*Excerpt from Reuban Butchart's "The Disciples of Christ in Canada Since 1830", Chapter 10*
W. Wentworth Eaton had a name that was familiar through the Maritime provinces for fifty years--and longer. Let a few facts bring his work and memory before us, for he is worthy of record. Born in Cornwallis, N.S., on February 16, 1811, he received education at Wesleyan Seminary in Maine and entered the ministry of the Disciples of Christ in his twentieth year. His earliest effort was to establish in St. John, N.B., the "Society of Christians", which became the Duke St. church, St. John, in June, 1834. In his journal The Christian, December, 1839, he states that this church was founded in June, 1839 and recounts that about 100 had been added to it since. He does not state that he was the founder but his obituary, written in September, 1889, tells us that fact.
Among his early activities for the cause is a record of two years spent as professor of English in Bethany College, Bethany, W. Va., in the years 1842-4. In June, 1839, in St. John, N.B. he issued the first copies of his journal The Christian, which ran for two years and was suspended, but began again January, 1847. In December, 1848 publication was suspended, without the editor having means to meet his obligations. The journal is a priceless source of information now. W. W. Eaton was a scholarly man, of the "writing type", and he developed a clear style, moderated by fine understanding and a sense of justice in all he wrote. He adorned the name of religious journalist. In later years, 1853, he removed to Pittsburg, Pa., and started The Sower, and in Cincinnati, O. he amalgamated that paper with the Christian Age. Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War he went to the front for the Cincinnati Gazette, and in 1864 became an army chaplain. The last twenty years of his life were spent in Chicago, in fellowship with Central Church, where he was greatly respected and beloved. It is in his work as a pioneer preacher in the Maritimes that Canadians should be interested. He was active in the time early period of Dr. Knox.
In the Maritime records his name is frequent as he preached, founded churches, and held meetings in many places; extending his labors to Ontario, and also to nearby American States, as was customary in that time of greater intercourse between our American brethren. In 1858-9 he was employed by the American Christian Missionary Society to labor in the provinces and so successful were his labors and so generously supported was he that he was able to return $75. to the treasury. In October 1859 he reports a co-operation formed which raised $1,400 and which employed three other laborers for a time. In all things Bro. Eaton served with remarkable Christian fidelity and spirit. Of him the Christian Oracle, Chicago, said at his demise in September, 1889, "It is not often that we are called upon to chronicle the demise of one so eminent for piety, intelligence and steadfast devotion to the long service of the Master." He was survived by a widow, two sons and a daughter; and there must be many persons still surviving in the Maritimes to whom his name is a blessed remembrance.