Welton, Daniel Morse, D.D., Professor of Hebrew, Baptist College, Toronto, Ont., was born in Aylesford, Nova Scotia, July 20th, 1831. His father was Sydney Welton, and his mother, Isabel Morse. His ancestors on both the father and mother’s side came from New England at the time of the Revolutionary war. He prepared for college in Horton Collegiate Academy, Nova Scotia; entered Acadia College, Nova Scotia, in 1850, and graduated therefrom in 1855. After occupying the place of tutor in Acadia College for twelve months (1856), he went to Newton Theological Institution, Mass., where he remained a year. In September, 1857, he was ordained to the pastorate of the Windsor Baptist Church, Nova Scotia, which position he filled till October, 1874, when he was called to the chair of Hebrew and Systematic Theology in the Theological Department of Acadia College. He remained here till 1883, with the exception of two years (1876 and 1877) which he spent in Leipzic, Germany, engaged chiefly in Semitic studies under Professor Delitzsch. He received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Leipzic in 1878, his dissertation for the same being “The History of Hebrew Learning in England.” His Semitic studies in Leipzic chiefly embraced the Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, Samaritan and Arabic. In 1883, he was appointed to the chair of Hebrew and Old Testament Interpretation in Toronto Baptist College, which he fills at the present time. In 1884 he received the degree of D.D. from Acadia College, his alma mater. In the years 1876, 1877 and 1878 he also visited London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and the principal cities of Italy. He was married to Sarah Eliza Messenger, daughter of David and Catherine Messenger, September 23rd, 1857.
Gagnon, Hon. Charles Antoine Ernest, M.P.P., Kamouraska, was born at Rivière Ouelle, Quebec, on the 4th of December, 1846. The family came originally from Vendee, France, and settled in Canada in 1633, being thus one of the oldest Canadian families, having representatives still living. The subject of this sketch is the son of Antoine Gagnon, merchant, of Rivière Ouelle, and a nephew of Senator Pelletier, C.M.G. He was educated at St. Anne’s College, and was very successful in his studies. Taking up the study of law, he was appointed notary public in 1869. In 1870 he married Marie Malvina, third daughter of Francis Gagnon, farmer. Throughout his life, Mr. Gagnon has taken the keenest interest in politics and has done yeoman service to the Liberal party with which he is identified, in numberless contests in both Provincial and Dominion affairs. He also directed considerable attention to municipal affairs, his knowledge of those being recognized by his appointment as secretary of the municipality, and, later, secretary of the Board of School Commissioners. He also fills the office of treasurer of the Fabrique. He was president of the board of liquidators of the late Stadacona Fire and Life Insurance Company of Quebec. In October, 1885, he was appointed president of the Board of Notaries, of the province of Quebec, and this position he still holds. In 1873 he was appointed valuator for the St. Lawrence District of the Intercolonial Railway, which was then under construction, and a year later was appointed receiver of wreck for the district of Kamouraska, holding those offices concurrently until March, 1878, when he resigned to contest Kamouraska in the Liberal interest. He was successful in the contest, as he was in the next election in 1881. He was unseated after this election, each party paying its costs, but was again elected in 1883, and has continued to represent the constituency ever since. He was one of the strongest and ablest supporters of the Joly administration during its short career, and when the Liberal party went into opposition he rapidly came to the front as a leading man in the small but resolute band which opposed the policy and methods of the Conservative government under its successive leaders. When the Nationalist agitation arose, he took the same position as his leader, Mr. Mercier, that the interests of the Dominion demanded that a fair field should be given to the people of Quebec, and that union on the part of those people was the best means of calling attention to their demands. Battling strongly on this line, it was natural that when the Nationalist cause triumphed under Mr. Mercier’s leadership, Mr. Gagnon should be called to a position of honor and responsibility. He was sworn in as Provincial Secretary and member of the Executive Council on 29th June, 1887.
