The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-04
JOHN WESLEY.
HIS LIFE AND CHARACTER.
Mr.. Henry Vincent's Lecture at Union
M. E. Church Last Evening.
lsPEc1AL PHoNoaRAPu1c REPORT FOR THE EVEN


ESPECIAL PHoSoaRAPuo REPORT FOR THE EVEN
ING TELEGRAPH
Quite largo and intelligent audience assem-
bled last evening in the Union Methodist Epis-
copal Church, to listen 10 the lecture by Mr..
Henry Vincent, the English Reformer, on the
Life, Character, and Actions of John Wesley,n
the founder OF Methodism. This was Mr.. Vim
cents third appearance before Philadelphia
audience, and by this time we are able to Judge
of him as an orator and thinker. week ago
we published detailed sketch of his life,
dwelling particularly upon his somewhat re-
markable career as a public speaker. In per-
sonal appearance he has but little of the
Enghshman about him-at least but little of
the typical Englishman-- except burly form,
and bland, smiling countenance. For the
rest, he is rather bald, wearing his hair,
which is quite grey, pushed back
in long locks upon his shoulders. His beard,
which is of almost sllvery whIteuess, is worn
full and long, giving him almost patri-
archal appearance. As speaker, Mr.. Vincent
is peculiar and forcible, but not at all times
pleasing. His voice has a hoarse rattle, which,
in his long sentences-and to long sentences he
is much given-amost destroys the effect of his
well-rounded periods. In the matter of gesGcu-
lation he is extremely profuse and many of the
movements of his hands and arms tend rather
to detract from than to add TO the force of his
sentiments. Yet, despite these many peculiari-
ties, the wonderful success which has attended
Mr. Vincent as public lecturer, and the hatter-
ing reception which he has met with in this
country clearly establish his claim to rank
as OF the first orators of the day. 1t is need
less for us to discuss his rhetorical style, as that
can be clearly perceived in the verbatim report
of his lecture last eveping, which we give below.
The speaker was introduced by the Rev. Dr..
Carrow, and on coming forward, addressed
his audience as follows:-- .......'' ....,'
Iassure you, Ladies and Gentlemen that il is with
intense qraiIcaton thai find IN sell standing here
the presence of this audiences and yet this graft
hcation is greatly dlmmed by the ,nory that am
in the pre-; ence OF those whoare be ter acquainted
with tue theme that shall have the nonor to dis
cuss, than profess to myself Yet there comes
to me on this platform, in, p; ration that cannot
express; Tor am reminded by he kindness of a b.
TREND, that on this spot, century ago there
stooo that illustrious compee of john Wesley whose
| eloquence shook the chuIc ches aud convulsed the
land-,hat great pulpit orator VINO combined not
merely all the requisites OF the orator. but ali the
Saiaes'hesS sia Oh tne son oil eod-l mean Mr. Whit
| do say, that il nything could inspire me, next
of which he and the great John Wesley were the
standard bearers IL would seem 10 me that stand
has been dedicated to the conversion Of souls and
the building up OF fmSrll aat spiritual life.
n
sages on the lite teachings, and actions OF .John
Wesley; and am compelled IN the outset to re-
Birth Of that cas to MIND s %9
action and reaction which, like the mighty wind
which passed through the nation itself, still in.
| fuences whole natOI and affects the world.
| For England passed through series of great
connections ariring out OF that mighty conflict
between fopery and Pl lotestanti, m, and when pro-
| duced so vast change in all Christian States
| Enc lana had been, for long time, bearing the
burdens of papa misrule, and her intellect and
censcentiousness clUuded by priestly darkness
and priestly devices. England, fro the great days
of John Wicklife. which .dawned. upon it, the
morning star of the Reformation England entered
upon an nteieciual and spiritual conflict, launched
out INTO social and political ba tIe for II must be-
Iem' mbered that the old papacy curbed the truth
OF Coo; 1t eeeame lnlmica, to very great ex ent
fatal to the existence OF independent civil govern
nent. EngaI d led the way, under great reiormers,
to resist the dSgmas and teachings and the political
| This controversy did not end when Henry VIII
ovelihrew the politlca aud eccle'lastcal power OF
the papacv 1t did not END with the natural Church
compromise. to some extent, between Methodism,
Popery, and Prtesantism-a conflict thai did not
| popu'aI Independents, PIesbyterians, and Low
! Church Puritans; conflict which ID not end in the
conflict OF civil war the times of Charles Ia
conflict which continued through the brief protec-
the two regDs of the Second Charles the Second
James, ana whichwas finally brought TO a close in
| the great revolution OF 1888. ---r-.
! And after the revolution of 1888 appeared to be
| exhausted you again wItne ss remarkable change
High Church party that 1ndeTm nm ned d the the
! Professionalism of the Church of England; you wit
ness sad decline of spiritual lifei you witness all
those forms of social disorder detrimental to the
! Church and farming to Sta cs and verify may
say in the presence of such state things in Eng
land from The year 100 to 1870 that there could be no
greater proof of continuous faith continuous pray er
and earnest devotion TO God. OF II in the churches,
/ OF eaFnestness in the sehoOs-no creator proof OF
| this than in the advance of Enalsh society, in the
midst OF which John Wesley, the great founder OF
| your own churches, was born. sG
ON the 18th of June, 1908, in that little t1wnshp
| of Epworih, In Lincolnshire, with which am per-
sonally familiar and ON Its soil bareiooted trod,
with reverence for his memory was born this illus
| tIious man.
His father was one of those quiet, pans,taking,
earnest Eng Ish clergymen, who do their duty Oh
compensate them well, wD devote themselves with
! Christian zeal TO their service.
His mother was one OF those no0le women an
exceedingly beautiful woman, whose services were
many, and who is the choicest gift of God 70 mans
for It must be stated without fatFerY in the pres
! euce OF men and women that there is nothing on
Gods ear that exercises more sanclifying in
huence upon the welfare of the human race than
the presence OF lively, loving graceful, vrtuoUs,
GOd imposes on them, and endeayor Ia His fear and
love TO earnestly ana gracefully discharge 1t.
| ,(Applause) ,4L
I Mrs. Wesley was q mother of strong Affections
"A woman OF rare eXceence OF character, q tender
regard, wise disoretlona mother of thee noble boys
Samuel John, ana CharIes-a glorious trio 10 build
| up aud strengthen any hOnse This noble m0ther,
an example 10 her sex did not require life OF
luxurious ease; the wife of poor minister. she
placed before her, next to the imporia iance of the
souls education, the welfare OF her famiYj and her
great pride was to live ffuRaly and work hard, and
gain most In every direction, that her bows might
be able to gain the education q scholarship would
give them; while she, by her quiet, modest life,
moulded their conduct and bound their affections.
/ John Wesley appears IN early life 70 have
! been q beautiful boy, and We should be extremely
thankful TO God for IL. John was cast in ten der
and and hta Aia0lW hal nf