained in the country. The troublous state of affairs in Recorder -Thom's time induced the company to send out a number of pensioners and -settlers who should be settled near the fort, and be useful in time of -emergency as police. It was in 1848 that Col. Caldwell, with fifty-six -non-commissioned officers and men, of whom forty-two were married and -had families, came out by way of Hudson's Bay, each man being promised -twenty acres of land and each sergeant forty. It was after their arrival -that the Sayer emeute took place.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> - -<h3>THE CENSUS.</h3> - -<p>The nucleus of 150 Kildonan settlers in 1816 had with it a few Metis, -already settled down, but there was a need for a settlement for the -heart of the vast fur territories. The North-west Company, ever opposed -to settlement, we learn from Harmon's book, had a scheme on foot at this -time to establish a native settlement on Rainy River, and had the money -subscribed for an educational institution there. A settlement having -been once established on Red River, many flocked to it. Thus it was that -in ten years after the death of Governor Semple there were of -Highlanders, De Meurons, Swiss, French voyageurs, Metis, and Orkney -half-breeds, not less than fifteen hundred settlers. It was certainly a -motley throng. The Rev. Mr. West the first missionary, tells us that he -distributed copies of the Bible in English, Gaelic, German, Danish, -Italian, and French, and they were all gratefully received in this -polyglot community. Though the colony lost by desertion, as we have -seen, yet it continued to gain by the addition of retiring Hudson's Bay -Company officers and servants, who took up land, as allowed by the -company, in strips along the river, after the Lower Canadian fashion, -for which they paid small sums. There were in many cases no deeds, -simply the registration of the name in the company's register. A man -sold his lot for a horse, and it was a matter of chance whether the -registration of the change in the lot took place or not. This was -certainly a mode of transferring land free enough to suit the greatest -radical. The land reached as far out from the river as could be seen by -looking under a horse, say two miles, and back of this was the limitless -prairie, which became a species of common where all could cut hay, and -where herds could run unconfined.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p><p>Wood, water and hay, were the three r's of a Red River settler's life; -to cut poplar rails for his fences in spring and burn the dried rails in -the following winter was quite the proper thing. There was no inducement -to grow surplus grain, as each settler could only get a market for eight -bushels of wheat from the Hudson's Bay Company. It could not be -exported. Pemican from the plains was easy to get; the habits of the -people were simple, their wants were few, and while the picture was -hardly Arcadian, yet the new order of things since that time has borne -pretty severely upon many, so that they feel as did the kindly old lady, -"granny" Ross, of whom we have spoken, that they were "shut in" by so -many people coming to the country. The census of the whole settlement in -1849 amounted to 5,291.</p> - -<h3>THE PARISHES.</h3> - -<p>No municipal government was ever provided for the people of Red River, -though extensive petitions were forwarded to Britain for changes to be -made in the government of the country. The Assiniboia council, however, -passed certain ordinances, appointed road overseers, and from a slight -tariff of four per cent. on imports, enough was raised to carry on -public affairs. The local sub-divisions of Assiniboia were national and -religious. French and Roman Catholics taking up a certain portion of -river bank, Church of England half-breeds another, Scottish settlers and -Presbyterians another. This was done sometimes by the will of the -Hudson's Bay Company and sometimes without it. The first parish was -Kildonan, so set apart and named by Lord Selkirk, on his visit in 1817; -the De Meuron and Swiss settlement (1817-20) on the Seine, was the next, -resulting in the parish of St. Boniface.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p><p>It was to this community with its varied elements and many conflicting -interests that John Black found his way. It was here his life was spent, -and with this people we shall see he at length threw in his lot. The -population when he reached Red River was estimated at about 5,500 in -all. The settlement was at length swallowed up in the Manitoba of -to-day. It did its work though what that was will probably never be -quite appreciated by those who see the Manitoba of to-day.</p> - -<p>It marked the slow but sure process of an influence of the -christianization and semi-civilization of many of our Indians; it gave -the introduction from a barbarous and wandering life to habits of order -and settled work; it furnished a valuable pioneering and trading agency -for the fur trade, for surveying our plains, and for our Canadian -exploration. It gave the nucleus of the present educational and -religious organizations, it made the Hudson's Bay Company not only a -trading company but a company helping forward in different ways, the -improvement of the Indians, and made them the friends of education and -religion, and if we read the story of its history aright, it saved to -Britain and Canada, the vast northwest which would otherwise not -unlikely have met the fate of Oregon. And to do so great a work was not to fail.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER VI.</span> <span class="smaller">Sowing and Weeping.</span></h2> - -<p>It was not strange that the mixture of population should be a matter of -anxiety to the young pioneer of the Red River. Almost all the -Highlanders and their descendants followed the newly-arrived preacher; -but the Orkneymen, who had largely in the Hudson's Bay Company outposts -married Indian women, seemed to form a guild of their own, and were more -inclined to adhere to the Church of England. No doubt the Highland pride -of character and connection of the Selkirk settlers kept the Orcadians -at arm's length. Twenty years afterward the writer found a sentiment of -this kind in Kildonan. The hope of Dr. Burns that John Black might, on -account of his knowledge of French, gain an entrance to the Metis was -never to any extent realized. Though never able to speak more than a few -words of Indian, yet the minister had, as we shall afterwards see, a -warm side for the red men.</p> - -<p>Thus shut in, the young man found himself surrounded from the first by -stalwart theologians, and for these he framed his habits of thought and -course of action. So successfully did he do this that he reached their -ideal as a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> preacher, though he knew not a word of Gaelic, and "bore his -faculties so meek" that he won unusual admiration and regard on Red River.</p> - -<h3>NO INFANCY OR CHILDHOOD.</h3> - -<p>The work of the hardy pioneer is usually a slow and painful process of -gathering together a few people at a time, of making the community -familiar with his voice and thought, and at last from a small beginning -growing gradually stronger and stronger. This is the natural course of -development, but in Kildonan Mr. Black found a congregation ready made, -and it arose like Minerva, fully armed and scarcely needing equipment. -Its infancy, childhood, and youth were all omitted. Within two months of -Mr. Black's arrival, and while the people worshipped in the manse, which -was used as a temporary church, the organization was begun.</p> - -<p>At this time the pioneer wrote as follows:</p> - -<blockquote><p class="right">"Red River, Dec. 17th, 1851.</p> - -<p>"The temporary church will accommodate 250 or 300 persons, and is -always well filled with a most attentive auditory. We have service -forenoon and afternoon, and also a lecture on Wednesday. We have a -large and interesting Sabbath-school. There are ninety-six -scholars, thirty-six of whom are young people in my own class. -Finding, as I did, that the congregation was pretty ripe for -organization, I proceeded, with the help of a few of the heads of -families, whom the people at my request appointed to aid me in the -work, to examine and admit to the privilege of Church membership, -such as presented themselves with this desire."</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> - -<h3>THE ELDERS OF THE PEOPLE.</h3> - -<p>In any other than a Highland community it would have been a dangerous -experiment to choose elders so soon in the history of the congregation. -But the Highlander has the natural tendency to follow leaders. His chief -is everything to him. Every Highland community, by a process of natural -selection—character of a lofty kind being a chief element—chooses its -ideal men.</p> - -<p>Precisely seven weeks after the first Presbyterian service was held in -Red River six elders were chosen by ballot by the people who had been -admitted by Mr. Black. Alexander Ross, of whom it was said that his work -for the people for twenty-five years laid the people under a debt that -they could never discharge, was chosen as leading elder. He died four -years afterward. A second, James Fraser, a man of high spiritual power, -filled the office for eleven years, till his death. George Munro, Donald -Matheson, and John Sutherland made up the five who accepted office. One -chosen, Robert McBeth, did not see his way to enter upon the office. The -ordination of this first kirk session took place on the 7th of December. -The young minister was always a wholesome upholder of the principle of -doing everything "decently and in order." He did not even perform a -baptism till the session was formed. A most interesting entry is made at -this time in the session record: "On the same day as the ordination of -the elders took place, the ordinance of baptism was dispensed for the -first time in the congregation, the recipient being the child of Mr. -Richard Salter, the only Englishman in the community. It was also the -first baptism dispensed by the minister." At this time, too, came the -recognition of the new minister by the governor and council of -Assiniboia. A resolution was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> passed authorizing any legally ordained -Presbyterian minister belonging to the settlement to solemnize -marriages. This was regarded as a very considerable concession at the time.</p> - -<h3>A HIGHLAND COMMUNION.</h3> - -<p>To the Highland imagination the communion stands out as the great feast -day at Jerusalem did to the ancient Jew. The Celt is highly imaginative -and is especially fervid. Few of us can estimate how much religion owes -in the old world and the new to Celtic fervor. The communion is looked -forward to as an especially close approach to God himself. At times we -have to deplore a false view that keeps some in Highland communities -from coming forward until late in life to the Lord's table. How much it -must have meant to the exiles on Red River, forty years after some of -them had partaken of the communion in the Kildonan in Sutherlandshire to -now take part in Kildonan on Red River.</p> - -<p>Due preparation was made for the first celebration of the New Testament -feast by the newly constituted session. On December 13th, 1851, the -people met together for a preparatory service—not now with perhaps -thousands gathered from parishes far and near, but with the few hundreds -dwelling side by side. Tokens of admission to the Lord's table were -cautiously distributed, and we learn that the position of the tables was -carefully determined, as well as the number of table services and the -part each elder should take in the administration. The method seen by -the writer twenty years after this date was then introduced. It was to -have the table covered with linen and to have it successively occupied -by different relays of communicants. The number of communicants, at this -first communion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> after the Presbyterian form on Red River, was 45. The -services following the communion were carried out as rigidly as those -preceding it. Rev. John Black wrote in his description of this same -service: "It was to all of us a solemn day, being the first time in -which, according to our simple and scriptural form, that blessed -ordinance was ever dispensed here. It was also the first time for the -pastor who administered; the first time for the elders who served; and -the first time for not a few who sat at the table—among others, two old -men—the one 87 and the other 99 years of age; and all this in addition -to its own intrinsic solemnity."</p> - -<h3>ARISE AND BUILD!</h3> - -<p>To the settlers on Red River the only true ideal was that of the parish -church—and it was the parish church of the beginning of this century -when in the Highlands dissent was unknown. New settlers elsewhere have -been willing to erect such temporary structures as their circumstances -permit and to wait for better days. In new countries this plan has some -advantages. But to the Highland hearts on Red River old Kildonan parish -church must be reproduced in the Kildonan of the New World. But stone -and mortar were needed, and there were few stone buildings in the -settlement. The site on which the church was to be built had been given -by the Hudson's Bay Company along with £150 toward the new church, as an -equivalent to the people for their rights in St. John's Church which -they relinquished to the Church of England, although they retained an -interest in the burying ground in which their dead were lying. The new -site at Frog Plain was really more centrally situated than that at St. -John's for the Scottish settlers, and it contained glebe land amounting -to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> some three hundred acres. Already their manse and school had been -erected upon it. It had formerly been a camping place for the Indians, -and of it Mr. Black remarked in one of his letters: "The church is to be -erected on a piece of land long desecrated by the idolatrous revels of -the Indians, and the Sabbath evening sports of some who bore a better -name, but whose works were not so much better than theirs." Ten miles -away from Red River on the open plain is an old Silurian outlier of -limestone rock, which still furnishes building stone for Winnipeg. Even -by the end of December the people had quarried at Stony Mountain nearly -all the stone required, and with Red River cart or ox-sled had brought -the most of the material to the new site on Frog Plain. The limestone of -Stony Mountain produces excellent lime, and a sufficient quantity had -already been burnt and placed on the ground ready for work in the -spring. It was a time of earnest enthusiasm in Kildonan, and the most -real parallel to it which comes to the mind of the writer is where in -the days of Ezra after the captivity "the people gathered themselves -together as one man to Jerusalem" and "when the builders laid the -foundation of the temple of the Lord."</p> - -<h3>THE FLOODS OPPOSE.</h3> - -<p>The people but awaited the opening of spring in 1852 to erect the -building for which they had the material on the ground. The winter had -been one of great blessing to the newly-founded church. There had, -however, been a great fall of snow and the swamps and streams had been -filled with water in the autumn. The Red and Assiniboine rivers run -through flat prairie lands, and an overflow in time of high water is -very possible. In 1826 the valley of the Red River had been flooded, the -water reaching in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> great lake for miles across the country. The -fathers of Kildonan remembered that former date when in 130 tents they -had dwelt on Stony Mountain and the higher lands back from the river. -Now to the people ardent to go on with their church building—which was -all in all to their Highland hearts—it came as a great disappointment -to see another flood, which, while not so great as the former, yet was -very serious. We are fortunate in having a letter of Mr. Black's which -gives us a vivid description of the</p> - -<h3>SCATTERING OF THE PEOPLE.</h3> - -<p class="right">"Red River, May 27th, 1852.</p> - -<p>"The only thing of great consequence of which I have to tell is that we -are at present suffering from a great inundation—second only to that of -the year 1826, of which you have heard. The consequence is that we are -living in a tent on the Stony Hill, whither many have fled for shelter, -and where I have been for more than two weeks and have the prospect of -being so for some time longer.</p> - -<p>"The ice began to break up on the river about the 23rd of April; by the -29th, the water was coming over the lower lands. Its increase was about -a foot per day, and those whose houses were low had to flee to the -heights on the 1st of May. Still rising, on the 7th and 8th the river -began to carry down floating houses from the upper or French part of the -settlement, where the banks are lower and the houses less substantial. -On Sabbath 9th, I preached for the last time in our temporary church and -had to go part of the way to it in a canoe. On Monday 10th, the flight -from the Scotch part of the settlement was general. On that very day -twenty-six years before had the poor people fled from the former flood.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p><p>"Such a scene it has never before been my lot to see. The water was now -a considerable depth in many of the houses and flowing in behind them -completely surrounded the people. In trying to reach a place of safety -men and women were seen plunging through the water, driving and -carrying, while the aged and little children were conveyed in carts -drawn by oxen or horses. Most of the Scotch settlers had from 100 to 300 -bushels of wheat in lofts which they kept from year to year in case of -failure, and now for this there was much anxiety. The first night we -encamped on the plain without wood or shelter, saving what we erected; -and amid the lowing of cattle and the bleating of sheep, and the roaring -of calves, and the squealing of pigs, and the greeting of bairns, you -may be sure we had a concert. After three days we arrived here which is -a beautiful woody ridge far from water mark, but thirteen miles from our -houses. A few families are with me here, but my congregation is -scattered, so that, from extreme to extreme is, I suppose, more than -thirty miles.</p> - -<h3>A SEA OF WATERS.</h3> - -<p>"Thus the waters prevailed and spread themselves over the cultivated -lands, sweeping away everything loose and much that was thought fast. -Houses, barns, byres, stacks of wheat, etc., were floating down thick -and fast. The rail fences—and there were no other—were swept clean -away. Not a bridge is left on the road in all the flooded district. -Sometimes the wind blew very strong, and acting on the lakelike expanse -of waters agitated them like a sea, and this was very destructive to the -houses of the settlers. The breadth flooded in our part of the -settlement might be eight or nine miles, while the ordinary width of the -river is not more than 150 yards. The destruction of property has been -immense. From 3,000 to 4,000 people have been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> driven from their homes, -though the water did not rise so high as in 1826 by 3 feet 6 inches. I -have crossed this wide expanse twice to visit our people on the east -side. It is like a great lake. I have now three preaching stations -instead of one—<i>all camp meetings</i>. The water began to fall about the -21st. We hope to be home again in about two weeks. Our sacrament was to -have been held last Sabbath, but we have had to defer it indefinitely. -The whole will be a serious blow to the settlement, and will be an -injury to the congregation. Many will be rendered much less able to pay -their subscriptions for church building."</p> - -<h3>HOME AGAIN.</h3> - -<p>The pastor and his people reached their desolated homes in June. The -country presented a dreary aspect. Crops to a limited extent were sown -and yet the harvest, though the floods had done their worst, according -to the promise did not fail. The church building was again taken up. The -flood during its continuance had destroyed a considerable portion of the -lime prepared for the building. A quantity of lumber was drifted off, -and timbers for the couples had been floated away but were secured -again. The people resumed the work with great cheerfulness. During the -season following, the church was erected. Alexander Ross in his "Red -River Settlement," says: "It was finished in 1853; and though small, it -is considered the neatest and most complete church in the colony. It is -seated for 510 persons and is always well filled. Its cost was £1,050 -stg. The manse is also completed; and it is pleasing to add that when it -was finished there was not a shilling due on either church or manse."</p> - -<p>In 1853 Mr. Black returned to Canada, and spent the summer there. He was -induced to return to Red River,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> and had the pleasure of opening the new -church in January, 1854. His heart was gladdened.</p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i075.jpg" id="i075.jpg"></a><img src="images/i075.jpg" alt="KILDONAN PARISH CHURCH" /></div> - -<p class="bold">KILDONAN PARISH CHURCH.</p> - -<p>"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless -come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER VII.</span> <span class="smaller">Pastor and Parish.</span></h2> - -<p>The uncertainty as to whether he was to be the permanent leader of the -Red River Presbyterians remained for years in the mind of John Black. -Five years at least after his arrival we find him wondering whether the -committee intended to recall him or not. This arose from a strain in his -nature which rendered him liable to depression, and also from a deep -desire to see the spiritual development of the people, which he -determined should not be hindered by his personal defects. He was a man -of intense humility. In the year after the Red River flood (1853), when -he saw the church building fairly under way, he returned to Canada, -undoubtedly to allow a substitute to be sent if such were possible. The -impression made by the pioneer missionary during his year and a half of -labor had been so marked that the people of Red River were determined -that he should not be replaced.</p> - -<p>The Hudson's Bay Company, as before stated, had been averse to another -denomination entering Rupert's Land until they saw that the -Presbyterians could not be refused. Then Sir George Simpson, with a -stroke of diplomacy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> allowed the privilege in his letter to Rev. Mr. -Rintoul, of Montreal. The company's attitude was still for various -reasons one of caution. Mr. Black had been exceedingly wise and politic. -In one of his letters he states that at times when his inclination had -impelled him to interfere yet he had studiously refrained from taking -sides in the struggle which was beginning between the company and the -people. He had a strong sense of the fact that he was an ambassador of -peace. That he had succeeded well is shown by an extract from a letter -written him by Sheriff Ross on his first return to Toronto.</p> - -<h3>SIR GEORGE SIMPSON WON OVER.</h3> - -<p class="right">"Colony Gardens, Red River, June 29th, 1853.</p> - -<p>"I have just had an interview with Sir George Simpson, the -Governor-in-Chief of Rupert's Land, who regrets very much he had not -been in time to see you before you left the settlement, and desires me -to write immediately and intimate to you, that he would be most happy to -see you in passing through Toronto.</p> - -<p>"Sir George has expressed himself in a very kind and friendly manner, -and says that from the high sense the committee in London entertains of -your moderation, zeal, and peace-working ministrations, while in the -colony, he is authorized to convey to you a sense of its esteem for your -character and to grant you a certain sum annually from the company as -minister of the Presbyterian congregation in Red River, and adds, 'If I -had been here I should not have consented to Mr. Black's leaving the -settlement at this time.'</p> - -<p>"In connection with what has been said, I must further observe that the -offer Sir George is prepared to make to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> you, on the part of the company -as already stated is not to be considered to be made to any Presbyterian -clergyman that may come to labor in Red River, no, <i>but to you</i>, -distinctly intended for you, for the great satisfaction you have given -and the high esteem you are held in by all classes in the colony. This -high and flattering opinion of the company at home will, we trust, be an -additional motive for your return to resume your duties among us. We all -look for it, will expect it, if God spare your health."</p> - -<h3>THE PIONEER RETURNS.</h3> - -<p>After an absence of five months the longed for pastor returned. The -committee had not succeeded in finding one to replace him, and, indeed, -do not seem to have striven hard to do so. In a spirit of submission he -turned northwestward, though immediately on his arrival he wrote to his -aged father: "Whether the Canadian Church will allow me to stay here or -not I do not yet know. I am perfectly willing to return if they get some -one to supply the place. For some reasons I would wish it to be so. We -shall see." His return to Red River on this occasion was one that even -he confessed to be "tedious and toilsome." He actually took forty-nine -days to reach his destination, starting from Galena, on the Mississippi -river. On his northward journey he reached the establishment of the -Presbyterian missionaries at Red Lake, in Minnesota. Supplied by these -kind friends with pemican, bread, and flour, Mr. Black and his voyageur, -about the end of October, pushed through Red Lake in their birch bark -canoe, the missionary having to paddle as well as the boatman. On the -third day, on account of the ice, the canoe could proceed no further. -Unwillingly the travellers retraced their course and reached<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> again the -shelter of their missionary friends. In the following week the start was -again made, but again to be interrupted by ice. The party then camped on -the shore for several days, until the ice would bear their weight, when -they proceeded on their slippery way. They walked over the ice for forty -miles, until having obtained a horse and cart they reached by land -carriage, in four and a half days, Pembina, a fort on the boundary line.</p> - -<p>At the Pembina trading post a good Presbyterian fur trader named Murray -supplied the pioneers with a conveyance, and the journey was again -resumed to Fort Garry. The horse was weak and the weather cold, and so -Mr. Black trudged most of the way and reached the Ross mansion, near -Fort Garry, at the close of his last day's walk of forty miles. Surely -it needs a man of iron frame for frontier mission work! And yet Mr. -Black writes of this journey with a cheerful heart: "During all these -hardships and toils and disappointments, sleeping in the open air in -northern frosts, I have reason to bless God I have enjoyed the most -vigorous health and have not as much as caught a cold."</p> - -<h3>THE CURE OF SOULS.</h3> - -<p>With the new Church now almost ready the pastor settled down to regular -work. His parish proper was his kingdom. He regarded every parishioner -as worthy of his attention and most anxious thought. Years after it was -a well-known sight to behold the faithful pastor, staff in hand, a gray -checked plaid thrown over one shoulder, and with light moccasined feet -tripping along the banks of Red River on his errand of mercy. On account -of the settlement of Red River, being like that of the French Canadians -along the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> St. Lawrence, his parish was an example of length without -breadth. The Kildonan houses were in two rows, facing each other from -each side of the river, and made a continuous village along each bank. -The writer has heard the announcement from Kildonan pulpit that the -pastor, during the coming week, would visit from the house of Mr. Donald -Matheson to that of Mr. Samuel Matheson. On another occasion from Mr. -Harper's to Mr. Gunn's, and the like. These visits were very thorough. -All the children expected the minister; all the housewives had their -houses swept and garnished; even the men, on the day of the expected -visit, laid aside their working garb, and the godly pastor emulated, in -many ways, Goldsmith's "village preacher." As everyone knows, every -preacher has not the faculty of successful visitation of the sick. This -was, however, an especially strong feature of the Kildonan pastor. His -sympathy, deep feeling, and wise regard for the condition of the -invalid, are spoken of to this day. In cases of severe illness his -visits were daily and unremitting.</p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"In his duty prompt at every call</div> -<div>He watched, wept, prayed, and felt for all."</div> -</div></div></div> - -<h3>THE PARISH SCHOOL.</h3> - -<p>To a man brought up in the parish schools of his native land, and so -impressed with the value of education, the parish school of Scotland was -the model. The conditions in Red River settlement were favorable for it. -John Knox's ideal of the parish church and manse and parish school were -easily realizable; and so church and school went up side by side. Even -before the church was built we find the following entry (1852) in a -letter by the pioneer: "The York Factory boats have just come and -brought the annual<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> supply of goods. They have brought in the box of -school books which we had ordered all safe. We have, among other things, -ten large wall maps. Our school will now be the best furnished in the -settlement."</p> - -<p>The Kildonan parish school always retained its pre-eminence on the Red -River. The government of the country under the Hudson's Bay Company gave -no aid. The Church of England and Catholics had their schools supported -by private effort, and the Kildonan parish school was of the same kind. -Even after the transfer of the Red River country to Canada the writer -remembers being present at a Kildonan school meeting when it was decided -still to continue the support of the school by voluntary subscriptions. -Mr. Black was soon instrumental in sending three Kildonan young men to -Toronto to complete their education. Donald Fraser, a youth of great -promise, who died early; Alex. Matheson, afterwards a minister of the -Church, and now a resident of his native parish of Kildonan; and James -Ross, son of Sheriff Ross, a young man who was afterwards on the -editorial staff of the Toronto <i>Globe</i>. The pastor afterwards at times -helped studious boys privately with their Latin and Greek, and did his -best to encourage good education in the parish.</p> - -<h3>THE PREACHER.</h3> - -<p>But great as John Black was as a pastor and as an educator, he was not -less noted as a preacher. He always retained the dialect of the Scottish -south country, but this was modified somewhat by a pronunciation, said -to have arisen from his use of French in his mission work. He pronounced -the letter a broad in such words as "grace," "congregation," and the -like. His manner was very free<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> and natural, though in voice he was -possibly a little louder than some would have desired. He was, however, -regarded all over the country as an excellent preacher. The writer -remembers his first opportunity of hearing John Black, and this more -than a quarter of a century ago. Kildonan Church was plain, even to -severity. On the right hand, as you entered the church, was a small -vestry under the stair. Here the pastor entered, and waited for the -signal from the ringing bell, as it called the worshippers from all -parts of the parish. It was the custom always to use the Geneva gown. On -the morning referred to, Mr. Black came forth, gowned, as the bell -ceased, and ascended the high pulpit. In accordance with the custom of -the country at that time, the pastor was shod with moccasins, which gave -the quick, lively motion which so characterized him. The psalm was given -out with rapid movement and much impressiveness, the prayer was purely -extempore, and entered with considerable minuteness into the needs of -his people, and marked a man of unmistakable devotion. The lessons were -read with perhaps a want of variety. When the preacher began his sermon -it was evident, from the attitude assumed by his auditors, that they -regarded this as the chief part of the service, and that they waited -with expectancy for its development. Mr. Black always wrote his sermons -in full, and had the sermon before him in the pulpit. Like Dr. Chalmers, -however, he was not hampered by his "manuscript." As the preacher opened -his subject, it was plain to see that his method was textual and -expository, and showed intimate acquaintance with Scripture. As the -sermon progressed the speaker became more and more animated, and -frequently rose to the heights of eloquence. His denunciation of sin and -wrong-doing were fearless, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> at times reminded one of the fervor of -the Hebrew prophets. He was, however, very tender, and frequently was -moved to tears, and his appeals to sinners were most touching and -effective. In Mr. Black's preaching there was much variety of subject, -though there was little of dealing with popular questions of the day. -Congregation and preacher alike had very strict views as to what was -dignified and suitable to the house of God. As a result of the high -standard of preaching of the pioneer, the Kildonan people became -excellent judges of sermonizing, and after hearing many preachers in the -later part of Mr. Black's ministry and since that time, are of opinion -that Mr. Black was the greatest of them all.</p> - -<h3>HABITS OF STUDY.</h3> - -<p>That Mr. Black was able to maintain himself in the same congregation for -thirty years as an interesting preacher arose, no doubt, from his -systematic method of study. In writing during his earlier ministry to -his brother, who was also a minister, and had been settled in Caledonia, -Upper Canada, Mr. Black says: "How do you get along with study? What is -your plan in preparing sermons? Do you write fully and commit, or how? -What are your general studies? How many hours a day can you spend? Tell -me all about it—your Hebrew, Greek, philosophy, theology, etc. How are -you in natural science and astronomy, geology, etc.? These and such like -branches we would need to study nowadays if we would not be despised by -everyone with a smattering of knowledge. My much travelling and my long -separation from my books have inflicted an injury upon me that I will -never recover I suppose in this world. I am trying to study four hours a -day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> four days in the week—the other two are devoted to sermon-making. -My subjects are Greek Testament, Hebrew Bible, systematic or -philosophical theology, and practical theology, and an hour to Biblical -interpretation. Of course I indulge to some extent also in general -reading. The work that has attracted my mind most of late in the -theological department is McCosh's 'Divine Government,' which I esteem -about the noblest performance that ever I read. I lay out my time -regularly, but am constantly getting into debt and becoming a literary -bankrupt, failing to carry out my plans. And so I have almost given up -hope of ever being anything more than a third or fourth-rate man."</p> - -<p>Such words as these show the aspiration of the true student, and show -Mr. Black to have been a man well qualified to shine in the highest -walks of Church and scholarly life.</p> - -<h3>DOMESTIC LIFE.</h3> - -<p>On the return of Mr. Black from his first visit to Canada the longing of -his heart for domestic sympathy shewed itself. Indeed it was a necessity -of his life that he should be surrounded by friends and companions. That -he needed the cheering influence of friends was shown all through his -career. No one ever loved his friends more strongly, delighted more to -sit and spend hour after hour in a social chat, and loved home life more -tenderly than he. The house of Sheriff Ross had been his home from the -first day of his arrival in Red River Settlement. It was not strange -that his heart should incline to Henrietta Ross, one of the tall and -handsome daughters found in the numerous family of his Highland host. -Miss Ross was, it is true, one of the daughters of the land, being, as -we have seen, on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> mother's side, related to the Okanagan Indians of -the Rocky Mountains. This attachment created, indeed, a ripple of -excitement among the Scottish settlers, who were somewhat exclusive in -their notions, but Miss Ross was attractive in appearance, well -educated, having had the advantages of the excellent "McCallum School" -at St. John's, and was distinguished for Christian character and worth.</p> - -<p>So the pastor was married and the establishment seemed to Mr. Black -complete—church, school, manse, and the last now with the appearance -and tone of home. In this home there grew to manhood and womanhood three -sons and three daughters, all living to-day in different places in the -valley of Red River. One of the family the pastor named after the father -of the Red River Mission, Robert Burns. In the collection of letters is -a most pathetic account of the death by accident of this promising -little boy, and the sore bereavement seems to have for years cast a deep -shadow over the Kildonan manse. The home thus founded was the very abode -of hospitality. The circumstances of Red River were such that suitable -accommodation for visitors or newcomers was very hard to obtain. The -bountiful table at the manse was rarely without visitors, and the -writer, a quarter of a century after enjoying such hospitality, still -remembers the kind-hearted and noble mistress of the manse. The home at -Kildonan was plunged into the deepest gloom by the death of Mrs. Black -in 1873. The day of the funeral is still remembered as one of the -coldest and fiercest days of the cold years of the early seventies. It -was long before the desolated hearts of the husband and children -recovered from the terrible stroke. Dr. Black some years after married -Miss Bannatyne, a lady connected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> with one of the leading families of -the country. She was a mother indeed to the motherless children, and -still lives in the family home in Kildonan.</p> - -<h3>PUBLIC DUTIES.</h3> - -<p>With a sympathy for every good work Mr. Black was identified with every -moral movement in Red River Settlement. Coming as he did to people who -had had for forty years an unfortunate religious experience, he had -naturally to take a firm stand against evil of every kind. The Highland -ideal of church discipline is very high, and Mr. Black seemed equally -solicitous with his people to suppress aggravated forms of sin. It would -neither be interesting nor expedient to detail the session cases which -came up as the years rolled on. There was one thing always to be said, -that the moderator never flinched in his duty, but it is plain to see -that he rather aimed at the reclamation of the wrongdoer, than took -satisfaction in meting out punishment to the offender. He associated -himself very heartily with the ministers of the Church of England, who -welcomed his assistance in joint meetings for prayer and temperance -reform throughout the parishes. He was instrumental in carrying out the -work of the Bible Society. He was also very anxious to gain the -acquaintance of the officers and men of the Hudson's Bay Company—many -of them his countrymen—scattered over the Northwest. With these men he -kept up a correspondence, and hardly a chief factor or trader from the -interior visited Fort Garry, who did not think it a duty and a pleasure -to take the five miles journey from the Fort to Kildonan manse to visit -the representative of the church of his fathers. So strong did this -feeling become that in 1862 Governor Dallas invited Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> Black to hold -service at Fort Garry, and this was undertaken with the approval of -Kildonan session, and thus was begun the first Presbyterian service on -the site of the city of Winnipeg, which has become one of the -strongholds of the Presbyterian Church in Canada to-day. In every good -thing the Kildonan pastor was a leader, and while his sympathetic nature -encouraged many a confidence, and many a sad story that caused him -trouble and anxiety, yet he was full of resource, and thought nothing of -pain and trouble and expense if he might be helpful to the vicious, or -lead the young into wisdom's ways,</p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"As a bird each fond endearment tries</div> -<div>To tempt its new-fledg'd offspring to the skies,</div> -<div>He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay,</div> -<div>Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way!"</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i090.jpg" id="i090.jpg"></a><img src="images/i090.jpg" alt="REV. JAMES NISBET" /></div> - -<p class="bold">REV. JAMES NISBET,</p> - -<p class="center">Presbyterian Pioneer Indian Missionary, 1866.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER VIII.</span> <span class="smaller">A Kindred Spirit.</span></h2> - -<p>It might not be right to say that it was John Black's intermarriage with -the native people of the country and the fact of his own children having -Indian blood rather than the Christian sentiment in favor of carrying -the Gospel to the wandering Indian tribes of the prairies, that more -strongly influenced him, but it is certain that early in his ministry he -began to cry out for a Presbyterian mission among the Indians. His -ardent appeal led to the synod so early as 1857 passing a resolution in -favor of undertaking this work. The comforting task of passing favorable -resolutions was indulged in for ten years, but toward the end of this -decade some money had been accumulated and the church undertook its -first work among the Red Indians of the plains.</p> - -<p>This period was a time of much anxiety to John Black, the ardent -advocate of the project. Sitting in his lonely study on Red River it was -discouraging to read letters from Toronto telling how one year more, and -another year, and so on was deemed necessary to mature the scheme. One -year he refers to the agitation going on at the Red River in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> favor of -union with Canada and to a petition signed by upwards of five hundred -heads of families being forwarded to the British government to further -this object. John Black's chief thought was that if the petition were -granted, and the northwest became a part of Canada, something would -surely then be done for the poor Indian.</p> - -<h3>A SELECTION MADE.</h3> - -<p>While not quite prepared to undertake the mission the church went so far -in 1862 as to send to Mr. Black's assistance at Red River, one of its -ministers who should be engaged in learning the Indian language, and -otherwise preparing himself for the Indian work resolved on. This agent -was Rev. James Nisbet, minister of Oakville, Upper Canada. James Nisbet -was of a missionary family, his brother, Dr. Nisbet, who paid a visit to -Canada, more than a quarter of a century ago, having been honored to -take a leading place in the South Sea mission of the Free Church of -Scotland. James Nisbet had come out to Canada from Scotland full of the -fervor of the period of the disruption and though a skillful tradesman, -had thrown in his lot with the first band of students which entered Knox -College. The minister of Kildonan and he had been fellow students and -co-workers, and now that James Nisbet had been appointed to Red River, -John Black found in him a kindred spirit.</p> - -<p>On his arrival in 1862, being an unmarried man, he became a resident at -the Kildonan Manse, and we find frequent reference, in the collection of -letters, to the hearty co-operation of the two ministers, and the spirit -of rejoicing that now they could overtake Kildonan, Little Britain, -Headingly, and the new station to which the Governor had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> given an -invitation at Fort Garry. Mr. Nisbet while an earnest preacher, and as -Mr. Black writes, "working diligently and acceptably," yet had a -remarkable liking for building. At Kildonan there is still pointed out -the parish schoolhouse, a stone building, much of the woodwork of which -was done by Mr. Nisbet personally. Mr. Nisbet very readily fell into the -ways of the Red River people, and two or three years after his arrival -was married to Mary McBeth, a member of one of the best known Kildonan -families, and sister of the present minister of Augustine Church, Winnipeg.</p> - -<h3>HEATHEN INDIANS.</h3> - -<p>The question of how and where to begin work among the Indians was a -difficult one, and on Mr. Black largely fell the responsibility of -determining the question. He had the confidence of the committee in the -east, and he was the friend of the Hudson's Bay Company in the far west. -The Church of England and Roman Catholics were carrying on work among -the Swampy Crees, Saulteaux, and other Ojibways about Lake of the Woods -and Lake Manitoba, as well as in the far off Mackenzie River district, -while the former had almost a monopoly of the missions around Hudson -Bay. The English Wesleyans had for years carried on missions among the -Indians near Norway House and the north end of Lake Winnipeg, and after -the visit of John Ryerson, whose letters about the region were -published, the work was taken over by the Methodist Church in Canada. It -was manifest that the call sent the Presbyterian Church was to the -Indians of the western prairies, who had only seen the passing -missionary and were still in absolute heathenism. After much -deliberation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> it was decided to undertake work among the Crees of the -plains, of whom there were said to be from ten to fifteen thousand -largely without the gospel.</p> - -<p>These Indians are among the finest physically and mentally of the -Canadian Indians. They are of the same race as the Ojibways, belonging -to the great Algonquin family known on the Atlantic sea-board and -continuing along the Laurentian country to the north of our Canadian -lake chain. Leaving behind the rocky regions where the birch-bark canoe -and wigwam, and the fish of the streams, with the game of the forest, -had been their chief dependence, the Crees of the Plains used horses, of -which they had numerous bands, chased the buffalo to obtain a bountiful -subsistence, and lived in leathern teepees. The language of the Crees, -while the same in structure as that of the Ojibways, has yet its -vocabulary much modified from that of the parent tongue. While the -Crees, in their love of the buffalo and fondness for following the herds -over the plains, were thoroughly nomadic and likely to be difficult to -evangelize, yet the task was undertaken cheerfully. Their great camps -were the scenes of the wildest excitement and greatest excesses, and yet -they were a brave, self-reliant, and able people. The cut given of four -of their chiefs who visited Brantford at the time of the unveiling of -the Brant statue in 1886, gives a good illustration of the appearance of -staidness and solidity found among them.</p> - -<h3>THE TASK BEGUN.</h3> - -<p>In 1865 Mr. Nisbet was recommended to the synod for a mission among this -uncivilized but interesting people. The gravity of the enterprise is to -be borne in mind. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>Hudson's Bay Company traders had for many years -ventured among the tribes of the plains. The Hudson's Bay Company -trader, however, had the Union Jack flying over him; he was housed in a -strong fort; in his hands were weapons, and the power of the company was -felt over the whole land; but the missionary came with a message of -peace; he had no emblem of force about him, he preached the doctrine, -"If one cheek was smitten to turn the other also," and so to proceed 500 -miles from Red River and break ground on the Saskatchewan, to be largely -dependent on the locality for sustenance, and to trust to the good-will -of the Indians, required courage and resource. And these qualities James -Nisbet had. He was not a man of display, was a man of quiet, -undemonstrative manner, but had no cowardice or surrender in him. Like -his countryman, the Highland piper, who was asked to play the "retreat," -he could reply that he had never learned that tune. Mr. Nisbet's -theology was of a very exact kind. He was in the habit of advising -complete reliance in God, perhaps there was a strain of the severe, even -of the stoical, in it; but in the case of our pioneer Indian missionary, -he lived out and exemplified it as well as preached it.