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FOETY YEAES' SUEVEY

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BOND STREET PULPIT,

REV. R. A. FYFE, D.D.,

WUODSTOCK.

r O R O N T O :
DUDLF.Y & BURNS, PRINTERS.
1876.

Toronto, November 29th, 1875.

Rev. Dr. Fyfe,

Dear Brother,

I beg to inform you that, on the 28th inst.,
a part of the closing business of old Bond Street Church was to pass a
cordial and unanimous vote of thanks to you for your interesting and
long to be remembered sermon, "A Forty Years' Survey from Bond
Street Fulpit,"— a sermon recalling the days when we were few and
weak, the days when March Street Church arose and built in Bond St.,
recalling times of darkness and almost despair, times of spiritual pros-
perity and progress, and of the growth of the Baptists in Toronto from
a mere handful to hundreds. And it is requested that you kindly fur-
nish the church with a copy of the above sermon, that it may be
printed and published.

On behalf of the church,

Edmund Burke,

Clerk.

To the Bond Street Baptist Church :

Dear Brethren,

I have much pleasure in complying with
your "cordial " request, to furnish you the manuscript, of the last ser-
mon preached in Bond Street Baptist Church, for publication.

I participated with you in the Christian duty and privilege, of review-
ing God's dealings with the Church for over forty years. In such a re
trospec^ we could scarcely fail to learn some painful lessons, as we'll as
pleasant ones, and to receive fresh Impulses toward something hi-hcr
and holier. '"^

This review I found profitable to myself, and in placing the Sermon
at your disposal, I hope it will prove yet more beneficial to others.

I am, in Christian bonds,

Very sincerely, &c.,

K. A. FvKJ .
Canadian Literary Institute,

December, 1875.

"».•

A FORTY YEARS' SURVEY

IROM

BOND STREET PULPIT

Deutkkonomy, viii. '2.— "Thou shall remember all the way which the Lord th\
God led thee, these forty years."

Tlie Chine>s(i have a proverb " Ha])py is the nation
v^rhose history is uninteresting." But this, like a good
man}^ other national proverbs, is only a brilliant half
truth, which, in some of its applications is equivalent
to a whole falsehood. Why should history be unin-
teresting ? It can be only because it records a story
in which there is no life, and consequently neither
progress nor variety. That is the history of tomb-
stones. The happiness of a state of stagnation oi-
death, may commend itself to an oriental mind, it does
not to ours Tlie |)roverb is of the earth earthy ; it is
singularly uuspiritual,

The history of individuals, organizations, or nations^

is always full of inteiest, when we trace the sources

of their life, growth, and progress, and the causes and

nfiuences which have moulded them, and made them

what they are. From this stand point, the history of

A Forty years' Surrey

any living thing must give pleasure, and impart beau-
tiful lessons of instruction and comfort. A man cannot
look upon a noble tree, and call to mind the various
instrumentalities, in the hand of God, which contribu-
ted to give it strength, beauty, and symmetry — the
winds which fanned it, the storms which shook it,
making it anchor itself more liri.ily in the soil, the
I'ains and dews which moistened and refreshed it, and
the sun which warmed it, making it bud and expand
through many years — without feeling his pulses
quickened and his interest increased. How much
more are all our faculties aroused and stimulated,
when we trace the growth and development ot an im-
mortal being, so fearfully and wonderfully made !
And in a yet higher degree is this realized, when we
are following the history of an organization like the
Church, for here the hand of God can be clearly seen.
On the Church of Christ, the image of her divine Re-
deemer is distinctly impressed, and at every step of
her advance we trace his footsteps by her side. It is
the presence of God in history which gives to its les-
sons special significancy and value. History has been
called " philosophy teaching by example ;" it had
much better be called, God teaching by examples. If
the events transpiring around us and even life itself,
are but fevered struggles, cut off from coimection with
the past, and carrying with them no real lesson for the
future, then indeed the life, whether of individuals or
of societies, is but a tangled skein not worth un-
ravelling. But if we are assured that in all which

From Bond Street Pulpit. 7

transpires in this world God has some purpose, and
that he will make all in some way contribute to his
grand designs, then all the records, even of this sin
cursed earth, become inspired with a profound meaning
and a living interest, which stretch through the ever-
lasting future.

