PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 289

ther Macdonald was assigned to that post and at the same time attended to the parishes of Rustico and Vernon River.

The year 1829 is noted as being the year in which the Diocese of Charlottetown was formed separate from the diocese of Quebec. While Bishop MacEachem discharged the duties of a bishop for some years prior to this date, yet it was only in the capacity of auxiliary to the Bishop of Quebec that he performed such duties. The time had now come to raise this part of the Maritime Prov- inces into an independent diocese. This was accomplished in 1829, and in the following year the bishop took formal possession of the see of Charlottetown, the new diocese then comprising besides the Island, also the province of New Brunswick and the Mag- dalen Islands. Although the bishop was now advanced in years, his zeal was in no way diminished. He realized, however, that he was coming near to the end of his days, and that his great life work would not be com- plete until he had placed his little St. An— drew’s school on as firm a footing as the times would permit. It ‘was with much grat- itude that he obtained the services of the Rev. Father Walsh, a learned priest who had a short time previously come to Halifax. He was made the first rector of St. An- drew’s College and, with whatever assist- ance he could obtain, .succeeded in introduc— ing a good curriculum of studies in the classics and mathematics.

About this time the parish of Cove Head was formed into a separate mission. These settlers were mostly of Irish descent and were successful farmers. Their first church was built in 1832, under the direction of the Reverend John Macdonald, of Glenaladale, who had organized several emigrations to the Island. For sometime the priest made

I9

his home with his family at Glenaladale, where divine service was held for the sur- rounding people. Thus it was that no church had been built at Tracadie until near 1840, while the old church at Scotch Fort had long ceased to be used as a place of worship.

Bishop MacEachem was now approach- ing the close of a well-spent life. The in- firmities of old age were beginning to tell upon his strong constitution, but he did not recede from his close attention to duty. He continued the duties of a simple missionary throughout Kings county, and when the fi- nal summons came it found him in that activity of life which for so many years had characterized his career. as priest and bishop in Prince Edward Island. He was suddenly stricken down with paralysis while on a mis- sionary visit to St. Peter’s Bay, and having been removed to his home at Savage Har- bour, departed this life on April 22, 1835. An immense concourse of people from all parts of the Island assembled to do honor to his mortal remains. His body was interred under St. Andrew’s church, which.had for so many years been the silent witness of his blessed and zealous life.

The next incumbent in the episcopal se'e .

of Charlottetown was the Right Reverend Bernard Donald Macdonald, of whose mis- sionary zeal mention has been frequently made in the preceding pages of this article.

He was the first native Islander to be raised ‘

to the priesthood, and his career as a mis- sionary priest and bishop bore testimony to the wise and judicious foresight of Bishop MacEachem in selecting worthy young men for the priesthood. His consecration as Bishop of Charlottetown took place on Octo— ber, 15, 1837, and he immediately entered upon his new and enlarged duties with a zeal worthy of his apostolic calling. Prior to his