CONTENTS—Bishop Strachan—A teacher—A preacher—A student—Holy Orders—
A Presbyterian—Becomes an Episcopalian—A supporter of the “Family
compact”—Sincere—His opinion of the people—Ignorant—Unprepared for
self-government—Strachan’s religious chart—He was deceived—The
Methodist—Anomalous connection—A fillibustering people—
Republicanism egotistical—Loyalty of Methodists—American
ministers—Dr. Strachan’s position—His birth place—His education—A.
M., 1793—Studying Theology—Comes to Canada—A student of Dr.
Stuarts—Ordained Deacon—A missionary at Cornwall—Rector at York—
Archdeacon—Bishop of Toronto—Coadjutor—Death—A public burial—Rev.
Mr. McDowell—First Presbyterian at Bay Quinté—Invited by
VanAlstine—On his way—At Brockville—Settles in second town—His
circuit—A worthy minister—Fulfilling his mission—Traveling on
foot—To York—Marrying the people—His death—His descendants—Places
of Preaching—A Calvinist—Invites controversy—Mr. Coate accepts the
challenge—The disputation—Excitement—The result—Rev. Mr. Smart—
Called by Mr. McDowell—Pres. clergyman at Brockville—Fifty years—
An earnest Christian—A desire to write—“Observer”—A pioneer—A
cause of regret—Not extreme—Mr. Smart’s views on politics—The
masses uneducated—The “Family Compact”—Rise of responsible
government—The Bidwells—Credit to Dr. Strachan—Brock’s funeral
sermon—Foundation of Kingston gaol—Maitland—Demonstration—
Sherwood’s statement.
BISHOP STRACHAN—REV. MR. MCDOWELL AND REV. MR. SMART.
Having elsewhere spoken of this distinguished man as the first teacher
of Higher Education in Upper Canada, it is intended to give him a proper
place among the first who preached the Gospel. Dr. Strachan, who had
studied Divinity at Kingston, under the guidance of Mr. Stuart, took
Holy Orders while engaged in teaching at Cornwall. Although he had been
brought up in the Presbyterian faith, he deliberately connected himself
with the Church of England, as the church of his choice.
From the first, Dr. Strachan took a decided stand in favor of the
exclusive power claimed by the government and the “Family Compact.” This
step was no doubt, deemed by him the very best to secure the interest of
the rising country, believing as he did, that the people generally were
unfitted by want of education to perform the duties of legislation and
self-government. His devotion to the government, led doubtless, in some
instances, to errors of judgment, and on a few occasions placed him in a
false position. Yet he was always seemingly conscientious. The course
pursued by him, in preparing, and sending to the Imperial Government a
religious chart, which subsequent investigation proved to be incorrect,
had, at the time, an unfortunate effect. But it is submitted, that it
has never been shewn, that Dr. Strachan was otherwise than deceived when
preparing the document. He made statements of a derogatory nature with
respect to the Methodist body; but can it be shewn that there was no
reason whatever for his statements. The history of the Methodists of
Canada, exhibits a loyalty above suspicion. But was there no ground on
which to place doubts respecting the propriety of any body of Canadians
receiving religious instruction from men who were subjects of another
country—a country which was ever threatening the province, and who had
basely invaded an unoffending people—a country that constantly
encouraged her citizens to penetrate the territory of contiguous powers
with the view of possessing it. While there is sufficient proof that the
Methodist ministers who came into the country were actuated by the very
highest motives, it cannot be denied that any one taught in the school
of republicanism, will carry with him wherever he goes, whether among
the courtly of Europe, the contented and happy Canadians, or the
blood-thirsty Mexicans, his belief in the immaculate principles of
republicanism. He cannot, even if he would, refrain from descanting upon
the superiority of his government over all others. The proclamation of
Gen. Hull, at Detroit, and of others, shews that the belief was
entertained in the States, that many Canadians were favorable to the
Americans. Whence could have arisen this belief? Not certainly from the
old U. E. Loyalists, who had been driven away from their native country?
Not surely by the English, Irish, or Scotch? Dr. Strachan, with the
government, could not close their eyes to these facts, and was it
unnatural to infer that American-sent Methodists had something to do
with it?
