TEPHEN FRANKLIN LAZIER, Q.C., Hamilton, Ont., was born in Picton, Prince Edward County, Ont., on the 1st of July, 1841, and is descended from a U.E. Loyalist. He was married on the 22nd August, 1871 to Alice Maud Mary, eldest daughter of Joseph Lister, Hamilton. He was educated at the public and private schools, and entered Victoria College when 14 years of age, and graduated B.A. at 18. Afterwards he obtained the degrees of LL.B. and M.A. He entered the profession of law at 18, became attorney at 21, and barrister at 22. In 1890 he was appointed Q.C. by both the Ontario and Dominion Governments. Mr. Lazier has been leader and trustee in the Centenary Methodist Church, Hamilton, and member of two General Conferences. He is Past Master of Temple Lodge of A.F. and A. Masons, has been trustee and chairman of the Board of Education, is a director of the Y.M. C.A., director of the Grimsby Park Association, and president of the Hamilton Bible Society. In all good works Mr. Lazier occupies a foremost place, and he is extending his influence as the years go by. S. FRANKLIN LAZIER. R REV. R. HARRISON. He re EV. RICHARD HARRISON, M A., rector of St. Matthias Church, Toronto, was born in that city February 25th, 1842. His father was Richard Harrison, formerly of Skegarvey, County of Monaghan, Ireland. He was educated at Trinity University, where he graduated in 1861, taking high class honors, in classics and mathematics. ceived the degree of M.A. in 1864, was ordained deacon in the Church of England in 1865, and priest in 1866. In 1867 he was appointed assistant curate at St. George's, Toronto, and in 1867 went to England, and became assistant. curate of the Anglican Church at Stratton, St. Margaret's. Returning to Canada in 1868, he became missionary successively at Beverley, Woodbridge and Vaughan, where he remained five years. In 1873 he came to Toronto and took charge of the mission parish of St. Matthias -since the "mother" of several churches. In 1877 he was delegate to the Provincial Synod at Montreal. Mr. Harrison was married to Cealia Maria, daughter of William Leslie, of Puslinch, Ont., in 1870. He wrote "The British Catholic Church" and other tractates. N NORMAN BETHUNE, M.D. EV. CHENEY BURDETT, superannu R ated Methodist minister of Ridgetown, Ont., was born on May 1st, 1826, in England. He lost his parents in very early life, and was left entirely to his own unaided exertions, not only to gain a livelihood, but to procure his education. Notwithstanding, however, all these drawbacks, by diligence, perseverance, and force of character, he acquired solid attainments in the departments of science, theology, ecclesiastical history, and other departments of study. During the thirty-three years of his active ministry he was the stationed superintendent of eighteen different circuits. Mr. Burdett is an exceedingly forcible speaker, and has been unusually successful in revival services, and in the great camp meetings of former years in Canada. He was married on May 2nd, 1852, to Nancy Rouse, who died in 1881, leaving four children, one of whom is Mrs. Dr. Brien, of the County of Essex, and afterwards was married to Mrs. Emily McTavish, on November 14th, 1882. Men of Mr. Burdett's stamp have done much to mould the moral and religious life of this country. ORMAN BETHUNE, M.D., M.R.C.S., London, and F. R.C.S., Edinburgh, practicing physician, Toronto, was born August 13th, 1822, at Moose Factory, Hudson's Bay. In 1851 he married Janet Nicolson, of Edinburgh, Scotland. His eldest son was drowned by the foundering of the State of Florida in 1884. His youngest son is in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Bethune was educated by his uncle, the Rev. Alexander N. Bethune, rector of Cobourg, and latterly Bishop of Toronto, in Cobourg, and at Upper Canada College. In 1842 he entered King's College, now Toronto University, and graduated in 1845. He then attended King's College Medical School, and in 1846 went to England and studied at King's College and Guy's Hospital. In 1848 he received the diploma of M.R.C.S. London, and in 1850 the degree of M.D. from Edinburgh. He then returned to Canada, and has been a teacher in Toronto School of Medicine and Victoria College, and is the sole survivor of the original members of the faculty of Trinity Medical School. Dr. Bethune is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a Royal Arch Mason. & REV EV. JOHN KAY, pastor of Wellington Street Methodist Church, Brantford, was born in Napanee, Ont., on the 20th May, 1838. His father was from Ireland and his mother a native of England. His father studied for some years in preparation for the ministry, but did not complete his course. He was an excellent public speaker. He followed the lumber business in the village of Newburgh, where young Kay received the rudiments of his education. When he had scarcely reached his fourteenth year, his father died, leaving a widow and three children, of whom the sub ject of our sketch was the oldest. The family shortly afterwards left Newburgh and settled in Camborne, in the vicinity of Cobourg. Here he consecrated himself to the church and became a local