In 1887, Mgr. Lorrain travelled 1,700 miles on his pastoral visit to the Indian missions on the Upper Ottawa, Rupert’s Land and the Upper St. Maurice. His route was from Ottawa, via Pembroke, to Lakes Temiscamingue, Obaching, Kepewa, etc., thence to the source of the River du Molhe; from here through a chain of lakes to the “Lac Barrière” mission, now on Lake Wapous; thence to Lake Wassepatebi, lying between the province of Quebec and Rupert’s Land; through Cypress Lake, River Pekeskak, by a chain of five lakes, the Laloche river to Lake Waswanipi. The return trip was made by the same route as far as Lake Waswanipi, to the Mekiskan river and the upper waters of the St. Maurice; thence through various lakes, Lake Long, Lake Coucoucache and others to the Grand Piles. This involved a trip of 1,700 miles, mostly by water in bark canoe, occupying two months and six days, and 1,172 miles being travelled by canoe. The portages were from an arpent to four miles long, and there were 157 of them. During the five years Bishop N. Z. Lorrain has been in Pembroke he has paid an old debt of $11,000 on the church; built a magnificent episcopal residence at a cost of $18,000, upon which sum $8,000 has been paid; bought twenty-nine acres of land for a graveyard; purchased plots of sixteen acres of ground in the most beautiful part of the town, as sites for charitable institutions in the future. Mgr. Lorrain is an eminent English scholar. There is no doubt he is destined to do a great work for his country, and that his wise counsel will always have weight in the periodical councils of his church.
Coleman, Arthur Philemon, Ph.D., Professor of Geology and Natural History, Victoria University, Cobourg, was born on the 4th of April, 1852, at Lachute, province of Quebec. His father was the Rev. Francis Coleman, a minister of the Methodist Church of Canada, and his mother, Emmeline Maria Adams, was a descendant of John Quincy Adams. His early education was obtained in various public and high schools of Ontario, according to the station occupied by his father, as an itinerant Methodist minister; and this ended in a course of two years in Cobourg Collegiate Institute. In 1872, he matriculated in Victoria University, Cobourg, and after four years’ residence, graduated in 1876 as Bachelor of Arts, taking honours and a gold medal. On the advice of Dr. Haanel, whose eloquence and ability as a professor had inspired him to study science, he sailed for Europe, and in 1880, matriculated in the University of Breslau, in Prussia, Dr. Haanel’s alma mater. During four semesters he studied geology, mineralogy, botany, histology, chemistry, etc., under such distinguished men as Roemer, Cohn, Goeppert, Dilthey, Poleck, Liebisch, and others. His dissertation which was on the “Melaphyres of Lower Silesia,” and demanded hard work in microscopic petrography, as well as some months geologizing in the Giant Mountains, on the border between Silesia and Bohemia, was accepted, and after examination he was admitted to the degree of Doctor Philosophiae (cum laude) in 1882. While in Europe, Professor Coleman made numerous geological expeditions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Scandinavia, and most of one summer he spent in Norway, wandering on foot over the mountains and fields collecting specimens, and observing the results of glacial action. The most notable points in this journey were the ascent of Galdhoepig, the highest mountain in Norway, and a voyage along the coast to Hammerfest and the North Cape, to see the Lapps and the midnight sun. At Knivskjaerodden, a few miles from the North Cape, the ship on board of which he was, The Nordstjern, went ashore in a fog, and became wrecked on that bleak coast. The misfortune occurred at about two o’clock in the morning, but aided by the perpetual daylight, the passengers and crew succeeded in reaching shore, and within twenty-four hours thereafter, they were rescued by another steamer and landed at Hammerfest. After a short visit to France and England, he returned to Ontario, and towards the end of 1882, was inaugurated as professor of geology and natural history in Victoria University, Cobourg. Since that date he has continued in the same position, varying his life by journeys with geological ends in view; in this way he visited the Rocky Mountains, the valley of the Columbia, and the Selkirks, before the Canadian Pacific Railway was built, travelling by pack pony, canoe or on foot. The professor belongs to the Methodist church, and in politics is a Liberal.