</p> - -<h3>FOR CHRIST AND COUNTRY.</h3> - -<p>A journey from the Red River to the Saskatchewan by the Canadian Pacific -Railway to-day is a comparatively trifling matter, taking twenty-five or -thirty hours; but thirty years ago it meant much. It required an outfit -that could serve the purpose for forty or fifty days. The sending of a -missionary, known to the people of Kildonan and by marriage one of -themselves, profoundly stirred the Highland parish. In one of Mr. -Black's letters he states that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> people of the parish had raised -between £80 and £100 sterling for the purpose of making a suitable -send-off for the man who had become so popular among them.</p> - -<p>Mr. Nisbet's plan, in so far as we can gather, was from the first to be -practical and industrial. His effort was to induce the nomadic Indians -to settle, to cultivate the land, and to make the Indian independent of -the precarious results of the chase. In order to accomplish his ideal it -was necessary to provide himself with a considerable establishment, so -that the mission party, inclusive of his wife and little child and two -other children, numbered ten persons. They were provided with the -necessary outfit for hunting, fishing, building, and farming. The day of -departure was the 6th of June, 1866, and it was a day of great moment -for Kildonan. The Saskatchewan was being looked to as the land of -promise. Gold had been discovered in its sands, and one of Mr. Black's -letters mentions that a number of Kildonan young men had been among the -fortunate explorers. The establishment had about it the air of a -Kildonan enterprise, and these elements added wider interest to the -Christian effort to evangelize the heathen, which was so dear to Mr. -Nisbet's heart. It was a high day for John Black, for he had felt it a -scandal that his church should be the only one of the four churches at -work in Rupert's Land not doing something for the aborigines of the country.</p> - -<h3>INTO THE WILDERNESS.</h3> - -<p>We are fortunate in having a letter, quoted in Dr. Gregg's "Short -History," giving in Mr. Nisbet's own words an account of the journey -into the wilderness. From this we make a few extracts:</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p><p>"All our goods were carried in carts; each cart was drawn by one ox, -harnessed something like a horse. Mrs. Nisbet and our little girl and a -young woman rode on a light wagon with a canvas top, such as you -sometimes use in Canada. For myself I was generally on horseback but -frequently walking, as the oxen do not go very fast. We had tents, such -as soldiers use, which we pitched every night, and in them we were -generally very comfortable. The Sabbaths were delightful to us. Both men -and animals were prepared for the weekly rest. It was pleasant to see -the poor oxen evidently enjoying the rich pasture of the wilderness and -the rest they had from their daily toil. We had regular Sabbath -services, and they were very devout.</p> - -<p>"We had a good many creeks and rivers to cross, and I dare say you would -have been much amused had you seen the plans that were fallen upon for -crossing such as were too deep for loaded carts. Few of my friends in -the east have seen a boat made with two cartwheels tied together and an -oilcloth spread over them, or one made of ox hides sewed together and -stretched on a rough frame, that would take two carts and their loads at -a time. Such were the contrivances for getting over streams where there -are no bridges or large boats by which we could cross. We passed over a -great deal of beautiful country, with hills and valleys, streams, lakes, -and ponds. Hundreds of ducks were swimming about in the little lakes, -and sometimes they furnished dinners for us. Sandhill cranes were also -seen occasionally, and a few of them were shot for our Sabbath dinners. -Forty days after we left our Red River homes we got to a place called -Carlton House, on the north branch of the great Saskatchewan River, and -there we camped for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> one week, while I went to see some places that I -could fix upon for our future home."</p> - -<h3>PRINCE ALBERT FOUNDED.</h3> - -<p>At Carlton, George Flett, the interpreter of the mission, who had been -in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company at Edmonton, met the party. -He has since become known to the Church as its oldest living Indian -missionary. Born on the Saskatchewan of Scottish and Indian extraction, -he had received a good English education at the schools on Red River. -His wife was a member of the Ross family, being a sister of Mrs. John -Black. The gathering of missionary agents also included Mr. John McKay, -a Scoto-French-Indian native, who belonged to a family well known at Red -River for its energy and influence. John McKay was married to a sister -of Mrs. Nisbet, and he steadfastly clung to Mr. Nisbet in the -prosecution of the Indian work.</p> - -<p>The party at Fort Carlton made a considerable impression upon the -Indians. While the Indians were glad to see so many of the Red River -people coming to them, yet some trouble arose when the decision was made -to settle at a point sixty miles south-east of Carlton House and not far -from the forks where the north and south branches of the Saskatchewan -unite. No treaties had as yet been made with the Indians, and they -objected to the incomers erecting buildings, ploughing fields, and -taking possession of the land as the agents of the mission proposed to -do. George Flett was the useful man for the occasion. His mother's -people were Crees, and he was among the very band, whose members he -recognized as relations. With his characteristic shrewdness he claimed -his portion and gave permission to the Red River party to utilize his -rights. This claim<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> seems to have been at once admitted by the Cree band -of the locality. The new mission was appropriately named after the -Prince Consort, Albert the Good, who had passed away a few years before.</p> - -<h3>MISSION WORK BEGUN.</h3> - -<p>The plan of the establishment was soon vigorously worked out. During the -first year two small buildings were erected, and what was since known as -the large mission building in the year after. A school was immediately -opened, a farm begun, and every means taken to attract the Indians to -the place. As was not unnatural, the maimed, the halt, and the blind -were brought to the kind-hearted missionary, and it must be stated that -no small trouble was experienced in protecting the missionary from the -cunning and the lazy among the Indian bands. The Indian's view of -salvation is very often a willingness to accept the white man's religion -provided the consideration offered is sufficient. How to meet this -difficulty was one of Mr. Nisbet's chief concerns.</p> - -<p>For four years Mr. Black was the sole intermediary between the Foreign -Mission Committee of the Church and Mr. Nisbet. When the Presbytery of -Manitoba was established in 1870 matters took a slightly different -shape. A Foreign Mission Committee of Presbytery was formed, of which -Mr. Black was convener.</p> - -<p>Mr. Nisbet did such itinerant work as he was able. He journeyed to -Edmonton, a point upwards of 400 miles west of Prince Albert. He visited -the Indians of Carlton House once a month and had success with them. But -the management of an industrial centre, such as Prince Albert had -become, was plainly inconsistent with any large amount of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> sowing the -Gospel "broadcast" among the wandering tribes, from fifty to five -hundred miles away. Another difficulty overtook Prince Albert as an -Indian mission in a few years after its founding. It was the centre of a -fertile region very attractive to white settlers. The white settlement -led the bands of wandering Crees to retreat to more remote districts. -The writer in 1871 became a member of the Presbytery's Committee, of -which Mr. Black was convener, and well remembers the unrest of the period.</p> - -<p>At this time the large expense of an establishment like Prince Albert -was meeting opposition in the Church and this, along with the other -considerations stated, brought much trouble to the venerable convener in -regard to the mission which he loved as a child of his own. In 1872 Dr. -Moore, of Ottawa, went as a delegate to the Saskatchewan, in behalf of -the General Assembly. His report led to the discontinuance of the -industrial phase of the mission, but it also rendered a tribute of -commendation and praise to the faithful work that had been done by the -founder, to the high reputation borne by the mission among all the bands -of Crees, and to the steady influence for righteousness attached to the -name of James Nisbet. In the course of time the Indian mission at Prince -Albert ceased to be, unless the mission school among a wandering band of -Sioux still maintained there be so regarded. John McKay, afterwards -ordained, was invited to a band of Crees north of Carlton, and till his -death ministered to Mistawasis' band. Other churches have taken hold of -the bands about Prince Albert, and to-day as a result direct or -indirect, of James Nisbet's work, few Indians of the district are -without the Gospel.</p> - -<p>Shortly after Dr. Moore's visit to Prince Albert, Mr. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>Nisbet and his -wife visited his old home in Ontario, and he was present at the General -Assembly of 1873. He returned to his dear Prince Albert, but being left -alone by the resignation of Rev. Edward Vincent who had come to -Manitoba, and finding his plans somewhat changed by the action of the -Church, he arrived with his wife at Kildonan, in September, seeking a -temporary rest. The writer well remembers them as they returned. Their -work seemed to be done, and the Presbytery soon decided to lay hands on -Hugh McKellar, an earnest student, and license and ordain him for the -work in Prince Albert. Mrs. Nisbet soon passed away in the home where -she was born, and eleven days afterward her husband followed her. They -are together in Kildonan churchyard. His grave marks the spot where lies -as true, brave and single-minded a man as ever laid a foundation stone -in the work of missions.</p> - -<h3>A NEW DEPARTURE.</h3> - -<p>Though Mr. Black as Convener of the Foreign Mission Committee of the -Presbytery had some sympathy for the industrial ideal of Missions among -the Indians held by Mr. Nisbet, yet, on the decision of the General -Assembly being given, he loyally accepted the plan proposed, of -attending simply to evangelistic work among the tribes and to teaching -the young. It is to be remembered, however, that between 1866 and 1874 -circumstances had changed. It was evident in 1874 that the buffalo was -soon to be a thing of the past, and the Canadian Government approved the -plan of settling the Indians upon reserves and of teaching them to be -farmers. The policy of the Government thus left the Church to pursue its -own method.</p> - -<p>The Committee now began to extend its work. George<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> Flett, who had left -Prince Albert Mission in 1869, was sent to two bands, one near Fort -Pelly, the other on the west side of Riding Mountain. These missions -were very successful. Mr. Flett was ordained as an Indian missionary, -and lived to see the Okanese Reserve on Little Saskatchewan entirely -Christianized. The Fort Pelly band was left to a young half-breed of Red -River, Cuthbert McKay, since dead, and has grown to be the Crowstand -Mission of to-day. In 1875 the Sioux or Dakota band of refugees from the -United States living on the Birdtail Creek were taken under the care of -the Presbytery's Foreign Mission Committee and a pure blooded Sioux -missionary from the States obtained for them. This mission is still -maintained, and is part of the constituency of the Birtle Indian -boarding school.</p> - -<p>Mr. Black lived long enough to see the Mistawasis, Okanese, Pelly, and -Birdtail missions fairly established. Nothing delighted him more than to -preside at the meeting of his committee, read the letters from the -missionaries, and then to write the necessary letters of counsel and -advice, and at times even of gentle fault-finding, which were agreed on. -All his friends lament that he passed away too soon to know of Round -Lake, File Hills, the western Qu'Appelle Valley reserves and the Portage -la Prairie, Birtle and Regina Indian schools. He saw enough, however, to -assure him that his dream of a Christianized Indian population would in -the end be realized.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER IX.</span> <span class="smaller">Red River Becomes Canadian.</span></h2> - -<p>The union of Red River Settlement with Canada was in the air in 1857. In -a letter to his brother, Mr. Black, after discussing the reasons given -by the settlers for the change, says in his own cautious way: "I do not -know whether Canadian annexation will much better them. However, it -looks as if the time was come for a change, and if we suffer some -inconvenience during the transition period perhaps 'the good time -coming' may compensate for all. I have taken no part for or against the -movement. I do not think it is good for ministers to jump into the -maelstrom of politics. Let them stop till they are pushed in. I have my -views and preferences, <i>and aiblins it wadna hae taen a muckle dunch to -ding me in</i>, but in the meantime I am better pleased to be out."</p> - -<p>While Mr. Black was thus so politic the leaders among the people of Red -River were by no means undecided. The movement seems to have taken so -strong a form that the greater part of the people, who were not -immediately connected with the Hudson's Bay Company, strongly favored -it.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p><p>Ten or eleven years before this, the desire for self-government took a -much more disagreeable form. Petitions from some of the people of Red -River at that time were to the American Government asking it to "annex -the Red River Territory to the United States, and promising assistance -against the Hudson's Bay Company in case of war."</p> - -<h3>BUT WE SHALL BE FREE.</h3> - -<p>This shameful proposal had completely failed, but now a large petition -to "The President of the Executive Council, Toronto, Canada," was signed -by "Roderick Kennedy and 574 others," reciting their grievances, and -appealing for reception by Canada. The petition says: "We love the -British Name! we are proud of that glorious fabric, the British -Constitution, raised by the wisdom, cemented and hallowed by the blood -of our forefathers.... It will be seen, therefore, that we have no other -choice than the Canadian plough and printing press, or the American -rifle and fugitive slave law."</p> - -<p>One of the most active and influential men in this movement was the Hon. -David Gunn, the leading elder in the Little Britain congregation. A -Caithness Highlander, he had come out in Lord Selkirk's time, had been -schoolmaster, meteorological observer, Smithsonian agent, and now took a -leading part in all public matters. Being the literary man of the -movement, he wrote a document setting forth very well the advantages of -the Red River country, and showing the profit the country would be to -Canada. This statement may be found in the government publications of -the time. Donald Gunn lived for many years after and became a member of -the Legislative Council of Manitoba after Confederation.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p><p>Canada made a strong effort under the leadership of Chief Justice -Draper and others to obtain the Northwest, and the British Commons -ordered a complete investigation by committee into the case, but it took -a number of years more to bring about the desired result.</p> - -<h3>CANADIAN SETTLERS.</h3> - -<p>Immediately after this movement, Canadian settlers began to drop by ones -and twos into the Red River Settlement. An important exploration of the -Red River, Assiniboine, and Saskatchewan Valleys took place by Henry -Youle Hind, and the report of this was at the time a mine of interesting -and useful information. The well-known Dr. Schultz arrived in 1859. Two -English-Canadians, Messrs. Buckingham and Coldwell, came to the -settlement at this time with a printing press, and began to publish the -<i>Nor'-Wester</i>, the first newspaper of the country. This paper soon -passed into other hands, and had a stormy existence, being regarded by -many, certainly by the Hudson's Bay Company, as a disturber of the -peace. The arrival of a number of aggressive and determined men during -this decade introduced much strife into the hitherto quiet and -easy-going settlement, and the weakness of the Hudson's Bay Company, -which was rather uncertain of its powers, encouraged restless spirits to -insubordination. The formation of what was called a "Canadian party" -during this time certainly did not improve the chances of a peaceful and -speedy union of the country with Canada. Shortly after the transfer the -writer remembers Mr. Black when speaking of the disturbed and clamorous -times through which we were passing, sighing for "the peaceful days of -the old Red River." Oh! but responded the writer, in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> youthful -Canadian enthusiasm, "Surely you would not have the broad acres of Red -River locked up from cultivation! Life is hardly worth living without -progress!" "Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle in Cathay." "Well, -perhaps so," said Mr. Black, "but there are animals that like to lie at -the bottom of the pool and bask in peace and quiet."</p> - -<h3>THE GRASSHOPPERS.</h3> - -<p>The steady flow of small groups of Canadians to the banks of the Red and -Assiniboine rivers, and the interest taken by a few of the -representatives in the Canadian Parliament led to negotiations of a more -definite kind between the Canadian government, the Imperial government -and the Hudson's Bay Company. In the year 1868 a destructive visitation -of grasshoppers took place in the Red River Settlement. Any one who has -not seen this locust invasion cannot imagine it. The pictures given by -the Prophet Joel were reproduced. Myriads of voracious insects ate up -every green thing, and heaps of their dead, decaying and putrid, filled -the air with disgusting odors.</p> - -<p>Sympathy in Britain and America was awakened for the people left without -food in Red River Settlement. The Hudson's Bay Company gave £6,000 stg. -to relieve the distress, and Canada sent her quota. Mr. John Black, as a -member of the Relief Executive, took an active part in relieving the -distress, and was in his element in comforting the discouraged and the -suffering. The Canadian government determined on a plan of assistance -which led to serious complications, though at the time, it seemed [missing word]</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> - -<h3>JUDICIOUS CHARITY.</h3> - -<p>The Canadian government thought it better to give public work to the -destitute than to bestow indiscriminate charity. Accordingly they -undertook to build the wagon road from Fort Garry to the Lake of the -Woods, which has since been known as the Dawson Road. This was really a -work of much importance, the distance of 110 miles through the wet -country being much shorter than the long circuit by Winnipeg River and -Lake Winnipeg. Though begun with the most benevolent intention it was -not long before the question was raised by what right the Canadian -government undertook it when they did not own the territory.</p> - -<p>The Canadian agents, Messrs. Snow and Mair, who were in charge of the -work, paid all those who chose to work upon the road, but there were -questions as to the rate of wages, method of payment, and the like, that -became bitter enough.</p> - -<p>Trifling remarks of the contractors and their assistants, as to the new -state of affairs likely to come to the country, to their seizure of -land, and dispossession of the old settlers and halfbreeds, were told -about, and a very disagreeable state of feeling was thus engendered. -"The Canadian Party" was certainly most unwise in its attitude to the -old settlers of the country, though it is quite evident also that -unreasonable suspicion took possession of the people of Red River.</p> - -<p>The leaders of opinion in the settlement were, however, in favor of the -change to join fortunes with Canada. Mr. Black was most outspoken in -favor of the advantage it would be to have Canadian law established, and -to be brought in closer touch with his own church, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> brethren -from whom for twenty years he had been in a measure severed.</p> - -<h3>THE FLAME BURSTS OUT.</h3> - -<p>The negotiations between Canada and the Hudson's Bay Company had been -favorable, the wide fields of the Northwest were to become Canadian, and -a million and a half of dollars were to make up the loss to the veteran -company. Hon. William McDougall was chosen as first Governor and was -sent by way of Minnesota and Dakota to his new vice-royalty.</p> - -<p>Suddenly one of the Canadian party, on October 22, 1869, appeared before -the Master of Fort Garry and made affidavit that forty French -halfbreeds, fully armed and equipped, had taken possession of the -Queen's highway, some nine miles south of Fort Garry, and proposed to -prevent Mr. McDougall, the new Governor, entering the colony. This -startling news proved to be true and was a great surprise to the Company -and to all the English-speaking people of Red River. All seemed -paralyzed. Some were afraid of bloodshed, some thought the demonstration -of the French was mere bravado, some that after a parley with the -incoming Governor it would be arranged by his giving a promise of just -treatment and equal rights. The inactivity of the civil authorities -encouraged Riel, the French halfbreed leader of the unruly Metis.</p> - -<p>Riel was a vain-glorious fellow, and he must do something brilliant. The -party defending the "barriere" at St. Norbert began to tamper with the -mails. Next, though most of his followers opposed it, Riel, by a -<i>coup-de-main</i>, quartered a number of his men in the Fort, much to the -disgust of the Hudson's Bay officers. Here again there was criminal -inactivity on the part of the authorities.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p><p>Riel, the dictator, became still more bold, and issued a call to the -parishes to send delegates to a meeting in the Fort. A show of -opposition, even at this stage, on the part of the English-speaking -people would probably have checked the insolent desperado at the Fort. -The feeling of disgust on the part of the English at the impudent -assumption of power by Riel was strong. Why, then, it may be asked, did -not the spirit of their race assert itself at all hazards?</p> - -<h3>DIVIDED COUNSELS.</h3> - -<p>The answer is easily given. Jealousy and rivalry prevailed among the -English speaking people themselves. The leader in the Canadian party was -regarded as a selfish and unscrupulous man. He had for years instilled -discontent through the columns of the <i>Nor'-Wester</i>. Many of the people -of the settlement disliked him intensely. The incoming governor seemed -to the people to be simply the shadow of this man. Colonel Dennis, the -head of the surveying party was personally popular, but lacked -penetration and decision. Had Governor McTavish, who unfortunately was -in poor health, been able to make a call on the loyalty of the people, -all would have been well, but this sentiment of distrust and dislike -prevented it, and nothing was done. The Bishop of Rupert's Land declared -he had gone to the first meeting of the Council of Assiniboine "prepared -to recommend a forcible putting down of the insurrection." Mr. Black was -as firm as any man could be against the arrogant impostor who held the -Fort. Mr. Bannatyne, who understood the French people thoroughly, was -forward in endeavoring to avert the disaster, but inaction, arising from -mutual hatred, lost the opportunity,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> and encouraged by this, the French -halfbreeds in the Fort grew to be six hundred in number.</p> - -<h3>TOO LATE.</h3> - -<p>Then it was too late. The Canadian garrison in Dr. Schultz's store but -aggravated the feeling; the gathering of the English halfbreeds and -others in Kildonan church only roused bitterness without accomplishing -anything. It was useless to throw water on the fire, after standing and -gazing listlessly at the blaze till it had grown strong. The stealing by -Riel and his followers at the "barriere" of goods which were being -imported to the settlement, the breaking open of the stores and looting -the cellars of the Fort by his hungry horde, the killing of Scott, the -suffering of the prisoners confined in Fort Garry, and the loud -vapouring and personal insults of the insolent chief of the "New Nation" -were part of the penalty inflicted on the people of the country, for the -masterly inactivity arising from divided counsels, which had been shown. -Mr. Black and the Highland parish stood sullenly by amazed and disgusted -at the current of events. With few exceptions the whole parish would -have responded to the call of authority, but the call never came. Mr. -McDougall issued a proclamation when he was no Governor, Col. Dennis was -divided in his mind and had no real authority, the true source of -power—the Company—felt itself unable to act, and in the meantime the -rebellion triumphed.</p> - -<h3>THE COLLAPSE.</h3> - -<p>The rebellion had been agoing for two months, and Riel seemed at the -summit of his power, when, two days after Christmas, Donald A. Smith, a -prominent member of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> Hudson's Bay Company, arrived from Canada, at -Fort Garry. The Canadian government had realized its blunder, and now -sought to do by negotiation what it should have done three months -before. If instead of the hasty visit of Hon. Joseph Howe, which itself -did some good, two members of the government, one French and the other -English, had come up and conferred with the people, there would have -been no rebellion. It is so easy to be wise after the event! Mr. Smith -was virtually a prisoner in Riel's hands, was watched by him with -suspicion, and was treated as discourteously by the petty tyrant as he -dared to do. However, by degrees, the Commissioner, who displayed great -tact as well as decision, began to sap the foundation of Riel's -authority. A monster meeting of the people was held January 19th, in the -open air at Fort Garry, with the thermometer at 20 degrees below zero. -Riel, with the true instincts of a desperado, had seized a number of the -papers sent by the Governor-General of Canada. The mass meeting, -however, resulted in a demand for the election of representatives to -consider the invitation from Mr. Smith to formulate their grievances.</p> - -<p>One of the most useful and trusted men at this time in the Red River -settlement was A. G. B. Bannatyne, merchant and postmaster, in the -village of Winnipeg, near Fort Garry. Mr. Bannatyne was the real -representative chosen to the convention for Winnipeg, but an American -mob by force elected one of themselves. Mr. Bannatyne acted as -intermediary between the English and French, and long after wielded much -influence in Winnipeg. He was, however, openly opposed to the leader of -the Canadian party.</p> - -<p>Step by step the power of Riel waned until on the 4th of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> March, -probably to awe the people and regain his weakening power, he committed -the desperate act of executing Thomas Scott, a Canadian, contrary to the -pleadings of Donald A. Smith, Mr. Bannatyne and others. That was the -beginning of the end. The party to meet the Canadian government, bearing -a Bill of Rights, left soon after for Ottawa. The news of the execution -of Scott threw Canada into a blaze. Ten thousand volunteers would have -reported in a day to go to Red River, if they had been called. The name -of Riel was despised and hated throughout the English-speaking parishes -and by many of the French. The Canadian government busied itself in -passing the Manitoba Act, which established a province in a part of -Rupert's Land. The Wolseley expedition started as soon as the spring -opened, and the followers of Riel began to leave him. The back of the -rebellion was broken. Late in August, 1870, the vanguard of the -expedition reached Fort Garry. Shortly before their arrival Riel and two -of his lieutenants left the Fort. The 60th regiment were anxious to have -a brush with the rebels, but the three captains, as the troops appeared -in the distance, "folded their tents like the Arabs and silently stole away."</p> - -<h3>RESTORING PEACE.</h3> - -<p>The coming of Governor Archibald and the establishment of Canadian -institutions took place in the same year as the arrival of the -expedition. But it took years to establish peace. The writer came to -Manitoba in the year after this, and well remembers the bitterness and -hatred which continually showed themselves. The two old English-speaking -factions struggled for supremacy. The influx of new people in due time, -however, overcame the feuds.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p><p>The sentiment against Riel and his associates burned as strongly years -after as it did in the time of the troubles. Peace never came really -until in Chief Justice Wood's court Riel and Lepine were found guilty of -murder and sedition. The springs of action in communities are hard to -trace, but it is plain to see that the burning questions which have -agitated Manitoba, and through her the whole Dominion, since that time, -have gained their intensity from the terrible months—for they were -nothing short of that—from November to March, of the Red River -rebellion.</p> - -<p>Undoubtedly the heat of feeling of the "Canadian party" included for a -time Mr. Black as being one of the other wing of the English-speaking -people. But in his case this soon passed away. His personal character, -his kindly and friendly manner, his open hospitality, and his unwavering -loyalty to British institutions made new-comers find in the "Apostle of -Red River" a friend, willing to aid all. Some of the more extreme of the -so-called "Canadian party" attempted to misinterpret a casual remark of -the good old pioneer to his disadvantage, but it was not accepted -generally, and a few years after Mr. Black was as acceptable as a -preacher to the rising congregation of Winnipeg as in his own beloved -Kildonan. Often, often did he commiserate the people compelled to go -through such an experience as that of 1869-70.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER X.</span> <span class="smaller">The New Settlements.</span></h2> - -<p>To some, the story of early settlement appears prosaic. To the deep -thinking, there is in it romance of the most thrilling kind. Who has not -read with sympathetic interest the story of Abraham going into a far -country that God would tell him of? How Scottish hearts have been moved -with the accounts of the Highland Clearances, when thousands of crofts -and straths and glens were left behind, and their occupants hurried -forth to find homes in Pictou, Glengarry, or on the banks of the Hudson!</p> - -<p>It is not only in the painful separations, the leaving behind of spots -and scenes consecrated with the dearest memories, and in some degree the -sense of failure in having to give up old associations forced by hard -necessity; but the tearful outlook into the unknown, the dread of -meeting the inhospitality of a cold world, and the utter feeling of -uncertainty that give its human interest to the emigrant ship as it -sails forth from the old-world port, or the settler's wagon as it wends -its way through the bush or over the "interminable prairie."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p><p>All the pathetic scenes of early settlers' life became familiar in -connection with the Red River becoming a part of Canada. As soon as the -Rebellion had been quelled, and Manitoba became open for settlement, a -movement took place from all parts of Canada to occupy the fertile -prairies of the West. Farmers, whose families were finding the small -farm of one hundred acres or less on which they had grown up too strait -for them, sold off their possessions and journeyed to Manitoba to take -homesteads and pre-emptions on its virgin prairies.</p> - -<p>For the first few years the journey was made by rail to St. Paul, in the -American State of Minnesota. Here the old-fashioned settler's wagon with -its canvas top—the prairie schooner as it has been called—was revived; -the household goods and a stock of provisions were packed in closely, -and after them the women and children entered to undertake a journey of -nearly five hundred miles to the new land of hope in the north. The -father and sons drove the herd of cattle and the extra horses; and from -camping place to camping place groups of settlers' wagons moved in daily -caravans over the prairie trails.</p> - -<p>In one such wagon the writer remembers to have seen an old lady of over -eighty years, who, seated in her commodious arm chair, held her post -among the boxes and bedding and farming tools over this long and weary -route. At a stopping place in the then utterly wild territory of Dakota, -the writer remembers to have seen the quaint entry in the register of -the wayside hostelry of J. W., "Citizen of the World." The traveller had -evidently been impressed with the illimitable stretch of the prairie, so -like the sea. At times the unbridged coulée, with its depth of water, -was to be crossed, when all the goods had to be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>unloaded from the -wagons, the goods and chattels floated across, the horses and cattle -made to swim over; and a delay, sometimes dangerous, of several hours -checked the forward advance of the caravan. Sometimes the fierce storm -of the prairie rose, and compelled the parties to keep camp for two or -three days. The writer calls to mind one storm in 1872 that blew over -tents, drove horses and cattle hither and thither over the prairies, and -well-nigh brought bands of travellers to despair. Such are the dramatic -features of frontier life.</p> - -<p>At times the settler and his family went by rail as far as the Red -River, and reached a town two hundred and twenty-five miles by land -above Fort Garry. Here a Red River steamer was taken, and by following -seven hundred miles of the winding river the destination was reached. -The Red River steamer was of the Mississippi type, flat-bottomed and -easily running over shallows. Indeed, speaking in western phrase, it -could run over the prairie if there was a good heavy dew upon the grass. -The extra goods were towed in barges behind the steamer, and old-timers -still delight to recount the picturesque scenes connected with the Red -River steamboat. At times, when the river had flooded its banks, the -steamer lost her course in the night, and was compelled to fasten her -bow to a tree on a prairie bluff till the morning. Thousands of the -early settlers of Manitoba remember the river steamers—the delay of -days together when stranded on the rapids—the wretched meals, and the -primitive accommodation. Arrived at Fort Garry, the settler found the -troubles and discomforts soon forgotten in the hurry and bustle of a new life.</p> - -<p>Then the toilsome journey, on steamboat or over muddy roads, with -myriads of mosquitoes and inevitable hardships,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> was past, and the -steamer "tied up" at the warehouse, or the prairie caravan crossed the -ferry of the Assiniboine and camped by the walls of Fort Garry. The sun -seemed to shine all the brighter and the air was all the more -exhilarating since the goal had been reached and the land of promise -entered on.</p> - -<p>At a distance of about half a mile from the fort was now springing up -the straggling village of Winnipeg. This nucleus of the present city was -a separate place, with different ideals and often divergent aspirations, -from old Fort Garry. For years the struggle prevailed as to which should -rule, but the increase of population, the influx of men of wider view, -and the softening influence of time abolished the rivalries, and the -Hudson's Bay Company has in late years entered into all the objects and -prospects of the city along with its most enterprising citizens. The -picture of that early Winnipeg is a strange contrast to the city of to-day.</p> - -<p>Soon after his arrival the family patriarch and his stalwart sons found -their way to the land office, inspected the list of vacant lands, -ascertained where acquaintances had gone, and after visits and journeys -hither and thither, made up their minds where to take up lands from the -embarrassing plenty that was offered them. New townships were opening up -in all directions where the surveyors had gone, and east and west new -settlements sprang up like magic.</p> - -<p>The Kildonan people, from their greater intelligence than that of their -neighbors, and their long residence in the country, were naturally much -consulted as to the best parts of the country and the localities most -desirable for settlement. Their habits of life, however, being more -pastoral than agricultural, had led them to different views from those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> -taken by the majority of the new-comers who were farmers. The writer -remembers very well in 1871 hearing of several Canadian families, who -had broken the immemorial custom of settling along the river bank, and -had ventured beyond Bird's Hill on the one hand, and Stony Mountain on -the other, several miles from the river. These were looked upon by some -of the old settlers as simply mad, their failure was prophesied, and the -expectation was strongly held that they would be frozen on the plains, -or lost in the snow-drifts if they attempted during the winter to find -their way to the old settlement. To-day, tens of thousands of Manitoba -settlers have their comfortable houses on the open plains.</p> - -<h3>SOUND THE GOSPEL CLARION.</h3> - -<p>Wherever the settler goes, there must the herald of the Gospel follow -him. Many of the early settlers of Manitoba came from the congested -agricultural districts of Bruce, Huron and Lanark counties, in Ontario. -As these were strongly Presbyterian localities, a very large proportion -of the incoming settlers belonged to the church whose foundation John -Black had been for twenty years so industriously and firmly laying. The -Presbytery of Manitoba had been formed just in time (1870) to deal with -this great influx of people, and applications came to it from almost -every new locality to have the Gospel preached. It was a great -responsibility. Money and men were scarce, and the source of both these -lay in the older provinces, from which so many of the older settlers -were coming. The doctrine was laid down that it was the duty of settled -pastors, ordained missionaries, college professors, students and also -efficient elders, to occupy the new and rising settlements, and the -leading members of Presbytery <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>cherished it as an ambition to be the -first church to preach the Gospel in each rising settlement. That -ambition has been largely fulfilled in the quarter of a century that has -elapsed since it was formed. It involved great self-denial to accomplish -this. But the spirit prevailed. It has led to the enormous growth that -has taken place, as seen in the fact that the nine preaching places of -1870 have increased to the vast number, north and west of Lake Superior, -of 839 in 1897.</p> - -<h3>CHURCH STATESMANSHIP.</h3> - -<p>Much more, however, than this was necessary. The new province of -Manitoba was unknown. People do not send their contributions largely to -places of which they know nothing. There were many in the eastern -provinces who had no confidence in the future of Manitoba. One of the -leaders of the Church denounced it as a frozen Siberia, and declared -himself unwilling to spend a dollar of mission money within its -hyperborean limits.</p> - -<p>It became the duty of John Black and his colleagues to do away with this -false notion. They knew well their advantage as belonging to the -Presbyterian Church. It is a church which legislates in its highest -court—the General Assembly—for the weak as well as for the strong; for -the maligned as well as for the popular; for the distant as well as for -the central interests. Accordingly the Manitoba men began the work by -letter, and full report, and map, and speech, and personal influence, -with the purpose of letting the church know the capabilities of the -country, and the prospect of a large population coming to cultivate its -fertile soil.</p> - -<p>And this was not a mere spasmodic effort, but it has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> continued from -that day to this. The Presbytery of Manitoba kept up a constant -agitation as to its wants, knowing that the kindly mother in the east -but needed to hear the cry of her children and she would relieve them. -And so it has been. The outlook of the church has been so widened that -to day money flows freely to Manitoba, Assiniboia, Alberta, Saskatchewan -and British Columbia for the wide mission work of the west.</p> - -<h3>HARD WORK.</h3> - -<p>But the organization and development of the work in the new settlements -was a mighty task. In Mr. Black's letters are frequently found: -"Received your letter as I was leaving to visit Grassmere"; "Have just -returned from the new settlement in Springfield"; "Paid a visit on -church work to the Portage," and the like. This was to an equal or -larger extent the same with every ordained missionary, professor and -other laborer. The great question became, Who could do the most, not, -Who could escape the most. The work was carried on during the winter as -thoroughly as in summer.</p> - -<p>In 1874 one of the ministers undertook to supply a new settlement, forty -miles from Winnipeg, once a month during winter. Preaching at the -distant point on Sabbath morning he came towards the city, about half -way took another service among people who had come in that very year, -and then struck homeward across the treeless, pathless, uninhabited -prairie, having nothing to guide him but the stars.</p> - -<p>The roads over the prairie in early days were nothing but trails running -in a most perplexing manner, and missionaries were constantly losing -their way, and sometimes spent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> the night in the shelter of a bluff, or -solitary stack in the wide hay meadow. In some years the roads were very -bad. To become "mired" or "bogged" in a "slough," and to have the -shaganappi or Indian pony coolly lie down in the mud, was an occurrence -by no means uncommon. Winter with its biting blasts gave no respite to -the faithful missionary.</p> - -<p>The history of Manitoba missions has been a marvellous record of -faithful, uncomplaining, self-denying service. Men have been placed in -charge of six or seven townships with settlers scattered sparsely -through them. They have carried on for years, in winter's cold and -summer's heat, service at six and seven points, three and even four on a -Sabbath, and all this on small and poorly paid stipends. Truly Christ -said, "My kingdom is not of this world."</p> - -<h3>THE HONOR ROLL.</h3> - -<p>Did time and general interest permit, the growth from year to year, and -from district to district, in Manitoba might be traced; the special work -of faithful missionaries might be given and their great services -recounted. This is not our present purpose. The presbytery, in its early -missionary plans in 1871, consisted of Revs. John Black, James Nisbet, -William Fletcher, John McNabb, and the writer. Mr. Nisbet was five -hundred miles west, at Prince Albert, and the little knot of members -seemed too small to face so large a work; but missionary after -missionary was sent by the generous and patriotic home mission committee -in Toronto. Prof. Hart, a missionary of the Church of Scotland in -Canada, came to join us in the following year, and Rev. James Robertson -two years after that.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i122.jpg" id="i122.jpg"></a><img src="images/i122.jpg" alt="WINNIPEG IN 1870" /></div> - -<p class="bold">WINNIPEG IN 1870.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p><p>Frazer, Matheson, Donaldson, and Vincent were active members of -presbytery and worthy foundation builders. McKellar, Bell and Stewart -were a trio who did yeoman service in the splendid farming region of -Portage la Prairie and Gladstone. Scott and Borthwick and Ross took hold -of Southern Manitoba and laid the foundations of numerous congregations, -such as Emerson, Carman, Morden and others, now self-sustaining and -influential. Alex. Campbell, James Douglas, A. H. Cameron, and Alexander -Smith all earned a good degree in the later seventies, and are still -residents of the west. Such men as McGuire, Wellwood, Donald McRae, -Hodnett, and Polson were hard-working pioneers in the last years in -which John Black yet remained with us.</p> - -<p>St. Paul's list of worthies was well called a cloud of witnesses in his -wonderful chapter in the Hebrews, and we honor those whose names have -become world wide for their faith and self-sacrifice; but many of the -names now mentioned are also those of men of unflinching courage, of -splendid endurance, of godly lives, and truest influence. The fact that -numbers of them, and others who have since come to the west, were -willing to bury themselves in obscure mission stations for the sake of -Christ, but showed them to be men of the same spirit as John Black, and -their virtues call for admiration and regard.</p> - -<h3>SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES.</h3> - -<p>The great mission work, from 1871 to 1881, was of the most difficult and -trying kind. The settlements were new, the people were very scattered, -were strangers to one another, their resources were small, and mission -work was carried on under the greatest disadvantages. But such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> -faithful, self-denying work never goes unrewarded. During one-half of -this decade the country suffered from the terrible plague of the -grasshoppers. The new farmers all through the settlements were greatly -discouraged. About the year 1875 there were thousands of settlers of -Manitoba reduced to the scantiest fare. The writer recalls those dark -days of the new settlement.</p> - -<p>If ever the consolations of religion were needed, and indeed largely -appreciated, it was during the years of the grasshopper scourge. The -services were held in settlers' houses. The settlers kindly invited the -missionaries after service to share their scanty fare, and many a time -the missionary felt ashamed to be a burden on those who were literally -suffering from the lack of sufficient food. The settlers were, however, -in a country from which they had not means to return to their eastern -homes, and so, ragged and hungry, they were compelled to wait to be -delivered by a Higher Hand. In 1876 the last grasshoppers left Manitoba, -and gradually the new settlements have risen, till now neatly built -Presbyterian churches dot the landscape in all quarters of Manitoba, and -the sacrifice of pioneer missionaries, elders and people has been rewarded.</p> - -<h3>EARLY WINNIPEG.</h3> - -<p>Perhaps the most picturesque and successful example of mission effort -was that in what was at the beginning of the period the village of -Winnipeg. For years before the transfer of the Red River country to -Canada service had been held by Mr. Black in the Court House near Fort -Garry. There had been little growth. The expectation roused by the new -state of things led to the erection of a small Presbyterian church in -the village. John Black obtained some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> $400 assistance from Canada, and -erected a wooden building, 30 × 40 feet. This building, yet unfinished, -but sufficiently advanced to be used, was opened for public worship by -Rev. Dr. Black on December 3rd, 1868.</p> - -<p>The completion of this building was interfered with by the Rebellion of -1869-70, but the arrival of the troops and the coming of a few Canadians -led to the partial fitting up of the church in 1870, a committee -consisting mostly of the officers and men of the volunteer force doing -the work necessary. A view of the cut given herewith will show the -appearance of the church. The original intention was to have a tower on -the top, and in the sketch the timbers are shown which were to have been -the mainstays. For a year these posts were an eyesore to the community, -but one night they disappeared. It is said that the sexton, acting on a -hint from some quarter, clambered on the roof and removed the offending -posts.