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[Illustration: REV. JOHN BLACK, D.D.
The Apostle of the Red River.]
JOHN BLACK
THE APOSTLE OF THE RED RIVER
Or,
How the Blue Banner Was Unfurled
on Manitoba Prairies
by
REV. GEORGE BRYCE, M.A., LL.D.
Professor in Manitoba College, Winnipeg.
Toronto:
William Briggs
Wesley Buildings.
C. W. Coates, Montreal. S. F. Huestis, Halifax.
1898
Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year
one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, by William Briggs, at
the Department of Agriculture.
PREFACE.
We are in the habit of referring to the heroic deeds of our fathers,
whether English, Scottish, Irish or French, in the struggles they
endured and the sacrifices they made for country or religion. The
service rendered to liberty and religion by Cromwell and his Ironsides
at Marston Moor or Naseby, by Hamilton and his Covenanters at Drumclog,
by King William and his followers at Boyne and Londonderry, or by Henry
and his Huguenots at Ivry, may well stir our bosoms with emotion.
But this century has, in the piping times of peace, developed a new and,
perhaps, greater heroism in the army of Christian adventurers going to
all lands, and proclaiming under King Jesus a war against sin and
idolatry, in which battles for the truth are fought against
"principalities and powers" as real as those against Prince Rupert, or
the bloody Claverhouse. Even the quieter life of a pioneer missionary
like Carey or Livingstone requires the highest daring and the sublimest
perseverance.
To this class belongs the career of Rev. John Black, the Apostle of the
Red River of the North. To leave home and friends at the call of duty,
to cross the trackless prairies of the north-western States in order to
reach the northern and secluded plains of Rupert's Land, to bury himself
in obscurity, albeit he was engaged in laying the foundation of a
spiritual empire of the future, was to give John Black a true claim to
the honor of self-sacrificing fame and highest patriotism.
The work of the author has been a labor of love, and it is with the hope
of awakening wider interest--especially in the minds of the young--in
the sweetness of self-sacrifice, and in what the world may call the
"reproach of the cross," that this little book is sent forth.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. JOHN BLACK'S EARLY DAYS 9
II. STUDENT AND MISSIONARY 19
III. MONTREAL TO FORT GARRY 30
IV. A HIGHLAND WELCOME 45
V. THE EARLY SETTLERS ON RED RIVER 53
VI. SOWING AND WEEPING 66
VII. PASTOR AND PARISH 77
VIII. A KINDRED SPIRIT 91
IX. RED RIVER BECOMES CANADIAN 103
X. THE NEW SETTLEMENTS 114
XI. COLLEGE AND SCHOOLS 131
XII. MEMORIALS 142
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
REV. JOHN BLACK, D.D. _Frontispiece_
ST. BONIFACE CATHEDRAL, BURNT 1860 43
KILDONAN PARISH CHURCH 75
REV. JAMES NISBET 90
WINNIPEG IN 1870 122
KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1871 126
KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1879 130
MANITOBA COLLEGE, 1872 130
PUBLIC MONUMENT TO DR. BLACK 153
MEMORIAL TABLET IN KILDONAN CHURCH 159
JOHN BLACK
_THE APOSTLE OF THE RED RIVER_
CHAPTER I.
His Early Days.
John Black was the Apostle of the Red River. He will be long remembered
on the prairies of Manitoba. In 1882 he passed away, all too soon to see
the remarkable rise of the country for which he had planned and worked
and prayed. He had reached the age of sixty-two, and nearly half of that
time he had spent on the plains of the Northwest. His name is a
household word in many settlements, and his memory is revered by the
white settlers and the Christian red men alike, throughout Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
BIRTHPLACE AND CHILDHOOD.
On a visit to Scotland, a few years ago, the writer of these sketches
spent a few pleasant days on the Scottish border. He was guest of a
former Canadian minister in the pretty parish on the river Esk, of which
Sir Walter Scott speaks, where "there was racing and chasing on Cannobie
Lee." One day a delightful drive led along the winding valley of the
river to the town of Langholm, to attend the Presbytery meeting there.
