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' ■ V'-: "^ax 26 X 30X ^/^ I i I 'i-i,^^l^^ 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32 X Th« copy fllm«d h«r« Ims botn r«pro^ \ ^ APPLIED MAGS Inc ^r 1653 Eost Main Street " r.S Rochester, New York U609 USA JS (7)6) *82-0J00- Phone aaS (716) 288 -5989 -Fox i: "' ./. "-W«-Tll,V 1# ^ .1 i ,^ ■. A . ••- PASTORAL LETTER , ■■■■ -.-.. ■ • *'•■". tothm; ASSEMBLING FOR WORSHIP AND EDIFICATION - ^ IN THE • UNITARIAN CHURCH, MONTREAL ) :t MONTREAL: PRINTED BY H. ht O. M. ROSE, 34 GREAT ST. JAMES STREET. 1853. \ f \ 1 J v; ■■s'- .1 ■'■' PASTORAL LETTER, Ac. i Christian Friends AND Brcthrgn, , '. ^ . ' , . • * ' ' ■■ ''■■'.' '■' ■■ ■ ■'■ ■ ' ' Ten years have elapsed to-day since I first appeared in this city as a Christian minister. It was on Sunday, 5th Nov., 1843, tliat I first stood in a very unpretending room in the square just below where our church now stands, to conduct the public worship, and take pastoral charge, of your con^r^tion. It Was not, I hope, without a due sense of the great re^Kpibility of the imdertaking that I left my native land beyond trab sea to enter on the work of the mi»istry here. Nor has it been, I hope, without a due-sense of the great responsibility of the office thut I have held it to this day. It has seemed to me good and desirable, that, at the close of a period often years, I should address you in some more special form, on subjects closely connected with th&interests of our wor- shipping society, and therefore I write this pastoral letter. I feel that the ten years juat past have been ten years of great import- ance in my life, and certainly they have been years of great importance, also, in your existence as a Christian body. It be- cometh us all to malrk the rolling years, and wisely note what we have done, and what we have left undone. I hope I shall not be tedious in this letter. 1 trust I shall secure yoiir attention / I A .h.: I ■S^' ¥ While I speak of topica of high and mutual 'nterest. May God gnat to me the spirit of wiado>n while I write, and to you the ■pirit of wisdom while you read, so that, writing and reading in the same spirit, wo may be moved to greater efforts in the cause of our Master, Jesus Christ— to more especial consecration of ouraelvea to the great and sacred ends designated by his gospel. The invitation on which I came here as minister, was signed by nineteen persons ; and, on my arrival, I fQund a congregation about three times that number. This number was not large, but * I trusted that they would make up in earnestness of purpose what they lacked in nimiericar importance. Nor is it improper to say here that I was led to indulge this hope from some communica- tions which were shown to me, addressed by one of your mem- bers to a friend in Ireland. The character of those commimica- tions influenced me considembly in accepting the invitation. Had I not seen ground to hope for efficient aid from those who called me, I should scarcely have ventured to enter on a work of so much responsibility as the permanent establishment of a Uni- tarian Congregation in this city. A minister, for th« success of his work in any portion of the great vineyard, must depend not only on himself, but on G!od,and on hisbrethren. He must look to God for help, in the first place ; but he must also look to his feUowmen, among whom his lot is cast. If these continue adverse or indifferent, the greatest efforts of his own mus^ needs fea of any satisfactory result From the suspected position which Unitarian views of the gospel still occupy in the general community, the difficulty of establishing a Unitarian congrega- tion is obviously enhanced, and hence a more obvious demand for earnest devotion and persevering coK)peration on the part of those who feel the want thereof, and desire the success of the undertaking. n • -4^ II • / .ww^Rf^'fP' PAITORAL LITTBR. I have received oflbctive aid in iny ministerial labors, from the symiiuthy and co-operation of those who called me, and from many others whose names do not appear at the invitation. Ten years have brought us many and trying changes, but they have also tripled the numbers on our congregational list ; and brought many friends to whom, oa minister, I am deeply indebted for their constant sympathy and unwearied co-operation. I feel > that it is to these, more than to anything else, that we are in- debte<|, under God, for whatever success has accompanied us. No one ought to appreciate more readily than a Unitarian minis- ter, placed at an ontpoat, the value of such co-operation. Largely cut off from the religious sympathies of the general community, he is thrown more entirely on those of his own