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CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THE 
 
 E. R. B. Willis 
 
 ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
Cornell University Library 
 BX6793.H52 H52 
 
 Memoir of Rev. Thomas Henry : Christian 
 
 oiin 
 
 3 1924 029 453 341 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis bool< is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029453341 
 
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MEMOIR 
 
 OF 
 
 Rev. Thomas Henry 
 
 CHRISTIAN MINISTER, YORK PIONEER, 
 AND SOLDIER OF 1812. 
 
 WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED BY HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, 
 
 Mrs. P. A. HENRY. 
 
 Toronto ; 
 
 Hill & Weib, Steam Printers, 15, 17 and 19 Temperance Street. 
 
 l88o. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In all this great, crowded, busy world, no itian 
 lives to himself alone, but to the world. Every 
 life is an influence cast upon society by which it is 
 made better or worse. Neither does that influence 
 cease when the pulse of natural life ceases to beat; 
 every man leaves an impression on some page of 
 the world's history. In proportion as the man is 
 ^reat and active, so will the impression be lasting 
 and extensive. Good or bad, this influence is in- 
 evitable, and goes on in widening circles, like the 
 ripple from a pebble dropped in water, until its 
 swell reaches the shores of eternity. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was a good man, and 
 great in tlie true sense of the word. " Though 
 dead he yet speaketh." His memory is warm in 
 the hearts of hundreds in this Province, and long 
 will the influence of his life of integrity and devo- 
 tion to the right be felt. It is a power for good; 
 and to widen and increase that power have we 
 prepared and now offer to the public, this little 
 work. To those who knew and loved him, and all 
 who love or appreciate real moral uprightness, it is 
 ■dedicated. That the blessing of the God whom he 
 served may attend it, is the prayer of 
 
 The Author. 
 
^W'^ttxoixof'g^tU^v'^mxvii 
 
 e=^!^ae^t:^edi 
 
^iTW/N- 
 
 OHAPrER I. 
 
 INTRODUCTION EAELT LIFE. 
 
 I'ES, Father Henry is gone ! The great man 
 who stood like a tower of strength in our 
 midst, is not here. The hand that was ever 
 ready to help, is stretched out to us no more. The 
 lips we loved to kiss are cold ; and the voice whose 
 sound was music and wisdom to us, we hear not. 
 The dear and revered head lies on its pillow of earth. 
 
 Our hearts, under the first sense of their great want 
 and bereavement, cry out against it. Oh Death I 
 what hast thou done ? Father in Heaven, -was it 
 Thou ? Didst Thou send the Dark Boatman to dip 
 his oar in the waves of time, and bring him we loved 
 into the "white calm" of Thy eternal presence? 
 
 " Forever with the Lord ; 
 Amen so let it be !" 
 
8 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 It is well with thee, O father ! and it will be well 
 with all, who like thee, tread conscientiously in the 
 path of duty. It is well that the bright spring time, 
 and the gorgeous summer months are succeeded by 
 the golden, fruit-crowned autumn, and the brooding 
 snows of winter. 
 
 And it is well, though our hearts cry out in pain 
 against it, that thou hast been gathered, like a ripe 
 cluster in the glorious autumnal days; or like the 
 full, grain-laden sheaf into- the garner of our God ! 
 
 It is well with Father Henry ; and we will bear it 
 in mind as we turn again the pages of the past, and 
 gather up some fragments of the history of his event- 
 ful life. Whether that life-path led up the rugged 
 steeps of time, or through its pleasant valleys, or bord- 
 ered on the stormy deep, it was well with him, for he 
 did his work well, and bore the cross ever onward 
 through sun and storm. 
 
 To those who knew and loved Father Henry, we 
 dedicate this little work. It is less a regular bio- 
 graphy than a few loving remembrances of him. 
 
 There are old men and women, with dim eyes and 
 trembling limbs, who will love to read about Bro. 
 Henry, whom they have known and loved so long, 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and who has sympathized with them in honrs of sor- 
 row, and rejoiced in their days of rejoicing. We put 
 our little work in large print and short chapters, that 
 they may read and not grow weary. 
 
 There are men and women, in the strength and 
 fulness of life, who will want to read Father Henry's 
 memoirs, for they have known him as long as they 
 can remember ; and there are little children who will 
 want to read about him, because he was always pleas- 
 ant and spoke to them. 
 
 We will gratify these wishes by telling something 
 of the early life of Father Henry ; or, as we must call 
 him in those early years, Thomas Henkt. 
 
 We know little of his early youth, for he was not 
 given to telling old stories with self for the hero. He 
 was born in the Township of Drumless, County of 
 Cavan, Ireland, on the 2nd of February, 1798. The 
 second name was formerly spelled Henery, but after 
 their removal to America the second e was dropped, 
 and the name spelled Henry by all the younger 
 branches of the family. Simeon Henry, the great 
 grandfather of the subject of this sketch, lived to the 
 great age of 103 years. 
 
 Thomas Henry, his grandfather, professed the 
 Quaker religion. He lived to have only two children, 
 
10 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 one daughter named Mary, and one son, John, who 
 was the father of Thomas Henry. His father was 
 brought up under the influence of the Established 
 Church of England ; but his mother, Nancy Biggers, 
 was a Presbyterian. 
 
 The family were loyal, and his great grandfather 
 was buried with military honors, for service rendered 
 the Government, in some of the rebellious outbreaks 
 of his unhappy country. His father afterward joined 
 the Orangemen, which at that time was a necessary 
 precaution for the protection of himself and family. 
 
 Like thousands of his countrymen, he wearied of 
 oppression and priestcraft, and began to look long- 
 ingly across the Atlantic, towards America, where 
 he hoped to And that boon for which humanity ever 
 asks, — Political and Reljgious liberty. 
 
 Accordingly in 1811 he set sail for America with 
 his family, consisting of a wife, four gons and three 
 daughters. A voyage across the Atlantic was a dif- 
 ferent thing then from what it is now. After tossing 
 about on the restless waves for seven weeks and three 
 days, they landed in New York. It was in June, 
 when Nature wears her most attractive garb, they 
 reached their destination. No wonder that after their 
 long, fatiguing sea voyage, it looked like a beautiful, 
 as well as a New "World to them. 
 
EARLY LIFE. n 
 
 They had some relatives in New York City, but 
 being able to find but one, a Mr. McGee, cousin to- 
 Mrs. Henry, they remained only a few weeks in the 
 city, whence they proceeded to Albany. Here the 
 family suffered severely from the ague, and did not 
 continue their journey until September. Their des- 
 tination^ was Toronto, Ontario, then Little York, 
 capital of Upper Canada. But what now would 
 only be a few hours ride in a rail-car, was then a long 
 fatiguing journey. They proceeded up the Mohawk 
 River in a flat-bottomed boat, as far as that was prac- 
 ticable, and then by stage or private conveyance to 
 Lewiston, thence by boat to Toronto. These months, 
 of travelling and sickness had nearly exhausted the 
 parental purse. They were introduced to Gen. 
 Brock, who afterwards fell at Queenston Heights, and 
 others high in office, who not only used their influ- 
 ence in their behalf, but held out alluring promises 
 which were sever fulfilled. Those of the family who 
 were able to earn theii- bread, had to go to work. 
 Thomas, being the eldest, was hired as an attendant 
 to Judge Powell. Here he found a good home, and 
 as the house was frequented by those high in office,, 
 he had opportunities of learning many things that 
 were of great benefit to him in after life. He was 
 the Judge's attendant in various official trips, stop- 
 ping with him at the homes of those highest in posi- 
 
12 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 tion in the Province. This was in 1812, the first 
 year of the war between United States and Great 
 Britain. These journeys were made on horseback 
 and principally through the woods, some distance 
 back from Lake Ontario, where the roads were mere 
 trails marked by blazed trees. The more open and 
 better worked road along the Lake Shore was render- 
 ed unsafe for travel, by presence of parties of Yankee 
 soldiers at various points on the route. On one of 
 these trips to Kingston, he formed the acquaintance 
 of a Mi\ Strachan, teacher of a High School in that 
 place. 
 
 Judge Powell arranged with him to come to Toronto 
 and teach there, which he did, and afterwards became 
 widely known as Archbishop Strachan, of Toronto. 
 The next year, when Judge Powell was succeeded 
 by Judge Campbell, young Mr. Henry, in considera- 
 tion of his knowledge of the route, was employed 
 to attend him on an official trip to Montreal. On 
 his way thither, while stopping at a small wayside 
 inn, his hat was stolen, and to his great mortifi- 
 cation he was obliged to go on to Montreal bare- 
 headed, or at least without a hat, as such an article 
 could not be procured for love or money between 
 where he was and the city. He remained a month in 
 
EARLY LIFE. is 
 
 Montreal, formed many pleasant acquaintances, and 
 learned something of the French language. 
 
 The next year, which was the last of the war, he 
 hired as a substitute in the army, and did military 
 duty until peace was restored. He was employed 
 with others to guard a batch of American prisoners 
 from Toronto to Kingston, and another to Fort 
 George at Niagara. It is not probable that his ex- 
 perience in the army was beneficial to the moral or 
 religious character of the young man, but he learned 
 much of human nature, and began to develop that 
 integrity, energy, perseverance and economy, which 
 characterized his after life. While in the Garrison in 
 Toronto he received, as other soldiers did, besides the 
 regular rations, an extra bottle of spirits on Saturday 
 night for Sunday use. While others made merry 
 over their bottle on Sunday, he sent his to a small 
 grocery to be sold, and carefully laid by the proceeds. 
 We may reasonably conclude this was not the only 
 thing in which he economized during the war, as at 
 its close, though only seventeen, he had laid by 
 
 In 1816 the elder Mr. Henry removed to Whitby, 
 and purchased the farm at Port Oshawa, which after- 
 wards became the home of Eld. Thomas Henry, where 
 so many of his Christian friends have enjoyed his 
 
14 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 hospitality, where he died, and where his widow still 
 lives. 
 
 Thomas accompanied his family to Whitby, and 
 with his savings purchased 110 acres of land lying 
 north of his father's farm, which is now the home of 
 one of his sons, J. G. Henry. 
 
 At the time of the settlement of the family in 
 "Whitby it was a wilderness, inhabited chiefly by the 
 untutored Indian, the prowling wolf and timid deer ; 
 and often the family, in their little home on the pic- 
 turesque shores of Lake Ontario, were awakened at 
 the dead of night by the Indian's wild whoop, or the 
 howl of the hungry wolf. But the wood was pleas- 
 ant when the sun gilded the tree-tops, or struggled 
 through the boughs down into the dim mossy recesses 
 of its silent colonades. Company was scarce, but 
 work was plenty, and in the active employment of 
 fitting the new farm for a home, the summer months 
 glided rapidly away. 
 
 Autumn came and wreathed its many colored 
 drapery around the mighty forests' head, but the 
 bright tints faded, the red leaves fell, and when the 
 heavy frosts came down on the bare brown earth, a 
 great affliction fell on the little household in their 
 lonely, forest home. The wife and mother died. 
 
EARLY LIFE. 15 
 
 Almost without precursor or warning she went, and 
 left anguish and desolation behind her. Far from 
 sympathizing friends, far from religious comforters, 
 with none but her own little family around her, she 
 bowed her head, and closed her eyes in death. But 
 Jesus was with her, and none can be utterly desolate 
 who hear the voice of Him who walks on the billows 
 of death, whispering in the dull ear, " It is I ; be not 
 afraid ! " 
 
 There was no minister of religion in the Township 
 then, but as there was one in Clark, about twenty 
 miles distant, he was procured, and she was buried 
 with Christian rites, on a little hill beside the lake, 
 where now in a good old age her son has lain down 
 beside her. < 
 
 To Thomas, who was not yet eighteen, the loss was 
 extremely severe. His mother had always been an 
 object of reverence and affection with him, audit was 
 no wonder that now the whole world looked dark 
 and lonely. In society, with the amusements and 
 incentives to action which it presents, the young 
 soon forget their sorrows ; but living retired as they 
 were, where everything reminded him of the dear de- 
 parted one, there was nothing to beguile his thoughts 
 from his loss. 
 
16 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 To make matters worse, his father, at the end of 
 six months, formed another and an unhappy union. 
 This caused the young man to arouse from his des- 
 pondency, and look into the future. His home seemed 
 no longer a home to him, and he could not con 
 tent himself to remain there. He would have gone 
 to school, for his opportunities had been limited, and 
 he felt the need of an education ; but schools were 
 few and mostly under the control of the Family Com- 
 pact, which so nearly ruled the Province then, and for 
 years after ; and it was not easy to get into a school. 
 Business openings were scarce, and his proud spirit 
 revolted at the idea of hiring out as a " hewer of 
 wood and drawer of water." 
 
 He finally resolved to settle on his own land. Ac- 
 cordingly on the 30th of July, 1817, he was married 
 to Elizabeth Davis, who was two years younger than 
 himself. Notwithstanding the extreme youth of both 
 parties, the union proved a happy one. The young 
 lady was gentle, affectionate, and religiously inclin 
 ed ; while he, with his experience and natural energy, 
 proved himself more capable of supporting and 
 directing a family, than many men of mature years. 
 
 "With a stout heart and a strong arm, he went into 
 the woods and cut logs, and built a cabin to shelter 
 himself and wife until a clearing could be made, and 
 
EARLY LIFE. 17 
 
 a better house built. Chopping and clearing land 
 are no holiday work, and day after day the blows 
 from his ringing axe sounded among the echoing tree- 
 tops. His young wife, when unemployed by house- 
 hold cares, would find her way out into the wood 
 where he was engaged, not only that she might en- 
 joy his soeietyj but help in the easy work of gathering 
 the limbs of the fallen trees. Full of energy and 
 hope, they toiled cheerfully and unitedly to prepare 
 them a home and provide the comforts of life. They 
 did not remain long in the log house. "With a whip- 
 saw and the assistance of another hand, he sawed 
 lumber for a frame house, which was the third frame 
 house erected in the township. 
 
^onvtxsxon 
 
CHAPTER 11. 
 
 CONVEBSION AND EARLY RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. 
 
 N the 6tli of April, 1819, Thomas Henry and 
 his youthful wife, looked for the first time on 
 the face of their first born. He says, " We 
 called her Nancy after my mother." But though 
 warm hearts welcomed its coming, the little stranger 
 did not linger long with them ; death set his icy seal, 
 and closed the little eyes and stiffened the tiny limbs. 
 A group of friends and neighbors gathered, and bore 
 the small coffin to the lonely graveyard on the hill, 
 and interred it among the few bodies which had 
 already been committed to that quiet dwelling place. 
 For few as were the living inhabitants of the town- 
 ship, this city of the dead was beginning to be built, 
 and to gather in its dwellers. 
 
CONVERSION. 21 
 
 Mr. Henry appears to have been, when very young, 
 the subject of religious impressions. Like most great 
 or good men, he had a good mother, and to her he 
 ascribes this early tendency of his mind. The means 
 of education were scarce, and Bibles hard to be obtain- 
 ed ; and almost the only book to which he had access 
 was the Book of Common Prayer, and in that he has 
 since testified that he found much good ; but for both 
 his mental and moral culture, he was chiefly indebted 
 to the faithfulness and care of that noble mother. He 
 says, " She used to impress on our minds, that there 
 was a hell to shun, a heaven to gain, and our souls to 
 save. And I remember when not ten years old, being 
 concerned about my salvation." The religious im- 
 pressions of childhood had never entirely forsaken him, 
 and when he married and commenced an independent 
 life, he resolved to dedicate it to God, and serve Him 
 according to the best of his abilities ; but in the 
 active labors of his busy life, time slipped away, and 
 little religious progress had been made. But when 
 the tendrils of parental love, which had just reached 
 out to entwine themselves around this new-bom 
 treasure, were thus rudely snapped, it recalled his 
 mind from its absorbing pursuit after material good, 
 to realize that there was another and a higher good to 
 be sought. 
 
22 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 The Methodists had, at that time, established a. 
 church in York County, and one Elder Jackson held 
 meetings in the vicinity of Mr. Henry's residence. To 
 these meetings he and his wife went. He says, " They 
 appeared humble, and their labors were abundantly 
 blessed." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Henry gave in their names as seekers^ 
 and were admitted on probation. In speaking of the 
 exercise of his mind at this time, he says, " I did not 
 feel that all was well with me ; that I had received 
 the sealing evidence of God's Spirit, that 1 was a 
 child of His in the strict sense of the word. I tried 
 to attend to the means of grace, but could not feel that 
 blessedness of which the saints spoke. In reading th& 
 Scriptures, I was often delighted with the contempla- 
 tion of the goodness of God and His tender mercies- 
 towards man, and felt there was something enjoyed 
 by Christians to which I was a stranger." 
 
 In this state of mind, he went to hear the Calvinistic 
 Baptists preach ; and he says the doctrines of election 
 and foreordination there taught, were an injury rather 
 than a henefit to him. Another untoward influence 
 was brought to bear upon his mind at the same time, 
 by a man by the name of Herred, who boarded with 
 him. This man was a sceptic, and scepticism finds no 
 stronger argument than is furnished by the doctrines 
 
CONVERSION. 23 
 
 of Calvinism. Without the support and enjoyment 
 which an experimental knowledge of God can give, 
 confused and bewildered by the conflicting doctrines 
 of teachers who darken counsel by multitudes of 
 words, he seems to have been driven to the verge of 
 infidelity. His strong sense of right would not allow 
 him to appropriate to himself a name and privilege to 
 which he felt he had no claim. Accordingly he and 
 his wife withdrew from the class, giving as their only 
 reason, that they did not enjoy religion, and did not 
 wish to deceive any one. Speaking of this, he says, 
 " After taking this unwise step, I fell into many 
 temptations and snares of the devil, and sinned 
 against God, the best of beings, with a high hand and 
 uplifted arm, until the year 1825." » 
 
 All this time he continued to work on his farm, and 
 was pushing ahead in his temporal affairs with all the 
 energy of his strong and active nature. 
 
 In May, 1825, while on his way to attend court in 
 Toronto, he fell in company with Elder Joseph 
 Blackman, who was then a very young man. Like 
 most of the first Christian preachers, he had " taken 
 his life in his hand," and gone forth to preach the 
 gospel, relying for support only on Him who feeds the 
 ravens, and marks the sparrows fall. This young 
 
24 MEMOIB OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 minister, with his kind and affable deportment, soon 
 won his way to the stranger's heart ; and Mr. Henry, 
 after a little hesitation, told him the religious exercise 
 of his mind. They had a long and interesting con- 
 versation together. Mr. Blackman told him he had 
 an appointment near Port Oshawa, and invited him 
 to attend. At that time Mr. Henry had never heard 
 one of those people preach, who take only the name 
 Christian, although A. C. Morrison had held some 
 meetings in the vicinity. Mrs. Henry, however, who 
 had retained more of her early religious feeling had 
 been at some of the meetings, and heard both Balck- 
 man and Church speak. These men were full of zeal 
 for doing good, and preached and exhorted with 
 warmth and earnestness, alluding feelingly to the per- 
 secutions they had met with from the Methodists,who 
 had obtained quite a footing in the township. 
 
 Mrs. Henry's sympathies were at once enlisted for 
 these young strangers, while the gospel truths which 
 they proclaimed found their way to her heart, and 
 left an impression not easily worn off. She was 
 almost continually repeating something these young 
 men had said, and chiefly through her influence, he 
 he was induced to attend the meeting. 
 
 Blackman preached, and at the close of the sermon 
 
CONVERSION. 25 
 
 gave liberty to others to speak. Among those who 
 availed themselves of this liberty, was a young man 
 with whom Mr. Henry was acquainted, and who 
 had been very wicked. He confessed his sins ; spoke 
 of what the Lord had done for him, and fervently ex- 
 horted sinners to repent. This deeply impressed his 
 mind. In the month of August he attended another 
 meeeting held in a barn in Darlington. The Christians 
 had no chapels in Canada then. Of this meeting, Mr. 
 Henry says : 
 
 "J. T. Baily preached the Word with power; 
 sinners wept ; some cried aloud for mercy ; to me it 
 was a solemn time. I went home wounded in spirit, 
 for the "Word of God cut like a two-edged sword, and 
 I began to see myself as I was, — a poor lost sinner." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Henry both attended the next meet- 
 ing, and together with Jesse Yan Camp, afterwards 
 Elder Van Camp, and his wife, at the close of the 
 meetina- arose and manifested a desire for prayers. 
 After meeting the congregation repaired to the Lake 
 Shore, and Baily baptized t-^o happy converts by im- 
 mersion. Of this meeting and his conversion, which 
 followed, Mr. Henry tells us in the following simple, 
 touching language: "It had a glorious effect not 
 only in sealing former convictions, but in hnmbling 
 the stoutest-hearted sinners. I saw Oapt. John Trull 
 
26 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 bathed in tears, and made my way to him. He was 
 my wife's uncle, and we had always been intimate 
 friends. We took each other by the hand, and made 
 a vow to seek God together. For about two weeks I 
 sought the Lord with all my heart. I reflected much 
 on the past, and deeply regretted that I had been so 
 unwise and brought such a stain on the cause of 
 Christ. The bitter pangs of self-reproach and the 
 sorrow which oppressed my mind, caused me many 
 wakeful hours. Sometimes I would try to pray in 
 my family, but it only seemed to make me feel worse. 
 Again I would retire to my bam or the grove, and 
 pour out my soul to God. At times every sin of my 
 past life seemed arrayed before my eyes ; and Satan 
 tempted me to believe that I had committed the 
 ' unpardonable sin.' I searched the Scriptures care- 
 fully for light on this subject ; and was much bene- 
 fited by the perusal of a sermon by one Russell, a 
 minister of the English Church. The gist of this ser- 
 mon was, that there was no such thing as committing 
 this sin, except where there was light in the head, and 
 malice in the heart. He adduced the history of Paul, 
 to show to what depths of sin a man may go, and yet 
 be forgiven ; also the example of Peter, who denied 
 his Lord, to show that sin even against so great light 
 may be forgiven, "when there is no evil intent in the 
 heart. This gave me courage to pray and ask for 
 
CONVERSION. 2!r 
 
 mercy, and for an evidence of my acceptance with 
 God. About this time Elders Baily and Blackman 
 came to make us a religious visit. In all my life, I 
 had never before been visited by a minister of the 
 Gospel. We invited in a couple of our neighbors 
 also. They talked, and prayed, and sang with us, and 
 urged us all to pray for ourselves. My mind had 
 been much troubled on the subject of baptism, and I 
 mentioned it to them. They said little about it, 
 leaving it entirely with myself and God. Having been 
 brought up under the traditions of the Episcopalians, 
 baptism by immersion was something new to me. I 
 had searched the Scriptures with great care, and also 
 read a debate between Campbell and McCauly on the 
 subject, and I already believed that immersion was 
 baptism ; but I was waiting — thinking of going for- 
 ward, yet waiting for an evidence that God would accept 
 me. The one great prayer of my heart was for an 
 evidence of sins forgiven. 
 
 " On the 4th of Sept., 1825, 1 was at work alone in 
 the field. I wept and prayed and again reviewed my 
 past life : again my sins stood in dark array before 
 me. My eyes were bathed in tears and my heart was 
 ready to break ; and there, alone in the field, I con- 
 fessed my sins, and promised to obey God in all 
 things. Bless His name ! He not only humbled, but 
 
28 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 exalted me then and there ! A great light broke in- 
 to my mind ; I forgot all my trouble, was strongly 
 relieved of every burden and all distress, while my 
 whole soul seemed full of bliss; my tongue was 
 loosed, and I cried, ' Glory to God ! ' Then I sat 
 down and asked myself what this meant. Was this 
 religion ? This the love of God shed abroad in the 
 heart ? "Was this what I had heard Christians talk so 
 much about ? 1 was immediately impressed to go to 
 the next meeting, and tell the exercise of my mind, 
 and what the Lord had done for me." 
 
 The next Sabbath, Mr. Henry attended a meeting, 
 held in a grove, where Elder Baily preached — standing 
 in the shade of a maple tree, to a larger audience than 
 could be accommodated in any building of which he 
 could command the use. At the close of the sermon, 
 Mr. Henry, his wife, and other young converts mani- 
 fested a desire for baptism. The candidates, as was 
 the custom of the time, were asked to relate their " ex- 
 perience ;" and then a vote was taken to ascertain if 
 it was satisfactory. There were a number of Baptist 
 brethren present, who took part in the meeting, and 
 were expected to vote. 
 
