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The immediate issue appears to have been serious differences of opinion in the group as to the financial straits in which they had placed themselves for the construction of the new Chapelle Évangélique on rue Belvédère begun in 1953. Understandably, the one from whom they had borrowed a large sum of money ($30,000) was likely calling the shots and all were not pleased. According to Mr. Berney, Mr. Henry Heidman, Jean Heidman’s father, one who was involved in the discussions in Quebec City, was a significant source of finances. The Junction Assembly in Toronto was also involved in the project.
According to Dr. Arthur Hill, in his letter to John Spreeman (1/18/55), “they went ahead with the building of the chapel before they were all of one mind about the way the work was to be carried on.” I take this to mean the operation of the assembly rather than the construction project itself. “Everyone in the assembly there was quite conscious of the differences which existed among them.”
Then, too, the matter of women speaking out in the meetings, assumedly business meetings, of the assembly was also an irritant. According to McCready (1/31/55), the assembly was split in half, with the greater part being ousted from the hall. This, he said, was caused by a few domineering brethren and sisters. I would suspect that either Jean Heidman or Mabel Quinlin or both may have been involved here. Both of these valuable workers left the assemblies sometime after 1955 to work with the C&MA churches in Quebec.