The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-20

4 not more distinguished for his genius. Refer
euce IL now made to JOHN WESLEY, who, in con-
nection with younger brother, was the father OF
Methodism Who was the mother Of these broth
ers that struck ont q new path In which millions
have since travelled to the land Of spirits We
End she was the wife Of q clergymen who was
strict in his attendance the sittings OF the Con-
vacations During his absence, she conceived the
full idea of her responsibility to her large family
As there was no Sabbath afternoon service at
Epworth, where she lived, she prayed in her fam
lily, read a sermon, and engaged ia religious con-
versation. Some Of the more pious psrishioners
accidentally called in on these occasions and they
we're not excluded. About this time, she pro-
cured a work that greatly enkindled her ardor
for 6 good works. Her little audiences soon
numbered forty aud fifty, to whom she prayed,
read from the book that had so justly awakened
her attention TO divine things, and finally her
house was not able to contain the multitude that
waited upon her ministrations This invasion OF
the datiss Of THE sterner sex, and this palpabls
violation OF the injunction of ST. Paul, excited
the jealousy and indignation Of some of the
deacons of the parish, and they represented
the affair to her husband in no very pleasant
terms He was thus induced to write 10 her, Oh
jecting to her conduct, as it looked particular,
because of her sex, and also because he was in
public station which rendered IL necessary thai
he should do nothing to excite the public cen
sure; and he recommended that some man read
in her stead To her reply, she thanked him foI
his plainness of speech and as to its looking par
tieuiar, she said, III grant it does, and so does
everything that is serious, or that may in any way
advance the glory of God or the salvation ofsouls
If il be performed out Of the pulpit, or in the way
Of common conversation because, in our corrupt
age, the utmost care and diligence have been
used to Danish all discourse of God or spiritual
concerns out of society, ss if religion were never
to appear out of the closet, and we were to be
ashamed of nothing so much as of confessing our
selves to be Christians As to the objection on
account of her sex, she said she was q woman, il
was true and though he was the rightfol lord Of
the family, yet she the mistress and during his
absence she thought her children were committed
to her under a trust from the great Lord of all
families Of heaven and earth. How should she
answer to him il she failed As TO bringing Gen.
sure upon him, she sad,s" For myself, value no
censure on this account have long since shaken
hands with the world and | heartily wish had
never given them more reason TO speak against
men Whereupon, Mrs Wesley, deeming her OBJ
legations to her Lord of heaven superior to those
to her marital lord, continued her religious min
istrations to the hungry and thirsty souls Of Ep-
worth. Finally, matters waxed worse and worse,
and the Citrate of the Parish became alarmed
for the cause of deoency, good manners, and reli-
gion demonstrated most energeticslly with Mr..
Wesley, having himself been worsted in an inter
view with the Priestess of Epworth. Mr.. Yves
ley thereupon addressed his rebellous wife Sec
ond letter, communicating his decided disappro-
baton. To this she did not reply for some days
thinking it best to take time for deliberatior
in 80 important negotiation At length sh'
L. nd of ufo In 4 ha ha
had been done in the meetings, and her persua
sion as to her duty to continue them, she said-"l
you do, after all, think fit to dissolve this assem-
bly, do not tell me that you desire me to do IL, fol-
that will not satisfy my conscience; but send IN
your positive command, in such full and express
terms az may absolve me from guilt and punish
ment for negleoting this opportunity OF doint
good, when you and shall appear before the grea
and awful tribunal Of our Lord Jesus Christ
Heroic Woman She believed it her duty Il
submit to the commands of her temporal lord
but there must be no lack of explicitness in th'
term. Of the oour'and. rAey Must ?e ssch Oh q
ing che regarded as of great value to the souls o
Epworth In this case she did not rebel agains
her husband but simply stated her convictions
and only awaited his positive command, so that sh,
might be acquitted before the great tribunal
Doubtless, Mr. Wesley at this time began to fes
that his wife was right, and an alarm began Il
seize him, lest he should he defaulter in be-
presence before the judgment-seat Of the universe
Here we see the potency of superior mental pow
er ruling the minds of others silently, yet effect
uslly. Mrs. Wesley violated no duty to her hus
band, even though that husband was entitled Il
the supreme command. She merely set forth IL
good sound language, her own views as to bel
obligations to God and the souls of the people
and threw upon him q responsibility under which
he trembled He chose rather to let her take hel
own course than risk the consequences which THU
powerful woman indicated. But this is not thu
only instance in which Mrs. Wesley was true t.
her own convictions and personal consequence
She was an honest, out-spoken woman, and MOI
timid in expressing her own convictions as to al
questions whether religious or political The
dispute arose among the people, whether thu
Prince Of Orange was entitled to the throne o.
the realm In this she differed with Mr.. W esley
who told her that he never would again cohsbii
with her until she should change her opinion
Bat her opinions were her own individual prop
erty, of which she could not divest herself
aud her honesty forced her to declare the fact
Accordingly, true to bis threat, he took his sad
dle-bags and crust Of bread, mounted his gray
mare, and rode away, leaving her and her large
family for twelve months, when the death of the
John Wesley, the founder Of the largest Protes-
tant sect, was the first birth after the reunion Of
his parents Ii the influence Of this separation
30 chasteped the spirits Of his parents as to Inn
press the son with his noble character, then for
tunate was the temporary disagreement! How
much of the Father Of Methodism can be traced
to the character of his mother We see in .her
the spirit of inquiry, the lofty tone Of independ
ence and the mental power calculated to govern
which distinguished her illustrious SON In his
writings do we not observe one Distinguishing
feature of Methodisrn1 John Wesley was born
in 1903.
The next example shall cite bears equally
strong upon the proposition in hand-to wit, tha
those faculties Of the head and those sentiment
Of the heart which are in active exercise immedi
ately preceding and subsequent TO the birth OF I
child. are transmitted in predominant power
The reader must not be told that this case als
bears most forcibly upon the main idea OF thi
paper-to wit, the relation of noble mothers T.
noble sons
A heavenly spirit is before us We are nov
TO contemplate the angelic purity and excellence
of that aueenly benefactress ELIzABETB Fay
She was born in 1850, and was descended from 1
long line of Quakers or her mother, the biog
rapher remarks: Mrs. Quincy, mother OF Eiiz
abeth, Was woman Of excellent abilities, and o
considerable attachments, ss well as OF much per
sonal beauty. She was disposed to scientific an'
literary pursuits, and singularly delighted in tn
charms and beauties Of nature, imbuing ne
children, almost in infancy, with tastes that re
mained with them through life" But, not TO de
pend upon the mere statement OF the biographer
let me quote q passage from the diary OF this en
cellent mother, in which her true spirit appears
The following bears date April, l7ss: in tn
morning endeavor, at first waking TO bring tn
mind into silent waiting and worship, prepare
tory to the active employment Of the day whe'
up. visit the several apartments Of the children
and, II leisure permit before breakfast, read tn
Scrptures--ifnot, II should not be Afterwards neg
lectsd forgot not the kindest attention to my com
panion before parting for the day After Walk
ing with the little ones, and endeavoring to EMO.
Zach indi xiduallx heain With the necessary In