rf a A^|88Y JQoJMJ/ — HKcclC K. HAND-BOOK OF THE :fre: ID W .^i 883.®^ EDITED BY <x >**:« Rev. A^F.^EMP, LL.D., Rev. F. W. FARRIES, Editor Digest Minutes ofSynod Minister ofKnox Church. Pres. Church of Canada, &c. Ottawa. AND J. B. HALKETT, Of the Marine and Fisheries Department. H^lii"'""— J. DURIE & SON, OTTAWA, PUBLISHER^. Entired according to the Act of Parliament, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three, by JAMES B. HALKETT, In the office of the Minister of Agriculture, at Ottawa. PRINTED AND BOUND BY A. S. WOOC3URN, OTTAWA PREFACE. The Editors make no apology for the publication of this little book. It was felt by them, and many others, that the Church, by its several unions, had grown to such dimensions that it was difficult for the best informed, and impossible for the most part of its members, by any means within their reach, to obtain any conception of the extent of its field of operations, of its great schemes of Missions and Benevolence, and of the Legislative, Judicial and Advisory actings of its General Assembly. It there- fore occurred to them that no better way could be devised by which to represent the Church as a grand organization for the preaching of the everlasting Gospel, and the extension of Christ's Kingdom within the wide Dominion of Canada, than by preparing, with their best ability, the Hand-book now published. It embraces the leading features of our Presbyterian Church as a living power in the country, sets forth the covenants and condi- tions of our last glorious Union, and details, to an extent com- mensurate with the information available, the personel of our Ministry. The novelty of this last feature has, doubtless, pre- vented many brethren from replying to our queries, and left us only the items provided in our published records. But the in- terest of these biographical notices will, probably, when another edition of the Hand-book is called for, induce a larger number to furnish the personal items required. Advantage has also been taken of public sources of information, to furnish fuller particulars than required by the schedules of those of our min- isters, whose labors are worthy of special recognition. We have endeavored to present in collected form the judicial decisions of the Assembly since the Union. Its administration of justice and discipline is certainly one of its highest functions. The collective wisdom and learning of the Church, guided by the Spirit of Christ, is presumed to be afforded in these solemn deter- minations. They embrace subjects of faith, morals, and practical Christian life, than which there is surely nothing of more im- portance to the Church. In most instances the decisions are, happily, such as commend themselves to the conscience and in- telligence of Christian men. If any defect may be noted, it is that, in many instances, neither the facts of the cases, nor the II reasons for the decisions are recorded—no uncommon defect in the judicial records of Church Courts. In some cases it may, no doubt, be expedient to omit details in matters of discipline, but in most cases, a careful statement of facts and reasons is desir- able, and would give our Assembly's decisions all the weight of legal precedents. We have given also as full an account of our Colleges as our space would permit, and think that, from the facts furnished, together with the historical statements, inquirers may gather from our pages a fair knowledge of the high status and work of our University and Theological Schools. They cover our field from East to West, and are well worthy of the Church's liberality and esteem. They are as trees planted by the River of God, which yieldeth fruit in their season, and whose leaf fadeth never. Of our great Mission and Benevolent schemes we present an ample account. In a compacted form our little book exhibits what the Church is doing at Home and Abroad— from which it will be apparent that, while we have no reason to boast of our labors or our liberality, we yet need not be ashamed of our en- deavours. No part of the Church's duty is altogether neglected. From year to year our work is expanding into greatness in our hands. A dispensation of grace is evidently committed to us. Our record since the Union may well awaken devoutest gratitude to Christ our Head, for abundant blessings bestowed, and stimu- late our faith, zeal, and liberality to yet greater achievements. It was intended to give some sppcial account of the Litera- ture of the Church, which, although not extensive, is yet fully up to the mark of what may be expected in a young country. In the biographical notices will be found references to the publish- ed productions of our ministers, and the indications are that fruit of learning in Science and Theology is now growing which will ripen in due season. Meanwhile encouragement should be given to every endeavor to use the Press for the defence and dissemina- tion of the truth. It is not the purpose of the Editors to publish an annual volume of the Hand-book. If our present effort meets with approval, a new edition may, in two or three years, be projected, and which experience may enable them to publish in a form more worthy of acceptance. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 The Church—Its Constitution 1 2. The Church—Its Colleges '' ,; 3. The Church—Tts Ministers 150 4. The Church— Its Missions 254 5. The Church—Its Benevolences 6. The Church — Its Statistics 353 7. Miscellaneous Decisions. 359 8. Alphabetical Index 384 ERRATA. 33 add 6. The Presbytery of British Columbia in with the Chun h oi Scotland, 1 Mil bei — THE CHURCH—ITS CONSTITUTION. June 15th, 1S75. I. ITS UNION. Minutes 1875, p. 3. — At Montreal, and within the Victoria Hall there : Which <lay the General Assembly ol the Canada Presby- terian Church, the Synod of the Presbyterian Churcb of Canada in connection with the Church of Scotland, the Synod ol the Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces, and the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of the Maritime Provinces in connec- tion with the Church of Scotland, met according to appointment for the purpose of consummating the union ol their respective Churches. The Rev. George M. Grant, M. A., Moderator of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church ol the Maritime Provinces in connec- tion with the Church of Scotland, gave out the hundredth psalm, which was sung. The Rev, Principal Snodgrass, D.D., Modera- tor of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in con- nection with the Church ol Scotland, read appropriate passages of Scripture, and the Re\ . Principal Caven, D. D., Moderator of the General Assembly ol the Canada Presbyterian Church, en- gaged in prayer. The minute, adopted by each Synod, agreeing to the con- summation of union and instructing its Moderator to sign the articles of union, was read by the Clerks of the respective Supreme Courts in succession This minute in the case ot the Canada Presbyterian Church, dated the fifteenth day ol June, is as follows: — The General Assembly of the Canada Presbyterian Cbnrch, at its irn - tin month of November lasl year, having, after taking the neceasarj constitutional means for ascertaining the mind "t the Church on the subject, resolved to unite .villi the Presbyterian Church of Canada in connection with the Church ol 1 land, the Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces, and tin- Presbyterian Church of the Maritime Provinces in connection with the ('lunch of Scotland, on the ground of the articles of union agreed upon by the Supreme Courts of the negotiating Churches; arid having by the help of God completed all preliminarj arrangements, does now whilst recounting with fervent gratitude all the goodness and mercy vouchsafed to his Church in the past humbly trusting thai the Divine sanction will be given to the solemn and important step about to betaken and earnestly praying that the Holy Spirit in all his quickening and sanctifying influences may descend largely on the united Chinch- Resolvb, and hereby does record its resolution, to repair forthwith us a constituted Assembly to the Victoria Hail, the appointed place of meeting, for the purpose of consummat- ing the Union with the aforesaid Churches, aud of forming one General Assembly, to be designated and known as the Central Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada,— anil lines at the same time declare that the united Chinch shall bo considered identical With the Canada Presbyterian Church, and shall ]> issess the same authority, rights, privileges, and benefits to which this Church is now en- titled.— And further, with the view of ratifying the act of Union, the General Assemblydoes empower its Moderator to sign in its name the Preamble and Basis of Union, and also the Resolutions adopted in connection therewith. The Minute, adopted by the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces and the Sj-nod of the Presby- terian Church of the Maritime Provinces in connection with Un- church of Scotland, is of the same date, and couched in the same terms, the names of the Churches being simply transposed. That, adopted by the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Can- ada in connection with the Church of Scotland, is dated Monday, the fourteenth day of June, and varies from the foregoing only in the following particulars, in addition to the transposition of names, viz : —Instead of the words " to repair forthwith as a con- stituted Assembly," insert " to repair on the adjournment of the Court to-morrow morning." Also, after the words "and benefits to which this Church is now entitled," add " excepting such as have been reserved by Acts of Parliament." The Preamble, Basis and accompanying Resolutions, which form the Articles of Union, were read by the Rev.