7 Facts about the Russian Mennonites

 7 Fast Facts about the Russian Mennonites

#1 Anabaptist Origins

The Anabaptist (literally meaning “to baptize again”) movement began in 1525 when people like Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz and others baptized each other a second time as adults in a small meeting in Switzerland.  

The Anabaptist were originally part of the Protestant Reformation but soon came to believe in such further distinctions as believer’s baptism (as opposed to infant baptism), complete separation of church and state and of, course, pacifism (the unwillingness to bear arms).

Menno Simons

#2 Menno Simons 

Menno Simons (1496 – 1561) was a Roman Catholic priest in Friesland (now a province of the Netherlands). He began to question some Roman Catholic practices and, when his Anabaptist brother was killed for his beliefs, he became an integral part of the Anabaptist movement.  It is from Menno that Mennonites take their name. 

#3 European Persecution

Russian Mennonites are descended from the Dutch Anabaptists who later moved to Prussia - an old kingdom that now covers large parts of Germany and Poland. During the 16th century Mennonites suffered severe persecution for their beliefs from the hands of both the Roman Catholic Church, the Protestant Church and various European heads of state.  This persecution affected their sense of identity and brought them closer together. 

The Mennonites would often be invited by a king or prince to live in their territory because they were known as honest, hard workers who could farm almost any type of land. However, whenever there was a change of influence on the leadership of that territory, the Mennonites would be forced to move again to maintain their way of life and avoid persecution. 

Catherine the Great of Russia

#4 Catherine the Great of Russia

In 1786, Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia sent an envoy to the Mennonites in the Prussia area to invite them to come and live in her newly acquired south western lands now known as Ukraine. In exchange they would receive religious freedom and military exemption. 

According to a Mennonite education website: “The first four hundred families to arrive in Russia, settled on the banks of the Chortitza River, a tributary of the Dnieper River. This village became known as the Chortitza Colony… the Chortitza Colony quickly grew into 15 separate villages with 89,100 acres of land by 1800. A second Colony, Molotschna, was established one hundred miles southeast of Chortitz a few years later.”

#5 The First Exodus from Russia

Eventually the Russian government threatened to take such rights as military exemption and the Russian Mennonites feared they would soon lose their autonomy and identity. As a result, between 1873 and 1884, approximately 18,000 Mennonites left Russia. About 7000 of those arrived in Canada, settling in Manitoba. 

#6 The Russian Revolution and World Wars

The Russian Revolution of 1917 created great turmoil for the remaining Mennonites as they were often harassed and killed by Russian peasants. Some young men rethought their stance on pacifism in these dark times in order to protect their families. They were called “die Selbstschutz” meaning self-protectors. 

The Mennonite education site says:  “During World War I, many of the Mennonites who had remained in Russia lost their lives as a result of various illnesses, such as epidemic typhus. Many also had their homes plundered and some families were massacred by bandits. After this time of war, revolution, anarchy and famine, approximately 25, 000 more Mennonites immigrated to North America in the 1920’s. After World War II another 12, 000 Mennonite refugees were accepted in Canada and the United States.”

#7 My Family

My great great great grandparents were Johann and Anna Harder. According to various genealogical records, Johann and Anna were born in the same area now known as Ukraine in the early 1800’s. They and their children were among the first wave of Russian Mennonites to immigrate to North America. In 1876 they landed at Quebec City and made their way to Manitoba. 

Among their children was my great great grandfather, Isaak Harder. He was born in Russia but immigrated about the age of 9.  He would go on to marry Helena Penner and they would go on to have my great grandfather Cornelius P. Harder after having moved to Saskatchewan. 

Cornelius P. Harder would father my grandfather (among many other children) with Agatha Derksen. They named him Cornelius D. Harder. My grandfather would later use his middle initial to call himself “Del”. He married my grandmother, Hilda Sanders and the rest is history. 

P.S. My wife and I would end up adopting a son from Vietnam. We joined another family as they were also adopting a Vietnamese boy from the same orphanage. In an amazing turn of events, we eventually found out that the husband and I were actually distant cousins – we both descended from Johann and Anna Harder of the Russian Mennonites. 

