The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

THE OSHAWA DAILY TIMES, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1931 | THE WHITBY Advertising, subscriptions and news will be received at the Whitby Branch Office at Gazette and Chronicle.--~Telephone 23, After Business Hours--Phone 359. ~ REPRESENTATIVE--JAMES H. ORMISTON DAILY TIMES -- -- HISTORIC CHURCH AT 'PORT WHITBY MARKS ITS 85th ANNIVERSARY ial Services on Sunday Mark the Day, With Out- standing Clergymen in Banquet on Monday Evening--History of Church is the Pulpit -- Anniversary Closely Linked up With History of Early Days in + Whitby--Church Continues to Progress. Large congregations were present f the services Sunday, including ds away from the parish, returned to visit old scenes. . church was beautifully decorat- ed with early summer flowers taste- fully arranged in front of the chan- cel. "Rev. Dr. R. B. McElheran, prin- pipal of Wycliffe College, who was in charge of the parish for 30 years d 3 former student, was the visit- i speaker at the morning seryice. Before proceeding with his sermon ae brought to the congregation reetings and good wishes from Bishop Mowll, now on furlough many in the church, having preach- ed at St. John's in his earlier days. Dr. McElheran also brought greet- ings from Wycliffe College which had always been friendly and help- ful to the parish, and many of those students, now in various parts of the country, rendering valuable ser- ice to the church, had ministered Be John's in student days. St. John's Church, Port Whitby, rved its 85th anniversary on unday last. There was alse an smniversary banquet on Monday wvening. The anniversary discourse was Sased on the text, "T was glad when they said unto me, lgt us go unto the House of the Lord." In David's ime, Dr. McElheran pointed out, it meant something to go to church. Phere were no automobiles to ride hn and transportation facilities were flew. The people gathered in great sumbers, from all parts of the coun- ry, and only several times a year, from China, who is well known to | to go up unto the House of the Lord. It meant much sacrifice of time to them, but their zeal for God's House led them on. David knew what this meant, and he was glad when church time came. It was a time of joy and gredt bless- ing. Today, the speaker said, the church should mean as much as it did to the pcople of David's day. Going to church should make peo- ple reel that they had ¢ome into touch with enternity. It should help people to be joyful and forget their troubles, remembering 'always that God is in His heaven, and all i well with the world. Tt should be reminder also of the fact of for- giveness; of God's l6ve for men, the sacrifice made for the sins of the world and the readiness of God to forgive. In Church we come unto the spirit of perfection. We remem- ber that the House of God we have heard of Christ's power to impart unto us spiritual strength. Finally, we should remember that in church we are first put upon the patch that leads home. Over this patch many of the workers in this church who had served by ycars had trod. and enjoying the glories of the blessed During the morning service a much appreciated solo was rendered by Mrs. Robert Richardson. Mrs. J. M. Willis presided at the organ. 1s mn were gone now F4 Evening Service At the evening service the special preacher was the Rev C. Mec- Collum, B.D. of St. John's, York Mills, {from which church he even older than St. John's at Port Whitby, as they are celebrating their 115th amniversary this year. Before the sermon he indulged in some reminiscences of the days when he was here as a student and knew the people so well. Some o these were among those of whom a hymn had just been sung, name- ly, "For all the Saints whe frem Their Labors Rest." They had handed én the touch to the mem= bers of this generation, The message by the Rev. My, Mc- Collum was based on the text "And those who drew the water knew," taken from the first miracle of our Lord in turning the water into wine. at the marriage feast. He pointed out. that such 'an act would have been imppssible for the ascetic John the Baptist, /but our Lord was one who entered in to every activity and experience of men. He showed that it was always the case that the servants faithfully obeying the Lord's command were the ones to whom He revealed His secrets, Those who were continually feast- ing on carth's luxuries did not sus- pect that any divine acts were be- ing performed, but the workers knew, Rev. Mr, McCollum develop- cd the thought that there was al- ways