*Excerpt from Reuban Butchart's "The Disciples of Christ in Canada Since 1830", Part 2, "The Churches of Christ in NS"*
*This page needs additional information and history. If you would like to contribute information to this project, please email info@restorationhistory.ca*
This sizeable town [Pictou] in northern Nova Scotia, lying on Pictou Harbor, was in 1896 a cultured conservative centre of influence for the province. A church of the New Testament was desired for it by David Fullerton, who for some years witnessed his faith by great loyalty. There had been no immersionist body in that community and the time seemed ripe, the need great. David Fullerton had taught his children the simplicity of the gospel; also a few individuals were won.
The first preaching publicly was done by E. C. Ford in 1896, and Geo. Weaver preached for three months. David Fullerton was confident his town would respond as he had, and somewhat after the style of the wise husbandman, he built an auditorium, and bought a building adjoining where a minister could reside. (His son was later to repeat this sort of loyalty in Kenora, Ont.) He secured the assistance of the American Christian Missionary Society, which had assisted so many points in Canada, dating back to before the Civil War. A young graduate from Lexington, Ky., College of the Bible, Rupert E. Stevens, of Cornwallis, was secured and he began work on September 13, 1896.
He was greatly assisted by an early evangelistic meeting by R. W. Stevenson in January, 1898, with five baptisms. These were probably the first in that town for forty years and amazed the people. In June, 1899, W. H. Allen, also of Lexington, Ky. succeeded as minister. There had been considerable growth of confidence and respect for the new cause and high hopes were had.
A great step forward was made owing to the stirring the town received by the evangelist J. A. L. Romig, whose name has appeared in a similar strain in many of these chronicles. He held a meeting during most of March in 1900, which resulted in twenty-one baptisms, and seven more were due, but the converts were shepherded against it. Two Salvation Army officers were baptized also and being reprimanded severely gave up their places to remain loyal to their faith. (This is stated as a record of the attitude at the beginning of the century against Scriptural baptism.)
The time seemed ripe for organization and it was effected on Lord's day April 1, with forty-one members. The elders were David Fullerton and W. H. Allen; deacons, Albert McKeen, John D. Fullerton, John Carr, Jas. O'Hara; clerk, E. Fullerton. David Fullerton gave the hall to the church at this time. It was known as George St. Christian church. F. J. M. Appleman became minister and served for about two years. The task of the small church was hard, amidst so great conservatism; but they loyally persevered and in time some acceptance was won. They sustained regular services, midweek prayer service and Sunday School; and were active for home and foreign missions, in the way a young church always seems to be.
Evangelistic efforts were made from time to time, under R. F. Whiston, J. W. Robbins, Harry Minard, and W. J. Wright of the American Society. If they could have retained all who were won, a congregation of a hundred might have been secured, so Bro. Stevens reported. A great drawback was the unstable population, which was always responding to the economic opportunities across the line, and which naturally took the young away first. The church continued its loyalty to worship and the Lord's table, carrying on with or without a minister.
Month by month it became more evident that the task was too great for so small a number. Their last regular minister was Bro. Appleman, so far as known. By September, 1903, the membership had declined to fifty, with thirty-nine rated as non-resident; in 1912 it was reported as thirty (estimate). The American Board, and Maritime board also, had done as much as circumstances would warrant in support. But when this is admitted, as it has to be sometimes, it is also evident that a religious body seldom ever acquires or gives support sufficient to ensure a foundation, unless the local supporters are able to secure the first footings. But the foregoing is an illustration of the folly of a divided Church.
Perhaps when the whole of Christ's followers in some generation learn His real message to them (union and love in His name) they will make it unnecessary to report that a "cause" of Christ has failed in any community.