1908 - 1996

I

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Canada, as a nation, was but forty-one years of age in 1908. Sir Wilfred Laurier had just been re-elected Prime Minister and Lord Grey, donor of Canadian professional football's top trophy, was Gover-nor General-vice regent of Edward VII. Ottawa, the chosen capital of the Dominion, was undergoing concentrated efforts by the Ottawa Improvement Commission to beautify the city in response to wide-spread criticism that the former Bytown presented an embarrassingly poor face, when compared to other world capitals. The Commission was "cleaning up" the Rideau canal by removing scores of sheds, facto-ries, warehouses and stacks of timber from along its banks, and replacing them with parks and gardens, some of them still in evidence. About the same time, a start was made on scenic driveways with the controversial construction of Lady Grey Drive. I

During the years following the turn of the century, Canada and Ottawa applied their energies and skills to growing and building, both in terms of physical development and progressive enhancement of commerce and industry. While the Governor General travelled to Regina and Edmonton in 1909 to lay the cornerstones for their respective parliament buildings, improvement and renewal became the mind-set of Ottawa's residents and the city's motto "Advance" was being taken seriously. The advance syndrome extended into Ottawa East, a village which had lately become part of the city when it was annexed by Ottawa in 1907.2 A number of Methodists spoke of a church of their own in the community to which they might walk rather than travel to McLeod Church on Bank Street, or uptown to the "Mother Church", Dominion. 3 Pretoria bridge did not exist and passage over the canal was by a swing bridge linking Harvey Street with Argyle Avenue. This was not handy to McLeod, the closest Methodist church--especially for children who would otherwise have attended Sunday school. The Methodist churches in Otta-wa, however, were recognizing the need for new congregations in outlying areas of the city, and in order to assist in the establishment of such new pastorates, formed the Ottawa Methodist Social Union. The Union's first venture was the founding of a Methodist church in Ottawa East.

Early twentieth century photographs of such major Ottawa streets as Wellington, Bank, Sparks or Queen seldom reveal more than a few carriages or wagons, possibly an automobile or a tram and a hand-ful of pedestrians using the cobbled or unpaved roads. This picture of unhurried serenity in midtown Ottawa suggests an even more tranquil and quiet community in Ottawa East; an area ideal for living and raising a family. But, Ottawa East residents were neither slow-paced nor sleepy. They were, for the most part, working-class citizens used to manual labour-railway employees, lumbermen, tradesmen, mer-chants and government employees. Some with a strong rural background, were but lightly urbanized and chickens and even a horse or two dwelt in a few back yards for many years. The industry and tenacity of these people were demonstrated in their establishing and maintaining Ottawa East's Methodist church, and the legacy they left to following generations: a devout determination.

In the days before the parliamentary fire led to the erection of the present Peace Tower and its carillon; when there was as yet no Chateau Laurier Hotel nor a Union Station (present Conference Centre); when the E.B. Eddy Company had a scant one year earlier introduced gasoline driven trucks to the streets of Ottawa, Ottawa East was already providing a valuable service to the area in the facilities it

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offered the railroad. Upper Ottawa East was the site of rail yards, and tugging and shunting steam yard engines puffed and panted day and night. The Grand Trunk Railway cross town tracks bisected the northern portion of Ottawa East as they paralleled Hawthorne Avenue, having passed coal sheds, live-stock pens and machine shops west of the canal, continuing through a switching area and roundhouse east of Main Street and south of the present Greenfield-Nicholas connection. Beyond that, tracks passed by more coal sheds lining Hurdman's Road, crossed the Rideau river, and branched east and south.4 The initial services of the new Methodist congregation were held virtually beside the tracks and the subse-quent church building was no further away from the rail lines than the present building is from the Queensway.

The term "Ottawa East" in the early 1900's described a village on the eastern outskirts of Ottawa. Its geographical location, in an unofficial and non-arbitrary mode might roughly be represented as lying between the Rideau canal and the Rideau river, bounded on the north by the curving canal and extending to Nicholas Street and Hurdman's Road to the river, and on the south, to the end of Main Street at Riverdale Avenue. Little other than farm land was in evidence south of Clegg Street and east of Main Street in the Brantwood area was low, swampy terrain considered unsuitable for residential development. The area between Main Street's southern extremity and the Rideau river was pasture land and the Smyth Road (George McIlraith) bridge was still years away. The region was still without such local landmarks as St. Patrick's College (1928) on Echo Drive ( present Immaculata High School), Holy Canadian Martyrs (1930)on Main Street at Lees Avenue (present Peace Latvian Lutheran Church). It did. however, boast Sainte Famille church and school at Oblate and Main (1902), Ottawa East Public School on Evelyn Avenue (Lady Evelyn, 1905) and the Village Hall (1895) on Main Street at Hawthorne Avenue.

