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1
WHAT NEXT?
— OR,—
SHALL WE HAVE A M^-^SIONARY BISHOPRIC ?
^ i.r.rri^!; ai)1)I!K5:->ed to tiik jiiostiiiuis of thf. ciiuiicir ok KxiiLAxn, caxada.
It is now iibout a yciu- sinco 1 publislici my '■ Letter, " entitled
" Missionary Bisho|)S ; a Tlea for Iiuliiuis and Immigrants, particularly
in the Algoina district." The oijject of that "Letter" was to arouse
attention to the religious necessities of a largo and rapidly growing
population, in a new section a the Dominion; and to jiroposc some zeal-
ous and united course of action by which the wants of the people may
be supplied, and the growth of the Church be made contemporaneous
with the growth of the countr}'.
Tliore is some reason to hope tiuit the " Letter" may yet prove as
"bread cast upon the waters." It evidently touched a responsive chord
throughout the Church. At our dill'erent Synods, held s'.ortly after tho
issue of tho "Letter," the sulycctof a Missionary Bishop for Algoma
was introduced. In each case a resolution was passed, approving of
the project, and apjiointing a Committee to confer with other commit-
tees in making preliminary enquiries and arrangements. Without any
formal meeting of these Committee.,, the subject was thrown by tho
Houso of Bishops on a .special meeting of tho Provincial Synod ; and
without either any clearly defined plan of action, or any guaranteed
fund for its support, the Algoma District was constituted b}' thatSj'nod
a Missionary Diocese, for which a Bi.shop was eventually, with somo
difflculty, elected. No eltbrt has .since been made to rahso an endow-
ment for the Bishopric; with singular inconsistency, the Provincial
Synod left undetermined the bounds of tho diocese, tho amount of in-
come for tho Bishop, the modo of its payment, and a dozen other ques-
tions which were intimately connected with tho practical organization
of tho scheme; after long deliboi-ation, tho, clergyman elected to tho
oirico of Bishop, has seen lit to decline tho responsibility and honor;
and here wo are to-day, not only without a Missionary Diocese, without
a Missionary Bishop, and witliout even the shadow of a fund for the
support of such a movement, but practically farther otii from tho object
sought than wo were b'^fore tho special meeting of the Provincial
Synod, with less sympathy and interest, and with more division and
alienation among the members of tho Church in general.
Such a fact is certainly not very creditable to us. It nTakcs one blush
to think of all tho apatliy, and discord, and vaciHation, and complica-
cations, whicli have characterized this very simple ]iroposal. Tiiat a
movememt so obviously necessary, so imperatively called fir, so
auspiciously begun, and so eminently calculated to evoke gonorous en-
thusiasm, should so signallj'' fail in even its preliminary stages, is sug-
gestive of either very bad managomont, or very deticient zed. Thero
can bo no question that a gross blunder has been made somewhere;
ero can be no doubt that better arrangements must be made in the
'/Id* UYS
y^Ti^y
movement. Tho
n'ard of tho action
anco I have no other object in view than tho efficiency of the CI 3,
and tho moral improvement of tho ornntrv r ' %.' _ •>" ^^ ^"^ <^»"i-t'h,
and forgotten. Ti^c^' 1^ dt k e sli tler'of' thjf ""1?^^ 'l"''"^
and energy wo can command may be req^ulrecl to meef h \ S?
last summer, and al«o at tho Clerical meetinr^ of tC. n P"^ "^
by A\ Inch all tho preliminary inquirv should bo made and . <^.!;
necessary information should be collected • and bv vhi^h 1 ^
pared, and carefully digested scheme should be ai^an" I bo h fo S"
ing an endowment, and for carrying on the future woHfoft^eM^.i'n"
The report and recommendations of thisCommittee,-^^; pre 'en ted T";
it was under.stoocl that a gront of £050 s?erli g S c"n nnd" bv the
Propagation Society on condition that within tlu-eo year^ le C'ln^d Jn
Church should raise £4000, tho assumption was. tL the first S
would and should bo in this direction. ^ ^^'^^'^
Such a course scorned very direct and simple. It would have r^vn
vented hasty legislation; it would have secured a liberSldowmr.t
i^ri:; ^^^:k 11;: -x:^n!;:';S.s;t'"£S
gravest inconvenionces have arisen. The instructions of the Diocesan
bynodsworo (iisrogarded; the functions of the Committoos appointed
by those Synods wore {.ignored; tho proposal to raise an endowment
was thwarted and thereby the grant from tho Propagation Society en-
dangorod; and, in short, tho whole thing has boon so complicated and
80 mismanago.l as to injure an enterprise which promised the hapiM-ost
been b;:?"n "" ' ''''''"'^'^ "''"" '"''''° ^''"'""'^ ^'^ which !t had
I believe m-o all deeply mourn over this result. There is not ono
amono-st us who did not desire the success of the Al-oma Mission and
who was not prepared both to give and labor to ensure this success
JUKI however .nueh some may have regretted the precipitate action of
the Provincial Synod, all were anxious that an arrangement arrive S
with so much difficulty should be honore.l and snsTained. It is now
useless to complain; it would bo criminal to censure and reproacjT
What has been done was done with the best motive. If we have <rono
oZ^V< ''' ^n ^^''tJ^ ^^ ^l^«»-« to do right; and allowing that'-ou?
efforts have so far been unsuccessful, and that an unexpected difficultv
now s ares us in the face, still our duty is, as men of business, and men
of faith, o make the best of untoward circumstances, and to'enderor
by united counsel and courageous action, to surmount the dan ere, and
to place the enterpnse he.iceforward upon a sure and satisfactoPv basis
The bishops of ho Church are no more responsible for doing tliis than
the humblest of their clergy, and tho poorest of the laity. We have «
common interest in the matter. It appeals to the sympathy and 3e?o
tion of all : and if we are sincere and earnest in our wishJs, wo shall
not be long ,n devising means to extricate the Church from i ts ^'esent
unenviable position, and to made the Algoma Mission a cert dn and
glorious success. ' .n-ci tain ana
As the first recessaiy sfep,it appears tome, there should be without
nny delay, a meeting of the combined Committees to M-hich /elr'nce
has been made In such meeting the whole question can be an i -ably
and candidly discussed ; and by such discussion a practicable plan for
future action may be evolved. There is no justifial^lc reason for Vnor
ing those Committees. They were appointed by their respccti4 Synods'
to perform a prescribed work. The Synods will natural y expo Yfrom
them a report of thcr proceerlings. Is it to be then said' that 1 ^i- ex
istence was never recogniml, that their cO-operation was never re-
quested, hat their opinion oven was never asked ? Such a pre'enH
tion would not be very complimentary to the Synods, and£su,edly
And'fi'^' flattering to the members of the Coihmitt^es them Ives
And there IS danger of such an undesirable report. The Commi tee;
are without doubt accountable to their Synods.^ If they arc not o'n
and for such an outrage some reason must be assign d. It is s urolv
Tike' hr^'' f' provoke any collision on a point of ^auth^rity and o cle?
hkethis and whether the Committees can do anything effectua or
not, It will cerlainly be better that they should have an oppo ' uni'ty of
can-ying out the instructions they received. Had the arrCemin^t of
the Prov.nc.al Synod remained good, I hoped that the co-m^er.Sion of
the General Committee would have proved serviceable to tho bi.hnn
and h,s diocese ; but now that that arrangement has faUen hrou h ?
maintam that the action of the Committee^ismoro nece sa^v tl an^ ^Z
^^ e have m reality to begin the whole subject afresh. There nothing
actually done. There is no bislion, no diocoso no fnn.I „« ,i.
regulation of any kind which wiU^ineet t^o cMne gen y •' and S is
no the opportunity Ibr the n.ombers of the Committees ?o c nS ti
gether-accord.ng to the resolutions of the SynoJs-tl.en I can ot con"
wll-itZw*; T r"''"? '"".V '^'■i^e. and it is in.possible 10^1 Jor"
what reason the Cummittuo was ai)nointed at all Wonl.l fi.ol i
advantage in a free intercha..ge of o,.inioV be woen ^ In 1 . ' "*?
the clcrieal and lay members tt' the d-nlmUte V^ is U n^'K"?
fmt!l?f n H '"'" """f "■'^'''•■■^^^"'di"^' ^vbout the manner in wlicirio
egregious blunder of asking an/numbS'of" ' " o^^gi run'^U ed
parishes and comfortable homes, and to endure toil, and sLride« .md
^et If ' ,n adequate provision ' is to bo made, vvl.o is to make it^ ind
how IS It to be n,ade ? Is it to I e by volunf rv c,,. f ..il., • v /i
where is the organization for collectin-.'? O is^ to j *: ^ « '^'"'l
on the Synods v then who shall deteTmine u" pr ^ '^tit . 'r^'S
Iheso questions are not wholly irrelevant. TheV ' mist be d sci s'cd
some tune; they must bo decided by s„me power 'imil\UUunff
the time of the Synods and facilita^ the aJMmJnS 1 d liouUy ^
the properly authorized Committee should ineet at once, am f or maf
ture inquiry and deliberation, prepare some scheme vh cl t nnv
recommend for adoption by the Diocesan and Provincial Synods ? ^ ^
And what course may it bo advisable to adopt, in the interests of the
Church should the Committee be convened, o!- 'should o m tter be
deferred until he meetings of the Synods ?' Shall we su pe the en
terprise in de erence to some new and higher claim? o 's lal it be
prosecuted, under new conditions, and with greater vigor ? Tl cre\ o
three courses open before us, upon one of which we must decide We
may either abandon the idea of a Missionary Bishopric h Ala-oma nnd
eave the district, as at present, witliin the^^irisdiition of the & o
diocese; or the district may be left as a Missionary dScSe alreadv
constituted, in the hands of the Provincial Svnod ^.,l.w< f^ Vi , ^^"."^
of a Bishop when that Synod shall nle"; acCHn^t^ h l! ^^^
Canon provided in such cases ; or the Synod of "the Toronto dioceo
may claim to exercise control over the' district, as it has never vet
formally surrendered that control ; and in view of the com plica ions
which have taken place make a separate and independent S'emen
for the appointmen of a Sutlragan or Missionar • Bishop fo Al "on?a
and B^S:: "' '""' ''"'^"^"^ i^'^^«^' ^'^^^^•^•"g '- i ' olcauZ
Tliose alternatives open up the question in every possible li..hf -ind
upon each aspec , as thus presented, I must presume to ay a Wv words
^IZT^^''"'^' ''' ''''' of preparing fo'r immediate 'oifuhu-edll!