Bishop Strachan was a man of education, and as such, he must be judged
in reference to his opinion that Methodists were unqualified to teach
religious truth, from their imperfect or deficient education. We say,
not that much book learning is absolutely essential to a successful
expounding of the plan of salvation, although it is always most
desirable. But having taken our pen to do justice to all of whom we have
to speak, we desire to place the reader so far as we can upon the stand
of view occupied by the distinguished Divine and Scholar.
Dr. Strachan was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, 12th April, 1778. He was
educated at the Grammar School, and at King’s College, at that city,
where he took the degree of M. A., in 1793. He then removed to the
neighborhood of St. Andrews, and studied Theology, as a Presbyterian. As
stated elsewhere, he came to America in 1799, reaching Canada the last
day of the year. Disappointed in his expectations respecting an
appointment to establish a college, he became a school teacher in
Kingston, and at the same time a student of Divinity, under the guidance
and friendship of Dr. Stuart. He prosecuted his Theological studies
during the three years he was in Kingston, and in 1803, was ordained
Deacon, by Dr. Mountain, the first Protestant Bishop of Quebec. The
following year he was admitted to Holy Orders, and went as a missionary
to Cornwall. Here he continued nine years, attending diligently to his
duties as a minister, all over his widening parish; and also conducted a
Grammar School. In 1812 he received the appointment of Rector at York,
the capital, and in 1825 he was made Archdeacon. Enjoying political
appointments with these ecclesiastical, he finally, in 1839, was
elevated to be the first Bishop of Toronto. Dr. Strachan discharged the
duties of his high office with acceptability. In 1866 Archdeacon Bethune
was appointed as Coadjutor Bishop, the venerable prelate beginning to
feel that his time was almost done. He died 1st November, 1867, having
attained to his ninetieth year, and was accorded a public funeral. No
higher marks of esteem and veneration could have been exhibited than
were displayed by all classes at the death of this Canadian Divine.
The most of the settlers from the Hudson, not Lutherans, were
Presbyterians, or of the Dutch Reformed Church. Mr. McDowell was the
first Presbyterian minister to visit the Bay. He came about 1800,
perhaps before; when yet there were but few clergymen in the province.
We have seen it stated that he was sent for by Major VanAlstine, who was
a Presbyterian. On his way he tarried a day in the neighborhood of
Brockville. Adiel Sherwood was then teaching school, in connection with
which he was holding a public exhibition. Mr. McDowell attended, and
here first took a part as a minister, by offering his first public
prayer in the country. He proceeded to Kingston, and settled in the
second township. But his circuit of travel and places of preaching
extended from Brockville to the head of Bay Quinté. The name of this
worthy individual is too little known by the inhabitants of the bay. No
man contributed more than he to fulfill the Divine mission “go preach;”
and at a time when great spiritual want was felt he came to the hardy
settlers. The spirit of Christianity was by him aroused to no little
extent, especially among those, who in their early days had been
accustomed to sit under the teachings of Presbyterianism. He traveled
far and near, in all kinds of weather, and at all seasons, sometimes in
the canoe or batteau, and sometimes on foot. On one occasion he walked
all the way from Bay Quinté to York, following the lake shore, and
swimming the rivers that could not be otherwise forded. He probably
married more persons while in the ministerial work than all the rest in
the ten townships around the bay. This arose from his being the only
minister legally qualified to solemnize matrimony, beside the clergymen
of the English Church, Mr. Stuart, of Kingston, and Langhorn, of
Fredericksburgh. Persons wishing to be married repaired to him from all
the region of the bay, or availed themselves of his stated ministerial
tours. The writer’s parents, then living in Adolphustown, were among
those married by him, the certificate of which now lies before him. Mr.
A. Sherwood thus speaks of him, “He lived to labor many years in the
service of his Master, and after an honorable and good old age he died
highly esteemed by his friends and much respected by all who knew him.”
Mr. McDowell had at least two sons and a daughter. The last is Mrs.
Carpenter, now living at Demorestville. One of his sons removed to New
York and there established a Magdalene Asylum. Mr. McDowell, used to
pass around the bay twice or three times a year. He was one of the
first, to preach at the extreme head of the bay, the Carrying Place, and
for that purpose occupied a barn. Another of his preaching places was in
Sophiasburgh, on the marsh front. He preached here four times a year. He
was a rigid Calvinist, and preaching one Sabbath at the beginning of the
present century in the Court House at Adolphustown, he offered to argue
with any one publicly the question of Calvinism. The Methodist minister
of the bay, the Rev. Samuel Coate, was urged by his society to accept
the challenge, and after a good deal of hesitation did so. So a day was
appointed for the discussion. The meeting took place at a convenient
place, three miles from Bath, in the Presbyterian church. The excitement
was great; the inhabitants coming even from Sidney and Thurlow. Mr.
