Much has also been
accomplished by the ladies of the parish, who have quietly and
faithfully laboured in the interests of the church. Among those who
have taken a prominent part are Mesdames Bailey, Hamilton, Woods,
Hawkins, Curtis, F. Smith, R. Dearsley, E.
Satterthwaite, F. Stevens, Lodge, Holder, and Hiscock.
For services rendered at the organ the parish has been very grateful to
Miss K. Hawkins, Miss Bertha Arnold, Mrs. E. J. Arnold; and for the
past year to Mr. G. V. Jenkins of Belmont.
The present church wardens are Mr. Harold Smith, and Mr. Vie. Cobbe.
Mr. G. M. Beech is the secretary-treasurer, and the rector is Rev. Edw.
A. Syme.
Grain Elevators at
Belmont
Neighbouring Baldur District, Belmont has a Pioneer History Worthwhile
UNITED CHURCH
By Rev. Palmer
It is to the lasting credit of the churches of Canada that they kept
pace with the vast immigration of the people into the prairie provinces
and British Columbia from the beginning until the present time. The
churches were determined that the condition. which prevailed in the
United States during its western expansion, where they boasted that
"There were no ten commandments west of the Mississippi”, take place in
Canada.
What the Church meant to the early settlers, no tongue can tell. One
can understand the homesickness of men and women (especially the women)
uprooted from their homes in the east and overseas and transplanted to
a new and sparsely settled country where comforts were few and
hardships many. To these people the Church was an oasis in the
desert, the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. The church was the
religious and social centre in every community where faith and hope
were renewed and grace and strength were received to face the
disappointments and difficulties of pioneer life.
One can understand what it meant to lonely women who had not seen other
women for weeks at a time, to come to church and meet one another. I
have no doubt that many of the men got cross
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waiting for their wives after services,
who could hardly tear themselves away from the sweet gossip which seems
to be so essential to woman's welfare.
Settlers started to come into the Baldur district about the years 1879
and 1860. The Playfairs came in the latter year. By '84 the Cramers,
Chesters, W. J. Porter and many others had settled in the district.
Most of the early setters were from Ontario, where they had been used
to good schools, and churches and they were determined that they and
their children were not going to be deprived of the cultural and moral
influences of these great civilizing forces.
As soon therefore, as they got set- tled in their little homes, they
made great efforts and sacrifices to build schools and in them held
their church services. This was an improvement on the small homes which
soon became too crowded for comfort. Religion and education were to
these pioneers not the frills but the warp and woof of life. Surely
these old pioneers laid the foundations of this new country broad and
deep.
The first ministers who visited the Baldur district were the Rev. James
Bell and his young colleague, Mr. Houck. These ministers were stationed
at Crystal City and used to come over occasionally to hold services in
the homes of people. This was in '84. It was in the same year that the
Rev. Bell married Mr. Ab Cremer to Miss Elizabeth Playfair.
About the same time the Rev. Mr. Andrew, a Methodist minister was
stationed in the Stockton district, where I believe, he had a
homestead. He used to come over to the Grund Community and held
services in the home of S. S. Christopherson. He also
preached at what is now Victoria.
The first resident minister in the Baldur district was the Rev. James
Hoskins. He came in July,1884. Like many of the pioneer preachers he
covered a large territory.
There was real church union in those days. Homes and schoolhouses were
open to ministers of all denominations. The people were eager to listen
to the gospel no matter what minister did the preaching
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