question of lay representation. The New Connexion Church in 1874 and the Bible Christian Church in 1884 would only enter into union if lay representation was accepted. The others reluctantly agreed.

The new comprehensive organization, known as the Methodist Church of Canada, was divided for adminstrative purposes into three Annual Conferences, namely, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and New- foundland. With this union, all aid and relationships with the English Methodist ' Churches were ended.

In the United Church of Canada, since 1925, equal clergy and lay represen- tation in Presbytery, Conference and General Council is an unquestioned part of church life. In recent years an increasing number of lay as well as ministerial delegates have been women. When a layman, Dr. Robert McClure became Moderator of The United Church of Canada in 1968, Rev. Alexander Killam and the New Connexion Church, and the Bible Christian Church were fully vindicated.

12. SOME ASPECTS OF LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT IN THE METHODIST CHURCH

Due to the vast amount of territory that early Methodist missionaries or ministers felt responsible for, the society or class organization seemed to be the answer to the problem during their long absences covering their circuits.

Classes were originally planned to give Methodists, always aware that there was no such a thing as a Solitary Christian, the privilege and opportunity of meeting in small groups of twenty or less under the guidance of a devout leader for prayer, in- struction, exhortation, and, if necessary, rebuke.

ADVANTAGES 1. Careful oversight of moral behavior. 2. Forum for discussion of mutual difficulties. 3. Inspired lay leadership in prayer and in earnest reasoning.

DISADVANTAGES l. Smug church members telling God how to run the world instead of inquiring what His will was.

In 1875, in Bedeque, the Rev. Joseph Seller discovered that despite new ap-

pointments of leaders, the class system was deemed by the Quarterly Board as “not very satisfactory”.

13. THE CLASS LEADER OF THE METHODISTS

A class leader occupied somewhat the same role as elder and less formally than

the Presbyterians, would decide in consultation with the pastor whether the guilty I one’s name should remain on the church roll.

He was also the leader of the local class meetings and provided the leadership in

prayer, instruction in the Bible, and general supervision of the group in the absence of the minister.

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