PREFACE. Soon after the death of the Reverend Joshua Denovan, LL.D., a few brethren who have been closely associated with him for many years, and were warm admirers of his strong character and remarkable abilities, made plans for the publication of a memorial volume which should contain, besides biographical and memorial sketches, some of the characteristic products of his brain. This volume is the result of the plans then made. It was thought at first that it would be possible to put the book into the hands of subscribers a few weeks after Dr. Denovan's death, but it soon became apparent that this could not be done. As rapidly as possible, however, materials have been gathered and plans matured, and the Committee have the satisfaction. of knowing that the memoir contains some material of great interest which might have been missed had publication taken place earlier. We believe the subscribers, in view of this, will approve of the delay. When the Committee took the matter of the memorial volume in hand, Mrs. Denovan was living. She had taken a deep interest in it from the first, and upon request had added Chancellor Wallace, Dr. Thomas, and her son, Mr. Allan M. Denovan, to the Committee. Unfortunately, within four weeks of Dr. Denovan's death, she was stricken with pleuro-pneumonia, which ended fatally, without her having given the assistance she had so cheerfully promised. Notwithstanding this much to be lamented calamity, Mr. Allan Denovan had the advantage of several conversations with her which proved exceedingly helpful in the preparation of the Memoir. Some months prior to his death, Dr. Denovan had handed to his son all his papers, with instructions to use them as he should see fit or require. These also have been helpful, giving the Committee an almost inexhaustible storehouse from which to draw. Among the papers thus left were some pages of a diary which Dr. Denovan kept while a young man of twenty-eight. This is published almost in its entirety. It is a revelation of the man such as we little hoped to get, and is perhaps the most valuable contribution to the book. For some months before his death, Dr. Denovan had been engaged in the preparation of some biographical sketches which were to have been published, when finished, in the McMaster University Monthly. Although these were never completed, and are not in such shape that they can be published as intended, yet the possession of these sketches by his son, with whom Dr. Denovan left them, has proved of invaluable assistance. The The biographical sketch was written by Mr. Allan Denovan. Dr. Thomas prepared the chapter on Reminiscences. The account of the funeral is from the pen of Sir John Alexander Boyd. Mr. Weeks edited the chapter which contains the extracts from Private Letters. reminiscences contained in the chapter on The Toronto Pastorate were contributed by Mr. William Davies. The Memorial Addresses delivered in the Walmer Road Church by Chancellor Wallace and Dr. Stewart were steno graphically reported by Mr. Thomas Bengough. The preliminary work leading to the organization of the Committee was done by Mr. E. O. White. The autograph of Dr. Denovan, stamped on the cover, and printed beneath his portrait, was written by him in 1854. While one of a later date would have been more desirable, yet as this was the latest that could be found written in full, the Committee have given it the preference. The Committee who had charge of the publication were: O. C. S. Wallace, Chairman; Thomas Bengough, Recording Secretary; S. J. Moore, Treasurer; B. D. Thomas, H. P. Welton, W. W. Weeks, G. F. Ronald, Allan M. Denovan and E. O. White. The Editorial Committee consisted of Messrs. Wallace, Thomas, Weeks and Denovan. |