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The congregation, over the years has also been productive of mini- sters. As mentioned above, the missionary labours of Rev. Dr. Fulton J. Coffin among the East Indian settlers of Trinidad were of great signi— ficance during the early years of this century. In more recent times the church has witnessed three licencing services for members who have be— come ministers. On May 20, 1964 a service was held for Lane Douglas of Head of Hillsborough. This was followed, on April 26, 1970, by a joint service for Gary Clark of Mount Stewart and Leslie Jay of Pisquid.

In the final analysis, however, one recognizes that without the attendance and support of the laymen the church would cease to exist. One thinks, for instance, back to the fall of 1877, when Mr. Richard Clark of Fort Augustus, then in his 87th year, could be seen making his way to church on horseback, the state of the roads not permitting the use of his carriage. One also thinks of Mr. Wm. L. Douglas of whom, at the time of his death on August 13, 1893, it was said he “always took a deep interest in anything calculated to promote the cause of Christ.” Not to be for- gotten, either, is the memory of the venerable Albert T. Jardine who, on the occasion of his 60th anniversary as elder (June 10, 1956) had been absent from only two communion services since the time of his ordination. These are only three instances of dedication among dozens that come to mind.

St. David’s Presbyterian Church

On June 2, 1925, the provisional Prince Edward Island Presbytery of the Continuing Presbyterian Church of Canada met at Zion Church in Charlottetown. There, it was reported that those Presbyterians of Mount Stewart who did not desire to enter the United Church of Canada had formed a congregation. It, along with Caledonia, Cardigan and Wood Islands, was subsequently placed under the pastoral care of Rev. D. Mac—

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For two years the congregation was without an officially desig- nated place of worship. During this period services were held in the Foresters’ Hall and, occasionally, in the former Methodist Church. Words of encouragement during these trying times were brought by Rev. W. Bruce Muir of the Kirk of St. James in Charlottetown. At a service held in the Methodist Church on January 14, 1926, he affirmed that “all the genuine Presbyterians of Mount Stewart required to do was ‘to be stead- fast and always abound in the work of the Lord’ and thus they would go from strength to strength.” It was on this occasion that Messrs. Geddie Douglas and John Pigot were ordained to the eldership. Again, on March 5, 1927, after the congregation’s ownership of the former Methodist Church building had been confirmed, the same speaker, taking as his text, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision,” expressed the belief that they had now passed through the valley and “there was now no indecision in their minds that they had not done what their conscience told them was the right course to pursue.”

These events were followed by two important services of dedication. In August, 1928, a communion set, presented by Miss Millie Pigot in memory of her mother, was dedicated to God’s service. Then, on May 29, 1932, a memorial gift, consisting of a pulpit, a communion table of quart- ered oak, two Gothic top chairs and a morocco-bound pulpit Bible, was presented in memory of Mrs. Samuel Coffin by her family. The latter service was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Morgan E. Genge who, in 1930, had been inducted as pastor of the Mount Stewart - Marshfield - Harring- ton - Highfield Charge.

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