The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-06-17
TIL E l. e E TX $ E Il ID
CHAPEL.

1t is now more than century since two
yonng men-John Wesley and George
began religious reform which
for mauy years, was thought by Jealous
churchmcn likely to shake if not overtnrn
the Established Church in England. Both
we're yaung men of great piety, great zeal
and great enthusiasm.
Soon after the PRONUNCIATION of Metho-
dism, it spread with great rapidity over
the counties of Devon and Cornwall, and
especially among the miners and lower
orders. Although very few persons will
now dispute its beneficial tendency among
those classes, yet for a long period after
the introduction of Methodism, the clergy
and higher orders of society in the west
of England manifested degree OF dislike
to the new doctrines, which can scarcely
be imagined in these days of modern toll.
eration. 1t was thought by many young
gentlemen good sport to break the wind
ows and nail up the doors of the Methdist
chapel. The robbery of Wesleyan
preacher, as a spree, by two young gentle
men, became the subject Of judicial inyes-
tigation, and the frolicsome young men had
to pay very dearly for their practical
joke.
There were able and even eloquent
preachers among the Methodists. The
works of Wesley and OF Doctors Clark
and Coke, are even now popular with a
large religious class. There were also
found among fhemssom very Wild, enthd-
siastic local preachers, who might vie with
.s Praise God, Barebones," and other fanat-
les of the time of Cromwell. Many o!
these could not read at all, and very few
were acquainted with sny books beside the
Bib.e. and the works of Bunyan, Baxter
and John Wesley. But the writings of
these authors contained many of the most
enthusiastic and energetic discourses, In
the English language, especially adapted
| 10 strike the Imagination and captivate
the tt,ntion Of the lower orders: The
phraseology of these works was derived
from the Saxon, and was, therefore, better
understood by the humble classes to whom
they were addressed, than the Language
Iof polished preachers who had finished
their education at Oxford and Cambridge
Indeed, some Of tho better Informed classei
lof society were fully aware of the value
I of preachers who, from their own feellnei
and experience, so we'll understood th'
vices md iollies of their auditors.
Among these uninstrueted preacher
was one known by the name of The Ole
lGardener." This old man was no com
mon haracter-indeed, he was quite al
original, and by far the most popula
preacher among the lowest and least intel
lligent Of the disciples of John Wesley
He kept small nursery garden about tw'
miles from the town OF st. A., the
land now the centre of mining district
, rich in its products of tin and copper
When mere boy, as servant to Gor
hish gentleman, he went to London. Her
he was Kidnapped and sent to the Wes
Indies, where he worked some years as
slave. He then entered the army, an
served in the Hest. and afterwards IN tn
East Indies. where he fought under tn
lpreat Lord Give. In one of the battle
he was wounded, and lay two days an
nights on the field of battle amidst tn
dead. As he lay there, he heard durin
the night the, roars o. lion and tiger
and the howls Of the hyena, and saw ther
! prowling round him, but they were 9
gorsed that they attacked nothing living