The first proposal implies an abandonment of the scheme It his
beer, suggested that after all tlie Algoma District is not he pron sh'^
held for the Church we liave represented it to be. The po, S on if
imi ted; the land is not fertile; the number of Chiu-ch^ 2m bers L
small; the facilities for travel, and the means of communSon nie
unsatisfactory ; and, finally, there is no prospect of any iS deveron-
ment and growth in the resources of the country, or in thcf extent of its
-
'
/•'.
populution It would bo better, thoroforo, to loavo untouched the ro-
mtion ot Algoiua to tlio Toronto diocoso, und in plaoo of a Missionary
Jiishopnc for that district only, to mako a division of tho whole dioocso
accordni.£? to tho plan elaborated by Dr. Lett, leaving Algomu to form
an essential part of tho Northern Division oi- Dioce"e.
This pioposnl has he(Mi gravely made sinco tho present complication
lias arisen, by moro than one member of the Church, whoso zeal for
missions, and whoso anxiety, os|)ecialIv, for the ovangelizution of tho
Jndiai* tribes, no one would ever call in question. 'The suirgestion,
therefore, IS not to be summarily dismissed ; and vet it can never bo
Horiousiy entertained. Were it adojXed, it would 'imply the severest
condemnation and censure upon all our proceed. n-s diirin.^ the last
year, and upon much that has been said and done on manv former oc-
casions. \\o should stand convicted by our own act of vacillation of
purjM)se, of ])recipitancy in legislation, and of a positive misreiu-esenta-
tion --. facts; and this surely is a condition to which none of iis would
willingly bo reduced. It is too much to ask that wo should thus stultify
ourse ves l.-fore the public, that we should thus throw di>cre(lit upon
tlie Church, iind that we should thus sacrifice our claim to confidenco
and respect.
Is thero a proper reason for this suggestion ? Arc the fact^ of tho caso
as they arc here represented? Most certainlv not. In years lon^r
mico past. It was held by the Bishop, and by tli"e Syn-d of the T.n-onto
Uioceso,— as well as by competent and disinterested observers not con-
nected with the Synod at all,— that thero m\s a prima facie irvoxwd—
tint there was an imperative need for missionary exertion throughout
he whole of the Algoma District. As I have previously shown, tho
late bishop of loronto was intensely anxious for the establislnnont of
a Missionary Bishopric at Sault «to. Marie. In a Pastoral letter, dated
Jaiiunry 1 .ih, 1854, his Lordship makes special rcforenco to the snb-
ject ami tliua discnsscn the question of wavs and means for the supnort
of the Bishopric: l'l"^'it
Snl?"/-'^'*'"'! l" *''« ^'«''"I"-ip of St. Mary, though not plnccd uith tho other thr.
Sees U IS not to bo forjrotton, an.l n,ay bo endowd a.s follows: First, we have tho
iXr. hT r"'" ",'V°"'^ ^'l'!''" ''- ^"""•'''' '•^'''^■''' t''""S'^ "f verv small amount
will nevertheless yield something, and will increase. Second, we have ti,e ho no of
8omo e.xces8 oyer the fifty thonsand pounds, a portion of which, and su h a Ll
percentage on the whole nrnount, as the Synod may seem fit to diduct, may l,oth be
to S t "''f ./•\':'>ll'^^;^'d in tho Diocese. We have reason to look for special giS
Sr^l in F • "'7^''°"^ tie great Church Societies and other liberal and pfous
H Xi%i ,"'''r'''^'T?. '^ '' •^'^■^'•''"* f'-""* t»>« other Sees in this: that U°n-
Shn n " ''^'"th^'^r Indians, for whose benefit it is more particularly intended
care In ? '1'"}' ^Z ''?,^'^^'-'Y"' ^'°^ *''««« throe sources bo in.sulticient, let thcrn be
carefully vested and allowed to accumulate til!, from accruing interest and occasLal
ofFcT.ngs, tho endowment shall be secnred. In the meantime the See may be placed
natefv''^Intb','.^"l\°PV' Toronto and London, as more adjacent, to 'vis t^^'e.^
?he aiurcb 2 W^? r ^"^' ^'^''"P"^^ ^'""Id ^'^ placed on a permanent basis, and
the Chuich of Western Canada would not only find friends on all sides readv to assist
^:7^:^i^^zii^ ^'- -""^ '^--" -^ «p-*-'« «^ ^-'p ^ntertr^s
This is language sufficiently expressive of the wish of tho Bishon
and of the practicability of hi.s scheme. At a later period, he renewed
Ills appeal in a manner which proved no diminution of interest or zeal
on 1)18 part, although the desire po fondly cherished remained un^rrati-
hed. When addressing tho Synod in 1862, his Lordship again snoke
if anything more emphatically than in his Pastoral of 1854^ ^ '
Till) Synod is uwarc that when in London in 1850 ho had called the attention of
. n-f f"''-I' «"."'.«f'''»-|' 'o "'" vast extent of the IJioeeRo of Toronto, and Miggested a
) >. for itH division into four separnte dioceseH. After many delavs and much trou-
nl. „ A'r"^' """-n ''"? ''■" J'"'"*'"' '"-' '""' ^'^^ ««ti8factiou to behold three of thcHO die
^n« ^1 V,-r"' .'"TS^" ""^ Ontario) fully cstabliHh.d ; hut the fourth See, or the pro.
posed Uishopno of hte. Mane, was still in abeyance, and yet • • • he still
7n,'wl nw'l" ''^''^^''^ f''«* i' «'""'<• l-^'come the sent of a Bishop of the Church of Kng-
n r ,T"' ' ."• -"'*i''^ "."*■ "^" *° *''^'' '*« ftfcomplishnxnt. He ought, in.lecd, to
1.1 1 .r "."i''"'"-''!.'" •'•■'vmg been in some degree instrun.ent.il, through God's
Denignant Irovidence, in establishing three out of tiie four dioceses proposed in 1800
ZZLli" .••etft'D''^ I* yearning desire to do sometliing for Ste. Marie before his
departure, and it was <'m which prompted him to touch upon tlu^ subjrct. It was
♦,^H,*i'n' ' ' ? ■ '?"'''• ^'-''T'' '" """' " ^'"■e^' "«>'' ""'' '"• '^I'li'ed fur tlu. religious
f ?. .f "'ll ^''V''^"""" "f ^'^'"'■tl' Western Canada. The r.gion, of which it was
« Hl,i^ r,y ^ "?'".'''' "''""'* i'K'.xhaustnblc f r the most extensive agricultural
Ln , f 1 / ""» "","'"^' establishm. nts without number, especially in copper ami
Hnmn n 'Vi"' :i"'*'">. ""K''* *" """^ l-e prolitably erected along the banksof Lakes
iluion and bupenor, and the adjacent islands."'
Is it nocossai-y to refer to the reports which have hooii iirosoiilcd,
ana to the resolutions which have imnscd, at (iilloreut iiicetii.Ks of both
the J rovincial Synod and tlic Synod, of the Toronto Dioco>c ? Do thcv
not all s].eak the same langiia^re? Do they not all proclaim tlio sainc.
neea/ J)o they not all propo.so the .same su])ply 'j- Ami is it to be,
supposed that for more than twenty years the Church has been under
a delusion? that the Eishop was mistaken? that the Svnods were de-
ceived f and that after all, the Indian iriijcs, and the "white settlers
01 Ali^oma, were better otf than their bi-elhren in otiier ])laces, and had
no claim for special exertion on their behalf? The Ihouf^ht is inadmis-
Mt>lo. AH the evidence wo can collect justilies the action which was
taken or proposed ; and ii twenty years a-o the Eishoi. of Toronto
thou^rht It advisable to cstabii.sh a Missionary Bishopric at Sault Sto.
Mane, Iho neces.sity has not been reduced diirino- that period, and tho
'r?" n' '^ '-^ greater than it has ever been before.
