From [John] Kenner at 423 Dufferin Avenue, London, Ontario, Canada, to Lewis Court in England.
Court's letter of 15th June arrived safely but has long remained unanswered, due to Kenner suffering from ill health. He had taken a trip to the town of Hamilton where his second son is in business. He had also arranged to visit his eldest daughter, wife of a Methodist minister Revd. S.J. Thompson and had hoped to meet his brother Henry in Winnipeg. On the way back from Hamilton, he arrived in Stratford where his eldest son has been [unrea word] in business for some years. A telegram reached Kenner there, informing him of Henry's death, news which completely knocked him out. He resolved that the three thousand mile journey would be too much for him to bear, as he has now passed his eightieth year. Kenner's daughter is currently staying with him and he has again recovered his health.
He appreciates what Court had to say about salaries and the cost of living. Kenner raised nine children, six of whom survived their childhood. [The rest of the passage is very difficult to read]. At the time when Kenner entered the ministry, he received £10 for the first year and £12 thereafter. His salary at the time of his marriage [1861] was £30, which rose to £36. In 1871 he came to Canada with his eldest brother [William] - their other brother [Henry] had already been preaching here for ten years. The salary in Canada was much improved, with additional money for each child. At the time when he was stationed in London [England] in 1860-61, he had published a book which went to a second edition `and that gave me a financial start'. In Canada interest rates are much higher than in England and this allowed him to amass sufficient savings to look after himself in old age. [The rest of the passage is difficult to read, but describes how one can make money by growing wheat and transporting it by rail to the coast for onward movement by sea].
He can sympathise with Court's comments regarding the terrible effects of the war on the Church. There are over one hundred young men from Kenner's congregation currently serving overseas, and yet more have been asked for.
`Lee Interest' was established while Kenner was stationed in London [England], and he became a trustee. The whole fraternity with the exception of Kenner has now died off, and a little while ago Kenner had to sign a document `to make a legal transfer. Mrs James Moore and Mr Haywood were among the leading men then?? 1840s. Both I expect joined the majority we need' [The rest of this passage is very difficult to read].
With regard to the Missionary Society, Kenner offered a contribution on condition that £20?? be used to carry on the work that Samuel Pollard's death left unfinished. Kenner's neighbour?? gets The British Weekly and Kenner has therefore been able to keep up with news of the Churches and their foreign missions. He saw that Court was making a special financial effort to further overseas missions work, but there was no account of the work itself. He would be obliged if Court would send him the names of those missionaries sent to China, firstly to see if the conditions of his donation have been met, and secondly for the last fifteen years Kenner has had a list of names of people for whom he has prayed daily, and he wishes to add the missionaries to his list. Upon receipt of Court's [unreadable word] the [money] draft will be sent in or before January next.
Kenner also saw in The British Weekly an obituary for Revd. [John] Luke, who with [William Blake] Lark was a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference held in [unreadable place-name]. Kenner had a delightful conversation with them.
He has sent Court a copy of The Bowmanville Statesman, which contains a record of the death of [William] Joliffe.
Kenner was surprised to hear from Court that Revd. [William] Rowe is still alive. Kenner always found him to be a `good well-rounded man' and would love to see him and the Isle of Wight again, especially Broad Church where lie the remains of [Paul Mark Robins] Beswitherick, a dear friend of Kenner's. Rowe preceded Kenner as pastor of Gain?? Street Chapel, Swansea.
Brothers [unreadable name], Jehu Martin or Martyn and [unreadable name] were contemporaries of Kenner's brother William at Shebbear College. Kenner was himself acquainted with those good men Matthew Robins and his brother Paul, during the latter's time in Canada. They were both enthusiastic in following John Wesley's advice to "get, save and give all that you can".
Court's book of centenary celebration failed to reach Kenner, but he is grateful for the kind intention.
Notes .
- William Rowe (1824-1917) entered the Bible Christian ministry in 1847. He served as President of Conference in 1872 and Secretary in 1871. Source: Beckerlegge
- Paul Mark Robins Beswitherick (1837-61) was born in Bodmin, Cornwall. He was converted in 1856 and entered the Bible Christian ministry. He died in 1861 while stationed at Shanklin on the Isle of Wight. Source: Beckerlegge