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M.A., D.D., Toronto, Professor of
Apologetics and Church History at Knox (Presbyterian) College, was born on
the 5th of July, 1817, at Killycreen, near Ramelton, County Donegal,
Ireland. He is a son of Daniel Gregg, who was for many years a ruling
member in the Presbyterian Church, Ramelton. His mother was Jane, nee
Graham, and the ancestors of both parents were Scotch. Our subject pursued
his early studies in the classical school, Ramelton, of which the Rev.
Edward Reid, Presbyterian minister, was principal. After leaving this
school, he spent some years in mercantile and banking business, and then
attended Glasgow College, and graduated therefrom with the B.A. degree. He
subsequently attended Edinburgh College, and at that institution obtained
his M.A. His theological course was conducted under Drs. Chalmers, Welsh,
and Cunningham, in the college of the Free Presbyterian Church, Edinburgh.
On the 13th February, 1846, he was licensed by the Free Church Presbytery,
and immediately afterwards sent as a missionary to Canada, by the Colonial
Committee of the Free Church. His labours for the first year in Canada
were confined within the bounds of the Kingston Presbytery; and on the
22nd June, 1847, he was ordained and appointed minister of the
congregation in Belleville, now known as John Street Church. Of this
church he remained pastor till July, 1857, when he was translated to
Toronto, to become pastor of Cooke's Church, of which he retained the
charge for fifteen years, namely, till July, 1872. While pastor of Cooke's
Church, he was appointed lecturer in apologetics (1864) in Knox College,
and taught the theological classes in the Montreal Presbyterian College
during the first half of the first session of that institution (1867). He
was likewise moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, usually
called the Free Church, in 1861, when the union was effected between this
church and the United Presbyterian Church of Canada. In 1872 he was
appointed professor of apologetics in Knox College, and still occupies
that chair. He likewise conducts the classes of church history. In 1878 he
obtained the degree of D.D. from the University of Hanover, U.S. Dr.
Gregg has given much of his attention to worthy moral movements, and he
has been for many years an active sympathizer in temperance work. His
chief literary production may be said to be his volume, a "History of
the Presbyterian Church in Canada". This is a comprehensive and
painstaking work. He had likewise published several tracts and discourses,
and edited a book of "Prayers for Family Worship". Dr. Gregg
married on the 10th May, 1849, Phobe, eldest daughter of Dr. Rufus Holden,
of Belleville. |
