Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 17 February 1860, CO 60:7, no. 3621, 112.
Abstract
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 17 February 1860, CO 60:7, no. 3621, 112.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
No. 24, Ecclesiastical
In my Despatch No 224 of the 18th October last, reporting
to your Grace on the state of British Columbia, I took occasion,
while adverting to the existing means of moral
moral
and religious
instruction in the Colony, to inform your Grace that Divine service
was regularly held in the several Towns of Lower British Columbia,
by resident Clergymen, and that the almost total absence of crime
went far to shew how usefully, and extensively, the influence of
their teaching is felt.
and religious
instruction in the Colony, to inform your Grace that Divine service
was regularly held in the several Towns of Lower British Columbia,
by resident Clergymen, and that the almost total absence of crime
went far to shew how usefully, and extensively, the influence of
their teaching is felt.
2. It did not however occur to me, to inform your Grace
at
at
the same time, that I had on the part of this Government done
everything in my power to promote the good cause, by encouraging
the residence of an ordained and educated Clergy in British Columbia.
at
the same time, that I had on the part of this Government done
everything in my power to promote the good cause, by encouraging
the residence of an ordained and educated Clergy in British Columbia.
3. Having no authority to apply any part of the Public Revenue
to the aid and support of Churches, there was little in my power to
bestow, beyond the sincerest sympathy and advice, in aid of the
zealous
Clergy
Clergy of the Church of England, and the Methodist
Episcopal Church, who first entered the field of Missionary
labour in British Columbia.
Clergy of the Church of England, and the Methodist
Episcopal Church, who first entered the field of Missionary
labour in British Columbia.
4. I did not however hesitate to assign to the Clergy of
those persuasions respectively, on their application, a Church,
School, and Dwelling House site, forming a block of four building
Lots, or about one acre of Land, in extent, in all
Towns
Towns where
they resided. Thus free grants to that extent, viz., one acre,
have been made for the use and benefit of the Church of England,
and of the Methodist Episcopal Church, respectively, in the Towns
of Yale, Hope, Derby, Douglas, and New Westminster, as a small
return for the valuable services rendered to the country by the
Clergy of those Churches, who have hitherto received no other
compensation from the Government.
Towns where
they resided. Thus free grants to that extent, viz., one acre,
have been made for the use and benefit of the Church of England,
and of the Methodist Episcopal Church, respectively, in the Towns
of Yale, Hope, Derby, Douglas, and New Westminster, as a small
return for the valuable services rendered to the country by the
Clergy of those Churches, who have hitherto received no other
compensation from the Government.
5. I have to request
Your Grace's sanction for those grants,
and authority to continue the same practice in all other Towns
of British Columbia, where ordained Ministers of the Gospel may
think proper to take up their residence, and further, seeing that
one of the duties most deserving the attention of Government, is
to provide means for the moral and religious training of the
people, I would take the liberty of
recommending
recommending to Her Majesty's
Government, that free grants of One hundred acres of rural land,
should be made in aid of every Cure, formed in British Columbia,
provided they be not otherwise supported at the Public expense,
and there be a resident Clergyman, and a place of Christian
Worship erected.
Your Grace's sanction for those grants,
and authority to continue the same practice in all other Towns
of British Columbia, where ordained Ministers of the Gospel may
think proper to take up their residence, and further, seeing that
one of the duties most deserving the attention of Government, is
to provide means for the moral and religious training of the
people, I would take the liberty of
recommending
recommending to Her Majesty's
Government, that free grants of One hundred acres of rural land,
should be made in aid of every Cure, formed in British Columbia,
provided they be not otherwise supported at the Public expense,
and there be a resident Clergyman, and a place of Christian
Worship erected.
6. A grant of Land to that extent would not be burdensome
to the Colony, and would nevertheless form an attractive
inducement
inducement, for Christian Churches to devote their attention
to the Country, until population increases, and other provision
is made for the maintenance of a Christian Clergy, and the
erection of places of Christian Worship.
inducement, for Christian Churches to devote their attention
to the Country, until population increases, and other provision
is made for the maintenance of a Christian Clergy, and the
erection of places of Christian Worship.
7. It is not my intention to advocate the establishment of
a dominant and endowed Church, as that object could not be
accomplished without
injustice
injustice, in a country to which persons
of all religious persuasions are invited to resort, but I
conceive it would be advisable to extend in the manner before
indicated, the protection and support of Government, to the four
grand denominations of Christians, viz. the Church of England,
the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Roman Catholic
Churches
Churches, which
are all represented by classes of the population in this Colony.
injustice, in a country to which persons
of all religious persuasions are invited to resort, but I
conceive it would be advisable to extend in the manner before
indicated, the protection and support of Government, to the four
grand denominations of Christians, viz. the Church of England,
the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Roman Catholic
Churches
Churches, which
are all represented by classes of the population in this Colony.
8. I shall be glad to receive the instructions of Her
Majesty's Government on this subject.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Refer to Land Board. The grant of one acre of Land as a site for a Church, school, & dwelling house to the Clergymen of the principal religious persuasions in B. Columbia wd seem a very legitimate & proper measure: indeed can the setting aside of 100 acres for the support of the Clergymen—who have no other means of subsistence that I know of—be really objectionable in the infancy of the Colony, & its inability to pay for its religious instruction. But care must be taken against the introduction of any extensive Clergy Reserve system of endowment.
Refer to Land Board. The grant of one acre of Land as a site for a Church, school, & dwelling house to the Clergymen of the principal religious persuasions in B. Columbia wd seem a very legitimate & proper measure: indeed can the setting aside of 100 acres for the support of the Clergymen—who have no other means of subsistence that I know of—be really objectionable in the infancy of the Colony, & its inability to pay for its religious instruction. But care must be taken against the introduction of any extensive Clergy Reserve system of endowment.
ABd
17 April