Iho District ofAlgoma is now more settled, and more accurately
understood, than it Las heretofore been. We liave tho evidence of
private i/arrativcs, and of oflicial documents, to guide us in our judg-
ment; and do t,^ ^^^^ ^^^ speak of a great, of a growing, and of "a
needj district ? Tho first volume of the Census of 1871 is now before
nie , and imperfect as it may be in .some particulars, it contains a mass
ot tlio most valuable information, for those who will give themselves
O7ro-''«n'. ^"^ '"''-'l' '^- .^^c''"i-di"f,' to tlii.s, Algoma has not less than
-<0Uo,b02 acres of territory. A large portion of this is admirably
suited for agricultural ])ursuits, whilst a still greater proportion
abounds m mineral ore of different kinds. In 18G1 the population of
Algomawas 4,916; whereas in 1871 it had risen to 7,018' In reality
the increase had been greater than was thus represented ; and with tho
addition which has since been made, wo may, at a very moderate esti-
mate put down tho present population at near 10,000 The increase
18 still going on.jDcrhaps more rapidly than during tho ten years which
elapsed between 1861 and 1871 ; and the prospect of an increase was
certainly never more encouraging than now. According to the latest
returns, puolished in the Globe, and other newspapers, the mines are
becoming increasingly productive, and are likely to attract a larger
number of laborers. The commencement of works in connection with
the Canada Pacifac Railway, must ere long give an impetus to emigra-
tion which will tell powerfully on the future of the district. At Prince
Arthur 8 Landing, at Sault Ste. Marie, and at other convenient points,
R
I
thoro is a^vomuii activity in l.uil.lin- I.omsoh, and in C!u-rvin-on fnulo-
urn w.othoi. ovuot my opinion bo rocoivoa'as l.nso.l u,^ "^a /t ai
probability or dcnoiinml as tbo .Iroa.n of an ontimsias , I am s ilM?,
cl.ne,lt,e.tb.nlc that dnspiio all its .irawbaok., Ali,^,ma s du.ti o I to
bocomo a populous, a flourishin,;., and a pon-errurdistri,.t in tbo J)o
Tho HtatlstiVs of roli^Mon, as furnishcl in tho Consus, aro cuallv
i H (r.u ;?.;. '"' "' ' ;" '?•><") ..opo.,od as tbo ,.opula.ion; Ino J Z
J JDO aro put down a. Roman Calbolics, ab mt 1()2() as bob, u^in-r (o tho
Clu rob ot Kni. and, r,S;j Motbodists 227 Pmsbytonans, and fn mil ti n
i« i i nf in V l"'"!"?'"'^''^"^'" of P''«'lbssod Koma., Catholics aro
n?., ; M " "'"'" ""^";:"^""t^ "<■ Manitoulin, and West Altroma,
many of tlu-so persons aro ^Mll to bo vo<rtivd,d as in volvod in tbo iunoranci
and suporst, .on winch bavo always boon cbaractorisiic of tho In iaa
vU^" /: "•"''° ""^' "'""' '''"""■- ^''^""' 1^'^'^P'" '^ 'i«l^' f'"- roli^no, s c
f I , ;.r ":"'''^'*^"'"-.>' ^;"t^-'T'-iso ? Do not tbo mombors of our own
Church roqu.ro spiritual ovorsi,i,M.t and instruction ? A.-o not ibc poor
Ucdudod boathon to bo educated and civilized? Shall no , r. v I b'
nado tor the spiritual necessities of tho people who n.av vet nowd . „v
tho shores of ,ho Goo.-nian Jiay, on tho banks of Lake Suj.erior, a. on
ual y ban by tlu. appointment ol'a Missiona.-y l!isbon, with an adern.ato
wiio will bo devoted and zealous i.i their work ?
_ Jt does appear to mo, that this is our truest poliey, that this is our
imperative duty. _ Tbo Roman Catholics are aliv'o to^t u impo tlnce of
a B.shop .vs.dent in their midst. The MethrKlists and Presl y or a . a?o
oaci s riv.n^r for o,-ganization and pro^-rcss throu-hout tho district
And why may not wo omulato their zeal ? why may not wo oUow t oir
oxamplo ? why may not wo seek by bold and united c»b.-t to re iVo
tho dream of years and to mako our Church oventuallv co-ovfen ivo
with the disr.ct? Whatever i-easons may havo influenced the mind of
Bishop bfachanm desiring tho establishment of a Missionary Bi 1 op -ic
or whatever .motives may havo prevn'-.d with tho Provincial 4nod in
Docemoor last in setting apart Algom.., .,, a Missionary Diocese I main
tain e.Kist now with double force ; and it is simply impo!S^h™tvo'
rZ'cUn; r'' l«^^f^"^«» ^'^ on-.orpriso,^vftbou't unfa tl ',.1,^
to tho Church, and without a criminal indifference to tho spiritual
necessities of a vast district of our country. ^
When these reasons arc combined, they will form a sufficient .n-ound
ZtZ'^T'^'^'^^-f''^'^''''''''''? ^ havo mentioned, and for pl^S
that tho Algoma Bishopric may bo speedily and successfully estiblishcd
With this assumption, the second point raised requires to bodiscussed'
Iv irh''T tho project to tho decision and contVol of tho Provrdal
Synod, by whom another bishop may be elected, and by whom the
Ihei would bo obvious advantages in such a course. When this mov/
S:nod:"JTT '^''''' "^"' '^''''^''' ''-'' t^ "-to, if P0.S8 bio alTthe'
Sjmods of the Province in one great missionary enterprise, independent
?r^ilt nU-'^^T """'"^^^ ^ ''''' ^^'^'"•'^^•3^ ^''^'<^^^^ Missions ; and wS
^^i^nnH "•?• "'^ ^'^Jf "^ '"*« " ^^«^«'g» Mission, Worthy of our charac-
ter and position.. an<! .analagous to the Foreign missions of the Church
8
nt TTonio, or tlio Cliurch iti (hu United Stales. It ncomod to tho writer,
at leuHt, tliat tlioro wuh dan^'or of our beoomirif,' wtinowliat inoiatcd and
excliiHivo in our j)iiroiy DioccHan woriv, and that tlio time \va,s approach-
in^, il indeed it liad not already arrived, when wo hhonld prepare to
lake our pan, with olhor ehurehe.s in tho cvnnL'elizution ol purely
heathen lands-ns India, or China, or Africa.
Tho Canon proponed hy tlio IIoiiso of IJi^hopM ihv (he ai.poindnent of
MiNHionary iii.slK)pHapj,eare.i adniiraiily huited to fi.eilitatu (his work.
VV hy not Hcouro its eondrniation, and at onco take advanta;ro of its pro-
visions y in Al!j;onia we loiind a population, ])iirtly heathen and partly
civilized, amon^r whom n few missionaries had been lalorin^' (iir lor(y
years, and where for twenty years it luid been thou-^dit advisabjo to
create a Missionary J5ishopric. Tlie dislriet belon-ed; it is (rue, to tho
loronto diocese, tho Bishop and Synod of which liad so far exercised
jurisdiction over it, and provided funds and ^ervice for it. r>ut were
not all our churches interested in the conversion of the Indians, and iu
the cstabiisiiment of the Church in a new territory ? ]\Ii^lit not ail bo
willinj,' to contribute tor tho HU|)port of ii Missionary Diocese based upon
this principle, and having' in view this object? Would it not bo iH.ssi-
ble by a j.roper svHtcm of organization and ctlbrt to raise an endowment
tund suiliciently larno to meet ali the requirements of the Mission?
and as the fund became en!ar<,aHl, and the chiims upon it of tho fir.4 Mis-
sionary See were ]-educcd, by independent Uiocesan coiitribnlions, could
It not bo mado available for tho commencement and support of another
similar JJishopric, in some other equally nocessi(ous part of tho ])(>min-
lon ? May not tho Provincial Synod, having elected a bishop, and do-
tined tho terms and bouiuhs of his labors, ai)point a General Missionary
Comrnittco or Board, composed of clerical and lay representatives from
each uiocose, with the bishops at its head, and with an efficient secretary
to carry out its instructions, to cooperate with (he Missionary Bislio]) in
his arduous toil, to provide tho means for carrying; on the work, and to
keep alive and burning with ever increasing'bri'ghtness, the flame of
missionary zeal throughout the Chinch ? and could not the movement
thus inaugurated expand, and consolidate, and at(rnc(, luKil i(sinffi,once
was felt in every part of tho Dominion, until its seed bee me rooted in
distant lands, iind until our Canadian Church could claim lionoiablo
association with the mother and sister Churches of Great Britain and
the United States, us a great Missionary Church ?
Such indeed was the scheme which the writer at any rate had re-
volved, which was perhaps imperfectly sketched in tho -" Letter " on
Missionary Bishops," and in tho "Address" on " The Algoma Mis-
sion," and which, Avith ])rofound deference, I am still bold to maintain
IS practicable in all its details, and demanded ot us by tho necessities
of the Church and the times. ]f the Tiovincial Synod "in December had
acted upon this principle, and ap])lied itself to tho development of such
an enterprise as this, 1 am persuaded the results would have been very
different to-day from those -.ve arc called upon to contemplate. Wo
should have witnessed an outburst of missionary enthusiasm which the
Church in Canada has not yet experienced, and which would have sup-
plied in a very short time an endowment fund adequate to all the de-
mands ; and we should have a diocese duly defined, and a bishop ready
to enter upon his self-sacrificing work, rather than tho miserable abor-
tion which has struck sorrow into the hearts of a multitude of earnest
Church-people, and which has done much to retard tho missionary
movement so happily begun.
'•"
, .
In placo of tliiH, liowovor, tho Provincial Hyiutt] appiinMilIy tonic tho
moMt iiinited view of tlio Hiilijcct ii|)oii wliich it was (•.■Oiod lo li'i,'iMiato,
uikI iiuido none, or Imt tho nio.st uiiHiitiMtactory urrati;,'oriioiit.s liir tlio
future coruliit't of lliiH|rivat \vor!<. It intortnally sot apart tlio Al.i,'om!i
l>ist>'i(!t as :i MiHsionary Dioocso,— witlioiit, liowovor, haviti'f tirst oh-
taiiiod, acoorditii,' to its own ('anoii-<, tho ooiioiirronco of tho Toronto
diocoso, to wh'K'ii tho district pritn.'irily l)clot),L,'od;— hut it noither dotor-
niincd liio hoi.'.ds of tlio diocoso, nor indicated when or how tho work
of (ho diocost) HJiull ho bo',Min and carried on. it oicctcd a .Mi■i^iol)ary
]lisiiop for AI,i,'oina; Imt it nt^illi m- -))ocirK>d tho -nhiry ho sliocld ro-
ccivo nor nuido tho Mniailcst iirovisioii ior tho pasinent nf tho iioc, -sary
cxponsoM in workini,' fh(! .MisHJon, — althoii!j;h its own (.'anon expressly
HtipuiatOM, that "tho IIoii-o Bishops of shall ho satislicd that adcipiato
provision has hocn niado for liio support of a Missioiinry Mishop,"
Those wore hlols in the leijislation of tho Provincial Synod. It
Hoeniod indeed, that that Synod was anxiuiis only to launch this mission-
aryship; and having,' appointed a captain, was cuntent to Icavo him
without provisions for tho voyai;o, or without a cri'W to man tho vo-sol ;
and can wo wonder tliat under Mich circuinstancs it foundered bolbro
it ,u;ot out to sea? This furnishes a strontr presumption anainst leavini^
tho matter unconditionally at tho disposal of tho Provincial S\-n(;d.
