Preface In this narrative an effort has been made to compress within reasonable limits the most interesting and memorable events of early Canadian Methodism. It has not been thought necessary to trace its ancestry in other lands. The starting-point-Newfoundland-might be thought outside the legitimate sphere of Canadian church. history, but the geographical and historical relations of the Island forbid its exclusion. In attempting a record of the earliest years of any people or church, the annalist is apt to find a scarcity of material suitable to his purpose. By careful use, however, of all available aids, the author has endeavored to present, with somewhat of photographic adjustment and relation, a picture of those early days. The country, the people, the government, and secular life generally, influence in so many ways the Church's activities as to demand a place in the setting. Selection and condensation have been made the rule; parentheses, usually receptacles for the unnecessary, have been excluded; foot-notes and even references, except when important and admissible in the text, have been avoided. Brief synopses, with strict fidelity to the original, and indicated by single inverted commas, frequently take the place of lengthy articles. The publication of the "Stations " has seemed the most effective way of giving a comprehensive view of the enlarging field and the increasing laborers. The author is greatly indebted to the Rev. Drs. Cornish, Crews, Withrow, Burwash, and Professor McLaughlin for careful reading of the MS., and helpful suggestions; also to several Conferences for sympathetic and encouraging resolutions. To the people of Canada, and especially to Methodists, this volume is intrusted, with the hope that it will help to perpetuate the fervent spirituality which marked those early years; and that the Church God has so greatly honored in evangelizing and moulding power in the past may be ever true to its mission in spreading scriptural holiness throughout this great Dominion and the nations beyond. Another volume, to complete the century, is well under way, and may be ready for publication in a year or two. To it will be appended a complete index for the two volumes. TORONTO, March, 1908. J. E. S. PUBLISHER'S NOTE. We desire to make grateful acknowledgment of the kindly assistance given us in many quarters in procuring photographs or other pictures of the pioneers of Methodism, and of early churches, to illustrate these pages. Lack of space forbids individual mention, and we can only express our gratitude in this general way. Some of the portraits we secured from a faded group picture of the Wesleyan Canada Conference of 1870, and these, we regret, are not as clear and distinct as we could wish. It is a matter of extreme regret that our extended inquiries failed to locate portraits of such worthy pioneers as Major Neal, William Losee, Darius Dunham, Calvin Wooster, Samuel Coate, Henry Ryan, Franklin Metcalf and others whose names are inseparably connected with the story of Canadian Methodism. Should any into whose hands this volume may fall chance to possess portraits of any of these "knights of the saddle-bags," we shall be glad to hear from them. Introductory Political changes-France-England-Conflicts-Germany-India -North America-Quebec-Treaty of Peace, 1763-Protestantism-Freedom-Methodism-Possibilities. GREAT political changes preceded and prepared the way for the advent of Methodism in the New World. Over a large portion of the northern half of the continent France had claimed sovereignty almost from its discovery. Once, in 1629, was her sway surrendered to England, but speedily restored without any adequate knowledge or appreciation of the territory given up. The variable fortunes of war effected marvellous and lasting changes in the destinies of North America. France and England, old-time rivals at home, were nothing loath to measure swords abroad. The middle of the eighteenth century found them buckling on their armor-France in alliance with Hungary, Saxony, Russia and Spain; England with Frederick of Prussia. The famous battle of Rossbach, in 1757, shattered the French alliance and opened the way for the unity of Germany. The almost complete annihilation of the French army at Minden, in 1759, by Ferdinand, supported by Pitt with England's soldiers and gold, was a crushing disaster to an ambitious and over-confident people. Far away to the East, in the marts and upon the plains. of India, France had extended her commerce, filling her coffers and contemplating the expulsion of English traders. From her dream of conquest and opulence she was suddenly awakened, and her bright vision of supremacy dispelled, in 1757, by the appearance of Clive and his 3,000 upon the fatal field of Plassey, where France's 50,000 foot and 14,000 horse faltered and fled. Not less decisively were the covetous schemes of France for possession of the New World foiled by English arms. William Pitt, the "Great Commoner," regretting England's long neglect of her North American discoveries, was aroused by defiant forts and infringements upon her colonies to withstand the arrogance of France. and arrest her progress in the West as in the East. On this errand he despatched Generals Amherst and Wolfe, with land and naval forces, in 1758. After the capture of Louisburg and Niagara came Wolfe's triumphant victory, September 12th, 1759, on the Plains of Abraham-the most decisive and far-reaching achievement thus far attending British arms in the West. Not the "impregnable citadel" of Quebec alone, but all the forts westward to the Mississippi fell into the hands of the British. The ambitious Gallic claim to boundless areas, and the prospect of Roman superstition overspreading the new continent, vanished forever. By the Treaty of Peace, 1763, England's possession of the vast territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific was confirmed and her supremacy in North America established. Thus wonderfully was the extension of Anglo-Saxon civilization and the benign influence of Protestant Christianity over the whole continent made possible. Within a few years and after many early successes Great Britain's formidable rival owned defeat in her boastful projects against European powers, saw her prestige and her arms. together trodden under foot in India and her easilyacquired domains in North America suddenly wrenched |