After the business was over the Presbytery dinner was held, with all the
forms of the "olden time." While at dinner one of the ministers
addressed the writer: "Oh, I'm the minister of Eskdale Muir, where your
first minister on the Red River, the Rev. John Black, was born." It was
interesting to note that the pioneer of the western wilds was not
forgotten in the place of his birth.
On the 8th of January, 1818, John Black was born. He was the son of
William Black and Margaret Halliday, Eskdale shepherd farmers, who lived
on the farm of Garwaldshiels. His ancestors had originally dwelt in the
neighboring parish of Ettrick, and some of them had been warm friends of
the godly minister there, Thomas Boston, whose works, "Fourfold State"
and the "Crook in the Lot," were well-read books in many a Scottish
home.
The farm of Garwaldshiels was a lonely spot. Its steading, as the farm
buildings are called in Scotland, was two miles from any other. Indeed,
the whole parish of Eskdale Muir is mountainous and sparsely settled,
its inhabitants being chiefly sheep farmers and shepherds. In the church
on Sunday it is said the collie dogs were formerly almost as many as the
men. Sometimes the dogs became restless, and were apt to disturb the
minister.
The shepherds of the south of Scotland are noted as a most intelligent
lot of men. Their quiet life on the hills with their flocks gives them
time for thought. They are great readers, and undertake to master the
deepest books. This is so uncommon among humble people, such as they,
that visitors from outside Scotland are greatly struck by it. It is said
that a Yorkshire wool merchant once visited the parish of Eskdale Muir
on business, and was so surprised that he said: "They are the strangest
people that ever I saw; the very shepherds talk about deep stoof
(stuff)."
The minister of this parish who baptized John Black was in knowledge a
leader of his people, for he was the author of a work called
"Antiquities of the Jews," which was formerly very well known.
About the time of the birth of John Black, the shepherds of the border
parishes had gained another accomplishment. Many of them undertook to
write poems. The reason of this was that a few years before, in the
parish of Ettrick, a remarkable man, James Hogg, known as the "Ettrick
Shepherd," had written a number of very beautiful poems, which had been
published and widely read. This led many of the shepherds to imitate one
of their own number. Some of the poems produced were poor, but others
were uncommonly good. It was strange to see such a burst of song in a
people so severe in their thought.
Born of such a stock, and brought up in such surroundings, it was no
wonder that the boy of Eskdale Muir should early show a disposition to
study. He had a great thirst for knowledge, even as a child, and
especially for Bible stories and religious thoughts. In early childhood,
we are told, he was noted for his affectionate disposition. He was a
serious boy, and even early in life, at the age when most children are
thoughtless and unconcerned, he showed a desire to become a follower of
Jesus Christ.
REMOVAL TO HIGHMOOR.
When John Black was a boy of seven years of age his family removed from
the lonely farm of Garwaldshiels to Highmoor, some twenty miles to the
south. Highmoor was situated in the parish of Kilpatrick-Fleming. It was
a sheep farm, of about 700 acres, and belonged to a celebrated border
family, the Maxwells of Springkeld. It was in the very centre of
historic ground. It was less than five miles from the Scottish border
where the little streamlet that divides Scotland from England marks the
change from the broad Doric tongue to the very different dialect of
Cumberland. From the door of Highmoor the Solway Frith was clearly in
view, with its small sailing vessels and greater ships passing on the
errands of commerce.
Between Highmoor farm and the Solway was not more than ten miles, and a
beautiful little stream, the "Kirtle Water," ran through the farm and
emptied into the frith. The windings and turns of the "Kirtle" are well
filled with the thoughts of romance, and within this short distance
seven old castles are to be seen, the strongholds of the Irvings and the
Bells, so well known along the Scottish border. These old castles all
had their legends, and almost every one of them was said by country folk
to have been the scene of some great crime, and to be haunted by a ghost
or evil spirit. While John Black did not believe these old tales, he was
always fond of the stories, and read with greatest interest the "Tales
of the Border," and Sir Walter Scott's poems of the border minstrelsy.
