THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN. CHURCH IN FROM TK.V. EARLIEST TIJ.SS TO THE YEAR 1881 JOHN G., WALKER, B .Sc . t B .A* BEING A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF DIVINITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH, IN PARTIAL FULFILI/IENT OF THE REQUIRiJMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY MARCH, 1928 FOREWORD I have long felt that my valued friend, Prof. Jazaes Mackinnon, did me a very great kindness when he suggested that I might chose as a subject for my thesis one which had to do with the history of the Presbyterian Church in our Canadian tfest This is a bit of Church History which has been neglected hitherto and which ought to be told for it is a stirring and splendid story. I must readily admit that I have not done this story full justice but I can say that I have made an honest effort to do the Church some little service in the writing of this record. It will be realized by those who read this thesis that the writer has presupposed a certain knowledge of the geography and of the history of Western Canada. With the subject of the thesis in mind it has been pos­ sible to do no more than to indicate in a general way the topography of the country and the general trend of political developments*. Attention has been centred on the story of the origin arri growth of the Presbyterian Church. Only en ugh of the contemporary political and economic history has been included as would make intelligible the.trend of events in the Church. A certain amount of pains has been taken with the documenting. I have quoted from the primary sources at some considerable length at certain points in the body of the thesis. I have also added in the Appendix cop­ ies of several documents which seem to me to be of special interest and value. Wherever possible I have- endeavored to let the records and the men speak for themselves believing, that a primary source with pertinent detail is history in its own right. Certain of the documents included in the story I have felt to be both more interesting and more valuable than any digest or comment could possibly be. rotes have been included in the Bibliography vmich will indicate those Printed and Manuscript Sources which I have receded as th: most authori­ tative and to which I have been most indebted. 7/ith regard to other in- debtednessit seems impossible for ue to give due acknowledgment in every case. I have made liberal use of such Church paperr rrd. records as I have found available. The facilities of various libraries have been placed at my disposal and I must note the special courtesy I have received at the hands of the Librarians of the University of I/.anitoba, Manitoba College, Knox College, Toronto, and the Provincial Library of Manitoba. From time to time I have secured the loan of rare and valuable books and manuscripts which were indispensable to my v/ork. It has been a great pleasure to cultivate the acquaintance of Mrs. Keil Campbell, Miss Janet Banntrme.n, end others whose vivid recollections of Kildonan go back to the days before John Bl?.ck came to Red Paver. Then there are those who have some personal connection with the history of the early days. I have had the privilege of interviewing Mrs. F.H. Erancis, daughter of John Black, Mrs. W.R. Black, the daughter-in-law of John Black, llrs. Hart, tho widow of Prof. Hart, and Alexander liatheson, LL.B., son of Rev. Alexander Matheson. These and a goodly number of other fo k have placed we very greatly in their debt. FOREWORD I wish to pay special acknowledgment to Charles Napier Bell, LL»D», F.R.G.S., President of The Historical and Scientific Society of Manitoba, and to Mr. W.J. Healy, Provincial Librarian of Manitoba who have given me assistance in locating records and sources. Prof. Chester Martin, M.A., B.Litt. (Oxon.) and Prof. Daniel C. Harvey, M.A. (Oxon.) of the Department of History of the University of Manitoba have given me most valuable help. Rev. Charles ¥ Gordon, D.D., LL.D., has given me the benefit of his advice on certain critical points. Rev. A.B. Baird, M«A«, D.D., Professor of Church History, Manitoba College, has given me all possible assistance, not only in locating records and sources, but also by his keen and constructive criticism. My greatest obligations, however, are to four persons in particular. I am indebted to Rev. David Christie, D.D., of Westminster Church, Win­ nipeg, since it is his kindly indulgence which has given me^the leisure to persue my research and write my thesis. I am indebted to Rev. Prof. Hugh Watt, D.D., of New College, Edinburgh, and