The Carmody Genealogist

The 38th Royal Ottawa Battalion 

Rev. Harold Irwin Horsey

 The Evening Citizen

Death this morning called one of the most beloved ministers ever to serve Ottawa well and faithfully over a length period of years, when major the Rev. H. I. Horsey, pastor of Zion United church for the past 36 years and chaplain with the Overseas 38th during the Great War, passed away at 8:15 o'clock at his home, 53 Fourth Avenue. Members of his family were present at the bedside as the end came.

On Sunday morning Major Horsey took Sunday service at his church as usual. He seemed in good spirits, but following luncheon with his family he was taken with a sudden seizure, and lost consciousness. He never regained consciousness before his death.

A military funeral befitting his rank will be given Major Horsey with the Ottawa Cameron Highlanders and other units participating. The funeral will be held Saturday at about three o'clock from the home to Zion church.

No pride of creed or race was exhibited by Major Horsey. Instead he showed a love of his fellow-man all through his life that was to reap him a rich harvest of steadfast friends. The news of his death will occasion grief to even those who knew him but slightly. His life was an exemplification of the Christian principals he strove to portray to his congregation.

To meet Major Horsey was to never forget him. In appearance he was very distinguished, his white hair and military moustache lending dignity to his soldierly carriage. He was softly-spoken, and his eyes always reflected a kindly light.

Born at Kingston, Major Horsey celebrated his 65th birthday on July 21. He was educated at Montreal and had lived in Ottawa for the past 38 years. Since the inception of Zion church he had been its spiritual leader, and since 1926 he had been secretary of the Ottawa Presbytery of the United Church. Military men recognized the sterling worth of Major Horsey, for his service overseas with the 38th Battalion.

It is not generally known, but Major Horsey was entitle to the rank of honorary colonel. He had retained the rank of major in order to remain on the active list.

A firm believer in fraternal friendship, Major Horsey was chaplain of Chaudiere Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and honorary chaplain of St. George's and the Sons of England, as well as member of all three organizations.

Last October Major Horsey was seriously injured in an automobile accident near Gananoque, while attending the funeral of a friend. He was confined to his home and the hospital until the New Year, when he once more took over the work of his beloved church.

His widow was formerly Miss Lillian Moreland. Also surviving are two sons, Edwin and Harold, of Ottawa; two daughters, Evelyn and Ruth, at home; four brothers, Edwin E. and T. M. Horsey, Kingston; A. W. Horsey, Longueil, Quebec; F. J. Horsey, Galt, Ont.; four sisters, the Misses Evaline, Bessie, and Phyllis, and Mrs. E. Blake Thompson, all of Kingston; and one granddaughter, Betsy.

Rev. H. I. Horsey had a most unique experience in the Christian ministry. For the past thirty-six years, ever since Zion church was organized, Mr. Horsey has been minister of the congregation.

On January 21, 1896, the congregation was organized as a Congregational church and Mr. Horsey received the call to be minister.

Prior to this date, a Sunday school had been opened in the south section of the Glebe district, under direction of the First Congregational church, where streets and building lots were just being opened and located. A small white chapel was the first place of worship in this district, and Mr. Horsey was given charge. At that time he was a student at McGill University and the Congregational College, Montreal, and spent his vacations each summer in Ottawa, and also supplied the pulpit at stated intervals during the winter.

Mr. Horsey graduated from the Montreal College in the spring of 1896, and was ordained and inducted as minister of Welcome-Zion Congregational church at Easter that year. During the time he was on military service overseas, the church was under the pastoral care of Rev. J. L. Alexander and Rev. D. A. Armstrong.

The little white building that was the old Welcome Zion Congregational church was built 36 years ago. In 1904 the first addition as made and some 13 years later the Sunday school hall was added to compete the building and make it as it is known today under the name of Zion United Church.

When Church Union was consummated on June 10, 1925, Welcome-Zion church entered the union and had been known since as Zion United Church.

Mr. Horsey was honored by his denomination and in 1913 was elected chairman of the Congregational Union of Canada. He was also a member of the College Senate, and of the committee on Church Union.

At the organization of Ottawa Presbytery of the United Church of Canada, on September 9, 1925, Rev. H. I. Horsey acted for the former Congregational body, in convening and constituting the meeting and presented the roll of membership. At this first meeting of Ottawa Presbytery, Mr. Horsey was elected joint secretary, with Rev. R. Gamble. On May 12, 1926, at the annual election of officers, Mr. Horsey was appointed secretary and has held the office continuously every since.

