The receipt of yours gave me great pleasure. I was happy to learn that
you were so deeply interested in Canada. It does appear to me the duty
of our denomination to do something for it; and I have no doubt that, if
it were properly advocated, something would be done. I am deeply
convinced that to do good in this world, it is necessary to keep one
object chiefly in view. Now, my brother, suppose you keep Canada before
you, and introduce it frequently to the notice of our brethren on your
side of the water, much good might be done. I have written several
letters, this fall, to different individuals, soliciting their
attention, and have now sat down to answer some of your queries. My
remarks particularly apply to Lower Canada.
1. By the census in 1831, the population of Lower Canada was 511,000; of
these, more than 100,000, were Catholics. There are, at present, two
Catholic bishops in the province: the bishop of Quebec, who resides at
Quebec; and the bishop of Telemesse, who resides at Montreal. The number
of Catholic clergymen is about 150. The influence of these is very
great, and I hesitate not to say, very pernicious, both in a temporal
and spiritual point of view. Nothing has yet been done to evangelize
this people. Here and there, indeed, I have met with a person brought to
know the Lord, through reading the Scriptures. Be it observed, however,
that few of them can read, and those that can are chiefly females. I am,
happy, however, to state, that a missionary, Mr. Olivier, from the
Canton de Vaud, has arrived, I hope good will result from his labours.
2. The Episcopalians are, I suppose, the most numerous Protestant body
at present in the Lower province. The two Canadas compose one diocese,
under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Hon. and Right Rev. Charles
Stewart, D. D., Lord Bishop of Quebec. The number of Episcopal clergy in
the province is twenty-eight. With a few happy exceptions, I fear vital
godliness is not a prevailing article in this body.
3. Presbyterians, of the church of Scotland, by the census of 1831, were
about 15,000. The number of ministers twelve: of these, six are in the
cities of Quebec and Montreal. According to the report of this year,
1834, they have increased to forty churches, and forty ministers. These
are also said to be formed into five presbyteries. This, however,
relates to both provinces. In regard to what may be termed the
Dissenting Presbyterians, there are seven or eight churches, and five
ministers in this province; and in the Upper, there is a synod of the
secession: but the number of presbyteries in connexion with it, and the
number of churches and ministers in connexion with each of these, I have
not as yet been able to ascertain.
4. In respect to the Congregationalists, they have seven or eight
churches, and four ministers. I do not know precisely what they have in
the Upper province; perhaps four or five more.
5. The Methodists, in both provinces have 14,000 in society, and sixty
preachers. They also print a paper, called "The Christian Guardian."[A]
[Footnote A: This, I was told lately by Dr. Matheson, of Durham, is a
most efficient instrument of usefulness in America. Our people should
try to get one up.]
In fine, here, as to Protestants in general, in the Lower province, the
greater part are not gathered into regularly organized congregations, no
inconsiderable portion of them being scattered in the Catholic
settlements. To sum up, there are in the province about sixty ministers
to 100,000 people. You could easier, however, supply 500,000 in England
than 100,000 here, owing to bad roads, and the scattered state of the
people. I am sorry to add, that I fear only twenty out of the sixty are
efficient men.
I now come to our own denomination. There is, however, much difficulty
in collecting definite information concerning it. Seldom able to leave
my own church, personal observation is defective, and most of the
information I have is through report. I begin with what are called the
Eastern Townships. This is a district of country lying on the south of
the St. Lawrence, and bordering on the States. It is from 60 to 100
miles east of Montreal; 30 of which are occupied in passing what is
called the French Country. There are in it between 40 and 50,000
inhabitants. The land is good, but the people in general are poor. Most
of these have emigrated from the States, where the means of grace were
enjoyed by them. They are still disposed to have the gospel preached. I
am credibly informed that there are among them twenty or thirty little
Baptist churches. They would be styled General Baptists in England; here
they are denominated Free-will Baptists. They are ill supplied with
wholesome teaching. They are also rather wild in their meetings, being
more disposed to consult their own feelings than the word of God. Many
of them, however, are decidedly good people. Were our General Baptist
friends in England to send out a missionary or two into this district,
they would confer, under God, a lasting benefit on this people. I wish
very much the General Baptists at home would take the matter into deep
and serious consideration. It presents a fine field, for labour. But, in
addition to these, there are, perhaps, from fifteen to twenty churches
of our own denomination. These are miserably supplied with preachers, as
not above three or four of the churches have regular pastors; the others
have only occasional supplies. An itinerant here is much needed, would
be of great service, and could be maintained at small expense. Oh, my
brother, if you can, by any means, get a good, humble, prudent man, send
him into that field. I wish our denomination would take the subject into
immediate consideration. I have visited some of these churches, and the
people seemed exceedingly glad. Could an itinerant be supported for a
year or two, he would then, it is likely, not need further support.
