The front page (and page 3) of the Victoria Daily Times, 3 Feb 1928 carried the following article, accompanied by a picture of Dr. Clay. Transcription provided by Thomas Brown.

From Victoria Daily Times: 3 Feb 1928, Page 1and following:

"		Head of Presbyterian
		Church in Canada Dies
		In Winnipeg Hospital
		________________

		Rt. Rev. W. Leslie Clay Passes, Following
		Heart Attack, While En Route to Ottawa -
		Wonderful Ministry of Service Told in
		Record of Career Leading to Leadership
		____________________________

		Moderator Served Community in Ways
		Outside Channels of Own Communion
		______________________________

Rt. Rev. Dr. W. Leslie Clay, D. D., Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada and minister of St. Andrew's Church here since 1894, died at 10:30 (Winnipeg time) last evening after an illness of two weeks.
Dr. Clay was on his second visit as moderator to Eastern churches when he was stricken with a heart attack and was removed from a train to a hospital in Winnipeg where he has since remained. Favorable reports of his condition had been received during the last few days, and as late as yesterday came a message that it was expected he would be able to leave hospital within three weeks. Therefore the news of the tragic termination of his illness came with painful surprise to relatives and friends in this city.
Elected moderator at the General Assembly of the church June 2, 1927, a wonderful tribute was paid  to his popularity here when Dr. Clay returned at a great public reception in his honor at his own church late in that month. Since that time he has devoted himself to the duties of his office assiduously and recently made an extended tour of continuing Presbyterian churches in the east, visiting each synod, officiating at many gatherings and having an excellent reception from all classes of the community. From that tour he returned late in the year, spent Christmas in Victoria and left again early last month en route to Ottawa when he was ill on the journey.
EARLY CAREER
Born November 12, 1863 at Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, Dr. Clay was the fourth child in a family of seven children. He came of a long line of Presbyterians. As might be inferred from this, he was of Scottish ancestry, his paternal grandparents coming to Canada from Annan, Dumfreishire, Scotland and his grandfather from Ayreshire. His grandparents married in Canada and settled in New Annan, Prince Edward Island, where his father, John Clay, was born.
As far as his parents apparently know, Dr. Clay was the first Clay ever to become a minister and his decision to adopt the calling was not the result of any sudden and overwhelming conviction, but the outcome of quiet thought and association with men whose discourse lay along the lines of religion.
FINE ACADEMIC RECORD
In 1884 he went to Montreal and entered McGill, graduating three years later with his B.A. degree. During these college years he demonstrated an aptitude for philosophical study, winning the Prince of Wales gold medal in mental and moral philosophy, a foundation dating from 1860. It was also during his years at McGill that he definitely decided to enter the ministry, and so from there he went to the Presbyterian College at Montreal, which was affiliated with the university. He graduated from there in 1890, again distinguishing himself by winning another prize, viz. the gold medal and McKay scholarship for general proficiency. Although at that time valued for the acknowledgement it made for the winner's studentship, this scholarship today has direct material benefits, entitling the holder to travel abroad and other advantages. History records that Dr. Clay was valedictorian of his class in the year when he left the Presbyterian College.
Contemporaries from that time were wont to declare that the class of '90 was one distinguished fro all-round scholarship and the outstanding character of its men. Among Dr. Clay's fellow-graduates were Dr. Rochester, for many years general secretary of the Lord's Day Alliance, now editor of The Record; Robert Johnstone, now pastor of a church in St. Catharines, Ontario; James Naismith, who went into Y.M.C.A. work in the United States and became famous as the inventor of basketball; and three or four other men who made their mark in the world.
It is always interesting to trace back the reasons which impel a student to go far afield. Most of the boys from the Maritime Provinces in Dr. Clay's time went either to Halifax or Dalhousie, but Dr. Clay's decision to go to McGill was entirely owing to the fact that Sir William Dawson, by whom he had always been greatly attracted, was the head of the university as well as head of the department of natural science, for when he first went up to Montreal Dr. Clay had no idea of entering the ministry, his whole intention being to specialize in natural science.
Had he realized his wish and become a student under Sir William Dawson the Presbyterian Church in Victoria might have lost a very valuable pastor during the thirty-three years he has presided over the destinies of St. Andrew's Church; furthermore, the Presbyterian Church in Canada would have lacked one of its most loyal stalwarts and its moderator. The circumstances which diverted him from natural science turned him to the church: on entering McGill he found that he would not be admitted during his first year to Dr. Dawson's class. Not able to follow his original plan he naturally formed another and eventually found himself in Dr. J. Clark Murray's class in mental and moral philosophy.
A STRONG PERSONALITY
