History of Presbykrianism CHAPTER XI . , AND CLYDE AND WEST RIVER. These important sections of country, as well as , in the early history of Presbyterian- ism belonged to the congregation of New London , and were under the spiritual oversight of Rev. Alexander Sutherland . The amount of traveling and ministerial labor involved in a field of this vast extent soon began to tell even upon the robust con¬ stitution of Mr. Sutherland and ultimately led him to ask Presbytery to divide his charge and lessen his labor. About the same time, 1855, the Pree church congregation in Charlottetown was organized and being weak was in need of outside help to support a minister. West River section was accordingly, on 9th May, 1855, disjoined from New London , and united with the Free church, Charlottetown . The late Rev. Murdoch Sutherland , then a young man in charge of a congregation in the town of , had for some time, with much acceptance been sup¬ plying the newly organized congregation. So highly were the people of West River and Charlottetown pleased with this young man that in September, 1855, they extended to him a hearty and unanimous call to become their minister, but the Pictou Pres¬ bytery would not consent to his translation and the call was accordingly set aside. This congregation was next supplied by Mr. John McDonald , a stu- 84