Macdonnell, Rev. Daniel James, B.D., Pastor of West St. Andrew’s (Presbyterian) Church, Toronto. This popular minister was born at Bathurst, New Brunswick, on the 15th January, 1843. His father, the Rev. George Macdonnell, who was born in Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire, Scotland, came in childhood to Halifax, Nova Scotia, received his early educational training in the schools at Halifax, and finished his course of studies at the Edinburgh University. He afterwards was minister of St. Luke’s Church, (Church of Scotland), at Bathurst, from 1840 to 1851; spent two years in Scotland; came to Upper Canada in 1853, and was settled successively in Nelson and Waterdown, Fergus and Milton, and died at the latter place in 1871. His mother was Eleanor Milnes, who was born at Pictou, Nova Scotia, and belonged to a branch of the family of Milnes, of Derbyshire, England. Daniel James Macdonnell, the subject of our sketch, began his education at Bathurst when but a lad of six years of age,—the study of Latin being included in his course at this unreasonably early age. He was afterwards sent to Scotland, and pursued his studies for some time at Kilmarnock and Edinburgh, and on his return to Canada, at Nelson, under the care of the late Dr. Robert Douglas, of Port Elgin, who taught at “The Twelve,” while he was prosecuting his studies. Mr. Macdonnell was then taken in hand by the late Dr. Tassie, then head master of the Galt Grammar School, who prepared him for the university. In October, 1855, when in his thirteenth year, he entered Queen’s College, Kingston, and he held the first place in classics and mathematics during his course there. In 1858 he graduated B.A., and two years later M.A. Some time after he took a portion of his theological course in the Queen’s Divinity Hall, Kingston, under Principal Leitch and Professor Mowat, and spent the session of 1863-64 in Glasgow, where Dr. Caird was professor of divinity. He completed his course in Edinburgh, having attended the classes of the late Professor Crawford and Robert Lee, and received the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. The winter of 1865-66 he spent in Berlin in acquiring some knowledge of the German language, and picking up whatever theological instruction he could gather from the imperfectly understood lectures of Professors Dörner and Hengstenberg. On the 14th June, 1866, he was ordained by the Presbytery of Edinburgh (Church of Scotland); and returning to Canada he was inducted to the charge of St. Andrew’s Church, Peterboro’, Ontario, on the 20th November, 1866, where he spent four years. He was then called to St. Andrew’s Church, Toronto, and inducted on the 22nd December, 1870. The advent of Mr. Macdonnell was the signal for an immediate revival of the condition of the church. He was young, energetic, and more than all, earnest and original in his preaching. Within a few years it was found that the old building was inadequate for the purpose, and a new and imposing structure was built at the corner of King and Simcoe streets, at the cost of $86,000 for building and $14,000 for additional ground. It is one of the finest and most complete in all details of the many fine church edifices in Toronto, and is built of stone in the Norman style, with a massive tower on the south-west angle. Mr. Macdonnell’s popularity has steadily increased year by year since he came to Toronto, and although some are inclined to consider him, from “the Westminster Confession” standpoint, rather liberal in his theological views, yet his large congregation listen with great satisfaction to his gospel of common sense, and are most sincerely attached to him. Rev. Mr. Macdonnell was one of the most cordial supporters of Presbyterian union, and contributed largely to its consummation in 1875. He is a member of the Senate of Toronto University, having been appointed by the Ontario government. He also takes an active part in works of charity, and indeed in everything that has a tendency to help and elevate humanity. During his college career, Rev. Mr. Macdonnell taught for about three years; was head master of Vankleek Hill Grammar School for six months, when only seventeen years of age; was assistant to Mr. Campbell (now Rev. Robert Campbell, D.D., minister of St. Gabriel street Church, Montreal) for a year in the Queen’s College Preparatory School, and head master of the Wardsville High School for a year and a half. While a student in Scotland, Mr. Macdonnell, during vacation, took a couple of walking tours with fellow students through Switzerland and parts of Germany, and since he settled in Canada he has taken several trips to Great Britain. On the 2nd of July, 1868, he was married to Elizabeth Logie Smellie, eldest daughter of the Rev. George Smellie, D.D., of Fergus. Rev. Dr. Smellie was one of the pioneer Presbyterian ministers of Western Ontario, and although now in his seventy-sixth year, he still preaches every Sunday to the people to whom he has ministered for forty-four years. There are four sons and a daughter in St. Andrew’s manse. Mr. Macdonnell’s eldest boy, George Frederick, aged fifteen, is attending Upper Canada College, and, taking after his father, occupies the position of head boy in his form.
