Part 54

=Harris, Very Rev. William Richard=, B.D., Dean of St. Catharines, in the Roman Catholic Arch-Diocese of Toronto.—Among the clergy of the Roman Catholic arch-diocese of Toronto, there are many learned, earnest, and pious priests, but among them all we doubt if there is one of his age who ranks higher in the estimation of his fellow priests and all those of the laity who have had the privilege of his acquaintance than does the Very Rev. William Richard Harris, parish priest of the city of St. Catharines, and dean of that portion of the Roman Catholic arch-diocese of Toronto known as the Niagara peninsula. Dean Harris can hardly yet be said to have reached the prime of life, yet so mature is his mind and well disciplined are his faculties that it is not surprising to those who know him that he has so suddenly and prominently come to the front in his church. For a young man he is remarkable for vigour, both of mind and body—a vigour which is always wisely and well directed in the discharge of whatever duties he undertakes. The church has in him, if he is spared, the staff which must place him in a high and useful position in its service. There is before him a bright and brilliant career, or else we are much mistaken. The very reverend gentleman was born on the 3rd of March, 1847, in the city of Cork, Ireland, the birthplace of many of the most distinguished sons of the Green Isle. At an early age he came to this country with his parents, entered St. Michael’s College, Toronto, and having finished his classical course in this well-known institution of learning, went to Ste. Anne’s Seminary, Quebec, to complete a course of metaphysics and philosophy. In 1869 he was appointed secretary to his Grace the Archbishop of Toronto, and accompanied that distinguished prelate to Rome when summoned by Papal brief to attend the Œcumenical Council. Immediately after the opening of this memorable council, our subject entered the famous College of the Propaganda, where he finished his course of theology, and took his degree of Bachelor of Divinity. On the 21st June, 1870, he was ordained priest by Cardinal Patrizzi, in the historic church of St. Mary Major. The venerable Archbishop of Toronto and he left Rome on the first day of July of that year, and visited the principal cities of the continent of Europe. On his return to Canada he continued to fill for some time the responsible position of secretary to his grace, when, in recognition of his services and abilities, he was appointed to the rectorship of Adjala, at that time the most important rural parish in the diocese. Here he continued to labour for five years, having during that time faithfully discharged the onerous and responsible duties associated with that position. Under his pastorship was erected St. Mary’s Church, West Adjala, and improvements to the amount of $7,000 dollars were made in that parish. In 1875 he was summoned to the rectorship of St. Michael’s Cathedral, Toronto, bearing with him to that very responsible position the best wishes of the people of Adjala, and a substantial recognition of his labours and services among them. We may here remark, that he did very much to create and perpetuate that friendly feeling of toleration and liberality which is so characteristic of the people of that section of the country. In fact, it is said of him that in whatever position he has been placed he has shed around him a kindly influence, which has been instrumental in removing the asperities of religious rancour, and bringing into more friendly association the members of the various religious denominations. In his position of rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral, a large field for the exercise of his conspicuous administrative abilities lay open before him. The pressure of hard work gradually told on his constitution, and in consequence he resigned the rectorship of the cathedral, and sought the seclusion which the smaller parish of Newmarket afforded him. Here he continued to labour for eight years, during which time he completed the church in that town, erected the fine modern presbytery, and built the large brick school house adjoining the church. His improvements in this parish during those eight years represented an expenditure of over $12,000. His health having improved, he was again selected to fill one of the most responsible positions in the arch-diocese, and was appointed to the important and influential parish of St. Catharines, and dean of the Niagara peninsula, which position he holds with great credit to himself and advantage, both spiritual and temporal, to those over whom his ecclesiastical superior has wisely placed him. During his short administration of his present parish he has shown a wonderful amount of administrative ability, and up to the present writing has wiped out a debt of $8,000. Showing his deep interest in the education of his people, he has just begun the important work of erecting for the Roman Catholic separate schools the finest school building on the Niagara peninsula, in which are introduced all modern improvements calculated to add to the health and comfort of both teachers and pupils. In all probability before the expiration of two years he will have completed buildings costing in the aggregate $30,000. While devoting much time and great energy to the work peculiar to his priestly office, he finds time for close and careful study, which is evidenced by the manner and matter of his sermons and pulpit discourses. He also takes a deep interest in popular education, and has lost no opportunity of pushing on the education and improvement of the masses, irrespective of creed or nationality. As an evidence of this, we may mention that for many years he was prominently identified with the Mechanics’ Institute, an association of which he was twice chosen vice-president. Indeed, such was his standing among the delegates that when, in 1882, his name was put in nomination for the presidency he was elected by acclamation. This honour was conferred upon him by a convention of eighty-four representatives, all of whom were Protestants. When the control of the association passed into the hands of the Minister of Education, the reverend gentleman was presented by the members of the executive board with an embossed address and a handsome testimonial. While on the executive board of the Mechanics’ Institute Association, he was selected to represent the society on the executive committee of the Industrial Exhibition Association. Before his departure from Newmarket, the inhabitants of that town, irrespective of creed or nationality, heartily joined in congratulating him on his promotion, and in a public meeting, presided over by the reeve of the town, presented him with a most flattering address, accompanied with a valuable testimonial. With such a record did the Very Reverend Dean Harris come to the city of St. Catharines, and we are in a position, from close observation of his actions since he came, to assert that he is as useful and popular here as he was in Newmarket, and if his health holds out for a few years he will leave the impress of his enlightenment and manly character on the inhabitants of that city.

