A
Methodist minister in this city on last Sunday preached a practical sermon on
giving help to others. He quoted that passage which tells us that we brought
nothing into the world and we take nothing out of it, therefore the folly of
hoarding up money for others to squander. While it is true that we can take
nothing out of this world, yet it is a duty as well as a pleasure we owe to
ourselves as well as to those dependent upon us to lay by a portion of our
earnings as we journey through life, so that when age or infirmity come upon us
we will not have to call upon the city for relief. And if there is no one
depending upon us, or if we have to leave it to distant relatives, what a
delightful scramble they have over it, and what pickings there are for the
lawyers! An old bachelor married a young woman whose home was within sound of
St. Paul’s chimes. It was a case of May and December, but December had the
wealth and May had youth and good looks. The old man left quite a fortune to
his young wife, and, besides that, her husband’s brother left a few thousands
which came to her. But a cousin of her husband’s, two or three times removed,
hankered after some of her wealth, and she butted with a lawsuit when the will
was being probated, declaring that the old man was not as sound of mind as he
ought to be, and the result was two or three years’ delay, a bench of judges,
and all the lawyers that could possibly get into the case, all doing their
level best to beat the young widow. To make a long story short, the case was
finally settled by the payment of a certain amount to the cousin, $15,000 court
expenses, and a few of the thousands to the lawyers. It is a hard matter to
make a will that will stick, so after all, so after it was not bad advice the
parson gave when he suggested that to spend a little in benevolence as one
passes through life is not an bad idea. Captain J. R. Foraker, of the United
States army, made a will in 1910, dividing his estate among his sisters and a
brother. A year or two afterward, the captain got married, but neglected to
make a new will or provide for his young wife, and when he died recently, the
will came to be probated, and his father, formerly Senator of Ohio, and his
sisters and brothers learned for the first time of its conditions. Did they
grab the estate, which amounted to $50,000, and leave the young wife penniless?
Not much. They promptly signed a voluntary waiver by which they relinquished
all claim to the estate, and the father is administering the will in the
interest of his daughter-in-law.
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Albert Bigelow, at
one time a leading merchant in Hamilton, brought nothing into the world, nor
even to the city of Hamilton when he came into it a young man from his home
across the seas. He began his business life in this city in a humble way, but
by careful management he accumulated a fortune of over $86,000 in the crockery
business. His store was on the south side of King street, between James and
Hughson. Albert Bigelow was an active man in the affairs of this city sixty and
seventy years ago. He was not much of a mixer among men outside of business
matters, but was always liberal in giving to worthy objects. He kept a bachelor’s
home on upper James street, and one of his greatest pleasures was to lay in a
hammock, swung on the verandah of his home, and keep time to the sound of the
chimes of the Church of the Ascension. Richard Juson, who owned the nail
factory on the corner of Cannon and Hughson streets, and also a hardware store
on James street, where now stands J. W. Robinson’s department store, was one of
the leading members of Ascension church, and presented the church with a chime
of bells, but through an error somewhere one of the bells was left out. Albert
Bigelow was a Presbyterian, and he had a horror of a chime of bells, as much so
as did the ancient Presbyterians object to the introduction of a “kist of
whistles” into the services of the church. But the chimes grated harshly on his
ears on the calm summer Sabbath mornings, and he would lay in his hammock and
keep time to the Runic rhyme of the bells.
“Damn-Dick-Juson-and-his-chime-of-bells!” The good angel no doubt marked out that
little damn, considering his beneficent gifts to the three homes for poor
children which were then in existence in this city. We have heretofore given a
brief history of Mr. Bigelow, so it will not be necessary to retell the story.
On the 5th of July, 1873, Albert Bigelow thought it about time to
settle his worldy affairs according to his wishes, so that there would not be
any litigation about the disposition of his property after he would pass away.