a joy in service and that the great things in God's kingdom were done not by spectacular men in the limelight, much as these were need- ed to, but by the co-operative la- bors of the rank and file. During the service the choir ren- dered the anthem, "Lead Me Lord," by Fisher. Reference to the anniversary ban- quet and address given afterwards in the church Monday evening ap- pears elsewhere in this issue. Early History July 5th, 1846, was a red letter day for the earnest Christians of Whitby, when the first service was held in St. John's Church. For that opening service, what a happy congregation assembled! How thankful they were for a building in which to worship God! What feelings pulsed through their bodies as they sang the hymns, read the psalms, offered their devout pray- crs! How raptured they were with the cloquent and earnest words of the preacher, the Rev. John Pent- land. All is suggested by the very words of the text from which he preached "Mine house shall be call- ed an house of prayer for all peo- ple", Isa. 56: 7. They would return to their home full of pride for their church 'and with a message for the weeks to come. ThereAavere days, yea years before this when many peaple living in South Ontario were without a reg- brought greetings, as one which was ular place in which to meet for Div. What a Record' Of the 40 drivers who started survived the gruelling test-- ALL WERE EQUIPPED WITH Firestone tires MUST be good to have won and held all the world's mileage and epdurance records! And the new Hi-Speed tires are no exception. , In this year's Indianapolis Endurance Race. is er, the winner, drove the 500 mile course at an Sverage speed of 96.629 miles pes Hour od y at times reaching d rain sho 40 miles--on a track wers. No man has ever won t c , but this is the twelfth conseeutive year it has won on Firestone Tires. Every one of the seventeen drivers who finished, Ti-Speed Ti paid for his tires. tires because of their ; They all chose Extra Strength-- en Zeiten serena ans oa Extra Security-- the new Double Cord Breaker gives 4% extra pr ion against p blowouts. . Extra Speed-- the Firestone of method Palenced Construction allows the tire to ell smoother and the road at high sasier and holds it on You may not need to drive at 9 miles per hour, but you do need the extra strength, estra security and extra oe as safety that oply. Firestone can give you. today. They cost no more ordinary tires and right ces are the lowest in history. See 'your nerest lca Dealer, a (5 'W. NICHOLS - - COURTICE FOR FIRESTONE TIRES ine Worship. In those days itiner- ent Missionaries sent out by the Missionary Societies of the Mother Chyrch. in England provided occa- sional services at irregular intervals, Fhey would herald their coming and airly large congregations for those days would assemble in the barn of e kind neighbour, rom 1832-35 Rev. Adam Elliott and a Rev. Taylor passed through this territory and ministered at ec- casional intervals. In March and April, 1836, Rev. H, H. O'Neill visit- ed Pickering, Whitby and distriet. These meetings were usually held in Kent's Hotel, Perry's Corners, (Whitby) ; and at Thornten"s Corn- ers, East Windsor, Wallace Corners, and other places in tupn. In 1835, the first Church building in South Ontario was erected at Columbus or English Corners, it was then known, and built of logs. This Church was named "St. Paul's" It was burned in 1837 and a frame structure erected in its place which has stood ever since. This build- ing has since undergone extensive repairs. By the year 1838 the Parish of this district was organized under Rev. T. S. Kennedy, a missionary, He had charge of the whole of the southern area of Whitby, Clarke, and Darlington, according to the records in the Archives of the Sy- nod Office, Toronto. Later on in 1841 Rev. John Pentland, who had charge of Columbus or English Corners, where the English people first settled, extended his work to include the outposts of Skae's Cor. ners (Oshawa) and Windsor Bay (Port Whitby). The old Diocesan Register; at the Synod Office, Tor onto, and recorded in the Parish Register of All Saints' is authority for saying that Rev. John Pentland began his missionary work in Whit- by on Dec. 16th, 1841. Previous to the erection of a suit- able edifice, services were held at Windsor Bay (Port Whitby) in 1841 by Rev. Pentland. The old school house that, stood just to the east of the cemetery was the scene of the earliest gatherings for public wor- ship in these parts. After 1844 the Methods also used the scheol, but had no sympathy for Anglicans, and