* * * * *

=Hearn, David A.=, Barrister, Arichat, M.P.P. for Richmond county, Nova Scotia, was born in Arichat, N.S., on the 14th of February, 1853. His parents were James Hearn and Isabella Campbell. His paternal grandfather came from Waterford, Ireland, and settled in Newfoundland, in 1817, and removed to Arichat, in 1822. His mother was a descendant of the Campbells, of the Island of Coll, Scotland. David received his education in the academy at Arichat, and studied law, first in the office of his brother, James H. Hearn, at Sydney, and afterwards with the Hon. Senator William Miller. He read up at the Law Library of Halifax for four months previous to his final examination, and was admitted to the bar of Nova Scotia, in 1878; and has successfully carried on his profession at Arichat ever since. In 1879 he was appointed a school commissioner, and still occupies the same position. In 1881 he was made a census commissioner; and in 1883 he was chief inspector of licenses for Richmond county under the Liquor License Act passed that year. In 1882-3 he filled the office of county solicitor, and in the following year was elected a member of the municipal council of Richmond county, and was re-elected in 1886. He was chiefly instrumental in the council in having steam communication renewed at Lennox Passage. He also succeeded in changing the system of assessment, so as to equalise the burthen of taxation on the ratepayers; and also inaugurated retrenchment and reform in the council. In 1878 he was chief organiser for the Conservative party in Richmond; but refused to recognise H. Paint as the Conservative candidate in 1882; and again in 1887 he supported E. P. Flynn, the Liberal candidate for the House of Commons at Ottawa, in preference to Mr. Paint. At the general election of 1886 Mr. Hearn was elected to represent the county of Richmond in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia. His position in the house is thoroughly independent of party, and he thinks there should be no party politics in the local legislature. He, however, believes in the fiscal and general policy of the Dominion government. He is opposed to the repeal agitation in Nova Scotia; is in favour of a legislative union of the Maritime provinces; abolition of the Legislative Council, and approves of manhood suffrage. In politics Mr. Hearn may be classed as a supporter of the Conservative party, though holding advanced views on certain questions of great public moment. In religion he is an adherent of the Roman Catholic church. He was married on the 18th August, 1879, to Elizabeth Ida, eldest daughter of Francis Quinan, of Sydney, and niece of the Rev. James Quinan, of Sydney, John Quinan of Mainadieu, and the Hon. Senator Miller, of Arichat. The fruit of this marriage has been one child.

