IT was while visiting the people in the neighbourhood of the GERMAN
MILLS, in August, 1841, that their state of spiritual destitution was
impressed upon Mr. Mortimer’s mind, and he immediately determined upon
trying to do something for them. As he had then no Sunday duty to
perform, and, at the same time, was partially recovered from his nervous
attack, he made up his mind to attempt a Sunday service there himself,
and immediately began to inquire if any room could be found for the
purpose. A farmer, whose house was very conveniently situated, on being
applied to, willingly consented to secure the use of a room in his own
house, without any charge, for the remaining term of his lease,
five-and-a-half years; nor would he at any time accept any remuneration
for the expense and trouble which he incurred by the service being held
in his house; and both himself and his wife were ever ready to do all in
their power to promote the comfort of their minister, and of those who
were engaged in the Sunday school, which was also held in the room used
for Divine service. Their generous conduct much pleased Mr. Mortimer,
who often said, that they would never suffer for “sheltering the ark of
God,” but that, on the contrary, he felt sure that as the “Lord blessed
the house of Obededom,” so He would bless them and their family. The
room being then in an unfinished state, Mr. Mortimer agreed to have it
prepared for Divine worship at his own expense, the fitting up consisting
simply of a desk and benches. On the 5th of the following month,
September, the service was performed in this room for the first time.
Mr. Mortimer was much surprised, and greatly encouraged by the largeness
of the congregation, many being unable to find seats, and standing in the
entrance. Before the following Sunday the room was furnished with
additional benches, which, altogether, was considered sufficient to seat
a hundred persons. On that day also, there was a large congregation, as
appears from a memorandum in Mr. Mortimer’s handwriting; “The room quite
filled, and overflowing.” As he himself expected, however, after a time,
the novelty wore off, and the congregation decreased, leaving an average
of about seventy attendants; but even this number he thought a large
congregation, considering the scattered state of the population. He
always felt a peculiar interest in this station, which he styled, “the
nursling of his old age.” The congregation always appeared grateful for
the establishment of the service there, which they evinced by the
willingness with which they subscribed to the “Church Society,” when
called upon to do so. Though this place is not more than
three-and-a-half miles from Thornhill Church, it is believed, that not
more than one person during their residence there ever attended the
church service, until it was held at the German Mills. The settlement
derives its name from the circumstance of the surrounding country having
been settled chiefly by Germans many years since; at which time there
were mills close to the house in which the service is now held. These
mills have been long since in ruins, having never been repaired, owing,
it is said, to some superstition connected with the history of them.
There are now scarcely more than two dozen houses within a circuit of
half-a-mile from the ruins of the mills. The other dwellings are
scattered on the different surrounding farms.
On the 10th October, in the same year, a Sunday School was begun in
connexion with the Church, which was well attended, having from forty to
sixty attendants. At the time the Church service was established at the
German Mills, there was no Sunday service there of any description. The
Methodists had previously attempted to establish prayer and other
meetings, but had then no service of any kind: as soon, however, as the
Church service was commenced, Mr. Mortimer was informed that they had
again opened a meeting at a house close by, apparently for the sake of
opposition, but of which he took not the slightest notice: it was shortly
afterwards given up, though in a little time re-commenced.
In the same manner, when he was informed that the editor of the
_Christian Guardian_, a Methodist paper, had written against him, he
would not even look at the paper, observing, that “it matters but little
what people said of him.” He considered it the wisest plan to let
opposition die away. By some he was called a Puseyite, by others a low
Churchman; but his own aim was to be “a consistent Churchman.” What he
considered one breach of consistency is mentioned in his pastoral letter
to his parishioners at Thornhill; viz., attending other places of
worship: another was contributing towards the support or encouragement of
Dissent, which he invariably declined doing from conscientious motives.