Frank Beer, P. H. Jennings, J. R. Collins.
Empire Club, Toronto: Mr. Fred B. Fetherstonhaugh, K.C., President; Mr.
Richard A. Stapells, First Vice-President.
British Empire League, Toronto Branch: James P. Murray.
Sons of Scotland, Toronto: Dr. John Ferguson, Mr. Evan Hugh Fraser,
representing Camp Alexander Fraser, S.O.S., Toronto.
St. Andrew's Society, Toronto: Captain Herbert M. Mowat, K.C., U.E.L.,
Vice-President; Mr. James Murray, Manager; Mr. T. C. Irving, Manager;
Mr. J. P. Martin, Robert Farquharson.
St. George's Society, Toronto: Mr. John W. Gamble Boyd.
Centre and South Toronto Liberal Conservative Association: Mr. Arthur
VanKoughnet; Women's Branch, Mrs. Arthur VanKoughnet.
York Pioneers' Historical Society, Toronto: Daniel Lamb, President; John
W. Millar, Secretary; John Harvie, J. G. Hughes, Wm. Crocker, J. C.
Moor, J. Hawley, E. Gegg, Josiah Rogers, John F. Ellis, A. E. Wheeler,
W. D. McIntosh, W. J. Adams.
Knights of Malta and the Grand Chapter of Ladies of Justice, Toronto:
Mr. R. E. A. Land, Mr. A. G. Horwood, Mrs. A. G. Horwood.
British Women's Society: Miss Perkins.
Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, Toronto: Mrs. A. E. Gooderham,
Mrs. John Bruce, Mrs. E. F. B. Johnstone, Miss Constance Boulton, Mrs.
E. Humphreys, Mrs. Wm. Humphreys, Mrs. E. A. James, Miss Laura Brodigan,
Miss Watson, Miss Maud Watson.
Women's Canadian Historical Society, Toronto: Miss M. Agnes FitzGibbon,
Miss Mickle, Mrs. Kearn, Mrs. Campbell Meyers, Miss Clara Port, Miss J.
J. MacCallum.
Brant Historical Society, Brantford: His Honour Judge Hardy, Honorary
President; Mr. S. F. Passmore, President; Miss Isabella Gilkison, Mr. T.
W. Standing, Vice-Presidents; Mrs. J. Y. Brown, Secretary; Major H. F.
Leonard, Curator; Mr. J. J. Hawkins.
Lundy's Lane Historical Association, Niagara Falls: Mr. J. Jackson,
Secretary.
Thorold and Beaver Dams Historical Society: T. H. Thompson, President;
Miss Amy Ball.
Niagara Historical Society, Niagara-on-the-Lake: Miss Janet Carnochan,
President; Rev. J. C. Garrett, Mrs. J. C. Garrett, Mrs. Ascher, Mrs. T.
F. Best, Miss M. Ball, Mrs. Bottomley, Miss Creed. J. Eckersley, H.
Macklem, Mrs. Macklem, Wm. Ryan, J. deW. Randall, Mrs. Randall, E. H.
Shepherd, Mrs. Shepherd, Miss C. Waters, F. Winthrop, Mrs. Winthrop,
Niagara; R. Field, Miss E. L. Lowery, Mrs. H. Usher, Queenston; Miss Amy
Ball, Thorold; Miss S. Crysler, Niagara Falls; J. C. Ball, C. A. Case,
St. Catharines; J. S. Carstairs, A. J. Clark, Miss E. Long, Mrs. Charles
Lewis Shaw, Miss Annie Clark, Mr. G. J. Clark, Toronto.
[Illustration: FLORAL TRIBUTE PLACED ON CENOTAPH, WHERE BROCK FELL,
BY THE GUERNSEY SOCIETY, TORONTO.]
[Illustration:
G. J. Birney. Sgt. John I. Matthews. Q.O.R.
Dr. Chas. F. Durand. J. L. Birney. Sgt.-Major Geo. Creighton, Q.O.R.
BROCK CENTENARY CELEBRATION AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.]