We may not be able to read the divine purpose, in
the vast majority of these events, but we know it ex-
ists in them all, and in some we can clearly see it, and
comprehend the lesson of warning or encouragement,
conveyed by them. To the Christian especially is the
discovery of God in all the events of the past as well
as the present, a source of special comfort and joy.

" blest is he to whom is given
Tlie instinct that can tell
That God is on the field, -when he
Is most invisible."

As I preached in this house on the first day on
which it was used for public worship, (twenty-seven
years ago last June), I have been asked by the Church
to preach the last sermon within these walls, and in
doing so, I have been requested to give some account
of the history of this church, and also of the general
progress of the Baptists of Ontario and Quebec, during
the same period.

A Christian people have not only the right to re-
call the past, but are directly commanded to do so-
" Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy
God led thee." But why should a command like this

^l Fortj Fear.s' ^Surretj

have beeu necessary ? Can j^'ood men ever forget the
way by whieli (iod has led them ? Their way may
liave been rough and thorny but God had them by th
hand Mid made their shoes iron and brass. One
would suppose tliat people so largely indebted to God.
and so co itinually blest by him, (as a'l Christians are),
must hourl}' have some sweet Ebenezer in review.
There CSrod took my feet out of the horrible pit and
miry clay and set them on a rock : hero lie chastened
me for ni}^ spiritual wanderings, but how tenderly and
lovingly did he watch over the chastening, that it
might bring fortli the fruits of righteousness in me !
At such a time he gave me my hubau'i, my wife, m}'
Sim, or my daughter, in a new rtdationship, spiritual
and \mdying, and can I ever forget Him :* We can
readily conceive that some Christians who have lived
lar from God, and much in the atmosphere of this
world, may re(piire often to have our text re]»eated to
them ;" Thou shalt remember ^(7Hhe way, the rough as
well as the smooth, the dark as well as the bright
But to a great portion of the human family, recalling
the j'ast must be anything but })leasant at any time.
They hav(i passed through life thus far, and have
treasured u]) nothing of ])ermanent value. Tiiey iia\«'
done no good, they have laid u]) nothing tor eternity.
Tliey have ))een panting their lives out, in the }»ursuit
of that which has eluded tlieir grasj*. They have
stained their M)ids to obtain that for which eonsciencc
now reproaches them. 'IMiey have eaten the fruits of
Gomorrah, and the bitter ashes are still in their

From Bond Street Pulpit.

mouths. This world has grievously disappointed
them, and they have no portion in the other, whose
rapid approach is now sounding in their ears. It can-
not be pleasant for such people to recall their history,
for it is without God, and without hope. No word more
terrible to the unsaved will ever be uttered in the world
of woe, than, " Bememher.''

The most earnest and active Christian would be
greatly benefited l)y having the text repeated to him,
from time to time. Indeed it would be unspeakably
better for us all, lid we more frequentl}^ meditate upon
God's dealings with us in the past.

" Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord
thy God led thee, these forty years."

This Church is forty-six years old, if we reckon from
the first record which wefindof its meetings, asan organ-
ized body. Its history has been in many respects, like
that of human life in general. It lias had its seasons of
adversity.andof prosperity, of sickness and of health, of
shadow and of sunshine. The first meeting of which
we have any official record, was held on the sixteenth
of Octobin- 1(S21), when the late Joseph Wenham, Esq.,
of the Bank of Upper Canada, was appointed to kee])
a remilar account of the transactions of the C*hurch. It
would seem from incidental allusions in the minutes
that one or more meetings, or consultaticms, had been
hehl Itefore, but there is no record of what was said or
done at these supposed meetings. The old Church re-
cords are very meagre, being confined to the dry
statement of facts or resolutions. No list of the con-

A Forty Vears' Stirvet/

stitnent members has been preserved in the Church
books, so that it is doubtful whether any one now
knows with certainty, who were the real constituent
members of this church. The only persons now living
whose names appear on the early records, are Robert
Yorston of this city, and William Hewitt, of Vittoria,
the father of one of the present deacons of the Church.
The name of Wm. Hewitt, appears in the minutes of
the third Church meeting whos<i records have been
])reserved, but we learn from other sources that he
was not a constituent member. A few names appear
frequently on the minutes. The E-ev. A. Stewart was
the first " president " or pastor of the little Church, and
Peter Patterson, the founder of the house, still bearing
his name on King Street, was the first deacon. At
the second meeting, William Mitchel, (long ri'ter,
pastor at York Mills) and Joseph Wenham, were
chosen deacons, " to assist him in his work." If we
atld to tiiese names, those of Mr. Orr, Mr. Parsons, and
.Mr. Chadwick, we have all or nearly all, the males
vv'ho agreed firs t to walk together in Church iellow-
^liip and order. Though we do not find in the
minutes the names of any females, either as constitu-
ent members or as attending the earlier meetings, yet
\v(5 know there \\x»re, at least eight women, and some
of them very mothers in Israel, like Mrs. Center, and
Mrs, Stewart, who were enrolled at the first organiza-
tion of the ('liurch. Mrs. Stewart, the wife of the
first pastor, I wc^ll remember as one of the Saints of
the Loril, chastonetl ard mellowed by sufieriuir, and