-Another similar hhnnli'r may bo made. It is doiditfid wiitilhor tho
Jlotropolitan will summon another special moelini;; of tho Provincial
Synod. Should ho not do this, lUo question must ho deferred for at
least another ymv ; and even should ho do this,— unless tho Synod
meets at once— tho election cannot lalce phieo in time for tho i.ishop to
enter imon his work during' tho ensuiiVLC summer. There is yet iiothin^;jj
which borders upon the " adcquido provision" for tho support of a
Missiomiry Bishop, M-liich will satisfy the House ol' Bishops ; and what
is worse, there is nor a sini^do olfort made or sui,'f;estcd tow;M<is raising
that "lu'ovision. " Tho endowment was chocked, after lar,i;v proinisea
had been made— soino ot which arc now recalled. Without tho consent
of tho reH|)cctivo Synods no i,Miarantoo can bo f,'iven for an annual, or
oven for a special contribution. It is not likely that any Synod will
object to f,'uaranteo an annual t!;rant for so <i;reat an undertaking;-, liut
law and order recpiiro that each Synod slioidd bo rctiuestcd thus to
oxorclso its generosity, before a ])ledge is given on its behalf; and wlion
oneo tho application is made, wo may rest assured that many an iiuiuiry
will bo raised as to tho proportions in which tho amount reiiuiivd will
bo paid. It is still my most deliberate conviction, that by far tho
easiest and most elfoctual way of raising tho money will bo by endow-
ment, and that wo havo committed a grave mistake in not jiushing
forward tho movement wo began for an endowment, to meet the gener-
ous offer of tho Propagation Society. But if a gmirantco is to be given
at all by the Synods, it must be on somewhat equal terms. It is evident
that at tho Provincial Synod each Diocese will claim the right to vote
for the election of the Bishop, and for tho arrangements necoHsary in
the organization of tho Sco;— and properly so. The most casual" ob-
server, however, will see, that if wo aro to enter into this as a great
united work, in which every diocese is interested, and for which every
dioceso is responsible, it must be by a principle of "equality "—as St.
Paul puts it,— that ore dioceso may not bo '' ea.sed " and another
I' burdened. " Tho principle of assessment for religions purposes, I hold,
is radically bad. It always breeds mischief. Better at once throw tho
10
^S'S' S,S;i^r it"^ 'TT'^'y ^' ''^ ^'--'^ ana abide
Ijo inado equitably. Tbore S no ion ^''/^'''^^a o^' proU'wed, the., lot it
aiocoso should bolsseSto tl^> eSt o?o;?;Tl^'',' ^^''^' ^^« '^^«'-«"t<^
dollars, whilst otl.ei- dioceses in tlufp '"^''^ hundred, or a thousand
y «Poalcing, should l" iSowf ."t cn^l V r ^'l'^!^'^^^'^'"' comparative-
Tho disproportion is too glS^ .nd f s Lo T' '^'^■'^°/»^"dred dollars,
hostile criticism, which mtv olfi'nn . ^-^.^''''c to provoke an amount of
probability that 'tho «d ol^^V/^t ?dl c 1 1 ''''t •'''"^"^'^- ^« ^''^^^ '^
erously come forward in its "nnoit ? ''Tr.'^'? enterprise, and gen-
;"8- 01' the Provincial Sp/od villTe held h, '■'''•'' '''' '•^""^''^^' '"««t-
to complete tho or-ani/ation of n ^'"''^ ^'^ ^^''^^^ ^ Eishoi), and
during'the en.uini^-^imnlo, A i' ' nv "'V"^" "r""' I-ictica/^or
O..0CS will be so 'far lul ed or t t SSt o? 'T '. "'' ^^"^" I''-^'-'^' ^^"^^^^^
"uu'h unanimity and enfhnsi-.sm > ^ • ' ''"'' ^''^^ ^^'o may with so
i>u.(len from the LonI * r "'^'■''' '"^*' *''« ai-i'ani,^emcmt as a
ifure lilce tha^w ^'ha^ Sv T"" '''' l-f i^ilUy of anJlher
J^^ctull.y.ec.nro. under th^bi";^^;;^;:':^,^-'^^ 1'--' -^ as will
^ yoss / it so,-if thci-0 be any a ;.™c • ' , ''' '""' ^'^^''''"^
rational ground on whicii .u u-" . „ v " ' -"■ ^ ''"' ""' "'' «^on any
Jy all moans, let us 1^ V tl^ n-i ^rT h"^' ■" "''''"' " ^•^^'^'^-^ho^
;V'iod, and let us by antic at nnn i 1"" '^'''^" ' "^' ^^'« ^^rovincia
h<^«rty and «-eneralTu i^^ C i??v°''' *^ that Synod an evidence of
^« any dan^gor of a St ion of t^^s?""""' '^^"1^?" ""''^'-^^ ^
!»eet.ngof the last ProviS S>4od a k of"n'l'"'\r^'"^"'^^ ^'^°
isiaction, juid damao-o whicl l,nV • ^'''^ vacillation, and dissat-
f that i« sacred, anrfor'LtmrtioVo^ in 'the nan.o of
bo so dear,_lct some other plaiL: ,?":/';' ^'',"1"" ^ ^^''^^ ^^'^ J^^ld to
Kssue can be attained. ^ ^ '"'''"•^^^^ '^>' ^^'^'i^'h a satisfactory
^^^^^:t£^Ji^^^^^ n,deed, question-
mentioned would notproveevent nl vfi ' ^''"/,^^'-^, alternative I have
of this plan would ren^it tL w fthi ' T! ^T^^'.' /'"^ "^^"P^^«'^
diocese, to be disposed of at i s ext e 1 , f ".f ^'"^.^ f the Toronto
st.ggest, and as its own aanoi^ mnv^!' '/ 1^' ,""''"'' ''''"^"^ "^ay
eont.s^pp,,.,„,, .,,^ ^^Jirto/Si^Z^r' ' "^"^
of It as belonging to his dioVo.r nn lu Lordship makes mention
pal jurisdiction. " \Vitl thTs n sum i;^'' S'^n^^"' '''^^''^ ^^ ^^'^ ^Pi'^co-
and performed his ep co a JunSn t,' ' ^'"'7 ^'^^^'^^ ^^^ ^^^ti'lct,
successor in office has rC ^""^*.'0"« there as a duty and a right. His
the Toronto diW ll'^isCTt- Alio """ "^^ ^he Vnod of
tjon and assurance. It has votrri m. '"^ ™^' '^'^^ ^ «ame convic-
the Church in the district it has ^Tl Tf "^ y'""' ^'''' ^"staining
the full power of speal ino-\n^ has admitted t.. its deliberations, with
the distiJJct; it has^.^cS'^' ,Cs"&'hTs?^^ '7 clelegatesfroS
Church in the district- and it hTi! the state and progress of tho
differences which live'some m's unhan " ''^ "P°" to adjudicate upon
doubtedly constitute both a nm-al md^Sl/. ''"'"• ^^''' things W
any part of the country vhich is to all Ttlff'^'T" ' ""'"^ '^^^'^'^ ^o
y /men ,s to all intents and purposes included
11
bo
et
Avi thill tins limits of an "organized diocese— according to the i-pii-it and
phraseology of the first Hcction of the Canon on Missionary Bishops, as
enacted ut the Provincial Synod in December— that district is Algoma.
The claim is fhns clearly indisputable; and so the next point to
observed is, that this right of ])ossossion and Jurisdiction has never y
been surrendered by the Toronto diocese. Without the concurrence of
the S.iiod of that diocese, expressed by formal resolutions, the Algoma
district cannot be seperatod from it, and formed into a Missionary Sec,
•either by the decision of the House of Bishops, or by the votes of the
Trovinrial Synod. This will be apparent by reference to the two
Canons of the Provincial Synod, which affect the question at issue, and
by which wo are bound in the matter. In the 9th Canon, it is provided
that the House of Bishops shall have the power of subdividing existing
dioceses, or of forming a ncwdiocese out of portions of existing diocese's
which may bo contiguous, Kith the concurrence or vpon the application of
the ."Si/nod or Synods of the diocese or dioceses affected ; and it shall be the
duty of such Synod or Synods to consider icitho'ut delai/ any proposal for the
r^'bdirrswn of a diocese vhirh may emanate frc->n. the House of JJishops.
'I'l ■ ■■ ' > fiiiis Canon are certainly exp'res ' -c and emphatic enough
^ ■ l!'t^ j)()ssil)ility of misap])rehe' n as to the concurrent
pfv'or ofihe Synod in any contemplated division of its diocese. But
tiKs _c\ en i.s made more certain by the Tth clause of the Canon on
Missionary Bishops, and which passed both Houses of the Provincial
Synod only after long di>cassion, and ap])arently as an amicable com-
promise. According to this clause " any diocese of the Province may,
if It desires iv) to do, separate and set apart any portion of ,U territory as a
district suitable for the establishment therein of 'a Missi nary Bishopric ; and
such territory .so set :rpart may become a Missionary Diocese and a
Bishop bo appointed thereto in accordance with the foregoing Canon."
We cannot mistake this language ; we cannot resist this" decision. In
each Canon there is an obvious and very ]M-o].er attempt to jruard the
rights of the Diocesan Synods; and any infraction of tho,se 'rights, or
any violation of the Canon so emphatically worded, must be deplored
as likely to result in an unpleasant collision between the Provincial
Synod, with the House of Bishops at its head, and the Diocesan Synod.s,
whoso prerogatives have been set at nought.
The (juestion, then, is forced U])on us. whether the Toronto dioceso
and Synod have received the consideration which is their duo, and for
which the Canons provide, in the organization of Algoma as a iMLssion-
ary Diocese ? Has their " concurrence " been requested, according to
the terms of the 9th Cation? or, has the Synod, of its own accord, Vor-
mally "separated and set apart," by resolution, the Algoma District,
'< for the establi.shment therein of a Missionary Bishopric," as stipulated
form the 11th Canon? It does not appear to me that tho Toronto
byno'i has done any such thing; and that, therefore, tho action of tho
Provincial Synod in constituting Algoma a Diocese, and in electing a
Bishop thereto, was, at least, premature. The subject has undoubtedly
tindergono discussion in tho Toronto Diocoso ; atid in tho Synod, in-
deed, It has called forth at different times several important resolutions.
