History of Presbyterianism ization as a station) unable to support a minister. Accordingly, on 9th May, 1855, West River was dis¬ joined from , united with Charlottetown and organized into a congregation known as the Free Church congregation of Charlottetown . The Lord's supper was first dispensed in this congrega¬ tion, while it was only a preaching station, by the late Rev. Murdoch Sutherland of Pictou on 17th September, 1854. He also preached for a few Sab¬ baths in the newly organized congregation in the following summer, 1855, and so well pleased was the congregation with his services that they extended to him a most cordial and unanimous call to become their pastor, but both his congregation (Knox church, Pictou ) and the Presbytery of which he was a member, being strongly opposed to his removal to Prince Edward Island , Mr. Suther ¬ land declined the call to Charlottetown . This congregation having now grown to such an extent that outside help was no longer necessary, the West River section was, in August, 1856, dis¬ joined from Charlottetown and soon after united with Brookfield , a section of the Scotch settlement, and organized into a new congregation with Rev. William Ross as their minister. In the meantime the Free Church congregation in Charlottetown received supply of preaching from Messrs. Neil McKay , Donald McNeill , Rev. George Sutherland and others. In the spring of 1856 this spirited little congregation made another, and this time a success¬ ful, effort to secure a settled pastor. They called 138