The anti-unionists, who wanted to maintain the Presbyterian form of worship, said the procedure was rushed through the Assembly without regard for the rights of the people, and was illegal in its procedures. In fact, the Assembly 's action had been entirely legal and entirely Presbyterian, but its implied disregard for the grass-roots feeling divided the church sharply, and for the first time into union and anti union parties. The Church Defence Association was formed. When the replies from the presbyteries on the question in favour of union were received by the General Assembly of 1911, it was found that of the seventy presbyteries, four had made no return and sixteen disapproved, leaving the overwhelming majority of fifty presbyteries in favor of union. In the traditionally more conservative Maritimes every voting presbytery was pro-union. (No mention is made in the annual reports of Zion, that a vote took place) In terms of votes on the whole: 888 were for and 478 against. Because of the sizable opposition and under pressure from the anti-unionists, the Assembly decided to send the matter down to the sessions and congregations in the form of three questions: (1) Do you favor organic union, (2) Do you favor the Basis of Union, (3) Have you any suggestions to offer? The plebiscite was held in the winter of 1912, with the results announced in April. One hundred and fifty thousand, seventy per cent of those voting, answered yes to the first question, and almost the same percentage answered yes to the second question. On the third question, numerous suggestions were received. The fact that one-third opposed union and only one half of those eligible cast votes, strengthened the anti¬ union side. On Prince Edward Island and for the whole Presbytery the vote went as follows: Question I: Are you in favour of Organic Union with the Methodist and Congregational Churches? The results were: Yes No Elders 182 37 Members 3,174 726 Adherents 1,883 363 Totals 5,239 1,126 Majority for Union 4,113 Question 2: Do you approve the proposed Basis of Union? The results were: Yes No Elders 169 39 Members 2,904 682 Adherents 1,604 315 Totals 4,677 1,036 Majority for Union 3,641 - 200 ■