 Now Mr. Henry was not so fluent or so imaginative 
 as some of the candidates, so his " experience " was 
 not so satisfactory as theirs. If he could even have 
 
CONVERSION. 29 
 
 told a good dream, which was quite common on such 
 occasions, it would have helped him in the estimation 
 of the tribunal before which he stood ; but as he 
 could not, though the vote was unanimous in favor of 
 his coippanions, a number voted against his being ad- 
 mitted to a participation in the ordinance. This 
 would have discouraged one less in earnest, but Mr. 
 Henry felt that it was a matter between him and God, 
 not man, so he did not withdraw his request. Elder 
 Baily then put the following questions to him : " Do 
 you love God ?" He answered, " Yes." " Do you 
 love the people of God?" "Yes." "Have old 
 things passed away ? " " Yes ; blessed be God." 
 Elder Baily then concluded to baptize him. In spite 
 of all his firmness, this lack of confidence on the part 
 of those much older, and as he thought, much wiser 
 and better than himself, had a depressing influence on 
 Mr. Henry's mind. Nevertheless, he went forward in 
 the discharge of duty, and was led down into the clear 
 waters of Lake Ontario by the hand of Elder Baily, 
 who little thought that the trembling convert, for 
 whom he and his brethren entertained so many doubts 
 and fears, was to become one of the strongest pillars 
 of the Church. But so it was, and so it often is. In 
 our religious, as in our physical life, the morning of 
 brightest promise is overcast ere noon ; while the dull 
 cloud-obscured morning brings the brilHant day. and 
 
30 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 glorious sunset. Making a profession of religion and 
 being baptized was not a mere form with these sons 
 and daughters of the forest ; nor were the feelings and 
 emotions under such bondage to the iron rules of con- 
 ventional life as now. Becoming religious then 
 meant a breaking up of the former modes of life — a 
 cutting away from old moorings, and launching out 
 on a new sea. This occasion was particularly solemn. 
 The converts with faces bathed in tears, took leave 
 of sinfal friends and associates, exhorting them at the 
 same time to flee from the " wrath to come." 
 
 A few days after this, Mr. Henry says, " I was sow- 
 ing and harrowing in my fall wheat, but was all day 
 engaged in prayer and meditation. My mind and 
 affections appeared to be in heaven. Time passed 
 swiftly while I was counting the cost of following 
 Christ, or wrapt in anticipation of the joys of the 
 blessed ones above. I have never known a happier 
 day in my life." In the evening of that happy day, 
 Mr. Henry attended a prayer and conference meeting 
 held in a private house. At this meeting were 
 present those friends who had refused to vote for his 
 baptism. He was impressed to speak, he says, and 
 tell the exercises of his mind. Those days of doubt 
 and fear, those hours of sacred prayer and communion 
 with God had not been in vain. The hour had come 
 when his Father who seeth in secret, would reward 
 
CONVERSION. 31 
 
 him openly. He spoke ; not in the rounded periods 
 of the disciplined eloquence of the schools, but in the 
 eloquence of a heart full of the Spirit of God, and 
 overflowing with love for his saints, and aspirations 
 for the salvation of sinners. 
 
 Ah, how should we, who have known Father Henry- 
 only in the full maturity of his powers, have rejoiced to 
 have heard this first outburst of youthful religious 
 fervor. No wonder those good brethren, who had so 
 misunderstood the silent, diffident man, were startled 
 as they listened, and recognizing in his words the lan- 
 guage of the redeemed, come at the close of the meet- 
 ing with tears in their eyes, to give him the right 
 hand of fellowship. The good work continued to 
 spread under the labors of Baily and Blackman. 
 
 From this time, Mr. Henry, instead of being doubt- 
 ed and distrusted, became a marked man among the 
 converts, and many efforts were made to secure his 
 membership in other churches. The Methodists and 
 Baptists extended cordial invitations to him to cast 
 his lot with them. But he sought a freer religious or- 
 ganization. He had taken his lessons in theology from 
 God's own book, and not having there learned aU those 
 doctrines to which candidates for admission into these 
 churches were expected to assent, he could not accept 
 them. Unconditional election and its kindred 
 
33 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 doctrines, which had once so nearly driven him to in- 
 fidelity, were particularly distasteful to him, as they 
 are to all persons of generous, benevolent dispositions. 
 Such never accept this dogma but under the pressure 
 of early discipline. It must be instilled into their 
 minds before fully developed or not at all. Close com- 
 munion was another barrier between him and them. 
 He felt that all God's dear children should meet to- 
 gether around their Father's table, irrespective of 
 minor differences in belief. He had also learned from 
 God's Book, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, 
 and accepted the sublime and life-giving truth in the 
 earnest simplicity of his soul, and saw only mystery 
 and confusion in the bewildering doctrines of the 
 Trinity. However, there were in both of these 
 churches, dear souls with whom he enjoyed sweet 
 communion, and for whom he felt the strongest fellow- 
 ship. Yet he chose to take God's Word alone for his 
 guide, and cast his lot with the devoted few ■who were 
 rallying around that standard. 
 

 I (^M to tht WiinxstxiQ. 
 
 s^g^gi^g^^^nsTtartje^e:^: 
 
OHAPTEE III. 
 
 CALL TO THE MINISTRY. 
 
 [ONSIDERABLE iuterest in the religious wel- 
 fare of this part of the Province of Ontario 
 must have been felt by the Christian ministers 
 of New Fork State at this time, as they were visited 
 during this year, in addition to those already men- 
 tioned, by Elders T. Mclntyre, J. Church, I. 0. Goff, 
 J. Blodget, and E. Shaw ; the latter assisted Elder 
 Baily in organizing a church in Darlington. Of this 
 church, which numbered twenty-eight, Mr. Henry 
 became a member. In the same place, and during 
 the same month, September, 1825, was held the first 
 Christian Conference in Ontario. J, T. Baily pre- 
 sided, and besides him were present J. Blackman and 
 Isaac Goff, all young Christian ministers from United 
 
 States. There were also present J. W. Sharrard, jihen 
 
 35 
 
36 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 a Baptist, afterwards a Christian minister, and Jesse 
 Van Camp, Sisson Bradly, Win. Noble, and Thomas 
 Henry, besides a number of other persons. Thus 
 Thomas Henry attended the first Session of the 
 Canada Christian Conference, and never failed to 
 attend a Session until 1879, when he died during its 
 sitting in that year. Whoever else might be absent 
 or present, all expected to see Eld. Henry, or Father 
 Henry as he was called in later years, at his post. 
 
 That tender vine planted in the wilderness, and 
 watered and tended with loving care by such faithful 
 hearts, grew and brought forth fruit, until eighty 
 souls were sheltered beneath its branches. During 
 the long years which have passed away since those 
 stirring times, that zealous band has been scattered, 
 more by emigration than any other cause, and there 
 is now no visible church in that place. The scattered 
 branches, however, have not been lost, but have taken 
 root in places to which they have been removed, and 
 become centres around which other similar organiza- 
 tions have been gathered. Most prominent among 
 these is the church in Oshawa, which is not more 
 than ten miles from the original locality. 
 
 When we take into consideration that only inferior 
 modes of travelling could be made available at that 
 time to reach this part of Canada, that the country 
 
. CALL TO THE MINISTRY. 37 
 
 was new, and the people generally poor, and unable 
 to offer any pecuniary inducement to visit them, we 
 must conclude either that it was a point of special 
 interest, or that the Christian ministers of that day 
 were possessed of a more active missionary spirit than 
 at the present time. 
 
 As we write these events our hearts swell with 
 gratitude to God, and we cannot withhold a tribute 
 of respect and veneration to those worthy laborers 
 by whose self-sacrificing toil the standard of liberal 
 Christianity was planted in these provinces. Most of 
 them are gone from labor to reward. God give it to 
 them more abundantly ! As far as I know, only two 
 of these laborers remain, Jesse Church and Isaac C. 
 Goff. May the smile of heaven and the veneration 
 of the brotherhood brighten their closing hours ! 
 
 For the sake of our common Protestantism — I will 
 not say Christianity, for that is always the same — I 
 would rather not record some events which follow. 
 Yet why should I hesitate? These are things of 
 the past, and show by their contrast with the pre- 
 sent liberal spirit among these denominations, and 
 their general tendency to union, tlie progress they 
 have made in the school of the Great Teacher, who 
 prayed that all His followers might be one. 
 
 Mr. Henry soon found that the decision he had 
 
38 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 made served to alienate the hearts of many professed 
 friends, and brought upon him much unkindness and 
 some persecution. This was trying to one so young 
 in the cause ; yet he met it with true Christian forti- 
 tude. Speaking of these things, he says: "I had 
 taken the holy Bible, in the presence of God and 
 men, to be my rule of faith and practice, and felt 
 willing to suffer persecution rather than accept or 
 teach for doctrines the commandments of men. I 
 had become convinced that the great cause of division 
 among Christians was their creeds and unscriptural 
 terms. I therefore determined to speak of God only 
 as He had revealed Himself in His sacred word ; to 
 apply to Jesus Christ only those titles given Him by 
 His Father ; to speak of angels and men, of baptism, 
 and all other doctrines, in the language of the sacred 
 volume." 
 
 Again, he says : " In the year 1827, 1 was called to 
 pass through some severe trials of my faith, severe to 
 me in my weakness and inexperience, though to 
 others they may seem but trifles. About the first of 
 January I went, in company with my wife, to attend 
 a Methodist quarterly meeting, held in a school-house 
 called Coryell's school-house, on the main road near 
 Oshawa. Mr. Coryell and his wife, who lived near, 
 Avere both members of the Christian denomination 
 
GALL TO THE MINISTRY. 39 
 
 from New York; yet they had lodged four of the 
 Methodist members, who came from a distance to 
 attend the quarterly meeting. 
 
 " We reached the house in good season, and took 
 our seats, thinking all was right. Mr. Brackenridge 
 was presiding elder, Mr. Atwood circuit preacher, and 
 Mr. Moore, a neighbor of mine, class-leader. I had 
 great respect for Mr. Moore, also for Mr. Atwood, 
 but knew the presiding elder to be a hard man. I 
 soon perceived they were holding a council of war. 
 Yes, it must have been a council of war/ for it was 
 not a council of peace. Presently I was called to the 
 door, and questioned. Had I united with the Chris- 
 tians ? I told them I had united with a people calling 
 themselves only Christians. Did I believe in the 
 Trinity ? I told them I had never found that term in 
 the Bible, consequently did not use it. I was then 
 asked if I believed that Jesus Christ was the very 
 and eternal God ? I said, I believed Jesus was the 
 Christ, the Son of (^od ; that this was the belief of 
 the Apostle Peter, and satisfied me. Again I was 
 asked if I believed that the Father, the Son, and the 
 Holy Ghost were one? I answered. Yes ; not one in 
 person, but one in work, one in testimony, and one 
 in spirit. I told them I wished to be distinctly 
 understood on this point, that one did not always 
 mean one person. Paul and Apollos were said to be 
 
40 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 one. The three thousand who believed were one, and 
 Jesus prayed that His disciples might all be one, even 
 as He and His Father were one. These views, I told 
 them, I honestly believed, and had come to their 
 meeting only to get good. I was, however, told I 
 must leave ; such views could not be tolerated there. 
 So I took my little wife, and went away. Others 
 also left, among them Mr. and Mrs. Coryell, who 
 lodged their members, and furnished the table and 
 bread for their communion. 
 
 " I had my horses and sleigh with me, so we, the 
 rejected ones, loaded up, and went to Darlington, 
 where Eld. Baily was preaching in a private house. 
 At the close of the sermon I arose, and repeated the 
 whole circumstance. The relation had a great effect 
 upon those who listened. They wept, and I cried. I 
 felt, to say like one of old, ' If it had been from an 
 enemy, I could have borne it ; ' but it came from 
 ministers of the gospel, who profess to be called of 
 God to preach deliverance to the captive, and the 
 opening of prison doors to them that are bound." 
 
 This exhibition of a persecuting spirit resulted, as 
 it usually does, in the advancement of the persecuted. 
 It raised up new friends for them. Others had their 
 eyes opened to the truth, and embraced the new 
 doctrines; and in a short time fifty converts were 
 
CALL TO THK MINISTRY. 41 
 
 baptized, and a church organized in the same house 
 from which the few had been driven. This was the 
 foundation of the Christian Church in Oshawa. 
 Another circumstance, which occurred during the 
 same year, left a lasting impression on his mind. He 
 thus relates it : 
 
 " My father, at that time, kept a public-house at 
 the Kouge, some twenty miles from where I lived. I 
 was invited there to attend a wedding. Great prepa- 
 rations had been made for the occasion, as Archbishop 
 Strachan was to perform the marriage ceremony. 
 Taking advantage of the favorable opportunity, two 
 children were to be brought to the house to be 
 christened. The attendance at a public-house of the 
 Archbishop of Upper Canada was quite an event, 
 and it would be something for parents to tell, that 
 the child was ' christened by the Archbishop.' To 
 me the wedding had far less interest than the chris- 
 tening. It was the first time I had witnessed the 
 ceremony since embracing scriptural views of baptism. 
 According to the usual form, they chose godfathers 
 and godmothers, who promised for their charges, 
 first, ' That they should believe in God with all their 
 hearts; second. That they should renounce the devil 
 and his works ; third. That they should keep God's 
 holy will and commandments, and walk in the same 
 
42 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 all the days of their lives.' It afiected me deeply to 
 hear those solemn promises made by those who 
 x'egarded them so lightly, as did the whole unscrip- 
 tural ceremony. After performing the marriage cere- 
 mony and sprinkling the babes, a fiddler came in, 
 and the whole company, with the exception of the 
 Bishop, who had left, repaired to the ball-room. My 
 father invited me to join the dance. I told him I 
 could not conscientiously do so. To me it was sin, 
 therefore I must be excused. The company were 
 dancing over my head at the time. Father said, 
 ' You cannot prevent the crows from flying over 
 your head.' I replied, ' But I can prevent their 
 making nests in my hair.' " 
 
 In 1828, Eld. Henry says, " The Methodists appeared 
 more friendly. I had become acquainted with a local 
 preacher, by the name of Cryderman, who was a good 
 speaker, and appeared to be a very liberal man. I 
 often went to hear him, and frequently spoke at his 
 meetings. He invited me to attend a quarterly meet- 
 ing which was to be held in Darlington, on the farm 
 of Mr. Shaw, near the residence of the Hon. J. 
 Simpson. I had a great anxiety to attend the meetings 
 I had a kind regard for the Methodists. I had begun 
 to get over what they had done in Whitby, and 
 really thought they would never do the same again. 
 
CALL TO THE MINISTRY. 43 
 
 I told him I would go. I saw the presiding elder, 
 Mr. Conrson, and told him Bro. Cryderman had kindly 
 invited me to attend their quarterly meeting. He 
 said he should be happy to see me there. 
 
 " So we dispensed with the prayer and conference 
 meeting in the old school-house, from which we had 
 once been driven, got a pair of horses and double 
 waggon, collected a load of the young brethren and 
 sisters, and went to the meeting. Others came on 
 horseback. So we had quite a company. We 
 arrived in good season for the Lovefeast. I saw that 
 Bro. Cryderman was door-keeper, and took courage. 
 To my surprise, as we approached Bro. Cryderman 
 left the door, and Mr. Courson took his place. He at 
 once asked me if we wished to go into the Lovefeast. 
 I said it was for that purpose we had come. ' "Well, 
 Bro. Henry,' said he, ' we cannot let you in, unless 
 you believe in the Trinity.' I told him I did not 
 expect him to put such a question to me now ; that I 
 knew he had done so formerly, but thought he was 
 becoming more liberal ; and as I was invited to come, 
 I had supposed I should be welcome. Then I told 
 him, in the presence of them all, that he had no right 
 to ask me, or any one else, that question, as neither 
 Christ or His apostles required it of their followers. 
 Then I said, ' Now, sir, I will remain outside ; but 
 
44 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 would be pleased to have these young people, who 
 have come so far, go into the Lovefeast,' He then 
 passed around among them, as though it had been a 
 class-meeting, asking questions something like the fol- 
 lowing. To a sister — 
 
 '' ' Daughter, you believe in the Holy Trinity ?' 
 
 " ' I never saw it in the Bible.' 
 
 '"My son, don't you believe that Jesus Christ is 
 the very and eternal God ? ' 
 
 " ' I always read, and believed, that Jesus was the 
 Christ, the Son of God.' 
 
 " ' You believe, my daughter, don't you, that three 
 persons are one God ? ' 
 
 " ' I believe, as it is revealed, that God is one.' 
 
 "By this time quite a company had collected 
 around us, and the rev. gentleman, finding he was 
 not gaining much ground, said he had not time to 
 talk any more ; but advised us, as it looked like rain, 
 to go to a private house, and stay until after the 
 Lovefeast, when we would be admitted. We chose 
 to go to our waggon, and await the close of the 
 Zovefeast, if such it might be called. At its close he 
 came to us, and said to me — 
 
 " ' How do you stand this ? It will try you, and 
 prove whether you are a Christian.' 
 
CALL TO THE MINISTRY. 45 
 
 " My reply was, ' Bro. Courson, I am surprised to 
 hear you speak thus. I have yet to learn that God 
 tries His children in this way. It is like tempting 
 us, and it Is written, "God tempts no man."' We 
 went into the meeting. Mr. Ooureon, however, only 
 injured his own cause. The best of his own members 
 disapproved of his course, and our young brethren 
 were more established in their principles." 
 
 If this chapter should come under the observation 
 of any of our Methodist friends, we beg them to 
 remember that these things occurred long ago, and 
 that those were days of ignorance and prescription. 
 We record this, and similar events, not as a reproach 
 on the Methodists, but because they ai-e part of the 
 life of the man whose character we are delineating, 
 and helped to form, as well as to exemplify that 
 character. 
 
 These small things show, as the events of all his 
 after-life do, a character at once strong and tender, 
 firm and forgiving. 
 
 Mr. Henry had given up all for Christ ; had offered 
 soul and body a living sacrifice on the altar of his 
 God. Much of his time was given to searching 
 the Scriptures ; much to self-examination and secret 
 prayer. He also bore public testimony to the spiritual 
 
46 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 blessings which he enjoyed in secret, and spoke often 
 ■of the goodness of God among his brethren. Those 
 who listened to him, and were blessed by his warm 
 exhortations, began to appreciate his gift; and he 
 was called to take a prominent part in all their prayer 
 and conference meetings. He too began to feel that 
 hidden fire which burns in the soul of every true 
 minister of Christ — that yearning over the souls of 
 men, and that prophetic looking forward to their final 
 destiny. But with these promptings came the over- 
 whelming sense of the greatness of the work, and the 
 bitter consciousness of his insufficiency. Like Moses, 
 he exclaimed, " I am slow of speech." But, unlike 
 Moses, he was not learned in all the wisdom of the 
 Egyptians, or any other human school. 
 
 He deeply felt his need of education. But the still, 
 small voice would not be silenced ; day and night it 
 followed him, whispering, " This is the way ; walk in 
 it. The church also appeared to hear the voice, at 
 least they continued to put him forward, and in June, 
 1 829, gave him letters recommending him as a public 
 speaker. Eld. Jesse Van Camp, who had embraced 
 religion, and been baptized at the same time, at the 
 same time received letters for public improvement. A 
 strong friendship existed between the two, and together 
 they travelled and preached through the townships of 
 Whitby, Darlington, Clarke, and Hope. 
 
CALL TO THE MINISTRY. 47 
 
 In Hope was a small church, composed of females, 
 with the exception of one member — mostly young 
 ladies ; they kept up their meetings, and altogether 
 maintained a sensible and exemplary deportment. 
 The one male member did not long remain connected 
 with the church ; but the little band of females main- 
 tained their standing and influence until emigration, 
 death, and marriage scattered them. 
 
 A part of Mr. Henry's labors were devoted to this 
 church, and he formed an acquaintance with, and a 
 fellowship for some of its members, which was not 
 readily forgotten. 
 
CloMs KuA ^nnshint. 
 
CHAPTER ly. 
 
 CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 
 
 'ERE we pause in our record of the more 
 public events of Mr. Henry's life, to paint a 
 sorrowful domestic picture. Here we touch 
 
 a cord which made every fibre of his great, strong 
 
 heart vibrate to the touch of sorrow. 
 
 Mrs. Henry, who had united her destiny with his in 
 his earliest manhood, and had thus far shared his 
 holiest hopes and heaviest trials, was a very lovable 
 woman. Being possessed of a pleasing person, engag- 
 ing manners, and an amiable disposition, she was not 
 only an object of deep aflFection in her own family, 
 but beloved by all who knew her. 
 
 She was an excellent singer, and often would the 
 
 notes of her bird-like voice awaken the echoes of the 
 
 51 
 
52 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 forest around her lonely home, or along the unfre- 
 quented roads by which she and her husband return- 
 ed, sometimes late in the evening on horseback, 
 from those little gatherings for public worship so 
 common then. How little could her imagination 
 picture then, what her home and the, surrounding 
 country have since became. Wonderful indeed have 
 been the changes, but she is not forgotten. There 
 are those who still cherish in the deepest recesses of 
 their hearts, sweet remembrances of her short life of 
 love and devotion. Still young in years, she and her 
 husband had begun together that new and holier Hfe, 
 and might well look forward to many years of hap- 
 piness in each other's society, and in the service of 
 God. 
 
 As he had commenced the work of the ministry, 
 and the deep responsibilities of that sacred office were 
 beginning to gather around him, as well as the care 
 of a growing family consisting of five sons, it is not 
 strange they both felt that a great work lay before 
 them. But the wise disposer of all events, who 
 metes out to man the length of his days and the 
 fulness of his years, changed all their calculations. 
 
 Mrs. Henry had a naturally delicate constitution, 
 with consumptive tendency, and during the year of 
 
CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 53 
 
 1829 that insidnous disease commenced its ravages 
 upon her frame. 
 
 Day by day it continued to sap the foundations 
 of being, and drink at the fountain of life. Some- 
 times indeed there came days of seeming brightness, 
 when the work of the destroyer appeared for the time 
 to be stayed, and Hope ventured to whisper that she 
 might still live. But all who are acquainted with 
 that disease, know too well the meaning of such 
 appearances. Life seems to linger a while as if in 
 pity of our sorrow, and brighten with the semblance 
 of health the frail tenement it is leaving ; just as 
 the sun lingers on the verge of winter, and gives us 
 the bright days of Indian summer, as if loth to leave 
 us without one kind farewell. 
 
 Much as she had to bind her to life, she seems to 
 have been resigned to her fate ; but her heart yearned 
 sadly for the little ones she was leaving without a 
 mother's care, — her five little boys. John, William, 
 George, Thomas and Eben. She often exclaimed, 
 " What will they do ? " And he as often assured 
 her the Lord would provide. She talked much with 
 her husband about death and separation, and found 
 in his courage, faith, and tenderness, the support and 
 sympathy she so much needed. But her trust was in 
 the loving Saviour. Oh, we never know how near 
 
54 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 He can come to us until the days of suffering and 
 weakness are upon us, and everything to which we 
 cling seem? sliding from our grasp. 
 
 In November, her husband took her and her 
 youngest child, then about a year old, to visit her 
 mother who lived twenty miles away, and returned 
 home leaving them with her mother. "While there 
 a new phase of the disease was developed, which 
 brought her to the verge of the grave in a few days. 
 A hasty message brought her husband to her side, 
 and all that under the circumstances could be done, 
 was done to alleviate her sufferings ; bat the rude 
 skill of the times was unavailing, as the most pro- 
 found scientific knowledge would have been. They 
 had to take her child away from her, and her bus- 
 band went to carry it home. Oh, that long, lonely 
 ride ! Will he ever forget it ? He went on horse- 
 back which was the easiest mode of travel over such 
 roads, and took the little boy in his arms. The road 
 lay mostly through the woods, with here and there 
 a clearing and log-cabin by the way. Three times he 
 stopped to get nourishment for the little one. Reach- 
 ed home in the gloom of twilight, gathered the boys 
 around him, quieted them as best he could, went to 
 a sleepless couch. In the morning he found some 
 one to take care of the babe, and returned to his 
 
CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 55 
 
 wife. The silent mesBenger had come in with noise- 
 less step before him, and stilled the pulsations of the 
 gentle heart, whose last throb was a prayer for his 
 return. O could he have been beside her, and sup- 
 ported her head in the last hour, and gathered up the 
 last broken sentences uttered by those dear lips, it 
 would have been such a consolation to his grieving 
 heart. The bright, sweet spirit was gone, and only 
 the beautiful cold form was left to his embrace. O 
 broken ties ! O sad and sorrowing hearts ! Were 
 there no hereafter, no pitying Christ, no loving 
 Father, what would you do ? 
 
 They brought her home and the little boys looked 
 on that saddest sight a child can see — the dead face 
 of their mother. They buried her on that little 
 eminence, where her babe and his mother already 
 slept, near the shore of Lake Ontario, and the cease- 
 less murmur of the waves on the white pebbled 
 beach, seems like a requiem to her memory. 
 
 The year which followed the death of his wife was 
 one of great trial to Mr, Henry. He still felt it his 
 duty to travel and preach, and the care of his family 
 rested heavily on his mind. He did not then possess 
 a great share of this world's goods, and in the new 
 state of the country, the comforts and conveniences 
 of life were hard to obtain. 
 