Women's Wentworth Historical Society, Hamilton: Mrs. John Calder, Miss
Calder.
Canadian Club, Hamilton: Mr. C. E. Kelly, President; G. D. Cadeaur,
Secretary; Mr. Harry D. Petrie.
Women's Canadian Club, Hamilton: Mrs. Harry D. Petrie.
Women's Institute, Queenston: Mrs. A. A. Ramsay.
Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, Hamilton: Mrs. Harry D. Petrie,
Miss B. Gaviller.
St. George's Society, London: Mr. N. F. Willmot.
St. George's Society, Guelph: Mr. H. J. B. Leadlay.
Canadian Business Women's Club, Toronto: Miss H. Williamson, Miss
Winnifred Macdonald, Miss Effie Telfer, Mrs. Anna Fox.
Others present were: Mrs. (Col.) William Hendrie, Hamilton; D. Macgregor
Whyte, artist, Oban, Scotland; Lieutenant-Colonel Fred W. Macqueen,
Toronto; Wm. Rea, Mrs. Rea, _nee_ Jane Thomas, daughter of Mr. James
Thomas, who was one of the contractors for the erection of Brock's
Monument, and resided at Queenston during the entire time the Monument
was being erected; Rev. S. A. Laidlaw, Ridgeway; Mr. W. H. Banfield, Mr.
Benj. P. McKay, Mr. H. E. Wilmot, Mr. Samuel O'Bryen, Miss F. May
Simpson, Miss Marjorie FitzGibbon, Miss Perkins, Miss Lulu Crowther,
Mr. William Moss, Miss J. E. Douglas, Mr. H. B. Adams, Miss D. F. Waite,
Miss Helen J. Sturrock, Mr. James Young, Mr. John Hawley, Mrs. Rees,
Miss Amelia Rees, Gonnie Rees, A.T.C.M., Toronto; Mr. Fred Landon, Press
Gallery, Ottawa; Mayor J. deW. Randall, Niagara-on-the-Lake; Mrs. A.
Servos, Miss Mary Servos, St. Catharines; Mrs. Redhead, Miss Oliver,
Niagara; Wm. Milliken, Toronto, and Dr. Campbell Meyers, Toronto.
The stirring interest taken by the public in the celebration was in no
way made more apparent than by the large number of costly and beautiful
floral offerings sent to decorate the monument. Immediately on
assembling on the Heights, these expressive tributes were formally
received, one by one, by Colonel Ryerson. The names of the givers were
announced by Mr. Chas. E. Macdonald, who also read out the patriotic
mottoes and inscriptions. The wreaths were then carefully placed on the
monument, and so numerous were they that they almost covered its huge
base. The luxuriant ivy growing on the lower masonry was richly tinted
with autumnal bronze, and on the natural background thus unexpectedly
provided, the delighted celebrators worked out an effective colour
scheme. It has not been possible to obtain a complete list of those who
brought wreaths with them, but the following were noted:
A magnificent Cross of St. George, made of oak leaves, from the Guernsey
Society of Guernsey Island, Brock's birthplace, was placed on the
cenotaph which marks the place where Brock fell, by Mr. J. L. Burney,
whose father was a lieutenant under Brock and was by his side when the
General was fatally stricken.
J. A. Macdonell, K.C., Glengarry, A. McLean Macdonell, K.C., Toronto,
and Angus Claude Macdonell, K.C., M.P., Toronto, as representatives of
the family of Colonel the Honourable John Macdonell, General Brock's
aide-de-camp and military secretary, placed on the monument two handsome
wreaths of laurel leaves, decorated with white and pink heather and
heavily trimmed with purple, one to the memory of Brock, and one, with
the motto "From Kith and Kin," to the memory of their kinsman, Colonel
Macdonell.
[Illustration: MEMORIAL WREATHS ON THE TOMBS, AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS, OF
MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ISAAC BROCK. Kt., AND COLONEL JOHN MACDONELL,
P.A.D.C., ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF UPPER CANADA.
