Probably the first Free Methodist preacher to preach in Canada was B. T. Roberts. Robert Loveless, a member of the Primitive Methodist church, whose home was in Ellesmere about thirteen miles north of Toronto, Ontario, was a subscriber to the Earnest Christian. Through this magazine he learned of the Free Methodists. He corresponded with Mr. Roberts, who went to Ellesmere and preached there and also at Stouffville, fourteen miles north of Ellesmere. The first Free Methodist preacher to be regularly appointed to Canada was C. H. Sage of the North Michigan conference. In his autobiography Mr. Sage says: “I went to conference free as a bird and told the Lord I was ready for any field of labor. When the appointments were read the last one was, ‘Canada, C. H. Sage.” Mr. Sage started to his field of labor trusting God. He found a small class at Gait which had been raised up by a Sister Smith. This seems to have been the first class organized in Canada. The “candle” has not gone out as. there is still a society of thirty members there and a church and parsonage. Mr. Sage labored at different points in Canada until spring when, not being satisfied with his success, he returned to Michigan and supplied a circuit until conference. Much to his surprise at the conference session in October, 1877, Canada was made into a district and he was returned as chairman. In 1878 and 1879, he was continued in the same relation, other preachers being appointed to charges in Canada from year to year. In the fall of 1879 Rev. A. Sims, who had been an ordained elder in the Primitive Methodist church in Canada, united with the conference and took work in Canada. He became at once a strong factor in the development of the work and remains such until this day. Although for some reason (possibly because it was so far separated from the conference with which it was connected) the reports appearing in the conference minutes are very incomplete, it is apparent that the work from year to year began to take on shape and become more encouraging.

The Canada conference was organized at Gait, Ontario, October 21, 1880. The preachers in full connection were C. H. Sage, J. Craig, T. Carveth, A. Sims. On trial, William McKearnin, C. M. Smith, J. H. Winter. Three hundred and seventy-four members and probationers were reported. One of the peculiar features of the Canada work for a number of years, and to some extent the same to-day, was the number of women who took charge of circuits and were instrumental in holding together, extending and building up the work. Apparently it was a case where Barak would not go and Deborah was obliged to take the lead. Another feature was the extent of territory over which the work spread, extending from the western almost to the eastern boundary of the province of Ontario. This led to its division into the East Ontario and West Ontario conferences in September, 1896. The West Ontario conference at the time of the division had eight preachers in full connection and two on trial and five hundred members and probationers. The East Ontario conference had twelve preachers in full connection, three on trial and a total membership of seven hundred and fifty. For 1907 the two conferences reported forty-five preachers and one thousand six hundred and thirty members in the aggregate.

During the last decade of the nineteenth century members of our church at different times moved from the eastern part of Canada into the western provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. After settling in their new homes these people sent urgent requests to the east that preachers might be sent to them. These appeals awakened a response in the hearts of the brethren in the east and one brother especially felt this needy field laid on his heart. J. D. Shier, a man of some means and a member of the Free Methodist church in Bracebridge, Ontario, provided money to put the first missionary in the field also to purchase a tabernacle, tents and outfit for holding meetings. In the fall of 1898, W. H. Wilson was appointed by the West Ontario conference “missionary to Manitoba and the northwest territory.” During the year 1899 a society was organized of members who lived at widely scattered points called the “Floating Society.” This society was composed entirely of members who had emigrated from the east. In the early part of the year 1900 the first revival meeting was held at Westview, Saskatchewan. From the fruit of this revival the first permanent society was organized March 11, 1900. In June of this year J. W. Haley, now missionary in Africa, went to Western Canada and for two years aided effectively in developing the work. In 1902 Rev. F. M. Wees, a member of the West Ontario conference, with his wife, went to the help of the little band of workers and rendered valuable assistance in the work. In view of the fact that this work was so remote from the conferences in Ontario it was thought best to organize it into a separate conference. Accordingly at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, on July 5, 1906, six preachers, W. H. Wilson, F. M. Wees, 0. L. King, E. Steer, R. Hamilton and J. B. Newville, and six laymen, representing one hundred and twenty-four members and twenty-four probationers, met and were organized into the Western Canada conference by Bishop Burton R. Jones. They have held one annual session since at which the ministerial force was increased by two received on trial, and an increase in membership reported.

