J.C. Tolmie
Encyclopedia
Reverend Major James Craig Tolmie (October 8, 1862 - May 15, 1938) was a Canadian
politician, presbyterian
clergyman, military chaplain and soldier.
He was born in Oxford County
, Canada West
as the son of another presbyterian minister, Reverend Andrew Tolmie ( 1826–1907 ). His father had served in Oxford County at Innerkip Presbyterian Church and Ratho Church Blandford Township, since his graduation from Toronto
's Knox College
in 1852. Shortly after James' birth, the family moved to the shores of Lake Huron
at Southampton
, where his father became minister of the Canada Presbyterian Congregations in Southampton (merged in 1864), Tara (to 1874), and West Arran/Burgoyne (to 1891), and served until his retirement in 1897, and death in 1907.
James C. Tolmie, followed in his father's footsteps, graduating from University of Toronto
in Arts and Law in 1885, and Knox College in 1888. He worked at St. Andrew's Church in London, Ontario
, and was then ordained and inducted into First Presbyterian Church , Brantford
in April 1889. In early 1894, he was called to Windsor, Ontario
to the St. Andrew's
congregation, where he resigned early in 1915.
He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
in 1914 as the Liberal
Member of the Legislative Assembly
(MLA) for Windsor
. He resigned from the Pastorate at St. Andrew's, and was appointed minister Emeritus
.
During World War I
, he also served as chaplain
for the 99th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
. He was a candidate in the 1919 Ontario Liberal leadership convention
, placing second, 37 votes behind Hartley Dewart
on the second ballot. Tolmie ran for the leadership again in 1922, losing to Wellington Hay
. He left the legislature in 1923, and returned to Southampton, becoming involved in civic life in that community, and remained with the Presbyterian cause after Church Union
in 1925, providing regular pulpit supply, and preaching at a number of Anniversary Services in the region. He was Reeve of Southampton at the time of his death, and had completed a three-year term on the Presbyterian Church's Committee on Church History.
In nearby Port Elgin
(amalgamated into Saugeen Shores, Ontario
in 1999), there is a Tolmie Memorial Presbyterian Church, a "minority group" who did not join Port Elgin United Church in 1925, and named in memory of the Tolmie Family.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician, presbyterian
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
clergyman, military chaplain and soldier.
He was born in Oxford County
Oxford County, Ontario
Oxford County is a regional municipality and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Southern portion of the province. The regional seat is in Woodstock...
, Canada West
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
as the son of another presbyterian minister, Reverend Andrew Tolmie ( 1826–1907 ). His father had served in Oxford County at Innerkip Presbyterian Church and Ratho Church Blandford Township, since his graduation from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's Knox College
Knox College, University of Toronto
Knox College is a postgraduate theological college of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1844 as part of a schism movement in the Church of Scotland following the Disruption...
in 1852. Shortly after James' birth, the family moved to the shores of Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
at Southampton
Southampton, Ontario
Southampton is a community of approximately 3083 people on the shores of Lake Huron in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, located at the mouth of the Saugeen River....
, where his father became minister of the Canada Presbyterian Congregations in Southampton (merged in 1864), Tara (to 1874), and West Arran/Burgoyne (to 1891), and served until his retirement in 1897, and death in 1907.
James C. Tolmie, followed in his father's footsteps, graduating from University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in Arts and Law in 1885, and Knox College in 1888. He worked at St. Andrew's Church in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, and was then ordained and inducted into First Presbyterian Church , Brantford
Brantford, Ontario
Brantford is a city located on the Grand River in Southern Ontario, Canada. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent...
in April 1889. In early 1894, he was called to Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
to the St. Andrew's
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Windsor
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, is a Presbyterian Church in Canada congregation in downtown Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The congregation dates back to 1857, and at one time, was the largest congregation by membership within the Presbyterian Church in Canada .-History:The first congregation of St....
congregation, where he resigned early in 1915.
He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
in 1914 as the Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLA) for Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
. He resigned from the Pastorate at St. Andrew's, and was appointed minister Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he also served as chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
for the 99th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
. He was a candidate in the 1919 Ontario Liberal leadership convention
Ontario Liberal leadership conventions
Ballot-by-ballot results of leadership elections in the Ontario Liberal Party, a political party in the Province of Ontario, Canada.Note: Before 1919, the leaders of the Ontario Liberal Party were chosen by the party's elected Members of the Legislative Assembly...
, placing second, 37 votes behind Hartley Dewart
Hartley Dewart
Herbert Hartley Dewart was an Ontario lawyer and politician.He was born in St. Johns, Canada East. The son of Edward Hartley Dewart, a Methodist minister who was a staunch advocate of prohibition, the younger Dewart inherited his Liberal politics but broke with his father on the temperance issue...
on the second ballot. Tolmie ran for the leadership again in 1922, losing to Wellington Hay
Wellington Hay
Francis Wellington Hay was a grain merchant and Canadian politician.Hay was born in Listowel, Canada West, the son of William G. Hay. He worked for the Federal Bank for three years before entering the family grain business. He was mayor of Listowel from 1903 to 1904...
. He left the legislature in 1923, and returned to Southampton, becoming involved in civic life in that community, and remained with the Presbyterian cause after Church Union
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
in 1925, providing regular pulpit supply, and preaching at a number of Anniversary Services in the region. He was Reeve of Southampton at the time of his death, and had completed a three-year term on the Presbyterian Church's Committee on Church History.
In nearby Port Elgin
Port Elgin, Ontario
Port Elgin is a community in the Ontario municipality of Saugeen Shores. Close to MacGregor Point Provincial Park in Bruce County, the community has several beaches on Lake Huron....
(amalgamated into Saugeen Shores, Ontario
Saugeen Shores, Ontario
Saugeen Shores is a town in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, formed in the 1990s, as municipal restructuring merged the towns of Southampton, Port Elgin, and the township of Saugeen...
in 1999), there is a Tolmie Memorial Presbyterian Church, a "minority group" who did not join Port Elgin United Church in 1925, and named in memory of the Tolmie Family.