Joseph M. Scriven
First brethren preacher to come to Ontario (Exclusive Brethren? - see Assembly Connection below). His grave can be seen at Bewdley, a village near Port Hope on Lake Ontario.
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History
Joseph Medlicott Scriven was born in Banbridge, County Down, Ireland (now Northern Ireland) on September 10, 1819 [Note: According to Ira Sankey, Scriven was born in Dublin -- this discrepancy should be resolved.] He received his BA from Trinity College, Dublin in 1842.
The night before he was to marry, his fiancée drowned. He moved to Canada in 1845, and joined the assembly in Woodstock. He taught in Woodstock and Brantford, Ontario. At Bewdely, (near Port Hope) he became a tutor for the Pengelly family. It was there he met and became engaged to Eliza Roche, a relative of the Pengellys. Eliza died shortly before their wedding from pneumonia after being baptized in an icy lake.
Scriven wrote his hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” as a private poem for his mother who was sick back home in Ireland. It was originally entitled, "Pray Without Ceasing". A friend later discovered it, and was published in 1869 along with other poems and hymns. Ira Sankey discovered it in 1875, and added it to his his Gospel Hymns Number One.
Scriven was known for his living out the Sermon on the Mount, and dedicated his life to serving others.
His Death by Drowning
Joseph M. Scriven died on August 10th, 1886. He died from drowning after experiencing severe depression. He was found in the spillway of the grist-mill owned by James Sackville, who was his next door neighbour. It is unknown whether the drowning was accidental or suicidal. See August 10, 1886 • How Did Joseph M. Scriven Come to Drown?
Assembly Connection
According to some reports, Scriven joined the Plymouth Brethren after Eliza Roche died (Port Hope). Other reports have him meeting with the Brethren in Ireland before emmigrating to Canada, in which case he was possibly gathering in Woodstock very early on. At any rate, it would seem then, that he began to gather with the brethren much earlier than the first Open Brethren meetings began in the late 1860's, early 1870's. This leads this writer to suggest he was with the Exclusive Brethren. Confirmation?
Writtings/Hymns
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
For a comprehensive biography, see Library and Archives Canada, Dictionary of Canadian Biography, SCRIVEN, JOSEPH MEDLICOTT
