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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]][[Quebec][] , 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]][[Quebec][] , 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]][[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.]

[[Quebec][] "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]][[Quebec][] , 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.While visiting back in Newbury, he contracted pneumonia and passed home to be with the Lord on November 28, 1904, at 36 years of age. In the copy of ''Our Record'' for the month that followed, [[Thomas Donald William Muir|T.D.W. Muir]] wrote in the obituary: "Another of those who can be so ill be spared has gone from us, to be with the Lord".The family took the remains to Hamilton for burial, where brethren D. Munro and W.P. Douglas (no relative) spoke the word."Among the church notices in the Hamilton Herald, April 18, 1914, a newspaper long since discontinued, there is an insertion which reads: "Christians gathered unto the name of the Lord Jesus Christ meet at the Gospel Hall, 140 MacNab Street North. Lord's Day: Breaking of Bread, 11:00 a.m., Sunday School and Bible Class, 2:45 p.m. Mr. Robert McCrory from Ulster and Mr. George Duncan from Cleveland will preach at 3:45 and 7:00 p.m."This apparently was the announcement of brother McCrory's first visit to the City, he later adopted as his home. He had immigrated to [[Canada]] in 1910, but in 1914 moved from the Maritime Provinces to Hamilton. There he resided until 1961 when, after the passing of his wife, he returned to Ireland.There he went home to be with the Lord in October, 1964.It was written of him: "He was a man of the Book and ever sought to expound its meaning. When conflicting influences would have divided, and in some parts did, the assemblies, he firmly attested to the supreme authority of the Holy Scriptures in ALL MATTERS OF church administration. When amillenarian doctrine was being propagated among some of the assemblies, distressing the minds of God's people, his clear teaching on the doctrine of the imminent return of the Lord preserved in many hearts the living hope of the soon return of the heavenly bridgegroom."Brother David Kirk a fellow-countryman of Robert McCrory, also started his service in Canada in the Maritime Provinces, but eventually moved to Hamilton, ][[Ontario]][[Quebec][] . He was on a visit to Ireland at the time of brother McCrory's final illness and death. Brother Kirk was able to visit him and along with Robert Wright formerly of Japan, he conducted the funeral services.Brother Kirk was reared in Belfast, [[Northern Ireland|Ireland]], and as a youth found all the needs of his heart in the Ebenezer Assembly of that City.In it he was saved, baptized, received into church fellowship, and from that assembly in August of 1931, he was commended, in a full time capacity to the work of the Lord in [[Canada]]. He lived and labored from the time of his arrival until 1942 principally in the Maritime Provinces, but that year he moved to Stirling, Ontario. During the years he lived there his service for the Lord expanded to a wider sphere of ministry. Finally, in 1948, our brother came and settled in Hamilton, and ever since has been in intimate fellowship in the MacNab, now the West Fifth Assembly. His presence and his ministry are a blessing to the saints in the assembly.It is appropriate that brother Donald Moffatt be mentioned in this chapter. He has given many years of his life to the dissemination of the truth of God. He labored for years in [[Newfoundland]], Canada, and while there founded the radio broadcast, ''Family bible Hour''. This broadcast, of which he is still a director, today is heard in many parts of the world. It has brought life and instruction to large numbers of listeners, both saved and unsaved.After brother Moffatt left [[Newfoundland]], he spent some years on the Pacific Coast preaching the gospel and ministering God's Word among the assemblies. Eventually he returned east and settled in Hamilton, making MacNab Assembly his home. Although now engaged in secular business, he still spends much time in ministry among assemblies and at conferences. He faithfully serves the [[West Fifth Bible Chapel, Hamilton, ON|West Fifth Assembly]] with other elders seeking to shepherd the flock of God within which he has located.]