Although he never regretted the alteration of his plans, Dr. Clay always acknowledged that it was Dr. Murray's personality more than his subject which was the attraction. Presbyterianism therefore owes a debt of gratitude to the master who made such a complete disciple of the young student. By winning the highest marks ever taken at McGill in mental and moral philosophy, Dr. Clay not only displayed his own capacities but gave an indirect tribute to his teacher. Among his teachers at the theological college were Dr. D. H. McVicker, principal of the theological faculty; Dr. Campbell, lecturer in church history and apologetics; Dr. Couissirat, as professor of Hebrew and Dr. Scrimgeour, men of forceful personality as well as great scholarship.
Dr. Clay not long ago in private conversation recalled something of these great qualities in his tutors. Dr. Campbell he singled out for special mention as a man of particularly brilliant and stimulating personality, a profound scholar, an indefatigable worker, a forceful and original mind. He could read in thirty-five different languages and could converse in ten. His wife, also brilliantly clever, was a writer of children's stories. These, or some of his own allegorical tales, Dr. Campbell was wont to tell to groups of friends at his summer home at Yoho Island in the Algoma district and those privileged at one time or another to "sit in" at these interesting gatherings were delighted when, some years later, Mrs. Campbell published the tales under the title "Sundays in Yoho". In addition to his lecturing work, Dr. Campbell wrote industriously and constantly for all sorts of theological journals. Dr. Clay frequently in later years expressed his appreciation of the close association with such a mind. Dr. Coussirat's was another great influence.
GRADUATED 1890
Graduating from the theological college in April 1890 Dr. Clay volunteered at once for home mission work in Western Canada, under Dr. James Robertson whom he once characterized as "the greatest superintendent of missions we ever had in Canada."
He was sent first to Morris, on the Red River, a long stretch of country reaching from the international boundary up to within twenty miles of Winnipeg. After a few months there he received a call to Moose Jaw where he was ordained on November 14, 1890 by the Presbytery of Regina.
Staying with the Presbytery of Regina he became minister of the Presbyterian Church at Moose Jaw, which afterwards became known as St. Andrew's. Subsequently he became clerk of the Presbytery of Regina, which included practically the whole of the territory covered by the territories of Assiniboia and Saskatchewan.
In 1894, while still at Moose Jaw, he was called by St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Victoria, where he was inducted on June 22, 1894.
His connection with the congregation of St. Andrew's is a history of steady, solid growth. In connection with administration it was characteristic of Dr. Clay's well balanced and orderly mind that he should move for the payment of the church debt, amounting to something in the neighborhood of $50,000. After working on this for ten years the thing was accomplished in 1906, passing into history as one of the outstanding achievements in the business annals of the church.
CHURCH UNION FIGHT
The next great matter in the history of St. Andrew's and Dr. Clay's connection with the church was in connection with the fight over church union. In an interview with The Colonist last September just before he left for his first tour across the Dominion in his capacity as moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, Dr. Clay admitted that when the idea of union was first mooted he was rather fascinated by the suggestion and had actually been a member of the first committee appointed by the general assembly. However, closer study of the question convinced him that organic union was neither feasible nor possible without a serious cleavage within the ranks of the Presbyterian Church itself. Still desiring closer relationships with all branches of the Protestant church he had advocated in place of organic union a federation of the churches, feeling that would accomplish all that was sought by organic union without disruption anywhere. That federation scheme being rejected by the general assembly of the church he felt compelled to throw whatever influence and power he had into the task of preserving the Presbyterian Church in Canada. This he did, in no uncertain way, and recognition of his ability at organization, his leadership and his firm conviction was shown him by the church, when last Summer at Toronto, they created him moderator. Returning to Victoria last December from his first tour of the Dominion in his official capacity, he gave an enthusiastic report of the virile interest in the old church which he found all along the line, one of his special appeals at that time being for young recruits for a ministry which required more men.
HIS RELIGIOUS FAITH
In matter of faith, Dr. Clay during the heat and fury of the debate on fundamentalism versus modernism, declined to be labelled either fundamentalist or modernist, preferring to call himself a Presbyterian. So far as modernism was concerned, he argued there was scarcely a position held by the modernist that had not been held and exploded time and time again since the fourth century of the Christian era.
"Those old theories have just been revamped and put out with a new name," he told an interviewer on one occasion. "I believe that new life will break forth and is constantly breaking forth from the Word of God. The canny old Presbyterianism can adapt itself to the changing features without losing either its feet or its head."
For twenty years Dr. Clay was convener of the home mission committee of the British Columbia Synod.
CHURCH PROPERTY DIVISION
One of the greatest services he rendered to the church after the disruption was as chairman of the commission appointed to allocate the church properties in British Columbia between the United Church and the Continuing Presbyterians. The report was embodied as a statue at the last session of the Legislature under the title of the "Act to Amend the United Church of Canada Act."
