John Robson and his faith: church and state in late nineteenth-century British Columbia

This thesis argues that it is necessary to take into account John Robson's religious beliefs and activities in order to understand more fully the ambitions and actions of this leading figure in the history of British Columbia. The work examines his advocacy of temperance and sabbatarianism, his role in Presbyterian church governance, and the relationship between his religious beliefs and his political activities. Furthermore, the analysis of this aspect of the life and career of John Robson suggests that historians need to examine the role played by religion in what has been generally viewed as an essentially secular province.