My dearest Calvin,

Received your letter yesterday, the St. Patrick's Day cards were very cheerful. I was telephoning Nellie Mullin and she said a card had come to Willie. I am sure he would be quite pleased, for he sends so many himself.

We have had the same Spring-like weather, too warm, it is very relaxing. It was colder Sunday and Monday and it quite revived us, but to-day was warm again and puts us into a panic for clothes, particularly hats, which are very remarkable in fashion and a fearful price. On Sabbath we had Rev. A. J. MacGillivray, the fat man who is going to Guelph and was at Vancouver. He had to resign there on account of his wife's rheumatism, it is so damp there. I have always enjoyed his preaching and he gave us two good sermons especially in the evening. He said, "If he had to regard Jesus Christ simply as an example of a perfect man, it would be no help to him, but rather a spectre to which he could never hope to attain." I thought that a very true idea.

You never said anything about Presbytery. Did you go to it? Last week Dr. McTavish was helping Mr. McGillivray of St. John's with special services all week, so I asked him to dinner on Friday. He inquired particularly for you and said he would be glad to exchange with you when he is up at Norway Point and let you go to Toronto for him. As it happened the same day Tom brought in to dinner poor old Miss Maxwell, who had come to Tom in trouble about her business affairs, but I think she quite enjoyed her visit with us, and of course, Tom jollied her a good deal. Isn't it a tremendous sum of money to raise so quickly for the conference $100,000, all to be given by ten men $80,000 given already.

Dr. McT. said they were trying to get Jowett, they had tried for Campbell Morgan, but were finding difficulty in getting speakers just at that date. Poor Mr. McT. and Prof. Gaudin are conveners of biletting [sic] committee, just a fearful undertaking. Mr. Fletcher is very anxious you should have any books of the doctor's you would like, but you would have to see them and I am afraid there would not be many you would want. I am glad you had a good attendance at communion and am sure your sermon would be fine.

I did not understand the tale of the homestead had fallen through neither did Tom.

Wasn't it a sad thing the death of the King of Greece? Just by the hand of a drunk wretch. John Gartshore was married to "Kit's" daughter. She calls herself Patsy Coleman though Dr. Coleman is only her step-father. He is an atheist and "Kit" an R.C. but she got herself married in Central. It is said, she was engaged to quite a fine fellow, but said, "she couldn't live up to him," she will not have any difficulty in living up to poor John, whom she just pursued altho' he is always boozing. They are to live on a farm at Ancaster Springs.

I do not know if the Globe has reported the case between Pastor Russell and the Baptist minister here J.J. Ross. Lynch-Stanton is for Ross and is showing up Russell's past history in fine style.¹ Well, I must close the family has retired. Hope you are being properly fed. With much love.

Your affectionate mother

M.B. McQuesten

¹ Pastor Charles Taze Russell is considered to be the founder of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and of the Jehovah's Witnesses sect, although that is now in dispute. Mary briefly mentions the "Russelites" who are building a church and some of the people who are concerned, see W7830. The web site states: "In his day Pastor [Charles Taze] Russell founded what has been called The Bible Student's Association. This movement had its beginning in Allegheny, Pa. and earnest Christians formed a Bible class for advanced Bible study to meet the then rising wave of infidelity. In 1879 Zion's Watch Tower was formed, later known as The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. This Society did not become the central authority for the Bible Students, for all cooperating congregations of Bible Students held strictly to congregational self-government. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society only served to coordinate the activities of the various congregations. After the death of Pastor Russell in 1916 the purpose of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society changed completely. The teachings of the six volumes of "Studies in the Scriptures" and other writings of Pastor Russell were discarded. The congregations in harmony with the Society thereafter relinquished congregational rule. The Society became the central head and authority over all congregations willing to yield their sovereignty. Basic doctrines of the Society seriously digressed from the teachings of Pastor Russell, and before long Judge Rutherford declared that those associated with The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society were "Jehovah's Witnesses" on this earth. Here is where the name emerged--certainly not in Pastor Russell's time." www.nsbible.org/pastor_not_founder.htm - 12k.

See also site at www.matthew548.com/d-russ.html+Russellites&hl=en. This site:RUSSELLITES (CALLED TODAY--JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES), describes the transition of the Russellites into "Jehovah's Witnesses" and goes on to explain the development and the schisms that have occurred since Charles Taze Russell founded his Bible Class and Watchtower organization in the 1870's. Mary's comment may be referring to a schism. See also "CULTS."