296 PAST AND PRESENT OF the spiritual and general welfare of the con¬ gregations over which they preside. In a brief historical outline intended for a secular history of the province, it is obvious that minute details of church growth must not be expected. Our aim is simply to present a few of the more prominent features of Bap¬ tist progress in this colony, noting especially the leading men and circumstances connected with the origin and early struggles of the different churches connected with the denom¬ ination. It is scarcely necessary to state that the most reliable authorities have been con¬ sulted in obtaining requisite information. PIONEER WORKERS. About one hundred years ago. a few Bap¬ tist emigrants from various foreign coun¬ tries found their way to this province, drawn hither by the favorable accounts they had heard regarding the marked adv.images and rich natural resources of the country. From Scotland came the earliest active promoters of the Baptist faith. It will be remembered that among Scotch Baptists two eminent men, Robert and James Haldane , had founded at Edinburgh an institution for the instruction of young men desirous of devot¬ ing their lives to missionary labor. More than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars were expended by these philanthropists in this noble undertaking, and three hundred young men were aided generously in fitting them¬ selves for active service. Twoyoung men who had been influenced, if not trained, by this agency, found their way in the first decade of the nineteenth century to our Island- One of them was John Scott , ancestor of the fam¬ ilies at present residing at North River . He was a plain, earnest and godly man, who felt jt be his duty and privilege to exercise his gifts as a local preacher, whilst at the same time he supported his family by laboring on his little farm at North River . Visiting from time to time various sections of the Is¬ land, particularly St. Peter's Road, West River and the locality in which he resided, he preached especially to the Scottish residents nf thoe ciimmunities, addressing them in their own native Gaelic tongue. The flour¬ ishing churches which have arisen in these sections of the country are monuments of the faithfulness and success of this pioneer laborer. The other young Scotch Baptist leader who came from Scotland was Alexander Crawford , who had attended the Haldane school and obtained a liberal education. About the year 1809 he emigrated to Nova Scotia , where he taught school and preached the gospel as opportunity offered. Subse¬ quently he came to reside permanently on Prince Edward Island , where he engaged very energetically and successfully in form¬ ing churches and gathering followers. He organized what have been designated as the Scotch Baptist churches at East Point , Three , Lot Forty-eight , Tryon and other sections of the Island. His doctrinal pecul¬ iarities, however, were such that he never united in fellowship with the Baptist of Nova Scotia . The peculiarities for which he firmly stood, especially in relation to an ordained ministry, to the question of marriage between believers and unbelievers, and to lay com¬ munion, have long since been abandoned by his successors. But. at the time when his influence was at its maxium these peculiari¬ ties were sufficient to perpetuate a division among churches that should have become united and strong throughout the country. That division greatly retarded the growth of the Baptists on Prince Edward Island , and it