</p> - -<p>The interior of the church was somewhat ambitious for those times. The -pulpit had a high Gothic backpiece, in harmony with the churchly windows -to be seen in the sketch. The committee of the troops in 1870 -partitioned off a portion of the interior as ante-rooms, and left the -church seated for about one hundred and fifty persons. To this little -building John Black gave the name Knox church, in memory of the mother -church in Toronto, of which Dr. Burns, the patron of the Red River -mission, had been pastor.</p> - -<h3>KNOX CHURCH ORGANIZED.</h3> - -<p>In October, 1871, the writer was placed in charge of Knox church, and -regular services twice a day were begun. John Black took the most lively -interest in everything connected with the congregation. He knew that it -<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>represented the movement in a city which was to become the central -fortress of Presbyterianism in Manitoba and in all the far west. The -congregation was organized in 1872 with eleven members, and a session -was elected in the following year. In 1874 the congregation had grown to -have seventy-three members, and unanimously called Rev. James Robertson, -of Norwich, Ontario, and though small in numbers guaranteed a salary of -$2,000 per annum. In 1872 the church building had been enlarged, again -in 1873 and a third addition took place in 1875. During the pastorate of -Mr. Robertson, which lasted seven years, there was a large immigration -to the province. Knox church grew very rapidly. Mr. Robertson was a most -faithful pastor, and took an especial interest in the incoming -population. He was ever willing to give a helping hand to the lonely or -discouraged newcomer. Knox church has ever been known as a great -supporter of the home mission work of the Church.</p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i126.jpg" id="i126.jpg"></a><img src="images/i126.jpg" alt="KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1871" /></div> - -<p class="bold">KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1871.</p> - -<p>As has been well said: "The greatest enterprise in which the -congregation engaged, in addition to its regular and missionary work in -Mr. Robertson's pastorate, was the new Knox church building. This is -known as the second Knox church. This was largely accomplished through -the energy and personal effort of the pastor. Indeed so sedulously did -the pastor work up the subscription list, that it has been said that it -was in this that Mr. Robertson laid the foundation of the great success -that he has since gained in finances as Superintendent of Missions." The -congregation had in 1879 grown to have four hundred names upon the roll, -and thus desired to have a more comfortable place of worship. The second -Knox church, as will be seen from the accompanying illustration, was a -<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>handsome and commanding building. In August, 1881, the first colony -from Knox church went off to form St. Andrew's church. This was placed -in the northern part of the city, and was begun just in time to meet the -great railway population which came in in connection with the Canadian -Pacific Railway. It was ministered to by the Rev. C. B. Pitblado. These -two congregations represented the Presbyterianism of Winnipeg during the -life of Dr. Black, but he always believed in the growth of Winnipeg. How -greatly he would have rejoiced could he have lived to see the handful he -had nursed and seen begun as a congregation in the little wooden church -with eleven members, develop into seven self-sustaining congregations -and two missions, with nine church buildings in all to-day, numbering -two thousand five hundred and fifty-four communicants in the city of Winnipeg.</p> - -<p>As we have said before, it has often been spoken of regretfully by the -friends of the pioneer that John Black was taken away just when the -fuller measure of the success of Presbyterianism in the great west was -dawning. However, Simeon-like, he was satisfied. He lived to see the -foundations well laid in the new settlements, including the new city of -the prairies. He saw the mission work become too large for management by -the ordinary machinery of the presbytery. He was quite in sympathy with -his brethren as to the necessity of a special agent being set apart to -superintend the rapidly rising missions, and when Dr. Robertson was -unanimously chosen as superintendent of missions, though Mr. Black -regretted his being taken from Knox church congregation, yet he rejoiced -in the appointment and gave his heartiest congratulation to the new -superintendent. Dr. Robertson had just begun his work,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> which has -yielded such a magnificent fruitage to the cause of Christ in the West, -while the good pastor of Kildonan was struggling for health in the last -few months of his life. How often do we see the true, the good, the noble, thus</p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"By affliction touched and saddened."</div> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<div>"But the glories so transcendant</div> -<div class="i1">That around their memories cluster,</div> -<div>And on all their steps attendant,</div> -<div>Make their darkened lives resplendent</div> -<div class="i1">With such gleams of inward lustre."</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i130a.jpg" id="i130a.jpg"></a><img src="images/i130a.jpg" alt="KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1879" /></div> - -<p class="bold">KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1879.</p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i130b.jpg" id="i130b.jpg"></a><img src="images/i130b.jpg" alt="MANITOBA COLLEGE, 1872" /></div> - -<p class="bold">MANITOBA COLLEGE, 1872.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XI.</span> <span class="smaller">College and Schools.</span></h2> - -<p>Next to John Black's desire for the spiritual good of the people among -whom he labored, was his anxiety for the education of the young. Born in -Scotland, where to be illiterate is looked upon as disgraceful; brought -up under teachers in the parish school, who had a real love of knowledge -and whose joy it was to select from their pupils every "lad of pairts"; -afterwards well trained in a higher institution in New York State; and -having finished his course in Canada at a time when a new educational -impulse led to the founding of Knox College, the pastor of Kildonan -could scarcely fail to be</p> - -<h3>AN EDUCATIONIST.</h3> - -<p>His bent of mind constantly showed itself in his desire to help forward -promising youths. It was not enough to him that the parish school of -Kildonan should be the best in the Red River Settlement. He took those -who were looking forward to professional life, and in his own study -drilled them in the Latin and Greek classics, with which he was so -familiar. A number of the Kildonan lads went on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> to higher positions, -led in their earlier stages by his kindly hand.</p> - -<p>Higher educational facilities were not wanting to Kildonan, for upon the -borders of the parish, and beside the very church where until 1851 the -fathers of the Kildonan people had attended public worship, was St. -John's College. Here a good education was given, and, so far as known to -the writer, there were no restrictions placed upon those students who -were not members of the Church of England; but John Black desired to -mould the leaders of the Presbyterian people after a fashion to preserve -the best traditions of the race from which they sprang.</p> - -<p>The small number of people in the Red River Settlement, and their -remoteness from highly civilized life, was for a time an objection to -the founding of another college on the banks of the Red River. Now, -however, the vista of hope was opening out before the country, as a new -province was entering on its career as one of the Canadian sisterhood. -The Kildonan school reached the culmination of its excellence during the -years 1870 and 1871 under the direction of Mr. David B. Whimster, a -teacher from western Ontario. The attendance was large, the educational -interest was great, and a goodly number of the best pupils were being -instructed in Latin and French by Mr. Black. Now seemed the time for -carrying out the dream which the Kildonan pastor had long cherished.</p> - -<h3>THE COLLEGE PLANNED.</h3> - -<p>In the autumn of 1870, the very year in which the young province of -Manitoba was born, a provisional board of twelve of the leading -Presbyterians of the province signed a prospectus and circulated it -through the province inviting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> assistance for an institution to give a -training in Classics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Natural History, Moral and -Mental Philosophy, and the Modern Languages. We may certainly say there -was no restricted view in the minds of the founders of the infant -college. Early in 1871, £300 sterling had been subscribed on the Red -River, and before the meeting of the General Assembly material for the -new building had been secured and the building was expected to be -sufficiently advanced for use in the autumn of the year.</p> - -<p>The General Assembly met that year in Quebec, and the Rev. William -Fletcher, a commissioner from Manitoba, strongly presented the case for -the new college.</p> - -<h3>THE ASSEMBLY DECIDES.</h3> - -<p>As usual "some doubted," but the Assembly entered with spirit upon the -project, and after certain negotiations the writer was appointed to go -to Manitoba and lay the foundations of the new institution. He was -ordained for the work in Gould Street church, Toronto, in company with -Dr. MacKay of Formosa, and pushed on to reach Manitoba before winter. -After a long and toilsome journey, in October the writer arrived at Red -River, and looks back with pleasure to the first night spent in company -with John Black at Kildonan manse. The Rev. William Fletcher and the -writer on arriving at Fort Garry could find no accommodation in the -crowded hotel in Winnipeg, and accordingly they walked down the four -miles or more to the manse on a pleasant autumn evening.</p> - -<p>The Apostle of the Red River, with a mass of iron gray hair, as shown in -his portrait, with well marked and yet kindly face, and his Dumfrieshire -Doric, not yet displaced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> by forty years of absence from his native -moorlands, was in high spirits. So often had the people of Red River -seen those coming to them foiled in their plans by the too early -approach of winter that their fears had been awakened lest another -disappointment would reach them. But the journey had been made, and now -the pioneer, whose tastes had always remained scholastic and literary, -even in the remote solitudes of the west, saw one of his strongest -anticipations about to be realized. He spoke of the youths ready to go -on with their work, of the numbers coming into the country, of the -bright prospects of the Church, and the value of education as a factor -of national growth. Late into the night all phases of the subject were -discussed and plans laid for immediately beginning work.</p> - -<h3>MANITOBA COLLEGE BEGUN.</h3> - -<p>A few days afterward the provisional board met, and the name "Manitoba -College" was adopted for the new institution—a name which has meant -much in the educational development of the western prairies. On November -10th, 1871, classes were opened, and the work immediately took hold of -the minds and hearts of the Presbyterian people of the country, and of -many others as well. The first building was of logs covered with siding, -and so Manitoba College while not emulating the fame of the log college, -out of which great Princeton College grew, yet has a similarity in its -first housing and surroundings. The cut on page 130 gives a view of the -first college building at Kildonan, with the Kildonan church in the background.</p> - -<p>In the year following the opening of the college the staff was -strengthened by the arrival of the Rev. Thomas Hart, B.D., who was the -representative of the Church of Scotland<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> in Canada. Professor Hart came -under an arrangement with the Church of Scotland Synod to take part in -the educational work, and has in the quarter of a century since his -coming labored with unwearied diligence for the good of the college. The -co-operation of the two branches of the Church in college work three -years before the union of the Churches proved the advisability of the -scheme of union, and was the harbinger of that event which has been such -a blessing to religion throughout the Dominion of Canada.</p> - -<h3>REMOVAL TO WINNIPEG.</h3> - -<p>The college steadily progressed for two sessions, when an event took -place which seriously tried the stability and attachment to principle of -the Presbyterians of the country, more especially of the people of -Kildonan. This was nothing less than the proposed removal of the -newly-founded college from Kildonan to Winnipeg. There can be no doubt -that this was one of the most trying things to Mr. Black in his whole -experience. Kildonan was four or five miles distant from the rising -capital of the province. Three miles nearer the city than Manitoba -College stood St. John's College. The Methodist Church had opened an -academy in the heart of Winnipeg, and the disadvantages of fair -development under which Manitoba College lay at Kildonan were manifest. -The matter came up in the Presbytery of Manitoba, and the scheme -favorable to beginning work in the provincial centre was carried by the -casting vote of the Moderator. It was naturally a great grief to the -people of Kildonan, and especially to their earnest pastor. To see the -longed-for tree of knowledge so speedily plucked up by the roots seemed -to the good old pioneer unnatural and uncalled for. And yet it was the -struggle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> between reason and sentiment. The good of the institution -itself and the plan to be adopted for its greatest usefulness must be -the highest considerations. The matter was necessarily taken to the -General Assembly. Mr. Black had not intended to be present that year at -the General Assembly, but at the wish of Kildonan itself went in order -that he might give the view of the people against the removal of the -college. All who were present at that Assembly will remember the address -of the valiant representative. With singular clearness and the highest -dignity, though with deep emotion, he recounted the struggles of the -people of Kildonan, the sacrifices they had made for the Church and -country, the hopes that had been awakened, and the damage it would do -the college among the relatively small number of Presbyterians yet -settled in the country. The Assembly was deeply impressed by the appeal -of the devoted and unselfish advocate. The writer recalls the fact of -one of the most respected pillars of the church, Hon. John McMurrich, -coming to him privately and saying, "I quite agree with the argument in -favor of removing the college to the rising town, but it does seem hard -that after all the struggles of the faithful pioneers of Presbyterianism -on the Red River, and especially after the devoted and self-sacrificing -life that John Black has lived, that there can be found no way in which -their wishes may be gratified." There was not a member of the General -Assembly who did not feel in the same way as good old John McMurrich. -But it was a critical moment in the history of northwestern -Presbyterianism. To have hesitated at that time would have been to take -up the same movement in a few years again with the added difficulty of a -falling cause and a sense of failure.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> - -<h3>DEPUTATION SENT.</h3> - -<p>The Assembly acted with extreme caution and discernment in the matter. A -commission of two of its members, Drs. Ure, of Goderich, and Cochrane, -of Brantford, the former an old fellow-student and warm friend of Mr. -Black, was appointed to visit Manitoba and report upon the case. The -commission decided that after a year the college should be removed to -Winnipeg, and carry on its whole work there. This was naturally a great -disappointment to Mr. Black. He was not convinced by the decision, and -feared especially that hurt would be done the college among the old -settlers of the country. He quoted in confirmation of his opinion the -statement made by the Bishop of Rupert's Land, the head of St. John's -College, that the removal was a mistake.</p> - -<p>In this John Black, to his own surprise and happiness also, found -himself mistaken. The Kildonan people, to their infinite credit, stood -true to their principles and in the next and succeeding years, numbers -of their young men were educated in their own college in Winnipeg, -notwithstanding their feeling of disappointment at the loss of the -college. Acting in the same manner as he had done when his views were -not carried out in regard to the policy of managing the Prince Albert -mission, the true-hearted Presbyterian pastor still gave his unwavering -support to the college, and for several years when the college undertook -the instruction of a small band of theological students, came, in -company with Dr. Robertson, at considerable inconvenience to himself, -and unrewarded except by the gratitude of the board and the high -appreciation of the students, to deliver lectures in church history of -which he was so complete a master. It was with the deepest appreciation -of his scholarship and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> high character that the Board of Manitoba -College congratulated him in 1876, when the sister institution in the -Church, Queen's College, conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon -the one who had been the originator and strong supporter of general and -theological education among the Presbyterians of the western prairies.</p> - -<h3>THE UNIVERSITY ESTABLISHED.</h3> - -<p>The college continued to grow and, after the union of 1875, obtained a -building of its own in the northern part of Winnipeg. It became in 1877, -along with the Church of England College of St. John and the Roman -Catholic College of St. Boniface, a part of the University of Manitoba, -which was established in that year. From the first it took the lead in -the University of Manitoba, and to-day has upwards of one hundred and -eighty graduates in Arts. Dr. Black was among the earliest -representatives of the college on the council of the university. The -needs of the college became so great that in 1881 the beautiful college -building represented in the accompanying cut was erected at a cost of -$40,000. The Marquis of Lome laid the corner stone of the new college. -Dr. Black lived to see the erection of the building, but passed away too -soon to witness its occupation in the autumn of 1882.</p> - -<p>The difficulties of the college were many during these early years. As -has been said, "this part of its history was the period of uncertainty, -and of many sleepless nights for its professors. Eleven or twelve years -of no visible means of support, of inevitable friction, arising from the -necessary change from Kildonan to Winnipeg, of an utterly insufficient -staff for undertaking the university work in which it early took part, -and of its professors each weighted down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> with as much missionary work -as an ordinary missionary, to enable them to gain remuneration from the -Home Mission Committee—these were the struggles of development with -which the young organism grew into strength." No one was more -sympathetic than John Black in encouraging the professors in their toil.</p> - -<p>During its whole history Manitoba College has been a missionary centre -for the west. The authorities of the college have always been anxious to -make the college in every way useful to the Church. Its professors have -taken a very active part in the home mission work and Indian missions, -and its students have been strongly possessed with the missionary -spirit. Before the college had the status of a theological college, in -co-operation with the Presbytery of Manitoba, it gave instruction to -students in theology with the approval of the General Assembly. In the -year following that of the death of Dr. Black, Manitoba College was -granted a regular theological department, and this part of the college -work has been well organized and maintained under Dr. King and Professor -Baird. No less than 81 graduates in theology have left the walls of the -college between 1878 and the present time (1897). In token of its -absorbing interest in home mission work, Manitoba College has willingly -placed itself at the service of the Church in conducting a summer -session in theology, for the better supply of the mission stations of -the synods of Manitoba and British Columbia. Dr. Black would have -greatly rejoiced, could he have seen the present prosperity of the -institution for which he prayed and labored so long.</p> - -<h3>PUBLIC SCHOOLS.</h3> - -<p>The change made by the first parliament of Manitoba from the -denominational schools formerly prevailing to a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> system of public -schools was a very striking one. The desire of the Roman Catholics to -have separate schools for themselves was granted, and thus the germ of -the great question which has for years disturbed Manitoba was -introduced. Those, who in the old Red River Settlement days had been -accustomed to their parish schools, were not seriously opposed to the -separate school system. To them it seemed simply a more systematic way -of working their parish schools, and receiving the assistance of a -government grant. Dr. Black thus became the representative of the -Presbyterian parishes and was a member of the first Board of Education -for the province. Matters worked with a fair amount of smoothness, but -there was a constant grasping of power by the Roman Catholic hierarchy -to make a greater and greater division between the two sections of the -board, until in ten years after the formation of the province the Roman -Catholic schools were to all intents and purposes managed privately by -the Catholic section of the board, and the Roman Catholic Archbishop -recognized as the authority by whom, for his own section, all books in -religion and morals should be approved. Protests in the newspapers, in -political campaigns and otherwise were made against this gradual -aggression on the part of the Roman Catholics.</p> - -<h3>ACTION TAKEN.</h3> - -<p>The Protestant section of the board at length took action in the matter. -A series of resolutions were passed on Oct. 4th, 1876, by a majority of -the section, looking toward the doing away of separate schools. The -matter promised to bring on a great agitation in the country, and Dr. -Black ceased to be a member of the board, though Rev. Dr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> Robertson, -who was also a Presbyterian representative on the board, held with the -majority and ardently approved of the national school ideas. Dr. Black -in this matter felt that he could not be a party to interfere with the -amity between Protestants and Roman Catholics, which had been a feature -of the old days of the Red River Settlement. While he probably differed -little from the other members of the board as to what should be done, -yet his strongly expressed desire to be freed from the personal turmoil -and discussion of this difficult question was regarded, and the burden -thrown on younger men.</p> - -<h3>THE GOVERNMENT INTERFERES.</h3> - -<p>The Provincial Government of the time became alarmed at the action of -the Protestant section of the board, and took the strong measure of -reconstituting the board at the time of next appointment. Some of the -more aggressive members were replaced by others of a more pacific -character and the crisis was thus postponed. Dr. Black's anticipations -of the reality of this struggle were by no means mistaken. For several -years the question slumbered, with, in 1881, a new aggression on the -part of the Roman Catholics, making the two systems more distinct and -maintaining the share of joint stock company assessments, which were -almost entirely those of Protestant stockholders, <i>pro rata</i> for Roman -Catholic schools. Dr. Black's fears of trouble were soon to be realized, -for after ominous rumblings, on the incoming of a new government, in a -few years the educational change took place (1890), giving rise to what -has been widely known throughout the world as the "Manitoba School -Question." Dr. Black died a number of years before this reformation came about.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XII.</span> <span class="smaller">Memorials.</span></h2> - -<p>In the thirtieth year of Mr. Black's ministry a considerable religious -movement took place in Winnipeg and the neighboring country. Mr. Black's -interest in vital religion was ever one of his outstanding features. His -conception of the Christian minister was that he was in reality a -shepherd of the flock. It was his high mission to study the times and -the seasons and to avail himself of any wise and timely circumstances -which might arise in connection with the religious life of the parish.</p> - -<p>The influx of a large number of new settlers can hardly be said to have -had a favorable influence on the Highland parish. The life of the -colonist or settler, even when he is well disposed, is likely to lead to -carelessness in religious things, to laxity in the observance of the -Sabbath, and to exposure to many temptations. Kildonan parish, being -near Winnipeg, and much in touch with the new settlers, was thus exposed -to hurtful influences. As a wise watchman, the pastor of Kildonan saw -this, and gladly welcomed tokens of spiritual revival, and took part -very heartily in the movement to have special services in his beloved -<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>parish. We are fortunate in having a sermon of the pastor on the -subject of revivals, published some years before the time of which we -are speaking.</p> - -<p>Referring to</p> - -<h3>REVIVALS,</h3> - -<p>Mr. Black says: "Happy the ministers thus privileged to be instruments -in God's hand. Happy the souls who plentifully partake of this -extraordinary grace! And it is well worth remembering how beautifully -this mode of dealing with men is adapted to the wants and weaknesses of -the race.</p> - -<p>"Not only do spiritual affections become languid and require to be -freshened with new life, but even the very ideas and impressions of a -spiritual and eternal world wax dim upon the soul through the lapse of -time, and the influence of the world and something extraordinary is -required to renew these—some fresh testimony that there is a God and an -eternity.</p> - -<p>"It must be familiar to all, how events and appearances, however -stupendous in themselves, lose their impressions by such regular -recurrence as renders them familiar to our minds. What, for instance, -can present a more magnificent spectacle than the passage of the sun -through the heavens on a clear summer day? Yet so familiar are we with -the spectacle that we scarcely think of it. It is a part of the regular -operations of nature and passes unobserved.</p> - -<p>"But suppose some day that the sun should appear of double size, or that -another sun of equal brilliancy were to traverse the heavens from north -to south, then all would be struck and filled with amazement—it may be -with alarm—for then it would appear that there is some power <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>superior -to nature that can interfere with its regular course when he will. God -would thus be brought near.</p> - -<p>"So it is in spiritual things; however mightily the work of God might be -carried on, men would soon begin to forget God in it, and to attribute -the deep and earnest religious feelings prevailing to natural causes, -and so something higher still would be needed to prove that the work was -of God. Much more is this needed in a time of comparative indifference -to bring palpably before men's minds that there is a God and a spiritual -world. Men require something uncommon to stir them up from to time. Our -private devotions would be more ready to sink into coldness and apathy -were they not quickened by the public services of the sanctuary, and the -Sabbath services would also degenerate, were we not stirred up by the -occasional occurrence of Sacramental services. So God's ordinary -dealings require the aid of these seasons of revival."</p> - -<h3>SOME DROPS DESCEND.</h3> - -<p>The meetings, as conducted by the evangelist in Kildonan church, were -attended with good. There was much in the manner of the professional -evangelist that did not commend itself to the more staid religious -customs of Kildonan, but Dr. Black and his session, being in earnest in -the cure of souls, overlooked the defects and sought to make the most of -the efforts of the messenger of God sent amongst them. A considerable -quickening took place among the young people, and the older people were -helped as well. This was a great joy to the pastor. The strain upon the -faithful minister in his person was, however, very great. The frequency -of the services and the feeling of responsibility told upon his deeply -moved nature, and by the time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> the meetings were ended the godly man was -prostrated in body. Rest was tried, and a visit to the Province of -Ontario was undertaken, but without very much permanent benefit.</p> - -<p>The good old apostle took advantage of his eastern visit to attend the -meeting of the General Assembly in Kingston in 1881. He was expected to -be present at it, and it seemed to be the desire of the leading -ministers of the Church that the honor of the Moderatorship should be -conferred on Dr. Black, as no less than ten presbyteries had nominated -him. On the opening of Assembly a letter was read from Dr. Black, -declining, on account of his poor health, to be put in nomination for -this exalted position.</p> - -<h3>A HIGH ESTIMATE.</h3> - -<p>The grounds for the proposed honor were not only the fact that John -Black was the first missionary to the Red River, but that he had so well -fulfilled the functions of pastor, preacher, and leader. Few had, -indeed, heard the apostle of Red River, but it was well-known that he -was a preacher of no mean order. His reputation as a theologian was well -established, an evangelical tone was highly characteristic of his -sermons, and his fervid appeals and denunciation of wrong-doing were -telling, while a poetic and eloquent power of expression was certainly -possessed by him in his nobler efforts. As an example of his successful -preaching, we may refer to a very effective and touching sermon -delivered by him in the earlier part of his ministry.</p> - -<p>Among the youths who had gone from Red River to study, we have already -mentioned Donald Fraser. He was a young man of singularly attractive -disposition, who as a boy had suffered from a disease in the hip joint. -<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>Recovering somewhat, he had gone on with his education, and had in 1854 -entered Knox College, Toronto, where he continued a student for three -years. It is said of him that in addition to his more than ordinary -ability and diligence, he was distinguished for "his deep and steady, -yet gentle, cheerful, unobtrusive piety." On his return to Red River, -the disease increased, and attended by the kindly and continuous -spiritual care of his minister, in the late winter he passed away, -joyfully exclaiming, "I am going to glory." Ardently attached to his -young friend, the Kildonan pastor preached a beautiful sermon on Rev. -vii. 1, 3, 14, entitled,</p> - -<h3>"FROM TRIBULATION TO GLORY."</h3> - -<p>We may well give an extract or two:</p> - -<p>"How many have been thus removed who seemed the very men to labor for -God here! This is the Lord's doing. It is marvellous in our eyes." It is -mysterious, yet we can see reason in it—the Lord will show that He is -not dependent on men. And there is mercy in it—He spares the green and -takes the ripe. To our departed brother the change is unspeakable -gain—he is gone forth out of all his tribulations. Faith is changed -into sight, hope into enjoyment. He is gone to see the Saviour, whom -long he had trusted and long loved. Faith, we may be well sure (a -favorite form of speech of John Black), had many a struggle to realize a -present Redeemer; but now there is no struggle; he sees Him as He is, -and is like Him. We are left. His form is no longer before our eyes. But -in his meekness and gentleness of disposition, in his Christian -consistency and cheerfulness, in his patience under suffering, in his -prayerfulness and faithfulness, and in his kindness of heart and -spirituality of mind, he has left us an example which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> woe unto us if we -forget. And in his happy, joyful deathbed, unvisited by doubt or fear, -we have another blessed evidence of the reality of religion and the -faithfulness of God. To the family the loss is great, but their sorrow -is mingled with joy, for not the shadow of doubt is left upon their -minds. To myself the loss is also great. There I found sympathy, -counsel, encouragement, prayer. But that heart and those lips are now still.</p> - -<h3>"IN ROBES OF WHITE."</h3> - -<p>"See these glorious, these shining ones, walking in brightness the -golden streets of the New Jerusalem. They are clothed in white -robes—angels' garments. Such was the clothing of our Lord on the day of -His transfiguration, and such was the clothing of the angel that rolled -the stone away from the door of His tomb."</p> - -<h3>THE WHITE ROBE IS THE EMBLEM OF PURITY.</h3> - -<p>The white robe without signifies the pure and holy heart within. These -are purified, holy souls. In them has been fulfilled to the utmost, -David's prayer: "Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me and -I shall be whiter than snow." No stain of guilt now remains upon their -consciences, no stain of corruption now defiles their hearts; no sinful -desire, no vile or tumultuous passion now agitates their minds. Their -thoughts are all pure; their affections are all heavenly; they are -conformed to the image and the will of God. Not the smallest thing in -them is out of keeping with the holy heaven in which they now dwell.</p> - -<h3>THE WHITE ROBE IS ALSO AN EMBLEM OF JOY.</h3> - -<p>It is the wedding garment—the dress of the bride, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> Lamb's wife—the -garment of the guests that sit at the heavenly banquet. The white robe -without signifies the joyful heart within. And, oh, a happy company are -all these white-robed ones in their Heavenly Father's home! The sorrows -of earth are all left behind, and not even the shadow of evil now -obscures the sunshine of their holy joys. No sin, no sorrow, no care, no -toil, no fear, no conflict; but purity, peace, delight—their Father's -smile, their Saviour's presence, the society of the redeemed and of holy -angels, the sight of heavenly beauty, the sounds of heavenly music, the -fragrance of celestial flowers, the sweetness of the water of life, the -exercises of heavenly devotion, all conspiring to fill their minds with -gladness ineffable. The marriage robe without is the emblem of the -joyful heart within.</p> - -<h3>THE WHITE ROBE IS THE EMBLEM OF VICTORY.</h3> - -<p>It was worn by those who after victory returned to the Imperial city and -passed in triumphal procession through the crowded streets, and the -admiring and shouting multitudes. Those who have entered the New -Jerusalem have gained the victory; they now enjoy the triumph. They have -fought the good fight; they have finished their course, they have kept -the faith; henceforth they are to enjoy their crowns of righteousness, -their white robes, and their evergreen palms. Long and hard was the -conflict; many and fierce were their enemies; but now the victory is -won—sin, Satan and the world are subdued; and the sword and the -breastplate, the buckler and the shield have been exchanged for the -white robes of victory and of peace. "They hang their trumpet in the -hall and study war no more."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> - -<h3>OUT OF AFFLICTION.</h3> - -<p>"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him -out of them all." They were in pain, in sickness, in poverty, in hunger, -thirst, and nakedness; they were exposed to shame, they were oppressed -by tyranny; they have been captives, slaves, victims of cruelty and -injustice; they have seen their dearest snatched from their embraces, -they have passed through the trials which are common to man, and many -peculiar to themselves; but they have come out of all their -tribulations—sickness and pain, captivity and bereavement, oppression -and suffering are now forever ended, and God has wiped away all tears -from their eyes.</p> - -<h3>A BELOVED ELDER.</h3> - -<p>We have before us another address of Mr. Black worthy of being quoted. -This was delivered on the death of one of his best beloved elders, John -Pritchard. This elder was the son of an English fur trader of the same -name, who had been in the service of the Northwest Fur Company, and -afterward acted as Lord Selkirk's agent. The tender heart of John Black -comes out in his words for his departed friend: "John Pritchard was a -man of God. In him we have lost a man of much prayer—of deep humility, -and one who knew well how to speak the truth in love, and who in his -deportment beautifully mingled the gravity and the cheerfulness of true -religion—a gravity without gloom or austerity—a cheerfulness without -levity—a mingling or union of qualities which gave him at once the -respect of the aged and the confidence of the young.</p> - -<p>"In him his family have lost a wise, faithful, loving head—a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> large -connexion has lost one of its most beloved members—society has lost a -man of much usefulness and Christian worth—for myself, I have lost a -good counsellor and a faithful and confiding friend; and you, as a -congregation, have lost an office-bearer whose place it will not be easy -to supply.</p> - -<p>"How often in private have many of you heard his earnest counsels; at -how many sickbeds and deathbeds have you been comforted by his -consolations; how often, here and elsewhere, have we heard his earnest -pleading voice in prayer; and how often has that voice been lifted up in -wrestling intercession for us all, when there was no ear to hear but -that of our Father in Heaven."</p> - -<h3>LIFE DECLINING.</h3> - -<p>It was in April, 1881, that Mr. Black so felt the need of rest that he -obtained leave of absence from the Presbytery of Manitoba and went to -Ontario and to his old home in New York State, seeking health. After -spending some months in the east and being present at the meeting of the -General Assembly, he returned to Manitoba, feeling much improved. -Unfortunately he caught a severe cold on his return journey and was -again reduced in strength. Reaching Kildonan he sought to minister to -his devoted people, but after a few Sabbaths was again compelled to make -application to the presbytery for relief. This was granted most -willingly, but at the same time with a feeling of great anxiety on the -part of his brethren. It seemed the presage of the approaching end. The -affectionate attention of friends and relations was given him, but he -remained very weak. Reclining on his sofa, he received his ministerial -and other friends, and still with clear mind discoursed on the topics<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> -of the day and on the blessedness of the service of Christ with the -great future rewards of the people of God. Even in the time of declining -strength his was no weak or halting faith, but a strong and unwavering confidence.</p> - -<p>The old year passed away and the opening days of January saw no marked -change. His interest in the affairs of the parish did not flag, but he -was patiently resigned in his weakening strength. At last as the opening -hours of the second Sabbath, 12th, of February, 1882, were approaching, -the spirit of the devoted minister passed away to its eternal rest. The -event, though somewhat expected, yet produced a shock in the parish, and -on the word reaching Winnipeg references were made in the city pulpits -on that day to the departure of the good man.</p> - -<h3>TRIBUTES.</h3> - -<p>The tributes of kind friends came from all directions. The leading -newspaper of the province referred to the great service he had rendered -the whole Northwest, and said: "In the midst of his many duties he was -able in a wonderful degree to keep abreast of the literature of the day. -Although occupying so remote a field, he was remarkable for the -superiority of his scholarship, so that he enjoyed an eminent reputation -as a man of learning and particularly as a theologian."</p> - -<h3>LAST SAD RITES.</h3> - -<p>On the following Wednesday the funeral took place, the service being -held in Kildonan church. The day was one of the most bitterly cold days -of the season. Yet the people of all denominations were there, and -representatives from the river parishes and Winnipeg, so that the church -was pretty well filled with men and women.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> Several of the oldest -members of the presbytery were absent from the province at the time, and -were prevented from paying their last tokens of respect to the departed -leader. Rev. Professor Hart, who had been for ten years intimately -acquainted with Mr. Black, took the service and made the address. In the -course of his remarks he said: "In reference to Dr. Black's public life, -I have only a word or two to say. As a preacher he was well known to us -all as being clear, forcible, simple, impressive and eloquent in his -exposition of divine truths; as a pastor he was indefatigable, visiting -regularly in succession all the families in his parish, especially in -times of sickness, distress or in death. He was active in forwarding the -interest of the Sabbath-school and also of the Bible Society, of which -for years he was president.</p> - -<p>"Every good cause found in him a faithful and zealous advocate. As a -friend, the departed was judicious, faithful, steadfast and true. His -whole course among us was, I may add, such as became a true and faithful -man of God. When work was to be done he did it up to the measure of his -strength and even beyond it. Hence, though naturally of a strong and -healthy constitution, he succumbed—not to old age, but to excess of -work. He was worn out by his exertions, and his death took place at a -time when in his prime, intellectually, years of activity and usefulness -might be looked forward to.</p> - -<p>"The All Wise Disposer of events seemed to say that our friend's work on -earth was done, and called for him from labour and trial here to the -rest that remains for the just. The last illness of our brother (and -father), though protracted to nearly a year, was not during the latter -portion of it accompanied with much pain. To the end his faith re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>mained -unshaken, his hope undimmed, his peace of mind undisturbed. That end -came quietly. He sweetly fell asleep in the arms of Jesus. Just as that -day he loved the best was being ushered in, just as that earthly Sabbath -dawned, he passed away to the enjoyment of an eternal Sabbath in the -courts above."</p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i153.jpg" id="i153.jpg"></a><img src="images/i153.jpg" alt="PUBLIC MONUMENT ERECTED TO REV. JOHN BLACK" /></div> - -<p class="bold">PUBLIC MONUMENT ERECTED TO REV. JOHN BLACK, D.D.</p> - -<p class="bold">In Kildonan churchyard.</p> - -<p>The Rev. Alexander Matheson, a native of Kildonan, then led in prayer; -the Rev. C. B. Pitblado, the minister of the new St. Andrew's -congregation of Winnipeg, pronounced the benediction; the Rev. Alexander -Campbell was also present, and the Rev. R. Y. Thompson took the service -at the grave.</p> - -<h3>RETROSPECT.</h3> - -<p>We have now completed our long journey from Garwaldshields farm in -Eskdale Muir, where John Black was born, to Kildonan kirkyard, where his -honoured bones now lie. Sixty-four years was his alloted span, and no -one who has followed our story can fail to admit that the character and -life described are those of a true man.</p> - -<p>Born among the shepherd people of the region that has been made historic -by the names of Thomas Boston, James Hogg, Edward Irving and Thomas -Carlyle, the worthy lad of Eskdale very early showed the features of a -religious and deep-laid character. What he would have been had he -remained in the land of his birth we can only conjecture, but it is -certain that wherever he was to dwell his earnest, manly, studious -boyhood was the promise of a useful life.</p> - -<p>Perhaps nothing shows the chivalry of his nature more than his -surrendering all the bright hopes of a student life, and the career of a -successful teacher, in order that he might with his family, which had -suffered losses, seek a New World home to better their condition. His -unselfish devotion led<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> to his becoming the mainstay in the counsels of -the family as they settled in the State of New York. Years afterwards we -find his love of his aged parents in the Catskills a matter for -consideration in choosing where his lot should be cast.</p> - -<p>The return of John Black to the Canadian branch of the Church of his -fathers illustrates two or three points in his character. There was in -him a strong attachment to old associations. The Scottish type of -Presbyterianism was to him the best, and he sought his defence in the -shelter of the "burning bush." His characteristic discrimination and -determination to follow his convictions were shown in his choice of the -newly formed Free Church, while his love of the past and strong personal -attachment would have led him to cling to the Church of Scotland. His -love of country was also strong, and there can be no doubt that he -greatly preferred the shadow of the Union Jack to that of any other flag.</p> - -<p>His student and missionary life were characterized by great thoroughness -and enthusiasm. While strongly evangelical, and counting all things -other than the Gospel as "wood and hay and stubble," yet he valued -knowledge, and laid the foundation of subsequent excellence in Latin, -Greek, History, and English Literature. His missionary life in Brock, in -Upper Canada, in the district of Montreal, and on behalf of the French -Canadian Society, all indicates the spirit of thorough consecration, -which is the beauty and strength of the aspirant to the Christian -ministry. The most critical time in the life of John Black was his -reception of the command, for it was nothing else, of Dr. Burns to go to -Red River Settlement. Those who knew Dr. Burns can easily imagine the -ardency and enthusiasm with which he would argue the case. He was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> man -of strong personality, and to him his opinions had all the strength of -principles. Mr. Black could not resist what was put to him as the call -of duty. It is somewhat remarkable to see, however, that year after year -he was not convinced that the Red River was to be his permanent sphere -of labor. This no doubt arose from a certain sensitiveness of -disposition, and an unwillingness to stand in the way of what he thought -was the highest spiritual good of his people. And yet it was as all his -friends said it would be: God's finger pointed out the Red River -unmistakably as his lifelong sphere.</p> - -<p>The founding of a new cause among a people who, for thirty or forty -years had been without their own form of faith, was a great work. The -church building, the alarming flood which hindered his work, the severe -task of supplying, while still alone, the small groups of Presbyterians -outside of Kildonan, the anxiety about the spiritual condition and -insobriety of so many of the native people about him, cases of -discipline which required at the same time firmness and tact—all these -filled up the measure of his busy life.</p> - -<p>The effect of the arrival of an additional laborer in the person of Rev. -James Nisbet, in 1862, can hardly be estimated by us now. The fact that -another clergyman may arrive now in the field of Manitoba missions is an -everyday occurrence, and gives rise to little comment; but when the -arrival of a laborer doubled the available missionary force it made it -an event of first importance. When, four years later, James Nisbet began -the Indian missions of the Church it was something, too, of immense -moment. John Black's dream of fifteen years was then realized, and he -saw in the future the vista of a reclaimed and civilized race<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> in place -of the helpless and sin-afflicted savages by whom he was surrounded.