pastor was granted six months leave of absence to visit the Holy
Land, Egypt and Europe. A farewell service was held March 9th, 1898,
which was largely attended. An address was presented prepared by Dr.
S. McCully Black from which we quote—“We remember tonight with
grateful hearts the large blessings which have come to the Church
under your ministry; we could call to mind the glad and joyous
experience which by the favor of God we have been permitted to enjoy
together; the pleasant fellowship which has characterized all our
meetings; the blessing of the Sanctuary; the peace and harmony which
have prevailed in the Church; the seasons of special blessing which
have been enjoyed; the large number that you have been permitted to
baptize and welcome to the fellowship of the Church; the enlargement
of the Church benevolence and its increasing interest in all our
Denominational work; the training of the young; the growth of the
Sunday School and of Local Mission work, and the general enlargement
of the Church’s activity.” To the address Dr. Gates made a feeling
reply.
On the return of Dr. Gates from the east, and of Mrs. Gates from
Great Britain, whither she had gone to meet him, a welcome service
was held on the evening of September 8th, when an informal address
was presented. Dr. Gates in reply spoke at some length of his trip,
especially of his experiences in the Holy Land. All were glad to
welcome Dr. and Mrs. Gates back and to find them looking so well, and
the opinion was expressed that as a result of his six months’
vacation, the pastor had added more than as many years to his life.
Shortly after his return the pastor commenced a series of twelve
sermons on the Holy Land. These were highly interesting and
instructive, and the desire to hear them so general that the Church
was packed to its utmost capacity and still many were unable to gain
admission. At the close of the sermon on “The Holy City—Within the
Walls,” Professor L. W. Titus sang very acceptably “The Holy City.”
The Sunday School.
In 1899 a number of the young men purchased the lot of land adjoining
the church property on Germain street—50 x 190 feet—at a cost of
$1,680. This they transferred to the Trustees to the Church for the
purpose of ultimately erecting a Sunday School building thereon.
In the same year Deacon T. S. Simms resigned as superintendent of the
Sunday School—a position which he had filled most acceptably for the
long period of twenty-five years. Upon his retirement, W. C. Cross
was elected as superintendent, and has held this office since that
time. At present our Sunday School is in a very flourishing
condition. In the main school, the enrollment shows 8 Officers, 28
Teachers and 270 Scholars. A feature of our Sunday School work has
been the large amount raised by the scholars for Missionary purposes,
at least $100 per year having been contributed by our Scholars during
the last seven years to the Glendinning Fund.
In 1900 Brothers W. H. Colwell, S. H. Davis, and W. C. Cross, were
elected deacons.
Resignation of Dr. Gates.
At the end of 1900 Dr. gates tendered his resignation of the
pastorate he had so acceptably filled for the previous fifteen years,
and the Church was reluctantly compelled to accept it, Dr. Gates
feeling that it was his duty to accept the call from the Windsor
Church. A proposition made by the ladies, and heartily supported by
the entire Church, was for Dr. Gates to take a year’s rest from the
pastorate, and at the end of this time again take up his work
here—the Church to provide for supply. All efforts however, to induce
him to reconsider the matter were in vain, as he had accepted the
call from Windsor immediately after tendering his resignation.
In closing his farewell sermon Dr. Gates said: “There is no spot in
the Old World of the New so dear to me as the City of the Loyalists,
by the side of old Fundy. I love its streets, its bracing air, and
the push and energy of its citizens. There is no better place in the
world for a man who loves the work, and no city on the continent
where the great heart of Christianity beats truer for what is good
and pure and holy. I do not know why I am going, but I have said I am
going and I expect to go. They say that a tree which has been long
rooted in one place will not grow in a stranger soil. If this be so,
maybe I shall return. I am doing what I feel I ought to do, and who
can oppose God’s leading?”
One of the city papers referring to Dr. Gates said: “As a preacher he
is unsurpassed by any in the city, and as a citizen his personal
popularity extends far beyond the bounds of his Church and
Denomination, and his departure will be keenly felt.” An address,
engrossed on parchment by T. H. Belyea, and bound in Morocco, was
presented to Dr. Gates by the Church; and a purse towards fitting up
his library by the ladies.
REV. J. D. FREEMAN’S PASTORATE.
A call was extended to Rev. J. D. Freeman March 1st, 1901. Brother
Freeman accepted the call, and preached here for the first time on
Sunday, April 21st. On the 18th of April a recognition service was
held to welcome our new pastor to the Church and City. Deacon Simms
on behalf of the Church extend a hearty welcome to Mr. and Mrs.
