Part 62

=Dionne, Narcisse Eutrope=, S.B., M.D., Quebec, Co-Editor of _Le Courrier du Canada_, was born at St. Denis, county of Kamouraska, province of Quebec, on the 18th of May, 1848, from the marriage of Narcisse Dionne and Elizabeth Bouchard. Dr. Dionne received his education at the College of Ste. Anne de Lapocatière, and after completing his classical course, studied theology two years at the Grand Seminary of Quebec, returned to Ste. Anne for another year, and completed his theological studies at Levis College. He then chose the medical profession, and for that purpose entered Laval University, where he graduated M.D., in 1873, and removed to Stanfold, county of Arthabaska, and practised his profession in that place until 1875. Then he removed to Quebec, where he found a wider field, not only in regard to his profession, but to follow his inclinations to literary pursuits. He has lived in that city ever since. In 1876, the Cercle Catholique, of which he was one of the founders, was established in the city of Quebec, and he was elected on the board of directors and librarian, a position he held until the year 1883; he was then elected vice-president, and still holds that position. He was also one of the founders of the “Presse Associée de la province de Quebec,” with other journalists of the city of Quebec. This association was incorporated by an act of the legislature of Quebec, in 1883. Dr. Dionne has been acting secretary of the society since its foundation, and took a most prominent part in the reception accorded the Canadian Press Association, on the occasion of the latter body’s excursion to the Saguenay in 1883. In token of their gratitude, the Ontario pressmen gave him a splendid gift in recognition of the courtesies extended them. In August, 1886, he was also elected secretary to the Quebec Conservative Club, and in January, 1887, was appointed to the same position, which he filled during the Federal elections of the 22nd of February, of the same year. Dr. Dionne holds a high rank among the _littérateurs_ of his native province, the first work which brought him to prominence being a pamphlet, published in 1880, intituled, “Le Tombeau de Champlain.” The year previous, his Excellency the Count de Premio-Real, consul-general of Spain in Canada, had offered two prizes for the best essay on a series of questions relating to Canadian history, and Mr. Dionne was the winner of both. In 1881, he published a pamphlet on agricultural societies, and then-value to the farmers, intituled, “Les Cercles Agricoles dans la Province de Québec,” and delivered many lectures throughout the province on that important subject. In 1882 appeared the report of the excursion of the Canadian Press Association to the United States, Manitoba, and the North-West, also due to Dr. Dionne’s pen; and still later, in 1883 he published the report of the French-Canadian convention, held at Windsor, county of Essex. As a political writer, the doctor is in the foremost rank of the Conservative journalists of the province, having been editor-in-chief of _Le Courier du Canada_, a daily paper published in Quebec, from April, 1880, until the 1st of February, 1884. He also filled the same position on the staff of _Le Journal de Québec_, from February to May, 1886. On the 22nd of February, 1887, he resumed the duties of co-editor to _Le Courier du Canada_, a position which he still holds. The first editors of the latter newspaper had been Dr. J. C. Taché, deputy minister to the department of Agriculture, and Sir Hector Langevin. In addition to his medical practice and journalistic duties, Dr. Dionne was chief license inspector under the Federal Act of parliament, from the 19th February, 1884, until December, 1885; and visiting physician to the Quebec Marine Hospital since the 17th February, 1882. In 1885, he visited New Orleans, during the World’s Exposition. He is corresponding member of the Institut-Canadien, of Ottawa; L’Union Catholique, Mauritius Island; and titulary member of the Académie des Muses Santonnes, France. He was married on the 13th of October, 1873, to Marie Laure Bouchard, second daughter of the late Pierre Victor Bouchard, of her Majesty’s customs, Quebec, and Julie Huot. He has issue ten children, five sons and five daughters.

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=Archibald, Peter S.=, Moncton, New Brunswick, Chief Engineer of the Intercolonial Railway, was born at Truro, Nova Scotia, on the 21st March, 1848. His parents were William and Elizabeth Archibald, and were both natives of Nova Scotia. Peter S. Archibald received his education at the Truro Model and Normal schools, and joined the railway service in 1867, when scarcely out of his teens. Since then he has gradually risen, through all the grades from rodman, until he now occupies the position of chief engineer. He joined the volunteers as a private, and served in that capacity for three years, and was afterwards promoted to a lieutenancy in the 73rd battalion. Mr. Archibald is a member of the American Institute of Civil Engineers. As a living example of what can be done by a young man who sets his mind on rising in his profession, he is a good example, and deserves a great deal of praise for his pluck and perseverance, and his example is well worthy of imitation by our young men who wish to get on in the world. In April, 1874, Mr. Archibald was married to Clara G. Lindsay, daughter of T. S. Lindsay, of Rockland, Maine, U.S.