The Hypostatic Union 101: 5 Thoughts on the Deity and Humanity of Jesus Christ

Definition

The Hypostatic Union is a theological term for the critical teaching that Jesus Christ had both a fully divine nature and a fully human nature in one Person. Hypostasis in Greek means “essence or substance.”

 In his Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem defines the Hypostatic Union simply as:

“Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man in one person, and will be so forever.”

This teaching is made clear throughout the Bible. John’s Gospel is a wonderful example:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-3, 14 

Early Christian art depicting both the human and divine sides of Jesus Christ

Fully God

According to Scripture and 2000 years of orthodox teaching, Jesus Christ is the Second Person of the Trinity (God the Son). For more information on the mystery of the Trinity please see The Trinity 101.

For those who don’t believe Scripture to be the inspired Word of God (or even for those of us who do) the following short video by Dr. William Lane Craig looks at how the historical Jesus thought of Himself. I highly recommend a quick watch! 

There are some (such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses) who teach that Jesus Christ was simply a creation of God rather than God Himself. They even do some underhanded translating of the Greek New Testament to try and teach this (John 1:1 is translated “The Word was a god” instead of “The Word was God” – there is no Greek basis for this whatsoever). 

John 1:3 says that “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made…”. Clearly if everything that was ever made was made by Jesus Christ then Jesus Himself could not have been made.  


Fully Human

Just as important as the teaching that Jesus is fully God is the teaching that Jesus is fully human but without sin. As the write of Hebrews so beautifully puts it:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

As the old theologians used to say: “Remaining what He was, He became what He was not.” There was no subtraction in Jesus becoming human - only addition. 

John Piper has aptly said: “There are doctrines in the Bible that are worth dying for and living for. They are the ground of our life. They are the heart of our worship. The divine and human nature of Christ in one person is one of those doctrines.”  


“The Emptying” 

Philippians 2:7 reads: 

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.” 

Other translations say: “but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant”.  There are some today who say that Jesus Christ emptied Himself of His divine nature so that He was nothing more than a man filled with the Holy Spirit (and thus we should also be able to do all the things Jesus did on earth). This is a blatant false teaching and leads to twisted preaching with painful results. 

So what exactly did Jesus “empty” Himself of in this great passage? There is admittedly some mystery to this question. However, we know from the context of the New Testament that it was not His Divine nature He emptied Himself of but rather His Divine rights; not His Divine attributes but rather His Divine privileges. 

In times of war, a king may have a royal right to stay in the safety of his palace. However, should he choose to relinquish that right and become a soldier on the field that does not mean that he is no longer king. It means that he is now both king and soldier.  For a more in depth look at this passage of Scripture please see: The Kenosis Hymn: 5 Fascinating Facts about Philippians 2:5-11

The Hypostatic Union and the Gospel

Athanasius was a 4th century Christian bishop who battled nearly his entire life for the teaching of the Hypostatic Union. An excerpt from an issue of Christianity Today tells us why: 

“To Athanasius this was no splitting of theological hairs. Salvation was at issue: only one who was fully human could atone for human sin; only one who was fully divine could have the power to save us.” 

And this is why the Hypostatic Union is an absolute key teaching of Christianity – it is at the very heart of the Gospel. 

“For in him (Jesus Christ) the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily…” Colossians 2:9

10 Fast Facts about Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion: Hockey Legend and Pioneer of the Slap Shot

1) Early Life

Joseph Andre Bernard Geoffrion was born February 16th, 1931, in a suburb of Montreal. He was a direct descendant of early French settlers to the colony of Montreal (one of whom was a “King’s Daughter” – a collective of young French woman sent over to New France by King Louis XIV). 


2) The Slap Shot

Bernie Geoffrion is considered a pioneer of the now famous “slap shot” in the National Hockey League. His shot was so hard and heavy that a writer for the Montreal Star gave him the name “Boom Boom” while he was still playing in Junior League. 

