THE IRON CHURCH AGAIN.
Miss Woods, daughter of the late Sheriff Woods, and niece of the late
Archdeacon, has handed me the original notice in the handwriting of
the late Rev. R. J. Dundas, first rector of St. John's, of the laying
of the corner-stone of the St. John's Church, reading: "The
corner-stone of St. John's Church will be laid by His Excellency the
Governor (James Douglas), on Friday, the 13th April, at 3 o'clock
p.m., 1860." This makes it over forty-six years old. The ceremony was
performed on a beautiful spring afternoon. A procession was formed at
the residence of Captain Dodds (which, by the by, is still standing),
and marched to the site of the church. The magnificent band of H.M.S.
_Sutlej_ (a line-of-battleship), furnished the music for the
occasion. No flagship in later days has had such a band, for size or
excellence. My memory in this particular has been refreshed by a
fellow-pioneer in Mr. Alexander Wilson, who also attended the
ceremony. I might state that the oldest church building at the
present time is the Roman Catholic, which used to stand on Humboldt
street, and was later removed to the rear of St. Ann's Convent and
built around with brick. This church antedates even St. John's, as I
can remember it in 1859. In connection with this old church I have
heard some fine singing, when Father Brabant, of the West Coast, was
connected with the church, who was a fine baritone; also Madame
Beckingham, then a Miss Tissett, Mrs. Fellows and Charles Lombard.
It was a musical treat indeed. There were other good singers there,
but these were notable, and they are all alive to-day.
[Portrait: Bishop Garrett.]
Bishop Garrett.
In connection with the above I have received from Bishop Garrett, who
was present on the occasion as Rev. A. C. Garrett, a very nice letter
with his photo, which I think may be of interest to those who
remember this eloquent divine of the pioneer days of Victoria, and
who is to-day Bishop of Dallas, Texas:
"Dallas, Texas, August 9th, 1906.
"Dear Mr. Fawcett:
"Your letter is here and has my most willing attention. I remember
your father very well, and yourself, too. I also remember the iron
church and the old cathedral on the hill very well. I also remember
an incident which was amusing, in the iron church. Once the great
archdeacon preached a flowery sermon in St. John's in the morning.
The evening sermon was preached by the Rev. C. T. Woods, who was out
in the morning at a mission station. The archdeacon occupied a pew at
the evening service. When the text was given out he pricked up his
ears and sat up very straight. The opening sentence was the same as
that of the morning; and so was the next and the next, even to the
last! Some of those who had been present in the morning and had
complimented the Ven. Archdeacon upon his eloquence, began to smile
and nudged each other. At last the end came. The Ven. Archdeacon
went into the vestry, where some of the morning flatterers were
repeating their forenoon praises! At length they left, bursting
with laughter. Then the archdeacon said: 'I see that we two donkeys
have been eating the same cabbage!'
"I remember also preaching in that church when the wind howled and
rattled through the roof in such a way that nothing could be heard.
"Well, you are all greatly changed now--and so am I. Mrs. Garrett is
still vigorous, and I am doing a full day's work every day in the
year.
"Affectionately yours,
"Alex. C. Garrett,
"Bishop of Dallas."