He had neither wife, nor children, having spent his life as a single man. It
used to be told of him that in his youthful days, he loved a beautiful girl and
that all arrangements were made for their marriage when the angel of death
called her home. He never loved again. Mr. Bigelow selected as executors of his
estate two prudent men, T. M. McKenzie, of Dundas, and William Proudfoot, one
of the leading attorneys in Hamilton, having full confidence in their business
ability that the trust would be carefully handled. He had two sisters living in
the city of New York, and to each of them he willed $10,000, and to his
faithful housekeeper, Margaret Hefferman, he left $1,000. The balance of the
estate, amounting to $65,106, after the repayment of the court costs and the
fees for the administrators, was to be divided equally between the Childrens’
industrial school, the Hamilton Orphan asylum, and the Boys’ Home. The
Industrial school is now known as the Girls’ home, 179 George street, the
orphan asylum is now known as the Aged Woman’s Home, 195 Wellington street, the
Boys’ home has kept its original name. Nearly $60,000 was divided among these
institutions through the beneficence of Mr. Bigelow, and yet the name of the
generous donor has long since been forgotten, and as none of the anniversary
occasions is even mention made of him. Rip Van Winkle said after his twenty
years’ sleep in the Katskill mountains, on his return to the village of Falling
Waters, ‘How soon we are forgotten when we are gone.’
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One day last week the
board of managers of the Aged Women’s home invited the public to attend the
dedication of the new wing that had lately been completed to the building. This
enlargement now increases the accommodation so that fifty or more old ladies
will have a happy home in which to spend the remaining years of life. It was
through the benevolence of Mrs. John Thompson, who died recently, that this was
made possible at this time. Mrs. Thompson provided in her will a gift of
$10,000 for the enlargement of the home, and an additional sum as a trust fund,
the interest of which was to pay the entrance fee of old ladies without money
or friends to pay for them. What better use could the kind-hearted Mrs. Thompson
make of her money than to provide for the comfort of those who might otherwise
be homeless. It beats giving to foreign missions. The other day when William
Vallance’s will was probated, the Aged Women’s home was not forgotten, for he
left $1,000 towards its endowment fund. The management of the home is in the
hands of a careful board of trustees of men and women, who not only give of
their time, but are generous givers of money. They will always be glad to
receive gifts of money to perpetuate one of the best institutions in the city.
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The Aged Women’s
Home, with the new wing added, is said to be one of the finest homes of the
kind in Canada, and the manner in which it is conducted and provided for is a
credit to the thoughtfulness of the men and women who have been its managers
from the day it first opened its doors
for the admission of its first occupants. Every comfort that money can supply
is provided for the dear old ladies, who otherwise might have suffered because
of their lonely condition. Mrs. W. C. Brekenridge, who has been an active
members of the board of managers for many years, read a very interesting
history of the institution from its beginning. While the names of some of the
early donors to the home are recorded in the minutes, from which Mrs.
Brekenridge briefly quotes, no mention whatever is made of the liberal donation
made by Albert Bigelow, which we learn amounted to over $17,000. Everybody in
the early days was interested in the orphan asylum, and liberal donations were
made. As the cost of the new wing was greater than Mrs. Thompson provided for
in her will, the managers have a deficit of some $6,000 to provide for.
Here is Mrs.
Brekenridge’s paper :
The erection of our
new wing has led to many questions being asked regarding the history of this
building. There seems to an impression with not a few that this home was once a
private residence, so perhaps a few extracts from our early records may be of
interest at this meeting.
The Ladies’
Benevolent society was organized in 1846, and in 1848, these ladies established
an orphan asylum, and in connection with it a day school for the children of
the poor. Through the ravages of the cholera in 1847 there were many destitute
orphans left upon the town who found a home in the orphan asylum, and over 100
children attended the day school; and we read that the public examinations at
Christmas in the city hall, showed the progress both in religious and in
general knowledge the children were gaining. With such numbers there was urgent
need for a larger building, and in 1851, the mayor, John Fisher, gave 100
pounds toward the erection of an orphan asylum. There were also donations of 20
pounds from John street Presbyterian church, 35 pounds surplus fund from the
Hamilton assemblies, and 10 pounds, 5 shillings from the Historic society. In
all, 681 pounds and 2 pence were subscribed, and the building committee –
Sheriff Thomas, John Fisher, John Young and Edward Jackson – elected the site
where we now are.
In the fall of 1854,
the building we now occupy was completed at a cost of 1,602 pounds, 12
shillings and 7 ½ pence, Mr. Fisher adding to his first gift 94 pounds for
fences and outbuildings, and Nehemiah Ford 10 towards the cost of painting and
glazing. The churches – Wesleyan, Knox, St. Andrew, Christ, Ascension and Park
street and John street Baptists – sent
their contributions to the work, and 8 pounds, 2 shillings and 6 pence were
received from the firemen’s ball. Through the influence of Sir Allan Macnab, M.
