with much ability for two years and more, but the wear and tear of public life was too much for him, and he was obliged to retire from politics altogether. He removed to London, England, shortly afterwards, and entered a banking firm there. He was first made a G.C.M.G., and in 1872 a baronet. His career has been one of spotless integrity. He was immensely popular among the Scots of Montreal. They made him repeatedly president of the St. Andrew's Society, and when, he left the city, they presented him with a very appreciative address.

It has been already mentioned that Sir John married the widow of Robert Sweeney. In this way he had a quasi relation to Mr. Esson, and so his name does not appear among the protesters in 1844. Indeed, it would appear as if the course he was to pursue on the Free Church question was not fully decided some time afterwards; for the temporal committee resolved to put into his hands the case for recovering the manse for the congregation in possession of the church, as late as 1845. But when Mr. Esson's connection with Montreal ceased, Sir John cast in his lot with St. Paul's congregation.

In 1886, Sir John married the Dowager Marchioness of Tweeddale. The imagination of Canadian youths may well ponder this remarkable career. Perseverance, high principle, thrift, and correct habits, founded on the training received in an intelligent and pious Scottish farmer's home, have brought the young tutor and schoolmaster of fifty years ago to his present high estate.

CHAPTER XXVI.

The Free Church Committee, Memeers For A Time Of St. GABRIEL STREET CHURCH-THEY ORGANIZE COTÉ STREET CHURCH-ARCHIBALD MCGOUN -THE MACKAY BROTHERS-THE FREE CHURCH DEPUTIES, REVS. W. C. Burns, J. Mcnaughton, And J. Bonar, Preach In St. Gaeriel Street—Rev. W. Leishman Called And ORDAINED IN St. Gaeriel Street Church—His Ministry Erief And One Of Trials The U. P. Congregation Worship In St. Gaeriel Street—Rev. Dr. TAYLORWARDEN KING-REV. Dr. GRAY-ROBERT DAVIE-G. A. PYPERDAVID WYLIE AND WILLIAM ROWAN.

From the date of Mr. Esson's removal to Toronto as professor, the St. Gabriel Street Church occupied a somewhat trying situation. The bulk of the congregation had loyally followed their much-loved and popular pastor into the new organization, and felt that by so doing they had earned a right to consideration on the part of all those with whom they were associated in the movement. They naturally supposed that Free Church sympathizers, both in Scotland and in Canada, would rally to their support, and make their church the centre of operations for the city and surrounding district. The leaders of the movement, however, determined otherwise. as we have seen. The Free Church committee had been formed 10th of January, 1844, consisting of John Redpath, chairman, James R. Orr, David and Archibald Ferguson, A. McGoun, James Morrison, Wm. Hutchison, Alexander Fraser, Donald Fraser, Evander Mclvor, Wm. Bethune, and William McIntosh; and they had gained the ear of the leaders in the Synod, as well as that of the Free Church of Scotland. There were representatives of most of the Presbyterian

Churches in the city among these gentlemen. Mr. Redpath was from St. Paul's. Mr. Orr and the two Fergusons were from Lagauchetiere Street Church (Dr. Taylor's), Mr. Mclvor was from St. Andrew's, as were also Mr. Joseph MacKay and Adam Stevenson, who were shortly afterwards added to the Free Church committee, along with Mr. Court from the U. P. Church, in Lagauchetiere Street. The remaining seven, Archibald McGoun, James Morrison, William Hutchison, Alexander Fraser, Donald Fraser, William Bethune and William McIntosh, were members of the Church in St. Gabriel Street, although most of them had but very recently come into it. The Frasers and Mr. Hutchison have already been mentioned. Mr. Bethune was a schoolmaster in the city at the time, who afterwards became a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Canada. Mr. McIntosh was employed afterwards as a catechist, his office being to supply elementary religious instruction to the people in destitute localities, where ministers did not exist. James Morrison who purchased pew 96 in April, 1844, was a builder, and lived in Belmont street, Beaver Hall.