</p> - -<p>When the stirring days of the Riel Rebellion were over, there came the -rush of immigration, which startled the quiet solitudes of the Red River -prairies. It was to Mr. Black, as to the older people of the country, a -time of change, but the religious needs of the new settlements were well -looked after, and the movement begun of the mission advance, which has -been so notable a feature of the Presbyterian cause in the Northwest, -and has led to the Church, which John Black came to the west to found, -becoming much the largest and most influential body of the prairies.</p> - -<p>Not only in Winnipeg, with its thoroughly organized body of -communicants, and in Portage la Prairie, Brandon, Regina and Calgary -have the Presbyterian views of church doctrine and life become -potential; but, in more than a score of towns, such as Morden, Pilot -Mound, Deloraine, Carman, Glenboro, Treherne, Holland, Miami, Minnedosa, -Russell, Rapid City, Gladstone, Moosomin, Prince Albert, Edmonton, -Souris, Virden, Boissevain, Emerson, Keewatin, Rat Portage, Fort -William, and Port Arthur have strong self-sustaining churches been -established. Notably is the Church strongly ensconced in the affections -of the agricultural communities spread over the prairies. It would -gladden the heart of John Black to-day could he see the presbytery of -which he was the first moderator now developed into two synods with -fourteen presbyteries, and could he realize how "the little one has -become a thousand."</p> - -<p>As an educationist, we have shown the really fundamental work of Mr. -Black in the cause of education. It is very rare to see the men who lay -foundations equally strong on the missionary and on the educational -sides. It shows<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> the even balance of his mind, that Mr. Black was as -much interested in one direction as in the other. Manitoba College is -the outcome to-day of the hopes and pleadings and plans of this scion, -transplanted from the parish schools of Scotland, and of the early love -of knowledge of the Presbyterianism of Canada, which took root in the -favorable soil of the Red River, Assiniboine, and Saskatchewan valleys.</p> - -<p>These are the memorials of the Apostle of Red River. We are not carried -away by any absurd sentiment which would lead us to make John Black a -hero. As a rule the surroundings of his life were not of an exciting -kind. The Red River community was isolated, its opportunities of -communication with the outer world were small; for two-thirds of the -life of John Black upon the Red River there was little increase in the -population, but during his thirty years of Northwest life we see in him -the white lily of a blameless life, we see the spirit of an ardent -social reformer, we see the public sentiment leading him to labor for -the educational good of his people, we see the exercise of a diligent -pastorate, and the attainment of honorable distinction as a preacher—in -short, we see in him the embodiment of high domestic, social, public and -Christian virtues. We shall cherish the memory of "the Apostle of the -Red River."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><a name="i159.jpg" id="i159.jpg"></a><img src="images/i159.jpg" alt="In Memoriam" /></div> - -<p class="bold">TABLET IN KILDONAN CHURCH.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2>ADVERTISEMENTS</h2> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/advert1.jpg" alt="The Selkirk Settlers in Real Life" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/advert2.jpg" alt="Manitoba Memories" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/advert3.jpg" alt="The Warden of the Plains" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/advert4.jpg" alt="Some Notable Canadian Books" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/advert5.jpg" alt="Across the Sub-Arctics of Canada" /></div> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN BLACK, THE APOSTLE OF THE RED RIVER***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 53576-h.htm or 53576-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/3/5/7/53576">http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/5/7/53576</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p>Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: John Black, the Apostle of the Red River - , Or, How the Blue Banner Was Unfurled on Manitoba Prairies - - -Author: George Bryce - - - -Release Date: November 22, 2016 [eBook #53576] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN BLACK, THE APOSTLE OF THE RED -RIVER*** - - -E-text prepared by Larry B. Harrison, Martin Pettit, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images -generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 53576-h.htm or 53576-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53576/53576-h/53576-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53576/53576-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/johnblackapostle00bryciala - - - - - -[Illustration: REV. JOHN BLACK, D.D. - -The Apostle of the Red River.] - - -JOHN BLACK -THE APOSTLE OF THE RED RIVER - -Or, -How the Blue Banner Was Unfurled -on Manitoba Prairies - -by - -REV. GEORGE BRYCE, M.A., LL.D. - -Professor in Manitoba College, Winnipeg. - - - - - - - -Toronto: -William Briggs -Wesley Buildings. -C. W. Coates, Montreal. S. F. Huestis, Halifax. -1898 - - -Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year -one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, by William Briggs, at -the Department of Agriculture. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -We are in the habit of referring to the heroic deeds of our fathers, -whether English, Scottish, Irish or French, in the struggles they -endured and the sacrifices they made for country or religion. The -service rendered to liberty and religion by Cromwell and his Ironsides -at Marston Moor or Naseby, by Hamilton and his Covenanters at Drumclog, -by King William and his followers at Boyne and Londonderry, or by Henry -and his Huguenots at Ivry, may well stir our bosoms with emotion. - -But this century has, in the piping times of peace, developed a new and, -perhaps, greater heroism in the army of Christian adventurers going to -all lands, and proclaiming under King Jesus a war against sin and -idolatry, in which battles for the truth are fought against -"principalities and powers" as real as those against Prince Rupert, or -the bloody Claverhouse. Even the quieter life of a pioneer missionary -like Carey or Livingstone requires the highest daring and the sublimest -perseverance. - -To this class belongs the career of Rev. John Black, the Apostle of the -Red River of the North. To leave home and friends at the call of duty, -to cross the trackless prairies of the north-western States in order to -reach the northern and secluded plains of Rupert's Land, to bury himself -in obscurity, albeit he was engaged in laying the foundation of a -spiritual empire of the future, was to give John Black a true claim to -the honor of self-sacrificing fame and highest patriotism. - -The work of the author has been a labor of love, and it is with the hope -of awakening wider interest--especially in the minds of the young--in -the sweetness of self-sacrifice, and in what the world may call the -"reproach of the cross," that this little book is sent forth. - - - - -CONTENTS. - -CHAPTER PAGE - I. JOHN BLACK'S EARLY DAYS 9 - - II. STUDENT AND MISSIONARY 19 - - III. MONTREAL TO FORT GARRY 30 - - IV. A HIGHLAND WELCOME 45 - - V. THE EARLY SETTLERS ON RED RIVER 53 - - VI. SOWING AND WEEPING 66 - - VII. PASTOR AND PARISH 77 - -VIII. A KINDRED SPIRIT 91 - - IX. RED RIVER BECOMES CANADIAN 103 - - X. THE NEW SETTLEMENTS 114 - - XI. COLLEGE AND SCHOOLS 131 - - XII. MEMORIALS 142 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS. - - PAGE -REV. JOHN BLACK, D.D. _Frontispiece_ - -ST. BONIFACE CATHEDRAL, BURNT 1860 43 - -KILDONAN PARISH CHURCH 75 - -REV. JAMES NISBET 90 - -WINNIPEG IN 1870 122 - -KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1871 126 - -KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1879 130 - -MANITOBA COLLEGE, 1872 130 - -PUBLIC MONUMENT TO DR. BLACK 153 - -MEMORIAL TABLET IN KILDONAN CHURCH 159 - - - - -JOHN BLACK - -_THE APOSTLE OF THE RED RIVER_ - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -His Early Days. - - -John Black was the Apostle of the Red River. He will be long remembered -on the prairies of Manitoba. In 1882 he passed away, all too soon to see -the remarkable rise of the country for which he had planned and worked -and prayed. He had reached the age of sixty-two, and nearly half of that -time he had spent on the plains of the Northwest. His name is a -household word in many settlements, and his memory is revered by the -white settlers and the Christian red men alike, throughout Manitoba, -Saskatchewan, and Alberta. - - -BIRTHPLACE AND CHILDHOOD. - -On a visit to Scotland, a few years ago, the writer of these sketches -spent a few pleasant days on the Scottish border. He was guest of a -former Canadian minister in the pretty parish on the river Esk, of which -Sir Walter Scott speaks, where "there was racing and chasing on Cannobie -Lee." One day a delightful drive led along the winding valley of the -river to the town of Langholm, to attend the Presbytery meeting there. -After the business was over the Presbytery dinner was held, with all the -forms of the "olden time." While at dinner one of the ministers -addressed the writer: "Oh, I'm the minister of Eskdale Muir, where your -first minister on the Red River, the Rev. John Black, was born." It was -interesting to note that the pioneer of the western wilds was not -forgotten in the place of his birth. - -On the 8th of January, 1818, John Black was born. He was the son of -William Black and Margaret Halliday, Eskdale shepherd farmers, who lived -on the farm of Garwaldshiels. His ancestors had originally dwelt in the -neighboring parish of Ettrick, and some of them had been warm friends of -the godly minister there, Thomas Boston, whose works, "Fourfold State" -and the "Crook in the Lot," were well-read books in many a Scottish -home. - -The farm of Garwaldshiels was a lonely spot. Its steading, as the farm -buildings are called in Scotland, was two miles from any other. Indeed, -the whole parish of Eskdale Muir is mountainous and sparsely settled, -its inhabitants being chiefly sheep farmers and shepherds. In the church -on Sunday it is said the collie dogs were formerly almost as many as the -men. Sometimes the dogs became restless, and were apt to disturb the -minister. - -The shepherds of the south of Scotland are noted as a most intelligent -lot of men. Their quiet life on the hills with their flocks gives them -time for thought. They are great readers, and undertake to master the -deepest books. This is so uncommon among humble people, such as they, -that visitors from outside Scotland are greatly struck by it. It is said -that a Yorkshire wool merchant once visited the parish of Eskdale Muir -on business, and was so surprised that he said: "They are the strangest -people that ever I saw; the very shepherds talk about deep stoof -(stuff)." - -The minister of this parish who baptized John Black was in knowledge a -leader of his people, for he was the author of a work called -"Antiquities of the Jews," which was formerly very well known. - -About the time of the birth of John Black, the shepherds of the border -parishes had gained another accomplishment. Many of them undertook to -write poems. The reason of this was that a few years before, in the -parish of Ettrick, a remarkable man, James Hogg, known as the "Ettrick -Shepherd," had written a number of very beautiful poems, which had been -published and widely read. This led many of the shepherds to imitate one -of their own number. Some of the poems produced were poor, but others -were uncommonly good. It was strange to see such a burst of song in a -people so severe in their thought. - -Born of such a stock, and brought up in such surroundings, it was no -wonder that the boy of Eskdale Muir should early show a disposition to -study. He had a great thirst for knowledge, even as a child, and -especially for Bible stories and religious thoughts. In early childhood, -we are told, he was noted for his affectionate disposition. He was a -serious boy, and even early in life, at the age when most children are -thoughtless and unconcerned, he showed a desire to become a follower of -Jesus Christ. - - -REMOVAL TO HIGHMOOR. - -When John Black was a boy of seven years of age his family removed from -the lonely farm of Garwaldshiels to Highmoor, some twenty miles to the -south. Highmoor was situated in the parish of Kilpatrick-Fleming. It was -a sheep farm, of about 700 acres, and belonged to a celebrated border -family, the Maxwells of Springkeld. It was in the very centre of -historic ground. It was less than five miles from the Scottish border -where the little streamlet that divides Scotland from England marks the -change from the broad Doric tongue to the very different dialect of -Cumberland. From the door of Highmoor the Solway Frith was clearly in -view, with its small sailing vessels and greater ships passing on the -errands of commerce. - -Between Highmoor farm and the Solway was not more than ten miles, and a -beautiful little stream, the "Kirtle Water," ran through the farm and -emptied into the frith. The windings and turns of the "Kirtle" are well -filled with the thoughts of romance, and within this short distance -seven old castles are to be seen, the strongholds of the Irvings and the -Bells, so well known along the Scottish border. These old castles all -had their legends, and almost every one of them was said by country folk -to have been the scene of some great crime, and to be haunted by a ghost -or evil spirit. While John Black did not believe these old tales, he was -always fond of the stories, and read with greatest interest the "Tales -of the Border," and Sir Walter Scott's poems of the border minstrelsy. - -Highmoor was not more than four miles from Ecclefechan, the town where -the great Scottish writer, Thomas Carlyle, was born. Not half that -distance from Highmoor was the house where Carlyle's father, mother, and -brother long lived. Even the Hodden Hill farm, which Thomas Carlyle for -a time occupied, was not far from Highmoor. Upon this farm was a -celebrated erection known as the "Tower of Repentance." On this farm -Carlyle was just becoming known as a genius in the days of John Black's -boyhood, and what were called his "longnebbit" words and striking -sayings were often spoken of by his Annandale neighbors. John Black, to -the day of his death, was proud of his fellow-dalesman, who became known -as the "Sage of Chelsea." - -The wider view from Highmoor was equally beautiful. Looking eastward to -the end of the Solway Frith, one could see the tall chimneys of the city -of Carlisle, so prominent a place in the border strife. Towering to the -sky were to be seen beyond in Cumberland the gigantic Skiddaw and other -mountains, while beyond the heights of Cumberland appeared dimly the -Yorkshire fells and the hills of Durham. To the west the far view was -interesting. Majestic Criffel appeared running out into the frith, and -on a clear day the hills of the Isle of Man were seen in the middle of -the Irish Sea. Such a country, with natural beauty and historic -memories, could scarcely fail to inspire those who dwelt in it. We are -not surprised that John Black was stirred to poetry in such -surroundings, and we learn that, following the beginning as a -verse-writer, made under the name of "Glenkirtle" in the newspaper of -his county, he all his life had a faculty of writing snatches of lively -verse for his children and friends. - - -SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS. - -The parish school in the wide parish of Kilpatrick-Fleming was seven -miles from Highmoor, but a second school, known as the "Gair school," -was at the corner of the farm. Here, in 1826, John Black and one of his -sisters began their education. The school was under the charge of a Mr. -William Smith, the father of one afterwards well known in the -Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Smith, at one time -minister in Kingston, Ontario. To this school came from far and near -pupils from the scattered farms, some of them boarding in the nearest -dwellings. The parish schools of Scotland taught everything from the -alphabet to the works of the highest Latin and Greek writers. Mr. Smith -was a good scholar and a good teacher. Young John Black here laid a good -foundation for his future attainments. Mr. Smith was followed as a -teacher by Mr. John Roddick, also a man of much ability and skill as a -teacher. He was, strange to say, the father of another Canadian, Dr. -Richard Roddick, of Montreal. Under Mr. Roddick John Black made -remarkable progress. The young scholar had a great fondness for the -languages. The sturdy lad had, however, to fight with obstacles in -getting an education. To make a living on the farm his father needed the -help of all his children, and John could not well be spared when he had -reached the age when he could herd the cattle and watch the sheep. He -was often unable to be present at school, but his desire to gain a -higher education never left him. At last his father consented to his -study of the languages, and the happy boy at the age of fifteen threw -all his energy into his task. - -French was the first language on which he began under Mr. Roddick. A -curious incident is connected with his entrance on the study of French. -Full of the thought of beginning a foreign language he walked all the -way to the town of Annan, nine miles distant, to buy a French grammar. -On arriving in the town, he found the bookseller's shop shut and the -bookseller along with almost all the people in the town, wending their -way, week-day though it was, to the parish church. The boy followed the -crowd, and found the greatest excitement prevailing. It was the day of -the trial of the celebrated Edward Irving. Irving was a native of Annan -and a great friend of Thomas Carlyle. He was a minister of great -eloquence, who had first assisted Dr. Chalmers in Glasgow, and -afterwards been settled in London. He had adopted strange views as to -the humanity of Christ, and on the day of John Black's visit was being -tried for heresy by the Presbytery of Annan. The boy was present during -the whole trial, and was wont to tell to his latest day of the -prophet-like Irving as he answered for himself and of Dr. Henry Duncan, -who was the advocate for a pure doctrine and a divine Christ. Thomas -Carlyle in his "Reminiscences," defends his friend and throws ridicule -on the Presbytery, but the extravagant views of Irving, remarkable man -though he was, justified, to the mind of most of the people, the action -that was taken by the Presbytery in deposing him from the sacred office -of the ministry. - -The young scholar was able after the exciting scenes of the day to find -his way into the bookseller's shop, bought the French grammar, and -returned home to begin his study with much enthusiasm. It was always his -view that this French grammar exercised a great influence on his after -life. It was through his knowledge of French that he was afterwards -chosen, as we shall see, to work among the French-Canadians, and it was -thus through his being unattached to any special congregation that he -was led to find his way to Red River. - -The young scholar progressed very rapidly in his studies. Of Latin and -Greek he was very fond, while his love for the great authors of his own -language was intense. He had a great craving for books. At the time of -which we write, and in a country district in Scotland, books were not -easy to be had. Fortunately for the young bookworm, a "Library -Association" was formed in the village of Waterback, which lay one mile -to the west of Highmoor. Though the number of works was small, yet it -represented nearly all classes of books. Twenty huge volumes of -Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopaedia were there, and it is believed that -John Black before the age of twenty had pretty well read them through. -As a shareholder of the association, he made full use of his privileges. -He read widely in history, both ecclesiastical and general, and made a -brave attempt to grapple with the thought of such writers as Bacon, -Locke, Butler, and Paley. - -During this time also his religious life became stronger and more -devoted. The parish minister was Rev. George Hastie, an earnest and -devoted preacher of the Gospel. Under Mr. Hastie's instruction, and -watered by the dew of heaven, the seed of truth, planted in early -childhood, sprouted and grew into a flourishing plant. The young student -made, under the faithful pastor, a public profession of his faith in -Christ. He was also much strengthened in the faith by his youthful -companions of kindred Christian feelings. One of these, Walter Smith, -became afterwards Free Church minister of Half-Morton in Eskdale. Many -years after, in a letter written from Red River to his brother, we find -John Black speaking of this Christian friend in far-off Eskdale. - -At about the age of twenty, his old teacher, Mr. Roddick, having left -Gair school to accept a position in Liverpool, John Black was, for a -time, called on to act as a substitute. This he did with much -satisfaction to parents and pupils. It may have been this temporary work -that suggested to the young man, who was rather retiring and bashful, -the thought of teaching elsewhere. For some time after this he was -engaged in teaching a school in one of the most beautiful and romantic -villages of Cumberland. While gaining great success in his school in -England, his mind was dwelling on the fuller devotion of himself to the -higher office of the ministry. The ministry had thus early a great -attraction to him. He, however, hesitated, for there was, to the end of -his life, a singular union of courage and diffidence in Mr. Black. It -was his disposition never to push himself forward in any cause, but if -it seemed to him a duty he would go through fire and through water to -accomplish it. - - -TO AMERICA. - -He had now reached the age of twenty-three, when a complete overturn -took place in all his plans. From hints thrown out in after years it is -made plain that his father's family had not been prosperous in their -sixteen years at Highmoor farm. It seems that they were so severely -tried that they were compelled to borrow money to take them to a new -land. John Black was his father's chief stay and counsellor, and so, -giving up all the prospects in his English school, he threw in his lot -with the rest of his family, and determined to go with them to America. - -It was a sad picture when the family was torn up by the roots from the -home where it had grown. The far-off Solway was to be left behind, the -gently flowing Kirtle to be deserted, school and church, where character -has been formed, to be forsaken, and the sweet glens and historic rivers -and market town were to be seen no more. Oh, how sad the spectacle so -often witnessed at the Broomielaw in Glasgow or on the docks of -Liverpool, where tens of thousands have thus been wrenched from the -tender associations of home, and thrust out into the wide world! On -June 18th, 1841, John Black, with father and mother, three brothers and -four sisters, formed one of these sad companies, and, none too well -provided with worldly goods, started from Liverpool to gain a living in -the New World. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -Student and Missionary. - - -It was, as has been said, in the summer of 1841, that John Black's -father with his family arrived in America. Though Canada was at this -time enjoying a large British immigration, yet the family of Highmoor -was led to find its way to the United States. Two sisters of William -Black, with their husbands, had years before found a comfortable home in -the State of New York. Twenty years' residence had made these Murray and -Davidson families fairly prosperous, and to their rocky home the -immigrants from Scotland came, ascending the Hudson River, reaching -Catskill, and then going by land carriage to Bovina, in the county of -Delaware. This region of the Catskill Mountains, though not suited for -ordinary agriculture, has long enjoyed, from its sweet grasses and clear -streams, a great pre-eminence as a dairy-farming district. No doubt this -was due to the skill, energy, and thrift of the farmers from the south -of Scotland who had settled there. - -After reaching Bovina, the newly-arrived family took a farm in the -neighborhood. For a time John gave some help in the work, but his heart -was set on preaching the Gospel. In order to obtain the means of -continuing his studies, he engaged in teaching, and by his skill and -enthusiasm awakened much interest in education among the young people of -Bovina. The work of teaching John Black found to be an excellent -preparation for the work of the ministry. The power to manage a school, -the ability to understand the character of his scholars, and the habit -of patience acquired were to him of great value in after life. - -Desiring to carry on his education further before entering on the -special study for the ministry, the young teacher looked about for an -academy where he might pursue his general studies. This he found in -Delhi, the chief town of Delaware county. Here a most accomplished -teacher, Rev. Daniel Shepherd, was in charge of a school of a very high -order. It is said that though this institution did not bear the name of -either college or university, and gave no degrees, yet in scholarship -many of its alumni were not behind university graduates. - -John Black, now on fire with a high purpose, threw himself with all his -soul into his studies. He at once took a high place in the school. The -shepherd lad from the Gair school in far-off Eskdale reflected credit on -his old teacher, Mr. Roddick. He planned a course of study in the -needful branches of mathematics, but his chief delight was in classics. -So excellent a scholar was he in Greek that the original Greek oration -delivered by him on leaving the institution was for many years spoken of -as being unusually meritorious. His metrical translations of Latin -authors, such as Horace, were well done, and though not so often as -formerly, yet now and then his muse took a poetic flight. - -Like many Scottish students, John Black lived very economically in his -school life in Delhi, "cultivating," as has been said, "the muses on a -little oatmeal." With him were two of his cousins as room-mates, William -and David Murray. These three lads, living in a little upstairs room, -cooking for themselves the provisions received from home, gained in -after life, though in different spheres, high and honorable distinction. -William Murray became Judge of the Supreme Court of New York, and Dr. -David Murray was the organizer of the educational system of Japan, and -for several years chief superintendent of education there. When he left -Japan to return to America he was invested by the Emperor with the -highest order of Japanese nobility. He has since been State Librarian at -Albany, New York. John Black may not have received such earthly honors -as fell to the lot of his cousins, although he had his share of these, -too, but he has the joy of those of whom it is said "they shall shine as -the stars for ever and ever." - - -CHURCH LIFE. - -Though baptized in the Church of Scotland, and attached to its forms, -John Black became, on his arrival in Bovina, an active member of the -"Associate Church." This was one of the bodies which afterwards were -united and became the "United Presbyterian Church of North America." The -minister of the Bovina congregation was Rev. John Graham, a native of -Montrose, Scotland, a man of ability, especially as a writer. Before his -death he published his "Autobiography," a most interesting book. Of Mr. -Graham it was said that he "was a man with eccentricities, but far more -excellencies." In Mr. Graham John Black found a true friend, as he did -also in the other members of the congregation. True piety prevailed -among them. Perhaps some would call them narrow, but they were genuine. -They had brought with them from the old land customs such as the regular -observance of family worship, the keeping of the Sabbath, and the habit -of churchgoing, and these they put into practice in their new world -home. As the country settled, many congregations, which are now strong, -hived off from the original one in Bovina. - -For three years John Black remained a member of this congregation, and -his family were very anxious that he should study for the ministry in -connection with the Associate Church. He was unable to accept all the -views of the Church, however, and this kept him for some time in grave -doubt. The Associate Church held that the Scottish covenants were -binding on the Church in later times. It will be remembered that these -covenants of 1638 and 1643 represent one of the grandest periods in -Scottish history. Nobles and people alike, in Greyfriars churchyard, -Edinburgh, and elsewhere in Scotland, signed, in some cases with pens -dipped in their own blood, the covenant or pledge to oppose prelacy and -popery, and to keep the Church of Scotland pure and true. John Black -loved and admired the martyrs and Covenanters who fought so nobly for -liberty, but he was not sure that two centuries after those stirring -times it was still necessary to subscribe these notable documents. The -Associate Church required of those who entered its ministry to declare -adhesion to "public covenanting," and this threw an obstacle in the way -of the young candidate. - -His thought was then turned to Princeton College, the seminary of the -Old School Presbyterian Church, as it was then called. Some five or six -years before this time the Presbyterian Church of the United States had -been rent by doctrinal differences, and perhaps more especially by the -question of negro slavery. Princeton College would have satisfied the -young aspirant to the ministry, but belonging, as it did, to the body -which seemed unsound on the slavery question, John Black, like all of -British blood, was horrified at the thought of being connected in any -way with so hideous and cruel a thing as slavery, and so he could not -conscientiously join the Old School. He still kept up correspondence -with Scotland, and his love was strong for the Scottish Church. At this -time, too, a great religious movement was going on in Scotland, which -led to the Disruption in 1843, and the formation of the Free Church of -Scotland. After this event the young student in Bovina began to turn his -attention to Canada, where the Church was strongly Scottish in its -character and customs. - -Just at this time, early in 1844, a minister from Canada came on a visit -to his friends in Bovina. This was the Rev. James George, then a -minister of the Church of Scotland in Scarboro, in Upper Canada. Mr. -George's father and brothers were nearest neighbors of William Black and -his family in Bovina. Mr. George was at this time an examiner in Queen's -College, Kingston, and, indeed, afterwards became a professor in that -institution. Young John Black called upon Mr. George during his visit to -Bovina, and enquired as to the opportunities for studying for the -ministry in the Canadian Church. He also sought information as to what -the Church in Canada would do in view of the disruption which had taken -place in the mother Church in Scotland. Mr. George stated that he had a -strong hope that the Church in Canada would satisfy all parties, and -thus prevent a division on this side of the Atlantic. Having examined -Mr. Black, Mr. George expressed himself as highly satisfied, and advised -the young student to come over to Canada in the autumn and to enter -Queen's College. Mr. George returned to Canada, the Canadian Synod met -shortly afterwards in Kingston, and there the disruption took place. Mr. -George thereupon wrote to Mr. Black informing him as to what had -happened, but still urging him to come over and enter Queen's College on -its opening. After all the kindness which had been shown him he felt it -to be a painful trial to refuse; but John Black's sympathies were with -the Free Church in the struggle, and he could not accept the kind -invitation of his friend. It was with great grief that he saw the -division in Canadian Presbyterianism. He never ceased to desire -reconciliation, and he was greatly overjoyed that he lived to see the -happy reunion in 1875. - - -COLLEGE LIFE. - -John Black had not an acquaintance in Canada other than Mr. George. He -had noticed in the newspapers that the Rev. Mark Y. Stark, of Dundas, -had been moderator of the synod at the time of its division, and that he -had taken the side with which he himself sympathized. Accordingly, he -wrote to this gentleman about the arrangements for starting a college in -connection with the new body, and the answer came, greatly to his -satisfaction, that the commission of synod would meet in October to deal -with this matter, and that it would be well for him to be present at the -meeting. - -The synod was held in Toronto, and, a number of students having sent in -their names, Knox College was founded. John Black waited over for the -opening of the college, which took place on November 5th, 1844, and he -may be said to have been its first student. The establishment of this -college was a great and notable event, for here many well-known -ministers of the Presbyterian Church have been trained for their work. -There were two professors to begin with: the polished Henry Esson, who -taught arts, and a gentleman from Scotland, Rev. Andrew King, acting -professor of theology. Mr. King afterward became professor of theology -in Halifax. The beginning of the college was almost as simple as that of -the well-known "Log College" which gave instruction in early days to -Presbyterian students in the United States. It began in a single room in -Professor Esson's house in Toronto. Shelves around the room contained -the professor's library and a number of books for the use of the -students, lent by other ministers. In the middle of the room was a long -pine table, surrounded by benches and a few chairs. Fourteen students -received the attention of the two professors. This first session was a -busy one, and at its close the enthusiastic young men were sent as home -missionaries to different places. - -The session was one of great interest to John Black. Well prepared as he -had been, a good Greek scholar, well instructed in English literature, -and well read in philosophy, he took a foremost place among his -fellow-students. Bursaries and prizes were won by him, and the session -was thoroughly profitable. Now fairly committed to the Christian -ministry, he thought often of the motives which were leading him. His -letters of this time show a growing love for spiritual things, and, -while there is always in them a spice of humor or of fancy, yet there -runs through them a deep and earnest vein. - -Among the greatest influences brought to bear upon him were those of -the company of good friends, for he was a man of most sociable -disposition. In after days he often spoke of the influence of that -devoted man of God, William C. Burns, who went as a missionary to China. -This remarkable man was a nephew of Dr. Robert Burns, of whom we shall -speak more fully, and a friend of Robert Murray McCheyne, one of the -most spiritual of the young preachers of his time. Many a story is yet -told of the remarkable sayings and doings of William C. Burns during his -memorable visit in Canada. His influence, though that of a passing -visitor, was very great over the students of Knox College, and over -young Black in particular. - -At the end of his second year in Knox College the young student was sent -as a missionary to preach the Gospel in a number of new settlements. The -townships of Brock, Reach, Uxbridge, and Scott were then filling up with -immigrants from Great Britain and Ireland. John Black thus writes to his -brother: - - - "Brock, May 27th, 1846. - - "I came here about five weeks ago, and have been very busy ever - since. I have four preaching stations, two here and two in the next - township south. I preach in three schoolhouses and a large barn. - The people are mostly Scotch, Irish, and English. The four would - make a decent congregation. I take them two each Sabbath, and have - prayer-meetings, when I can manage it, as well as week-day - 'preachings.' To-morrow night I must ride six miles northwest to - hold a meeting among some English people (whom I like best of all - my people), and next day, Friday, come back ten miles to a - prayer-meeting in another place, Saturday ten miles again to - another, and Sabbath two meetings." - - -This shows the spirit of the man whose faithful and unremitting services -in after years told so powerfully on the banks of the Red River. - - -A MISSIONARY. - -As John Black drew to the end of his college course the work of the -ministry became very real to him. His sympathies became more intense in -his desire to reach and rescue perishing men. The little band of -students in 1846 were all aglow with missionary zeal. The Knox College -Missionary Society, which has ever since been so good a training school -for young missionaries, was formed in that early time. The society at -that date not only did city mission work in Toronto and cultivated the -missionary spirit, but helped the Missionary Society of the Free Church -of Scotland to support a missionary in a foreign land. During the -session of 1846-7 the Rev. Mr. Doudiet, a Swiss Protestant missionary, -in the service of the French-Canadian Missionary Society, visited Knox -College and addressed the students. The students decided to assist this -movement. John Black had, as we have seen, some knowledge of French, and -was therefore urged by his fellow-students to enter upon this work. He -would have preferred preaching in English, for he had enjoyed his summer -in the mission field very greatly, but it was agreed that he should -spend the following summer at Pointe aux Trembles, a French school near -Montreal, ever since well known. This he did, and returned in the autumn -to take his last year in college. - -At the opening of this session he was made glad by his brother James -joining him from Bovina, to study for the ministry in Knox College. Not -only had he intimate companionship with his brother, but there were -three other students with whom he associated much and of whom he spoke -with the highest regard to the day of his death; these were afterward -well known as Dr. Robert Ure, of Goderich; Dr. John Scott, of London; -and the Rev. John Ross, of Brucefield--all of whom exercised a great -influence on the western peninsula of Upper Canada. He was strongly -attached to his professors. Dr. Burns he regarded as a fearless champion -of the truth; Professor Esson he admired for his refined taste and wide -scholarship; and Professor Rintoul, he tells us, he loved as he did his -own father. - - -FRENCH MISSIONS. - -On the close of the college session of 1848 John Black was ready to -enter on the work of the Christian ministry, a work lying very near to -his heart. It seemed, however, as if it were not to be. The Students' -Missionary Society insisted on his taking a part in the movement among -the French Roman Catholics. He proceeded to Montreal, and was soon busy -studying French. He was not, however, allowed to continue at his work, -for there were so many English-speaking congregations in and about -Montreal that he was compelled to take service in these week after week. -This interfered with his plans, and we find him writing, in 1849, from -Pointe aux Trembles: "I left Montreal and came here about five weeks -ago. I have been making some progress in French, especially in -conversation, for it is now the vacation and there are no lessons. It is -a dour (difficult) job. I fear I shall never be able to use the French -effectively." - -The estimate in which Mr. Black was held as a preacher and pastor may -be seen from the fact that Cote Street Church, Montreal, the leading -Free Church in Canada, having failed to receive continuous help from -Scotland, was supplied for months together by the young missionary. He -was in request by congregations in different parts of Lower Canada, but -he still remained working for the French-Canadians. At length, in May, -1851, he resigned the secretaryship of the French-Canadian Missionary -Society. His letters at this time breathe a spirit of earnestness and -devotion. He had paid a visit to his former home in New York State, and -had seen his old father and mother, and always spoke with the most -tender regard of their claims upon him. He was always anxious about the -welfare of his brother, to whom he writes. He had then a habit which -clung to him to the last, of enquiring minutely into his friends' -affairs. His letters abound with direct questions to his brother, such -as: "How do you do your work? Do you sermonize, or expound, or what? Do -you write out your sermons? Are the professors harmonious in the -college? Have you prayer-meetings in college and city? Do you go out on -Sabbaths? How are you situated for money?" This habit arose from his -warm interest in his friends. His questions at times may have seemed -abrupt and forward, but the warmth of his nature showed that it was only -"his way." - -Three years had now passed in visiting congregations in Canada and the -United States, and in preparing himself more fully for his life work, -although seriously interrupted by the pressing demands from new -congregations. It was a time of great spiritual hope, and the minds of -the students of that day had a strong evangelistic bent, which they -retained throughout life. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -Montreal to Fort Garry. - - -While John Black was wondering what special duty the Lord would lay upon -him he was startled by a cry for help from the wilds of Rupert's Land. -Forty years before this an enterprising Scottish nobleman, Lord Selkirk, -became a leading partner in the Hudson's Bay Company, and shortly after -undertook to settle a colony of Highlanders on the banks of Red River. -The colonists had come in three separate companies, by way of Hudson -Bay, and by a difficult route ascended the water courses to the very -heart of North America, and settled on the banks of Red River. With true -Highland fervor they longed for a minister and a place of worship. A -Highland elder, James Sutherland, had accompanied one of the parties, -and he had been given power to marry and baptize. He had gone east to -Canada, and no minister of their own land had ever come to these -Highland exiles. As we shall see, a Church of England minister had been -sent to them, and yet they remained Presbyterian. After many -disappointments their cry had reached Scotland, and had been referred to -Canada to Dr. Robert Burns, minister of Knox Church, Toronto. We shall -enter more fully into the steps they had taken to secure a minister, but -at last the Hudson's Bay Company Governor at Fort Garry, Mr. Ballenden, -as he was passing through Toronto, had urged the matter upon Dr. Burns. -The heart of the good man was touched, and he fixed upon John Black as -the missionary. The following extract of a letter to Mr. James Court, -the secretary of the French Canadian Missionary Society, speaks for -itself: - - - Toronto, 27th June, 1851. - - MY DEAR SIR,--"In the name of our Synod's Home Mission, and for - behoof of our poor brethren at Red River in the Hudson's Bay - Territory, I have to solicit your aid in obtaining for a time the - services of Mr. John Black, whom we have fixed on as a fit person - to make an exploratory visit to the settlement. We would not have - asked this could we have avoided it, but our fixed pastors and - professors are difficult to move; and we know Mr. Black's peculiar - qualifications. The truth is I was so impressed with the importance - of such a visit, both for our people and the red men, and the - French speaking settlers in that region, that I gave the pledge as - chairman of the committee, and Mr. Ballenden will be entitled to - hold me good for it personally, if I cannot get a substitute. If - necessary I am ready to resign my charge here and throw myself on - the far west, for I am clear that our Church is called to do some - good work in those regions; and if we lose the present opportunity, - when may we have another? - - "If you agree, as I trust you will, Mr. Black should come direct to - us." - - "Most truly yours, - "ROBT. BURNS. - - "Mr. Court, Montreal." - - -On the following day Dr. Burns wrote a letter to Mr. Black himself. Of -this we give a portion: - - - "Toronto, 28th June, 1851. - - "MY DEAR SIR,--I send you a scroll sketch of instructions, or hints - rather, for your guidance in your important mission, _but your own - judgment_ and good sense will be the best guides. - - You are called at an early period of life to a most important duty, - and on the manner in which you shall discharge it will depend, - under God, the position which we as a Church may be called upon to - occupy in regard to the progress of Christ's kingdom in these - western regions. You will find in Bishop Anderson a pious and - liberal Episcopalian and a Bishop--yea, _The Bishop_! You know what - I mean. Already you know something of Popery and its steps, open or - close. The Sabbath observance subject I commend to your serious - notice. The company like hunting on the Lord's day! The range is - wide and long; but if you can get from the United States boundary - to York Fort, it will be desirable. Your object being exploratory - keep note of all. Preach and exhort and expound, and conduct - devotional exercises wherever you have an opportunity--Sabbath days - especially. - - * * * * - - "Our prayers will accompany you, and our most fervent desires that - your way may be prospered before you, and that you may be hailed by - the settlers as a messenger of good tidings and a pioneer of - salvation. - - "Come up as soon as you can. - - "Yours, etc., - "ROBT. BURNS." - - -The young missionary engrossed in his French Canadian work received -this communication. He was at the same time earnestly sought for by the -congregation of North Georgetown in Lower Canada. After due -consideration, he refused Dr. Burns' offer to go to Red River. He did -this not because he was lacking in the true spirit of the missionary, -but because he felt anxious about his old father and mother still alive -in New York State. They were now left without any of their children -beside them, and John Black, as their eldest son, felt it to be his duty -to be within reach of them. He therefore felt justified in declining the -earnest call to visit the Northwest. It is stated that on his refusal -application was made to one who has since become known as one of the -staunchest theologians and best preachers of the Church, the Rev. -Professor MacLaren, D.D., of Knox College, Toronto. He, however, was not -able to accept. Very strong pressure was again brought to bear upon John -Black, and as the season was advancing his answer had to be given -without delay. The following letter written to his brother explains his -action in the matter: - - -ON TO RED RIVER. - - - Toronto, July 31st, 1851. - - MY DEAR JAMES,--"You will no doubt be surprised to learn that I am - so far on my way to Red River. I am to be ordained to-night and go - on to-morrow morning at half-past seven o'clock. I have been forced - into it against my will. It is a very important mission, but I - leave one important also, and what grieves me much is that I go - without seeing friends--yourself and family at home. Nobody else - would go and so I am called on to do so. I shall not be able to - return before next spring--be a good boy till I come back. Write - frequently home and comfort them. I doubt somewhat if I am in the - way of duty in leaving father and mother now in their old age. - - * * * * - - I have no time to write more. May God bless you and keep you! Do - not cease to pray for my preservation and success and I shall do - the same for you. God bless you, dear brother." - - Yours, etc., - J. BLACK. - - P.S. Now mind you write often home, or if you could possibly go - over I should like it very much. - - J. B. - - -On the following day, August 1st, the young missionary who had been -ordained for the work of the ministry on the evening before, in Knox -Church, Toronto, started on his long journey to Red River. Twenty years -afterward the writer left Toronto for Red River, and could not find -before leaving how he was to accomplish the journey after St. Paul, in -Minnesota, had been reached. How much more difficult when the long -journey of eight hundred miles to St. Paul had to be performed over bad -roads by stage coach and Mississippi steamboat! The journey that now -takes thirty hours from Toronto, _via_ Detroit, Chicago, and St. Paul, -then took two full weeks. The young missionary arrived at where the city -of Minneapolis now stands, and wrote the following letter. - - - Falls of St. Anthony, August 15th, 1851. - - DEAR JAMES: "I am so far on my way and hope to begin another stage - of my journey on Monday next. My journey has yet been comparatively - pleasant, though diversified with a good deal of the disagreeable, - owing chiefly to bad roads and anxiety as to being too late. I am, - however, here and well, and hope to get through. Pray for strength - and protection and faithfulness and success. There is now to be a - regular monthly mail and so I hope you will write regularly. The - mail starts from here on the 1st of the month. To be in time you - must post in the middle of the month previous. I add no more at - present. May God bless and keep you evermore. Do not forget me at a - throne of Grace." - - Yours, etc., - JOHN BLACK. - - -When the traveller reached the capital of Minnesota he was in the -greatest perplexity. His coming had been anxiously looked for by a -deputation of the Scottish settlers from Red River. But they were nearly -five hundred miles from home and a tedious cart journey lay before them, -so that the time of the year did not permit their delaying any longer. -On the 1st of August, just at the time their long-looked-for missionary -was leaving Toronto, the deputation left the Falls of St. Anthony to -return to Red River. - - -A FRIEND IN NEED. - -At this most important point a happy deliverance came to the young -missionary. He learned that Alexander Ramsey, the Governor of Minnesota, -was soon to set out to the north of Minnesota, attended with a mounted -escort. Governor Ramsey had organized the territory of Minnesota two -years before, and had the year before negotiated a treaty with the Sioux -Indians, by which they ceded a large tract of land in southern -Minnesota. He was now to proceed northward to Pembina, to make a treaty -with the Chippewa Indians. Mr. Black, though, as he tells us, at a -considerable expense to himself, was given the privilege of going to his -northern home along with this party. - -We are fortunate in having two camp-fire sketches written by Mr. J. W. -Bond, who was also one of the party. He tells us that the party met from -several different points near the Sauk rapids, on the Upper Mississippi. -Besides the governor and his staff there were Rev. John Black and Mr. -Bond. The escort consisted of twenty-five dragoons from Fort Snelling, -commanded by an American military officer, and accompanied by six -two-horse baggage wagons. The baggage of the party and the provisions -were carried in light Red River carts, with eight French-Canadian and -halfbreed drivers. In number there were comprised about fifty souls in -all. John Black and Mr. Bond, each mounted on an Indian pony, became -companions during the journey, and Mr. Black won the regard of all the -members of the party. - - -EN ROUTE. - -We may give a few notes of the journey over the prairies: - -Sauk Rapids, August 21st, 1851: "Fine, clear, cool day. We struck tents -and went away early. Passed over the worst piece of road between the -Rapids and Pembina. The dragoons were busy for several hours in -repairing the 'corduroy' for the passage of the teams." - -August 23rd: "We to-day rode over the rolling prairie, full of strips of -marsh, when, after a march of ten miles, we came to an almost impassable -swamp. We crossed with some difficulty by pulling the carts and horses -across by ropes, during which Rev. Mr. Black and Mr. Bond completely -mired their ponies, and came near going with them to the bottom, if -there was any. After this we took a cup of tea to refresh ourselves." - -August 24th (Sunday). "To-day our French-Canadians and halfbreeds, who -have charge of the provision and baggage carts, have been shooting -pigeons and ducks, and also making new cart axles. The day has not -seemed much like Sunday." - -August 25th. "Mosquitoes are very bad, although the weather is quite -cold and bracing." - -August 26th. "We had a very good dinner to-day, consisting of bouillon -(broth) made of geese, ducks, etc., with ham, pork, coffee, bread and -butter, etc." - -August 27th. "Cool, cloudy, and quite cold early in the morning; fine -weather for travelling; up at daylight, and away upon our march at -half-past five. We are to-day passing on the dividing ridge between the -head waters of the Red, Minnesota, and Mississippi rivers." - -August 30th. "To-day suffered much from mosquitoes. No imagination can -do them justice--they must be seen and felt to be appreciated. Mr. Bond -rode a cream-colored horse, and declared that he was unable to -distinguish the color of the animal, so thickly was he covered with the -pests. During supper they swarmed around like bees hiving, and entered -the mouth, nose, eyes, and ears, and had it not been for a cool fresh -evening breeze they would have been unbearable." - -August 31st. "Our hunters discovered two buffalo bulls about two miles -ahead. They immediately equipped and started, and soon surrounded and -killed both. We soon joined them and encamped. The buffaloes were -skinned, the choice parts cut out, and the liver and kidney fried for -dinner. These were our first buffaloes, and there was much excitement -over them." - -September 1st. "Another buffalo to-day, but a sad accident. During the -chase Pierre Bottineau, our best French halfbreed guide, was thrown -violently from his horse, which stumbled. Bottineau was picked up -insensible, terribly stunned, though not much hurt. He was bled, brought -to camp in the carriage and put to bed." - -September 4th. "The prairie is so bare that no wood is to be had. Having -no wood we were obliged to boil our kettle, and the French boys their -pork and buffalo, over a fire made of buffalo chips, _i.e._, of dried -buffalo manure picked up on the prairie. Only a few mosquitoes troubled -us, and they were driven to leeward by the strong smoke and smell of the -buffalo chips." - -September 6th. "To-night there was the finest exhibition of the _aurora -borealis_ that any of us have ever seen. To attempt a description is the -height of vanity. The Rev. Mr. Black and Mr. Bond gazed very long upon -it, as a most remarkable manifestation in the heavens, before they could -tear themselves away and return to rest. Mr. Black, who had seen the -Northern sky in Scotland and Canada, says it was much the finest -exhibition he has ever seen. Bottineau declared that he had never seen -its equal this side of Hudson Bay." - -September 7th. "It is three weeks to-day since we left St. Paul." - -September 8th. "A furious thunderstorm overtook us. It came down a -deluge, a perfect torrent of falling waters, though the heaviest of the -storm had passed around us to the south." - -September 11th. "Arrived at Pembina. The houses were full of -halfbreeds, who saluted us with the discharge of guns, etc. Two of the -staff rode on ahead, and were treated to milk and potatoes--a treat -equal to that of the milk and honey received by the Israelites of old. -Near the village, on the muddy banks of Red River, stood an admiring -group of several hundred whites, halfbreeds, and Indians of all sizes, -with any quantity of dogs, very large and wolfish. Amid this babel of -cries, yelps, barks, and shouts, from the said big dogs and little -papoose Indians, we came to a halt and reconnoitred, standing almost -glued fast in the sticky, tenacious mud caused by the rains and overflow -of the Red and Pembina Rivers for three years past. The journey to -Pembina has been accomplished, including the two rest days, in -twenty-five days in all." - -September 14th. "Cloudy, cold, raw, and windy, quite unpleasant and -unseasonable. An overcoat is necessary out of doors this morning, and -fires in the house for comfort. To-day we had preaching by the Rev. John -Black, in the dining-room of the Governor's house; a novelty most -certainly in this far distant region. The congregation consisted of -about a dozen whites and three halfbreeds. The Rev. Charles Tanner, a -halfbreed missionary among the Indians of Red Lake, met us here, and in -the afternoon preached to the assembled Chippewas in their own tongue. -He moved to this place a week ago, and intends farming, teaching school, -etc., for a livelihood after the conclusion of the treaty. His wife is a -halfbreed, and they reside at present in a lodge in the yard at this -place." - - -DOWN THE RED RIVER. - -After Sunday was past for two days the weather was bad, but on -Wednesday, 17th, the day was fine, and the two companions of the -voyage, Messrs. Black and Bond, determined to leave the party behind and -proceed down the Red River to the Selkirk settlement, a distance by land -of sixty miles, but not less than three times as far by the winding -river. Astir by daylight, the travellers were soon ready, and in a birch -bark canoe, fifteen feet long and three wide, managed by two French -halfbreeds or Bois-brules (burnt sticks, referring to their dusky -faces), their bedding, baggage, and provisions, and finally the two -passengers were stowed away for the journey. The voyage was a tedious -one, but not without interest. The canoe was somewhat leaky, and at -times had to be hauled up on the bank, overturned, emptied, and calked -with white spruce gum. Large flocks of ducks and geese were swimming -almost within paddle length from the canoe. Everywhere were to be seen -traces of the high water which had prevailed for several years, and -marks upon the trees thirty feet above the water were seen, where in -spring the freshets had reached. - - -A NIGHT SCENE. - -The party halted for the night some forty miles below Pembina. The -description given by Mr. Black's travelling companion of the camp on the -river bank is graphic: "The night is very clear and fine, the face of -heaven is smiling amid myriads of twinkling stars; the northern horizon -is lit up with the rays of dancing beams of an aurora, while the woods -and silent-flowing river are illuminated by our camp fire; our voyageurs -are fast asleep upon the ground before us, and not a sound is heard save -that of the leaping, crackling flames and the low tone of our own voices -as we chat merrily. And now, as my companion reads a chapter in his -French pocket Bible, and I pencil down these sketches of fact and fancy -by the light of the burning fagots--but hark! we have company, it seems, -and are not so lonely as I thought; that was the hoot-owl's cry, and -sounds like the wailing of a fiend in misery; that was the cry, long -drawn out and dismal, of a distant wolf; and near, the pack like hungry -curs are heard yelping and barking furiously. In the bushes beside the -camp I see two gleaming, fiery eyeballs. "Take that, to light you to -better quarters!" I hurl a blazing firebrand toward the beast, who, with -a dismal cry, leaves us to repose and quiet sleep." - -Another day and still another night of camping, and next morning the -party started on the home stretch. With a head wind the voyageurs toiled -on, and both passengers relieved the monotony by landing on the right -bank, walking along it, and cutting off the bends kept ahead of the -canoe. During the day they found by the appearance of houses along the -banks that they were approaching their destination. The vivid -description given by Mr. Bond fell, in some way, into the hands of the -American poet, Whittier, and he has left us a sweet poem, with which we -should be acquainted. The scene is that of the voyageurs coming down the -stream, and as they approach their destination there is first the sound -of bells, and then the sight of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. -Boniface with the two towers. - -A picture much like this was seen as the voyageurs in the old days left -Ste. Anne on the Ottawa, not far from Montreal, and took their leave, -under the protection of Providence, for their long journey to the -interior. Thomas Moore, the Irish poet, was much impressed by the sight, -on his visit to Canada, when he wrote the Canadian boat song: - - - "Faintly as tolls the evening chime, - Our voices keep tune and our oars keep time." - - -So the weary voyageurs approaching St. Boniface are filled with -expectation and delight at the end of their journey by the cheery chimes -of the Roman Mission. - - -THE RED RIVER VOYAGEUR - - Out and in the river is winding - The links of its long red chain, - Through belts of dusky pine land - And gusty leagues of plain. - - Only at times a smoke wreath - With the drifting cloud-rack joins-- - The smoke of the hunting lodges - Of the wild Assiniboins! - - Drearily blows the north-wind - From the land of ice and snow; - The eyes that look are weary, - And heavy the hands that row. - - And with one foot on the water, - And one upon the shore, - The Angel of Shadow gives warning, - That day shall be no more. - - Is it the clang of wild geese? - Is it the Indians' yell, - That lends to the voice of the north-wind - The tones of a far-off bell? - - The voyageur smiles as he listens - To the sound that grows apace; - Well he knows the vesper ringing - Of the bells of St. Boniface. - - The bells of the Roman Mission - That call from their turrets twain; - To the boatman on the river, - To the hunter on the plain! - - Even so in our mortal journey - The bitter north-winds blow, - And thus upon life's Red River - Our hearts, as oarsmen, row. - - And when the Angel of Shadow - Rests his feet on wave and shore, - And our eyes grow dim with watching, - And our hearts faint at the oar, - - Happy is he who heareth - The signal of his release - In the bells of the Holy City, - The chimes of eternal peace! - -[Illustration: - - The bells of the Roman Mission, - That call from their turrets twain; - To the boatman on the river, - To the hunter on the plain!] - -In the afternoon the party disembarked and found a kindly shelter in the -hospitable home of an old French family, the Marions, not far from the -cathedral, opposite the point where the Assiniboine falls into the Red -River, and the stone walls of Fort Garry in view in the distance. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -A Highland Welcome. - - -A short rest having been made in the hospitable home of the Marions, the -young missionary, anxious to meet his future flock, crossed the Red -River by canoe and disembarked about a mile below, at "Colony Gardens." -This was the house of Alexander Ross, sheriff of Assiniboia, who had -been a leader in all the efforts to obtain a minister. Here the expected -minister received a Highland welcome, and the Ross mansion became his -home. - -A short sketch of Sheriff Ross and his wife is an absolute necessity to -our understanding of the Red River community to which John Black came. -Alexander Ross was a Highlander who, about 1803, at the age of -twenty-one, came with the disbanded soldiers of the Highland regiment of -Glengarry Fencibles to Upper Canada. He went with them to Glengarry -District on the St. Lawrence, and, being a fair scholar, taught school -there for some time. - -In 1810 he entered the Astor Fur Company, which had its headquarters in -New York. Sailing from that city, he rounded Cape Horn, went up the -Pacific coast, and helped to build Astoria, a fort at the mouth of the -Columbia river, on the Pacific. He led a rough and dangerous life for a -number of years, and found his way in the service of the Northwest Fur -Company of Montreal, to the mountains of British Columbia. Here he -married an Indian maiden, the daughter of the chief of the Okanagan -Indians. The writer was well acquainted, many years after, with "Granny" -Ross, as she was called, and can speak of her kindness and Christian -character. - -At the end of the first quarter of the century Alexander Ross was -brought across the mountains and prairies by Governor George Simpson, -and took up his abode on the banks of Red River, on what is now the site -of the city of Winnipeg. Here he reared a large family, and took a -leading part in all the affairs of the Red River settlement. Mr. Black's -companion writes: "The old gentleman met us on the bank, welcomed us to -the Selkirk settlement, and escorted us up to his house--a white, -rough-cast, two-storey stone, which stands upon a large bend of the -river and commands a view both ways; and that view is certainly the -finest I have seen for a long time." - -The scene about Colony Gardens on that September afternoon was a very -striking one. "A village of farmhouses with barns, stables, hay, wheat, -and barley stooks, with small cultivated fields or lots, well fenced, -are stretching along the meandering river, while the prairies, far off -to the horizon, are covered over with herds of cattle, horses, etc., the -fields filled with a busy throng of whites, halfbreeds, and -Indians--men, squaws, and children--all reaping, binding, and stacking -the golden grain, while hundreds of carts, with a single horse or ox -harnessed in their shafts, are brought in requisition to carry it to the -well-stored barn, and are seen moving, with their immense loads rolling -along like huge stacks in all directions. Add to this the numerous -wind-mills, some in motion, whirling around their giant arms, while -others, motionless, are waiting for a grist. Just above, Fort Garry sits -in the angle at the junction of the Assiniboine and Red rivers, with a -blood-red flag inscribed with the letters 'H. B. Co.' floating gaily in -the breeze." - -Of the house of Sheriff Ross the writer says: "We spent the night with -Mr. Ross and family, and found him to be a very intelligent and -interesting old gentleman, full of information as regards the Northwest -region, and of Selkirk colony in particular. He published a book -descriptive of the country and of the Rocky Mountains, Vancouver and the -Pacific Coast, where he spent some fifteen years of his life, since -which he has been residing in this colony, and has been for a long time -one of its leading citizens." - -A book entitled "Red River Settlement," published by Sheriff Ross, some -years after this time, is really a lively and correct account in most -respects of the Selkirk colony. We have gleaned from his writings, and -from the information communicated to Dr. Burns by him, the main facts -leading up to the coming of John Black to the Highland colony. No doubt, -late into that first night, the religious story of the forty years -preceding, was told by the old fur trader to the youthful missionary. We -may well rehearse the tale of disappointment now to be turned to joy. - -The Scottish settlers of Red River were chiefly emigrants from the north -of Scotland, brought to the country during and before the year 1815, by -the Earl of Selkirk. They had a clergyman of their own persuasion -promised by his lordship at the time of leaving their native country, -the Rev. Mr. Sage, but he remained behind them for a year in order to -perfect himself in the Gaelic language. He was expected to follow them. -Next year, however, came and passed away and with it no clergyman; and -up to the time of Mr. Black's coming no Presbyterian minister had ever -visited Rupert's Land. In the winter of 1815-16 the settlers had to -abandon the colony for want of food, and they betook themselves to the -plains for buffalo, and to the lakes for fish, and wintered among the -natives in all directions. In 1816, after their return to the -settlement, they were driven from the colony at the muzzle of the gun by -the Northwest fur traders, who did not want a farming settlement in -Rupert's Land, and they spent the following winter three hundred miles -to the north of the colony, at the foot of Lake Winnipeg. - -Led by the vicissitudes of his settlers, Lord Selkirk visited his colony -in 1817, made a treaty with the Indians, and made promises to his -settlers, among other things, to send them a minister of their own -faith. Much encouraged by his lordship's visit, the people settled down -to work, when they were invaded by a grasshopper scourge, and had been -compelled again to leave their farms and seek subsistence by the chase -of the buffalo on the plains. - -At this juncture (1818) they were surprised at the arrival of two Roman -Catholic priests sent from Montreal, on the request of Lord Selkirk, for -the Roman Catholic colonists taken out by him, and the French halfbreeds -of Red River. But no Presbyterian minister was sent. It is to be said -for Lord Selkirk that the financial difficulties of his colony and the -strife and opposition which had arisen preyed on his mind to such an -extent that he died in the south of France in 1820. He had, however, -given strict charges to his agent, then in London, to send out a -minister as promised. The agent was an Englishman and seemed to have -used his position with the directors of the Hudson Bay Company very -unfairly. In 1820 there arrived in Red River Rev. John West, a good and -suitable man, but the settlers complained that he was of the Church of -England, and that there were not "twenty individuals in the whole colony -belonging to the Church of England." - -Much dissatisfied, the colonists, in 1822, applied to Lord Selkirk's -executors for redress, but no answer was made to them. Governor Donald -Mackenzie, who was in charge at Fort Garry, made them, in the year -following, a promise that a minister of their own persuasion would be -sent them. A petition sent to Scotland for assistance received no reply. -Years rolled on, the people still adhering in their homes to the customs -of their fathers, holding prayer meetings from house to house and -teaching the Shorter Catechism in their families. In 1843 they saw six -Roman Catholic priests in the settlement, and four Church of England -ministers, but none of their own faith. - -The state of depression produced by these unavailing efforts may be seen -in the fact that in 1835 a party of one hundred and ten persons, all -Scotch settlers, left the colony for the United States, "solely because -at the Selkirk settlement they had neither minister nor church of their -own." Two years after a number of additional families left the country -for the same reason. The indiscreet and uncalled for public address of -one of their ministers, who had been once a Presbyterian but was so no -longer, did much to influence their feeling and stir up resentment. - -In the year 1844, Duncan Finlayson, a Scotchman, who was Governor at -Fort Garry, advised another application to be made to the company in -London. The petition of the people is really a most pathetic one. In it -they say that "they are in danger of forgetting that they have brought -with them into this land, where they have sought a home, nothing so -valuable as the faith of Christ, or the primitive simplicity of their -form of worship; and that their children are in danger of losing sight -of those Christian bonds of union and of worship, which everywhere -characterize the sincere follower of Christ." - -In reply to this petition, the company denied any promise of Lord -Selkirk to the settlers in the matter, but agreed to pay the expenses of -a minister of their own faith to the country, provided they were willing -to undertake his support. Again stirred up to vindicate their position, -the leaders made affidavits as to Lord Selkirk's promise in their old -Highland home of Helmsdale, in Sutherlandshire, before the Colonists -emigrated, as well as at the time in 1817 when His Lordship gave the -grant of land for church and school. The response to these declarations -from the Hudson's Bay Company was no more satisfactory than the former -had been, and thus ended the expectation which the Kildonan people had -fondly cherished for more than thirty years of having a minister sent -them by the company. - -Now that they had learned the wisdom of the admonition--"Put not your -trust in princes," the disappointed colonists began to turn their -thoughts to the sympathy of the Scottish people. In 1846 they addressed -a letter to the Free Church of Scotland, which in the following year -reached the Colonial Committee of that Church. This committee sought in -vain to obtain a minister for Red River, in Scotland, and in turn, -through Dr. Bonar, the convener of the committee, handed the matter over -to the Free Church in Canada. - -Then the persistent settlers of Red River transferred their case to -Montreal, and wrote to Sir George Simpson, who has been called the -"Emperor of Rupert's Land," and asked for his countenance and support. -Though very diplomatic, Sir George seems to have favored them. An -interesting correspondence between Rev. Mr. Rintoul, of Montreal, and -Sir George, now took place. The work of obtaining a suitable missionary -was, as we have seen, in the hands of Rev. Dr. Robert Burns, of Knox -Church, Toronto, a relative of Dr. Bonar. Chief Factor Ballenden, -resident governor at Fort Garry, took much interest in the matter, and -pressed the case of the Red River settlers on Dr. Burns and his -committee. We have already seen the steps by which the apostle of Red -River was sent upon his way. - -Mr. Black had faced the journey, and now on the scene of his future -labors heard the details of the well-nigh forty years of disappointment, -as well as of the Highland welcome awaiting him. The joy that took -possession of the Highland hearts of the people of Red River was almost -beyond measure. They had unremittingly striven in the face of many -rebuffs for a pure Gospel and for the coming of the house of the Lord. -And now in many of the homes of Red River at their family worship they -sang: - - - When Sion's bondage God turned back - As men that dreamed were we, - Then filled with laughter was our mouth, - Our tongue with melody. - - As streams of water in the south, - Our bondage, Lord, recall. - Who sow in tears a reaping time - Of joy enjoy they shall. - - That man who, bearing precious seed, - In going forth doth mourn, - He doubtless bringing back his sheaves, - Rejoicing shall return. - - -It was Friday afternoon when John Black arrived at his destination on -Red River. On Sabbath following he went with the people to the Episcopal -Church of St. John's, now on the north side of the city of Winnipeg, in -which the Kildonan people always claimed a share. Expecting their -minister, the people had made a compromise with the Hudson's Bay Company -as to property, and had been given a glebe lot called "La -Grenouilliere," Frog Plain, two or three miles down the river, as a site -for church and manse. Here they had already erected a manse for their -new minister, and though not quite finished, it served as a -meeting-place for the people in their worship for the first year or two -of the mission. - -During the week after Mr. Black's arrival, the news went quickly about -the settlement, so that on Sabbath, September 28th, 1851, three hundred -of the Selkirk settlers, who had a week before met in St. John's, -assembled for service in the manse at Kildonan. Here the first sermon -was preached by a Presbyterian minister in the wide region west of Lake -Superior, where now the Presbyterian Church is much the largest body -engaged in spreading the Gospel. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -The Early Settlers on Red River. - - -On the banks of the Red River of the North for well nigh forty years -before the coming of John Black, there had existed the Red River -Settlement. Fort Garry was its centre for upwards of thirty years of -that period. The fur trader on the Mackenzie River looked to the -settlement as his probable haven of rest when he should have finished -his days of active service and retired; the half-breed hunter of the -plains thought of it as the paradise to which he might make his annual -visit, or the place where he might at last settle, while the Kildonan -settler boasted that there was no place like his "oasis" in the -Northwest wilderness, and that the traveller who had tasted the magical -waters of Red River would always return to them again. The Canadian -youth read in his school-book of a far distant outpost, Fort Garry, and -chilled by the very sound of the name, whispering "cold as Siberia," -passed on to the next subject. The Canadian statesman dreamed of a -Canada from ocean to ocean, but as he thought of the thousand miles of -impassable rocks and morasses between him and the fur-traders, he could -only shudder and say, "perhaps sometime," while the secretary of the -Hudson's Bay Company House in London with darkest secrecy folded -together his epistles, addressed them "_via_ Pembina," and then slipped -quietly away to his suburban residence, knowing that he had the key in -his pocket to unlock the door to half a continent, around which was -built an impenetrable Chinese wall. - -As early as 1802 the Earl of Selkirk, a man of philanthropic and liberal -views, stirred by the accounts given by Sir Alexander Mackenzie (1801) -and other traders to the Indian country, wrote to the British Government -of the day a letter now in the British archives, proposing the -establishment in Red River of a colony for the purpose of relieving -Irish disaster and Highland misery. It was not until 1811 that Lord -Selkirk succeeded in obtaining, by purchase from the Hudson's Bay -Company, of which in the meantime he had become a member, the district -of Assiniboia on Red River, comprising 116,000 square miles. By way of -Hudson Bay was the route chosen, and in the letters of the founder occur -the words--words of still unfulfilled, but no doubt true prophecy: "To a -colony in these territories the channel of trade must be the river of -Port Nelson." - - -THE HIGHLANDERS. - -At this time (1811) there were sad times in the Highlands of Scotland. -Cottars and crofters were being driven from their small holdings by the -Duchess of Sutherland and others, to make way for large sheep farms. -Strong men stood sullenly by, women wept, and wrung their hands, and -children clung to their distressed parents as they saw their steadings -burnt before their eyes. The "Highland clearances" have left a stain on -the escutcheons of more than one nobleman. Lord Selkirk, whose estates -were in the south of Scotland, and who had no special connection with -the Celts, nevertheless took pity on the helpless Highland exiles. Ships -were prepared, and the following are the numbers of Highland colonists -sent out in the respective years: - - - In 1811, reaching Red River in 1812, there were 70 - In 1812, reaching Red River in 1813, there were (a part - Highland) 15 or 20 - In 1813, reaching Red River in 1814, there were 93 - In 1815, reaching Red River in the same year, there were 100 - --- - Total Selkirk Highland colonists, about 270 - - -The names of these settlers were those still well known in Manitoba, as -Sutherland, McKay, McLeod, McPherson, Matheson, Macdonald, Livingstone, -Polson, McBeth, Bannerman, and Gunn. - -From the above list it will be seen that at the end of 1814 the colony -had reached the number of one hundred and eighty or two hundred. Over -these ruled the Hudson's Bay Company governor, Capt. Miles Macdonell, a -U. E. Loyalist from Glengarry, in Canada. The fact that the Highland -settlers were under the protection of the Hudson's Bay Company roused -against them the opposition of the Northwest Fur Company, of Montreal, -which had for thirty or forty years before their coming carried on trade -in the country. - -The two companies had their rival posts side by side at many points -throughout the Territories. The Nor'wester fort standing immediately at -the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers was called Fort -Gibraltar. The fort occupied by the colony was less than a mile down the -bank of the Red River, and was known as Fort Douglas from Lord Selkirk's -family name. It is of no consequence to our present object to determine -who opened hostilities or who was to blame in the contest of the -companies. Strife prevailed, and through this the colonists suffered. In -1814 arrived on the scene a jauntily-dressed officer of the Nor'west -Company, brandishing a sword and signing himself captain--one Duncan -Cameron. This man was a clever, diplomatic, and rather unscrupulous -instrument of his company, and coming to command Fort Gibraltar, -cultivated the colonists, spoke Gaelic to and entertained them with much -hospitality, and ended by inducing about one hundred and fifty of the -two hundred of them to desert Red River and go with him to Upper Canada. -By a long and wearisome journey to Fort William, and then in small boats -along Lakes Superior and Huron, they reached Penetanguishene, and found -new homes near Toronto, London, and elsewhere. To the faithful half -hundred who remained true to their pledges all honor is due. - -The arrival of the third party of Highlanders in 1815 reinforced the -remnant who had resisted Cameron's seductive proposals. The Colony again -rose to three-fourths its original strength. In 1816 the Nor'westers -adopted still more extreme measures to destroy the colony. An attack was -made on the settlers on the 19th of June, and the new Governor, Robert -Semple, was killed, with a number of his attendants, at a spot a short -distance north of the present city of Winnipeg. Lord Selkirk on the -receipt of the news of the colony in 1815 had come to Montreal, and was -proceeding up the lakes to assist his people in 1816, when the news -reached him, on the way, of the skirmish of "Seven Oaks" and the death -of the governor. He was at the very time bringing with him as settlers, -a number of disbanded soldiers, who have usually been known as the "De -Meurons." - -The regiments to which these men belonged were part of the body of -German mercenaries which had been raised during the Napoleonic wars. The -name of Col. De Meuron, one of the principal officers, was given to the -whole. - -These new settlers were not all Germans, but had among them a number of -Swiss and Piedmontese. The regiments had been employed by Britain in the -war of 1812-15, and were disbanded in Montreal at its close. Lord -Selkirk engaged four officers and one hundred men to go to Red River. -The men were promised certain wages, as well as land grants at Red -River. In the autumn of 1816 the party arrived at Fort William, which -they seized and the camping place on the Kaministiquia River is still -called Point De Meuron. Employed during the winter in opening out for a -distance a military road, the party under command of Capt. D'Orsonnens -in early spring pushed on by the way of the western shore of the Lake of -the Woods, surprised the Northwesters, and retook Fort Douglas from -them. Lord Selkirk arrived at the Red River in the last week of June, -1817. In accordance with his agreement he settled all the De Meurons who -wished to remain, along the banks of the little river, the Seine, which -empties into the Red River opposite Point Douglas. This stream has among -the old settlers always been known as German Creek in consequence. Being -mostly Roman Catholics they were the first settlers among whom the -priests Provencher and Dumoulin took up their abode on their arrival in -1818. From the nationality of the De Meurons the first Roman Catholic -parish formed in the country was called St. Boniface, from Winifred, or -Boniface, the German apostle and patron saint. The first Roman Catholic -parish is now the town of St. Boniface, and is the residence of the -Roman Catholic Archbishop of the country. - -Some severe things have been said of the character of the De Meuron -settlers. They have been charged with turbulence, insobriety, and with -having had predatory inclinations towards their neighbours' cattle. They -almost all left the country after the disastrous year of 1826, for the -United States. No doubt like all bodies of men they had good and bad -among them, but the fact of their having been disbanded mercenaries -would not incline us to expect a very high morality of them. - - -THE SWISS. - -In the same year (1820) in which Lord Selkirk went to France, to find, -in the little town of Pau, his death and burial place, a former officer -of a disbanded regiment--Col. May--a native of the Swiss capital of -Berne, went as an agent of Lord Selkirk to Switzerland. He had been in -Canada, but not at Red River, and accordingly his representations among -the Swiss Cantons were too much of the kind circulated by Government -emigration agents still. He succeeded in inducing a considerable number -of Swiss families to seek the Red River settlement. Crossing the ocean -by Hudson's Bay Company ships, they arrived at York Factory in August, -1821, and were borne in York boats to their destination. - -Gathered, as they had been, from the towns and villages of Switzerland, -and being chiefly "watch and clock makers, pastry cooks, and musicians," -they were ill-suited for such a new settlement as that of Red River, -where they must become agriculturists. They seem to have been honest and -orderly people, though very poor. It will be remembered that the De -Meurons had come as soldiers; they were chiefly, therefore, unmarried -men. The arrival of the Swiss, with their handsome daughters, produced a -flutter of excitement in the wifeless De Meuron cabins along German -creek. The results may be described in the words of a most trustworthy -eye-witness of what took place: "No sooner had the Swiss emigrants -arrived than many of the Germans, who had come to the settlement a few -years ago from Canada, and had houses, presented themselves in search of -a wife, and, having fixed their attachment with acceptance, they -received those families in which was their choice into their -habitations. Those who had no daughters to afford this introduction were -obliged to pitch their tents along the banks of the river and outside -the stockades of the fort, till they removed to Pembina in better -prospects of provisions for the winter." - - -THE METIS. - -Alongside the Selkirk settlers others began to settle on the vacant -banks of Red River. Most worthy of notice among them were the -half-breeds of French or English descent, whose mothers were Indian -women. - -Parkman, in his account of Pontiac's conspiracy, has well shown the -facility with which the French voyageurs and Indian people coalesced. -Though a poor colonist, the French-Canadian is unequalled as a voyageur -and pioneer runner. When he settles on a remote lake or untenanted -river, he is at home. Here he rears in contentment his "dusky race." The -French half-breed, called also Metis, and formerly Bois-brule, is an -athletic, rather good-looking, lively, excitable, easy-going being. Fond -of a fast pony, fond of merry-making, free-hearted, open-handed, yet -indolent and improvident, he is a marked feature of border life. Being -excitable, he can be aroused to acts of revenge, of bravery, and daring. -The McGillivrays, Grants, McLeods, and Mackays, who had French, Scotch, -and Indian blood, were especially determined. The Metis, if a friend, -is true, and cannot in too many ways oblige you. - -The offspring of the Montreal traders with their Indian spouses, so -early as 1816, numbered several hundreds, and they possessed a -considerable esprit-de-corps. They looked upon themselves as a separate -people, and, headed by their Scoto-French half-breed leader, Cuthbert -Grant, called themselves the New Nation. Having tasted blood in the -death of Governor Semple, they were turbulent ever after. Living the -life of buffalo hunters, they preserved their warlike tastes. Largely -increased in numbers in 1849, they committed the grave offence of -rising, taking the law into their own hands, defying all authority, and -rescuing a French half-breed prisoner named Sayer. - -This was in the time of Recorder Thom. Adam Thom, the judge, deserves a -word of notice. A native of Scotland, of large frame, great -intelligence, and strong will, he had had experience as a journalist in -Montreal. Sent up to establish law and order, he certainly did his best, -and should have had a proper force to support him. True, exception has -been taken to his decisions, but where is the judge that escapes that? - -Among the leaders in this affair was one with the ominous name of Riel, -a Scoto-French half-breed, who owned a mill on the Seine River. He was -the father of Louis Riel, who afterwards led the French half-breeds in -their two rebellions. Louis Riel, the younger, was the embodiment of the -restless spirit of his race. Ambitious, vain, capable of inspiring -confidence in the breasts of the ignorant, yet violent, vacillating and -vindictive, the rebel chieftain died to atone for the turbulence of his -people. - - -ENGLISH HALF-BREEDS. - -As different as is the patient roadster from the wild mustang, is the -English speaking half-breed from the Metis. So early as 1775 the -traveller, Alexander Henry, found Orkney employees in the service of the -Hudson's Bay Company at Cumberland House. The Orkney Islands furnished -so many useful men to the company that in 1816, when the Bois-brules -came to attack the colony, though the colonists were mostly Highlanders, -they were called "Les Orcanais." Since 1821 the same supply of employees -to the company has continued and increased with occasionally an -admixture of Caithness-shire and other Highlanders. - -Accordingly the English-speaking half-breeds are almost entirely of -Scotch descent. From Hudson's Bay to distant Yukon the steady-going -Orkney men have come with their Indian wives and half-breed children and -made the Red River their home. We have but to mention such well-known -respectable names as Inkster, Fobister, Setter, Harper, Mowat, Omand, -Flett, Linklater, Tait, Spence, Monkman, and others, to show how -valuable an element of population the English half-breeds have been, -though, of course, there are those bearing these names as well who are -of pure Orkney blood. - - -HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY OFFICERS. - -No element, however, did so much for Red River of old as the intelligent -and high-spirited officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, of whom many -settled in the country. There was among them also a strong Highland and -Orkney strain. In few countries is the speech of the people generally so -correct as it was in the Red River settlement. This undoubtedly arose -from the influence of the educated Hudson's Bay Company officers. At -their distant posts on the long nights they read useful books and kept -their journals. Numbers of them collected specimens of natural history, -Indian curiosities, took meteorological observations, and the like. -Though all may not have been the pink of perfection, yet very few bodies -of men retained, as a whole, so upright a character as they. We have but -to mention such names as that of the notable governor, Sir George -Simpson, of Pruden, Bird, Bunn, Stewart, Lillie, Campbell, Christie, -Kennedy, Heron, Ross, Murray, MacKenzie, Hardisty, Graham, McTavish, -Bannatyne, Cowan, Rowand, Sinclair, Sutherland, Finlayson, Smith, -Balsillie, McLean, McFarlane, and Hargrave, and others who have settled -on the Red River, to establish this. - - -THE PENSIONERS. - -Most portions of the new world have grown from additions from the -military, who have for some reason or other come to them. So it was in -Red River settlement. In 1846 the 6th Regiment of foot, some three -hundred and fifty strong, was sent out by way of Hudson's Bay under Col. -Crofton, in connection with the Oregon question, then disturbing the -relations of Great Britain and the United States. Few of the regiment -remained in the country. The troublous state of affairs in Recorder -Thom's time induced the company to send out a number of pensioners and -settlers who should be settled near the fort, and be useful in time of -emergency as police. It was in 1848 that Col. Caldwell, with fifty-six -non-commissioned officers and men, of whom forty-two were married and -had families, came out by way of Hudson's Bay, each man being promised -twenty acres of land and each sergeant forty. It was after their arrival -that the Sayer emeute took place. - - -THE CENSUS. - -The nucleus of 150 Kildonan settlers in 1816 had with it a few Metis, -already settled down, but there was a need for a settlement for the -heart of the vast fur territories. The North-west Company, ever opposed -to settlement, we learn from Harmon's book, had a scheme on foot at this -time to establish a native settlement on Rainy River, and had the money -subscribed for an educational institution there. A settlement having -been once established on Red River, many flocked to it. Thus it was that -in ten years after the death of Governor Semple there were of -Highlanders, De Meurons, Swiss, French voyageurs, Metis, and Orkney -half-breeds, not less than fifteen hundred settlers. It was certainly a -motley throng. The Rev. Mr. West the first missionary, tells us that he -distributed copies of the Bible in English, Gaelic, German, Danish, -Italian, and French, and they were all gratefully received in this -polyglot community. Though the colony lost by desertion, as we have -seen, yet it continued to gain by the addition of retiring Hudson's Bay -Company officers and servants, who took up land, as allowed by the -company, in strips along the river, after the Lower Canadian fashion, -for which they paid small sums. There were in many cases no deeds, -simply the registration of the name in the company's register. A man -sold his lot for a horse, and it was a matter of chance whether the -registration of the change in the lot took place or not. This was -certainly a mode of transferring land free enough to suit the greatest -radical. The land reached as far out from the river as could be seen by -looking under a horse, say two miles, and back of this was the limitless -prairie, which became a species of common where all could cut hay, and -where herds could run unconfined. - -Wood, water and hay, were the three r's of a Red River settler's life; -to cut poplar rails for his fences in spring and burn the dried rails in -the following winter was quite the proper thing. There was no inducement -to grow surplus grain, as each settler could only get a market for eight -bushels of wheat from the Hudson's Bay Company. It could not be -exported. Pemican from the plains was easy to get; the habits of the -people were simple, their wants were few, and while the picture was -hardly Arcadian, yet the new order of things since that time has borne -pretty severely upon many, so that they feel as did the kindly old lady, -"granny" Ross, of whom we have spoken, that they were "shut in" by so -many people coming to the country. The census of the whole settlement in -1849 amounted to 5,291. - - -THE PARISHES. - -No municipal government was ever provided for the people of Red River, -though extensive petitions were forwarded to Britain for changes to be -made in the government of the country. The Assiniboia council, however, -passed certain ordinances, appointed road overseers, and from a slight -tariff of four per cent. on imports, enough was raised to carry on -public affairs. The local sub-divisions of Assiniboia were national and -religious. French and Roman Catholics taking up a certain portion of -river bank, Church of England half-breeds another, Scottish settlers and -Presbyterians another. This was done sometimes by the will of the -Hudson's Bay Company and sometimes without it. The first parish was -Kildonan, so set apart and named by Lord Selkirk, on his visit in 1817; -the De Meuron and Swiss settlement (1817-20) on the Seine, was the next, -resulting in the parish of St. Boniface. - -It was to this community with its varied elements and many conflicting -interests that John Black found his way. It was here his life was spent, -and with this people we shall see he at length threw in his lot. The -population when he reached Red River was estimated at about 5,500 in -all. The settlement was at length swallowed up in the Manitoba of -to-day. It did its work though what that was will probably never be -quite appreciated by those who see the Manitoba of to-day. - -It marked the slow but sure process of an influence of the -christianization and semi-civilization of many of our Indians; it gave -the introduction from a barbarous and wandering life to habits of order -and settled work; it furnished a valuable pioneering and trading agency -for the fur trade, for surveying our plains, and for our Canadian -exploration. It gave the nucleus of the present educational and -religious organizations, it made the Hudson's Bay Company not only a -trading company but a company helping forward in different ways, the -improvement of the Indians, and made them the friends of education and -religion, and if we read the story of its history aright, it saved to -Britain and Canada, the vast northwest which would otherwise not -unlikely have met the fate of Oregon. And to do so great a work was not -to fail. