The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-02-22
! Select gtorp.
THE WESLEY GHOST.
FROM OWENS FOOTBALLS.
Disturbances IN Mr.. Wesley's Parson.
age at Epworth.
l116 and 1sI7.

Wesley, father of the celebrated John
Wesley, the founder OF Methodism, was
rector of Epworth, in the county of Lin
coin. England. In his parsonage house.
the same in which John was boro, there
occurred, throughout the months of De-
cember. l716. and January, 17l7, sundry
disturbances, of which Mr.. Samuel Wes-,
ley kept q detailed journal. The pa:tic
ulars are further preserved in twelve let
ters written on the subject, at the time. to
and from various members of the family
In addition to this, Mr. John Wesley
himself went down to Epworth in the year
5sl720. inquired carefully into The particu-
4 lars, received statements in writing from
each member Of the family touching what
they had seen and heard. and. complied
from these . narrative which he published
! in the american Magazine" q Sso.so
ssp The original documents were preserved
in the family came into the hands of Mrs.
Earle, Grand daughter of Mr.. Samuel
Wesley, (the eldest brother of Johu) were
intrnsted by her to Mr.. Babcock, aud
by him given to the well. known Dr.. Joseph
Priestly, by whom the whole were pub.
hshed in l79l. lia}s 05 aar11
They have been reprinted by Dr. Adam
Clarke, in his "Memoirs of the Wesley
Family; They cover forty-six pages Of
; that work: and as they contain numerous
7orepetitioEs, i content myselfwith transcri-
bing portion only. commelcirg with the
narrative drawn mp BY Mr. John Wesley,
70 which ] have already referred.
i"s' hsd'.ssss 70. NARRATIVE. 2, @. l,ss 60. 9
eai son December Q, l7I6. while Robert
2 Brown, my fathers servant, was sitting
With one of the maids, little before ten
at night, in the diuing-room, which opened
> into the garden, they both heard some one
knocking at the door. Robert rose and
opened it, but could see nobody. Quick.
ly it knocked again, aud groaned. 1T is
Mr.. Tnrpine, said Robert; he has the
stone, and used to groan so.' He opened
the dooraga twice or thrice, the knock,
ing being twice or thrice repeated; but,
still seeing nothing, and being little
startled, they rose up and went to bed. -
~ When Robert came to the top of the gar
ret stairs, he saw handmilt which was at
. little distance whired about very swiftly.
When be related this,r he said, .Noush,
4 sexea ms but that it was empty.
: thought ifie had but been full of malt be
might have ground his heart out for me.
When he was in bed. he heard. as it were
a1shs gobbling of artuFkey -coek close to The
bedside, aud soon after the sound of one
stumbling over his shoes and boots; bu,
there was none there he had left them be,
10 Iowa. The next day he and the maid re.
oslatsd these things to the other maid, who
rilanghed heartily, and said, What couple
'sof' fools are you! I defy anything Ia
fright me- After ehurning in the evening
she put the butter in the tray, and had No
-rooper carried it into the dairy, than she
heard . knocking on the shelf where sew.
o asraL puncheons of milk stood. first above
eothe shelf, then below. She took the can,
ic DIE, and searched both above and below,
bat. being able to- find nothing, threw
down butter, tray and al, and ran away
for life. The next evening. between five