A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time by Rose
1881. He became a member of the Orange society in 1863, and continued a
1679 words | Chapter 106
member in good standing while the society existed. He is an active
member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, and has great love and
attachment for that Order. He joined it in 1865, and has continued a
member ever since; held all the offices in the subordinate lodge. Is a
past grand counsellor and past grand treasurer in the grand lodge for
Nova Scotia; held the latter office for four successive years. He was
present at the grand lodge session at Liverpool, N.S., when this Order
split on the Negro question in 1876. Although the grand lodge carried
the resolution to secede by a large majority he was one of the small
minority of seven who decided to remain loyal to the original right
worthy grand lodge. Ten years after this, when the bodies became again
re-united he was present at the marriage. Prior to 1886 he had always
been in close sympathy with the Liberal-Conservative party, but at that
time he espoused the “Third Party” movement and is an uncompromising
supporter of it, believing that the prohibition of the liquor traffic in
Canada can only be obtained through the medium of a distinct political
party. When that party was organized in Cumberland county, in January,
1887, he was appointed on the executive committee, his colleagues being
such well known workers as C. R. Casey, E. B. Elderkin, J. W. Hickman,
J. A. Simpson, Rufus Hicks, Revds. Joseph Coffin, J. B. Giles, and
others. In the Dominion elections held in February of that year, J. T.
Bulmer, of Halifax, was the candidate of the new party. After a very
heated contest, Sir Charles Tupper, finance minister, being the
Conservative candidate, and Hon. W. T. Pipes, ex-Premier of Nova Scotia,
the Liberal, Mr. Bulmer polled 206 votes. These were recorded for a
“principle.” This was the first instance in Canada where a pure and
simple prohibition candidate was placed in the field for federal
parliamentary honours, but it did not remain so long. The election
alluded to having been set aside by the courts, Mr. Bulmer again
contested the constituency in the interest of the new party. Sir Charles
Tupper was his only opponent this time, November, 1887, the Liberal
party not putting a candidate forward. Dr. Black and others took the
field and the result was that the 206 votes of February became 1,026 in
November. Dr. Black is a member of the Methodist church, and has always
been an attendant upon its ministry, though it was not until 1884 he
identified himself as a member of that body. He married in January,
1871, Sarah E., second daughter of the Rev. George F. Miles, then pastor
of the Baptist church, Amherst, by whom he had one daughter. Two months
after their baby was born his wife contracted inflammation of the lungs,
which developing into consumption, caused her death in May, 1873. His
little daughter followed her mother when about five years old, being ill
only two days. On the 14th of September, 1881, he married Elizabeth B.,
eldest daughter of Capt. John K. Elderkin, ex-custos of the Court of
Sessions for Cumberland county, N.S. By this marriage he has issue one
son, Vaughan Elderkin Black, born September 28th, 1884. Dr. Black,
besides practising his profession, has indulged in outside speculations
with varying success. In 1877, by the death of a professional brother, a
valuable drug stand was put in the market. This he bought and fitted up
with all modern improvements putting a competent man in charge. Dr.
Black has given his profession that close and careful attention which is
always necessary to become a successful practitioner, and success has
abundantly crowned his endeavours. In his early days he made himself
acquainted with the facts as to how far alcohol or any of its compounds
were medicinal or required in the treatment of human ailments. From
study, experience, and observation, he was forced to the conclusions
that much of the previous medical teachings as to the therapeutical
powers of this drug were fallacious, that medical virtues were ascribed
to alcohol which it did not possess, and that in a very large percentage
of diseases it lessened the vital energies instead of giving tone and
strength as was taught in earlier days. Being independent in character,
and determined to act upon principle, in contradistinction to policy, he
frequently met with difficulty upon this point with his medical
_confrères_ in consultation, etc. Not only had he opposition from his
professional brethren, but the effect of this pernicious teaching among
the masses was so deep-rooted that no household in the early days of his
practice was thought complete without a little gin or whiskey “the
panacea for every ailment that the flesh was heir to.” Opinions have
changed since those days and are still rapidly changing, and the drug,
alcohol, is now prescribed more in accordance with scientific teaching.