56 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 An unmarried sister lived with him, and supplied 
 as well as she could the place of the last one ; but 
 there was a great vacuum in his heart and life. He 
 always found it difficult to live without sympathy. 
 To the world he appeared strong and self-sustained ; 
 but away down in his heart was an unfathomable 
 fountain of affection. Love was a part of his being, 
 and he felt that he could not do his life-work nobly 
 and well without the companionship of one true 
 heart, which should abide next to his heart through 
 sun and storm. Therefore at the end of the year, 
 inclination as well as expediency pointed to another 
 union. 
 
 He did not take this step without due deliberation, 
 nor without the advice of his friends, as he felt that 
 he had the interest of his family to look after, as well 
 as his own. But he has told us about this matter, and 
 we will repeat his own language : 
 
 " I counselled with my sister and friends on this 
 impoi-tant subject. I was well aware that a minister, 
 and especially a widower was very closely watched. 
 I did not wish to injure my character nor the cause 
 of God ; both were precious to me. I made up my 
 mind that I would do my courting in a different 
 manner from what it is generally done. I had form- 
 ed some acquaintance with Miss Lurenda Abby, of 
 
CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 57 
 
 the township of Hope. She was a member of that 
 small church of females to whom I had preached 
 occasionally. She had been at my place and seen my 
 children, and I thought she was the one. So I con- 
 cluded to write her a letter on the subject, and if she 
 was agreeable, well, and if not, why that would be 
 the end of it. Accordingly I wrote as follows : 
 
 " Whitby, Oct. 10th, 1830. 
 " Beloved Sistek, — 
 
 " I embrace this opportunity of writing to you 
 for the first time, to let you know my mind. Since I 
 first knew you, I have had for you, fellowship as a 
 Christian, and respect as a woman. You no doubt 
 have had trials and temptations, and cruel mockings 
 from the enemy, but the Lord has been your refuge. 
 He is a strong hold into which the righteous run and 
 are safe. I too have known what afliictions are. I 
 have suffered much persecution from the enemies of 
 the Cross ; but my greatest affliction has been the loss 
 of my wife. Life since then has been a scene of 
 sorrow and pain, and I am like the dove bereft of its 
 tender mate. No one knows the trials through which 
 I have passed. My children are without a mother's 
 care, and I have no one into whose breast I can pour 
 my complaints. This has led me to think much about 
 seeking another companion, or help-meet — one who 
 
58 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 will care for my children, and bear the burdens of 
 life with me. 
 
 " Having seen and formed something of an acquaint- 
 ance with you, I have confidence in you as a Christian 
 and as a woman. I would therefore ask, Do you 
 feel disposed to unite in the holy bonds of matrimony; 
 and if so, will you give me your hand ; to live and 
 die with me ? I hope you will not take as an offence 
 what I have written. Give me an answer as soon as 
 possible. I have nothing more to say at present. 
 * I am your friend till death.' 
 
 " Thomas Henet. 
 
 " In a few days, to my great satisfaction, I received 
 the following straightforward, sensible reply. 
 
 ''Hope, Oct. 28th, 1830. 
 " Veet Deae Beothek, — 
 
 "After maturely weighing every circumstance 
 relative to the subject of your letter, I can* see no 
 reasonable objection to the proposal with which you 
 have been pleased to favor me. I am well aware of 
 the very important duties that will^devolve upon me 
 in taking the place of a mother at so early an age. 
 But looking to God, the great source of wisdom, for 
 
CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 59 
 
 direction, and to you for counsel and advice, I shall 
 endeavor to act -with an eye single to the happiness 
 and welfare of the family committed to my care. 
 
 " Having the fear of God continually before my 
 eyes, I shall endeavor, with your assistance, to form 
 their young minds for virtue's noble end, and to 
 advance their eternal welfare by teaching them the 
 fear of the Lord, and the first principles of our holy 
 religion. 
 
 " With respect to ourselves, my dearest friend, you 
 know that our happiness must greatly depend on our 
 conduct towards each other ; therefore, it will be our 
 duty to strengthen each other's virtue, and reprove 
 each other's faults with gentleness, and as much as in 
 us lies, come up to that perfect standard of conjugal 
 duty so admirably laid down by St. Paul. 
 
 "I should be happy to see you as soon as convenient, 
 but if you cannot come soon, send a line the first 
 opportunity. 
 
 " Tours affectionately. Farewell. 
 
 "LUEENDA. AbBT. 
 
 "At this time I was preaching occasionally in Hope^ 
 and soon made it convenient to call and see Miss 
 
60 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 Abby, and make farther arrangements ; and on the 
 second day of Nov., 1830, we were married in Port 
 Hope by an Episcopalian clergyman. The next day 
 we started for home, and I soon had the pleasure of 
 introducing to my children a mother of whom they 
 have never had occasion to be ashamed. No one, 
 who was not acquainted with the circumstances, would 
 ever have known but what Lurenda was mother to 
 the whole family. No difference has ever been made, 
 but love and affection have ever existed between 
 father, mother, and children. It was well understood 
 that I should preach all I could, but I never intended 
 to neglect my family as some ministers did ; and I 
 believe, I have always provided for my family. We 
 were both very economical and industrious, and have 
 always been blessed with enough of the good things 
 of this life to make us comfortable, and to make our 
 numerous friends comfortable when they visited us. 
 God and the religion of Jesus Christ ^si, has always 
 been our motto; all other matters were of minor 
 importance, and must bow to the leading object of 
 life." 
 
 No one who reads the foregoing will doubt Mr. 
 Henry's being as fortunate in his second, as in his 
 first choice. The second Mrs. Henry was an earnest 
 active Christian; intelligent and well educated for 
 
CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 61 
 
 the times, with a fine constitution and great energy 
 and activity of character. If she was not more 
 affectionate, she was stronger in body and mind, and 
 well calculated to take up the cross, which the other 
 had laid down in weakness ; and bear it with honor 
 to herself and family, through the busy years of a 
 long life. She still lives in the old home. Though 
 broken in health, and somewhat subdued in spirit, 
 she is firm in her attachment to the cause to which 
 her husband's life energies were devoted, consistent 
 in her life, and always ready to welcome and enter- 
 tain any of his numerous friends, who may call on 
 her. Like her husband, she is, as far as I know, 
 without an enemy ; being one of the few ministers' 
 wives who have come out of that trying position 
 untouched by the hand of jealousy or malice. 
 
H g-etratts fxom gaurtxal. 
 
 I^ 
 
 :P3S:3e3i 
 
CHAPTEE Y. 
 
 EXTEACTS FEOM JOTJENAL-^EAELY LAB0E8. 
 
 will here introdxice some extracts from Mr, 
 Henry's Journal. 
 
 m 
 
 "My father honestly thought I was in an error, 
 and sent one Jackey Eichardson to set me right 
 on the doctrine of the Trinity, that iirst principle of 
 the Christian Eeligion in their belief. 
 
 " He came one pleasant Sunday morning, and made 
 
 known his errand. I -told him I was thankful to 
 
 my father for his care for my welfare, and also to 
 
 him for his kindness in coming. Then I got the good 
 
 old Bible and laid it on the table and said : ' Now 
 
 sir, if it was not for this book, I should not know 
 
 there was a God in heaven, any more than do the 
 
 heathen. I should not know that man was a sinner, 
 
 65 5 
 
66 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 nor that Christ came to save such. Neither should I 
 know how to obtain heaven. Having taken it as 
 my only rule of religions faith and practice, I 
 endeavor to observe the advice given by St. Peter : 
 " If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of 
 God." The word Trinity not being found in the 
 Bible, I do not use it.' After some more conversation, 
 he took dinner with us and left, I hope thinking better 
 of me than when he came. 
 
 '' In 1830 a gentleman by the name of Jordan Post, 
 who was present at a funeral where I preached, asked 
 me to preach in his house, saying he had a large 
 house with a commodious upper room which had been 
 fitted up for a ball-room. I gave him an appointment, 
 which I had to travel twenty-three miles on horseback 
 to fill. This I did cheerfully, not for the hope of any 
 earthly gain, but because, like Moses, I had an eye to 
 the ' recompense of reward ' away in the future ; and 
 because I loved my fellow-men, and wished to do 
 them good. 
 
 " The congregation was large, many no doubt 
 having come out of curiosity. One Methodist 
 preacher was present and the class-leader, Jackey 
 Eichardson, of whom I have already spoken. The 
 latter gentleman called me one side betbre the com- 
 mencement of the meeting, and asked me if 1 believed 
 
EARLY LABORS. 67 
 
 as did one A. 0. Morrison of the State of New 
 York. I told liim that T knew A. 0. Morrison, and 
 believed him to be a good man, and in good standing 
 with one of the N. Y. 0. Conferences, and that he 
 had preached some in Canada to good acceptance. 
 He said he had heard him, and that if I preached the 
 same views he did, he would not stay to hear me. I 
 advised him not to be hasty, but to stay and hear 
 what I had to say ; to prove all and hold fast what 
 was good. He, however, left the room with his wife. 
 On the way out he met a man named Secor coming in 
 with his wife. Learning that he was leaving he 
 remonstrated with him, telling him it was not right 
 to judge of a thing without hearing. Richardson 
 finally came back with him. 
 
 " I read a hymn, but could get no one to sing, so 
 introduced the meeting by prayer. I then gave a short 
 history of the rise of our people in the East, South^ 
 and West, where they came out all in one year, with- 
 out any knowledge of each other ; from the Baptist 
 in the East, Methodist in the South, and Presby- 
 terians in the West. I told them our people brought 
 no creed with them but the Bible ; no test of fellow- 
 ship but Christian character; and no name but 
 Christian. Finding I had got the attention of the 
 people I named my text: 'But one thing is needful, 
 
68 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 and Mary has chosen that good part which shall never 
 be taken from her.' From these words I endeavored 
 to preach to them salvation through a crucified Christ 
 and a risen Saviour, and had good liberty for one so 
 timid. At the close I read another hymn, and all 
 who could sing joined in singing it. I left another 
 appointment and closed. My good brother Richardson 
 came and shook hands with me, saying I had preached 
 a good Methodist sermon. I said : ' Brother R., if I 
 have preached the truth, give God the glory, and not 
 Mr. Wesley.' There is a great wrong in this particular 
 among the sects. When free salvation is preached, 
 the Methodists claim it as their doctrine. When we 
 preach Christian Baptism, the Baptists claim it as 
 theirs. When we dwell on the influence of the Spirit, 
 the Friends claim that, whereas all belong to God, and 
 are parts of one harmonious whole." 
 
 In 1832, after much hesitancy and many doubts and 
 misgivings on his part, Thomas Henry was ordained to 
 the work of the ministry, in Darlington, Upper 
 Canada — afterwards Canada West — now Ontario. 
 The officiating ministers were T. Mclntyre and Asahel 
 Fish. The former preached the ordination sermon. 
 Thus did Elder Henry, like many of the early ministers 
 of thisdenommatioUjacceptthegreat responsibility, and 
 enter upon the sublime work of the Christian Ministry, 
 
EARLY LABORS. 69 
 
 with but little preparation except that made in com- 
 munion with God and His Word. Unlearned in the 
 wisdom of the schools, but strong in faith, and over- 
 flowing with fervor and love, they went into the 
 world, bearing the cross of Christ through sunshine 
 and storm, undaunted by opposition, and undis- 
 couraged by disappointment. All honor to them ! 
 They were the men for the time and place. Little 
 polished eloquence or profound logic was needed in 
 the log-cabins of this then uncultivated country. The 
 plain unvarnished truth, uttered with strength and 
 sincerity, and sent home by the Spirit of God, did a 
 great work and reached a class which a more discip- 
 lined ministry might have failed to affect. At all 
 events, they did what they could in the great harvest 
 where laborers were few. 
 
 The next four or five years after Elder Henry's 
 ordination, were filled up by him without much varia- 
 tion, with work at home and ministerial labor. 
 Though no lengthy record has been kept of these 
 year^, we have no reason to doubt that their work was 
 faithfully done, as far as one pair of hands could do 
 it. He says : " I never neglected my family, let cir- 
 cumstances be as they might." The consequence 
 was, that he prospered in temporal as well as spiritual 
 matters. The country improved, and property gained 
 
70 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 in value. With that wise foresight for which he was 
 remarkable, he laid by each year a little, and as 
 opportunity offered, invested his savings in land, 
 which was then cheap, but rising rapidly in value. 
 Thus he laid the foundation of competence for himself 
 and family. 
 
 1834 was remarkable in the Oshawa church, for the 
 beginning of that long and tedious controversy which 
 arose between those who embraced the views of 
 Alexander Campbell, and those who adhered to the 
 original Christian platform. I do not intend to enter 
 into the merits of the question at issue, nor pass an 
 opinion on the conduct of either party. It is an 
 episode in the history of the church, of which I can 
 never think of with other feeling than that of profound 
 sadness. Whatever may have been the motives of 
 those who introduced these vexing questions, the 
 result is deplorable, in that we have in Oshawa, and 
 in other parts of Canada, two weak bodies of 
 Christians, both professing to take the Bible alone for 
 their creed, while neither is strong enough to make 
 much headway against creeds and sectarianism. Had 
 they remained together, as I believe a little more for- 
 bearance would have enabled them to have done, 
 their influence for good might have been trebled. 
 Speaking of this subject Elder Henry says : " I did not 
 
EABLY LABORS. 71 
 
 come out so hard on these brethren as some of our 
 ministers did. I preached to both parties, and did all 
 in my power to prevent a division, by kind words and 
 gentle dealing; and in preaching always strove to 
 give a ' Thus saith the Lord ' for whatever I advanced." 
 
 At the annual meeting of tlie Conference in 1835 
 Elder Henry was appointed to superintend the drafting 
 and circulation of a petition to the Provincial Parlia- 
 ment, that the Christians as a body might be known 
 in law, or, in other words, have the same privileges 
 enjoyed by other religious denominations. Until this 
 time, and for years afterwards, the Christians were 
 unable to solemnize marriages, or hold church property 
 in the Province. This right was not, as in the United 
 States, guaranteed to all religious bodies, but to certain 
 denominations named. At first only the Established 
 Church enjoyed the privilege, others obtaining it 
 afterwards by petition. The Christians had more 
 difficulty in obtaining this right than others, on 
 account of the prejudice existing against United States, 
 their first ministers having come from there. This 
 being the case, they naturally made most converts 
 among those who had emigrated from the States, or 
 were natives of Canada. IS one of their ministers, and 
 very few of the converts came from the Mother 
 Country, or were educated tiiere. To this day the 
 
72 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 Christians form a liberal element in the population of 
 the Provinces. 
 
 The petition was another responsibility, in addition 
 to what Mr. Henry already had on his hands and 
 heart. Still he continued to bestow much ministerial 
 labor in Whitby, Pickering, Scarboro, and Darlington; 
 sowing the good seed, watering the tender plants, and 
 gathering in an occasional sheaf. 
 
 At the Conference in 1836 J. W. Sherrard — a man 
 who had come from the Baptists — a man of education 
 and influence, was ordained to the Christian ministry, 
 and joined with Elder Henry in the effort for legal 
 rights. Again Elder Henry writes : 
 
 " At the close of this Conference, I had put up at 
 Bro. J. Ash's two miles below Cobourg, with a number 
 of other brethren, when I was startled by the arrival of 
 a messenger, who informed me that my father lay at 
 the point of death — could not possibly live but a 
 short time. I made my way home as soon as possible, 
 and found him at my house nearly gone. He knew 
 me, however, and asked me to pray for him. God 
 only knows my feelings as I bowed by that bed of 
 death. He died in a short time. Elder Van Camp 
 preached at his funeral, which was attended by a large 
 concourse of friends and relatives. His remains were 
 deposited by the side of mother's, and near his other 
 
EARLY LABORS. 73 
 
 relatives iii the family bnrying-ground on the hill 
 beside the lake." 
 
 This year Elder Henry attended the N. Y. W. Con- 
 ference held at Shelby, and received a flattering 
 testimonial from them. He had previously attended 
 several sessions of the N. Y. 0. Conference, and 
 formed many pleasant acquaintances there. Ho 
 always loved these gatherings of his brethren. 
 
%\it %tbtmm. 
 
CHAPTER YI. 
 
 THE EEBELLION. 
 
 'HE years of 1837-8 were eventful years in the 
 
 history of Canada ; it was during those years 
 
 that the Rebellion took place. It is not our 
 
 province to give an opinion of the political merits of 
 
 that convulsion, which shook the country throughout 
 
 its length and breadth. We may, however, suggest 
 
 that it was one of those outbreaks, which are apt to 
 
 follow long periods of misrule, in countries where 
 
 the people have no legal means of redress. A sad 
 
 struggle it was, and unfortunate in many respects ; 
 
 yet it opened the eyes of men in power, and was the 
 
 means of securing many privileges to the inhabitants, 
 
 and breaking up the monopoly of the Family Compact. 
 
 Religious organizations, as they usually do in times 
 
 of political disturbance, suffered ; and the Christians, 
 
 T7 
 
78 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 fi-om the same causes which operated against their 
 political recognition, suffered more than others ; their 
 members were subject to unjust suspicion, which 
 caused much annoyance. Many of them left the 
 country, and some of the smaller churches lost their 
 visibility. Elder Henry speaks of this period as 
 follows : 
 
 " The years of the Rebellion will never be for- 
 gotten by me. We suffered much on account of our 
 liberal views, and peace principles. I was well 
 acquainted with Wm. Lyon McKenzie : he was a 
 staunch reformer and friend to his country. At the 
 commencement of the disturbance he published a 
 paper in Toronto. On account of his liberal views, 
 and some exposures of the Family Compact, he was 
 beset by a mob of their sons, and, I am sorry to say, a 
 son of Archbishop Strachan was among them. They 
 came in the night, broke open his office, and threw 
 his type and press into the lake ; but his friends soon 
 got him another press and more type. This cruel act 
 served to bring him before the public, and he was 
 elected member of Parliament. I supported him from 
 principle. I was well acquainted with Lount and 
 Matthews, and stood near when they were executed 
 at Toronto as leaders of the Rebellion. I was a 
 witness for Dr. Hunter when he was tried for treason, 
 
THE REBELLION. 79 
 
 and the foreman of the jury told me afterwards it was 
 my evidence that saved him. Having been at hishouse 
 on the evening of the fight in Toronto, I was able to 
 clear him from being there. I was not only a friend 
 to British law and to order, but I had much sympathy 
 for many who unwisely took up arms against it." 
 
 That is what Mr. Henry says of himself in con- 
 nection with the Rebellion, but he does not record, 
 and probably at the time it would not have been safe 
 to record, the many deeds of kindness and Christian 
 charity, performed on behalf of those unfortunate 
 men, who upon the suppression of the outbreak be- 
 came outlaws and outcasts from home. His house 
 was a refuge and safe asylum for them. Being a 
 native of Ireland, and having taken no active part in 
 the disturbance, he was comparatively free from sus- 
 picion. His house, barn, and even cellar, were often 
 occupied by those who dared not be seen abroad ; 
 here they were concealed, fed, and comforted, until 
 an opportunity could be found for them to cross the 
 lake, and take refuge on Republican soil. More than 
 once, his sons and his team met the lonely wanderers 
 at appointed places along the shore of the marsh or 
 lake, and brought them to a safe retreat. And again 
 have the same agents conveyed them to out of the way 
 places, where they could embark on some American 
 vessel bound for the " other side." 
 
80 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 Many of these iacidents were interesting and some 
 quite exciting. John, the eldest son, a wide awake 
 youth of seventeen, the principal actor on such 
 occasions, was in his element : had he been older he 
 might, in spite of parental advice, have been among 
 the agitators. 
 
 At one time, about a dozen refugees were concealed 
 in a house some three miles from Oshawa Harbor. 
 Somebody gave John to understand that his services 
 were needed in that direction on a particular night. 
 Without his father's knowledge, he took the team, 
 put all the bells on the horses he could get, drove to 
 the place, got the men in the sleigh, drove back 
 through Oshawa about midnight, and had his men on 
 board a schooner before daylight without molestation; 
 when if he had gone quietly, he would have been 
 suspected, and probably arrested. The schooner was 
 waiting for them in the marsl(^ that stretches back 
 from the lake at Port Oshawa. 
 
 One night after the family had retired. Dr. Hunter, 
 of whom we have spoken, presented himself at Elder 
 Henry's door. He was cautiously admitted, and soon 
 told his trouble in hurried whispers. Fresh evidence 
 of his disloyalty had been obtained, and the officers 
 of the law were on his track. Elder Henry well 
 knew he could do nothing for him outside of the 
 
THE REBELLION. 81 
 
 house without awakening suspicion. He therefore 
 conducted him to the room where his sons were in 
 bed. John took in the situation at once, and in an in- 
 credibly short time was dressed, and had left the 
 house with the medical man, who dared not remain 
 there an hour. They crossed the fields like two 
 shadows, and were soon lost to sight in the wood 
 skirting the marsh. John was familiar with every 
 nook and tree of that wood, and guided the doctor 
 by a circuitous route to a shanty on the border of the 
 marsh, where an old man lived alone. The doctor 
 was soon disposed of in bed, and as it was some time 
 until daylight, the young man sat down to think. It 
 was the latter part of March, and considerable ice 
 was still in the marsh. A vessel that had wintered 
 there was being prepared for sailing. The captain 
 and owner of the vessel, Jesse Trull, was John's uncle, 
 and though he dared not make his business known to 
 his uncle, the relationship would furnish him an ex- 
 cuse for being there. He knew his uncle to be 
 favorably disposed to his cause, yet he felt that he 
 would not risk concealing a refugee on his vessel, 
 which would be thereby subject to confiscation. But 
 the mate, an eccentric man called Billy Barrow, he 
 knew he could depend on for assistance. "When day- 
 light came, John went down to the boat, but there a 
 new danger presented itself. Sergeant Martin, a 
 
82 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 government officer, had been stationed there on 
 purpose to keep refugees from going on board. With 
 a quickness of perception and promptness of action, 
 remarkable in one of his age, the youth took of his 
 coat, and went to work with the men, who were 
 clearing away the ice from around the boat. He was 
 soon accosted by Sergeant Martin, who demandei 
 what he was doing there. 
 
 " Helping my uncle get his boat off !" was the ready 
 answer. 
 
 He worked all day, took his meals with the crew on 
 board, and at night went to the cabin with Billy 
 Barrow. Mr. Trull did not stay on board at night, so 
 the two had the cabin to themselves. They had little 
 chance of communication during the day, but they 
 now talked the matter over in whispers, and laid their 
 plans for Hunter's escape. When all others were 
 asleep, John stole away to the shanty, carrying supplies 
 to his man, and reporting progress. There was 
 another morning, another challenge from Sergeant 
 Martin, and another day's work for John. They had 
 hoped to get the boat ready to sail that day, but 
 night came, and it was evident the programme of the 
 last two days was to be repeated. 
 
 That night, when John went to carry supplies to 
 
THt: REBELLION. 83 
 
 his man, lie went farther ; and before his return a 
 little red skiff was snugly concealed behind a point 
 nearly a- half-mile west from the harbor. The third 
 day drew to a close, and. the schooner was free from the 
 ice, and floated out into open water, ready to sail in 
 the morning, as soon as she could obtain a " clearance." 
 
 Between 12 and 1 o'clock that night, two figures 
 instead of one emerged from the shanty, and proceed- 
 ed cautiously towards the point where the red skiff was 
 concealed. It was a wild,^ark night, but the yoiing 
 man's accustomed feet led the way, and the doctor 
 followed with nervous tread. They reached their des- 
 tination safely, and found the skiff where he had left 
 it. They looked out over the water, and for a 
 moment stood silent, almost irresolute. It was a 
 fearful venture. The wind was blowing almost a gale, 
 breaking the water into yeasty waves, mixed with 
 fragments of floating ice. The case was urgent. The 
 dauntless young man launched his boat among the 
 seething waves, and ordered the doctor to lie flat in 
 the bottom ; for the boat was barely safe for two on 
 calm waters, and he knew that with his unaccustomed 
 companion erect in it, they would surely be swamped. 
 The gentleman at first demurred at this arrangement, 
 but being bluntly informed that he must obey orders 
 or he would be left to look after himself, submitted ; 
 
84 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 and the frail craft was soon tossing among the 
 breakers. Clouds of inky blackness enveloped the 
 «ky, and entirely hid the schooner from their view, 
 but the intrepid oarsman held on his way, steering 
 half by guess, until a fiercer gust of wind made a rift 
 in the clouds, and gave him a glimpse of the masts of 
 the vessel, towards which he steered. As they passed 
 the outlet of the marsh, cakes of ice were floating sea- 
 ward, and a large piece came in contact with the 
 little skiff, threatening to capsize it. The doctor 
 made a move to rise, -but an assuraiice from John, 
 that a blow from his oar would quiet him if he did 
 not keep quiet, caused him to lie still, until they 
 drew up on the lee-ward side of the vessel, and the 
 little red skiff was made fast to a rope, which John 
 knew would be hanging in a convenient place near 
 the stern of the boat. Shortly after this, two dark 
 figures might have been seen climbing into the 
 schooner, if any .one had been there to see them. As 
 it was, only the wind and waves were around them, 
 and the dark clouds above. They stood on the stern 
 deck, and a dark hole, just about large enough to ad- 
 mit a man's body, was before them. This led down 
 into a small dark place only a few feet square, where 
 odds and ends which it was desirable to have out of 
 sight, were usually thrown. Billy Barrow had pre- 
 pared this place for their passenger. John taking his 
 
THE REBELLION. 85 
 
 hand helped him lower himself into his snug quarters, 
 and then putting on the " hatch," was soon after in 
 the berth with the mate, to whom he dared to com- 
 municate his. success only by a nudge, which was 
 answered in the same way. After waiting un- 
 til certain that no one had been disturbed, Billy 
 Barrow crept softly on deck, and proceeded to put 
 large bolts into the corners of the " hatch," in holes 
 previously bored for them ; to give it an appearance 
 of great security. Then he closed the cracks with 
 oakum and pitch, having previously prepared a place 
 for ventilation from the freight room. 
 