Placed there by Mr. John Macdonell, K.C., Glengarry, Mr. Angus Claude
Macdonell. K.C., M.P., Toronto, and Mr. A. McLean Macdonell. K.C.,
Toronto (with the motto, "From kith and kin." on that of the latter).]
Colonel George T. Denison placed a wreath from the British Empire League
(England), he being the President of the Canadian branch.
Mr. J. Murray McCheyne Clark, K.C., LL.B., Toronto, sent a wreath on
behalf of the Toronto branch of the British Empire League, of which he
is the President.
Wreaths were sent by the Canadian Club, Toronto; the Canadian Club,
Hamilton; the Caroline School pupils, Hamilton; Centre and South Toronto
Conservative Club, Ladies' Branch; Governor-General's Body Guard,
Toronto; 91st Regiment Canadian Highlanders, Hamilton; Imperial Order
Daughters of the Empire, Toronto; Imperial Order Daughters of the
Empire, Hamilton; Chapter General of Canada Knights of Malta and the
Grand Chapter of Ladies of Justice, Toronto.
Mrs. Fessenden, as founder of Empire Day, sent a sheaf of crimson
carnations tied with the national colours. To this was attached, with a
League of the Empire brooch, a card bearing this inscription from
Palgrave:
"If the day of a nation's weakness rise,
Of the little counsels that dare not dare,
Of a land that no more on herself relies,--
O breathe of the great ones that were,
Burn out this taint in the air!
The old heart of England restore,
Till the blood of heroes awake and cry on her bosom once more."
Lundy's Lane Historical Society, Niagara Falls, Ont.; 9th Mississauga
Horse; Niagara District Veteran Volunteers' Association, St.
Catharines--Mr. Jamieson Black, as President, placed a wreath on the
grave as a tribute from St. Catharines. For many years this Association
has placed a wreath at the foot of the tomb of Brock at their annual
outing at Queenston Heights.
Niagara Falls City, Ontario, Mayor and Aldermen; Niagara Historical
Society, Niagara-on-the-Lake; Niagara Public Schools; Ontario Historical
Society; St. Andrew's Society, Toronto; St. George's Society, Toronto;
St. George's Society, Hamilton; Sons of Scotland Benevolent Association;
Sons of Scotland, Camp "Alexander Fraser"; Six Nations Indians
(Oshwegan), Brantford; United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada,
Toronto; Upper Canada Old Boys' Association, Toronto; Welland County
Teachers' Association; Women's Canadian Historical Society,
Toronto--Wreath of scarlet gladioli and carnations tied with scarlet and
green, the colors of the Society, the motto in gold on a green band:
"Deeds Speak"; Women's Wentworth Historical Society, Hamilton.
Miss Ball, granddaughter of Captain John Clement Ball, carried a
lithograph of the battle scene (Queenston Heights) made in 1813 from a
sketch by Major Dennis as he lay wounded on the field, October 13th,
1812.
In addition to the wreath placed on the monument the United Empire
Loyalists hung a wreath on the portrait of General Brock in the
Parliament Buildings, Toronto.
The scene presented was unique, and in many respects a remarkable one.
Not the least striking feature was the character of the gathering.
Descendants of soldiers who fought with Brock were there, some of them
carrying the burden of years, some barely out of childhood's leash.
Others, and scarcely less interested in the proceedings, represented
loyal and patriotic societies, widely spread over the Province. The
Indian contingent from the Six Nations occupied a conspicuous place of
honour most worthily, their presence recalling the signal service
rendered by their brave forefathers at Queenston Heights and in the
campaign generally. The military detachments added colour to the
animated scene. The men of the Royal Canadian Regiment, of the
Governor-General's Body Guard, of the Forty-eighth Highlanders, the
Queen's Own, the Royal Grenadiers, the Mississauga Horse, the Ridley
College Cadets, and of other corps, were drawn up on the outside of the
crowd, and beyond them, on the escarpment, the St. Catharines' Battery,
Field Artillery, was stationed. Over all floated the Union Jack.