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=Mathews, Rev. George D.=, D.D., Pastor of Chalmer’s (Presbyterian) Church, Quebec, one of the best known of our Presbyterian divines in the old as well as the new world, was born in the town of Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1828. As in the case of others of our distinguished men in America, the three nationalities of the motherland are to be found represented in him, for, though born in Ireland, he had for his father a true-hearted Scotchman, while his mother was a native of England. The subject of our sketch spent his earliest years in the city of Dublin, where he received his education at the hands of private tutors who prepared him for entering Trinity College as an undergraduate in arts. His career at this celebrated seat of learning was in every sense a most satisfactory one, so that he took his degree in 1848. It is needless to say that the classical and literary tastes which he acquired at college have never left him, as those who have had the pleasure of his acquaintance, or who have had the opportunity of sitting under his ministrations as a pastor, can readily bear witness. After leaving college he devoted himself for a time to the study of law, but that profession becoming more and more distasteful to the young student, as his mind matured on social questions and the solemn responsibilities of life, he subsequently forsook the pathways which Coke, Blackstone and Hale have in vain endeavoured to make smooth, for a more peaceful retreat with the school of the prophets. Entering the United Presbyterian Hall of Divinity at Edinburgh, he there had the privilege of receiving instruction from such distinguished theologians as Dr. John Brown, Dr. Eadie, and a number of other teachers, whose lives and characters have moulded the history and polity of the U. P. Church in Scotland. Under such men Rev. Dr. Mathews felt more and more the serious mission he had to perform in life. With zeal he entered upon the examination of the theology of the times, fortifying himself with the most careful study of mental science, and obtaining for himself the credit of being a devoted investigator in the realms of thought, and a keen observer of the many paths into which advanced thinkers are ever leading their fellowmen. Yet, never for a moment did the young student deviate from the faith; and never, throughout his long career as a minister has he had to endure the scorn of those whose chief delight it often is to rail at the ministers of advanced opinions. His preaching has ever been thoroughly orthodox, notwithstanding the wide scope of his knowledge and scientific attainments. Possessed of a remarkable fluency of speech, his discourses are generally given _extempore_, being marked at the same time with an eloquence which is all the more attractive from the simplicity of the language he employs. In December, 1853, he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Glasgow, and immediately thereafter was ordained at Stranraer, a town of about eight thousand inhabitants, in Wigtonshire, Scotland. No more delightful locality could have been selected for a man of such tastes and predispositions as the subject of our sketch. The town of Stranraer, as is well-known, stands upon an arm of the sea at the head of Loch Ryan, and for the beauty and natural sweetness of its surroundings is all but unequalled by the other towns in the south of Scotland. Here the young preacher found his first charge among a people kindly disposed and hospitable, and here his efforts to do good were well received, not only by those of his own congregation, but by the whole community. No duty was overlooked, public or pastoral; and yet amidst the pressure of work which always falls to the lot of a young and conscientious pastor, the literary spirit did not forsake the youthful clergyman during his spare moments from pulpit work and pastoral ministrations, as many of the old numbers of the “Dublin University Magazine” can bear witness. For several years he continued to contribute to this and other periodicals, and it need hardly be said that his contributions even then gave promise of the literary and administrative abilities which have brought the Rev. Dr. Mathews’ name so prominently before the denomination of which he is a minister. At length, in 1868, while on a visit to the United States, the U. P. minister at Stranraer received a call to one of the city charges in New York. In the following year he reluctantly gave up his charge in Scotland, and to the universal regret of his people and fellow townsmen, set sail for America. Nor did the feeling in his favour fail to show itself in a tangible form. A beautiful testimonial was presented by the community to the retiring pastor with many and valuable accompanying presents. Shortly after his arrival in New York, Dr. Mathews undertook the editorship of “The Christian Worker,” a monthly magazine devoted mainly to religious topics. This duty he performed in addition to his pastoral work. Under his management the periodical rose into favour until at length its circulation brought the editor into prominence all over the continent. The editor of the “Worker” also took an active part in all church affairs, expressing an influence in the church courts and on church problems which has always been respected. As an evidence of this growing influence, in 1873, when the proposal was mooted by Rev. Dr. McCosh, of Princeton, and Rev. Dr. Schaff, that the various Presbyterian Churches throughout the world should come into close relationship with one another, Dr. Mathews was chosen secretary of the first committee formed for the carrying out of definite plans to promote such brotherly alliance. Two years later, he was sent to London by the Presbyterian Church in the Northern States as one of its commissioners to confer with the representatives from other Churches as to the feasibility of a union of Presbyterianism throughout the world. This was the origin of the Presbyterian Alliance, which has since become a household word in the Presbyterian church. The first important conference was held in London, England, where it was agreed to form an “Alliance of the Reformed Churches holding the Presbyterian system,” and at the first meeting of this new association of Presbyterians, Dr. Mathews was appointed American secretary—a position which he has held for many years, and which through his energy and administrative skill has become one of the most influential in the Presbyterian church of to-day. While performing the duties of this office, Dr. Mathews has been engaged from time to time in preparing many new and reliable tables of statistics together with a series of concise and tabular sketches of the Presbyterian Churches of the world. In 1879 he became associate editor of the _Catholic Presbyterian_, the organ of the Alliance, and a periodical of the highest literary dignity and style. At the meeting of the Alliance in 1884, at Belfast, he was further appointed by its general council to edit the record of its proceedings, filling a volume of no less than seven hundred pages. Included within this volume, there is to be found a very valuable and exhaustive statistical report, or rather series of reports, compiled by the painstaking secretary, a work for which he has received the highest commendation from his brethren and others who have carefully examined it. As the fruit of prolonged labour and original enquiry, it carries within it information of the most interesting kind, not only to Presbyterians but to all Protestant churches. In recognition of Dr. Mathews’ great services to the Presbyterian cause, and the prominent position he had attained to in church affairs, the Western University of Pennsylvania conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. At the present writing, the secretary of the Pan-Presbyterian Council is pastor of Chalmers Church, Quebec. Some years ago he was chosen one of the governors of Morrin College, being at the same time professor of systematic theology in that institution. Since 1883 he has also taken charge of the classes in moral philosophy. In ordinary educational affairs he has always taken a deep interest, having been for years a member of the Council of Public Instruction for the Province of Quebec. As with many other men of business habits, Rev. Dr. Mathews has a favourite recreation. His is in numismatic research, and possessing a very valuable collection of coins: he published, in 1876, a volume on the “Coinages of the World,” which has had a large circulation. He was married, in 1856, to Maria F. Irvine, of Dublin, by whom he has had a family of two sons and a daughter, all of whom survive their mother, who died in 1880.

