History of Pmsbyterianism

constituted his parish. Though the country at that date was sparsely settled, yet such an extensive field involved a vast amount of physical toil, for it must be remembered that there were then almost no roads, very few horses and carriages, and almost none of the travelling comforts and luxuries now enjoyed by the more highly favored but hard working clergy of the present day. These early pioneers, notwith- standing their trials and privations were happy in the service of their Master, having learned “to en- dure hardness as good soldiers,” without murmur- ing at their lot.

In the year 1819 Richmond Bay and Bedeque were disjoined from Princetown and were min— istered to by Revs. Andrew Nichol and William McGregor, successively, until the autumn of 1825, when Bedeque was formed into a separate congre- gation and called Rev. Robert Sim Patterson, M. A. The call was signed by thirty-two members and by twenty-eight adherents. Mr. Patterson was or- dained and inducted into the pastoral charge of Be— deque on 22nd March, 1826. The congregation be- ing small and widely scattered was unable to give their minister a large salary or even that neces- sary for a comfortable living, but Mr. Patterson with true apostolic zeal and self-denial helped the people to bear their burdens, teaching school and laboring with his hands that he might be the less burdensome to them and that they might enjoy the blessing of a preached gospel. In the latter part of his ministry the congregation had so increased in

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