But there is notiiing which answers to tho terms of the two Canons I
have quoted, and which if wo are to act legally, must form our basis and
guide.
The principal, if not tho only, resolutions of tho Toronto Synod,
iiennng upon this subject, were passed at the sessions of 18G8, 1871, and
i • i
12
, att.n(i„n to tho subject at s ni^rsess in^ Tn r-^'"'" '\' '"''''' '""''^^^^
ai>a.t tbv .„3- clotinitivo actio;. byll.^gl-llVl^J;:;;^ 'Jj^-i'^-^^^ ^^^^ -^
tion ^^ovalt r Kcv^t'?' Cnrtw ^"1!,^-^"^^' i""tho next vcsolu-
tho Synod of -1871. It i-ifo^; to t o'S;.' '"^ ''''•"^'^^' ^y ^'- 1^«". '-^t
the vast incroaso of I^puSSnUoyJd^ (^;;?S:r ''^ ^^'•'■''«^^' ^"^
federation, and Iho admission i lot 1 .. >':^"''J" ^''"•''I'qi'ont on Con-
Manitoba, and otho. i p H^^ "^ ^'•'^'■^'' (Columbia,
Cburch to snpplvove X .? nf Ir n ' .•^^■^'^"^•»'^«s the duty of tho
ejiucatio„,an.iid^;s:L^;;;^^ ^ ;^S'"?ra:st^^
direction of a Gc4 r^A? ssiSo^/r"'"" e.fecti vcly carried on under the
than l>y cacli S(mv rn' ;D'^ ;" . • '^l?'^"'"*^!' h' the Provincial Synod
Bisbops, and electin^a SLor.l M "^1 of appointin,<r Missionary
this resolution a menroii.lwa^,ro^!r ^l"""'' ^" conformity with
ci."! Synod; but i?Sl 'c, ,?' 3' T^' ''^"'^ presented to tl.o Provin-
formal .'inci u.icondi o ' 1 sur ° ndl f " ""' "•' '"«'"«''''''l i'^ ti.e-euny
mtbodioceso.muc %sor(b™
vincial Synod of 1871 tifettfo "^ 7 "'"'" "' 'V "'^*-^^*- ^<^ ^he Pro-
place upon it ; an 1 he ut. o t f^ " ^Y"''''^'^^ ' »« discussion took
mittoc/wlHchc;mmtL never hn^rV"^"' ?"' ''T '" ''^''' '' ^o a com-
So that even had h^« TorZo S nn l T'","^>" '""'' "«^'°'-"i''do a report.
Provincial Synod, 'of ZX^b^ jttored the A goma District to the
See of Aliroma, Iiis ij nshi, 'nnn^ ^'" "'^"^ ^'^'-'^'ippoi-t of the proposed
from thoProp^^a ionSc^^Sv r,"'1 r' "'"^* "*' ''' «•'■='»* of 'i^OSO
by the Eev. A[rrSvTnrsecondedb tT^^ ;y>s afterwards submitted
the immediate and imperative ncc^^ v of'!;' Ir ^'''''^^'' ^'^^laring
Algoma,andappointir/a Cot^Seffn '!>^^*^'*^"''^'7 '^'■^''"pHc in
Committees ap ,!>inted bylhe oT "s -rn^ds th u the hZ'^'^^'^'^f . "'^^^
rangemontmi-Wit be mndf> nn,i . '^.> "'lus, that the best possdjje nr-
Honorable Chief JusHo .^ ^^'' "^'^'f "'"^«'' '-^^tion secure,!. The
Venerable Archdea o Slm^^^^^^ resolution, seconded by the
Society for the pTop ^iro^ P,"«>'""-^ A'.'antof tho
Dioces^o to raise itsq.I^^^'oa „ ,t ulS ^rAooi' fi'f :^'"-.tho Toronto
resolutions was the Distrio of A ff . ?, " ^""^ '" "Either of these
13
occuiTcd to the Synod that any auempt miirlit bo mudo to oloct a Miwbion-
ixry JiiHliop, without lir«t of ail inuicing '-adoquiito proviHion " lor his
6Ui)port, according to tho requirements of the Canon ; and certainly the
promoters of tho movement never lor a moment supposed that a si)ecial
meeting of the Provincial Synod would he so quickly summoned to do-
cido the whole question, without waiting, or even asking fbr tho reijort
or the opinion of tho Committees tho Synods had appointed. Jlad there
been such an anticipation, tho Synod might have been more ex|)licit
and doterminato in its resolution, especially in view of the schenie to
bo ])roposed by tho ilev. Dr. Lett lor a general division of tlio Uiocoso.
And oven as It is, had tho arrangement of the Provincial Synod been
consumniatcd,-had the Eishopiic been actuallv formed, and the Bishop
elect have accepted the responsibilities of his wliice,— it is not too much
to siippose that tho Toronto Synod, with tho concurrence of its IJishop
wouldhavc passed a retrospective resolution, continning tho arran'4-
mont, 111 so lar as it was immediatolyiuid directly concerned, in ordcAo
remove the possibility of legal dilliculty, and for tho greater oncourage-
moi.t and support of tho Pishop and his missionaries.
Wo cannot, however, bo indilleront to the fact, that tho subject is now
prcsouted in an entirely new shape. There is no Missionary' Pishopric.
Iho veiy lirst requisites for such a Pishopric are wanting. It tho
ir ivincial Synod were summoned to meet to-morrow for tho piiriwso of
c ectiiig a Pisiiop, its lirst duty would bo to request tho " concurrence "
o_t the Diocoseallectod in the proposetl division. Without this, it would
simply violate Its own laws; and any division or election, which mi..-ht
bo made would not, and coald not be binding. In putting tho questlTon
in this form, 1 am am not raising a quibble ; -I am not stating a more
imaginary dithculty. My only aim is to interpret correctly tho law, as
thai, luw has been enacted by the Provincial Synod, and to suggest tho
a( visabihty under all circumstances of a rigid adherence to the law
llie terms of the Canoiis are as explicit as they can well be made ■ and
any invasion or infraction of them-oxcopt for the most special reason
under the most pressing emei-oncy, to bo covered by subsequent Ic-Js-
lation,— can only result in disorder and mischief. °
Accouling to this interpretation, then, tlie Al-oma District still forms
an integral part of the I oronto Diocese. Tho clergymen of that Diocese
are the missionai-ics there ; the Mission fund of that Diocese is ies])on-
siblo for grants to carry on tho missions there ; the Bishop of that
Diocese has announced his intention to make a Confirmation tour there
during tho approaching summer. AH thisimplieslhe rightof i)0>session
and control ; and tho Synod of the Toronto i)i<)cese will very naturally
and properly exercise a jealous regard over its own rights and power
Ah a matter of course, this question must be discussed at the ucct
session of that Synod. It is not possible to avoid it. Whotlnu- it come
up m the shape of a request from the House of Bishops for a .livision
according to the 9th Canon ; or in the form of a resolution from some'
ot its own members for a separation, according to tho 11th Canon • or
tlirough an n])plication for an annual giant in support of a Missionary
Bishopric 111 Algoma, according to an informal i)roposal of the Bishops
or any other authority, it must bo introduced, and it will have to uihler-
go discussion. A ny aUompt to prevent this will fail. We may as well
try to cheek the swelling tide, or to lay an embargo on human 'lhou"-ht
as lorostall a free expression of opinion upon a matter which is attemled
with (ri*!ivi> ('(iniuli/. .ti.i.i ...,,1 ,..1.:..I. .1 .■ _ ,. ,i , ., .
. oron
,a-ave comj)lieation, and whieli the act!
to Synod, has forced upon it.
on ot othc!'.-;, outside the
O
14
And when tho subject is thus introduced, what course should be pur-
sued .'' what decision sheuld be arrived at ? It is easier to ask than ta
answer this question; an 1 in nil i write, I am wishful rather to su^rffest
inquiry than to dictate action. It will bo unfortunate for tho Clmrch
It tiie majority of the Synod should cjo there unfamiliar with tho question
at issue, and unprepared to record upon it an intellisront vote. A consti-
tutional principle is involved ; tho progress of the Church is very much
at stake- There is no doubt that a wi.-se decision will bo formed- and
tho probability of this will be all tho .greater if, in the meantime wo
candidly consider all the bearings of the subject. As it appears to 'me
there are two courses ojjen before tho Toronto Synod, one of which it
must adopt. It may citlier act in accordance witli the 7th clause of tho
Canon on Missionary Bishops, and by its own act separate and set apart
the Algoma District as "suitable for tho establishment therein of a
Missionary Bishopric;" and then memorialize the Provincial Synod to
proceed forthwith to the election of a Missionary Bishop for such dio-
cose, conformally with its own Canon ; or, it may retain possession of
the district, and for tho more eflectivo performance of missionary work
therein, separate it from the other parts of tho Diocese, and elect a
butlragan or Missionary Bishop, according to its own Canons and By-
Laws. The distinction liotweeii the two plans of action thus submitted
IS this, that the firrit remits the matter entirely to the Provincial Synod
and henceforward the Toronto Diocese will have no direct interest and'
responsibility in tho iMissionary Bishopric of Aliroma; where^is the
second jn-eserves in the Toronto Synod the power of independent action,
and will impose upon it tho burden of providing an "adequate support."
It is almost difficult, at iirst sight, to say which would be the prefera-
ble plan. If; as 1 have already shown, we can only be assured of united
and hearty co-operation throughout all the Churches comprised within
our Lcclesiastical Province, then there can be no question that the first
proposal will be tho most acceptable, and that without any hesitation
we should onfido tho subject to the Provincial Synod. But there seem
to be serious doubts about tho pro])riety of such an arrangement The
experience of the last two sessions of tho Provincial Synod is not very
reassuring. There is danger of delay; there is danger of disunion •
there IS danger of another break down; and while fully alive to tho
magnitude of the work, and to the difficulty of its accomjilishment I
am inclined, with others, to tho opinion, that tho least of two evils w'ill
be, for the Synod of tho Toronto Diocese to form an independent Mis.
sionary Diocese, to elect the Bishop according to its own Canons, to
provide the necessary funds by endowment and grant, and to maico the
regulations by which the work shall be carried on.