people. Let him be ever so strong in body and miad, he will oftentimes feel his own weakness in the constant demand that is made on the resources of both. The weight of his' responsibilities will be- times seem cmshing to him. It is then, especially, that the sus- tained sympat^^^d'C6K>peration 9f his people become grateful and valuable. H^ir familiar and faithful presence in the pews is a source of strength and encouragement to' him in the pulpit. Earnest and interested hearers will make even a dull man elo- \>quent. While indi£^reHce in the pews, or absence from them, will gradually make an eloquent ^an dull. Even with little pretension to forcible speech, a sincere and conscientious minister may make the pulpit a place of high usefulness to his hearers. But the most commanding and persimsive voice will foil to move or instruct ^those wh(^ dp not feel sufficient interest to give their preisence and attention. In the comxnencement of any undertaMng, or the announce- ment of any novel views, there wiH always be a class of persons interested) on whom it would scarcely be safij to rely lor well- f •■./. r 'M :-■*>.. ',¥■ ir • ■'/ : PASTORAL l.rTTKH. lUBtained support mid co-tuK^mtion. . The wimiilli <»C tlioir first impuldo graduttlly cools down to hidifn'rericf, or otliir. interests spring up which attract juid nl>s6rl> the attention. A religious undertaking is fully as much oxiMwed to such drawlim-ks as any other. In 6ucJ| hn undertaking nothing iiut n prolbund and ubid- 'ingconvictionof its importance— -nothing hut a vcritolilc ionse of the value and |)ower of religion— can secure a well-sustained fidelity. And if all among us have not lieon e(|ually (iiithful, wo ought not dwell too much on this liict. Personally, I feel that I shoidd make great allowance ; for, indeed,! feel that great alloAvanco has been made for myself. ' > • , ■".■'■' ■..■.- • ■ . " . ■ . ■ ■ I ought to be very gratoftd to you, my friends, for your symr pathy and co-oi)rratiou during the last ten years. But you do not seek any thanks for doing' a simple duty. I caino here a perfect stranger to all of you, but you never let rfto feel that I was among a strange i)coi)le. , I ought to Ikj grateful \L you also for the generous fbrlK-aranco which hns lK>en extended to my lixilings. I have striven to go in nnJout among y^n as a minis- ter of Jesus, according to my own ideas of duty/ and as in the presence of (»od ; but freciuent and painful ha^ Ikjcu the con- sciousness of my own defects. You^ allowance for these defects lias been freelyand generously made. If any of you haveTooked ibr ready and availa!)le qualities in me, distinct from those which' pertain to my ministerial officd, perhaps you have been dis^^ pointed. This comes not from mere personal reluctanee^fniote general social intercourse, but from a paramoimt neo^ity of my own experienoc. I have sometimes found thot-itlntcrfered ^tji other objects of a higher necessity in thp^thful fulfilnient of, my office. I have recognised no distinction among you, rich or pooir. I have emleuvoretl to k«C»w you all, more or less, and I lielievc tlmt no mcmbci o^xt congrcgutioii is uukiiown to me. Itantorai. tKmtn. 7'- -V.v.'»- . 1 - . ■ ^liere wnul, ni^ sickiu-Hs, or .Hull(;rhiur, h»s Immmi (jn'senf, I luiv« " I'mieuvurod U» l«' pn'Mi'iit too, to toiult'r wimt help I iiiiglit. Bn|, wlicro none ol'tlicsc things oxiHted,! have lelt thut.my fVoi^ueiit presence was l««*8 necessary^ . ... ■ \ . .'■'■'. ■■ - , . %■...'-.■ . Knoii^h luus hviiix Mtii(l> however, oiVthis topic, so exclusively |iersonal. It in more fitting that we should look together^ the condition of our worshipping stJciety, and at its progress 'and *p^)ros|)ects. Ten years ago the place where our church building now stands ' was an unoccupied field. The city lay beneath it ; but above it, ond toward the mountain, there was little else than open country. Now, fair churches rise on ev^ery liand,and pleasant streets stretch in every direction. Herein we see tokens of the progress of our V city. In a growing compuinity we ought to have a growth of churches. It has been so here. 0f the whole , number of ehurches now in Montreal, Catholic and Protestant, one half has bceivetccted within the last ton years. Within this period we wre imrticiiittted in a fair proportion in'tlie general {progress. Ten years since, a very humble, hired room was our place of . worship. At that time the number of pur members was not more than a tjiird of wliat it is lo-day. Now, with, oi^r triple increase, wo liave a commodious and \vell situated churckf almost wholly paid for. At that time our Sunday School had only two regular teachers, and twelve scholars on its bodks. Now we have eleven regular teachers and sixty-five scholars. With one exception, the familiies of all these scholars have become connected with the cojigregation since the cornmence- ' . ment of my ministry here. At that time we had no adrainistra- t tion of the ordinances, while at our last communion season more than ninety ^xjrsons joined together in commemoration of the 8 T^ASTpBAL LETTKR. ■^^ Lord. At that time we had no legal cxistenco, but now wo have ftill legal rights, and stand on an equality with any other .religious denomination in the land.