Until the mid 1890s, the church buildings were illuminated by both candle power and kerosene, but now there was a new alternative to consider. At the January 1896 business meeting, one member advised that new electric power lines were going by the church on and they should give serious consideration to having a connection put in place. They had to consider the new cost but in the discussion realized the many hours of work that would be avoided, time that could be spent doing other church chores. After some consideration, the officers agreed to wiring the church and making a connection to available electric power as soon as possible, eliminating forever one of their most difficult volunteer positions to fill, the Illumination Committee. Pastor William Cory often commented on how fortunate his church was to have so many "good givers", who apart from their regular tithe were contributing a bit extra each week to the Debt Retirement Fund. This fund did not have much meaning prior to 1878, but since erecting two new church buildings within a short span of time it had taken on new meaning. Another factor in debt retirement that was relatively new was that member's, through their wills, had begun to bequeath money from their estates to assist in debt reduction. The result of this was that the overwhelming debt of a decade ago was slowly being reduced, as membership grew and older members passed away. New organizations began to appear in the congregation. One in particular received great support from adult members in 1897, because teenagers, young men and women (the future of the church) were meeting weekly as the Baptist Young People 's Union (BYPU). It took some time to generate but within a decade the BYPU were holding Provincial and Maritime Conventions, building a solid Baptist membership base for the future. As far as regular church meetings were concerned, it continued to be standard procedure to have an annual meeting and regular monthly conference meetings where most of the business activity was addressed, unless of course there was some major concern that would require the attention of a special general meeting. Many of the notables and builders of the Charlottetown Baptist Church had passed away since its beginnings in 1836. Noting all of them would be a series of obituaries that would take away from the continuity of this story. However, there is one who died in 1898 that must be recorded, for his outstanding contribution of faith and effort through the 19th century. Brother James DesBrisay , the son of church founder Thomas DesBrisay , had been without question the most faithful member of the church, since he was baptized in 1845. He had personally experienced most of the excitement, controversies and tragedies that make up this story to date. (When one looks at his record of salvation through works to the Lord, it might be assumed that his place in heaven was secured!) James James DesBrisay Headstone Cemetery W