Brock Centenary 1812-1912 Part 2

_'85 Veterans' a.s.sociation_: Sergeant A. G. Scovell, Toronto.

PROGRAMME ADOPTED

The first meeting of the General Committee thus formed was held on September 25th, 1912, in the Canadian Foresters' Building, College Street, Toronto. There was a large attendance of members.

Colonel Ryerson was appointed Chairman, and Miss Helen M. Merrill Secretary, of the Committee. The report from the United Empire Loyalist a.s.sociation of Canada, as given above, having been read to the meeting, resolutions to the following effect were pa.s.sed:

(1) That Brock's Day be celebrated by a public gathering at Queenston Heights.

(2) That the various patriotic and historical societies, local as well as those within easy reach of Queenston, be invited to send as large delegations as possible to Brock's Monument on Sat.u.r.day, October 12th, 1912, in commemoration of his death.

(3) That the various patriotic and historical societies be asked to send wreaths for the purpose of decorating Brock's Monument on October 12th.

(4) That a special invitation be sent to Mr. J. A. Macdonell, K.C., Alexandria, Ont., to attend the celebration as the direct representative of Colonel John Macdonell, the Attorney-General of Upper Canada, and Brock's Provincial A.D.C., who fell with his leader, and whose remains rest beneath the monument on Queenston Heights.

(5) That the Honourable the Minister of Militia be asked to order that salutes be fired on October 12th from all saluting points in Canada.

(6) That the churches be asked to arrange that memorial sermons be preached throughout Canada on Sunday, October 13th.

(7) That suitable exercises relating to Brock and 1812 should be held in every school in Canada; and that this suggestion be not only given publicity through the newspapers, but that the attention of the various Ministers of Education in the Dominion be specially drawn to it.

(8) That the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs at Ottawa be asked to take measures to have the history of Brock and the events of the 1812 war brought specially before the children in all Indian Schools under the charge of the Dominion Government.

(9) That a wreath be placed on the picture of Brock in the Parliament Buildings, Toronto.

(10) That it be suggested to the Dominion Government to place a wreath on Brock's Monument in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England.

An Executive Committee was appointed to further these resolutions, consisting of the members of the following special committees:--

_Travelling Arrangements, etc._: Colonel Ryerson, Dr. James L.

Hughes, Mr. J. S. Carstairs and Mr. C. E. Macdonald.

_Press_: Mr. J. Castell Hopkins, Dr. Alexander Fraser, Mr. F. D. L.

Smith, Miss Helen M. Merrill.

Chairman and Secretary of the Executive Committee: Colonel Ryerson and Miss Helen M. Merrill.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

Miss Helen M. Merrill, Honorary Secretary. Colonel George S. Ryerson, Chairman. James L Hughes. LL.D. J. Castell Hopkins. J. Stewart Carstairs, B.A. Charles E. Macdonald, Esq. Alexander Fraser, LL.D. F. D.

L. Smith, Esq.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.]

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

The General Committee met on October 2nd, 1912, Colonel Ryerson presiding. The reports of the special committees regarding the arrangements were very satisfactory, and it was made abundantly clear that the proposed celebration had touched a tender chord of public feeling. Travelling arrangements by train to Niagara Falls and by electric car thence to Queenston Heights were approved of. The co-operation of the Women's Inst.i.tute, Queenston, was promised in connection with the decoration of the grounds there; the Ontario Government consented to police the grounds, and the Victoria Park Commission to reopen the restaurant at the Heights for the day. It was agreed to advise the hotels at Niagara Falls, Ont., that luncheon would be taken at that town on arrival of the train, and to arrange with the electric railway for the conveyance of the visitors to the Monument. The publicity so generously afforded by the press was gratefully acknowledged. A letter from Mr. J. A. Macdonell, K.C., Alexandria, accepting the Committee's invitation, was read; and a motion by Mr. F.

