political condition and relations
of the Methodist connexion are pleasingly changed. Ten years ago there
were 41 ministers and 6,875 church members; now there are 93 ministers
and 15,106 church members. We may well thank God, therefore, and take
courage.

I have no ill-will towards any human being. I freely and heartily
forgive the many false and wicked things said of me, publicly and
privately. I have written what I thought best for the cause of religion,
the cause of Methodism, and the civil interests of the country. I have
never received one acre of land, nor one farthing from Government, nor
of any public money. I have never written one line at the request of any
person connected with the Government. I count it to be the highest
honour to which I can aspire to be a Methodist preacher; and in this
relation to the Church and to the world I shall count it my highest joy
to finish my earthly course.

* * * * *

Dr. Ryerson's wish having been fully gratified, and the Conference of
1835 having relieved him of the editorship, he was stationed at
Kingston. This place, of all others, had been the scene of strife and
division between the British and Canadian branches of the Church, and
was the key to the position held by the British Missionaries in Upper
Canada. (See pages 128 and 141). Dr. Ryerson's arrival there and his
reception by the people at Kingston are described in a letter which he
wrote to his friend, Mr. S. S. Junkin, of the _Guardian_ office, dated
July 15th:

We have just arrived, and are for the present staying at the house of
Mr. Cassidy, the lawyer, where we receive every possible kindness and
attention. (See Chapter xxiii.)

I have been very kindly received by the members here. Strong prejudices
have existed in the minds of individuals against me. But they are not
only broken down, but in the principal cases are turned into warm
friendship already. Some who were as bitter as gall, and croaking from
day to day that "the glory has departed," are now like new-born babes in
Christ; are happy in their own souls, praying for sinners, and doing all
they can to build up the cause. I can scarcely account for it. I never
felt more deeply humbled than since I came here. I have indeed resolved
to give my whole soul, body and spirit, to God and to His Church anew,
but I have had scarcely a tolerable time in preaching. Yet the Divine
blessing has specially accompanied the Word. On Wednesday night last the
fal