GENERAL PUBLIC SERVICES
In services outside his church and social welfare, Dr. Clay rendered signal service to this community as chairman of the city library board for a considerable period and he was also an active member of the Canadian Club of Victoria, reaching the presidency, an office he filled with dignity becoming the notable citizens who have preceded and followed him.
Survivors include Mrs. Clay, who has been with Dr. Clay during his illness; five children, Miss Margaret Clay, city librarian; Mr. John L. Clay, Mrs. Ellis (Helen), living in Vancouver; Mary and Kathleen Clay living at home; and a sister living in Calgary. During the last six months two sisters and a brother of Dr. Clay have passed away. Mrs. Clay will leave Winnipeg on Saturday with the body. The funeral will be held in Victoria.
PREMIER'S TRIBUTE
Hon. J. D. MacLean, the Premier, said:
"Far beyond the confines of the city and province will be felt the shock of the irreparable loss in the passing of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, our highly esteemed and respected Dr. W.. L. Clay. In apparently the best of health he left the city only recently on his official duties as moderator of his church and to attend the official opening of the Parliament of Canada.
"His death will be keenly felt by a host of friends in Victoria and Canada will be poorer by the loss of a brilliant scholar, an able preacher and a good citizen."
LIFE OF PERMANENT WORTH
"It is with profound regret that I receive the news of the death of the Rt. Rev. Dr. W. L. Clay. No better leader, I think, could have been chosen for the Presbyterian Church in Canada by the General Assembly than that leader so dearly respected in Victoria as Dr. Clay." Mayor J. Carl Pendray stated last night when informed of the death of the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
"His passing has removed from the life of the city a man whose thoughts and utterances were respected and whose sermons had a lasting effect on his hearers. His whole life was an inspiration to do better things, and it is with sorrow that I extend my commiseration on behalf of the citizens of Victoria to his widow and family."
A CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN
"The tragic news of the passing away of our beloved brother minister has filled us with sincere sorrow," said Rev. R. W. Lee, president of the Victoria Ministerial Association. "It seems almost impossible to think that he who but a few days ago was sitting in our midst about the council table has gone from us." All during his long and valuable ministry in Victoria he was a valuable member of the Victoria Ministerial Association. He gave of his best, his ripe scholarship and his diplomatic skill. His noble bearing and his Christian deportment made him a brother we loved.
"He was a leader in social and reform movements. He was a fearless preacher, a lover of the Word, a devoted pastor and always a Christian gentleman.
"His brethren were not slow to congratulate him upon his election to the moderatorship of the General Assembly of the Continuing Presbyterian Church. The honor was great, but it seems tragic that he should have been lost to his church during the year of office. But his work and his influence have made a rich contribution to the church. We, his brethren in Victoria, are conscious that we have lost a minister honored by God and Respected by man.
"To his widow and family the Victoria Ministerial Association extends sincere sympathy."
A NATIONAL FIGURE
Rev. J. S. Patterson, who was the presiding minister at the reception given to Dr. Clay on his return home from the Presbyterian Assembly, issued the following message last night:
" 'In the year that King Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high, lifted up, and his train filled the temple.' A great man of majestic proportions sitting upon Israel's throne, holding everything together by the mystic influence of his personality was suddenly removed by death. And the first thought that came to the prophet was a thought of the resultant chaos. When suddenly he received a revelation with a vision of the Lord sitting upon the throne.
"The Lord sat king of the flood. The Lord sitteth king forever. The Lord reigneth.'
"This scriptural thought forms the background of the situation created in the Presbyterian Church by the sudden passing of Rt. Rev. Dr. Leslie Clay, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and for thirty-three years beloved pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Victoria.
"This great, good man, a man of majestic proportions, faithful husband, a loving father, a true friend, a great church statesman, a kind Christian gentleman, a servant of the living God has been called to his reward.
"The loss is great, not only to his loved ones and to his beloved St. Andrew's Church and the city of Victoria, but also to the whole of Canada, for he was a national figure in church and state circles. His own New Year message for 1928 was characteristic of his great soul.
"Our sympathies go out to his sorrowing and bereaved family and we share with them their loss."
LAYMAN'S TRIBUTE
Mr. Thomas Humphries, clerk of the Victoria Presbytery, when informed of the death, stated: "A prince in the church life of Canada has been removed. The church of which he was pastor has lost a great leader, and one greatly beloved by all who knew him. One could not be long in his company before realizing he was in the presence of a Christian gentleman. We shall miss this great man in the courts of the church. His winsome personality in this city, where he was so well and favorably known, will also be missed.
"Personally I have lost a great friend. To the members of the family and congregation I extend my sincere sympathy."