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=Bentley, Hon. George Whitefield Wheelock=, Kensington, Commissioner of Public Works for Prince Edward Island, was born at Margate, Prince county, P.E.I., on the 21st December, 1842. He is the youngest son of Thomas Bentley and Hannah Smith. His father, Mr. Bentley, sen., emigrated from Yorkshire, England, to Prince Edward Island, in 1817; and his mother, Hannah Smith, came to the same island in 1800 with her parents, she having been born on the passage out from England. The father of this lady was the youngest son of a family of twenty-two children. The Bentley family first settled in Cavendish, one of the oldest settlements on the island, and afterwards removed to Prince county, and took up their abode at a place they named Margate, after the celebrated watering-place in England. George, the subject of our sketch, received an ordinary English education in his native place. After leaving school he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, and in 1874 removed to Kensington, his present residence, where he has since carried on business as a merchant and as a farmer. In 1879 he was elected to the House of Assembly of P.E.I., by the electors of the 4th electoral district of Prince county; again at the general election in 1882, and again in 1886, he was each time returned at the head of the poll. In January, 1887, he was appointed a member of the Executive Council, and in the following month was chosen commissioner of Public Works. This appointment necessitated another appeal to the electors, and he was again returned in spite of determined opposition. Mr. Bentley has been a life-long advocate of temperance, and has for the last twenty-five years been connected with the order of the Sons of Temperance. He has held the office of grand worthy patriarch of the Grand Division of Prince Edward Island, and is now a member of the National Division of the Sons of Temperance of North America. He has travelled through all the provinces of British North America, and many of the states of the neighbouring republic. Politically Mr. Bentley belongs to the ranks of the Conservative party; and in religious matters he is an adherent of the Methodist church. On the 9th February, 1870, he was married to Emma Jane, daughter of William Dennis, of Margate, P.E.I.