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -Sowing and Weeping. - - -It was not strange that the mixture of population should be a matter of -anxiety to the young pioneer of the Red River. Almost all the -Highlanders and their descendants followed the newly-arrived preacher; -but the Orkneymen, who had largely in the Hudson's Bay Company outposts -married Indian women, seemed to form a guild of their own, and were more -inclined to adhere to the Church of England. No doubt the Highland pride -of character and connection of the Selkirk settlers kept the Orcadians -at arm's length. Twenty years afterward the writer found a sentiment of -this kind in Kildonan. The hope of Dr. Burns that John Black might, on -account of his knowledge of French, gain an entrance to the Metis was -never to any extent realized. Though never able to speak more than a few -words of Indian, yet the minister had, as we shall afterwards see, a -warm side for the red men. - -Thus shut in, the young man found himself surrounded from the first by -stalwart theologians, and for these he framed his habits of thought and -course of action. So successfully did he do this that he reached their -ideal as a preacher, though he knew not a word of Gaelic, and "bore his -faculties so meek" that he won unusual admiration and regard on Red -River. - - -NO INFANCY OR CHILDHOOD. - -The work of the hardy pioneer is usually a slow and painful process of -gathering together a few people at a time, of making the community -familiar with his voice and thought, and at last from a small beginning -growing gradually stronger and stronger. This is the natural course of -development, but in Kildonan Mr. Black found a congregation ready made, -and it arose like Minerva, fully armed and scarcely needing equipment. -Its infancy, childhood, and youth were all omitted. Within two months of -Mr. Black's arrival, and while the people worshipped in the manse, which -was used as a temporary church, the organization was begun. - -At this time the pioneer wrote as follows: - - - "Red River, Dec. 17th, 1851. - - "The temporary church will accommodate 250 or 300 persons, and is - always well filled with a most attentive auditory. We have service - forenoon and afternoon, and also a lecture on Wednesday. We have a - large and interesting Sabbath-school. There are ninety-six - scholars, thirty-six of whom are young people in my own class. - Finding, as I did, that the congregation was pretty ripe for - organization, I proceeded, with the help of a few of the heads of - families, whom the people at my request appointed to aid me in the - work, to examine and admit to the privilege of Church membership, - such as presented themselves with this desire." - - -THE ELDERS OF THE PEOPLE. - -In any other than a Highland community it would have been a dangerous -experiment to choose elders so soon in the history of the congregation. -But the Highlander has the natural tendency to follow leaders. His chief -is everything to him. Every Highland community, by a process of natural -selection--character of a lofty kind being a chief element--chooses its -ideal men. - -Precisely seven weeks after the first Presbyterian service was held in -Red River six elders were chosen by ballot by the people who had been -admitted by Mr. Black. Alexander Ross, of whom it was said that his work -for the people for twenty-five years laid the people under a debt that -they could never discharge, was chosen as leading elder. He died four -years afterward. A second, James Fraser, a man of high spiritual power, -filled the office for eleven years, till his death. George Munro, Donald -Matheson, and John Sutherland made up the five who accepted office. One -chosen, Robert McBeth, did not see his way to enter upon the office. The -ordination of this first kirk session took place on the 7th of December. -The young minister was always a wholesome upholder of the principle of -doing everything "decently and in order." He did not even perform a -baptism till the session was formed. A most interesting entry is made at -this time in the session record: "On the same day as the ordination of -the elders took place, the ordinance of baptism was dispensed for the -first time in the congregation, the recipient being the child of Mr. -Richard Salter, the only Englishman in the community. It was also the -first baptism dispensed by the minister." At this time, too, came the -recognition of the new minister by the governor and council of -Assiniboia. A resolution was passed authorizing any legally ordained -Presbyterian minister belonging to the settlement to solemnize -marriages. This was regarded as a very considerable concession at the -time. - - -A HIGHLAND COMMUNION. - -To the Highland imagination the communion stands out as the great feast -day at Jerusalem did to the ancient Jew. The Celt is highly imaginative -and is especially fervid. Few of us can estimate how much religion owes -in the old world and the new to Celtic fervor. The communion is looked -forward to as an especially close approach to God himself. At times we -have to deplore a false view that keeps some in Highland communities -from coming forward until late in life to the Lord's table. How much it -must have meant to the exiles on Red River, forty years after some of -them had partaken of the communion in the Kildonan in Sutherlandshire to -now take part in Kildonan on Red River. - -Due preparation was made for the first celebration of the New Testament -feast by the newly constituted session. On December 13th, 1851, the -people met together for a preparatory service--not now with perhaps -thousands gathered from parishes far and near, but with the few hundreds -dwelling side by side. Tokens of admission to the Lord's table were -cautiously distributed, and we learn that the position of the tables was -carefully determined, as well as the number of table services and the -part each elder should take in the administration. The method seen by -the writer twenty years after this date was then introduced. It was to -have the table covered with linen and to have it successively occupied -by different relays of communicants. The number of communicants, at this -first communion after the Presbyterian form on Red River, was 45. The -services following the communion were carried out as rigidly as those -preceding it. Rev. John Black wrote in his description of this same -service: "It was to all of us a solemn day, being the first time in -which, according to our simple and scriptural form, that blessed -ordinance was ever dispensed here. It was also the first time for the -pastor who administered; the first time for the elders who served; and -the first time for not a few who sat at the table--among others, two old -men--the one 87 and the other 99 years of age; and all this in addition -to its own intrinsic solemnity." - - -ARISE AND BUILD! - -To the settlers on Red River the only true ideal was that of the parish -church--and it was the parish church of the beginning of this century -when in the Highlands dissent was unknown. New settlers elsewhere have -been willing to erect such temporary structures as their circumstances -permit and to wait for better days. In new countries this plan has some -advantages. But to the Highland hearts on Red River old Kildonan parish -church must be reproduced in the Kildonan of the New World. But stone -and mortar were needed, and there were few stone buildings in the -settlement. The site on which the church was to be built had been given -by the Hudson's Bay Company along with L150 toward the new church, as an -equivalent to the people for their rights in St. John's Church which -they relinquished to the Church of England, although they retained an -interest in the burying ground in which their dead were lying. The new -site at Frog Plain was really more centrally situated than that at St. -John's for the Scottish settlers, and it contained glebe land amounting -to some three hundred acres. Already their manse and school had been -erected upon it. It had formerly been a camping place for the Indians, -and of it Mr. Black remarked in one of his letters: "The church is to be -erected on a piece of land long desecrated by the idolatrous revels of -the Indians, and the Sabbath evening sports of some who bore a better -name, but whose works were not so much better than theirs." Ten miles -away from Red River on the open plain is an old Silurian outlier of -limestone rock, which still furnishes building stone for Winnipeg. Even -by the end of December the people had quarried at Stony Mountain nearly -all the stone required, and with Red River cart or ox-sled had brought -the most of the material to the new site on Frog Plain. The limestone of -Stony Mountain produces excellent lime, and a sufficient quantity had -already been burnt and placed on the ground ready for work in the -spring. It was a time of earnest enthusiasm in Kildonan, and the most -real parallel to it which comes to the mind of the writer is where in -the days of Ezra after the captivity "the people gathered themselves -together as one man to Jerusalem" and "when the builders laid the -foundation of the temple of the Lord." - - -THE FLOODS OPPOSE. - -The people but awaited the opening of spring in 1852 to erect the -building for which they had the material on the ground. The winter had -been one of great blessing to the newly-founded church. There had, -however, been a great fall of snow and the swamps and streams had been -filled with water in the autumn. The Red and Assiniboine rivers run -through flat prairie lands, and an overflow in time of high water is -very possible. In 1826 the valley of the Red River had been flooded, the -water reaching in a great lake for miles across the country. The -fathers of Kildonan remembered that former date when in 130 tents they -had dwelt on Stony Mountain and the higher lands back from the river. -Now to the people ardent to go on with their church building--which was -all in all to their Highland hearts--it came as a great disappointment -to see another flood, which, while not so great as the former, yet was -very serious. We are fortunate in having a letter of Mr. Black's which -gives us a vivid description of the - - -SCATTERING OF THE PEOPLE. - -"Red River, May 27th, 1852. - -"The only thing of great consequence of which I have to tell is that we -are at present suffering from a great inundation--second only to that of -the year 1826, of which you have heard. The consequence is that we are -living in a tent on the Stony Hill, whither many have fled for shelter, -and where I have been for more than two weeks and have the prospect of -being so for some time longer. - -"The ice began to break up on the river about the 23rd of April; by the -29th, the water was coming over the lower lands. Its increase was about -a foot per day, and those whose houses were low had to flee to the -heights on the 1st of May. Still rising, on the 7th and 8th the river -began to carry down floating houses from the upper or French part of the -settlement, where the banks are lower and the houses less substantial. -On Sabbath 9th, I preached for the last time in our temporary church and -had to go part of the way to it in a canoe. On Monday 10th, the flight -from the Scotch part of the settlement was general. On that very day -twenty-six years before had the poor people fled from the former flood. - -"Such a scene it has never before been my lot to see. The water was now -a considerable depth in many of the houses and flowing in behind them -completely surrounded the people. In trying to reach a place of safety -men and women were seen plunging through the water, driving and -carrying, while the aged and little children were conveyed in carts -drawn by oxen or horses. Most of the Scotch settlers had from 100 to 300 -bushels of wheat in lofts which they kept from year to year in case of -failure, and now for this there was much anxiety. The first night we -encamped on the plain without wood or shelter, saving what we erected; -and amid the lowing of cattle and the bleating of sheep, and the roaring -of calves, and the squealing of pigs, and the greeting of bairns, you -may be sure we had a concert. After three days we arrived here which is -a beautiful woody ridge far from water mark, but thirteen miles from our -houses. A few families are with me here, but my congregation is -scattered, so that, from extreme to extreme is, I suppose, more than -thirty miles. - - -A SEA OF WATERS. - -"Thus the waters prevailed and spread themselves over the cultivated -lands, sweeping away everything loose and much that was thought fast. -Houses, barns, byres, stacks of wheat, etc., were floating down thick -and fast. The rail fences--and there were no other--were swept clean -away. Not a bridge is left on the road in all the flooded district. -Sometimes the wind blew very strong, and acting on the lakelike expanse -of waters agitated them like a sea, and this was very destructive to the -houses of the settlers. The breadth flooded in our part of the -settlement might be eight or nine miles, while the ordinary width of the -river is not more than 150 yards. The destruction of property has been -immense. From 3,000 to 4,000 people have been driven from their homes, -though the water did not rise so high as in 1826 by 3 feet 6 inches. I -have crossed this wide expanse twice to visit our people on the east -side. It is like a great lake. I have now three preaching stations -instead of one--_all camp meetings_. The water began to fall about the -21st. We hope to be home again in about two weeks. Our sacrament was to -have been held last Sabbath, but we have had to defer it indefinitely. -The whole will be a serious blow to the settlement, and will be an -injury to the congregation. Many will be rendered much less able to pay -their subscriptions for church building." - - -HOME AGAIN. - -The pastor and his people reached their desolated homes in June. The -country presented a dreary aspect. Crops to a limited extent were sown -and yet the harvest, though the floods had done their worst, according -to the promise did not fail. The church building was again taken up. The -flood during its continuance had destroyed a considerable portion of the -lime prepared for the building. A quantity of lumber was drifted off, -and timbers for the couples had been floated away but were secured -again. The people resumed the work with great cheerfulness. During the -season following, the church was erected. Alexander Ross in his "Red -River Settlement," says: "It was finished in 1853; and though small, it -is considered the neatest and most complete church in the colony. It is -seated for 510 persons and is always well filled. Its cost was L1,050 -stg. The manse is also completed; and it is pleasing to add that when it -was finished there was not a shilling due on either church or manse." - -In 1853 Mr. Black returned to Canada, and spent the summer there. He was -induced to return to Red River, and had the pleasure of opening the new -church in January, 1854. His heart was gladdened. - -[Illustration: KILDONAN PARISH CHURCH.] - -"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless -come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -Pastor and Parish. - - -The uncertainty as to whether he was to be the permanent leader of the -Red River Presbyterians remained for years in the mind of John Black. -Five years at least after his arrival we find him wondering whether the -committee intended to recall him or not. This arose from a strain in his -nature which rendered him liable to depression, and also from a deep -desire to see the spiritual development of the people, which he -determined should not be hindered by his personal defects. He was a man -of intense humility. In the year after the Red River flood (1853), when -he saw the church building fairly under way, he returned to Canada, -undoubtedly to allow a substitute to be sent if such were possible. The -impression made by the pioneer missionary during his year and a half of -labor had been so marked that the people of Red River were determined -that he should not be replaced. - -The Hudson's Bay Company, as before stated, had been averse to another -denomination entering Rupert's Land until they saw that the -Presbyterians could not be refused. Then Sir George Simpson, with a -stroke of diplomacy, allowed the privilege in his letter to Rev. Mr. -Rintoul, of Montreal. The company's attitude was still for various -reasons one of caution. Mr. Black had been exceedingly wise and politic. -In one of his letters he states that at times when his inclination had -impelled him to interfere yet he had studiously refrained from taking -sides in the struggle which was beginning between the company and the -people. He had a strong sense of the fact that he was an ambassador of -peace. That he had succeeded well is shown by an extract from a letter -written him by Sheriff Ross on his first return to Toronto. - - -SIR GEORGE SIMPSON WON OVER. - -"Colony Gardens, Red River, June 29th, 1853. - -"I have just had an interview with Sir George Simpson, the -Governor-in-Chief of Rupert's Land, who regrets very much he had not -been in time to see you before you left the settlement, and desires me -to write immediately and intimate to you, that he would be most happy to -see you in passing through Toronto. - -"Sir George has expressed himself in a very kind and friendly manner, -and says that from the high sense the committee in London entertains of -your moderation, zeal, and peace-working ministrations, while in the -colony, he is authorized to convey to you a sense of its esteem for your -character and to grant you a certain sum annually from the company as -minister of the Presbyterian congregation in Red River, and adds, 'If I -had been here I should not have consented to Mr. Black's leaving the -settlement at this time.' - -"In connection with what has been said, I must further observe that the -offer Sir George is prepared to make to you, on the part of the company -as already stated is not to be considered to be made to any Presbyterian -clergyman that may come to labor in Red River, no, _but to you_, -distinctly intended for you, for the great satisfaction you have given -and the high esteem you are held in by all classes in the colony. This -high and flattering opinion of the company at home will, we trust, be an -additional motive for your return to resume your duties among us. We all -look for it, will expect it, if God spare your health." - - -THE PIONEER RETURNS. - -After an absence of five months the longed for pastor returned. The -committee had not succeeded in finding one to replace him, and, indeed, -do not seem to have striven hard to do so. In a spirit of submission he -turned northwestward, though immediately on his arrival he wrote to his -aged father: "Whether the Canadian Church will allow me to stay here or -not I do not yet know. I am perfectly willing to return if they get some -one to supply the place. For some reasons I would wish it to be so. We -shall see." His return to Red River on this occasion was one that even -he confessed to be "tedious and toilsome." He actually took forty-nine -days to reach his destination, starting from Galena, on the Mississippi -river. On his northward journey he reached the establishment of the -Presbyterian missionaries at Red Lake, in Minnesota. Supplied by these -kind friends with pemican, bread, and flour, Mr. Black and his voyageur, -about the end of October, pushed through Red Lake in their birch bark -canoe, the missionary having to paddle as well as the boatman. On the -third day, on account of the ice, the canoe could proceed no further. -Unwillingly the travellers retraced their course and reached again the -shelter of their missionary friends. In the following week the start was -again made, but again to be interrupted by ice. The party then camped on -the shore for several days, until the ice would bear their weight, when -they proceeded on their slippery way. They walked over the ice for forty -miles, until having obtained a horse and cart they reached by land -carriage, in four and a half days, Pembina, a fort on the boundary line. - -At the Pembina trading post a good Presbyterian fur trader named Murray -supplied the pioneers with a conveyance, and the journey was again -resumed to Fort Garry. The horse was weak and the weather cold, and so -Mr. Black trudged most of the way and reached the Ross mansion, near -Fort Garry, at the close of his last day's walk of forty miles. Surely -it needs a man of iron frame for frontier mission work! And yet Mr. -Black writes of this journey with a cheerful heart: "During all these -hardships and toils and disappointments, sleeping in the open air in -northern frosts, I have reason to bless God I have enjoyed the most -vigorous health and have not as much as caught a cold." - - -THE CURE OF SOULS. - -With the new Church now almost ready the pastor settled down to regular -work. His parish proper was his kingdom. He regarded every parishioner -as worthy of his attention and most anxious thought. Years after it was -a well-known sight to behold the faithful pastor, staff in hand, a gray -checked plaid thrown over one shoulder, and with light moccasined feet -tripping along the banks of Red River on his errand of mercy. On account -of the settlement of Red River, being like that of the French Canadians -along the St. Lawrence, his parish was an example of length without -breadth. The Kildonan houses were in two rows, facing each other from -each side of the river, and made a continuous village along each bank. -The writer has heard the announcement from Kildonan pulpit that the -pastor, during the coming week, would visit from the house of Mr. Donald -Matheson to that of Mr. Samuel Matheson. On another occasion from Mr. -Harper's to Mr. Gunn's, and the like. These visits were very thorough. -All the children expected the minister; all the housewives had their -houses swept and garnished; even the men, on the day of the expected -visit, laid aside their working garb, and the godly pastor emulated, in -many ways, Goldsmith's "village preacher." As everyone knows, every -preacher has not the faculty of successful visitation of the sick. This -was, however, an especially strong feature of the Kildonan pastor. His -sympathy, deep feeling, and wise regard for the condition of the -invalid, are spoken of to this day. In cases of severe illness his -visits were daily and unremitting. - - - "In his duty prompt at every call - He watched, wept, prayed, and felt for all." - - -THE PARISH SCHOOL. - -To a man brought up in the parish schools of his native land, and so -impressed with the value of education, the parish school of Scotland was -the model. The conditions in Red River settlement were favorable for it. -John Knox's ideal of the parish church and manse and parish school were -easily realizable; and so church and school went up side by side. Even -before the church was built we find the following entry (1852) in a -letter by the pioneer: "The York Factory boats have just come and -brought the annual supply of goods. They have brought in the box of -school books which we had ordered all safe. We have, among other things, -ten large wall maps. Our school will now be the best furnished in the -settlement." - -The Kildonan parish school always retained its pre-eminence on the Red -River. The government of the country under the Hudson's Bay Company gave -no aid. The Church of England and Catholics had their schools supported -by private effort, and the Kildonan parish school was of the same kind. -Even after the transfer of the Red River country to Canada the writer -remembers being present at a Kildonan school meeting when it was decided -still to continue the support of the school by voluntary subscriptions. -Mr. Black was soon instrumental in sending three Kildonan young men to -Toronto to complete their education. Donald Fraser, a youth of great -promise, who died early; Alex. Matheson, afterwards a minister of the -Church, and now a resident of his native parish of Kildonan; and James -Ross, son of Sheriff Ross, a young man who was afterwards on the -editorial staff of the Toronto _Globe_. The pastor afterwards at times -helped studious boys privately with their Latin and Greek, and did his -best to encourage good education in the parish. - - -THE PREACHER. - -But great as John Black was as a pastor and as an educator, he was not -less noted as a preacher. He always retained the dialect of the Scottish -south country, but this was modified somewhat by a pronunciation, said -to have arisen from his use of French in his mission work. He pronounced -the letter a broad in such words as "grace," "congregation," and the -like. His manner was very free and natural, though in voice he was -possibly a little louder than some would have desired. He was, however, -regarded all over the country as an excellent preacher. The writer -remembers his first opportunity of hearing John Black, and this more -than a quarter of a century ago. Kildonan Church was plain, even to -severity. On the right hand, as you entered the church, was a small -vestry under the stair. Here the pastor entered, and waited for the -signal from the ringing bell, as it called the worshippers from all -parts of the parish. It was the custom always to use the Geneva gown. On -the morning referred to, Mr. Black came forth, gowned, as the bell -ceased, and ascended the high pulpit. In accordance with the custom of -the country at that time, the pastor was shod with moccasins, which gave -the quick, lively motion which so characterized him. The psalm was given -out with rapid movement and much impressiveness, the prayer was purely -extempore, and entered with considerable minuteness into the needs of -his people, and marked a man of unmistakable devotion. The lessons were -read with perhaps a want of variety. When the preacher began his sermon -it was evident, from the attitude assumed by his auditors, that they -regarded this as the chief part of the service, and that they waited -with expectancy for its development. Mr. Black always wrote his sermons -in full, and had the sermon before him in the pulpit. Like Dr. Chalmers, -however, he was not hampered by his "manuscript." As the preacher opened -his subject, it was plain to see that his method was textual and -expository, and showed intimate acquaintance with Scripture. As the -sermon progressed the speaker became more and more animated, and -frequently rose to the heights of eloquence. His denunciation of sin and -wrong-doing were fearless, and at times reminded one of the fervor of -the Hebrew prophets. He was, however, very tender, and frequently was -moved to tears, and his appeals to sinners were most touching and -effective. In Mr. Black's preaching there was much variety of subject, -though there was little of dealing with popular questions of the day. -Congregation and preacher alike had very strict views as to what was -dignified and suitable to the house of God. As a result of the high -standard of preaching of the pioneer, the Kildonan people became -excellent judges of sermonizing, and after hearing many preachers in the -later part of Mr. Black's ministry and since that time, are of opinion -that Mr. Black was the greatest of them all. - - -HABITS OF STUDY. - -That Mr. Black was able to maintain himself in the same congregation for -thirty years as an interesting preacher arose, no doubt, from his -systematic method of study. In writing during his earlier ministry to -his brother, who was also a minister, and had been settled in Caledonia, -Upper Canada, Mr. Black says: "How do you get along with study? What is -your plan in preparing sermons? Do you write fully and commit, or how? -What are your general studies? How many hours a day can you spend? Tell -me all about it--your Hebrew, Greek, philosophy, theology, etc. How are -you in natural science and astronomy, geology, etc.? These and such like -branches we would need to study nowadays if we would not be despised by -everyone with a smattering of knowledge. My much travelling and my long -separation from my books have inflicted an injury upon me that I will -never recover I suppose in this world. I am trying to study four hours a -day four days in the week--the other two are devoted to sermon-making. -My subjects are Greek Testament, Hebrew Bible, systematic or -philosophical theology, and practical theology, and an hour to Biblical -interpretation. Of course I indulge to some extent also in general -reading. The work that has attracted my mind most of late in the -theological department is McCosh's 'Divine Government,' which I esteem -about the noblest performance that ever I read. I lay out my time -regularly, but am constantly getting into debt and becoming a literary -bankrupt, failing to carry out my plans. And so I have almost given up -hope of ever being anything more than a third or fourth-rate man." - -Such words as these show the aspiration of the true student, and show -Mr. Black to have been a man well qualified to shine in the highest -walks of Church and scholarly life. - - -DOMESTIC LIFE. - -On the return of Mr. Black from his first visit to Canada the longing of -his heart for domestic sympathy shewed itself. Indeed it was a necessity -of his life that he should be surrounded by friends and companions. That -he needed the cheering influence of friends was shown all through his -career. No one ever loved his friends more strongly, delighted more to -sit and spend hour after hour in a social chat, and loved home life more -tenderly than he. The house of Sheriff Ross had been his home from the -first day of his arrival in Red River Settlement. It was not strange -that his heart should incline to Henrietta Ross, one of the tall and -handsome daughters found in the numerous family of his Highland host. -Miss Ross was, it is true, one of the daughters of the land, being, as -we have seen, on the mother's side, related to the Okanagan Indians of -the Rocky Mountains. This attachment created, indeed, a ripple of -excitement among the Scottish settlers, who were somewhat exclusive in -their notions, but Miss Ross was attractive in appearance, well -educated, having had the advantages of the excellent "McCallum School" -at St. John's, and was distinguished for Christian character and worth. - -So the pastor was married and the establishment seemed to Mr. Black -complete--church, school, manse, and the last now with the appearance -and tone of home. In this home there grew to manhood and womanhood three -sons and three daughters, all living to-day in different places in the -valley of Red River. One of the family the pastor named after the father -of the Red River Mission, Robert Burns. In the collection of letters is -a most pathetic account of the death by accident of this promising -little boy, and the sore bereavement seems to have for years cast a deep -shadow over the Kildonan manse. The home thus founded was the very abode -of hospitality. The circumstances of Red River were such that suitable -accommodation for visitors or newcomers was very hard to obtain. The -bountiful table at the manse was rarely without visitors, and the -writer, a quarter of a century after enjoying such hospitality, still -remembers the kind-hearted and noble mistress of the manse. The home at -Kildonan was plunged into the deepest gloom by the death of Mrs. Black -in 1873. The day of the funeral is still remembered as one of the -coldest and fiercest days of the cold years of the early seventies. It -was long before the desolated hearts of the husband and children -recovered from the terrible stroke. Dr. Black some years after married -Miss Bannatyne, a lady connected with one of the leading families of -the country. She was a mother indeed to the motherless children, and -still lives in the family home in Kildonan. - - -PUBLIC DUTIES. - -With a sympathy for every good work Mr. Black was identified with every -moral movement in Red River Settlement. Coming as he did to people who -had had for forty years an unfortunate religious experience, he had -naturally to take a firm stand against evil of every kind. The Highland -ideal of church discipline is very high, and Mr. Black seemed equally -solicitous with his people to suppress aggravated forms of sin. It would -neither be interesting nor expedient to detail the session cases which -came up as the years rolled on. There was one thing always to be said, -that the moderator never flinched in his duty, but it is plain to see -that he rather aimed at the reclamation of the wrongdoer, than took -satisfaction in meting out punishment to the offender. He associated -himself very heartily with the ministers of the Church of England, who -welcomed his assistance in joint meetings for prayer and temperance -reform throughout the parishes. He was instrumental in carrying out the -work of the Bible Society. He was also very anxious to gain the -acquaintance of the officers and men of the Hudson's Bay Company--many -of them his countrymen--scattered over the Northwest. With these men he -kept up a correspondence, and hardly a chief factor or trader from the -interior visited Fort Garry, who did not think it a duty and a pleasure -to take the five miles journey from the Fort to Kildonan manse to visit -the representative of the church of his fathers. So strong did this -feeling become that in 1862 Governor Dallas invited Mr. Black to hold -service at Fort Garry, and this was undertaken with the approval of -Kildonan session, and thus was begun the first Presbyterian service on -the site of the city of Winnipeg, which has become one of the -strongholds of the Presbyterian Church in Canada to-day. In every good -thing the Kildonan pastor was a leader, and while his sympathetic nature -encouraged many a confidence, and many a sad story that caused him -trouble and anxiety, yet he was full of resource, and thought nothing of -pain and trouble and expense if he might be helpful to the vicious, or -lead the young into wisdom's ways, - - - "As a bird each fond endearment tries - To tempt its new-fledg'd offspring to the skies, - He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay, - Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way!" - - -[Illustration: REV. JAMES NISBET, - -Presbyterian Pioneer Indian Missionary, 1866.] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -A Kindred Spirit. - - -It might not be right to say that it was John Black's intermarriage with -the native people of the country and the fact of his own children having -Indian blood rather than the Christian sentiment in favor of carrying -the Gospel to the wandering Indian tribes of the prairies, that more -strongly influenced him, but it is certain that early in his ministry he -began to cry out for a Presbyterian mission among the Indians. His -ardent appeal led to the synod so early as 1857 passing a resolution in -favor of undertaking this work. The comforting task of passing favorable -resolutions was indulged in for ten years, but toward the end of this -decade some money had been accumulated and the church undertook its -first work among the Red Indians of the plains. - -This period was a time of much anxiety to John Black, the ardent -advocate of the project. Sitting in his lonely study on Red River it was -discouraging to read letters from Toronto telling how one year more, and -another year, and so on was deemed necessary to mature the scheme. One -year he refers to the agitation going on at the Red River in favor of -union with Canada and to a petition signed by upwards of five hundred -heads of families being forwarded to the British government to further -this object. John Black's chief thought was that if the petition were -granted, and the northwest became a part of Canada, something would -surely then be done for the poor Indian. - - -A SELECTION MADE. - -While not quite prepared to undertake the mission the church went so far -in 1862 as to send to Mr. Black's assistance at Red River, one of its -ministers who should be engaged in learning the Indian language, and -otherwise preparing himself for the Indian work resolved on. This agent -was Rev. James Nisbet, minister of Oakville, Upper Canada. James Nisbet -was of a missionary family, his brother, Dr. Nisbet, who paid a visit to -Canada, more than a quarter of a century ago, having been honored to -take a leading place in the South Sea mission of the Free Church of -Scotland. James Nisbet had come out to Canada from Scotland full of the -fervor of the period of the disruption and though a skillful tradesman, -had thrown in his lot with the first band of students which entered Knox -College. The minister of Kildonan and he had been fellow students and -co-workers, and now that James Nisbet had been appointed to Red River, -John Black found in him a kindred spirit. - -On his arrival in 1862, being an unmarried man, he became a resident at -the Kildonan Manse, and we find frequent reference, in the collection of -letters, to the hearty co-operation of the two ministers, and the spirit -of rejoicing that now they could overtake Kildonan, Little Britain, -Headingly, and the new station to which the Governor had given an -invitation at Fort Garry. Mr. Nisbet while an earnest preacher, and as -Mr. Black writes, "working diligently and acceptably," yet had a -remarkable liking for building. At Kildonan there is still pointed out -the parish schoolhouse, a stone building, much of the woodwork of which -was done by Mr. Nisbet personally. Mr. Nisbet very readily fell into the -ways of the Red River people, and two or three years after his arrival -was married to Mary McBeth, a member of one of the best known Kildonan -families, and sister of the present minister of Augustine Church, -Winnipeg. - - -HEATHEN INDIANS. - -The question of how and where to begin work among the Indians was a -difficult one, and on Mr. Black largely fell the responsibility of -determining the question. He had the confidence of the committee in the -east, and he was the friend of the Hudson's Bay Company in the far west. -The Church of England and Roman Catholics were carrying on work among -the Swampy Crees, Saulteaux, and other Ojibways about Lake of the Woods -and Lake Manitoba, as well as in the far off Mackenzie River district, -while the former had almost a monopoly of the missions around Hudson -Bay. The English Wesleyans had for years carried on missions among the -Indians near Norway House and the north end of Lake Winnipeg, and after -the visit of John Ryerson, whose letters about the region were -published, the work was taken over by the Methodist Church in Canada. It -was manifest that the call sent the Presbyterian Church was to the -Indians of the western prairies, who had only seen the passing -missionary and were still in absolute heathenism. After much -deliberation it was decided to undertake work among the Crees of the -plains, of whom there were said to be from ten to fifteen thousand -largely without the gospel. - -These Indians are among the finest physically and mentally of the -Canadian Indians. They are of the same race as the Ojibways, belonging -to the great Algonquin family known on the Atlantic sea-board and -continuing along the Laurentian country to the north of our Canadian -lake chain. Leaving behind the rocky regions where the birch-bark canoe -and wigwam, and the fish of the streams, with the game of the forest, -had been their chief dependence, the Crees of the Plains used horses, of -which they had numerous bands, chased the buffalo to obtain a bountiful -subsistence, and lived in leathern teepees. The language of the Crees, -while the same in structure as that of the Ojibways, has yet its -vocabulary much modified from that of the parent tongue. While the -Crees, in their love of the buffalo and fondness for following the herds -over the plains, were thoroughly nomadic and likely to be difficult to -evangelize, yet the task was undertaken cheerfully. Their great camps -were the scenes of the wildest excitement and greatest excesses, and yet -they were a brave, self-reliant, and able people. The cut given of four -of their chiefs who visited Brantford at the time of the unveiling of -the Brant statue in 1886, gives a good illustration of the appearance of -staidness and solidity found among them. - - -THE TASK BEGUN. - -In 1865 Mr. Nisbet was recommended to the synod for a mission among this -uncivilized but interesting people. The gravity of the enterprise is to -be borne in mind. Hudson's Bay Company traders had for many years -ventured among the tribes of the plains. The Hudson's Bay Company -trader, however, had the Union Jack flying over him; he was housed in a -strong fort; in his hands were weapons, and the power of the company was -felt over the whole land; but the missionary came with a message of -peace; he had no emblem of force about him, he preached the doctrine, -"If one cheek was smitten to turn the other also," and so to proceed 500 -miles from Red River and break ground on the Saskatchewan, to be largely -dependent on the locality for sustenance, and to trust to the good-will -of the Indians, required courage and resource. And these qualities James -Nisbet had. He was not a man of display, was a man of quiet, -undemonstrative manner, but had no cowardice or surrender in him. Like -his countryman, the Highland piper, who was asked to play the "retreat," -he could reply that he had never learned that tune. Mr. Nisbet's -theology was of a very exact kind. He was in the habit of advising -complete reliance in God, perhaps there was a strain of the severe, even -of the stoical, in it; but in the case of our pioneer Indian missionary, -he lived out and exemplified it as well as preached it. - - -FOR CHRIST AND COUNTRY. - -A journey from the Red River to the Saskatchewan by the Canadian Pacific -Railway to-day is a comparatively trifling matter, taking twenty-five or -thirty hours; but thirty years ago it meant much. It required an outfit -that could serve the purpose for forty or fifty days. The sending of a -missionary, known to the people of Kildonan and by marriage one of -themselves, profoundly stirred the Highland parish. In one of Mr. -Black's letters he states that the people of the parish had raised -between L80 and L100 sterling for the purpose of making a suitable -send-off for the man who had become so popular among them. - -Mr. Nisbet's plan, in so far as we can gather, was from the first to be -practical and industrial. His effort was to induce the nomadic Indians -to settle, to cultivate the land, and to make the Indian independent of -the precarious results of the chase. In order to accomplish his ideal it -was necessary to provide himself with a considerable establishment, so -that the mission party, inclusive of his wife and little child and two -other children, numbered ten persons. They were provided with the -necessary outfit for hunting, fishing, building, and farming. The day of -departure was the 6th of June, 1866, and it was a day of great moment -for Kildonan. The Saskatchewan was being looked to as the land of -promise. Gold had been discovered in its sands, and one of Mr. Black's -letters mentions that a number of Kildonan young men had been among the -fortunate explorers. The establishment had about it the air of a -Kildonan enterprise, and these elements added wider interest to the -Christian effort to evangelize the heathen, which was so dear to Mr. -Nisbet's heart. It was a high day for John Black, for he had felt it a -scandal that his church should be the only one of the four churches at -work in Rupert's Land not doing something for the aborigines of the -country. - - -INTO THE WILDERNESS. - -We are fortunate in having a letter, quoted in Dr. Gregg's "Short -History," giving in Mr. Nisbet's own words an account of the journey -into the wilderness. From this we make a few extracts: - -"All our goods were carried in carts; each cart was drawn by one ox, -harnessed something like a horse. Mrs. Nisbet and our little girl and a -young woman rode on a light wagon with a canvas top, such as you -sometimes use in Canada. For myself I was generally on horseback but -frequently walking, as the oxen do not go very fast. We had tents, such -as soldiers use, which we pitched every night, and in them we were -generally very comfortable. The Sabbaths were delightful to us. Both men -and animals were prepared for the weekly rest. It was pleasant to see -the poor oxen evidently enjoying the rich pasture of the wilderness and -the rest they had from their daily toil. We had regular Sabbath -services, and they were very devout. - -"We had a good many creeks and rivers to cross, and I dare say you would -have been much amused had you seen the plans that were fallen upon for -crossing such as were too deep for loaded carts. Few of my friends in -the east have seen a boat made with two cartwheels tied together and an -oilcloth spread over them, or one made of ox hides sewed together and -stretched on a rough frame, that would take two carts and their loads at -a time. Such were the contrivances for getting over streams where there -are no bridges or large boats by which we could cross. We passed over a -great deal of beautiful country, with hills and valleys, streams, lakes, -and ponds. Hundreds of ducks were swimming about in the little lakes, -and sometimes they furnished dinners for us. Sandhill cranes were also -seen occasionally, and a few of them were shot for our Sabbath dinners. -Forty days after we left our Red River homes we got to a place called -Carlton House, on the north branch of the great Saskatchewan River, and -there we camped for one week, while I went to see some places that I -could fix upon for our future home." - - -PRINCE ALBERT FOUNDED. - -At Carlton, George Flett, the interpreter of the mission, who had been -in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company at Edmonton, met the party. -He has since become known to the Church as its oldest living Indian -missionary. Born on the Saskatchewan of Scottish and Indian extraction, -he had received a good English education at the schools on Red River. -His wife was a member of the Ross family, being a sister of Mrs. John -Black. The gathering of missionary agents also included Mr. John McKay, -a Scoto-French-Indian native, who belonged to a family well known at Red -River for its energy and influence. John McKay was married to a sister -of Mrs. Nisbet, and he steadfastly clung to Mr. Nisbet in the -prosecution of the Indian work. - -The party at Fort Carlton made a considerable impression upon the -Indians. While the Indians were glad to see so many of the Red River -people coming to them, yet some trouble arose when the decision was made -to settle at a point sixty miles south-east of Carlton House and not far -from the forks where the north and south branches of the Saskatchewan -unite. No treaties had as yet been made with the Indians, and they -objected to the incomers erecting buildings, ploughing fields, and -taking possession of the land as the agents of the mission proposed to -do. George Flett was the useful man for the occasion. His mother's -people were Crees, and he was among the very band, whose members he -recognized as relations. With his characteristic shrewdness he claimed -his portion and gave permission to the Red River party to utilize his -rights. This claim seems to have been at once admitted by the Cree band -of the locality. The new mission was appropriately named after the -Prince Consort, Albert the Good, who had passed away a few years before. - - -MISSION WORK BEGUN. - -The plan of the establishment was soon vigorously worked out. During the -first year two small buildings were erected, and what was since known as -the large mission building in the year after. A school was immediately -opened, a farm begun, and every means taken to attract the Indians to -the place. As was not unnatural, the maimed, the halt, and the blind -were brought to the kind-hearted missionary, and it must be stated that -no small trouble was experienced in protecting the missionary from the -cunning and the lazy among the Indian bands. The Indian's view of -salvation is very often a willingness to accept the white man's religion -provided the consideration offered is sufficient. How to meet this -difficulty was one of Mr. Nisbet's chief concerns. - -For four years Mr. Black was the sole intermediary between the Foreign -Mission Committee of the Church and Mr. Nisbet. When the Presbytery of -Manitoba was established in 1870 matters took a slightly different -shape. A Foreign Mission Committee of Presbytery was formed, of which -Mr. Black was convener. - -Mr. Nisbet did such itinerant work as he was able. He journeyed to -Edmonton, a point upwards of 400 miles west of Prince Albert. He visited -the Indians of Carlton House once a month and had success with them. But -the management of an industrial centre, such as Prince Albert had -become, was plainly inconsistent with any large amount of sowing the -Gospel "broadcast" among the wandering tribes, from fifty to five -hundred miles away. Another difficulty overtook Prince Albert as an -Indian mission in a few years after its founding. It was the centre of a -fertile region very attractive to white settlers. The white settlement -led the bands of wandering Crees to retreat to more remote districts. -The writer in 1871 became a member of the Presbytery's Committee, of -which Mr. Black was convener, and well remembers the unrest of the -period. - -At this time the large expense of an establishment like Prince Albert -was meeting opposition in the Church and this, along with the other -considerations stated, brought much trouble to the venerable convener in -regard to the mission which he loved as a child of his own. In 1872 Dr. -Moore, of Ottawa, went as a delegate to the Saskatchewan, in behalf of -the General Assembly. His report led to the discontinuance of the -industrial phase of the mission, but it also rendered a tribute of -commendation and praise to the faithful work that had been done by the -founder, to the high reputation borne by the mission among all the bands -of Crees, and to the steady influence for righteousness attached to the -name of James Nisbet. In the course of time the Indian mission at Prince -Albert ceased to be, unless the mission school among a wandering band of -Sioux still maintained there be so regarded. John McKay, afterwards -ordained, was invited to a band of Crees north of Carlton, and till his -death ministered to Mistawasis' band. Other churches have taken hold of -the bands about Prince Albert, and to-day as a result direct or -indirect, of James Nisbet's work, few Indians of the district are -without the Gospel. - -Shortly after Dr. Moore's visit to Prince Albert, Mr. Nisbet and his -wife visited his old home in Ontario, and he was present at the General -Assembly of 1873. He returned to his dear Prince Albert, but being left -alone by the resignation of Rev. Edward Vincent who had come to -Manitoba, and finding his plans somewhat changed by the action of the -Church, he arrived with his wife at Kildonan, in September, seeking a -temporary rest. The writer well remembers them as they returned. Their -work seemed to be done, and the Presbytery soon decided to lay hands on -Hugh McKellar, an earnest student, and license and ordain him for the -work in Prince Albert. Mrs. Nisbet soon passed away in the home where -she was born, and eleven days afterward her husband followed her. They -are together in Kildonan churchyard. His grave marks the spot where lies -as true, brave and single-minded a man as ever laid a foundation stone -in the work of missions. - - -A NEW DEPARTURE. - -Though Mr. Black as Convener of the Foreign Mission Committee of the -Presbytery had some sympathy for the industrial ideal of Missions among -the Indians held by Mr. Nisbet, yet, on the decision of the General -Assembly being given, he loyally accepted the plan proposed, of -attending simply to evangelistic work among the tribes and to teaching -the young. It is to be remembered, however, that between 1866 and 1874 -circumstances had changed. It was evident in 1874 that the buffalo was -soon to be a thing of the past, and the Canadian Government approved the -plan of settling the Indians upon reserves and of teaching them to be -farmers. The policy of the Government thus left the Church to pursue its -own method. - -The Committee now began to extend its work. George Flett, who had left -Prince Albert Mission in 1869, was sent to two bands, one near Fort -Pelly, the other on the west side of Riding Mountain. These missions -were very successful. Mr. Flett was ordained as an Indian missionary, -and lived to see the Okanese Reserve on Little Saskatchewan entirely -Christianized. The Fort Pelly band was left to a young half-breed of Red -River, Cuthbert McKay, since dead, and has grown to be the Crowstand -Mission of to-day. In 1875 the Sioux or Dakota band of refugees from the -United States living on the Birdtail Creek were taken under the care of -the Presbytery's Foreign Mission Committee and a pure blooded Sioux -missionary from the States obtained for them. This mission is still -maintained, and is part of the constituency of the Birtle Indian -boarding school. - -Mr. Black lived long enough to see the Mistawasis, Okanese, Pelly, and -Birdtail missions fairly established. Nothing delighted him more than to -preside at the meeting of his committee, read the letters from the -missionaries, and then to write the necessary letters of counsel and -advice, and at times even of gentle fault-finding, which were agreed on. -All his friends lament that he passed away too soon to know of Round -Lake, File Hills, the western Qu'Appelle Valley reserves and the Portage -la Prairie, Birtle and Regina Indian schools. He saw enough, however, to -assure him that his dream of a Christianized Indian population would in -the end be realized. