The Work of the Reverend W.L. Cotton in the Mission Parishes. Work in the outlying parishes continued to expand throughout these mid-decade years of the turn of the century. The Souris Sunday School had grown until it was being regularly held every Sunday. The small congregation continued to manage to pay the heavy traveling expenses involved in the parish work of this wide-spread area. Services at Murray River were generally held during the evening and the congregation averaged somewhere between 25 to 30 individuals. Nineteen dollars was contributed by the Women's Auxiliary of St. Peter 's towards covering the cost of the travel expenses of this mission. The Reverend Walter Cotton assisted in the work at Georgetown throughout the year. Daily Morning Services were begun according to Prayer Book direction and continued as long as the weather permitted. A Sunday School was held fortnightly with a well attended Bible Class to instruct children in the Catechism and church doctrine generally. The Women's Auxiliary had been resurrected and had organized and run efficiently a bazaar held in December. Generally speaking, the congregation at the regular Sunday morning service was a good size and "clearly on the increase"161 The work of the church at Cherry Valley also continued to prosper with the highlight being a Grand Harvest Thanksgiving Service held in the Autumn. The church was full for the occasion and a substantial offering was made in the shape of fruits of the earth. The W.A . there was able to send another parcel of clothing to the Indian (Native) school at Yale, British Columbia . The small parish was saddened by the news of the death of the Reverend Herbert Beers , a native of the Parish. In the spring of 1906, after visiting some half-dozen Anglican families which were still loyal to the Church and living at Mount Stewart , Father Walter Cotton approached the Bishop requesting permission to re-open the Mission there. The existing church building was found to be in fair condition and after the windows were glazed and the outside whitewashed, it was considered fit to serve a congregation. The congregation responded by filling the church at almost every service. This work continued until the Reverend Mr. Cotton left the Parish in mid-October to take up a position as Curate of St. Luke's Church, Halifax . Mr. T.F. Tupper , Layreader, was left in charge of Souris and Mr. Stewart while the Bishop sent Mr. Frank Webster to act as Lay Reader in Georgetown , Cherry Valley and Murray River until a new Rector could be found. Once again, Father Simpson was asked to lend a helping hand 161. Diocesan Church Society Reports. 1906. 140