The History of Germain Street Baptist Church, St. John, N.B., for its first one hundred years, 1810-1910

by Thomas D. Denham

REV. DR. CAREY’S PASTORATE, 1865-1881.

REV. G. M. W. CAREY was invited to visit the city in August, 1865. He came, preached for three Sundays, and received a unanimous call to the pastorate. He accepted and entered upon his labors here on the third Sunday in December, 1865.

Death of Rev. Samuel Robinson.

The death of Rev. Samuel Robinson occurred September 16th, 1886, after long and successful pastorates in this and Brussels Street Churches. For some twelve years he was pastor here, during which time 374 persons were added to our membership by baptism and 188 by letter—a total of 562. At Brussels Street Church he labored from 1850 up to the time of his death—sixteen years—and was the means under God of adding to the membership of our sister Church 456 by baptism and 191 by letter—647 in all. During his two pastorates in this city, which covered the long term of twenty-seven years, he thus received into the two Churches the large number of 1,209 persons. Mr. Robinson probably did more than any other man of his time in extending Baptist principles in this city and county, and his work was greatly blessed by God.

Revival Services.

On January 17th, 1870, Elder Knapp, of Illinois, who had been invited to the city by Germain and Leinster Street Churches, commenced special services. The plan adopted was to meet alternately in each church a week at a time, and hold united services. Elder Knapp’s sermons were searching and powerful, striking terror to the hearts of the ungodly, and convincing the backslider of his sinfulness and bringing him back to the realization of his duty to God and the Church. The meetings were largely attended, and a profound impression was made on the minds of the unconverted. As a result of these services 103 persons were added to the Church by baptism and by letter.

Church Debt Paid.

A debt of $15,000 rested like a heavy burden upon the Church, crippling its energies and hindering the out-flow of its benevolence. This amount had been gradually reduced till in 1871—five years after the completion of the edifice—there remained the sum of $6,400, which was covered by a mortgage. This the young men of the Church resolved to make an effort to have removed. A committee composed of James Harrington, James S. Harding and Thomas D. Denham were appointed to devise a plan to pay off this debt. They submitted a scheme for its reduction by weekly payments of ten cents each member of the church. So far as we can learn this is the first application of a Weekly Offering system in this Church. At the end of two and a half years, the committee reported that $2,000 had been raised and paid on the mortgage. This so encouraged the Church that an effort was successful made to secure larger subscriptions, and the entire debt was paid off on Christmas eve, 1873. In doing this the Church was greatly indebted to the generosity of Mr. Henry Vaughan, whose subscription and those of his family and friends amounted to $1,700—over one-third of the whole amount. It is believed that this was the first time in the history of the Church when the property was entirely free from debt. Now, in 1910, history is repeating itself.

Building Damaged by Fire.

On the 28th of January, 1874, at midnight, the Church was discovered to be on fire, the building being considerably damaged, and the organ completely destroyed. The amount of the award, $4,676, was, however, sufficient to repair the damage. Various churches and halls were offered for the use of the Church, till the building was repaired. Among there were Brussels Street, Leinster Street, and Calvin Churches, the Mechanics’ Institute, the Academy of Music and the Y. M. C. A. The offer of the Y. M. C. A. was accepted, and their hall on Charlotte street was used till the Church was ready for occupancy. On the following Sunday the pastor preached a powerful sermon—alluding to the loss by fire, and showing how much worse our condition would have been, if the debt had not been paid off.

This year a finance committee composed of G. M. Steeves, J. J. Bostwick and the writer was appointed to oversee the finances, and enlist all members of the Church and congregation in this part of the work. Feeling that the time was not ripe for the introduction of a weekly offering system, they introduced a monthly one, and from this time to the present full annual financial statements have been issued.

In February the pastor was granted leave of absence to visit Great Britain. He left in April and returned in August much improved in health. On his return, he delivered in several places a most interesting lecture on the “Westminster Abbey.”

In 1874, a Mission Sunday School was started at Portland Bridge, with a view to looking after the neglected children in the vicinity of York Point. J. J. Forest was the first Superintendent and was followed J. J. Bostwick, with whom the writer was associated.

The Young People’s Meeting was organized in 1876, largely through the efforts of Brother E. H. Jones. This same year permission was given the Fire Department to connect the Fire Alarm with the Church bell.

On June 13th, 1877, a beautiful Communion Service was presented to the Church by Deacon and Mrs. Dyall.

Building Destroyed by Fire.