. i^'U

From Bond Street Ftdpit.

the hearts of many here grow warm now, at the men-
tion of Mrs. Carter. In rejjard to some of the male
members I have named, and also other early Baptists
of Toronto, those who can look back thirty or forty
years, know that they were among the most respec-
table and highly esteemed inhabitants of this city_
The only persons now^ living known to have been con-
stituent members, are Robert Yorston and Mrs. Emery,
the latter we are happy to say, is preseut with us to-
<lay. The little Church held their meetings for a
considerable time, in the old Masonic Hall, in Market
Lane, now known as Colbourne Street.

At the Second Church meeting held in November,
1829, it was stated that a lot of land had been pur-
chased, by Mr. Henry M. Mosley, and tliat he would pay
the first instalment, amounting to £12, and present
this payment as his subscription to the Church, if they
would build upon the lot. This was thankfully re-
ceived, and Messrs. Wcnham, Patterson, and Mosley^
were appointed the first Trustees; but no liuildiug
was erected upon the lot, till 1832.

The progress of the Cluirch was slow but seemingly
steady for several years. We learn from tlie minutes
tliat she received by letter and bai)tism twelve mem-
bers during the first two years. It nuist be I'emem.
bered that the connnuuity was small in this city
forty-five years ago.

During the first three years, the Church liscensed
four of lier nuMubers to preach the gosi)el, as they
might find (>p])ortunity ; one of these was the late be.

A Forty Years Survey

loved pastor of this Church, T. F. Caldicott, D.D. In
July 1832, Mr. Caldicott was chosen deacon; and
during this year the first Chapel, or Church edifice
was built in what was then known as March
Street, but now as Stanley. At that time (1832) the
Street had been laid out indeed, but there were
scarcely any buildings on it, and no one could predict
that it would not become one of the very best streets
in the city. But such was not to be its favored des-
tiny. The Chapel itself was very far from being
attractive to look at, besides being very small. It
could not seat comfortably more than one hun-
dred and sixty people. Miserable houses sprang
up all around it ; and what was still worse, many of
them were inhabited bv the most vicious, and miser-
able kind of people, so that the whole street soon
became extremely unsavory in every sense of the
term. For sixteen long years the outward condition
of the Baptists of this city might be compared to that
of those unhappy criminals, who were, by their Tus-
can tyrants, tied hand to hand and face to face, with
the rotting dead. The surrounilings of the Church
were constantly growing worse, and thus tlic last part
of their sojtniin there was worse than the first. Often,
on Sabbath evenings, a ]»olic('man was secured to
])atrol the side walk, in front of March Street Church,
to keep down the upioar which the children and
others would thoughtlessly, or wilfully, make in the
neiirhbourlxxxl. Vhis is only one of the adverse in

From Bond Street Pulpit.

fluences against which this Church had to struggle iu
her earlier years

Another obstacle to her progress, was encountered
in the want of homogeneity, among a considerable por-
tion of her members. Without reflecting on the
character of a single individual, it cannot have escaped
the notice of tlie observant that in a new country,
where immigrants from all points of the compass are
thrown together, even good men of the " same faith,"
are often very illy adapted to work together. Men of
strong individuality, with set habits, made angular
sometimes, by the peculiarities of some able ministers
under whom they Avere trained in the old world, are
generally more anxious to lead than to follow. Half
a dozen such in any church, would be likely to make
severe friction in its working ; and the smaller the
Church the worse would tliis state of things be.
Each one would think, when the work was not done
as he had been accustomed to see it doue, that there
must be something very wrong, and his conscience
could not sanction vrrong.

O that conscience, what a singulai- instrument it is !