Hunton, Sidney Walker, M.A., Professor of Mathematics in the University of Mount Allison College, Sackville, New Brunswick, was born in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, on the 4th July, 1858. His father, Thomas Hunton, was for a long time a leading merchant at the capital, and died a few years ago. His mother, Amelia Hunton, is still alive and resides at Ottawa. Professor Hunton was educated at the Collegiate Institute, Ottawa, where, in 1875, he won the two medals offered by Lord Dufferin for mathematics and classics. In September, 1876, he entered McGill College, Montreal, where he studied for two years, and won first scholarship in each year. In September, 1878, he won the Canadian Gilchrist scholarship of the value of £100 stg. per annum, tenable for three years, and then proceeded to London, England, where he studied at University College, making a specialty of mathematics. In June, 1881, he won the Rothschild scholarship of the value of £56, which was awarded for the greatest proficiency in mathematics in University College. He graduated at the University of London, in Oct., 1881, and was appointed assistant to the professor of mathematics in University College, and held the position for two years. In 1882 he became lecturer on mathematics in the Electrical Engineering College, London, which position he resigned in 1883, on being appointed to the professorship of mathematics at Mount Allison College, N.B. During his stay in Europe he also studied at Cambridge, England, and Heidelberg, Germany. He was married on December 25th, 1884, to Annie Inch, daughter of J. R. Inch, LL.D., president of Mount Allison College. Professor Hunton is a credit to “Young Canada,” and we hope many will be found imitating his example.
Kay, Rev. John, Pastor of the First Methodist Church, Hamilton, was born in the town of Napanee, Ontario, on the 20th of May, 1838. His father was Enoch Kay, who was born in the county of Wicklow, Ireland, in 1812. His mother, Elizabeth Coulson, was a native of Stockton, near Hull, England, and was born in 1815. His grandfather, Joshua Kaye (the family name was originally spelled Kaye) emigrated with the family from Ireland many years ago, and settled in the eastern part of Ontario, where he followed the same occupation as he had done in his native country, namely, that of wheelwright. He was a man of small stature, but of marked intelligence and great amiability of character, and a leader among the Methodists of his day. The wife of this worthy man was a Fitzhenry, a name of some considerable note in Ireland. She was tall and fine looking, and evidently had her early training in an advanced circle of society. Both died in the village of Newburg, and their bodies rest in the small rural cemetery near the village of Napanee Mills. His maternal grandfather was a miller from his youth up, and for several generations some of the Coulson family have been engaged in this business, and in that of shipbuilding in England. The father and mother were married in 1837, the year of the coronation of Queen Victoria, and took up their residence on a farm a short distance north of Napanee Mills. Here Mr. Kay, sen., farmed, and also carried on the trade of carriage-building and blacksmithing, employing a number of workmen. The farm he afterwards sold, and moved into the village of Newburg, where he engaged in the lumber business. Here young Kay received the rudiments of his education, first in a private school and afterwards in the Newburg Academy. When he had scarcely reached his fourteenth year his father died at the early age of thirty-nine, leaving a widow and three children in poor circumstances, the subject of our sketch being the oldest. This necessitated his giving up school and entering on the battle of life for an existence, his mother with the other children returning to her father’s home until he could provide for them elsewhere. After a hard struggle of several years he succeeded so well as to be able to bring the family again together, and he made a home for them at Cramborne, a small village about five miles north of Cobourg. Here he was led to think more seriously of religious matters, and made up his mind to consecrate himself to the work of the church. He at once set about preparing himself, and acted in the capacity of local preacher for some time. Having been relieved soon afterwards of much business anxiety, he gave himself up to labour and study. After a hard struggle he succeeded, and to his surprise and satisfaction, in the spring of 1862, he was informed by the officials of the Methodist New Connexion Church of Baltimore, Ontario, with which he had connected himself a few months before, that