[[Quebec][] "Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice" (Psalms 50:5).One of the practices that has contributed to the spiritual health and vigor of the assembly at MacNab Street, Hamilton, is the annual convention. In the early years the three day conference was conducted around the time of the New Year. [[Thomas Donald William Muir|T.D.W. Muir]] gives an account of the first of these conferences in the chapter entitled "Canadian Recollections" in the biography of Mr. Donald Ross. He writes: "I remember... the first conference held in Hamilton, ][[Ontario]][[Quebec][], or, for that matter, among the assemblies gathered to the name of the Lord on this side of the water.The date was, I think, New Year, 1877."There is a note in ''The Witness'' of December 1927, in which the same brother, T.D.W. Muir, tells who the speakers were at this first conference. He writes: "I have just returned from attendance at the 53rd Convention held annually at Hamilton, Ontario. It is now held at Canadian Thanksgiving time. I was at the first one when about 75 were gathered from the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. Such stalwarts as Donald Ross, Donald Munro, [[John Smith]], James Campbell, James Smith, [[Henry Allan Ironside|Henry Ironside]], John Carnie and others were with us. This year nearly 1,000 came together." "Donald Ross' address (given at that first conference) deeply impressed many. He spoke from John's Gospel Chapter 21.""Many," continues brother Muir, "who were at that conference have gone home to glory since then, but many are still with us, and there are few of them who heard those words that have forgotten them. The savor of them still lives."The fifth conference, that of 1881 was advertised in ''The Barley Cake'' (an assembly magazine edited by Donald Ross) of December 1880. It reads: "Christian Convention in Hamilton, Ontario, on 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th of January, 1881. The 'Larkin Hall' situated on John Street near King has been secured for the meetings. The meetings will be as follows: On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, for prayer, praise and ministry of the Word, at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Lord's Day, 16th, January: Breaking of Bread at 10 a.m. Ministry of the Word, 2 p.m. Gospel Meeting 7 p.m."In a report covering that conference we read: "Gospel meetings were held in the evenings, and were addressed by brethren: [[John Smith|Smith]], A. Marshall, W.P. Charles, J. Grimason, J.N. Carnie, Martin, Hughes, etc. There was much blessing every evening. The last Gospel Meeting was held in the 'Grand Opera House', a newly erected building which holds 1,500, but that evening between extra seats and standing there would be, no doubt, between 1,800 and 2,000 people. The rush was such, the doors had to be closed twenty minutes before time. Hundreds on hundreds returned home, and many remained on the street in the frost and snow, and we addressed them under the canopy of heaven".Another entry reads: "These Hamilton conferences have been a very great blessing to the Lord's people, and doubtless they will continue so, as long as there is liberty to preach all God's truth unreservedly."At the beginning of 1910 the assembly began to advertise the regular meetings and special events in the ''Hamilton Herald''. These advertisements indicate that the saints enjoyed visits from such servants of Christ as: W.B. Johnston, D. McGeachy, George Duncan, Matthew Muir, [[John Smith]], [[Thomas Donald William Muir|T.D.W. Muir]], W.P. Douglas, Robert McCrory, W.J. McClure, Robert Telfer, Charles Ross, Geo. Gould, etc.In the January 17th 1914 issue of the ''Herald'' there is an announcement of the 39th Christian Conference. For some reason it was late that year; scheduled for January 23rd-25th. The meetings on Friday and Saturday were held in the Gospel Hall, 140 MacNab Street. On the Lord's Day they were held in the Association Hall corner of James and Jackson Streets.The ''Herald'' also carries an advertisement in its issue of January 14, 1916, of another conference scheduled for January 21st-23rd. All these meetings, with the exception of the prayer meeting which was held in the Gospel Hall, were held in the I.O.O.F. temple on Gore Street in downtown Hamilton.In the I.O.O.F. building the Hamilton Annual Conference was held for many years; in fact, until it burned down on November 2-3, 1939. Imagination, activated by memory, pictures happy scenes during the occasions. Even now it is not difficult to visualize George Gould senior on the platform preaching from the text, "This Man receiveth sinners and eateth with them".Nor is it hard to recall the advice to younger servants of the Lord given W.J. McClure. He spoke, so he said, as a father among us and gave us words of instruction, encouragement and caution.How nostalgic are the recollections of delightful fellowship with beloved brethren such as Charles Ross, Leonard Sheldrake, Tom Wilkie, John Ferguson, John Dickson, Ben Bradford, Robert Crawford, George Shivas, Dr. Matthews, Fred Nugent, C.F. Hogg, and a host of others. What delightful experiences they were! The conferences which had been so beneficial to so many both at home in Hamilton and in other cities and towns did not end with the conflagration that destroyed the I.O.O.F. temple. The brethren sought out another large auditorium, The Scottish Rite Cathedral, and there for many more years the annual conferences were held with equal interest and profit.Through certain circumstances and with the building of the West Fifth Chapel, the conferences for three years have been held in the assembly auditorium. Emmanuel is Jehovah. "God with us" is the Eternal Immutable One. Any change of location does not in anywise affect Him. His promise is true, "Lo, I am with you alway."A journalist's account of the 79th Annual Conference, written by Mrs. George Bentley, which appeared in the Hamilton Spectator on Oct. 9, 1954:'''Christian Conference recalls early customs''':

It can be said that in the life of this generation of Christians at West Fifth. "There was no day like that before... the Lord hearkened unto the voice of man" (Joshua 10:14). On the much anticipated day, confidence in God was honored, unremitting labors were compensated and sacrificial giving was rewarded. On Lord's Day, March 1, 1970, the assembly left the rented building that had met its needs during the interim between the leaving of their old building and the entering into their new one. On Wednesday, March 4, 1970, for the first time the saints gathered in the upper auditorium of their new chapel. There was no visible filling of the building with the glory of God as in the setting up of the Tabernacle and in the dedication of the Temple; nevertheless His presence was there. From the very beginning it has been evident that the One who had tested and guided, proved and prospered them was still with them.

