4. REV. DR. JAMES MacGREGOR AND HIS MISSIONARY VISITS T0 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

“In 1791 Dr. MacGregor made an evangelistic visit to Prince Edward Island, the Garden of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Island was largely settled by im— migrants from Scotland who were in extreme destitution so far as a Gospel ministry was concerned. Up to this date the only Minister of the Gospel on the Island was a worthy Church of England missionary, a good preacher, and loyal and brotherly in

all his dealings with ministers of other churches. In his first visit there, Dr. MacGregor made the acquaintance of the Rev. DesBrisay of the Church of England

and admired him and frequently preached in his church at Charlottetown?”

“The following from the memorabilia of Doctor MacGregor is well worthy of preservation: ‘The session (of Pictou) appointed me two Sabbaths to St. Peters and two at Cove Head. Having taken a passage to Charlottetown, the metropolis, sixty miles from Pictou Harbour, I landed next day after an agreeable passage. I was directed to a Mr. Rae, a Scottish merchant, a sober man, with whom I lodged agreeably. The next day, I hired a horse and rode out to Cove Head, sixteen miles, on an agreeable road (then the only road on the Island). Near the end of my journey I missed my way and calling at a house for information, met the landlord at the door and asked him to show me the way to Mr. Millar’s. Pointing with his hand across a creek or small bay, he said, ‘There is Mr. Millar’s. You have missed your way a little, but I will send a boy round with the horse and put you across the creek in a canoe and your way will be shorter than if you had not missed it. Please to walk in and rest a little.’ ‘I thanked him for this kindness, accepted his invitation, and he gave my horse to a boy to take to Mr. Millar’s. I was most agreeably entertained while I stayed. The gentleman easily found what I was and expressed his happiness that a Presbyterian minister had come to visit the Presbyterians there, but I had no courage to attempt ascertaining what he was. He accompanied me to Mr. Miller’s and addressed him thus: ‘Mr. Millar, I have brought you what you have been long wishing for, a Presbyterian minister, and I hope he will do you much good.’ Mr. Millar thanked him affectionately and after a little conversation the gentleman returned home. After a cordial welcome from Mr. Millar, and mutual inquiries after each other’s health, I asked him who the gentleman might be. He replied, ‘It is Parson DesBrisay, the Church of England clergyman of the Island, A Calvinistic preacher, a man of liberal sentiments and of a benevolent disposition.’ And where does he preach? He rides every Sabbath to Charlottetown and preaches in the church there. And why does he not reside in town? ‘It is a wicked place, and he is more retired and happy in the country.’ ‘I afterwards became acquainted with him and was always welcome to preach in his church, which I uniformly did when I could

make it convenient. His kindness eneded not but with his life."78

“The zealous and devout visitor preached in a number of congregations and baptized large numbers of children, often thirty at each service. The people were

77 Ibld.,p.15. 78 Fullerton, op. cit., p. 306A.

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