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Principal of Knox (Presbyterian) College,
Toronto, was born in the Parish of Kirkcolm, Wigtonshire, Scotland, on the
26th of December, 1830. Our subject comes of a family whose names find a
prominent place among the local annals. They were sturdy supporters of the
solemn League and Covenant, and their names, we see it recorded, were
enshrined on the roll of the Wigton martyrs. We find in the Canadian
Portrait Gallery that "one of he most cherished traditions of the
family on the mother's side, relates how one of them, for refusing to
abjure his faith, suffered grievous bodily tribulation at the hands of the
dragoons of 'Bloody Claverse' - know to history as John Graham, Viscount
Dundee". The father of our subject was the late Mr. John Caven, a
sound and widely informed scholar, who was at one time a school teacher.
In 1847 he left Wigtonshire for Canada, and took up his abode in the
township of North Dumfries, Ontario. He removed, after time, to the
neighbourhood of St.Mary's and here he continued to reside till the time
of his death, which occured in 1880. It may be said that while in this
country he one time employed himself as a teacher, and was subsequently a
school superindendent. Everybody who came in contact with Mr. John Caven,
revered him. His manners were amiable, and his life a spotless one. The
son William commenced his education under his father, in the Parish of
Kirkcolm. He is described as having been a painstaking lad who always felt
himself towards the ministry. He prosecuted his studies for the ministry
under the auspices of the United Presbyterian Church of Western Canada, in
their seminary at London. The training of students for the ministry, at
the time of which we are writing, was in the hands of the Rev. William
Proudfoot, and the Rev. Alexander Mackenzie. Under these two venerable
instructors our subject pursued his course. In 1852 he was licensed to
preach by the Flamboro' Presbytery, and in October of the same year he was
given the charge of the parish of St. Mary's and Downie. In 1855 he went
to Scotland for the benefit of his health, but he did not surrender the
charge of his parish. In 1886 he was appointed by the Synod to fill the
chair of Exegetical Theology and Biblical Criticism, vacated by Professor
Young the year previous, and he has continued down to the present time as
professor of these subjects. In theological discussion he is moderate and
unaggressive, but sound and uncompromising. To controvert opinions is part
of his duty, and that duty, while done with thoroughness and zeal, is
always done with moderation and with a thoroughly just, nay almost
generous, statement of the other side. Though "kindly in he
conflict", the church has nowhere a stauncher or more doughty
champion. In 1870 Dr. Willis, who was Principal of Knox College, an
institution founded at Toronto for the theological uses of the
Presbyterian Church, resigned his position, and our subject was appointed
principal in his stead. This position he still holds, enjoying the respect
of a sound and widely-informed scholar and a most judicious and capable
principal. Through his exertions, seconded by those of Prof. Gregg,
chiefly, funds were obtained for the construction of the present very fine
college edifice. As a presbyter, and in his position as minister, he has
always been a powerful advocate of a union of the several Presbyterian
Churches in Canada. Nor have his exertions been without fruit. He first
saw an amalgamation of the Free and United Presbyterian Churches of
Canada, and was for fourteen years a member in the Canada Presbyterian
Church. As moderator of the Canada Presbyterian Church the pleasant office
devolved upon him of signing the articles of Union, in the name of the
Church, between the Canada Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian in
Canada, in connection with the Church of Scotland. In 1877 Dr. Caven
succeeded Mr. Goldwin Smith as president of the Ontario Teachers'
Association. In the year 1856 he married Miss Goldie, of Greenfields, near
Ayr, Waterloo county, Ontario. The fruits of this union are seven
children. |