McDowell spoke first, and occupied half a day. Then followed Mr. Coate.
After he had spoken two hours Mr. McDowell and his friends left; why, it
is not said. Mr. Coate continued speaking until night. We have the
statement of the Methodists, that Mr. Coate had the best of it, but we
never learned the belief of the other party. Mr. Coate’s sermon was
published by request, and thereafter, it is said Presbyterianism waned
in the locality.
REV. MR. SMART,—This truly pious man, and evangelical minister, came to
Canada in 1811. He never actually lived within the precincts of the Bay;
but he was called to the wilderness of Upper Canada by the Rev. Mr.
McDowell, at least he was chiefly instrumental in bringing him out, even
before his student days were ended. For upwards of fifty years he
discharged the duties of Presbyterian clergyman at Brockville, the first
clergyman of any denomination within fifty miles. We shall ever remember
the kind genial person with whom we spent a few pleasant hours in the
evening of his eventful life, a life spent earnestly in the service of
his Master, and for the welfare of his family, for, to use his own
words, “In his day it was no easy matter to live and rear a family.”
This he said not complainingly, but because it hindered him from
indulging a desire he once felt to do something with his pen—to record,
as he was desired to do, the events connected with his early life in
Upper Canada, and his cotemporaries. At first he did contribute to the
_Kingston Gazette_, over the cognomen “Observer.” But other things
pressed upon him, and when repose came he fancied the fire of his early
days, for scribbling, had too far sunk. This is much to be regretted,
for as a close observer and upright man, and living in eventful times of
Canadian history, he was pre-eminently qualified to treat the subject.
Mr. Smart was always distinguished for moderate and well-considered
views upon Religion, Political Government and Education. He lived when
the battle commenced between the “Family Compact” and the people. While
he firmly set his face against the extreme stand taken by the Rev. Mr.
Strachan, he never identified himself with the party that opposed that
worker for, and with the Government. On this point, Mr. Smart makes
judicious remarks. In speaking of the rise and first days of the
Province, he says, “it was necessary the Government in Council should
create laws, and govern the people, inasmuch as the vast majority of the
inhabitants were unlettered, and unfit to occupy places which required
judgment and discrimination.” There were but few of the U. E. Loyalists
who possessed a complete education. He was personally acquainted with
many, especially along the St. Lawrence, and Bay of Quinté, and by no
means were all educated, or men of judgment; even the half-pay officers,
many of them, had but a limited education. Many of them were placed on
the list of officers, not because they had seen service, but as the most
certain way of compensating them for losses sustained in the Rebellion.
And there were few, if any, of them fitted by education for office, or
to serve in Parliament. Such being the case, the Governor and his
advisers were at the first necessarily impelled to rule the country.
Having once enjoyed the exclusive power, they became unwilling to share
it with the representatives of the people. But the time came when the
mass, having acquired some idea of Responsible Government, were no
longer to be kept in obscurity, and thence arose the war between the
Tory and the Radical. In all the contentions arising therefrom, Mr.
Smart held an intermediate position with the Bidwells and others. In
speaking of all this, Mr. Smart is particularly anxious to give credit
to Dr. Strachan for his honesty of purpose, saying that the Colony is
much indebted to him in many ways.
Mr. Smart was called upon to preach the funeral sermon of Canada’s great
hero, General Brock.
He also delivered an address on the occasion of laying the foundation
stone of the gaol in Kingston, in presence of the Governor, Peregrine
Maitland, who was down from York, on which occasion there was great
demonstration of Free Masons, and the farmers of the Bay.
Mr. Sherwood thus speaks of Mr. Smart: “On his arrival, he for some
little time made his home at my house, he was then 23 years old, he has
now (1866) entered his 78th year, has retired from a public charge, and
is now residing quietly, and I trust comfortably, at Gananoque; and I
feel quite sure, all that know him throughout the whole Province, will
join with me, in wishing him long life and happiness, both here and
hereafter.”