In October, 1871, the writer was placed in charge of Knox church, and
regular services twice a day were begun. John Black took the most lively
interest in everything connected with the congregation. He knew that it
represented the movement in a city which was to become the central
fortress of Presbyterianism in Manitoba and in all the far west. The
congregation was organized in 1872 with eleven members, and a session
was elected in the following year. In 1874 the congregation had grown to
have seventy-three members, and unanimously called Rev. James Robertson,
of Norwich, Ontario, and though small in numbers guaranteed a salary of
$2,000 per annum. In 1872 the church building had been enlarged, again
in 1873 and a third addition took place in 1875. During the pastorate of
Mr. Robertson, which lasted seven years, there was a large immigration
to the province. Knox church grew very rapidly. Mr. Robertson was a most
faithful pastor, and took an especial interest in the incoming
population. He was ever willing to give a helping hand to the lonely or
discouraged newcomer. Knox church has ever been known as a great
supporter of the home mission work of the Church.
[Illustration: KNOX CHURCH, WINNIPEG, 1871.]
As has been well said: "The greatest enterprise in which the
congregation engaged, in addition to its regular and missionary work in
Mr. Robertson's pastorate, was the new Knox church building. This is
known as the second Knox church. This was largely accomplished through
the energy and personal effort of the pastor. Indeed so sedulously did
the pastor work up the subscription list, that it has been said that it
was in this that Mr. Robertson laid the foundation of the great success
that he has since gained in finances as Superintendent of Missions." The
congregation had in 1879 grown to have four hundred names upon the roll,
and thus desired to have a more comfortable place of worship. The second
Knox church, as will be seen from the accompanying illustration, was a
handsome and commanding building. In August, 1881, the first colony
from Knox church went off to form St. Andrew's church. This was placed
in the northern part of the city, and was begun just in time to meet the
great railway population which came in in connection with the Canadian
Pacific Railway. It was ministered to by the Rev. C. B. Pitblado. These
two congregations represented the Presbyterianism of Winnipeg during the
life of Dr. Black, but he always believed in the growth of Winnipeg. How
greatly he would have rejoiced could he have lived to see the handful he
had nursed and seen begun as a congregation in the little wooden church
with eleven members, develop into seven self-sustaining congregations
and two missions, with nine church buildings in all to-day, numbering
two thousand five hundred and fifty-four communicants in the city of
Winnipeg.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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