 In the morning all was activity on board the boat. 
 About nine o'clock, John Trull, Militia Captain, and 
 brother to the boat owner, came on board to search 
 the vessel. The duty was strictly performed, but as no 
 contraband goods or men were found, the captain got 
 his " clearance ;" landsmen came ashore, the schooner 
 weighed anchor, and sailed away with Dr. Hunter to- 
 wards the " other side." We know nothing more of 
 his adventure, than that he reached the Republic in 
 safety. 
 
 Again Elder Henry says : " I was much engaged in 
 preaching at that time, and was called to preach some 
 
86 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 funeral sermons that were a trial to me, and I fear 
 little comfort tq,/Bnrviving friends. Among these 
 was that of one Thomas Conat, who was killed in- 
 stantly by a blow from the sword of a dragoon in 
 government employ ; he was under the influence of 
 liquor at the time, and probably said something in- 
 sulting to the soldier. Another was that of a young 
 man by the name of McCall, who was stabbed with a 
 butcher knife by one Skinner, who was afterwards 
 hanged for the deed. Skinner lived at the time, not 
 for from me, and his wife was sick, and family in such 
 destitute circumstances that I was obliged to take my 
 horse and sleigh, and go out among the farmers and 
 gather up provisions for them. Soon after I was 
 called upon to preach the funeral sermon of a man 
 who had shot himself ; and in a short time again, for 
 one who had committed suicide by cutting his throat. 
 This last case was particularly trying to me. The 
 family were respectable. His son asked me if I would 
 come and preach a funeral sermon for his father. I 
 felt for them, but hardly knew what to say to comfort 
 them. When I arrived at the school-house in Bow- 
 maiiville, where meetings were frequently held — as 
 Churches were scarce in those days, I found a large 
 congregation assembled, and felt that something must 
 be said. I tQld them my mission was to preach to the 
 living not to the dead. So I took a text and 
 
THE REBELLION. 
 
 87 
 
 preached as well as I could, warning all to prepare to 
 meet God. To the mourning widow and children I 
 said, the good Father would not forsake in this 
 hour of sad bereavement, if they put their trust in 
 Him." 
 
astor at ©sixawa. 
 
 ;e:3eS.&^C=JC5lSl^fc5»E3Ci3C3e:=a: 
 
r^^^ 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 OHAPTEE VII. 
 
 PASTOE OF OSHAWA CHBI8TIAN CHUECH. 
 
 BOUT the commencement of 1839 the politi- 
 cal disturbance had in a great measure sub- 
 sided, but its eftect remained in the low state of 
 public morals, and general declension of the churches. 
 From causes before mentioned, none had suflFered 
 more than the Christians. The following extract 
 from a letter written by Elder Henry to J. Badger, 
 editor of the Christian Palladi/wm, presents as clear a 
 pictm-e of the existing state of things as can well be 
 given in so many words. 
 
 "The rebellion has been very much against us, 
 
 as it has caused many of our preachers to leave 
 
 this country for the States. Besides this, a great 
 
 91 
 
92 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 many of our brethren do not believe in fighting at 
 all with carnal weapons; therefore certain persons 
 whose loyalty is a trade, have represented that we 
 were disaffected to the Government ; thereby pre- 
 venting us from obtaining our legal rights. A few 
 days since Elder Sharrard and myself went to 
 Toronto to make some enquiries about our petition, 
 which has passed the third reading in the Lower 
 House. We went to Mr. Sullivan, one of the 
 Governor's Council. Having made oar business 
 known, we were asked a great many questions, 
 which we answered ; and told him we were ready to 
 answer more, if he had them to ask. • 
 
 " He told us that if Canada remained a British 
 Province, all American teachers and preachers would 
 be prevented from settling in it, and then we should 
 dwindle away and come to nought ; he therefore 
 considered it best not to be in a hurry about granting 
 our request. Thus you see we have our own diffi- 
 culties to contend with. I do hope you, or O. E. 
 Morrill, or both of you, will try to attend our next 
 Conference, for if we ever needed help it is now." 
 
 The Session of Conference, to which Elder Henry 
 referred, was held in Whitby, and Elder Badger, who 
 appears to have been a friend in need, attended. 
 
PASTOR. 93 
 
 Elder Henry was again called to preside, and he 
 speaks of it as a good and profitable time. 
 
 In 1 840 Elder Henry was chosen to the pastorate 
 of the church in Whitby, since called the Oshawa 
 Christian Church. Oshawa is a village in the town- 
 ship of Whitby, and takes its name from Oshawa 
 Creek, on which it is located. Oshawa signifies in 
 the Indian dialect, White Fish, or White Fish Creek, 
 and formerly abounded in white fish; and Elder 
 Henry could tell some exciting tales of early exploits, 
 in fishing in its waters. 
 
 To return to our subject. Elder Henry had long 
 been pastor of the churches in Darlington, Clarke, 
 and Scarborough. _The Oshawa church was at first 
 considered a branch of the church in Darlington, but 
 was afterwards organized into a separate church. At 
 this time it was in a very unhappy condition. The 
 wearing controversy on Mr. Campbell's theories, still 
 continued unabated. Elder Mclntyre, its former 
 pastor, had left, and it was almost impossible for the 
 warring elements to agree on a man to fill his place. 
 Elder Henry had all the time kept the confidence of 
 both parties, and was finally chosen unanimously to 
 fill the position ; and he was probably the only 
 minister on whom they could haVe agreed. His con- 
 duct was conciliatory, and in his sermons he avoided 
 
94 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 extremes, and dwelt on those points on which all 
 could agree. 
 
 The' early Christian ministers conscientiously 
 refused to accept stated salaries, living on voluntary 
 contributions from the brethren, or supported them- 
 selves by the labor of their hands. When Elder 
 Henry was chosen to this responsible position, it was 
 without the expectation or promise of any reward, 
 save what was to be found in doing good. In speak- 
 ing of those times he says, " More work was done 
 then for love and the good of souls than is now done 
 for salaries." It is doubtful if Elder Henry has ever 
 received as much from the churches as would defray 
 his travelling expenses. 
 
 Under date of April, 1841, he writes : 
 
 " Brother Marsh, my only apology for not writing 
 sooner is the want of time. My business is crowding, 
 and calls for the preaching of a free gospel are 
 abundant. Since I wrote you last we have had many 
 precious seasons here. My preaching for the past 
 winter has been confined mostly to "Whitby and 
 Darlington. In the month of March I baptized 
 twenty-three happy converts, and three of the number 
 were my own sons.. This has given me great joy. 
 
 " T. Henkt." 
 
PASTOR. 95 
 
 The years whicli immediately followed Elder 
 Henry's appointment to the pastorate of the Oshawa 
 Christian Church, were years of upward progress and 
 general prosperity. A brighter day had dawned both 
 on the church and country. The earnest, energetic 
 spirit of the pastor was infused into his flock. They 
 began to feel an interest in the work before them, and 
 an inclination to contribute of their means for its 
 advancement. The necessity of a suitable house for 
 the worship of God had long been evident, and the 
 work was commenced. It is hardly necessary to add 
 that Elder Henry was the life and soul of this enter- 
 prise. Though receiving no salary for his labors as 
 pastor, he nevertheless contributed of his means, and 
 gave much of his time and labor to the work. It 
 was a success. The chapel was finished, and was 
 large and expensive for the times, and spoke well for 
 the liberality of the churches. We should naturally 
 suppose that Elder Henry during these years found 
 employment for head, hands and heart in the work at 
 Oshawa, but no one vicinity could monopolize these. 
 His heart yearned over all the vineyard, and he went 
 frequently among the other churches ; always arous- 
 ing, encouraging, and comforting as he went ; and 
 seldom/failing to gather a few clusters for the Master 
 by the way. He was then in the full vigor and 
 strength of his manhood, and his labors were almost 
 
S6 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 gigantic. Could he, during those years, have devoted 
 more time to self-culture his usefalness in after life 
 would have been enhanced. He deeply felt tnis, but 
 fiaw no time for study. The requirements of^the 
 fieason were pressing, and he did his hea'^est day of 
 work where and when it was most needed : and the 
 recording angel has written it down in that great 
 ledger, where all accounts are justly balanced. 
 
 The sun does not shine always on the same fields. 
 Bain fell in the midst of harvest. The long ferment- 
 ing questions which vexed the church, assumed a 
 definite form, and the wearisome discussions culmin- 
 ated in a division of the body. Those brethren who 
 advocated the views entertained by A. Campbell 
 withdrew, and formed a separate church, known as 
 the Disciples of Christ. 
 
 Elder Henry remained on the old platform, and 
 without wasting time in vain regrets, appliedv^mself 
 at once to the work of rebuilding the walls, md heal- 
 ing the wounds of Zion. g 
 
 The following letter written for, and published in 
 the Palladi/wm is characteristic : 
 
 "Brother Marsh, our Conference met in New- 
 market. We had a good time. The visit of Elders 
 
PASTOR. 97 
 
 Mclntyre, Marvin, and Galloway, was like the com- 
 ing of Titus. They attended a general meeting in 
 "Whithy, which was truly an interesting season, and 
 one long to be remembered. On the 16th and 17th I 
 attended" a meeting in Haldimand with Elders Mc- 
 lntyre and Marvin ; Elder Mclntyre baptized two. 
 We feel much encouraged. Since Conference I have 
 baptized sixteen happy converts. I have attended a 
 number of meetings this season in Whitechurch with 
 Elder Sharrard. We have baptized nineteen in a 
 beautiful little sheet of water called Mussulman's 
 Lake. The "work is progressing. I have just 
 returned from a visit to the State of New York, in 
 company with my wife, and Deacon J. Ainsbury and 
 wife. At Marion I attended a two days' meeting. 
 From Marion went to Auburn, and spent a day visit- 
 ing the State Prison and prisoners. We returned 
 home by way of Niagara Falls, and spent two days 
 there visiting some friends, and viewing that wonder- 
 ful work of God, the great catarac^ From here we 
 mademir way to Lewiston, and towi the steamboat 
 across ^ur own beautiful lake to Toronto ; reached 
 home the following evening and found all well. 
 
 " T. Henet." 
 
 Again in October we find another letter in which 
 he gives an account of attending a meeting in White- 
 
98 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 church, and baptizing 12, with prospects still flatter- 
 ing; but closes with the remark that good and wise 
 shepherds are needed to feed the flock. We cannot 
 but notice in his writings this constant appeal for 
 help. The vastness of the work, and the scarcity 
 of laborers was ever present to his mind. 
 
 On the 28th of May, 1843, the new chapel was 
 opened, and dedicated to the worship of God, and 
 the promotion of liberal Christianity. 
 
 Elder J. Badger preached the dedicatory sermon. 
 Mr. Henry wrote : " I regard it as one of Badger's 
 best efforts. A number of our ministers were present, 
 all of whom took part in the exercises . The chapel 
 is 64rx38 feet, has a gallery on three sides, is well 
 painted, and cost $2,450. The day was pleasant, and 
 it was thought 400 had to leave for want of roona. 
 On the 8th, 9th and 10th of July, a General Meeting 
 and the Session of the Canada Christian Conference 
 was held in the new chapel, and Elder Henry again 
 called to preside. 
 
 We can scarcely fashion the figures which stand for 
 eighteen hundred and forty-three without recurring 
 mentally to the memorable religious excitement con- 
 nected with that year, growing out of Mr. Miller's 
 then new exposition of prophecy. The influx of 
 
PASTOB. 99 
 
 members to the churches was very great; and no 
 doubt some good fruit-laden sheaves were gathered 
 in. Yet when we read of the numerous conversions 
 and baptisms of that period, we look in vain for the 
 strong and extensive churches in which they should 
 have resulted, and are forced to the conclusion, that 
 many who flocked to the sheltering fold were driven 
 there from fear of a near-approaching storm, rather 
 than from love to God or sympathy with His people. 
 In this may be seen the wisdom of the great Disposer 
 of events, in keeping the times and seasons in His 
 own hand. Elder Henry, firm as he was true, was 
 not carried away by the general excitement, though 
 we have no reason to suppose that he loved the 
 appearing of the Saviour less than those who were 
 swept along by the general inundation of feeling. 
 He did not, however, as some did, oppose the move- 
 ment by harsh deeds and harsher words, but gen-tly 
 and cautiously advised those around him to watch 
 and wait. By his prudence, forbearance and ready 
 sympathy with whatever was good in the movement, 
 he was able to gather all that was of real value which 
 the swollen waters brought within his reach, and at 
 the same time preserve his flock from much of the 
 evil which followed the receding tide. During the 
 year he baptized 160 converts. In the month of 
 
100 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 April alone 123. In May he attended a meeting in 
 Mariposa, and administered the communion to a large 
 number, more than half of whom were Methodists. 
 In the three years of his pastorate, he had seen the 
 membership of the church of his charge raised from 
 28 to 174. Few men are as well calculated for the 
 pastor's office as was Elder Henry. In the first place, 
 having the cause at heart made him thoroughly in 
 earnest. Active and energetic in whatever he under- 
 took, and punctual to the moment, things never 
 lagged behind where he led. Having a remarkable 
 faculty for remembering details, small matters were 
 not likely to be neglected. 
 
 He had also an ability for making himself at home 
 in the house of God, and making others feel the same, 
 thereby divesting worship of that stiflFness and dis- 
 tance from the heart and life which destroys much of 
 its power. 
 
 Having a quick sympathy with the common joys, 
 sorrows .and needs of humanity, and an ability of 
 adapting himself to circumstances, he was an efficient 
 as well as welcome visitor. I have known him to 
 make as many as fourteen calls in a day, finding time 
 at each place to say something to cheer and benefit 
 those he visited, make a favorable impression himself 
 
PASTOR. 101 
 
 and say a few words for his Master, He had not, as 
 some ministers are accused of having, a beaten path 
 to the houses of the wealthy. The poor, the sick, the 
 ignorant and disagreeable were remembered, and 
 every one made to feel that he or she was of some 
 consequence, and had a part in the work. He was 
 also fond of social gatherings, and no anniversary, 
 tea-meeting, or donation was complete without Elder 
 Henry. 
 
 Elder Henry's youngest brother — Elder William 
 Henry, the only surviving member of his family, is 
 also a minister of the Christian denomination. He 
 lives in Harriston, Ontario, and though not so widely 
 known as Thomas, has many of his characteristics. 
 He embraced religion among the Methodists, and was 
 for a number of years a member of that body, though 
 now loyal in sentiment and life to the Christians, 
 he retains much of the fervor of the people with 
 whom his early religious life was spent. Like his 
 brother, he is active and business-like in his habits, 
 and earnestly devoted to the cause of liberal Chris- 
 tianity, 
 
%i^Q^l 'S^zcofsnition. 
 
 i:;^- 
 
 ;C^3C=3C3«t3e=J: 
 
CHAPTER YIII. 
 
 THE LITMINAET LEGAL RECOGNITION LOSS OF FRIENDa. 
 
 A LETTER. 
 
 'HE years that followed the exciting period 
 of 1843, were a season of comparative quiet 
 in the life of Eld. Henry, and in the 
 churches of Canada. Eld. Langdon had beeu em- 
 ployed to preach in Oshawa, but Eld. Henry was still 
 the pastor, and preached part of the time there, and 
 went about more among the churches where his 
 coming was always welcomed with joy. More labor- 
 ers were now in the vineyard, and he had oftener 
 than formerly the privilege of greeting loved co- 
 workers in the cause he so dearly loved. 
 
 At the Conference in 1844:, the propriety of publish- 
 ing a denominational paper in Canada was discussed. 
 ^ 105 
 
106 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 In a letter to the Palladium, dated Nov. 29th, Eld. 
 Henry writes : 
 
 " We hope the Christian Palladium will still be 
 taken and read by many in Canada, and that harmony 
 and friendly co-operation may exist as heretofore. 
 Though the Palladium, is conducted by good and 
 able men, yet it does not in all respects meet our 
 wants in Canada. The printing press is purchased, 
 and the paper will go on, conducted by Eld. Wm. 
 Nobles and Mr. Hicks; I am not without fears 
 respecting this enterprise." 
 
 The Christian luminary was published at Oshawa, 
 and was both a convenience and satisfaction to the 
 Canadian Churches ; but the result proved that his 
 fears were well grounded. The Christian member- 
 ship was too small in the Province to justify the 
 undertaking. Considerable enthusiasm was mani- 
 fested in its support, but it was never a paying 
 enterprise. It finally fell into Eld. Henry's hands, 
 as burdens generally did, and he continued its publi- 
 cation at a sacrifice until 1849, when it was discon- 
 tinued. 
 
 In 1845 Eld. Henry writes : " This has been a 
 marked year in my life. Our cup is a mixed one. 
 "We may have joy in the morning, but sorrow cometh 
 
LEGAL RECOGNITIOJS/. 107 
 
 in the evening. In the first part of February I was 
 
 moved to visit my brothers who lived near Guelph. 
 
 I started accordingly, accompanied by my wife. The 
 
 snow was deep, and we had an uncommonly hard 
 
 journey. When within about three miles of the place 
 
 we met my brother William. Being very tired we 
 
 were overjoyed at the meeting, but soon, alas, our 
 
 joy was turned to sorrow, for he informed us that my 
 
 dear brother James was dead. He had died the day 
 
 before of inflammation of the lungs, and we had 
 
 arrived in time to attend the funeral, which was to 
 
 take place at two o'clock the next day. We had 
 
 expected to meet him well and happy, and enjoy a 
 
 pleasant visit with him. We arrived at his house 
 
 and found him cold in death, with his wife and nine 
 
 children weeping around him. It was an affecting 
 
 time. The next day about eighty sleighs filled with 
 
 people met at the house, and followed his remains to 
 
 the Manse burying ground." 
 
 We find in the iMmina/ry of March, 1845, the 
 following announcement : 
 
 "I have the gratification of announcing to our 
 friends, that I have just received a letter from Mr. T. 
 Williams, M.P., stating that his Excellency, the 
 Governor-General, on the lYth ult., came down in 
 
108 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 state to the honorable the Legislative, and assented 
 in her Majesty's name to the Bill presented by him to 
 the Legislature in our behalf. 
 
 " T. Henbt." 
 
 Thus after so many years of waiting and working, 
 the Christians in Canada obtained that political 
 recognition necessary to their prosperity as a religious 
 body. No one had worked so hard or done so much 
 towards the accomplishment of this object as Mr. 
 Henry. He had circulated the petitions, had visited 
 Montreal and Quebec and Toronto in pursuance of 
 this object, and now felt that he was rewarded for 
 his labor. 
 
 During the next three years, much of Eld. Henry's 
 time, and a great deal of thought besides considerable 
 money, were devoted to the support of the Luminary. 
 He was doubtful from the first of the expediency of 
 the undertaking, yet no one worked so hard, or sacri- 
 ficed so much as he did in its behalf. 
 
 In Sept., 1846, Eld. Henry's second son, Wm. 
 Henry, died, after an illness of five days. He was an 
 intelligent, upright young man, and one of the three 
 whom Eld. Henry mentions as having been among 
 the number he baptized in 1841. He conversed 
 freely with his father and friends about his departure. 
 
A LETTER. 109 
 
 and expressed his confidence in Christ, and his hope 
 of a glorious resurrection. He was not only loved 
 and highly prized in the family, but respected and 
 valued by all who knew him. But at the early age 
 of 24, 
 
 " He who young and strong has cherished 
 
 Ardent longings for the strife, 
 By the way side fell and perished— 
 
 Weary with the march of life." 
 
 Extracts from Eld. Henry's letters for the Lumin- 
 ary in 1847, will show that he still enjoyed visiting 
 conferences and churches abroad, and felt a deep 
 interest in their prosperity. "I have just returned 
 from attending the N. Y. Eastern and Western Con- 
 ferences, which were seasons of great interest. How 
 pleasant are these reunions of ministers and brethren 
 after a year of toil and care. They are like the green 
 spots which the traveller meets in his journey across 
 the desert, and we always go out from them rested 
 and refreshed." 
 
 Again. " Our Conference and General Meeting in 
 Oramahe were of deep interest. All matters of differ- 
 ence were amicably adjusted, and our meeting and 
 visit there were of an encouraging nature." 
 
 " On Saturday and Sunday the 4th and 5th inst., 
 I attended a meeting in the Newmarket 0. Chapel. 
 
110 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 It was a good meeting, and the brethren and sisters 
 spoke freely of the goodness of God. It was remark- 
 ed by one of the brethren, that they did not know 
 how much they loved each other until they were 
 separated. The church has had a good revival." 
 
 In 1848-49 in addition to acting as publishing 
 agent for the Luminary, Eld. Henry with the assist- 
 ance of Eld. Geo. Colston published a Hymn Book. 
 He writes in the Luminary : 
 
 " I would say to our patrons, that we have com- 
 menced publishing the Hymn Book, of which we spoke 
 in a previous number, and our expenses are greatly 
 increased ; we therefore call on them to send us what 
 is due on former volumes. We expect to have it 
 completed in September. Let there be a united 
 efiort to enable us to carry on the Book and Lumin- 
 ary both. We were expecting some of our wealthy 
 brethren would come forward and assist us in pub- 
 lishing the Hymn Book, but we find it is easier to get 
 into a hard spot than to get out." 
 
 The Hymn Book was finished, and the edition all 
 sold ; but as another edition was never published it 
 fell into disuse, and the churches in Canada have 
 since been supplied with books from United States. 
 There are, however, some of our old brethren and 
 
HYMN BOOK. Ill 
 
 sisters who cling to our Canadian Hymn Book ; and 
 as late as 1878 Eld. Henry had an application for one. 
 At the close of 1849 the Luminary was discontinued, 
 and its list handed over to the Christian PalladiMm. 
 
 During the years 1850, 51 and 52, Eld. Henry 
 gave less time to the work of the ministry than at 
 any other period since his ordination. He was one 
 of the stockholders of the Oshawa Harbor Company, 
 and as the Harbor Master had died of cholera, and 
 things were in an unsatisfactory state, he was induced 
 at the urgent request of the other stockholders to 
 accept the position of Harbor Master. He filled the 
 position with credit to himself, and to the satis- 
 faction of all concerned. He however remained pastor 
 of the Oshawa Church, and never lost his interest in 
 it, or in the cause to which his life had been devoted. 
 He writes to the Palladium : " As for myself I am 
 not doing so much in the cause as in former years, 
 yet, bless God, I love His holy name, and love to 
 preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. " The 
 Oshawa Church usually had the services of some other 
 minister two or three Sabbaths in the month, but 
 their faithful old pastor preached as often, at least, 
 as once in a month, administered the communion, 
 attended Church meetings and had the general over- 
 eight of things. 
 
112 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 In addition to Father Henry's other labors he 
 always carried on an extensive correspondence. Few 
 men have written more letters, besides numerous 
 short articles contributed to our various denomina- 
 tional periodicals, in which he evinced a great 
 capability for gathering interesting items of useful 
 intelligence, and aptness in communicating. He wrote 
 a great number of private letters ; letters on business, 
 letters of friendship, letters of advice, letters of con- 
 dolence and letters of congratulation. Some of these 
 letters are among the best things he has ever written, 
 but we have not many in our possession as they were 
 not often copied. 
 
 The following epistle is characteristic : 
 
 ■" Dear Sistek Babtlett : 
 
 " Since you were here last I have thought of you 
 a great many times. T deeply sympathise with you 
 in your affliction, and have been thinking I would 
 write you a letter, and express my feelings to you, 
 perhaps for the last time. I have never forgotten, 
 nor can I ever forget your kindness to me and my 
 family in our great affliction ; and gratitude as well 
 as sympathy prompts me to ask if I cannot offer a 
 -word that will comfort you, by drawing a contrast 
 between the sorrows of earth, and the joys of heaven. 
 
A LETTER. 113 
 
 How transient are the joys of earth! Yesterday 
 they seemed almost complete. To-day they have 
 utterly failed us, and the soul is left sorrowful, as if 
 hope and smiles had never been. Yesterday was all 
 sunshine ; to-day is all darkness. Yesterday a home 
 sheltered us ; to-day we have ashes instead. Yester- 
 day a little child sat on our knee ; to-day we sing a 
 funeral dirge, and lay^it in the tomb. 
 