^ " . With such a progress we are justified iii regarding our congre- gatioh as a fixed lact in the coinmunity ; and it becomes us to consider the importance of this fact, not only to ourselved, but to others. I have sometimes directed your attention to its twofold importance. I have someUmes asked you to consider it not only with reference to ourselves, and our own locality here, but also with reference to Others, and other parts of Canada. The esta- blishment here of a libeml Christian xhurch, independent of priest, presbytery, or creed, and foimdod on Christ and the Bible only, will not only be of advantage to ourselves, who cannot accept the humanly constructed formulas of the more exclusive churches around us, by affording uis the usual privileges of social worship and instruction j but it will serve as a missionary station for the propagation of liberal and generous views of Christianity throughout other parts of the country. Canada is prosperous and progressive. Its ample territory is fast filling up. Its great forests, wid flowing streams,. and fertile acres,are attractingmany persons ftom other lands, and in these newly settled districts there will be many minds who will seek a more generous gospel than the popular orthodoxy gives them, else they will neglect and reject Christianity altogether. Now a congregation such as ours may do much towards the dissemination of more liberal Christian views, by the distribution of books and tracts, and by the migration of persons hence to other parts of the f^nntry. Something Iwis already been done in this way by the publication, for sixyears, A'«The Bible Christian," and by the sale of the books and tracts of Channing, Dewey, and Other Unitarian writers. Something has been done,also,by persons who have gone from this ■ i _. 1 '*■ ;v PASTORAL LCTTCA. 9 city to settle in more remote (list riets. For oureongrogatiou hoii nhviiys been more or less ilnetimting, nnd many pe);;sons who . have been won to onr vicMS here have gone elsewhere strongly impressed with their value, and desirous to explain them to others. I could name a great many places in Canada \vhere our •members have gone, and where they still abide, cherishing liberal Chriistian iwinciples, and making them knowm. Thus may our worshipping society become a missionary body, and as ; our country grows, it Sly help to e^^tend therein the knowledge I ■ ' ' * ■ * I of the pure and simple gospel of Jesus. The nxl vantage which our church affords to ourselves is more obvious and immediate; and scarcely rerOught forth the obscure metai)hysical doctrine of the Trinity ;-»-the doctrine of the strict Unity, I rejieat, is deserr vedly dear to us, but let lis use it, and build upon it, rather than dispute about it. ' The one God, whose name is One, has sjiecialty revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, and through him hath sjHJcially commended His love to us* He sent the Saviour into the world to make known to erring and sinful men the way of peace and salvation. Our Lord hath taught us that by fa^th and"|)eni- tenceand prayer, by devout communion, by unswerving recti- tude, and by ftctive love, we may become reconciled to the , Father, and be made partakers of eternal life. This is'the burden of Christ's message, and our organization; under a Unitarian or any other name, is useful to us only so far as it helps us tp accept and realize the divine significance of this goppel. We meet week after week that,we may worship God together, and help each other in the attainment of the Christian Life, When we thus assemble, Worship ought to be our leading ob- . j<.'cl, and the .Sanctuary of the Cluneh held sacred as the Presence 4 *' f r Is * » . ' -»*-.■ '■."■. ■ " ■• ■ .•• i * " . ■ ' - k ■ • ■ ',, . ■ -:^; : ■;[:■:.- ■•-.■■ ■'■■>■ ■-' ' '■ ■ % ' I ',':.-' ■; '■*."" \ - • • :■ ' *^ ■ :- ■ .. ■ "^^^ ^ Pastoral letter. ii Chamber of the Most High. Aji we enter the |iorUiU the^reofV our thoujght should be, . • ' \ • "Lo, God i* here, let ua adore.'