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=Jack, William Brydone=, M.A., D.C.L. The deceased Dr. William Brydone Jack was born in the parish of Tinwald, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, on the 23rd November, 1819. He received his elementary education at the schools of the parish, and was afterwards sent to the academy of Hutton Hall, Caerlaverock, where he was prepared for entering college. In 1835 he went to St. Andrews, and became a student in the United College of St. Salvador and St. Leonard’s. During his course he was distinguished for proficiency in mathematics and physics, carrying off the highest prizes in these departments of study. Shortly after graduating with the degree of M.A. in 1840, he was offered the professorship of physics in the Manchester New College, in succession to the celebrated Dr. Dalton, and about the same time the position of professorship of mathematics, natural philosophy and astronomy in King’s College, Fredericton (now the University of New Brunswick), was tendered to his acceptance. Sir David Brewster, who was then principal of the college at St. Andrews, and with whom Dr. Jack had been a favourite pupil, thought that the duties and responsibilities of the situation at Manchester would, at the first outset in life, be rather hazardous and trying for one so young and inexperienced. Accordingly, in deference to Sir David’s advice and that of other friends, Dr. Jack accepted the professorship in New Brunswick, and assumed its duties in September, 1840. As King’s College was at first under the management of the Church of England, it failed to command the confidence and sympathy of the general public, and consequently it was never so prosperous as it should have been. Many and violent attacks were therefore made upon it both in and out of the legislature, till after much worry and struggle it was, in 1860, re-modelled and named the University of New Brunswick, over which all denominations were admitted to an equal control. In 1861 Dr. Jack was appointed president of the university, and for many years he laboured and laboured successfully in bringing the college into repute, and securing the general acceptance and confidence of the public. He spent his vacations largely in travelling about the province, and by public addresses making the college known and the benefits of the higher education appreciated. On the inauguration of the Free School system he was made, _ex-officio_, a member of the Board of Education. In 1885, after a service of forty-five years as professor and president, failing health induced him to resign his appointments, and seek the ease and quiet of private life. In 1886 the government was pleased to appoint him a member of the Senate of the University, in whose progress and prosperity he continued to take the warmest interest. Dr. Jack was always a devoted student of astronomy, and after the establishment of lines of telegraph communication, he was among the first to make use of them, determining distances of longitude. By connection with Harvard Observatory, Mass., the true longitude of Fredericton was ascertained. Taking Fredericton as the starting point, he obtained, at the instance and expense of the local government, the longitude of St. John, and afterwards of some places on the boundary survey of the province. The determinations were of service to Sir William Logan in the construction of his geological map of Canada. Dr. Jack died at Fredericton, New Brunswick, on the 23rd day of November, 1886, on his sixty-sixth birthday.

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=Cowperthwaite, Rev. Humphrey Pickard=, A.M., Pastor of the Queen Square Methodist Church, St. John, New Brunswick, was born in Sheffield, New Brunswick, on the 30th of November, 1838. His father was Hugh Cowperthwaite, and his mother, Elizabeth Ann Hunter; she was of Scotch descent. His grandfather, on his father’s side, was a United Empire loyalist, and came from New Jersey in 1783. His great-grandfather was an officer in the British army, during the American revolutionary war of independence. Humphrey received his education in the parish school, and afterwards at Sackville College, where he graduated in arts in 1867. He adopted the clerical profession, and is now an active minister of the Methodist church, in connection with the New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island conference. For several years he was chairman of the Prince Edward Island district, and secretary of the conference for two terms. On two occasions he visited the province of Ontario, on matters connected with his church, and attended as a delegate the conferences which met at Hamilton and Belleville a few years ago. On the 19th of July, 1867, he was married to Annie S. Buchanan, of Glasgow, Scotland, youngest daughter of W. M. Buchanan, editor of the “Practical Mechanics’ and Engineers’ Magazine,” and for some time lecturer on geology in the Glasgow University.

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=Lachapelle, Emmanuel Persillier=, M.D., Montreal, was born on the 21st December, 1845, at Sault-au-Récollet, province of Quebec. His parents were Pierre Persillier-Lachapelle, and Marie Zoé Toupin. Dr. Lachapelle received a classical education at the Montreal College, and took a course in medicine and surgery at the Montreal Medical and Surgical School, and after passing very brilliantly his examination, was admitted to the practice of medicine in 1869. In 1872 he was appointed surgeon to the 65th battalion, and held that position until 1886. In 1876 he was elected, and is still, a governor and treasurer of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the province of Quebec; and in 1885, during the small-pox epidemic, he took a leading part in the working of the Central Board of Health, and was appointed president of the first Provincial Board of Health recently organised. Dr. Lachapelle was the promoter and one of the founders of Notre Dame Hospital, one of the most useful charitable institutions of Montreal to-day. In 1884, wishing to free the hospital from debt, he, together with friends and the board of management, organized a grand _kermesse_ which netted about $15,000 in one week. When the establishment of the branch of Laval University in Montreal was decided upon, he became one of its most ardent supporters and contributed in a great measure to its formation. He was elected general president of the Saint Jean Baptiste Society in 1876. As a journalist, Dr. Lachapelle is favourably known, having been the proprietor and editor of _L’Union Médicale_ from 1876 to 1882. He is doctor in medicine of Laval and Victoria Universities, secretary of the Medical Faculty of Laval University, professor of general Pathology and Medical Jurisprudence, and an associate member of the “Société Française d’Hygiène,” Paris. He commenced practising in Montreal in 1869, and took a foremost rank in the galaxy of young men who about that time were entering on their professional life, and have since risen to high positions in Canadian society. Dr. Lachapelle enjoys the confidence of the general public, and through his genial disposition, has made a host of friends. He has been closely identified with all the scientific, national and political movements of the day, and his influence and advice have great weight and are highly appreciated.

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