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -Red River Becomes Canadian. - - -The union of Red River Settlement with Canada was in the air in 1857. In -a letter to his brother, Mr. Black, after discussing the reasons given -by the settlers for the change, says in his own cautious way: "I do not -know whether Canadian annexation will much better them. However, it -looks as if the time was come for a change, and if we suffer some -inconvenience during the transition period perhaps 'the good time -coming' may compensate for all. I have taken no part for or against the -movement. I do not think it is good for ministers to jump into the -maelstrom of politics. Let them stop till they are pushed in. I have my -views and preferences, _and aiblins it wadna hae taen a muckle dunch to -ding me in_, but in the meantime I am better pleased to be out." - -While Mr. Black was thus so politic the leaders among the people of Red -River were by no means undecided. The movement seems to have taken so -strong a form that the greater part of the people, who were not -immediately connected with the Hudson's Bay Company, strongly favored -it. - -Ten or eleven years before this, the desire for self-government took a -much more disagreeable form. Petitions from some of the people of Red -River at that time were to the American Government asking it to "annex -the Red River Territory to the United States, and promising assistance -against the Hudson's Bay Company in case of war." - - -BUT WE SHALL BE FREE. - -This shameful proposal had completely failed, but now a large petition -to "The President of the Executive Council, Toronto, Canada," was signed -by "Roderick Kennedy and 574 others," reciting their grievances, and -appealing for reception by Canada. The petition says: "We love the -British Name! we are proud of that glorious fabric, the British -Constitution, raised by the wisdom, cemented and hallowed by the blood -of our forefathers.... It will be seen, therefore, that we have no other -choice than the Canadian plough and printing press, or the American -rifle and fugitive slave law." - -One of the most active and influential men in this movement was the Hon. -David Gunn, the leading elder in the Little Britain congregation. A -Caithness Highlander, he had come out in Lord Selkirk's time, had been -schoolmaster, meteorological observer, Smithsonian agent, and now took a -leading part in all public matters. Being the literary man of the -movement, he wrote a document setting forth very well the advantages of -the Red River country, and showing the profit the country would be to -Canada. This statement may be found in the government publications of -the time. Donald Gunn lived for many years after and became a member of -the Legislative Council of Manitoba after Confederation. - -Canada made a strong effort under the leadership of Chief Justice -Draper and others to obtain the Northwest, and the British Commons -ordered a complete investigation by committee into the case, but it took -a number of years more to bring about the desired result. - - -CANADIAN SETTLERS. - -Immediately after this movement, Canadian settlers began to drop by ones -and twos into the Red River Settlement. An important exploration of the -Red River, Assiniboine, and Saskatchewan Valleys took place by Henry -Youle Hind, and the report of this was at the time a mine of interesting -and useful information. The well-known Dr. Schultz arrived in 1859. Two -English-Canadians, Messrs. Buckingham and Coldwell, came to the -settlement at this time with a printing press, and began to publish the -_Nor'-Wester_, the first newspaper of the country. This paper soon -passed into other hands, and had a stormy existence, being regarded by -many, certainly by the Hudson's Bay Company, as a disturber of the -peace. The arrival of a number of aggressive and determined men during -this decade introduced much strife into the hitherto quiet and -easy-going settlement, and the weakness of the Hudson's Bay Company, -which was rather uncertain of its powers, encouraged restless spirits to -insubordination. The formation of what was called a "Canadian party" -during this time certainly did not improve the chances of a peaceful and -speedy union of the country with Canada. Shortly after the transfer the -writer remembers Mr. Black when speaking of the disturbed and clamorous -times through which we were passing, sighing for "the peaceful days of -the old Red River." Oh! but responded the writer, in his youthful -Canadian enthusiasm, "Surely you would not have the broad acres of Red -River locked up from cultivation! Life is hardly worth living without -progress!" "Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle in Cathay." "Well, -perhaps so," said Mr. Black, "but there are animals that like to lie at -the bottom of the pool and bask in peace and quiet." - - -THE GRASSHOPPERS. - -The steady flow of small groups of Canadians to the banks of the Red and -Assiniboine rivers, and the interest taken by a few of the -representatives in the Canadian Parliament led to negotiations of a more -definite kind between the Canadian government, the Imperial government -and the Hudson's Bay Company. In the year 1868 a destructive visitation -of grasshoppers took place in the Red River Settlement. Any one who has -not seen this locust invasion cannot imagine it. The pictures given by -the Prophet Joel were reproduced. Myriads of voracious insects ate up -every green thing, and heaps of their dead, decaying and putrid, filled -the air with disgusting odors. - -Sympathy in Britain and America was awakened for the people left without -food in Red River Settlement. The Hudson's Bay Company gave L6,000 stg. -to relieve the distress, and Canada sent her quota. Mr. John Black, as a -member of the Relief Executive, took an active part in relieving the -distress, and was in his element in comforting the discouraged and the -suffering. The Canadian government determined on a plan of assistance -which led to serious complications, though at the time, it seemed -[missing word] - - -JUDICIOUS CHARITY. - -The Canadian government thought it better to give public work to the -destitute than to bestow indiscriminate charity. Accordingly they -undertook to build the wagon road from Fort Garry to the Lake of the -Woods, which has since been known as the Dawson Road. This was really a -work of much importance, the distance of 110 miles through the wet -country being much shorter than the long circuit by Winnipeg River and -Lake Winnipeg. Though begun with the most benevolent intention it was -not long before the question was raised by what right the Canadian -government undertook it when they did not own the territory. - -The Canadian agents, Messrs. Snow and Mair, who were in charge of the -work, paid all those who chose to work upon the road, but there were -questions as to the rate of wages, method of payment, and the like, that -became bitter enough. - -Trifling remarks of the contractors and their assistants, as to the new -state of affairs likely to come to the country, to their seizure of -land, and dispossession of the old settlers and halfbreeds, were told -about, and a very disagreeable state of feeling was thus engendered. -"The Canadian Party" was certainly most unwise in its attitude to the -old settlers of the country, though it is quite evident also that -unreasonable suspicion took possession of the people of Red River. - -The leaders of opinion in the settlement were, however, in favor of the -change to join fortunes with Canada. Mr. Black was most outspoken in -favor of the advantage it would be to have Canadian law established, and -to be brought in closer touch with his own church, and the brethren -from whom for twenty years he had been in a measure severed. - - -THE FLAME BURSTS OUT. - -The negotiations between Canada and the Hudson's Bay Company had been -favorable, the wide fields of the Northwest were to become Canadian, and -a million and a half of dollars were to make up the loss to the veteran -company. Hon. William McDougall was chosen as first Governor and was -sent by way of Minnesota and Dakota to his new vice-royalty. - -Suddenly one of the Canadian party, on October 22, 1869, appeared before -the Master of Fort Garry and made affidavit that forty French -halfbreeds, fully armed and equipped, had taken possession of the -Queen's highway, some nine miles south of Fort Garry, and proposed to -prevent Mr. McDougall, the new Governor, entering the colony. This -startling news proved to be true and was a great surprise to the Company -and to all the English-speaking people of Red River. All seemed -paralyzed. Some were afraid of bloodshed, some thought the demonstration -of the French was mere bravado, some that after a parley with the -incoming Governor it would be arranged by his giving a promise of just -treatment and equal rights. The inactivity of the civil authorities -encouraged Riel, the French halfbreed leader of the unruly Metis. - -Riel was a vain-glorious fellow, and he must do something brilliant. The -party defending the "barriere" at St. Norbert began to tamper with the -mails. Next, though most of his followers opposed it, Riel, by a -_coup-de-main_, quartered a number of his men in the Fort, much to the -disgust of the Hudson's Bay officers. Here again there was criminal -inactivity on the part of the authorities. - -Riel, the dictator, became still more bold, and issued a call to the -parishes to send delegates to a meeting in the Fort. A show of -opposition, even at this stage, on the part of the English-speaking -people would probably have checked the insolent desperado at the Fort. -The feeling of disgust on the part of the English at the impudent -assumption of power by Riel was strong. Why, then, it may be asked, did -not the spirit of their race assert itself at all hazards? - - -DIVIDED COUNSELS. - -The answer is easily given. Jealousy and rivalry prevailed among the -English speaking people themselves. The leader in the Canadian party was -regarded as a selfish and unscrupulous man. He had for years instilled -discontent through the columns of the _Nor'-Wester_. Many of the people -of the settlement disliked him intensely. The incoming governor seemed -to the people to be simply the shadow of this man. Colonel Dennis, the -head of the surveying party was personally popular, but lacked -penetration and decision. Had Governor McTavish, who unfortunately was -in poor health, been able to make a call on the loyalty of the people, -all would have been well, but this sentiment of distrust and dislike -prevented it, and nothing was done. The Bishop of Rupert's Land declared -he had gone to the first meeting of the Council of Assiniboine "prepared -to recommend a forcible putting down of the insurrection." Mr. Black was -as firm as any man could be against the arrogant impostor who held the -Fort. Mr. Bannatyne, who understood the French people thoroughly, was -forward in endeavoring to avert the disaster, but inaction, arising from -mutual hatred, lost the opportunity, and encouraged by this, the French -halfbreeds in the Fort grew to be six hundred in number. - - -TOO LATE. - -Then it was too late. The Canadian garrison in Dr. Schultz's store but -aggravated the feeling; the gathering of the English halfbreeds and -others in Kildonan church only roused bitterness without accomplishing -anything. It was useless to throw water on the fire, after standing and -gazing listlessly at the blaze till it had grown strong. The stealing by -Riel and his followers at the "barriere" of goods which were being -imported to the settlement, the breaking open of the stores and looting -the cellars of the Fort by his hungry horde, the killing of Scott, the -suffering of the prisoners confined in Fort Garry, and the loud -vapouring and personal insults of the insolent chief of the "New Nation" -were part of the penalty inflicted on the people of the country, for the -masterly inactivity arising from divided counsels, which had been shown. -Mr. Black and the Highland parish stood sullenly by amazed and disgusted -at the current of events. With few exceptions the whole parish would -have responded to the call of authority, but the call never came. Mr. -McDougall issued a proclamation when he was no Governor, Col. Dennis was -divided in his mind and had no real authority, the true source of -power--the Company--felt itself unable to act, and in the meantime the -rebellion triumphed. - - -THE COLLAPSE. - -The rebellion had been agoing for two months, and Riel seemed at the -summit of his power, when, two days after Christmas, Donald A. Smith, a -prominent member of the Hudson's Bay Company, arrived from Canada, at -Fort Garry. The Canadian government had realized its blunder, and now -sought to do by negotiation what it should have done three months -before. If instead of the hasty visit of Hon. Joseph Howe, which itself -did some good, two members of the government, one French and the other -English, had come up and conferred with the people, there would have -been no rebellion. It is so easy to be wise after the event! Mr. Smith -was virtually a prisoner in Riel's hands, was watched by him with -suspicion, and was treated as discourteously by the petty tyrant as he -dared to do. However, by degrees, the Commissioner, who displayed great -tact as well as decision, began to sap the foundation of Riel's -authority. A monster meeting of the people was held January 19th, in the -open air at Fort Garry, with the thermometer at 20 degrees below zero. -Riel, with the true instincts of a desperado, had seized a number of the -papers sent by the Governor-General of Canada. The mass meeting, -however, resulted in a demand for the election of representatives to -consider the invitation from Mr. Smith to formulate their grievances. - -One of the most useful and trusted men at this time in the Red River -settlement was A. G. B. Bannatyne, merchant and postmaster, in the -village of Winnipeg, near Fort Garry. Mr. Bannatyne was the real -representative chosen to the convention for Winnipeg, but an American -mob by force elected one of themselves. Mr. Bannatyne acted as -intermediary between the English and French, and long after wielded much -influence in Winnipeg. He was, however, openly opposed to the leader of -the Canadian party. - -Step by step the power of Riel waned until on the 4th of March, -probably to awe the people and regain his weakening power, he committed -the desperate act of executing Thomas Scott, a Canadian, contrary to the -pleadings of Donald A. Smith, Mr. Bannatyne and others. That was the -beginning of the end. The party to meet the Canadian government, bearing -a Bill of Rights, left soon after for Ottawa. The news of the execution -of Scott threw Canada into a blaze. Ten thousand volunteers would have -reported in a day to go to Red River, if they had been called. The name -of Riel was despised and hated throughout the English-speaking parishes -and by many of the French. The Canadian government busied itself in -passing the Manitoba Act, which established a province in a part of -Rupert's Land. The Wolseley expedition started as soon as the spring -opened, and the followers of Riel began to leave him. The back of the -rebellion was broken. Late in August, 1870, the vanguard of the -expedition reached Fort Garry. Shortly before their arrival Riel and two -of his lieutenants left the Fort. The 60th regiment were anxious to have -a brush with the rebels, but the three captains, as the troops appeared -in the distance, "folded their tents like the Arabs and silently stole -away." - - -RESTORING PEACE. - -The coming of Governor Archibald and the establishment of Canadian -institutions took place in the same year as the arrival of the -expedition. But it took years to establish peace. The writer came to -Manitoba in the year after this, and well remembers the bitterness and -hatred which continually showed themselves. The two old English-speaking -factions struggled for supremacy. The influx of new people in due time, -however, overcame the feuds. - -The sentiment against Riel and his associates burned as strongly years -after as it did in the time of the troubles. Peace never came really -until in Chief Justice Wood's court Riel and Lepine were found guilty of -murder and sedition. The springs of action in communities are hard to -trace, but it is plain to see that the burning questions which have -agitated Manitoba, and through her the whole Dominion, since that time, -have gained their intensity from the terrible months--for they were -nothing short of that--from November to March, of the Red River -rebellion. - -Undoubtedly the heat of feeling of the "Canadian party" included for a -time Mr. Black as being one of the other wing of the English-speaking -people. But in his case this soon passed away. His personal character, -his kindly and friendly manner, his open hospitality, and his unwavering -loyalty to British institutions made new-comers find in the "Apostle of -Red River" a friend, willing to aid all. Some of the more extreme of the -so-called "Canadian party" attempted to misinterpret a casual remark of -the good old pioneer to his disadvantage, but it was not accepted -generally, and a few years after Mr. Black was as acceptable as a -preacher to the rising congregation of Winnipeg as in his own beloved -Kildonan. Often, often did he commiserate the people compelled to go -through such an experience as that of 1869-70. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -The New Settlements. - - -To some, the story of early settlement appears prosaic. To the deep -thinking, there is in it romance of the most thrilling kind. Who has not -read with sympathetic interest the story of Abraham going into a far -country that God would tell him of? How Scottish hearts have been moved -with the accounts of the Highland Clearances, when thousands of crofts -and straths and glens were left behind, and their occupants hurried -forth to find homes in Pictou, Glengarry, or on the banks of the Hudson! - -It is not only in the painful separations, the leaving behind of spots -and scenes consecrated with the dearest memories, and in some degree the -sense of failure in having to give up old associations forced by hard -necessity; but the tearful outlook into the unknown, the dread of -meeting the inhospitality of a cold world, and the utter feeling of -uncertainty that give its human interest to the emigrant ship as it -sails forth from the old-world port, or the settler's wagon as it wends -its way through the bush or over the "interminable prairie." - -All the pathetic scenes of early settlers' life became familiar in -connection with the Red River becoming a part of Canada. As soon as the -Rebellion had been quelled, and Manitoba became open for settlement, a -movement took place from all parts of Canada to occupy the fertile -prairies of the West. Farmers, whose families were finding the small -farm of one hundred acres or less on which they had grown up too strait -for them, sold off their possessions and journeyed to Manitoba to take -homesteads and pre-emptions on its virgin prairies. - -For the first few years the journey was made by rail to St. Paul, in the -American State of Minnesota. Here the old-fashioned settler's wagon with -its canvas top--the prairie schooner as it has been called--was revived; -the household goods and a stock of provisions were packed in closely, -and after them the women and children entered to undertake a journey of -nearly five hundred miles to the new land of hope in the north. The -father and sons drove the herd of cattle and the extra horses; and from -camping place to camping place groups of settlers' wagons moved in daily -caravans over the prairie trails. - -In one such wagon the writer remembers to have seen an old lady of over -eighty years, who, seated in her commodious arm chair, held her post -among the boxes and bedding and farming tools over this long and weary -route. At a stopping place in the then utterly wild territory of Dakota, -the writer remembers to have seen the quaint entry in the register of -the wayside hostelry of J. W., "Citizen of the World." The traveller had -evidently been impressed with the illimitable stretch of the prairie, so -like the sea. At times the unbridged coulee, with its depth of water, -was to be crossed, when all the goods had to be unloaded from the -wagons, the goods and chattels floated across, the horses and cattle -made to swim over; and a delay, sometimes dangerous, of several hours -checked the forward advance of the caravan. Sometimes the fierce storm -of the prairie rose, and compelled the parties to keep camp for two or -three days. The writer calls to mind one storm in 1872 that blew over -tents, drove horses and cattle hither and thither over the prairies, and -well-nigh brought bands of travellers to despair. Such are the dramatic -features of frontier life. - -At times the settler and his family went by rail as far as the Red -River, and reached a town two hundred and twenty-five miles by land -above Fort Garry. Here a Red River steamer was taken, and by following -seven hundred miles of the winding river the destination was reached. -The Red River steamer was of the Mississippi type, flat-bottomed and -easily running over shallows. Indeed, speaking in western phrase, it -could run over the prairie if there was a good heavy dew upon the grass. -The extra goods were towed in barges behind the steamer, and old-timers -still delight to recount the picturesque scenes connected with the Red -River steamboat. At times, when the river had flooded its banks, the -steamer lost her course in the night, and was compelled to fasten her -bow to a tree on a prairie bluff till the morning. Thousands of the -early settlers of Manitoba remember the river steamers--the delay of -days together when stranded on the rapids--the wretched meals, and the -primitive accommodation. Arrived at Fort Garry, the settler found the -troubles and discomforts soon forgotten in the hurry and bustle of a new -life. - -Then the toilsome journey, on steamboat or over muddy roads, with -myriads of mosquitoes and inevitable hardships, was past, and the -steamer "tied up" at the warehouse, or the prairie caravan crossed the -ferry of the Assiniboine and camped by the walls of Fort Garry. The sun -seemed to shine all the brighter and the air was all the more -exhilarating since the goal had been reached and the land of promise -entered on. - -At a distance of about half a mile from the fort was now springing up -the straggling village of Winnipeg. This nucleus of the present city was -a separate place, with different ideals and often divergent aspirations, -from old Fort Garry. For years the struggle prevailed as to which should -rule, but the increase of population, the influx of men of wider view, -and the softening influence of time abolished the rivalries, and the -Hudson's Bay Company has in late years entered into all the objects and -prospects of the city along with its most enterprising citizens. The -picture of that early Winnipeg is a strange contrast to the city of -to-day. - -Soon after his arrival the family patriarch and his stalwart sons found -their way to the land office, inspected the list of vacant lands, -ascertained where acquaintances had gone, and after visits and journeys -hither and thither, made up their minds where to take up lands from the -embarrassing plenty that was offered them. New townships were opening up -in all directions where the surveyors had gone, and east and west new -settlements sprang up like magic. - -The Kildonan people, from their greater intelligence than that of their -neighbors, and their long residence in the country, were naturally much -consulted as to the best parts of the country and the localities most -desirable for settlement. Their habits of life, however, being more -pastoral than agricultural, had led them to different views from those -taken by the majority of the new-comers who were farmers. The writer -remembers very well in 1871 hearing of several Canadian families, who -had broken the immemorial custom of settling along the river bank, and -had ventured beyond Bird's Hill on the one hand, and Stony Mountain on -the other, several miles from the river. These were looked upon by some -of the old settlers as simply mad, their failure was prophesied, and the -expectation was strongly held that they would be frozen on the plains, -or lost in the snow-drifts if they attempted during the winter to find -their way to the old settlement. To-day, tens of thousands of Manitoba -settlers have their comfortable houses on the open plains. - - -SOUND THE GOSPEL CLARION. - -Wherever the settler goes, there must the herald of the Gospel follow -him. Many of the early settlers of Manitoba came from the congested -agricultural districts of Bruce, Huron and Lanark counties, in Ontario. -As these were strongly Presbyterian localities, a very large proportion -of the incoming settlers belonged to the church whose foundation John -Black had been for twenty years so industriously and firmly laying. The -Presbytery of Manitoba had been formed just in time (1870) to deal with -this great influx of people, and applications came to it from almost -every new locality to have the Gospel preached. It was a great -responsibility. Money and men were scarce, and the source of both these -lay in the older provinces, from which so many of the older settlers -were coming. The doctrine was laid down that it was the duty of settled -pastors, ordained missionaries, college professors, students and also -efficient elders, to occupy the new and rising settlements, and the -leading members of Presbytery cherished it as an ambition to be the -first church to preach the Gospel in each rising settlement. That -ambition has been largely fulfilled in the quarter of a century that has -elapsed since it was formed. It involved great self-denial to accomplish -this. But the spirit prevailed. It has led to the enormous growth that -has taken place, as seen in the fact that the nine preaching places of -1870 have increased to the vast number, north and west of Lake Superior, -of 839 in 1897. - - -CHURCH STATESMANSHIP. - -Much more, however, than this was necessary. The new province of -Manitoba was unknown. People do not send their contributions largely to -places of which they know nothing. There were many in the eastern -provinces who had no confidence in the future of Manitoba. One of the -leaders of the Church denounced it as a frozen Siberia, and declared -himself unwilling to spend a dollar of mission money within its -hyperborean limits. - -It became the duty of John Black and his colleagues to do away with this -false notion. They knew well their advantage as belonging to the -Presbyterian Church. It is a church which legislates in its highest -court--the General Assembly--for the weak as well as for the strong; for -the maligned as well as for the popular; for the distant as well as for -the central interests. Accordingly the Manitoba men began the work by -letter, and full report, and map, and speech, and personal influence, -with the purpose of letting the church know the capabilities of the -country, and the prospect of a large population coming to cultivate its -fertile soil. - -And this was not a mere spasmodic effort, but it has continued from -that day to this. The Presbytery of Manitoba kept up a constant -agitation as to its wants, knowing that the kindly mother in the east -but needed to hear the cry of her children and she would relieve them. -And so it has been. The outlook of the church has been so widened that -to day money flows freely to Manitoba, Assiniboia, Alberta, Saskatchewan -and British Columbia for the wide mission work of the west. - - -HARD WORK. - -But the organization and development of the work in the new settlements -was a mighty task. In Mr. Black's letters are frequently found: -"Received your letter as I was leaving to visit Grassmere"; "Have just -returned from the new settlement in Springfield"; "Paid a visit on -church work to the Portage," and the like. This was to an equal or -larger extent the same with every ordained missionary, professor and -other laborer. The great question became, Who could do the most, not, -Who could escape the most. The work was carried on during the winter as -thoroughly as in summer. - -In 1874 one of the ministers undertook to supply a new settlement, forty -miles from Winnipeg, once a month during winter. Preaching at the -distant point on Sabbath morning he came towards the city, about half -way took another service among people who had come in that very year, -and then struck homeward across the treeless, pathless, uninhabited -prairie, having nothing to guide him but the stars. - -The roads over the prairie in early days were nothing but trails running -in a most perplexing manner, and missionaries were constantly losing -their way, and sometimes spent the night in the shelter of a bluff, or -solitary stack in the wide hay meadow. In some years the roads were very -bad. To become "mired" or "bogged" in a "slough," and to have the -shaganappi or Indian pony coolly lie down in the mud, was an occurrence -by no means uncommon. Winter with its biting blasts gave no respite to -the faithful missionary. - -The history of Manitoba missions has been a marvellous record of -faithful, uncomplaining, self-denying service. Men have been placed in -charge of six or seven townships with settlers scattered sparsely -through them. They have carried on for years, in winter's cold and -summer's heat, service at six and seven points, three and even four on a -Sabbath, and all this on small and poorly paid stipends. Truly Christ -said, "My kingdom is not of this world." - - -THE HONOR ROLL. - -Did time and general interest permit, the growth from year to year, and -from district to district, in Manitoba might be traced; the special work -of faithful missionaries might be given and their great services -recounted. This is not our present purpose. The presbytery, in its early -missionary plans in 1871, consisted of Revs. John Black, James Nisbet, -William Fletcher, John McNabb, and the writer. Mr. Nisbet was five -hundred miles west, at Prince Albert, and the little knot of members -seemed too small to face so large a work; but missionary after -missionary was sent by the generous and patriotic home mission committee -in Toronto. Prof. Hart, a missionary of the Church of Scotland in -Canada, came to join us in the following year, and Rev. James Robertson -two years after that. - -[Illustration: WINNIPEG IN 1870.] - -Frazer, Matheson, Donaldson, and Vincent were active members of -presbytery and worthy foundation builders. McKellar, Bell and Stewart -were a trio who did yeoman service in the splendid farming region of -Portage la Prairie and Gladstone. Scott and Borthwick and Ross took hold -of Southern Manitoba and laid the foundations of numerous congregations, -such as Emerson, Carman, Morden and others, now self-sustaining and -influential. Alex. Campbell, James Douglas, A. H. Cameron, and Alexander -Smith all earned a good degree in the later seventies, and are still -residents of the west. Such men as McGuire, Wellwood, Donald McRae, -Hodnett, and Polson were hard-working pioneers in the last years in -which John Black yet remained with us. - -St. Paul's list of worthies was well called a cloud of witnesses in his -wonderful chapter in the Hebrews, and we honor those whose names have -become world wide for their faith and self-sacrifice; but many of the -names now mentioned are also those of men of unflinching courage, of -splendid endurance, of godly lives, and truest influence. The fact that -numbers of them, and others who have since come to the west, were -willing to bury themselves in obscure mission stations for the sake of -Christ, but showed them to be men of the same spirit as John Black, and -their virtues call for admiration and regard. - - -SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES. - -The great mission work, from 1871 to 1881, was of the most difficult and -trying kind. The settlements were new, the people were very scattered, -were strangers to one another, their resources were small, and mission -work was carried on under the greatest disadvantages. But such -faithful, self-denying work never goes unrewarded. During one-half of -this decade the country suffered from the terrible plague of the -grasshoppers. The new farmers all through the settlements were greatly -discouraged. About the year 1875 there were thousands of settlers of -Manitoba reduced to the scantiest fare. The writer recalls those dark -days of the new settlement. - -If ever the consolations of religion were needed, and indeed largely -appreciated, it was during the years of the grasshopper scourge. The -services were held in settlers' houses. The settlers kindly invited the -missionaries after service to share their scanty fare, and many a time -the missionary felt ashamed to be a burden on those who were literally -suffering from the lack of sufficient food. The settlers were, however, -in a country from which they had not means to return to their eastern -homes, and so, ragged and hungry, they were compelled to wait to be -delivered by a Higher Hand. In 1876 the last grasshoppers left Manitoba, -and gradually the new settlements have risen, till now neatly built -Presbyterian churches dot the landscape in all quarters of Manitoba, and -the sacrifice of pioneer missionaries, elders and people has been -rewarded. - - -EARLY WINNIPEG. - -Perhaps the most picturesque and successful example of mission effort -was that in what was at the beginning of the period the village of -Winnipeg. For years before the transfer of the Red River country to -Canada service had been held by Mr. Black in the Court House near Fort -Garry. There had been little growth. The expectation roused by the new -state of things led to the erection of a small Presbyterian church in -the village. John Black obtained some $400 assistance from Canada, and -erected a wooden building, 30 x 40 feet. This building, yet unfinished, -but sufficiently advanced to be used, was opened for public worship by -Rev. Dr. Black on December 3rd, 1868. - -The completion of this building was interfered with by the Rebellion of -1869-70, but the arrival of the troops and the coming of a few Canadians -led to the partial fitting up of the church in 1870, a committee -consisting mostly of the officers and men of the volunteer force doing -the work necessary. A view of the cut given herewith will show the -appearance of the church. The original intention was to have a tower on -the top, and in the sketch the timbers are shown which were to have been -the mainstays. For a year these posts were an eyesore to the community, -but one night they disappeared. It is said that the sexton, acting on a -hint from some quarter, clambered on the roof and removed the offending -posts. - -The interior of the church was somewhat ambitious for those times. The -pulpit had a high Gothic backpiece, in harmony with the churchly windows -to be seen in the sketch. The committee of the troops in 1870 -partitioned off a portion of the interior as ante-rooms, and left the -church seated for about one hundred and fifty persons. To this little -building John Black gave the name Knox church, in memory of the mother -church in Toronto, of which Dr. Burns, the patron of the Red River -mission, had been pastor. - - -KNOX CHURCH ORGANIZED. - -In October, 1871, the writer was placed in charge of Knox church, and -regular services twice a day were begun. John Black took the most lively -interest in everything connected with the congregation. He knew that it -represented the movement in a city which was to become the central -fortress of Presbyterianism in Manitoba and in all the far west. The -congregation was organized in 1872 with eleven members, and a session -was elected in the following year. In 1874 the congregation had grown to -have seventy-three members, and unanimously called Rev. James Robertson, -of Norwich, Ontario, and though small in numbers guaranteed a salary of -$2,000 per annum. In 1872 the church building had been enlarged, again -in 1873 and a third addition took place in 1875. During the pastorate of -Mr. Robertson, which lasted seven years, there was a large immigration -to the province. Knox church grew very rapidly. Mr. Robertson was a most -faithful pastor, and took an especial interest in the incoming -population. He was ever willing to give a helping hand to the lonely or -discouraged newcomer. Knox church has ever been known as a great -supporter of the home mission work of the Church. - -[Illustration: KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1871.] - -As has been well said: "The greatest enterprise in which the -congregation engaged, in addition to its regular and missionary work in -Mr. Robertson's pastorate, was the new Knox church building. This is -known as the second Knox church. This was largely accomplished through -the energy and personal effort of the pastor. Indeed so sedulously did -the pastor work up the subscription list, that it has been said that it -was in this that Mr. Robertson laid the foundation of the great success -that he has since gained in finances as Superintendent of Missions." The -congregation had in 1879 grown to have four hundred names upon the roll, -and thus desired to have a more comfortable place of worship. The second -Knox church, as will be seen from the accompanying illustration, was a -handsome and commanding building. In August, 1881, the first colony -from Knox church went off to form St. Andrew's church. This was placed -in the northern part of the city, and was begun just in time to meet the -great railway population which came in in connection with the Canadian -Pacific Railway. It was ministered to by the Rev. C. B. Pitblado. These -two congregations represented the Presbyterianism of Winnipeg during the -life of Dr. Black, but he always believed in the growth of Winnipeg. How -greatly he would have rejoiced could he have lived to see the handful he -had nursed and seen begun as a congregation in the little wooden church -with eleven members, develop into seven self-sustaining congregations -and two missions, with nine church buildings in all to-day, numbering -two thousand five hundred and fifty-four communicants in the city of -Winnipeg. - -As we have said before, it has often been spoken of regretfully by the -friends of the pioneer that John Black was taken away just when the -fuller measure of the success of Presbyterianism in the great west was -dawning. However, Simeon-like, he was satisfied. He lived to see the -foundations well laid in the new settlements, including the new city of -the prairies. He saw the mission work become too large for management by -the ordinary machinery of the presbytery. He was quite in sympathy with -his brethren as to the necessity of a special agent being set apart to -superintend the rapidly rising missions, and when Dr. Robertson was -unanimously chosen as superintendent of missions, though Mr. Black -regretted his being taken from Knox church congregation, yet he rejoiced -in the appointment and gave his heartiest congratulation to the new -superintendent. Dr. Robertson had just begun his work, which has -yielded such a magnificent fruitage to the cause of Christ in the West, -while the good pastor of Kildonan was struggling for health in the last -few months of his life. How often do we see the true, the good, the -noble, thus - - - "By affliction touched and saddened." - - "But the glories so transcendant - That around their memories cluster, - And on all their steps attendant, - Make their darkened lives resplendent - With such gleams of inward lustre." - - -[Illustration: KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1879.] - -[Illustration: MANITOBA COLLEGE, 1872.] - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -College and Schools. - - -Next to John Black's desire for the spiritual good of the people among -whom he labored, was his anxiety for the education of the young. Born in -Scotland, where to be illiterate is looked upon as disgraceful; brought -up under teachers in the parish school, who had a real love of knowledge -and whose joy it was to select from their pupils every "lad of pairts"; -afterwards well trained in a higher institution in New York State; and -having finished his course in Canada at a time when a new educational -impulse led to the founding of Knox College, the pastor of Kildonan -could scarcely fail to be - - -AN EDUCATIONIST. - -His bent of mind constantly showed itself in his desire to help forward -promising youths. It was not enough to him that the parish school of -Kildonan should be the best in the Red River Settlement. He took those -who were looking forward to professional life, and in his own study -drilled them in the Latin and Greek classics, with which he was so -familiar. A number of the Kildonan lads went on to higher positions, -led in their earlier stages by his kindly hand. - -Higher educational facilities were not wanting to Kildonan, for upon the -borders of the parish, and beside the very church where until 1851 the -fathers of the Kildonan people had attended public worship, was St. -John's College. Here a good education was given, and, so far as known to -the writer, there were no restrictions placed upon those students who -were not members of the Church of England; but John Black desired to -mould the leaders of the Presbyterian people after a fashion to preserve -the best traditions of the race from which they sprang. - -The small number of people in the Red River Settlement, and their -remoteness from highly civilized life, was for a time an objection to -the founding of another college on the banks of the Red River. Now, -however, the vista of hope was opening out before the country, as a new -province was entering on its career as one of the Canadian sisterhood. -The Kildonan school reached the culmination of its excellence during the -years 1870 and 1871 under the direction of Mr. David B. Whimster, a -teacher from western Ontario. The attendance was large, the educational -interest was great, and a goodly number of the best pupils were being -instructed in Latin and French by Mr. Black. Now seemed the time for -carrying out the dream which the Kildonan pastor had long cherished. - - -THE COLLEGE PLANNED. - -In the autumn of 1870, the very year in which the young province of -Manitoba was born, a provisional board of twelve of the leading -Presbyterians of the province signed a prospectus and circulated it -through the province inviting assistance for an institution to give a -training in Classics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Natural History, Moral and -Mental Philosophy, and the Modern Languages. We may certainly say there -was no restricted view in the minds of the founders of the infant -college. Early in 1871, L300 sterling had been subscribed on the Red -River, and before the meeting of the General Assembly material for the -new building had been secured and the building was expected to be -sufficiently advanced for use in the autumn of the year. - -The General Assembly met that year in Quebec, and the Rev. William -Fletcher, a commissioner from Manitoba, strongly presented the case for -the new college. - - -THE ASSEMBLY DECIDES. - -As usual "some doubted," but the Assembly entered with spirit upon the -project, and after certain negotiations the writer was appointed to go -to Manitoba and lay the foundations of the new institution. He was -ordained for the work in Gould Street church, Toronto, in company with -Dr. MacKay of Formosa, and pushed on to reach Manitoba before winter. -After a long and toilsome journey, in October the writer arrived at Red -River, and looks back with pleasure to the first night spent in company -with John Black at Kildonan manse. The Rev. William Fletcher and the -writer on arriving at Fort Garry could find no accommodation in the -crowded hotel in Winnipeg, and accordingly they walked down the four -miles or more to the manse on a pleasant autumn evening. - -The Apostle of the Red River, with a mass of iron gray hair, as shown in -his portrait, with well marked and yet kindly face, and his Dumfrieshire -Doric, not yet displaced by forty years of absence from his native -moorlands, was in high spirits. So often had the people of Red River -seen those coming to them foiled in their plans by the too early -approach of winter that their fears had been awakened lest another -disappointment would reach them. But the journey had been made, and now -the pioneer, whose tastes had always remained scholastic and literary, -even in the remote solitudes of the west, saw one of his strongest -anticipations about to be realized. He spoke of the youths ready to go -on with their work, of the numbers coming into the country, of the -bright prospects of the Church, and the value of education as a factor -of national growth. Late into the night all phases of the subject were -discussed and plans laid for immediately beginning work. - - -MANITOBA COLLEGE BEGUN. - -A few days afterward the provisional board met, and the name "Manitoba -College" was adopted for the new institution--a name which has meant -much in the educational development of the western prairies. On November -10th, 1871, classes were opened, and the work immediately took hold of -the minds