monopolized the school on Saturday and Sunday for their own purposes. As a result of this, finding the school in use one Sunday, John Welsh invited the crowd to his re- sidence, a handsome house on Chars les St. South. Here the Anglicans worshipped until the new church was ready for use. The years in- tervening between that and 1846 must have been filled with moments of thought as to the erecting of a suitable building for worship in "Whitby, St. John's Church was the result and by July, 1846, was ready for services, though not completed for some twé or three vears. According to the official docu- ments in the Registry Office, dated May 2nd, 1848, the site was present- ed by Mr. John Scadding, a Toron- to gentleman, He died without hay- ing properly deeded the property and so his sons, Charles and Rev. Hehry J. Scadding one time Rector of Holy Trinity, proceeded to carry out the intentions of their father. They duly conveyed the property to the first Bishop of Toronto, Bishop Strachan, and his successors forever "for the use of a Church of the United Church of England and Ire- land now erected upon the said par- cel of land and for a burial ground in connexion therewith". This tract is described as one acre, part of south part of lot 26, three chains 17L from SW. angle; then 74 de- grees, 3 chains, 17L, . _ The stone structure of St. John's is a landmark for miles around, and arrests the eye of the traveller along the G. T. Ry. Many wonder, ne doubt, how this church came te be built of stone? And thereby hangs a tale. Most people know that the stone was quarried at ing- ston, Ont. The prisoners of the Provincial Penitentiary, to pass the time away (?) cut the stone, which was disposed of for building pur poses throughout the province. Whitby Harbour, or rather Wiid- sor Bay, as it was then known, was a mecca for sailing vessels in the "40s, when grain and salt was ship- ped from this port. Those were the days when teams by the score, would be lined up from the Base Line awaiting their turn to be uns loaded. They came in from the surrounding country aleng the old "Plank Road" that was laid and owned as far back as Port Perry, by Capt. Rowe and his partners. On this road were toll gates at several points. 3 Capt. Tas. Rowe was a well-to-da farmer living at Shoal Point, to the west of Whitby. He with Jas. Cet- ton and others, were partners and owned the harbour. He built twe schooners, at least, that caused some amusement among skilled sailors en the lake. A name to be associated with that of Capt. Rowe in some enterprises, is that of John Welsh, who owned the only store for miles around. Capt, Rewe built twa schooners, naming the first after John Welsh, They got together and made a bargain. Capt. Rowe want- ed to ship grain to Kingston, and Mr. Welsh wanted building stene for his stere. This stere stood en Brock street S., just north of Frent Street, and has long since been de- molished. The vessel would require ballast on the return journey and the stone served a double purpose, As the freight rates en such ballast would be cheap, we find a number of buildings erected in this vicinity of Kingston stene, ese men were ardent church. men, and they conceived the idea of bringing enough stone to build a church. This they did and gave it free for this purpose, so it is said. Just how long it would take them in their frail craft to bring so mych stone can only be conjectured. It was some little time after the stone arrived, before actmal work coms menced, as builders were scarce. In 1842 Capt. Rowe, so it is said, built another schooner and named it the Prince of Wales", in honor of Albert Edward who 'was bern Nov. 8 1841. This boat was as much of a joke among the sailors as was the first, presenting, as it did, an unusual appearance at the wharf, and being only partly paint- ed. A story is told of a man named Tom Young, who was a jolly "Tack Tar" and the life of the sailors | along the wharf. ebody was looking over" this beat on which Ea BE } he worked and said to him, "Why, Tow, she hasn't even got a name yet, what do ye call her?" "Well, she isn't christened yet," said Tom, "so. we gall her Sissy, Jone phere going to christen her the 'Prince 5 Wales." The Building of St. John's St. John's church was designed by the late Wm. Smith, who pre- pared all plans in connection with its erection.' He seems to have had personal supervision of the work. The two master carpenters who did most of that class of work were Archie Hamilton and Christopher McDermont. The mason work was done by a Mr. Sterling, of Greens wood. It