* * * * *

=Girouard, Désiré=, Q.C., D.C.L., M.P. for Jacques Cartier, residence Quatre Vents, Dorval, Quebec province, was born at St. Timothy, county of Beauharnois, on the 7th July, 1836. From l’Abbé Tanguay’s “Dictionnaire Généalogique,” it is learned that he is a descendant of Antoine Girouard, a native of Riom, Auvergne, France, who emigrated to Canada about 1720, and was private secretary to Chevalier de Ramezay, the then governor of Montreal. Mr. Girouard received his education at the Montreal College, and graduated in law at McGill University, where he obtained the degrees of B.C.L. and D.C.L. On the 1st of October, 1860, he was called to the bar, and in 1876 was made a Q.C. As a law writer, Mr. Girouard enjoys a well-earned reputation, his first work being an “Essai sur les Lettres de Change et Billets Promissoires,” which appeared in 1860, before he was admitted to the practice of his profession. Of this production Chief Justice La Fontaine said: “I have read attentively your Essay on Bills of Exchange, etc., and I take pleasure in acknowledging that you have, with very rare talent, collected all that could possibly be written on this subject which could interest Lower Canada. The opinions you express on the laws relating to the subject and on the decisions of the tribunals, show that your essay is the result of profound study on your part. Your book should be in the hands of every trade and business man. It would certainly be of great benefit to them. It will also be very useful to lawyers and judges. Permit me to hope that your book may prove to you a sure and certain guarantee of an honourable and brilliant career at the bar.” In 1865, Mr. Girouard published an “Etude sur l’Acte concernant la Faillite,” which he afterwards translated into English with many additions; and in 1868 he published another work entitled “Considérations sur les lois civiles du Mariage.” He was also a contributor to many publications; and in conjunction with W. H. Kerr, another leading barrister, founded _La Revue Critique_. _La Revue Critique_ was founded at the time of the great judicial crisis of 1873-4, the members of the Montreal bar having refused to appear any longer before the Court of Appeal, so great was the dissatisfaction against that bench, when it was reconstituted in 1874 by Justices Cross, Tessier, and Ramsay, under the presidency of Chief Justice Dorion; and _La Revue Critique_ was then allowed to drop out of existence. Mr. Girouard’s articles on the “Treaty of Washington,” “The Indirect _Alabama_ Claims,” “Conflict of Commercial Prescriptions,” etc., all written in English, attracted the attention of the press both on this continent and in Europe. From 1858 to 1860, while a law student, Mr. Girouard was actively connected with L’Institut Canadien-Français, and delivered many lectures at the hall of the institute, and also at the Cabinet de Lecture Paroissial. These lectures were published in the French daily press of Montreal at the time, and highly praised. Among these may be particularly mentioned two papers—“La Philosophie du Droit,” and “L’Excellence des Mathématiques.” While spending the winter in the south, in 1870, he contributed many letters on Louisiana and New Orleans to _La Minerve_. In 1882 the same paper also published several letters of Mr. Girouard on the North-West, and very recently, 9th July, 1887, an extensive study of the Fishery question. Mr. Girouard has always maintained a high position as an intelligent and learned advocate; hence he has often been retained in some of the most important suits which have been brought before the courts of the country during the past few years. Among politicians, Mr. Girouard is known as an able debater. He first entered the political arena in 1872, when, at the solicitation of the late Sir George Etienne Cartier, he presented himself in the Conservative interest in the county of Jacques Cartier against no less an adversary than Rodolphe Laflamme, Q.C., who enjoyed consideration, prestige, and influence, and was defeated by forty-eight votes. In 1874 the latter was returned by acclamation, Mr. Girouard having been nominated for Beauharnois, in which county he was defeated through the nomination of a third candidate. In 1876, he was requested to oppose the Hon. Mr. Laflamme, minister of Inland Revenue, in Jacques Cartier, and was defeated by twenty-eight votes. In 1878 he was again solicited to present himself against his old opponent; and it was at first reported that he had been defeated by fourteen votes, but on a recount by Justice Mackay, he was declared elected by two votes, although his majority was really over one hundred, as it was afterwards shown in the celebrated St. Anne’s ballot-box case. He was again returned for Jacques Cartier in 1882, and at the last general election, 22nd February, 1887. Mr. Girouard introduced in the House of Commons the Deceased Wife’s Sister bill, which was carried in 1882 after a prolonged debate and a strenuous opposition, especially from certain adherents to the Church of England. He has been chairman of the Committee on Privileges and Elections during the last and present parliaments. Although one of the staunchest supporters of Sir John A. Macdonald, he took a leading part in the movement against the execution of Riel, on the ground of insanity, and with ten or twelve other French Conservative members constituted for a time a separate group of the Conservative party, known as the “Bolters.” His letter published November, 1885, in answer to the defence of the government by Sir Alexander Campbell, was published by all the newspapers in Canada. Mr. Girouard was married for the first time to Mathilde, a daughter of the well-known and much respected merchant, John Pratt. This lady having died, he again married, in 1865, this time an American lady, Essie Cranwill, sister of Samuel Cranwill, cotton merchant, New Orleans and St. Louis. She died in Montreal, on the 30th June, 1879, leaving five children. Mr. Cranwill was the agent in Montreal for the Confederate states during the civil war. The eldest of Mr. Girouard’s sons, Emile, resides in Paris, France, where he is the administrator of the newspaper, _Paris-Canada_; the second, Percy, a graduate of the Royal Military College, Kingston, is an engineer; another, Désiré, B.A. of Laval University, has just been admitted to the study of law in Montreal. Mr. Girouard married a third time, on the 6th October, 1881, Edith Bertha Beatty, youngest daughter of Dr. Beatty, of Cobourg, Ont., and has two sons of this marriage.