 Such are the joys, the hopes, the treasures of earth. 
 This moment they are, the next they are gone, and 
 we are left alone and helpless. Hard a3 this may 
 seem, it is as God, our Father, would have it. It is 
 his own Providence. He would thus wean us from 
 earth, thus turn our steps towards heaven, and not 
 back to our former bondage. 
 
 " If with all this life's disappointment we love it too 
 much, how much more we should cling to it, if pros- 
 perity always attended our steps. God knows what 
 is best, and doeth all things well. We are compen- 
 sated for all our present ills, by that which is iinseen — 
 which is ours by faith, and not by sight. If earthly 
 bliss is transient — heavenly bliss is eternal. Dear 
 sister in Christ, look up ! If faithful, we shall soon be 
 in the promised land. Soon be beyond the reach of 
 tears and anguish. Not a sigh, or tear, or note of 
 
114 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 grief shall ever be heard or known in that glorious 
 habitation — that house not made with hands. For 
 such a life, for a bliss so pure, let us run with faith, 
 endure with patience, and keep our eye fixed on the 
 rising towei-s, the streets of gold, and the river of life 
 — the New Jerusalem — and what a meeting will be 
 there ! Such an one as was never known in earth's 
 happiest home, or holiest sanctuary. The good of all 
 ages will be there. The Babe of Bethlehem, the Christ 
 who wore the thorny crown, will be there. And the 
 presence of the Great I Am will light the Holy City, 
 whose beauty never fades, and whose crystal stream 
 flows on forever. 
 
 " Oh, shall not this glorious prospect enable us to 
 bear the trials of this life with patience, and bow in 
 cheerful submission to the will of our Father who has 
 prepared such glorious things for us. 
 
 " As ever, your Brother in Christ, 
 
 " T. Henet.'' 
 
SfeS^^i 
 
 53= 
 
 B laissxDttaty Wijrii. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 MISSIONARY WOEK — RESIGNS PASTORATE. 
 
 1853 Elder Henry was appointed Home 
 Missionary, to travel througliout the bounds 
 of the Conference. The following extracts 
 from his report will show how his time was occupied. 
 
 " Dec. 4. — Attended fellowship meeting in Oshawa ; 
 had a good meeting ; and next day preached and 
 baptized three. On the 7th, pursued my way to 
 Haldimand. Preached twice on Sabbath; obtained 
 twelve members for the Missionary Society, and col- 
 lected £1 2s. 6d. Visited the churcli in Cramahe. 
 They have promised to make a donation in aid of the 
 Mission. 18th. — Preached near Port Credit in the 
 
 forenoon, and in the afternoon near Oakville. Spent 
 
 117 
 
118 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 a little time visiting the brethren, and collected £2. 
 On Christmas preached to the church in Waterloo, in 
 company with Eld. F. B. Eolfe, and had an excellent 
 meeting. Here I succeeded in obtaining twenty 
 members for the society. 26th. — Attended the funeral 
 of James Applebee, in company with several ministers 
 of other denominations. Preached at the (governor's 
 Eoad on the 27th ; also on New Tear's Day. Got 
 seventeen new members. Dec. 28th. — ^Preaclied at 
 Northfield. Got ten members. Jan. ith, 1854. — 
 Preached near Port Credit ; and on the 6th made my 
 way to Whitby again, after an absence of about three 
 weeks. Found all well. Yisited some of the brethren 
 in Whitby on the 6th and 7th. On the 8th, which 
 was Sunday, was sick at home, in consequence of 
 taking cold, and over-doing. Went to Orono on the 
 12th, to meet the Missionary Board. Had not a 
 quorum, and could do no business. Went to Picker- 
 ing on the lith ; obtained twelve members ; preached 
 on Sunday, the 15th ; and on the 16th returned to 
 Whitby. Spent Sunday, 22nd, in Newmarket, 29th 
 in Oshawa, and Feb. 5th in Whitechurch. 12th 
 spent with the church iu Clark. Went to Gwillims- 
 bury on the 16th, and spent eight days visiting East 
 and North Gwillimsbury and King. At Oshawa on 
 the 26th. March 6th at Scarboro'; found things low, 
 
MISSIONARY WORK. 119 
 
 but did a little, and promised to visit them again. 
 12tli spent at Clark. On the 19th i)reached in 
 Pickering, and assisted at the ordination of Br. J 
 Churchill." 
 
 Thus the I'ecord goes on montli after month ; and 
 those best acquainted with the distance between the 
 places mentioned, will best understand the amount 
 of labor performed. 
 
 In 1853 another paper, called the Christian Offer- 
 ing, was started at Oshawa, by Eld. J. E.. Hoag. 
 This was more successful, and published at less sacrifice 
 than the Luminary, from the fact that instead of 
 purchasing, or trying to run a separate press, it was 
 published in connection with the secular paper of the 
 village. However, this never paid its way, and 
 though its subscription list increased slowly from its 
 beginning to its end, in some six years it too was 
 merged into the Palladium. Eld. Henry did not 
 take this paper on his shoulders as he had the 
 lAiminary, but was, all the same, one of its best 
 supporters ; was always connected with it, and always 
 doing something, directly or indirectly, for its benefit. 
 
 In 1856 Eld. Henry was appointed one of the trus- 
 tees of Starkey Seminary. He had always taken 
 
120 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 a deep interest in that institution, and had edneated 
 two of his children there. He always enjoyed the 
 meetings of the Board, was ever at his post, and ready, 
 there as elsewhere, to do his part. 
 
 He began to feel, about this time, that he had long 
 enough sustained the relation of pastor to the church 
 in Oshawa, and desired them to release him from the 
 responsibility. He had borne the burden a long time, 
 and though he felt a little weary, and the labors of an 
 over-busy life were beginning to tell on him, yet it is 
 doubtful if from any motive of personal ease he would 
 have asked for release. Though no one else thought 
 so, he felt that some younger, better educated man 
 might better fill the place. After much hesitancy on 
 the part of the church, they finally concluded to 
 release him, and in doing so presented him with a 
 beautiful Bible, accompanied by the following ad- 
 dress, which was read before a large congregation, and 
 afterwards printed in the Offering. Eld. J. F. Wade 
 was chosen to fill the place which Father Henry left, 
 and was never willing to take again, though he 
 continued to manifest the same interest in its pros- 
 perity which he ever had done. 
 
MISSIONARY WORK. 121 
 
 ADDRESS 
 
 Presented by the Oshawa Christian Church to Eld. Henry, 
 with a Bible, on his resigning the Pastoral charge : — 
 
 "Dear Elder and Brother, — We feel in duty 
 bound to grant your request, and liberate you from 
 the care and responsibility you bave borne so long. 
 But while we accede to your request, we do so re- 
 gretfully. 
 
 " "We feel it will be hard for another to occupy the 
 place you have filled so well; yet we indulge the 
 hope that in times ©f trial and perplexity you will 
 stiU aid us by your counsel and your prayers. Many 
 years ago, when we were few in number, encompassed 
 in darkness and surrounded by enemies, we committed 
 to your hands the trust which we receive back again 
 to-day. Through all the varied events of our past 
 career, in adversity and prosperity, we have looked to. 
 you, under Christ, our living Head, for advice and 
 encouragement, and never have you betrayed the 
 confidence reposed in you. When others have failed 
 us, you have remained true to our interest ; you have 
 sympathized with us in our sorrows, and rejoiced in 
 our rejoicing. Never, never can we forget your faithful 
 admonitions, your self-sacrificing toils, your unre- 
 munerated labors in oar behalf, and in the cause of 
 our common Master. 
 
122 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 " We feel that to you, under God, we owe oiir pre- 
 sent prosperity ; and that in your disinterested zeal we 
 have enjoyed a blessing which falls to the lot of few 
 ■churches. While the house in which we worship, and 
 we who regularly assemble here are your witnesses, 
 many others, who are scattered abroad over the world, 
 •can testify to your faithfulness ; and some who have 
 already passed through the swellings of Jordan, are 
 seals of your ministry in this place. You are en- 
 deared to us by all the ties which a long and friendly 
 association weave around the heart. We feel for you 
 that affection which we must ever feel for one whom 
 a long acquaintance has proved to be true-hearted, 
 and who has borne with us the burden of many a 
 ■conflict. But now that you wish to retire from this 
 responsible post, that you may be more at liberty to 
 travel and visit the churches, we yield to your desires; 
 at the same time, we pray that we may be favored 
 with another, who will be as faithful to our wants as 
 you have been. 
 
 " In parting, we wish to bestow a small memento, 
 to remind you of our love. 
 
 " Accept, then, this token of our gratitude. It is as 
 a faint memorial of our affection, we present to you 
 this transcript of God's love to man. In so doing, 
 we feel that we have chosen the fittest token to 
 
MISSIONARY WORK. 123 
 
 express obligations such as ours, and the most becom- 
 ing testimonial of labors such as yours, as both you 
 and ourselves are pledged to it as our only rule 
 of faith and practice. "We well know it has long 
 been the man of your counsel, a liglit to your path, 
 and a lamp to your feet. We need not remind you 
 that you may derive solace in your declining years, 
 from the same promises from which you gathered 
 strength for the conflict of active life. 
 
 " In conclusion, we would say, you may be assured 
 our prayers and best wishes will follow you where- 
 ever you go. May your last days be emphatically 
 your best days ! May you see the churches, for whom 
 you have labored so much, prosper, and live many 
 years to bless them by your admonitions and prayers! 
 May you enjoy the richest of earthly blessings, and 
 the uninterrupted sunshine of God's love ! May your 
 death be peaceful and happy ; and when Christ 
 comes to make up His jewels, may you, who have so 
 long sown the precious seed in tears, return with 
 songs of rejoicing, and bring your sheaves with joy 
 into the garner of our God ! 
 
 " In behalf of the church, 
 
 "P. A. H. 
 " Oshawa, 1856." 
 
124 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 Eld. Henry writes, untler date of July, 1859 : 
 
 " On the 26tli June, I started from home, in com- 
 pany with my wife, whose health was poor, to attend 
 the New York W. C. Conference, to be holden in 
 Koyalton, Niagara County, New York. We arrived 
 there in the afternoon of the 27th, in time to hear a 
 discourse from Eld. Davis, who is one of the pioneers 
 who have borne the burden and heat of the day. He 
 preached an excellent discourse, which moved the 
 hearts of God's children. In the evening, Eld. 
 Burlingame preached. Next morning we met in 
 prayer and conference meeting, after which Eld. 
 Weeks gave us a very feeling discourse. He was 
 followed by our good brother Hoag, who foimerly 
 labored with us in the Province. 
 
 "At four o'clock the President, J. D. Childs, 
 preached from the words, ' Come and see.' Eld. 
 Childs is a strong man, a noble preacher, and an 
 excellent chairman for Conference business. In con- 
 clusion, I will say, I was highly pleased with the 
 Conference. It was a pleasure to shake hands with 
 so many ministers of the gospel. Some of their heads 
 are blossomed for the grave; but their hearts are 
 animated by the love of God. To all those dear 
 friends who were so kind to us, we tender our sincere 
 thanks. 
 
 "T. Henet." 
 
MISSIONARY WORK. 125 
 
 Less actively engaged in preaching than in earlier 
 years, but not less interested in the advancement of 
 the cause of Christ, he was always ready to assist 
 others. For some years Eld. H. Burnham spent 
 considerable time in each year in holding revival 
 meetings in Canada. Father Henry devoted much 
 of his time to assisting him in these efforts, and con- 
 veying him to the meetings. He also kept our 
 denominational papers well informed as to the results 
 of these meetings ; and that impressible revivalist was 
 in the habit of saying, he could preach better when 
 he had Bro. Henry to say Amen. 
 
 Whatever ministers came from United States to 
 Canada, they were sure to come to Father Henry's. 
 His location favored their doing so ; and then he was 
 always ready with his own conveyance to take them 
 from place to place, assisting at their meetings, and 
 doing them, and those among whom he went, more 
 good by his cheerfalness and cordial sympathy than 
 half the sermons did. He was not troubled with that 
 fearful disease, ministerial jealousy, but was always 
 glad to see others have a good time. 
 
: t,ca^as..3£xa e^g 
 
 ^013 and ^0rr0xir. 
 
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CHAPTEE X. 
 
 CHEI8TIAN OFFERING HYMN-BOOK JOY AND 80EE0W. 
 
 (N the autumn of 1859, Moses Ciimmings, then 
 editor of the Christian Palladium, paid a visit 
 to Canada, and Father Henry accompanied 
 him on a trip through some of the churches. Cum- 
 ings wrote as follows in the next issue of the 
 PaUadivm, : — 
 
 " Thomas Henry. This brother must excuse this 
 allusion to him. He was the companion of our 
 journey in the Province. His kindness will never be 
 forgotten. We have placed his name alone, because 
 like the sun he shines all over Christian Canada. His 
 name, and his labors as a minister, are felt in every 
 church. It was said of J. C. Calhoun, that he was 
 not the sun of South Carolina, but South OaroUna it- 
 self. This remark will give our readers an idea of the 
 
 129 9 
 
130 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 relation Bro. Henry sustains to the Christian cause in 
 Canada." 
 
 The object ot Mr. Cummings visit to Canada was 
 to consummate the union of the Christian Offering 
 with the Palladium. "When it was done, Thomas 
 Henry's name was placed as corresponding editor at 
 the head of the columns devoted to Canada. For 
 years previous to this, he had been one of its ex- 
 ecutive board. 
 
 Again in Oct. he writes : " I always love to hear 
 and tell good news, and believe that to be one of the 
 objects of a religious paper. On Saturday, 10th inst., 
 I started by railway for Wellers Bay, a distance of 80 
 miles. We had a good meeting. After the sermon 
 about forty spoke, and ten or twelve prayed ; five 
 spoke for the first time. 
 
 " The revival at Haldimand is a source of rejoicing. 
 I should like to hear from Castleton, to know if the 
 believers there have been baptized and organized into 
 a church, on the foundation of the Apostles and 
 Prophets. 
 
 " October, 1858, as it is well known, I was appointed 
 by the Conference to attend the General Convention 
 in N.Y. city, which hasjnst closed, some of your 
 readers may expect to hear something from me 
 
JOl AND SORROW. 131 
 
 respecting it. I left home on the morning of the 5th 
 inst., and proceeded by way of Toronto and Hamilton 
 to Niagara, crossed Suspension Bridge, and went on 
 by way of Eochester and Albany to N.Y. city. I 
 found the Convention just organized at the Mercantile 
 Library lecture room, and presented my letter which 
 was duly received. To me it was truly gratifying to 
 meet so many Christian ministers and some of other 
 denominations, among whom was Dr. Bellows of N.T. 
 The hand of time has swept away many of our old 
 ministers, and but few of the pioneers remain ; yet we 
 have nothing to fear, for their places are filled by an 
 army of strong young men, who are able to hold the 
 ground obtained by their fathers. I do not wishi,to 
 anticipate the Minutes, and will only speak for my- 
 self. It was one of the pleasantest seasons I have ever 
 enjoyed, and one that will be remembered by me 
 until my dying day." 
 
 Thus, as we turn over the pages of past volumes oi 
 the Offering or Palladivm,, we find scattered all along 
 such little choice letters or bits of Journal, which 
 show not only his interest in the good cause, but his 
 ability to gather up and communicate useful informa- 
 tion and interesting items of news. During these 
 jears, the Christians in the States were engaged in an 
 •earnest effort to pay for Antioch College. Though 
 not particularly identified with this enterprise, Father 
 
132 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 Henry was ready to help, as he always was, in every 
 good work. He was their agent in Canada, and 
 exerted himself to bring their claims before thepoople 
 and to collect and remit what money he could to them. 
 
 Elder T. Garbutt published, for a few years, a 
 monthly magazine at Castleton, Ont. In the number 
 for Aug., 1866, we find the following : 
 
 " There is no name more endeared to the people 
 called Christians, than that of Elder Thomas Henry. 
 He has spent the greater part of his life in Canada — 
 that life has been devoted to the cause of Christ. He 
 was called on to stand forth in the defence of our 
 views, at a period when those views met with strong 
 opposition ; but endowed with great grace, indomi- 
 table perseverance, a clear head and warm heart, he 
 has fought a good fight, and adorned his profession ; 
 though now somewhat advanced in age, he is an able 
 and acceptable preacher, beloved and respected hy aU 
 who know himP 
 
 I will introduce here an article written by Father 
 Henry immediately after the General Convention of 
 1866. It was written for some of our periodicals and 
 probably published, but I do not recollect. 
 
JOY AND SORROW. 133 
 
 " Solomon well understood human life wlien he said 
 ' To every thing there is a season, and a time to every 
 purpose under the heavens — a time to be born and a 
 time to die ; a time to weep and a time to laugh ; a 
 time to mourn and a time to dance.' 
 
 " This is the experience of all, and never have I felt 
 more conscious of it than during the past month. My 
 wife has been much afflicted with lameness. My son 
 Albert, his wife and child have all had a run of 
 typhoid fever, and to her it proved fatal. Albert and 
 his child were first attacked with the fever, and when 
 partially recovered, went with his wife to his brother 
 George's home near Bowmanville, for a little change 
 of air, rest and good nursing. Albert became worse 
 for a time, and his wife was attacked with the same 
 fever. This was just at the time of our Annual Con- 
 ference, which met at Newmarket. Apprehending 
 no serious consequences, and being very anxious to 
 attend, I went to the Conference in company with the 
 delegates from Oshawa, and Bro. Lawton of the N.Y. 
 W. Conference. This was the forty-first session of 
 our Conference, not one of which have I failed to 
 attend. I was very unwell during the Conference, 
 but preached once on Saturday ; after which we had 
 an old fashioned fellowship meeting. It did my heart 
 good to hear from the veterans, who espoused the 
 cause over forty years ago in those never to be for- 
 gotten days, when we enjoyed the labors of such 
 
134 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 men as Morrison, Church, Blodget, Baily, Mclntyre, 
 Blackmar, and Goff. I was also much encouraged to 
 see so many of the young who have enlisted to fight 
 the fight of faith, 
 
 " On my return from Conference, I learned that my 
 son was better, but his wife was very low. That 
 week Bro. Simifon Swett and wife arrived at our place, 
 on their way to attend the Convention, to be held in 
 Marshall, Michigan. They stayed over Sunday, and 
 Bro. Swett preached twice. During the morning 
 service we got word that my daughter-in-law was dead. 
 She had peacefully breathed her last, in hope of a 
 glorious resurrection. On Monday we went down to 
 Bowmanville, and brought back her lifeless remains, 
 and deposited them in their last resting place in the 
 burying-ground at Port Oshawa. How sad to see 
 that bliglited fiower so early placed in the grave — 
 only 23 years of age. Daughter, wife, mother, 
 Christian — farewell ! 
 
 " On the same evening, in company with my daughter- 
 in-law, Mrs. r*. A. Henry, I started for the Conven- 
 tion on the Grand Trunk Railway. The next morn- 
 ing we found ourselves entering the State of Michigan. 
 At Port Huron we fell in company with Rev. J. W. 
 Haley, Mrs. Cartwright and Mrs. Bennet from Somer- 
 set, Mass., and Mrs. Chase from Parma, all on their 
 way to the Convention in Marshall, which place we 
 reached about 11 p.m., and found two brethren wait- 
 ing to conduct us to their comfortable homes. 
 
 " The Convention was one of the largest and best I 
 
JOY AND SORROW. 135 
 
 have ever attended ; btit I will leave reports to the 
 reporters and editors present, and simply say, to me it 
 was a joyful season and a foretaste of Heaven." 
 
 That was what Father Henry said about the Con- 
 vention and the events preceding it. I remember 
 them all. How worn and tired I was with nursing 
 my sister-in-law ; and yet how patient the dear young 
 creature had been, and Albert too. He preaches now 
 at Med way, N.Y., but did not look then as though he 
 would ever preach ; and the little gii-l — dear little 
 Bertie is a fine, healthy girl now, and lives with her 
 father in the little parsonage at Medway ; but she was 
 very sick then, and had to learn to walk the second 
 time. It was a sad time. Father, mother, and little 
 girl all in bed sick at once. The mother died, and 
 father and child got better, and went up to Father 
 Henry's, where the youngest, little Myrtle, had been 
 all the time with her grandma. She lives with that 
 grandmother yet, who is lame and feeble, and needs 
 her ; but she has no mother or grandfather now. 
 It was one of those seasons we never forgot. 
 
 How kind and thoughtful it was in Father Henry to 
 come an^ake me away to the Convention, and give 
 me such a treat ; how refreshing was the change from 
 the sad, sickroom, with all its disagreeable accompani- 
 ments. Even the motion of the cars, and the swift 
 
136 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 passage through the air were exhilarating — and how 
 could I but enjoy the cool, bright October day, with its 
 bracing atmosphere and showers of crimson and yellow 
 leaves : it was a pleasant joui-ney. Father Henry 
 was kind and entertaining, as he always was when 
 travelling. When we met those friends from the East, 
 they seemed tired and dispirited, but father's pleasant, 
 cheerful conversation made them lively again. I 
 remember all about the Convention, too : it was the 
 £rst I had attended. There were men there about 
 whom I had heard and read since childhood ; for my 
 father was a Christian minister, too, and I had read the 
 Palladium since I was a little gij-l. Long years had 
 my father been dead, and his name is now nearly 
 forgotten in the denomination, though there may be 
 a few still living who remember Joshua Hay ward, 
 who was as truly a martyr to the cause of Christ as 
 those who sealed their testimony at the stake. 
 
 It was nothing to me that I was an unnoticed 
 
 -ii. 
 
 stranger. I saw and heard the faces and voices which 
 I had never seen and heard before; and yet thej| 
 seemed familiar to me. We returned home and a great* 
 many of our Easterm friends and ministers came with 
 us. We had a good visit, and a grand old meeting. 
 How much brighter everything looked than when we 
 went away ? 
 
JOY AND SORROW. 137 
 
 How rapidly oscillates the pendulum of existence 
 between joy and sorrow ? In life's moments of 
 greatest fulness how near are we to death? Even 
 then, the stealthy steps of the destroyer were among 
 us, and we knew it not. 
 
 In a very few days after our return, Mrs. Eliza 
 Guy, eldest daughter of Father Henry, was taken with 
 the same fever. She was one of the most lovable and 
 amiable of women, with a chastened sweetness of 
 manner which attracted all who came near her. She 
 was a wife. The mistress of a pleasant home, and the 
 mother of five children. Our prayers, and the efforts 
 of medical men, the sorrow of her husband, and the 
 anguish and tears* of her children, were alike nnavail- 
 iiig.i Just as the bleak December weather swept away 
 the last vestiges of that summer brightness and beauty 
 which she loved so well, she closed her weary eyes, 
 and slept on Jesus' breast. 
 
 •The following paper I contributed at the time to 
 tje " Ladies' Social " of Oshawa, of which she was a 
 ^ved and active member. 
 
 "How mysterious is that change we call death — ^ho w 
 silent and inexplicable its approach? Familiar forms 
 stand by our side. They share with us the pleasures and 
 sorrows, the needs and capabilities of our common 
 existence : but disease makes its appearance, the head 
 
138 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 droops heavily on its pillow, and the familiar face 
 grows thin and pale. We too have felt pain, and can 
 sympathize with them. Care and sympathy are sweet, 
 but unavailing. Let the intimacy between human 
 hearts be ever so close, each is to all intents alone> 
 and must struggle alone with that invisible power- 
 A power superior to all our skill, stronger than the 
 most potent will, seizes the helm and the little 
 barque glides slowly out on the receding billow of 
 death. Powerless as infants we watch them, feeling 
 rather than seeing the distance widen between ns, 
 until they are gone — ^gone from us while yet in our 
 midst ! But why, it is asked, should we select such a 
 gloomy subject for contemplation? One wiser than 
 we are has said : ' It is better to go to the house of 
 mourning, than the house of feasting.' l^ot alone, 
 however, to the house of mourning will I lead those 
 who accompany me in these thoughts. 
 
 " Death furnishes occasion for the highest triumphs of 
 our spiritual nature. As the glory of the nocturnal 
 heavens would never be seen, but for the dark shadow 
 of the brooding wing of night. So human faith, love, 
 and courage, have been revealed to us in a light in 
 which nothing less terrible than death cou],d present 
 them. 
 
 " Death gives a deeper significance to life. Was 
 there no such thing as death to be dared or endured, 
 how soon would those pictures of heroism, which the 
 human mind never tires of contemplating, vanish ? 
 And where would be the martyr's crown and song ? 
 