Highmoor was not more than four miles from Ecclefechan, the town where
the great Scottish writer, Thomas Carlyle, was born. Not half that
distance from Highmoor was the house where Carlyle's father, mother, and
brother long lived. Even the Hodden Hill farm, which Thomas Carlyle for
a time occupied, was not far from Highmoor. Upon this farm was a
celebrated erection known as the "Tower of Repentance." On this farm
Carlyle was just becoming known as a genius in the days of John Black's
boyhood, and what were called his "longnebbit" words and striking
sayings were often spoken of by his Annandale neighbors. John Black, to
the day of his death, was proud of his fellow-dalesman, who became known
as the "Sage of Chelsea."
The wider view from Highmoor was equally beautiful. Looking eastward to
the end of the Solway Frith, one could see the tall chimneys of the city
of Carlisle, so prominent a place in the border strife. Towering to the
sky were to be seen beyond in Cumberland the gigantic Skiddaw and other
mountains, while beyond the heights of Cumberland appeared dimly the
Yorkshire fells and the hills of Durham. To the west the far view was
interesting. Majestic Criffel appeared running out into the frith, and
on a clear day the hills of the Isle of Man were seen in the middle of
the Irish Sea. Such a country, with natural beauty and historic
memories, could scarcely fail to inspire those who dwelt in it. We are
not surprised that John Black was stirred to poetry in such
surroundings, and we learn that, following the beginning as a
verse-writer, made under the name of "Glenkirtle" in the newspaper of
his county, he all his life had a faculty of writing snatches of lively
verse for his children and friends.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS.
The parish school in the wide parish of Kilpatrick-Fleming was seven
miles from Highmoor, but a second school, known as the "Gair school,"
was at the corner of the farm. Here, in 1826, John Black and one of his
sisters began their education. The school was under the charge of a Mr.
William Smith, the father of one afterwards well known in the
Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Smith, at one time
minister in Kingston, Ontario. To this school came from far and near
pupils from the scattered farms, some of them boarding in the nearest
dwellings. The parish schools of Scotland taught everything from the
alphabet to the works of the highest Latin and Greek writers. Mr. Smith
was a good scholar and a good teacher. Young John Black here laid a good
foundation for his future attainments. Mr. Smith was followed as a
teacher by Mr. John Roddick, also a man of much ability and skill as a
teacher. He was, strange to say, the father of another Canadian, Dr.
Richard Roddick, of Montreal. Under Mr. Roddick John Black made
remarkable progress. The young scholar had a great fondness for the
languages. The sturdy lad had, however, to fight with obstacles in
getting an education. To make a living on the farm his father needed the
help of all his children, and John could not well be spared when he had
reached the age when he could herd the cattle and watch the sheep. He
was often unable to be present at school, but his desire to gain a
higher education never left him. At last his father consented to his
study of the languages, and the happy boy at the age of fifteen threw
all his energy into his task.
French was the first language on which he began under Mr. Roddick. A
curious incident is connected with his entrance on the study of French.
Full of the thought of beginning a foreign language he walked all the
way to the town of Annan, nine miles distant, to buy a French grammar.
On arriving in the town, he found the bookseller's shop shut and the
bookseller along with almost all the people in the town, wending their
way, week-day though it was, to the parish church. The boy followed the
crowd, and found the greatest excitement prevailing. It was the day of
the trial of the celebrated Edward Irving. Irving was a native of Annan
and a great friend of Thomas Carlyle. He was a minister of great
eloquence, who had first assisted Dr. Chalmers in Glasgow, and
afterwards been settled in London. He had adopted strange views as to
the humanity of Christ, and on the day of John Black's visit was being
tried for heresy by the Presbytery of Annan. The boy was present during
the whole trial, and was wont to tell to his latest day of the
prophet-like Irving as he answered for himself and of Dr. Henry Duncan,
who was the advocate for a pure doctrine and a divine Christ. Thomas
Carlyle in his "Reminiscences," defends his friend and throws ridicule
on the Presbytery, but the extravagant views of Irving, remarkable man
though he was, justified, to the mind of most of the people, the action
that was taken by the Presbytery in deposing him from the sacred office
of the ministry.