"This brief preamble about the social and physical makeup of Ottawa East, circ. 1908, will provide a sketch of the community into which Wesley was introduced. It may be easier to understand why a section of 1996 Ottawa, appearing to be little more than a corridor for endless traffic to pass through on its way to and from the city's core, presents so many facilities ordinarily found in a small town or village: a Village (Town) Hall, English and French language Roman Catholic churches, a Roman Catholic parish hall, a Baptist church which boasted the only Sunday School in the area before Wesley's, United. Luther-an and Anglican churches and a university, a community college, a former convent and seminary as well as Separate schools and a Public school. At one time there were three bakeries, a dairy and brick and lumber yards. The city garbage dump was located at the end of Lees Avenue opposite the Ottawa Gas plant for many years. All of these bespeak the history of a closely knit , almost detached community bearing a small town profile. With the passage of time, the city has expanded eastward. but to those who grew up or lived for any length of time in the area, Ottawa East will always be that special part of the city we have described. Whenever "Ottawa East" is mentioned. they will picture streets like Hawthorne Avenue, Main Street, Echo Drive and Lees Avenue. They will recall names like Canadian Martyrs, Lady Evelyn, Walker's Bread and Morrison-Lamothe. They will no doubt remember St Pat's, Mazenod, As-cension Church and Wesley United

This is the area and the people whom Wesley Methodist Church was established to serve.

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II

On Sunday afternoon, December 27, 1908, forty Ottawa East Methodists held their first church service in a rented hall, formerly a grocery store, at number 30 Main Street. The service, which took the form of a prayer meeting, was conducted jointly by Messrs. J. Y. Caldwell and Harold 1. Armitage. The first session of the Sunday school was held January 10, 1909 with an attendance of twenty-four students and teachers.1 The first evening church service was held on that date and once again, forty worshippers attended and managed an offering of one dollar. 2 The introduction of the envelope system of giving the next month increased offerings to five dollars per week. From the beginning, the zeal of the congregation left no doubt that, given its way, a true church building would be erected before long. The members held a congregational meeting on May 15, 1909 at which they elected their first official slate of officers. Minutes of that meeting reveal the following appointments:

Stewards:
John Mehegan John Girard H.S. Kneen R Waterman
R Carson R. W. Riddell Albert Campsall R Anderson

Recording Steward:
H.S. Kneen

Representatives:
J. Mehegan R Waterman
J. Laishley A Hurst

Trustees:
Mr. E. Seybold and other members of the Methodist Social Union were asked to serve on this board for an unspecified period.

Mr. Kneen, the recording secretary, was asked to write an account of the work of Methodism in Ottawa East during the formative years before the church was built.. This he did, and we are in his debt as he provided a valuable source of material covering that early period in Wesley's history. Mr. Armitage was selected to be the first pastor. He was to be shared with Hawthorne Church, making Wesley part of a circuit. The minister was to receive a salary of six hundred dollars with an additional allowance of one hundred dollars for horse hire.

The Ottawa Methodist Social Union was encouraged enough by the desire and optimism of the fledgling Ottawa East congregation to form building and fmance committees and purchase a 90' X 156' lot at the comer of Hawthorne Avenue and Main Street from Mrs. John Graham at a cost of three thou-sand dollars. 3 The Union met April 29 and selected Mr. E. Seybold to act as treasurer of the building fund "to carry on the erection of the church, to receive all subscriptions and pay all accounts". Mr. Kneen writes: "This he did, in a very remarkable manner." Also, at that memorable meeting, the new church was named Wesley. The building was erected partly by tender and partly by volunteer labour of dedicated members.4 It was a rectangular brownish-red brick structure on grey stone foundation walls with a high-ridged wooden shingled roof whose gabled ends faced north and south. The front of the church faced north with the main entrance opening onto Hawthorne Avenue. At fIrst, the basement had a sand floor and no partitions. There were no plumbing facilities and in the sanctuary, wooden benches and chairs served as pews. A small raised platform was located at the centre of the west wall and the choir area was

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set aside in the south-west comer, marked off by short curtains provided by the church's already functioning Ladies Aid Society. It was a small building on a large lot; but a lot that was put to good use on many occasions as time passed, increasing the influence of the little church upon those who loved it and worked so hard to keep it now that it had become a reality.

Sunday, July 11, 1909 saw the formal dedication of the new Wesley Methodist Church building. There were morning and evening services. Local press coverage declared: "For both (services) the church was crowded to the doors, an indication partly, of the interest taken in the Ottawa East Methodists by the older congregations in the city." The speaker at the morning service was Rev. Dr. IE. Mavity, District Chairman and President of the Methodist Social Union. His desire and enthusiasm can be said to be the prime mover in bringing about Ottawa East's Methodist church. The evening service was conducted by Rev. R.G. Peever, pastor of McLeod church. There was undoubtedly a feeling of pride, joy and thanks-giving among those who sat through the services; a feeling that only those who have given so much of their time and resources toward the goal of opening a brand new church can know. It was a situation that most had never known before and would not likely experience again, Harold Kneen closed his account of Methodism in Ottawa East from its beginning to the opening of the first church building with the following paragraphs:

"A spirit of hopefulness prevails among the people, there being every prospect of the speedy growth of Methodism in this district.

"That the blessing of God may rest upon this church; that the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ may always be preached; that countless numbers may find salvation within her walls, is the prayer of the people and pastor of Wesley Methodist Church. We thank God and take courage."

