I do have a book, Sect, Cult and Church in Alberta, published in the 1950s, which gives the history and practices of the many fundamentalist groups, including this one, in the early years of this province.

Their origins are in Ireland with William Irvine (1863-1947) who broke with another group (Faith Mission) and developed his own. Later, because of differences, Edward Cooney who was part of Irvine's group, severed his relationship with Irvine and developed his own.

The Two by Twos are usually identified with the Cooneyites, but one source indicated these were distinct groups though often mistakenly identified as one.

The name Two by Two comes from their practice of going out in twos to preach in imitation of Jesus who sent his followers out two by two (Mark 6:7-12). They have been known by many names, including "Tramp or Go Preachers," because they moved around preaching especially in rural and small town areas.

In Canada, Australia and New Zealand, they are registered as Christian Assemblies and in the U.S. as Christian Conventions where they registered in 1942 to obtain conscious objector status. In Alberta, they incorporated on May 2, 1995, although they have been here since the early years of the province. They are also known as the "Church with No Name."

They are divided into fields, usually a province or a state, each with an overseer who exercises general supervision of the movement. Members are organized into house churches, with 12 to 20 members in each. They meet in homes as they own no church buildings, but they also hold conventions each year.

According to the Institute for the Study of American Religions, in 1986 the Two by Twos had 95 conventions in the U.S., each drawing 500 to 2,000 people, suggesting that there may be between 10,000 and 100,000 members in the U.S. The 2001 World Christian Encyclopedia gives their numbers in 1995 as 270,000 in the U.S. and 8,000 in Canada in 1985.

However any numbers for this group are estimates, as they do not reveal their numbers. But we do know they have developed considerably in several countries including Canada.

Worship services consist of congregational singing, dynamic preaching and extemporaneous prayers, similar to evangelical churches, but quite different from the traditional Christian formality in worship.

Although they are less keen on enthusiastic preaching and hearty singing than many other groups, their services are, nevertheless, fervent and informal. Their ministers are not formally trained, but learn on the job, new ministers being teamed with experienced ones.

In general, they shun publicity and so are not well known outside their own circles. They publish no literature, believing in person-to-person communication. The only printed material they use is their own compilation of hymns. Their only "textbook" is the King James Version of the Bible.

They practise Baptism by immersion and oppose infant Baptism. They have weekly Breaking of the Bread at their meetings.

They consider themselves Christians, but they do not focus on doctrine. However, some of my sources indicate that they deviate significantly from orthodox Christian beliefs. It seems they do not believe in the divinity of Jesus nor the Holy Spirit, nor that salvation comes through Jesus Christ, but is achieved through self-effort and denial along with submission to their ministers.

As they are part of the fundamentalist movement, they hold to the literal interpretation of the Bible, the existence of a fire and brimstone hell and the necessity of a dramatic conversion experience. In addition, they tend to protest prevailing culture and religions, attack modern ideas, the theory of evolution, and modern biblical scholarship. They find fault with the formality, class-consciousness and coldness in the traditional churches.

They practise a strict code of morality. They reject worldly ways: possessions and respectable dress, opting for the Jesus or lowly way.

Full-time ministers remain unsalaried and unmarried, seemingly even taking vows of poverty, chastity and obedience although it seems that now some married couples go preaching.

There is a hint in the sources that in recent years there is a relaxation of some of its rigid rules toward modern ways and conveniences.