From Stephen John Gee at the Harbour Light Methodist Church, Goldsmiths Row, London, to Lewis Court.
He is grateful for the two books which Court sent on the 8th inst.
If Gee sees a copy of Court's Romance of a Country Circuit he shall certainly buy it. This morning Brother Button informed him that both of Richard Pyke's books have been sold. Gee had ordered them from Button, so there must still be a demand for Bible Christian literature. The books were Pyke's The Golden Chain and Men and Memories. Gee already has his Points for Protestants but not his larger work on Protestantism.
Gee feels certain that union between the Free Methodists and the Bible Christians could have been accomplished almost any time before 1907 and that the Bible Christians would have `cordially if not enthusiastically accepted our 100% Democratic polity'.
The Free Methodists also were involved in overseas missions from an early date. Jamaica and West Africa were areas of activity because independent Methodist Societies there liked Free Methodist democracy. Later, Free Methodism was introduced to Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand.
With regard to Ernest Bevin, Gee notes that as a young man he was living with a married sister Mary Pope at Copplestone. Mary's husband George was a Railwayman and page 28 of "Bevin" refers to them moving to Bishop Morchard and later to Copplestone. The Popes were devout United Methodists. Ernest went to the sunday school there.
Notes .
- Ernest Bevin (1881-1951); Trade Union leader, Labour member of Parliament and Foreign Secretary.