So it was with such faith and dedication that the people of Wesley faced the future. It was a full day. It was a momentous day and both the Ottawa Citizen and the Ottawa Journal saw fit to mention that the days offerings and donations provided the building fund with an additional $250.

Sunday had been a day of impressive and solemn worship. The following evening, however, was given to social festivity and celebration. One can. picture a warm July evening and a small red brick church sitting as it did, on a vast lot extending spaciously toward Main Street on one side, and looking out across several vacant lots to the west. We can envision the setting sun reflecting from the sparkling windows and glossy painted trim; and glistening upon the roofs cascading cedar shingles, On the lawn; daintily covered tables and the tinkle and clatter of cutlery and chinaware proclaimed the opening tea, as an estimated seven hundred happy souls enjoyed Wesley's first social function. 5 Only one day after the opening of the church, the women of the congregation had embarked upon their career of dedicated industry in planning and carrying out the church's social programs. On this occasion, they were given help in serving tea by members of the Ladies Aid Societies of the city's other Methodist churches. Following the tea, a "platform meeting" was held inside the church. Once again, the Journal reports that it was crowded to the doors. After four speeches, the audience was favoured with entertainment. The speakers were: His Worship, Mayor Hopewell, Rev. B. Thompson, Rev. F.G. Robinson and Rev. Mavety. Mr. Seyboid occupied the chair and took the opportunity to announce that the church was opened free from debt. A mortgage against the lot had been arranged by the Social Union with the Graham estate for $2,000. at 5% interest. In thanking those who had helped in the realization of Wesley Church, Mr. Kneen made it a point to mention that the congregation members themselves had contributed more than three hundred dollars.

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III

The first meeting of Wesley's Quarterly Official Board following the church opening was held July 29, 1909. Officials from both Hawthorne and Wesley were present and Mr. Armitage's salary was discussed. It was settled by vote that he receive $600 for the year, with Hawthorne contributing $200. It was suggested by the chairman, Rev. Mavety, that Wesley's finances be conducted "as they do in McLeod" and that the newly elected treasurer, Mr. Armitage, interview the treasurer of McLeod Church "with regard to same" . We have no record as to whether or not such an interview ever took place. It is re-corded, however, that the first leave of absence ever given 8 pastor of Wesley was granted Mr. Armitage three weeks after the church was opened. Certainly, it was earned. He had conducted most of the services since the inception of the congregation and later that year, was given besides preaching, chairing board meetings and serving as treasurer, the additional responsibilities of appointing a caretaker and re-solving the question of "horse hire for the pastor or supply to drive to Hawthorne". These additional duties were placed upon the pastor at the board's second meeting, September 29, 1909. That meeting also marked the initiation of the every member canvass as Messrs. Mehegan, Kneen, Girard and Waterman were selected to visit the families of Ottawa East to see how much each member was willing to commit to Wesley, using the weekly envelope system. There were about forty families involved with an average weekly offering of $7.75.

Money, a seemingly repugnant subject to some when dealing with church matters, has always been of vital importance to the Christian Church. Wesley Methodist was no exception. In 1910, the ap-propriation for the pastor's salary was raised to $750, with one hundred dollars for horse keep and a bonus at the end of the year. With a membership now of sixty at Wesley and thirty-eight at Hawthorne, Wesley's portion was to be $500. These financial arrangements were made for a new pastor. Mr. Harold Armitage vacated Wesley's pulpit in May of that year and Rev. W.A Wilson began a two year ministry with the young church. This first change in ministry was one of many to follow. With Wesley in its 88th year of existence, no fewer than twenty-seven students, lay preachers and ordained ministers have filled the Wesley pulpit, with four others acting as supervisors during the terms of students and lay preachers.

An organist, Mr. Stanley Doxstader, was engaged in 1910 at a salary of two dollars per Sunday - playing the church's first organ, given as a gift to the church by James and Elizabeth Laishley -and Mr. Waterman was appointed caretaker with a weekly stipend of one dollar, although the caretaker's salary was raised the following year to six dollars per month during the winter with notice: "...that the church be scrubbed once per month, swept and dusted once per week and properly heated." And, when speaking of money, the ladies' organizations must be recognized. From the very outset, the Ladies' Aid worked at socials, teas and sales and ran an organized "Mite" system in which certain committees of the Society received small offerings (mites) from various members of the congregation each month to be used in the operation of the Society and, when possible, to make donations to the church treasury. Early donations to the church were understandably modest. Ten dollars was a common figure. But the church had as yet no inventory of articles and equipment necessary to provide for social endeavours and the ladies had to turn at least some of their efforts toward providing them. Although dishes were borrowed from other churches for some time whenever Wesley held a church supper, the ladies did provide a number of items themselves. Within the first eighteen months of the life of the church, the ladies purchased among other things: a Communion set, 200 teaspoons, a cupboard, 6 knives, 12 dozen plates, 4 jugs, one dipper, one boiler, a dishpan and four dozen cups and saucers. Many things were presented to the church thereafter among them a Communion cup filler and new hymn books. On one occasion, ten dollars was given