New Brunswick, where he took the boat for Summerside. Here, there were not 
     
     very good wharf accommodations at that time and in landing the preacher’s 
     
     horse, the animal came very near being drowned. Rev. Ashley laboured in several 
     
     Island circuits, when he again returned to Ontario, and on account of an infec- 
     
    
   
   
    
     tion of the throat, he retired to secular pursuits. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Rev. William P. Hunt was sent from the English Conference in September, 
     
     1862. He faithfully labored some years in Prince Edward Island with acceptance. 
     
    
   
   
    
     His health, however, broke down, and after he had passed through much suffer- 
     
     ing and weakness, he died in 1872. 
     
    
   
   
    
     In 1863, Rev. James J. Rice entered the ministry and was stationed at 
     
     Vernon River. With the help of the Rev. William P. Hunt, he succeeded in having 
     
     a church built on Murray Harbor Road. He was also instrumental in getting a 
     
     church partly erected in Cherry Valley and the Montague Church finished. He 
     
     subsequently held an appointment in the West Cape Circuit where he had the Lot 
     
     7 church built, and in 1868, was transferred to Ontario.”°‘ 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Rev. Thomas Short arrived from England in June, 1863, but he died in 
     
     the course of a few years. During the same month and year, Rev. John Harris of 
     
     England received an appointment to the ministry in Prince Edward Island. In the 
     
     following month of July, 1863, the English Conference assigned the Rev. George 
     
     Webber to the Island. Then followed the arrival in November, 1866 of the Rev. 
     
     William Heysett and in the same year, the Rev. Henry Newcomb. Further 
     
     pastoral assignments by the English Conference included Rev. William Pascoe 
     
     and Rev. Edward Price in September, 1867; Rev. William Hodnett in January, 
     
     1868; Rev. S.H. Rice in November, 1869, and Rev. William Medland in 1870. 
     
    
   
   
    
     24. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND JOINS THE CANADIAN CONFERENCE 
     
    
   
   
    
     The English Missionary Society had supported the Prince Edward Island 
     
     missions for thirty-two years with much difficulity financially. In 1864, at the 
     
     district meeting, it was resolved to explore the possibility of the District of Prince 
     
     Edward Island joining the Canadian Conference. A resolution to this effect had 
     
     already been voted by the English Conference in 1862. Rev. Cephas Barker, who 
     
     had been appointed President of the Canadian Conference, was receptive to the 
     
     idea of union and as a result, the following resolution was adopted ratifying the 
     
    
   
   
    
     union: 
     
    
   
   
    
     “That having heard Rev. Cephas Barker’s statement in reference to a union 
     
     of Prince Edward Island with this Conference, resolved: That as the English Con- 
     
     ference of 1862, by resolution said, we are of the opinion that should Prince 
     
     Edward Island become connected with Canada, the Canadian Conference must 
     
     take up its control and its financial responsibilities at the same time. When our 
     
     friends in Canada and Prince Edward Island desire to become united on these 
     
     terms, we shall be prepared to entertain the subject. Being desirous of promoting 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     61 lbid-y DP- 85, 86. 
     
    
   
   
    
     198