they would gladly recommend him to the work of the ministry, and on his case being brought before the conference he was appointed to assist the late Rev. S. B. Gundy, in the town of St. Mary’s. This was a fortunate circumstance for the young preacher, for the Rev. Mr. Gundy was a man of excellent ability and one of the finest preachers in the denomination. The death of the superintendent some time afterwards was a great loss to Mr. Kay. He then took up the course of study prescribed for his work, which by no means was a light one. His studies were now chiefly directed by the late Rev. William McClure, who was appointed at that time to the chair of theology, philosophy and literature, for the student probationers of the church, and under his able tuition he succeeded in mastering the curriculum appointed by the Board of Education of the conference. Since then he has been successful in gaining some knowledge of Latin and Greek, with a little of German, but still thirsts for more knowledge, as he considers all possible lines of study are needed by the efficient and progressive Christian minister. The Rev. Mr. Kay first began his ministry, as will have been observed, at St. Mary’s, and here he spent one year; next he went to Manvers, where he preached for two years; then he went to Ingersoll, and spent two more years; in Milton he preached for three years; in Waterdown for three years; Tilsonburg, two years; London, two years; then he again spent two years in Ingersoll; and then moved to Waterford, where he spent three years; in Thorold, three years, and for the last three years he has been in Hamilton. In 1872, when the subject of Methodist union was a live topic in the churches, Rev. Mr. Kay was secretary of conference, and contributed by both voice and pen to bring about union, and when this great movement was accomplished he was removed from Tilsonburg to London by the conference of 1875, and during his stay there he helped to build the Wellington Street Church and parsonage, which is now one of the most prosperous churches in the denomination. This reverend gentleman has been several times financial secretary of the districts in which he has been stationed; and in 1886 he was a representative at the General Conference which was held in Toronto. He has found time, also, to attend to the temperance movement. From boyhood he has been a teetotaller, having joined the Cadets of Temperance in Newburg, and subsequently entered the orders of the Sons of Temperance and Good Templars; and later held for two years the office of grand counsellor, and for three years that of chaplain in the Supreme Lodge of the Royal Templars,—which holds its annual sessions in the city of Buffalo, where the order was first organized in 1870. As a natural consequence he is a firm and uncompromising prohibitionist, holding that the only way to elevate the masses and improve the financial condition of the country is the entire abolition of the traffic in intoxicating drinks. Mr. Kay also belongs to the United Order of Workmen, and did for some time belong to the orders of Oddfellows and Foresters, but a few years ago found it necessary to retire from them. As we have seen, the subject of our sketch was brought up in the Methodist fold, and he has seen no reason since to change his belief in the doctrines that were taught him at his mother’s knee; but, nevertheless, he is not opposed to a progressive theology, and can see no reason why a person should be compelled to follow all the old methods of reasoning and forms of expression. The words of modern use are often as expressive as those used aforetime, and some of the old ones are none the worse for being used before. The Augustinian school of theology finds no favour with him. He believes in a free will—without the necessitarian adjuncts of such limitations as affords it only to a few favoured persons—the free and full salvation for all, and the kindest and most gracious invitation to all to come to the fountain and drink. The gospel freely offered is God’s expression of love. He has also devoted some time to literature, and in 1871 published a very interesting “Biography of the Rev. William Gundy,” his father-in-law. This volume was very favourably received, and highly praised by the press. He is a diligent student, and has also on several occasions contributed to the columns of our newspapers and periodicals. On the 20th of October, 1864, he was married to Eliza, second daughter of the Rev. William Gundy, who for more than half a century was a preacher of the gospel, and though now dead for over sixteen years, yet speaketh. Six of a family have been born of the union, four of whom survive, two sons and two daughters.