And practically it often happens that such men will
do nothing, because they cannot have precisely their
own M'ay. Their principles are so strong and sliari)ly
defined, that they constantly stand in tlio way of their
practice. If they were not men of sucli sterling prin-
ci})le, they might do something for God and their
fellow men, but as it is they have too much principle
to have much practice !

A Forty Years' Survey

A man has made great progi-ess when he has learned
to co-operate heartily with his brethren, with the full
approbation of his whole nature. It requires a many
sided and self-forgetting person, to see that it is rarely
of much importance how a thing is done, so that it
really is well done ; and that in all organizations it is
generally better to co-operate with our brethren in a
less perfect scheme, than to stand alone admiring the
most perfect. Opinions regulate the ways and modes
of doing things, principles rarely do. Such people as
I have in my mind, have a very imperfect idea of the
true design of the gospel. That is chiefly remedial,
and its loving spirit should be wrapped around all we
touch and do. A fo.w .such members as I have sketch-
ed would soon influence a church, and without
intending it, make her feel that work for God and for
perishing men is not the greatest thing, that hwilding
lip is not the main idea, but huUdlnf/ up in their way.
Such principles introduced among the members of am-
organization infallibly lead to disintegration. I believe
no denomination in this country is yet wholly free
from spiritual stones so peculiarly cut, that no other
stone can be laid beside them. The state of thinfrs
was much harder to manage twenty-five years ago.
When a Church becomes large and strong, a few such
stones do no grejit harm ; they can be laid upon the
top of the wall to keejt over-forward folks from climl»-
ing over.

This Church has been retarded in her progress also,
by some who suddenly became too ]iious any longer 1<»

From Bond Street Puljrit. 15

walk with their brethren ; who sunk all their interest
for the lost and perishing, in their overwhelming de-
sire for personal edification and comfort. Or to state
the thought differently ; they lost their sympathy for
humanity, through the professed greatness of their
love for Christ. St. Augustine says, if one reached
up to kiss the Saviour's lips, and in doing so, he should
lacerate and tear the Saviour's bare feet, with the
spikes and nails of his shoes, he would be asked why
do you wound and pain my feet, in your endeavors to
kiss my lips ? So he asks, why do you trample upon,
and wound my people, through your professed great
]ove for me ? Such people set up to be Angels before
their wings are grown.

I name one other hindrance to Baptist progress,
deeply felt in the past, both here and elsewhere in
the provinces. I refer to the difficulty of securing
suitable pastors and teachers. The Baptists in their
origin, in any new place, are less dependent upon
ministers technically so called, than perhaps any other
denomination of Christian s. This is easily proved by
tracing the progress of the great religious movements —
the reformation of the sixteenth century for example.
During the progress of this, we find the Baptists spring-
ing up everywhere, without a ministry strictly speaking.
Or take a more modern illustration, the revival which
manifested itself in a French prison during the wars
with Napoleon. There about one hundred young men
were converted, simply by reading the New Testa-
ment, and of these over ninety became Baptists. But
the word of God, quick and powerful as it is, was

A Forty Years' Survey

never meant to supersede the living preacher among
the Baptists, any more than among others. The
ministry of the Gospel is a permanent institution of
God, and it is absolutely essential to the growth, deve-
lopment, and proper training of Christian churches-
And no where have the Baptists suffered more than
in Canada, for want of preachers properly trained,
and in sufficient numbers. For a number of years, no
man gave up his v/hole time to the work of the minis-
try in this churcli. The first pastor pursued a secular
calling and preached on the Sabbath, and others in
the church preached as they found opportunity. It
was this feature in the church, which probably gave to
some the impression, that originally this church held
what are called Scotch Baptist principles. I find no
evidence however, that Scotch Baptist views were
ever even proposed, to be embodied in the constitu-
tion of the church, whatever individual members may
liave held. Indeed the constitution of this church has
ever been eminently sound and scriptural. None but
converted members, were received to the ordinances
iind thus spiritual character always came first. Those
(inly who were professedly regenerated by the Spirit of
CJod, and who exercised faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
could be received for baptism ; and none but those
who had been baptized on a profession of their faith
could be received to the Lord's Supper. And in pass-
ing I deliberately affirm, that it is tliis last mentioned
position alone which gives us the logical right to or-
a church separate from our pedo-baptist

ganize

From Bond Htreet Pulpit.

brethren. Let the Baptists give up close communion,
and with this surrender they yield up their logical
right to have a Baptist Church at all. This church
was " close communion " from its foundation, and her
strength and compactness this day are largely due to
the consistent position which she has always held on
this subject.