June 20th, 1877, is a memorable day in the history of this city, as on that day two-thirds of the main part of the city was wiped out by fire. Our Church in common with all others in the burnt district was entirely destroyed, leaving only a picturesque ruin as shown in the oil painting by Mr. J. C. Miles, and in the frontispiece of Stewart’s “Story of the Fire.”

Nothing was saved from the building but the new communion service, and this only by the persistent effort of Mrs. Dyall. The bell, the gift of Captain George W. Marsters, was found embedded in the ashes, this being the second time for it to receive its Baptism by Fire. It was shipped to the founders in England and recast, and is still in use at the present time.

On Sunday, June 24th, the Church met for worship with the Brussels Street Church. Invitations were received from Brussels Street and Calvin Churches, and from Peerless Lodge and Odd Fellows to make use of their new buildings. The new Portland Bridge Mission Building was nearly completed, and available for the use of the Church.

The offer of Brussels Street Church was accepted, and we united with them till their new pastor, Rev. A. J. Wilcox, arrived, when the Sunday evening service was held in Calvin Presbyterian Church, the week-night meetings being held in the Mission Hall.

At a meeting held June 26th, a letter was read from Charlottetown Baptist Church, enclosing a draft of $450, to be divided between this and Leinster Street Churches. This was the first contribution towards rebuilding and was highly appreciated. It was our privilege in turn in 1889 to assist this church to a small extent, when their building was destroyed by fire.

While the new edifice was in course of construction, this Church and Leinster Street united in sending Rev. J. D. Pope to England and Scotland, and Rev. G. M. W. Carey to the Upper Provinces and the United States, to raise funds to assist the two Churches in rebuilding. The net result from their efforts, after deducting expenses, was $5,221, which was divided equally between the two Churches.

The Third Building Erected.

In order to provide additional accommodation in the new building, the Church purchased from Deacon Francis the adjoining lot on Queen street, giving us 100 x 120 feet in all.

At the laying of the corner stone of the present building the following ministers, besides the pastor, were present and took part in the ceremony: Revs. Dr. I. E. Bill, J. P. Parsons, W. P. Everitt, and A. J. Wilcox. The ceremony, which was very impressive, commenced by the choir singing the hymn:

“How pleasant, how divinely fair,
O Lord of Hosts Thy dwellings are!”

Dr. Carey concluded the reading of the corner stone document with these words:—“And now perplexed, but not in despair; cast down, but not destroyed; with faith and trust in the God of Bethel, our fathers’ God and our God, and in the Lord Jesus Christ, on this Tuesday afternoon, second of October, 1877, in the forty-first year of her Majesty’s reign, and the eleventh year of the Dominion of Canada, Earl Dufferin, Governor General, and the Hon. S. L. Tilley, Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, the ninety-second year of the incorporation of St. John, and the sixty-eighth of the Germain Street Baptist Church, we lay this corner stone with the fervent prayer and aspiration that the spiritual glory of the Temple now being raised may far surpass the glory of the former temples which have risen on this site.”

The following were placed in a tin box and deposited in the corner stone:—Documents taken from the ruins of the former building; List of Officers, August 24th, 1864; Statement of Pastorates of Revs. I. E. Bill and Henry Vaughan; Names of the Founders, Organizers and Pastors of the Church; List of Officers and present number of Members; Statement of the Sunday School before the Fire; Baptist Hand Book of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island; Copies of The Christian Visitor; Silver coins—5, 10, 25 and 50 cents Dominion Currency; together with the documents read at the laying of the present corner stone.

On Sunday, February 24th, 1878, we met for worship for the first time in the vestry of the new Church. The pastor being detained at Annapolis, on account of a storm, Rev. George Armstrong preached in the morning and Rev. Dr. Watters, of St. David’s Church, in the evening.

Dedication of the Church.

The main audience room of the Church was opened on the 11th of August, and dedicated to the worship of the Triune God, with appropriate services. Rev. Dr. I. E. Bill, a former pastor, preached in the morning from Acts 20: 35—“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” He spoke earnestly and impressively on the duty of giving liberally so as to place the Church as soon as possible in the same position financially as previous to the Fire, when there was not one cent of incumbrance on the property. The pastor preached in the evening from Haggai 2: 18, 19—“From the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, from this day will I bless you.” Dr. Carey concluded as follows: “From this day may the blessing of God rest upon the place and the people, the worshippers and their work, and may the glory of the latter house be greater than that of the former. May spiritual and temporal prosperity abide and abound on it, and may it be an earthly palace for the Prince of Peace.” The house is tasteful and commodious, with a seating capacity of about 850. It was the first church edifice completed after the fire. In April of this year, the hour of evening service was changed from 6 to 7 o’clock.