There are some young persons of good natural abilities who, with a
little training, would be of immense service. I have met with such young
men, and longed to be able to point out a seminary to them, whither they
might have gone for a season.[B] I purpose, God willing, two months
hence, to spend a week or two in this district, and shall transmit the
result to you. Itinerants are much wanted in this country, on account of
the scattered population, bad roads, &c. I know one township in which
there had not been preaching for seven years: a missionary paid them a
visit, and the whole township turned out to hear. He visited them a year
afterwards; but during the interval they had not heard a sermon. The
main efforts have been made by a very pious and zealous young man of the
name of Hayt, who has been very active in establishing Sunday-schools,
and supplying families with copies of the Scriptures. Without
missionaries, however, these schools will most assuredly languish and
die.
[Footnote B: Who, on the perusal of this, does not feel a desire to
assist these young men to a seminary? And who that knows our brother
Gilmore, but will be led to conclude that he is the man who is most
likely to become their tutor? I intend immediately to write to him to
inquire how much it would require there to educate six young men; and
shall then, if spared, appeal to the public in their behalf.]
We shall now turn westward: and, proceeding up the Ottawa, on its
northern banks, about forty-five miles from Montreal, there is a Baptist
church of nearly thirty members: they speak Gallic, yet understand
English; and have a high character as it regards moral conduct. They are
without the regular ministrations of a pastor, but meet for mutual
edification: they are, however, anxious to have regular preaching. About
thirty miles from them, there is another Highland settlement. About two
years ago, a Mr. Fraser, a Baptist minister, paid them a visit. It was
the first sermon preached there, as supposed, from the foundation of
the world. The people themselves had not heard a sermon for the five
years they had been settled there. About seventy-five miles from
Montreal, in the same direction, is another Baptist church, of about
forty members: they have a good chapel, an excellent pastor, and, at
this very moment, God is visiting them with a most refreshing shower;
many are awakened to concern, and numbers have found peace, and are
rejoicing in God our Saviour. I have just been sent for to come and
help, and set off to-morrow morning. Again, twenty-five miles onward, in
the same direction, is a Baptist church of thirty members: they have a
pastor. We have sent a missionary about twenty miles farther; he left my
house yesterday morning: there are a few Baptist families where he has
gone, but no church has been organized; they have requested him to
labour among them. About forty miles farther, there is another little
Baptist church, and after this, in that direction, they become rather
plentiful; but they are then in the Upper province, and my information
respecting them is but scanty. A Baptist minister, in the Newcastle
district, writes me as follows, in consequence of some queries I had put
to him: "In the Upper province there are four Baptist associations,
about sixty churches, and forty ordained ministers. I am sorry to say we
labour under great disadvantages. Our preachers are generally unlearned
men, and destitute of useful books. There are many of them under the
necessity of attending to secular employments to support themselves and
families: this arises from our friends not feeling an inclination to
fulfil the duty taught by Paul, 'Let him that is taught in the word
communicate to him that teacheth in all good things.' I hope, however,
that things will not long continue in this sad state. We have recently
been endeavouring to form a convention, and appoint a minister in each
of the associations to visit the churches, for the purpose of raising
subscriptions to support itinerant preachers, and establish a printing
press: how far the attempt will be attended with success is as yet
uncertain." In addition to the statements of this gentleman, I may
mention, that they had also a seminary in view: this, as yet, has not
been carried into effect. As to academies, they are much wanted there,
and might be established at a very small expense on the self-supporting
principle. It is a little remarkable, that at the time you were writing
your letter for the Magazine, three of us, brother ministers, were
engaged in prayer and consultation on the very subject of academies on
the labour system. We have written to several influential gentlemen on
the subject, and purpose giving it a more serious investigation, and
will remit the result to you and others. One of our brethren was anxious
to proceed to England to lay the matter before the British public; but I
thought it would be better to say something about it first through the
Magazines. Urge it then, my dear brother, on the attention of the
public; do not let it sleep. I am glad to find, from a letter in the
September number of your Magazine, one hails yours of the preceding
month. As a church, at Montreal, we have been much favoured of God
during the present year: not less than forty have been added to the
number. Mrs. G. joins in love to you and yours, hoping to hear from you
soon.
I remain yours in Christ,
JOHN GILMORE.
*.* _We are compelled to defer the second letter to our next number._