JOY AND SOBROW. 139 
 
 If it is an awe-inspiring thing to see one in tlie qniet 
 of the sick chamber, when disease has loosened the 
 ties that bind to existence, yield without fear to its 
 influence, how much more so to see one in the fulness 
 of health and strength deliberately stake life on a 
 principle, and meet death in the sternest form, rather 
 than sacrifice the truth ? Yet this is the history of 
 martyrdom — ^the history of the thousands who have 
 lain down their lives for Christ. A spark of the same 
 Divinity, darkened indeed by ignorance and super- 
 stition, gleams forth in the Hindoo wife who immo- 
 lates herself on the fnneralpile of her husband. 
 
 " I have seen the aged saint in the Indian summer 
 of his existence,- waiting for the ice-king's approach ; 
 waiting in the land of Beulah, at the end of his 
 pilgrimage, for the message to summon him across the 
 river ; and when the hour came, closing his eyes. 
 
 ' "Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch, 
 Around him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." ' 
 
 " I have seen a young girl in the first bloom of youth, 
 when life wears the most enchanting aspect, and sun- 
 shine, song and flowers were around her, cheerfully 
 close her eyes on earthly bliss, to open them on the 
 unfading glories of eternity. 
 
 " Here we have seen Sister Guy, a mother — a tender 
 
 mother, — whose whole soul went out in yearning 
 
 affection for the little ones whom God had given her, 
 
 Teave them in this cold world, trusting in the promise 
 
 of the faithful One, and die without a murmur. "Were 
 
140 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 there no death, we should never know there were 
 snch sublime capabilities in the human soul I 
 
 " Do you say it is still to the house of mourning that 
 my thoughts have led ? It may be so ; but the house 
 of mourning here, has become the vestibule to the 
 house of feasting on high — onr Father's house, the 
 mansion our Saviour has gone to prepare ; where the 
 marriage supper of the Lamb shall be spread. At 
 that feast, the humble and lowly of earth, the faith- 
 ful and loving ones, shall be honored guests. 
 Thither has Sister Guy preceded us, and thither 
 follow our hearts. 
 
 " We miss thee sister, and must mourn 
 Sadly thy loss ; 
 Our human hearts, with anguish torn, 
 Faint with the cross. 
 
 " There seemed so much for thee to do; 
 Thy ready hand 
 So well its work and mission knew, 
 Thy feet to stand. 
 
 " In duty's path, and walk, or run 
 With constant care ;^ 
 Oh, was thy work so early done, 
 Our sister dear ? 
 
 " Our Father took what He had given, — 
 One loved so well, 
 With angels in the far-oflf heaven. 
 Henceforth to dwell. 
 
 " But though removed, she liveth still. 
 In deed and thought. 
 And words of love. It is God's will : 
 'The good die not.'" 
 
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CHAPTEK XI. 
 
 rULNESS OF YEAES TOEK PIONEERS. 
 
 A.THER Henry was now in the fall enjoy- 
 ment of a " green old age "; with health and 
 vigor such as seldom fall to the lot of men 
 of his years ; with an easy competence in j)roperty, 
 and a large and respectable family, settled comfortably 
 around him. Ten sons and three daughters siu-vive 
 him ; all but one son living within a day's travel of 
 his home. His fourth son, E. E. Henry, lives in 
 Leavenworth City, Kansas. 
 
 During these years, time, and the labors of an 
 exceptionally busy life, began to tell on his strong 
 frame ; but he was active and energetic, and con- 
 tested every inch of ground which age and disease 
 
 won from him. 
 
 142 
 
FULNESS OF YEARS. 143 
 
 When the Biblical School enterprise was started, 
 he at once became one of its firmest friends. He was 
 chosen one of its trnstees, and retained that position 
 and his interest in the Institute until the day of his 
 death. His last journey was made to attend a meet- 
 ing of the Board of Trustees, of which he had never 
 missed one. 
 
 In a " Pen Sketch of the Board of Trustees of the 
 Christian Biblical Institute," which 'appeared in the 
 Herald in 1870, we find the following: 
 
 '' Thomas Henry, of Canada, is the oldest member 
 of the Board, being now over seventy years of age, 
 and has been preaching forty-two years. He is a 
 native of Ireland, and is one of the youngest men 
 of his age outside of the United States. He is yet 
 young and buoyant in spirits, believes in improve- 
 ment, and is not one of those old men who think 
 wisdom and virtue will die with their generation. 
 He is full six feet in height, well proportioned, sandy 
 complexion, hair naturally light is becoming some- 
 what gray and thin on the head. He is thoroughly 
 in sympathy with the Bible principles of the Chris- 
 tians, and wide awake to all our denominational 
 enterprises. He is bitterly opposed to selfishness, 
 and to sectional and rival interests in our denomin- 
 ation, but earnestly desires that the east, west, 
 centre and Canada, be heartily united in our publish- 
 ing interests and Biblical School. He is of a sociable 
 
144 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 -and affable disposition, and a useful minister and 
 highly esteemed citizen." 
 
 Though Father Henry was prudent and economical 
 to the last degree in business affairs, yet he had a 
 liberal hand, and an ear ever open to the calls of 
 distressed humanity. There was withal a touch of 
 chivalry in his character. He never saw a woman, 
 high or low, in trouble without at least attempting 
 to assist her. There never was a poor widow or 
 washerwoman who knew him, who would not sooner 
 apply to him for help than almost any other person- 
 At one time, some years ago, father was travelling at 
 night on one of our lake steamers bound West. A 
 large number of German emigrants were in the steer- 
 age. Some time in the night one of these emigrant 
 women was taken suddenly very ill. Her husband, 
 unable to speak but few words in English, made an 
 outcry, calling in his broken language for a doctor. 
 If medical men heard they did not make themselves 
 known. Aroused by the outcry. Father Henry came 
 from his berth in the cabin, as there were no state- 
 rooms on the boat. He soon learned the state of 
 affairs, and knew what to do, if no one else did. He 
 went at once to the steward's room ; by his peremp- 
 tory manner induced that functionary to vacate his 
 domain. Then descending to the steerage, took the 
 woman in his arms, carried her to the room, deposited 
 
FULNESS OF TEARS. 145 
 
 her in the berth, and then went where he knew a 
 physician was lying, and as peremptorily requested 
 him to go and attend to the patient. 
 
 Such incidents need no comment ; they stamp the 
 insignia of moral greatness on the man, in characters 
 which all may read. 
 
 At one time the stream which flows past his place 
 had so overflown its banks as to render it impossible 
 for foot passengers to cross without being badly 
 wetted, the water being a foot and a half deep over 
 the road. Father Henry, at work near the roadj saw 
 a woman on the opposite side who seemed very anxi- 
 ous to get across. He took off boots and hose, rolled 
 up his pants, and went and got the woman, brought 
 her across in his arms, and set her dry shod on the 
 shore. Yet so prudent was he in all his intercourse 
 with the opposite sex, and so apparent was the dis- 
 interestedness of his intentions, that the breath of 
 calumny never was thrown on him from that direction. 
 
 Few ministers preached more funeral sermons or 
 solemnized more marriages than did Father Henry. 
 His ready sympathy with both joy and sorrow made 
 him an acceptable guest at the one, and a welcome 
 friend and efficient comforter at the other ; and he 
 frequently travelled long distances for both purposes, 
 and oflScia ted among all classes. 
 
 A negro living not far from his home, and one who 
 had been in his employ sometimes, had a wife and 
 adopted daughter of the same color. Cupid being 
 
 10 
 
146 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 no respecter of colors at least, makes as sad havoc 
 ■with dark hearts as light ones, and this negro's adop- 
 ted daughter being taken in his noose, wished to slip 
 her head into the noose matrimonial with a "gentle- 
 man" of her own color. Preparations were made 
 for celebrating the affair in wliat they considered 
 fine style. Elder Henry must perform the ceremony. 
 "When the ceremony was ended, the groom appeared 
 a little bashful, and the company slightly at loss to 
 know what was to be done next. Father Henry, ever 
 willing to help such as need help, suggested that the 
 groom should salute his bride. The groom was about 
 to comply, when the old darkey interfered : '' No, no : 
 the Dominie must have the first kiss." The Dominie 
 probably felt a slight shudder at this result of his 
 efforts to please, but as he was not in the habit of 
 shirking in a hard spat, he stepped forward, and im- 
 pressed on the lips of the blushing (?) bride a kiss, 
 which was, no doubt, more gratifying to lier than 
 agreeable to him ; and will probably be handed down 
 by tradition in the family, with as much pride as the 
 little French girl's kiss from General Grant. 
 
 Father Henry was very fond of children, and his 
 grandchildren will carry to their graves pleasant 
 memories of " Grandpa's parties." These parties 
 were given on the 24th of May, and the grand- 
 children were all invited. The children also were 
 welcome if they came, but the grandchildren were 
 the honored guests, "We shall always remember the 
 long table, surrounded by children, with grandpa at 
 the head dispensing the good cheer provided for the 
 
FULNESS OF TIME. 147 
 
 occasion, with a face scarcely less bright and happy 
 than the children around him. 
 
 In 1871, Father Henry wrote to the Herald : " I 
 have finished my winter's campaign of over thirteen 
 hundred miles travel, partly by my own and partly 
 by public conveyance. On the 6th of February I was 
 visiting a dear sister residing in Jeddo, Michigan. In 
 the forenoon of that day I preached there ; and in the 
 evening, by Elder H. Hayward's request, I spoke to 
 his congregation near Farewell's Mills. At both of 
 these meetings were present a large number of persons 
 formerly from Canada ; several of whom I had bap- 
 tized. Elder Hayward's labors in this place have 
 been blessed. A number have confessed the Saviour, 
 and intend to go forward in baptism soon. From 
 here I went to Komeo, to attend the Michigan State 
 Convention, and the dedication of the beautiful 
 chapel erected by the dear friends in that place. 
 Here I had the privilege of visiting Elder Deering, 
 and a number of the good brethren and sisters and 
 their families. On Monday morning I bade farewell 
 to my brethren in Eomeo, expecting to meet them no 
 more until we reach the promised land. From here 
 Elder D. W. Moore accompanied me to the Grand 
 Trunk Eailway Station, at Eidgeway, where we 
 parted, Brother Moore going "West, and I East. 
 I reached home on the 14th, and found that Elder 
 Childs, of the State of New York, had been at 
 Oshawa, and preached two or three sei-mons to good 
 
148 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 acceptance, and gone to Orono in company with 
 Elder Fowler, to hold a general meeting there. I 
 made my way to Orono, where I had the pleasure of 
 listening to two sermons from him, which will not 
 soon be forgotten. On the 21st I parted with this 
 good brother and faithful minister of the cross, at the 
 Oshawa station. 
 
 " On the 24th I went to Brougham, and visited some 
 friends there, and next day reached Bloomington in 
 time for their fellowship meeting. Here I found 
 Elder Tatton engaged in a good work. He has lately 
 baptized 28, and received 30 into church fellowship. 
 The next day I preached for him in that place, and in 
 the evening at Eingwood. Some interest is awakened 
 in that place too. Four have made a start for heaven. 
 Elder Tatton is working too hard ; I hope the 
 churches will not be forgetful of him. On the third 
 of March I started in company with my son John, 
 and reached his pleasant home the same evening. 
 The next day I was conveyed by my grandson, a 
 distance of fifteen miles, to Drayton, in good time for 
 their fellowship meeting. Here I met my brother. 
 Elder William Henry, who has charge of that district. 
 We had a good time. The next day I preached to a 
 full house. On Monday the 6th, my brother William 
 took me to Minto ; here I remained three days visit- 
 ing friends and resting. During this time I wrote 
 my will, thinking that perhaps I was as free from 
 care as I should ever be. While doing this solenm 
 work, my mind was not only on the work, but on the 
 
FULNESS OF YEARS. 149 
 
 promised land. If this should be my last work, I 
 hope I may be able to say as did Paul when about to 
 combat the last enemy : ' I am now ready to be 
 offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 
 I have fought the good fight, I have finished my 
 course, I have kept the faith,' " etc. 
 
 Father Henry's attachments were strong and 
 enduring. He never forgot the friends of his early 
 years. He loved his ministering brethren, particulary 
 those who had borne the " burden and heat of the 
 day " with him, with an i^ndying affection. His 
 sympathy and attachment for the denomination with 
 which he was connected never diminished ; but one 
 denomination did not hold all his friends. He found 
 congenial spirits among all. Prominent among these 
 were three men with whom he had been intimate for 
 years, and for whom his friendship seemed to increase 
 as the years passed, and he felt they were nearing 
 that time when the shadow of death would dim the 
 light of those pleasant hours he spent in their com- 
 panionship. These men were J. B. "Warren, Esq., one 
 of the oldest residents of Oshawa, and one of its 
 most esteemed citizens. Another was Senator John 
 Simpson, well known to the inhabitants of Ontario, 
 and Captain John Trull, of Bowmanville. These 
 four often met each other and spent a few hours in 
 social converse. The first to leave the ranks was Mr. 
 "Warren, who died some months before Father Henry. 
 When informed of his death father said: "John is 
 gone, it will be my turn next." His words were 
 verified. The other two yet remain. 
 
150 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 In 1875 the Canadian Government settled a pension 
 on the few surviving soldiers of the war of 1812, and 
 Father Henry was among the number who received 
 it. The amount was small, yet highly prized by him, 
 and no doubt by others, as a memento of past years 
 and stirring scenes. 
 
 The same year he formed a connection with a 
 society called the " York Pioneers," which was com- 
 posed of the few still left of the soldiers who were in 
 York or its vicinity during those same troublous 
 times. These old men met once a year in Toronto 
 and partook of a dinner together, which was enlivened 
 by speeches, songs, toasts, and anecdotes of olden 
 times, and particulary of their soldier life ; and thus 
 they keep alive the memories and friendships of the 
 past. The following extract from a letter refers to 
 one of these gatherings : — " I should have answered 
 your letter before had I been at home when it arrived. 
 Having been invited by Mr. R. H. Oates, chairman of 
 the standing committee of the York Pioneers to par- 
 take of a dinner at the Walker House on the lith 
 instant, I was there when your" letter came. We had 
 indeed a very pleasant time, meeting and greeting so 
 many of the veterans, and shaking with them the 
 friendly hand. !N early all my friends and acquaint- 
 ances of the times of 1812 have gone to the narrow 
 house appointed to all living. I enquired for John 
 Bright, and found him in the company, in his 83rd 
 year. I had not met him since we served together in 
 the York Militia, where he received a slight wound." 
 
YORK PIONEERS. 151 
 
 After Father Henry's death the following letter 
 was received by the family : " To the family and 
 friends of our late respected Brother, Thomas Henry, 
 member of the York Pioneers. At the regular 
 monthly meeting of the Society to-day, it was moved 
 and adopted, that the heartfelt sympathies and con- 
 dolence of the members be communicated to the 
 friends and relatives of our late highly esteemed 
 Brother, which I hereby have pleasure in conveying 
 to you in all love, remaining most respectfully and 
 affectionately yours, 
 
 "Alexandee Hamilton, 
 
 " Secretary, York Pioneers." 
 
I *ffxt dPIcrsiug ^cmt. 
 
 ^3? 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE CLOSING SCENE. 
 
 fiSEASE, with the commencemeTit of 1878, 
 took hold of our father in a form which even 
 his strong will and great energy were power- 
 less to resist. For two whole months he, who had never 
 before succumbed to disease for a single week in his 
 life, was confined to the house. His sufferings were 
 severe, and the confinement itself was a heavy trial 
 to one of his active habits. But he would not be 
 debarred from meeting his friends who came from far 
 and near to see him ; and not a day passed but 
 visitors were in his room. He said repeatedly that 
 their society did him good, and he should recover 
 sooner or live longer than if kept in solitude. The 
 kindnesses which he received during his sickness fi'om 
 his own family, as well as the immediate circle of 
 friends around him, and the interest manifested by all 
 
 153 
 
154 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 in liis recovery, touched his heart deeply ; and the 
 first use he made of his convalescence was to write 
 letters overflowing with gratitude to God, and love to 
 his friends for all the mercies, and all the kindly 
 deeds, of which he had heen the recipient during the 
 dark hours of suffering. 
 
 The skilful treatment of Dr.W. S. Clark, Clairvoyant 
 Physician, 171 Jarvis Street, Toronto, and the care of 
 his friends, under the blessing of a kind Providence, 
 wrought a change for the better, and when March with 
 its wide-spread, sunny wings wafted in the glorious 
 springtime, we knew that he was better, and felt that 
 he was to be with us yet a time longer. When the 
 warm April days came he rode out in his carriage, 
 and began to feel that he might be able to attend the 
 trustee meeting at the Biblical School. He did not 
 feel well enough to go alone, and by his request I 
 went with him. There are pleasant memories con- 
 nected with this journey, which will live while life 
 lasts. We crossed the Lake on the 6th of May, and 
 stayed the first night at the residence of that gifted 
 and accomplished Christian lady, Miss Cairns, M. D., 
 of Eochester. On the way from there to Stanford- 
 ville, we fell in company with Rev. D. W. Moore and 
 Deacon Chase, who were also on their way to the 
 meeting. How much he enjoyed tlieir society — he 
 seemed almost well and young again. How cordially 
 he was welcomed everywhere, and with wliat tender- 
 ness and reverence he was treated by Dr. Craig and 
 his amiable family, and the other members of the 
 Board. No one was better pleased to see him in his 
 
THE CLOSING SCENE. 155 
 
 place, or more thoughtful of his comfort than Hon. D. 
 Clark, who has done so much for that School. Before 
 we left this place he presented father with a gold 
 watch, as a token of the high esteem in which he waa 
 held. "We spent two pleasant days at Dr. Craig's 
 residence — Tnore than 'pleasant they were to me, for 
 Sister Craig, that sweet woman who has since gone to 
 he with the Saviour, was a playmate of mine when 
 we were little girls, and together we went to school 
 in the little brown school-house on the shore of 
 Schuyler's Lake. We had not met for more than 
 twenty-five years, and it was a dear re-union. 
 
 From Stanfordville we made a little trip to New 
 Tork City on a Hudson Kiver boat, and enjoyed a 
 glimpsftvof the far-famed scenery of the river's banks. 
 Spent aday in ISTo w York, and as everybody else does- 
 who goes there, rode on the elevated railroad, and 
 visited Central Park, &c. J. C. Brush, whose name 
 is familiar to the readers of the Herald, was very 
 kind to us, and father enjoyed the sight-seeing as 
 much as I did. He was very feeble when we left 
 home, but had gained in strength and spirits every hour. 
 On our way home, we called and spent four days with 
 my brother, Eev. A. Hayward, of West Lawrence, and 
 one at the residence of Rev. C. E. Peake, in St. 
 Johnsville. 
 
 After returning from this trip, father kept quite 
 comfortable during the summer, made several tours 
 among the churches, and in September attended the 
 ■General Convention held in Franklin, Ohio. 
 
156 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 Through the next winter he was feeble again, but 
 not so ill as he had been the previous winter. In the 
 spring he did not recuperate as much as we hoped he 
 would, but still he attended the Biblical School meet- 
 ing once more. This time Mother Henry accom- 
 panied him, and they stopped on the way to visit 
 their son, A. N. Henry, who was preaching at Medway, 
 Oreen Co., New York. On their return they attended 
 the New York C. Conference, held at Kural Grove, 
 where their son was ordained to the work of the 
 ministry. It was a solemnly joyful occasion to his 
 parents. May the mantle of our departed father fall 
 on this son who is rising up to fill the vacancy he has 
 left in the ranks of Zion ! 
 
 Through this summer father kept rather feeble, and 
 we feared he would not survive another winter, but 
 we were not prepared for what came. 
 
 On the evening of Sunday, Sept. 14th, he was taken 
 very ill. It was a night of fearful suffering for father, 
 and mother was so lame she could not walk a step. 
 Fortunately his only surviving brother, Elder Wm- 
 Henry was with him, to support and comfort him 
 through this night of agony. The next day he seemed 
 better, and on Tuesday morning his brother went to 
 Orono, to attend the Conference, which he had hoped 
 to attend with his only brother — only these two left 
 of the family. I went to see father on Wednesday. 
 He was very sick ; still we did not think his end so 
 near. On Friday the word came he was much worse. 
 Oh, how long it seemed to take, to get the horse and 
 
THE CLOSING SCENE. 157 
 
 buggy ready and go to him ! What a sad change t 
 Many of the family were already with him. Hi& 
 eldest surviving daughter, Mrs. Lizzie Dearborn, with 
 loving tenderness had taken her mother's place, at 
 her father's side; I joined her, and we left him no 
 more until that watcher came, from whose presence 
 the living turn away. Telegrams were sent for the 
 absent sons, and for his brother, and D. W. Moore, 
 who were at Orono. They came in the afternoon, he 
 knew and conversed with them. George, my hus- 
 band, was at Montreal, and did not arrive until Satur- 
 day morning ; he knew him, but was only able to speak 
 in broken sentences. From this time he sank rapidly 
 away. Throughout his sickness — through those six 
 fearful days, he had suffered intensely ; but oh, how 
 patient, how affectionate, how grateful! When the 
 work of life, which calls out the sterner qualities of 
 the man was done, the gentler virtues of the heart 
 shone with increased lustre. When faith and hope 
 waited but a little time for their fulfilment, holy love 
 eternal in its office, spread its brooding wings over all. 
 How often he had kissed us as we bent over him, or 
 asked us to kiss him ! How many times he had told 
 us he loved us, and asked for his dear companion to- 
 be drawn in her chair to his bedside, that he might kisa 
 her, and ask if he had been kind to her. All this 
 was done now. His eyes would follow the loved forms 
 around his bed, but he would speak our names no 
 more upon earth— nevermore ! nevermore ! He was 
 not, for Qod had taken him ! 
 
 Elder D. W. Moore, who, by his request, preached 
 
158 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 his funeral sermon, has given the following account of 
 the funeral, which is much better than any of us could 
 have done ; also of his last interview with him. We 
 saw as in a dream what was passing around us, we only 
 fully realized that father was dead, they were 
 going to bury him out of our sight ; or we looked and 
 listened if perchance we might hear the rustle of spirit 
 wings, or catch the gleam of the white robe which is 
 the " righteousness of the saints." 
 
 Mr. Moore says : " He sent for me to come and see 
 him from Orono. I came into the sick room about 
 three o'clock, Friday afternoon. He recognized me at 
 once, and exclaimed, ' Oh, my dear Brother Moore, 
 here you are! I am glad to see you. Kiss me!' 
 Then he asked me to preach his funeral sermon, and 
 give his love to the brethren in the States. We bowed 
 around his dying bed, had a season of prayer, and bade 
 this good brother a final farewell on earth. After this 
 he gradually sank away until the next afternoon, when 
 he quietly breathed his last. 
 
 "His funeral was attended at his residence on Tues- 
 day, Sept. 23rd, at ten o'clock a.m. The service was 
 conducted as follows: Scripture lesson by Rev. W. 
 "W". De Geer. Prayer by Rev. J. H. Shoults. Hymn 
 by Rev. "Wm. Percy. Sermon by Rev. D. W. Moore. 
 Prayer by the same. Remarks by Rev. Mr. Clark, 
 Methodist, of Oshawa. The remains were followed 
 to their last resting place by 85 carriages, and there 
 were eighteen ministers at his funeral." 
 
THE CLOSING SCENE. 159 
 
 Once more the green turf on the little hill by the 
 lake shore was broken, and Rev. Thomas Henry was 
 buried there, not more than half a mile from his home. 
 Sept. 23rd, 1879. 
 
 ABSTRACT 
 
 0/ the discourse preached by Rev. D. W. Moore, at the funeral 
 of Elder Thomas Henry, of Port Oshawa, Canada, September 23, 
 1879. 
 
 " For more than a century a huge and stately elm 
 tree has stood out boldly and alone on an island just 
 outside of the harbor at Kingston. During all these 
 long years it raised its towering branches heavenward, 
 while its strong roots, like sinews, struck deep and 
 reached far down, laying hold upon the soil and 
 entwining themselves around the rocks. Thus it 
 stood amidst storm and sunshine, wintry blasts and 
 summer breezes, like a pillar-cloud by day and by 
 night to the mariners on the waters of Ontario for 
 these hundred years. 
 
 " But the terrible gale which blew on lake and land 
 last "Wednesday morning tore this old landmark from 
 its position and laid it, broken and prostrate, on the 
 very soil from which it had drawn its strength and 
 life. The roots which once had been strong as 
 sinews were weakened by age. The boughs which 
 were once young and elastic, and withstood many a 
 storm, were broken. The grand old tree fell, to the 
 sorrow and great regret of both citizen and sailor. 
 
160 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 " So there has stood in this vicinity for more than 
 half a century a noble man, who, in many respects, 
 rose head and shoulders above those around him ; a 
 man who has stood the storms of adversity and 
 persecution and the hardships of a pioneer life; 
 a man who has been like a beacon-light along this 
 lake shore for fifty years. But last Saturday after- 
 noon the dark angel of the grave came and struck the 
 fatal blow ; the once strong man fell prostrate before 
 the king of terrors, and Elder Thomas Henry was 
 dead. 
 