[Illustration: WREATH PLACED ON BROCK'S MONUMENT IN ST. PAUL'S
CATHEDRAL, LONDON, ENG. BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA.]
[Illustration: WREATH PLACED ON BROCK'S MONUMENT, QUEENSTON HEIGHTS, BY
THE IMPERIAL ORDER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE EMPIRE.]
[Illustration: BROCK CENTENARY CELEBRATION AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS
Conferring tribal membership on Miss Helen M. Merrill, who on adoption
into the Oneida Nation received the name "Kah-ya-tonhs" (One who keeps
records).]
An incident of the gathering in which much interest was shown was the
unfurling of an old, historic Union Jack from the top of Brock's
Monument by Miss Helen M. Merrill, Secretary of the Committee. When the
first monument erected to Brock at Queenston was destroyed (17th April,
1840) a great indignation meeting was held on the Heights. Among those
present was a British sailor from one of the ships that conveyed the
Toronto people to the meeting. He had brought with him a Union Jack, and
climbing to the top of the broken shaft, waved it aloft, amid the cheers
of the assembled patriots. The flag was preserved, and Mr. Comer,
Kingston, Ont., readily loaned it for this special occasion.
Accompanying Miss Merrill to the top of the monument with the flag were
Misses Marjorie FitzGibbon and Laura Brodigan and Mr. Allen W. Johnson
(Six Nations).
Several relics of the War of 1812-14 were shown by their possessors, who
held them sacred, among them a Union Jack, carried by Chief Paudash
(Johnson) of the Mississauga Indians, from the Ontario Archives
Department; early sketches of the Queenston battlefield, and pictures of
officers who took part in the war.
At the close of the speeches the Six Nation Indians present formed a
Council, and, in recognition of her services as Honorary Secretary of
the Celebration Committee, conferred on Miss Helen M. Merrill the honour
of tribal membership by the name "Kah-ya-tonhs"--one who keeps records.
The wreaths having been placed, the programme of the day was opened by
the firing of a general salute by the 7th St. Catharines Field Battery
of the Royal Canadian Artillery. This was followed by the playing of a
lament for the dead by the pipers of the Forty-eighth Highlanders and
Pipe-Major Dunbar, piper to Lieut.-Colonel William Hendrie, of Hamilton.
Letters expressing regret for inability to be present were read by
Colonel Ryerson from the following gentlemen: The Right Honourable R. L.
Borden, M.P., Prime Minister of Canada; His Honour Sir John M. Gibson,
K.C.M.G., Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario; Colonel the Honourable Samuel
Hughes, M.P., Minister of Militia, Ottawa; the Honourable Sir James P.
Whitney, Prime Minister of Ontario; Major-General C. J. Mackenzie, C.B.,
C.G.S., Ottawa; Major-General W. D. Otter, C.V.O., C.B.; Major-General
D. A. Macdonald, C.M.G., Ottawa; Brig.-General F. L. Lessard, C.B.;
Colonel R. W. Rutherford, M.G.O.; Dr. R. A. Falconer, President,
University of Toronto; Hugh Munro, M.P.P., Glengarry.
[Illustration: SIX NATION INDIANS CELEBRATING BROCK'S CENTENARY AT
QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.
Abram Lewis (holding silver pipe of peace), Chief Alexander Hill, Chief
A. G. Smith]
[Illustration: COLONEL GEORGE STERLING RYERSON. CHAIRMAN OF
COMMITTEE.]
