actually enough members present to present motions, approve expenditures or conduct important business concerns. It is interesting to note that the fire insurance claim in 1888, when the octagonal church burned, was settled at a bible study meeting and in 1934, at a prayer meeting, another fire claim was approved. This one was for only $15.15, and there is no record of a fire or what might have caused the need to claim. It was obviously not very serious, and for sure it was not caused by a Baptist smoking around the church.
Dr. Arthur Vincent left the pastorate in 1935 to move to Saint John, New Brunswick. Before he left, Dr. Vincent noted that many Maritime churches were having a rough time surviving but Charlottetown Baptist was strong and he was proud to be leaving it in great shape. He often spoke of his father, Rev. A.J. Vincent, and his brief interim time spent in the Charlottetown pulpit a few years previously. Although Rev. A.J. Vincent’s brief interim time in the Charlottetown pulpit was not recorded, it is verified in a letter from Clerk John Gordon, presented to Dr. Arthur Vincent when he left. Rev. A.J. Vincent also planned some interim time in Charlottetown when his son left, but serious illness prevented it. For Dr. Vincent's final two services the church was filled to capacity and many were unable to get seats. ln appreciation, the congregation gave the Vincents a pocket book containing $56. During World War II, Arthur Vincent went overseas as a Chaplain with the Canadian Army and following the war served a term as President of the United Maritime Baptist Convention.
Whilethechurch officerswere planning a Search Committee for a new minister, Rev. Frank J. Bishop accepted the position as supply pastor for a brief period of time. Pastor Bishop was a quiet-spoken gentleman who had served pastorates throughout the Maritimes and also had been Home Missions superintendent for the Maritime Convention. During his brief stay in Charlottetown, he noted that he was so pleased with the friendliness of the church that he was sorry he had not been able to enjoy the fellowship earlier in his ministry.
There was some feeling that the choir had dwindled in both talent and numbers, so the Music Committee addressed the situation by contracting, for $25 a month, the organist of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, a Mr. Shepherd. He was to give 1 1/2 hours practice time a week » to the Senior Choir, and 1 hour a week to the Rev. Frank]. Bishop Junior Choir, in an effort to improve the quality of music. It began as a winter effort only, and the time with Mr. Shepherd appears to have paid off because the choir attracted a dozen new members. Mr. Shepherd continued to practice with the choir from time to time for over two years, playing the organ on occasion in 1935, when his regularjob at St. Paul’s allowed. Late in 1935, Miss Helen Callbeck became the regular organist and there was acknowledged improvement in the music at the Baptist Church. The mention of a junior choir is another ”first” noted. It was a youth program that would endure for many years.
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