The Rev. Joseph Alexander of Norval and /Union was moderator during the vacancy. At the annual meeting on January 5, 1888, the committee to make repairs and re-paint the Church received a vote of thanks for the satisfactory work done, and the congregation considered the building of a manse for the home of the next pastor. Archibald McGibbon, Robert Stewart, Thomas Aitken, and Alexander Robertson were appointed a building committee. to which on September 21, 1888, Abram Stark, John Sproat, James Murray, John T. Elliott, Peter Campbell, William Hampshire, James Hume and John Stewart were added. John Michie and John Hardy were chosen to solicit subscriptions towards building the manse.

On June 20, 1888, a meeting was held to consider the propriety of making proposals to the neighboring Presbyterian congregation to take steps with them to form a union. The Rev. Joseph Alexander opened the meeting with prayer. After the opinions of members of the Session and others were heard, a unanimous vote was given that a union of the two congregations was desirable. The following resolutions were moved by John T. Elliott, seconded by Robert Stewart and carried:—“First, That we know of no differences in the views of the congregations, viz., the Esquesing congregation of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, and the Boston congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, either in regard to the essential doctrines of our holy religion, or in regard to Church government that should hinder a union of said congregations.

2. “That we believe a union of the two congregations would be in accordance with the mind of Christ, the King and Head of the Church, and the effect would be the furtherance of His glory and the great increase of the influence of His cause in this neighborhood.

3. “That as both congregations are now without a pastor we deem the present time most favorable for effecting a union.

4. “Resolved, therefore, that we, desiring a union of these congregations, with a view to carrying out these our desires direct the secretary of this meeting to transmit a copy of these resolutions to the Session and congregation of the Esquesing congregation of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, and appoint the following members of the congregation together with the elders, a committee to meet with any committee said congregation may appoint to consider a basis of union. The committee appointed by this congregation are Robert Stewart, John T. Elliott, James Hume, Archibald McGibbon, William Hampshire and John Stewart.

ROBERT STEWART, Secretary
JOSEPH ALEXANDER, Moderator.

At a meeting of the congregation on July 31, 1888, the Rev. W. J. H. Milne, B. A.,, received a unanimous call to become pastor of Boston Church, which was starting - out. as a self-sustaining charge, and George Irving and Robert' Stewart were appointed to prosecute the call before Presbytery on August 7, Mr. Milne was ordained and inducted on August 23, 1888, immediately after completing his course in Queen’s University. A Sabbath evening service was started. The congregation was united and the commodious brick manse was built in the spring and summer of 1889. The fact that the people of Boston had now to support a pastor alone, and that he took hold of his work among them with earnestness and devotion, created in them a new feeling of interest and a sense of responsibility, which made the pastorate of Mr. Milne prosperous throughout. All meetings of the congregation were well sustained. The practice of giving reports of the different societies at the annual business meeting, repeating them at the social evening entertainment afterwards, and printing a financial statement of contributions for circulation became the custom. In September of 1890 it was decided to adopt communion cards in place of the metal tokens, which had been used from the beginning of the Church organization.

The spiritual condition of the Church continued to be good and additions to the membership were made from year to year. In a quiet country neighborhood like the Scotch Block the Church was, as it had always been, the main centre of interest and of religious and moral influence in the community. A letter received from Mr. Milne says: “I can say quite truthfully that I am grateful for the experience I had in Boston Church. The people were exceedingly appreciative of preaching, and called out the very best that was in me at the time. They were always thoughtful, kind and loyal. Over and over again they gave me. tokens of their goodwill and friendship.” Being highly esteemed by his people and in the community, it was with great regret that they learned that he had received'a call to the Glebe Church at Otawa. At a meeting of the congregation on March 3, 1898, to consider the resignation of Mr. Milne, Robert Stewart, Peter Campbell and John Hampshire were appointed to attend the meeting of Presbytery and give reasons why Mr. Milne should not leave Boston Church.

Mr. Milne finished his work on the third Sunday of March, lacking five months of completing a ten year’s pastorate. A graduate in Arts and Theology of Queens University he received from the same institution the honorary degree of D.D. in 1914. Dr. Milne is now President of Ottawa Ladies’ College.

The elders of Mr. Milne’s pastorate were:—George Irving, John Michie, John Hardy, Robert Stewart, William Hampshire and John T. Elliott.

The Rev. C. T. Tough of Hornby, Moderator of Session, presided at a meeting of the congregation to call a pastor on August 8, 1898, when The Rev. A. R. Gregory was unanimously elected, and George Irving and Alexander Robertson were appointed to prosecute the call before Presbytery. Mr. Gregory was a graduate of the University of Toronto and also of Knox College. He was inducted on Sept. 27, 1898, and Boston congregation was his first and only charge. He was very earnest and faithful, both as a preacher and as a pastor, and the work of the congregation in all its departments was diligently and successfully carried on throughout his pastorate. W. H. Kerr and Alexander Robertson were ordained elders on May 14, 1899. The congregation was divided into districts, and an elder assigned to each district to keep in touch with the people. Mr. Gregory held many meetings of Session, and considered with its members methods to awaken spiritual interest in the congregation, and enlist all in the work of the Church. He gave much attention to the Sunday School, and for a time had a class on Monday evening in the Manse for Bible study. He organized a Young People’s Society, and conducted a weekly prayer meeting on the mountain for people remote from Church privileges. He taught the duty of systematic giving to the schemes of the Church, and was zealous and active in raising money for the Century Fund ordered by the General Assembly, making a very generous contribution himself. Mrs. Gregory, who had been Principal of Brantford Young Ladies’ College and resigned that position to marry Mr. -Gregory, was very efficient as the teacher of the large Bible class, in the Women’s Missionary Society, and for a time as leader of the choir. The Rev. Dr. Caven of Knox College preached on Sabbath, August 24, 1902, when Peter Campbell was ordained as elder. On June 6, 1903, The Rev. Dr. Wardrope preached, and assisted Mr. Gregory at the Communion Service—the last conducted by him as pastor of Boston Church. He resigned to Presbytery in September of that year &t the close of a pastorate of five years. He and Mrs. Gregory removed to Toronto, where during the following months he took a postgraduate course in Knox College. In September 1904 he became Principal of Westminster College, and as an organizer and educator conducted it \vith success. He died in October, 1911.

The elders who served in Mr. Gregory’s pastorate were George . Irving, William Hampshire, Robert Stewart, W. H. Kerr, Alexander Robertson, and Peter Campbell. Airs. McDougal, Mrs. James Murray and Miss Jennie McCallum served as organists.