He was pleased to compliment me some time ago on one of my sketches
of early Victoria, a subject we compared notes on frequently, when I
suggested that he give to his friends some of his early experiences
in Cariboo, which he recited to me, telling of those days when he
started off from Victoria a young man, with a good profession, lots
of energy, a fund of good humor, and not a very heavy purse. He had
his experiences, and valuable experiences they were, and in Cariboo
he entered into politics, and for years represented that constituency
in the Local House. He was a good friend, and I shall miss his visits
to my office, when he came in to chat for a few minutes, always to
wind up with a "reminiscence." Well, as I said before, I shall miss
him and shall remember him with the most kindly feelings.
CHAPTER XII.
THE CONSECRATION OF THE IRON CHURCH.
Old-timers will be interested in the following clipping giving
particulars of the consecration of St. John's Church. The year is not
given, but it was in 1860 (April 13th). It was when first built a
very ugly building, having no semblance of a tower, which was added
many years after. The first rector was Rev. R. J. Dundas, M.A. Of the
clergy who took part fifty years ago, there are, I think, only three
living, viz., Rev. Edward Cridge, now Bishop Cridge; Rev. J.
Sheepshanks, now Bishop of Norwich, and the Rev. Alexander Garrett,
now Bishop of Dallas, Texas. Of the bishops then present, both are
dead. Bishop Morris, of Oregon, who preached the consecration sermon,
died a few years ago, aged eighty-seven, the oldest bishop in the
United States; and Bishop Hills died in England soon after he left
this country, having resigned the bishopric of British Columbia, a
very disappointed man. Strange to say, he took a rectorship under one
of his former clergy, Rev. J. Sheepshanks, Bishop of Norwich.
It will be noted that the hymn-books used at the service were to be
obtained at Hibben & Carswell's (T. N. Hibben & Co.). To close the
consecration services there was to be a social gathering or
tea-meeting, which was a popular form of entertainment in those good
old days. The admission was one dollar, and the proceedings commenced
at half-past six o'clock. Just think of it, ye late birds of the
later days, when half-past eight is not too late! As the choir of
Christ Church assisted at these services, and as I was a choir-boy,
I must have been there.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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