Scotia. The plans were brought to Mount Stewart by Mr. James Ross. On June 7, 1859 West St. Peter’s and Mount Stewart were separated from

the old Pastoral Charge and formed into a new congregation.

At first services in the new church were conducted by Rev. Henry Crawford who resided in St. Peter’s. The first resident minister in Mount Stewart was Rev. D. W. Cameron who moved into the new manse in 1867. The manse was first located behind the church, facing the river.

The old-time Presbyterian services differed somewhat from those of today. The congregation, for instance, stood during prayer and sat during the singing. At first, only Psalms and paraphrases were used in the ministry of praise, and these were directed by a precentor. That official read or sang the line which was then taken up by the congrega— tion. In the early days, many of the congregation did not have Psalm books, and the line was therefore “presented” in order that these people could join in the singing. The fervour with which such Psalms as “I to the hills will lift mine eyes” or “0 happy is the man who hears instructions warning voice” was sung made up for any lack in musical fineness. When an organ was finally permitted, that “devil’s box of whistles” was bitterly resented by some. Nor did a lengthy sermon terminate the day’s religious Observances. After the Sunday dinner, the family was gathered for Scrip- ture reading and prayer. Then came a heart-searching hour of catech- ising in the Scriptures and Shorter Catechism. N 0 work, unless absolutely essential, was permitted on that day, and it was entirely free of levity. It was an iron creed, but it made an iron people, and no one, once ex- posed to it, could ever erase the lessons of the Presbyterian Sabbath.

In 1875, during the ministry of Rev. W. R. Frame, the needs of a rapidly growing congregation called for increased church accommodation. This, according to a newspaper account of the time, was secured by the addition of twenty-four feet to the end of the building, which provided space for thirty additional pews. Another account has it that the church was enlarged by the novel method of being cut in half. The two sections, the story goes, were moved apart and the extension built in the centre. Whether these are two versions of the same renovation or whether they relate to two entirely separate undertakings cannot be determined. At any rate, we are told that when the construction was completed the building was seventy feet in length, with a seating capacity for five hundred people. At the time of the extension, the manSe was moved toward the Foresters’ Hall. It was moved to the present site in 1897.

In order to finance the above, a great tea party was held on the grounds of Mount Stewart Farm, then owned by Mr. George Scott. This event occurred on July 28th, and a concerted effort was made to attract as many people as possible. It was arranged that the steamer “Heather Belle” should make an excursion trip from Charlottetown on that day, and the train schedules from Charlottetown, Georgetown and Souris were planned so that visitors could enjoy the festivities for an extended period. The fare from Charlottetown was 25 cents return. Weather-wise, the day was all that could be desired. The tables were admirably arranged, and the good things with which they were so bountifully supplied by the ladies of the congregation were reported to be “equal to anything we have ever seen at a tea meeting in P.E.I. or elsewhere.” Fully 1300 persons were served at a charge of 25 cents each. The proceeds, together with the sum realized through auctioning off the new pews, were more than adequate to meet the expenses of the renovations. The only drawback was that the train from Charlottetown left at 8:30 a.m., instead of 9, as stated in the notices, and a number of prospective patrons were thereby left behind.

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