CANADA—THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

CANADA—THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY CANADA—THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY
Charles G. McPhee

Canada is a young man’s country. No nation provides greater opportunities in the fields of commerce, industry, agriculture, education and religion. It stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific with a land area of over 3,750,000 square miles. It is larger than the United States including Alaska and is nearly equal to all of Europe.

During the past hundred years the United States and Canada have dwelt side by side as friendly neighbors, avoiding international friction and providing a wholesome example of good will and mutual assistance. Not a single soldier, gun or fort, is maintained along a common border of nearly three thousand miles. Two great nations with a common ancestry, similar habits and peaceful ambitions, have shown the world how all problems can be settled around the conference table with the point of a pen and not the point of a bayonet. We pray that the spirit of fellowship and understanding may long continue.

Climate and Industry
The climate of Canada is such that it cannot be described in a few words. Any country that touches three oceans and stretches across three thousand miles, must of necessity have great variations in climate. Fruits, grain and vegetables are grown in abundance. The forests of the North produce the timber necessary to supply the pulp and paper mills of Canada and about two-thirds of all newsprint used in the United States. During the last world war, Canada not only supplied its own lumber needs but also met 70% of the requirements of Great Britain, while supplying one hundred million feet to the commonwealth countries and one billion feet to the United States. Oil now flows from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Lakes, and the rich iron ore deposits in Labrador assure a supply for the steel mills of America during the next century.

History of the Church
The history of the Church of Christ in Canada dates back to the early days of the restoration movement. The exact date and by whom the first church was planted in the Dominion is a little uncertain. However, many of the pioneer preachers visited Central and Eastern Canada and the church grew rapidly. Men, such as John S. Sweeney and Benjamin Franklin, did. much to establish the work. Moses E. Lard preached for some time at Bowmanville, Ontario, as well as Alexander Campbell. Brother Campbell also preached at Jordan, Ontario, where the church has been in existence for more than a century. The old brick building which served the needs of the congregation almost from the beginning has recently been replaced by a splendid edifice suitable for the needs of a growing community.

Many churches sprang up all over Ontario and the Maritime Provinces, without any knowledge of each other. The future looked bright. Denominationalism could not stand in the presence of the gospel of Christ, when preached by consecrated men. However, the his-tory of the church in Canada, like many places, has been written in sorrow and tears. In those pioneer (days “digression” was unknown and the faith of a gospel preacher was never questioned. An “Editorial Counsellor” -of the “Christian Church” stated the case clearly, while bemoaning the present state of affairs, among the “Disciples of Christ”. He related an experience while crossing the Irish Sea at night. He could not understand the peculiar actions of the boat, since he could not even see a whitecap. A seaman told him it was “Ground Swells”. Some force, working deep down, caused the trouble with the ship.
It was the agitations deep down that caused the trouble in the church. Self-appointed or denominationally selected leaders promoted ambitious programs for “building a new church for a new age”. They used the blueprints drawn by organizational architects, instead of the divine blueprint providing peace and salvation to all believers. The church, therefore, was seriously damaged by the “Ground Swells” of doubt, strife and denominationalism, caused by a lack of respect for “Divine Authority”. The authority of Christ in the church is im-perative. “All authority hath been given unto me both in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). When men usurp the authority of Christ, the “Ground Swells” will soon indicate themselves in digression and tyranny. The introduction of human societies to do the work of the church, and mechanical music in the worship, were only symptoms of the deadly disease that lurked beneath the surface. Like a cancer whose presence is not detected until it begins to destroy the normal func-tions of the body; its nature is so malignant that it causes great bodily pain and its victim is generally beyond all hope of restoration. However, the church might have been successfully treated in the early stages of its digression. Had the proper treatment been administered a hundred years ago, by the predecessors of those who now see this folly, the situation might have been remedied. Today, the “Disciples of Christ” have so little respect for divine authority, being filled with modernism, premillennialism and worldliness, they are about to be swallowed up by the denominations with whom they have travelled, lo these many years. The spirit of degeneracy, which preceded and prompted the innovations, led to the decline and ruin of many congregations in Canada. Many churches were torn to shreds by the unwise and unreasonable actions of men, who were not concerned about the truth of God or faith in Christ. Havoc was wrought all over the land, while congregations faded and houses of worship were closed, never to open again. Paul said: “From among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:30). This scripture has been literally fulfilled. The flood-gate of digression was opened and swept everything before it, leaving only a few churches and brethren stranded here and there. However, the men and churches that departed from the faith have dwindled and almost faded from the memory of men. It is expected that in less than half a century, not one congregation of the digressive element will remain in the Dominion of Canada. The sooner the better. They love the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for evermore. I know whereof I speak. I have lived among them, was baptized by one of them, and have had to oppose their innovations for over forty years. The Church at Work
Today, the church of Christ is on the move. While the congregations are few and scattered, the prospects are bright. With some assistance from our brethren in the South, the church could advance in the North in a manner hitherto undreamed of by those who remained faithful on the firing line. Many gospel workers have gone into the Northeastern States and rendered yeoman service- for the cause of Christ. The radio broadcasts conducted for years past have acquainted many with the church, and they are now susceptible to the truth. The growing population, entrenched denominationalism, and the tremendous power of the Catholic Church, enlist the interest and demand the service of those who are anxious for the spread of Christianity. The great need of the church is for well qualified preachers and teachers to move into strategic points, and there live and preach the gospel. The work cannot be done in a few months. It is a lifetime job. The ground has to be plowed, harrowed and sown, before a harvest can be garnered. It is a challenge for those who love the Lord to show their love for man. Some have accepted the challenge and have moved into the distant fields, but there are millions who know nothing about the gospel and the church for which Christ died. Hundreds of towns and cities have never heard
a gospel sermon. You can travel for hundreds of miles and never find a church of Christ. Brethren, if we love the Lord, such a condition should not exist. What will you do to change the situation?

