Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 4 August 1860, CO 60:8, no. 9348, 13.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Other documents (1).
No. 72, Ecclesiastical
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Grace's
Despatch No 26 of the 19th of May
1860
1860, on the subject of
the grants of endowments in land to the Clergy of the principal
Christian Communities established in British Columbia, and I
learn with satisfaction that Your Grace has been pleased to
sanction the grants already made of about one acre each; and
also to approve of a similar grant under similar circumstances
in all Towns in British Columbia; and I will
take
take care that
Your Grace's suggestion as to the precautions necessary in the
appropriation and conveyance of the land, is not disregarded.
1860, on the subject of
the grants of endowments in land to the Clergy of the principal
Christian Communities established in British Columbia, and I
learn with satisfaction that Your Grace has been pleased to
sanction the grants already made of about one acre each; and
also to approve of a similar grant under similar circumstances
in all Towns in British Columbia; and I will
take
take care that
Your Grace's suggestion as to the precautions necessary in the
appropriation and conveyance of the land, is not disregarded.
2. I observe and admit the force of the reasons which
have induced Your Grace to withhold the sanction of Her Majesty's
Government to my further proposal that free grants of one
hundred acres of
rural
rural land should be made in aid of every
Cure established in British Columbia, and not otherwise
supported at the public expense.
rural land should be made in aid of every
Cure established in British Columbia, and not otherwise
supported at the public expense.
3. Your Grace will perhaps permit me to remark with
reference to my recommendation of that measure, that I was
desirous, by it, of holding out inducements to educated and
respectable
Clergymen
Clergymen to take up their residence in the Colony,
and of contributing in a small degree towards their decent
maintenance and support; I, in fact, regarded it as an easy
and inexpensive means of providing a fund which would materially,
and increasingly tend to the advancement and support of religion,
without putting the Colony to any serious expense.
Clergymen to take up their residence in the Colony,
and of contributing in a small degree towards their decent
maintenance and support; I, in fact, regarded it as an easy
and inexpensive means of providing a fund which would materially,
and increasingly tend to the advancement and support of religion,
without putting the Colony to any serious expense.
4.
4. I did not view the proposed endowment as a sufficient
or exclusive means of support: it was considered in my scheme
only as an attractive inducement, and important aid, for
religious bodies and Clergymen, who, perhaps, having a certain
amount of private means, or of funds drawn from other sources,
at their disposal, might by the prospect of that additional
aid, be induced to assume pastoral
charge
charge, and to found Cures.
When the good work was well begun, I trusted to the effect of
voluntary contributions to complete the fund necessary for
the support of the Incumbent, and for Church extension
throughout the Colony.
4. I did not view the proposed endowment as a sufficient
or exclusive means of support: it was considered in my scheme
only as an attractive inducement, and important aid, for
religious bodies and Clergymen, who, perhaps, having a certain
amount of private means, or of funds drawn from other sources,
at their disposal, might by the prospect of that additional
aid, be induced to assume pastoral
charge
charge, and to found Cures.
When the good work was well begun, I trusted to the effect of
voluntary contributions to complete the fund necessary for
the support of the Incumbent, and for Church extension
throughout the Colony.
5. The circumstances of British Columbia, as your Grace
is aware, are very peculiar: had
the
the Colony been settled by
a population drawn from the Mother Country, holding the same
religious views, and appreciating Christian privileges and
instruction, there would have been less cause for anxiety
about the support of religion.
the Colony been settled by
a population drawn from the Mother Country, holding the same
religious views, and appreciating Christian privileges and
instruction, there would have been less cause for anxiety
about the support of religion.
6. Bodies of Christian Settlers, however poor, might
reasonably be expected to unite in contributing, according
to their means, to secure
the
the advantage of having a Christian
Pastor resident among them.
the advantage of having a Christian
Pastor resident among them.
7. But unfortunately the state of British Columbia is
such as precludes the probability of such a desideratum: its
population is made up of drafts from many nations, dissimilar
in language, and totally disagreeing in their
religious
religious views;
and it will, I fear, be many years before Christian Congregations
of any denomination will be found capable of supporting their
own Pastors.
religious views;
and it will, I fear, be many years before Christian Congregations
of any denomination will be found capable of supporting their
own Pastors.
8. It is for that reason that the Colony so urgently
needs the fostering care of Government, for without its aid
the Country may remain
unprovided
unprovided with Churches and destitute
of Christian Teachers, for an indefinite period of time.
unprovided with Churches and destitute
of Christian Teachers, for an indefinite period of time.
9. I hope it will not be supposed from any thing herein
stated that I am pressing this matter with an earnestness
beyond its merits. I have merely addressed Your Grace under
a profound sense of one of the wants felt by the Colony, and
for
for which I have no other means of providing.
for which I have no other means of providing.
10. I need not further urge the vital importance of having
a loyal and truly English Clergy in the Country, as those are
considerations of which Your Grace is far better able to judge,
than I to represent; but I may add that there is much reason
to fear that unless Her Majesty's Government
authorise
authorise me to
take the initiation in this great work, the Country may be
found with religious teachers supported by the Propaganda, or
by Missionary Bodies in the United States, whose efforts,
though morally useful, may not produce, politically, the effect
we desire.
authorise me to
take the initiation in this great work, the Country may be
found with religious teachers supported by the Propaganda, or
by Missionary Bodies in the United States, whose efforts,
though morally useful, may not produce, politically, the effect
we desire.
11. I feel in fact, that this is a subject demanding my
closest attention, and to which I am particularly directed
by
by
Her Majesty's Instructions, which enjoin that I should take
especial care that Almighty God be devoutly served, and that
orthodox churches be built, and well and orderly kept.
by
Her Majesty's Instructions, which enjoin that I should take
especial care that Almighty God be devoutly served, and that
orthodox churches be built, and well and orderly kept.