Archibald McGoun, who became owner of pew 63 at the same date, had been connected with the congregation for several years previously. Born in the parish of Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland, 29th October, 1817, he came to Canada in 1831, and after residing in Quebec for a couple of years, arrived in Montreal in 1833. He attended the services in St. Gabriel Street from the time he came to the city until he joined Cote Street Church in 1845. He became a communicant in St. Gabriel Street in 1834 or 1835. He commenced life as a grocer's clerk, then took to bookkeeping in 1837, which he prosecuted until 1870, when he was appointed secretary-treasurer and accountant to the Citizens' Insurance Company." He was ordained a

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deacon in the Free Church, Cote Street, in 1852, and an elder in the same church, 15th February, 1863.

He was one of the office-bearers appointed by the Canada Presbyterian Church, to assist in making preparations for the proposed final consummation of the Union in June, 1875. He was appointed secretary-treasurer to the jointcommittee; and the writer, who had the honour to act as chairman of that committee, bears glad testimony to the zeal and efficiency with which his colleague, Mr. McGoun, entered into the work arising out of the occasion. It was evidently a joyful task to him to aid in cementing the union of the scattered forces of Presbyterianism in the land.

As Mr. Esson was known to sympathize strongly with the Free Church movement in Scotland, those who held the same views in the other Presbyterian Churches took refuge in the St. Gabriel Street Church, pending the issue which was to be finally reached at the meeting of Synod to be held in July, 1844.

Among the others, who then came and took sittings in the old church, was Joseph MacKay, the founder of the well-known dry-goods firm in McGill street, "MacKay Brothers." His brother, Donald, had been connected with the Church in St. Gabriel Street from the time he came to the country, in 1836, and remained in it until he removed to Hamilton, in 1849. Donald MacKay had a merchanttailoring establishment at 162 Notre Dame Street. He is now of the house of Gordon and MacKay, Toronto. He signed the call to Mr. Leishman in 1846.

The name of Joseph MacKay is one that will long remain fragrant among good men. His delightful home, "Kildonan," in Sherbrooke Street, is gratefully remembered by Christian travellers of every section of the church. Its doors were wide open to all good men and true, that

visited Montreal as strangers, as it was the joy of our genial departed friend, and his no less generous brother, Edward, and their beloved niece. Henrietta Gordon, cut off alas! all too soon, to entertain the representatives of their own church, whenever there was occasion for it.

The MacKays were all born in the parish of Kildonan, Ross-shire, Scotland. Joseph was the pioneer of the family in coming to Canada. He settled in Montreal, in the year 1832. Edward did not come till 1840. By industry and perseverance coupled with good business talents, and all backed up by a fervent religious spirit, they greatly prospered, and soon took high rank among the merchant princes of the city. And they recognized that it was of the Lord's goodness that they had succeeded so well: every object that appealed to them in God's name was sure of a favourable hearing. And their memory is blessed. Joseph built that noble charity, the " MacKay Institution" for the instruction of the Deaf and Dumb; and at his death left $10,000 for the Home Mission work of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, as well as $10,000 towards the Endowment of the Presbyterian College. He was ordained an elder in the Crescent Street Church, February 2nd, 1879. He died 2nd June, 1881. Edward MacKay, though of a different stamp from Joseph, and more brusque in his manner, was, nevertheless, a grand specimen of manhood. He was a director of the Bank of Montreal, the highest commercial position attainable in the city, at the time of his death, which occurred on the 6th May, 1883. Both Joseph and Edward were in the 71st year of their age at the time of their decease. Edward munificently added $40,000 in his lifetime to his late brother Joseph's contribution to the College, endowing the Joseph MacKay chair of Systematic Theology; and his nephews, Hugh, Robert, and James, emulating their uncles' fine spirit, followed their noble example, and have endowed the college in memory of their uncle Edward.