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<div style="text-align: left;">A statement of Hebron’s identity, appearing on the reverse side of an announcement of its services, reads: "We are simply Christians. We refuse all sectarian creeds, barriers, bonds or distinctions. We recognize no membership other than membership in the body of Christ, the Church of Scripture. (Rom. 12:4,5; 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 5:30) This is a sufficient bond of union and basis of fellowship and to this Church all Christians were joined by the operation of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:12,13) . No other membership is known to Scripture. We meet in the name of the Lord Jesus (Matt. 18:20) and welcome as fellow-members all who evidence that they are born again by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26; Rom. 15:7) and not scripturally debarred for moral sin (1 Cor 5:11) or fundamentally evil doctrine (1 Tim. 1:19,20) or willful association with such (2 John 10). " No date is attached but it is signed W. O. Stucker.
</div><div style="text-align: left;">That he had lived to regret the many divisions that wracked the Brethren movement and in which he had himself earlier participated is clear from the following quote taken from ''A History of the Plymouth Brethren'' by W. Blair Neatby, published in 1901: “Let us,” says Mr. John James, a Montreal Brother, “look at ourselves:- Some say I am of J.N.D., others I am of W.K.; Some say I am of J.B.S., others I am of C.E.S.; Some say I am of A.P.C., others I am of F.W.G.; Some say I am of F.E.R., others I am of W.J.L. Mr. James is mentioned with honour as one to whom this state of things appeared an unmitigated scandal.”<sup>8</sup></div><div style="text-align: left;">Although among the Grant Exclusives, Hebron apparently maintained ties with the Antoine Street and other Open assemblies in the city. This is not surprising given the fact that it was likely the only Grant assembly in Montreal and sadly in need of fellowship with other believers. Then, too, given the history of the Grant faction, it had reason to distance itself from the Exclusives continuing to meet at Natural History Hall. In the mid-1950s attendance at Hebron was around 35 people.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">According to a letter from William O. Stucker addressed to Arnold Reynolds<sup>9</sup> and dated March 19,1964Although among the Grant Exclusives, Hebron apparently maintained ties with the name was changed to Bethany Gospel Chapel, still meeting on Wellington Antoine Street and other Open assemblies in Verdunthe city. This is confirmed by a handwritten letter from Douglas Draper to Mr. Reynolds dated January 8, 1966, in which we read not surprising given the fact that this it was “formerly Verdun Christian Brethren Church – Hebron Gospel Hall.”</div><div style="text-align: left;">Already affiliated with likely the Christian Brethren Church only Grant assembly in Montreal and sadly in need of fellowship with other believers. Then, too, given the Province history of Quebec (CBCPQ)<sup>10</sup>the Grant faction, civil pastors included, Douglas Draper (1951-1966) who moved eventually on it had reason to distance itself from the Pointe Claire assembly, Dr. Henry Maiben Candlish (1967-1978) who retired Exclusives continuing to Florida; Roderick John Belcher (1978-)meet at Natural History Hall.</div><div style="textIn the mid-align: left;">Persons associated with this meeting 1950s attendance at one time or another in addition to the above include, among others, David Mills, R. J. Kane, William Ophenius Stucker; Thomas Turley, Andrew Young, James Kershaw; Richard Rye; J. Stevenson; Churchill WilsonHebron was around 35 people.</div>
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Exactly when or how Hebron appeared on the scene is unknown. Partisans of F. W. Grant who, as we have seen, had been read out of the Exclusive meeting, first met on Craig Street in Montreal on December 21, 1884. What possible connection, direct or indirect, may have existed between Craig Street and Hebron Gospel Hall is unknown.
Parenthetically, Mr. John James, whom the author Napoleon Noel identifies as “the prominent partisan of Mr. Grant”<sup>5</sup> at the time of the Montreal Division, is later referred to by George Dixon as “a gifted teacher”,<sup>6</sup> by then assumedly among the Open Brethren in “the north end of the city” of Montreal. This brother provides us with an interesting story. Separating from the Exclusives at Natural History Hall, he was among the first to stand with F. W. Grant when the latter was read out of that assembly. He and others immediately began meeting on Craig Street in the city. Ten years later, we find him among a breakaway group known as the Independents who “would, and did, have fellowship with Open Brethren …. These men were finally refused by the Grant company before ending up in fellowship with the Open Brethren.”<sup>7</sup> This is part of the story scattered throughout the pages of Napoleon Noel’s two-volume ''The History of the Brethren'', published in 1936, by which time Mr. James had gone to be with the Lord.
According to a letter from William O. Stucker addressed to Arnold Reynolds<sup>9<div style="text/sup> and dated March 19,1964, the name was changed to Bethany Gospel Chapel, still meeting on Wellington Street in Verdun. This is confirmed by a handwritten letter from Douglas Draper to Mr. Reynolds dated January 8, 1966, in which we read that this was “formerly Verdun Christian Brethren Church – Hebron Gospel Hall.” Already affiliated with the Christian Brethren Church in the Province of Quebec (CBCPQ)<sup>10</sup>, civil pastors included:* Douglas Draper (1951-1966) who moved eventually on to the Pointe Claire assembly* Dr. Henry Maiben Candlish (1967-1978) who retired to Florida; * Roderick John Belcher (1978-align). Persons associated with this meeting at one time or another in addition to the above include, among others: left;">* David Mills* R.J. Kane* William Ophenius Stucker* Thomas Turley* Andrew Young* James Kershaw* Richard Rye* J. Stevenson* Churchill Wilson As an interesting sidelight on the times, Andrew Young’s son, Thomas, met and married Joyce Julien who, with two of her sisters had come over from the Exclusive meeting on Councilor’s Street, attracted by the livelier music at Hebron. Tom and Joyce were joined in matrimony by Douglas Draper at Ebenezer, now Rosemount. They eventually ended up at Grace Chapel in Sherbrooke where Joyce continues to fellowship.</div><div style="text-align: left;">In 1974, between a third and a half of Verdun’s population was English-speaking and, according to Arnold Reynolds, the assembly was already “a rather struggling affair.” Attendance at the assembly continually decreased, especially following the 1980 Quebec Referendum and subsequent exodus of the English. The assembly closed its doors in 1984. George Dixon handled the legal details. Its archives are stored at Bethel Chapel in Westmount. RS</div>
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