Reid, Rev. Charles Peter, Sherbrooke, Quebec, was born at Cornwall, Ont., on the 14th of August, 1811. He was the eldest son of the late Rev. James Reid, D.D., for fifty years rector of Trinity Church, Freleighsburg. He was educated at the Grammar School founded by the Royal Institution in Montreal, and taught by the late Alex. Scakel, and for a while at the similar school in Quebec, taught by the Rev. R. R. Burrage. He took his Divinity course at the Theological Seminary at Chambly, at which the late Rev. J. Braithwaite, M.A., was the principal. He was admitted to the diaconate by the Right Reverend Dr. Stewart, bishop of Quebec, on the 23rd of June, 1835, and to the priesthood at the first ordination held by the late Right Reverend Dr. Mountain, bishop of Quebec, on the first of Nov., 1836. His first mission after his ordination was Rawdon, in the present diocese of Montreal, where he remained a short time. He removed from Rawdon to St. John’s, as curate to the Rev. D. Baldwin, and missionary at Laprairie. While at St. John’s he was married to Julia Gray, eldest daughter of John Gray of her Majesty’s Customs. He then removed to Compton, where he remained fourteen years, building two churches, and organizing the work of the mission on a secure basis. On the 1st of April, 1854, he was appointed to Sherbrooke, of which place he has been rector for thirty years. During this long ministry the church under his charge has grown into a strong and flourishing one, and he has been identified with every good work which has been accomplished in the town. Not only by active interest, but by liberal donations, he has helped to support various charitable institutions. Bishop’s College, Lennoxville, is specially indebted to him. There are few figures more widely known or more truly beloved throughout the whole District of St. Francis, than that of Dr. Reid. He is spending his ripe old age in Sherbrooke, and, still active in mind and body, is never so happy as when assisting in the services of God’s house or ministering in his old field of labor, to those who have become endeared to him by a life-time of loving intercourse. Dr. Reid has been one of the trustees of Bishop’s College from the foundation, in 1843. He received the honorary degree of M.A., in 1855, and of D.C.L., in 1884. He has been for many years rural dean of the District of St. Francis.
Power, Michael Joseph, was born at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the 23rd day of February, 1834. He is the son of Michael Power. His mother’s maiden name was Ann Lonergan. Both parents are natives of Waterford, Ireland. Mr. Power received his early education at the Union Academy, in Halifax. He is a prominent representative of the Roman Catholics in that city. Mr. Power has taken an active interest in civic affairs for many years. He was an alderman for six years, representing ward 4. He has also been chairman of the City Board of Works for one term; chairman of the Fire department for eight years; vice-chairman of the Board of School Commissioners for two years; and president of the Charitable Irish Society. He does business at 75 Buckingham street, Halifax. He is the Imperial government army contractor for land transport. In his younger days he took considerable interest in militia affairs, holding various commissions in the 63rd battalion of Rifles, and is now retired with the rank of captain. Mr. Power’s connection with the city council brought him into relations with the Commissioners of Public Gardens, of which body he is vice-chairman. He is also a justice of the peace for Halifax county. At the general election of 1878, Mr. Power, together with Hon. P. C. Hill, then Provincial Secretary and Premier, and Donald Archibald, M.P.P. for several terms, and now high sheriff of the county of Halifax, were the candidates of the Liberal party, running in opposition to Charles J. McDonald, W. D. Harrington and John Pugh. The Conservatives carried the elections and the Liberals were out of power for one term. But in the next elections in 1882, Mr. Power, running with Hon. W. S. Fielding, now Provincial Secretary and Premier, and Jas. G. Foster, against W. D. Harrington, Jonathan Parsons and John Pugh, was elected. Messrs. Fielding and Harrington were also elected, Halifax being represented in that legislature by two Liberals and one Conservative. At the general election of 1886, Mr. Power, Hon. W. S. Fielding and William Roche, jr., defeated John Y. Payzant, W. D. Harrington and James N. Lyons by over 1000 majority. On the assembling of the Local parliament, Mr. Power was elected Speaker of the House. He married on the 20th November, 1860, Ann Sophia, daughter of the late Patrick Kent, a Halifax merchant. In politics Mr. Power is a Liberal.
Paquet, Rev. Benjamin, Priest and Household Prelate to his Holiness Leo XIII., Doctor of Theology, Superior of the Quebec Seminary, and Rector of Laval University, was born at St. Nicholas, county of Levis, in 1832. His father was Etienne Paquet, husbandman, captain of militia, and descendant of an old French family. He was one of the most remarkable citizens of the county of Levis. His mother was Ursule Lambert. He received his education at the Quebec Seminary and Laval University. After having finished his classical course, he gave himself up to theology, to prepare for the priesthood. After having been employed in the active ministry for five years as priest at the Basilica, Quebec, he entered the Seminary of Quebec as professor of belles-lettres about a year. In 1863, he went to Rome to complete his theological studies, with the intention of teaching in the faculty of theology at Laval. He studied at Rome for three years, at the celebrated Roman College, where he took his degrees. He returned to Quebec, and taught moral theology at Laval University for a great number of years. He was afterwards purveyor of Quebec Seminary for five years. During this interval, he built the new Quebec Seminary, one of the most beautiful edifices of the Dominion. After having been director of the Grand Seminary for two years, he was, in 1887, appointed Superior of the Seminary and Rector of Laval University. In 1878, he was appointed secret domestic to his Holiness Pope Pius IX., on account of his eminent services to religion in the cause of Laval University. In 1888, he was given, by Pope Leo XIII., the title of household prelate to his Holiness, which entitles him to take part in the court of honor of his Eminence Cardinal Taschereau. Doctor Paquet has made five trips to Europe in the interests of Laval University, and sojourned in Rome eight years.