The young scholar was able after the exciting scenes of the day to find
his way into the bookseller's shop, bought the French grammar, and
returned home to begin his study with much enthusiasm. It was always his
view that this French grammar exercised a great influence on his after
life. It was through his knowledge of French that he was afterwards
chosen, as we shall see, to work among the French-Canadians, and it was
thus through his being unattached to any special congregation that he
was led to find his way to Red River.
The young scholar progressed very rapidly in his studies. Of Latin and
Greek he was very fond, while his love for the great authors of his own
language was intense. He had a great craving for books. At the time of
which we write, and in a country district in Scotland, books were not
easy to be had. Fortunately for the young bookworm, a "Library
Association" was formed in the village of Waterback, which lay one mile
to the west of Highmoor. Though the number of works was small, yet it
represented nearly all classes of books. Twenty huge volumes of
Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopædia were there, and it is believed that
John Black before the age of twenty had pretty well read them through.
As a shareholder of the association, he made full use of his privileges.
He read widely in history, both ecclesiastical and general, and made a
brave attempt to grapple with the thought of such writers as Bacon,
Locke, Butler, and Paley.
During this time also his religious life became stronger and more
devoted. The parish minister was Rev. George Hastie, an earnest and
devoted preacher of the Gospel. Under Mr. Hastie's instruction, and
watered by the dew of heaven, the seed of truth, planted in early
childhood, sprouted and grew into a flourishing plant. The young student
made, under the faithful pastor, a public profession of his faith in
Christ. He was also much strengthened in the faith by his youthful
companions of kindred Christian feelings. One of these, Walter Smith,
became afterwards Free Church minister of Half-Morton in Eskdale. Many
years after, in a letter written from Red River to his brother, we find
John Black speaking of this Christian friend in far-off Eskdale.
At about the age of twenty, his old teacher, Mr. Roddick, having left
Gair school to accept a position in Liverpool, John Black was, for a
time, called on to act as a substitute. This he did with much
satisfaction to parents and pupils. It may have been this temporary work
that suggested to the young man, who was rather retiring and bashful,
the thought of teaching elsewhere. For some time after this he was
engaged in teaching a school in one of the most beautiful and romantic
villages of Cumberland. While gaining great success in his school in
England, his mind was dwelling on the fuller devotion of himself to the
higher office of the ministry. The ministry had thus early a great
attraction to him. He, however, hesitated, for there was, to the end of
his life, a singular union of courage and diffidence in Mr. Black. It
was his disposition never to push himself forward in any cause, but if
it seemed to him a duty he would go through fire and through water to
accomplish it.
TO AMERICA.
He had now reached the age of twenty-three, when a complete overturn
took place in all his plans. From hints thrown out in after years it is
made plain that his father's family had not been prosperous in their
sixteen years at Highmoor farm. It seems that they were so severely
tried that they were compelled to borrow money to take them to a new
land. John Black was his father's chief stay and counsellor, and so,
giving up all the prospects in his English school, he threw in his lot
with the rest of his family, and determined to go with them to America.
It was a sad picture when the family was torn up by the roots from the
home where it had grown. The far-off Solway was to be left behind, the
gently flowing Kirtle to be deserted, school and church, where character
has been formed, to be forsaken, and the sweet glens and historic rivers
and market town were to be seen no more. Oh, how sad the spectacle so
often witnessed at the Broomielaw in Glasgow or on the docks of
Liverpool, where tens of thousands have thus been wrenched from the
tender associations of home, and thrust out into the wide world! On
June 18th, 1841, John Black, with father and mother, three brothers and
four sisters, formed one of these sad companies, and, none too well
provided with worldly goods, started from Liverpool to gain a living in
the New World.