Part 67 (1/2)

After the passing of the Iy reserve question to Canada, a coalition Government was formed by the aid of Sir Allan McNab, called the Hincks-Morin Ministry

After protracted negotiation (with the beneficiaries under the Iislature, a Bill was passed providing for the interests of these clai proceeds of the reserves to municipal purposes This was the last of the Acts assented to by Lord Elgin previous to his departure fro on this subject, said:--

An Act assented to bydispute with regard to the clergy reserves, and it has done so in such a manner as to vindicate liberal principles, whilst it treats the rights of individuals with just and considerate regard

Thus was a struggle of more than twenty-five years ended, equality before the law of all religious denohts of the people of Upper Canada secured, to their great joy But the Bishop of Toronto, whose policy and arded this settley reserve question as an irreparable calaland in Canada On the 16th of March, 1853, the Bishop addressed a letter to the Duke of Newcastle, of which the following are extracts:--

Power and violence are to deterhts and the claims of justice are iht to be perpetrated by the Legislature of Canada has no parallel in colonial history Even in thethe heart-burnings and ravages of civil war, respected the ecclesiastical endow

The grants made by the Croere all held by the same tenure--whether to individuals or corporations--not reservations for certain purposes, with power expressly given to Colonial assemblies to ”vary or repeal”

them The Bishop proceeded:--

I feel bitterly, my Lord Duke, on this subject Till I heard of your Grace's despatch, I had fondly trusted in Mr Gladstone and his friends, of who the present doubtful Adh not without s, that the Church was safe, I have cherished her with ies for more than half a century in this distant corner of God's dominions; and afterher with joy, enlarging her tent, lengthening her cords, and strengthening her stakes, but now this joy is turned into grief and sadness, for darkness and tribulation are approaching to arrest her onward progress Periveness if, in the anguish of my spirit, I have been too bold, for it is far froive personal offence And of this rest assured, that I would ly avert, with the sacrifice ofof your Bill will bring upon the Church in Canada

There is a touching pathos in the close of this letter; but the Bishop himself lived to see his apprehended calahtest days of the Church of England in Upper Canada have been from 1853 to the present time

FOOTNOTES:

[136] Earl Grey had intended to propose its repeal in 1850-51, and had requested the writer of these papers (as then on an educational tour in Europe) to reland in order to furnish His Lordshi+p with data and details to enable hiht be in, then Governor-General of Canada, requesting the protracting of Mr Ryerson's leave of absence for two or three months But the Bill had to be deferred until another Session, and Mr Ryerson returned ie 455)

CHAPTER LIII

1851

Personal Episode in the Clergy Reserve Controversy

Dr Ryerson made another educational tour in Europe in 1850-51 While in London, early in 1851, Earl Grey sought Dr Ryerson's counsel on the clergy reserve question, which had been lately re-opened in Canada The proceedings and result of the interviehich he had with Earl Grey, are detailed in several letters which he wrote to ive such extracts from these letters as will explain the nature of Dr Ryerson's conferences with Earl Grey on the subject His first letter ritten on the 7th February, in which he said:--

You will rejoice to learn that Her Majesty's Governislature on the question of the clergy reserves, and have deter forward a measure on the subject Whether Lord Grey will desire er on account of the question I have not had time to learn Mr

[afterwards Sir Benjamin] Hawes says that he will procure allery to tear Lord John Russell bring forward his measure on the Papal Question

In a letter written by Dr Ryerson the folloeek, dated 14th February, he enclosed to y reserve question, in which he explained the likelihood of his being detained in England by Lord Grey in connection with it He said:--

I send this to you, so that you may know all the circumstances which are likely to protract my stay for some months in this country; and for the same reason, and that you may co-operate with me, I entrust you with the perusal of my confidential letter--another proof of my unreserved confidence in your prudence and fidelity I think it would not be well for you to land, and especially as to the reasons of it, until it becoratifying one, after so long labour and so y reserve question, that I should be desired to aid in its final settle to the voice of the people of Canada, and should now be called upon to aid Lord John Russell hiainst which I then protested I am sure you will be prepared to perform any additional labour to enable me to fulfil such a mission I trust that I will be enabled to confer a benefit upon Canada It is a gratifying position in which such a concurrence of circumstances will place ard to a question which has engaged so large a portion of round of all the opposition I formerly met with from the London Wesleyan Committee and Conference Verily there is a God that ruleth over all things, that makes the wrath of man to praise Him, that rules in e know not of We should indeed fear Him, bon in the dust before Him, but at the same time most calmly and implicitly trust Him Please write me as to the effects produced by Lord Grey's despatch, the manner in which it is received, etc

In a letter, dated 13th March, Dr Ryerson said:--

I have received a letter fro a wish that I would rereat Exhibition, as the Canadian Parliament would not meet until May This, in anticipation of what Lord Grey has desired, has quite settleduntil May or June