in such cases be dispensed with, inasmuch as its observance in the present circumstances of that church might lead to unseemlt strife and contention, at all times injurious to the cause of pure and undefiled religion: and instead of sending one of their number to give intimation from the pulpit of this their Act, that the Presbytery send, under the hand of their moderator intimation that they have declared St. Gabriel Street Church vacant to the Trustees of said Church, in behalf of the proprietors—to the Trustees of the manse,—to the K'rk-session, and to the temporal committee, and request that the election of a minister for said church and congregation be proceeded in with all convenient speed, in accordant* with the laws of the Church of Scotland, and the constitution of St. Gabriel Street Church."

The moderator was instructed to act pursuant to the terms of these resolutions.

"At a meeting of Presbytery, on 28th May, 1845, Dr. Mathieson reported that agreeably to the instructions of last meeting of Presbytery, he had forwarded copies of the resolutions passed anent St. Gabriel Street Church, to the Trustees of said church, in behalf of the proprietors,—to the Trustees of the manse,—to the Kirk-session,—and to the temporal committee. A letter was read from the temporal committee, the tenour whereof follows:

SIR,

“MONTREAL, 11th April, 1855.

I have to acknowledge receipt of a letter dated the 4th instant, enclosing certain resolutions passed at a meeting of Presbytery, and addressed to the Honorable Adam Ferrie; and I am instructed to inform you that the temporal committee of St. Gabriel Street Church do not recognize the authority of your Presbytery.

I have the honour to be,
Sir.

Your obedient servant,
(Signed,)

J. MACFARLANE,

Secretary.

To the Rev. Dr. Mathieson."

The Presbytery consider that though the temporal committee do not recognize the authority of this Presbytery, they do not however hold the opinion of said temporal committee as that of the congregation, nor can they, as a Presbytery divest themselves of their duty to those of

the said congregation belonging to their ecclesiastical communion, and in following up the act of declaring the church vacant resolve to make an offer of such occasional services as shall be in their power to render. The moderator was instructed to write to the Kirk-session, enclosing a certified copy of this minute."

At a meeting of Presbytery, on the 24th June, 1845, Dr. Mathieson reported "that agreeably to the instructions of last meeting he had written to the Kirk-session of St. Gabriel Street Church, Montreal, with a copy of the minute bearing on their case, and put it into the hands of one of the elders of said church, and had received no reply."

While the old Presbytery was taking action in the manner shown by these extracts, a new Presbytery had been formed in connection with the new Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, composed of Mr. Esson. Mr. Clugston of St. John's Church, Quebec, Mr. Henry of Lachute, and Mr. Black of St. Therese, with their several elders. In consequence of Mr. Esson's removal to Toronto, this new Presbytery of Montreal, was in a manner broken up. Mr. Clugston and Mr. Clarke, his colleague. were at so great a distance, that they could not, especially in winter, attend any of the meetings—Mr. Henry I was at the distance of 40 miles from Montreal, and Mr. Black of 25. A central missionary committee was appointed in these circumstances, on whom the power and responsibilities of a Presbytery were for a time devolved; and the individuals composing it were all members of what has been already spoken of as the Free Church committee. The St. Gabriel Street Congregation, while having to endure blame from the old Presbytery, did not think they received the kind consideration and encouragement from the new Presbytery, or the committee that discharged its functions, to which they deemed themselves entitled.

CHAPTER XXV.

The Leaders In The Congregation On The Side Of The PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Of Canada, — Hon. A. Ferrie, Wm, Murray, Rev. Dr. Donald Fraser And Alexander Fraser, Wm. Gunn, Roeert Smith, Alexander Urquhart, James Turner, Andrew Wilson, Archieald Macfarlane, Wm. C. Cormack, JAs. Macfarlane, Roeert Dalgleish, Wm. Hutchison, David Rea, Andrew Simpson, John Sutherland, George Middlemiss And Charles Mearns—The 27 Protestors Os Eehalf Of The Kirk, Andrew Shaw, John C. Lilly, Roeert Esdaile, James Tyre, Wm. Laverock, Donald Ross, Walter M. Peddle, Ferdinand Maccclloch, Wm. Muir, Wm. Skakel, Daniel Gorkie, Town Major Macdonald, Daniel Fisher, Roeert Macfarlane Alex. Ferguson, Wm. McCuLLOcn And John Blackwood.