D. L. Smith that a bronze tablet to mark the centenary celebration be placed on Brock's Monument was deferred for consideration at the next meeting to be held on the week following.

At the meeting of the General Committee held on October 9th in the Canadian Foresters' Hall, Toronto, Colonel Ryerson presiding, the following report of the Executive Committee was received and adopted:--

"The Executive Committee met on October 7th and received satisfactory reports of the progress made in carrying out the proposals of the General Committee. A programme for the celebration at Queenston Heights was drafted, and the President was requested to arrange with the Department of Militia that the permanent forces be sent from Toronto to Queenston Heights to take part in the proceedings. It was also resolved to publish an account of the proceedings in connection with the celebration as an interesting record of a notable event."

The Executive also reported that all arrangements had been completed for the journey to Queenston Heights; that the Militia Department had ordered that salutes be fired from all saluting points in Canada on the 12th inst.; that commemorative church services would be extensively held on the 13th inst.; that special exercises would be observed in the public schools in accordance with letters received from the Honourable R. A. Pyne, M.P.P., Minister of Education for Ontario, Mr. Augustus W.

Ball, Deputy Minister of Education, Saskatchewan, Mr. Alexander Robinson, Superintendent of Education, British Columbia, and from Mr. R.

Fletcher, Deputy Minister of Education, Manitoba; that a detachment from the permanent infantry force at Toronto would proceed to Queenston Heights on the 12th inst.; that the Toronto, Hamilton and other corps of militia would be represented, and that large delegations from patriotic, national and historical societies would take part; that many wreaths would be sent to the monument; that the Dominion Government had ordered its representative in London, England, to place a wreath on Brock's Memorial in St. Paul's Cathedral; and that letters from prominent public men had been received, either regretting their inability to take part or accepting the invitations to be present.

This being the last meeting of the General Committee, it was agreed to refer the suggestion that a bronze centennial tablet be placed on Brock's Monument, the striking of a Centennial medal, and all business connected with the celebration ceremonies, or arising therefrom, to the Executive Committee, with full power to dispose of the same.

The meeting then adjourned _sine die_.

CELEBRATING THE DAY

It had been decided to travel by the Grand Trunk Railway train leaving Toronto at nine o'clock a.m. (a few only going by steamer from Yonge Street wharf). The unsettled, rainy weather of the two previous days had caused some misgiving as to the number of people who might venture on an open air demonstration on a cold October day, and the grey looming skies at dawn on Sat.u.r.day, the 12th, held no hidden hope of a silver lining.

The enthusiasm awakened by the name of Brock, however, was resistless, and betimes the seats in the waiting train were crowded. The Union Station witnessed a lively scene--the soldiers in bright colours, the ladies and gentlemen in gay humour, and the stirring music of the bagpipes, combining to enliven and mark the unusual character of the occasion.

At Hamilton a number of friends joined the party, and others who could not do so came to the railway station to express their good wishes. St.

Catharines also gave its contingent. Niagara Falls was safely reached at 11.45 o'clock.

Shortly afterwards Major Gordon J. Smith, Brantford, Superintendent of the Six Nation Indians, and a fine delegation arrived, and luncheon was served at several of the hotels.

The journey was resumed by electric cars, the large company arriving at Queenston Heights in the course of an hour.

During the forenoon the sky had cleared, and now the sun shone out brightly for a s.p.a.ce on a landscape unsurpa.s.sed anywhere for s.p.a.cious magnificence and scenic beauty. And crowning the domed escarpment the stately column spoke forth a people's patriotism and love, a memorial to the brave, the scene harmonizing with the feelings of the great gathering.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIRST MONUMENT TO GENERAL BROCK AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.

--Ontario Archives.]

AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS

[Ill.u.s.tration: BROCK'S MONUMENT, QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.

--From Nursey's "Story of Isaac Brock" (Briggs).]

About two thousand people gathered at the foot of the Monument. Colonel G. Sterling Ryerson, President of the General Committee and of the U. E.