History of Presbyfen'ant’sm

anism. They were much pleased with Mr. Mc- Gregor’s ministrations on this occasion, and always looked forward to his visits with a great deal of pleasure. His attention to them at this early pe- riod led many of them to cast in their lot with the Presbyterians of that place; and a number of their descendants to this day are active and consistent members of that denomination.

The congregation of Murray Harbor was organ— ized in 1822 by Rev. Dr. Keir. For many years their supply of preaching was limited to an occa— sional day's service from Dr. Keir, Dr. Geddie, Revs. R. S. Patterson, M. A., J. C. Sinclair, John McLennon, M. A., A. Munro, Robert Douglas and others. Rev. R. Douglas visited Murray Harbor nineteen times on horseback, before they had a set— tled minister of their own. Their first settled pas— tor was Rev. Daniel McCurdy, who was inducted in the year 1830. The next was Rev. Neil Bethune, who was ordained and inducted by the Free Presby— tery of Pictou. Mr. Bethune was a native of Scot- land and came to this island when quite young, with his parents. After obtaining as good an edu- cation as the schools of the country at that time af- forded, he spent several years teaching school in

ledeque, and at the same time, under the direction of the late Rev. R. S. Patterson, M. A., prosecuting the study of the classics, mathematics, logic, moral and natural philosophy. He then returned to Scot— land, and in the Free Church College in Edinburgh completed his theological curriculum. Mr. Beth—

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