* * * * *

=Stewart, Geo., jr.,= D.C.L., F.R.G.S., F.R.S.C., Editor _Morning Chronicle_, Quebec. Among Canadian litterateurs, Geo. Stewart, jr., has fairly won for himself the distinguished position and reputation he enjoys, both in England and Canada, as a man of letters, and one of the brilliant literary lights of which our dominion is so justly proud. Dr. Stewart was born November 26th, 1848, in New York city, and at an early age removed, with his parents, to St. John, New Brunswick, where he was educated. He is, comparatively speaking, a young man, to be the recipient of so many favoured marks of recognition by societies of learning for his valuable contributions. At the early age of sixteen years he edited a little journal, _The Stamp Collector’s Gazette_, and two years later published _Stewart’s Quarterly Magazine_, to whose support he brought the pens of all the leading writers in Canada. In 1878 Dr. Stewart accepted the editorship of the _Rose-Belford’s Canadian Monthly_, and a year later that of the _Quebec Morning Chronicle_, which latter position he still holds. It is owing to his ability and talents that this paper has become an authority on all leading Canadian questions of the day. He was elected, in 1879, a member of the International Literary Congress of Europe—an honour conferred on no other Canadian,—and having the celebrated French veteran writer, Victor Hugo, for president. The few Americans similarly distinguished were Longfellow, Bancroft, Holmes, Emerson and Whittier. The Royal Geographical Society has bestowed its degree of Fellow upon Dr. Stewart, and King’s University of Nova Scotia was proud to grant him a D.C.L. The Royal Society of Canada elected him, at its inauguration, secretary for the English section, which important trust he still retains; while the time-honoured Literary and Historical Society of Quebec has three times called him to the presidency. He has been a member also of the Council of the Royal Society since its second year. The exclusive literary club of London, the Athæneum, admitted him an honorary member, his sponsors being Matthew Arnold and Lord Tennyson. His principal works are “Evenings in the Library,” “Canada under the Administration of the Earl of Dufferin,” nine leading papers in the “Encyclopædia Britannica,” and this high authority names Dr. Stewart among its strongest and most brilliant contributors amid a galaxy of learned and world-renowned names; “Frontenac and his times,” in Justin Winsor’s “Analytical and Critical History of America,” and “The Story of the Great Fire in St. John, N.B.” He is also the author of several articles in “Appleton’s Cyclopædia of American Biography,” and a contributor to the _Scottish Review_, London; Toronto _Week_, etc., etc. In May of 1878 the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of St. John, N.B., presented him with a handsome and very valuable gold watch and illuminated address, and a public dinner was given him by the citizens in 1872, upon his retirement from the editorship of _Stewart’s Quarterly_. In style of composition Dr. Stewart is graceful and dignified. His historical works bear the imprint of deep research and careful summarizing. Leading English and American magazines are frequently enriched by his articles, which are eagerly perused by the reading and deep-thinking _savants_ of our day. Canada is proud of such a worthy literary representative, whose genius and versatile abilities make him the rival and equal of the best writers the old world can produce. He was married on the 28th of April, 1875, to Maggie M., niece of the late E. D. Jewett, of Lancaster Heights, St. John, N.B.

* * * * *