Freeman. Rev. Ira Smith cordially welcomed him to the city on behalf
of the Baptist Churches, and Rev. Dr. Read on behalf of the
Evangelical Alliance. In responding, Mr. Freeman expressed his
fraternal feelings towards the other denominations, which as he
increased in experience he thought more and more highly of; while at
the same time his attachment to his own grew stronger. It was his
desire to give himself fully to the service of Christ, in the Church
and in the community. At the close of his first Sunday service, the
pastor baptized two young members.
In 1902 extensive repairs costing $2,700, were made to the walls of
the Church, which put the building in first-class condition. This
year the Roll of membership was revised with the following result:
Resident Members 351, Non-Resident 102, Total 453.
In May, 1902, Mr. Freeman resigned and left in July, after a short
pastorate of fifteen months.
A farewell social was held in the vestry July 3rd and an address
presented from which we quote: “Especially were we impressed with the
importance of your ministry in respect to preaching of the Gospel.
Your interpretations of the truth has been marked by deep spiritual
insight and fine powers of analysis, and the expression of it has
been rich, full and strong—a constant inspiration and incentive to
spiritual meditation and Christian living.” On the following Sunday
the farewell sermon was preached from Phil. 3:14. After delivering an
able and thoughtful discourse, Mr. Freeman said: “A farewell word.
Let it be brief as befits the brevity of my ministry with you. Yet I
cannot forget that I am saying ‘Good Bye’ tonight to the goodly
fellowship of Baptists in these Maritime Provinces. They have been
good to me and I love them. They have given me a large place to work
among them, and I have been proud to occupy it to the best of my
ability. I could have been happy in the thought of further years of
service in the ranks of the ministry of these Provinces by the Sea.
“Eight of the best years of my life I have been permitted to work
within a day’s journey of the place where I was born. No people can
ever be quite so dear to me as these. And now, dear people of this
Church, let me publicly thank you for all your co-operation and
loving appreciation from the first day even until now.”
Rev John D. Freeman was born in Queens County, N. S. He took his B.
A. at McMaster University and his M. A. at Acadia. He has been pastor
at Guelph and Whitby, Ont.; at Fredericton, and Germain Street. N.
B., at Bloor Street, Toronto; and is now pastor of a very old church
at Leicester, England, being only the third pastor the church has had
during the past one hundred years.
Since leaving the city Mr. Freeman has published two devotional
works—“Life on the Uplands” and “Concerning the Christ.” These have
had a large circulation and have been greatly prized for their purity
of diction, elevated style, and spiritual insight.
DR. GATES RECALLED.
———————
ON MR. FREEMAN’S departure in July, 1902, Dr. Gates received a most
unanimous call to return to the city and again take up the work of
the pastorate of this Church. At the Conference meeting held August
1st, Dr. Gates’ letter of acceptance was received with great
satisfaction, which was expressed by all rising and singing the
doxology.
Dr. Gates resumed his work here on Sunday, November 2nd, when he
preached to large congregations both morning and evening. The evening
service was based on Acts 13:26—“To you is the word of this salvation
sent.” Preceding the sermon, Dr. Gates expressed his gladness at
returning to those whom he had learned to love in other days. He
thanked them for all their goodness, and asked that their prayers
might be offered for him, that while he was a citizen of St. John he
might so labor together with them, that the city might be the better
and more as God wanted it to be. He was proud of the City of St.
John, No one could go away from it, as he had done, after working
among its people for many years, and return without the feeling of
being home again, and the inclination to whisper a benediction over
the place. On the following Wednesday evening Dr. and Mrs. Gates were
warmly welcomed back by a largely attended Church social. Deacon
Simms, who presided, said it was seventeen years since Dr. Gates
first took charge of the Church. Now after an absence of nearly two
years, he returned to a united, well organized Church in a good
financial condition. He pledged the hearty support of the
congregation. He also warmly welcomed Mr. Gates, who is held in love
and esteem by all. Dr. Gates expressed great pleasure in resuming the
pastorate that had been very dear to him. There were many reasons
that it made pleasant, chief among which were the confidence shown to
him by Church and people, and because he regarded this as an ideal
city in the various relations in life, particularly
interdenominational harmony, and because that in coming back he felt
he had done what the Lord wished. During the evening the Sunday
School Orchestra played several selections.
In January, 1903, the following additions to membership during the
previous year were reported:—by baptism 17, by letter 5, by
experience 1, total 23. Present membership 582. Received and expended
for all for all purposes, $8,508.
