Canadian Profile: Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley's Legacy

This week's post is a little different from what I usually post, but read to the end

to learn how we can apply the lessons to our lives that Sir Tilley exemplified.         

    When you look around Canada today, it is hard to believe we were once a predominately Christian nation. There are examples all around of the attempt to remove all Christian influences from our culture and even our history.

            Today, our founding fathers are under much scrutiny for the wrong and unbiblical things they did and ideas they had, such as slavery and residential schools. Nevertheless, we still must recognize their significant contributions to the country we have today.

            There is one founding father in particular, however, to whom we owe much of Canada’s Christian heritage: Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley.

       Sir Tilley’s Contributions to Canada

            Born in Georgetown, New Brunswick, in 1818, Sir Tilley became a Christian in 1839. He was also very active in the church as well as in many societies, such as Portland Total Abstinence Society and the St. John Religious Tract Society (whose committee he was on). In 1847, Sir Tilley joined the Sons of Temperance and was soon promoted to the society’s highest position, Most Worthy Patriarch.

            Some of achievements in his political career include being the lieutenant-governor and premier of New Brunswick, a delegate to each of the Confederation Conferences that eventually led to Canada’s formation, and, later, the Minister of Customs in Sir John A. MacDonald’s government.

      His Fight For Prohibition

            As a devout Christian, Sir Tilley strongly advocated for Prohibition, which forbade the sale and consumption of alcohol. He personally saw the negative effects alcohol had on his society as it destroyed families and deteriorated the health of those who drank in excess.

            He witnessed hard-working men squander their paycheques, which their families needed, on alcohol. Most of these men proceeded to harm themselves and their families. This motivated Sir Tilly to fight even harder for Prohibition.

       Inspired By Scripture

            Not only did Sir Tilley advocate for Prohibition, but he also enriched Canada with a notable portion of her Christian heritage.

            When deciding what our new nation should be called, the Fathers of Confederation proposed “The Kingdom of Canada.” However, Sir Tilley thought of something else.

            That morning, he had been reading Psalm 72 in his devotions. It was from Psalm 72:8 that we get our nation’s motto, Ad Mari Usque Ad Mare – Latin for “from sea to sea.”

“He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and

from the river unto the ends of the earth” (KJV).

            This inspired Sir Tilley to propose the name of “The Dominion of Canada,” which remains Canada’s full name to this day.

Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley’s Christian beliefs have greatly affected Canada as a nation. Not only did he advocate for Prohibition, but he also enriched our nation’s godly heritage. This godly heritage is another reason why we as Canadians can be proud of the country God has blessed us with. Let us never forget this important part of our great nation’s history.

      Where We Come In

God promised in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (NKJV).

Our nation certainly needs to be healed and to return to the biblical foundations upon which it was built. We as Christians must humble ourselves, pray, seek God, and turn from our wicked ways on behalf of our country. Only then will God forgive the sins of our nation and heal our land.

Sir Tilley understood this. Though he was just one person, his impact on Canada is immense. Even though you may just be one person, all it takes is the courage to seek the Lord and stand for what is right to have a godly influence.

            Let’s do it together.

            -Olivia

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