3) Marriage to Marlene

Marlene Morenz was the daughter of Hockey Hall of Famer Howie Morenz and was introduced to Bernie by her brother at a figure skating event at the Montreal Forum. By the age of 8 Marlene had lost her father, one of her brothers and her mother and had lived in an orphanage and a convent. 

She survived it all to become a figure skater but gave that up for Bernie, marriage and a family of her own. They married on May 3rd, 1952 and had three children – Linda, Bob and Danny. Marlene had a profound influence on “Boom”. 


4) NHL Career

Geoffrion played his first NHL game when he was called up (along with Jean Beliveau) by Montreal Canadien’s Manager Frank Selke on December 16th, 1950. He wore number 5 and would go on to play 14 seasons for his beloved Canadiens and then 2 seasons for the New York Rangers. 


5) Hockey Achievements

Just some of Boom Boom Geoffrion’s achievements included:

>Winning the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year
>Winning two Art Ross Trophies as well as the Hart Trophy (MVP) in 1961
>Becoming the only the second player to score 50 goals in one season (after Maurice       “Rocket” Richard)
>Winning 6 Stanley Cups (Including 5 in a row)
>Being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame

6) Teammates 

Geoffrion played junior hockey against future teammates including: Jean Beliveau, Dickie Moore and Jaques Plante among others. On the Montreal Canadiens he played on a stupendous line with Beliveau and Bert Olmstead and later with Henri Richard and Dickie Moore. He also had Hall of Fame defenseman Doug Harvey on the blue line. 


7) Rocket Richard’s Shadow

Despite his amazing talent and scoring, Geffrion was on a team of future legends and perhaps no one more so than Maurice “The Rocket” Richard. Despite leading the league in points one year Geoffrion had to settle for 2nd Team All-Star behind Richard. 

However, it was when Richard had been suspended by Commissioner Clarence Campbell and Bernie scored a goal to pass Richard that the Montreal fans turned on Boom. He was sensitive to criticism and pleaded with the fans that he “couldn’t not score”.  He actually considered leaving the game but Richard and Beliveau talked him out of it. 


8) Coaching Career

Geoffrion had high hopes of coaching his beloved Canadiens and so he retired and took his first job as a coach with the minor league Quebec Aces in 1964. He went on to coach the New York Rangers and the Atlanta Flames and finally fulfilled his dream of coaching the Habs in 1979. Unfortunately coaching caused him a lot of stress and his stomach ulcers often sidelined him and ended up cutting short his coaching career. 


9) His Faith

In 1979, Marlene Geoffrion was invited to attend a Bible study in Atlanta. She hadn’t wanted to go but relented out of sheer boredom. She was profoundly affected by that Bible study and soon became a Christian. She began to pray for Boom. Ed Kea, a player for the Atlanta Flames, invited them to a Christian conference for athletes and it was there that Marlene recalls, 

“One of the speakers asked a question that caught our attention:  “If you were to die today, where would you go?” Boom couldn’t answer that question, and it bothered him.  He spoke to Ron Pritchard a former NFL player and Ron shared with him.  He prayed with Boom and told him not to put off his desire to become a Christian, as tomorrow may never come.  Let me remind you. We were religious, but we didn’t have a relationship with the Lord.  Boom accepted Jesus into his heart in June, 1979.  We began to attend a weekly Bible Study.”

10) Death & Legacy

Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion was finally due to have his number retired at the Montreal Forum on March 11th, 2006. Unfortunately, Bernie passed away due to stomach cancer just hours before the ceremony was to take place. He had made Marlene promise to go no matter what though – and she did. 

Before 21,000 adoring fans, her father, Howie Morenz’s number was lowered to half-mast and her husband, Bernie’s, was elevated to meet it there. Then together both numbers were raised to the rafters in an emotional and fitting tribute to one of the greatest hockey players of all time. 