The Synod has an unquestionable right and power to do this. It may
by Its own vote separate any portion of its territory from ihe rest, and
form it into an exclusive Missionary See, or independent Diocese, as
has been done in the Diocese of Eupert's Land, and as Dr. Lett has
proposed in his scheme for a threefold division ; or tho Bishop even
may request the appointment of a Suffragan for any particular portion
of his diocese, with or without the right of succossi'on to the office and
title of Bishop of I'oronto, on the demise of tho present occupant of tho
See. In either case th( ?ynod would proceed to an election accordin"-
to tho rules which have >cn already ])rovided, and whi.di may at the
time be laid down. The c.cct: .n could take place at the annual "meeting
of tho Synod, or at a special ses; ion convened for that purpo.-e. Both
,
16
the clerical and lay delogutoH from the District which is thus to bo
placed under especual episcopal supervision, would huvo a vo ce and
vote m oloct.ng the man who should have authority ovc- Ihemh the
Lord; and both for expedition, and convenience/and cfSncv i?
wodd really seem that this nmy be the easiest solution of our iffic .ity
and the course most likely to result in the immediate extcusio^^ vnd
permanent establishment of the Church. ^xicumou ana
la proposing such an arrangement, it would be well also to consider
whether the hmits of this Missionary Diocese might not be adva ti 'o
ously extended and whether it , ould not prove^onduci^o t^u Itho
interests involved if Mu,.k-oka were added' to Algoma 1 p-esent
Muskoka belongs to the Diocese of Toronto, eau;^i!y witrAgona'
A^h.lst Its need of missionary exertion is no less urgent and bi'uS /
As a new district of country, it is rapidly opening up; and vhetho or
no , It ,s destined to realize the flattering promises of tl e Govern^^^^^
in inaugurating its Free Land Grant poHcy. or the still Lirs',",^in.
hopes excted by emigration agents, Muskoka is u, oiSlv an n
• Zu-r ^;;^^"fVvith a growing population, an,l with .i.-c sino:
facilities f^Dr trade, and for missions. It covers an area of 3 -iOG 8S7
acres of land a large portion of which is vahiable fbr i ts \n S
hor;!?''' 'T^ '' I'l^"''^ ^r^^-'^'^'*^ ^'^^^ «g'-i«'^ltural pursuit.s T 8( ']
there was the .small population of 320, whereas this had incrcaid in
18d, according to the Census Returns, to G,919. The religious olenont
^s fairly repre. onted ; and our own Church notably among the diScn
denominatious. There are lloman Catholics, Methodists, iVefb y ch'u"
and other rel.gious bodies, returning in the whole little more S
4000 members, Avhilst the membership of the Church of Encrlaud a Kone
amounts to over 2000, Here is the llegining of a great woi Uro is
the nucleus of a most successful Mission? Why, then may no thl u!l
Missions of Algoma and Muskoka be joined togW r as ofie £sW^^^
supported from one fund, and subject to one°control? The dis nco
be.ween the two distnctsis not insurmountable, while the adva t^"^^^^^
of d rect cpi.scopal supervision would be great. It is not an arra l?o
ment which should be made permanent, a. each distric^i s fii • on^y
large to form an independent See, and indue time two bisho s'n list
cupy he territory between them. But as preliminary o tfj the
roposal I have made is not without its points of recomme.ulatio •' ad
Avhether the arrangement be left with the Toronto, or to the iCin n
Synod I rcspectftily submit that the union I have sug.^ted is o
unworthy of consideration. ^^^'^^'-^ is not
I am ccmpcllcd to touch again on the question of money. Our m-inci
pal dithculty ics there ; and yet I cannot for the life of iS^see tharthc ro
need be any difficulty at all. It will undoubtedly require a -u-o
amount of money to begin, and to carry on this entlrpSo efficient f
and It IS undeniably certain that the whole, or, at any rate a 1?^;!^'
portion of the required sum might have be^n i.nseT by this time^ if v"e'
had gone about the thing in the right way. The que^stion of endow
ment has been too lightly thought Sf all the way through I. /not
mcomprehensible that not a single word was said about this ma ei a
tll'Tr"^ t'''^ y ;"^^ '^ '' ""' lamentable to think that the whole
C '^' ^ I'^^rf *^ ^f.'.' ^^^'^^ ^"'^'^""* ^ ^^^"^ '^^^^'i"'^' l^^^n started ?
^ancy a Sjnod elcc ing a Missionary Bishop without the "provision" of
a suvile cent much less "an adequate provision "-for caiTyini o, his
work. And fancy tho whole Church b irning with zeal on th^^subjec^
IS
If
II
IG
williii^r to coiitriLutc, and waiting to bo solicited; and yet no official
jippoiil boini,' made, and a voiiintaiy etl'ort being discouraged ! This
has been and this is our position at the present moment. Ifa subscrii>
tion had lieon commenced at each Synod, especially after the passing of
the resolution declaring the necessity of a Missionary Bishopric and
ftttor the announcement of the generous oMer made by the Propagation
.Souoty; or if the Committees appointed by the .Synods had been con-
vened together (o organize a plan for a general subscription, and tho
arrangement had been vigorously carried out, as it was intended I am
conhdent I lat both rich and poor, that both young and old alike, would
have joined m tho contribution, and that tho result would, even by this
tunc have surpassed our highest expectations. Tliero were cases in
which to my own knowiodgo sums vaiying irom fivk hundred to ono
liundrcd, to hfty, to twenty, to ten, and even to five dollars were oUcred
unsolicited, if the work were earnestly begun. For some extraordinary
reason, tho movement tending towards an endowment was suspended •
many of tho foregoing promises were withdrawn, because there was
ovidenliy no hearty cooperation and no properly organized system •
and positively we find ourselves to-dav in no better 'condition —with
no more funds, with. no suier plan, and with no brigluer prosi'ecls,—
than wo had t\v ' ve months ago. On every gi'ound thi« is to be deplored :
and by whomsoever the future arrangements may be made, the first
imperative duty iDvv is, to utilize the short space left us belore tho
meeting of tho Synods in Juno to coinmence the necessary endowment.
An Endowment, I still maintain, is an absolute necessity. Tho
work cannot bo carried on cliectively without it. It may be wise tor
each Synod to pledge itself to contribute an annual grant towards tho
support of tho Mission, so long as it may be needed; '"but if tho amount
required can bo secured without that, it will bo better for both tho
bynods and tho xMission. The £950 so kindly oflerod by the Propao-a-
tory Society, were made contingent on the raising of £4000 in Canada
to bo invested as a permanent endowment; and if we refuse tlie con-
dition, do we not virtually decline the otter to which it was annexed ?
It has seemod to me that really iho common impression was that
a 1 ^ve had to do was to raise a salary for tho Bishop, amountinj.' to
about $2000, and that this could bo more conveniently done by assess-
ment upon the Synods, than by an appeal for voluntary offerings
throughout tho Church. 1 must be pardoned for pronouncing this a
grand delusion— a fatal mistake. As I have shown in some of my
iormcr letters, tho salary of the Bishop forms only ono item and that
by no moans tho most important item, in tho general expense. There
are the salaries of the missionaries to bo provided for; and there arc
tho funds to bo hup])lied for building churchi and schools, and for pro-
curing Bibles, and Prayer Books, and Hymn Books, and Catechisms,
and for keeping m active and efficient operation all the working ma-
chinery of tho Mission. It cannot bo expected that tho Bishop) can
provide these out of his 82000 per year. It is not to bo supposed that
ac first, at least, the Churches in the Diocese will bo able tvithout ex-
traneous aid to meet all the demands which may thus bo made, and
which must be responded to by somebody. It surely is not intended
that the Bishop shall desert his diocese, and neglect his proper work of
organizing and teaching, that ho might visit England, or even tho dif-
ferent parts of Canada, as a sort of episcopal boi^gar, to raise funds for
lumselt and his missionaries. All this should 'be done for him by tho
17
rosponsiblo committee, that his mind might bo unembarrassed, and that
ho might bo frco to fulfil his apostolic commission in iho spirit of liis
Master, and of tho first groat Missionary Bishops of the Church. O, it
will never do to attempt an establishment of this Missionary Bishopric
upon terms which must inevitably result in depression and failure. It
is supremely desirable to enforce that part of the Canon which requires
that " adequate provision" shall bo made belore a Missionary Bishop
can be appointed. At present, there is no such " adequate provision ;"
thoro is in fact no provision at all ! It would bo a mockery to talk of
another election upon such terms ; it would be trifling with any clergy-
man to ask him to undertake the responsibilities, and to submit to the
sacrifices insepai'ablo from the office of a Missionary Bishop, with such
a slender and visionary guarantee of su^jport. No such folly is perpe-
trated in the missionary movements of tho Church at Homo, or of the
Church in tho United States, or indeed of any Missionary Society in
existence; and surely wo shall not so far stultify ourselves, and frus-
trate our own groat design, as to neglect the very lirst olementa of busi-
ness prudence and religious order.
Tho question naay, indeed, bo asked, what in this case do we mean by
" an adequate provision " ? and really it is not a diflicult question (o
answer. Thoro is no desire that our Bishop should receive a '• princely
income," and live in a gorgeous palace, and bo "clothed in fine linen,
and fare sumptuously everyday " ; and that his missionaries should bo
made gentlomon of independent means, if not of landed estates, with
less work, and larger incomes, than tho, majorit;y of tho hard working
clergy of our present parishes and missions. Nothing so preposterous
has ever entered the heads of anj' ot the promoters of this scheme ; and
nothing so impracticable would over bo entertained by any bishop or
missionary. Wo have not yet outlived the days of apostolic simplicity
and zeal ; and if 1 am not very much mistaken there are men amongst
us in Canada who are not unwilling to follow tho example of tho devot-
ed young Selwyn, and his equally devoted companion and friend, Still,
in England, and givo up houses, and lands, and friends, and homo, for
tho sake of Christ, and at tho call of His Churcli.