Personally Dr. Black is a genial companion, a faithful friend and
self-sacrificing to a degree. It goes without saying that he is beloved
even by those who do not agree with all his opinions, and by those who
do he has their confidence and love to an unlimited extent.
* * * * *
=Richard, Rev. Canon Louis=, A.M., Prefect of Studies, College of Three
Rivers, Three Rivers, province of Quebec, was born on the 30th November,
1838, in the parish of St. Grégoire-le-Grand, county of Nicolet,
province of Quebec. His father, Jean Noel Richard, a farmer, was one of
the descendants of the unhappy Acadians exiled from their country by the
British, and whose sufferings have been so eloquently depicted by
Longfellow in his masterpiece, “Evangeline.” After the fall of
Beauséjour, in the eastern part of what is to-day New Brunswick, the
inhabitants left the smoking ruins of their humble homes, and took the
road to exile, with whatever chattels they were able to save from the
rapacity of the victors, rather than swear allegiance to the new
masters. A portion of the Acadians were sent to Louisiana, to Virginia,
Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts, and the remainder, among whom
were his ancestors, emigrated to the province of Quebec. Jean Noel
Richard settled in the district of Three Rivers, and eventually married
Marie Madelaine Massé, a descendant of a French family which had settled
in the same district at the outset of the colony. The subject of our
sketch began a classical course of studies under the guidance of Moise
Laplante—a man remarkable for his learning and ability as a
teacher—and completed his course in 1859, at the seminary of Nicolet.
Being instinctively drawn towards ecclesiastical life, and feeling
convinced his vocation was in that direction, he studied theology in the
same seminary until 1860, when the College of Three Rivers was founded.
The attention of the Bishop of Three Rivers, Monseigneur Cooke, having
been called to the young divinity student, he appointed him a professor
in the new institution of learning, and henceforth his life was devoted
to the noble work of education, and his influence and energy were
exerted on behalf of the new College, in the golden book of which
establishment his name will be engraved. On the 25th of September, 1864,
he was ordained priest, and successively discharged the duties of the
following offices to the entire satisfaction of all concerned:—Director
in 1865; purveyor in 1867, and prefect of studies at the same time;
pro-superior from 1870 to 1880; from 1880 to 1886 we find him occupying
the responsible position of superior; at the present time (1887) he is
prefect of studies. His aim has ever been to place the college over
which he presided during so many years in the very front rank of the
institutions of learning in the country. On the 25th June, 1883, the
authorities of Laval University of Quebec, wishing to reward the
devotion displayed by the Rev. Mr. Richard, and the services he had
rendered as a teacher to the cause of education in Canada, granted him
the degree of A.M. His ordinary, Right Rev. Bishop Laflèche, in
recognition of his social qualities, honored him, on the 11th of
September, 1884, with the title of canon to the chapter of the Cathedral
of Three Rivers. In June, 1885, Rev. Father Richard conceived the idea
of calling together all the old pupils of the College of Three Rivers,
in order to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of
the institution. He met with a hearty response, and the result was a
brilliant gathering of men who had achieved success in the different
walks of life they had chosen. On that occasion Father Richard published
a very interesting book of 530 pages, entitled “Histoire du Collége des
Trois Rivières,” a work which should be in the hands of all those who
take an interest in the dissemination of good books. In common with the
clergy of the diocese of Three Rivers, Rev. Mr. Richard is an ardent and
devout believer in the integrity of the dogmas and fundamental
principles of the Roman Catholic church, believing that mankind can and
shall be saved only by coming into the church established by Jesus
Christ himself, i.e., the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman church,
represented on earth by his Holiness the Pope, and out of which there is
no possible salvation, no possible future state of bliss, either for
individuals or for society.
* * * * *
=Tourangeau, Adolphe G.=, Postmaster, Ex-Mayor, and Ex-M.P. for Quebec,
was born in Quebec city on the 15th January, 1831. He is the son of the
late Jean G. Tourangeau, J.P., of Quebec, notary public, who for many
years was elected alderman for Quebec, and grandson of Jean Tourangeau,
merchant, who left considerable property, still in the possession of his
descendants. One of these properties was purchased from the Dumont
family, and upon it there stood the historical Dumont’s mill at the very
place where is now the splendid monument erected to the memory of the
English and French heroes who fell at the celebrated battle of St. Foye,
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