At all regular and special meeting of Ottawa Presbytery, and meetings of the executive committee, and also at induction services held within the bounds of Presbytery during the past seven years, Mr. Horsey has been a most faithful and devoted attendant. Since the time of the severe accident last fall, when he was injured in his chest and head, Mr. Horsey labored very patiently but the same vigor was not always apparent. As a Christian minister, and as an official of Ottawa Presbytery, Mr. Horsey has merited and received the highest commendation for his painstaking and unselfish performance of duty.

Major Horsey had a fine military career that began when he was 18 years old. At that time he served in the North West Rebellion with the 14th P. W. O. R. In 1915 he enlisted with the 38th Battalion as honorary captain and chaplain, and proceeded to Bermuda with the Battalion. In 1916 he served in France, returning in 1917 to Canada, where he served with the Military District No. 3 Headquarters till demobilization. Major Horsey was also chaplain of the present 38th Battalion, besides being chaplain of the Overseas 38th. During his service in France he won his promotion to honorary major.

Major Horsey was a prominent member of the A.F. and A.M. and chaplain of Chaudiere Lodge, No. 264.

Members of Zion congregation were overcome with grief to learn of the death of their pastor.

"I can't express in words just exactly what Mr. Horsey meant to us," J. V. Hooper, treasurer of the church and member of the executive board for the pas 28 years, told The Citizen this morning. "His loss is not only a personal one, but one that will be felt by the entire community, because, frankly speaking he was one of the most beloved men in the city. He really overworked himself to a great degree. If anyone was not well, no matter to what denomination he belonged, Major Horsey would visit him. In a way he was too bighearted. A call for aid to him never went without an answer."

"Mr. Horsey belonged to Lodge Bowood, Sons of England," said Richard Patching, supreme president of the Sons of England, "and had been an active and conscientious member for many years, always taking a personal practical interest in the society. When the biennial session of the Supreme Lodge was held in Ottawa some years ago, he
was appointed Supreme Chaplain of that session. Major Horsey originated the idea of the mass service for Englishmen at a local theatre, which was for years a notable part of the St. George's Day celebration. He had also been for many years one of the honorary chaplains of St. George's Society, and both there and in the Sons of England he was held in the highest esteem and affection by the members."

The majority of Rev. Horsey's colleagues are away from the city on their holidays. The only one who could be reached was Rev. W. W. McNairn, minister of St. Paul's Eastern United Church, who was greatly shocked when the information was conveyed to him by The Citizen.

"His was a beautiful spirit," declared Mr. McNairn. "There isn't the slightest doubt that Mr. Horsey will be sadly missed. He had a great fidelity to his duty, and his Christian outlook was wonderfully upheld throughout his life."

Rev. W. D. Spence, newly-appointed minister of McLeod Street United Church, who is also in the city, was a friend of Major Horsey's of 25 years standing, dating back to the days of the old Congregational church.

"Major Horsey's life was wonderfully useful and fine all the way through," was Mr. Spence's tribute. "The man was good in the highest sense of the word. He always appealed to his brother ministers because of his willingness to remain with Zion United church despite opportunities for advancement, putting the welfare of the little church and its people before his own welfare."

"He was a man who couldn't spare himself, always wishing to be working. If he had not worked so hard in the life to which he was dedicated, he might have had a reserve strength to combat his illness."

"The returned solders worshipped him. He was kind to them in the hospitals and in the homes where there was need. I feel the ex-service men have lost one of their warmest friends and truest comrades."

"Mr. Horsey was a very devoted minister, beloved by members of his congregation, and highly honored by the citizens of Ottawa," said Rev. George Stafford. "As an official of the Ottawa Presbytery of the United Church, he was a most painstaking secretary, and gave himself without reserve to the duties of his office. His long and successful pastorate of Zion church will leave fragrant memories in the thoughts of many people."

Lieut.-Col. Guy S. Macfarlane, M. C., V. D., officer commanding the Ottawa Cameron Highlanders, of which unit Major Horsey was chaplain since the time of his enlistment in 1915, said major Horsey was the outstanding padre of the city.

"His love for the men of the unit was especially shown when he reverted to the rank of lieutenant from that of chaplain in order to stay with the unit when he went to France. After a short time at the front, he again becamse chaplain."

"A soldier all his life, Major Horsey never lost his love for the best traditions. He showed his great unselfishness in the number of funerals of returned soldiers that he conducted."

 The 38th Royal Ottawa Battalion