In 1904 the Church adopted the Canadian Edition of The Baptist Hymnal
for use at the Sunday services, which has given very general
satisfaction.
Maritime Baptist Union.
At a meeting of the Church held September, 1904, the pastor gave an
interesting account of the movement for the union of the Baptist and
Free Baptist Churches from its inception up to that time, and
presented the following resolution: “Resolved—That the Germain Street
Church is prepared to enter into organic union with the Free Baptist
Churches of New Brunswick, on the Basis of Union as adopted by the
Convention held in Truro, August, 1904, and by the Free Baptist
Conference, September, 1904.” This was unanimously adopted.
A very large measure of credit in the progress of this movement is to
be accorded to Dr. Gates, who by his energetic and strenuous
endeavors as Chairman of the Union Committee, representing the
Baptists, may be said to have been greatly instrumental in
consummating the Union of these two branches of the one Body.
At the formal Uniting Service, held in Main Street Church, City, on
October 10th, 1905, a History of the Union Movement during the past
twenty years, from the standpoint of the committee appointed by the
Baptists, was appropriately read by Dr. Gates; while on the same
occasion a History of the Union Movement, from the standpoint of the
committee appointed by the Free Baptists, was presented by Dr. McLeod.
During the latter part of February, 1905, Dr. A. C. Dixon, of the
Ruggles Street Baptist Church, Boston, spent four days with us
assisting the pastor in holding special Evangelistic meetings. These
were held each afternoon and evening. Dr. Dixon’s exposition of
Scripture was powerful and convincing, though clothed in the plainest
language, and arrested and held the attention of thoughtful men and
women, not only of our own congregation but from other churches as
well. As a result of these meetings, which were continued after Dr.
Dixon left, there were a number of additions to our membership,
including nearly thirty from the Sunday School.
Men’s League.
In September of this year was formed the Men’s League, an
organization of the men of the congregation to meet for a half-hour’s
Bible study, during the fall and winter months, at the conclusion of
the morning service. To T. S. Simms is to be given the credit of
initiating the movement. Since its organization it has met regularly,
under the efficient leadership of Mr. E. M. Sipprell, and has been
productive of much interest in the study of the Word. During the
winter months also a programme of Social and Literary evenings has
been prepared and a Banquet held.
Dr. Gates’ Resignation.
On Sunday, the 11th of February, 1906, to the infinite regret of the
Church, the pastor’s resignation was read, in which he said: “In
reaching this decision I trust I have been guided by the Spirit of
God. Never will there come a day—be my earthly stay longer or
shorter—when this dear old Church will be out of my mind. The Lord
bless you all—your homes, your loved ones, these Church interests,
and prosper you much more in the days to come even than in the past.”
At a special meeting called to consider the pastor’s resignation,
Deacon Simms referred to Dr. Gates’ long pastorate, the Church’s
appreciation of him as pastor and preacher, and the regret felt at
the termination of the cordial relations which have existed between
us. As Dr. Gates’ letter left but one of course open to the Church,
it was therefore moved—that the resignation be accepted, and a
committee be appointed to draw up a suitable resolution.
On Sunday, April 1st, Dr. Gates preached his farewell sermon, the
Church being filled to the doors. He took for his text Isaiah 60:
1—“Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God.” At the close
of the sermon Dr. G. U. Hay read a farewell address to the pastor,
from which we quote: “Beloved pastor—twenty years ago last January
you came to St. John to be our pastor, and during the intervening
years with the exception of twenty-two months spent at Windsor, N.
S., you have lovingly and faithfully ministered to this church and
congregation. It is no easy task to break asunder ties that have been
binding us together during these happy years—years of large-hearted
and unselfish ministry on your part, and something, let us hope, of
grateful appreciation on ours. The steady increase in our Church and
congregation, the activity in all departments of work, and the
flourishing condition of our Church in late years are due to your
inspiring personality and earnest diligence, and in a marked degree
to your power of organization which has been a constant influence in
every department of Church work. Be assured that you name will remain
as a household word with us. May our Father in Heaven guide and
direct you as he has done in the past and may you be a blessing to
the Church to which you go, such as you have been to us, is our
earnest wish and prayer.” In reply Dr. Gates thanked the Church on
behalf of himself and Mrs. Gates for the many kindly services
rendered them. “I thought,” he said, “when I came back from Windsor
that I would be here for the rest of my life, but the fog of the last
two summers got the better of me and I had to do one of two things,
either give up the fog or preaching. I did not want to give up
preaching, so I was compelled to try a dryer climate.”
