_><>8 PAST AND PRESENT OF chosen as their pastor, and for many years he labored with marked success in this lo¬ cality and in other parts of the Island. The church at Alexandra, with which that at Hazelbrook is connected, has had a worthy history. It has had many faithful pastors and deacons, and from its member¬ ship have gone forth noted men to fill useful positions in life, among whom may be men¬ tioned Prof. Robert V . Jones, the esteemed teacher of classics in Acadia College. The interest at Hazelbrook is of comparatively re¬ cent origin, many of the members having been formerly connected with the Alexandra church. A handsome place of worship stands in one of the most progressive communities on the Island and an energetic company of worshipers meet regularly for the further¬ ance of religious work. There are forty-seven members at the present time. EARLY PASTORS. For many years the struggling Baptist churches of the province depended upon mis¬ sionaries from abroad for spiritual supervis¬ ion and assistance. And these missionaries continued from year to year to make longer or shorter visits, which proved to be helpful and encouraging to the people. Among the worthy men who participated' in these pil¬ grimages may be mentioned the names of Rev. James Munro , Rev. Anthony V . Dim- ock, Rev. James Stevens , Rev. I. E. Bill and Rev. William Chipman . The benefit re¬ sulting from the efforts of such men can scarcely be over-estimated. Long periods, however, often elapsed unavoidably between the visits of these missionaries and the little neglected churches sometimes became dis¬ couraged and almost disorganized. It was at length deemed necessary to have permanent pastors of their own, who might be able to receive some financial aid in doing mission¬ ary work in connection with their pastoral duties. Accordingly, in the year 1832, whilst Rev. Edward Manning and Rev. Theodore Harding were performing mission¬ ary duties on the Island, three ordinations took place and the three earliest pastors were inducted into their respective pastorates. The first was Benjamin Scott , at Alexandra, on September 18th; the second was John Scott , at North River , on Octol)er 7th, and the third was John Shaw , at Three , on October 14th. Of the first two we have al¬ ready given some account. John Shaw had been a school teacher and an Independent local preacher. Having been convinced of the truth of Baptist teachings, he sought admission to the fellowship of this denomination and after baptism he devoted his time and energies to the work of preach¬ ing the doctrines he had learned to appre¬ ciate. He was in many respects a peculiar man, but no person doubted the sincerity of his motives or the earnestness of his pur¬ pose. His subsequent labors on the Island and in were attended with the most encouraging results. At Three Riv¬ ers, as the locality in which he resided was then called, he organized a church in 1832, the first year of his ministry, and in the year following he organized another at East Point , in both of which were a number of persons who had formerly been recognized as Scotch Baptists. Mr. Shaw spent many years in the pastoral oversight of these interesting communities. The Three church has long since been merged into the larger and more progressive church at Montague Bridge, where a neat place of worship and a bright, intelligent congregation give clear evidence of the life and vigor of the Baptist con-