From Associational Letter, 1879.

“The total cost of Church and Parsonage, including organ and furnishings was $46,000, of which $30,000 has been paid, including $4,000 contributed this spring by for liberal members of the church and congregation. This leaves a debt of $16,000. Additions during the year: by baptism 14, by letter 4, reinstated 1. Loss: by death 3, dismissed 3. Present Membership 474. Attendance at Young People’s Meeting during the winter, fully 100. At Portland Bridge Mission the average attendance at the Sunday School was 90, and on Sunday evenings from 300 to 400. Our Licentiate, Brother John F. Newton, spent his vacation laboring in this field, and his work was highly appreciated. Brother W. F. Parker, (now Rev. W. F. Parker) spent his vacation working among the colored people at Spar Cove, and was blessed in his work. Our Sunday School has been in a prosperous condition during the year, though still not as large as previous to the fire. Number of Scholars, 170, Teachers, 18. Volumes in Library, 250.”

Rev. John F. Burditt.

Upon the completion of Brother Burditt’s theological course, he volunteered for Missionary work in India, whither he proceeded under the American Baptist Foreign Missionary Board. At first associated with Dr. Downie, at Nellore, while studying the language, he later founded a mission in a new field at Udayagiri, where he was successful in building up a very flourishing church. After ten years of unremitting labor he returned home on furlough. Upon his return to India he was stationed at Narsarapette, where three years later he died of typhoid fever, in 1894—a martyr to his too strenuous endeavors in the cause of Christ. Thus has our church had the honor of sending out laborers into the Master’s Vineyard.

Rev. Dr. Carey’s Resignation.

Rev. G. M. W. Carey having resigned the pastorate, and accepted a call from the Princess Gate Baptist Church, Liverpool, Eng., preached his farewell sermon, March 6th, 1881. The house was filled to overflowing and many were turned away. Dr. Carey preached a powerful sermon from Acts 20: 26-27, 31-32. Both preacher and congregation were visibly affected during the discourse. On March 11th the farewell meeting was held, and despite a heavy rainstorm the church was completely filled. Besides the members of the congregation there were present representatives of the various denominations of the city to say farewell to one who by his faithful work, not only in his own Church and denomination, but in all departments of Christian work, as well as by his kindly manner and upright character, had won the respect and love of all with whom he had brought into contact. As a slight token of appreciation, handsome presents in silver and a beautiful French marble clock were presented to Dr. and Mrs. Carey. During his pastorate of fifteen years, Dr. Carey had preached fifteen hundred sermons, baptized three hundred persons, solemnized three hundred marriages, and delivered one hundred and fifty lectures.

Rev. G. M. W. Carey was born in Belfast, Ireland, March 10th, 1829. He received his early education at the Moravian Village, Grace Hill, Belfast, and when a boy came to Canada with his parents. He attended the Grammar School at Vankleek, Ont., and at the University of Rochester, N. Y., took the Degree of B.A. and M.A. from Acadia University, as well as from the Baptist College, Toronto. He also held a certificate from the University of Chicago for having successfully completed the advanced course in Hebrew, and in 1894 the Honorary Degree of D.D. was conferred by Acadia. He was ordained after his graduation from Rochester, and was pastor of the Queen Street Baptist Church, St. Catherines, Ont., for ten years. He then came to St. John, and labored successfully with this Church for fifteen years—1865-188. He was then called to the Princess Gate Church of Liverpool, England, where he remained four years. Returning to Canada, he was pastor at Brantford and Ottawa, Ont., for some years, when he returned to St. John, having accepted the pastorate of the Brussels Street Church of this city—remaining from 1839 till 1899. He then went to Ottawa, where at his daughter’s home, surrounded by his wife and family, he lay down to rest, and in his sleep passed peacefully away—in just such manner, as he himself had often expressed the desire that his passion might be.

Dr. Carey was one of the most eloquent preachers who have filled this pulpit, and drew large congregations, especially to the evening services. As a lecturer also he was very popular—his lectures on “The Making and Ministry of Money,” always drew crowded houses, and were delivered for the benefit of various churches and societies. His genial manner and exemplary Christian character endeared him to all classes in the community. He was a true optimist, and looked forward to a confederation of the English Speaking Peoples of the globe, to promote religion, learning, commerce and peace.