The first pastor, the Kev. A. Stewai-t, seems to have
met with some difficulties as pastor, and he resigned
his office in 1886, (his death did not take place till
1840), but this act did not prove a complete remedy
if we may judge from a paper read about that time. In
1839, a paper drawn u\) by the authority of the Church,
and signed by six leading members, was sent to the
Colonial Baptist Missionary Society in London. This
document was giving an account of the state of the
Church, and applying for a missionary pastor. The
following is an extract : " But these encouraging
prospects were blighted by a succession of labourers
who were defective either in character or in talent,
and therefore failed to bring in and keep united the
elements of which a church of Christ is composed.
The members one after another retired to other de-
nominations or formed tliemselves into lesser divisions,
citlier with or without a ministry ; their usefulness
being restricted thereby, almost to themselves. After
the lapse of years however, these lesser divisions have
dwindled away to a mere nominal existence, and the
difficulties which but recently stood in the way to
2

r ,

r I

A FoH(j Years Sai'vey

render the reoccupaney of the station, in some measure
painful or embarassint? to tlie Christian labourer, no
longer exist."

A strong rally was made in 1840 the year after the
paper was written from which the foregoing extract
was taken and a pastor was secured. The church
then possessed an amount of wealth and a strength of
membership, greater than she exhibited for many
years afterwards. But the members were not homo-
geneous, and the three pastors who were settled between
1840 and 1844, viz., Messrs. Coombes, Tapscott, and
Campbell, were unable to weld, or work them together.
So that in 1844, a large portion of the membership
and half the wealth, were scattered never again to be
gathered.

In the last named year, there were only sixty-four
members on the books, (and these could not all be
found), and they were barely able to raise $400 for the
new pastor's salary. This is not a very cheering ex-
hibit of fifteen years work.

I was called to the pastorate of tliis church, in Sep-
tember 1844, and endeavoured to discharge the duties
of the office for four years, March Street being our
head quarters. In June 1848, the present house in
its first form was opened for public worship. Soon
after this I lesigned, and Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Pyper,
was called to the pastorate, which he filled with credit
and ability for seven years, till 1855. Getting the
church away from March Street and its surroundings
was, humanly speaking, the first step toward perma-

;

From Bond Street Pulpit.

nent prosperity. Indeed it is a wonder that the
church grew at all in that evil atmosphere. During
the last four years of its stay in that unfortunate local-
ity, its membership increased only about fifty per cent.
VV^hen Dr. Pyper came therefore, he had not quite one
hundred members, to mould and train for usefulness.
During his seven years' labours the church increased
to two hundred and forty-nine members, a gain of
about one hundred and fifty per cent in seven yeai's.
But it should be borne in mind, that such statistics
give no adequate conception of the real work and
changes in the church during these periods. For ex-
ample, in two years from 1855 to 1857, one hundred
and twenty six persons were added to the church by
letter and baptism, and yet the net gain was only 45-
Toronto has always been a place where a large portion
of the immigrants remain only for a few months, till
they can inform themselves about the country, and
then they move away and take their letters with them-
In 1855, the present speaker again became pastor, and
I'etained the office until he reluctantly resigned it, at
the urgent request of the leading brethren of the de-
nomination, to enter upon his present occupation.
About the close of 1860, tlie late Dr. Caldicott be-
came pastor, in which office he c(mtinued till 1869,
when God said to him " come up higher." The Rev,
W. Stewart, M.A., was the next pastor, for three
years. His work is too recent and well-known to re_
(juire any lengthened notice. He was followed by the
present highly esteemed pastor,

A Forty Years* Survey

Not to weary you with minute details, in regard to
the growth of the Baptists in this city from year to
year, I may remark that, in 1859 there were four
hundred and twenty -four members in the Bond Street
and Queen Street Churches, and in 1869, just ten
years afterward, there were five hundred and eight in
the Bond Street, Alexander Street, and Queen Street
churches together. In the Associational minutes of
June last twelve hundred and sixteen members are
reported, in the six Baptist churches of this city.
That is during the ten years lying between 1859 and
18G9, the net gain of the churches was not quite
twenty per cent, but dujing the six years between
18«>9 and 1875, the net gain has been over one hun-
dred and forty per cent! Surely God was walking
among the golden candlesticks !

