A LEGACY 0F FAITH

Chapter 15

The Need For a Constitution

Dr. William Cory had served the Charlottetown Baptist Church as its pastor a half century before, from 1893 to 1898. Now long retired and in his eighties, he returned to the church pulpit and preached on a number of occasions in 1953 and 1954, during Pastor Jim Davidson’s vacation and period of brief illness.

The Board of Management finally initiated the planned board member rotation system early in 1953, giving trustees and members of standing committees and groups a maximum three year term. Despite earlier discussions the deacons were not included, and their position remained a lifetime appointment. During the first three years of rotation, one third of the members would serve a one year term, one third would serve a two year term , and one third would serve a three year. It was a long overdue measure and within three years it totally eliminated ”deadbeat” members, resulting in greater dedication and effort within the church operations.The system did not apply to the minister, organist or long time caretaker Edgar Gillespie, whose dedicated effort for so many years was too often taken for granted.

One item on the annual financial report not noted thus far is the "denomination” figure on the expense side of the statement. "Denomination” was the amount given each year to the parent Baptist Association, as a condition of membership. It fluctuated little, except for times when special initiatives were being organized. In 1953, the amount slated for the Maritime Baptist Convention was budgeted to be $1,500.

As a major fund raiser, the Baptist Ladies Auxiliary held a special and very successful evening of music, at the Prince Of Wales College Auditorium. The evening consisted of selections by the Baptist Girl’s Choir under the direction of Helen MacRae. The concert was highlighted by the piano team ofHelen MacRae and Enid Davidson, and The Guardian, in reviewing the concert, reported that, ”Their amazing teamwork lifts them far above the average”. On the Baptist Girl's Choir it stated, ”...their excellent enunciation allowed the big audience to understand every word of the numbers they offered.”

In the spring of 1953, a minor fire took place in the area of the church Organ. There are references to it but no details. It was obviously not very serious and the damage was limited to the marks that the extinguisher spray made on the finished top ofthe console. It was certainly not bad enough to warrant an insurance claim, given the deductible amount. Having said this, it was still serious enough to

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