The joy of accomplishment seemed strangely mingled with a feeling of incompetence. All present realized that it was the Lord who had given them their spacious new building. Yet, there seemed to be a curious wonderment regarding the future. The months of prayer, consultation, resignation and waiting were all... what lay ahead? There definitely was an attitude of expectancy as brother David Kirk, the first to ever speak in the West Fifth Chapel, moved to the platform. What would he say? What could he say?

"Let us read from 1 Corinthians Chapter 12." His voice came clear and true. The acoustics of the auditorium were excellent and that surely was gratifying. "We shall read from verse 12 to verse 17," continued brother Kirk. The passage he had chosen was most appropriate for the occasion. From it our brother showed what had to be now, and in the future: a personal responsibility before the Lord toward all the activities of the assembly.

Brother Kirk dealt first with the primary interpretation of the passage in its relationship to the mystical Body of Christ. The human body has many members, each of which has to perform its own function in order that the body be healthful and useful. He then applied this principle to the local expression of the Body of Christ, the assembly now gathered in West Fifth Chapel. As each member of a body is related to all other members and to the body as a whole, all members in the assembly are necessary. In the assembly each must fulfill his own special ministry to accomplish growth, to develop spiritual vigor, to be a blessing the one to the other, and to do the most essential to glorify God.

Those services particular to assembly life and testimony commenced in the new West Fifth Chapel on Lord's Day, March 8, 1970. In the evangelistic meeting that evening, brother Arnot McIntee of St. Catherines preached the gospel with clarity and power. He was the first of many evangelists who from that platform was to present God's glad tidings to weary sinners. Since that joyous, culminative day the Word of the Lord has sounded out not only through what might be called regular meetings but through special features which have appealed to both young and old.

There has been much encouragement in all these endeavors. Precious souls have been saved and accepted into the fellowship of the church. God's people have been impelled to a deeper devotion to Christ and to a major participation in service to Christ.

The few children that remained of the Sunday School at MacNab Street formed the small nucleus of the progressive, diversified work among the children at West Fifth. Efforts have been exerted to reach the homes in the vicinity to bring other children under the influence of the gospel. The success of this labor of love may be seen in the Sunday School registry and in its weekly attendance. Furthermore, God has favored the superintendent and his staff of teachers. They have not only had the privilege of sowing the Word of God in virgin soil, they also have had the joy of reaping, God has increased their joy. "They joy before Him according to the joy of the harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil" (Isa. 9:30). "Blessed are they that sow beside all waters" (Isa. 32:20).

Large numbers of boys and girls with very different domestic backgrounds have attended the Craft Classes on the respective nights. Many of them are attracted only by the instruction they receive relative to hobbies; nevertheless, during the whole evening they are present, they are under the influence of true biblical Christianity. Furthermore, all have to listen to a short message in the gospel. Thus the brethren sow in hope.

By means of the Craft Class many homes have been penetrated with the gospel, the literature given to the children in the Sunday School. Craft Class, and in special meetings for little folk, carried the message of Divine love and salvation to families who are otherwise quite irreligious. One plants, another waters, God gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6).

The Sisters' Missionary Sewing Class is more aggressive than ever. What a blessing to the Lord's servants abroad! Materials through patterns and thread in hands of dedicated sisters take on the shape of little dresses and suits for girls and boys, adult clothing and bed covers, etc. Letters of thanks from single brethren and sisters, as well as from mothers and fathers, do provide some compensation. These also provide inspiration to an even more intensive ministry in sewing. Every sister's work will be made manifest, for the day will declare it (1 Cor. 3:13).

In these days of so much heterodoxy, many are grateful that the assembly at West Fifth has volunteered the excellent facilities of the chapel to the Men's Bible Class. Brethren from other assemblies within driving distance meet every second Monday evening during the winter months for a minute scrutiny of the Holy Scriptures. These prophetical, doctrinal and expository studies are to confirm the minds of all in the facts of the Christian faith so that believers might be ready always to give an answer to every man of the reason of the hope that is in them (1 Pet. 3:15).

"The coming of the Lord draweth nigh" (James 5:8). Consequently, it is more obvious, as we compare the Prophetic Word and current events, that the pilgrimage of the Church is near its end. The saints at West Fifth, along with all others, may soon be raptured away. Until that moment, our prayer on this centennial occasion is couched in the benedictory language of the writer to the Hebrews.

"Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Heb. 13:20-21).