One of Bernie's favourite Bible verses:

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36

Note: Bernie and Marlene’s son Dan played 111 games in the NHL for the Canadiens and the Winnipeg Jets. Dan’s son, Blake Geoffrion was a second round pick of the Nashville predators and proudly wore number 5 in honour of his grandfather. 

Sources and Further Reading:

“Boom Boom: The Life and Times of Bernard Geoffrion”  -  Geoffrion and Fischler

https://thehockeywriters.com/hockey-royalty-part-two-bernard-boom-boom-geoffrion/

https://www.hockeyministries.org/home-ice/blog/tmarlene-geoffrion/

Modalism vs The Trinity: 5 Thoughts On an Ancient Error

In my study of the Trinity over the past few years there seems to be an ancient error (or heresy) that is becoming more and more accepted in today’s Christianity – the error of Modalism. Modalism claims that there are not three distinct Persons of the Holy Trinity but rather only one who instead manifests Himself in three different forms or “modes”. This teaching seems to be especially prevalent in certain charismatic wings of the Church. 

A classic example of Modalism is that of Sabellius (c. A.D. 215), a priest who taught that God is not three Persons but manifested Himself as the Father in the Old Testament, the Son in the Gospels and the Holy Spirit from Pentecost until present day. This is clearly not in line with Scripture and the orthodox teaching of the Church throughout the centuries.

It is not my intent to judge a Modalist’s salvation or intentions but rather point the Church to Scripture. Here are 5 thoughts on this ancient error.


#1 It Is Unbiblical ( A. Jesus’ Baptism)

The Bible, of course, is where we must start. It is the source and final authority on all of our knowledge of Christian truth. A clear example is the baptism of Jesus as described in Matthew 3:16-17:

“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Unfortunately, Modalists try to say that this is an occasion where God suddenly decided to appear in all three forms at once. This goes against the clear context and logical interpretation of the text. There are many verses like this one See the Transfiguration in Matthew 17). 


#2 It Is Unbiblical (B. The Father Speaks to the Son and Vice Versa)

However, if we need more evidence then it is crystal clear that the Father speaks directly to the Son, using the pronoun “You” (as in a separate person), and vice versa on several occasions. Consider just one in Luke 22:41-42

“And he (Jesus) withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

As D.A. Carson reminds us, “It was not long before the church roundly condemned modalism, not least because Scripture is replete with passages in which, for instance, the Father addresses the Son, and the Son the Father.”

In addition, we read with assurance that, “He (Jesus) is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…” Hebrews 1:3.  How can Jesus sit at the right hand of the Father if they are not distinct Persons?

We also note that the Father and the Son “send” the Holy Spirit:

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” John 15:26

The Shield of the Trinity 

#3 The Early Church Fathers Attested to the Trinity

The doctrine of the Trinity was not “invented” at the Council of Nicaea as some claim. As New Testament Scholar, Michael F. Bird, explains: 

“In other words, (*the creeds of Nicaea and Constantinople) of the fourth century are not purely politically driven and radically innovative statements of faith. They are, instead, contextualized clarification of New Testament teaching.”

Justin Martyr and Hippolytus (of the 2nd century) both wrote against the early teachings of Modalism, defending the orthodox Trinity. Polycarp, the disciple of John the Apostle cried these Trinitarian words as he was burned at the stake for his faith:

“I glorify you, through the eternal and heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, through whom to you, with him and the Holy Spirit, be glory both now and for the ages to come.”

#4 Accepting Mysteries in Scripture

There is a tendency of our human nature to want to explain everything to the last minute detail. When we run into mysteries or paradoxes in the Christian faith (such as the Trinity) we recoil and try to change the clear teaching of Scripture into something our finite minds can comprehend. This almost always leads to heresy. Theologian Louis Berkhof reminds us that: 

“(The Church) has never tried to explain the mystery of the Trinity but only sought to formulate the doctrine of the Trinity in such a manner that the errors which endangered it were warded off.”