L. A., the first grant of 100 pounds was received from the government. In 1854,
free education having been provided by the city council and the Central school
opened, the day school for destitute children (or, as it was then called, the
destitute school) was given up and the orphans received the undivided attention
of the valuable superintendent and matron, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. The work of the
Benevolent society was actively carried on. Over 5,000 loaves of bread, 161
cords of wood, groceries, bedding and clothing were given to those in need.
The work was then, as
now, supported by the generosity of the public. In 1850, the ward collections amounted to over
200 pounds, and in 1854, in addition to the Building Fund, there were donations
of almost 600 pounds.
These few extracts
taken from the records of 60 years ago are perhaps of greatest interest to
those among us to whom the names of the early workers in this society bring
remembrance of kindred and friends.
In 1877, through the
bequest from Mrs. Edward Jackson, who had been treasurer from the beginning of
the society, with the addition of money bequeathed to the home years previously
by Mrs. Hess, additions and alterations were made for the Aged Women’s home
department of our work.
In the intervening
years, changed conditions brought changes in the character of our work. Many
societies have arisen for the care of the poor. The orphan now finds a home
through the work of the Children’s Aid society, and to us remains the care of
the aged and infirm.
The outstanding
events of this year’s work have been given to you in the reports just received,
with an account of the receipts and expenditures.
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On last Sunday the
congregation of the Macnab street Presbyterian church celebrated the sixtieth
anniversary of its organization, and a brief sketch of its history in these
musings may not be out of place. Nearly ninety years ago, the first
Presbyterian congregation was organized in this city, and a frame church was
built on John street, about the middle of the block where the Gurneys afterward
built their foundry. The members were mainly composed of Americans, and the
church was known as the Revival Presbyterian. John Fisher and Dr. Calvin
McQuesten, proprietors of the first foundry built in Hamilton, on the site
where now stands the Royal hotel, and J. P. Dickerman, were the founders of the
church, and the Rev. David Marsh was its first pastor. Dr. Marsh continued as pastor until 1835, when he was succeeded
by the Rev. Mr. Firman, who was pastor for about three years, and shortly
afterward the church ceased to exist. When the Methodists decided upon having a
central church down town, for the King street church was then far out, being on
the corner of King and Wellington streets, a number of members from the King street church leased the White
church on John street, as the Revival Presbyterian was then known by that name,
and what is now the Wesley church was organized. In the year 1833, the Rev.
Alexander Gale, at the invitation of seven persons, two of whom were
Episcopalians , came to Hamilton, and he held his first service in a private
home, the small congregation sitting around a table. In 1835, a frame building
was built on the site now occupied by St. Paul’s, and in this building Mr. Gale
preached acceptably until 1844, when the church in Canada was divided, and he
severed his connection with the Church of Scotland, and was one of the
twenty-three ministers who organized the Presbyterian church of Canada. The
majority of the congregation of St. Andrew seceded with their pastor, and out
of this condition Knox church was organized, the building on James north being
erected in 1845, the cornerstone of which was laid by the Hon. Issac Buchanan.
Mr. Gale occupied the pulpit of Know church until 1847, when he accepted the
chair of classical literature in Knox college, Toronto. Two other ministers
succeeded Mr. Gale as pastors of Knox church, and in 1854, the Rev. Robert
Irvine was inducted as pastor.
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The congregation of
Knox church being too large for the building, it was decided to buy a lot in
the south end, and Adam Cook, Robert Ewing and Donald McLellan were appointed a
committee to open a mission, and the present location of the Maccnab street
church was selected. The congregation was organized on the 29th of
August, 1854, and the first regular service was held in the old mechanics’
hall, now the Arcade department store. Forty-six members united in the first
communion service. Before the close of the year, a house of worship, capable of
accommodating four hundred people was built, only six weeks having been
occupied in its erection. In a little more than a year the house was found to
be too small to accommodate the increasing congregation, and in April, 1856,
the cornerstone of the present church was laid by the Hon. Issac Buchanan, and
it was dedicated in June the following year. The American Presbyterian
organization on John street, having sold its property, the proceeds amounting
to $6,000, were donated to the Macnab street congregation towards its building
fund.
