Arthur Bruce Barbour Moore (February 4, 1906 – September 9, 2004) was an ordained minister of the
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada (UCC; ) is a mainline Protestant denomination that is the largest Protestant Christian denomination in Canada and the second largest Canadian Christian denomination after the Catholic Church in Canada.
The United Chu ...
who served as president and Vice-Chancellor of
Victoria University in the University of Toronto, Chancellor of the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
, and as the 24th
Moderator of the United Church of Canada.
Early life and education
Arthur Moore was born in
Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick
Keswick Ridge (2011 population: 1,526 ) is a Canadian rural community in York County, New Brunswick, York County, New Brunswick on New Brunswick Route 616, Route 616.
The former Local service district (New Brunswick), local service district of Ke ...
on February 4, 1906, the fifth son of a
Congregational
Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christianity, Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice Congregationalist polity, congregational ...
minister.
[cite web , url=http://www.vicu.utoronto.ca/English/Vic-Loses-a-Legend.html , title=In Memoriam: The Very Rev. Dr. A.B.B. Moore (1906 – 2004) , accessdate=March 26, 2006 , archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051217210113/http://www.vicu.utoronto.ca/English/Vic-Loses-a-Legend.html , archivedate=December 17, 2005 , url-status=dead] He spent his early years in the
Eastern Townships of
Quebec
Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
. In 1923, age 17, he enrolled in liberal arts at
McGill University
McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...
, but by his second year of studies, he felt drawn to ministry and began part-time studies at the United Theological College in Montreal.
Ministry
Following graduation from McGill with his Bachelor of Arts, Moore filled student ministry posts in
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, and
Portneuf, Quebec while studying for a post-graduate degree in divinity.
He earned a Bachelor of Divinity in 1930, and after completing his graduate studies at
Oxford University
The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...
, was ordained as a minister of the United Church of Canada.
After a year of travel in Europe, he became the minister of Amherst Park United Church in
Montreal
Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
. One day he met Margaret Price on a streetcar and they were married in 1933.
For the next ten years, the Moores moved to various churches in Quebec, Pennsylvania, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Academia and moderator
In 1946, Moore accepted the post of Principal and Professor of Theology at St. Andrew's College, a theological school attached to the
University of Saskatchewan in
Saskatoon
Saskatoon () is the largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It straddles a bend in the South Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province. It is located along the Trans-Canada Hig ...
. In 1950, he became the president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University in Toronto, a post he would fill for twenty years.
During his tenure, he facilitated the construction of campus resources, and was also involved in the formation of the
Toronto School of Theology.
During this period, Moore delivered the eulogies of several prominent Canadians, including poet
E.J. Pratt (1964), fellow minister and first Moderator of the United Church
George C. Pidgeon (1971), and former prime minister
Lester B. Pearson
Lester Bowles Pearson (23 April 1897 – 27 December 1972) was a Canadian politician, diplomat, statesman, and scholar who served as the 14th prime minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968. He also served as Leader of the Liberal Party of C ...
(1972).
In 1971, Moore was elected to a two-year term as the 24th Moderator of the United Church of Canada, succeeding
Robert McClure. Moore later recalled in his memoirs that "It was not a great council but it did some good and significant things
..Much time was spent on restructuring the church. Every time the church grows discouraged over its condition, it seems to think that a new organization equates with revitalization. This is far from true; the renewal comes from within its members."
For several years before his election, Moore had been co-chair of a joint commission of the United Church and the Anglican Church of Canada that explored the possibility of an organic union of the two denominations. At the 1971 General Council that elected Moore as Moderator, the delegates were presented with ''Plan of Union'', the commission's proposal on how this could be accomplished. The report was accepted by the delegates, and the ''Hymn Book'', a new source of song and liturgy, was produced the same year for use by both denominations. This was as close as the two would get. In 1975, the Anglican House of Bishops and National Executive Council rejected the ''Plan of Union'', unwilling to give up ordination of clergy by bishops, and refusing to recognize United Church clergy as ordained.
In 1977, Moore became chancellor of the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
, a post he held for three years.
Retirement and death
After his retirement, he wrote his memoirs, titled ''Here where we live'', published by United Church Publishing House in 1988. Moore died in Toronto on September 9, 2004, age 98.
Awards and recognition
*1952: Honorary Doctor of Laws,
University of Saskatchewan
*1975: Honorary Doctor of Divinity, Victoria University.
*Honorary degrees from St. Andrew's College (1961),
McGill University
McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...
(1978), and University of Toronto (1981)
*In 1976, Moore was made an Officer of the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...
"for his services to the religious and educational life of our country".
References
External links
Rev. Arthur Bruce Barbour Moore oral history interviewheld at th
University of Toronto Archives and Records Management Services
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, Arthur
1906 births
2004 deaths
Ministers of the United Church of Canada
Chancellors of the University of Toronto
Canadian university and college chief executives
Officers of the Order of Canada
Moderators of the United Church of Canada
University of Toronto alumni