Kent Trivia, Church-related
E.&O.E.
William Henry Burgess fonds
Scope and content
Fonds consists of 4 volumes of personal marriage registers of Rev. William H. Burgess for Kent Centre, 1914-1918; Walkerton, 1918-1925; mission churches in Hamilton, 1926-1934, 1939, 1941, 1943; Queen Street United Church in Toronto, 1934-1942; Tilbury East, 1938; Mount Albert, 1942-1945; Scott Twp. 1943; Whitchurch Twp. 1943; Gwillimbury Twp., 1943; Burk's Falls, 1944-1946; Goderich, 1948- 1949; Bracebridge, 1948-1949, Toronto, 1953.
Biographical sketch/Administrative History
William Henry Burgess (1884-1958) was a Presbyterian/United Church minister in Ontario. He was born in Tilbury East, Ontario, and was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1912. He married Laura Mabel Adams in 1912 and served in the Logger's Mission on the Pacific Coast from 1912-1914. He served at the St. Paul's Charge, Harwich, Ont., 1914-1918; Pastor Knox Church, Walkerton, 1918-1924; as United Church minister at Non-Anglo Saxon Church, Hamilton, 1925-1926; St. Christopher and All People's Church, Hamilton, 1926-1933; Queen Street Church, Toronto, 1934-1941; Mount Albert, 1942-1948; and Bracebridge, 1948 until he retired in 1952. His first wife, Laura, died in 1930 and in 1931 he married Vina Maude Mounce.
SIXTY-FIRST
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MISSIONARY SOCIETY
OF
THE METHODIST CHURCHBEING THE ELEVENTH YEAR FROM THE UNION OF THE WESLEYAN METHODIST
CHURCH OF CANADA, THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH OF EASTERN
BRITISH AMERICA, AND THE METHODIST NEW CONNEXION
CHURCH; AND THE FIRST YEAR FROM THE UNION OF THE
METHODIST CHURCH OF CANADA, THE METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH, THE PRIMITIVE METH-
ODIST CHURCH, AND THE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
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FROM JUNE, 1884, TO JUNE, 1885.
----------TORONTO
PUBLISHED AT THE METHODIST MISSION ROOMS.
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1885.
CHATHAM DISTRICT.
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Merlin, Botany, Tupperville, Port Lambton, Dover, Sydenham
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MERLIN.--The visible results of the year's toil are not as large and cheering as we could desire. We held three special services with moderate success. We have suffered from removals and deaths, and have to report a decrease of two after filling up vacancies. We have painted the parsonage and repaired the shed at Merlin this year. Our congregations are good and class-meetings well attended. We have taken up another appointment since the union, which promises to be a good one. Our finances are weak, our funds not being what we could desire on account of the hard times; but we have done the best we could as a mission. Members, 110. H. D. TYLER.
BOTANY.--Botany mission consists of three appointments -- Botany, in Howard; Zion and Bethel, in Harwich. Our progress on this field has been slow, but the year has been crowned with growth, both spiritually and materially. Fifteen new members have been received. During one of our special meetings a notorious blasphemer came to mock, but remained to pray, and is now rejoicing in a Saviour's love. His greatest regret is that he cannot undo the evil of a misspent life. Some needed improvements have also been made in one of our churches. But as we have no parsonage, and the members weak financially, and some of the Church funds still behind, despite our earnest efforts, it will be necessary that continued aid be supplied from the mission fund. Members, 93 J. WOOD.
TUPPERVILLE.--Since my appointment by the District Superintendent to the Tupperville mission, last July, we have occupied but one school-house and two churches as regular appointments. At the August Quarterly Board three classes were organized, which have continued throughout the year. No special services have been held, but the presence of the Lord in His power to save constituted some of the ordinary services special. We received sixteen on trial, and, after deducting two deaths and eight removals, we still report a membership of 94. H. W. LOCKE.