Before making any practical application of the
foregoing facts and principles, I may be allowed to
make a few remarks illustrative of the growth of the
denomination at large, during the period under review in
this discourse.

It is difficult to speak very positively of minute
events in early Baptist history, because so few records
have come down to us. The truth is early Baptists
were making liistory, rather than writing it. None of
the churches in Ontario or Quebec can claim to be
much over eighty years old. The oldest in Quebec
was formed at Caldwell's Manor, in 1794, and between
that date and 1803 several small churches were
gathered in Prince Edward District, and an association

•

Form Bond Street Pulint.

j \

of these churches was formed in 1803, called first,
Thurlow, and then Haldimand. But many of the set-
tlers moved away and most of the churches changed
their names, or becaiiK? extinct. The oldest church
west of this city, is I think Vittoria, (Beamsville is
about of the same age), which was founded in 1804.
If we draw a line due north from this city, then all
the Baptist communicants west of that line did not, in
1829, number quite one thousand. Now the same area
contains at least fifteen thousand ; more than fifteen
times as many. Forty-six years ago the two provinces
of Ontario and Quebec, contained about fifteen hun-
dred Baptist communicants, now they contain at least
twenty-three thousand ; more than fifteen times as
many. Or let us compare the growth of the whole de-
nomination, during the last sixteen years, with the
growth of the Baptists in this city during the same
time. In 1859, the members of our churches in
Ontario and Quebec numbered a little over twelve
thousand five hundred ; in 1869, they had increased to
a very little over sixteen thousand, an increase of only
28 per cent, in ten years. From sixteen thousand in
1869, they have now become twenty three thousand,
that is a gain of fully forty-four per cent, in six years.
This is not equal to their growth in this cit}'', during
the past six years, still it is great and encouraging pro-
gress.

No statement of the comparative amounts contribu-
ted for objects of benevolence by the denomination at

difterent periods of its history, can be given ; nor
2a

A Forty Year^' Survey

would it be of much interest perhaps if it could. It
is sufficient to say that for denominational objects,
and for objects of general benevolence, more than
thirty thousand dollars were contributed the past
year. This of course does not include the salaries of
pastors, nor church expenses, nor the large sums con-
tributed, in a number of places, for church buildings.
Of these thirty thousand dollars, upwards of one-tenth
was contributed by the churches in this city. During
the past six years the Baptists of Ontario and Quebec,
have increased the value of their churjh property, by
at least two hundred and sixty thousand dollars. They
iiave contributed not less than fifty thousand dollars
for educational i^urposes, during tlie same period.
These facts and statements suggest a few closing re-
marks of a more practical character.

1. What personal memories, sorrowful and joyful
painfid and pleasant, does this review of the past
bring to the mind of many now hearing me ! I have
been speaking almost exclusively of the dry outward
facts of your history. But every christian knows, that
a church of Jesus Christ has an inner as well as an
outer history. History should enter into the very
source and springs of a church's spiritual life and
growth, as well as into the outer forn and develop-
ment. You, my christian l)rethren,are about to move
into a lar;»or more convenient and more beautiful
house of worship, than that whicli you have long oc-
cupied — one where you will have greater facilities for
doing your work for Ood. But how many of you

From Bond Street Pulpit.

will look back to old Bond Street with feelings which
you never can have for any other place of worship on
earth. Here your eyes were first opened to see your
condition as sinners, and here God's great pity found
you. As you were in this house, made to see how
evil and bitter it is, to be a sinner against God, so you
were enabled to feel how precious is the blood which
cleanses from all sin. This was your spiritual birth
place, and this was the school where you learned your
first precious Itssons in the christian life. O what
prostrations of soul before God have you known here,
and to what heavenly places in Christ Jesus have you
at times been exhalted ! I am sure there are many
before me, who through the never ending future will
in thought tenderly revisit Bond Street. There are
many scattered over the face of the earth, who will
do the same — aye, and many now in ^he mansions of
glory, who will fondly recall the spot where Christ
met them and first spoke peace to their souls. Even
God, tenderly remembers " the love of our espousals :'
and Christ forbids us to forget our " first lovo." Re-
member these things, my brethren.

