ld in the May following, William Black
spent about a month visiting Shelburne, Barrington, Cape Negro, Port
La Tour and Port Medway, and when he returned to Halifax, he was
greatly encouraged by the good work which had gone on under James
Mann's labors during his absence. Meanwhile, the Rev. James Wray had
been sent out from England with a general charge to superintend the
work, as William Black and the other missionaries had not been
ordained, and could not therefore dispense the sacraments, but the
relations between Wray and Black became somewhat strained, and
threatened seriously to interfere with the advance of the Kingdom of
God. With good judgment and much patience William Black laid the whole
matter before John Wesley, but without his counsel the breach was
healed, and they labored again in harmony. James Wray felt that the
duties of superintending the work in the Province were too onerous
for him, and he requested to be relieved of the position, and Dr. Coke
appointed William Black, Superintendent of the Methodist Church in the
Maritime Provinces and Newfoundland, James Wray removing to the West
Indies, where he died in 1790.

The growth of Methodism was somewhat retarded by the fact that William
Black had not been ordained, and consequently could not dispense the
sacraments, and it was felt that his influence would greatly extend
were he to assume all the responsibilities of a Christian minister. An
opportunity was afforded him of being ordained, by the presence of Dr.
Coke at the Conference held in Philadelphia in 1789, and accompanied
by John and James Mann, who went for the same purpose, he attended the
Conference, and on May 19th he was ordained a Deacon, and on the
following day, an Elder. During a month spent in that city, he lost no
opportunity of seeking to do good, and was cheered by learning of some
being blest, among whom was a lady who had been converted under a
sermon preached there by him, during his previous visit in 1784.

In a report sent to John Wesley during the year, there are shown
gratifying results of the labors of the missionaries in Nova Scotia,
as the church in Halifax had grown in numbers and spirituality, and
throughout the Province there were about five hundred members, and
with pardonable pride and joy, William Black remarks, how greatly he
was comforted, as the church had grown in two years, "eight times
larger, and eight times more serious and spiritual." The care of the
church