Читать книгу A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography - Various - Страница 164

Table of Contents

Williams, Rev. William, D.D., Pastor of the Division Street Methodist Church Cobourg. The Rev. Mr. Williams is the eldest son of William and Margaret P. Williams, and was born in Stonehouse, Devon, England, January 23rd, 1836. His mother was a daughter of Robert Pearse, of Camelford, Cornwall, England. In 1842 the subject of this notice removed with his parents to Toronto. During the four years of his residence in that city he attended school, and the latter part of the time he was engaged in preparing to enter Upper Canada College. Before he had completed his preparatory studies he removed with his parents to Weston, and some time later to the township of Holland, where his father settled upon a farm. Though removed from school at a comparatively early age, he steadily pursued a carefully prepared course of reading and study, and in his nineteenth year he entered the ministry of the Methodist New Connexion church. His record in that community was that of a successful minister of the gospel. Before the union he was during four years chairman of a district; was one year president of the Methodist New Connexion Conference, and was acting president during the greater part of the following year, filling the place left vacant by the lamented death of the president, the Rev. Samuel P. Gundy. The Rev. W. Williams took an active part in promoting the union of the New Connexion and Wesleyan Methodist churches in this country, being on both committees; and in 1874 he was sent by his conference, with the late Robert Wilkes, M.P. of Toronto, as a deputation to the New Connexion Conference of England to obtain the consent of that body to the contemplated union in Canada. In this he and his companion were completely successful. Not only was the requested consent given, but Mr. Wilkes and Mr. Williams were heartily thanked for the manner in which they had presented the matter before the conference. In 1875, after this union had been consummated, and while he was in charge of the church in Simcoe, Rev. Mr. Williams was sent with W. H. Gibbs, of Oshawa, by the Central Board of Missions as a deputation to attend the missionary services in the leading Methodist Churches in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. In 1876, in response to the special request of the Centenary Church, Hamilton, Rev. Mr. Williams was sent to that charge, then the largest and most influential in the London conference. He remained there for the full term of three years. A leading member of that church speaks of his ministry in that place:—“His discourses showed him to be a man of culture, of extensive reading, of careful thought, and of sound judgment. The Centenary Church never, I believe, had a better expounder of the Word of God, or a more faithful preacher of the gospel. Conscientious in the discharge of his duty, whatsoever he seemed to feel should be said he spoke boldly whether it was likely to please or displease. At the same time he evinced such qualities of heart, such sympathy, such desire to do his people good, as secured for him their affection, and made him very influential. As a man, Mr. Williams was liked by all who knew him. He was pleasant and unassuming, easy to approach, and was ready to lend a helping hand.” In 1879 Rev. Mr. Williams became pastor of Norfolk Street Church, Guelph. He remained there during the full term of three years, was acceptable and useful, and during his ministry there the membership of the church and congregation was largely increased; the debt upon the building in which they worshipped reduced by several thousand dollars; and the financial condition of the church greatly improved in other respects. He was also chairman of the Guelph district during the three years of his pastorate in that city. The following three years were spent by him in Woodstock, where he ministered to a very large congregation in one of the finest church edifices in the province. The first year of his pastorate in Woodstock was marked by his elevation to the presidency of the London Conference. This position he filled with acceptance and ability. He was chairman of the Woodstock district during the full term of his ministry in that rapidly rising town. At the request of the Cobourg (Division street) Church Rev. Mr. Williams was, in 1885, transferred to the Bay of Quinté conference, and appointed to Cobourg. There he preaches to a large and intelligent congregation, comprising, in addition to the general hearers, the principal, professors and students of Victoria University. Mr. Williams is also chairman of the Cobourg district. In May, 1887, the senate of Victoria University conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity.