MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN STUART, D. D.

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In 1789 lie was appointed Bishop ’s Commissary for the settlements from Point au Baudette to theWestern limits of the province—being the district now constituting Canada West. Though thisappointment added nothing to his emoluments, it increased considerably his duties, for the settle-ments were scattered and his flock dispersed hundreds of miles apart. At the meeting of the firstSession of the Colonial Legislature in 1792, he was named “ Chaplain to the Upper House of Assem-bly.” 1 an appointment which required for the time his presence at Niagara where the legislaturewas sitting. He occasionally visited, and officiated for the Mohawk villages at the bay of Rentewhere still were preserved the Communion plate and furniture given by Queen Anne to theMohawk Chapel at Fort Hunter. But “ notwithstanding the laudable exertions of the Society, andthe partial indulgence of the British Government to this tribe, no flattering accounts can be giveneither of their religious improvements or approach to perfect Civilization .” They were found to be“ decreasing fast, owing to their indolence and great attachment to spirituous liquors.” 2

In the year 1799, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on M r Stuart by the University ofPennsylvania . This favour proceeding from his Alma Mater and Native Country was doubly valuableand honorable in Iris estimation, and he entertained a high sense of the compliment. 3 About thesame time he received the appointment of Chaplain to the garrison of Kingston. He had securedabout 4000 acres of valuable land to which he occasionally made additions, his circumstancesmore than equalled his most sanguine expectations, and he felt that, in the enjoyment of healthwith such prosperity, his situation was as happy as it possibly could be. “How mysterious,” heexclaimed, “are the ways of Providence! How short sighted are we! Some years ago I thought ita great hardship to be banished into this wilderness and would have imagined myself compleatlyhappy could I have exchanged it for a place in the delightful city of Philadelphia . Now the bqstwish we can form for our dearest friends is to have them removed to us.” 4

The remainder of D r Stuart’s life seems to have passed in the routine of his duties, interrupted,however, by attacks of illness to which his increase of years and the fatigue attendant on a missionin so new a country could not fail to subject him. He departed this life on the 15 th Aug. 1811 inthe seventy-first year of his age and was buried in Kingston, where he lives (says one of hiscotemporaries) in the hearts of his friends.

In personal appearance D 1 Stuart resembled the other members of his family; he was about sixfeet four inches in height, and from this circumstance was known among his New-York friends as“ the little gentleman.” His manners were gentle and conciliatory, and his character such as ledhim rather to win men by kindness and persuasion, than to awe and alarm them by the terrors ofauthority. His sermons, composed in plain and nervous language, were recommended by theaffectionate manner of his delivery, and not unfrequently found a way to the consciences of thosewho had long been insensible to any real religious convictions. 6 The honorable title of “ Fatherof the Upper Canada Church” has been fitly bestowed on him; and he deserved the name not moreby his age and the length of his services than by the kind and paternal advice and encouragementwhich he was ever ready to give those younger than he on their first entrance on the mission.

By his wife, Jane Okill of Philadelphia , who was born in 1752, he had five sons and threedaughters. George Okill Stuart, the oldest, graduated at Cambridge , Mass, entered holy oaders, andwas appointed Missionary at York, now Toronto , in 1802, whence he removed, on his father’s death,to Kingston, ot which place he is at present Archdeacon . His second son, John, embarked in trade

1 Abstract of 1793, p. 57. 2 Abstract for 1796, 53, 54; 1798, 43; 1799, 63.

3 Letter of 21 Oct., 1799. 4 Letter of 26 Nov., 1798.

5 London Colonial Church Chronicle No. 2, p. 64.

VOL. IV.

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