to Rev. Prof. James Mackinnon, Ph.D.,D.D., of the Faculty of Divinity of the University of Edinburgh, who trained me in historical study and method and who have adviied and encouraged me in my work. I am indebted to Miss Marian Ross who has acted as my secretary. Failing her painstaking work and cheer­ ful co-operation this final revision of the theis would laave been long delayed. Westminster Church, Winnipeg, March 14, 1928 THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN V/aSTSRN CANADA FROM THE EARLIEST TlF.'SS TO TH5 Y3AR 1881 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. THE HERITAGE Pa-S e 1 Kildonan - Old and New 1 "The Highland Clearances" 3 The Earl of Selkirk and his Colonization Schemes 4 The Presbyterian Tradition of Kildonan 5 CHAPTSR II. THE SELKIRK SETTLES AND Tffi] RSD RIV:R COLONY 7 "A tale of which no people need be ashamed" 7 Lord Selkirk's Visit to trie Colony 9 The Four Promises 13 The Disappointment at tne Want of a Spiritual Pastor 14 The Arrival of tne Rev. Jonn West 16 Anotner Church of England Missionary Arrives 18 The Series of Misfortunes and the Flood of 1825 19 The Petitions for a Minister of tne Church of Scotland 22 Negotiations to Secure Churcn and School Lots 28 The Arrival of the Rev. John Black - Sept. 19, 1851 30 CKAPTIR III. SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS LIFE IN TIL:'; RSD RIV^R COLONY 32 The Loyalty to Presbyterian Tradition 32 An Isolated and Secluded Colony 62 "The Western Arcadia" 34 The Social Customs of tne People 36 Tne Moral and Religious Discipline in the Florae Life 38 The Preservation of tne Presbyterian Faith 39 CIIAPTS?, IV. TIE EARLY JOHil 3LAGK PERIOD lSbi-1862 42 Rev. Jonn Black - "Tne Apostle of" Red River" 4-2 The Firct Presbyterian Service - Sept. 23, icbi 45 The Organization of tne Congregation 46 Tne First Presbyterian Communion - Dec. I-:-, 18ol 47 Plans for trie Erection of tne Churcn and tne Flood of 1352 49 The Church, the Manse, and the School 51 The Dedication of the Church 53 The Constitution of the Presbyterian Congregation 54 The Kildonan Session and Its Discipline 56 The Progress of the .fork in Congregation and School 58 A Varied and Hotable Ministry 50 :.'r. Black's Appeal for a Mission to the Indians 64 CHAPTER V. THE LATER JOHN BLACK PERIOD 1862-1S7Q 67 James Nisbet Appointed as "Foreign Missionary" 67 Mr. Nisbet 1 s Work at Red River 68 Mr. Nisbet Appointed to the Indian Mission 70 Alexander I'atheson Appointed to the Red River Mission 71 Services Opened at Fort Carry 74 The Erection of the First Knox Church 76 William Fletcher Appointed to the Work in the TkVest 78 John McNabb and D.B. Whimster Appointed 31 TABLE OF CONTENTS The Red River Rebellion Pa&e "The Kildonan Rising" The Erection of the Presbytery of Manitoba CHAPTER VI. THE PRESBYTERY OF MANITOBA -- 1870-1875 91 "The Formative Period of Our Church History" 91 The First Meeting of the Presbytery of Manitoba 92 The General Assembly of 1871 ^ 95 Rev. George Bryce Appointed Professor College Manitoba 96 The Progress of the Work at Knox Church, Winnipeg 98 More Men and More Support for Work of Home Missions 100 Rev. Thos. Hart Appointed Professor Manitoba College 102 The Induction of Rev. John Black at Kildonan 103 The Expansion of the Work 105 Two Church Commission Visit the Province of Manitoba 108 Rev. James Robertson Settled at Knox Church 110 Mr. Robertson 1 s Tour of the Mission Fields 113 Steady Progress in the Mission Work 116 Induction Service at Knox Church - Oct.14, 1874 119 Summary of the 7/ork of the Years 1870-75 121 CHAPTER VII. THE PRESBYTERY OF MANITOBA 1875-1881 124 The Flowing Tide of Immigration 124 The Home Mission Committee of the General Assembly 125 The Success of the Church Year 1875-76 127 The Objective of the Home Mission Committee 130 The Ghurch Year 1876-77 132 Better Financial Support for Home Mission Committee 136 A Widening Field of Operations - 1878 139 Five Missionaries Added to Presbytery Roll 141 The Outlook for the Year 1S78-79 143 "The Second Knox Church" 144 The Immigration of 1879 147 The Home Mission Committee in Dire Financial Straits 151 Ten Years Progress in the Presbytery of Manitoba 153 The Policies Developed in the Home Mission Y/ork 154 Appointment of Superintendent of Missions Suggested 157 The Home Mission Committee Meeting of October 1880 160 CHAPTER VIII. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF MISSIONS 163 The General Assembly of 1881 163 The Record of the Year's 7/ork 164 The Appeal for the Appointment of a Missionary Superintendent 165 The Overture of the Presbytery of Manitoba 167 Rev.