*!: ■ -^\ . The sotting apart of one day in seven, for the more especial ser- vice of religion, is a most beneficial arrangement of Divine Pro- vidence. The worn body, and weary heart, of man alike rcciuire some such period of rest and religious refreshment. The Sun- day is the "Lord's Day" of the Christian Church, and when it is jrightly used it becomes the physical, mqml, and spiritual streng^ener 'to. every other day of the week. " Man cannot live by ratimd alone." Mere worldly thought and drudgery de- base the numan soul, and destroy its true life. And the more faithfully we employ the Lord's Day as a season for appropriat- ing to our soulis the divine Word which, came from God, the more are we strengthened to resist the temptations of our dail^ » experience— the more are we aided to an adequate apprehensiom of the profound significance and solemn responsibility of the life now given to us, and the better are we enabled to make our daily ^ Sphere of lajjor adivinesphere of duty,so that the life which how is, may become the earnest and preparation for the Ifie which is ■to come, : , "■-,; . . ■' "• -.■ ' • . -. <"V. Brethren and Friends, I commend these things to your thought- ful consideration. I do so with all affection and respect, and with the sincere desire that we may all be built up in devout- ness df spirit, and practical excellence 'of life. The worship of tne Sanctuary must be siistained and made efficient by the wor- ; ship of the closet and the home. Standing apart from all else, it may beof little usfe— a mere habit, or form. But thus sustain- ed, it willbe a help to all else. ; ♦ » y 1^ 1 cannot close this letter without expressing my unabated in- terest in your welfare^ temporal and spiritual. As 1 think of yoii. P ' \1 ' *pmm" ' f.» I I •; / 14 POSTSCRIPT. som^ in venerable' rfge^suine in the lull maturity of iwjtivtf life;. Bomeiw young men and youtig women just starting on lifeV eventful journey, and some as pleasant children of hoiKj and pro- \ mise, with a world of mystery w»BpiK?d up in young hearts,! confess I am often at a loss how to present the living Word, so that it may help, and quicken you as I wish. Be assured that your growth in Christian attaihment is to me the crjwn of my rejoicing. My highest desire for you and myself is, that we may be enabled to look beneath the syianis and shadows of life to its grand and lasting realities, and thus discerning what is divinely true, may be enabled to pursue it with a fidelity worthy the dis- ciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. • Believe me. Christian Friends, Ever youis, affectionately and respectfldly, Montreal, btii November, 1853. N JOHN CORDNER. i- POSTSCRIPT.^ The following is a copy of the Invitation originally fonvarded to me:--- ... .; ■■.■.-'■.. » " , "Montreal, J^/y, 1843. «We, the membei$ of the Unitarian Society of Montreal deeply soUcitous for the permanent establishment of religious worship, in accordance with our belief, in this city, and ftiUy impressed with the importance of having a settled minister among us, and being assured, by good information, of the minis- > ' ^ — ^. « \ -, !■■ \ •//C V ^ \'H ^ POSTSCRIPT. • • lA enttl abilities o^yon, John Cordner. lato «f Newry, Preacher of Oie Gospel ao hereby unite in' giving yo„ a Gall 'l beZt o«r and fifty ,x>„„ds currency per annum } and further, uix,n yonr « In>itilcss whereof we hereunto affix our respective names : Benjamin Workman* J. White. John Elliot. \ Asa Burroughs. .ToHN Johnston Beers.^ L. H. HOLTON. J I«EVI BiGELOW. Thos. Workman. Edmund Miles. Wm. Hedge, ^ " To the B«v. John Cordner, Newry, Ireland." V. E. Bate. Robert F^os^tk. I. It. Atwater. Edward Griffin. Thos. .T. Donoghue. William KiDD. .ToHN A'oung. ':.■■ Asa Willett. James DouGALL. Thirteen montfe previous to. the date of the forego,W the congregation w4, organised under the name of the « C„r,™*» UN.T..UN SocmxT or M„„,..*u" I^ distinctive ^Ij^ologiea, f^uX- "' *^ ^«"™"^ '"^« ^-^'"utiovLl „ ■ ^ ■:'::' ^'■'V " >■■■ ■^'■■' .' ;;.'~ - ' '■•■';•■'":: ■■'^- '' '-■'' ** Whereas a belief in the Unity of God —in ♦!,„ :i • i- ^ ^ of Jesus Christ.-a„d in the Lrip^l^^th^oia Zd f " Testarnent to the only rule of Faith and pL«« -IT f 7 mental principles of Christian TT.itfcV r '~*^ ^"'^'^ principled wefthe .mS^, ^ tuT*^'"" '"^ ..uselves as a Christian Sootty A. X^fe LT^X"" "' Comtitution," &c. .--^ • "'»'»«'•"» to the following ^F^^ohit appear, that .mrWrshippingSd^^^^ »Je.i.oi™i...r more than eleven yeanVstanding; '! . *' ■.«;' ,^-\-' 11 / I i% n 1 1 . .• : * V\' /. .y ■^ I ^■i; ■X, \ \\ :. \ -•■ ■ • ; :■ ' ' I ■ ' ■ /: . ^ V^ : " • ■ .' .. : , ■ ■ .V. ^ ■ ■ ■ / L 1 t • 1- : 1? • • ■.•■:. 1 ■-■ ■■/' ■ r:= ■-- ■ * • ; ■ " - ■ '-■■■?■* ■; ■ 1. i" 'i ■;■ f / '■ '. ''. ..'. ; ■':- *■ " • ';■. ■ \ \ '\ '■■■•■ " ■■■-.■" /'; .• ■,:-^'''" ■ V ■ ■ '.t 1 . 1 t ' ■,« r ■j ■ 1 V >» \ y l^'\