Beyond that, they advocated "freedom" from secret societies (e.g., Freemasons), which had allegedly undermined parts of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
At first the church consisted of many former Methodist Episcopal people who had been actively involved in the Underground Railroad just prior to the American Civil War, which had sought to aid escaped slaves gain safety and freedom in Canada.
The denomination also has numerous churches in the U.S. Midwest, some of the oldest ones also being in communities that were abolitionist centers and Underground Railroad stops along the southern shore of Lake Michigan.
[3] Prior to the emergence of the Free Methodist Church in Canada, Methodism had already had a long history in Canadian society.
Originating in Germany, the Hecks had emigrated first to Ireland, where Barbara was converted at the age of 28 under Methodist preaching, possibly that of John Wesley himself.
During the time of the American Revolution, Paul and Barbara Heck and Philip Embury's widow, Mary, and their son, fled to the Prescott area of Upper Canada.
So it was that Paul Heck was present when the first Canadian Methodist circuit was organized in 1791, the year of John Wesley's death.
In 1882 10 women are listed with church ministry responsibilities, unusual in mainstream Christianity, but fairly common in the Holiness and Pentecostal traditions.
This latter denomination was the product of revivals in the Methodist churches of the Ottawa Valley under Ralph C Horner during the waning years of the 19th century.
Having become effective January 1, 1995, this action left one centralized location for denomination ministry and the discontinuance of regional offices.