The Methodist Church

THERE was a proportion of Methodists who came to New Brunswick with the Loyalists. Prior to that, however, there were a number of Methodists in the Chignecto district, who belonged to the early Yorkshire immigration. At first they met quietly at the home of one of their number for their services.

In 1779 religious interest deepened, and a widespread revival began. Meetings were held, followed by encouraging results. Among the new converts was William Black, of Amherst, afterwards Bishop Black. It is recorded that at a quarterly meeting held in 1780, at William Trueman's, William Black received a great blessing, and although only a young man, he took from that time a prominent part in the meetings of the neighborhood. Three young men, Scurr, Wells, and Fawkender, agreed with William Black, to visit in turn each Sabbath, the settlements of Prospect, Fort Lawrence, and Amherst. From 1780 until after the first Methodist Conference of the Maritime Provinces, in 1786, William Black had charge of the Cumberland Circuit, which included from Wallace (then Rams-bag) to Petitcodiac, taking in Bay Verte and Cape Tormentine. In 1782 the membership of the circuit numbered eighty-two. In 1786 the first Conference was held at Halifax.

Shortly before Conference, Mr. Black, with his family, moved to Halifax, leaving in his place at Cumberland, Mr. Grandin, of New Jersey. Mr. Grandin was sent back to Cumberland by the Conference. He was assisted by John Black, of Amherst, brother of William Black. In 1787, Mr. Grandin was removed and his place taken by Mr. James Mann. That year land was bought 011 which to build a chapel, and in 1788 the first Methodist church in Canada was built at Point de Bute. It stood somewhat back from the road in the present cemetery. The house was of stone, with a roof of thatch.

The Rev. E. M. Saunders, in his history of the Baptists, states that to William Black, came the honor and opportunity of being the pioneer Methodist Missionary.

Mr. Black's gifts were not extraordinary, but he had great force of character, and the talents and tact of a leader and successful organizer. Although overwhelmed with work, he found time to acquire some knowledge of both the Greek and Latin languages. He was most thorough in searching his inner life. He distrusted his best moods. Sin horrified him. He laid his heart open to his brethren in the ministry. It may be safely said that no one of the early ministers was more entirely consecrated to his work than William Black.

The first Methodist Conference was held at Halifax, in October, 1786. John and James Mann, Cromwell, Black, Garretson and Grandin attended it and appointed themselves to the large circuits* into which they divided the Maritime Provinces.

They reported 510 members in Nova Scotia. With this auspicious beginning, the Methodists went forward with the zeal and self-sacrifice by which they have ever been characterized. From time to time their staff of laborers was enlarged by ministers from England and the United States.

As the country was so extensive, local preachers were appointed wherever suitable talents appeared. This was a great help in those early days. When the ordained preachers were not present the local preachers conducted the classes and preached the gospel. Mr. Black reported eighty members in the County of Cumberland and adjoining places. He had also formed a class at Windsor.

At the end of the eighteenth century the Methodists were guided by nine devoted and zealous missionaries : William Black, James Lowry, William Bennett, Joshua Marsden, Thomas Olivant, John Mann, Duncan McColl, James Mann and William Grandin. Their membership was eight hundred and seventy-four; and the estimated number of their adherents was three thousand. The members were distributed as follows: Halifax 160; Annapolis, 130; Liverpool, 194; Shelburne, 102 ; Newport, 75; St. John, 113; St. Stephen, 80, and Prince Edward Island, 20.

The following account of Methodism in St. John is copied from Cornish's Cyclopedia of Canada. It was written by the late Rev. D. D. Currie:

"Among the Loyalists, who, on the 18th of May, in the year 1783, landed on the rugged shore, where now is the Market Slip of the City of St. John, N. B., there was a New Jersey Methodist, whose name was Stephen Humbert, Through his earnest solicitations, several Methodist ministers visited the growing town in its early years. The first residents of St. John were chiefly adherents of the Church of England. Henry Alline, and a few other non-conformist preachers, came, tarried a brief period, held services, and went on their way. On the 24th September, 1791, Rev. Abraham John Bishop arrived at St. John. On the first Sunday after his arrival he preached. On the first Sabbath in October (1791 \ he organized a class-meeting in a house owned by a Mr. Kelly, on the corner of Charlotte and Princess streets. This was the beginning of Methodism in St. John.

"In November, 1791, Rev. William Black, then stationed in Halifax, visited St. John. He desired to preach, but the chief magistrate, sometimes called the mayor, threatened him with imprisonment in the county gaol, if he should thus officiate, without first obtaining special permission from the -Governor of the Province.

"In the early part of the year 1792 the few Methodists of the town purchased a building on the west side of Germain street, between Duke and Queen streets. This building was used for a number of years as the local City Hall and Court House. In this building the services of the Church of England were held, previous to the completion of Trinity Church in 1791.

"The erection of the Germain street Methodist -church was attended with serious difficulties. The adherents of the cause were few ; and those few possessed but limited financial resources. A site was secured on the north-east corner of Germain and Horsfield streets. In the winter of 1807 the timber for the frame of a church, forty-two feet by sixty-feet, was placed upon the ground. In April of that year Rev. Joshua Marsden held an open-air service^ on the site, standing on a small rock in the midst of the frame now ready to be raised. His text was: "Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Some of the towns-people of that day laughed at the small band of praying Methodists, for having attempted in that enterprise to do what many thought could never be accomplished.

"The Germain street church was enlarged by the addition to its length of twenty feet, during the incumbency of Rev. Sampson Busby, in 1834. The school-room, about twenty-two by eighty feet, was built at the same time. On the occasion of the Coronation of Queen Victoria, in 1838, this school room was the largest public hall, for social or secular meetings, in St. John. On the day of the Coronation of Victoria, an enthusiastic meeting was held there, with Judge Parker in the chair. Rev. Stephen Banford and other prominent public men of the city, were the speakers of the day.

"For many years that structure was the oldest Methodist church in the Province. Of the various social and religious influences that have gone out from the venerable sanctuary, it is not our purpose, with but a single exception, now to speak.

"After the enlargement of the building in 1834 and during the incumbency of Rev. Enoch Wood, who was appointed to St. John in 1836, the-congregation became too large for the building. The question of the erection of the Centenary Church was discussed. Formidable difficulties were apparent. A Board of Trustees was appointed. Mr. Wood was the leader in the enterprise, and by skilful management and indomitable perseverance, he and his co-laborers succeeded in their work. Mr. Wood purchased three lots of land for the Centenary trustees. He paid two thousand dollars for three lots. Mr. John B. Gaynor paid six hundred dollars for a fourth lot, and gave the lot as a free donation for the purposes of the church. Those four lots constituted the site on which the Centenary Church subsequently was built.

"In August, 1839, the Centenary Church was dedicated. In several respects it proved to be an eminently successful church enterprise. On the memorable 20th of June, 1877, the old Germain Street sanctuary perished in the devouring flames, and during the succeeding night, some nine or ten hours later, the Centenary passed away ' in the fiery storm."

There are now in New Brunswick according to the census of 1901, 35,973 adherents of the Methodist Church, which is a slight increase over the figures of 1891. The Methodists are most numerous in the city and county of St. John, and in the counties of Westmorland and York. They have established a University at Sackville, which is well attended and which is turning out many graduates.