I need scarcely remind you that there are very few
things worth retaining in a Christian's mind, except
the gracious dealings of God with him. It is assured-
ly not the size, the beauty, nor the costliness of our
house of worship which is worth thinking of, but the
spiritual benefit we receive in it. Nothing in
thought oven is worthy to be compared with this. I
am |)ersuaded ol'you, that in bi<Ming farewell to Bond

A Forty Yp.ar.'< Surrey

Street, you all feel that unless you are more prayerful,
more humble and childlike in your faith, more zealous
to save the ^)erishing and to maintain the truth, your
change from Bond Street, to Jarvis Street will be a
loss to you rather than a gain, foi- if Christians do not
progress, they retrograde. for an outpouring of the
Spirit of God upon this (Church to-day. that there
may be a truly worthy consecration of their ncM'
jilace of worship on Thursday next !

2. We learn fi'om the foregoing facts and statements
that G(kI works in and throiigli a working people.
We could desire no bett<M' proof of the correctness of
this ])osition, than that which is furnished in the his-
tory of this church. For niauy years there were in it^
a nundier of members who were capal>le of doing
much good, could they liave found within the church
work adapted to them, on which they could employ
their own methods of work. It is perfectly well
known, that all men cannot do the same kind of woi-k,
nor can all those who can do the same kind of work,
do it in the same methods. N(^t being employed in
any productive religious work, such members coidd
not be at rest or satisfied. In l(So6-7 a inission
School and preaching station was oj^ened in the West
partof thccitj'', and for a time was (piite jnomising : Init
those who conduete<l it, U(^t beincf sustained bv the full
sympathy of some of the learling members in the
church, had to give up their niission work to look
after the interests of the church itself In 1857, an
ill advised eftbrt was put forth to establish a second

FroTYh Bond Street Pulpit.

interest in Albert Street, but it came to naught. Then
for about ten years the church remained undivided,
and apparently satisfied, though it was increasing
only at the average rate of about two per cent per
annum. And even when the secession took place to
form Alexander Street Church, many thought it a very
disastrous movement for Bond Street. But it was
really the best thing for Bond Street and for the Bap-
tist cause in the city, that ever happened to it. It
not only gave more room to work, but furnished some
of the strongest incentives to it. And what have been
the results of this ? The Bond Street church, not-
withstanding the repeated drafts made upon her to
form other churches, has nearly doubled her member-
ship in the last six years, and the Alexander Street
church, notwithstanding the drafts made upon her,
has more than doubled her communicants during the
same period. And the increase of membership has
been proportionately yet more ra])id, in the Yorkville.
Parliament Street, and College Street churches, which
have been all formed within tlio past six years. This
has been under God, because the sphere of ojierations
lias been greatly enlarged, and because the number or
workers, each one (Muploying his own methods of work
without interference or hindrance from others, has
been greatly increased.

The results of all this have been most blessed. " 1
have planted," says the Apostle, " Aj)ollos watered.
God gave the increase." This is the great law of all
Christian success. Let CJod's true people l)e .scattered

A Forty Years' Survey

abroad (it matters not very much by what means they
are scattered), and the world will soon exhibit the
effects of their presence. The first disciples of oui*
Lord seemed much averse to leave Jerusalem, and
God let in upom them the wind of persecution, and
they were scattered abroad; „then they went every-
where preaching the Gospel."

There are now six Baptist churches in this city, be-
sides mission interests. Should they not have sonie
stated devotional meeting in common ? When there
was only one little white Baptist church, they en-
deavoured to keep up a monthly concert of prayer,
and good was done by i<" Should there not be now a
monthly concert of prayer maintained by the six
churches, when they could address their common
Father and Lord, and plead with him for the objects
for which they labor in common ;* [f the Baptists of
this city ever forget the great lessons sot before them
l)y the history of the last six or seven years, they will
not only be ungrateful to God, but they will close
their eyes to the best interests of the cause. And if
old Bond Street, about to enter into her line new
house, forgets for a single day her obligations to pro-
vide at the earliest possible day for the very larg(^
section of this city, which her removal leaves more des-
titute than ever ol' Baptist proneliing, then she may
expect, that her now house will he like the mountains
of (^filboa on which no dew fell. That Bond Street
church is strong in membership and in wealth, I as a
representative of our educational work, thatik Go«l.

From, Bond Street Pulpit. 27

and many others join me in the thanksgiving. But
unto her I would emphatically say in closing, - Thou
Shalt remember what God has so clearly shown thee
that the true way to strengthen, and extend the cause
in the city is to plant Baptist churches, as many as
possible, in the destitute localities, and sustain them
until they can sustain themselves.