Bible Schools
The first Bible School in Canada, of which I have any knowledge, was started in 1898 by Abraham Foster, in Carman, Manitoba. The brethren were few and the resources small, but a very satisfactory building was erected, and it did a splendid job, which was deeply appreciated, during its brief existence. Several young men were trained in the Bible and afterwards became gospel preachers. Another school was started at Beamsville, Ontario, by -S. M. Jones of Nashville, Tennessee. It continued fourteen years, from 1902 until 1916. It was pre-emi-nently a Bible school. Many of the present leaders in the church throughout Canada, were there grounded in the teaching of the Word of God and song leaders were developed. In 1909, the Tallman brothers started a school, known as the Maritime Bible and Literary College at West Gore, Nova Scotia. While the enrollment was never large, its influence was felt and several gospel preachers have arisen as a result of the sacrifice and patience of those who were interested in young people. It closed its doors in 1915, during the first world war. The teachers all left and the church in that province went the way of digression. However, we look forward to the work being started once more. Halifax, the Capitol of Nova Scotia, with its beautiful land-locked harbour and growing population, should be the centre of radiation throughout the Northeast. In the great Prairie Province of Saskatchewan a determined effort was made by Brother J. C. Bailey to start a Bible school. It was a gigantic task, to be undertaken. Through patience, diligence, and a faith in the righteousness of the cause, the work has been done. With a determination and a willingness to sacrifice on the part of all the workers, the school has progressed, and is now doing a splendid job training young people, and thus preparing for greater things in the future. For a number of years, the brethren in Ontario have felt the need of a school to save our young people from the blighting influence of modernism and worldliness. Upon the return of several of our young preachers from the United States, it was resolved to commence this undertaking. A board of directors was appointed, a charter received from the Ontario Government, and after much deliberation a very beautiful location was selected in Beamsville, about twenty-five miles from Niagara Falls. This is a radiating centre. Fifty-three percent of the population of the United States and the major portion of the population of Ontario, live within a radius of 500 miles of the college.

Great Lakes Christian College opened its doors for the first time on September, the eighth, 1952. We believe much good has been accomplished and we look forward to wider fields and brighter horizons. It is our aim to create and maintain a standard of conduct in harmony with the principles and ideals of Christianity. Students educated here are trained to respect divine authority, and to solve the problems of life in relation to the church and the world.

Gospel Preachers
Canada has enjoyed the presence and preaching of many of the best preachers in the brotherhood. James A. Harding, T. B. Larimore and E. A. Elam, are still remembered and loved by many of the older and faithful brethren. Today, the crying need of Canada and the Northern United States is for five hundred faithful gospel preachers, to move into the still unbroken fields, with a hundred million people, and there offer themselves as a living sacrifice, in the service of man and for the glory of God. The field rtruly is ripe unto the harvest but the laborers are few. We do not need science and philosophy to save America, but we do need the gospel of Christ. In the hands and hearts of men it will change the face of the globe. The Roman Empire was changed by the power of the gospel. It still has power. Cars, planes, colleges and papers, are wonderful assets, but they will not do the work of the church. The gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, must be preached to the world. “It was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe”. I believe in education, I believe m science, but I also believe that God knew what he was doing when he commanded that men should go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Brethren, the work has not yet been done, and our responsibility is increasing with our opportunities and growing resources.

What Must I Give To Be Saved?
The rich young ruler asked—“What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” He was told to sell that which he had and give to the poor and he would find treasure in heaven. Can I go to heaven without doing more than he did? He went away in his disobedience and sorrow. He was not willing to “go” and he was not willing to “sell”, neither was he willing to “give”. Are you willing to go, sell and give, to please the Lord and save souls? We cannot go to heaven wthout giving.

First, I must give my heart to the Lord. The heart is the centre of our being and out of it are the issues of life. When the heart is right, the life will be right. It, therefore, follows that if we give our heart to the Lord, we will give our life to the Lord and in the service of our fellow-man. Our time, talents and money, all belong to the Lord. They came from him and we must give them back to him. We are not our own, for we have been bought with a price, therefore, we should glorify God in our body and soul, which are his.
Beamsville, Ontario