#5 An Over-emphasis on the Holy Spirit and His Gifts

While we heartily confess that the Holy Spirit is fully God, we also confess He is a distinct Person of a triune Godhead. If, as the Modalists claim, the Holy Spirit is the one and only manifestation of God in the present day it is not surprising that error can develop in that thinking. An Over-emphasis on the Holy Spirit and His Gifts not only causes errors about the Holy Spirit and His gifts but also takes us away from the Father and the Son. We must remember that the main mission of the Spirit is to glorify Christ (John 16:13-14). Charles Spurgeon has put it well:

“…the Holy Spirit is our Lord’s glorifier. I want you to keep this truth in your mind, and never forget it; that which does not glorify Christ is not of the Holy Spirit, and that which is of the Holy Spirit invariably glorifies our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

In conclusion, D.A. Carson reminds us that the doctrine of the Trinity (and thus the refutation of Modalism) is so important because it deals with both the very nature of God and the very nature of the Gospel. 

“If we are to worship God aright, we must worship him as he is, as he has disclosed himself to us. The only alternative is to worship a god who is progressively false as our understanding skews away from the truth… Various truths connected with the gospel itself become incoherent if one abandons robust Trinitarianism.”

It is clear from Scripture that God’s nature is of a Trinity. It is also clear that the Father purposed the work of redemption, the Son competed it and the Holy Spirit applies it to us personally. All had and continue to have a hand in the Gospel. 

The Trinity 101: 5 Facts about the Triune Nature of God

The word “Trinity” itself does not appear in the Bible but rather, the doctrine of the Trinity is a progressive revelation through Scripture. It is hinted at in the Old Testament and solidified in the New Testament. It was then formulated into a creed (The Nicene Creed) by the early Church. The term “Trinity” was coined by Tertullian (A.D. 165-220).

Consider this a very brief yet hopefully helpful introduction to this most treasured doctrine of Christianity. 

“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Mat 3:16-18

#1 The Definition of the Trinity

The teaching of the triune nature of God is unique amongst all the world religions. All three main branches of the Christian Church (Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant – including Evangelicals) agree on and hold tightly to this doctrine of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

In his Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem defines the Trinity concisely yet accurately in these three statements:

1. God is three Persons:  (See John 1:1-2 / John 14:26 / Matt 3:16-17 / Matt 28:19 / 1 Corinthians 12:4-6/ 2 Corinthians 13:14/ Ephesians 4:4-6  2)

2. Each Person is fully God:  (See John1:1-3 / Colossians 2:9 / John 3:5-7 / Acts 5:3-4) 

3. There is one God:   (See Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (Mark 12:29) / Romans 3:30 / James 2:19)

To say ‘God is one god and three gods’ would be a contradiction. However, to say that 'God is three Persons but one God' is not a contradiction but rather a mystery (or paradox). 

#2 What the Trinity Is Not (Heresies)

It’s important to understand that we cannot understand the Trinity. We can see it taught in Scripture very easily and we can believe it – but it is, ultimately, a mystery. However, it’s also important to understand what the Trinity is not. As theologian Louis Berkhof has aptly said: 

“(The Church) has never tried to explain the mystery of the Trinity but only sought to formulate the doctrine of the Trinity in such a manner that the errors which endangered it were warded off.”

Here are three of the main errors (or heresies) taught about the Trinity.

Modalism claims that there is one Person who appears to us in three “modes”. One example is that the Father is the mode of God in the OT, the Son is the mode of God in the Gospels and the Holy Spirit is the mode of God in the here and now. 

Arianism denies the full deity (or Godhood) of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit claiming they were created. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons teach similar things today.

Tritheism claims there are three individual gods. Basically polytheism…
The true doctrine stresses the diversity of the Persons and the unity of God’s essence.

#3 The Nicene Creed

In the 4th century A.D. controversy arose in the Church (and the entire Roman Empire) over the teachings of Arius (as was stated above Arianism denies the full deity (or Godhood) of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit claiming they were created). Constantine convened the first true council of the Church bishops (The Council of Nicaea) in 325 A.D. and it was overwhelmingly decided that Arius was in error. 

