The St. James Literary Society, dedicated, in the words of its Constitution, to "the mutual improvement of its members by means of speeches, essays, debates, etc. on social, political, scientific or literary subjects", held its first meeting in 1899 in the Anglican Church of St. James the Apostle. Formal affiliation with the Church ended in 1901. The Society has pursued its aims largely through its speakers programme, and from the 1901 session has appointed an officer to maintain copies of addresses. The eclectic intellectual character of the Society has remained relatively unchanged over the years, although its membership base has broadened and its meetings are now public.

The original St. Gabriel St. Presbyterian Church was built in Montréal in 1792 and was located on the south-west corner of St. Gabriel and Champs-de-Mars. In 1886 the church moved to another building located on the south side of St. Catherine St. This building was sold in 1909 when the St. Gabriel St. church merged with Chalmers' Presbyterian Church to become the First Presbyterian Church. The first minister was the Rev. John Young (1792-1802) and among the early supporters of the Church could be found some of the most prominent merchants in Montréal, including James McGill, John Richardson, Benaiah Gibb and Simon McTavish. Some of the ministers of the church were: Henry Esson (1815-1844) who was also a chaplain of the St. Andrew's Society (1835-1844); Alexander Ferrie Kemp (1855-1866) who was a Vice-President of the Natural History; Society and Robert Campbell who wrote A History of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, St. Gabriel St. in 1887.