Early Life
Smith was born in Guelph, Ontario, the son of working-class immigrants from England. His family later moved to Hamilton, where he developed an interest in religion after joining the Gore Street Methodist Church. After passing an oral examination to become a preacher, Smith was transferred to McGregor, Manitoba in 1890 to begin field work. His appointment came from James Woodsworth, superintendent of Methodist missions for western Canada and father of J.S. Woodsworth.
Smith was a vocal supporter of Thomas Greenway's Liberal government in Manitoba during the 1890s. During the Manitoba Schools Question, he defended the Greenway government's decision to remove funding from French-language denominational schools.
Read more about this topic: Albert Edward Smith
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