Financial Problems Haunt the Eastern Parishes Once Again.

The Executive Report presented at the Annual D.C.S. meeting for the year covering 1916 praised the good work being done generally in all parishes "with the exception of those from the Eastern Parishes temporarily under the care of St. Peter’s Cathedral"199. The problem noted in the case of the aforementioned parishes was that of the lack of constant supervision which could be afforded only by a resident priest in the parish. Owing to the scarcity of clergy due in a large part to the ongoing war effort, the prospect of securing the services of a clergyman seemed next to impossible until after the war. There was a sincere belief that an improvement in the state of affairs would follow the appointment of a resident priest.

The Assistant Priest at St. Peter’s, the Reverend D.J. McDonald, resigned his position to accept an appointment at the Church of the Holy Apostles, New York. Arrangements were made with the University of King’s College to permit Dr. Hunt to come as an Assistant Priest until the beginning of the following academic year. Using the services of the former Assistant Priest and those of Mr. Clement Mitchell, a Layreader, Canon Simpson was able to keep up the services at Georgetown, Cherry Valley and Souris starting in April. During the three months in which the parish was under the charge of St. Peter’s, Georgetown had 57 services, ten of these being celebrations of Holy Communion. Souris was supplied with 36 services, eight of these being celebrations of Holy Communion. Cherry Valley received 16 services, three of Holy Communion. Mr. Clement Mitchell took control of the Sunday Schools at Georgetown and Souris and every man in the congregation received a weekly copy of the Institute Leaflet and Empire. Canon Simpson was critical of the response given to these efforts by the congregations which were benefiting. He reported:

It has meant a good deal of extra work to my assistants and myself, to supply these services, and we only undertook it, because otherwise the churches would probably be closed until the end of the war at least. I regret that the congregations do not appreciate our efforts by meeting their financial obligations, Georgetown is three months behind in its payments, and Cherry Valley nine months. As we have to pay $2.50 for a team every time we go to Cherry Valley, and railway fare and board in going to Georgetown and Souris, this state of affairs cannot continue, so I am advising the Archbishop that he must make other arrangements for supplying services if the Churches are to be left open. 20°

199. St. Peter’s Cathedral Annual Remit. 1916.

200. Diocesan Church Society Remrt. 1916.

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