History of Presbyterianism upon the ministerial duties of this large and interest¬ ing field with great energy; and it may be said of him that during the whole period of his ministry he was abundant in labors. Nor were his labors in vain; for what was one congregation at the time of his induction now constitutes three good, self-sus¬ taining congregations, each of which raises more for the support of the gospel at home and for the schemes of the church than the whole field was able to do at that time. In the year 1855, nearly 50 years ago, the Presby¬ tery of Prince Edward Island , at a meeting held in Springfield , Prince county, passed the following res¬ olution in favor of a prohibitory liquor law, viz.: "That whereas intemperance is a great evil, which can never be removed or effectually resisted while the traffic in intoxicating drinks is continued, it be¬ ing necessary to remove the cause in order to re¬ move the effect, therefore, resolved, That the mem¬ bers of this Presbytery, as lovers of their country and of their race, and as office bearers of the church, cannot but feel a lively interest in the progress of the temperance reform, especially in recent legisla¬ tion in several of the States of the American Union, entirely prohibiting the traffic in all intoxicating beverages; and as such laws, in our opinion, can interfere with the rights of no man, since no man can have rights inconsistent with the public good, or at war with the welfare of the community, we there¬ fore shall exert our influence, and do earnestly rec¬ ommend to the congregations under our inspection 64