However, Constantine’s son came into power soon thereafter and promoted Arianism. A bishop named Athanasius was critical in the defense and teaching of the doctrine of the Trinity that had been decided at Nicaea. He suffered greatly for this and was exiled many times but in the end the Nicene Creed was upheld at the Council of Chalcedon in 381 A.D. and the Trinity has been the orthodox teaching of the Church ever since (See portions of the Nicene Creed at the bottom of the page). 

Some teach that the Trinity and Christ’s deity were an invention of Nicaea rather than being grounded in Scripture and the very early Church. In their book How God Became Jesus, many scholars refute that idea. 

“In other words, (*the creeds of Nicaea and Constantinople) of the fourth century are not purely politically driven and radically innovative statements of faith. They are, instead, contextualized clarification of New Testament teaching.” 

Michael F. Bird (How God Became Jesus - Bird, Evans, Gathercole, Hill & Tilling, Zondervan 2014)

#4 The Ontological and Economical Trinity

Theologians have coined two terms to help describe the Trinity – the Ontological Trinity and the Economical Trinity. Now ontological is a big word but it simply means “being” and refers to the fact that Scripture teaches that each Person of the Godhead is totally equal in essence or being. The Economical Trinity helps us to understand the individual roles or “jobs” of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Father sent the Son into the world to redeem mankind and later raised Him from the dead. The Son obeyed the Father, putting aside some of His divine rights but none of His divine essence. He died on the cross for our sins. The Holy Spirit was sent by both the Father and the Son to ignite the Church and indwell Christians and empower them to live for God. 

As was stated earlier – there is diversity among the three Persons of the Trinity but only equality in their essence or being. 

“No sooner do I conceive of the One than I am illuminated by the splendour of the Three; no sooner do I distinguish them than I am carried back to the One… When I contemplate the Three together, I see but one torch, and cannot divide or 

measure out the undivided light.” 

Gregory of Nazianzus

#5 The Trinity and the Gospel

Timothy Keller recently pointed out that the Biblical statement “God is love” (1 John 4:8 &16) takes on a whole new meaning when we think of Him as a Trinity. God did not need angels or humans to love – The Father, Son and Holy Spirit had always loved each other. God then decided to make us for His glory and love. 

The second Person of the Trinity (God the Son, Jesus Christ) came in human flesh to live a sinless life, be crucified for our transgressions and be raised again (see also The Hypostatic Union 101). Thus a way was made back to this Triune God, in whose image we were originally made.  That is the Gospel. And as we can see from Hebrews and other Scriptures all three Persons of the Trinity were involved (see also #4 – the Economical Trinity):

“…how much more will the blood of Christ (God the Son), who through the eternal Spirit (God the Holy Spirit) offered himself without blemish to God (God the Father), purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

As human beings we are profoundly relational and that quality is rooted in the fact that we were created in the image of a triune God. And now the ultimate relationship – our personal relationship with our Creator – has been restored through the Gospel work of the Trinity. 
To quote the ancient doxology – “Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost”!

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14

Sources & Further Reading:

The Bible (ESV Translation)

Systematic Theology: Louis Berkhof

Systematic Theology: Wayne Grudem (Zondervan 1994)

Basic Theology: Charles C. Ryrie (Moody Publishers 1986, 1999)

Historical Theology: Gregg R. Allison (Zondervan 2011)


How God Became Jesus: Bird, Evans, Gathercole, Hill & Tilling (Zondervan 2014)

Portions of the Nicene Creed:

We believe in one God,

      the Father almighty,

      maker of heaven and earth,

      of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

      the only Son of God,

      begotten from the Father before all ages,

           God from God,

           Light from Light,

           true God from true God,

      begotten, not made;

      of the same essence as the Father.

      Through him all things were made…

And we believe in the Holy Spirit,

      the Lord, the giver of life.

      He proceeds from the Father and the Son,

      and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.