California, from the days when William Taylor, afterward Methodist Bishop of Africa, was sent to lay the foundation of Methodism in that state, until the present, has borne the reputation of being the hardest field in which to do religious work that our country presents. The territory was originally settled largely by adventurers—men who went there solely for the purpose of seeking fortunes. In the mad rush and scramble for gold everything else was forgotten. Men who in the east had been identified with the church and active in religious work caught the infection and joined the money-mad crowd. The result was that the whole community became possessed with a spirit of supreme indifference to sacred things which seems to prevail until the present. Free Methodism at its introduction there met this and faces it still. B. T. Roberts, when holding meetings there in 1880 said in the Methodist preacher’s meeting in San Francisco, “I am surprised, brethren, that you have accomplished as much as you have. It is the hardest rock I ever drilled in.”

It has been almost impossible to secure satisfactory data regarding the beginning of our work in that state. The earliest conference appointment the writer can find is “W. D. Bishop, missionary to California,” in the minutes of the Michigan conference for 1873. But no report of his work appears in the minutes and after two years the appointment is no longer found. In 1875 “California Mission, G. W. Humphrey” is found in the minutes of the Genesee conference. But the appointment does not appear again. It is probable that some time during that year he organized the first Free Methodist society in California. A society was organized that year of which the following were members: Thomas Dawler, Maria E. Parks, Mary A. Young, a Brother and Sister Briggs, a Brother and Sister Thomas, probably Dr. and Mrs. Bishop and others. This society was formed in San Francisco. In October, 1876, Rev. F. H. Horton, a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, united with the society. Meetings were held in halls, tents and private houses in Alameda, Pacheco and other places. At Pacheco a society was organized which still remains. In the fall and winter of 1879-80, B. T. Roberts and wife spent several months in California holding meetings twice a day most of the time. In the early winter of 1882-83, E. P. Hart and wife went to that state and held a series of meetings in San Jose. After several weeks of hard work a small society was organized and Rev. M. L. Vorhies went from Iowa to California to take charge of the work. This society remains and is the strongest in the California conference. The Iowa conference minutes have a report from California in 1883 of two circuits, Oakland and San Jose, with sixty full members and nine probationers. The minutes of the first session of the California conference do not appear in the combined minutes. The second session was held at Oakland, California, November 14-16, 1884. There were seven preachers in full connection and two on trial. The total member. ship was one hundred and thirteen. There are at present sixteen preachers and three hundred and fifty-seven members and probationers.

Rev. David Shepard was the first Free Methodist preacher to preach within the bounds of the territory now embraced in the Southern California conference. Eugene C. Shipley, a kcal preacher, removed from Chicago to Los Angeles in 1886. Through his influence Mrs. C. B. Ebey, in 1887, was induced to go to Los Angeles for her health. C. E. McReynolds, a member of the Minnesota and Northern Iowa conference, about the same time located there. The first distinctively Free Methodist meeting in southern California was a prayer meeting led by Mr. McReynolds in the home of Mrs. Ebey. In April, 1888, Rev. C. B. Ebey went to California, expecting to return in a short time to his district work in the Illinois conference, but seeing the improved condition of Mrs. Ebey’s health and listening to the urgent appeals of the few pilgrims he decided to remain and hold some meetings. A tent was erected in Pasadena and a five weeks’ meeting held. A class of thirteen was organized at the close. A little later a meeting was held in a part of the city (of Los Angeles?) known as Monk -Hill. Soon a church and parsonage were erected on Pepper street, Pasadena, and dedicated to God in January, 1889. by E. P. Hart. Mr. Hart and wife remained for some time and assisted in a meeting at Compten, at which place the second Free Methodist society in southern California was organized. C. B. Ebey transferred to the California conference in the fall of 1889. A Los Angeles district was formed and he was made chairman. From that time until he was elected editor of the Free Methodist, in 1903, he was closely associated with the work in that part of the state. He was instrumental during this time in raising up or assisting in raising up and organizing eighteen societies. The General Conference of 1890 authorized the organization of a Southern California conference when the General Superintendents should think it advisable. The conference was organized by B. T. Roberts at Los Angeles, May 21, 1891, with the following ministers: C. B. Ebey, D. McLeod, James Seals and Thomas Fluck. The membership was one hundred in full connection and twenty six on probation. The names of thirty preachers are found on the conference roll at present, but only a portion of these are engaged in the active work in the conference. The total membership is now five hundred and fifty.