Doctor—I am a Presbyterian.
Woman—Well, I never saw a Presbyterian minister before, but my mother used to tell me that they were the very best in the world. But what do you hold to?
Doctor—I do not understand what you mean.
Woman—Do you hold to conversion?
Doctor—Don’t they all hold to conversion?
Woman—No, the Methodists and New-Lights holds to it, but the Church of England holds against it.
Doctor MacGregor was very hospitably entertained by Squire Burpee and his family, who informed him that they were a colony from New England, and that 343 of course they were Congregationalists in their religious profession. The Doctor said that he had long wished to see one of their congregations and hoped that they were a fair sample of a New England church. The squire replied: “I am afraid that we are degenerated.” Mr. MacGregor says, “I preached two Sabbaths to them in a respectable place of worship, and to Methodists and Baptists. They heard with apparent attention and satisfaction. Many of them stayed and conversed a good while after public worship was over.”
In the course of his missionary tour Doctor MacGregor visited the settlement on the River Nashwaak founded by the disbanded soldiers of the 42nd regiment. Not having been visited by a minister of their church for many years, a few of them had turned Baptists and Methodists, but “the best and worst of them,” he says, “continued Presbyterians.”
The glimpses we have of life at the mouth of the St. John, during the last two or three years of the Revolutionary struggle, are of some local interest, though not of a thrilling or exciting character. The proximity of the garrison seems to have proved detrimental to the morals of some of the inhabitants. At least this is the inference we should draw from the following notice posted up by order of the chief magistrate of the community.
NOTICE.
Whereas complaint hath been made to me by the Commanding Officer of the King’s Troops at this place that several Irregularities have lately been committed here by his Troops, proceeding from the quantity of strong Liquors sold them by the Inhabitants: To prevent any disturbance for the future, I publickly forbid any person or persons at this place selling Strong Liquors, under the penalty of the Law made and provided in such cases, except those who have Licence or Permits from authority for that purpose.
Given under my hand at Fort Howe this third day of July, 1781.
JAMES WHITE, J. P.