letter attracted a number of angry responses in following weeks from names like ”A Temperate Man” and ”A disciple of Father Matthew”. The Colonial Herald editor ended the matter after a few issues by simply saying ”Enough has been said on this matter”. Everyone seemed to know the strong letter was authored by the Baptist Church clerk, William Pilcher, because in it he referred to his schoolroom and most knew he was extremely vocal about immersion beliefs. The letter was considered too radical even for his own church. Brother Willam Pilcher, the schoolteacher and the Charlotte Town Baptist Church’s first member by letter, and its first clerk, never manifested repentance and is not heard of again in any minutes or notes. Another member, brother Lawrence Tremain, was duly appointed church clerk.

There did not appear to be any great compatibility between the various religious denominations in the town. All were serious about properly presenting their beliefs and winning members based on them. There is evidence that there was as serious a competition in religious circles as there was in politics, where the Grits and Tories almost went to war at times to make their points. Although their beliefs were different, there is indication of respect between the Baptists and Methodists. Methodists (or Wesleyans) had the largest Meeting House in town, on the corner of Prince and Richmond Streets. There is a note in Baptist minutes that contributions to missions included, of all things, ”...A few shillings to aid in the painting of the Wesleyan Chapel”. The Baptists, Methodists and Roman Catholics of the early 18405 seemed to be the most concerned about ”temperance” in Charlotte Town, and weekly meetings were attempting to address the problem. A dozen breweries had operated in the town since 1800, and newspapers were full of stories encouraging a new ”Sons of Temperance” group that was forming. From information available, one assumes that churches were playing a very active role in what was still considered to be a very sinful town.

The Baptist Church committee charged with building a new mission house had found a piece of property that was available on the north side of Euston Street, where it intersects with Prince Street. It was on the northwest corner of the intersection and was less than 1/2 acre in size. The property was listed on the town plan as Lot # 81 and the cost for it was £60, in Prince Edward Island currency. Just 100 yards down Prince Street from this property was ”Fairholm”, the large estate built in 1838 by TH. Haviland. ”Fairholm” exists to this day as one of the oldest houses in Charlottetown, directly across the street from the current Baptist Church. The actual purchase of the property for a new meeting house took place on April 4, 1843. The Deed of Conveyance, written on parchment, was between the vendors George Birnie and his wife Magdaline, and the Charlotte Town Baptist Church. The purchasers are listed as Rev. Benjamin Scott, in connection with the Nova Scotia Baptist Association. The four trustees of the Church who signed were Thomas DesBrisay, druggist; Donald Nicholson, cabinet maker; James Caffray, rigger and James Dockendorff, a farmer from Lot 32 (North River). The Deed of Conveyance also outlined some future church responsibilities, stating that there should be five trustees, the details of their selection and the fact that any three could constitute a quorum in the transaction of church business. Fund raising could now seriously begin for a new mission house.

In the fall of 1843, Elder Benjamin Scott, atthe urging of his church members, traveled to Nova Scotia to appeal to the Baptist Association for assistance to build a new meeting house. Eighty pounds had already been raised by the Charlotte Town

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