13,610
edits
Changes
no edit summary
It must be apparent to the reader that in a work of this kind materials have been gathered from many sources. It is therefore fitting that credit be given to these, and that sincere gratitude be expressed to all who have contributed information or suggestions.
We are grateful for the records found in the former ''Hamilton Herald'', the ''Hamilton Spectator'', ''The Witness'', ''The Barley Cake'', and ''Our Record''. Quotations have been taken also from the biographies of Donald Munro, Donald Ross and [[Thomas Donald William Muir|T.D.W. Muir]]. Help has been received from the offices of Echoes of Service, Bath, [[England]], and Food for the Flock Inc., Toronto, [[Canada]].
Thanks are due to: Mrs. George Bentley, Fred Cameron, Mrs. Guy Cesar, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Grant, Mrs. W. Joyce, David Kirk, Mr. E. Little, Donald Moffatt, Mrs. A. Petrie, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Price, Mrs. Louise taylor, Mrs. Thomas Telfer, and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Thomson. Should inadvertently some be forgotten to whom credit is due, we ask their indulgence and pardon.
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20).
The name Fenton is probably not known by most of the Christians in this generation in Hamilton. Nevertheless all the assemblies in this highly industrialized area have received from William Fenton and his wife a rich spiritual heritage. We do not know much about this brother but apparently he was a business man. [[Thomas Donald William Muir|T.D.W. Muir ]] makes reference in his "Reminiscences" to being in Mr. Fenton's office.
This beloved brother and his wife frequently conducted evangelistic services in the Gore Park, a beauty spot in the centre of the city planned and donated by George Hamilton.
Whether before or after he arrived it is difficult to sy, but on June 14, 1874, a few Christians met in the Fenton home, Catharine Street North, to partake of the Lord's Supper. On the suggestion of John Carnie two evangelists were invited to come to Hamilton for a special effort in the gospel. Soon two brethren, Donald Munro and [[John Smith]] arrived. They immediately began preaching on street corners and in homes. Later a hall was rented which was located on the north side of King near MacNab Street.
After several weeks without seeing any evident results, the evangelists decided to leave. Notwithstanding, God had other intentions, for before their last meeting ended, three young men were saved. We shall allow the first of these, [[Thomas Donald William Muir|T.D.W. Muir]], to tell the whole story here.
"Two nights later (that is, after the first meeting he had attended), I faced the same question (The question was a large sign behind the platform: 'Friend, Thou art traveling to Eternity: To an everlasting Heaven or, to an endless Hell! WHICH?'), this time to acknowledge that I was a sinner, and dying as I was would perish forever, but John 3:36 was being quoted from the platform, so I looked away from self and sin, and found peace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who on Calvary died for my sins according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3).
In His vigilant care for the saints at MacNab Street Assembly, Hamilton, [[Ontario]], God has provided from the earliest days men, who according to the measure of grace divinely given, have accomplished this particular duty. Some of these brethren have fallen asleep. Their names are remembered and revered by many. Some of these are still with us, and we love them for their works' sake.
The first Correspondent and Treasurer was Mr. James Muir, father of [[Thomas Donald William Muir|T.D.W. Muir]]. He was followed by Mr. Fenton in whose home the assembly had first gathered for its meetings. A little later Mr. Abraham Mullings fulfilled this ministry. He was succeeded by Mr. John E. Taylor. Mr. William Wilson continued this work and acted as correspondent for a number of years and then turned this work over to Mr. William Duncan who acted in this capacity for about twenty years, Mr. Albert Marks then carried on the work for another twenty years, until in broken health he was forced to discontinue. Our brother John Moreland then assumed the ministry of Correspondent, but enlisted the service of brother Guy Cesar as Treasurer. After several years brother Moreland gave his share of the work over to Mr. John Anderson. Brother Anderson filled the post for a few months until brother Guy Cesar undertook the service of Correspondent in the year 1945. He continued to serve in this capacity until he became ill in 1966. At the present (1974) Mr. Gordon Thomson is the assembly Correspondent.
In 1939 a special Correspondent-Treasurer was chosen to forward funds to the Lord's servants in foreign countries. Brother Anthony Price was the one selected for the first year; after all this time, he is still fulfilling this Epaphroditus assignment.
Since there are several who merit honorable mention, it might be better to consider first of all those who were called to serve the Lord here at home, in English-speaking countries.
The earliest of such gifted men was [[Thomas Donald William Muir|T.D.W. Muir]]. It will be remembered that he was the first convert in connection with this history that we are tracing. He was saved under the preaching of Donald Munro and [[John Smith]].
Mr. Muir at the early age of 29 was giving his whole time to making the gospel known. Shortly after his conversion, he began preaching the gospel throughout southern [[Ontario]] and rural parts of [[Michigan]].
"Chosen men... that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 15:25-26).
One of the first converts during the gospel effort by Donald Munro and [[John Smith]], in the very early days, was William L. Faulknor. He was saved the same night as [[Thomas Donald William Muir|T.D.W. Muir]], and like brother Muir, he dedicated his enitre life to the work of the Lord on both the home and foreign fields.
In the spring of 1887, just a few years after the assembly in Hamilton had been founded, brother Faulknor sailed for [[Africa]], and in May of that year he joined brother Swan in Bihe. Brother Swan had left [[England]] in 1886, but it was Dec. 16th of 1887 before the young recruits reached Fredrick Arnot in Garenganze. Bro. Arnot had been living alone for some considerable time so, needless to say, the two younger brethren were very welcome indeed. Early the following year, brother Arnot left brother Swan and brother Faulknor to carry on the work while he returned to Britain for a much needed change and rest. For them it was a time of sowing, not reaping; that came later.