and hearts of the Presbyterian people of the country, and of -many others as well. The first building was of logs covered with siding, -and so Manitoba College while not emulating the fame of the log college, -out of which great Princeton College grew, yet has a similarity in its -first housing and surroundings. The cut on page 130 gives a view of the -first college building at Kildonan, with the Kildonan church in the -background. - -In the year following the opening of the college the staff was -strengthened by the arrival of the Rev. Thomas Hart, B.D., who was the -representative of the Church of Scotland in Canada. Professor Hart came -under an arrangement with the Church of Scotland Synod to take part in -the educational work, and has in the quarter of a century since his -coming labored with unwearied diligence for the good of the college. The -co-operation of the two branches of the Church in college work three -years before the union of the Churches proved the advisability of the -scheme of union, and was the harbinger of that event which has been such -a blessing to religion throughout the Dominion of Canada. - - -REMOVAL TO WINNIPEG. - -The college steadily progressed for two sessions, when an event took -place which seriously tried the stability and attachment to principle of -the Presbyterians of the country, more especially of the people of -Kildonan. This was nothing less than the proposed removal of the -newly-founded college from Kildonan to Winnipeg. There can be no doubt -that this was one of the most trying things to Mr. Black in his whole -experience. Kildonan was four or five miles distant from the rising -capital of the province. Three miles nearer the city than Manitoba -College stood St. John's College. The Methodist Church had opened an -academy in the heart of Winnipeg, and the disadvantages of fair -development under which Manitoba College lay at Kildonan were manifest. -The matter came up in the Presbytery of Manitoba, and the scheme -favorable to beginning work in the provincial centre was carried by the -casting vote of the Moderator. It was naturally a great grief to the -people of Kildonan, and especially to their earnest pastor. To see the -longed-for tree of knowledge so speedily plucked up by the roots seemed -to the good old pioneer unnatural and uncalled for. And yet it was the -struggle between reason and sentiment. The good of the institution -itself and the plan to be adopted for its greatest usefulness must be -the highest considerations. The matter was necessarily taken to the -General Assembly. Mr. Black had not intended to be present that year at -the General Assembly, but at the wish of Kildonan itself went in order -that he might give the view of the people against the removal of the -college. All who were present at that Assembly will remember the address -of the valiant representative. With singular clearness and the highest -dignity, though with deep emotion, he recounted the struggles of the -people of Kildonan, the sacrifices they had made for the Church and -country, the hopes that had been awakened, and the damage it would do -the college among the relatively small number of Presbyterians yet -settled in the country. The Assembly was deeply impressed by the appeal -of the devoted and unselfish advocate. The writer recalls the fact of -one of the most respected pillars of the church, Hon. John McMurrich, -coming to him privately and saying, "I quite agree with the argument in -favor of removing the college to the rising town, but it does seem hard -that after all the struggles of the faithful pioneers of Presbyterianism -on the Red River, and especially after the devoted and self-sacrificing -life that John Black has lived, that there can be found no way in which -their wishes may be gratified." There was not a member of the General -Assembly who did not feel in the same way as good old John McMurrich. -But it was a critical moment in the history of northwestern -Presbyterianism. To have hesitated at that time would have been to take -up the same movement in a few years again with the added difficulty of a -falling cause and a sense of failure. - - -DEPUTATION SENT. - -The Assembly acted with extreme caution and discernment in the matter. A -commission of two of its members, Drs. Ure, of Goderich, and Cochrane, -of Brantford, the former an old fellow-student and warm friend of Mr. -Black, was appointed to visit Manitoba and report upon the case. The -commission decided that after a year the college should be removed to -Winnipeg, and carry on its whole work there. This was naturally a great -disappointment to Mr. Black. He was not convinced by the decision, and -feared especially that hurt would be done the college among the old -settlers of the country. He quoted in confirmation of his opinion the -statement made by the Bishop of Rupert's Land, the head of St. John's -College, that the removal was a mistake. - -In this John Black, to his own surprise and happiness also, found -himself mistaken. The Kildonan people, to their infinite credit, stood -true to their principles and in the next and succeeding years, numbers -of their young men were educated in their own college in Winnipeg, -notwithstanding their feeling of disappointment at the loss of the -college. Acting in the same manner as he had done when his views were -not carried out in regard to the policy of managing the Prince Albert -mission, the true-hearted Presbyterian pastor still gave his unwavering -support to the college, and for several years when the college undertook -the instruction of a small band of theological students, came, in -company with Dr. Robertson, at considerable inconvenience to himself, -and unrewarded except by the gratitude of the board and the high -appreciation of the students, to deliver lectures in church history of -which he was so complete a master. It was with the deepest appreciation -of his scholarship and high character that the Board of Manitoba -College congratulated him in 1876, when the sister institution in the -Church, Queen's College, conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon -the one who had been the originator and strong supporter of general and -theological education among the Presbyterians of the western prairies. - - -THE UNIVERSITY ESTABLISHED. - -The college continued to grow and, after the union of 1875, obtained a -building of its own in the northern part of Winnipeg. It became in 1877, -along with the Church of England College of St. John and the Roman -Catholic College of St. Boniface, a part of the University of Manitoba, -which was established in that year. From the first it took the lead in -the University of Manitoba, and to-day has upwards of one hundred and -eighty graduates in Arts. Dr. Black was among the earliest -representatives of the college on the council of the university. The -needs of the college became so great that in 1881 the beautiful college -building represented in the accompanying cut was erected at a cost of -$40,000. The Marquis of Lome laid the corner stone of the new college. -Dr. Black lived to see the erection of the building, but passed away too -soon to witness its occupation in the autumn of 1882. - -The difficulties of the college were many during these early years. As -has been said, "this part of its history was the period of uncertainty, -and of many sleepless nights for its professors. Eleven or twelve years -of no visible means of support, of inevitable friction, arising from the -necessary change from Kildonan to Winnipeg, of an utterly insufficient -staff for undertaking the university work in which it early took part, -and of its professors each weighted down with as much missionary work -as an ordinary missionary, to enable them to gain remuneration from the -Home Mission Committee--these were the struggles of development with -which the young organism grew into strength." No one was more -sympathetic than John Black in encouraging the professors in their toil. - -During its whole history Manitoba College has been a missionary centre -for the west. The authorities of the college have always been anxious to -make the college in every way useful to the Church. Its professors have -taken a very active part in the home mission work and Indian missions, -and its students have been strongly possessed with the missionary -spirit. Before the college had the status of a theological college, in -co-operation with the Presbytery of Manitoba, it gave instruction to -students in theology with the approval of the General Assembly. In the -year following that of the death of Dr. Black, Manitoba College was -granted a regular theological department, and this part of the college -work has been well organized and maintained under Dr. King and Professor -Baird. No less than 81 graduates in theology have left the walls of the -college between 1878 and the present time (1897). In token of its -absorbing interest in home mission work, Manitoba College has willingly -placed itself at the service of the Church in conducting a summer -session in theology, for the better supply of the mission stations of -the synods of Manitoba and British Columbia. Dr. Black would have -greatly rejoiced, could he have seen the present prosperity of the -institution for which he prayed and labored so long. - - -PUBLIC SCHOOLS. - -The change made by the first parliament of Manitoba from the -denominational schools formerly prevailing to a system of public -schools was a very striking one. The desire of the Roman Catholics to -have separate schools for themselves was granted, and thus the germ of -the great question which has for years disturbed Manitoba was -introduced. Those, who in the old Red River Settlement days had been -accustomed to their parish schools, were not seriously opposed to the -separate school system. To them it seemed simply a more systematic way -of working their parish schools, and receiving the assistance of a -government grant. Dr. Black thus became the representative of the -Presbyterian parishes and was a member of the first Board of Education -for the province. Matters worked with a fair amount of smoothness, but -there was a constant grasping of power by the Roman Catholic hierarchy -to make a greater and greater division between the two sections of the -board, until in ten years after the formation of the province the Roman -Catholic schools were to all intents and purposes managed privately by -the Catholic section of the board, and the Roman Catholic Archbishop -recognized as the authority by whom, for his own section, all books in -religion and morals should be approved. Protests in the newspapers, in -political campaigns and otherwise were made against this gradual -aggression on the part of the Roman Catholics. - - -ACTION TAKEN. - -The Protestant section of the board at length took action in the matter. -A series of resolutions were passed on Oct. 4th, 1876, by a majority of -the section, looking toward the doing away of separate schools. The -matter promised to bring on a great agitation in the country, and Dr. -Black ceased to be a member of the board, though Rev. Dr. Robertson, -who was also a Presbyterian representative on the board, held with the -majority and ardently approved of the national school ideas. Dr. Black -in this matter felt that he could not be a party to interfere with the -amity between Protestants and Roman Catholics, which had been a feature -of the old days of the Red River Settlement. While he probably differed -little from the other members of the board as to what should be done, -yet his strongly expressed desire to be freed from the personal turmoil -and discussion of this difficult question was regarded, and the burden -thrown on younger men. - - -THE GOVERNMENT INTERFERES. - -The Provincial Government of the time became alarmed at the action of -the Protestant section of the board, and took the strong measure of -reconstituting the board at the time of next appointment. Some of the -more aggressive members were replaced by others of a more pacific -character and the crisis was thus postponed. Dr. Black's anticipations -of the reality of this struggle were by no means mistaken. For several -years the question slumbered, with, in 1881, a new aggression on the -part of the Roman Catholics, making the two systems more distinct and -maintaining the share of joint stock company assessments, which were -almost entirely those of Protestant stockholders, _pro rata_ for Roman -Catholic schools. Dr. Black's fears of trouble were soon to be realized, -for after ominous rumblings, on the incoming of a new government, in a -few years the educational change took place (1890), giving rise to what -has been widely known throughout the world as the "Manitoba School -Question." Dr. Black died a number of years before this reformation came -about. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -Memorials. - - -In the thirtieth year of Mr. Black's ministry a considerable religious -movement took place in Winnipeg and the neighboring country. Mr. Black's -interest in vital religion was ever one of his outstanding features. His -conception of the Christian minister was that he was in reality a -shepherd of the flock. It was his high mission to study the times and -the seasons and to avail himself of any wise and timely circumstances -which might arise in connection with the religious life of the parish. - -The influx of a large number of new settlers can hardly be said to have -had a favorable influence on the Highland parish. The life of the -colonist or settler, even when he is well disposed, is likely to lead to -carelessness in religious things, to laxity in the observance of the -Sabbath, and to exposure to many temptations. Kildonan parish, being -near Winnipeg, and much in touch with the new settlers, was thus exposed -to hurtful influences. As a wise watchman, the pastor of Kildonan saw -this, and gladly welcomed tokens of spiritual revival, and took part -very heartily in the movement to have special services in his beloved -parish. We are fortunate in having a sermon of the pastor on the -subject of revivals, published some years before the time of which we -are speaking. - -Referring to - - -REVIVALS, - -Mr. Black says: "Happy the ministers thus privileged to be instruments -in God's hand. Happy the souls who plentifully partake of this -extraordinary grace! And it is well worth remembering how beautifully -this mode of dealing with men is adapted to the wants and weaknesses of -the race. - -"Not only do spiritual affections become languid and require to be -freshened with new life, but even the very ideas and impressions of a -spiritual and eternal world wax dim upon the soul through the lapse of -time, and the influence of the world and something extraordinary is -required to renew these--some fresh testimony that there is a God and an -eternity. - -"It must be familiar to all, how events and appearances, however -stupendous in themselves, lose their impressions by such regular -recurrence as renders them familiar to our minds. What, for instance, -can present a more magnificent spectacle than the passage of the sun -through the heavens on a clear summer day? Yet so familiar are we with -the spectacle that we scarcely think of it. It is a part of the regular -operations of nature and passes unobserved. - -"But suppose some day that the sun should appear of double size, or that -another sun of equal brilliancy were to traverse the heavens from north -to south, then all would be struck and filled with amazement--it may be -with alarm--for then it would appear that there is some power superior -to nature that can interfere with its regular course when he will. God -would thus be brought near. - -"So it is in spiritual things; however mightily the work of God might be -carried on, men would soon begin to forget God in it, and to attribute -the deep and earnest religious feelings prevailing to natural causes, -and so something higher still would be needed to prove that the work was -of God. Much more is this needed in a time of comparative indifference -to bring palpably before men's minds that there is a God and a spiritual -world. Men require something uncommon to stir them up from to time. Our -private devotions would be more ready to sink into coldness and apathy -were they not quickened by the public services of the sanctuary, and the -Sabbath services would also degenerate, were we not stirred up by the -occasional occurrence of Sacramental services. So God's ordinary -dealings require the aid of these seasons of revival." - - -SOME DROPS DESCEND. - -The meetings, as conducted by the evangelist in Kildonan church, were -attended with good. There was much in the manner of the professional -evangelist that did not commend itself to the more staid religious -customs of Kildonan, but Dr. Black and his session, being in earnest in -the cure of souls, overlooked the defects and sought to make the most of -the efforts of the messenger of God sent amongst them. A considerable -quickening took place among the young people, and the older people were -helped as well. This was a great joy to the pastor. The strain upon the -faithful minister in his person was, however, very great. The frequency -of the services and the feeling of responsibility told upon his deeply -moved nature, and by the time the meetings were ended the godly man was -prostrated in body. Rest was tried, and a visit to the Province of -Ontario was undertaken, but without very much permanent benefit. - -The good old apostle took advantage of his eastern visit to attend the -meeting of the General Assembly in Kingston in 1881. He was expected to -be present at it, and it seemed to be the desire of the leading -ministers of the Church that the honor of the Moderatorship should be -conferred on Dr. Black, as no less than ten presbyteries had nominated -him. On the opening of Assembly a letter was read from Dr. Black, -declining, on account of his poor health, to be put in nomination for -this exalted position. - - -A HIGH ESTIMATE. - -The grounds for the proposed honor were not only the fact that John -Black was the first missionary to the Red River, but that he had so well -fulfilled the functions of pastor, preacher, and leader. Few had, -indeed, heard the apostle of Red River, but it was well-known that he -was a preacher of no mean order. His reputation as a theologian was well -established, an evangelical tone was highly characteristic of his -sermons, and his fervid appeals and denunciation of wrong-doing were -telling, while a poetic and eloquent power of expression was certainly -possessed by him in his nobler efforts. As an example of his successful -preaching, we may refer to a very effective and touching sermon -delivered by him in the earlier part of his ministry. - -Among the youths who had gone from Red River to study, we have already -mentioned Donald Fraser. He was a young man of singularly attractive -disposition, who as a boy had suffered from a disease in the hip joint. -Recovering somewhat, he had gone on with his education, and had in 1854 -entered Knox College, Toronto, where he continued a student for three -years. It is said of him that in addition to his more than ordinary -ability and diligence, he was distinguished for "his deep and steady, -yet gentle, cheerful, unobtrusive piety." On his return to Red River, -the disease increased, and attended by the kindly and continuous -spiritual care of his minister, in the late winter he passed away, -joyfully exclaiming, "I am going to glory." Ardently attached to his -young friend, the Kildonan pastor preached a beautiful sermon on Rev. -vii. 1, 3, 14, entitled, - - -"FROM TRIBULATION TO GLORY." - -We may well give an extract or two: - -"How many have been thus removed who seemed the very men to labor for -God here! This is the Lord's doing. It is marvellous in our eyes." It is -mysterious, yet we can see reason in it--the Lord will show that He is -not dependent on men. And there is mercy in it--He spares the green and -takes the ripe. To our departed brother the change is unspeakable -gain--he is gone forth out of all his tribulations. Faith is changed -into sight, hope into enjoyment. He is gone to see the Saviour, whom -long he had trusted and long loved. Faith, we may be well sure (a -favorite form of speech of John Black), had many a struggle to realize a -present Redeemer; but now there is no struggle; he sees Him as He is, -and is like Him. We are left. His form is no longer before our eyes. But -in his meekness and gentleness of disposition, in his Christian -consistency and cheerfulness, in his patience under suffering, in his -prayerfulness and faithfulness, and in his kindness of heart and -spirituality of mind, he has left us an example which woe unto us if we -forget. And in his happy, joyful deathbed, unvisited by doubt or fear, -we have another blessed evidence of the reality of religion and the -faithfulness of God. To the family the loss is great, but their sorrow -is mingled with joy, for not the shadow of doubt is left upon their -minds. To myself the loss is also great. There I found sympathy, -counsel, encouragement, prayer. But that heart and those lips are now -still. - - -"IN ROBES OF WHITE." - -"See these glorious, these shining ones, walking in brightness the -golden streets of the New Jerusalem. They are clothed in white -robes--angels' garments. Such was the clothing of our Lord on the day of -His transfiguration, and such was the clothing of the angel that rolled -the stone away from the door of His tomb." - - -THE WHITE ROBE IS THE EMBLEM OF PURITY. - -The white robe without signifies the pure and holy heart within. These -are purified, holy souls. In them has been fulfilled to the utmost, -David's prayer: "Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me and -I shall be whiter than snow." No stain of guilt now remains upon their -consciences, no stain of corruption now defiles their hearts; no sinful -desire, no vile or tumultuous passion now agitates their minds. Their -thoughts are all pure; their affections are all heavenly; they are -conformed to the image and the will of God. Not the smallest thing in -them is out of keeping with the holy heaven in which they now dwell. - - -THE WHITE ROBE IS ALSO AN EMBLEM OF JOY. - -It is the wedding garment--the dress of the bride, the Lamb's wife--the -garment of the guests that sit at the heavenly banquet. The white robe -without signifies the joyful heart within. And, oh, a happy company are -all these white-robed ones in their Heavenly Father's home! The sorrows -of earth are all left behind, and not even the shadow of evil now -obscures the sunshine of their holy joys. No sin, no sorrow, no care, no -toil, no fear, no conflict; but purity, peace, delight--their Father's -smile, their Saviour's presence, the society of the redeemed and of holy -angels, the sight of heavenly beauty, the sounds of heavenly music, the -fragrance of celestial flowers, the sweetness of the water of life, the -exercises of heavenly devotion, all conspiring to fill their minds with -gladness ineffable. The marriage robe without is the emblem of the -joyful heart within. - - -THE WHITE ROBE IS THE EMBLEM OF VICTORY. - -It was worn by those who after victory returned to the Imperial city and -passed in triumphal procession through the crowded streets, and the -admiring and shouting multitudes. Those who have entered the New -Jerusalem have gained the victory; they now enjoy the triumph. They have -fought the good fight; they have finished their course, they have kept -the faith; henceforth they are to enjoy their crowns of righteousness, -their white robes, and their evergreen palms. Long and hard was the -conflict; many and fierce were their enemies; but now the victory is -won--sin, Satan and the world are subdued; and the sword and the -breastplate, the buckler and the shield have been exchanged for the -white robes of victory and of peace. "They hang their trumpet in the -hall and study war no more." - - -OUT OF AFFLICTION. - -"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him -out of them all." They were in pain, in sickness, in poverty, in hunger, -thirst, and nakedness; they were exposed to shame, they were oppressed -by tyranny; they have been captives, slaves, victims of cruelty and -injustice; they have seen their dearest snatched from their embraces, -they have passed through the trials which are common to man, and many -peculiar to themselves; but they have come out of all their -tribulations--sickness and pain, captivity and bereavement, oppression -and suffering are now forever ended, and God has wiped away all tears -from their eyes. - - -A BELOVED ELDER. - -We have before us another address of Mr. Black worthy of being quoted. -This was delivered on the death of one of his best beloved elders, John -Pritchard. This elder was the son of an English fur trader of the same -name, who had been in the service of the Northwest Fur Company, and -afterward acted as Lord Selkirk's agent. The tender heart of John Black -comes out in his words for his departed friend: "John Pritchard was a -man of God. In him we have lost a man of much prayer--of deep humility, -and one who knew well how to speak the truth in love, and who in his -deportment beautifully mingled the gravity and the cheerfulness of true -religion--a gravity without gloom or austerity--a cheerfulness without -levity--a mingling or union of qualities which gave him at once the -respect of the aged and the confidence of the young. - -"In him his family have lost a wise, faithful, loving head--a large -connexion has lost one of its most beloved members--society has lost a -man of much usefulness and Christian worth--for myself, I have lost a -good counsellor and a faithful and confiding friend; and you, as a -congregation, have lost an office-bearer whose place it will not be easy -to supply. - -"How often in private have many of you heard his earnest counsels; at -how many sickbeds and deathbeds have you been comforted by his -consolations; how often, here and elsewhere, have we heard his earnest -pleading voice in prayer; and how often has that voice been lifted up in -wrestling intercession for us all, when there was no ear to hear but -that of our Father in Heaven." - - -LIFE DECLINING. - -It was in April, 1881, that Mr. Black so felt the need of rest that he -obtained leave of absence from the Presbytery of Manitoba and went to -Ontario and to his old home in New York State, seeking health. After -spending some months in the east and being present at the meeting of the -General Assembly, he returned to Manitoba, feeling much improved. -Unfortunately he caught a severe cold on his return journey and was -again reduced in strength. Reaching Kildonan he sought to minister to -his devoted people, but after a few Sabbaths was again compelled to make -application to the presbytery for relief. This was granted most -willingly, but at the same time with a feeling of great anxiety on the -part of his brethren. It seemed the presage of the approaching end. The -affectionate attention of friends and relations was given him, but he -remained very weak. Reclining on his sofa, he received his ministerial -and other friends, and still with clear mind discoursed on the topics -of the day and on the blessedness of the service of Christ with the -great future rewards of the people of God. Even in the time of declining -strength his was no weak or halting faith, but a strong and unwavering -confidence. - -The old year passed away and the opening days of January saw no marked -change. His interest in the affairs of the parish did not flag, but he -was patiently resigned in his weakening strength. At last as the opening -hours of the second Sabbath, 12th, of February, 1882, were approaching, -the spirit of the devoted minister passed away to its eternal rest. The -event, though somewhat expected, yet produced a shock in the parish, and -on the word reaching Winnipeg references were made in the city pulpits -on that day to the departure of the good man. - - -TRIBUTES. - -The tributes of kind friends came from all directions. The leading -newspaper of the province referred to the great service he had rendered -the whole Northwest, and said: "In the midst of his many duties he was -able in a wonderful degree to keep abreast of the literature of the day. -Although occupying so remote a field, he was remarkable for the -superiority of his scholarship, so that he enjoyed an eminent reputation -as a man of learning and particularly as a theologian." - - -LAST SAD RITES. - -On the following Wednesday the funeral took place, the service being -held in Kildonan church. The day was one of the most bitterly cold days -of the season. Yet the people of all denominations were there, and -representatives from the river parishes and Winnipeg, so that the church -was pretty well filled with men and women. Several of the oldest -members of the presbytery were absent from the province at the time, and -were prevented from paying their last tokens of respect to the departed -leader. Rev. Professor Hart, who had been for ten years intimately -acquainted with Mr. Black, took the service and made the address. In the -course of his remarks he said: "In reference to Dr. Black's public life, -I have only a word or two to say. As a preacher he was well known to us -all as being clear, forcible, simple, impressive and eloquent in his -exposition of divine truths; as a pastor he was indefatigable, visiting -regularly in succession all the families in his parish, especially in -times of sickness, distress or in death. He was active in forwarding the -interest of the Sabbath-school and also of the Bible Society, of which -for years he was president. - -"Every good cause found in him a faithful and zealous advocate. As a -friend, the departed was judicious, faithful, steadfast and true. His -whole course among us was, I may add, such as became a true and faithful -man of God. When work was to be done he did it up to the measure of his -strength and even beyond it. Hence, though naturally of a strong and -healthy constitution, he succumbed--not to old age, but to excess of -work. He was worn out by his exertions, and his death took place at a -time when in his prime, intellectually, years of activity and usefulness -might be looked forward to. - -"The All Wise Disposer of events seemed to say that our friend's work on -earth was done, and called for him from labour and trial here to the -rest that remains for the just. The last illness of our brother (and -father), though protracted to nearly a year, was not during the latter -portion of it accompanied with much pain. To the end his faith remained -unshaken, his hope undimmed, his peace of mind undisturbed. That end -came quietly. He sweetly fell asleep in the arms of Jesus. Just as that -day he loved the best was being ushered in, just as that earthly Sabbath -dawned, he passed away to the enjoyment of an eternal Sabbath in the -courts above." - -[Illustration: PUBLIC MONUMENT ERECTED TO REV. JOHN BLACK, D.D. - -In Kildonan churchyard.] - -The Rev. Alexander Matheson, a native of Kildonan, then led in prayer; -the Rev. C. B. Pitblado, the minister of the new St. Andrew's -congregation of Winnipeg, pronounced the benediction; the Rev. Alexander -Campbell was also present, and the Rev. R. Y. Thompson took the service -at the grave. - - -RETROSPECT. - -We have now completed our long journey from Garwaldshields farm in -Eskdale Muir, where John Black was born, to Kildonan kirkyard, where his -honoured bones now lie. Sixty-four years was his alloted span, and no -one who has followed our story can fail to admit that the character and -life described are those of a true man. - -Born among the shepherd people of the region that has been made historic -by the names of Thomas Boston, James Hogg, Edward Irving and Thomas -Carlyle, the worthy lad of Eskdale very early showed the features of a -religious and deep-laid character. What he would have been had he -remained in the land of his birth we can only conjecture, but it is -certain that wherever he was to dwell his earnest, manly, studious -boyhood was the promise of a useful life. - -Perhaps nothing shows the chivalry of his nature more than his -surrendering all the bright hopes of a student life, and the career of a -successful teacher, in order that he might with his family, which had -suffered losses, seek a New World home to better their condition. His -unselfish devotion led to his becoming the mainstay in the counsels of -the family as they settled in the State of New York. Years afterwards we -find his love of his aged parents in the Catskills a matter for -consideration in choosing where his lot should be cast. - -The return of John Black to the Canadian branch of the Church of his -fathers illustrates two or three points in his character. There was in -him a strong attachment to old associations. The Scottish type of -Presbyterianism was to him the best, and he sought his defence in the -shelter of the "burning bush." His characteristic discrimination and -determination to follow his convictions were shown in his choice of the -newly formed Free Church, while his love of the past and strong personal -attachment would have led him to cling to the Church of Scotland. His -love of country was also strong, and there can be no doubt that he -greatly preferred the shadow of the Union Jack to that of any other -flag. - -His student and missionary life were characterized by great thoroughness -and enthusiasm. While strongly evangelical, and counting all things -other than the Gospel as "wood and hay and stubble," yet he valued -knowledge, and laid the foundation of subsequent excellence in Latin, -Greek, History, and English Literature. His missionary life in Brock, in -Upper Canada, in the district of Montreal, and on behalf of the French -Canadian Society, all indicates the spirit of thorough consecration, -which is the beauty and strength of the aspirant to the Christian -ministry. The most critical time in the life of John Black was his -reception of the command, for it was nothing else, of Dr. Burns to go to -Red River Settlement. Those who knew Dr. Burns can easily imagine the -ardency and enthusiasm with which he would argue the case. He was a man -of strong personality, and to him his opinions had all the strength of -principles. Mr. Black could not resist what was put to him as the call -of duty. It is somewhat remarkable to see, however, that year after year -he was not convinced that the Red River was to be his permanent sphere -of labor. This no doubt arose from a certain sensitiveness of -disposition, and an unwillingness to stand in the way of what he thought -was the highest spiritual good of his people. And yet it was as all his -friends said it would be: God's finger pointed out the Red River -unmistakably as his lifelong sphere. - -The founding of a new cause among a people who, for thirty or forty -years had been without their own form of faith, was a great work. The -church building, the alarming flood which hindered his work, the severe -task of supplying, while still alone, the small groups of Presbyterians -outside of Kildonan, the anxiety about the spiritual condition and -insobriety of so many of the native people about him, cases of -discipline which required at the same time firmness and tact--all these -filled up the measure of his busy life. - -The effect of the arrival of an additional laborer in the person of Rev. -James Nisbet, in 1862, can hardly be estimated by us now. The fact that -another clergyman may arrive now in the field of Manitoba missions is an -everyday occurrence, and gives rise to little comment; but when the -arrival of a laborer doubled the available missionary force it made it -an event of first importance. When, four years later, James Nisbet began -the Indian missions of the Church it was something, too, of immense -moment. John Black's dream of fifteen years was then realized, and he -saw in the future the vista of a reclaimed and civilized race in place -of the helpless and sin-afflicted savages by whom he was surrounded. - -When the stirring days of the Riel Rebellion were over, there came the -rush of immigration, which startled the quiet solitudes of the Red River -prairies. It was to Mr. Black, as to the older people of the country, a -time of change, but the religious needs of the new settlements were well -looked after, and the movement begun of the mission advance, which has -been so notable a feature of the Presbyterian cause in the Northwest, -and has led to the Church, which John Black came to the west to found, -becoming much the largest and most influential body of the prairies. - -Not only in Winnipeg, with its thoroughly organized body of -communicants, and in Portage la Prairie, Brandon, Regina and Calgary -have the Presbyterian views of church doctrine and life become -potential; but, in more than a score of towns, such as Morden, Pilot -Mound, Deloraine, Carman, Glenboro, Treherne, Holland, Miami, Minnedosa, -Russell, Rapid City, Gladstone, Moosomin, Prince Albert, Edmonton, -Souris, Virden, Boissevain, Emerson, Keewatin, Rat Portage, Fort -William, and Port Arthur have strong self-sustaining churches been -established. Notably is the Church strongly ensconced in the affections -of the agricultural communities spread over the prairies. It would -gladden the heart of John Black to-day could he see the presbytery of -which he was the first moderator now developed into two synods with -fourteen presbyteries, and could he realize how "the little one has -become a thousand." - -As an educationist, we have shown the really fundamental work of Mr. -Black in the cause of education. It is very rare to see the men who lay -foundations equally strong on the missionary and on the educational -sides. It shows the even balance of his mind, that Mr. Black was as -much interested in one direction as in the other. Manitoba College is -the outcome to-day of the hopes and pleadings and plans of this scion, -transplanted from the parish schools of Scotland, and of the early love -of knowledge of the Presbyterianism of Canada, which took root in the -favorable soil of the Red River, Assiniboine, and Saskatchewan valleys. - -These are the memorials of the Apostle of Red River. We are not carried -away by any absurd sentiment which would lead us to make John Black a -hero. As a rule the surroundings of his life were not of an exciting -kind. The Red River community was isolated, its opportunities of -communication with the outer world were small; for two-thirds of the -life of John Black upon the Red River there was little increase in the -population, but during his thirty years of Northwest life we see in him -the white lily of a blameless life, we see the spirit of an ardent -social reformer, we see the public sentiment leading him to labor for -the educational good of his people, we see the exercise of a diligent -pastorate, and the attainment of honorable distinction as a preacher--in -short, we see in him the embodiment of high domestic, social, public and -Christian virtues. We shall cherish the memory of "the Apostle of the -Red River." - -[Illustration: - - In Memoriam - OF THE - Rev. John Black, D.D. - - FIRST PRESBYTERIAN - MISSIONARY TO RUPERT'S LAND - SEPT. 18TH, 1851, AND - FIRST PASTOR OF THIS PARISH - TO WHOSE SPIRITUAL WANTS - HE MINISTERED FOR MORE - THAN THIRTY YEARS. - - DIED FEB. 11TH, 1882 - AT THE AGE OF 84 YEARS - - "_He being dead yet speaketh._" - - TABLET IN KILDONAN CHURCH.] - - - - -ADVERTISEMENTS - - -The Selkirk Settlers in Real Life - -By REV. R. G. MACBETH, M.A. - -WITH INTRODUCTION BY - -HON. SIR DONALD A. SMITH, K.C.M.G. (Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal). - -PRICE, - - - 75 Cents, Postpaid - -Press Comments - -"In every instance Mr. MacBeth tells his story in happy terms, and -supplies many details of the life of the settlers."--_Royal Colonial -Institute Journal._ - -"The author is a descendant of one of the hardy Scots who were in the -Red River Valley a life-time before Riel was born. His story is the more -romantic for its very simplicity."--_St. John Sun._ - -"Not a dry collection of details, but an interesting account of the -Settlement.... These experiences are unique.... Mr. MacBeth is to be -congratulated on his book."--_Canadian Magazine._ - -"A fascinating little volume, telling a tale that redounds to the honor -of the Scottish race.... Mr. MacBeth's sketch gives a pleasing -impression of the sterling worth and industry of the settlers."--_Review -of Historical Publications_, Vol. II. - -"A small but useful contribution to the history of the North-West.... -Mr. MacBeth was brought up in the colony, and recalls some of its -primitive laws, methods of agriculture and social customs, with a flavor -of personal reminiscence."--_Montreal Witness._ - -"The story of the Red River Settlement is one of unique interest. Its -early days were a perfect Iliad of disaster. Flood, famine and hostile -Indians sorely tried the faith and patience of the brave pioneers. A -descendant of one of these tells in these pages the stirring -story."--_Onward._ - -Rev. Robert Murray, Editor of the _Presbyterian Witness_ (Halifax, -N.S.), writes the author: "Accept of my thanks for your most readable -and refreshing book. I am delighted with it. Brought up among the -Highlanders I appreciate some of the chapters more than others; but the -book as a whole is excellent. I only wish it were ampler in its -details." - -"As the title indicates, the aim of the writer is to give to the people -of to-day an idea of how the settlers lived in their homes, as apart -from their struggles as a community for political and commercial rights. -In this he has been eminently successful, and a valuable picture of the -social life as it then was has been preserved for future -generations."--_Winnipeg Tribune._ - -WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher -29-33 Richmond Street West, TORONTO, ONT. - - - LEAVES FROM -Manitoba MY LIFE IN - THE PRAIRIE -Memories PROVINCE. - -By REV. GEORGE YOUNG, D.D., -_Founder of Methodist Missions in the "Red River Settlement."_ - -WITH INTRODUCTION BY -REV. ALEXANDER SUTHERLAND, D.D., - -_General Secretary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Church._ - -In Extra English Cloth Boards, with 15 Portraits and Illustrations. - -PRICE, $1.00, POSTPAID. - -Personal and Press Comments - - "The book is of fascinating interest, and gives authentic - information not elsewhere to be obtained on the stirring events of - the early history of Manitoba. It is handsomely printed, with - numerous portraits and other engravings."--_Onward._ - - "The reader will readily perceive that one who has lived so long in - such varied scenes as have fallen to the lot of Dr. Young must have - witnessed many things worthy of record, and will rejoice with the - present writer that the venerable author, notwithstanding his - characteristic modesty, was prevailed upon, after much entreaty, to - send forth this charming volume."--_Mail and Empire._ - - "An interesting chapter is devoted to the Fenian Raid of 1871; - another to Dr. Lachlan Taylor's tour among the missions in the - 'Great Lone Land,' taken from Dr. Taylor's own report and journal; - and still another chapter recounts the history of the early - educational movement in the West. On the whole the book is a very - interesting and indeed valuable one, not only to members of the - author's Church, but also to the general reader."--_Ottawa - Citizen._ - -S. R. PARSONS, Esq., writes: - - "Only one who has lived in that land of 'illimitable - possibilities,' and experienced the brightness of its winter and - summer sunshine, and tasted of the water of the Red River, that - ever after leaves an unquenchable thirst, and sniffed the ozone of - the prairies, and mingled with the heartiest and most friendly - people on earth, can fully appreciate this book. The high respect - in which the author is deservedly held will, no doubt, ensure a - large sale for the work. In the North-West, particularly, it should - be in every home and Sunday School library." - -WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher, -29-33 Richmond St. West, TORONTO, ONT. - - -The Warden of the Plains -AND OTHER STORIES OF LIFE IN THE -CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. - -By JOHN MACLEAN, M.A., Ph.D., - -_Author of "Canadian Savage Folk," etc._ - -_Illustrated by J. E. LAUGHLIN._ - -CLOTH, $1.25, POSTPAID. - - CONTENTS: The Warden of the Plains--Asokoa, the Chief's - Daughter--The Sky Pilot--The Lone Pine--The Writing - Stone--Akspine--Old Glad--The Spirit Guide--Alahcasla--The Hidden - Treasure--The White Man's Bride--The Coming of Apauakas. - -[Illustration: Cover] - - "Dr. Maclean's familiarity with western life is evident in this - collection of stories. All are well told."--_The Westminster._ - - "Dr. Maclean has rendered a distinct service to Canadian literature - by photographing in this series of pictures a type of Canadian life - which is fast passing away."--_Rev. W. H. Withrow, D.D._ - - "These stories are admirably written. They present the life and - legends of the great North-West in a manner calculated to excite a - sincere and useful interest among strangers."--_Mail and Empire._ - - "A collection of short stories, some dramatic, some pathetic, all - serious.... The Indian tales are very pathetic and most interesting - from an ethnological standpoint.... The stories are accurate - pictures of North-West life."--_Victoria Times._ - -WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher, -29-33 Richmond St. West, TORONTO, ONT. - - -Some Notable - -Canadian Books - -[Illustration] - -Biographical and Historical - -Canadian Men and Women of the Time. By Henry J. Morgan. -Cloth $3 00 - -Haliburton: A Centenary Chaplet. A Series of Biographical and -Critical Papers, with Portrait and Illustrations 1 25 - -Life and Times of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock. By D. B. Read, -Q.C., with Portrait and Illustrations 1 50 - -Life and Work of D. J. Macdonnell. Edited by Prof. J. F. McCurdy, -LL.D. With Portraits, etc. 1 50 - -Popular History of Canada. By W. H. Withrow, D.D. Illustrated 3 00 - -History Of Canada. By W. H. P. Clement, LL.B. With Maps and -Illustrations 0 50 - -History of British Columbia. By Alex. Begg, C.C. With Portrait -and Illustrations 3 00 - -In the Days of the Canada Company. By Robina and Kathleen M. -Lizars. Illustrated 2 00 - -Humours of '37, Grave, Gay and Grim. Rebellion Times in the -Canadas. By Robina and Kathleen M. Lizars 1 25 - -The Story Of the Union Jack. By Barlow Cumberland. Illustrated in -Colors 1 50 - -Ten Years of Upper Canada in Peace and War--1803-15. By Mrs. -J. D. Edgar 1 50 - -The Selkirk Settlers in Real Life. By R. G. MacBeth, M.A. 0 75 - -The Making of the Canadian West. By R. G. MacBeth, M.A. With -Portraits and Illustrations 1 00 - -The History Of Annapolis County, including old Port Royal and -Acadia. By Judge Savary. With Portraits 3 25 - -The History of Lunenburg County. By Judge DesBrisay. With -Illustrations 2 50 - -Canadian Savage Folk. By John Maclean, Ph.D. Illustrated 2 50 - -The Forge in the Forest. A Historical Romance of Acadia. By Chas. -G. D. Roberts. Illustrated 1 25 - -_Postpaid to any Address._ - -WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher, -29-33 Richmond Street West, TORONTO, ONT. - - -Across the Sub-Arctics of -Canada - -_3,200 MILES BY CANOE AND SNOWSHOE -THROUGH THE BARREN LANDS_ - -By J. W. TYRRELL, C.E., D.L.S. - -_Illustrated by Engravings from Photographs and from Drawings -by ARTHUR HEMING._ - -CLOTH, $1.50, POSTPAID. - -PRESS COMMENTS - -[Illustration: Cover - -ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA] - -"A story of immense scientific value."--_Toronto Globe_. - -"A most valuable contribution to the literature of the great -North-West.... Mr. Tyrrell's touches of description are -delightful."--_Victoria Times._ - -"As a mere record of adventure, of imminent peril and hair-breadth -escapes, of hunting polar bears, and taking a winter tramp of a thousand -miles, we know no narrative of more absorbing character."--_Methodist -Magazine._ - -"Upon the whole, no book of travel and exploration in Canada has -appeared since Butler's 'Great Lone Land' was published, that combined -the interest and value of Mr. Tyrrell's book."--_Hamilton Herald._ - -"A remarkable trip of exploration, one of the most important of recent -years."--_Buffalo Illustrated Express._ - -"The tale is a marvellous one; the only wonder is the party ever -succeeded in returning to civilization."--_Christian Guardian._ - -"The record of their journey will be found delightful reading by those -who feel the peculiar fascination of the vast melancholy Northland.... -Altogether the volume is one of solid merit."--_Christian Advocate_ (New -York). - -"There is a variety in this narrative which those of strictly Arctic -expeditions lack. It leads through wonderful lakes and rivers hitherto -unvisited by white men, with thrilling adventures in running unknown and -perilous rapids."--_The Bookman_ (New York). - -"The illustrations have the double virtue of illustrating the subject -and of being trustworthy; and this final remark applies to the whole -book."--_N. Y. Independent._ - -WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher, -29-33 Richmond St. West. 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