It was now thought [after Ryan had
suffered a series of humiliations after attacking prominent
members of the Methodist Church in Canada between 1824 and
1828] that Mr. Ryan would desist from further agitation, and
retire quietly into private life, or make his way back into
the Church. Alas! this was not the result. He turned round
upon the members of his own lay Conventions with as much or
more bitterness of spirit than had marked his conduct before
against the Conference and its members—impugning their
motives by saying that they had been bought, and that money
had blinded their eyes, and that justice would be avenged on
them for the sins which they had committed against him and
the truth. He called upon the true Methodists and good
people to join with him in reclaiming the fallen Church, and
saving the country from political and religious ruin. The
Rev. Isaac B. Smith (Mr. Ryan's son-in-law, but between whom
there had been variances for many years) and the Rev. James
Jackson joined with him in exertions to create
dissatisfaction and discord amongst members of the Church.
A considerable number of Methodists now
left the Church, and connected themselves with Mr. Ryan and
his friends; so that before very long Mr. Ryan called
another Convention for the purpose of organizing (as he
said) a reformed and pure Church. At this Convention a
constitution of Church government was adopted, providing for
lay delegation, elective presidency, etc. After this, the
work of making inroads into and dividing Methodist societies
was pursued more systematically, but not more successfully
than heretofore. This party (which was now called "Ryanite")
employed several itinerant preachers, and during Mr. Ryan's
life, and perhaps for a short time after, went on with some
success, in some places. A few years, however, only elapsed
when they began to dwindle and grow weaker and weaker; and
had it not been for their becoming united with the "New
Connexion Methodists" in England, they would probably ere
this [1866] have been among the things which had been.