In proceeding to sketch the persons who took a prominent part in the St. Gabriel Street Church, in connection with the disruption movement, it is necessary to state that from this point onward to the end of the volume, the notices of individuals must be brief, for two reasons; first, that they have yet scarcely got into the perspective of history, or got settled down into their permanent place and relative proportions. The ancient proverb was: "Call no man happy till he dies." We must see the end of our fellows before estimating their lives. The other reason is, that they were well known to many yet alive, and the design of this book is to supply information regarding former generations and events that are already or almost entirely forgotten.

The Hon. Adam Ferrie, who presided at the congrega tional meeting, after the disruption, on the 28th Augnst, 1844, to ascertain the mind of the people on the Free

Church question, and again on 30th June, 1845, for the purpose of amending the "Eules and Kegulations" of the Church, was born at Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, 15th March, 1777. He commenced his mercantile career at Glasgow, and came to be known as a friend of the people. He married 3rd June, 1805, at Port Glasgow, Rachel, daughter of Colin Campbell, of that place. He signalized himself as champion of popular rights in a famous lawsuit, instituted to defend the claim of the citizens to a path along the Clyde, which had long been in use, and across which a wall had been built by a man who had become suddenly rich by liquor-selling. The case went to the House of Lords, and judgment was in favour of the people. The money to pay for the expenses of the suit was raised by workingmen's pennies dropped into a stout, oaken box as they passed. This box was presented to Mr. Ferrie, along with a punch bowl, two goblets and a ladle, of solid silver, and they remain as heir-looms in his family. The inscription on the bowl reads as follows:

"PRESENTED To

ADAM FERRIE, Esq.,

BY A NUMBER Of His Fellow-citizen8, As A MARK OF THEIR
ADMIRATION OF HIS INDEFATIGABLE, PATRIOTIC AND

DISINTERESTED EXERTIONS IN ASSERTING AND

ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT OF THE PUBLIC

TO THE BANKS OF THE CLYDE

GLASGOW, MAY 1, 1829."

A gold medal was also bestowed on him and each of his co-workers in the cause of the people on this occasion. The inscription upon it runs thus:—

"THE REWARD OF PUBLIC SPIRIT."

"The citizens of Glasgow to Adam Ferrie, George Rogers,James Duncan, John Watson, junior, John Whitehead, for successfully defending their right to a path on the banks of the Clyde. 1829."

Mr. Ferrie sailed from the Clyde, June 5th, 1829. He commenced business in Montreal as a general merchant, on his arrival that same year, his office aud dwelling being in St. James street, near Place d'Armes. He afterwards resided in Beaver Hall Square. He was one of the promi nent Scotchmen of the city. As such he presided at the public dinner, 1st. December, 1834, at which it was resolved to organize the St. Audrew's Society of Montreal; and was chairman of the committee that drafted the original constitution of the society. When the first election of officers took place, the next year, he was chosen First Vice-President,and Second Vice-President the following year. He was a member of the first city Council under the amended constitution, for the years 1840, 1, 2. He connected himself with the Church in St. Gabriel street in 1829, and sided with Mr. Esson in the controversy then in progress. His name first appears in the document sent to the Presbytery of Quebec, complaining of the Black party for not complying with the recommendation of the Synod to open the church in 1831. When it was resolved to increase the number of the members of the temporal committee, from five to twelve on the 15th April, 1842, he was elected a member of the committee and appointed president. He was re-elected to the same position the three following years. He purchased pew No. 62. He was a fast friend of Mr. Esson's. Both were ardent defenders of the popular rights, and champions of liberty. Mr. Ferrie. as might be expected, cordially supported his pastor in voting for Free Church views in the Synod; and afterwards stood by him in claiming possession of the church and all its property, for the new Presbytery and Synod. After Mr. Esson's removal to Toronto, however, his interest in the congregation almost entirely ceased, although he was a party to the calling of Mr. Leishman in 1846. He afterwards attended the Unitarian Church