Humanly speaking it was a disappointment to all that during this time brother Faulknor took ill, an illness that weakened him and made him susceptible to one of the native diseases. From this malady he suffered greately but was tenderly nursed by his co-worker. Finally, deplorable as it may seem to man, he was forced to leave Africa. How difficult under such circumstances to say, "The will of the Lord be done."
After some recuperation in the Old Land, he sailed for America and settled at Pomona, [[California]]. He continued for a number of years to give himself wholeheartedly to the service of the gospel, particularly on the West Coast, but on May 30, 1908, the Lord called him home. The immediate cause of his death was a tumor on the brain. It is recorded by some of his colleagues that his beloved and esteemed servant of the Lord left behind him in Britain, [[Canada]], Africa and the [[United States]], a very sweet savor of Christ. How true! Man proposes, but God disposes!
While the assembly was still meeting in the Larkin Hall at the corner of John and King Streets, the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Duff was performed. It is regrettable that the date of this happy occasion is not known. Shortly after their marriage this young couple felt called of God to go to China with the gospel. The records available of the period of time they spent there are very scanty, but it is known that they arrived in that needy country some time late in 1891. There is also published evidence that Miss Annie L. Lucas went with them. Probably here exercise was stimulated by the example of Mr. and Mrs. Duff.
There are difficulties in tracing any communication from them back to friends in Hamilton. Notwithstanding, there are a few letters from them in the only assembly missionary magazine of that time, ''Echoes of Service''.
Henry Fletcher was born in Hamilton in 1895. His mother was a devout Christian and brought him and the other members of her family up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. As a result of her prayers and influence, he was saved when he was 13 years of age.
Henry grew up in the MacNab Street Assembly where he enjoyed the fellowship of saints and joined in the many activities. He taught a Sunday School class, distributed Christian literature and engaged in open-air work in the small towns and villages surrounding Hamilton.
In later years he used to relate how he responded to the urgings of the Lord in regard to Christian service in the foreign field:
"I had much interest in [[Venezuela]] for I knew of the labors of such brethren as Mitchell, Crane, Adams, Johnston and others." He also used to assert quite forcefully: "A point in life was eventually reached when in my bedroom before the Lord a complete surrender was made. Although I felt poor, weak and worthless in myself, I was ready for any service He might indicate."
In 1916 Henry was commended to the work of the Lord by the assembly on MacNab Street. He went immediately to Venezuela and four years later married Miss Agnes Renwick of Galt, [[Ontario]]. Together they labored to spread the gospel and founded assemblies in Duaca and Valencia.
About 1929 our brother became exercised about the deep spiritual need of [[Puerto Rico]]. Consequently the Fletchers moved there in 1930. Through their effort the assembly in San Turce was established and a small hall was built. The Fletchers remained there until 1941 when because of health they were forced to return to [[Canada]], brother Fletcher continued to serve the Lord and the beloved people in Canada and the United States until he was called to higher service on May 17, 1968.
The appropriateness making mention of Donald Cox in this section of the assembly history must be obvious to all. True, he has not gone abroad to a distant land, but he and his family had to learn another language, French. They had also to master, at least to a considerable degree, another culture; this can be very difficult for some. While [[Quebec][] is neighbor to [[Ontario]], it presents some of the problems of a foreign country to one who knows only the English language and culture.
In 1958 Donald Cox was commended to the work of the Lord in Quebec jointly by the assemblies in MacNab Street, Hamilton, Ontario, and [[Palos Hills Christian Assembly, IL|86th Street]], Chicago, [[Illinois]], U.S.A. For fourteen years our brother has diligently served the Lord in Drummondville. After these many years in that city, our brother became exercised before the Lord to move to the Gaspe Peninsula. He now lives in Ste-Anne-des-Monts, Gaspe Nord, [[Quebec]]. This is some four hundred miles north of his former home. In this northern area there is ample scope for pioneering. There are numerous towns and villages surrounding Ste-Anne-des-Monts, and in these some contacts have been made through radio and television ministry. A deep concern of our brother is that there are no French assemblies throughout the Gaspe Peninsula.
==Chapter Seven - "Messengers of the Churches"==
"They are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love" (II Cor. 8:23-24).
That the Lord has sustained the MacNab assembly by efficient administration and by the ministry of spiritual gifts, which he has developed locally, has been fully demonstrated. He also has supplemented these services and ministries by using other servants of Christ who, from elsewhere, have taken up residence in the Hamilton area. These beloved brethren, although establishing their homes in the City, continued their itinerant ministry among the assemblies in [[Canada]] and the [[United States]].
One of the earliest of these, if not the earliest, was Joseph Douglas. This brother was born in Limivady, [[Northern Ireland|Ireland]], on July 13, 1869. In youth, before God saved him, he was pursuing the necessary education to become an attorney at law, but he eventually dismissed this objective and immigrated to the [[United States]] where he took up residence in Detroit, [[Michigan]]. There he learned from [[Thomas Donald William Muir|T.D.W. Muir]] the ways of the Lord more perfectly and some years later was commended to full time work for God by the [[Central Gospel Hall, Detroit, MI|Central Assembly]], Detroit. He was not very robust, but when cautioned by the doctor to take things more easily, he replied, "How can I when there is so much to do?" he literally wore himself out in the service of the Lord.
From Detroit he moved to Newbury, [[Ontario]], and from there to Hamilton where his presence and ministry were a benefit to the MacNab Assembly. Because of the condition of Mrs. Douglas' health, he was forced to move back to Detroit so that his wife, who suffered from severe paralysis, might be with her sisters. Although he was probably only two years in Hamilton, he became well known and greatly loved and highly respected.