is said that Mr. Thos, Deverell Sr., learned his trade at this time and was engaged in the work. The work required a good deal of time as it was difficult to get some of the materials necessary. Prominent among the workers in- terested in the building of this church besides those mentioned were Mr. Wm, Warren, Mr. Long- worth, Mrs, Ezra Annis, Wm. Par- don, Mr. R. Yarnold, Capt. Thew, while many names seem to be lost track of. The principals, however, were Capt. Jas. Rowe, Jopn Welsh, and Wm. Smith, who were wealthy and made themselves responsible for the erection of the church. To them we owe our thanks for this place pf worship. The details in connection with the work are not available, that is, the cost, who the committee were, date of commencing, completion, ete. Perhaps some friends can furnish this frem old diaries. The Opening Service It is difficult for the present gen- eration to throw thems¢lves back 73 years and appreciate what that ser- vice meant to them. Afler worship- ing under adverse circumstances ror at least five years they would be thankful for a suitable edifice. It was a great day for the Church of England. It was a great day for the people, It was a day long to be remembered by the preacher and the people. There was only the one service in the morning, as Mr. Pentland had two other appointments. So far as is known only two people are still living who were present at the ser. vice. There may be other but we do not know of them. Mrs. George Wallace and Mrs, Lugton, two re- spected residents of Whitby and members of All Saints' church, hoth belonged to St. John's at that time and for years afterwards. The church was not nearly completed. The floor was just rough boards and there were np seats! Fancy that! Did the people stand- No, they were seated on rough planks, such as were used on the "Plank Road" as Brock St. was then known, with no backs to the seats. Thé church was crowded to the doors, for the occasion, many ot whom were regular worshippers. After that the church was well at- tended every Sunday. Mrs. Lug- ton was a member of the original choir as Miss Bate. There was no organ, the music being supplied byy four instruments, The trainer was Mr. Henry Bate, a choirleader with experienge .in England. He played the violin, Mr, Watts the bage vio- lin, Mr. Watcher the flute, The choir trained faithfully for weeks in the old scheolhouse, in preparation for the opening. Other men.bers of that choir were Abraham Byran, Jas. Beswick, Wm. Thew, Rabert E. Perry, John H, Perry, Henry Whitely, John W. Zwicky, Char- lotte Jeffrey, Miss Beecham, Miss Watts, Mrs. Tincombe, and otliers whose names are written in records not available. There was no dearth of men in those days. Would we could return to such a choir, Some other families at that ser- vice would be the Warrens, Rowes, Welch's, Wm. Smith's, Jes. Cotton, Wm. Wilson, (who was the first sexton), and father of Mr, J. W. Wilson of Port Whitby, While the date of opening is a matter of debate with same, there seems to be satisfactory evidence that 1846 was the year, and July 5th is fixed as the day. The parish re- gister of All Saints' has an entry made by Rev. J. D. Cayley, who would take pains to see that such an entry was correct. "St. John's Church, Windsor Bay, was opened for Divine service on Sunday, July 5th, 1846." Then by testing Mrs. Lugton's age and also the date of her arrival in Canada, we are fur- ther assured of the fact. Mr. Hy Bates came here in 1844, Mrs. Lug- ton was born in 1833, and says she was here aboyt two years before the opening, and remembers some- thing of its erectign. She remewm- bers clearly services being held in the old school house for some time, as does Mrs. George Wallace, prior to biulding the church. The naming of the new church was an important matter and called forth some thought. At any rate the patron saint selected was that of Saint John, probably the Evan- gelist, as Mr. Pentland made some reference in his sermon to their pat- ron Saint. It js said the people were influenced to make this choice be- cause their Rector's name was John and his character was so much like that of the beloved apostle. Rev. John Pentland The first minister to officiate at St, John's was the Rev. John Pent. land, an Irishman by birth, a soldier by experience, and a minister bv choice, He was the third son of George Pe Row, Rutla he was bo " baptized af; 38 church, 1 received though inf tain. His received at] Visjs - arjgp re, arc lr 2 \\ req to a fun and Camby ward to by e was mosf v. John Pent- nt that a sou neet his Maker. was a happy one, iis daughter, Mrs who reealls hes Th pleasant memories y fomfowtably, and pos: iy life 3 \ ™2, f by "A. \ ve tember 9tif"'ne-- yo siuned as 363 esty's Hor yess Later he won of captain, g \V® army throu jon: er Italy. Manygs ne ne could be reqaov®' ingle land. a\\ » ne After a timed ho \ Ane \ AR \ "aie are jo red re" 0 L otne® wie came land met M ery at ; John's Church He entered father, Rev. J died at Ardberadps! about 1730. ed in Wales, before migrating $t © He came to Cad" possibly earlier, as) a 1 minister of St. Paul, umbus, built that yea® claim he came about (eee? as a missionary to dd' jon in the new country. 