HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE EAST POINT BAPTIST CHURCH

Donald Gordon Macdonald was born in Uigg, prince Edward Is— land, February 15, 1843; his father was Donald Macdonald and his mother Margaret Gordon. They came among the first settlers to Uigg from Isle of Skye, Scotland, May Elst, 1829. These settlers we:e a great contribution to the upbuilding of P. E. I. and the North American continent. Mr. Macdonald was converted when he was about twenty years of age in evangelistic meetings held in Uigg by Rev. M. P. Free- man. Rev. Samuel McLeod was pastor of the church. He was a minister of superior gifts and the influence of his life and ministry goes on in increasing circles.

At the time of his conversion Mr. Macdonald felt a strong urge to give himself to the gospel ministry but he fought against it. In the meantime he married Miss Margaret McLeod. He expected to settle down as a merchant. At twenty-five years of age he yielded to the promptings of the Spirit and decided to enter the ministry. He studied for some time at Uigg grammar school; in 1870 he went to Horton Academy, Wolfville, N. 3., and two years later entered Acadia Coliege. During his sophomore year he held meetings at Newport where there was a great revival. Rev. E. H. Sweet was one of the converted.

Mr. Macdonald was ordained at Newport January 16th, 1873. That year his wife died which necessitated his return to Prince Edward Island. ‘While there he undertook a missionary campaign. There were then twenty-four Baptist churches on the Island with a total membership of twelve hundred. He had many remarkable experiences of the d;vine ltadership. The following one related to East Point.

The church at East Point had been without a pastor for quiie a long time. Rev. John Shaw had ministered to the church for wet forty years. He was its first pastor, but was now old and feeble. He resided near Montague. Deacon Alexander Scott ministered to the church with praiseworthy faithfulness. His daughter, Anna, Nho lived in perpetual communion with her Lord, dreamed that the gran in the fields was shelling and there was no one to harvest it. She dreamed again that a man came and gathered it. The double dreams so im- pressed her tl‘at she told it at the breakfast table. \Vhen Mr. Mac- donald came through the gate she exclaimed "that is the man I say in my dream”. He was never on the field before and was unknown to Miss Scott. He came unannounced and unexpected. In seven weeks eighty-five were baptised and six restored to fellowship. Among the :on-

verts were Rev. J A. Ford and Rev. H. G. Mellick. Other Island (nur—

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