 " On the very account of the exposed position in 
 which it stood — because it was subject to winds 
 and storms — that majestic old tree struck its roots 
 deeper and firmer, and every limb and bough was 
 strengthened by the conflict with nature. So with 
 this noble man who has fallen. The very trials, ex- 
 posures, and hardships through which ie has passed 
 made him strong in body, mind, and heart. But 
 'strong men shall bow themselves, and the life 
 of man on earth shall fail.' * * * The messenger 
 of death has by one blow struck down an affectionate 
 husband, a loving father, a kind brother, a worthy 
 citizen, a good neighbor, a consistent Christian, a 
 faithful minister ; and that good man whom we all 
 learned to love and revere is no more on earth. 
 
 " Twenty-four hours betore his aeparture, when, by 
 his request, I was called to the bedside of my dear 
 aged friend and brother, and saw him aheady enter- 
 ing upon the death-struggle, the words of David as 
 
THE CLOSING SCENE. 161 
 
 recorded in the first verse of the twelfth Psalm, came 
 forcibly to my mind : ' Help, Lord, for the godly 
 man ceaseth, and the faithful fail from among the 
 children ot men.' And after his expressed wish that 
 I should preach his funeral sermon, I could think of 
 no other words more appropriate for the occasion, or 
 that better expressed the feelings of my heart. 
 
 " David, when he saw those who had been faithful 
 and true, those who had been in the front of the battle 
 and the thickest of the tight, those who had been 
 good and firm — when he saw them falling and lost to 
 the cause, his heart was filled with anguish ; and 
 feeling that the arm of man was too feeble, he cried 
 out in the deep emotions of his soul, ' Help, Lord, for 
 the godly man ceaseth, and the faithful fail from 
 among the children of men.' "When recalling how 
 destitute was human comfort, he craveth help from 
 God. So with me — so with us all. Observe how 
 these two characteristics are here put together — the 
 'godly' and the 'faithful.' Let us briefly notice 
 these two grand elements which go to make up the 
 character of the best men of earth. * * Such are 
 the men on whom God builds the world and the 
 church ; such are the men who are a blessing to man- 
 kind ; such are the men with whom we love to meet, 
 but loath to leave us ; such men are the backbone 
 and heart of society ; they are the salt of the 
 earth. * * 
 
 " As we have been speaking of the characteristics 
 of the ' godly man and the faithful ' have not your 
 
163 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 minds beea naturally and inevitably tamed to the 
 dear good man whose obsequies we observe to-day ? 
 Do you not instinctively and without hesitation say 
 that these traits of character, these deeds of duty and 
 love, all belong to him ? Will not this lone widow 
 say, ' He was a good husband, faithful and true ? ' 
 Do not these sons and daughters rise up and say, ' K 
 ever children had a good father, we had?' These 
 neighbors and acquaintances, all who hear me this 
 day and all who knew him, will bear me witness, 
 willing and heart-felt testimony, that whether in the 
 pulpit, social circle, or in the family, he whose funeral 
 rites we now attend was, in the full and complete 
 sense of the term, a good man. 
 
 '' But godly men cease, good men die, the faithful 
 ones pass away. With them so much goodness goes 
 out of the world. They have been a blessing to the 
 world. We feel that- we can ill-spare them. Hence 
 their departure is a great loss, and when a good man 
 dies we may well exclaim, ' Help, Lord, for the godly 
 man ceaseth, and the faithful fail from among the 
 children of men. * * 
 
 " In the removal of Father Henry the entire com- 
 munity has sustained an irreparable loss. The 
 subdued tone in which the news of his death was 
 communicated from lip to lip ; the tears that flowed 
 when the telegram was read before the Conference ; 
 the all pervading sadness it occasioned ; the feeling 
 manifested whenever his name was mentioned either 
 in public or private ; the heavy badges of mourning 
 
THE CLOSING SCENE. 163 
 
 with which the church was draped on Sunday morn- 
 ing ; the large and solemn assembly here this day- 
 all these things attest in language stronger than 
 words how deeply enshrined in the popular heart is 
 the memory of him whose long and useful life has 
 just closed. 
 
 " Elder Henry was blessed naturally not only with a 
 fine, robust physical constitution, but also with an 
 amiable, frank disposition, as well as good intellectual 
 powers. Hence he was one of those men who leave a 
 mark on the society in which they lived and a vacancy 
 in the place they leave. He was one of those men 
 who looked on the bright side of things and of life, 
 and therefore was always of a cheerful disposition, 
 scattering sunshine wherever he went. 
 
 "He was a man of industrious habits, a strict 
 economist of time, always ready to do his duty, 
 prompt to meet engagements and fulfil his promises, 
 and strictly honest in all of his dealings. He was 
 naturally of a devout disposition, always ready to 
 show due reverence and respect to proper authority, to 
 the house and worship of God ; in fact, reverence was 
 a special characteristic of him. 
 
 " Bro. Henry was a diligent student of the Bible. 
 To him it was the book. He loved it, he studied it, 
 he delighted to drink from the perennial springs of 
 ever-fresh and ever-living truths of God's holy word. 
 As the laborer relishes his meal and renews his 
 strength by the bread he eats, so our depai-ted brother 
 
164 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 was fed from the truths and doctrines of the Bible 
 and made to rejoice in the promises of God. 
 
 " He was a man of uniform stability of mind. He 
 was not changeable and fickle, still was reasonable and 
 open to conviction, and when convinced was manly, 
 noble enough to yield former opinions. He was firm 
 in his belief, attached to his views, and yet not a 
 bigot. 
 
 " As a consistent, straightforward man, he was a 
 shining example to younger preachers who may 
 follow him. Settled principles of conscious duty 
 squared his character, his preaching, and his whole 
 life. 
 
 " He was pre-eminently a man of peace, of expansive 
 charity and large sympathy. He always looked on 
 the charitable side of those who might have erred, 
 and in having to deal with such, instead of being 
 harsh, would always say it were better to err on the 
 side of charity than severity. He was truly a friend 
 to all, an enemy to none. To sum this point up in a 
 word, he has been a man of the most forgiving, 
 charitable Christian character. 
 
 " Elder Henry was a man who greatly delighted in 
 Christian fellowship and communion. The house of 
 worship, the fellowship meeting, the annual con- 
 ferences, the general meetings of the brethren were 
 like lovefeasts to his soul. He always commended 
 love and good-will among Christians, and loved the 
 good in all denominations. While he was firm and 
 
THE CLOSING SCENE. 165 
 
 conscientious in his own religious views, and had a 
 peculiar love for his Christian brethren, he was not 
 narrow or sectarian. He enjoyed the esteem, rejoiced 
 in the association and fellowship of the children of 
 God any where. He was beloved and honored by the 
 young people and children of his acquaintance, for 
 whom he always had a cheerful word, and to whom he 
 always gave wise and prudent counsel. Though he 
 grew old in body, he never seemed to grow old in 
 heart and spirit. He was of a meek and humble dis- 
 position, not rating himself above others, or stalking 
 through the world with a high head and stiff neck 
 thinking that everybody should pay great deference to 
 him. He always appreciated a kindness, was really 
 at heart thankful for any favor, hence made every one 
 his friend. He felt under obligation for any and every 
 act of kindness bestowed upon him, and was ever 
 ready not only to acknowledge the favor, but to return 
 the compliment by some kind deed. 
 
 " How many times during the two days since his 
 death have we heard this remark, ' He will be missed. ' 
 Yes, he will be missed; first and most by her who 
 has walked by his side and mingled with his joys and 
 sorrows as his dearest earthly friend for fifty years. 
 
 " Missed by these sons and daughters who have so 
 long had his noble example and Christian counsel. 
 
 " Missed by the old pioneers who may be still left 
 to mourn their loss. 
 
 " Missed by the neighbors who have lived around 
 
166 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 him, and associated with him in all the busy concerns 
 of life. 
 
 " Missed by the very large circle of friends and 
 acquaintances in all this section of the coxmtry. 
 
 " Missed by the church in Oshawa, of which he has 
 been such a faithful member, minister, and supporter. 
 
 " Missed by the Canada Christian Conference, as all 
 will testify who attended the session last week. The 
 vacant chair sat by the pulpit at the very time that 
 friends stood around his dying bed. 
 
 " Missed by the brethren on the other side of the lake, 
 who so much enjoyed his visits. His house has always 
 been the home of the Christian ministers from the 
 States when visiting Canada. Many a brother from 
 the other side has taken sweet counsel with him, and 
 enjoyed the hospitalities of his home. 
 
 " Missed by the Board of Trustees of the Christian 
 Biblical Institute. He was one of the three of us who 
 have attended every annual meeting of the Board since 
 its organization. It was there that the intimate love 
 and friendship sprung up and grew and strengthened 
 between us that has caused me to be your speaker on 
 this sad occasion. I feel like a mourner with you to- 
 day. 
 
 " Missed by the hundreds of readers of our religious 
 paper, the Herald of Gospel Libektt, through whose 
 columns he so frequently spoke to the brotherhood. 
 He was our only regular correspondent from Canada. 
 
THE CLOSING SCENE. 167 
 
 " Missed lie will be on earth, but greeted in heaven. 
 Farewell, dear Bro. Henry, a short farewell ; soon we 
 shall mingle together again where gloom will be 
 exchanged for glory and parting will be no more. 
 
 " He is at rest. Tlie silver cord is loosed, the wheel 
 broken at the cistern ; the heart can beat no more, 
 the light has faded out of the eye, the blood has 
 ceased to flow, the last breath flies from the quivering 
 lips, the soul leaves the tenement of clay, and the 
 manly form lies down to sleep in death. The head is 
 no more an aching head ; those eyes shall no more be 
 wet with tears ; that heart shall no more weep with 
 anguish, throb with grief, or be weighed down with 
 sorrow ; those limbs shall no more be racked with 
 pain. He is at his journey's end, quiet and safe in 
 the harbor of eternal rest — oat of the reach of all 
 storms, difficulties, and trials. 
 
 " Dear friends, do not mourn as those who have no 
 hope. We cannot, would not say, 'Do not weep.' 
 "When you reflect on the virtues of the departed and 
 the blessed associations you have had with him, your 
 hearts are almost broken with tender feelings of 
 afl'ection and grief. At the tearing asunder of those 
 sacred ties, well may we expect and allow some part- 
 ing pangs and tears of sorrow. But look up through 
 your sorrow and tears and heartachings and bereave- 
 ment, and remember that your loss is his gain. 
 Though he has ceased to move and talk and live 
 amongst us, still ' he being dead yet speaketh.' He 
 ' ceaseth,' but not entirely. He still lives in our 
 
168 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 hearts, in our memory, and speaks to us in his in- 
 fluence. Though he may rest I'rom his labors, yet 
 his works do follow him. Death may take away his 
 earthly tabernacle from our midst, we may be com- 
 pelled to bury his noble form iroaf out of our sight, 
 but it cannot hide from us that virtue we love, nor 
 our blessed remembrance and admiration of the dear 
 departed. So it is a wise and beautiful ministration 
 by which the virtues, example, and memories of the 
 dead speak to us, help us, comfort and bless us. If 
 there were nothing more of our friends than the few 
 fleeting years which they spend upon the theatre of 
 this world, then, like Rachel, we might refuse to be 
 comforted, because they are not. But, though gone, 
 they are not forever lost. They live in light and 
 glory. May the God of all grace comfort you and 
 keep you and save us all in heaven at last. 
 
 (Written for the Herald of Gospel lAberfy.) 
 
 DEATH OF ELDEE THOMAS HENRY. 
 
 " Editorially — as also in an article from Elder D.W. 
 Moore — the Herald of Gospel Liherty of October 4th 
 bore to its readers a sorrowful message. It was an 
 announcement of the death of that venerable and 
 saintly man. Eld. Thomas Henry, of Oshawa, Canada. 
 But few ministers in the denomination ever became 
 better known or more widely beloved than Elder 
 Henry. True, his face had not been seen nor his voice 
 heard among the churches in general, but in the 
 SeraM all of us have often and for many years met 
 
THE CLOSING SCENE. 169 
 
 this good man heart to heart, if not face to face. Pre- 
 cious the paper that introduces so many good men to 
 our homes and breathes their Christly spirit into our 
 households. But few men can give a glow of brotherly 
 affection to their letters and newspaper articles as 
 could Father Henry. Nor was this lire the forced 
 kindling of dying coals. It was the glow of altar-flames 
 that burned with an ever-increasing fervor. No let- 
 ter, paragraph for paper, notice of meetings, or other 
 form of written communication, lacked some sign of 
 the soul-warmth peculiar to the writer. ' I must 
 never write in a public or private way without saying 
 something for Jesus, and something to strengthen and 
 encourage my brethren,' seemed with him an ever- 
 present and an ever-inspiring sentiment. In all the 
 years of my editorship I found this one of the bright- 
 est jewel qualities of a man whose soul was as the set- 
 ting of many priceless gems. How many knew of his 
 numerous right-hand kindness kept in secrecy from 
 the left, we know not. But through one of the 
 Herald editors he often responded to calls for aid. 
 Beautiful and sweetly-touching were some of the res- 
 ponses thus inspired in the hearts that re^d the hand 
 of God in such timely help. A letter from a certain 
 minister's widow was a wondrous breathing of that 
 sweet pathos that kindled in Hagar's heart when for 
 the sake of his thirsty and despairing handmaiden God 
 came down from the heaven of ever-living fountains 
 and opened a spring in the wilderness. 
 
 "Father Henry never made inquiry of the Lord 
 whether he had not given enough or done his share. 
 
170 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 Nay ; but, as indicated in the sketch given by Brother 
 Moore, he kept the armor on till laid off for the burial 
 robe. His hand was active in service till just before 
 his summons to reward. 
 
 "As a worker in the interest of denominational litera- 
 ture, the MeroUd never had a more active, constant, 
 and steadfast friend than it had in Father Henry. No 
 personal references ever prevented his co-operation in 
 religious work. His loving, unselfish soul rose above 
 all that was local and personal. It allied itself with all 
 that was 'honest,' 'just,' 'pure,' 'lovely,' and of 
 ' good report.' If any Christian of my acquaintance 
 reaUy loved all his brethren, ministry and laity, and 
 all people of all theological persuasions, that man was 
 Brother Henry. He possessed that rare and beautiful 
 grace of being truly devoted to his own people in a 
 truly non-sectarian spirit and example. Some persons 
 are so sectarian in their professed juw-sectarianism, as 
 to be like one who rebukes anger in the spirit of a 
 greater madness. But this minister of Christ vindi- 
 cated the liberty of the gospel with consistency, discri- 
 mination, and ability. While his soul abhorred every 
 thing that bordered on bigotry, his preaching allowed 
 no laxity in relation to gospel essentials. His mind — 
 or rather his heart — made not the mistake of those lax 
 religionists in England,Germany, and now in America, 
 who reject theology while avowing Christianity. Such 
 rejection is a new stratagem of the enemy, and is 
 meant for a stealthy usdermining of * the faith once 
 delivered to the saints.' The systematic study of the 
 Bible, in logical light and devout spirit, evolves from 
 
THE CLOSING SCENE. m 
 
 it the science of God and of divine things as set forth 
 in the mediatorial scheme. Elder Henry, however, 
 was not a menial to any ecclesiasticism of system or 
 interpretation. He sought to draw his theology di- 
 rectly from the Bible, and to preach in such Bible, 
 language as avoided, as far as possible, the technical 
 phraseology of the Schools. From the Bible he drew 
 all his subjects, and grounded his sermons on the plain 
 import of God's word. The simple power of scripture 
 truth he wielded with great effect. He had no confi- 
 dence in mere metaphysical and philosophical preach- 
 ing. His sense of duty to perishing souls would not 
 allow him to bring the gospel down to a level with 
 perverted tastes, and philosophy, and science, falsely 
 so called. He believed it the sole business of the 
 pulpit to unfold, vindicate, and apply the truth of 
 God's word. Souls could not live unconcerned nor 
 churches remain inactive and lifeless under a ministry 
 of such gospel simplicity and spiritual power. Through 
 him Christ spake to the people in every discourse. 
 He was not of that class of preachers described in 
 Cowper s couplet ; 
 
 ' How oft when Paul has served us with a text, 
 Has Epictetus, Plato, or Tully preatehed.' 
 
 " In a strictly literary sense. Father Henry was not 
 a learned man. His sermdns bore but little impress of 
 human aids. They were coins of no human re-cast- 
 ing. They were bright and new from the mintage of 
 mental fervor and soul-affection. His sermons were 
 therefore fresh, original, and eminently spiritual. Too 
 many sermons evince more reading than reflection^ 
 
172 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 tDore food tlian digestion, more memory than compre- 
 hension. But Elder Henry had read much, had mas- 
 tered much, and was indeed, quite familiar with the 
 popular systems and current thought of the theologi- 
 •cal world. In addition to his reading he possessed a 
 fitore or experience and observation from which he 
 largely enriched his sermons and his conversation. 
 Though destitute of large educational advantages in 
 his early ministry, he would have no young minister 
 at this day labor in a like embarrassment. Hence his 
 great interest in the Biblical school, his appreciation 
 ■of Brother Clark's benevolence, and his earnest desire 
 that our people should further contribute to the pe- 
 cuniary wants of the school and help young men to the 
 great advantages there made so easily and economi- 
 cally available. 
 
 " In style. Father Henry displayed no polished elo- 
 quence. Plain, conversational, animated, loving, and 
 often pathetic in speech, his words fell not short of the 
 heart. What he lacked in rhetorical polish he suppli- 
 ed in spiritual power. All his face, nay, all his frame 
 seemed to preach when fully under the inspiration of 
 his theme. "Words of inexpressible sweetness — words 
 of tenderness — words of winning love would often pour 
 forth from his soul. He could warn the sinner from 
 Sinai, and from Olivet weep over souls from whom the 
 heavenly good was hidden. Though his sermons were 
 not after the strictest system — ^not always logically 
 arranged — ^yet, judged by the higher rules of homilet- 
 ics, they were enriched by qualities of the truest merit. 
 
THE CLOSING SCENE.. 175 
 
 Hence the success of his ministry — but thank God for 
 even the greater success of his Christian life. 
 
 ' His preaching much, but more his practice wrought, — 
 A living sermon of the truths he taught.' 
 
 " In his family, among his neighbors, in the churches,, 
 in the conference session, on committees, acting as a, 
 trustee in important interests — in all things — every- 
 where, Father Henry was a man of peace, a man of 
 kind words, a man of safe counsel. His feelings for 
 all his family was that of pure, undying affection. In 
 a lengthy conversation with him at the Oshawa quad- 
 rennial, as also in his many friendship letters, I could 
 discover in what undying affection he held his com- 
 panion and his children. The Lord sustain them in 
 their loss and their grief ! 
 
 " His affection for friends — for all his brethren — how 
 ardent, hova; undying ! When I was parting with 
 him last June, at Stanfordville, New York — after that 
 last session of the trustees in which he was ever to sit 
 — after that last morning devotion with a family from 
 whose embrace a loving soul was soon to ascend to 
 glory in all the sanctified affection of wife and mother 
 — with an earnest parting grip, Father Henry said : 
 ' Farewell, Bro. Eush. It is not likely we shall ever 
 meet on earth again. Give my love to my dear 
 brethren in the States. Tell the friends at Franklin 
 that I have not forgotten thera. And the family that 
 so kindly entertained me, (the sisters Maxwell) re- 
 member me sincerely to them. Now farewell, fare- 
 well ; may we meet in heaven." 
 
174 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 "As a member of the Board of Biblical school trustees 
 I should like to say something of the valuable qualifi- 
 cations of Elder Henry, but my limits will not aUow. 
 The book of his biography will doubtless dwell upon 
 the many interesting phases of the character of one 
 who, as a husband, a father, a neighbor, a preacher, a 
 pastor, a friend, and a counsellor was true to his life- 
 work and triumphant in his death. 
 
 "H. Y. EusH. 
 " Franklin, Ohio." 
 
 m MEMOEIAM OF ELDEE THOS. HENEY. 
 
 Sleep, faithful servant, friend of Grod, 
 Thine hour of rest hath come at length; 
 
 iTes, sweetly sleep beneath the sod, 
 Then wake to find immortal strength. 
 
 How grand the purpose of thy life ! ' 
 How grandly well thy work was done ! 
 
 A f oeman free from carnal strife, 
 Thou'st fought the fight, the vict'ry won. 
 
 Oh ! may thy heav'nly mantle fall 
 Upon some youthful prophet fair. 
 
 Who, answering to the Master's call, 
 Will strive as well to " do and dare." 
 
 And now, farewell, brave teacher, friend. 
 No more we'll greet thy loving face, 
 
 Till we, like thefe, have reached life's end. 
 And found thee in eternal space. 
 
 Honeoye Falls, N. Y., Oct. 3, 1879. ^^ ^^ ^'"'^^ 
 
THE OLD HOME. 175 
 
 THE OLD HOME. 
 
 Not long since I went to visit Mother Henry, in the 
 old liome at Port Oshawa, where she lives with 
 William, our yonngest brother, and his amiable wife. 
 Mother and Willie were both absent; bat Eliza 
 kindly welcomed me, and invited me to occupy 
 mother's room — that room which she and father had 
 so long occupied together; that room in which he 
 had lain through days of suffering, and nights of 
 anguish, and from which he went forth to return no 
 more. I felt no superstitious dread of the place, but 
 a solemn sense of the presence of something better 
 than myself — something higher, nearer allied to the 
 divine, than the ordinary surroundings of life. 
 
 Are the spirits of the departed ever permitted to 
 come near to us ? If so, Father Henry's spirit was 
 near me that night. I seemed to see his face, to hear 
 his voice. Memory also brought back forms and 
 faces familiar, in the buried, but not forgotten, past — 
 a throng of loved ones, who used to frequent the Old 
 Some with me. I seemed to see them around me, 
 to almost feel the touch of their hands. 
 
 The following imperfect lines are a faint sketch of 
 the visions which floated before the eyes of my mind 
 during 
 
 THE NIGHT IN THE OLD HOME. 
 
 Oh, the scenes of long ago 
 *Float in shadows to and fro ; 
 And the darkness of the night, 
 In their presence groweth light. 
 Gentle voices, loving words, 
 like the distant song of birds. 
 
176 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 Falling from a wondrous height, \ 
 Coming from above the night, 
 Drop upon my listening ear, 
 With a sound I love to hear. 
 
 Forms that here were wont to meet us, 
 Smiles that now no longer greet us— 
 Cherished visions— slowly pass, 
 Like reflections in a glass — 
 Gliding, melting into air. 
 Tiny children, soft and fair; 
 Sturdy boys with laughing faces; 
 Little girls with gentler graces; 
 Lovely maids with smile and song; 
 Young men, noble, brave, and strong; 
 Charming brides, and bridegrooms gay ; 
 Loving mothers, thoughtful men ; 
 Night of sorrow, festal day — 
 All are coming back again. 
 
 But among the well-known throng, 
 
 None seemed so bright, stay'd so long. 
 
 As the dear, benignant face, 
 
 That with patriarchal grace 
 
 Smiled upon the home-like scene ; 
 
 Welcoming, with cordial mien. 
 
 All the loved ones gathered here. 
 
 Father, art thou not still near? 
 
 Where are all the loved ones gone? 
 
 Am I sitting here alone? 
 
 Ah, the loved ones! how they stray? 
 
 From the old homestead away 1 
 
 Up and down the steeps of life. 
 
 Storm and sunshine, love and strife, 
 
 Are theirs. But the sleepers hid, 
 
 'Neath the coffin's folded lid, 
 
 Have rest — peace. Have they not more t 
 
 No blessedness unknown before ? 
 
EXTRACTS FROM WRITINGS. 177 
 
 E'en now I hear, in echoes sweet, 
 Faint whispers from the far-off sea. 
 Of boundless love and harmony, 
 That laves the silver-sanded shore. 
 Where those who walk shall sleep no more 
 The sleep of death. Are they not there ? 
 Prophetic whispers answers, ' ' There ! " 
 Where those who love, their loved ones meet. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM WRITINGS. 
 
 The following extract is from a sermon delivered by 
 Elder Henry, I think before a Ministerial Association 
 or something of that sort. I give it, not because it is 
 better than many of his sermons, but because it is per- 
 haps, a fair specimen of his style ; and because I have 
 it at hand, and few of his sermons were written. The 
 others are short articles written for the Christian 
 Magazine. 
 
 " The Bible is called by the Prophet Isaiah : ' The 
 Book of the Lord ' — by one of the ancients : ' The 
 History of God.' It abounds in the most sublime 
 descriptions of God's nature and perfections ; from it 
 we learn that He is a Spiiit, infinite and eternal; 
 unchangable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, 
 justice, goodness and truth. 
 
