12 History of Valleyfield and Congregation

at penny half penny per pound; 81 pounds of beef valued at one pound and three pence; P. E. 1. Currency; tallow at nine pence; potatoes at two shillings per bushel; oats at two shillings and six pence; pork at four pence and a half barrel of herrings at eleven shillings. .

The inadequacy "of the amount collected for the Minister’s salary was “viewed with great alarm” by the deacon’s court insomuch that collectors were appointed to “Go out and collect forthwith”.

Valleyfield’s Pioneer Minister

It has been possible to obtain pictures, or photographs of the Valleyfield ministers with the exception of the pioneer one. A brief sketch therefore is given.

In his “History of Presbyterianism on P. E. I.” ReV° J. M. MacLeod gives a short, vivid word picture of Valley— field’s first pastor, Rev. Alexander MacIntyre. He speaks of him as being a very energetic preacher “one who used his hands and feet, as well as his lung and brain. Having taken that fact into their serious consideration, they determined to build a good, strong, substantial pulpit, one that would not yield to the physical eloquence of .the most zealous preacher. They also, it is said, did their best to procure a Bible that for strength would correspond with the pulpit.”

As to Mr. MacIntyre’s zeal there is no doubt. Great

. spiritual activity took place during his ministery. Of his

physical strength and endurance, one has only to consider the extent of his pastoral charge in order to be impressed. He ministered, not only to Douse’s Road, Brown’s Creek and

. vicintiy, but travelled to Caledonia, Murray Harbour, Wood

Islands, Cardigan, Georgetown, Dundas and Grand River, besides making frequent missionary visits to Charlottetown, Strathalbyn (Scotch Settlement) De Sable and other distant points. Even in this present day and generation, with its facilities of railway and-motor car travel, the foregoing re- presents a considerable district. When, though, we consider that between 1845 and 1850, the period of Mr. MacIntyre’s ministry, there were few, if any, roads. Distances must be covered, either on foot, or on horseback, through forest trails. Considering these difficulties we can see that the physical en- durance of this pioneer minister must have been great. There can be no question as to the lasting good these efforts wrought. The growth Of the congregation partly showed this. When he held the first Communion after his arrival in 1845, only , sixteen partook of the elements, yet when Mr. MacIntyre left five years later the new church holding three hundred people

was not too large.