DOVER.--In presenting our statement of the work of God on this mission we can with glowing hearts speak of victories won. In the midst of our labors many have been the refreshing manifestations of God's presence to our hearts, cheering us in our work of faith and labor of love. Through the preaching of the Word eighteen persons have been arrested, subdued, and, we believe, truly converted to God. Our congregations continue good, and the majority of the hearers are attentive to the Word preached. Our class and prayer-meetings are regularly attended by some of the friends, while others are seldom present. These means of grace have often proved to be "none other than the house of God and the gate of heaven" to our souls. It gives us unspeakable pleasure to notice the deep interest and holy zeal manifested by the officials in the cause of the Lord Jesus among us. We are also thankful to God that many of our members are growing in grace and adorning, in their daily life and conversation, the doctrines of our God and Saviour. This mission is composed of societies from the late Methodist Episcopal and Primitive Methodist Churches. Union has taken effect among us without the slightest friction, and is doing well. To God be all the praise. Our Sabbath-schools have much improved during the year. The interest felt in them by the friends is gradually increasing. One library has been started, with will, we hope, prove a blessing to the school. Inspired by the Divine promises we are encouraged to go on in the Master's work, knowing that in due season we shall reap if we faint not. Members, 144. J. G. YELLAND.
SYDENHAM.--This mission embraces four appointments, with a society to each. The congregations are generally good, and some of them are large. The Quarterly Meetings have been large and highly spiritual. The class-meetings are well attended at all the appointments. There are several weekly prayer-meetings, and one holiness meeting every alternate Tuesday. There are four Sabbath-schools doing a good work for the Master. Ten persons have been received on trial during the year. We have peace in our borders, and a good degree of prosperity. Members, 126. C. BURDETT.
WINDSOR DISTRICT.
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Comber, Pelee Island
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COMBER.--It is with deep heartfelt gratitude to Almighty God that I am privileged to report progress on this mission. The Lord has graciously been present with us. The congregations at all the appointments are good. Our church at the village of Comber is too small to accommodate our congregation, and we are talking of either enlarging the old church or building a new one. The class and prayer-meetings are well attended. At Tilbury Centre we held special services, and with very good success -- receiving twenty-seven into the Church. The Quinn appointment is new; it has, however, a very nice little church. I organized a class this year, and the future prospects for Quinn are good in its becoming a strong Methodist society. I think the time is not far distant when this mission will be self-sustaining. Pray for us. Members, 130. G. H. JOHNSON.
RIDGETOWN DISTRICT.
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Ridgetown, Fairfield, Selton, Muirkirk, Appin and Napier
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RIDGETOWN, ALBERT STREET.--This church as enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity this year. Union revival services in connection with the other Methodist Church have been held during the latter part of the winter with some success. There is a falling off in the membership, owing to removals and probationers struck off for non-attendance, also with the prospect of amalgamation with the Erie Street church. This seems to be a necessity, as the town is not sufficiently large to support two churches. Finances are medium. The number of members, 106. Arrangements are being made for the uniting of the two churches the coming year. ROBT. C. PARSONS.
FAIRFIELD.--This mission was formed last year by two appointments taken from the Harwich Circuit and one from the Morpeth Circuit. During the year a parsonage has been purchased at the Troy appointment. We report 100 members. The mission has this year been placed on the list of circuits. This will no doubt please the Mission Board. JOHN RUSSELL.
SELTON mission is situated in the township of Howard, county of Kent, and has three appointments, all of which during the past year were in a very weak state; but, under the healing power of the Divine Spirit, they are now convalescent. We have just organized our Sabbath-school, which is promising. We are thankful to our Divine Master for a noble band of workers, and plenty of work for them to do. The Lord has given us prosperity, and we are able to report an increase of 83. Total membership, 127. The Conference claims are met, and the missionary and his family have not been forgotten. We have two churches on the mission, viz., at the Beechwood and Ogletree appointments, and we stand very much in need of one at Martin's appointment. A parsonage is very much needed, as it is very difficult at all times to secure a house suitable to live in at a country appointment. May the Lord of Hosts lead on to victory, and may love, joy and peace, like flowers, continue to grow more abundantly on Selton mission. Amen, and amen. T.L. McCUTCHEON.
MUIRKIRK -- This is a new mission, formed last year from part of Bismarck, with a membership of 23. It has been a good year for this work. Our churches are all free from debt. Muirkirk appointment is putting up a shed this spring, 65 by 20, which will be a great convenience. We want a parsonage. God has graciously revived His work among us. Scores have been converted. To Him be all the glory. Members, 92; increase, 69. M. PICKARD.
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