*Excerpt from Reuban Butchart's "The Disciples of Christ in Canada Since 1830", Chapter 11*
It is impossible to say at what date the 'Island' withdrew from the group of 1855 (Maritime Christian Missionary Society, likely owing to isolation) and formed the "Christian Association". J. H. Williams, Of Charlottetown, for seventeen years a faithful secretary, gave a summary of its outstanding features at New Glasgow, P.E.I. in August, 1924. He states that the records of the Association go back to Cross Roads (Lot 48) on July 10, 1869, but that the volume is the second book of records, the first being missing. (It is interesting to note that the missionary written records of Eramosa pioneers, began in January, 1869, their first books of records are not available.) The names follow of those who were 'moderators': Dr. John Knox, eight years up to 1875; Donald Crawford, eight years between 1876-1895; J. A. Falgetter, 1878-9; R. W. Stevenson, five years to 1904; O. B. Emery, nine years, ending 1899; Thos. Beattie, 1896; F. R. Whitson, 1901; G. N. Stevenson, 1902; A. N. Simpson, 1905; W. R. Motley, 1906-7; C. B. Woorhees, 1908-9; J. F. Floyd, 1910-11; W. H. Harding, six years ending 1920; H. R. Bell, 1913; S. Kennedy, 1914; C. E. Armstrong, five years ending 1924. [202]
The secretaries were as follows: Robert Stewart, twenty-six years to 1924; C. E. Armstrong, six years to 1921; J. W. Hayter, two years to 1894; Geo. A. Jeffrey, four years to 1898; J. H. Williams, seventeen years 1919; S. W. Kennedy, 1917.
Mr. Williams records other earlier names of promoters, such as M. Wallace, E. C. Ford, George Garraty, John Simpson, A. Linkletter, Neil McLeod, T. H. Blenus, Murdoch Gunn, Ira Mitchell, John MacNeill, Howard Murray, H. A. Macdonald, H. W. Stewart and T. H. Capp. Those were local men. He notes that the Island was visited by many stalwarts of early days, such as Benj. Franklin, B. B. Tyler, Ira Chase, Benj. Smith, Clark Braden. (What a wide and wonderful record this acute debater and scholar had over the continent!) Another was Dr. Belding of the Ohio group, and most of the foregoing visited Ontario beginning in the 1870's. In 1888, elder Robert Dewar, then 86, presided at the Lord's Supper at the gathering. It is the writer's reflection at this point, where it is needful to pause, that the characteristics of our leaders and workers spiritually and in practice, correspond to that evinced in other provinces. At heart they were the same earnest band, struggling to support the work of ten amidst discouraging circumstances. More should be revealed about early pioneer times. Like in the physical field, in the spiritual foundations of Canada we owe an even unrecognized debt to our pioneers. W. H. Harding's chapter on "Beginnings" should be studied and noted. Of Bro. Harding, it may be said that he appears to have served more at 'dedications' of church buildings than any other Maritime preacher. At his ending (October 19, 1939) he had been giving radio talks for ten years, in which the Christian message would not be neglected. Another brother with a long record in the Island is C. E. Armstrong. During a period of need on the Island he served for some years acceptably as 'pastor-at-large', visiting a number of congregations and helping them to hold the line.
*Following these years, the PEI churches rejoined the Maritime Christian Missionary Society. However, they continued to hold an annual convention of Island churches.*