Kinney (Helena) Lake: Origins of the Name

Today we all know the beautiful mountain lake on the trail to Mount Robson as Kinney Lake. However, there was a time when another name for this lake “floated” around. In the early days of discovery, just after the turn of the 19th century, the name “Helena Lake” was also applied to this glacial body of water. 

Where did the name “Helena” come from and why did the name “Kinney” prevail? Let’s take a look…

In Jane Lytton Gooch’s marvelous book, Mount Robson, Spiral Road of Art, we read: 

“The next morning, September 11 (1907), with supplies for five days, the three climbers followed the river on foot through a British Columbia rainforest… After crossing a smaller branch of the Grand Forks (Robson River) that flowed from cliffs on Robson’s south side, they reached Kinney Lake, named by (A.P.) Coleman to honour his indefatigable comrade (George Kinney) who had seen the lake the previous day.”  (Mount Robson, Spiral Road of Art p.31)

The name Kinney Lake appeared on a holograph map by Coleman in 1908 and another of Coleman’s maps in 1911. The name was officially adopted April 2nd, 1912. 

However, the name “Helena" was still around. In the October 6th, 1910 issue of the Victoria Daily Times there is an article entitled "The Route of the GTP (Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad). It states that a "... large (lake), near Mount Robson, was named Helena." 


This beautiful hand-tinted postcard from the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad cited the lake as “Lake Helna”. While the original photographer is undetermined the date is circa 1910. It seems “Helna” was either mistaken in name or spelling and should have read “Helena”.

Also, Blanche Hume, of the Alpine Club of Canada records in 1913: 

“We had an amusing experience ourselves when a visit was made to the foot of Mount Robson,” wrote F. A. Talbot after his 1910 reconnaissance of Grand Trunk Pacific Railway construction. “In due course, after some eight hours’ work, the edge of a beautiful stretch of water, first discovered by Mr. Kinney, who named it Lake Helena, was reached. We hastily fashioned a raft. While moving slowly along, what looked uncommonly like a signboard was spied on the bank. Pulling rapidly towards it, to ascertain what it was, we saw, in scrawling print, ‘Site of Mackenzie’s Hotel.’” Hume, Blanche B. “The camp on Robson Pass.” Rod and Gun in Canada (1913).

We see the postcard photo again in the Windsor Star newspaper (September 12, 1913) and it also refers to the lake as "Helena":

If George Kinney named the lake “Helena” we’re not sure why. Helena does not seem to be a Kinney family name (His mother was Elizabeth, he had no sisters named Helena and he was yet to meet his wife Alice in 1920).

Another possibility arises when we see that:  

“A Grand Trunk Pacific railway official requested in 1914 that Kinney Lake be re-named "Helena", after his wife; proposal rejected (Ottawa file, 10 December 1914)”.  

Perhaps this GTP man had been around for a while and wanted the lake to be known for his wife and not George Kinney – as the 1910 GTP article and postcard would suggest. 

At any rate the name Kinney prevailed and, I believe, deservedly so. George Kinney was an integral part of the history of the Mount Robson area and his legacy should indeed be remembered this way. 



Sources and Further Reading:

https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/4567.html

http://www.spiralroad.com/lake-helena/

https://www.spiralroad.com/george-kinney/ 

Of Math & Miracles (A Poem)

Of Math & Miracles

Of math and miracles

Of science and faith

Of man and God

Of karma and grace

What is math without miracles?

Lame and unkind

And miracles without math?

Sentimental and blind

For who has put wisdom

In the mind?

And guided the heart,

Understanding to find?

Of math and miracles

Of science and faith

Of man and God

Of karma and grace

O taste and see

He is Almighty and kind

Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula 7000 light years from Earth. PC Nasa/ Hubble

 “The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility…The fact that it is comprehensible is a miracle.” Albert Einstein 1936

Job Chapters 38-42

Psalm 34

Tom Heffron: The Mysterious Miner of Kalamalka Lake

Recently I was told of a hermit-type individual who apparently lived in a cave beneath the current Kalamalka Lake Lookout. After some personal investigation and community sourcing from social media the consensus seems to be that this man was one Tom Heffron. 

