noisy at the first services, but gradually a remarkable change for the better became noticeable. In some districts none had ever heard a sermon, though well up in years. When Rev. Dr. MacGregor happened to visit a home in which family worship was neglected, he would earnestly exhort the parents to attend to this duty, and would sing and pray and read a short chapter in order to show what family worship meant.

There was no stated communication between the mainland and Prince Edward Island. Rev. Dr. MacGregor sometimes secured passage by open boat, sometimes by trading vessels.”79

“The concluding days of his first visit to Prince Edward Island were spent at Princetown, a district never till then visited by a minister. A messenger had come thirty miles to convey a pressing invitation from the people that he should spend a few Sabbaths among them. His time intended for the Island was up and he did not know how long he might have to wait for a homeward passage. Still he could not resist the urgent appeal from the people of Princetown. He started on Monday morning, sometimes walking, sometimes riding and sometimes sailing. The way was chiefly along a beach of fine sand, and at times among rocks and stones almost im— passable, while at the ferries we had to venture in small canoes and tow the horse after us. The Island horses were used to swimming in this manner and often crossed ferries half a mile wide. One horse swam across Richmond Bay, which is six miles over. The people of Princetown had come chiefly from Cantyre in Argyleshire, twenty years ago, and had been ever since destitute of the Gospel. Ignorance abounded, and secret and family prayer was universally neglected. There were sixty unbaptized children in the settlement. Dr. MacGregor preached on the Sabbath days, and employed the week days in visiting every family and teaching from house to house, expecially conversing with parents who were seeking baptism for their children. He would baptize no children until he had a careful conference with the parents and was convinced of their purpose to live like good Christians and bring up their children in the fear of the Lord. Sometimes four or five would be with him at once under instruction, but he usually managed to give more or less instruction to each individual. ”“0

5. REV. DR. MacGREGOR RETURNS TO NOVA SCOTIA

Of his return from Princetown he writes: “I was so concerned for my passage home that I seldom neglected in my praying to beg of my Heavenly Father that He would provide me a passage so that I would be hOme on the following Sabbath. I resolved to leave Princetown early on Monday morning lest by a little delay I should lose a passage.’ But numbers came to bid him farewell and he was detained at Cove Head all night. Early on Tuesday morning, he set off for Charlottetown. He met a friend whom he asked if he knew of any vessel going soon to Nova Scotia. The reply was, ‘What a pity you are so late! It is not an hour since a schooner left for Pictou.’ I answered, ‘Oh, I cannot believe you; she could not go without me when I was so

79 Murray, op. cit.. p. 16. 80 Murray, op. cit. pp. I648.

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