THE SPEECHES
The preliminaries over, the gathering was addressed by a number of well
known gentlemen whose speeches follow:
COLONEL G. STERLING RYERSON
Chairman of the General Committee
This meeting to-day is held to commemorate the death of a brave and wise
man who died in the defence of his country. It is not a pean of victory
we sing but a requiem. We are not here to glorify war; nor is our object
to exult over our brave but defeated adversary. Rather is it an occasion
when Canadians should pause and look back over the past and give praise
to God that in the days of stress and storm He raised up great, good and
brave men who were willing and able to fight for their king and country
in order that they might enjoy civil and religious liberty under the
British flag, and that they might hand down to their posterity a fair
and goodly heritage which they had won from the primeval forests by
their labour and sacrifices. The United Empire Loyalists came to this
country not as those who desired to better their condition in life, nor
were they possessed by land hunger, nor by ideas of political and social
aggrandisement. They came solely because of their devotion to the
British Crown and Constitution, and because they preferred to live in
peace and poverty under a monarchical Government rather than in wealth
and discord under republican institutions. It was to these men that
Brock appealed, nor did he appeal in vain when war was declared. It was
on July 27th, 1812, that in reply to an address from the Assembly of
Upper Canada he said:
"Gentlemen: When invaded by an enemy whose avowed object is the
entire conquest of the Province, the voice of loyalty as well as of
interest calls aloud to every person in the sphere in which he is
placed, to defend his country. Our militia have heard the voice and
have obeyed it. They have evinced by the promptitude and loyalty of
their conduct that they are worthy of the king whom they serve, and
of the constitution which they enjoy; and it affords me particular
satisfaction, that while I address you as legislators, I speak to
men who, in the day of danger, will be ready to assist not only
with their counsel, but with arms."
He concluded as follows: "We are engaged in an awful and eventful
contest. By unanimity and despatch in our councils, and by vigour
in our operations, we may teach the enemy this lesson, that a
country defended by free men, enthusiastically devoted to the cause
of their king and constitution, can never be conquered."
We know the response, and others who will follow me will speak of it in
greater detail. With the Canadian poet we can say and sing:
"We boast not of the victory,
But render homage, deep and just,
To his and their immortal dust,
Who proved so worthy of their trust--
No lofty pile nor sculptured bust
Can herald their degree.
"No tongue need blazon forth their fame--
The cheers that stir the sacred hill
Are but the promptings of the will
That conquered then, that conquers still;
And generations yet shall thrill
At Brock's remembered name."
Nor must it be supposed that the United Empire Loyalists and their
children were the only men who responded to Brock's call to arms. Our
gallant French-Canadian compatriots were not a whit behind in their
hearty response. Coming from a brave and adventurous race, they
performed deeds of valour and endurance equal to the best in the defence
of our country. The hardy Highlanders of Glengarry, too, were rallied to
the flag by the Macdonells. Not the least active among these Scottish
Roman Catholic Loyalists was the Rev. Alexander Macdonell, a priest who
afterwards became the "Good Bishop," a brave and loyal man whose
country's welfare was ever near to his heart. Another Macdonell, George,
was second in command of the Glengarry Regiment, and still another,
Colonel John Macdonell, was aide-de-camp to Brock in addition to being
Attorney-General of the Province. He, alas, lost his life in his gallant
efforts to second his chief at this battle which we commemorate to-day.
Scotsmen are ever brave and loyal, and we have in the Scottish
population of the country an element on whom we can rely in time of
danger.
Let us not forget that we owe not a little to our Indian allies in the
War of 1812. Tecumseh and Brant played great parts. Nor was Brock
niggardly in his praise. After the fall of Detroit he says in his
despatch to the Governor-General:
"The conduct of the Indians, under Colonel Elliot, Captain McKee
and other officers of the department, joined to that of the gallant
and brave of their respective tribes, has since the commencement of
the war been marked with acts of true heroism, and in nothing can
they testify more strongly their love for their King, their great
Father, than in following the dictates of honour and humanity by
which they have hitherto been actuated."
Why do we single out Brock as a hero among so many who have rendered
good service to the country? I think that it is because he was a man of
loyalty, vigour, energy and administrative ability; because he was the
embodiment of the patriotism and loyalty of the people; because he had
within him the power to inspire others with the spirit of patriotism and
self-sacrifice; and above and beyond all, it is due to his efforts, and
to the spirit of resistance and Imperialism to which he gave form and
substance, that Canada to-day is an integral part of the British Empire,
and a daughter nation within that great galaxy of the nations known as
the British Empire.