The only resource I have not been able to look at is the archives of the Greater Vernon Museum as they are closed due to the COVID 19 pandemic. If anyone else has more information (especially with first hand sources) I would welcome it! But for now, here is the story of the mysterious miner of Kalamalka Lake:

Bill Leeper, who grew up in the Vernon area, was the first to call this local legend to my attention. Bill says his father would often visit the hermit during the war times. Leeper reports:

“(The hermit) lived in the cave below the lookout. My dad was probably about 8 or 9 at the time, very early 40's, wartime. Dad used to go visit him and bring him stuff, one of his favorite things was canned milk, and the old fellow would make him a hot coco using some of the canned milk.”

An early view of the Kal Lake Lookout on the old highway

Leeper also recalls visiting the cave site with his father around 1963:

“… I asked him to take me and show me the cave, I probably thought the hermit would be still be there. We drove up to the lookout, looked over the railing down below… (I) got down to the cave and the path went between a big rock that blocked the entrance from view and there was the cave, so of course my imagination was filled with all kinds of stuff, but no hermit...”

After some social media discussion another person posted the following obituary of a man named Tom Heffron. The dates and details all line up and Bill Leeper agrees that this obituary seems to belong to one and the same person as the hermit his father used to visit. 

According to the obit from the Vernon News (dated June 29, 1950), Tom was born in Ireland on March 1st, 1872 and had resided in the Vernon area for about 43 years dabbling in logging, rail laying and mining ventures. The obit goes on to say:

“In later years he chose to live in a rough shack, thrown against the side of a gully, in the hills beside Kalamalka lake and to the east of the Vernon-Kelowna road.”

This description fits closely to Bill Leeper’s location of Tom’s living quarters. It is thought he likely lived in both a shack and a cave in the vicinity below the current look out. Unfortunately, Tom was found dead in his shack “in the hill bordering Kalamalka Lake” on a Sunday evening (perhaps June 25th, 1950 before his obituary appeared in the local paper that Thursday*). His funeral was held on the Tuesday and he was buried in the old part of Pleasant Valley Cemetery. 

What else do we know about this mysterious man? The Vernon News obituary says: “He was quite a familiar figure, striding along the road at a brisk pace, with his cane, usually a pack on his back and sometimes carrying a shovel to one of his 'mines'”.

Further investigation found his name in the 1921 Canada Census, which actually lists him being born one year earlier in 1871. It recalls his year of immigration from Ireland as 1886 and, surprisingly, lists that he was married – to a Norah Heffron (who was also born in 1871 in Ireland). Who was this Norah and when did she die or disappear from the picture? I have not been able to find out as of yet but perhaps this heartbreak is what drove Tom into a recluse lifestyle.

A few other things we know about Tom from some old newspaper articles are that he liked to try and foretell the weather for the orchardists and also that he claimed to be the one responsible for introducing the Concordia Grape to the Okanagan.

The Vancouver Province, August 28th, 1948

“Tom Heffron, who holes out in the Vernon district, wears a full beard, and reads signals in the sky which tell him what the weather is going to be like, has solemnly warned the orchardists to be prepared for early frosts.”  

The Vancouver Sun, September 14th, 1949

“Mr. Tom Heffron, of Sappa Ranch, Shower Bath Road, Vernon, B.C., writes… “It all happened through the young son of a farmercoming to the gang laying steel for the Canadian National Railways from Kamloops to Kelowna. This school-boy came to our steel gang with a water bucket full of Concord grapes and they were a very good sight for sore eyes… To make a long story short, I told the boy to tell his father to plant out his whole farm (160 acres) in Concord grapes.” 

What's left of the cave below the lookout that Tom may have lived in. PC Bill Leeper

Take these newspaper articles for what you will but they certainly reveal that Tom Heffron was an interesting character! My hope in writing this blog is to revive some old history surrounding Kalamalka Lake but, more importantly, to help leave a bit of a legacy for this man about whom little remains known…




*finadagrave.ca lists his death date as June 8th, 1950