Why Wesleyanism in England cannot exercise a continuous and controlling beneficial influence over its Churches outside of England, while American Methodism retains in its association and in its unity the Conferences in Germany, in Africa, and in India, and shows no signs of weakening, may well suggest questions of deep interest to the thoughtful mind. CANADA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The war between Great Britain and the United States, from 1812 to 1815, greatly embarrassed the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada. The preachers who had been sent from the United States were obliged to retire from the field, but those who had been raised up in Canada continued faithfully at their posts. After the return of peace other ministers were sent, and the work progressed in its usual order. The bitter feelings, however, which had been aroused between England and the United States, and which had also affected many of the leading minds in Canada, led to an application on the part of a few Societies for missionaries to be sent from England. These missionaries, with more zeal than prudence, began to excite the popular mind against the Church in the United States, and a few Societies severed their connection with the parent Church and identified themselves with the Wesleyans of England. The questions at issue led to negotiations between the Methodist Episcopal and Wesleyan bodies, and for a time a boundary was agreed upon between the Churches, Lower Canada being given over to the Wesleyans of England, and Upper Canada chiefly remaining to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The spirit of discontent, however, was fostered by English influences, and the Methodists, who suffered a number of legal privations, were promised more government favor if they would become an independent Church. In 1824 the work in Canada was organized into a separate Annual Conference, and in 1828, on their petition, the General Conference agreed, that if they should declare themselves an independent Church and elect a superintendent, he might be ordained by the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church. At the following Conference, at which Bishop Hedding presided, the Canada Conference declared its independence, and organized under the name of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Canada, electing William Case as superintendent pro tem. Subsequently Dr. Fisk was elected bishop, but declined to accept. Instead, however, of finding the advantages anticipated, no special favors were granted, and efforts were soon made to induce the Canada Methodists to identify themselves with the English Wesleyans. Aid was promised by the Missionary Society, and the English government, under representations from Canada, threw its influence in the same direction, and the result was that, in 1833, a plan of union was adopted, and the greater part of the Methodists of Canada were united with the Wesleyan Methodists of England. A few ministers, however, dissatisfied with the arrangement, and believing the whole movement had' been unconstitutional, as they had adopted the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with all its restrictive rules, proceeded to re-organize the Church under its former name and discipline. This organization embraced a few ministers and about. five thousand members. It has since that time remained an independent Church, and for many years was very feeble, as the wealth and a large proportion of the learning and social influence of the members were in the Wesleyan movement. Rev. J. Richardson was subsequently elected bishop, and watched over the interests of the Church with care and fidelity until his death, which occurred only a year or two since. Rev. A. A. Carman was elected and ordained at their last General Conference, and is now the superintendent of the Church. Its members have increased to over twenty-three thousand; it has a Book Concern, and publishes a weekly paper, and it has also established two insti tutions of learning. It promises to be an organization of efficiency and usefulness. THE METHODIST CHURCH IN CANADA. As has been already stated, the great proportion of the Canada Methodist Episcopal Church in 1833 identified itself with the Wesleyans of England. In a few years after, the Conference became in some sense an independent, though an affiliated, body: the president of the Conference being regularly sent out from England to preside over its deliberations. It had two divisions, the Wesleyans in Canada, and the Wesleyans in Eastern British America. These continued their work with great energy, increasing in ministers and members. The following table shows their growth: As these tables indicate, in 1874 a union was effected between the Wesleyans of Canada, the Wesleyans of Eastern British America, and the "New Connection Methodists," who formed themselves into the Methodist Church in Canada. They adopted a constitution, having a General Confer ence and six Annual Conferences. The report in SUMMARY OF FOREIGN CHURCHES. The following table presents the number of minis- |