But wo are not insensible to the fact that tho wants of nature must bo
supplied, in even the most devoted and zealous ; and that in carrying
on successfully missionary work, in a new country and among a poor
population — many of whom are Indians and heathen, — largo resources
will bo inevitably needed. It is not simply tho expense of living that
we have to take into account ; wo must look at the expense of travelling
in so wide a district, often by special conveyance and with selected
guides; we must think of tho gratuities which have to bo given as a
passport to Indian confidence and sympathj'-, and of the relief which
has to bo afforded in food, in clothes and in homos ; and wo must duly
estimate the working expenses of such a mission in salaries, in buildings,
and in books, &c. When we have done this, the conviction will be
pretty firmly settled in our minds, that " an adequate provision " means
something more than $2000 for tho payment of a Bishop's salary ; and
that little loss than $10,000 will sulflco fordoing tho work as it should
bo done, with honor to tho Church, and with advantage to the District
in which tho Bishopric is established.
I have before stated my own impression, that at least $100,000 should
be raised as an endowment. It was thought by some that my figures
were e xtravagant,and that I had proposed an amount that was unattain-
18
i? ■
able. Thoso figures liavo been open to coiTcction ; I have even struelc otV
half the aiim, in doforonco to those wliose foars liavo controlled their
judgments. Yet I am bound to declare, that with all the ailditional
information I have rocoivcd, 1 do not tiiink that my tir.st esliniato was
unreasonable, or one single dollar above the mark. Wo cannot presume
upon giving the Bishop a less salary thiui §;},()00, to include his travell-
ing, and other official oxpcnsos. A salary of $800 per year will be found
limited enough for a missionary, witii a wife, and possibly young
children ; and if only 10 such were employed, there would bo an annual
claim of $8,000. Is it likelv that iho working apparatus of tho Mission
— tho building of churches and schools, etc.,— will bo less, for tho first
few years, than $4,000 per year? Iloro, (hen, apart from all other
things, wo have a total sum of 815,000, which must bo annually raised
and paid, if this great project is to succeed as wo wish it, and as it should
and might do. Tho interest of 8100,000, at G per cent , supposing
tho money to bo invested in Dominion Stock, or in County Debentures,
would yield us only S6000. Where then is tho balance of ^9000 to
come from? It must be provided ; and how? May not tho Missions
in tho Diocose itself contribute at tho rate of 84000 per year? May
not our present Synods guarantee an annual collection in each parish
throughout tho Province', and which, without assessnig any Synod with
any particular amount, may yield on an av virago, say 83000 ? And is
not likely that the voluntary contributions of friends at a distance-
in England and other places, who may be interested in our work, as
reported in our 2Jissionary Chronicle or /I'ccmZ— will amount to another
81000 or 82000 per year? The entire aniount supposed to bo necesjary
would thus bo forthcoming ; and freo from all encumberance and em-
barrassment, about tho ways and moans for supporting themselves, and
for prosecuting their work, both tho Bishop and his missionaries would
have time and courage to labor, in season and out of season, for tlio
education and christianization of tho people committed to their care.
Now can any lower estimate bo formed, with a due regard to tho
efficiency of the Mission ? It is possible that other minds may conceive
a different plan of action, and present a more economical table of costs.
If it can bo done, wo should, by all means, have tho advantage of such
light. There is nothing lost by candid and full discussion. It is in-
indeed by tho contact of mind with mind that truth is eliminated, and
that difficulties are overcome. I should bo rejoiced to see tho way open
for a less demand upon tho Church than I have supposed necessary.
But at present I cannot imagine how it is to be done,— on tho basis, at
least, on which my reasoning and assumptions rest. Tho cry of econo-
my may easily be raised; and no doubt numbers of seU'-indulgent
christians, who know nothing of sacrifice and toil for tho Church, will
be ready enough to propose lower stipends for the bishop and his mis-
sionaries, and a smaller expenditure in tho general working of tho mis-
sion. Wo must, however, consider efficiency rather than economy ;
and we must provide for actual wants, for certain demands, rather than
wait for contingencies to arise, and then meet them by any shifting
policy which may seem adapted to tho emergency, and which, in tho
long run,— like tho system of accommodation bills at a bank,— will
be both more troublesome and expensive. If I understand the move-
ment aright, our object is to establish a Mission which will reflect
credit upon the Church, and confer lasting benefit upon tho district
within which its influence will bo diffused. On any other principle tho
-t
19
i
wholo thing would bo n, liiipjo i-cvolting sliiiin. We Imd botler not
inovo finoihor step,— better not desire even a re.suscitntion of the nil
but dead and buried oiiterpriKc,— tlian call into existence u niiserablo
deformity, which can only excite pity, and which can never pcrfoi-in
the functions of life. This must ijo tlio case, if we still go upon the
plan a])i)arently ado])ted at the Provincial Synod. J3ut if, on the other
liund, we are to have a healthy, vigorous, and successful Mission, which
it will bo a i)rido to conteniplale, and which shall soon bo made a
praise in the M-hole earth, wo must lay down broad principles, and wo
must aspire to great things; and whether I am right or wrong, I must
still avow a most profimnd and delibei'ato conviction that wo cannot,
and ought not to attoni])t to do this, without an income of from fifteen
TO TWENTY TiiocsAND i)or,LAU.s A YEAR. To thoso who thiiilv ditt'eroiitly,
I can only say at present— "Show cause ; produce your estimates; givo
us your facts and figures; and wo can then reason and judge."
Bat is it possible, with all the other demands which are pressing upon
the Church, to raise at once such an immense sum as 8100.000? Most
a_ssurcdly,in my judgment.it is; and that without any verv great difficulty
either. The precise method by which the monej' should be rai-scd, must
bo determined by the Committee already in existence, or by any other
Committee which may hereafter bo appointed. But that the whole
amount may bo raised by a proper organization, and by an ordinary
amount of business energy and christian zeal, I can no more doubt than
lean despair of tho ultimate establishment of the Church throughout
thisvast Continent. It is doubtless a special work, and must be so taken
up by every member of tho Church. We shall commit a grcvious mistake
if we place it upon a level with tho common, every day movoments in
which our parishes and tho public are asked to unite. There is a dis-
tinctness and a speciality about it,which mark it out as deserving more
than ordinary consideration and support ; and there is no reason why
appeals on behalf of this, and why contributions in favor of this, should
not bo made indopnndently of every other object which may claim our
sym])athy and co-operation. It is, 'indeed, j^artly in its special charac-
ter that its importance lies. In the Church, as in tho State, occasions
sometimes arise in which an unusual effort must I'O made, in which an
extraordinary manifestation of generosity and energy is required, in
order that great principles may be maintained, or that sublime results
may be achieved, and that thus tho Church may advance with the
country and tho ago, and retain, if not increase its power, as the witness
and defender of tho truth, and as tho teacher and evangelizer of man-
kind. And all such special enterprises must be begun, all such extra-
ordinary work must bo carried on, without tho suspension of any ordin-
ary effort, or tho withdrawal of any single contribution which may be
necessary for supporting the existing institutions of the Church. This
is precisely tho position in which the Algoma Mission does, or should
stand. It is a new enterprise, to meet tho wants of a new country; it
it is intended to open up before tho Church a new era of missionary
zeal, and to bring back upon tho Church in its reflex influences new
and richer blessings than have heretofore been enjoyed ; it demands
for its success the union of all our heads, tho energy of all our hands,
the generosity of all our hearts ; and in thus coming up to tho help of
tho Lord against tho mighty, and offering of our own free will, of all tho
substance that. God has given us, wo are to r 'ect no other duty, with-
hold no other effort. This must bo distint _om, over and i.i )7e, all
^Jf
20
olso that wo have given anddono; and in this it.s val.u, and acconta-
nilify will in part consist; ^
On this principle, I can concoivo no insimnountaUo difllculty and
I can Hoo no intolcniljio l.iinlon, i„ misini; wilhin twolvo months an en-
dowmontloi- Aigoinuof Ohy. nij.\nnKi> Tiiousanh JJollaus. If tho
worlc bo loft solely to tl.o Toronto Synod, it will becorno so mucli
more onerous for that body. In that caie the other Synods nuiv
Avithold their active cooperation, and the area over which an appeal ctn
bo made will be proportionately limited. It may, however, boassumed
that with this arrano;emcnt the entire burden of responsibility will not
be loft upon tho Toronto Diocese. Surely the other dioceses will extend
aholpini,' hand; each bishop would no doubt permit an application to
be made m his diocese; and is there a sini,do clergyman who would
refuse to make an aDpeal from his pulpit, and to become tho medium
through which the contributions of his (lode may bo forwarded to tho
managing Committee? But should the arrangement ori<,qnally proposed
bo carried out— which is most likely,— and tho responsibility and duty
bo loft to tho rrovinciul Synod, then all question of ditllculty must
vanish, nnd as Iho whole Church will bo accessible to tho appeal so
every individual member may bo expected to contribute.
