A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time by Rose

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,