What does it mean to be a British citizen? What benefits accrue to us by
having this status? Are not the paths of the sea open to us and to our
commerce by the grace of the British navy? Can we not go to all parts of
the world as individuals, knowing that the Union Jack protects us? Is it
a small privilege to share in the brave deeds of the British army? Are
we not proud of our common literature, and are not Shakespeare and
Milton and Tennyson our very own? Not borrowed plumes we are wearing,
but our own. And are not the benefits of British civil, religious and
political liberty ours also? Is not British justice and administration
of the law something to be proud of and to be thankful for? What should
we do to maintain our status as a partner, a full partner, in the
Imperial concern? Is it not our bounden duty to contribute directly to
the support of the British navy? Are we to lag behind the other
self-governing nations of the Empire in this essential duty? A thousand
times No! A Government which will subscribe twenty-five millions of
dollars for this purpose, and at once, can go to the polls in perfect
confidence when their time comes to ask the people for their verdict.
Some good people seem to think that the time of universal peace is at
hand. One has only to look at the state of affairs in Europe on this
very day, to perceive how far we are removed from the millennium. In
time of peace we must prepare for war; preparation for war is the best
insurance policy against it. We wish to live at peace with all nations,
but at all costs and at all hazards we must defend our shores. Universal
military service is the duty of the Canadian people in the near future.
The people will be better for it morally and physically. It will surely
come, for the policy of the future is the maintenance of the integrity
of the British Empire. We love our country, we believe it has a great
future; we must make it secure. What says a sweet singer of Canada:
"O strong hearts guarding the birthright of our glory,
Worth your best blood this heritage ye guard:
Those mighty streams resplendent with story,
These iron coasts by rage of seas unjarred--
What fields of peace these bulwarks well secure:
What vales of plenty these calm floods supply:
Shall not our love this rough, sweet land make sure,
Her bounds preserve inviolate, though we die:
O strong hearts of the North
Let flame your loyalty forth,
And put the craven and the base to open shame
Till earth shall know the Child of Nations by her Name."
MR. ANGUS CLAUDE MACDONELL, M.P.
Toronto
We have gathered here to-day as Canadians to commemorate an event which
will be ever dear to us and our posterity. One hundred years ago Sir
Isaac Brock, the hero of Upper Canada, died in battle upon this field in
defence of his country and the flag. In the past we have learned and
heard altogether too little of this truly great man, and of what he
accomplished; it is not too much to say that he preserved Canada to the
Empire and at the same time created a national sentiment in Canada which
has ever grown and expanded to the present day. The national importance
of the battle of Queenston Heights, following the capitulation of
Detroit, cannot be over-estimated; national sentiment or a feeling of
nationhood was even then manifesting itself in this young colony. The
peoples who had settled in Canada sprang from races which had always
stood out strongly for national identity--the English glory in their
historic past; the Scottish race, to which my forefathers belonged and
which to some extent I represent, on this occasion, are noted for their
love of country; and so with the other races which made up the United
Empire Loyalist settlers of Upper Canada at the time of the War of
1812-14. Our national heart was created and stirred in this century-old
war, and the heartbeats have ever become stronger down to this day, and
we now look back through the mists of one hundred years to Sir Isaac
Brock as the first true source of national sentiment which fertilized
our country, and stamped it as British and Canadian forever.
Our object in coming here to-day, after we have enjoyed one hundred
years of blessed peace with our neighbours to the south, is not to
perpetuate national hostility, or even to cherish a mere military
spirit; we hope and pray and fully believe that this peace will ever
exist between us and our American brothers. Our object in coming here
to-day is to honour the name and memory of one who was chiefly
instrumental in bringing about that blessed peace, and in preserving our
country to enjoy it; and in the name of peace we say that the ground
upon which we stand to-day is consecrated and distinguished by the
valour of our soldier hero, who gave up his life on this spot in the
first great battle of the War of 1812 to purchase that peace which a
grateful country has ever since enjoyed.