It needs but u very simple process to raise the whole amount May
it not bo done by personal suuscrii-tionh ; by a special offertory in
each Church ; and by tho use, for a given time, of collectino boxes
and CARDS in each Sunday School? We start with, say ^.-i 000 as a
grant from tho Propagation Society. Another gift from En/dand has
beon made, to the amount of £501), towa-ds the erection of a Bishop's
liouse. It IS certain that by proper application being made other Soci-
tios in England will follow tho example of the Propagation Society and
that other private persons may emulate tho zeal of tho anonymousdon-
or of tho £500; and that thus, the $5,000 may soon be augmented into
$20,000. Will any body pretend that tho whole of our Church popu-
lation in Canada is unable or unwilling (o raise the balance renuired
whatever may bo the amount ? In tho five dioceses forming our Eeclesi-
asticftl Province, in Ontario and Quebec, there aro, acccn-din"- to tho
Census returns of 1871 s.ay in round numbers, 400.000 members of tho
Church of England. How many names of Sunday School children wo
have on our roll, I am not able to ascertain accurately ; but at a very low
estimate we may count upon say, 500,000. If, then, an average contri-
bution were made of 25 cents per member, we shoald have at one stroke
8100,000; and if again an average subscription were given of 5 cents per
scholar, there would bo an addition of $25,000 ; or, reducing' it to 2 cents
per .scholar, it would furnish 810,000. And aro wo to be t^old that such
a scheme is impracticable— that such sums are unattainable ? I cannot
myself believe it ; on tho contrary, I believe that thi^, and more than
this, can l)e realized within a year, if wo enter upon the work with an
earnest spirit, and a determined will. Aro there not a few amon<'st us
Avho v ^uld give each their |500 ? Are there not others who wouk^ eivo
their fc 10, or $300, or $400 ? more still who would give their $100 or
$50, or ,^20, or $10, or $5 ? and more again who would pay their $l' or
50 or 25 cents ? And thereby, at a very moderate calculation, mi'o-ht
wo notcount upon $80,000, or $90,000 ? In each Sunday School a few
Collecting Boxes, or Mite Chests could be distributed • whilst it is cer-
tain that many families would gladly avail themselves of them At
least 5000 of these might bo employed; and supposing their receipts
I
81
•
when opened, nvorngod only from $1 to «2— which nccoidin.' to my own
oxpcnonco, and to the ovidunco of the MiHsion Hoard in the United
Stiitos, 18 a voryjow oslimato indeed,— wo whould have a clear income
alone ot nearly » 10,000. It. this way more than $100,000 would Lo
raised; and iii a monetary point of view, the Mission would be nlaccd
upon a hrm and sure iiasis.
Thoro is nothing visionary in such calculationn ; thoro is nothiuL' im-
probable in such results. A feeling of indiirerenco, or a spirit of unbe-
lief, may suggest dilH.ulties, and atlect a sneer ; and as we have often seen
in the history of great enterprises, both commercial and naigious, the
Iriio principle and the right ].lan may have to work their way through
prejudice and opposition, until their uufpiostioned practicability and
success claim and receive universal homage. 1 do not doubt for a
moment tliat by the application of right means, and with the hearty
cooperation of those who are interested in the scheme, all I have fore-
shadowed may be attained; and if we do not attempt something of this
sort, then I. am persuaded we shall miss a glorious opportunity for
demonstrating the generosity and energy of the Church, and shall retard
for years a work which is demanded at once, and which more than
anytliing else will extend the influence and enhance the reputation of
the Church. ^
But how is it to bo done ? There is after all, a great distinction between
assertion and proof; we want something tangible and real in preference
to that Avhich IS only conjectural or visionary. I am not afraid to
oxi)lain the method by which I think the whole thing may be accomp-
lished. If other minds can suggest a more simple and effective plan, so
much the better for the cause we have in hand. In my jud/'ment wo
should go back to one of the first points I have mentioned, and summon
a meeting of the General Committee appointed by the Synods We
could then act without authority, and in a perfectly constitutional
manner. By that Jommittee a report should be prepared for the Synods
and an appeal issued to the Church. Under the instructions of the
Committee, and with the special sanction of each Bishop, the Secrtearv
should place himself in communication with every Diocesan Committee
and with every clergyman in every parish. On one given Sunday, the
subject should bo explained and enforced in every Church and School
throughout the Province, when a special offertory should be made, and
when voluntary subscriptions should, be solicited. In connection
with this, promissory notes may bo distributed to those who choose to
avail themselves of them; and envelopes marked " Algoma Mission "
should bo circulated widely, so that persons at any time they wish may
enclose a contribution, whether large or small, whether with or without
a name at the ordiiiary service and offertory of the i-arish to which
they be ong The Collecting Boxes, all properly numbered and regis-
tered, should be distributed at the same time to those who desire them
and who will use, and return them within a specified time. In some
cases, special personal applications may be made for subscriptions • in
some parishes meetings may be held, or sermons may be preached, by
the Secretary or other suitable deputations ; and in all cases ample in-
formation should bo furnished, and a regular monthly statement should
be presented, of the progress of the work, and of the amounts obtained
that the interest may be kept alive, and that public generosity may bo
cnlargoa. * o j j
This is not a complicated arrangement; it is simplicity itself. In its
'" \ founi^rc ? Jinvo wo ovo. knwwn a
Clnu'c'li or^nuiizftiion hiiccc
not by UM'tcci J> 1, 1 ' '" ''!•"' '"/'' '•^'li^'iows truth v Is it
Huvo tl" y not n !t ?\. n^^^^ '""■/' ^'>' '^''^"^••"' <'""tnl^"tion ?
hosts of c^o cct \v 1, I 'r ''";"."' '^''■'"""■^' l*"^^"^- "'^^ti-'M^
spirit? 1 rr.otnn o • /! •"'?^'^","'b' «tir np tho nmMomny
such method" -doZknt of ^^ '^ the poor? Ami «re we nlovo
character to fblioH c ±m,^?L ' ^ ''!'" '^ ^' -'^ derogatory to our
OU8 than Ave are ? n 1 ran "n "f •..? "'. •'" '''""''' ^^""* "^°''° '^«*'''-
nnd <r '1 T. -orlin ",rn/- of 1 '"'''' «^»'^^.VP" ^" ^heir Mission fund
tho a, ovir css^^^^^^^^^ of
ottort, and th ir w, m , f "'S'*"' ' ' ' '^"'' *'' '"=*'^'« any such sufccssfuj
can talk'nuu:,";nS yit do imli?""^'^"^ "'"' ^''^ '^''^^^ «^' ^'"^ -'-
diS:^' t^"ho^:;^;:?thf r^'^^'^j '^^ ^'"l" ^^ • ^^ith an our apparent
itsVorkirthowoHc} an, tl.. ' ^ '". ^''"r'!'' .'""J nianfully peribrm
and bless nJ If wrc.-t„i\ ''"'"^' ^^" t. '"«•>' l^ccon.o a prai.e
groat object, we llaVmornol ; ^ ""^' ^•^^'^^^ «" «"«
shall attiin k briUhntEue os^ AT^^"^ *" ""^ ^"""^'^ '" ''^^''^"^^'^ ^'"^ ^^c
ever m'oJLt.\ l """'^^s. No more cncouniginjr opportunity was
cho"r!nn poctTw'r:. A"l";^ir l'",""'"'^ T"'^ ^^"^ "^"^^ ' "« -"«
this Ailofna imf M^s ;,c; Mi t '" y ':;;.u\'r ri^ "^'rr'"" ^^''."^
c p es,— -wo shill ho f,.i.Ki-!o 7 , .''''" ^° recreant to our prn-
to the ca 1 am las ono , "* """^ '^"*^;' '^ ^^'" ^''» "^^ ^'^^PO"'' l>ea tily
miirhtv Th« ;nL """' ''"'"^ ^" ^^'"^ '"^^P «^" the Lord a-.inst the
sensible to oin- obli^t^ion ? ""^^''^"'^'f"' ftj: «"'• '"^rcies? Are we in-
we caro noth U foffh^ i • Ar '"^'"«^"^'nt to our destiny? Do
sities of earth 5^ Do u ^''"""7^ ^^^^ven ? Do we despise the neccs-
shun tt exl pie ofl'r 'S'^' n'*'? '''' ''' pur forefatLrs ? Do we
ing crime shalUta^n our soui^ T , Y T'l^^'J ,^' "" ^"'''^ ''^^^'t-
lives. Weare,o?unn ndft ;Vt) '":''- "J'!;:^ 7 deeds shall deform our
we are unworthy of the men wr V X<^ 7 '"'"''^^ ''''^' "P"" "■^'
equal to the wo^cwhi^nj^;;.;;; f!^: %tt:'''':i.T,T''''^-
talent, there is faith there isdo.^'. \i • ^calth, there is
in our midst whVh Vn,f ^ do..,i on, l!,ero is zea^, there is courage
may pkro WTd in u7 "^''.r '"^P'"^g"^blo to any foe. and whfeh
now that th J «of r ^'""f ^''" '""**' transcendent results. It is
now that the set time has come for the developement of our
rOHouroos, ami for tli. inaiiiriiration of
nIiuII
whoi
loiiv
1 I)
... 't now oiitoi'iH'be, which
it,s impress upon ow history nnd upon tho world; and
ly voices within, and hy appcls iVom u, hoiit,— when by
lio worlunKs of tho Spirit, an.l hy tho opcnin/^'H of i'rovidoM(H -whon
by tho corniniind of Uod. and hy tlio ontreats- of precious hoiiN
wlHMi hy tho inspiritinij example of the Church' ii other lands and hv
tl.o mysterious and ovorwhclmiiig Hucritico o( ChriHt,- wo a're Hum-
moned to immediate action, impeliod onward in tho pathof duty— O
is there one am'm/,'rtt us who does not feel tho onkindliu-r (lumo oflovo
• livme, and who is not ready to make some sacrifice, to irivo .sorno
money, to perform Homo service, hy which the Church may ho hon-
ours 11, its r.'isionary career, and i)y which the Uodeomor may see
ol tho travail ot his soul, and he .satislieil'/
W.ih this view, I have wriiion this aj.peal. It is hut an imperiuct
contiMbution to a ^Horioiis cause. If 1 have dropped i.ny un-'iumled
word, or royoaled any improper spirit, 1 must ask to ho IbiMriven; aM<l
in this, as in a 1 other movements, I am sure we shall every one pray
that Crod who did teach the hearts of His faithful i.eoplo by sondini- to
them tho li^^ht of Ills Holy Spirit, would "^rrant us ly tho same Spirit to
layoa ri^rj.t jud<,'mcnt in all things, and over more to roioico in His
iioly comlort, through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour,'
"JULIUS ANGLICANUS.'
Copies of this Lottor may bo <lelivcrod on application at tho
Publisher.?, Messrs. Lawson, McCuIlocb., Hamilton. Five cci
copy.
por