At the close of the Friday evening prayer meeting a certified cheque
to the retiring pastor, and to Mrs. Gates a diamond brooch, were
presented as slight reminders of the affection of the people among
whom they had labored so long.
Rev. G. O. Gates was born in Annapolis Valley, N. S. At the age of
eighteen he commenced teaching school. After a course at Horton
Academy he entered Acadia College, where he took his B. A. in 1873,
graduating at the head of his class. A few years later he took the M.
A. Degree in course. During his college course, he did missionary
work in Colchester County, also spending one summer in Amherst as
assistant to Dr. Steel. In his senior year he supplied the church at
Gaspereaux. In the autumn of 1873 he was called to the pastorate of
the church at Liverpool, remaining there until June, 1880; when he
went to the First Church at Moncton where he remained until the
autumn of 1885. In January, 1886, he came to this Church, remaining
for fifteen years; when he went to Windsor, being there nearly two
years. Returning to this Church, he was with us nearly three years
longer, when he went to Westmount, P. Q., in 1906, having been there
since that time. During his pastorate in this Church he spent six
months travelling in Palestine and Egypt, and visiting the principal
cities of Europe. While in St. John, Acadia University honored him by
conferring the Degree of Doctor of Divinity.
Dr. Gates has had a large measure of success in the ministry. During
one year at Moncton, one hundred and forty were added to the church,
and while here, there was a steady increase of members, including a
large number from the Sunday School. He has always taken a deep
interest in Sunday School and Missionary work, working in connection
with the Provincial Sunday School Association, and was for
twenty-five years an active member of the Foreign Mission Board.
At the present time he is President of the Grande Ligne Mission and
is also President of the Sunday School Association of the Province of
Quebec. In all his pastorates Dr. Gates has proved himself an earnest
and faithful worker, not only in his own Church and denomination, but
in every department of work having for its object the advancement of
the cause of Christ at home and abroad. We have been pleased to have
him with us taking part in the Centennial exercises of this Church,
which he loves so well.
REV. W. W. McMASTER’S PASTORATE.
On May 4th, 1906, a call was extended to Rev. W. W. McMaster. He
accepted and entered upon his duties on Sunday, August 5th.
In March, 1907, special meetings were held, the pastor being assisted
by Rev. W. F. Alton, of Sussex. Fourteen members of the Sunday School
were baptized and added to the membership of the Church.
In May, 1908, Brothers Donaldson Hunt and John P. Duval were elected
Deacons, and in August the Convention again met in this Church. This
year the time for holding the weekly prayer meeting was changed from
Friday to Wednesday evening. In November special services were held
for about three weeks, the pastor having the assistance of Rev. S. W.
Cummings, of Amherst, and some souls were born into the Kingdom.
During the last four Sundays of August, 1909, Union Services were
held with Queen Square Methodist Church, while the respective pastors
were on their vacations, the services being held in each church
alternately. On the first two Sundays Rev. G. O. Gates, D. D., of the
First Baptist Church, Westmount, Montreal, was the preacher; and on
the last two, Rev. W. G. Watson, B. D., of Mount Allison University.
Rev. S. McCully Black, M.A., D. D.
Upon August 23rd, 1909, occurred the death of Rev. S. McCully Black,
at his home in this city. For many years one of the prominent members
of our Church, he is still better known as for a period of nineteen
years the esteemed editor of the “Messenger and Visitor,” and, as it
has been more latterly called, “The Maritime Baptist.”
Dr. Black was born in Amherst, N. S., January 28th, 1846. His youth
was spent in Amherst, where he received his preliminary training at
the County Academy. In 1868 he entered Horton Academy. He was
graduated from Acadia University in 1874, and in 1876, after a
brilliant course of study, he received the Degree of B. A. from
Harvard University. His theological studies were pursued at Newton.
He held pastorates in Berwick, Liverpool, Westport and Kentville all
in Nova Scotia. In August, 1890, he was called to the editorial chair
of the “Messenger and Visitor,” which he filled with marked ability
until 1905 when, on the amalgamation of the “Messenger and Visitor”
and the “Religious Intelligencer,” he became senior editor of “The
Maritime Baptist,” in association with Rev. Dr. Joseph McLeod, and
continued as such until the time of his death.
——————
On October 17th, 1909, Rev. Mr. McMaster resigned from the pastorate,
the resignation to take effect upon the first Sunday of November.