 "From the Bible we learn that in the beginning 
 God created the heavens and the earth. He said, 
 * Let there be light,' and there was light : He laid tlie 
 foundations of the earth ; He bound up the waters in 
 the thick clouds ; He gave the sea a decree that it 
 should not pass its bounds ; He set a compass upon 
 the great deep — ^He stretched out the North over the 
 empty place, and hung the earth upon nothing. He 
 made the beasts of the earth, and the fowls of the 
 air, and every living creature that moveth upon the 
 
178 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 earth or in the waters. Last and best, He made man 
 in His own image, and after His own likeness, and 
 gave him dominion over every living thing. He 
 gives the rain in due season, and the plentiful harvest. 
 He shuts lip the heavens and the earth yields not its 
 fruit. From the Bible we learn tliat the Lord is God 
 in Heaven above and in earth beneath. He will not 
 justify the wicked, nor clear the guilty ; but He is 
 merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant 
 in goodness and truth : Heaven is His throne and the 
 earth is His footstool. The cattle upon a thousand 
 hills are His, — the earth and the fulness thereof. 
 
 " I am a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not afar 
 off. Can any hide himself in a secret place, that 1 
 shall not see him ? Is there any darkness or 
 shadow of death where the workers of iniquity 
 may hide themselves ? He is also very near to the 
 righteous, as He declares His eyes are upon them, 
 and His ears open to their complaints, 'fhe Bible 
 was designed to save the world. Paul says the 
 Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. 
 All Scripture is given by inspiration, and is profitable 
 for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruc- 
 tion ; it contains all necessary rules for religious faith 
 and practice. Paul said : ' If any man speak, let 
 him speak as the oracles of God ; ' but in these latter 
 days there has been a great departure from this. 
 Men have tried to legislate for the church — ^have 
 hewn out broken cisterns which hold no water. The 
 people calling themselves Christians have seen the 
 error of this — have renounced their men-made creeds 
 and articles of faith, confessed their errors, and taken 
 the Bible as their rule of faith and practice, with no 
 name but Christian, and no test of fellowship but 
 Christian character. I pray God that they, as a 
 people, may never depart from this, or be guilty of 
 teaching for doctrines the commandments of men ; 
 but may contend earnestly" for the faith once delivered 
 
EXTRACTS FROM WRITINGS. 179 
 
 to the saints. Another object of the Bible is to 
 encourage the saints. It abounds -with such promises 
 as these : ' Where two or three are gathered together 
 in My name, there am I in the midst,' 'I -will be 
 with jou always, even to the end of the world.' God 
 has ever been with the faithful. He was with Noah 
 in the ark ; with Moses in the wilderness ; with the 
 Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, and with Daniel 
 in the lions' den. Ho has caused these things to be 
 recorded in His Book fcr our encouragement, and 
 promised that He will be with His children in six 
 troubles, and in the feventh that He will not desert 
 them. 'Who shall be able to sepaiate us from the 
 love of Christ ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or 
 famine, or persecution? Nay : in all these things we 
 shall be more than conquerors through Him that 
 loved us ! I am persuaded that neither life nor death, 
 nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor 
 things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other 
 creature, shall separate us fiom the love of God 
 which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' 
 
 "The Bible should be read by all. Were it not for 
 this Holy Volume, we should be no better off than 
 the idolaters to whom Paul preached on Mars Hill. 
 It points to God and says : ' This is life eternal, that 
 they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus 
 Christ whom Thou hast sent ! ' 
 
 "In the Bible we have not only the theory of reli- 
 gion, but we have religion itself, embodied and 
 enlivened by living examples. There is not a single 
 virtue which can adorn human life — not a grace that 
 beautifies the heart, which has not been exemplified 
 in some living character of the Bible. Thus we see 
 faith in Abraham, meekness in Moses, wisdom in 
 Solomon, patience in Job, zeal in Peter, and persever- 
 ance in Paul. In Jesus Christ we see all the graces 
 that can adorn the life; all the perfections of Chris- 
 tianity How pleasant His delivejy ; what profound 
 
180 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 ■wisdom in His sermons; how spotless His life ; what 
 •command over His passions ; what patience under 
 enfFering ; what triumph in death ! Who could so 
 live and so die? Surely never man spake like Him ! 
 He is the model for our imitation ; let us keep Him 
 continually before our eyes, and imitate Him as far 
 as feeble human nature can. Search the Scriptures, 
 for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and 
 ' Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and 
 continueth therein, being not a forgetful hearer, but a 
 doer of the Word, that man shall be blessed in his 
 deed.' 
 
 " In conclusion, I would recommend to all the Bible, 
 I would recommend every one to become a student of 
 the Bible, and form his life by its precepts. No other 
 book can take its place. No other book can show the 
 way to sins forgiven, ur lead a step beyond the grave. 
 
 ' " Let all the heathen writers join 
 
 To make one perfect book — 
 Great ! God when once compared with thine 
 
 How mean their writings look. ' " 
 
 "Thomas Henet." 
 
 THE SUPPOET OF THE GOSPEL. 
 
 " Support the ministry ! Supply the necessary means 
 for defraying Church expenses ; or neither yourself, or 
 church, or minister will prosper ! Our great want is a 
 spirit of devotedness and self-denial. ' Seek first the 
 kingdom of heaven' is the Divine injunction, but we 
 seem almost to have reversed the order ; we seek every 
 thing else first. Business must be enlarged, farms 
 paid for and improved, money let out at interest, aye 
 more, our dress and surroundings and equipage must 
 all be elegant, before we can pay what is 'Justly due to 
 the church or minister. We need not attempt to ex- 
 cuse ourselves by saying, ' We pay all we sign.^ Ee- 
 fusing to sign does not absolve us from the obligation 
 
EXTRACTS FROM WRITINGS. 181 
 
 to support the gospel. "Wlien we make a profession 
 of religion, we thereby assume the obligation to sup- 
 port that religion. When we become members of a 
 church, we bind ourselves in so doing, to the snpport 
 of that church. Let us see to it that we discharge our 
 duty in this particular. We mourn over the deso- 
 lation of Zion, but where is the cause ? Does not the 
 sin lie at our own door ? Can we expect to see new 
 churches spring up, or weak churches grow into strong 
 ones, while wealthy brethren hoard up their gold or 
 let it out at usury, instead of liberally paying their 
 ministers ? There are men who pay by Jk)es and tens 
 who might give by hundreds without abridging the 
 comforts or even luxuries of their families in the least. 
 The only difference they would feel at the end of the 
 year, would be in the amount of interest to be put out 
 at interest again. There are others who might pay 
 liberally if they were not slaves to passion. But a cer- 
 tain style must be maintained whether God's cause is 
 maintained or not. Let us see if we are not guilty on 
 this point. In this unjustifiable strife for outward 
 adornment, do we not consume the offerings which 
 should be laid on the altar of our God ? If we exhaust 
 the utmost farthing of our income on expensive dress 
 and furniture, where shall we find means to support 
 the Gospel ? 
 
 " There are young men among us, not only willing 
 but anxious to enter the ministry— young men who 
 would be useful, and who in the hands of other denom- 
 inations would soon be used, who remam mactive, 
 because no opening presents itself. They cannot meet 
 the wants of our churches, or of the conimunit;^ at large 
 ^^thout further preparation. That preparation they 
 cannot make, and at the same time mamtam them- 
 selves and families. Some one will say. Go torth 
 without farther preparation as did our pioneers. 
 They were unlettered men, yet they built up our 
 churches ' If any one takes this advice, and comes 
 
182 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 to talk to us a little on Sunday, after a week spent in 
 manual labor, the chances are, that our fastidious 
 brethren will turn from him with ill-concealed disgust. 
 He will go home discouraged, and begin to doubt its 
 being his duty to try to preach at all. At the same 
 time other denominations ai-e inviting them to attrac- 
 tive fields of labor, and offering them salaries which 
 would enable them to discharge their duties, with 
 credit to themselves and the church with which they 
 labored. Are we less wealthy than these other de- 
 nominations, or do we love the causeless ? God forbid 
 that the latter should be the case ; yet a visit to 
 the sumptuous homes which abound in most of our 
 churches, would seem to disprove the former. 
 
 " But if we are less liberal with our ministers than 
 some other denominations around us, we are not less 
 exacting. I know a wealthy church of a denomination 
 that I could mention, that listens once a month to a 
 local preacher, far inferior to those whom we snub 
 occasionally, that its regular preachere may extend 
 their labors. Yet this church pays a salary which 
 none of our churches in Canada pay. Men among us 
 who pay ten or twenty dollars a year, will talk about 
 talented ministers, as though they thought a Beecher, 
 or Spurgeon should be obtained for three or four hun- 
 dred dollars a year. If we want talented men we 
 must pay the sums that will command talent. ' But,' 
 says one, ' it men are called of God to preach, they 
 will go where they can do most good, not where they 
 are best paid.' v ery true ! But a man has every 
 reason to believe he can best serve God and do good 
 where he is best appreciated. If we were too poor to 
 pay our ministers, I would say, woe to him who being 
 called, forsakes us for the loaves and fishes. 
 
 " When this Province was new and our people poor 
 and few, the word grew and was multiplied, though 
 little was given. That little was like the widow's 
 mite — all they had,- and God blessed it accordingly. 
 
EXTRACTS FROM WRITINGS. 183 
 
 Let us give as miich in proportion to what we have 
 now, as they give tlien, and see if our Father will not 
 pour us out an overflowing cup of blessing. 
 
 " Let us pay the ministers we have such salaries as 
 will enable them to cultivate their powers properly, 
 and it is quite probable we shall find that they possess a 
 higher order of talent than we have supposed they did. 
 
 " What I have said, I have said in a spirit of kindness. 
 Let us examine ourselves and see if we are doing what 
 we can. Are we laying up treasures in Heaven, or do 
 our treasures accumulate only on earth? Wealthy 
 brethren, ye who deal in large per-ceutages, I will tell 
 you of a good investment. Lend to the Lord. He 
 pays compound interest and the principal is sure." 
 
 A SHOET SERMON. 
 
 " And the Lord aid unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into 
 the ark." — Gen. vii. I. 
 
 " The ark was the only place of safety — a colossal 
 floating house, made of gopher wood (probably 
 cypress), containing small rooms or cells, and pitched 
 within and without. 
 
 " Noah and others, undoubtedly, had preached a 
 long time, year after year, to the antediluvians ; but 
 they were incorrigible. Their cup of wickedness was 
 full. 'God saw that the wickedness of man was 
 great in the earth, and that every imagination of the 
 thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And 
 it repented the Lord that He had made man on the 
 earth.' 
 
 "And the Lord had previously declared, ' My Spirit 
 shall not always strive with man.' 
 
 "What an awful state of things, only one pious 
 family in all the world, the whole earth filled with 
 
184 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 violence — the measure of their iniquities filled up ! 
 God had been merciful and longsuffering, but i& 
 about to show Himself a God of judgment now. 
 ' But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and 
 was called by Himself to come into the ark, him and 
 his house.' They were shut in, and the wicked shut 
 out. 
 
 " Noah prepared the ark with his own hands, accord- 
 ing to the Divine direction, of course. All is ready 
 for the terrible voyage. A solemn pause. ' For yet 
 seven days, and 1 will cause it to rain upon the earth 
 forty days and forty nights.' A week for a world to 
 repent ! Alas, what perverseness, what reckless dis- 
 regard ! they only laugh until the awful dispensation 
 bursts upon them. 
 
 " Now, Jesus Christ is the only ark of safety whereby 
 WE can be saved. The door is open, and Jesus Christ, 
 by the grace of God, tasted death for every man. 
 (Heb. ii. 9.) 
 
 " He invites and calls all : ' Come unto me, all ye 
 that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you 
 rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; for 
 I am meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest 
 unto your souls.' The apostles were commissioned 
 to 'go into all the world, and preach the gospel to 
 every creature. He that believeth, and is baptized, 
 shall be saved.' The Church, which is figuratively 
 called the Bride, says, 'Come.' The Spirit says, 
 ' Come. And let him that heareth say. Come. And 
 let him that is athirst Come. And whosoever 
 ' will, let him take of the water of life freely.' 
 
 " Thousands have come, and found grace, and others 
 are coming. The door of mercy is still open, and the 
 blood of Christ still cleanses from all sin. 
 
 "But there are those amongst us that make light of 
 the invitation and command, and say, there is time 
 enough yet. It was so with the antediluvians until 
 
EXTRACTS FROM WRITINGS. 185- 
 
 the door was shut, and the flood came ; then their 
 cries were in vain. Will it not be so with those who 
 refuse offered grace, and disobey the gospel ? Thua 
 it was with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. 
 The Jewish nation also rejected the Son of God, and 
 cried, 'Away with Him ; and, crucify Him ! ' When 
 Jerusalem was surrounded by the Roman army, and 
 the judgments of God about to fall upon them, there 
 was a respite, and the wise fled; then the door wa& 
 shut. 
 
 " Good news is now preached to Jew and Gentile. 
 The faithful minister teaches.admonishes and prays,the 
 tears flow and the exhortations are heard ; we have 
 line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little 
 and there a little ; yet many say, by their acts if not 
 in words, there is time enough yet ; when I have a 
 more convenient season, I will call for thee. 
 
 " Dear reader, listen to my last remark, believe it is 
 said in love. Listen to the remark of one who has 
 seen much of life. I fear that many are refusing 
 offered mercy, and will refuse until the door is shut, 
 and will take up the sad lament at last : ' The har- 
 vest is past, the summer is ended and we are not 
 
 saved.' 
 
 " ' Come to the ark, come to the ark, 
 
 To Jesus come away ; 
 The pestilence walks forth by night, 
 The arrow flies by uay.' " 
 
 " Port Oshawa, Dec. % 1866." 
 
 The following peculiar and interesting letter I 
 found among Father Henry's papers : 
 
 "East Avon, N. T., 2nd of 9th month, 1853. 
 " Eld. Thomas Henet, — 
 
 "Agreeable to your request, I hereby send you,, 
 as far as may be, an answer to the questions : ' flow 
 came the Christians to come to Canada? Who- 
 
186 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 came ? and wlien ? When and where was the first 
 church formed ? To answer the first question, I will 
 make extracts from a letter of Eld. D. Millard, dated 
 July 10th, 1821.' ' I have received a letter from a 
 sister now residing in the village of Newmarket, 
 Township of Whitchurch, about thirty miles North 
 of Little York, Upper Canada. She was an early 
 fruit of my labor in the gospel, and I baptized her 
 in Greenville, N. Y., in the summer of 1817. She 
 shortly after moved with her husband to the place 
 where she now lives. Having heard of free brethren 
 in Niagara Co., N. Y., she has written the most 
 urgent requests, for some free preachers to come to 
 that place. 
 
 " This letter, which gave me the first information of 
 her exact place of residence, was directed to Bros. 
 Brown of Porter, N. Y., and handed to me a few 
 days since. My young travelling brethren, let my 
 entreaties go with our sisters for some one to embark ! 
 
 " Mary Stogdill to T. Brown. Dear Brother, 
 Having an opportunity, I again take my pen, fearing 
 my second letter never reached you, as I have heard 
 nothing from you since your first letter ; and that is a 
 long time. Eld. Doubleday has never seen me. Bro. 
 Melntyre has never visited us, although most anxi- 
 ously have I looked for them. Think how great the 
 disappointment, yet I still hope. Oh, persuade them 
 to come ! Tell them Paul sought other countries, 
 that he might not build on another's foundation. Bid 
 them God speed to this part of the vineyard, for the 
 fields are white and ready to harvest. Have you 
 seen Eld. Millard this winter? Perhaps he would 
 come if he knew where to find us. I long for brethren, 
 being such a tender lamb when I was transplanted 
 from the fiock at Greenville. Come in, ye heralds of 
 the Cross, and Jesus come with you." 
 
 See G. Eerald, vol. 4, No. 2, Aug. 16th, 1821. 
 *' Before the close of the month, Bro. A. Huntly pre- 
 
A LETTER. 187 
 
 sented himself at her door. It so happened that 
 Darius Man, of Lake Simcoe, was at her house at the 
 time, and invited him to go to the Lake, where God 
 soon blessed his labors, as may be seen by an extract 
 from Eld. Baily's letter of Oct. 31st, 1821." Pomfret 
 N. Y., " Bro. Allen Huntly gave us (the Conference) 
 an account of his travels and success in preaching the 
 gospel in Upper Canada, where he had been laboring; 
 being led to visit that place by a letter from Sister 
 Stogdill, published in the Herald. 
 
 " He also presented us a letter from a number of 
 brethren in North Gwillimsbury near Lake Simcoe, 
 U. 0. The Conference took the matter into consid- 
 eration, and it seemed, after much prayer, good to us 
 to send chosen men with Bro. Huntly, that they 
 might set in order the things that were wanting. 
 And the Spirit bade Eld. Simeon Bishop and myself 
 
 fo with hiin, nothing doubting. We embarked at 
 'ort George, and after a tempestuous voyage landed 
 at Little York. We went from thence to Simcoe, 
 where we saw the grace of God and were glad. 
 
 " On the first day of the week, being the 21st of Oct., 
 almost the whole of the settlement came together, 
 and we ordained Bro. Huntly, after which he repaired 
 to the Lake, where there was much water, and he 
 baptized ten happy converts; then we returned to 
 the house, and organized a church of forty-three 
 names in New Testament order. 
 
 "Thus you will see, that the first Ordination, the 
 first Baptism, and the first Church organization in 
 IT. C, took place on the 21st of Oct., 1821. 
 
 " The next June, Bro. Huntly came to a General 
 Meeting in West Bloomfield, N. Y., and said : ' I 
 have now left Canada, and cannot return there to 
 stay, but I ask that the church there have immediate 
 help. If it does it may be saved, if not it will go 
 down.' The chief speaker then arose and said: 
 * Who will volunteer for Canada? ' All were silent. 
 
188 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 O I wished iu my heart that I was fit to go. With 
 streaming eyes he repeated the question. Again 
 there was no response. 'Shall we,' said he, 'like 
 hirelings, sacrifice this lonely flock to ravenons 
 wolves ? Is there not a David among us ? ' I 
 could remain seated no longer, but arose and said I 
 would go, if 1 could have one to go with me. A. C. 
 Morrison arose and said he would be the one to go 
 with me. 
 
 " We were neither of us ordained, but after some 
 talk and much prayer, Bro. Morrison was ordained. 
 We arrived at Lake Simcoe on the 15th of 7th month, 
 1822. Though the waves rose high, and terrible was 
 the tempest, yet he who said, ' Peace ! be still ! ' 
 spoke calmness to the heart. Gently died the tem- 
 pest — and smoothed were the waves; and there was 
 a great calm. On the 20th of 11th month, 1822, a 
 church was formed in East Gwiilimsbury, which was 
 the second church formed in the Province. I have 
 now tried to redeem ray promise, but if I have fallen 
 short, ask and I will try again. 
 
 " Yours as ever, 
 
 " Nathan Haeding." 
 
 The following poems by the author are append- 
 ed to this work by request. The first refers to my 
 own father, Elder Joshua Hayward, who died in 1840, 
 after twenty-three years of laborious work in the 
 Gospel field. The second to my mother, Mrs. Lydia 
 Hayward, who still lives, though now in her ninety- 
 second year, and enjoys good health and the use of all 
 her faculties. 
 
 IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 How long it is since father died ! 
 
 How many years, 
 Since I a child stood by his side 
 
 And brushed his hair ? 
 
IN MEMORIAM. 189 
 
 And travelling through those misty years, 
 
 Has made m.e old ; 
 My brow is seamed, and silver hairs 
 
 Replace the gold. 
 
 Has father since that far ofiE time 
 
 A stranger grown ; 
 Or would he in that "happy clime " 
 
 His daughter own ? 
 
 My father, by thy side to-night 
 
 I seem to stand, 
 To brush again thy locks of white 
 
 With tender hand. 
 
 How little then my childish heart 
 
 Could know of thine; 
 Our forms so near, so far apart 
 
 Thy soul from mine. 
 
 Though Death's dark stream between us roll, 
 
 We're nearer now ; 
 Father, I stand beside thy soul, 
 
 And touch thy brow. 
 
 Thy solemn consecrated life 
 
 I understand ; 
 In scenes of weariness and strife 
 
 I take thy hand. 
 
 I see thee in thy country's need 
 
 Where armies meet; 
 I see thee lay that country's meed 
 
 At Jesus' feet. 
 
 Devotingall thy manhood's powers 
 
 To do His will. 
 Through weary years and toilsome hours 
 
 His soldier still. 
 
 Tis' welll thy work was nobly done 
 
 God gave thee rest, 
 Ere yet thy life's declining sun 
 
 Had touched the west. 
 
190 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 TO MY MOTHER ON HER NINETIETH BIRTHDAY. 
 
 As floats the vessel down the river 
 Towards the deep wide-rolling sea, 
 
 So glides our nfe-barque onward ever 
 Towards the great eternity. 
 
 At first we sail o'er silver sands, 
 On a small stream through shady bowers. 
 
 Still reaching out with eager hands 
 To grasp the wayside fruits and flowers. 
 
 And still we glide adown the stream. 
 That deepens, widens, resteth never 
 
 Till in the noon-day sun's hot gleam, 
 We're floating on a mighty nver. 
 
 Mid rocks and reefs and waterfalls, 
 
 Borne on by the resistless tide ; 
 Fearful and faint our spirit calls. 
 
 What hand shall help, what pilot guide ? 
 
 The rocks are past, the sun sinks low, 
 We hold the helm with weary hands ; 
 
 The deepening stream with measured flow 
 Makes mournful music on the sands. 
 
 Cool shadows gather in the West, 
 The vessel worn with seam and scar, 
 
 Is drifting on the river's breast, 
 But whole in every sail and spar. 
 
 Solemn prophetic whispers say. 
 Oh, waiting soul, the end is near ; 
 
 The voyage shall end and close the day, 
 But not, dear heart, in doubt and fear. 
 
 The tired palms and aching brow 
 Shall rest, for soon a stronger hand 
 
 Shall grasp the helm, and guide the prow 
 The keel shall touch the silver sand. 
 
 The loved and loving ones now gone 
 Who made the voyage of life before, 
 
 In day that needs not sun or moon. 
 Shall come to greet thee on the shore. 
 
RETROSPECTION. 191 
 
 RETROSPECTION. 
 
 The past, the long and weary past, 
 Has lengthened shadows o'er it cast, 
 By life's now slowly, setting sun. 
 Of all I 've said and thought and done. 
 
 And looking back along the road, 
 Which my unwary feet have trod, 
 I see how oft I 've turned aside. 
 Blinded by passion, or by pride ; 
 
 Or, hurrying eagerly along, 
 Have left the little good undone ; 
 Or crushed beneath my stumbling feet, 
 Jewels rare and blossoms sweet ; 
 
 Neglecting, in my foolish haste, 
 The cooling, way-side spring to taste, 
 Whose waters, sweetly bubbling up. 
 Might fill contentment's homely cup. 
 
 I strove in doubt, sometimes in tears, 
 To fill with good those buried years ; 
 With anxious thought and eager sight, 
 Wearily searching for the right. 
 
 I looked away, too high, too far, 
 Dazzled by some uncertain star ; 
 With busy head and hands I wrought, 
 Yet seldom found the thing I sought. 
 
 I mourn the seed I left unsown ; 
 The kindly deeds I might have done ; 
 The loving words I failed to say ; 
 Each wasted hour, and misspent day. 
 
 And yet those years were not all lost, 
 Not wholly barren in the past : 
 Some precious seed was ripened there ; 
 Some days were peaceful, bright, and fair. 
 
 The sun has always shone above. 
 And over all breoded God's love ; 
 And in His hands my past I leave, 
 And to His care my future give. 
 
193 MEMOIR OF FATHER HENRY. 
 
 NEARER THEE. 
 
 Nearer to Thee, O God I'd come 
 A tired child away from hom.e ; — 
 Weary with wandering far and wide, 
 With ills beset on every side. 
 
 Father, hear thy pleading child ! 
 The wilderness is waste and wild ; 
 Fierce storms are howling o'er the lea. 
 Oh take me Father nearer thee ! 
 
 The visions of life's early day 
 
 Have faded from my sight away ; 
 
 The song that charmed my youthful years, 
 
 Has died u]pon my listless ears ; 
 
 This changing and uncertain life 
 
 Is full of vanity and strife : 
 
 And from the conflict wearily, 
 
 Thy worried child com.es nearer Thee ! 
 
 1 heard Thy voice above the storm, 
 Calling the foolish wanderer home ; 
 Like Noah's dove, I'd sought for rest, 
 But sought in vain. Now to Thy breast 
 Gladly I come. Lo ! here is peace ! 
 Thy voice can bid the tumult cease. 
 Thy arm of love encircles me. 
 
 Yet still my prayer is, " Nearer Thee." 
 
 I heard Thy voice above the storm, 
 Calling the foolish wanderer home. 
 Like Noah's dove, I'd sought for rest. 
 But sought in vain. Now to Thy breast 
 Gladly I come. Lol here is peace! 
 Thy voice can bid the tumult cease. 
 Thy arm of love enriches me. 
 Yet still my prayer is, "Nearer Thee." 
 
 Hill & Wbir, Fbinters, Tbmperahcb St., Toroitto.