* * * * *
The day before his death, Mr. Mortimer addressed a long letter to his
brother, the Rev. Thomas Mortimer, full of interest and full of kindness,
and which, no doubt, will be treasured up by him with great care and
affection; but it is of so personal and domestic a tenor, that it is only
a single short extract that I can with propriety insert in this memoir,
though nothing could be more appropriate, as a conclusion to his
correspondence.
June 14, 1844.
* * * * Of myself a word or two will suffice. Though old and
grey-headed, my God forsakes me not; but graciously imparts a gleam of
sunshine in my latter days, which almost makes me marvel. I have just
completed my sixtieth year, and, though encompassed, as ever, with
infirmities, have for the last twelvemonth done full duty twice on the
Sabbath.
The flame yet flickers, and till it shall sink into total darkness, may
it send forth some shining ray to enlighten the minds and change the
hearts of my beloved Canadian people.
Adieu, my beloved Brother,
Ever affectionately yours,
GEORGE MORTIMER.
* * * * *
Mr. Mortimer’s death, which took place on Saturday, June 15, 1844, has
been so suitably and feelingly described by others that I have nothing to
do but to avail myself of their services. These consist of notices of
the event, taken by the public papers of Toronto; a resolution of the
Central Board of the Church Society of the Diocese of Toronto, presented
to Mrs. Mortimer by the Rev. W. W. Ripley, secretary; a brief memoir
drawn up by the Rev. Thomas Grinfield, and inserted in the _Bristol
Journal_; and letters written by his amiable and excellent daughter, Miss
Phebe Mortimer, giving some account of the last years of her father’s
life, as well as of the circumstances and particulars of his death.
(_From the_ “_Church_” _newspaper of June_ 21, 1844.)
It is with feelings of no ordinary pain and grief that we announce the
sudden and afflictive death of a venerable friend and fellow-labourer in
this diocese, the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A., Rector of Thornhill.
As this deeply-lamented gentleman was proceeding on Saturday afternoon
last from his residence to Toronto, his horse, when about half way
through the village, took fright, and the reins breaking, the carriage
was upset, and Mr. Mortimer was thrown violently against the stump of a
tree. He received immediate assistance, and was carried into the house
of a neighbour, Mr. Griffiths. Dr. Paget, his medical attendant,
speedily arrived, and drove him home. On the way he spoke with
cheerfulness, and hopes were entertained that the injury would not prove
very serious; but soon after his arrival at his own house, he expressed
his conviction that he had not long to survive—an apprehension which was
confirmed by his kind and afflicted medical friend. Having called his
family round him, he addressed them in his own peculiarly affectionate
and earnest manner, upon the solemn change he was soon to undergo,
blessed them, and presently after sunk to his rest, so calmly and quietly
that they knew not of his departure until the mournful event was
communicated by Dr. Paget. About two hours only had elapsed between the
occurrence of the accident and his death.
The servant who had driven him, was thrown also with great violence
against a heap of stones, and severely hurt; but he is now, we are happy
to say, recovering.
The well-known excellencies of Mr. Mortimer in every Christian sphere and
relation, render any extended remarks of our own unnecessary. He was all
that the mind can conceive, in this imperfect state, of a gentle,
consistent, and established Christian. With talents and acquirements of
the highest order, a polished mind and a benevolent heart, he was fitted
to adorn any society; while the zealous and conscientious discharge of
every pastoral duty to which his strength was equal, added to a large and
systematic charity, endeared him, in a peculiar degree, to the flock who
were so fortunate as to enjoy his ministrations.
In the diocese at large, as a well-informed, pious, and influential
clergyman, his loss will be severely felt; a loss the more afflictive to
many, from the very recent opportunity occurring at the late visitation,
where he attended apparently in unusual health, of enjoying the benefits
and gratification of his society.
He has gone to his rest in a mature, though not old age; and, in the
words of a contemporary, “the chief consolation to the family and friends
of this truly good man will be, that he died in the full assurance of
entering into the perfect realization of the true believer’s promised
happiness.”
(_From the Toronto Patriot_, _of Tuesday_, _June_ 18, 1844.)
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—It has seldom been our task to announce a more truly
melancholy accident than that which, on Saturday evening, deprived the
diocese of Toronto of one of its most zealous, useful, and truly
respected clergymen, the Rev. George Mortimer, of Thornhill. * * * * * *
* Few men could have moved in a sphere of more active Christian
usefulness than this most excellent minister of religion. To the poor,
and the neighbourhood generally, of Thornhill, his death will be a severe
loss. His charities were large, and extended to the bounds of his
clerical remuneration and a large private income. The chief consolation
to the family and friends of this truly Christian man will be, that he
died in the full assurance of entering into the perfect realization of
the true believer’s promised happiness.
(_From the_ “_British Colonist_,” _a Presbyterian paper_, _of Tuesday_,
_June_ 18, 1844.)
WITH much regret we announce the death of the Rev. Mr. Mortimer, of
Thornhill. * * * * * * * * * *
Mr. Mortimer was the incumbent of the Episcopal Church, at Thornhill; he
was beloved by his congregation, and held in high respect by all around
him, and distinguished for his benevolence and charity.