preacher, prosecuting, while still engaged in other business, his studies in preparation for the ministry. In 1862 he was received into the Conference and was appointed to assist the Rev. S. B. Gundy in St. Mary's. He made satisfactory progress in his literary curriculum, taking also a course in philosophy and theology under the late Rev. Wm. McClure. Mr. Kay has, since his ordination, been stationed in Ingersoll (twice), Milton, Waterdown, Tilsonburg, London, Waterford, Thorold, Hamilton and Brantford, where he has entered upon his third year. He has occupied important positions, such as secretary of the Conference, chairman of Districts, was representative to the General Conference in Toronto in 1886, in Montreal in 1890, and president of the Niagara Conference in 1890. He has always been a strong friend of the temperance movement, and has been a member of the Sons of Temperance, the Good Templars and Royal Templars. In theology he is progressive, yet conservative. In 1871 he published an interesting biography of his father-in-law, the Rev. W. Gundy, and has on several occasions contributed to periodical literature. He also takes a lively interest in educational matters, and in everything pertaining to the welfare of his native land. EV. B. F. AUSTIN, R M.A., B.D., Principal of of Alma Ladies' College, St. Thomas, was born on September 21, 1850, in the township of Brighton, County of Northumberland, and was married on the 16th June, 1881, to Miss Frances Amanda Connell. Mr. Austin was educated at Albert University, Belleville, having his preparatory training at the Brighton grammar and common schools. At the age of sixteen he began teaching in the township of Brighton, where he remained three and a half years. In 1871 he entered the ministry of the M. E. Church, and was ordained in 1877. During his attendance at the university, he edited the Temperance Union, and in vacation time lectured and organized lodges. He graduated B.A. in 1877 and B.D. in 1881, preached a year in the Brighton circuit, a year in Frankford circuit, one year each in Cobourg and Ottawa, three years in Prescott, and then went to the Metropolitan Church in Ottawa, from which, after a three months pastorate, he was taken to his present position in Alma College. Since that date (1881), he has, with singular ability and success, promoted the interests of this important institution. Mr. Austin has been busy with his pen for many years. In 1879 he published a volume of sermons by various ministers, under the title of "The M. E. Pulpit," the profits being given for mission purposes. In 1880 he published a small volume, entitled "Sins of the Times;" in 1884, "The Gospel to the Poor vs. Pew Rents;" in 1889, a pamphlet on "The Jesuits," which has already run through four editions; and in the same year he edited a edited a handsome volume, entitled "Woman: Her Character, Culture and Calling." Mr. Austin is much sought after for the platform and pulpit, and renders valuable service to churches of his own and other denominations. is a strong advocate of union between the Evangelical churches, and a prominent member of the Equal Rights Party, in its efforts to spread sound Protestant doctrines and thwart Romish aggression. He RR EV. WM. BRIGGS, D. D., who has recently been unanimously elected for the fourth time as Book Steward of the Methodist Church, is a native of the Emerald Isle. His parents were members of the Wesleyan Church. When about six years old he was taken to Liverpool, where he received his early education, being for some time under the training of the celebrated Dean Howson. His diligence as a student gave promise of great usefulness in the future. In early boyhood he professed the faith of his parents and soon began to exercise his gifts. Eventually his name appeared on the local preachers' list in the Liverpool circuit. In 1859 he was called to the ministry, and introduced to the Wesleyan Conference in Canada by the president, the late Rev. Dr. Stinson. Commencing his ministry in the province of Quebec he came westward to such important centres as Montreal, Belleville, Cobourg, Toronto, London, and Hamilton, in some of which he was stationed more than one term. He has also been chairman of districts and president of the Toronto Conference. Dr. Briggs' early business training has been of immense benefit to him in his present position. Under his management the book room has become the largest publishing house in the Dominion. For well nigh half a century its head quarters were in King street, Toronto, until increasing business demanded greater space. Now Wes ley buildings is one of the attrac tions of the Queen City of the West. In addition to his business engagements, Dr. Briggs preaches nearly every Sabbath in some part of Canada, and his pulpit ministrations, fresh and vigorous, are eagerly sought after. He is a man always ready to help in every good cause, who has the courage of his convictions, and is respected for his manly independence. Rarely do we find combined in one man such power to grasp the details of a large business, and at the same time, a pulpit eloquence which thrills the large audiences that constantly greet him. |