17 to \d 2 embraced Columbus, Os, «0% a by, and the surroundiniin® or, as he said, his parisi au to the shores of Hudson .36c c e ® : t oY different times he lived in and = yeas Whitby, back again to Oshye © 1863. What a long drive thats make and over such roads!Y | were .not the good roads w have, not by any means, m the church of one Sunday mor back late in the sprin that, when they waited over an h for the preacher, but he came n They learned later that it was case of "stuck in the mud" caused his The 1 in '59, absence tha) node or} travel was mostly horseback, alofig | a path or trail through the woods, [hE Y yy £ as the roads were very rough. There are a number of people who remember Mr. Pentland, and they speak of him in the highest terms. They describe him as a kind- ly gentleman, a lover of children, an earnest Christian, a splendid preacher, and the best of readers. Some of his admirers say they have never heard any one read the burial service like Mr. Pentland. He was noted for his bedside visitation, and ery ¥ The over 1: aes! : \e ¢ is told by an elderly memb& "cero ( - cal --+ts towards the last. In tree domes, jays people say thers er--one of v4 Family Prayers, bu wil + family gathered fos brick and on, 3,"8" 2m. and 8 p ber. On top at families had follow- and the cros.now, the splendid ex- "65 Thr ministeh In those . , custom observed bs 60,000 tons rest, "op, rel family, sive piers. had a worthy help- The hraaa i..ys than one. Theirs . The broad ste) the real sense ol tico are flanked gs than seventeen In one, swings Gresrn to them, and ing 17 One were more, It sounds of London Fict economy 1g tower Whese i thimily on the mun- r 5 UIg51 Besides this --eight in all --thd sympathetic to- in the city, ind was wont tg t any needy one not dependent Ar a living, as he through Indian bd a substantial fodiid was also well ; own income, else v puld have had a 7% jer, there were ly days in this ; had to struggle C25 meets. vers of the family " R. Pentland, Mrs. James , Conn, and tland, of Toronto. ctober 11th, 1863, assembled as us- ind were most sur- fr. Pentland read on. No one had and no one was than his daughter, the organ. After faithful service he ce Albert, where he fach for a while. His im he returned to ed retired until his 18th, 1871, at the __g/hile young in years, i: thie man. His vitality - A years of strenuous serv orVis he Master and the churiy m... garly loved. 1e®hoquent Ministers You Arcy Cayley assumed of St. John's on Nov. and remained until the , when All Saints', Whit- by, was fopened. This latter at once became) the stronger congregation (Lontinued on page 10) feet, tons. ° ne ni ye™ sa 4 way in everything but size and price. . . Yes, it's seally a big radio! Soper-Hetetodyne. Big in periomance, big in tone, big in value, and biggefthan all in the surprise such a radio af sufa price will eres . . . the Victor "Supe We believe that everything fbout it will amass you. That's why expect "big radio" performs | 'beautiful, compact model. Hr, really, it is small enly in size and pric/. « « great in selectivity, sensitivity and mfical perfection. Imagine it! Only $89,50for radios outs smanding cireult, the Superfeterodyne. Such unheard-of value is m through Canadian prod wast scientific and engin ion and Vietor's ing resources. rf eight-tube ry - nt you to from this possible only Hear ic. '8 The "Superette® is a veritable giant of mad: en developmen: cowdewsed! Advanced super-hetecodyne ciseult « . o supercontrol tubes combined with screen-grid , . . electron dynamic speaker . . . tone-color control . . + push-pull amplification . .. noiseless opeta- tion and acoustically correct cabinets -- all engineered to maximum efficiency. Compare its value. dealer will deliver the "Supererte" to your home today ~= on easy termy, 50 Complete with Tubes "our Vietor It's h Eight-Tube Super-Heterodyne |CTOR ROMPANY OF VICTOR TALKING MACH! ADIO CANADA LIMITED=MONTREAL