* * * * *
AT a meeting of the Central Board of the Church Society, of the diocese
of Toronto, held at the Society’s House, on the 3rd July, 1844, the Lord
Bishop in the chair: on the motion of the Rev. H. J. Grasett, M.A.,
domestic chaplain to the Lord Bishop, seconded by the Hon. W. Allan, it
was
_Resolved_—That the Central Board of the Church Society of Toronto, with
feelings of the deepest emotion, embrace the first opportunity of their
meeting together since the sudden and lamented death of the Rev. George
Mortimer, M.A., Rector of Thornhill, to express their sorrow in the
removal of a member of their body, who, for warm yet humble piety,
enlarged and Christian charity, a self-denying course of life, and a holy
devotedness to his Heavenly Master’s cause, was surpassed by none of
those who have been commissioned to feed the flock of Christ in this
diocese.
And while the Board view in this melancholy bereavement, the chastening
hand of a merciful and gracious Father, who scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth, they most sincerely beg to offer their condolence to the widow
and family of their deceased brother, who, his warfare being
accomplished, has been thus suddenly called from the Church militant to
join the society of those who have departed hence in the faith and fear
of the Lord.
(Signed) JOHN TORONTO.
(_From the Bristol Journal_.)
THE REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A.
WITH deep regret and affectionate esteem, we record the death of one,
whose memory (we are persuaded) is embalmed in the hearts of many among
our fellow-citizens—the REV. GEORGE MORTIMER. In the midst of his
ministerial usefulness in Upper Canada, whither he emigrated from this
city about ten years ago, his valuable life was suddenly terminated by
one of those mysterious dispensations of Infinite Wisdom, which, while
they make us feel our deep ignorance, exercise at once reverential
submission and Christian confidence. Thrown from an open carriage
against the stump of a tree, he received a fatal injury on his chest; and
having been carried to his home, and placed on his bed, he expired within
two hours. It is remarkable that, as a fall, suffered in his infancy,
had injured his growth, and distorted his person, a fall should have
proved the occasion of his death. For several years (between 1826 and
1834) he resided in this neighbourhood; first at Horfield, when he
officiated as evening preacher at St. Mary-le-Port, in this city;
afterwards, as curate of the Rev. Alfred Harford, at Hutton, in Somerset.
He was a man equally distinguished by his intellectual and Christian
excellence. The strength and symmetry of his mental constitution
presented a striking contrast and relief to the imperfection of his
stature and his form—imperfection redeemed by a countenance eloquently
expressive of benignity blended with intelligence. Those who enjoyed his
personal intimacy will remember him long among the most instructive and
interesting of companions—among the most kind and faithful of friends.
As a preacher, he was eminently popular, powerful, and profitable;
peculiarly excelling in accurate details of practical and social duty,
and also in discriminative representations of the character and the
heart. A mind acute, perspicuous, methodical, enriched with knowledge at
once varied and exact; a natural _unwritten_ eloquence, aided by a voice
of peculiar and pathetic tone—imparted an extraordinary charm to those
evening discourses, which, delivered to crowded auditories in St.
Mary-le-Port Church, have left, we doubt not, vivid and valued
impressions on the memory and the heart of many a surviving hearer. At
this moment we well recollect particular passages of his preaching; and
especially his farewell address, heard with mournful eagerness by an
overflowing throng on the evening of the day preceding his departure for
America: the text, “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve!”—the sermon, a
masterpiece of comprehensive and momentous exhortation. On the next
morning (Monday) in company with many of his attached friends and
hearers, “we accompanied him to the ship, sorrowing most of all for this,
_that we should see his face no more_.” (Acts, xx. 38.) Our Canadian
colony, then the scene of large emigration, and greatly in need of able
clergymen, rejoiced to receive the treasure which Bristol once enjoyed.
By his natural and acquired endowments, Mr. Mortimer was singularly
qualified for usefulness in the new field of his ministry. In his
extensive parish of Thornhill, the parish church was considerably
enlarged during the year preceding his last, towards which he contributed
greatly; and also effected the establishment of two other churches, with
clergymen attached to them, in the same extensive district. During a
long course of years, Mr. M— had made it his rule to expend a _tenth_
part of his income annually, on the various objects of Christian
benevolence: his liberality must have proved doubly valuable, where,
while numerous necessities demanded relief, the people are generally
_slow to give_. In what high esteem he was held by his Canadian
brethren, is sufficiently attested by the extraordinary honours of his
funeral: the Bishop of Toronto, accompanied by more than forty clergymen,
many from distant places, attended his remains to their sepulchral rest,
with tears of mingled love and grief. He has left an excellent widow and
six children to lament his loss, and cherish his memory. Of his sons,
two are engaged in the ministry; one as a missionary among the Chippeway
Indians, and the youngest is studying in the College of Toronto for the
same sacred destination. May the spirit of their father be perpetuated
in his children’s children.