Rev. W. W. McMaster is a native of England, and received his early
education there. Later he entered the McMaster University where he
graduated B. A., B. Th., in 1896. After serving three years as pastor
of the Baptist Church at Tiverton, Ontario, he was called in 1899 as
first pastor of the Fourth Avenue Church, Ottawa. During his seven
years at Ottawa, he was largely instrumental in building what is said
to be one of the most beautiful Baptist Churches in Canada. He was
pastor of this Church from May, 1906, to October, 1909, when he
resigned, shortly afterwards taking charge of the First Baptist
Church at Washington, D. C.
Annual Business Meeting, 1910.
At the Annual Business Meeting held January llth, 1910, the
Treasurer’s report showed receipts for 1909 from all sources
$10,613.00 and expenditure $10,603.00.
Included in the above expenditure is the following for Denominational
and other objects:
Additions during the past year: by baptism 3, by letter 3. Loss: by
death 9, by dismission 9. Present Membership 488.
CENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
——————
The Centennial Exercises of the Church were held May 22, 23, 24 and
25, 1910. All the meetings were largely attended and of a highly
interesting character. The Historical Sermon delivered Sunday morning
by Rev. G. O. Gates, covered the history of the Baptists of the
Maritime Provinces, during the past One Hundred Years. It was a very
able effort entailing a vast amount of research on the part of Dr.
Gates, who for an hour and a half held the close attention of an
audience which filled the auditorium to its utmost capacity.
At the Social and Reception to Dr. and Mrs. Gates, held Tuesday
evening, a number of the city pastors were present and delivered
brief addresses. At this meeting portraits of the late Deacon and
Mrs. Dyall, which had been presented to the Church by Mr. Robert
Ewing, were unveiled by Dr. Gates, who paid an eloquent and well
deserved tribute to the worth of these departed members.
In the course of his remarks, Dr. Gates said: He had been looking
forward for a quarter of a century to the present occasion. It had
been the dream of his life that he would be permitted to take part in
the exercises in connection with the Centennial Celebration of the
old Church where he had officiated as pastor for so long.
The closing meeting was held on Wednesday evening. After reading of
Scripture by Dr. Hay, the chairman, and prayer by Rev. Joseph McLeod,
D. D., the writer gave a summary of the History of the Church, which
took forty minutes in delivery, and was followed by the Revs. G. O.
Gates, David Hutchinson, and A. S. Lewis, each of whom in order
eloquently presented the subject assigned him, viz., The Church of
the Past,—The Present,—and The Future. Deacon D. Hunt read an account
of the mortgages that had been on the present buildings, after which
Deacon S. H. Davis and Trustee John Vanwart coming to the platform
consigned the remaining mortgage to the flames, while the large
congregation rose to their feet and sang “Praise God from Whom all
Blessings Flow,” and the Church bell rang out a joyous peal.
The music at all the services, which was of a high order, was
furnished by the choir assisted by leading soloists of the City, and
was under the direction of Mr. George T. Cooper, Choir Leader, while
the Organist, Mr. Stanley E. Fisher, presided at the organ.
The following is the complete programme of the exercises:
Sunday, May 22nd.
Morning Service, . . . 11 o’clock
———————
DOXOLOGY AND INVOCATION
HYMN NO. 17, “O Worship the Lord in the beauty of
Holiness”
RESPONSIVE READING, PSALM XC.
CHANT, PSALM. XCVIII.—“O sing Unto the Lord a New Song”
READING SCRIPTURE
Te Deum Laudamus in G, (J. L. Hopkins) . . . THE CHOIR
Prayer.
Offering.
HYMN No. 33, . . . “My God how Wonderful Thou Art”
SERMON: REV. G. O. GATES, D. D.
Subject, “A Centennial Review—Here and There during
A Hundred Years.”
Benediction.
——————
Sunday School, 2.30 p. m.
SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY SERVICE.
——————
EVENING SERVICE, . . . 7 O’CLOCK
DOXOLOGY AND INVOCATION
HYMN No. 149, . . . “All Hail the Power of
Jesus’ Name”
READING SCRIPTURE
SOLO, . . . “Hear My Prayer,” . . . Mendelssohn
MISS CATHERS.
PRAYER.
ANTHEM, . . . “I will Sing of Thy Power,” Sullivan
OFFERING.
HYMN No. 163, . . .“Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts”
SERMON, . . . Subject: “A Gracious Promise”
REV. G. O. GATES, D. D.
Quartette, . . . “There is a Land” . . . M. Crowninshield
MISS CATHERS, MRS. GRANT, MESSRS. COOPER AND KINGSMILL
HYMN No. 151, . . . “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
BENEDICTION.