12. Should it still appear to Her Majesty's Government
that the peculiar circumstances of the Colony do not warrant
a reconsideration of your decision in respect to
the
the proposed
endowment, I trust your Grace will authorise me to substitute
a money equivalent out of the Colonial Revenues, or to make
some other provision calculated to advance and support the
cause of Religion.
the proposed
endowment, I trust your Grace will authorise me to substitute
a money equivalent out of the Colonial Revenues, or to make
some other provision calculated to advance and support the
cause of Religion.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
I conclude that the refusal to endow the Clergy with 100 acres a piece must be persisted in. But surely it is desirable that the Govt should in some measure aid in the maintenance of a Protestant Anglican Church. At present the Govt has done nothing on this head in B. Columbia. It has devolved on private munificence, to endow a Bishoprick & on public subscription to place 2 or 3 Clergymen in the Country. If some activity is not used by Govt the Roman Catholic priests and Missionaries, & United States religionists will creep in, whose doctrines, religious and political, I cannot think will be conducive to the peace & happiness of this young Colony—in which we have now the opportunity of planting some good seed. As there is a Bishop of B.C. our only impediment would seem to be the want of pecuniary aid.
I conclude that the refusal to endow the Clergy with 100 acres a piece must be persisted in. But surely it is desirable that the Govt should in some measure aid in the maintenance of a Protestant Anglican Church. At present the Govt has done nothing on this head in B. Columbia. It has devolved on private munificence, to endow a Bishoprick & on public subscription to place 2 or 3 Clergymen in the Country. If some activity is not used by Govt the Roman Catholic priests and Missionaries, & United States religionists will creep in, whose doctrines, religious and political, I cannot think will be conducive to the peace & happiness of this young Colony—in which we have now the opportunity of planting some good seed. As there is a Bishop of B.C. our only impediment would seem to be the want of pecuniary aid.
If that is afforded the Bishop will take care to find
suitable men. My own view is that as land endowmts cannot
be sanctioned to the Clergy; as it wd be undesirable, nay
impossible to place the Clergy on our Parly Estimate for B.
Columbia, and as it is a duty on the part of the Govt not
to be supine on so important a subject as the establisht
of a Protestant Clergy in this Colony, it would be
right and
proper to sanction a charge being imposed, as the Governor
proposes, on the Colonial Revenue for the payment of Protestant
Clergymen, whether of the Church of England or Dissenters,
until such time as the inhabitants of the Colony shall be able
to defray such charge in a manner more palatable to themselves.
right and
proper to sanction a charge being imposed, as the Governor
proposes, on the Colonial Revenue for the payment of Protestant
Clergymen, whether of the Church of England or Dissenters,
until such time as the inhabitants of the Colony shall be able
to defray such charge in a manner more palatable to themselves.
ABd
1 Oct/60
Mr Fortescue
I have no doubt a grant of Col Revenue to support clergy who are actually doing the work of instruction in the Colony would be very wise & useful. And I understand that (as the Imperial Grant is of defined sums for certain purposes & not of a balance) the Grant would really as well as nominally fall on Coll Revenue.
I have no doubt a grant of Col Revenue to support clergy who are actually doing the work of instruction in the Colony would be very wise & useful. And I understand that (as the Imperial Grant is of defined sums for certain purposes & not of a balance) the Grant would really as well as nominally fall on Coll Revenue.
But 1st I do not think any distinction could be drawn
betn difft persuasions. Roman Cathc & Protestants
of all denominations share (not of course equally but)
on the same principle. The obvious principle is to aid those
bodies or persons which appear to be really exerting themselves
for the well being of the community. But it is not very easy
to lay down a rule wh shall embody this principle. The
rule of meeting contributions raised from other quarters;
whether local assessments—individual donation—or grants
from Societies, is very imperfect but I can suggest no better
condition of Govt grants. A Govr armed with despotic
authority like Govr Douglas shd be particularly
careful to entrench himself if possible behind some rule.
to lay down a rule wh shall embody this principle. The
rule of meeting contributions raised from other quarters;
whether local assessments—individual donation—or grants
from Societies, is very imperfect but I can suggest no better
condition of Govt grants. A Govr armed with despotic
authority like Govr Douglas shd be particularly
careful to entrench himself if possible behind some rule.
2. Another difficulty is that the Colony will I suppose
obtain before long some form of representative or semi-representative
Government. Great dissatisfaction mt be
felt by the Colonists if they found themselves saddled with
the obligation to support a Clergy by the act of a single man.
I think therefore, all Mr Douglas' grants of money
must be clearly understood to be from year to year & to involve
no sort of pledge of continuance.
3. Lastly it appears to me that the inconveniences of
"Clergy Reserves" on a large-scale have made us unnecessarily
jealous of small grants of land. One acre of land in B.
Columbia (not being a town lot) is worth a few shillings.
I think whenever a clergymans house is built the clergyman
may well be allowed to possess, attached to it, enough land
to grow his fruit & vegetables & feed his home—say half
a dozen acres (at least). Such a grant will have no tendency either
to make him a farmer or to obstruct the progress of improvement.
FR
19/10
I would sanction a temporary pecuniary assistance to
Ministers of Religion in B.C. under such conditions as those
indicated by Sir F.R.—& without distinction of denomination. As to land, the 1 acre grants already sanctioned
are town lots—& land is so cheap that 1/2 a dozen acres wd cost a clergyman next to nothing, as far as the price to the Crown is concerned.
CF
20
