by Robert Tuck < [email protected] >
I am about to publish a book to be titled "Letters From Mahone Bay", being the letters written by the Rev. Ned Harris to his family in Prince Edward Island from Mahone Bay between 1884 and 1889 describing his life and experiences there as curate to the Rev. W.H. Snyder.Ned Harris (1861-1931) was a primary researcher of the families of Lunenburg County. He married in 1890 Florence Jane Zwicker, daughter of Alfred Zwicker and Louisa Spearwater. Ned and Florrie had two children - Edward Harris and Ruth M. L. Harris - my mother.
"Letters From Mahone Bay" is scheduled for publication by Maplewood Books, 90 Maplewood Crescent, Charlottetown, PEI, C1A 2X6, at the end of September, 2001, and prepublication orders ($15 per copy) are presently being received (no cash please!).
The Letters tell the behind- the-scenes story of the building of St. James' Church, Mahone Bay, and there are many tales of Lunenburg County people and places from Martin's River to New Germany in the 1880s.
Here's a short excerpt from the book: showing Ned Harris's description of his first visit to Martin's River in 1884 - four years before the church was built.
"...In the afternoon I went to Martin's River. There is only a schoolhouse there, but there are none but Church people in the whole district. When I got there it was early but the place was full. I was introduced around the door as the Young Parson, and then went up to the top and sat down. According to the custom they then proceeded to practice their music, all sitting down, women on one side, men on the other. One man with a
splendid bass voice held the tunes book, and pitched each one, running up
and down the scale first. Then they all went at it.When they were through I put on my surplice and began the service. It
would have done you good to hear that service, such responding and such
singing! They pretty nearly raised the roof when they got at the hymns - all
in tune and good time. But didn't they put vim into it! The ceiling was low
and the room was crowded, and everyone responded right straight out.They went at it full blast, all in tune, and all in time. In due places the
basses were choked off, only to come in on the next line with a swell like
the roar of the ocean. They put all their hearts into it.One old fellow, old Langille, was a perfect picture. His face was
music-wrapt. In days of yore this old fellow wielded a clarinet. But as the
instrument grew in age it began to give forth certain squeaks which were
particularly enlivening to the small boys, and so the old parson had to
issue a bull of excommunication on the instrument. Now old Langille's only joy is to lift up his own old voice."PLEASE PLACE ORDERS WITH
Maplewood Books,
90 Maplewood Crescent, Charlottetown, PEI, C1A 2X6,
if ordered before Sept. 27, 2001. ($15. per copy plus postage)
After that date it will probably cost $20!The Rev. Linda MacDonald, Rector of St. James' - has invited me to preach at the Dedication Festival in Mahone Bay, Sept. 23, 11 a.m. - and so that will be the occasion of the book launch. I am contemplating a print
run of 1000.