When the disruption
in the Church of Scotland took place, the congregations which espoused the
cause of the Free church were left without houses of worship. Mr. Buchanan, who
was then the wealthiest merchant in Hamilton, announced that he would give $250
to every congregation which would built a church, the condition being that it
should be called Knox. When Knox college was established in 1845, Mr. Buchanan
gave a liberal sum towards its building fund.
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The Rev. David Inglis
was the first settled pastor of Macnab street Presbyterian church. Previous to
coming to Hamilton, he was pastor of St. Gabriel’s church, Montreal. In 1855,
he began his pastorate in Hamilton, and served the congregation till 1871, when
he was called to the chair of the systematic theology in Knox college. He was
one of the most lovable men occupying a pulpit in this city, and his
congregations on Sunday night were largely made up of young people who were
drifters, having no special church home. He had the happy faculty of drawing
this class to him and finally, many of them became members of his church. This
Old Muser often heard Mr. Inglis, and even till this day we have pleasant
recollections of the sermons he preached. When the new central school was
opened, with Dr. Sangster as head master, every Friday afternoons was given to
religious instruction of the children. The minsters of the city took it by
turns to talk to the children, and when it came Mr. Inglis’ afternoon the
scholars were delighted because they loved to listen to him. One of the old
boys told the Muser that he had never forgotten the kindly manner of Mr.
Inglis, and, often, when as a boy, when he was tempted to do some foolish act,
he would be restrained because he thought Mr. Inglis might not approve of it.
Mr. Inglis had the love and respect, not only of his own congregation, and when
he resigned his pastorate here to go as a professor to Knox college, a farewell
was tendered to him in Centenary
Methodist church, at which all denominations were represented, and he
was presented with an address and a purse of one thousand dollars in gold. He
only remained with Knox college for a year, when his ability as a preacher
attracted the attention of the Dutch Reform church in Brooklyn, New York, to which
he accepted a call, and remained there till he was called up higher by the
Master.
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The Rev. D. H. Fletcher,
who was then a young minister at Scarboro, Ontario, where he had labored for 12
years, was then called by the Macnab street church in February, 1872, and was
inducted into the pastorate in the following May. When his alma mater conferred
upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, upon his return home the
congregation gave him a cordial welcome and presented him with an address. The
young people of the church also took part in the pleasant services, and added
as their mite a valuable gold watch, which the good doctor always prized. On
the 25th anniversary of Dr. Fletcher’s pastorate, the congregation
showed him their good wishes by presenting him with an address and a purse of
$800 in gold. At the close of the year 1904, Dr. Fletcher resigned the
pastorate, which was accepted the following January. The congregation in
appreciation of Dr. Fletcher’s log pastorate provided in part for his future by
making him an annual allowance of five hundred dollars a year.
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It is not often in
these days of changes that a congregation will sit for fifty years under the ministrations
of only two ministers This the Macnab street congregation has done. Mr. Inglis
and Dr. Fletcher rounded out fifty years, and now the third minster, the Rev.
H. B. A. Ketchen, has put in ten years of his ministry with the people of
Hamilton. He came here as a young man, this being his first charge, and the
congregation have taken so kindly to him that the prospect is good for him to
spend the remainder of his ministerial days here. It is like getting back to
the old days of Presbyterianism where the pastor begins his work when a young
man with his first or second congregation, christening the babies, taking them
into church membership at the proper time, and when the summons comes standing
by the grave to say farewell and speak words of comfort to those who mourn. Mr.
Ketchen is a preacher of ability and under his ministrations the congregation
keeps on growing, and by-and-by the church may get too small to accommodate the
increase.
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Macnab street church has
been a blessing with liberal givers all through its history. When a new Sabbath
school room, or a new vestry was needed, this money was forthcoming, and when a
bell was thought necessary and an organ for the church, generous men and women
furnished the necessary funds. The bell was the gift of James McMillan of
Detroit, who in his youth attended the church. The handsome manse, costing
$4,000 was built during the last year of Mr. Inglis’ pastorate, and was
occupied by his family.
Of the original
membership of the church and who partook of the first communion service held in
the Mechanics’ hall, only two survive – Mrs. J. R. Cook and John Taylor. Macnab
street church is the mother of two churches, St. John on the corner of Emerald
and King street, and St. James, on Locke street.
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